Magnets
"Time passes. Even when it seems impossible. Even when each tick of the second hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but pass it does. Even for me."
― Stephenie Meyer, New Moon
Chapter One-Arrival
Bella woke up from a long sleep feeling more tired than when she had gone to bed. The strong sun shining through the partially opened curtains in her room signalled the beginning of another day. Lethargically, she threw the covers to one side and climbed out of bed.
"Baby girl, breakfast is ready." Renee tapped lightly on her bedroom door.
"Coming, mom." Bella pulled a thin cardigan over her tank top and tugged the sleeves down over her wrists. Bypassing the suitcases piled up in one corner of her room she trudged into the small kitchen.
"I've poured you some muesli." Renee said with a bright smile as she pushed the breakfast bowl toward Bella. "I want you to promise me you'll keep up the healthy diet when you're living with Charlie. We all know he subsists on nothing but fried foods and fat."
Bella propped herself on a stool and added some milk to her bland cereal before stirring the contents around miserably. Renee noticed the sour expression on her daughter's face and sighed. "It's only for a few months. Just until Phil is signed up by a team."
"Right." Bella tried to summon up some enthusiasm for her mother's sake. There was no way in hell her stepfather would get signed up for a major club. The fact was he just wasn't good enough. There was no point in telling starry eyed Renee that, though. Like always her mother needed to find out the hard way that her much younger husband wasn't as talented as he made himself out to be.
Renee gave up on trying to cheer Bella up. She had a thousand other things to focus on, like making a nutritious meal for her new husband. Just thinking about Phil gave her a warm glow inside. She had just turned forty, but being with Phil made her feel young again. She had spent her formative years bringing up Bella alone, mostly as a single parent. It was hard finding a reliable guy who would take her on with a young child. Phil had been the first, but then Bella wasn't so young anymore. She was seventeen now, almost an adult. Renee felt it was only fair that she be allowed to be free again and pursue her own dreams. It was time her ex took on some of the responsibility for their child. She conveniently forgot that Charlie had been pushing for a closer relationship with his daughter for years and she was the one who kept putting obstacles in the way as she moved restlessly from place to place, unwilling and too flaky to settle anywhere for long. Until Phil that is. Phoenix was the longest she had stayed in one place, almost two years. But now they needed to go on the road for his career.
"You'll love it in Forks, baby." Renee chirped as she set about making Phil one of his protein shakes. He would be back from his run soon.
"You didn't." Bella pointed out sullenly as she gave up on the tasteless breakfast and pushed the bowl away.
Renee's lips pursed as she shot Bella a disapproving glare. "That was different. Please don't be difficult, Bella."
Bella shrugged listlessly, not interested in appeasing her selfish mother anymore. It wasn't Renee who had to pack up her life yet again and go to live with a complete stranger and that boy he was fostering. It had been years since she had contact with Charlie other than the odd phone call, cards or presents. A lick of jealousy mixed with resentment settled in her stomach at the thought that her father had practically adopted another kid when he already had one of his own. The logical part of her accepted he'd done it because it had been his best friend's last wish. It wasn't the kid's fault that both his parents had passed away leaving him with no one to care for him other than friends. His twin sisters didn't have the funds to take him on and had baulked at the idea of moving back home to the reservation where they had grown up. Bella knew that others had offered to take the kid in, but when Billy's will had been read everyone was taken by surprise when he named Charlie as the boy's guardian.
Phil blundered in then, all sweaty and glowing from his run. "How's my two favourite girls?" He laughed, kissing an adoring Renee on the cheek. He didn't wait for either to respond but grabbed the protein shake his wife handed him and gulped it down. "Ah, that's better." He laughed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He didn't notice the tension between mother and daughter. "Ready to hit the road, Bella?" He asked.
"Yes." Bella did her best to hide the bitterness in her voice as she left to finish packing.
Forks was located in the Clallam County in the Olympic peninsula. Bella had spent two weeks there every year, staying with her father right up until the age of eleven, with sporadic visits from him wherever she was living with Renee, thereafter. Forks had a very rainy climate, very unlike the dry heat Bella was used to in Phoenix. She could feel the moisture in the air as soon as she stepped off the plane. Charlie picked her up from the airport in his cruiser. Bella blushed as she slid into the passenger seat, feeling mortified as she felt the other passengers curious eyes on her. Her father was the police chief of Forks.
"I've put your cases in the back." Charlie said gruffly as he glanced at her briefly.
"Thanks." Bella mumbled as she shut the car door and put on her seatbelt.
Charlie cleared his throat awkwardly as he pulled onto the road. He glanced at Bella's bowed head, wishing that he could see her face. He fumbled for something to say. "Your hair's longer."
"Is it?" Bella frowned as she tugged at the ends of her hair. Her brown eyes darted to his before darting away again. "Um...I cut it since I last saw you."
"Must have grown out again." Charlie concentrated on the road again. He ran his fingers across his thick moustache, his brow furrowing. God, he was angry at himself. Instead of greeting her with a hug and welcoming smile like a normal father he had mumbled a bunch of stupid nonsense. He breathed deeply and glanced at her again. "I'm glad you're here."
Bella was astonished at his sudden declaration. "Yeah...it's good to be here." She murmured, her skin heating up at the blatant lie.
Charlie gripped the steering wheel and nodded curtly. They fell into an uncomfortable silence. Bella stared out of the window at the passing scenery. Surrounded by the Olympic rainforest, Forks was considered to have an oceanic climate but it also possessed the temperate rainforest climate which brought the high level of rainfall to the area. Even during the summer when the area experiences a drying trend the rainfall was still abundant. Green forest surrounded them on all sides as Charlie drove down the lonely roads. Bella felt like she was in another world, an alien one. It was only when they drew closer to Forks that signs of human habitation became apparent and she breathed easier.
They passed a sign welcoming them to Forks, boasting about the miniscule population of 3,545. "So, I'm number 3,546." She spoke for the first time in a while.
"Huh?" Charlie looked away from the road briefly as he caught on to what she was saying. "That's right."
Bella felt like rolling her eyes. She slumped in her seat and stared at the passing buildings. Forks High flashed past, too quickly for her to get a good look at the place which was going to be her new school. A feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach. She was dreading having to start all over again. She saw the small hospital in the distance. Charlie was doing a poor job of pointing out the landmarks. He seemed intent on getting her to his house as soon as possible. As they drove through the town they passed a diner. She noticed his face light up.
"I'll treat you to dinner there tonight, kiddo. You and Jake." He offered with a small smile.
"Jake?" Bella had almost forgotten about the boy who had usurped her place in Charlie's affections through no fault of his own. It made her sick that this strange kid knew her own father better than she did. Then something suddenly occurred to her. "Where will I be sleeping? You only have two bedrooms."
"You'll have mine." Charlie interjected quickly. "I've already moved my stuff out. I'll camp out downstairs. No biggie. I didn't want to disturb Jake now he's settled into your old room."
"Of course not." Bella said bitterly.
"Bells, is everything alright?" Charlie asked cautiously. He had caught her dark tone. "If you want your old room back I'm sure that Jake won't mind-"
"Let him keep it." Bella interrupted him sharply. She blew out her cheeks as she tried to contain her envy. "I'll be fine in your room. It's not like I'm staying forever. I'm only here for a few months anyway." Or until I'm old enough to get my own place, she thought darkly.
"If you're sure." Charlie felt crestfallen that he'd screwed up. He sighed and swung the cruiser around as he approached his house. "Here we are, kiddo." HIs face brightened when he caught sight of home and he chuckled when he saw the home made banner strung across the awning of the house. It read 'WELCOME HOME BELLA.' "That boy." He pointed out the banner to Bella and was surprised when she scowled. "You okay?" He asked again, his smile fading.
"I'd rather you hadn't made a fuss. I'm not five." Bella snapped. She knew she was being a bitch but couldn't help it. The fond smile on his face when her father had referenced Jake had gotten under her skin.
"Sorry." Charlie parked the cruiser and ran his fingers through his messy hair. "Uh... you go ahead and make yourself at home. I'll grab your cases."
Bella pushed opened the door of the cruiser and stepped out. A light rain was falling. Her breath fogged in the air as she stared at the house where she had been born. A lump lodged in her throat as she looked at the small house with the white wooden siding and two bedrooms on the second floor. The welcome home banner fluttered in the slight breeze. On unsteady legs she made her way up the porch steps with Charlie following behind laden down with her suitcases.
Before she had a chance to open the front door it swung open of its own accord and a boy stepped out. He looked around fifteen, and had long glossy black hair pulled back with a rubber band at the nape of his neck. His skin was beautiful, silky and russet coloured; his eyes were dark, set high above the high planes of his cheek bones. He still had the hint of childish roundness left around his chin. Altogether a very pretty face.
"Hi, I'm Jacob. You probably don't remember me but we used to make mud pies together when we were little." His eyes sparkled with a teasing light as he held out his hand in a friendly gesture.
Bella just stared at him stonily. "No, I don't remember." She saw the light in his eyes fade. She knew she was being petty but she couldn't help it. He was looking uncertainly toward Charlie now, and seeing her father's face soften as he looked at the boy with empathy, only heightened Bella's irrational jealousy.
"Let's get inside." Charlie said eventually.
Jacob swallowed thickly as Bella passed him. He reached out and took some of the suitcases from Charlie. "I'll put them in her room." He said quietly as he turned away to head for the stairs.
Bella watched him sourly as he ran up the stairs swiftly without tripping. If only she could be as graceful in her movements. She was constantly clumsy. It was just another reason to resent him. She followed Charlie into the kitchen and was astonished to see the table laden down with food. Even Charlie seemed surprised. "Jake must have organised all this." He said in awe.
A small smidgeon of guilt nipped at Bella's heels. "I didn't ask him, too." She said petulantly.
Charlie frowned at her, clearly annoyed. "Now, young lady, let's get a few things straight." He admonished her. "Jake is a like a son to me-"
He couldn't have started in a worse way. Tears sprang into Bella's eyes as she backed away from him into the hall. Unfortunately she collided with Jacob who had just come down the stairs after stowing away her suitcases. He put his hands on her shoulders to steady her before quickly letting go. "Was it too much?" He asked worriedly. "If it was, I'm sorry."
"Oh, just leave me alone." Bella pushed past him as she tried to get out of the house. Of course it was too much. It was much too much. She ran for the door and wrenched it open and the fresh air hit her like a slap in the face. It was raining heavily now. Bella stumbled blindly down the porch steps, feeling like a fool but unable to go back and apologise. She just wanted to be alone, but there was nowhere to go. She looked left, then right, before hanging her head in defeat.
"Bells." She jumped at the sound of Charlie's voice. "Can we start again? I'm sorry. Please, come inside."
Bella took a deep breath and dared to cast a quick glance in his direction. To give him credit he did look sorry, even guilty. She saw him raise his hand as if to touch her but then put it back down again.
"I know this is overwhelming for you. I didn't think." Charlie apologised again. "Jake was just trying to make an effort. The boy's been looking forward to your arrival for ages. He hasn't stopped chewing my ear off about it."
He'd done it again. Bella's face hardened as she hid her hurt expression behind her long, silky hair. This was all about Jacob again. He wasn't thinking of her at all. Wasn't he supposed to be the one looking forward to her coming to stay? Not some kid she could barely remember who had taken her place in the house. "Whatever." She mumbled as she headed back inside.
Charlie ran his fingers through his hair again, wishing he knew what to say to make things right. He kept saying and doing the wrong thing. He wished he could see into his daughter's mind so he would know what she was thinking. She was so moody and on edge. He knew it was a big move for her, coming to live with him after so long. He had stupidly assumed that having another teenager in the house would help smooth the transition, but instead it seemed to be ruffling Bella's feathers. He was wondering whether he should have taken Sue Clearwater's advice when she suggested that Jake stay with them for a few days until Bella settled in. But Jake had been so looking forward to Bella's arrival that he didn't have the heart to send him someplace else when his life had been turned upside down enough already.
Jacob was waiting with a plate of food ready for Bella when she edged into the hall. "I picked out what you might like." He said carefully.
"Thanks." Bella said grudgingly as she snatched the plate from him and sat down in one of the vacant chairs. She put the plate on the table and tried to will the tears from falling.
Charlie joined them again. "Everything alright in here?"
"Yeah. Awesome." Jacob tried to inject some cheerfulness into his tone. "Right, Bells?" He looked at her hopefully.
Bella raised her head and looked up at him sharply. She was about to open her mouth to issue a retort but caught the hopeful look on Jacob's face and fell silent. She just nodded instead before going back to staring at her plate in despair.
A/N-thanks for reading!