Disclaimer: All twilight related things belong to Stephanie Meyer.
Chapter 1: Beginning:
Chicago, 1998.
Mary Jerry, threw a look at the child who sat at the stairs of the old house, while looking around her in a mix of awe and fear. She was wearing an old, long nightgown; her grandmother would have worn when she was a child and seemed to be around 9 or 10 years old. She had long bronze hair and green emerald eyes, she was a pretty child.
Mary had found her this morning, while going to the market. She was passing in front of the old Masen house, when she saw her. She was looking around her, and seemed lost. Mary first thought was that there must be someone looking for her; so she approached the child, noticing right away the strange way she was dressed. But upon seeing the woman coming toward her, the child curtsied to Mary's surprise. And when she asked her who she was and what was she doing here, she answered, to the woman even greatest surprise, in a refined language; that her name was Eileen Masen and that she lived here with her parents and her little brother. Mary blinked, not sure what to make of the girl and so decided for the most logical solution, and called the social services.
A woman came later, along with a policeman and after taking Mary's deposition, took the little girl with them. But just before she got into the car, Eileen had threw her a look full of fear and confusion that chilled the woman to the bones, and made her wonder if it really had been the better solution. She had looked at her, like somehow Mary had betrayed her. For years that would come, that look would haunt her, and she would always wonder about the mystery of the strange little girl, who looked and claimed to come from another time.
Forks, 2006.
EPOV
I looked at my new school, wondering vaguely how long I would stay in this one. Not that the Jones planned on making me leave; but foster families never kept me long, no matter whom they were, they never did. In the end thought, I really didn't care anymore and besides, the judge promised me that if I managed to finish high school, with a good report card; and without bringing troubles of any sort, he would rethink my demand of emancipation. I sighed again and got off the car the Jones had lent me; an old blue Honda; and went to my new high school.
After passing by Mrs Cope's office, I wandered in search of my next class, when I crashed into someone.
"Sorry." I said looking at the person I just ran into. It was a girl around my age with brown hair and a pale skin. But then I looked into her eyes, and gasped. Her eyes looked empty, as if she was dead. I shivered; knowing that look all too well for having seen it on my face. I chased the thoughts off my mind and focused on the girl in front of me.
"Are you alright?" She looked up at me. An indefinable look passed in her dead eyes.
"I'm…" She began in a hoarse voice, still looking at me.
"Do you need help?" I attempted again. Rather than answering, she kept on looking at me, making me uncomfortable. The bell chooses that moment to ring. The words "saved by the bell" passed through my head.
"Well…" I begin, not sure what to said. "I have to go." She still didn't answer. "It was nice meeting you." I finished lamely, retreating. The girl was giving me the creep, looking at me like that, and not speaking.
I wandered a little before I could find my class. When I actually got there, the teacher had me stand in front of the whole class to present myself. I decided then that I didn't like him.
"Hello, I'm Eileen Masen." A gasp was suddenly heard. I looked for its source, it was the girl from earlier and she was looking me with wide-eyes. Well, that was a progress from last time, she didn't looked so dead anymore. Now she just looked scary. The teacher pointed a seat beside her. Of course. I sighed and went to my seat.
"Hi, I'm Eileen." I tried again. If I had to sit next to her for the rest of the year, I might as well try to talk her out of staring at me silently.
"…Bella." She croaked. But she's still looking at me strangely. At least there was some progress.I smiled at her; there may be just hope yet.
"Do you have a brother?" She blurted out suddenly. I blinked. What kind of question was that?
"Sorry, it's not my business." She said blushing. I forced a smile on my face.
"It's fine, and yes I have a brother, but he died a long time ago." I answered, as my heart squeezed painfully at the memories.
"Oh; sorry."
"It's fine." I turned back on my seat and tried to concentrate on the class. Damn, of all the things she had to ask.
After two _way too long_ hours, the bell for the lunch finally rang and I was invited by some peoples to lunch. I accepted the invitation. Not that I cared about making friends, but anything that made the judge and assistant social see that I was mature enough, was welcome. When I arrived at the table I noticed that Bella was there too. But the girl was sitting a bit apart of the rest and the way she was holding herself, she looked so sad, so desperate; as if someone had died. I suddenly felt a rush of compassion for her; I knew what it was like to feel this way.
I sat at the table with the others, and then the question fired, where did I came from, what were my parents like, why did they came here, and so on. I answered every question with a careful constructed story. My parent died a long time ago, I was living with some friends of them, who came here because they had enough of the town, and so on. With each lies telling the story became easier, but then again I had been doing that for so long, that it had become like a second nature to me. It was so easy.
"What was his name?" Someone suddenly asked. I turned to the source of the voice, it was Bella.
"Who?"
"Your brother?" I blinked, what were it with Bella and her obsession for my brother. I sighed and considered lying for a second. But there really was no point.
"Edward" I finally answered. Several people gasped, I looked at Bella who had retreated on herself and seemed to be in pain. I frowned and looked around but nobody was looking at her or rather, they were glancing at her and the silence had settled. I looked back to Bella, the pain on her face so oblivious, so much like myself a long time ago. And suddenly, for no reason I hated her, for reminding me of that time, of me being so weak; it was foolish and most certainly not her fault, but I couldn't help it. I decided here and then to try and avoid her. Or else I would start snapping at her for no reason.
Finally, the day was over. As I was driving in the car I remembered the end of the day. I succeeded in avoiding Bella; but a girl with brown curly hair whose name began with a J, made a point on telling me the whole story with the Cullen and Bella, who exactly they were, what they looked like and their story, with snide comments here and there. That girl sure loved to gossip. When I arrived at the Jones's home, Mr Jones was waiting for me in the living room.
"Hello Eileen, how was your day?" He asked pleasantly, but his gaze raked my body. I shivered and crossed my arms in front of me protectively.
"It was okay. Where is Mrs Jones?" I asked quickly, praying she was here.
"She's still at work." He said rising up, his eyes still on me. "Tell me…" He began.
"I have homework." I said quickly, retreating toward the staircases. "I should go." And without letting him the time to answer I literally run to my room and locked the door. This was my rule number one, something I learned the hard way. Always lock or block the door of my room. I tested the door to be sure it was locked safely, seconds later the handle moved, I hold my breath it did it again several times before it stopped. Only then did I allow myself to breath. I took a chair and put it against the door for good measure. I did my homework then quickly dressed up in my pajamas. And as lay in bed, watching the handle move up and down quickly, before hearing loud step fade away; I prayed for the day of my emancipation to come quickly.
So I rewritten this chapter with some changes, let me know what you think. Thank you to Izziesaurus and , for their reviews and all the people who put me on their favorite and story alert list. So, I'm not afraid to admit it, I'm in a desperate need of a Beta, to help me with the Twilight characters personality; among other things. So if anyone is interested, I'm all for it. Thank you very much. ^^
