Chapter 37: There's No Place Like Home
Bella sprinted through the dense forest, her feet barely making a sound on the moss-covered ground. The cool air filled her lungs, its crispness refreshing as it cut through the acrid smoke that lingered from her recent explosion. With each breath, the stress of the last half hour began to unwind, the tranquility of the woods seeping into her. The forest, dense with towering evergreens and a thick undergrowth of ferns, was alive with the sounds of nature—a gentle rustling of leaves, the distant call of a bird, the soft trickle of an unseen stream.
Bella came to a halt in a small clearing, where the forest opened up just enough to reveal a breathtaking view. The snow-capped peaks of the distant mountains stood tall and majestic, their stark whiteness contrasting against the deep greens of the forest below. The sight was calming, a reminder of the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest. As she stood there, taking it all in, Bella felt a profound sense of peace.
Looking around, she marveled at the beauty surrounding her. It was a special moment indeed, as if the sun itself had deemed her worthy, peeking through the cloud cover—a true rarity in these parts. The sunlight filtered down through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor and highlighting the vibrant greens of the moss and leaves. The air was rich with the earthy scent of pine and damp soil from the morning mist, a scent that grounded her and brought a faint smile to her lips.
As a young girl, Bella had never wanted to visit Forks. She had truly dreaded each visit and, in her young naivety, had questioned Charlie's choice to remain living in such a remote area, away from the conveniences of city life—not to mention her and her mother. Back then, it had seemed like an unnecessary seclusion, a place disconnected from the world. But now, standing in the midst of this serene landscape, she finally understood. There was a simplicity here, a raw beauty that couldn't be found in the crowded, bustling cities—certainly not in a place like Phoenix. Here was a place where one could find clarity and peace, away from the noise and distractions of modern life. Charlie had seen it, the quiet strength of these woods, the comfort of their timeless presence. And now, for the first time, Bella felt it too.
As Bella wandered through the forest, the chirps of baby birds caught her attention. She glanced up and spotted the nest high in a tree, which brought a smile to her face. Hopefully, the mama bird would soon return with worms to feed her hungry chicks. As she continued her walk, memories of her own childhood began to surface. It baffled her why she had been so resistant to visiting Forks back then. Reflecting on those days, she realized she had been a pretty rotten daughter, especially after her 13th birthday when she had outright refused to visit Forks anymore. Instead, Charlie had been forced to meet her in California, accommodating her stubborn objections.
A wave of guilt washed over Bella as she recalled those times. She shook her head, feeling a deep sense of shame. But there was no way to change the past; all she could do now was strive to be a better daughter in the future. Thankfully, her outlook on life had improved significantly in the past five years, allowing her to see the world from a more mature perspective.
Eventually, Bella emerged from the forest and recognized the street, knowing Charlie's house was just a few blocks away. As she walked along the familiar road, she felt a strange anticipation building within her, which surprised her. Soon, she stood in front of the white two-story house that had once been her childhood home. The sight stirred a bittersweet feeling within her; she had only fleeting memories of living there with her parents when they had still been together, just a few random flashes like still images of those happier times.
The house looked much the same as she remembered it from her later visits. She approached the front door, a smile tugging at her lips, as she bent down and retrieved the key from its secret hiding spot under the mat. The familiar click of the lock felt almost surreal as she turned the key and pushed the door open. A wave of nostalgia washed over her, mixed with a hint of nervous energy. It had been over a decade since she last set foot in this house. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside, ready to confront the memories of her past.
As Bella stepped into the front entranceway, she immediately wrinkled her nose. Had Charlie gotten a dog? He had never mentioned getting a pet, and she certainly didn't hear any animal heartbeats inside the house. The odor, reminiscent of wet dog, was truly unique and rather putrid. It surprised her, as she had never had any issues with dogs since her transformation and quite enjoyed petting them when given the opportunity. Back when she lived in Florida, her roommate's dog had loved to cuddle up against her, probably enjoying her cool skin during those sweltering summer nights. Perhaps a friend of Charlie's had a particularly smelly dog they liked to bring over.
As Bella gave the living room a quick cursory look, she noticed it was much as she remembered, though she did detect a few changes. Amazingly, Charlie's recliner looked exactly the same, with even more sewn-on patches than before. He always did love that chair. However, the couches appeared new, and the TV was newer and much bigger, now hanging on the wall. This made sense, as Charlie really loved his sports. The room also appeared much cleaner than she recalled; maybe Charlie was employing a maid service.
The wet dog smell intensified as she approached the loveseat, but there were no visible signs of a pet, like dog hair on the couch or carpet. She would have to ask Charlie about it later. In the meantime, she decided to stop using her nose while she was here. It was a bit annoying to go without her sense of smell, but it was definitely better than enduring this odor. Peeyew.
Leaving the living room, Bella popped her head into the kitchen and smiled, pleased to see that Charlie had finally painted over those god-awful yellow cabinets. The new eggshell white color really brightened up the space, giving it a fresh, clean look. She walked over to the sink and opened the cabinet underneath, hoping to find some Febreze, but all she could find were some Windex and AJAX.
Oh well, it probably wouldn't have been strong enough anyway. She had a feeling that only industrial-strength cleaners could tackle this odor. Despite the lingering smell, Bella felt a surprising sense of comfort and genuine nostalgia. Being back in Forks, and especially in her old house, brought back memories she hadn't realized she missed. The familiar creak of the floorboards, the subtle scent of pinewood, and the quiet solitude of the place made her feel unexpectedly at home.
After opening the backdoor and stepping outside for a breath of fresh air, Bella looked around at Charlie's expansive backyard. It struck her how fortunate he was to have no other houses nearby, his being the only one at the end of a long, secluded street. The forest surrounded his home, creating a tranquil sense of solitude and peace. Once Charlie returned and they had a long conversation, covering some pretty heavy topics, she thought it might be nice to unwind with a hike, exploring what lay beyond the backyard. As a child, she had obviously never ventured beyond the tree line, and the thought of discovering something new in a setting so close to Charlie's home was intriguing.
Returning to the house, Bella made her way to the living room, where she had noticed a series of photos on the fireplace mantel earlier and wanted to take a closer look. Gazing at the collection, she saw that the photos chronicled her life from infancy through her awkward adolescent years, ending with a picture of her and Charlie at her high school graduation in Phoenix. That had been the last time she had seen Charlie before today.
As she looked at her human face in the photo, Bella couldn't help but smile, mirroring the expression of the girl in the picture, though she noted that her human self appeared slightly self-conscious. Remembering that day, she knew that was exactly how she had felt—nervous about being the center of attention. The thought of walking across that stage had kept her up most of the night before, convinced she would trip and fall in front of everyone. If only she could have given that girl some of the confidence she now possessed. Her human self would never have believed all the things she would one day accomplish, and she knew there was still so much more to come in the future. Bella saw no limit to what she could one day become. No, that girl in the photo had no idea how much her life would change in just a few short years.
Seeing Charlie's smiling face next to her own, Bella couldn't help but shake her head. He had really had one hell of a day, and she hoped he was coping alright. It must have been quite a shock for him to see his daughter popping heads and blowing up buildings. She was still upset with herself for losing control like that. She hadn't been that out of control since those first early months, and there was no excuse for her to behave like a rampaging newborn now. She was lucky she hadn't given Charlie a heart attack. Hopefully, he wouldn't be scarred for life after witnessing all that. Humans shouldn't have to see a vampire at their worst, and those who did were probably not long for this world.
That brought up another important question: How did Charlie know about vampires? According to Peter and Char, the secrecy surrounding vampires was paramount, yet here was a small-town police chief aware of the biggest secret in human history. It seemed fishy to her. If everyday people like Charlie knew about vampires, why wasn't it plastered all over the news 24/7—"Vampires are real! Full story tonight at 11:00." No, there had to be more to it, but Bella couldn't figure out how he knew.
In any event, now that the vampire was out of the bag, so to speak, she didn't have to hide everything from Charlie anymore. This revelation also meant she could stay in his life. It didn't have to be a physical goodbye like she had been planning.
Bella scolded herself for making assumptions. Just because her mom had accepted her didn't mean Charlie would. He might not want anything to do with her now that he knew the truth. It certainly didn't help her cause that Charlie had seen her going psycho. God damn... She shook her head, replaying what she had done in her rage. Still, she didn't really think Charlie would kick her to the curb. But it was up to him to tell her how he felt about the whole situation, and she would respect whatever he decided.
Bella walked up the creaky staircase and down the hallway. Before going into her old room, she peeked into the bathroom to check her reflection in the mirror and was relieved to find no traces of blood on her face or clothes. She hadn't been as conscientious about staying clean while in her bloodlust and was glad Charlie hadn't seen her drenched in the stuff. Shutting off the bathroom light, she continued down the hall until she reached her old room. She hesitated for a moment, not knowing what she would find before slowly turning the doorknob.
As the door creaked open, it was like stepping into a time capsule. The room seemed untouched since her last visit; it was like a tomb for the 12-year-old Bella Swan. The purple wallpaper had faded, but everything else was just as she remembered. As Bella walked in, she saw her grandma's old rocking chair in the corner, still holding some of her teddy bears. She smiled, walking over and picking up Mr. Bluppy. "Hello, old friend," she said aloud, giving the blue bear a light hug. She brought him to her nose and sniffed, smiling as he still smelled just as she remembered from her early childhood.
Placing Mr. Bluppy back in his place of prominence, Bella walked over to the desk and flipped the switch on the lamp. The light flickered on, casting a soft glow over the room. On the desk were some old drawings she had made as a child. She smiled at the sight of a crudely drawn house with two figures in front of it—one a large blob, the other a smaller stick figure. It was clear who they were meant to represent: Charlie and herself. She had never been good at drawing, and this "masterpiece" was proof of that.
As Bella leafed through a few more of her early attempts at art, she realized she hadn't tried drawing since her transformation. Curious to see if her skills had improved, she sat down at the desk, pulled out a blank piece of paper, and picked up a pencil. She started sketching Charlie's house and was immediately amazed at the difference. The drawing was incredibly detailed, almost like a photograph, with accurate proportions and fine details she had never believed could be drawn by hand. She grinned, delighted to discover yet another new ability. Enthusiastically, she added herself and Charlie, both smiling, standing in front of the house.
Hours later, Bella had created a full array of drawings. There were pictures of herself, her mom, Charlie, Peter and Char, as well as scenic landscapes and some of the amazing places she had visited. Each piece felt like a true masterpiece to her. She had even tried her hand at abstract art but found that those pieces didn't pop off the page as much as the images of real places and people she had seen.
As she admired her work, Bella decided that when she traveled overseas, she would definitely buy a sketchbook. While photographs sent through her phone were nice, she thought her mom and hopefully Charlie would appreciate receiving a letter with a hand-drawn image of the incredible sights she would be seeing. There was something uniquely personal and heartfelt about capturing a moment with her own hands, and she looked forward to sharing these intimate pieces of her experiences with her loved ones.
Finished with her drawing for now, Bella stood up and began rummaging through her closet. Other than some old toys, there was nothing of much interest. Her thoughts drifted back to Charlie, and she wondered how he was coping. An event like the one she had caused must be incredibly taxing on a small community like Forks, which wasn't accustomed to handling major disasters. She regretted adding to Charlie's workload, but she knew there was no changing the past.
Checking the time on her phone, Bella noted it was almost 5:00. She decided it was a good idea to go downstairs and catch the local news, figuring there would likely be coverage of the explosion and the earlier trouble in Port Angeles. In the living room, she settled onto the sofa and turned on the TV. Scanning through the channels, she quickly found the local news, and after a few minutes of commercials, the broadcast began.
"Good evening, Seattle. Our top story tonight began in Port Angeles this morning, where a brazen armed robbery left two men injured, one of whom is in critical but stable condition. The three suspects, seen here in this security footage, managed to escape before authorities could apprehend them. Unfortunately, the story doesn't end there. We now go live to Timothy Johnson in Forks, Washington, where this incident took a tragically explosive turn."
Bella watched, spellbound, as the scene shifted to a live shot from just off the 101, with the edge of Newton's parking lot visible behind the reporter. She leaned in, listening intently.
"Thank you, Stephanie. A tragic situation unfolded in the small town of Forks this afternoon, following the armed robbery in Port Angeles earlier today. The three suspects involved in the Port Angeles incident made their way to Forks, though their motives remain unclear at this time. Upon arriving at Newton's Outfitters, the suspects tragically killed an employee. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the victim, who managed to alert the police before the fatal incident occurred.
What followed was both tragic and highly unusual. Forks Police Chief Charlie Swan responded to the alarm, and upon confronting the suspects, a gunfight broke out. Chief Swan managed to neutralize one of the assailants. However, in a shocking turn of events, the suspects detonated a significant amount of explosives, completely destroying Newton's Outfitters. The motives behind this devastating attack are still unknown, and the investigation is ongoing. Fortunately, Chief Swan escaped the building just in time. We had the opportunity to speak with him earlier today about this harrowing experience."
Bella saw the scene switch over, and there was Charlie! Thankfully, he looked alright. She stopped her ruminations to listen to what he had to say. It appeared he was in the middle of responding to a question.
"Well, the investigation is still in its early stages, so we can't release any specific details regarding the gunmen or the explosion at this time," Charlie stated, his voice measured and calm. "I want to reassure the people of Forks that, while today was undoubtedly tragic, the threat has been resolved, and there is no ongoing danger to the community. We do ask everyone to avoid unnecessary travel on the 101, as the roadway is currently very congested with emergency response vehicles. We also ask that the public refrain from coming to the scene out of curiosity, as it's crucial that emergency personnel have clear access to do their jobs. Our priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone involved."
The scene switched back to the live reporter, and Bella muted the sound. She felt a wave of relief wash over her; the situation didn't seem to be escalating into anything supernatural related. At least when they cut to Charlie, he hadn't started screaming "Vampire!" She chuckled to herself, grateful that despite the chaos, the secret remained intact.
It looked like the news was moving on to the next story, so Bella turned off the TV. Seeing the chaos behind the live reporter, it was clear that Charlie wouldn't be home anytime soon. Feeling a bit antsy, she decided to head back up to her room to exercise her abilities, something that always relaxed her. She closed the door behind her, grateful that the unpleasant smell from downstairs hadn't permeated this space.
She lay down on her old bed, which creaked from disuse, and began lifting various objects with her shield, manipulating them in different ways above her head. Bella smiled, pleased to be able to refer to her ability as a "shield" now. It was a much better term for describing what she could do, and it sounded more badass, too. Calling it a "bubble" had always sounded childish, like something a young tween might say. As the objects floated and danced above her, she relaxed, feeling a sense of satisfaction and control. It was a welcome distraction from the day's events.
Bella spent the entire day and night honing her abilities while waiting for Charlie to return. Currently, she was lifting 58 different objects in her room, simultaneously moving them in various ways. Some she sent gliding from one side of the room to the other, while others spun in place or traced large circles, all in opposing directions. It amazed her how her brain could handle such complexity, coordinating actions that would be impossible for a human mind to even comprehend. What she found even more astounding was that her abilities showed no signs of reaching their limits. When she first discovered her shield, she could barely move a small rock, but with constant practice, her power had grown exponentially, allowing her to perform increasingly intricate maneuvers.
Sitting up, Bella lifted herself off the bed, becoming the 59th object in the room, which descended into an organized chaos with her floating at its center. As she rotated herself in circles, watching everything else moving around her, she wondered what she would be able to accomplish in another five years. Her potential seemed limitless, and the thought filled her with excitement and anticipation for the future.
As the new day dawned, Bella's ears picked up the sound of the front door opening downstairs. A smile spread across her face as she realized Charlie was finally home. Gently, she lowered herself to the floor, carefully setting all the floating objects back in their original places. After a quick glance around the room to ensure everything was in order, she straightened her clothes, wanting to look presentable. She knew that this much-needed conversation would shape the future of her and Charlie's relationship.
As Bella walked down the hall, she could hear the faint sound of the refrigerator door closing in the kitchen. Maybe Charlie hadn't eaten anything since yesterday. She really should have had something ready for him. As she descended the stairs, the lower step creaked under her weight, causing the movements from the kitchen to pause and a female voice to call out, "Charlie?"
Shit, that wasn't Charlie. Bella paused, chiding herself for not using her nose to check before making her presence known. She'd been avoiding using her sense of smell because of the awful dog stench that lingered throughout the first floor. Well, whoever it was, they knew they weren't alone now, so she'd better go introduce herself as Charlie's daughter before they thought there was an intruder in the house.
Bella rounded the corner into the kitchen, a friendly smile on her face, ready to introduce herself as she spotted a middle-aged woman standing by the kitchen table. Just as she opened her mouth to say hello, the woman let out an ear-piercing scream that seemed to shake the very walls of the house. What the hell?
The woman's eyes were wide with terror as she pressed herself against the sink, her entire body trembling. "Where's Charlie? What have you done to him? Please, please don't hurt me," she pleaded, her voice quivering with fear. Bella's smile faded, replaced by a look of concern and confusion. She raised her hands in a placating gesture, trying to calm the woman down.
Bella wondered who this woman was and why she was so terrified. She was clearly scared out of her mind. Did she know about the existence of vampires, too? Did everyone in this rainy little town know about vampires?
Bella spoke quickly, trying to allay the woman's fears. "I didn't do anything to Charlie. I won't hurt you. I'm…"
But the woman was too scared to listen to her words and continued to plead. "Please don't hurt me. I have children. I'm all they have left. Please let me go."
Bella felt a surge of frustration. She didn't know what to say or do to calm this woman down. "You can leave. It's okay. Please, calm down, I…"
The woman didn't stay long enough to hear what Bella had to say. As soon as she heard she could leave, she bolted for the back door, leaving in such a rush that she didn't even close the door behind her. Bella walked to the window and peeked out, watching as the woman raced to her car, jumping in and speeding away down the street.
Bella shook her head, confusion evident on her face. Boy, this town sure was unusual. She didn't remember Forks being this strange. It felt like her arrival had thrown the previously peaceful, sleepy little town into chaos. She walked over to the back door, closing it gently before heading to the kitchen counter to investigate what the woman had been up to. Peering into the bag left behind, it seemed the woman had been restocking Charlie's refrigerator with meals. Bella wrinkled her nose at the revolting stench wafting from the sealed containers, which appeared to contain fried fish. She didn't bother opening any of them, not wanting to get the smell on her any more than she already had. Cooked fish seemed to have a particularly offensive odor to her, much worse than other meat products.
Standing in the kitchen, Bella pondered what to do next. Making a meal for Charlie seemed like a good idea, especially after everything he had been through in the past 24 hours. Opening up the refrigerator, she scanned its contents, looking for something she could prepare. One thing was certain: she would not be serving him fish.
While preparing a light meal for Charlie, Bella couldn't help but think about the strange woman who had left so frightened and in such a hurry. The woman had an attractive face, framed by long, straight black hair, typical of a Native American, so she was likely from La Push. Charlie had always been friendly with the tribe, and Bella remembered visiting the reservation with him many times during her youth. Charlie's closest friend, Billy, would often invite him over to watch baseball and football games, which meant she had to spend time with Billy's children. It seemed to her that Charlie and Billy always hoped she would become friends with Billy's daughters, but they had never quite clicked, likely because the girls were a few years older than her. Reflecting on the twin sisters for the first time in well over a decade, Bella realized they might have little kids of their own by now.
As Charlie's meal cooked, she sat down at the kitchen table, lost in thought about her youth, including those many awkward trips to La Push. She recalled Billy's son, Jack, who always tried to poke his nose in, wanting to play with her and his sisters, but he had been even younger than her. Jack? That didn't sound right. Oh well, Charlie would surely fill her in on everything important that had happened in his life and around town.
Just as Charlie's meal was ready, Bella heard a car pull up outside the house. Peeking out the window, she smiled, relieved to see that it was indeed Charlie this time. She listened as he thanked the driver for the ride, watching as the car drove away. She then observed Charlie turning toward the house and taking a deep breath, staring at it. His expression looked a little leery, most likely steeling himself for a difficult conversation. Bella could relate to that feeling as she watched him begin to walk up the driveway. Soon, she heard the front door open and Charlie's hesitant voice calling out, "Bella?"
Bella knew that was her cue. "Hey, Dad. I'm in the kitchen," she called back, trying to sound as casual and welcoming as possible, hoping to ease the tension they both felt.
I hope you enjoyed experiencing Bella's return to Charlie's house. In the next chapter, we'll finally get that much-needed conversation between Bella and Charlie.
Comments are appreciated. I enjoy reading anything you have to say.