I sighed as my mother turned off the highway and took our exit. It was an exit was I all too familiar with. I spent most of my time at the end of the strip of asphalt when I was growing up. After ten or eleven years, not much had changed. Well, nothing except for the green sign that said, "Welcome to Forks." That was new.

"Oh, stop with that Isabella." My mother scolded. "You wouldn't have to come here if we could trust you."

"Gee, thanks." I rolled my eyes. I wasn't going to admit that her confession had stung a little, and by a little, I meant a lot.

She looked at me with remorse and put her hand on my lap. "I'm sorry honey. I didn't mean it like that. It's just...why can't you behave like Olivia? You used to be such a sweet little girl. What happened Izzy?"

I didn't know how to answer her. How could I say anything at all? There's nothing like hearing your own mother tell you that they would rather you be like someone else. Might as well tell me I was a mistake. Instead, I opted to darting out of the car at the first stop sign I found. Walking through town in the rain was much better than listening to Renee's heart-felt pleas for her little "Izzy" to come back. I hated to tell her this, but Izzy died a long time ago.

"Isabella! Get back in this car!" Renee yelled out in shock. "Where are you going? You're going to catch a cold!"

I slammed the door and started walking towards town. It may have been a while since I was in my hometown of Forks, but I still remembered my way around.

It wasn't long before I came across Whistle Stop. I couldn't help but wonder if Sue and Harry still owned the small cafe. It was my favorite place when I was younger. Charlie, my father, would take me there for an early lunch every Sunday before Renee would come to take me back to Phoenix. I would cry the whole way home. I debated on stopping by when a gust of wind blew my hat off, making my mind up for me. I picked my hat off the ground and put it back on my head, pulling it down to block the rain from my eyes, and made my way inside the building.

I was immediately greeted with a waft of home cooked bread. One of my favorite parts of coming here was always the fresh, hot, homemade rolls Sue would give me in place of the toast Charlie would slather in grape jelly. I always thought that was gross. Who wants to eat hard bread? Bred was meant to be soft.

"Isabella Swan, is that you?"

I jumped and turned to see none other than Sue smiling at me with her hands on her hip. Her hair was a little gray in areas and her face was starting to show her age, but it was Sue nonetheless.

I couldn't help but to grin at the woman who made the world's best blueberry pancakes. "In the flesh!" I gave her a hug and relaxed. Renee may not see me the same anymore, but the people around here weren't around to see the little girl I used to be die and fade away.

Sue patted her hair and led me over to a bar seat. "Have a seat dear." She busied herself pouring me a cup of fresh orange juice. "We heard you were coming home for a bit, so Harry and I did. Oh you'll have to stop by the house. He's been counting down the days until you came home. Him and that father of yours both have. He hasn't shut that trap of his about you, ya know?" She paused, "Do you still eat blueberry pancakes darling?"

I nodded my head yes and took a gulp of juice. That's the thing about Sue, she had this way of rambling on and on without you saying a single word but it was like you were having a full-blown conversation with her. I loved it. I loved her. Her and Harry were the grandparents I never had growing up. As the chief of police, Charlie often worked late so they would watch me until Charlie was done. They never asked him for money or anything in return. Sue always told him that getting to hear a little girl's laughter fill her home again was payment enough.

A few minutes later Sue sat a plate of pancakes in front of me and went off to tend to her other customers. I was so consumed by the steaming plate of heaven in front of me that I never noticed the stool beside me move, or the body that occupied it until the man spoke.

"I thought you would be here." His voice was deep and full of humor. I would know that voice anywhere. Charlie. I shoveled another bite of deliciousness in my mouth and turned to him. "Your mother was worried sick about you kiddo. She would have stayed but she was running late. Didn't want to miss her flight." He shook his head and took a swig of my orange juice. Sue walked by and I could have sworn I heard him thank her for calling him.

"How much trouble am I in?" I'm not sure why I asked. I didn't really care anymore. I spent the last eight years in trouble. Apparently I was a trouble magnet and if I didn't make it, it found me.

"None. Just don't get the wrong idea and start thinking that this kind of stuff is okay, because it isn't. Why, if I wasn't so happy to see you, I would skin your hide clean off."

I smiled at his effort to not laugh. Ever since he and Renee got a divorce sixteen years ago and she met Phil, he had been overjoyed when I, quote, misbehaved for them. "Yeah, right." I inhaled the rest of my food. "Let's go home." I stood and tossed some money on the table for Sue. I knew she didn't expect me to pay her, but I felt the need to.

The car ride to Charlie's house was short-lived but much more relaxed than the ride with Renee. Maybe it was because I hadn't seen my father in at least ten years. Maybe it was because he wasn't sitting in the seat next to me judging every breath I take. Either way, I found myself smiling for the first time since I left Phoenix.