As the plane lands the pilot says "Welcome to Forks, the rainiest city in the continental United States". Well that's a pleasant introduction, I thought sarcastically, but anywhere is better than with my monster of a father. I shift in my seat, my back aching and bleeding through my bandages I applied. I was feeling a little lightheaded due to the blood loss but I've endured worse. The plane stops and everyone starts to get off, as I step out and can't help but feel lighter and happier than I had in years, despite being homeless and bleeding. Since I only had my small bag with me I don't have to go to baggage claim so I head out to the information desk to get a map so I wasn't completely lost. The last time I was here I was eight, but, fortunately, it looked as if not much had changed. On the map I located the diner that Charlie always took us too that was 8 miles due south of his house. That diner was conveniently only five miles away from the airport, so only 13 miles....great. I take a granola bar out of my pack and start eating as I head out to the diner to try and get dinner and freshen up so I don't scare the living shit out of my cousin and uncle. They probably won't even recognize me seeing as I'm seven years older, several inches taller, and developed both curves, muscles, and a tan from my various sports.

I get to the diner at around 8:45 and the warmth that greeted me was extremely welcome as was the scent of food and the kind woman wiping down a table. She looked up at me with a kind face, that quickly turned to shock and concern at the state of me. I was indeed a sight to behold, my braid was falling apart around my face, my face was flushed and shiny with sweat (due to running/walking the five miles here), and my sweatshirt and jeans are covered in mud and twigs. She came around and asked with a hint of concern "Hey there honey, anything I can get you? Anyone you meeting with?" Her concern was valid I looked a mess, came without a car, and I was a young girl at a lonely diner kinda late at night. Yeah great first impression Katie, keep it up. So I responded, trying to sound casual " yeah could I please have a water and a burger with fries" I figured if I was going to freshen up I might as well get some food, I had only eaten a few protein bars and after running all those miles (especially because of my back) even my endurance was running out. The kind lady said "Sure thing, kiddo. Pick any table I'll be right out with your drink" I responded with a simple "thanks". I almost groaned with relief as my sore legs relaxed when I sat down. My eyelids suddenly got so heavy, I am so tired and the diner was so warm that I didn't realize I feel asleep until the waitress was gently shaking my shoulder as she set down the food. I startled up, my face going red as she examined me.

"Here you go kiddo, eat up", as I started digging in she asked me "Where are you headed to anyway, you don't have a car, want me to drive you somewhere?" I was scarfing down the food so fast that it took a moment for the offer to sink in, using my powers of deducted reasoning, I came to the conclusion that she probably wasn't an ax murderer and said "If it wouldn't be too much trouble ma'am, I am trying to get to the Swans house, I don't have an address but I know the general location" she cut me off before I could continue, exclaiming "Oh! Chief Swan and Bella? I know them they come in every Thursday. How do you know them?" I was almost done with my food as I said "I'm Bella's cousin, though I haven't been here since I was eight, I wanted to come visit, but I didn't realize how late my flight would get in." Truth and lies, that's the game I was playing. Gives some truths mixed with lies. Though technically everything I said was true, it just wasn't the whole truth. After she took my dishes away and I settled the bill, she locked up the restaurant and took me out to her car. It wasn't very big, but I was so thankful I wasn't walking that I would've ridden in a wagon. After a short trip, where I got to view the beautiful forest around Forks, she pulled up to a two story house surrounded by the woods, and thankfully had lights on still. "Alright kiddo, here you are" she said. I tried to offer her money but she refused saying that it was her pleasure. After thanking her for the billionth time, I hopped out of her car and up the driveway to my Uncles house.

I ring the doorbell and a girls voice from inside shouts "I got it, Charlie!" Then the door opens to reveal a girl who looks about 17 with pale skin, brown hair and brown eyes, definitely Bella. She looks at me confused and says "Hi, can I help you?" I say back "Hey Bella, I thought you would recognize your own cousin?" Realization appears on her face as she exclaims "Katie? What are you doing here? How did you get here? Why are you covered in mud and twigs" she runs up to hug me, I wince as she hits my cuts, but hug her back fiercely. When we were younger we were as close as sisters. She pulls back and says "I missed you! Come inside you must be freezing". She wasn't wrong I was extremely cold, due to the drizzle of rain and low temperatures. She opens door wider and I hear the TV on with a basketball game, then I see Charlie's head sticking over the back of his chair. I guess some things never change, I think to myself. Bella walks up and says "Charlie, guess who's here?" "Who?" He replies seemingly uninterested, "Katie! You know, cousin Katie." At the mention on my name he turns around and says, "Well you got taller," I chucked as he went on "it's good to see you Katie, how've you been? Still playing all those sports?" I smiled as I remembered that he loves to talk sports with me, seeing as Bella is completely ignorant in the field of athletics. "Yeah, just medaled at state in Cross Country and Track," "That's great, it's really good to see you, where's your old man? What are you doing here?" Uh oh. Truth or lies. Truth or lies. I don't want their pity, there's no way I'm telling them about the abuse. Just say something, I internally yell at myself. "Uhh..I wanted a change in pace, so he is letting come up to Forks for the rest of high school, as well as getting to visit you guys. He had to stay in Phoenix, for his job." Charlie considered, then said "Well that's fine, I'm just wondering why he didn't call." Oh shit. I tried to school my features into a casual face instead of the panic rushing beneath my skin. "It was a really recent decision, and he wanted it to be a surprise". Luckily Charlie and Bella seem to buy it, my shoulders ease as I loosed a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. I quickly added "I also don't want to be too much of a burden, if it's too much for me to stay here, I can find an apartment, I just need a few weeks-" Charlie cut off my ranting, with a simple shake of his head and said "nonsense, your welcome here for as long as you want". I ran up to him to give him a hug saying "thanks so much!" Bella came up and grabbed my arm and said "Come on, you can stay in the guest room, right across from mine, just like when we were kids!" In return, I gave her one of my famous smiles.

She led me up the stairs and got me situated in the room commenting on how light I was traveling, how tall I'd gotten, and how dirty I was. When she left my new room, I looked around to examine it. The walls are white, with a few miscellaneous pictures hanging around, the bed is a good size and the patterns are blue and green (my favorite colors), there is a small desk by the window that faced the woods, and in total, a beautifully functional room, I think to myself. I grab my bag of toiletries and head to the bathroom to shower and change.

As I wash the dirt from me I can't help but feel as if I'm washing my past down the drain. I smile at the thought and get into my new bed, in the new PJs that Bella loaned me, and start planning and hoping for my new life.