Four
The climate change from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington is uncomfortably startling.
Forks exists under a constant cover of rain clouds, unrelenting frigid cold air and filled with less than a thousand people made up of Grizzly looking old men and equally frizzy women.
The ratio of human to Supernaturals is at least 10-1 and the laws deathly strict for the latter, but as long as the law is obeyed and the almost militant human population feels respected, this is usually quite a harmonious town. In large part thanks to my Pops being Chief of Police.
Yup, you heard right, Chief. Can you imagine how badly the opposing officers who had also been gunning for the role of Chief had to have fucked up for the man who freaking shot himself in the booty to get the job? Pops is fucking legendary at the Statewide Washington Police annual picnic.
But besides what it sounds like he was definitely the right choice for the job. He loves people, Super or non, and is a master diplomat. Forks is kinda the definition of a backwoods town, it's humans loving their guns and freedom and many not mincing words when making their racism known — which contributes to Charlie's toughest job; protecting the humans from themselves.
I know Charlie talks a lot of shit, but he doesn't actually buy into Witches are whores, or Weres are dirty and vampires are dead. He just jokes, usually only in the presence of those that can take them, but not all in this town are as blasé with the unknown the other species present.
The Supernaturals of this town live here for a reason, though, the Vamps for the overcast weather, the Witches for the cosmic energy and the Weres for the forest. Well, actually, everyone for the forest. Hunting for Humans, Weres and Vamps or herbs and other plants for the Witches.
They live and act as innocently and un-opposing as possible so as not to set off the Humans, which has made them feel like the top of the food chain again, but Pops knows better. If any one Supernatural group wanted, they could take over everything and everyone with probably very little effort. Although nobody really knows why they don't. If you could be on top, control everything, why don't you?
So Pops makes sure to keep the peace for the humans sake, knowing what could happen if the others get sick of playing by our rules. Keep the testy, gun toting, ask questions later, Human citizens happy with reports of good, almost subservient behavior, and the Supernaturals, for some odd reason, unknown to us all, play into the charade.
"As you can see," Pops breaks the silence, "The town hasn't changed much, The Diner is still over there, the Post Office there, the High School a few blocks over, Oh and look the library survived! And I have it on good authority The head Liberian Sherry Lutz made a deal with a new lofty book distributor to get a flurry of new, fancy titles when she heard the towns Princess," Pops winks at me, " is comin' on home."
I grin at that, pleased to hear I won't always have to travel up to Seattle to read a good book. Especially since I have no idea when I'll be able to get my own car; not that riding shotgun in a police cruiser isn't a joy.
It's kinda unexpected but I feel myself starting to become almost giddy when I see we're close to Charlie's, and now my, house.
Despite not getting along with Renee, I did love Phoenix. The heat was suffocating and awful but I loved it. Cold, not so much, but at least I know I'll like living with Charlie.
Hmm . . . I wonder how that works? Not despising the person you share a roof with.
When we reach the familiar two story powdered blue house I sigh with relief. It looks the same from when I was a little girl. Actually it looks better, much more well kept, with what looks like a fresh paint job, new window fixtures and a beautiful, large oak tree right outside what will be my window.
"Wow, that tree was tiny the last time I was here." I breathe. I don't know why this hits me the most but it does.
Charlie smiles sadly at me.
"Well seeing as the last time you were here was when you were five — I can imagine it does look a bit bigger."
I smile at Pops and pat his hand, still gripping the wheel. I wished I could have come home sooner but . . . It just wasn't in the cards until now.
I look to the house again only now paying attention to the downpour of rain we're going to have to survive to get my luggage out of the trunk and up the slippery walk way I know I'm going to bust my ass on.
"I'll race, ya." Pops mocks, knowing I'm bracing myself for my guaranteed fall.
"Suuuure, if you'd like to spend my homecoming in the hospital."
The initial shock of freezing cold rain unsettles me but we make do, grabbing my suitcases and hustling to the front door, Pops with a tight and reassuring grasp on my hip.
When we finally make it in, I'm practically struck stupid.
Good lord.
"Pops . . . Love what you've done with the place." I edge over my shoulder and stare at him with a squinted, suspicious gaze.
The place does look great. From here I can see the whole house has been repainted including the kitchen which used to be yellow, a disastrous choice made by Renee before she took me and left Charlie when I was three, is now a lovely midnight blue which nicely off sets the living room now a deep Cabaret. New furniture adorns the cozy home, everything from sofas to cabinets and bookcases.
Pictures of me ranging from birth to last year, no longer in ugly, mismatching plastic frames, but in beautiful metal ones, adorning, new non splinter-y bookcases. No dust on anything, no beer stains on the rugs and no musky, Charlie-ish odor to the air, but instead a pleasant potpourri scent.
"What's that mean?" Charlie asks, looking mighty guilty.
I just shake my head and chuckle softly, shuffling towards the stairs.
I truly mean it, I love what he's done with the place. I just have my suspicions he's not the one that did it. The place looks good, like really good, but nothing like what a fishing, hunting, gun toting, law-uploading, bachelor would live in.
Pops has definitely been holding out on me during our weekly phone calls.
I eye him one last time before trekking up the stairs.
I'll give him a chance to fess up but if he takes too long I'm bringing the hammer down and finding out who this woman is that's captured his heart.
See this was my plan, let him come to me, and I was fully prepared to stick to it . . . But then I saw my room.
"Alright, middle-aged-man, who is she?" I ask, dropping my stuff on the very large and beautiful fluffy black rug, twisting around to glare at my father currently gaping at me like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Wha — I mean — uhh — what do you mean?" He stutters.
I stand still with my hands on my hips, raise a single eyebrow, and tilt my head just the slightest bit.
"Okay! Okay!" He grumbles, gently placing my duffle bag down. "Do you by any chance remember Sue Clearwater? Down at the reservation?"
My eyes widen and my jaw drops. I can't believe this. "Pops, isn't she one of your best friends wife?"
"Yes, she was, but Harry's been gone for almost seven years and I've made sure to, you know, check in on her and her kids Leah and Seth since then, platonically! . . . At first. But last year it turned into something more and well . . . "
I give him the look and head tilt again.
"She's my girlfriend, now," he bellows embarrassedly, "there are you happy now, geez, I forgot how annoying you are, ya lil shit."
"And I guess I never knew how secretive you are, you old shit!" I reply only a little belligerently. "How come you didn't tell me sooner?"
Charlie rubs the back of his neck shifting from foot to foot awkwardly,
"Her kids weren't crazy about us being together in the beginning and it was really difficult to deal with. I didn't want to chance you feeling the same and having to deal with three disapproving teens, but then when they finally came around, I still dreaded the chance of you not liking the idea and maybe havin' to go through all the same fights again."
"Look, I know it wasn't right and we didn't mean anything by it, but—"
I cut Charlie off by giving him a hug, my arms wrapping around his waist tightly. The last thing I want on my first day here is to fight.
"It's okay, Pops. I get it. I'm happy for you, really."
"Thanks, Bells." He breathes.
I kick him out of my gorgeous room decorated in blues and purples and change out of my soaking wet clothes, trying not to drip on anything, and promising to myself I'm going to thank Sue Clearwater until I'm blue in the face. If it had just been Charlie preparing for me I'd probably be sleeping in my old bassinet.
"I'm gonna order a pizza!" Charlie bellows from downstairs. "What do you want on your half?"
"Everything except mushrooms and anchovies!" I holler back, slipping into a robe instead of dirtying an outfit.
"Ugh, fucking gross, sicko!" Charlie shouts back.
I smile widely. Although I'm not looking forward to starting up at a new school on Monday, I know, I'll like it here, being with my dad.
AN: I'm almost done writing chapter five but after that I won't have any Pre-written chapters left, I seriously spoiled you guys and couldn't wait to keep updating so unless I can keep writing multiple chapters every few days I'll try to atleast update on Fridays. I'll strive for multiple days a week but with real life that's not always possible. Please keep reviewing and I'll do my best.