Love under the Stars

Return

      I sighed as I unpacked my last box of clothes. I still had essentials to get but it's coming along. Garrett got me enrolled in high school as a junior. I technically shouldn't be one but the circumstances won't allow for the high school experience to begin from the beginning. I am looking forward to starting high school but it would be awkward enough starting high school in a new school. Now add in my new sucky past that every one knows about and you have a recipe for a supremely awkward high school experience.

I shook my head and tried to think of the positive, as Garrett told me to. I am looking forward to the whole high school experience, even the awkward parts of it. I'm looking forward to all of the parts, actually. After what I went through and what's to come, I'm just excited for a bit of normal.

        I spent two weeks explaining what happened to me and how I escaped. Garrett had wiped off the knife he used to stab him I put my prints on it instead. We played it as if I had found a knife and stabbed him with it. Then a random man, aka Garrett, found me and called the police. After they took my statement, I found out that the police thought I was a runaway. My mom never even reported me missing. After those weeks I went with Garrett and made a deal.

        I sighed again, as I began to unpack my books and nick-nacks. I don't know why I bothered bringing these things. Before, I'd like looking at them or remembering when I got them but now it feels like they're meant for a different person. As if the memories aren't even mine.

Garrett tells me not to think on everything that happened but it's difficult. My mind will wander without me even noticing, next thing I know I've spiraled into the depths of my despair. I heard a knock on the door and I said come in.

My dad, Charlie, opened the door and stood looking around for a moment before his eyes land on me and I saw his features ripple with guilt and pain before saying, "I've got dinner, if, you know, if you're hungry."

Dad has always been awkward and a man a few words but ever since I, got back, he's barely been able to look me in the eye. I know it's because he feels guilty.

I tried to smile a bit as I joked, "You cooked?"

Dad scoffed a bit and shook his head as he said, "No, uh, I got some steaks from the diner on my way home." Dad said.

On his way home, which was a good hour earlier. He probably spent several minutes working up the courage to come talk to me. Dad has been staying later at work since I got here. Probably to avoid having to look or talk to me. It's only been just over a month since I got back so I still appear a bit sickly. Garrett told me when he saw me that I looked like death walking, nothing but skin and bones. Paler than a vampire, my eyes severely sunk into my eye sockets, and with blood and bruises all over me. The police had taken pictures of me, for evidence, and my parents had access to those pictures.

"In that case, I'll be down in a minute." I said, realizing I hadn't answered dad yet.

Dad only nodded before going back downstairs. That's something else I've been doing a lot lately. Falling into my thoughts without even noticing, not even finishing my conversation.

I sighed as I stared at the spot my dad was just at. I still wasn't sure if coming back to Forks, back to my dad, was a good idea. Part of me wanted to spend time with him before I had to leave but, it was hard when I knew it would hurt more when the time came. Garrett said it would do me good to be around my dad again, that I needed someone to talk to. I told Garrett that if he wants me to talk to someone then he'd better pay for a shrink because there's no way I'll be talking to my dad, or anyone. I just wanna forget about it and I couldn't tell dad about what I went through because it'd just make him feel more uncomfortable and guilty.