A/N: Just wanted to give a special thanks to lilypad95 for reviewing my story. It really does mean a lot to me. Made me smile to read that someone read and enjoyed what I had to say. So thanks again.

Chapter Two

Two weeks later, I found myself on a plane, heading to the Pacific Northwest. I sat next to the window and watched Chicago fade from view. Chicago was all that I had known. It was where I spent my whole life. Where I was born, where I had lived with my mother and father, happy for six years until the day that my father had died in a tragic car accident. Two years later, Mom had met him and our world had turned upside down. I closed my eyes against the memories that tore at me. My chest jerked and I fought to swallow the tears that were threatening. And then I felt it, a soft touch on my hand. I jumped slightly and looked down to see Esme's hand covering mine. I glanced at her and she gave me a small smile. Sitting next to her, was Carlisle and he to smiled encouragingly at me.

I still couldn't believe they wanted me. I tried to return their smiles and then turned back to the window. The turn of events still made my head spin.

"Edward, can we talk to you for a second?" Dr. Cullen entered my hospital room, his wife at his side.

I nodded, but continued to look at my folded hands. My future stretched out in front of me like a sea of emptiness. And although that scared me, I couldn't bring my self to fully care. It was what I deserved, for failing my mother so completely.

The Cullens had sat down next to my bed. "Edward, do you know what is going to happen to you, when you get out of the hospital," Carlisle asked gently.

I nodded. "A lady for social services came to talk to me. She told me there is a group home here in Chicago that has an opening." I cleared my throat. "She said I could stay there until I am eighteen." And then, I had no idea. College? I didn't know how that would be possible, I had no money.

"We would like to make you an offer." This time it was Esme's words that broke through my despair.

For the first time, I looked up at them. They were both looking at me, their blue eyes searching my face.

"I am here in Chicago for a three week exchange." Carlisle said. "A doctor from this hospital is currently working in my hospital in Washington. Occasionally we like to see how practices are done in other places."

I nodded, even though I had no idea how this applied to me.

"We would like very much if you would come back to Washington and stay with us." These words came from Esme.

"What?" I whispered.

"I have talked to social services and they agreed to let Esme and I be your foster parents. We have two children, a son who is a senior and a daughter, who is a junior like yourself."

"What," I whispered again. I shook my head, I must not be hearing right. They wanted me. They wanted to take me back to Washington. To live with them.

"We would love it, and we know you would love our children," Esme said with a smile.

"I-I-I…" I didn't know what to say. I wanted to say yes, I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream at them that they couldn't possibly want a monster like me in their home. I wanted to hug them both. I wanted to run far away. I wanted…I wanted to say yes. "Yes," I whispered, knowing I was being selfish and taking advantage of their kindness.

Esme beamed and clapped her hands together. "Oh honey! I am so happy!" Her arms came around me and I cringed. It had been so long since someone had touched me in a gentle way. My mother had become so desolate and depressed that she never touched me as years went passed. And her husband? Definitely not gentle.

"Esme," Carlisle said, gently pulling his wife off me as he saw the frantic look in my eyes. "Let Edward breathe."

And with that, the Cullens had changed my life. Now I was on a plane, leaving behind everything I had known, heading to Washington. I had no idea what to expect.

"Here we are."

I stared. I couldn't help it. I stared at the white house, unable to believe the massive size. This is where I was going to live? Slowly I climbed out of the car and continued to gape at the mansion in front of me.

Suddenly, the front door opened and two teenagers came racing out. "Edward!" A tiny, agile girl raced towards me. At first I was afraid she was going to run into me, but she stopped just in front of me. "Hi! I'm Alice!"

Her enthusiasm was contagious and I felt myself smile at her. "Hi." I said quietly.

With that, she grabbed my elbow and started leading me towards the door. "This is Emmett," she said. I took in the massive boy…er, man? that stood in front of me.

"Hi," I said again. I was beginning to feel incredibly overwhelmed.

Emmett laughed and it was a booming sound, causing me to jump a little. Alice joined in his laughter. "Don't worry, Emmett is a huge teddy bear."

I looked at Emmett's boulder biceps and nodded. "Sure."

"Come on," she was tugging on my arm again. "I'll show you around.

Dazed, I followed Alice through the house. The inside was just as impressive as the outside. It was bright and clean. And huge. I was going to get lost, I was sure of it. Alice continued to chatter on, and I followed her, trying to think of that fact that my old house in Chicago would have fit in the living room of this house.

I was so lost in my own thoughts, that I barely noticed that Alice had stopped talking. I glanced at her and realized she was looking at me expectedly. Startled, I looked around. We stood in the doorway of a huge bedroom. The carpet was a deep gold color, the walls painted a creamy white. In the center of the room stood a huge king sized bed. I imagined stretching out on that bed, a smile touching my lips as I remembered trying to fit my six foot two frame on my twin bed at home. Floor to ceiling windows spread out along the back wall, offering me an unobstructed view of the forest that surrounded the house.

"Edward." I jumped at the sound of a man's voice behind me. "Sorry bro, I just wanted to give you your suitcase." He put down my lone bag and that's when it hit me. This huge room was mine. Now I understood Alice's look.

"This is great," I said honestly. I still couldn't believe I was actually here.

"Alice, Emmett," Carlisle appeared in the doorway. "You need to go help your mother unload the car."

"But Dad!" Alice complained.

"No buts, go help you Mother."

Alice and Emmett turned and left the room. Carlisle turned to me. "I thought you might want a chance to get acquainted with your room and put your stuff away alone."

I nodded.

"How are you doing?"

"Great," I managed. "This house is amazing." I was so glad when Carlisle simply nodded and turned to leave. I wanted to be alone desperately. This was amazing, so much more than I deserved. The door silently closed and I was finally left alone.

With a sigh, I picked up my suitcase and put away the few articles of clothing that I had brought with me. Outside, the rain pounded against the huge windows. The rain didn't surprise me. After all, my new home, Forks Washington, was one of the rainiest places in the continental United States.

When my belongings were put away, I went to the bed and sat down. So far, I had done a good job, blocking that final scene out of my head. But I knew it would be only a matter of time before the memories began. I leaned back against the headboard and drew my knees to my chest. My hand fisted over my heart, and the other I held pressed against my mouth, in a desperate attempt to silence the sobs that escaped from my lips.

A little while later there was a soft knock on my door. I swiped at my eyes, trying to wipe away my tears. "Edward?" Esme's head poked into my room. "Honey, we are going to eat dinner, if you would like to join us."

I really didn't. I didn't want to intrude on their family any more than I already was. "I-I think I would prefer to stay here," I whispered as politely as I could.

Esme frowned and opened the door wider. "Are you sure?"

I nodded. I wasn't ready to face the whole family. Not right now. I felt raw, exposed. And I wasn't the least bit hungry. She continued to look at me for a minute, her head tilted, obviously trying to decide if she should honor my wishes, or if she should force the issue. I was getting ready to fight, when she nodded and turned back to the door. "Okay. Please let me know if you need anything."

"I will." I bit my lip. "Thank you Esme. For everything."

"Of course, dear."

After she left, I hugged my knees tighter and stared out the window, watching the rain slide along the massive windows. I sat that way for a long time, darkness fell and the moon began its track across the sky. I fought sleep, not wanting to go where I couldn't fight the memories. Eventually, I couldn't fight it anymore and I slipped into sleep.

The next morning I awoke, my head feeling heavy from lack of sleep. I groaned as I rolled over. Today was my first day of school at a new high school. Forks High School had exactly three hundred and eighty-seven, now eight students. My old high school had nearly one thousand, just in my junior class. How was I supposed to escape the limelight here?

I dragged myself out of bed and made it to the bath room. I splashed cool water on my face, trying to relieve my headache. As I used a towel to dry my face, I stared at my reflection. In my green eyes, I saw the monster of who I am. The killer I was. I looked down at the sink and held on to the counter to brace myself as the familiar pain ricocheted through my body. Selfish! Monster. My mother was dead because of me. I hadn't protected her, even though I had promised I would.

I squeezed my eyes shut to block out the images that flashed through my brain. I gasped as the pain rocked through me. Carefully I turned towards the shower, hoping the hot water would calm me down.

Clean and as ready as I was ever going to be, I made my way downstairs and found the kitchen. Carlisle stood by the counter, a mug of steaming coffee in his hand, the newspaper spread out in front of him. I tried to enter quietly and not disrupt what must be his morning routine. But he noticed me right away. A smile touched his lips when he saw me. "Good morning, Edward," he said.

"Morning," I said quietly. I walked into the kitchen. "I'm sorry to disturb you."

"Not at all." I watched Carlisle survey my face, knowing he was seeing the puffy smudges under my eyes. I looked down, not wanting to burden him with my problems.

"Did you sleep?" he asked softly.

I nodded.

He sighed, but decided to move on which I was more than grateful for. "Would you like some breakfast."

Not really. I wasn't hungry. I tried to think of the last time I had been hungry and I couldn't remember. "Maybe cereal?" It came out as a question. I didn't want Carlisle to worry about me.

Carlisle chuckled and opened a cabinet behind him. "Take your pick."

Apparently cereal was a popular breakfast choice in the Cullen household. Three shelves were devoted to the boxes. I walked over and chose Honey Nut Cheerios. I saw Carlisle watching me as I poured way more than I wanted into the bowl. I moved to the refrigerator and grabbed some milk. Once I had my breakfast, I went to stand next to Carlisle, poking at the floating O's.

"Edward," he started.

My gaze flickered to him and I raised the spoon to my lips and forced the sweet cereal into my mouth. I chewed and swallowed hard.

"You know if you need to talk about anything, you can talk to me, right?"

I nodded again, hoping the conversation would end there.

"You went through a hard time I know that-"

"I'm fine." I really really did not want to talk about this right now.

Just then, Alice bounced into the room. "Good morning!" She went to Carlisle and hugged him, then beamed at me.

Emmett followed her a bit slower, but with the same bright smile. "Hey Dad," he clasped his father's shoulder.

I took Carlisle's distraction to my advantage and dumped my nearly full bowl into the sink and washed out the bowl.

"Edward," Alice said as she grabbed a box from the cereal cabinet. "Em and I are going to leave in about five minutes, are you ready?"

Was I ready? I almost laughed. Instead I nodded. "I'll go get my bag." I needed to get out of the kitchen. The happiness that came from this family was suffocating. I walked slowly up the stairs and went to my room. I grabbed my backpack and slung it over my shoulder. For a second, I stood in my room with my eyes closed. Here goes nothing, I thought.