Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter 10 - Movie Theator

January 16th, 2006  ...Friday

(Get some popcorn this is a long one :)

School started back, and Bella and Dad fought—leading to the following chain of events. 

I was sitting at the table, happily eating some eggs and toast. Bella sat across from me, barely touching her cereal, looking like a ghost. Dispite my hard work of trying to put life back into her. Then Dad's voice cut sharply through the quiet.

"That's it, Bella! I'm sending you home."

I paused mid-bite. "Wait, what?"

"I am home," She mumbled, confused.

"I'm sending you to Renee, to Jacksonville,"

That's when I stood up. "I'm starting the car," I announced, and rushed out of the room quickly before it got any worse. I turned on the ignition, letting the engine hum while I stepped just back inside the living room to listen.

"You want me to get into trouble?" I heard her ask.

"Trouble would be better than this... this moping around all the time"

"I am not moping around."

"Wrong word . . .  Moping would be better—that would be doing something. You are just lifeless, Bella. I think that's the word I want."

"I'm sorry, Dad."

"I don't want you to apologize."

"Then tell me what you want me to do."

I couldn't keep quiet anymore.

"Dad," I said stepping into the kitchen, I have been getting Bella to go out, We went out for Christmas and New Year's—remember? This is just something that needs time to pass, like I'm sure you had a hard time after Mom."

Bella chimed in, "I'll go out tonight if you want. I'll call Jess or Angela. It'll be more than just me and Tiff."

"That's not what I want," Dad said, clearly frustrated. 

"I don't think I can live through seeing you try harder. I've never seen anyone trying so hard. It hurts to watch."

"I don't understand, Dad. First, you're mad because I'm not doing anything, then you say you don't want me to go out."

"I want you to be happy,— no, not even that much. I want you not to be miserable. I think you will have a better chance if you get out of Forks."

"I'm not leaving,"

"Why not?"

"I'm in my last semester of school, it would screw everything up."

"You're a good student—"

"What about Tiffany?" Bella cuts in. "She has been trying her best to help me. Remember October and November? We went out for Christmas and New Year's."

I stepped forward. "I'll drive her to school and we will go to Port Angeles after school for a movie. I don't know about Bella but I'm watching Goblet of Fire" 

And with that, I grabbed Bella's book bag and headed for the car.

"Bella." I said as she slid into the passenger seat, "I know this sucks. But what can we do?

 She looked at me desperate. "I don't know."

"Did you get along with Jacob?"

"Yeah,-"