Chapter 7
The first thing that Bella felt when she got home that evening was confusion. Charlie was still at work, he would only return in two hours. So with the whole house empty Bella sat down on the small sofa in the living room. She turned on the TV, maybe it could distract the anxiety away, out of her stomach.
Bella didn’t know what to think or feel. Only her chest felt weirdly tight - in a way that Bella remembered all too well. But this was the first day back at school - or at a new school. Both at the same time. It was normal that she was anxious. Bella tried to calm herself down with some breathing exercises but nothing worked. She switched through the channels. The few seconds she grasped of every airing show spiraling her down even more in her feeling of loss of control.
Bella could not get Alice out of her head. It was as if Alice had planted a seed in her brain and slowly the flower started growing. It drove Bella crazy. She didn’t want to think about Alice. - For once, had they barely spoken and even though Bella was ashamed of that reason, did she feel intimidated by Edwards asshole behavior.
Without turning the TV off Bella went into the kitchen to make some tea. The show turned into ambient background noise and slowly Bella felt herself relaxing.
Until, suddenly, the show was interrupted by an alarm sound.
“Please excuse the interruption, but these are important and concerning news that we all should be aware of. Just a few moments ago there was a mass murder attempt in downtown Seattle.” - At the mention of Seattle Bella rushed back to the TV. Blurry phone videos full of people screaming covered the screen.
“Everything so far is very unclear - such as weapons, perpetrators or motives. All we know is that there is a large group of injured and as of now four people have died. The police advise everyone in and around Seattle to stay away from public places and even stay at home if possible.”
A moment of silence. Bella stared at the TV unable to pull her eyes away from the horrific images filled with people bleeding.
“We’ll keep you updated on anything happening. Please stay calm and safe.”
The screen flashed and then the episode of the sitcom was on again. Bella turned off the TV. Seattle was so close. It was not like she believed that anything like this would happen in Forks. But if she were in Phoenix Seattle would have seemed so far away, another world basically. And now, the perpetrators - the murders - were not even a state away. Back in Phoenix Bella had been most afraid of school shootings, or school in general - but this fear that was crawling up her spine was nothing like it. It was like there was a whole new level of fear that Bella hadn’t unlocked yet, that she now had.
Was this what Charlie had meant when he warned her about the woods? Were there murderers everywhere in Washington? Was she just trying to trick herself into false confidence by telling herself that nothing like a bloodbath mass murder would happen in Forks - ever?
Bella went up into her room and wrapped her blanket around her body. She sat down at her desk and took out her laptop. She didn’t want to upset herself even more but she couldn’t help but look up more about the attack. She was pulled into it, like a tornado, like a spiral. She scrolled through the articles, but they all said the same things. There was nothing anybody knew.
Charlie came home later than he should have. He had dark circles under his eyes and his hair was all messy.
“Hey Kiddo." He greeted Bella with a tired nod and lay down on the couch.
“I made supper.” Bella took two plates with potato pie and put them down on the table.
“Thank you.” Charlie smiled but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. He got up and went into his room to switch into comfier clothes.
“You had lots to do with Seattle?” Bella asked after a while of eating in silence.
“Unfortunately. It’s a disaster. Everyone is upset, raging crazy.” Charlie sighed. “People have been calling all afternoon.”
“Why though?”
“I dunno, kiddo. I mean, I am upset too, but at least I do know that Seattle is not right next to Forks. So people being gone for an hour doesn’t mean they were attacked.” He shrugged.
“People think that?”
Charlie nodded. “Of course, I don’t want to say their concern is silly because this could happen everywhere. And I worry too. But Forks is less likely. Which doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be careful.”
Bella nodded. “No going into the woods alone.”
Charlie grinned. “You know it.”
“Anyways, how was school?” Charlie got up for a beer and came back with a coke for Bella as well.
"Alright. It’s school, you know?” Bella shrugged.
“Yeah… I know.” Charlie smiled. “But is Mr Snolly still there?”
“Mr Who?"
Charlie laughed. “No one. It was a joke back when I was there. Mr Snolly was supposed to be a ghost or something like that.”
“I have not encountered him yet.”
“Then you never will, I suppose. Maybe he only greets the 9th grade students…” Charlie shrugged.
“Great, dad. You do know I used to be scared of ghosts.” Bella laughed.
“I just wanted to see if Mr Snolly was still there, okay? You are the one I could ask without seeming crazy! Everyone else here my age has met him too when they got into Forks High School.”
“Sure.” Bella shook her head and Charlie laughed.
"I promise, I am not going crazy, okay?!"