Part I

(2009-2010)

1. Youth

My youth, my youth is yours
A truth so loud you can't ignore
My youth, my youth, my youth
My youth is yours

-Youth, Troye Sivan

"Ow!" I hiss as the brush gets hung up on a knot of my freshly washed hair. "Ow, ow, ow." I chant as I disentangle the strands from the bristles. I swear I have the finest hair known to mankind, it knots so easily that I can look at it funny and it tangles within itself.

Disgusted, I throw the brush into the sink, my scalp still aching from the fight that I had just fought, and I rub it to try to take the sting away. It's a daily occurrence that I'll gladly relinquish. I look at my reflection in the mirror, taking in my normally white as snow skin that's been made red from my morning shower, but did little to disguise the freckles that I hate. I run a finger underneath my eyes, wiping away the additional evidence of the excessive black eyeliner that I'd worn yesterday that made my brown eyes look smaller than they are. I don't understand how, after vigorous scrubbing, that it's still there. I smooth my shoulder length, wavy brown hair down with my hands, not wanting to have to encounter the brush again. I've had enough of that torture device for one day.

I'm wearing a black V-neck t-shirt with a pair of jeans and flats. I look exactly how I feel this morning: tired, fourteen, and like I very much don't want to go to school.

"Bella! Let's go!" Dad yells up the stairs to me, like he does every day of my life.

I sigh, taking one last look at myself in the mirror, shrugging at my reflection. Good enough. It's just school, I don't have to look like a runway model, just decent.

"Bella!" It's my brother this time. Emmett. God love him, but he can be a serve pain in the you know what. We're twins, which is either fortunate or awful, depending on how you look at it. Right now, it's awful.

I count down from ten in my head, the door to my bathroom swinging open with an audible thumb to the wall when I get to one. He's so predictable. Emmett walks in scowling, his tall frame taking up the entire doorway. I don't think that it's scientifically possible for him to be well on his way to being six feet tall, and for me to be lucky if I get to five. It's not fair. It's like we have two separate sets of DNA.

"Don't you knock?" I shoot at him. Dad must've sent him after me. I hate when he barges in like this, happy that I'm decent and not in the shower.

"We're going to be late, and Mom and Dad have that new guy starting at the restaurant today." Emmett takes my arm roughly, dragging me out of the bathroom. He's walking so quickly that I barely have enough time to grab my backpack from where it sits by my bedroom door.

Our parents own a successful chain of restaurants in the Raleigh area of North Carolina called The Library. It is, you guessed it, a book themed restaurant. When we moved here eight years ago, it had been one tiny location that they opened on a whim that exploded. There are now six of them in the surrounding area. The new guy that's starting today isn't just some random person hired to do a random job, he's their new business partner. He's going to be in charge of marketing and helping them grow and branch out of the Triangle.

He and his wife moved out here from Los Angeles. Apparently, they have a son that's around our age. The guy's run several restaurants out that way and came highly recommended to my parents. They hired him after only talking to him on the phone. Which seemed very risky to me, but hey, it isn't my restaurant. Just my future… I'm kidding.

"Finally," Dad throws his hands up in the air like he's praising God that I've finally come down the stairs. "she emerges!"

Mom walks into the foyer, carrying her bag and two cups of coffee. "Don't be so dramatic, Charlie." She chastises, handing me one of the coffees. Emmett makes a face as I take my first sip. He, like our dad, hates coffee. He always looks at me with a disgusted expression when I'm drinking it. Come to think of it, he always looks at me like that.

"Renee, we'll be lucky if we get them there ten minutes late." Dad complains. "You, young lady," he turns his attention back to me, pointing a finger, his irritation over my lack of time management showing very clearly on his face. "need to start taking your showers at night. Maybe then we will actually get out of here on time for a change."

"Your dad is right, you need to hurry it up in the morning. I'm tired of you two getting detention because you're constantly late." Mom stares at me pointedly, I swear her eyes have laser beams in them. She can make you freeze with just a look. Right now, being no exception.

"Sorry," I mumble around the cup that I have pressed to my lips. They're right, I'm sick of getting detention for something that isn't cool in the least. If I'm going to be made to stay after school for doing something, I want it to be something exciting, like spray painting a locker or teepeeing the principal's car. Saying that you got detention because you were late, yet again, just doesn't have the same gravitas.

"Enough standing around discussing this, let's move!" Mom motions us out the door and toward the car.

We live in Preston, a cookie-cutter "we're better off than most" neighborhood in Cary. It's an area that's filled with houses that are much larger than anyone really needs, some that are made of stone and look more like castles than actual homes.

Ours is one of the rare "basic" two stories, single family homes in the entire neighborhood. It's white with black shutters, a porch that wraps around the house, and a two-car garage. As well as a pool, which is my favorite part. I don't know if I would call us rich, but comfortable. We aren't hurting for money, but we aren't billionaires or anything.

Mom and Dad are very careful how they spend their money. They bought a newer house, one that they knew wasn't going to nickel and dime them; one that they could have for a long time. They bought a family car, a smaller SUV, one that isn't horrible on gas. Everything they have ever gotten is practical. They save like crazy, so Emmett and I could go to any college that we want to without being drowned by student loans the day we graduate. They don't want us to have to worry about anything, and so far, they had succeeded. We are some of the lucky few in the world today, and I try not to take it for granted. Tomorrow, it could all go away.

When we pull up in front of the eighth-grade entrance, I sigh. Another day of exhilarating education!

"Have a great day! See you after school!" Mom and Dad both yell to us as we get out of the car.

Miraculously, we aren't late. Dad must have cast a spell or something to halt time, because the warning bell hasn't even rung yet. Fellow students are still dawdling in the hallway, talking to their friends and playing with their phones.

Emmett breaks away from me, going over to talk to Jasper and Quil, giving them each a fist bump. I don't see the girls yet, so I make my way through the throng of people to my locker.

"Hey," James comes over to me, a smile on his face as soon as he sees me. My heart skips a beat when he starts my way. His brown eyes sparkle, and he walks with confidence. His blonde hair is in the typical spikes. He's wearing a button-down shirt and jeans. God, he looks good.

"Hey." I try to make my response not sound quite so breathy as it normally does, but I fail miserably. I still can't believe that he's my boyfriend.

He leans down and kisses me on the cheek, "You're on time for once."

His comment makes me blush. "Yeah, lucky, I guess."

He follows me the rest of the way to my locker, leaning against the wall as he watches me put in my combination.

"Do you want to come to my house after school?" James askes, hopefully.

"I can't. My parents want Emmett and me to meet the new guy and his family at the restaurant after school." I open my locker, starting to put the books that I won't need the first two periods of the day into it.

"Why?"

I shrug, continuing to put my things away. "I don't know, that's just how they like to do it." My parents think that it's important for us to be involved as much as possible with the business, teaching us how a restaurant is run in case one of us wants to follow in their foot-steps. They never press us to take over one day, they just want us to know how a business is run. It's never in the way that some parents groom their kids to be a part of the family business; they always tell us to do what we want with our lives. To follow our own dreams, not theirs.

"Okay, another time?" James asks disappointedly, his shoulders drooping a little, skip taken out of step. Since we'd started dating three weeks ago, we haven't spent much, if any, time together. Between my cheer practice and his soccer, we never see each other.

"Another time." I nod as the first bell rings.

James leans down and kisses me on the cheek again before leaving me to go to his first period. I watch him go, his hands going into his pockets. I feel bad having to say no to him, I really want to spend time with him. I would much rather do that then go to the stupid restaurant after school. Time with him is much more enticing.

Sighing, I close my locker and go to history, a class that I have with all my friends, which is dangerous. Claire, Rose, Alice, and me sit in a square in the back of the classroom. When the teacher assigned our seats, he didn't know what he was doing.

I walk into the classroom, I'm the only student here so far and I take my seat next to the window, placing my backpack at my feet.

Our teacher, Mr. Volturi, comes into the room carrying his lesson plans. He sets his things down, taking a moment to survey the classroom. By this point, most of the other students are in the room. My brothers across the room, Quil sitting behind him. Jasper had been exiled to the opposite side of the room from them; he sits two seats in front of me. When Mr. Volturi's eyes land on me, a slow smile spreads across his face. And I know exactly why.

"You're on time today."

I can't help the heat that rises to my cheeks at his words. I slide down in my seat, trying to ignore the laughs and the eyes of the other students.

Right before the final bell, Rose, Claire, and Alice walk into the room, taking their seats around me.

Rose taps me on the shoulder from her seat behind me, "You're actually on time." Her long blonde hair is in a ponytail, it's perfectly straight and smooth as silk. She could be a model in a shampoo commercial. I wish my hair looked like that, instead of its usual wavy, frizzy mess that looks like a bird's nest. She looks at me, her violet eyes dancing.

I glare at her, "You missed the teacher saying the exact same thing."

"He really said that?" Claire laughs, causing her black curls to bounce, her brown, almost black, eyes crinkling. The sky-blue top she's wearing makes her russet skin glow. She sits next to Rose. "How embarrassing!"

Alice joins into the quiet laughter at my expense. I reach my foot out and kick her desk to shut her up, but only serve in making her laugh harder. She's normally on my side! I knew that I could always find comradery in those gray eyes of hers. But today she's decided to cross the enemy lines.

I look at her, she's smirking. I know that it's all in fun, but I'm still embarrassed. She adjusts the headband in her black hair that she put hot pink streaks in last week. She's also wearing one of her creations today. Fashion is how she expresses herself, and what she's wearing today is no exception. She's paired an old band t-shirt with a denim jacket and black tights that have a few small holes in them, that I'm sure are there on purpose, she's meticulous like that. The outfit comes together with a pair of black combat boots.

Most of her wardrobe is secondhand (she says there's something poetic about giving new life to someone's castaways) or made herself. She's the only fourteen-year-old that I know who asked for a sewing machine for Christmas last year.

"Hmmhmm," Mr. Volturi clears his throat, making them stop laughing right away. "This is class, not recess."

The three of them sit straight ahead, looking embarrassed over being called out in front of the entire class. Show them to laugh at me!

The day goes much the same as first period. It's a morning filled with class, class, foot cramp, and more class. Middle school sucks. I can't wait to get out of here, not that I'm in a hurry for high school. I just want out of the purgatory that is middle school. It's three years filled with awkwardness, kids being mean to you, more awkwardness, and puberty. It isn't fun, and I swear us kids are at our worst at this age. We make each other's lives hell. Girls are at their cattiest and boys at their dickiest. Gotta love raging hormones! I sure do!

Mercifully, the bell for lunch rings, cutting off my language arts teacher's monotone lecture. If it hadn't rung when it did, I would've fallen asleep.

"Don't forget to read chapters two and three of Tom Sawyer for tomorrow!" she calls out as we all scramble out of the classroom.

"How was language arts?" Alice comes up next to me. We're always the first to find each other, our class periods before lunch are right next to one another.

I open my mouth, sticking my finger in like I'm gagging. "How was math?"

"Same." She sighs, "Why must they put the most boring classes before lunch? I'm so hungry that I can't focus!"

"Yeah, that's why you have a D, it has nothing to do with the fact that you don't study." I tease, bumping my elbow with hers.

She growls at me, moving away so I can't reach. "Sometimes I really hate you, Swan." She hisses, giving me her most menacing stare.

"I'm quacking in my boots, Brandon."

The others are already at our usual table when we get there. Quil's already doing something to make Claire angry as he leans across the table to her. The two of them fight like two cats in a sack, barely able to be within two feet of each other, much less the width of a table.

"You're so disgusting!" Claire yells at him as he opens his mouth to show off the chewed food inside. She pushes him away with all her might, which barely moves him. "Quil! Cut. It. Out." She hits him hard on the shoulder, the sound alone making my own sting.

"Already tormenting her?" Alice asks, taking a seat next to him.

"One day you're going to end up with a black eye." I warn him, sitting next to Claire.

"She makes it so easy!" he exclaims, his mouth still full. He sits back down in his seat, ruffling his dark hair. His attention goes back to the notebook that he has open in front of him. Quil's been writing his own comics for as long as I've known him, the notebook is like another appendage.

Claire sneers at him, digging her fork into her school bought salad of lettuce, carrots, and sad looking tomatoes, as well as what looks like it's supposed to be chicken. My lip curls up looking at it, but she must like it because she buys it practically every day.

"What do you have?" Emmett comes up next to me, looking over my shoulder as I start pulling my own lunch out of my bag.

"Peanut butter and banana, you?" We always trade lunches because mom always gives us what the other likes. She always gives me peanut butter, and I hate peanut butter.

"Ham."

"Sold." We trade sandwiches, and he goes back to sit next to Jasper on the other side of Quil.

"Where's James?" Rose leans around Claire, taking a bite of her apple.

I take a bite of my sandwich, "He had to make up a test."

"Oh, I think I speak for all of us when I say that we will all miss his delightful lunchtime conversations." Her words reek of sarcasm. None of my friends like James and I don't understand why. He's sweet, funny, and treats me well. I don't understand what there's to dislike.

"Who's playing footsie with me?" Jasper calls out, looking under the table to find the culprit. His shaggy sandy blonde hair covering his blue eyes to the point that I don't know how he's able to see anything.

Rose's face gets bright red, "Sorry." She shoots my brother a quick glance, his face as red as hers. The two of them have been not so secretly dating for the past two months. They thought that no one knew, but we all knew. None of us have said anything about it because they were keeping it on the down low.

"Well," he sits back up. "Could you confine it to your boyfriend."

Both Emmett and Rose choke on their food, all of us laughing.

And that's how our lunches go.

After a few more hours of mind-numbing learning and teachers that act like they don't give a crap, it's finally time to go home. My backpack's heavy from the amount of homework that I have tonight, my back crying out in pain as Emmett and I wait in the carpool line for Mom.

"Back hurt?" Emmett beams at me when he hears me make a sound of pain.

I glare at him, making him smile bigger. Gosh darn him! He has all the easy teachers that don't give out as much homework!

"Shut up!" I hiss, adjusting my bag, my back sighing in relief when I see Mom pull up in front of where we're standing.

Emmett laughs at me when I sway because I'm so top heavy. I hit him hard on the back, reaching my hand out for the front seat before he can.

"Ha!" I exclaim when he gives me a look of discontentment.

"Not fair you got it last time!" he complains, opening the door for the backseat.

"I'm older!" I love using that card against him.

"By ten minutes, big whoop!" he grumbles, buckling his seatbelt.

"Good day?" Mom askes, highly amused by our exchange. I'm glad one of us is.

The ride to the restaurant is filled with Emmett continuing to complain about having to be in the backseat. By the time that we get to our destination, I no longer care that I can't spend time with my boyfriend, I just want to get as far from Emmett's whining as I can!

"Fine! You can have it next time!" I exclaim, getting out of the car and walking backwards on the asphalt of the parking lot.

I continue to walk backwards, waiting for him to acknowledge what I said, but he doesn't answer. What happens instead, is I run into someone, hearing the sound papers falling. My mouth pops open, involuntarily forming a perfect O. Embarrassment filling me for the second time today.

I turn quickly, kneeling down to help the poor guy I ran into pick up the papers he is desperately trying to keep from flying away.

"I am so, so sorry." I manage to get out as I grab papers like a mad woman. "I wasn't paying attention."

"It's okay," the guy takes the papers from me, causing me to look up at him.

I stop breathing for a second when my eyes meet the most spectacular green eyes I have ever seen. This guy is the hottest guy I have ever laid eyes on. He puts James to shame, which causes me a twinge of guilt about finding someone other than my boyfriend attractive. But he is. He has full, pink lips, a sharp jaw, and crazy dirty blonde hair. I gulp. He's beautiful. And I'm staring like a fourteen-year-old girl, further embarrassing myself.

"I… I… I should have been paying attention." I stammer like an idiot, hormonal teenage girl.

We both slowly stand up, like one of those slow-motion scenes in the movies.

"Well, I have to go. Thanks for helping me." The guy motions his hand that was full of paper at me, starting to walk away, helping to pull me out of my daze.

"No problem." I turn back to Emmett, who has a very smug look on his face. I slap him upside the head.

"What was that for?" He holds his hands up in front of his face in case he must defend himself from another attack.

"You knew he was there, and you let me run into him anyway!" I accuse, which he doesn't deny, he just laughs to himself, satisfied with the way that he was able to get revenge on me.

"There you are!" Dad calls as we walk inside, finally. A man and a woman standing in front of him.

The man has blonde hair, brown eyes, and is tall. The woman has caramel colored hair, green eyes, and is small, much like Mom. They must be the new people.

"I thought that you two were right behind me." Mom lifts her brow at us.

"Bella had an accident in the parking lot." Emmett giggles, making me hit in the gut.

I roll my eyes, irritated that he's embarrassing me in front of these people that we don't know yet! He didn't even let me make a good impression. I can't imagine what these people thought about us. I can imagine that they think we're violent and irresponsible. But, on the other hand, they have a son our age. They're probably used to this.

"Carlisle, Esme," Dad starts, coming over to us and putting his arm around our shoulders, probably to prevent us from attacking each other further. "these are our children Emmett and Bella."

"It's nice to meet you," Esme shakes our hands, her skin soft and she smells faintly of perfume.

"Our son is around here somewhere." Carlisle comments, looking around. "Ah, Edward, come here. There are some people that I want you to meet!"

When their son rounds the corner of the wall of booths, all the blood drains out of me and I lose all control of my limbs. Because, there standing in front of me is the guy from the freaking parking lot.

He looks just as taken aback as me when he realizes who I am.

"Hey, I'm Emmett." My brother introduces himself like a normal human being while I continue to stand here with my mouth slightly open like a fish, unable to comprehend that this is the guy that I had just humiliated myself in front of in the parking lot.

Freaking great!

Emmett nudges me into motion with his elbow, making me come back to life.

"I'm Bella." I shake his hand; all the while Edward's fighting a smile. He seems amused by my lack of conversational skills.

"Glad to finally have a name to the face," his eyes twinkle with a hidden smile.

"You two know each other?" Esme looks between us, a crease of confusion between her brows.

Edward looks at his mother, dropping my hand. "Bella here helped me collect my forms for school after I dropped them in the parking lot." He mercifully leaves out the part about me being the reason that he'd dropped them in the first place.

"Well, that was sweet of you." She smiles at me, giving me a thankful pat on the shoulder. "It's good to know that there are still nice people your age."

I close my eyes after she walks away, leaving Edward and I alone as the rest of them are standing around talking.

"Thank you for not telling her… everything."

"Don't mention it." He winks at me with a sly smile.

When he looks at me like that, I have to remind myself that I have a boyfriend and am taken. Besides, we just met! Be rational! Don't let your girly hormones control your brain, Bella!

"So, where are you going to school?" I try to ask a question to redeem myself and to prove that I can carry on a normal conversation that isn't filled with stuttering.

"Green Hope. You?" Crap, he's a high school guy! No way he'd go for me anyway.

"West Cary."

"That's the middle school, right?" he asks, his brow furrowing like he's trying to read a map in his head.

"Yeah." I reply shyly, scared over how he would react knowing that I'm still a lowly middle school goer.

"I actually know where that is." He seems proud of himself that he could place where something was. "I hated middle school, I'm so glad I graduated last June." He gives me a pointed look, telling me with his words and eyes that he knows why I'm acting weird. That he knows it's because I'm a middle schooler and he's a high schooler. He wants me to feel comfortable around him, and that makes me swoon a little.

Stop it! There is to be no swooning! He is NOT your boyfriend!

"Edward, we have to go now!" Esme calls from the door, waving her son over.

"It was nice to meet you, Bella." Edward smiles at me, leaving me feeling dazed in his wake.

This is not good, I need to get myself under control. James. Think about James. That's good. Don't think about green eyes, a perfect smi…. No! Stop it!

A/N: So, I hope you enjoyed. The first few chapters didn't change much. For them it was mostly clean up. But, I did add a couple of things here and there that I thought added something. I will be posting once a week every Friday.

See you next week!