Bella's POV
Once I get to Houston I regret it but I want to be a good daughter so I stay. Phil is miserable because he was hoping that once he got back home and met with the rest of the team his memory would come back and when it didn't he lost all hope. He's stuck in the past, in college with a girlfriend who broke up with him forever ago and is now married with 2 kids. He won't talk to any of the team except Alex and he talks to me only when he has too. He tells me all the time how sorry he is and how I should just forget him and go back to my family who remembers me. And I tell him as much as I love them I belong here, I always have.
After about a month home he starts drinking.
After about a month of Phil drinking, I start drinking.
He tries to stop me at first but he gives up and I think he really doesn't care about me anymore.
Alex comes when he can and does whatever he can to help Phil and me. One day Brady comes instead of Alex which is weird because Phil is a jerk to anyone but Alex.
"Hey Brady, what's up?" I ask him as I let him in.
"Are you drinking Bella?" He asks as soon as the door is closed.
"Not at this moment no." I tell him honestly but maybe a little bitchy…
"You're 16 Bella." He tells me and I think no shit.
"Why are you here Brady?" I ask him ready for him to leave.
"I came to check on you. Alex is worried about you but he thought maybe he was imagining things and he asked me to come check on you. Phil may not remember you but we do, and we still love you and worry about you." He tells me and I feel bad because I know they do.
And then I do the stupidest thing possible. I kiss Brady. Phil isn't here and I'm not quite drunk but not all the way sober either.
"Bella, what are you doing?" He pushes me away.
"I'm sorry Brady, I just I don't even know. I'm so sorry!" I start crying and he doesn't know what to do.
"Bella how much have you been drinking?" He asks cautiously.
"Not much, I'm not drunk! I'm just lonely and I miss Sam and… oh Sam! I love him and I just kissed you! You're old! What the hell am I doing?" I'm screaming at Brady when Phil walks in and looks at us both then walks to his room and locks his door.
"Bella honey, Alex was going to talk to you about this but we really think you should go back to Forks. This isn't the best place for you anymore. You're so stressed and lonely and not sober that you just kissed me. Phil doesn't know you and he doesn't seem to want to try. I'm so sorry this happened and things aren't going good at all but honey just go back to your sister and brother and boyfriend. We'll come visit you and you can come visit us. You deserve better than this." Brady is begging me and for the first time I seriously consider it.
"I kissed you. Sam won't forgive me for that. And I could never live with it not telling him." I tell him quietly.
"Honey I saw the way he was with you in the hospital. He would forgive you for much worse. And if you tell him right away it will be better. Do you want me to make arrangements for you to go home? I mean home to Forks, I actually already talked to your dad and he, very reluctantly, but still agreed to let you get an apartment. But until you turn 17 you have to promise to have dinner with them at least once a week and you have to keep them updated on your homeschooling and you have to live within 10 minutes away or have Leah live with you."
Wow. I love when people plan my life without me.
"I'm only going back if Sam forgives me." He smiles and says OK, go call him.
"Hey babe, how's it going?"
"I kissed Brady! I'm so sorry! It was so stupid and I love you so much and can you please forgive me?"
"Um, why Bella?"
"I may be not quite sober. But mostly I'm so lonely here Sam. I go days without talking to anyone in person and Alex hasn't been here in a week and Brady came and was telling me they love me and care about me and I just did it. Then he pushed me away and I felt awful right away. I am so sorry Sam. I love you and it was the stupidest thing I'd ever done. You hate me don't you?"
"Bella! Bella calm down. You promise me it was a one-time lack of judgment thing? You don't have feeling for him and you didn't stop caring about me?"
"Oh Sam I promise. I care about Brady a lot; I care about all the team but nothing like that. I love you Sam, only you."
"Then I forgive you Bella but I'm really worried about you. You shouldn't be so miserable that you're drinking and kissing men that aren't me."
"You really forgive me? Just like that? I don't deserve you Sam."
"I really do Bella. You made a mistake."
"I'm coming back."
"For how long?"
"To stay, that was actually one of the reasons Brady came. He already talked to my dad and I'm going to get an apartment down there as long as I follow all Charlie's requirements. I will let you know more as I know more but I told him I wasn't coming if you couldn't forgive me. I love you so much Sam."
"I love you too Bella. I'm really happy that you're going to live here; I know you wanted to be there for Phil but I hate how unhappy you are. Call me as soon as you know what the time line is. I can help you find a place if you want. Talk to you later."
"Talk to you later."
When I get back to Brady in the living room he smiles and asks if I'm all set to go back and I tell him yes. So he tells me Alex will take me back to Forks in the next couple of days and help me find a place and they will pay it so I can finish my homeschooling and then find a job or start at the bakery and have time to make my own money.
"It's all too much Brady; you shouldn't have to do all this." I tell him suddenly feeling guilty.
"We want to Bella. I told you we love you, from the time you were 10 and Phil's future step daughter you were a part of us. You're family and you have been through so much crap." He tells me sadly.
"Thank you Brady and I am so sorry about earlier. Please don't tell anyone." He says of course he won't.
That night I pack all my things and sit down with Phil for dinner and tell him I'm leaving and beg him to get help for the drinking and the depression.
"I still love you Phil. I will come visit you if you want me too. I just can't live like this, like you treating me like a stranger even if to you that's all I am. I've never really had a social circle outside of you and my mom and the team and now I don't really even have that except Alex and Brady. I have Sam and Leah and Seth in Forks." I'm rambling and I know it so I just stop and wait for him to talk.
"You're making the right decision Bella, and of course you can still visit. I know that you're my daughter; I've seen enough pictures and heard enough stories that I know that and I know that I love you. I'm even starting to love you again but it's so hard, I wish I could tell you how hard it is only know you from that. I will support you financially for as long as you need. And I think you should take the bakery offer. Your eyes light up whenever you mention it. And don't be afraid to let Charlie in your life as your dad. It's doesn't mean you love me less; it's just a new chapter in your life. I hope I will remember you one day but I'll always be your dad, no matter what." I start crying and he just lets me until we both get up and go to our own rooms.
I'm almost glad my mom died before all this happened. Worrying about Phil and myself is hard enough, worrying my mom is going to go insane because her husband has no idea who she is probably would have killed me. Then of course I feel guilty for thinking that.