Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
Prologue.
At the age of sixteen, the last thing I had expected was to lose the most important person in my life; to have buried my beloved father and move across the country to live with strangers.
It had been three weeks since the death of my father, Charlie. The truck driver was distracted. Dad was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
At that moment, everything changed.
My mother, Renee, passed away when I was eight so I had no family left. I didn't even have grandparents, no aunts, no uncles; it was just me – and these strangers who were Dad's best friends.
Doctor Carlisle Cullen and his wife Esme Cullen. They went to high school with Dad and Mom. Dad always referred to their group as the "awesome foursome", and I'd always roll my eyes and laugh.
Charlie would speak to Carlisle and Esme on the phone all the time, but I'd only met them once before. They visited New York frequently, but I'd never made the effort to attend their outings.
I didn't know how they ended up being my guardians.
I guess it could have been worse.
Oh wait, it totally was. I'd left my home, my friends, and everything I knew to live in Forks where my parents grew up.
It was obvious why they left Fork to move to New York. Forks was a small town. It was pretty quiet, lackluster. Most people hadn't even heard of it.
It was just so sad there. Ironic because that's how I was feeling – sad, hurt and alone.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. I couldn't quite comprehend it.
I was in the back on Carlisle and Esme's BMW on the way to their house. They went to New York to help with the funeral and we packed my stuff and caught a plane here. Dad's stuff was still in storage in New York. I couldn't deal with all of that. I probably never would.
Carlisle was driving. Esme was next to him, her hand on his lap. It was silent. I knew they were sad too, and having to take in a teenager was probably the last thing they wanted.
I couldn't wait until I was eighteen. I couldn't wait to be back in New York.
I looked out the window. Everything was green and damp. There was no vibrancy. All I saw were trees.
Esme turned to look at me with a sympathetic smile. Her beauty radiated, inside and out. She had luscious caramel hair with the most stunning blue eyes, her features were delicate and everything about her screamed femininity.
Esme had been really helpful those past couple of weeks. I wasn't sure who contacted her after the accident but she was in New York the next day.
She organized everything and comforted me when necessary, but I still saw her as a stranger.
I forced a smile back at Esme but I knew I wasn't fooling anyone.
"Are you hungry, Bella?" Carlisle asked, his eyes never leaving the road.
"No, I'm fine. Thank you though." I said quietly. It felt like I'd lost all my energy.
He stopped at the traffic lights and turned to face me briefly. His green eyes watched me with concern before he turned towards the road. He sighed and ran his hands through his blond hair.
I was already frustrating him. Since New York, Carlisle had been giving off a negative vibe. He must have resented the fact that he had to take care of me until I was eighteen.
I didn't blame him.
After what felt like an eternity, Carlisle turned into the driveway of a large, two-story house. It was isolated. I couldn't see any other houses. All I saw were trees.
We walked into the house and it was all white and silver and spacious. It oozed sophistication. The Cullens definitely had money.
"Would you like a tour of our home?" Esme asked.
I wasn't really in the mood but I nodded anyway.
She took me around the bottom floor, through the living room, the study, the laundry room, the kitchen and the dining room. The theme was very much the same - white and silver. It was classy but there wasn't any life. It felt cold.
I guess that was the Forks vibe.
"All the bedrooms are upstairs." Esme explained.
I didn't know where Carlisle had gone but I was sure he just wanted to get away from me.
Esme showed me my bedroom. It was bigger than my room in New York. It was quite plain though. The queen size bed was white, the sheets were white, the bedside table was also white. It sort of reminded me of a hotel room.
I had a walk-in closet now. I'd always wanted one, but not under these circumstances.
I looked towards the other door. Esme noticed. "There's an adjoining bathroom. It's connected to my son Edward's room. I hope that's okay."
Damn, I forgot they had a kid.
"The other bedrooms have been converted into offices – One for Carlisle, another for myself. The other bedroom Edward turned into his music room. If you're uncomfortable, we can move his stuff in here and you can sleep there."
"I don't mind staying in this room. Will um Edward be okay with this arrangement?"
"Oh darling, of course. He's lovely. I'll introduce you."
We walked through the bathroom and Esme knocked on the door on the other side. The bathroom was all white and silver. It was very clean, and had a tub, shower and sink. Connected to the bathroom was a toilet.
Great. I have to share a toilet with a boy I don't know. I bet he's a slob.
"Edward, Sweetheart. Bella is here."
The door swung open. Edward was tall; he had messy bronze colored hair, with stunning green eyes, much like his father's. He was wearing a plain white shirt and jeans. He was very muscular and I couldn't help but notice how hot he was. He was definitely not a boy. He was all man.
"Hi." Edward said with a small smile. He moved aside and gestured for us to enter his room. It was actually tidy. The décor was unlike the rest of the house. Although the walls were white, everything else was dark. The bed frame, his bedside table, his desk, his chair, they were all black and grey. It was very masculine, just like he was.
"Bella, this is my son Edward. Edward, this is Isabella Swan. She prefers Bella."
"It's nice to meet you, Bella. I'm sorry for your loss."
I could see the sympathy in his eyes.
I could see the sympathy in Esme's eyes.
I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn't want sympathy.
I just wanted my old life back.
Thanks for reading. x