Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight and its characters.

Chapter I

The Arrival

"What's my secret? I sleep with the light on!" It was 4:15 pm. I had been in this train for almost two hours. "What's your secret?" In precisely 15 minutes the train would be arriving at the Albany train station. "Secret, the anti-perspirant deodorant for women." The Secret deodorant commercial has been playing nonstop for the past hour and its driving me crazy. The train ride from Port Authority in Manhattan to Albany was not fun at all…BORING.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

"Hello?"

"Marina? Its uncle Joseph."

"Hey uncle! The train is slowing down; I should be getting off in a few minutes. Wait, are you already here?"

"Yeah, I'm here at the parking lot. I'll meet you at the platform when you arrive."

"Okay, is Aunt Annette with you?"

"No, she's at home preparing a feast for you."

"Wow! Okay, I'll see you in a bit!"

The train finally slowed to a stop. I immediately grabbed my carry-on bag along with my purse and small pillow. "What's my secret?" stupid secret commercial, it was still playing when I got off the train. The moment I stepped onto the platform, I instantly felt the chill of the cold wind on my neck. "brrrr" I shivered. I have to get used to this cold weather. I then showed the conductor my ticket and he gave me my luggage. I made my way carefully to the exit as several people were excitedly jumping up and down to greet their families.

"Marina over here!" standing by the huge plastic plant ornament was my uncle Joseph. "Uncle Jo!" I waved back. I dropped my things and gave my uncle a big hug. "Uncle, you look amazing! Did you lose some weight?" he smiled and gave his used to be belly a little pat. "Well my dear, your aunt Annette has been keeping me healthy since I had a heart attack." I gasped. "No need to worry. Come on." He led the way to the car. "It's a long drive to Schenectady. We better get going." I followed my uncle to the car. I was almost skipping with delight. "Uncle, I'm so excited to see Aunt Annette and I can't wait to start school." He chuckled and took the keys out of his pocket. There was a loud "beep, beep" and I saw the headlight of a Mercedes SUV flashed. Whoa…is that my uncle's car? "So what do you think?" he asked while opening the trunk of the SUV. "Nice car uncle…" I was still mesmerized and was ogling at the car. "You should see your Aunt's car, it's an Escalade." I simply shook my head and went inside the car.

I knew that starting today my life is going to change. Moving to Schenectady was not my decision; it's just that I have nowhere to go. My parents died in a car accident when I was 9 and my grandma Lydia took care of me since. She died a couple of weeks ago and then Aunt Annette agreed to take me in. She's my mom's older sister. I'm so grateful that I still have a family who loves me and wants to take care of me. So they flew me out from California to New York City and here I am now, enjoying the ride in my uncle's Mercedes. My Aunt and Uncle have a lot of money. My uncle Joseph is a noted surgeon while my aunt is a successful business woman. They have 3 kids but all of them are married.

"Uncle, this place is beautiful…" We were now passing by farmlands and cornfields, orchards, trees and more trees…the scenery was just breathtaking. "Marina, I was thinking, since you're going to school on Monday, you're going to need a car. Why don't we go car shopping tomorrow? Sounds good?" I looked at my uncle in disbelief. I can't believe he's buying me a car. "You're kidding right?" the stern look on his face clearly says that he wasn't. "But uncle, I don't deserve it. I don't have a job yet. Maybe I could work it off and pay you back?" Uncle Jo chuckled again. "Marina you're my niece! You're family! I am not going to charge you rent and I am going to buy you a car. If you want to work, go ahead but I don't want you to pay me back. Save your money." I held back my tears. I was so thankful that God gave me such good relatives. If my uncle wasn't driving, I would've jumped out of my seat and gave him a gigantic hug. I guess I'll just have to wait when we get home.

"Here we are Marina, home sweet home." We made a turn into this narrow driveway, there were giant Oak trees on each side. The humongous branches formed like an arch above the driveway shielding the bright raise of the sun. "How long is your driveway uncle?" I asked. "About a mile and a half…" my mouth fell open. Then I saw out on the clearing was a fountain. There was a small statue of a cherub playing a harp at the center. Surrounding it was different kinds of wild flowers that I've never seen before…but where's the house? We drove further and finally there it is a big white three story house. The windows have blue shutters and the roof was painted gray with four chimneys. There's a huge balcony on the second floor it reminded me of the house in Nicholas Spark's The Notebook.

The next thing I know I was wrapped in hugs and kisses by my aunt Annette. "I'm so glad to see you Marina. You're all grown-up!" "Aunt Annette, Uncle Jo, thank you very much for your kind hospitality. Words cannot express my gratitude. I love you both." Teary eyed and lost for words I let myself melt into their embrace. "Oh dear, we love you too." Aunt Annette said her voice breaking slightly. She must be on the verged of tears. "Now, why don't you go and unpack. You can choose any room you want."

I sprinted upstairs excited to see my new room. I chose the one closest to the stairs-my cousin Larissa's old room. It's got a four poster bed and pink wallpapers. It's cute but it's just too pink. It's like somebody spilt pepto bismol on the entire room. Moving on to the next one was Melinda's room. It also has a four poster bed but this time the walls were covered with yellow and blue blossoms, not too painful for the eyes. There's a small rocking chair with dolls by the huge French windows and a tiny dresser at the corner. The room was perfect for me. I placed my clothes inside the small walk-in closet and my books on my bedside table. These books were priceless. My mom left these books for me before she died. Grandma Lydia gave them to me on my 16th birthday and I just fell in love with them...Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. I wonder if people in my new school know about these books. I don't even know who wrote them. It only says S.M. on the cover. "Marina, are you done unpacking? Dinner is ready!" I stuck my head out of the door and yelled "I'll be right down Aunt Annette!" "Don't forget, we're going car shopping tomorrow so you better get some rest after dinner." Living with my aunt and uncle has got to be the best thing that ever happened to me. I could not ask for more.

Next chapter coming up!

Be kind, Please review… it gets better I promise…