I never understood what it was that made Bella hate Forks, Washington with such a vengeance. At even the slightest mention of the small rainy town her nose would scrunch up and her brow would furrow, 'I hate that place' was plain in her expression.
This fact only confounded me further as I scrutinized my far-too-calm sister as we sat on a plane to the aforementioned 'living hell' as she had so kindly dubbed it. With her nose plunged in Wuthering Heights I'd almost think we were relaxing in our backyard in Phoenix without a care in the world, but the nervous tapping of her foot gave her away.
I gently nudged her with my elbow. "Bells, do you want to talk for a second? My iPod just died." I gave her a soft grin and hoped she'd let me in. She doesn't love disclosing her feelings.
"Sure Daisy, lemme just mark my page." She returned the smile, but more reserved, no teeth.
"I'm pretty excited to see Dad, it's been so long. And I love the rain." I crossed my feet up on the plane seat, criss-cross-applesauce and stared her down, lowering my usually light tone to be serious, "But, I know you loved Arizona. And you hate the rain. Are you okay?"
Bella gave another smile. Almost like a tired parent trying to placate an excited child, "Yeah, Mom deserves to have some fun and Phil is great." She mumbled. The smile still didn't reach her sad almond eyes.
I felt a pang in my chest at her deflection. Bella had always been closed off, she got Dad's darker hair and his quiet demeanor, and I got Mom's light brown curl/frizz and her emotionality. While I tried to come up with a way for her to address her own feelings, Bella returned to her favorite novel and disappeared from the world as I knew it.
The rest of the plane ride was uneventful. Dad picked us up at the airport and gave us the obligatory awkward Dad side squeezes and told us we looked nice. Bella beat me to the front seat so I sat in the back, which was fine by me because I was entranced by the rainy forest flashing past us.
Charlie cleared his throat, "So, uh girls. I was thinking. Bella you're already 17 and Daisy, you're 16, so both of you can drive." I shot up in my seat, aware of the awesome implication my father was making.
"Are you saying..." I prodded him, straining against the seatbelt to put my face between their seats. Charlie didn't look at me but he had a small grin simmering beneath his thick mustache. Bella glanced back at me with a glimmer of, dare I say, excitement.
"Well, I guess you'll have to see." Charlie's tone was light, lighter than I'd heard in a long time. His voice always sounded heavy on the phone, lonely.
The ride beyond that was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. Bella may be more like our Dad than I was but it didn't mean that I didn't appreciate peaceful silence. We were content in each others' company.
When the car pulled into the driveway it was only drizzling, disappointing me, but making unpacking the car less complicated.
"Alright kids, Bells you're upstairs to the right, and Daze you're to the left, after the bathroom." Charlie dictated the layout and gestured as the two of you lugged the first of your baggage up the stairs. Coming back as an afterthought he shouted up, "I've got an ensuite bathroom, but you two will have to share the one upstairs, be civil please."
I rolled my eyes and called over my shoulder, "There's such a thing as civil disobedience." To which I received an amused grunt from Bella, high praise coming from her.
Settling in was interesting. My room was painted a pretty mediterranean blue, Charlie must've painted it just for me, as Bella and I shared her room when we were little and this was a guest room. It warmed my heart, my Dad was always trying to show me that he listened and knew us even though we weren't with him full time.
Some children of divorced parents have favorites, but not me. My mom and dad are such different people and I love them in different ways and for different reasons. My mom could show emotion with a vulnerability that showed bravery and sincerity. My father had a deep compassion and love, but he was a reserved personality, he showed his love with little actions rather than words.
When my room was loaded up with my baggage I began unpacking and pin-balling with Bella as we tried to simultaneously unload our toiletries. As we traffic-jammed in the doorway of the tiny lavatory, trying to leave in sync, Dad called us down.
I made my way down, allowing Bella to go first to avoid our awkward bumping. Charlie stood just in front of the door wringing his hands with a nervous smile gracing his lips, "So you know how I mentioned driving?" He began sheepishly.
My eyes widened and Bella gasped, "No way." We shared an excited look. Well, I was excited and Bella was reserved but smiling wider than usual.
"Yes way. Billy, you remember Billy and Jacob right, you used to make mud pies. Anyway, he was selling his old truck so I sort of bought it for you guys." As he finished he winced in his smile, trying to gauge if it was a pleasant surprise or an overstepping of boundaries.
"Dad that is absolutely amazing, thank you so much." I spoke sincerely, stepping forward and gently embracing him, not wanting to make him uncomfortable.
Bella chimed in behind me, "Ch-Dad, you didn't have to do that. We were going to pool our savings and buy one." As I released Dad I nodded emphatically in agreement with Bella's statement.
"I know that. But you girls are already so mature and responsible and I thought you deserved something special, I am proud that you would have done it." Charlie's chest swelled with pride. He was really proud of us and I suddenly felt sort of bashful.
Charlie reached behind him and held the door open for us, "Anyway, Jake and Billy just pulled in. Let's say hello and check out your new wheels." He shot finger guns at us and I cringed playfully.
Following him out, there was an awesome retro red Chevy truck sitting in the driveway and two russet skinned men beside it. The older man, Billy, was in a wheelchair, which I didn't remember being the case. The younger boy was Jacob, then.
Looking at him I could feel memories surging. Mud pies, wrestling, his undying love for my sister, the usual. His hair hung longer than when we were kids and shined beautifully. I was kind of jealous honestly.
"Hey girls! Long time no see. Your dad here wouldn't shut up about his Bells and Daze and how they were coming to live with him finally-" Billy began jovially. He had a great charm about him, and a smile that made me feel like we were sharing an inside joke.
Charlie jabbed him in the side and cleared his throat, "Anyway, girls. Billy is my oldest friend and I hope you remember him and Jacob." He gestured to Jacob and his luscious locks.
"Mud pies, I remember." I chimed in to relieve any tension. Jacob sent me a small smile and bashfully glanced behind me at a preoccupied Bella, she was looking over the truck after shaking hands with Billy.
I approached Billy to shake his hand as well, "Billy, thank you so much for the truck. And it's very nice to see you again." I shot him a warm grin.
Gripping my hand with a sturdy shake he glanced up at Charlie and faux-whispered, "Ah, you've raised some young charmers here." They broke into laughter as Jacob offered to show Bella and I the truck.
Charlie and Billy were now nearly in the street fighting with little jovial jabs at each other and Billy threatening to 'flatten your father's wide ass feet'. Glancing to Jacob with surprise at our father's outgoing behavior Bella asked, "Are they always like this?"
Jacob gave a tired, but fond look and answered, "Pretty much. Anyway, why don't we hop in and I'll let you know all this old truck's quirks. I fixed her up myself though and she runs great, you just have to treat her right." He recovered quickly, worrying that it would discourage the two of us.
"Hey, all good dude. You just might have to teach me how to fix it if anything goes wrong." I encouraged him with a toothy smile, "I believe in being self-sufficient anyway." He grinned back at me.
Bella climbed in the driver's side and Jacob and I rounded the front, he let me slide in first and closed the door behind us. "Okay, so she's stick shift. Do you guys know how to drive stick?" After getting nods from both of us he continued, "So the clutch is a little old so sometimes it needs a couple pumps."
Jacob continued to rattle off the little things that needed extra TLC in the truck and I mentally took note of those that really needed memorizing. Bella on the other hand was listening intently and seemed to be falling in love with the truck.
After the spiel about the truck, Jacob suggested a test drive, which we were totally onboard for. Bella would drive as he guided us to our new high school and I would take over and drive back.
"So how do you feel about the truck Bella?" Jacob's voice raised with anxiety. He didn't need to be nervous though. I could tell Bella was already bonded to the truck. She has this affinity for objects sometimes that just click with her. I loved that about her.
"Oh, I absolutely love it. It's freaking amazing." She gushed, drumming her fingertips on the wheel. "So the high school is gonna come up just on the right in a minute?" Bella repeated Jacob's instructions from moments ago for confirmation.
"Yup, it's right up here." As he gestured, the small institution came into view. It was quaint, a small campus with a few spread out buildings, all within view.
"I'm so glad we're gonna know someone at school, and you're in my grade! Should we carpool?" I exclaimed, turning to Jacob excitedly.
Jacob smiled softly but sighed, "Sorry Daisy, I actually go to school down on the reservation." He patted my leg in sympathy, moving in the middle of the school year sucks.
"Damn it. I just wish we could have started at the beginning of the year." I muttered softly. Bella's face became downturned as she heard the stress in my voice. She was always comfortable being a loner so this wouldn't be too crazy for her, but I had left behind a close knit group of friends.
"Hey," Bella gripped my hand reassuringly, "It's your turn to drive our new truck." She spoke in a soft sing-songy voice while climbing out of the car to switch spots. I took in her concern tinging her chocolate brown eyes and felt better immediately, I may not have my friends but I'll always have Bells.
"Alright let's go, we've gotta name her!" I gasped, fastening my seatbelt and smacking the steering wheel. Jacob looked over at me incredulously while Bella seemed to be brainstorming, "Don't give me that look, Black. You've gotta name a car." I protested.
"She's yours now, so I will withhold my judgment with your strangeness." Jacob sassed me effortlessly, it made me feel like a great friendship was starting.
"I think she should be named Gertrude. Gertie for short. Cause she's an old girl but she's got kick left in her." I mused as I pulled out of the school parking lot and began the trek back home.
"Gertrude?" Jacob's voice sounded incredulous but I didn't look at him since I was focusing on the road and the unfamiliar terrain.
"I thought you were done chiming in on the existence of good ole Gertie." I jabbed back quickly.
Bella giggled beside me, "Gertrude is the perfect name. I agree with Daze." She backed me up, elbowing Jacob in the stomach. This felt really natural, old friends reconnecting.
When I pulled back into our driveway and we all piled out I turned to Jacob. "We should all hangout." I told him assertively and then glanced at my worn converse in embarrassment at how inadvertently loud I'd said it.
Bella placed a hand reassuringly on my back and said, "Yeah, let's trade numbers." We all busied ourselves plugging numbers into our phones while, unbeknownst to us, our fathers looked on in pride that we were bonding.
"Well girls, I'm glad to see you are well and I know that truck will treat you right with my son's handiwork. Welcome to Forks and you are welcome at the Black residence anytime." Billy spoke with authority and congeniality.
"Thank you Billy, we'll be sure to come soon." I graciously accepted and gave him a quick goodbye hug, with Bella swiftly doing the same. We turned to Jacob and did the same with him, but with more awkwardness.
"Well Swan Sisters, I'll see you around." Jacob shot us a two finger salute and turned on his heel, immediately tripping on a rock and stumbling.
"Smooth Black, we'll see you soon." Bella shot back at him. His cheeks flushing a deep wine color on his russet skin. They ducked into their truck and peeled away with waving hands out the open windows.
After thanking our father for the amazing present, Bella and I made our way back upstairs to our respective rooms to finish unpacking and ultimately collapse from exhaustion from the long day of travel.