Disclaimer: Don't own Twilight,
What I really meant was here goes everything.
Port Angeles Airport. It felt like a lifetime since I'd been here.
The air was heavy with water vapor as I stepped out of the doors of the quaint airport. I quickly donned my fleece jacket with the fake fur lining around the neck because, as usual, it was cold and wet here on the Olympic Peninsula. I hastily walked towards the taxi ring, this weather did absolutely shit all for my hair. I could almost feel the ringlets coiling as I sat in the warm leather seat. I had, very stupidly, straightened my hair. Well, if my hair was going to look pretty average, at least I was going to look pretty amazing. I could not wait to show my father -and others- the new me, and because of that I had dressed in a pair of tight-fitting stone wash jeans, leather knee high boots with just the slightest of heels and a black shimmy top that made my skin look glorious. Oh, and the jacket.
"Where to, Miss?" The taxi driver asked me, eying me hungrily.
"Forks." I said, with the hint of a flirtatious smile. Sure, he was okay for a thirty year old, but taxi drivers weren't my type.
"Long way, you sure?" He asked. I knew what he really meant was You gonna pay me a helluva lot, or what?
"Very sure. And don't worry, I've got enough." I said, tapping my hand bag. The driver just smiled sheepishly.
"Well, buckle up," He said as he pulled out of the ring and began our tedious drive back to dreary little Forks.
I don't think I've ever been more nervous in my life. Fifteen minutes into the drive I began freaking out about every single detail. Do I look too dressed up? What if Charlie's not home? Will Sue be there? What if someone sees me on my way in? Should I have told him I was coming?
Will he think I've changed?
You have changed Bella, there's no point pretending you haven't.
The whole time I avoided thinking of the topic I was most worried about. Jacob.
"This it?" The driver asked me, totally bringing me back to Earth. I hadn't even noticed we'd arrived in Forks.
My breath caught in my chest. We had arrived in front of my Father's beautiful two bedroom house. I reminisced every detail, the peeling white paneling, the peaked roof, the bright green grass that surrounded everything and the moss that covered every surface. The little window sat in the middle of the top story, my bedroom, and the towering tree that stood next to it. It had grown.
"Yes," I said, my voice cracking, "This is it."
I paid the man quickly and grabbed my suitcases. The old Bella would have needed help carrying two giant suitcases.
My stomach was flipping madly as I approached the front steps. The porch light was on; Charlie was home. I placed my suitcases on the decking before pacing forward and knocking lightly.
I heard the scraping of chairs on floorboards and the clink of cutlery. Muffled footsteps padded towards the door and it swung open gently.
Charlie was just as I remembered him, maybe a little grayer. He was dressed in dirty jeans and a flannelet shirt which indicated he had been fishing. So many emotions flashed in his eyes before me.
"Dad," I said, smiling.
"Bella!" He almost screamed. I quickly stepped into one of his very rare but very warm hugs. I could feel his heart going a million miles an hour.
After hugging me for a good five minutes, he held me back at arms length.
"Oh sweetie, look at you!" He exclaimed. "My God, you look so different! Beautiful, of course. I have missed you so much, what a surprise!" He was basically jumping up and down rambling nonsense.
"Hey, hey, I've missed you too, but it's cold out here, care to invite me in?" I said with a grin.
"Still a cheeky bugger." He chuckled hoarsely. The chuckle warmed my heart, God, I had missed my Dad.
Charlie took my suitcases upstairs to my bedroom while I put on a pot of tea. He insisted on calling just about the whole town but I convinced him not to.
"But everyone will be so excited!" He protested.
"Let me tell them, then," I smiled. He just shrugged, but the grin on his face never lifted. It made me happy to see I had this effect on him.
After a long night of talking, laughing and hugs, Charlie reluctantly retired to his bedroom and gave me some time to get settled. He was absolutely ecstatic when I told him I would be staying for awhile. Though I think he thought awhile meant forever.
I steadily made my way up the stairs and turned down the hall to my bedroom. I had to take a deep breath before I got the power to twist the door handle and step through the threshold.
It was the same. The wooden floors, the light blue walls, the yellow curtains lined with lace. My bed was still covered in the lime green bedspread I had bought when I had grown to love the color so much.
A few tears escaped, and it felt ironic that so many years ago I had cried in this bedroom because I didn't want to be here, and now it was the complete opposite.
The tears stopped flowing as I unpacked, changed, and jumped into my warm bed. I almost couldn't believe I had left this place for so long, but then I remembered.
I wondered what it would be like when I was faced with memories that would emerge like a flood now that I had returned.
***
"Morning Bella! Breakfast?" Charlie asked, as he flipped eggs in a frying pan.
"I though I would never see the day where Charles Swan would cook an edible meal."
"Sue taught me." He said with a red face.
"Sue, aye?" I said, winking.
"Oh real mature Bella." Charlie snorted. "Here I am thinking you have come back this amazing grown up woman, I think you're still my little Bells inside."
"I'll always be your little Bells." I said, shoveling the eggs-on-toast he had just laid in front of me into my mouth.
"Good." He answered with a smile. "I've taken the morning off Bells, but I couldn't get the whole day. We've been having some problems down in the wetlands, I'm sorry. But I'm sure you have loads of people to see." He said, serving himself some breakfast.
"Oh, no problems Dad, I have a few I need to see." I reassured him.
***
After a jam-packed morning with Charlie, I was now sitting on my bed alone.
I had told Charlie specifically not to tell anyone I had arrived, and he had pinky-swore he wouldn't. I had to laugh at that one. It seemed that after six years of separation, we were closer than ever.
Though, during our very long conversations, we had mutually not brought up certain topics. My reasons for leaving, Edward and Jacob were never raised. I was a little worried about the fact that Charlie had left Jacob out. I had half expected Charlie to throw me in the car and drive me up to La Push when I arrived. The only thing he had said was, "Oh, Billy and his lot will be so happy to see you."
It hadn't given much away. Maybe Charlie knew Jacob was a raw topic for me, and if he did, I had to give him some credit.
All I knew was that I wanted to be the one to tell Jacob I was back, and if I wanted to do that, I was going to have to see him soon, before anyone else. Because in a small town, news spread like the flu.
A few years ago, after I left, Charlie bought a small black sedan for himself. He had wanted it as a casual car and it was an absolute bargain, and it was perfect for my arrival. It was pretty small, pretty old and pretty sturdy. I liked it. It was no big red truck, but it would do.
As I rounded the corner that would reveal the small Black household, I finally got a grip of myself. I didn't want to turn up on Jacob's doorstep a mess. I managed to keep my hands from shaking and steady my breathing. Ever since I came back, I seemed to be reversing back to the old Bella, and I definitely didn't want to be her again. I assured myself, I was beautiful,amazing and smart, I could do this. I had dressed casually, but sexily, in black leggings accompanied by silver ballet flats, a gray singlet and a black leather jacket. I wanted to make a good impression.
Just as I parked on the dirt track opposite Billy's house, I saw a pair of legs poking out from under a Rabbit that made me want to turn the car around and speed off. The legs were dressed in old jeans, a mechanics jeans, and his feet were bare.
It was Jacob. And his beloved Rabbit, of course.
I took one great, deep breath, and stepped out of the car.
Movement beneath the jacked up car stilled as I shut my door behind me, causing a heavy thud. Jacob rolled out from underneath the car and stood up, looking for the source of this noise.
You would have thought he had seen a ghost.
EEEEEE. Excited? Thought I'd leave you on that note. Ready for the reunion next chapter?
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