1987
I woke up as a 3 month old infant shortly after my death in a room painted a faded pink. The crib I was in was cramped as I shared it with another infant. Dark brown hair was a shock against pasty pale skin, so pale I almost worried the baby next to me was dead, until I noticed it was breathing.
I breathed a quiet sigh of relief and took my time to gaze around the room with my limited mobility. There wasn't much to see. The room had almost no personality. Probably intended for us to fill it while we grew. I could only assume the baby next to me was my twin rather than a cousin, seeing as it was late, the sun wasn't even up in the sky yet.
The door creaked open and I jolted in surprise at the quiet noise. In stepped a man with dark brown hair and a soft looking mustache, his brown eyes warm as he padded over to look at us.
"What are you doing awake Mackenzie?" Oh good, it's english. I let out a little coo and waved my arms.
He chuckled and reached down to pick me up. "Are you hungry?" He asked quietly.
I grunted in surprise as I was lifted, wriggling in discomfort at the floating feeling in my belly. He carried me out of the room and down the stairs. The feeling continued as I snuggled into his chest to try and curb the anxiety.
He hummed quietly and fixed a bottle. I didn't realize I was hungry until my stomach grumbled quite painfully, causing me to whimper as I waved my arms for the bottle.
"I know I know Mackenzie, don't worry." He murmured, checking the temperature before letting me have it.
I drank it down greedily, barely taking the time to breath between gulps. When I finished he burped me and started the journey back up the stairs. The rocking motion of his body quickly lulled me to sleep, I was out before he reached the door.
~OoO~
1988
It's been 7 months since our mother fled from the small town of Forks with Bella and I. Our first birthday had gone and passed. We were both able to walk at this point, Bella having taken the first step. Though I beat her to the first word. Can't quite say its fair as I definitely have more brain power as a reincarnatee with all her memories intact.
I waddled over to our grandmother who sat knitting yet another outfit for Bella and I to wear. "Nan." I said, tugging on her dress. "Nan, Hungy." I sighed, tugging harder.
"Yes Max?" I felt warm inside when she turned and looked at me. She was the only one who could tell us apart so effortlessly and it felt nice. "You're hungry dear? Well it is about that time."
I nodded and pointed to Bella who was close to tears. "Bells hungy too." I said seriously, brown eyes gazing directly into the blue of my grandmother's.
"I see, it's time to eat then." She stood up and moved to head to the kitchen, Bella and I hot on her heels.
"Bella teef hurt." I commented, my sister whining at the mention of her sore gums. Her molars were coming in, and she was getting frustrated with it.
We were both lifted into our highchairs, Mine green and Bella's purple, matching our outfits. I giggled, it took Nan weeks of repeating over and over that we were two different people and should at least wear different colors before mom finally caved. I was happy, I loved the color green. Not as much as purple but Bella gets that color as it's her favorite.
I was given something similar to spaghetti Os. I ate a decent portion before my clumsy, chubby baby fingers dropped the spoon. I sighed through my nose and went through the process of getting increasingly frustrated after numerous attempts to pick up the spoon before giving a final shriek of frustration and tossed my bowl onto the floor. I slammed my hands onto the tray of my highchair.
"Max, that's no way to treat your food." Nan said lovingly, carefully cleaning up the spill and placing the bowl onto the counter. "I say it's naptime."
Bella had already dozed off into her bowl, having finished almost all of it.
I yawned, yeah, it feels like it's naptime.
1989
To be honest the biggest memory to stick out during this time was when we went grocery shopping with our mother. The car carts in the store had gotten Bella and I very excited for very different yet somewhat similar reasons. She wanted to beep the horns and I was just excited that I fit.
Mother made sure to strap us in before beginning the trek throughout the store.
I remember the comments people were making. "What cute twins!"
Bella and I were dressed in identical dresses. Her's was blue with purple accents and mine was purple with green accents. We both had our short hair up in identical pigtails.
"Gosh miss, you can't even tell them apart!" A lady commented. "It's good you dress them differently."
I nodded in agreement. Mom couldn't even tell us apart before, always calling me Bella and Bella Macky.
Yeah, instead of calling me Max or Mack mom decided Macky was a cute nickname.
"Thank you." Mom smiled awkwardly, looking down at Bella and I. I offered her a toothy smile.
"Hi Mommy." I grinned. I knew she hated the fact that it was her mother who had in the end convinced her to dress us at least in different colors.
"Hi Macky." She cooed to me, almost unable to hold back her gushing voice.
A loud squeak next to me startled me. Bella giggled and continued slamming her hand on her horn. I laughed with her and started doing the same with my own.
Several people stopped to cringe at the squeaking horns but couldn't help but coo at the adorableness of us twins being cute.
Mom went about her shopping, dropping a lot of what I suppose she thought were healthy foods for a couple of toddlers when in reality it's just a bunch of junk.
When we finally got to checkout and got everything bagged up she moved to unbuckle us.
"Is it time to go Mommy?" I asked, climbing out and watching her unbuckle and help Bella out.
"Yes Macky." She smiled calmly.
"Mommy I like Max." I said softly, shuffling my feet.
"Max is a boy's name Macky." She shook her head.
"Then Liz… Or Kenzie. Or Mack." I said, as much as I loved being called Macky, I preferred something a little more… Normal.
She sighed. "Fine, Kenzie. Let's go, Nan is waiting." She took my hand and I grabbed Bella's while mom carried the bags.
1990
On our third birthday we celebrated in a tiny two bedroom apartment our mother had managed to get her hands on.
"Mommy, I miss Daddy, why isn't he here?" I asked as she moved to light the candles.
Her bright and giddy smile faltered. "I'm sorry Kenzie," My chest warmed at the nickname. "Daddy couldn't make it this year."
"But why?" Bella asked, moving to stand next to me. "He came last year didn't he?" It was here that I realized my advanced vocabulary definitely had an impact on her speech.
"Yes girls, I'm sorry, he'll come later in a few weeks, he couldn't get off work." She smiled thinly. "Now, let's get this candle lit so you two can make your wishes."
1991
"Mommy," I shuffled up to her bed, my soft green slippers barely making a sound on the floor. Bella and I had just turned 4 about a week prior to that night. "Mommy I wanna take karate."
She sat up and looked at me with wide eyes. She had just signed Bella and I up for Ballet last monday and I'm not surprised by her shock.
"But, Bella." She started.
"Mommy, I'm Kenzie." I interrupted.
"I'm sorry, why do you want to take Karate?" She asked, sitting up in her bed fully and helping me climb into it, my green pajama pants clashing with Bella's purple top I was wearing.
"So I can protect Bella!" I said eagerly, her interest means she wasn't going to outright say no.
"Kenzie! I don't need protecting!" Bella cried from the doorway.
"Yes you do! You're clumsy and danger follows you everywhere like a princess!" I shouted at her. "Plus I can protect myself too! That way you will never have to worry about me or us when we're far away!" I turned to mom with pleading puppy dog eyes.
"Um…" She was sweating. I could tell she was going to break.
Clasping my hands in front of me, I pouted out my bottom lip and looked up at her with the same puppy dog eyes. "Pleeeeaaassseeee!" I begged.
She groaned softly. "Fine, but you still have to take Ballet with Bella."
I sighed in disappointment before nodding. "Okay mommy."
Bella was grumpy as she climbed into the bed with us. "I'm not clumsy." I could tell she had been focusing on that this whole time while waiting for me to finish with mom.
"Yes you are." I grinned, hugging her. "But don't worry Bella, I'll keep you safe!"
1992
Bella and I exchanged glances, looking each other up and down and adjusting our tutus so they weren't crooked.
Our long hair was up in identical buns. "We look stupid." I sighed. With us only being 5, 3 days out of the week was focused solely on Ballet, for me 6 days out of my week was busy, with Ballet and Karate.
"Yeah…" Bella shook her head. "Why do we have to wear pink?" she whined softly, pouting up at our mother who was busy taking pictures.
"Oh my precious girls look so cute!" Mom cooed softly, taking more pictures. The flash was blinding and in that moment I wished yet again, that I lived with my father rather than my mother. I was thankful that starting this summer we'll be visiting him in Forks Washington. Don't get me wrong, I love my mother, but I'll forever by a daddy's girl. That and the wet and green of Forks was beautiful. I loved it there. Bella, not so much. She prefers warm and dry climates.
"Let's get this over with." I murmured to Bella who nodded and followed me into the main room, where we were introduced to the class. We were immediately mistaken for one another and we didn't bother correcting them. It wouldn't do us any good anyway.
1993
We were 6 when we met Jacob Black for the first time. We learned pretty quickly that he was only 4. It wasn't that hard to get down in the mud with him and make mud pies. He could easily tell us apart without messing up which I took as a blessing, deciding right there that he was going to be my best friend. It was easy to tell that he preferred Bella with her quieter and calm demeanor. I thought it was cute.
"Hey Jake, let's go and get something to eat, I'm hungry." I easily wiped my muddy hands onto my jeans.
"Okay!" He eagerly stood up and copied my motions, wiping his hands onto his own jeans. "Tell me more about your karate!"
"Well Sensei said if I keep going at the pace I'm going I'll be a yellow belt before I turn 7!" I grinned at him. "That's in a few months you know!"
His brown eyes sparkled. "Wow." He whispered.
I nodded. "Yup!" I grinned, flexing my arms at him. "I'm super strong, you know. I could totally beat up my dad."
"Oh really now!" I yelped as I was lifted easily into my father's arms. "You could, cloud you?" He grinned down at me, his brown eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Yeah!" I shouted. "I'm gonna be a yellow belt soon!"
He started tickling my sides which caused me to cackle. "You'll have to challenge me when you get it then!"
"I will!" I giggled.
1994
It was 2 weeks after I turned 7 when I was given my yellow belt. I grinned with pride as mom took pictures. Bella was bouncing next to me, grinning widely. I had my dark brown hair up in pigtails.
"I'm proud of you Max." Sensei smiled, patting my head between the pigtails. I didn't miss mom's cringe at the masculine nickname. "You proved with hard work and effort that you were serious about these lessons."
"Of course sensei! How else can I protect Bella and myself if I don't take these lessons seriously." I stood straight and nodded at him. "I'm going to get my orange belt before my 9th birthday!"
"That's the spirit!" Sensei laughed with me. Most of the kids in our class were older than me by at least 4 years. The youngest close in age to me was 9. He was constantly yelling at me for cheating when I took him out in sparring.
1995
Bella and I hid in a costume closet. Sitting side by side, her knees hugged to her chest, while I sat criss cross applesauce. We were supposed to be out there on stage for our recital but really we couldn't be bothered. Bella had immediately gotten stage fright and I dragged her off the stage. This wasn't the first time it's happened and yet our mother insists we take ballet.
"I hate ballet." I mumbled, my hands gripping where my legs crossed.
Bella nodded, hugging her knees tightly to her chest. Her eyes were locked on the door.
"I bet she's out there running around looking for us with that silly camera of hers, with it still on and filming." I grinned at her, getting another nod.
I frowned slightly before bumping her with my shoulder to get her to look at me.
"I know you hate being here too. If we weren't only 8, I'd walk home with you." I smiled at her, getting a small one in return.
She nodded again and jolted in surprise when the door swung open and our mother stood there with a concerned expression. "There you two are." she breathed. "Why aren't you out there?"
"Mom, we hate it here!" Bella and I exclaimed in unison. "We hate ballet."
Her expression softened, her eyes saddening. "Oh alright girls. I'll let you drop it. But you need to pick up another hobby in return." Bella nodded eagerly.
"Mom I already have Karate." I pointed out.
"I know, but you need something else too." She teased, patting my head.
"Fine." I huffed, perhaps it was time to pick back up that old book collecting hobby I had.
1996/7
It was the summer after my 9th birthday. Bella and I were currently dressed in identical purple outfits. I was sitting on my bed opposite of Bella's in the room we shared at our father's. I fiddled with the purple skirt of my dress with a frown.
"Come on Max, it's only for a little while." Bella snickered, grabbing my hand and tugging me up off the bed.
"But crowds." I whined.
"You never have problems with crowds during your tournaments." Bella tried to raise a brow but failed epically.
"Uh-huh, that's because I'm not focusing on socializing," I groaned.
"Jake will be there." She led me down the stairs.
"Well that makes it all worthwhile." I said sarcastically, though I was definitely looking forward to seeing my best friend.
"Where did my little girl learn sarcasm?" Dad asked from the livingroom where he was busy slipping on his shoes.
"Not from you." I grinned, grabbing my green converse sneakers.
"Obviously." Dad rolled his eyes with an amused grin. "Hi Bells." He was slightly awkward with her and I could never understand.
We met up with our group of friends and Bella and I spent the next few hours running around with Jake and a few other kids, playing tag and other running games.
I collapsed next to Jake by a tree, trying to catch my breath after I was outed in freeze tag. "Guess what." I grinned over at him.
"What?" He breathed, looking over at me.
"I'm an orange belt now!" I grinned wider as his face lit up.
"Wow!" He sat upright and looking down at me. "That's so cool!"
1997
When I turned 10 I found a manga I just needed to have. It took hours of convincing my mother to let me have it before she eventually caved and bought it for me.
I cleared a special spot on my bookshelf for it.
Naruto.
I grinned widely as I looked through the pages for the millionth time.
I was so obsessed I was using his catch phrase "Believe it!"
Bella could never understand my obsession with a comic as she put it. She did try to read it, but she just couldn't get into it. Oh well, can't say she didn't try.
1998
At 11 years old we were finishing up our last year of elementary school. Bella hated it. Everyone was obsessed with identical twins. I had to admit while it had its perks it was more annoying than anything.
I watched Bella as we sat in gym class. She quietly fiddled with the pink shoelaces of her white converse sneakers.
I looked over at the teacher who was busy explaining the rules of dodgeball to the rest of the class. I tapped my blue converse and moved to tighten my lime green shoelaces. While Bella wasn't very good at athletics, I was. I grinned widely. A serious difference compared to Bella's nervous frown.
1999
At 12 the most memorable moment was that our schedules were identical. That and that was the start of having to work extra hard for my belts. Bella and I occasionally went to each other's classes, science being one of my favorite subjects. We purposefully dressed identical every single day. We never got caught.
2000
At 13 I was a purple belt, two weeks from earning my red belt.
Bella and I were in the 7th grade, our mom was proud of us, simply because we haven't tried to drop out. With straight A-B's you really think we would? School came easy to us. Besides, we made it to the year 2000! That should be credit enough for us!
"Let's make the best of it." I grinned at my sister, who nodded and bit into her bottom lip, shouldering her purple backpack with an almost inaudible sigh.
"Come on sis," I said softly, patting her shoulder. "Don't think so hard on it, he won't hold a grudge against you, and if he does, I'll fight him for you!"
"I hate how you can read me so easily." She grumbled, adjusting the strap to her purple backpack.
"Comes with the package sister dearest~!" I chirped, linking our arms after shouldering my blue and lime green backpack. "Having a great twin such as I~"
2001
8th grade really wasn't really all that great to be honest. This year sucked for many reasons. This was the year Bella stopped visiting dad this year. I was torn between leaving her behind to fend for herself and going to visit my favorite parent… Or staying and keeping her safe.
In the end it was decided we were going to do two weeks in California.
I miss him everyday and can't help but think about just moving in with him. If it weren't for Bella wanting to stay with mom I would have left a long time ago.
2002
I earned my black belt not long after turning 15. I just so happen to be the youngest student to graduate. It took me 11 years. And I was proud of myself for it. This also happens to be the year mom started dating Phil.
"I'm proud of you Max." Sensei said tearfully, the big jokester.
"Thank you Sensei," I smiled, "It's because of you I was able to get this far so fast!"
"No Max, it wouldn't matter who taught you, your perseverance and your determination got you this far." Sensei said seriously, patting my shoulder. "If you'd like, I can get you certified to be a teacher."
My eyes widened and I probably looked like a kid in a candy store as I bounced and nodded quickly. "I can do that?!"
"Of course, you just need to have the requirements for it, and I see that in you." He smiled.
I was practically vibrating in excitement. "When do I start?"
"Next week, I'll have the courses put together for you."
I nodded, "Yes sensei!"
I turned to my sister and parents. My dad having come to see my graduation. "I'm going to become a certified teacher!"
"You have to take the courses and you'll be qualified to be a teachers assistant and even a substitute until you turn 18." Sensei explained calmly.
I nodded. "That's just 3 years away, Sensei, I can handle it."
He nodded. "Be prepared then." He smiled evilly.
My eyes widened. "Oh no."
2003
I got my certification about 6 months after I turned 16, Sensei having put me through rigorous training, forcing me to teach classes and assist when it was needed. The amount of hours I spent just watching him teach…
Phil has done everything he could think of to win me over. Only after he bought me 6 new volumes of Naruto did I eventually start caving and stop giving him such a hard time.
Bella came into our room looking all mopey. "What's wrong?" I asked as she shut the door and moved to her side of the room to flop onto the bed.
"Mom seems unhappy." She whispered to me, looking over at me. "I caught her staring out the window again, this time she was washing dishes."
I nodded and sighed. "Yeah… with Phil gone all the time, it's no wonder that she's sad. She's lonely, you know." I whispered back to her, grabbing her hand and dragging her out of the room. I knew Phil was planning to propose to our mother. I told him to go for it and he was giddy for a week, knowing he had the scary twin's approval.
I looked at mom who was now listlessly staring out the living room window. I turned to Bella and poked her cheek to get her attention. "I think we should move in with dad." I whispered to her softly. Bella gave me her most offended look. "You know she doesn't go with him because of us don't you? She only stays for us," I poked her cheek again as a look of realization crossed her face. "So we gotta convince her that we would like to move in with dad and that we're both okay with it!" I grinned. "Just think about it, okay?"
She nodded, though I knew she didn't approve. She hated the cold rainy weather of Forks. But she wanted mom to be happy more than staying dry and warm in Arizona. "Alright," she nodded again, agreeing with me. "Though it's gonna take a while for me to be even remotely okay with this idea." She whispered before turning and heading back into our room, probably to finish her homework.
2004
Mom and Phil got married not long after we turned 17. Bella and I worked hard to hint for the last year and 4 months that we were okay with moving in with dad and her joining Phil on his journey.
It only took a week after her wedding to convince her that we wanted to move.
"Are you girls absolutely sure you want to do this." Mom asked quietly.
I nodded and from my peripheral I saw Bella do the same. "Yes mom." We said in unison, exchanging amused expressions before looking at our mother again.
"We'll be fine, go be happy!" I chirped, grinning at our mother with every ounce of Naruto Sunshine I could manage.
"Yeah mom, We'll be fine…" Bella said softly, with every ounce of our awkward father she could. "We're absolutely sure we want to go."
She nodded. "I love you, call and email me every day." She hugged us tightly.
"Once a week and you have a deal." I offered, making a face. "Come on mom, you need to give Phil some of your time."
She laughed nervously. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Once a week then."
"We love you." I said, looking at Bella, "If we prolong this any longer we'll miss our flight."
"We gotta go now Mom," Bella said, "We'll call when we get to Charlie's."
I made another face, pursing my lips. "Dad's." I corrected.
It was mom's turn to make a face. "I'll be waiting." She smiled tensely.
We got on the plan and were directed to our seats. We sat next to each other. "Think of it as an adventure Bells."
"This is your kind of adventure Max," She gave me a pointed look. "I'd much rather be at home, nice and warm and dry." She shook her head.
I grinned. "It's still an adventure, whether it's one for me or you." I shook my head.
I left a lot of this alone, just fixed grammar. I really enjoyed writing this. Next it's gonna take... probably a few weeks for me to finish chapter 2 but here's the first chapter.