SAVE ME, HEAL ME
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Assumptions: When an army soldier dies, his wife gets pension as long as she is widow, as well as his kids get some pension each till they are of 20 years age. And I am naming Edward (not the hero of the story) and Elizabeth in their roles just like that, no particular reason or preference.
Author's comment: I know the genre is crazy, but this story does start sad, but goes on becoming happy. Complete romantic sort-of Cinderella story. Please give it a try and give me comments if you have any.
I do not want to live like this. My parents would not want me to. So, while Renee and Phil, as well as Jacob, Jessica, and Lauren are sleeping, I slowly sneak out with my essential backpack into the cold. Freedom!
Phil and Renee are not my parents. Both are my step-parents. And I would say that loosely. Because they never acted like one. My father, Edward, was a brave army commander and my mother, Elizabeth, was a high school teacher. They were a sweet couple and I am blessed to have my childhood with them to learn the important lessons in my life. Sadly, my mother passed away giving birth to my brother, who did not survive either. My father was devastated with the loss, but tried to support me anyway. But his job required him to leave. So while he was on vacation with me, he met and married Renee, hoping to give me a loving family when he is not there with me. He never returned to see if he was successful. I was of 12 years at that time.
Renee had a kid from previous marriage, my step-sister Lauren, who is an year older than me. Both of them liked to look down upon me when my father was not looking. But when my father died, they become the devils in my life. Let side the fact that neither was with me when I was crying, I did not even get to grieve properly. They remind me everyday that I was... am a curse to live with. They are true you know. Whenever I feel happy about something, it never stays with me. Whenever I try to make someone happy, something even depressing happens to them. Renee stopped talking to me entirely, just doing so when absolutely necessary, like signing my papers, scolding me or giving some instructions. Lauren, on the other hand, has always been the first to blame or enslave me till date. In a year after my father's death, Renee married Phil Dwyer, a hot shot rich businessman. He had two kids of his own, Jacob and Jessica. Jacob is a year older than me, and Jessica is of the same age. All three of them are the same; they just don't bother with me that muck.
But all that is not the reason I am walking away today. As much as I lack interaction in the house, I am a voluntary loner myself and am used to my lifestyle by now. Studying, reading, cooking, running and sewing is how I spend my time any day. The pension from my father has been enough till now for taking care of my own expenses and needs. I graduated high school and I am pretty confidant I will be able to score a scholarship for my further studies and I will be away from the Dwyer's finally. I was just waiting for my letters. But apparently Phil has other ideas. I overheard Phil and Renee talking today...
"Hey honey! You seem very happy today. Any good news?"
I could hear the happy note in Phil's reply, "Darling! I have finally succeeded in making the deal. You know the one with the Newtons. This will be a major breakthrough for us. We will be expanding twice as much when the project launches. Both of us, I mean."
"That's wonderful. I was worried that they would choose another."
"I know, me too. They would get the same result with any company. But I guess they liked my proposition better."
"What's that?" asked the excited Renee.
"You know their son? Mike?" Phil asked in a sly voice.
"Who? The one who was charged for the rape assault and drugs a few years back?" I was immediately disgusted of the said Mike.
"Yeah yeah. Apparently he was excused of his crimes after half a year's sentence. Maybe some good money was spent on him. Anyway, Newtons are going to introduce him as the heir after he finishes college this year."
"What? That alone will be the setback for their company."
"Exactly! And they need to prove that he has improved and is clean now, to all their clients. And I gave them a way to do that. I finalized a marriage with one of our daughters."
Renee was horrified, "I will never marry Lauren or Jessica to that scum. That disgusting..."
But Phil cut her off, "Of course we would do that to them. They are our jewels. I was talking about Isabella."
And it was my turn to be horrified. 'Oh her?" Renee relaxed, "You scared me for a moment when you said 'our daughters'. Yeah that will do. She would never speak against us or them anyway, and make us all look good. But tell me Phil, has he really improved?"
Phil barked out a laugh, "No official information, but from what I've heard, he left behind drugs and came out as a cocky son of a bitch."
Both of them laughed at that, and left me in desperate panic.
I won't let them use me such just for their gain. I may be an ugly, silent and unlucky girl, but I won't surrender to fate willingly. There will be some way out. I hope my parents will watch over me. And so I walked away from the mansion without looking back.
After walking a few minutes, I reached the bus stop and paid for the next bus out of Forks to Seattle. I got down at the gas station and looked around. A sense of dread settled in my stomach as I looked around the empty station. Suddenly a car arrived. It halted at one of the tanks to refill and I slowly crept to its back. I tried my luck with the trunk of the car, and felt a sense of relief when it opened without much sound. Entering it silently, I prepared myself for the uncomfortable ride, all crouched and curled. As the car started again, I hoped that it would take me away to destination where I will find my peace.