A/N: Here's the next chapter, guys!
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. All creative credit goes to Stephanie Meyer for creating this universe I like to meddle in ;D
Chapter 7: Welcome to Texas
BELLA
Six Months and Eight Days Ago
(AKA Before Edward)
I'd like to say that my road trip was fabulous. That I hopped in that U-Haul and had a soul cleansing few days of solitude, coming out on the other side changed irrevocably; but that's not how it went down. The first thirty five miles were filled with 'holy shit, I'm doing this!' type thoughts. It was a mix of disbelief and hysteria that pushed me forward. Around mile fifty, when I had settled down from the high of actually getting behind the wheel, a sense of loneliness settled into the cab and wrapped around my heart. I regretted not letting Angela make the trip with me, missing her cheerfulness greatly. It was little ol' me, the highway, and the radio. It sucked ass.
The radio quickly became obnoxious as I left the area and the classic rock station became the dreaded Top 40 hits station. After listening to fucking Maren Morris sing about someone meeting her in the middle three times in less than two hours, I was ready to drive off the nearest bridge. So I pulled over at the first gas station that cropped up and hooked up my iPhone to the aux port. I queued up multiple girl power playlists from Spotify, some Avril Lavigne, Dave Matthews Band, Dua Lipa, and alot of bass heavy songs. I took the opportunity to gas up the truck, call my parents, and rifle through the care package Angie gave me while calling the woman herself. Twenty minutes later, with a Costco sized bag of Hot Cheetos in my lap, and my music blasting from the tinny speakers, I pulled back onto the highway.
.
Hours past sunset, after driving solo for close to seven hours due to road work delays, I pulled into the Baker City Rodeway Inn. I was wise enough to stop driving when my eyelids felt like sandpaper. The outskirts of Oregon felt like a pretty solid stopping point. At least I could say that I'd made it out of Washington before I quit for the day. I made my promissory phone call to Ange and Ben, as well as my parents, and ate a sandwich from the inn's vending machine. Despite how tired I felt, I had a bitch of a time actually going to sleep. Mainly, it was the concept of sleeping in a foreign bed that kept me up, but it was also the possibility of my U-Haul getting broken into; or worst, stolen. Regardless, I eventually fell into a fitful sleep around midnight.
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Six Months and Seven Days Ago
Although I intended to get up bright and early, my late night with travel weariness caused me to sleep in. I woke around 9:30 that morning after hitting snooze for over an hour. I showered and dressed, opting for comfort over fashion.
Yoga Pants? Check!
Hoodie? Absolutely!
Running shoes? Yes, please!
Sloppy top knot bun? You betcha!
After heading to the lobby for a free hot breakfast including some decent hot coffee, and rounding up my things, I managed to checkout just before 11 am. While my outlook wasn't particularly sunny, I mustered up a bounce in my step knowing that I was one state closer to my destination. Miraculously, my ridiculously expensive U-Haul truck was still where I parked it the night before, along with everything inside. Hallelujah!
Ready to hit the road and start day two of the trip, I loaded up my overnight bag and the care package tote. Following my dad's warnings from the night before, I checked the tires and oil levels. I loaded up the Heartache Queens of music; Adele, Carrie Underwood, Banks, Daya, Betty Who, Gin Wigmore, Astrid S, Ingrid Michaelson, Kelly Clarkson, Meghan Trainor, and Sara Bareilles. Then, I drove.
For over two hundred miles, I was fine. The songs I chose didn't particularly bother me. I mean, some caused a little twinge here and there, until one damn song came on and ruined everything. I was traveling a particularly quiet stretch of road past Boise, working my way through an album I'd been meaning to check out; Sara Bareilles' 'The Blessed Unrest'. I decided that "Brave" was my new theme song, "Chasing the Sun" was a bit depressing, and "Hercules" was poetic.
Then, Sara had to open her woefully talented mouth and sing "Manhattan". It wasn't as if I had any attachment to New York City, and I had never heard the song before that moment, but the words just… gutted me. The song had me crying before the first verse was up, because with every line, I felt everything that I had been pushing down.
You can have Manhattan
I know it's for the best
I'll gather up the avenues
And leave them on your doorstep
And I'll tip toe away
So you won't have to say
You heard me leave
Packing away Tyler's, sorting through our life…
You can have Manhattan
I know it's what you want
The bustle and the buildings
The weather in the fall
And I'll bow out of place
To save you some space
For somebody new
Tyler and fucking Katie Marshall, feeling so unwanted…
You can have Manhattan
'Cause I can't have you
You can have Manhattan
The one we used to share
The one where we were laughing
And drunk on just being there
Hang on to the reverie
Could you do that for me
'Cause I'm just too sad to
Saying goodbye to Tyler for good…
You can have Manhattan
'Cause I can't have you
And so it goes
One foot after the other
'Til black and white begin to color in
And I know
That holding us in place is simply fear
Of what's already changed
Driving away from my best friends; our teary goodbye…
You can have Manhattan
I'll settle for the beach
And sunsets facing westward with
Sand beneath my feet
I'll wish this away
Just missing the days
When I was one half of two
Moving to a new beach town in sunny Texas; leaving gloomy Seattle behind…
You can have Manhattan
'Cause I can't have you
I had the presence of mind to pull over on the shoulder, before I got me or someone else killed, so that I could ugly cry. When the soundtrack of my heart ended, I played all over again, letting the melody become a part of me.
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That night, I settled into Hampton Inn and Suites in Salt Lake City. It was a nicer hotel than the good ol' Rodeway Inn, so I slept just a little easier knowing that the place had security cameras. I sank into those blissfully cool sheets, passing out around 10, thoroughly wrung out.
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Six Months and Six Days Ago
The next morning as I slowly came around, it was to a clear blue sky, the mountains serving as a beautiful backdrop. I realized then that I didn't want to be angry or sad anymore. I was young and single and about to embark on an exciting chapter in my life. So after breakfast and checkout at 9, I hopped in the truck, determined to cover as many miles as I could in one day. I queued up some happier musical choices, songs to sing along to, and really started enjoying my trip. I managed to cover over seven hundred miles that day, stopping a few times to sightsee, before settling in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; mainly for its cool name. I checked into the Comfort Inn and Suites at around 9 that night, and promptly fell asleep.
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Six Months and Five Days Ago
At 10:37 am, after having driven more than 26 hours, nearly 1700 miles, and through 5 states, I had finally arrived at my destination. Well, more like an attraction. Without shame, I parked on the shoulder of the road, and took quite a few gratuitous selfies in front of the Welcome to Texas sign, just inside El Paso. I hadn't reached my real destination, not by a long shot (or 720 miles, according to Siri), but actually reaching Texas felt like an accomplishment.
After a delicious IHOP breakfast, I got back on the highway, determined to make it to my parents place before midnight. You see, Texas is a huge fucker to drive through. I drove through all the others in less than a day, but the Texans have a saying: "The sun will rise, and the sun will set, but you still ain't left Texas yet!" When I informed my parents of my latest location, my dad quoted me this in an awful twangy accent.
The rest of the drive flew by, not because the distance was miraculously shortened, but because I was so excited to be almost home.
At 11:53 pm, I pulled into my parents winding driveway in Padre Island, Texas; a beautiful condo right on the beach. As I brought the U-Haul to a stop, Mom and Dad came running out to greet me in their pajamas with, full of love and parental concern. Dad helped me get in the majority of my bags and showed me to the guest room, after I promised Mom a play-by-play of my trip over breakfast in the morning.
And thus began the countdown until I could move into my apartment.
Four Whole Days…
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Six Months Ago
After spending four days with my parents and catching up on sleep, I was beyond ready to get moved in to my own place. The U-Haul had been returned on Thursday, and all of my things were now shoved into every available crevice of my behemoth truck, furniture and all. My dad had practically begged me not to try and move everything by myself, but I gave him the whole "I am woman, hear me roar" speech and he backed off. Almost everything had come with me from the dorms and was easily maneuverable. The futon was questionable, but not impossible. So after a quick round of hugs, I climbed into my pride and joy; Big Red, a 2007 Chevy Silverado, and set my GPS to the address for my new place.
.
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A/N: Hey y'all! Our fair Bella made it cross country in one piece!
So next chappie, Edward meets Bella! It seems like it took us forty freaking forevers to get her to this point! *wipes brow* I'm still debating on who's POV the meet up will be in. Give me your thoughts, please!
XOXO Anarchy