A/N: Hello everyone! Since middle school, I have always enjoyed reading fanfiction. To see what people could do with well-known material and come up amazing stories just blew my mind! This story is a culmination of my own dreams, experiences, while still keeping the essence of the Twilight Saga we all know and love. I hope that you will enjoy what I've written so far and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE review and favorite so you can see updates. All rights belong to the lovely Stephanie Meyer – no copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER 1 | Back to Where it Began
May 2012
BPOV
"You're worthless!"
"You'll never be good enough!"
"You're no better than I am!"
My mind flashed back to the roughest time in my life and I cringed at how Jacob Black had made his way into my mind again. We practically grew up in diapers and shared some of the greatest memories throughout our childhood. Our families were best friends, family really, and spent plenty of time with one another. From Galveston beach bonfires, countless times at the local diner, and making our way through life…for some reason that all had changed.
Feelings grew between Jacob and me over the summer, and in our freshman year of high school, we started dating. He was the perfect gentleman. Showing me love and affection, taking me on the best dates a girl could ever ask for and pushing me to do my best in all aspects of my life. We loved hard and fell in love with each other. By our junior year, we had made big plans for the future and found a balance with everyday life. But somewhere along the way, I could have never guessed what would have happened next.
Like most teenagers, Jake thought he was invincible. He started to hang out with the wrong crowd and he got sucked into an entirely new world. Me on the other hand…. I was solid. Strong in my relationships with those around me and my faith. Nothing or no one could pull me away…. or so I thought. I was protective over my boyfriend and worried about how his new life would change us. He had persuaded me to attend some of the parties and I finally gave in.
I could have fun without drinking or getting into drugs, right?
WRONG!
Before I knew it, I was right alongside him. Drinking until I couldn't remember what had happened, hiding it from those around me, and telling myself that I could stop when I wanted to. I truly was hooked, curious about what else I could do and wanted to please my man. But Jake changed right in front of my eyes. He became possessive about what I wore, who I hung out with and challenged my loyalty. The verbal abuse ripped me of my confidence and made me feel like I was unworthy. And again, I made no attempts to leave.
I…was…...stuck.
It took my father, Charlie Swan, the Chief of Police of Beaumont, Texas, to show me just had far I had gone. He had busted up an underage drinking party and I was there along with Jacob. Caught red handed like a little kid in trouble. I was embarrassed and ashamed so I could only imagine how he felt. I soon after broke it all off with Jacob Black. It was the hardest thing I had to do, but the biggest weight had been lifted off of my shoulders.
I was free to be me again.
It took some time, an intervention, and a whole lot of Jesus to start my life back up again. I got back into church, restored relationships with my family and friends, and moved back in with my parents. I was still able make up missed assignments and graduate with my senior class. I never saw him again and that was how I wanted it to be. It's now been four years since the darkest time in my life and I'm doing better than I ever expected.
A tap on my bedroom door disrupted my thoughts. I looked in the mirror and see my parents standing in the doorway.
"You ready to head out, Bella?" my dad said.
"Almost…. just trying to adjust my cap and gown. Does everything look okay?"
"Oh honey you look beautiful!" my mom said with teary eyes.
"Mom you have got to stop crying! I just did my makeup!"
My dad chuckles and takes a quick picture. "I think your mother has cried enough tears for all of us."
The room erupts in full belly laughter with a quick nudge in my dad's side courtesy of my mom. He always knew how to make me laugh and break the ice.
"Let's do this!"
I made my way to the bottom level of the Montagne Center to find my assigned room. I silently kicked myself for wearing these heels. All thanks to my best friend, Alice Jackson. She was a fiery little pixie who has the biggest heart I had ever known. We were both graduating today from Lamar University. Alice with a Bachelor's degree in Education and me with a Bachelor's of Science in Health. The two of us would soon be heading out to start our new lives in Dallas, Texas. Joining us in our next phase of life was Angela Weber. We had all been best friends since elementary school and they were a huge source of strength during my high school years. Without them, I don't know where I would be.
It was soon time to head out to the main center and wait for my name to be called. I could hear Pomp and Circumstance playing, our biggest supporters cheering and a ton of cameras flashing. I spotted my parents, brother, sister-in-law,niece, Angela, family, friends, co-workers, church members as well as Alice's. They were on their feet….so excited for the two women they had helped shape and were sending off into the real world. I looked all around and just took the scene in.
This is what you've waited for.
My eyes landed two rows back where Alice and I shared a sweet moment. The road had been hard but the reward was worth the wait. This was our time, our moment, and it was all just beginning.
