Welcome to My Life - Simple Plan

Once I was inside, I kicked off my shoes and bent down to scoop them up. That was when I smelled it. The house smelled different. It was a somewhat familiar smell but also very foreign. There were lights on that had not been when I had left. Someone- not my parents- had been here, or was still here.

"Hello?" I called out. No answer. I made a mad dash to the stairs hoping that I could get to my room and lock the door so I could call my mom when two enormous arms grabbed me around the waist. I screamed bloody murder and began kicking and slapping at anything that I could reach.

"Bells, it's just me!" cried a deep voice from behind me. I instantly froze. There was only one person who called me that. The arms holding me fell away and I turned to see the same curly, dark brown curls and glowing brown eyes that I've known for my entire seventeen years of existence.

"Emmett!" I wailed, flinging my arms around him. Emmett was my older brother. Loved by every teacher who has ever been blessed enough to teach him, Emmett is known of as quite the prankster. Even though he's a junior in college, he can be so immature. But I love him. "I can't believe it's you!" I said, squeezing him tightly before realizing what he had just done to me. "I can't believe it's you!" I screeched angrily, pushing away from him and throwing punches at him.

"Come on," he said laughing, grabbing my wrists and easily restraining me. "It was just a joke. I wasn't even going to do it until I figured out you didn't even see my car outside."

"Well your joke nearly landed someone in the hospital!" I told him. "I'm going to have nightmares for weeks!"

Suddenly, his eyes began to grow even brighter. "I have a surprise for you," he looked like a little boy who had just had the world's largest candy bar placed before him.

This, of course, got me worried. I began looking around, trying to find any more crazy college kids ready to spring out and give me another mild heart attack. Emmett sure knew how to make someone paranoid.

But as I turned toward the approaching footsteps coming from the darkened dining room, I was delighted by who I saw. It was Rosalie Hale, Emmett's high school sweetheart. They met during their freshman year of high school and started dating the next year. They've been going strong ever since and just know that Emmett is going to propose. He'll probably wait until after they graduate but you can never be sure about anything when it comes to Emmett.

"Oh my goodness, Rosalie!" I ran towards her and wrapped my arms around her. Her body shook with laughter under me.

"Surprise!" she cried.

"Good luck today, Bells!" called Emmett as I ran out the door. He and Rosalie still haven't left and it's been an entire week. I wasn't complaining, though. I enjoyed having them around to talk to. Since my parents aren't usually home, it's been nice to have the company.

I jumped into my car and headed to the soccer field. This wasn't a normal practice, though. Every now and then, Coach Nelson would get us all there and we would meet in the locker room. This is when we would discuss things like field plays, positions, rules, ect. No one really wanted to go to these but we all had to. This time however, I could not wait to get there. Today is the day we find out who the new captain is. I was so nervous I nearly wet my pants every time I thought about it.

I pulled into the parking lot and was, of course, the first one there. I hated being the first one to show up somewhere, especially if the person in charge wasn't even there yet.

I felt really awkward just sitting there in my car so I put it in reverse and took a lap around the block. I wasted about ten minutes driving in circles. When I got back to the field, there were about five other cars there, including Angela's. I always liked being with a friend instead of going by myself. I'm friends with everyone on the team but you know what I mean. It's just a security thing.

When I walked in, I immediately zeroed in on Angela and sat next to her on the bench.

"Are you excited?" she asked, smiling.

"You mean so nervous that I can't see straight? Yeah, that's me."

"Don't worry, you'll get it," she said confidently.

"How can you be so sure? Other girls deserve it just as much as I do, yourself included."

"I just know these things, Bella," she told me as if I should already know.

"Oh, so sorry for doubting your internal crystal ball," I joked.

"I forgive you. I know it's difficult for you to understand. I'm right all of the time and yet you still doubt me."

"Hey, Amber, it's crowded enough in here without your continually growing head, so if you could shrink it down a little, that would be really nice."

"Make all the jokes you want, Swan. You'll see soon enough."

As the last couple players trickled in, Coach Nelson stood up to talk.

"Ok, ladies, let's get started. First things first- our new captain is… Bella Swan!"

Several girls gave a hoot and others clapped. I felt myself swell with pride. Looking around I saw a lot of smiling and some disappointed faces. I can't believe I'm actually captain!

The rest of the meeting flew by in a flash. I probably should have paid more attention but… I'm captain! A great start to a hopefully great year.

When I finally came back from fantasy land, everyone was getting up to leave. I grabbed my keys and phone and stood up.

"I hate to say I told you so but-" I stopped Angela before she could bring me completely down from my high.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah - I know! You were right and I was wrong- again. But hey- I'm captain!"

"We should celebrate. Where do you want to go?"

"How about-" Coach cut me off.

"Bella, can I see you in my office for a moment please?"

I looked at Angela and gave her a confused look but she just shrugged and said she'd wait for me in the parking lot.

I walked into Coach's office and he looked up at me from his desk. He motioned for me to take the seat across from him.

"Well, Bella, it hasn't been easy but I think I've finally found your captain's challenge." I had totally forgotten! "I assign these challenges to specific people for specific reasons. Each one is meant to make the person really take a step back and think. If you succeed, this experience will not only help you strengthen you as a leader, but help you grow in life." This was the point in the conversation where I really started to get nervous. Coach has lost his mind. He's spent too much time in the sun and now he's working his way to the nut house! "I will admit, however, yours will probably be the most difficult challenge I have ever assigned. I really think you can do it, though.

"Bella, your challenge is to try to save someone." Huh? "My nephew to be exact. His name his Edward. He's your age and at the rate he's going, he probably won't make it to be thirty. His mother has tried everything and she has given up hope. Edward is really a great kid, but right now he's getting nowhere fast. I have a lot of faith in you, Bella. I really do believe that you can help him. Edward is a bit rough on the outside, but I think that with your persistence, you could give him his life back. It won't be easy, and you'll want to give up, but I think you and Edward both will pull through it better people on the other side."

I sat in my car, staring out the windshield. I was the last one to leave- not even Angela waited. My phone beeped, signaling a text message.

From: Angela Webber

Sry u took 2 long. Lunch date tomorrow?

Congrats again! Luv u

I set my phone down and started up the car with one thing running through my mind: What the hell just happened?

So sorry that my updates are really slow. my life has kind of been turned upside down. we also had a death in the family recently so didn't really make things any better but i'm still truckin on so it's all good.

i chose welcome to my life because this chapter is really kind of messed up and crazy.

i'm not too happy with this chapter but i was kind of rushed. if there are any mistakes or anything that doesn't really make any sense then please let me know.

my website has been updated so you can find the pics and playlist there.

please hang in there with me, i really am trying.

thanks

Please Review

P.S. if you have any song suggestions they would be very much appreciated!