It was the middle of the summer and here I was, sitting in my new bedroom reading a book. I pulled my body up with a sigh and made my way into the kitchen. My uncle looked up away from the television. "Hi! Good to see you up. I hope you've settled in okay."

I took a few steps back, " Oh yeah. Everything is great. Thanks so much." I had arrived two nights ago, but this was the first time I had left my room other than for dinner. "I'm going to go out for a while. Is that okay?"

"Yeah! You really should. It's such a nice town. And you really don't need to ask to go out." His voice held that false excitement that made my stomach churn. "I'm going to be out late so I'll lock up when I get home, okay? Call me if you need anything." His eyes held sympathy in their little orbs that made me cringe.

I returned to my room and slipped on jean shorts and t-shirt. I threw my blonde lioness curls into a bun and turned to face the mirror. I had been avoiding it all year but in this tiny tan room it was unavoidable. I started with my eyes. They were that deep sky blue that made the birds sing. I clenched my eyes shut and turned away from the mirror with a twirl. I stuffed a few dollars in my pocket and left the house with my head low.

The California sun warmed my skin and melted my inside. I already felt fatigued with exhaust of trying. I hopped on my bike, pink with a white basket, and rode.

I don't know how I ended up at this place. But I did, and I wasn't one to question why life brought us places. I was in California for a reason. A reason I hated to think about, but one I knew was not an accident. So I dumped that little pink bike on the ground and walked into some little golf place. I was assaulted with the crisp cool air that circulated the little shop. My feet dragged me to the front desk, not exactly because it was my desired location but because my mind told me it was the most sensible thing to do.

"Hi, how can I help you?" The voice was rough and deep, with a hint of a boyish awkwardness. I spared him the awkward eye contact and kept my gaze unfocused to the side. "Umm…I don't know. Can I just..."

"Do you want a bucket of balls? A small costs eleven dollars." I could almost feel his eyes trying to drag mine up to meet his, but if I had anything, it was willpower.

"Sure. Thanks." I pulled the loose dollars from my pocket and counted out eleven placing it on the counter.

He turned briefly, collecting the basket. "Your new here," he said. Not a question but a statement.

I was not looking for chatter. I really just needed to get out of the house and away from uncle Emmett tiptoeing past my door and leaning his ear against it. "Yeah," was my response, I assumed uninteresting and discouraging was my best approach. Based on my peripheral vision I had concluded that I had a horny high school guy on my hands. Played football, maybe did a little surfing. He had a sharp bone structure that I could see even with my limited view. His had that disheveled beach hair that happened to look absolutely perfect. A part of my old self stirred. The part where I would have hypnotized him with my glowing eyes and flipped my long blonde locks. I am not that girl anymore though. My eyes had lost there glow and my curls were no longer bouncy alive, they lay loose and heavy.

"I'm Edward." He flashed a smile and with that small turn of his lips, my eyes met his.