A/N: If I owned anything I'd be a very happy girl!
A/N2: Special "thank you" to DeathDaisy for reading this story as I wrote it even though she has school to study for
A/N3: A big thank you to Lorelei Candice Black as well for juggling ideas with me.
Introduction
"Bella, baby, are you sure this is a good idea?"
My mother Renee, asked me yet again. I sighed with a smile plastered on my face.
"Yes, mom it is. You and Phil need time alone and I missed Charlie"
I half lied. My mom had met Phil, a major league baseball player two years ago and fell in love immediately. It took them almost a year of dating to break up, mope separately, make up, and declare their love for each other before proposing. Now Phil had moved in after tying the knot and they were off to Hawaii for two months of wedding bliss. Now they were back and Phil's team had to travel for a while. Mom wanted to follow him but she didn't want to leave me behind alone. As if I hadn't cared for myself enough already.
So I found the silver lining.
I told mom and Phil I'd go visit Charlie, my father. I needed to get out of Phoenix anyway (desperately) and Forks was as good of a destination as anywhere else. Phil was sad; he's like an overgrown teddy bear that never tried to be my 'dad'. From the first day he began acting as if I was his little sister and we were both okay with that. He is only nine years older than me anyway, but we both knew he'd enjoy having mom all to himself. Mom, on the other hand was devastated. She was used to me just as much I was used to her and we were a package. That was the first thing she had told Phil when they met and I was introduced to him. So now one of us had to cut the cord.
And it would have to be me.
Chapter 1 – The scrap yard
I sighed and closed my diary. Hearing that we'd be landing soon I stood up from my seat, grabbed my carryon bag and went to the bathroom. I checked my appearance suddenly uncomfortable at meeting my father. Usually I'd spend a month every summer with him but we didn't this past summer. Mom was getting married and it was a busy summer with the preparations. Add to that that I was finally settling into my body and it could end badly. I mean last time I saw him I was a gangly kid that wore large jeans and even larger blouses to hide my growing boobs. Now though I had changed. I still wore jeans a lot but I had turned the corner from kiddie to a young adult. Shaking my head to clear it again I applied another coat of mascara and a dab of lip-gloss nervously.
"Time for landing"
A stewardess called from the other side of the door and after freshening up I returned to my seat. Fifteen minutes later the plane had landed smoothly in seattle international airport. I got my bags and piled them on a trolley walking to the departure area. I was supposed to change flights and board one for the small tourist town of Port Angeles but right after getting out of the plane and turning my phone on I recieved a text message from Charlie.
'Change of plans. Meet me outside SeaTac at 3'
I checked my phone's clock. It was five minutes before three. I pushed the cart outside the airport to the waiting area in front of the double glass doors. As expected there was the police cruiser that I love to hate and lounging against it was my father. All six feet and four inches of him were slouching against the cruiser half asleep.
I feel safer already!
I stopped in front of him and resisted the urge to smooth down my clothes.
"Hey dad"
I called out. He jumped up with his right hand flying to the gun strapped on his belt. I tried not to sigh as his eyes traveled around me before settling on mine and a smile bloomed on his face.
"Hey Bells. You look... different"
He opened his arms for me. Now I did smooth my sand colored cargo pants and the cerulean blue t-crossed back top I had on. My mid heeled dark red cowgirl boots clicked as I did a girly bow
"I spruced up my style a bit"
I chuckled and dove in his arms. We weren't as close as me and mom are but we always understood each other.
"Weren't we supposed to meet in Port Angeles?"
"I need to pick a few stuff for a broken down cruiser at a scrap yard outside Seattle"
I nodded. His eyes bulged seeing the pile of bags on my trailer.
"Mom did the packing"
I offered as an explanation.
"That explains it"
he replied and put two deep red suitcases in the trunk. Then went on the two blue duffel bags and the small soft red and cream plastic travel cage. Throwing him a glance I took the cage back and held it on my lap after I sat in the passenger seat. Turning the radio on, the only talk in the car was... nothing actually.
Right as Charlie entered the scrap yard a small bark came from the plastic cage on my lap. Charlie jumped up and threw a glance in it.
"What's in there?"
"My vibrator. It yelps when the battery is empty"
I told him steadily. He gave me his patented 'Sheriff Charlie' glare. Too bad I've copied it. Soon he sighed and killed the engine.
"It's a dog!"
I exclaimed after a few minutes of glaring. Shaking my head I untangled the soft red leash from around my right wrist and opening the cage door a bit I attached it to the equally soft red harness my puppy was wearing. I got her in my arms and getting out of the cruiser.
"Dad, meet Ruby"
I showed Ruby off to him setting her on the cruiser's hood. Ruby is a 45 day old, king Charles cavalier in a classic Manheim coloring. I had taken as a gift last week when she was the last pup left at the animal shelter I used to work in Phoenix
"That's a dog?"
Charlie asked raising his eyebrows. The ever friendly Ruby began yapping at him thrusting her face in his hands wanting a pet. he patted her head gently.
"No, it's a cucumber"
I deadpanned. he chuckled.
"okay kiddo, I got to go see Bobby for my parts. Why don't you walk around?"
"Sure"
I nodded and took ruby off the car. I wasn't sure if it would be a good idea to let her walk in the debris around here but she was excited after napping for the whole flight.
holding her leash tightly we walked between the cars for a while. I had saved money to buy myself a car because I hate being carted around in a car that has blue and red lights on the top.
"Cars in here Rube are ridiculously cheap. Let's hope they work too"
I muttered seeing prices dyed on the windshields. Suddenly Ruby began at some metallic sound and jumped on the hood of a car. The car dirty and looked like it drove through a desert but underneath the mud you could see the number '53' on the hood and the side doors. The car had no roof (literally no roof it was torn as if someone scalped it) and it was white once upon a time. Oh and the back wheels were missing.
"Nice choice ruby"
I chuckled. To be frank I know nothing about cars except drive them but that thing did not look good.
"Let's see if it works"
I gathered Ruby in my arms and yanked open the car's blown in driver's door after a few tries. The interior was equally dirty.
"At least the seat is comfortable"
I commented placing ruby in my lap. I wrapped my hands around the wheel. Of course there was no key but a memory flashed before my eyes as my feet touched the pedals.
Me and Kollin, laughing as we sped down the highway winning yet another drug race. Kollin was driving, I was his personal cheerleader. I had agreed on driving with him for our birthday. The day Kollin died.
I was jolted by my memories by ruby barking and licking my face.
"yeah, rube. I like it too"
I wiped my eyes and got out of the car. Charlie and a short, balding man wearing a ridiculous green and orange Hawaiian shirt.
"I want it"