While Bella was still gazing at her welcome home present, Charlie took out her luggage and dragged them to the house by which he collided to Bella, making her fall.
“Aah!” she screamed. But before she hit the ground she felt a firm grip around her arm pulling her up. She looked right in Gerard’s face and gasped. Wow, talking about reflex. “Thanks” she mumbled.
“You’re welcome” he nodded. He was still holding her arm.
“Ehm, you’re hurting me” Bella said trying to free her arm.
“I’m sorry” Gerard replied and he let go of her. He glanced at the house. “Maybe we should check on your dad”
Bella rubbed her arm, before commenting. Then she turned around and went into the house, Gerard following her.
“Charlie?! Charlie, where are you?!” she shouted, checking the kitchen and living room.
“He’s probably upstairs, taking out your stuff” Gerard reasoned. Why didn’t I think about that? Bella thought. “Look, I can’t stay any longer. I have to get back at the institution. Here’s a list-hang on”, he searched through his pockets for the second time that day and took out a piece of paper. “Here’s a list of things you have to keep in mind when you’re taking care of Charlie. He has a day pattern you have to stick to. If there are going to be any changes in that pattern, you have to prepare him. That’s really important. And don’t touch him. He doesn’t like that”
“Kidding?” Bella sarcastically grimaced pointing at the scar on her face. She held out her hand. “Can I have that list?”
“Sure” Gerard said and he handed the list. “It also says what he likes to eat and what he doesn’t. And you have to cut his meat into small pieces, or else he might choke in his food”
“Didn’t you have to be somewhere?” Bella rudely interrupted him. She wanted to go check on her dad, or actually her clothes. She didn’t trust her father with them.
“Yes, I do” Gerard sighed. “Sorry for holding you up” He turned around and walked to the front door, where he turned around a last time. “Bella? I meant what I said. Call me, whenever you feel the need to and for whatever reason” he said putting accent to every word. He shut the door, leaving Bella shivering.
Creep, she thought, and ran up the stairs to the room on the west side of the house. Charlie was walking up and down with Bella’s clothes placing them in the closet, color by color. He was so occupied he didn’t even notice Bella strolling to the bed and taking out the last two pairs of trousers, placing them somewhere in the closet.
That was a mistake.
She had barely put the clothes down when Charlie screamed and pushed her aside. He threw all Bella’s clothes on the ground and when Bella wanted to ask what was going on he shot her a furious glance which made her paralyze.
Charlie kneeled on the ground and picked up one of Bella’s jumpers. He held it tight with both hands and started ripping it. Bella’s eyes went big and she leaped upon her father, desperately trying to loosen his grip on her clothes.
Charlie bent his knees and stamped his daughter in her stomach. She immediately let go of him and held her belly, gasping for breath. She watched him ruining her jumper, still with that rabid expression on his face.
A sudden melody made Charlie look up. He looked around, frightened. He had never heard anything like that. Bella took out her phone, but didn’t answer it. Instead she held it in front of Charlie, trying to scare him away.
But Charlie was fascinated by the flashing light coming from the screen and he grabbed Bella’s phone, taking it with him, while he left the room.
“Hey!” Bella yelled. But she realized there was no point in fighting. He’d probably stamp or punch her again and he’d hurt her enough that day.
She sank down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. This was going to be even harder than she thought.