There was no way she was going back with the Cullens of all people, were the Cullens people? She'd guessed they probably were in some way shape or form. She sprinted out of the coffee-smelling cafe. She knew they probably could move fast, but not in broad daylight.

She looked around to determine her path, pushing past crowds of people making their way from work. She tore out onto the street heart studdering as a car honked its horn in annoyance. She whipped her head around to peer if she could see the Cullens or Charlie. Maybe she could make it back to the apartment block without them finding her. She could just not deal with whatever crap they decided to pull.

Technically the Cullens, Esme, and Carlisle were actually foster carers. For the charade, they had to play. Ren had seen the documents in curiosity with Jessica late the year before. She pulled around the corner checking her back. She couldn't see anyone, but she pulled off her hoodie and stuffed it in a trash bin that rested next to the sidewalk leaving her in a blue tank top. Hopefully looking a bit different would help so that she wouldn't be caught.

She swallowed, Evan would be angry. Maybe she was a bit dramatic?

Taking off without hesitation her sneakers scraped against the ground, "Goddammit, shit," She moved around another corner and takes in the view in the small apartment block in which she was staying. It wasn't the nicest place, not somewhere she'd be willing to go alone at night. The rent was cheap apparently.

Bounding up the stairs hand clasping the railing Ren grinned, she got away from them. She opened the door with her key. It creaked open, there was no noise from the inside. Evan and his friend had both gone to work already.

Ren sighed taking a breath in letting the adrenaline wash away. Opening her eyes she wandered back to the small beige bathroom at the end of the cramped hall taking her muddied converse off as she walked She prodded her pallid complexion frowning. She never felt like she belonged with Evan or her mother. Hell even Jessica, the girl she grew with, no harmony of connection. Ren loved them, she really did. But they didn't exactly understand her thought processes.

She looked out the window, it was raining again.

Ren ended up hiding out in the apartment all day, dreadfully aware her adventure may come to an end. Ren took a breath slumping down into the couch knees to her chest. She had cried a bit, not that she would admit that she missed Forks. The hollow ache for home was still there.

There were only a few things she could do, really in reality she knew that she had to go back to Forks. She felt bad she ran from Charlie, she wished that she could explain that she wasn't running from him but the rest of the Cullens.

Should she go back to Forks and lie? Like the summer never happened, like to school wasn't against her every move and thought her to be 'crazy.' She wasn't crazy. How could she be she knew that she was smart, almost the smartest in her grade. She just always seemed to make dumb decisions, always. She puffed out her chest a stood up wandering to the kitchen to make instant coffee. Notorious for her forgetful, 'crazy' personality.

A key clicked and opened the lock, Ren looked over and grinned as Evan walked through the door. "Evening, you want coffee?"

Evan gave her a grin back putting his coat on the hanger and bag onto the ground. He checked his watch, "It's almost 7 Ren?"

Ren shrugged and took a sip and stuck out her tongue, "Thought I'd ask"

"Don't you need sleep," Evan muttered as he walked to the fridge sluggish from a long day out, he grabbed a beer and opened it on the side of the countertop. As he passed he gave her a quick kiss, Ren realized she'd felt nothing. She didn't want to ruin it. So she continued to smile cheekily. When did his presence begin to be inadequate?

"I just can't sleep either way," Ren paused, her sleep was worse with Evan, she knew she should sleep more but, unconsciously she was a bit scared to with Evan around. What if she had a dumb sleeping face? "Mr. Swan tracked me down, wants me back in town."

"Oh?" He sat down, she followed him to the couch. He turned on the tv, but he didn't watch it. He only stared directly into her eyes, "I mean I guess you would never pick me right?"

"No, no no Evan you're great don't even worry," Ren assured him.

"Am I not good enough Ren?" Ren tried to think of an answer but he spoke before she could, "You really are a slut then, one guy just isn't enough, huh?"

Evan pinched her side. Ren laughed nervously, her heart twinged painfully. "What? No, there isn't any other guy."

They weren't even dating she realized, there hadn't been a talk about the distinction. She leaned on his shoulder trying to comfort him, he ran a hand through her hair. They started to watch the tv for a few moments. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, she opened it quietly. It was not wise to startle Evan.

Jessica wrote a message to her, 'hey miss u sweetie pls come back to forks i want to start senior year with you, not any other bitch.'

'did you call me a bitch?'

'ily bitch'

Ren smiled sadly. Moving her hair out of her eyes brushing back a few stray tears. She hid her face behind Evans's arm. She made sure he couldn't see the phone.

'fine. i kind of think I need to come back'

She was fucking miserable in this apartment in a city she didn't even like. She wanted adventure, fun, friends. Not some twenty-two-year-old boyfriend. There wasn't a place she could go before Mom had kicked her out because she'd gone supernatural crazy and basically had a psychotic break.

Maybe she was dramatic.

God.

'u should! mike texted asking me if you were ok'

'are we in an apocolyse?'

"Who are you talking to?" Evan said leaning off grabbing at her phone.

Ren shook her phone mumbling, "Just Jess."

"The nosy one?" Evan rolled his eyes.

Ren got up off the couch and went to the kitchen. The hot water finally boiling to a scalding temperature. She poured it into her mug calmly, "Where's the milk?"

"Second shelf next to the ketchup."

Ren opened the fridge the light flickering on, she looked at her arms, they had bruised since the night before. Ren grimaced, her arms were so chubby looking. She grabbed the milk but then put it back. Black coffee would be fine. Milk would make her totally bloat out. She knew it was unreasonable, but she hadn't even been keeping up with her running. She was scared of gaining weight, the coach would kill her if she was heavy. It wasn't reasonable, she knew it wasn't reasonable but she still closed the fridge and wandered back to the couch where Evan sat. "Stressful day?"

Evan nodded and drew an arm around her, "Very, I think I secured a job at the plant. Doing some welding work."

Ren smiled, "That's awesome Ev I'm so excited for you."

Evan shot back with a grin trapping her hand tightly, "I'm excited for us, few weeks I'll have enough for a deposit on an apartment-" Ren's smile dimmed, she looked down guilty. Evan stroked her hair. "Hey, Rennie what's wrong?"

"I just-"

He caressed her hip moving his hands over the small of her back, she made no move. "Evan it's just, I mean . . . I gotta finish high school, Evan."

She was seventeen. How the hell was she going to live in Seattle?

"Not with this again," Evan said sharply turning over with hardened brown eyes. He grabbed her jaw, "you are smart, you don't need the system telling you so."

She picked his warm hands off her face. They were usually warm, it must've been her own heat that heated them. She looked him hard in his eyes, it was difficult to do in all honestly with his dominating presence, her conscious called 'danger' to her as his brows knit together in anger. She tried to get up, he pulled her back down looking her up and down intently.

"It's not about the stupid system Evan." She released herself but continued explaining in a soft voice, finally speaking honestly to him about what she wanted. Not his own fantasy life he seems to had already fabricated, "want to go to university, I wanna get a good job, Evan, not at some cafe for the rest of my life, I wanna see my friends-" she paused looking down, "I -"

A hand met her face with such force it knocked her to the floor. She rubbed her cheek and looking up at Evan with disbelief. This wasn't okay. It wasn't ok. Scrambling to her feet to watched as Evan moved forward. She flinched back avoiding his grasp.

"Ren- Hey sorry I lost it there for a sec," Evan said in a whisper moving forward slowing he looked at her straight in the eye. And gave an expression of hurt, "I'm so - Rennie babe-"

Ren was completely utterly silent as he wrapped his arms around her in a silent hug. He didn't mean it. Of course, he didn't. "Why did you-"

Evan shook his head, "I just get angry, I'm sorry, please," he begged, "please babe forgive me, one more chance."

She'd given so many second chances to those in her life. To her mother unconsciously when she'd neglect her, to her friends who'd lacked understanding of her life, Bella, Mike. And more than all the others, Evan. He'd asked for a second chance after he'd accidentally tattooed his initials onto her hip, they'd faded as it was crappy ink but that still held on to her. Another when he'd decided to take her to some sketchy place to buy molly, and now, finally. He'd fucking hit her.

"I forgive you, Evan."

"Uh-huh, well can you cook dinner," Evan said, "It would make me happy."

Ren jumped up, she wasn't excited about cooking but if it lightened Evan's mood a bit she'd do it, "ok."

"Relax Rennie," Ren mumbled incoherently into her pillow, she'd finally started to sleep. Her eyes opened and she shot up. No one was in the room. She let out a breath. She checked her phone. Pulling the faded quilt around her body.

Relax.

4:56

Right. She stretched lightly, looking over to Evan who was finally asleep his hair tossed around his head without a shirt. This was the longest she'd gone without drinking alcohol the past few months.

Like most nights he was off work, she rolled out of bed and slinked off to the kitchen. Grabbed a mug, cleaned the dishes from the sink. Boiled water, said a quick hello to Evan's friend when he awoke. Gave him a mug of coffee. He'd leave early. Evan would sleep in, he always came back late at night, nothing like when they first arrived and went everywhere together. She was too boring now she guessed. She hugged her frame, she felt dirty.

She tapped her fingers on the counter nervously, when would Charlie find her?

It was strange having any male 'father' figure. Throughout her whole life, she'd always watched others with their dads. She missed someone that she'd never met, and before, was angry at him for not staying around. How hard was it to just say hi once in a while? Her mom loved her but, it was different.

Her phone rang, she hesitated as she put the phone to her ear. After the whole killing of a deer to make a point, he hadn't been in her favor, "Ed."

"Ren," Edward said, she could hear the rumble of his car going down the highway wooshes of rain pelting the car. She slunk down leaning on one of the fake wood cabinets.

"Why did all you come to find me?" Ren started with, she wanted answers.

"Ren you're my friend."

"Friend?" Ren said confused, their friendship was still valid to him?

Yes," Edward said in a voice of finality. "So, please. Let me pick you up. Don't waste your life."

"Waste it? Like you'd know anything - immortal," Ren scoffed walking over to the small window that overlooked a back street, she moved the curtain just slightly to view the dawn of morning.

Edward paused for a moment, "I like to think staying my age physically has let me begin to have insight. I am capable of watching humans waste away and throw away their talents."

"What if I just want to, lay here," Ren went over and jumped landing on the couch. "And do nothing."

"I would tell you that it would be a waste of your soul. Which would be dull."

"Soul? Very cool Edward very cool," Ren drawled out in a monotone, dull, huh. She'd be okay with dull. She didn't need to go home, maybe it was a lapse in judgment to think it even necessary. She had a new life that was, in her eye not dull. She was living it up, no negativity from her friends just her - and Evan.

She laid on a raggy couch in the small desolate apartment she hardly left if it wasn't for coffee. Maybe... that was quite dull. She pressed her lips together and sighed internally.

"Ren, let's take this seriously," Ren tried to straighten up. She scratched at her arm and fidgeted her seat. Tears welled in her eyes, they threatened her confidence. She fought them back. Despite this, she recognized that she had dreadfully missed the sound of Edward chiding her. She wrapped a cool arm over her legs.

"Where is Bella?"

"In Forks with Alice and Jasper. How is Evan?" She could hear a protective grumble from Edward. He turned the car around a corner.

She tried to sound positive, "oh he's good, he found a job up here so he's staying," she rambled off her voice grew scratchy.

"Ren I'm coming to pick you up."

Rens eyebrows creased, "How the hell do you know where I am?"

"Smell."

"Do I smell bad?" Ren scoffed. Edward had said it with such nonchalance, maybe she should take a shower.

"You smell like Evan, " Edward entirely droned in monotone, "but your actual scent is sweet, like a honey smell."

Ren resigned herself to her fate last night. She stood up making her way to the bedroom"Do I have time for a shower before you come?"

Edward sighed, "We'll get back to Forks in three hours, you can shower at my house."

"I don't want to waste water-"

"Ren we literally run the tap and shower for a few minutes a day so it looks like we actually use the water."

That had shut her up quickly, so instead of commenting, she picked up the bag of clothes she'd packed. Opened the apartment door, and fumbled down the stairs like an undignified grumbly child. A minute or two later, after she had hung up saying she was sitting outside, Edward pulled up he had a pair of glasses and driving gloves over his hands. Rosalie was in the passenger seat under the protection of tinted glass but she still slumped down avoiding any light. Ren got in the back without much comment. Rosalie stared her hair down, Ren touched the ends. She knew that Rosalie would have fun trying to fix her mess.

Once they had made good traction out of the city, and outwards to the suburbs, Edward started to speak. "So, good summer?"

Ren spat back, "Shut up."

"I didn't mean anything by it."

Rosalie scoffed sliding an eye back to Ren, "Yes you did," Rosalie nodded to Ren, "I think we have some quality black hair dye at home. We'll fix up your hair and trim it before the year starts."

Edward nodded, "Also would you like anything in particular for food?"

"Whatever," she was going off to live in a house full of blood-thirsty vampires. They probably would just eat her.

"You know, we only eat animals, Ren."

Ren looked over to Edward, could he-

"Are you a-"

"Some of our kind have abilities, I can read minds, Alice can see futures, Jasper can influence emotions-"

Ren gaped, "Can you stop?"

"No," She mentally called him numerously terrible names. His face scrunched. She smiled internally. Rosalie smirked knowingly. The car was completely silent for a few moments. "Stop it Ren it's annoying."

"You're annoying, Ren mouthed back, crossing her arms. Like a child, she stuck out her tongue. Edward sighed. He turned up the heater letting it blast warm air through the car, Ren had been shivering.

"I'm not going to respond to that," Ren decided such annoyance did not deserve a response. But, the car was much warmer letting her thoughts flow much freer as she looked out to passing seven-elevens. Maybe she was too hard on the mind-reader.

She liked her past, she wasn't ever going to think that her childhood was bad, or ungodly awful. It was just life, it was how it went. How the die was cast and all other weird phrases. She didn't want sympathy, she knew what grave she dug with her stunts. How was it that Edward and Rosalie were always so insistent in helping? It made things horribly uncomfortable. She just felt messy sadness that made her want to bundle over and cry.

Ren vaguely hoped Edward would change his mind and drive her back to Evans's cobra-like embrace. Rosalie just haughtily looked over to her, but smile just light enough to see under the low light could be seen. Rosalie was even fond of her it seemed.

It took another two hours to pass the 'Welcome to Forks' sign that was oh so familiar. Ren groaned leaning back in her seat. What a drag.

"Esme has a bed prepared, you seem tired," was the first response Ren had got from a pondering Edward. Ren thought he probably was into long books with too-long storylines. He was quite the Vampire to do so.

Ren hadn't even thought of the time when Edward had said it. She hadn't felt the lull of sleep at all. But, as soon as Edward mentioned it suddenly the need for sleep blanketed atop her. Her eyes were heavy like concrete. She let out a calm breath like she hadn't had in a long time.

"Cool," Ren said in a whisper, she knew he could hear. Because of the whole, 'he's a vampire thing.' "Is your whole group at your home?"

Edward smirked, "Group."

Ren shrugged, "Well, like obviously you all aren't related. I mean maybe Emmett and Esme could be . . ."

"We prefer coven, in," Rosalie pause, "certain social circles."

Ren nodded digesting the information, she didn't want to be rude and outright say coven. What if it was wrong? She didn't think she could face the humiliation. "Right. What's the time?"

"5:59."

If she could recall correctly they went straight up the long winding service road to the Cullens home. Edward took her by the arm and gently guided her inside. He said a quick hello to Bella who was sat on the couch with Alice, they were watching mean girls. Ren didn't think Bella was the type to watch such movies so she decided it was probably Alices decision. She had a long fluffy blanket atop her but, she moved it away and got up and gave Ren a long-drawn-out hug. Ren at first didn't reciprocate, but slowly she wrapped her hands around Bella's thin frame.

Bella's hair smelt like roses. Like home, like sleepovers. Without a doubt, Ren relaxed and sighed. She made no effort to push her away, "Missed you Bells'" Ren mumbled wobbly, "I really did, but what the hell?"

Bella cringed, "Sorry I didn't tell you," Bella bit her lip, "It was important we thought that you weren't drawn into this madness."

Alices voices jingled from the couch, sarcastically "well she is now, congratulations."

Rosalie went and sat beside her hissing back, "Watch it, Alice."

Alice defiantly stood up. Ren remarked that she was as short as always, with the same short pixie-cut. She stormed up the stairs without more comment but she shot a long look to Edward. The room was quiet for a few more moments before Esme walked down the stairs, she had obviously heard Ren come in.

"Oh, Ren! I'm so happy to have you staying with us, even if it is for a short time," She sounded outwardly so motherly, Ren wondered if she had ever had real children of her own. She took Ren's hands carefully taking her from Edward's grasp. "I'll show you your room," she guided her up the stairs past the graduation caps that started to make much more sense. Ren blinked groggily as Esme opened a white door to a plain guest room. It had a single bed with a simplistic white duvet and a quality desk in the corner. But what made the room great was the view of the forest that looked out to a quiet twilight. "It's small, but I'm sure you'll find it alright"

Before Esme could ramble further, Ren took her hand a squeezed it lightly, "this is awesome, thanks, Mrs. Cullen."

Esme prepared the bed without much comment, she fluffed up the pillows and threw another blanket atop the bed. "Please just call me Esme," Emse paused, "Could you sit down for a moment, I think we should go over some rules alright sweetie?"

Ren stiffened but sat down on the bed, she clasped her hands together to stop herself from twirling them nervously. "Alright?"

"Just simple things," Esme began, she put an arm around Ren, Ren remained stiff. Not because she didn't like Esme. On contrary she wanted Esme to like her, she just didn't exactly how to respond. "When you live with us we would prefer, no smoking, and no alcohol in the house."

Ren bit her lip, that wouldn't be too complicated. She hoped, she was already craving nicotine. "Yeah, that's fine. Tomorrow I have to go to my house though," Ren shrugged, "I don't think I should overstay with you guys."

She wasn't exactly sure where she'd go but she would figure it out. She hoped. But before she could think more upon it Esme shook her head. "As long as you do not have a place to stay you are welcome here."

Ren gave her a smile grin halfheartedly. "Thanks."

There were a couple of rules the Cullens imposed on her in the first few days of her stay. First, no friends over, no nicotine, completely cold turkey which Ren thought was ridiculous. Finally, she couldn't leave the property until they could trust her.

So that left her to sit in her room alone. You might think, back at the Cullens? Everything is totally ok, right? No. Why would it be? They were still fucking vampires.

"Edward, leave I'm busy," Ren was hanging off the side of her bed in boredom.

"No your not-"

"Carlisle, Edward is invading my personal space."

Ren couldn't hear a response but by Edward's expression, she knew that she had won. She smirked in triumph pointing at the door. Edward sighed, and opened the door where Rosalie stood with a pair of rubber gloves, a brush, and scissors.

"You can go to Rosalie-"

"Your stubborn," Rosalie sassed, she didn't leave but put a hand on her hip. Ren hummed closing her eyes letting Rosalie advance into her room. There was no stopping a storm.

"I'm not-" Ren started to say at the time before stopping knowing it proved Rosalie's point. She cracked her brown eyes open and laughed. "Alright sure."

Rosalie smirked and pushed Ren onto the ground, she sat behind and took out a brush. Let's be honest, Ren wasn't comfortable around Rosalie, not fully, but Roslie reminded her of a big sister type. Ren wished she had such pretty blonde hair, perfect skin, fashionable-

"I can cut your hair," Rosalie started, running a hand through Rens mid-chest length hair, "I think a shorter cut would look nice." Ren shrugged, she didn't particularly care. If it looked nice, it was good enough. She gave Rosalie a confirming smile. She didn't know if Rosalie had ever cut hair like hers, but she hoped.

"Are. . . Jasper and Alice out ... hunting," Ren had to get used to using that phrase, yesterday she'd called out to Emmett 'hope you have a good dinner.' Emmett laughed, but it was totally awkward. How was she supposed to know the terminology to use in situations of impossibility?

"Yes."

Ren nervously asked, "Does Alice not like me?"

"Alice," Rosalie started to say, "Is mixed about your presence, she is excited for another human. But she is too fixed in using her own abilities."

"What about you?"

"You're okay. Better than Bella at least."

Ren gave Rosalie a large smile, "Thanks," Rosalie rolled her eyes and started to brush through Ren's long hair. Ren assumed Rosalie only liked her because Alice didn't. Rosalie was a bit petty. But Rosalie saying that she actually didn't want to rip Rens throat out made her particularly happy.

But, other than that happiness, she still was craving nicotine. All. The. Time.

She really didn't think she was been addicted to it really, it was just smoke. She knew she didn't need it, it was actually disgusting how much she wanted a cigarette.

"Would this length be fine?"

Ren smiled softly, "Yeah."