Chapter One - Ivy League Swan

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” ~ Lao Tzu

Chapter One: Ivy League Swan

BPOV

“You know Bella, if I got a second job, I could help you with your tuition and such, and then you could focus on your studies.”

“Charlie.” I was beyond exasperated. We had been having the same conversation repeatedly, with slight variation, for months now. “I know you want to help, and really, I appreciate it. But I feel this is something I have to do on my own.”

“You got the scholarship on your own, didn’t you? You got straight A’s on your own too. And who was that lovely brunette that was valedictorian again? Oh yes. That was you, and I believe you did that on your own as well. Not to mention getting accepted into Dartmouth, which you did…”

“On my own. Yes, yes. I get the point Charlie.” I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t help but smile at him though. After Renee died fifteen years ago, it had just been Charlie and me. He was all I had left. And I knew he was proud, after all I was his only child.

“Honey, I just don’t want you to be too stressed out. I just want the best for you. And I am so damn proud of you kiddo. You’ll be the first Swan to graduate from an Ivy League college. Actually, you’ll be the first Swan to graduate from something more than community college. Won’t you please let me help?”

“I know Charlie. And I understand, completely. I just feel like this is something that I have to do on my own. It’s not that I don’t appreciate you, please don’t think that. I just…”

“I get it kiddo. You feel like it’s time for you to grow up and leave this old man behind.” He teased me like that constantly. Every time I did something to make him proud he accused me of wanting to leave him behind.

“Of course that’s it, seeing as you’re so old and decrepit.” That made him laugh. It always did. “I love you Charlie and you’ve already done so much for me. But a job at the school library will hardly be like having a job at all. Can you imagine a library at a school like Dartmouth? I’ll bet it’s even better than the bookstore in Port Angeles!”

“What’s all this talk about doing so much for you already? You’re my daughter. I’d do anything for you.” And I knew he would. Charlie was the absolute best.

“Good. Then it’s settled. You’ll sit back and let me enjoy my job.” I sent him a smug smile, knowing I had backed him into a corner. I might be shy and bookish, but I could be pigheaded when I wanted to be, and this was the time for stubbornness.

“You aren’t gonna change your mind are you?”

“Nope.”

“Fine. Fine. I guess I’ll just have to settle for letting you keep your damn job then,” he was grumbling at me. A sure sign of defeat, and I smiled triumphantly. He really was the best. I kissed him on the top of his head, just because.

I really was lucky. Most men who found themselves widowed with a small female child would have panicked, and perhaps run out to find the first “mother” they could for their darling little girl. But Charlie hadn’t done that. Charlie had committed himself to me with a vengeance. He never felt like he offered enough with his measly salary as the Forks Police Chief, but I didn’t need much. All I needed was Charlie.

“Well, old man, I still have some packing to do. After all, I leave in just a few short days. And I need to pick up the U-Haul. We really needed to rent something to haul all that crap to New England. Man what a drive that will be. You sure you’re up for driving all that way with me? You know I can just turn the truck in up there.” I went on, but out of the corner of my eye I saw Charlie wince. “What’s up Charlie?”

“Um, yeah. About that U-Haul...” His cheeks tinged pink, like they did when he was nervous or embarrassed.

“What about it? I really have to get going here soon, so can we get a move on? I have to be there by 9.”

“Actually, no… you don’t.”

“What do you mean?” My eyes widened in horror. “What did you do Charlie?”

“Don’t get mad Bells. Just come with me outside for a minute, please?” He looked so torn, and I hated to put that look on his face. So, I reluctantly followed him out of the kitchen. I was suddenly very nervous as to what I would find outside, but Charlie beamed at me and I knew that it didn’t matter. Whatever it was, if it put a smile on Charlie’s face, it was worth it.

“So come on already.” I poked him in the side, making him jump. I laughed, just like I did every time that happened. “Twitchy much?” I was still giggling a little when he shot me a look over his shoulder.

“Not funny, Isabella.” Uh-oh. He used my real name.

“Awww. Come on, Charles.” He rolled his eyes and I laughed again. I knew he wasn’t really mad, but I couldn’t help myself. “You know it was. And was it really necessary to call me Isabella? I mean seriously, all I did was poke you. It’s not my fault you’re ticklish.” I went to poke him again, but he grabbed my hand.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. See if I ever do you a favor again…” he was muttering under his breath, dragging me forward.

“What was that Charles? I couldn’t quite hear you.”

“Are you done yet?” He was trying so hard to fight back a smile.

I widened my eyes again, this time in mock horror. “Why, of course Charles. You see, I am the epitome of maturity. I am, after all, enrolled in Dartmouth. It certainly wouldn’t do to have a sense of humor at an Ivy League college.” Finally he broke into laughter. A big booming laugh that I knew immediately I would miss.

“Yeah, like you could ever get rid of that smart mouth.” He shook his head at me, causing me to chuckle. “Now come on. I have something to show you.” He dragged my down the short hallway and out of the front door.

I gasped. I couldn’t help myself. I wasn’t sure what I had been trying to prepare myself for, but it most certainly wasn’t this. “What… where… who…” I can’t believe I had been reduced to incoherent babbles and stuttering. There, sitting in the driveway, was the ugliest truck I had seen in my entire existence.

“Do you like it?”

It was ugly. Hideous really, but that’s what gave it personality. This truck had style. Perhaps it was bad style, but it was perfect. “What is it?”

“It’s a truck Bells.”

“Talk about a smart mouth,” I muttered under my breath. “I see that Charlie. What I meant was, what is it for?”

“Well… you didn’t think I would actually leave you stranded in New Hampshire with no transportation did you?”

“You mean it’s for me?”

“Well, yeah. I bought it off Billy Black down at the reservation. Jake gave it a full tune-up before they dropped it off. It runs great.” That was possibly the only positive thing that could be said about the truck. It was big, and old, probably older than I am. It was an orangey red, or reddish orange, you couldn’t really tell. It was bulbous and rusted. “I know it’s ugly…” he trailed off, not knowing how to take my reaction.

“You mean hideous. It’s fantastic, I love it! Thank you Charlie.” I jumped on his back causing him to stumble slightly. “Come on old man; let’s take it for a spin!”

Charlie and I drove that truck around for what seemed like hours, laughing and talking the whole time. It was times like these that I knew I would miss. For so many years, Charlie and I had leaned on one another, and we were extremely close. While I did have friends in school, I never really felt like I had fit in. Maybe it was because I had to grow up so much sooner than all of the girls in my class, but losing my mother so young probably contributed to that. Without another woman in the house, it fell upon me to take care of the “womanly duties” like cooking and cleaning. But I didn’t mind. In fact, I loved taking care of Charlie. It made me feel useful and like I was paying him back for devoting so much of his life to me. I was worried about what would happen to him once I was away at college, but I couldn’t stick around forever. I had to leave the nest at some point.

I hoped that at some point Charlie would move on with his life. I knew that he was interested in Sue Clearwater. She was a widow from La Push, so they had something in common there. Plus, Sue liked to care for Charlie when I wasn’t able to. It wasn’t uncommon for him to stop in at the Clearwater residence for dinner after fishing with Billy, or if I had to study and he didn’t want to pull me away to cook for him. While on one hand I didn’t want to share my dad, at the same time I knew that I couldn’t expect him to sit around waiting for me while I was gone. Who knew if I was even going to come back to Forks after graduating from Dartmouth. Statistically speaking, students are more likely to return to their hometown during the summer after their graduation, but what was the likelihood of me finding a job in Forks with a degree in English? Slim, really, but time would tell.

All I knew was that in a few days time I would be leaving to begin a new chapter in my life. This was the step I had been waiting for, my chance to show Charlie all I was capable of, and my chance to make him proud. I smiled to myself thinking back on Charlie’s words from earlier. You’ll be the first Swan to graduate from an Ivy League college. Actually, you’ll be the first Swan to graduate from something more than community college. And I would. I would make Charlie prouder than he had ever been of me. In a few days time I wouldn’t be Bella Swan, small town girl. No, in a few days time I would be Ivy League Swan. With that thought, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.