Isa & the Happily Ever After System

2. Back Home (to Forks)

50 more points and the system store would open.

Just in time for my first trip to visit my father in Forks. Renee had only wanted me to stay a month but I convinced her to let me to stay the whole summer.

He'd come to visit whenever he could over the years, it had been rough for him. I knew from the overhead conversations between the two of them that he would have left Forks with us if his parents hadn't needed him. I never met my grandparents, and they died when I was 4. They left the house in Forks to my dad and a some money from the selling of their Seattle home set aside for me for when I turned 16. 

Despite the distance between us I was papa's girl. I knew Renee was jealous of how close we were. I'd called him every weekend since I first started talking.

Both of them were nervous about my first flight to him. I was an independent 12 year old, my mum thought it was because of her. She was aware of her own shortcomings but despite that still needed someone to take care of her. She was a bit depenent. But the real reason was I just had lived so many lives already. So many talents beneath my belt I only needed to retrain my young body how to do them.

But sooner than Renee would have liked I was on the flight from Phoenix, Arizona to Seattle, Washington. The ticket was more money for nonstop but both Charlie and Renee agreed I wasn't old enough to navigate an airport to a new flight. Even if I would have been fine, they were adamant. They split the cost between them and then I was on my way.

Everyone was polite on the plane except for a couple snobby people that eyed my age with suspicion. I gave them a friendly smile before looking back and reading my New Times that talked about the highs and lows due to the 1999 dot.com bubble in stocks. I hid a smirk as I saw a couple of the cynics on the plane look more and more confused.

"Make any recent investments?" One cocky passenger spoke across the aisle from me.

I smiled and let down my paper. "I believe companies like Microsoft and Qualcomm will be giants one day." The person chuckled awkwardly probably not expecting a serious answer. I eyed their wrinkled suit and skewed tie, my fingertips itching to adjust it. "I also wouldn't disregard companies like Amazon or eBay."

In fact, I'd convinced my father in buying some stocks with the money my grandparents set aside. He was wary but when I launched into a spiel about how certain companies would be in high demand in the future he chuckled and said, "Why not."

One of the rewards I'd gotten for skipping grades was a full list of what companies to invest in and which to stay away from. It would only help me have a more stable future.

Of course what I hadn't told the man was there would be some expected losses before gains but I wasn't there to draw attention to myself.

When I arrived at the Seattle airport I was quick to making it to baggage claim and then the area 3 and there he was Charlie in his full police duds and classic mustache.

"Isa!"

"Dad!"

I ran into his open arms, soaking up the comfortable weight of his arms wrapped around me. I felt his mustache brush the top of my head as he placed a kiss on the top of my head.

"Missed you munchkin."

I wrinkled my nose at the nickname before burrowing myself more into his arms.

"How would you feel about having some of fish fry for tonight?"

I smiled up at him, "Do I get to try the famed Harry's fish fry?"

He nodded, "Only if you aren't too tired." His arms tightened before he leaned back, "I could tell the Clearwaters and Blacks to do it another day."

"A party?"

My father got bashful looking to side rubbing back of the neck, "It's the first time you've come back since you left. They wanted to celebrate..."

"Dad..." I waited until he looked back at me, "I think it's something to celebrate too."

He got even more bashful before ushering him to the parked police car outside the gate. He put my suitcase in the trunk before opening the passenger door for me and waiting for me to get in to close it.

"Do you want to head home first? Or we could go straight there?"

"Wouldn't want to keep your family waiting now would we?" I could see the smile my Dad gave as I named his friends as they were to him, family.