A/N: I apologize, there has been a lot going on personally. But I'm back, and I promise I'm working as fast as I can on the story. I've been super excited about this ever since I started it, and with that being said. I know I flagged this as Bella/Elijah and Angela/Klaus, but as I was working on how I wanted the story to go. I realized that I put them with the wrong people, so now we have Bella/Klaus and Angela/Elijah
"Girls, dinner was delicious. Thank you!" My dad praised us for the Chicken Pot Pies we had made for dinner, which I knew was his favorite. I had asked Bella if we could make it, after we had learned that my dad was coming over for dinner. They were able to find out some information concerning my mom's family. They refused to talk about it during dinner, so while we were eating. We told him and Charlie about our day in Port Angeles, and about Bella's new Dodge Challenger Convertible. She got it in black, with dark gray racing stripes.
Charlie had approved, though he was worried about how fast the car could go. But with how excited Bella was, he kept his worries to himself. I'm not sure what all Charlie had told my dad about what we learned from Bella last night. But I could tell, he told him enough where he didn't seem lost about the conversation. While we were telling them about the vinyl records, we had found at an antique store, they were cleaning up the dishes we had used. We had decided to not make dessert, since we still had plenty of cake left over from last night.
It's so delicious that dad needed to try it, especially since Bella didn't make it often from what I gathered. While she had found memories of the cake, she only made it when the time was right for it. According to Charlie, even growing up his mom had only made it once a year. Once our dads were done cleaning, we went into the family room. Bella and I sat on the couch, while our dads took a recliner each. "So, you guys made whatever you found like it was important. What is it?"
"As you know Charlie was able to find out that your mother's family is from New Orleans, while we couldn't find anything else. Bella's call to her grandmother for help in finding more about them was fruitful, she was able to find them near to her. Which was a big surprise for her as well, seeing as your grandmother is also Bella's grandmother's sister. We've learned that you are cousins." Bella and I were shocked to hear this, as it was not something we had ever expected. But it was definitely a nice surprise, knowing that part of the family that I have just started to search for was right next to me.
Bella and I grabbed onto each other's hands, squeezing tight to anchor us through it all. We always felt closer to each other, than to anyone else, especially in the last few months. Was this why? Bella seemed confused, and I wondered what she was thinking. I didn't have to wait long to find out, she was quick to voice her concerns. "If they are sisters, how come she didn't say anything to me this morning when I asked her to find them?"
"Bells, you remember the story your Gran used to tell you, about how her sister ran away to be with the man she loved. How great granddad forbade them from being together, not believing the man was good enough for her or the family. You're Gran never knew where they had gone, or even that they had married. They didn't move back to New Orleans, until after your Gran had married and moved here to Forks. They had no contact, until your Gran found her today." I think that's the most I had ever heard Charlie talk in one go, and it was nice to know a little bit more about our family.
It was a lot to take in, but it was nice to know that the women in our family are just as strong willed as we are. To know that when we find our true love, we will always fight for it. I knew that Charlie didn't give much detail, but I had one of my feelings telling me that I was right in my thoughts. I would have to see if Bella could tell me more of the story, but it could wait until later. "Have you talked to them? Did they tell you, why mom has lied to us about them?"
"Before your mom was to graduate, she learned that her older sister Sophia was getting family inheritance that she couldn't have. She was unhappy with this and felt betrayed by them. So, she chose to go to a college far away, and made the conscious effort to tell everyone she was an orphan whose family died before she had left for college. She refused to ever set foot in New Orleans again, claiming that the memories of her family were too hard for her to handle." I couldn't believe what I was hearing, she did all that because she was jealous of her older sister.
I knew that it wasn't the whole story, but it was close enough to the truth. I felt that I wouldn't truly know the real reasons behind my mother's jealousy, until I went to New Orleans. But this solidified my decision to go to school there, I needed to learn where I was from. And to get to know the family, that I was deprived of my whole life. I was just happy to know that I would have Bella by my side the whole way. Especially now, knowing we are cousins. That whatever we face, we will be doing it together as family.
"That's a lot to process, especially finding out that mom did what she did out of jealousy. I don't know how you would feel about it, but I would really like to get to know that side of my family. Learn where I come from and find myself away from mom really. I don't want to leave you, if you need me. But last night, when Uncle Charlie was with you. Bella and I went over all our acceptance letters, and we both were accepted to the University of New Orleans. And I want to accept their scholarship and go there in the fall. Unless you need me to be closer." I didn't want him to think I was leaving him, that I was trying to get away from him or my brothers.
That was the last thing I wanted, I still wanted to be close to them both. I just wanted to have the time to find out who I was, and I truly believed I would find who that is in New Orleans. But if my dad really needed me, I would stay and find a way to find who I was here in Washington. "Angela, I want you to do what is right for you, and if that means moving all the way to New Orleans then I want you to do just that. I know this week hasn't been the easiest for you but know that whatever you decide to do. I will always support you."
I started to tear up, and I got up to hug my dad tightly. A hug from him was exactly what I needed right now. While dad and I were hugging, Charlie looked at Bella trying to figure out if she had decided where she wanted to go to school herself. "I know it's not what you might want to hear, but I want to go to UNO with Angela. I love you, and I love the time we've had together. Even if part of it was marred by my relationship with Edward. I just have this feeling that I'm supposed to go to UNO. That my future is there, and it's where I will be my happiest. I do want you to visit me often though, and I promise that I will visit as often as I can."
"Your Gran always says that if you have a feeling, you should follow it. That it's the gods, showing you the way to your destiny. And she's never been wrong, and you have a lot more of her in you than I think I've ever really realized. I always knew that Forks was never going to be a permanent home for you, just like it wasn't for you Gran. She stayed if she could, but New Orleans was always calling her home. I kind of always knew, it was where you would end up one day." Next thing you know, Bella has jumped into Charlie's lap hugging him fiercely. Shocked by the show of emotion, he really wasn't all that great at showing it. But he hugged her back, just as fiercely.
One month later…
Today Bella and I were leaving for New Orleans, we had decided to make it a road trip. We were each going to be driving our own cars, and thanks to dad I would be doing it in style like Bella. Dad had gotten me a new car for graduation, and man was I shocked with what he chose. He had gotten me a brand new dark blue Ford Mustang Convertible, and it was beautiful. I hadn't been able to drive it with the top down yet, since it's been raining the last couple of days.
I still can't believe that just two days ago, Bella and I had finally graduated from Forks High. Honestly, we were both extremely happy about it. We couldn't wait to leave and see what New Orleans had to offer us. We already had a place to stay that was just ours, thanks to Bella's grandmother. Her parents had owned several properties all over New Orleans and would rent them out to whoever needed them. When we had mentioned that we wanted to stay together off campus, but we still would like to have our own personal space. Her grandmother told us she had the perfect place, and it was all ours for however long we wanted.
My aunt was even paying for us to get our bartending licenses, so that we could work at her restaurant. Charlie was a bit worried about us working in a bar, especially in one that was in a party central area throughout the year. But Bella and I were excited, this was a new adventure for us. A new life, which wasn't being held back by our mothers or ex-boyfriends. I knew my dad was worried as well, but he trusted that we would know what we were supposed to do.
I had been staying with Bella and Charlie for the last month, after mom's stay at the jail. She had accused me of ruining the life she had built and wanted me out of her house. Dad had told her that I didn't need to leave, and that it wasn't my fault. None of this would be happening, if she was just honest about her family. Mom had been so angry that dad was on my side, that she left to stay at a hotel. After she had left, I told dad it might be best if I stayed with Bella and Charlie. While they figured out what their next step was, I didn't want to be something that stopped them from possibly fixing what was now broken between them.
After a month of fighting, and mom being unrelenting about the lies she told. Dad didn't believe he could ever forgive her, or even trust anything she ever says to be true. Last week he had decided that it was enough and filed for divorce. They would have to go through a separation period and try mediation over the twins. But dad felt like this was the best option, as much as it would hurt now. It was better to end it, before it came to a point where all their marriage was left with was anger.
He didn't want that for them, and he definitely didn't want to set any kind of example. Of staying in a relationship, which had obviously met its end. If you can't trust someone anymore, it was better to leave before all there was hate and wariness left. Mom hasn't tried to talk to me, and when we did see each other around town it was cold shoulders and glares. I kept my distance, and she would spout that I was ungrateful. Sadly, that was what our relationship was now.
"Do you girls have everything?" Dad asked from behind me, as I was bent over in the trunk of my car. The twins run to me, hugging me around the hip. They had been sad that I was leaving, but I promised them that I would visit them before school started. Dad had even told them that they would make the trip to New Orleans to see me, as soon as dad was given the okay.
They were still confused by all the new changes happening, especially on why mom had moved out of the house. That was a surprise to us all actually, but we learned that the house was technically part of church property. And since dad was the preacher, the house belonged to him meaning she had to be the one to leave. I pulled them in tight, knowing I was going to miss them a lot. "I got everything dad, and if I do need something I will let you know. Promise."
"Don't worry Uncle Andrew, we will be okay. Besides, your friend Father Kieran, has promised to look out for us." Bella was right of course, once dad had accepted that Bella and I were moving to New Orleans. He got into contact with an old friend of his, who was a catholic priest there. He had asked him to keep an eye on us, not that we needed it, but we played along. If my dreams were anything to go by, Father Kieran wouldn't be bothering us too much.
I think we were both just happy that Charlie didn't know any cops in New Orleans, or at the very least he is keeping mum about it. We were hoping that with his mom putting us up, that he didn't have a need to have cops looking after us. We said our goodbyes, and then we were off. We just knew that whatever was awaiting us, was going to change our lives forever.
