Author's Note: This is a pretty important chapter, I think, because it explains a bit about Bella's personal situations. I'll say no more, and let you read for yourself instead. ;) Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 7

"I told you not to do it," Edward hissed once we were outside.

I rolled my eyes as I leaned against the wall. "I was just trying to help you. Besides, Tanya seems really nice."

"No," he said, his eyes narrowing. "I know the type. Too well."

"Come on, Edward," I said exasperatedly. "How bad can she be? Just try to get to know her."

He glared. "I haven't forgotten about her yet. Why are you doing this to me, Bella? I told you that I still like her, didn't I? And I told you not to do any matchmaking."

"You're frustrating me," I told him. "That's why I did it. Happy?"

Edward sighed. "Bella…"

"Alright, alright," I said quickly before we could fight. "I'm sorry. But nothing I do now will make everything go back to normal. Tanya has her eyes set on you. She'll keep trying to get to you. Speaking of which, how could you say no to her that quickly?"

"Experience," he said, shrugging. "What else?"

"Why did you say no? You don't even know what she's like."

"I told you," he said. "I know the type. Be careful, Bella. She may not be who you think she is."

I knew it was a bunch of crap. Tanya Denali seemed harmless to me.

"Whatever," I said. "Like I'll believe that. You don't know her."

"You don't either."

We glowered at each other. Then, abruptly, I started laughing. He looked confused.

"What's so funny?" Edward asked, looking frustrated.

"If you want, I'll tell her to stop," I said, still chortling.

"You just said that you can't."

I shrugged. "Why don't you try to get to know her at least?"

He glared at me. I took that as a no. "What about…?"

"Forget it, Isabella," Edward snapped. "Listen. If you try matchmaking again, then I won't forgive you easily. I mean it."

I smiled apologetically. "Yes, sir."

He relaxed. "Good." He studied me carefully. "How are Charlie and Renee?"

My expression immediately hardened. "Fine," I answered through gritted teeth.

He knew it was a touchy subject. Why was he bringing it up? If this was some sort of revenge for trying to hook him up with Tanya, then he was going too far.

"Relax," he told me. "I was just curious. I'm not going to get revenge for what you did." He knew me like a book.

"How about we make a deal?" I suggested, my voice still flat. "I'll butt out of your love life, and you can butt out of my family life."

"Bella," Edward sighed. "I'm sorry, okay? It's my fault for even mentioning it. Don't be mad at me."

"I'm not mad," I said, my voice wavering slightly as I remembered last night. The shouting…the accusations… I was getting tired of it.

"What?" he said, studying my eyes. "What is it? Something happened." He always knew.

"Nothing," I lied promptly. I had so many experience in lying about this subject that it didn't sound fake anymore. "I mean…just the usual, I guess."

"Do you want to come live with us?" he offered. "Carlisle and Esme would love to have you around; they know what's going on, after all. And we have all those spare bedrooms."

I shook my head. "It'll make it worse. Just forget about it, Edward."

The bell rang at that moment, and students began to fill the hallway.

Edward was still staring at me worriedly, but I just shook my head again and led the way inside the classroom.

I could hear the shouting even before I was within five feet of the door.

Bracing myself, I let myself in quietly. The source of the noise was coming from the kitchen.

"…go to that guy, then?" Charlie was saying loudly. "It's not exactly a secret anymore, is it? I know it, and Bella knows it. Even the Cullens know what's going on-"

"I will not be made the enemy here!" Renee retorted. "It's all your fault for even letting this happen-"

I leaned against the wall next to the kitchen door wearily. It was like this every day. Fighting…arguing…accusing… In fact, I was so used to it that the tears didn't come that easily anymore.

"Yeah?" Charlie asked. A chair scraped across the floor, and I knew he was standing up now. "Well, it's your fault for having such a bad life, having married this kind of a man right after college! If you hate me so much, then you must hate Bella too!"

"How dare you!" Renee shouted. I could almost picture her face right now. "You know how much Bella means to me! How dare you even think that? If there's anyone in this family who doesn't care about Bella, it's you, Charlie Swan!"

"Shut up! Shut up now!" Charlie roared. "You have no right to accuse that of me! Who was the one that went out and found herself a boyfriend? Who was the one that didn't come home that night? Who was the one that got herself caught having an affair?"

"Shut up?" Renee repeated. "Well, that's something, seeing how you're the one who's looking like you're about to explode any minute."

I couldn't take it anymore. I opened the kitchen door so abruptly and loudly that my parents looked at me in half surprise, half fear.

I stared at them, expressionless. "Fighting again, are we?" I asked coldly.

"Bella," Renee stated. She was slightly breathless as she tried to calm down. "When did you get home, honey?"

Charlie sat back down in his chair slowly. He, too, was breathing hard, and was far from calming down.

"You didn't answer my question," I said, still in the same tone. "Mom."

"Fighting?" Renee said, laughing as casually as she could. "Nonsense, Bella. Your father and I were just…having a rather loud conversation. We were getting a bit excited, and… You hungry, baby?" She addressed Charlie.

Charlie smiled forcibly. "Sure. That roast beef ready yet, Renee?"

"Sure," Renee said lightly, turning back to her vegetable slicing. "About thirty more minutes, I think."

"Don't."

They both looked back up in surprise.

"Don't pretend," I said bitterly. "I'm not a fifteen-year old anymore. I'm almost legal, and it's not like I'm stupid either. You two pretending that nothing's wrong like this… Did you know it's making matters worse?"

Charlie looked away, stone-faced, while Renee opened and closed her mouth, thinking about something to say.

"I get it," I said. "You guys hate each other. I understand. Fight, then. Argue. Shout. Do whatever you need to do in order to get it out of your system. But don't ever pretend with me. I'm not an idiot."

"Bella, honey…" Renee began.

But I was already out of sight, marching up the stairs and fighting tears. I slammed the door behind me as loudly as I could and tossed my backpack on my desk.

Below, I could hear the arguing resume.

"I told you she wasn't an idiot-"

"You're the one who-"

I sighed angrily as I plopped down on my rocking chair. I was so tired of this. If they would stop fighting, my life would be perfect…

I needed a distraction. I'd already finished my homework over at the Hales about an hour ago. Music? I didn't have the patience right now.

A shower? It was appealing, but I knew it wasn't what I really needed. Still, I turned on the hot water and stayed under it for twenty minutes before I stumbled back out.

As I dried myself and put on my pajamas, I realized suddenly what I needed. I'd already seen him not an hour ago, but I needed him again.

I was about to call him when Renee called, "Bella! Dinner!"

I didn't want to go back downstairs. It would just make me feel frustrated again. But they would be expecting me to.

Reluctantly, I trudged downstairs and entered the dining room. I sat across from Renee and thanked her quietly when she set a plate of food down in front of me.

Dinner was quiet. Both Charlie and Renee were afraid of upsetting me again, I knew. Once or twice, I caught them shooting disgusted and exasperated looks at each other, but I merely gritted my teeth and kept my eyes on my plate.

I expected a divorce any time now. They'd been going on for two years already, and that alone was a record. They wouldn't be able to stand each other anymore, even if it was for me.

If they did divorce, whom would I live with? Who would get full custody?

I knew that Renee wanted a divorce for sure. She already had a boyfriend. That man was the reason my parents were fighting every single day. Charlie was tired of seeing her happy with another man. He'd want a divorce as well.

Renee cleared her throat, breaking me out of my reverie. "So, Bella. How was school?"

"Fine," I mumbled.

"How are the kids, Bells?" Charlie asked. "Still popular?"

"As always." I shrugged.

"Isn't there a new transfer student?" he asked. "A girl named Tanya Denali, isn't it?"

I glanced at him. "Yeah."

"This is between you and me, yeah?" Charlie said, lowering his voice. The arguments were forgotten at the moment. "We've had some warnings from the Seattle Police Department."

"What kind of warnings?" I sounded bored. Not this again.

"That girl didn't just transfer," Charlie said. "Apparently, she had some trouble back at her old school. She framed some innocent girl of bringing drugs in so that she could get to her boyfriend. Luckily, she got caught at the last minute, and they were going to expel her. But her father's a big shot in Seattle. Took her out of that school before any more harm. Stuck her here in Forks."

I stared at him in surprise. "Do you believe that?"

"Well, now, I wouldn't exactly say that," Charlie said, shrugging. "I haven't seen it for myself, so I don't know. All I'm saying is that it's best to be careful. Don't get too close to her. Just watch from afar…you know, that kind of stuff."

I nodded slowly. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Why don't you ask Alice to come around one of these days?" Renee suggested. "It'd be nice to have her brighten up this house."

I didn't say anything.

It wasn't that I blamed Renee for falling in love with another man. I didn't resent her. I didn't resent Charlie either. But it seemed so silly and difficult. Why were they living this way? If they would both just calm down and talk it out quietly, wouldn't it all work out?

"Any boys that interest you at school?" Charlie asked me.

"Oh, honey, she's too young," Renee chided.

"She's seventeen," Charlie said. "Nearly eighteen. It's the perfect time to be falling in love." He looked at me. "How about Jasper?"

I frowned. "He's dating Alice, Dad. Remember?"

"Emmett?"

"He's dating Rose."

"Edward?"

I sighed, poking at the roast beef with my fork. "He's just a friend, Dad."

"I don't see why you can't be more than friends," Charlie disagreed. "In my eyes, you two seem to be developing into a more intense relationship."

"Now for once, I think you're right," Renee chimed in. "Edward is a wonderful young man, Bella. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Sure…I guess."

"He's the perfect gentleman," she continued. "You can't find anyone like that these days. Thoughtful, intelligent, talented, tall, handsome… Don't you feel anything for him?"

I shrugged. "He's popular, Mom. He doesn't need more attention from girls. Least of all from his best friend."

"Nonsense," Renee said crisply. "He's a fine young man. And you know what? I think he likes you."

I looked up. "Really, Mom? Are we starting this again?"

"No, no, I think he really does like you this time," she said. "You should be dating someone like Edward, not like those guys that think they're cool. What was his name? Mike?" She scoffed. "He only acts cool and thinks he's better than Edward. But he's not cool at all. Now, take Edward. He's modest and doesn't act cool. Which makes him cool. You know?"

I sighed, shaking my head at her haughty tone and silliness. "I highly doubt it, Mom. If Edward liked me, I'm sure he would've shown some reaction."

"Hasn't he been doing that?" Charlie asked teasingly. "I think he started doing that about two years ago, Bells. You know, telling you that he loved you, teasing you, making excuses because he wanted to be with you."

I frowned. "I thought that was just the puberty thing. You know, growing mature and stuff. Coping with stress of peer pressure."

"You're so blind, honey," Renee sighed. "You don't see yourself clearly."

"Mom," I stressed. "If I could attract someone like Edward's attention, then I think I would pretty much have the whole school wired, don't you think?"

"But you do," she put in.

"Only because of Edward and the others," I disagreed.

"That's not it," Charlie said. "It's you. You've earned yourself a reputation all by yourself. I'm sure the Cullens and the Hales would agree."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't think so."

"So who does Edward like then?" Renee asked, her eyebrow raised challengingly.

"I don't know," I said. "He did say that he liked someone, but I don't know who."

"Who is it?" Renee nearly shrieked.

I grimaced. "I just told you that I don't know, and you're going to ask who it is?"

"I mean, did he drop any hints about who he liked?"

I shrugged. "He told me to butt out of his love life."

Charlie started laughing. "It must be you, then."

I sighed. "Are you done teasing? Can I be excused then?"

"No, you cannot," Renee said. "Tell us, honey. We won't tell anyone."

I looked at her. "You probably know better than I do. You two gossip with Carlisle and Esme."

"We do not!"

"Yeah, I'll believe that."

Renee pursed her lips. "How about we have a girl's night out tomorrow, Bella? Just the two of us?"

Charlie stopped eating and looked at her. "Where are you going?"

"Port Angeles," Renee said casually. "Where else?"

"Why are you suddenly keen on having a girl's night out?" he asked, his eyes narrowing. "What are you going to do?"

"Why do you need to know?" Renee retorted. "It's called a girl's night out for a reason, Charlie."

Oh, no. Here they go again.

"What are you going to do?" Charlie repeated.

"We're going to be looking around, of course! Shopping. Eating dinner together."

"And see him, maybe?"

Renee glared at him. "With Bella? I don't think so, Charlie."

"I think you're perfectly capable of bringing your daughter to see your boyfriend, Renee," Charlie said sarcastically. "So that she can get used to her future stepfather, perhaps?"

"Are you insinuating that you want a divorce, Charlie?"

"Maybe I am! If you're going to keep doing this-"

"I wouldn't put Bella through that! Besides, do I have to remind you again that-"

Heaving a quiet sigh, I got up and escaped the room unnoticed. Their voices were getting louder every second.

I stopped by the bathroom on my way to my bedroom. I brushed my teeth, then looked at myself in the mirror. I looked tired. After a while, I went back to my room.

I really needed the distraction. I sat underneath my window and hugged my legs to my chest. And I called him.

He answered on the second ring. "Bella. Bored, already?" He chuckled. I could hear laughter in the background. I recognized Carlisle and Esme's harmonized laughter, as Emmett and Alice sang at the top of their lungs.

For the millionth time in my life, I felt envious. The Cullens were one big happy family, while mine was falling apart. The Swans were as small as it is, and it was still tearing apart.

Sometimes, I wished that I could live with the Cullens. I wished that I could have siblings like Edward did, and have a loving mother and father who never fought.

"Bella? Is something wrong?" Edward asked, his tone worried when I didn't answer right away. In the background, the laughter faded, and I knew the others were listening too.

"What are you doing?" I asked softly. The shouting downstairs became louder. And louder.

"We just finished dinner," Edward said carefully. "We were just talking about school, and Emmett and Alice's love lives."

"And singing," I said, smiling ruefully.

"And singing," he agreed. "Why? Did something happen?"

Right on cue, there was a loud crash from the living room, and I knew that they were throwing stuff now. I flinched, and I felt the tears coming.

"Edward…" I whispered, trying hard not to keep my voice from breaking.

He heard the crash. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" He was frantic now.

"No. I'm in my room. Can you…can you come over? I need a distraction."

"I'll be there in ten minutes," Edward promised. "Don't worry."

"Thanks," I whispered. As soon as I hung up, I felt lonely again. I winced when glass shattered downstairs. More shouting.

I wished this was all a dream. I wished desperately for a peaceful, quiet house. I wanted them to stop.

"YOU'RE NOT TAKING BELLA ANYWHERE TOMORROW!" Charlie yelled. "DON'T YOU DARE!"

"YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" Renee shouted back. "YOU CAN'T-"

I squeezed my eyes shut when I heard another shatter. The tears finally spilled and flowed down my cheeks silently.

I didn't know how long I was sitting there. The shouting and sounds of breaking never ceased. They went on. And on. It didn't feel like ten minutes. It felt like ten million hours.

But eventually, I heard a slight tap on my window, created from a pebble thrown from the ground. Swallowing hard, I stood up and slid open the window.

I saw Edward in jeans and a dark hoodie. He climbed up using the tree right outside, then jumped lithely into my room.

"Bella?" he whispered. He saw my tear-streaked face. "Bella!" He sighed as he pulled me into his arms. He rubbed my back soothingly. "It's okay. It's okay…"

There was another crash from downstairs. Renee screamed in defiance. Charlie roared back inaudible words.

"It's getting bad, isn't it?" Edward asked quietly. "I don't think they've ever taken it this far before."

I sniffed. "I'm sorry. I ruined your family's evening, didn't I?"

"Don't be silly, Bella," Edward said, pulling us onto my bed. He dragged the covers over me and laid down next to me. "Of course you didn't."

"I did too," I said. "What did they say?"

He sighed. "They told me to hurry up and go. They knew that you would need me." He wiped away what was left of my tears.

"And I did," I sighed. Even though the shattering and breaking and shouting were still going on, I felt better now that Edward was here with me. "Thanks for coming, Edward."

"Of course," he murmured, stroking my hair. "I'll always be here for you."

I flinched when there was another sharp scream. Edward took my hand and rubbed his thumb on the back of it gently.

"It's okay," he whispered. "Go to sleep." He began humming quietly, and despite the loud background noise, I was somehow able to concentrate on his musical voice.

And sometime during the soft melody, I fell asleep.

AN: So what did you guys think? I'm pretty satisfied with this new twist. ;) Let me know in the reviews! And coming up soon…my new story, Desire! Maybe I'll post the first chapter with my next update. We'll see. In the meantime…maybe you can convince me that you're ready for a new story…by reviewing. Thanks!