I dedicate this book to my brother, Michael. He was the first to hear my ideas and always lent his honest advice. I love you Miguelito, only two and a quarter years left!

Disclaimer- I do not own any of the Twilight characters or plot. This is not written for copyright infringement but just to calm my intense imagination.

Summary- Grace is living a normal life until her mother dies and an unknown sister, Alice, shows up to claim her. But something's not right, she has too many secrets. How will she handle her new life in Washington? GxS, canon couples. First fic! R&R!

Moon Shadow

1. The End

"Gracelyn, maybe you'd like to share your opinion…"

Someone nudged my elbow. Startled, I looked around the classroom oblivious, "Oh, Uhm, Sorry Mr. Tucker. Can you repeat the question?"

A few girls in the front row turned around to smirk at me. "Ms. Holloway, I'd appreciate if you could stay awake during my class. Maybe then could I actually give you a good grade." The class giggled and I turned bright red as the last bell rang.

"Seriously Grace, if Tucker has to wake you up one more time you'll get another week of detention," Riley said walking out of Biology.

"Its not my fault I have no interest in his class. Honestly, how are the phases of mitosis going to get me into an art school?" I questioned taking my sketch book out of my locker.

"Don't ask me," she laughed.

"Do you want to come over? You could possibly re-teach me the bio we just learned?" I suggested humorously as we walked across the parking lot of Biloxi High School to my crappy old 87 Spectrum.

"Oh. Well, I would really love to, but my mom has me working double shifts at the diner. Tables don't bus themselves you know."

We both jumped into my car and headed over to her house a block down the street from the school. "That's cool, I think ill just finish up that one oil painting I was working on last weekend."

"You know Grace, if you surround yourself anymore with art, your going to completely lose a social life." she laughed.

"Eh, maybe. But I got you for a social life!" I said turning into her driveway.

"That's true! Thanks for the ride. I'll call you later tonight on my break." She smiled and got out of my car.

"Okay, talk to you later!" I yelled across the lawn.

I backed out of her driveway and across town to my house. It was nothing special, a row home in one of the few low-income spots in town. My mother tried her best, jumping from job to job. My dad, Mitch, wasn't in the picture, he left my mom when I was a baby and we've never seen him since. I didn't really think of him that much. No sense in dwelling on the past. If he wanted to get to know me, he could have. Mom on the other hand wasn't so forgetful. She constantly brought up how much of an ass he was for leaving her pregnant and all alone.

Liz wasn't your average motherly figure. After Mitch left, we moved in with my grandmother, Cynthia, in Biloxi Mississippi. Liz got a job as a receptionist for some construction company & I started elementary school. Grandmom took over most of the "motherly" duties, making my lunches, taking me to ballet, those sorts of things. She left Liz to focus on work and the bills, which weren't carried out all that well. Liz took most of her free time to find new boyfriends who usually happened to be under the age of 25. Grandmom always joked, "Gracelyn Amelia, just think of it this way: your mother should have been your sister, and I should have been your mother." I wished that somehow she would have been right.

It was sudden, her death. A normal Tuesday turned horribly wrong. My mother and I were coming home from school when we found her on the kitchen floor, heart attack. Mom took to the booze and I, the typical ten year old, had to grow up real quick..

I shook my head trying to force the painful memory away. I usually didn't let myself think about it. I got my backpack and stencils out of the backseat and strolled up the front walk. Liz's truck was in the driveway. I'd prefer to call her Liz.. just wasn't allowed to say it to her face. I opened the red door and stepped into the living room. Liz was passed out on the couch with empty beer cans scattered all on the floor. Great. I picked them up one by one and juggled them into the kitchen. I set a glass of water down for her on the coffee table. She should wake up sooner or later.

I started making grilled cheese for dinner. I was never much of a cook. When they were done I set the leftovers for mother dearest in the refrigerator and climbed the steps to my room, if you could call it that. Sure it had a bed, but that was about it. Half finished canvases were mounted on the wall, pencils littered all over the floor, unfinished hemp strands thrown into balls in the corner. I preferred to call it the studio. Sounded cooler.

I started my homework at about six. Biology was such a waste of life. Seriously, if we already know what we want to be in life, why put us through schooling that we aren't going to use for it?! I decided to skip the pointless stuff and move on to Art III homework. I'd finish the other stuff in homeroom…hopefully. Art III was even slow, sure I was a year ahead of what I should have been. But still-life's were horrendous.

I put a jar of markers out in front of me and started to sketch them when I heard my mom stumble up the steps, "GRACEEELYNNN! I'M GOING OUT. I'LL BE BBACK LATEEERZ."

Before I had a chance to respond, she was out the door and into her truck. I peered out my window as she flew down the street. Awesome. Lets not hope she gets pulled over by a cop and I'm stuck bailing her out…again. I tried not to think about it, I mean it wasn't the first time and certainly not the last. Might as well go on with my night.

Riley called around nine, only to squeal about some cute guys who walked into the diner and have her mom yell at her to get off the phone since her shift wasn't over till ten. We shared quick goodbyes and I decided to call it a night. I'll get around to that painting sooner or later.. I didn't even know what it was about, just looked like an old hospital wing or something. It sure did freak Riley out when she saw it. Maybe I should keep my weird stuff in my closet. I got into my pajamas, a Vampire Weekend t-shirt I got at their concert last month and a pair of boxers. Just as I was about to turn off my bedside light, the telephone rang. Ten bucks says its Liz needing money or help finding where she left her car.

"Uhm, what now mom?" I coldly said into the receiver.

"Hello, this is Anna at the Biloxi Regional Medical Center. May I speak to Gracelyn Holloway please?" a bland alto voice responded anxiously.

"Yeah, this is Grace. What's wrong? Is Liz…I mean is Mom okay?!"

"Well Sweety," Anna said in a strong southern accent, "your momma has been in an accident and we need your to come down to the hospital right away. Can you drive or shall I have a nice policeman come pick you up?"

"U-Uh, I..I can drive. Is she okay?!" My hand was shaking trying to keep the phone to my ear.

"Just come down to the hospital right away Darlin', and we'll talk then."

"Oh..Okay.." was all managed to get out. I hung up the phone, grabbed my keys, and was out of the door in a second.

I don't even remember how I got to the hospital. My mind was completely blurred from the numbness that consumed me. Liz has been in her fair share of trouble with the law, but she hasn't ever gotten hurt. I was scared, really scared. I walked through the automatic door to the emergency desk where a woman with strawberry blonde hair greeted me with an reluctant half-smile, "You must be Grace, I'll tell Dr. Ellis you're here."

"I want to see my mom! Where is she?! Is she hurt?! I want to know what's going on!" I demanded, words flooding the room.

"Honey, just sit over there and the doctor will see you as soon as he can," she responded gesturing to a row of cold empty chairs.

I thought this was a hospital! shouldn't there be a bunch of injured people in here, babies crying, and nurses running back and forth. Everything was so still. I watched the white clock on the blue wall in front of me tick back and forth. 482 seconds, 483 seconds-

"Ms. Holloway?" a balding man in his late fifties asked the question in my direction.

"Yes! Where's my Mom? I need to see her!" I stood up quickly, immediately turning to panic.

"I think you should sit down Miss." We both sat down in the plastic chairs and he began, "Grace, I'm so sorry to be the one who has to tell you this…your mother, she..uhm, well she was in a very serious car accident tonight... She was driving down the road and didn't make the turn…She hit a tree. The impact, it uhm..it killed her instantly, I'm so so sorry.."

"What?!" I gasped the words, my hands wrapped around my sides trying to hold me together in one piece. Tears started streaming, "Can I see her?"

"Yes, follow me dear."

He lead me to a room at the end of the hall with a white sheet covered table. I moved slowly into the cold room, silent tears falling down my face. I lifted the sheet and my mothers face was sleeping calmly..

"Mommy…" I whispered, stroking her cheek with my hand, "Why, mommy.. I'm sorry…I shouldn't have let you leave. I'm so sorry." I gently kissed her cold forehead, the tears overflowing.

"I love you."

A/N: Hey guys, thanks for checking out my first chapter. Don't worry, i'm getting to the twilight stuff soon, just bare with me! Because this is my first fanfiction I'd really appreciate some advice :) I hope you like what i've done so far!