Fidgeting

Bella's POV

I sat there in row 26, seat A, looking blindly out the window.

I had learned of my slight fear of heights when I was twelve and my mother had left Forks, Washington, our home, with me in hand. Living with Charlie, my father, and Emmett, my brother, was no place for a growing girl she told me. So we left, leaving them behind.

The only thing that was sent back was our new address, our phone number, and divorce papers.

My mother was not a callous woman, she was just slightly eccentric—the foil of Charlie, the calm, cool, collected Chief of Forks, Washington.

The move out of Forks was perfect for my mother; it allowed her to run wild and set free.

It was the exact opposite for me. I dreaded the heat, the pompous city, the average clichéd high school.

If Forks, Washington was purple, Phoenix, Arizona was yellow – the exact opposite of the spectrum, and a lot brighter too. I hated it.

It was sunny and hot, sticky but dry. It wasn't home, but at least I had my mother. We grew unbearably close in this time; she became my best friend. It was she who taught me the wonders of literature, the serenity of music, and the beauty of simplicity, though she knew none of these things. Her interests in literature were limited to fashion and house renovating magazines (for the time being) and her mind was as busy as a beehive. It was only the music that could weld her to Earth; she listened to classical music while doing almost everything.

But she got re-married recently. I didn't mind in the slightest. The wedding was fabulous; Emmett and Charlie both came of course. They hadn't stayed long but seeing them was contentment enough. However, my mother was a grown woman, and I knew all new couples needed privacy. And so I left her with Phil and journeyed back to my town of Forks.

In a matter of minutes I would be returning to Forks. I would be reunited with Charlie and Emmett, and my best friends Alice, Rosalie, Jasper, and of course, Edward.

Soon, the seatbelt sign came on and I knew what that meant. I slipped yet another stick of gum in my mouth, gripped the sides of my seat, and shut my eyes tight. As if any of that were going to help.

I could feel the rumbling of the tiny plane through the frame of my body, and could feel the descent of the entire plane as I begin to tip forward.

I focused on my breathing, harsh, loud, deep breaths in and out, hoping to drown out the screeching of the wheels and the booming of the engine.

The plane touched with a steady landing and soon after, we rolled to a stop. I craned my head, stretched my fingers, and visibly relaxed in my seat. When the seatbelt sign came off, the passengers rose, retrieved their parcels, and then left the plane hastily. I remained until the plane was almost clear before rising from the seat unsteadily and stretching. Smiling at the plane attendants as I passed, I walked off the plane and stepped in to another world. The dark, moist, sweet air of Forks enveloped me in a gentle cocoon, and I willingly embraced its familiar touch as it cascaded me out of the plane.

Still, despite the childhood remembrance of Forks that the atmosphere had triggered, I couldn't help being nervous. I was returning as a different person. My braces had come off in the ninth grade, my hair had become somewhat tamable, and my body had acquired some of its womanly curves. I was relieved knowing that I had left at least at the perfect time. I didn't have to deal with the awkward phases of adolescence in front Charlie and Emmett.

I went through airport security relatively quickly; in a town as small as Forks, strict procedures weren't as necessary. After retrieving my bulky, overstuffed suitcases (courtesy of my mother), I rolled my way to the door, only tripping once over the threshold.

I smiled when I caught sight of Charlie, standing there uncomfortably in his shiny, buttoned police uniform. I almost laughed. This is my Forks in all its glory.

I grinned as I approached him, giving him a slightly awkward hug. We were never the kind to display our emotions openly, but we liked it that way. It was fitting that our reunion was just as such.

Emmett had taken the truck to his football game and so we loaded my suitcases into the back of Charlie's cruiser and drove home.

"So, does Emmett know I'm here?" I asked. We, being Charlie and I, had tried to keep my return a secret. I also had to drill it into Renee's brain every day not to mention it to Emmett, but of course, she slipping up a couple of times. Thanks to Charlie's great poker face, he never did figure it all out. Emmett was aware I was moving back, however, the date remained a secret.

"I told him you weren't coming until March. He was a little disappointed it wasn't earlier, but he's still overly excited," Charlie replied.

I smiled. Emmett was sometimes too easy to fool. I loved his haywire brain. He definitely took after our mother.

"So what's new in the town of Forks?" I asked while looking out the window. I always enjoyed driving with Charlie, so smooth and careful.

"Well, I am just a father, but I have been trying to keep up with the gossip for you," he said with a tinge of red in his cheeks.

I laughed. I couldn't imagine Charlie as a gossiper. Could he handle the scandals and love triangles?

"So fill me in."

He was quiet for a bit. I supposed he was sorting out all the information. Was it that good?

"Not much has changed, of course. It is Forks. And I'm pretty sure Emmett has filled you in with most of it," he said.

"He's going out with Rosalie and Alice and Jasper are finally dating, What else?" I asked him.

He frowned. "You seem to know more than I do."

I laughed. "Don't worry, dad. I'll handle to gossip, you stick to crime-fighting."

We arrived at home sooner than I'd expected.

At first I thought about going to Emmett's game and surprising him there, but the game would most likely be over. And, being the amazing sister that I was, I decided to surprise him with a good home cooked meal, something he probably didn't get very often. And so I showered, changed into my favourite hip-hugging jeans and 'Be the Change' t-shirt, and set out to the grocery store.

But I suppose in such a small town like Forks, I should have been prepared for what I walked into…

Please, please, please review, review, REVIEW! =)