I'm gonna do this chapter as Bella when she is 11, and then I'll move on to when she is 18.

Disclaimer: I do not own twilight

Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Four years later

The early dawn light awoke me from my dreams as patches of sunlight rested on my pillow exactly were my head lay. I knew maid Leah would come barging into my handkerchief sized room any minute dragging me out of bed. The sheets weren't exactly soft and the pillow wasn't very comfortable but it was better than cleaning all day. As I had predicted the door suddenly flew open and the voice of Leah drifted through my room.

"Come on Bella, you have to get up now and put your best clothes on." Best clothes? I sat up and looked at Leah.

"Why best clothes?" I asked getting out of bed.

"Well, because Master Cullen's leaving today" She said laying out the only white dress I owned.

"Where is he going to?" I tried to act interested but it wasn't anything new. Emmet had also left two years ago the same age that Edward is now.

"To boarding school. One of the best ones in the country or so I've heard." She closed the cupboard and turned to look at me. "You have five minutes to get changed and then you are to report to the front door of the house." Her stern attitude made my stand up straight.

"Yes Leah" I said fumbling with the buttons on the night gown. I heard the door close and knew she had gone. After squeezing into my dress I brushed my hair and put a clip in it before leaving the room. As I walked down the corridor I yawned. Why did he have to leave so early? When I reached the entrance hall I saw people – well maids – bustling about trying to get Edward's belonging sorted. I spotted Alice and ran over to her.

"Alice!" I greeted her.

"Isabella!" She said smiling "What are you doing here?"

"Maid Leah dragged me down" I explained as Alice nodded in understanding. Edward walked past just then with Mistress Cullen and Mr Cullen in tow.

"Edward!" Alice called running towards him. I stepped back into the shadows of the staircase as the three Cullen's stopped to look at Alice.

"What do you want Alice?" He asked sighing and looking down on Alice's small figure.

"I just wanted to wish you goodbye" she put on her puppy dog eyes and I knew she was going to ask something "and, ask you if you would like to play with us for a little while"

"Alice, can't you see I'm busy" He looked wistful.

"Yes, but you don't leave until ten." Ten! Why did we have to get up so early if he left at ten! "You'll have plenty of time." Alice smiled hopefully her large eyes stared up at him. "Please," She said softly. Edward looked up at his parents silently asking for an excuse. Mistress Cullen wasn't having any of it.

"Oh Edward, of course you can play with you sister" she smiled sweetly

"But mo–"

"Don't worry dear your father and I will finish getting you belongings sorted"

Edward crossed his arms "Fine" he snarled. Alice clapped her hands together and squealed. She grabbed his arm and my hand and pulled us through the hall and out the back door.

"Alice, where are we going?" I asked as we made our way past the neatly cut bushes.

"To the cottage" She told us picking up her speed. Alice had a remarkable amount of strength for someone so small.

"The what?!" Edward looked at Alice questionably. My presence was completely ignored.

"The cottage" She repeated in obvious tone. "Isabella and I always go to play there" I nodded my head and Edward turned to look at me finally noticing that someone else was there.

"So you know about this cottage?" he asked eyeing me up and down.

"Of course" I shrugged "Me, Alice and Emmet found it."

"Found it?"

"Yes, we were playing and found it"

"So my parents do not know about this so called 'cottage'"

"Technically no" Alice interrupted. "We're almost there" I followed her eyeline and spotted the tree that I had used as shade two years ago before Alice had unexpectadly called my name said that she had found a cottage. I remembered folloing her a little way down a path and there stood a cottage with three windows and a wooden oak door. An overgrown rose bush had dominated the front of this cottage and I remembered cutting myself trying to open the window. Now I stood in front of next to Alice and Edward, the rose bush now a mass of pink. I skipped forward and pushed open the door, Alice following behind me. Edward just stood there his mouth hanging open.

"So, what do you think?" Alice called from an open window. Edward was lost for words; he just walked inside and stood next to Alice. I went upstairs and threw open the window basking in the sunlight. You could see for miles but not catch sight of the house. It was the most perfect location. I wondered to myself if it was even part of the Cullen property.

"Isabella!" I could hear Alice's voice float up the stairs. I rushed downstairs and found Alice standing next to Edward who had recovered from the shock. "There you are, I was wondering where you had gone" She reached forward and pulled me out the house.

"Alice where are we going?"

"I'm going to see if the swing is still in the garden" She said as we walked round the edge of the cottage. When we found the cottage we saw an old tree with over hanging branches in the back. We managed to sneak some rope and wood and fashioned a swing which we used often. It was still there and Alice called Edward who came running to us.

"What is it?" he asked looking around.

"I would like you to push me on the swing" She smiled and showed all her teeth. "Please"

"Fine." Edward snapped "But just this once" Alice jumped up and ran to the swing clambering on it and waiting. Edward walked round and gave her a push. I stood by the side and watched. Feeling the need to say something I stepped forward and stood next to Edward.

"So," I started "Are you going to miss this house"

"I'm going to miss the silence of it all, and the library, but at least I will be able to make new friends." An awkward silence passed over us but Alice failed to notice. She kept on swinging higher and higher. We didn't speak until Alice slowed to a stop and jumped off the swing.

"Whose turn is it next?" she looked from me to Edward and back.

"No thank you Alice it's ok" I said. I glanced at Edward and he nodded. "Shouldn't we get going back anyway?" I continued.

"Oh, yes!" Alice exclaimed "I completely forgot." Edward frowned and stalked off. "Edward, the house is that way" I said pointing to the right in the general direction of the Mansion. Alice and I followed after him exchanging few words. People were still bustling about when we reached the hallway and everyone came rushing toward us ushering Edward away. I saw Leah bundling over to me.

"Isabella, where have you been?" She asked with a slight tone of annoyance in her voice.

"I just went to go play with Alice and Edward" I told her innocently. She huffed and crossed her arms crossly.

"Well, you have five minutes to clean yourself up and then meet me back here. Do not be late" she warned "Or you will not be allowed to play with Alice again" Leah stormed of leaving me standing there next to a very shocked Alice.

"I guess I better go" I said. "See you later Alice" she nodded and I walked towards my room. After I had flattened my dress and brushed my hair I reached to open the door. But I stopped when I heard two voices drifting through the door.

"…That boy Edward is extremely lucky to be able to go to a private boarding school and get an education" I recognized the voice as Jessica Stanley one of the maids.

"Yes, and now that he's going, it won't be long till her younger sister leaves the house too" A quiet gasp escaped my lips. Alice will leave to? But then that would leave me with no one to play, my only company would be Leah.

I held back the tears that where threatening to escape and ran down the hallway to where Leah stood tapping her foot impatiently. When she saw my look down at my feet avoiding her penetrating gaze, her annoyed expression resolved into worry.

"What's the matter Bella?" She asked softly. Leah could be nice when she wanted to be.

"Is it true that Alice will leave this house to?" I whispered quietly, fiddling with my dress.

Leah struggled with words, probably wondering if she should tell me the truth. "Well....yes dear, it's true" I single tears trickled down my cheek and I wiped it away with the back of my hand quickly.

"Will...that mean that I'll have no one to play with?" I peered out from under the hair which shielded my face.

"It's okay Bella, by that time you'll be old enough to join the other maids in sewing" I nodded my head accepting the answer but not entirely satisfied.

"Come now Bella we have to meet the rest of the household on the entrance porch"

I followed Leah to the front door and stood behind her. All the other maids were there wishing Edward goodbye. He nodded to all of them and when he saw Leah and me our eyes locked for about two seconds before he nodded his head and said good bye. I watched Esme, Carlisle and Alice all give him a hug before he picked up both his suite cases. It was a short walk down to the train station at the end of the lane. Edward choose to walk on is own and as he made his way down he didn't look back.

I shall now move onto chapter 3 but it may take a while beacause I still need to post the third chapter for Broken Rivalry. Schools winding down so I've got less amount of Homework. Updates should hopefully be coming more frequently but don't keep your hopes up. Reviews are always welcome.

Thanks, glittergirlaura