Chapter 1

Escapism And Meeting The 'Rents

Edward Cullen was the best thing since sliced bread to me. He had starred in his first major film when he was just 17. I was only 9 at the time. However, I remember seeing him on screen even then and thinking 'That's my Prince Charming'. Of course, since then, I have grown up and realized that that relationship will never happen. No matter how much I wished it would.

He used to be a little geeky, with his horrible blue knit-wear and floppy brown hair that was a little greasy. However, now, he was a god. His once lifeless hair was now always styled in a messy disarray making you want to run your fingers through it. It was an amazing shade of dirty blonde with bits of bronze in making it look slightly coppery in the sun. His face was more defined, his jaw was indescribable. The two day stubble he was sporting for the last premiere made him look more mature and sexy. His casual style of clothes was very similar to mine. The innocent crush I'd had on him when I was nine had definitely developed over time. I was slightly obsessed.

He had starred in another major franchise which made all the girls go loopy for him. However, these girls were all fickle. When he was first cast, I was overjoyed. I knew who he was already, unlike most of his fans, and I had also read the books that the film was to be based on. I knew he'd be perfect for the role. I was therefore, both angered and a little surprised, when there was such uproar against him being cast. They even signed a petition!

I remember thinking they must all be blind when they were calling him things like 'ugly', 'hobo', 'scruffy' etc. Didn't they see what I saw? He was the most beautiful man I ever saw, that's for sure. Although, where I was from, there wasn't much choice!

I am from a small town called Aberaeron. It is considered 'the gem of Cardigan Bay'. It is famous in Wales, because of its dolphins and other wildlife. My home looks out over a sparkling river bouncing into the harbour, filled with fishermen and their brightly coloured boats. Even though I did love this place, I had to get away. I was beginning to feel claustrophobic in the little town, where everyone knew everyone.

I had been living with my Grandmother ever since I could remember. She was more like a mother to me really. She was a little, frail old thing with kind green eyes and greying, ginger hair. She was always in her pastel coloured dresses and a pinny. I started to tear up again. I would miss her so much. it had only been four months since she had passed away. She went quietly, in her sleep. That was something to be thankful for at least…

I was only now beginning to come to terms with her death. It wasn't really unexpected. She was a good age and had been back and forth the doctors quite a lot. But, I thought she had another five years in her at least. Still, it was unhealthy to linger on the 'What if's'. My actual parents had left me when I was three years old. They were hippies, totally irresponsible and they wanted to travel the world.

I hadn't seen them since…until now that is. No visits, phone calls, birthday gifts. Not even a postcard from wherever they were! I didn't miss them. After all, I never really knew them. My Grandmother warned me of them frequently. Apparently, they were always 'Money-grabbing Bastards' - her words not mine- and so I was expecting them to show up for the reading of the will.

"Miss Swan?" the lawyer asked.

"Umm, yes, that's me…and you are?" I asked, holding out my hand to shake.

He eagerly took my hand in his, clutching it slightly too long to be appropriate. I awkwardly slipped my hand from his, rubbing his sweat off my hand on my trousers.

"Jenson Jenks. But, you can call me Jay" he winked. That was disgusting. What has happened to professionalism?

"Mr. Jenks. These are my…parents, Charles and Renee Swan. This is the lawyer that will be reading the will" I introduced them. It was only the second thing I had said to them. The first thing was to tell them to wait in the living room for the lawyer. Renee had tried to hug me, but I managed to avoid it. I could see the hurt in her eyes, but I didn't care. She left me after all, not the

other way around.

"Okay, so I guess we should start?" he asked, watching as we all nodded our heads, "so, to my darling granddaughter Isabella Marie Swan, I leave everything. My house, savings and possessions. She knows me well and will know what to do with them. To my son Charles William Swan and his wife Renee Dwyer-Swan, I leave a letter which is enclosed. Please make sure it reaches them. Bella, I love you with all my heart, 'Grandma' Marie Swan,".

The shock that was so obviously written on my parents faces would have been hysterical, had I not been full up after hearing the will.

"She gets everything? That's not fair!" Renee whined.

"Actually it's perfectly fair…feel free to leave my house," I said as I escaped to my room. My things were already packed up into the suitcases. I still had some room for some of Grandma's things though. I knew I couldn't take much with me to London, there wouldn't be enough room in the car. I grabbed my Gran's teddy that she'd had since she was ten. One of the eyes was missing and it was grubby. The fur had been worn away in some places, but I loved it. It was the only thing my Nan had asked me to keep and I intended on keeping the promise. I packed up another couple of photos of us together and one from her wedding day. I took some of her favourite jewellery and packed it all in my case. I would probably sell the rest. After all, not much of it had sentimental value.

I was actually going to do it! I was going to move to a big city. I was actually getting quite excited. I had been looking in all the papers recently for apartments in the city, but they were all too expensive for my budget. I whittled it down to a couple of places. Mostly, they were rooms to rent in someone's home. But, that's what I was viewing them for. I had to see if I would get on with the family. Two joint rooms in a home in Barnes, London, seemed the most promising.

The people who owned the house had wrote in the advertisement that their three children had all moved out and they wanted to help somebody by offering the two spare rooms they had. One of the children visited now and again and therefore, the third room wouldn't be available. It was still more than what some of the others were offering. I'd just have to wait and see…

I lugged my case down the stairs, glad that my visitors had left now, so that I could say goodbye to this place in peace. I could feel a tear roll down my cheek as I took in what had been my home for the past 17 years. The peeling wallpaper and hideous green paint in the kitchen made me laugh; it was Nan's version of redecorating. I sighed and turned away, heading through the door, pulling it shut behind me. I locked up and got in the car, starting the engine. I let myself have one glance back before I drove away. Escaping towards my new life…