Chapter 1

It was February 6 and was cold and dreary as Bella shivered and hunched down in her coat, looking up at the rundown apartment house with water up to the second step. Taking a look around at the other nearby properties and the sad condition they were in she decided that maybe this one didn't look so bad after all. While still not fancy, it had the look of someone who cared about it.

Bella had turned eighteen yesterday and that meant she was finally on her own. After 16 years of foster homes and Orphanages' she was alone. The state had given her $675 a month to look forward to as long as she stayed in school and a "good luck". She was really looking forward to this new stage of her life. It was time to climb up toward the top floor and her new apartment. She hadn't seen it yet but it was the only thing she had found that was affordable.

The landlord had made her a deal that she could clean his apt across the hall for some of the rent. This left her with very little for food she would have to find a job and finish high school. She was content with the arrangement, as the nice old man was one of few that didn't make her skin crawl when he had touched her arm.

For as long as she could remember, she had seemed to sense the bad in men. Drug addicts, perverts, you name it they had seemed to want to touch her as if drawn to her and they couldn't figure out why. If any of them so much as touched even her fingertips though it was painful.

She had cut her hair off and started dressing like a boy years ago though it didn't seem to help. Her hair was so dark black it was almost purple and she had the oddest purple eyes. She noticed men staring at her wherever she went as if she was some movie star.

When she reached the top floor and opened the door for the first time and was pleasantly surprising that the place wasn't all that bad. The room was mostly one extra large space with a small bathroom off to the side. It was great deal especially for the area. Everyone seemed to want to live by "The world's most famous beach" as Daytona Beach was nicknamed.

It seemed that there was enough furniture and odds and ends in here to furnish 10 apts. Also piled to the ceiling in one corner were tons of boxes. She moved in the room closed the door behind her and walked over to the window. If she stood on her tiptoes, there was a view of the water in the distance. Next to, check the bathroom. It had a large charming claw foot tub in the middle of the room with a shower at the back of the room. Everything was in need of a major cleaning but there was lots of potential underneath and really, she didn't mind the challenge. As she came out of the bathroom, there was a knock on the door. Crossing the room, she opened it to find her new landlord.

"Isabella! I see you made It.," he said panting, as he must have just climbed the stairs. "Is everything to your liking"?

"Call me Bella; please this is such a wonderful space, so large and open".

"Yes, you're apt and mine were both the attic at one time. The owner made them into apts. Our basement flooded a few years back and we have been using this room as storage for a while though. We have finally got the basement problem fixed so we can move the rest of this junk down there. One of the other tenants in 3b is going to come up in the morning to move stuff. Keep whatever you want and toss the rest in the hall until he gets to it. What you can't get out by yourself he can help with. If you need anything at all let me know".

"Thank you I really appreciate it I will be over later to start dinner and get cleaning."

"Nonsense do not worry about me until at least next week. It will take you some time to get this place under control". He said

"I could never do that it would be wrong but just give me a day or two to get settled then and I will get started sir".

"Call me Opa it means grandpa and as I have no grandkids around. I would be honored for such a sweet girl to think of me that way". "Plus it seems that every time you are around I feel like ein jüngerer Mann again.

Bella's heart skipped a beat at his words. No one had been this nice to her in years and she was afraid for the other shoe to drop. He leaned in toward her with his arms open and she couldn't help but cringe. Even though she was getting a feeling of purity from him, she was not used to this. He stepped back then and cleared his throat the look in his eyes was so forlorn. Her heart tugged and she felt tears coming.

"I'm sorry mien kinder I seem to have got carried away. Forgive this old man".

She reached forward and gave his hand a squeeze afraid it would hurt as usual but surprisingly it was fine.

After closing the door, she sank to the floor miserable that she had hurt the old man's feelings over her stupid adverse reaction to touch.

Realizing she needed some cleaning supplies, she got ready to go. Upon opening the door, she found everything needed for cleaning plus some sitting outside in the hallway. Opa must have struck.

Smiling she brought everything in and started to work. She started with the kitchen and bathroom cleaning everything from top to bottom.

She noticed that the paint was faded and wondered if she could paint the walls. It would be so nice to make the place hers. She would have to ask the old man if it was okay. After cleaning as much as she could get to she realized the sun must have went down hours before an she had forgot to eat all day. It was nothing new, as she didn't always get three square meals a day at the places she was living. Most of the homes she went through made you feel lucky to be fed once a day. Just then, she heard someone outside the door. Scared at first she hesitated before she squared her shoulders walked to it and flung it open. She saw the back of the old man's head as he was walking into his apartment. Bella looked down to see a pizza box outside the door. She called after him and he turned around.

"I figured you didn't stop to eat yet so I got you a pizza". He said

"Have you eaten yet"? She asked him.

"I am fine dear," he said as he smiled at me "Please don't worry about this alter Mann .Sorry there I go again no need to worry about this old man.

"Please come in and share it with me" she replied,". I insist"

He shrugged his shoulders and said, "All right, at least let me grab us something to drink. Do you like grape juice"?

Bella nodded as he turned into his apartment.

A few minutes later, he knocked hesitantly on the door. She walked across to answer it and he came in loaded down with the juice, two cups, Paper plates, and napkins.

"You thought of everything "I said as I directed him to an old blanket I had spread on the floor. "This is the first meal here in my new apartment. I feel so lucky".

"I feel honored to share it with you," he said as he looked around."You have been a busy little biber -sorry beaver sometimes I forget my English".

"That's okay I like to learn new words, what did that mean when you called me earlier something like kinde".

"Oh' Mein kinder it would be something like my child"."Everyone seems like a child to me after living as long as I have".

Bella yawned then and set down her juice glass. She was so tired but there was still so much to do. Opa as she now thought of him got up to go.

"I will leave you to your sleep Mein Schatz. Gute Nacht ,gut schlafen", He said as he left. "Good night sleep well".

AN-Well ,Ok so far?

Song for the Chapter is Celine Dion - At Seventeen

Listen, see how it fits, then tell me your favorite growing up and moving out on your own song. Push review down at the bottom of each page to answer the question.