-Chapter One-

Five Minutes to Midnight

It was three and the morning and I was awake at a time when most sane people were peacefully asleep. Why the fuck was I awake you might ask? Renee was fucking her latest boy toy and all the moans and grunts woke me up.

I groaned and covered my ears with my pillow. Why was I still here? Why did I put up with this shit? Why did Charlie die? All I had was questions, and no answers.

I couldn't get back to sleep, so I grabbed a pencil and started working on my current sketch. It was a dress I'd been working on for a month straight. I couldn't get some of the details right, but I knew Alice would be proud.

I missed my little pixie, she stopped calling after a while, and I didn't want to bother her. She was happy, with Edward, and I was here, slowly dying.

Alice and Edward met at a party a few months ago and have been inseparable since. Alice graduated early and when she did, Edward whisked her off to Washington. I missed her like crazy.

Around 5 I started to move. It was pretty peaceful, so I decided to go for a jog before work. I wandered over to my pathetic excuse of a closet and started digging through my clothes.

I had an old t-shirt half-way over my head when Mike walked in. "Shit. What the fuck do you want?" I yanked the shirt down and put my hands on my hips.

Mike had an irritating smirk on his face. He thought just because he was fucking my mother he could boss me around too. I don't play that shit. "I need some cash for booze."

"First of all, hell no. Second of all, you're a minor you idiot. And finally, It's fucking five in the morning. WHY DO YOU NEED BOOZE?" He stumbled over to me, clearly already drunk. "Isabella, don't worry about that, just give me the money."

I hated it when people call me Isabella. He was pissing me off, he was way too close to me and he was way to arrogant. "I'm not giving you shit." His hands gripped my waist and pulled me into him. "Give me the money, and I'll give you what I give to you're mom."

My knee went straight for his balls, and I didn't miss. "Mike, leave now, or you'll leave here in a fucking body bag." He turned around like he was going to hit me, but the look on my face was daring him too. I'd been looking for a reason to kick his pathetic ass.

"Fuck you Bella, you'll get yours." I sneered and watched him limp out of my bedroom. I didn't relax until he was out of my room and I'd shut and locked my door. So much for my fucking peaceful morning.

Instead of going for a jog, I went ahead and got dressed to go to work. I called Angela to ask her what she wanted from Starbucks. I stopped and got us our usual morning pickup. Once I was there, my morning slowed considerably.

I work at a small little bookstore called Off The Cover. No one ever came and it was always super...dead, dull, slow, take your pick. Angela and I normally found stuff to talk about though. Angela was really sweet, I'd known her since freshman year at the little high school here in Phoenix. She had a sweet boyfriend, Eric, who was always hanging around the store.

I took my break around four. I walked to the gas station and bought a pack of Marlboro Reds. They were the cigarettes I remember Charlie smoking since the day I was born. I lit one up on the way back to the store.

Charlie's death was the whole reason Renee and I moved to this hell-hole. She said that the change of scenery would help us get over Charlie. But I didn't want to get over Charlie. He was my father, and he was dead.

After a couple of months, Renee started drinking and I hated watching her come home late with guys half of her age. I didn't think that maybe this was her way of coping, it only made me hate her even more.

I got back to the bookstore before my break was up. Angela was reading a book behind the register. "Hey Bella."

"Hey Ang. Did a giant crowd of customers mob you while I was gone?" She rolled her eyes and chuckled at my joke. "Definitely. You can actually go if you want. I can handle closing."

This was why I loved Angela. "Really? You'll be okay?" "Duh Bella. I'll be fine. Just go relax." I debated whether I should stay with her, but my decision was apparent when Eric, her boyfriend walked in.

"Oh, I see. Bye Ang." I grabbed my bag and walked out of the store. There wasn't much to do. It was a Monday night and I had no car and barely any money. I decided that I would just go back home.

Walking through the front door of Renee's house was always a surprise. Sometimes it would be deserted, and sometimes there would be a fucking party going on.

Tonight was one of those good nights when there was nothing going on. In fact, it was pretty quiet. I went straight to my room. I avoided confrontation with Renee, she was a retarded bitch, but she was still my mother.

I walked into my room to find everything torn up. My pillows were shredded and my things were thrown everywhere. The reason for all of this mess was sitting in the middle of my bed with a smug smile on her face.

"Why the fuck did you do this?" She threw her head back laughing. "Because Bella, you don't come onto my boyfriend and get away with it."

I let out a laugh before I could stop myself. Me? Come onto Mike? That was the funniest thing I'd heard in a long time. "Renee, are you drunk? You really think I want Mike?"

She grunted. "He told me all about this morning, how you grabbed his ass and threw yourself onto him." I had to bite my lip until blood started to trickle into my mouth to keep from slapping her.

"That's not the way it went. He wanted money, groped all over me, and I kicked him out." I was starting to get tired of Renee's stupidity.

"You're such a liar Bella. I'm ashamed I'm your mom." Big mistake.

"YOU! You are NOT my mom. You're just some clueless bitch who I happen to share genes with you fucktarded whore!."

She launched herself off of my bed and came at me. I tried to hold her off but she got one good slap in. I was about to tear her ass up, but the moment I thought of Charlie and I just couldn't.

I grabbed her by her hair and dragged out of my room, slamming and locking the door. I grabbed everything I could salvage from Renee's bitch fit and shoved it into a bag. After I gathered all the stuff I needed, I ran out of that house as fast as I could.

I didn't stop running until I was out of the neighborhood. I finally stopped and sat on the sidewalk. I pulled out my lighter and my pack of smokes and lit one up. I would have to spend the little bit of money that I had on a cheap motel room.

I found a shitty one a few blocks away from my job and booked a room for two nights. After I settled into my room I pulled out my phone and called Angela, telling her that I was sick and couldn't come into work tomorrow. She fully understood and told me to relax and feel better.

The next day, I laid in bed going through cycles of crying and vomiting. My cell phone never rang and I didn't care. Around midnight, I pulled out my cellphone and dialed a number I knew by heart.

It rang a few times before she answered.

"Bella!" Her light voice made me happy.

"Hi Alley Cat."

"OHMYGODBELLA! I can't believe you're calling. I was thinking about you today. How are you?"

All of her words ran together and I had a hard time figuring out what she said.

"I've been better. I'm sorry I'm calling so late, I really need your help."

"It's no problem Bells, I was just watching a movie with Eddie. What's up?" I started crying and I don't know why.

"I need to get out of here. Renee's finally lost it and her boyfriends are scum. Can I please, maybe, perhaps come and stay with you?"

I heard silence for a few seconds. "Hold on Bells."

I heard her talking at her inhuman speed and then one very loud squeal.

"Bella, everyone loves that idea!" I was about to ask who everyone was, but a loud yelp from her end interrupted me.

"Sorry Bella. Can you hang on a minute? I have to run to the bathroom."

"Sure Alice." I stayed on the line while I heard voices whispering. It made me feel like calling Alice was an imposition.

"Okay Bella. Don't freak out right now, but Edwards dad insists we use their jet."

I couldn't speak for a moment. Everything was moving so fast, but then again, it is Alice we're talking about.

"Don't freak out... Did you say jet?"

Alice just laughed. "Yes Bella. Jet. Where are you staying at right now?"

"A shitty little motel with jizz stains on the comforter. A couple blocks away from the bookstore."

"Well, Edward and I can be there by about noon tomorrow. Is that okay with you?"

"Alice, I love you more than anyone ever. You're amazing."

"Aw. Bella, it's my duty as you're best friend to make sure you're okay. Why didn't you call me earlier?"

"It just got worse recently. I guess since I've been around the house more since graduation."

"God Bella, We've got a lot to talk about. Go get some sleep, I'll call you in the morning."

"Alright Ali. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome Bells. Bye."

I hung up the phone and tried to go back over everything that had happened in the last 24 hours. I was more than happy to be able to see Alice, not to mention live with her.

I pulled myself off of the floor and crawled back on top of the bed. I floated through the few hours of sleep that I got.

I was awakened by the annoying ringing of my phone. I almost didn't answer it, but then I remembered that Alice was going to call.

"Hello?"

"Hey Bells. We've just landed. What's the address to the hotel you're staying at?"

I told her and then she continued to ramble about how happy she was to be able to see me.

"Alice, I'm happy too, but it's early and I need coffee."

"Oh silly Bella. I'll get your coffee, we're about 20 minutes away. I'll let you go get in the shower."

"I knew there was a reason I loved you." We said our goodbye's and she alone.

There was something terribly wrong with the shower. It was either extremely hot or extremely cold, needless to say, I stepped out shivering. I had just gotten dressed in the only outfit I salvaged from my fucked up room when there was a knock on the door.

I ran to get it. And tripped. I was a trooper though, so I pulled my butt off of the ground and answered it. There standing on the other side was a very pregnant, very short Alice.

"Woah." She attacked me in a giant hug. "Bella, I've missed you so freaking much!" She was bouncing up and down in front of me.

"You're pregnant?" She blushed and nodded. Alice never blushed. "You didn't tell me?"

"It's not like we've been talking everyday Bells. And for that, I'm extremely sorry." I shrugged and pulled her back into a hug. She examined the hotel room.

"Jesus Bella, You do NOT have an eye for class. Let's get out of here before we catch some diseases."

I went to grab my bag but Edward beat me to it. Damn gentleman.

The drive to the airport was full of Alice talking about random things. I think she was just avoiding the fact that we had so much to talk about and she wasn't ready to just yet.

The jet was freaking amazing. It was huge and and the inside was white and plushy. There was even a big room in the back.

"Bells, I've got to make a call. Could you keep Edward company?" I nodded and watched her walk into the room.

I'd spoken about 20 words to Edward the whole time I'd known him, most of them were the threat of what would happen if things ended badly with Alice.

"Listen Bella, Alice feels bad about not being able to tell you sooner, but she was so sick the first couple of months and then she was swamped with The Bella Pixie, she's just had a lot on her plate. That's why when she told me you needed a place to stay I insisted it be with us. She loves you so much."

Whoa. "Uh, thanks. The fact that if you break her heart, I'll cut your face off and feed it to wild dogs doesn't change though."

He flashed me a crooked smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way Bella."

"Good. What's The Bella Pixie?"

He frowned, but at that moment the pixie burst back into the room.

"Did you guys have a nice chat while I was gone?" We both nodded.

"Good. I got Rose to get the jeep from... never mind. So what do you want to do first when we get to Washington?"

I had an idea. "Well Renee kind of ripped all of my clothes to shreds, so I was wondering if we could go shopping. You can even give me a makeover." Her eye's went wide, but her smile was wider.

"Bella, you better not be playing with me, because I am very hormonal and will kick your ass to the moon." I could tell she wasn't kidding.

"Nope, I seriously want one." She started bouncing and squealing in her seat. "I have to call Sergio and make you an appointment. This is so exciting." For her. I wouldn't complain, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to get it over with ASAP.

Ali yawned and sighed. "After I call Sergio, I'm going to sleep Bella. I was up all night planning your surprise, but we'll be in Forks in about three hours."

I watched her cuddle up against Edward and fall asleep. I was so freaking jealous. I wish I had a gorgeous hunk of a man to be able to cuddle with. I closed my eyes and imagined what my man looked like. Blond hair, blue eyes, extreme muscles. Topped with a perfect tan, God, my imaginary man was hot.

I put in my headphones and fell asleep. I've dreamed about my sexy man until something flew against me.

"Wake up Bella! We're here! Come find out what Forks looks like."

She grabbed her designer handbag and flew off the jet. I followed suit, but quite a bit slower.

There were three people standing in a circle with their backs to me talking to Alice.

"There she is!" They all turned around at the same time. Oh. My. God. Emmy bear! Emmett was Alice's brother, we were all really close before he left for college.

I ran as fast as I could and jumped on him. "Bella bear! It's so good to see you again."

"I know Emmy. What are you doing here?"

"I live here Bella, you're on my turf." I laughed and he put me down. A gorgeous blond standing next to him hit his shoulder. "Stop hogging her Emmett."

I turned to her. "Hi! I'm Rosalie. Emmett's girlfriend and Alice's person." She was so nice I was surprised for a minute.

"I'm Bella. I suppose I'm the new kid in Forks." She laughed and gave me a hug as well.

Finally, I turned to the final person and almost shit my pants. He was my gorgeous hunk of man in flesh. I just stared for a minute.

"Oh, sorry. I'm Jasper. Edward and Emmett's 'person'." He looked so cute doing air quotes when he said person. I opened my mouth to say something but the pixie beat me to it.

"Stop thinking about sleeping with him Bells, he lives with us." I swear, Alice was a fucking mind reader. I blushed nevertheless, and Jasper pulled me into a hug.

"You can think about that all you want Bella, I know I will." was what he whispered in my ear. I swear, I nearly jumped him right there on the airstrip.

"Alright boys, Rose and I are taking Bella shopping. We'll meet you at Tsunami around eight, okay?" They all nodded and then headed out in a Silver Volvo, leaving me alone with Alice and Rose.

We got into the big jeep left for us and drove out of there. "Bella, you've got an appointment with Sergio in about an hour, after that we're taking you to my friends boutique to get you a brand new wardrobe, all compliments of Rose and I."

"No way. I'm not letting you guys pay for me."

"Well, how about you use some of the money from the Bella Pixie?" There that name was again.

"What's the Bella Pixie?" Alice slammed on the brakes, making me glad I had on my seat belt.

"I didn't tell you about it?" I shook my head, sure I had a very confused look on my face. "I sent you so many letters about it after we stopped calling each other."

I growled. "Renee!"

"Well, remember those designs we used to sketch out when we were bored? Everyone I showed them to thought they were great, so, I opened up a little shop about the time I found out I was pregnant. I could have sworn I'd told you. Well, you've been my partner in the company the whole time. It's doing extremely well right now. Half of everything is yours and I've been putting all of the money you've made from it into an account."

Why did Alice keep dropping these big bombs of amazing on my head? I was going to get a concussion from too much happiness. I couldn't think of anything to say, so I just rode in silence all the way to Sergio's.