A/N: Hello All! This is my first attempt at FanFiction. Any reviews are greatly appreciated.
This is my take on Twilight if Bella had moved to Forks after graduating high school and was slightly more mature. Jake is also the same age in this fic. I've always felt things would have went differently if the events occurred when they were older.
***Disclaimer*** Everything belongs to Stephenie Meyer and nothing belongs to me, except a hopefully less annoying Bella.
Chapter One
I was staring out of the window as the plane was on its last fifteen-minute journey before landing at my new home in Forks, Washington. The scenery turned from brown to shades of deep green hours ago. Mists of full clouds blocked the views of the ground from time to time.
My head was beginning to feel less fuzzy from the motion sickness medicine finally wearing off and I could begin to think about what I was getting myself into.
I am moving to live with my father to attend the Peninsula College. I had lived with my mother, Renee, and her husband, Phil, in Jacksonville for the last three years. Phil was just recently offered an opportunity to coach a team overseas and my mother wanted to go with him. I decided to move out west with my dad so that they would not worry about me. I could take online classes and commute to the college when needed while saving money. My mom and stepdad were not poor, but also not wealthy. I didn't want to bother them by asking to pay for college since I didn't receive any scholarships and they were planning to start a family soon. My dad only lived an hour and a halfway from PC, which will be completely manageable. I should only have to go on campus to attend certain classes, like the biology lab that I am going to have on Monday's and Friday's.
My dad was ecstatic that I was moving home. I kind of was too if I were being honest with myself. We had begun to grow closer to each other over the past few years. I realized we had more and more in common and I could appreciate his quietness, subtle kindness, and sense of humor. Living with him would be easy and I was looking forward to it. Not that I didn't like living with my mom, but it was always so busy and loud with Phil's teammates stopping by and us having to attend games all of the time. I was looking forward to the peace that Forks was going to offer.
Charlie was the chief of police and a homebody, except for his best friend Billy and his son Jake, that stopped by daily. Jake and I had reconnected about two years ago when I spent Christmas with my dad, which was another reason I was looking forward to moving to Forks. Ever since we reconnected, I had finally discovered a best friend. We texted everyday about anything and everything. I was looking forward to have someone to hang out with. Making friends had never come easy to me, it's not like I wasn't sociable or approachable, people and I just didn't connect.
That Christmas, Jake had bounded into the house and gave each of us a big hug then stared jabbering away. Talking came easy for him which was relaxing. I didn't have to say a word. We spent the rest of my time there hanging out, working on cars in his garage, and hiking. I wished I hadn't forced my dad to spend all of our summers in California instead of in Forks. I realize now I had made many mistakes in my youth due to ignorance, but I was looking forward to finally having a relationship with my dad and a normal life in Forks.
The pilot spoke over the intercom announcing our descent onto land. My anxiety started to seep in, what if my dad wasn't as excited as I thought? What if Jake felt obligated to hang out with me but didn't really want to? I mean they both already had their own lives there.
These thoughts plagued my mind until well after the descent. After we landed, my seat partner grabbed my black tattered carryon duffle bag down from the overhead compartment and handed it to me, probably in hopes of not repeating the incident from earlier. I had difficulty putting the bag in there and had fell on her after the last shove to place it in the compartment.
We all managed to walk out of the plane in an orderly fashion, I only tripped once over my seat partners rolling carryon, but I was able to stop myself from falling by bumping into a man in a suit beside me. I apologized profusely and kept walking with heat making its way from my neck to my face.
As I stepped out of the terminal I noticed my dad was standing there in his uniform with a grin that wrinkled his brown eyes. Next to him was a tall young man, much taller than when I last saw him two years ago. A wide gleaming white smile was also plastered on Jake's face, his long black hair in a loose ponytail, and his strong brown arms holding a sign well above his head that read "Welcome Home Bells!". His dad, Billy, was next to him in his wheelchair waving at me as well.
I felt all of the anxiety wash away and let the love that I saw standing there flow over me like a wave. I realized now that I was being silly before.
Jake was at the entrance of the gate by the time I made it there and he gripped me in a tight hug and spun me around. My bag landed with a thud and I hoped my laptop had not got hurt.
"Bells! I'm glad you're back!" Jake exclaimed, his deep voice booming. We were the same age, but none of the guys I had graduated with looked anything like him. He looked closer to 26 than 18. He had to be close to 6'5" and still growing.
"Hey, Jake! It's good to finally see you again. It has been forever! You should've come down to Florida during spring break." I told him. Last year when I came down for the summer, he had been out of town with some of his friends for school on a road trip and we hadn't been able to see each other.
He put me down and stepped back.
"I wish I could've. But I got a job and there's never any time off." He said glumly with a frown. The sparkle left his eyes.
"No worries, I'm here for good now. We can see each other all of the time." I responded with what I hoped was good news.
We walked back to our dads outside of the small airport; he had his arm slung around my shoulders and my bag on his other arm. My dad had already grabbed my other bag from the conveyor belt and they were waiting by his police cruiser not parked too far out. I had only brought what could fit in that bag with me from Florida, the rest was in storage. I wanted to start over in Forks, not that most of my clothes from there would even fit in here. I just went from the sun and heat of Jacksonville to the cold and rain of Forks.
Jake removed his arm and went to put my bag in the back of the cruiser from where my dad had just left. Charlie came and gave me a tight hug, smelling of fresh soap.
"Hey, Bells. How was the flight? Your mom texted an hour ago. You need to let her know that you made it here safely." He released me and stepped back. The smile from before still wrinkling his eyes.
Billy rolled up next to me dad and looked up at me smiling, "Hey there Bella. Good to have you home."
Jake slung a heavy arm back over my shoulders and grinned down at me, I realized I had never felt more at home.
The ride home passed by in a blur. What should have been an hour felt more like a minute. Jake went on about his plans and what all he had been up to. My dad and Billy chatted in the front about a potential new fishing spot.
My dad pulled up to the house, it was a quaint little two story that looked like it needed a new coat of paint. The large tree in the front yard still held the tire swing from my childhood. Billy's car and another truck she did not recognize was pulled up on the lawn.
Charlie stopped the car in the small driveway then hopped out. Jake followed to help his dad into his wheelchair. Before I could get my bags out of the trunk my dad grabbed my arm pulled me to the bright red antique truck in the yard.
He looked at me, his smile growing bigger beneath his dark mustache, then placed his hand on the tail bed.
"This is yours. I figured you were going to need a way to get to school every now and again." He said while Jake wheeled his dad to my side. "I didn't think you wanted to be escorted to class in a police cruiser."
I stood in shock.
I did need a vehicle, but I was going to going to dip into my savings and buy a small used car somewhere. I did not expect my dad to buy me a truck. He wasn't exactly wealthy either, not that it mattered to him. He loved being the chief of police. Though Forks did not really have any crime, other than the few traffic accidents or domestic disputes here and there. This was a grand gesture on my dad's part, that caused me to feel even more welcomed here and a little embarrassed that I had treated him so poorly in the past. His excitement for my moving in with him was tangible.
I leaped up and threw my arms around his neck.
"Thank you so much, dad! It's perfect."
And it was. The truck was sturdy, which was good for my accident-prone self. It was beautiful without a scratch on it, even the tires seemed new. Which was strange because this truck was an ancient model.
Jake went to stand next to my dad and said "Glad you think so, I have been rebuilding it for the past year. It should be good as new, though I wouldn't go past sixty in it to be on the safe side."
My dad laughed, "which is another good thing about it, it will keep you going the speed limit. You just might have to leave a little earlier for class."
I smiled and stepped back, "It's perfect, I can't wait to take it for a ride."
My dad beamed, obviously pleased by response to his gift.
Jake helped me take my two bags to my room. It hadn't changed since I was last here other than my dad had washed the bed linens before I arrived.
After throwing the bags onto the bed we walked back downstairs.
Charlie and Billy were ordering a pizza and preparing their spots in front of the TV for some baseball game that was going to come on in an hour.
Jake followed me into the small kitchen while I went to check to see what kind of groceries I would need to go pick up tomorrow. The fridge was empty except for a few frozen meals and fish in the freeze and a case of beer.
"Yeah, Charlie typically eats at the diner or orders carryout every day." Jake said leaning again a yellow counter.
I frowned, "Well, that's about to change. I enjoy cooking and he'll learn to enjoy a vegetable every now and again." I turned to face Jake, "You'll have to bring your dad around for dinner too, bet all you eat is carryout too."
Jake laughed, "We'll be glad to come dine at Café Bell's, but a coworker's wife cooks for all of us almost every day. I believe we might eat more vegetables than Charlie."
I smiled, "I'll have to think of some other way to get you two over here then. Does the wife make my famous triple chocolate pound cake?"
He beamed, "You know I'll be over all of the time, but no she doesn't, she does make a tasty lemon pound cake. Might put yours to shame. . . haven't had it in a while though, you'll have to make it soon so I can compare the two. I'll tell Emily she needs to make hers again soon."
I laughed, "I see what you're trying to do. I'll whip one up next weekend."
Jake grinned in response.
I finished making list, which turned out to be lengthier than I anticipated. It would take a full afternoon to complete the shopping. Jake agreed to come with me tomorrow, and I could not turn down the extra hands. There was not even any salt in this house.
After the pizza arrived we ate our slices on paper plates in the living room, small chit chat flowing with ease.
Jake stood up to take our plates and after he came back, he stopped in the doorway, his large frame filling the opening, "Hey Bells, do you want to come with me to a bonfire tonight? It's at a beach on the Rez, not too far from here. We don't have to stay too late." He asked.
This is not something that I would usually do. I had promised myself before I left Florida that I would try better, to make friends and get out more. It couldn't be that bad, the people at the bonfire would be his friends. I couldn't imagine them being any less nice than him. I swallowed my resolve, I had to do better. I didn't want to go to bed yet and I wasn't the biggest fan of baseball either.
I looked at Jake for a moment longer then said, "Sure, it'll give me the chance to try out the truck too."
My dad and Billy glanced at each other out of the corners of their eyes. I knew what they thought, but it wasn't like that. Jake and I were best friends and viewed each other as siblings.
Jake grinned, "Awesome, let's go then!"
We piled into the truck, the leather cab creaking and shifting down beneath Jake's weight.
"You might have to ride in the tail bed." I said giggling. He playfully shoved my shoulder then put on his seat belt.
It started with a low rumble and off we went. I had to roll down the windows because the cab was so warm. It felt like it was emanating from Jake. When I asked if he had a temperature, he shifted uncomfortably in his seat and said he just ran hot, a "genetics thing".
As Jake directed me, the scenery changed from lush green trees to open beaches. Every once and a while he would point out notable places that he felt I should know. We stopped at a gas station once we got to La Push so that he could buy a foam cooler, sodas, and ice.
The sun had set after I followed his last direction and we pulled into a parking spot next to a larger black truck with tinted windows.
I turned my truck off, and Jake got out to retrieve the cooler from the back. I decided to send my mom a quick text letting her know that I had made it safely and what I was up to, I knew she would be thrilled that I was already out and about. Something she could never get me to do while in Arizona or Florida.
After sending the text I went to get out of the truck, but my right foot got stuck on the inside of the cab and I began to fall face first.
Oh no, not again I thought. My clumsiness would choose to appear right here in front of a bunch of strangers. I waited of the impact of the asphalt, but instead I was met with strong warm hands gripping my shoulders, my face was only inches from the ground.
The stranger lifted me up and I met the darkest eyes I had ever seen. I was sure they could see into the depths of my soul. He was over a head taller than me, close to Jake in stature. But whereas Jake was bulky, this man was lean. His black hair was clipped short, just long enough for you to run your hands through. Run my hands through? What was going on in my head? I had just met this man.
"Th-thank you." I stammered, "I was hoping my clumsiness would hold out a bit longer."
He stepped back, still silent, a warm hand remaining on my shoulder. He was observing me I realized, like a predator stalking their prey. His dark eyes looked me up and down. I knew I should look away or say something, but I was frozen. Not in fear, but in awe. He didn't wear anything special, just blue jeans and a white t-shirt, but he was without a doubt the most attractive man I had ever seen. Next to Jake anyway, but he was my brother and didn't ooze the appeal of this man.
He nodded, "No problem." His voice was deep and sounded every bit as predatory as his eyes conveyed.
Jake came from around the truck and looked at me from where I stood under this stranger's grip, "You okay, Bells?" He sounded concerned with a hint of anger.
The man removed his hand and shoved it in a pocket, "Don't worry, your girl here is fine." He said smugly.
Jake swung his free arm around my shoulders. I could feel his anger, it was almost as if he were vibrating.
"Paul, this is my friend, Bella. Chief Swan's daughter." he said sternly.
Why was Jake acting this way? I didn't know him to ever be angry or even less than friendly. Not even when we were kids and I ruined his favorite remote control car that he got for his birthday.
I glanced to Paul whose gaze had not left me.
"Don't worry baby alpha." Was all he replied before turning and walking towards where the group of people were standing around a large bonfire.
"Did he hurt you at all?" Jake asked as he came to stand in front and look me over, concern and anger still written on his face.
"Oh no, I'm perfectly fine. Do you two not get along?" Curiosity weighing on me, I had to understand this encounter better.
Relief flashed on Jake's face then quickly replaced with annoyance. He looked towards where Paul had walked off to.
"We're not exactly friends. He's known for trouble and gets into fights with everyone. He's just. . . he's not a great person. I work with him and have to break up his fights all of the time. He's gotten a punch in one or two times and not by accident." He explained. "I'm not going to tell you who you should or should not hang out with around here, but I would recommend staying away from Paul."
I nodded at his words. Even though what Jake said made sense and every cell of my body said I needed to stay away for my own safety and wellbeing, I could not stop thinking about that strange man who radiated danger and darkness.