Forgiveness is Everything
The summer before it happened was amazing. We spent day and night together. It almost seemed like it was too good to be true while we were together…which I later found out was. After he left all I could do was hope his love for me was real and that he would find his way back to me…boy was that naïve of me.
B POV
"Bella, it's almost time to get to the school. Aren't you excited that you're done high school?" Charlie asked as I put some laundry in the washer.
"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked with a half-hearted smile.
"Your mom is here…how can you not be excited?" he pressed.
Mom came into the room and hugged me, "I'm so happy for you!" she squeaked in joy.
"Thanks." I murmured as I hugged her back, with no joy at all.
"Ooh! Look, here comes Jacob Black!" mom stage whispered as she nudged my arm, I looked up from my food to see Jacob walking up to us. We were eating a celebratory dinner at the diner after the ceremony, Charlie and Phil sat on one side while Renee and I sat across from them.
"Hey Bella, congrats. This is from my dad and me." He smiled down at me as he handed a little box to me.
I took it and gave him a small smile before looking down at it. I opened it, it was a small jewelry box that looked handmade. "Thanks Jake, did you make this?" I asked as I looked back up.
He nodded proudly, "Billy helped me, but I did most of it. It's made out of pine…in case you were wondering." He said sheepishly, then added. "Do you like it?"
I gave him the first genuine smile I'd given anyone in a long time. "It's wonderful, thank you Jacob."
"You want to join us Jake? I'm sure Phil can scoot-" Charlie was saying.
"No, I have to get going but thanks for the offer Charlie. Have a nice night everyone." Jacob waved, then left.
I looked down again, only to look at my wrist. The scar was still there and visible as ever. I inhaled as I tried not to remember what had happened that day, the 2 year anniversary was coming up.
"Bella, hey! It's alright." Mom put her arm around me and rubbed my arm, trying to soothe me.
I shook my head as I looked at her. "Sorry about that."
"You okay?" she asked, concern written all over her face.
I nodded, "I'm fine. Can we get going? I'm tired and I need to shower, take some stress from the day off of me." It wasn't a complete lie, I was stressing this day since…he left.
"I'll take you home Bells." Phil offered politely.
"Thanks Phil." I said as I hugged Renee, then got up to hug Charlie.
"You've grown up Bella." Phil said as we walked out of the diner and headed to his Suberu.
"Thanks, I feel grown up." I said as he unlocked the car. I got in a buckled up, then I thought of something. "How is the training coming along?" I realized then that they took time out of their lives to come see me and I didn't want anything to do with anyone. I felt horrible!
"It's been good, frustrating at times that's for sure. How are you holding up?" He chanced a glance at me as we started driving towards home.
"Okay, why?" I asked suspiciously, not liking where this was heading.
"Well…your mom told me about the break up. We've both been worrying about you."
"You don't need to worry Phil, I'm fine." I sighed.
"Are you sure about that?" he asked as we stopped at the house.
"Yes, I'm sure. Thanks for the ride, see you later." I practically wailed myself out of the car and dashed into the house.
I almost immediately felt like I was being watched when I heard, "Hello Bella." I looked around but didn't see anyone (than again, all the lights were off). I closed the door with a frown and took off my sweater and shoes.
The phone rang so I went to pick it up. "Hello?"
"Hey Bells, where did you go?"
"Angela? Why…" I trailed off when I heard loud music in the background. "Are you at Jessica's grad party?"
"Yeah, you should definitely come. Please say you will." Angela begged, I knew she meant well but I didn't do parties and she knew that. We had become best friends after…they left.
"I don't do parties Ang…sorry though."
"Are you sure? Me and Ben can come pick you up." She offered.
"No, but thank you. You and Ben have a nice night." I said quietly, feeling very envious of what she had with him.
"Okay…can we please get together sometime in the next week? We haven't hung out in so long and it hurts!" she said.
"Yeah, most definitely. I'll see you." I hung up before she could respond and went up the stairs to the washroom. I ran the hottest water in the bathtub and lay in there. I cried as I looked at my scar again. I remembered Edward's words before all the running happened. 'You are my life now.'
I must have fallen asleep because I heard Renee yelling "Bella! Wake up!"
My eyes shot open, I saw Renee, Charlie and Phil all looking at me from the bathroom doorway. Renee's eyes were red rimmed, Charlie and Phil looked like they were both about to burst into tears.
I frowned as I asked. "What are you all staring at?"
Renee ran to the bathtub, got down on her knees and pulled me into a tight embrace, which I didn't return.
"Are you okay Bells?" Charlie asked.
"I'm fine…really." I whispered, only now did I realize that I was naked. I looked down and tried to cover up as I blushed 10 shades of red.
"We'll, uh, give you some privacy then. Come on Renee, let go of her." Charlie said in a bit of a harsh voice to Renee as he pulled her to her feet, without looking at me at all. Renee sniffled as she followed Charlie out of the room, then Phil followed behind Renee.
I quickly climbed out and dried off after draining the tub. I huffed as I made my way to my room. After brushing my hair, I put some under garments, an old t-shirt and a pair of sweat pants on. Then I slipped on a pair of slippers and a sweater. I walked down the stairs and into the living room where my parents and Phil were quietly talking, when they looked at me they were all quiet. I sat beside Charlie on the 3 seat couch, while Renee and Phil were sitting together on the loveseat.
Renee began talking before I could ask what was going on. "Bells, do you want to come live with me and Phil this summer?" Charlie sent her a look that could only be translated as 'smooth!', because my lower lip started trembling. I shook my head because I didn't trust my voice. "Why not baby?" she pouted.
I cleared my throat, "Mom…dad needs me. You have Phil to look after you. I'm not saying I wouldn't like it because I'm sure after I got used to it I wouldn't ever want to leave but I need dad and he needs me. He will always need someone…and as long as he lets me, that someone will be me."
"But you're never happy here." Mom interjected.
"Renee…" dad said in frustration. "We have tried this before, remember? I knew it wouldn't happen this time either but you wouldn't listen to me, just leave it alone." He grumbled in a strained voice.
"Have you been accepted to any colleges?" mom asked after a long silence.
"Yes, I'm going to the University of Washington for an English program." I mumbled.
"So, you'll still be living with your dad?" Renee asked again.
"Yes, I only have 3 classes a week, all from 2 until 6. It's kind of faraway but I know I can make it work." Charlie nodded proudly as I looked at him.
The first few days of summer were really boring. I worked at the Newton's store everyday so that made it a little less boring. The weird thing was that Mike still flirted with me even though he was steadily dating Lauren now.
About a week after summer started I was asked to stay late at the store so that they could get their new supplies in. Mike had a date with Lauren and his parents had a dinner to attend. That meant that I was stuck there until their supplies showed up.
I huffed as I looked at the clock beside the cash register. It was about the time that Charlie got home from the station…or rather from fishing when it was the weekend.
I picked up the phone on the counter and dialed the house phone.
"Hello?" someone answered, that was definitely not Charlie.
I frowned as I asked, "Is Charlie there?"
"Yes he is, I'll get him." There was some shuffling before I heard, "It's Bella."
"Hey Bells, what's up?" Charlie answered in a cheerful voice.
"Dad…is everything okay?" I asked.
"Yes, why?" he asked in confusion.
"Who answered the phone?"
"Bells, calm down. What's going on with you?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to call to tell you that I won't be home for another hour-" I was cut off by someone knocking on the back door. "Nevermind, I'll be home as soon as these guys are finished unloading the supplies."
"Alright, see you soon Bells."
"I hung up and ran to the back door, yanking it open in the process. "Hello Mrs. New…You don't look like a Newton." A young guy, maybe my age, frowned at me as he looked me up and down.
"What? Oh, I'm not. I'm being a loyal employee. Do you have all the supplies?" I asked as I moved so he could start moving everything in.
"Yeah, I just need you to sign this." He handed me a clipboard with a pen and got to work. I quickly signed the clipboard and went back into the store front. I began sweeping as I heard the bell go off that was on the front door, notifying you that someone was coming into the store. I looked up to see Angela and Ben.
"Hey, what's up?" I asked with a small smile.
"We came to see how you were doing." Angela said with a deep frown, I looked at Ben. He was frowning as well.
I scratched the top of my head in confusion, "I'm fine…why?"
"Well, your mom went back to Florida right?"
"Angela…are you okay? You're acting kind of…strange?" I cocked my head to the side slightly and narrowed my eyes at her. I then sighed and put my broom down and went up to her.
"It's just that…I thought you'd be a lot happier." She mumbled.
"Happy that my mom left? I was devastated." I contradicted her.
"Ang, she doesn't know." Ben said quietly as he nudged her arm.
"I don't know what?" I asked.
"We just saw Alice at the diner…she said she was coming to see you. I thought maybe she was just passing through." Angela said quietly as she looked down at her hands.
I stared at her in disbelief, Alice was really back? "What else did she say?" I asked.
"She said that she was going to come here…and then if you weren't here then she would go to your house. I guess she had to do something before she came here." Angela shrugged.
"Was anyone with her?" I asked instantly, not wanting to say his name.
Angela shook her head sadly, "I'm sorry."
I shook my head as I said, "She is better than nothing Ang. Thank you for telling me, I need to hurry and get this place cleaned up." I hugged her and then got back to work.
After I finished cleaning I took my work vest off and checked to see if that guy was done in the back. He was, so I locked the back door, checked the cash register, turned the open sign off and stepped out of the store. After locking the front door, I walked to my truck and unlocked it.
"Dad…did anyone stop by?" I asked excitedly as I entered the house.
Charlie and Billy were watching the game (obviously) in the living room but now Charlie looked up at me in confusion. "No, who would stop by at this time?"
"It's only 7 dad. Are you hungry?" I tried to hide the disappointment in my voice but it didn't work as he continued to look at me in confusion. To get away from him I walked into the kitchen.
"Who were expecting?" Charlie asked I started get a pot of water ready for spaghetti.
"No one. I just had a weird feeling, that's all." I said as I pulled my hair back in a ponytail after putting the pot on the stove.
"You sounded so excited, did you get a phone call from…" he trailed off as I looked at him, standing against the door frame. "Did he call?"
"No, he didn't." I hissed as I got the sauce out and put some in a bowl. I microwaved it and then put some noodles in the now boiling water. "Are you hungry?" I asked again.
"No, we already ate." Charlie replied, after another look at me he turned and went back into the living room.
I sighed and went to my chair, then plopped down and covered my face in my hands. "Bella." Someone whispered. I lifted my head off my hands and looked around. There, sitting on the counter right beside the fridge was Alice.
"Ah!" I screamed.
She appeared in front of me and put her hand over my mouth. "Sh!" she hissed.
"You okay Bells?" Charlie asked.
Alice removed her hand and nodded her head, I answered quickly. "Yeah, just saw a spider. I'm fine though, don't feel obligated to miss any more of your game." I then threw my arms around her and burst into tears. "What are you doing here Alice?" I asked quietly as I buried my face in her shoulder.
"I saw something in your future that scared me. I had to come and make sure that you were okay." She whispered as she hugged me back.
She disappeared and I straightened up as Charlie came into the kitchen. "What's wrong?" he asked with a frown.
"Nothing, let it go." I muttered as I wiped my eyes and got up to check on everything.
"Alright, are you working tomorrow?" he asked as he took some drinks out of the fridge while I turned the burner off and took the sauce out of the microwave.
"No, why?" I asked as I drained the noodles, then plopped some in a plate and drenched them in sauce.
"I think you deserve a day off." He mumbled.
"Okay…" I trailed off as I started to feel an awkward Charlie-Bella moment coming on, and that was not something I needed right this second. I quickly got a fork and brought my slop to the table. I dug in as Charlie left the room again.
"Your dad worries about you to no end." Alice sighed as she sat beside me.
"Where did you disappear to?" I asked in a low voice.
"Just outside, I don't think Charlie's friend would appreciate it if he knew I was here."
"Who? Billy? Why?" I asked as I put my fork down.
"He is…well his son is a werewolf. His name is Billy Black, right?"
"Yeah."
"His son is definitely a werewolf, their scent is everywhere." Her nose wrinkled her nose, making me laugh. "I can tell this is the first time you've laughed in a long time." She said with a smile. I put another forkful of spaghetti in my mouth, which made her wrinkle her nose even more. "That looks repulsive."
After that we fell into a nice silence, when I was finished my food I got up and picked up my plate. I put it into the sink and asked. "So what's this about my future premonition that you saw of me?"
I started doing the dishes as she said. "I saw you…in the clutches of Victoria." I looked at her in disbelief. "I haven't seen Laurent so I'm assuming that he never went back to her."
"Alice!" I said a little louder than I should have. She put a finger up to shut me up.
When the coast was clear she whispered, "What?"
"Laurent is dead." I said quietly.
"How?" she sounded intrigued.
"The wolves did it." I admitted.
She narrowed her eyes at me, "How do you know that Isabella Marie Swan?"
"Well, I went into the woods a while back…I wanted to find the meadow. Laurent showed up but then some big honken wolves showed up and chased him away, I saw them ripping him apart after they caught up with him."
"You…you went into the woods by yourself? You should never… hold on." She held up a hand as she got her phone out, even though it wasn't ringing. I heard it vibrate, she answered with a "Hi Jaz."
I sighed and went back to doing the dishes.
