This is my first fanfic so I'm a little nervous. All characters except for the ones that are obviously mine belong to Stephanie Meyer, the genius herself. Enjoy!

CHAPTER ONE

Different...

"You've been adopted. Congratulations!" My social worker beamed. Theresa had always been a warm person and had been there for me for years. We'd bonded through the years through countless triumphs trumped. There were tears in her eyes at this point.

I smiled artificially. "That's great." I mumbled.

Hope was constantly built up, only to tear me down again. At this point, that was all I could muster. An artificial smile that stayed plastered on my mouth, like a stroke had ripped through my mind and shocked my mouth into an upside down frown. My left leg began to bounce, as my nerves were jolted into movement.

"They'll be here in a few minutes and then they'll take you. I know that you haven't even met them before, but we thought it better for you, if it was a surprise. That way you don't get cold feet or anything." Theresa said, breathing in deeply to rid the sobs wanting to burst forth. "This is it." She said strongly, her face changing suddenly, trepidation turning into confidence. Her green eyes stared into mine. "I promise."

Promises… factors that fabricated themselves in my mind, only to tear to pieces in a matter of moments. I grimaced internally, and nodded externally.

"I believe you." I lied, biting the inside of my cheek. The acidic lie began to give me heart burn. I swallowed, pushing away the pain.

I wanted to believe her. I really did, but the doubt weighed my mind down into the tar pit of uncertainty and fear. What if this family… what if they… were 'strict'? It took months to get out of my last situation. This family lived in-

"La Push, Washington. Now, it is a reservation, but you have special permission, according to their 'elders council'."

Washington? It could take years if it was the case… I glanced out the window we were seated at. This… all of this was going away. I was used to Florida… to the warm nights, and warm ocean waters. Sanford had been my home for so long. I was going to freezing Washington, where it was overcast 365 days a year? I shuddered at the thought.

"I better pack for snow then, huh?" I smiled tentively.

Theresa gauged my expression and then smiled. "I took the liberty of getting your things together, personally. I know you like dark colors, and your bedroom is already set up." She took my hand, which was coated in nervous sweat. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine. I've met with them personally. This is different." As if that really changed things… she'd said that about the last nine families. "They're dog people!" She chimed in. Okay, maybe that did.

I'd always been a huge animal person, especially dogs… they never let you down. When you were having a bad day, they cheered you up with their wet pink tongues and prodding cold noses. My plaster lips began to crack and began to show my genuine smile.

I started when the small café door opened with a positive chime. I pulled the wall up in my mind that kept the past just beyond it. I was not going to collapse. This was my chance to impress, and falling unconscious was not the way to do so.

I looked out the window, seeing nothing beyond. Trying to act nonchalant, I leaned further down in my seat, avoiding the sound of blood pounding at my temples. Act nonchalant, and maybe they'll like you. I breathed slowly, listening with all my might.

One was wearing steel toed boots, and the other was wearing squeaky sneakers.

"Sam! Emily! Oh, I'm so glad to see you." The sound of clothing moving back and forth must have meant they were shaking hands.

I stared out the window, not blinking.

"Violet?"

Internally, I cleared my mind.

He was handsome. Tall as heck! But he was handsome. Clearly Native American, as their features and hometown's name suggested. He smiled slightly, but he was holding back, uncertain. His brown eyes examined my face, and I shivered slightly. The wall began to crack, and I swiftly, unemotionally, and frantically shoved up another one. Not now. I scolded my mind.

"I'm Sam. It's nice to meet you." He said stiffly, extending a hand. His hand shake was firm, as I forced mine to be. His face changed the smallest bit. His smile seemed little more truthful.

I turned to look at Emily, and my heart cracked. Her face was scarred, as if someone had taken a large fork and slashed her face. Tears formed in my eyes, and I began to shake. Her eyes, soft and understanding, smiled back at mine.

Panicked, I wiped the tears away. She was so beautiful. "Pardon me… you just remind me a lot of…" The walls that I'd been piling one on top of another exploded and staring back at me was a memory so strong that I had to shield myself from the onslaught of memories. Somehow, though, as if by a miracle, the memories were manageable. I smiled, and held out my hand. "I'm Violet, but you can call me Vi. As if hi, but with a v."

Emily laughed. "Well thank you for the clarification."

Theresa's eye's wide with disbelief bore holes into the side of my head. I couldn't believe it either… I was actually genial to these people. Normally I was reserved, even afraid, and only whispered greetings. Something was different. I almost trusted this couple.

They did look like dog lovers.

My mind reeled as the information was given to Emily and Sam, and before I knew it, we were getting ready to board the plane. Theresa had joined us, and when they called for boarding, she stopped me and hugged me tightly. "I know you'll do great with them. They're good people."

"I'll see you soon." I mumbled out of habit. Her smile wavered, and tears began to well in her eyes.

"No. You won't." I looked up at her. "I'm moving. To Spain, with my fiancé."

Alarm began to seep into my bones. I was moving to Washington, and she was moving to Spain. I shook my head slowly, numbly, and before I could stop myself, I was hugging her so tight, my arms were numb.

"No. No. No… You can't leave me! Please, don't leave me with these people! Don't leave me with these people, and run away from me! Don't! PLEASE, DON'T!" At this point I was in hysterics, angry tears falling down my cheeks, and streaking down my neck, wetting my t-shirt collar.

"Listen."

"NO!"

She pushed me away at arms length, and with piercing eyes stared down at me. "I will call every week. You will be okay. I knew I was leaving, and I knew I had to find the right family. This is the right family. Trust me!" She cried, and shook me.

Of course it would have been considered illegal to shake a foster kid, especially since she was a social worker, but she was like the older sister that I'd lost a long time ago. I did trust her, and I hated that fact. I hated that I could so easily trust someone. My face began to get redder, as my anger ten folded in on itself, ready to implode, and suck everyone in.

I shoved her away. "Fine! Go! Leave me! Just leave me with a bunch of strangers! You're good at that!" I yanked up my carryon from the floor, and turned to walk away but paused. "I hate you!"

I quickly shoved past a few people who had begun to stare. I thrusted my ticket into the attendant's face, and at first she began to protest, but upon seeing my expression, asked if I was alright. I glared at her.

"Does it look like I'm alright?" I huffed. "No, I am not alright. Just take my ticket, give me the stub, and let me pass." Startled, she obliged. "Thank you."

I quickly boarded the plane, ignoring the looks people were giving me, and took my window seat. It was only a reminder of how truly nice Theresa was. She knew I got horrible motion sickness, and needed a window seat. It also reminded me of how she knew I needed a window seat. Because she'd placed me on enough that I probably could mouth the oxygen, phone, and seat belt regulations the attendants recited.

Sam and Emily eventually boarded, and Emily took the seat next to mine. Sam took the one just across the isle from us. She said nothing, but spoke to Sam in hushed, soothing tones.

Eventually, I shut out everything around me, and watched the clouds pass under us. We passed above giant thunder clouds that billowed like angry peacocks ruffling their plumage. We only met with turbulence once on our plane, the one that went from Dallas to Portland.

The turbulence, several times, had me gripping the seat's arms tightly, and a few times, I couldn't help a whimper. I soon began to shake, and tears were falling down my cheeks, my face growing red. I held my breath the majority of the time, and I forced myself to look out the window. The wall was coming down, and with it memories too many to count. They were ones of screaming and crying and the sound of wet thuds. Then there were whispers. I closed my eyes, and let the memories consume me into the silent abyss of unconsciousness.

End of chapter one… Next chapter: LA PUSH! Yay!

Reviews are apreciado! :)

H.