Look at me, actually updating again.

Here's the interaction between Bella and her mom. I don't know how I feel about this chapter, and I didn't want to drag it out too long (because let's be honest, that'd be obnoxious).

So here it is! Enjoy.

After the divorce papers arrived, my mom and dad had to meet together with their lawyers, primarily for formalities. My dad kept me out of it, knowing that seeing my mother would only confuse and upset me. Later that night, I heard him telling our family friend, Harry, that she put up a fight about custody.

She must have been too high at the time to realize she didn't have a fighting chance. Seeing as she was the one who left and had a known problem with drugs, the court gave my dad full custody and said that they would revisit in a year and a half if my mother would go into rehab. According to my dad, she agreed but never expressed any interest in seeing me again. He hadn't heard from her, hadn't seen her. She wrote me occasional letters, telling me about the new love of her life and how happy she was.

When I didn't reply, she stopped writing and, somewhere in the back of my mind, I assumed that she really was happy. She realized that she didn't want a piece of her old life back and had moved on and started a new family. I pictured here being obnoxiously happy, as happy as she sounded on the phone when she talked about Phil and their small, adorable life.

But the woman in front of me didn't match up with that scenario.

When Renee left, she still looked like my mother. Sure she was a little paler and maybe a little skinnier, but nothing compared to the way she looked now. Her hair that used to be so long and beautiful and healthy is now stringy and short. She tried to make it look more presentable by putting it back in a ponytail, but that doesn't help. There are dark bags under her eyes as if she hasn't slept in months. Her skin is so pale she makes me look tan. And while my mother had always been thin, she looks disgustingly so now. Her skin looks like it's being stretched over her bones in the most unpleasant way.

Behind her stands a man who I assume is Phil. He has a baseball cap on backwards and his arms are covered in tattoos, not the kind of man I imagined my mother with. He looks like he'd rather anywhere else but here, and despite my immediate dislike of this man, I feel like we at least have that one thing in common.

"Oh my goodness. Just look at you," she says. Even though her appearance has changed, her voice is still very much the same, and I cringe. Jasper reaches over and grabs my hand.

"You're so grown up!" she exclaims. "Isn't she beautiful, Phil?"

He grunts.

I stand up, clutching Jasper's hand in mine, and feel like I'm going to vomit when she wraps her arms around me in a bone crushing hug.

"And who's this strapping young man?" she asks, eyeing Jasper. "Is this your boyfriend?"

I roll my eyes. "This is Jasper. Don't you remember him?" I ask.

She looks at him and squints her eyes. "This isn't little Jazzy. That's just not possible."

He smiles a very forced looking smile and shakes her hand. "Nice to see you again, Mrs…"

She grins. "Oh please. You're old enough to call me Renee."

He nods. "Renee."

Renee points out a diner a little ways down the road and asks if we would all like to go get something to eat and Jasper, God bless him, agrees when I can't make myself form a coherent thought.

We sit together on a crappy old booth made out of fake red leather. It's awkward at best, and Jasper keeps glancing at me out of the corner of his eye as we all order our food. Jasper and I both order a simple sandwich and a coke, while my mother orders a glass of water and some toast. Phil doesn't order anything besides a coffee and keeps glaring out the window.

"So, how's your father?" she asks after she takes a sip of her water.

"He's fine," I answer simply.

"I half expected him to come with you today out of fear that I might corrupt you," she says with a carefree laugh.

"Well, he has a right," I say quietly.

"Excuse me?" she says.

Jasper clears his throat uncomfortably and Phil actually turns his head in our direction.

"He has a right to be worried," I say, suddenly feeling bold. "I mean, let's be honest. You didn't exactly leave for the most noble reasons."

Renee scratches her arm and looks down. "I know you're angry with me, Bella, but I'm still your mother and you need to speak to me with respect, do you understand?"

I look at her and raise an eyebrow. The waitress chooses that moment to come over and deliver our food, but I've lost my appetite. Renee bites a piece of toast and looks at me.

"So do you have a boyfriend? Or is Jasper your boyfriend?" she asks.

I laugh for the first time that day and so does Jasper. "No, Jasper isn't my boyfriend. Just my best friend. Still."

She nods. "Is there someone else then?"

I shrug, really unsure of what to say. "Well, there's someone at home. We've been seeing each other, but I don't think it's anything serious yet."

"I'm proud of you," she says. "Getting involved with anyone that early in your life is a huge mistake. I was about your age when I met your father and it's my biggest regret."

I nearly choke on my coke. "What?"

"Well meeting your father, getting married that early, everything," she explains. "Had that not happened, I wouldn't have…well, done everything I did. I wouldn't have had to work so long to be happy."

I stiffen and Jasper reaches over to grab my hand, silently trying to relieve the sting her words left behind.

"I'm sorry we were such a hardship for you," I whisper.

"Oh stop, that's not what I meant," she says. "I regret your father. Not you. I love you."

"Oh cut it out, Renee," I say, trying to keep my voice down. "You don't love me. You don't even know me. And you can't regret dad without regretting me. If you hadn't of met dad, you would never of had me!"

Renee gives me a dirty look and pushes up her sleeves. "You are blowing this out of proportion, Isabella. That is not what I meant, and you know it! I don't regret you. I've turned my life around for you, just so I could see you again."

I can't reply. I can't say anything. My eyes are stuck to Renee's arms and the repulsive needle marks in the crook of her arm. Some of them are healed and are just little pot marks, but some of them are still obviously fresh.

"Yeah, you've really turned your life around," I say as I stand up, Jasper in tow. "God, I can't believe you!"

"Bella, please," she says as she stands up. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't work anymore, Renee," I say as I look away form her. "Don't contact me ever again. Just let me live my damn life without you screwing me up anymore."

~O~

The ride home was quiet. My phone went off once, a message from Edward asking me how it was going, but I couldn't find it in myself to answer. Instead, I turned my phone off and leaned my head against the cold window. Jasper didn't try to make me talk and for that I was thankful.

When he dropped me off a few hours later, he kissed the top of my head.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I'm sorry this happened," he whispered.

"Me too."

Next chapter will be in a different POV, so be ready for that.

Please review! It means the world to me:)

Lots of love,

Emilia Elliot.