Forks Washington, Charlie's hometown and amazingly enough my own. I was born here but then later moved to Chicago with my parents, so that my father could work at the hospital that his father Carlisle worked at.
It was odd to think I was born here. Usually people resemble the place their from. Take my mother and grandfather for instance. They we born here, and they were sweet modest simple people, because that's how Forks was. In it's own little bubble, of I don't care about how the rest of the world perceives me.
My father was born in Chicago, he was handsome, intelligent, and charming. Just like Chicago, or the part we were from anyway.
I was just like my father, I looked and acted just like him. My mother would always call me "little Edward".
So yeah, I had a hard time believing I was actually form Forks. Simple closed minded Forks. I was nothing like these people, I wasn't simple, I wasn't close minded, and I hated fishing. Which is pretty much all this town is good for other than logging. What the hell is logging anyway?
Small towns like these, have cliques in the simplest and stupidest forms. Like if your not from here or you weren't born here, your an outcast. And they'll most likely talk about you. I don't know what depressed me more. Being an outcast which I've never been before, or being accepted by these people because I was born here.
The flight from Chicago to Seattle was long and I hardly got any sleep. So of course I was crabby having to drive three almost four hours. My mood didn't very much improve after I saw a sign for 'Forks Municipal Airport'. Let's just say I almost put my ballpoint in my jugular, right then and there.
Charlie stopped me though, figuratively of course. I thought about why I was here. I was here for my grandpa's funeral. The grandpa who raised me, and loved me more then anything else. The grandfather that I loved more than anything else.
I wouldn't be selfish now, not when Charlie needed me. I could do that later, like when I was forced to live with that old fart, Jacob Black.
The city was just as you'd suspect. Towny, outdoorsy, and practically homely. And it rained, all the freaking time. If anything this place made me miss the summers I had to spend in Wisconsin.
It was 10:30 now, the funeral was at 11:00. I didn't want to be late for my own Grandpa's funeral, so I had less than thirty minutes to get dressed and get to the funeral home.
I pulled into a 'Shell' gas station so I could change. I was currently wearing a black 'Juicy Couture' velour tracksuit. I was going to change into my little black dress, it was knee length and came up to my collarbone. I wore my curly bronze hair down and loose since it just kept raining anyway. I put on some black stilettos, because they looked perfect with my dress. I also put on my pearl necklace and earrings, that used to belonged to my grandmother Esme.
Here's a little tip in case you don't know, gas station bathrooms are disgusting. Its amazing I was able to be in there and live. I thought I was going to die from holding my breath.
As I was walking out of the bathroom I got checked out by these old pervs. One of whom wore a t-shirt that said "Forking and Spooning" over his large beer gut. I looked at his face and he smiled a toothless smile and winked. I almost gagged. I couldn't believe that he was wearing a crude shirt that actually had Forks in it, as if he was proud he lived here. Then again he didn't seem like the sharpest tool in the shed, so he probably thought that shirt meant eating.
I bought a bottled water and practicably ran out of the gas station and into the car.
There was only one funeral home in Forks so it was easy to find. Mount Olympus Funeral Home, was where it was held. Charlie wasn't a religious man so he wouldn't have had it in a church, like my other grandparent's funerals were.
I parked at an empty spot. I got out of the car, and saw that many cars were here. That didn't surprise me, Charlie was the greatest, surely everyone loved him. He also used to be the chief of police until my parents died and he moved to take care of me.
I opened the door bracing myself to walk in. As I did I felt eyes on me. I thought people were just looking to see who opened the door, but when the eyes never left I felt self conscious.
My face burned, and I knew that was from the severe blush that I currently wore on my face. I looked up for the first time and was met by all these stares. They finally looked away but then they were all whispering to each other, I hoped it wasn't about me but I thought it was. I would rather have the awkward staring than them talking about me behind my back. Or rather in front of my face.
Most of the people in the room were at least as old as Charlie or older. There was some others that looked to be about in their twenty's and thirty's but no younger.
While looking around I noticed a couple of things. First off, I was the youngest person there. Secondly most of them there were men. And thirdly and oddly enough, I was the whitest person there.
I'm not racist, I love all ethnicity's. I was just surprised because I got the impression that Forks was predominantly Caucasian. There were some white people, a lot of them had fake tans though. So I was really pale compared to them.
The other people there had russet colored skin and straight black hair. They looked Native American so I realized they were probably from La Push. The Quileute Indian reservation by Forks. I knew Charlie had friends there but I had no idea it was that many. Then I wondered if Jacob was Quileute too. Since I knew nothing about him.
I tried Googling him on the plane, but then they made us turn the electronics off. As far as I could tell he wasn't on 'Facebook' or 'Twitter' or even 'MySpace'. He wasn't on any dating websites either. That thought spawned another, 'Is this Jacob guy married?'
Most old guys are but what if he's not. I think I'd feel more comfortable if he had a wife. Maybe that's why he said yes when Jenks asked him about being my legal guardian. Maybe him and his wife couldn't have children so now they see me as like, their almost grown adopted child.
I seriously hoped that wasn't the case. I never really had parents so we're going to have a problem if they think they can try to be mine now.
As I was standing there waiting for the ceremony to start I saw someone approaching me. He was about 5'7 and probably in his late thirties. He had dark blond spiked hair with pale blond highlights, he was also one of those fake tanned people there. He smiled at me, he was mildly attractive I suppose. But you could tell by the cocky way he acted, that he thought he was more than just sorta attractive. I severely hoped this wasn't Jacob Black.
"Hi, I'm Mike Newton." He said with that creepy smile on his face. I immediately thanked my lucky stars that he didn't just say 'Hi, I'm Jacob Black'.
"Renesmee Cullen" I said hoping 11:00 would just come so I didn't have to talk to this guy.
"I thought so, you look so much like Bella. So beautiful." Ah he called her Bella and said we were beautiful. So he knew my mother, he probably went to high school with my parents. That would make sense considering his age looked to be about thirty-six or thirty-seven.
"Oh so you knew my mother?" I asked hoping he'd tell me I was right about them going to high school together. I didn't respond to his beautiful comment because it was well, frankly inappropriate.
"Oh yeah we went to high school together. We were pretty good friends but then Bella got married and moved away." Yes, knew it about the high school thing. He pouted bitterly as he said the last sentence. I got the feeling he had a crush on my mom. That would explain why he didn't mention my dad even though he would have known him too.
I just nodded not knowing what to say.
"But wow yeah you really look like Bella." He looked me up and down appreciatively. I knew that wasn't true. I've seen pictures, and the only part of me that resembled my mother was the color of my eyes. Everything else was my father's, except for my curly hair I got from Charlie and my pouty lips I didn't seem to get from anyone I know. He only said I looked like my mother because he obviously was jealous of my father, and didn't want to admit I looked just like him.
"So how old are you know?" He asked when I didn't say anything. It was really creepy that he kept flirting with me. I mean did he really think that he could have me since he couldn't have my mother? Did he really think I would go for someone who was old enough to be my father?
"I'm seventeen." I said proudly because I wasn't yet legal and he was old.
"One more year then." He said mostly to himself while he smiled that creepy smile and winked at me. I resisted my natural urge to gag.
It looked like the funeral was going to start soon, so much to my pleasure he walked away. I looked at my watch and sure enough it was 10:58.
I took a seat in front because I was his family after all.
I causally looked around seeing if I knew anybody. I didn't. Other than Mike Newton, who winked at me once again when our eyes met. After that I didn't want to look around anymore, in fear that he thinks I'm looking for or at him.
I still couldn't help but wonder if Jacob was here. And if he was, would he know who I was? Jenks said he would be here. Then again if he's not I can go back home.
'Where would I be living anyway?' I really hope it wasn't in Forks but I've had such bad luck so far that who knows?
The funeral guy was talking about loss or some other stuff. I wasn't paying attention because I heard it all before.
"We have Charlie Swan's granddaughter Ruh-nez-may, here who would like to say a few words" He said calling me up. I wrote out my name like that so he would pronounce it right, but he said it so slow it mad him look like a retard. Although that would be offensive to retards. As he said my name a few chuckles came out from the back row.
I turned my head to see who was laughing so I could kill them later. You know for future references, and all that.
The back row held three Quileute looking men with shortish black hair, and one Quileute looking woman with a wedged haircut. They appeared to be in their twenty's except for the woman who looked to be in her thirties. They seemed tall because even when sitting down they were higher than the others. They also looked muscular because of how their suit coats fit them. They were all very attractive. It all looked like they were biting their lip or tongue in an effort to stop laughing. Except the woman who looked pissed, most likely because she was embarrassed that people were staring at her and the children sitting next to her. She elbowed the one sitting next to her and whispered to them loudly to "shut up".
I didn't remember seeing them when I first came in so they must have just gotten here.
Once everyone stopped looking at the animals in the back row. The Funeral guy who's name I didn't remember asked once again for me to come up. Except this time he called me Miss Cullen probably to stop the laughter. But you still could hear three girly giggles, because they knew they were the reason he didn't call me by my first name.
I got up and went to the small platform. I heard some gasps from the animals in, of course the back row. My face burned once again from being embarrassed. But I wasn't going to let myself be deterred.
While not looking in the back row I started. "My grandfather was a man of few words." As soon as I said that the door opened and in came a man. I was so irritated I couldn't believe that people could be so rude as to interrupt at a funeral. A man just died for Pete-sakes. But then I saw the man.
He had the same russet skin tone as the others but I believe it looked better on him. He was very tall 6'5 to 6'7 maybe and very muscular. Age wise he was most likely in his mid to late twenties. He had thick but silky black hair that was styled sorta faux hawkish, but more loose and natural and without all the hair-gel. He had deep dark brown wide eyes, with high cheekbones under them. And he had full lips that were a shade darker than his skin. He had a cute nose and a strong jaw with a cleft chin so deep it looked like a dimple. He was beyond gorgeous.
His eyes met mine and it was like an instant spark. I always hated Chemistry class, but this was like a whole new chemistry. I found myself wanting to know who this mystery man was.
He sat down next to the people making all the laughing noises. I hoped he wasn't an ignorant child like they were.
I realized I was still standing on the platform supposed to be talking about my dead grandfather. So I snapped out of it.
"As I was saying, my grandfather was a man of few words" The mystery man's dark eyes widened in shock at something I said and the three men chuckling looked at him and laughed harder.
I still continued with my little speech."If Charlie was here he would have told us not to make a fuss about him. He was never one for attention. I guess he left the dramatics to me. He hated speeches so I'm going to make this as quick as I can for him. He was the kindest sweetest person I'd ever met. He loved Forks and would be very happy that you could all be hear for him, because you were his family. He wouldn't have wanted us to be sad, he would have wanted us to go fishing and have a 'Vitamin R' for him." The audience was clapping and I heard a few whistles. Unorthodox for a funeral but Charlie would have approved.
Once the clapping stopped I looked into the audience and said "He meant the world to me, so thank you for being here." And I quickly walked off the platform and to my seat in the front row.
I saw tears welling in my eyes and I felt them spill over. I was glad that I decided to wear waterproof mascara, today. No matter how shallow it sounded I didn't want these people to see me cry. Most people who knew my life story pitied me, and I didn't want that. I didn't want mystery man to pity me.
Then the funeral guy came up on the platform and said "Thank you Miss Cullen for those kind words."
While I was wondering how mystery man knew Charlie. Funeral Guy spoke. "I now would like to ask a friend of Charlie's, Jacob Black to come up as he would like to say a few things as well." My heart hammered in my chest as I was now going to see the man I was going to be living with for the next year. I heard heavy footsteps but I was too nervous to turn around and look.
He walked up on the platform and turned around. My eyes widened and my mouth dropped in shock. As my gorgeous mystery man was the one who was on the platform.
His eyes once again met mine and he looked embarrassed and worried as he searched my face for an expression. The only one he got in return was shock.
The first thing I thought was maybe Jacob's not here, and my mystery man just came up to tell us so. Then it dawned on me that Jacob Black and Mystery Man who previously were two separate entities were one in the same. Jacob Black was the Mystery Man. The Mystery Man was Jacob Black. Jacob Black was an attractive man not the creepy old fart I thought he was.
Which meant that I was going to have to live with him for a whole year. And he was to be my legal guardian (parent) while I his ward (child) was supposed to listen and crap because I'm a minor.
Oh my freaking Gosh...