Speak slow

(tegan and sara)


I landed in Seattle Airport and I walked through passport control and luggage claim, although most of my possessions other than clothes had already been shipped to forks, and I rather hoped that they hadn't tried to unpack, 10 years of a teenage girls diary's were things not to be toyed with. So all I had with me were my immediate essentials, spear change of clothes, toiletries, iPod, mobile phone etc.

I walked into the arrivals lounge and saw crowds of people waiting for their loved ones and then I saw them. Esme was just as beautiful as I remember from my mum's college photos and Carlisle didn't look a day over 30. And from this point on they were going to be my parents, for all intensive purposes.

I trudged over being careful not to trip over my feet like I normally do.

"Bella! Bella! Over here!" Esme saw me and started waving

"Hi aunt Esme" I said hugging her tightly

Like I said practically sisters.

"Hi Carlisle" I said shaking his hand

"Hello Bella its wonderful to have you here"

"Thanks, and thank you for having me"

"Ohh Bella don't worry about it, your mother wouldn't have it any other way we both know that" Esme smiled lovingly at me full of sincerity and sympathy.

"Well let's get going then shall we?" Carlisle said and we started walking.

We walked through the arrivals and went down into the multi story car park, where we went to a black BMW, which looked expensive, and couldn't help but wonder if the Cullen's were rich? I mean surely they would need to have enough money to look after 3 kids, well now 4, but then again Carlisle was a doctor? Hmm... But did Esme work? Surely... I must remember to ask her.

The ride took about 45 minutes which was filled with idle chatter trying to ease the nerves I suppose, them asking be about London and starting at forks high school. We drove through the city limits and up forest lined roads that were nearly deserted and then we turned up what looked like a dirt and stone track and then onto a beautiful stone driveway and my jaw dropped, We were parking outside the most beautifully modern mansion I had ever seen. Mostly made of huge glass windows that if you looked onto the bottom floor you could see right through to the other side and the lake beyond the back garden. It was stunning. From what I could see it had three floors and each room had a balcony of some sort. It was beautiful.

Carlisle and Esme lead me inside and I put my suitcase down in the foyer. The inside was even more beautiful than the outside everything was beautiful creamy ivory coloured and all very modern and everything had character to it.

"Bella?" I snapped out of my haze and saw Esme smiling brightly at me

"Welcome to our humble abode" Carlisle said.

I was speechless, don't get me wrong it wasn't like I lived in the sticks back in London, but this was something else entirely. "It's... its beautiful" I stuttered while looking around in amazement.

They both laughed and smiled at my complement.

"Do you want to see your room?" asked Esme, I nodded still taking everything in.

"Follow me, it's on the top floor, which you will share with Edward, don't worry, he doesn't bite! And you still have your own bathroom." She smiled that warm maternal smile again and I followed her upstairs, when we got to the 2nd floor I saw two doors, one on either end of the hallway Esme lead me to one of the bedrooms and opened the door. I gasped when I saw a beautiful huge bedroom with french windows leading to a gorgeous balcony that looked as if it was attached to Edwards's room as well. There was also a huge four poster bed and vanity with a huge mirror. It was like I was walking into a fairy tale. But a beautifully modern fairytale. I really didn't deserve any of this.

"Do you like it??" Esme asked her voice laced with anticipation.

"Wow" was the only word that could escape my lips. Esme laughed and gave me a side shoulder hug. "Would you like some help?" She asked motioning to the boxes at the far side of the room which held all my belongings from phoenix. Relief flooded my mind when I saw that they hadn't tried to unpack anything.

"Yeah that would be great" I smiled at her knowing that there was no way I could do it all myself. It took me ages to pack everything up with Alex at home.

I took off my jacket revealing the tattoo on my shoulder of the outline of a flock of birds. I saw Esme looking.

"I got it when I was 16, I decided to rebel and I was dating a 19 year old tattoo artist at the time" she nodded and smiled "it's very pretty, Edward has tattoo's as well, I have a feeling you are both going to have allot in common" she said winking at me

"Thanks, so where is everyone?" I replied wondering what exactly she was thinking...

"At school, they will be back soon and you can meet everyone and the hales to, Rosalie and Jasper, they are Alice and Emmet's other half's"

"Oh right okay"

Two hours later everything was put away in my room and I was sat on the balcony smoking a cigarette, Esme had gone downstairs after everything in my room was sorted to start on dinner. Then I heard the front door slam and a lot of talking, I think I might have even heard a squeal, I put out my cigarette and walked inside and down the stairs, and I stopped at the top of the second set and could hear the talking more clearly.

"Where is she? Where is she?" a girl asked.

"She's up in her room, wait until she comes down Alice!" Esme replied

"Owwww" the girl replied

I took this as my cue and walked down the stairs and was faced with 7 sets of eyes staring at me intently.

"Hi, I'm Bella" I said rubbing the back of my neck and giving a half wave.

"Hi I'm Alice!" a small pixie like girl said grinning, the same voice I had heard from the stairs, she had short black hair and was quite small but very pretty.

"This is jasper" she motioned to a blond haired boy who she was holding hand with.

"And this is Emmett and Rosalie" she pointed to a big burly guy who had his arms wrapped around a drop dead gorgeous blond girl who could have stunned any guy with one look.

"And last but not least this is Edward" she nodded to a tall lean bronze haired boy who was looking at me with a half smirk on his face. I looked him over and was shocked at how amazingly stunning this boy was. He had messy bronze sex hair and an eyebrow piercing. He had a little stubble but it all added to the sex on legs effect he had going. He was wearing black distressed skinny jeans; with a grey v neck t-shirt which showed off a tattoo on his chest that I couldn't fully see, and some black boots.

"Hi" they all said at once, looking at me carefully.

God it's like being the new animal at the zoo.

"Well err dinner is ready kids" Esme said, trying to break the awkwardness.

"I hope you like spaghetti bolognaise Bella"

"Err yeah that's great" I couldn't really remember the last time I had it but I don't remember disliking it.

"Don't worry Bella! We're going to be the best of friends" Alice said bounding up to me and linking my arm with hers.

"Haha okay" I said smiling at her. Well at least I'll have one friend at school.

After dinner I offered to wash up and Edward offered to help me. It was awkward at first and I could have sworn he kept on staring at me but then he spoke

"Nice tattoo" he said gesturing to my shoulder.

"Thanks"

"How many do you have?" he asked

"Just the one on my shoulder and this one on my wrist" I took my hand out of the water and showed him the key I had tattooed on my wrist with 'imagination' written above it.

"Ahhh nice, so you're not one to be afraid of the needle then"

"Haha definitely not, I love it" I said sticking out my tongue and showing off my tongue piercing.

He looked at my tongue and laughed shaking his head.

"So what about you?" I said gesturing to his chest

"Ohh that" he pulled up his shirt neck to reveal the most beautifully sculpted abs I have ever seen and a even more beautiful of a old ship with clouds and the words 'the storm won't stop us' tattooed across his chest.

"What does it mean?"

"What it says" He clearly wasn't going to elaborate and I didn't want to push, he then gave a crooked smile that almost made me weak at the knees.

Get a grip Bella!

We finished up the washing up and joined the rest of my new family in the living room which had the hugest flat screen telly I have ever seen.

"Bella! Were watching 'Trainspotting' come sit! We thought you would like it considering your from London" Alice said patting a seat next to her.

"Haha yeah except this is biased in Edinburgh, in Scotland"

"See I told you the accents were different!" shouted Emmett

"haha yeah just abit" I replied sitting down next to Alice

The next hour was filled with heroin and Scotsmen which just made me miss home that much more.

Once the movie was over I went up to my room because I really needed a cigarette.

I walked into my room, still amazed at how beautiful it was. I dug around in my purse for my packet of lucky strikes. I have to admit, America do have the best cigarettes compared to England.

I made my way out to the balcony and sat down in one of the big comfy wicker arm chairs staring out at the sun set. I lit my cigarette and put on my headphones lying back closing my eyes and loosing myself in the music.

I, I guess, the only thing cheap to you is your friends
You can always make new friends (oh no)
But it's not always worth as much (oh no)

Now this bridge is ashes
It might as well have never been built
It might as well have never been built
Little river that it crossed
Looks like an ocean now, looks like an ocean now

Times change and people change with them
Some people love to play the victim
(Love to play the victim)
Your caution to the end
Washed away these few last tears for nothing
(Wasn't all for nothing)
Keep it on wax

Your not the only one
Who's making these sacrifices
Who's making these sacrifices
And time won't heal shit
When you got your hands in my pocket
When you got your hands...

Kick, Kick, Kick
Scream, Scream, Scream
Won't change a god damn thing (It won't change)
Kick, Kick, Kick
Scream, Scream, Scream (A god damn thing)

I, I guess, the only thing cheap to you is your friends
I guess, the only thing cheap to you is your friends

OOOHHH, what a fucking shame
OOOHHH, that you had to mess things up this time

There was a sudden tap on my shoulder awakening my from my music induced haze.

I shot up and screamed in shock, and stood in front of me was Edward with an amused look on his face.

"Oh shit sorry" I said taking out my earphones.

"Ha it's okay I heard you singing from my room and came out to see what you were doing, smoking I see?" he motioned towards my packet of cigarette and portable keychain ashtray that always came in handy.

"Oh right yeah that sorry, I didn't know what the rules were about smoking"

"Don't worry about it. Mind if I join you?"

"Oh of course of course sorry"

He sat down in another wicker chair next to me and pulled out a packet of American spirit and lit it up.

"You're not a bad singer you know" he said after taking a pull of his cigarette

"Oh god I wasn't singing was I?!?! Great I thought I only did that in the shower now." I could feel my cheeks blush.

"Now? what do u mean?" he looked at me confused

"Oh I used to have a band back in England, one of those angst'y self righteous girl rock bands haha. I was the lead singer"

"Wow so you're not just a sexy chick with tattoo's now you're a sexy rock chick with tattoos" he said winking at me.

I couldn't help but smile and blush, I mean he is very sexy, and he just called ME sexy! Whoa...

Stop it Bella, he's probably as much of a dickhead as Jacob was.

I willed my sub conscious to shut up so I could marvel at the beauty sat before me who was evidently flirting with me, I felt that god forsaken blush again, argh.

"Well my dear Bella I must leave you, thanks for the company, I'll see you tomorrow"

"Night" I sighed

"Sweet dreams"

"Thanks, you too"

And then he was gone, walking along the huge patio balcony and through his glass door.

I picked up my iPod and packet of ciggs and went into my room, my new room, in my new house with my new family in a new place.

And that's all I needed, the pressure that I had been expecting all day crept up on me crushing me with its force. I hunched over and slid down the door resting on my knees holding my head trying to shield it from the weight that was swallowing me. yeah asif.

I knew what I needed; there were only two things that could help me right now. One that was not possible in the slightest because I hadn't brought any with me, it was too risky going through an air port with it. The other, sat in my purple wash bag situated on the counter in my en-suite bathroom that was about 20 feet away from me. I needed it and it took all my effort to stay put.

Bella you will not do this. It's a new start.

I knew my sub conscious was right, but the need was over whelming me. I stood up stalking to the bathroom and locking the door.

I must have stood there and stared at that wash bag for hours, debating with myself on what to do...