A/N:

No, you aren't imagining things. I actually did update this story. Yesterday I got my laptop for Christmas which means I can finally update some of my "neglected" stories. This was the first one I wanted to update. I have some sort of attachment to this story that I do not feel towards any of my other stories. This one begs to be written. It's the one that creeps into my mind at midnight as I lay awake trying to get to sleep. It's the one that will randomly pop into my head when I see something or someone that reminds me of it. It's weird but I guess it just won't leave me alone until I finish it, so here I am working on Chapter Four. Anyways, Merry Christmas and enjoy!

4.

The town was not as big as Casey had expected it to be. Sure, there was a Walmart but that was about it other than a run-down looking movie theater. The SUV pulled into the parking lot and into a parking space. Casey, Lizzie, Derek, and Nora hopped out of the vehicle and made their way to the entrance.

"It's not as bad as it looks," Derek commented. For a moment, Casey had an uneasy feeling that he had read her thoughts but quickly shook the thought from her head, "I know it isn't much," he continued, "But it's alright once you get used to it. I mean, there's the Walmart, the movie theater, and there are a few restaurants and shops that aren't bad. There's this nice Italian place and there's a bookstore down the road. You might want to stop in there and pick something up."

Casey nodded and continued to follow him into the store. She had been to Walmarts a dozen times throughout her life but this was definitely unlike any Walmart she had been to. The produce section consisted of a stand of apples, a stand of oranges, a stand of green beans, and a stand of broccoli. She looked around trying to find something else – anything else – but her attempts were futile. That was it. Casey hoped that the Forks grocery store, as small as it was, would at least have more of an option in the fresh produce section.

Derek suddenly steered towards the back of the store and Casey followed. A few moments later, she found herself standing in the linen isle. There were bed comforters, cushions, and pillows. There were also trash cans, rugs, and posters. She began to browse the comforters and settled on a sky blue one with white, glitter spirals. It wasn't her taste but it was pretty and her only other option was a red one with black stripes. Lizzie settled on a plain purple comforter and both girls decided that their sheets were reasonable and would be covered by the comforter. They each selected a waste basket, a rug to match the comforter, and a few posters.

"Are you sure that's all you want?" Nora asked.

Casey was tempted to reply, "It's all they have" but thought better of it. After all, she and George had been nice enough to give them a two-hundred dollar redecorating allowance.

"I can go online tonight and look on the Pottery Barn website," Casey said instead.

"Good," Nora nodded, "Maybe they'll have a bigger selection. We ready to go?"

"Nora," Derek spoke up, "I wanted to introduce Casey to some of my friends. They live just on the boarder of Forks and Leola. It'll take about five minutes to get there if you and Lizzie want to get some ice cream or something. There's an ice cream parlor not far from here. It's just down the strip center, close to the traffic light."

"That is really sweet of you, Derek," Nora smiled at her step-son, "Alright, Lizzie and I will get some ice cream and you two have fun."

Derek led Casey out the store as Nora and Lizzie headed to a check out center. Casey wanted to say something to him, wanted to start a conversation, but couldn't find the courage to say anything. Luckily, she didn't have to.

"So, tell me about your old friends," Derek asked casually.

"Oh," Casey was taken aback by his question, "Alright. Emily was my best friend. We lived next to each other as long as I can remember. Sam was my boyfriend for a while but we managed to stay really close friends. He's a real sweet heart," Casey smiled at the memory of Sam, "And then there's Kendra. She wasn't really my friend but she was always there if I need someone to talk to…when she wasn't busy and when she didn't have something more important like her hair or her nails to occupy her time," Casey shook her head, "And then Sam's best friend, Ralph. Ralph was always really sweet too. Not to bright, but sweet."

"Sounds like you had a nice little group of friends. I'm sorry you had to leave them."

"Me too," Casey nodded, "I hate that they did this."

"Hate that who did what?"

"That our parents got married! That my mom got married without even telling me! That I had to leave my home, my school, and my friends to come and live here in freaking Forks, Washington! That I don't know anyone! That I had to leave everything behind!"

"Hey," Derek paused and turned to face her, "We're going to fix some of that, alright? I'll take you to meet some of my friends so then you'll know some people and have some friends."

"It won't be the same."

"Nothing will be," Derek looked far off and Casey got the feeling that he wasn't talking about the move or the marriage.

"Derek…"

"Hmm?"

"Nothing," Casey shook her head.

They walked in silence for the rest of the way until they came to the woods.

"Why are we here?" Casey asked.

"They live in there."

"They live in the woods?" Casey raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Carlisle, their father, owns this huge house nestled back in there. Don't worry, I told them you were coming."

"When?" Casey asked.

"What?"

"When did you tell them?"

"Last night," Derek shrugged casually.

"Last night?"

"Yeah. I went out to get something to eat and stopped by to tell them that you were coming. They are really excited. It's not all the time they get company, you know. They can't wait to meet you. Esme even cooked and she never cooks!"

"Why don't they get visitors?" Casey asked.

Derek never answered her question. Instead, he grabbed onto her wrist and practically dragged her through the brush. It took a few minutes but soon they were standing in front of a huge house. There was a balcony overlooking the woods and tons of windows.

"Lots of windows," Casey pointed out.

"Yeah well, they like being able to be open, free here."

Derek let go of her wrist and walked up to the front door and beat the huge brass knocker against the oak door. As if she had been standing right there, a woman quickly opened the door and smiled upon seeing Casey and Derek.

"Derek! This must be Casey!"

"Casey, this is Esme. Esme, this is Casey. She's my new step-sister."

"It's wonderful to meet you, Casey! I made something special for you to eat. You look nearly starved. Follow me and…"

"Derek!" A girl with a pale face, as pale as Esme's and Derek's, skipped out from the kitchen. She had black spiky hair in a pixie cut and a huge smile upon her face. Her presence automatically eased Casey's nerves.

"Alice!" Derek smiled at the girl and they embraced, "Alice, this is Casey. Casey, this is Alice."

"Alice…" Casey was interrupted by two flailing arms wrapping around her and squeezing her in a bear hug.

"It's so nice to meet you!" Alice gushed as she quickly – almost too quickly – pulled away from the hug, "Derek hardly ever brings guests over! You must be something special!"

Casey's eyes darted to Derek who gritted his teeth and glared at Alice.

"Ooops, was I not supposed to say that?"

"You must be Casey," a coarse voice spoke and Casey turned to see its owner, a tall, burley hunk of a guy who looked like he could easily be on steroids. It just wasn't natural for someone his age to look so…

"I work out a lot," he smiled at her as if answering her question, "I'm Emmett Cullen."

"Nice to meet you," Casey answered, returning his smile.

"And that's Jasper," Derek pointed to a skinny boy about their age with a mess of curly hair piled on top of his head. He sported a pained expression etched across his face and Casey couldn't help but notice how he stood off to the side, not joining in the group surrounding her.

"It's nothing personal," Alice beamed as she skipped over and entangled her arm within his, "Jasper just isn't very social when it comes to meeting new people. It'll just take a while to get used to you. Don't worry."

"It's nice to meet you, Jasper," Casey attempted a smile. Jasper twisted his stoic statue of a face into something that resembled a shadow of a smile.

Derek opened his mouth as if to say something but closed it tightly when a tall man appeared. He was equally, if not more beautiful than the rest and he was leading a girl that also appeared their age in by her wrist. She clearly did not look like she wanted to be there.

"Casey," the man smiled at her, "I am Carlisle. I am their father. My wife, Esme, and I adopted these lovely children when we couldn't have children of our own. Alice sort of befriended Derek a few years back and ever since, he's been a big part of our family. Now that you are his family, you are part of our family too," Carlisle smile as he pushed the girl closer to Casey, "And this is my other daughter, Rosalie."

"Hi, Rosalie," Casey smiled and extended a hand. Rosalie looked at it disapprovingly and took a quick step back.

"Rosalie!" Esme scolded.

"Would you like something to eat, Casey?" Alice asked, breaking the sudden fog of tension with her metallic voice.

"Yes…food would be nice," Casey nodded, trying to remember the last time she ate. She skipped breakfast that morning because everything had been too chaotic. Too many people and too little breakfast cereal.

"Come right this way," Alice grinned, taking Casey's hand and practically floated them into the kitchen, "We made you Italian. There's spaghetti and meat balls and a salad. Rosalie helped with that. I know it might seem like she doesn't like you but she's just curious. Derek has never invited anyone over before. You must be something special!"

"Are you and…Derek…" Casey asked the question that had been picking at her mind since her introduction to Carlisle.

"Oh heavens no!" Alice laughed. Casey couldn't help but notice how much her laugh resembled the tinkling of a wind chime, "Derek and I are just friends. It's Jasper who I'm interested in. You see, we may be a family but we aren't related by blood. There is nothing wrong with me being with Jasper and Rosalie being with Emmett."

"Who is Derek with?"

"Derek?" Alice laughed again, "Why he's never been with anyone. Except there was this one girl a few years back but I don't think he really wants me to talk about her."

"The food smells delicious," Casey noted as Alice scooped up a large serving of spaghetti onto a paper plate.

"We don't cook much," Alice said, spooning some salad onto the plate as well, "So this is quite special. I do hope you like it!"

"I'm sure I will," Casey took the plate, "Have you already eaten?"

"Oh," Alice paused.

"Yes," Esme smiled as she entered the kitchen, "We couldn't help ourselves."

"I do appreciate this," Casey nodded to the Cullen family who had made its way into the kitchen and was now watching her, waiting for her to take a bite.

"Go ahead," Alice urged, "Take a bite."

Casey wrapped a few noodles around the spikes of the fork and took a bite. It was delicious. Her mouth watered at the taste of real food. For the longest time, Nora's idea of cooking had been take-out and fast food meals. Now, for the first time in a long time, Casey was having a real meal.

"This is delicious!" Casey gushed.

"Thank you," Esme smiled, "That is quite a compliment."

"Try the salad," Emmett grinned at Rosalie.

"It's wonderful, Rosalie," Casey said after taking a bite.

"Thank you," Rosalie answered coldly.

After finishing her plate, Derek voiced that it would be best to get Casey back to her mother and her sister. After several goodbyes and hugs, they left and made their way back through the woods.

"So, what do you think of them?" Derek asked.

"I like them a lot," Casey answered truthfully, "But why doesn't Rosalie like me?"

"She's just picky," Derek shrugged.

"And Jasper…"

"He just isn't used to meeting new people. He has a social disorder."

"Oh…"

Derek reached out and took Casey's hand just as she was about to slip on a damp, mossy rock. She grasped his forearm, grateful.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

They walked in silence the rest of the way to town and found Nora and Lizzie sitting outside nibbling on ice cream cones.

"Did you kids have fun?" Nora asked.

"Yes," Casey nodded, "The Cullens are all really nice."
"Thank you, Derek for introducing Casey to your friends. I know it means a lot to her what with having to leave her friends behind and everything…"

"No problem, Nora," Derek brushed off her comment and walked off ahead of them towards the minivan.

"He is…strange…isn't he?" Lizzie asked.

"Yes," Casey nodded, "Yes he is."