Chapter 1

"Come on Bella, hold yourself together. Just a couple more and you can go to your happy place." I thought to myself.

It was freezing and the streets were empty. I was always anxious when it was like this, but I couldn't go home yet. Home. It wasn't much of a home, not like Renee's place back in Phoenix, or the small home I had shared with Charlie Back in Forks, but it was all I could afford and, besides, it wasn't like I spent much time there, anyway.

Forks. I tried not to think about the place when I was working. It just made me depressed, which put the clients off, and I needed the money. Although, there were many good memories of my time spent in Forks, they were greatly overshadowed by the awful, heartbreaking events, which led to my exit from the rainy little town.

It had been almost five years since I left, and I still hadn't got over it. My whole life was ruined, and I couldn't see any way out. My dad had tried everything he could to help me out after He, left me alone and broken in the woods that night, but it was no use; he just didn't understand what I had lost, no one did. They thought it was just a typical teenage relationship, and I was being unreasonable, but it was so much more than that - to me, anyway.

A beaten up silver car pulled up in front of me, bringing me back to the present. The guy in the driver's seat motioned to me, and I quickly jumped into the passenger seat. He was new. I had quite a few regulars in this area, mainly, I guessed, because so few girls strayed this far from safety, and the one's who did, weren't exactly the best the street had to offer.

He drove us to a secluded spot on the edge of town, and parked the car. He just wanted the usual—thank God, he wasn't a weirdo; I couldn't deal with that tonight. When we were done, I got him to drive me back into town, and I made my way back to the damp, crumbling old apartment I called home.

Although I'd left Forks, I actually hadn't gone too far. I couldn't bear to go any further than Seattle. I had grown accustomed to endless clouds and rain; it seemed appropriate. Plus, I was sort of hoping for a reconciliation with Charlie at some point. I knew how much I had hurt him those last few months- that was why I left. I didn't like what I had become and I was ashamed that I was allowing Charlie to see me that way, he deserved better, but I hoped one day, I would sort out my life and be with him again. He was my Dad, he loved me, and I knew he would welcome me back with open arms—when I was ready.

I turned on the lights, the dim bulb flickering, and searched the kitchen drawer for my escape. After a few minutes of fumbling, I found the small package; my salvation. After a few more seconds, I found the needle, and then, I was in paradise. The grey walls crumbled around me and I was transported to a beautiful meadow, filled with all manner of brightly coloured flowers, a cool breeze washing over me, and all the pain was gone, for a little while, at least.

All too soon, I was dumped back into reality, as the sun began to rise, my beautiful meadow disappearing with the night. I would work again, in the evening, but, until then, I needed to keep my mind occupied. I noticed that the cupboards were bare, save for a few Pop Tarts that seemed to have a permanent home on the shelf, so, I decided it would be a good idea to go grocery shopping.

I hated the way the people at the store looked at me, judged me. I was a person just like everyone else, and had as much right to be there as they did. Did they expect me to starve? Or, did they think that there was a special store where all the junkies and lowlife's were permitted to shop? I tried to ignore them as I threw a few things into my basket.

That's when I saw him; Carlisle Cullen! I couldn't believe my eyes! I thought that, when they left me that day, I would never see them again. He had promised me.

"It will be like I never existed." He had told me.

But, it was definitely Carlisle Cullen, there was no mistaking. He was as handsome as ever, as he stood at the checkout, waiting patiently, to be served. I panicked, he hadn't seen me yet, obviously hadn't noticed my scent or he would have turned around, I thought. I quietly, placed my basket on the ground, right in the middle of the aisle and ran out of the store, not looking back.