I admired the truck for a while but Charlie prised me away from it saying I had plenty of time to look at the truck and that I should really unpack before tea. I agreed with him, reluctantly, and head up to my old bedroom. I walked in and it was as if somebody had taken my old bedroom and left it in a time capsule for me to return to it in the same state. There were only a couple of things different. I now had a proper bed in there, not the old crib. There was also a desk which had my old rocking chair next to it. And there on top of the desk was the most ancient looking computer I had ever seen in my life. It had a phone line connected to it and I was amazed that they had the internet when this thing was made. But even though it was ancient it had still cost Charlie money and I appreciated the thought that had gone into it. I assumed Renee must have suggested that idea.
Charlie had stayed at the door of my room and mumbled something about there being a game on and he left me to unpack. I sat on the bed, my bed, and stared out the window into the cloudy, misty distance. I sighed knowing that this feeling of emptiness and something missing would be how I felt for the rest of my time here in Forks. I unpacked my few clothes and put them into the wardrobe or stuffed them into a draw. I took some of my bathroom essentials, to the bathroom that I would be sharing with Charlie. I hoped he didn't like long showers because I did and if there wasn't enough hot water that would make life even more difficult for me to cope with.
Once I'd finished and I'd had enough time to mope by myself I headed down the stairs and into the kitchen where I heard Charlie cluttering around.
"What are you doing?" I asked Charlie who was head first into one of the cupboards. Charlie jumped and banged his head on the drawer above. He emerged rubbing his head.
"Oh, hey Bells. I was looking for some more plates. Not used to having company for tea usually. I meant to get them out before but I forgot. I've found them now though" He smiled sheepishly, producing a handful of different plates. He placed them in the sink and started to wash them.
"So what's for tea tonight then?" I asked.
"Well I ordered pizza. I just thought it would be easier than cooking. You don't like pizza do you?" He started to panic.
"Pizza's great dad, thanks." I smiled and started to help him set the table. The doorbell rang and Charlie disappeared down the hall to see to it, returning a few minutes later with the pizza. We both sat down and ate, not really talking much other than Charlie asking me how my flight had been and if I was feeling tired.
"I don't really get lagged, it wasn't that far a flight was it?" Charlie just nodded and I remembered that he'd never actually flown before. When he'd come to stay in Pheonix he'd always driven from Forks. We finished in silence and I started to wash up the plates while Charlie cleared the rest of the table.
"Leave them," Charlie came and stood by my side "You need to get your sleep, long day ahead of you tomorrow."
"What do you mean long day?" I asked.
"Well, I know how you said you'd wait until the next break to start school, but I didn't like to think of you just sat at home doing nothing. So I spoke to a few people, pulled a few strings, and they said you can start tomorrow. I know it's sudden and if you don't feel up to it tomorrow I won't force you to go right away." Charlie took over from me washing up. I didn't know what to say.
"Th-thanks dad."
"It's okay Bells. Now all you'll need to do to get your schedule and that is go to the main office. I can give you directions. Or I could take you tomorrow if you want, and pick you up?" He offered.
"The directions will be fine thanks dad, you need to get to work." There was absolutely no way I was going to a new school in a cruiser. I knew that everybody would probably know I was the daughter of the chief, but there was no way I was going to flaunt it. Going in the cruiser would destroy any chance of having a social life at school.
Charlie gave me clear directions of how to get to Forks High School. It was pretty simple really, just off the highway, not that far away. After that I stayed down for a bit with Charlie and watched some of whatever game it was he was watching but I soon felt tired and excused myself to bed. Regardless of how tired I was, I lay awake for a long time just thinking about starting school in the morning. I was grateful to Charlie for getting me in so soon but I was also scared stiff. There were around 350 students in the whole school, about half of the students in my year alone back in Pheonix. It was a frightening prospect to be in such a small school, especially if I had struggled to fit in at my school in Pheonix. If in a school so huge I hadn't managed to find many friends, how was I going to cope in tiny Forks High School?
Eventually at some point I managed to drift off into a dreamless sleep.
