Beginnings

I didn't have the slightest idea for the cause of this bad weather. It rained extremely hard and the car window was all fogged up. Dad was driving in the driver's seat; his eyes were focused on the road. It was nearly six o'clock in the afternoon and the train would leave in twenty minutes.

The train station was crowded with a million people, perhaps most of them were planning on having a good summer vacation. Charlie and I walked to a long, red, train, which read Talent Camp Express. Its windows were transparent and off-white curtains hung from the inside. Other teenagers had taken a line to get aboard.

"What do you think of spending the summer someplace else?" Dad asked me for the millionth time.

"Dad, I thought we already talked about this", I made myself sound exasperated. "It's just one summer camp."

"Bells, if you're sure—", his hands were on both my shoulders.

"—I am, dad", I reassured him. "It's a summer camp, everyone's got talent, right? I just want to enjoy this summer."

"Okay", he gently smiled. "Be careful, and call me once you need something", he help up one bag for me.

"You sound like mom, I'll be fine", I took the bag and walked in the train. Taking the brochure out that had my ticket in it. I waved back at Charlie who just started his car and drove off. I waved one last time, not sure whether he noticed the gesture. I heard something drop.

Hi", a perky voice greeted me before I even got to bend down for my ticket—she handed it to me instead. "I'm Alice, you?"

"Bella, hi", I replied receiving my ticket and walked in right after she did.

"You're my cabin mate", she told me showing the same cabin number on her ticket. We walked through the narrow corridor. The inside of the train was mahogany and the doors had numbers engraved on them.

I walked into Cabin 15. Three bunks? A blonde girl entered before I could even drop my luggage on the floor. She was fair and a few centimeters taller than me. She looked at me; she was wearing a peasant blouse and some knee-length khakis.

"I'm Rosalie", she stuck her hand out.

"Bella", I replied, shaking her hand.

"She's my brother's girlfriend", I heard Alice's perky voice inform me.

"Uh, hi to you, too, Alice", Rosalie replied with a smile, expecting some other form of greeting.

"We should get settled", Alice replied voluntarily as she moved her bags beside one of the beds. They were spread with clean, white bed sheets and there was a bathroom on my right.

I moved my bags towards one of the beds as well carefully taking out a set of clothes, did I mention this was an overnight trip?

"I'll see you guys later, I'm gonna go see Emmett", she sped off.

"And Bella?" Alice caught my attention.

"Yeah?" I looked at her with curiosity.

"I love your top", Alice grinned. It was just a gift.

"Uhm… I like yours, too", I smiled replying.

She flashed me another smile and took out some of her own clothes. I heard something drop—a pen rolled towards me. It was red with the letter "E" in gold on it.

"Alice, is this you—"

"Alice", I heard a deep voice as the door opened. He was tall and his eyes were emerald green. His expression didn't seem too happy though.

"Hold on, Bella", she walked out. I could only heard voices but the exact words were inscrutable.

I looked around the room instead, keeping my mind off everything else. There was one huge, glass window that had been covered with a red, velvet curtain. There was one white nightstand and there was a mirror right beside the bathroom door. The ceiling was free of any spiders or other pests and the floor was carpeted with the color crimson.

The door opened as Alice stepped inside. She turned her head outside again and talked in a soft voice—then closed the door.

"Sorry, that was my brother, Edward. I didn't get to introduce you to him. Maybe later, at the dinner cabin", she offered, smiling.

"I guess", I replied.

We walked to the dinner cabin after unpacking a few things. A girl dressed in a pink halter and extra-skimpy black mini came up in front of me.

"Oh, Bella!" her voice was in disgust. "I didn't know you had talent, or guts, for that matter."

"Lauren." I replied in the same tone.

"Well, I didn't expect to see… someone like you here" she smirked.

"Well, I guess you did."

Alice and I walked straight to the dinner cabin. It was decorated with red curtains and there were tables for six people spread around. There were about three buffet tables that lay at one side of the cabin.

"Edward!" I heard Alice greet her brother with her perky voice.

"Alice", he replied. I looked at him, his gold eyes shinning and his dark hair seemed in place. He wore a black jacket over a white shirt with jeans.

"This is Isabella Swan, my cabin mate", she introduced us and turned her head to me. "This is Edward."

He stuck his hand out to shake mine.

"Nice to meet you, Isabella", he smiled crookedly. I shook his hand; his palm was warm and smooth.

"Bella", I corrected.

He smiled at me. His eyes were gleaming like they were crystals shinning back at me.