DISCLAIMER- I own nothing. I just like making the characters do funny things.
AN- Here's a long chapter for you. J See, I'm getting better about posting regularly. I've decided I'm going to tell you all what I'm listening to when I write because… well, because music is everything good in the world. So today I was listening to The Cure, The Weepies, and The Spill Canvas. Alrighty…
-BPOV-
Charlie was already in the kitchen eating breakfast when I made it down, ready to begin day2 at Forks High. He looked up from the paper and smiled.
"Good morning Bella."
I grabbed a pop tart from the cupboard . That was one thing I wouldn't need to get at the store today; Charlie had a vast supply of those already. He liked blueberry pop tarts…just like me. I guess I could add that to the list of details I was learning about him sense my arrival.
"Good morning Dad." I glanced over my shoulder as I slid the pastries into the toaster. "I never pegged you as the blueberry pop tart type."
He smiled sheepishly and waved his own half eaten pop tart at me.
"How did you sleep?"
It was an innocent question but I felt the blush creep across my cheeks anyways.
"The rain is going to take some getting used to." I said, turning back to the toaster as if it needed my supervision to function correctly. "But other then that I slept fine."
I didn't feel the need to mention that once I had fallen asleep I had dreamt of a pair expressive, almost inhumanly beautiful, green eyes.
Charlie cleared his throat just as the toaster popped up and I grabbed my breakfast as I turned to him.
"So Bella…I thought you might need a car." He wasn't looking at me but at the paper again. "And Billy Black was selling his truck…" He glanced up at me from the corner of his eye to gage my reaction.
"He just replaced the engine so it should be pretty reliable… I hope you like it?"
My mouth feel open with shock.
"You got me a truck?"
He shrugged.
"Well I can't drive you to school everyday. Most mornings I'll be at the station before you're even up."
He got me a truck!
"Dad! That's great." Thank you so much!"
He looked at me straight on now and smiled.
"It's not new or anything but Billy was selling it at a real reasonable price."
I wouldn't have to ride in the cruiser anymore! That was just one less thing to worry about.
"I'm sure I'll love it." I told him and then surprised us both by giving him a hug. He chuckled and returned my embrace with an awkward one armed hug of his own.
"Sure thing. It's in the driveway when you're ready."
And that was the end of that. He went back to the paper and I got a cup of coffee. Oh well. Baby steps.
As I was trudging out the front door Charlie cleared his throat and I glanced over my shoulder at him.
"Be careful Bells."
I instantly felt my eyes prickle and I swallowed hard. It had been Charlie that gave me the nickname as a baby.
"Of course Dad."
I forced a little ghost of a smile and shut the door behind me.
I took a few deep breaths as I made my way down the driveway. I was trying not to live in the past but it was so hard. I reached up to grab hold of the locket and just held it in my grip for a moment. Almost as if it was a life raft, keeping me afloat. I guess in a way it was.
---
The truck was extremely loud and it backfired as I turned into the parking lot. I didn't care. It had personality and I loved it. I didn't think I would but I loved it.
I pulled into a spot and sat inside the truck, taking deep breaths, just making sure I could hold myself together.
"Hey Bella!"
I looked up to see Mike Newton standing across the parking lot waving frantically in my direction. I waved back and tried to force a smile. I hadn't even gotten out of the truck yet! He was definitely taking on the personality traits of a golden retriever. What was it that Emmett had said yesterday? "He looked like a puppy dog!" … Well said Emmett, well said.
I shoved the heavy door open and hopped out, almost slipping on a piece of ice. I shock my head, disgusted. There was always a thin layer of ice on the roads here in Forks because of the consistently vas amounts of rain. In Arizona it had hardly ever rained. I missed the sun immensely.
Mike's face lit up and he began to walk in my direction. I found myself walking around the back of the truck trying to make my escape. I didn't know why. There wasn't really anything wrong with Mike persey. But I could tell he was an admirer and I did not feel the same way. I guess you could say there was just no spark. Besides I had only been in Forks for three days and I was still trying to get settled in. Plus I had enough on my mind to keep me busy for ages.
As soon as I thought this a pair of vibrant green eyes assaulted my subconscious. A small smile tugged at my lips when I thought of the owner of those dazzling eyes… and the beautifully disheveled hair, and the strong jaw, and…
A high pitched screech jolted me from my day dreaming and my head snapped up to see a fast approaching van.
I didn't have time to think about anything; not how much this was going to hurt, or how I might not think anything ever again after the van hit. Not how I was never going to get to know Charlie now or give Forks a real chance. I didn't even have to time to consider how unfair this was for my mom, to loose both of her children.
I did see something though, well two things actually, almost simultaneously. I saw Mike Newton frozen in his tracks halfway across the parking lot. I didn't see his expression. He was just a figure in my peripheral vision, almost not even in my range of eye sight. The other thing I saw was a pale hand reaching towards me.
Everything after that happened insurmountable fast. The van made an ear shattering crash when metal met metal as it nicked the back bumper of my truck. Right where I had been frozen in fear a second before. And then everything went black.
==========================================================================================EPOV=================================================================================================
"You do realize no normal teenage guy listens to this." Emmett pointed to my stereo. "Right?"
I rolled my eyes and turned it up. 'this' was Debussy and I found it relaxing. I could use all the help relaxing I could get, especially on our morning drives to pick up Alice. Alice and Emmett in a small enclosed space was nothing less then nerve-wracking. Most of the time I just tried to block out their voices but it was very difficult at times.
Alice was hopping up and down at the end of her driveway, trying to keep warm while she waited for us.
"Good Morning!" She chirped as she closed the back door behind her.
Emmett and I groaned. We were both quite attached to our sleep and were never thrilled to be woken up. Very "crabby" in the mornings.
"So I'm thinking we should go shopping after school today. Port Angeles would be fun. Maybe Seattle."
Emmett visibly cringed and Alice shot a look at the back of his head.
"I didn't mean 'we.'" She motioned to myself, Emmett, and herself. "I meant 'we' as in me and Rose."
I felt a great wave of relief at that. Shopping with Alice was a type of marathon sport that I neither had the wish nor the patience to join.
"You should invite Bella!" Bellowed Emmett.
Alice clapped. "That's a fabulous idea Em!"
Emmett smirked at me.
"You know Alice…" he was speaking to my pixie-like cousin but he was watching me. I didn't like the devious grin on his face.
"You'll probably need someone to carry all those bags…"
He trailed off and I glared at him. This only intensified his smile.
"Edward doesn't have any plans. Do ya Eddie?"
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. They were all in on this!
"Edward! This is going to be so much fun!" Alice was now bouncing full force on the edge of her seat.
I could not go to Seattle with Bella! Doesn't anyone see this was for her own good? That nothing good would ever come from me and Bella being together? That I would only hurt her?
"How do you know Bella will want to go shopping with you Alice?" I asked through clenched teeth.
Alice snorted.
"of course she'll want to come!" She scoffed.
I glared out the windshield, never taking my eyes off of the road. Of course.
---
As Alice gracefully bounced out of the car and shut the door I finally unclenched my fists and turned my glare at my brother.
"I will get you back for this." I told him ominously.
He just chuckled and patted my arm before hauling himself out of the Volvo as well.
I sat in the car for a few moments, taking deep breaths and trying to calm myself. I was just about to get out of the Volvo when I heard Mike Newton.
"Hey Bella!"
My head snapped towards the offending voice. He was standing across the parking lot looking like Ed McMan just offered him the million dollar check. Ugh. I followed his gaze to Bella who was sitting in a decrepit red truck a couple cars over. She waved and my fists clenched involuntarily. She smiled and Mike looked like was going to have an embarrassing accident right there in the middle of the parking lot. It was disturbing to say the least. Especially when the smile was clearly forced… wasn't it?
Before I even realized I was moving I was walking in Bella's direction. I knew I would beat Mike there. I grinned a little.
Just as I arrived at her side I heard it. A sickening high pitched screech. A van was hurtling towards the back end of the truck and more importantly Bella.
I didn't stop to think about what I was doing before I was acting. I grabbed Bella around the waist and flung myself in the direction I had just come. I landed on my back with a thud against the hard concrete. I didn't stop for a second after I hit. I just rolled to my side, my arms shielding Bella as I heard the impact of metal against metal.
Pandemonium burst out as soon as the van made contact with the back bumper of the truck. Everyone screaming and running towards us but I focused only on the girl cradled to my chest.
Her long brown locks were covering her face so I couldn't see if her eyes were open or not but she was limp in my arms.
I pried the arm that I wasn't laying on out of its death grip and brushed her hair away. I needed to see her face. I needed to make sure she was okay.
Her eyes were closed and she had a gash on her right cheek.
"Bella!"
I thought for sure that this would come out as a frantic shout but it ended up as only a hoarse whisper.
"Bella!" I repeated louder, shaking her slightly.
My chest clenched and a tear slid down my cheek.
"Not her."
I wasn't sure if I said this out loud or not but it was a consistent loop in my mind; not her. Not her. Not her.
I heard the sirens of an ambulance and there was someone trying to help me stand but I tightened my grip on Bella and berried my face in her hair. I hadn't done enough. I wasn't quick enough. (AN: I was going to end it there but I decided to continue because I love you and I'm a nice person. Show your appreciation and review.J)
"kid. Are you okay?"
Someone was kneeling in front of me and they put their hand on my shoulder. I didn't know what to tell them. It didn't really matter at the moment. I looked up and nodded numbly.
The EMT smiled tightly and looked at Bella.
"You have to let her go. We need to check her out."
I swallowed hard and tried to force my arms to release her but they were no longer taking direct orders from my brain.
Bella moved slightly and I looked down to see her blink a couple of times in quick concession. A chuckle of relief bubbled out of me and I was finally able to let go of her.
"what's going on?" Bella croaked.
The EMT offered her a hand and helped her sit up.
"there was an accident involving another student's van."
She shook her head and grimaced.
"I remember the van." She whispered and then cleared her throat. "How did I get over here?"
She glanced at the accident scene over her shoulder and frowned. I looked back too, but only briefly. I wasn't thoroughly convinced she was okay yet and I didn't want her out of my sight.
There was three more EMTs hovering over the driver of the van. I recognized him as Tyler Crowley. The police had also arrived and they were trying to keep people from running over. I caught sight of Alice Emmett on the very edge of the crowd. It looked like Alice seemed to be giving the police some difficulty with the boundaries they were trying to establish.
I looked back and both Bella and the EMT were staring at me as if waiting for something. And then it hit me. They were waiting for me to answer Bella's question.
I turned my full attention to her and cleared my throat.
"I was standing right beside you and I saw the van coming so I grabbed you." I explained.
Bella's eyes widened and she opened her mouth and closed it a couple of times.
I chuckled. She slightly resembled the actions of a fish.
"We're going to need to take you to the hospital Bella." the EMT said hesitantly. "It looks like you have a pretty nasty gash on your face."
I frowned at the offending injury. She was probably in so much pain!
Another EMT came over to us and the other helped Bella to the back of the ambulance. Only when she was gone did I realize the excruciating pain coming from my shoulder.
"I think we should check you out at the hospital too kid."
I nodded in agreement. By this time there were stars clouding my vision.
(AN: Alrighty people. There's your long chapter. J Hope you liked it. Review and I may let Edward live! Mawhaha! The next chapter is half done so it should be up soon. Love you guys.)