Struggling to be Honest
JacobxBella
Rated M
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers
Struggling to be Honest
Chapter 10
Bella and Charlie were talking quietly in the kitchen the next morning over a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and waffles. They were both anxiously waiting for Renee to show up and for the scene she was sure to cause over the events that happened yesterday.
Charlie for one did not care that his ex-wife was going to raise hell about the abandoned wedding and groom. He was absolutely glad that his daughter finally came to her senses and dumped the Cullen boy. He wasn't sure if she finally saw him for the controlling, creepy, spoiled brat that he saw him to be, but it didn't matter anymore; his baby girl was away from him and was now with the boy that he did consider his son.
Speaking of said boy, Jacob was currently sleeping upstairs on Bella's bed. Charlie had found him in Bella's room in her bed with her while she was sleeping, him asleep as well. Considering the newly developed relationship between the two, Charlie decided to let them be. But he also knew that Bella was still a tad mortified about the encounter she and Jacob had had the day before with their dads.
(Flashback)
Charlie had just pulled up to the Black house with Billy, as he had went to go and pick him up from the liquor store where the Uley boy had taken him. Apparently Sam saw fit to call him and tell him that Billy seemed to be hell-bent on buying out the store to celebrate the runaway bride. Anyway, he had picked him up, allowed him to buy two bottles of liquor, and he took him home. When he pulled up, both he and his best friend had seen Bella's truck parked outside the little red house. They both assumed that their children might be inside talking out their issues. As Charlie was helping Billy out of his cruiser and into his wheelchair, they heard the sound of something falling coming from the garage, followed by a curse.
Wondering what could be going on, the two adults silently made their way to the garage and were shocked at what they found. Jacob was lying on top of Bella, shirtless and legs tangled up in his jeans and his ass bared for the world to see; Bella was in her bra and her shirt, pants, and underwear were next to her. You couldn't see her intimates, but the situation was still embarrassing. Charlie, who was red in the face, turned around and headed back toward the house. Billy, who personally found the entire thing funny, calmly told the two to meet him and Charlie inside once they were decent.
Afterwards, Jacob and Bella endured an hour long talk about having sex right before almost getting married, using condoms during sex, having the decency to do it somewhere that wasn't close to either of their houses or in them, and whatever else Charlie could think to say at that moment. When he finished, Billy simply asked, "Bella, are you positive that you are truly in love with my son?"
"Yes, Billy. I know it has taken me some time and I've brought a lot of heartache towards him and the others, but I do. And I know you are just trying to protect Jake, but I promise that this time my mind is set and I know that I belong anywhere that Jake is," Bella said with the utmost certainty. Jacob smiled at his love, pleased with her speech and internally telling the bloodsucker to eat it. Billy seemed satisfied with the answer and nodded his head, welcoming her into the family as his future daughter-in-law. Charlie, who was still a little upset at finding his daughter naked and not a virgin anymore, calmed down and also welcomed Jacob, even though he had done so already.
Jacob had then said he wanted to talk to Billy alone for a while, and Charlie and Bella left in the cruiser, Jacob promising to drive her truck back to their house later. Charlie wondered what they could be talking about, but just figured it was probably important if it required a private father-son talk.
(End Flashback)
"Dad, I heard a car door," Bella's voice said, breaking the man out of his thoughts. He sighed and told her to go and greet her mother while he cleaned up a bit. Bella was not really in the mood to listen to her mother's bitching, but knew she would have to face her sooner or later. A knock on the door brought her out of her musings and she sighed. Getting up from the table she walked over to the front door and took a deep breath before grabbing the door handle and opening the door.
There on the other side of the threshold was her mother, Renee. The woman was currently looking at the rest of the neighborhood with a bit of disdain before turning back to see her only child standing in the open door.
"Hello, Bella. May I come in?" Renee said before moving past Bella and into her old home. Bella frowned and mumbled, "Nice to see you too, mom." She closed the door and walked after her mother who had navigated to the living room. Renee was looking around with her hands on her hips before saying, "Well, I see that Charlie hasn't done a single thing to change this place since I left. He's still stuck in the past."
"Mom, can we just get to why you're here?" Bella asked a little impatiently. She was not in the mood to deal with her currently, and she definitely did not want to hear her mother bad talk her father anymore. Charlie was a good man and a good father. He was there for her in her time of need, even if she didn't appreciate it and he always tried to do what was best for her; he even almost went through with walking her down the aisle at her wedding yesterday, no matter how reluctant he was about the whole thing and her choice in partner, just to see her happy. It made her realize how selfish she had been for the past year. Her father suffered in silence because of her decisions just so that she could be happy, and it made her want to cry.
Renee looked at Bella in surprise at the tone she had used toward her. Bella had never spoken to her as if she didn't want to speak to her or as if she was suddenly impatient with her. She wondered if being back in this backwater town had something to do with her daughter's change in attitude. But first, she needed to get to the bottom of Bella's departure from the wedding yesterday. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Sweetheart, let's talk about what happened yesterday. You ran out on such a beautiful and extravagant wedding, not to mention the handsome groom. Would you mind telling me why?"
Bella cut her eyes to the side for a bit and crossed her arms over her chest before saying, "I ran out because I realized I was making a mistake. I didn't want to get married, and I still don't; at least, not for another couple of years. And even when I do, it won't be to Edward."
Baffled, Renee pressed on, saying, "But he and his family have money, Bella! He could give you a great life, one that is so much better than this. He could take you around the world and anywhere you would like to go instead of this drab old town. And you would be able to buy and do anything you wanted. And all the while, be loved, treated, and live like a queen."
"Is that all you care about, mom? Money?" Bella asked in disgust. She looked at her mother as if she didn't even know who she was anymore. "You really think that I was with Edward for money? I was with Edward because I thought I loved him, and that's why I was marrying him. But I realized that I don't love him, and haven't for a long time. I was just deluding myself into believing I did because I was in denial about my true feelings."
"Sweetheart, I'm just saying that Edward can provide for you."
"Yeah, he can, but I don't want Edward, and I could care less that he could provide for me."
Before Renee could come back with another comment, Charlie's deep voice said, "That's enough, Renee." Mother and daughter turned to see Charlie standing in the entrance to the living room with a hard expression on his face.
Charlie had heard the conversation that had took place, and he couldn't believe that the woman he had once been head over heels for and was the mother of his child the money driven woman standing in his home. It was obvious she considered money was what was going to make a happy home and marriage. No wonder she was all for the wedding when she found out Bella was engaged. The boy obviously came from a wealthy family and probably had a bank account that could make up the cost of his house, car, and the neighborhood.
Renee sniffed with a frown before saying, "Charlie. Still sporting that horrid mustache, I see. It's not very becoming of you."
"I disagree. Now if you're done talking about my appearance, let's get back to the earlier conversation. From what I could gather, you just want our daughter married to that punk for his money,"
"That is not true. I just said that I want her to be taken care of. Edward and his sister told me Bella had run off to Billy Black's son. I'm just trying to understand how she could leave someone like Edward for Billy's son? If she moved to where they live, she would have no life. Our daughter needs a good fit, someone who is good enough for her, and I don't see your friend's son as the answer," Renee said, putting her hands on her hips.
Bella was livid. How dare her mother insinuate that Jacob wasn't good enough for her? Before she knew what she was doing, her hand had reached across her body and flew back, the back of her hand smacking Renee across the face. Renee let out a startled yelp as she grabbed her cheek, stumbling from the impact and falling onto the couch. Looking up with wide eyes, she saw her daughter breathing heavily as she stalked towards her.
Bending down so she was looking her mother in her face, she yelled, "How dare you say that? You don't even know Jacob! Did it ever occur to you that maybe I don't need money to be happy with someone? Jacob loves me for me, and doesn't need to buy my love! Yes, he may not come from a rich background like Edward, but he works hard for what he has earned and one day, I will gladly live on the Reservation with Jacob. I don't need material things or to be treated like a queen, as you so put it. I'm not attracted to wealth, like you apparently are. Is that why you even married Phil? Because he has money? Do you even love him? I know dad treated you like a queen and did his best to make you happy, but you never appreciated it. So who are you to tell me about the decisions I've made? If you're so concerned about the money Edward has and what he can do with it, why don't you go and be with him and let him kiss you're lily white ass? I don't know who you are, but you are not my mother. And as far as I'm concerned, you're dead to me."
Bella ran out of the living room and up the stairs to her room, slamming the door behind her, effectively waking Jacob up from his slumber. Through his groggy vision, he could see Bella's flustered face and the angry tears standing in her eyes. Sitting up in her bed, he held out his arms and said, "Bells."
The girl rushed into Jacob's arms and allowed him to sit her on his lap, letting her hug him and cry her tears. He didn't know what happened to cause her to be this way, but he was going to comfort her until she calmed down. Kissing her head, he rocked her and hummed an old Quileute song that slowly lulled Bella into sleep. After situating them into lying down, Jacob still continued to hold her, continuously giving her comfort as she slept.
Back downstairs, Renee was still sitting in shock from being backhanded by her daughter. Charlie, though also shocked, didn't feel as if he needed to scold Bella later on for her words and actions. Bella said what was on her mind and he couldn't fault her for it.
Looking down at his ex-wife, he said, "Well, I believe your presence here is no longer required. Please show yourself out while I go and check on my daughter." And with that, Charlie left the living room and headed upstairs, leaving Renee by herself. Renee sat in silence for a while, a hand still on her now red cheek. She didn't know what had gotten into Bella, but she didn't like it and she blamed Charlie. Standing up from the couch, she walked through the house and to the front door to her rental car. Getting inside, she looked at herself in the mirror, frowning at the red mark marring her skin, before cranking the car and driving away from the yellow house and back to the hotel.
Author's Note: The poll has been taken down, as I will be going a different route.