Imaginary| J. Hale

i. Hello

Chapter one

|Twilight|

[Angel]

:::

The weight of what I had said finally sank into me. I told her that I wanted her dead. In hind sight I realized what I had said was wrong. She was my mother, my care giver, but in the moment it felt great watching that smug look in her eyes fade to hurt. I wanted her to hurt. I wanted her to feel what I felt constantly. I wanted her to feel empty.

Staring off at the road ahead of me I continued to drive. I left faster than she could blink. I threw all of my important stuff into my bag and took off. I was free. I didn't have to worry about having to look over my shoulder every two second in fear that she was going to lash out again. That relief I felt quickly faded when another realization hit me like a freight train, I was alone. I left behind my only support group. I had left my friends and the family that counted behind. I couldn't stop though. I had to get past the state line. There was no going back to that. I couldn't do it. All Houston would ever be now is a speck in my rear view. A blip in my past. A bad dream.

I needed to find dad. I haven't seen him in almost ten years, but I knew he'd help. Pulling over at a rest stop, I fumbled in the dark for my phone and checked the screen. I still had a long way to go. My destination was this small podunk town called Forks. It was up north in the Olympic peninsula in Washington state. Supposedly the town existed in a near constant forecast of clouds and rain. Sure I'd miss the blistering heat down south but I'd be trading it for a better life up there.

I passed another road sign and grinned.

"You're doing well girl. I knew you could do it." I spoke to my bike.

My bike is a '42 Indian Chief that my grandpa had saved for me. He knew how much I loved riding. I used to hop on the back of his bike and go with him joy riding when I was small. There was just something so magical about feeling the wind in your hair as building zoomed past you. It's the closest thing I've ever done to flying. When I did ride the world seemed to just fade away and the only thing that mattered was me and the road ahead. Your could say that riding was my sweet escape, my break from reality if you will.

I sat there for a few moments taking the opportunity to go to the bathroom before u hopped on again. Flipping off the Houston sign I started my journey again. There was no looking back from here, just greener pastures.

:::

When I showed up in Forks I was surprised. It really was a small town. Everybody seemed to know each other as I watched customers greet shop keepers with the warmest of smiles. Of course I got a few looks. Who wouldn't stare at teenage girl arriving in town on a motorcycle?

I found myself at this small diner and sat down at a table ordering a single milkshake. The patrons were staring at me as I quietly gathered my thoughts. Now where the hell do I find him? I at least was able to find the town he was living in but I had no clue where he lived.

Giving a frustrating grunt and turned off my phone.

"You must be new here. My name is Cora." The waitress was at least friendly.

"Hi. I know this might seem a little weird, but do you happen to know where an officer Jacob McDouglass resides?" Please say yes. Please say yes.

"Oh you're talking about Sugar Land Jake, well yes actually." Bingo!

"Oh thank Jesus. I've been riding a long while to get to him," I smile tiredly.

"Oh so you're the girl that rode in on a motorcycle. It's not often that we receive new people," She states rather kindly.

Cora gives me the address and wishes me luck on my search as I pay for my tab. If it's one thing I learned from grandpa, it was never leave a tab open.

I find the place easier than I had anticipated. It was a simple one story with grey shutters and a large tree in the front yard with the sign saying god bless America. I kinda smile seeing that. Still as passionate as ever about the country he had fought for. They're were four vehicles in total that were parked at his place, two squad cars, a nice looking Cadillac, and an old black truck. I pulled into the small covered area of the driveway right next to the Cadillac and made my way the front step with only my duffle to my name. I was nervous to ring the door bell but eventually rang it after building up brought courage.

The door opened revealing a guy that looked a little younger than me with long dark hair and tanned skin.

"There's a girl at the door," He states rather confused.

I would be too if a random girl showed up at my door out of the blue.

"Can I help y-" My dad's words fell flat when he saw me.

He looked exactly the same as when mom kicked him out. He was still muscular, still had that stubble, and he still wore his dog tags around his neck with pride. The only thing that had changed was there was more grey and white in his hair than blonde.

"Hi dad," was the only thing I could manage to say at this point and time.

He stared for a good minute before he unexpectedly brought me in for a bear hug. I felt like crying at that moment. All these years I thought he had forgotten but he hadn't. The hug was enough proof.

"Who is she?" Two other men asked, one in a wheel chair and the other with a beer in his hand.

"Well guys, this is my daughter Angel. Angel these are my buddies Billy Black, Charlie Swan and Billy's son Jake," He introduced us all.

"Wow. You didn't tell us you had such a pretty thing. How did your ugly mug create that?" Billy joked and my dad just gave an unamused look.

"Haha very funny Bill."

The atmosphere in here was a complete one eighty from what it was back home. There was no tenseness, no anger, just warmth and happiness. I could see on the tv that they were watching baseball and honestly it didn't surprise me.

"Grab a seat sweetheart. We just ordered pizza but I can order you something else." Dad gestured to the love seat and I sat down happily.

"So what brings you all the way up here?"

I was hoping he wouldn't ask in front of them but here goes nothing...

:::

I explained everything in detail up to me leaving and I could see all three of their faces change from relaxed to complete anger. The most scariest one however was Charlie. I sat there uncomfortably looking anywhere but them.

"Honey you can live here as long as you want. I just can't believe your mother..." Dad was at a lost for words.

"You have my word that woman will never step foot in this town as long as I'm chief," Charlie placed a hand on my shoulder as he left to make a few calls I assume.

"You're welcomed on the reservation whenever you like. I just can't believe a mother would do that to their own child." Billy was shaking his head.

"You're definitely brave for leaving all that behind despite having people back there that cared about you," Jake smiles.

"I wouldn't say brave. More like stubborn." I tried to lighten the mood with a joke and it seemed to work.

Charlie came back with the food as he slid his phone back into his pocket.

"Since you're here, would you mind helping my own daughter adjust to Forks? She's about your age and could use some friends out here," Charlie opened the box of pizza and I dug in.

"Sure. I could also use a familiar face or two." The pizza was meat lovers, my favorite.

"I can tell we'll get along just fine." Jake smiles as I not so gracefully stuff my face.

I was after all starving.

AN:// Chapter one complete! Feel free to let me know how I did. Feed back is always welcomed as a tool for me to improve. I figured I'd try to spruce things up a bit and change some things. Hopefully you guys like my changes.

Happy reading,
~Gracie