Chapter 1

Crowded hallways are the loneliest places

For outcasts and rebels

Or anyone who just dares to be different

-Hunter Hayes 'Invisible'

Nobody knows who I am.

Nobody cares.

Does it bother me?

I like to think it doesn't, but who am I kidding. I'm different.

I'm an outcast and compared to my sister...I don't exist in the school pyramid.

I'm not dating one of the hottest guys at our school.

I don't have friends.

I'm a loner...and that's never going to change.

My name is Aspen Swan and I am Bella Swan's twin sister.

This is my story.

As I walked through the hallways of Forks High, my shoulders were slumped and my eyes drawn downward, so as not to draw attention to myself.

But of course I found myself pushed around by the other students in the hallway as I made my way to the art room for class. 'I just have to finish this year and I will be done with this school,' I thought to myself.

Once I entered the classroom, I made my way to my seat in the back of the room, squeaking in my rain boots the whole. As I took a seat on the stool, I dropped my backpack on the floor beside the table and pulled out my sketchbook to doodle in as I waited for class to begin.

No one came to sit by me as the students entered the classroom, which was fine by me because then I would have the whole table to work on.

When class started I finally looked up to listen to the new art project we were giving.

"For the next couple of weeks, you will create an art piece that sums up who you are, what you feel, and what you think," the art teacher said as she walked around the room. "I don't care what medium you do it in or what you do it on. My only requirement is that you work on it at home because I want it to be a surprise for everybody else. I will be putting on an art show to show off your work so make it good. You have the whole class period to brainstorm what you are going to do." The art teacher sat down at her desk and left the students to their own devices.

Sighing, I laid my chin in the palm of my hand. 'Come on clock move faster. The quicker the bell rings the quicker I can go home and it will be the weekend.'

I sat still on the stool for an hour and a half until finally the bell rung. All the kids rushing out of the classroom to go home, but before I could get out the door my teacher stopped me. "Aspen, I graded your last artwork and I have to say I am amazed at your talent," the teacher said, getting a thank you out of me. "I was wondering if you were considering going to college for art."

"Probably not," I answered quickly trying to leave.

"Why not?" my teacher asked shocked.

"Because, someone has to stay and look after dad," I responded. "My sister won't do it. As soon as she can she'll leave this town behind her and never come back."

"Your father would be fine without you for a couple of months at a time. You can always come back and visit."

"I don't think so, but thanks for the advice," I said as I rushed out the door, leaving a stunned teacher behind. Jogging down the hallways through the throng of students on their way out the school, I finally reached the entrance and left the school building. Once I reached the parking lot, I looked around for Bella to see her getting in the car with the Cullens.

Sighing, I looked up at the sky as I felt a drop on my face, signalling the start of rainfall. Making a mad dash through the rain towards the truck, I climbed in and turned it on, blasting the heat. Starting the car, I pulled out of the parking spot and drove home.

I woke up the next morning to find the house empty and two notes on the dining room table.

One note was from my father:

Had to go into work today. I will not be back until late tonight.

The other was from my sister:

I took the car and went over to the Cullens. Won't be home till late tonight.

After reading them, I crumpled up the notes and threw them in the bin on my way out the kitchen. Climbing the stairs two at a time, I reached my room quickly and began to get dress, throwing on a pair of rain boots and a raincoat, before grabbing my cell and wallet, I went back downstairs.

I exited the house and made my way towards the bus stop in town, outside the diner, which I then boarded and made my way to Port Angeles.

Once there I walked around looking for an art store until I found one and bought charcoal and colored pencils to use for my art project. After I paid for it I stopped for lunch at a local diner. 'I have to waste time. The bus to take me back to Forks won't be back until six,' I thought to myself as I placed my order. Looking at my watch, I noticed it was only one right now.

I took my time eating my lunch, but once I was done I paid the waiter and left the restaurant. By then it was only two thirty.

As I walked down the street through the rain looking for a place to spend a few hours in, a black mercedes pulled up beside me. The window rolled down and a voice called out. "Do you need a ride?"

I looked through the window to find Dr. Cullen. Not wanting to spend any more time in Port Angeles than I needed to, I nodded my head and got into the car.

Dr. Cullen had turned the heat up as soon as I had buckled myself in as he drove. "I'm sorry for getting your seat wet," I said, apologizing.

Dr. Cullen smiled, his gold eyes glittering with compassion. "Don't worry about it."

I just nodded my head and silently looked out the window to see the landscape fly by. Before I knew it, he was pulling up to my house.

"You're more than welcome to come spend the day at my house," Dr. Cullen offered.

"No thank you," I said. "I need to start on my art project."

"Okay, but you're welcome anytime," Dr. Cullen said, before he waved goodbye and sped off down the street. I watched him until he turned a corner before walking into the house.

Hanging up my jacket and kicking off my rain boots at the front door, I headed upstairs to my room where I put the art supplies down before going back downstairs. I turned on the T.V. and got a blanket and laid down on the sofa. After thirty minutes of watching T.V. I fell asleep to the loll of the voices on the screen.

"Aspen. Aspen, wake up."

I groaned and opened my eyes slowly only to shut it when I caught sight of the sun shining through the window. "What?" I asked, my voice croaking.

"Get up. Carlisle told me to bring you along today," Bella said, as I opened my eyes and sat up.

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't know," she snapped as she made her way up the stairs.

Standing up, I walked into the kitchen and fixed a glass of water to rinsed my mouth out. "Hurry up Aspen! I don't want to be late," Bella screamed from upstairs.

"I'm hurrying," I yelled back as I placed the glass in the sink. I walked upstairs and got dressed. By the time I got back downstairs, Bella was standing in the foyer with a frown on her face.

"Finally," she said, stomping out of the house. I followed after her, locking the door as I went. We both climbed into the truck and Bella started the car and drove to the Cullen's house. The whole ride was silent as we drove through town.

When we pulled up to the house, Bella jumped out of the truck quickly. She was met by Edward who had come out of the house. I got out of the car and slowly followed behind them into the house. "Hey Alex."

I turned around to find Dr. Cullen standing in the foyer. "Hello Dr. Cullen," I said with a smile.

"Please call me Carlisle," he said as he led me into the kitchen were his wife was standing.

"Okay," I said as I looked around at the decorum of the place.

"Hello," Mrs. Cullen said as she came over and gave me a hug. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"You as well," I said. She let go and led me to the kitchen table, where I took a seat.

"Would you like some hot chocolate?" she asked.

"Yes, please," I said. Carlisle took a seat next to me as his wife flitted around the kitchen.

My eyes followed her as she moved around. "You have a very beautiful wife, Carlisle."

"Thank you," he said a smile lighting up his face. 'Now that's love,' I thought as I smiled along with him.

"So tell us about yourself, Aspen," Mrs. Cullen said as she sat a mug down in front of me. "We barely heard anything about you from Bella."

I picked up the mug and blew on it before taking a sip. "Figures," I said with a chuckle. "Me and Bella aren't the best of sisters to each others."

"Why is that?" Carlisle asked.

I took another sip of hot coco as I looked out the window. "When our parents split, we were both given a choice. Stay with dad or go on the road with mom. I choose to stay with dad and Bella….she-"

"She choose to go," Mrs. Cullen said.

"Exactly, Mrs. Cullen," I said.

"Please call me Esme," she said. I nodded my head.

"Bella, ever since she was little and first figured out that all the roads in this country are connected she has been waiting to leave. It's all she ever dreamed of," I said.

"What about you?" Carlisle asked.

"What about me?" I asked, drinking some more hot coco.

"What do you dream of? Why did you choose to stay?" Carlisle asked.

"I choose to stay because dad needed someone to stay with him. I could see it in his eyes when him and mom split," I said, gripping the handle on the mug tightly. "As for what I dream of, I dream of nothing. Dreaming is pointless. You put all your hope and faith in something only to have it crushed."

"Why do you think that way?" Esme asked, but before I could answer Bella and Edward walked in.

"Oh what are you guys talking about?" Bella asked.

"Nothing," I said at the same time Esme said, "Your sister doesn't believe in dreaming."

Bella frowned. "Why are you guys talking about that?"

"We were talking about how you guys split up during your parents divorce," Carlisle said. "But then we got on the topic of dreaming."

Anger flashed in Bella's eyes. "So she told you how I left our dad and how I've been dreaming of leaving this town since I was little."

"Well, yes," Carlisle said.

"Why do you always bring that up Aspen?" Bella snapped.

"They asked me Bella so I answered them," I said.

"You always have to go and make me look like the bad guy," she said.

I angrily stood up. "I didn't make you look like a bad guy, Bella. I just told them the truth. They're your boyfriends family, they have a right to know that you-"

"To know what?" Bella asked. I didn't say anything. "Go ahead say it."

"Fine," I snapped. "They have a right to know that when you get tired of being in a place, you'll get up and leave because that is what you're good at."

Bella scoffed. "You know what you're good at doing?"

"Why don't you tell me?" I said, but as soon as those words left my mouth I knew I was going to regret them.

The rest of the Cullens had come into the room during our argument and were looking at us with shock on their faces.

"You're good at ruining peoples lives," Bella yelled.

"Bella," Edward said.

"No it's true. She tattled on Mike Newton and got him in trouble with the law two years ago," she said. I stared at her, tears threatening to fall. "She told a lie about how he raped her."

"He did," I said.

"No he didn't," Bella said. "Everybody knows you lied about that event. And now look at you, you're an outcast and nobody cares about you."

At those last words, the tears began to fall. Carlisle stood up and tried to comfort me, but I took a step away. "Well, Bella not everybody can be like you," I said, before running out of the house and to the truck. Starting it, I pulled out of the driveway and drove home through tears.

Once I parked, I ran into the house and upstairs to my room, where I fell onto my bed sobbing. After I got my breathing under control, I stood up and began to pace the length of the room.

Before I knew it, I found myself in the bathroom with my hand around a bottle of sleeping pills. I took the cap off and downed one after another, until darkness engulfed me.