Chapter One: Sad Birthday

"You know that you don't have to go Jamie Elizabeth Philomena! Now, tell me the truth! Do you want to go?" My mother asked me.
"Of course mom. I. Want. To. Go. I love Aunt Jeanettes house! I want to live with her. You and dad just go and enjoy yourself in Europe. Seriously!"
I was so lucky that I had at least a bit of acting skills. But my mother knew me well.
" Jamie...Common...Please! Tell me the truth!"
"Mom, It's Liza, and I do want to go! I'm telling the truth!" I smiled. Appearently, my smile was convincing enough.
"Ok then. Tell your aunt that I said hi. Oh, and I happen to know that she has a little birthday present for you, so enjoy it, as much as you can! Ok?"
"Ok mom. I'll enjoy it. Look, the planes going to leave. I'll talk to you on the phone when I get there, I'll call you, Okay?" I started to walk faster towards the lady at the desk.
"Ok, honey! As soon as you get there call my cell, and I'll be checking up on you!" She said smiling. I ran to to the woman, and handed her my parpers. I was surprised I hadn't dropped anything yet.

Of course, I was the last one to board. But, I wasn't holding anything up. I found my seat, which was at the very back, inbetween two very large men. Thank god that someone thought that they should sit there instead of where they were supposed to. Appearently, she had known the two men, and was chatting up a storm with them. That left me the middle seat, next to an old man, and his grandson. Or just his son. The boy looked at me. He could be maybe fourteen, maybe even fifteen, if I was wrong about my first assuption.

He looked at me awkwardly. His big dull brown eyes staring up from his long lashes. His face was clear of any blemishes, which I envied immeadeatly. I hate my skin. But my blemishes were small. His skin was a light brown, and he had dangerously high cheek bones. Some of his baby fat appeared on his face. He still hadn't lost that childish charm most kids have.

"Hello..." He said. His voice didn't quite match his baby-fat face yet. It was a hoarse voice, like he had just got it this weekend. He still had some growing to do. Well, at least physically. I didn't know if he was smart, or one of those immature fourteen-slash-fifteen year olds yet.

"Hi." My voice rang in my ears. The plane was quiet, and everyone was waiting to take off.
"I'm Austin."
"Liza." I said, looking down at my feet. His anxiety made me nervous too.
"So, where are you going to in Washington? I'm going down to La Push."
"Forks. My Aunt moved there three years ago. I decided I should come and live with her." I answered, giving much more information than needed.
"Cool. So, how old are you? I'm fourteen." He said in a proud tone.
" Sixteen." I replied. I just heard him answer with a sigh. The rest of the light conversation, centered around what our parents did. Or, in my case my Aunt. My Aunt was a police officer. He asked me why my parents weren't here with me, and why they were going to Europe. He also asked why I chose to come to Forks.
I only answered the last question.
"I wanted to come." Technically I did. So, that wouldn't be considered lying, right?

The rest of the plane ride was quiet. Austin and I didn't talk anymore. It got to awkward. He told me that his last name was Black, and that his brother, Jacob, was around my age. I told him that I was an only child, and that the closest thing to a sibbling to me, was a dog. My parents brought them to Europe with them. Austin nodded and the conversation moved on. No more talking anymore.

When I finally woke up from my little nap on the plane, I had noticed that the plane was almost empty. The last passengers were finally getting out. Austin, and his Grandfather ( or so I thought ) were getting their bags out from the over head compartment. Austin was smiling, and I over heard him whisper to his Grandfather " She talks in her sleep."

Embaressment flushed over my face. I was sure that, if I didn't have a tan to disguise it, my face would have been completely tomato red. I knew I talked in my sleep, I just didn't need everyone else to know.

When I finally got all my bags (which didn't take long, seeing that I only had two medium sized bags full of winter clothing) and got out of the air port, I found my Aunt Jeanette waiting for me, at the bench, near the entrance doors.

"Hey sweetie!" She said happily.
"Hey!" I was truly happy seeing her. Just not here.
"How was the plane ride? Oh, I'm so glad you came to live with me!" She said happily.
"I am too!" I lied. Good thing I had acting as a career choice.
"I have a present for you, okay? So when we get to the parking lot, I'll have to ask you to cover your eyes." She said the last part in a half-serious tone.
I agreed.
It turned out, that my present was a car. Chevy pick-up truck. Probably the kind that could go through a tornado, and never get a scratch. It was colored black which made it look the least bit more modern.

"Just a few years old..." My aunt said, nervously.
"How old?"
"Well...the man who sold it to me said he bought it a bit old, when he got it."
"How old?" I asked again.
"1950's old...I hope you like it though...Since I'm living on such a small salary, and-"
" I love it." I interupted her, telling the truth.
"...I know it is abit old, and probably...wait...You love it?" She asked me, surprised. I nodded. "Good then...Do you want to drive, or should I?"

Once we got my lugage into the back, and put a weird black sheet over it, to basically hold it down, My aunt climbed in the drivers seat. I let her drive. I wasn't that comfortable with my driving yet. I was only sixteen. And I knew she would be watching everything I did while I drove. She would be watching where my hands went on the wheel, and where my eyes wandered to. I just wasn't comfortable with someone watching me drive, and watching how I drove.

We didn't speak. I felt like I had to talk to her, for some reason. I like to talk, and fill in the emptyness the silence brings, but its also nice to have some quiet too. We passed by my future high school. It looked small. Only about two bulidings that looked like they were supposed to be houses or something. Well, exceptionally big houses. The only thing that didn't look like a house was the roof. It was just flat. Well...more like apartments than houses really...

I silently wished that I would have chosen to go to Europe with my parents. Even if it would make them unhappy. Who cared if my parents wanted to explore the whole world...well, Europe at least? Who cared if they wanted to be alone, and wanted to find different jobs, and were going to be moving around Europe a whole lot,to find a job for my scientist of a dad, and my doctor of a mom? Who cared if they would be moving to different places, renting until they found a job, having to learn many languages, and move to different schools and countries while their parents were still looking for that job? Who cared if their parents would be living on a low income until, again they found that perfect job? Until they were happy? Who cared if they wanted to act young, and stupid again? Apparently I did. Thats why I was here. I wanted to live in America, until I got out of college. I was to lazy to learn any new language, and to scared to move to the unknown places of the world. It would be to difficult for me. I already was struggling with speaking Spanish-which most of my family did. I only could understand it, not say things in it! How do I expect to have learned Spanish, and some other language? I was way to lazy for all of that. But I did consider it, until I heard my parents talking about how bad it was that they wouldn't be able to explore Europe like they wanted to. That made me decide to stay here, in Forks. Safe, and making my parents happy, instead of myself.

When we arrived at the house, Jeanette let me wander off to my assigned room, and let me un-pack by myself. This made me glad. I was able to silently cry, without her having to be there. I wouldn't have to hide my face when she looked at me. My room was a calm, light purple, with a certain brightness to it. All the furniture in the room was white. Even the ceiling fan, and the bed. It looked nice though. I unpacked my clothing into the white drawer, and then sat down to think in the white, cushioned, recliner in the far left corner. It seemed out of place, but it still comforted me. I then decided that I should cook dinner for Jeanette, and then just go to bed after I have eaten. So I did just that.

After I brushed my teeth, but my facial mask on for a bit, combed my hair, and brushed my teeth again, forgetting that I had already, I climbed into bed and I cried myself to sleep. I knew this was the only way that I could fall asleep, seeing that the rain basically pounded at my window. I couldn't drown it out with music, or even me trying hard to breath heavier than normal. It was to loud. I only knew one solution. A solution that would help me feel a bit better (maybe) and drown out the rain, atleast to my ears. I decided to cry. Harder than I have ever done before. I knew Jeanette couldn't hear me, she was downstairs, on the other side of the house, and the rain was banging against her windows too. I wondered how she could sleep with all that noise. The misery you could feel with the wet, and cold climate.