Hey guys :) Thanks so much for the positive feedback. Hopefully you'll enjoy the bits of details I've added of my character, Ellie! Sorry for the long chapter, but Jacob will finally make his appearance in the next one, I promise! :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing in or about the Twilight series except for my OC, Ellie Swan! I'm merely a fan writing out her own version of the story :)
Chapter Two
Ellie was suddenly awoken by screaming. She jolted up out of bed, startled with her heart pounding. She started running towards the screaming that was coming from Bella's room. Shoving the door open, she ran over to Bella who was still screaming and tossing and turning.
"Bella! Bella, wake up!" Ellie yelled, roughly shaking Bella's arm in a panic.
It didn't take long for Bella to stop screaming and suddenly wake up with tears in her eyes.
"It's okay Bella, I'm here, its alright." Ellie said quietly, sitting next to Bella. She gently rubbed her arm to comfort her.
Bella looked at her for a few seconds, tears still flooding her eyes before laying back down and closing her eyes, a troubled look on her face. Ellie couldn't help but feel pain in her heart for her. Charlie, having heard all the screaming, shook his head slightly as he stood at the door watching his younger daughter try to comfort her older sister, much like he had been doing all these previous months.
"I'm... Okay." Bella mumbled in a flat tone, "I just want to try to go back to sleep."
Ellie hesitated for a moment, wanting to ask about what had just happened. She knew there was no way she'd be going back to sleep. All the years they had grown up together, she had never seen Bella have such a terrible nightmare that she was screaming bloody murder in her sleep. It terrified her.
"Okay. Goodnight, Bella." Ellie said, walking towards Charlie at her door. Meeting his eyes, they shared a similar, worried look. She started heading downstairs, too much adrenaline pumping through her to try to get back to sleep. Charlie followed behind her after shutting Bella's door.
Once they were both downstairs, Ellie sat at the kitchen table with a glass of water and Charlie sat down to join her. He sighed as he tiredly rubbed his hand across his face.
"This has been a pretty regular thing since he left her." Charlie mumbled quietly.
"She wakes up screaming like that on a regular basis?" Ellie asked, eyes wide.
Charlie nodded, "I have to wake her everytime, or she'll just scream all night. I'm thinking of sending her back to live with your guys' mother in Jacksonville. She's not getting any better, Ellie. She's just... there. Going through the motions. She's forcing everything. She's not moving on. Its almost like Bella is waiting for them to come back." Charlie explained.
Ellie sat quietly, trying to form a response. She agreed with Charlie. If Bella is acting this way, it would be for the best to have her come back with her to stay with their mother. At least it would be a change, and she would have them to help her through things.
After they sat in silence for a while, Charlie eventually stood up, saying something about how he had better start getting ready. Confused, Ellie looked at the clock on the stove. It was nearing 5:30 in the morning. Shocked, she got up slowly, dreading the day to come. She was going to be starting school at Forks High with Bella today, midway through the year.
Ellie headed up to the bathroom to take a shower. After taking as much time as she could, she finally finished, beginning to blow dry her long, slightly frizzy brown hair. She'd always hated how plain it seemed, trying to dye it though the previous years. Last year, not long after her breakup, she decided to just let her natural brown grow in. Taking a straightener through her hair to lessen the frizz, she moved quickly, becoming slightly anxious about the first day with all new people.
After finishing her hair, she applied a light layer of mascara and a thin line of eyeliner across her top lid. Heading to her room wrapped in her towel, she picked out her outfit. A simple, cute top paired with jeggings and black strappy sandals. Luckily this wasn't supposed to be a rainy day. Feeling unsure as she looked at herself, she realized she had no time to reconsider. She wanted to get to the school early enough to get her schedule.
Ellie grabbed her floral backpack, putting one strap across her shoulder as she walked to knock on Bella's door. A few seconds later, Bella emerged with her own backpack, ready to go. They silently headed out to the driveway towards Bella's ancient red Chevrolet. Climbing inside the cab and shutting the door, Ellie nervously began picking at her nails as Charlie came out to see them off. He watched Bella for a second before shaking his head and shutting her door before she could get in the truck.
"That's it, Bella. You're going to Jacksonville. To stay with your mother." Charlie said.
"I... I'm not leaving Forks, dad." Bella said quickly.
"He's not coming back, Bella. The way you've been acting... Its not normal, and it's scaring the hell out of me. I don't want you to leave, but maybe it'll be better. You can make new friends." Charlie said.
"I have friends here." Bella argued.
"You never see them anymore or even talk about them." Charlie replied.
"I'm... Going out with Jessica tonight. I need a girl's night." Bella said, and Ellie picked up on the obvious lie. She knew how Bella felt about Jessica. And she knew Bella didn't really want a girl's night regardless.
"A girl's night. Well, alright. I like it. Have a good day at school." He said as she got in the truck and shut her door. Bella started the truck after a moment and started driving to the school.
Looking over at Bella, she watched her shake her head before staring blankly out the front window. She continued watching her for a few more seconds, internally debating whether to mention what happened earlier. Deciding it would be best to just leave it in the past, she brought up the school.
"So how are the people at the school here?" Ellie asked, waiting for the response. Bella continued to stare forward, apparently not hearing her. Ellie paused for a second before reaching out and tapping her arm, "Bella? Did you hear me?"
As if startled, Bella quickly jerked her head to look at Ellie, eyes slightly glazed over. Ellie pinched her eyebrows together. It was as if she had forgotten she was even in the truck with her. In her own little world.
"Sorry, what?" Bella asked, looking at Ellie apologetically.
Ellie frowned, but repeated her question. "I said, how are the people at school?"
"Uh, they are pretty friendly... Aggressively friendly, I should say..." Bella said, glancing at Ellie.
"Oh... That's great." Ellie said, feeling the anxiety building times ten. She wasn't one for a lot of attention, similar to Bella. She nervously gathered her things as Bella parked in a spot.
"Ready? I'll take you to the office for your schedule." Bella said as she shut her door and waited for Ellie at the front of the truck.
"Yeah. Thanks." Ellie replied as they began walking to the office.
Once they arrived, Bella quickly made up an excuse about getting to class early and left Ellie in the office to get her schedule. Ellie frowned as she realized she would have to rely on strangers and her terrible sense of direction to get through the day. She went up to the woman at the desk and smiled shyly.
"Hey there, how can I help you?" The woman said in a very friendly way, smiling at her.
"I'm Ellie Swan, this is my first day here." Ellie replied, feeling slightly calmed by the woman's friendly personality.
"Oh, right! I've got your schedule right here." She said as she handed it over to Ellie, "Here is a map as well so you don't get lost."
"Thanks so much. This will come in handy." Ellie said with a small smile.
"No problem. Have a good first day!" She said as Ellie turned and walked to her first class, Biology.
Luckily for her, things went her way. The rest of her school day passed with no other issues besides getting lost a few times. She headed towards Bella's red truck, where she was sitting, motionless and staring straight forward. That same glazed look in her eyes. Ellie stood by the truck and once again watched her older sister before getting in next to her.
After they got home, Ellie went to her room to start her homework. She was halfway through her first assignment before Bella peeked around the corner of her cracked open door, knocking a couple times.
"So... How was your first day?" She asked.
"It was... Not as bad as I expected." Ellie replied.
"Oh. That's good." Bella said, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"What's up?" Ellie asked, knowing that look.
"So... You know how I told Charlie that I was going to go out with Jessica tonight?" Bella asked.
"Yeah...?" She asked, already catching on to what she wanted.
"Could you maybe, come with us? You don't have to, I just really don't... Enjoy being alone with Jessica that much." Bella awkwardly explained.
"Oh, uh, of course. What are you guys planning on doing?" She asked.
"We're going to see a movie. Some zombie movie?" Bella replied.
"Zombies? Really, Bella?" Ellie asked with a small grin on her face, "You want all that gore?"
"Its better than that romantic comedy Jess wanted to see." Bella said with a tiny smile.
"Alright. Let's go." Ellie said, happy to be spending real time with Bella.
After the movie ended, they all walked down the street towards Jessica's car, Jess chatting away about the movie and Bella's depression. Ellie saw why Bella didn't enjoy spending lots of time with her. She's definitely a talker. She didn't mind however. She has always been more of a listener than talker.
Suddenly Bella stopped and was staring down the street at a group of men on motorcycles that had been calling out to them. Ellie looked at them before looking back at Bella.
"Bella, what are you doing? Let's go." Ellie said, with Jessica also trying to get her to keep walking to her car.
"I... I think I know that guy." She replied as she started walking towards the men.
Ellie's heart started racing as she watched her go. She had no idea what Bella was thinking or planning. Bella suddenly jerked back and gasped halfway to the men, before continuing to them and talking for a few moments, then hopping on the back on one of the men's bikes.
"Bella! Stop!" Ellie and Jessica yelled. Ellie started panicking as they took off, racing down the street. She lost sight of her and was about to call Charlie, but hesitated as she thought of what he would do if he found out. She debated on what to do, before Bella came from around the corner, walking casually.
"Bella, what the hell?" Ellie asked, fuming. "You could've died! You didn't know them!"
"That was such a rush." Bella said, looking more alive than she's seen her look since she's been there.
"So you're an adrenaline junkie now? Awesome." Jessica said sarcastically as they walked to her car, "Go bungee jumping or something, you don't get on the back of some random dude's bike!"
Ellie was still upset but stayed silent and let Jessica do the talking. Jessica dropped them off shortly after. She walked inside behind Bella, not saying a word. Bella looked at her.
"I'm sorry, okay? I thought I saw... Something." Bella said.
"You just about gave me a panic attack, Bella. I was seriously worried! What were we supposed to do?" Ellie said with a frown.
Bella stayed silent and looked from Ellie to the ground. Ellie shook her head before walking up to her room and shutting the door. She quickly changed into her pajamas before laying down, thankful the day was finally over.
