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Chapter 9: Getting Started

Well, when I turned twelve my mom died. We were on the way to the movie theater and the roads were icy. I remember we were laughing at the look on my dad's face the day that she told him she was pregnant with me. Apparently she told my grandma first, then she told my grandpa. He decided it would be funny to meet my father outside with a shotgun. Needless to say, it scared the hell out of him."

"Wow, I could only imagine what he was thinking. What happened after that?"

"A man was driving by and lost control of the car. It hit my mother's side straight on. One minute we were laughing, the next she was whispering her final goodbyes." I was crying by now. Edward came close and pulled me into his lap, whispering soothing words into my ear.

"Bella its alright. Its okay, shhh." He stroked my hair gently.

After calming down enough to speak I continued, "Then my dad. Oh, he was so upset. He started getting very angry. Every time he came home from work he had something to complain about. Soon he resorted to hitting to let his anger out. Bad news is: I was his punching bag. For Three years I put up with it. Then I ran. He found me and almost got me, but I came all the way out here and created my home."

And what an amazing home it is. I've never seen a place more beautiful." He was staring at me with a strong, beautiful, crooked smile.

"Thanks." I could feel the blush spread over my face. "So, usually this is an annual trip for you all?"

"Yes, we go camping before school starts, and Mom enforced it this year. You know, senior year and all."

"I can imagine. I wonder if we'll have any classes together.," I mused.

"How could we? If you're technically a ninth grader, we shouldn't," he said with a saddened face.

"Oh I was supposed to be a senior the year I ran away. I skipped ahead a few years," I told him with a triumphant smile.

"Then maybe we will," he said smiling again.

The rest of the night we just talked about how I skipped ahead so much and where I wanted to go to college before I left. When ever I said "after I ran away" he corrected me by saying that I didn't run; I escaped. Before I knew it I was sleeping peacefully for the first time in years.

When I woke up, I felt big strong arms wrapped around me. I knew who it was because of the amazing electric charge running through me. I didn't want to leave, so I snuggled closer to his chest. He tightened his arms around me and I fell back to sleep.

When I awoke again I was alone. For a moment I thought it was all a dream until I smelled his cologne on my pillow. So I got up and went outside. Everyone was packing up and Esme came over and handed me an apple.

"Hello, sweetheart, did you have a nice night?"

"Yes I did, and you?"

"Oh of course, are you ready to go? I don't mean to rush you, but there is a lot to be done before school starts. Edward told us about you skipping ahead. That truly is amazing."

"Thank you. I just need to get my things," I told her, voice shaking.

"Okay, dear. Do you mind if I pack some things from the garden?"

"No, go ahead. You're welcome to anything you want."

"Alright honey. I'll see you in a few minutes." Then she walked over to the garden.

I went over to my grungy old bag and packed what little I had. The last thing I put in was a picture of my mother and I. I kissed it and put it away. I was really going to miss this place. Sure it was lonely at times but I loved how peaceful it was. I always thought there was something magical about it. I said my silent goodbyes and walked over to my new family.

When we got to the house I was in awe. It was so amazing. There was three stories and the third had a wall that was completely made of glass. I could not believe that I would get to live there.

Alice showed me the whole house inside of ten minutes. Carlisle and Esme's room was on the first floor, Rose and Emmett's was on the left side of the second, and Alice and Jasper's was on the right. Edward was on the right of the third floor and I guess I had the left.

When I walked into my room it was just a basic white color with a single bed in the middle of the far right wall. There was a closet to the right of the bed and my own bathroom adjacent to the closet. The wall straight ahead was made of glass.

"You can design it however you want. We're going shopping in about an hour, Esme wants to get you set up as soon as possible," Alice explained.

"Okay," I said. I already had some nice ideas. I couldn't wait to get started. Edward had explained that his family was extremely wealthy, so I didn't need to worry about my expenses, though I didn't plan on taking advantage of that.

Alice and Rosalie claimed me for the hour before we had to leave. They did my hair and makeup and I borrowed some of Rose's clothes. Alice had cut my hair in a long layered fashion that framed my face perfectly.

Rose put some light blue eye shadow, black liner, and strawberry lip-gloss on me. Then she topped it off with mascara. "You have beautifully long eyelashes," she complemented.

Then they both dressed me in black skinny jeans, a tight blue v-neck shirt that went just past my but, and silver strappy four inch heals. I looked pretty damn fine, if I do say so myself. The color went great with my skin tone and the tightness of the clothes was comfortable and complementing to my curves.

The look on the guys faces when I came down was priceless, even Carlisle's. Alice and Rose had insisted on making a big presentation. So when they called my name I walked out into the living room and everyone but Rose and Alice had their jaws on the ground.

"Hot Damn!" all the guys except Carlisle bellowed.

"Language!" Esme scolded. "Bella, you look amazing, dear."

"Not that you didn't before," Carlisle added.

"Thank you. Its all thanks to Alice and Rosalie," I said.

"Well its time to go shopping!" Alice squealed. The guys looked reluctant, but I was sort of excited.

When we got to the mall I told Alice and Rosalie that I didn't really like clothes shopping and they were more than happy to agree to buy my clothes while I picked out things for my room. So they went to the side of the mall with boutiques and all of that. Esme and Carlisle went to look at stuff on their own and Emmett went to the food court with Jasper. That left me alone with Edward.

A/N Hope you liked it. Sorry I don't update very often. Between school, friends, and babysitting I don't get a lot of time to type and update. Please review, I want to hear your thoughts. God Bless. 3