Keeping Score - Chapter Fourteen

Charlie had made Bella stay home from school, which was fine with her, she wasn't ready to face Edward or Jake anytime soon. Just the thought of what she had been caught up in was enough to turn her stomach. She was pacing back and forth in her room, she would occasionally go to her desk and make a few notes, then she would pace again. Her plan to get even was coming together, it would be the kind of revenge that would make all the girls happy she hoped. Bella had contacted Tyler first thing that morning and he had promised to come by after school. She wanted to have a solid plan in place before he got here.

On her desk lay two lists, one was of the materials she would need and the other was of things in the order they needed to happen if her plan had any chance of success. Bella knew that her plan hinged on Tyler's participation and if he was willing she was sure they could make those boys regret the day they ever decided to play their evil game.

Tears sprung to her eyes as she thought about what Jane, Stephanie and all the other girls had endured at their hands. Now, if her plan worked, those boys would suffer, in the literal sense, at the hands of all the girls they had hurt. She wanted them to feel the pain and above all, have that pain stay with them for a long time. Bella had no desire to get arrested, even though she was sure Charlie would look the other way, she needed to make sure the boy were too embarrassed to go to the authorities. She smiled as she looked over her list of materials; she knew once all the girls got together they would have even more ideas on how to make Edward and Jake pay for their sins.

By 3pm she had a good working plan, she was excited for any input Tyler could contribute. She went downstairs as she knew he would be here soon. What she didn't expect to see were both Jake and Edward cars pulling up to the house. "Damn," Bella heard herself cry out. She raced back upstairs to call Tyler. He needed to stay away, she didn't want Jake and Edward to even know she was talking to Tyler. Grabbing her cell she dialed Tyler and was relieved when he answered on the first ring. "Hey Bella, I'm on my way, can I bring you anything?" he answered in his caring way. Bella skipped all the pleasantries and got to the point, "Don't come over yet, Jake and Edward just pulled up, I'm not going to let them in, but I don't want them to see you coming over, I'll call you back when they leave." She heard Tyler let out a stream of curses before he made her promise, no matter what, that she would not go outside or let either boy in. Bella promised before hanging up the phone.

Bella went into Charlie's room as he had the view of the front lawn. She peeked out the window and seeing both Jake and Edward together, she had to fight the urge to throw up right there. They we standing so close, both in what could only be called a fighting stance, she couldn't hear the words but she could make out from their gesturing that they we having a heated debate. Damn, she thought, wishing she could open the window a bit and hear what they were saying. Just then Jake threw the first punch and Edward was knocked off his feet. He rebounded quickly and soon both boys were throwing punches and rolling around on the front lawn. Bella couldn't help but laugh, she hoped they would both be bloody and bruised, a fair preview to the plan she had in mind. Although she hoped that the scars she and the other girls left would run much deeper and last a lifetime. She heard the siren shortly before Charlie's cruiser came into view. Charlie parked in his usual place, didn't even bother to turn off the lights as he watched the boys slugging it out on his front lawn. This only made Bella laugh harder, she knew her dad was smart, she had no doubt that he knew those boys were involved in what had happened to her. But the best thing about Charlie was he didn't push, he knew she would come to him if she wanted help or just needed to talk. The longer Charlie sat in his cruiser the harder Bella laughed, she knew he was thinking the same thing she was, they both deserved to get their asses kicked. Finally Charlie turned off the lights and slowly got out of the cruiser. He made a big show of adjusting his gun belt. Then, with a flick of his finger, the snap on the holster was released. He made his way slowly over to the boys, his hand firmly on the grip of his gun. All throughout, he gave off confidence, he was very much a man in control.

Both Edward and Jake lay on the ground, bleeding and bruised, they were both shocked that the Chief hadn't attempted to break up the fight. Even more shocked when they saw him approach with his hand on his gun. Not sure what to expect, they both lay there panting and wide-eyed.

"So, what can I do for you boys?" Charlie said in his slow easy manner, "As I'm sure you're here to see me, right?" Charlie began looking around the lawn before continuing, "Considering I don't see any flowers or chocolates, you must be here to see me and not Bella." Charlie face never broke into a smile although inside he was laughing at the shocked look on the boys faces. Charlie stood stone face, waiting to hear what the boys would come up with.

"Um," was the intelligent response from Jake.

"Well, you see." Edward added.

Charlie didn't move, he could see that the boys were exhausted and therefore not going to move too quickly. However, he did not take his hand from his weapon. He was enjoying this little game. He might even get a few answers from them, although that was a long shot.

Charlie raised his eyebrows and cocked his head to one side, as if he was working out a problem. That was enough to have the boys scrabbling for an intelligent answer. It was Edward who spoke first, "Chief, I wanted to stop by and ask your permission as to when I could come and see Bella, I wasn't sure when she would be able, um and if you think she's up to it, I could bring her homework by."

Jake, not to be left out replied, "I was thinking the same, I wanted to get your permission to visit Bella and see if she needed anything."

Both boys were still breathing hard, not daring to move, Charlie stood above them, his eyebrows still raised with a look of total disbelief on his face. "Hmm," Charlie let them stew a bit, he wanted to make them sweat a bit longer." Finally he asked, "So, which one of you wants to tell me why you boys decided my lawn was a good place to have a fight, or, better yet why you're fighting?" Jake and Edward let out deep breaths, their brains racing to come up with a believable answer. They were caught off guard when Charlie's demeanor changed, he went from cop to ferocious father, "Boys, if I find out that either of you had anything to do with what happened to my Bella, you're going to regret the day you were born, now get the hell off my property and I don't want to see either of you here again." His vehement tone showed he meant every word he spoke. Both boys scrambled to their feet without another word and ran towards their cars.

They both realized that the game was over, they were both on the Chiefs radar, Charlie might not know what they were up too, but if they continued he would most likely figure it all out. And, if they were discovered it would have far reaching consequences. The pure hatred for each other was written all over their faces. How could they stop now, they were tied, someone had to win. They still had time, Bella would be back in school soon. Maybe if they slowed down, didn't push, all these thoughts swarmed through their heads as they pulled away, both ominously aware that the Chief had never once taken his hand off his pistol.

Charlie glanced up at the house, he knew that Bella had been watching, he also knew that those bastards had tried to hurt his little girl. No matter how long it took he was determined to get to the bottom of this. With a deep sigh he snapped the holster closed and slowly walked back to his cruiser. He gave a small nod to the police officer hidden in the house across the street. Bella would not go unwatched until he figured all this out.

Bella was relieved Charlie didn't come into the house, she wasn't ready to tell him the truth, nor was she sure he would let her continue with her plan of revenge if he managed to wrangle it out of her. She quickly texted Tyler letting him know the coast was clear but urged him to park a few streets over. His massive van would stick out like a sore thumb and for some reason Bella felt like she was being watched. It was just that uneasy feeling when your senses are on alert, a tingle in her spine, from now on Bella was going to trust those feelings, she vowed that never again would she second guess her instincts. Shaking her head she remembered how gullible she had allowed herself to be. Really Bella, she admonished herself, how could you possible believe that both those boys would be swept off their feet by you? Wasn't it just all so ridiculous? Bella stopped in front of the hall mirror, looking at herself closely; pale white skin, plain face, mousey brown hair, just your average gawky teenager. "Never gonna look like a beauty queen" Bella said, repeating the lyrics she knew so well out loud.

Before she could continue down the path of self pity there was a knock on the back door. Bella ran to answer it, smiling at her good friend Tyler. "Hey" was all Bella managed to get out before being wrapped in a giant bear hug. Tyler held her close before putting her down gently, "Hey yourself, you gave me the biggest scare of my life Bella, don't you ever do that again." Tyler managed to get the words out slowly, sounding very choked up. Then to quickly change the subject he added, "I cut through the back woods, so no one would see me, did the jerks try to get in the house?" Bella quickly explained what happened and Tyler was laughing so hard at the visual she painted of Charlie with his hand on his gun the whole time. "I bet they never come back here again, but that doesn't mean they won't try something at school, so tell me about this plan of yours Bella." Tyler knew that no matter what she asked of him he would do it, there was nothing he wouldn't do for 'his little sister' as he had come to think of her.

Bella reached into her back pocket and took out the two folded pieces of paper, she smiled as she handed him the first page marked 'Items Needed'. Tyler looked at the first item on the list, did a double take and then smiled at Bella. "Oh you do mean business, don't you?" Bella just winked and nodded, she had everything planned out to the letter. "Yup, they will regret the day they began this sick game, so Tyler, tell me, do you think ten rolls of duct tape will be enough?"