Trail of Dreams

Dear Readers:

Thanks for deciding to give my story a try! I honestly want to complete this story and above all I want to make sure you guys enjoy it. If you have any concerns, complaints, comments, or questions please don't hesitate to ask.

I would like to thank my two amazing Betas FrenchToastLover and Mockingjay272. Unfortunatly, Mockingjay272 was unable to help with this chapter but she will be there for the others. Credits for editing and descriptions for this chapter go to FrenchToastLover. She's a real sweetheart!

Thanks,

Lovenyx125

Summary: He lived in fear, afraid to close his eyes. She wanted to live, afraid to blink, to lose even a second of precious life. He was shattered. She was pulling her strings tighter.

Chapter 1: Change

[Bella]

Change is a huge part of life. In fact, it is life. Change is life. Life is constantly changing whether we like it or not. I don't, as a matter of fact, but it doesn't stop it from happening. I've learned to accept it and smile through it. Change doesn't happen so that you can mope about it and let the waves of desolation crash over you. No. It happens so you can learn from it and experience a new way of life. It's hard to image why but change is good. Change if how we grow and learn to live our lives. Change is life. Change is us.

Change was a very important part of my life. I changed parents, schools, friends, and lives. When I was 7 my mom decided she wanted change; apparently she couldn't live in tiny ole' Forks, Washington anymore. It was suffocating her and she couldn't take it any longer so she decided to leave my dad and take me with her. Did I have a choice? No. If I did, would I have stayed?...

Probably not…

My father, Charlie Swan, was and still is a very simple man. His favorite place to eat was the local burger joint, his hobby was fishing, and he is the police chief of Forks. The job was his wife and kids. His family.

I look a lot like him actually, a bit more like him than I do my mom. I have his brown hair and almond eye shape, or so they say. The things I got from my mom are her chocolate brown eyes that are this interesting medium true brown, my eyes have this decadent connection, and her S-shaped wavy hair type.

My mother, Renee Dwyer, is a happy-go-lucky free spirit. She's full of life and passion. She doesn't know what she wants in life, but she does know she wants to live. And that I do get from her. The desire to live. I want to live my life to the fullest. I'm afraid to close my eyes as though if I do I'll miss something.

I'm very plain, I know. I have an okay body, I have never really let anyone judge so how would I even know? I've learned to accept it and live with it. I'm happy the way I am. I won't deny that I wish I was prettier, but honestly, which teenage girl doesn't? I'm your average girl-next-door. Bella Swan.

"Bella," Renee cried for the hundredth time, "Are you sure about this?"

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Yes mom. Don't worry. I want this."

I wasn't lying. Not completely. A part of me was excited to see Charlie. I hadn't seen him for a year now since his summer visit was cancelled. When duty calls Charlie Swan is always there.

Renee looked doubtful but I'd been saying this all morning so she had to believe me. "You know you can always come home. Phil and I would love to have you with us," she assured me with anxious eyes.

Phil was her husband of four years. He was good for her. He loved her and kept her happy. He was a major baseball player and his fan base consisted of middle-age women and jealous men.

More tears and worrying, and then I was boarding the plane. The ride to Seattle wasn't very interesting. I sat next to an old lady who snored for the time. When the plane landed I collected my luggage and set off to find Charlie.

I had only been waiting a couple of minutes when I saw him. He looked just the same as before. I walked over to him and it wasn't until I was directly in front of him that he noticed.

"Bella," he smiled warmly and pulled me into a hug. It wasn't an awkward hug, but for some reason it was strange, although I really had missed Charlie.

"Hi dad," I said softly with my lip curving upwards at the corners, I couldn't possibly hide a cheesy grin.

He pulled back and looked me over. "You look different," he noted, with one finger pointing at me.

I lightly pushed his finger down so he didn't have to point at me anymore. "Yeah. Mom got to me," I giggled. "After her agency started booming she decided to give me a whole new look."

Charlie sighed and with a shake of his head he said, "Well your mom gets to everyone."

I chuckled and followed him outside. It was raining but that wasn't unusual at all. It always rained here.

I internally groaned when I realized that we were driving home in the cruiser. Of course I knew Charlie didn't have another vehicle but I'd forgotten about the attention grabbing cop cruiser.

The ride to Forks was pretty quiet; Charlie and I never had a talkative relationship. He asked me a couple of questions about Renee and Phil but strayed away from the topics of school or friends. He knew me too well.

When we pulled into the driveway what came into view was his two story, two bedroom house. It was just the same. Memories of playing in the yard with both my parents and making snow angels flooded my mind. Drinking green tea on the porch with Renee and doing the Sunday crossword puzzle with Charlie.

I blinked back the tears and followed Charlie to the door. He had my duffel bag in one hand and his keys in the other. As I stepped onto the porch I looked down at the weed-covered patch of dirt off to the side. Renee and I had planted tulips there when I was five. It made me sad to see that they had died long ago and the weeds had taken over their home. Just like people died and hate began to spread on their memories. It was quite sad.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and before going inside I promised myself I would bring the garden back to life.

The inside of the house was the same too. Not a thing had changed. Pictures of Renee and me covered the walls and the yellow paint on the kitchen walls was just as faded as the day Renee painted it.

With not much to see on the first floor, I followed Charlie upstairs. He showed me to my room and with an awkward mention of pizza for dinner he left.

I looked around my childhood bedroom and with a sigh I collapsed onto my bed. Looking up at the butterflies on the ceiling I smiled. Butterflies were a symbol of hope and that was exactly what I needed. Hope. I was starting over now. Forks was a new beginning. I hoped this new life would turn out to be better than the old one. Even if only a little. Any amount of change would be good for me.

I fingered the blue duvet and looked around my remodeled room again. Everything was new; the table, computer, bed, curtains, and walls. The table and bedframe was a dark chocolate brown while the curtains, walls, and bed sheets were ocean blue. Calming. Quite calming.

I looked over at the long mirror in the corner of the room, while getting up I strutted as if I were pretending - and failing - to be a model and headed over to the mirror and giggled at my own stupidity. And then I stopped, glaring at my reflection… I focused on my body, noticing the average height. And I mean my boobs are okay, they're a nice C-cup but I don't think they're that perky. I grabbed a handful of my bubble but and honestly wished it would shrink a little bit. The only thing I could probably say that satisfied me about my body is my flat stomach…

I squatted down in front of the mirror and wiped away the dust and just stared at the grey dirt on my fingers.

Later on diner seemed quiet, and calm. Charlie didn't talk much so that made it easy for me to avoid a conversation. I wasn't really up to talking yet. I was still adjusting to the changes. Besides, the four hour long flight had left me exhausted. I was normally very bubbly and talkative.

After dinner I was about to leave to go to bed when Charlie cleared his throat.

"Ehrm. I just wanted to let you know that I arranged a ride for you to school tomorrow," he explained. "Alice Cullen. Sweet girl. She lives next door."

I nodded, relieved.

"Thanks," I smiled. "I was wondering about that."

"Were you going to ask anytime soon?" Charlie chuckled, an eyebrow raised.

I blushed and shook my head.

Charlie rolled his eyes and said, "Well off to bed you go kiddo. School tomorrow."

I smiled and kissed him goodnight before heading upstairs. Once my teeth were brushed, pajamas put on, and bag readied for school I turned off the light and tucked myself into bed. I smiled to myself in the dark when I realized that this might not be so hard after all.

Then just before I drifted off I pulled my hands together and thought as sincerely as I could.

Dear God,

Thank you for another okay day. Thank you for giving me another chance. Please, please, oh please don't let me screw up tomorrow. I just want to find a friend tomorrow. I really don't want to spend the rest of my year eating my lunch in the washroom, alone. So please don't let that happen. Thanks again.

I wasn't religious but my mother once told me that if you prayed to god every night and thanked him for what you had then he would grant you your wishes. Many years later I still followed the same ritual every night.

With that last thought I drifted off to sleep with piano music floating in my ears.