Chapter 5
There was a bang as the door to the front office was flung open and I jumped from the suddenness of the sound among the quiet whisper of the receptionist typing. Looking up I knew then and there I'd be lucky if I ever saw the light of day again. Charlie had to of been the angriest I've ever seen him. His face was absolutely thunderous and tinted somewhere between deep red and light purple. I gulped when he just stared right through me like he had laser beams for eyes. Yep, I'm dead. Dead, dead, dead. He's going to take me out back and put me six feet under for sure. I looked down at my feet and wrung my hands nervously as I waited for him to sort out the paperwork. When he spoke it was as if he was having to physically restrain himself from grabbing me and dragging me out to the squad car. "Isabella..." Uh oh, he never calls me by my full name. Yeah, I'm so screwed. It felt like my temperature shot up a few degrees with my case of nerves. "You go straight to the car and I don't want to hear a single word from you until we get home. Do I make myself clear young lady?" Still refusing to look at him for fear of what I'd see I just nodded my head meekly and did as I was told.
If someone had said I'd be in this exact situation just yesterday I would've called them insane. I never lost my temper to the point of violence. All I know is as much as I hate that I've disappointed Charlie yet again, I'm extremely proud of myself. I won my first fight and I took up for myself and Charlie. That's not even counting the amount of satisfaction I have because I'm not numb and emotionless anymore. I know that hole is still waiting to swallow me up from the inside but it just doesn't seem as bad as it was even a few days ago.
The car ride home was awkward and silent but it didn't seem to take near long enough given what I knew I was going to have to face. I trudged in after Charlie as he headed to the kitchen to grab a beer. He gestured for me to sit down at the table across from him and took his time popping the top on his beer and taking a long drag. I started fidgeting where I sat as the silence drug on. Oh I knew he was doing this on purpose. He's a cop it's what they do they let you stew so when they start asking questions you're ready to spill your guts just to make the tension go away. I wasn't faced with my loving, concerned father at the moment. Oh no, I was facing Chief Swan in all his pre-interogation glory. Unfortunately, it didn't matter much that I knew his tactics because heaven help me, it was working. I suddenly felt like I was all of two inches tall with the weight of his heavy stare judging me and finding me guilty.
Thankfully, he took mercy on me and spoke before I could. At least it gave me something to focus on other than my racing pulse and sweaty palms. "What happened? You sent two girls to the hospital today. You're lucky it was a first time offense and the families aren't pressing charges yet." He just stopped to take a deep breath before focusing on what I had to say for myself.
"I didn't mean to put them in the hospital, dad. Honest." Lies. I wanted to freaking murder thing one and two but he didn't need to know that. "I just couldn't stand the slurs they were spouting. They never would've stopped without a beat down." More like I took the opportunity to exact some revenge. Blinking I stopped to think about the vehemence echoing in my head at the vicious turn my thoughts were taking. Huh, I guess I hated them more than I knew. Still, I wasn't normally blood thirsty even at my angriest. I had zoned out and missed the first half of what Charlie was saying and I hurried to pay attention before he took notice.
"...can't just hit people like that. What was so important that it couldn't be solved by asking them to stop or reporting their behavior? Just ignore them from now on, Bells, it's not worth getting expelled over. I almost didn't get the principal to agree to a suspension instead." He just had this look of bewilderment on his face like he never thought in a million years he'd have to have a conversation like this. All I got out of his little speech was how good little Bella can't speak up for herself. Good little Bella has to lay down and take everything those snide cunts throw her way. I could feel myself becoming angry again and I clenched my fists to keep from shaking. I barely felt the pin pricks of my sharper than normal nails cutting into my palms. I was too focused on my disbelief that I couldn't even get a chance to defend myself because according to him there was no reason they could have deserved, even earned in my opinion, that beating.
Standing up, I knocked the chair over without a second glance not caring if I looked a little wild at the moment and ripped into Charlie. "How fucking dare you! It wasn't bad enough that they decided to swear I was some prostitute for the reservation. They decided to try to bring your name as a cop through the mud too! I didn't kick their scrawny asses because they said nasty things about me. That's normal. That's everyday I go to school with those low down nasty skanks. I kicked their asses because they dared to say you couldn't be chief of police because how could you control the town when you couldn't enforce the law in your own house! I put them in the hospital so that they'd remember to never speak ill of you again and this is the thanks I get! Well, I know where I'm not wanted. If you decide you want to actually hear my side before you pass judgment on my actions I'll be at Billy's!" It was with this proclamation that I ran upstairs to hurriedly throw a bag together. It wasn't like I had to worry about school until after spring break now anyway. I was back downstairs, out the door, and on my way to the reservation before he could even think to stop me let alone move from his seat with the way I had stunned him.