Renee and Charlie have different approaches to parenting. Right now, Bella hates both of them.

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The bed was empty when I woke up.

Did Charlie wake up early? I wondered blearily, rolling over to silence the alarm. Lately I had gotten used to waking up in Edward's arms as he whispered "Good morning."

For that matter, why was my alarm set? I didn't remember setting it the night before.

It's Sunday. I pulled the blankets over my head. I don't need to be awake for a while.

It could have been minutes or hours later when my phone rang. It's probably Edward. I groped for it blindly, answering without glancing at the caller ID.

It wasn't Edward.

"Hi, baby."

I stifled a groan. Renee was about the last person I wanted to talk to right now. "Mom."

"How are you doing? You seemed pretty upset yesterday." She made it sound like I'd called her to have a breakdown, not had what I thought was a perfectly reasonable response.

"Mhm," I said, biting my tongue. She'll probably never even realize that she did something wrong, let alone that she should apologize for it. Things that would have felt minor last year now pinched, like a pair of shoes that I had outgrown. "I'm fine. How about you?"

"I miss you," she sniffed. "I guess I was just looking forward to seeing you again soon."

I sighed. "I'm sorry. I miss you too." And in some ways, I did. Renee was fun. She would love my friends. She was just… rarely much more. "I'll visit when I can. Promise."

She sounded several shades brighter. "You will love it here."

Ah, I realized. The indirect attack. She would drop the question of me moving back until I was there, and then she'd do her best to make Florida seem like a paradise in comparison with Forks. Possibly followed by guilt trips, manipulation, and/or tantrums. Renee wasn't good at taking no for an answer. On the rare occasions that she dug in her heels, she would do whatever it took to get what she wanted. Lucky for her, most people found it hard to hold out against my pretty, petite, gilded mother.

I guess I know how I got so good at doing what other people want, I realized glumly.

"I'm sure I will," I said noncommittally. "But I'm really loving Forks, too." I wasn't sure why I threw that in. Possibly out of sheer contrariness.

"I'm glad," she said, sounding like she meant it. "I know you're smart enough to do what's right for you."

The first time she said that, I believed it… but… now I think she might mean 'I know you're smart enough to do what I think is right for you.'

"Oh, but look at the time!" she added, suddenly flustered. "I'm late for my pottery class. I get to use the wheel today!"

"That's exciting!" I tried to sound excited. "What are you working on?"

"So far, just disasters," Renee laughed. "Hopefully today I'll manage a—a—well, a pottery, I guess."

"You'll have to let me know," I said, a little half-heartedly. It's hard to be upset with Renee for very long… but I still think I need a break from her. The longer I spent away from her, the more I realized how little we had in common.

"I will!" she promised. "Love you, baby. Talk soon."

"Love you too," I said. I did not add "talk soon."

I checked my texts after the line went dead. Nothing new.

But it was past time for me to drag myself out of bed. I fought my way free of the tangled sheets, wondering how I should spend my day.

The crutches were starting to feel manageable. I made it down the stairs without tripping or wobbling or even having to stop and rearrange things. I was feeling moderately good about the world when I clattered into the kitchen.

"Morning, dad."

Charlie looked up from the stove with a brief smile. "Morning, kiddo."

I squashed the urge to complain about the nickname. It was too nice of a day. The sun was already shining outside and the forecast for that week said it was supposed to be in the high sixties. I'd started to get fond of the rain and overcast, and even reconciled myself to the chilly temperatures with the help of the right wardrobe, but it would be nice to get some vitamin D.

He spooned a scramble straight from the pan onto both of our plates, then added a rasher of bacon to his. I snagged a piece and then dropped it, blowing on my fingers. "Ouch!"

Charlie looked surprised. "You eatin' meat now, Bells?"

I shrugged, feeling my cheeks heat up. "I thought I might try it out."

He nodded in seeming approval. "Live your best life, I guess. Let me know if I should start cooking it for you."

I wonder if anything has ever ruffled him. I daringly picked the bacon back up and nibbled on the end. It tasted… good. Satisfying, like a cool glass of water on a hot day. Hm. I wonder if it's because of how much healing is taking out of me.

Charlie sat down across from me. But instead of digging in, he leaned back and folded his arms across his chest, looking uncomfortable.

Oh no. Is he going to bring up the other night again? I kept taking tiny bites of the bacon even though my stomach was beginning to tie itself in knots, trying to look anywhere except for him.

"We haven't had this conversation yet, Bells," he said. "But there are a few things I gotta do as a parent, and this is one of them."

Oh nooo. I didn't like the direction this was going. "I've already had The Talk, dad. You're late by about five years."

To be fair, Renee hadn't exactly given me The Talk. She'd taught me how to shave my legs and deal with periods and then asked if I had any questions. Armed with a library card and a burning desire to avoid the conversation, I had said no.

As if reading my thoughts, Charlie shrugged. "Well, you're gonna have it with me again, I guess. I don't know what your mom covered, but—"

Oh fuck, I realized. I don't think I'm getting out of this. "Please," I said, feeling like my face was on fire. "I know how sex works and I do not want you to explain it."

He waved a hand. "The mechanics aren't important. What's important is—ah, hell. I'm your father. I'm probably supposed to be blustering and threatening your boyfriend with a shotgun. But I know teenagers, and I know you. You're gonna do what you're gonna do, no matter what I say."

"Then," I interrupted, "can we just skip this and pretend like it happened?"

"Nope." Charlie shook his head, although I noticed he was also not making eye contact with me. I resisted the urge to bury my face in my hands. "What's important is—don't ever do anything you don't want to do. If I hear Ed—someone's been pushing you, the shotgun does come off the wall. There are condoms in the bathroom and Plan B in the cabinet and I'll replace 'em both if they ever run out. And if you're ever in a bad situation, call me. I'll get you out of it, no questions asked."

My head was in my hands by this point. "Are we done yet?" My appetite was completely gone, and so was my ability to ever look my father in the face again.

Charlie leaned his elbows on the table and sighed. "I know it ain't easy. Listen, try not to do anything illegal in front of me. It puts me in a tricky situation. But I'm your dad before I'm anything else. Understand?"

"Yes." I understood that I was hoping for the earth to swallow me whole. It seemed like a preferable fate to being part of this conversation for another minute.

He sighed again. "You will."

"Can I go?" I asked the floor.

"I'm not keeping you." He sounded a little surprised.

I fled. Well, at least, I fled as quickly as crutches would allow.

I spent most of the day reading outside. Charlie left me strictly alone—he was probably as embarrassed as I was. I was trying to get through Pretty Little Liars, which Samantha had recommended… but it just didn't keep my attention. After reading the same page for the fourth time, I gave up and tossed it aside, opting instead for Pride and Prejudice. Lizzie Bennet was just better company than the Liars.

I made myself pasta for dinner, to avoid having to share the table with Charlie again. Then I hid in my room, hoping that Edward would come sooner rather than later.