Chapter 1 – Confusion and Distractions

Glancing up, I saw a blur. Peeping up behind the door, Edward stood there.

I was depressed, my best friend and new sister had been lost. Gone, pasted away. Dead.

It has been more than two and a few, years now.

I still cannot forget the wave and curls of her dark hair, and the contours of her delicate face.

Etched with small light brown freckles. Her wide full lipped grin had made every look in the mirror devastating.

Every small detail reminded me of her. And remembering her, triggered another intensely depressing memory. Byron. My younger brother. The newest member of the Cullens.

So young. So soon. Too soon.

I looked up at Edward. He too, reminded me of Byron.

"Urgh!" I rolled over, crushing my stone hands into my face. I curled into a ball, this happened almost every afternoon.

Edward came to me, wrapping his strong arms around me. Protectively.

"I can't seem to realize they're really gone." I choked out in a small whisper.

He nodded, "All of us have been feeling a bit down lately. –myself included, Bella." He murmured into my hair.

I instantly felt bad for Jasper. His emotions would be doubled over from what I was feeling.

"Sorry Jasper." I said out loud. I knew he could hear me. I imagined he was in his room right now sobbing dryly, curling into a ball. Alice by his side, missing her best shopping partner of all time.

"Damn Victoria. Broken the family up." I hissed. Venom dripping off every word.

"She got what she deserved Bella." Edward tightened his grip on me. I kissed him instinctively.

I rolled off the bed. It was time to get to school.

Edward got up, faster than I got to the door.

"I'll drive." He murmured.

Usually I'd have an intense argument of who got to drive. I couldn't argue today. My throat was dry from weeping.

I nodded. He didn't smile. Today was the worst day of my life. The worst day of every year.

17th of September. The afternoon of Nettie's and Byron unsettled death.

I have told myself, over and over. I had gotten over it.

No one believed me, I didn't even believe myself.

Edward drove slowly, carefully. Saying absolutely nothing, it was a silent ride to school.

After the two years, I knew that soon we would have to move.

I am now a junior. Edward was a senior.

Our family had to concoct an excuse—a reason for Nettie and Byron's disappearance.

We told everyone that she had moved away to England to a boarding school there. Byron was in the brother school of Nettie's boarding school.

Everyone bought it. Hector was depressed, everyone loved Nettie. She was so sweet. Byron, was just Byron. Making the best out of situations.

Brightening the flowers in the meadows, in the classrooms, in the school garden. Indirectly making the gardeners life much more easier.

He brightened everyone's life. And Nettie was the fire that lit the candle that shown out in the dark. The two of them were just stars in the dark.

Now it was a dark sky for everyone. A deep dark starless sky.

No diamonds that glistened in the dark.

Precious stones that had been single handedly been glued up in the sky by Aphrodite herself had been picked out.

They fell down and clinked against the cold hard forgiving floor. Sinking into the moist dirt. Pounded into the ground.

Every day, I tell myself. Automatically reminding myself, that the most precious gems had been buried into the ground. It hurt me.

I was grateful for all the times that Nettie had spent with me. It had taught me to open my eyes wider. To the world I haven't seen. She was younger, less experienced but she was the highest tutor to me.

I loved her and thanked her graciously for her lessons.

Edward gripped my hand more tightly. I didn't respond. I was too deep in thought for that.

I saw Hector glance at me, he cringed and turned away. I guess I looked very much alike to Nettie. He must have really loved her.

I rolled into class, Edward kissed me goodbye. I sat through class. I'm going to die of boredom. I swear. I thought to myself.

This classed was unthinkably boring. I yawned and started to doodle on my page.

I turned over, to see a girl. With dark hair, her hair curled around her face. She turned away from me. Nettie?

No, it couldn't be. The girl got up and walked right out of class. No one noticed her. No one stopped her from walking out. I stood up to follow her. Thinking the teacher had not paid enough attention to notice me sneak out.

"Bella, where do you think you're going miss?" he asked sternly. I thought about it for a bit.

"The nurse Sir. I feel a bit woozy." I tilted my head backwards, pushing my cool arm towards my forehead.

He nodded approvingly. "Feel better Bella. Come back when you do."

I strode out fast, and followed the dark haired girl. I walked around the corner, the humidity was killing me. It was a bit hot out.

But the sun remained hidden behind the unmistakable clouds of Forks. I watched the girl, as she walked into the dulled sun. Glaring up, she turned around to me.

Her eyes shocking green. Warm and welcoming, it soon turned into a darker shade, swirling with colors. Mixing into greens, blues, blacks, yellows. It settled down to a dark liquid gold.

She smiled. Stepping back one more. Then she vanished. Evaporated into the wind. It was remarkable. Like a ghost, flying into the breeze.

I was baffled. It must be my overactive imagination. I settled for, distressed and depression. It was making me see things I really wanted to be still here. To be here for me to hug, to have comfort, to be with.

It was a different feeling to losing Edward at one point, it felt like it was losing myself. Wandering like I'm dead halfway.

Edward caught up with me. I stood still. Watching the spot that the Angel had evaporated at. I looked up at him once more, "I saw her, Edward. I did."

I sounded crazy. But what was I to judge? I was a vampire. I lived in a world filled with danger, vampire, and werewolves.

Ghosts, wandering spirits, witches, and sorcerers whatever there were in books. They might as well be out there too. Hidden in human forms.

I shuddered.

"I don't want to hurt again." I whimpered. Feeling helpless. Then something hit me. A strong smell, a foul smell.

Werewolf.