If you're in, I'm in.

Chapter 21: Charlie

"Look, Rene I know she's upset, but do you really think uprooting her whole life, and moving across the country again is really gonna help her?" I spoke into the phone as I stood, eyes fixed on the can of my favorite brand of beer held in my hand.

Safe to say, times were getting hectic again, and my nerves were most definitely rattled.

"I don't know what will help her, Charlie, but you and I both know once she's made her mind up about something, there's really no talking her out of it. I just want her to be safe, and I promise you I will take care of her. I have her whole life." Rene's voice answered through the phone. She sounded just about as stressed as I felt.

I knew she was right. Bella had always been headstrong, and independent. She figured out what she wanted, and didn't tend to budge from it. No matter what.

An exasperated sigh left my mouth as I dropped onto the couch, setting my beer onto the coffee table. "I have to let her go. I know that. And, I know she will be fine with you, I don't doubt that one bit. But, she's my daughter. My little girl-" my voice wavered slightly, causing me to pause and collect myself. "What I have to do, and what I want to do are two very different things."

"I know. Believe me, I do. It's going to be okay Charlie. I need to go, I'm pretty sure this phone is dying again, and for the life of me, I can't seem to keep up with the charger." I chuckled a bit at that, and nodded. "I'll let you go then. We'll talk more about this tomorrow before I take her to the airport. Bye, Rene."

I ended the call, putting the phone into the pocket of my jacket. I thought back on everything that had happened since Bella first came to Forks to live with me. The incident in Phoenix, the breakup that inspired months of deep depression, and another disappearing act, having to adjust to my daughter reuniting with the very guy that broke her heart in the first place, and now after all of that, yet another bad breakup that left her wanting to just up and leave everything behind.

"I wish I could have protected her from all of this. I should've put my foot down, and stopped her from seeing that boy at all." I spoke aloud to myself. She probably would have hated me for a while, but she would've gotten over it. She wouldn't have gone through all the hell she went through. And she damn sure wouldn't be leaving me again.

A sudden scuffling sounded above my head causing me to look upwards to the ceiling. I sat very still, listening. Silence. Another scuffling. A thud. I jumped up to my feet.

"Bells? You okay?" I called out, making my way up the stairs. Something was going on.

I stopped at the closed door to Bella's bedroom. "Bella? You okay in there?"

"Um, yeah dad! I'm uh, I'm fine. Everything's fine." Bella's voice called back from the other side of the closed door.

I hesitated for a second then reached out, turning the door handled only to find it locked. That was weird. Bella never locked her door.

"Are you sure? Look, honey I know things have been really hard on you lately. Let me in, we can talk about all of this more." I tried, knowing she probably wouldn't let me in if she was at the point of locking her door. But, I had to try. I had to.

Everything was quiet for a moment, and I almost repeated myself when suddenly the door clicked, and opened by about four inches, and Bella's face was there in the small opening.

"Jesus, Bells. You're gonna give your old man a heart attack doing stuff like that. And what's with all the racket, anyways? You moving furniture around up here?" I grinned slightly at her, hoping my joking tone would lighten her mood enough to actually have a conversation with me about everything.

The hint of a smile tugged slightly at the corner of her mouth, then vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. "Yeah, uh sorry dad. I was just packing."

I studied her face for a long moment then replied, "Bella, you really don't have to go, do you?"

"Dad, please. I'm sorry, but I can't stay here. Not anymore. It's too hard. Too painful. As a matter of fact, I think I need to leave tonight."

I stood there, rooted to the spot, a strange numbness spreading throughout my body. "Tonight? But, Bells, it's late. You should get some sleep. We can go in the morning. You don't have to leave right now."

Suddenly, the door shut, leaving me standing there in a mild state of shock. A short moment later, it opened again, this time Bella walked out of it. She was carrying a duffel bag, and her jacket. "No, Bella. Wait."

"I can't, dad!" Bella snapped, as she whirled around to face me. "I'm sorry, okay? But I have to go. You gotta let me go." The urgency in her voice had me worried beyond any other emotion that threatened to take over in that moment.

I stepped towards her, and she turned and sprinted down the stairs, and straight to the front door.

"Bella! Wait!" I yelled after her as I ran down the stairs. She can't be serious! She can't be doing this again!

I stopped at the front door that had been left wide open, and stared hopelessly at my daughter as she threw her bag into the truck, and climbed into the passenger seat. The truck roared to life, filling the night with a loudness that seemed almost foreign in this scenario.

I watched as my daughter put the truck in gear, backed out of the driveway, and sped down the street without so much as even a backward glance.

"She's gone." I whispered to the night. "And I'm alone."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Alright my lovelies. Just a short filler chapter to help the flow of the story. I figured you all might enjoy a little bit of Charlie's POV. I wanted to give a little insight to the night that Jane came for Bella. I wanted to show how it played out in the eyes of someone that doesn't know anything about what's really going on. So there you have it! I'll have chapter 23 up in the next few days. Keep voting! I love you guys!!