Full summary: Living in an orphanage made Isabella's life miserable. Now it's her junior year of high school and she has to face the world, but with a new face and name. With two different lives, she falls for two different guys. Will she be able to hide her identity from the rest of the world, and how is she going to pick between the two guys without breaking their heart
Disclaimer: I do not own anything
BPOV (6 years old)
Someone told me that today is my last day to be in this house. My daddy's friend, Billy, told me he would take care of the house until I'm a big girl. He sounded serious. Billy also said that he was sorry that he couldn't take me in and care for me.
"Everything is going to be okay," he had said. I just nodded at him, but I didn't understand why he said that. He's always taking care of me whenever Daddy goes to work, and I always play with Jacob. He's fun to play with.
Daddy is going to be home tonight from work soon, but the police from Daddy's work came this afternoon saying that it was my last day in the house. I wonder why. Maybe we're moving to a new house! I should ask Daddy about that when he gets home.
Then they started asking me questions. I thought they were going to put me in jail because I remember Daddy telling me that he has to ask questions to the bad people to get their information straight.
I thought the things they asked me were kind of fun in a weird way. The policemen asked me where I go to school, who I play with, what I do when Daddy's not home, and where my mama went. I think they were giving me a test to see if I was smart and it was a good thing they were easy to answer. I hope I pass, but... I don't know where Mama went. Daddy said she left to explore the world… but where? She has been exploring the world since I was two years old. Daddy said so. He even told me that Mama has been sending him letters ever since she left. I had asked him if I could send her a letter, but he said that the letter might not make it to where she was because she moves a lot. But anyways... will I still pass the test even though I didn't know the answer to the last question?
Many people came in the house. Most of them were Daddy's grown up friends like Mr. and Mrs. Clearwater. They were always asking me if I was doing okay, and then I would tell them that I am doing great. Am I not supposed to be okay because it just seemed to make them sad? I don't know what happened but something is making them sad and serious.
I wish I can understand why grown-ups take things so seriously. If something happens, they shouldn't be serious about it. I am only six years old and I can be serious too, like the time when Jacob cut up my drawing, I was mad at him. And the time when he broke my doll, I was mad at him for that, too. But in the end, we laughed because they were accidents. When he cut up my drawing, he didn't know that it was in the pile of paper he was cutting, and when he broke my doll, we were playing treasure hunt and he didn't know he found it until he sat on it. Maybe an accident made all the grown-ups look all sad and serious. They should laugh at the accident like Jacob and me. I am sure that whoever made an accident didn't mean to cause it. It was an accident.
I looked up at the clock in the kitchen to see if it was six o'clock yet. Daddy always managed to get home at exactly the same time the clock reaches six. It was as if he was magical. I asked him if he was one time and he just chuckled.
When everybody left this afternoon, the house got quiet. Well, everybody left except for Billy, so the house wasn't that quiet when I had my dinner. He stayed to keep an eye on me while Jacob was at a friend's house in La Push. I wish I was there so I could play with them.
Soon, the clock in the kitchen struck six, and I ran to the doorway, just in time to hear Daddy's car pull over in the driveway. "Daddy's home, Billy," I yelled, a smile growing on my face. Billy came into view and he gave me a soft smile. I cocked my head to the side, wondering why he looked like that. I was about to ask, but then the front door opened.
"Welcome home, Daddy!"
I ran up to him and gave him a hug. After a few seconds, I realized something was different. Daddy always hugs me back, so I looked up at him to ask him what's wrong, but it wasn't Daddy.
"Oh." I giggled and took a few steps back. "Hi, Mr. Clearwater. Sorry about that. I thought you were Daddy."
Mr. Clearwater patted my head and gave me a small smile. "That's all right, Isabella," he said. Then he looked up, directing his attention to Billy. "The boys said that they found a nice, safe place for her to stay at. It isn't too close to the city, the place is homey with good food, and the caretaker has a clean record. Nothing to worry about."
Billy nodded his head. "Thanks, Harry. Sorry you have to go through all that trouble."
Mr. Clearwater shook his head. "No, it's fine. It is the least I could do for both you and him. It had to be the perfect place, and I know how much you wanted to take her in. We don't want to do this as much as you do," he said sadly. "But it's the only choice we have."
"Yeah," Billy agreed with a heavy sigh. "I know. I just really want to take her in so she would not have to go through all these changes. If it wasn't for the economy crashing down at a time like this, I would have done so."
"It'll be fine. She will make it. We will all make it," Mr. Clearwater said, patting Billy on the shoulder. "Well, I best be off. Sue is still in hysterics and I better make sure she'll be okay."
Then Mr. Clearwater glanced down at me and gave me another small smile. "Take care and be safe. We'll be here for you when the time comes," and he crouched down, giving me a hug. I was confused now. I didn't understand what they were talking about, but I guess it's a grown up thing.
I hugged him back and soon enough, he let go. He stood up and gave a slight nod to Billy. Then Mr. Clearwater left.
"Well, Bella," I looked over to where Billy was standing. "We have to start packing your things."
"So we are moving," I exclaimed. Maybe that's why Daddy isn't home yet. He's out looking for a house.
Billy gave me a small smile and led me to my room.
The first thing I did when we got to my room was I plop on my bed and grabbed for my stuff bear that was lying on the bed. With my bear in my hands, I cradled it the way I see moms do to their babies in the movies.
"We're only going to pack a few of your clothes," Billy said in a soft voice.
"Okay," I told him as I turned my attention back to Charlie, my bear. "Did you hear that, Charlie? We are moving. Your grandpa is out looking at the house we are going to live in. You might even have your own room!" I gave Charlie an excited smile, but I knew he couldn't hear me. He was just sleeping.
As I continued rocking Charlie in my arms, Billy was still piling clothes in one of the suitcases I had in my closet. It was then that when I looked up, I saw a tear running down Billy's face. Worried, I gently placed Charlie back on the bed and walked over to where Billy was sitting.
"Billy?" I asked with concern. "What's wrong?"
He looked up and with a half-smile on his face, wiped the tear away. Then he picked me up and placed me on his lap.
"It's nothing," he said reassuringly. "It's nothing that you have to worry about."
I just nodded my head, unsure for what I should say. Being silent was all I could do now, and I did just that. I don't really know how long we sat there, with him rocking the rocking chair back and forth, because soon, I felt my eyes starting to get droopy. I let out a yawn.
"I think it's time for somebody to get to bed," he said with a chuckle.
"But I don't want to," I complained, but then I had to let out another yawn.
"Now, now," he said a bit sternly, "we have to get you to bed."
I was starting to get tired and I didn't feel like protesting anymore, so I nodded. As soon as I was placed in my bed, tucked and all, I felt Billy's presence disappearing. I didn't want to be left by myself, not until I knew where Daddy was.
The look in his eyes when I asked Billy had me feeling the pain he was feeling. I didn't know what happened, but it made me feel that I was concerned in this, too.
He let out a mournful filled sigh and told me what happened. He told me what happened in the afternoon, why most of Forks was in the house, and, most importantly, why I was moving.
I couldn't think.
I couldn't cry.
I couldn't feel anything. The only thing that I could do now was nod my head.
"Everything will be all right," he said reassuringly. "Everything will be all right."
I just continued to nod my head until my neck started to cramp. I wasn't sure if I was going to be all right. Everything from this afternoon just seemed to click in my head and all of it just seemed to crash down on me. I am just a six year old for goodness sake and I don't think I'm supposed to be going through this kind of thing. These things are for grown-ups. I don't want to be like a grown-up! This is a load of crap!
I looked away from Billy shamefully, afraid that he could hear my thoughts. If he found out that I said the "C" word, I might be in big trouble.
Thinking that I wanted to go to sleep, Billy had pulled away and started to walk towards the door. I still didn't want him to leave...
"Billy," I called out to him.
He turned around with a questioning look.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Could you sing me the song Daddy sings to me every night?"
...Not until he sings me my song. It is a nice song, and I always managed to fall asleep to it. Before I go to sleep, Daddy would always sing me my song. Our song. And I will never forget the sound of his singing voice.
Billy gave me a smile, one that was filled with life.
"Sure."
As Billy sang me my song, I felt my eyes wet with tears. As I listened to the words of the song, I remembered every happy moment I shared with Daddy. As I drifted off to sleep, the only thing I could hear was the sound of Daddy's voice replacing Billy's.
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you,
So please don't take
My sunshine away