Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
A/N: I thought I'd make an attempt at my own version of Cinderella. After all, Edward is the perfect Prince Charming =P Enjoy!
BPOV
I remember the first time I met Sue.
She was my kindergarten teacher. Her skin was naturally tan, and her sandy blonde hair was always pulled into a twist at the back of her neck. She had a wide smile, and soft curves, her face pleasantly round. There were laugh lines around her mouth and eyes from many years of working with children.
Her eyes were a dull, hazy gray.
My mom had gray eyes. They looked like pools of liquid silver. Sue's looked empty.
I was terrified of Sue. Actually, I was pretty terrified of everybody.
My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was fourteen months old. She died six months later. It was just me and Charlie after that.
Charlie and I were a lot alike. We were both quiet in general, not good with meeting new people. But with each other, there were no secrets. I think maybe he tried so hard to make up for my mom's absence. He was a police officer in our hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, but he would come home at night to read me stories about happily ever afters, and join me in my tea parties. He was my best friend.
When I started kindergarten, I kept to myself. Sue tried to get me to interact with the other kids, but I just couldn't. I wanted my dad. I wanted home.
She called Charlie in to discuss my behavior. That's how they met: while discussing whether or not there was something wrong with me. Charlie was adament that I was just quiet, and I would open up once I was more comfortable. Sue suggested that they set up a monthly meeting to discuss my progress. It wasn't long after that before they started dating. I moved on to first grade the next year, and they moved on to marriage.
Charlie and I spent the weeks before the wedding cleaning out the house, trying to make room for Sue and her daughters, Lauren and Jessica. Lauren was in my class, and she hated me. I had never met Jessica, but I didn't hold out much hope that we would be the best of friends.
We came across a lot of my mom's things while we were cleaning. Most of it was simple stuff, like books or clothes, that we donated to the local Salvation Army. The only things we couldn't bear to part with were her sheet music and her charm bracelet.
Renee had been a pianist for the Phoenix Symphony. I don't remember her, but Charlie said she was incredible. He had accompanied his mother to the symphony one year for her birthday, and that's where they met. The two had fallen in love almost instantly, and the rest was, as they say, history. He bought her the charm bracelet their first Christmas together, and added a charm to it every year after that. It was the only piece of jewelry she regularly wore, and Charlie felt it would be best if he gave it to me for safekeeping. My wrists were too small to wear it yet, so I kept it in my jewelry box, right on top, where I could see it every day.
The sheet music we stored in filing boxes, and I insisted on keeping them in my room. I was determined to play piano, just like her. We still had her baby grand in the family room, and since Charlie didn't play it was all mine. My mother's conductor, Aro, and his wife Jane were close family friends. He knew of my desire to play, and had begun giving me lessons as soon as I was old enough. I had learned quickly, having music in my blood.
The week following the wedding brought Sue and her girls into our house. Our home was only three bedrooms, so Jessica and Lauren would share, as neither of them wanted to stay with me. I was right about Jessica, but it really wasn't too terrible having them all around. Charlie seemed happy enough, and that was all that mattered to me.
But just like that, he was gone.
We got the phone call on a Wednesday. Charlie had pulled someone over for a standard speeding ticket. He had no idea that they had just robbed a liquor store, and they pulled a gun on him before he ever had a chance to react. I didn't want to see the footage from his cruiser camera.
With no living relatives, I was left in Sue's care. They had only been married for eight months, but I had no other options. It was only shortly after his death that things began to change.
Sue quickly made her dislike for me known. I'm not sure why she hated me so much. My room was claimed by Lauren, and my things were moved up into the attic space. It was a large space, and fairly well-insulated, so I didn't really mind. It was my own space away from everyone else, and for that I was grateful.
My piano was no longer welcome. Sue planned to have the house redone to her tastes, and my mother's baby grand didn't fit into the design plans. Aro was kind enough to let me move it to the orchestra's practice hall. I could still practice whenever I had time, and he would continue to give me lessons. It was hard watching it go, but I took solice in the fact that it would at least be well-cared for.
The household fell into a routine after that. The three of us would go to school every day while Sue went to work. When we got home, the girls would go out to our pool while I made them snacks. After snacks, I set about taking care of the normal chores. There wasn't much; just laundry and some light cleaning. As long as I kept up with it, it never got out of control. Dinner was made by the time Sue got home, and they would eat together while I ate in my room. When I was done I would make a trip down to the practice hall to visit my piano for a few hours, before I returned home to do my homework.
The work didn't bother me. It kept my mind from wandering. My mother's death had never caused me much pain directly. I longed to know her, but I hadn't been old enough when she passed away to really remember her. My father's death, however, was too much to bear. He was my best friend, and I needed him. Sue had no intentions of comforting me or making me feel loved. She and her girls were very clear that I was not part of their family. They were cruel and petty, but I couldn't help but want what they had: each other.
******************
It's been eleven years since Charlie died. I still miss him, every day.
I pulled my long brown hair up into a ponytail, blowing my sideswept bangs out of my eyes. My mother's charm bracelet tinkled softly on my wrist, and a smile pulled at my lips. I had worn it every day since I finally grew into it. The silver charms only filled half of the links, but I had plans to fill it the rest of the way some day. I had already added one charm: a small police badge, for Charlie.
The girls were tanning by the pool when I came downstairs. Sue was out today with Billy, and I had already completed my chores, so I had the day to myself.
Billy was Sue's new boyfriend. They had started talking online, introduced by a mutual friend, and apparently hit it off. He was from Washington state, but he and his son Jacob had been down to visit a few times over the last couple months. Jake was actually pretty cool. He was my best and only friend. Pretty sad considering I had lived here my whole life, and I'd only seen him four times.
"Hey, Bells, where you headed?" Jake called from the kitchen doorway, his mouth full of sandwhich. I couldn't help but smile. Jake was massive. He was a Quileute, and definitely looked it. He was almost 6'5", more than a foot taller than me. He was only sixteen but he was built like a linebacker: broad shoulders and solid muscle. His dark skin complemented his jet black hair perfectly, and his big brown eyes always held a hint of laughter.
"I'm gonna go see my baby. Wanna come?" I asked. He flashed me a thumbs up and grabbed us two bottled waters before following me out the door.
My father's big red chevy was parked on the road in front of the house. He hadn't left a will when he died, so everything had been left to Sue. She hated the truck, but couldn't find anyone to take it off her hands. When I turned sixteen last year, I begged her to let me have it. She agreed, only so Lauren wouldn't have to take me to school anymore. I loved it.
I quickly jumped in the cab and put the key in the ignition, the beast roaring to life as me and Jake buckled up. It was only a ten minute drive to the practice hall, and I was grinning widely when we stepped into the building.
This was the only place that felt like home to me anymore. After Sue had renovated the house, it just didn't feel right. There were no traces of my father left, save for the pictures and momentos in my attic room. I escaped to the practice hall anytime I got the chance, longing to feel close to at least one of my parents.
"Bella! Jake!" I turned to greet Jane, who was gliding gracefully over to us. Jane was a dancer. She had toured with the American Ballet Company when she was younger, but after she and Aro met, she had decided to open up her own studio here in Phoenix. She was small, almost childlike, and her feathery blonde hair was pulled back into her standard bun. She pulled me into a tight hug when she reached us, then moved to do the same for Jake.
"Hi, Jane," I smiled. She walked over to link her arm with mine, leading us to my room.
"It's so good to see you, sweetie," she sighed, smiling softly. "How are you doing?" Her eyes darted over to my face, frowning at what she saw there. I knew I probably looked the same as usual. Jane was always lecturing me about getting more sleep, and eating more. There just wasn't time for it.
"I'm okay," I shrugged, trying to brush off her concern. I knew that she and Aro worried about me. But really, there was nothing I could do about the situation, so I tried to make the best of it. I only had one semester of high school left, and I would be off to college, far, far away from Sue and the girls.
Jane continued to make small talk with me and Jake as we made our way to the room, then deposited us so I could practice. Jake had come with me the last few times they visited. He hated Lauren and Jessica almost as much as I did, and this was as much an escape for him as it was for me. Jane and Aro had taken to him right away, accepting him without a second thought. He sat in silence on the small couch to one side of the room, watching me play.
Aro came in after awhile to check on us, gazing at me with the same scrutiny that his wife had. It wasn't long, however, before my time was up, and we headed back to the house. Sue's car was in the driveway when we got back, and I groaned internally, wishing these last few months would pass faster. Jake draped an arm across my shoulder for support as I led us inside.
"Bella? Jake? Is that you?" Sue's voice called from the living room. We followed the sound to find everyone waiting for us.
"Bella, get some refreshments. There's something Billy and I would like to talk to you about," Sue instructed. "I would like iced tea, no sugar, with sliced lemons on the side. And bring a few pieces of that coffee cake that you picked up this morning." I turned from the room with a tight smile, waving off Jake's offer for help. My mind wandered as I put everything on a tray, trying to figure out what they could possibly want to take to all of us about. This didn't bode well.
I carried the tray carefully back into the living room, placing it on the coffee table before serving everyone. Once I finished, I walked to Jake's side and took a seat on the arm of his chair. Sue turned her head to smile slightly at Billy, and the two clasped hands before she cleared her throat and looked back to us.
"Kids, Billy and I have been talking. We think it's time to take the next step in our relationship. It's just silly for us to be living on opposite ends of the country," she chuckled lightly, the sound hollow and fake. My palms began to sweat, and I glanced nervously at Jake. He answered me with a shrug, his own brow furrowed in confusion.
"Girls," she continued, "we're moving to Washington."
A/N: Well, what do you think so far? I'm really liking this story, so I'll probably update at least once a week, maybe more. Review and let me know how I'm doing =)