Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the characters. No copyright infringement intended.
"Hi, Daddy," I said as sweetly as I could. Maybe my innocence would soften the blow.
"Bella!" he shouted. "What the hell do you think you're doing? I've taught you better than this."
I sighed and pulled myself off the motorcycle. Edward adjusted himself so I could. "Dad, I had a flat tire. Edward was giving me a ride home. Don't flip out."
I could see Dad's nostrils flaring and his cheeks turning red even in the dark. I hadn't seen him this mad in a long time. "You're going the wrong way to be going home. Don't lie to me, Bella."
"Chief Swan, I'm sorry. It's my fault. I asked Bella to go with me," Edward defended.
My dad grumbled and began to write out a ticket for Edward.
"Dad, please don't punish him just because I was with him," I begged.
"Bella, go get in my car," he demanded sternly. Even though I was an adult and fully aware he had no right to tell me to go to his car like I was a child, I still felt like I had to. He's my dad. What was I supposed to do?
I slowly walked to the cruiser and got in while I listened to him give Edward a lecture about going slow and following the rules of the road. The worst part was when dad said if he ever had his daughter with him again he needed to be extra careful because of my special circumstances. I felt like crying. Why did he have to make it sound like I was a freak?
My father started walking back towards the car and Edward started up his motorcycle again. He put his helmet on and took off without even looking back. If I wasn't scaring him off on my own I was pretty sure my father had just finished the job. Tears welled in my eyes when he got in the car.
"I'm not twelve, Dad. You can't treat me like I'm a little kid who you can still tell what to do. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is when you bring up my problems?" I shouted. I already had tears streaming down my face but now I was blubbering all over. "You completely humiliated me." He remained silent while he drove towards my house. I sat in the back seat sniffling all the way home. He pulled into the parking lot of my apartment and shut off the car. Instead of opening the car door for me, he just sat there. I hit my hand against the door trying to hint to him that I wanted out.
"Bella, do you like this guy?" He asked. I didn't know how to answer him. I did but I didn't want to. "I'm sorry for embarrassing you. I was just shocked you would get on the back of a motorcycle. I've warned you for so long and now suddenly some new guy comes to town and you're doing things I never thought I would ever see you doing? This is all new for me. I'm only worried about your safety. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I'll be fine, Dad. You just need to let me live my life and stop worrying so much about me. I can take care of myself."
"Can you just promise me one thing?" he asked. I could tell whatever it was he was going to say was difficult for him. "If you ever get on his motorcycle again wear a helmet and maybe even full body padding. But most importantly make sure he goes the speed limit. That bike is designed to go fast; faster than any posted speed limits anywhere. If you're with him he needs to follow the law regardless of how much he might be trying to impress you."0
"I doubt he'll be trying to impress me anytime soon, not that he even was," I said still sounding a little angry.
"Oh, believe me, he was trying to impress you," my dad informed. "I wouldn't even be surprised if he intentionally made sure you would have a flat tire."
I rolled my eyes and snorted. I thought he was a little crazy. How would he know anyway? "Can I get out now?" I asked.
My dad got out and helped me out of the car. He pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly for quite a long time. I wasn't uncomfortable but a little confused by it. I felt like he was hugging me goodbye. I hoped he didn't think just because I rode on Edward's motorcycle once meant I was going to be doing it a lot. I doubted Edward would even talk to me after this disaster.
"Dad, can you do me a favor?" I asked as he pulled away and held me out in front of him at arm's length. "Can you drop the ticket you gave Edward? He didn't do anything wrong other than have your daughter with him."
He chuckled and let go of me completely. "He actually did do something wrong. He was speeding quite a bit. But, I'll make an exception this one time if you promise me you'll be good with him."
"I promise."
"And just so you know this is a onetime deal. If I catch him speeding again I will have to give him a ticket. I don't care if you're with him or not. But I better not catch him speeding with you."
"You won't. I did promise," I assured.
I gave him one last hug and watched as he drove away. I knew my dad worried about me more than he should, but sometimes I wished he would just let me make my own mistakes and live my own life. He needed to let me go.
As I began to walk up the stairs to my apartment, I heard the familiar sound of Edward's motorcycle coming up the road. I felt like hiding from him to avoid any more embarrassment, but at the same time felt like I needed to apologize for my dad. Do I talk to him or not?
Thanks for reading :)