Hearing a knock on her door and Leah telling her to let her in, Brianna stands, walking out of her closet and letting her in. As soon as Leah crosses the threshold and shuts the door, Brianna wraps her arms around her, sobs threatening to leave her throat. Leah sighs, holding her to her. "What happened?" "I slept with him." Brianna whispers, tears streaming down her face. "Okay. I need to know what happened. Why is this making you cry?" Brianna immediately tells her whats happened, going into every detail, every soft word spoken by Charlie that was quickly taken back when Bella came home, tears choking her up.
Leah's shoulders shake as she glares at the wall. "So... Let me get this straight... He slept with you then decided you weren't good for him? He couldn't have realized that before he took your virginity?" She angrily questions. Bill, listening from the other side, growls, storming down the stairs. He throws the front door open to leave just as Charlie raises his fist to knock. "You've got some nerve coming here after what you did to my daughter." Bill snarls, glaring at him. "She didn't deserve what I did to her at all. Will you just tell her I'm sorry?" "Damn right she didn't deserve it. You use my little girl and then drop her because your daughter makes one snippy remark. I'm not telling her shit. You made your bed, now lie in it." Bill hisses, slamming the door in his face.
Charlie sighs, starting back to his cruiser. He looks up at the house, staring at her bedroom window when he sees the curtains flutter shut. Leah pulls Brianna away from the window and to the bed. "Don't let it get to you. I'm gonna go talk to your dad, make sure he doesn't kill Charlie." She kisses her forehead, sighing as she walks out. Brianna curls up into a ball, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. A little bit later, Leah comes back up, two mugs in her hands, both overflowing with whipped cream and marshmallows. "What's this?" Brianna asks as she sits up, taking the warm mug. "This is hot chocolate. My mom always makes it for me when I feel down." Leah answers with a goofy grin. Brianna leans up, kissing Leah's cheek.
"I love you, Lee." "I love you too, Anna." Bri laughs at hearing the nickname, only Leah calls her Anna. While drinking their hot chocolate, they're curled together, some random rom-com playing on her tv. After Leah finishes her drink, she sets the mug on Brianna's nightstand before curling into the girl's side, her head on her chest and her arms around her waist. Brianna sighs, running her fingers through Leah's hair. She changes the tv station when the movie starts to get sappy. The next morning, Brianna wakes up to her phone ringing, both her and Leah groaning at the noise. Without checking, she answers. "What?" "Brianna." Charlie breathes, having not expected her to answer. "What do you want?" She snaps. "Bella's been hurt." He says sullenly.
"Do you want to come with me to see her?" "Honestly, no." She answers, he sighs. "What happened to never not wanting me, Charlie? What happened to that guy?" "I never said I didn't want you. I just said we weren't good for each other." He sighs again. "You never gave us a chance to be good for each other. You got what you wanted and decided Bella was right. Now you get to deal with that." She hisses, pulling her phone down and hanging up as her eyes flood with tears. Leah hears Brianna sniffle and quickly sits up. "Hey, everything okay?" "He called me." She says softly. "What'd he say?" "He asked if I wanted to go see Bella with him. Apparently she got hurt. You heard the rest."
"He's such an asshole." Leah snaps, glaring at the phone in Brianna's hand. Leah wipes Brianna's face carefully, kissing her forehead. "Don't even think about him. Just lie with me." She pulls her down, wrapping her arms around her and kissing her head. Brianna sighs, curling into Leah, closing her eyes just as her door opens. "Bella's been hurt. I think you should go see her." Bill says, leaning on the doorway. "She's in Phoenix." Brianna states. "Take Leah. You need to tell her what happened with her dad, even if she did cause some of it." "Her dad is an ass." Leah deadpans. "I know. But maybe she was just upset. Talk to her." He says. She huffs, groaning.
"Wanna go on a roadtrip, Clearwater?" She looks at Leah. "If I have to." Leah jokes. "Actually, it's a plane trip, pack a bag." Bill says, walking out and closing the door. After packing and heading to the airport, they're on a plane to Phoenix. When they arrive, they're taking the rented car, that Bill had set up, to the hospital. In Bella's room, they find Edward asleep on the couch and Charlie sitting beside her bed. He quickly stands, walking to Brianna. Leah steps in front of her. "She's not here to see you." She snarls. "Brianna, come on, talk to me." Charlie begs, looking down at the girl. "I came here to see Bella." Brianna says, looking away from the man. He sighs, nodding and walking back to his seat. Soon enough, Bella's mom comes in, beelining for Bella's bed.
Charlie excuses himself. After a moment, Brianna excuses herself as well, just to get a drink but she's met with Charlie at the vending machine. "Bri." He says, catching her attention. She ignores him, continuing to pull her wallet out of her bag. He grabs her wrist, watching her freeze. "Brianna." "What?" She hadn't asked him to let go, which he was taking as a good sign. "I'm sorry, okay? You don't deserve what I've done to you." His other hand comes up, setting on her cheek. She leans into his hand with a sigh before pulling away completely. "You're right. I don't. And if this is how it's gonna be every time you show me affection then I don't want it." "It's not. I promise, little one." He reaches for her again, she steps back. "I'm not ready to forgive you."
She takes the soda from the machine, walking away. He sighs, standing there for a moment longer before deciding to go back to the room. He glances at Brianna as she jokes with Leah and Bella, a smile lighting up her face but not her eyes. Bella watches her father and her stomach sinks. What she said to him was messed up. She can only imagine what happened with him and Brianna when she left. Leah wraps her arm protectively around Brianna when Charlie looks at her too long. Sitting next to Edward, Brianna can feel how cold he is through his hoodie. It confuses her. Edward leans away from her, trying to put distance between himself and the human girl. Soon enough, it gets late, Charlie is walking Brianna and Leah out of the hospital. "Be safe."
Leah sneers at him as Brianna nods. "Why are you being so nice to him?" Leah asks once they're in the car. "I still like him, Lee. Feelings don't just go away because they hurt you. You, of all people, should know that." Brianna states, glancing at Leah. She huffs, glaring playfully at her. "I know." "Plus, he was my first, ya know. I can't take that back." Brianna says softly, shaking her head. Leah nods understandingly, setting her hand on her knee. At the hotel, Brianna and Leah quickly climb into bed, not even bothering to undress nor take shoes off. Brianna wakes with a start, looking around the room before remembering where she is. Instead of curled up next to Leah in her own, or the other girl's, bed, they're in Arizona. The room is already stuffy.
Brianna stands, taking off her shoes before peeling her clothes off her sweaty body as she walks to the bathroom. A knock on the door startles her. She looks through the peephole before opening the door. "Yeah?" Charlie blushes at the sight in front of him. Brianna stands in the doorway, dressed only in her bra and underwear, hair pulled back messily, a light sheen of sweat covering her skin. His breath catches in his throat. "I, uh, wanted to see if you wanted to get breakfast. We can try to, um, talk... maybe." He rubs the back of his neck, trying to keep his eyes level with hers. "Let me get a shower. You're welcome to come in until I'm ready." She steps to the side, making room for him to come in. He quickly walks in, looking around awkwardly.
She motions to the couch. "Sit. Watch tv. Stop being so awkward." She says, laughing slightly. He chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck again. Leah sits up when she hears them talking. "What is he doing here?" She snarls. "We're going to get breakfast after I shower." Brianna explains. "But-" "No buts, Lee. I'll hear him out, that's it." Brianna promises. Leah huffs, nodding. She's annoyed with the fact that Brianna would be leaving her. "You can come with, I'll pay for yours if you sit at another booth so we can talk." Brianna states, knowing Leah wouldn't want to be left by herself for however long she'd be gone. Leah hesitates but ultimately agrees, going into the bathroom to change as Brianna gets her shower. "You know you didn't have to agree."
Brianna looks through the glass shower door at her friend in confusion. "What?" "You could've told him no." She sighs, shaking her head. "I don't think I could've. It's Charlie." She shrugs, rinsing out her hair. "Yeah, but, I mean, think of what he's done to you." "God, Leah, could you be anymore depressing? I thought you'd be happy for me, I'm finally thinking about something other than my seemingly endless virginity." Brianna rolls her eyes as Leah snorts. "Now you can't even think about that You're not a virgin." She points out. Brianna laughs, shaking her head.
"You're correct, my friend. I'm no longer a loser." "Oh you're still a loser. Just not a virgin loser." Brianna laughs, shaking her head. "Now, do you still wanna come with? If not, keep the door locked." Leah stares at the girl through the mirror as she climbs out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her body. "Leah." Brianna snaps her fingers, waving her hand in her face. "Huh? What?" "Do you still want to go with us?" Leah nods quickly. "Okay, I've gotta get dressed. Go sit out there with Charlie and be civil." Brianna points at her sternly.