Walk a mile in my shoes
Bella POV
For as long as I could remember, I've always been in love with Edward Cullen. From the time he moved to the rainy state of Forks, Washington in kindergarten, I knew he was the one for me.
He was adopted by Esme and Carlisle Cullen as a baby, along with the Hale twins, Rosalie and Jasper, Emmett McCarthy and Alice Brandon.
A week after the Cullens moved down the street from our house, Esme and Carlisle invited my mother, Renee, my father Charlie and me over for a cup of coffee and to meet the kids.
That was years ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday...
Flashback
"Momma, do we have to go? What if they don't like me?" I said nervously, looking up into my mother's hazel/gray eyes.
"Honey, don't worry. I'm sure they're a lovely family," she reassured. I sighed and hid my face in her pant leg as we walked down the street to our new neighbors.
Once we reached their door, my father knocked.
"Daddy," I whispered, tugging his leg.
"What's wrong, Izzy?"
I put my arms up, signaling that I wanted to be held. I wasn't disappointed as my father lifted me up into his arms. I hid my face in his shoulder, just as the door opened. If you haven't guessed by now, I was very, very shy.
Standing in the doorway was a beautiful woman, with caramel colored hair and light brown eyes. Her face was bright and heart shaped, a large, kind smile on her beautifully dimpled face.
"Renee!" she said happily.
"Hi Esme, how are you?"
"I'm well, thank you. Come in, come in."
We stepped into the gorgeous house, and started chatting a bit. Esme offered coffee to the adults and cookies for me. I nibbled at my cookie while Esme called the kids down. I started to feel very shy again.
Within a few minutes, five little children, all the same height with different eye colors were standing at the bottom of the stairs, staring quietly at me.
"Alice, Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, Edward, this is Isabella. I want you to show her around. And be kind, alright?"
"Okay," they all said in unison.
One of the little girls, with curly black hair bounced forward. She was fairly pretty too. In her hair was a large yellow ribbon that matched her sun dress, and her large blue eyes sparkled with joy.
"Hi Isabella, let's go to my room. That's where me and Rose are playing!" She squealed, grabbing my hand and almost dragging me upstairs.
I put my thumb in my mouth, a stupid baby habit I picked up whenever I felt extremely shy.
The blonde girl, Rosalie, went over to a large doll house, where she was playing with a whole family of dolls with pretty dresses.
I hesitantly went over to her and dropped down to my knees.
"M-May I play with you?" I murmured quietly.
She ignored me. I tried again, louder this time.
"Can I play with you, please?" I reached for a red haired doll, but my hand was swatted away, leaving a little sting.
I gasped in surprise, rubbing my hand.
Rosalie had a large scowl on her face, holding all the dolls protectively against her chest.
"Can I just have one—"
"No," She snapped acidly.
I flinched, the tears coming fast. I stuck my thumb back in my mouth, trying not to cry like the overly-sensitive baby I was.
"Ah, Rose, don't be such a meanie," Alice said. Rosalie just scowled, putting her dolls away hastily.
"Here, Isabella," Alice said, handing me one of her dolls. I smiled shyly and played with her for a while…until…
"NO! NO! NO!" She screeched, snatching the doll out my hand roughly. "That outfit does NOT go on her! DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO DO ANYTHING!?"
My bottom lip quivered, and it started. The flood gates were open.
"MOMMA!" I cried, the tears splashing down my face as I ran out the room. Halfway down the hall I bumped into something slightly hard.
"Ow!" Edward hollered. "Watch where you're going, will you?"
"I-I'm sorry…"
The scowl slowly vanished from his cheeky face. "Why are you crying?" He asked.
I try to tell him, but all that comes out is some incoherent blubbers.
"Hey, stop it," He said gently, giving me a hug. I instantly relaxed and the tears stopped flowing. I felt warm, safe…loved.
"There. You better now?" He asked after a while. I silently nodded, rubbing my eyes.
"Dude, where are ya?" A curly haired boy asks, stepping out the room that Edward probably came out of.
"Oh, there you are. What's goin' on?"
"Nothing. I'm just talking to Isabella."
"Oooh, a girl, Eddie? Haha!" He laughs.
Edward grimaces. "Shut up, Emmett."
"Make me!"
"Oh yeah?" Edward smirks mischievously, standing up quicker than I ever could. They start to run, Edward chasing Emmett, laughing when they tackle and wrestle each other.
After a while of watching them play fight, I stood and went back to Alice's room, hoping that she would be nicer.
Boy, was I was wrong.
"What are you doing here?" She hissed.
"I'm sorry. Can I play with you again, please?"
She looks upward, as if trying to decide something. "…Mmm I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"You don't play right. These clothes do not match her at all! I mean, what are you, five?"
"Um…yes?"
She scoffs. "Get lost, Isabella. I don't want to play with you anymore." Out the corner of my eye, and I can see a very pleased Rosalie smiling smugly in my direction. I want to bawl again. I quickly ran away, going back to find Edward.
I heard a loud crash and instantly knew I was outside the right door. I knocked, once, twice, thrice. It got quiet on the other side before the door swung open.
"Hey, it's Isabella. Come on in," Emmett says, smirking. I step in slowly, putting my thumb back in my mouth.
It was okay for a while. We played and stuff, but then, Jasper and Emmett got an idea to play Truth or Dare.
"Okay, Isabella; truth or dare?" asked Jasper.
"Um…dare."
"Okay, I dare you to go into Alice's room, and behead one of my sister's dolls."
My mouth fell open with a pop. Was he trying to kill me?
"But…"
"Oh come on, Isabella. It'll be fun," Emmett snickered.
So, like the naïve child I was, I did the dare. And let's just say that it didn't end well. I went home that night crying my eyes out from the headache I had, due to Rosalie beating the crap out my head, trying to take it off like her Barbie.
And also, I went home promising myself I'd never ever speak to any Cullen ever again...except Edward.
End Flashback
Edward and I saw each other frequently after that, but I always steered clear of his siblings. Pretty soon, we were best friends and did everything together.
Of course, that was until ninth grade, when Tanya Denali transferred into our school. Tanya was the biggest witch of the whole school, which is probably why Rosalie became her best friend instantly. Alice didn't like her much, but still hung out with her because she had awesome designer stuff.
And since Rosalie was close to Emmett, and Jasper was close to Alice, the boys followed their girls. Edward was the only one I had, up until the day before Spring Break, that is.
Flashback
I was so excited today. It was almost Spring Break and Esme invited me to go to Disney World with the Cullens. I was also excited, because Edward promised to go on all the rides with me
He even said that we can have a contest to see who barfs first on the roller coasters. Ha, he's so going to lose.
When I reached the end of the hall, I turned the corner that lead to my locker, where I always met Edward before class.
"Hey Edwar—" I cut my sentence short with a loud gasp. Yes, you figured it. Tanya Denali, looking sluttier as ever, and Edward, looking more beautiful than ever, were locking lips, right in front of my locker, where Edward was supposed to be waiting.
"Edward…?" I croaked, tears filling my eyes.
They separated, and Edward gasped.
"Izzy…"
I gave him a hard glare, the tears rolling down my cheeks.
"How could you?!" I sobbed. I've never run so fast in my life, ignoring Edward's calls. I couldn't believe him. My best friend in the whole world just dissed me for my worst enemy in the world.
I was devastated.
End Flashback
After that, I ignored Edward at all costs. I hurried to school without him and I left school the same way. I didn't go to Disney Land, I didn't go to my school dance, I didn't sit next to him on field trips and every time he sat by me at lunch, I either ignored him or moved to another table.
It was horrible. I felt like a huge hole was punched into my chest, like my heart was ripped out of me and stomped on. I felt…like I've lost my best friend.
So, here we are today. I am currently seventeen years old and in the 11th grade, where my life is the absolute meaning of H-E-L-L.
Beep
Beep
Ugh
Beep
Beep
Shut up!
BEEP
BEEP
"Alright, alright. I'm awake," I grumbled. I hated that stupid alarm clock. It was a birthday present from my Aunt Miranda, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
I groaned as I stretched my stiff muscles. I hated my lumpy old mattress as well. I was surprised how I ever got any sleep.
I shuffled sleepily to the bathroom, and splashed some cool water on my face.
I blinked the water off my long eyelashes and stared at my reflection. Since then, my hair has grown down to my waist, and was very wavy—almost curly, and the color of rich mahogany.
My doe shaped eyes, which were once a hazel, have darkened to a chocolate color. My lips were full and pouty and were a dark pink color, almost red.
Actually, I could pass for someone kind of…pretty.
Except for one—or two, things…my mouth was full of large blue braces and my doe shaped eyes were covered by thick, large, black framed glasses that took up half my face.
Yeah, I was a nerd. The school geek. A loser, a freak, a target. I, Isabella Swan, was a dork. It didn't matter to anyone that I could solve math problems that a senior college student couldn't, and that I knew five languages fluently and never got anything lower than an A plus.
No. All they see is frizzy hair, large glasses and big braces. They're so judgmental that they don't even take the chance to get to know me.
But it didn't matter. I wasn't going to school to impress these people anyways. And besides, it was a person like me who would walk away with a good start on life, instead of walking away a druggie or pregnant or in jail.
I turned the shower on, setting it to the perfect temperature before shredding my favorite duck pajamas and stepping in.
I washed my body with my freesia scented wash and my hair with my favorite strawberry shampoo and conditioner.
Once I was finished, I quickly dried off and put on a pair of tights and a sweatshirt. I brushed my hair the best I could and put it in a high ponytail. I brushed my teeth and grabbed my backpack.
I slipped on my old boots and jogged down the stairs.
"Morning Izzy," Renee, my mother, said. Ever since that day, I hated that nickname. But I never said anything. What was the point in worrying my mother half to death with my own stupid troubles?
"Morning, mom."
I grabbed a package of pop tarts and told my mother goodbye. My father, Charlie, was at work already, so it was just me and Renee.
Up until last month, I didn't have a car. But finally, I ended up buying this old red Chevy truck from a friend of the family—Billy Black. Billy lived down on the reserve, and was best friends with Charlie.
He also had a son, Jacob Black, who I knew for a long time. He's together with my other friend, Leah Clearwater. They really are a perfect match, if you ask me.
Sure, the truck was old, and it could never go more than 55mph, but I loved it. It was my first car, after all.
I climbed in the rusty old thing and let the engine roar to life with the sound that sounded close to a chainsaw/cannon/missile.
I sighed as I made my way to school. By time I made it, I only had ten minutes before I was marked late. And to make matters worse…
"Hey look! The Swan has arrived. Or should I say, Ugly Duckling?" Came Lauren Mallory's annoying nasal voice. She, along with Jessica Stanley, were Tanya's friends.
I heard a group of laughter and knew that the Cullens were with them. I cursed myself for it, but I took a look over at them, just to see if Edward was there.
He was. And he was with Tanya too, who was wearing a poor excuse for a piece of scrap cloth. I swear, does this girl have any morals? Or at least responsible parents?
But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part, is that Edward, along with the rest of his family, was laughing, too.
I felt as if my heart was being squeezed between two super strong hands, making me bleed inside. So long story short, I was heart broken and I just wanted to crawl into a whole and die.
I ducked my head and went into the building, ignoring the tears that pricked the back of my eyelids. Yeah, I was still extremely sensitive. Sue me.
I stuffed my unnecessary books in my locker and put a few needed ones in my bag.
"Isabella?"
Oh dear God…
"Isabella, I'm talking to you."
I wish you weren't.
"Please, answer me."
No. "What do you want, Edward? Don't you have to get back to your precious girlfriend?" I wanted to claw my eyes out for even saying that word in reference to him.
He scowled and slammed his locker shut. The same locker that was always next to mine. Even at grade nine, when I wished I could just move down the hall and never see him again.
"Look, Isabella, I told you, it wasn't my fault. I never wanted to kiss Tanya. It was a mistake!"
"Uh-huh, sure," I murmured.
He made a growling sound that I think was supposed to be a groan before walking away.
"Whatever Isabella—if you don't believe me, then forget it. I don't need you, anyways." He said over his shoulder, not taking one glance back.
I ducked my head and sighed. This was a great start to my Monday morning. Not.
I suffered through Literature and Spanish before Math class, which I shared with Rosalie.
I couldn't really concentrate because she kept throwing her many pens, paper balls and shot glare after glare at me when I even thought about raising my hand to tell. Also to make things worse, she cheated off my test.
When the two of us went to the principal to explain why we had the same answers, the horrifically gorgeous blonde blamed it all on me, saying that I was cheating off her because I didn't study.
And then, when I tried to defend myself, Rosalie glared at me so hard I thought I would burst into flames under her icy stare. Mr. Payne was a little kinder though. He knew that my record was flawless, so he gave me a second chance to make up the test.
I agreed quietly before running out the office. Please, don't let her catch up with me...
"Isabella," Rosalie snapped. I flinched and stopped mid stride, and slowly turned around.
"If you ever tell, then I will make sure that you never graduate, and I don't mean just because of your scores. Do I make myself clear?"
I nodded quickly, my whole body shaking with unshed tears.
"Good." She smiled sweetly at me before clunking down the hall with her extra high spike stilettos.
It took a while to get my body to function again, but as soon as it did, I ran to the girls' bathroom and cried. Why was my life so miserable?
As I sobbed, I quietly whispered the words that very well changed my life forever.
"I wish Edward and me swapped places. I wish I was never Isabella Swan."