A/N: Okay...so this is officially my first fanfiction story ever and I'm honestly so scared posting it right now. It would be really great if those of you who read this can give me some reviews and tell me what I need to improve on or what you would like to happen. Constructive criticism is always welcome. But PLEASE review and tell me what you think.
Back Home
"Mom! Dad! Can you please help me with these boxes!"
"Bella, can't you see we're busy here?" Renee yelled back at her. She and Charlie were having difficulty trying to fit their new couch through the front door with no luck. Bella watched with amusement at her parents' concentrated faces though the eighty pound box in her thin arms was beginning to slowly weigh her down. All her parents had to do was twist the couch ninety degrees and the ten minutes they wasted trying to jam the couch in would not have been needed.
"Help you're mom on the other side because she looks like she's about to drop it," Charlie called after Bella.
She sighed with frustration and steadily tried to drop the heavy box she just carried down onto the driveway. Her long brown hair fell down over her face as her head bent to drop it, but once she straightened up, she quickly grabbed the hair tie from her wrist and threw it up into a messy ponytail. Her clothes were randomly chosen, black chucks so as to not get her good shoes dirty, some ragged old blue jeans, and a tank top underneath Renee's sweater that she borrowed since all her clothes were thin. Who knew that moving back to Forks would be so cold? Bella already made a mental check list of what to do this weekend before school started on Monday. Going to do some serious shopping was one of them.
"Bella! Please take your time!" Renee called out sarcastically.
"Okay, okay," she replied and quickly shuffled her feet across the wet dew of the grass to reach the front of the house. She took a hold of the edge of the couch and helped her mom lift it up.
"Thank you," Renee sighed with relief. Bella squeaked and her knees started to give way as her arms shook feeling the weight of the couch on her. She looked down to the left at her mother who was patting her hands on the side of the jeans to get invisible dirt off her hands.
"Mom," Bella's voice was almost a whisper since the weight was taking all the breath out of her, "I said I'd help you, not take over your job."
Renee's eyes widened and she quickly took a hold of the couch as Bella took a deep breath.
"Sorry, dear. I thought you could handle it."
"Sure. If I need help carrying an eighty pound box, I can definitely handle something that's twice its weight."
"Bella I–"
"Alright, dad!" Bella cut her off, "Can you twist the couch on its left side so that it'll fit through the door?"
She couldn't see her dad's face since the couch was obstructing her view, but she knew he heard her as the couch twisted, obliging to her plan.
"Honey, is that good enough?" Charlie called once the couch was on its back side.
"It's perfect. Now just back up slowly and it should make it through."
Just as she predicted, in less than five minutes, the couch was in its rightful spot in the small living room of the house. The three of them plunked down on the couch, Bella knowingly having to sit in between her parents.
Her life was complicated. She used to live in Forks, but since her parents split up when she was ten, she thought her world was crumbling down. Renee took her away to California in hopes to start a new life, forcing Bella to do the same. She loved it in Forks, her family, friends, school…it was perfect. Back when she was little, she couldn't understand why her mom didn't want to be Charlie. Both sides of her parents' family were living in Forks, and it added to her confusion of why her mom couldn't stand living there. But as the days turned to weeks, and the weeks turned to months, Bella lost hope in any chance of returning home.
Renee, after a year or two living in Los Angeles, met Phil. They dated and sure enough, they got married, crushing even the least bit of hope she didn't think she had. Bella was always reserved and preferred to spend her time studying and making school her first priority. Junior year came along, and she became best friends with a girl named Victoria, even gaining herself a boyfriend named James. Her social life picked up and even went over a big makeover with the help of Victoria. In only a matter of weeks, everyone in high school knew her name and wanted to be her. When she thought all the missing pieces she had were gradually trying to work its way together, on the last day of school, she caught James making out with her so called best friend underneath the bleachers. To make matters worse, Renee caught Phil cheating in his office with his secretary when she went in to bring him lunch. The both of them came home crying and came to the resolution to start all over…because that's what they did. They needed support, and coming back to Forks where Renee's family was and where Charlie was able to see Bella, seemed like a good idea.
Now that Bella twisted her head to in both directions to see her parents beside her, she longed to see them back together again, but she knew that needed time. When she looked at Charlie, she noticed the same chocolate brown eyes staring back at her and the warm smile that she missed to see everyday when she was little. He had been ecstatic hearing about their return, nearly jumping at the chance to help them move into their new home. Somehow she knew that he was still in love with her mom and that their might be a chance that they could work things out, though she didn't know when.
Bella turned to her left where her mom was. Her dirty blond hair was bunched up at the top of her head with a claw and she was also smiling at her, though you can see the lines across her forehead and the sadness of her eyes to tell that she had been through a lot.
Bella's attention, as well as her parents', snapped towards the window where they heard the rumbling engine of a car and the door slam shut.
"Did anyone ask for–"
Bella's voice was immediately cut off by the sound of footsteps entering the threshold of the house.
"Anyone home?" a familiar voice rang from the entrance.
"In here!" Charlie hollered.
After a few seconds staring at the place where the person would soon appear, Bella instantaneously shot up from her seat and wrapped her arms tightly around the figure. He let out an exhausted laugh but hugged her quickly in return.
"Wow…missed you too little sis."
"It's nice to see that you cousins have stayed in touch," Charlie called out from behind them.
"Jasper, sweetie, it's so good to see you!" Renee chimed in and got up from her seat to give him a hug. "Where are your mom and dad? I miss seeing my sister," she inquired, deep in thought about being able to hang out with her family once again.
"They'll be here soon enough. They just took a separate car because they wanted to buy a few house warming gifts."
"Oh, they shouldn't have! I'll call them to tell–"
"No, no," Jasper shook his head. "My mom insists on doing so and she's going to ramble on about how she needs to take care of her younger sister."
"Alright," she nodded in defeat.
"Jasper, my boy, its nice see you," Charlie approached him and extended his hand that Jasper respectfully took and shook.
"I couldn't leave you to fend yourself alone with all the things that these two girls are expecting to move in with," Jasper chuckled. Charlie laughed in return and patted his back.
"Thanks a lot, son. But how about you two kids catch up for a bit," he said, taking one glance at Bella. "I know that things…well after she left, you guys have a lot to talk about and you need a break from all the unpacking, Bells. You kids have fun, okay?"
"Are you sure?" Bella looked questioningly at him.
"Of course. I just need to talk to you mother privately for some time," he replied, while giving Renee a nervous glance.
"Go right on ahead. I need to say things myself," Renee added and motioned her hand for Jasper and Bella to leave. "Have fun."
"Alright…" Bella looked wonderingly at her parents before she turned her attention back to Jasper. "I'll show you my new room."
"Fine by me," Jasper nodded as he followed Bella's retreating form.
She walked down the hallway of her one story house pointing at each room she passed by.
"So that was the family room, kitchen, small nook, closet, master bedroom for my mom, and finally my room!" she squealed at the last part as she placed her hand on the door knob. Before she opened the door, she turned her head quickly around to Jasper and looked sternly at him. "This is a room of progress and there's still much needed to be done. I need you to help me put a lot of my new furniture together and help me unpack and rearrange stuff. I'll do the decorating for the most part. You are not to make fun of me for the stuff I have in my room because there are some pieces of junk I need to throw out anyway. Do you understand the conditions I have before you enter my bedroom?"
Jasper looked at her wide eyed and a smile spread across his face. "You're still commanding like when you were little, huh?"
"Shut up," she giggled and punched him playfully on the shoulders. "So you agree to be my slave for the rest of the time it takes for me to put my room back together?"
Jasper began rubbing his chin as if he was in deep thought and Bella began to impatiently tap her foot. "If I have to," he sighed.
"Ta da!" Bella beamed brightly at him and when she finally twisted the knob to enter her room. Bella was prepared for what she was heading into but Jasper jaw had nearly dropped to the floor.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Jasper cried out in disbelief. "This will take forever!"
"Remember, you agreed," Bella replied in a sing song voice as she began to jump onto the empty spots around her bedroom floor to try and get across to the other side. "Be careful. Do not crush anything with your big feet," she called out over her shoulder when she paused for a bit, trying to find another empty spot to jump to.
Her room was piled with boxes and boxes of stuff, barely leaving any visible carpet available. Some things were already unpacked, but the contents were strewn all over the floor. The size of the room was not so big and not so small, but there needed to be a lot of improvement.
"You're dad said that we should talk and catch up, so maybe this can wait until…"
"No," Bella stated firmly. "The sooner we do this, the sooner it will all be over."
Japer was about to protest but then he shut his mouth quickly. He and Bella were having a staring contest, cousin versus cousin, mentally persuading the other to back down. Jasper finally growled with aggravation and scanned the inside of her room.
"Where do you want me start?"
~*~*~*~
Four hours, a neatly organized room, empty pizza boxes on the carpet floor, and a couple cans of soda later, Bella was sprawled out on the mattress of her newly arranged bed set thanks to the help of Jasper, who was lying flat on the carpet floor staring at the white ceiling like Bella.
"God…I'm fucking exhausted!"
"Language!" Bella scolded him while leaning upwards against her elbows to look down at Jasper. "Someone needs a filter for that potty mouth of theirs."
"Sorry," he mumbled, "But you owe me big time."
"Sure, sure," she nodded and laid her head back down on the comfy mattress. "So…ready to tell me about what I missed these past seven years?"
"Well…nothing much."
"Oh come on!" Bella whined and swung her legs over the bed in an upright sitting position. "It's not like I won't find out anyways. But tell me what's changed. Look at you!" she pointed wide eyed. "You are totally not the cousin I expected to see. Based on me talking to you on the phone these past years…this was far from what I imagined."
"Oh really?" Jasper chuckled and sat up, criss crossing his legs to look at her. "What were you expecting?"
"Well, the last time I saw you, you were…let's just say…actually, I have no clue. We're teenagers now and I guess…I don't know. Forget what I said," she waved her hand dismissively.
"You're one with words," Jasper joked, causing Bella's scrunched up napkin to be hurled his way. He ducked down, nearly missing it by an inch. "And I suggest you join a softball team. Your aim is great."
"Haha…you're so funny," Bella rolled her eyes. "Let's see if a pizza box can work wonders in reaching its target," she replied while extending her arm to grab the nearest one to her. Jasper quickly kicked it away with his foot from her reach.
"Fine, I'll stop," Jasper laughed as he got up to sit next to her on the bed. "You know…things have never been the same since you left," he nudged Bella's shoulder with his own. She shifted her head to look at him and saw the same sad smile that played across his face like hers.
"Well I totally missed you guys. I couldn't believe that we spent nearly every day playing around together, and then the next thing we know, we haven't seen each other in years!"
"I know," Jasper nodded his head. "We've all changed."
"Oh my gosh! I totally forgot…what's up with Rose and Emmett? I haven't talked to them in forever!" Bella looked excitedly at her cousin.
"Emmett…well he was totally depressed when you left, as well as Rose. We were all best friends at school and nothing seemed the same. It was like you were the glue that held us all together. I still hang out with Emmett at school, but you should see how much he's changed. Not only physically, which is a hell of a lot by the way, but also in his personality too. You've gotta see him. But Rose…well it's like we lost contact with her. She seemed to be bummed out the most and she slowly faded from us. She's goes to the same school and all, you'll probably see her on Monday when you start school, and she's a cheerleader that–"
"A cheerleader?!" Bella's eyes widened. "She and I used to laugh at that movie Bring It On all the time. I…I never thought that…" Bella stopped with a loss of words and shook her head. "That is a big change."
"Tell me about it," Jasper agreed. "Well…we don't talk to each other, so it's mostly me, Emmett, my girl Alice, and Ed–"
"What? Wait, wait, wait…Jasper…girlfriend…possible?" Bella smiled.
"Yes, dork. I have a girlfriend as a matter of fact. She's really great and I think you'll like her."
"Alice, is it?"
"Yup. It's been really great. I really want you to meet her. I was supposed to hang out with her and the others today, but since I had to do this," he motioned his hand around the room, "I wasn't able to."
"Sorry," Bella looked guiltily down at her hands. "You should have told me and you could have gone with them if–"
"Relax!" Jasper nudged her again, causing her to look up at him. "It's okay. They understand. I haven't actually told them that my cousin moved in and I would have rather seen you since we haven't seen each other in years. They'll understand, trust me."
"I'm sor–"
"Can you imagine how Emmett would react though," Jasper seemed to perk up. "Let's take him by surprise and don't tell him it's you. I wonder how he'll react!"
Bella couldn't help herself but giggle. "I guess. Why don't–"
"Kids?" someone knocked quietly on Bella's door and slowly opened it up to reveal Renee's head peeking through. "I don't mean to interrupt, but Jasper, sweetie, your parents left quickly because I guess they had some business to attend to. I don't know what it is, but they wanted me to say sorry that they couldn't say bye themselves."
"It's alright," Bella and Jasper replied in unison.
"Well, sorry, continue…" Renee nodded at them before shutting the door closed.
"Anyways, where were we?" Bella looked back at Jasper.
"We were talking about Alice, but I'd like to know. Does my little cousin have a boyfriend?" he raised an eyebrow at her.
Bella's mood suddenly became sulky as her lips turned down into a frown. Jasper automatically knew something was wrong but didn't want to push her into telling him since he noticed she was resisting on talking. He quickly cleared his throat and tried to change the subject.
"Forget about that. What plans do you have for the weekend?"
Bella's smile returned, grateful that her cousin was willing to acknowledge her uncomfortable stature on the topic.
"Well, it's mostly adjusting to the new home and all. I actually want to go shopping to find some clothes that can fit the weather here in Forks. I never required those things back in L.A."
"I see. So you don't actually wear those ragged clothes, do you? Because I was starting to get worried."
"Shut up!" she punched him and sat up from the bed. "These clothes aren't ragged. You're dumb. These are comfortable."
"Alice would definitely love to have you as a shopping partner someday. I'm sick and tired having to be dragged around the mall carrying tons of bags." Bella giggled and Jasper's face was hard. "You think I'm joking? Someday, you will experience what I've been through and you'll be wishing you'll never have to set foot in a mall again."
"I'm sure that will never happen, cousin dearest," she patted him gently on the head. "Are you ready to help unload the other stuff?"
"What?" Jasper groaned. "There's more?"
"Of course there is. You don't think that's all I own, do you?"
"Well I know you own N'sync posters and Spice Girl t-shirts," Jasper tried to stifle his laughter.
"You will take that to your grave and not mention it to anyone," Bella's eyes narrowed and pointed a threatening finger at him. "I told you I have old things and I'd throw them away."
"Doesn't mean you never owned it though," Jasper finally let out his laughter.
"I'll tell everyone that you used to think Posh was the hottest girl in the world and you used to watch those Spice Girl movies with me just so you can see her!"
Jasper's laughter ceased as quickly as it came and his eyes glared with shock and with a threat lined in them. "You wouldn't dare," he said in a low voice. "I know you wouldn't do that."
"Would you like to test that theory of yours?" Bella's lips lifted into a smile and she crossed her arms and leaned on her hip. "You really don't know what I'd do. It's been seven years since you last saw me and for all you know, my personality can be some psycho."
Jasper and Bella looked blankly at each other before Jasper began to smile.
"I have a feeling that you'll fit here perfectly again."
Bella straightened up and looked at him confused. "Where did that comment come from?"
"I don't know. I just missed you and I haven't joked around like this in a long, long time."
"Are you kidding me? You said you hang out with Emmett. He was always the one who made us crack up."
"That was because he had you as his mischievous accomplice in all his pranks," Jasper's sad smile played across his features once more. "Like I said, things changed, but since you're back, I guess there will be a lot more coming again…"