This story took root in my mind from a single line of a future chapter of my story Keeping the Stars Apart. It refused to let go of its hold on my thoughts until I let it bloom to fruition. What if Bella moved to Forks with a single mother, and they were close like Lorelai and Rory from Gilmore Girls? This story is entirely AU and no one is in character. It's my story, sorry not sorry. This will be a Bella/Jasper, Esme/Carlisle story. Also note that Esme and Bella are not Rory and Lorelai, so while they are close, they will be different characters than the two of them. Sorry if that is what you were expecting. There are scenes that take place working at Forks Hospital in this story. I have no medical knowledge or training beyond being a patient. So, please forgive any unrealism. This story, as it was inspired by a TV show, has episodes rather than chapters, and has a three season arc. Welcome to Season One: Roots in my Dreamland. I hope you enjoy it. This has been a labor of love.
Season One:
Roots in my Dreamland
Episode One
Esme looked away from the winding road in front of her to watch her daughter for a moment. Bella was looking out the window of their old Ford Ranger as they drove through the dreary forest. She was being quiet, too quiet. It worried Esme. Bella always kept her feelings too bottled up.
"Are you mad at me, Bells?" Esme asked, startling the girl from her thoughts.
Bella looked over at her mom. "For the last time, Mom, I'm not mad."
"Because you can be, you know. Being mad would be a perfectly normal reaction. Expected even. It's okay, you can tell me. I can take it."
Bella rolled her eyes at her mom's antics. Esme was always over the top, a real character.
"Well, I might end up mad if you don't stop asking me every five minutes."
Esme gasped in mock indignation, holding back a grin.
"Bella, are you trying to imply that you find mommy dearest annoying? How soon you forget, I gave you life."
Bella laughed, "You know, that goodwill has to run out eventually."
Esme just shook her head. "You try pushing a human out of you, then we will talk about when that goodwill runs out."
"You paint such a lovely picture of the miracle of life."
"I'm not sure miracle is the word I would use. Bloodbath seems more appropriate."
"Ugh. Gross, Mom."
"Hey kid, it was your birth."
Silence fell over the car for another minute.
"So you're sure you aren't ma-" Esme started, only to be interrupted by Bella.
"Mom! I'm not mad. It's just a move. Kids move all the time."
Esme sighed.
"I know, Bells, but it's your junior year of high school. And we had to leave all your friends behind."
"You and I both know I had, like, one friend."
"I just worry about you, Bells."
It was Bella's turn to sigh.
"I just wish it didn't feel like we were running away from something. I wish you would tell me why we are moving. The real reason."
"Isabella Swan! We are not running away! Swan girls do not run away. Besides, we have nothing to run away from."
"Just because you won't tell me what we are running away from, doesn't mean there isn't something."
"I just got a new job, that's all."
"Mom, you just graduated with a nursing degree. I'm pretty sure they have nursing jobs in Phoenix."
Esme was looking out the car window at the road ahead, avoiding Bella's eyes.
"Yes, I'm sure they did, but none that offered me these kinds of hours. Nurses work a lot of long, weird shifts, Bells. This hospital was willing to give me shifts that let me be home with you when I need to be."
"And the only place that did that was Forks, Washington? The actual smallest town known to man?"
"See?" Esme said, her eyes lighting up as she turned to point at Bella, "I knew you were mad at me."
all I know since yesterday is everything has changed
The drive from their home in Phoenix to Forks had taken them three days total. Bella had tried to convince Esme it would be easier to simply send all their belongings with the movers, including their truck, and fly down to Washington, but Esme wouldn't hear of it. "When will we get a chance to see those parts of the country again?" she had insisted. As it had turned out, those parts of the country had been miles of flat desert through Nevada.
The two had managed to make it fun anyway though. They always managed to make it fun together. It was a skill the two of them had developed over the years. Esme had always worked to make sure Bella never felt like their lives were boring or missing anything. She was a single mother. It had been just the two of them against the world for as long as Bella could remember. She knew that her mom had been a foster kid when she had gotten pregnant with her at sixteen and being kicked out of the home she had been placed in. Esme had decided not to go back into the system. Instead, using what little money she had to catch a bus to Phoenix and get a job, she raised Bella on her own as a teen mother. In Bella's eyes, her mom was like Superwoman.
The drive finally wound down though, the thick trees letting up slightly to make room for a tiny town. It was a one-road town, Main Street right through the center. There was only a general store, a police station, the small local high school, a small rural hospital, a few odd shops, a café, and a library. Small side streets turned off Main Street leading to the houses of the residents. The whole town was smaller than their subdivision back home. Bella realized she could probably walk the entire distance of it in less than fifteen minutes if she needed to. She hoped she never had to. The weather was abysmal at best. It was cloudy and not quite raining, more like the sky was misting down on them.
Esme pulled the car into the driveway of one of the small homes. It was cottage-like, made of stone with a roof covered in a thin layer of moss.
"Well, kid, here we are. Home sweet home," she said, turning off the engine and looking at Bella anxiously.
Bella gave her mom a reassuring smile despite her own apprehension.
"I like it, Mom. It's quaint."
Esme beamed. "Exactly, that's who we are now, the quaint Swan girls."
"Well, it's certainly better than some of the other things we've been called," Bella said, and the two laughed.
The two of them climbed out of the truck and each pulled a box from the bed of the truck to carry up to the door with them. Esme set hers down as they stood on the porch in front of the door, digging around in her purse for the key. It took her a minute to find it. Bella rolled her eyes. Esme had always been a little scattered. She would have to make sure she had a spare key made to hide out front. Though, she supposed there might not be much point in locking their doors in a town like this. There couldn't exactly be a high crime rate. Esme finally secured the key, holding it up with a triumphant grin, and unlocked the door, swinging it open grandly in front of them.
The house was empty.
Bella looked at her mom nervously as the two walked into the house, setting their boxes down inside the empty living room they had entered into. Esme was looking around as though their belongings might be hidden behind one of the banisters.
"Mom, weren't the movers supposed to be here by now?" Bella asked.
Esme was still staring around the empty home.
"Yeah, kid, they were."
Bella gestured redundantly around the empty living room. Esme rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, I noticed too. I'll give them a call. Why don't you go grab more of the boxes?" Esme said, pulling out her cell phone and shooing Bella back out the door.
Bella sighed, walking back out to the truck. She was pulling another box from the bed of the truck when she heard a boy's voice.
"Hey." Bella turned to see a boy who must have been about her age. He was taller than her, maybe 5'11, with light blue eyes and a babyface. He was good-looking, in an all-American boy sort of way.
"Hey?" Bella said questioningly.
"I'm Mike Newton. My family lives just up the road. I just wanted to come by, introduce myself."
He had the smile of someone who was used to being liked everywhere he went. Bella wasn't used to the popular people talking to her. In Phoenix, she and Angela, her best friend, had been far beneath their notice. Bella had been too shy. Angela had been too… eclectic.
"Uh, right. I'm Bella," she said, feeling awkward, "Bella Swan."
"Nice to meet you, Bella," Mike said, smile never faltering, "do you need help with those?" He pointed to the boxes in the bed of the truck.
"Oh, no. That's fine. You really don't have to-" Bella started.
"Bells, it sounds like the movers were delayed. They won't be here until Tuesday," Esme said, bounding out the front door. "Good thing we didn't fly or we'd have nothing, right? Oh! Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt." She said, as she finally noticed Mike.
"Oh, you aren't interrupting at all. I'm Mike Newton, you're neighbor. You must be Bella's sister," Mike said, turning his smile on Esme.
Bella and Esme shared a look. They tried not to laugh at Mike's expense. In truth, they got this a lot. That was the problem with having a daughter so young. Not to mention the fact that Esme was truly young at heart. Sometimes Bella thought it was a little like she had stopped aging the day she had Bella, sixteen forever, and now Bella was left to be the responsible one. It wasn't completely true. Esme was responsible when it suited her. She was just a very free-spirited and confident person, where Bella was always shy and responsible. It also didn't help much that they looked so similar. Both short with brown hair, though Bella's was a dark brunette and Esme's was a lighter chestnut. And they had the same large, expressive brown eyes.
Esme walked over and put her arm around Bella's shoulders.
"Well, Mike, while flattery will get you everywhere, I am actually Bella's mom, Esme," she said, smiling back at Mike.
The look of shock on Mike's face was something the girls had grown used to by now.
"Mom? W-wow. Well, it's lovely to meet you, Mrs. Swan," Mike said, a faint blush on his cheeks.
"It's just Esme, please, Mike. Mrs. Swan makes me sound like an old married lady. Anyway, I heard you were offering to help us carry in some boxes?"
"Mom," Bella protested in a fierce whisper.
Esme knew the effect a pretty face had on men and was fine using it to their advantage, accepting help. Hell, men had been taking advantage of her for years before she finally started turning it around on them. Bella on the other hand had a hard time seeing herself as a pretty girl that men would gladly fall over themselves to help.
Mike just smiled, "Absolutely, Esme, I'd love to help." And he started grabbing boxes to carry them in the door.
"You know the song Stacey's Mom just took on a whole new meaning for that poor kid, right?" Bella shot at her mom under her breath the second Mike was out of earshot.
"Yes, but just think how much quicker the boxes will get in out of the rain, and it's not like I was wearing the right shoes for labor," Esme said, grinning at Bella.
"You're incorrigible. There is a special place in hell for you."
"Yes, and I'll be there waiting for you, keeping a seat warm right next to mom."
all I knew this morning when I woke is I know something now I didn't before
Mike had made short work of the boxes, they had only been able to fit a few with them in the Ranger anyway. Most had gone with the movers. Afterward, he had made his apologies and reluctantly left. Apparently, his family was waiting for him. Bella was sure the reluctance with which the boy left their home, even when he had prior plans, could not be a good sign. The last thing they needed in a brand new small town was the teen neighbor boy infatuated with her adult mother. Esme was sure his infatuation was with Bella herself. Bella had insisted on dropping the conversation.
The two had opened the few boxes they had with them. The belongings inside weren't a collection of things that made sense. They hadn't planned on needing these things, just grabbed some boxes that hadn't fit with the movers and thrown them in the bed of the Ranger. Luckily, they seemed to have a box of Esme's clothes (none of Bella's, but the two wore the same size). They also had a box that had Bella's bedding, which they used to form a makeshift bed on the living room floor. It would be a mother-daughter camp out for the first couple of nights. They'd done worse. What none of the boxes seemed to contain were kitchen supplies.
"Well," Esme said when they finished taking an assessment of what they had with them, "it looks like we'll be going to that café we passed for dinner."
"And breakfast," Bella said, with a sigh, staring at the open boxes in front of her.
"I guess we had better hope it's good."
"It has to be better than the diner we stopped at in Oregon on the drive," Bella said, grinning over at Esme.
The two had stopped at a diner which absolutely could not have been passing health code on the trip up. Not to mention, it had seemed like they were in the start of a horror movie where they were about to be served up for dinner themselves. Esme had quickly shuffled them back in the car and stopped to get them gas station snacks for a meal instead.
"That's the spirit, kid," Esme said, and the two headed out and got in the truck.
The drive to the café was a short one, but there was no parking outside of it. In the sprawling city of Phoenix, the two had grown used to places having parking lots, or parking garages, or at least street parking. Main Street was so narrow there were no parking signs all up and down it. They looped the whole thing three times before Esme simply parked on the side of the road anyway.
"Mom," Bella said in horror, "we can't park here."
"It's fine, Bells. We won't be that long. Plus, there is nowhere else to park. I'm sure people do it all the time," Esme said, climbing out of the truck.
Bella hesitantly got out after her, having doubts. There were no other cars parked on the street, and it was Sunday, a weekend, so that seemed unlikely.
The two crossed the street and walked into the small café.
"Hi," a cheery, red headed woman greeted them, "welcome in. Please, have a seat anywhere. I'll be right with you." She passed them each a menu.
Bella and Esme picked a table in the corner. There were a couple of other guests in the diner, and the place was filled with the low buzz of conversation. It took a few minutes for the waitress to come over to their table.
"Hi, welcome in. You must be new around her. I'm Tasha. What can I get for you girls?"
Esme smiled cheerily, "You caught us, Tasha. It's our first time in. What do you recommend?"
Tasha smiled back. Esme's smiles could be infectious.
"The cook makes a mean prosciutto mac and cheese, but I have to warn you, once you try it you will become an addict for life."
"Excellent. I love the risk. I'll have that," Esme said.
"Make that two," Bella chimed in.
"Oh! And a plate of onion rings! And two cokes," Esme said.
Tasha grinned, jotting the order down on her pad. "You got it, girls. That'll be right out."
When the food arrived, and Bella took her first bite, she hummed in satisfaction.
"That good, huh?" Esme asked.
"Oh my God, Mom. You have to try it."
Esme did, taking a bite.
"Wow. I've never been happier for movers holding our belongings hostage," she said.
"Seriously. We could never make something this good."
"I'm glad this is the café in Forks and not that Wrong Turn horror show diner from Oregon," Esme said through a mouth full of food.
"This does not mean you are getting out of cooking," Bella said through her own mouth full of food. "If we eat here every day we will end up being 300 pounds each."
"Worth it. They can make an exploitive and insensitive TLC show about us."
Bella snorted.
"There it is, kid, the television magic. I can see you signing autographs already."
"Let's just focus on getting through tomorrow," Bella said. "Then we can worry about fame and autographs."
"Right, Monday, the first day at a new school. You excited?"
"Hey, it's your first day at work too. I won't get to have all the fun."
Esme made a face.
"Starting at new jobs is usually all HR paperwork and a tour of the water cooler. Fun seems like a relative word."
"Right, because starting a new school is all sunshine, rainbows, and endless parties?" Bella asked, deadpan.
"Well, I guess you wouldn't know. You've never had to transfer schools before."
"I'm just worried no one is going to like me. How am I supposed to find another Angela? We both know she was one of a kind."
"Aww, kid. They are all going to love you. How could they not? Though you're right, Angela is definitely unique. Why don't you give her a call when we get back to the house? I'm sure she's missing you just as much."
"Yeah," Bella said, glumly. It just wasn't the same.
"Would getting dessert help?" Esme asked.
Bella grinned.
"Only if it's as good as dinner was."
Luckily for them, it was even better.
The sun was setting by the time they left the diner, and the September air was chilly. The two girls shivered as they exited the diner. As they walked out, a police officer was standing by their truck, writing a ticket.
"Oh no. No no no, please wait," Esme said, darting across the street. Bella ran after her. "Officer, hi, hello, hi there," Esme said, catching his attention.
He was a burly man. Bella thought he looked like the Brawny paper towel guy, rugged with a beard and like he should be chopping wood.
"Is this your truck, Miss?" he asked, eyes twinkling in amusement at Esme's distress.
"Yes, it is. I'm sorry. I know we shouldn't have parked there. It's just, we're new to town. We didn't know where to park. I just wanted to get my daughter here some dinner," Esme said, pulling Bella over as she mentioned her. Bella gave an awkward smile.
The officer smiled. "Well, welcome to Forks, Miss….?"
"Esme Swan," Esme said, holding out her hand to the officer, "and this is my daughter, Bella."
"Nice to meet you, Esme. I'm Charlie Snow, Chief of Police." He shook Esme's hand. "The parking for the diner is in the Alley outback. Try to use it next time. Main Street isn't exactly wide enough for street parking. I'd hate to have to write you a ticket."
"Will do, Officer. I promise you'll only be seeing us under better circumstances," Esme said, her tone turned flirty. Bella's eyes grew wide in horror.
Charlie just chuckled and walked away. Esme turned to watch him walk, before climbing into the truck.
"Oh my God," she said, turning to Bella who was in the passenger seat, "he's like a real-life lumberjack."
"Mom, no!" Bella said. "You can't date the Police Chief. When you guys break up you are going to end up in jail and I'm not old enough to bail you out."
Esme gasped in fake indignation. "Who said we would break up?"
"Your entire track record with men."
"Killjoy."
"Maneater."
Esme just grinned.
all I know is pouring rain and everything has changed
A cell phone alarm was beeping. Bella groaned.
"Mom, that's your alarm," she said, rubbing her eyes. The living room floor wasn't exactly comfortable, but they had certainly slept in less comfortable places before. There was that time Esme had decided they should spend spring break following the tour of a small band that she was convinced would make it big one day. They had not.
"Can't be my alarm. It's gotta be your alarm," Esme grumbled, pulling a pillow over her head.
Bella rolled her eyes, finding her mom's phone and shutting the alarm off.
"Mom, it's 6:30. You told me to wake you up in time for us to get breakfast."
"Ughhh," Esme said, finally sitting up. "I'm beginning to think breakfast is overrated."
"Give it twenty minutes and a shower, you'll change your tune. I've never seen you make it a day without breakfast and coffee."
"If they don't have cinnamon rolls at the café, I'm coming back to bed."
"Sure you are, Mom."
The two girls got up and showered, getting ready for work and school. Bella chose to wear a pair of jeans, her mom's Selena shirt, and the one raincoat that had arrived with them since she would have to walk home from school later. Esme was left hoping that the hospital had spare scrubs, as all of hers were with the movers. She was stuck in a silk blouse and dark jeans, hoping it seemed professional enough to overlook her lack of proper attire.
Luckily for them, the café did have cinnamon rolls and seeing them come running in out of the rain, Esme without a jacket, Tasha got them a table right away even though the place was crowded.
"You are an absolute gem, Tasha," Esme said, trying to pull her wet hair off of her shirt where it was leaving a damp outline.
Tasha laughed happily.
"I try my best. Two cups of coffee?"
"Yes, please. Maybe in to-go cups? To be safe," Esme said.
"You got it, girls."
"So, kid," Esme said, turning to Bella, "ready for your first day? Couldn't have asked for more perfect weather."
Bella laughed. "Oh yeah, this isn't ominous at all."
"I think this is a good indication of every day of the rest of our lives, Bells."
"Oh good, something to look forward to."
'cause all I know is we said hello, and you're eyes look like coming home
The two of them sat in the Ranger in the parking lot of Forks High School as the rain poured down around them. It was a small high school, nothing like Bella's school from back in Phoenix which had been massive and constantly surrounded by a throng of students. Forks High school must have housed two hundred or so kids total, all of whom were rushing in from the parking lot in rain jackets with their heads down.
"You sure you don't want me to come into the office with you? Just to help get your schedule and everything?" Esme asked, turning to Bella.
"No, Mom. It's fine. You'll be late for work. You're just stalling."
"Yeah, but I'm not stalling going to work. I'm stalling sending my baby off to her first day of junior year."
Bella looked at her mom for a moment, emotion welling up, and leaned to hug her over the center console.
"Don't worry," she said as they finally broke apart, "I promise it'll all be boring note-taking and rule-following. I won't do too much growing up."
"Aw, Bells, it's like you don't know me at all. I want you to have fun, and you can even break a few rules. Just don't get in too much trouble."
Bella laughed.
"My role model, ladies and gentlemen."
"Well, someone's got to teach you how to be less uptight," Esme said, grinning at her daughter.
"You're certifiable. You know that?"
"Well, good thing I'm about to go meet some doctors then."
Bella rolled her eyes.
"Bye, Mom. Love you," she said, hopping out of the truck."
"Bye, Bells. I'll bring dinner home."
"Such a good provider," Bella called back through the rain as she started to walk toward the building.
"You know it, babe," Esme called after her before pulling the truck door closed. A few kids turned to look at them. Esme paid them no attention, simply watched to make sure Bella got inside the school, and then pulled the truck out of the lot to drive to Forks Hospital.
The parking lot for the hospital was a little bigger than other ones in the town so far, Esme realized with relief. She had gotten tired of the café's back alley parking and even the lot at Forks High hadn't been large. She was used to the sprawling car parks everywhere in Phoenix. She had been told to come through the back entrance of the hospital, as the front was just a lobby. The back entrance though seemed to also be near the urgent care entrance. All the parking spaces near the back staff entrance were reserved for emergency parking. Then the rows further back were still reserved as patient parking. Esme circled the lot which she had only recently been thrilled at the size of again in horror, before realizing there was no help for it. She parked near the back of it next to several other cars that must be staff cars.
The rain was still coming down in a torrential downpour. Esme looked around the cab of her truck desperately, as if something she could use for a jacket would magically materialize next to her. No luck. It was just a few empty coffee cups from the trip up that they hadn't cleaned out yet. Well, there was no help for it. She steeled herself, grabbed her purse, and dashed out the truck door into the rain. She must have cleared the parking lot in record time, but by the time she came walking through the staff door, she was still thoroughly wet from the rain. Her hair, which she had straightened that morning was beginning to form into drippy wet waves. Her silk blouse was wet and clung to her skin. Her jeans were the worst. Esme was convinced wet jeans were the worst feeling known to man.
Inside the door was an older woman, maybe fifty, but polished and professional looking with a sleek blonde bob that was just beginning to grey and blue eyes. She was just putting on a raincoat. She stopped in shock and Esme's appearance, looking her up and down.
"Hi there, I'm Dr. Viotto. Can I help you?" she asked.
Esme smiled, trying her hardest to look charming and not like a wet rat.
"I'm so sorry. I'm Esme Swan. I-"
"Oh, right! The new nurse. Of course," Dr. Viotto said, pulling her jacket back off and hanging it on a coat rack that was by the door. "Sorry. I work the night shift here typically. You caught me right as I was leaving. Follow me. I'll introduce you." She started walking through the small entry room Esme had entered into and down a hallway.
"Thank you," Esme said, gratefully.
"Oh, of course," Dr. Viotto said, "though I have to ask, I heard you were from Phoenix, but you do own a raincoat, don't you?"
Esme flushed, embarrassed.
"Yeah, I do. The movers got delayed a few days though. So the one that came with us in the truck went with my daughter. She's in high school."
Dr. Viotto glanced back to appraise her while walking.
"Well, between you and Carlisle, you'd think parenthood was the fountain of youth. Okay, right in here," she said, holding a door open.
Esme walked through the door into what must have been a small staff break room. There was a small kitchen with a fridge, microwave, table, and chairs, and on the other half the room there were a couple of couches, bookshelves, and a small TV. There were two men in scrubs on the couch watching the small television who turned to look at her when she walked in. Esme hardly noticed them though. Her attention was entirely taken by the man in a white doctor's coat standing by the bookshelf. He was flipping through the pages of one of the reference books. He was tall and refined looking. With tousled dark blond hair, a thin straight nose, and prominent cheekbones. He couldn't have been much older than Esme, maybe mid-thirties. His skin was pale, but Esme thought he could have been a model rather than a doctor. He looked up when she entered the room. His eyes were the color of amber.
"Jesus, Paula," one of the men on the couch said, startling Esme from staring at the handsome doctor, "I didn't know we were hazing the newbie. What did you do, throw her in the decontamination shower?"
Dr. Viotto, who must be Paula, Esme realized, rolled her eyes at the man.
"Behave yourself, Riley," she said, in a warning tone. "Esme, this is Riley and Tom. They are both nurses here as well. And this is Dr. Cullen." She gestured toward the handsome doctor who walked over to where Esme was standing.
He smiled warmly at her, holding out his hand.
"It's lovely to meet you, Esme," he said. His voice was low and smooth. Esme shook his hand. It was icy cold. Why did doctors always have the coldest hands?
"Nice to meet you, Dr. Cullen," she said.
"We have some spare scrubs in the locker rooms, right through there," he pointed to a door at the back of the room. "It'd probably be more comfortable, and then we can give you the tour and start morning rounds."
Esme blushed. "I promise, this is a one-time thing. The movers were just late with our stuff…" she trailed off.
"There is no need to apologize. Movers or no movers, we've all been caught out in the rain here," he said.
Tom and Riley were exchanging looks that made Esme feel that Dr. Cullen was probably being more polite than she deserved. She also thought they might be looking just a little too much as her wet silk blouse clung to her skin.
"Right," she said, "well, I'll be right out."
"I'm heading out for the day," Dr. Viotto said. "It was nice meeting you, Esme."
Esme smiled at her as she headed to the locker room to change into the warm dry scrubs, feeling like she'd been suitably embarrassed enough for the first day of her new job.
and all my walls stood tall painted blue, I'll take them down
Bella ducked into the main office of Forks High out of the rain, pulling the hood of her mom's raincoat down. A kind looking older woman sat at the desk.
"Hello dear, how can I help you?" the woman asked.
"Uh, hi, yeah. I'm Isabella Swan," Bella said nervously, "it's my first day."
"Oh yes, of course. We've all been expecting you," the woman said brightly. "We don't get many transfer students out here."
Bella wasn't sure how to answer that, she just offered the woman a smile. She had always been shy. Her mom was the only person who had ever been able to bring her out of her shell. Well, and her friend Angela, but she was back in Phoenix now. Bella tried not to dwell on that.
"Well dear, here is your schedule," the woman continued, handing Bella some papers, "and a map of the school. One of our student council members agreed to show you around today, he should be here soon. Ah," she said, her eyes lighting up as someone came through the office doors, "Mike, there you are. This is Isabella Swan."
It was the boy from yesterday. He smiled his charming, all-American boy smile at Bella. She smiled awkwardly in return, looking down at her feet.
"I know, Mrs. Ridgefield. We've actually met. Bella here's my new neighbor," he said brightly.
"Oh, fabulous," Mrs. Ridgefield said, "you're in excellent hands Isabella dear." She turned back to her computer.
"So," Mike asked, reaching for Bella's schedule, "What's first?"
Mike ushered Bella around from class to class all morning. He was so clingy, it actually was starting to get on her nerves. The school was tiny. It would not have been hard to find her way to her classes on her own. Bella was going to have to tell her mom about this. She was convinced it was Esme's fault. Her mom didn't seem to understand the effect that her smile and hair flip had on every one of the male species. The classes themselves weren't hard. Forks didn't have advanced placement like Phoenix, so her math class, which was placed by skill level, was mostly older students, and her English and Science classes which she would have after lunch were both with the seniors instead of the juniors.
She left her Government class unsurprised to find Mike already standing outside the door.
"Hey, Bella," he said, "ready for lunch. Best class of the day."
Bella chuckled weakly at his joke.
A girl from Bella's Government class walked out behind Bella.
"Mike," she said brightly, "what're you doing all the way over here? I thought you had English this period?"
"Oh, hey Jessica," Mike said, barely bothering to look at the girl. That seemed to annoy her. "I'm just showing Bella here around school today."
Jessica's eyes lit up.
"Oh, well that's perfect. Lauren and I were just going to ask Bella if she wanted to eat lunch with us today, right Laur?"
A girl behind Jess gave her a shocked look that clearly said she had absolutely not been planning on doing that. Jess gave her a look though.
"Oh, right. Definitely," Lauren said. Her voice was less than convincing.
Mike looked as though this was not exactly what he had planned for the lunch hour. Bella wasn't sure she wanted to eat lunch with Jessica and Lauren, but she definitely couldn't take any more alone time with Mike. The boy was clingy like a golden retriever.
"That sounds great," Bella said, willing her voice to sound cheerful. She wondered who Angela was eating lunch with today back at their old school.
"Perfect," Jessica said, smiling brightly. "You're welcome to join us, Mike."
There it was. Bella had been expecting that. Mike lit up at the invitation.
"That'd be great," he said.
The four of them headed to the lunchroom, and Jessica had quickly pulled Mike to the front of their group into their own little conversation. Bella felt relieved at that. Lauren looked a little annoyed.
Bella leaned over to her and whispered, "What are the chances I can sneak out of here without either of them noticing?"
Lauren actually broke a grin at that, looking up at where Jessica was keeping a long running monologue to Mike.
"I'd put it at 50/50, but you'd better make your break before the lunchroom. We haven't had a new student in four years. Everyone is going to want to talk to you in there. No way to go unnoticed."
"Thanks," Bella said, grinning back. When the group rounded a corner, she hung back and then doubled back towards the classrooms. She ducked into an empty one. It must have been an English classroom, as there was a bookshelf on one wall lined with copies of classics. She pulled out a copy of Things Fall Apart and began to read, happy to escape the attention of her peers for a little while. Esme would be horrified.
come back and tell me why I'm feeling like I've missed you all this time
Esme had felt much better after changing into the scrubs, though she still wished her hair was drier. The tour and rounds hadn't actually taken that long. Forks Hospital was small. There were only five patients currently admitted, and through the day only two came in for urgent care. Riley had gone home at nine. There were three full-time nurses at the hospital, and they split the day into three shifts. Esme's ran from 8-5 so she could take care of Bella. Tom in the future would be working 4-1, but he had been helping cover until Esme started working there. Riley worked from midnight-9. They also had some nurses that rotated in from other area hospitals to help cover shifts, as well as some other doctors. Tom left around noon, leaving just Esme and Dr. Cullen as the medical staff.
"Well, Esme," Dr. Cullen asked her later in the break room, pouring a cup of coffee, "how are you liking Forks so far?"
He held out the cup of coffee for her. Esme took it, surprised and pleased. She took a drink. It was a damn good cup of coffee.
"I have to admit, it's wetter than I imagined," she said with a grin.
Dr. Cullen laughed. "It grows on you," he said.
"Besides that, it's been great. Bella and I already found out the café in town makes incredible food, so that's nice, and I think I could get used to small town life. Everything is very quaint here."
"Bella?" Dr. Cullen asked.
"Oh, Bella is my daughter. She's a great kid."
"Ah, I see. How old is she?"
"She's seventeen. Just started her junior year."
Dr. Cullen's eyebrows shot up.
"You'll have to excuse my saying, but you don't look old enough to have a seventeen year old daughter."
Esme grinned at him. "I never excuse flattery, but let's just say I took a less than traditional route to parenthood. What about you, Dr. Viotto mentioned you had children?"
"I do," he said, smiling, "three actually. Jasper, Rosalie, and Edward."
Esme's eyes widened slightly. "Well then, Dr. Cullen, I guess we have something in common. You don't look nearly old enough to have three kids."
"Call me Carlisle, please," he said, still smiling at her, "and you can make that two things, I'm a fan of flattery as well."
Esme grinned. Carlisle's pager went off.
"Looks like we've got another patient," he said. Esme set her cup of coffee down, ready to get back to work.
all I know is a simple name and everything has changed
Before the lunch hour ended, Bella made sure to sneak out of the classroom she was hiding in and make her way to her next class. She had English next. Luckily, it wouldn't be in a building Mike would have any reason to be anywhere near since the seniors' and the juniors' classrooms were housed in different buildings. She just hoped that Jessica could keep him distracted long enough to stop him from showing up here to make sure she found it okay. She was the first person in the room. The teacher, Mr. Mason, looked surprised to see her.
"You must be Miss Swan," he said, looking up at her startled as she slinked through the door.
"Yeah, sorry I'm so early. I'm trying to shake a tail," she said. She had always felt oddly more comfortable around adults than kids her own age. That was one of those weird side effects of having a mom for your best friend. Mr. Mason smiled kindly at her.
"I'm sure the student body is a little overzealous about having a new student. I've assigned seats, I think you'll find your name near the back."
Bella smiled gratefully at him and slunk off to the back of the class to find her seat. There weren't desks, but tables, each with four chairs placed around them. Bella's was in the back left. She sat down to wait. Slowly the students filled in, all finding their assigned seats. Bella looked at the names on the table around her. Jasper Cullen. Rosalie Cullen. Jenny Tuttlage. A pretty girl with long dark braids came in and sat in the seat that said Jenny, smiling at Bella. Bella smiled back. When the girl looked down and saw the other two names on the table, she got a scared look on her face. Well, that couldn't be good.
Bella didn't have to wait long to figure out why, only seconds before the bell rang to announce the start of class, the two entered the room. They looked other worldly, like they had just stepped off a runway. They were both blond, tall, and absurdly good looking. The boy had curly honey blond locks that he ran his hands through in a way that made him look like he should be in slow motion. The girl had long golden hair that hung in messy waves down to the middle of her back. Bella could tell they were related. They both had the same oddly pale skin and golden eyes. The boy wore a leather jacket, white shirt, and jeans that put James Dean to shame. The girl was in all black, with a smoky eye and a dark lip that felt a little like over kill for high school. They both wore identical expressions of boredom. They made their way over to the table and sat down. Jenny Tuttlage looked even more nervous. Bella had to try not to roll her eyes. The boy, Jasper, turned to give her a curious expression, it lasted for only a moment before his eyes turned cold. Rosalie's were cold as well. They looked remarkably put out to have to be sitting here next to Bella and Jenny, as if it was there fault.
Mr. Mason started talking, but Bella couldn't focus on him. She was hit with a sudden wave of embarrassment. She shouldn't be here, couldn't be here. All these people could see her. She needed to leave. She couldn't pinpoint why she felt that way. It made the embarrassment even worse. She started comparing herself to Rosalie, beautiful Rosalie. She couldn't be sitting here next to someone who looked like that. She could only imagine how she must look in comparison. She felt the blush creeping up on her face as the class ticked on. She was feeling like she was about ready to bolt, lock herself in the bathroom and hide for the rest of the day, when she looked up and caught Jenny's eye. Jenny looked just as embarrassed. Something about that struck Bella as weird, as off. She tried to shove down the emotion, ignore it for the rest of class. It kept growing stronger. She looked over and found Rosalie glaring at her. The hatred in her eyes was evident. Jasper was glaring now too. Jenny was nearly shaking in her seat. It made Bella angry. It was there, fighting to make its way through past the strong surge of embarrassment.
The bell rang. Jenny ran out of the class so fast she left her binder behind. Rosalie chuckled when she saw it.
"What is your damage?" Bella snarled, rounding on Rosalie.
Suddenly the feeling of embarrassment fell away. Bella wondered if maybe that would happen more often if she stood up for herself.
"You're angry," Jasper said in shock.
She turned to glare at him.
"You're damn right I'm angry. You two are bullies," she said, snatching up Jenny's binder and leaving the classroom.
"Bella, thank God you made it to class okay. I was worried when we lost you at lunch," Mike said as she walked through the door. He had been waiting for her just outside. It took a lot of self-control for Bella to keep her anger in. As it was, she rolled her eyes.
"Yes, Mike. I found my class just fine. You really didn't have to come all the way over here. You don't even have classes in this building," she said, trying to control the annoyance in her voice.
"Oh, it's no problem, really Bella. I'm happy to do it," he said eagerly.
"No worries, Mike. I was actually going to walk Bella to her next class," Jasper's voice came from next to her. She turned on her heel to glare at him, about to protest. "We have to drop by the office to turn in a classmate's binder she left anyway, so you can head on back to the junior building."
Mike glared at him, clearly annoyed that the older boy had swooped in on what he considered his territory, but Jasper had already put a hand on Bella's back and started guiding her down the hallway. Bella turned to look. Mike was left standing there looking thoroughly annoyed, and Rosalie was glaring at her.
"Get your hand off of me," Bella hissed through her teeth. Jasper just laughed and pulled his hand away. "What the hell was that?" she asked annoyed.
"Well, I figured you were going to turn the binder into the office anyway, and I must admit, I find your annoyance amusing."
Bella stopped in her tracks to glare at him.
"I noticed on your schedule we have our next class together. Now, I'm going to walk to the office and then to Chemistry class, regardless of whether or not you join. So I guess you can either turn poor Jenny's binder in or not…"
Bella resumed a stomping walk in the direction of the office. Jasper smirked.
"You and your sister didn't have to glare at her like that," Bella said. "You obviously upset her."
"My sister and I glare at everyone. We glared at you too, and I don't seem to have sent you running away in fear."
"Yes, and Rosalie seems thrilled about that."
"Rosalie likes to be the most intimidating thing in the room. Don't worry, she'll keep trying."
Bella looked up at him incredulously. "You do realize that in itself is a worrying sentence. You two could just, I don't know, not be assholes."
"Ah, but where is the thrill in that," he said, pushing open the office door and holding it for her.
Bella walked inside and turned Jenny's binder into Mrs. Ridgefield, before heading back out the door. Jasper was in the hallway waiting, leaning against the wall. Bella didn't even glance at him as she walked past, just started heading for her next class. Jasper smirked again, pushing off the wall. He was able to catch up with her easily, each one of his long strides nearly double one of hers.
"Is it your mission to annoy me?" Bella asked him after they walked in silence for a while.
"I'm not sure if it's my mission, but it is awfully fun," he said.
When they got to their Chemistry classroom, there was only one table left. Bella groaned lightly. Somehow she had just ended up lab partners with Jasper Cullen.
I just wanna know you better now, I just wanna know you
"Oh Lucy, I'm home," Esme called as she backed through the door to their home later that night. Her arms were filled with bags of takeout containers from the café.
"Ricky," Bella called popping up off the floor from where she had her school books spread out near their make shift bed. "Oh thank God," she said, dropping the joke as soon as she saw what her mom was carrying, "you brought food." She rushed up and grabbed the bags from Esme so she could take off her shoes.
"I told you I would, kid," Esme said laughing, joining her daughter on the floor.
"I know, but I'm starving," Bella said, already with a mouthful. "I missed lunch today."
"Why?" Esme asked, looking at her daughter as she also began to eat, "and please say it's because you were too busy out making friends with the cool kids and trying Molly behind the bleachers or something."
"Mo-om!"
"What? You're too good all the time, kid. You need to live a little."
Bella rolled her eyes at her mom.
"Okay, so what was it that distracted you if it wasn't sex, drugs, or rock and roll?"
"Hey, I never said anything about sex or rock and roll."
"So, you've decided to become the groupie for a local band here in Forks? I'm so proud."
Bella sighed. "Everyone was just very… attentive. One of the girls said I was the first new student in four years."
"Yikes, no wonder pretty boy Mike came over to help us unload boxes yesterday. He was trying to claim first dibs on the fresh blood in the dating pool."
"Gross mom."
"Hey kid, in small towns like this, everyone has dated everyone. That's just facts."
Bella sighed again. "Mike volunteered with the office to show me around to all my classes. I had to ditch him at lunch just to get a little peace for myself. I couldn't face a lunchroom full of kids all that eager to talk to me."
"That would be most teenagers' dream come true."
"Yeah, well I guess you shouldn't have raised such a weirdo."
"I couldn't help it. It's genetic. You've met me, right?"
Bella laughed a little. "Well, how was your first day at work?"
Esme grinned. "It was great. They were really nice. One of the doctors is like, crazy cute, and I think I'm actually pretty good at this nursing thing."
"I knew you would be."
"Aw, thanks, kid."
They lounged in comfortable silence for a moment.
"So, I guess this town has a back-to-school carnival this weekend to raise money for the athletics department," Esme said after a moment.
Bella rolled her eyes at her mom, knowing what was coming. "You want to go to a small town carnival?" she asked.
"Sure, could be fun," Esme said, shrugging. "Plus, one of the doctors from work invited us to go with his family, so we would get to know the town a little better."
Bella looked at her mom suspiciously. "It wouldn't happen to be the cute doctor, would it?"
"Maybe," Esme said evasively, but her grin gave her away. "But he has kids of his own. It's just a nice gesture since we are new to town. We can get to know the Cullen's a little better, and then we will actually have friends-"
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Bella asked, cutting her mom off.
"I thought it would be nice for us to actually have a family we are friends with here?" Esme asked, confused.
"No," Bella said, shaking her head, "did you say the Cullen's?"
"Yeah, why?" Esme was even more confused.
"Mom, we can't go to the carnival with the Cullen's. They hate me."
"Okay, kid. I'm lost out at sea here. Throw me a paddle."
"I go to school with his kids," Bella said, her panic growing.
"You're telling me Carlisle's kids are in high school?"
"Yes," Bella said annoyed, not sure what her mom wasn't getting.
Esme recovered quickly. After all, she had a kid in high school at her age. Why shouldn't Carlisle? But damn.
"Bells, babe, I'm sure they don't hate you. Maybe they just need a chance to get to know you."
"Ugh, Mom, you don't get it," Bella said, throwing herself down on the blankets and burying her face in the pillow.
"Well, I'm trying here kid, but you aren't giving me much to work on."
"They just hate me. For no reason. Rosalie mostly, but Jasper is trying to drive me insane."
"Ahhh," Esme said, understanding dawning, "Did you ever think he was just picking on you to get a rise out of you?"
"Mom, this isn't a sitcom. He didn't pull my braid on the playground because he was too nervous to tell me he likes me. This is real life."
"Okay, okay," Esme said, throwing up her hands in defeat, "but this is my boss we are talking about here, kid. So, regardless, I am going to need you to put your game face on this Friday and come to the carnival with us."
"Ughhhhh," Bella moaned into her pillow.
"Look, I know that it would be great to be able to storm away from me and slam your door, but we have no furniture in your room right now. Want me to slam a couple of doors around the house just for the sound effects?" Esme asked, grinning down at Bella.
"You are an actual two-year-old," Bella grumbled into the pillow, never looking up.