Chapter Text
Ripples
Chapter 1 - Telling Charlie
Vampire.
The word rolled around in my head as I hugged my blanket covered knees close to my chest. I knew I couldn't logically tell anyone, because who would believe me? This wasn't everyday conversation. ‘Hey, I think the guy I might be interested in, who may or may not hate me, might be a vampire.’ Yeah right, I would be on the first transport to the insane asylum.
I needed to talk to someone though, because as smart as I was I knew I was naive in many areas and I was still a minor. I dropped my head into my knees and screamed. All of this was so overwhelming. I needed help. Who was most likely to help me? After a few moments of careful thought a memory came to me.
“What's wrong, Bells?”
“I don't know if I can tell you daddy.”
“You can always tell me anything baby girl. I will always believe you and always be on your side.”
My dad.
Yeah, the situation was different then. I had been scared of the new guy my mom was dating, his eyes roamed places they absolutely should not on a minor, but I knew I could trust my dad. He had talked to my mom who had promptly thrown that guy out on his ass. There was a lot my parents missed on with being parents, but protective was not one of them. They always made sure I was as safe as I could be.
I usually made that easy for them as I wasn't someone who was very outgoing so I never went to parties or snuck out. I didn't do drugs or drink and I didn't run around with guys. I tried not to put myself in bad situations. Thinking about it now, that guy may have been a catalyst for some of my weariness toward people. Maybe I had some PTSD. Bella put a pin on that for later, one problem at a time.
I knew what I had to do. I set about cleaning around the house and making a nice dinner for Charlie of homemade lasagna and a tossed salad. I was just plating it when he walked through the door.
“Wow Bells, that smells incredible.” He went about hanging up his gun belt and removing his badge. Normally he wouldn't work on a Saturday, but he was helping with a case in Seattle that had some connection to here and a few other towns. I didn't ask for much detail, some cases were beyond what my brain and stomach could handle.
“Thanks dad. I thought you'd enjoy a hot meal after all your work.” Tears filled the eyes of my rarely emotional father at that statement.
“Dad are you alright?” I walked around the table to him and he pulled me into his arms. We didn't hug often, though we had more when I was younger, so I knew there was something bothering him and it involved the case he was working.
“Yeah kid, I'm ok. At least now that I get to see you. Too many of the parents I'm working with likely never will again. I just can't imagine losing you Bells. Human trafficking is getting worse and this case I'm working deals with all of that. Too many of those kids will likely never come home. Promise me you'll be safe if you travel. Don't travel alone please.” It broke my heart hearing that. I knew of human trafficking, I don't think many alive don't know about it. It was a big thing talked about in Arizona, including whole assemblies about it.
“I promise dad. I won't travel alone and I'll be as safe as I can be. I don’t plan to go anywhere.” He kissed the top of my head and cleared his throat before pulling away.
“Thanks kid and I know I haven't been as present as I need to be in your life, but I promise I will do my best to be better for you.” That invoked a deep longing that I had buried years ago. Maybe this was our chance at a restart.
“I’d like that dad. In fact there's something I'd like to talk to you about after dinner.” There I had done it. I was still nervous, but at least the process was started.
“Sounds good Bells. Now let's have some of this amazing meal.” We ate in an ease we hadn't had in years. We discussed our week and what was going on in our lives. I knew he could tell I was a bit nervous, a cop mind didn't miss much, but I didn't let it get in the way of the discussion. When the meal was finished Charlie joined me in cleaning up rather than going to the living room. “Ok kid, what did you want to talk to me about?”
I sighed, washing the plate that was in my hand as I thought. I heard the fridge door close behind me and a chair scrape against the floor as Charlie took a seat. I tried to figure out my jumbled thoughts and ultimately decided to just start at the beginning. I turned to him, wiping my hands off after letting the water out of the sink.
“Dad, I need you to promise to listen to me and not think I'm crazy. This is important. Just as important as when I was a kid.” I saw his mouth tighten at the reminder, but he nodded.
“I told you then that you could always tell me anything and I would always believe you and be by your side. That hasn't changed Bells. I will stick by that promise to my very grace.” I felt tension drain from me that I didn't even realize I had been carrying. I didn't know where this dad had gone, but I was glad he was back.
“Good, that's…good. Thanks dad. Ok. I don't really know where to start.” I took a steadying breath. Beginning, start at the beginning. “Ok so when I first started here, do you remember me asking about the Cullen's?” He nodded.
“Of course Bells. Though I don't understand what this has to do with anything, unless…did something happen with the Cullen's?”
“No…yes…maybe…I don't know. It'll all make sense soon, just hang with me for a moment. Anyway that first day I saw them across the cafeteria and I noticed they all looked insanely beautiful but despite their ranges in looks they all had the same strange dark eye color. I just chalked it up to being something like contacts, but then when Edward came back his eyes had changed to a topaz color, which could be contacts for sure, but when I asked him he was weird about it.
That also brings up that first biology class where he looked like he hated me and wanted to get rid of me and even tried to switch classes. Then there was the crash and I knew Edward had been across the lot, but I decided to hold to his lie hoping he would tell me but he refused. Then there was the day he said that it would be better that we weren't friends, not that he didn't want to be. Then there was the blood typing in biology that he skipped. They're all pale and cold. I've been dreaming about him and thinking about this. I just nothing makes sense, but it does, but what does make sense sounds absolutely crazy and I…”
“Hey take a breath Bells, relax. Now what are you trying to tell me?” He brought his chair around beside me and placed his hands on my shoulders to ground me.
“I think the Cullens might be vampires, dad.” He sucked in a surprised breath letting it out rapidly. He took another breath to center himself before he spoke.
“Ok…yes, this sounds a little crazy, but I believe you. As a cop there's not much I miss and I've known they were off, but I didn't know what it was, but you've had more exposure to them than I have so I will trust you on this. What brought all of this on?”
“Edward is acting more friendly toward me and wants to drive me to Seattle so I don't go alone. He drove me home from school yesterday. My mind has been mulling it over all night and all day today.”
“Ok that all makes sense. Well, the only way we'll know for sure is if we ask them about it.” He climbed from his chair pulling me into his arms once more. “It's going to be ok, Bells. We will figure this out. You aren't alone in this anymore.” I sagged against him letting myself relax for the first time since I arrived in Forks. I didn't know what was ahead of us, but I knew as long as I had my dad everything would be ok. I finally felt like I was home.