14Save Me
Chapter One
Another rainy day in Forks. I hate this town. This is going to be my own personal hell. Why would anyone want to live here? Why did I have to live here? Why couldn't Charlie live in California? It hasn't even been thirty minutes and I already miss the Arizona heat. But whom am I to complain? I'm the one who volunteered to give Renee the chance to travel with Phil. Why do I have to be such a good daughter?
"So Bells, how was your flight in?" Charlie asked interrupting the pity party going on in my head.
"Okay I guess. I slept through most of it." I said looking out the passenger side window.
"Well that's good. Uh, are you hungry? I didn't cook anything so we can stop and get some fast food if you like."
"No thanks Char- I mean dad. I'll make us some real food when we get home. Speaking of which, when is the last time you've had real food?" I laughed at the thought of Charlie trying to cook. Knowing him he would probably hurt himself, haha or the kitchen.
"Alright, if you want. But I don't really have a lot of options. You'll have to get creative." He said shaking his head.
"Can do." I guess that first thing on the agenda tomorrow is grocery shopping after school. Ugh. School. Tomorrow is going to be the worst day of my life.
After we got home I unpacked and headed downstairs to scrounge for something to cook for dinner. I found a box a hamburger helper shoved in the back of the pantry and popped a pound of hamburger meat in the microwave to defrost. While waiting for the microwave to ding I made a mental list of the things I'd need to get at the store tomorrow. As soon as the microwave went off I continued making dinner and went to set the table. Charlie really didn't have a dining room, just a small oak table that seated four at the end of his kitchen under the bay window. It looked like it hadn't been used in a while. Of course it hadn't, this is Charlie after all. I cleared off all of the old newspapers and junk mail cluttering the top and set out our plates.
"Char- dad dinner is done." I yelled out to the living room. I've got to stop calling him Charlie out loud. I don't want to hurt his feelings or something.
Charlie walked into the kitchen and plopped down at the table. "Wow Bella, I never knew I had a table!" He chuckled. "Dinner smells great."
We sat there eating dinner filling awkward silences with small talk about our lives since last visit. Once we were done Charlie went and dozed off on the couch. I did the dinner dishes and headed up to my room. I couldn't help but smile at Charlie's attempts at making my room feel "homey". It wasn't a complete disaster. The walls were painted a light yellow from when I was a baby, my old rocker was in the corner by the window, there was a queen sized bed with purple bedding and a few of my old stuffed animals on the wall opposite of the rocking chair, a night stand by my bed, and a dresser and computer desk by my closet. I walked over and laid back on my bed just staring at the ceiling fan complete rotation after rotation. One of the great things about Charlie is that he keeps to himself, leaving me space to keep to myself. I looked over at my alarm clock and saw that it was now eight o'clock. I figured I take a quick shower and wash a long day's worth of travel off before heading off to bed.
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP BEEP, BEEP…I woke up the next morning to the annoyance of my alarm clock going off. Great! Its tomorrow. Just great. Crap, crap, crap! I rolled back over pulling the covers over my head wishing the beeping would turn itself off. There was a light knock at my door.
"Bella? Are you up? Time for school!" Charlie said with a hint of excitement in his voice.
"No, go-a-way! I'm still asleep. No ones home, leave a message at the beep!" BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.
Charlie laughed and walked over to turn off my alarm clock.
"Get dressed and meet me down stairs when you're done. I've got a surprise for you." Charlie smiled and headed out the door.
Well now in interested. What could Charlie possible have for me? I grabbed my bag of toiletries, headed for the hall bathroom, which I now have to share with Charlie, and went through my usual morning ritual. Afterward I crossed the hall back to my room, threw on a dark blue v-neck shirt, a gray belted jacket, a pair of nice jeans and ballet flats. I personally wasn't the type to "dress up" but I new my mother would be proud at my effort to not look like crap on my first day at a new school, and yes, this is me "dressing up". I grabbed my purse and headed down stairs.
"So dad" - yes, I didn't say Charlie! - "What's this so called surprise. You know how much I hate surprises."
"I know, know but, just think as it more as a homecoming gift." He smiled.
"Dad" - yes, two for two!- "You know I hate gifts."
"Bella, just stop talking and close your eyes. Just let me have this, this once."
"Dad" I groaned
"Just humor me will you! Please" I couldn't help but giggle at his poorly hidden excitement.
I closed my eyes and he led me outside. "And open" he whispered.
I couldn't help but gasp at my gift. "Dad It's-it's it's great! It's beautiful, it's -" Charlie cut me off mid stumble.
"It's all yours." He said dangling the keys from his index finger.
"Thank you so much. You shouldn't have, I was going to pay for one myself. I should pay -" Why does he keep cutting me off?
"No Bella this is my gift for you. You can spend that money on gas or something fun like that." He objected.
"Thanks again dad" I hugged him and he handed me the keys.
"Drive safe" he said. "Have a good first day of school."
I nodded and slid into the cab of my new, well new to me, red 53' Chevy pick up truck and headed to school.