Hey guys. Thanks those who reviewed the last chapter. Some of you were mad at Bella and didn't understand why she snapped, whereas others understood a bit more. Wherever you stood with Bella's behavior, it was nice hearing your opinions.
Now, I don't know if high schools in America have Dad's Day (when dads of the students come in and talk to the classes) we certainly don't have that in high schools here in England but this was needed to the story.
This is another emotional chapter and I cried hard writing this. This chapter is kind of the climax of the whole story; this was the original idea of 'America's Hero' and the last four chapters have been leading to this moment. I really hope you enjoy it.
See ya at the bottom :)
Chapter 5 BPOV
Dad's Day
When I woke up the following Monday, it felt like a normal day. However, I didn't know that today would be the day that everything changed.
The morning started out like every other morning; I got up, went to the bathroom, got changed into my jeans, t-shirt and sneakers, read my mom's not of how she wouldn't be home for dinner while I poured out a cup of coffee and then made my way out of the door once was finished.
The drive to school was the same but when I got there it seemed like there were more cars in the parking lot than usual so I had to park on the street and walk in. When I got to homeroom I opened the door and stopped in my place.
Because standing there, in a line at the back of the room, were a bunch of men. I had an idea of who they all were, especially when I saw Carlisle Cullen – the man who found me that night who just happened to be Edward's father - and Mr James confirmed it when he said, "Quick, Bella, sit down." Then he addressed the class. "As well all know, today is Dad's Day and I would like to thank all of your father's for taking time in what I am sure are busy lives to join us this morning." I sat down at the back and put my head down. "I'm going to call your names one-by-one and you'll come up and introduce your dad's, who will then come up and tell us about themselves, okay?" Everyone nodded.
One-by-one, he called the names of my classmates and they introduced their dads proudly. Finally, the moment I dreaded came.
"Bell Swan." I kept my eyes closed and my head down but I could feel everyone's eyes on me. "Bella Swan," Mr James called again.
"Bella," I heard someone call again but it wasn't Mr James. "You can do it Bella. I'm here, Bella. Tell them all about your old man. Let them in, Bells," I heard my dad's voice say softly.
I opened my eyes and looked up and, just as I thought, everyone was staring at me. I gulped and stood up, slowly making my way to the front.
"Where's her dad?" I heard one boy whisper from the back.
The girl beside him commented, "I heard she doesn't have one."
A deep voice from the line of dad's at the back whispered, "Probably another deadbeat not wanting to give up his morning."
I sighed as I approached Mr James and said, "My dad's not here but can I say a few words?" He nodded and I turned around to face the class. Taking a deep breath, I began. "Um, my dad couldn't be here today. I just wanted to take these few minutes to tell you all about him. My dad was amazing; he taught me how to ride my bike, how to drive, how to throw a football that put half of the boys in my hometown to shame. He surprised me with flowers all the time and would take me for an ice cream after church on Sunday's.
"You can't see my dad, but I'm never without him. Because he always told me that, no matter where he was, he'd always be in my heart. I love my dad more than anything, and anyone in the world. He's my star; my hero. And I know he'd love to be here today, with us, but," tears filled my eyes, "heaven's just too far away.
"You see my dad was a soldier, who died on May eighteenth last year when a roadside bomb his hit convoy." I was crying harder, so much so that I could barely get the words out, but I carried on, not being able to stop now that I had started. "But, sometimes, when I close my eyes, it's like he never left me." I closed my eyes and could see him standing in front of me, his goofy smile gracing his face. I could hear sniffles from the class. I opened my eyes again. "He said he'd never leave me, but he did. And it's been a difficult year without him.
"But I've also realized how lucky I was to get to call him my dad for sixteen years. And I've never been prouder of him. Because he died for me, and for you. So that we didn't have to live in fear. Earlier I called my dad my hero, but he was more than that; he's America's hero. Thank you."
I wiped my face and, to my surprise, everyone started to clap.
"Well, um, thank you Bella," Mr James said as he, discreetly, wiped his cheeks.
I nodded. "Can I be excused?"
He smiled sadly and nodded. I walked to the back of the room to grab my bag and then walked out of the class.
I walked to the bathroom, where I stayed for the entire hour. I left when the bell for class rang and ignored the looks of sympathy that I got; I should have known that my little speech would be news already.
When lunch arrived, I skipped out of going to the cafeteria and headed straight outside. I was surprised to hear footsteps approaching and looked up to see Edward, Alice, Rosalie, Jasper and Emmett.
"Can we sit?" Rosalie asked.
I nodded slowly and she and Alice sat either side of me with their boyfriends either side of them, leaving Edward to sit in the seat across from me.
They were silent for a few minutes, giving each other glances like they were waiting for someone to start talking. Finally, Jasper took a deep breath.
"We're sorry to hear about your dad. He sounded like a great man."
I smiled slightly at him. "Thank you. And he was." He smiled back at me.
"Bella," Rosalie started, "That day we had the argument it was your dad's anniversary, wasn't it?" I nodded. "We're sorry."
I shook my head. "You don't have to apologize; you didn't know."
"You could have told us," Alice chimed in.
"I didn't want anyone to know."
"Why not?" Emmett asked.
I took a deep breath. "I was born and raised for seventeen years in my hometown. I was one of less than eight hundred residents. Everyone knew who everyone was. Yet, after it happened, I wasn't 'Bella' anymore; even to my friends. I was the girl who lost her dad. Everywhere I went, I got the looks; kinda like the ones you're giving me now." They all looked guilty. "When we moved here, although I was mad that my mom made us leave Kansas, and even though everyone still stared at me, it wasn't looks of sympathy. I wanted to keep it that way."
"I guess I kinda understand," Alice admitted. "But, even though I understand now why you snapped that day, what you said still hurts."
I hung my head, feeling guilty. "I know. And I'm really sorry. Although it might make you feel better knowing that wasn't the worst thing I've said to someone since I got here," I said, thinking of what I said to my mom the morning after I found out about Phil. "I've got a lot of people to make a mends with."
"I'm sure they'll forgive you," Jasper commented.
I know I had been horrible to the five of them since I had moved to Forks, but I was starting to realize, as I sat there with them and spoke calmly, how genuine they were. They might have their annoying traits and habits, but who didn't?
"I need to apologize to you guys for a lot of things," I began. "When I moved here, my mom made me promise to try and make friends. I agreed to get her off my back but I never tried. Not like you guys did. I used to think you guys were annoying for always trying to get me to join in things; movie trips, shopping trips, etcetera. But I know you guys were trying to be nice. I just didn't wanna let you guys in; I didn't wanna let anyone in. I've been sad and angry for a year, heck, I still am, but I took it out on the five of you, even though you did nothing wrong. And I really am sorry."
Alice smiled. "We forgive you," she told me as she put her arm around my shoulder and pulled me in for a hug. Rosalie did the same on the other side.
The bell for class rang and they all stood up. They noticed I had moved and stopped. "You going to class?" Emmett asked.
I nodded. "Yeah. I just need a minute before I can face everyone again."
"I'll wait with you," Edward said, speaking for the first time since they sat down with me. "We can walk to class together." I nodded and the others walked off. "I get it now."
I looked at him with a frown. "Get what?"
"Everything." I made a motion with my hands for him to continue. "The reason you snapped when I asked where your dad was; why you freaked out when I suggested we watch American Sniper at the movies; why you said if you had known me a year ago you'd have said 'yes'. I get it." I nodded. "You ready to go in?"
I took a deep breath. "Yeah. Let's go."
Just like I thought, everyone stared at me as we walked through school. When we got to biology, everyone looked at me sadly as I walked to my seat and even Mr Molina gave me a glance before telling everyone to pay attention.
When I got to gym class, Coach Clapp told me I could sit out today if I wanted to. I was gonna say 'no' and join in just to show everyone I didn't need sympathy but then realized I would be an idiot to give up the opportunity to skip gym so I spent the hour sitting on the bleachers.
When gym class finished, instead of heading straight out, I waited outside the girls changing rooms. There were three other people I had to apologize to.
Finally, Angela, Jessica and Lauren made their way out, chatting about something or other.
I moved from where I had been leaning and stopped in front of them.
"Hey guys. Um, I know you're probably mad at me for what happened last week but I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I never should have snapped. It's just, when you said what you said about your dad, Jess, I got angry. It's no excuse for calling you a bitch, or a stupid slut. But I really am sorry. And I hope you can forgive me."
I turned to walk away. "Wait," Angela called. I turned back around. "Why that day? Alice told me about your argument with them on your dad's anniversary but last Monday was a normal day."
I shook my head. "No it wasn't. Last Monday, June first, was the one year anniversary of my dad's funeral." Her face dropped, finally understanding.
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"Me too."
"I forgive you, for what happened. Let's put it behind us."
I smiled. "Thank you, Angela."
"Well I don't," Jessica said harshly. "I don't care what happened, it's no excuse for saying what you said when we had been nothing but nice to you. And I think it's stupid that people are simply forgetting how much of a bitch you've been since you got here simply because your dad died a year ago." She emphasized the word 'year', as if enough time had passed that I should have gotten over it by now.
Angela gave her a dirty look and stood next to me, linking her arm through mine. "You know, Bella might have been a bitch, but she's apologized for it; and she had a reason. What's your excuse, Jessica?" She didn't gave her a chance to reply as she dragged me out of the door. "Sorry about her. You okay?" she asked as we walked.
"Yeah. Thanks for sticking up for me."
"No problem. Where are you parked? I'll walk you."
"Oh, I'm on the street; all of the dad's cars took up the lot this morning."
She nodded in understanding. "Okay then. Well I'll see you tomorrow."
I nodded. "Okay. Thanks again. And, if you don't wanna sit with Jess and Lauren tomorrow, I'll be outside on one of the benches."
She smiled. "I might take you up on that." She touched my arm. "Bye Bella."
"Bye," I said back and she walked away. I sighed before heading out of the parking lot and towards my car.
When I got home not long later, feeling lighter than I had in a long time, I decided that there was one more person I had to say sorry to.
Unfortunately, that person wouldn't be home until late because she was avoiding me so I made the decision to go to her. I picked my keys back up and headed out. On the way to Cullen Interiors office, I made a pit stop to pick something up and then headed on my way.
When I got there, I parked on the street and paid the meter before walking into the building. My mom was nowhere to be seen but a blonde woman was at her desk so I approached her.
"Hi, could you tell me where Renee Swan is?"
"She's with Mrs Cullen right now. Who are you?"
"I'm her daughter."
She stood up without a word and walked into the back. She came back a few minutes later. "You can go through."
I walked past her and headed in the direction she had just come in. I noticed a door that said 'Esme Cullen's Office' and knocked.
"Come in," a soft voice called back and I opened the door. My mom was standing beside a large mahogany desk with a caramel-haired woman. Both women looked up and the second lady smiled and walked towards me. "Hello, you must be Bella. I'm Esme; your mom's boss. It's so nice to finally meet you."
"Uh, you too."
"What do you need, Bella?" my mom asked.
"I wanted to talk to you."
"And it couldn't have waited until I got home?"
"No because you're avoiding me so I'll already be in bed when you get home."
Esme took a breath. "Why don't you two use my office to talk; I'll wait outside." She smiled at me and left the room, closing the door behind her.
"Are you trying to get me fired?" my mom asked rudely.
"No. I'm sorry for disrupting your work, I just wanted to talk."
"Okay, talk."
I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry." She looked surprised but didn't say anything, waiting for me to continue. "I've been vile to you over the last year. The things I've said to you have been disgusting." I started to cry, thinking of everything I had said. "I've just been so sad, and so angry. But not at you. I've been taking it out on everyone, especially you, because you're all I've got left." My mom started to cry. "I just miss dad so much, and I've been grieving, but I guess I was so busy thinking about how sad I was that I forgot that you lost your husband too. And I'm really sorry for not being here for you, the way you've tried to be for me."
She walked up to me and put her arms around me, holding me for the first time since the funeral. "It's okay, baby. I forgive you. I just wish you hadn't shut me out for so long."
"I shut everyone out; it was just easier."
She pulled back and held my face in her hands. "It's also very lonely."
We both pulled away and I remembered what I had in my hands. "Here; it's not a lot but I wanted to get something for you." I gave her the teddy in my hands and watched as she traced the words 'I love you, mom'.
"Thank you, baby."
"I've been thinking today, that, maybe I need help. Professional help."
She nodded. "I think we could both use it." There was a knock on the door. "We'll talk more when I get home okay. I'll try and finish around six, half past at the latest," she told me as the door opened and Esme stuck her head in.
She noticed our teary eyes and asked, "Everything okay in here?"
We both nodded. "I'm gonna go. Thanks for letting me talk to my mom, Mrs Cullen."
"Please, sweetie, call me Esme. And you're welcome."
I smiled at her and then at my mom. "See you at home."
She nodded. "Yeah. I love you."
"I love you, too," I said back to her, the first time since my dad's death.
I walked out of the office and back through where I came from. I said goodbye to the woman at reception and then headed out to my car.
I climbed in and just sat there for a moment, thinking about what a crazy day it had been.
I know that things wouldn't change straight away; I still had a lot of issues I had to face. But today was definitely a good start.
So, what did you think? Did ya cry?
So Charlie was a soldier (I think you all knew that anyway). I'm lucky to still have my dad in my life so I couldn't possibly imagine what it's like being in Bella's situation but I know that many people in the world are not as lucky a me. But lucky Bella's 'friends' know now and maybe she can start the healing process.
Next chapter, counseling! That will be fun for our Bella *hear my sarcasm* haha. It will definitely be another emotional chapter that's for sure. And, possibly a sweet B/E moment? You'll have to wait and see *does evil laugh* haha
Please review, they make me so happy :)
See ya'll next time
RKandCarrieFan
xoxo