"They move too fast to be words behind your teeth

The give and go of most of your memories

But I'm not the one that they need pray for
If I've got it all then what does do

Leave it alone
Oh that once little boy we used to know

Are you willing... well?"
-Coheed & Cambria - "The Lying Lies and Dirty Secrets of Miss Erica Court"

( ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ )

Edward fumed silently as he walked down the halls of the hospital back out to his car, purposefully avoiding his father's areas.

How dare that little 'princess' talk to him in the way she just did? He didn't know how she had even gotten the life-experiences to smell Tanya's perfume! As far as he knew, she was absolutely clueless- even with that damned hickey on her neck.

He wondered which of those filthy Indians gave it to her. Probably not the huge one.. Paul? She'd be terrified of him!

Once he reached his car, he hit the button on his dash to in-call car Renee. He knew she was not going to be happy with what exactly was happening with her child.

"This is Renee." She growled. He smirked, wondering how many others had access to her private line. He knew her daughter didn't.

"Renee. She kicked me out. It's almost as if she's a totally different person! She was completely defiant and spiteful."

Renee rolled her eyes, "Stop whining. I know you know how to deal with women. You were picked because of your firm nature."

"She was using profanity! I've never seen this Isabella!"

"She's been hanging out with less than reputable companions when you haven't been watching. Perhaps we should have had you two move in together. Perhaps we still should before she gets home from the hospital. It's not too late..."

Edward blanched. If he had to live with Isabella, he'd be hard pressed to press his hard-on into anything but his hand!

"Uhm.. I don't think that would be wise. She's more likely right now to just never return there if she finds out I'm moving in or have moved in and that would be bad news for us all."

He heard Renee huff, "I've got to get into a meeting. You fucked up somehow, Cullen. I know you did. She's not the most experienced young woman, I saw to that in her upbringing. YOU have to get Isabella back under control and make sure she stays that way. I don't care if you study S&M and treat her like your little bitch! JUST DO IT! And don't let Charles find out ANY of this."

"I know the deal, Renee.. You just make sure you keep to our arrangement as well."

A beep signified the end of the conversation. He ran a hand through his hair as he drove. At least she admitted she was still a virgin. Not that he really cared about that, in fact he preferred them to be learned in the ways of sex.. But sloppy seconds from a mongrel was not his idea of sexy.

Sexy... Isabella's fire in that bed had been amazing! He wouldn't love it if she acted that way in public, but if she could bring that fire into the bedroom- WOW! He pulled into his driveway as thoughts of Isabella in various sexual positions that even Tanya would not allow. He adjusted himself subtly and entered the living room where his sister Alice was waiting for him.

"Edward, what on Earth have you done now? I tried to call Isabella at the hospital and she told me I could follow the same instruction she gave you.. THEN HUNG UP ON ME!"

Edward pinched the bridge of his nose, "She's gotten some new friends, Alice. They seem to cause her to act in a manner unsuited to a lady such as herself."

"Does the Mayor know?" Alice's pointed look almost made Edward cringe. Alice had found out about the deal ages ago and only agreed to keep his secret if he shared his money with her, kept her own fiancée Jasper Whitlock in the dark about HER lovers and let Alice guide the other female in the ways of life.. Training her as SHE saw fit.

"She knows..."

"EDWARD! If this all goes wrong, Jasper will find out because the PRESS will find out. I can't get rid of Jasper until AFTER our wedding so that I can get half of his fortune!"

Alice hissed, enraged at even the mere thought of letting the Texas rancher worth BILLIONS slip through her fingers. Jasper was quite nice to look at, but his money was better. Alice could care less for smelly cattle, acres of land with NO SHOPPING and not even a decent cell phone signal.

"Alice, this is going to be contained." He heard a thump from upstairs, "Do you have a victim up there?"

Alice enjoyed playing with her mating partners before practically draining the energy from them. She was "kinky" but not in the way most men preferred. Alice may have been small, but she was quite the dominant personality in the bedroom. All the charges on HER private account would make most people say "Oh My!"- Leather, whips, chains, collars and the like.. For both men AND women but NEVER for Alice...

"Hmm? Oh yes. My teaching assistant, Emmett McCarty is up there."

Edward sighed, "I'm not even going to comment on your debauchery. I'll pack a bag and stay with Tanya tonight."

"You can't stay with Tanya! Isabella is sure to be released tonight. You should wait for her, on her porch with roses... GRAND GESTURE OR SOMETHING!"

Edward had never wanted to strangle his sister more.

"I'll ask Father to text me if and when she is released. It's not fair if we're both in this quote together unquote but I'm doing all the work while you're fucking your teacher!"

"Teaching Assistant! And stop actually saying quote and unquote, it's stupid."

He fought down the urge to slap her, "Goodbye Alice..."

( ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ )

Charlie sat in his meetings, but he could not focus. All he could see was his little girl laying in that hospital bed. While he knew his duty was to the city, being the Chief and all, he couldn't help but think of her.

How had he gotten here? He blamed his mother for his thoughts. He was perfectly content with how his life was going until today. He knew he was disappointing her, but he was only trying to make sure Isabella would have the best future.

Before all this, they'd lived in a simple two bedroom home that was nothing special.. Smoke-stained walls from the previous owners, peeling red paint, his beat up old rust-bucket of a Chevy in the driveway.. Isabella seemed happy, content to hang out with him in their garage and listen to old music while pretending to play air guitar. She didn't seem to mind not having the newest dolls or the best clothes. She liked playing outside, drinking warm sodas and digging in the dirt with her Grandma... Her only friend was the neighbor boy Jacob Black but he figured once she started school she'd make friends at recess.

But then Renee started becoming unsettled. She wanted a better car, a better house- Angus beef steaks on the grill and jewelry from Tiffany's in her jewelry box. She started pushing for him to do more, do better, get the promotions.. Work more, play less. Isabella would be fine. Isabella needed a brighter future!

She then started on her own path.. PTA boards at Isabella's school, then into city politics.. Clawing and biting her way up until she finally got her position as Mayor. Isabella was no longer allowed to play outside. Isabella no longer had weekend breaks, Holiday vacations or anything but books, tutors and etiquette lessons. She was demanded to dress better, talk politer, drink no more sodas and NEVER have candy. Jacob was banned from the house and eventually, his acceptance into Forks Elementary was taken away due to "over-crowding" and he had to go back to La Push.. Wasn't it amazing that it happened once Renee was on the school board?

He stood up, alarming everyone in the meeting, "If you'll excuse me, my daughter is in the hospital. She finally woke up. We'll have to reschedule."

He ignored the stares as he left. He didn't know if his daughter was awake. He didn't know what would happen since he left that meeting. He didn't even know what would happen tonight once his wife found out. All he knew.. Was that he wanted to drink a beer for the first time in almost 17 years.