Sasha stared blankly at the casket that was being lowered into the ground. She had no more tears left in her body. Her emotions were starting to suffocate her. Sasha clenched and unclenched her fists repeatedly, her body shaking. She had already experience disbelief and sadness; now she was going through anger. How could her mother leave her so suddenly? Why did that stupid idiot have to crash into her mom's car and kill her? Why couldn't it have been someone else? Sasha knew that was selfish and mean, but she didn't care. Now she was being forced to travel to some little podunk town—Forks, Washington to be specific—and live with a father she had never met or knew about. Sasha also had a sister she'd never known about until she got a phone call from her father a few days after her mother died. His other daughter, who was younger than Sasha by not even a year, had moved in with him the previous year. Her name was Isabella Marie. Her father also said he'd turn the guest room in his house into her bedroom, which was just down the hall from Isabella's bedroom. Being brought out of her revelry by her mother's best friend, Janice, Sasha dropped the white rose on top of the casket before being led away and back to the limousine.
"Can't I just live with you, Jan?" Sasha asked when Janice took Sasha's hand.
"I really wish ya could, baby, but your daddy has custody of ya now. You'll be okay up there, I know it." Janice said, her southern accent coming through.
Sasha slunk back in the seat and sighed, playing with the hem of her black dress. It was customary in her family to burn the funeral clothes after the person had been buried as a sign of respect; showing that the outfit would never be worn again. But Sasha didn't want to burn the dress…not yet. It would make her mama's death so…so final. Sasha could store it for the time being, but she wouldn't wear it anymore. The limo driver let them off at the church where Sasha and Janice got into Janice's old car and headed for the house that Sasha and her mother shared. She had to be on a plane headed for Seattle in two days. Sasha would barely have enough time to pack everything before she would be carted off to live with her biological father. She had asked Janice to oversee the rest of the packing, selling, and storing. Also, the house had to be sold. Sasha told Janice that she could have half of the profit from selling the house for doing so much for her, and the other half would be put into a bank account for Sasha to have to live on while in Washington. Janice pulled into the driveway, putting the car in park and turning the engine off.
"We're here baby. You've only got two days to pack before they take ya to the airport. If ya can't fit everything with ya, I'll ship it out for ya. Don't worry baby, everything will be okay." Janice said, patting Sasha's hand before getting out of the car and heading for the door.
Sasha followed, shutting the car door and going inside. Memories assaulted her, looking from the living room to the kitchen to the dining room. Here in the living room, her mom would help her make tents that stretched from the recliner to the couch. In there, they would eat junk food and giggle about everything until they fell asleep. In the kitchen, Sasha and her mom would make mess after mess, trying to bake cookies or cakes. Janice came over and snapped a picture of Sasha and her mom covered in chocolate syrup and flour from head to toe. But the dining room…that room held so many memories. In there, her mom would help her with homework or science fair projects. In there, her mom would bring her milk and Oreos when Sasha would could home crying because she got teased at school. In there, that was where she and her mom shared those deep heart to heart talks about anything and everything and sometimes just nothing at all. Sasha shook her head, not willing to let those memories make her sad. Those were happy memories for her, and they were going to stay that way. Sasha headed up the stairs, not being able to look at her mama's room just yet. She settled for going to her bedroom where there were several boxes already put together, along with some scissors, bubble wrap, and tape. Sasha didn't have too much in the way of clothes and shoes. She had mostly summer clothes and very few winter/cold time clothes. Her shoes ranged from flip flops, sandals, more flip flops, and a pair of boots for winter/cold time. She had one rain jacket to her name, and no real winter coat. At least she had some jeans. Granted they were her mom's when she was Sasha's age and covered in patches from eighties metal hair bands. But they were cool. Sasha walked over to her closet and packed her clothes in the suitcases she kept under her bed. Her mom insisted that she and Sasha buy luggage for when they took their spontaneous trip to somewhere amazing. They never got to that trip, however. They had it planned a few years ago for her 13th birthday, but her mom had to take a second job to pay bills and make ends meet. Sasha could remember the day so clearly.
……
"I'm sorry, Sasha. I had to take another job; you know how bills like to pile up on us. But I promise baby, one day soon, I will take you on a trip that will change your entire life!" Hannah, Sasha's mother, said.
"It's okay
mama." Sasha replied, putting on her best smile before walking up
the stairs to her room to cry at the unfairness of it all.
……
Sasha smiled sadly at the memory. Her mom had brought her a chocolate cake later than evening topping with marshmallows and candles. She and her mom stayed up until one a.m. eating cake and watching movies that night. Sasha walked over to her closet and brought a handful of clothes over to her bed, laying them down, and pulling a suitcase out from under her bed and folding her clothes, laying them neatly in the suitcase. When she had asked her father, Charlie Swan, about the weather where he lived, he described it as chilly and rainy. He also used snowy. Living in Charleston, South Carolina, Sasha didn't see that much snow. This is why she only had one pair of wintery type shoes. And only had one coat, which was a rain jacket. Rain she was used to. Chilly and rainy…not so much. She would definitely have to go to a mall when she arrived in Forks to buy some more appropriate clothing and footwear. Maybe her sister, Isabella, would show her a good place to shop.
A sister. Well, half sister technically. But still a sister nonetheless. Sasha smiled at that thought. She had always wanted a brother or sister, preferably a sister. One who she could share clothes and secrets and a bedroom with. Someone besides her mother who she could go to when her world was not in its right place and who would understand exactly what she was going through. Isabella wouldn't know what she was going through now, though, since her mother was remarried and living quite a ways away. Sasha's own mother, Hannah, had boyfriends in the past, but nothing permanent ever became of them. Sasha wondered what Isabella was like. She wondered if they looked anything alike, acted or behaved in some similar ways, or liked the same kind of music. Sasha had to admit to herself that she was excited she had a sister waiting for her in Forks. When Sasha asked Charlie how old Isabella was, he replied that she was 16. So not even a year younger than she was. Sasha was due to turn seventeen in 3 more months. Sasha had her clothing and shoes packed, and a few of her books when a thought hit her. Did Charlie cheat on her mother with Isabella's mother? Or was it the other way around?
"Jaaaan! Can you come up here?" Sasha yelled out, sitting on her bedroom floor cross-legged.
Janice came in a couple minutes later, holding a box in her arms. She set it by Sasha's bed and sat across from Sasha on the floor.
"What did ya need, baby?" Janice asked.
"Were my mother and my father ever married? Did he cheat on her with Isabella's mom? Or what?" Sasha asked.
"I was wonderin' when you would ask about that, baby. Your daddy was married to Isabella's mama when they had an argument one night. She left for…gosh, I'd say near a month. Anyway, your daddy met your mama one night when he was patrolling. She was in this horrible relationship with a man named Eric, and they were havin' it out on the sidewalk there. He hit your mama and Charlie arrested Eric and had him tossed in prison! That's how ya mama and daddy met. They went out a couple times during the month he and Isabella's mom were separated. And one night, well, ya don't need the details of that." Janice said, seeing Sasha make a face. "Anyway, ya daddy and Isabella's mama got back together a week after that. She didn't know she was even pregnant with you until the next month when she'd moved here. I don't think she even told ya daddy until well after you were in school."
"Wow…" Sasha said, taking in all this information.
"Now don't ya go and be thinkin' bad about ya mama. She was a good hard workin' woman who loved you more than life itself." Janice warned.
"I know, Jan, I'd never think badly about my mama. I love her no matter what happened in her life." Sasha said, pride in her voice.
"That's a girl. Now let's get ya packed." Janice said, pulling Sasha up and helping her pack.
……
Author's note: My second Twilight fic! So, what do you think? Check my profile for my other Twilight fic, still going on. I'll update this at least twice per week, as well as my other fan fic, Desperado. Just check out my profile for links! If you liked that one, I hope you'll like this one as well. Leave me a review, okay? I'll love you forever and ever! Mwaaaah!