Chapter Text
Moving was an essential thing in my life. As essential as breathing. We went somewhere, and we always left behind something, but I never really missed anything.
My father, Phil Dwyer, is an aspiring baseball player, and for his career, my sister and I had to travel around the world with him. I was happy like that. Simple yet colorful. I always marveled at the attention like a traveler bard who brought legends from faraway lands. Cause in a way I was. Only that I couldn't play music, but stories, boy, I had a lot!
Most of my new friends adored listening to what I had to share. And after a while, when they found themselves bored with my tales, we were moving again. It never bothered me when they started ghosting me. That was until Gold Coast.
That was the place where my whole world changed. Or am I changed alone? I am not sure, and to be honest, I don't really care. What is important is that I had lost a piece of myself there. I lost my older sister, Charlotte Dwyer. I lost my humanity. And when we had to move, now without my sister, I lost my only friends that I grew to really love. My family by the moon, who understood me because we were all the same. Mermaids...
When I had to leave them, Cleo Sertori, Rikki Chadwick, and Emma Gilbert, my heart broke. Couse what was left for me? My sister was gone. My friends were gone. Also, they insisted that we would keep in touch and they would call me often, but it wasn't like they were actually with me. I was alone like never before.
On the other hand, Dad met a woman called Renée, and after a year of dating, they got married. What a happy day it was! A sandy wedding on a hot summer beach and two awkward girls standing next to each other in ugly grey dresses as if they were strangers to each other, yet now sisters. She was Renée’s daughter, only a year and a half older than me. Isabella Swan, shortly Bella.
I found a stable environment in Arizona where I got to live with my step-mother and step-sister while my dad went on chasing his dreams. Bella was a bit introverted, and that strange awkwardness never changed between us, but we got along pretty well. We didn't get into each other's ways and there wasn't any problem with that.
Renée, on the other hand, was a bit overwhelming. She tended to slip from one thing to another. She made impulsive decisions, crazy creations in and out of the house, which, in the end, Bella had to fix. I couldn't understand how she could manage all these micro things around her mother and keep her straight face. Apparently, the calmness of the whole world was in that girl.
After a while, Reneè started longing to travel with my dad. Dad’s absence caused a lot of harm in our family, but the fact that Renée got literally sick because of that was a whole new level. So one day, Bella had this world-changing idea. What if we played the martyr and moved to her biological father so our parents could live their lives freely without us?
As depressed as this was, I agreed. How far could I get from my remaining family? My real sister was gone and my father… Moving was always a solution, and at least Bella had a second option who would take care of her.
Her father, Charlie, was overjoyed that his daughter wanted to live with him. He even took the fact pretty well that he has to watch over a complete stranger, a girl who is his ex-wife's step-daughter. Nothing strange here as well…
After a month of preparing, it was time to leave. I helped pack Bella, as she had never moved before. I didn't have much work to do as I was a pro at doing these things in advance. My only slowing factor was a phone call from Australia, and I jumped excitedly to pick it up.
"Hello!" I greeted the others with a bright smile.
"Is Alora Dwyer there?" I heard Rikki's sarcastic voice from the other side.
"Who else would be here, you ding-dong?" I replied, mock offended. With one hand, I continued folding my clothes into my suitcase.
"Ding-dong?" She laughed. "Is it a new word? We should have taught you a few curse words before you left. This is unacceptable."
"It is perfectly fine." I pressed. The girls in Gold Coast are four years older than me, and they were classmates with… My dear sister… Charlotte.
"Fine! Fine! So how are you? How are you doing in high school?" She asked.
"Well, my freshman year went pretty well, and I am changing schools right now," I told her with a little shrug that she couldn’t see.
"Wait. Are you moving again?!" I could hear the jolt of movement as she sat up in surprise.
"Well… yes, but dad won't…” Another pair of jeans went into the suitcase. “He will stay with his new wife. They want to travel together. As strange as it sounds, I am moving to my step-sister's bio-dad." I shortly told her the basics.
"Oh my god! You could just come back to the Gold Coast! Lora, are you stupid?!" I could imagine her holding her temple in annoyance. This made me smile.
"Don't worry. I will. After I turn eighteen, I’ll go wherever I want. Until then, Forks will do." I told her reassuringly.
"Forks? Is this the city where you and your step-sister will live? How is it?" Rikki asked.
"I only know that it is a small town with a tight community. I don't think it will be so bad." I told her. I was almost finished filling up my luggage.
"Lora! We will miss the plane!" Bella shouted from somewhere in the house.
"I have to go, Rikk. I will call you later." I rushed a goodbye and tried to zip my suitcase shut with one hand. Damn this timing!
"Okay. Stay dry and avoid the moon." Rikki said our usual blessing-like goodbye and ended the call.
I quickly checked my reflection in the mirror. My sand colored hair was held up in a small ponytail. I wore jeans and a long-sleeved shirt that was longer than my arms. Accepting that I am looking presentable and as waterproof as I could get, I grabbed my hoodie and went outside with my bags. Bella and our parents were already waiting for me. We packed our things into the car, and then we took our places in the backseat.
"Are you really bringing that?" I pointed at Bella's tiny cactus in her hands.
"It wouldn't survive without me." She simply stated.
"Fair enough." I had to agree. Renée was the death of the plants, too.
The ride was short but painful. My step-mom constantly begged Bella that she really didn't have to go, that they could find another solution. Like Ma'am! This whole thing was because of you! Don't try to pressure her now! We both knew that inside Reneè was excited for the new possibilities. And her words weren’t to pursue Bella but to calm her own conscience by giving her daughter a chance. So Bella put up her fake smile and told her.
"Mom. It is decided. We want to go."
She repeated this sentence so many times that it almost sounded like the truth. For the last time, Renée had to accept it. At the airport, Bella and her mom exchanged a long hug. What a lovely scene it seemed. Dad patted my back and said.
"Be good, kiddo."
"Will do," I told him, and with that, our farewells were done.
I helped Bella navigate to our seat. As capabel she was at damage control; sometimes the easiest thing caused her a hard time. Not to mention that she was beyond nervous. Like she could cry at any moment. Of course, she didn't do it. She was stronger than that. The flight was cozy with a nice reading section and music. When we arrived, Bella got a bit more relaxed.
"Be prepared, my dad is probably going to show up with his work car," Bella warned me while we exited the plane.
"His work car?" I asked for more details.
"A police cruiser," Bella said sheepishly.
"Oh…" I noted this info. A police cruiser… cool, cool. I never sat in one, fortunately, and now I could tell that I did… Hehe, a new story into the pile, I thought, then that heavyweight landed onto my chest. Maybe… If anyone asks, I’ll tell…
We stepped outside, and my eyes instantly snapped at the dangerously gray sky.
"Please tell me it won't rain," I whined. Bella looked up too.
"Well… you had to get used to it. At Forks, it always rains." With a numb face, she stated this.
"Always?!” I snapped. “Oh no! I am made out of sugar, Bella! I can't get wet, or I will melt!" I jocked, but the panic was real.
"Don't worry. I hate the rain too." She sent me an amused smile. And went to find her dad.
But in my case, it was more than a simple hate. If I accidentally get hit by a drop of water, I grow a mermaid tail. Arizona was fine since it was sunny and dry like the Gold Coast, but this? How could I manage my life like this?! I really should have checked this place before agreeing to come. Rikki was right! I was so stupid not to grab the chance and return to my real home! I bit my nails nervously while Bella spotted her dad. With a sight she turned to him and forced a smile.
"Dad!" She managed out, and it almost sounded like she was happy.
Her dad shared the same thick brown hair and chocolate eyes as her daughter. They exchanged an awkward hug as they couldn't find any better way to express themselves. Yepp. They were clearly related. The man then turned to me.
"You must be Alora Dwyer." The daughter of his ex-wife’s new husband, whom he had no ties to- I added that part to it in my head. He extended his hand for a handshake.
"Nice to meet you, Charlie. Thank you for letting me live with you." I shook his hand politely.
"Don't mention it. You are family in a way now." He smiled and then added. "Let's move before the sky falls on us."
“Good idea!” I hurriedly agreed and escaped into the cruiser's backseat.
I got behind bars, but it didn't bother me. At least I was protected from the rain. Bella sat in the passenger seat. She and Charlie led some forced conversations, which I couldn't pay attention to, as all I saw was the almost black sky and the few droplets of water. How am I going to survive here? Just how many days will it take for me to grow a tail in an accident? I had to take some calming breaths just for good measure.
"I bought you a car." I somehow got to turn back to their conversation. I knew that Bella wanted a car of her own for a while now, so it was good news.
"A car? For me?" She was in disbelief.
"Yes. As a housewarming gift." Charlie said proudly. He must have been happy that Bella gave a slightly positive reaction.
"What kind of car is it?" I asked. Also, I didn't know anything about cars, but I tried my best to converse.
"It is a Chevrolet Pick-up." He glanced at me as he answered and then turned to his daughter to continue. "Do you remember Billy? Billy Black?" He asked.
"Yes?" Bella told him. It sounded like she had no idea who he was.
"We used to go fishing together. You have met his son a few times as well." Charlie went on. Probably to trigger some memory in his daughter. "He had this truck, but he doesn't need it anymore, so he let me buy it for cheap." He finished.
"How old is it?" Bella asked suspiciously.
"It is really a few years old." Charlie avoided the answer.
"Dad, you know I don't know anything about cars. What if it stops working? I can't fix it."
"I had it all fixed and checked, and it works well. Trust me, Bells." Charlie tried to shake off all the worries.
"Do you have your license, Alora?" He asked to change the subject.
"No. I haven't done it yet. But I am planning!" I told him, smiling. He nodded as an answer.
After a while, we pulled down next to the sign that said welcome to Forks. I sighted and started to memorize the streets. Better to know the environment as fast as you can, especially in a situation like mine. The town was really simple, with a main road and a few parallel streets. Our new home was at the edge of the town, surrounded by large trees, as it was so close to the forest. I checked the weather, and when I saw that it was safe to leave the car, I did. Before the house stood a rusty red truck. I suppose this was THE housewarming gift.
"Is this the car?" Bella fell in love with it immediately.
"Yes, it is." Charlie laughed and went to introduce the vehicle to his daughter. I let them have their moment and looked up at the small house. Until graduation, this will be my home.