Chapter 1: The Present Situation

As long as I can remember I have been told to focus on the present, to live like every moment was my last. I was constantly pushed to try new things, from community soccer programs to state wide beauty pageants (much to my displeasure). What my family didn't understand was that I was happy without all of the inevitable chaoses of humanity, that I would much rather remain among their consistent, perceptive, composed selves.

They were always finding ways to avoid my complaints and reasoning, though, continuing to bring home the most current event flyers, contest sign-up sheets, and volunteer opportunities.

When I was eight, and Edward happened to be out of town for a while, I stuffed all the pamphlets and flyers the teachers tried to send home with me in the back of my desk, hoping that I would avoid another "golden opportunity" (so termed by Rosalie) for as long as I could. But when I got home, Alice was sitting at the dinner table, all the crumpled papers smoothed out in front of her.

All of the "golden opportunities" forced upon me were, naturally, in the expectation that I was going to remain human. My mortality was a touchy subject. It was two against seven—I had managed to guilt Bella to my side after doing some digging into her past.

My theory was that if I was ever in any life threatening situation, let's say accidentally getting my head bashed open, or being chased down by hungry, non-vegetarian vampires, they could always change me. It would solve a lot of our problems actually.

They were my family; they had raised me for all but four years of my life. What did they think was going to happen? That I would accept my mortality, the one thing that I had always hated about myself, and accept a life not forever intertwined with theirs?

Like I said, it would solve our little problem of savage vampires wanting to eat me, the Volturi included.

My wish had yet to be granted of course, but I still had the expectations. Oh, the expectations! It happened for Bella, did it not?

All I had to do was find some vampire to fall desperately in love with me. That was the main obstacle though: I was moved around too much to meet anybody worth my while.

Human boys were never a problem though. I had grown too accustomed to my family's charm and grace, that by the time I reached the age of dating, human boys just didn't measure up. Needless to say, this caused some disappointment for Alice, Rosalie, and Esme, but nevertheless, my mind is made up.

My plans, however, had come to an unexpected halt. All because of my mortality problem, easily fixed if you asked me, but they never agreed.

Now I was stuck just outside the rainy little town of Forks, Washington, on an ancient Native American reservation that I couldn't for the life of me recall the name of, very far from any of my adopted family. I only had a large suitcase full of brand new clothing (Alice felt guilty, and rightfully so), Bella's tattered old Jane Austen collection, and Emmett's jumbo-sized black leather biker jacket.

I could just picture how ridiculous I looked: A 5'6" pale red-head with green eyes and formerly curly hair—formerly because the extra-moisturized air was causing the delicate curls to go every which way—trying to look bad-ass in a biker's jacket.

I sat atop the overly stuffed suitcase in the middle of one of the reservation's god-forsaken beaches. I made a mental note to give all of my family a good beating the moment I made the transformation from mortal to vampire. Emmett too, especially Emmett.

I sighed and shrugged Emmett's coat tighter around my shoulders. I was not normally so bitter, but I felt abandoned. Here I was, completely alone for the first time since I was four, and completely clueless.

All Alice had told me after she had hailed a cab at the Seattle airport was that I was to find one of the La Push—yes, that was the name of the reservation; it was so much easier to recall in Alice's musical voice—beaches and wait there. I wasn't to move from the beach. Then once my damn ride showed up I was to hand them a letter (which I was not to open or read) containing god knows what.

The envelope that contained the letter, or should I say letters, was bulky. It had a name written across the front written in Bella's handwriting—Jake. I didn't know who this Jake fellow was, but I did know one thing, he obviously had never learned to tell time. That is, if he was even expecting me.

I don't know what possessed me to look into the nearby woods, but I did, and boy did that freak me out. Four pairs of eyes were staring directly at me. I had to force myself to start breathing again. It didn't take me long to realize who, or what, the eyes belonged to. I did have Bella for a guardian after all, and she can't lie to save her life.

My family was seriously going insane. I mean, werewolves? Honestly? After hearing everyone but Bella tell me how revolting they were, I wouldn't have expected this, not in a million years, or forever, whichever one turns out to be the longest.

I slowly stood, remembering all the stories I had been told over the years. Once I was standing, the four distinctively different colored beasts stepped out onto the beach, slowly approaching.

I remained unmoving, knowing that if I didn't, my mortality could get the better of me. Without one important piece of my plan, namely the vampire part, I was forced to pay close attention to the present situation. I was sure my family would have been proud. That is, if they weren't half-way across the continent without me.

The tallest one was in front, the leader from the looks of it, its russet brown coat shaggier than the others. The other three flanked him. The one to my right was the color of desert sand; the one closest to my left was chocolate brown, while the other was a light silvery gray. All towered over my small 5'6" frame. It was rather terrifying, actually.

They sniffed the air around me cautiously, while I stared silently back, observing their actions and appearance. Then, almost simultaneously, they all yelped loudly, causing me to jump nearly five feet in the air. With a definitive growl, the one in front stared me down before darting back into the trees, followed by the other three. I suspected they'd left to change forms.

It turns out I was right.