A Midnight Kiss ~Twilight Saga FanFiction~

Chapter Two

After what felt like an eternity, enduring my sister's incessant sighs throughout the flights, the plane finally landed, signaling the end of our quick yet not quick enough trip. Once we stepped off the plane and retrieved our luggage, we headed towards the entrance. Bella scanned the bustling crowd, her brown eyes darting left and right as she sought familiar faces. She was now wearing her oversized parka, clutching a cactus in one hand while carrying her bag. Bella's tired eyes were marked with dark circles, giving her a weary and sickly appearance. The airport's bright, fluorescent lights only emphasized her skin's paleness. As she made her way through the bustling terminal, it was evident that Bella had left the sunny days she once knew. "Does Charlie have any idea what time our plane lands?" She groaned as she furrowed her brow. 

"Yeah, I called him yesterday. By the way, it's Dad, not Charlie." I corrected her, walking slightly ahead of her. I was the only one who called Charlie "Dad," perhaps because of my strong bond with him, unlike Bella. For years, Bella would come to visit us in Forks. Then, one day, when we were fourteen, she refused to come down. She had the same reasoning as Renée. Forks was too depressing for her. That hurt my father so deeply that he would drag us to California to see her for a couple of weeks every summer vacation. He was desperate for a relationship with Bella, yet it was always one-sided. She pushed him away constantly, holding our father at arm's length our entire lives. Dad deserved so much better. Maybe that's why I was so determined to make him proud, to make him happy. I was determined to be the child he deserved.

As I scanned through the bustling crowd, my eyes were drawn to a familiar figure standing near the front doors. He was wearing a crisp police uniform, and his stance exuded an air of authority. He stood tall, hands resting on his hips, with a gun in the holster. "Daddy!" I called out excitedly, my heart feeling like a weight was lifted from my body. I started sprinting towards him as fast as my legs would allow, my suitcase bouncing against the floor behind me, hitting me in the shins. Once I was close enough, I leaped into his waiting embrace. Dad caught me in a tight bear hug, lifting me off the ground with a hearty grunt before gently setting me back down. "Hey, Sunshine! How was your summer? Did you have a blast with your mom?" Dad asked, a wide grin spreading across his face, his black mustache adding a touch of charm. "It was okay. I mainly just stayed indoors and avoided getting sunburned," Dad laughed at me, giving me one more squeeze. I realized I didn't accomplish anything substantial this summer, unlike what I would do at home.

As the joy of our reunion embraced us, Bella approached us with an undeniable air of sorrow. I could feel the tension in the air as Dad and Bella greeted each other. "It's good to see you, Bells," he said, smiling as he automatically gave her a one-armed hug. "You haven't changed much. How's Renée?"

"Mom's fine. It's good to see you, too, Dad." She corrected herself after glancing at me from the side of her eye. The atmosphere between them was undeniably awkward; it was so different from the close bond I had with my dad. It was a little unsettling to watch. "Well, the car is this way, girls." Dad cleared his throat, picking up my suitcase and Bella's carry-on. As we made our way through the doors and into the parking lot, the scent of rain filled the air as droplets drizzled from the sky. The police cruiser sat parked before us, its slightly dirty surface covered with fresh raindrops that raced down its surface. I stood there and closed my eyes, feeling the rain wash over my body in cool and calming patters. I could feel the water trickling down my face and down my fingertips. It was hard to explain, but I felt like the water was a part of me, but I've always felt like I was a part of nature. Ever since I was a little girl, I felt like nature was a part of me, maybe I'm just weird.

I nudged Bella, giving her a quick smile. I hoped she would feel happy to be here, hoping my disdain for her decision wasn't evident. But her response was a glare that could pierce through steel. Rolling my eyes, I hurried over to Dad's cruiser to help my father. Together, we loaded the luggage into the trunk, and then all piled into the car.