hi :)

i've been M.I.A the last few months and im sorry that Tamsin Oak Academy hasn't been updated regularly. i know these stories have already been done but i really wanted to write one myself. constructive criticism is always welcome.

SUMMARY: I still don't know why I'm here at the orphanage, either they don't want me to know or they don't know themselves. Interview after interview and i've never been adopted, all the couples want little, pretty, kids. Ha! count me out. Wait! why is Mrs Marshall looking at me? why is that couple looking at me? . . .

DISCLAIMER: I dont own Twilight nor Edward Cullen, sigh.

Chapter one: A Change in the Weather

"Stupid, ancient CD player," I muttered to myself,"Stupid orphanage." I'd had enough everything not working in this place. First off the CD player is broken, then there's the piano that has twelve broken keys on it, only two out of the four TVs work and the library is in constant need of updating.

Frustrated, I flung myself onto my bed and layed perfectly still.

"Bellaaa, Bellaaa", Sung a voice that I knew too well. Ugh, I groaned and rolled over and covered my ears.

"Bella, Bella, Bella!" Sighing, I rolled back over and peered at the little chatterbox.

"What do you want Summer?" I asked while I propped myself up, leaning on my shoulder.

The little girl in front of me giggled, covering her mouth with her hands. I must admit, whoever called her Summer had her personally captured completely with her name. She was always bright and bubbly and laughing, and somehow she seemed to like me - the complete opposite. She even looked like a Summer, with her long blonde hair and bright blue eyes and freckles that covered her nose.

Summer climbed up onto my bed and sat on my stomach,"Guess what,"she said.

I knew were this was going. For the past week and a half she had this same talk with me.

I played along,"I don't know. What?"

She started to giggle again, then she rolled off me and layed down beside me.

"It's my birthday tomorrow!" She hollered, opening up her arms like she was trying to hug somebody.

"Oh really?" I smirked at her,"And how old are you going to be?"

She sat up straight,"I'm gonna be six!" She said proudly.

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Yep," popping the p. She leaned back down and reached out to touch my gold locket necklace. I've been told that I had it since the first day I arrived here.

"Still like it?" I asked.

"When I'm older I'm going to buy one just like it." She said still staring at it.

The light went out in the hall and a loud, booming voice called out,"Alrighty kids it's nine thirty, 'bout time you lot went to bed." A shadow filtered past our door, then a figure came into view. It was Mr Marshall.

"Come on ladies, light's out," he said.

"Yes sir," I nodded my head, took Summer's hand and led her to her bed across the room.

After she jumped in, I tucked her in nice and snug.

"But Belly," she wined,"I don't want to go to bed.-yawn- I'm not tired yet."

"Yes you are," she opened her mouth to object but I spoke again,"And you know, if you go to sleep sooner the sooner you'll be six."

Her big blue eyes lit up,"Really?"

"Really," I smiled and kissed her forehead,"Now go to sleep."

I turned off our room light before I walked back over to my bed and glided under the covers.

"'Night Bella," Summer whispered. Her voice bouncing back off the walls.

"'Night Summer."

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Summer. Happy birthday to you!"

Cheering erupted from the room as everybody hugged and kissed Summer. I stood to the back of the room away from the suffocating crowd. The entire orphanage was here to celebrate Summer's birthday, but then there aren't really that many kids here. Maybe thirty.

"Bella?!" I heard my name being called from somewhere inside the mob, "Belly?!" I saw Summer's figure scanning through the crowd to try and spot me. Once she did she waved excitedly and called me over.

I slowly made my way over, hands in my pockets. Some kids looked at me strangely, they didn't understand how I was so calm about living in the orphanage, sometimes they would ask me, but I never gave them a straight answer. I didn't want to mess up their futures. I knew there was nothing I could do with my life, I have nothing to offer anybody, even at my age I knew this and I have come to accept that. My job is to look after Summer, she is like a sister to me, a very cute, sweet, annoying, lovable little sister. I was going to teach her everything I know and get her out of her so she will grow up and be able to have choices concerning her life.

"Here's your bit of cake Bella," she smiled and gave me a napkin with a slice of ice cream cake on it.

I half-heartily smiled at her then disappeared back to my spot away from the crowd.

It was almost lights out, and Summer was still playing with her new dolls from Mr and Mrs Marshall.

I walked over and sat on the ground next to her, my legs sprawling out in front of me.

Summer looked at me curiously as I pulled out a box from behind me.

"Happy birthday Summer," I smiled and gave her the present.

She immediately dropped her dolls and took the box from my hands. I chuckled at her eagerness to open it. She popped the lid off and turned the box upside down. Out fell a gold locket necklace. She held it in her hand and looked closely, then she gasped.

"No!" she whispered, then handed it back to me.

"What are you going?" I asked holding my hands up in the air so she couldn't give it back.

"It's yours."

"No, it's yours," I pushed her arms back.

"But-"

"It's a gift from me."

"But, it's yours."

"Not anymore," I took the necklace from her and clipped it around her neck.

The second I finished she lept into my arms and squeezed me.

"Thank you so much Bella!"

"It's fine. It looks better on you anyway." We both smiled at each other.

Mr Marshall walked past our door again, "Lights out girls," he said, then walked off.

I tucked Summer in bed like I do every night, kissed her forehead and turned our light off.

"How old are you Bella?" she asked.

"I'm ten," I whispered.

She let out a tired laugh,"Your old."

"Whatever," I replied, smiling.

"This has been the best birthday ever, Bella," Summer whispered.

"I'm glad. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

I sat down at my usual spot at the dinning table for breakfast, in the corner and out of sight. The room was buzzing with conversations.

"Quiet down everyone!" Mrs Marshall clapped her hands, "Emily, Luke shh. That means you to River." She clapped her hands a second time and the room quietened down. "Okay everybody I have an announcement to make! We have a family coming in today who are looking to adopt one of you children. They are coming around 1pm, so I do ask you to all be on your best behaviour!" Mummers erupted from around that table.

"Quiet children!" The room went dead silent again,"Their are the McCarty's and I do hope that you make an effort to talk to them. They are a lovely family, and remember best behaviours! That is all."

Everybody quickly went into discussions about who they thought would get adopted.

Summer tapped me on the shoulder.

"Who do you thinks gonna go?" she asked.

"I can tell you who won't be going?" I pointed to myself.

"Why not?"

Because nobody wants me, I wanted to saybecause I have nothing to offer, because nobody wants a failure. Those seemed pretty harsh so I settled for something less depressing.

"Because I'm not gonna leave you." I smiled at her.

No wait, scratch that. That was equally depressing. Summer was all I had, I didn't want to leave her.

"Your gonna leave sometime, Bella. I just know it and your gonna be so happy."

Yeah right.

By the time 1pm rolled around people couldn't stop twitching. Everybody had a fake smile plastered on their face and were too dressed up for a normal day.

I -on the other hand- just sat in our deserted, miserable excuse for a library. No, I actually wouldn't call it a library, more like a room with three book shelves. I was wearing a pare of skinny jeans and graphic t-shirt, and picked up the kids edited copy of Pride and Prejudice.

I sat down on the blanket covered lounge and read up to the part when Elizabeth finds out that Mr Darcy broke up Jane and My Bingley, when I heard a soft voice call from the doorway.

"Must be some book."

I glanced up and gasped. I was officially staring face to face with the most beautiful woman on the planet. She was very tall and had long blonde hair that went past her shoulders, even her golden eyes were beautiful. She smiled a breathtaking smile and took a step in the room.

"May I come in?" She asked.

I nodded, trying to find my voice.

"H-how long h-have you been standing there?" I put the book down as she sat next to me.

"Hmm, ten minutes maybe?"

"Why?" I scratched my neck. Her eyes quickly flitered to the spot were my hand was scratching then back up to my face just as quickly.

"I didn't want to disturb you, but I wanted to talk to you."

While she fiddled with a ring on her finger I noticed that she was really pale, and I mean really pale. Paler than the the 'albino'.

The lady must've noticed me looking at her because she laughed.

"It is quite difficult to get a tan in Forks."

"I'll say."

She chuckled again, it sounded like bells. I could only imagine that's what fairys sounded like.

Her eyes zoned in on the book I had just been reading.

"Pride and Prejudice?" She asked.

I dipped my head and blushed, a very annoying trait of mine.

"Yes," I answered, "When I'm older I'm going to read the proper ones."

Then something dawned on me.

"Wait!" The lady seemed a little shocked by my outburst,"You're not the one adopting here today, are you?"

She chuckled softly,"As a matter of fact I am." She extended her hand to me,"Rosalie McCarty."

I shook her hand, it was very warm, like she had just been standing in front of a fire.

"Bella Swan. No offence Mrs McCarty, but aren't you too young to be adopting. I mean, I see old people in here more than people like you."

"Bella dear, please call me Rosalie, and no offence taken." She grinned at me and I smiled back.

"So how old are you Bella?" She asked.

"I'm ten."

"Really?" She seemed surprised. "I thought you were older than that."

I grinned,"That's what everybody says. Mrs Marshall told me I was born at 25 and get older every year."

"Well you do seem very smart," Mrs McCarty said.

My smile faltered,"I'm not," I whispered.

She looked like she wanted to say something, but I didn't want anybodies pity.

"Hey," I jumped up from the lounge,"You wanted to adopt a kid right? I'll show you around."

"Bella, that's a very sweet offer, but I've already had a look around." Mrs McCarty said as she pushed herself off the lounge,"And I think I've already chosen as well."

"Oh," My enthusiasm faded instantly. I felt like I had the wind knocked out of me for some strange reason.

"Are you okay Bella?" Mrs McCarty asked. As she got closer to me, I took a step back.

"Yes." Don't feel sorry for me. Please, please don't feel sorry for me.

"Rosie baby?" A strong voice called out. I looked towards the door and saw another beautiful man who I could only assume was Mr McCarty. He looked so strong, like he could squish me bewteen his fingers. His black hair was cut short and he had the same golden eyes as Mrs McCarty.

He looked down at me and smiled, i couldn't help but give him a timid smile back.

"Hello, my name's Emmett McCarty and who might you be?"

"Bella Swan" I answered.

"We have to leave Bella," Mrs McCarty said and gave me a comforting smile,"But I'm sure we'll see you a little later."

"Okay," I mumbled and looked down at my shoes.

"C'mon Rosie," Mr McCarty pulled Mrs McCarty to his side as they walked to the door,"Bye Bella." His loud voice rattled the room.

"Bye," I said softly. Mrs McCarty winked at me before they disappeared from my sight.

I spent a few moments just standing in that spot, concentrating on my breathing, before I crumpled back onto the lounge. My stomach felt funny, like I was going to throw up. I wrapped my arms around it and crunched up into a ball.

My eyes started tearing up and before I could stop it they overflowed and ran down my face. I pushed my face into my knees and sobbed.

It was at that moment when I realised that I actually wanted to be adopted.

That took me 2 hours to right, my neck hurts :P

please review and let me know what you think.

xxxxx