Chapter 10

BPOV

When the bell sounded right after fourth period on Tuesday morning, I was the first person up and out of my biology class. Not that I didn't find the process of mitosis completely fascinating, but I had other things on my mind - much more personal things. By the time I made it to the East Wing girl's bathroom, I was practically hyperventilating, throwing myself on the sink, white knuckles gripping the porcelain basin like my life depended on it. I was making myself sick with worry, but I knew that it was time to end this. I couldn't avoid this any longer.

I had to have lunch with Jake.

I had originally promised 'tomorrow' after our little run in in the woods, but 'tomorrow' had soon turned into the day after, and that turned into the day after that and so on. And of course Monday wouldn't work; I was much too sore to walk, nonetheless go to school after the love making Charlie gave me all weekend. So, I had to make amends today, Tuesday, before Jake thought I was deliberately avoiding him. Which I was, but it wasn't like I was going to tell him that. If I truly wanted to put my past in the past and make my life better, then I was going to have to be the bigger person and suck it up. I could survive one lunch shift.

You can do this Bella, I told myself over and over like a mantra.

I was stronger now. I was the one calling the shots, not some weak little follower who lingered behind in her boyfriend's shadow. I had even dressed up in my battle gear for a little extra confidence, my glossy black stilettos making me feel powerful as I sashayed in front of the mirror. I wondered why I had never discovered the mini-skirt/high heel combo before. Dressing up like a skank was certainly liberating and thrilling all at once.

With one last swipe of my glossy red lipstick, I practically skipped out of the bathroom high on anxiety and adrenaline. I knew I was on the verge of running, of slipping on the waxy floors and breaking my ankles, but all I cared about was getting this lunch done and over with. And, you know, showing Jake who was really in charge in the process.

The cafeteria was not a sight for sore eyes, the dismal grey walls as dank and lifeless as ever. No one particularly liked school save for the few nerds that Eric hung out with. The rest of us were just biding our time before we were allowed to escape the hell that was Forks Washington. Now, however, I was starting to see its brighter side, and for the first time in forever, I didn't think I ever wanted to leave.

I didn't even give my "friends" a passing glance, not that I didn't notice the daggers being shot my way from Jessica or the disapproval radiating from Angela. I noticed them all, from the ogles Ben and Eric gave me to the catcalls from the wrestling jocks that wouldn't have spared me a passing glance in the past. The only difference now was that, unlike the past, now I really didn't give a damn. My only focus was the one sexually confused football player with gorgeously tanned skin leaning back in his chair at the table in the far end of the room.

All eyes were on me as I sauntered up to him, slinking down in my chair in a way that would've made every other guy in the room instantly hard. I still got Jake's attention, and his eyebrows rose to his hairline as he looked upon my little show. I could tell that he wasn't very interested, but that wasn't surprising. I tossed my hair over my shoulder and fixed my eyes on his wandering ones. He chose to look at the table, finding the graffiti carved by juvenile delinquents to be more fascinating at the moment.

"Long time no see," I started playfully, hoping to lift his downcast mood. No needing to make this feel even more like a funeral.

"Hey, what's up?" he finally asked, not quite sure of what to say. He looked like a nervous wreck; his hands were literally shaking as they fidgeted with the hem of his jacket.

"Nothing much, just the usual stuff. Biology can be killer."

"Yeah," he mumbled in response.

I was going on and on about my day, how obnoxious teachers were and how dare Mr. Sanchez give a pop quiz in Spanish when no one was prepared. All the while Jake was off in La La Land and I was starting to get annoyed with his distant behavior.

"Hey, are you okay?" I finally snapped, my delicate smile breaking to let out some of the anger that was coursing through me.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he murmured, but his tone indicated anything but. He still wouldn't meet my gaze longer than a few moments, and I knew, even being mad at him, that that was never a good sign.

"If you don't want me here just say so. I mean you're the one who wanted this little meeting in the first place…"

"No, it's not that! It's just…" his tone went from frantic to whispered in no time at all, and eyes were starting to shift back to us, but not in a good way this time. Whatever was about to happen, I personally did not want the entire school to know.

"Just what Jake?" I asked, a little impatient. Getting him to open up was like trying to get blood from a rock: impossible.

"Bella, can we go somewhere else to talk? Somewhere private? I have something that I need to tell you, something important."

The last time a conversation between us started with those words, we broke up. Now the effect was almost the same, a tantalizing, paralyzing sense of fear creeping down my spine and making my limbs go numb. I could feel the clouds of dread looming, and the déjà vu was becoming overwhelming.

"Why?" I asked, sounding far too much like the scared little girl I was a few months ago.

"Because…I just think it would be better if we were alone."

It was clear to me that Jake was just as much distressed as I was, and clearly my voice had raised a bit more than I'd thought over the past few minutes. Nearly a quarter of the cafeteria was starting to glance my way, and not the way I wanted. For the first time in a while, I felt just as insecure as I had a few months ago. And I hated it.

"Please," Jake tried again in a hushed tone, taking a once-over of the cafeteria as I had.

"Fine," I muttered, reaching to grab my things. I picked up my purse and slung it over my shoulder, leading a path out the double door and down the East Wing hallway. We stopped right in the middle seeing as though no one was out in the usually bust halls during lunch. It was both open and private, and the way I saw it, Jake was in no position to ask for anything more than that.

"Well, you have your privacy now. What do you want to tell me?"

"Bella, before we start our relationship again-"

"Jake, we aren't starting a relationship," I corrected him with a snap, setting him straight. He looked up at me like an apologetic, chastised puppy, clearly embarrassed with his choice of wording.

"That-that's not what I mean. I mean before we start this friendship or any relationship of any kind, I need to let you know something."

"Okay, what is it? What's the big deal?" I asked, waving my arms at the whole secrecy of this. Frankly it was all ridiculous, but then again, when wasn't it when Jake was involved?

"I was talking to my dad, and he said something about my past, something that really scared me…"

"Oh my god, you're not dying are you?"

My heart jumped to my throat. I knew that my dad's side had a history of cancer and when I learned that I was freaked out for months. If Jake had found out of some rare genetic disease…

"No, no," Jake was quick to assure me, and my petty fears quickly died. "This something has to do with you, actually more like your mom."

"What about my mom?" I asked, genuinely confused. My mom usually wasn't the topic of many civilized conversations.

"Bella, my dad knew your mom before we were born."

"Jake, I know that already," I replied, completely ticked that he had made all this fuss over something that wasn't even that big of a deal and ages old.

"No, I mean like he knew her, knew her. They were together once. I mean it was only one night. It didn't mean anything."

"Oh…well that's…awkward…does Charlie know?"

I honestly didn't give a shit about how my father reacted to my mother's sex life, but I really didn't know how else to respond. How is one supposed to react to the fact that their mother was sleeping with their best friend's dad back in the day? Now, that was a shocker, but I was still failing to see how this pertained to anything relevant.

"No, but that's not all."

I was silent, looking up at him patiently for an answer. He looked like he was about to pass out from nerves. I could tell he was running over something in that insipid brain of his, and rolled my eyes at his melodramatic performance. All this stalling was really starting to grate on my nerves.

"Bella…Renee was my dad's niece."

He had my attention then. All of it. And for the first time in forever I wish I had the power to delete knowledge like that know-it-all detective on that show my dad likes to watch.

"What?"

I stuttered, I know I did, but words were impossible to form, my mind working far too slowly. It was like I had short circuited, like I was trying to shut myself down before I caught the virus of the horrible news that was handed to me.

Jake's mouth was moving, but I couldn't hear a word. That mouth, the mouth that I had kissed time and time again. That mouth that I wanted on my most private parts. That mouth that I had fantasized about. The mouth of my…cousin.

"Oh. My. God. Oh my God," I know that I looked physically ill; I could feel all the blood draining from my face, my usually pale complexion almost a greenish color. "Jesus fucking Christ! You're my…we're…"

I couldn't finish the phrase, my throat bobbing up and down like I was about to vomit. And with the stone in it the size of a golfball, I was sure that I could.

Did everyone I love have to be fucking FAMILY!?

"Bella, it's okay, I promise-" Jake's voice finally registered in my ears, but it sounded like sandpaper, like all my worst nightmares, and I cringed away from him, all my senses on overdrive. I knew I was overreacting, but I think I had a right to be!

"No! Don't you touch me!"

I flinched away immediately, taking a good few steps back just in case he tried anyting. He looked like an utter wreck, eyes wide and knees shaking in trepidation and attempt to keep me calm. I'm sure he didn't want me causing a scene to the whole school again, but I just didn't give a damn.

"You disgust me! And you knew about this the entire time!" I shrieked, pulling my hands through my hair, willing it to rip. "Was this all some kind of sick fucking joke?"

"No! Bella I swear I didn't know a thing!" I heard him claim, begging for my understanding, but I couldn't. I just couldn't fathom this.

"Just like you swore you loved me!" I shot back, a low blow that really had nothing to do with anything, but it was the only ammo I had that I knew would get him off my back.

And it did. It worked like a charm. He literally stumbled back, blindsided by my words. And a part of me felt bad for ribbing him like that, but the other part of me, the more violated side, felt the need to cut him to ribbons.

"Come on Bella," he tried again, his voice weak and shaky with emotion. "Just calm down…"

"Don't tell me to calm down Jake! I'll be as uncalm as I want!" I shrieked in reply, a few students and teachers opening their doors at the sudden outburst. "You are a sick, sick bastard! And I hate you!"

There was a whole swarm starting to gather, slowly trickling out of the cafeteria and their tutoring lounges to watch the latest escapade. I was on display and thoroughly humiliated in every way, and never had I hated Jake more in my entire life. He was dead to me. He had used me and abused me in our relationship to cover up his sexuality, and now he dared to pull this? No, I was done. So beyond done.

"Bella, come on! Please…"

If I had been the Bella I was two months ago, then maybe I would've cut Jake some slack. Maybe I would've understood. But not anymore. Never again.

"Don't ever talk to me again Jake. Ever."

The sense of finality in my words was crystal clear. I could see it in the broken quality of his eyes as I turned and dashed away. I didn't turn around or look at a single soul until I reached the women's restrooms on the second floor. And even then I didn't do anything until the stall clicked shut behind me and I slumped back against it, mascara-stained tears running down my cheeks.

Fuck decency, I thought as I examined my face after what felt like hours of crying. I was obviously the furthest person from it.

JPOV

I was barely able to gather my thoughts as the sea of students flooded the halls, all blissfully unaware of the chaos that had just ensued moments prior. Completely ignorant of my universe beginning to crumble around me yet again.

There was nothing else I could do, nothing more I could tear down. No way this day could get worse. Bella had run from me like the plague, like she couldn't stomach the sight of me, and really who could blame her? She had every right to be outraged, to be disgusted. She was just as much, if not more of a victim in this situation than I was. But that didn't mean that it didn't hurt to see her flinch from my touch and run out of sight.

I was pissed off at myself, seething in self-loathing all the way to my locker bank. Why did I even tell her in the first place? Why did I have to do this, just as things were starting to get better?

Great Jake, you really fucked that one up!

My fist connected with my locker, all my pent up anger channeled into my painfully balled fist. The voice in my head was just taunting me, making me feel like the world was coming to an end.

Your first chance at redemption, and you land that on her! She'll never accept you now!

But I never could've started that relationship over again with a secret that big looming over my head. I decided that, if things were to go back to normal, then Bella and I would have to start from the ground up, and that meant nothing left unspoken. I knew that things wouldn't be peaches and cream, but the way she looked at me…

I fought back the urge to scream. Kids were staring, looking on at me with terrified eyes at my bewildered expression. My knuckles were screaming in pain; I was sure that I had fractured something, the expanse of the hand lined with blood, skinned and raw. I had dented my locker, the metallic blue paint evident in my torn flesh. I hope I had my tetanus shot updated. I didn't need to die via locker any time soon.

There was a commotion around me, the small crowds parting a bit to let the few administrators that had surely been called down through. I cleared out before they turned the corner, grabbing what I had come for and slamming my locker shut behind me. I practically ran to Statistics class, hood of my sweatshirt pulled down over my head until my face was barely visible. Thank the lord Mrs. DuBois didn't care whether or not we paid any attention to the lesson. I think she hated teaching Statistics just as much as I hated learning it.

The rest of the day crept by at an uncomfortable pace. By the time the bells rang for dismissal, I was practically twitching, itching to get out of that God-forsaken hellhole. I could practically feel eyes on the back of my head the entire day, feeding my embarrassment. My cheeks had to be blood red, blushed with anger and rage at my own callous stupidity. They had a right to laugh at me, to look and whisper.

Here I was, the guy who managed to fuck just about everything up, and now the entire school knew that Bella and I were fighting. Perfect.

I was just so done. The trip to my car could not have been longer, but no, there had to be one more distraction tying me down to those horrible school grounds.

Normally, seeing my to die for boyfriend leaning up against my car like an Abercrombie model would make me ridiculously giddy, but today it only furthered my irritation. He had no right to just show up, all flawless with his perfect, carefree life and rub it in my face.

"Hey babe," he nodded my way, lowering his shades to reveal flirtatious golden eyes. So he had no idea what was going on. That was at least one small blessing.

"Not in the mood Edward," I grumbled as I pushed past him, clearly startled. I never used his full first name, not even when we were being serious, and he definitely picked up on that.

"Okay," all the flirt had slipped from Edward's tone and all that remained was a cautious concern. That didn't help at all. I wasn't some out of control animal that had to be talked out of over reacting.

"Babe, what's happened?" he asked, voice as soft and mellow as a blanket.

"Nothing. Everything's fine, so just stop asking would you?"

I was shorter than I had ever been with Edward, and he was definitely feeling the cold breeze. He got into the cab of my truck after me, watching me carefully the entire way. I knew he wanted to ask why I had just thrown my bags in the back of the truck carelessly, why I had slammed the door shut, why I was glaring at my radio like it had personally offended me. But he kept his lips pursed and his eyes sharp, taking in everything that he wanted to see. He'd never see what was really going on, not with as many walls I was throwing up now. I just wasn't ready to talk, not yet.

"Babe, you're worrying me…" Edward started again carefully as I turned the keys in the emission probably much too sharply. Thank God the key didn't snap in my shaking hands. He just didn't know when to shut up did he?

"Jesus Edward would you just let it go!" I shouted, punching the gas and tearing out of the parking lot.

The effect was immediate, his mouth snapping shut in a hurt frown; the only sound now was the squealing of my burning tires. I knew that I probably should not be driving in my distressed condition, but I needed the risk, the high of the speed. I would drown out all my anger in adrenaline, because that was always the smart move, right?

"What is your problem Jake?!" Edward snapped at me after I took a turn far too quickly, nearly flipping us over the cliff side. "Are you trying to kill us?"

I didn't reply, only grinning manically. I didn't care what happened, not right now.

"Pull over Jake, pull over now!" Edward bellowed, trying to grab the wheel from me. I shoved him back forcefully, my knuckles clenched over white as I held on tightly.

"Get the fuck off me!"

In my distraction I nearly swerved into the other lane, two seconds away from colliding with the other driver had Edward not yanked on the wheel again, putting us jerkily back on course.

"PULL OVER NOW!" he ordered, no love or tenderness in his command. "Or I'll do it by force!"

Maybe it was his tone, usually so easy and loving now laced with venom and hatred, that scared me. Or maybe it was two near death experiences within five minute. But either-or I did as Edward said and pulled over, my mind immediately sobering as we slowed. Edward refused to look at me, and as soon as we hit the shoulder and I placed the truck in park, he was out and slamming the door behind him.

"Edward, wait…" I tried, suddenly feeling very weak.

What the fuck did I do now?! I felt nauseous, and as I jumped out of the car after him, my knees nearly buckled underneath of me. God I really am a fucking IDIOT!

Edward was already a few yards ahead of me, storming away like his life depended on it. And really who could blame him? I mean, I did nearly kill us both in my stupidity.

"Edward, please, just wait!"

I reached out to him, running to catch up. But when I finally touched his shoulder, he spun away from me.

"Get away from me Jacob!"

Ouch. That hurt worse than any other insult he could throw. He never used my full name, not even when we were just introduced or starting out as friends. I was always Jake, and the fact that he used Jacob really meant I had fucked up, possibly past the breaking point.

"Please! Just let me explain-"

"No!" he cried, piercing me with the frostiest gaze I have ever experienced. Even my blood ran cold, my heart stopping in my chest. "I don't know what the hell is going on with you, but that does not give you free reign to put my life at risk because you can't control your own fucking emotions!"

"I know, and I'm sorry! I don't know what came over me! I just-"

"Just nothing!" He replied with manic fervor, cutting me off at every turn. He took a step back, running his hands through his hair, pulling it painfully as he grunted in frustration. "Look, I love you, I really do, but I can't be around you right now."

I lied. Those words hurt the most out of all the others. I literally felt my heart crumbling, dying inside me. I reached out instinctually, every primitive nerve in my body telling me to hold on to Edward and never let him go. But Edward was tightly coiled now, like a snake, and I knew if I pushed him too far then he would bite me. What we had would be poisoned, and no one would help me suck out the venom this go round.

"Edward…" I tried weakly, tears pricking in my eyes. I took a step forward, but as I advanced he took three more steps back.

"No, Jake. I just need some space to think."

He raised his hands in a sign of finality, and turned to go again, not even making eye contact. He slung his pack over his shoulder and sauntered away. It was miles to his house yet, but I was sure that he would rather walk than get back in a car with me.

I didn't know how long I stood there, looking after him. Long enough to see him vanish over the hilly road. Long enough for the rain to start and soak me to the bone.

CPOV

This is it. I am going to die. I am sure of it.

Because today is Tuesday, and Tuesday means my non-refundable date with the Devil. And God as my witness, I honestly did try to get out of this little "tour". I tried to pull every excuse in the book, but Evie was just so God-dammed persistent. Every curve ball, every little change or hiccup I threw at her she seemed ready to accommodate.

I tried the whole doctor's appointment gag and she said she would be more than willing to wait. I told her Bella had to be picked up from school because her car had broken down and she seemed more than thrilled to go with me and meet her. I had even told her that I felt sick and she had volunteered to come over to my home and deliver the daily reports by hand. Nothing worked.

And it was starting to drive me up a wall. It was as if I could not shake her, which usually would not bother me – the attentions of a beautiful young woman are what every single middle-aged man dreams of – and a few months ago I would jump at the chance to get a piece of that ass. But now I had Bella, and Bella made me happy. More than that I made her happy for what seemed like the first time in months, and I was not going to scrap that away on a whim for a blonde with the sex appeal of a porn star.

So I decided to cut this little tour as short as possible. I nearly broke all the speeding laws and cut every back alley corner around town in order to make the ride a quick one. I kept my hands at ten and two as I rattled off facts and stats about Forks in a monotone, my eyes never veering from the road. And for a while, that was working: cold and unattached. That was until Evie decided she needed to take a rest stop.

That was how I ended up here, in the parking lot of a 7-11 in the middle of the morning. The radio was blasting something God-awful, but it drowned out the noise of the gas pumps and hoodlums pumping up their stereos. My fingers tapped against the cold leather of the steering wheel as I waited in absolute misery for Evie to finish up whatever it was she had to do here. She had no idea how much she was interfering with my plan.

It's okay Charlie, I told myself over and over again. You'll be out of here soon and back in Bella's arms in no time. Just a few more hours…you can do this.

"Yoohoo!" came a high-pitched soprano from outside. Evie's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, her fist gently rapping on the car window, telling me to unlock it. I did so, letting her flounce in with a wide smile, her cheeks flushed from the cold. She held a tray of coffee in her hands, pointing it towards me.

"Here, I thought you may want your daily cup," she offered generously.

"Thank you," I managed professionally, clearing out my throat before reaching out. Our hands brushed as I placed mine on the container, and she immediately looked up at me. Startled by her eye contact, I pulled back, not knowing she had already let go.

"Oh!" Evie cried as she dropped the cup of coffee in her hand, the hot contents splashing right on my legs.

I tried my best to cover up a shout of pain, the drink searing through my skin and making it burn like fire. But a hiss of pain still made it through, and Evie's eyes widened like saucers. She immediately turned in her seat, scrambling to look for something to dab the coffee up with.

"Oh my word, Chief Swan I am so sorry! I didn't mean to –"

"It's alright Evie. It's fine. Things happen," I assured her, waving away her hands currently dabbing far too close to my crotch for my liking.

"No, no I got it. It's the least I can do," she replied rather sternly at my attempt to get her away. She continued her blotting, inching closer and closer to the one place I could not afford to have her go.

I tried, I really did, to hold in all my complaints, my tension at the building subtle pressure around my groin. But I could not control my biology, and as her delicate wrist brushed over my crotch, I couldn't help but to rear up a little. My face immediately blanched as soon as the moment passed and she immediately froze in place.

I could've had a heart attack. That was a hundred percent unprofessional. Should she complain, I could lose my job in the blink of an eye. Technically it could be assault.

But she didn't say a word. No, she just fixed me with those wide doe eyes, pupils blown and locked on mine. The tension was so tight I swore that I couldn't breathe, or maybe that was just over the anxiety of throwing my career away. I swallowed thickly, my throat suddenly dry under her intense stare, and I saw her eyes rake to my Adam's apple. She was breathing just as heavily as I was, though I had no idea why. She was acting as if I was the one who was the wild card instead of the other way around, and I was legitimately confused.

Until she came hurtling towards me in a blur of blonde. I could barely register what was happening until I felt her lips crash against mine, her lip-gloss acting like an adhesive, gluing her to me. Trust me, I found that out as I tried to pull away, but she refused to let me go, clinging to my uniform and honest to God purring into my mouth.

The more I tried to pull away, the further she encroached into my space. I was literally surrounded by her with no way out. I was trapped in this car, surrounded by her perfume, by her shampoo. Everything that smelled so intoxicatingly like Evie was drowning me, and I was losing the fight, giving into my instincts. Even my rationality, my conscience screaming at me to remember my beautiful daughter waiting for me back home was losing out to this succubus before me. I was like a wolf in heat; only Evie's body would be able to satisfy me at this point.

I started to kiss her back, and she sighed against me, deepening the kiss. Holy fuck the things that she could do with her tongue! Just the taste of it sent a jolt of arousal straight to my crotch. And in no time she was straddling me, pulling at my buttons, nails clawing into my biceps.

And Jesus I wanted her; I wanted her so badly. And in that moment nothing was going to stop me from having this sensual, sumptuous woman. This was purely physical, and I was a physical man. Evie would give me the ride of my life. I was counting on that.

She smiled wickedly at me, reclining the seats, lowering us from view. The glass was already fogging with our heated breaths, and I prayed no onlookers got a little too curious as to the shaking car in the back of the parking lot. No need to arrest myself for public indecency.

A/N: And so yeah. I know that a lot of you saw that whole Charlie/Evie thing coming. But hey, I promise that this isn't the end of Bella and Charlie; they're not gonna have some super mushy stereotypical make up though. In fact shit is just gonna start to get really crazy. So please don't get pissed off at me and unfavorite/unfollow this story because I've killed your Bella/Charlie feels. Because this story is FAR from over.

So just to avoid conflict:

BELLA'S WARDROBE IN NO WAY MEANS THAT I THINK THAT WOMEN WHO WEAR SHORT SKIRTS AND HIGH HEELS ARE INDECENT PEOPLE. THAT IS NOT MY OPINION.

I put a little 'Sherlock' reference in there, to anyone who picked up on it :) Season 3 has become my life.

And there may or may not be another update soon. It just depends on if time lends itself to me. I'm going to try and update once every two or three months if I can. I'm sorry about that, I truly am. Maybe if I get more time it could be once a month? I'm not really holding out on that though, just because I know me and I know my work ethic on these things. That and college really doesn't give a shit about fan fiction when it comes to exams and home work :p

So yeah, hope you enjoyed that long, plot moving chapter :) Hope to see you all marvelous, wonderful, beautiful people soon! And please leave reviews. They are what inspire me to continue this story even through the stress of my life!