I didn't know how bad it would hurt. I thought the pain would just fade away. But it didn't. And now I was returning to Forks. The place where I met him. The place where I was forever changed.

I didn't know it would hurt this bad, living an eternity without Edward Cullen. I thought the pain would disappear. I was wrong, it didn't. Now here I am in Forks. The place where my new family and I would start a new life, hoping the memories of him wouldn't be the end of me. Forks is the place that has been left unchanged by the 75 years of my absence.

When I went missing, Charlie went insane trying to find me. I was nineteen when I died. I jumped off the cliff, like I did a year earlier. Jacob wasn't there to save me this time. I almost drowned, but that's not why I was fighting death. I had broken my neck when I hit the water.

A vampire had gone on the werewolves' land when he heard of the ocean that was near it. He found me there, life lingering from me. He said I was too beautiful to let me die. So he took my soul in exchange for an immortal life. His name was Seth. For years, I hated him. Not because of becoming a vampire, but because I was living an eternity without Edward.

Seth had a family, much like the Cullens had, almost exactly like them. They were part of the vegan lifestyle as well. Micah was the head of the family. He was a professor, teaching only night classes on the side, but his passion was in writing thesis's ranging from medical discoveries to historical landmarks. His wife, Iris was a historian, assisting Micah with research. Their adopted children were and now included myself: Seth, he was 18 when he was turned. He didn't care too much for history, but he was fascinated with water and marine life. His older brother, Harrison was 19, and much into sports. Harrison was with Jacey, who was like my Alice, she was always planning something. Laken, 18, on the other hand kept to herself when Kaden wasn't around. Kaden was 17, and was so in love with Laken didn't seem to have any other interest.

The pairings often left Seth and I alone together, but we had separate bedrooms, unlike the other couples. I told him about Edward and even after nearly a century, I wasn't ready to move on. Seth hated the idea of returning to Forks because of that. But Micah insisted we could have somewhat of a normal life here, so Seth obeyed.

We moved into a two story house. Micah had it built in a matter of months. Though we only needed five bedroom, we had seven. There were six bedrooms on the top floor, four of the six had their own bathrooms, the ones us "kids" stayed in. The bottom floor held the master bedroom and the master bathroom along with the kitchen, dining room, living room, music room, study, and drawing room.

We were there just a few days before school began. I stayed in my room the entire time until the day before school. We were all to hunt. I didn't hunt for mountain lions with the rest of my family, I stayed closer to the house and hunted deer. I was home before anyone else was. I wanted to spend time with my family, but I had to get readjusted to Forks. Forks without Edward, without Charlie, without Jacob. What would Jacob think? Was he still here? He was a werewolf and I heard they don't age, really.

I was broken out of my thoughts by my door opening. Seth walked in, his gorgeous smile already across his face. He was perfect, but he wasn't my Edward. "You hunted?" "I did." He sat on my bed and stroked the side of my face. "How are you?" "Full." "No, I meant-"

"I knew what you meant," I admitted. "I'll be fine, I promise," I smiled as I gently kissed him on the cheek. "I just need time." "I know. You always need time. And I have tried my best to understand, but Bella, my God, I want you so badly. You have no idea what you do to me." Edward never talked like that, though at times, I wish he had. But hearing it come from someone else's lips seemed so dirty.

"I'm sorry, Seth. Give me a few days here. You know I'm yours." Lie.

He smiled even bigger. "You are?" "I'm not anyone else's." That was the truth, I suppose.

He leaned forward and kissed me. I wrapped my hands around his neck, pulling him closer. I wanted, no needed to forget about Edward. It had been ¾ of a century. He moved on, surely. But before anything got too serious, I pulled away. "I'll see you in the morning before school." He got to his face. "Alright."

I pulled into the parking lot of Forks High. It was the same parking space I pulled into the faithful day Edward Cullen first saved my life and condemned it at the same time. Seth, Jacey, and Harrison rode with me while Laken and Kaden preferred to ride together. I got out of the sports car and looked at the school. It looked the same. The Malone family walked to the front office, not paying attention to everyone who saw us, which they ended up staring. Kaden was holding Laken's hand, Harrison and his arm around Jacey, and Seth was never far from my side. What a site it must have been to them.

Harrison introduced us to the lady at the front desk and made sure we all had our schedules. Harrison and I were seniors. Seth, Jacey, and Laken were juniors, while Kaden was a sophomore. Harrison and I shared the same homeroom.

"How are you doing, sis?" He asked his arm now around me.

Harrison was so good to be. He really became family, just like everyone else had. I belonged with the Malones and I loved them just as they loved me. "I'm really okay," I said trying to convince him.

He smiled and kissed me on my forehead. "Look at all these guys staring at you," he whispered.

"I'm sure all the girls are doing the same to you. Good thing Jacey isn't the jealous type, hm?" Harrison chuckled. "Good thing." Of course there was an introduction in order for Harrison and myself, which thankfully Harrison did all the talking. As soon as the bell rang, I was on my way to Biology, the class Edward and I shared together. I was doubling on sciences this year, to make Micah happy, Biology and Physics.

Jacey ran up to me in the not so crowded halls. "Bella!"

"What is it?" "There is a family here like us." I knew what she meant right off. "Who?" She paused. "The Cullens." My world crashed and I actually dropped my notebook. Harrison picked it up for me. "We'll leave."

I shook my head. "No. I can do this." Seth, who had obviously heard the news was at my side. "Bella…" he wanted me to leave, I could tell. But I wouldn't.

"I'm fine, you guys. I'll see you all at lunch." I kissed Seth gently on the cheek and squeezed Jacey's hands. I walked into Biology. There was a group of girls standing around a desk, talking to a boy. Surely that wouldn't be Edward, and when one of the shifted, I could tell it was not. I sat down in the same desk I did nearly 100 years ago.

The boy in front of me turned around. "I'm Justin."

"Bella," I smiled.

"Where are you from?" "Alaska."

"Wow, how did you like it here?" "I can't tell yet." My eyes wondered from Justin to the doorway.

A girl with long blonde hair and topaz colored eyes walked in. She was a vampire and she noticed me right away. Who was she? To my dismay she sat down in the front of the class, so I couldn't ask her, but I know she knew what I was.

The teacher walked in soon afterwards and she asked the blonde and I to introduce ourselves. She stood up first and turned to face the class. "I am Madison Cullen. I moved here a few weeks ago with my family. I'm a junior this year." I was next. I wish Harrison were there to introduce me. "I'm Bella Malone. My family and I moved here from Alaska. I'm a senior."

Madison and I made eye contact as I sat down. She looked as if she was shooting darts at me with her eyes. Maybe I should have gone home. All Biology consisted of that day was handing out books and going over the syllabus. Whenever the bell rang, I hurried to the door, to be sure to be behind Madison. As soon as I walked out of the room, I saw Madison walk to him. Edward was waiting for her outside the door and he had extended his arm to her.

He looked at me, shocked. Apparently word hadn't gotten around about me being a vampire. I suppose they didn't even know. He dropped his hand to his side and told her he would see her at lunch. He spoke to her so fast that the humans walking by had no idea what was said, but this time, I could understand their own language. When she protested, he said, "Please." He loved her, I could tell. My heart, if it was still beating, would have stopped then. I never felt so miserable before. I wanted to run, to never look back, but my legs wouldn't move.

"Bella," he whispered when he was standing in front of me. "You died. Alice saw it. You died 75 years ago a week from yesterday." So Alice saw that, but not that I was turned. Why?

"I did." I paused. "But a vampire stumbled upon me and turned me."

"You killed yourself," he whispered.

"I did."

He grabbed my wrist. "Why?" "I couldn't live without you," I hissed. "Kind of ironic because here I am, living an eternity without you." I nodded in the direction Madison had stormed away. "She's pretty." I said, trying to be civil.

"I didn't know."

I saw Seth approaching me. His eyes were burning with hatred for Edward. "Bella?"

"I'm coming," I answered.

Seth wrapped one of his arms around my waist. "You'll be late," he said as he took my Biology book and notebook from my hands. "Let's get you to class."

"I'll see you around, Edward." The remaining of the next three classes went by so slowly. I was waiting for lunch to see my family. I needed them right now. I needed to be with them. And also, I wanted to see my old family. Alice, I had missed her so much. Jasper, Emmett, even Rosalie. I wanted to see them all. And Edward, I wanted to see him. But not with Madison.

The more I thought about it, the more I began to think it was for the best Edward had moved on. If he hadn't, would he want to be with me? If that were the case, it would tear my family apart, the family whom I have grown to love more than anything. Maybe even more than I had loved Edward.

As I was walking to the cafeteria, I felt someone grab my hands. It was Alice. "Oh, Alice!" I exclaimed as I hugged her.

She hugged me back so tightly, if I were human, it would have killed me. "Bella, Bella," she whispered. "I thought you were dead." I shook my head. "Only as dead as you are." She smiled. "You have to sit with us." "Alice, I don't think I can. I have a new family. And Edward has a-" "Bella, you are still apart of our family, please?"

I was thinking about it until Jacey walked up to us. "Bella?" "I'll see you later, Alice."

I took Jacey's hand and the two of us walked to the lunch line. Edward was sitting at their usual lunch table. Emmett and Rosalie already there with food, Jasper was walking with two trays, one for himself, and one for Alice, to the table. Madison was no where to be seen. I ignored them. I didn't know what else to do. I hadn't expected this. Harrison greeted Jacey with a big smile and took her hand from mine. "What do they want?" "Just to talk to me."

Kaden growled. "I don't like it." I rubbed Kaden's arm. "It's fine. I'm fine."

Laken looked at me. "You're part of our family, right?" "Of course," I assured her. "You all are my life," I smiled. "I love every single one of you."

"We know," Jacey smiled.

"Where's Seth?" I asked.

"Oh damn," Harrison whispered as he nodded toward Seth, who was standing in front of Edward.

I couldn't believe this. First day of school and Seth is going to try something. "I'll handle this." "Bella, I-"

"No, Harrison, I know the Cullens. It'll be fine." I walked to the Cullen's lunch table. Edward was focused on me the entire way, which only angered Seth more. "Seth," I said. "What are you doing?" "He was just leaving," Emmett answered.

I looked at Emmett. He was angry. I wanted to apologize for Seth, but I couldn't. I couldn't go against my family.

"Actually I was going to talk to Edward for a minute." I placed my hand on Seth's lower back, Edward's eyes snapping to my hand as I did that. "This isn't the time." Seth, liking this new physical contact looked at me. "Just a few words." "Please? Later?" He looked at Edward then back at me. "Of course, baby. Anything for you." He glared at Edward one more time before joining our family at our lunch table.

"First time you ever did that." Edward stated.

"Did what?" "Place your hand on Seth's back like that." Of course Seth would have had a reaction to that. Of course he thought something along those lines. "Yes."

"Can I speak with you, Bella?"

"Edward, don't make her choice," Alice pleaded.

"I'm not. I just want to talk to her." "You've already pissed Madison off enough today, don't you think?" Emmett asked.

I cleared my throat. "It's good seeing you, all of you," I smiled. "I've missed everyone."

"Won't you come over?" Jasper asked. "Just to catch up?" Rosalie sighed, obviously not fond of the idea. At least that hasn't changed.

"Okay, I will. We can all talk then."