DISCLAIMER: I do not own Twilight or any characters, settings, etc. associated with it, nor do I own any of the music used in this chapter. Also, there are links to all outfits, rooms, cars, etc. mentioned in this story
BPOV AGE 17
It's been 7 years since Rene took me away from Charlie, and those 8 years have been the worst of my life. Rene is a terrible mother, and her wanting any part of my life was just for publicity, just as Charlie had predicted.
Once we had arrived in LA, Rene had told me that I was allowed one phone call to Charlie, and one to Edward and Emmett, and then I was never allowed to speak to them again.
Edward and Emmett were upset when I called them, and I cried as I spoke to them. Charlie was angry, but admitted he was not surprised. He told me he knew he'd see me again someday, and that I had the strength to get through whatever life threw at me, including Rene.
Charlie's words stuck with me, and helped a lot throughout my life with Rene. That life consisted of a lot of neglect as she was off filming movies or being a movie star. Rene took no interest in me, unless she had set something up as a publicity stunt.
I have been enrolled in a stupid private school since 5th grade, and it is now the summer before my senior year. God, this is the most important year of my adolescent life, and I'm going to be spending it in a school where everybody hates me because I refuse to conform to the ridiculous preppy attitude that everyone else has. The girls at my school freak if anyone is wearing the same clothes as them, but they all shop at the same three stores. Idiots.
The only thing that had gotten me through the past year and a half was my boyfriend, Jacob, who was actually one of the most popular guys in school. However, he broke up with me just before the end of the school year because I'm not "cool" enough or something. So, he turned out to be a douche.
I wonder how Edward and Emmett turned out. I bet they're not complete assholes. They couldn't be, not with Carlisle and Esme involved in their childhoods.
I sighed deeply, and it seemed to echo through the empty house. Once I turned 15, Esme stopped hiring nannies and usually left me alone for months at a time in her giant house while she filmed movies. Which is actually what she is doing now. Apparently, she will be gone until November filming some stupid vampire movie with the hottest up-and-coming actor.
She's gone until November. There is absolutely nothing keeping me here. I could go back to Forks if I wanted to. And I do. More than anything. I miss my dad, and my friends, who are probably the most incredible guys. Jacob broke up with me. There is absolutely nothing for me here in LA.
With that in mind, I made my way to my room and began packing the essentials: my MacBook, my extensive CD collection (another thing that made me a freak to the kids at school), my guitars (all Gibson, one Joan Jett Blackheart, one amethyst B.B. King Lucille Limited, and one acoustic Songwriter Deluxe), my journal/songbooks, and any clothes/accessories I had that I actually liked, which ended up filling two suitcases.
Once I was packed, I grabbed the emergency debit card for the account I had been sneaking money into since I was thirteen (apparently banks don't care about age when your mother is Rene Dwyer) and put it in my wallet along with all of my essential cards and information, and then I went to the safe Rene had and grabbed a handful of bills, probably about ten grand, from there. I doubted Rene would notice, but I decided to leave a note explaining what I had done anyway.
The note was written, and all that was left to do was leave. I shoved my iPod and cell phone into my pockets, and put my wallet in the one purse I owned that I actually liked, a small silver/blue/purple sequined Coach purse with a chain link strap, something that I never in a million years would have imagined that I would have liked. I loaded all of my stuff into my silver Lexus IC S hardtop convertible, putting my suitcases and guitars in the surprisingly large trunk, and my computer, guitar equipment and boxes of CDs in the backseat.
I was about to climb into the car when I realized I was forgetting something. My bike. It was at that moment that I fully realized how much my mother had tried to buy my love as well.
I hooked the trailer I had gotten for the transportation of my motorcycle to the specially installed trailer ball on the back of my car, and carefully rolled my dark red and black Harley-Davidson Superlow into it, strapping it securely into place.
With that, I was finally able to get into my car. I punched the Forks Police Station into my GPS, and began my 20 hour drive home blasting Down With Webster.
I built my soul on rock and roll
But someone told me kids don't rock no more
Oh, oh, oh, oh
It's time to win!
I had left LA at 10:30 the previous morning, and had stopped to sleep for a few hours in an empty parking lot. Because of this, I arrived at the Forks Police Station at about 4:00 the next afternoon.
I walked into the station and right to the nearest desk.
"Hi. I'm looking for Charlie Swan?" I asked the young guy at the desk, obviously a rookie.
He looked me up and down quite obviously before answering, "May I ask what for?"
I blushed, realizing how revealing my outfit was (a pair of tight red short shorts made from a sweatpants material, and a loose, cropped white tee that exposed quite a bit of my stomach), and answered, "He's my father. But can you not tell him I'm here? I want to surprise him."
The officer's eyes immediately snapped from my legs to my eyes as he instructed me on where my dad's office was.
I made my way to the office before coming to a slightly open door that read 'Chief Swan'.
"Chief, huh? Who knew you had it in you, old man." I said jokingly, entering the office.
Turning around, Charlie looked slightly aggravated before his eyes landed on me, and he paled slightly. "Bells?"
"Yeah, dad. It's me." I said smiling. Before I could say anything else, I had been engulfed in a huge hug.
"I can't believe you're here. I thought I was never going to see you again."
"Yeah, well, I realized that I'm 17, I have a car, and Rene is somewhere shooting a movie until November. What better time was there for me to come back here?"
Laughing, he replied, "I guess that's true. She's going to be pissed when she finds out you're gone though."
"I'll be eighteen by the time she gets back to California. She won't be able to do anything."
"I guess that's true, isn't it? Listen Bells, I'm stuck here until 6:30, but here is a spare key so you can get into the house, I still live in the same one. You can go right ahead and get settled. I haven't changed your room at all, so you're free to do whatever you want with it."
"Okay, thanks dad. Do the Cullens still live next door? I might see if I can get Edward help me unload my car," I said laughing.
"They do," he replied, chuckling.
With one last hug, we said our goodbyes and I made my way to my car, before driving to my childhood home.
As I pulled into the driveway, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was finally home.
I climbed out of the car, and noticed to teenage boys in front of the Cullen house playing catch with a football. One of them was tall and extremely muscular with curly brown hair, the other was tall and lean, but still obviously muscular, with tousled bronze-ish hair. I closed the door a little extra loudly, and they both turned to see me.
"Sorry miss. The chief isn't home right now," the bronze haired boy, who could only be Edward, told me.
"I'm very much aware of that Eddie. I just got back from the police station to let him know that I'm back in town."
"Bella?" Edward said, confused.
I was able to nod briefly before I was swept up in a bone-crushing hug. "Bella-boo! I knew you'd come back to me eventually. The evil Rene couldn't keep you away forever!"
"Em. I need to breathe," I said. Once he put me down I continued, "But yeah, I'm back. Rene's away filming for the next five months, so I figured there was no time like the present to run away. Plus, I kind of missed my boys." I finished, smiling widely at the two of them.
Suddenly, I was pulled into a second hug, a much gentler one than the first, by Edward. "I missed you, Bells. So much," He muttered into my hair.
I squeezed him back, saying, "I missed you too," before pulling away slightly. "So. Who wants to help me unpack my crap?"
Both boys agreed to it pretty quickly, something I was grateful for.
"Bells, why do you have so many guitars?" Emmett asked, once all three had been laid out on my bed.
"Music was one of the only things that helped me get through living with Rene. Also, she wanted to buy my love, so it wasn't that difficult to convince her to buy them for me."
"So that's all of the stuff I need in here," I said, because my suitcases, CDs, equipment and computer had all been brought up as well, "but there's one more thing in the trailer that I need to put in the garage. Even though Charlie will probably kill me for owning it."
Their curiosity had been sparked, so the two boys followed me downstairs and up to the trailer that my bike was in. As I opened the door, they both gasped.
"Holy shit, Bells. That thing is gorgeous." Edward said.
"I know," I smiled proudly.
"Jasper's gonna be so freaking jealous when he sees this," Emmett said.
"Who's Jasper?" I asked. My curiosity spiking.
"Our friend. You'll love him, Bells. Him and my girlfriend Rose and Edward's girlfriend Alice are coming over tomorrow! You can meet them all then!" Emmett said, obviously very excited.
"Okay," I laughed, "Maybe you guys can all come over and help me paint my room," I said jokingly.
"Yeah we can!" Emmett explained, while Edward nodded his agreement.
"You should ask everyone else first…" I said.
"I'm sure they'll agree to it," Edward said as Charlie's cruiser pulled into the driveway.
"Hello boys. Thanks for helping Bella out."
"No problem sir. We should probably be going though. My mom's going to be calling us in for dinner any minute."
"Okay, boys. See you around," my father responded.
I hugged each of them quickly before turning to my father.
"Dad, I have to show you something. And please, please don't kill me for it."
"I can't imagine wanting to kill you for anything right now. I'm too happy to have you back," he smiled.
"You say that now," I said as I pulled open the door to the trailer, bracing myself for the yelling.
"That's a nice bike Bells. I trust you to be able to ride it. However, I do not want you riding it here in Forks unless it has been at least two days without rain, and there is no forecast for rain for that day."
"So, never then?" I asked jokingly.
He chuckled before moving it into the garage. We then moved the trailer around to the back of the house, and parked the car in the garage.
I spent the rest of the night with Charlie, just getting to know each other again. I was revelling in the fact that I could talk to my father again. Charlie had to work in the morning, and I was planning to wake up early to go get supplies for my room, so we went to bed around midnight.
I fell asleep feeling happier and more content than I had in years.