an: You guys were due a chapter yesterday my deepest apologies--trust me having two jobs and re-registering for school is unpredictable like thatso to make itup I just tweeked some things and combined two chapters in one so this is a long one. Enjoy ^_^
Better in Time
Chapter Ten::::
EDWARD P.O.V
I put the gas guzzler in park and pull the key from the ignition and am greeted to the sight of my ice blonde sister standing in front of my side window with her fists glued to her hips like some Amazon woman
"Ah!" I yelp at the at first glimpse horrifying sight
"Relax," I hear her say knocking on the glass
I open the door laughing madly and she looks none too pleased
"What you don't recognize your own sister anymore?" She says hotly
"No, Rose it wasn't that you just caught me by surprised. Come here." I say opening my arms and she gives in and we share the much needed hug. I smell her hair as we embrace and I know it's still the same old sis with her raspberry smelling blonde locks.
"I'm so happy you're here," She says softly as we pull away
"I needed to see you; I just wish I had come sooner rather than later." I say smiling looking ather face seeing that she still looks exactly the same that spunky look about her with this almost invisible gaze of the sweetheart she really is deep down inside.
"Come on, I cooked." She says and takes my hand and drags me into the house.
***
I walk in and things still look the same. I can't believe I'm even back here after all these years, it still smells the same as it did the day we left and everything is as we left it when we did our mad dash out of town. I remember while packing Esme was raiding the kitchen getting everything otu the drawers and cabinets and she knocked over the measuring cups held up on a nail against the wall the quarter cup measuring cup is still on the counter knocked over on it's lonely side frozen in time. I reach over and stand it up smiling at how I could remember such a small detail
"Hmmhmm." Rosalie says clearing her throat
"What's that good smell?" I ask turnign my attention back to Roaslie's cooking
"Guess." She says smiling going over to the stove with her oven mitts on
"Lasanga?" I ask confidently
"Of course, and it's even got the mini meatballs in it like how Esme taught me--the real Bolongnese way," Rose says taking the steaming dish from the oven and setting it on a cooling rack
"Do we have to wait for it to cool or can we just tear into it right away?" I ask
"Well, any good cook would tell you that one should wait in order to let all th flavors come together but...since your family..." She says and pulls out two forks
"So what no fancy checkered table cloth or a homecoming banner?" I says sarcastically taking one of the forks from her hands and plunging it into the dish and taking out a fat piece and shoving it into my mouth...ouch....
"Woah...that was smart." Rose says giggling
"Fuck! my tongue! Water!" I gasp running mouth first into the faucet and sucking on the top of it to get some relief from the searing pain.
"Haha, good luck that faucet doesn't work the only place where I'm getting water is the upstairs bathroom." Rose says damn near red from laughing
I don't waste anytime and haul my ass up the stairs running at a frantic pace and I can stil hear Rose cackling from downstairs. I bolt down the hall on the second level and into the bathroom and suck the faucet head as water streams from it and I know the damage is already done but it still feels good. After getting enough I wipe the water from off my mouth and examine my tongue in the mirror...yikes! There's a brown scar on my tongue and it feels like it's throbbing now...thanks sis. I exit the bathroom and walk back down the hall and again the memories come flooding back and I feel like I'm a kid again running down the halls chasing my brothers and giggling. I look to the right and see my bedroom...the door's closed and I feel a bit apprehensive while stroking the doorknob and finally I just decide to enter inside and I look around and see just a white room with a white sheetless bed and nothing else just the huge glass window giving way to the outside world. The room is so dark, I remember when light used to always stream in and I'd go to the window and look out and wonder if ther was anyone out there who I could bond with...someone like me. This room used to be my solace and a source of escape, I'd come here after school and listen to Debussy records on my bed and looking outside and enjoying the bucolic nature of the house my parents provided us with--they used it to protect us. They could've easy chosen to have us live in bustling Seattle but they chose Forks because it was safe and away from the prying eyes of those who judge.
"Edward?" I hear Roslie call from the hall
"I'm ok, I'm in my room." i call back and I hear her footsteps move closer and closer till she comes in
"I should've known you'd be in here...I know it looks kinda eery doesn't it?"Rosalie says
"Yeah...everything's so...bare." I say
"Well, I'm gonna renovate the place soon so--
"I thought you were broke?" I says raising an eyebrow
"Well...when the parentals decide to letme back into theloop I'll fix the place up..." Rose says softly
"You were never cut off." i explain
"Yeah...right. I take it when Carlise left me a message on my phone saying 'I'm just not proud of the woman you've become' it's kinda a red flag." Rose says
"He was just frustrated--after the second wedding dad and all of us just kinda got sick of it...you know." I say
"Oh, so it's my fault I'm so stupid for falling in love! Well maybe I wouldn't be so messed up if when growing up Carlise and Esme could've shown me one ounce of theaffection they did you--or Alice or Emmett or Jasper! I've always been the family piraha just because I didn't like the idea of not having a childhood--you had it different cause you were younger. But for me when dad was just starting his 'empire' we'd go from country to country every day! I had classmates from every country--my first words were in Thai for goodness sakes!" Rose laments
"I know...it wasn't fair but you know when we moved here they wanted to leave all that in the past." I explain
"It still wasn't right...no child should have to be thrust into the same occupation as the parents which is why I think you're making a huge mistake doing the same thing dad's doing. Why not just be a regular doctor?"
"Rose, I help people for a living how selfish of you--
"Selfish of me? What about when you have a family have you ever thought about the price they're gonna have to pay for you putting others first?"
"I really don't wanna talk about this Rose I just got here, my flight was hellish and all I wanna do it-
"Fine! Ignore it...let it linger just like the way mom and dad did until shit hits the fan." Rose says and slams the door as she leaves
Why had I just assumed her fiesty temper was a thing in the past. I wasn't really prepared to be layed into the second I got here...my shoes are still on and my bags aren't even out of my car yet...that reminds me I gotta do that.
BELLA P.O.V
The nervousness is finally settling in. Charlie. I can't wait to see dad. His face will be something so priceless I'm sure this is gonna be amazing to see his face finally....
"Knock already." Jason says blowing into his hands to try and stay warm
I knock on the door three times and wait and then I knock somemore
"His car is here..." I say softly and knock on it a bit harder
Finally the door swings open and out comes Charlie with a shotgun in his hand
"Who is it--Bella!?" Charlie says stunned
"Dad...?" I say scarred
"...Mr. Swan please don't hurt us." Jason says stuttering
"What are you guys doing here?" Charlie asks putting the gun down
"Dad we wanted to surprise you...surprise!" I say
"Well geez ya could've called first...ummm come in," Charlie says and opens the door.
I kind of wasn't expecting that kind of reaction but alright...
"Excuse the mess, I wasn't really expecting company." Charlie says
I cannot believe the sight I am beholding the entire house looks like it's been over run by frat boys. There's takeout containers and boxes on every open orfice, stacks of newspapers piled up, clothes thrown around and the dishes are almost touching the ceiling in the kitchen. Jason and I dont'say anything as we take a seat on the couch on top of some clothes.
"So, how are you guys doing?" Charlie asks taking a seat on the recliner and dowing a sip of his beer can
"Umm, well we're engaged as you know and I'm doing the reporter thing, that's pretty much it you?"
"Same old...work constantly...and ah, the game." Charlie says with a loud burp
"Cool...well, you know the other day when you called you got me thinking how I should be coming to spend more time with you and so...we came. We'll be here all weekend." I say
"That's just wonderful." Charlie says sounding not all that enthused. Me and Jason just sit uncomfortably on the couch as Charlie shouts at the television
"You gotta make that!" CHarlie screams
"Who's playing?" Jason asks making conversation
"Friggen Mariners--losing again. I give up." Charlie says
The phone starts to ring
"Um you gonna answer that dad?" I ask
"No." He says sounding slightly angered
"Dad is everything ok?" I finally ask
"Of curse, what could be wrong my baby girl's getting married and now she's here visiting her old man out of the blue, how could I feel bad?" Charlie says and belches
"Alright well, it was long flight so is it ok if I settle in early?" James says
"Sure...um, Bella you wanna take your room?" Charlie asks me
"Yeah, um James hon I'll go show you where my room is." I say and escort James up to my room. The pathway there was littered in just mess and I fret to see what has become of my room but when I open the door it looks exactly the same.
"Wow...there's no change." I say walking in with James
"I don't know what's up with my dad...I just can't understand." I say sitting on the edge of the bed just letting it settle in
"Has he always been like that?" James asks unpacking the suitcase
"No! You know he's not you've seen him before. He's been the opposite he's always working and if he's not working he's talking about working--I just don't know, maybe he's just lonely." I say feeling the regret in my voice
"Yeah, this does seem like an easy place to get lonely." Jason says taking off his shirt
"Yeah it is..." I say
"I'm gonna crash you joining?"
"No, I'm gonna go backk down stairs and keep Charlie company maybe he'll open up some." I say getting up
"Alright babe."
****
"Jason clocked in early?" Charlie says holding his beer can in his hands
"Yeah...the flight was a bit long." I say taking my place back on the couch
"Yeah, what was the length 4/5 hours?" Charlie asks
"5 and a half," I add
"Goodness. Yeah know I really appreciate this kido you coming over and seeing your old man like this I'm just mad I didn't clean the place up a bit...you're room's just how you left it." Charlie says
"Yeah, I noticed and I don't mind the mess dad." I say smiling
Despite my dad's mess I am just so happy to be home finally. I just needed to geet back to my roots. After all my years out East in New York I still don't feel completely at home yet, at least here I feel comfortable there's no pressure here just familiarity.
"Dad, I love you." I say smiling but I don't hear any response
"Dad?" I ask again
"Dad!" I scream louder and the next thing I hear is a loud snore...he's knocked out on the couch with his beer still glued to his hand. I shake my head slightly and get up and remove the beer can from his hand. As I move to the kitchen to put the can in the garbage the phone starts ringing but I let the machine get it and hear a man's voice on the other end
"Hey Charlie it's me Sully just calling to check in on you, the station hasn't been the same without you...just wanted you to know. If you want I got tickets to the seahawks game let me know if you want in...alright so just give me a ring back."
I raise an eyebrow confused, what does he mean left the station? I put the can in the garbage and rach down and pick up one of the pieces of paper in the garbage
"Notice of Termination..." I read aloud and see it's dated from yesterday and read the two weeks notice at the bottom. What in the hell? I crumple the paper out and run out to the living room
"Dad!" I scream and hit him in the shoulder to wake him up
"What-what?" Charlie says waking up
"How did you get fired!" I scream
"Bella, what are you talking about I'm chef for goodness sakes go to sleep." Charlie says
"Dad I saw the termination letter in the garbage," I say trying to keep my frustrations in
"Look..we'll talk about it in the morning." Charlie says
"No...what happened? Dad what's going on talk to me!" I demand crying hysterically
"Bella, this has nothing to do with you just worry about your own career I'm doing fine." Charlie says
"Fine!? You don't have a job--you lived for being a police officer how is that now gone?"
"Bella...it's a long story please let's just--call it a night." Charlie says trying to calm me down
"Dad...I feel so guilty." I say with tears streaming down my face
"Bella, just...relax!" Charlie screams
I just look at him disgusted and run away
"Bella wait, I'm sorry I didn't mean to scream but this--
"I can't stand the sight of you!" I say grabbing the car keys from Jason's coat and leaving the house slamming the door.
I don't know what i'm doing but I can't stay here at least not now. There's too many toxic thoughts circulating around my mind waiting to make their deceptive move. I hop into the car and start up the car and fly out and onto the road. I can't even think right now...Charlie's not a cop anymore, what in the heck could he have possibly done! Charlie's not a corrupt cop...no! Never, he can't be fired...this can't be happening. I look up and see I'm heading east and away from Forks, the only thing east of Forks that I know of is...Edward's house. What am I subconciously moving towards the Cullen's house...why? The thing's been abaoned for years I'd think...the Cullens left like theives in the night last time I was here. I continue heading out East and I can start seeing the outshadowing of their mansion from the road. I move up the winding road not really wanting to move any closeer to it but then I look closer and see...lights on.
