Sorry it took so long to update. With the start of school and Fay here, it has been pretty hectic. Anyhoo, enjoy the chappie and review.

This goes out to Senata-K who was my first review. Thanks for your positive message!

Disclaimer: Just cuz I write about em, don't mean I own em.

I used to be different then how I am now… I'm going to leave it at that and see if you can guess how I was different. You probably won't. Even I am sometimes surprised at what happened to me…

I guess that's my signal to start at the beginning. Or, I guess should say, the end of the beginning…

"Bella, you really don't have to do this," Renee pulled me aside at the airport before I could board the plane.

"Its fine," I assured her. "I want to go." Not a complete lie, but I was a good liar nonetheless. I had to be.

"I'll write you when I get there," I gave her a brief hug and went to go board the plane.

After getting off my second flight in Port Angeles, I spotted my unc- I mean Charlie waiting for me.

"Is!" he said, using my childhood nickname. I winced at it.

"Actually, it's Bella now," I corrected him.

"Well, it suites you." He grinned as we walked to get my bags. "Ya know, the last time I saw you, you were with-"

I cut him off hastily. "Yup. How times have changed."

I didn't have as many winter clothes as I did before it happened and most of them got damaged, so I only had two bags.

As we walked outside, I quickly put my sunglasses on. Not because it was sunny (ha! Sunny in the rainiest place ever. That's funny.), but because it was an old habit of mine.

We put the luggage in the trunk, climbed into the cruiser (Charlie, the good Chief of Police of Forks. I know, why would they need one?), and started the long drive back to Forks. Luckily, Renee had told Charlie that I didn't talk as much as I used to and so didn't push the 'conversation'.

When we got to Charlie's house, I noticed a red, rusty '58 Chevy Ford out front. (Like I said before, I'm good with car models.)

"Who's Chevy?" I asked.

"Ummm, it's yours actually," Charlie looked embarrassed.

"Really," It was rusty, old, and to top it off a truck; something the old me would have hated.

"I love it. Thanks!" I am not lying. Much.

"Glad you like it," He said gruffly.

We got out and I hauled my suitcase and duffle bag inside and upstairs to my room.

"Is pizza okay?" Charlie called from downstairs.

"Sure," I called back and slammed my door. I winced; I hadn't meant to shut it so hard.

I quickly opened my duffel and shoved the clothes in the oak dresser. When I was finished, I dragged my other bag over to the bed and opened it up. This bag held a lot of memories, not including the suitcase itself.

I sighed and took out my laptop. Renee had given it to me so that we could communicate without the phone. She was always trying to make my life easier, more bearable to live. It didn't always work though.

I took out the video camera and tapes I had gotten for my fourteenth birthday three years ago and set it next to the digital clock on my bedside stand.

Then, I carefully lifted out a sleek, black case and some pieces of paper. I put the paper back into its folder and put it on my dresser.

Lastly, I took out my PS2 and placed it in front of the small TV in my room. As I walked back to my bag, I could see the hundreds of videogames and memory card holders littering the bottom. This, I shoved under my bed. I wasn't ready to play; not yet.

I walked slowly over to the window seat and sat down. At the current moment I could walk and look how I wanted. My walk had a dejected look to it; almost as if even the slightest blow or word could make me snap. My face, on the other hand, had crumpled with relief as soon as I was alone and didn't have to smile or looked pleased. It's not that I couldn't, it was just a relief not to.

I closed my eyes for the tiniest moment and a picture flashed before my eyes…

There was a house burning to the ground. There were no screams of pain from the inside because the people inside were already dead. The only screams came from the outside; from a girl curled inside herself, watching the house burn in despair…

My eyes opened at the knock on the front door. The pizza was here.

"Bells!" Charlie's voce drifted from downstairs. "If you're hungry, the pizza's here!"

"Coming!" I took one last look out the foggy window and bounded down the steps, taking them two at a time.

"Slow down there tiger," Charlie said at my noisy flight.

"Sorry," I smiled slightly.

When his back was turned, I made sure my back was straight and my face composed. I couldn't afford to slip up.

We ate our pizza in silence. Charlie wasn't much of a talker so the silence wasn't uncomfortable, it was actually content.

I cleaned up after dinner and told Charlie I was going to bed early.

"Do you know where the school is?" Charlie asked me before I could escape upstairs. "Because I won't be able to be here when you get up."

"Yeah," I racked my brain for a moment. "It's off the highway, right?"

"Okay, just wanted to make sure."

"Good-night Charlie," I gave him a small wave and ran up the steps.

I went to my room to get my bag of necessities and my pajamas (consisting of an old pair of gym shorts and a black shirt) and headed off to the bathroom. The shower calmed me slightly, but never as much as it used to. I was in the shower when it had happened.

After I got dressed and brushed my teeth, I stole across the hallway like a spy; I had learned to walk lightly on the balls of my feet as to not make any noises when I had to leave early and not wake anyone.

When I got to my room, I closed the door quietly and literally dived onto the bed. I snuggled under the covers, put a pillow over half my face, and closed my eyes, readying myself for the nightmares to come.