PCA: Pacific Coast Academy

Chapter Two: Unwanted Choices

-For all you who will still read and review this, even though I practically fell off the face of the planet.

BPOV

"Bella… Bella… Come on, kid, we're almost there."

I grumbled agitatedly at the sound of Charlie's voice. The soft grasp that sleep had had on me was now slowly dissipating, and in its place grogginess consumed me as I slowly opened my eyes.

"'choo say? Lemme slee…" I managed out; even I was hardly able to understand myself.

Charlie chuckled at me.

"Ha! Come on, Bella. We've just turned off the highway, and we're about ten, maybe fifteen, minutes off the turn depending on traffic. I figured you'd like to wipe the drool off your face before you see Jade again," he quipped as I shrugged in my seat. Straightening up from my previously slouched position, I drug my hand across my face and blinked a few times. It wasn't as bright outside as it had been before, and for that, I was immensely grateful.

Letting out a lion-like yawn, I turned to Charlie, whose eyes were turned intently onto the road. I craned my neck around and saw that Hunter was absorbed in the flashing scenery outside as he gummed his bottom lip. I smirked and turned back around to the front.

We were both silent for a few moments, which allowed me to slowly wake up minute by minute. I hadn't known how long I had slept, but looking at the clock I saw that it had been nearly an hour and a half since we had left the airport.

"I hope I didn't leave you too busy with driving and dealing with Hunter while I was asleep," I apologized, realizing that my absence from consciousness had left Charlie in charge.

He shrugged. "Kid was so interested in what was going on outside that he wasn't much trouble. I babbled at him for a bit, and he kept me some quiet company. I let you sleep for a while; you looked plum tuckered out," he explained.

"Well thank you," I consented. "I feel a lot better, and at least I won't be so tired when we see Jade."

"Aye, but she's been talking about being able to see you for so long now that she probably wouldn't realize if you had come home sleep walking and half dead."

We both laughed at that, and fell into a comfortable silence. He wasn't a man of many words, and when he had said all he had, that was what you would get: silence. It wasn't one of those awkwardly silent silences where everyone is looking around and wondering what the other person is thinking, but one of those quiet moments where it was peaceful enough to hear your own thoughts and not really care or worry about what the other was thinking or feeling or wanting at that particular time. It was one of the things that I loved most about Charlie that was so contradictory about my mother. She would talk your ear off to fill in the empty space around her, but with Charlie, a lack of speech was just what made every moment with him a relaxing one.

About five minutes later, we began to slow as we came upon a green sign that said 'Cambridge Rd. Exit 109 South' got closer. We pulled off at it, and if my memory stood solid, it was only a few more moments before we would finally be at Charlie's house.

My new home.

I was suddenly pumped up and excited. This was real. This was actually happening; I was so happy. I turned and looked out the window and took in all the surroundings with the remaining ten minutes of our trip. From every little gas station and convenience store to the neighborhoods that branched off of the main road and each individual pedestrian that walked along the sidewalk from an elderly couple to a slim woman who was walking her dog, I made mental observations of them as we made a smooth left-hand turn onto a street that said 'Babcock Ave.'

"I hope Jade made something to eat once she got home. I'm so starved I could eat a cow," Charlie commented.

"Ha, how's Jade's cooking coming along?" I asked. Jade worked during the days at a small daycare about half an hour away from where Charlie lived but took classes as a culinary chef at a small community culinary school for something extra to do every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night. Like mother, she tried out different things with cooking. Unlike my mother, however, she actually kept tight hold on her interest in the craft. Her cooking pretty good for someone who didn't take formal classes.

"Ah, it's something to die for. She made this lasagna the other night… Well, you would have loved it."

"I bet I would have," I agreed.

"Sure thing…" he trailed off. As we passed houses and made a couple of turns, we slowed down again. "And here… we… are!" Charlie exclaimed enthusiastically. It felt like my face could crack with the force of the wide smile that was on my face. The gravel crunched and groaned under the tires as they pulled into the driveway and came to a quiet stop.

I heard Charlie's door open on the other side of me, but I ignored it as I continued to stay put in my seat and take in the sight in front of me.

I had seen pictures of the house before after Charlie and Jade bought it together two years back, but I had never been here and seeing it up close and in person for the first time was like seeing a transition from a flat black and white photo to a multi-chromatic three dimensional picture for me. The house itself was a familiar and safe shade of light yellow, almost so faint that you couldn't detect the hint of sun mixed in with it. The door was dark and faded the color of scarlet cranberries with an almost matching set of brick stairs leading up to it. It had two stories with medium sized curtained windows at each level. It seemed entirely fitting and right with a white house and a light crème house about five yards on either of its sides, and with the two towering palm trees in the front, the whole picture was put together as if crafted brushstroke by brushstroke by a skilled artist with nothing but his own creativity and will.

I jumped, pulled out of my ogling of the house, at the sudden sound of banging next to my ear. I looked out the window, spooked, to unexpectedly see Jade on the other side of the tinted glass, waving frantically at me with a wide smile on her slim face.

"Are you just gonna sit there or are you going to come out and say hi to me?" she said with a voice muffled by our car-door barrier.

I jumped out of the car as soon as she had stepped back from the door. not two seconds after I had both of my feet on the solid ground beneath me did she throw her arms around my shoulders and pull me into her embrace.

"Oh Bella, it's so amazing to see you!" she exclaimed into my ear. I laughed. This was the Jade that I remembered from the first moment that I saw her, the Jade that I talked to on the phone and emailed and held onto for comfort when Hunter was born and mom was in tears and couldn't believe that I had actually given birth to a son in front of her very wide eyes. She was a second mom to me, and as soon as I heard her voice and felt her tangibility wrapped around me in her hug, I knew that this was a good place for me to be.

"You too, it's been way too long," I said as we finally pulled apart. She stood back, taking me in as I did the same. She was just over two inches taller than me with the same basic frame. Her auburn hair was cut short and straight into a bob, however, and was an interesting but flattering change from her previously curly shoulder-length make-up that she had had. Her skin was kissed with the glow of being out in the sun daily, and her sparkling blue eyes contained the mischievous hint of a child waiting to burst forth out of its adultness, but held the aged wisdom of someone who knew how to keep the toddler inside at bay. Her white inch-below-the-knee shorts and green tank top looked amazing on her, and on her feet there was nothing but the color of red nail polish slowly chipping off the edges.

I smiled. "You're looking good these days, Jade."

She laughed. "Why thank you Bella. I hadn't taken the time to notice, what with work and then classes and of course taking care of your father," she added at the end. "Speaking of which," she said as she craned her neck around to see behind me. "Where is that man? Up to no good, I presume?"

"No, nothing of the sort," said Charlie's indignant voice from somewhere behind us. I heard something slam close and gravel crunch as I turned around to him coming up behind us with Hunter on his hip and one of my suitcases clutched in the other rolling on the ground. "I was letting you girls have some time and that gave me a chance to unload the back so now all I have to do is take your things inside, Bells," he said, giving me a glace.

I began to protest. "Dad, you don't have to—" but he interrupted me.

"Bella, you've had a long flight. You've had a long car ride. Chill and relax a little. It's just a few bags, and you and Hunter can go with Jade and see your room while I bring everything in. Go, go on. I'm not so old that I can't handle a few things on my own," he chuckled. I rolled my eyes.

"Fine, but don't come complaining to me about your sciatica, okay?"

He huffed. "Oh hush. Here, take Hunter and show him around. I'll be in in a moment."

I moved forward to get Hunter, cradling him easily in my arms where he fit perfectly. His tiny hands griped at the fabric of my shirt and his head lay on my shoulder. The warmth from his cheeks radiated on me, and I smiled as we proceeded forward.

Jade began talking as we walked up to the front of the steps. "So I have your room situated and everything. I looked at the pictures you sent of your room back in Nevada, and I made sure that Hunter had his own little place as well outside of your room for where he can play and put all his toys and clothes and things. I double checked with Charlie to make sure that your favorites were in there as well and…"

I listened intently as she continued to describe all the things that she and Charlie had done for Hunter and I as we made our way inside. She pointed out the living room and kitchen briefly as we passed them, making a beeline towards a set of handsome stairs and qualifying that we would see the rest of the house more thoroughly once we got settled in. we began to climb and I hoisted Hunter higher on my hip as we got to the top of the stairs. There was a two-way split from the top where we came too, but Jade wasted no time in continuing on down the hallway to the left.

"…and there's the linen closet. You and Hunter can have all your towels and toiletries in there; Charlie and I moved our things into where our bathroom is so that you would have enough room. Speaking of which, our room is down the other end of the hallway, last door on the right."

"Cool," I mused.

"Yes," she agreed absently. "There's the bathroom, not as big as the master bathroom, but it's quite nice. Mom and Dad like it when they visit, at any rate," she mentioned.

"Your mother and father visit?" I asked, intrigued; I had never met her parents before. I was interested.

"Oh yes, as many times as they can when they come down from Washington," she told me.

"Cool," I found myself saying again, mentally thumping my brain for having nothing more interesting to say.

She laughed beside me.

"Quite. And here, Bella, is yours and Hunter's room," she said, making a gesture at the door that we had come to on the right. I assumed that she wanted me to open the door, as she made no move to do it herself. I stepped forward, not entirely sure if the feeling in the pit of my stomach was one of excitement or nervousness, and grasped the shiny brass knob in front of me after shifting Hunter once more on my hip and pushed.

As soon as I stepped inside I gasped; the room was beautiful. The walls there buttery crème with what looked like purple satin curtains on the two windows that stood side by side far right wall. A handsome cherry wood dresser stood near the door, and on top of it was a small mirror, a matching jewelry box, and a couple of picture frames. Upon further inspection, I saw were pictures from when Hunter was born and Jade and Charlie had come to Nevada Regional to help.

Beside the dresser was a wonderful wooden crib. It was sturdy looking and perfectly suited for Hunter. It had light blue covers on it, and an assortment of stuffed animals around the edge of it, creating the look of a nest inside the crib.

Next, my eyes came to rest on a bed, either slightly larger or smaller than a queen size—I couldn't quite tell at the moment, nor did I really care—with a purple bedspread over it that was one or two shades darker than the curtains on the windows. It had two giant, fluffy white pillows at its head, and I wanted nothing more than to run and jump onto the bed like a small child again.

"Do you like it?" Jade whispered beside me. her voice sounded as if she was fearful that I didn't.

Like that was even possible.

"Jade, I love it," I said, turning around and giving her as big a hug that I could with Hunter in my arms. When we pulled away, she wore a huge grin.

"I'm glad. I didn't know if you'd want posters or which ones you'd bring with you, but if you want, we can always go shopping for some tomorrow? Does that sound good?" she asked. I smiled.

"Of course."

"Good. Now," she said, going from playful to all serious. "Where on earth is your father?"

"Oi! Bella, what on God's green planet of freedom is in this bag?!?" we heard Charlie's incredulous voice from somewhere down the stairs.

Jade and I both burst into a fit of laughter before going downstairs to help Charlie drag up my bags.

It was good to be home.

After Charlie, Jade and I brought all my things up, they both offered to help unpack. I declined, and it only took me about two and a half hours to put all of mine and Hunter's things away. I hadn't brought any of my posters from back in Nevada; the price for shipping them in their containers was more than what I was willing to let my mother and Phil pay. They'd be there when I went to visit.

If I ever did visit.

So once everything was put away, mine and Hunter's clothes in the closet and dressers, and his toys and playpen in his little playroom that Jade and Charlie put together—which was painted the same pale blue that his bed was, with a cloud scene detailed on the walls—and the toiletries put where they needed to be, I took Hunter and headed downstairs.

As soon as we hit the middle of the stairs, a delicious smell assaulted my nose. Instantaneously my mouth began to water, and I was ravenous by the time we were at the bottom of the stairs.

"Mm. Time to eat," I told Hunter absently. He crooned at me, looking around with his wide eyes at his new surroundings.

"Bella? That you? Come on, dinner's almost done." Charlie's somewhat impatient voice came floating to me from the direction of where I remembered the kitchen to be, and I followed it—and the growing scent and prospect of food—into where Jade and Charlie were.

"God this smells great," I said making my way to the stove where Jade was currently occupied. Peeking inside the pot that she was over, I saw that it was filled with a creamy white sauce and long pale noodles.

"Fettuccini alfredo?" I guessed, going out on a limb.

"Very much so. I got a recipe from one of my friends down at the daycare center, and she said that it was incredible. You get to be one of the first people to taste it and see how it is," she informed me happily.

"Great. I'm starving, so I should be a pretty good candidate for the job," I said.

She laughed. "Well good then. Why don't you set Hunter down in that high chair over there, and then you can get your food, and I'll mash up some for Hunter, okay?"

"Oh you don't have to—"

She waved her hand at me as she interrupted. "Pfft, of course I do. Come now Bella, take a break once in a while. Even mothers need a little time that doesn't involve doing for their children," she reasoned. I rolled my eyes. I was a mother. I was supposed to want to do or my baby. But, whatever she felt like doing, I would let her.

I did as she asked, trekking around the table and past Charlie's smiling form. He shook his head at our antics, and I just smiled as I set Hunter carefully in his high chair.

Soon we were all situated around the table, plates half empty of our alfredo and stomachs nearly full. The only sounds that could be heard were the faint scraping of forks to plates and Hunter's munching noises as he shoveled his blender altered alfredo into his mouth with his hands. Alfredo sauce covered his face and some of the white stuff was in his hair and up his nose.

It was the cutest, messiest thing that I had ever seen.

In the middle of us eating, and Hunter half eating, half having a food fight with himself, Charlie uttered the first words since our beginning comments on how amazing Jade's cooking was.

"So, Bella. We're planning on going to go and get you registered for school this week," he said conversationally. I looked over towards him curiously. His words were innocent enough, but his tone suggested otherwise.

"Yeah…"

"Well, I know that you were initially set against going to the on-campus school that I was telling you about. The one that was like a boarding school almost?" he began. I nodded. We had had this discussion before I moved down here, when he had asked my preferences for a school and told me about the options that were available.

According to Charlie, there were only three schools within a two and a half hour span. Two were public schools, that according to him, weren't ideal places that he would want me to go.

And then… there was a boarding school, about an hour and fifteen minutes away and the closest to us. It had outstanding curriculum and a wide range of academic opportunities and was well known for its amazing football team.

But, I would live there, instead of here. Rather than a free education, it'd be paid for with money that Charlie deserved to spend for himself, and not on me. I wouldn't be able to come home after school except for on weekends and I wouldn't be able to see my family.

I'd be away from my baby.

And I would rather be able to raise Hunter seven days a week rather than two, tuck him in every night and feed him and wake up with him rather than miss out on such golden opportunities to bond with him.

"Well… Jade and I would like you to reconsider. We have some money set aside for your tuition, and with your grades, I'm sure they'll allow you some leeway and aid. We've talked to the head of administrations, and she said that there's always room for new students, and while most come from decently privileged families, there's quite a few who have been allowed through for academic merit." He was hopeful.

He and Jade apparently made the obvious efforts to ensure that, with a little push towards me, I would go. And the light in his eyes showed me that he really wanted me to go there, to that school.

Away.

Not here.

Gone.

And I suddenly felt a little sick inside.

AN: So, I've been gone for a long time. Very long. But no longer shall I be gone. Nay, I am back and writing better than ever. Chapter three is in the works. As we speak. Right now.

And don't worry, Bella's still going to go to PCA. Obviously, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this. She's just going to be a little more stubborn in the process.

As always, much thanks to Leon, who makes this readable. All hail the King.

Drop me a review, tell me your favorite line. They make me smile!