AN: I own nada but the storyline.
It's going to be a slow start at first, and you won't meet Edward until next chapter, towards the end, I think. He could always push his way through my mind and appear sooner, who knows! Okay, so this is going to center around Bella and Edward, obviously, but all our favorite couples will be in it too!
I hope you enjoy!
"Mother," I said, my eyes shut as I leaned my head against the wall in my room, "Please, stop. I know that you don't like this, but I really don't care!" My mother, for lack of a better word, was upset with me again. "I'm not a child, you do understand that, right?"
"Bella," she said, her arms crossed tightly against her chest and tears in her eyes, "I don't know why you feel that you need to go Seattle for ballet. There are plenty of good schools, you're in one now! You've given up your apartment, and you're leaving me! I know you're not going to come back to Arizona." I sighed heavily. She really would never understand it. I had auditioned for the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in January. I had loaded up my car and drove to Los Angeles just for the damn audition. She had supported me at the time, it would be fantastic to have that supportive mother back.
"Those small little schools, aren't real schools mom! This is a summer intensive program, this could help me land a place in their school and be a professional dancer. It's what I want, can't you try to understand that? Besides, I know you miss Phil, you can join him now." I don't know why I was even bothering to argue with her anymore. "I'm 20 years old mom, and I'm going. I'm sorry if you don't approve, but did you really have to wait until the morning I was leaving to do this?" She huffed in annoyance and marched away from me like a child. Typical Renee behavior.
"Fine, Bella, but I'm not driving you to the airport." I heard the front door of my apartment slam, and I rolled my eyes. She was so childish. I don't know why it surprised me anymore since she had always been the child in our relationship, ever since she left my dad and took me with her. It was always me cleaning up after her, cooking for her, making sure she was up for work before I left for school.
"Love you too, mom," I yelled, knowing damn well she couldn't hear me. Whatever, I don't need her to take me to the airport. I had actually planned on this happening and had set up a taxi appointment. I glanced around my small apartment, really feeling how empty it was now that the movers had picked everything up for me this morning, and I felt a smile tug at my lips.
I was really doing this.
Plucking my cell phone out of the pocket of my jeans I scrolled down until I reached my dad's number, and quickly pressed call. Charlie was beyond excited for me to be making the move to Washington. He never left the small town of Forks where he was the police chief, and I was going to be staying with him for two weeks before my classes started and while I looked for an apartment. The town had been too small for Renee, and Charlie to simple, but that was what I loved about it.
Voicemail. Great. "Hey dad, it's me. I just wanted to let you know the taxi should be here for me any minute and then I'm headed to the airport and on my way to you! My flight gets in at 6pm tonight in Port Angeles! Can't wait to see you!" I hung up, just in time to hear the horn of the cab.
I grabbed the bags I had, one large suitcase and my carry on, and stepped out of my apartment for the last time. I had never fit in here, not really. I had made almost no friends in high school, and didn't meet anyone that I would miss during my two years at college her. It made transferring to the University of Washington that much easier.
I greeted the cab driver, and slid into the backseat, excitement pulsing through my veins. This was it. I was really going.
xoxoxox
The flight from Phoenix to Seattle had seemed to drag on, but once I was in the air for the very short flight from Seattle to Port Angeles I couldn't stop smiling. I only saw my dad during the summer growing up, and whenever he could get time off to come visit in Phoenix and I missed him. My heart was pounding with excitement when the announcement came on that we were descending, and the elderly woman next to me chuckled lowly. "Meeting a boyfriend?" she asked, and I shook my head, smiling kindly at her.
"No, ma'am. My dad! I just made the move back here from Phoenix." She smiled sweetly at me, telling me what a good daughter I was, and that woman never really stop being 'daddy's little girl'. As the plane came to a complete stop and the flight attendant directed everyone to exit the plane I shot out of my seat, and grabbed my carryon. I bid my flight companion goodbye, and damn near ran down the aisle before anyone else had even moved.
I quickly made my way to the baggage claim where I knew my dad was waiting, and I grinned bigger than the Cheshire cat when I saw him standing there. He looked the same, barely aged and uncomfortable as always. My dad wore a small smile, and his eyes were alight with excitement.
"Dad!" I threw myself at him, my arms wrapping around him while he hugged me back awkwardly. He was never one to really show emotion, and he always been that way.
"Bells," he said, squeezing me just a bit tighter. "Let's get your bag and get on home." We waited in comfortable silence as bags started appearing, and when he saw mine he lifted it easily off the carousel, and led me out of the airport.
And then I saw it.
"Really, dad?" I asked, laughing, "You had to drive the cruiser?"
He shrugged his shoulders as I slid into the passenger seat, "I get to park at the curb. Benefits, Bells, benefits." He stuffed my suitcase into the trunk, got in the car and we were on our way! "The Clearwaters and the Blacks are at the house. They wanted to welcome you back with dinner. Sue cooked with Leah's help, and Bill and Jacob just wanted to see you again."
I nodded my head. Sue Clearwaters husband had passed away about four years ago, and I had noticed that she was around a lot more when I called my dad, which I didn't mind. I had never really liked the idea of my dad being so alone. He had Billy Black, and fishing of course, but it just wasn't the same. Jacob, Leah and I were around the same age and had played together every summer when I would visit my dad. Leah and I spoke on the phone often, and traded emails regularly while I was in Phoenix. Jake was just always busy, so we didn't get to speak much, but we did email.
The drive from Port Angeles to Forks took about an hour, and we arrived my childhood home, I smiled. The outside didn't appear very different, but there was a large old red truck sitting outside next to my dad's car in the driveway.
"Bella!" I looked towards the door to see Leah running out of it, and I smiled as I ran to meet her. We embraced and laughed as we nearly tripped over the steps leading up to the front door. "I'm so glad you're here! I have some great news to share with you!"
"Oh yeah?" I quipped, linking my arm with hers, "Did you finally break up with Sam? Did you see the light?" I had been teasing her about relationship for two years. I had never really thought he was good enough for her. He had actually tried to talk her out of going to college so she wouldn't leave Forks.
"Ha!" I looked towards the massive form of Jacob Black, and braced myself for his bone crushing hug. "She didn't have to think very hard after she caught him cheating last week with her cousin Emily." I gasped as his arms wrapped around my petite frame, and I whipped my head toward Leah, smacking Jake away.
"Leah, no…" I said, but she was shaking her head and waving her hands. She didn't look at all sad, and I couldn't help but notice the way she was blushing at Jake. "Wait.."
"It's not a big deal," she said, walking over to us and wrapping an arm around Jake's waist. "I was going to break up with him anyways. Seems I ended up developing feelings for this oversized mutt anyways." I laughed as her mom called us into the kitchen, and I said my hello's to everyone. The night passed quickly, and when 10pm rolled around I was exhausted. Charlie was in the kitchen helping Sue clean up, and I noticed how his hand lingered on hers a little longer than needed. I smiled softly. I was glad my dad had finally moved on from my mom, it took him long enough.
"Hey dad, Sue, thank you so much for dinner. It was amazing and appreciated. I'm going to head up to my old room. Goodnight." They both murmured their goodnights, my dad smiling over his shoulder, and when I turned around I came face to face with Leah.
"It's cute, huh?" she motioned towards our parents, and I nodded, agreeing with her. It really was. "Anyhow, I'm spending the night, so don't think you're getting out of that. I already said goodbye to Jake, so let's go Bells!" I let her drag me up the stairs, and through the small hall and into my room.
Nothing had changed. The walls were still the soft purple he had painted them when I graduated high school and came to visit, and the fluffy white comforter on my bed was still there. There was photos of me and Leah and Jake plastered to the walls, and my books were still haphazardly stuffed into the small book case.
"So," she said, flopping down onto my bed, "The exciting news I have for you, are you ready for it?"
I fell down next to her, noticing the freshly laundered scent of my bed, "It wasn't about you and Jake?" I was confused. I had really thought that was it. She shook her head, smiling brightly at me.
"How do you feel about being my roommate in Seattle?" Her eyes were glittering with excitement, and I just looked at her confused.
"I don't get it…" I said.
"You know when my dad passed away we got money from his insurance policy. It was a lot of money, Bella. My mom used part of it to pay for the apartment I live in Seattle while I'm in school. I had a roommate but she was a nasty skank ho and I asked her to move out. It really just wasn't working what with her being a slut, and all." I couldn't stifle my laughter. Leave it to Leah to be so blunt. "I already talked to my mom about it, and since I'm working, I don't need the money that a roommate brought. She was okay with you moving in, rent free."
What? She couldn't be serious. "Leah," I said, rolling onto my side to face her, "I couldn't do that. It wouldn't feel right living there rent free."
"Well," she said, "It wouldn't be completely free since I expect you to be my housewoman and cook for me. I didn't inherit that talent from my mom unfortunately. Why do you think the breadsticks were burned tonight? She let me in the kitchen. I'm going to fully rely on you to keep me fed." I thought about it for a minute, and I smiled brightly. "Charlie already said it would be a good idea and he would feel much better about you being with me, instead of on your own."
"Okay," I said, tossing a pillow at her, "Now let's get some sleep!"