Disclaimer: I didn't write Twilight, I just rented the characters for a while.
A/N: Imagine if you could rent Edward. OMC, the waiting list would be insane. Soyeah this is my first fanfiction. Be nice. It'll get better I promise. You always have to get through the borrow beginnings. But it would be nice for some feedback, constructive criticism and whatnot. Yay!
"Mom, I seriously doubt I'll need all of those." I cried for what seemed like the millionth time today.
Renee had busied herself all afternoon since she took on the duty of packing my suitcase, probably to disguise her sadness about my leaving. She kept her eyes on the mounds of clothes surrounding her, eye darting, hands digging, rarely looking at me.
"Bella, don't be silly." She made herself look torn between packing a fourth dress or to leave it at three. Like I even wear them. "You do want to make a good impression on these people, don't you?"
These people. These spoiled, get anything and everything handed to them on a silver platter people. I shuttered at the thought of mingling, going to their parties, drinking their champagne and eating their caviar.. well that's probably what they do. Probably with not a hair out of place either.
"I don't want to impress them, Mom. Especially if it only takes nice clothes. I just want to do my own thing." I kept my voice even, not wanting to start anything with her just hours before my flight to LA.
"I still don't understand why you decided against New york." Oh here she goes. I only applied there to get her off my back. I didn't really believe that I would be accepted. "Bella, really, it just blows my mind! Think of what you're giving up! The music program is definitely better there and the kind of life..."
I ignored her usual rant as I looked around my room. It hasn't really changed in the past 18 years. The same green paint on the walls with the fading strip of wildflower wallpaper, the old rocking chair in the corner that has been there ever since I could remember, my small bed barely big enough for me, covered with guilt, or better known as 100 Egyptian cotton sheets and the most comfortable duvet you could imagine - a gift from my mother and my new step-father, Phil. Everything was neat and tidy. I was never one for neatness, and seeing my room like this depressed me. Renee has slowly been emptying out the room, one piece of furniture at a time to make space for her new fitness area. She claimed that having a husband as fit as baseball "pro" Phil forced her to stay in good shape, and not, like I pointed out, because he was 10 years younger than her. I was just cynical that she wasn't being all sentimental and keeping my room exactly as it was, like some mothers would. But Renee wasn't like most mothers. After about 15 minutes of me staring off into space and feel sorry for myself I realized my mother was still talking to me.
"...Think of the places you could see. Oh for heaven's sake!" She was sitting on top of my suitcase trying to get the zipper closed. "Bella, don't just stand there. Help me!"
Only after an hour of both my mother and I jumping on top of the suitcase did it finally close all the way, although it did threaten to burst open. I made a mental reminder to repack everything when my mother when to bed, especially removing the sundresses she thought were so necessary. She was out of breath when she stood up and made her way to the hallway.
"You can still change your mind, you know." She said offhandedly, but I knew she still had hope. Hope that I would be the daughter she wanted. I grew up way too fast, taking care of both of us it seemed. I thought it was pointless and boring to dress up and be a "girl for once" as my mother so delicately puts it. I liked comfortable. Jeans, t-shirt and my chucks were all I needed. And just like my appearance, my mother would never understand my decision for school. The the only professor I wanted was Dr. Brandon Strongheld, he was brilliant and taught some of the best vocalists in the world. Ever since I went to that seminar he had at the community center 3 years ago and saw what he did with Angela, I knew I had to see him. He not only helped her with her tonality and range, but the flow of his words spewing with knowledge and experience brought out her confidence. Confidence is what I needed and Dr. Strongheld would give it to me.
"Mom..." I looked into her eyes, pleading her to let this go. I had to go, I had to do this. "I've made up my mind. UCLA is where I need to be."
"I know sweetheart, but a mother can dream, can't she?"
Ouch.
Part of the reason why I wanted to go so far away was to get away from Renee. I love her, I do. But her life with Phil is new, she be starting a new family with him, and I'd just be in the way. Renee walked back to me, and pulled me into her tightly wrapping her arms around me. "I will miss you."
We stood like that for what seemed like forever, probably the longest embrace we've ever had. "Now get some sleep, your flight leaves in only a few hours"
And with that she turned around, and I watched her walk out of her new fitness room.
--
The cab smelt like old socks and meat so I pried the backseat window open and looked at my new town. Large houses, adjacent to even larger houses flashed by, with women walking dogs and children with leashes along the sidewalk. At a red light I watched a boy around the age of 8, with a neatly ironed blue dress shirt running in circles around a tree while a hysteric older woman chased him with a pair of slacks in his hands. The pant-less boy stopped to look at me, waved, and as I was waving back the woman gave me a glare and grabbed pant-less boy, dragging him inside yelling "I don't get paid enough for this!"
This was going to be interesting.
"First time in LA, Miss?" the cab driver growled as I watching a group of girls no older than 10, chatting on their cell phones.
"Yeah," I said absentmindedly, I didn't even have a cell phone.
"Good luck," was all he said as the cab came to a stop. He got out, took out my bags from the trunk, I passed him my money and he sped off.
Turning my gaze from the shrinking yellow car, I saw it. Green spread for miles, and in the center was a building, thebuilding. Two towers rose with caged windows at the top, the center had arches on two levels making it look like a cathedral. Students walked by, or layed in the grass ignoring the view. I would have thought it impossible to ignore, it was... beautiful. I've seen pictures. Hell I know it's entire history. But no picture could capture this.
This is my home.