BPOV
"Bella! Whatcha doin' homie?" She answers after the second ring. She speaks with this unique southern, but ghetto/skateboarder accent and uses all of the terminology. Some might find this funny or annoying, but for me it's actually quite entertaining and refreshing to listen to her talk.
"Nothing much. Just got home from AMT. God! This sucks." I tell her, as I sit in my truck in the drive way.
"Oh, I bet. I didn't like it either when I had to go through it. Is Charlie and Renee bothering you about it?"
"Are you kidding me? Charlie will give me his lectures every now and again, about how I brought it all of myself and that if I make some friends that maybe I will be a happier person. Then Renee, God! Renee just likes to give me that sad 'oh Bella it will be okay and we all still love you' speech. She acts like I've got a deadly disease or something." I rant and rave into the phone.
She laughs like I'm amusing. "That blows. Well, just so that you know. Renee treated me the same way. And well, Charlie never really said anything. I could tell that he wanted to, but I guess he felt weird about it being that my father had just passed away. But Bella, they are just being parents."
"Yeah, I know. That is why I call you. You always understand and don't act like a parent. You play your role perfectly." I confess to her.
"Well that's what I'm here for. How do you like Forks?" She asks, trying to change the subject.
"Um….well. It's kind of boring. I can only imagine what going to school here will be like."
"Good luck to ya. I don't want to know. It will be nothing like Phoenix, I'm sure." She laughs.
"Shut up!" I laugh back.
There was a brief awkward silence.
"I wish you were here." I tell her after releasing a deep sigh.
"Yeah, me too. We need to schedule a visit or something."
"I will check the school calendar because school starts in about 3 weeks. Maybe I can come down there and save you the hassle of coming here." I've never been to her house before. When her father passed away, being that she was his only child, she got everything. Including a huge house that is bought and paid for.
"Yeah, that would be straight. Um, look. I've got to get to rehearsal. I'll call you later and we can further discuss this."
"Rehearsal? What are you rehearsing?" I ask with surprise and curiosity.
"Shit! That's right. I haven't talked to you in while. I'm about to graduate. I'm graduating in about a week from now. We've got finals this week and I've been trying to find a job to put my degrees to good use." She informs me.
"See, you don't tell me anything anymore! Shame on you!" I say in mock anger.
"Yeah, yeah. I know, I know. Things have just been really crazy lately. Look, I don't mean to be rude, but I've really got to go. I'm running late. I'll call you later. I promise." She says in a hurry
"Okay, but only because you promised. I love you." She has always been the only person that I could say those three words to. Yeah, I love my mom and dad, but I don't say it to them. I have never really been able to explain why, but maybe it's because I just figure that they already know, so why say it.
"I love you, too. See ya." And she hangs up.
As I sit there, I day dream about what I imagine living in Forks will be like. I can only come up with one thing. Boring. Forks is just like one of those small towns that you see in the movies. Nothing ever happens here and being the police chief's daughter won't help anything either. As I wrap my brain around my theories, I notice that my cell is buzzing.
"Hey Dad." I say flipping it open.
"Hey Bells. Have you made it home okay?"
"Yeah. I was just sitting in the truck and just got off the phone."
"Ah, well. I was just wondering. There wasn't an answer when I called the house. Listen, do you have plans for tonight?" He asks.
With him knowing that I don't really know anybody here, that was a really stupid question. "Charlie, please. I don't know anybody here. What makes you think that I would have any plans? I mean, come on." I snap.
"Easy, Bells. I was just asking because I have some good news."
"Oh, sorry." I mumble.
"It's okay, honey. I'll see you in a little while."
"Okay. Bye Dad."
"Bye Bells." He says and then I hang up. I can somewhat tell that this anger management stuff is working, but only just a little. I still believe that it's something that I could work on in the privacy of my own home.
After getting inside, I go to the kitchen to wash my hands and get dinner started. I'm not really sure as to what it is that I want to make, but I know that I don't want anything simple. I finally decide upon baked lemon pepper chicken, homemade biscuits, homemade mashed potatoes, and a few vegetables. I might even bake a cake for dessert.
By the time dinner is done, I hear Charlie pulling into the drive way. I set the table and make our plates. Charlie comes in, slides his boots off, and takes his seat at the table.
"Wow, Bells. You really out did yourself." He tells me with a smile. "It all looks good."
"Thanks. I wasn't in the mood for anything simple. I have a cake cooling on the counter." I inform him as I take my first bite. Even I must confess that I've done a good job tonight. It's wonderful.
Charlie takes several bites. "Mmmmmmm….Bells. This is excellent!"
"Thanks. So, what's the good news?" I ask to change the subject.
"Well. I've been invited to join the FBI as an investigator. If things go well with that, I might advance up even more."
"That's great Dad! Congratulations." Charlie is very good at his job. I kind of feel proud of my dad.
The rest of dinner was perpetual silence.
"So, how are your anger management classes going?" Dad said as I got up from the table to clean up the kitchen and the dishes from dinner.
"They're going good, I guess." I responded while turning around to grab Charlie's dishes.
"Yea, I've noticed a little bit of a difference in your reaction to some things. I'm glad to see that you're handling this responsibly, Bells."
"Um….thanks." I say as I grab the icing from the pantry. "I think it's kind of boring though."
"Well, you'll get the hang of it. Just hang in there, Bells. After all, you did bring this all on yourself."
"Yes, daddy. I know that I screwed up." I say sarcastically as I spread the icing over the cake.
"I'm sure you do, but still watch your tone. I am your father." He says in a stern voice as I finish up with the cake.
"Now that the kitchen is clean, I'm gonna go read a little Jane Austen before bed."
"Alright, Bells. Good night."
"Yeah. You too." I say making my way up the stairs.
I get in my room and grab my personal items that I need for showering and such. As I prepare for my bath, I drift off to my dream land again. I wonder if Charlie is right about me having friends, if it will make me a happier person. My therapist thinks that I'm depressed, but it's turning from sadness to anger. Maybe I should try to make friends here. Maybe it will make time fly by and then I can go on with my adult life. Who knows? I guess it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. I mean, it's not like I've never had friends before. I had a few in Phoenix. I just never fit into a group to have more than just two or three. Besides, I know it won't kill me to at least try.
After I get my shower and ready myself for bed, I climb in under the blankets of my comfy domain and reach for my trusty book that is resting on my nightstand. Ah, Jane Austen. My Favorite Author. I have many of her works, but my favorite is Pride and Prejudice. Three hundred and ninety-nine pages of some of the best literature ever written. I flip through until I find my marking of where I left off. "The next day opened a new scene at Longbourn. Mr. Collins made his declaration in form…"
As I drift off into fantasy world, my dream starts automatically as if I just stepped into a movie theatre. I'm in a grassy clearing, looks like a meadow. Fifteen feet away is a thick forest. It is so thick that there is barely any visible sunlight. After turning in a slow circle, I finally reach my starting point to find that there is a man standing in front of me without a face. I look behind him and discover that he is accompanied by six other people. Out of curiosity, I turn to look behind me and find that there are only four people behind me. All of them without a face.
"What's going on?" I mouth, but there isn't a sound and it doesn't seem to bother me. The man standing in front of me takes my left hand and holds it gently with his left hand. He then takes his right hand and brushes my cheek with his thumb. I look at his clothing and he is in a tux, so I take a look at myself and notice that I am in a white gown.
I wake up the next morning with the feeling of refreshment. I lay there for a minute thinking about the dream that I just woke up from, just because I can. Why do I feel so refreshed? What is the meaning to my dream? What the hell kind of dream was that? What time is it anyway? I ask myself. I look over at the clock perched on the nightstand. Wow, it's 12:48 PM. I am really getting a little on the lazy side. I actually can not wait for school to start. It will give me something to do with my day. I never thought that I would ever be this bored and looking forward to school. It's Friday and Charlie is at work. I cleaned the house up on Wednesday, so I have absolutely nothing to do today. I would get a job, but Charlie refuses to let me. He says that it's not necessary and that he doesn't think that it would be a bright idea with my anger issues. What. Ever.
I sit up on the side of the bed, reach for my cell to unhook it from the charger, and flip it open. Wow! To my surprise I have seven missed calls, five voice mails, and eight text messages. I was really popular while I was sleeping. Three of the missed calls were from Charlie, but the rest was from my special confidant. I take a look at the text messages and ALL of them were from her.
"WHAT!" I scream with excitement. "Shit!" I yell as I rush around to get dressed and straighten up my room. I don't even bother with the voicemails. I don't have time. Why did I have to sleep so hard? Gah! And why didn't somebody let me in this secret visit? I just talked to her yesterday afternoon and she never said anything about it. Then Charlie didn't even give any hints last night of having visitors coming in today! What the hell is going on here?
As I'm rushing around, I hear "Don't tell me if I'm dying cus I don't wannna know. If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go. Don't wake me cus I'm dreaming of angels on the moon. Where everyone you know never leaves too soon..." sing from my cell phone. Ah, Thriving Ivory. One of my favorite bands. I run across the room to grab my phone and flip it open.
"Hey." I say breathless
"What are you doing, Bells? Why haven't you answered your phone?" Charlie asks with concern.
"I'm cleaning and I actually just woke up. Sorry! Over-react, will you!" I yell.
"Bella, calm down. Are you dressed and ready to go?"
"Um...yeah." I say looking around to make sure. "When will you be here?"
"I'm pulling into the drive way now." He informs me.
"Okay! I'm on my way!" I say hanging up on him. Ooops.
I grab my cell phone, my wallet, and run out of my room, down the stairs and out the front door. There, standing three feet in front of me, is the one person that I feel as though I can confide in and completely be myself around. The only person that excepts me for who I am and understands everything that I am going through. There, standing in front of me is Amy.
I haven't seen Amy for months! So, this is a very exciting relief. We rush to each other and wrap our arms around each other, like we are meeting for the first time.
"Oh God, I've missed you!" I say after releasing a deep sigh. I feel that lump in my throat as I try to hold back my tears. Don't cry Bella. Don't. Cry.
"I know! I've missed you, too homie." Amy tells me in a weak voice before backing away. Good, I'm not the only one. "Now, c'mon! I'm freakin' starving! The plane's food was some nasty shit!"
I can't help but to giggle to myself at her.
"Yuck! I don't even want to know."
I crawl in the back of the police cruiser as Amy returns to her place up front. She giggles and turns a little to look back at me.
"I can't wait to get my rental car in a lil' bit! It makes me uneasy to ride in this thing! I feel as though I'm betraying somebody or something." She laughs.
"Oh God! I know the feeling. Thank god I have my truck or I might have gone insane by now."
Charlie clears his throat. "Easy ladies. It's getting you front point A to point B, isn't it?" He says with a grin.
"Yea, but still. You're used to it. It's your freakin job! Bella and I have had to ride in one of these bastards without a choice." She argues.
"Okay, okay. I see your point. So, where am I taking you ladies for lunch?"
"Doesn't matter." Amy says. "Just PUH-LEASE make sure that it's something good."
"Anywhere is fine with me, Dad" I say.
"Okay, the diner it is." He says turning into the parking lot.