Dawn - Twilight Rewrite

Chapter 1

I regarded the verdant desert as we drove past. It was 15 degrees in Phoenix and the clouded sky provided no relief from the chill. It was the middle of winter, meaning it was cooler than the normal blistering temperatures, it rained every other day and the landscape was coloured with the green of blooming shrubs, grasses and the occasional cactus. It really was just like my destination. Except in the summer it wouldn't be hotter than a furnace and drier than the desert it was. Don't get me wrong, I love the heat. What I don't love is 45 degree days that stretch on into the night, only cooling marginally until the sun once again rose at a headache inducing 5 am.

Where I was going would be a colder version of my beloved desert. Without the cacti and snakes. It was looking more attractive the more I thought about it. I would miss the desert, but it wasn't the end of the world. Since my mother had remarried to a semi- professional baseball player and coach whose job necessitated travelling most of the year and occupied him the rest, better know as Phil, she had been juggling my need to be at home, her time with Phil and the desire to follow Phil to whatever game he was playing or team he was coaching. A few months into their marriage I had put my foot down. I had no desire to keep them apart and the only thing tethering me to Phoenix was the need to ensure my mother was alright. If she went travelling with Phil he could take care of her, I could finish the rest of my schooling with my Dad and I wouldn't have to vacate the house every time they were home together. Wins all around. 

I decreed I would stay in Forks with Charlie, my mother would rent out the house and go join Phil in whatever state he was in, and we would visit at the end of the school year at a cabin on the beach in California. My mother had vigorously opposed this idea and was still trying to talk me out of it. She had Lived in Forks when she and Charlie had their whirlwind romance until 6 months after I was born, when her depression over the lack of sunlight, responsibilities caring for Charlie's ailing parents and commitment to his job finally got to be too much and she left. 

While the towns almost constant cloud cover and rains bothered me as well, there were enough sunny days to keep my spirits up and I loved the rain almost as much as the scorching heat of the desert. In my previous trips to Forks I had coped well with the dim surroundings and the only reason I had stopped going was Renee's reluctance to part form both me and Phil. Charlie and I's relationship had evolved from father to fun Uncle, taking me fishing (where I enjoyed cheering him on while studying or reading), teaching me self defence and how to shoot a gun (which I did not excel at) and teaching me about safe sex, consent and rights when I had switched to living with Renee full time. Not a fun chat that. 

The chilled wind was coming in the opened windows, making me thankful for the long-sleeved shirt I had on. I had my favourite black tank top underneath it, with a jumper and hoodie in my bag and my parka strapped to it. I was prepared for whatever weather Forks threw at me. If it rained or snowed, my parka doubled as a rain jacket, and I had a beanie (water resistant and small enough to be worn under my hood) and gloves stashed in my bag. 

As we parked outside the airport my mother turned to me with slight panic in her eyes. "Bella. You don't have to do this. You don't have to go to that place." Forks to her was the legacy of the loneliness and desperation born of it and she wouldn't go back there and was trying her best to keep me from it too. " You can stay with Me and Phil, go to my mothers, stay with Phil's brother, anything but there."

"Mom. I will be fine. I have Charlie there and you have Phil here. Plus I do want to actually occupy the house when other people are home, and you too are still in the honeymoon phase." She chuckled a bit at my frank statement but still wasn't reassured. "Call me every night. I'll be fine and I'll have Charlie." 

That reassured her enough to send me on my way with tearful clinging and promises to call. I had my last view of her short hair, laughed lined face and wide, childlike eyes before I stepped into the airport. I got through security with only a little fuss, waited the hour before my flight and was soon on the four hour flight to Seattle. 

- - - - -

Keep in mind, Bella is a Debbie downer and this Bella is more practical, as one would be if one were responsible for Renee.

The temperatures are in Celsius. Deal with it.

I'm nice so I'll give you a quick guide.

0 = freezing - freezes water

20 to 25 = room temp

50 = really bloody