Chapter Two

I walk to the front door, placing my hand on the doorknob . . . it's warm and I know this is a bad thing, I just really can't remember why. I slowly turn the handle hoping that the sense of dread I can feel growing in the pit of my stomach, is because of my lack of memory. As soon as I open the door a wall of flames hits me, I run screaming into the driveway, diving onto the ground rolling, and trying to rid myself of the overwhelming flames. I stop when I no longer feel the heat of them, I inspect my clothing which to my amazement is still perfectly intact. I stand up, and look at the house, the front door is now ajar and blackened from flames, burnt and disintegrating. I walk back to the door, placing my hand on it, ash falls to the floor. I push the door gently not wanting to make too much noise, or to make it break completely. The smell is horrible, like something is rotting mixed with the overpowering smell of burnt toast. After giving the door a more forceful nudge it opens, I walk a few steps forward into the living room, every piece of furniture is at least blackened and there is still smoke lingering. The couch survived the worst of it, only having some slightly "cooked" parts on the side facing me; then again I can't see the seat part from the angle I'm on. I know Charlie will be pretty pissed if it's completely ruined. Where is Charlie . . . he should be here ... shouldn't he? My head feels all cloudy and heavy, and concentrating on one thing at a time is almost excruciatingly difficult. The logical part of my brain thinks it's due to smoke inhalation. I feel a great sense of loss as I look around the room. I look over at the coffee table, one of the many things still smouldering, there is a book sitting on top. I walk carefully to the table, making sure I don't stand in any damaged floorboards, falling through them would so not help right now. I was wrong it isn't a book it's a photo album. On the page that's open there is only one photo partially intact. It shows a man, a familiar looking man, he's wearing a tuxedo and is elegant in every sense of the meaning. His blond hair looks almost white. The most attractive feature is his heartbreaking smile, a close second are his eyes that look wise beyond his years.

"Do you see it Bella?" I turn around so quickly I almost trip over my own feet, classic clumsy Bella-esque move. As soon as I have turned I wish I hadn't. Charlie is lying on the couch, which I can now see is completely ruined on this side, he is pale and has his best suit on. That logical part of my brain registers this is the only one he owned, the one he was buried in. A few bluish purple bruises show on his forehead and neck. His eyes are closed but he's smiling, a wicked smile full of malice. I'm choking back words trying to hold myself together, this can't be char- dad he looks dead.

"Wh - what?" It slips from my mouth, I couldn't help it. As soon I say it I regret it. His eyes snap open and focus on me. I refuse to think of him as Charlie, my much-loved dad. I know this is a dream I need to wake up. Wake up, wake up, damn it, I'm restraining tears which continue to threaten to spill.

"The connection Bella, Come on your smart can't you see it?" He's starting to stand, but ends up just in a sitting position, he twists his head side to side like he's scolding me. Then he tilts his head watching me, I'm shaking and I can't stop it, I'm not cold. He's standing and .walking to me that same fucking smile on his face, I know I need to run, I need to get away from him. I can't move, I'm telling my legs to move they won't listen, he's a few steps away I ne-

I wake up to Jacob licking my face.

"J-Jake st-top-p" I push him away and get out of bed. I pick up my phone to check the time. 2.13 a.m. Jesus Christ. I grab my dressing gown on my way to the kitchen. Jake follows on my heels, and is straight into his food after pushing past me through the door. I open the fridge looking at my options: Salad, Water, Chocolate, Dog Food, Beer, Other Unidentifiable possible edibles. I have to give Alice credit she makes amazing food but she's always buying the weirdest crap. I grab a beer and the chocolate, making my way to the lounge. Grabbing the remote from the table, I flick the TV on, not expecting there to be much on. I crack open my beer and down a third of it. I'm not an alcoholic or anything and I can definitely control my alcohol, it's just that there are times that call for beer. Those times require you to drink it profusely. Within ten minutes of me sitting there I have finished my beer, five rows of chocolate, and am curled up with Jake.

"Bella?"

"Shit Alice, could you please not be so quiet when you walk!" I almost fell off the couch. My lack of co-ordination so did not help.

"Bella are you ok?"

"Yeah sure, Why?"

"Uh it's like almost 2.30 in the morning"

"Yeah well I couldn't sleep" I get up stretching as I take my beer bottle back to the kitchen, chucking the chocolate at Alice as I pass her. I put my bottle on the bench and grab two more from the fridge. Opening them both, so Alice can't say no, though I doubt she would. When I get back to the lounge she's eating chocolate and texting someone on her phone. She looks up when I walk in and I hand her the beer.

"Little early isn't it?"

"Nope, Texting Jasper?"

"Yeah" She takes a long swig of her beer."He's just started a new Night Shift job, I hardly see him anymore, especially with his flat being on the complete other side of town."

"Why doesn't he just move in here?" She looks at me, in a semi-shocked sort of way. "Well I mean it makes sense doesn't it? It's got to be a hell of a lot nicer than the place he's in now, and it's not like you guys would have problems living together would you? I mean you're pretty serious right?"

She thinks for a second. "Well yeah, I mean I had thought about it, more so lately. Jazz and I have talked about it. I just didn't know what you would think and right now wasn't the best time to bring it up" She didn't have to elaborate, obviously "there is only one problem."

I look at my beer and begin mindlessly peeling off the wrapper. That's supposed to mean something ... sexually frustrated that's it! God knows how anyone would've decided that. "Yeah what's that?"

"He wouldn't want to just ditch out on his flatmate, they are like brothers."

"We have a spare room don't we?" I honestly have no problem with Jasper or Emmett; they are both incredibly nice guys. Like the brothers I never had. The more I think about it the more sense it makes really. It would be nice to have a couple more people around. Make the place a little less quiet.

"Bella are you sure? I mean it won't be straight away, but are you sure you would be okay with it."

"Alice would I have suggested it if hadn't thought about it? Or even been okay with it?"

"Well I guess not" She smiles at me, slightly tentatively. We talk about other things, like work and Mum and Phil, for another ten minutes or so and by that time I have managed to completely remove the label and finish my beer.

I get up again taking my beer bottle to the kitchen, leaving her to text Jasper with the news. I can hear her click clacking buttons even while I stand in front of the fridge again debating whether or not to have another beer. The last two had gone down pretty quick. I decide what the hell and grab two this time only un-capping one and taking a small sip. I walk back into the hallway past Alice's room which is the only light in the hall. I pause at her door, looking in. I can see pictures lined up along her drawers. I walk inside to get a better look at what they are. One is of us when we were really little maybe 4 and 5, wearing matching outfits at the beach with huge love heart sunglasses on. The next one is of her, me and Charlie before we went to the prom. He insisted on having his photo taken with the two most beautiful girls in Forks. The next couple are of her and Jasper, with a few of some other friends. My favourite one is next to her bed. It was taken about a month and a half ago when we went to the lake about an hour away. It was raining and stormy, which meant there was hardly anyone around. Alice and I were stuck in the back of Jaspers tiny car the whole trip. When we got there we decided that even though it was pouring outside we were getting out. We ended up standing in the rain posing for photos taken by Emmett who kept mumbling about my complicated camera. The result was us getting soaked, an awesome memory, and some pretty good photos. I can't help but smile, It seems like a lifetime ago. I walk out of her room glancing at her photos again, one of her and Jasper sticking in my head. As I took this photo of them he wasn't even looking at the camera, he was watching Alice in the most loving way it didn't seem possible. I have it in my portfolio that I show potential clients, it's always a big hit.

"Tomorrow is Friday right?"

"Huh?"Alice glances up from her texts to look at me. She obviously hadn't heard me come back in the room. I walk past her to the couch and she grabs the spare beer in my hand as I go.

"Tomorrow, Well today, is it Friday?"

"Yeah, Why?"

"Well I was thinking, what's stopping Jasper and Emmett from moving in this weekend?"

She takes a moment to finish her first beer and open her new one taking a couple of sips from it, all the while a look of concentration on her face. "Well nothing really, if you're okay with it. I can see if they are free to move. They might need a hand, though I think one of the guys from the company might have a . . . "

She keeps talking on excitedly and I'm mostly listening, but I can't really concentrate. I suddenly feel exhausted, I lie down on the couch and Jake shifts so he is next to me, as warm as a space heater. My eyelids are really heavy and I feel myself drifting off to sleep. I hear her phone ringing and can just make Jasper out on the other end of the phone. He's saying something about tomorrow being perfect and he's got to tell Emmett.