Chapter One:
I watched as the sun rose over the mountains, unimpressed. In any other part of the country, the world would light up at this moment. But in Forks, the world was gray and dreary.
What anyone saw in this god-awful section of the world was beyond me. All I saw, was the rain pelting down on the window, and two mountains trying desperately to escape the fog encapsulating them.
That was how I felt. Captured, not able to make my own decisions. And who else was left to tell me what to do? Charlie? That was almost a joke. I hadn't seen him since I was six and my whole life had gone on without him just fine.
In fact, I had been happy in the sunny Arizona deserts. I liked the warmth, since I always seemed to be so cold. But here, where the temperature was averaged in the low forties, I was shivering.
Charlie slowed for a red light. When he noticed my trembling hands, he reached to turn on the heat. When the warm air blasted all over me, I felt a little better.
"Listen Bells, I know how you must be feeling." Charlie turned onto Main Street, as he glanced over at me.
I kept my eyes on the window. He had no idea what I was feeling.
"My Mom died when I was eleven. It was hard for me too. But unlike you, I didn't have a Dad."
How dare him. He wasn't a Dad, he was a father. A man who contributed a couple of sperm and the occasional thousand bucks to my Mom's bank account in raising me. He had no right to presume that he knew me, or in any fashion understood.
When I didn't respond, he lifted a hand from the wheel and scratched his chin, thinking. "Anyway, I know your whole world has been rocked. And you aren't exactly thrilled at the prospect of living with me."
Oh god, I had hoped we could just skip this part.
"But I want you to know, I want to change that. I want you to like it here. And maybe…" He sighed and ran a hand through his graying hair, "maybe we will actually learn to be friends."
I buried deeper into my parka. I was beginning to chill again.
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When we turned into the drive, I did not attempt to make small talk. All I did, was scoot out of the car, grab my duffel bag, and wait for Charlie to open the door.
As I waited on the steps for him to get the keys that seemed to have disappeared I eyed the house.
It was a light blue, and the trim, was peeling in long purple curls. Even the house was sadder, more melancholy.
"Ah hah!" Charlie pulled the small key out of his breast pocket and flipped the lock.
The door swung open on its own, ushering me into a room I had only bad memories for.
I saw Charlie, some twelve years younger, pulling his hair as he screamed at my Mom.
I saw her lean back as she raised her hands, and with a glare in her eyes retort back. Behind them, I saw me sitting at the foot of the stairs, holding my knees to my chest. My eyes, dry, but my expression broken and scared.
"Anyway…" Charlie interrupted, "here." He plopped the key into my hand, and headed inside, up the stairs and through the memory.
I took a moment on the steps.
The moment I walked in, the moment I unpacked, everything would change. I would be living here. I would be living with him, in this house.
"Bella?"
I took a deep breath, and willed away my fears and turned on cold Bella. The Bella who would get me through this.
I entered the house, and didn't look back as I closed the door behind me with my foot.
I followed the sound of rustling, and came to my old room.
I peeked in, and saw Charlie bent over hooking up my laptop to the wall.
When I entered, he looked up and gave me a small nod.
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I looked at my reflection, taking in my appearance.
I was thin, but in the last year gained curves. My skin, was ivory and held a gentle flush that the chill of Washington gave to me. The sweater I wore, was a chocolate brown, that met the hem of my jeans.
Was this what I was supposed to wear every day? What happened to sun? To flip flops and tank tops?
My hair was combed back into a braid over my shoulder, and I thought I looked descent enough for my first day of school.
I wasn't nervous, or even excited. I just wanted it to be over.
I carefully crept down the steps, trying not to make a sound when Charlie rounded the corner.
"Hey." He played with his lip, and old habit from youth. "Can, you, um…come outside for a second?"
I nodded reluctantly, and followed him out of the kitchen door and to the back of the house.
There, parked was a giant red truck, with so many dents and rust stains that it seemed to radiate "I will stall."
For some reason, I found that I didn't care at all about the appearance, and just loved the character it spread.
I kept my face neutral and waited for Charlie to speak.
He shifted uncomfortably and gestured with his chin to the truck.
"Its yours."
I whirled on him, with wide eyes, showing the first emotion in days. He looked surprised to, but quickly smoothed his face back when I did the same.
"Why?"
I hadn't been nice, or kind. I had been rude. In fact, I had deliberately avoided him for the past few days, dancing around him in the house.
He just shrugged.
"I work late. I want you to be happy. I want you to have a social life. Pick one."
I slowly approached the cabin, and ran my hand down the handle, not opening it.
"Thanks."
A small smile spread his lips, but he hid it under his nose, tucking it under his neck. He grunted, and tossed me the keys.
"You're welcome. Just take it to the garage on fifth. It's in the rez, but they have the best prices."
I opened the door and asked, "What does it need?"
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It was still early when I pulled into the lot, and I tried not to make direct eye contact with anyone.
After circling the spaces a couple times, I finally found an open one and slipped into it. When I climbed out, I took off the emotion, and went into a mask of cold and uncaring.
When I turned around, I realized half of the school was watching me.
Groups upon groups of cliques stood by cars, and each stereotype came into mind as they all watched me seeing what my next move was.
A group to my left, consisted of two girls and one boy.
I was prepared to walk right past them and find my way to the office but the Asian kid popped up out of now where with a huge grin.
"Hey! Are you Isabella? I'm Ben, the school news paper photographer." He held out a long hand, and leaving me no other choice, I shook it.
"Uh, yes." Was my brilliant reply.
His grin widened and he shook my hand hard, and just a little longer than necessary.
"So you're new? That's always tough."
I nodded, and before I could catch myself I replied "Technically everyone's new. For everyone else it's the grade, for me it's the school."
His eyes widened. "Oooh. That's deep. Maybe I'll put that as the caption."
"The caption to-?"
I was cut off by a flash directly in my face.
"Excuse him. He was dropped a lot as a kid."
I turned, and a blonde guy was standing there in a burgundy t shirt and basketball shorts.
"I was not! Not everyone can be Neanderthals. Some people actually strive for creativity."
The blonde one just snorted, falling into step beside us.
When the joined me in my walk to the school I didn't know, but I tried not to focus on the proximity of their arms.
"I'm Mike. The Neanderthal."
He raised a fist in the air.
Oh, so he was one of those.
I pumped it, and tucked my hand back into my jacket.
"So, Isabella, what are your interests, goals and all that?"
Ben pulled out a notepad, and waited for my impromptu answer.
"I haven't really figured that out yet."
"Come on." Mike drawled, "You got to give him something."
I thought for a second. "Well, I like painting. And sketching."
What happened to cold and collected Bella? No more sharing I chastised myself.
"Ooohh really?" When I nodded Ben smiled and gestured to the both of us with his finger. "I'm the president of art club, want to join?"
No. No I didn't. That's what I should have said.
"Uh, let me think about it."
He nodded, completely unruffled and stopped when I reached the office doors.
"Well I'm off. My duty is done, and the damsel isn't in distress."
With a flourish of his hand he bowed and kissed my hand, then proceeded down the hall.
Mike leaned on the glass door and smiled. "He's a good kid. See you 'round Isabella."
"Bella." I corrected as he turned away.
Damn it Bella!
"Bella." He repeated with a small smirk, then headed off down the hall.
I turned with a roll of my shoulders and headed into the warm office.
Here's chapter one! Leave me review telling me what you think spurs Bella to be so closed off? The next chapter will be up soon, in the mean time, check out my other stories, "All Consuming Love" and others. You guys are awesome