Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or the universe S Meyer created. There may (or may not) be strong language or subjects in this chapter...

Supposed To
Chapter 15

I woke up extremely early the next morning. It was so early that the shower was still running which meant that Dad had just woken up. I tried my best to close my eyes and will my mind to go blank. But it didn't work. My stomach started growling and my throat was excessively dry. I pulled myself out of my bed and stumbled down the stairs to the kitchen.

I was almost done making scrambled eggs when Dad came down the stairs straightening his tie. He continued passing me and walked out the front door. I knitted my eyes at him as I watched him pick up the paper and make his way back up the driveway.

"Bella!" he gasped when he came back into the kitchen. "I didn't see you…"

"Yeah I got that," I grumbled not fully awake. "Nice observation skills. Aren't you supposed to be a police chief?"

"Supposed to…" He sat down flinging the old newspapers to the other side of the table. Something fell onto the floor and I cringed hoping it wasn't what I thought it was. "What's this?" He picked up the plastic case examining it.

"Just a CD that Edward gave me," I told him trying to sound nonchalant, though I had hidden it to keep myself from listening to it.

"Hmm…" he hummed as I set his plate down on the table.

"Thanks Bella, you're the best daughter a man could ever have," I grunted in a deep voice. "Really, it was nothing Dad," I smiled sweetly at him, but he was still concentrating on the CD.

"Yeah thanks," he grabbed the CD case and bolted out of his seat hurrying into the living room.

"Dad?" I'd never seen him move so fast before.

He was standing in front of the stereo in the corner mumbling and pushing buttons. I recognized the music as it started playing. Edward said that he really liked the melody of this song. Dad skipped to the next song, and I remembered that Edward liked it because of the drum solo at the end. He continued listening to pieces of songs until he started laughing.

"Cheap Trick? Ah damn, the kid made you a mix tape!" he continued laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing, I just used to make mix tapes for mother."

"Why?" It was strange that we were talking about her; she rarely ever came up.

"Because I wanted her to like me…"

"Oh… so Edward gave me a CD so I'll like him?"

"He didn't just give you a CD. He made it for you. He had to pick out meaningful songs and put them in a specific order so that it'll perfectly describe what he feels for you… It probably took him days to do," he smiled down at the CD case.

"Wow, I'm glad you're so impressed," I rolled my eyes.

"Bella, you have to at least listen to it."

"Why?"

"Because he worked so hard on it. It's obvious he likes you…"

"What?" I whipped my head at him.

"What? It's true. He came to me and asked for my permission to take you to the movies, he brought over pie on your birthday, and he's here all the time."

"So is everyone else," I objected.

"But you don't have huge crushes on them, do you?"

"I don't like Edward," I lied.

"Well I do. He's a good kid," he shook his head. He wouldn't have been saying that if he knew that Edward snuck into the house last night and saw me in nothing but a towel.

"Right," I scoffed. I shifted my weight feeling so confused. Shouldn't my dad hate the boy I liked? And shouldn't the fact that my dad approved of him make me not like Edward anymore - like when parents hate the boyfriend and forbid the daughter to see him, but she just likes him even more? Like that, but reversed?

"Bells, you should know that I wouldn't change a thing if I could. I mean with your mother… What's the saying? Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all – it's true. Plus she gave me you… I know it's scary, but you can't be afraid of love."

"Alright… your breakfast is getting cold," I stammered. I had been stunned speechless by my own father. He'd mentioned my mother, quoted Tennyson, and gave profound advice all in one breath.

We ate breakfast in silence and that heavy feeling of hope kept building inside me. Maybe everyone was right. And Dad was a cop; he had special instincts and senses. Maybe Edward really did like me…

"Okay kiddo, I've got to go. Thanks for breakfast," he kissed the top of my head. "Love ya."

"Bye, love you. Be safe…"

I finished my breakfast and started cleaning up my mess. I started realizing that I was going to tell Edward today that I liked him. What the hell was I supposed to say to him? Wordings and phrases rolled through my mind, and I was starting to get anxious.

"Edward, I like you," I practiced, trying it out. "Hey Edward, what's up? Me? Oh I just love you, that's all… I like you Edward. I really like you."

*Knock Knock*

I picked up a dish towel drying my hands and walked to the front door. Rose didn't usually forget her key, but she hadn't been coming to my house in the mornings anymore. Her extra time was being used to make sure that her face was clear and her breath minty fresh.

"Hey – Edward? What - what are you doing here?" I stuttered.

"It's tomorrow… sorry, I couldn't wait," he smiled sheepishly. "Should I leave? Do you want to do this later?" He was stepping backwards off the porch.

"No we uh, we can talk now, I guess…" I opened the door to let him in. My stomach was starting to hurt, and my breathing quickened. I could do this. I would do this. I was going to throw up.

"So is this…" he trailed off staring at something in the corner. Then I realized that the stereo was still on – playing the CD that Edward had made me. My face was burning when I hurried over to turn it off.

"You were saying?" I cleared my throat, sitting down next to him on the couch.

"This thing that you need to talk about, is it about your dad?"

"My dad? What about him?"

"Okay, I guess it's not. I just overheard Rosalie talking to Emmett about your dad… and his secret relationship to some woman named Sue," he winced. "I'd thought that was what was stressing you out."

"Well it's not my dad," I breathed. "It's about us…"

"Us?" his eyes widened.

"Yeah…" I grimaced at his response, and I could feel my courage disappearing. "I just wanted to make sure that our friendship – where it's at? – is what you wanted," I stammered feeling foolish. "I mean I like yo-"

"Bella, there's nothing more than I want than to be your friend. You're my best friend," he told me grabbing my hand.

"Okay. Good," I nodded. Glass shattering – that was how I felt. "Just making sure…"

"That's what you've been worrying about?" he asked again.

"Yeah, it was stupid."

"No it wasn't…"

"Well that's settled, I still have to get ready for school so…" I trailed off. I felt my throat starting to burn.

"Oh, I'll go. See you later," he smiled, jumping up and heading for the front door.

"See ya," I waved.

As soon as the door was shut and his car was gone, I started crying. Not because I was stressed or overwhelmed, but because I was hurt. Rejected. He didn't want to be more than friends. He was just fine being friends, so that was it. I could tell everyone now to shut up, and that they were all wrong. I was right. He didn't like me like that… I started to cry even harder.

After I had to force myself to stop crying, I took a hot shower trying to get rid of evidence that I had been crying. I didn't want to go to school with a blotchy face and a sniffling nose. I had to pretend to be fine - no I had to be fine. I had to be fine. My eyes were still red when I got out of the shower, and I prayed to the one helpful god that it would fade by the time I got to school. But with me being me, I tried thinking of some believable excuses. Shampoo in the eyes? A sad book? Both?

I finished cleaning up my mess from breakfast and got ready for school. I made sure to grab Romeo and Juliet from my bookshelf knowing I could easily cry from reading Act V alone. As I locked the front door, I decided that I was never waking up early ever again. Sleeping in is king.

I waited as long as I could in my truck trying to waste time by cleaning out the glove box and reading Romeo and Juliet. But it didn't have the same effect on me anymore. I didn't feel bad for either of them. They had each other and were so in love, but they were too stupid to tell the other their plan, and then they decided to kill themselves. Way to go Romeo - everything was his fault. I had no sympathy for him or Juliet. They were both idiots.

In first period, Mr. Mason reminded us that juniors had an assembly for second and third period. College speakers - just what I needed. I was definitely trying to go to skip. On my way to the front office to hide out with Mrs. Cope, I ran into Coach Clapp. Literally…

"Oh sorry Coach," I mumbled trying to slip into the doorway behind him.

"Ms. Swan, don't you need to be heading that way?"

"No sir, I'm not going to college," I sighed. I didn't feel like lying – that or I couldn't come up with a quick excuse. I used to be so good at it.

"That way Ms. Swan," he pointed behind me. He didn't believe me. "I know it's boring, but if I have to suffer than everyone else does too including smart students like you."

"Alright," I grumbled turning on my heel. I didn't need this hour and a half assembly to help me choose a career or pick the right college. For me it was easy. There wasn't one. I'd fine something here to do and I always had the money that Tilde left me, but I never really planned on using it.

Other students were still filing into the gym trying to find their friends in the crowds and on the bleachers. Even in a crowded room, my eyes found Edward easily. He was sitting on the far side smiling brightly at Rosalie and Alice. I headed for the closest spot hoping to escape as soon as possible.

"Bella!" Emmett and Jasper appeared in front of me with pitiful expressions. "Edward said that -"

"I know what Edward said, okay!" I snapped frustrated. "He doesn't like me like that. You don't have to remind me, and I don't need any consolation!"

"Uh... we just wanted to know if you had any food..." Jasper took a step back.

"Edward said that you might have an extra granola bar..." Emmett murmured.

"Oh... no. Sorry," I turned away from them. I felt bad for yelling at them, and I was completely embarrassed.

"Wait Bella, what did you mean?" Jasper put his hand on my shoulder. "What about Edward?"

"Nothing. Just forget I said anything."

"No tell me," he urged. And I did. I told him quickly about how I sorta liked Edward, how Rose, Alice, Jake, and even Dad convinced me that he felt the same towards me, and how this morning I tried to tell Edward how I felt but he'd cut me off to tell me that he just wanted to be friends.

"Kids, sit down," Mrs. Chea scolded us. Almost everyone else had settled onto the bleachers, and I found a spot on the edge where I could easily slip off without anyone noticing. Jasper disappeared probably to find Alice, and I closed my eyes hoping for a decent nap.

"Dude scoot over," Emmett's muttering startled me. I nearly screamed when I felt two hands slide my body a foot over to the left. "I've got a Kit Kat and a honey bun which do you want?" he asked climbing up next to me.

"Thanks," I whispered taking the chocolate.

"Sweet, honey bun…" he tore open the package and took a large bite.

"Where did you get these?"

He looked at me, but continued chewing. I charmed Mrs. Chea with my awesome Spanish skills, and she let me go to the vending machines. Hey! This is awesome. I wish my mom could read my mind, so then I'd never have to worry about chewing and talking at the same time! A smile grew on his face as he took another bite.

That was what I liked about Emmett. He wasn't terribly nosey like everyone else, and he understood that I didn't want to talk about everything.

Hey we should play hangman! He stuffed his honey bun into his mouth and leaned over to pull out a piece of paper and a pen out of his bag. Here you think of something and I'll guess...

We played games of hangman and tic-tac-toe for the entire time, and it was... fun. I missed hanging out with Emmett. We never really hung out just the two of us anymore. And because the speakers took forever and ran too long, we got to stay in the gym until lunch time.

"I think we should have an assembly everyday," Jasper yawned as we trailed to the cafeteria.

"No way, I can't stand listening to those people talk forever. Plus I already know where I'm going to school. I'm going to the New York Art Institute and be a bum when I grow up," Alice grinned. "Or maybe a teacher... It's the same thing really."

"I'm not really worried about it. We still have a whole year to think about," Emmett shrugged.

"What about you Bella?" Alice asked.

"Oh I'm not going. I can't afford it," I told her, hoping they would drop it. They did. The truth was, monetarily I could afford to go, but emotionally and physically I couldn't. I'd never left Forks for more than a day, and imagining all the headaches from just being on a huge campus gave me a migraine.

The topic swiftly changed from colleges to weekend plans. They were talking about going to the movies, and I knew that I wasn't going. I couldn't sit in a dark room for two hours holding Edward's hand. It was painful enough sitting next to him.

Edward was being quiet like he had been all morning. He even ignored Lauren when she asked him a question about some band. Every so often he would glance at me and then down at his lap. I squinted my eyes at him trying to will my brain to read his.

Mmm, why does Rose have to be so hot? Nope. Dead puppies. Dead puppies… An awful image of a slaughtered puppy flickered in my mind.

"Emmett!" I gasped at him realizing what was happening.

"What?" he glanced up at me. "Huh?"

"Ew... stop it!" I scolded him.

"What?" Rose looked at me confused.

"Emmett- ew - no," I stuttered standing up as he started to blush. "Nothing…" Edward understood and started laughing, and Emmett shook his head.

"What? What happened?" Alice looked between us. "I missed it."

"It's an inside joke," Edward told her. "Get it? An inside joke," he grinned at Emmett starting to laugh again.

"Oh..." Rose raised at eyebrow at her boyfriend before leaning over to kiss his cheek. She had a small smirk on her face when he wouldn't look at her.

"Yeah well I'll come back after I wash out my brain in-" I stopped, startled.

Damn Chief Swan's been shot? ...

I dropped my tray on the table and hurried out of the cafeteria looking for Coach Clapp because that's whose voice I heard. He must be mistaken. Had to be. My dad was the police chief of Forks. Not somewhere crazy like New York or Atlanta where people got shot every other minute.

"Oh Bella," Mrs. Cope called worriedly from down the hall. Coach Clapp and two Port Angeles police officers followed behind her. They were both female and the only person who I could hear was Coach.

"What happened?" I choked out. "Is he okay?"

The two police officers exchanged looks and one of them looked at me sympathetically. "Please come with us…"

I didn't remember the ride to the Port Angeles hospital much. I remembered little pieces like when they told me that Dad had been shot and he was still in surgery. I stayed quiet thinking about the scenario I was in. Shouldn't they have waited to come get me when they had definite information? Shouldn't they have waited until after school so they wouldn't have had to make a scene? At least they would have if I hadn't heard Coach Clapp… Wouldn't they have thought that I would start having a breakdown once I saw them? Shouldn't I have been doing that now? Wasn't I supposed to be praying and thinking about things I've should have said and done?

When the elevator doors opened, I saw doctors and nurses were hurrying in and out a pair of scary-looking metal doors down the hall. I took off.

"Dad?" I tried to move around people trying to get to the large doorway.

"Miss, you can't go in there." I heard someone tell me. The hell I couldn't…

The first person I recognized was Waylon, one of Dad's captains. He looked exhausted as he rubbed his face roughly and leaned up against the wall with a cup of coffee in hand.

"Waylon!" He looked up confused. "Is he okay? Can I go in?"

"Bella, you can't go in there. He's still in surgery," he pulled me away. "Those are the operating rooms."

"What happened?" I choked losing my balance and falling into him. I finally started crying. My father had been shot and I didn't know if he was okay. I had been stoic and calm before, but now that I could see it and it was reality, it tore me apart. I think part of me hadn't believed any of it - probably still hoping that I had fallen asleep in assembly...

"I've got her," a soft voice sounded behind me somewhere, and I felt his hands on me as he turned me into his chest. I didn't understand how he got here, but I didn't care. Edward was here…

I woke up feeling groggy and stiff. I hadn't even realized that I had fallen asleep. My face felt heavy as I smashed it into my pillow, but my pillow wasn't my pillow. It was hard and it smelled really good. Woodsy cinnamon. I glanced up at Edward and tried to move off of him.

"No don't," he cleared his throat shaking his head. His hands tightened on me and then I realized where they were. His right hand was trapped in mine which were clasped my legs and his left was wrapped around the back of my neck, his fingers under my shirt collar.

I was confused. I almost asked him what he was doing here, but then I realized why I was here and exactly where here was.

"How is he?"

"He's stable, and they've got him in a room down the hall. They'll come get us when he's up," he nodded giving me a reassuring smile.

"Good…" I laid my head back on his chest.

"Oh and Jacob and his dad are here with Sue… they just went down to the cafeteria."

"Good…" I felt bad for not thinking about calling her, but I had been distracted and I technically wasn't supposed to know about her relationship with my father. But I did know and I should have remembered to call her… "How is she?"

"Uh okay? I think… She didn't pass out, but there was a lot of crying. Shit sorry if that sounded insensitive," he stammered.

"No it's fine," I nuzzled into him, breathing deeply. "You got here pretty fast…"

"I got worried when you didn't come back, and I went to the front office to ask Mrs. Cope if you'd sign out. She told what happened and I came here… and I drive pretty fast," he smirked.

"Did you try to charm her again?" I smiled.

"No," he snorted. His fingers on the back of my neck started to move, massaging my skin. I closed my eyes not caring that he was only comforting me. "I'm always naturally charming…" I could here the smile in his voice, and I hoped it was that crooked smirk that always made my heart beat a little faster.

"He's awake," Waylon yelled coming from around the corner. I jumped up, stumbling a little as the silence was replaced by a roar of thoughts, and my body readjusted from the awkward position I had been curled up in. I passed him hurrying down the hall hoping that I was heading for the right room and realizing that Edward had carried me down to a different floor. I was assuming it was the one surrounded by all of the other police officers.

"Miss, you can't go in there," one of them told me in a nasally tone putting there hands on my shoulders trying to hold me back. It was the same guy as before, and I wanted to break his fingers because I was just so frustrated.

"If you don't let go of me..." I growled at him.

"I'm sorry, but you can't -" My hand snapped upward and gripped his left wrist twisting it.

"Tell me I can't one more time, and I'll break it…" I growled. I usually wasn't so violent, but it wasn't everyday that my father was gravely injured.

"Bella!" Waylon called me. "Let him go..."

"Tell him to let go of me," I argued. "He started it."

"Bells?" My father's voice flowed from the room in front me.

"Dad!" I pushed passed the officer letting go of his wrist. Relief washed over me when I saw him sitting up. He winced as he looked himself over touching all of the tubes and wires.

"Hey Bells," he mumbled groggily- trying to smile.

"You're okay?" I asked blinking heavily trying to keep myself from crying.

"Yeah it was just a shoulder wound. I had to go into surgery so they could get the bullet out. I might be able to keep it if it's not needed in evidence," he sounded kind of excited.

"Good, you – you get to keep the bullet," I nodded before stepping closer to his side. "So it wont hurt too much if I did this," I punched his good arm.

"Bells," he winced.

"That's for getting shot. What the hell Dad? What were you doing? I don't understand! And no one would tell me anything and this guy kept telling me I couldn't come in, and they sent two women officers to come get me and I couldn't see - what - happened," I was starting to bawl. I thought I had cried all of my tears this morning…

"What? Bella look at me," he grabbed my hand. "I'm okay. I'm fine... Samson!" he called to someone in the door. "What the hell happened? I specifically told you to send two of my guys to get her." The same guy as before shifted in the doorway holding a bag of ice on his wrist.

"Sorry sir, I just thought it be easier-"

"You thought wrong. What the hell happened to your wrist?"

"Uh," he stammered glancing at me. I couldn't help but smile as I sniffled.

"A hormonal teenage girl," Edward grinned behind me. I'd forgotten he was there.

"What?" Dad squinted at me. I shot Edward a look and he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"Dad you better start talking because I still don't know why or how or where or who! Who shot you?"

"I can't say too much…" he winked. "Mark from the PAPD asked for a favor. He needed help with a case and thought that some of the shady stuff was happening in Forks… It's a drug case. A few kids have died from some bad heroin. They're going for top guy to shut it all down. They've tried everything – going undercover, getting sources to talk, tracking bills…"

"The 100 dollar bill…" I mumbled. It was why he acted so strange.

"I was so scared. I didn't think that you could have any contact with something so dangerous. We'd been following Jimmy since then. That led us to another guy and another and another. This morning we made the bust, and we got em. It was actually a woman who was in charge; everyone had been looking in the wrong places. But I'm done. I'm off the case."

"But why did you get shot? You weren't there, were you?" I glared at him. Sometimes I wondered if he missed out on his youth – being reckless and adventurous. Maybe being in big shoot out was a way of doing it.

"Oh hell no," he scoffed. "I was stationed 500 yards away where I was supposed to be. I don't know what happened, but then there was shooting behind us and I got hit… Think the ladies will dig it?" he cracked a smile.

"It's not funny, and I don't think Sue's gonna like it either," I told him as his face fell.

"You know about Sue?"

"Uh yeah Dad," I tapped my forehead. "Are you kidding? It's been five years… Why do think Rose keeps bringing those mall catalogs over and leaving them open to the engagement rings?"

"Six and a half," he smiled softly. "I just-"

"I know. We don't have to really get into this right now," I shook my head as he squeezed my hand.

*Beep Beep Beep Beep*

"Excuse me, wide load coming through!" Jacob's laughter flowed into the room.

"Turn that shit off. You're an embarrassment," Billy scolded him as Jake closed his cell phone cutting off the beeping noise.

"Love you too Dad… Hey look who's up!" Jake smiled as he wheeled Billy into the room. He looked between me and Edward and wiggled his eyebrows. His face fell when I shook my head frowning.

"Hey guys, you didn't have to come all the way down here," Dad groaned.

"Uh yeah we did, man. Two words – emergency contact," Billy wheeled himself to the foot of his bed. "Look who's the cripple now?"

"Hey I can still take you!" Dad grinned.

"Settle down you two. This is a hospital… Can't take them anywhere," Sue walked into the room as she shook her head. She gave me a warm smile even though her cheery disposition was gone. Dad's face fell when she looked at him, silencing the room.

"Well I need a soda… Do you want anything?" Edward asked me, clearing his throat.

"No thanks."

"Hey Edward, take her back to Forks with you, will ya," Dad called to him.

"Uh yes sir," he nodded pulling out his keys.

"Dad…" I started.

"Bells, you're not hanging out in a hospital all afternoon. Go home, take a nap, rob a bank, chillax or something…"

"Okay," I sighed following Edward out into the hall.

"You ready to go?" Edward asked.

"Yeah, thanks for coming here. It means a lot," I twisted my frown into an almost smile.

"You should know Bella, I'm always here for you," he looked at me, stopping in the middle of the hall. I nodded continuing toward the elevators. "For now" I wanted to tell him.

This was not how this day was supposed to go. This morning I imagined confessing my love for Edward and then he would kiss me and then… Well I hadn't thought that far ahead. We'd do what normal couples do or at least we would have tried. Movies… Dinner dates… … What else would we have done? Constantly holding hands and what? Maybe I had been right the first time.

We never were supposed to be together.

AN: This IS an ExB story. I promise. I don't understand why I keep pushing it back, but it's going to happen in the next chapter… when that'll be posted I'm not sure…

I said this was going to be scary, but I was exaggerating. Plus I didn't make it so angsty and that's it with Charlie's case. I know it just popped out of nowhere, but things like that in RL are unexpected. But I was really nervous…

I'm going on vacation in a few days so don't expect an update within the next week. I was going to post this Friday but I was in such a hurry to get it done that I finished early and I couldn't wait to update… : )

Also, just saw an Eclipse trailer on tv and wow… angry Edward is hot. ; )

THANKS FOR READING!