Chapter 3

AN- I know it's been a while. If you haven't re-read the first 2 chapters, please do. A reader made a comment that I agreed with, so I changed things a bit.

BPOV

I slept like a baby. I don't even know if everyone came home last night or if they spent the night in a hotel. I get up and shower then dress.

I walk out into the kitchen and make a pot of coffee. I go to the front door to get the newspaper. I see that Uncle Eric's car is here. They must have come home late. I even had my door open so I would hear them come in.

I start to pull out some breakfast stuff. When Eric and I went shopping I traded all the pork breakfast meat for turkey. Like I told Julie, it's all in the way it's cooked. I get a couple of frying pans out. I put some olive oil in one and let it get hot. Then I get stuff for loaded scrambled eggs. I also get out the potatoes to do hash browns.

The pan was hot enough now, so I put the turkey bacon in. I get a bowl and crack a bunch of eggs, adding salt, pepper, and some other spices. I cut up some bell pepper, onion, and mushrooms. I mix all that in with the eggs. I flip the bacon over and turn on the heat for the other pan. I put just a bit of margarine in there.

Then I peel the potatoes and shred them for hash browns. I take off the bacon and put it in the microwave to keep warm. I use the leftover oil to cook the hash browns. I season them then sit for a minute to read the paper. Suddenly I hear Eric.

"Hay kiddo. Mmm do I smell breakfast?" He asked.

"Yep, I'm making my special scrambled eggs and bacon. There's coffee if you want some. I'm just reading your paper waiting for things to finish up"

I get up and put the egg concoction in the hot pan. I flip over the hash browns and I stir the eggs while Eric grabs some coffee.

"You know Bella with your cooking, I'm gonna need to run laps with the boys when practice starts." He laughs.

"Just think of it as motivation. Soon you'll have a baby to run after."

"You're right there."

"Hay uncle Eric, what time did ya'll get in. I was in bed by 12 and I left my door open so I would hear you or the phone. I didn't hear a peep and slept like a baby."

"Oh we were home around 2 I guess. Tami checked on you. She said that you were sound asleep and pulled the covers over you. Did you know you still talk in your sleep?"

"Yes. Oh gosh what did I say?"

"Nothing bad. You just kept saying something about stupid Cullens. What or who are they?" He asked.

"The Cullens are the family that left me. Their son was my boyfriend. The one that I thought I was in love with. The one that broke my heart. They are most of the reason I'm down here."

I stir the eggs and hash browns. I put them on a plate and the eggs in a bowl. I set the dining room table, filling up small glasses with juice.

Julie and Tami come in just as I'm bringing in the food.

"Ok, you two sleepy heads sit down and eat. Breakfast is all ready for ya."

They did sit down and started dishing up food.

"Bella this is a really good, but I thought you said the bacon was the fake stuff. This is normal bacon." Eric said. I giggled.

"Nope. It's turkey bacon. It's all in the way you cook it. I told you it was good. Julie, what do you think?" I asked her.

"Wow, this is really good. I wasn't going to take any until I saw that you ate some. I almost feel guilty because it tastes like normal bacon." Julie said as she smiled at me.

We finish eating and I clean up.

Julie takes off to spend time with a girlfriend of hers. Eric was off to some kind of booster meeting.

"I guess it's just you and me kiddo. I was wanting to go to the school and do some organizing. The schedules were mailed last week. We can set up your classes today if you want. Then you can look around and find your classrooms. So when school starts you won't be lost."

"That sounds really good. I'm ready whenever you are." I said as I grabbed my purse.

We go out to her car and drive to the school. She shows me the gym and library. Then some of the classrooms on the way to her office. She unlocks the door and goes and sits behind her desk.

"Ok Bella honey let's sign you up for some classes. Let me just look at your school records from your last 2 schools."

"Ok"

She turns her computer on and waits a minute for it to start up. She gets on the net and starts to look up my records.

"Bella come here honey. I want you to read what is in your records."

I walk over to her as she sets a chair next to her own. I look at the screen. It was my records from Forks High School. Showing the classes I took and the grades I got. Then she pulled up my records from Phoenix. It also showed the last classes I took as well as the rest of my records. I was surprised to see it also shows my volunteer work at the hospital and the other things I did.

"I didn't know you did all this volunteer work Bella. Why didn't you do it in Forks?"

"I met the Cullens and they took up most of my time. I miss it though and I thought I would sign up for some things once I was settled down here. Also, last night I was talking to Tim and told him maybe he can join me just to see what it's like. I mean most of the residents in the nursing home I'm sure would love to hear about his football games. Then don't get me started on the ladies. I have a feeling he could charm a rattlesnake. The ladies would be putty in his hands." I told my auntie.

"If you can get Tim to go with you just once that could make all the difference in the world. What else have you talked to him about?" She asked.

"Well, we talked about college after high school. Originally I was going out east with the Cullens' but now that has changed. I'm not sure what I want to do with my life. I know it needs to be something I love and enjoy doing. But there is so much I haven't tried yet. So, I suggested that Tim and I try different things. He told me he likes to work on cars, and I let him know my best friend back on the Indian reservation was the same. Maybe he can go to tech school and get some kind of certification to be a mechanic. I know they get paid better. He was talking about opening a garage here in town. I may talk to him about that some more. Maybe make him realize that he would need to take more classes aimed at succeeding at that. Like he needs math and maybe some business classes. Who knows. I'm just kind of thinking out loud."

"You know honey those are really good ideas. I know he's being recruited for football. But I also know he really doesn't like school. All but football anyway. He does enough just to get by. You may be just the influence he needs. Just be his friend." She said.

"I will auntie Tami. I already told him I was going to kick his but into shape. He wants to be a better person. He just doesn't know how to go about it. I really like him."

"Well, I do have some ideas. Have him come in and talk to me. I can give him some tests that would tell us what he is good at. Also, just having me talk to him. I mean a serious talk about the future. Also getting you signed up for some of the volunteer programs we have and having him tag along would help. I think your right about him. People just know the Tim from the past. The young man that drinks and goes out with lots of different girls. The guy that gets into trouble all the time, then, of course, the football player. Let me do some digging and check some things for both of you. Just off the bat I can think of 3 or 4 places that could use volunteers. There is the hospital and the nursing home. We also have a battered woman's shelter and a non-kill animal shelter."

I turn towards Tami and give her a hug.

"That would be great. Now how about scheduling my classes?"

"Of course hon. You want as many advanced classes as possible right?"

"Yes ma'am."

She does some typing and prints out the schedule.

"Here you go hon. I have you in 4 advanced classes and 3 normal classes. So you will have 1 or 2 with Tim." She said as she handed me the schedule.

"Now why don't you go and look for your classes and meet me back here, ok?"

"Sounds good. I was wondering. Tim was going to call me sometime today to take me to lunch and just spend time together. Would that be ok with you and coach?" I asked.

"Of course honey. We trust you. Just don't be home too late."

"I'll try not to. If something comes up I will call." I said.

"Ok now get going hon, I have work to do." She laughs while I get up and she smacks my butt.

I walk out and look around. I spend some time looking for each of my classes. I find my way to the library and start looking around. I found a book to read. I sat in a comfy chair and read for a while.

After reading a few chapters I decided to take out my phone and check it. I realized I had it turned off. I turned it on and gave it a minute. Then checked for missed calls, texts, or messages. I had several of each. Dad called seeing how I was. I had a message from Tim and a few texts. I called him back.

Tim, Bella

Hello

Hi Tim, it's Bella. I just turned my phone on and noticed that you called. What are you doing?

Oh nothing. I was changing the oil on my truck and just hanging around the house. I was wondering if you felt like hanging out or something.

That would be fun. I just need to let my aunt know. I'm at the school with her. I had to pick out classes and get my schedule.

Ok that sounds good. Did you drive or would you like me to pick you up at the school?

Can you pick me up please?

Of course anything for you gorgeous.

Ok, let me go find Tami and I will meet you outside.

We both hung up. I get up and put the book back and go find Tami. I found her in her office still.

"Hay auntie Tami. Would it be ok if I spent some time with Tim.? He sent me a text and left me a message that he wanted to spend some time with me. I think we are just going to hang out and he is dying to take me to the local hang out."

"That would be fine honey. I will have some things for you to look at in the morning. You can start to volunteer as soon as you want. I know your uncle wants you at tryouts to get your input."

"I wouldn't miss them. Well I better go. Tim should be waiting outside for me by now. Love you auntie." I give her a kiss on the cheek and walk out of her office.

I walk to the front doors of the school and sure enough there is Tim looking all sexy leaning against his truck.

"Hay there hot stuff. Waiting for me?" I said.

"Of course gorgeous. I just got here. You ready to go?" Tim asked as I walked up to him and the truck.

"Yep I'm starving."

Tim opens the door for me then closes it once I get in. He runs to the driver side and gets in and we take off.

"So how are you doing this morning?" He asked smiling at me.

"I'm good. I got the classes I wanted and Tami is going to bring home some information and forms for different volunteer jobs. She was happy and surprised that you were even interested in any of it. I explained to her my plan and she thought it was a good idea." I said.

"Oh, you mean me going with you to visit the old guys and talk football or read to them."

"Yep. I told her you agreed to try it once. Then if you liked it you would come with me more often. I know the nursing home I volunteered at in Phoenix, I used to play cards with some of the guys and talk football during the games. It was funny when they realized I really did know all about football. I still get a kick out of proving that to guys. They think because I'm a nerdy girl that I don't know anything about sports. I may not be able to run without tripping on air. But I bet I can throw a football as well as any professional player out there. Between dad and coach. I think they both wanted me to be a boy. With dad taking me fishing all the time and coach teaching me everything he knows about the game." I said.

"I think it's cool that you know so much. Especially here. Dillon is a huge football town. We don't have much else to talk about 'round here. We always have a good team and with coach everyone has high hopes. Coach will be under a lot of pressure. I hope you can help him."

"Me too." I said as we pull up to the burger place.

"This is the place most of the players hang out. You'll meet a lot of the guys here. The burgers are pretty good here." He said as he parks the truck.

We get out and walk to the door. He opens it for me and looks around.

"I see some of the players over there." He said as he pointed to a table. We walk over to them.

"Smash how you doing?"

"Good. Now, who is this pretty little thang?" Smash asked.

"Hi I'm Bella. Coach is my uncle and I'm going to be here for my senior year and helping coach with the team." I said.

"Well, it's nice to meet you. But what do you mean help coach with the team?"

"Oh I'll be at your tryouts and watch. I will also watch lots of game tapes from last year. I have a good eye, and I see things others don't. I haven't watched any of you play yet so I can't say yet. But at my school in Phoenix I helped the team make it to state and our quarter back improved thanks to my help. It's almost like I know what you guys are thinking when your running your routes or I can tell what you're going to do. I can also do the same with the other team. I can tell when they switch a play and I tell coach and he has the guys move or run a different pattern. It's something I really love. It took the guys and coach a while before they took me seriously. But once they followed my advice, everyone saw the improvements. They listened to everything I said. I was never wrong. My uncle knows that. He spoke to my coach and even tried out some things here." I said.

"We'll see little one, we'll see." Smash said.

"Ok well I'm starving Bella let's get a table and order." Tim said.

"Ok. Well it was nice meetn' all of you." I said as Tim was walking us to an empty table.

A waitress comes over and hands us menus. We look for a minute and decide on the same thing. Cheeseburgers and fries. Tim orders for us and we just start talking about school and football. The food came pretty fast and we ate like we haven't eaten in days.

"They aren't as good as yours but they will do." Tim said with food in his mouth.

"Thanks Tim. I love to cook and bake. Wait until the holidays. I go cookie crazy. I give them to the nurses at the hospital and nursing home. I bring them to school for friends and my favorite teachers. I also give them away to the neighbors."

We finish eating and Tim kind of waves to Smash. We get into his truck.

"So how about I show you some of the sites around town." He said.

"That sounds good."

We take off and he just drives around showing me different places. We pass by a lot of properties that are for sale. Some have buildings. One looked like an old hanger for an airplane. There was an old service station. Then we saw a sign that said there were 20 acres for sale.

"Can we stop here and look around?" I asked.

"Sure but why?" He asked.

"I don't know. Just have a feeling about this place. Do you think we can go in and walk around the property?" I said.

"I don't see why not." We get out of the truck.

Tim comes over to me and takes my hand. It feels good and normal there. We walk a bit and see a valley with some trees.

"You know if I owned this land, I would build my dream house here. Maybe raise some animals. Horses mostly. Maybe chickens, and some pigs. Maybe plant an orchard of fruit trees. I can see myself with a sexy hard-working husband and a bunch of kids running around. Even some dogs too. I would grow whatever crop grows around here and sell my goods at a local farmers market." I said dreamily.

"That sounds good. But what would you want your sexy hard-working husband to do for a job?" Tim asked looking in my eyes.

"I wouldn't care as long as it's something he loves and it's legal. It could be working the ranch or being a mechanic, or a doctor, or a ditch digger. I want to marry someone that enjoys what he does. Not just working to earn a paycheck. That will get old and cause fights down the road. I need him to have dreams but nothing too crazy like being the next Bill Gates." I said.

"So, you don't care if you marry a grease monkey or a ditch digger. You just want someone who will love you. Someone you can count on. Right?" He asked with hope in his voice.

"That's right. Let me tell you what I'm thinking. Football tryouts are next week. Coach will have me watching game tapes from last year. He will have me at the tryouts. I help him with the team. I will do my schoolwork and volunteer in the afternoons and weekends when there isn't a game. Once I graduate I may just go to a local college. Take some business classes and literary classes. Keep up my volunteering and helping coach. Then I will see what I have a passion for. If it's editing or opening a restaurant or a bookstore. Maybe I'll write the next best-selling novel. There is so much I can do from home. I just want to keep busy and find a good man to love. Yes, I would love to have kids someday. After high school and after I'm married. I'm not a prude and it didn't happen that way for my parents. I guess I just need security. Since growing up I didn't have that." I finish.

"Wow. Ok since we are on the subject tell me what your dream guy would be like." Tim said.

"You're not asking for much are you? Well, of course, it has to be someone that I'm attracted to. I think I would have to be friends with him first. That was my first mistake with Edward. I saw this perfect, sexy guy and my mind went to mush. I need to be able to share my dreams and fears with him. I need to be with someone that won't keep a stash of porn around. Someone that isn't going to get drunk every day. Definitely not into drugs or smoking. Mainly because I want him around for a long long time. Now physically I don't really have a type. I find different guys sexy or hot. I have always liked taller guys so over 6 foot. He has to have some muscles but not like a Mr. Universe or anything. I want to feel safe when he holds me. Eyes are important too. They have to be able to see into my soul. A nice smile is also a must. I prefer longer hair. None of these in the looks department are deal breakers. But the no porn, drugs, and drunks are important. I have worked in women's shelters and see what those things do to a family. When men get drunk they do stupid things. Like gamble or sleep around. I want my man to be a bit possessive just to show he cares about me and my well-being. But not be smothering. I want us to have friends we can do our own thing with or together. If we are up each other's butts all the time that won't be good." I said.

"Well that seems fair. So you're not looking for a Mr. Perfect. Just a guy that is Mr. Perfect for you."

"Yes. Edward was perfect. But after a few months I found out he wasn't. Like I said he was very possessive. He put me on a pedestal and barely let me out of his sight. He picked what friends I could have. In the end after I thought about things, it was a relief that we broke up. I promised myself I would never fall that fast or deep again. That love was all consuming. It took over my life. At first I had the butterflies in the tummy, but that turned into dread. I just want to make sure that when I find the right guy that it's real and for life." I said.

"What about you? Do you want to get married and have kids someday? What do you look for in a girl?" I asked.

"Well kind of like you. Not really anything specific. I hang out with all kinds. But right now I kind of like brunettes with chocolate brown soulful eyes. She has to like sports, she needs to be ok with me drinking sometimes and kick my butt if I do it too much. I will need someone to keep me in line. I also want to find someone that I can be friends with first. I think you have to like someone before you can love them. Of course I have to find her attractive. She can be smart but not rub it in my face. I want to be able to share my hopes, dreams and worries with her. I want someone that I can talk to. I, like most people have my own issues. I didn't have my parents around. My brother mostly raised me. He did what he could, but he has gone through a lot of different jobs. Some legal some not. I guess the most important thing is. I want to feel like I can be myself. I don't want to have to pretend all the time. I know I've been labeled a man whore but that is getting old fast. Like you said last night I want to become someone that my wife and kids can be proud of." Tim finished.

"Well it almost sounds like we want the same things. Let's start with just getting to know each other and helping each other out this year. I hope to open your mind to different possibilities. You're not stuck just doing one thing. I feel comfortable around you Tim. I have a feeling we will be getting close."

"I feel the same way. We better get going. I don't want to get you home to late."

"Ok sounds good." I said.

We walk back to the truck. Tim opens the door for me. He then goes around to his side and we drive back to town. We listen to the radio and talk about music a bit. Next thing I know, we are in front of aunt Tami's house.

"Well here we are. I had a great time Bella. Thanks for spending the afternoon with me. I really enjoyed it. So, you said something about signing up for some volunteer work in the morning. Can you let me know what's available?"

"Sure I can do that. Tami said there was the nursing home, the hospital and a woman's shelter as well as an animal shelter. I may help out in all 4. The hospital is the most interesting because it could be anything from feeding babies in the nursery to playing with terminally ill kids, or reading to burn victims. Or just reading to the older patients. Also handing out books and magazines. The nursing home is similar. It could be reading or playing cards, getting magazines or books. There were a couple of times that I brought in kittens I was fostering. You know petting an animal like a cat or a dog could lower blood pressure. It's been proven with all kinds of studies. Of course you need to make sure that no one is allergic first. That could end badly otherwise. Well I better get in. I had a great time. Call me later if you want. I will probably be reading unless coach brought tapes for me to watch." I said.

"Ok sounds good. If nothing else I'll call you in the morning. Who knows what Billy is gonna want to do tonight." Tim said as he reaches over to hug me.

I open the truck door and get out. I close it and walk up to the house. I turn around and look at Tim watching me. I wave to him and go in the door.