Chapter 1

New school year, new events

She was standing in front of the grave, her hands joined in front of her. At her left, her father, Jeremy, was hardly keeping his tears inside. He couldn't cry in front of his daughter. Not right now.

A few other people were there. Kirstin McMurry was loved by all the community. She was one of those old interns at the Fork's Hospital.

Dr. Cullen, who worked with Kirstin during such a long time, was there, along with his family. Every Cullen kid had been with him at the hospital at least once. They all knew and appreciated her.

Kirstin's daughter, Anny, fell on her knees and sobbed uncontrollably. Jeremy didn't even look at her, still shaking to not let even a single tear fall.

Esme, Dr. Cullen's wife, kneeled next to Anny and took her in her arms, letting the girl rest her head on her cold shoulder.

They stayed like that for a long time, probably three or four hours. Anny's sobs finally stopped and she fell asleep in Esme's arms. Her father looked at her and tried to take his little girl in his arms, but failed miserably. She almost fell on the ground. Luckily, Dr. Cullen got her before she hit it. He carried Anny, his family following close behind, back to the McMurry's house.

Her father only touched her when he threw back on the covers, so she won't be cold. He thanked the Cullen and sat in his favorite armchair. That night, he didn't sleep, only watched the clock and drank a bottle of red wine.

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The next morning, when Anny got down the stairs, she found her dad sitting bright in her mom's chair, an empty bottle of wine on the floor. She shook her head and went to take it.

As if he realized he wasn't alone anymore, Jeremy got up and took the bottle for her.

-Hey sweetie. I'm sorry, didn't mean to wake you up.

-You didn't wake me up, dad, it's 7. I have to go to school, I guess...

She didn't want to go to school, but she knew what her mom would've told her.

"Happily smiling, Kirstin would've smile to her daughter and took her hand to lead her to the kitchen for a healthy breakfast. While cooking, she would've look at her little girl and, still smiling, would've said:

-It's not because I'm not in this house anymore that you can't skip school. You know it's more than important. Your first day of High School, you have to be there! Otherwise, what your friends would do?"

Yeah, her mom would've told her to get her butt in her father's car and to go to school ASAP (well, probably not in these words, but you get the idea...). So she did.

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Anny had a lot of friends, even if she wasn't the most popular in school. She never had any problem making friends through Elementary and Middle School. But now, she was entering High School, last level before College.

Everybody knew that High School was a totally other field. When you were in High School, you were almost an adult. Even if you were only 14, like Anny

So, her dad took her to Fork's High School and let her go with her friends after a kick kiss on the cheek. She could tell he was stressed to let her go.

Her friends all welcomed her with hugs and kisses. None of them understood why she was there, but they didn't ask.

The first half of the day went fast. She discovered her classes and teachers, everyone nicer than the others.

When the lunch bell rang, she hesitated between calling her dad or just go and eat with her friends. She chose the second option. It was a good choice, because, as soon as she entered the cafeteria, Alice Cullen gently smiled to her and managed to spell the words "I'm sorry for your mom" while remaining at her place. Anny slowly returned the smile before her friends waved for her to go sit with them.

She looked at the Cullen's table a few time during lunch. She knew them by name, having seen them so many times when she was with her mom in the hospital on free days. What bugged her was that she didn't know the last girl who was sitting next to Edward. She seemed like a close friend, but Anny had never seen her before.

She stopped thinking about them when the bell rang again, telling them to go back in class.

She had a tutoring class right after lunch. She knew there were a few people from Junior and Senior classes who would help them during that hour. Even knowing that, she was surprised to see Alice and Edward Cullen, waiting for them in the small school library.

Anny sat with her friends, smiling secretly to both of them. The teacher who supervised the class told the new students to choose a partner from the Juniors and Seniors.

While thinking about who she should choose, Anny didn't realize that everyone else had chosen. The teacher asked her who she wanted to work with. She looked up and saw the only two people left were the Cullen. She shrugged and went to sit with them.

-So, you both will be my tutors? Cool!

Alice smiled while Edward shrugged.

-I don't know, passing an hour with you everyday? I might get bored to death.

She smiled sweetly to him.

-Really funny. I'm nice to be around!

-Yes you are, and my brother is too stupid to see it!

Anny shook her head, laughing. All three of them suddenly saw the teacher coming toward their little group, so they began to work.