My way back

Family and Friends

Bella's POV:
I descend the stairs with Jacob, holding his hand tightly. As we finally got to the bottom, I was met with many different faces, some with smiles, some with worried expressions, and a few with scrawls on them. I was petrified. I don't remember any of these people. Nothing meant anything to me, no matter what role I played in their lives. That's what scared me. I wanted to know who these people were and if they were, how could I put this friend or foe. Just when I was about to ask Jake if I could just go somewhere else.

A man came up to me. He looked somewhat like me, so I was able to relax just a little. Then he asked me, "Do you remember me at all, Isabella?"

I was quiet for a moment, then shook my head slowly while replying, "no, I'm sorry, I don't remember you."

At first, he was quiet, and I thought I had said the wrong thing and was on the verge of tears. When he said, "That's quite alright. That means I'll just have to remind you, but that will be for another time at your pace, sweetheart. In the meantime, I'm Charlie, your dad."

He went to shake my hand, but I gave him a hug instead. It was my father, and I was so glad to see him. I felt him tense up at first, but then he finally hugged me back. When we finally let go of each other, I went back to holding Jacobs' hand. That's when I heard my name again.

"Hey Bella!" said a voice.

I turned around to see a man — no, a boy around my age. He looked different. He was so pale. And that frightened me a little. He looked like he was sad and angry at the same time. When he went to come closer to me, he looked down and saw me holding Jacobs' hand. And I saw his body tense up and his eyes grow darker, or so I thought. It may have just been my imagination. I felt Jake tighten his grip on my hand as well, but I thought nothing of it.

Finally, he spoke up again, saying, "It's me, Edward. You and I went to school together."

"Hello, Edward, nice to see you," I said.

That's when a light bulb went off in my head. I knew him, well, not really, but Jacob told me this was my boyfriend.

Then I went on to meet everyone else. I kind of figured out who is who and likes me and who not so much. To start off, Paul, one of Jake's friends, doesn't really like me all that much. He wouldn't even really say a word to me. He just huffed and left when I tried to talk to him. The same thing kinda happened with Leah. She is a very beautiful girl, but she just wasn't very nice, but that's fine.

Then there was the group of boys that looked quite happy to meet me. Their names were Jared, Embry, Quil, and Seth. They were sweet but very playful and energetic, and though it was hard not to notice, they were extremely buff.

As I was lost in my thoughts, happy that I had friends, there still seemed to be a great void in my life that wasn't being filled, so I felt emptiness there.

"Hey Bella, Bella, would you like to come?"

"Huh, come where I looked at them in confusion?" I looked at them like they had said the craziest thing.

They all burst out laughing, or should I say howling, because that's what it sounded like to me.

"Would you like to come with us to the movies and go to the cliff? We have a rope swing over there if you want to get in the water.

"Oh c-cool sure, I would love to come with you guys. It sounds fun".

"Alright," said Jared, "this is going to be fun. You could probably bring some of your friends with you, so it can help you remember."

Embry said, wiggly eyebrows raised. "Oh, he just wants to see how far he can go with Angela."

Of course not, man, I just wanted to see what she might remember if she had her school friends over.

"Yeahhh right, sure, that's all it is," said everyone.

Yeah, that's all it is, just looking out for my dear friend here. What else?

That's when I finally started giggling at their playful little banter. The way they played together made me feel like they were who I would hang around with.

Shorty after everyone had left, I was pulled aside by Edward.

Hey, I know you may not remember or recall our time together, but I want you to know that I am with you when you need me". He then kissed me on the lips, and I felt like I was floating, but then I remembered that I didn't know him all the way, so I pushed him away ever-so-slightly, saying, "Give me a little time."

He nodded his head in understanding, saying "okay." And with that, he left.

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