A/N: Thank you to those who are giving me feedback, it really helps me gain some sort of insight as to what yall would like to see. (I tend to use yall a lot, what can I say, I'm from Texas.)

Disclaimer: I don't own twilight or anything related to it. Not news to yall, huh?

Chapter 9

BPOV

Explain.

What exactly does he want me to explain?

How about how you roughed up Leah in the bathroom. Or how you moved out of your house without a single word to him. Or how you had some man you barely know at your house. Sensible was becoming a pain.

"Well, I'm waiting," Charlie urged.

"What do you want to know?" I asked him, walking back to the living room with him on my heels and avoiding eye contact with him the whole way. I took a seat on the couch while he sat on the love seat adjacent to me.

"I want to know what's going on, I heard you broke up with Jake and moved out without so much as a word to your old man. Then I get a call from Leah Clearwater saying that you attacked her in the hospital restroom for no good reason. You send me vague texts, not offering any information. And now when I come by to see you, you have some man at your house. This isn't at all like you, Bells." he sighed and ran his hand through his hair and then down his face.

"Are you done yet?" I asked, full of irritation.

"Are you going to explain?" he countered.

"Are you going to let me talk without interrupting?"

"Are you going to give me straight answers and stop answering my questions with a question?"

"That depends. Are you going to listen to everything before you start making a judgment?"

He rolled his eyes and leaned back into the cushions, then nodded his head.

"Well, there's really not much to tell. Jake cheated on me with Leah. I caught him with her on his lap at the hospital and then we broke up. She cornered me in the restroom and I couldn't deal with it anymore. I hit her," Charlie's face turned ten different shades of red, he leaned forward and his mouth opened like he was about to say something, but I held up a hand, signaling him to let me finish. "but only after she touched me first." He leaned back into the cushions, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I grabbed her by the hair and slammed her face into the paper towel dispenser. I know I shouldn't have, but I just couldn't take it anymore. Anyway, I did move out and was meaning to tell you, I just never found the time. It happened only a few days ago." I finished, knowing he would want to know about Edward, but not really wanting to divulge anything just yet.

"Why?" he asked.

I was a little bit lost on his question, so I asked, "Why what?"

"Why didn't you tell me? I know I'm not the most talkative person, or someone you feel comfortable talking to about your love life. But I just don't get it, Bells. You were so happy with Jake. You two were good for each other, and just like that, it's over?" Charlie looked almost heartbroken by the turn of events.

"Dad, I just…needed some time to wrap my head around everything. I know you love Jake, and I just didn't want you to be disappointed by my choices." I looked him in the eye and was met by what I knew was coming. Disappointment. Just like I expected.

"You've never disappointed me, Bella. You've always known what's best for you. If you feel that you and Jake aren't meant to be, then, I stand by your decision. I have always loved Jake, but you're my child. You're what matters to me first. I'd just like to know what's going on from you, rather than from Mrs. Stanley when I go into the bank. That's all." He offered me a small smile, which I returned.

"I'm sorry, I just…needed time." I looked back down at my hands in my lap.

"Now, who is this Dr. Cullen and why was he here at your house?" I looked back up at Charlie, and he had a look of tenacity set in stone across his face.

I knew this conversation was coming. I had been dreading it since Edward walked out of the door. If only my nosey father had better timing, could I have pushed this talk to another day.

"Edward's just a friend," I replied, barely above a whisper. I blushed just at the mention of his name. Oh, get a grip, Bella. Sensible rolled her eyes and folded her arms over her chest.

"Well, I don't like him."

"Well, it's a good thing then that our friendship doesn't pertain to you," I replied defiantly.

"Bella, it's the way he looks at you. I know I only met him for that minute, but he looks at you like you're some kind of meal." He shook his head, as if trying to lose an image from his mind.

I laughed at the absurdity of his comment. My father made it sound as if Edward were some sort of cannibal, what the hell??

After a moment of my giggles, Charlie finally loosened up and started to chuckle with me.

"Well, it's getting late, Bella. I should be heading home. Just…be careful, and give me a heads up next time, would ya?" he stood from the couch, running his hands down his chest to smooth out his shirt, and letting out a big yawn.

I yawned as well, seeing as how they're contagious and all. "I will Dad, and thanks for stopping by. I really do miss spending time with you," I said sincerely as we walked to the front door.

Charlie grabbed me up in a vice like hug and squeezed until I couldn't breathe. "Me too, kiddo, me too. Anytime you want to talk, just give me a holler, you know where I am," he released me from his hold and opened the front door before turning back to me.

"Oh, and Bella, you do still have that pepper spray, don't you? You know, for if Dr. Cullen tries to get all handsy," he waved his hand in front of his face, imitating someone spraying pepper spray in an assailant's eyes.

I rolled my eyes at him and then answered, "Yes, dad, still in my purse like always."

"Just checking, you can never be too sure these days," he said while making his way down the porch.

"Goodnight, dad."

"Goodnight, Bells. Greenish brown female sheep," he smiled.

"Back at cha." I responded to his moment of affection before closing the door and locking it. Ever since I can remember, Charlie had never come right out and said 'I love you', always opting for the 'greenish brown female sheep' comment.

I headed back into the living room and gathered my phone off of the table, checking to see if I had any missed calls or texts.

When I scrolled through my texts, I found the one that made my phone jingle just as Edward arrived to my house earlier.

It wasn't from Edward at all. It was from Jake, asking me to call him before I went to bed. No chance in hell.

I turned off the lights and headed to bed, thoughts of Edward and him almost kissing me lulling me into a peaceful slumber.

JPOV

I sat at the table in Emily's kitchen, waiting for Sam to come out of the restroom so we could leave for the shop. Emily was just finishing up a batch of monstrous blueberry muffins when I noticed her eyeing me.

I knew the look. It was her I-want-to-tell-you-how-to-fix-it-but-don't-want-to-get-in-your-business look. I ran my hand through my hair and turned my attention to the back door just in time to see Claire coming in.

"Well, if it isn't the jack ass who broke my friend's heart. You look like shit this morning," Claire seethed.

"Claire, that's enough, he doesn't need you berating him," Emily chided.

"No, it's okay Emily. Claire can say whatever's on her mind. I deserve it," I told them, running both hands through my hair and closing my eyes, trying to prepare for the onslaught on her utterance.

"You're damn right you deserve it jack hole. Bella was too good to you, and for you to go romping around with that....that...skeeze, well, you deserve everything she throws at you. Literally," she huffed and plopped down in a chair across from me. "Why, Jacob? Out of all women, why Leah? You knew how Bella felt about her." Claire was now leaning over the table towards me, pleading with me to answer her.

But I couldn't find an answer in me. I had told them over and over that I hadn't done anything with Leah, but no one seemed to believe me, except Emily. Did they all doubt my love for Bella? Did they think I could honestly do that to the one woman I planned to spend the rest of my life with?

They didn't know about the ring, dip shit. And it has taken you nine years to finally get around to asking. What kind of idiot am I? Oh, right. The kind that lets the love of his life walk away and doesn't try hard enough to stop her. Yep. That's me.

I just stared at my hands in my lap, only looking up to see Emily place a cup of coffee and a plate with two muffins in front of me. She smiled apologetically at me. She seemed to understand more than the others. I had poured my heart and soul out to her the day I went to see Bella.

Emily sat and listened intently while I told her about how everything happened. I told her about Leah's advances, and our fight at the hospital. I told her about how the house was a desolate, godforsaken hole that held no allure to me with Bella gone. I yelled about Paul telling me about seeing Bella and the doctor at the coffee shop. About how she could just turn and run to him like what we were didn't matter to her anymore.

I cried to her, about how Bella rejected me at the book store, and how I gave her the ring I had bought for her, hoping that she could see that I wanted her no matter what. How Bella's hold on me was everlasting. That I would always want only Bella, and no other being would ever make me feel the things she did.

Emily never spoke while I was on my rant, letting me pour my heart out on the table between us. When I was done and I had nothing left to say, no more tears to cry, she finally offered a small piece of advice.

Try harder.

But how was I supposed to do that? I thought I gave her everything I had in me already. If only I had given her the ring sooner. If I had just made her listen.

Hell, I don't know. Kissed her in the rain, or some other gooey love sick crap like that. Girls dig that shit, right?

I tried calling her to talk, went by her job, hell, I even found where she was staying at now.

I just couldn't find it in me to go to the door though, for fear of looking like a psycho-stalker-ex-boyfriend. I settled for driving by at night sometimes just to make sure she was safe at home. Or at least that's what I kept telling myself.

I glanced at Claire to see her staring at me with an expectant look on her face. Well, I'd better say something, or she'll never just let me be.

"Claire, as many times as I've said it before, I really didn't do anything with-" I was interrupted by the back door opening.

Leah stood before us, her nose all different shades of broken with purple and blue bruises under her eyes, her hands on her hips.

"Damn, Leah haven't you ever heard of knocking? I don't know why you bother coming over here, you know none of us like you. Why don't you turn around and go get fucked up your-"

"Shut it, Claire. That's no way for you to talk to someone in my house. You need to apologize." Emily scolded.

"Like hell, I will. She's the reason that Bella's going through all this crap." Claire seethed, glaring at Leah. Undoubtedly Leah didn't realize, because she wouldn't pull her gaze away from me.

Emily rolled her eyes at her cousin. "Now," she turned to Leah, who was still staring at me with a mischievous grin on her face. "What do you need, Leah?"

Leah finally looked over at Emily, then cross her arms over her chest. "I just stopped by to tell Jake that I'm pressing charges on his ugly duckling. I talked to Charlie, that day that she attacked me in the restroom at the hospital and told him I wanted her locked up for what she did. After all, she started it."

I was pissed. How could she blame this on Bella? She had been taunting Bella for years. I clenched my fists under the table to try and hide my anger. I had never wanted to hit a woman like I did in that moment.

I glared at Leah, taking in large huffs of air, trying to calm my shaking body. I wanted to rip her throat out. I wanted to place her head between my giant palms and squeeze until her eyes bulged out of their sockets. Chill Jake, she's not worth it. And she's not the only reason Bella left you. You're at fault as well.

So help me, if there was nothing else I could do for Bella, I would make sure this bitch left her alone. She didn't deserve any of this.

Part of me, and it was a small part of me wished for the smallest second that I had never met Bella. Only because I had caused her this pain and now this…what did Claire call her….a skeeze..? was trying to get her thrown in jail for something that was totally caused by said skeeze.

I wasn't in the restroom when shit went down that day, but I knew Bella well enough to know she wouldn't start something like that without an ample amount of provocation.

"Message delivered, now, if that's all you came to say, then you can, uh, kindly get the fuck out," Claire stood, and started toward Leah, pointing towards the still open door.

Leah started backing away from Claire towards the door. She reached up and touched the tip of her nose and winced at the light pressure. Emily stood with her mouth hanging slightly open in shock at what was taking place in her kitchen.

She had never been one for confrontation or violence. Especially after the too close encounter with that grizzly bear four years ago. Luckily, Sam was able to push her out of the way in time to take the mauling for her. The bear only managed to claw his back once, tearing through some muscles, and leaving three distinct pink scars from the middle of his shoulder blade to the bottom of his rib cage. But nothing that was too bad, given the circumstances, according to Sam. Jared managed to shoot the bear dead in its tracks before anything major was damaged.

Sam came out pretty lucky, only having to stay in the hospital for three nights to make sure that he would be able to function still. They kept him doped up on pain meds for awhile, but he didn't seem to really mind the vacation from reality. Now it was a thing to laugh about, looking back on that horrid day. His kids liked to tell everyone that their dad wrestled with grizzlies. That was always a way to get wide eyes from people who didn't know the story.

I was brought out of my memories when I heard Sam coming down the hall. "Damn, Claire. I swear you drop more curse words than any sailor I've ever heard of. Now what's the cause for all the commotion?" Sam asked walking into the kitchen and taking in the scene in front of him. His eyes fixed on Leah, and all sense of humor left his being.

"You need to leave. Now." he glared at her.

"I was just doing that, no need to get your panties in a knot," she said before walking out the door. "See you later, Jake," she called over her shoulder just before Claire slammed it behind her.

"Sure, Jake, didn't do anything with her, huh? I'm not as stupid as you seem to think," Claire scoffed as she glared at me.

I ran a hand over my face and rose to my feet, ready to leave this place that had always been a comfort to me. "Well, it's been a pleasure, Claire, like always. Tell Quil I said what's up, will ya? Thanks Em, for the muffins and coffee." She nodded at me and offered up a small smile in apology for her cousins' crude comments. I turned for the front of the house, never so ready to get to work more than at that moment. Sam quickly followed suit after placing a chaste kiss on Emily's lips.

We drove to work in a comfortable silence, neither of us wanting to talk about the things that happened that morning. We made it to work just before Quil, and got started taking the front bumper off of an Audi A4. Apparently Dr. Gerander's wife didn't see the curb in front of her and ran over it, cracking the oil pan. It wasn't a hard task to replace it, just time consuming to get to.

We finished the car by lunch time, and headed over to the diner for lunch. I didn't really like going to eat there because it reminded me of the many nights Bella and I ate there with Charlie. It was just another reminder of the things that I had lost.

We sat down at a booth in the corner, waiting for Stacy to take our order.

"So, I heard Leah found you this morning," Quil started, I just rolled my eyes and buried my face in my arms on the table. "Pretty shitty what she's doin' to Bella. Pretty shitty what you both did to her," he mumbled the last part.

With that, my head snapped up out of my arms, and my fist came flying down on the table, hard.

"Dammit, Quil. I didn't do anything to Bella. She left me, remember? Or did you forget what you walked up on at the hospital? I'd never touch Leah, unlike you. I guess you forgot about that time a few years back when you were the one caught with her in that little cave on the beach, huh?"

Quil glared at me like he wanted to rip my head off, but I didn't care. He was making assumptions that he really knew nothing about.

"Let's just calm down, and enjoy our lunch, huh? No need to bring up anyone's past, I'm sure everyone has something in their closet they'd rather not put on display," Sam was trying to calm us down and stop us from making a scene, but I was already pissed.

"Yeah, I'm sure that's true. Seeing as it wasn't that long ago, you were the one with Leah. But no one needs to know about that, huh, Sam? Ya know, I don't get it. All of you have been with that whore, sometimes at the same time. I'm the only one who has never done anything with her. Yet, all of you get to keep your happy fucking lives with your wives and kids and I'm the one who loses it all. Doesn't make sense," I trailed off as I raked a hand through my hair and shook my head.

They both glared at me, along with other people who were trying to enjoy their lunches, but were interrupted by my outburst. Stacy came over warily and asked if she could get us anything, "No, I'm actually not that hungry now. In fact, I think I'll take the rest of the day off. I'm feeling pretty sick right about now," I looked at Sam, daring him to object, but he just looked away, and waved a hand at me dismissively.

I stood and walked to my truck without another glance or word to either one of them. I felt horrible about airing their dirty laundry, but it just wasn't fair. I couldn't stand being around all of them and their happy little lives in their happy little worlds with their happy little families. All the while my world was falling apart.

I drove around Forks, not really knowing where to go. I wasn't going back to work, and I sure as hell wasn't going back to the house. I only went there when it was absolutely necessary, which was when I was too tired to stand and needed to crash.

But there was a small solace in my solitude when I was there. Laying in bed at night, alone in the dark, clinging to her old pillow. I could still smell the scent of her, and it eased the ache that was ripping me apart deep in my chest. I was able to let go of the anger and hurt and just be, for a moment before I drifted off to dreams of our times together.

I didn't realize how fast I was going or the lights behind me until I heard the siren of a police cruiser. I looked down at my speedometer to see that I was doing fifty-five in a forty mile per hour speed zone. Then I glanced in my rear view mirror, only to be met with chocolate brown eyes, just like hers.

I took a deep breath and pulled over to the shoulder, not totally prepared for what Charlie would have to say to me. I rolled down my window and waited while he climbed out of his cruiser and walked up to the side of my truck.

"Jacob," he said, half way between his official police business tone and a friendly greeting.

"Chief," I said nodding my head slightly in his direction.

"Now what's this chief business Jake, you've always called me Charlie? And don't say it's because of your break up with Bella. I've already heard, trust me," he ran a hand over his face.

"Sorry Charlie, I just…figured you'd be mad at me like everyone else."

I cringed when I saw the look of pity set across his features. No, not the pity. I don't need pity right now.

"Well, you know Jake, I'm not everyone else. I know Bella. And I also know that she can overreact and make things worse than they really are. Like all this mess with Leah Clearwater. Can't believe that she'd pull somethin' like that, but between you and me; I'm glad to know Bella can handle herself," he gave a small chuckle, then furrowed his brow. "Speaking of which, Leah tells me you were there to see Bella attack her. Know anything about that?"

He was going from Charlie to Chief Swan, so I told him what I knew.

"No sir, I got there after everything started, and pulled Bella off of her. Paul saw, or heard, more than I did."

"Well, I'm not sure what I can do, but I'm not going to arrest my daughter for something this girl has been bringing on herself for years now. But anyway, I guess I'd better get out of here, my shift's almost over, then I'm heading out to see your dad. Slow down next time, Jake, no need to be in such a hurry. I'd hate to have to take you in for speeding," Charlie patted my window and turned to head back towards his cruiser.

I didn't know what to say, so I just gave him a simple thanks.

"Oh, and Jake, you know sometimes a little effort can go along way. Even with someone as stubborn as Bella." Before I could respond, he was in the cruiser and pulling back onto the road.

I sat there for a moment, not knowing what to make of his comment. Well, I knew what he meant, but what more could I do?

What was with everyone telling me to try harder?

I pulled back onto the road, and drove down to First Beach. This was one place where I could think about everything or nothing. I could be content to sit for hours, just me and my thoughts of Bella.

A/N: So, I hope that covered Charlie's POV as well as what Jake has been up to. Claire's a little feisty, no?

Song for this chapter: Suppose by Secondhand Serenade. And forgot one on the chapter when Jake went to the book store. That one was Life is for Living by Coldplay.

Once again, let me know what you liked, hated, you know the drill.

Also, if you didn't already know, Golden Lemon Awards is now open for voting. Lots of smutty smut smut that way, so if you're into that kind of reading you might want to head over there and cast your vote before Feb. 13. Lots of good stories nominated like CW&IA, Wide Awake, and many others. Just thought I'd let yall know.

Chapters may start taking a little longer after this coming week, Opening Ceremonies for T-ball are this coming Saturday, so I'll be busy, busy, busy.

Thanks for reading, and if you didn't get the 'greenish brown female sheep' it's olive ewe. (I love you)