No Way to Say Goodbye.

She was new in town. Originally she’d lived in Beaverton, Oregon but with the distressed call from her parents to her grandparents, poor seventeen year old Hannah Pierce is forced to live up in Forks, Washington. That is, until her parents figure out how to get their debt figured out. They have been ‘struggling’ for over a year now but are just now figuring that Hannah would do better when she didn’t see her parental fight on a constant basis. She’d agreed to some extent, but what was up in Forks anyway?

The last time Hannah was there, it rained for the entire week. But she loves the rain; it’s her parents that feared her muddy boots and dripping hair. Her grandparents encouraged her to go splash in some puddles, but that last of all for two minutes. Also, the last time she was up her was when she was thirteen, glued at her parents’ hips. When she would go to the reservation with her grandfather she would see kids playing. Hannah, even at thirteen, just wished that she could be out there playing tag until the sun went down.

With the crisp Seattle air combing through her hair, Hannah stretched her arms out of the backseat window of her parents’ SUV. She was pretending that her hand was a bird, free and able to fly and live wherever it wanted, probably even if it’s parents were in dire need of money or had to send their only child off to live with grandparents.

Looking ahead she saw her parents steal a glance at one another, smiling. For some weird reason the pit of her stomach began to churn with inexpressible feelings. Was this all a plan? Did they not want Hannah to be at home, because if that was the case than she would have just stayed at Rachael’s house where she knew she’d be welcome in a comfortable home. Her grandparents’ house was in the middle of the forbidden forest, and harder than heck to find.

Checking her cell phone for the third time in ten minutes, Hannah grumbled at her boyfriend’s sudden pause at texting her back. He had been upset about all of this, thinking that he actually had a say in where she went. Pssh, with Hannah’s parents he was lucky she was still with him, however Hannah couldn’t help but feel that him and Rachael would get together somehow. It was expected. Besides, her and Jeremy had been having arguments more frequently, and Hannah’s voice octave never really reached over a loud whisper.

“Look,” Hannah’s mom piped, clapping her hands together, “we’re here!”

Don’t got to act so butt hurt about this Mom, sheesh. Hannah thought sarcastically when she was embraced by an over powering waft of her grandmothers coconut, tropical perfume. This, she had to admit was a lot better than the dying smell most elder women wear nowadays. It was like her grandmother was trying to get the Hawaiian effect while living in rain-Ville Washington. She liked it.

With her grandmothers cold, soft hands cupping Hannah’s face she spoke softly, “Hi Gram-cracker.”

“Oh Hannah, it has been too long dear. I’ve made lunch.” Her grandmother drug her only granddaughter up to the house. They had a new addition to their home, an on ramp. All of a sudden, it hit Hannah; where was grandpa? As if her grandmother, Maggie, read the question on Hannah’s smooth face she let out an uproar. “Grandpa is an old hag Hannah. He broke his leg while fixing the roof a week ago. We built this for later on honey. Your grandfather and I have years to go,” then her wrinkled finger nipped Hannah’s nose.

Mr. and Mrs. Pierce unloaded all of Hannah’s belongings—which was quite a bit, said their goodbyes, took some lunch and left faster than the Roadrunner could. Hannah shook her head at her freakish parents and apologized for them to her grandparents who gave their heads gentle shakes. “Your father has always been that way, Hannah.” Her grandfather spoke, shifting his cast around his chair so he could hug his beautiful granddaughter. “My you’ve grown.” His soft whisper echoed through her ear.

“So, where is my new room?” Hannah asked with a smile. Her hands placed firmly on her hips, waiting to take on this challenge of so called transformation.

“This way,” Her grandmother laughed and lugged her smallest suitcase upstairs.

The room was pale and lonely. It was a off-hue blue color that reminded her of an old folks home. The top was slapped with a rose banner, which was the first thing to come off. Before her grandmother left, she told her to have fun with it. She’d have to start from scratch then. Knowing that her grandfather would have every color of paint in the shed out back, she began the dirty work.

On her way downstairs after an hour, sweat dripping from her brow Hannah stepped into the kitchen when she heard an unfamiliar voice laugh. Peeking from the French doors she saw a man facing her grandfather, in a wheelchair. He had a wool coat on, and his course black hair sensed nothing but an elder.

“Oh Hannah,” her grandfather called over.

“Yes Pops?” She giggled and stepped to his side.

Placing his calloused hand on her back, her grandfather introduced the two, “Billy, this is my granddaughter Hannah, she’s the one I’ve been telling you about.”

‘Billy’ smiled and reached out to shake Hannah’s hand in which she returned the favor. “Heard nothing but good things about you Hannah.” Billy said.

“Thanks,” She blushed vibrant red. “Oh gramps, would you mind if I used some paint?”

“Not at all, just be careful out there.” He winked and pushed his granddaughter off in the direction of the back door.

“She’s a charmer, huh Billy?” Addison winked at his friend.

“Very beautiful Addi,” He agreed as they continued to talk about the fishing trip Addison, Hannah’s grandfather missed out on. However Mr. Black—Billy—couldn’t help but think that Hannah and Jacob should meet. She seemed unblemished enough to tame down Jacob, besides even if it wasn’t normally what he liked in a girl; Jacob’s preference being more of an Indian ethnicity, Hannah was beautiful.

Scrounging about in the shed, Hannah came to a color that she couldn’t pass up. It was a plum color, marvelous for covering up the light walls. Besides, everything else Hannah seemed to own was a shade of purple no matter. From her toothbrush to half her clothing could be found on the purple spectrum of the color scale. She grabbed all the instruments, and heaved them back to her room and begun the time consuming duty of painting.

Oddly enough, it was only seven when she was done. Mr. Black was staying for Maggie’s signature casserole, so Hannah took the available seat next to him, after giving her grandmother a hug from behind. “Oh Hannah, you scared me.” The elder woman gripped her chest, nonetheless with a smile.

“Sorry Gram,” Hannah apologized and stuck her nose up to sniff the salty aroma. “Mmm, is it your casserole?”

Taking it out of the over and setting it down on the table, Maggie nodded her head. She cut out large chunks for Mr. Black and her husband before getting a plate for Hannah, who then grabbed some bread and orange juice before asking to retreat to the living room to watch some TV.

She could hear the three older ones in the dining room laugh and talk, and for some reason it soothed Hannah. Maybe it was in part that her parents made her eat at the table with them, but never engaged in everyday conversation. Surprised, still at the fact that her father was the offspring of her loving grandparents, Hannah smiled and dug into her steaming platter.

“Goodnight, Bill,” Addison clapped a hand to Billy’s shoulder.

He nodded and smiled, before he turned to Hannah who folded her arms from the cold breeze that swam about her figure. “Hey Hannah,” Billy waited.

“Yes, Mr. Black?” She asked kindly.

“I have a son, Jacob. If you’re not busy tomorrow, you can come by and meet all the local boys,” His eyes twinkled as he spoke.

Looking to her grandparents nervously they gave her approval. She then turned to Billy and nodded, “I’d love to!”

“Great, come by anytime. Night to you all,” Billy nodded, too and followed Maggie out to the car.

That night, Hannah slept with the TV on in the living room so that way her new bedroom could be aired out thoroughly. The smell of paint seemed to agitate her head more than she liked. Besides, that she wanted to be fully finished before she slept in there. Before she shut her eyelids, Hannah situated her pillow and the moment she relaxed she fell into a tiresome dream.