Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter twenty of 'Into the Shadows.' This chapter has some Edward/Bella. I decided to have some tension within Bella's family over her situation because I felt it made the whole thing more realistic. I can see Renee acting irrationally due to her daughter going through not one but two dangerous situations. Stay tuned for chapter twenty-one.

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Chapter 20: Impatience/Tense Phone Conversation

Charlie paced back and forth in front of the second bed seven minutes later. He looked at his cellphone, sighing impatiently. He wanted Renee to hurry up and call back. He felt tempted to try to contact her, yet his attempt would probably get him nothing more than a busy signal, as it was likely she was booking a flight to Port Angeles. Nevertheless, he was hoping he could talk her out of coming here.

The Cullens, the Quileutes, Walter, and Bernard felt much sympathy for him. They hadn't doubted that Renee was going to freak out about Bella's situation, but they hadn't expected to yell so loud that they could hear her. They couldn't help but wonder if they would hear the same yelling from Bruce, Karen, Jessica, and Angela once they got in contact with Charlie.

Charlie decided to stop pacing, as he knew it wouldn't make Renee call back any faster. He put his cellphone in his pocket. He looked toward Bella, who furrowed her brow. She slipped a lock of hair behind her ear. She shifted her position on the bed a bit. She stretched her arms above her head before clearing her throat.

"You know something, Bells? I'm glad your mom doesn't live here. She would've been speeding from wherever she was to get here. That would've put her at risk of having an accident," Charlie said.

"At least she's not accident-prone like me. I feel like I have accidents and attract danger everywhere I go," Bella whispered, feeling a bit ashamed.

Charlie showed sympathy for her. "It can feel that way, Bells, but know this. You're not the cause of the accidents or the danger. You never were."

"At least you've never gone out and done something crazy like jumping over cars on a motorcycle," Jasper said.

"Or gone cliff-diving," Alice added.

"Or bungee-jumping," Esme commented.

Bella bit her lip nervously. "You'll never find me doing any of those things. I'd be too scared to even try."

"That's good, Bells," Charlie said, his voice filled with relief. "Besides, I wouldn't let you do that stuff unless you went through intense training."

Edward tapped his temple with his finger. "You need intense training for many tough activities."

Bella shrugged while licking her lips. She folded her sheet down and shifted her position a bit. She ran her fingers through her hair in which she got rid of a few tangles that had formed.

"What's ironic about Mom and me is that I often felt I was the parent and she the child. It's supposed to be the reverse," Bella said.

"That's true, Bella," Esme agreed.

"A motherly figure doesn't have to be much older than someone. She can be a little close to their age," Rosalie added.

Bella glanced toward Rosalie. "My mom and I aren't that far apart in age, Rosalie. Twenty-three years separates us."

"It wasn't unusual to see parents as young as sixteen years old in the old days. Marrying during your teen years was common due to many children dying during childhood. Young parenthood was widely celebrated in most communities," Alice said.

"Nowadays, young parenthood is frowned upon. People are told they are selfish and irresponsible if they have their first children at a young age," Emmett whispered, tensing somewhat.

Edward rolled his eyes and scoffed in irritation. "They are told the same thing if they have their first children at an older age."

"You're damned if you do. You're damned if you don't," Seth commented bitterly.

Carlisle nodded. "Exactly, Seth."

Bernard straightened his tie and jacket. He and Walter smacked their lips and ran their tongues along the insides of their mouths.

"I am aching for a cup of coffee," Bernard said.

"Me too," Walter added. "Who wants to join Bernard and me down in the cafeteria for some?"

Jacob raised his hand, looking eager. "I'd love a cup of coffee."

"Me too. I am always ready for one," Billy commented.

"You can count me in on that," Harry added.

"The same goes for us," Leah, Quil, Embry, and Seth said.

Bernard looked at the Cullens. "What about all of you?"

"No, thanks. I don't like coffee," Carlisle said, holding up his hands.

"Me neither," Esme said.

"I don't either. It tastes too bitter for me, even with sugar and cream," Rosalie grumbled, making a disgusted face.

"You got that right," Jasper, Alice, Emmett, and Edward said.

"I don't want any coffee right now," Charlie said.

Walter gave a thumbs-up. "All right. We'll be back in a little bit."

Bernard headed for the door and opened it. Jacob, Billy, Harry, Leah, Seth, Embry, Quil, and Walter walked out. He followed them, closing it behind him. Carlisle, Esme, Edward, Jasper, Alice, Emmett, Rosalie, Charlie, and Bella looked at each other.

"Have you ever drunk coffee, Bella?" Emmett wondered.

"I did several times when I was in Phoenix. I've been thinking about starting it up again," Bella answered.

"You can get a big can of coffee at the market real cheap, Bella," Charlie pointed out.

"Thanks for telling me that, Dad," Bella said, turning to him.

"What's really interesting is some people like their coffee completely black while others like it very sweet," Carlisle said.

"For some people, just one cup of coffee makes perks them up. For others, it takes several," Esme said.

Charlie cupped his chin in his hand. He began to think deeply about how to deal with Renee. Suddenly, something clicked in his mind. He glanced at Bella, taking a deep breath.

"Bella, I have an idea. Why don't you talk to your mother when she calls? You might be able to talk her out of coming to get you," he suggested.

"You're right, Dad. Hearing my voice would give her peace of mind," she responded.

"While we're waiting, why don't I share a story about a mother wolf and her two pups I observed on our camping trip with you and your dad, Bella?" Emmett suggested.

Bella nodded slowly. "Okay."

Charlie smiled. "That sounds good to me."

Emmett chuckled warmly and started to share his story. Charlie and Bella listened closely.

00000

Emmett continued to tell the story four minutes later. He walked his hands in midair and imitated pups jumping on their mother. He growled playfully and acted as if he were biting something by clicking his teeth together. Charlie and Bella stared at him in awe. Rosalie crossed her arms, a big smile forming on her face.

"The pups' mother nipped at them playfully. She barked at them twice. They headed off into the forest," Emmett said.

"You were so lucky to see wolves, Emmett. They're not easy to find at all," Bella said.

"They aren't easy to approach either," Emmett said. "They'll run away from you if they hear you step on a stick. They are very fearful of humans."

"Everyone knows it's because hunters used to kill them in huge numbers," Rosalie said, her voice quieting to a whisper on the last word.

"No record of a healthy wolf killing and eating a human in North America exists," Jasper added. "Wolves occasionally hunt livestock. It is only when they're desperately hungry and can't find another food source."

"Wolves may look cute and cuddly, but they can be dangerous. You should never attempt to touch them," Alice said in seriousness.

"Not to worry, Alice. I always keep that in mind every time I go into the forest behind my house," Bella said quietly.

"Good for you," Alice responded and smiled proudly.

"Just don't let them steal your lunch when you're in there," Jasper said and smirked as he looked down at his wife jokingly.

Alice elbowed her husband in the arm. She blocked his hand with her elbow when he tried to ruffle her hair. Charlie's cellphone started ringing. He quickly got it out and looked at it. He saw 904-222-2987.

"It's Renee," Charlie said and looked at his daughter. "You ready to talk to her?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Bella answered truthfully.

"Just try to be calm, all right?" Charlie warned gently.

"I'll do my best," Bella said hopefully, as he gave her the cellphone. She put it to her ear. "Mom?"

"Bella, hi," Renee said in surprise. "I didn't expect you to be on your dad's phone. I was expecting him."

"He thought you might like to hear my voice," Bella whispered and snorted.

"It's good to hear it," Renee replied happily. "Is your bed comfortable?"

"It's very comfortable. I have it elevated a bit," Bella said, sighing contently.

"When I had you, my bed was the most comfortable one I had ever been in. The mattress was so soft that I felt like I could fall into it," Renee said, a giggle coming from her.

"Oh, really?" Bella said in curiosity.

"Yeah. Of course, you can't really fall into a mattress. It's impossible," Renee said and cleared her throat. "Then again, it'd be cool if that happened."

Bella listened to papers shuffling in the background. Carlisle put his arm around Esme. So did Emmett with Rosalie.

"Bella, I want you to know that I've booked a flight to Port Angeles. I will be in Forks on Thursday to come get you," Renee said.

"Mom, you do not need to do that. I feel very safe with Dad and Edward. They'll protect me," Bella assured. "Dad's rifle can shoot long-range and hit Mike if he comes for me."

"What good will that do if Mike manages to wrestle it away from your father? He could kill him, Edward, and you with it easily!" Renee shouted frantically.

Bella started to become angry. "He can do the same with your and Phil's guns too! It doesn't make any difference!"

"I don't care. I'm coming to get you, whether you like it or not!" Renee hissed defiantly.

"I don't want to go to Jacksonville! I want to stay in Forks!" Bella cried, slamming her hand on the bed, which made Charlie jump in fright.

"What you want isn't important, Bella. Your safety is. You'll be safer with Phil and me!" Renee screeched.

"How does Phil feel about what you're doing?" Bella demanded.

"He doesn't want me coming to get you, but it doesn't matter. I'm coming, whether he likes it or not," Renee answered.

"You're being really selfish, Mom," Bella retorted and scoffed in disbelief. "You are willing to take me away from my father, my friends, and my boyfriend just so you can keep your eye on me. You'll put me in a school where I won't know anyone and expect me to finish out my final year there. I'll be miserable. Is that what you want?"

"If that's what it takes to keep you safe," Renee said.

"I'm telling you this right now," Bella said sternly. "I'm not leaving Forks. I am eighteen now. You can't force me to do anything against my will. Nothing you say will convince me to leave my life here behind. That's final!"

Bella hung up and handed it back to Charlie. She started crying hysterically. Edward seated himself beside her on the bed. He placed his hand on her head and pushed it toward his shoulder. She buried her face into it, muffling her cries. She gripped his shirt so tightly that it seemed she was about to tear it with her nails.

"Shh. It's okay, Bella. It's okay," Edward whispered soothingly.

"I'm sorry I lost it," Bella muttered guiltily as her tears soaked his shirt.

"Don't be, darling," Charlie said in comfort. "You can only take so much before you lose it."

"Who will tell Jacob and the others about Renee's call?" Rosalie wondered.

"I'll go tell them," Emmett said, raising his hand.

"I'll go with you. That is if it's okay," Jasper said.

"Sure, bro," Emmett said. He and Jasper were about to head out the door when Charlie's cellphone rang again. They saw him look at it.

"It's Mike's dad," Charlie said.

"Oh, thank God," Bella whispered in relief as she and Edward looked toward him putting it to his ear.

"Bruce, I'm glad you got back to me," Charlie said and heard Bruce speak. "I know. There's something I have to tell you about your son."

Charlie started to tell Bruce about what happened. The Cullens and Bella prayed silently the latter wouldn't turn on her.