Summary - idea
After the end of 1st season of Vampire Diaries Elena stays with Stefan, Damon visits Charlie alone to clear his head of the couple. Charlie was a buddy of Zack. He knows what Damon is and wears vervain in his watch, just for protection. Damon moves in, meets Bella and sparks fly... Happens right after Edward leaves her on the path.
Chapter 1: How do I go on?
I stood there watching him leave like a stranger. I felt hot tears run down my face and my knees buckled. I sat on the cold, mossy ground with my back resting on a tree and hugging my knees. The same words echoed in my head. 'I don't want you' over and over again. He left me with a simple 'You're not good for me Bella'. He should have added the 'enough' we both knew was there. I am not good enough for him. He finally understood what I knew all along.
I wanted to run after him but let's face it I could never catch him, plus what would I tell him? Beg him to take me back? He thinks I'm pathetic enough as it is. I have no idea how long I sat there lost in thought and pain. I felt a really bad case of pins and needles when I remembered Charlie. I couldn't crumble; I couldn't throw myself in a hole and never come back out, no matter how much I wanted it. That would kill Charlie. With that thought I stumbled to get on my knees and then slowly on my feet.
Even slower I walked carefully to my home. I unlocked the door and went in. On the kitchen counter was a note. From me? It said, in a messy handwriting that looked a lot like mine, that I had gone a walk up the path with Edward. 'I didn't write this', I thought confused. Then a thought hit me. He knew what this would do to me. He knew the mess I'd be and left a note for Charlie to get me? He knew and yet he still left me? A tiny spark of anger hit me. I threw my bag on the floor and sprinted up the stairs (falling twice) to my room. On my desk was the scrapbook. I opened it hesitantly only to find that his pictures were missing. Correction: all of the pictures were missing. I guess that means he stole the set of photos I planned on sending to Renee as well. I guess he didn't want me to remember him. I opened the drawer on my desk to find a roll of film I used to copy the photos. I felt a small smile forming on my lips. I opened it and held it against the light on my desk.
Thank god he didn't take it, as well. I made a mental note to develop it tomorrow on my way from school. I looked on the desk but the plane tickets were gone, so was the mixed CD he made me. I realized I was shaking in anger and despair. WOW he really went out of his way to extract himself out of my life. Consciously I opened the closet only to see that all the things Alice had given me all these months were still there. I chuckled 'I guess he doesn't want me to lose Alice's style' I thought sarcastically. I washed my face to clean the tears and went back downstairs. Charlie would be home soon and I needed to cook for him.
I made a pizza from scratch as I needed to keep myself occupied. It was hard to think and even harder to keep myself composed. I was shaking in anger, pain, loss but the anger was stronger. He really hurt me but I refused to give him the satisfaction of crumbling. 'I would stand strong with my head high and deal with this. It didn't matter I felt as if my heart was ripped off my chest, I had been hurt before. Time would heal me' I vowed to myself.
The phone rang but went unanswered. I didn't feel like talking to anyone. I set the timer for the pizza and went to sit on the old swing Charlie had put up for me when I was a little girl on the big tree on the front yard. I swayed slowly and allowed myself to imagine and plan the next days. I'm sure the news of the Cullens moving would be all over town. I wonder what the official reason was, Edward never told me. I was still swaying when a sleek black car pulled into our driveway behind my truck. I watched as a brunette man in his early twenties got out of the car and headed to my house. Checked the number and rang the bell. When no one answered he knocked with his hand and then again rang the bell.
'Hello what am I? Invisible?'
Letting my annoyance seep into my voice I spoke
"Looking for someone?"
"Oh yes"
"You gonna elaborate on that?"
"Looking to Charlie Swan, you know him?"
I raised an eyebrow, who does he think he is?
"No I just use his oven and his swing"
I replied sarcastically and shook my head. Dad's cruiser pulled in at that moment and I headed inside to check on the pizza. At the heated conversation I went back outside.
"Is everything ok dad?"
"Yeah, this is Damon, the nephew of an old friend of mine. Do you remember Zack
Salvatore?"
"Noop sorry"
"This is my daughter Isabella"
"Call me Bella and sorry for before, long day"
We shook hands and I felt as if I was hit by electrical current, I pulled my hand back quickly. I shook my head and told dad that dinner was ready. Dad followed suit and after whispering something to Damon he invited him in. We all sat at the table to have dinner, I wasn't particularly hungry so I mostly played with my portion. Charlie cleared his throat to get attention
"So Bells, I heard at the station that the Cullens moved to California."
I looked up, wow bad news travel fast. California though? Sunny, warm, beautiful California? I don't think so; still you got to love the irony
"Yes, that's what Edward told me. They left tonight, we, uh, broke up"
I said doing my best to keep my voice leveled.
"Are you OK?"
he looked at once, concerned, hopeful, suspicious and very relieved. He didn't approve my relationship with Edward since I came back from Phoenix broken.
"Yeah, I think I am. Edward wasn't interested in a long distance relationship dad and neither am I. I'll be ok, I promise."
I realized I meant it. Charlie needed me. I had a life here and while it would be hard I had to live it. Grams used to say that men come and go, family stays. I gave dad a soft smile and he returned it. I turned to Damon who looked between us and told him that my boyfriend and his family moved away. His eyes lost the glint they had before and he seemed lost in thought. He moved over it quickly though and nodded.
"I'm glad, Bella. I love having you here."
I choked up a little. The word "love" was not one Charlie used often. I hung my head, embarrassed.
"I love you too, Dad." I said.
After dinner I washed the dishes and dad dried them and put them away. I went up to my room, I had homework after all and dad went to show Damon his room in the attic. The attic wasn't exactly livable but I told him I'd clean it up tomorrow afternoon. We all sat in the living room watching a black and white movie. Dad was in his favorite worn leather armchair and Damon and I together on the couch. When I asked why he moved here Damon said he wanted to move because of some family reason he didn't explain. I was sure Charlie knew more than he was letting on though.
Around 10 I excused myself to my room. I was afraid to go to sleep and for a moment considered the bottle of sleeping pills I had found in the bathroom but in the end decided to do this naturally.
I got ready for bed, laid, and let my tears flow and eventually cried myself to sleep.
