Carlisle left a bit after, so I had no choice but to sit and wait for Charlie to get here. It was probably only a few minutes but it felt like forever. I was nervous and excited at the same time, wondering what it would be like to meet my "uncle" in this strange world. I mean, he was supposed to be Bella's dad, not mine. How would he react to me? How would I react to him? Would we get along? Would we have anything in common? Would he be nice to me? Would he be strict with me? Would he be weirded out by me? So many questions, so little answers. Finally, he arrived, bursting through the door looking very concerned. He must have been really worried about me, poor guy. He probably thought I was his long-lost niece who had just survived a near-fatal car crash. Little did he know, I was actually a random girl who had somehow ended up in his fictional world.
"Angie" He breathed out, relieved, after seeing that I was conscious. He walked quickly toward me and pulled me into a tight hug. This was… unexpected and mildly uncomfortable. Unexpected because as far as I know Charlie isn't a very openly affectionate person, so for him to just hug me is very strange. I mean, he barely hugged Bella when she first came to Forks, and she was his actual daughter. Uncomfortable because even though I've read about him, he is still a stranger. I mean it's not like I've ever met him. He was just a fictional character in my favorite books, and now he was hugging me like I was his long-lost niece. Which I guess I was, in a way. But not really. It was complicated.
"Hey, Charlie" I muttered awkwardly, still being hugged a bit too tightly for comfort especially because of my ribs. He pulled back and looked over me, I suppose to make sure I was uninjured. Well, he was out of luck. I was injured, but the painkillers they gave me worked really well. They had to, since Carlisle was the one who treated me. I still couldn't believe he was real, and he was so kind and gentle with me. He was nothing like the cold and scary vampires I had seen in movies. He was warm and friendly and caring. He told me that I had broken a few ribs and bruised some others, but that I would heal quickly. He also told me that I was very lucky to be alive, and that I should be more careful on the road. He said it with a smile, but I could tell he was serious. He was a doctor, after all. He knew what he was talking about.
We made awkward small talk, at least it was awkward to me, while we left the hospital. Despite the painkillers they gave me, breathing was still uncomfortable as was moving. But I tried to ignore it and focus on what Charlie was saying. He was telling me about Forks, and how it was a small town with not much to do. He was telling me about his job as the chief of police, and how he liked it. He was telling me about his friends, and how they were nice. He was telling me about his hobbies, and how he liked fishing and watching sports. He was telling me a lot, and I tried to listen and respond. But I was also distracted by my own thoughts. I couldn't help but compare him to the Charlie I had read about in the books. He was acting very differently, and I wondered why. Throughout the whole car ride Charlie was talking to me, which I believe to be highly unusual because when Bella first arrived her and Charlie didn't talk much in the car. They were both quiet and awkward, and they didn't have much to say. So, either Charlie just likes me more than Bella, which is unlikely, or he is acting out of character for some reason. I'll have to figure that out while I'm here. Maybe he feels guilty for not being there for me, since he is my only living relative. Maybe he is trying to make up for supposedly lost time, since he never knew I existed until a few days ago. Maybe he is just curious about me, since I am supposed to be his sister's daughter. Or maybe he is just being nice, since I am a guest in his house. Whatever the reason, I appreciated his effort, even if it was a bit overwhelming. He was trying to make me feel welcome, and I was grateful for that.
The car ride was very short considering how small Forks is, but when we got there his house looked almost the same as in the movies. It was a modest two-story house, with a white exterior and a red roof. It had a small porch, a garage, and a backyard. It looked cozy and welcoming, and I felt a surge of gratitude for Charlie for letting me stay with him. He didn't have to, after all. He could have sent me to a foster home, or a hotel, or somewhere else. But he didn't. He opened his home to me, and I was touched by his generosity. We walked in, Charlie was still talking, and he showed me around the house. He showed me the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom, and the laundry room. He showed me where everything was, and how everything worked. He showed me a lot of things, and I tried to look interested and impressed. But I was also eager to see my room, and to be alone for a while. I needed some time to process everything that had happened, and to figure out what to do next. We eventually got to my room which had lavender walls and a full size bed with a pink comforter, a desk, chair, and a very old computer. I shuddered at the idea of having to use that. It looked like it belonged in a museum, not in a teenager's room. It looked like it would take forever to load anything, and it probably had viruses and malware. I guess having a computer is better than not having one, so I turned to Charlie and sincerely thanked him for the room. He smiled and said that he hoped I would like it, and that he had tried to make it comfortable for me. He also said that he had bought some clothes for me, since I didn't have any of my own. He pointed to a dresser and a closet, where I could see some hangers and drawers. I thanked him again, feeling touched by his gesture. He seemed to be a very thoughtful and generous person, and I wondered if I would ever get to know him better. He seemed to be a good man, and a good uncle, and I hoped we would get along.
He dropped the bombshell on me before he left: I had to go to school tomorrow. He had signed me up for Forks High School as a junior. He said it would be good for me to socialize and live normally. He said he understood it was a big change, but he believed in me. He said he was proud of me for being courageous and resilient, and that he loved me. He gave me another hug, and then left me to myself in my room. I was stunned. I didn't know how to feel about his words, or his actions. I was a whirlwind of emotions, from joy to sorrow, from appreciation to remorse, from love to fear. I had no idea what this new life would bring, or how long it would last. I didn't know if I would ever get back to my old life, or if I wanted to. I knew nothing, except that I was in the Twilight saga, and that Charlie was my uncle. And that I had school tomorrow.
I was about to go back to sleep when I woke up the next morning and remembered that I had to go to school. I groaned and buried my face in the pillow, wishing I could stay in bed and forget about this crazy world. But I knew I had no choice, so I forced myself to get up and face the day. I dragged myself to the bathroom in the hallway, feeling stiff and sore from the accident. Good to know that not everything has changed. I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth, and combed my hair. I looked at myself in the mirror and wondered what the people at school would think of me. Would they be friendly or hostile? Would they be curious or indifferent? Would they be normal or supernatural? I shivered at the last thought, remembering that I was in the Twilight saga, where anything could happen.
I got ready for the day and went back to my room to look through my abysmally small wardrobe. Charlie had bought me some clothes, but they were not exactly my style. I picked some black converse, a pink long sleeved top with a little bit of lace at the end of the sleeve, and some low rise flared jeans. People from my generation always talked about how awful lowrise is, not so much recently but still, and I always thought they weren't bad, but seeing these I can see why people didn't like them. They were ridiculously low, barely covering my hips, and they made me feel exposed and insecure. I layered a longer white shirt under my pink one so they weren't so obviously low, and hoped that no one would notice or comment on them.
I hadn't really noticed how much my ribs hurt before I ran down the stairs and into the kitchen, and hit my ribs hard on the corner of the counter. The pain was sharp and intense, and it took my breath away. I gasped and clutched my chest, feeling tears sting my eyes.
"Ow, fu-frick" I whined, and corrected my language when I realized Charlie was also in the kitchen. He was making breakfast, and he looked up when he heard me. He dropped the spatula and rushed to my side, his face full of worry.
"Are you okay?" Charlie immediately asked, when he heard me. He put his arm around me and guided me to a chair, where he sat me down gently. He looked at me with concern, his brown eyes searching for any signs of injury.
"Yeah, I'm good" I hissed through my teeth, I was most definitely not okay. I was in pain, and I was scared. I didn't know how bad my ribs were, or if they would heal properly. I didn't know if I had done any damage to them by running, or by hitting the counter. I didn't know if I should tell Charlie the truth, or if I should lie to him. I didn't know what to do.
'Here are your pain meds" He offered while holding out the hand that had the bottle of medicine. He had gotten them from Carlisle, who had prescribed them for me. He said they would help with the pain and the inflammation, and that I should take them as needed. He also said that I should be careful and avoid any strenuous activities, such as running, lifting, or bending. He said that I should rest and let my ribs heal, and that he would check on me regularly.
"Thanks" I said, still in pain. I took the bottle from him and opened it. I shook out two pills and swallowed them with some water. I hoped they would work fast, and that they would make me feel better. I also hoped they wouldn't make me drowsy, or sick, or anything else. I didn't need any more complications in my life.
After that incident I left and was on my way to my first day at school at Forks High. Charlie drove me there, and he tried to cheer me up with some jokes and stories. He told me about the town, the school, and the people. He told me that everyone knew everyone, and that I would fit in soon enough. He told me that he had a friend who worked at the school, and that he would introduce me to him. He told me that he had a daughter who was also a junior, and that she would show me around. He told me that he was happy that I was here, and that he wanted me to have a good time. He told me that he loved me, and that he was proud of me. He told me a lot of things, and I listened to him, and I smiled at him, and I thanked him. But I didn't tell him anything. I didn't tell him how I felt, or what I thought, or what I wanted. I didn't tell him that I was terrified, or confused, or lonely. I didn't tell him that I was in the Twilight saga, and that I didn't belong here. I didn't tell him anything, because I didn't know how.
A/N: I didn't post yesterday because I've been really busy. Anyways, review if you'd like. Bye xoxo