Summery: Bella's whole life is changed with that one word. Divorce. When Charlie decides he needs 'change' and can't have that with Renee holding him back, Bella has to learn to cope with the results. All human. Canon pairings. I don't want to give too much away about the future of this story, so I'll leave it at that for now. I can tell you now, Edward WILL be in this story, but you will never expect how he comes to be with Bella. Hopefully not, at least.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Twilight or any of the characters. I do however, own this idea of this fic and anything that happens in it. ;]

Bella's POV.

I laid in my bed, attempting to lose myself in the world of Wuthering Heights. I could hear my parents arguing. I wasn't sure which was better. The yelling and screaming; where at least I knew what was going on. Or the silence; where I could hear myself think, but was left out in the cold.

Turning up the volume on my iPod, I began to read once again. I'd read maybe five pages when my door opened and Charlie came in my room. I looked up from my book, meeting his eyes. Taking out one headphone, I studied him. He looked so different lately. When I saw him, that is. He looks tired, sad, and stressed. It made him look ten years older than he actually was.

"Yeah, Dad?" I asked.

"Want to go on a walk with your old man?" he asked.

"Um, sure. Just let me find shoes," I told him.

I bookmarked the page and grabbed my Chucks from my closet.

When we passed the family room, Renee stopped us.

"What are you doing?" she asked me.

"Dad and I were going on a walk.." I said.

"Oh, no. We're telling her together, Charlie. This isn't something you're just going to tell her then take off again," she said angrily.

Charlie looked down at his feet. I sat on the couch.

"I don't exactly know how to say this to you, Bells," he started. He drew in a deep shaky breath. "I filed for a thing they call divorce. I'm sure you've heard of it." His words caught in his throat, and he put his face in his hands. "I just, I can't love your mother anymore. This isn't because of you. You need to know that I love you very much."

The tears that I had been holding back for weeks spilled over. I didn't say a word. Not one word. I looked at him through my tears, and saw tears in his eyes too. The only time in my entire life I had ever seen him cry.

"What are you thinking, Bella?" Renee asked me. I recognized that face she had on. It was a mask. It covered what she was really feeling. She was trying to be strong, to not cry in front of me.

"That I expected this," I blurted out before I could realize it.

"Why?" Charlie whispered.

My voice was full of anger now. "Do you think I haven't noticed you gone? Do you think I haven't noticed the late nights where we wait for you, but you never show? The meals you've missed? You're 'working late'? I'm not stupid, Dad."

Nobody said anything for what seemed like hours, though it was most likely only a few seconds. I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up, and jogged out the door. My cell phone was in my pocket. They could reach me if they absolutely needed me.

I was crying hard now. Walking through the neighborhood crying, I probably looked ridiculous or most likely insane. I didn't care. I couldn't care less right now, actually. Nothing mattered. I couldn't walk any further. I slumped down next to a tree, leaning my head back, and let the tears flow. Sobs shook my body. I cried for everything. For the change that would happen. For the pain Renee would go through. For my Dad's ass-hole behavior.

When the tears had slowed somewhat, I took out my cell and texted Mom. I didn't want her to worry.

"In the neighborhood, I'm okay. Don't worry."

I didn't want to call anyone. I just.. I couldn't.

The whole situation didn't seem real.

My phone buzzed in my hand. "Okay. Thanks for letting me know. Come home when you're ready."

One letter was all I needed. "K." Sent.

I started walking again. The sun was beating down on me. I could feel myself getting burned. Screw it.

It had probably been walking around aimlessly for half an hour. I looped around and went back to my street. Renee was waiting at the corner. When she saw me, she looked relieved. She rolled down the window, and called my name.

I went over to the car and got in. I was fried to a crisp. My arms hurt. I laid my head back on the seat, and looked out the opposite window.

"Listen, honey. We're all we've got now. The two of us will get through this together. Your father and I talked. This isn't going to be easy on either of us. But we're going to try as hard as possible to make the change smooth. I know you probably feel like you need to do something. But trust me- rebelling is the last thing you want to do. Look at me, please, Bella."

I turned to look at her, my eyes once again full of tears.

"I love you. And right now, that's all that matters. Okay?"

I nodded. She took my hand and squeezed it. "I'm here to listen if you want to talk about this."

Sure, Mom. I'll just come tell you everything. I'll tell you that I don't want this to happen. I'll tell you that I've already accepted it. I'll tell you that nothing I say will help. I'll tell you that nothing I can do will stop this train from crashing.

"Okay," I said aloud.

She turned the car back on and drove the short distance back to our house.

Two Weeks Later

The front door opened and slammed shut. Charlie's heavy footsteps echoed through the house. I heard him take his boots off, and kick them aside.

I glanced at the clock on my bedside table. 3:57a.m. How long had I been asleep? I rubbed my eyes and rolled over, causing my book to fall on the floor. I groaned and stretched out.

I heard him walk up the stairs. Three steps to my room. Seven to the guest room. Ten to his. One, two, three. Pause. My door creaked open. I shut my eyes and steadied my breathing. Peaking through my eyelashes, I saw him stick his head in. He saw the book on the floor, shook his head, and left, quietly shutting the door behind him. Four more steps. I heard the bed creak. Did he sit on the bed? No, it was too light to be him. Sounded like maybe a suitcase. I sighed.

More footsteps. Quieter this time. It was Mom, not Charlie.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing?" her voice carried though the wall. It was harsh.

"Sleeping," was his gruff response.

"You can't keep doing this, Charlie," her voice was softer now.

"Doing what, Renee?"

Yeah. Like he doesn't know.

"This!" I imagined her waving her arms around. "You can't keep leaving and not telling me where you're going, and coming home late without calling. Just because you don't love me, doesn't mean I'm not worrying." She choked out the last sentence.

"Renee, listen-" he started but she cut him off.

"No, you listen. I'm sick of this. I'm sick of you treating me like dirt. If you don't want to come home because you'll see me, then fine. Whatever. But for your daughter's sake, could you at least have the decency to call her? You're being a selfish bastard and you know it. Bella is going to grow to hate you, if you keep this up. She misses the old you."

"Renee, I'm going to spend time with Bella. This is going to bring us closer together. I promise her that. Everything I'm doing, I'm thinking about her. After this is all settled, we'll bond more. We'll spend more time together. But everything is a little crazy right now, and I can't juggle it all."

"Your daughter comes first, Charles. She should always come first."

It broke my heart to hear them talking like this. I reached for my iPod, but I couldn't bring myself to press play and block them out. I continued to listen.

"I can't do this anymore, Charlie. It hurts too much. You need to leave. You can't live here anymore. You can't bring us any more of the grief that you're causing. I can't take it."

I hit play, and turned up the volume. I wouldn't be surprised if I was deaf by morning. I shouldn't have heard any of that. I couldn't listen to any more. Wrapping the covers around me tight, I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed for a dreamless sleep.