Chapter One: A Different Beginning

Disclaimer: I am not Stephanie Meyer; I just find it fun to play with the story and characters that she created.

I have no beta and all mistakes are mine. This story is different and my version of Bella is going to be a little different. I am going to try to capture most of the traits that make her but also give her a little more backbone and depth I think she needs for this story.

I am starting in New Moon when Edward leaves. I am going to go quickly for the beginning until we get to Voltura then the story will slow down and the romance will begin.

This is my first story, so I relish your reviews but please be kind as I am very much learning.

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Eighteen years before…

The three brothers sat in brooding silence surrounded by ancient books, which had been their normal pastime for about 1000 years.

A gasp resounded through the quiet room and caused two of the brothers to look toward the noise.

"What is wrong, Marcus?" Aro asked in a very interested voice. Marcus is normally not a very excitable man; he tends to be unaffected by daily life. But that would be changing in the coming years.

Marcus simply held his hand out toward the mindreader with a curious, thoughtful look on his face.

Aro reached toward the hand with intrigue and the moment their fingers touched Aro got a glimpse of the most beautiful thing he had seen in his long existence.

And Aro smiled, bright and authentic, which is rare for this controlling, malignant man.

"What does it mean, Marcus?" Aro was even talking in a different voice, a quieter and melodic voice. Something about what he saw caused Aro to soften.

"Well, are you going to share your thoughts? Or are you trying to anger me?" Caius joined in the conversation, beginning to get irritated at his brothers' silent conversation.

"I do not know how to explain it, Caius. All of our feelings from the past few months make sense. Marcus has seen a new line… connecting all three of us to one thing." But Marcus interrupted with, "the most beautiful lines I have ever seen. But it isn't really a line… It is as bright as the sun, the color of pure, shining gold, mixed with stunning red and green. It is stronger than any I have seen. It resembles a spider web, because it is complicated and tangled. It is like this person has taken unbreakable rope and tied us all together in as many loops and directions possible. It is so unlike any other relationship I have ever seen." Marcus raved in a dreamlike voice, as if he was looking at something majestically beautiful.

"So… what does that mean? And why did it just appear?"

"I do not know… gold means True Mates, the purest and strongest mating relationship. But I don't know… it is not the only color there. But I know this girl will be very important to all of us." Marcus couldn't explain it, he had never seen a connection this intense before.

Thankfully, the two other men understood what he was trying to say.

So, with nothing else to do, the brothers relapsed into quiet contemplation. They would have to wait and watch and hope that one day this woman would show up.

—

"Okay, let's talk." I said. It sounded braver than I felt.

He took a deep breath.

"Bella, we're leaving."

I took a deep breath, too. This is an acceptable option. I thought I was prepared. But I still had to ask.

"Why now? Another year—"

"Bella, it's time. How much longer could we stay in Forks, after all? Carlisle can barely pass for thirty, and he's claiming thirty-three now. We'd have to start over soon regardless."

(New Moon pg. 68)

But this answer did not make sense to me. We have to leave because he needs to get me away from his family. Where I cannot mess them up anymore and where I wouldn't be a burden to them. So I asked…

"So, when you say we…?"

"I mean my family and I."

No.

My face went blank. And my thoughts went silent. I looked away from him, as if searching for the answer in the trees surrounding us.

"…"

"Bella, I was never in love with you. I was curious about you. I have grown bored of pretending. You do not belong in my world." His face was showing no emotion, like I really did mean nothing to him.

I was never in love with you.

I knew that. I knew I would never be good enough for this inhumanly beautiful, smart, romantic, talented god. Even knowing that, my chest is hurting and my eyes are watering. It is like I knew it was coming but still cannot stop the reaction.

But he wouldn't stop there.

"Do not worry. You will never see me again. Once I'm gone, your memory will fade and you will be fine. I, on the other hand, will never forget…" he continued in a lifeless voice. It almost sounded like he hoped he would. Which may have broke my heart more than the words themselves. Like I could ever forget him. Like I could ever get over him.

"You don't love me?" I had to make sure. My throat was closing up but I shook the words out anyway.

"No."

That one word ended everything. All the plans, all the hopes, the family, the future, the joy. I was left empty and confused. He said he wouldn't leave. But I cannot make him stay.

"If this is what you want, I won't stop you. Not that I could- if I tried." I told him honestly, but it hurt like turning a knife in my chest.

"Thank you for not trying; this is what I want. Have a good life, Isabella."

With that, he was gone. No trace of him anywhere around me. And the tears gathering in my eyes began to fall. I sank to the ground because my legs could not seem to hold me up anymore. My sobs broke through the silence of the forest like a rocket shooting through a cloud. They split the tranquility.

I cried as the sky began to darken into night.

I cried as I heard wolves howling at the moon.

I cried when my bones began to ache from sitting on the hard ground.

I cried until my tears began to dry and I could breath deeply and slowly again.

My mind came crawling back to me and I began to think clearly. I know I have been gone a long time. I know my dad must be worried about me.

With that in mind, I stood up. Looked around and realized, really realized, that I was alone… in the woods… in the dark. I couldn't see 10 feet in front of me.

My heart started to speed up and my breaths came quicker. I glanced around and felt like the darkness was closing in around me.

So, I ran.

Not sure if I was going in the right direction but I was sure it would get me away from the monsters lurching in the dark.

Finally, I broke through the trees and glanced around to figure out where I was. Thankfully, I ended up on a road I knew well. It was surrounded by trees on both sides. It was an old road with no street lights. I had driven this road many times. I was only about half a mile from my house.

I began walking in the direction of my home, in a daze. Not really thinking about anything. Sort of in shock, or numbed for the moment.

As I came closer, I saw the lights from emergency services and cars parked all around my small house. Probably 20 cars, a lot for such a little driveway and yard.

There were flashlights lighting up the woods around the yard and I heard people calling my name from all directions.

My dad was standing by his police car talking to other officers. His face was pulled taut like he had aged 10 years since I had seen him that morning. His eyes were puffy and red like he had been crying. He looks like a different man, a broken man.

I start sprinting toward him.

"Dad!" I yelled as I get closer. I threw myself into his arms, needing the comfort from my daddy after a night like this and him obviously need my comfort in return.

"Bella?!" He exclaimed in a voice filled with the relief of a parent who had found his lost child.

"What happened to you?! We have been searching for hours. I have never been this scared in my life!"

Well, now I have guilt to add to the long list of emotions in me right now. My throat got tight and my eyes started to water, once again.

"I am so sorry, Dad. I did not mean to scare you. But he left, Dad. Edward left."

"Oh, Honey. I know. Dr. Cullen resigned this morning, something about a job offer in Los Angeles. I went to their house to try and ask him why they decided to leave so quickly. But their house was cleaned out when I got there. You were already gone before I could make it back to warn you… I thought you had left with them." Dad admitted.

I was still wrapped around him but let go at this point and grabbed his upper arms to look in his eyes. Paying no attention to the crowd gathered around us.

"I would never leave you like that. I really did just loose track of time. I needed to be alone with my thoughts after…" I tried to reassure him. But I couldn't get the words out to explain what had happened yet. My throat tightened as a forced back a sob.

"I'm just really relieved you are okay. Do not scare me like that again, Bella." He pulled me back into his arms and kissed the top of my head like I was 5 years old again.

After a minute of this, Billy, Dad's friend from LaPush, came up and put a hand on Charlie's shoulder. Me and Dad broke away from each other and didn't meet eyes. I got my shyness from him. It was not natural to either of us to show this much emotion.

"We are going to head out now, Chief. Bella, I am glad you are okay; you really gave everyone a scare." He looked genuinely relieved to see me home safely. I appreciate his loyalty to Charlie.

I just nod at him with a smile.

"Thank you for the boys' help with looking for my daughter. They all made it back safely, right?" Charlie assumed.

"Of course, Chief. Though I'm sorry they didn't help much. I called Sam as soon as we saw Bella was safe. He got them all rounded up and they're headed back to LaPush now." Billy told us.

We both thanked Billy again as he climbed into the passenger seat of his car and Jacob, his young son, got in the drivers seat and they headed back toward LaPush.

The crowd had dispersed at this point since I had returned home unharmed.

Me and dad started off toward the house. He automatically headed for the kitchen and started gathering supplies to make a sandwich. He asked over his shoulder as he assembled, "So? What happened tonight Bella? I don't understand."

Where to start?

I could not exactly tell my dad the whole story. My boyfriend, no— my ex-boyfriend, and his whole family are vampires and on my birthday his brother, for all intents and purposes, tried to drain my blood because I accidentally gave myself a paper cut. His entire family had to fight off the urge to drink me dry. And that made my ex-boyfriend realize that I do not belong with him and that he never loved me and was only using me. So, they all ditched town. And left me here. Yeah, I could not exactly say that to him.

"Bell?" Dad tried to regain my attention as I had been lost in thought for a moment.

"Sorry, I was just trying to think of what to say." I started. I decided to just tell him as much as I could.

"Edward left… That is what happened. His family decided to move. And he took the opportunity to tell me, he never loved me and was done acting as if he did. So, he left."

I could feel the emptiness in my words, like I was a robot just reciting information.

"Oh. I'm sorry, Honey. But how did you end up lost for hours? Where had you been?" Dad was quizzing me as if I was a witness to a crime scene. And I knew my explanation made me sound nuts.

"Well, after school he asked me to go for a walk in the woods. Then… after… I just needed to sit down for a little while. But I didn't realize how much time had passed. When I finally got up, it was dark and I got scared so I took off running and came out a little bit up the road from our house."

"That bastard left you alone and crying in the woods?! Bella you could've seriously been hurt!" Dad exclaimed. This was the most emotion I have ever seen my father show, I don't really know how to handle it.

"I never said I was crying." I said, trying to lighten the mood. I didn't want to cause my father this much distress, I just wasn't thinking clearly.

"I put that together on my own, Isabella." Dad said in a serious voice.

"Yes, he left me alone and crying in the woods." I admitted reluctantly. I did not want my dad to be mad and I didn't want him to be worried about me. I can handle this, and him being upset is not going to do anything. Because they are gone and no one can do anything about that. I think he got that message from the tone of my voice and the look in my face, because he answered with a calmer…

"I am so glad you made your way home. That boy was smart to get the hell out of dodge."

I said calmer, not calm.

I understand how he feels, I am his only child and Edward broke my heart and left me alone in the dark forest. But I couldn't really make myself angry at him yet. So, I decided to sleep on it.

"I am going to bed, Dad. This night has worn me out." I tell him honestly.

"Goodnight… I am here if you need me… Do not forget that I have been there before." Dad reminds me.

I just nodded as I continued walking to my room.

I knew he was talking about Mom. While I appreciate the gesture, I do not want to talk about this; I doubt I ever will. And I do not want to compare Edward leaving me with my mom walking out on Charlie. Mom had not been playing games, she had loved him… and grown unhappy. Edward never loved me. Edward was never happy with me.

With that thought, I closed the door to my bedroom.

I looked around and noticed everything Edward had given me was gone. His picture was not in my scrapbook. The plane tickets were gone. The CD he made for me was gone.

I couldn't find it in me to cry again though. It is like my body or my subconscious knew this was coming and had prepared for it. Like, somewhere inside me I knew this was going to happen and I had already made my peace with it.

I stripped out of my shoes and jeans. I took the bobby pins out of my hair. I unbuckled my bra and took it out from under my shirt.

And my t-shirt and panties, I pulled my covers back and climbed into bed. I lay there for a minute but felt off, like something wasn't right. Then I realized.

My window wasn't open. I knew he would not be climbing through it tonight and coming over to me. I knew he would not be holding me while I slept or singing softly in my ear. But I wasn't ready to leave the window closed and acknowledge that he was not coming through it. That he wasn't coming back.

So, I got out of bed, went to the window, opened it, and peered into the night, hoping to see a flash of white marbled skin looking in on me.

But of course, there was no one watching over me tonight.

I stood there looking out until finally, I sighed and got back in bed. Leaving the covers off.

As I lay there and, after some tossing and turning, I fell asleep to the cool breeze blowing over my uncovered skin. Acting as if the cool was the arms of the man I knew I would never forget.