Chapter 1

First Encounters

It was a very slow train ride from California to Washington. Of course the only things I had for entertainment were a couple of books, which I had already read three times, and my CD player. I only had one CD and it was my favorite, Debussy. As I finished reading Wuthering Heights for the fourth time, I was starting to have the feeling of sleep wash over me. Before I fell asleep I started my CD player and listened to Debussy's Clair de Lune. When my mother was alive I could remember her playing that song before I went to sleep.

I could've sworn that it had only been two hours but, when I had woken up I heard the pilot announce that we would be reaching our destination in 15 minutes. Well since I only had 15 minutes I turned off my CD player and packed all my books into my messenger bag. I then looked out the window and tried to reminiscence about my past life in Forks before the fire. It was cloudy, no doubt about to rain. In all my life there I have only seen it ever sunny was maybe 3 or 4 times. I'm a very pale person even though I had lived in places like California and Florida.

I was never able to fit in with my new schools or new homes. I had become mostly known as the shy, quiet girl that always had her face in a book. To tell you the truth I rather be surrounded by books than being surrounded by people. I'm better at reading books than being socially acquainted with other people. Because books don't give labels or hold judgments against you. You can read a book and have different opinions on it without it sounding like a slap in the face.

And that was why I was so nervous about meeting this new family. Karen had said this family would be different, but I couldn't see how. Sure, the man's a doctor and the wife's a work at home interior designer. No big deal right? I wasn't as worried about the couple as I was of their children. I mean what was I supposed to expect of them? Were they all boys? Were there any girls? I can handle being stuck in a home full of boys, I had before, but it would be nice if I had a couple girls or at least one that I might talk to.

Next thing I knew there was a slight pause as the train was pulling into a complete stop.

"Alright passengers we have just arrived in Forks, Washington and I hope you all have had a nice trip and enjoy your day."

That stupid intercom was so old I'm lucky I was able to depict any of that. With that being said and done I made my way leave. I'm lucky I didn't fall and bust my head on the cement. I had always had balance problems, but my last breakdown had somehow made it worse. I can't afford another trip to the hospital, especially if I came in with a busted head from falling. I am sure the doctor would have laughed his own head off.

As I stumbled off of the platform I made my way to a, not too dirty looking, bench. I'm guessing I should just wait here until whoever is taking me home with them to come already. I never was told what my new foster parents looked like so I had no idea who I was going home with. Not a very good situation to be in right? Well I sat there for about 10 good minutes, just humming nothing in particular. Suddenly I noticed a very nice looking couple heading my way. I mean of all people why would such a rich looking, couple be heading over towards me. A tall man maybe 6'3, thin, but you could see that he had some muscle under his coat. As for the woman she was much shorter than her husband 5'7, 5'8 maybe. She had very curly, auburn colored hair that clashed with her husbands' smooth blonde colored hair.

They were heading over towards me, so I'm just gonna put a wild guess and say they're my new foster parents.

"Hello, are you Isabella?" they said with such curiousness I was wondering how much time they really spent looking for me.

"Everybody calls me Bella." I didn't mean for that to sound so blunt, but it was true.

"Well I am Dr. Carlisle Cullen, but you may call me Carlisle," he told me while shaking my hand. Firm like a man's handshake should be.

"And this is my wife Esme," he said nodding his head to his, may I say, gorgeous wife.

She shook my hand telling me how very happy they were to have me. I told her back how I was glad to be with them, even though I hadn't even begun to know them or the others. But when I saw the way they looked at each other and all the love they had in their eyes, I knew they had a different relationship then the other foster home couples I had met. With all the greetings being said and done they helped me carry my bags to their waiting, expensive, looking cars. When we started leaving the train station I just started to look out my window as we entered the town of Forks.