AN: Welcome! So apparently when I say that I am going to take a break from writing for a while my brain decides to put an idea in my head. This is the result.
A big thank you to Jess –aka Best Beta Ever – for as usual putting punctuation at the end of my sentences, otherwise this would be nearly four pages of the one sentence…not ideal!
Disclaimer – Don't own these Characters, I just make them do shit!
Anyway hope you enjoy.
Ch 1 – New
new - adjective
never existing before; appearing, thought of, developed, made, produced, etc. for the first time
existing before, but known or discovered for the first time: a newplanet
recently observed, experienced, manifested, etc.; different: a newunderstanding of the problem
strange; unfamiliar; foreign: languages newto him
not yet familiar or accustomed; inexperienced: new to the work
"Miss Swan do you understand that the moment you step out of this vehicle that you may have absolutely no contact with anyone, no phone, no email, nothing." I sit staring out the window at an alien landscape; the uniformed man's words wash over me and as if for the first time since this started I am finally registering the gravity of the situation I am in. I respond with a nod.
"Ok, well here is my card, you will notice that there is nothing on it but a phone number, if you are ever in any danger please call me, I am stationed here in Forks for the duration of your stay. However should we pass each other on the street you are to pretend that you don't know me. Do you understand?" Again I nod.
"Miss Swan, I am going to need you to verbalise your understanding." He insists sternly.
"I understand" I reply immediately, it shocks me how normal my voice sounds considering I feel anything but normal. I don't actually feel anything like myself, but I guess that is the point. The white, unmarked car pulls to stop outside a white double story house. I guess it is kind of cute in a creepy tiny town house of wax sort of way. The officer, whom I will refer to as Agent Smith, opens the door signalling for me to exit.
I grab my handbag take a deep breath and prepare to become Bella Swan, a single teacher from Arizona looking for a tree-change. Agent Smith removes my luggage from the trunk and places it at the doorstep. I glance around the street and notice it is completely devoid of any human life. Coming from New York City, you can imagine that this is somewhat of a culture shock. Not a single person in sight. I don't think that since the day I was born that I would have been able to look down the street and not seen a single soul, even a quarter past 3 in the morning the streets are alive in New York.
"One last thing Miss Swan. The red brick place across the road is a watch house, there are two agents, and one will be constantly watching you the other will be maintaining a normal day to day life. Please don't interact with them." Agent Smith casually walks off down the street leaving me the car. I look over at the watch house but immediately it gave me the creeps, to think that someone is in there watching me all the time sends a chill down my spine.
I turn and put the keys into my new home, for lord only knows how long, the heavy door creeks open revealing a very tidy country cottage. There are 3 bedrooms and a bathroom up stairs, downstairs is a kitchen, laundry, dinning room and living room. Its cosy, probably the same size as my bedroom back home but it's clean. I unpack all my belongings and hate that none of it is personal, nothing to connect me to New York or Marie Crowley.
As I prepare my dinner for uno, I realise that I am still wearing my wedding and engagement rings. I stare at them longingly before taking them off and putting them on the dresser in my room. I grab a blanket and a book and head out to the front porch to read. As I sit taking in my new street I become aware of several things. Firstly, the smell of fresh air or the smell of the trees for that matter. Secondly, the sounds of forest behind my house, the creaking of the old trees and the various calls of the animals. Thirdly, the peace, everything here seems at peace, there are no sirens, no yelling and shouting, just peace and quiet.
I am pulled from my book by the sound of a car turning into the street, I watch as the car comes to a stop in the driveway next to mine. A tall girl with long dark hair steps out of the passenger side; her eyes meet mine and she smiles brightly. She shuts the car door and walks across her yard into mine.
"Hi I'm Emily, welcome to the neighbourhood." She introduces herself warmly.
"Hi I'm Bella." Without asking she climbs the stairs and takes a seat next to me.
"It's great to finally meet you; I have been dying with anticipation wondering what our new neighbours would be like."
"Neighbour." I correct
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to imply…"
"No it's ok." Out of the corner of my eye I see an enormous man approach us, my heart pauses for a moment, my breath stuck in my chest. I begin to stand, ready to jump the balcony and run straight for the house across the road.
"Em, leave the poor girl alone, she just moved in today." His voice deep but jovial. "Hi I'm Sam; I see you have met my sticky-nose wife."
"I am not nosey. This is Bella." I wave at Sam and he smiles just as brightly as his wife. They are an incredibly beautiful couple, both tall and dark with fantastic smiles.
"Come on babe." Sam pleads, when Emily makes no movement he leans forward grabbing her and flipping her over his shoulder, Emily bursts into a fit of giggles. Sam descends the stairs with her kicking a squealing.
"Cya Bella, it was great to meet you!" Emily yells, lifting her body so that she can see me. Sam stops walking and spins around to face me.
"We are having a bbq at our place this Saturday night, you should come over and we can introduce you to everyone." The old me would have politely declined and sent over a bottle of wine, I mean a bbq? I need to remember that person doesn't exist here.
"That actually sounds great. What do I need to bring?"
"Nothing." They both yell unison. They wave goodbye before disappearing inside. They are so in love, must be newlyweds. I finish a few more chapters, and then head in for an early night.
I lay awake listening to the plethora of unfamiliar sounds; I challenge myself trying to name our neighbours back in New York. I have been here for all of 5 hours and already know more about my neighbours than I do the people I have lived along side of for 4 years.
BREAK
"Mr. Cullen is ready to see you now." The receptionist says to me over her computer screen, I smile and take a deep breath. I quickly double check my outfit choice, I decided on a Hugo Boss high waisted black pencil skirt and blazer with a plain metallic silver cap sleeve tee to dress it down a bit, sheer black stockings and a pair of black Manolo pumps.
"Bella, it is a pleasure to meet you." Mr. Cullen stands and walks toward me hand outstretched, I take his hand in mine. At first it is alarming how incredibly good looking this man is. He is tall and broad, a killer smile that is both comforting and unsettling all at the same time. I instantly feel overdressed. He is wearing a pair of black relaxed khaki's, a plain white t and a grey cardigan. Damn he looks good, best looking principle I have ever seen.
"Thank you for this position Mr. Cullen."
"Please call me Carlisle, everyone does." He gestures for me to sit but for a moment my mind is frozen, staring at this man before me. He has short blonde hair that you know if it were longer would be curly, bright blue eye's, flawless skin, pale but not like night of the living dead pale. It is hard to say how old he is, I am going with 35. I snap out of the haze and take a seat opposite him before he realises I am gawking and fires me.
How is it that everyone that I have met so far is so beautiful, have I stumbled into a cult that only allows entrance of really good looking people? Maybe I should make a break for it now.
"So Bella, I have to confess I am curious to know why the sudden move from sunny Arizona?"
You have rehearsed this, just relax.
"To be honest with you, I just needed a change. I reached a point in my life where I need a new challenge." I knew I should have been an actress, all these years of pretending to be perfect have paid off.
"I appreciate the honesty." How ironic. "I wish my kids would be that honest."
"You have children?" A smile lights up his face as he hands me a photo frame of two adorable kids. The boy is the oldest, he has a mean set of dimples, dark brown hair and wicked grin, the girl has bright blue eyes like her father but the same dark hair as her brother and a butter wouldn't melt in her mouth smile.
"Wow, they are beautiful. How old are they?"
"In the picture Emmett is 5 and Alice 3, but now Emmett is 29 and Alice 26."
"No way!" Carlisle looks at me a little perplexed at my outburst. "Sorry, it's just you don't seem old enough to have kids that age." Carlisle smiles brightly at me before returning the frame to its home.
"Bella, how old are you?" I don't need to lie about my age, thank god, trying to remember another birth date would have been mayhem.
"Just turned 27."
"Fantastic, listen why don't you come over to our place Friday night, the kids are always over then, I can introduce you to them."
"That's really lovely of you but…"
"Nope, no buts."
"Ok sure, thank you."
We spend the next few hours going over my class lists and course work. Technically I am a qualified teacher but I have never actually taught anyone before and I am terrified, especially high school…15 year olds, lord help me.
We work together right through to lunch. Carlisle is a lovely, lovely man. I already adore him and it's only been 3 hours. I actually like him more than 99% of the people I know back in New York, he is kind and sincere and has a great sense of humour. I think I am developing a massive man crush on him. He walks me to the staff room, pointing out all the different rooms and facilities.
"Bella, I am terribly sorry but I have a lunch time appointment, take your time, get to know the place and come back to my office after lunch, when you are ready."
There is a table over by the window that is unoccupied so I sit at that, watching the teachers come and go, most stop and say hi. Everyone here seems pretty great. 10 bucks says they all practice Satanism and are going to turn Rosemary's Baby on my ass.
"Excuse me…"
AN: I wonder who that is?
I hope you enjoy so far. The good news is that I have a few more chapters already written, so you wont have to wait too long.
Any questions, as always, just ask.
Thanks to everyone for reading – greatly appreciated!
That's it from me I'm off to the real world
Cheers
Court
xox