My hair flew past my shoulders as I sprinted past the old house on the corner and the little playground past the theater and the fire station all things I grew to know almost memorize since I moved here a year ago. Places I just a few days ago wanted to forget and put behind me. So much has happened it seems like so much longer then a year ago that I opened that car door and stepped into the Washington air. I would never have thought it would be like this. My breath felt like it was telling me to stop but I couldn't I had to keep going I have to keep running. But always I refused to listen; Anna was right I needed to stop and see what was in front of me. She was right all along I miss him and he still cares I know it and I cared all along. I was wrong before I know that now I love him and I always will even if he doesn't I pushed open the big wooden doors to the train station and I saw him standing there suitcase in hand…

17 years. 17 years my parents were married. 16 years. 16 years ago I was born. I was born on my parents 1st anniversary. 3 years. 3 years since the accident when both my parents past. I now live with aunt who is only 20. 13th birthday my parents 14th wedding anniversary and the day my parents died not the happiest memory. So my birthday was never really a celebration after that. And now on my aunts boyfriend of 4 years has broken up with her and we have to move to Forks, Washington. "Anna I love you but isn't this a little drastic?" My aunt was stuffing our bathroom into a large box every once in a while wiping a tear from her cheek.

"No, I have always wanted to move there and now is my chance mom left it to your mom in her will which then went to me a free house listen I know you think this is just because Ryan and I broke up and after your parents died you know… we need more than this house you need a change and adventure"

"don't you dare pull that 'It will be an adventure crap…" well that's what I wanted to say but I didn't have it in me to fight "fine I'll start packing" is what I really said shoved my ear phones in my ears and turned up the smashing pumpkins song that always made me feel sorry for myself and went up to my room to pack up my stuff.

When I got to my room I touched the south wall of my bedroom it was a mural of a little kid digging a hole on the beach with the ocean in the background. My dad Charlie was an artist he loved to surprise people with different paintings and charcoal drawings all the time. He painted the mural one day when I was at school. When I came home he was cooking in the kitchen blasting a song out of the radio when I walked in he grabbed by hands and picked me up and let me stand on his feet while we danced to it then he told me he had something to show me in my room and when I saw the south wall I started to cry it was so pretty. Now though I took my hand and placed it on the wall gently and felt the rough plaster underneath the beautiful painting. I put my cheek against it and felt the cool wall under my hot face I hadn't even noticed I started to cry. Slowly I collapsed to the floor it felt like the world was crushing me it got hard to breathe as I cried more and more until there were no tears left in me. I loved my parents and I miss them so much I wish they could have come back home that night. They didn't deserve that they are…were good people they weren't the ones who got drunk and decided to drive themselves home like the idiot driving the car that killed them .They were good people I miss them … I love them. Thinking this got me into another crying jag. -I hated crying it was something that is you asked some of my closest friends they would tell you that they have never seen me cry. Even at my parents funeral I didn't shed a tear until everyone was either gone or wasn't looking. - After I finally stopped crying I got up changed into my favorite black sweatpants and a big Dave Mathews t-shirt and packed up my room. Not much has changed in it since before the accident same bed, dresser, window curtains, that charcoal drawing of me and my mom that my dad made for me was still taped right above my bed. I took that down last and looked at it for a really long time eventually I fell asleep cradling it in my arms.

I woke up and it was beautiful outside. The sun was shining in through my window and hitting my pale yellow carpet. It was the perfect Carolina morning. I got up and put on my sweatshirt and went downstairs. Anna was sitting at the kitchen table coffee cup in her hands staring out the window. You could tell she had been crying her eyes were red rimmed and he cheeks were wet and she was breathing unevenly. I was glad I didn't come down any sooner I might have seen her crying. She seemed so old sitting there much older then 20 anyway, I felt sad for her. I walked over to her and put my arm around her shoulders and hugged her I felt her wipe a tear from her face.

"I'm umm going out for a walk" I mumbled into her back. "I won't be too long"

"Oh that's fine I'll be here um well packing we are leaving in a fell days so..."

"A few days?"

"Yeah the movers will be here on Saturday" It was Wednesday. I looked around me most of the house was already packed up only the couch was in the living room and other big stuff you don't really pack in boxes.

"ok well be home soon" I said as I walked slowly to the door. When I stepped out of the house a burst of heat hit me like a ton of bricks. I walked down the street towards the beach. It was early still so the only ones on the beach was a few older couples walking their dogs and a few younger couples making out by the pier. I slowly walked to the edge of the water. The water was cold against my bare feet I didn't realize that I never put shoes on. It was too warm to keep the sweatshirt on but I didn't want to stand in the middle of the beach in my pjs so I kept it on and stared out at the ocean. My mom Renee loved the ocean she loved to swim. I do too. She said I loved to swim even in the womb. She would go swimming and said I would kick like I was swimming too. I miss that about her she always told me real good stories about when I was younger. We used to set up a fort in our living room sometimes and go in it and she would tell me the best stories about when I was a baby our what it was like before I was born (which she said was the worst time of her life and I was the shining star that made her and dad's life worth while) and about when she was a kid. I would love to sit there for hours on end listening to the same stories over and over.

"Wish you were here guys," I whispered under my breath, a tear fell down my face. I turned around and slumped back to my house the one I grew up in the one I spent 17 Christmases in, 17 birthdays, a handful of disappointments, and a lot of sorrow.

O--------------------O--------------------O--------------------O

Saturday morning I woke up and Anna was packing away what she somehow didn't pack the last few days. A white plate slipped out of her hands she cursed under her breath, I walked over to pick up the pieces like I did so many times for her before. "Its ok, I can do it you'll cut yourself" she murmured. I learned a long time ago to ignore her and do it anyway. She sighed and walked away as I sat there with the little shards of glass slowly picking them up and putting them in a trash bag. On shard caught my eye it had my mom's initials written on it in black sharpie. As I examined closer I cut the tip of my finger. I watched as a trickle of blood made its way to my wrist before I rinsed off my hand. It was a pretty deep cut so I wrapped it in a paper towel and looked in the bathroom box to find a band aid. All I could find was a Barbie one from when I was little. I wrapped it around the cut.

My grandmother lived Washington and in her will she left her house to my mother who left it to me which then would go to my aunt until I turned 18. I used to go there every summer till she past away. That was the house we were moving into.

The trip flew past me and my aunt alternate driving when I wasn't driving I slept she drove the last stretch while I slept in the back seat it had be an emotional few days. Next thing I knew I was being picked up. I heard a velvety voice talking to my aunt "Really it's no problem she can sleep at my place for awhile I can help you unpack,"

"Really?" there was shock in my aunt's voice "well thank you … your name is..." a question in her voice.

"Edward Cullen," the voice said, "I'll be right back." next thing I knew I was moving. I heard a door opening and closing and felt Edward loosen his grip and place me on a couch. Slowly my eyelids fluttered open. "good morning… well good afternoon sleepy head," I looked up at him he had reddish brown hair and emerald green eyes. He was wearing a black Police t-shirt that showed off his muscles and faded blue jeans. He smiled at me and said "ohh I'm Edward by the way," He shot me this killer smile I will never forget. "Ohh I'm Isabella … by the way," He smiled the smile and chuckled under his breath. I tried smiling but then I realized how thirsty I was my mouth felt dry and I felt like I had to cough really badly.

I guess he noticed

"Do you want something to drink? You look thirsty," he was super polite

"That would be fantastic if you don't mind," I replied softly. My throat was sore. He smiled and grabbed a glass out of a cabinet He opened the refrigerator

"We have orange juice, Pepsi, err and water… so not much variety,"

"Oh water is fine thank you," I said I felt awkward in his large kitchen but it seemed like I should be there like I was supposed to be.

"So are you going to the high school on Monday?" he smiled as he turned the faucet on and filled the glass with water and handed it to me.

"Unfortunately … I mean its school you know and I have a feeling I won't fit in too much," I replied hoping he wouldn't feel offended by my lack of school spirit. He laughed and his teeth showed they were white but not over obsessive white a normal white. I took a long gulp of water it felt nice against my sore throat.

"Well I should help Anna unpack," I sighed I didn't want to leave I wanted to stay in the big kitchen with him for a while.

"I'll come and help," he shrugged on his jacket as I turned to put the cup in his sink. When I turned around he was standing right there my jacket was in his hand. I had to take a step back.

"Thank you," I blushed as I took the jacket from his hands. He held the door opened for me when we were leaving his house. My knees felt like jello, he was cute, polite, and a gentleman I knew I had a crush on him right then.

8

Sullivan