𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬² | 𝙏𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 ✓

𝐈𝐈

It's been a week since they've been in Forks and Tobias was slowly, but surely, getting comfortable in the new town he would soon call home.

He had his room fully decorated to his liking now and was blasting music at odd hours in the day, the way he used to back in Arizona.

The one thing Meloria did miss about her old house was her soundproof office so she could get her classes planned out peacefully but now she had to do that in her room or downstairs.

She walked up to his door at around seven in the morning so he could get ready for their first day of school.

"Tobias, come on, I have to be there earlier for a meeting." She could hear him groaning and shuffling in his bed as he struggled to wake up. "Can't I just walk?" -"It's freezing outside and it's not a short walk." The door opened to see a tired, messy hair Tobias still in his pajamas. "I'll be ready in five minutes but I expect a cup of jo when I get down there." He said with a groggy voice as he walked into the bathroom across the hall.

She laughed lightly to herself as she made her way downstairs to make some toast and coffee. They weren't big breakfast people but she knew they wouldn't make it till lunch without at least a piece of toast.

She poured their coffee into some travel cups, hers with a ton of coffee creamer, just as he was coming downstairs fully dressed and with his backpack. "We're going to be there maybe thirty minutes before doors open so you can just sit in my class until you start seeing other students come in if you want." She said as they walked outside and into the car.

"I was planning on doing that anyway." He said as he placed a CD in the player. The music played along the wind that was let in when Tobias rolled the window down. Meloria hummed along to the song she knew from the bottom of her heart.

"Do you miss him?" Tobias suddenly asked, it took her a minute to figure out when he meant.

"All the time." She said not taking her eyes off the road; his eyes didn't leave the trees either but he didn't have to look at her to know that she had that sad smile on her face. "I miss him too; a lot." He said with a sigh. They rarely ever talked about him anymore, it always left a bittersweet taste in their mouths.

"He would've loved Forks, mom." He continued. "I know but remember, he's never really gone. He's always right here, in your heart." She says, finally looking over at him. He nodded as he fiddled with the necklace his father left him.

"Yeah, always here."

***

They stepped out of the car, and Tobias' first day jitters suddenly came to life as he looked at his new school.

Meloria wrapped an arm around him in comfort, "It's going to be okay. New school, new people, new friends, remember?" She said with a smile. He nodded, not taking his eyes off the building in front of them. "Plus, I'm right here if anything so don't worry too much kiddo." She said before she ruffled his hair up, finally getting a laugh out of him.

They walked into the building together, she gave him her class key so he could get in while she headed towards the meeting room to meet the rest of the teachers. It was a small school in a small town so there weren't any more than maybe two teachers per department.

Her now being one of the two English teachers.

Most of the teaching staff were already there and conversing amongst themselves when she walked into the room.

She took a seat as two more teachers walked in. "Hi, you must be Meloria, the new English teacher, right?" A young woman said.

She looks so much like a fairy.

"Hi, yeah that's me, it's very nice to meet you Ms.?" She answered with a polite smile. "I'm Alice, I teach art." She said nicely. "I've never seen you before and I've lived here most of my life. Did you just come into town?" Alice questioned making Meloria nod. "Um yeah, my son and I just moved here a week ago."

"And? How are you liking it so far?" Meloria shrugged. "I love it but my son is still getting used to it all since it's very different from back home." She said before taking a sip of her coffee, thankful that the Forks cold didn't cool down her coffee.

"Oh, where did you move from?"

She's so talkative. Meloria chuckled to herself.

"Arizona, it's very different from Forks. Insanely different." She said with a light laugh. "That's such a coincidence, my sister-in-law is from Arizona too." She said with a laugh. "Oh wow, that's pretty cool. What's her name?" She questioned, hoping that maybe Alice could help her make some friends in this new, yet not so new, town.

"Bella, she and her sister moved here fifteen-ish years ago."-"Bella and Lucine? Cheif Swan's daughters?" Meloria questioned.

Wow, this really is a small town.

Alice looked at her for a second. "Yeah, do you know them?" She questioned with a certain look in her eyes that made Meloria want to spill out every piece of information that she knew.

She shook her head rapidly. "No, sorry, I just met Charlie last week and he told me it was their birthday last month. They must be great friends of yours." She said with a smile as she watched Alice physically relax. "Yeah, well, considering Bella is married to my brother and such." She said making them both chuckle.

Alice didn't mention Lucine.

Meloria knew she had died but for them still, to mourn so heavily for her after fifteen years made her heart break.

"You and your son should come by my place sometime, I could introduce you to my family and help you get a few more new friends in town." She said, not wanting to continue on the Swan path.

Meloria simply nodded. "If that's okay with your family, we would love to," Se answered gaining a smile from her new art teacher friend just before the principal came in to begin the meeting.