Chapter 2 – Welcome Back to the Living

Bella POV

I got up from bed and did my morning routine. I did not let thoughts about him enter my head. That was the best way to at least be a semblance of a living person.

I made breakfast for myself and Charlie.

"Good morning, Dad," I said, trying to sound cheerful but failing miserably.

"'Morning, Bells," he replied gruffly.

The food was like cardboard. Numb. Exactly like how I felt. Again Beau's words came to my mind. Be strong. I needed to start feeling again.

Being stronger entailed so many things. Emotionally, physically, being in control, etc. etc. I needed to prepare a list.

I drank the water in my glass and, not for the first time this month, I noticed it had a metallic tang.

I asked Charlie, "Hey Dad, how does the water taste? It tastes slightly different for me."

"Like?"

"Like metal, I guess. It's odd," I said with a shrug.

A smile appeared on Charlie's face. He said it a much more happier tone, "Welcome back to the living, Bella!"

I was confused but said nothing about it.

The drive to school was uneventful. So were English and Government.

I realised that given my non-responsive and unenthusiastic behaviour for the last two months, my old circle of friends seemed to have stopped talking. Only Angela and, by extension, Ben were in talking terms with me. I needed to fix that.

I caught up with Jessica after Trigonometry.

"Hey, Jess!"

"Bella," Jessica said with a surprised look. "You seem better today."

"Yeah. Umm… How are you?"

"As good as ever. So you finally wake up from the dead?"

"What is this with everyone talking about me waking up from the dead?" I said, frustrated.

"You were like a zombie for the last couple of months, Bella. Everything you did seemed like something out of a habit. You never reacted to anything, barely spoke unless spoken to."

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh. So… Would you come for a movie with me? There are a couple of new ones."

"Hmmm… Alright. But no romantic movies."

"Sure."

We had arrived at the table by them. I nodded in acknowledgment to Mike, Lauren and Eric's "Hey, Bella!" and sat between Angela and Jessica.

"Hey guys. How's it going?"

"Wonderful. You?"

"Almost as such."

I leaned toward Jessica and whispered to her when the other engaged in conversations among themselves. "Hey Jessica?"

"Yeah, Bella?"

"Would you do me a favour?"

"What is it?"

"I want to get in shape. Like start running sometimes, become a bit athletic…you know. So I was wondering… would you train me?"

It was known to the entire school that Jessica was the best athlete and one of the fastest runners (human). If she could train me then I could probably become faster, lose my proneness to stumbling, and become physically stronger. I suddenly heard Jessica's voice break me from my reverie. "Bella? Bella!"

"Oh… Sorry, I was just thinking."

"I was telling you that I would train you. But there are certain conditions."

"Conditions? Alright, what are they?"

She slipped a paper to me and I read it.

1) Training will be every day, whether it's school hours or after school.

2) I won't go easy on you. So, don't try to find the easy way out.

3) Every morning, I will arrive at your house at 5:30 am for a morning walk.

4) You will follow each of my instructions without question.

5) Any questions, ask me either before we begin or after we end.

6) There will be phases. I will tell about them later.

"Okay… These seem easy. Anything else?"

"Nope," she said, popping the 'p'. "That's all. So, we begin from tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow, 5:30," I confirmed with a nod. As the bell rang, I dumped my half-eaten lunch and proceeded to Biology.

I continued my previous thoughts.

Jacob could teach me with Jessica. I knew those two would go along well. I had some self-defence classes when I was younger, but I wanted to master the fighting part. Probably Charlie could teach me. He, of course, would be wondering why but I could tell him that I wanted to be able to protect myself. That seemed like a good idea. A really good idea.

Another thought suddenly hit me. The Cullens were right in one fact. My truck did seem slow to me these days. Maybe Jacob would boost the engine. Or maybe I could buy a new car. Or maybe a bike. I shut down the idea of bikes immediately. Charlie would kill me if I got one. Jacob could teach me about cars, couldn't he? And suddenly the idea of knowing about cars seemed so wonderful. I also should buy a cell phone for communicating. It was way easier and way more accessible. Maybe, I should start making a note about my wants.

I realized that school was almost over. I made my way out to truck and heard Jessica beside.

"Tomorrow, 5:30. And get a cell phone, will ya? It will be easier and faster."

"Right. See you tomorrow."

So cell phone goes from needs to wants.