Chapter one: Changes are good... not

I had to get this idea out of my head, because it wasn't letting me go on with other projects... so I hope you like it. It's kind of AU since there's no magic, and Jake and the pack have -except Sam- the same age as Bella and other fictional characters, but I keep them in Fork with some minor changes. With no further ado: show must go on!

Disclaimer: not mine (that was kind of obvious)

Bella's POV

Yes, Forks sucked. My non-existent friends sucked and my family... wasn't even mine to begin with. I never thought I would be moving with my dad and his new wife.

Sure mom loved me, told me she was deeply sorry for sending me back to Washington and reassured me I wasn't going to be away that long, but still, I was stuck in a cold gray and wet state all by myself.
Her boss thought to be a great idea to send her on a trip to London just as the scholar year started. What a bright man.

Mom, ever the free spirit, was thrilled at first and so was I until I realized what her business trip would mean for me. Since she divorced Phil, we had been living by ourselves in Jacksonville, which was a nice, warm place. Still, Renne felt she needed fresh air, a bright new start, and even if she wasn't moving out, at least some months away from home looked fantastic to her.

Despite the fact that I was a sensible and very-responsible-for-my-age kind of teenager, mom wasn't that far gone to let me stay by my own for a few months. I tried to discuss how different scenarios could play out: I could go with her-I really wanted to visit London- but of course there was school.
She could have stayed, but I would have hated myself for it. Mom even tried to make me believe it was all right for her to miss out on this big opportunity, but that didn't work with me. The last option was Charlie - my almost stranger dad - although he had been her first option right away. She would never admit it to me though.

I couldn't quite believe it. I hadn't talk to Charlie – as in a real meaningful conversations - since his wedding 5 years ago. I met his wife Kelly and her daughter Clare, personally that very first day. Those two were exactly alike; both had curly long red hair, pale skin just like me and green eyes.

The problem was, I had just started my last year of high school, and Renne weirdly reasoned I should stay the whole year, so I wouldn't miss any class or make it any harder on my senior year that it would be.

Fantastic.

I refused to go, I even tried to talk my neighbor into looking after me assiduously, but there was no use discussing it, I was staying in Washington for a whole year.
So there I was, landing on the Port Angeles airport at 12:45 am, in a comforting hoodie and baggy pants, waiting for my suitcase to pass me by.

After a few minutes of craziness and stress I finally saw a brown-haired man, all dressed like a cop, standing awkwardly between seas of people. When Charlie noticed me, his awkwardness increased along with mine. He had not changed. He still had the same appearance, with more worry lines in his forehead, but he looked happy.

"Isa...Bella it's been long," he said smiling for my benefit, I guessed. At least he remembers I hate to be called Isabella. I was tired of repeating: "just call me Bella".
He hugged me with one arm and pulled away quickly. PDA was not our thing.

"Hi Charlie," I half smiled. He wasn't expecting me to be bouncing up and down from joy, and I could tell he didn't know how things were going to work out between us in the next year, but we had to face it, we were at an impasse.

Charlie drove in silence, just asking here and there about my life on Florida and how he had already enrolled me at Fork's high- the only school in the town and surroundings.
Joy, I thought to myself.

"Thanks," I said, blushing a little. I felt I was imposing my stay at his house. "For everything." I just didn't want to explain what I was saying thank you for.

"Sure, sure. You are my daughter, don't worry."
That was much of our talk. Weird as it might be, it was the way things went with Charlie.

An hour and a half later we pulled up to a little but homey house. The blue two story Swan's residence. It had a big back yard surrounded by forest, green thick forest.
Charlie helped me with my bags and out of his car, which thank God, wasn't the police cruiser. It was embarrassing enough to know that the whole town was talking about my arrival. Me, who hated the attention the most.
Two silhouettes appeared on the door frame watching us, Kelly and Clare. When they saw Charlie fidgeting with my bags they came hurriedly to his aid.

"Hey Bella! It's been long!" Clare said enthusiastically. "How was your flight?"

She was a nice girl, always willing to help and bubbly, quiet but more graceful and socially evolved than me.

I looked at my old house, which despite of being the same as ever, had a feminine touch here and there. Kelly loved to decorate and had done a great work. The paint that once was light green now was a cheerful yellow, and there were a lot of pictures across the living room. Photos of

Charlie and Kelly on their wedding day, Clare and Kelly, Clare all alone and the three of them happily sitting on the hood of their new car, laughing at something. I couldn't hide a spark of jealousy to rise within me. Charlie was supposed to be my dad, we were supposed to be family, but I decided to walk out all of that, as Renne did, years ago. I got over my little episode as quickly as Kelly distracted me.

"Good to see you, young lady." I smiled weakly at her and replied, "Thanks for letting me stay."

"Oh sweetie there's nothing to be thankful," she said patting lightly my arm. "I see you noticed some changes?"

"Yeah…" I said looking around. "That's some change,"

She laughed, covering her mouth just like ladies should do. Her laugh wasn't much of a giggle but it suited Kelly.

"Sooo…Bella again, how are you?" said Clare holding my hands. I liked her, but sometimes she invaded my personal space.

"Sorry, I was awestruck with the new look of the house… I'm fine, well, boring." I said trying to get off of her grasp but failing when she led me to the bottom of the stairs with a big smile on her round face.

"Come see you bedroom!" she said running up the stairs. "You will love it!"

She opened the door for me. I entered embracing myself for the impact, but surprisingly I liked what I saw. My bed was in the middle of the room and the walls were a pale blue while the floor was covered by a brown carpet giving my little bedroom a comfortable look. There was a nightstand at the right side of my bed and a big dresser. There was a big window with dark curtains which I was grateful for, because I liked to block the sun out while I slept. I had a small table, I guess to study and a big black armchair. Nice.

"It's really nice." I said raising my eyebrows, Clare noticed. "I love it."

"Well I don't know you that much, but I think this is better than the pink paint dad was purchasing last month." She said laughing.

"Wow… I owe you, big one." I told her hugging her with one arm. Yeah, with that kind weird half hug.

"You like it?" Charlie asked proudly. He had left me time to settle and get used to the new feeling of my room, that's something I liked about him. He just let you be.

"Yes, thanks Char… dad." Might as well get used to call him daddy. Cue mental eye-roll.

"I told you it was better than the pink one." Clare told him, poking her head through the door. Charlie only rolled his eyes and started to leave when he stopped in his tracks and turned around.

"You remember tomorrow's first day of school, right?"

"Yes," There goes my mood. "I have everything ready."

"Good, you have to take the bus since Kelly is taking the car," he added apologetically.

Clare and I nodded, accepting our fate. I hated not being able to drive my own car. Renne said I wouldn't need it once I made friends at school. It seemed she didn't know about the lack of my social skills.
I chit chatted a little bit with Clare before bed. She told me how exciting was going to be our senior year and that she would introduce me to all her friends. At least I know someone and won't wander alone. I skipped dinner, blaming it on the nerves of the next day, while I just didn't feel like answering a million questions about myself.

The three of them talked in synchronization, always knowing what to say and how to say it. They were a happy family with any doubt, and I was a fly on the wall.

I put on my pajamas and went to the bathroom to do my daily routine. What I found staring back at me in the mirror wasn't pretty. I had circles under my eyes, my skin was paler than usual and I had no color in my eyes, jet lag? No. Depression? Probably.
I covered my face with a weird cream Renne told me about. "It's the best lit up for your face!" Well, I will need it for tomorrow. I tried to smile to the mirror, practicing for tomorrow. I didn't want to look apathetic the very first day.

When I was sure I wouldn't stain the pillow with the goo on my face I put my hair in a high pony tail and climbed into bed. The sheets were a pale pink. Charlie and his pink obsession, I chuckled. They smelled like lavender which luckily helped me to drift off.

School was going to be tough, but I planned to be invisible, and not to drag unwanted attention. But I'm Bella Swan, since when things go my way?

Jake will appear in the next chapter and maybe sparks will fly... or not. Longer chapter about to come, this was more of an introduction. What do you think about it? Review and tell me what you think!