DISCLAIMER: The story doesn't belong to me; the characters are property of S. Meyer, and the plot belongs to Annalau Thank you so much for letting me share your story in English!

Gracias Laura, por darme esta oportunidad!

Ale: I'll translate PQH and Bombon when I finish this one. I promise ;)

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Chapter 9

Scared I try to pull my hand out of his strong grip, preventing him from taking me with him.

"Pat, I'll talk to Isabella," he says to his son, still holding his stupid smug smile on his lips. I hate it. "We'll be in my office."

I'm reassured because I know we're not going to his room. Yet he is so ungentlemanly with me, as he drags me with him without the slightest delicacy. We enter the office and I choose the distance between us, slide into the armchair in front of the desk. I am still angry with him.

"Can we talk like civilized people?" He keeps mocking me, starts walking around the room, still rubbing his beard. "I don't understand why you have to shout for everything, you are a thinking being, aren't you? You don't have to come in with your fussing as if you were a madwoman. What's wrong with you, Isabella?" His green irises are watching me quite attentively, he leans over the desk.

"I'm Bella."

He raises his eyebrows in a pure gesture that he doesn't care.

"I didn't like you paying for me. I don't know you, and I don't know what your intentions are in doing so, but from now on I'm telling you that you won't get anything from me." I warn him.

"You are confusing everything."

"I'm not interested in keeping anything with you," I point out. "I don't like you."

"I don't even know why I helped you," he expresses angrily. "Maybe it's because I feel sorry for you. Let me make it clear," he continues without stopping looking at me from his height "that I have no interest in you, you're not..." his eyes run over my body holding a mocking laugh, "my type. I like women. I'm not interested in changing diapers."

I lift my chin. I'm outraged by his... rejection?

"Well, having made it clear that there will never be anything between us. I don't know if I should thank you, actually my intention was to drop out of college. I have to get enough money together and get out of here."

Edward is rubbing his beard again, that's so like him.

"Do what you want, my intention was only to help."

"I don't have a way to pay you back…" my voice becomes a whisper. "I mean it will take me a while to do it. I don't know if you can wait for a while."

"There's no hurry," his posture relaxes with a slight smile. It's a little weird to see the arrogant one smile.

"Do I have to sign or...?" I ask hesitantly. I find his selfless help strange.

"You don't have to. The only thing I'd like is for you to be very strict with Pat, sometimes my son tends to get distracted very easily."

I exhale softly.

"I'll do that."

"Good. Any problems with my son, you can let me know," he opens the door without taking his eyes off me.

I approach him.

"Thank you," this time I extend my hand, giving him a firm squeeze. Edward wants to smile, the corners of his mouth turn up, but instead he just grimaces slightly. "I don't know if this makes us friends, I hope so."

He lets go of my hand and invites me to leave his office. He doesn't respond, I guess he has no intention of forging a friendship with me. I don't know how to feel about this, Edward is so difficult to deal with, sometimes he seems to be a noble gentleman and sometimes he just doesn't feel like opening his mouth. He doesn't seem to be very expressive.

At a slow pace we walk back to the dining room.

"I'm sorry for interrupting," I apologize.

Pat sets the silverware aside, purses his lips, looking at us with great interest. He scratches his head.

"Are you two friends now?"

"We have a kind of truce," Edward says. "Isabella won't be acting like a maniac again, right?"

I narrow my eyes. He's really unbearable, I'm not crazy.

"I'll be waiting for your class, Pat." My eyes search for Edward, he has taken his place in the dining room again. "Bon appetit."

"Join us," he invites me.

I shake my head. The last thing I want to do is share food with him. His presence is enough to distract anyone. I decide on the comfy couch and slide more demurely to wait for Pat, my cell phone rings, and I ignore it when I see Tyler's name on the screen.

Lately Tyler has been in jealous mode, hypersensitive and I can't tolerate his attitude, I prefer to take him in peace and not spend so many hours arguing.

I let out a sigh as I begin to pull out what I need for today's class. Jessica is my big supporter in this, I always say she is the expert. My cell phone rings again and this time it's dad.

I'm smiling.

"Dad?"

It's strange for him to call at this time; he teaches at high school and it's not his dismissal time yet.

"Hi, honey, how are you? I'm sorry I couldn't call sooner, it's just that between classes and my family it's hard, honey."

I do not pass unnoticed the rename of "my family".

"Hi, daddy. I'm... I'm fine." I lie. I start walking around the room with my eyes on the fireplace, keeping my feet up.

"That's nice, honey," he is silent for a short time, clears his throat. "Bella, I wish we could talk this hour, do you think?"

"Aren't you in class?"

"I made some five-minute adjustments so I could be in communication with you," he sighs, "It's complicated at home, honey. Between my pending classes, your siblings and Sue, there's not much room."

A lump forms in my throat as I understand her request.

"Did you argue with Sue again?" my voice cracks, " She doesn't want you talking to me?"

"Understand, honey. She's my wife..."

"I'm your daughter!" I cry out, rubbing the back of my hand across my cheeks. The stupid tears have appeared.

"Bella, when you have a family of your own you will understand that their welfare is paramount. I don't want any trouble between us, honey. It's hard for me to do this too. I don't like to talk to each other on the sly, however I don't have a choice, honey. I don't like arguing with Sue and her being uncomfortable around you worries me."

"I totally disagree dad. When I have my own family I will love each one regardless if they were not born to me. I will give them their place and I will never allow my partner to make them feel less, I swear."

"Honey, understand. I do it to take care of my family, of you."

"I hope you change your mind, I'm your daughter and there's nothing wrong with talking in front of your family. See you later, Dad." I end the call, covering my mouth to silence my sobs.

"Are you okay?"

Edward's voice makes me turn around. He and Pat are watching what I'm doing.

"Yes," I wipe away my tears and smile. "Sometimes I miss being at home," I sniffle, "with my family."

They share glances without articulating any words, it's obvious they overheard my conversation with Charlie. It's not that my father is bad, it's... It's just that he's never had enough character to stand up to his wife. And Sue has never missed an opportunity to do whatever she wants. It's sad to say that Dad is a weakling who does and says whatever his wife wants.

"Can we get started, Pat?" I ask.

The boy grumbles making me laugh.

Without wasting any more time we sit on our knees and start a new class, feeling nervous the whole time since Edward decides to sit on a couch in front of us. He pretends his attention is focused on his cell phone, but I know he is listening to the conversation with his son.

"Have you ever camped in the snow?" asks Pat, I deny, wanting him to concentrate on the notes, even pointing to the sheets with my finger. "Oh, do you know how to ski?"

"No. I don't know anything about extreme sports."

"Dad does. You should come with us; we're going camping this weekend and then we're going skiing. Can't she come with us, Dad?"

I look at Edward. His back straightens and he rubs his beard, avoiding contact with his son. He looks hesitant, or rather, uncomfortable. He clears his throat.

"Pat, you don't want to make Isabella uncomfortable. She may have plans."

"Bella tells me she's sleeping all weekend," Pat divulges, "that doesn't sound like any plans, does it?"

Tattletale child. I want to pinch his side, so he won't open his big mouth again.

Embarrassed I refuse to look into those intense green eyes. Edward can laugh at me all he wants. I begin to scribble in my notebook, not going to look at him.

"Then we mustn't distract Miss Swan," Edward pronounces. He's enjoying teasing me. "Let her get enough sleep, maybe it will improve her mood."

"No. I'd rather she came with us, Dad," Pat insists. "Come on, Bella," he nudges me lightly. I look at him and his cheerful eyes seem to be begging me. "We'll be away Saturday and Sunday, come on. I'll help you ski. We won't let anything happen to you, right, Dad?"

"Yes," Edward murmurs. "It's no problem for you to go with us."

I bite my lip hesitantly, not wanting to answer.

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"How many days will you be gone?" Ty asks.

I've been explaining for half an hour that I'm going camping with friends. That doesn't seem to be enough for him, as he wants names, last names, and ages of those involved.

"I told you it's just for the weekend."

"I don't know, I don't like you dating anyone, Bella. When we lived in Forks there was no problem because I knew everyone and therefore everyone knew you were my girlfriend. But there, no one knows me. No one knows we're a couple," he snorts. "Don't go, baby, please don't do it."

"Ty."

"Baby, I just... I don't like it. You'll be with strangers for two days, and the worst part is that you'll be sharing a tent in the cold. No, I don't like it."

"Tyler."

"I don't want you to go, baby."

"But I want to go."

"We can go together. I can ask my parents to buy me a plane ticket and come see you, just let me talk to them. Give me a week, baby."

"Tyler, no."

"I don't want you to go, Bella. And that's my last word, do you understand?"

"You're not the one to forbid me anything. We'll talk later when I get back. If you want to."

I roll around in the sheets once I tuck my cell phone under my pillow. Why does everything have to be so complicated?

I let out a squeal as Jess suddenly drops down next to me and the blankets form a big tent that falls over my face.

"The prince is obviously mad, isn't he?" she asks as she plays with an old teddy bear my boyfriend gave me years ago. "Did he talk you out of going?"

""It doesn't matter what he said," I take the bear from her hands and hug it to my chest. "I'm going on that trip anyway."

Jess's fingers start to itch my side making me giggle, I roll around the bed and move away to the wall.

"What's new with you and your fictional boyfriend?" She jokes, "Have you kissed yet?"

"It's very embarrassing every time I have him in front of me," I reveal, and she stops laughing. "It always comes to my mind that my mouth has been on a very good part of his body." I cover my face with the bear, I don't want to see her reaction. "Do you think he remembers it?"

"According to my null knowledge on men, I think he should always remember it. I think he likes you."

"Why do you say that?" This time I sit down, leaving the bear on my lap while Jess continues to lie down and stare at the ceiling.

"Because he didn't protest at all when I asked him for help. Besides, he was very stiff when I told him you were leaving, although he tried in vain to hide his annoyance. I think he likes you."

"Don't tell me that," I ask, "not now that I'll be spending a few days with him. I won't even want to see him.""

Jessica rolls her eyes and removes my stuffed animal again. With her fingers she starts to pull the strings of the stuffed animal in a very concentrated way.

"What do you know about his dad? Don't you think it's strange that he hasn't bothered you?"

"According to Pat his grandparents are going on a trip, maybe that's the reason why he left me alone. I hope his wife throws a tantrum and stays where they are going and keeps him away from me for the rest of my days."

"What will you do with the money he deposited with you?"

"I won't touch it. I will ask Edward to help me return the entire amount. I don't want anything from that man."

"What's Edward got to do with it?" she throws a pillow in my face. "Stop talking about him," she stands up and now throws at the stuffed animal, this time I dodge it. "Rest up, Bella, you're going away tomorrow for a few days with your fictitious boyfriend and your new son."

I laugh. Curling into a ball, I curl up in my blankets.

"Tyler," I whisper, "I feel like we're drifting apart, and I don't like it. I'm in love with you, I'm sure. Please, I want to keep feeling my stomach tickle for you. Just be you."

Thank you for the 100 reviews. For celebrating it, double update today :)

Hello! Here we are again with Bella asking to continue to be tickled by Tyler but going camping with Edward and his son. We also learned why Charlie never talks to Bella, and it turns out he's a spineless man who is manipulated by his wife. There was no Carlisle or Aro today and they won't be in the next chapter either because we are all going camping in the snow. I hope to read your opinions, don't leave me alone.

To those who commented all my special thanks: Marymary123, Ale, Dulce Carolina, tas62, joshuasmom131, Partygirl87, acw1, Rosemarie28, , mnnlisa, cocoa blizzard

THANK YOU FOR READING!