Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter! I'm gonna keep going with this but I'm warning you now I don't know how long/short this is going to be. As for the plot… we'll just have to see where that goes. Sorry for the delay, hope you keep reading.
Bella POV
People stared as I carried the shopping basket around the store, clutched tightly in my clammy hands. I kept my eyes trained firmly on the treacherously slippery floor that squeaked with every step.
The curious eyes followed me. No doubt the news was already flying around Forks that the lonely Chief Swan's daughter would be returning in a couple of weeks at long last. The small town would take some getting used to, especially the heavy rain, whose pounding was blocked out by the store's thick roof. The familiarity of the mundane task and store almost made me feel like I was home.
I had no doubt that Phil would make Renee happy and look after her. It would be strange not to have to remember where she'd left her keys, pay the bills or make sure there was food in the fridge. I knew I'd miss her but I could see the sacrifice in her eyes when she had realised she couldn't't be with Phil while I was there, which was why I'd exiled myself to Forks, a place I loathed and detested.
The bright lights above my head cast shadows on the floor and I didn't see the cylindrical obstacle on the floor. One minute I was on my feet, the next I was rolling on a tin can that carried me over to the wall, my arms flailing as I struggled to maintain any amount of balance. A battle which I lost, which wasn't exactly surprising. I crashed into the solid wall and bounced straight back off, slamming onto the hard floor with my head cracking off it. I could already feel the bruises forming under the skin.
An overweight woman standing above me gasped and I struggled to sit upright but a firm pair of hands forced me back down, instructing me not to move. A wave of dizziness washed over me as a smell reached my nose, which I wrinkled in disgust. Raising a hand to my head I pulled it back to reveal a sticky red palm. Ugh. I started to feel distinctly sick as another wave of dizziness overcame me, joined by black dots that formed in front of my eyes.
Vaguely I noticed the pain that pulsed and throbbed in my head and down the side I had landed on. As someone helped into a sitting position, despite the murmurs of disagreement from the gathering crowd, another whiff of blood reached my over sensitive nose. I tried hard to breathe through my mouth but panic made me hyperventilate, which was not helped by someone announcing that an ambulance was on its way. Typical. I hadn't even officially moved in and already I was going to become familiar with Forks' A&E department. By now, the blood was trickling down my face and with a sigh I surrendered to the darkness that was calling me.
On the way to the hospital I drifted in and out of consciousness. No doubt the news would reach Charlie soon enough that his daughter was in hospital. Hopefully he wouldn't be too concerned after all, it wasn't exactly unusual for me to fall over. The fourth time I regained consciousness it was in a brightly lit hospital ward that reeked of disinfectant. With a thudding head that I realised had been bandaged up and possibly stitched, I glanced around noticing the nurse hovering at the foot of the bed checking my notes. Glancing up, she noticed I was awake.
"Don't worry, Dr. Cullen will be along in a minute. He'll just go over a few things,' she said reassuringly. I just nodded sagging against the pillows.
"Hello Isabella, I'm Dr. Cullen," said a smiling man who could have passed for a movie star. My first thought was that he was too young to be a doctor. His blond hair shone under the fluorescent lights, his extremely pale skin tainted only by the purple bruise like shadows beneath his golden eyes, giving him the appearance of being tired.
Picking up my chart, he moved to my side with a gracefulness I have never managed to achieve.
"You've had some stitches in your head so you'll have to come back next week to have them removed. I'd recommend some painkillers if you feel uncomfortable."
I shake my head, protesting "It's not that bad. Can I go home now?" I was already eager to leave the hospital.
"Yes," chuckled Dr. Cullen, giving my head one last glance. "But take it easy for a few days."
I just nodded, whilst thinking of all the shopping I'd left back in the supermarket.
Signing my chart with a flourish, Dr. Cullen declared me 'free to go'. I hopped down from the bed swaying only slightly, though that still earned me a concerned frown. I waved a hand dismissively, as I eagerly wobbled my way down the corridor where I noticed Charlie was waiting. Charlie rose up to give me a seat while he asked Dr. Cullen a few questions that didn't take long.
On the road home in the police cruiser Charlie broke the comfortable silence by announcing he had enrolled me at Forks local high school. A twinge of unease fluttered in my stomach. I'd be starting there in two weeks which was my official move in date, although it might have to be brought forward to get the stitches removed, a task which I was not looking forward to. Though starting at a new school with only a drop of students came pretty close on the 'the things to dread' list.
Please review and let me know what you think. I'm really sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. Thanks again to the people who reviewed the last one:
yerosmyhero, Crazily Sane Pancake, mrs edward cullenxxx, AllyR, footballgirl535, and Luvntwilight.