Chapter 10

Charlie was yelling and asking over and over if I was okay, if Edward had touched me. To the latter I had said 'yes' which elicited a blush. Charlie was shocked. I took the opportunity to play my part which wasn't hard at all. In the end, it seemed like he believed me. It seemed like everyone else in the car was believing it considering how awkward it was after that.

As soon as I was done eating, Edward returned to smelling my scent. His cold breath made the hairs at the back of my neck stand up, and the follicles stretch. It felt very nice.

It was overcast as usual in Forks. Too bad I couldn't enjoy the sun more in Alberta. Carlisle pulled into the parking lot of the police station, the others in the space next to it. This is it.

"Should I go in first and talk to my Dad before you go in?" Carlisle looked at Edward.

"Yes, or Charlie would end up with a broken hand." Edward said, tapping his fist to the side of his face.

"He must be so mad..."

"Not at you."

"Not yet." I reluctantly go out of the car and walk through the cool mist and into the nation. Everyone turned to look and started now that they saw it was Swan's not-so-innocent daughter. I looked to the side, it was as much control as I had over my eye-roll, and shuffled to the front desk.

"Charlie Swan please." I said, shoving my hands into the pockets of the jacket Alice brought along for me.

"At his desk."

"Thanks." I forced my eyes to look ahead as I walked through the sea of desks, everyone scrutinizing my clothes and expression.

Someone was in Dad's cubicle but left when I came in.

"Dad." I said, stepping to the side to let the man out.

"Bella!" He jumped out of his seat and pulled me into a crushing hug.

"Dad, I'm fine."

"I was worried sick about you! Do you have any idea how many people went to look for you?! Everyone in the station did, even on their off-hours and so did your friends at school!"

"I-"

"Where have you been?!"

"I-"

"Where's that boy?!"

"H-"

"What happened?!"

"That's what I'm trying to tell you! If you stop interrupting me for a second, maybe I'd be able to get it out!" I screamed, pushing him away.

"God!" I huffed. I moved a few steps away from him and crossed my arms.

"Believe it or not it was my idea. Edward was sick of the mundane town just like I was. The constantly grey skies and shitty weather was seriously making me go nuts. He once talked about a place he and the Cullens went camping once; there the sun always shone bright. It was at the top of a mountain.

Of course I told him to take me there. Took a lot of convincing too; he's actually a scaredy-cat beneath that pretty face. Besides, we were only going to be gone for a day. But then we got stranded there because his car was broken into while we were gone. It took a while before we got to a phone."

"You could have left a note."

"I was in a rush. The house didn't burn down did it?" I asked, suddenly remembering I had the oven on for the steaks.

"No, I turned it off when I got home." It was quiet for a moment.

"Edward is really nice. The worst thing he ever did was kiss me and give me a hickey but that's what teenagers do."

"I thought you were different, you're always so mature and..."

"Well I'm not. I have girlish dreams too. I want to fall hard and fast in love be like all the other girls. Maybe I act grown up but I'm still only seventeen. And before you say anything, I do think about the future; all the time. In fact, I don't know what I'm going to do at all but I know I want better than what you and mom have.

I'm trying not to worry about it because I'm a kid now and I won't ever be a kid again but you and mom are always pressuring me and I just can't take it anymore!." I turned to hide my distorting face and wiped my tears away.

"I tried to do the right thing by keeping this to myself so you or mom didn't get hurt but leave Edward alone. If anybody should get in trouble, it should be me for convincing him to do this. I just wanted to run away from the responsibilities for a while and be free. Being human isn't a crime."

"I...I didn't know."

"That's not your fault Char-Dad. It's hard to talk to someone who seems more like a stranger than family. I know you don't know me, and it's fine, but I know you know I take responsibility for my actions, so please let me handle this."

"I understand; hopefully the Cullens won't press charges."

"Okay."

"Wait, let me hug you a bit more." He enveloped me and, I don't know what it was, but I fell apart in his arms. I sobbed like a little girl who merely scraped her knee and bled.