𝐎𝐑𝐏𝐇𝚰𝐂 | 𝙹.𝙷

CHAPTER 9

The next day I stayed home from school, faking that I was getting migraines from my concussion again. Bella was quick to let me stay, seemingly frazzled from the night before. I didn't ask about Edward, because I didn't know what she knew, and if she didn't know— I didn't want to get the Cullens in trouble. I just needed a day to clear my mind, wrap my head around everything. Plus I didn't think I could handle trying to talk to Jasper and having him pretend I don't exist again.

I sat at the dining table sipping my coffee, trying to make my eyes stay open for more than a few seconds. I heard someone coming downstairs and snapped my head up, assuming I was home alone. To my surprise Charlie walked into the living room, still in a t-shirt and pajamas, looking exhausted. Bella had said that his friend was attacked by an animal like the security guard in Mason, and Charlie was friends with him

"Hey," I spoke up, he grunted in response "Bella told me about Waylon, I-I'm so sorry Charlie."

"Thanks kiddo," Charlie mumbled, pouring himself a coffee and sitting down with me "Head of the County police told me to take the day off. I'll tell you, that's about the last thing I wanna be doing right now."

"Yeah," I sighed, sipping my coffee

"Why aren't you in school?" Charlie narrowed his eyes

"I— I wanted to play hookie?" I shrugged, Charlie was unconvinced

Luckily he seemed a bit too tired to really argue with me. We spent the morning mostly in silence. When Charlie went into the living room to watch the news I sat with him on the floor by his feet, working on my end of term charcoal sketch. I was redrawing it for the fifth time, the same image, but it always looked wrong to me.

"Alright, that's it, get up," Charlie grunted, getting out his hair recliner at around one o'clock "We're going out."

"Why?" I frowned, standing up anyway

"Cause if I spend one more minute in this house sulking I'm gonna lose my mind, we're going to go for a drive."

I didn't want to argue with him, he was on the end of things as it was so I just followed him out. Charlie went fast, moving faster than I was willing to keep up with. When I finally got outside I saw Charlie standing on the passenger side of the police car. I stopped short in the driveway, looking at the man who merely smirked at me.

"Are you serious?" I grinned

"Get in before I change my mind."

I squealed excitedly, jumping down the driveway and swinging open the police car door and flopping into the driver's seat. Charlie held his breath as he got into the passenger's seat, letting out all the air in one big breath as he strapped himself in with the seatbelt.

"Alright, this is a standard which means you got that third pedal down there called the clutch—"

"That's for when you shift," I cut Charlie off "Looks like the car is a five speed, not including reverse so I have five gears. Whenever I wanna switch gears I push in the clutch, shift without stalling the car otherwise it shuts the engine off."

"Where the hell did you learn that?" Charlie stared

I shrugged my shoulders "I read."

"Alright smart-alec, start up the engine let's see if you drive as well as you read," Charlie nodded his head down. I turned the key, firing up the engine. I pushed in the clutch and shifted the car into reverse before pushing in the break. I gave Charlie a grin and he rolled his eyes "Relax, you haven't gone anywhere yet." I took a deep breath and slowly pushed the clutch in, switching to the accelerator pedal, but as I went to pull off the clutch the car jerked in its spot and stopped. I'd have hit my head on the steering wheel if it weren't for Charlie putting his palm in front of my face "Okay, see what I mean?"