Chapter 2: Loss

Emma Riley POV

It had been three days. Yet the tears remained endless. Three days since my world fell apart around me. Three days since my life as I knew it was destroyed. Three days since I had become alone.

My parents were dead. I was dead, but my heart continued beating.

I rested my head on my tear soaked pillow. Sleep was impossible; my body was sore and my eyes puffy. It seemed as though the tears would never stop, they would trickle and I would be tricked thinking that it was over. Then another wave of crippling grief would rack through me, sending a fresh onslaught of tears tumbling down my cheeks.

My bed shook with each sob. I tried not to cry out, holding in the sorrow that was tearing me to pieces. I was being devoured, pulled into the dark world of sadness.

No one could reach me; no one really tried.

I cried at this thought, no one. I had absolutely no one. No uncles, no aunts, no cousins, no grandparents, no relatives to speak of. I had a few friends but they were more like acquaintances then anything significant. I had no one.

I could hear the lawyer, Mr. Francis, on his cell phone downstairs. Trying to make arraignments. He didn't want to have to deal with me either, but it was his job. I was still 17 another year and I wouldn't need a guardian. My parent's will said I was to go to my godmother Renee Dwyer.

I had been close with her daughter. Keyword: had. I hadn't seen her in twelve years, not since I was five and she was six. I could tell by the discussion that Renee didn't want me, it sounded like she didn't have Bella either.

I cried into my pillow, I didn't want to go I wanted to stay.

Jackson was here somewhere, he couldn't be missing we had to find him; I couldn't live without him. I picked up my phone and called him, crying as his voice mail picked up.

"Hey it me Jack! Leave a message!" His voice was so happy, so upbeat. "Beep!"

"Jackson! Where are you, please pick up, please! I am begging, I need you more then ever, help me Jackson…" my sobs took over.

He was gone; I would never see him again.

Just like I would never see my parents again.

I closed the phone and continued to cry. I heard the lawyer talking on the phone again, his voice echoed down the hallway. I held my sorrow in, eavesdropping on his conversation.

"Charlie Swan?" He asked and waited for a reply. I wiped a stray tear away.

"I am calling on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Riley and their daughter Emma…"

"Yes, did you speak with Mrs. Dwyer?" he asked.

"Oh, wonderful, I am sure she will be happy to hear that…" he paused.

"I will make travel arraignments as soon as possible, and we will be there shortly, Thank you Chief Swan."

With that he hung up the phone. Travel arraignments where was I going? I couldn't leave, not yet I still need to find Jackson.

I heard Mr. Francis walking down the hallway towards my bedroom; he stopped in the doorway and sighed, obviously taking in my pathetic-ness. I was allowed to be pathetic I had lost my boyfriend and my parent in the same day and now I was being pawned off onto a family I hadn't seen since kindergarten.

"Come on Emma, buck up, you need to pack up your belongings. Just take your clothes and necessities for now. We can deal with everything else later, I am going to buy us some plane tickets."

He spoke without care; he could careless for the loss that I had just sustained. He turned and left the room without another glace at me.

I sighed and pulled myself off of my bed. There was no point in fighting it. I was being shipped off to Forks, Washington.

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I pulled my suitcase behind me, I called Jackson again, leaving a message that was more composed then the last, telling him where I was going. If by chance he ever heard my messages he could find me.

We boarded the plane in silence. The flight from San Diego to Seattle was quick, we took a smaller plane to Port Angeles and rented a car and drove to Forks.

Clouds filled the sky, everything was wet and damp, this dreary weather did nothing but bring my mood to a new low. I rested my head against the cold glass as we drove to towards my new home. Why would they want me?

No one else wanted me, they were all gone.

We pulled up to a small two-story house; it didn't look like they would have any room for me here. A big red truck and a police cruiser were parked in front.

"We're here," said Mr. Francis obviously. Did he think I was stupid? Probably. I grudgingly climbed out of the car. And was surprised when two small arms wrapped their way around me and held me close.

"Oh, Emma! I am so sorry," Bella squeezed me to her. I felt myself falling apart, my weak composure falling before my eyes. The tears began to fall all over again.

"It's will be okay, one day I promise," she squeezed me again and tried to reassure me. But nothing would ever be okay ever again.

I held her back, clinging to someone of my past. I had no one, but she seemed to care. I was unable to utter a sound. My tears fell openly, staining her pretty white t-shirt.

"Come on, let's go inside," she broke the hug but grabbed my hand, sensing that I needed the connection. I looked up to see Charlie on the front porch, trying his best to smile, but I could see the sadness in his eyes. He felt bad for me and he felt bad for himself. He knew my parents, even if they hadn't seen each other in so long.

"Come on in you two, the rain is going to start any minute," called Charlie.

Mr. Francis looked at the sky disgustingly; he wouldn't want to ruin his pricey overindulgent suit. He rushed past us to the safety of the indoors.

I stepped inside and took in my environment, it was simple, homey. I immediately felt comfortable.

"Bella, why don't you show Emma her room and let me talk to Mr. Francis," Charlie told Bella.

"Sure Dad," Bella grabbed my bag and I followed her up the stairs. She opened the first door on the right and set my bag down on the floor.

The room was small, but it was cozy, it had a fluffy bed and a dresser and a bookshelf waiting to be filled. The gray light of the outdoors shown though the one window.

"It isn't much, we used to use it as storage, is it okay?" Bella asked hesitantly.

I nodded. It was perfect.

"Thank you," I began to cry again and Bella hug me.

"It will get better, one day," she rubbed slow circles in my back relaxing me.

"Bella! Edward is here!" I heard Charlie call up the stairs with a tone of dislike.

Bella just smiled, "I'll be right back."

She ran out of the room and to the bottom of the stairs.

"Edward! I want you to meet my friend Emma-" she stopped as he cut her off.

"Bella, there is an emergency, I have to take care of some things-" this time Bella cut him off.

"Edward…" she sounded panicked.

"No Bella, this is different, I'll stop by tonight to let you know what is going on."

"Okay," I could tell that she wanted to know now, same old Bella.

"I love you, be safe," he said it in a whisper but his musical voice carried up the stairs.

I closed the door not wanting to be reminded of what I had lost.

I began to unpack the few things that I had brought. I would need to go shopping. There was a short knock on my door.

"Come in." Bella stepped in, her cheeks were rosier then they had been when she left. I couldn't help but smile, my cheeks used to blush like that too.

"I need to go shopping." Bella's eyes widened in terror at my statement.

"Oh, no, I don't do shopping, but I know someone who does!"

"Oh yeah? Who?" I asked intrigued.

"Alice." She answered simply.

"And who is Alice?" I asked.

"Edward's sister and my best friend," she replied with a smile, "But they are busy, maybe this weekend, can you last that long?" She asked teasingly.

"Yes," I replied with a smile. It was nice to smile it had been nearly two weeks since I had smiled. Two weeks since Jackson had gone missing and my parents had died, two weeks. I picked up my phone and called him again. Still no answer. I flopped down onto my new bed feeling defeated. I couldn't give up; I knew he was still out there, somewhere.

"Well, if it cheers you up any we have school tomorrow!" She replied sarcastically.

"Oh, yeah!" I said just as sarcastically.

"I'm going to go cook dinner, any requests?" she asked. I shook my head, I had absolutely no appetite.

"Okay, I'll call you when it's ready."

She closed the door behind her and I called Jackson again. It rang and rang until the voicemail picked up "Hey it me Jack! Leave a message!" in his still friendly tone. Oh, what I would give to hear him say something else. "Beep!"

"Please call me Jackson, I know that you are out there somewhere, please call me. I love you." I flipped the phone shut hoping that he would check his messages. Hoping he was alive.

I continued unpacking, trying to make myself feel at home. I pulled out the one photo album that I had decided to bring along. It was full of pictures of Jackson and I, and some of my parents. I couldn't look at. Not yet.

I placed it on the empty bookshelf, and resumed unpacking. Within a few minutes everything that I had brought along had its own place. I flung myself onto the bed and closed my eyes, letting my mind become blank.

I don't know how long I lay there not thinking, Bella's voice broke me out of my empty daydream.

She was calling me to dinner. I still didn't feel hungry but I knew that they would be disappointed if I didn't join them. And I couldn't bear to see disappointment in anyone's face.

I unenthusiastically slid from the bed, letting my bare feet grace the cool hardwood floor. The steps creaked as I went down them, my feet dragging with each step.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs I could see Bella and Charlie sitting in the dining room. Charlie looked over and gave me a grin; I smile meekly back as I made my way to the table. The food smelled delicious, Italian. Bella had the plate in front of me filled with spaghetti and meatballs.

"We are glad to have you here with us Emma, despite the unfortunate circumstances," said Charlie. I gave a small smile and a nod.

"I appreciate you taking me in, I had no where else to go…" I held back the tears. I was getting better at holding my emotions back.

"It's not a problem at all, the more the merrier!" he said as he took a bite of spaghetti.

"You will love it here in Forks, sure it took me forever to even consider liking the green but it is definitely home," said Bella. I saw Charlie's face light up at Bella's words. He was so happy that Bella considered Forks home. "I can't wait for you to meet the Cullen's-"

"Speaking of the Cullen's where is Edward?" Charlie asked in a disgruntled tone. He glanced at the clock, "he is usually here by now."

"He said that there was an emergency, he won't be over tonight," Bella answered ignoring her father's tone. I was surprised to hear that Edward wasn't coming over; he had said earlier that he was. That was strange.

We finished eating and I stood to clean my dishes. Bella grabbed my plate.

"Let me, you look exhausted." At the word exhausted I let out a huge yawn.

Both Bella and Charlie laughed.

"See? Go to bed, I'll wake you in the morning for school."

"Oh, and I registered you this afternoon, Bella can take you to the front office to get everything else settled," Charlie added.

"Okay, sounds good," I yawned again as I headed up the stairs.

Sleep, it had been so long since I had slept, hopefully there will be no nightmares.

I changed into pajamas and slipped between the covers. I was so comfortable but I couldn't help but call Jackson one more time before falling asleep.

It rang and rang but eventually the voicemail picked up. I listened to his greeting and enjoyed his voice.

"Jackson, please pick up, I have a feeling that you are out there, just answer me. I love you no matter what. Good night." I closed the phone with a sigh. I couldn't give up, not yet.