Disclaimer: I don't own anything. That would be Stephenie Meyers, the owner of all things Twilight.
Chapter 7
Epov:
"Daddy….." I heard Renesmee's voice faintly. A small pressure was exerted on my shoulder. "…..wakeup, daddy."
I groaned as I forced one eyelid to crawl upwards so that I can faintly make out my daughters silhouette standing in front of me. "What is it Renesmee?" I mumbled as a throbbing pain registered in my head.
"You have to take me to school remember?" She said grumpily.
"Is it Monday already? Can't be, yesterday was Saturday. So today is Sunday. There is no school on a Sunday." I reasoned out, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
"Yesterday was Sunday. You've been sitting and sleeping on this couch since Friday's party dad." This time the irritation was evident in her voice. She reminded me of her mother when she got mad. Her nose would scrunch up in the same way, her eyes would narrow.
No stop thinking about Bella. Bella only brings torment and pain. But Johnny boy helps with torment and pain. Yes but Johnny boy also brings headaches, hangovers and apparently memory loss.
"Right, I guess I'm getting old if I forgot what day it is. Go eat breakfast and I'll take a quick shower. Ok?" I said standing up trying to ignore the throbbing in my head. I was also very thirsty, man I hated hangovers.
She mumbled something about not understanding grown-ups when they act like children and walked to the kitchen. When I reached my room I quickly ransacked my bedside table for some Advil and then sauntered towards my bathroom. Once I took a shower I felt a little better but I wasn't sure if it was the pelting hot water or the headache tablets I took beforehand.
When I was all cleaned up I went to find Renesmee. She was waiting in the living room her schoolbag swung over her shoulder. "You done?" I asked searching for my keys.
"I've been ready for a decade already. Your keys are there next to the couch." She said pointing to my makeshift bed. I rolled my eyes and scooped up the keys.
"Well come on then. Why are you just standing there for?" I joked as I walked past her and headed out the door.
"Dad, can I ask you something?" She asked breaking the silence in the car as we drove towards her school.
"Sure honey," I said glancing at her in the review mirror.
"Do you like Angela? As in like, like?" I looked in her brown eyes for a brief second before focusing back on the road.
"I enjoy her company, and you two seem to get along nicely. Why do you ask?" I said cursing myself for me actions at the party.
"Yeah but do you like her?"
"I…..well…..I can definitely grow to like her." And that was true. If I had to move on with my life a person like Angela would definitely make that easier. "Seriously why do you ask?"
"Because, mom is moving on and I don't want you to end up all alone. So if you meat someone that makes you happy you shouldn't worry about how I will feel about it." I smiled at her. Sometimes she acted more like a grownup than she did a kid.
"Well thanks Nessie." I turned into her schoolyard and she opened the door to get out once I stopped.
"Just remember that that doesn't mean you can go and kiss her whenever I'm around. I'm sure that watching your father snog another woman in front of you is seen as a form of child." She slammed the door and made her way to her friends who was waving at her.
I pulled out of the school yard and headed towards Alice's house.
Later at Alice's house:
"Oh look it's our friendly neighborhood gigolo." Alice said when she opened the door.
"Oh shut it you little pixie. I kiss one person and everyone thinks I'm already shagging her." I pushed past her and walked to the kitchen.
"Oh you mean you aren't?" I rolled my eyes and didn't even respond. "So what brings you here so early in the morning?" She asked taking two cups out of the cupboard and pouring freshly brewed coffee into each.
I ignored her question wondering exactly why I was there. It is not like I really needed to make my pain and suffering worse by hearing Alice complain about me kissing Angela at the party.
"So do you want to tell me why you basically stuck your tongue down Angela's throat?" She asked placing the coffee cup in front of me basically reading my mind.
"Do you want to tell me how long you knew about Bella and James's affair?" For the first time in her life Alice was speechless. She was the literal stranded fish, mouth opening and closing the whole time. "Yes that is what I thought." I said dryly before taking a sip of my coffee.
"She told me the day you got divorced." Alice said softly not looking me in the eyes.
"And you didn't even once think about telling me? Every time I asked you if you knew anything, you looked me straight in the eyes and said that you only knew what I knew."
"She asked me not to tell Edward. I wanted to tell you, believe me I wanted to but…" I interrupted her knowing what she was going to say.
"You couldn't betray her trust like that." She nodded her head. "I just wish I knew what I did wrong you know? I've been thinking this entire weekend, trying to figure everything out. Maybe I didn't pay enough attention to her. Was there something I missed? How did I overlook the fact that she was unhappy in our relationship?"
She looked up thoughtfully. "Bella and I never discussed her reason. If you want to know that you will have to ask her yourself. But I don't think that you are to blame Edward."
"I'm not to blame? I'm not to blame? My wife has a two year affair and I'm not to blame? The sad thing is that for two years I didn't know what was going on. What sort of husband was I that I didn't suspect anything for two years?" I said angrily, slamming my hand on the counter in frustration.
Alice sighed and looked out of the window. "Edward, if you think like that. Then what sort of a best friend am I? For two years she had an affair and I never even noticed. She never felt the need to tell me about it. We can't blame our selves Edward. She is responsible for her actions and she alone has the answers you are looking for."
I sighed looking at the why Alice's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry for freaking out on you Alice. I see know that you were only being a loyal friend. That is what friends are for right. That even though you don't always agree with your friend's action or reasons you still support them no matter what."
She took a sip of coffee. "It's ok Edward. Taking your frustrations out on me is better than drinking until you pass out on the couch." I looked at her in surprise but when our eyes met I looked away feeling ashamed. "Nessie called me. You gave her a scare you know. She never thought that someone as strong as her dad would sink into depression like that."
I twirled my coffee cup around. "I don't know what came over me. But I will make things right with her. Anyway what happened once I left the party? Charlie looked like he wanted to arrest me or something."
She smiled. "Oh Claire forced him to dance with her and calmed him down somewhat. I think that those two make a good couple. Who knows they might even get married." I smiled. Claire was lonely after her husband Harry died. Charlie helped her to cope somewhat and they formed a friendship. But I think Charlie is a bit too good of a friend to get involved with one of his friend's wife, even a dead friend.
"But I guess you don't really want to hear about him. Bella was harder to calm down. I think that she stormed of outside to sit by herself. Jacob tried to follow her but she sent him right back. All weekend she has been working on an article."
Bella was working on an article non-stop? That means that something is bothering her, something which she would rather forget or ignore.
"I don't know what to do Alice." I mumbled, resting my head in my hands. "At first it didn't matter to me that she cheated but now…..it's like I didn't even know her. She is not the person I married anymore."
"Do you love her?" Alice asked and I placed my hands around the cup nursing it while thinking about Alice's question.
I know that with Bella everything felt right. Being with her was like breathing. And when we danced at the party even after I knew that she slept with James it didn't affect me. It still felt like we were married. But that was all before I knew about the two year relationship.
"Honestly I don't know. I want to say yes so badly but I don't know. What if I see her and all I feel is disgust? Sometimes I close my eyes and all I see is her and James all sweaty and heavy together in bed."
"Edward I don't have all the answers to everything. And I'm a firm believer in once a cheater always a cheater. If Jasper ever cheated on me I don't think I would ever be able to trust him again. And a relationship without trust is like building a house in the dark."
"So what are you telling me? That I should just accept this divorce and forget all about what feels like a lifetime of marriage life?"
She stood up and emptied our cold coffee in the sink. "I think that you should go talk to Bella and listen to her side of the story. Even, if it is only to get some closure." She said turning around to look at me.
"If I talk to her now I might say something that I'll regret later." She shrugged.
"Then wait until you are more in control of your emotions. Bella is working this weekend right? So take Renesmee to Seattle to see that piano concert she's been talking about for the last week and take the time to clear your head."
"Alice what would I ever do without you?" I asked glad that I had someone that always kept a clear head.
"I'm too afraid to answer that question. Now be gone. I have some last minute work to do on my fashion line." I smiled ruffling her hair before leaving her to do her work.
The Story
I knocked on the door before I could chicken out. Chief Swan could not possibly hold a grudge against someone for that long could he? The door opened slowly. Almost like a horror movie, revealing the monster behind it inch by inch. Then suddenly it was opened all the way and Chief Swan glared at me as if I was a speck of dust on his newly polished shoes.
"Are you lost?"
"No Sir, I'm here to pick Bella up. We are going to the movies with some of my friends. Bella told me that she cleared it with you."
He furrowed his brow and his mustache gave a little twitch. "Bella said that she was going out with some friends."
"And Edward is my friend dad." Bella's voice was heard from behind him.
"Where are you taking my daughter Edward?" Charlie asked not moving an inch.
"We, my friends and I, are going to watch a movie in Port Angeles. Afterwards we thought of getting something to eat before returning home. I invited Bella to go with us since she mentioned how much she loves blood and gore in Biology." I kind of rambled because his glare was making me feel uncomfortable.
"Yeah dad, you were the one who told me to make some friends so that I don't spend all my time cooped up at home. So I've made some friends." Bella said peaking over her father's shoulders and winking at me. I felt warm and fuzzy all of a sudden.
"Well that was because I thought that you would be making friends with the right people not Edward Cullen."
"Dad, I met Edward's family and friends and they are decent people. You have to trust me ok." Charlie still glared at me.
"I do trust you. It's him I don't trust." He paused for some effect. "You will have her home by eleven, do you hear me boy?"
I nodded and he moved out of the way. Bella walked passed him but he grabbed her arm and said something in her ear. The only word I caught was pepper spray.
"Yes dad, I remembered it. Dinner is in the microwave you only have to heat it up."
"I can make my own dinner Bells."
"Dialing for pizza is not making dinner dad." He mumbled something and closed the door. Bella rolled her eyes and we walked to the car.
I helped her into my car and soon after we were headed to Port Angeles.
"Do you have to drive so fast?" Bella said gripping the sides of the seat so hard her knuckles was actually white.
"Sorry, my whole family is sort of speed freaks, oh and Alice and Rosalie of course." I said easing of the gas a little, a very little. "Don't you ever drive over the speed limit?"
"No, I don't like driving fast and my dad is Chief of police so that might have something to do with it." Bella seamed to relax a little although she was still clutching the sides of her chair.
"Tell you what. To take your mind of the speed lets play twenty questions." I turned the radio softer.
"At the speed you are driving you better make that ten. By that time we should have reached Port Angeles."
I chuckled and lifted my foot some more. "Ok then, why did you move to Forks?"
"My mother remarried."
"And you don't like the guy?"
"Oh no mister, the rules state that I am asking the next question." I rolled my eyes. "If you can have one superpower what would it be?"
"Seriously that is the question you want to ask?" She nodded her head. "Well I guess it would be to fly. To have that feeling of freedom where nothing can touch you."
"Yeah I know what you mean, ok so do you want to change your question or do you want me to answer the previous one?"
"Answer the previous one."
"Phil is great."
"That is not really answering my question." I countered quickly glancing at her.
"Then you should be more specific in your questions." She chuckle softly. "So where's your favorite place in the whole world"
"Oh that would be my meadow. Let's see, if your mothers remarriage was not the problem then why did you move here?"
"Well Phil is a minor-league baseball player and he is on the road a lot. My mother stayed behind with me but I knew that that made her unhappy so I moved to Forks so that she and Phil could be together more." That was not the answer that I suspected. She sacrificed all of her friends and the familiarity of her old school to come and live in a small town all so that her mother could be with the man she loved.
"Do you have any phobias?" She asked breaking through my daydreaming
"Not unless there is one for fearing your father." She chuckled.
"Are you unhappy that you moved to Forks?" I fired the next question at her dieing to know if she regretted moving here. She thought about this for awhile before answering.
"At first I was, I like the sun and it almost always rained here. Plus I don't like being in the spotlight and going to a new school meant that a lot of people would be paying attention to me. But Forks is starting to grow on me." I glanced at her and noticed that she looked a little flushed.
"Did you ever have an imaginary friend as a child? " She asked lifting the mood.
"I still have imaginary friends. Max and Alex are sleeping in the back seat right now. I'm sneaking them into the cinema but please don't tell anyone." She laughed and made a little zipping her lips and throwing away the key gesture.
"Ok last question, what are the three things that is most important to you?" She thought about it for a moment.
"My family, my friends and then my copy of 'Withering Heights'."
"My last question has to be. Who stole the car?"
"Which car?"
"You know which car, Edward."
I sighed and then decided I might as well tell her. I didn't think that she would run to Charlie with the information.
"One of my friends. James."
A/n Sorry this update took awhile. Things have been a bit hectic in my life and I needed to sort through that.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I do appreciate it.
