Rock and Roll Rebel

Chapter 14

Confession time. I LOVE Charlie and I hate how Bella & Edward treated him. I always felt like there was another option besides hurting him like she did in this original scene. This is my fix it. End rant. Enjoy. 

Darkness had settled over Forks, which did nothing to help the sinking suspicion that they were being followed. "You wanna fill me in on what the hell just happened?"

She saw the muscles in his jaw clench before he trusted himself to speak. "James is what's called a tracker. I've met a few of his kind before I was with the Cullens. Hunting, tracking, it's his extra ability like mine or Alice's. He won't stop until..." he cut himself off with a growl and slammed a hand against the steering wheel.  He took a deep breath and reached over to take her hand, trying to reign back in his emotions. "I'm so sorry, darlin'.  Nothin's gonna happen to you, ok?  I'll kill him before he lays a hand on you."

"How're you going to do that?" she asked, trying to keep calm for his sake. She was pretty sure it wasn't going well.

"He tracks you usin' your scent. We've gotta throw him off course," he explained, flying down the moonlit roads.

Bella gasped. "Charlie! We gotta go back for my dad! If he tracks my scent to the house..."

"Already ahead of you, darlin'," he said, turning down the road to her house, his tactical mind racing even faster than he was driving. "We're gonna convince Charlie you wanna leave for a while. Go see your mom. That way you can pack a bag and we'll lead him away from Chief Swan. As long as he knows you're out there somewhere, he won't bother coming back to the house."

Bella nodded, her mouth suddenly incredibly dry. "What am I supposed to say to him?"

Jasper sighed, "Can't believe I'm saying it, but maybe our fight a few weeks ago will work in our favor. Tell him we fought again an' broke it off for good this time, an' that you need to go spend a few days with your mom to get some space. He saw how upset you were before, so he'll be less likely to question it."

"He'll probably want to take me to the airport."

"Not if you tell him you wanna drive to give yourself some time to think things over. Meanwhile I'll be upstairs gettin' you packed. I texted Emmett to pick up my car and I'll meet you in your truck when you're done."

Bella nodded, biting her bottom lip. She could do this. It would hurt like hell to lie to Charlie, but if it meant keeping him safe...

Jasper placed a cold hand on the back of her neck and stroked her cheek with his thumb. She looked over at him, his golden eyes staring back at her. "Ready?  It's gotta be now and it's gotta be quick. We've gotta stay ahead of James."

She nodded again. "If um... if I'm not as convincing as I hope, can you give me a boost?  Make him more... receptive to the idea and not so suspicious?"

He tilted his head in the briefest of nods. "Of course, darlin'."

Bella quickly kissed his frozen lips, took a deep breath, and got out of the car. "Here goes nothing."

Opening the door, she spun in her heel and shouted, "I said leave me the fuck alone, Jasper!  I never want to see you again!"  With that she slammed the door and stomped towards her room. Charlie caught up with her halfway up the stairs.

"Whoa, slow down. What's going on, Bells?"

"I can't, Dad, ok?  I just..." she cut herself off with a frustrated growl. "I gotta get out of here."

"What?  Bella!" he called, following her upstairs.

She shut her bedroom door behind her, tears flooding her eyes. Before she could wipe them away, strong arms wrapped around her and brought her into his chest. She breathed in Jasper's intoxicating scent and tried to calm her racing heart. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Can I give you a boost too, darlin'?"

She shuddered and nodded against his shoulder. Suddenly, she felt calmer and confident. And not a moment too soon as Charlie banged on her door. Jasper kissed her head before he started darting around the room, grabbing things to throw in her bag.

"Bella, honey?" Charlie called. "Talk to me. What happened?"

"I broke up with Jasper.  I never want to see him again."

"Did he hit you?  Make you, y'know... do something you weren't ready for?"

She could practically hear his wince. "No, he just... I can't talk about it right now."  Jasper tossed her her bag and leapt out the window just before she opened the door. Charlie's eyes widened at the sight of the bag. "I just need some time. I'm gonna go see mom for a few days."

Charlie watched her toss her bathroom things into the bag and zip it up. "You can talk to me if you want, kid. I know I'm not exactly an expert, but..."

"I appreciate that, Dad, really, but... I need some space and a... a woman to talk to. Ok?"

Charlie sighed, rubbing a hand along the back of his neck. "Yeah. Ok. Let me grab my keys and I'll drive you to the airport."

"No, that's ok. I need to drive. Get my thoughts in order and stuff, y'know?" she said, her heart in her throat. This was taking too long. "Mom and Phil will be back from Florida day after tomorrow and I've got a key so I'll let myself in. It'll be good to have some time to myself.  I'll call you on the road, ok?  And when I get there."

Charlie paused, both of them by the door at this point. Bella held her breath. Finally, he nodded. "You call more than once on the road. And use the credit card for a hotel if you're tired. And if you change your mind, let me know and I'll come get you. Anywhere, anytime. Day or night. Got that?"

Bella gave him a small smile. "Got it.  I love you, Dad."

She hugged him, taking in the smell of his cologne and the feel of his flannel against her cheek. Fresh tears sprung up in her dark eyes when he stroked her hair. "Love you too, Bells."

She headed out to her truck, not trusting herself to look back. She made it a few blocks before Jasper stopped her and took over driving. Her hands were shaking and she cried softly into his shoulder the whole way back to the Cullen mansion.