Thank you guys sooo much for your reviews! They really made me smile! BTW, when I checked last, I was 2 reviews away from 40, so that's what I'm going for. Also, I noticed that some other people like to demand reviews. Ya know like, "Give me thirty reviews or I won't update," or something. (No offence or anything.) They seemed really strict. Hmmm, I might start doing that…jk.

Disclaimer: I know I don't own Twilight; I-I-I just can't help myself, alright!

WARNING! PROCEED WITH CAUTION! THIS CHAPTER MAY CAUSE CRYING, LAUGHING, GASPING, AND LOTS OF RUNNY NOSES!

Edward looked at me curiously and, after opening the door for me and getting in himself, started the car and whipped out into the highway.

"Now it's your turn," Edward said grimly. "What are you hiding?"

The faint glow of the dashboard illuminated Edward's profile as he glanced over at me, eyes intense.

I sighed again, this time in nervousness, and knew the gig was up.

"Are you sure you want to know? It's a long story and you'll be the first person that I've told," I said quietly.

Edward paused, and then said softly, "You don't have to tell me if you do not wish to."

"No, it's fine," I took a deep breath. "I kinda figured that I would end up telling you this; in a way anyways.

"It started a while ago when-WHOA! SLOW DOWN!" I screeched and Edward winced.

"What's the matter?" Edward asked as he turned his head to look at me-

"KEEP YOU EYES ON THE ROAD FOR GOODNESS SAKES!" I yelled again.

Edward was pushing 130 mph and he didn't even seem to be aware of it. I mean, I liked going fast, but not at a time like this! Besides, if we crashed this Volvo, not only would only one of us walk away alive, but the one would haunt the other for the rest of their…existence because they had ruined someone else's dream car.

"We'll be fine," Edward tried to reassure me. "Remember? Inside speedometer?" Edward tapped his temple.

"Well," I said, watching the trees wiz past us. "It's obviously broken because you're going 130 in a, like, 70 mph zone!"

He rolled his eyes.

"Just slow down, please?" I used my softest and most dazzling voice-which was still in perfect condition, I might add-and wasn't surprised when he slowed.

"Okay," I took soothing breaths and sat back in my chair, closing my eyes. "It all started when I was three years old and my mom was driving me and my brothers to Buffalo, New York…"

"But why!" Alex screamed as our mom made a turned off the highway. "I don't want to!"

"Well, sweetie, we don't have a choice," Mom look at us through the rearview mirror.

We were all sitting in the car, driving somewhere. Mom in the front seat, her hands clenching and unclenching the steering wheel for some reason, and Alex, Anthony, and I were in the backseat.

We were driving all the way from Birmingham to Buffalo to visit some distant relative of ours. Alex and Anthony had seen her a couple of times, being two and a half years older, but I had yet to see her and was scared. But of course, I kept my thoughts and feelings to myself as Alex and Anthony hollered and screamed to go back and played with my tiny SpongeBob Squarepants action figures from McDonalds.

As Alex and Anthony tried to argue with mom, I watched in amusement as mom answered every question in a calm and loving tone. This confused them so much that Alex and Anthony finally shut up and I was able to take a nap.

When I opened my eyes, we were just pulling up to a big, two-story house. As mommy unbuckled me from my car seat, her dark eyes met my own and I saw something behind the calm charade she was putting on.

"Mommy," I said in my high three year old voice. "What's wrong?"

I touched her brown skin with the palm of my pale, white hand.

"Nothing baby," she sighed and lifted me out, placing my small body on her hip as she shut the door.

A woman walked out of the house then. Her skin was a medium brown and she had a sprinkle of black freckles across her nose. She was a bit chubby and had her short black hair in a braid.

"Hi," she smiled down at Alex and Anthony. "You guys are getting so BIG now! Which one of you is going to be the tallest?" she asked in way only adults can.

"ME!" The twins both yelled at the same time and turned to glare at each other.

"Now boys," she said sternly. "If you two don't behave, you won't get to play with all the toys I have in the yard."

Their eyes widened and we all went to the backyard. It was full of big bounce balls, toy cars, and even had a playground!

The boys ran off to play and the lady turned to us.

"So, where is the wonderful Isabella I've been hearing all about?" she asked and playfully looked around.

I giggled and, laying my head on mom's shoulder, studied her.

She seemed to be nice so I said, "I'm right here."

"You are!" she stood closer now and held out her hand. "I'm your grandma."

"Isabella," I shyly shook her hand.

"Aren't you so cute!" she beamed at me.

"I think so," I said innocently.

Mom and grandma had a good laugh at that.

"Isabella, why don't you go and play with your brothers?" mom asked and tried to put me down...

I don't know why, but I suddenly didn't want to let go. It was like I felt that if I let her go, I would never get to see her again.

She looked shocked at my sudden desperation and hugged me close.

"I'll be right here," she said and, again, as looked into her eyes, I knew something was up.

I reluctantly let go and dropped the two inches to the ground.

With one last look behind me, I took off onto the playground to play with my brothers as mom and grandma went inside to watch us through the screen door.

My eyes snapped open as I heard the stairs above me creak.

It was three in the morning.

I smoothly pulled the sheets back, climbed over grandma, and slipped out into the hallway. We had only been here five days (and it turns out that another grandmother of ours was living with grandma. She said she wants us to call her Mama (pronounced muh-muh)) and already I knew the house backwards, forwards, sideways, and any other ways you can think of.

I was just about to step into the kitchen when Alex and Anthony emerged from their rooms, eyes wide. We looked at the kitchen door and, after a silent conversation only close siblings can have, we filed inside-

and saw our mom putting on her coat. She froze when she saw us.

"What's going on?" Alex demanded.

"Yeah," Anthony said, examining the scene. "Where are you going?"

We walked around the kitchen island and saw her suitcase, packed and ready. We looked up at her in confusion and her face crumpled.

"I have to go back to Birmingham for a while because of an emergency, and I thought it would be best if you stayed here while I was gone." She explained, eyes watering.

"Then why can't we all go?" Anthony asked.

"Because you should spend time with your grandmothers," she said and finished slipping on her coat.

"When will you be back?" Alex asked.

"Soon."

"Just come back to us, okay mommy?" I said softly.

As she nodded, something broke. I don't know what but something changed and the back of my mind kept repeating something over and over that I couldn't hear.

She got down on her knees and, shedding a couple of tears, gave us each a tight hug.

When she got to me, she whispered, "I'll always love you. Never forget that."

I threw my arms around her neck for a brief moment, then let go; tears were starting to form behind my eyes, but I had to keep together. For her.

We all stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the driveway and we waved as she pulled away blowing kisses.

Alex and Anthony stood with their arms around me as we breathed in the night air and watched until we could no longer see the lights on the back of her car.

As I lie back down in bed, I turned to face the wall and tried to go back to sleep. I was almost there, when my eyes snapped open again. I had just realized the word that had been playing over and over in my mind, but hadn't been loud enough to hear.

It was liar.

I am turning twelve today.

I looked in the mirror and examined my face. I didn't wonder why my skin was so white anymore, but that doesn't mean it didn't bother me.

"Isabell! Can you come here for a second?" the voice drifted up the stairs.

I took one last look to make sure I was presentable, and bounded down the stairs to the kitchen.

Everyone was there: grandma, Mama, Alex, and Anthony.

I smiled and took my seat.

They broke out into cheerful cries of 'Happy Birthday!' while grandma placed a big red and white cake in front of me.

After they sang and we ate the cake, it was time for presents.

"Here," Alex and Anthony, now fourteen and a half, both smiled as they handed my two thin packages similarly wrapped.

I ripped them open and found two of my favorite movies there: The Matrix and the old version of The Phantom of the Opera.

"Thanks guys! I love it!" I jumped up and gave them both tight hugs.

They each laughed and gave me a pat on the back. We were still as close as ever and it seems as if they read my mind when I was mentally making a birthday list.

I sat back down and turned to face grandma and mama.

"Well? Give to me!" I said. "Although I have to say, it's going to be hard to match this!"

They exchanged grim glances and the smiles that had been on my brothers and mine's face slowly came off.

"What?" I asked, more controlled now. "What is it?"

"Well, you see sweetie," grandma started off. "You got a letter for your birthday today."

"And...,"Alex said, encouraging her to continue.

"It has a gift for all three of you," grandma slid a white envelope across the table and Alex and Anthony came to stand over my shoulder as I opened it.

There were four pieces of paper; three short and one long.

I pulled out the letter and started to read…

A couple of minutes later, all three of us looked up angrily.

"What is this?!"

"Is this some sort of joke?!"

"Do we really have to go?"

I asked the last one calmly.

Grandma and mama looked at each other again and nodded grimly.

"You knew all along that we didn't have any sort of legal power. Besides," mama said. "We think it'll be good for you."

I shook my head as I reached back in the envelope and pulled out three train tickets.

This is real and it's really happening, I thought as we stood in front of a tall, three floor, Victorian style house.

Alex, Anthony, and I had packed our things, and with tearful goodbyes, boarded the train. After arriving, we got a taxi to the address written at the bottom of the paper I had received a week ago.

We walked up the walkway to knock on the door, but before we could, it swung open to reveal a picture so beautiful, I dropped my bags.

A small black girl about five, a boy about seven, twin girls about ten, and another boy about fifteen stood there. But in front of them was a man I had never seen before and a person I hadn't seen since I was three…

Mom.

"Five, six, seven, eight!" I yelled out as the music started.

We all started the routine, complete with stunts and a very difficult dance, that I had choreographed for the varsity cheerleading squad.

I was captain and the best one there. I'm not bragging or anything, but mom did say that I was a natural at these sorts of things.

As we finished our final stunt, a backhand spring into the waiting hands of the bases to a basket toss-reload into a lib, the music shut off and the bases cradled me and set me on my feet.

"Alright girls! That was the best practice that we've had and I'm really proud of you!" I said and everyone clapped at our success.

"So remember, the football game against the Astronaut War Eagles is tonight, so be there in your uniforms!" I called as everyone went to get their things.

I waited until everyone left to change clothes and, locking up the gym, hurried outside to the cab I had called for earlier. I had to rush everyday to ballet class or else miss the first few minutes, something Mademoiselle Klein would get angry.

I got there in the knick of time to put on my ballet slippers.

You see, I do more than just cheerleading. I do hip-hop, jazz, ballet, ballroom dancing, track, and gymnastics. I'm also in the poetry, book, and Latin club. Miraculously, I still manage to maintain a 3.8 GPA.

Like I said before, I'm not bragging or anything, but I'm pretty good at all of those things. And even though I, Bee Powers, was the head of the Locks (the most popular girls at school), not only do I wish I wasn't, but I wish that I could be normal and have a normal family.

Life sucks, and then you die.

Yeah, I should be so lucky. (AN: Anybody know where these two lines are from? First person to tell me will get…something. And it will make you FAMOUS! Promise!)

I mindlessly went through both of my ballet and gymnastics classes in a daze and, after changing for the fourth time that day, I changed into the blue, gold, and white varsity cheerleading uniform.

I hurried outside and, since a friend of mine from gym class named Ariel was going to the football game, to the Honda Civic in the parking lot.

"So guess what Brian Faith said to me today,"Ariel said as we drove to school.

Brian Faith was the most popular guy in school. Well, one of them anyway. The most MOST popular guy at Birmingham High and the captain of the lacross team was Luke Williams and my boyfriend.

"What?" I asked curiously.

"Well, I was standing outside of my history class and Jordan and I were talking, you know, when Brian strolls up and says, 'Hey. So you're talking American history second block, right? Well, it seems like we have a shortage of desks and someone will have to share.' So then I was like, 'Fine I'll just share with Jordan.' But then HE says, and here's were it got really cheesy. 'Why don't you sit in my lap that block? Unless of course, something POPS UP.'"

I burst out laughing. Brian was always a joker, but this was probably the lamest one yet.

"Where did he get that from?" I asked between laughs.

"I don't know but you should have seen Ms. Mayhill's face! She was standing right behind him as he was saying it!" Ariel cracked up again as we pulled into the parking lot.

"I can't believe this!" I mumbled to myself as I walked down the steps from the house. I was being thrown out of the house! And on my birthday too!

"And all because I didn't like the color frosting on my cake," I mumbled kicking a rock.

I knew that mom was pregnant and everything and that she would be emotional, but not like THAT. I could tell by the look in her eyes as we had argued (we'll she argued and shouted, I just sat there calmly and tried to tell her that everybody knows I like chocolate not white cake) that if I didn't get out soon, I would go crazy. So, now here I was. Walking alone.

Still, I didn't think it was nice to yell at me in front of grandma, mama, my Uncle Reche (re-shay), my Aunt Joyce, and my niece Reche, who were visiting from Buffalo.

AN: IMPORTAN! THE FOLLOWING CONTENT IS FROM CHAPTER 11 (Bella's dream at Jordan's house) AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ, SKIP UNTILL YOU SEE 'NOW!' IN BIG, BOLD LETTERS.

All around me was darkness, but I knew were I was going. I could feel the ground under my feet; the leaves crunching with each step. I was going to Jordan's house for a sleepover. Even though today was my birthday, mom and I had gotten into an argument and I said I wasn't staying home tonight.

I ran up the stairs to the house and, before I could ring the doorbell, Jordan answered the door with a smile.

"Come on in," she said and closed the door behind me.

I dropped my bag in the entryway and looked around.

"Where are your parents?" I asked as we went into the kitchen.

Jordan shrugged. "They went off to some conference in Amherst. So, what's up? Family problems again?"

I nodded and slumped down in the bar chair at the counter. I knew I was wrinkling my uniform, but I didn't care.

"Avery got kicked out of college, Alex and Anthony were caught trying to steal bike parts and are on probation, Josh got suspended for fighting, Breanna is being a brat because she wants everything she doesn't have, and Johanna and Josie keep pulling pranks and blaming it on me. I'm tired of always trying to please mom and dad and them never opening their eyes to the truth about everyone else."

I sighed and dropped my head into my hands. "I just want this horrible life to be over."

"I can help with that," said a voice from behind me.

I started to turn, but felt a blade touch my neck.

"No, no, no," Jordan cooed. "We wouldn't want you to turn around and slit you pretty little neck, now would we?"

I was shocked. "Jordan, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing," she snarled. "Now get up, and don't say a word."

She guided me to the living room where she proceeded to tie me to a chair.

"Why are you doing this," I demanded.

"Because," Jordan looked down at me with obvious hatred. "You're little miss perfect. Always getting good grades, on the honor roll, ballroom dancer, captain of the cheerleading, gymnastics, flag, and track team. Graced with slightly tanned skin and a beautiful personality, blah, blah, blah,"Jordan explained. "But I found someone who will give me what you have so that I can leave this crazy life: parents in debt, having to stand on a corner and sell yourself so that you can afford money to feed your family.

"And the best part is," Jordan gave a crazed laugh. "No one will even know it was me. With no trace of your body or anyone else's in your families, I'll just be a grieving friend."

"You can't get away with this you know," I told her calmly. Now was not the time to panic.

"Who said I was going to kill you," Jordan said.

Then, in walked this tall guy with blonde hair. He was the new kid at our school and had attached himself to Jordan like a leech. I didn't know his name, but I knew that he was weird. He would always just stand around, looking at everyone with his ice-blue eyes. Now though, his blue eyes were now…RED EYES?

"Do you finish the others, sweetie?" Jordan asked him sweetly.

"Yes." 'Sweetie' walked over to Jordan and yanked her into a rough kiss. For what I could see, I looked me like he was trying to suck some of her blood through her mouth. Sure enough, when he pulled away, there was red dripping slightly out the corner of her mouth.

"Now can you finish her off?" Jordan whined. Apparently she had been asking awhile.

Talk about backstabbing you bff, I though sardonically.

"Why don't you do it?" he asked Jordan and handed her a sharper knife.

Jordan approached me and leaned down in my face to whisper one last word: "Goodbye Bee."

She lifted her arm as if to stab me, but suddenly, she jolted back as if someone had shocked her. When she fell at me feet in a heap, I realized that the guy had taken the other knife and stabbed her with it.

I stared down in horror at what used to be my best friend. Dead now.

The guy walked up to me from where he had been leaning against the wall (How did he get over there so fast?). From our closeness, I could see that his eyes were no longer red, but black (Why? What caused the change?) The guy leaned closer and lifted the hand with the knife in it. He ran the knife gently down the side of my neck, buried his face in my hair, and took a deep breath. Then, just as suddenly, he was back across the room as if he hadn't moved.

Vampire, my thoughts concluded. I was in love with fantasy and mythology so it I knew the signs: the pale skin, red eyes, and cold that emanated off him when he had leaned to close.

"Ya know Bee," he said my name mockingly. "I think that I'm going to give you a head start on this chase. I do like a good hunt and," he scanned my body. "It seems that you would be a good challenge."

He was suddenly and impossibly behind me, untying Jordan's knots easily.

I had no time to look back as I dashed out of the room, their earlier words running through my head, 'Do you finish the others?' 'Yes.'

I knew who they were talking about even as I raced down the street. My heart was pumping and I willed my legs to go faster than they ever had during any track meet.

My house came into view and I ran up to the open door. The first thing I saw was-

NOW!

The first thing I saw was the unnatural red and orange colors coming from the inside of the house.

As I stepped inside, I lifted my skimmer (see bottom of page if you don't know what a skimmer is) up and across my face as I maneuvered my way through the house. Trying to find someone alive…

As I ran through the kitchen, I almost screamed in horror. Josh, Breanna, grandma, Aunt Joyce, Uncle Reche, Josie, and Johanna had been slaughtered at the table. Blood was dripping from the walls and half of them were already on fire.

I stumbled out of the room and hurried to the game room where I knew Al, Tony, Avery, and dad would be. Sure enough, there they were. Parts of their bodies strewn across the floor and blood all over the place. Alex, my favorite brother, was dismembered the worst and his head was on top of the TV.

I turned away and ran up to the second level. I knew it was dangerous, but I didn't care. I knew were my mom would be: the nursery where the newborn was going to sleep.

And there she was.

There was no doubt in my mind now that the blonde guy was a vampire. How else could he have known that mom was pregnant…and stabbed her through the stomach and leaving her, and the baby, to die?

"Mom? Mom!" I rushed over to her side as I saw her chest heaving.

"Is-a-Isabell-," mom tried to say my name, but blood came out of her mouth instead.

"Don't talk," I begged. "Please?"

"I'm...sorry," she managed to get out.

"I'll call a hospital and they'll be able to get you down and-," I tried to convince her that everything would be alright. And myself.

"No, I know that they are dead," mom whispered. "And I know that I will not make it."

"Yes you-," I tried to tell she would, but she interrupted.

"No, I won't," she murmured. "Talk what you can and leave me. Remember, I'll always love you."

I felt like I was three years old again as I hugged her, trying not to press the wooden stake (ironic, huh?) anymore through her. Tears welled up in my eyes but I pushed them back as I took one last look at my mom and ran out of the room.

I followed her instructions, but I couldn't save much.

The important things I had, the emergency money from mom's, dad's, my room, then, downstairs, the PS2 and games my brothers had spent their life collecting.

By then, both upstairs and downstairs were on fire and there was only a matter of time before the house collapsed. I raced out with the black suitcase had grabbed and ran up the street. Fire trucks were coming and so were the police.

I had just hid in the bushes when they passed. I couldn't face them and tell them what happened; I hadn't even been able to fully comprehend it yet myself.

I whipped out my cell phone and dialed ITAE (If There's An Emergency).

"Hello? Renee? Yeah, it's Bee, your sister's daughter. I need to come to Phoenix…Why? Because I'm the last Powers heir…Yeah, they're gone…No longer than a year. Then I'll move in with Charlie."

skimmer- it's a stretchy, tight turtleneck under a cheerleader's uniform

17 pages (on Word) and 5 hours later, I'm finally finished! Reviews please!