"Playing the wall at singles bingo
all time gringo
Did anyone hear me cry there
through a toilet stall divider
I swear I care"

-The Vowels, Pt. 2, "Why?"

My family and I moved to Forks a week after school was over. I have never seen so much green in my entire life. Chicago wasn't completely made out of concrete, but this, this was insane. Everywhere you looked there was some type of vegetation. Trees, bushes, grass, flowers. Forks screamed of life despite its dreary skies and misty air.

The house I moved into was a large two-story red brick house. It was an older home, built in the 1920s. The porch was added to the front of the house, which was made out of cement and red brick. Growing off the side of the house was ivy vines with lilies blooming off of it. Around the house was more vegetation. In the middle of the yard stood the biggest tree I have ever seen in my entire life. It blocked most of the house from view from the street. The house could only be described as beautiful.

Inside the house was just as beautiful. Beautiful hardwood floors, French doors leading into the dining room, and a chandelier hanging from the hallway ceiling. "Go upstairs and pick out a room," my mom said, smiling while nudging me with her shoulder. I nodded and went upstairs.

The first bedroom was closet size. This will most likely be my mother's library. The second bedroom was massive with two closets. It had a nice view of the quiet neighborhood around us. Definitely my mother's room. The room across from the master bedroom was going to be my room. It was small, but spacious. There was a door in my room that led to the balcony. The balcony stretched across the entire back half of the house. I opened the balcony door and leaned on the railing. No one lived behind us. Behind the house was a long stretch of unclaimed land, the color green stretching as far as the eye can see. I could get used to this I thought. I looked to my left and saw how close my neighbor's house is to mine. If a tree wasn't in the way, I could climb over the edge of the balcony, reach out, and touch the side of my neighbor's house.

I went back inside to inspect my room. Directly across from the balcony door was my closet. It was a decent size, perfect for a teenage boy with two pairs of shoes and minimal clothing. I decided where I wanted to put my bed and desk when I glanced out the window. I could see into my neighbor's house. Inside was one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen. Well, I haven't seen many girls to judge, but this girl was definitely notable. She was walking around her room, organizing her books. This girl had enough books to cause an avalanche. When she turned around, she saw me. She walked to her window, smiled, and shut her curtains closed.

I felt bad for invading her personal space, but I didn't let it bother me for too long. I went downstairs to help my parents unpack when I heard the doorbell ring. "Edward, dear, can you get that? Your father and I are carrying the couch to the basement," my mom called. Maybe it was the girl next door coming to yell at me for spying on her. I was right. Kinda.

When I opened the door, it was the girl, but she didn't look mad. She politely smiled at me and then she asked me the weirdest question. "Did you know when Mr. Rogers was at a speaking event he made the audience sit in silence for 60 seconds in order to remember the people who helped them become who they are today?"

My eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. "No, I didn't know that. But that's kinda cool."

"Yeah," the girl said as she leaned against my new house. "Mr. Rogers was kinda cool that way."

"Why are you telling me this?"

The girl laughed lightly. "Because we're neighbors, and there's a Mr. Rogers at the end of the block. We're living in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood! And I'm kind of a trivia junkie."

I laughed along with her. "That's clever. I bet you give him a lot of hell for having the last name Rogers."

"You bet," the girl smiled brightly. "It's only been two minutes and already you know me so well. We should be friends."

"We could be," I nodded, emphasizing each syllable of each word as I said it.

"Isabella Swan," she stuck her hand out towards me. "But I prefer Bella. Isabella is too formal. I like the color yellow, I read, I write, and my birthday is on September 13th. You?"

I started to panic slightly. This girl talked a mile a minute. What was I going to say to her when there is absolutely nothing interesting about me? "Um, I'm Edward Cullen. I don't like to be called Eddie; it's too informal. I like the color blue, I read occasionally, I moved from Chicago, and my birthday is on June 22nd." Bella pursed her lips. Great I cursed myself internally. Already boring her.

Suddenly Bella's smile was back in place. "I want to get to know you more. You should come hang out with my friends and I. We're heading out to La Push beach."

I swallowed hard. I'm already surprising myself with how easy it is to talk to this girl. Normally I stutter when I talk to people. I feel like I'm walking on egg shells around this girl, I don't want to make her think I'm weird. Imagine how I'd act around more people. "Uh, no thanks. I'm going to stay and help my parents unpack and get settled."

"I can help you with that!" Bella offered.

I shook my head. "Again, no thanks. I wouldn't ask that of you."

"It's really no problem."

"Bella," her name practically rolled off my tongue. "I want to be friends, but honestly I would feel more comfortable if the house was settled before I hang out with you or anyone else."

"Ah," she said easily. "So you're one of those control freaks who stress out when the world is out of order."

"I am not!" I argued. Bella rolled her eyes, but continued to smile. "I would feel bad if I abandoned my family when there's so much work to do. My mom is helping my dad carry a couch downstairs, for God's sake. I'm already a horrible son."

"Oh no!" Bella exclaimed dramatically while throwing her arm over her forehead. "You won't win the son of the year award!" Bella giggled at herself, and I couldn't help but notice how cute she looked when she laughed. Her eyes crinkled in the cutest way. "But I understand. Maybe some other day?"

"Definitely," I agreed. She waved at me as she walked down the street. As soon as she was out of sight, I closed the door and went back inside. I helped my parents put furniture in its right place, and then joined them for a dinner of pizza and a liter of soda. My parents went to bed early that night after a long day of work. I was just turning the lights off in the living room when I heard laughing outside. I looked out the window and saw Bella getting a piggy back ride from a massive guy with curly dark hair. Her and her friends must have just gotten back from the beach.

They were all laughing and screaming, and having a great time. I began to feel a hole form in the pit of my stomach. I was jealous. I wanted to be happy and carefree like them. I knew I could be out there having a great time right now if I would have said yes to Bella's offer. Hopefully she'll offer to hang out again. I went up to my bedroom feeling lonely and full of regret.