Well, here we are. Another revamp of Chapter 2. Hopefully the new format and some edits will help move the story along! Reviews with constructive criticism are welcome!
I don't own Twilight, only my OC's!
Chapter 2
Once I got Bella to eat something and open up, we actually somewhat got along. A part of me was relieved that she kept talking with me and that she seemed to enjoy my company. I found that we really enjoy a lot of the same books and folklore and neither of us are keen on romantic comedies. The only thing we didn't seem to agree on was that she was more into classic romance novels than I am. I can't stand how the female characters were written. She's not terrible and is actually rather witty. Not to mention a queer sense of humor. Sometimes she gets spaced out when she talks. We even reminisced over the time her mother Rene wanted us to have a joint birthday and give Uncle Brian a few of my mom's things she'd found. Naturally, Uncle Brian had declined a party but was glad to get more of my mother's things. I'm surprised Bella remembered.
Bella yawned and pulled me out of my nostalgia as I finally realized the time. "Hey Bella, don't you have school in the morning?"
"What? Oh right. I can't believe it's already after ten." She stared at the bed in longing before returning her attention to the plates "I'll get the.."
"No. You should get some sleep. I'll take these down. I still have some unpacking to do anyway." I smiled and began to gather our plates.
"But you're a guest".
"Who doesn't have to be up at six in the morning for school. I promise it's all good. You really need to get some sleep."
Uncle Charlie was sitting on the couch watching something on the sports channel when I came down with the plates. "It's getting late Lily; what are you still doing up?" His brown eyes so like Bella's looked over at me as I held out the plates with a shrug.
"I was having dinner with Bella. She talked about some guy- I am guessing that's why you asked Uncle Brian for me to come here?"
"No. It wasn't just to help Bells get through this. Your mother and I used to be so close. And I'm sure Brian tells you often, but you really are just like her. I wish I had been able to get to know you better."
"You could've always picked up the phone you know." I smiled ruefully at him before continuing, "So what's the story with him anyway? This Edward guy? It is Edward right?"
Uncle Charlie nodded in confirmation before a dark expression took over. "Not much to say. His first date with my daughter ended in disaster. She came back and decided that she suddenly had to leave town and go back to Phoenix at the drop of a hat. She said some really hurtful things. I don't hear anything past that boy and his father saying they would go after her to bring her back and apologize, then she comes back all banged up after being in the hospital- suddenly they're back to dating again and he walks on water. She was attached to his hip and he was always around. Until he wasn't. He left her alone in the woods. I then get to find out from Billy that his family moved when his father got a new job offer. It took hours to find her. At first I thought maybe he'd kidnapped her or she'd ran away with him. I was so worried- no, I still am."
"He sounds like such a prince." I noted, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Well, I just hope for Bella's sake that he never comes back." I nodded absently in agreement.
"Perhaps you're right. It explains a lot though. If you don't mind my asking, who's Billy?"
"Billy Black. He's a good friend of mine, down at the reservation. I bought Bells her truck from him. If you want I can see if his son Jake has a car?"
"A car would be nice. It wasn't really needed back home. But I think it might be nice to not put Bella out by driving hers or riding in your cruiser with you. No offense- it's just super uncomfortable." Uncle Charlie chuckled lowly.
"Well Lily, I can see what he has. Worst case scenario is that we have help finding something. My only request is no motorcycles. Those are dangerous."
"So not even my license and perfect driving record in Uncle Brian's Corvette could change your mind?"
"No." His voice held a tone of unwavering finality. I shrugged.
"That's okay. Harley's are a little too large anyhow." I smiled cheekily, hoping he would catch on to me. Apparently he did, because I caught him rubbing his face with his palm and shaking his head. Amazing how he's so much like Uncle Brian too. Both get slightly exasperated with my antics and less than stellar humor.
"Hey Lily, do you like your room okay? I tried to make you feel at home... you like blue right?"
"It feels very large and is beautiful. Like having a piece of my mother. She loves the sky. I remember when we had this studio apartment just before she got sick, she had painted it to look like the sky. She had also used these glow in the dark paints to create the constellations. We couldn't see them anymore in the city, and it reminded her of home. Uncle Brian has pictures somewhere. He moved in there when she died. We didn't decide to move until I hit what he dubs 'the terrible preteen years'. And that was only because he didn't want to share a bathroom with one. I didn't understand why until I was older. I swear that man owns more products than I do. But we really did need separate bathrooms. I know that he needed his space also. Still does... But here I am getting all misty eyed. I'm sorry."
"No, I am sure it's an adjustment… I've been meaning to look into adding on another bathroom, but up until last year it was only me here so it didn't seem necessary until Bells came here. I am sorry about that. And for, you know. Everything else." He got quiet.
"Uncle Charlie, I don't regret coming here. And I do forgive you. You had your reasons that I'm sure made sense at the time. I can't fault you for it. You don't have to keep apologizing for it either. All we can do now is embrace the moments going forward."
Uncle Charlie gave me another awkward hug then, and was probably more surprised than I was when it was returned in full.
"Well.. It's getting late. Try not to stay up too late unpacking and don't hesitate to use anything you find in the kitchen. I don't cook but Bella does- or did. Call me if you need anything tomorrow."
"Of course. Thank you, Uncle Charlie. Goodnight!"
I headed back upstairs to get started. My walls were a light blue almost like the sky blue my mom was so fond of, with a deeper shade of blue as an accent wall at the window. I had grey furniture- a desk on the wall opposite my bed near the door, a closet to my left near the window, and a dresser to the right of the closet. My headboard was on the accent wall near the window but not under it, so light could still drift in. I also had a nightstand with a lamp. The lamp was dark blue with a silver pattern. Overall everything was stunning- perhaps Uncle Brian gave him tips, or maybe Uncle Charlie knew this was something my mom would've liked. Maybe this stuff could've been her old furniture? It took awhile to get everything set up like how I wanted, but eventually I was satisfied.
I kept my toiletries in a basket inside my closet and my cosmetics were scattered atop my dresser. With the mirror, it doubled as a vanity that I could easily use. I think I deserved to be satisfied for a moment. My phone buzzed, letting me know it's about to die. I put it on the charger and read the bright letter 2:03 at the top. I can't believe it's so late. Surely, I should be experiencing jetlag or something at this point. But it really is almost eerie how quiet everything is. All I could hear outside was the gentle breeze of the whispering winds, and on occasion, the rustling of leaves answering the winds. That was, until morning.
It was exactly ten in the morning when my phone started screeching and I shot up in a panic. I quickly answered without bothering to check the caller ID "Hello?"
"Lily! Thank god girl, I've been trying to call you since nine. You were supposed to cover me today like you promised."
"Huh?" I asked groggily.
"Three weeks ago, duh! You seriously forgot. This was Miles's birthday weekend and I was taking off today through Wednesday of next week. You promised me!" I groaned and cursed under my breath.
"Look Jillian, you shouldn't expect me to cover you every time you want to fuck off at work number one. Number two, I didn't say that- you just assumed. And finally, did no one tell you I had put in my two week's notice for a family emergency weeks ago?" Jillian was fuming on the other end of the line. Surprisingly smoke wasn't coming from the phone.
"UM NO, no one told me that otherwise I wouldn't have called or even asked you, which I did by the way. I can't believe how selfish you are!" I cut her off then.
"And you were part of why I had quit. You're just too expectant of other people and extremely rude. Grow up and take care of your responsibilities for a change instead of expecting so many handouts. For your child's sake, do at least that. It would also be smart to not ever call me again." I then hung up and sighed heavily- this was not a good way to start my first day in Forks.
To better explain the interaction. My last job was at a call center where we also turned paper charts into electronic forms to be sent off to specific clients. I did the calls side and Jillian scanned in what was sent in batches to us to then give back to the clients. In the year I had been there, I had only worked part-time hours. It was a way to keep busy until I figured out what to do. It's not like I didn't have money. Uncle Brian had his own Ad agency and was good with money. What had been left after paying for my mom's funeral expenses had been put into a trust for me when I turned 18. But I didn't want to waste my time in college just because I could and I had no earthly idea what to study. It seemed silly when too many people were struggling just to get by. I had gotten my job by chance and luck alone.
Jillian seemed nice at first. She was 25 and somehow far too entitled for her own good. Very irresponsible- always partying, waiting for someone else to pay her bills, a bit of an airhead with a superiority complex, and always assumed I would watch her son or work extra hours to cover her when she didn't want to come to work. She had red hair, a fake tan, obscenely long fake nails, and wore too much makeup. I couldn't tell you how many times her two year old was dropped outside our door. Hopefully Uncle Brian would intervene. I had tried once and they wouldn't take me seriously unless I revealed my identity- since I wouldn't say a name, there was no investigation.
I blocked Jillian's number so there would be no more incidents. Sometimes I felt bad for her, but she plays the victim well. Since I was alone in the house, I decided to send Uncle Brian an email letting him know everything was still going well and about the Jillian incident. He's wanted to call CPS himself for months as well as inform my now former boss of what was going on.
Fast forwarding to a few hours later, I had already make brunch and made myself presentable. I knew Bella wasn't the type to hang out or shop, but I had hoped that we could at least go explore and find something new to do together. I know that maybe I am trying way too hard, but doing things to the extreme has always been my style. It's not worth doing if you can't give it your all- and you can't complain about anything either unless you've done all you can. Bella came home around three thirty, her antique truck roaring and sputtering up the road.
"Good afternoon Bella!" I called out cheerily from the kitchen.
"Hey Lily. You don't have to do the dishes you know." Her slender frame stood in the doorway as her hair hung low in waves, and her brown eyes held more warmth than last night.
"Sure I do. I dirtied them. Besides, I'm bored. One can only shower for so long before they're pronounced clean- and the water tanks goes from warm to walking outside feeling better than that shower." She nodded and chewed her bottom lip again.
"So Bella, how was school?"
"School is school. Um, listen. I know I said I didn't like to shop, but my friend Jessica from school and I are going to Port Angeles. I didn't want to leave you here alone on a Friday night; will you come with us?" Bella asked me timidly, as she shuffled her feet back and forth in the doorway she had yet to move from.
"Depends. Are you saying it because you want to be polite or you really want me there?"
"I want you to hang out with us. Really." I feigned contemplation before smiling warmly, kind of happy that she was inviting me along.
"I guess I have no choice then. But on two conditions- we leave Uncle Charlie a note so that he doesn't worry, and you have to take me to one place you really enjoy there, even if it may not be Jessica's thing. I refuse to not make sure you don't have at least a halfway decent time. Deal?"
"Lily, I told you I'm not much fun... but I will try".
I gave her a pointed look. "Deal...?" I pressed harder. Bella sighed and gave a halfway smile back.
"Fine Lily you win. Deal."
