Bella Swan: The Enigma.
Chapter 42: Charlie.
BPOV(Bella)
My ears were ringing, he had just uttered a few words, three words, ones that made my lifeless heart burn and head spin.
We're visiting Charlie.
Had I heard him right? No, I couldn't have, we were in Chicago, which would mean. . .
''Edward,'' I had to keep my voice steady, even being a vampire, it was hard. ''Where is Charlie?''
His face was careful, his eyes held mine in them, I wanted to look away, but I couldn't, his gaze had trapped me. ''He was transferred.'' His lips barely moved. ''You needed to say goodbye to him, to your past.''
''I already have.'' I said angrily, I wasn't mad at him necessarily, but at the situation, which I supposed was his doing.
My chest hurt, I couldn't explain it, the sensation reminded me of when I was human and had cried my eyes out, when you couldn't breathe and your chest was tight. I was still sitting on Edward on this god damned swing set that creaked under our weight. I never even thought about getting up, his arms stiffened around me anyway, I sighed and tightened my hand around his muscled arm.
''I'm not going.'' Although he couldn't see, my eyes were wide and blazing, and if he didn't let up soon, I'd turn my heated stare on him.
''I really think you should.'' He urged and I smiled, the anger in my eyes softening slightly, he didn't say I had to go, just that I should.
''He'd notice me, he'd notice you.''
''Well I wasn't planning on you and I going in there and talking to him under cover.'' His voice was laced with sarcasm.
''I'm meant to be dead, surely the prison would know this, plus, it's half four in the morning, are going to wait for hours to see him?'' I could practically see him smiling through the air. ''What?''
''You're talking about seeing him, good sign.'' I huffed and smacked his arm slightly, he chuckled. ''I have my ways, the prison is close to here, we're expected by five.''
''Edward?'' I asked.
He hummed in response, his head resting on mine.
''Tell me you didn't pay off a police officer.''
''I can't deny it.''
I sat up, trying to struggle out of his grasp. ''What if he accused you of bribing a police officer or something? You could have gotten in trouble.''
His index finger tapped his temple, his hair flattened down in the wind and he smiled. ''He did, but it was over the phone and I asked for someone in particular.''
''You bribed a poor man?'' I raised an eyebrow. ''Would Charlie even be up?''
He shrugged. ''He will be, besides, you're not running on his time anymore, he's on yours.''
''I wanted to be angry at you, but I can't.'' I groaned, despite everything, controlling Charlie for once felt good, right, even of my (or Edward's for that matter) controlling was only disturbing his sleep.
Edward grinned and I melted, I needed more self-control, I really did. ''We should get going.'' He suggested, picking me up bridal style and running to the left, I protested but he wouldn't budge, damn him for being stronger than me.
He finally put me down when we got to the prison, either because we were now in the presence of humans or he was sick of my complaining.
''Edward, what if someone see's us on camera?'' I whispered, looking sneakily at a revolving camera up high on the wall.
His grin just broadened. ''For an extra thousand Officer Payne forgot to change the tape for today.''
''You're messing with people's lives here Edward.''
''Hey, he gets to pay off his gambling debt and you get closer, I think it's a win, win situation.''
I shook my head. ''I can't believe you.''
''As long as you believe in me and trust me things will be just fine.''
''Oh, I'm sure.'' I rolled my eyes.
We got up to the prison gates, high brick walls surrounded the building, barbed wire circled the top of the wall, and my eyes zoomed in on a ripped piece of blue cloth blowing in the wind.
I shuddered at the thought of how it got there.
Edward handles everything, and before I knew it, one Officer Payne, which I couldn't help thinking it was a good name in his profession guided us to a private room, he was the only other person I saw, I don't know how they did it.
The room was small, the four walls were blank, not even a one-sided mirror, which I had to admit I expected.
So, I expected a one-sided mirror, which wasn't there, but I didn't expect a worn out looking prisoner, which was there.
Like the coward I was, I practically jumped behind Edward. Which made no sense, I was strong now, I had the power to kill, not him. Especially not him, especially not now.
''Edward Cullen,'' his raspy, dead voice chuckled. ''I never liked you.'' Okay, I may have hidden behind Edward at first, but this time Edward reached behind himself and grasped both of my upper arms, keeping me in place behind him.
''The feeling's mutual.'' Edward's voice was cold, a rush of anger flooded through me, his happy mood had been completely washed away with one comment.
I had only caught a glimpse of him, the man who took over my life for years, he looked older, his face had sunk in and he had heavy bags under his eyes, ones that weren't from the fact that it was five in the morning.
''Hiding again Isabella?'' He sneered. ''always hiding, never able to do anything for yourself.''
I pushed Edward away, my anger growing. He smirked, he had lost the moustache, though his whole face was coated in stubble. I looked him in the eye, something I had never really done before, not like this.
What I didn't see was the same chocolate brown eyes I used to have. I didn't see the eyes of a man, just a weak person who never learned to grieve properly. I didn't see my dad, I cared for my dad some, I'll admit, but this wasn't him, this wasn't the person who taught me how to ride a bike, who brought me fishing, who took a week off of work when I got the chicken pox, even though he had never had them, which did result in him getting him. I remember that man, the guy who used to love, who used to read to me, who used to tuck me in at night.
Who used to love me.
He had some of the same features, but this man sitting in front of me with his hands handcuffed to a table was not my father, not the one I remembered.
And this pained me beyond relief, I wanted to let go of him, and it wasn't hard to let go of Charlie Swan, this man bound in front of me.
But it was so much harder so say goodbye to my dad.
''You knew we were coming?'' There was so many things I could have asked, so many things I wanted to, but I couldn't think of even trying to say them, they wouldn't come out.
''I knew you were alive, and who else would visit me,'' he laughed bitterly, cruelly. ''and of course you brought that dog trailing after you.''
''Edward brought me here, this was him, not me.'' I snarled, getting sick of him speaking of Edward that way, like he wasn't there, like he was nothing.
Charlie snorted and rolled his eyes. ''Oh great, a boyfriend trying to make emends for destroying a family.''
I took Edward's hand quickly. ''My husband did nothing, you did, you destroyed any sort of relationship we ever had. And the sad thing was I thought you could change, but then I realized you couldn't, you had already changed, to this.'' I glared at him, he didn't cower under my stare like I wished he would, but for a beat, fear flashed in his eyes, and his heart skipped a beat, I smirked this time, victorious. ''You're not my dad, you're his shell, I feel sorry for you Charlie, I really had hoped you had changed. Goodbye.''
With that I tugged on Edward's hand, leaving that room that held my past, the only piece of a past I had left.
As soon as the door closed I sank into Edward's chest, my head went to the crock of his neck and his lips pressed to my hair. ''You did good Bella, Charlie is a bitter man.''
''I know,'' I sighed, fisting my hands into his jacket. ''I guess . . .I just . . .wished he had changed, I hoped he could have, that he had learned from his mistakes.''
''From the time you said we were married all he could think was that you had to be pregnant, that I had trapped you into marriage,'' he sighed. ''it was rather funny, though I didn't like how little he thought of both of us, you especially.''
''He thinks he's superior to everyone, it's just how he is.''
''I know.'' He let go of me and we followed Officer Payne out, he was in his mid-forties and balding, though he was smaller than me. Edward tipped the man for his services, his grubby fingers eagerly snatching at the hundred dollar bill.
Once we left I followed Edward back the way we came, he said we had a while until our flight so we could go slowly. So we walked, though at a faster pace than a human would.
I stopped a brutally, snatching his sleeve and spinning so we were both facing each other. I wrapped my arms around his neck and his hands rested on my hips, I tilted my head up slightly to let our lips meet, they moulded together perfectly, just like always, and we stayed like that for a while, alone, though if someone was nearby we wouldn't have noticed, nothing mattered when I was in Edwards arms.
''I love you.'' I murmured against his lips. He grinned crookedly.
''Good, because you are my life now.'' He said sincerely. ''I have something for you.''
I groaned. ''You know I hate it when you buy me things.''
''You'll like this,'' he pulled away from me and grabbed my hands, threading our fingers together. ''Plus, it's for both of us really.''
I was suspicious, and my suspicions grew when he said my present was at the airport.
But then I got what the fuss was about when he handed me my ticket.
We weren't heading back to New York.
And though I hit his arm and told him to not spend money on me, I kissed him then. Because the present couldn't be more perfect.
And neither could he.
I'm crying, I really am, THIS IS THE SECOND LAST CHAPTER PEOPLE! One more to go, and then (sobs) it's all over, this chapter almost reached 2000 words, which is over my usual limit of around 1000, so I hope you enjoy, check out my new story 'Daylight' and please, for the sake of the second last chapter of this story, give me some love! Review, review, review, to everyone who has ever read this story, I love you all! ;)xxx
-BATTM
