Dusk of Twilight

FIRST SIGHT

✧

My mother drives me to the airport with the windows rolled down.

It's seventy-five degrees in Phoenix, the sky a perfect, cloudless blue. I'm wearing my favourite graphic tee, it's a happy yellow with cactuses printed across the front—reminiscent of the life I'm leaving behind. My carry on item is a parka.

In the Olympic Peninsula of northwest Washington State, a small town named Forks exists under a near-constant cover of clouds. It rains on this inconsequential town more than any other place in the United States of America. It was from this town and it's gloomy, omnipresent shade that my mother escaped with me when I was only a few months old. And it was in this town that I'd been compelled to spend a month, every summer, until I was fourteen. That was the year I finally put my foot down. Since then my dad, Charlie, would vacation with me in California for two weeks instead.

It is to Forks that I now exile myself—a decision I did not make lightly. I detest Forks, I love Phoenix. I love the sun and the blistering heat—I love the vigorous, sprawling city and the life I've built here.

"Bella," My mom grasps my hand at the gate, worry in her voice. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

We look similar, except her hair is lighter and shorter than mine—her skin more tan and eyes crinkled with age. The panic resurfaces as I meet her motherly gaze. Can I really leave my loving and spirited mother behind? She won't be alone, she has Phil now—a new partner in crime.

"I'm sure," I lie. Although I'm a terrible liar, I've been repeating myself for weeks now and it's almost begun to sound convincing. "I want to go."

"Tell Charlie I say hi. And call me when you land."

"Yes mom," I roll my eyes half-heartedly.

She squeezes my hand. "If it doesn't work out then come home, whenever you want—I'll come right back as soon as you need me."

But I can see the sacrifice in her eyes behind the promise.

"Don't worry about me," I urge, letting go of her hand to pull her in for a hug. "Go be madly in love with Phil."

It's a four-hour flight from Phoenix to Seattle, another hour in a small plane up to Port Angeles, and then an hour drive to Forks. Flying doesn't bother me, the hour spent in the car with Charlie though, I'm a little worried about.

Charlie has really been fairly nice about the whole thing. He seems genuinely pleased that I'm coming to live with him for the first time with any degree of permanence. He'd already gotten me registered for high school and promised to help me get a car.

It's not that we don't get along. In fact, neither of us are what anyone would describe as verbose or bubbly in nature—unlike my mother. I know he's more than a little confused by my decision to move here. Like my mother before me, I hadn't ever made a secret of my distaste for Forks.

It's raining as I land in Port Angeles. I don't see it as an omen—just unavoidable. I'd already said my goodbyes to the sun.

Charlie waits for me with the cruiser. This I expected, too. To the small town of Forks, Charlie is the cherished Police Chief Swan. Despite the scarce nature of my funds, my primary motivation for purchasing my own vehicle solely comes down to the fact; I refuse to be driven around town in a car with flashing lights on top. Nothing slows down traffic quite like a cop.

I stumble my way off the plane, pulling up the hood of my parka. Charlie gives me an awkward, one-armed hug in greeting.

"Good to see you, Bells," He says, smiling as steadies me on my feet. "You haven't changed much. How's Renée?"