I hope you enjoy this chapter, the first one of the story, and thank you andys-lovelytwilight and RoGueSurfer who did review the story. So please comment, and tell me when Bella and Edward do meet in this story, should her blood still sing for him as it does in the original Twilight series. I've been debating on that issue, and I would like your opinion on it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight otherwise I wouldn't be here, rewriting it in a different story line.
We were all in the car, my whole family and I, driving to Washington listening to a radio station blaring out old country music. My parents sat in the front, followed by my two brothers Noah and Robert, and then in the back Katie, – newest member of the family – my sister Serenity, and then me.
"How about clueless blonde or short-fused red head?" I asked Serenity who was sitting beside me. Her real name was Sarah, but she ditched it ages ago for it being too overused. "They are classics."
She pondered the thought for a few minutes and then shook her head. "No, too…expected, you need something more unique."
"Okay…what about starving artist?" I asked as she laughed.
"No, as much fun as it was to watch, I'd rather not repeat the experience. Maybe next century, maybe," Serenity replied trying to regain composure.
Starving artist had been one of my favorite roles to have played over the years. It definitely had its humorous moments and moments that were better never mentioned again.
Katie, who was sitting next to Serenity, looked at us confused and a bit concerned. We all kept forgetting how knew she was to this life. So several times, like for instance, she did not understand what we were discussing.
"What are you guys talking about?" Katie asked letting her hair go. She had playing with her black hair during the car ride from either nerves or boredom. She was taking this move, the hardest out of us all, since it was her first move at least with us it was.
"We're making new identities for ourselves; we do it every time we move. It adds some spark of excitement in moving since we do have to do it constantly, besides what's the point living in different places when your the same person over and over. It's much more fun taking up a new image for yourself at a new place," Serenity explained. Katie nodded her head, showing comprehension to the explanation.
"Yeah, but that's not all there is to it. They've made it into a game as well, why don't you tell her the catch," Noah added while Serenity rolled her eyes.
"I was getting to that," Serenity replied angrily to Noah before turning back to Katie. "The game, catch part is to see who can get a boyfriend first."
"What's the prize if you win?"
"You get the larger bedroom. It's the main prize most of the time. Occasionally there are years where the prize is different, but that's rare."
"Yes, because apparently they are not creative enough to come up with other prizes," Noah added while Serenity kicked him in the back of the seat. "Oww, Serenity."
"What?" Serenity asked using her fake innocent voice. Noah turned in his seat and they both started glaring at each other, neither one backing down. This was going to be a long car ride if they kept this up.
"Hey you two, cool it. We are not getting into a fight this early in the drive," mom said full authority in her voice.
She had been listening watching us, in the rearview mirror, the whole time just waiting for a fight about to break out. The car rides always bounded to have a couple of fights, and usually because of Noah and Serenity. It was never a good idea to keep those two locked in a confided space for too long.
"Noah, turn around," dad ordered trying to help mom maintain the peace. Noah reluctantly and silently turned himself around crossing his arms over his chest.
It was silent for a few minutes before Katie spoke again.
"So…you use guys for your own entertainment games, through your moves?" Katie asked cautiously as Serenity sighed.
"It's not like that Katie. We don't try to find guys just to use them for a game, its part of the rules. We have to have feelings for them and really date them instead of simply using them to win, and of course tell them we will be moving soon. That we are not staying forever, or any time range close to that," I explained.
The game part of changing identities had been added after what I like to call the fall out with John and while I've had a few select boyfriends since then. It just has never been the same, not even close. But maybe Forks will be different. Even so how am I supposed to settle with someone who will age and die while I stay the same, and never die? Though I could die if I really wanted to, but the only way to be able to do that is I would have to bring a certain person down with me.
"Yeah and with rules like that sometimes neither of us will win, and it'll be a tie. For example, this move, neither of Bella and I found a boyfriend, so neither of us won, and it's a simple tie," Serenity added.
"Because all the guys in Phoenix, Arizona are jerks," I mumbled under my breath crossing my arms over my chest like Noah had. But in anger instead of irritation, I was glad however to be going far away from Arizona, now.
Most of the guys in Arizona right now are lucky to still be walking around, after everything they tried to do. I haven't been called a walking taser for nothing. The guys in Forks definitely have to be better, different, or there are going to be some unexpected hospital visits. Can't keep my temper locked up forever.
"Oh, I see. That's…an interesting game to play," Katie replied her eyes locked on her knees.
This was probably one of the strangest games she's ever heard of in her whole short life. It was amazing she still wanted to spend time with us though when everything we did or talked about sounded bizarre to her, like we had lost all sanity, which maybe sometimes we had.
"You can join the game to, though you don't have to if you don't want to. You are only twelve after all," Serenity said. Katie smiled happy to be included even if it was weird. "But you can also help us with picking our new identities. Right now we're doing Bella's, first as always."
"And as the way it should be for the eldest child, now what about socially depressed?" I asked while Serenity snickered.
"You want to lose the game, don't you?" Serenity asked as I rolled my eyes. "No emos or any depressed type of person, okay. Depression is out along with perky."
"What's wrong with being perky?" Never have I played a perky role before. It seemed a fun role to play.
"Too overdone in my opinion," Serenity replied.
"Okay what about, rebel?" I asked as everyone in the car shouted 'no' except Katie who covered her ears from the noise. "Okay, guess not then."
"Let's just put it this way, you were too good for the role of rebellion," Serenity said with a sigh. I guess sometime I was too good at some roles, too convincing at times.
"Would you girls please keep the identities legal, we don't need to have cops on our doorstep again because of your rebellious acts," mom said her eyes narrowing at me as she looked up at the mirror above. Way too convincing.
"How about shy?" Katie suggested. "I've heard it works for some people."
"Shy, perfect, it will easily catch a guy's interest, since they will obviously want to know more about you. As long as you don't overdo the shyness, otherwise shy will become a turn off instead of a turn on. Now I think you should keep your hair color natural this time with no cuts, and be clumsy, the shyness will work well with that."
"Okay natural hair color and length, a bit shy, and a klutzes, got it," I said thinking of what else personality wise was needed. "Now should I be a, know it all or a dumb blonde, or in this case a dumb brunette?"
"Neither."
"So average?"
"No, close to a, know it all but not quite there."
"So pretty intelligent, but not too intelligent."
"Bingo, you don't want the guy to get intimidated by you or think you're a snob or stuck up in any way, major turn off, and because of your clumsiness you'll have to be terrible at playing sports as well," Serenity added as I sighed. Sports and gym were the only things I actually enjoyed during school, and now it was taken away in an instant. "Okay I think we've found your identity for Forks, Washington."
"I guess so. It's been a while since I've played the shy card, though. Never been a klutz though, I might mess up."
"It's not that hard. All you have to do is stumble around a bit and trip over air every now and then. Besides it will work great in attracting guys," Serenity said as I shrugged in response. "Fine we'll get a guys opinion if you don't believe me. Noah, haven't you fallen for a shy clumsy girl, every now and then?"
Noah sighed and said, "I think you both know the answer to that. Now, please leave me out of your games." Serenity looked at me confused while I looked over at Katie who had her head titled far away. The answer to Noah's question was obvious, right in the car with us, but Serenity seemed to get complex answers instead of the obvious ones.
"Alright, well now it's my turn, hmm…" Serenity said her eyes narrowing in thought.
"You could be highly opinionated this time, a great debater," I suggested as Serenity shook her head.
"Nah, I've already done that role several times. I need something fresh, a whole new role to act."
"How about being yourself this time, annoying," Noah said as Serenity sent eye daggers through his seat.
"I thought you were going to stay out of what you call 'our game.' Besides I'm not annoying," Serenity replied leaning back into her seat.
"That's debatable," Noah mumbled.
"How about a jock, kind of the opposite role of your sister," Katie suggested as Serenity's lips twitched into a smile.
"Opposite role, I like the sound of that. Except I'll be average in intelligence and keep my hair natural as well, it gets annoying having to dye it over and over again," Serenity said clasping her hands together in excitement.
Katie smiled and said, "You guys sure aren't very competitive in games, are you?"
"No, not all the time, why do you ask?" I asked as Katie shrugged.
"Just by the way you two are acting and talking at ease about what roles you are going to play. Not being secretive at all with, I guess, game strategies. It's the exact opposite of how my brothers had acted. They were unbelievably competitive in everything, it was downright annoying."
"Yeah, well we can be competitive it just depends on the type of game were playing. See right now we look very uncompetitive, but just wait until we have our relativities over. Then the competition will begin, and we will be acting a lot different than we are now," Serenity said raising her arms in the air, excited. Katie looked slightly terrified.
"Relatives?" Katie asked looking up to our parents for answers.
"A few cousins along with an uncle or aunt and some other people will be coming some time during this move," I explained to Katie. "Right mom dad that was the agreement?"
"Yes, they should be coming to Washington during this month or next month. Then depending on what happens some of you will go for a short visit at their current residence," mom replied as I nodded.
"Oh, I vote I go visit Karina," Serenity called as mom laughed.
"Serenity, your mother said depending on what happens. Don't forget we have a lot to consider deciding on these quick visits," dad replied, emphasizing 'quick' as Serenity sulked. "We have Wesley and John to consider in this. Besides Karina will be one of your cousins that will be coming to visit. Maybe Christopher will show up as well. They are both still discussing that."
"But not for long?" Serenity asked, eyebrows raised.
"Not long, a week probably, but I'm sure you guys will make the most of it."
"Where is she residing now?"
"Last time I talked to her, Jamaica, with her brother Craig and his fiancée Janice."
"Are they coming to, Craig and Janice. We still haven't met her yet, and I'm curious?" Serenity asked.
"Curiosity killed the cat," Noah replied.
"We don't own a cat. Dad?" Serenity asked.
"No, not this time," dad replied. Serenity leaned back into her seat, closing her eyes in the process. Soon only the country music filled the car, mixed with Roberts snores as conversation died for a good couple hours.
Rain started to come down, drizzle at first, and then pour. My body tensed reflexively as I stared out the car window. Rain was suppose to be peaceful, the sound, the feel, at least that was what it was to most people, my family as well. To me it was the exact opposite of peaceful, filled with terrible memories. Nothing ever good happened to me when it was raining, because of that I was always so paranoid when it was raining or when there was a chance rain would come. It was the reason we had been moving from one sunny place to another for such a long time, but now my parents believed it was time for me to face my fears, well more like my memories.
Forks was going to be a very difficult place for me to live at. Awful memories, I wanted to erase from my mind, would attack me constantly. Just like the one coming back, right now.
"I hate the rain," I mumbled as we continued down the street, hand in hand.
John heard me of course and laughed as I glared at him. "There's nothing wrong with the rain, Bella. It's just your overactive imagination, taking over as always."
I shook my head as my eyes searched for anything dangerous around. "It is not. The rain is a bad omen, at least for us it is."
John shook his head and replied, "There is no such thing as bad or good omens, especially dealing with the rain. Rain is simply water, precipitation if you want, falling from the clouds, collections of water droplets or ice crystals, in the sky, nothing more than that."
"Then explain why every terrible ending we have had was in the rain. Whether we were inside or outside buildings it was always raining outside, explain that John," I whispered my eyes still searching. "The sky is crying for a reason."
"Isabella, you just need to relax before you pop a vein in my hand," John said pain evident in his voice. I hadn't realized my grip on his hand had been tightening. Immediately, I let go of his hand as I stopped walking. "Bella," John said softly walking in front of me. His hands gently holding my face, his thumb wiping away tears that had started to fall. "Haven't you ever thought that maybe the sky is crying not because of sorrow, but for joy?"
"Then why? Why us John, that when it rains something bad happens, to the both of us, together. Tell me one good thing that's happen to us, together, in the rain," I said looking up at him. My vision was blurring from my own tears and the skies.
John's mouth opened to reply, but no sound came out of it. Only a gunshot was heard came as John hands fell from my face. His whole body was slowly falling to the ground as more gunshots came, each one hitting him.
Paralyzed, for only a moment, I looked around but couldn't see anybody. The rain was coming down to hard, blocking my vision, giving me even more resentment for the rain. In a split-second decision I made a dash for it, still hearing gunshots behind me. Of course I wanted to go back, to stay with John, and hurt, kill even, whoever was shooting, but that would put both John and me in danger of never waking up. Running, getting as far away from John as possible, was what would help us both. No matter how many times John was shot. Even if he closed his eyes, if I could get far enough away he would be able to open them once again.
The rain started to fall harder as I wondered what the sky was trying to warn me of this time.
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