Oh, I'm gone, gone

I'll be comin' home soon

Long as I can see the light

Pack my bag and let's get movin'.

Long As I Can See the Light - CCR

. . .

Just as Bella was easing the zipper of her last suitcase closed carefully around the clothes threatening to burst out, a knock came from the door. Charlie peeked his head in, clearing his throat quietly to grab her attention. Bella bit at her bottom lip, her eyes closing for a moment. God, she did not want to do this. She was not a person for outwardly or obviously emotional moments, and neither was Charlie, so this was going to be extremely awkward.

She was not looking forward to it in the least. Putting on a smile, she turned back to Charlie, pushing a lock of her newly-dyed hair behind her ear. Alice had insisted that before Bella went off to college, she must have both a new hairstyle and a new closet, hence the three suitcases that laid all about her room. (Two more awaited at the Cullen house.)

"I like your hair dark like that," Charlie commented, leaning against the doorframe, studying his daughter. His baby girl. She had become even more beautiful that he could have ever imagined. He was proud as he could be; he was practically bursting with it. Although he regretting not being as involved as he hated wanted, he still loved her with everything he had. She was going to college. She was all grown up, and she was leaving, for good this time.

"Oh," Bella said softly, biting at her bottom lip, examining the nearly-black lock of hair that she twisted lightly around her finger. "Thank you."

"Never knew you had my hair."

A warm smile curved onto Bella's lips, her eyes brightening a bit. He noticed, too? "Me neither. I've always kept it kind of boring, just a blunt cut, but I added a bit of shape to it, layers, y'know, and a bit of a trim. Evidently, because of the length and lack of variety, it just kind of weighed it down, turned it flat. I like it a lot." Of course, Bella knew that all probably went over his head, but small talk, talk of nothing of consequence, was good. It was safe and emotionless.

As expected, most of that went unregistered to Charlie's male brain, but he still smiled, nodding a bit. "Looks good."

"Thanks."

Pressing her lips together, Bella looked to the floor, at her converse-clad feet. She was just glad that Alice had actually gotten her some plain shoes, and that they weren't sparkly or pink, just a simple black, much to her relief. For a while, she and Charlie stood in silence; she could feel his eyes on her, but she never moved hers from her feet.

"Promise me you'll call?" Charlie asked, his voice gruff, quiet.

Bella winced slightly. This is what she'd been worried about. Emotional questions. "Yeah, Dad, I promise." It would probably be the only way she'd be able to contact him once she'd changed.

"I'm real proud of you Bella," Charlie said, his voice quiet, gruff.

Biting her lip, Bella looked up at him shyly. "Thank you," she said softly before looking back to the ground.

"Gonna miss you."

Bella glanced up at him, her cheeks reddening softly with embarrassment. "I'll miss you, too, Dad."

Charlie smiled broadly, pleased with her affirmation. "You're beautiful, you know. You look so much like your mom."

Pushing a lock of hair away from her eyes, she smiled a bit. "I think I look more like you."

A broad smile pushed across Charlie's face, his eyes crinkling at the edges, happiness sparkling in his eyes. It was the most emotion that Bella had seen him display. Kicking the ground lightly, he took a look around the room, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Well, I'll let you finish packing."

"Just finished actually." Awkwardly, she pushed her own hands into her pockets, clearing her throat quietly.

"All right!" trilled a familiar soprano voice..

Both Charlie and Bella relaxed as Alice bounced happily into the room, glad to be relieved of the awkward pressure of a goodbye. Emmett ambled in just behind her, leaning against the doorframe, watching Bella and Charlie curiously. Clapping her hands, Alice fluidly came to a stop, Bella's shiny silver camera in the hand she held up.

"Alice," Bella complained, "where did you get that?"

A dazzling smile broke across Alice's face, and she gestured for the father-daughter duo to stand together. Both grumbled incoherently as they squeezed in for a picture.

"Say cheese."

Bella glanced to Charlie, giving him an apologetic look; Charlie grinned back affectionately. Although he wasn't typically a man for pictures, this was different. Of course, he had a picture from Bella's birthday just under a year ago, but she had changed so much since then. She was so happy now, not a remnant of the zombie she had been when Cullen left. Alice stealthily snapped a picture.

"Come on!"

Two identical sets of chocolate eyes turned to the picture, broad smiles breaking across their faces. Happily, Alice snapped the picture.

"Happy?" Bella asked, arching a brow and putting a hand on her hip. Charlie glanced to his daughter and rolled his eyes. With one last snap of the shutter, the camera disappeared.

"Yes, actually."

Emmett stepped forward, grabbing two of Bella's suitcases. Before Bella - or Alice - could grab the next bag, Charlie took it up and headed downstairs after Emmett, his heart sinking with each step he took. He was saying goodbye to his baby girl. Even though she'd promised to stay in touch, isn't that what all kids said?

Hell, that was what he had said, but that hadn't gone as promised. Not at all. And hell, Charlie lived in the same town as his parents until they died. Not once did he go to dinner or hell, spend five minutes to call. He hoped desperately that as much as he and Bella were alike, that they would not be in that way. If so, though, he'd just badger her until she talked to him.

Sounded just about right.

Outside leaning on the hood of a silky black Porsche SUV - a Cayenne S, if Charlie recalled correctly - was Edward. Charlie regarded him with a nod and a cool expression. He still really didn't like that kid, not after what he did to Bella. God, if the smug prick had just seen her, he would have thought twice about being so indignant when it came to Charlie not accepting him. Ugh. Handing Emmett the lone suitcase he had, Charlie watched as it was loaded in with a few other things.

Bella skipped down the porch steps with a bright smile on her face, jogging over to Edward, who grinned back at her, sweeping her up into a kiss. She was taken aback by the intensity of it. Even before their awkward almost-sexual encounter, their kisses were close-lipped and short, nothing like the spine-tingling, passionate kiss he had just given her. Slightly dazed as she was put back on her feet, Bella blinked, a dumbfounded smile coming to her lips. Quickly, she regained herself, clearing her throat and smiling up at Edward, who had his signature crooked smile on.

"Well, that was a fantastic hello."

Edward laughed easily, his arms sliding around her waist, pulling her close. With a smile, he brought her in for another kiss, but before he could, an irritated Charlie was clearing his throat. Pouting, Bella pulled back, directing her petulance toward Charlie who just whistled and looked away, pretending as though it wasn't him. Stealthily, Bella leaned up and stole another kiss before walking to Charlie. Edward, Alice, and Emmett got into the car, all seeming to be preoccupied with things. Bella pretended that - as much as she wished it were true - they couldn't hear her. For all guises of privacy, they turned on the radio, and Emmett and Alice started obnoxiously singing along.

"Good luck, Bells," Charlie said, pulling his daughter abruptly to him in a bear hug. Tears pricked at his eyes, and his throat constricted, but he said nothing, hugging his daughter tighter.

With a laugh - trying not to show her emotions - Bella hugged back. "You're the one that needs the luck. Who's going to feed you now that I'm goin'?" She'd picked up a bit of Jasper's slang with all the time she'd been spending with him. Or rather, talking on the phone with him. Visits weren't permitted anymore. Damn idiots.

"I fed myself for seventeen years before you came, Bells, I'll be all right."

Arching a brow, she chuckled quietly, shaking her head. "I'll talk to Sue. She'll keep you fed."

Charlie laughed easily, tightening his arms around her before slowly releasing her. "Thanks, kid."

With a small smile, Bella took a step back, righting herself and looking up at Charlie. "See you, Dad," she said quietly, her voice breaking slightly.

Swiftly, she leaned up and kissed his cheek. Charlie gave her another hug and a smile before opening her car door for her. Bella slipped in the car, her fingers twining absently with Edward's, watching Charlie with a small frown between her brows, tears pricking at her eyes. And then the house was gone. It hit her square in the chest, in the heart.

"It's all right, Bella," Edward said, rubbing her knuckles softly.

"I know," Bella said simply, her eyes turning to stare out the windshield.

Sighing softly, Edward squeezed her hand, letting her brood in silence. He really didn't understand why she was so upset. She'd be seeing him soon enough. Humans. He'd never understand them, especially Bella. Suddenly, a sleek, black Mercedes pulled onto the road, following just behind them. Carlisle's car. Pulling out her phone, Bella shot a message to Jasper, pouting internally.

Why the fuck are you not in the car with me?

Bottom lip pushing out in a small pout, she studied the rearview mirror. Rosalie's car had joined the parade, along with Emmett's Jeep. Edward's Volvo was nowhere to be seen.

Raising a brow, Bella looked to Edward. "Where's your car?" she asked skeptically.

"They came out with this year's new models, and I like it, so I'm replacing it."

Bella nodded, mulling over the answer. It was strange, the thought of him having a new car. For as long as she'd known him - which albeit wasn't that long - he'd had that car. He was her "stupid, shiny Volvo owner". Stupidly, she hoped that his new car would be silver as well.

"And this one?" she asked, almost terrified to ask. With the Cullens, you never knew. It could be their long lost friend's or they could be holding it for a passerby.

"It's yours." Bella practically choked on her own spit. She looked at Edward with a bewildered, wide-eyed expression, silent. Hers? He was giving her this car? Seriously? Why? Her lips parted to question.

"Because," Alice piped, folding her arms against the back of Edward's seat, looking sideways at Bella, her cheek resting against her forearm, "when we're at college, you're going to want to do your own driving. If you get friends, you're not going to want to have to say, 'hey, guys, yeah, I'd like to go, but let me go ask my boyfriend if I can borrow the car'. No. That's embarrassing. Plus, we figured you'd want to drive alone for a while and you'd want a space that was your own."

Softening with her last explanation, Bella leaned over and gave Alice a kiss on the cheek. "Sweet pixie," she cooed. Alice gnashed her teeth at Bella's nose, earning her a light shriek followed by a quiet laugh. Bella's phone made a strange noise and vibrated, signaling a text. A picture of a Confederate flag accompanied the message symbol. Jasper. Stupid boy wouldn't let her take a picture of him, so she was stuck with putting up a Confederate flag in her contacts. Bastard was quite happy over that one. Ass. Tapping her message application open, Bella scanned the message.

Um. Well, darlin', not in the state. But I'd be there if I could.

Frowning, Bella quickly shot a text back. Why aren't you in the state then? Don't tell me you completely ditched me on this road trip and are leaving me with Edward and Alice. ):

Not thirty seconds after it had been sent, her phone was buzzing again. I'm sorry, kitten, but you'll live. I'm actually…taking a break from the Cullens to…find myself, figure out who I'm supposed to be.

A bit hurt, but amused all the same, Bella tapped out a reply. Cliche, cliche, Jasper. (but may I say that I do love the nickname kitten?) Tell me what's really going on.

This time, the pause between messages was longer. A solid two minutes passed, Bella anxiously bouncing her leg, three pairs of golden eyes watching her as if she'd toss herself out the car at any moment. Finally, the reply blinked up on the screen.

:D I'm glad you like it. But, seriously. Alice and I are having it rough, and I don't exactly feel welcome with the Cullens. Ever since my slip up, I've been on edge - you know that - and they can sense that. They don't need to be worrying about me while they're trying to treat you to a college experience. Plus, I have a few friends to catch up with.

Sighing, Bella pushed a lock of hair away from her eyes, smiling as Edward momentarily left the wheel unattended to tie it back into her typical messy bun. Leaning over, she gave his cheek a kiss, bumping her nose affectionately against his jaw before leaning back into her seat. She wrote back a reply.

Just make sure to send me pictures. Or messages. I'll have your balls if you don't keep in contact with me. I need *someone* to keep me sane.

Instantly, the reply came. Of course, kitten.

Settling on that one, are you? A smile curved at Bella's lips as she waited for her response, and Edward seethed with jealousy. He had no idea what his girlfriend and his pseudo-brother were talking about, but he'd never seen her smile so easily, without force, without tightness in her eyes. It infuriated him to no end.

Not sure, yet, darlin'.

Fickle, she responded with a smirk.

False. I'm just biding my time. Keeping you on edge. Okay, maybe a little bit fickle. Trying to find something that suits you, though. Really leaning toward kitten.

Bella bit back a smile. I've got time.

Good.

With that, Bella tapped her phone into lock mode and tossed it into the cubby in her door. Satisfied that she could finally sleep, she relaxed back into the comfortable leather seat, her eyes closing slowly. This would certainly be…interesting. A road trip cross-country to make it to Dartmouth. Yay. That was sarcasm. Bella really wasn't looking forward to it. Stupid vampires.


A/N: Okay, so I've had some troubles over the past few days. My hard drive completely died, and I lost all of my work. Being the ever-so-responsible person I am, I hadn't backed up on my external hard drive in about a year, so I lost a LOT of work. Between trying to figure out what I need to rewrite and this fanfic (and the upcoming one, which should be posted tomorrow.) it's been kind of hectic.

This is a shitty chapter, I realize that. I kind of had writer's block, but A: i HAD to use this song and B: I wanted to do a road trip. Since Jasper's not going to be in it, I'm not really going to go in depth with the road trip, but no worries, you'll be seeing jasper soon enough.

Until next time,

Claire