My Hero Chapter One

"Edward, why does everyone hate me? Even my own family hates me." I ask my cousin, my best and only friend in this world.

Edward is my cousin by adoption. but he is more like a brother to me than a cousin. He is only a few months older than me. his birthday was June 20th, he turned 24 years old. I will be 24 in 2 months, on September 13th.

Edward's parents are guardians, well they were when I was little. They took me in when my parents died and left a 5 year old me behind. my uncle Emmett is my mothers brother. He blames me for her death, and that of my dad. They were killed in a car accident that I survived without a scratch or bruise. Uncle Emmett and aunt Alice only took me in because of my inheritance. My dad came from an old family with old money. To be honest, they were millionaires. My dad made a savingsaccount for we when he found out that my mom was pregnant with me. Because of the early death of my parents they didn't put much on it, well to most people it won't be much, but to me it is more than just the money, to me its a piece of my parents. They also left me there homes. In my parents wills they left them to me, but in the care of my guardians, uncle Emmett and aunt Alice, until I would turn 18. They would get the money needed to take of me until I would turn 18 and went to college. Well, my aunt and uncle didn't use that money on me but for themselfs, they are that selfish. I got clothes and stuff from secondhand stores and other ugly hand-me-downs from my aunt and other family members. When I turned 16 I got a job at the local diner to pay for all the stuff I needed but didn't get from my aunt and uncle, like a reliable car, gas, insurances, normal clothes and hygienic stuff. Before I got a job, I had to do extra chores in the house to earn for the stuff I needed that they didn't want to give me any other way. They didn't even think I deserved the houses my parents left me and sold them. Every memory of my patents was sold with it.

Edward was the only one in my family that did love me. Every time my family was mean to me, which was most of the tine , he was there for me to lean his shoulder to cry on, he gave me hugs and support to get through the day, week, month and well just through life all together. Even when we were going to college and he decided to go join the army, he was there for me. He only stayed in the army for 4 years, after that he joined the police force in Phoenix, Florida which was to far away from where I live, since I lived in Seattle since college. I studied English literature and a minor in cooking/baking. I wanted to be a writer. He always encouraged me to go with my dreams and something for myself not for others, so I did just that with my college education. To pay for college I got a job in some bookstore close by my apartment and college. I did get a scholarship, but that only covered my education and first year in the dorms. But I hated the dorms, so I got an apartment close by college grounds and the job at the bookstore to pay for the rent and all the important stuff.

Now at the age of 23, I still live in that same apartment, work at the same bookstore were nobody really likes me but 1 person, Angela. She is 3 years older than me, but she's like the best friend that I needed since my parents death, besides Edward of course. And since I don't see Edward much anymore since he lives in Phoenix, I could use a best friend. Edward was still there for me, just not physically. We talked on the phone or skype every day and emailed a few times a week but it still wasn't the same as talking to him face-to-face. I also talked to his girlfriend a few times a month. They are dating since he left the army and moved to Phoenix, 3 years ago. They are a lovely couple. They have been here a few times, but since my boss hates me, she doesn't want me to give the days of to visit him and haven't seen the life he has there. Esme, Edward's girlfriend, is also 23. Her birthday is on October 31th. Yeah I know, she's born on Halloween, the best day of the year to me. She knows how I feel about my job and life here in Seattle and is begging me to move to Phoenix and live close to her and Edward. She even wants to help me look for my own house and a job. Until I had enough money to pay rent, I could live with them, instead of a hotel, so I could save money. The move would cost me enough, so she wanted to help me with making it easier for the first few months. I said that I had to think about it, but there isn't really anything to keep me here. Angela was going to move in with boyfriend in some other city so she wouldn't be there either. But I didn't want to be a burden to Esme and Edward for the months that I have to live with them so I can save my money.

"What happened this time?" He asked me. Since he joined the army and after that moved to Phoenix, the family has been worse to me.

"They were unbelievable ruid to me in the bookstore with all my colleagues and costumers as an audience. My colleagues were laughing at me and even joined the family with calling me mean things. Nobody did anything to help me to afraid for my family or that they wouldn't be welcome in the store anymore." Angela wasn't working today, she had to talk the day off because of a few job interviews. Becauce of the move, she needed a new job.

"Wasn't Angela not at work today?" Edward asked me, pulling me out of my memory.

"No, she had some important job interviews, she took a few days of so she could travel to here new hometown. But I wish there was someone there to help me and stand up for me, like you used to do when we were younger."

"Did you think about the offer Esme made you? You know you are welcome to stay here if you decided to move here so you could get settled, find a job and a house and save money. The move would be expensive as it is. We want to help you with looking for houses for you, to buy or rent. We would even like to help with the first payments of the house when you decided to buy a house so you have some extra money for paint and other things to fix up the house. We will also help you with painting the rooms and Esme wants to help you with decorating the house with you. Just think about it at least okay?" Edward said in a plaiding voice.

"Well, I have been thinking about it since Esme offered me. And since I have nothing keeping me here, I'm leaning to accept the offer. Angela is moving too and since Once Emmett sold everything that belonged to my parents I don't have any memories of them keeping me here either. But I don't want to stay at your place for the first few months for you giving up your privacy so I can stay there. Maybe I'm just going to rent a small apartment for the first few months while I'm looking for a better house and store my stuff in some storage locker. I still have the money of my savingsaccount that will give me some moving space while I'm house and job hunting." I said to Edward. I wanted him to know how I felt about intruding there privacy if I stayed with them. I had some money in my savingsaccount, its not much since my parents died young and there wasn't put in much. My dad had put some money in it every month, just to show me how to use money wisely. That was the only think my aunt and uncle couldn't use. My dad was a smart man, he was the only one that had excess until I would turn 18. Until this day I haven't used any of that money. I didn't want to use it until it was really needed. It was the only thing left from my parents.

"We really don't mind you being with us for a few months you know. We would really love it. We miss you and want to spend some time with you without you having to leave to go to your own house. But I do understand what you mean. If it will help us getting you here, I could ask a colleague and friend of mine if you could stay with him for a little bit. We know you will be in good hands with him, since he is also Esme's older brother Jasper. He is almost 2 years older than you, just few days short actually. Just think about this compromise, we don't want you to spent money when its not needed to be spent. You just use it on your new house to make it a home. Really consider this please?" Edward said, coming with a compromise I just couldn't not give a thought and think it really through.

Its not like I know much about Jasper, I never really heard about him before. If they did talk about him it would not have registered with me. So, I had to talk with this Jasper guy too before I made my final decision. I don't know if he has a girlfriend, or boyfriend for that matter. It will be cheaper than renting a small apartment, but I don't want to be in jaspers way if was in a relationship. I also wanted to pay for something so I wouldn't feel complete burden to Jasper.

"Edward, there are a few things I need to know before I make my final decision. If I decided to live with him for a little while, won't he or his girlfriend mind me being there? Also, I want to pay for something, like food or a little on the rent or something and I want to cook dinners to make it up to him. You know I graduated with a minor on cooking, so I know my way around the kitchen. I don't want to feel like a burden to him too. I also want to talk to him myself, its not that I don't trust you, I just need to know some more about him. And who to ask than himself." I told Edward what was on my mind about his offer.

Edward started to laugh, which made me confused. "You don't need to worry about Jasper having a girlfriend. He's ki d of married to his job. He may be 24 but he has been with the force since he was 19 years old." Know I understand why he was laughing. It was kind of funny since I was worrying about him having a girlfriend.

"And know I would like to have you in his house, especially if you are the one cooking. He can't cook even to save his life. And as for paying some kind of rent, I know he will say that it is not needed. Just pay for the food sometimes and cook for him every day and you will be fine. I will ask him and if he agrees, I'll give you his email and phone number. And I understand that you want to talk to him you self, I would want the same if I was going to life with someone I don't know."

"I knew you would understand me. You always do Edward. Even when we were younger and the family was bullying me again, you would stand up for me and knew what I needed all the time. Thank you for that Edward. Thank Esme also for me. She did a lot for me the past years" I said with tears in my eyes. I'm so glad that I have them in my life, I don't know what to do without them.

"Just think about my second offer and it will all be good. And you don't need to thank us, we love you and you are like my little sister, we are family. I'll go talk with Jasper and will let you know what he says. I see him tonight for a family dinner, so I will ask him then. Don't worry, we'll find some way to get you here with us, even if we need to make compromises to do so. We want you here." Edward is once again the one caring for me. I need to do something back to show him, and Esme, how appreciated there love, care and help is.

"Just give Jasper my email and tell him that he can always contact me to talk about how we are going to do this. We need to make some rules or something so living in the same house will be comfortable at least. I would also understand it if he want to know more about me, and hearing it from me and not you, before he gives his final answer." Did I just agree to move to Phoenix and live with Jasper, someone I never met, and don't even know if he wants me there? I think I did.