Bella’s journey to Forks was incredibly smooth—the train stayed on its tracks, no bombs were onboard, and she wasn’t crushed by any billboards or telephone poles while eating. There were no electrical shorts or explosions; it was a safe trip.
However, the conversation between father and daughter on the train was somewhat awkward.
Charlie thought she was overly startled and showed great understanding and care.
Their initial conversations were mainly filled with awkward small talk.
“Has your hair grown?”
“Oh, yes, I haven’t cut it since last I saw you.”
“It grows fast.”
And so on.
Bella, unsure of what her predecessor had discussed with her father, was cautious about revealing too much. She remained quiet about past matters. Fortunately, she could talk about the toy car incident and the Flight 180 event she had personally experienced.
To ease the awkwardness, she deliberately steered the conversation towards Natasha’s mother, reasoning that talking about women could never go wrong with men!
Indeed, even the usually reserved Charlie didn’t refuse this topic. He listened to Bella talk about how she used pepper spray to take down a robber and how Natasha’s mother had used a judo throw to defeat an opponent. This warmed up their relationship considerably.
Besides dealing with Charlie’s various concerns during the trip, Bella was also constantly thinking about self-rescue.
She didn’t believe in God and didn’t expect any divine protection—the only person she could rely on was herself.
“We’re here, do you remember? The café at the corner, where we used to eat together?” Charlie drove Bella home in his police car.
Forks, with just over 3,000 people, is a typical example of wide spaces with few people.
To be honest, the outskirts of the town are beautiful. Everywhere you look is green: moss on tree trunks, the leaves, and even the ferns are green. The air is exceptionally fresh, an actual ancient forest.
Charlie owns a small white house in the town, which he bought when he first married Bella’s mother. The marriage lasted just over a year. The house is somewhat old-fashioned, two-storied, with a front lawn. Cars can be parked anywhere as Garatown’s ges are not a concept in the cooked around; unlike the apartments in Arizona, the houses in Forks varied widely in style and color, perhaps symbolizing freedom and individuality. She wasn’t quite sure.
Bella stayed in a bedroom on the second floor facing the front yard. The modern flooring and dark red walls showed that Charlie had made some preparations. Many items that seemed to be Bella’s childhood drawings, photos, and celebrity posters hung on the walls. The pillows, blankets, and lamps were all new. The small room included a second-hand computer with all the necessities.
“This is for you, and I hope you like it.” As Charlie was about to leave, Bella quickly presented a small gift she had bought at the airport, almost forgetting it amidst all her hurried preparations.
“Oh, thank you! It’s beautiful!” The small gift helped to strengthen their bond, and Bella soon went to eat in town, with Charlie agreeing enthusiastically.
“Ding ding ding,” the sound of a horn came from outside the house, and Charlie couldn’t help but smile: “It’s an old friend of mine. Come on, let’s go down.”
Father and daughter went outside, and the pleasant journey made Charlie feel his daughter had undergone some positive changes. He introduced his friend to her very formally.
“This is Billy Black, my old friend, and my daughter, Bella. You remember each other, right?” The person he introduced was a middle-aged man in a wheelchair.
If you ignored the wheelchair, the man’s build could be very robust. He had brown skin, a square face, and shoulder-length hair, characteristic of a Native American.
However, now, the term “Indian” is considered discriminatory and is not used officially. They are referred to as “Native Americans.”
Bella respected him, perhaps even a bit too much.
Rule number one in the Marvel universe: never underestimate anyone in a wheelchair; these characters are often compelling!
Bella, who was fully able-bodied, was treading on thin ice. At the same time, this man, despite his disability, managed to thrive independently without relying on anyone or anything, which spoke volumes about his capabilities!
She smiled politely and generously: “Uncle Black, hello.”
The middle-aged Native American shook her hand warmly, but a slight change flickered across his face, hidden under his cowboy hat.
“You’re getting more beautiful,” he teased Charlie, knowing she was coming over. “Charlie hasn’t stopped talking about it.”
Charlie looked away, seemingly embarrassed, and muttered softly, “Keep that up, and I’ll push you into the mud.”
“Then I’ll break your legs first!” The man in the wheelchair joked with Charlie like children.
The two middle-aged men consciously made space, and the young man pushing the wheelchair finally had a chance to step forward.
Seeing the other party’s shyness, Bella preemptively said, “Hi, you’re Jacob, right? I remember you; you’ve gotten much more muscular since you were little. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
This kind of ice-breaker worked almost infallibly on young men, as very few would prefer to be told, “You’ve gotten more effeminate since you were a child.”
The young man, with distinctive Native American features, was embarrassed by Bella’s opener, which is evident in his overly eager demeanor.
“You too, you’re more…” He tried to compliment her beauty but hesitated to speak.
In the original timeline, the conversation ended quickly because both young people were quite awkward. However, this time, Bella had some ideas of her own and kept a firm grip on the direction of the conversation.
“I remember you loved tinkering with mechanical equipment as a kid. Are you still into that? Do you customize motorcycles?” she asked curiously.
Hearing his crush speak so softly to him, young Jacob was nearly ecstatic enough to jump into a tree. He might not be confident about other topics, but when it came to customizing motorcycles, that was his specialty!
“Do you like that too? Would you like to see my workshop?” he asked excitedly.
Bella hesitated noticeably: “Would it be appropriate for me to go?”
This involved issues with the Native American reservation, where the original inhabitants, once the masters of the land, were now ‘protected’ by the American people. It would be considered illegal if Bella entered the reservation without permission and was caught.
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