***IMPORTANT*** Bella was born in 1991 instead of 1987.
Her parents always fought over one thing or another. Her dad worked too much according to mom, dad had to support the family though. Her mom liked to buy expensive things, liked to drink expensive drinks, and liked to party way too much. Mom also liked men, all types any time anywhere. Dad could come home and find his wife and a random guy in their room on their bed, while I, their daughter slept peacefully in my room across the hall. Or so they thought. On such nights, my dad would crawl into my bed, ignoring the loud noises. I pretended to sleep on, pretended to be unaware of anything. My dad made sure I was up in the morning, dressed, fed and ready for school. My mother slept till noon, then slummed around all day with a nasty hangover.
This went on till I was nine, turning ten in four days, it was September 9, 2000. Everything changed when my mother, to drunk to stand, waltzed into our living room, where my father and I sat, playing a board game. It was one of his rare nights off; he was a firefighter in New York City. I was very proud of him.
"Are you drunk?" my father asked, trying to shield my ears.
"No, how dare you think that" my mother slurred loudly.
"Go to bed Renee" he said.
"No Charlie" she sneered.
"Renee, our daughter is here" my father warned. She smiled at me.
"I won't ever hurt my baby, come here Izzy" she cooed. My father held on too me tight.
"Renee" he cautioned again.
"No Charlie I want my baby" she screamed, then walked towards us. My father hugged me even closer.
"Bella go to the bathroom and lock the door" he told me then pushed me in the right direction.
"Let's talk without Bella here" he said just as I shut and locked the door. I heard screaming and crying and more yelling then I had ever heard. Finally it stopped. I looked at myself in the mirror. Tears ran down my cheeks, fast. I then heard glass breaking and a resounding slap. Then banging on the door.
"Bells honey, let me in please" my father begged. I all but ran to the door.
"Daddy" I cried hugging him. He had a nasty cut on his face; my mother had thrown the glass at him.
"Listen to me Bella" he faced me to look at him dead on. "I'll be back, don't worry. Daddy just needs to cool off and get his cut fixed ok? Mommy won't hurt you I promise. I'm going to be back tomorrow for you, and then we'll never see mommy again, okay sweetheart?" he pleaded.
"Okay daddy" I whispered. I knew he'd come back for me.
"I love you pumpkin" he hugged me again and kissed my cheeks and forehead.
"I love you too daddy" I cried. With another hug and kiss he walked out the back door. I walked to the window and watched him leave. My mother sat on the couch watching TV as if nothing had happened.
I didn't sleep at all that night. My father kept coming in and out of my dreams. I missed the way he'd hug me goodnight, sing that silly song to get me to sleep. Without his humming and snores, I could hear perfectly the sounds my mother made. I cried my way to sleep. In the morning I woke up late since my father didn't wake me. It was already past eleven, too late to go to school. I groggily made my way into the kitchen to see my mother up, and packing things in boxes and bags.
"Morning Izzy" she greeted me.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"We're leaving town, in less then an hour so you better pack quick" she said.
"Where?" I asked.
"Forks Washington" she answered.
"Why?" I asked.
"Cause mommy got a job and daddy called to say he wasn't coming back, we're starting over" she smiled at me.
"No, you're lying. Daddy promised me!" I cried.
"People lie, now go get you stuff or we leave without it" she yelled. Her features contorting into cruel and violent ones. She was young, only about 29 or 30, same age as my father. We looked a lot alike with the same deep brown eyes, and fair skin. I was average height, wicked skinny though, like her. I had my father's curly brown hair though, while hers was dark blonde and straight. Crying I made my way into my room and grabbed a duffle bag.
"Only bring the essentials, you can get new stuff there" she called to me. So that's what I did. I packed three pair of jeans, four sweatshirts, ten shirts, ten sweaters, sneakers, flip flops, rain boots, and dress shoes. I also packed my Christmas dress, a winter coat and a rain coat, underwear and socks. They all fit easily into my two duffels. My last bag was filled with important trinkets. A picture of my father and me, a stuffed cat he had got for me at the carnival, and a ring. It was old; it had belonged to my long dead grandmother, my father's mother. I didn't have any other living relatives, they were all dead, and my parents were both only child's along with their parents. The ring was white gold, with three main stones. The gold was spun in different patterns making it look like a spider web, all inlaid with diamonds. In the middle were the bigger stones. A blue sapphire and emerald pattern went in a circle around a bigger regular diamond. It was way too big for my finger so my father had put it on a chain. I hid it under my shirt so my mother wouldn't find it and take it. I was worth quite a bit of money.
I dragged my own bags to the car and sat there and waited. My mother came out and put her stuff in and we left. Just like that. No goodbyes to the neighbors, to savoring the last moments in a house they had lived in since I was born. The rest of the day was spent on the plane, in silence. My mother slept, but I couldn't.
We landed in Port Angles and then drove the two hours to Forks. It was a tiny and rainy town. We moved into a small ranch with one bathroom and two bedrooms. It was different from my previous home. We had had four bedrooms there, and three baths with a sitting room, a kitchen, a dining room, a playroom, an office and a living room. We only had a kitchen, a living room, and a small little porch here. I hated it, and tomorrow when I went to school I would hate it more.
SEVEN MONTHS LATER
I really hated it here. I missed my father so much. My mother now taught kindergarten at the local school where I was in fourth grade. I made a few friends. A small mousy girl named Angela, who way too shy, an obnoxious loud girl name Jessica, and a snobby rich girl named Lauren. Jessica and Lauren weren't really my friends though. I also had my own personal stalker, Mike Newton and his friend Tyler. It was now April and it still was rainy and cold here. Back in NYC it would be starting to get warm and sunny, not here though.
I walked home from school to see a huge box sitting on our door step. My mother had gone out with her most recent conquest, Phil. So I was home alone till she would stumble in around twelve or so at night. The box read in big letters, ISABELLA SWAN. Curious I dragged it into the house and tore it open. There was a note so I read that first.
Dear Bells,
I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise. I came back that day to find you gone, and it has taken me all this time to finally track you down. I miss you so much that it hurts. Don't worry though I'm coming to get you and bring you home. I want you to go to the police and tell them you were kidnapped then call this number, 589-3692, and you'll reach me. I love and miss you so much. In the box are some things to help you. A cell phone to call me, I already have the number, your birthday gift I never gave to you, and other things. I love you and will see you soon,
Love Daddy.
So it was all a lie. My mother hadn't talked to my father, just dragged me away. I could be happy soon, living with him back in New York. I hated her so much now. I opened my birthday gift and found something I would treasure forever. It was a thin gold chain with a heart pendent. It said to daddy's little girl. I loved it so much. I put it on and grabbed the cell phone. There was also a butterfly barrette with little pink stones, a pink leather jacket, and a plaid pink skirt. Running to my room I grabbed a bag and filled it with things I'd need, and then I'd leave for the police. All plans go bad however. My mother choose that day to come home early with Phil. She must have found the letter and box, for she ran into my room, grabbed the cell phone, me and my bag and dragged me to the car. I never saw Forks Washington again.
TWO MONTHS LATER
June was supposed to be my favorite month. But here in Phoenix Arizona, it was killer hot. My mother, Phil and I all lived in a small apartment. Phil was the neighbor hood drug dealer, and my mother was just another junkie now. I was miserable and depressed. I didn't even go to school. Most of the days I was locked in a closet, while Phil and Renee got drunk or high. I refused to call her mom anymore. After all the things she did too me. The necklace my father had given me was stolen by her and sold for drug money; luckily she never found the ring. The cell phone was long since destroyed. I was no longer a child though. Recent events made sure of that.
Apparently Renee didn't satisfy all of Phil's needs. So he turned to me. Every night when Renee would pass out drunk, Phil would sneak into my room and rape me. I cried and screamed the first few nights, but then gave up after a week or two. It was constant every night. The pain, the bruises, the claw marks, everything reminded me of my horrible life. I limped when I walked because of it, but Renee never noticed. She and Phil then got engaged, they were set to marry in September. We moved to Brooklyn that August.
SEPTEMBER
A year had gone by since I last saw my father. A year and two days to be exact. Phil would be my father now. Today my mother and he were going into the city to the world trade center to find a dress, a marriage license, a tux, and other junk. I was left alone in the small loft. I was only a few miles away from my father and I was just sitting here. I decided I needed to be brave, needed to face my fear of Renee. So I dialed the number that would forever be etched in my brain. He answered on the third ring.
"Hello?" he said.
"Daddy?" I whispered. He sounded so different.
"Bells, honey is it really you?" he sounded so excited now.
"Yeah daddy. I'm in Brooklyn. Can you come get me?" I asked crying.
"Of course baby. What's the address?" he asked. I gave it to him and he promised to be there in less then ten minutes. It was only 7:30 in the morning, and he'd be here before eight.
"I love you so much Bella" he said.
"I love you too daddy" I whispered then hung up. I waited and waited. It was now eight. Then I heard sirens in the distance. It was a fire truck, pulling down my street. It stopped in front of my building. Crying and laughing I ran down the stairs and out the door. My father was there waiting for me with open arms.
"DADDY!" I screamed over and over again as he spun me around and round.
"Bells" he hugged me close and kissed my forehead.
"I missed you" I said.
"Me too, but we'll be together now" he said. "Now let me see how old you've gotten" he spun me around. I was in shorts and a tank since it was still warm, all my bruises and cuts were in plain sight. He frowned at them.
"Bella, did mommy hurt you?" he asked.
"Renee doesn't care about me, only her boyfriend" I sneered.
"did Renee's boyfriend do this?" he frowned. I looked down. He knew what my answer would be. He was furious.
"Where are they Bella?" he asked.
"Trade Center, getting a marriage license" I sniffed. He noticed my tears and gently wiped them away.
"I'm sorry, I'm not mad at you, I promise. Come on you need to see a doctor" he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the truck.
Half an hour later we were sitting in the hospital room, when there was a huge explosion sound. I looked out the window and saw the tallest building in the sky line filled with smoke and flames. My father stared too. He pulled me away from the window. A doctor came in fifteen minutes later.
"Mr. Swan, your coworkers need you to go to the Trade Center, a plane crashed on the 81st floor of the North Tower, and another in the South Tower, they're calling all police and firefighters. Don't worry I'll watch your daughter." She said. So the fire in the distance was from a plane crash. Who crashed a plane in the city? My father nodded slowly then turned to me.
"I'll be back, Bella," he said.
"I love you daddy"
"Love you too Bella" and with that and a hug he left. My father never came back. He and over 300 other firefighters lost their lives saving others. My mother and Phil were listed among the missing, they were never found. So this is why I ended up with a social worker outside the New Jersey Orphanage a two months after the attack. My birthday had even gone by without anyone saying anything. I didn't even think these existed anymore. The building was old and crumbling. The side was crooked and falling to pieces. Sarah, the social worker, and I walked into the building and to the main office. There behind a large desk was a mean and cruel looking woman. Her gray hair was in a tight bun, and her eyes were narrowed in disgust.
"This is Isabella Swan" Sarah said, "Isabella this is Mrs. Jones, her husband owns the place, but is away on business"
"Soon to be ex" Mrs. Jones added bitterly. Sarah pretended not to hear.
"Be a good girl Isabella and you'll be adopted in no time" she gave me a small hug then left. I turned to face Mrs. Jones.
"You'll be in room four, now go. Dinner is at six sharp, you're roommate can fill you in on details" she dismissed me. Great I had a roommate. All the children at the foster home hated how I cried in my sleep. I would make no friends here. I walked to room 4 and knocked quietly just incase. A voice shouted come in. I walked in slowly and look around the room. There were two beds, with white sheets and white blankets, one pillow. There were two bed tables and two bureaus. One the bed to the left sat a young looking boy. He had a mop of reddish hair and sparkling green eyes. He sat reading a book.
"Hi, I'm Edward Masen" he said looking up from his book.
"Bella Swan" I replied. He smiled at me.
"How old are you?" he asked.
"Eleven, you?" I said.
"Twelve" he said. He went back to reading while I placed my stuff in the drawers. I put my picture of my father and I on the bed table, and my stuffed cat on my bed. The ring was still hidden under my shirt. Edward finished his book and looked at me.
"So how come you're here?" he asked.
"My parents are dead, and I have no living relatives. Why are you here?" He was easy to talk too, and seemed nice.
"Same thing. How'd yours die?" he asked. Before I knew it I was explaining my whole life story to him. He nodded sympathetically at certain points. I came to the end and had to take several deep breaths to finish,
"And when he finally found me the stupid planes crashed, and he had to go down there. I never said goodbye" A tear escaped my eye, I wiped it away.
"It's okay" he put his arm around me and soothed my sobs. I finally stopped.
"Sorry" I sniffled.
"It's good to talk about your parents every now and again" he said.
"What about you? How long have you been here?" I asked.
He told me everything just like I told him everything. He had been here since he was ten. I really felt bad for him. His parents and brother died in a car crash, he was the only survivor out of ten people. He had to living relatives either so he came here. I hugged him tight like he had done for me. Then a long bell rang.
"Come on, it's dinner time" he said.
At dinner I met all the kids. There were twenty in all. Ranging in ages from two to fourteen. There were three my age and four Edwards. None of them seemed really friendly. In fact they all seemed nervous and scared. After we were back in our own room I asked why.
"Tomorrow is adoption day" he answered.
"What's that?" I asked confused.
"People come in and adopt some of us. No one ever adopts the older ones though" he said sadly. We talked a bit more about our childhood memerios and things then said goodnight.
I woke up to Edward shaking me.
"Are you okay Bella?" he asked.
"Why?" I asked suspicious.
"You were screaming and crying, I though you were hurt" he said.
"I have bad nightmares" I confessed.
"About what?" he asked.
"My father dying in the fiery mess, my mother's boy- boy" I couldn't finish because sobs racked my body.
"Did he hurt you?" Edward asked softly. I nodded as tears fell. He hugged me again; I fell asleep on his chest. I didn't have anymore nightmares.
I woke up the next morning early. Edward was leaning against my wall; my head was on his shoulder. There was a banging on the doors, Edward woke instantly.
"Hurry, we overslept" he whispered urgently. He quickly grabbed clothes and changed behind his bed. I did the same. We didn't even have the chance to brush our teeth or hair when the doorbell rang. Edward grabbed my hand and we lined up with the others in the hall. He motioned me to stand straight. Four couples walked by, they all looked at us with pity and sadness. They walked to the office. Ten minutes later Mrs. Jones came out and called names. Mine was included, Edward's wasn't. I looked pleadingly at him.
"Someone wants to meet you" he said and smiled.
"I don't want to go" I said.
"Don't worry you'll be fine" he pushed me gently towards the door. There were seven other kids, I made eight. All the couples were young and kind looking. Mrs. Jones introduced them, the Kelly's, the Heifers', the Smith's and the Flemington's. The Kelly's were apparently interested in me and another girl my age. I didn't know her name. She had a round face and dimples when she smiled. Her golden hair was curly and brushed to perfection. My brown curls were knotted and tangled. She had ocean blue eyes too, and straight white teeth. We both sat down across from the couple. The man was tall with curly hair and the woman petite with red hair. They smiled at us.
"My name is Susan, this is my husband Craig" she said. "And what are your names?" she asked.
"My name is Daisy"
"Isabella" I said looking at my hands. Susan smiled at both of us.
"Can you tell us about yourself?" she asked "Where you're from? Things like that" she hinted. Daisy went first.
"I used to live in Boston I think. When I was four my parents left me here though. I'm nine now. I like the color yellow, my favorite animal is a cat, I can sing the national anthem, and I love to go to the beach" she smiled with her dimples.
"I like the beach too" Craig said. "What about you?" he asked me.
"I lived in Brooklyn, then my mom left my father without telling him, moved to Forks Washington, he found us then we moved again to Phoenix, then to Brooklyn again. My mother and her boyfriend, who I hated, died in the plane crash. My father found me earlier that day, he died though too, he was one of the firefighters. I lived in foster care for two months. I'm eleven. I like New York, the harbor, I hate cats. My favorite color is green, and I can't sing or walk on a flat surface without tripping." I said. They looked shocked. Even Daisy. They all nodded.
"Well we have two cats and a dog at home. We live in Trenton, on the beach. Our house is yellow, and we have a nine year old daughter, Lillian." Susan said. Daisy would be perfect for them then.
"What are cats names?" Daisy asked.
"Tulip and Rose, we like flower names" Craig said. They talked with daisy a bit more and then left to talk with Mrs. Jones. Daisy turned to me.
"You're supposed to say the good things so they want to adopt you, silly" she said.
"I don't want to be adopted yet though" I said. Mrs. Jones called me over as the couple reproached Daisy.
"Go back to your room Isabella, maybe next month" she sighed.
"Yes ma'am" I walked to my room. Edward was reading again.
"No luck?" he asked.
"Nope, I didn't know you were supposed to tell all the goods things about you, not your parent died in a fiery pit, you have nightmares, and hate cats, of which they have two" Edward laughed.
"Did you really say you hated cats?" he asked.
"Yes, well at least Daisy got lucky" I sighed and sat on my bed.
TEN MONTHS LATER
It had been six months since my first interview. Since then Edward and I devised a plan. Unless both us were picked for interviews we would make up bad things and say we hated people, so no one would want us. He and I were like best friends. He was my protector, my older brother. He stopped the kids that would pick on me or tease me. We'd read together each night before we fell asleep. He always slept on my bed, just like my father did, and the nightmares never came back. We spent all our time together.
Today was my birthday and also adoption day. Edward's birthday had been in June, I had given him my father's watch, that was given to me after he died. It was nice watch, but meant for a guy. He said he knew the perfect thing when it was my birthday. So when I woke up this morning on Edwards chests as usual I was excited. I loved surprises. I shook him awake, so I could get my gift and be ready for adoption day.
"Morning sleepyhead" I greeted him.
"Morning" he mumbled.
"Come on, it's adoption day. I have a good feeling about today too" I left him to wake up and got dressed. I wore the birthday gift from my father two years ago. It all still fit. The pink and gray plaid skirt was paired with a gray sweater and the pink coat. I brushed my curls to perfection and pulled the front back with the clip. Then brushed my teeth. When I was Edward was just finishing getting dresses. He wore regular jeans, a gray sweater and sneakers. His hair was a mess as usual. Laughing I grabbed his comb and attacked it. It wouldn't lie flat. He laughed too. The door knocking began.
"Come one" he pulled me to his dresser. "I have your birthday gift" he smiled. He opened a draw and pulled out a little box wrapped in newspaper.
"Happy Birthday, this was my mothers, I got it after she died, and like the watch you gave me" he explained. I tore open the box. There was a necklace. It was on a thick gold chain, with a heart locket. Engraved on it was B.S.
"My mothers name was Elizabeth Smith, before she married. People called her Beth though" he explained.
"I love it thank you" I hugged him.
"Open it" he urged. I did. Inside was a picture that Mrs. Jones took at Edwards birthday, to post on the website.
"How did you get this?" I asked.
"Offline" he answered, "I went to a photo place and had it fitted with money my mother left"
"Thank you" I hugged him again. He took it and clasped it around my neck.
"Come one, people are here" he dragged me into the line in the hall. There were six couples today. Chances were good. Edward and I both got called. I went over to a couple called the Hale's. They were nice, young too. Both blonde and breathe taking.
"I'm Haley, and this is Brandon" she introduced them. Me and a girl named Kate were there two choices.
"I'm Isabella, or Bella for short, it's nice to meet you" I smiled at them.
"I'm Kate" this was Kate's first time.
"How about you tell us about you and then we'll tell you about us?" Brandon said and smiled at us.
"You can you go first if you want Kate" I offered. She nodded.
"I came here a week ago. My parents left me. I like the color blue, and don't really like animals" she said. They smiled kindly at her.
"I've been here for almost a year. My parent died on 9/11. I like it here, my best friend is my roommate Edward. He gave me this locket" I showed it to them. "I like the color yellow, all animals, and swimming. I never had a brother or sister, but wanted one" I finished, "Oh, and it's my birthday today" I added after thinking.
"Happy Birthday, how old are you?" Haley asked.
"Twelve" I answered.
"Well congrats. About me and my wife, we live in Chiacago, with two children, twins, Rosalie and Jasper. We have a dog and a cat, Jessie and Charlie" he stopped when he noticed me crying,
"What's wrong sweetie?" Haley asked.
"Charlie was my father's name. It's my favorite name though" I said. Edward must have noticed me crying for I felt his familiar arms encircling my shoulders. The family he was with looked on with curious eyes. They were kind looking, the woman with soft caramel hair and kind brown eyes, the man was blonde with golden eyes. They smiled at us.
"I'm sorry" I sniffled into his shirt.
"It's okay. You're okay" he comforted me. I finally gained enough composure to see Haley and Brandon were talking to Mrs. Jones, and Kate was gone.
"It looks like you have a good chance at going home, huh?" he teased.
"I hope. I'll miss you. I really hope they pick you" I motioned to his couple. He laughed.
"Me too, they're very kind, and have a son my age, and a daughter your age." He said.
"What are their names?" I asked.
"Esme and Carlisle Cullen. Their son is Emmett, and their daughter Alice, both adopted too" he said.
"Edward Cullen" I mused. "Has a nice ring to it" he laughed again.
"What about yours?" he asked.
"Haley and Brandon Hale, twins, Rosalie and Jasper, a year older" I said. "You better get back to the Cullen's though" I said.
"Yeah, good luck" he hugged me again and left. The Hale's came over then.
"Bella honey, how would you like to come home with us?" Haley asked.
"I would love too!" I squealed and ran in to her open arms. She hugged me back then passed me to Brandon who also hugged me. He carried me to my room too. They helped me pack my stuff into my bag, and we walked out to the hall. Suddenly I remembered Edward.
"Can I say goodbye first?" I asked Haley.
"Of course" she smiled. Brandon put me down. I searched for Edward everywhere, except the office. He must still be in there. Without even knocking I ran right in. Crashing into Carlisle Cullen and landing on the floor.
"I'm so sorry" I said. He helped me off the floor.
"It's okay, no harm done. Are you okay though?" he asked. I checked myself over.
"Yup, just a tiny scratch" I smiled. I looked around for Edward. He was sitting with Esme Cullen on the little bench. She smiled and tousled his hair playfully. He must have been adopted. I ran right too him.
"Edward!" I yelled and jumped right onto him. Esme laughed.
"Guess what, guess what?" I asked.
"What?" he smiled.
"I'm going home!" I hugged him again.
"Me too!" he laughed. I hugged yet again.
"That's so cool, we're both going home, but-" I realized something at that pont.
"What?" he asked concerned.
"I won't see you again, who will stop kids from teasing me, or when I have night mares, what will I do? I'll never see you again" I cried. He patted my back. Esme watched us with sad eyes.
"I'll call you Bella, I promise. You'll make new friends, and I'll see you again. Just not for awhile." He said.
"You'll always be my best friend no matter what" I said.
"No matter what" he agreed. After hugging goodbye again, he asked Esme for their home number to give to me. She wrote it down on a piece of paper and handed it to me.
"You can call anytime" she said.
"Thanks you Mrs. Cullen" I said. She smiled at me and told Edward it was time to pack, they had a flight to catch. We hugged for what seemed like the 100th time today, and parted ways.
"I'll always love you Bella" he said.
"I love you too" he watched as Haley, Brandon and I pulled down the street and out of sight. I cried the whole ride to airport before falling asleep. Brandon carried me on and off the plane and to their home. Little did they know that they would meet again, in the future.