A/N: Annd.. here we go :) Please review and tell me what you think! I love talking and hearing constructive criticism. I will be switching from past to present, at least in the beginning. I haven't decided whether I'm going to have an EPOV yet or not. Maybe, I'll see what you guys would prefer?
Disclaimer: All Characters belong to SM, I just steal them and have my wicked way with them from time to time ;)
Chapter One
Before
Forks, Washington.
See? Just two words and I already know what you're thinking. Yes, it's as lame as it sounds. Not only because the closest form of entertainment is 30 minutes away, but also because there's only a handful of people that deserve an attention span of more than 3 seconds. Normally, I would include myself in that handful. I'm nothing special. I have dull brown hair that hits just past my shoulders, brown eyes that do nothing to highlight my (not-so) prominent cheekbones, and awkward gangly everything. All this said, I've realized it's in my best interest to be some weird form of a makeup/hair slave puppet to my best friend. The only reason I ever get any attention at all is because of her, and by her I mean…her AND the line of drooling, sweaty high school boys that line the block to talk to her.
Her is also my best friend Rose. She is basically perfection personified. Tall, blonde haired, blue-eyed beauty with boobs that make me scream at mine to grow and feet that are somehow able to withstand hours of stiletto induced torture. She does everything in her power to make me a beautiful social butterfly. Her favorite thing to say to me is "Bella, you'll never lose that cherry unless you put it on display in front of people who like to eat them."
Yes, she sounds like a crass bitch, but she's fiercely loyal, has the perfect shoulder to cry on, and will be the best person I've known, until my last breath. It also helps that she isn't afraid to stick her stiletto so far up your ass that you won't walk straight for a week.
Where Rose is my shoulder, my brother Emmett is my rock. Literally speaking. He's 2 years older than me, and has the body of an oversized gorilla with the muscle mass of Arnold Schwarzenegger. He can be extremely intimidating, and has the mind of a 10-year-old. Over all my years, no matter how many pranks he pulls or infuriating things he does, one dimple filled smile and all is forgiven.
Jasper's a newer addition to our group. He and his mother moved from Texas to get away from an abusive father/husband. The second he sat down in that chair next to me in English Lit, picked up a pen I dropped, winked and called me darlin', I knew it was destiny. Destiny… as in, you're the cookie to my monster, the tickle to my Elmo, big to my bird type of way. I love him like a brother, and kiss him like my imaginary boyfriend that I had when I was 5.
Alice is Jasper's other half as well as my other best friend. She is drama and love and light. She is everything that you never knew you always needed. She is the espresso to my macchiato. Ya' dig? She validates my crazy in a way that no one else can come close to touching.
And then there's Edward. Edward is… was… Edward is. I would try to describe him, but there aren't enough words in all the languages to express the myriad of god-like perfection that is Edward. He's tall, brooding, gorgeous with his bronze hair and his emerald-green eyes, but then he's also mysterious, funny, and extremely stubborn. He's everything I've ever wanted, and he's all mine, body heart and soul.
After
I pulled my blanket closer around my shoulders and sighed, staring out of the window. These hospital chairs were uncomfortable. I'm not surprised people stopped visiting me if this is the torture they had to endure. How could this be real? Is this my life now? Silently staring out of windows, thinking about how things could have been? Even after I'm gone from the hospital, it won't matter. Everything has changed. I close my eyes and let a tear silently drip down my cheek, off my chin and into my lap. Silently crying, I remember.
Both Edward and his sister Alice moved to Forks when I was 14, into a house three doors down. I saw them move in from my bedroom window, hiding behind the curtain, too scared and nervous to actually ever say anything to them. I knew all about them of course. Alice was 12 and Edward was 16. They moved from Chicago, and their family was beautiful.
The day I met them was the best day of my life. I gained a best friend that day, and I found out that not all boys are like my brother. THANK GOD.
Emmett was playing basketball and I was dancing on the sidewalk. Correction, I was giving everyone the honor of watching me dance on the sidewalk. Emmett stopped dribbling and turned, rolling his eyes. "Bella! Every time you move you distract me with your awkwardness! You're doing it on purpose. Stop being such a bitch and get out of my face! "
I startled and looked up from my very important task, annoyed that he lacked the understanding of how awesome my dance moves were. I scoffed and narrowed my eyes at him. "Em, distraction is a part of life and Life's a bitch, so shut up and learn to take it. I'm bored, there's nothing to do, and you're supposed to be watching me, per instruction of our father. Not that I need a babysitter. I AM 14 now." I crossed my arms, dissatisfied that my dad still thought I was a little girl. Regardless, Emmett had no choice but to let me stay.
"Excuse me…" Emmett and I both turned to the sound of the tinkly voice. Our new neighbor Alice had 2 popsicles in her hands and a HUGE smile on her face. She stretched out one of the popsicles towards me "I thought we should be friends. I'm Alice! I Love your dance moves!" FINALLY, someone else who gets it. I slowly put my hand out to take the popsicle, finally smirked and looked up at Emmett, asking silently for permission. She looked between Emmett and me. "My big brothers home too. He's 16 and playing his new Tony Hawk game. I'm sure he'd love some company."
Emmett's eyes got huge. I knew he was waiting for mom and dad to let him buy that game. He dropped the basketball, grabbed my arm and put on his charming smile. "Well Alice, we'd LOVE to!"
We walked into the house and it was like something out of a catalogue. Chocolate browns, beiges, tans. Crystal chandeliers, princess staircases and perfectly askew blankets on couches. Elegance at its finest. I was in such awe, I didn't realize Alice and Emmett were gone. I didn't hear someone walk up behind me.
"Well, I guess I was wrong."
I turned, shocked by the sultry voice, and embarrassed at being caught staring, my cheeks burning a bright pink. This couldn't be Alice's brother. This was no big brother I've ever seen. He was so… tall and strong looking. His hair was bronze and tousled to perfection. His emerald green eyes danced. The god-like boy smiled at me, his eyes twinkling. He cocked his head to the side and looked me up and down.
"Turns out my parents OCD tendencies and flare for wealth ARE good for attracting something worthwhile."
With that he turned around and walked into the living room, leaving me standing in the entrance, my mouth hanging open. This time, I was in awe for an entirely different reason.
And that was that. One look into his green eyes and I knew that I would never look at another pre-pubescent boy again. I would never look at any boy again.
As the years went, and voices cracked, and things sprouted up where they had never been before, it never faltered. It never swayed to any temptation. It was strong, and present, and all-consuming. That was my love for Edward. That was Edwards love for me. I thought that it would never change, and we would get the fairytale life that people only dreamed about. However, I quickly learned that what you think is going to happen, is generally never what does.
More tears slip down my cheeks. There's no controlling them now. The onslaught of what to me, are memories of yesterday come at an alarming rate.
My birthday. Rose and Alice fighting over who was going to be the DD. Alice losing, rolling her eyes, sighing and putting her hand out for the car keys. Edward laughing, kissing, putting a bracelet around my wrist that sparkled with gems of the past and diamond encrusted promises. Alice deciding to take a couple of "harmless shots" anyway. Alice losing control of the car. Darkness.
Wiping away my tears, I look out the window again. Everything looks the same, the cars aren't different, the buildings are the same. Life goes on. It's amazing how this is the first time I truly understand what that phrase means. I think back to the past hours I've been awake. I think about the fresh memories that I'm trying to avoid.
I've been told that I was in a car accident and that I have suffered from severe cranial damage that caused me to go into a coma... that I was never expected to wake up.
Except, I just did. 10 years later.
I guess life's a bitch and it's time to shut up and take it.
