20

Bella was physically, mentally, emotionally exhausted. She felt like all she had done over the last three days was cry over parents who didn't really love her. They couldn't, could they? They'd set her up to be raped, for fuck sake. Good parents didn't to do that. Good people didn't do that.

But as exhausted as she felt, she hadn't been able to sleep. Not even with Alice right next to her. After she blew up on Peter and Marcus, she'd locked herself inside bedroom, just needing a break from all of it. Carlisle had held her until she stopped crying, and then Alice replaced him as the person holding her together. The queers next door loved her more after just a few days than Charlie and Renee had her entire life.

Early the next morning, Bella was startled when her phone started ringing. Alice groaned, but simply rolled onto her side, pulling her pillow over her head. Laughing under her breath, Bella climbed out of their bed and dug her phone out of the pocket of her jeans, silencing the call when she saw Angela's name flashing on the screen. She bit the inside of her lip before she slipped out of the room and into the bathroom, and then called Angela back.

"Bella," she breathed softly.

"Hey, Angie," Bella whispered, sliding to the floor and folding her knees in front of her. "Didn't think I'd ever hear from you again."

"Yeah, I know." Angela sighed. "How are you?"

"I'm . . . I've been better."

"Yeah, I guess I can understand that." Angela paused. "I saw you on T.V."

"You did?"

She hummed. "They said . . . they said they arrested your parents, Bella. Arrested them for . . . sexual assault on you. Is . . . is that true?"

"Yes."

"Jesus fucking Christ," she swore under her breath, and Bella almost smiled, because Angela never cursed unless she was angry. "That's kind of messed up."

"No shit," Bella scoffed. "Is that why you called? To find out if my parents were just as twisted as the news paints them out to be?"

"I was worried about you."

"Worried, huh?" Bella shook her head. "You weren't too worried about me when I told you she was sending me away, were you? What'd you say again? You love me, but you're not ready for more. Maybe we need a break, find out if how we feel is real or not."

Angela didn't say anything for a moment, before she said, "I was scared, Bella."

"So was I," she whimpered, feeling her eyes fill with tears. "I wasn't asking for forever, Angie. I just wanted my best friend to tell me it was okay to be angry that I was being sent away because my mother would rather betray me than accept that I'm a lesbian."

"You know how hard it is for me," she whispered. "I was confused. You had me feeling things I'd never felt before, but Ben . . . he makes me feel things, too. I just couldn't choose between you, and you wanted me to."

"I did," she admitted. "But more than anything, Angie, I just wanted my friend to tell me she loved me, that she would always just be a phone call or text message away, but you weren't. You ignored me, left me on read, told me you were too busy to even tell me goodbye."

"I'm sorry," she cried. "I miss you, though. If it helps."

"It doesn't," Bella whispered.

For several seconds they sat in silence, the sound of Angela crying filled the air, followed by an awkward pause. Bella was about to end the call when she heard Angela whisper, "Do you love her?

"Who?"

Angela snorted. "The girl I saw holding your hand on the news. Do you love her?"

Bella bit the inside of her lip before saying, "I do."

"I could tell by the way you looked at her." Angela sighed again. "You never looked at me like that."

"I love you, Angie. I'm just not in love with you. Alice makes me feel things I never have before, not even with you. She loves me just the way I am, and I think I deserve someone who isn't ashamed to be with me."

"You do," she replied, but there was something in the way she spoke that made Bella wonder, but before she could push for more, Angela cleared her throat. "Yeah, Dad, I know. I'm just getting help with my essay from Ben since he sent his in last week."

Bella felt her body tense. Of course she hadn't wanted her father to know who she as talking to. Something hadn't changed after all. Bella was still her dirty little secret.

"I'm sorry, Bella, but I've gotta go."

"Me too."

Angela whispered, "I miss you."

"I miss you, too." And she did. She just missed the Angela who wasn't ashamed of her.

"Can I call you again?"

Bella shook her head. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Yeah, I suppose I get that." Angela paused. "Does she love you back?"

Bella smiled. "She does."

Angela sniffed. "Good, because you deserve someone who can . . . who can love you the way you love."

"Angie," she started.

"Goodbye, Bella."

And before she could say anything else, the call ended.

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