Preface:

Over the years, it has become a custom for me to visit Charlie, my father, during the summers. Charlie lives in Forks, Washington, a dreary hell in comparison to my paradise back home. Phoenix. Phoenix, Arizona, known for blistering heat and a high dosage of the sun. I just love waking up to the natural light of our atmosphere, creeping through my windows. Feeling the heat crawl up my back, and seeing the light, dance off the walls. Though always sunny, I still manage to be the palest girl at my school, carrying no resemblance of a tan. My mom used to say that I just had stubborn skin.

Ever since my parents divorce, which took place so long ago I barely remember it, I have spent every summer with my father. I used to dread those days in which I would have to pack up and visit some sullen town. And now, I going to visit that hellhole once again, but this time, I probably won't return. My mother's new boyfriend is always on the move, his career, baseball, which isn't much of a career actually, tends to take her with it. Of course, she could never actually go, seeing that she had a female adolescent to take care of. So to give her some time off, I decided, I would give her a break, permanently.

You see, even though I visited my dad every summer, lately I've been skipping out. I haven't seen him in about 6 years actually. I would have to beg and beg and beg my mother until she finally decided I could stay home, telling Charlie that I was ill, or couldn't make it. I am actually a little curious to see how things are holding up in Forks, but not curious enough that I actually want to go.

Chapter 1:

The Return

The house hadn't changed a bit, but I hadn't really expected it to. The entire neighborhood hadn't changed a bit, now that you mention it. I was a little jetlagged but surprisingly hyper. Charlie said it was homecoming jitters. But that wasn't why I was so frantic, I remembered why I liked this place and continued coming for as long as I did. Edward. And Jacob, of course. They were my best friends, closer than the friends I had at home. I hadn't seen either of them since the last time I came, a long six years ago. Until now, I hadn't realized that I missed them so much. I wonder how they are?

Of course, they are probably more grown-up with girlfriends now that Edward is 18 and Jacob is 16. I remember the good ol' days, back when we were young and we didn't have to worry about a thing. Edward and Jacob hated each other though, ever since the beginning. I didn't know why, and I still don't understand. I would visit them, I decided. Now that I was back in town, there was no reason not to.

I headed into the living room where a baseball game was going on. Charlie watching so avidly like his life depended on it.

"Dad," I said, breaking his attention and tearing his eyes from the screen. "I'm going to head out, drive around town, maybe visit Jacob and Edward." He blinked his eyes, like he was just realizing I had spoken. After a few more moments of silence, he registered the information. "Okay, just be home before 11. It may be a weekend, but we still need to catch up, young lady." He smiled as he said this, though his tone was serious.

I grabbed the keys off the counter and reached for the door. "I'm happy your home, I have missed you." Charlie reassured me. I smiled and nodded, in too much of a hurry to complete even a simple sentence. I glanced at the red truck parked in the driveway that was now mine. A classic, Charlie said, he never said anything about it being ancient.

I fired up the engine, bringing it to life. As I roared down the streets of Forks, my thoughts wandered. Would they remember me? Will they want to see me? What if they don't like me anymore? What if they have changed? What if they think I have changed?

The anxiety was unbearable, so I turned the knob of the radio, though I was surprised it actually worked. A familiar song engulfed the song. It was Home by Daughtry. 'I'm going home, to the place where I belong.'

Ironic, I thought, as I pulled into the driveway of my best friend, Edward Cullen's house. Until this very moment, I thought I was doing the opposite by coming to Forks. I stared at the two-story white-bricked house, taking in a deep breath. I hoped they were home, even though Dr. Cullen's vehicle was in the driveway, I still doubted. I stepped out of my "vintage" truck and took a wobbly step towards the house. Why am I so nervous? I have known Edward since forever. Why would I now be nervous to look into his impossibly green eyes? I was at the front door, staring at the brass knocker attached to the wood. My heart pounding so hard, I thought it was going to leap out of my chest. I lifted one hand, breathing like I had just ran a marathon, reaching towards the knocker. I clutched it in an iron grasp. Once, twice, I knocked, awaiting a response, with a lifetime of emotions running through my veins.