Prologue:
I choked back the tears. It had to be wrong. How much more would I have to endure this year? First I gave up everything to live in this shithole with my dying father. Then he
up and dies on me too early. I found love granted, but this would change everything. Renee would be so dissappointed. Her and Phil gave me whatever I wanted or needed, and I blew
it on a summer fling. It was more then that though. I really think I love Jasper. I was planning on going home over Christmas break. I couldn't bring myself to leave. All because of some
stupid positive pregnancy test.
Chapter 1:
Welcome to Forks, Population three thousand, five hundred fifty-eight. Fifty-nine. I sighed and sped on. I couldn't exactly be mad at Charlie. He didnt ask to be terminally ill.
They gave him a little over a year to live back in April. So when I got the phone call, I immediately accepted the offer to live with him for his last year. It sucked leaving behind my life
in Pheonix. My friends that I had known my whole life. To be uprooted and settle back down solely for Senior year. The trees flying past my windows were green blurs and my black
Chevy Tahoe found its way to Charlie's house naturally. It was amazing how I hadn't been to this shithole in over five years, and yet I still knew my way. I pulled into the driveway and
saw Charlie watching for me at the front door. I rolled my eyes, and jumped out of the drivers seat. I headed up the porch to give him a hug. We were never really affectionate, but I
felt it was alright to be so now.
"Hey kid, you look amazing." Charlie pulled me against his chest in a loose hug. I wrapped my arms around his midsection.
"Thanks dad." I pulled back and look up at him through my sunglasses. I sighed and pulled them off and put them on top of my head. I figured I wouldn't have much use for them here.
"How was your trip? You made decent time from the city." I turned and unlocked the back of my Tahoe to pull my bags out.
"It was alright. I always make good time dad." I said slightly annoyed. He knew how I drove. It annoyed him I couldn't respect the speed limit. The usual cop banter. Old habits die hard. He always nagged me about following the law. I opened the back end of the Suv, and pulled out my luggage. I smiled sadly at Renees attempt to get me something nice. She got me a brown Louis Vuittan suitcase, and bag. Im sure they both cost over five thousand. I enjoyed the money, but I was never a fan of Louis Vuittan. I grabbed them quickly and headed into the house to my room. The one that still looked the same. The old lace curtains clinging to thier last life. My small bed and a desk with a joke of a computer. I was glad I convinced Phil to take me to the Apple store before I left. I had my new iBook in the backseat of my new car. He took good care of me and Renee, I knew she was in good hands while I was away. Charlie held the door open for me and noticed as I walked by just how much weight he had lost. We both fit through the door at the same time now. I furrowed my brow in frustration. I would make sure he appeared healthy while I was here. He would eat good meals, and spend lots of time with those who cared about him. I took the living room in as I walked past it to the stairs. The same old brown couch was still here. He had upgraded and got a new recliner. Black leather. It suited him. The flat panel tv hung from the wall and the game was on mute. The Dodgers were beating the Giants by one run. I wondered briefly if Phil was watching. Then remembered he had a game himself in St. Louis. I turned towards the staircase, and headed up to my room. I put my bags inside the door, and turned back around. Charlie had followed me up and scared me when I turned into him.
"Sorry Bells. Guess I dont make as much noise now. Im going down to the station for a bit. Will you be ok here until tonight?" I looked at his gaunt face. His black hair was slowly greying at the temples. His hair line was receeding slightly. He has his mustache still. He had on his uniform I hadn't noticed it until now. His eyes looked dead and far away. I was sad by the way he looked. This thing was really kicking his ass. I wanted him to go about his daily routine, but I wasnt about to be stuck here in this house all damn day. It was only eleven thirty for crying outloud.
"Thats fine dad, but I was thinking about going out and doing something. Is there some place kids my age hang out during the summer?" I hoped there was a mall, or starbucks or something great like that.
"Most kids hang out at the beach. Down on the reservation." I nodded. I remembered now. I could go down and maybe get in the water, if it wasnt too cold. I quickly grabbed my simple black bikini and beach towel. I quickly hugged my dad again.
"I'll be back by six to have dinner ready. Have a good day at work dad." I ran past him and back out to my Tahoe. I couldn't wait to be out of the house, and away from the feeling of dread that was quickly settling in my stomach. I hoped behind the wheel and backed out of the driveway and drove towards the reservation. The whole time I was driving I was thinking about the school year that was coming up soon. It was only the end of June, but still school started in August. I hoped I didnt stick out too much like a sore thumb. I had style, and wore nothing but the best clothes. I was often told I was beautiful, well so often that I knew I was regardless of what some bitches said. I pulled up to the parking lot that over looked the beach. I flipped my car around and backed into a space between a big off roading jeep, and a red BMW. Maybe I wouldnt be the only one here with style. I didn't care much for the BMW, but the jeep was nice. I got out, and grabbed my bag from the backseat, and opened the back of the Tahoe. I climbed in and pulled my laptop out. I opened it and turned it on. Quickly connecting to the internet. I reached in the front pocket of my bag and pulled my Blackberry out. I had seven missed calls, and five text messages. Two calls from Renee, two from Charlie, from this morning, and three from Kyle. I shook my head at that one. I looked at my messages, all from Kyle. I turned my ringer on, and set the phone next to me. I checked my mail, and turned the laptop off. I watched the kids on the beach interact. I saw a group of well dressed kids around a bonfire. I watched them interact. The girls were in jeans, and tanks tops. The guys were in shorts and either shirtless or in a tanktop. The girls were beautiful, well the guys were too. One of the girls was tall. She had legs for days. She had long beautiful blonde hair, and a nice body. The other girl was short, shorter then me probably she had short spiky black hair, and appeared to be hyperactive. She was playing around and being silly. The guys were all decently built. One was huge, he had dark blonde curly hair. He was chasing the short black hair girl around with a water gun. The other guys were sitting there laughing at the exchange. They too were tall, one had messy auburn brown hair. He wore a tank top, but I could still see some defined muscles. The other was lounging on the sand leaning back on his arms. He had blond hair that fell into his eyes often. I couldn't stop staring at them. I kind of wanted to go down and introduce myself, but didnt want to feel silly. At that exact time the blonde turned at looked right at me. I stared right back into his beautiful blue eyes. He smiled at me. I smiled back. He hopped up quickly and started up the steps towards me. I took a deep breath and waited for him to come over.
"Hey, Im Jasper." He held out his hand to shake mine. I bit my bottom lip, and took his hand in mine.
"Bella."
"Well Bella, come join us, we were just getting ready to cook some hot dogs." He held his hand out again, this time wanting me to take his and walk with him. I climbed out of my Tahoe, shut the back door, and followed him down the stairs to the beach.
