I woke the next morning early, before my alarm went off which was nothing new. I didn't try to roll over and go back to sleep, I already knew my efforts would be fruitless. Sleep didn't come easily to me, my dreams were filled with questions of the future and memories of the past, the most likely cause of these dreams could be because during my waking hours I preferred to remain in the present. I didn't let my mind wander too far for fear of getting lost.
I began my morning routine, grabbing my things and taking them to the bathroom. I turned on the water for a shower and hopped in without testing the water, I never did. I thought perhaps this was because I didn't allow for surprises in my life, I was always guarded. I was the first to admit I had a wall around myself, I wouldn't say I was scared, there were very few things that could truly scare me, but rather I was too tired to try to acclimate to change. I didn't consider myself I weak person, I could hold my own I didn't need someone to take my hand and guide me through anything that life had to throw at me. I had seen hell, walked through it alone and pulled myself free with no help. I didn't oppose to being helped, I didn't consider myself above it but I had made it so far alone I didn't see why I should try to change that now.
I showered quickly enough, dressing simply and choosing to leave my hair down to dry naturally. I didn't wear jewelry often, only one ring and only while I was at school, I wore it on the middle finger of my right hand, it had a thick band and a butterfly graced the top.
As I stepped out of the bathroom I could see that Charlie was no longer in his room, I stood still to listen for signs that he was down stairs but heard nothing. It was only 7 a.m. so he must have been called in early. I dropped my toiletries off in my room, grabbed my backpack and made my way down stairs. I hadn't gone to the grocery store yet so there was still nothing to eat and I wasn't desperate enough to try and eat the cheese. I went to see if Charlie had left any coffee in the pot when I noticed two keys sitting on a piece of paper. One key was what looked to be a car key and the other was a key to the house, I picked up the paper and in Charlie's chicken scratch was a note, "Have a good first day." A man of many words my father was not but as I looked out to the driveway I was reminded of his great capacity for kindness. On the driveway there was a red truck parked. I was at a loss, I had never had a car, I had gotten my license a few months before but that was just because I felt like at 18 I needed to know how to drive.
I grabbed my things and stepped outside to take a look at my new car, it was an older model but it looked much safer than any of the newer cars. I hopped inside, I would be early to school but I wanted to go for a test drive. It took a few minutes to get use to the size of the truck, and it didn't go very fast but I wasn't going to be street racing anytime soon so it didn't bother me all that much.
There was only one high school in Forks, it wasn't very big but you could spot it from the highway. It was maybe 15 minutes from Charlie's house. The parking lot was mostly empty; the cars that were there were older much like mine. The town of Forks wasn't known for extravagant thinks, most families did well but there were no million dollar mansions to be found, mainly modest homes in quiet suburbs.
I parked close to the office building, as I stepped out of my truck a gust of wind whipped my wet hair around my face. I tried to hurry into the building, in my rush out the door this morning I had forgotten to grab a jacket. I opened the door to the office and was greeted with a rush of warm air and the smell of coffee.
"Hello dear, you must be Isabella. Your father told me you would be arriving today." I looked up to see that the voice belonged to an older woman with graying hair that was in a tight bun on top of her head. The fact that she knew who I was just went to show how small town Forks really was.
"Bella, I just needed to get my schedule." I didn't like when people called me Isabella, there were memories that screamed from the back of my mind whenever people called me that.
"Bella then," her smile wasn't forced nor was it overbearing but for some reason I disliked it. I hadn't smiled in two years, not even a grin or smirk. "Here's your schedule and a map of the school, it shouldn't be too hard to navigate. If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask one of the students or teachers, everyone here is very nice. Good luck." I grabbed the papers she handed me, thanked her and left the office to go find my first class.
The parking lot had filled slightly with more students; most were standing around talking probably trading stories of the events over the holidays. I was looking down at my schedule when I heard a boy yell my name.
"Hey, Isabella!" That was going to get old quickly. I looked up to see the boy running towards me, he was gangly, his skinny arm waved above his head trying to get my attention.
"It's Bella," I corrected once he had reached me. Closer up I could see freckles were splattered across his cheeks. He had a large smile permanently plastered to his face.
"Cool! So, do you need help finding your first class?" he seemed harmless but I wasn't much for making friends.
"No, that's fine. Thank you though." This didn't seem to affect him at all, I got the feeling he was used to hearing no.
"I'm Mike by the way," He stuck out his hand for me to shake, when I placed my hand in his, his smile seemed to defy physics and got even bigger.
"Nice to meet you," I had to use a little force to claim my hand back, I had no problem with people but I felt so disconnected with others my age. They were immature and riddled with hormones. I had little to nothing in common with people my age.
"You too, you sure you don't need any help?" he almost seemed to bounce up and down with excitement almost like a new puppy would.
"I'm sure, thank you again." I walked around him and headed towards my first class.
"See you at lunch Bella!" I heard Mike screech over the group of bodies between us, I didn't turn around.
I only had 5 classes compared to most of the other students who had 7 or 8. I have three of my classes, then lunch after my other two classes were done I would get to go home. I had just finished my third class and was heading toward the cafeteria when a familiar face appeared by my side.
"Hey Bella, how was class? Do you like it so far? Want to sit with me at lunch?" his rushed words seem to tumble over each other, like he had to get them all out at once or he might not be heard.
"What question would you like me answer first?" I wasn't particularly amused by Mike; my reply came out a little harsher than intended but he just laughed. Before he could rush out whatever reply he had waiting behind his lips we were approached by several people who I assumed were friends of his. Introductions were made and by the time they were done I couldn't remember a single name. We were herded like cattle into the cafeteria by the large crowd. After going through the lunch line Mike grabbed my elbow and lead me to his table. I sat down and the group started talking about mundane topics. I ate my food and considered my day so far, the classes were easy it seemed like a light homework load. People had left me alone, excluding Mike, and I preferred it that way.
"Hey Bella, you're from Arizona right?" The boy whose name escaped me called from a few seats down the table.
"That's right," I was glad that most people had seemed to know I liked being called Bella.
"Do you have a boyfriend back in Arizona?" I looked across from me and found a girl; I think her name might have been Laura, or Lauren. She had a nasally voice and her face was wrench up into a scowl, she had long blonde hair the she obnoxiously flipped over her shoulder. I was already taking a dislike to this girl.
"No, I've been single for a few years now." Which was true, I hadn't been with anyone since I was 16.
"What? Is nobody good enough for you?" she seemed to be trying to get a rise out of me. I had a feeling like this girl needed to be the center of attention, whether it was in a good or bad light.
"'The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.'" I didn't let girls like her get to me, not that I really let anyone get to me, not on an emotion level.
"You have a dog?" I turned to look at Mike and had to seriously hold back an eye roll.
"Mike, you're and idiot," the boy who had asked me about Arizona quipped.
"Shut up Tyler!" Tyler, that was his name. Mike tossed one of his fries down the table toward Tyler. Immature, hormone riddled teenagers.
"It's Mark Twain," I informed Mike. He turned his head to the side like a dog might; it made him look like an idiot.
"Who is?" I was beginning to wonder how he made it to 12th grade.
"The quote, Mark Twain said it." I looked up and saw a tall boy, though he didn't look much like a boy, he looked to be about 20 he was pale and had shaggy blonde hair. He was standing by the table with his hands in his pockets. "I'm Jasper by the way." He sounded like he was from the south, maybe Texas.
"I'm Bella," I didn't think I said my own name so many times in one day.
"I know," he smirked at me and walked away. I looked back down at my food not thinking much about the interaction but after a few seconds I noticed the table was quiet. Looking up I saw everyone at the table had their mouths hanging open as if they were trying to catch flies.
"What?" I didn't get why everyone was looking at me as if I had just sprouted a third eye.
"That was Jasper, Jasper Hale and he just talked to you!" Laura or Lauren was the first to speak; her voice had taken on an octave that I didn't think dogs could even hear.
"Yea, I don't get it." What was the big deal? He was a nice looking guy I supposed, the tousled blonde was I nice thing. He was tall, he seemed to have a nice body but I wasn't really paying attention.
"Jasper doesn't talk to anyone; neither does any of his family." A girl spoke from beside Laura; she had shorter dark brown hair and light olive skin. She spoke softly but had a kind face. She turned to point to the table in the back of the cafeteria, there were five very pale people sitting there they seemed to be animatedly discussing something. They all seemed to be attractive like Jasper was, one might even say they were beautiful.
"The big guy and the slutty blonde are together, like together together. And they all live in the same house; they're all adopted but still, EW." Laura's nasally voice reached my ears once again, she spoke of the family with a critical tone. This was a small town; people don't do well with different.
"Lauren, Rosalie isn't slutty. She's just rude sometimes." The sweet girl with brown hair spoke again; I guess I was wrong about the blonde girl's name, Lauren I'd have to remember that.
"Angela, she sleeps with her brother, gross!" I didn't take offence to the relationship between the two; if they loved each other than what did it matter? But I had a very different upbringing than Lauren did, I valued love. It was one of the most pure things on earth.
"Jasper and Rosalie Hale are twins, Emmett Cullen is her boyfriend and the other two are Alice and Edward Cullen." Angela ignored Laurens outburst, she seemed to be more open about trying to except their relationship.
"Are they all in the same grade?" they looked like they were different ages but I couldn't quite tell from here.
"The twins and Emmett are seniors like us but Alice and Edward are juniors." Angela explained as she pointed to them. Lauren sneered at Angela then turned her gaze to me.
"What about you, don't you think it's gross?" one side of her mouth turned up, she looked at me as if she was about to prove herself right.
"I have no right to judge them. I'm not a part of their relationship; I don't know what they've gone through so I can't label them right or wrong. The love they share could be the most pure thing in the world. I don't know them, but no I don't find it 'gross' I have no right to." Laurens gaze slowly turned into a glare as I spoke. She opened her mouth to say something but the bell rang for class. As if they were a flock of birds every student in the cafeteria stood, gathering their things and started toward their next class.
Biology was my last class of the day, I walked in and the teacher pointed to a desk toward the back of the room. I sat down and the boy next to me was on of Jaspers siblings, Edward I think his name was. I didn't introduce myself but that wasn't really surprising. The teacher started his lecture but I was familiar with the information so I didn't pay much attention until I noticed Edward. I didn't consider myself an oblivious person, I was perceptive, I could tell when someone was looking at me, and a lot of people had today, but I chose to ignore it. When I looked down and saw Edwards hand clenched into a fist on top of the desk it didn't go unnoticed. He had his chair as far away from me as the desk would allow, he was leaning away from me and he had his head turned the other way. I was about to ask if he was ok which wasn't something I did but then thought that it maybe wasn't a good idea. I knew from experience that sometimes that worst thing anyone could do, so I held my tongue.
The 45 minute class seemed to drag a little, and the whole time Edward stayed stiff as a board. The bell rang to dismiss us and Edward shot out of his seat like something bit him, and rushed out of class leaving his jacket behind. I packed up my things and grabbed his jacket, I went out in the hall to try and find Edward but he was nowhere to be seen. I decided to take it with me and give it back to him tomorrow.
After a quick trip to the grocery store I was on my home to surprise Charlie with dinner. I was going to make his favorite meal, lasagna. The recipe was my grandmothers, Charlie's mom. She died with I was 12 but I came down for the summer a few times and she taught me how to cook. Thank god for her or Renee and I would have been stuck eating man n cheese and hotdogs for years.
By the time Charlie got home the lasagna was almost done and I finished what little homework I had.
"Hey Bella, what smells good?" he put his jacket on the coat rack by the door and kicked off his boots.
"Lasagna and garlic bread," I went to check on the lasagna, the cheese was bubbling so I switch the oven to warm.
"Wow Bella, you didn't have to do that." He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
"I wanted to say thank you, for the truck." He looked down at his sock clad feet and shuffled awkwardly.
"It's nothing; my friend Billy on the Rez had his son fix it up. You didn't have to do all this." He waved his hand around the kitchen trying to explain.
"It's no big deal Dad, why don't you go get cleaned up? This is almost ready." He mumbled a response and went up the stairs.
Dinner went along just fine; Charlie asked questions about school I asked about work, until I brought up the Cullen's. He had asked if I people were nice, I said kind of and of course he asked what that meant.
"There was a boy who came up to me and introduced himself at lunch, and the people I was with acted like it was a big deal. They said some things about the guy and his siblings."
"Who were these kids that they were talking about?" he didn't look up from his plate but sounded interested enough.
"The Cullen's I-," I stopped talking when Charlie slammed his fist down on the table top. It made me jump, I could feel my heartbeat pick up and my eyes widened, I'm sure I looked like a deer in the middle of the road about to get hit head one by an SUV.
"Those stupid children, there isn't anything wrong with that family! Just because they're different…" Charlie looked up at my wide eyes and several emotions passed over his face, confusion, realization, sorrow. "Crap, Bella. I'm sorry sweetie." He reached his hand toward mine but I pulled it back like he stung me.
"It's fine." I stood and took my plate to the sink and started washing the dishes from dinner. Charlie walked into the kitchen with his plate, I didn't turn to look just held my hand out for his plate. He put the plate in my hand but didn't let go, I tried to pull it from him but had no luck.
"Dad…" I didn't want to talk about what had just happened, I couldn't explain, I just couldn't. He didn't say anything; he just put the plate on the counter, grabbed my hand and pulled me into his chest. I could feel myself relax at his touch, if anyone else had tried to do this they would be in for it but with Charlie it was different. He didn't say anything and it was just what I needed.
After a minute he let me go and looked at me.
"I'm sorry Bella; I didn't mean to get angry. I shouldn't have done that."
"It's fine Dad. It's my fault anyway; I know you wouldn't do anything." I looked down, and not for the first time I wished I wasn't broken.
"It's not your fault. None of this is Bella, why don't you go up to bed? I'll clean up in here." He kissed the top of my head. I dragged my feet up the stairs, I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders.
I fell into bed that night and had dreams of rain, and of a pale blonde boy. That night my sleep wasn't poisoned with past nightmares, and for that I was thankful.