Bella's POV

Something was off.

I could tell, Charlie rarely behaved like this around me, I mean the man seemed like he was going to run away from the kitchen table in any moment. It was not only that, but also the fact he was eating a little too fast and it seemed his eyes would never cross mine. He never avoided my eyes like that. He never avoided me like that. I corrected myself mentally.

The entire dinner was followed by an excruciating silence, and belive me I really like a quite atmosfery, but this, this cold distant silence was something new to me, at least when that came from Charlie.

He was the kind of guy you'd never expect to have a long conversation with, he was just not like this. He loved his quite moments, there'd be always a trace of solitude in his being. But whenever I was around it was like Charlie would become a little brighter, even happier – and that was just what I was deepedly missing, his warm, happy and familiar eyes. Those were the only thing left for me now – or that was what I thought I had.

"Dad, is there something wrong?" I ask, almost regretting it the next second because, god, for the brief moment our eyes met and all that was there to be seen was a great amount of worry, disgust and maybe… regret? I'm not sure. Not sure if I want to found out either.

But my curiosity always got the best of me, so there I go, trying to make him talk to me, to explain why this cold and strange distance was placed between the two of us the past couple of days. So I press again. "are you in pain or something?" Rigth Bella, that was awesome, how greatly articulate you are. Perfect.

I see his eyes traveling to my face again and this time we lock gazes. He seems to be thinkg about something I'm obviously unaware of. Then his brows furrow, he casts a glance to his own plate and hisses under his breath . "This pizza… it's just cold. That's all." And then he sits up hurriedly and heads to the second floor, where he shuts the door of his bedroom softly.

What was that?

Did…did I say something wrong?

Why was Charlie avoiding me as if I was some kind of devil?

God, I was in trouble. If… If I lose Charlie too then I'b lost and all alone – again.

I just have to find out what's going on. And quickly.

Charlie's POV

She ordered us pizza.

I was never the cooking guy type and these days Bella would never touch the oven to try anything edible. I could not say it wasn't fine, I was not hungy anyway. These past couple of days've took me my nights of sleep, my appetite and even my sanity. I could barely register her voice calling my name, asking if I was okay.

I could say from her pained tone she was almost crying her silent tears and something was telling me I was the cause of her pain. That disgusted me beyond imagination, the fact that I was the one tearing her up ,making her life terrible unbearable. Shit, I was nothing better than that fucking Cullen brat. I snort at the memory. Bella must have noticed my distress so she kept asking me things, things I could never answer properly.

I look at her eyes and see them watering. Damn. I have to get out of here, can't handle this, can't be the one to make her cry. But most importantly I cannot give the answers she deserves – for resonables reasons, how can I man – a father – say to his daughter he is somehow fisically attracted to her? It would be insane.

I sigh inwardly, giving up.

Fine. I just have to get the fuck out of here.

The best thing I could think of was some stupid excuse about a cold pizza and put my feet to work towards the second floor.

I couldn't face her right now, perhaps not ever.

So I ran away from her.

My daughter, my friend, and my recently painful disease.