Chapter 14:

Disclaimer: Prologue

Charlie and I didn't actually stay much longer at the Denali house after that. We decided to go home after about ten more minutes in the house after all tiffs were smoothed out and Charlie had a small "word" with Tanya.

At least, I am guessing he did because I saw him talking to her on the other side of the room while I talked to Kate and Irina. Both were nodding in understanding, or giving what appeared to be reassurances while Tanya smiled here and there. Not to mention that just before we left she gave me her number along with the rest of her family's while Charlie said nothing, just nodded to her when she glanced at him.

That got a lot of my suspicions up if the other parts didn't.

Currently, Charlie and I sat in silence as we drove towards home. Neither of us said anything, and I felt like it was mostly because neither of us knew exactly what to say or maybe even how to say it. The silence was, well, it wasn't exactly awkward but it wasn't comfortable either.

It was just…silence.

The radio was playing in the background as we sat in silence. He watched the road and I watched the trees pass by in the window. Each one was a flash of green and brown-it reminded me of when I first moved to Forks. The day Charlie picked me up from the airport and all I could see was green and brown.

Strange.

Charlie, awkwardly, cleared his throat. "Good people." I turned my head towards him. "The Denalis, I mean."

I nodded, smiling a little. "Yeah, they are," I agreed. I pursed my lips. "They took it well-my cancer. I think they were shocked, but…I feel like they kind of knew something was going on."

He nodded. "Understandable," he said. He pursed his lips. "Bella, I…I want to apologize to you. I mistreated you, you're right. I acted like you were two and couldn't make your own decisions when you obviously can. And, for that, I'm sorry."

Instinctively, I reached forward to place my hand on his on the wheel. I smiled at him gently as he glanced at me. "It's okay, Dad," I assured. "I promise."

He nodded, giving me a small one in return. We fell into another silence as I pulled my hand away, sitting straight in my seat again. I set my hands in my lap, going back to looking outside of the car window as the trees and wildlife blurred by.

"Do I need to give you the talk?"

"What?" I asked, jerking my head towards him.

He rubbed the stubble on his chin. "The…talk," he said awkwardly. "I just want to make sure you know what you're going to get into now that you're…" He looked at me. "…well now that you and Tanya…"

My jaw dropped. "Dad," I said. "I don't need the talk. Mom beat you to it like...ten years ago." The most awkward thing in my life was that talk with Renee…and with Charlie-No, I was not going to imagine that.

He nodded as he swallowed hard. "Oh, okay…" He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "It's just that you'll start to get…urges that you aren't used to, or maybe you are…"

"Oh my god!" I called. "Dad, I'm a virgin and can't have sex. You got nothing to worry about." I gave him an awkward thumbs-up.

He flinched. "Yeah, yeah…Okay…" He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm glad we cleared that up."

"Me too." I looked out of the window, trying to shake off what remained of the conversation in my head. Then, I suddenly realized what he meant. "Are you saying…You'd approve a relationship with Tanya?" I glanced at him from the corner of my eye.

He blushed a little, shifting. "Approve…might be a strong word," he said. "I still don't fully trust her, not after what the Cullens did to you. However, I will keep my mouth shut and try to be supportive if she does make you happy. If you do decide to pursue a relationship with her, I will support you."

I couldn't help it as a smile pulled on the corners of my mouth. Charlie was giving his blessing on Tanya. He was actually going to push his bias aside and let me be happy with Tanya if that was what I chose…even though she had a lot of sucking up to do.

I smiled and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Dad."

He nodded. "Sure thing, Bells. I'll always be there to have your back when you need me to be," he said, giving me a small smile at the end as his cheeks flared red.

I took in a deep breath as I held the phone to my ear. If I was going to do this, I would have to do it right. I needed to make sure I planned out every word right and swiftly; being assertive, but kind at the same time.

It was going to take a lot of skill.

I cleared my throat as I played with the comforter on my bed I sat cross legged on. "Hey, Tanya," I said, "I was wondering if you wanted to…to go out or something with me tonight? If you aren't busy that is, of course, because if you are I wouldn't want to hold you up. But if you aren't, maybe we could go see a movie or something together. Unless no good movies are out. I mean, well…ARGH!"

I tossed my phone onto the bed and collapsed backwards until my head hit the pillow from my rambling. I couldn't even get a freaking practice call to go right. There was no way I would be able to have an actual conversation with her on the real deal.

I slapped my hand over my face. Maybe I should just give up. I mean, I did just get Charlie's approval for a relationship a few days ago, and I didn't even know I wanted it. It would be a good idea to just consider my options for a moment, and try to figure out-

My phone rang.

I bolted up and snatched my phone off the mattress. "Hello?" I asked. I mentally cursed at how excited my voice sounded as soon as I spoke.

Great.

The chuckle I heard on the other side of the line made my heart leap in my chest. "I hope you weren't expecting anyone, Bella? If so, I'm sorry to disappoint you," Tanya's silk smooth voice filled my ear.

I shook my head, calming myself. "You're not too disappointing."

"I'm glad to hear that," she said, her smile shining through the phone. "I do hope I am not interrupting you, though?"

I shook my head. "No, you aren't." Just my rehearsing of asking you out on a-I mean out to town. "I was actually hoping someone would call so my boredom would end."

"Perhaps I may be of service," she suggested. "I thought about going into the city and seeing a movie or perhaps even shop a little in some smaller stores. Would you like to come with me?"

Immediately, I wanted to say that I could be ready in ten minutes, but I instead decided to play it cool. I nodded, forcing down my grin. "Yeah, that sounds great," I said.

"Perfect. Should I pick you up at around…six or so?" she asked.

I looked at the time. It was currently 5:21. That would give me a little more than thirty minutes to get ready for the meeting. It would be plenty of time to get ready…surely.

I nodded. "Yeah, that sounds fine."

I could've sworn I heard her go, "Yes!" under her breath, but I brushed it off as a trick of the mind as she answered, "Alright, I'll see you then, Bella. Oh, and don't bother dressing up. You look good in comfortable clothes."

I blushed slightly and nodded. "Okay," I said, "I'll see you at six, then."

"That you will," she promised. "Goodbye, Bella."

"Bye."

We hung up at the same time as I pulled my phone away from my ear and looked down at the screen. I took in a few breaths as I registered what just happened when an involuntary smile began to pull at the corners of my lips.

I shot off the bed as I rushed to my closet, searching through the clothes for anything that would be good for tonight. I pawed through them eagerly, looking at each one until I started to piece together an outfit.

I grabbed a pair of dark blue skinny jeans that clung to my legs. A black, loose shirt to go with it that was almost like a sweater really with the thick material. The U-shaped neck stopped a few inches above my cleavage, but still covered my port. The sleeves went down to my forearms with white strips at the ends of the sleeves on my wrists. I grabbed a pair of black flats to match.

I set the clothes out on the bed and examined them one more time to make sure they were the right ones for tonight. As I looked them over, I nodded slightly in approval that they were going to be good for a night out with Tanya.

I suddenly froze.

This was a night out with Tanya…alone.

Oh god, what did I just do?

At six exactly a silver Porsche pulled to a stop in front of my house. The lights were on and reflected in through the windows as I watched it pull up from my bedroom window. I took in a breath as the lights turned off with the car and the driver's door opened.

Tanya's familiar figure stepped out of the car and shut the door behind her. She walked towards the front door in her usual sauntering gate that practically screamed seduction. I took in a deep breath as she neared the door and pulled away from my window.

I grabbed my phone and iPod as I stuffed both into my shoulder bag. I walked for my bedroom door as I heard the front door open. I strained my ears to listen as Charlie answered in a slightly stiff voice, "Tanya."

"Charlie, nice to see you again," she replied, stilling my movements as her heavenly voice floated up the stairs.

I closed my eyes for a second at the sound before I quickly snapped myself out of it. I needed to keep myself from falling into a mess if she already had an effect on me and I hadn't even seen her yet.

I am so screwed.

"You as well," he replied. At least he was trying to be polite. "Bella should be down in a moment-she is just finishing getting ready."

"Oh, I see."

There was a pause, a slightly awkward pause when I heard Tanya speak again, her voice calm and low, "Charlie, I know that you do not trust me with Bella. But, I can assure you, that I do not wish to hurt her. I would never do that to her." I paused, now listening intently to the conversation.

He gave a small snort. "You said that at your house, Tanya," he said, "and as I said it, I'm afraid I find that hard to accept. He said the same thing and Bella was hardly the same person afterwards."

"As you have told me," she replied, "along with what you will do to me if I hurt her. However, I can promise you that the only thing I want from Bella is her affection and happiness. I will take things as slow as I need to, and I won't push her to do anything that she doesn't wish to. And, if she doesn't return the affection I will back off, but stay her friend."

I blinked, shocked-not by the fact that Tanya admitted she wanted me-but the fact of what she said. She would back off if I didn't want to be with her? I thought she would at least avoid me, or pester me about a relationship as vampires were persistent, but she was going to back off and be my friend?

"Even if she bluntly rejects you?" he growled.

"Even if she hit me," she said. "I care too much about Bella to hurt her just because she rejected my feelings for her. Even if she stops being my friend, I'll always be there for her when she needs me."

I blinked, processing the information. Tanya was actually going to give me a choice in this. She didn't care about how she felt in this, just about how I felt. I looked at the door.

Edward never did that…

I shook my head, blinking as I turned the doorknob and walked out of my room towards the stairs. I could hear Charlie reply, "I'll give you a chance at that."

His reply stunned me, but I quickly hid it with a smile in Tanya's direction. However, my jaw almost dropped when I saw her. Tanya wore a pair of blue skinny jeans that showed off her legs. Her white sweater was rolled down to show her shoulders with a silver necklace and brown boots.

She was stunning, even in such a simple outfit she was stunning.

Tanya took in my outfit, smiling a little to herself when she saw what I was wearing. I quickly pushed my surprise to her outfit aside. "Hello, Tanya, how are you?" I asked, pretending to be oblivious to the conversation between them.

She smiled back at me brightly. "I'm good, and how are you, Bella?"

I shrugged. "Alright, I suppose," I said. I kissed Charlie's cheek. "I'll see you later, Dad. I'll text you if we're gonna be out later than eleven."

He nodded in agreement and kissed my temple as Tanya waited for me at the door. "Alright, that's fine with me," he said. I walked towards Tanya, making the blonde smile and move to let me outside as he continued, "I hope you girls have fun. It was nice seeing you, Tanya."

"You as well, Charlie," she replied with a smile. Her hand found its way to my back and I forced myself not to make my shivering too visible. Only her hand felt the slight quiver and I could practically feel Tanya's pleasure.

He nodded and watched us walk towards her car. Tanya, being the gentlewoman she was, held the door open for me to slide in with a smile. I nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Bella," she said just before she closed the door. Tanya walked quickly around the car to her side and slid in as I buckled myself in and started the car.

She flawlessly shifted the car into gear and took off from the side of the road as she tossed me the auxiliary cord. She smirked at me slightly as it landed in my lap. "So, show me some more education in good music that isn't pop."

I snorted. "I'm sorry, Tanya, but your family is kind of a sad case. You let yourselves be sucked into the culture." I set my hand on her thigh, doing my best to ignore the sparks that traveled up my body as she stiffened, her legs clenching. I patted it. "It's not your fault-it happens to everyone."

I pulled my hand away as I gaged her reaction. Tanya's hands were slightly tighter on the steering wheel as her breathing became a little heavier. Her posture, ever so slightly, was stiffer than it was just a few seconds before hand.

Hmm…

She took in a deep breath and blinked, relaxing any signs of her sudden change. "Is that so?" she asked, playing it cool.

I nodded as I scrolled through my songs. "Mm-hmm…But don't worry, I'm here to get you guys out of it," I said, throwing a smile at her as I started the song Try by Colbie Caillat.

She hummed as the song began to play. She cocked her head to the side, listening to the opening lyrics. Her brow furrowed for a moment before she asked, "What is this?"

"Try by Colbie Caillat," I said.

She nodded, listening a little more before she looked at me. "This…is kind of deep," she said.

I nodded. "I like it," I said. I paused. "It encourages women to stop trying to please others and following the rules that everyone else says they have to be like and do what they want. That we don't have to try to make everyone like us and accept us because we can be ourselves and still be liked."

She nodded. "I support that," she said. "I don't like it when women believe that they have to dress themselves up like Barbie dolls just to make everyone else happy-especially men."

I nodded. "Or just…doing what everyone else is. Doing what others do to please them without pleasing themselves…it hits hard home after a while," I said.

Tanya glanced at me. "You went through that?" she asked. Her brow was raised slightly, not in suspicion or question, but surprise and disbelief. Did she really think I had never felt a pain like that?

I nodded. "Not with makeup or anything like that," I said, "but I did." I shifted in my seat. "After I was diagnosed as a kid and was bullied, I got awkward and self-conscious. I went through that stage as a kid, trying to be like the other girls, but I was always known as the girl who had cancer and after we started to grow up, they stopped bullying me, but they started to treat me like glass and like I wasn't a real human. I became a girl that was more pointed at, really.

"When I moved in with Charlie," I continued, "I had already figured out that not caring wouldn't be so bad. I had obviously sucked at my last school in fitting in, and I just started to focus on going to school and seeing how things were. Then…well I got in a relationship. I fell in love and started to think of what I needed to look…more; if I should be presentable to match up to my boyfriend's status of beauty a little more.

"It kind of tore me apart, really, comparing myself to him. I didn't even realize how much of myself I was taking away-what was left of me, anyway. It was after he left, that I started to really blame myself for not doing enough, for not pleasing him to make him like me more and stay." I could feel my eyes tear up slightly at the thought. "I went into a spiral of…emptiness. I hated myself for it."

Tanya's hand was suddenly taking my own, twining our fingers together. She said nothing, just holding my hand to give comfort as she looked at me with her beautiful golden eyes.

"After a while into the chemo, I got involved with friends, better friends. They helped show me that none of it was my fault. I was just dealt a shitty batch of cards and it was my choice with how I dealt with them. So, I took to not caring for myself because of what others wanted, but what I wanted. It made me feel good and not empty from trying to impress others."

The car fell silent for a few moments, only the music playing in the background for noise. I blinked away the tears in my eyes, trying to concentrate when Tanya squeezed my hand for my attention. I looked towards her as she stared at me deeply. "Do you know how beautiful you are, Bella?" she asked. "Do you really?"

I looked down, blushing slightly.

She rubbed the back of my hand with her thumb. "I don't think I have ever seen a woman as beautiful as you, inside and out. Your heart is gold, pure and your soul is beautiful." She paused. "It is the kind of soul that many are envious of."

I smiled at her, squeezing her hand. "Thank you, Tanya," I said quietly. "I don't think that about myself anymore-I can assure you-but I do appreciate it."

She didn't reply, not verbally, as she brought my hand to her lips and kissed my knuckles lightly. She smiled, rubbing her thumb against them as the sparks traveled up my body. "I would never tire of saying it."

We just stared at each other for a moment. Her gold eyes bore into my doe brown ones, just studying each other as the atmosphere stayed comforting and intimate as we stared at each other. Her hand clutched in mine as her other held the wheel…the steering wheel that now had a light shining on it.

I snapped my head to the side. "Tanya!" I shouted.

The blonde jerked her head to the side to see the car coming down the road heading straight for us. We had drifted to the other side of the road and were just seconds away from colliding with the car as the driver honked his horn desperately.

I gripped my seat as she grabbed the wheel in both hands, jerking it to yank us out of the way of the car. My heart hammered as she slammed on the brakes, making the tires squeal with our small shouts of shock. The car skidded and came to a stop at the side of the road, positioned at an awkward angle with half the car still on the street and half not.

I took in deep ragged breaths as we sat in silence, processing.

Then, as only I could, I looked towards her and started laughing. Tanya blinked for a moment, staring at me before she began to join in my laughter. Her panic swiftly left her features to be replaced with her laugh and smile as she shook her head.

She rested her forehead against the wheel. "Oh god…"

I set mine against the seat headrest. I smiled, shaking my head. "That was…a new experience."

She looked up at me, her eyes both embarrassed and ashamed. "Can we just pretend that didn't happen and continue on with our date?" she asked, her voice pleading.

I smiled and nodded, still chuckling a little. "I think that wouldn't be a terrible idea," I agreed.

She gave a small smile and nodded as she sat up, taking in a deep breath to let out an exasperated sigh. She ran a hand through her blonde locks, shaking her head before she began to press down on the accelerator again while turning us onto the road.

As we began to speed up, I suddenly registered what she had said.

Our date.

I had to use the scene from the movie where Charlie tries to have "the talk" with Bella while dating Edward. I don't know why, but I think that is one of my favorite scenes in all of the films.