What was I going to do? Everything I thought I knew, is completely wrong. Last week I was a normal high school girl, a month away from graduating with my boyfriend and friends. Worried about what college I was going to get into, and deciding to move away or stay close to home. I didn't even know who I could talk to, who would believe me? Before I knew it, I was outside Bella's house. I don't even remember the drive over, or making a conscious decision to come here.
Would she think I was crazy, or would she believe me? I'm not even sure if I haven't gone crazy. I have to trust my subconscious, it brought me here for a reason. I climb out of the car, and walk up to the porch. Before I can psych myself up to knock on the door, Bella comes barrelling out of it with her arms full of things and a lighter. "Angela?"
"Hi. I didn't know where else to go." The words just spilling out of my mouth, and all I could do was hope that my voice wasn't shaky. I knew I failed, when Bella dropped everything she was holding by the side of the door. She grabbed my hands, and brought me inside. She waved me to the couch, before making her way into the kitchen. I could hear her moving around, closing cabinets and liquid pouring in cups.
I was immediately glad that I came here, instead of Jessica. Though Jessica has been my friend since grade school, she would ask a million and one questions the second she saw me on her doorstep. When Bella moved her, I knew I had found someone just like me. A quiet supporter, someone who didn't spread or listen to rumors. We lived purely by the facts presented to us, and minded our own business.
After the whole Edward breaking up with her, and her getting lost in the woods. Everyone was so ready to make up their own stories about what actually happened. So quick to push Bella's side, when she refused to talk about any of it. I came over after school, to just sit with her so she knew she wasn't alone. I wasn't sure if it helped at the time, but Bella's silent support was helping me a whole lot right now. "Here, I had heated up some water earlier for tea. I'm just glad it was still hot, I had forgotten all about it."
"Thanks, it smells good." Breathing in the steam from the hot cup of tea, helped me relax even more. It smelled sweet, almost fruity, with lavender mixed in. I took a sip, and immediately felt more centered. We sat in silence for a few minutes, just taking a few sips of our tea. When I finally found the courage to open up about why I was here. "Honestly, I don't know how I even got here. I've been feeling so lost lately, and today it just became too much."
"Well, I know exactly how it feels to feel lost, mentally and physically. You know you're always welcome here, even if there isn't a reason. You were here for me, during my zombie stage. You never gave up on me, and you were my one constant through it all with my dad." Wow! She's making me want to cry. To know that the little bit I was able to do, actually made a difference. I knew in time, she would have been okay. She just needed a support system, and though her dad cared, he wasn't good at sharing his emotions.
I was alway shy, but I was observant. I might not know what Bella and Edward's relationship was like when they were alone. But what I was able to see, from when we were at school. He was controlling. I wouldn't put it past him, to take Bella out into the woods to break up with her. Knowing she wasn't good with direction, so she would get lost. That's a horrible thought, and I hope I'm wrong. One day, maybe Bella would confide in someone, about what really happened that day. For now, it was time for me to confide in her what's been going on with me. "I'm glad that I was even the slightest bit of help, when you needed it. And I'm sad to say, I think I might need yours now."
She asked what I needed, and that she would do absolutely anything she could to help me. Taking another sip of my tea, before telling her everything I could. "Last Friday, I spent time helping my mom cleaning out the basement. While she was grabbing the twins a snack, I found an old chest filled with presents with my name on them. I had never seen them before, and I was afraid to ask my mom about it. So, I grabbed the smallest one, stuffing it in my sweatshirt pocket. Before putting the chest in a hidden crawl space behind the stairs."
I paused there, taking a minute to sip my tea. It really was keeping my nerves in control, so I could get through this. Honestly, Bella being so patient and not asking questions was really helpful too. Even though I knew she had plenty of them, just like I did myself. "When mom came back down, I was already working on a different side of the room from where I found the chest. I didn't want her to think, I might have found it. We spent the next hour or so taking boxes up to mom's truck, so she could take it for donation at the church. We called it a day, when she needed to start getting dinner ready. Her and dad were dropping the boys off at a friend's sleepover, before heading off to a church meeting that night. I had the house to myself after dinner, and I used that time to psych myself up to open the gift."
I tell her about finally finding the courage to open it, and finding a wooden jewelry box that had the tree of life carved into it, along with a letter and the ring I have been wearing since that night. I show her the ring on my finger, and we both admire the nice sized labradorite and smaller moonstone gems. It's simple gold wiring wrapped around it gave it a simple elegance, and I loved it. "It's from my maternal grandparents, sent to me for my 18th birthday. It was my great-grandmother's on my grandfather's side, which was gifted to her by her father."
"Why would your mom hide that from you?" Bella couldn't hold it in any longer, and I couldn't blame her. I wanted to know that too. All my life, I was told that they had died while my mom was still in college before she had met my dad. Was it all a lie? Did my dad know? If they knew about me, did they know about my brothers? And if they did know about them, were their presents?
I had so many questions, but no answers. The letter didn't tell me anything, except that they were alive and loved me. Where were they? "You have to understand, I never knew my mom's parents. She always told me that they died, while she was still in college before she met my dad. I've been so afraid to ask my parents about any of it. But that isn't the only strange thing about all of this."
"What do you mean?" Bella looked like she couldn't fathom something stranger, than finding out the grandparents you thought were dead your whole life weren't. And that your parents lied, and hid anything to do with them away from you.
Normally I would agree with her train of thought, but ever since I put this ring on. Things have been happening, and this is the part that I'm afraid will make her think I am crazy. So, taking a deep breath I dive right in. "That night after I put the ring on, while I was sleeping I had this really vivid dream. It was Ben and I, he was telling me he got into M.I.T.; and that he thought it would be better for us both if we broke up. He didn't want any distractions, and he knew I didn't apply to anywhere close to Massachusetts. That he loved me, but he didn't see a long distance relationship lasting. I was so hurt, but I held my head high. The dream continued to show him, going on a date with a girl from the La Push reservation a couple of days later. When I woke up, I had tears flowing down my face, I could barely breathe. I was so hurt that our relationship meant so little to him."
"It was just a dream though, Ben could get in somewhere else and you guys won't break up. It's probably just your subconscious, worrying about college acceptance. The waiting is nerve wracking, and it was just affecting your dreams." I knew she was trying to rationalize it all, I had done the same thing. No matter how real it felt, it was just a dream. Nothing would come of it, and everything would be alright. Until yesterday, when that dream became my reality.
"Bella, Ben and I broke up last night. The exact same way, as in my dream. The words were verbatim, to what was said in my dream. What we were wearing was the same, everything was the same. If my dream is right, he will be out on his date tomorrow night in Port Angeles." I tell her, with a small shrug of my shoulder. Not knowing what else I could say about it. I was more worried that she thought I was crazy, and wouldn't believe me. "I had another dream, that you and I got our acceptance letters today. I was undecided on what to do, but once you looked through yours you knew where you were going. But you were also angry, because you didn't apply to some of the schools that you got accepted into."
Bella looked angry, and I knew from the dream that it was because Edward had applied for her. What neither of us knew, is if it was before or after he already left. Either way it showed how much of a controlling ass he was, not taking into consideration what Bella wanted. Bella didn't have to say anything, I could see how controlling he was while they were at school. Alice was the same way, when it came to dressing Bella up, everyone who even remotely knows her, knows she hates shopping. "Well, before we get ahead of ourselves. The best thing you can do is ask your mom about your grandparents. You deserve to know why she's lied to you all your life."
"I don't think I can stay at home, knowing that she's hidden all of this from me. What else has she lied about?" I knew Bella was right, but what was I supposed to do when I couldn't even trust my own family? If by chance my dad and brothers knew nothing about any of this, how was I supposed to hide my anger and hurt from them? It wasn't my place to tell them about all of my mothers lies, she had to be the one to do all that. But would she? That was something for me to think about later, after I confronted her.
"You can stay here, I will let dad know you will be sleeping over. If our acceptance letters are actually arriving today, then I will tell him we want to pick through them together. You know he loves you, he practically thinks of you as another daughter." She wasn't wrong, I spent more time with her and Charlie then I do my own family. With the exception of when my parents need me to take care of the twins, with being twelve years apart from them. I took care of them alot, due to my parents always busy with the church. The twins were a big surprise, when mom fell pregnant with them.
We talked a little bit longer, about what I should grab before coming back over. We both decided that I needed to bring the chest with me, along with my acceptance letters if they arrived before I left. Which, I knew they would. I would bring enough clothes for the weekend, and if I planned to stay longer we would grab more stuff after school on Monday. I tried to offer to clean our cups from tea, but she knew I was stalling. So, I bit the bullet and headed home to confront my mom.
I was lucky that she wasn't home, because it meant I could get the chest out of the basement and into my car without her knowing and trying to stop me. As I was putting the chest in my trunk, the mail man pulled up to the mailbox. We waved to one another, and I raced down the driveway to grab the mail from him. "Hi Miss Angela, a few of these look real promising."
"Thank you Tim, I can't wait to open them. Have a good rest of the day!" He wishes me the same, before he is off to the next house. As I walked back into the house, I picked out everything that had my name on it. I put the rest of the mail on the kitchen table, for running upstairs to fill a bag full of clothes. I packed enough clothes to get through Monday, in another bag I made sure I had everything I needed for school including my mail. I quickly run both bg to my car, and lock it before going back into the house to wait for my mom's arrival.
I kept the letter that came with my ring, as proof to my mother that she had lied to me. Honestly I hoped there was a good reason to keep this all a secret, but ever since I found this ring I had a feeling there truly wasn't. I think she's hiding us, and it made me wonder if they even knew about my brothers. Before I could think too much about it, I heard my mom getting out of her car. "Oh Angela, just who I was hoping to see. Do you think you could watch your brothers this weeked? The Choir director has come down with something, and I need to cover for her."
"Why did you tell me that your parents were dead? All this time they've been alive, they have been sending me presents for my birthday and holidays. You obviously told them about me, how else did they know about me to send me things. Do they know about the twins? Does dad know about all of this?" I asked her, not even caring about her question. I know I wouldn't be able to, because I will be staying at the Swan's.
She stopped everything she was doing, and for a split second I saw a terrified look on her face. She stood taller, readying herself for a fight. She turned to look directly at me, and she looked angry. "You have no right to be questioning me, I'm your mother. As far as I'm concerned they died, once I got to college and that's all that matters. I should have gotten rid of those gifts, the second they arrived. But I promised that stupid sister of mine, that I wouldnt."
"You have a sister?"
