A/N: Hey everyone! Time for an update again! I hope you enjoy! More chapters to come soon! As always... feel free to review. I love hearing from all of you. HAPPY READING!
CHAPTER TWENTY- THREE
I was covered in only a sheet when I awoke to Jacobs husky whisper in my ear, my body feeling sated still from the warmth of his touch.
"Bells."
I buried my head further into the cool pillow, not wanting to leave my state of utter contentment.
"Charlie will be here soon. I have to go, sweetheart."
"No..." I softly protested.
As if on cue, I heard the tires creeping along the fine gravel below my window, as Charlie came home from his night shift. Jacob kissed me softly then, whispering his "I love you," before sneaking out the window just as Charlie entered the house.
I was too exhausted to keep my eyes open. My head filling with the many vivid memories of Jacobs hot skin against mine, his strong hands making me feel like putty in them. I sighed and huddled myself further into the sheets, already missing him as sleep took me under once more.
When I awoke hours later, I was startled to see Charlie lingering by my open door.
"What time is it?" I groaned, stretching and reaching for my clock.
"Nearly noon, Bella."
I shook my head, disbelieving I had slept half the day away already.
Charlie looked unpleased as I scurried to the bathroom, shutting the door swiftly behind me.
"Do you think I'm some fool!" He suddenly yelled to me from the hall. "He was here wasn't he? Jacob? With you all night?"
I cringed at his tone and demanding question, my eyes bulging when I glimpsed in the mirror to see my haggard appearance. My hair was tangled and my camisole was on backwards.
Jacob must have dressed me sometime in the night...
I opened the door slowly, stealing a glance at the reddened expression on my fathers face.
"Jacob just left-" I softly admitted.
Charlie stormed off then, heading down the stairs in record time. I rushed after him, my voice still heavy with sleep.
"Where are you going!"
"To give that kid a piece of my mind!"
"No!" I yelled, swiftly shutting the front door before he could leave. "You can't. It's not his-"
"Don't start with me Bella! That boy needs to learn when to mind his manners. Especially after his shenanigans with you last time. Running off from Billy like that and damn well knowing you'd come after him! How selfish was that anyway! Billy needs him and he just took off!? You know what... Maybe the two of you need some distance! I don't think I like his new attitude since he's been chumming with that Uley kid!"
I felt my chest tighten painfully at just the thought. Just the mere thought of not having Jacob around made my face pale and Charlie saw it. His anger fading some when he recognized the sheer panic on my face now.
"Dad, please don't-. I know- it seems- like he ran off- ... but-"
My father narrowed his eyes at me, inching closer with his reply.
"Seems like it? What are you saying? He didn't run away?"
I swallowed hard, thinking of all the hell Jacob had caught from him recently and not wanting him to catch anymore.
It was time for some honesty... brutal honesty.
I sucked in a breath and squared my shoulders as I took hold of Charlie's hand. "No, dad. Jacob- he didn't run off-"
"So he lied to me!" Charlie fumed, getting his keys to the cruiser.
"No stop!" I protested, steering him back to face me. "Listen to me, please?"
Charlie took a deep breath and gazed out the window as the truth started to spill from me like a dam that had overflowed.
"Jacob didn't run away, Dad. He came after me... He- He saved me."
I saw the anger light in his face as he tossed his keys back on the table and glared at me.
"You... you ran away?"
His tone was angry but more than that, it was hurt and it gutted me to hear.
"You're that desperate to get away from me Bella? Why did you move here in the first place if you hate me so damn much? You should've stayed with your mother in Jacksonville!"
I fought the emotion as I shook my head and forced the words out... the truth that had been lingering on my tongue for days now.
"I don't hate you, dad. I love you and- Jacob doesn't deserve your anger. He's not responsible for-"
"He supposedly ran away from home and-"
"No dad you're wrong!" I interrupted... "Jacob didn't run away! He came after me... to save me. Edward took me. He forced me to go to Italy with him."
"Italy!?" Charlie huffed.
"Yes, he took me against my will. He's... He's ...- He's a vampire!"
Charlie took a step back, his face paling and his mouth hung open. The look on his face told me he thought I was insane and who could blame him.
"Bella, what kind of idiot do you take me for!" He shouted.
"It's true dad!" I replied in begging fashion, stepping forward and rolling up my sleeve to display the old scar on my inner wrist.
Charlie squinted down, grabbing hold of my wrist while looking hard and then shaking his head in disbelief as my rambling continued.
"I've lied to you... about everything and I'm sorry but I can't keep lying to you anymore. My world is not what you think it is and Jacob is the only reason I'm alive. He saved my life! I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him."
Charlie looked ashen as he dropped my wrist, his eyes searching mine for truth.
"I know it sounds crazy, but it's not. And seeing you so angry with Jacob is killing me. He's taking the heat for this to protect me."
"Do you know how ridiculous you sound right now?"
His disbelief stung but I expected no less. After all, had I placed myself in his same shoes, I would have deemed someone crazy if they had told me something such as this.
"Edward is not human." I ground out, staring boldly back at his heated gaze and willing him to believe me.
"Is this coming from Jacob, huh? Is he and Billy feeding you a bunch of tales that have gone straight to your head?"
"No! It's the truth."
Charlie turned on his heel then, grabbing me by the arm before snatching up his keys.
"Come with me." He demanded, opening the house door and escorting me through it.
"Where are we going?"
"To Billy's!" He yelled, slamming his car door shut. "So I can find out just what in the hell Jacob has done to your head!"
"Stop blaming him!"
The ride there was silent, mostly because I was too emotional to speak. When Charlie pulled up in front of the familiar red house, my hands were shaking.
Had I done the right thing in telling him?
Billy was just plating his breakfast when he answered my fathers heavy knock, his eyes full of recognition when they took in Charlie's disposition in the doorway.
"Morning old friend. What can I do for you this early?" Billy asked.
"You can tell me where Jake is. I think it's time he and I had a word."
I swallowed hard and crossed the threshold, wishing I had some kind of way to warn Jacob about the shit storm brewing at his house.
"He's not in..." Billy replied, closing the door behind us. "Is there something wrong?"
Charlie looked to me with aggravation clear on his face. "Well you tell me, Billy. Bella here has spent the last hour telling me things that any normal person would call damn crazy and I can't help but think her spending so much time here has caused her reality to warp! I know your stories Billy and maybe you've told one too many to Bella."
Billy sighed and gave me an understanding nod before turning himself to face Charlie better.
"Tell me old friend... what has Bella told you?"
"I'm not even gonna repeat it cause its that damn crazy!"
His tone was harsh and it jumped me. Charlie never got this hot under the collar and I knew his anger was coming from a place of concern. He was afraid I had literally lost it. Afraid that he was dealing with someone who was mentally unstable.
"Maybe it's not that crazy. Tell me Charlie." Billy hedged.
"She says Jacob didn't run away from home. That he went to Italy to save her and that Edward Cullen is -"
"One of the cold ones." Billy finished, closely watching the reaction on my fathers face.
"Oh hell Billy! Are you kidding me-"
Charlie paused when the front door to the house opened, startling us all as Jacob walked in. His gaze meeting mine as I mouthed "I'm sorry" to him.
"Well look who decided to drop in!" Charlie scoffed, gesturing to Jacobs appearance. "Where have you been and why the hell are you shirtless all the time lately!?"
I flinched away from his anger and saw Jacob reflexively reach for my hand, drawing me over to him.
"I thought you were good for Bella... and now I'm not so sure anymore. She spends all this time with you and now she starts talking complete nonsense!"
Jacob met Charlie's gaze with evident remorse. He had great respect for my dad. His words held significant weight for him and I could see the momentary sadness in his features when Charlie said this.
"It's not what you think." Jake offered, squeezing my hand as it shook.
"Charlie...take a seat... please. We have much to discuss." Billy sighed, casting a weary look to us.
I watched my fathers face pale again as he took the offered seat at their kitchen table, waiting for all to be explained.