The more you hide your feelings for someone, the more you fall in love with them ~Wasim Raja
xXx
You shoot me down, but I won't fall I am Titanium….
Charity groaned inwardly as the chorus of David Guetta's 'Titanium' began playing in her alarm. She hits the snooze button and gets out of bed, sighing because of another day in school. Getting up, she went to her bathroom, did her morning routine, changing into a beige-colored fitted long sleeved shirt, layered with a green polo, dark blue jeans, and her favorite pair of black converse.
Walking to the black vanity mirror Emily bought for her when she was adopted, she placed her favorite plain black headband on her head. Looking at her reflection, she began to wonder who her real parents were, just like any morning she would look into the mirror. She had so many questions unanswered, and she wants answers.
Who are my real parents?
Why did they leave me?
Don't they love me?
Am I that despicable?
Is it because I'm not pretty enough?
She lingered at the last thought. She wouldn't really consider herself ugly, but then again she wasn't stunningly gorgeous. Charity didn't like basing people on their looks because that's being too judgmental. She tried not to think ill-manneredly at other people because she wants to see the best in people and keep their not admirable characteristics left in the dark. But she continued to gaze at the girl in front of her.
Caramel-colored loose curls that fall until her mid back with natural blonde highlights, porcelain white skin, delicate eyebrows, big blue eyes, rosy cheeks, naturally cherry red, bow shaped lips. Her eyes fell to the star necklace around her neck as she grasped it with her thumb and index finger. It was the last memory she had of her parents. Though they were her least favorite people at the moment, she still held on that maybe someday she'll find them.
But leave Sam and Emily, the couple that adopted her? Not a chance.
She owed the engaged couple so much, she felt like her life was more than enough. Emily, like the mother hen she is, always said that she and Sam will love her forever no matter what happens, and she appreciated that. Even if she finds her parents, they weren't there when she needed them most, but Sam and Emily were.
She wasn't comfortable calling them 'mom' and 'dad' but there are occasions that she calls them that. When that happens, they would grin from ear to ear and hug her so tight that she can't breathe and feel her arms. But nonetheless, the couple didn't force her to call them that.
She got her backpack and went downstairs, hearing Jared and Paul talking with Sam. Charity always wondered why they were here all the time, not that she minded. They were great company, though Paul can be a bit of a bastard sometimes. Even so, they were like the protective brotherly duo she never had. Mess with Charity, and you turn into a punching bag for Paul and Jared, and Sam of course with a bit of wooden spoon whacking from Emily dearest. Ah, the perfect odd family for her.
"Morning squirt," Sam greeted. She pouted at the nickname her adoptive father gave her. She wasn't that small for being 5'6 at the age of sixteen, but then again, Sam and the two baboons lounging on their couch – ehem, Paul and Jared – were at least 6 feet or more. They were all really buff and super warm as well, which is beneficial because they live in La Push – and it's very cold there, mind you – so they were her and Emily's personal heater. Convenient and eco-friendly, right?
"Morning Sam," she said as she sat beside him on the dining table. Her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket, making her jump. Sam raised an eyebrow at her as she took her phone and saw the name of the person who sent her a message.
Jacob Black.
She blushed furiously as she saw the name flashed on her screen and read his text, immediately replying after reading it a couple of times more.
Hey, are you in school already? –Jake
Nope, eating breakfast with Sam –Chari
*Sigh* are you SURE you don't want to study in the rez? :( −Jake
Jake, you're my best friend and I love you, but I really want to stay in Forks High and you know why –Chari
I know, I know, you don't want to feel like you should just be isolated in the rez so you expanded your horizons and all that shizz -.- but the offer still stands, you know. Your dad probably wants you to stay in the rez but it's your choice anyway ;) aw, you love me! –Jake. Charity sighed as she saw the last statement of the message. You have no idea Jake, she thought but sent a different message.
Thanks Jake :) see you later! :D –Chari
Bye :) –Jake. She smiled and blushed. Emily, who just came out of the kitchen with a tray of freshly baked muffins, smiled at her as she knew who it was.
"It's him, isn't it?" she teased. Sam scrunched his eyebrows in confusion.
"Who's him? Charity Grace Uley, you better not tell me you already have a boyfriend!" he boomed. Charity smiled at her adoptive father and stood up, walking behind him and hugging him tight.
"Don't worry, daddy dearest! That's not happening soon. It's just Jacob –"
"The boy who farts rainbows and sunshine and makes your heart beat so fast and blush furiously," Emily said bluntly, cutting off her sentence. Charity smiled with a hint of pink on her cheeks, squealing like a fan girl and hugging her tight. Emily giggled and hugged her back after setting the tray of her famous blueberry muffins on the center of the table. Sam sighed.
"I knew this day would come," he muttered. Emily rolled her eyes.
"Come on, Sam. It's just a crush, not a relationship or a courting shish-kebab so don't go overprotective right now and stop pouting because it doesn't suit you," she scolded. Charity snickered and sat back on her chair beside Sam. Pouting and Sam wasn't a good combo at all, considering that the man had a serious face. When she first met the couple, she noticed Sam was really buff and serious looking, making her intimidated by him. But nonetheless, he can be a fun man sometimes.
"Yeah Sam, it's not like – Jared! Paul! Stop wrestling inside the house!" Charity scolded and whacked them with her own wooden spoon, a joking present she got from her adoptive mother since she used to use Emily's wooden spoon. Charity loved the spoon so much since it has her name engraved on it, though she only used it for whacking Jared and Paul when they fool around the house so much that they almost break some furniture. Right now, they almost knocked the television down.
"Sometimes, I wonder if you're really adopted because you love to spoon whack like Emily," Jared sighed. The two women held each other and smiled and shrugged. Charity looked at the clock and sighed. She had forty-five minutes before the bell rings and it takes at least half an hour to get there so she just takes a muffin, says goodbye to everyone and runs to her car, which is a blue Honda Ridgeline that Sam and Emily got for her when she first came here. She was happy, of course, but she didn't want them to spend so much on her. Nonetheless, she appreciated the gift and loved it, calling it 'her baby'.
"Chari!" Emily called. She turned and saw her running with a jacket.
"Stay safe in school," she said. Charity smiled and nodded, taking the jacket and hugging Emily.
"Thanks mom. Love you," Emily beamed and hugged her tight.
"Love you too sweetie. Now go before you're late," she said and waved her a goodbye as she sped off to Forks High School.
xXx
As Charity arrived in school, she parked beside a beat up truck that she recognized as Bella Swan's vehicle, Chief Swan's daughter. She got out of her truck and wore her jacket, hoisting her backpack to her shoulders and walking towards Bella. The latter gave her a small smile and approached her.
"Hey," she greeted. Charity wouldn't consider themselves as super best friends and whatnot, but they were in a good relationship. She would probably consider her as her closest friend in school, but not outside of school premises. In that category, it's definitely Jacob, Quil and Embry.
"Hey. So, how's your little relationship with Edweird Cullen?" Charity teased as her friend blushed and smiled. Bella is currently dating Edward, the adoptive son of Carlisle and Esme Cullen.
"I'm meeting his parents this weekend. Do you think I should dress up or something? What if they don't like me?" Bella sighed. Charity gave her a small smile.
"Oh, so you're in that stage, huh? Well, you came to the wrong person to ask those things because I am very inexperienced with that category since I have never really been in a relationship. But what I can assure you of is that you should just be yourself. One of the best decisions you could ever make is to be yourself, remember that," she said, giving her a friendly wink. Bella smiled and linked her arm with Charity's, something she rarely does.
"What did I ever do to deserve a friend like you?" She sighed. Charity chuckled as she remembered Jessica, Mike and company. She liked Angela Weber because she wasn't a nosy and judgmental girl, unlike Jessica who did. And Mike... was plain annoying. There was nothing kind enough other than that. At one point, he had a huge crush on Bella then after Charity arrived in Forks High, bada bing bada boom, he is now following her like a lost puppy.
"Well for starters, we both got crushed by some blond baby face... and here he comes now," Charity muttered as they arrived at their lockers – which were coincidentally beside each other – looking at Mike making his way to them. He stopped beside Charity, leaning on the locker beside hers. The lass raised an eyebrow at the blond, who was smirking and trying to look cool with his unsuccessful attempt to copy Edward Cullen's poof-y hairstyle with his hair gel, hairspray and other shish-kebab.
"Hey Charity," he said coolly. Charity flashed him a half-hearted smile and nodded cautiously.
"'Sup?" she said casually, taking and returning some books inside her locker. In school, she was known for having boyish attitudes at times, similar to Bella in a way, though Bella was still much clumsier that she is.
"So, the dance is coming near and I was wondering if you would like to have the honor of being my date?" he said. Charity quickly tried to make up an excuse and rolled her eyes inwardly as she heard Bella snicker in the background.
"Oh, uh, sorry Mike... I'm actually going to have a family dinner party with my relatives on that day. Sorry," she said. Mike's face fell, seeing that the two girls he would love to take to the prom, a.k.a. Bella and Charity, are away at the same day. Bella's excuse, on the other hand, is that she was going somewhere, but Charity didn't bother to ask what the place is.
"Oh, well... it's okay. Uh, see you... around," he gave him the best million dollar smile she could muster and noticed a light shade of red painted upon his cheeks, waving a goodbye to him and linking her arm with Bella's again, rushing to their first period.
"That was... I have no idea what to say," Bella bluntly said. Charity laughed and rolled her eyes playfully.
"Sorry, my ass,"
xXx
"Bye Chari," Bella waved. Charity smiled and nodded, walking to her second class – Music. She had always loved music, playing the keyboard at the beach or using the piano in the music room of the school. Walking to her table at the back, she saw her seat mate ready for class – Alice Cullen, Edward Cullen's adoptive sister.
Despite her other siblings keeping to themselves, Alice was very sociable – well, trying to. Some people were just too jealous of everything that the Cullens have that they ignored them. Out of pity, she mustered up all of the courage she had and walked to the Cullen table, greeting Alice a 'hello'. That day, Alice beamed and gave her a tight hug, greeting her as well. Her siblings though, looked like they wanted to burn a hole into her skull.
Jasper, Alice's adoptive brother and boyfriend – Charity felt disgusted at first that a sibling was dating the other sibling, reminding her of incest but she remembered they were adopted so she shrugged the issue off – cornered her once and she thought he was going to threaten her if she tried to hurt his Alice, but instead thanked her for being kind to his girlfriend despite what other people thought. He tried to give her a smile but it came out more of a grimace.
"Good morning Charity," Alice chirped as the former snapped out of her blast-from-the-past moment. She gave her a kind smile and nodded.
"How's your instrument?" Charity asked as she sat beside the brunette. Alice gave her thumbs up and smiled. Charity chuckled and nodded, taking out her keyboard as Alice held on to her flute.
"I feel like we're going to be doing something different today," Alice said. Charity raised an eyebrow at her. Whenever Alice would predict something – like just now – it would come true most of the time. It was something that both amazed and weird her out.
It was just like when she had her English class with Edward. She thought of some random stuff that could make their teacher, Mr. Mason, look stupid. At the corner of her eye, she would see Edward looking at her oddly at each thought, chuckling now and then.
And during American History class with Jasper. She was nervous about the test and suddenly, she calmed down, though she wasn't the one controlling her emotions because she knew that despite the calmness she was feeling, she wanted to feel nervousness. She could feel Jasper's stare at her that time and she thought if he was the one doing this. It was odd – well, the word 'odd' is the first thing that comes to her mind when she thinks of the Cullens.
"Oh really, huh, let's find out then, shall we?" Charity said. Alice giggled and nodded as the bell rang and the music teacher, Ms. Foster, walked into the classroom, her five inch heels clicking as it hits the floor. She gave the class a cheerful smile as everyone greeted her in chorus and proceeded with the lesson.
"Okay class, today we'll be doing something different," Ms. Foster said. Charity sighed, remembering what Alice had said earlier.
"We will be doing vocals instead of instruments! We will be doing it in duos so please pick a partner in three, two, one, GO!" Charity's face contorted to horror as everyone stood up. In cases of finding your own partner, it's either her or Alice getting flooded with requests. As if knowing what could happen, the two female seatmates stared at each other and nodded, linking arms together and signaling some people who were coming to their table that they have each other as partners. They both sighed and giggled at what just happened.
As everyone settled with a partner, Ms. Foster clapped her hands "alright class, please quiet down and let me explain the instructions."
"Together with your partner, you will be practicing a duo song that explains each other. You will have two weeks for this and it will be presented in front of the whole student body after in the school auditorium. Beware that this is fifty percent of your grade in music and failure to present will be an automatic zero for your grade in final presentation," she said. Charity smiled, knowing that Alice's beautiful voice will get them a long way. They turned to each other and smiled.
"This could be fun."
xXx
"My house after school, is that alright?" Alice asked as she and Charity walked out of school. Charity smiled and nodded.
"Sure, I'll just call my parents about it. Bye," but just as she was about to go, Alice pulled her back. Charity raised an eyebrow at her as the pixie girl grinned and pulled her to the cafeteria. Charity eyed Alice warily.
"Alice," she said cautiously. Alice winked and pulled her in front of the Cullen table. She was sure that all eyes were zeroed on her.
"Guys, this is Charity! She'll be going to our house today after school so be nice," she said, eyeing Emmett especially. Charity sees them nodding, but their eyes says 'what the hell, Alice?!' as they look at the small girl beside her. Alice turned to her and smiled, letting her go and sitting beside her boyfriend, Jasper. Standing there awkwardly, she told Alice that she'll be going to her table now.
"Aw, please stay with us?" she pouted. Charity gave her a genuine smile and shook her head.
"No, it's alright. I'll be talking to Angela about Biology anyway and besides, it feels like my presence is… unwelcomed," she muttered, looking at Rosalie who was trying to burn holes through her skull. With one last nod, she turned and walked to her normal lunch table beside Angela.
"What was that all about?" Jessica said. Ah, the annoying girl trying to look for gossip. Charity shrugged.
"Just Alice introducing me to her siblings," she said. Jessica smirked.
"Ah, the perks of being friends with a gorgeous Cullen?" she said. Charity, once again, shrugged.
You have no idea how wrong you are, she thought as she felt each Cullen eyes – with the exemption of Alice and Edward, who was with Bella right now – glare at her.
As lunch, Biology, and American History passed by in what almost felt like minutes, Jared came and went to get Charity's truck. She smiled as he approached her.
"Hey little sis," he said and gave her a hug, wrinkling his nose a bit. I cocked an eyebrow at him.
"What's up and why do you look disgusted?" she said. He gave her a tight lipped smile and shook his head.
"Nothing, but anyways, I'll get your truck and where will we meet?" he asked. I smiled.
"At the diner in Port Angeles, Alice will take me there and drop me off. You wait for me there by eight," she said. Jared nodded and suddenly scrunched his eyebrows in confusion then anger, pulling Charity behind him.
"What the – Jared? What's wrong?" she said. Alice then approached her, having a glaring competition with Jared.
"What the hell do you want," he growled. Charity blinked in surprise that he actually growled like a dog. Alice gave him a hard look.
"I'm here to take Charity to my house for a school project," she said as she held out her hand for Charity to take – which she did – and pulled her to her side. Jared growled once again and Charity smacked his head. He gave her a disbelieved look.
"Stop that Jared. Alice is my friend and don't be like that!" she scolded. He muttered some profanities before sighing and nodding, giving one last glare at Alice – who glared back with intensity twice as much as his – and sped off with her vehicle. Charity sighed and turned to Alice with an apologetic look.
"I am so sorry about that baboon. He's my dad's friend and kind of like a brother to me but he's never been that hostile so I'm really sorry," she apologized. All traces of anger on Alice's face disappeared instantly and she smiled.
"No, it's alright. We just have some… issues with some people of his descent," she said, muttering the last statement. Little did she know, Charity heard them, confused as to why the Cullens have issues with Jared's 'kind' or whatsoever, though she didn't utter a single word.
Alice pulled Charity to the jeep, with Jasper on the driver's seat. Alice smiled and pecked Jasper on the lips before sitting at the back of the jeep with Charity to keep her company. It was a quiet but comforting ride to the Cullens' humble abode. They drove through the woods and stopped in front of a beautiful house.
Well, 'beautiful house' is definitely an understatement because it was a jaw-dropping wonderful mansion.
Alice giggled as Charity gaped like a fish as her eyes set on the huge home. She then pulled her flabbergasted classmate into their house. It was beautifully designed with so many huge glass windows and doors, almost as if seventy-five percent of the house was made of glass. It was open and modern with a garden currently growing on their front porch.
"Welcome to our humble abode!" she said cheerily. Charity smiled and let Alice guide her inside.
"Alice? Is that y – oh hello," a female voice said as she walked towards Alice. Charity was once again shocked that everyone in their family was insanely gorgeous. The woman before her was pale and golden eyed, just like the rest of the Cullen children, with a perfectly sculpted heart shaped face and perfectly waved caramel hair. Her figure is slender, but a bit more rounded than the others, but nonetheless, she was gorgeous.
"Hello Mrs. Cullen, it's nice to meet you," Charity greeted. The woman smiled warmly.
"Hello dear, please call me Esme. What's your name?" she said.
"Alright, Esme, I'm Charity Uley," she introduced. Charity swore that she saw Esme freeze at her name but continued to smile genuinely and nodded. Alice led her to the music room and told her to wait as she took off and went to get her laptop. Esme came in and brought a tray of snacks for them. As she set the food down, Esme sat beside her and took Charity's hand in hers. Charity tilted her head in confusion with the gesture the woman made.
"Charity, if you wouldn't mind answering my question, are you… adopted?" she asked. Charity was taken aback by her sudden question but bit her lip and nodded.
"Yes I am," she said. She saw the surprise in Esme's golden eyes as the woman tightened her grip a bit on Charity's hand.
"W-What was your… name before you were adopted?" she asked.
"I was Charity Grace Platt."