Note: Song by Kate Voegele- Facing Up. Reviews pleaseeee! Thanks.

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FACING UP

He had no one but her, his only child and he'd do anything to protect her, for her to be normal; even if it meant staying away from his kind, even if it meant staying away from his own family. Just merely a week ago, he caught sight of two of his kind lurking around in Forks, Charlie, and then knew that it wasn't easy being secretive in Forks anymore. The home he's put Isabella in for the past ten years so that she would not be able to reach out to her other side is no longer a good enough to cave them both.

So he decided to move; to only a place where probably half the world resides and it'll be all too complicated to be seeked, even by his own clan.

His sister, Cassandra, asked him if it was worth it to be on his toes so often when he could return to the family home in Seattle with Bella and they would not have to lead such complicated lives. He had to admit, he did wonder for a moment, then, he'd always realize that he made the right choice when his thoughts somehow led him back to Renee. Her death made his will to have his daughter normal got stronger, because he knew Renee would have wanted it.

Because each time he looked at Bella, he always felt that she deserved so much more.

Because Bella looked so much like her mother, her cheekbones and her pale skin; it all resembled Renee too much.

He woke up the next morning, and found Bella having her cereal like she always does at the table. They both kept silent, keeping quiet, feeling guilty for how out of hand their conversation got the day before. She looked down at her bowl, when Charlie brushed through like the wind to the coffee maker. He cleared his throat. "Are you not going to talk to me for the rest of your life?"

She looked up, hopeful, with relief like a kid who's just found her lost plushie bear. "I thought You were not going to talk to me for the rest of MY life" Truth be told, she spent the previous night tossing and turning because she was worried that her father might still be angry at her.

Charlie moved next to her. "This is hard Belle, but it's going to work" He gave her reassurance, like he's always had and she's never doubted any thing he promised.

She nodded."I know, it has for the past 16 years anyway"

"Thank you". Charlie placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead. Charles Swan was never proud of any achievements in his life, not even when he caught his first wolf at the family ranch when he was only 5, but he was certainly proud of his daughter who was brought up so well.

"You're welcome", she continued her breakfast.

He noticed that she was in her school uniform, and for the past years of her schooling life, she's never been in one. She looked neater and smarter, unlike her usual casual jeans, he commented honestly. "Anyway, you look good in your new uniform"

Bella immediately dropped her spoon in the bowl and retorted at her father's comment. "See, here's the problem. I don't get why I have to wear a uniform to school"

"Because it's a prestigious academy, it's a prep school", he said, as a matter-of-factly, flipping through the morning papers. Before they moved, he'd already tracked down all the top schools in New York City and 

found that Manhattan Prepatory was one of the finest schools in the city and sending Bella there only made more sense because he wanted the best for her.

"Well then I don't get why I have to attend a private school instead of a public school", she argued her case out. She wasn't at all comfortable in her uniform, she only wore it because she thought that Charlie was still angry and she didn't want to cross his line any further.

"Because you're my kid. And you deserve the best"

She sighed. "Charlie, public school would have been best enough for me"

"You will love the school and the kids there", he remained immune to her words.

Bella instantly rolled her eyes and put up the inverted comma sign with her fingers. "The last time I checked, anyone living in New York lives by the tagline 'Ignorance is Bliss'"

"People won't be that bad once you get to know them", Charlie went on sipping his coffee and Bella knew that nothing she said was going to work. She gave up, and went back to her cereal.

She couldn't help but say, sarcastically. "Right, like it's some fairytale-lala-land"

Charlie smiled proudly at his daughter, not because he was proud of her words or the way she constructs her criticism, but because he was proud of himself for not falling for her words and giving in so easily. He felt triumphant. He took a glimpse at the clock on the wall. "Eat up, you're gonna be late".

She replied frustratingly, with her mouth full. "I'm eating, I'm eating!"

He chucked her in to the cab he called for earlier in a hurry, to get her to school on time. The cab stopped outside the gates of Manhattan Prep and they could see kids in the same uniform as Bella walking in.

When they got out of the car, Bella took a glance at the huge gate of Manhattan Prep and her eyes almost bawled out.

Charlie handed her, her bag. "Do you need me to pick you up after school?"

She said."No, I think I can manage from here" She's old enough to take care of herself; she didn't need her father to rush here every day just to make sure she gets home safely.

Charlie was obviously not letting her off the hook. "Are you sure? I could come take you home"

"Charlie, Dad, I'm going to be fine". Bella placed both hands on his shoulders and assured him.

"If there's anything, anything at all-"

She rambled, with the words popping out of her mind. "Yes, don't worry, if I get stuck in a building on fire, I'll make sure that I'm the first one out before anyone else even if I had to escape through the window fifteen storeys up"

"And, if -"

She cut him off and continued rambling. "If I get mugged on the train, croth-kicking techniques always work on both male and female. Now GO or you'll be late"

He nodded, before kissing her forehead and getting in to the cab to the station.

She called out to her father. "Bye Charlie"



Bella made sure that Charlie's drove off before she turned and took a look at the huge gate of Manhattan Prep which got her in awe at first. She then sighed, pacing her steps into her new school, and it felt like she's taking baby steps all over again

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Hey people, what do you guys think?

Please review! I'd love to know what you guys think, good or bad.

Bella's going to meet Edward and the Cullens in the next chapter.