Chapter 74: A Conversation with Bella Cullen

I answered, "Hello?"

Bella in her melodic voice responded, "hey..Ale. It's been a while."

I yawned, "yeah..you kind of called me at a bad time."

She said with a fake apologetic tone, "sorry, I thought night time would be a better time to talk you unlike the day time."

I said nonchalantly, "yeah, so what's up?"

I immediately went straight to what she wanted to talk about. I know she wants to talk about Charlie, and to save ourselves the awkward interaction. She is awkward and even though she likes to confront people, she always does it in a weird way. I get that she doesn't tolerate things, and at times it is necessary to confront people, but she goes from a zero to a hundred in a second. She escalates things when she confronts people, and you don't do that. You can confront without antagonizing others. Hence, that one time with Paul and Sam.

She said, "I talked to my dad…he found out about us..why did you guys tell them without asking me?"

I said, "he stepped in the moment I gave birth, and Paul got protective over my babies. He saw that Paul growl at him. It scared him. We had to tell him."

She said defensively, "but, why did you guys didn't let me know? We could've said something to protect Charlie."

I sighed, "Bella, at this point, there was no way we could've kept on lying to Charlie. Either way, he deserved to know. He is very tangled with the people in the reservation, and he has been a long-time friend as well. He is in a close relationship with Sue, and if he wanted to go even further into his relationship with her, he has to know. Why are you so against with Charlie finding out?"

She said defensively, "because I am trying to protect him! Now you guys put him in danger with knowing our secret. He has a target on his back!"

I sighed, "Bella, the Volturi aren't going to find out as long any of your guys don't meet them. Before you came along, Carlisle last spoke to the Volturi decades ago. By the time the Volturi may finds out, either Charlie is dead or the Volturi."

She added angrily, "but.."

I cut her off, "But what Bella? It's not that you want to protect Charlie, what is that you want to really protect?"

She stayed silent, and she didn't answer to my question. Is it something that Charlie said? I wondered.

I sighed roughly in frustration, so I said, "what did Charlie say to you?"

Bella sighed, "he was upset that I kept so much from him when I was basically living with him. He was upset even more with the fact that the other reason I..was barely coping after Edwrd left was because they were vampires and I didn't tell their secret to know. He pissed that I abandoned everything to save Edward in Italy when I could've died.."

Bella paused, "I never seen my dad cry on me, but he cried that I was willing to let myself die for someone who is already 'dead'. He was also upset that I already 'died' and he didn't even know."

Oh, damn. Poor, Charlie. He was pretty okay on the phone with me, but then again, once you actually start talking to the person who hurt you, all the walls just come crumbling down. Honestly, Bella was very selfish. Bella really treated her life so recklessly without any consideration of Charlie. She abandoned him when he needed her the most. Harry died, he was grieving, and she went off with a shitty note to go save Edward when Alice could've same him all by herself.

Now that she gave up her human life in secret from Charlie. If he hadn't found out about the secret, how long she could've pretended that everything is okay with Charlie as she is now a vampire? Even though Charlie may be slow on the supernatural stuff, he is still a cop. He is going to be suspecting eventually, and then were they going to fake her death? Just like that?

As a newborn, I know the Cullens would be hesitant to let Bella near Charlie. However, the last time Charlie saw her. It was at her wedding. If she just fakes her death like that, then Charlie would've been devastated. His last memory of her would be seeing her in her wedding dress.. Then, that memory would become a sad memory. No, that's too depressing. He didn't deserve that treatment even when he can be stubborn, awkward, and oblivious. No one deserves that kind of treatment.

I said curtly, "it wasn't that you were afraid for Charlie's safety, but you were afraid of how Charlie is going to react because you know you pull some shit on him."

Bella gasped, "No-no, not that at all."

I said unconvincingly, "sure."

Bella said stubbornly, "no."

I continued on, "you know that you should've treated Charlie better because he really wanted you to stay with him. Even though he has his moments, he never abused you. I admit that moment he encouraged Jacob to kiss you when he forced himself on you, it was a fuck-up move on Charlie. Nevertheless, he wasn't someone that you had to keep putting your boundaries with. He gave you a lot of space. He actually spoiled you a bit, Bella."

She stayed quiet, "I did the best with Charlie. He never asked me to, but I clean, cooked, and washed the clothes for him. I tried my best to be a good daughter to him."

I cut her off, " Bella, no offense , but that's basic things to do in any form of relationship. Being a good daughter is beyond being a quasi-housewife to your father. It depends on communication, and how you deal with conflicts as a father and daughter. You only stand firm with your dad when it comes to Edward. Even though he physically supported you when you were..depressed, he didn't emotionally, and you didn't let him either. I understand it was rough, but you closed off from everyone. Not even Jacob until he phased. However, that didn't last long because you got back with Edward unhealthily quick. So, you actually never processed what you went through properly. You just pretend it didn't happened."

She shouted angrily, "it was the worst part of my life, Ale. I don't like that you are referring it is as insignificant…you act like you know everything, but you don't."

I said coldly, "I am not. I actually acknowledged it. I said I know it was rough. You had trauma from the attack from James, the attack from the birthday part, and abandonment from Edward including trying to keep the secrets. It was rough. I get that, but it doesn't justify your actions and behaviors. I don't know everything, but I know enough. You are only acting like this because things didn't go your way, Bella."

She cried angrily in her melodic voice, "it's not that at all. You are too high and mighty. Everyone look up to you as you are a higher being when you are just a normal girl like I was. You say you are helping everyone, but you are only doing it to get people against me"

I sighed, "I never acted all high and mighty. I have been nothing but cordial with you. I tried to help you and everyone out for their benefit. I never acted things according to my own self-interests..and when I did, I apologize I make up for it. Following after you and Edward while leaving Seth unconscious was more of a self-interest on my part. I admit that, but I have made efforts to do better with Paul unlike you…If I did, then I would've died during the process of a forced marking, however I didn't because this is not just about me."

I snapped, "I don't know why you act like everyone owes you a better life and you demand them to treat you better. Sure, your life was a little rough, but it doesn't mean your life is worser or better than others. You still got living parents even if they were a little emotionally absent. You wanna know what a rough life is like? Imagine that you gotta save one pot of food to make it for a whole week and the only time you eat is in school. Imagine that you gotta be the adult one and translate for parents who don't know English to people who don't give a damn about people of color. Imagine how it feels that you can't drive comfortably in the streets and be drilled about your rights since you were small or else corrupted cops would try to get you deported whether you are a citizen or not."

I said snidely, "Bella, your own father bought you a car. My family didn't want to buy me a car. I had to save it up. My parents couldn't pay for college, so I had to hustle with scholarships and loans. Even though they wanted me to be independent, they still wanted to shackle me down to continue to live with them despite of my eye doctors and driving school telling them that I can drive. ..Sigh, honestly Bella. Even though you had some rough time in your childhood, do not ever think your story is more important than others."

I stopped. I am getting too emotional, and I am not staying on topic. I am letting my personal feels and past get in the way with my conversation with Bella. I took a long, deep breath when my phone was pulled out of my hand. I looked up confusingly, and it was Paul. His eyes were shining silver, and he was trembling. He was towering over me, and he placed the phone close to his ear.

He snarled, "you better watch your fucking tone, Bella."

My shoulder sank. I appreciate that Paul is defending me, and I would've smiled a little that he was able to hold back from calling her a bitch. However, I need to deescalate before he wolfs out in the living room. I gave a soft smile to Paul, I mouthed 'thank you', and I gestured him to give me back the phone. He reluctantly gave it back to me.

I said though the phone, "Bella…I don't think we are going to be on the same page, and I am sorry I went off a little on you, but it doesn't mean I'll accept your accusations. I will still be talking to the rest of the family, so I wish you well."

Paul hanged it up for me, and I just sat there looking dumbfounded. I didn't get that emotional since I first came to this world. Bringing up the past, it brought a deep familiar, empty ache in my heart. It doesn't hurt as much as it used to. Even though I feel a little down after talking to Bella, it didnt' trigger me..if you can say that. I was staring aimlessly and sighing when Paul surprised me, he scooped me up under me. I latched my arms around him, and I looked at him curiously. He quietly kicked the bedroom door, and he gently laid me down on bed.

He was hovering me with a complicated expression on his face, but I could feel through the bond that he is fluctuating feelings of anger, sadness, lust, and desperation. He is angry and sad for me. He also feeling frustrated from last night, but also desperate because he can't really do anything to help me not feeling this way. He is helping me in the best way that he can, and that is all I can ask of him. He dipped his head down to leave kisses all over my neck. He nuzzles me, purring and licking me. He easily pushed my tiny pajama top down. As he was leaving kisses on my body, he placed his hands on my hip. His huge warm hands were caressing my thighs.

He murmures, "I love you."

I whispered back, "I love you too."

He gave me a passionate kiss on the lips, and he said thick with emotion, "I'm sorry that you got upset, hon."

I said softly, "it's okay."

He growled lowly, "it's not okay. She hurt my mate."

I stayed silent as he was lovingly caressing my cheek. I looked deeply into his eyes as tears were building up in my eyes.

He stated, "you're too nice for your own good. I don't wanna be a controlling ass or something, but don't talk to Bella anymore."

I nodded in agreement. I said, "yeah..I agree too. She is always too much, and I don't want to keep putting with her when I am not gaining anything with being in contact with her, so imma cut her off."

He sighed in relief, "yes..that makes us be relieved…if it wasn't for the fact that Jacob told us to be a peaceful relationship with them. I would've gone up to Canada and give her a piece of mind just as I did to Edward a while back."

I giggled, and he said astonishingly, "you think I am kidding?I'll really do that!"

I shook my head, "No, no. I know you are more than capable to do that, but I was laughing because I could actually see it happen."

He gave me a grin, "yup because I am a big bad wolf."

I said teasingly, "you're my big bad wolf."

He chuckled deeply and dropped himself on top of me. I squealed, "Paul, you're too heavy. Get off."

He said in a sing-a-song tone, "what's the magic word?"

I said teasingly, "uhh, fuck off?"

He sucked in a breath, and he started tickling me on my stomach. I couldn't move because he was on top of me, so I started laughing with tears in my eyes.

He growled playfully, "try again!"

I barked out in between laughs, "okay, okay please!"

He purred, "that's my girl."

He turned himself over and lay against the bed with me next to him. He pulled me closer, and I snuggled close to him. I gave him a kiss on his chest, and I said thick with emotion, "thank you."

I knew he started being playful to get my mind off from the conversation earlier and my feelings. It wasn't the magical cure to get me out of my funk, but it did help me feel better and not to be thinking too much on it. It was like a fresh breath of air that I needed. I knew he was doing, and I didn't mind. It wasn't childish because we did talk things out, but it wasn't necessary to keep talking about it or else we would just be ruminating.

I yawned,"okay, Imma go back to sleep."

He yawned as well, "yeah, okay night, hon."

Author's Note:

So, how you guys think of this chapter? Ale gonna talk to the rest of the cullens next chapter.

Enjoy!