-Bella's POV-

Charlie picked me up from the small airport and took me back to his house. We didn't really talk to each other on the drive here, it was mostly awkward silence. I hadn't seen him in years, so we didn't really know quite what to say to one another. He would have to get to know me all over again, and that would take some time. Him on the other hand, was easy to figure out. He always did the same things, and liked the same things. I already knew him, and there wasn't much much to know, sadly. He was a loner, like me, and had a hard time sharing his emotions.

I wasn't too fond of coming back to Forks, since most my memories of here were of my mom and dad fighting. Mom eventually left him, and took me with her to Jacksonville when I was twelve. I haven't been back here since that day, so it was weird to say the least. I'm seventeen now and graduating next year, so it's not like I'm going to be staying here forever. That was the only bright side of the situation I could find at the moment. I don't know why my mother felt the need to travel with Phil right at the beginning of the school year. It was an impulsive decision, and she was just thinking about herself and Phil, not worrying about me much anymore.

Most of the time I didn't mind her always being with Phil. Like I said, I've always been a loner, and liked it when I had complete silence to read, or even just lie down and think to myself. However, I did occasionally enjoy the mother-daughter moments that we shared often, until Phil came along of course. At first I was reluctant to accept him, but then I saw how happy he made her. Phil plays minor league baseball so he is always traveling, and mom seems to be lost whenever she isn't with him. So she shipped me off to dear old dad, so she could be with him all of the time. Sure that hurt my feelings, but I've never seen her more happy...so if she is, I'll try my best to be happy for her.

The drive from Port Angeles to Forks took about an hour. But since me and Charlie weren't really talking, it felt more like an eternity. Finally, we made to to the two-story, white house that I remembered from five years ago. Still looked exactly the same as I had left it...which, in a way was kind of calming. Charlie unlocked the door and I headed up to my old bedroom. As the outside of the house did, my room looked just as it did the day I left, except that Charlie had bought a new bedspread. Purple, my favorite color. At least he remembered something about me. Maybe all hope wasn't lost after all...

I sat down the cactus that I brought with me to remind me of home, on the dusty window sill on the far side of the room. Only then I remembered it probably wasn't going to get much sun there...or anywhere around here. Unfortunately, Forks is almost constantly cloudy and rainy, so everyone treats it like a miracle when the sun actually decides to show itself on certain days. Poor cactus, maybe I should have just bought a fish and named it Florida, or something else that didn't require sunlight to live. Oh, well...too late now.

Charlie put my suitcases on the floor beside my bed, and left me to myself, but not before asking if I wanted something to eat. I declined, truly not hungry. I closed the door behind him and plopped down onto the bed, letting out a sigh. My bed. My room. Mine, for at least another two years. I was definitely going to have to change some things in here. My childhood drawings were still taped to the wall across from my bed. My rocking chair in the corner still had the basket full of children's books sitting in it, that my mother used to read to me. I looked over to my old writing desk that still housed my huge computer that still used Dial-Up.

Great, that's going to be fun.

I would start school on Monday, which I wasn't too thrilled about. Being the new kid always sucks, no matter how you look at it or approach it. Having to make friends again, not that I make very many anyway. But they always want to ask the new kid questions about everything, and always offer to show me around...like I couldn't read a map. Usually takes them a while to realize I'm what you call the, suffer in silence type. Once they finally do figure that out, they usually tend leave me alone, which I'm always thankful for. And those are in big schools, I can't imagine what it will be like in Forks High School, where there is a significantly less amount of people. I would be the talk of this small town with my luck. But I didn't even want to think about that now.

I grabbed a small, lavender pillow and shoved it under my head, not bothering to get under the covers. My hands slipping under the pillow, pulling it closer, inhaling the foreign smell that lingered in the fabric. I closed my eyes, letting myself relax for the first time today. With the faint sound of the wind outside my window, and the muffled voices from the TV downstairs...I drifted off into peaceful sleep.

/-/

The weekend went by much too quickly for my taste, but that's probably my fault for sleeping most of the time. I really only came out of my room was to use the bathroom and make dinner for Charlie and myself. I learned fast that he couldn't cook worth a damn. I don't know how he has survived on his own for so long, when he can't even make a simple grilled cheese sandwich without burning the hell out of it. Lucky for him, I love to cook. And now I have someone to try some new recipes I have been wanting to play around with.

I got ready for school, thinking that Charlie was just going to drive me there in his police car, but thank God that didn't happen. Apparently he had bought an old pick-up truck from Billy Black, an old family friend. Since Billy is in a wheelchair now, it's not like he is going to be driving it around. I loved it, even though it's God knows how old. I stuffed myself and my bag in the small cab of the truck, and headed off to school. It wasn't hard to find, but I was one of the only ones in the parking lot. I guess not many people get to school this early.

I made my way to the main office, where I got my class schedule and a map of the school. I tried to memorize it the best I could so I wouldn't have my nose stuck in front of the paper all day trying to figure out where to go, while looking stupid. The only class that I was really looking forward to, was Biology. In Florida, I was in an advanced Bio class, but they don't have those here, so I'm sure it will be easy to pass it. The one that I was dreading the most, was Gym. I way never very coordinated, so Gym definitely wasn't the class for me. I didn't have to take Gym in Phoenix, but here it is required every year. Crap...

Since I was early, I took the time to go find where my classes were located. I only had to change buildings once, so that was good. They were all really easy to find, so I would have no problem finding them later. I sat outside on one of the picnic tables and got out a book to read. Slowly people started to accumulate in the small parking lot, and finally the first bell rang. Only two people asked if I needed help finding my way, and I politely declined. But the second guy, Eric, was convinced that I needed help, so I let him. I figured it's better just to go along with it, since he was only trying to be nice. We ended up having the class together, and he sat by me explaining everything that I needed, and didn't need to know.

My other classes were fine. I met Eric's girlfriend Angela, who was super nice, and I actually really liked. I also met their friends Mike and Jessica. Jessica was extremely talkative and wouldn't stop asking me questions. Mostly things about Florida, and why aren't I tan, because I guess most people who live in really sunny states are required to have a tan. Mike was nice too, and I had two other classes with him and Jessica. We all had English together, and they decided together that I HAD to sit with them at lunch. It was better than sitting alone that's for sure.

We made our way into the cafeteria, which was still rather empty at the time and got in line for the food. I took a look around the room, and one particular table caught my eye. There were five people sitting in a semi-circle, three boys and two girls. The one that really got my attention though, was the honey blonde girl. She was rather skinny, about my size, and soft features. She was the most attractive girl I had seen here, if not ever. I turned back to the line, because I didn't want to be caught staring, but I couldn't help but look back over there every so often. It was as if something inside me was pulling me towards her, and I wanted to know more.