Chapter 16 – A new life
Laying in my room, which was different than before, the purple walls had become a soft royal blue, above my desk were a few shelves filled with various trinkets and collectibles, a large cork board stood above the my dresser filled with photos, sketches, drawings (no idea who did them to be honest). Above my bed hang the dream catcher Jake had given me for my birthday along with a series of Christmas lights (luckily identical to before). Even the white, wooden rocking chair occupied by my schoolbag was in its position under the window. However my normally twin bed was now a double one, I was trying to figure out my new life.
The house itself was slightly bigger with one more bedroom and a bathroom and a garage. The bedroom belonged to the brown-haired, brown eyed, kind of cute fifteen year old brand new brother of mine that came to the airport to pick me up with Charlie.
Apparently I have a brother.
According to a full shelf of journals in my room, Renée did leave Charlie when I was a toddler. She hitched a ride with a couple on their silver anniversary who told her stories of how to make a marriage work. Judging by a picture attached in the journal, they must have tried really hard to convince her, seeing as there is no vervain in Forks.
She met with Charlie a few days later and together they decided that it would be a good idea to try Renée's way and move from Forks to stay with her mother. Grandma Isabella, whose name and locket I inherited, helped raise me and when they were done with college they popped Peter out. The joker next door. So we lived happily all together in Phoenix with yearly winter visits to Forks to see dad's parents.
When Charlie's parents died last year he wanted to go back home to Forks. Mom, being a city girl, hated the idea of it and the strain of the discussion took its toll on them. They divorced within a month. Mom stayed in Phoenix but Dad wanted to come here. Mom wanted some time along so Peter (my brother) and I followed dad to the dreary little town of Forks. I met Edward and the rest is history.
I woke up bright and early next morning. My alarm clock was set for thirty minutes earlier than I usually woke up but I guess having a brother kind of explains it. Which is why I locked his door to the bathroom we now share. Abiding by the lack of sunlight I put on a pair of simple light jeans, a bright yellow top and paired it with a pair of beige booties that looked like midcalf sneakers with heels. They are so comfortable! they were in my closet along with a dark blue leather jacket.
Why does my closet look like Miss J or Project Runway or, worse, Alice has put it together? I grabbed a rather large messenger bag and stuffed my laptop and the necessary books for today in there. Brushing my teeth and doing a quick makeup, I headed downstairs to find Charlie engrossed in the morning paper sipping his coffee looking tired.
Uhhh, normalcy!
"Morning dad"
"Morning Bells. How did you sleep?"
"Great! I missed my bed"
I replied truthfully as he chuckled before throwing a glance at the ceiling
"Any idea if your brother is awake?"
I poured myself a bowl of cocoa puffs and a glass of OJ. Looking straight into my bowl I concentrated on any noise coming from upstairs and hurried to stop once I realized what the soft grunting coming from his room I heard meant. I shrugged as casually as possible.
"Not a clue"
Thankfully he appeared just as I was pouring coffee in a pair of travel mugs for me and Charlie, laughing over something on his phone.
"Morning everyone"
He greeted and attacked a bowl of cereal before slinging a bag over his bright green and yellow sunflower print t-shirt and added a denim jacket.
I fluffed his hair a little, he hit my arm and grabbing the large coffee mugs we were all out the front door. I was pleased to see dad punched in a code in a security system. Guess, living in a big city for years made him even more of a security freak. Peter made a move towards the bicycle resting on the garage wall but Charlie shook his head.
"Bells can you take Pete to school, its gonna rain"
"Sure dad"
I said absently wondering what I was supposed to drive in. When Charlie picked me up from the airport last night, he had the cruiser and I couldn't see my truck anywhere.
In the garage was an old Chrysler LeBaron painted in a deep indigo color, something under a sheet, and jeep Wrangler painted a sunshine yellow color. What is mom's jeep doing here? Pete solved it for me by throwing his backpack in the backseat and climbed on the passenger seat of the LeBaron before reaching over and pressing the horn a few times.
"Don't kill him. You know you love your brother"
Charlie joked from the cruiser door. I turned to look at him remaining expressionless
"If you say so"
At his suddenly scared expression I rolled my eyes and winked.
"Kidding"
"Oh, hey I had the chain fixed"
Charlie produced a long chain from a pocket that ended in a medium sized pendant. taking it from him I examined it and gave him a smile. it was blue with an emblem on the front and the letter 'I' in gold. it was identical to the ring Stefan and Damon wear actually.
"Aren't you gonna put it on? You never take it off"
Pete said confused and slightly suspiciously. I gave him a smile that i didn't feel and fastened it around my neck before hoping on the lebaron and after honking to dad twice I drove through the town to the school. Pete was playing with the radio.
"is everything ok with you?"
he asked when I stopped at a red light. I threw him a glance and decided to go for a half truth. I didn't want to lie to my family even if I didn't know them.
"I didn't sleep very well. Pete, if I tell you something, do you promise not to tell mom or dad?"
he squinted before he shouted angrily
"I knew it. You slept with the prick and now you're pregnant. I'm gonna kill-"
my eyes widened and I had to stop him. Did he have to pick the only busy road in Forks to shout at?
"Peter Charles Swan! I'm still a virgin and you won't kill anyone, thank you very much. now stop shouting!"
he seemed to calm down indicating it was okay for me to continue. I kept my eyes on the road as I drove.
"Remember the guy on the end of our number in the band wars?"
"the vampire hunter?"
"he was a teacher who got a tiny but overzealous and me being me, I tripped and hit my head"
he seemed ready to shout again and I sent him the same look I sent mom when she wanted a pet sheep in my 4th grade. it had the same effect and Pete shut up
"Nothing bad happened but I got a slight concussion and have forgotten a few things"
he flung himself on me in a bear hug the moment I pulled into the school's parking lot and parked next to a bubblegum pink smart car.
"but you're okay, aren't' you?"
he whispered as I felt a few teardrops fall on my skin. I hugged him back awkwardly and ruffled his hair that parted in the middle and touched gently the collar of his baby blue t-shirt
"I'm fine, just a bit confused on a few details. now come on, we have school"
I hugged him once more and we both hopped out of the car.
"You're a freshman, right?"
I pretended to not remember and he laughed, a certain gleam returning to his eyes.
"seriously though, anyone bugs you and you tell me. no one bullies my kid brother"
I said clearly. I had never been bullied but I always was the quiet type. pete nodded uncomfortably
"now you care"
he grumbled under his breath. if it hadn't been for my vampire hearing I wouldn't be able to hear him
"What was that?"
he looked like a deer caught in the headlights
"when you were with him"
he spat the word
"You never cared for me. you would leave me alone and ignore me Bella. it made me feel I have no sister"
"I'm so sorry Pete. I don't remember that, it makes sense though. How can I make it up to you?"
I asked him
"Be there..."
he trailed and I nodded. I extended my right pinkie finger out
"Pinkie promise"
he chuckled and hooked his pinkie with mine
"See you at lunch?"
he asked biting his bottom lip in the same way I always do.
"you know that's right"
I quoted psych and smiled as I watched him walk away. just another day in Forks.
