DISCLAIMER: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters. I just use the characters for my stories.
These characters will probably not have the same personalities and there will be added characters.
I am new to this so please let me know how it is or if I should just stop trying all together! LOL Seriously though.
Chapter One: The beginning
Why do I do this to myself? That is the thought that has crossed my mind for the thousandth time today. I am currently sitting on the toilet in the airport of Seattle, Washington. I check my phone – 2:11pm. I still had four minutes till my dad, Charlie, said he would be in front of the one door of arrivals in his police cruiser. Yayyy.
I was fine surviving on my own, even though technically I was living with my mother, Renee. She was like an absent roommate more than a mother but we kept out of each others way and that was fine by me than having to take care of her. Of course she had to ruin that by getting herself killed. Ouch. I know that sounds so callus but our relationship was not normal and we were never close. I do not mourn Renee but I do mourn the part of my life of having a mother. I never had a nurturing compassionate mother figure and I will always be wondering what will never be. I do know my life would have been better if Renee did not take me when she decided to move to California when I was just three years old. This is not the first time I imagined how my life would have turned out if Renee left me with Charlie – my phone vibrating in my hand interrupted me.
"Hi Charlie." I whispered, no able to find my voice to a man I have not heard from in 10 years.
"Uh, hey kiddo… did you get your luggage?" He asked in his rough, formal police voice.
Flinch. If only he knew all the possessions I own was stuffed in the raggedy backpack at my feet that seen better days.
"Bells? Are you there?" Another flinch. No one has called me 'Bells' in 10 years.
"Yeah. Sorry. Are you out front?" I finally rasped out.
"Yeah, I am circling around now."
"Okay, see you in a few" and with that we hung up the phone.
I hurried and grabbed my backpack on my back and quickly washed my hands – because ew, germs and then I was speed walking following the signs to arrivals/baggage pickup.
As soon as the automatics doors slide up, I could not help the shiver that ran up my spine from the bitter, cold breeze that is Washington's specialty. Okay, so I may be a little dramatic since I am used to Southern California's blessed weather that warms my stone-cold heart.
It wasn't hard to spot Charlie leaning against his Forks Police Cruiser to my right. Renee never told me stories about my father growing up, in fact she only mentioned him when talking about the second greatest mistake of her life, first having me at the rip age of seventeen. With no photographs of our time in Forks, I had no memory of what Charlie actually looked like so I hoped that this man was him.
No matter how much I might deny it, I could tell he was my father because we really did look alike. Our hair was the same milk chocolate color with red running threw it. I could even tell under his hat that his hair was unruly curly like mine. He was a fairly tall man maybe about 6'1 if I had to guess and surprising he looked actually in shape. Or maybe being a police officer in boring Forks required all of their police officers to be in top shape. Now I'm not saying that he has a six-pack hidden under his uniform but it is not an old man's beer gut pressing against the buttons of his shirt. Charlie's short sleeve shirt allowed his arms to be on display and I could tell that he would not be struggling to do a pushup like me. I had a brief thought wondering if Charlie would hurt me but quickly dismissed it since Renee never mentioned him to be abusive and duh, stupid me he is a police officer. As I got closer I could not help the smile that twitched when I saw he had the same polish nose as me. To be fair it was a little more pronounce than mine, but I recognized that shape anywhere since I stare at it every morning.
"Hey Bells" Charlie waved and I was shocked that he actually had tears glistening in his eyes. His eyes that were the same emerald green color that were the exact same shade of mine.
Thinking back to that phone call two days ago, I did not know if Charlie was that sincere about wanting to take me in. His long lost daughter that he has not spoken to in 10 years and he seemed to be overjoyed to speak to again. I thought it was just pity but I am starting to second-guess that as I walk towards him. I give him a timid smile as I get closer and say "Hi"
As I stop in front of him I don't really know what to do with myself but I did not have to wander long since Charlie wrapped me in a big bear hug. I attentively, gingerly wrap my arms around him and allow the moment of fatherly compassion to drown waves over me for the first time in a long time. I clear my throat to make aware to Charlie that this is slightly more than awkward for me.
He releases me with a chuckle and pulls back.
"Hey, sorry" and gives me a sheepish grin. "I just- I haven't seen you since you were seven years old- I missed you so much."
"I kno-" I start but he cuts me off with "where's the rest of your luggage? Did it get lost from San Diego?"
"No, actually, this is all I have."
Charlie frowned and had an unreadable expression in his eyes, but it passed in a second and I could tell he was determined about something.
"Okay, well why don't we talk in the car, it's about an hour ride home from here and I am sure you're tired,"
With that he turned and opened my door for me, making me blush and stutter out a thank you.
We were driving in silence for about seven minutes, why do I know it was seven minutes exactly, because I was staring at my phone's clock since Charlie started the car. I could tell he was dying from the silence and could not wait to ask away since he was twitching left and right. Finally I couldn't take it any longer.
"I know you want to say something so you might as well spit it out." And that caused a nervous laugh from Charlie.
"You caught me! I was just wondering… well how you are doing with Renee being gone and everything…" He finished lamely, glancing at me.
Oh. It makes sense that he would be worried about how I was taking my loss since he was not exactly informed on my mother/daughter relationship. I don't know if I should tell him the truth or pretend like I have been to every officer that interviewed me. Deciding that I was sick of pretending I was going to let some truth slip out.
"You don't have to worry about me Charlie. Renee has never acted like my mother and truthfully I have not seen or talked to her in the last four months and it was for the better. I know that sounds horrible but she made my life not that great, I don't know how else to say it."
At the end I looked up to see what he thought of his daughter now and just a small frown tugging at his face.
"That sounds like Renee." Was all he said.
That sparked interest in me. I wonder how Renee treated him and what his memories of her consisted? I was too chicken to ask.
"So, where exactly are we going?" I asked instead.
Charlie shifted uncomfortably and looked guilty. "Well I know we did not get to talk a lot yesterday and catch up but we have this car ride to do it" A slight, forced laugh. He continued when I did not say anything. "Uh, yeah so I actually live in La Push now, do you remember it? We used to go fishing there?"
"No, sorry I don't really remember anything."
"Of course, you were so young. Well I moved to La Push about three years ago after I met Sue." As I watched him I saw that all too familiar blush creep up to his face and an unknown feeling filled me up as I realized how much I share with my biological dad. Charlie continued with his story and I switched to tune in again.
"Yeah, well Sue is a widow and we got to know each other from when I had business on the Res. After we learned that we worked well with each other, well, I moved in to their house to help them out and everything. I took over the man's role since her late Husband, Harry, passed away."
I just had to interrupt him. I couldn't help but laugh at his old people talk about dating and the terminology that he is using.
"Charlie, you are dating Sue? Or wait, did you get married since you moved into her house now?" Straightforward and blunt is the best way in my opinion.
"No we are not married. Yes I guess you can say we are dating. But I should probably tell you. Sue has kids from her first marriage like me."
"Oh, do they live in La Push too?" I wonder if they liked Charlie or resented him since they had their father talking care of their mother before him?
"Well yeah, they both are still at home. Seth is only 13 and Leah is the same age as you."
I could tell Charlie was nervous how I would react to this news but I did not even know how I felt about it. I never had any siblings growing up, hell I was pretty much used to living on my own.
"Do they know I am coming? Is it okay with them that I am staying at their house?"
What if they hated me? That's fine by me since I never wanted to come here anyways. I wanted to just be left alone until I could go to college at UC San Diego and start my own life.
"Of course. Sue cannot wait to meet you!"
The rest of the car ride I just listened and 'mhmm' and 'uhh' at the designated times while Charlie talked about La Push High school which I will be starting at on Monday, since it was Thursday I had three days to prepare. Seth and Leah are both into sports and participate in school like good little students. Charlie still works at the Forks police station even though he moved to La Push.
Before I knew it we were pulling up the driveway to a cute little cottage-style home. It was a nice rustic red color with a white wrap around porch. It was a decent size and had a huge backyard that stopped at the forest.
I followed Charlie up the drive and threw the door where I was knocked over and found myself on the floor. The culprit was licking my face and it was a huge dog.
"Kone! KONE! Bad dog. Bad. We don't jump on guests!" Charlie finally got the heavy beast off of me so I could get upright and I looked around.
"Sorry Bells, I forgot to warn you are Kone. She is completely harmless she just got excited to meet you. She doesn't bite or anything, she will just lick you to death if you let her."
I never had a dog before so I didn't know how to handle one but I tried to give a convincing "its okay!"
"This is Sue. Sue, this is Bella" Charlie made the introductions as the women came back from putting Kone in the kitchen. She was definitely from the Reservation with her deep golden skin color and matching dark brown eyes and hair. She came over and immediately wrapped me in a motherly hug.
"Oh hunny, I am so sorry about your mom. If there is anything you need don't be shy to speak up okay? I mean it! But, I am so happy you are here with us. Charlie told me so much about you and I am so happy that you are back in his life." Charlie cleared his throat so Sue would release me from her nurturing embrace.
I could tell Sue was a real mother; nothing like Renee was capable of being.
"Alright sweetheart, I am sure that Bella is tired and would like to rest from her travel. We can catch up later with her. Come on Bella, I'll show you where your room is."
With a small smile at Sue I followed Charlie up the stair and to the last door on the right. He opened it up and I was surprised it was actually a spacious room. There was a queen-sized bed under the windows and a vanity with a mirror on the opposite wall. The bedding was pure white and the walls were painted a calming, deep blue color that I absolutely loved.
"This was the office but we moved the stuff downstairs for now since we wanted to give you your own room instead of sharing with Leah. Sue painted it and got the bedding yesterday so it would be all ready for you today when you got here. Ill just let you get settled and check up on you later."
Then I was left alone in my new room and the new house with a new family. I sat on my bed and decided to come up with a plan.
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