Chapter 18

With a heavy breath, Bella looks at her watch and just as I think she is going to leave, she nods in agreement. My eyes catch the purple tint that is covering her face.

"Let me get some ice for that." Before she can say she's fine, I am out of the room, getting the ice pack. As I walk back to her, I snap it and give it a good shake to active the coldness.

"Here you go," I say placing it on her cheek. She winces and in turn it makes me wince for her.

"You can report her for this." Bella just looks at me as if I had lost my mind.

"You want me to report your mom?" she asks astonished at what I had stated.

"No, but she did hit you and I am just saying that it's something you could do. She had zero rights to lay a hand on you."

Bella shakes her head. "Nah, it's okay. I'm fine, I've even had worse." I swallow and my mind starts to wonder how much worse she's had it. As her arm goes around her waist, I am reminded just how much worse she has had it.

"What happened to your dad?" I ask moving the topic on as the guilt sets in.

"Two years ago he had a stroke. He just happened to be on the roof of our old house and fell about twenty feet or so." There is a vulnerability to Bella's voice. One that makes my eyes move to hers. "He's not only loss complete control of the right side of his body, but his speech too." Bella lets out a soft breath. "They said he has some brain damage and he'll never get full control back. When he was discharged from the hospital, we moved here so Sue could help me."

"What about your mom?" Bella's face hardens and I almost want to take back my words.

"She's a heartless bitch and tried to put him in a home. Besides, she can't even care for a fish never mind a human being."

"What was wrong with him being in a home? They would have helped to look after him." Bella moves away from me and just looks at me as if I am a heartless person.

"He, he raised me! He was-IS a great father. What, do you think because I have to help him walk, talk, and do stuff for him as he did when I was a young child that I should wash my hands of him?" Bella's voice stays low, but I know she means what she is saying. I shake my head holding up my hands.

"I'm sorry. I just... who helps you and Sue?"

Bella takes some deep breaths and I know she is calming herself. "He was a cop, Chief of police in fact. He has some money, not that much left thanks to the heartless bitch, but it's enough that we have a medical nurse come over twice a week, a doctor once a month and a therapist twice a week. But most of his care is done by Sue and myself. We are doing just fine!"

I rub my face just looking at her. "What about the night, Alice got drunk, what happened?" I ask weakly. Knowing full and well Alice had tried to tell me exactly what Rose declared earlier.

"It was weeks ago, what does it matter?"

"It matters to me."

Bella shakes her head at me. "I got Alice drunk at a party." Bella stares into my eyes the whole time. There is a cockiness to her voice, a cockiness which tells me she is lying.

"Try again," I harsh out.

"Why don't you tell me what happened, detective Cullen?"

"Alice slipped out not only on her parents, but on you. When she knew she fucked up, she called you to get her out. Mike and I showed up, though and we all allowed you to take the blame."

"If you know, then why ask?" Bella says as she stands up.

"Because I want you to be able to tell me stuff, the truth," I say standing and taking a hold of her arm so she doesn't walk away.

"But I don't trust you, so why would I?" Bella says and her words almost cut my heart out. For some reason I want her to trust me.

"Then give me the chance to show you that you can trust me."

Bella closes her eyes. "I am trying, but it's not easy for me to do." I bob my head at her. "I've gotta go. I have a load of homework." Bella's voice is soft and clear, so I know she is telling me the truth.

"Okay, see you tomorrow?"

Bella bobs her head. "For what it's worth, I am sorry about getting in a verbal fight with your mom. I was just trying to leave." I hold up my hand knowing today was all on my mom.

I watch Bella as she walks home. Feeling somewhat frustrated about her and knowing she is still under my skin, bothers me, but not as much as I think it should.

Bella's point of view.

I yawn and look at the clock to see it's just quarter after five. I sigh a little knowing I need to get up despite being able to only get a few hours rest.

"Morning," Sue says as she walks out of her room.

"Morning" I say while yawning. "How was he last night?" I ask looking toward my dad's room.

"He had a good night," she says with a smile.

I bob my head, but know it means nothing other than he was able to get a rest. Tonight he may very well be up in pain all night.

I walk away heading to the kitchen to make breakfast for the three of us. As soon as it's done, I carry the three plates to my dad's room. Just as I walk in, Sue is done helping him with his toilet needs.

"Morning, handsome," I say as I set the tray with the plates down. I move over to my dad and Sue helps to move him from his bed to his chair.

"Morning, beautiful daughter." His words may have been lost on many people, but I have lived with this man all but three hellish years of my childhood, and I have also been his main care giver since his stroke. I know without him signing what he is saying. Sometimes he doesn't need to say anything, I know what he wants with just a look.

Once he is settled in his chair, I bring over his breakfast that is cut into finger bite sizes so he's able to feed himself with his left hand.

I set his coffee down, which is in his adult sippy cup. "Take the baby lid off," he tells me pushing the plastic cup toward me.

"Dad..." I say hating that I have to give him his drink like this, but sometimes his hand, more so in the morning, is so shaky.

"Can't learn to drink like a normal person if I am not given the chance," he carries on. I sigh picking it up taking the lid off for him.

He tries to smirk at me, but because of his stroke, it's lopsided. I shake my head and chuckle. "Love you," I tell him and he winks at me.

"Homework all caught up?"

"Yes."

"How's the community services going?"

"It's going well. I've completed the store wall, and I'll be starting the school this Friday." I smile to him. "I am going to try to persuade them into letting me put graffiti art on the lockers."

My dad tilts his head a little just looking at me. "Well, I was thinking as we all get to keep our lockers for four years, then why not let us liven things up and making our lockers represent us." He still looks confused so I log on to his lap top to show him my ideas.

"Like this," I say turning the laptop around so he can see it.

"That looks great," he says sounding proud of me.

"You think so? Let's just hope I can get them to see it that way."

I chat with my dad as I strip and remake his bed. I help him with his morning excises and then I leave Sue to wash and change my dad as I clean the living room, kitchen and make the lunches.

It's just after seven when I am able to get washed and changed for school, leaving just before eight for the bus.

"Hi," I turn and smile at Alice giving her a hug.

"Morning," I reply as I let her go. Opening my locker to put my bag away, I only take my first two class' books out.

"Oh god, you know your top has a hole in it," Jessica smirks and I turn to look her way.

"And it's on inside out," Lauren chuckles evilly to me, but I just look at them bored.

"Look," Jessica says touching the tag of my top, but I bat her hand away.

"Aren't you going to put it on right?" Jessica huffs out at me.

"No," I say slowly.

"It looks stupid, put it on right!" Jessica demands out at me. I just shake my head at her. "So you're happy looking like a homeless freak?"

I let out a sigh and look at my watch. "Jessica, it's getting late and I need to be in homeroom, so could you get to the point, or is this all about my top?" I ask sweetly to her making Jessica narrow her eyes at me.

"Bitch," she hisses and her eyes move to Alice. "Oh god! You have a huge spot, but at least it hides some of your ugly face," Jessica hisses as she knocks Alice to the side, hard, as she passes her. I move to go after her, but Alice pulls my arm.

"Just leave it," Alice pleads and I look down at her. My eyes land on her arm seeing a fresh looking cut.

"Alice," I say and she looks at me biting her lip as she pulls her sleeve down. I pull gently on her arm leading her in to the bathroom.

"Alice?" I say again, but she looks down at the floor. "Alice," I hiss making her look at me.

"I... it's just a little one," she tells me and I lift her arm up taking a look at the cut.

"We agreed that if you felt like this, you would call and talk to me." Alice shakes her head as a tear runs down her face.

"Mom was bitching at me again, and I knew you had gotten into a fight with her. I..." I close my eyes and move to hug her.

"No matter what happens between your mom and I, we will always be friends. I will never turn my back on you." I look down at the cut, feeling worried about how close to the vain she was. The first bell rings and I let her arm go "We will talk about this later." I give her a look so she knows she's not getting out of it.

The rest of the school day goes by slowly, but it is filled with Jessica, Lauren, and Jake making side comments to me. It's almost as if they believe I give a shit about what they think and feel.

When the last bell rings, I am out of class before anyone else. I even stop getting to Alice's class in record time.

"Hey," she says slowly. "I'll run you home"

I just hum at her as I get into her car and put on my seat belt before turning to look at her.

"I'm sorry," she starts off with and I shake my head at her.

"You don't need to be sorry, Alice. I am not angry or disappointed in you, just worried."

"I don't know what's wrong with me. There's just times where I feel I can do anything, but then there are times I don't want to get out of my bed. But when my mom is yelling at me, it makes me feel worse and she never listens to what I say. Just tell me I have nothing to be sad about."

I take some deep breaths. "I think you should talk to Tia, she may be able to help you." Alice shakes her head at me.

"She'll tell dad and he'll be embarrassed about having a freak of a daughter that gets off on cutting herself."

"Firstly, she can't. She hasn't even talked to Edward about me. As for your dad, he wouldn't be embarrassed, he'll be worried for his daughter." Alice gives me a side glance, but moves her eyes back to the road.

"I'll think about it." I bob my head at her. At least it wasn't a no.

"I'll call you tonight," I say as she pulls up outside Edward's home.

"Bella," Alice whispers out as I get out of her car. "I love you." I give her a big smile.

"I love you too, Alice." I wink as I close the car door. I watch her leave before walking into Edward's home seeing Rose and Jennifer doing homework.

"Hi," I say and Jennifer jumps up hugging me.

"Can you come with Edward and me to see Tia?" she signs quickly. It seems like she is pleading with me to go with her. I look at Rose who gives me the 'I don't know' look.

"You would have to ask your dad that question."

"Ask who what question?" I turn seeing Edward standing there looking happy.

"If Bella can come to Tia's with us, I want to tell you something and it will be easier with her there." Jennifer quickly signs and right away I know she's ready to tell him why she doesn't talk.

My eyes flicker to Edward who looks worried. "She's ready to tell you why she doesn't talk," I tell him hoping to calm him a little. Edward's eyes spring to mine and he tilts his head in wonder as to how I know.

"Yes, she can come, if she has the time?" I bob my head, even if I didn't have the time, I would have made it for this, well for her.

It takes little time for us to arrive at Tia's. Edward seems calm, but I can feel the worry leaping off him. Thankfully, Jennifer seems to be none the wiser.

"Hi!" Tia say with her eyes landing on me, and I give her a smile.

"This is Bella," Edward tells her.

"Oh, I have heard all about you," Tia lies smoothly and I roll my eyes at her.

"She knows me, she's my therapist too." Edward just looks at me. "What, all the cool kids have a therapist." Edward chuckles this time and we all walk in together.

Tia talks getting everyone settled before turning to Jennifer. "So you have something you'd like to tell us?" Tia asks using her soft 'I am your friend voice.'

Jennifer bobs her head standing up. She turns to me and points at her seat. I look to it and sigh, but get up and move to her seat. "Sorry," I mutter as my leg touches Edward's. Jennifer wastes no time climbing on to my lap.

"I don't want you to send me away," she signs to Edward, and gulps looking at the ground. "Or something worse happen like what happened with my mom and dad." Jennifer drops her hands and hugs in to me and I kiss the top of her head.

I clear my throat, knowing she wants me to continue for her. "Jennifer was brought up with her parents telling her to be quiet, that they didn't like her voice. If she spoke when they were high-or coming down from one, or anytime really, they couldn't be bothered so they would throw her out of the house regardless of the time or weather." I look down at Jennifer who bobs her head at me.

"I think Jennifer started to stop speaking when unlikely events took place when she would talk. Maybe she talked and her mom got hurt, or someone came to the door, which was never good. Something bad would happen, and for Jennifer, she believed this was her fault for not being quiet." My eyes go to Edward who looks hurt for his daughter. "Then they passed. I think she must have screamed, or something before they entered the house..." Jennifer sits up.

"I shouted for mom and dad, I was scared," she signs quickly to me and I shake my head at her.

"I bet you were, baby, but they didn't die because you called for them. They died because some mean men were angry. They died because they made the wrong choices." Jennifer shakes her head at me.

"I talked and you got hurt." I hear a faint growl from Edward, but I keep my eyes locked on Jennifer.

"No, your gran and I don't get along, plain and simple. She had been angry with me for years, baby, years and everything just came out that day. It had absolutely nothing to do with you talking." Jennifer looks at me and I sigh looking at Edward for some back up.

"She's right, baby," Edward say softly "That wasn't on you and it wasn't on Bella either, that was all my mom's fault. She was the one in the wrong. You don't need to take the blame for other people's mistakes."

"Bella does," Jennifer argues and Edward looks at me. "And you don't like her calling you D."

I chuckle softly as Edward frowns, not understanding. Before he can say anything, I am talking. "That's my fault baby, he doesn't realize that D stands for dad." I hear Edward gasp, but carry on talking. "The first time I said D to him, I mouthed douche bag so he thought that was what the D meant."

"Once I knew what it meant, I liked it. I asked you," Jennifer signed making Edward look confused.

"She told me she was unsure if she should could call you dad. I told her sometimes it's easier to hear someone else say it first. She didn't want dad to be used till she was ready and I said I would call you D around her and she could see how she liked it." I sort of explain to him and his eyes fill up with pain.

"I'm sorry," Edward says weakly and I shake my head knowing this is on me too. Edward, Jennifer and I talk to Tia for another hour. When we walk out the door, I know Jennifer and Edward both have become closer. For some reason, I feel closer to them too.