A/N: Hey! This is my first attempt at fanfiction, so I'm still figuring out how everything works. This chapter has been edited and re-uploaded. I hope you like it! Feel free to leave a review, it would make my day
This sucked. Not even a little bit, I had decided. Not even the way in which things suck just a tiny, little bit. Yes, I was completely sure that the nearly four hour drive from the Seattle- Tacoma international airport sucked. This drive was only in addition to the five hour flight from my home state of Vermont.
My parents had tried to ease my impatience throughout the trip with the occasional "we're almost there, Ana," or a sympathetic look in the rear view mirror.
Sure, I had been excited when my father had told us that we would be starting anew in a different town, in a different state.
What had originally failed to occur to me, however, was that this different town in this different state happened to be across the country. I did of course understand their reasons for moving to the perpetually gray town of Forks, Washington. Money had been tight, and my father's job opportunities slim, and the house suffocating beneath the constant financial stress. Then of course, there had been another reason.
The house I had grown up in had seemed a bit empty since last summer. It was truly barren without the tinkling laughter and constant presense of my sister, Virginia. Virginia had died in a car accident a few years back. I had been with her, actually, riding in the passangers seat when it happened. I could hardly be certain, though, as I had very little memory of the incident.
The only proof of my presence was a foggy memory of screeching tires, and then darkness. I had, apparently, been rendered unconscious upon impact, waking up almost a day and a half later with no recollection of the accident.
It had stumped the doctors, how my body recovered from the intense car crash so efficiently. I had been told time and time again that it was a miracle I had not been crushed and killed in the wreck, and even luckier that I was not paralyzed. The only physical reminder of my envolvement was a scar that stretched from the edge of my forehead into my hairline. It had taken quite a lot of time for my hair to grow to cover the stitched area, but it was now onl ypartially visible beneath my wild curls, and one could only really make it out if my hair was parted just so. It was so well hidden, in fact, that I oftentimes forgot it was there.
When reminded of my extrodinary recovery, I was always thankful that I was never concious to see the wreck. It would most likely be too much to bear, seeing my sister's beloved car all mangled.
It was beyond me how my parents had mustered up the strength to tell me that my best friend was gone. It had hit us all hard. The empty room at the end of the hall and constant condolences were both bittersweet and suffocating. I suppose that ever since that deceptively sweet summer night, Our home in Vermont was nothing more than a reminder of what once was.
We all needed a fresh start.
Feeling the familiar tightness in my chest, I pushed it down before it could seize my whole being. Swallowing the powerful lump of emotion that had worked its way into my throat, I reached into the pet carrier settled on the seat next to me and stroked the fat ginger cat, Pudge, that my sister had left behind.
I needed to get a grip on myself. I would not let this dark cloud of grief follow me to Forks. I would be stronger here, happier.
Pressing my forehead against the cool glass of the car window, I looked out into the inky black night. The conversation amongst the family had died down some time ago, leaving a peaceful silence, only penetrated by the gentle tapping of Washington's ever present rainfall. Though moving in the middle of junior year had been less than favorable, I was quite sure that I was looking forward to the change.
With thoughts of the future in mind, I allowed the melodic sounds of the rain and the low rumbling of the car engine to lull me to sleep.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
For weeks, Alice Cullen had been infuriating in her sibling's opinion. Well, namely Jasper.
She has been, somehow, exponentially more bubbly than usual. Occasionally, her eyes would glaze over with a dreamy, far away look, before regaining her composure and acting strangely giddy around him. Since the start of these visions, Alice could occasionally be found muttering to herself, tough Jasper had only ever caught bits and pieces that ne could make neither head nor tail of.
Every time he questioned her, she would simply brush him off, chastising him for trying to ruin the "surprise". Where one may normally look forward to a surprise, Jasper certainly did not. The last time Alice had hidden a "surprise" from him, it had only been the truly thrilling discovery of a practical joke in which Jasper found numerous breeds of Washington wildlife corralled into his room by Emmett, all of which took a good portion of the day to clear out.
Another time, Emmett had, with the help of his pixie like sister, taken great pleasure in decorating the entire space into a classic stereotypical vampiric lair, complete with dark, muted colors, gothic candelabras, garlic braids which had been strewn about at random, and even a live bat. The whole family had taken quite the laugh at his expense for that one, despite the fact that they all experienced vampirism.
Being that it had been a considerable amount of time since the last time Jasper was victimized by his bear-like brother, Alice's glee over this particularly mysterious vision had him feeling quite paranoid. He'd even taken to locking his bedroom door, though he knew that if Emmet was really determined to gain entry, a flimsy wooden door wouldn't stand a chance.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I was awoken upon hearing the car door slam, and being shook by the gentle hand of her mother, Jen.
She was not an extraordinary woman at first glance, in fact, she was quite ordinary looking. With sandy brown hair that reached her shoulders, and of average height, she seemed quite easy to overlook. However, if one took the time to know her, her warm brown eyes expelled the kindness and comfort only a mother could possess. It was easy to see how my father, John, had become so enraptured with her, so easily.
Where Carter had taken after my mother's appearance, with honeyed skin, sandy hair and liquid brown eyes, I more resembled my father. We shared the same strikingly pale skin, and chestnut hair that was considerably less tame than that of our counterparts. Other than the slight dusting of freckles across my nose, our eyes were one of the few things that differed. Where his were a pleasant grey, mine took after a cloudier, muted jade tone.
Looking upon the new house, I found myself pleasantly surprised. It was bigger than the one we'd had in Vermont, not that that said much. Taller than it was wide, the cornflower blue home had a charming air about it that simply screamed colonial. Adorned with white molding and large, shuttered windows, I found myself quite pleased with the tasteful architecture.
My thoughts on the house were wiped from my mind, however, upon meeting eyes with Carter, who had a challenging, defying look about him.
Without words, we both scrambled into the house at top speed. I could practically feel the disapprovement behind my mother's exasperated sigh, after having spent the better part of our nine hour trip hearing my brother and I arguing over who would pick their room first.
Unfortunately, it turned out that my being older didn't exactly make a difference in the battle for the larger room. Where I had rightfully claimed it mine, Carter seemed to have no qualms with picking me up and dumping me into the smaller of the two rooms. Sometimes it simply didn't benefit to be 5'7, especially when your baby brother had grown to be about twice your size. Carter was inching towards 6' more and more every day.
"Simply unethical," I muttered, before hitting the wall that separated our two bedrooms, knowing he would be able to hear through the seemingly thin barriers.
"This will infringe on your passenger privileges!" I added, knowing how much he would despise the thought of riding the bus to our new school. It didn't seem that my threat had hit home, however, when I simply heard his laughter.
Pacing around my room, I decided it wouldn't be so bad. The walls were painted a dusky purple, and where it was smaller than Carter's, it had a bay window large enough to sit on, with a tall, spindly tree just outside of it.
Beyond that, I was sure that had it not been so dark out, one would be able to see the iconic forests for which Washington State was largely known for. The cherry on top was the dumbfounded look that overtook Carters face when our mother announced that we would be sharing the small bathroom that joined our two rooms. His face alone was enough to warrant a laugh on my part. Luckily, the moving van had arrived quite quickly, allowing us to take the rest of the night to settle in.
Unfortunately, it became apparent to both Carter and I that it was Sunday night. We had both been dreading the start of our time at Forks High School, which loomed ahead of us. Our joint attempts at convincing our mother that we needed time to settle into the new house before going to school proved largely ineffective.
I decided upon a different approach for my last try. "Mom," I rasped, before letting out a slight cough that sounded unconvincing to even my own ears. "I think I've come down with something-"
Before finishing my sentence, I received a harsh look. "Diana." I winced. The full name, never a good sign. I let out a sheepish smile before nodding quickly and hurrying up the stairs.
I was met on the landing with Carter, who could barely maintain his laughter.
"Have you ever considered a career in thespianism?" His newly-deeper laugh rumbling throughout his chest.
I glared, elbowing his side. My anger was faux though, as I contained a laugh myself. "I didn't know you knew such big words, Cart," I teased. "Worked your way up to multiple syllables, huh?"
He jostled me good-humoredly. "Yeah, yeah, good one. Just remember how many embarrassing stories of you I can spread at school. I'm sure they'd spread pretty quick with the size of the student body. I'm pretty sure there are like, fifteen kids in each grade."
Small towns were certainly not a new thing for us, but Forks took it to an extreme. Truth be told, I was a little nervous for the next day.
Usually, I was rather social, but then again, I had never really gone through such an extreme change. I wondered how well I would get on with the residents of Forks. Classes had also caused me a bit of stress, which was silly. I did quite well at my old school, even being put in an AP class or two. I wondered how different the curriculum in such a small school would be.
As if sensing my sudden mood change, Carter patted my shoulder. "Cheer up An, you know you don't have anything to worry about. You know Gina would've said the same," He said, his eyes flashing to a more serious expression.
Hearing Virginia's nickname from when we were kids stung a little, but I knew he was right.
I smiled lightly before shrugging him off my shoulder. "Thanks, Cart." I said as I continued up the stairs. Carter was definitely an ass from time to time, but I didn't know what I would ever do without him.
I sat on the bay window, wringing out my hair as I stared into the night.
Where the thought of walking into Forks High tomorrow was a daunting one, I would be lying If I said that I didn't feel a bit of excitement fizzling through me. The thought of being around new people intrigued me, especially after being cooped up in small towns in Vermont all my life. As I contemplated these new beginnings, a certain uneasiness flooded through me.
The hairs at the back of my neck stood up, as if there were a set of eyes upon me in my small bedroom. I couldn't quite explain it as anything other than instinctual.
"Carter?" called out uncertainly. He did find joy in practical jokes, but this felt a bit different. My brows furrowed a bit as I looked into the night. I saw nothing out of place, but still a slight jolt of fear urged me to tug the curtains closed. the feeling instantly ebbed a way, and I felt a bit silly.
I laughed at myself a bit, shaking my head as I padded to bed.
You can't get through one night in a new house without thinking it's haunted? Jeez, grow up Ana. I don't think there's a town in existence more ordinary than Forks.