Well, fancy seeing you here?

I haven't updated in FOREVER and finally i'm getting back into writing again. It's summer, and i've been given a new batch of inspiration.

Therefore, here is chapter two, AND chapters will be more regular from now on! :)

Enjoy!


Chapter Two: Forks

I watched, with growing curiosity, as we descended closer to town limits. My stomach was churning. Whether it was from the travelling we'd been doing, my nervousness mixed with excitement over seeing the new house, or my sadness about leaving Chicago, I wasn't entirely sure.

I sat in the back seat, my iPod playing gently into my ears as I sat with one hand on my lap, and the other placed on my backpack, as if protecting the contents inside.

I hadn't looked at the box and journal since we'd started our travels, and even though I'd been sad to leave our house and all my memories, the tears that slipped down my cheeks were much less than what they would've been, had I not found the possessions of Edward Masen. I felt like I'd taken a part of the house with me, so I wouldn't miss it that much more.

I also felt an overwhelming amount of guilt. I'd taken someone's private property. Something they'd hidden, and not meant for anyone to find.

No. I couldn't believe that.

I had to be optimistic. Take a page from my mother's book and her "glass is always half full" attitude. I was meant to find the box, I was meant to discover Edward Masen Junior before I left for Forks.

I leaned my head against the glass, slightly exhausted from all the travelling we'd done. It was a four and a half hour flight from Chicago to Seattle, then we had to get another smaller plane down to Port Angeles, and now we were driving to Forks in Charlie's new car, which would soon become my mother's once he received his Police Cruiser.

I still had no car, and had to find some resources with which I'd be able to buy one. There was no way my mother would drive me to school every day, and there was even less of a chance that I'd allow my dad to.

Nothing slows down traffic like a cop.

My eyes drifted out the window again, listening to a new song that had started as the trees blurred past at a steady speed. They were brown, with green specs here and there, but suddenly, just as we reached a sign proclaiming the little town of Forks, everything turned green.

Everything.

I had to blink because of the contrast in colour, and I moved my head away from the window to get a better look outside. We were all doing it, knowing that we'd now reached our hometown after the massive sign had welcomed us only seconds earlier.

Welcome to Forks

Population: 3120

I wondered, with a little laugh, if someone would be there tomorrow to change the sign to 3123. Because... We were home.

I let out a breath as rain began to patter across the window I was glancing out of. It had been raining quite often since we arrived in Port Angeles, and I wasn't an alien to rain having lived in Chicago, but I definitely wasn't used to it pouring so frequently.

Something told me I was going to have to get used to it.

"Well..." Charlie said gruffly, his voice lingering for a second before fading out. It seemed that was the only words we were going to get from him.

I watched, kind of awed, as the trees blurred past. Everything was so beautiful. The trees, covered in moss. The logs and paths that seemed to fit in with the surrounding scenery. It was all very homely and secluded, which scared and comforted me at the same time.

We stopped at a red light, and I took the chance to glance down at my iPod and change songs. As I looked back up, my eyes headed straight for the window. But I couldn't see anything except another car next to mine.

I couldn't help but stare inside at the person driving. She was tiny, with short cropped black hair that matched the black leather seat she was sitting on. She was driving a blue car, fancy and nothing like the Megane my dad was driving. The thing that kept me looking at her, was the fact that her eyes were locked onto mine, a curious and surprised look plastering her face.

Suddenly I heard Charlie change gear, and the accelerator pump rev slightly. I blinked, and took one more look at the pale, beautiful girl in the opposite car, before Charlie drove us away and straight on down the street.

As we moved closer into town limits the trees began to fade a little more, and I saw a few shops, one selling fishing supplies, the other hiking supplies, and one more that sold confectionary. I knew what one I'd ever head into if I was around that part of town.

Charlie turned a corner, and I saw a garage situated beside a Diner which only had a line of trees separating them. I guessed this was the centre of the town, where most stuff happened.

Charlie didn't stop, but mumbled something about getting dinner later. He headed straight on, and again we were immersed in the seclusion of trees and bushes. We passed by a few streets, before my dad took a right and turned onto a street with a few houses on either side, each of them resembling each other in one way or another.

He drove halfway down the street before coming to a stop by a house on the left. I peeked out the window at the white-washed house. It wasn't too small, but it wasn't as big as our house in Chicago, although I didn't mind in the slightest. There were trees on either side of the house, and a lawn that stretched from the front around to the back which seemed to lead into a forest. Each house was separated by trees, and private, so no-one would intrude anyone's personal space.

We all got out of the car, and I looked up at the house to get a better look. There were three steps leading from the lawn up to the small porch, which had a black metal frame to add to the effect of the house. The door was white, like the rest of the building, and it had a bay window to the right, and two upstairs windows that overlooked the garden. I turned around, smiling at the fact that because of the way the houses were laid out, you couldn't see the houses across the street, only the trees that separated them. I liked the thought of waking up, looking out the window and seeing nothing but the forest that surrounded Forks.

I turned to my mom and dad as they pulled suitcases out from the trunk, "Which room is mine?"

My dad looked up, "The one facing the yard. I thought you'd prefer one at the front of the house?"

I couldn't help the smile that formed on my face. Charlie knew me so well.

I helped my parents unload our belongings, and we traipsed into the house after Charlie unlocked the door. We dropped everything in the hallway, taking a look at our surroundings.

The hallway was long, with two doors to the right. I walked down slowly, feeling my mother and father following close behind me. The delivery men who left our furniture must have opened the windows and doors to air the place before they left again, because there was no dust or murkiness around me.

I glanced into the first open doorway. It was the living room. Our boxes labelled "Living Room" had all been placed inside, some stacked on each other or on the sofa, coffee table, and cabinet my mother demanded we bring with us. It was quite large, with a fireplace facing the door that made the room seem even larger.

I left the room, letting my mom and dad fuss over the boxes to make sure nothing was broken. I walked towards the next door, finding the kitchen and dining room in one. It was smaller than the living room, but quite comfortable and snug. The cupboards were a faint yellow colour, giving a little sunshine to the room as the white curtains framed the rainy mess outside. I took a glance out to the back garden, only to find that yet again, it was trees.

Leaving the room, I remembered about my backpack. I cursed myself as I ran outside quickly and back to the car, grabbing it from the backseat. I didn't want anything to happen to it.

I went back inside, sighing as my wet hair stuck to the nape of my neck with happy formality. I went down the hall again, this time heading for the stairs. I took them slowly, letting my eyes adjust to the scene around me.

There were two doors at the back of the house, and two doors at the front. Taking a quick peek in the rooms at the back, I noticed my mom and dad's bedroom, and Charlie's office. I headed for the doors near the front of the house, bracing myself for what would be inside the door.

The first one I opened, however, was a bathroom. It was small, like everything else had been shrunk in size since we arrived. I left the communal bathroom, and headed for the door on the left, glad to have remembered that this window was bigger, after I'd seen them from outside.

I turned the handle and pushed the door slowly. I gazed inside, letting myself adjust to what was around me. It wasn't too tiny, but it wasn't as big as my last bedroom, something I was surprisingly happy about.

I didn't do big and grand. I liked the fact that I now had a small room, where I couldn't cluster it with junk and unnecessary things. I had my own private space that was snug and cosy. Hearing my mother and father downstairs, deciding to make a coffee and then start on the living room, I decided I didn't want to take part in that game. I closed my door behind me, before turning and dropping my backpack gently on the floor.

All my furniture and boxes had been put up here. And they cluttered the small room. I sighed, taking one more look around. The door behind me was big and wooden, still the brown colour it had originated from. The walls were a mix between magnolia and vanilla, giving a warm look to them, rather than the cold and sterile white that may have been placed upon them. The window was quite large, but I wondered if it would open due to how delicate the brown frame looked.

Happy with my new home, because my bedroom mattered to me more than where my mother would place her TV screen, I decided to arrange my furniture how I wanted it.

I moved the boxes away from the bulkier furniture, setting them in an empty corner before I got to work on my moving skills.

I pushed my single wooden bed towards the wall by the door, so the headboard lay against it and it jutted out to the rest of the room, wanting to position it so if I lay on my left side and glanced out the window, I'd be able to see the stars. Next was my bedside table, which I put between the bed and the window. I set up my alarm clock before placing my backpack on the bed carefully. I noticed, halfway through pushing my wardrobe towards the opposite side of the room, that my room matched. Brown and Magnolia - homey colours. Once I put my wardrobe against the wall, and my small chest of drawers beside it, I placed my desk at the wall facing my bed and my small bookshelf in the corner.

I took a step back, happy with my progress. I began unloading the boxes, taking out my personal possessions and setting them around the room where they belonged. After another hour or so, I was finished. I went back downstairs, grabbing my three suitcases that carried every piece of clothing I took with me.

The good thing about me was, I wasn't a clothes shopping kinda girl, which meant I didn't need to spend much time packing them. I bypassed the living room, listening to my mother and father lifting the sofa and change its position for the hundredth time.

After unpacking all my clothes in my wardrobe and chest of drawers, I flopped down on my bed, making my backpack shake beside me. I reached over to the bedside table, flicking on the lamp to aid my eyes now that it was getting dark outside. I sat up on the bed, taking out my prize belongings from the backpack. I set them around the various places they belonged in the room, before setting eyes once again on Edward Masen's box and journal. Part of me thought it was going to disappear.

I took it out, before kneeling down and placing both items safely under my bed, letting the duvet hide them both. Just as I was zipping my backpack again, I heard my mom's footsteps on the stairs.

She opened the door, and her eyes widened considerably, "Honey, what did you do?"

Her eyes glanced at the purple curtains I'd already hung, the photo frames I'd placed on my desk, the lamp I'd turned on, the books and clothes I'd unpacked. She looked at everything.

"What's wrong with it?" I frowned.

"How... How did you even do this in the space of three hours?"

"I knew where I wanted everything, and I didn't have that much to unpack." I was happy with my little room, and the proudness shone from my face.

"Well done sweetheart." Renee smiled, "Your dad is going to that Diner we saw on our way in to get some dinner. You need to eat and go to sleep for school tomorrow. Do you want to go with him?"

"Uh sure." Part of me didn't want to leave my room, but the other half wanted to see more of Forks.

As I headed back downstairs, I heard my mom talk to dad about my room, saying that they should be quicker with unpacking things. I had to laugh at that.

Charlie and I headed back out to the car, and this time I rode in the front. It didn't take long to get to the Diner, and Charlie let me lead the way inside.

Everyone looked at us, and I knew they knew who we were. I almost sighed. Small town, where everyone knew everyone.

"What can I get you, sir?" The waitress asked politely as we reached the counter.

"Bells?" My dad turned to me.

"Um... Pizza sounds good." I nodded.

"Oh well, we do chicken, barbeque, pepperoni, cheese, all the normal stuff really." The woman smiled again.

"We'll get a 12 inch chicken pizza please. And fries."

"Is this to take away, sir?"

"Yes please." My dad smiled.

The woman wrote down the order before turning around handing it to the chef, who was separated only by a small counter.

"Say... You're the new Chief of Police right? Charlie Swan?"

My dad's eyes crinkled at the sides as he smiled. It made me happy to see him happy.

"Yeah that's me. This is my daughter, Isabella."

The middle aged woman turned to look at me, "Nice to meet you Isabella."

I smiled, giving a little wave, "It's just Bella."

"Oh, Bella then." She smiled again.

Charlie paid for the food, and we took seats by the counter as we waited. I hadn't realised how tired I really was until I relaxed for a second. I suppressed a yawn, standing up quietly, "I'm just going to go to the restroom before we go." I told dad.

He nodded, glancing at the steak options on the menu to distract himself.

I followed the sign to the ladies, quickly going inside and using the toilet before our food arrived. I washed my hands when I was finished, and opened the door to leave when the same small haired girl from earlier today almost walked into me as she tried to enter.

"Oh!" Her voice was naturally high, but so polite and cheerful that my eyebrows rose up in surprise, "I'm sorry." She smiled, her bright teeth giving way to her friendly smile, "I didn't see you, you scared me."

I stared for a moment longer, shocked that it was the same girl who had stared at me so intently today. Did she recognise me?

I finally spoke, shaking my head quickly as I blinked, "No. It was my fault. I'm sorry." I stepped aside, letting her make her way into the toilets.

"Are you new here?" She asked suddenly, her little pixie body turning to face me again in one graceful movement.

"Um yeah." I nodded, "We just got here today." Surely she remembered me. The look in her eyes from earlier told me she'd seen me somewhere before.

She nodded, "Nice to meet you. I'm Alice."

I held up a hand to wave, giving a light smile, "I'm Bella."

The girl nodded, a grin on her face, "Nice to meet you. Well... I'm sure I'll see you around." She backed towards the toilet cubicles and I nodded, cursing this part of moving to somewhere new.

I hated being the centre of attention.

I said a quick goodbye, and made my way out to the restaurant again. My dad was waiting, the food in his arms as he smiled at my coming figure.

We headed home, and my mom had cleared the dining room table so we could eat together. Once we were finished, they both advised me to go to bed, which I agreed to immediately.

I headed upstairs and changed out of my clothes and into some sweats and a t-shirt. I thought about lifting out Edward Masen's diary, and taking a quick read before I fell asleep, but I was too tired to move from the bed once I got into it.

However, not long after I attempted to sleep, thoughts about that girl began to fill my mind. I hadn't seen her enter the Diner, and the look on her face in the car gave nothing to the imagination about whether she knew me or not. She'd seemed polite though, and over friendly, like she already knew me well enough to call herself my best friend.

I wouldn't question it too much. But I couldn't deny the curiosity that filled my thoughts as I fell into a dreamless slumber.


Please review! Next chapter will be up soon so keep watching!

Love, Ashley. xx