Chapter Text
Elizabeth Helen Swan was many things, but calm was hardly ever one of them. She was stood in her bedroom, packing the last of her things with shaking hands into an old suitcase she had found. Her thoughts were racing as the reality of what she was about to do settled in, allowing the anxiety to firmly take root into the crevices of her brain.
When her sister had suggested moving in with their father a few months ago, Eliza had honestly thought she was joking. Who in their right mind would trade the glorious warmth of Phoenix for the gloomy rain of Forks? But when her sister had pointed out how miserable their mother was having to stay home and take care of them, instead of travelling the country with her new husband, Eliza had relented.
Now, she stood at the front door, the sun bathing her in its warmth, attempting to chase away the chill that had settled in her bones. Despite what she told her mum, she didn't want to leave. The lie still choked her every time she said it and she knew no-one believed her. How could they when her eyes kept filling with tears anytime she even thought about leaving?
Elizabeth turned and looked at the house she had lived in for as long as she could remember. A voice in her head, one that she tried desperately to ignore, whispered that she will never be able to return. It hurt her to admit, but it was true in a sense. Her mum had already moved all of her yoga stuff into her bedroom, completely taking over the space. Where would she sleep if she came back?
Lost in her thoughts as she was, she hadn't noticed her sister coming to stand beside her. A gentle squeeze of her hand brought her back to reality, and Bella stood with her in silence, just taking in their last moments in their home. Eliza felt a little stupid as a tear ran down her cheek for the thousandth time. Bella looked away, giving her younger sister some privacy. There wasn't anything that she could say that would bring her any comfort.
Walking down to the car, Eliza tried to convince herself (again) that it wouldn't be too bad, after all it wasn't like her dad was a complete stranger to her. She had spent plenty of summers down in Forks with him until Bella had thrown a fit and demanded he came up to visit them instead. They had had some very nice moments together, at least she thought they did. She couldn't really remember any.
Sitting in the backseat on the way to the airport was a different type of torture. Bella's panic was clear as day as the reality settled in for her too.
"Please remember to give the spare key to the neighbour when you get back mom," Bella pleaded, "And don't forget that your clothes are at the dry cleaners."
"Please have some more faith in me Bells, I can take care of myself!" Was their mother's laughing response.
Eliza met Bella's eyes in the rear view mirror, panic clouding their faces because contrary to what their mother believed, she was not capable of taking care of herself. Their only comfort was that Phil was reasonably competent and should be capable of handling their mother.
It wasn't long before their mum's own unease about being left alone kicked in, and she was telling them that she didn't mind staying at home with them, they didn't have to leave. But the sister's could see the sacrifice in her eyes and it only served to harden their resolve.
The drive felt like it lasted forever whilst taking no time at all. Before Eliza was ready, she was through security and on the plane, her mum had already driven away as soon as their suitcases were out the car. Eliza tried not to feel hurt by that. Looking out the window, she tried to make herself feel better about the situation. Just like with every other attempt, she failed.
It was raining in Forks. Eliza didn't know why she felt any ounce of surprise as they arrived, but she still jumped when the droplets landed on her head. She was also surprised to see her dad waiting for them near his police cruiser, umbrella held above his head. And as always she was shocked by how similar he looked to Bella. They had the same dark brown hair, the same chocolate brown eyes, and even the same nose. Elizabeth had nothing of her dad except the wild curls in her light brown hair.
He didn't say much as he piled their suitcases into the cruiser but that was alright with the girls. The energy to speak was pretty much non-existent and Eliza couldn't wait until she could curl up into bed. However, she couldn't help but get a little excited over the prospect of riding in the back of the police cruiser. Ever since she was little, her dad's job had always excited her.
She dozed off a little during the journey to her dad's house, drifting in and out of the conversation. She heard something about a new car for Bella, something, something, and money put aside for a car for her? She wasn't to sure but before she could wake up and question it, they arrived.
The house hadn't changed in the sixteen years Elizabeth had been alive. The same yellow cabinets, the same purple walls in the bedroom and even the same carpet in the front room, all chosen by her mum eighteen years prior. It made her quite sad to think that a part of her dad had never quite gotten over their mum whilst she had many partners and had even married someone else.
Her dad didn't hover, which she and Bella were both extremely thankful for. Hauling their suitcases onto their respective beds, they both just stood for a moment in their shared bedroom, feeling the full weight of their decision. It seemed silly in retrospect that it would be the bedroom that set them both off, but soon the tears were falling down their faces.
Elizabeth fled to the bathroom after locating the first pair of pyjama's she could find, trying not to cringe at the fact that she was sharing the space with both her father and her sister. Instead she tried to focus on the things she needed to do. Firstly, she needed to get some sleep, then she needed to wake up, then she needed to find an outfit for the first day of school, then....
Elizabeth forcibly stopped her thoughts there as she returned to the bedroom. Bella, of course, had already unpacked her things and claimed a side of the wardrobe and drawers. Eliza looked at her own suitcase and groaned, the task of unpacking it feeling monumental at the moment in time. She reasoned that she could just wait until the morning, no doubt she would be up early anyways and it would give her something to do to keep her mind occupied. Besides its not like she had much. After all, the warmth of home had hardly leant itself to curating the perfect winter closet. She desperately needed to go shopping.
Bella returned from the bathroom and without words they both climbed into her bed. They hadn't done shared a bed in years but the need for comfort overrode any attempt to act like the grown children they were. Clung onto each other, the sisters drifted off into an uneasy sleep, thoughts plaguing both of their minds.