(Here is Chapter 2. Hope you guys enjoy it! Have a great day! I own nothing but my OCs.)
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"What time did you say her flight was landing?" Danielle asked as she and her Dad waited by the doors of the airport for Bella to arrive.
It was a particularly chilly day and even in her insulated windbreaker jacket, Dani was shivering.
"Any minute now." Dad glanced at his watch then look back towards the arrival gate. Dani blew into her hands to warm them up.
As she was reaching to pull her knit hat down to cover her ears, Dani felt her cellphone vibrate and fumbled through her purse.
She answered quickly when she saw the caller ID flash across the screen.
"Hello?"
"Hi Danielle, it's Mom. Has Bella landed yet?" The soft airy voice of her Mother floated through the earpiece making Dani smile.
Although she isn't able to see her Mom for more than once or twice a year during the holidays, Dani relished every chance to get to talk to her especially since it didn't happen often with her Stepdad's vigorous baseball schedule.
"Hi Mom. No not yet, but Dad said she should be showing up any minute now. How are you?" Dani asked, leaning against the window despite how cold the glass was.
"Oh I'm fine...you know Phil's got another practice tonight and a game next week. With any luck we might make actually make it to the playoffs this season. How about you and Dad? Is he still scaring away all the boys?" Mom asked, giggling a bit though Dani didn't miss the soft sniffling sounds she was most likely trying to hide.
Dani laughed too.
"We're doing good. Dad still goes fishing every once and again, and I'm still taking violin lessons. And yeah, so far the only guys Dad doesn't try to intimidate are my friends from the Rez." She responded, hearing her Dad snort from the driver's seat of the patrol car.
"I think it's because he knows all their Dads and Granddads." Dani added with a grin.
"Well what about that really nice boy who was in that picture you sent me of you that one time? Jack? Or Jamie? You two look really cute together." Mom pressed and Dani rolled her eyes, blushing and sighing even though every conversation she'd had with her Mom since she turned fourteen always went in this direction.
"His name's Jacob. And he's just a friend." She insisted.
"Well he could be more than a friend you let him. Just like me and Phil." Mom countered easily, her tone wheedling. Dani groaned.
"Mom, he's my best friend. I don't want to ruin that." She pleaded twirling a piece of her hair around her finger as she straightened in her seat.
"Well all right. I'll just keep dreaming then and keep my fingers crossed." Mom chuckled. Dani sank down in her seat. "Moooom..." She groaned.
"All right. All right. I'll stop." Mom relented. Dani started to breathe in relief. "Thank you."
"Oh hey before I forget Honey, make sure you remind Bella to call or email me as soon as you guys get back home. I told her before she went to catch her flight in Phoenix, but remind her okay?" Mom suddenly changed the subject. Dani did not straighten her posture.
"Sure Mom." She nodded and looked up when her Dad tapped her on the head. "Here she comes." He muttered nodding in the direction of the airport.
Dani shoved herself up to a full upright position and peered out the window towards the doors where a crowd of people were quickly exiting towards the pick up lane.
Straggling along somewhere in the middle of the crowd was a young girl about Dani's height with the same dark brown hair and pale skin as Dani carrying a single yellow duffel bag over one shoulder.
Dani beamed when she saw her and reached to open the passenger side door of her Dad's patrol car.
"Mom, Bella just got outside. I have to hang up now okay?" She spoke into the mouthpiece of her phone, awkwardly sliding out of the car onto the sidewalk to meet her sister.
Dad was close behind her.
"Okay. Talk to you later then Sweetie. I love you." Mom answered quickly and Dani smiled. "Love you too Mom." She quickly hung up the phone just as Dad passed her.
"Hey Bells, good to see you again. Enjoy the plane ride?" Dad asked a bit awkwardly as he wrapped Bella into a short hug. Danielle hung back a bit, knowing how much her sister hated too much sudden attention even though she was just as happy as Dad was that Bella was here.
Bella hadn't changed much from the last time she'd visited. Her hair was still long and she still had the same pasty white skin complexion that totally contradicted the fact that she lived in Phoenix all her life.
At least she had the sense to remember to wear something less permeable to Forks. Danielle honestly wouldn't have been surprised if she left more than half of her Phoenix wardrobe behind since most of it would do her no good here.
"Yeah, it was great...Danielle! Hey! How are you doing?...It's been awhile." Bella shook her head, smiling though Dani could see her stuffing her hands into the pockets of her thin hoodie.
Oh yeah, she's definitely a Phoenix Girl.
"I'm doing good. What about you? I can't believe you're still so white after all that time in Phoenix." Danielle joked, knowing Bella would get it. She's been getting pale kid jokes almost all her life and Dani made this particular one every time Bella came to Forks.
Honestly Danielle would probably get them too if she lived in Phoenix, but with Forks' usually overcast and rainy climate, she had more of an excuse than her sister did.
"Ha Ha." Bella rolled her eyes and tried to flip her hair out of her eyes. "Come on Danielle, that joke is so old. Besides is that really all I get from my other half after all this time?" She asked slowly holding out her arms in a kinda awkward way since Bella almost never initiates hugs.
Not even with her sister.
Danielle giggled and met her halfway anyway. "Of course not, but you know I always have to mess with you first. That's what big sisters do." She and Bella hugged briefly then they let go as if something had shocked them.
"Mom called by the way. She wants you to email her or call her as soon as we get home." Dani grinned and Bella rolled her eyes good-humoredly.
"Of course she did. I wouldn't be surprised if she already sent me five emails in a row." She sighed. Dani giggled.
"Well, it's good to have you back again Bella." Danielle said really meaning it, even though she still wasn't 100 percent looking forward to sharing her tiny bedroom or the one bathroom in the house.
It felt nice to be the Swan sisters again like it was when they were kids and she and Bella visited each other more often. Bella smiled back.
"It's good to be back. And you're only older by five minutes." She looked from Danielle to Dad then back at her sister again. "I can't wait to see what you've done with our room."
"You mean what he did with our room." Danielle nodded at thier Dad who sighed and rolled his eyes a bit.
"Come on Dani, you make it sound like I performed a demolition project. All I did was put in a bunkbed and a dresser." He huffed as he led the way back to the car.
Bella looked concerned at what he said. "Wow, I didn't think that room had enough space for a dresser. What did you do? Knock out a wall Dad?" She asked.
Danielle laughed dryly at that. "Yeah I wish. He moved my bookcase out into the hall to get the dresser in." She crossed her arms and flopped down into the back seat of the car. Bella climbed in next to her dropping her bag on the floor.
"What?" Bella's eyes bulged from their sockets. "Just out into the hall. I knew you both would throw a fit if I moved it too far from the bedroom so..." Dad trailed off and got back into the driver's side to start the car.
Bella seemed to relax a bit at that.
"I figured Dani's closet would be too small to hold both of your clothes. So I got a cheap refurbished old bureau from a second hand store and set it up for you." Dad continued.
Dani turned to gauge her sister's reaction. "Oh...sounds great Dad. Uh..." Bella shook her head with a half smile on her face as if searching for the right words to say.
Dani sighed and rolled her eyes. "Just wait till you see how we painted it. I made sure to pick out the colors since I know what you can't stand." She smirked slightly and Bella grinned back.
"I'm sure it's great." She responded, leaning against the window as if suddenly finding the gray Washington traffic fascinating.
Dani turned to face forward in her own seat as Dad eased off the brake. "Speaking of things to see at home..." He trailed off and adjusted the rearview mirror before finishing.
"I found a good car for you, Bella. Really cheap." He announced making Bella look away from the window to him again.
Dani saw her eyes narrow in suspicion through her peripherals and concealed a grin. "What kind of car?" Bella asked as Dad pulled into the freeway.
Dad shrugged and ran his fingers through his hair. "Well, it's a truck actually. A Chevy."
"You'll love it." Dani put in, nodding her head for emphasis. Bella still didn't look convinced. "Where did you guys find it?" She asked.
"You remember Billy Black down at La Push?" Dad asked and Dani looked at her sister expectantly. Slowly Bella shook her head.
"He used to go fishing us during the summer. You and Dani used to play with his boy in the mud while we fished." Dad tried.
Dani chuckled. "Remember that time we were making mud pies and then Jake got us with a huge mud bomb? We were so mad." She reminisced though Bella didn't laugh with her. Nor did she seem to remember who Jake or Billy was.
"No...that was like...years ago...wasn't it?" Bella tried, frowning as the car went over a pothole.
Dani shrugged. "I guess it was."
"The point is, Billy is in a wheelchair now and he can't drive anymore. He offered to sell me his truck cheap after I told him you were coming down." Dad continued.
Bella sighed as if taking in this information. "What year is it?" She asked carelessly. Dani noted the tension crossing her Dad's expression at the question.
"Um well...Billy and Jacob have done a lot of work on the engine. It's only a few years old really and-."
"When did he buy it?" Bella interrupted.
Dad sighed. "He bought it in 1984 I think."
"New?" Bella pressed. Dani snorted with laughter. "Not likely. The thing is ancient."
"It's not ancient." Dad retorted, giving his other daughter a pointed look through the mirror. "I'd say the model was new around the early sixties or late fifties at least." He said with a sheepishness to his tone.
"Ancient." Dani repeated with a grin.
Bella's face fell. "Ch-...Dad, I don't really know anything about cars or...I wouldn't be able to fix it if something happened and who knows how much a mechanic will cost." She shook her head.
Dani reached over and grabbed her arm. "Don't worry about that. Remember I mentioned Jake in La Push? He's really good with cars and I'm sure he'd be happy to help with repairs if you need it. Especially since you're my sister." She smiled.
Bella smiled back, but her eyebrows raised in a suggestive manner. "What, are you two like...like a thing now or...?" She asked, inclining her head towards her Twin slightly.
Dani's smile fell at that. "What? No! Don't be ridiculous Bella. We've just been friends for forever and he's really good with automechanics. I know for a fact his rates will be much cheaper than any regular shop in town." She answered, folding her arms across her chest.
Bella raised an eyebrow at her. "Okay sure." She nodded her head, a conspirational smile on her face. Dani decided to ignore her.
"So...how cheap is the truck Dad?" Bella asked, refocusing her attention. "I only have so much saved for a car." Dad smiled a bit at her through the rearview mirror as he took an exit off the highway.
"Well you don't have to worry about that Bells, because I already bought it for you. As a homecoming gift." Dad responded.
Bella looked surprised as if she never expected something like this. "Oh...Wow I...you didn't need to do that, Ch...Dad. I was going to buy myself a car when I got here." She muttered.
Dani glanced at her when she heard her sister almost call their Dad by his first name again. It was something neither of them were allowed to do since Dad didn't like it, though Bella seemed to have a hard time remembering that rule.
"I don't mind." Dad shrugged as if he hadn't heard anything amiss. "I want you to be happy here. And so does Dani." He glanced back at Dani.
Bella's smile widened and she turned to meet her sister's gaze. "That's really nice of you guys. Thanks. I really appreciate it." She responded.
Dad cleared his throat as if embarrassed by Bella's show of gratitude. "Well now, you're welcome." He mumbled, clearing his throat again.
Dani released her grip on Bella's arm. "The truck," She said in a low voice gaining her sister's attention. "is really Dad's welcoming gift. I have one I prepared all on my own for you in our bedroom. Something to remind you of Phoenix." She said with a smile.
Bella hesitated for a minute then smiled back. "Thanks Dani." She looked back out the window. Dani sank back into her seat.
...
"Here we are. Home sweet home!" Dad said with not as much enthusiasm as he might as he pushed open the front door of the house.
Bella and Dani walked in after him and immediately made a beeline for the stairs that led up to the bedrooms and the only bathroom in the house.
Bella was smiling a bit since she had just seen the truck and had liked it even more than Dani had expected her to upon seeing the large rusted red vehicle.
Of course Dani knew that Bella was happiest because having the truck meant she didn't have to walk or rely on Dad's patrol car tomorrow when the Swan Sisters went to school together for the first time.
Then again anyone would be happy about not showing up to their first day of school in a parade of blinking blue and white lights.
"Wow.." Bella gaped as she stepped into the bedroom she and Dani had shared during her childhood visits to Forks, which they were now going to be sharing permanently.
"I like the dresser." She said finally, letting her eyes glaze over the light blue and silver painted wood. Dani shrugged a shoulder.
"Yeah well, my present is over on the desk by the bunk." She made a vague gesture with her arm before looking down at her sister's duffel bag.
"Do you want me to help you unpack or something? I know you've got to be a little tired after being on the plane for so long." Dani offered. Bella shook her head and let her bag slide down to the floor.
"Nah, that's okay. I don't have a lot to put away." She started to walk towards the bunkbed and tripped when her foot caught on her duffel bag strap.
Dani unsuccessfully tried to stifle her giggles and Bella blushed furiously. "I meant to do that." She said awkwardly. Dani shrugged a shoulder. "Whatever you say." She followed her sister further into the room just as Bella discovered the little potted cactus on the desk that they would also be sharing.
"Aww..thanks Dani." Bella turned back around to smile gratefully at her twin with the plant in her hands.
Dani shrugged. "It was nothing. I'll uh, leave you to unpack then and go get started on dinner." She pointed at the door and left the room, meeting her Dad in the living room near the kitchen.
"Back downstairs already? I thought the two of you would be...you know, having a little unpacking party together." Dad said a bit awkwardly as he followed Danielle into the kitchen where she immediately opened the refrigerator.
"She said she doesn't need any help with unpacking. Besides," She pulled her head out of the fridge and grinned at her Dad. "Someone needs to get dinner started before you starve." Dani giggled and carried a head of iceberg lettuce and a half-eaten bag of Kale to the counter.
Dad rolled his eyes at this. "I was going to just order us a pizza for tonight since it's Bella's homecoming today." Dani shook her head. "Dad, you can't keep eating like that. It's not good for you. You're not a teenager anymore you know." She chided lightly, chopping up the vegetables slightly before tossing them into a strainer.
Dad sighed. "Yeah yeah I know Dani. You've been telling me since you were thirteen." He moved to stand next to his daughter and inspected the food. Dani laughed.
"So what are we having tonight then?" Dad asked. Danielle shrugged. "Just a salad with the catfish you caught the other day with Mr. Black. I'm thinking I'll pan fry them to save time." She answered.
Dad made a sort of satisfied grunting sound. "Sounds great." He turned to leave the kitchen just as the sound of someone walking down the stairs sounded above them.
"What are you making?" Bella asked from the entrance of the kitchen, making Dani look up from the freezer where she was pulling out the catfish and setting them on a microwave safe dish.
"Pan-fried catfish with a salad." Dani shrugged, getting up and moving across the kitchen to get to the old microwave oven next to the stove.
Bella followed her. "Can I...help with anything?" She asked, looking about awkwardly even though she usually knew exactly what to do in the kitchen.
Dani nodded. "Sure. Can you rinse out the veggies for the salad? There should also be some carrots and tomatoes in the fridge too. Second drawer I think?" She responded turning from the catfish as she hastily arranged the pieces on the plate before sliding it into the microwave to defrost.
Bella nodded back and moved to look in the small refrigerator their Dad had owned since he first bought the house after getting married.
For awhile the sisters worked in a comfortable companionable silence.
Both simultaneously looking forward to and slightly anxious of what the school day tomorrow would bring for both of them.
...
