Hello readers. I plan on completing this story, and plan on updating it once a week. Please keep my spirits up and review!

I DONT OWN ANYTHIGN BUT THE PLOT :)

IMPORTANT = i dont know if to make this story M rated, or T rated. vote now at the pole! i'm writing for my readers, and you oppinion is my first priority :)

Chapter One-

Life isn't always sunshine's and rainbows, I' ll give you that, but sometimes if you step out of the picture and examine things from a different angle, you can say that life is beautiful.

Sighing, I put down my pen and looked out of the small window in my room.

The sun was shining behind the clouds, the leaves dancing freely in the wind...

What I wouldn't give to be free like that.

"Isabella! Carmen says she'd better come home to a clean house!" Tanya shouted from downstairs. I threw my notepad across my room and watched as it hit the wall.

"Bella, she said now!" Tanya screeched once again. I sighed and got out of the old chair and trudged downstairs. I hated living here. My mother and my father-both whom had died in a plane crash on their way to one of their elite parties- left me with my large inheritance, to do with as I wish, only after Carmen thought I was ready. Dad was never home while my mom… well she couldn't have cared less. She hated me. The malice I lived with throughout my 23 years of life was enough to harden me against any hardship that came my way. I was a graduate student with the top marks from Dartmouth. Everyone was impressed- well mostly everyone. My aunt Carmen didn't even attend my graduation. She was much like my mother, to my utmost satisfaction. When I told her about my acceptance into one of the major fashion corporations out there, she just rolled her eyes and told me to move out quickly before they fired me. With her nonchalant approval I decided that I was moving out this Saturday. Finding a job at one of the most exclusive designer firms in the world was nothing to extravagant for Carmen, even if I was working under the Mary Alice brand, the name she loved. I'd finally closed the deal last Saturday.

Today was Friday, and a smile came to my lips as I scrubbed away at the small spot on the floor. I was getting on a plane tomorrow and moving far away from New York. I couldn't wait to escape Carmen's horrible little domain and live on my own, like a carefree adult. Right now, I was living some sort of twisted version of Cinderella.

"What are you so excited about?" Tanya asked from her spot on the kitchen counter, making me roll my eyes as I continued scrubbing. Carmen had spawned three children with her husband, Demetri. Her daughters, Tanya, Kate, and Irina were my cousins, while Tanya, who was probably the descendant of Satan himself, was the evil witch at work in this place.

"Oh I see. Is Bella happy she's moving out?" Tanya taunted after she figured out I wasn't going to answer her question.

"Yeah Tanya, I'm happy I'm moving out. No, I'm ecstatic that I'm leaving. Now would you shut up and let me work?" I snapped angrily.

She glared at me before stalking off. Tanya was no doubt gorgeous- her strawberry blonde hair was cropped just above her shoulders- a new trend she'd gotten into- and her eyes were a piercing blue. Like me, she wore a size four in jeans, but unlike me she had perfect curves in all the right places. Renee had blonde hair while I'd inherited my dark brown hair from Charlie. Renee had blue eyes, while I'd inherited deep chocolate ones from my father. The only similarity my mother and I shared seemed to share was that Renee could have still fit into my high-school jeans. I was clumsy while Renee was graceful and lived to fulfill the expectations of her last name. Renee Swan was an elegant, beautiful, charming woman- everything her daughter was not.

Maybe that's why she deceived me. I sighed and continued my cleaning, picking up clothes here and there, hanging them in their rightful places. When I came to Irina's room I smiled. Irina was quiet, never got in my way and respected me. She had her father's luscious black hair and mothers icy blue eyes. She kept to herself mostly- kept her room sparkling clean, and made sure to never upset me in anyway.

I knocked twice at her door. "Come in Bella," she sang.

I grinned as I opened the door to reveal a 20 year old girl lying on her back reading a book. "How did you know it was me?" Irina smiled and rolled over on her stomach

"One, if it was Tanya, she would have been screaming her head off outside my door. Two, if it were Kate, she wouldn't have bothered knocking, and three, you're the only person in this house that has the decency to knock other than dad, and he's not home."

I laughed as I went to pick up her laundry.

"I'm going to miss you," Irina said softly.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before turning back to her. "I'm going to miss you to Iree. But we both know that if I live in this place for another week I would kill myself. No offense to anyone."

Irina smiled at me before getting up to give me a hug.

"That doesn't mean that I won't be thinking of you and Kate every moment I'm in California," I whispered softly into her hair. Irina simply nodded before letting me go.

"I know," she sniffled. I smiled at her before slipping out of her room. I couldn't bear her heartbreak; it would just make me want to stay.

Just as I was finishing cleaning the dishes, Kate came barrelling out of the door with a few bags.

"Hi Bella! Bye Bella!" she yelled as she ran past me and into her room, slamming the door in progress. Irina dashed out of her room waved at Carmen, before heading into Irina's room, all the while hissing, "Did you get it! Did you get it?"

"Would you two shut the fuck up!?" Tanya screeched from downstairs.

I frowned wondering what was going on before Carmen came into the kitchen, placing two salad bowls and a box of pizza down. She looked everywhere but me, "I thought you would like some time off before you leave tomorrow," Carmen said briefly before walking away to join her daughter on the couch.

I tried to wrap my head around what happened. Did Carmen just bring home dinner, and give me time off? Was she actually being nice to me? I shook my head in a daze before placing the bowls on the table. I took out the china and placed six plates down. Demetri would be here in time for dinner.

I finished setting up and decided to head up to my room to pack up for my flight which was at an ungodly hour. Apparently my plane left at two in the morning. Requiring me to head out to the airport at twelve. I planned everything out perfectly. I will head out and flag a taxi around 11, stop to get a gift for my new boss- flattery never fails right?- and then arrive at Le Guardia airport around midnight. Yep, I had this thing planned thoroughly.

I went over to my nightstand, and carefully wrapped several picture frames of Irina, Kate, sometimes Tanya, and once or twice Carmen and Demetri, in bubble wrap before placing them in my suitcase. I already had the pictures of Charlie Renee and I safely placed on top. I looked around my room. It appeared empty now. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. I sat down on my bed and wrapped my arms around my legs.

After all this is where I'd lived after my parents had died- where I grew up for the last seven years. Kate- one year my senior- walked by my room and frowned.

"What the hell are you so sad about?"

I smiled at her, before getting up, "You tell me."

Kate's eyes were watery. It didn't take a genius to figure out that when someone is on the verge of tears.

"I don't know. I think I got some dirt in my eyes- Tanya's perfume is polluting the air," she said, her voice cracking. I looked at her with such fondness. Only Kate would be able to make a joke in a stressful situation. She came even closer, and I sniffled sadly, losing my composure.

"Oh Kate!" I bawled falling into her arms, "I'm going to miss you so much! You have to promise me you'll call me every night, and invite me to your wedding! Let me design your dress, and to visit me every damn time you're free!"

Kate nodded her head, crying into my shoulder.

"Bella, I'm sorry for what my family did. I know mom and Aunt Renee, not to mention my own sister, were cruel to you, but don't hold that against us! Especially Irina and I! Bella, we love you like our own sister."

We both sat down and cried and cried, moments later Irina joined us in our crying marathon. Kate and Irina were the only two who kept me sane in this house. After making sure we expressed our sisterly love for one another, we got up and headed for dinner.

Tanya was sitting down, filling her perfectly manicured nails when we arrived. She looked at both Kate and Irina before rolling her eyes.

"I don't know why you all are so upset. The bitch is finally moving out, and soon we would be getting our own apartment. After that we don't have to be so dependent on Mom and Dad. Don't you see Bella's carved the way for us?" Tanya said putting away her filer indifferently.

Kate rolled her eye before sitting down. I let the comment slip and sat down towards the end of the table and Irina sat to my left. Demetri and Carmen came in and we began dinner. Demetri smiled at me, and asked me about my flight, my job, and he showered me with compliments and how much he would miss me. Demetri was only home once or twice a month, but he was very kind. I never go to see him, just like I never got to see Charlie. Demetri made sure to come home tonight, seeing that tonight was my last night in New York.

After dinner finished up, I stood to leave, but before I could go anywhere, Demetri slipped a package into my hands. I looked down to see a Macbook Air with a bow on top, and an I-phone.

"You need some way to keep in touch, don't you?" Demetri smiled. I felt the tears well up again and furiously tried to blink away them away. Carmen was next. She handed me an envelope. "Your inheritance; signed and approved," she muttered. I smiled at her.

"Our gift… well… we kind of forgot—"Kate mumbled. I snorted. Fucking actors.

Irina rolled her eyes at me. "It's already packed and put away in your luggage, so you can't refuse it."

I scowled at both of them before walking outside. I didn't need to look at Tanya to know that she was smirking. I headed out the door to find a taxi waiting outside. I turned around to see Tanya who was smirking at me, "I want a Mary-Alice dress and shoes at my new address by next week."

I glowered at her. Sneaky bitch. Demetri had my things piled into the cab and I walked towards it. I hugged Kate and Irina one last time and promised I'd call as soon as I arrived in California. I slipped into the cab and waved at everyone and as the cab was driving away I saw Tanya- of course- stick up her middle finger. Whore.

I didn't let Tanya's arrogance upset me as I set my path towards my new destination, my new found freedom.

Hope you guys enjoyed it. Please be kind, and show me your gratitude by sending me a review? It means a lot.

Also follow me on Formpsring, twitter, or if you want to talk to me on facebook- just imbox me your name and email! (links in profile)

Lots of love-