A/N: Have you ever gotten that swirling in your tummy like butterflies or bats? Every time I see a review and read the support and love from everyone it makes that feeling come up and I smile.
A couple people have asked about a line from a previous chapter where Edward states he's scared Charlie would come around with statutory rape charges. They met when Bella was seventeen, but I never really clarified if they were intimate or not before Bella was eighteen. I've grown up with the notion that love is love and you love who you love regardless of who they are. Also, statutory law where I live is sixteen so it doesn't bother me one bit. If it bothers you, that's fine, but I never clearly stated if they'd been together so it's up to the reader if they were or not.
The one thing worse than being tormented, is being ignored. That's exactly what happened when I went into school the next day after my confrontation with Lauren.
No one made a single comment or gave me one sideways glance. They all acted as if I never existed, like I was just a floating spirit. I had to actually pinch myself to silence the thought that I was sleeping.
At first it was nice, I thought maybe everyone was just as fed up with teasing and taunting as I was, but by lunch I figured it was more.
I usually didn't eat lunch at school, I spent my time in library, reading or working on homework, sometimes I'd email Edward or read something from him. The front rows of tables in the library were filled with kids, and the regulars there were seniors, more specifically Tyler Crowley and Lauren. None of them spared me one glance. The only thing that happened was a crumpled paper ball hitting my back as I just made it to a bookcase.
That was completely tame, completely mild, but for some reason it just… made me feel worse.
It was like they were just ignoring my existence. I knew I wasn't some blip on the radar as far as extraordinary or special, I was normal, I was average, but just the acknowledgement of that… it hurt.
I left early; right after lunch was over just so I wouldn't have to deal with chemistry or gym. I sped home as quickly as I could, hoping and wondering if Edward would be home for lunch or to get his stuff ready for class later on.
The lot at my complex was nearly empty when I got home and then I sprinted up the stairs to the third floor. I waved to the elderly woman who lived next door and she nodded to me while taking her garbage down. Any other time I'd have offered to help, but I didn't think I could manage to get the down stairs without breaking down.
Once I had the door closed behind me I looked around the apartment frantically. His jacket was hanging by the hook and his keys were on the counter in the kitchen, a glass half full of water was sitting next to the phone.
He's here!
I rushed to the bedroom and leaned against the doorway. Edward was lying on the bed flat on his stomach with his feet hanging off the end of the bed. His face was half buried in the pillow and his back rose and fell with each breath he took.
The red light for the alarm was blinking so I went over and curled up beside him, not knowing how long I'd have in his arms.
--
I woke what seemed like ten minutes later with a warm weight on the top of the head. It rubbed back and forth, smooth along my hair and came to down to stroke my skin.
I popped an eye open slowly, getting used to the dim light that came in through the window.
"Morning Sleeping Beauty," I opened both eyes to see Edward's bright green orbs staring back at me. I was snuggled into his chest and he had a hand combing through my hair soothingly.
I sighed aloud, burying my face in his neck.
Pulling his arms tighter around me, he chuckled. "What are you doing home?"
"I didn't feel well, so I decided to come home," I murmured. "Why are you home?"
"I always come home around noon. I either get lunch or sleep before class," his long fingers scratched my scalped.
"You don't have classes tonight."
"I don't have work either."
"Huh?" I popped my head up like a gopher. Edward smiled at me.
"Sam called; the health inspector's coming in soon. They had to close down while he gets a good look at everything," he kissed my forehead. "Just us tonight."
"Thank God," I sighed. I popped up—my whole body this time. "Wait! I was going to see my father tonight."
Edward's eyes narrowed just the slightest bit in surprise and he sighed loudly. He fell onto his back and pulled his arms over his eyes. "What time?"
"He usually gets off at six on weekdays…"
"Three hours of alone time, that's more than usual anyway." His arm wrapped around my waist and I shivered when I felt his fingers snake under my panties. "How about we put it to good use?"
--
Two hours later we managed to haul ourselves from bed and get into the shower to clean up the sweaty mess that we were.
I grabbed my nicest shirt and pants, dried my hair, even put on makeup. Edward put on a button-up and a pair of slacks. Even though he'd be waiting in the car, he wanted to be prepared. His respect for Charlie was profound.
At six thirty we pulled up outside of my old home. The lights were on inside, the cruiser was parked in the drive, and I could see the light from the TV through the front window.
"Are you sure?" Edward asked as I popped the door open.
"Yes, I'm sure," I sighed.
"I'm right here if you need me. I'll be right here waiting for you if you need to leave," his eyes got serious quickly.
"I know. I love you, Edward," he smiled and ducked his head to my lips, murmuring my words in return.
I paced through the brisk weather and up to the front door. I pushed hard on the little button for the doorbell, then, I waited patiently.
My senses were concentrated on every little sound behind the door. I could hear the creak of the chair as he got up, heaving himself like he always did. The floorboards creaked as he got closer to the door and then the lock clicked.
Charlie had a couple dollars in his hand and an exasperated smile on his lips, but when he saw me his face went pale. The dollars in his hand dropped while he took in the sight of his daughter.
"Bells?" he whispered.
"Hi dad," I waved awkwardly for a moment while he assessed the situation.
His eyes darted over my shoulder—looking at Edward—and his brows lowered a bit. I hoped that took the notion I was coming back to move in out of his mind. There were things that needed to be settled before I came even close to that.
"Um… why don't you come in?" he moved aside and made no move to wait for Edward if he wanted to come.
I sat on the couch across from the chair, relishing in the way the old cushions morphed to my body in the most comfortable of ways.
The house wasn't a mess, but it wasn't well kept either. It needed a good dusting around the shelves and tables, there were dishes piled up in the sink, but it looked like he was making an effort to do them. A shiny new dishwasher was fixed underneath the sink, replacing two large cabinets.
"You look good, kid," Charlie said while sitting in his recliner. He clicked off the TV and smiled at me.
"I am good," I smiled and wrung my hands. "You look good, too, dad."
"You're just saying that," he chuckled a little. "Pizza and Fritos can't be too good for me."
I frowned. "I thought you gave up Fritos?"
"Would you believe me if I told you I relapsed?" we both laughed a little, nothing outrageous or bonding, but something to clear up the crackling tension in the air.
"How's work at the station?" I asked.
"Fine, fine, slow as usual, but the less trouble the better," he ran a hand through his thinning hair. "How's school?"
"School's going well, I made honor role," he smiled and his face lit up. "Mom reacted the same way."
"You spoke with Renee?" he asked astounded.
"Yeah, the other night, the day after her birthday," Charlie nodded his head once and the lightheartedness dispersed.
"So what brings you by?"
"I just wanted to see how you were doing. I promised you a visit a while ago and I never kept that promise."
"You didn't have to, Bells—"
"I wanted to, dad. I missed you." I smiled sadly and he reciprocated.
"I take it things are alright with… Edward," his jaw clenched a bit.
"Yeah… yeah, things are going well. I'm really happy with him, I just got a job with him, so he goes to school at night, I go in the morning and in the afternoons we're together."
"Sounds complicated for a high school kid."
I shrugged. "Not really."
I could leave out the fact that I was struggling to suppress the stress and doubt. Edward and I were working on it; we could make it through this.
"I know it's been a while since you left," Charlie started to wring his hands, a nervous look on his face. "But have you given any thought in maybe coming back here? It's lonely without you around."
I smiled at him and sighed a little. It sounded… nice. It sounded appealing to come back home with Charlie, but when I thought about the concept of home, I thought of Edward, and I thought of our little apartment with the water stain in the bathroom ceiling.
"Have you given any thought about Edward?" I asked in return.
"Bella," he sighed. "You know I don't hate the kid. I know it may seem that way, but I do regret giving you that ultimatum before. In all honesty, when I told you to drop the college kid or move out, I didn't think you'd move out."
"Did you think that maybe I did that because I'm really in love with him?" I asked. "I love Edward, and he loves me, and in a way I'm glad I moved out when I did, because last two months with Edward have been great—although difficult—and I know that we're perfect together."
"Bella, just think about this—"
"I have, over and over again." I retorted.
"Alright, okay, no more fighting. I have you back in this house and there's no way I'm going to argue you out the door."
"I'm sorry dad," I whispered.
"Don't be," he got up when the doorbell rang and he picked up the money he'd dropped before I came in. "You want to stay for dinner? I ordered enough for a couple days worth."
Guilt shot through me but I nodded, mumbling "yes" as I did.
Charlie handed off the money to the delivery kid and then hesitated at the door. "Edward!" Edward's head snapped up from where he was thumbing through CDs and Charlie waved him inside. He turned to me. "I'll try to be civil for you, Bells."
Tears welled in my eyes I nodded a little. "Thank you, dad,"
"Just remember I love you, kid."
A/N: No big fall out. I think some people were looking for confrontation, but that's not the case. Charlie gave her an ultimatum and she picked her side.
I like hearing about all the relationships and about how they're akin to this story.
What's a moment in any relationship that you remember more than anything?
Don't forget to review!