2. Normal

Bella woke up that morning feeling as tired as when she got to bed. Maybe even more.

She rolled out of bed, still sleepy. He wasn’t there anymore, but she knew where he’d be.

She looked out the window like she always did. There he was, at the back door, right next to his Volvo.

She pulled some clothes out of her closet and headed slowly for the bathroom.

Maybe a shower will wake me up. She thought hopefully as she took off her clothes and entered the bath.

As the water ran down, she thought of that horrible dream she had. She was having the same dream for weeks now. And it haunted her all night, as usual.

She eventually finished the bath and went back to her bedroom.

She looked at the bedside table and saw the time on her alarm clock. She was right on time, as always.

———————————————————————————————-

Minutes after, Bella entered the kitchen. Her father, Charlie, was already there. There were milk and toast on the table.

Charlie was almost finished but he stopped as she sat to talk to her.

“Good morning Bells.”

“Good morning dad.” Bella served herself a toast with butter and a cup full of milk.

“Hey, listen, I have some friends coming over today. They’ll be staying here for a while, in the guest room. They’ll be arriving while you’re at school. Is that OK?” Charlie looked at her daughter like he was waiting for her approval.

“Yeah, sure. Why not?” Bella answered absently. She was already thinking of her day with Edward. Shame it has to be at Forks High. Bella almost sighed, but she stopped herself. She couldn’t do that in front of her father.

Bella and Edward were on the senior year. They should have finished high school by now, but after what happened in the year they met, they ended up losing one year.

Bella ate her toast and drank her milk silently, Her dad was talking, but her head was absent. The tiredness was wearing on her and that dream wouldn’t leave her thoughts.

She finished the breakfast and got up. She kissed her dad, grabbed her schoolbag and walked over to the door.

The air outside was freezing. It was mid-January. She zipped up her coat and headed to the back of the house.