A/N: This is the first draft(really rough people!) for the short story I'm doing for my english class. It is sort of a fanfic, so I thought I'd post it on here so y'all could enjoy it, and give me feedback! I'll put each new draft as a new chapter, so that y'all can see my writing process, and see how great I can make it at the end, haha. I really like the title, but I am completely open for suggestions. Oh, and it's in Bella's POV.

September 13th, over 18 years ago. That was when it all started; that was when I started.

My first breaths were taken here in Forks, and my last ones would be too. I guess I should

begin with the events that led up to this moment. One year ago I moved to Washington to

live with my dad after my mom remarried, and needed to spend time supporting her

husband in his amateur baseball career. I didn't like Forks at all when I first moved here;

it was too green—an alien country after living in Phoenix for most of my life. But on my

first day of school at Forks High I met him: the bronze-haired, tall, graceful, body of a

Greek god boy. My first glimpse of him was in the cafeteria at lunch; then in biology I

was ecstatic to find that he was the only one in class without a lab partner. It dazzled my

eyes just to look at him, and during that first biology class I blushed a lot. After

discovering multiple things we had in common we quickly became more than friends,

and we were introduced to each others families. My dad Charlie was never very touchy-

feely even with me, but to say that he wasn't overly fond of Edward would be an

understatement. Edward's parents definitely brought him up to be a gentleman though,

and so he was always extremely polite to everyone, even if they didn't deserve it. Charlie

mostly tried to ignore us when we were at the house, because he wasn't very happy if he

had to talk directly to Edward, and he tried to make me happy which he knew meant

being civil to Edward. But Edward's family welcomed me with open arms. One of his

sisters immediately hugged me, and then started talking rapidly to Edward.

"Oh, you are so right, Edward! She's beautiful, and she smells really good too!"

I blushed furiously, while beside me Edward hung his head and shook it sadly, but the

effect was ruined by the huge grin he was wearing.

"Alice, don't scare the poor girl." Carlisle, Edward's father, admonished his daughter.

"Sorry!" She said to me. "I'm just so excited! I'm going to go find Rose!"

All 4'10 of her skipped off, and my jaw dropped at the sheer gracefulness with which the

whole Cullen family was apparently bestowed with. I myself could not walk across a flat

surface without tripping multiple times.

Edward's mother, Esme, gave me a tour of their 3-story Victorian mansion, which of

course with Carlisle being a doctor they could aptly afford. Along the way I met the rest

of Edward's siblings: Emmett is the big brother of the family. I thought he was funny,

while he thought I was funny. Rosalie is Emmett's wife, and despite her long blonde

locks, and obvious high maintenance personality, she surprised me by being an auto-

phile. I met her while on a tour of the Cullen garage in which we found her working on

Edward's Volvo. Jasper is Alice's husband, and Rosalie's twin. He looks more like a

brooding movie star than anyone should have a right to.

One reaction to our relationship did come as a shock though; at least to me. I could tell

the entire female percentage of Forks High was jealous that I was the one Edward Cullen

finally picked, and I knew that a few of the guys were jealous that Edward got me, but the

first person I met when I arrived at Forks High had an entirely uncalled for, and irritating

habit of asking me out every chance he got. This happened to be every time Edward was

out of earshot, or during the last period when I had gym and Edward had Spanish.

James jokingly called himself the "friendly stalker", but it creeped me out when he would

say it; especially since he only said it to me, and he only said it when Edward wasn't

around. I always held hands with Edward, even on the school grounds, and sometimes I

would see James shooting us dirty looks. If looks could kill, James would've killed

Edward a few dozen times already. Anytime James would creep me out I would squeeze

Edward's hand, and he would put his arm around me comfortingly.

A few months went by, and at the end of every school day, when Edward was driving me

home, I would sigh with relief that James hadn't asked me out again. He hadn't even

talked to me until it was almost time to graduate. I was rushing to lunch after Spanish let

out late, when James tapped me on the shoulder.

"Bella?" He asked, looking nervous.

"Yeah?" I sighed. Stupid Isabella, I thought, why would you think he'd given up?

"I'm sorry for acting like such an idiot lately." He was looking at a spot just over my left

shoulder. "About you and Edward I mean."

I nodded slowly. Where was this conversation going exactly?

He handed me an envelope. "This is for you and Edward. It's just a little post-

graduation/early summer party I'm having. Nothing big or scary."

I nodded, a little stiffly, and he gave me a timid smile.

"Well, thanks for the invite. I gotta go to lunch, Edward will get worried if I'm too late."

Before he could say anything else I ran like the devil until I arrived at the lunch table in

the cafeteria, and sat in my regular seat.

Edward looked at me inquiringly, but I waved him off as I tried to regulate my breathing.

I held the envelope in both my hands, and tried to read the illegible scrawl.

I finally made it out:Isabella Swan & Edward Cullen. Ok, so it's to both of us, that's

nice, I thought. Edward leaned over to read it with me as I pulled the card out. Inside it

was the invitation to the party; the date, time, etc.

I looked up at Edward. "What do you think?"

"I think he finally realized that I'm not going to leave you just because he's persistent."

I smiled, and Edward answered with my favorite grin before kissing the top of my head.

Graduation came and went, and before I knew it it was time for James' party. After

buttoning my jeans I reached for my favorite shirt: dark blue, sleeveless, with eyelet lace.

I pulled my long, straight, dark brown hair into a loose ponytail, and then grabbed a

jacket as I headed downstairs.

"I'm going dad." I peeked into the living room where Charlie was watching sports.

"Ok Bells, have fun, but don't stay out too late."

"Ok."

A faint knock came from the direction of the front door, and I opened it to find Edward

waiting for me.

"Ready to go?" He asked me.

"Yep."

He took my hand, and opened the door for me like always when we got to the Volvo. We

drove in a comfortable silence to James' house which was on the outskirts of Forks in a

heavily wooded area. As soon as we knocked on the front door James opened it, and was

obviously happy to see us both there.

"Hey guys! Thanks for coming."

"Uh, yeah. I'm sure it'll be loads of fun."

Edward noticed the lack of enthusiasm in my voice, and he squeezed my hand gently.

"Well, come in and make yourselves at home!" James said, smiling widely.

We mingled with a few people before I noticed that I didn't really know anybody here.

None of the people I usually hung out with at school were invited apparently.

"Hey, you guys thirsty?" James suddenly appeared at my side.

Edward and I nodded, and the two cups James was holding were handed to us. We sipped

our drinks in silence for a while, and then Edward made a weird face.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling ok?" I asked in concern.

"I feel strange." He said. "I think I need some fresh air."

"You don't look so great. Maybe we should just go home."

James pushed his way through the crowd of people to where we were sitting.

"Did I hear you guys say you were going home? But the party just started!"

"Edward's feeling a little under the weather." I informed him.

"Do you both have to leave?" He looked depressed at the thought.

"We came together, and I should probably drive him home."

"I saw Angela and Ben over there just a second ago, so if you wanted to stay a little

longer Bella you could probably catch a ride back home with them."

"I'll be fine Bella. Go have fun with Angela. I know you probably want to spend some

girl time with her."

"Are you sure?" I asked, and he nodded. "Ok, but expect my call in a few minutes."

He got to his feet, and lurched out the front door. I watched him close the door before I

turned to James.

"I just saw Angela with Ben over here."

I walked after him as he led the way through the crowd, but I didn't see my best girl

friend or her boyfriend anywhere.

"I think I saw her go through here." He said.

I was beginning to feel uneasy as we went through a door. Thinking it was another living

area, I was confused when we were suddenly in an office. Someone had started music

outside, and I could hear the cheers of the crowd. It was dark with only the moonlight

streaming through a window to give any light. My vision started to get hazy. This is

weird, I thought. James pushed me aside and I heard the lock click on the door.

"You have no idea how long I've been planning this." He said.

I opened my mouth to ask him what he was talking about, but suddenly he was kissing

me, and I felt myself fall backwards onto the floor. Now my back hurt, my vision was

getting dark around the edges, and James' hands were getting way too friendly.

"No. Stop." I mumbled.

He made shushing noises as he pushed my shirt up, and ran his hands over my midriff. I

tried to protest again, but I couldn't form the words. My mind was clouded, but I finally

realized what he was doing when our clothes disappeared. I gathered in a breath to

scream, but his hand covered my mouth. With one hand he put my wrists behind my back

and tied them with something. My legs were already pinned by his body weight, and I

started to cry. I couldn't do anything else. Nobody was coming to help me. How I wished

that I had gone with Edward when he left. I cried harder when I thought of him; he would

never want to touch me again. I already felt dirty, unclean. Aware of everything James

was doing now, I shut myself down. I wouldn't think about it. He wouldn't get any

response out of me; I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. So in my mind I floated away.

I imagined that I had left with Edward, and that his sickness had all been an act so we

could leave early. The only sounds I could hear were the sounds of the Volvo as we raced

back to my house. Then I was jolted back to reality as James roughly gripped my chin.

"Well I hope you enjoyed it. I know I did." I could hear the smugness in his voice. He

brutally punched me in the jaw, and I saw stars. I felt him release me and heard him walk

back to the door. He unlocked it, and before he left he said one last thing to me.

"He'll never want you again." He said confidently, and then everything went black.

That was over 3 months ago, and no one had seen him since. Charlie was the chief of

police, and he had every person on the force looking for James, but to no avail. So here I

sat in my room, waiting for justice, hoping to be healed of the pain. James was wrong,

Edward still wanted me, but I couldn't bear to let anyone touch me again. It happened

months ago, but it was still fresh in my mind. After I came to, I found a phone and called

Alice. We had become close friends, and I knew that she would take care of me. I didn't

want to face Edward so soon after it happened; I knew I wouldn't be able to handle it.

Edward blamed himself for what happened to me; he thought it was his fault since he left

me, but I knew it was my fault. It was always my fault; everything I did was wrong, and

now it was hurting other people. The only solution I could think of to end the pain, and

the suffering of everyone else, was to end my life. I wouldn't cause anyone any more

pain, and I would be free; I would be clean again. As I contemplated the best way to

die, I heard footsteps outside my room, and then someone knocked on my door.

"Bella, it's me. I'm coming in." Edward's voice drifted through me like a cold breeze on

a hot summer's day. Not altogether unpleasant, just enough to give you chills.

He opened the door, and found me sitting on the floor by my window; my face streaked

with the tears that were now always present.

"They found James." He said, and I stiffened. "He's dead, Bella."

"What happened?" I looked at him, and my brow furrowed.

"Charlie said it was probably an accident as there's no evidence of foul play."

I could live with this, I thought as I got up and gave Edward a much needed hug; contact we had both been

waiting for for months. I could definitely live with this.

Ok, so what do y'all think? Criticism is definitely appreciated! Sorry it's double-spaced, but my teacher likes it like that, and I couldn't be bothered to fix it, lol. The Cullens did have a bigger part initially, but then I had to cut them way down for space issues. My teacher set a 7 page limit on it. Stupid 7 page limit, haha. R&R please!