Okay, so blah blah blah first story on Fanfiction blah blah blah go easy on me blah blah blah. I'm sure you've read stuff like this before, so I'm not gonna bore you by repeating it.
Anyway, constructive criticism is welcomed, but please don't be a jerk about it. Also, just to let you know, I'm not 100% sure on where or where not to put commas, so if you see a comma where it shouldn't be, or don't see a comma where it should be, I am sorry.
Also, sorry that the summary sucked, but the little summary typing thingy really doesn't give me enough space to write a better one. The story will be a lot better than the summary may lead you to believe (At least, I hope it will).
Disclaimer: The Twilight saga and its wonderful characters belong to the genius, Stephenie Meyer. Any characters you don't recognize probably belong to me.
I sat in the comfortable silence of my bedroom, catching up on some late homework. I didn't get many quiet nights like this, so it was best to spend it doing something productive. It was an English assignment over Romeo and Juliet. I hardly knew anything, of course. I really wasn't that interested in romance tragedies.
Bella would know this. She has that play memorized. I smiled fondly as I thought of my friend.
Isabella Swan, or Bella as she liked to be called, was my best friend in Phoenix, Arizona before she moved last year to Forks, Washington. She was my only friend, really. I was a bit of an outcast at school, and, unless I was forcibly paired with someone else for some project for class, Bella was the only one who would ever hang out with me.
I sniffled as I wiped a stray tear beneath my thin-rimmed glasses. Don't cry about it, Cat! I told myself. It happens to lots of people.
A sudden crash, like the sound of glass breaking, shook me from my thoughts. It was soon followed by the screeching of my parents' voices. I could make out a few words they were saying, but their voices seemed to blend together into some sort of blurred noise, so I couldn't get the whole arguement.
"...coming home drunk..." That sounded like my mom. "...Catherine is just down the hall...I can't believe you! You know...she doesn't need...think about how this affects her...why don't you..."
"Don't talk to me..." It was Dave, I refused to call him 'dad' for quite obvious reasons, that was speaking then, his words a little slurred. "...don't know my own daughter! You can't even...better off with her gone...crazy bitch just like your mother."
They were both silent after that. I quickly pushed my textbook up off my lap, and onto my bed. Making sure to be as quiet as possible, I snuck out of my room and down the darkened hall that led to the kitchen. I stayed behind the corner of the hall, so that neither my mom nor Dave could see me. When they didn't say anything for a few moments, I slowing peeked my head around the corner. I saw my mom standing by the counter, her hand resting upon it. I looked closer and noticed that her fist was clenched tightly, causing her knuckles to turn white.
"Get out of my house. Now." her voice was barely above a whisper, but just as threatening as if she were yelling.
Dave stood still for a moment, but then began trudging toward the front door, muttering, "I don't need this," as he went.
He slammed the door as he left, causing me to jump. I looked back over to my mom. She was leaning over the counter, one hand supporting her, and the other wiping her eyes. Her curly, brown hair shivered against her shaking form. I figured now would be the best time to make myself known. Leaving my hiding spot, I slowing crossed the kitchen. I must have been quieter than I thought, because when I put my hand on her shoulder, she jumped.
"You heard that, huh?" she asked, wiping a few more tears in her eyes.
"Only a little." I tried to reassure her, but for me to hear any bit of their arguements was bad to her. "Are you okay?"
She forced a smile, which she often did, and replied, "Oh, don't worry about me."
A silence fell between us. I was terrible at comforting people, so I really didn't know what to say. My mom seemed like she was gathering her thoughts, and about to tell me something important.
"Catherine," I was right. The only time my mom ever used my full name was when she was either talking to Dave, or needed my full attention. "I don't like to beat around the bush, you know that, so I'll come right out with it." I nodded, urging her to continue. "I'm going to file for divorce." She watched me closely, waiting for my reaction.
I'm not going to lie. I had been secretly wishing that she would have enough of his staying-out-late-and-coming-home-drunk nature to finally want a divorce.
"I honestly can't blame you." I replied, "With all the drinking and the arguements, I'm suprised you haven't done it already."
She looked surprised for a second, but then smiled, a real smile. "It doesn't bother you?"
I shrugged. "Not really. I mean, I wish we had a better family, mainly a better father-figure, but that's not gonna happen with him any time soon, so...yeah. I'll actually be glad to get away from him."
"Well, that makes this a whole lot easier then." She turned away from me, and grabbed a broom beside her. Then, she began to sweep up little chunks of broken glass around her feet. I guessed that was what made the crashing noise earlier.
"I'll go get the dust pan." I walked over to the wall, careful to watch out for glass, grabbed the little shovellike utensil from where it was hanging, and walked back to help my mom to help clean up the mess.
"There's one more thing." she began as I held the dust pan on the floor for her to sweep the glass in. "We're going to be staying with Ava, until the divorce is all straightened out."
I looked up at her, disbelief shown clearly on my face. "You're kidding, right?"
She shook her head. "Oh, come on, Cat, she's not that bad." Though her eyes looked a little doubtful. She swept up the last of the broken glass into the dust pan, and set the broom aside as I got up to throw the glass away.
"'Not that bad?'" I dumped the glass into the trash can. "That woman is insane! Not to mention her unnatural obsession with unicorns!" It was true. With her hundreds upon hundreds of unicorn figurines, the wardrobe full of unicorn printed clothing that just so happened to fit me every time we visited, even with years between visits, the unicorn tableware, couch pillows, rugs, and wallpaper, Aunt Ava's liking of the one-horned, mythical beasts could easily be called odd.
"Everyone has a hobby." My mom protested, though we both knew it was in vain.
"You're not the one who has to act like Barbie for her 'hobby.'" I shook the dust pan over the trash can once more, making sure to get all the glass off. Then, I put it on top of my head, the handle sticking out in front, like a unicorn horn. "What do you think? Beautiful, right?"
My mom covered her mouth, trying to stifle her amusement. I, however, realizing how ridiculous I must have looked, began a giggle fit.
"Alright." said my mom after she took a beep breath. I took the dust pan off my head and placed it on the counter beside me. "If you really don't want to stay with Ava, then I guess you can stay with Jackie up in Forks."
"Forks? As in Forks, Washington?" I asked. I had forgotten that Aunt Jackie had moved to Forks a few years back. As I recalled, I believe she worked at the Forks Police Station with Bella's dad, Charlie.
Bella... That's right! Bella had moved to Forks, too! I couldn't believe I had forgotten about her.
My mom looked confused, eyeing the sudden smile on my face, as she replied, "Yes. Why?"
I nearly began jumping up and down in excitement as I replied, "That's where Bella moved to!"
Realization was on my mom's face then. "Oh, yeah, that's right!" She smiled once more, reflecting my happiness.
I quickly jumped forward and hugged her, but then I noticed something.
"Wait. You said that I can stay with Aunt Jackie." I said, pulling back slightly from her. "Does that mean you're not coming?"
She seemed as though she had noticed something, as well. Like she hadn't told me the whole story.
"Well, the thing is, I had already decided about the divorce and everything a couple of days ago. I called Ava, then, to see if it was okay for us to stay with her for a while-"
"And you can't say neither one of us is coming, because that would make her mad." I finished for her. I knew Aunt Ava well enough to know that, besides people wrongly handling her precious unicorn figurines, she absolutely hated when people cancelled their visits to her.
"'Mad' is a bit of an understatement, but, yes, she wouldn't like it very much." said my mom, shaking her head. "Anyway, go get your things packed, and," She picked the dust pan up off the counter, and placed it on her head, the same way I had it earlier. "I'll go prepare myself to be Barbie." She struck a silly pose, causing me to burst out laughing.
I reached forward, and hugged her again. "Thanks, Mom." I said quickly, and ran back to my room, eager to get my things gathered for my stay at Forks.
So, I would get to see my best friend again, I wouldn't have to live with my very eccentric aunt, and I would no longer have to worry about having a drunk for a father.
I believe it's safe to assume that my life was changing for the better.
Yeah, but you know what they say about assuming.
Anyway, so, yeah! That's the first chapter! I know it's pretty boring (Trust me, it was a pain to type!), but whenever I read a story I always think the beginning is boring, so maybe this is actually good. Personally, I think this chapter sucked, but maybe that's just because I'm the one who typed it. Hopefully, it'll get better in future chapters.
Alrighty, then! You can review if you'd like to, but, y'know, if you don't, then don't. Also, if you want to give me some ideas (Not ones that would change the plot-ish thing that I'll have going, but little scenes with the characters and stuff), you can do that, as well.
One more thing. I like to procrastinate, A LOT, so it'll probably be a while until the next chapter comes out. Sorry!
Thank you for reading, and have a nice day/night/whenever you're reading this!