HLAG CHAPTER 16

"What kind of Christmas tree should we get?" I ask Jennifer as we make our way around Walmart. "We'll need to decide soon," I carry on when she doesn't say anything.

Just as I go to speak, a loud voice I know well, that can be heard for miles away. "A hundred dollars?! Are these pills made from freaking gold?" I sigh and look down at Jennifer who smiles brightly at me.

"Bella's here," she signs and I raise my eyebrow at her.

"Really? How can you tell?" Jennifer snorts, but runs off toward where Bella can still be heard moaning.

"You know, I wouldn't mind paying this much if they made any difference." Bella mutters just as we get to where she is.

"Do you need anything else dear?" I hear the pharmacist say softly.

"God no, I would need to give you a kidney for that." The pharmacist barks out a laugh as he hands Bella her pills.

"Bella, take a look into this, it would save you money in the long run." Bella hums, but takes the paper work from him.

Bella turns around and Jennifer runs to her, hugging her. "Hey girly, what are you doing here?" Bella asks as she places a soft kiss on Jennifer's head.

"D," she carries on with a head nod as she looks up at me.

"Petal," I reply with a smirk, making her narrow her eyes at me.

"We are here to get food and Christmas decorations. What kind of tree should we get?" Jennifer signs quickly, so quickly that I was just able to keep up with her.

"Oh wow, I love to get food, and buying the Christmas decorations means you'll be putting your tree up soon?" Bella asks looking my way.

"The first of the month!" Bella nods her head at me and looks back at Jennifer.

"As for a tree, when I was little, I loved the real ones." Jennifer frowns a little as she looks at her.

"What about now? What kind of tree are you putting up?"

"I'm not putting any tree up. I'm a little too old for that." Where Bella's voice is soft, and sounds carefree, there is sadness.

"What?" Jennifer asks looking shocked.

"I just, it's ... just..." Bella shakes her head and stops talking. "I have my reason's, but don't worry, I'll come and look at yours."

"Yes you can do that, you can come and spend Christmas with us too, can't she?" Jennifer signs without looking at me.

"Well..." I say pulling my hair, unsure of how the hell I'll get out of this one. Before I can mutter another word, Bella snorts making me look at her.

"I don't think your Papa Carlisle has enough Valium to dope up your Granny Esme for that, but thank you for asking."

Jennifer drops her head and looks upset. "Hey, why don't we arrange some time that day where we can meet and play in the snow?" Bella says trying to pacify Jennifer.

"I would like that, but I'd still rather spend the day with you," Jennifer signs to Bella, seemingly to break Bella's heart as well as my own.

"So would I ... " Bella sighs a little, but shakes it off as she places a smile on her face. "Come on, I need to get some stuff before it gets too busy in here."

As Bella starts to walk, Jennifer slides her hand in to her's, and straight away Bella smiles down at her, before launching in to conversation. My heart seems to stop and then start a lot faster at not only Jennifer's large smile, but Bella's too. Never have I seen her smile like this before, it lights up her whole face, and I'm yet again stunned at just how beautiful Bella is.

"Bella, put your stuff in the cart," I say for the third time. I don't get why Bella would rather juggle all of her stuff than just place them in my cart.

When she fails to do it, I move to her, intending to take her stuff, but when my hand touches her, I get a spark off of her.

"Hey!" Bella yells. "No need to shock me," she says along with a glare. "Jesus," she huffs out as she puts her mound of stuff in the cart. "Happy?"

"Ecstatic," I harp out making her roll her eyes at me.

"I will be finished with the art work at the store so I can start that..." Bella stops and her eyes flash to Jennifer. "That other project."

"Okay, just let me know what you need or get what you need and I'll reimburse you." Bella turns to look at me, and then nods her head at me.

"What are you two talking about?" Jennifer signs as she stands in front of the cart.

"Ah, wouldn't you like to know," I reply, making her give me a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, that's why I asked!" I narrow my eyes at Jennifer and then look to Bella.

"That's you!" I say pointing at Jennifer, which only makes Bella snort.

"You are the one that asked-stated that comment," Bella says then bites her lip looking at me. I swallow as I get caught in her playful mood.

I chuckle shaking my head again. "You are lucky you're cute," I say as I turn back to Jennifer.

"Do you have everything, Bella?" I ask knowing I am done.

"Er..." she looks through her side of the cart. "Yup, I got everything."

When we get to the check-out Bella puts her stuff up first and pays for it.

"Well, Jenny, D, thank you for letting me shop with you guys." She gives us a wave and starts to walk away. My eyes go to Jennifer who's looking on sadly.

"Would you like to join us for lunch, before going home?" Bella stops walking and slowly turns to face me.

Bella bites her lip and looks to the ground. "I would love to, but I only brought money for the medicine and food." Even with her head down, I can see she is blushing with embarrassment.

"When someone asks you for lunch, they are the one paying," I tell her, but Jennifer runs to her, pulling her back to us. I take her bags putting them back in the cart and then start to pack my own shopping.

"I'll pay you back," Bella whispers as she starts to help.

"No need," I tell her and she looks at me. My eyes go to hers and I see they are filled with such sadness and hurt that my mind starts to wonder if it has always been there. "Let me do this." Bella closes her eyes, but nods.

Once I found out Bella had taken the bus here, I pack my car with her and my own shopping. I then drive the three of us to a café, and sit chatting as we eat lunch, and I find I enjoy Bella's company a lot more than I thought I would.

~HLG~

I move to the door when there is a knock, knowing it will be Bella.

"Hey," I say softly as I move out the way for her to come in. I walk her upstairs to Jennifer's room. Standing at the door I watch as she moves around the mostly empty room and starts to take photos.

"The room's quite spacey," she hums out. "Do you want something on each of the walls?"

I frown as I start to pull my hair. "I'm not really good at this, but I more than anything want it to look good, so whatever you think."

Bella bobs her head and starts taking more photos. "Does Jenny have any sensitivity to light?"

"Er... no?" I stutter out unsure of what or why she is asking such a thing.

"Okay, I have a plan and I already have some paint, so I can get started after I get into crap clothes. It will take about twenty hours to do this, which is three to four days. She can't sleep in here with the paint fumes ... so can I start?" I just bob my head at her.

"She can sleep in my room."

"Are you telling her what I'm doing?" My head snaps around to Bella and I think she expects me to say no.

"Yes, I'm telling her. It's not like she wouldn't see you." Bella just nods and walks toward me.

"I'll be back soon."

I stand where I am and watch her go. I shake my head not understanding that even after working most of our shit out, she still gets under my skin.

Like she said, Bella was back carrying a load of paint. She gets to work right away covering all of Jennifer's stuff up and then starts to give the walls a white coat of paint. It was dinner time when she was done, and despite me asking her to stay, she made excuses to leave. I walked her out, telling her I was working tomorrow and I wouldn't be home till night time, but Rose would be here to babysit Jenny. She just nods and walks out.

~HLG~

"It's dead today," Mike says and I hum in agreement. We are just over half way through our shift, but so far there has only been a hand full of calls. I turn my car around going toward the store.

"You want to go shopping?" Mike asks and I shake my head at him.

"No, Bella said she finished her painting, so I thought I should check it out." Mike snorts and I give him a side glance.

"She more than likely drew a big dick or something crude on the side of the building." Mike's voice is snippy, making me frown a little over why he hates her as much as he does. As far as I have seen, she doesn't seem to go out of her way to wind him up. If he is there to arrest her, then yes, she can be a bitch, but not enough to earn this much hate.

"What's your and Bella's history?" I ask him

"What's that bitch told you?"

"Nothing, just asking what's with all the hate." Mike rolls his eyes at me.

"She's a waist of space and that smart mouth of her's makes me want to shove something in it to gag her."

"What the fuck, Mike!? She's ... fucking eighteen!" I yell out at him, stunned he would say something like that.

"Yeah, and maybe if I fuck her like the slut she is, then she'd show me some fucking respect."

I grip the steering wheel as the feeling of anger over rides everything else.

"You touch her like that, I will find you and kill you painfully," I hiss out making him chuckle.

"Look man, I know you want to fuck her badly, but let's not let her get in between us." I stop the car and just look at him.

"I don't want to fuck her." Mike gives me a, yeah sure, look.

"I don't!" I yell out at him.

"If you didn't, then she wouldn't be under your skin so much. Now can we see this wall and get back to the station? There's some paperwork I could be doing."

I shake off what Mike says as I get out of the car. I walk around to the back wall and feel all the air leave my body. "Fuck, she did do the painting at the diner," I say out loud.

I am stunned and taken-a-back at the art this girl can do. "It's amazing, right? Who would have thought the town's low life could do something as beautiful as this." I turn and look to who had spoken. I feel my mouth open to argue that Bella's not a low life, but I keep my mouth shut.

The drive to the station is thankfully quiet. Even without any interruptions, I still only get a little of my paperwork done. My mind seems to stay on what Mike said about Bella.

I arrive home still feeling uneasiness in the pit of my stomach.

"You are a lying bitch and I want you out of my son's home!" My mom yells as I open my front door.

"Fuck you, you old hag! Rose, tell Edward to call me when he comes in!" Bella yells back as I run to the back door where the yelling is coming from.

"Oh, he will not want to speak to you again after I tell him what you said! And don't worry about your things, we'll throw them in the dumpster, which happens to be where you belong!" My mom snaps out.

"Hey!" I call out looking at my mom who is in Bella face. My eyes move from them, landing on Rose who's holding a crying Jenny.

"Sorry son, I'm just trying to get this piece of trash out of your home." The words that are coming out of my mom's mouth are sickly sweet which makes me frown at her. I don't know who this woman is.

"I am trying to leave," Bella grits out to my mom. Her head turns to look Jennifer's way and I see her eyes soften, and almost longing come in to them.

"This is not on you, and you are still my friend no matter what, I love you, Jennifer." There's no mistake in knowing that Bella means what she says. Her words are so heartfelt that they tug at my heart.

My eyes move to Rose in hope she can tell me what's going on, but before I can open my mouth, a loud slap can be heard. "Stay away from my granddaughter."

"Mom!" I say pulling her away from Bella. "Bella, let me see," I say as I edge my hand up to take away her hand that's on her face.

"I'm fine," Bella says taking a step away from me. She drops her hand and I see a hand print my mom has left on her face. "Later," Bella mumbles as she bolts away from me and out of my house.

"What the hell, Mom!?" I say turning to her.

"Oh, she deserved it," My mom says like it's no big deal she just slapped a teenaged girl in the face hard enough to leave a mark.

"I should arrest you!" I grit out at her.

"She lied! She stood there and told Rose to call you because Jennifer spoke to her!" My head turns and I look at Jennifer.

"I asked Jennifer and she told me she didn't speak not that I think she would. I mean, you'd be the first or me, or at least Rose, not that slut."

I don't speak to my mom as I walk to Rose and take Jennifer from her. I walk out of the room with Jennifer in my arms.

"Hey, baby," I say as I hold her to me. "I am so sorry you had to see that," I say as I kiss her head.

"Can you tell me what happened?" I ask, but I have to tilt Jennifer's head up so she is looking at me. My head is about to explode with curses toward both my mom and Bella for making Jennifer look so terrified.

Jennifer jumps out of my arms, to my desk. I watch as she scribbles something down on the paper pad and then hands it to me. I set the paper down and pick her up placing her on my knee.

I didn't mean to lie, but Esme scares me. I was having a good time, Bella let me help paint. I didn't mean to speak to her, it just came out. I am sorry, please don't make me leave.

I feel my heart race as I reread her words "Why, why would I make you leave just for speaking, Jenny?" I ask her and she shrugs.

"Bella said you would be happy that I spoke. She told me you loved me," Jennifer signs to me. "She told Rose, and Rose was so happy and agreed to call, but then your mom started to yell. She made Bella leave, she hurt Bella, it's my fault for talking, they were right." I frown at her.

"Who was right?" I ask her, but she shakes her head at me.

"Does Bella know?" I ask slowly.

"Maybe, she knows a lot of stuff about me. I like telling her about me, I want Bella," Jennifer signs as she begins to sob.

"I'll go and see if I can get her to come back," I say knowing not only do I need to do this for Jennifer, but I need to apologize for what my mom did.

I am so sorry I have become such a slacker! I will do my very best to post more often.