Chapter 1: It all started with a lie

I unwrapped an pink popsicle and slid it into my mouth. I was surrounded by my three close friends who were also eating popsicles and discussing what they were going to do this 8th grade summer. Only the third friend was missing from the scene.

"Are you going to Phoenix, Bella?" Charlotte Ackerd asked me, licking the Popsicle up and down.

"I don't know, maybe. My mom wants me there, though." I replied, pushing my long, luscious brown hair over my shoulder. Ever since my parents divorced and my Mom moved to Phoenix, she had been begging me to come and visit her as I chose to stay with my Dad.

"I may go to California; my aunt wants me to visit her." Rosalie Hale said, adjusting her T-shirt that read 'Sugar daddy'.

"Yeah, you're only going there 'cause you have an eye on the life guard." I snorted.

"Shut up!" She threw an armful of dry orange leaves at me.

"Where is Ethan? He is taking an awful lot of time to come here." Charlotte said, frowning.

It was a Saturday night in May near the end of 8th grade, and we all were gathered in our best friend Ethan Masen's backyard, with the popsicle box and a big bottle of .

"I'll check on him." I volunteered, straightening my green lace hemmed top and went inside the Masens grand mansion. Ethan's parents Mr Masen and Mrs Elizabeth Masen were out for dinner as it was their wedding anniversary and we were having a small party in his house.

I bounced up the stairs to Ethan's room. As I reached it, I tried his door's knob and found that it was locked. The peculiar thing was that I heard two male voices arguing. Both of them sounded identical and I was pretty sure that both the voices belonged to Ethan.

I knocked the door. "Ethan?"

There was a pause, a crash inside the room and the door swung open to reveal a upset looking Ethan in a bright blue shirt. His hair was matted flat on his head and his light green eyes were swirling with secrets.

"Bella," He said and a relieved smile broke across his handsome features.

"Are you with someone?" I asked, poking my head in to see his room clearly

"Nope," Ethan shook his head but something told me that he wasn't being entirely truthful to me. For a second, I saw a shadow flicker across his closet.

I shrugged. "Okaay, are you coming down or not?"

With another look back inside his now empty room, he nodded. "You go, I'll be down in a sec."

I walked downstairs and strode inside the Masens grand kitchen that was always stocked with a variety of food, all kinds imaginable. I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and drank it quickly. I turned and almost bumped into Ethan.

"How did you come here so fast?" I asked surprised. Ethan had changed out of his earlier shirt to a green T-shirt that complimented his emerald eyes.

His eyes darted back and forth and he looked baffled. "Um, super reflexes?"

I giggled and his eyes slightly widened. "What's with you today? You are acting very strange."

"Just a bad day, it's okay now." He assured, his eyes narrowing at me.

"Bella?" Charlotte's voice called from the backyard.

"Are you coming or not?" I repeated again, twirling my hair. Ethan's eyes focused on something left to me, on the staircase.

"I'll be there," He said uncertainly, looking slightly upset and reluctant.

I nodded, taking one last look at him before I slid outside through the French windows. If I had just followed him or atleast been there for another second, I would have found out a big secret that could have changed my life forever.

2 years later~

I kept tapping my heels impatiently on the bedroom floor of Rosalie's and stared at my sidekick which was on the nightstand.

"Can you stop doing that? It's annoying." Rosalie snapped, as she sat down on her white bean chair.

"Tell me you are not worried." I shot back and leaned against the headboard of the bed.

"If they find something, they'll call." She insisted but she sounded unconvinced.

I tried to keep my tears at bay. It was August and there were just few weeks before school started so we had planned our usual intimate-get-together party in Ethan's house. But he wasn't there to host the party. He was missing.

I had walked on him and a slutty Cheerleader Tanya from school completely sprawled on his bed, making out. I was so pissed that I screamed curses at him and stormed to my car.

That was the last time I saw him. I was just so angry and hurt because I knew that Ethan knew that I hated Tanya with all my life. Then why, oh why, was he with her?

My sidekick vibrated and I kept it on loudspeaker for Rosalie to hear.

"Bella? It's Elizabeth." Her voice sounded wobbly and unsteady.

"What is it? Did they find something about him?" I demanded leaning over.

"Yes, they found him." She sniffled and I exchanged a worried glance with Rosalie.

"Oh, I'm glad. Where was he?" I said, pressing my lips together.

"Bella, dear, they found his body. He was found dead in a car accident." And she started crying and the line went dead.

"Oh God," I whispered as tears clouded my vision. My best friend was dead...and the last thing he could have possible heard were my curses, telling him to go to hell. I fell on the floor and started sobbing and soon, Rosalie joined me.

I thought it was the end, but for me, it was just the beginning.

On Sunday morning, instead of buying clothes for school and being excited, I stood next to my parents in the old stone church where most of Ransleigh's people's memorial service took place.

"Apparently, Ethan's body was too damaged to keep in open for others to see. The cops had also taken him for testing to see if he was killed." Dad was saying to Mom who had flown from Phoenix when she heard the news.

"Is it an empty casket?" Mom darted a nervous glance towards me.

I bit on my tongue to keep from crying and smoothed down my simple V-neck black dress. The old couple standing next to me where speaking things that made me feel like throwing the heavy wooden benches at them.

"Poor Ethan dear," The old hunched woman sniffed. "Such a tragic."

"A closed and empty casket!" Her obnoxious husband gasped. "I wouldn't wish it on anyone."

Well, I would, especially on you. I thought bitterly.

"Bella?" Mrs Masen stood behind me. She didn't give me a chance to talk, she simply hugged me tightly.

"I am glad you are here. I want you to sit up in the front with Ethan's friends." She told as she pulled away, her beautiful green eyes dull and tired.

I nodded and winced when I saw a teary eyed Rosalie and Charlotte coming towards me. Almost the whole town was in the church, sniffling and sad. I saw Ethan's football mates sitting on the second row. Some of them were even crying.

We three went forward and sat on the first row, ignoring everyone's stare. Everything flew by and soon, Mrs Masen was taking in the microphone, thanking everyone for coming. Then suddenly, her green eyes turned nervous and she kept shooting me quick glances.

"Thanks for coming. I want everyone to know that we're doing okay." She paused."Our family had been hiding a secret for a long time, mostly for safety reasons. It's time to tell the truth. We have another child, a boy who hadn't grown with Ethan because of health issues."

The crowd began to murmur. What did she say? I looked at Rosalie and she squeezed my hand.

"The doctor has given him a clean bill of health and we brought him here for Ethan's memorial service. With that, it's time to introduce him to all of you." Mrs Masen turned and signaled at the side door.

The door opened and out came a boy. My clutch slipped from my hand and fell down. Rosalie gasped and Charlotte let out a startled cry.

The boy on the porch had reddish brown hair, porcelain skin and green eyes. His intense green eyes immediately landed on me. He held my gaze, and then he looked away. I was sure that his stare was something you would call as a glare. My whole body turned cold.

Mrs Masen leaned over the microphone and announced. "This is Edward, Ethan's twin brother."

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