Chapter 3 — Timeskip: 15 years later
I am now 20 years old and today Bella is going to be born.
Two years ago, Charlie met Renee. They had apparently been an old fling in high school but broke up. Now decades later, they reconnected and married a year after.
Over past 15 years, I finished school and graduated from high school which I had to unpleasantly repeat again due to the reincarnation. In my new life I decided, though, to join university as I never had chance to do that in my previous life. I have just graduated from Denali University where I majored in Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Business, Spanish, Italian and History. In my past life, I took up karate, boxing and Taekwondo. I wanted to prepared, so every morning I meditated and I took up other martial arts and have now mastered Kun Fu, Jujutsu, Aikido, Tai Chi and Kendo to strength my body, enchance my flexibility, reaction timing and my mental shield. I now stand 6 feets tall and have developed lean and strong body with a six-pack but not ripped.
I was never a social butterfly and never really made friends with the peers. However, I became friends with most of the adults in Forks. I spent a lot of my free-time at La Push's Beach. It was there, Charlie taught me to swim when I was eight and I rediscovered my joy and passion of swimming. I also learned surfing but I mostly related to swimming.
Apparently, my mother, Nora Black, was the older sister to Billy Black from La Push. Charlie had been good friends with Billy before he married Nora, this friendship had been strengthened by the marriage. I often visited Billy and Sarah Black and babysat their two small girls, Rachel and Rebecca Black. I also became good friends with Sue and Harry Clearwater. I often went on fishing and camping trips with my Dad, Billy and Harry. They taught me to fish, go hunting, read a map and the environment around me if I ever was to be lost, and use a compas. My Dad, Charlie, taught me how to shoot, gun safety and how to assemble a gun. In the summers, I earned money by selling the fish, I caught, to the locals. I also made money by wood carving, Harry taught me how to carve and make tradition Quileute furniture.
As I am sitting outside the hospital room, I wonder what I should. I had plenty of opportunities but there was one job that I have wanted more than anyting. I wanted to 'join' the navy. I had the skills and wanted to protect our country.
'Aaaaaaaah! Aaaaaah!' broke my thoughts and then silence. Doors were opened, and Dad showed a smiling face. 'Come in Vic and see your new little sister.' (Author's note: Vic will be a nickname for Victoria.)
I went inside the hospital room where Renee had delivered Bella. Renee looked exhausted but had a smiling, proud face, holding little Bella in her tired arms. She was so small with little brown hair like Dad. I was allowed to hold her, and as I stood carrying her, I could not stop but feeling proud over my littlesister.
The next days, Dad and Renee focused over Bella, especially Renee. However, I started to notice, how Renee would become distant. Sometimes, I would wake up in the middle of the night and hear her and Dad argue.
I caught 'hate Forks', 'move' and 'take Bella'. I tried to diffuse the situation and prevent Renee from taking Bella and move out, unsuccessfully. The next day, Renee had packed her suitcases and a babybag for Bella and told Dad, Charlie, that she would send the divorce papers. She rang a cab and left. Charlie was devastated. His wife had left him and had taken Bella. I called for reinforcement, the Blacks and Clearwaters promised to be there within 10 minutes. Gently, I tried to comfort him and told him that he should not accept this behaviour. He should fight for the custody of Bella. Harry and Billy said the same and while Sarah and Sue told him what a great father and husband he was and he should not blame himself.
A month later at the courthouse, Renee won the custody but Charlie had visting rights and Bella could visit him whenever she wanted.
It was after the settlement of the divorce and Bella's custody, I told Dad that I wanted to do something meaningful and protect our country. I wanted to join the Navy. Dad looked at me and asked, 'Believe me when I say that I understand that you want to do something meangful and protect our country. I wanted to do that too when I was your age and joined the police force. But why do you have to join the Navy? Why can't you join the police force?' Dad's voice began to tremble and he had moist eyes.
'Dad, I am proud of the police force, what they do and what you have done … I would be honoured to follow you in your steps … but I want to create my own path, my own career and my own legacy. I want to join the Navy because I have always loved the sea and the job appeal to me. Please, Dad I want your blessing and support to join the Navy. I would do it no matter what but I would prefer with your blessing and support.' I told him honestly, a bit scared of his reply.
You could have heard a pin drop. Dad broke the silence first. 'I see. You are an adult and can make your own decisions but I appreciate that you ask me first. I believe that you do have what it takes to join the Navy and you can take of yourself. You are a strong, intelligent and cunnning woman. Go out and show the navy how the Swans do it.' He was now smiling at me.