Chapter 2: Surprise? I Think Not.
As soon as that bell rang to signal that another long day of school was over, I scooted around the corner as fast I could, pausing only for 5 minutes to pick up my Chemistry book for a test tomorrow. People were sluggish to leave the class especially those who woke up from their slumber during 6th period.
My house was about 2 blocks away from the school. All you had to do was turn right from the school, cross the street, whip around the corner, walk past 6 houses, and voila! My aunt and uncle's house.
So where the heck are my parents? Great question. Dad's working oversees in England for a stuffy corporation there and my mom is in an asylum. Apparently, Mom was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and she at one point held me by my ankles at age 3 in a grocery store over the sink for the floral department. Oops. Dad was too wrapped up in work to come and take custody of me so he arranged for me to live in Hollister with his sister (aka my Aunt June) and Uncle Bobby. Goes to show you how great my folks are. (Note the sarcasm dripping from my voice). It didn't matter since I liked Aunt June and Uncle Bobby better than awkward silence with my dad.
"Hey June," I called out to my aunt as I dropped my bookbag on the floor, "I'm back." Aunt June hates being called Auntie or even being referred to as an aunt so she and I agreed on a first name basis. Bobby felt the same way since he argued that Bobby was more casual and relaxed.
"I'm home too!" Bobby pretended to seem hurt as he called back from the kitchen. I smiled lightly and walked in to see June and Bobby sitting at the kitchen table with their coffee mugs in their hands. Something was up since Bobby never came home early except if there was an emergency or if he was going on a holiday.
"You're home early," I remarked as I took a seat across from them, "So what's the occasion?"
Bobby looked at June and she gave him a look accompanied by an arm nudge. He cleared his throat and began. "Lara, my boss walked into my cubicle and told me that the Hollister branch was getting full." He paused to let his words sink in before continuing. "She didn't want to let go of me so she spoke with the branch up in Washington. They talked for a bit and the director of the firm there said that they were in desperate need of good employees."
"In other words, we're moving," I finished for him, "I'm fine with that-really! I really didn't have a tight circle of friends to begin with so I'm not missing much." Bobby beamed and June sighed in relief.
"We thought it came at the right time too," June added brightly, "I know you've been cooped up in this little busybody town for too long and I think a fresh change of scenery would do you some good." I nodded since June too wasn't obsessed with trends like this town was. She was a classy type with her own strong mind and didn't like the outlandish fads too much.
"So," I pondered, "What town is the company located in? Seattle? Olympia?"
Bobby allowed himself an amused smile, "Strange name for a town but its called 'Forks,' Washington. What do you think of that?" I bit my tongue to hold back my criticism of the place we were moving to. The iron taste of blood flowed into my mouth and I forced an amused look. Forks. It was the same stupid town that Bella moans over when she moves to it and yadda yadda. What great luck I had. Not.