Title: Ticking Time Bombs

Rating: M

Summary: Renee was oblivious, and when she finally does decide to go through her parenting phase, Bella is thrown to Charlie, to be dealt with. Of course, living with a cop while also addicted to a few illegal substances, means things are bound to turn for the worst. But she wants a better life, she wants to be immune to the pain Edward had caused without having to put her life in danger, either in her race car or through the use of drugs. The pack enlists the resident druggy to set her straight.

Disclaimer: I don't own Stephenie Meyer's universe. I just like touching it.

Warnings: Cursing, drug use, drug abuse, underage drinking, street racing, kicked out of the house, imprint.

Spoilers: Not canon compliant. Takes place after Edward leaves, and after Bella's senior year of high school.

Author's Notes: This is a rewrite for a story that I wrote a long time ago. I really loved this story, but looking back there was so much I wanted to do with it that I hadn't. So, here's take two. Enjoy:)

You may think I'm harmless, you could not be more wrong.

Careful what you do, I am just a ticking bomb.

You may think I'm laughing, you couldn't be more stupid.

I'm laughing 'cause I know that someday this ticking time bomb will explode.

- Skylar Grey, Ticking Time Bomb

Chapter 1: Red Hands

Renee Dwyer was an oblivious fool. Bella knew that well, and had known it her entire life. From the age of five, Bella had been able to sneak anything from a dozen poisonous scorpions in a tank, to a different boy every day for a week straight, into the house without Renee noticing. The fact that Renee didn't notice how Bella had gotten her car fixed up, following her move back from Forks, didn't surprise her in the slightest.

Nor did it surprise her when Bella was able to sneak out at night and disappear into the night life of Phoenix. Nor did it surprise Bella when she'd shoot up and feel the high, and then drive home, delirious, yet still be able to sneak in without Renee noticing.

She was surprised, however, by her mother's marriage to Phil Dwyer, the ... ex-racer, who was turning his life around. And Renee was who he was doing it with. It did surprise her that he waited up for her to get home. It did surprise her that he would ask her questions about her car without their mother overhearing, on how she could afford it. It did surprise her when he asked her to be careful. It did surprise her when he would force her to sit down and listen to long talks about how drug abuse was bad. It did surprise her when he would knock on her bedroom door at three in the morning and ask that whoever was in there with her go home, so he wouldn't be there in the morning. It did surprise her that someone cared whether she returned home or not.

It surprised her that it was her step-father, and not her mother. It surprised her that she felt the need to change because of it. That she felt the need to improve herself, to stop using drugs, to stop doing all that she had done that was against the law. She would even start spending nights in, hidden in her room, just listening to if Phil was changing Renee as well. He was.

But not as much. He was telling her to be there for Bella, to try to understand what she's going through. Spouting off divorce statistics Bella knew he didn't believe in, but Renee did. He was telling her to try to reach out to Bella, without pushing her away. And that if she would be there for Bella, then Bella wouldn't need to be out on the streets. It was all logical, something Bella wondered would really work. It had for Phil, but both parents? If Renee had suddenly changed, would she give it up all together? She didn't think she would. But maybe it was a comfort to Renee.

Renee tried for the first few weeks following that conversation, offering shopping sprees, and movie nights in. Bella tried as well, politely declining the shopping spree since she despised shopping, as well as accepting one movie night a month. She didn't know if she could handle more. But then Renee gave up. She would watch Bella walk out the house with disgust and this urge to protest, but she didn't care anymore.

So Bella stopped trying, as well. She resumed what she did before. The partying, the drugs, the sex, the alcohol. She would come in late at night, or not at all. And Phil would always be in the living room, waiting, if she came home late at night or early in the morning. He would make sure she wasn't in need of medical attention, before he turned from the room and left.

It was three days ago he told her he was disappointed in her. Three days ago since he had stopped waiting at the door. Three days ago since she had even slept in her own bed. She would walk in, not see him there, and leave once more. He didn't care anymore, so she didn't see why she should either. Phil was her friend. He had been anyway. He understood how addictive the racing life was. How much pull there was to do everything, despite not being able to physically.

She slammed on the brakes at a red light, angrilly strumming her fingers on the wheel as she waited for it to turn green. All Bella wanted was a phone call. She didn't care who it was from. She didn't even care if it was from the leeches. She wanted someone to call. Someone to show that they cared.

But they didn't. She continued the three mile stretch until she reached the strip of warehouses lined with cars to race. Her gaze traveled between the two rows and then she parked next to those that she knew. Tiko, Kiko, Tamiga, Kiari, and Mimo. All were the five in the crew. The Ticking Time Bombs. When Bella hopped out of the car, she glanced at her phone again. There was a feeling in her stomach, that something was about to go wrong, but she ignored it. It didn't matter. It didn't matter because they didn't think it mattered.

"You're on in ten," Tiko told her, his caress on his vibrant pink car, and his tongue only just resurfacing from the other man pressed between him and the car. He was gay, of course, but that didn't mean that Bella couldn't watch. Her eyes only lingered for a moment, before she nodded, glancing towards the others.

Her back was sore, from her sleeping in the car. She had slept a street down from Renee's home, her car parked so that she could see if anyone left Renee's house, while also being a safe distance away. But it wasn't comfortable. Still her phone hadn't rung. Three days had been the breaking point for Renee last time, before Bella had moved to Forks. Maybe Forks had created even more of a distance between them.

Maybe Forks had been just a bad decision all around.

Mimo offered a blunt, but Bella waved it away. She didn't want to race on the first high of the night. It was a bad idea. Lots of people got in accidents that way. And she wasn't stupid.

Her race felt normal, despite that feeling in her stomach. The feeling telling her to go home, that something was wrong. As they made the last turn, her phone buzzed, just as the red and blue lights blurped behind her. Shit.

Bella knew running would make it worse. She pulled to the side, exhaling as she grabbed her phone from the cup holder. Phil was calling. Of course he was. She put the phone back and then put her hands on the steering wheel.

Fuck.

The police officer tapped on the window, and Bella rolled it down. "Do you know how fast you were going?"

"Yes, officer."

"Can you tell me how fast?"

"Ninety-six in a forty-five."

"That's nearly twice the speed limit."

Bella nodded, feeling numbness set in. Phil was going to have a cornea. He would always tell her, no matter what, don't do something to get caught by the cops. If you get caught by the cops... future is ruined. Future would be ruined for the entire future.

"Can I see your license and registration?"

Bella reached and pulled it out of the glove compartment, handing it to the officer. Tears were in her eyes, which she made a point to show him. Weak girl persona meant no bad girl persona.

"This says you're a resident of Washington?"

"I just moved back in with my mother recently," Bella admitted. "I was staying with my father in Washington for high school."

"Stay right here, please."

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. It was the only thing Bella could think. She couldn't get a ticket. She couldn't ruin her future. She didn't know what to do with her future, but she knew this had a big chance in blowing it.

When the officer returned, he seemed a bit surprised. "You're the Chief of Police's daughter, in Forks, Washington?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did he ever tell you to obey the speed limit?"

"Yes, sir."

"Have you been under the influence of drugs or alcohol this evening?"

"No, sir. I was just hurrying to get home before curfew, and I didn't even... I'm sorry, sir."

He sighed, passing back her documents. "We're going to have to ask you to spend the night with us, Miss Swan. And in the morning, we'll let you go on your way."

Shit. Phil was going to kill her. She closed her eyes, picturing the lecture now. "I understand, sir."

"We'll have your car towed to the station. If you'll please exit the vehicle?"

She did so, letting him lead her to his car. Thankfully, there was no need for cuffs. Innocent girl meant no struggle. Innocent girl meant no cuffs.

She was thrown into the cell, choosing a spot for herself and sitting in the corner, trying to create a speech that would provide a good excuse.