A View from Backstage
Summary: What if Bella had a sister? A twin? Someone who got to view her life from a different perspective? My name's Zarah and this is the story that was never told.
Disclaimer:
What I do own: Zarah and Benny the Cat
What I don't own: Twilight :(
Chapter One – Left Behind
I watched through the car window as Bella and our Mom walked into the airport. The reason she was leaving didn't make complete sense; but that's just Bella. I would miss her, of course I would, she's my twin but I felt angry that she was leaving me behind.
Bella was going to live with our Dad, Charlie. He lives in a three bed roomed house (A/N at bottom) which he bought when Bella and I were born. She had made the decision to leave Arizona and go to Forks so that Mom could go travelling with Phil. What annoyed me is that if I didn't go, Mom still couldn't go which meant that Bella had expected me to just go with her without even asking me if I wanted to go first. What's strange about my decision not to go is that while Bella hates Forks, I love it. I love the rain and that everything is a lush green. I loved visiting Forks during the holidays until Bella decided that she didn't want to go anymore. Charlie had to visit us after that so I haven't been to Forks in about 3 or 4 years.
I can understand Bella's reasons and why she would expect me to go with her. This was for Mom so I was the selfish one. I even started to regret my decision to stay with Mom. You know that feeling you get when you know it's too late to change your mind and you've made the wrong choice? That's the feeling I was getting.
Phil looked at me through the mirror with a half-hearted smile. I sighed and looked out the window, desperate for Mom to come back into sight so that we could go home. I couldn't wait for the safety of my room so that I could be miserable in private.
As Mom got back in the car, I saw a single droplet of salt water spill over from her eyes as she held Phil's hand. The rest of the journey home was a silent one.
The next couple of days were filled with awkward silences and references to Bella. Mom had been emailing her and I know that neither she nor Bella had mentioned me. Mom had always had a special little place in her heart for Bella. Bella was responsible and quiet; she never went to parties or was too busy for her Mom because she was going out with friends. She was a shy, polite person who acted like a middle-aged woman. She kept Mom out of trouble as best as she could and still had time to do shopping, pay the bills and do homework. Everybody loved Bella.
I had never before been jealous of Bella. Why should I be? We both had long, chocolate brown hair – although mine was curly while hers was straight. We both had dad's big eyes although hers were a warm chocolaty color like her hair while mine were an icy blue (odd combination with the hair, I know). I sometimes tanned, whereas Bella never did. We were both clever, although I got Calculus while she didn't. I was athletic, she was clumsy. I am confident around people, although I am usually blushing. She shied away from people and hid behind her hair. She had a couple of friends whereas I was friends with everyone. I had nothing to be jealous about – except maybe her height. She's not even that tall at 5"4 but that's better than being 5 ft tall like me. Despite everything, I am jealous. Mom adores Bella, they're best friends. They'll sit and talk for hours about completely random stuff. She got Phil to explain baseball to her and so he grew to love her as Mom did. Even with Dad, she's always the daughter he was closer too.
Maybe I'm being paranoid, I don't know. Most likely, but I can't help it. It's who I am.
One morning, about a month after Bella had gone to Forks, I was sitting outside on a little sun chair, admiring the clear blue sky when Mom came outside. I tried to hold back my laughter when I saw her. She was in a bright green towel and her hair was exactly the same color.
"Zarah! What did I do? I left it on the right amount of time, please help me." I got up out of the chair and followed her to the bathroom where she had done it.
"How long did you leave it on for?" I asked her, examining the dye box for anything that would tell me how it happened.
"Forty minutes, it said that long if you've already dyed your hair."
"Mom! It says don't dye your hair if it's already dyed! This is why you should get it done professionally."
She took the box out of my hands and threw it into the trash. She started to pick her fingernails nervously.
"You know I can't afford it while Phil's away. If I was with him maybe, but not now. What am I gonna do? I can't go to work with green hair."
I felt that familiar instant bomb of guilt hit me when she said this. Anytime she brings up Phil travelling I can see how much she wants to go and how much she misses him when he's away and I feel awful and selfish. I smiled sympathetically at her and went to my room to get my laptop out. Mom went downstairs and started to do the cleaning.
For the first time since she'd left, I read all the emails Bella had sent me. A lot contained news of some boy she liked. There was one about Jacob, an old friend of ours from a reservation near Forks. I was glad to hear that he remembered me. Once I read the last one (something about going to dinner with this boy), I started to email her.
Bella,
Sorry I haven't emailed you yet. Been a little busy with my new role as a middle-aged teen. I suck at it. Missing you loads. Yes, I remember Jacob. Who is this boy? Is he cute? Are you being safe? (A/N2: Down at bottom) I know I said I wouldn't move to Forks but Mom needs to go travel with Phil. You were right. Do you think you could ask Dad if I could move in? I'll talk to Mom about it once I get your reply.
Is it raining in Forks? Is it still as green as it used to be? I have a million more questions but I couldn't ask them all now. See you soon possibly!
Zarah x
I thought about what I was doing as I sat in the too small chair. I knew it was the right thing to do, it had just taken me some time to actually do it. Shutting off the computer, I went downstairs into the kitchen where Mom was singing, loudly and out of tune. It was a happy picture, one I knew I would not see for a long time, not if I moved to Forks. I grabbed a cloth from the cupboard and started to wash down the sides. Mom immediately stopped what she was doing.
"Are you okay? Since when do you do housework?"
I shrugged and got back to work. I wasn't sure of the answer myself. Mom grinned widely.
"Oh well, I guess I'd better make the most of it hadn't I?"
That statement was so true it was unbelievable.
I didn't get a reply from Bella until the next day. She said that Charlie was extremely happy to hear that his other daughter was coming to live with him. I found out the boy that she likes is called Edward and apparently he is unbelievably good looking. I don't think she's gone too far with him yet since most of my questions remain unanswered. As expected, everything is bright and green in Forks and it is raining.
Unfortunately, now that I had gotten approval from Dad, I now needed to tell Mom. Although, she would probably be happy about it because then she could go with Phil. I waited until after dinner before telling her.
"Mom, there's something I want to tell you."
She turned the TV off and swivelled her whole body round to face me. No distractions.
"I've asked Dad already and err...I'm...err..."
"Moving to Forks? Charlie already rang me about it; I just wanted to wait for you to tell me. Of course it's okay!"
She grabbed me into a huge hug and squeezed too tight.
"Mom! Can't breathe!" She quickly let go and apologized. Her eyes were so bright they practically sparkled with happiness. I knew that it wasn't because she wanted to get rid of me. It was because she could be with Phil. "At least you can get your hair sorted out now!" I joked and she laughed loudly. She asked me something but I wasn't concentrating. I was moving to Forks. It was really happening and as nervous as I was, I couldn't wait.
Goodbye crunchy gravel and barbed wire fences.
Goodbye cacti, the only plants managing to survive here.
Goodbye blistering heat, so hot that water fizzles and it touches the ground.
Goodbye Phoenix, Arizona.
A/N: I know that Charlie brought a two bedroom house but that was when there was only Bella. Now there is a twin sister he's decided he needed a three bedroom house instead.
A/N2: I couldn't resist saying that since you won't get it from Renee in this story.
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Thanks a lot readers. X
