Chapter 1 – New Beginning's in Forks, Washington

I wanted to get a portkey to Forks, but Mom insisted on flying. Which really, was a better choice, luggage was not fun to teleport with.

So here I was, in the PSH International waiting in the security check line. While my mom and Phil called out from where they stood beyond.

"We love you so much! And be good for your father!" Renee yelled, too loudly.

I cringed and mouthed, "Of course, love you." and turned back around to hand my bag to the TSA agent who looked bored out of their mind.

They checked me through and I turned around and waved at my mom one last time before heading off to my terminal to wait for my flight. I sat close to the doors so I could get on as quickly as possible, and pulled out my well worn copy of Wuthering Heights.

I would miss Ilvermorny and my friends. When my parents suggested attending muggle high school I was nearly ready to refuse but after some thought, I figured, why not? I did love to learn and I hadn't been to a traditional school since elementary, which I was pretty sure I remembered enjoying.

Of course, Forks would not had been my first choice of places to live but it was better than Jacksonville with Mom and her new husband. Not that I didn't like Phil, he was great and he gave my mom the freedom she craved, but sometimes I felt like a third wheel around them and, honestly, I was often ignored. Not on purpose, I don't think, but that's just how Reene was. I'd accepted that fact about my mom years ago.

So at the end of the day, Charlie was the better option. My small town Police Chief father was stable and actually a pretty good parent even though I'd only spent a few weeks out of the year with him most the time. And I figured I should spend some more time with him since soon I'd be heading off into the great unknown of the Wizarding world. Did I know exactly what I wanted to do with my life? No, but I was pretty sure it wouldn't be some boring muggle job.

Once I touched down in Washington, I sighed heavily, not realizing I'd been holding my breath. While I was a witch and I could fly it didn't mean I liked to. Either on a broom or in this giant death trap. My accident-prone life made you second guess nearly every slightly risky activity.

My dad stood in front of his cruiser leaning against the passenger door as I exited the bustling Sea-Tac Airport. One side of his mouth perked up as I approached and his eyes sparkled with unshed tears. I was slightly surprised at the emotions that began to build in my own chest, seeing others emotional always did that to me.

"Bells." He said softly

"Hey, Dad." I said as he engulfed me in a warm, but slightly awkward hug. We'd have to get used to each other again, though, Charlie had always been a bit awkward. I got that from him, after all. Reene always said I was too much like Charlie; and just looking at us side by side, I'd have to agree.

We had the same shade of hair, though Charlie's was curly where as my was straight with just a slight wave. Our eyes were nearly the same shade of brown. We even had a similar build and hairline, thankfully, I didn't look nearly as masculine as he did, and for that I was grateful. Even though I didn't think I was particularly attractive. Charlie was still rather good looking, though, barely changed from the photos of his twenty-something self. Maybe just a few wrinkles around his eyes and brows. I hoped that was from happiness and not sadness.

"Why are you crying, Dad?" I asked, chuckling.

"I'm not, just a bit emotional." He grumbled as he opened the door for me and took my bags. "Not everyday your only daughter graduates from magic school!"

"Dad." I warned quietly, "Keep it down." I glanced around to see if anyone was listening, but not surprisingly, in the busy city of Seattle, not one person was paying any attention to anything but themselves.

Forks, though, would be a different story. I shivered at the attention I'd been warned I'd be receiving. Hoping against hope that maybe Reene was wrong in her assumption that my arrival would spread a nice healthy dose of gossip around the sleepy town.

Charlie looked around sheepishly, "Right, sorry, Bells." And closed my door before making his way over to the drivers side.

"I'm happy to have you here, Bells, really. I've missed you so much."

"I missed you, Dad." I replied with sudden tears welling up in my own eyes.

Charlie smiled at me and then pulled back out onto the road and we began making the long trip back to Forks.

Ever since I'd gotten my acceptance letter it'd been harder for me to make a trip here, with my moms insistence on going on new random adventures during summers and my dad's long work schedule; I'd only come back to Forks about four times in the last six years. Though, Charlie did made an effort to come and see me when we lived in California. But other than that, we didn't see each other much. I didn't mind so much when I was a kid, but I think it ate away at Charlie more than he'd let on.

I spent the weekend with Charlie, we'd watched a lot of TV and he'd showed me some of his favorite movies. Muggle entertainment was something I'd kind of missed a lot of. Spending most of your year in a old, magicked castle cut off from the rest of the world tended to do that to ya; so everything he showed me was brand new to me. Even Phil had begun to show me more recent entertainment than the Spice Girls, he'd gotten me a huge stack of his favorite CD's for Christmas. I had to admit, he had pretty good taste in music – definitely wasn't the Spice Girls though.

We'd ordered a lot of take out, which was nice since I was beat from final exams, moving and now unpacking; but I swore that after this we'd be eating more home cooked meals. I suspected this was how Charlie ate most the time, his poor arteries...

Overall my arrival back in Forks had been pretty great so far.

I was in my room sprawled out on my bed reading through some high school material, trying to catch myself up on things I'd missed while attending Ilvermorny, when there was a light knock at my door and it opened quietly.

"Hey, Bells." Charlie stood awkwardly in the doorway, "Big day tomorrow."

"Yeah. I hope I'm ready." I played with the pencil in my hands, "I feel like I'm really behind."

"Nah, Bells. You're the smartest person I know. You'll do great." I rolled my eyes as Charlie kissed the top of my head. "Well, I'm off to bed. Don't go to bed too late."

"Okay, Dad. Goodnight."

"Night, Bells."

The next morning I got ready in a rush. I hadn't taken Charlies advice and I'd stayed up a little too late studying. So I just threw on some clothes and quickly brushed my teeth and hair before I was out the door.

I'd never been much in the fashion department but I liked the way I dressed. It was practical and comfortable, my favorite things. As I locked up the front door I glanced down at what I'd blindly thrown together and was surprised it didn't look too bad. A flannel, black winter jacket and some skinny jeans with my old, worn Chucks. Though, now that I thought about it, I did kind of look a bit like a teenage boy.

I chuckled and shook my head as I made my way down the front steps, moving slowly hoping I wouldn't slip on the icy concrete. Charlie's cruiser was already gone so the only car left was my new truck, well, new to me. Charlie had purchased it from his friend Billy and his son, Jake who'd been working on it all summer in time for my arrival.

When they'd come to drop it off we'd had an awkward reintroduction. I felt bad not really remembering Jake, but he said he'd been really young when I'd been around so, I guess I was forgiven. The old Chevy wasn't the nicest, in fact it was truly ancient and rusty; the old red paint chipping off liberally.

But it was mine.

The engine started with a roar, my heart jumped at the sudden blast of noise and the gear groaned in protest as I put it into drive and headed off to my first day as a Junior at Forks High School.