Disclaimer: I own nothing! All characters belong to SM.

Chapter Twenty

Bella Age: Seventeen

Year: May 2013

Every step Bella took away from Edward broke him a little more. He hadn't meant for her to feel like this, he hadn't meant for her to be walking away from him. When she told him she loves him he felt like a weight had been lifted and he felt the sun had begun to shine on their happily ever after, but now? Now, he felt hopeless.

She just needs air, give her space. Everything will be fine.

Edward needed to calm himself before he went after her. He wasn't sure why she felt like he had taken her choice away, he was trying to protect her. Hell, he was trying to give her a choice to walk away from him.

But you weren't honest with her about your feelings, Edward. You went to her parents, everyone knew how you felt… except for Bella.

His conscious was right. Edward was scared to tell Bella how he felt, not because she was young or because she was still in high school, but because he was scared of rejection. He went to her parents first because he knew they would want him to wait, but they never told him to wait to tell her he had feelings, just to not act on them until she was 18. He was terrified that Bella would tell him to leave her alone and he can't stand the thought of her being uncomfortable around him or feeling hurt by him.

Fuck, he screwed up and he wasn't sure how he could make it better.

Sighing, Edward stood up from Bella's bed and walked down her stairs. He wasn't sure where she went, and that worried him.

That was a problem too.

He didn't need to know where she was at every moment, he didn't need to know unless she wanted him to know. He loves Bella, and he knows he needs to trust her judgment on her own life.

XXX

Bella wasn't sure where she was going, she didn't even know when she would be back. She took her new jeep, which was an early birthday present, and just drove.

How dare Edward or anyone think they have more control of her life than she does? Does she not get a say in what happens between her and Edward, if there is going to be something? Does Edward realize how bad this felt for her?

Of course he does, you know he just wants to do what's best. He didn't want to—

What? He didn't want to scare her away? Was that not her choice either? Her thoughts were swimming in a fog that she could barely breathe.

Bella hadn't realized where she was going until she was already there. There was this little spot that Edward and taken her to when she was younger that overlooked the ocean. It was just five miles away from La Push so Edward could go, but was far enough that she could sit and think.

Bella pulled to the shoulder of the road and parked her car. She couldn't drive to the spot, but it was only a half mile away from the interstate.

XXX

"Where's Bella?"

Edward had just walked into the living room when Rosalie jumped out of nowhere.

"She needed time to think."

"So you told her?"

"She—yes. I told her everything." Edward didn't want to talk about Bella's feelings to anyone until he could talk to her.

"What do you mean by everything?" Emmett came up behind his wife and pulled her into his arms.

Edward felt a pang of regret in his stomach as he watched the two hold on another. Maybe had he treated Bella like she wasn't just a pawn in his life he could be holding her like that right now.

"I told her how I felt and about our agreement."

"Why does she need to think, then? Does she not feel the same?" Rosalie asked, already knowing how her daughter felt.

"She is upset that she was the last to know. She feels like we took her choice away by not being the first to know. It makes sense. I should have talked to her right away, maybe not tell her how much I love her but told her I had feelings for her and she and I should have made a plan."

"We are glad you came to us, but you were not the only one at fault. We, well specifically me, asked you to wait. We do appreciate that you did, but we all messed up in this situation." Emmett let go of Rosalie and went to hug Edward. It was one of those hugs that people do when they don't want to get too emotional, but enough to show they care.

"Exactly, we all fucked up." Rosalie picked up her phone, "Maybe I should call her?"

"Just give her a few more minutes, she just left." Edward said, he wasn't going to intrude on Bella's alone time, even if her party is getting ready to start.

"Yeah, he's right, babe. Just give her five more minutes then call her, I'm sure she is very hurt. You know how Bella gets, she likes to process things before she talks." Emmett kissed Rosalie's forehead and led her to the kitchen.

Edward knew Bella told him thirty minutes, but he wasn't going to try to stop Rosalie from calling her daughter, but he wanted to make sure she was okay too and he wasn't about to give her any less than the 30 minutes she asked him for.

XXX

The air was calm and the sun was high in the sky. Bella had taken off her heels and was now barefoot. She would go from sitting on a log to pacing. She wasn't even sure how long she had been there, she didn't have cell reception out here so she kept her phone in the car along with her shoes.

Bella loved this spot more and more each time she went. It was the most relaxing place and it was easy for her to get lost in her thoughts. She wasn't exactly sure how she felt, but she did know she was upset with her parents and Edward. Edward could be a gentleman, but when it came to things he wanted he went straight for it, so it was odd for Bella that he went around her and to her parents instead. On the other hand, maybe he was trying to do things slower and with more care. But then why did her parents make him not tell her his feelings if they knew how she felt, because she knew they knew. It was plain as day on her face and emotions, it was surprising that Edward didn't see it.

She stood up from the log and stared out into the ocean below her. She knew she wasn't mad at anyone, she knew everyone was doing what they thought was best. She was hurt that no one trusted her enough to tell her about what was all going on. They didn't trust her to make her own decisions.

Belle let the stillness settle over her as she sat back down on the log. It was peaceful and quiet, so quiet that Bella could hear the waves below her hit the shore. She was so lost in the sound of the water and her thoughts that she didn't hear the footsteps behind her until they were right behind her.

"Edward, I said… Oh. Hello." Bella turned around, expecting Edward, but instead was surprised by a man.

He looked disheveled. His dark brown hair was thinning, it looked like he was balding. He had dark circles under his brown eyes and he had a beard that looked thicker than the hair on his head. His nose was long and pointed and he looked like he hadn't eaten in days.

He was just a few inches taller than Bella, and she was already very short. He was very silent just staring at Bella, it was making her uncomfortable.

"Are you lost?" He finally said.

"Uh, no. I just was taking a walk with my boyfriend, he went back to the car and should be back soon." Bella lied through her teeth.

She had seen enough movies to know that this was not a safe situation even if the man was just passing by to make sure she was okay, she still refused to be that naïve.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"Marie. My boyfriend will be back soon." Bella stood up and started for the path that led to her car.

"Why are you lying to me, Isabella?" The man moved to step in her way, and she froze. It felt like ice was running through her veins now.

"E-excuse me? Do I know you?" Her voice was shaking.

"Not as well as I know you. My, you have grown into a beautiful woman, more than your whore mother. She was okay, but you, you are very pretty, my Isabella." He took another step.

"Who are you?" Bella's mind was on high alert.

"You mean you don't recognize me? You have my eyes and my hair it seems… pity."

"Who are you?!" Bella almost yelled, praying it wasn't who she thought it was.

"My name is Charlie Swan… You are mine and I am here to collect."

Bella only needed a second for the name to register in her head before she realized how much danger she was now in. She was trying to swallow the panic down and stay calm. When Charlie lunged at her she was able to dodge him and start running to her car.

She heard his body hit the ground, hard, and he let out a chorus of vulgar terms that would put Emmett to shame. Bella's vision was slightly going blurry and she was trying to jump over fallen tree trunks. Her thoughts were swimming in her head and was making it hard for her to concentrate on what she was doing. She tripped over a root that had made its way through the ground and she hit the ground hard.

"Isabella, enough games! You are mine and you are coming with me!"

Bella's heart rate sped up as she struggled to get back to her feet. She was never one for running. When the cardio version came up in her workouts she just picked a fast paced song and danced harder and faster, running was never on the schedule. She was regretting that now as she was struggling to breathe and dodge obstacles in her way.

How had he found her? The last she heard, Charlie was in Alaska and now he was here, in Forks. Conveniently where she lived.

Well, not so conveniently, Bella wasn't an idiot and she tried not to be immature enough to think that Charlie hadn't been looking for her for almost eighteen years.

Why hadn't she just stayed home? She could have asked Edward to leave, or she could have been a grown up and talked about her feelings instead of running away. God, she wished Edward was there. Would she ever see him again?

Stop it, Bella! You are going to be fine! Stay focused!

As she was running she felt for her car key that she put in her bra before Charlie startled her and frantically pushed the unlock button, but as she was doing so she dropped her keys and didn't think the best idea was to stop and pick them up. If she could just get to her phone, her vampire family with their vampire speed could be there faster than she could drive there.

She didn't have much time to ponder if that was the best decision as she got to her car and ripped the door open. She shut her door and locked it as she tried to find her phone. She hadn't seen Charlie make a sign that he was close behind her and as she waited for Edward to pick up his phone she thought she was in the clear.

"Come on, Edward! Pick up your damn phone!" Bella groaned as she listened to the dial tone. After a few more seconds, her prayers were answered and her Edward picked up.

"Bella? Where are you?"

"Edward! Please you have to hurry, I went to our spot to think and… this man..." Bella screamed as Charlie banged on her driver's side door.

"Get out here you bitch!"

"Bella, who is there? I'm on my way, your parents and I will be there in a few minutes. Stay on the phone with me!"

"Edward, he said his name was Charlie Swan." Bella was sobbing now as Charlie began to use his elbow to try to break her window open, "You have to hurry."

"We are baby, we are almost there…" Edward stopped when he heard Bella scream and the sound of her window breaking, "Bella!"

Then there was silence.

Thank you for reading! A little shorter, but it felt better to leave it here than to combine the two chapters. In the next one it's going to take a sharp turn, so floaters grab a life vest! (Does anyone know what that reference is from? Hint: It comes back on in a few weeks)

Thank you for all your love and support, it means the world to me and the story wouldn't be here if you didn't love it as much as I do. We are coming down to the wire, however, and it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Thank you! See you next time! xx