Chapter 10
Air stings my throat and fills my lungs as I take a deep breath. I've decided to tell Charlie everything. Well, not everything everything. But I'm going to tell him what's been going on. I don't know how he'll take it. Maybe he'll send me to a psychiatric ward. But, I have Alice and Sam. They're going to come in and prove that what I'm saying is true. Shaking, I walk up to the front door of my home, feeling as though it'll eat me. I put my key in, and turn the knob. Charlie's on the couch watching baseball.
"Hey Dad," I call softly, gulping.
"Yeah Bells? How's Sam?" he asks.
"Sam's good," I say, "But Edward's not. Neither is Jacob," I say.
"Oh?" he says.
"I need to talk to you," I say, and something in my tone gets him to turn the TV off and bid me sit down.
I look down, then back up at him again.
"Just listen to me
okay? You can say whatever you want later, but just listen," I say.
He nods.
I gulp. Quick moment decision. I'm not going to work him up to it, I'm just going to come out and day it.
"Fairy tales exist. Edward's a vampire. So are the rest of the Cullens. Jacob's a werewolf, and so are most of the Quilete boys. Sam is too," I sat, getting it out.
"Bella-," Charlie starts.
"No, I said listen, you can call me a psycho later. It's true. There are legends," I say, telling him every legend I've heard.
I tell him about my first day at school, his reaction to me. I tell him about how I found out he was a vampire, the trip to the beach, the conversation we had in the city. I don't leave out the part about me getting mugged. I tell him how Edward saved me from that car crash. Next I tell him all about vampires. About how the Cullens are vegetarians, about their powers, about Victoria and Laurent and James. I don't mention that Edward came to my room every night. I tell him about Edward going to the Volturi. Charlie pales, but he listens.
Next I tell him about werewolves, about how I found out Jake was a werewolf, and I told him how the legends applied. I told him about the bears being the Quiletes, and how they protect everybody from the vampires who aren't vegetarians. I tell him about the Treaty. I tell him how Jacob's imprinted on me, about how I love him, and we're together.
Finally, I decide it's time to tell him what has happened recently. I tell him about how Victoria came back for me, about how Edward left, about how I went to Alaska with Jacob, about how when we came back Victoria was here, about how Edward and Jacob were hurt very much so.
That's when Alice and Sam suddenly appear next to me. Charlie's eyes go wide.
"How?" he asks.
"I told you, they're not human," I say.
Alice smiles at him, touches his arm. I bet Charlie realizes now how cold her skin is.
"Hello Charlie," she says, "You know, I can't see your reaction, because Sam's here, but I can see later, and you'll accept this, so why don't you just start now. I'm not normal Charlie, and neither is Sam over here."
Charlie just nods.
"It's true Charlie," Sam says, "Come with me, I want to show you something."
Charlie shakes his head, but still follows Sam into the back yard. Sam explodes into a giant wolf right in front of us. Charlie's eyes go even wider. Sam goes behind a tree and comes back human again.
"Do you believe me Dad?" I ask.
"Yeah, I do," Charlie says, mesmerized.
We walk back into the house, with Alice in the lead. It's her job to break the news to Charlie. We all sit on the couches. Me and Alice are on one, Sam is on another, and Charlie's in his.
"So, Charlie, is you schedule free on Saturday?" she asks.
He nods.
"Now, Bella tells me you don't like to dress up, but will you please where a black coat and tie?"
"What for?" he
asks.
Alice takes a breath, "Edward's not really hurt.
Edward's dead."
Charlie goes the color of parchment.
"I'm so sorry,"
he says, "I know I was hard on him, but I didn't want him to die.
I-"
"It's ok. Just come ok?" she asks.
Charlie nods again.
"I think we'll leave," Sam says.
"I'll be at Jake's, ok? He's really hurt," I say.
He nods again.
We all leave him with what he has just learned.
