4. Chief Swan

As I took stock of the school year it followed a similar pattern as the previous years. Halloween, trick or treating as a character from one of my books, dressed in the turn of the century gown this year. I was a different character the year before. For some reason I like the thought of dressing in gowns that were wore in a different time. The early 1900s always interested me. I would often think about what it would be like to have lived in that time.

Thanksgivings we were in California with Gran and a couple days at the beach playing on the pier and eating cotton candy. Then Christmas at our house, all very low key with simple presents. My mom always got me a book or clothes, but usually not something I liked to read or wear, but she tried. The following months nothing exciting happened. A couple other trips with the girls to the mall, I turned down more than I went to. Shopping, still not my idea of a good time.

I remembered that would be the last Christmas my mom's mom was with us, she passed away just a few months later. Renée took it hard. She kept going because that was what was expected, but she grieved for a while and after the funeral she was a wreck for a couple days. I helped best I could, but I never had feelings like that for someone before, my grandma was my mother's whole world. She bounced back as she always does, made her peace with it and kept grandma forever in her thoughts as I did.

As my 6th grade class came to a close I was once again faced with a return trip to Forks. As much as I like visiting with Charlie I really could do without a month straight of rain. But, since he is my dad I would bite my tongue, smile and head up there. I guess I always do things for others first, but someone had to look after my mom; it sure wasn't going to be her. And Charlie needed me too. We didn't need to show our emotions to know we cared about each other, it was just understood.

As if to prove my point my mom was still not ready. "Mom, are you about ready to take me to the airport? We have to be there in an hour!"

"OK, OK, I am here, you got everything?"

"Yes, right here, I am ready when you are. Also I left the grocery list on the fridge and the bills on the desk." I stated, though it was obvious with a suitcase in my hand.

After a quick drive to the airport I was off to see Charlie, I would really have to start to think of him as dad, he didn't like it to much when I called him Charlie, maybe I could call him Chief Swan, since he got a promotion since I saw him last. As always the airport was busy, nothing new. My mom took me as far as possible and then I was left with the airline employees. After a plane ride to Seattle and another little jump up to Port Angeles, I was giving a hug to Chief Swan and getting in his police cruiser.

"Hey dad, congratulations on becoming Police Chief." I said with a sincere smile.

"Thanks Bells." He had a genuine smile that made it all the way to his eyes. One thing I really liked about Charlie is he wasn't overly emotional. He was never comfortable expressing them, something else I inherited from him. But it was nice to see him really smile, the kind of smile that reaches your eyes. Another good thing about Charlie, he was a man of few words. The rest of the ride consisted of the smallest amount of small talk, how is Renée, how was school, make some new friends, meet any boys, that last one is always the one he cringes at. I guess it would be true to say that no father wants to hear about how their daughter is starting to like boys, lucky for him I really don't like boys my age and am too young for someone mature enough for me to connect with.

We get to his house for the start of my summer vacation. Having to share a bathroom is bad, having to share a bathroom with your dad is worse. Luckily I am not into makeup and hours of primping and playing with my hair. When guys ignore you and you really aren't that into it, there really isn't much use in getting done up. My room still hasn't changed, not that I expected it too really, but maybe a fresh coat of paint, once a decade, wouldn't kill him. So right on cue our month long routine begins as we head to the local diner for dinner. I really am going to have to say something about this as I grab my coat because, surprise surprise, it is raining.

My dad took me fishing, again, the first Saturday; I fall in the lake and after 11 years of this constant pain I had had enough. I usually don't throw tantrums, I was fairly easy going, but I couldn't take it anymore and much to my surprise, and delight that ended the fishing trips. A couple weeks go by with the same old thing, the Blacks come down a couple times we head up to the reservation a couple times. We would visit the tide pools and would put me together with Billy's kids at the beach. The twins would layout the whole time, Jacob would build a sand castle or go swimming and I would sit and read a book.

I cooked dinner for him a couple nights, no point in him knowing I do all the cooking at home. There are only so many times you can eat at the dinner in a row though. I didn't mind cooking, it was just this was my vacation and all. Much to my surprise we actually took a quick trip to the tourist area of Port Angeles. Not that we really did much, I wasn't a shopper, but we walked around, it was something different to do at least. Other than that it was pretty boring and very predictable, nothing exciting ever happens in Forks.

The morning of my departure I wake up to an almost nice day. It is brighter than normal and not raining. Walking out of the house at noon, my favorite time of the day, high noon, I look up at the sky, expecting a big bright sun to greet me. No such luck, as I look back at Charlie's house, not really wanting to come back next year. I flop in the car and we're off the airport. As I was flying home I came to the decision that I will make next year my last year going up there. I guess I owe him one more year, but I am done with Forks, forever if it is up to me. I will have to find somewhere we can both go to spend my time with Charlie.

My mom picked me up at the airport and started berating me with questions. "So how is Forks? Still as rainy and gloomy as ever I take it. Did you at least try and have a good time? I bet you ate at that diner almost every day. Did you make any friends while you were there?" I don't think she stopped till we got home. All I could do between the 20 questions was wonder about what kind of person would want to live in Forks; it is inhuman to put someone through a sunless life!