Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing.
Ok everyone, I have been an absolutely terrible person. I completely abandoned my last story but honestly, I have been extremely busy. Life is in overdrive and my teachers are insane. So I am going to start this story and do my best to finish it. Posts may be sporadic till the summer and I am notorious for writer's block.
I'd also like to give this warning. This is another one of those Edward and Bella teenage love stories but I am going to do my best to add my own twists.
Bella's POV
Forks, Washington…cold, rainy, and green. The sun rarely shines and everything is covered in green. Charlie was driving the police cruiser and I watched the raindrops hit the window. It was raining, go figure. We pulled up to the new house that Charlie and his fiancée had bought together. They needed more room when they found out I was moving up to Forks since, Emmett occupied the only other room. The new house was white and surrounded by trees. The spacing between houses was prominent which allowed for variety. We passed by the house next door that was absolutely huge and much more modern looking.
Emmett and a woman that I guessed was Charlie's fiancée was standing outside along with a dog. The minute I got out of the car Emmett wrapped me in a bone crushing, bear hug.
"Welcome home baby sister!" His voice boomed and echoed off the trees.
We had the same brown hair but his was much curly and the same brown eyes. Emmett was a whole foot taller than my 5'4" frame and his muscles wrapped around him like steel bands. When he let me go, my lungs filled with air and blood returned to my extremities. Then the dog came over and sniffed at me tentatively and then shot me a wolfy grin. The dark fur and pointed ears cued me in that this was a German Shepherd. Suddenly it lifted its front paws onto my shoulders and licked my face from chin to temple.
"Eww gross!" I exclaimed and wiped the slobber away.
"Down Moose!" I heard Charlie call.
The dog immediately got off and kept looking at me from the ground. I carefully reached out and rubbed the fur back and forth.
"Bells, this is Moose. He is my police dog and the new family pet of course. He sure seems to like you," Charlie spoke in his usual gruff tone. After patting Moose's head I looked up at the woman.
She has strawberry blonde hair that came a few inches past her shoulders. She was pale with a peachy tan complexion and a few very light freckles across the tops of her cheek and nose. Her features were delicate and perfect. Hazel eyes that shined with a sort of tough love and knowing. She was very slender and an inch taller than myself. And young, she had to be about 30 or maybe 32. (A/N: Picture on my profile. I created her with the idea of Dr. Charlotte King from Private Practice in mind)
"Bella this is Hailey Walker, Hailey this is Bella," Charlie introduced us. I shook her hand.
"It's good to finally meet you Bella," her southern accent was noticeable in her speech.
"I'm glad my dad has found someone," I said as nicely as possible, I was still skeptical. Charlie and Emmett grabbed my bags and took them to what I assumed was my room.
"We had Esme Cullen and Hailey decorate the room so I hope you like it," Charlie mumbled.
The room was amazing. The floor was carpeted with a lovely beige color and the walls were painted a pale almost baby yellow. Lacy, antique looking, white curtains hung on the double window. A bench sitting beneath it covered with a white cushion. A double sized bed sat as the main part of the room that was covered with a white, blue, and yellow quilt. And white pillows that matched the curtains. A desk that matched the bed sat in front of the bed with a desk lamp. A side table rested on my side of the bed that had a lamp. The dresser, like the desk, matched the bed with silver and crystal knobs. And of course the old white rocking chair sat in the corner of my room. A double wide closet adorned with knobs like the dressers completed the room.
"Well, its 5:30 and we'll have dinner at 7 so take your time," Charlie said and then left.
That's the good thing about Charlie, he didn't hover. Moose stayed behind and curled up on my bed. I made quick work of my books and laptop. I set the time on my clock and put it down on the side table. Then I hung up pictures along with some art. When I went to put some of my clothes away I found a note. It was from Alice. We had met through Emmett and had been best friends since I started eighth grade in Phoenix, and when Emmett had moved to Forks. It said to text her when I found the note.
I found the note
I texted her quickly and went back to unpacking small stuff like undergarment. I opened dresser drawers to find them half filled. A knock sounded at my door.
"Yes?" I said while opening the door, only to find Alice bouncing up and down. She quickly wrapped me into a tight hug.
"I can't believe you're here!" she practically screamed.
"It's good to see you too Alice," I gasped out. She let me go and walked past me into the room.
"Oh good, you haven't done your clothes yet," she said while swinging open both doors of the closet. I gasped when I saw the full wardrobe.
"Alice, what is this?! I have clothes. Did you buy all this?" I was in shock.
"Well not all of it. Some of it's from me, some from Rosalie, and some from Hailey too," she said while rummaging through my suitcase, throwing some things in a pile and others into another, scowling at some clothes then contemplating others.
"Alice what are you doing?" I finally had to ask.
"I'm determining what you can keep and this is my final verdict. You can't keep it all since we have this new wardrobe for you," she said in a bored tone as if I should have already known.
"But these are my clothes!"
"Not anymore. But come on Bella, this wardrobe was for Phoenix and no where near prepared for Forks. Plus we washed all these clothes for you and we went for comfort," she explained. I sighed knowing I wouldn't win this one.
"I'm surprised Rose isn't here," I mumbled while Alice put the keepers away.
"She wanted to but couldn't. She's discussing college plans with her parents," Alice replied while putting the huge pile of rejects into trash bags.
I'd met Rosalie Hale a couple times. When Emmett came down to Phoenix he would occasionally bring Rosalie or Alice with him. Rosalie was absolutely gorgeous. She has wavy, long blonde hair that had a certain shine to it and flawless ivory skin. She has the body of a Sport's Illustrated model; all the right curves, about 5'7", and statuesque. Her lips are always rose red and her eyes were a light blue and depending on what she wore were almost violet. Completely the opposite of Alice Cullen.
Alice stands at about 4'10" with pixie like features to match her stature. Her hair is jet black and barely touches her shoulders. But what really threw me off the first time were her eyes. They are a brilliant shade of emerald green that seemed to glow. And of course like most people in this town she had pale skin. Both Rosalie and Alice are devastatingly beautiful and of course both taken. Rosalie was dating my lug of a brother, Emmett and Alice was dating Rosalie's brother Jasper. Apparently Alice had a twin brother named Edward who I hadn't seen in ages.
"Ok you can have Charlie take these bags to the Goodwill," Alice spoke clapping her hands together, "Do you mind if I come by tomorrow after I get out of school?"
"Sure, that's fine. I'll need the company."
"Oh!? Are you not going to school tomorrow?"
"No, I need to get a physical done at the hospital and then register at the school," I explained, "and it's Friday tomorrow, no point in coming one day."
"Good point, ok I will come over tomorrow. But before I leave, I was wondering what you are doing Saturday night?"
"Nothing that I can think of, why?" A devilish smile flitted to her face.
"You remember my brother Edward, right?"
"Not really it's been years Alice."
"Well you see Bella, I think that you and Edward would be perfect together. And since you haven't talked to him in a while, you could go see a movie in Port Angeles and grab some dinner?" A blind date…no way.
"I don't know Alice…" I was really hesitant after breaking up with my ex.
"Please Bella? He's a great guy. Please, please, please, please, please, plea—"
"Okay, okay," I surrendered. I was really becoming a door mat.
"Fabulous! Ok, I'll let him know and I will see you tomorrow after school. I'll even bring Rosalie," she squealed while skipping out the door and down the stairs.
With a groan I fell back onto my bed. Moose laid his head on my stomach. I petted his head for a few minutes before getting up. It was already 6:30.
Charlie and Emmett were watching a basketball game. I made my way into the kitchen to find Hailey starting to cook. I watched as she pulled things out. Noodles, canned tomatoes, spices, ground beef, lettuce, bread…I listed ingredients in my head. She finally noticed me from the corner of her eye.
"Want to help?" She asked. I nodded and made my way to the stove.
"I'm making Spaghetti and meatballs with salad and garlic bread," her southern accent flowed with a grace I would have never expected.
"I'll make the sauce and noodles," I offered.
She nodded, "I'll work on the meatballs and bread."
I filled a pot with water and set it to boil. Then I put another pot on the stove and filled it with the cans of tomatoes. I measured out some of the spices and added them one by one. One time when Renee, my mom, was out on a date with Phil, I took the time to experiment with spices and created my own spaghetti sauce. Once I was done I stirred the sauce and left it to warm. Just as I finished Hailey had finished rolling the meatballs. She warmed up a skillet and started to cook the meatballs, pausing only to stick the bread in the oven. I took the chance to ask her some questions.
"So where do you work?"
"I'm a teacher at the high school. I currently teach the A.P. U.S. History class, History of American War, and also Ancient Civilizations."
"Those are some advanced classes. What type of degree do you have?"
"I received my bachelor in History and then received my masters in teaching," she flipped a few meatballs as she spoke.
"Just curious, how old are you?" I didn't mean to be rude but she seemed a younger than Charlie, who recently turned 38.
"You know it's impolite to ask a lady her age. But since you are also a lady I'll tell you," she paused to check on the bread, "I'll be turning 32 here in March." Six years younger than Charlie.
"Where are you from? I noticed your southern accent so I doubt you're a native of Washington," I started tearing lettuce into a bowl.
"Smart girl, and how about we stop the interrogation and I will just tell ya about myself," she answered while flipping the bread.
"My name is Hailey Walker and I'm from Savannah, Georgia. I come from an old, rich Southern family. My family's lived in Georgia since around the War of 1812. My parents were very traditional. I was raised to be tough on the inside and a lady on the outside. I have one brother, Sawyer, who is 36. He's a marine in the military, mainly because my father pressured him into it. I also was pressured into teaching by Big Daddy but instead of classical literature I chose history. And to their greater disgust I chose to focus on war.
My mother died when I turned 29 and I took the chance to move as far away from Georgia as possible. And I found this little town where Big Daddy couldn't find me. That's when I met your dad. At first I tried to avoid him. I didn't need any ties but it was hard. There was something about your dad that drew me in. I'm pretty sure it was those brown eyes that did me in. But we started dating and a year later I received word from Sawyer that Big Daddy's smoking finally did him in. So Charlie went with me down to Savannah where Sawyer turned the machines off. A couples months later your dad proposed to me. I know you think I'm young but honestly an older guy is probably for the best. And we need each other," she stopped to take out the bread.
I finished dressing the salad and Hailey slowly dropped the meatballs into the thickened sauce. I felt guilty. I had the wrong impression of her. I stirred the noodles into the meatballs and sauce and turned off all the heat.
"Ok men! It's supper time!" Hailey called. They were in the kitchen so fast it made my head spin. We all got a plate and Emmett was at the table first. I watched as he took a bite of the spaghetti.
"Shit! This is amazing Hailey!" He hollered after swallowing.
"Language!" Hailey scolded and hit him in the back of the head with her napkin. I giggled at the scene. He gave her a sheepish look and mumbled a sorry.
"This sauce is really good Hailey, new recipe?" Charlie said next.
"Nope, Bella made the sauce actually. She deserves the credit," Hailey said after taking a bite.
"Bells, this is amazing!" Emmett said with a mouthful of food.
"Speak before you swallow!" Hailey scolded again.
There was no messing around with Miss Hailey. Moose whimpered at me and Charlie got up quickly. He spooned out two meatballs and put them in a dog dish with the dog food. Moose made quick work of the food and gave me a big dog grin. We all finished eating and the guys cleaned up.
"Dad, Emmett, I can do this," I spoke while they cleared the table.
"Nope," Charlie spoke while picking everything up.
"It's a tradition since Hailey's been here. She cooks and we clean up. And since you helped her cook then you don't have to clean up," Emmett said getting all the pots in the sink. There were no left overs.
I sighed and went up to my room. I grabbed some stuff to sleep in and made my way to the shower. I shared the bathroom with Emmett since Charlie and Hailey's room was downstairs. Luckily, Emmett managed to keep the bathroom neat so I put my stuff in the bathroom. After taking a shower I made my way back to my room. I pulled back the quilt to find a few layers of blankets for the cold weather of mid-January.
Settling in I tried to sleep despite the constant noise of the rain.
So what did you guys think? The next few chapters are going to be posted quickly since I've been such a terrible person. I'm also looking for a Beta for this story because I'm terrible at grammar and I make plenty of mistakes. So please review, please give constructive criticism, and I welcome ideas. Thanks!