Summary: Bella wasn't always the bad girl she is today, she was good and shy until her mother walked out on her and her father six years ago.
Her father, Charlie, is struggling to handle his daughter's behavior, so he calls his army friend in hopes he can get Bella on the right path again. Will Carlisle be able to reign in his friend's angry and broken daughter back in with some hard discipline and love?
Carlisle Cullen has known Charlie Swan since they were in the academy together when they were 18. Carlisle was Charlie's best man at his wedding and was there in the waiting room when his daughter was born. Despite how close Carlisle and Charlie are, Carlisle has never met Isabella, only heard stories of her.
When Charlie called Carlisle about Bella's behavior he couldn't believe that Charlie wanted him to be Bella's new guardian and straighten out the teenager, he said no at first but Charlie had a compelling argument, saying that Carlisle owes Charlie a favor for saving the blonde's ass in Iraq, that made Carlisle agree and he flew from Nevada City to get the girl.
Upon seeing Bella, he knew that disciplining the teen wasn't going to be easy with her big doe eyes full of pain, betrayal and anger, she was the most beautiful girl he's ever met.
Carlisle knows Bella is acting up because her mother left her when she was twelve. Even if she and her father don't know it yet.
Carlisle looks at his old friend before walking out of the house to give the father/daughter duo time to say goodbye.
If Bella is as bad as Charlie says she is, Carlisle is going to have to lay down the law with her. Her attitude could use a major adjustment pronto, but he's yet to see her behavior, he hopes it's not as bad as her attitude otherwise she's in for a hard few weeks of not sitting. Charlie did say that Carlisle could use any discipline he deemed necessary.
Putting Bella's black suitcase in the trunk of his Mercedes, Carlisle thinks of ways he can get through to Bella, it would be easier if she were a child, not a teenager. He runs a hand through his blonde hair as he hears the front door open and sees Bella running out of the house and into the passenger side of his car, ignoring her fathers shouts.
"Charlie, what happened?" Carlisle asks soothingly. Charlie huffs. "Bella said I was just like Renèe, leaving her when things got tough and she left the house before I could explain that I'm not, I'm doing this to get her back on the right path." Charlie says angrily. Carlisle sighs as he looks at his old friend. "She is angry that she's leaving home, Charlie, she's angry and lashing out at the person closest to her which is you. I'll sort her out, Charlie, I promise, now we've got to go if we wanna make our flight." Carlisle says. Charlie nods. "Okay, thank you for this Carlisle, if you didn't agree to take her in, my only other solution would have been military school." Charlie says with a shudder. "It's no problem Charlie, and seeing as I'm a licensed therapist, I might do a few sessions with her because of something fuelling her rebellious streak." Charlie nods. "Anything to get Bella back on the right path again." Charlie says. Carlisle gives his old friend's hand a shake before getting into the driver's seat of his car, Bella ignoring him as she listens to music on her phone.
"Bella, take your headphones out for a second please." Carlisle says as they stop at a red light in Seattle. Bella rolls her eyes but obliges, looking out of the window.
Carlisle decides to use a stern voice. "Bella, first thing is first, I'm not your friend, I'm your guardian which means you answer to me and no one else, I will call you Isabella until you earn my respect, is that understood?" Carlisle says in a stern voice, causing the teenager to jump.
Charlie has been too soft on her. Carlisle thinks to herself.
"Understood." Isabella says quietly. Carlisle let's his head nod before speaking again.
"Your father has informed me that I'm allowed to use any discipline I deem necessary if you disrespect me. I'll let you know what they are when we land in Nevada City. I'll also tell you the rules I expect you to follow while you're living with me." Carlisle explains, his tone leaving no room for arguments. Isabella doesn't answer as he finishes talking, she just puts her headphones back in, loosing herself in the music.
Carlisle pulls up outside a farm ranch house in Nevada City. The house is white with a porch wrapping around the whole bottom of the house. Isabella doesn't say a word to him as she gets out of the car, grabbing her suitcase from the back of the car; a white Audi R8.
Carlisle walks ahead of Isabella to open the front door. The alarm that Carlisle has installed goes crazy as the door opens, he turns it off and looks at Isabella behind him. "Your room is straight through there, you have an en-suite bathroom with everything you need, dinner is at 5:30 sharp, I'll discuss everything with you over dinner, I'll leave you to it." Carlisle says, walking deeper into the house.
After getting off the phone with Charlie and telling him that both Carlisle and Isabella have arrived in Nevada City with no problems, Carlisle decides to make a meal of Caesar salad with chicken strips on the side.
Isabella arrives at the table at 5:25 with a scowl on her face. Carlisle sees her as he puts the Caesar salad in a serving bowl. "Ah you're here with 5 minutes to spare. If you're on time, you're late. I don't want any excuses as to why you're late if you are, unless previously agreed upon beforehand." Carlisle says, setting the table. Carlisle notices that she's seated herself as far away from him as possible. Carlisle also notices that Isabella doesn't eat much. It's silent until Isabella speaks in a cold voice.
"So are you going to tell me the rules or are you going to remain silent all night?" Carlisle puts his fork down and looks at the girl with a stern look, her attitude is getting on his nerves.
"All right, the rules are: you're to do your own laundry, machines are in the garage, dinner at 5:30 every evening, you can cook for yourself if you want but it's not a requirement, you're to help me clean up after every meal, you can only have friends who I approve of, no going out unless I say so, you're to be in bed by 12:00 on a weekday and 1:00 on a weekend, you'll have your own code for the alarm which I can check any and all entries, you'll have daily tutoring sessions, you can go shopping for groceries if you decide you want to cook but only if I'm with you." Carlisle says, looking at the teen who has her mouth open in shock.
"So I'm a prisoner?!" She exclaims, standing up and glaring at him, her hands on her hips. Carlisle looks at her with stern eyes.
"You are not a prisoner, Isabella. I've set you rules to abide by." Isabella scoffs. "Anything else you want me to know before I leave the table?" She questions. Carlisle nods. "Yes, if you break any of these rules, there will be punishments, depending on what rules you break decide what punishment I give you, the punishments can range from a stern lecture to a grounding to having your stuff taken off you to having your door taken off its hinges to a spanking." Carlisle says, not taking his eyes off Isabella who has stood up, her arms across her chest and glaring at him. "Oh and another thing, your attitude and behavior will warrant a spanking so you might want to start bucking up before tomorrow, I won't take any pleading or childish theatrics from you, is that clear Isabella?" Carlisle says, his tone taking a cold edge to it. Isabella nods, not saying anything more to him as she sits back down.
After cleaning the remnants of dinner, Carlisle watches Isabella walk to her room and sits at the kitchen table to think about everything that's transpired the past five hours.
He's the guardian of his best friend's angry and broken daughter who has an attitude problem.
She doesn't respect any adult figures.
He's supposed to discipline the teen however he sees fit.
Can he do that to a girl who's acting out because she's angry at the world?
