I haven't written in a year. Ish. But I was reading a fanfic and sort of got an idea of my own.. so let's see where it goes? Give it a chance.

I own nothing.

Rain. I hadn't heard the sound of rain in years. Or the sound of music, which was currently playing softly in Charlie's squad car. I had learned to tune out my surroundings long ago. The only reason I realized my surroundings was from taking so much care of my Mother over the past few months. Sure, she had Phil but I still felt the need, the drive to take care of her. I'd been doing it for 17 years now.

"Bells?" Charlie shook me from my thoughts.

"What?" I look at him sheepishly.

"Are you okay? You look a little lost."

"I-I'm fine, Dad. Perfect." I tripped over the words, but managed a small smile. I knew Renee had noticed the difference in me in the last few months. I'd heard her talking to Phil, when she thought I was fast asleep. I knew she had noticed. But she had never asked.

We pulled into our gravel drive way just as my thoughts were taking over again. Home, I thought. Charlie turned the key over, engine spluttering as it died, and grabbed my suitcases out of the trunk.

"You sure did pack light, Bells."

I shrugged. "Pheonix is sunny all the time. Forks?" I pointed to the sky, "Not so much. I couldn't bring most of my stuff."

Charlie nodded once, never big on conversation, and headed towards the house. I was, as usual, alone with my thoughts once again. I grabbed my backpack from the seat and rushed towards the open front door.

The mud squished underneath my running shoes, a sound I hadn't heard in a while. I wiped my feet on welcome mat before entering the house. Charlie had already stacked my luggagae on the staircase. He was looking through the fridge.

"What'd you like for dinner, Bella? Hot dogs.. mac n cheese?"

"I could cook, Dad. I'm not too big on hot dogs."

"Ah, well. I'm not too big on cooking. I don't do it much."

"I did it all the time with Mom. She couldn't cook to save her soul.. you remember?"

"Yeah, Bells, I remember. You sure? I mean, I don't mind firing up the barbeque."

I was already at the fridge, looking to see what I could prepare. "You sure don't shop much Dad. No wonder you're so skinny. They don't feed you down there at the station?" I teased, grabbing some ground beef and vegetables.

Charlie stood in the kitchen with me while I was chopping the celery, grating the cheese, cooking the beef and boiling the water. I tried to keep up the conversation, but Charlie wasn't one for talking. He gave me the polite answers he could and commenting on the smells wafting from the oven.

"Sure does look good, Bell. I'm gunna go wash up. I have a few buddies coming over to watch the game after dinner. You can meet them." He smiled as he walked towards the stairs.

I set plates out for the both of us, cut a loaf of bread to put in the center of the table, and dished out the baked pasta on both of our plates just in time for Charlie to come back.

"Smells great." Charlie commented once more. He chewed in silence, staring down at his plate. I looked around the once familliar room, noting how little it's changed. "You excited for school tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I guess. It'll be good to meet some new people. I just.."

"Yeah?"

"It's the middle of the year."

"It'll be okay, Bella."

I gave him a half hearted smile, just as he was scraping his plate clean. He got up, and took his plate to the sink.

"I got the dishes, Dad." I said as I pushed the remains of my dinner around the plate. I had lost my appetite. Tomorrow was approaching fast.

"You made dinner, it's the least I can do."

"I did it in Pheonix, Dad. Please. It sounds like your friends are here anyway." The sound of creaking doors slamming was faint.

"Alright." His face lit up as he went to the front door to let his friends in. I scraped my chair back, dumping the contents in the trash as I ran the hot water. I cleaned the plates and the bowls, the pots and pans I used in the time it took Charlie and his friends back inside.

"Bella! Come meet everyone!" Charlie called cheerfully from the livingroom.

I quickly rinsed the bubbles from the sink and then dried my hands on the back of my pants. I fixed a smile on my face as I stared out to the men infront of me.

"Hi," I said quietly. There were two grown men and two younger boys that looked to be my age. I took all the beautiful, different features in. I took a deep breath as I stepped closer. They're not staring. They are polite. They are nice. They're not staring.

"Bella, this is Harry and his son Seth." Charlie pointed to the tall man with the graying hair and the smaller of the two boys, the younger.

"Nice to meet you," I breathed. Seth smiled at me.

"And this is Billy and his son Jacob. You two played when you were little."

I gave a weak smile. Billy was in a wheelchair. Although he looked nice, giving me a little wave, he looked very anxious to watch the game I was holding them up from.

"Hey Bella. Jacob." He stuck his hand out. I hope he didn't notice how much that made me recoil. But I couldn't very well not take his hand, now. I brought mine up to his, our fingers touching slightly as I bit my lip. His fingers were warm, inviting. I slid my hand all the way into his and shook very slightly, his russet hand totally covering my pale skin. I smiled and looked down as I slid my hand quickly out of the embrace.

"Bells?"

I looked up at Charlie.

"The Blacks have brought you something."

"Wha-?" I looked at Billy. I felt bad for judging him.

"Come on outside."

I followed Jacob, Charlie and Seth outside to the gravel driveway. A slightly rusted 1950's truck sat where it had not been when we got home.

"What's this?" I sputtered. "Dad?"

"It's your homecoming present, Bell. I know you could use it."

"I totally rebuilt the engine." Jacob added.

"This.. this is for me?"

"Yeah!" Seth added, smiling brightly. I couldn't help but smile back.

"I just bought it off Billy."

"Dad, thank -"

Charlie rased his hand. "No thanks needed, Bells. I'm just glad you're home."

We climbed back in the house with a comfortable silence between us. The six of us on the couch and floor, the men drinking beer and Jacob and Seth eating popcorn. I didn't say a word through the entire football game, but I felt oddly comfortable. Charlie kept looking down at me, which I pretended not to notice, while Billy and Harry clapped and yelled whenever the team made a touch down. Jacob asked me some polite, quiet questions in the commercial breaks which I was sort of greatful for. I could understand that we were friends in the past.

When the game was over, the boys filed out one by one. Seth seemed to wave as hard as he could, even while he was waiting in the truck. Jacob hung back, asking me to talk to him.

"So, I mean, I'm always working on the truck and stuff. I'm sort of always free. I'm only with Seth, and Quil.. and Embry. Anyway, feel free to come to the reservation anytime? I mean, if you want?"

"Uh yeah. Sure. I'll get your number from Charlie." I smiled and waved. I stood at the window until they left, happy that my reason for coming to Forks was finally starting to pan out. I was moving on, meeting new people.

And tomorrow still, was a new day. I would meet new people. People that didn't know anything that happened in Pheonix. People that didn't know me.

So.. what do you think? I thought it was longer..