24-Delusions

"Ph-phil?"

The conversations around me stopped, as everyone at my table turned to stare at me. Emmett took out his phone and pulled me out of my seat, the others followed.

"YES It's PHIL! Who the hell else would be calling a worthless piece of crap like you? WHERE are you? And Renee? I come home and the place is a mess and no one is here!! You're going to get it when I find you! And why the hell didn't your mother answer her phone?"

We were all standing outside the cafeteria now, Emmett put my phone on speaker, and was recording the entire conversation with his phone. Alice had gone away to call Charlie on her phone and I was standing there...entirely confused.

"I-we....We left you! We're in Florida. Leave us alone!" I managed to squeak out. I saw something on TV once about playing into the delusion when dealing with violent people....so that's what I was doing.

"You WHAT?! You bitch! I WILL find you Isabella...and your bitch of a mother too." And he hung up. My hands were shaking so much that I dropped my phone, but Edward's speedy reflexes managed to catch it before it shattered on the ground.

"I-uh...I recorded the whole thing, Bells. We'll play it for Dad...he should be here soon-"

"2 minutes, B" Alice said while putting her phone back in her pocket. Edward wrapped his arms around me and led me to a bench to sit down. Luckily it wasn't raining today. Everyone else sat around us.

The bell rang and dozens of students flooded out of the cafeteria and into the classrooms, while we just stayed sitting frozen on the bench. No one wanted to say anything, we were all just...thinking. The other students looked at us oddly as they made their way to their classes, probably wondering why we weren't doing the same.

Then the stares multiplied as Charlie's cruiser sped up to the school and he came running out, not even bothering to properly park. He immediately hugged me tightly, taking me from Edward's arms.

"It'll be okay Bella. We can trace where he was...and if he calls again we'll be able to find him." He tried to assure me. "If you guys don't want to go back to class call your parents and I'll get you out with mine" he said to our friends. I heard some talking and guessed they were calling to get out of class too. "I'm just gonna go to the office and sign you guys out" Charlie let me go, straight into Edward's arms. He led me to the cruiser and got into the backseat with me.

"Your car?"

"Alice. Don't worry, I want to be here with you" he kissed the top of my head and hugged me a little tighter.

Charlie came back and took us all to the station. We got some confused stares from the other officers, I guess the Chief rushing out of the office and coming back with 6 teenagers all looking incredibly sullen and a bit scared or angry is a bit odd. We went into the conference room and Charlie had someone bring us some drinks. When we were all situated, (I was in Edward's lap, despite the look from Charlie) two other officers came in and Charlie asked what happened.

"I-I answered my phone? And...it was Phil. But, he asked where Renee was. And....I think he's crazy or something...because, I mean, he was there when she died...he killed her....but it's like he doesn't remember or something....He said he'd fins us...'cuz I told him we were in Florida. I figured I'd play into his little delusion and maybe he'll really go there looking for us?" I looked up uncertainly at Charlie, only to see him with an odd expression on his face.

"That was good thinking Bells. Em...you said you recorded it?"

"Yea, Pops." He pulled out his phone and replayed the message for everyone in the room. One of the officers wrote down what was being said while the other just listened.

"I'm gonna need both your phones for today....I'm going to call the department in California and talk to them. Do you think your parents would be okay with Emmett and Bella staying at your house? I don't want them alone, and I won't be back tonight."

"Of course Charlie! We'll have fun...right guys?" Alice wasn't even her usual chiper self. I always mess everything up.

"I'm sorry guys." I whispered, thinking no one would hear me, but Mr. Incredible did.

"Bella...this isn't your fault, okay. Don't be sorry, love," He whispered into me ear.

The deputies took my statement and my phone, along with Emmett's. Charlie filled them in on a few details about Phil and made copies of a photo of him that he'd gotten from Crescent City when I first came here. By the time we were done it was almost 5:30, and we were all tired.

We all left and Went straight to the Cullen's. Edward sat in the back of his Volvo, holding me, while Jasper drove. We stayed over so much Emmett and I both had stuff there, so we didn't have to bother with going home first. Esme met us on the porch and pulled me into a tight hug, telling Em and I we were welcome to stay as long as we wanted.