CH 29-Phil Calling

He held me tightly until I fell asleep.

The next morning was....eventful.

The sleeping pill left me a bit drowsy, but Alice insisted on not letting me sleep, which made Edward a bit angry. I still wasn't hungry, and opted for a glass of orange juice instead of the pancakes Esme had made. About 2 hours after I woke up was when it happened.

My phone rang.

It was Phil.

And he was completely pissed. Somehow he'd managed to figure out I wasn't in Florida. Renee had to have told him about Charlie and Forks because he was yelling about Renee going back to 'him'. He kept ranting about finding us in Washington and....he said he was going to kill Charlie for taking Renee and me away from him. I kept trying to convince him I wasn't in Forks, but he didn't believe me. He asked to speak to Renee...but I told him she was out at her new job. After he hung up, promising to find us and kill us all, I think I broke down a bit.

I'm not really sure what happened. I'd put the phone on speaker after Emmett told me to, so everyone heard the conversation. Then, when he hung up, I froze. I don't remember moving but when the call started I had been in the kitchen with Esme, and the next thing I knew, I was laying down on the soft leather couch in the living room. My head was in Edward's lap, and my feet were on Emmett's. Charlie and another deputy were sitting on another sofa, staring at me. I sat up, and pulled my feet away from my burly brother.

"Huh?" I asked...confused.

"You're awake?"

"I was asleep?"
"Sort of...more like....catatonic. We were about to call Carlisle if you didn't snap out of it soon."
"Sorry" I mumbled.

"We traced the call...Phil was in Oregon. Now we've got officers here patrolling. It's possible he knows where we live since it was on the letters. I don't know how much Renee told him....I don't think you should go back to school yet" I started to protest, and he held up a hand to silence me "but if you insist, there will be an officer accompanying you to class."
"You can't be serious! You don't have many officers here, definitely not enough to waste having someone babysit me. I don't have any classes without either Em, Jas or Edward. Besides, I don't think Phil's stupid enough to do something in such a public place.....I know somethings off with him...but I still think he'd at least be aware of that. I think....since he seems to be looking for me and Renee...and he knows that I'd try to protect her, but not necessarily the other way around," Edward's arms tightened around me. He knew how much Renee's indifference hurt me. "he'd try to find her first. To...I don't know, lure me out? And...I told him she was a nurse here, so maybe you should have someone at the hospital? Phil may do stupid stuff...but he's smart. Careful. I think I'd be fine at school." Charlie thought about what I said and seemed to accept it.

He and the other deputy left a while later, and everyone seemed to be on edge. I suggested we do some of the work Esme picked up for us yesterday, and everyone unenthusiastically agreed. Edward helped me with Math, my weakest subject, and we got all out work done before Carlisle came home for dinner.

After dinner Carlislecalled me to his office. He wanted to talk with me. I followed him reluctantly, not wanting to leave Edward's side.

"I heard about what happened today. I know you said you'd start talking to someone this summer, but I really think you should do something sooner. Your body's reaction today is understandable. Shutting down. It was your mind's way of coping...but it's not healthy."
"I don't know what happened. I didn't mean to..."
"I know Bella. That's why I think you should talk to someone. I'm here you know? I do have a degree in psychology. It will help you dealt with your nightmares."
"I just don't want to talk. It always leads to the people around me hurting and crying because of everything that's happened. Charlie hates that he wasn't there to stop Phil, and when I told Emmett some of the stuff that happened he looked so defeated. That's not how he should look. I just don't know what to do....I don't want to talk about it, it makes me hurt too, but I don't know how to deal with any of this. I'm scared.....I don't want you guys to die. I'm afraid of Phil. I've always hated him...but I was never really afraid. I knew he'd hurt me, and I knew he'd hurt Renee...but this is different. You guys haven't done anything to deserve this. You shouldn't be sucked into my mess...none of you guys should. And I just feel like it's all my fault, and if he hurts you...I don't know what I'll do. I don't think I could live with myself if I let one of you get hurt for trying to protect me."

"But Bella, wouldn't you do the same thing? If someone from Alice's past was after her...you'd try to protect her, right?" He asked calmly.

"Yes, but that's different."

"How so?"
"Alice is amazing. She wouldn't deserve to be hurt by anybody. And she's not stupid enough to have a past with someone like Phil."
"And you think you deserve this? You think it was your choice to have Phil be a part of your life? Because it wasn't. It's not your fault, nor is it your mother's really. It's his. It's all Phil's fault. NONE of this is yours. Bella...look at me." I couldn't meet his gaze, so he came around the desk to sit next to me on the couch, and lifted my face to meet his. "This isn't your fault Isabella. And everyone in this family is here to help you, to protect you, because that's what we do for each other. You're a part of this family....and we're not letting you go without a fight." His words held such conviction. I couldn't help but believe them a bit. He did make me feel better...I hugged him and thanked him before asking if I had talked enough for one night. He chuckled and led me out the door, where I found Edward waiting impatiently at the end of the hall. I ran into his outstretched arms, sighing when they wrapped around me.

This is my home....here in Edward's arms. Here I'm safe, these people are my family.

SO I THINK THIS IS ALL I'LL BE ABLE TO POST FOR A DAY OR TWO...I HAVE A JOB INTERVIEW LATER TODAY, AND I NEED TO BUY BOOKS B/C MY CLASSES START MONDAY!!

XOXOX

THANKS,

FRK921