Chapter Ten

Bella

I don't know how long I slept just that when I woke up I was terrified it had all been a wonderful dream so I opened my eyes with great trepidation expecting to see my old room complete with its peeling paint and threadbare rug but I hadn't been. I was still in this beautiful room that my dad had prepared for me and the sun shone on the desk holding the laptop and the envelope containing my bank book. I got dressed quickly putting on my warmest clothes in anticipation of going outside although it had stopped raining just like dad said. He wasn't there when I got downstairs but he'd left a note telling me he'd had to call in at the station and there was a small hand drawn map from the house to the station and a set of keys so I assumed I was to drive myself to meet him. Picking the keys up nervously I thought I'd better go straight away in case he was waiting, I didn't want to annoy him. Outside on the driveway stood a huge red truck that had seen better days but looked solid and reliable. I checked and the keys fitted the ignition so I warily started it expecting it to take several attempts but it fired straight away and I drove carefully out of the driveway and to the police station with an occasional glance at the map. Of course dad would have another car, he could hardly take the cruiser when he went fishing or hunting I just hadn't thought about it.

At the station I parked up relieved to see his car there and locking the truck I went up the steps and into the building looking around nervously to be met by a smile from the officer on the desk,

"Oh hello, I'm..."

"The Chief's daughter. I know, we don't get many strangers in Forks and he's done nothing but talk about you moving up here since he heard. He wont be a moment Bella if you'd like to take a seat. Would you like some coffee?"

I shook my head, I didn't want to appear too forward so I just smiled and sat down to wait until I heard my dads voice in the corridor then I stood up again so as not to keep him waiting. When he appeared he was talking to one of the most good looking men I had ever seen. He turned slightly as dad called my name and smiled as if in genuine pleasure at meeting me,

"This is my daughter Bella. Bella this is Dr Cullen, you'll meet his foster children at school on Monday."

The doctor took my hand and shook it briefly but it was the golden colour of his eyes that caught my attention so it only just registered that his hand was cold.

"I'm glad you finally arrived Bella. I'm sure we'll meet again but for now if you will forgive me I have patients waiting"

Dad said goodbye to his dispatcher and then turned to me,

"So, what do you think of the truck?"

"Its great. I wondered what I was going to do about shopping but if I could borrow that it would be fine"

He shook his head but he was grinning and I waited to hear the joke,

"Its not mine Bella. I bought it for you. After all living here you're gonna need your own transport."

"Mine? Really? Oh I couldn't..."

He touched my arm,

"Hey kiddo, let your old man spoil you just a bit, after all I missed out for long enough. I'm just sorry its not something better but..."

I shook my head biting back the tears again,

"Its perfect dad. Thank you so much."

"I reckon you might need that job to keep the gas tank filled up though so I had a word with Mr Newton who runs the outdoor sports shop. He has a vacancy for a Saturday worker and he'd like you to call in after school Monday and see him"

This was more than a dream come true, I'd died and gone to heaven. A beautiful home, a truck, a bank account and possibly a job!

I promised to call in at the store Monday after school but for now I got the guided tour of town. It wasn't big but it was better than a lot of places I'd lived and after showing me where the High School was we went shopping. Dad pushed the trolley while I went along picking up things I thought might be OK for a few days until I got the cupboards and freezer sorted but when I got to the check out the shopping had grown almost double and not from the couple of six packs Dad had added, there were sodas, chips, cookies, pop tarts and extra meat, steaks and chops. It would have fed me for a month at least but he just smiled at my expression.

"I like my food and I love my snacks with a beer after work. If we forgot anything put it on the list for next time and let me know if you need any more money, I don't want you subsidising the food bill Bella. You get yourself some boots and gloves over the road while I load this lot in the truck. Take your time there's no rush."

Not only did the staff in the grocery store speak to me but the staff in the clothing store knew who I was straight away and were really nice to me. I thought I was going to like it here in Forks living with my dad. I had often wished for a normal family life and this was as close as I could have wished for.

Alice

Well this was it, the day Bella Swan started school in Forks and I would soon know if what I'd seen was correct. I hadn't wanted to upset Edward by saying anything to him about Bella possibly being his singer especially as I wasn't sure myself but I watched him closely and as soon as I saw her I understood the rest of my vision, not only was she Edwards singer, she was also Jaspers mate which certainly complicated matters. I sent Edward on ahead while I hung back supposedly to speak to Rose but in fact to have a few quiet words with Jasper. I didn't tell him that Bella was his mate, he would work that out for himself soon enough but I did ask him to keep an eye on Edward at lunch time. Of course he wanted to know why and when I told him the reason for my request he was angry,

"Why the hell didn't you tell us before? This could be a disaster for us, especially if the Volturi find out. If Edward kills her then we're exposed which means more deaths and the danger of being wiped out by Aro and his cronies."

"Jazz calm down, I saw that Bella wasn't killed, Edward will control his thirst for her blood, you're just a stand by that's all. If you feel him losing control just send him some calming thoughts and take him outside for a walk, once he's in the fresh air and away from her scent he'll calm down again. Lets be fair if he kills the Police Chiefs daughter it would be awkward but I checked things out very carefully. Besides I think we are going to be close friends."

"Close friends? You and a human girl? Sometimes I think you're even more crazy than you appear."

Now that hurt as he knew it would but as I was withholding certain information from him I thought we were even and only patted his shoulder before leaving him to stare after me as I skipped inside to find my mate and finally speak to the new girl.