Chapter 1: Puzzles
[Bella POV]
I looked out the window and sighed. Rain wasn't unusual for the small town of Forks, but after living the past two years under it, you'd realize it's tiring. But even as I thought it, I realized that I knew there was something more to Forks. There was a beauty to it that I have never seen in any of the other towns I've lived in.
"Bella, breakfast," I heard Charlie, my dad, call from downstairs.
"Coming," I called out. I glanced at the mirror briefly, to check that my hair was arranged, and I left my room to join him for breakfast.
"Morning," I greeted as I sat down.
"Morning." As per usual, he was reading the papers while drinking his coffee, which was a really funny combination but something he's told me that 'simply grows on you'. I smiled and served myself pancakes and immediately spread butter and jelly.
"I'll be home later than usual tonight," he reminded me. "I have to run a patrol over to Seattle."
Even though he's been telling me about it since last week, I still couldn't help but get worried. "Will you be alright?"
He rolled his eyes and didn't answer. I could imagine what he'd say, anyway: 'Why wouldn't I be?'
"I'm just worried," I answered defensively. And then I sighed and bit my pancake. "Okay. Will you be around for dinner?"
"Don't think so, either," he answered automatically.
We were both quiet for a moment, me eating breakfast, him reading the papers. He shifted to the next page and cleared his throat. I looked up at him.
"If you want, I could call a friend over," he told me. I almost choked on my pancake at that. He glanced at me and then concentrated on the papers once more. "I do have friends, Bella."
I chuckled. "Yes, of course you do. What's with your friend?"
"Well, he hasn't been in town for the last decade or so, and maybe I could ask him to come over and feed you. He's only also one of the best doctors in the country, so I could say he could check on you."
I nodded. Check on me, I mused. Maybe that's the main point why he brought this up? My health and check-ups has always been a sore subject ever since Renee, my mom, died two years ago.
"Okay," I cleared up. "Call me what time he'll be coming."
"He'll be around at about seven. That okay with you?"
"Will I have to cook dinner?"
"No."
"Then yeah, that's okay with me."
"Alright. I'll see you this evening, Bells."
"Bye, dad." I stood up and brushed my teeth, and then, after picking my bag up from my room, went downstairs, grabbed my keys, and jumped into my little Chevy. It was old, about five or six years old now, but ever since Charlie bought it for me—in exchange for the other, older Chevy—I've loved it.
The drive to school was always boring and uneventful. Well, that is, if you found brown and green boring and uneventful, you'd think so. To me, it was beautiful. The green reminded me of the cold, and the brown reminded me of the warm. It was a wonderful combination that always made me feel better whenever I felt gloomy.
I got to school at five before seven, parked where I usually did, and leapt out of the car.
Alice Brandon, my good old friend Alice, was waiting for me by the cafeteria when I got here.
"Morning," she chirped as she gave me a hug. Being almost a head shorter than I am, I had to bend to reciprocate. "I have great news today."
I looked at her curiously. "What?"
"Rosalie got into the firm!"
My eyes widened and I felt a grin spread across my lips. For the past six months, my other close friend, Rosalie Hale, has been trying to apply for this modeling firm she always wanted to join because of the college scholarships they offered for their models.
Alice had no problem with scholarships—she already has one on fashion. Rose was a senior and I understood why she would have or want a scholarship, but Alice and I were barely halfway through junior year.
Still, I was so proud of Rosalie that I can't help but giggle when she arrived with her brother, Jasper.
"Oh my gods, congratulations!" I told her, enveloping her in my arms. She tapped my back repeatedly and whispered:
"Thank you."
Even though I couldn't see it, I knew that her face was glowing with pride and gratefulness. When we pulled away, I saw that I was right—she was proud. It's not like she doesn't have reason to—I mean, she's easily one of the most beautiful people I know, and I love her. I smiled at her again.
"We're all proud of her," Jasper interjected, tapping his sister's shoulder. I grinned at Jasper, too. He was already holding Alice's hand behind Rose, and, as we straightened up, more hugs were exchanged.
Alice and Jasper had started dating sometime last year, when I couldn't remember correctly what really happened. Rose and I just roll our eyes at the pair of them, but sometimes they're so sweet you'd think you'll melt.
"So. Do you guys have plans of celebrating tonight?" Alice asked.
Jasper and Rosalie exchanged a look and nodded at each other.
"It's a Friday," Jasper began. "I don't think we're busy tonight."
Alice bobbed up and down and clapped her hands, and then looked at me as my heart fell. Charlie's friend. I sighed, looking at them apologetically.
"Someone's come back to town after a decade," I said. "He's Charlie's friend. I'd already promised dinner." I smiled ruefully. All three of them looked disappointed at first, but then Alice clapped and laughed.
"That's alright," she told me. "We'll see you tomorrow morning, I guess?"
I smiled and nodded, my mood lifting a bit. These three were three of the few—uh, four?—people who knew of me and my health. And still, they accepted me for who I am—not for my stupid disability. I shook my head and we all walked together through campus. We dropped Alice off to Math class first, and then we dropped Jasper, and finally it was Rosie's turn.
"I'm really sorry I can't make tonight," I whispered as we hugged by the door.
"That's okay. I think you're talking about my uncle, anyway."
I pulled away from her and knitted my eyebrows. "Huh?"
"My uncle—Carlisle Cullen. He and his family just moved in the other day, and he hasn't been around for a good ten years or so." I frowned.
"Shouldn't he be spending dinner with family, then?"
Rose just shook her head. "Charlie is family to him."
I nodded, and she left. I walked to my own class alone, and when I got there, I was still mulling about that little fact. Carlisle Cullen… he'd heard it before. The name sounded vaguely familiar, and for some reason he keeps seeing blue eyes and blond hair.
Well, that may be because Rose was blonde with blue eyes and she claimed he was her uncle. But, as I sat down on my chair, I had a feeling in my gut that that wasn't the fact. I knew who Carlisle Cullen was, but for the life of me I couldn't place who.
The teacher came in a few minutes later, began her lecture about the English Language, and soon the bell was ringing and soon I was on my way to second period.
"Bella!" someone called. I looked behind me and smiled at Angela, the local pastor's daughter, waving from across the hall, walking to me. She was smiling like mad when she got to me. "I heard about Rosalie."
I grinned at her. She, too, was part of our little group—our little strange group—and I hugged her. We talked nonsense until we got into History, and then we kept quiet when the teacher came in. I brought my textbook out and began reading the unit for the day. I looked up and took down notes, and then exchanged a few opinions with Angela.
Halfway through class, when no one was listening anymore and the teacher was just droning on about senseless stuff, I brought out my little black journal and took out a pen. I set both on the table and opened the black leather of the journal, grabbed my pen, and began writing, drawing… doodling.
I wasn't thinking anything at all while I was drawing. Half of my brain was actually concentrating on the conversation with Angela. We were talking about our new little fad—George Martin's A Game of Thrones—and when I looked down, I was surprised by what I ended up sketching.
Since I was a kid, I was always interested in the arts. I could play three musical instruments, I could compose music, I could write poems, and I was great at drawing. But what I saw really surprised me.
It was a picture.
The first thing I noticed was that there were six people in that picture—four adults and two kids. One woman carrying a long haired baby was my mother, Renee. She was looking up at me from the canvas. The man behind her could only be Charlie, who was looking at her, and the baby was sucking her thumb, looking at me, too. In front of Renee stood a man, smiling broadly, his arm around another woman who was, too, looking up at me through the canvas. She was holding another baby, a boy this time, who could only be a few months older than the girl Renee carried.
The longer I stared at it, the more I felt like the colors are coming to life. I can see Renee's blonde and dad's brown. I can see the girl's brown hair and eyes. I can see the other man's blond hair and blue eyes, and the other woman's brown eyes and gold hair.
That was the time I realized I was staring at a picture. I've seen this picture before… I saw it at one of the cupboards at the living room. It was hidden inside a photo album entitled '1995'—the year I was born. I tried to think. Who could these be?
"Yes, Ms. Swan?"
My eyes snapped open as a sudden hush descended upon the room. I looked around and saw that everyone was staring at me. I looked at the teacher, confused, and saw that he, too, looked confused.
"Were you saying something?" he asked again.
I blinked and felt that blush coming up my cheeks. My heart began a frenzy in my chest—like it did every time I was nervous. I looked down at my table and shook my head.
"Okay, then. You're dismissed. Don't forget your essays at eight Monday morning."
After he talked I heard the bell ring. I stood up, grabbed my things and walked out of the classroom with Angela. When were in the hallway, I stopped her by grabbing her arm.
"What did I say?" I hissed.
"Uh—1995? Photo album," she answered nervously. I let her go and smiled.
"Sorry."
"S'okay. Are you coming to the party tonight?"
I grimaced. "I can't. I have guests to—"
I stopped. Guests… pictures… Rosalie's uncle…
It all added up with a 'ping' in my head.
"One of dad's old friends is coming," I told Angela instead. She smiled and nodded.
"Who?" she asked. I knew she'd ask that.
"Carlisle Cullen."