Hey!
This first chapter might seem a little weird to you, it starts seven years prior to the actual plot. You'll get it next chapter hopefully.
I hope you like it
By the way, I do not own any of the characters- they all belong to SM
"What? Are you going to cry?" he mocked me.
I tried to get away but the other kids surrounded me. It was like a show to them, a comedy.
"Stop it! Leave her alone" I heard my 5th grade teacher calling above the crowd. "Bella, honey, go to my desk and wait for me there".
"Yeah Bella. Just remember to stay standing- you don't want to break the chair" Edward said and everyone laughed. A few were shouting "Fat, fat, fat" in unison.
I couldn't take it anymore. Though I swore to myself I wouldn't let them get this satisfaction, I burst out crying, and as usual, they all laughed.
If Alice had been here, she would have helped me. Alice was the most popular girl in class, and though we weren't friends, she never approved of the way everyone was treating me, and therefore, they kept the poking level to a minimum while she was around. But Alice was sick today, and I was left alone in the sea of mocking faces.
It actually felt like they were trying to drown me. If they couldn't, my tears would do the job.
I opened my eyes, trying to blink back the tears, unsuccessfully, trying to find a way to stop this torture. Through my watery eyes I saw Mrs. Stewart yelling at Edward. I hated him. He was the one who started everything. He was the one who turned everyone against me.
I was in the middle of a circle. The first image that jumped to my head was one of a tree, standing in the middle of a clearing, while the other trees are keeping the distance. That way I could look at everyone right in the eye. As if I was going to do that.
I was turning round and round, trying to find a loophole in their perfect circle, some way to get out and away from here as fast as I could. As I did that, I saw what seemed to me like a millions of different faces, all of whom, laughing at my humiliation, except for one. I saw one face with a sad expression on it. As my eyes met his, he mouthed the word 'sorry' to me.
That was Jake. He was the smallest boy in class, only a little taller than the smallest girl. He had his fair share of problems over that fact.
I didn't hold it against him that he wasn't trying to help me.
I've never talked to him before. I don't know why. He's been in my class for almost 3 years now.
I guess none of us wanted to be friends with the other dork of the class.
"What's going on here?" a voice roared. I jumped a little.
"Everyone back to their places, or I'm starting to call parents" the voice threatened. It worked like a charm. Not a second past and the circle were gone. I was left alone, in the middle of the class, sitting on the floor and looking at it.
I looked up to face my rescuer. From my low place on the ground, I saw his black, shiny shoes, then his black pants, and a black jacket with a white shirt under it. And then, his face. It was principle Aro.
He gave me his hand to help me up, and then patted my shoulder to comfort me. I felt my tears rising up again but I stopped them this time.
"Go outside, Bella, I'll be right with you." He said softly.
I almost ran out of the classroom, hearing a few giggles and then one of Aro's roars, accompanied by a loud banging noise.
I went outside to the yard, which was now abandoned, since the break was over. I sat on the swing. The wind helped calm me down a bit.
I've been waiting for 10 minutes until the principle came down.
He told me to come to his office, where he asked the secretary to make me some tea, chamomile tea or something like that. I didn't know what chamomile tea was, but it didn't sound appealing to me. I drank it anyway, not wanting to be rude, though my assumption was correct. I did feel myself calming down while drinking it.
After that, the principle told me he had called my parents, and my mom was on her way to school to take me home. That made me feel a lot better, knowing that I won't have to face them again until Sunday. He also said that because of their abusive behavior, the entire class will stay at school until 5 o'clock in the afternoon, learning about manners and respect.
I didn't really care about that though, nothing would ever change the way they saw me and treated me.
A few minutes later, my mom came by, and the principle asked me to go wait outside with the secretary while he talked to my mom. I got out and the secretary offered me some color pencils and a piece of paper so I won't get bored. She then told me her name was Zafrina.
I stared at her, my mouth hanging open. I have never heard that name in my life. She laughed and explained that she was from South America, and that's why it sounds strange to me.
Since I didn't particularly enjoyed coloring, I talked to her a little. She told me she had a son about my age, but he's in Nevada with his dad, and that she was moving there right after the school year was over. I was sorry to hear she was leaving. I thought she could be my friend. That I could come and talk to her during breaks so the kids in my class won't get the chance bother me too much.
"I don't want to go to school anymore" I whined as I got in the car. My mom looked at me with sadness in her eyes.
"Bella, honey, I meant to talk to you about it later, but since you feel that way, I'm gonna ask you now" she said "How would you feel if I told you that I'm transferring you to another school?"
I immediately felt my cheeks stretching to the biggest smile I could make. "Yes! When am I going? Where is this school? Would I know anyone? Is there a playground there?" I shot the questions one after the other without letting my mom a chance to squeeze in an answer. She smiled.
"You will start there next year…" she started but I cut her off.
"But mom, I don't want to see them again. They hate me. They will make fun of me again!" I was already crying again by this point.
"That's not what I meant Bella, relax." She assured me. "Since there are only a few days left till the end of the school year, I don't see a reason why you need to go back there. In fact, I already told your principle to not expect to see you there again. You'll just start your summer vacation a few days earlier than everyone else." She summoned, smiling at me, clearly waiting for the giant hug she knew was about to come. "I love you mommy! You're the best!" I kissed her and hugged her in ecstasy, unable to believe my good luck.
"Ok. Now, let's go back to those other questions you had. This school will be in Phoenix, Arizona. And you wouldn't know anyone at first, but you'll get to know them very quickly, and you'll make new friends in no time" she promised me. "Oh, and since I don't know which school you'll be going to, we could go together and put you in a place you'd choose, one that has a playground."
"Mommy, can I go to a school with nice kids this time?" I asked quietly.
My mom looked at me for a few seconds, while I waited to be answered. I took her silence as a 'no'.
"They will make fun of me too. Everyone will. I want to stay home with you." I said curtly.
"Bella, no one will make fun of you. You're a wonderful girl and once they realize it, everyone would want to be friend with you. You'd be the queen of the class. You'd have to start turning people down because there will be not enough time for you to spend with all of your new friends." she said, touching my cheek comfortingly.
"Why would they like me? I'm fat, and ugly." I mumbled, feeling the tears come back again. They just wouldn't leave me alone. I was used to it already though.
"Bella, don't say that, honey. You're the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. The kids here in your class- they're so blinded by hate they can't see it. They don't matter baby, what's important is that you realize how amazing you are. That's the only way other people will see it too. I promise you, once you show them the real Bella, the Bella I know, the funny, caring, smart, beautiful Bella I see every time I look at you- they'll love you. You just need to show them that Bella. To let them get to know her. And the only way to do that is to start believing in yourself, sweetie"
It was obvious that she was just trying to comfort me. There was no way she actually believed any of that stuff. But I knew she had good intentions so I faked a small smile and pretended to buy that.
"Great honey, you'll see you'll make a ton of new friends. Trust me." She said. "Now let's get home and start packing. We have a new school to find" she winked at me.
"We're already starting to pack? When are we moving? I thought you said next year." I was confused.
"No, we're moving next week, so we have a lot of work to do." She answered and I had a weird feeling that she was hiding something.
She must have seen my expression because she said "Don't worry about it right now. You'll know everything once your dad gets home from work" she said, though I knew she was worried about something.
I let it go, and went up to my room to start packing my toys.
After about an hour in which I packed my entire doll collection and some of my books, all the while thinking and discussing with my dolls about the big change that is going to come, I got hungry. I opened my bedroom door in order to go downstairs to the kitchen when I heard whispering voices. It was my mom and dad's. Apparently he had gotten home without saying 'hello' to me, which was very unusual. Usually, when he got home from work he would come up to my room, giving me a kiss and asking if I had a good time at school. Though I rarely had, I always told him that I did, making up fun stories that were actually my fantasies, not wanting to upset him and cause him more pain after the busy day he had as a police chief. It meant a lot to him that I was having fun at school.
After that, he would help me with my homework. Though I hardly needed the help. If it was up to me, I could have finished all of my homework at school during breaks, but my dad liked sitting with me and explaining it to me, so I always let him help. I knew how important spending time with me and helping me get ready towards my future was to him, so why would I mind giving him this pleasure?
Anyway, it wasn't like him to sit and talk to my mom before coming to me. I was about to go down and give him a hug when I heard my name in all the whispers.
"Bella needs to feel safe right now, Charlie, protected. I don't think it's the best time to tell her the news. She's been through a lot today." I heard my mom saying. I heard no response but then my mom said "The kids in her class harassed her. You know, because of her looks. She was really upset. These kids are downright animals. I wonder who raised them to be like that." Her voice was angry.
"Well, I didn't know about that. What did you say to calm her down?" my dad asked, still whispering.
"Of course I told her they didn't know what they were talking about, that she the most beautiful girl I've ever seen and stuff like that. It's important that we remind her of that. Kids can be very cruel, you know."
She said knowingly. I knew it was wrong for me to listen to their private conversation but I was curious and couldn't stop listening.
"I don't know Renée; I don't think lying is the best thing. You should have just reminded her of her strengths instead of lying to her that her weaknesses are nonexistent." He said slowly "I mean, she's a wonderful girl. She has a lot to be proud of. That's just not a part of it".
My mom didn't respond for a while. I felt my heart sinking. I knew she was lying to me. Not even my own father thought I was beautiful. I went back to my room, not feeling hungry anymore, nor did I want to hear the rest of this conversation.
I wasn't angry at my dad. My feelings were hurt but I knew he was being honest, I didn't hold that against him. I was exhausted from the day I've had. It was too much for me to bear. The thought about going to a new school looking like I did, it was just sad. I've been given a second chance to start over, where no one knew me. I had to make the most out of it.
I couldn't wait to get out of Forks. Though the place was a beautiful place, and it was home to me, I couldn't stand the people who lived here. I saw our leaving as a miracle from above.
There was a soft knock on my door. My mom walked in slowly and looked at me with a look I couldn't figure out.
My dad walked in after her.
"Hey daddy" I said. "Look, I already packed most of my toys. I'm almost ready to move. Have you packed any of your stuff yet?" I asked, trying to act as if I didn't hear anything.
"Actually, Bella" my mom didn't give my dad an opportunity to respond "That's what we came here to talk to you about"
"Bella, honey" my dad started and then paused for a second "I'm not coming to Arizona with you and mom. I'm staying here."
"What?" I was shocked "But why not?"
"Well, you see bells, sometimes parents don't get along so well, and then they get divorced. This is what happening to me and mom. But we still love each other, and we'll stay friends. And we both love you very much."
They were both speaking, completing each other's sentences.
"What will you do here all alone?" I asked after a few minutes.
"I'll be working, like I do now, and I'll miss you very much. We'll talk every day on the phone and I'll come visit you whenever I can." My father promised me as he sat down next to me and gave me a long, everlasting hug.
"Ok, fine. We don't have to move, mom. It's alright with me to stay in my current school if we get to keep dad." I said simply. I knew it would be impossible for me to go back to class with all those awful kids that hated me, but I couldn't even imagine my life without my dad. I'd take a thousand days like today to be with him.
"No, Bella. You don't understand. We're moving so you can have a better life, sure, but we're also moving for me" my mom explained "I got a job at Arizona. I don't want to stay in Forks anymore. "
I was silent. "No. No. What did I do?" I asked frantically "I'm sorry. I promise I won't do it again. Please. Dad, you can come with us. Please!" I begged and I saw their expressions turn to sadness mixed with pity.
"Bella. Look at me." My mom ordered softly. "This is not your fault. It's no one's fault, really. It just happened. Do not blame yourself. You're the most wonderful thing ever happened to any of us" at that part my dad nodded along. "Things will be different, but it's for the best. We'll be ok." She promised. She kept promising things to me. I wondered if she was going to keep these promises. I doubted it.
Nothing was going to be ok if I was going to be that far from my dad. I didn't know much about geography but I knew Arizona was a whole other state.
"Bells, you should go. This will be good for you. And I will call you so much, you'd feel like I'm right there with you. I promise. And you'll have a lot to tell me about. Your new best friends, your new teachers, your home. Things will be great for you. And I will always love you baby, always. "My dad said.
I hugged him "I'm gonna miss you so much daddy" I cried. I knew there was nothing else to say. Nothing that will make them change their minds, so the next step was to say goodbye. Even though I still had a week left, I decided I'm going to use every second I had left with him.
After a few more reassurances from both of them, they said goodnight and left. My mom flicked out the light and my dad whispered a 26th I love you, and they shut the door. I laid there in the dark, wishing I hadn't packed Missy, my favorite doll. I really wanted her to comfort me. Not that I was a kindergartener or something, I just liked her, my dad got her for me for my 4th birthday. I remembered it as if it was yesterday. I just got home from kindergarten when my mom told me it was my birthday. I was very excited. I wanted to make my own cake and decorate the house, to wear a pretty dress, to feel like a princess. Then my dad got home from work. He picked me in his arms and through me up. I laughed at the thrill. I loved it when he did that. Then he put me down on the sofa. "I have a surprise for you" he said. "A birthday gift" then he handed me a little box. I opened it and found a girl shaped doll. It was so soft, I immediately had to hug it. She was a princess. She had a beautiful pink dress and a crown, and pearl earrings. She was perfect.
"Thanks daddy" I hugged him.
"This is for you to always remember what you are to me" he said, smiling "My favorite princess"
It was such a mistake for me to lock her up with the unimportant dolls. And it was definitely stupid that I now had a week to pass without her.
I wanted something to comfort me when I felt a sudden hunger. I remembered I ended up not getting dinner. My stomach rumbled. I got out of bed and walked slowly in the dark toward my door. Just as I touched the handle I remembered something. My dad's whispering voice. You should have just reminded her of her strengths instead of lying to her that her weaknesses are nonexistent. She has a lot to be proud of. That's just not a part of it.
With that thought crossing my mind, I turned around and went straight to bed. A change needed to be made. And I was going to make it.
Umm, well, that's it. *peeking between my fingers*
I'm sorry for any grammar mistakes, English is so not my first language.
plus, this is really my first story so go easy on me =]
I hope you liked it, thanks for reading.
please review and tell me what you thought
