Chapter 25: Adjusting

(Bella POV)

It took me a full ten minutes to realize that the earth wasn't shaking, but rather I was. Big, fat drops of rain cascaded down my back as I stared open-mouthed at Charlie's porch. Everything was in the front yard, soaked to the point where I had no hope of salvaging any of it. My cd player was in little pieces, my mattress was completely waterlogged, and my prehistoric computer took a faceplant on the pavement.

"She's gone, she's gone." It wasn't a sob exactly, but more of a groan. It was as if someone was physically in pain. I didn't understand, and I wasn't sure I wanted to see who was uttering those heart wrenching chants.

The door was sticking, but using a bit of my extra strength I managed to get it open.

Charlie was never an overly emotional man, at least outside the rage he felt for me, but this was not Charlie.

Charlie was a man of stature, despite the previous characteristics I revealed about him. Imagine if the tin man was the Chief of police, he would be emotionally disconnected from his line of work. Despite the incredibly low crime rate in Forks Charlie has had his fair share of horrors as a cop. He was famous for that, for being able to push his feelings aside and focus on the task at hand. His detachment saved dozens of lives. The man hugging his knees to his chest with tears streaming down his face while staring at a picture taken during Charlie and Renee's wedding day was definitely not the father I'd known for all my life.

"Dad?" He didn't so much as flinch.

"Dad, why is it that all of my stuff is plopped on the porch?" His body looked like it was being electrocuted with all the sobs racking their way through his body, yet he still managed to respond.

"Deals off, Isabella." No! He promised I could stay!

"What? Why?"

"When you moved here, you were my opportunity. You were as close to Renee as I could ever get after she walked out on me. She's dead now. You may as well be dead now, too. I don't ever want to see your face on my property again. It's too painful."

"But Dad! Please I-"

"You. Are. Dead. To. Me. Now get out of my house."

There was nothing left to say, so I made my way out of the house, since it was no longer my home. I don't know what stood out the most to me. Leaving the only family I had left, hoping beyond all hope that there was something of my possessions that wasn't completely destroyed, or wondering where it was I was going to stay next.

My truck sounded like an irritated old man barreling down the street. A street that unfortunately led to Newton's Outfitters. Mike Newton as a tormentor stood out to me but I needed this. In order to find a place I would have to pay rent, in order to pay rent I'd have to have a job since my inheritance won't last forever. However, less people means less jobs, so I'll take what I can get.

"Oh look, it's 'Salmonbella'." Salmonella. A bacteria that can cause some sort of diarrheal illness in humans. Cute. It's definitely more original than the ever popular "Smella".

Sucking in a deep breath and trying to look as customer friendly as possibly, I asked if they had any job openings.

"Unfortunately we do. Let me go find my mom." Contrary to popular belief, a woman can own a sporting goods store, and Mrs. Newton just happened to be that woman.

"I hear you want to get a job here, Bella. What are your credentials?"

Her tone made me nervous, though I attempted to appear just the opposite. "Well, back in Phoenix I sold tickets at a Castles and Coasters, which is one of their amusement parks, and I also did some custodial work at my old high school."

"Nothing involving camping or sports, though?" Sighing, I shook my head.

"Well, lucky for you, we're desperate. You'll be in charge of cleaning up and shelves. It'll put those man-shoulders of yours to good use." Of course, everyone's a critic.

"Great, when can I start?"

"Well, let's see. Today is a Saturday so you can start tomorrow. You'll work Sundays to Thursdays from four to eight."

"Thank you so much Mrs. Newton!"

"Don't make me regret it!"

That was how I got my job. There was only one small detail I needed to take care of, shelter. It really shouldn't have taken this long for me to come to my decision, since there was only one place I could think of that would be welcoming enough to allow me to invade their home. Determined, I picked up the phone and dialed.

"Hey Jake, it's Bella. I know this is going to sound weird, but does your house have a spare room?"