The sky was bright and clear as I watched out of the window it slowly darkened. The stars gradually became visible when I craned my neck as the vast expanse of sky shaded to a deeper shade of blue. I hadn't slept on the plane journey, but meditating out of the window had left me relaxed and refreshed. When it landed I went through the familiar stretches, my teacher had taught me to loosen up muscles. My body knew them by heart.
When I stepped off the rickety stair case, the land felt like home. Even if the drizzle was mildly annoying, it was the drizzle that I remember from my childhood. I was surprised to see Charlie waiting; he looked older than I remembered him; slight wrinkles around his eyes and greying hair at the temples.
He pulled me into his strong arms for a hug and whirled me round till I was dizzy. "My Bella" he breathed into the top of my head. "I've missed you dad" I said by way of a reply and I was shocked to find it was true, I had missed him. His warm smell of tobacco, peppermint and the dim hint of metal were all things I had tried to find in Phoenix, I even went so far as to take a mechanical workshop.
Despite my protests he pulled my heavy suitcase into the trunk of the non-descript black car I guessed he used for his work. "What the hell do you have in here Bells? I thought you only had one sword" he enquired as I had to help him give it a shove inside. He's right though, I still only do have one katana. It's more likely to be my collection of guns and knifes weighing it down. I had to prioritize over bringing all but a capsule wardrobe. But hey, I would rather have my favourite knife than t-shirt; I mean which one could save someone's life?
It was a long drive home that was spent with me mostly sleeping and Charlie humming softly. He drove like a madman, something I had missed, in Phoenix there were far too many people everywhere to exceed the limits by much. However I felt safe, he was a good driver, despite the hour he looked wide awake and the wheels never swerved too far from the white lines in the middle of the tarmac.
Soon we reached the pale house in the middle of the forest that I dimly remembered. The town of Forks was a fairly small place but Charlie had chosen to take the seclusion one step further when he chose to live in the middle of the dark forest. He's a little over paranoid if you ask me, the worst that ever happened in Forks is a little case of shoplifting.
"What do you fancy for tea?" Charlie asked hesitantly "we could order pizza" he suggested hopefully. "You can't cook and the house is unbelievably low on supplies, isn't it?" sometimes I just know these things, he looked down bashfully. "Your in luck I can cook, I'll go shopping for groceries tomorrow, and tonight pizza will be wonderful." I didn't tell him I had been forced to cook all my own meals for three years, so I didn't go hungry when I was unable to detect any poisons in the meals my teacher prepared.
(For future reference all flashbacks will be shown in italics)
I lay on the floor spluttering and vomiting with hideous stomach cramps. "You must never let your guard down Bella, even with those you trust" I looked up to see him happily finishing his bowl of rice. Damn him. I grabbed his ankles hoping to pull him down. But he easily flipped me over when I was racked with another sharp set of cramps. Is that all I will ever be a bug to be flipped over as easily as a beetle? I shakily stood up and threw a weak badly aimed punch at his face. I only succeeded in knocking the rice out of his hands. He looked at me surprised for a second; a smile slowly crossed his face. "You have learnt well Bella, never give in." he caught me as I blacked out.
I slowly dragged the stupid suitcase to my room; it was bare as if no one has ever lived in it, a show room. The huge tree cast an ominous branchy shadow across the wooden floor, I'd have to speak about getting it chopped down with Charlie, and someone could easily use it to spy on me or break in.
I decided tomorrow while out shopping I could get some bits and bobs to clutter my room with as well as groceries. I unpacked my meagre wardrobe into the aged cupboard. I pulled up a floorboard and stashed my weapons under it.
Charlie soon called me down for pizza and I could smell the aroma wafting up the stairs. I followed the smell, cartoon like to the small kitchen, where he had set out a plate for me. I pulled out a rickety chair and dug in; it was a long time since I had eaten any junk food, my training didn't allow me the luxury and Renée hated the stuff.
After eating fairly quickly Charlie headed into the living room to watch baseball or some other dumb sport, while I headed to bed. I did my usual routine of exercises and then opened the window to let the relaxing sound of the rain in. I slept well.