I looked around the airport slowly, trying to catch sight of my big sister, Alice.

I was moving down to live with her in Texas. See, she left home when she was just 18, and I was 17. Our mother died while giving birth to me, and my Dad never let me forget it.

Alice often times would get between my father and I and she would take my beatings for me. She said that it was what Mom would have wanted her to do to protect me. As soon as she was old enough, she packed her bags and left to live with her boyfriend, Emmett. He had gotten a full football scholarship at Texas A&M and she was smart enough to go anywhere she wanted. She left, promising that she would be back for me as soon as possible.

My father then took his opportunity to lay his hands on me whenever possible. And being a police officer for the town of Forks, Washington, people would tend to look the other way. Last month he was killed in a hit and run accident, and this was my chance to escape. I sold off everything that he owned, and took the money to buy a plane ticket to see Alice. I wasn't going back again.

It has been two years since I saw my big sister and I'm not sure I would know who she was if I did see her. College was over for the summer and so this gave me some time with them before the fall semester started. Suddenly I heard a loud whistle and I turned around quickly, trying to spot the source. Before I knew it, a tall figure appeared in front of me, blocking me from moving. My eyes trailed up the figure in front of me to stop on his face.

"Emmy!" I squealed, jumping into his awaiting arms as he swung me around in a hug.

"Oh, Bella, you have no idea how excited we are to have you here. We have so much planned."

I smiled as I got out of his arms, "Where's Alice?"

"She is planning your 'coming home' party. You know Alice."

I could only groan, "Oh god, not again. Nobody even knows me here, so who would come to a party for me?"

"We have a lot of friends down here, Bella. It's not like back home. People actually care about other people down here." He said softly.

I couldn't help but think about the life I have lead. He must have realize this and said, "He deserved what he got, Bells. That's why Alice and I didn't come up for the funeral."

I nodded and looked up at him, "I know..."

He opened the car door for me and I slid in, giggling, "Texas actually taught you manners, Em."

He stuck his tongue out at me with a laugh, starting the car and driving down the road.

I was amazed with the scenery as we drove down several dirt roads and pulling up to a large farm.

"Whose farm is this?" I asked quietly, looking out the window.

Emmett chuckled, "This is actually called a ranch. And it belongs to our friend Rosalie's family. They're loaning the guest house to us for the Summer as long as we help maintain it."

I just nodded and couldn't keep my eyes off of the beautiful scene in front of me. This had to be the most beautiful home I had ever seen, and the rolling hills in the background were to die for.

The door next to me opened and I looked over at Emmett carrying my bags, "Let's go, little sis. Get a move on!"

I stepped out of the car and took in the sights and smells. Fresh air, cows mooing, lush grass and tall trees and... fire?

I sniffed the air and smelled the smoke before I saw it.

"Em is that a fire?"

He turned his head around and looked in the direction that I was looking. His smile grew wide, "Yup. All part of your coming home party."

We both walked in that direction and I stopped walking as soon as I saw my beautiful big sister standing by the fire, talking to a group of people with a beer in her hand.

The gorgeous blonde that she was talking to noticed me standing there and said something quietly to my sister who whipped her body around to face me.

"BELLA!" She shouted, running towards me as fast as she could, kicking off her shoes and tossing her beer to the side.

Her little body hit me with a force that I wasn't expecting as I felt my feet fly out from under me and I landed on my ass with Alice on top of me. She was hugging me as tight as possible as I couldn't help but laugh. The next thing I knew, she was planting kisses all over my face and pulling me to a stand.

The tears were threatening to leave her eyes as she looked at me after we stood up.

"You're so beautiful, Bella. You've changed so much.. You grew up so fast.." She whispered as she played with my hair, looking to see just how long it had grown.

"I'm jealous..." she half laughed and half cried. One of her hands flew to her own hair, feeling the short spikes that came from the back of her head.

"You're gorgeous, Alice. You always have been."

"Oh stop.." she mumbled, wiping her eyes, "come on, come meet the family."

Her tiny hand grabbed mine and she pulled me over to the bonfire to where she had just been standing moments before.

"Everyone! This is my beautiful, amazing little sister, Bella. Bella, meet the group."

One by one they all came over and introduced themselves to me.

"I'm Rosalie Hale" she said extending her hand to me to shake, "and this is my fiancee, Edward Cullen". I turned to him and he smiled a gorgeous grin, "nice to finally meet you, Bella. I hope you enjoy yourself here."

"I think I will", I smiled and turned my attention to the next person. Over the next minute or so I met, Irina and Tanya [two beautiful sisters who I secretly knew I would have to watch out for], Jacob and Leah Black [apparently the neighbors from down the road], and Charlotte Whitlock [a petite young woman with a body to die for- I was jealous].

"Charlotte's husband should be here soon.. He made a run to the liquor store for us." Alice said with a wink.

I smiled at her slightly and looked around. The sun had set and the only light was the fire that was burning a few feet from us.

Alice held my hand with one hand while she held a beer with the other and she began talking to her friends again. I just listened and answered a question when one of them asked.

"Bella aren't you hot in that outfit?" Rosalie's voice came out of nowhere. I stopped and looked down at myself. Jeans and a long sleeved shirt. They weren't dressed all that different.

"No, I get cold pretty easily." I answered quietly and lifted my eyes to Alice, who gave me a knowing look, but she didn't say a word.

Truth is, the long clothing hid my scars well. I had scars marring random parts of my body from my neck to my lower back, thanks to Charlie.

"Well you're in Texas now, Sug'. It's warm here." Charlotte said with a grin.

Before I could respond, a big black truck pulled up with a beep of it's horn. I heard the engine shut off and saw Charlotte go running for the passenger side. When the door opened and the man emerged she planted a big kiss on his lips. That must be her husband.

"Bella dear, meet my husband, Peter." Charlotte brought the tall man over to meet me. He had light brown hair and bright green eyes.

"Evening, ma'am." He smiled and tipped his hat to me.

"Nice to meet you, Peter." I gave him a slight smile.

"And this is my cousin, Jasper." Rosalie said with a slight smirk, gesturing to the man that had been driving the truck.

I turned and looked at him, taking in the sight before me. His sandy blonde hair falling in curls around his jaw line and his cerulean blue eyes. He tipped his cowboy hat that sat on his head, "Pleasure to meet you, Darlin'."

"Likewise." I looked him over again and turned back to Alice.

I saw Rosalie try to hide a smirk on her face as she turned around to face Edward.

"Alright, let's get this party started!" Charlotte hollered as she cranked the radio of the truck up and hopped down into Peter's arms.

I saw Emmett pull a bottle of beer out of a cooler and he proceeded to pop the top off of it and hand it to me, "Welcome home, Bella."