Starting Over

Summary: Bella's mother isn't seen as a fit mother and she doesn't know who her father is and is sent to live with the Cullen's. So what does she uncover while living in Forks? Will she learn to let go of her past and embrace life? ALL HUMAN and some course language.

A/N: This is the first chapter of my new story, so let me know what you think and if you think I should continue... if so I'll write up more chapters and post them once I'm done. Thanks heaps... hopefully it won't be too long between updates since its the holidays and I'm not getting many hours at work...


Chapter one: Introductions

Hi, my name is Isabella (Bella) Johnson (A/N: I just made that last name up since Charlie left and I don't know Renee's maiden name…), and if you looked at me now you'd think I was just another ordinary sixteen year old girl but what you wouldn't know is that yesterday my life changed forever.

Yesterday, my mother was diagnosed with clinical depression.

Yesterday, she was hospitalized and deemed unfit to be a mother.

Yesterday, it was decided that I would be moving in with some old family friends I haven't seen since I was about 6; the Cullen's.

Everything changed yesterday. I can't live with my dad because I have no idea what his name is let alone where he lives. See the stupid ass-whole left my mother, Renee, when she found out she was pregnant – he wasn't ready for the responsibility or some shit. I don't know and even though I've been teased about not having a father at school here in Phoenix, I wouldn't have it any other way. And sure Renee hasn't been as happy as she used to be, but clinical depression… I wasn't expecting it to be that bad. She had her bad nights when she'd take a bottle of wine or rum into her room and cry until I came to check on her, then I'd lay next to her and hold her until she fell asleep… but she was always fine the next morning – we were fine. And now social services were splitting our family up even more than it already was. My Gran died just a few years ago and I guess that's kinda when it all started but it only just started to get worse recently… and I don't know why. I hate not knowing… So here today, I am putting all of that into an imaginary vault in my mind and locking it away so I can forget about anything that has happened up until this point in time. I sighed and closed my eyes, taking a few deep breaths before I started packing for my new life in Forks, Washington. Yeepee! Can't you tell I'm jumping for joy?

I walked over to my dresser and picked up the photo from when I was six, sitting on the Cullen's front steps with their two son's Emmet (the oldest), Edward (the youngest son), and daughter, Alice (Edward's twin). We were all laughing at something, and I'll be damned if I could remember what was so funny, I was blushing profoundly though, so I'm guessing I was embarrassed. It was my favourite photo though. Alice and her pixie nature, Edward and his uncanny ability to be able to tell almost exactly what anyone was thinking, expect for me (which annoyed him quite a bit) and Emmet – he was like the older brother I never had, kind of like my giant teddy bear. But like I said before I haven't seen or spoken to them in years. Esme and Carlisle (their parents) moved to Forks and Alice's email address would just send back any emails I tried to send her, I didn't have their new phone number so I couldn't call them and they never called me. I tried for 6 months to contact them, but eventually I gave up. Now I had to face them, and live with them until I was eighteen – only two years… Should be easy… right?

I opened my first draw and emptied the contents into my bag, although I'd probably have to go shopping, the weather in Forks was nothing like that in Phoenix so I'd have to get almost a whole new wardrobe. I wasn't paying much attention to what I was packing just putting some clothes, books, music, photos and other belongings into my suitcase. I packed up my laptop and put it in the suitcase, and zipped it up. I chucked my iPod, wallet, mobile and gum into my handbag. I sat down on my bed and looked around at my empty room, the dull cream walls, the light bulb which had blown and I couldn't be bothered to replace it because that meant using a ladder to reach our high ceilings, the empty draws which I'd left opened, the uncluttered desk and the clean floor. I sighed again just as I heard a horn beep from outside. I got up and looked outside my window to see a bright yellow cab and its driver honking the horn impatiently. I pulled my suitcase down the stairs and locked the front door. The driver opened the boot for me to put my suitcase in and then I got in the back seat and he drove off. And I just listened to my music as he drove (like a crazy man) to the airport, without looking back because I feared that if I looked back I'd breakdown and cry and realize what a mess everything had become.

The airport was busy, even though it was mid semester, there were people in suits scurrying all over the place, little kids who'd only be about five running around calling out for their mummy and daddy, worried parents searching for their lost child and security staff trying to look at every single person and make sure they held no threat.

"Passengers flying from Phoenix to Seattle please move to gate five to board your plain."

Well that's me, so I moved with the crowd and showed the flight attendants my ticket before being allowed onto the plain. I took my seat next to the window and pulled the shutter down. The flight attendants did that whole act about the exits and how to use the safety vests and whatever else they talked about. I did up my seatbelt and closed my eyes, waited for the announcement that we had landed to come over the PA system.

Eventually the plain started to descend and had a rather bumpy but safe landing. I sighed, again, and reached for my bag and walked down the aisle to finally get off this plain. As soon as I entered the airport I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before heading towards the luggage pick up.

"Bella!" I turned around when I heard someone calling my name, only to see a woman about mum's age running towards me. She had long flowing caramel coloured hair, pale skin and was carrying a black leather coat. Esme…

"Hey Esme… Sorry I didn't see you…" I said quietly.

"Oh it's fine dear, I was hoping to surprise you, we were going to send someone to pick you up but I thought it would be better if I did it. The kids will be home when we get there, they are at school right now but will leave early, and Alice is really looking forward to seeing you. Oh and you'll just love Rosalie and Jasper Hale, they are Emmet's girlfriend and Alice's boyfriend." She told me quickly as we walked to the luggage pick up area.

Once I had my suitcase we walked through the metal detectors and left the airport. Esme walked over to a very expensive looking black Mercedes and opened the boot for me. With that done I climbed into the passenger seat before the rain got any harder and I was soaked. She sped off out of the parking lot and drove like a maniac. I put my earphone in and listened to my music as I watched the rain hit the widow. I could see Esme glace at me worriedly out of the corner of my eye but I didn't pay any attention to it.

She pulled into a driveway that was hidden with trees and if she hadn't just pulled in her I would never have known it was here. Their driveway was long, and had lots of twists and turns before we reached the end. At the top of the driveway was a three story mansion. There were some walls which had been replaced with glass and a balcony's on the second and third floor… my only guess was that they led back into bedrooms. This house was even more brilliant than their one back at Phoenix… Shut up Bella! You're not meant to think about that! Remember??

I shook my head as Esme parked the car in the garage. I opened my door and took out my earphones. As I walked to the boot I saw a massive Jeep, a shiny silver Volvo and a bright yellow Porsche. I followed Esme as she walked back to the front door and stepped inside. As I took in my surroundings which looked even more spectacular than the outside.

"You have a beautiful house Esme."

"I'm glad you think so Bella. We've missed you."

Rather than replying I thought it would be best if I just nodded. I turned around to look at the stairs which led to the second and third floor just as Alice came running down and crash tackled me to the floor.

"OMGihavemissedyousososomuch!" She said all at once and I had trouble figuring out what she said.

"Alice calm down, I can't understand you. And could you please let me up?" I asked her kindly.

She giggled and stood up. And I followed suit. Alice took a big breath before she spoke again.

"OMG, I have missed you so, so, so much! Was that better?" she said excitedly, but at least this time I could understand her.

"Much… umm… Where can I put my stuff exactly?"

"Oh yes of course; Alice do you want to give Bella the grand tour while I take her suitcase up?" Esme said.

Alice nodded and grabbed my hand before pulling me forward. "This is our lounge room," she said before pulling me to move faster again. "This is the kitchen," and it was a massive kitchen, I've only seen kitchen's like this in restaurants. I felt my arm being tugged again so I started to move. "This is the back veranda… obviously." she said before pulling me back inside and up the stairs. It's a miracle I haven't fallen over yet. When we reached the second floor, I tripped slightly on the rug but Alice kept pulling me forward until we reached the first door.

"This is Carlisle's study…" again I was being pulled without having time to take in what I was looking at. Alice stopped again once we reached the next door on the other side of the hallway. "This is Edwards music room… umm not many people go in there other than Edward…" she said frowning but soon continued with the pulling and dragging. "And this, this is my room." She said as she opened the door and I was met with a flash of pink. I never knew someone could have so much pink and still be considered sane… I hate pink, so before Alice could ask me what I thought and/or pull me again I turned around and started heading back down the hallway, Alice was following behind me. "This is Edward's room…" she said pointing to the door. "And this is your room." she said as she opened the door. The walls were a beautiful light blue, the curtains were a dark midnight blue, a book shelf was filled with numerous books, there was a king size four-poster-bed in the centre of the room with a purple quilt set (./four_poster_) and a bedside table next to it with an iPod docking system on it. And on the opposite wall was a desk with a lamp and shelves… My suitcase was already up here and was sitting at the end of my bed.

"Carlisle and Esme's room is on the next floor, and so are the spare rooms. There is a bathroom connected to your room… Oh and I already filled your wardrobe with new clothes since I figured you would need some new ones and from memory you don't like shopping… so yeah… umm that everything I think. So what do you think of your room?" Alice asked.

"It's great…"

"Bella, what's wrong?"

"Oh you want to know what's wrong; do you Ali? Well let's see; my mum has clinical depression and was taken away from me, you moved away from me and didn't give me your new address or phone number, you didn't reply to any of my emails – they just got sent back! And now you're acting as though you still know me! So yeah Alice a lot has changed… and there is a lot that is wrong…" I yelled at her. Her eyes were wide as she looked at me. I felt a few tears slide down my cheeks but didn't bother wiping them away because I saw tears sliding down Alice's cheeks as well.

"We tried Bella! I swear we did. But everything got lost in the move. I couldn't find your email address or your phone number and mum and dad couldn't find their phone book either. And I couldn't remember my password so I had to make a new account."

"Your password was BFFBellashopping. How could you forget that?"

"I was six Bella! Jesus give me a break! Not everything is my fault you know! Maybe if you were better to your mum she wouldn't have depression! Did you ever think that it's your fault she got hospitalized?"

"You don't know what you're talking about!" I yelled. "Just leave." I said holding back the sobs that were threatening to break free. She backed out the door and I slammed it shut. I turned around and leaned on the door, taking deep breaths – trying to calm down, and failing miserably. I slid down the door and pulled my knees up to my chest, letting the sobs rack through my body. And I cried.

I cried for the friend I've lost.

I cried because what she said was true. Maybe it was my fault.

I cried because of the hurt she caused me…

I cried because everything hurt. And now I had no one.

I have no idea how long I was crying for, but eventually I ran out of tears to cry. I stood up and moved over to my bed and I crawled under the covers. I grabbed one of the pillows and I held it over my face as I screamed. I let everything out. Everything I've been holding back. And somehow I still had tears to cry, as new tears streamed down my face. I turned over onto my side and held the pillow close to me. I could hear yelling coming from downstairs but I couldn't tell what they were saying. But then there was a knock on my door.

"Go… Go away." I chocked out hopefully loud enough for whoever was on the other side of the door to hear.

"Bells, its Emmet… Can I come in please?"

"No! And don't call me that!"

"Please Bella. Alice didn't mean what she said. No one blames you for anything. Esme is giving her quite the talking to because of what she said. Bella, please just let me in. You know I could break down the door right?"

"Yeah but then you'd be in deep shit with Esme too… so the only ones who she wouldn't me mad at would be Edward and Carlisle."

"You're avoiding the topic Bella!"

"Why are you here Emmet?" I called out.

"Because, Belly-bean… you're like my little sister, I don't like to see or hear you hurting."

"Fine Em… doors open…" I said reluctantly and sighed and I saw his large form enter my now dark room. When did it get dark?

Emmet hadn't really changed much apart from getting taller and having more muscles… he still had his dimples though. He came over to my bed and laid down next to me and pulled me closer to him so my head was resting on his chest. He started to rub my back soothingly.

"Everything hurts Em, everyone has left…"

"No one's left you Bells… Renee still loves you. Carlisle and Esme still love you. And me, Ali and Eddie still love you too. We did try and contact you Bells, but we lost so much in the move…"

"Since when have you called Edward, Eddie? And I know it just hurt that I lost my best friend is all…"

"I only call him that cause it annoys the hell outta him… Now what do you think about coming down and having a bit to eat? Everyone is waiting for you Bells."

"Fine…" I said and sat up wiping my face with my shirt.

Emmet smiled as he led me down the stairs.


A/N: Ok so that was the first chapter, I hope you all liked it... So please review and let me know what you think. Your feedback is always appreciated xoxo