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Chapter Thirty-Five

'It's your mother' is not necessarily something you want to hear your...Edward say when the phone rings at one in the morning.

Before my mind could run wild with different scenarios as to why exactly my mother would be calling at this hour, Edward strode across the room and thrust the phone into my hands.

"Hello?"

I could hear her labored breathing as she asked, "Bella? Where are you?"

"You called Edward's phone. I'm at Edward's."

"Where is your phone? I've been calling it all night," she said, which was actually a good question.

"I must have left it at home..." I trailed off, trying to remember the last time I had my phone on me. "What's wrong? What do you need?"

Edward stared with attentive concern and I suddenly wished for privacy.

This was too much.

Sitting in the dark with Edward on his bed, almost blurting out the madness that was my life was too much.

Renee drunkenly calling his house in the middle of the night was also too much.

My two worlds were fighting, hissing, attempting to collide and I suddenly found it very hard to breathe.

"I need you to come home. Something isn't right," her voice shifted from calm to panicky in a matter of seconds.

"What happened?" I asked before she hung up. "Hello? Mom?" I stared at the phone as the backlight dimmed, indicating the call had ended.

"What'd she say?" Edward finally asked.

"She...didn't really say anything," I admitted as I handed him the phone. "I think I need to go home. Will you take me?"

"Of course. Come on." Edward nodded and grabbed my elbow as we walked to his car.

Once we were on the road, he asked if she does this a lot. He was all about the questions tonight. I decided it was best to not answer him.

"Why aren't any lights on?" Edward whispered as we pulled in front of the house.

I looked out the window, the house somehow staring back with a false sense of security.

"What are you doing?" I asked all too loudly at the sight of Edward unbuckling his seat belt.

"You think I'm going to let you go in there alone?" Edward asked in annoyance. His eyes softened as I unbuckled my own seat belt. "Bella. I don't feel comfortable with you going in there. We don't even know what's wrong."

"Exactly. So...just let me go figure it out, okay? I'll call you."

His jaw tightened as he exhaled through his nostrils. "I don't see why you're being difficult."

"I'm not." I swallowed, realizing I was probably being very rude. "You're free to leave."

We had a stare down and I was so very close to caving before he finally sighed and said, "Fine. I'll wait in the car but I am not leaving until you come back out here and tell me everything is okay."

Part of me wanted to kiss him and hug him and thank him for caring so much. Instead, I nodded and exited the car.

Only glancing back at Edward once, I walked towards the front door and cursed as I fumbled to unlock the door. The door opened with a loud squeak that I didn't recall ever hearing before now.

"Mom?" I called into the darkness.

I began walking through the dark foyer, goosebumps rising on my arms until I realized it would be wise to flip on a light. Or all of them. I sat my bag on the couch and took note of any indication that something may be wrong.

The half empty Grey Goose bottle did nothing to raise my suspicions. It was the two empty glasses in the sink that caused me to narrow my eyes with uncertainty.

I grabbed the bottle of vodka and put it in its rightful spot in the freezer before noticing Renee's checkbook sitting on the counter. I casually flipped through it to make sure she hadn't gone and blown everything while spending the night in front of the television while watching QVC. Oh, it had happened once or five times before.

I realized Edward was still waiting outside so I ran up the stairs, checkbook in hand, and ignored the urge to knock as I opened Renee's bedroom door. She was lying on her bed, face first, humming a familiar tune.

I stood in the doorway for a moment, finding it odd that she hadn't heard me walk in.

"Mom? What's going on?" I hesitantly, confidently walked closer to the bed.

She looked up, mascara tracks accompanying her tear-stained cheeks. "Finally," she huffed and sat up.

Despite her lazy stare, she seemed otherwise alert. I still had to question if she had taken any pills.

"No. Did you?" She laughed, then narrowed her eyes at the checkbook in my hands.

"Did you buy something? Or...I mean, why was this out?"

"Always accusing me of buying shit," she muttered. "Don't worry. I didn't buy any more beads. I now know Bella doesn't approve of beads."

"Um." I winced. "Was Phil here tonight?"

"Yes. Is it okay if I have company over? You're off doing God knows what, with-"

"Edward. I was with Edward. You know we are friends." I took a deep breath to calm myself down. "How did you get his number?"

This caught her off guard. "It was in my cell phone. I added it when I contacted him about the house."

"Okay."

"Okay," she mocked.

"So, you're fine? I mean, everything is okay? You sounded panicked on the phone..."

"Yes. I was just worried about you. You weren't answering your phone. That isn't safe, you know, Baby?"

Because being in a bar in Forks sans phone was apparently more dangerous than being at home with her. Regardless of how ridiculous it was, I nodded and pretended I agreed before telling her I was going to bed.

Before I walked out, she ran over to me and pulled me into a hug. It was cold and off, causing me to cringe, but I hugged her back.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as she pulled back. I almost believed her.

Dropping my arms, I shut her bedroom door behind me, feeling defeated and just worn out. I quietly walked downstairs and out the front door.

I stared at my hands as I walked towards Edward, hearing the car door open then slam shut before I reached him.

"So?" He took a step closer.

"Everything is fine," I said, biting my lip. "She was worried, but she's going to bed now." He wasn't buying it. "I must have forgotten my phone, and-"

Edward cut me off and said, "Come back with me."

"What? I don't think-"

"Bella." Edward tightened his jaw and glanced at the house. "You said she's going to bed. She won't even notice you're gone."

"But..."

"Please?" He looked so worried and tired and I just wanted to hug him.

So I did. And he wrapped both arms around me, enveloping me in his warmth and safety and just him before walking me to his car.

That was the first night I put myself before Renee.

A/N: Creepy Renee is creepy. Sweet Edward is sweet. Caffeinated Meg is...crazy. That's me, btw, not a new character or anything. Definitely not Renee's evil twin or anything. Thanks for reading!