AN: I like to start my stories off with some type of greeting. This is a story using the Twilight characters. It is all human. Some cursing may occur, but if it is anything too bad I will try to remember to put a warning.

I did not place this story in Washington because to be honest, I have never been to Washington. I don't know what it is really like. I only know what I have read. The story takes place in a small town in my home state of Louisiana. I actually modeled the town after my hometown. It will still be called Forks though. I hope to show you what small town Louisiana life is really like. It is nothing like the stereotypes. I am truly Cajun, so I may use some of the slang use here. I also want to include some of the problems we are really facing here due to all of the water.

I'd like to ask that if you pray, to please pray for all those who are about to lose homes due to the flooding here. The next town over from my home (Only 15 minutes away), is about to be flooded with anywhere from 0 to 15 feet of water. The Mississippi River keeps rising. They are about to open a spillway that hasn't been opened in 38 years. Some areas will have 30 feet of water on a usually dry area. 240 homes in the small town next to ours may be completely submerged in water. Hope for the best for everyone here and in the areas hit by the tornadoes.

Chapter 1: EPOV

A new day was just beginning as my plane landed in New Orleans. I climbed off the plane just as the sun was rising. I found my bags and slowly made my way to the parking garage. My brother and his wife were waiting for me there. Emmett was muscular with curly brown hair. His wife, Rosalie, was beautiful. She had blond hair that fell in curls down her back and the bluest eyes I had ever seen.

Emmett was almost 7 years older than me. When he finished college 2 years ago, he moved to New Orleans to work at the children's hospital here. That's where he met Rose. She was working there as well. They married a year later. I walked up to my brother and hugged him, "Em, Long time, no see."

"It has been entirely too long. You should have visited more often," he said smiling. I laughed, "You should have visited me. I am the one who just finished college."

"That is no excuse," Rose said pulling me from my brother and hugging me friendlily, "Alice has visited 3 times since Christmas." I released her and began defending myself, "Alice is looking for a place to open her first boutique. She hopes somewhere near the French Quarter. To top that off, she is dating your brother who lives here, but works in Houston."

"Fine, let's just drop it. Where are we bringing you, little bro?" Emmett asked putting my bags in the car. I smiled, "I need to get a car, first. Then, we are going to go to my new house in Forks."

"Forks," Rose asked surprised. I nodded, "Yeah, have you ever been there?"

She nodded, "I go every year. They have this festival every November there. It is fantastic. The town is really small. It is one of those towns where everybody knows everybody. Why are you moving there?"

"I got a job there. The school needs a English teacher," I said, "Exactly how small is it?" She laughed, "For you, it is going to look like nothing. You only have New York and Chicago to compare it to. There is a McDonald's, a Dollar General, a chicken place and a grocery store. The grocery store is a big deal there. They have some jalapeno cheese bread that has won a bunch of awards and competitions."

"It can't be that bad," I said as Emmett pulled into a car dealership.

BPOV

Today started out like any other day in the small town of Forks. I woke up, had breakfast with my mom, and headed out job hunting. School had let out for the summer two days ago. I decided that I was going to get myself a job so I could get my own car to go off to college with.

I decided to start with Ms. Patty. Patty Stanley was the eyes and ears of this town. She was also like the newspaper. Anything that went down around here, you could be sure Ms. Patty would find out. She worked as a cashier at Guilbeaux's, the only grocery store in town. She was known to have loose lips as she checked out the groceries.

It took less than 5 minutes to get from my house on the outskirts of town to the store which was the center point of it. I was greeted the second I stepped through the doors of the store, "Isabella, honey, I was wondering when you were gonna come over to see me. I heard you lookin' to get yourself a job."

"You heard right, Ms. Patty. How many times do I got to tell you to call me Bella," I said leaning against the counter in front of her register. She laughed, "I like the name Isabella. It's the name your momma gave you, it's the name God chose for you, it's the name I'm gonna call you."

"Fine, call me Isabella then. You know anybody who's hiring 'round here?" I asked changing the subject. She nodded happily, "Aunt Addie Mae is looking for someone to clean her house and cook dinner 3 days a week. Listen to this next one carefully because no one else knows this yet. Old Bill Daily is looking for a waitress/bartender at Daily's. Your pay check would just say waitress and you'd be working with Pauline down there from 6 pm to 12 am."

I looked at her skeptically, "Ms. Patty, I don't think I could handle working in a bar." She smiled knowingly at me, "I'd go talk to Mr. Sam before I completely throw out the idea."

I smiled widely, "You mean?" She nodded, "Yeah, girl. He is ready to sell."

Mr. Sam Guilbeaux owned Guilbeaux's Grocery. He also owned a cherry red 1959 Corvette Convertible that was in great shape. Mr. Sam was close to 70 now, and I was waiting for him to decide to sell that car. I had been in love with it since I first laid eyes on it, and everyone around here knew it.

I practically ran through the store to his office in the back. He smiled when he saw me come in, "I guess Patty told you then, Sugar. I'll tell you now, I planned on selling it for $10 grand to a man in Lafayette, but you have something he don't have. You have that fighting spirit I had when I bought the car new. I'll sell it to you, Sugar, but for $5,000. I need the money by the end of the summer or I'll have to sell it to the man. My wife wants it out of the garage."

My smile grows, "I have about $2,500 in the bank. Will that be enough for the down payment?" He laughed, "Yeah that will be perfect. If you don't mind me askin', how are you planning on comin' up with $2,500 in 3 months?"

I smiled, "I was on my way to talk to Mr. Daily about waitressing for him. You know my cousin, Sarah Beth, worked for him over the summer waitressing and made almost $3,000. I plan to keep working part time when school starts."

"Smart girl," he said still smiling at my eagerness, "I had my lawyer draw up papers. You aren't 18 until September, so you'll have to get your momma to come down and sign them with you. Bring your deposit with you and you can leave with the car. I'll be here until 4 today."

"Thank you so much," I said running from the office and to my daddy's truck. It was an old pickup that he only used when he was in town. He had to travel the south for work. He was currently in Alabama. I drove straight to Mr. Bill's diner where he spent his days. He was in his office when I walked in, "Well, hi there, Bella. I am guessing Patty told you I needed some help around here?"

I nodded and he smiled, "Leave it to Patty to fill a job opening before the newspaper even runs the ad. You want the job, it's yours. I know you're a reliable girl. My waitresses get $8.50 an hour. You would work Tuesday through Saturday from 5pm until midnight. You are welcome to work extra hours on Friday and Saturday. We are open until 2:30 am then and we have about an hour of cleaning to do after closing. That is 3 ½ hours extra. You get to keep all tips you collect. There is no uniform or dress code. I will adjust your hours when school starts. My only major rule is don't get drunk on the job. I don't care if you have or two drinks, but watch yourself. The younger waitresses usually drink a Child's Play. It is just lemon water in a martini glass with a lemon wedge on it. That is for when customers offer to buy you a drink. You drink for free, so you can pocket the money for all the drinks they buy you. Any questions?"

I shook my head, "No sir. I got everything. When do I start?" He tapped his finger then checked his calendar, "Tomorrow is Tuesday. You can start then. Be there at 4:30 so Pauline can tell you the basics. You get paid Saturday night after your shift every week."

I nodded, shook his hand, and left.

EPOV

I left Emmett and Rose at my house to begin unpacking while I went to find the grocery store. I turned off of my road to find a truck with the hood open and a woman looking under it. Being the gentleman I was raised to be, I stop to see if she needs any help.

I get out of my car and walk around to talk to the owner. I am stopped dead in my tracks. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She has beautiful mahogany brown hair that fell in waves down her back to her small waist. She had a very petite frame. She was only about 5' 4". When her eyes met mine, I was completely lost in the chocolate brown swirls. She smiled a breath taking smile, "Hi." She had a slight accent. It was addicting.

"Hi," I reply back smiling. Her eyes are still locked on mine. She held out her hand, "I am Bella. You must be new around here. I don't recognize you."

I nodded, "I'm Edward. I just moved here today. I was actually looking for a grocery store when I saw you having engine problems. I was wondering if I could lend you a hand." She nodded, "It seems to have overheated on me. I should have checked the water yesterday when I checked the oil. My phone is dead so I couldn't call anyone."

"I could give you a ride somewhere. It wouldn't be a problem. Maybe you could even point out the store if we pass it," I said still lost in her eyes. She nodded, "That would be nice of you. Guilbeaux's is on the way to my house."

"Well, come on then," I said helping her lower the hood. She nodded, "Let me get my keys and bag."

As I pull back onto the road she looks over to me from the passenger seat, "So, if you don't mind me asking, where did you move here from?"

"New York City," I say taking a turn she pointed out. We rode in silence a little farther. She pointed to a big building on the road, "That is Guilbeaux's. Take the next left." I did as she said. We drove by 4 houses surrounded by fields. She pointed at the driveway of the fifth house. I pulled in. The house was a beautiful single floor country home. It too was surrounded by fields on all sides, but was only 3 miles away from the grocery store.

She smiled at me as she got out of my car, "Thank you for the ride. It was really nice to meet you."

"You too," I say as she walks into the house.

AN: So that was the first chapter. What do you think? I really want feedback. Good, Bad, I really don't care. Any ideas? Anything that I should change? I plan to update soon.

ONLY 9 SCHOOL DAYS LEFT… SUMMER HERE I COME!