A/N: Hey! Back with another chapter for you guys! It's the last one for this week :( . I wish I could post everyday, but I know I have to keep some kind of schedule!

We're still with Edward for this chapter, and here you'll see how his home life is.

I hope you enjoy and I'll see you at the bottom!

I'll Always Find Peace In The Meadow

Previously...

I look up just as Bella does. Our eyes meet. They are only locked for a second or two, before she looks to my left, blushes and looks down at her book again. I turn to see what made her look away so quickly, and realise Lauren is glaring at her.

I frown and stare back over to Bella, but she doesn't look up again.

Chapter Six: 'An unwanted surprise' (Edward POV)

Monday 17 April 2017

Bella disappeared after lunch.

She slipped out of the cafeteria before the masses, and with my company at the time, I couldn't exactly follow her.

I watched her during lunch. I did my best to keep my interest to myself, not wanting anymore harassment from the people sat with me, but I couldn't help it. I wanted to know why she looked away when Lauren glared at her. I wanted to know why Lauren glared at her - because there had to be a reason these people hated her so much. I wanted to know what book she was reading. I wanted to know why she sat alone in a cafeteria full of people.

I wanted to know, and I had no way of knowing. And that frustrated me.

She didn't look up at me again. If anything, her head grew closer to the pages of her book, her nose literally buried into it. I'd watched her, stealing glances, a part of me hoping she'd look back up. She didn't.

Lauren had placed her hand on my thigh at one point towards the end of lunch. She startled me so much, because at the time my eyes had strayed to the mysterious bookworm across the room again, that I jumped high in my seat. My butt literally left the chair, causing all attention to fall on me once more.

After assuring everyone that I was okay, and glaring at a smirking Lauren, I quickly looked Bella's way again, but she'd vanished. Poof. I have no idea when, and no idea how she did it so quickly. I had to have looked away for no more than fifteen, possibly twenty seconds.

It wasn't long before the rest of the people filling the cafeteria started leaving, and I got swept up in the bustle of the corridors. With Lauren on my left and Jessica on my right, I didn't get a word in edge ways. But I kept my eyes peeled, hoping to catch a glimpse of a girl wearing a much-too-large red plaid shirt.

I have to admit, my interest in Bella has confused me all day. I've been racking my brain for the reason. Maybe it's pity? When it was obvious she'd be sitting alone all lunch, I had a sudden wave of guilt hit me. Guilt for being so rude to her at the end of Biology, even though she'd started it. But a part of me knew pity wasn't the reason. Or not the full reason at least.

I was hoping she'd be in another lesson of mine, but it appears we only share Biology class. I didn't see her in the halls between lessons, or in the parking lot as I was leaving school. I'd heard Rosalie mention to Alice over lunch that Bella doesn't drive to school, she cycles. I guess she'd already left by the time I exited the school.

I also heard some of the guys talking in the changing rooms after gym, about Bella and the incident in the halls after first lesson. The incident which I'd made worse, apparently, by saying what I did. Shit. The things they were saying were... well, let's just say it's not something I'd ever think about saying to someone's face. Especially a girl. She seems to have a lot of enemies in this school.

I wanted to speak to the gym teacher after class about joining the basketball team. I played in my last school and know that Forks High School has a team. Whether it's anything serious or just something casual I have yet to determine. But after hearing the not-so-nice words about Bella in the gym, on top of my already shit-tastic day, I didn't feel up to it. I'll speak to him tomorrow.

The events of the day, particularly my first run in with Bella, are playing through my mind when Alice turns down the road to our house. She mutters something under her breath about a "creepy ass forest" and "stupid fucking angles". She's right about the forest being creepy. It is, kinda. And the fact that we practically live in it doesn't help. The angle, I'm assuming, is the turn in to the road that leads up to our house. It's at a very awkward angle, extremely acute, but I like it. The obscurity of it is comforting. Harder for any nosy town folk to find.

I can't help but smile as we draw closer to the house. As small and unimpressive as this town is, or has seemed so far, our new home is truly magnificent. I like it much better than the house I've lived in for the past almost sixteen years. It's unique and homely, ancient seeming but modern at the same time. It's a change from the clinical white structure, mostly transparent walls, and open space of our last home. I always felt so exposed there. And as much as I love Chicago, this is the house I'd have preferred to grow up in. It's more of a family home, and less of a doctor's and lawyer's showplace.

The garage doors open when Alice presses the button on her remote, a device that both of our parents have, and one I'll also have once I get my license. She drives her red Cadillac into her space in the garage, cutting off the engine. "Get out," she orders as she climbs out herself. She's been in a pissy mood with me since we've been in this car and away from the company of others. I smile ruefully as I extricate myself from her car, slamming the door shut with more force than is probably necessary.

Alice just rolls her eyes at me, locking her car as she walks away. "Thanks for the ride," I call out to her. She stops and turns to me, tapping her foot as she stares at me for a few long seconds.

"Thanks for making me look like a complete idiot today," she huffs, glaring.

Huh? "Huh?" I start walking slowly toward her. "Alice, what do you mean?"

"You... you're such an embarrassment." I step back in shock. Me? An embarrassment? "Why'd you have to do it?"

"Do what?"

"Sit next to that strange Ella girl."

"Her name is actually Bella and I didn't realise there was a problem with sitting next to certain people."

"Fuck, Edward." She throws her hands up in the air, waving them about as she starts lecturing me. "I don't care if she's called Ella or Bella or Jane or flaming Phoebe! It's not important. She's not important. What is important is making friends with the right people. Not ditching them when they've shown an interest in you, when they've made arrangements to sit next to you, only for you to bin them off to sit by the one person they can't stand. Jesus, Edward, talk about making enemies."

"Ooooh. I get it. You've spoken to Lauren and Jessica. About my decision to not follow their commands in Biology." Alice simply nods, raising an eyebrow, like she's waiting for me to explain myself. I walk forward until I'm stood only a few feet in front of her. "I can sit wherever I want, Alice. It's not going to affect who you make friends with. They seemed fine with me at lunch, so I don't see what the problem is."

"I don't care what you want, Edward. I want to be friends with these people. And I won't have my baby brother embarrassing me by associating with the town's Loser. She won't be good for your image, Edward. Mom and Dad will be happy with my choices, and you should join me in it. You still need to get back into their good books after throwing such a hissyfit when we found out about moving."

I did not throw a hissyfit. I may have shouted and refused and made a bit of a fuss. Who wouldn't? I was being told I was to leave everything and everyone I'd ever known, to move to some unknown town, in the middle of high school no less. Of course I was angry, and I let that be known.

Didn't make the slight bit of difference though.

I sigh, running my fingers through my hair in agitation. "To be honest, Alice, I couldn't care less who I associated with. None of them will be as close to me as Kyle and Will were. I just want to get through the rest of High School with as little drama as possible."

"Good. No drama. That means you won't go near that girl again."

I gape at Alice. She is so not getting my point.

"Alice, I... That's not..." I sigh. "Never mind."

With a slouch in my shoulders and a shake of my head, I walk past her and make my way to my bedroom.

This house has three floors. The garage is on the main, center floor. The floor above is where most of the bedrooms are, but when we were choosing our rooms, I went for one of the two that are on the lower level. In the far right corner of the house.

I exit the main floor through a door in the garage, which leads me down a flight of stairs to the lower level. Alice will probably head up to her room. She is the only one sleeping up on the top floor. My parents chose the master bedroom, which is located on the main floor. This is a very large house, with a rather unique structure and layout.

I make my way down stairs, through what will be the media room, then passed what is going to be one of the living areas, and down the hall where this floor's two bedrooms are. Mine is at the very end of the hallway.

Boxes and unorganised furniture fills almost every room of this house. We were meant to arrive a week ago, so we'd all have a week to settle in a bit before me and Alice started school and my parents started at their new jobs. Some misunderstanding with the moving company ruined that plan. No matter how much money my parents offered the company, they just couldn't move things around at the last minute.

I'm sure things will be hectic for a little while. Our housekeeper won't be arriving in town for another week yet, so I can guarantee that not much will get unpacked and sorted in that time. My mom will rarely do things like that, especially without the help of a paid employee. And my dad is always too busy to pitch in.

I step into my room, and after closing the door behind me, I sag against it in relief. Alone. At last. I drop my bag on the floor, beside an unopened box, before face planting to my bed. I just want to stay here, doing nothing until I'm told otherwise. I know I can't do that though. I need to start unpacking my room, at least. I drag myself up, planting myself on the edge of my bed.

My bed, which has a dark wood frame and no sheets on currently, is the only piece of furniture that's actually in the place I want it. And for that, I am very glad. I know organising this room will take much deliberation and effort. It's a very... unique shaped room.

You see, the back of this house is odd, in reference to its structure. From the front this whole house appears normal. Well, kind of. It has walls jutting out at random points, forming many rooms and corners inside, but it's still pretty normal compared to the back.

The back has three hexagonal shaped extensions. It's the best way I can explain it. One in the center, and one at either corner. Where my room is means that I have one of the hexagonal shaped extensions making up part of it.

With a walk-in closet on the left wall, along with an ensuite beside it, it's a rather spacious room. Double doors lead to the patio outside, and to the right of those doors is the hexagonal shape. A window is in every wall of the extension, bar one.

I love it, and I'm glad I chose this to be my room. Alice hates it, which is why she chose the most boring of bedrooms the house has to offer, which also happens to have one of the largest closets the house has to offer.

My bed sits in the hexagonal extension, facing inwards, so when I'm led down, the double doors will be to my right. The rest of my furniture is currently stood together, close to the double doors. It must have all been brought inside via those doors.

With a sigh I get to work, moving my two bright yellow painted wooden bedside tables to their rightful place; on either side of my headboard. It takes me a while to move my heavy dark wood desk to the wall opposite, but kind of to the left of, my bed.

I have just shuffled my yellow leather arm chair to it's place against the wall between my bed and desk when my bedroom door opens. I look up at the unannounced intruder, to see my mother appear. I should have known. She is the only person that doesn't knock when entering my room. She looks around, appraising my room in scrutiny, before her eyes land on me. She quirks an eyebrow, eyes jumping to the armchair my hand is still resting on.

"I can't believe you chose yellow," she voices distastefully. I shrug, looking down at the piece of furniture.

"I like yellow. I think it looks good against the dark walls." It's true. In my opinion, the bright colour of my armchair and bedside tables looks great against the extremely dark brown coloured walls I chose for my room.

Me and my sister were both given the freedom of redecorating our new rooms however we wanted. I noted, when we were choosing colours and furniture, that Alice ordered a lot of pink. We were given a budget, which she exceeded by almost $750. I guess her overspend is okay, seeing as I barely used half of the budget. I'm quite happy with my choices.

I look back up at my mother when she sighs loudly, just in time to catch her rolling her eyes at my words. She and Alice have that same annoying habit. They have done for a very long time. "Whatever you like, Edward. It is you that has to sleep in here, not me." Exactly. "Dinner is almost ready. Come up soon," she tells me before turning and leaving, not bothering to close my door behind her.

Hello to you, too, Mother... Yes, I had a great day. Thanks for asking.

With a heavy sigh and a nod to the now empty doorway, I exit my bedroom, closing the door behind me. At the beginning of the hallway is the bottom of a staircase, which leads to the floor above. So, instead of walking to the other side of the house to ascend stairs that'll bring me to the garage, I can simply walk up these stairs directly to the foyer.

Boxes are stacked in every room. Furniture sits in random places, obviously not in their set location just yet. The only room that seems to be almost completely organised and livable is the formal dining room.

...Yes. I said formal dining room. My parents have always believed in having a place to eat celebratory meals and host dinner parties - the formal dining room - but having an alternative for casual eating such as breakfast, or times when not all of us are eating together - the informal dining room. The latter is in the left hexagonal extension of the house, branching off of the kitchen.

The formal dining room is very elegant. Numerous thin, but tall windows are lined up to fill the front and left side walls of the room, allowing lots of natural light to enter. However, they technically aren't necessary, thanks to the magnificent crystal chandelier that hangs low in the center of the room. Matching crystal wall lights are spaced out around the room, too. Underneath the chandelier is a long, mahogany table. It's surrounded by matching curved-back, cream cushioned dining chairs. It seats ten, which is absurd because there are only four of us that actually live here. But it's perfect for when my parents host business dinners, so I guess it's not a total waste.

The table is set ready for a meal. Plates of garlic bread and a large bowl of salad sits in the center of it, too.

My father, Dr. Carlisle Cullen, sits at the head of the table. His fingers are loosely wrapped around the stem of a wine glass, an opened bottle of some kind of Italian red wine just a bit up the table. Alice sits to his left, her head bent over her phone as she types furiously, occasionally lifting the device in front of her face while she poses for a selfie - for Snapchat most likely.

I choose the chair next to Alice's, silently sliding it out and sitting down. All the while, my father watches my every move in unnerving silence. I can hear Mom moving around in the kitchen, not too far down the hallway.

"Evening, Edward," my father greets me finally. Always so formal.

"Hey, Dad," I reply more casually, offering a smile. "Have a good first day at work?"

"Yes, thank you. Good first day at school?" he questions in response.

"It was alright."

It should have stopped there. Our conversation should be over, as is usually the case at the end of a weekday. But Alice has to go and throw out a remark. "Bullshit," she mumbles around a fake cough. I turn to glare at her, warning her not to start. She glares right back at me.

"What's going on?" my father asks, using his stern don't-try-and-fool-me voice. "Ali?" he directs the question to his Princess when neither of us move from our glaring match. We glare at each other for a few seconds more, before she smiles sweetly as she turns to face our patiently waiting father.

"Oh, nothing, Daddy. Just that Edward here thought it'd be a super idea to make enemies of the people we should be befriending." She directs the last part at me as she emphasises what apparently we 'should' be doing.

Dad focuses his gaze on me, raising an eyebrow in question. I roll my eyes, stealing Alice's annoying habit to show my disagreement. "Alice, don't be so dramatic. I didn't make any enemies today."

"Well, you tried your damned hardest, didn't you?"

I just glare at her in response.

"What is going on? Edward?"

"Nothing, Dad. Seriously. Alice is just trying to cause trouble when there's no reason to," I say, aiming my words at Alice, my eyes not moving from her face.

"Alice? You seem to think otherwise." He sits straighter in his chair, changing from relaxed to determined in an instant.

"I do, Daddy. 'Cause I don't downplay things. Edward really hurt Jess and Lauren's feelings today." At that moment, my mother walks into the room, carrying a large dish of lasagne. She walks around the table, setting it down in between the salad and garlic bread before pulling out the chair to the right of my father, directly opposite Alice.

"Oh, Alice has told me about all the people she met today. Lauren and Jessica sound like lovely girls," she adds, a soft smile on her face. Her smile drops as she speaks to me, her disappointment already palpable. I haven't even done anything! "What did you do, Edward?" NOTHING!

"I haven't done a thing, Mom! Alice is just a looking for a problem somewhere that there isn't one," I say defensively.

"Yes there is, Edward! You sat next to Bella instead of Jess and Lauren and that really hurt their feelings because you said you would."

"No I didn't. I said maybe," I argue. Mom shakes her head and sighs as she pushes the lasagne closer to Dad, offering him some first. He is staring at me calculatively.

He's silent while he serves himself some lasagna, grabs a couple pieces of bread and scoops a bit of salad onto his plate. Next is Alice, who huffs, sending me the odd glare as she fills her plate with a measly portion. Then my mother. And finally me. Once we've all got what we need, my father finally speaks. "Let's just have a pleasant family meal, shall we? No arguments or bickering. It's our first proper meal in this lovely new home. Let's enjoy it. Okay, everyone?"

A chorus of "Yes, Dad", "Yes, Daddy" and "Yes, Sweetie" sound at the same time. He smiles, nods and digs in. The silence only lasts for a few minutes before my dad asks how Mom's day was.

I'm nearly finished with my dinner, having zoned out of the conversation almost immediately, when something my mom says catches my attention.

"A plaid shirt? Really?" she asks, her repugnance is as clear as the crystals of the chandelier above us.

"Yes! Can you believe it?! The thing was monstrous. It drowned her, too! It was absolutely despicable! And she had it on with a black denim skirt and these absolutely vile Converse. Ugh! It should be illegal to wear something so... old and tatty," Alice replies.

"Oh my goodness! Why? How bad were they?"

"Oh, Mom, they were disastrous. I swear that girl must only own that one pair of shoes. There is no other explanation as to why they are in such a state."

It doesn't take me long to catch on to exactly who it is they're talking out. The 'plaid shirt' comment was a pretty large clue, but the comment about the shoes is the last thing I hear before I stand abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. Conversation halts for a fraction of a second before Mom and Alice begin talking with a flourish of emotions once again. Meanwhile, my father sits back, a half-filled glass of wine in hand as he watches me stand and leave. I meet his eyes as I turn to leave, offering him what I hope is a smile, though it feels like more of a grimace. I feel his eyes on my back as I turn away and leave the formal dining room.

After dumping my dishes in the kitchen, not bothering to put them in the dishwasher like I do when our housekeeper is here, I head back down to my room. I use the garage staircase so I don't have to pass the dining room. And the laughter I can hear echoing down the hall.

Alice gets on so well with our parents. I, on the other hand, don't. Mine and my parents' relationship is... strained. And that's putting it lightly.

My parents love Alice. They absolutely adore her. She's the most precious thing in their world. She was their first born, and she's their only girl. She's their little princess and nothing will change that. Or get in the way of it.

On the other hand, I was a surprise - an unwanted surprise. My parents only ever wanted one child. That was enough for them. They wanted the perfect family - a happy marriage and one loveable child they could pin all of their focus on. So, when they found out about me, it was a shock. It was an unwelcome turn of events for them.

For some bazaar reason, against their desires in life, they decided to keep me. My whole life I've felt the weight of their resentment towards me. I ruined their perfect family plan.

I know that they love me, in their own special way. It's not me that they hate, it's the life I forced upon them. I should never have been conceived, and they haven't tried very hard to make me think any different.

My whole life I've been in Alice's shadow. I've been pushed to the side and ignored. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of Alice sometimes. Her relationship with our parents is so strong, like concrete. It's all I used to want with them. But that's not going to happen. Ever. And I've come to accept that.

My dislike for our lifestyle doesn't really help my case. I've never embraced the life they provide me. I've always hated attending the events at the country clubs and I've never been enthused about the dinner parties.

Because of this, my parents think they need to control every aspect of my life. They feel the need to try and steer me in the 'right direction'... whatever that may be. Sometimes it's little things they like to take over, like the clothes I wear to a party at one of my mom's friend's house. However, it's also bigger parts of my life that they like to control, too. They control my friends and the people I socialise with, for example.

And recently, I found out what their plan for my future is. It's comical, right? How does that even make sense? ... "their plan for my future"... but it's true. They have expressed their ideas for what I will do. They plan for me to go to the same medical school as my father, so that I can become a doctor, just like him.

Some would think this is fantastic. A chance that must be taken. And I don't disagree. Becoming a doctor would be a tremendous career to take on, but it's just not what I feel passionate about. It's not what I want to do. Photography is something I want to pursue, though I'd never even mention it to my parents. They believe it's a silly hobby I'll grow out of eventually, which is why I've been allowed to spend money on all the equipment for it. But to have a career in it... wow. That would be incredible.

They want me and Alice, who plans on studying fashion in Paris, to go on and do big and wonderful things - like they have. My dad, Carlisle, is a doctor. He's a surgeon to be more specific, and a damn good one, nationally renowned. When they decided to move us, and their search for small towns began, he got many offers. His new position at Forks hospital was the best of them all. My mom, Esme, is the new managing partner of a law firm in a nearby city called Port Angeles. She's also made a name for herself, having been a well-known lawyer back in Chicago.

When they informed me of their plans for me to attend the same medical school as my father, my first thought was "they want to ship me off". It'll be across the country, over 2,000 miles away now that we live in Washington.

I still think that, to be honest. They'd have me out of the way, so they could focus on their golden child, going to Paris to visit her and spoil her rotten. They'd have me out of the way so that they could focus on the life they once wished for.

A/N: What do you think of this chapter? Again, these characters are different from the originals, as you can tell. The lovely, caring Esme is absent I'm afraid. But it's all necessary for my story.

Unfortunately, this is the last chapter of the week, BUT I will be back Monday with the next chapter! It will be another Edward POV, but it will be the final one before we get back to Bella's perspective for a while.

Leave me a review, let me know what you're thinking, how you're feeling about this so far! Thank you for reading and I'll see you back here on Monday! :)