"You guys, come on. I love you two. We got a plane to catch." I heard Phil say. Phil is my step-father… sort of. I was adopted by Renee and Charlie Swan in Forks, Washington when I was a baby, a year after she divorced from Charlie. I still consider Charlie to be a father figure to me. I would visit him every summer with my younger sister, Bella, but I haven't seen him in a while. Forks was dreary, cold, constantly misting or drizzling, everything was covered in a layer of dew like a monsoon just tore through.
I turned around towards Bella, Phil, and my mom. The three of them were waiting by the car, while I was staring at the house. I signed, took one last look at the only home I have ever known before walking towards the car. Phil took the driver's seat, my mom was riding shotgun, with my sister and I taking the back.
"You know, you can still stay home with me." My mom turned around in her seat to tell me. Her sincere smile filled my heart with sunshine, but Bella's words echoed through my head. "Mom just got married, we need to let her be with Phil."
"I want to stay with Bella. Besides, in September I'll be going to college anyway." I said with a nod. Bella looked up from her book to smile at me. Mom patted me on my leg, by now the car was moving down the houses in our neighborhood. I was accepted to Carmichael University in Chicago.
"I can't believe I'm going to miss the rest of your senior year." Mom said with a longing in her voice, looking at me with a sort of melancholy, but still cheerful smile. Bella looked up from her book to warn me. "I know you want to stay in Phoenix, but Mom's happiness comes first."
"Don't worry about me mom, we'll both keep you updated." I said, Bella once again looked up and nodded. My face fell when my mom looked away. The rest of the car ride was sat mostly in silence until we pulled up to the airport.
"Ok my lovelies, here are both of your boarding passes, make sure you check in your bags and go through security. Oh, I'll miss you guys so much." Mom said as she handed us our boarding passes.
"Mom, don't worry we'll be fine." Bella said, slightly exasperated, but appreciative, by Mom's worry. Bella wrapped her arms around her and squeezed her tightly. When they broke away, Mom smiled as I walked towards her for a hug. We waved goodbye before walking into the crowded airport.
Bella and I attempted to weave our way to bag check-in (which took forever because we had so many bags), then security (which took even longer), before finally our gate which had a plane going to the wrong airport.
"Wait a minute, Louis Armstrong International! That's not in Washington!" I exclaimed as I read the electronic screen.
"Oh, sorry, Lizzy. Our gate is F14, not E14." Bella said nervously, stuttering and looking around trying to find our gate. "There it is, William R. Fairchild International." Bella gestured to a gate that was a good long walk away. I groaned, we both picked up our carry-ons and after trying to get through the crowded airport, we sat down at our correct gate, thirty minutes before our boarding call.
"Boarding rows thirteen through twenty, thirteen through twenty may now enter the plane for the flight to Port Angeles." Called a female voice over the loudspeaker after thirty two minutes of waiting.
"Come on, that's us." Bella said as she stuffed her book in her carry-on and pulled me out of my seat. Bella and I walked into the plane, found our seats, and sat down. Ever since this morning it has been nothing but waiting, going from point A to point B. Still, after even more waiting, the plane took off, and we were in the air for three hours. Bella read her book, Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, while I listened to music on my iPod.
Three hours later, the plane landed, and Bella and I made our way off of the plane as we walked to baggage claim. However, when we got there, a tall man with dark hair and a bushy mustache was holding all of our bags. The man turned around and waved at us.
"Uh, Bella, Lizzy, it's great to see you two again." Charlie said when we were standing face to face with him. There was a long awkward pause of Bella standing there, nodding, me looking at the floor. "I have a car outside."
"That's really thoughtful of you, Charlie." I said, looking at him with a smile. He smiled back at me, but Bella was still looking away. Before I knew it, Charlie was driving, I was in the backseat, with Bella riding shotgun. Charlie put our bags in the trunk which was such a relief. I have no idea why Bella was so aloof, Charlie seemed great.
"Your hair's longer." Charlie said to Bella, I looked up from my iPod. It had been an hour since he said anything, and we were just entering the town of Forks. Just as I remember, steeped in clouds, mist, and dew. Pine trees surrounded the quaint buildings.
"I cut it since the last time I saw you." Bella said.
"Oh, guess it grew out again." Charlie said, and a little while later he was pulling into the driveway. I tried to get to the trunk, but Charlie got there first and was hauling our bags into the house. "I cleared some shelves in the bathroom." Charlie said.
"Oh right. One bathroom." Bella said, as she entered her room. I was standing alone in the hall until Charlie left Bella's room.
"Ok, Lizzy your room is there." Charlie said, pointing to another door down the hall.
"Thank you, Charlie, for everything." I said with a small smile.
"No problem," Charlie said, then there was a car honking outside. "Get situated, I'll be back in a minute." I opened the door to my room. It was just as I remembered, the guest room I stayed in during summers past. Barren pale blue walls, with a plain white full size bed in the corner. Not much, but I was finally able to relax.
I looked out of my bedroom window to see Bella talking to a boy with black, shoulder length hair, russet skin, and high cheekbones. I also saw Charlie and an older man who looked very similar to Jacob in a wheelchair chasing each other around the damp street. A red truck was parking in our driveway. They were eerily familiar, and that's when it hit me. Mr. and Jacob Black. I ran out of my bedroom, sprinted down the stairs and opened the front door.
"It's getting worse with old age." I overheard Jacob saying as I walked next to Bella. Jacob turned towards me and his jaw dropped with a smile. "Lizzy! Charlie didn't tell me you were coming too!" Jacob exclaimed.
"Yeah, I wasn't going to leave my sister behind. Didn't you two make mud pies together when you were like… four?" I asked. Jacob looked like he was about to say something, but then Mr. Black wheeled next to Jacob.
"So, girls, what do you two think?" Charlie asked, placing a hand on the red truck.
"What?" I asked.
"Your homecoming present!" Charlie said, "To share might I add."
"This?" Bella asked, looking up and down the red truck.
"Just bought it off of Billy, here." Charlie said, giving Mr. Black a pat on the shoulder.
"I totally rebuilt the engine." Jacob said with a proud nod and smile.
"This is awesome!" I exclaimed, looking at Charlie with a smile.
"Oh come on. Oh my gosh! This is perfect. You gotta be joking." Bella said, stuttering and fidgeting in her true Bella fashion.
"Um, how are the Clearwaters?" I asked as Bella climbed in our new truck. Leah Clearwater was probably my best friend during the few dreary summer weeks I spent here. I barely remember Seth, but Leah and I pretended to be his mothers when he was a baby. I saw Charlie and Billy look up at me. Jacob looked at his father and then back at me, his eyes wide with nerves.
"Uh, Harry suffered a heart attack, and Seth and Leah both phas… I mean caught this horrible stomach bug, they aren't taking any visitors." Jacob said, shifting, looking away from me. "But, um, Harry is in a stable condition, and Seth and Leah are having to adjust, but you should be able to see them in a week."
"Wow, that's a lot. I'm sorry, tell them I hope they all feel better." I said, trying to recover from the awkward conversation.
"It's completely fine, Lizzy, Seth and Leah were both very excited when they heard you were coming here. They'll be happy to hear from you." Billy said, his face was stern, unwavering, but still warm and friendly.
"Thank you." I said, nodding my head politely. Bella was looking at me, and gesturing for me to get into the truck. "Sorry, I have to go to school, but it was really great seeing you Mr. Black. You too, Jacob."
"Please, call me Billy." He said, I smiled before walking in front of the truck, climbing into the passenger seat.
"So glad they're back in town." I heard Charlie say before I closed the door.
"Next time, I drive." I said, as Bella started the truck. She looked at me, the corner of her lips curled into a smile as we pulled out of the driveway.