A/N: This is the first fanfic I've posted, and I'm doing it to gain some experience, since I'm not sure if the overall idea is feasible. Your constructive criticism of the storyline and my writing style is more than welcome.
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight. I don't. Which is probably good, because I'm not so good at sharing…
"Are we driving all the way through?" I asked my Father, glancing at the clock on the dashboard. It now read 11:30 pm.
When it became obvious he was not going to answer, I signed and turned to look out the window. For two days we had been racing across the country, escaping the past as best we could. The only break in the monotony came as the golden fields of Iowa and Nebraska rose to become the Rocky Mountains and finally sloped into the twisting, wooded highways of Washington State.
As far as I could tell, we were still at least an hour from our destination, although the switchback curves in the road made gauging the distance difficult. One more hour of silence seemed unbearable after all I had endured so far, but at the same time, I dreaded the moment the car would stop and we would become part of a new world.
Forks, Washington. Delightful. It was nothing like Chicago. It was too somnolent here, with little to distract us from the introspection that plagued us incessantly. Neither my father nor I needed that; our relationship was strained enough as it was. I really did not understand why we couldn't have stopped in Seattle; it would have been much more convenient for his law practice. But that decision wasn't mine to make. With luck, I would be out of here in a year and a half.
As I pondered this, the car slowed, and we passed into the town limits. Our new house was only ten minutes off the highway, and looking at it, I grimaced. It was small and crowded back against the forest. A single car garage seemed to be added as an afterthought and, like the rest of the house had once been painted white. I compared it with a mental picture of the home we had left behind: sprawling suburban ranch. The contrast would have been ridiculous had the reason for the change been less overwhelming.
With a mental groan, I grabbed a box and headed into the house. I went straight upstairs, not caring enough to explore the cramped living quarters. At the top of the stairway was a short hall leading to three tiny bedrooms, a small linen cupboard and a bathroom. I escaped into the first bedroom and closed the door, relieved to finally have some solitude.
Downstairs, I heard my father enter the house and call for me. "Edward, come down. We need to discuss a few things."
Reluctantly, I went back down the stairs and into the kitchen where my father stood, looking out the window.
When he heard me stop in the doorway, he turned around, keeping his eyes down. "Are you hungry?" he asked.
"No," I said shortly. "Is that all?"
"Edward," he began softly, and peered up at me for a quick second, before averting his gaze, as if he couldn't bear the sight of me.
I waited, grinding my teeth in the uncomfortable silence.
"Edward," he started again, "I want you to make a conscious effort here. You still have some time to turn things around, and tomorrow can be your new beginning. It's not too late."
"Okay. Goodnight," I mumbled, as I turned and went back upstairs.
He didn't answer, just as I knew he wouldn't. Even as he had just given me encouragement, it was as if I couldn't hear his mind saying, "Go away. Leave me in peace. I don't want you anymore." And I knew that was true.
In the quiet of my empty bedroom, I lay thinking. Finally, with a great effort, I closed my eyes and tried very hard to sleep.
A/N: Well, that's it. Chapter One. I suppose it's a bit short. I do have a partial second chapter, and I hope to keep them coming fairly regularly. I'm still not sure if I'll do Edward's or Bella's POV, so I'll try both and see. Be sure to tell me what you think!
Love,
GreenFish
