DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters or words borrowed from the Twilight series. Those are property of Stephanie Meyers.
**A/N - This is my first fic. This story came screaming into my head Friday evening so I thought I would actually write it down and share it for a change. Feel free to let me know if I haven't followed the proper procedure.
This story takes place in New Moon just after Edward has left Bella, but they won't be showing up in my story for a while yet. Also, Edward is way out of character. Don't be offended when he isn't playing his normal "noble" self!
I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 1
"The more things change, the more they stay the same" thought Tia as she watched the clouds rolling by. Her brows pulled together into a worried line. "Well, maybe not this time…"
"A new town, a new start!" her mom would always say to her as they were packing yet again. "Never be afraid to start a new chapter." How many times had she heard those words from her mom? Tia had lost count. Moving was now as natural as breathing to her. However, this time was different. Mom was not by her side. There was no loaded U-Haul being towed behind mom's Subaru. It was just her and her two bags. This time, Tia was alone.
This separation from her mom was going to be hard. She loved her mom and had always had a close relationship with her. Well, as close as her mom would allow that is. Often times, it felt as though her mom was pulling Tia closer and pushing her away at the same time. It was so confusing. Tia couldn't wrap her brain around her mom's erratic actions, especially when she was in one of her moods. Mom's depression would be so thick that it felt suffocating which made her mom needy and clingy. Eventually to deal with the depression, her mom would begin drinking again which pushed Tia away. It was an ugly cycle. Then the weirdest thing would happen. Mom would hear a story of an accidental death or a hiker being mauled by a mountain lion and she would sort of snap. The boxes would show up and within a day or two, we were on the road again to start a new chapter. We had moved repeatedly over the past 15 years. I had changed schools as many as 3 times within a school year. Needless to say, making friends and putting down roots never happened. That was just my way of life until we moved to Vegas.
Vegas was different. Mom had taken a day job at a casino which is where she met Jim, her boyfriend. Ever since she hooked up with him, her behavior became even more erratic. She was up at all hours and Jim would drop in whenever he wanted, almost always with a friend or two with him. After about a week and a half of Jim being part of her life, I figured out why. Drugs. He was a user and I was almost positive a dealer. I never stuck around to be sure but I think my mom was using with him. Sometimes, I'd find her sound asleep on the couch as I got up for school the next morning. Her speech would be slurred and her clothing a mess. Occasionally, there would be a pipe on the coffee table. I was beginning to get scared for both of us. I started hiding in my room and locking the door when he and his friends showed up. I didn't like Jim or his friends. They always seemed to be watching me. They always smiled in a way that never reached their eyes when they did. Mom always gave me a sad look as I slipped out of the room to hide yet again. She never said or did anything about it though.
Then one night, I answered a knock at the door. As usual, it was him but this time, he was alone. He was obviously high on something. He stumbled through the door, immediately grabbing me. He pulled me into his arms saying "Hey babe, I couldn't wait to get my hands on you." and trying to kiss me. I must have yelped because mom came out of her room. She pried Jim off of me to lead him to the couch. I ran for my room shutting the door behind me as I did. I was shaking. To calm down, I put my headphones on and grabbed my sketch pad.
I must have fallen asleep. The next thing I remember is that my door burst open. He was in my room and headed for me. I heard screaming. I felt hands on me. Then I must have passed out.
The next morning, mom was sitting at the kitchen table. She looked as though she hadn't slept at all. I was about to ask her what happened when I noticed the bruises on the side of her face and on her arms. She looked at me with obvious concern and deep sadness in her eyes. "I've called Uma. You are going to live with her. Your plane leaves at 2 pm. Let's get you packed up."
This is when I really felt like my life was really spiraling out of control.
So here I am on an airplane on my way to Uma, my grandmother. My mom convinced me that moving with her was for the best. I knew that was mom was right. I couldn't stay with mom as long as she was still with Jim and she was always with Jim. She gave me a tight hug at the airport telling me that she loved me as I was about to board my flight. I watched her walking away hoping that she would turn to wave but she didn't. She kept on walking.
I sat staring out the window as the plane touched down at SEA TAC. "Mom, I hope you're right."
Negotiating the small airport was no problem. I had stopped to claim my two bags when all of a sudden, I heard a loud "Woohoo!" and I was spinning around in a circle being held by two strong arms.
"Sam, put me down please!" I cried. My cousin grinned. Actually, he wasn't my real cousin as I had none. Uma had adopted him after his dad died, raising him as her own son. He was several years older than me but now he seemed to be so much more so just based on his size and build alone. I had been several years since I had last seen him. He and his dad had driven down to see us when we were living in Utah. From what I remember, he was a gangly 12 yr old then, no real muscles to speak of. My, how he had changed.
SPOV
"It's about time that you came to live with us T. I think living on the Res will do you some good." Giving her one more hug. However, he noticed as he put her down that there was no happiness in T's eyes. His inner wolf became anxious at this. Tia was his family and whatever put that in her eyes was not welcome and needed to stop.
"Uma is so excited about your visit. She has chattered nonstop about you ever since your mom called with the news." Sam said. I didn't know how to reply so I just gave him a smile.
"Ok, lets' hit the road. I can't wait for you to meet my fiancée Emily. She's fixing a welcome dinner for just us." I noticed that his eyes kind of lost focus when he spoke about Emily. "Wow, she must be someone super special." I thought to myself.
Walking out to his Jeep, I give Tia a sideways glance. She can't be more than 5' 2" tall. She has long, straight jet black hair, copper skin and big brown eyes. "Looks like I'm in for an interesting couple of weeks." I mused. "The boys are going to be harder than ever to manage." sighing to himself as he put her bags in the back.
TPOV
The drive to the Res was quiet. Thankfully, Sam had turned on some music. He had that unfocused look in his eyes again. This was ok with me. I didn't really feel like talking. I watched the scenery change from suburbia to countryside and then to the dense forest leading into the Quileute reservation. It had been years since I had stepped foot on Res soil. When Uma had last seen me, I was a shy, little kid who hid behind my mom. Maybe I hadn't changed so much. I'm still shy and I definitely feel like hiding right now.
At that moment, the clouds parted spilling sun out over the forest. My spirits lifted a bit. "Ok, mom, I'm starting a new chapter." I thought as we pulled up to the main entry of the reservation.