While Angela went home to hopefully get some answers, I got the guest room ready for her. I can't imagine how she must feel, as far as I know mom and dad haven't kept any of our family secrets from me. Family was a big thing for me, and they both knew it. Though I didn't see my Grandma Swan a lot, I talked to her as much as possible. And mom and I lived with her parents in California for several years, before we landed in Arizona. I know I didn't have the best relationship with my parents, but I knew they wouldn't ever lie to me about family.
Especially after what happened with the Cullens, when I explained to them that my heartbreak wasn't all about Edward breaking up with me. It was that they brought me into their family, treated me as if I was one of their own. To just leave me, like I was no more than the dirt on the bottom of their designer shoes. I was left behind by people, who I thought of as adoptive parents and siblings. Mom didn't really get it, she loved that she had been an only child. She needed the attention, which in the end was the true downfall of my parents' marriage.
While dad himself was an only child, his parent's didn't spoil him. They raised him to be independent, and to stand up for thoses who couldn't. Dad is a protector, and he took his job seriously. I have no doubt he loved both me and mom, but he also loved his job. Mom didn't like that she didn't have all his attention, so she left to find someone who could. I didn't realise it until I moved here, that dad had never stopped loving mom. I just hope one day, he can find someone who loves him the way he deserves.
Mom on the other hand, was spoiled by her parents, they treated her like a princess who could do no wrong. They gave her everything she wanted or needed, until I was 6 and they told her it was time to grow up. She moved us to Arizona, and while she worked she still didn't know how to be an adult. I took up the mantle of being the one who took care of all her problems. The cooking, paying the bills and making sure the house was clean. When she met Phil, it had begun to change. He gave her the attention she needed, while also giving me a reprieve from having to be her caretaker. It was why I was okay with moving in with my dad, but I made some bad decisions along the way. I should have heeded Edward's warnings to stay away from him, because in the end he was exactly what he said he was. A monster.
Pushing those thoughts away from my mind for now, I decided to start getting things ready for dinner. Dad should be getting home shortly, and I had a feeling Angela wouldn't be far behind him. It's a nice day out, maybe I can convince my dad to grill out tonight. And I can make Gran's special chocolate cake, dad will love it. It will also be the perfect comfort dessert for Angela and myself. I quickly grab everything I need to make the cake, and start making it the way Gran taught me too. After putting the cake in the oven, I clean up the small mess I made. I took out the steaks, and simply seasoning them in salt and pepper.
Leaving them to sit, until it's time to grill them. I get everything I need to make the frosting for the cake, thankfully I have everything already in the house. I remember when my Gran taught me how to make this cake for the first time, I was no older than five. Just before she moved to New Orleans, and we both knew it would be awhile before we got to see each other. So, she wanted to teach me how to make my favorite cake.
That she made me every summer just before I went back to my mom. It was my early birthday cake, which also happened to be the best cake in the world. At least, that's what grandpa Swan used to say. Before I know it, the timer is going off. And I hear dad's cruiser in the driveway, knowing he is grabbing the mail before he comes in, like always. Just as I'm putting the cakes down to cool, I hear dad calling my name in concern. "Bella?!"
"In the kitchen!" I yell, hoping to ease his mind, over whatever made him worried. Then I remember all the stuff I dropped outside the door, when I was surprised by Angela earlier. "Sorry, I completely forgot I left all that there. Angela had surprised me, and I just dropped everything there to talk to her."
"It's okay, I was just worried something else happened. What is all that stuff?" He was curious, and I would be too if I had never seen it all before. I explained to him that it was all the gift from the Cullen's for my birthday, along with a few other things that reminded me of them. That I wanted to burn them all, and that I was ready to do so when Angela surprised me. I asked if it was okay, if she spent the weekend. "Of course, she's always welcome. Is everything okay with her?"
"Her and Ben broke up, and she found out some family stuff that's really shaken her up. She doesn't want to be home, but she also doesn't want to be on her own. I offered her the guest room, and she said as long as you were okay with it she would appreciate it." Dad knew I wasn't going to say anything more about Angela's business, it was her news to share if she wanted too. Neither of us were the type to gossip, even with each other. "Also, do you mind if we grill tonight. It's so nice out, I thought we could even eat outback."
"Grilling sounds great, I will change and go get the grill ready. Go ahead and let Angela know she's welcome to the guest room. We can even light a bonfire in the pit, so you can burn all that stuff from the Cullens. You should grab all those clothes that Alice bought you too. Wait, are you making your Gran's special chocolate cake?" He suggested, and he was right. He wasn't wrong, they were just sitting in my closet. I only used the things that matched my style, which wasn't much.
It meant that I would have to go shopping, which everyone who knew me, knows I hate to do. Damn, maybe I can look up a store online that might cater to my taste. Maybe I can take Angela with me, it might help take her mind off things for a while. A small distraction, from everything she's going through. "That means I have to go shopping for clothes, but it will be worth it I suppose. Yes, I am making Gran's special chocolate cake. I thought it would be a nice dessert for us all to share tonight, and it's always super comforting."
"Take Angela with you, you can make a weekend of it. While you're out you can see about getting a new car." He wants me to get a new car? But I love my truck, especially since it came from him. I don't want to get rid of it, I have fond memories of the old beast. There were some that I would like to forget, but it didn't outweigh the good ones. Edward hated it claiming it was unsafe, he used to beg me to let him buy me a newer safer car. I would never budge though, because I loved that dad had gotten it for me. "I know you love the truck, but it's on it's last leg. And you will need a more reliable ride, for when you go to one of these colleges."
"Are those all for me?" I was shocked by the pile he put down on the kitchen table, I only applied to a little over a handful of colleges. But this was way more than that, and I immediately knew Angela was right. I am very angry, it meant that Edward was still trying to control my life. Did he do this before or after he left, either way it didn't really matter though. I put them to the side not wanting to think about it right now, I didn't want it to ruin my mood.
There were just so many things wrong with what he had done. And I didn't want to think about it right now, it was something I could talk to Angela about later. And maybe she herself was part of the supernatural without ever knowing. Her dreams could almost be like Alice's visions, only it's looking like it just shows her what is going to happen. I had so many ideas about what it could all mean, thankfully we have all weekend to try and figure it out. Dad went up to change, and I quickly finished the cake before putting it in the fridge to sit.
Just as I finish cutting up potatoes, and putting them in a pot of water to boil. My phone notifies me of a text, after a quick look I see it's Angela letting me know she's on the way. I ran upstairs to change clothes, seeing as I got some flour and sugar all over my shirt. After that, I started gathering all the clothes Alice had ever bought me. Thankfully, I didn't have any shoes. The one thing, I stood my ground on with her. "Hey Bells, I'm headed down to start the grill. Did you need me to do anything before that?"
"Just one thing, if you don't mind. I finally opened Gran's birthday present, and I need your help putting it on." I grab the necklace from the jewelry box, and present it to him. Before I turn around, lifting my hair up on top of my head. He tells me he remembers when his mom used to wear it, and that his grandmother used to tell him that it was as old as the Greek gods themselves. "Yeah, Gran said the same in her card. She was always good at making you want to know more. I just wish she was closer, I always loved it when she told me stories."
"She got that from her mom too, your great grandmother was a true story teller. Maybe after dinner, I will tell you and Angela the one I remember the most. You know, we have history in Norway too. My dad's side of the family migrated from there, they used to tell stories too. I don't remember a whole lot of them, but there are a few things in the attic if you want to have a look." I remember a few of the stories that grandpa told me when I was little, but it would be nice to actually see what we had. It's always nice to have those memories though, so I would make a point to go up there and look at what's there.
Dad went downstairs to get the grill ready, while I finished putting all the Cullen approved clothes in trash bags. Before long I was bringing down the four large trash bags down, and just as I got to the bottom the doorbell rings. Once I'm at the door, I can see how upset Angela is. I open the door, and bring her into a hug. "Why don't you bring your stuff up to the guest room, and when you're ready you can meet me and dad out back. And don't worry, you don't have to tell dad anything you don't want too. I just told him, you were going through some family issues."
"Thanks, I shouldn't be too long. I'm not sure what all I want to share with your dad, but I will tell him something so isn't too worried. At the very least, to let him know my dad knows I'm here and why." Angela sniffles a bit so I know she's been crying, and I feel terrible for having to be dealing with this. I'm just glad I can be here for her, and that I can give her a place to decompress.
While she went up to the guest room, I began to bring things to the back door. I saw dad had already grabbed the steaks I had sitting, so I just took the time to put some ice in a bucket. After it's filled most of the way, I started placing drinks in it. I had beers for dad, and a mixture of bottles of coke and fanta. I grabbed a bottle opener, to hang off the side of the bucket for when we needed it. I was a huge fan of soda in a glass bottle, it tasted better to me that way. Thankfully, dad knew this, and bought a couple cases every time he saw them. "Hey dad, Angela is just putting her stuff in the guest room."
"Okay, I should be ready to put the steaks on in a minute. Is that all from your closet?" I shake my head, and tell him I had another two bags in the house. I just wanted to get the mashed potatoes done, before I bring the rest out. "Don't worry about the bags, Bells. I will grab them now, before I put the steaks on."
"Thanks dad." He walks back with me to the house, and I get working on the mashed potatoes. As my dad is walking out the back door, I see him grab the bucket of drinks to take with him as well. I quickly whip the potatoes, and place in a big bowl. The college admissions letter grabs my attention, and I walk over to them. I just flip through them, looking at each one briefly. There were several from Ivy League schools, all of which were on the East Coast.
All of which I never applied to, and it made me angry that this was just another thing he decided for me. He was deciding that I needed to go to a school of his choosing, and of course it had to be the best of the best. Something I could never afford on my own, and even if it did come with a scholarship it was probably Cullen money. Because, they knew I would blow a fit, if they even offered to pay for it to my face. "Fucking controlling assholes."
"Bella?" I jumped, surprised by Angela's amused appearance at the entrance of the kitchen. I didn't curse all that often, if at all. So, when I did, my friends and family thought it was the funniest thing. I give her a playful glare, but it just makes her laugh. Seeing her laughing, takes away all my irritation. If me cursing, and getting mad at the Cullen's helps her, I will gladly suffer a bit. "Were you talking to all of your acceptance letters?"
"No, just the ones I didn't apply to. I know I'm never going to agree to go there, and I think I know exactly what to do with them too." I quickly grab the ones I didn't apply to, and place it between my arm and ribcage. Using both hands I grab the bowl of mashed potatoes, and motion for Angela to the back door. Dad was just setting down the steaks, when he saw us walking towards the picnic table.
Once we got to him, he took the potatoes from me. He did look confused at the envelopes, tucked under my arm though. I walked over to the fire, and started throwing each one in one by one. My dad runs over, trying to stop me. But I don't let him, I'm burning every single one of them. "Bella! What are you doing?"
"Because I refuse to let any Cullen, have any kind of control over my life again. I didn't apply to a single ivy league school dad, which means Alice or Edward applied for me. They wrote an essay, and put my name on it. If any single one of those came with a scholarship, it was probably paid for by their money. And I don't want anything from them, especially guilt money." I practically growled out, showing all of my anger that had been building since this afternoon. Angela and dad looked truly shocked by how truly angry I was, because I had never talked about how controlling the Cullen's were.
I'm sure one of them, or maybe even both had thought about it. My dad wasn't stupid, he was cop for christ sake. I knew he saw the signs, even if he chose to ignore it in hopes he had been wrong. Angela had her suspicions, but would never vocalize it until I was ready to talk about it. I saw it in her look earlier today, when she mentioned that I would be angry about some of the acceptance letters. Dad was the first to pull himself together, and brought me into a tight hug. "I'm sorry that you had to go through everything that you did, but I'm super proud of you. You fought your way back, and came out stronger for it."
"He's right, you know. After everything you've been through, you came out of it stronger. A few months ago, Jacob ending your friendship like he did and learning about all this would have broken you all over again. Instead, you are allowing yourself to be angry. You aren't letting this break you, you're fighting back by letting it all go." I can see what she's saying, if I hadn't gotten out of the depression when I had. Everything that's happened recently, would have had me spiralling down in that dark abyss.
To know that dad was proud of me, meant a lot too. Because I knew I worried him, when I fell into my depression. I had pulled myself together, knowing that I was better than how I was acting. Not only did I deserve better, so did he. Now though, he seemed a little worried. When he saw my questioning look, he sighed a bit before talking. "How bad was it? How bad was his abuse?"
"He never physically hurt me, it was honestly all emotional. Not letting me drive my own car, making sure that Alice went with me everywhere he couldn't go. Everytime I tried to tell either of them no, they ignored me and guilted me into doing it anyway. I wasn't allowed to listen to anything but classical music, because that was the kind of music Edward liked. I was only allowed to watch classic romance movies, because anything else was a bad influence. I was only allowed to hangout with him and his family, if I even attempted to talk to another male I was made to feel like I was cheating on him." I just let it all fall out of my mouth, at least I was able to keep the vampire secret through it all. But by letting it all out, it gave me a little peace.
Dad, on the other hand, was very angry. I was starting to worry he was going to have a heart attack, if he didn't calm down. Just as I was going to try and calm him down, he shook it off. I didn't quite hear what he said under his breath, but it apparently helped. "Let's not worry about all of that anymore, you obviously know better now. The food is ready to eat, let's not let it get cold. After we're done with dinner. We can burn all that stuff all the Cullen's ever gave you."
