Changing For The Better
Frightening Little Monster
7/9/10
Rated T
BPOV
Nothing could have prepared me for what I had experienced during my time with the Cullen's. I felt as if I knew each of them better; on a more personal level. Edward had told me a long time ago that you can't erase your past but you can rewrite your future. He was right, you can't just run away from who you are. Somewhere in the back of my mind I was relived that we were finally starting the journey home. I missed Forks and Charlie. I tried to imagine Charlie standing by the stove trying to cook something to eat because I wasn't there to do it for him. The thought made me smile.
When the sun was sinking beneath the clouds and you could just start to see the tiny stars that sprinkled the sky, Edward pulled me close. I leaned into his chest and felt content. Soon we would be home. Soon we would be back to the small, dreary town that was ours. Hours later, we pulled into my very own front driveway.
Charlie rushed out the front door, tapping on the window beside me. His smile was almost completely covered by his bushy mustache, but I still knew he was happy to see me. I was happy to see him too.
I opened the door of the car and almost immediately the cool, damp air of Forks engulfed me. It had been so long but finally, I was home.
"Bells, you're home!" Charlie exclaimed while wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me close. "Nice to see you dad, I was almost beginning to miss you," I joked. Charlie laughed a very rough laugh, I could tell he was slightly uncomfortable with the Cullen's being around but I was so happy to see him that I hugged him closer and ignored his embarrassed face of shock.
"Let me help you with those," Edward smoothly said. He picked up my two bags from my hands and walked to the front door of the house where he turned back and called to Charlie. "Permission to enter your house and set these in Bella's room for her, chief Swan?" Edward asked with a grin. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw Charlies face, he looked very uncomfortable now. "Permission granted," Charlie mumbled. Edward smiled and went on through the door.
I turned behind me to hug everyone of the Cullen's goodbye and wish them luck returning home and facing Esme and Carlisle. I personally was very glad that I would not be accompanying my friends home to their parent's. Edward quickly returned to my side after returning my luggage to my room.
"Goodbye my sweet love, until tomorrow when I see you next," Edward murmured and kissed my cheek. I looked up at his face with a questioning expression. I thought he would be over later tonight to stay with me like always. "Not tonight." He answered back, almost as if he had read my thoughts.
I watched the car pull from my driveway and head down the road, this adventure in my life for Isabella Marie Swan had just come to a close and it was with a light heart that I would treasure it forever.
EPOV
I had practiced in my mind over and over as to how I would greet my parents after being away for so long. No matter how hard I tried I could not bring myself to come up with anything suitable or appropriate for the situation. Perhaps I would just say nothing and leave the talking to my siblings but even I knew that was a bad idea. I didn't have long to think however, I could see the house getting bigger through the line of trees as we approached it. Beside me Alice held my hand and whispered, "Remember how Esme used to say there was nothing we could ever do to make her stop loving us? Well I hope she remembers herself saying that." I smiled at Alice's attempt to lighten my mood.
The familiar crisp crackling sound of gravel as we pulled around the font of the house greeted us, also there to greet us were Carlisle and Esme. Esme no longer looked angry or sad and Carlisle had a warm smile on his face. I actually thought for a moment that they might be happy to see us, that maybe they had missed us.
We exited the car and Rosalie walked straight to our mother and gave her a hug. "Esme, I'm sorry," she sighed. She then turned to Carlisle and nodded, "I am so sorry, Carlisle." We all waited to see how they would react. I however, kept my head down, looking at the gravel beneath my feet. I could hear Esme in her mind become suddenly sad and remorseful, she was thinking about how upset she had been the first night we had left. She thought about how lonely she had felt without her children at home to keep her company. Her last thought was a thought of me. My head shot up in surprise. She was having a thought about hugging me and telling me how much she had missed me and about how sorry she was for telling us to leave. Over to my mother I went, lifting her up in my arms and hugging her.
I knew the words Carlisle and Esme both wanted so desperately to hear at that moment so I said them "We're home."
I never forgot about this story, In fact I thought of it quite often. A part of me never wanted to have to end Changing For The Better but another part of me knew that eventually it would have to come to a close. I will continue writing more stories, I don't know when and I don't know what about but it is passion that drove me to write this and I have no doubt that passion will keep me writing. I love all my readers and thank you so much for your kind words on the story. When I end my stories, I end apart of myself. I love you all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
-Frightening Little Monster