A/N OK...this is my first attempt at actually writing a story with chapters in it...*cowers in corner* be gentle...lol. Anywho, I do hope that you all enjoy this story and please let me know what ya think, love it, hate it, I will take the good, the bad, AND the ugly (if you feel the need ;) Well...enjoy peeps!

SM owns all Twilight characters...She is one lucky ass chick let me tell you :)

Chapter 1 Dreams

BPOV

I am in my old house in Phoenix, AZ. The room I am in is small, but still a decent size. It's a very homey space and I love it. There are a lot of pictures up on the wall of my mom, Renee, and I. There are even some of my dad, Charlie, and I during the summers that I spent with him. I am sitting on the couch. It's big, fluffy and tan in color. I always love sitting on this thing. You just sink right into it. I would always find myself dozing off here and there after school or on weekends watching TV or reading. As I am enjoying the feel of the couch, I happen to look over to my right and find that Renee is sitting next to me but not looking at me. She has her gaze fixed on the TV. She is watching a movie...Ever After it looks like. It's one of our favorite chick flicks. We usually watch it as a celebration of me finishing the last day of school before summer hits. Tomorrow I would be leaving to go spend the summer with Charlie. So, this is our last hurrah together before I leave. It's just us girls, having girl time. I loved it. It became our tradition every year on my last day of school. About halfway through the movie, I get a major jonesing for some popcorn, so I look at Renee and tell her that I am going to fix us a bowl.

"Ok dear. That sounds wonderful."

As I get up and move towards the kitchen, I suddenly get this "feeling" that I need to tell my mom I love her. So, I turn myself around and bound for Renee and give her the biggest bear hug known to man.

"Wow kiddo. What did I do to deserve that big hug?" Renee says in between giggles.

I kiss her on the cheek and say, "Because I love you and you are the best mom in the world."

She looked at me and I could almost see the tears pooling in her big brown eyes. She ran her hand through my long brown hair and said, "Oh sweetheart, I love you too. You're not so bad yourself, ya know."

"Thanks Mom," I said as I smiled at her and start heading for the kitchen.

I flicked on the light switch in the kitchen and BANG!

I woke up in a cold sweat, my heart wanting to leap out of my chest it was beating so hard, and panting like I just got done running a marathon. At that same moment, I realized I wasn't alone. I found Charlie sitting on the edge of my bed, running his hands through my long, brown hair trying to calm me down.

"Hey Bells. It was only a dream. My gosh, it has been a while since you have woken me up with your screams. Are you OK?"

"Yeah, I will be. What time is it?" I ask.

"It is about that time for you to start getting ready for school."

"Ugh!" I say as I roll myself out of bed to get ready.

"I am going to go downstairs and make us up some pancakes. How does that sound?"

I found myself thinking like Homer Simpson. Mmmmm...Charlie's pancakes. Nom nom nom. How they would steam when he would put one or two of them on my plate. He made them huge so I wouldn't leave feeling hungry. They were usually as big as my plate! Then when I put the butter on them, it would just melt right into the pancake. I would usually have my choice of strawberry, boysenberry, or regular maple syrup. Yeah...Charlie's pancakes are heaven on earth.

"You had me at pancakes, Dad," I said with a giggle. "Thank you."

And with a smile, Charlie leaves me to get ready for my first day at my new school.

I walk into the bathroom and set myself out a towel and wash cloth for my shower. I undress and get the water temperature just right. When the water is nice and hot, I jump in. Oh yeah...that's what I am talking about! I lather up my body and wash my hair. I can't help but think about how my first day is going to be. I realize then just how nervous I am about today. I could feel the bile rising up into my throat as I try to keep it down. They are all going to A) really hate me, B) make fun of me, or C) all of the above.

I finish up in the shower and dry myself off. I get myself dressed into my favorite pair of boot cut jeans and a Green Day t-shirt, brush through my hair, pull it up into a loose bun, and walked downstairs.

When I get to the kitchen, I find a nice, piping hot pile of 2 pancakes waiting for me with a note from Charlie.

Sorry I couldn't stick around to eat with you. I had to go to work a little early today. Hope you enjoy your pancakes and I will see you when I get home tonight.

Love ya,

Dad

We may not tell each other every day how much we love each other, but he tends to leave me a lot of notes. It is in these notes that his affection shows up. That's his way of showing he cares.

After finishing up my wonderful stack of heaven, I grab my backpack and take off to my vehicle. When I got here, Charlie had bought me an old Chevy Truck. It's red and may need some tender love and care, but I absolutely love it. I couldn't have asked for anything more perfect.

I jump into the truck and proceed to drive myself to my first day. On my way to school, I couldn't help but think about the situation that got me here in the first place.

It has been 4 months since I started living with Charlie. 4 months since that awful day in Phoenix, when my mother died.

The only thing I remember from that day is turning on the light in the kitchen and the next moment, I found myself waking up to a very strange smell. It was almost a sterile smell. Like something was too clean. I open my eyes to a very white room, with the sun shining through a window and my father sitting right next to me looking very distraught. I moved around a little bit and Charlie shot his head up to find me awake and moving.

"Oh thank God, Bella! I thought you were never going to wake up." Charlie said as I could see the tears pool in his chocolate brown eyes.

"Dad, where am I? What happened? And where is Mom?"

The minute I asked about Renee, my dad just completely lost it. That's when things started to flood back to me, the loud bang was the last thing I remember, and right then I knew that my mother was dead. At this same moment, I also realized something wasn't right with me either. Who knew that that day would change me for the rest of my life...literally.