Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
An: I apologize for the no updates thing this past weekend. Hubs took me on a mini vacation to celebrate my b-day. It was such a great, relaxing, kid-free weekend, that I decided to not bother with my laptop. Anyway, let's meet Edward, shall we?
Can't Help Myself: Chapter 4
Back to the past …
The first thing I realize is that Forks is very different than Phoenix. Charlie wasn't lying about the rain.
It's unrelenting. My first full day in the dreary town and the sky is pouring buckets. I guess it's only fair that the weather matches my mood about being so far from home.
Phoenix is home for me, no matter where my father might live.
Alice is the only thing that makes the day better because my cousin makes everything better. Her personality is cheerful and excited, but also boarding on psychotic most days. It is why I love her so much. She perfectly balances out my moody disposition.
As my mother would say: I am the perfect definition of a moody, hostile teenager.
Go figure.
Charlie has to work, but he promises that he'll be home early.
When he leaves, uniform on and gun belt around his waist, I know the real reason Alice is here – my father didn't even take off of work to spend time with me. The realization hurt when he left this morning. Sadly, it is a feeling I am acquainted with quite often when concerning him.
At least for the past two years it case been anyway.
The more childish side of me wants to give him the silent treatment when he gets home, letting him now his absence stings. I came here to visit my father, not stay around the house while he works all day.
However, my mother told me I should behave myself, and I know Alice would not approve of my immature behavior, so instead I try not to think about my father at all throughout the day.
Alice and I spend our free time finishing our girlish talks from the night before as we watch lame made-for-TV movies. The Lifetime channel is our personal favorite, and we spend the day bouncing between laughing our butts off and crying our eyes out.
This channel did us in every time.
We pig out on the junk food Charlie bought for us (or rather, Alice and her mother, my Aunt Mary, bought when Alice arrived two days ago), and then for lunch we attempt grilled cheese sandwiches. Mine is half burnt, but I'm only just learning how to cook so I don't mind too much.
Back in Phoenix, I have to fend for myself most nights since my mom works late. It's been that way since the divorce, but she promises that things will change soon. I'm not sure what that means exactly. If it means I get to see more of my mom though, I can't see it being a bad thing.
"Do you hear that?" Alice asks suddenly.
We're seated on two of the mismatched chairs in Charlie's kitchen.
I pull the sandwich away from my mouth and eye her curiously. I listen, but all I hear is silence.
"No, I don't hear a thing."
She grins widely. "Exactly."
My lips curve upwards as I catch on to her meaning: the rain has finally stopped.
I'm eager to get outside, away from the inside of a house that isn't my home.
Typically I am the furthest thing from an outdoors girl. I much prefer a cozy chair and a good book as a way to spend my time.
There is a small part of me, however, that must admit I am curious about this little town, and exploring a new place sounds much better than sitting around and doing nothing. Having Alice by my side to show me around definitely makes the idea much more pleasant.
Whereas I grew up in the sunny, dry state of Arizona, my cousin was unfortunately enough to have lived in the overcast, wet state of Washington. She was born and raised in the city of Port Angeles, a slightly larger town than Forks that is just under an hour's drive from here.
Or, so she's told me because I have never been to Washington before, let alone Port Angeles. She's used to the spending her days outside, so the wet ground and chilly breeze doesn't affect her in the slightest.
The rain has cooled the temperature down by several degrees, so despite the fact it is summer Alice and I are both wearing jeans and light, long-sleeved tees. There's a large patio with a porch swing attached to the front of Charlie's house, and it is perfect for us to sit on.
We each sit sideways on the swing, our legs crossing over the other in the middle. I breathe in deeply, enjoying the fresh air, though my nose crinkles when I realize it mostly smells of wet grass and trees.
"How can you live here?" I don't mean to sound as rude as I probably do, but I know Alice knows me well enough to look past my less than perfect personality.
She shrugs, not replying one way or the other. Her eyes are closed and her head is tipped back against the arm rest.
I'm about to do the same when I hear a door open and close – well, more like slam – from the house next door.
Alice's words from last night flit through my mind, and I sit up a little straighter, wondering if the person who has stepped outside is the elusive neighbor boy.
I have to shift from side to side a little to get a good view because Alice is sitting directly in my way. She may be very small, but it doesn't make it any easier to see around her. Whoever is over there is sitting on the ledge of their own front porch. One knee is pulled up to their chest while the other dangles freely over the side.
Momentarily I'm worried he's going to fall right off, but then I try to remind myself that he probably sits like that all the time.
My eyes follow the swaying motion of his foot, which most definitely belongs to a kid – he's wearing sneakers, black converse-type ones that are covered in grass stains– his legs seem scrawny but are covered in jeans that have a several visible holes.
His torso is bent over the one knee that he still has pressed against his chest. A snug navy tee covers his upper body which also appears to be as skinny as I am. Does he eat? I wonder to myself.
When I move past his shoulders, my steady gaze still soaking in every bit of him, I see he has his head turned in our direction, eyes watching me just as steadily as I am watching him.
At thirteen I had yet to have a boyfriend. There was a kid in my seventh grade class I thought was cute, one of the first and only I had ever had a crush on, but I'd never spoken to him.
This boy, however, is making my stomach flutter and my skin tingle in ways I don't understand. His eyes are intense as they stare at me, and I wonder if he has yet to blink. There's this feeling in the pit of my stomach that tugs, almost painfully, in a want – a need – to go speak to him. To reach out to him.
Anything.
But I don't know this boy, so I don't move from my seat.
"Edward!" Alice's loud voice startles the both of us, and I watch in horror as "Edward" jumps at the sound and then promptly falls off his spot on the ledge. "Quit being a creeper and get over here to meet my cousin Bella!" She finishes just as shrilly.
An: Today is my actual birthday, so please leave a review? I hear they make great birthday presents.