CHAPTER ONE

SETTLING IN

The house wasn't anything special. It was a small three bedroom, two bathroom kind of house. But it would have to do.

We didn't sell the manor but I knew that mom and dad were planning on renting it out. I couldn't bear to part with it completely so I was glad of that. I wanted to keep it in the family.

I got out of my car and opened the door on Bianca's side. She was tuckered out from the long drive. I gently nudged her, "Wake up, sweetie. We're here."

Her little eye lashes fluttered open and she groaned softly, "Where are we...?"

I gave her a little kiss on her forehead as I unbuckled her, "We're at our new house."

It was probably around two in the morning. I had a lot of coffee to make the drive and we took a pit stop about half way through.

Luckily it was still summer so school didn't start for about a week. And Bianca would go to day care nearby Forks High so I could pick her up after I got out. Dad was going to work at the General Hospital and Mom got a successful transfer to the local police station.

My parents both made it clear that they didn't want me putting any pressure on myself by getting a job too. I still had yet to convince them that I could handle it. But mom said she wanted me to take care of Bianca since she and dad wouldn't be home at night. Mom's police shifts were about two hours before the school day ended so she would have time with Bianca. And Dad mostly had grave yard shifts at the hospital, except on weekends.

But they decided that they wanted Bianca to have friends her age so they'd put her in daycare for a few hours on weekdays. It wasn't like my parents were abandoning us just because of what happened.

I picked Bianca up from her seat and and she wrapped herself around me, still half asleep. After locking up my car I walked into our small little house. Mom smiled at me, "I can take her now. You go get some sleep."

I gently handed Bianca over to her and went to claim my room. I claimed a small bedroom at the front of the house. The mover guys weren't here yet so there was no bed. But I had a sleeping bag. As soon as I was situated, I fell asleep.

When I woke up the next morning, around ten, I heard the moving truck pulling up to the driveway. We all spent the entire day carting boxes and furniture into the house one by one. Mom offered the moving guys a late breakfast and the two couches for food and sleep before they made the long drive back down to San Francisco.

They were only so happy to take her up on the offer.

While they were passed out on the couches I told Mom that I'd take Bianca with me to the grocery store. She thanked me, giving me her credit card before I picked Bianca up and headed to my car. It wasn't hard to find the only grocery store in this small little town. I just drove down the main road until I found it.

A bell chimed when I opened the door with Bianca on my hip. Unfortunately, she saw barbies and wiggled out of my arms to run over a see them. I shook my head with amusement and got a cart for our stuff. When I passed by her I asked, "Do you wanna sit in the cart, Bee?"

She nodded her head and said as I picked her up, "I wanna dolly."

I set her down, "Maybe for your birthday. It's coming up. Do you knew how old you're gonna be?"

She grinned and held up four fingers. I smiled, "Very good. Now what do you want for dinner?"

"Pizza!" She threw her hands up happily.

I laughed, "We can't have pizza... again." I rolled down the veggie isle, "Do you want lasagna or pasta?"

"Mac inn cheez!" She threw her hands up again.

I thought for a moment and thought that it wouldn't hurt to have macaroni and cheese on our first night here. But I had to stock on veggies too so I said, "Alright. But we're gonna get some corn and peas and you better eat them..."

She nodded with a pout and I laughed and kissed her cheek.

"Is she yours?"

I whipped around to face a massive dude. He was large, super pale, with short dark brown hair and... like golden eyes. He must have contacts.

"Umm..." I stuttered at his utter beauty. He looked like a god. I blushed and shook my head, "My sister."

He had the decency to look somewhat embarrassed at his original assumption, "I'm sorry... I just assumed."

I shook my head again, "It's alright. Teen mothers aren't that uncommon, unfortunately."

He made a noise of agreement and then asked, "How old are you?"

"Sixteen. I'll be seventeen in September." I can not believe I just told him that. I'm usually much more careful with strangers.

Bianca tuned in then, "I'm gonna be fawr!" She held out five fingers then. I laughed and put her thumb down to correct her.

The boy smiled and said, "That's really cool. I'm eighteen. Sorry to say I don't know any four year olds. But my girlfriend and siblings are all seventeen. I'm the oldest."

I looked at him confusedly, "How do you have more than one sibling all the same age?"

He smiled, "We're all adopted."

I nodded to myself, "That's... cool." That sounded so lame now that it was out of my mouth.

"Yes it is pretty cool," he then stepped forward and put his hand out to me, "I'm Emmett. Emmett Cullen."

"Heather Vincent," we shook hands.

"So I'm guessing you're a junior at school. But I've never seen you around before. And it's pretty small."

"Yeah," I started, "We just moved here. Just got in last night."

Emmett smiled, "Cool. If you ever need a tour guide, let me know."

I nodded, "Will do."

Emmett helped me and Bianca shop after that. Even offered to pay but I refused him. I paid with Mom's card and Emmett walked us to my car when he purchased his things as well. He helped me load the car and reminded me of his tour guide offer. I told him that I'd see him at school on Monday and we said goodbye.

I was the one to make dinner. The event was tense at best. I could tell mom and dad had a long way to go before things were completely fixed in their marriage. It was silent save for the scraping of utensils on china and Bianca's happy babble. Mom and Dad did their best to enthusiastically humor her, but most of it was left up to me.

When dinner was over, mom began cleaning immediately and Dad went to turn the game on. I picked Bianca up and went to put her to bed.

"Heta, why don't mommy tuck me in no more?" Bianca asked innocently as I laid her down in her toddler bed and pulled the covers over her.

I faltered a little, not knowing how to tell her what she won't understand... "Bianca... do you remember Daniel?"

"Who?" Bianca asked with wide eyes.

I sighed, "Never mind, hun. Mommy and daddy aren't doing so well right now. But hopefully that will all change soon. Don't you worry."

Bianca grabbed my hand when I went to stand up, "Read me a story?"

I smiled gently, "Just one."

After reading her the Cinderella fairytale, I got myself ready for bed. We had unpacked enough to have a mattress and basic clothes and toiletries out to use. I laid down on my mattress and sighed... I really did hope that this would help fix our family.

Not break us.

Mom fed Bianca breakfast after Dad left to the hospital to arrange things before he officially started working.

But mom got a call from her new boss, the Police Chief, saying that they needed her in for paperwork. "Honey, can you drop me off at the police station and then go set Bianca up in daycare?"

I sighed and closed my book, getting off the couch. Mom was only needed a ride today since Dad took theirs to the hospital. But not now. "Alright."

Mom set Bianca up in her seat in the back of my car and then got into the passenger seat. I started the car and pulled out, then following the directions mom gave me to the police station.

"Thanks honey," Mom said, opening the door and walking out. She turned back to me, "I don't know when I'll be home."

I just nodded, "Alright."

I drove Bianca and myself to a local daycare center. I had her on my hip when I walked in and I could immediately see the disgusted and disturbed looks of the traditional old woman who mistook me for a teen mother. I hated people like them. I saw a tan woman with long flowing black hair walk in from what had to be some sort of play room and when she noticed me she asked, "Can I help you?"

I plastered on a fake smile, but it turned into a real one when I noticed that this woman didn't give me the same looks that the old broads did. "Yes, I'm here to sign my sister up for daycare."

When the old toots heard that the looks abruptly transformed to ones of guilt and shame. I was smirking inside.

The tan woman half-smiled, "Alright, let's get you signed up then." She turned to one of the old women and asked, "Tara, can you get the papers necessary out?"

The woman immediately began to bustle around behind the front desk, gathering papers. I smiled at the tan woman, "I'm Heather. And this is my sister Bianca." Bianca was shy with strangers so she had her head dug into my neck. I peered over at her and whispered, "Say hi to the nice lady."

She poke her head out long enough to say, "Hi," before immediately digging her head back into my neck. I didn't know why she was this shy when she was perfectly comfortable around Emmett.

The tan woman smiled, "A shy one, is she? Well, I'm Leah. I work here until four."

I smiled, "She won't be here too long. My parents work nights so they'll have her in the morning and drop her off around noon and I'll pick her up after I get out of school after three."

"I hope you don't mind my asking but... why do you're parents drop her off at noon when they work nights?" Leah asked curiously.

"Marriage counseling. Mandatory." I said simply.

Tara then laid out all the papers on the desk and handed me a pen, "Sign on the dotted lines."

I filled out all of the necessary information; healthcare, emergency contacts, etc. etc. When it was all said and done I handed Tara all the papers and smiled at Leah, "I guess I'll see you next Monday."

Leah smiled and patted Bianca's head, "Yes, you will. Have a nice day."

I nodded, "You too," and walked back out the door.

When I got Bianca situated in the car I asked her, "What do you want to do today?"

"Swim!"

I groaned, it was almost freezing outside. But I gave her a kiss on the cheek and said, "Only for a couple hours. Then we'll go to lunch."

Bianca gave a little cheer as I went back inside the daycare.

Leah smirked, "Back so soon?"

I chuckled, "I came to ask where the nearest beach is. Bianca wants to go swimming."

Leah smiled, "Yeah, on the reservation. First Beach. Just drive down the main road until you see the La Push sign and it shouldn't be to hard to find."

"Thank you."

Bianca gave another little cheer when we could see the beach from the car window. I drove home first and got out suits and such so now I helped her change into her suit and then let her run along towards the waves as I laid a blanket down on the sand.

"Hey!"

I whipped my head around to see three tan boys. I sat upon the blanket and didn't say anything.

Two of them had shoulder length black hair and the third had short hair and was slightly paler than the others. One of the boys with long hair asked, "What are you doing here?"

I peered over at Bianca who was giggling and splashing the air with the salty cold ocean water. I looked back at the boys, "Having fun at the beach. But that really isn't your business."

The other two guys laughed and the short haired one smiled down at me, "You got quite a tongue on you, don't you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I smirked.

The one who hadn't spoken yet laughed, "I'm Embry. This is Jacob" he pointed to his long haired buddy, "And Quil," short haired buddy.

"I'm Heather. That's my sister, Bianca. Now what do you want?"

Embry didn't seem to mind my rudeness, "Sorry about Jacob. He just doesn't understand that pale faces can come on our rez too."

I snorted, "A little hypocritical to claim that we prejudge you by your race when you go and call us outsiders and pale faces." (A/N: I am not disrespecting Indians or their Reservations. I am merely developing Heather as somewhat bitter. Besides, she's from San Francisco. She's not used to prejudice.)

"Good point," Embry allowed.

"Mind if we join you?" Quil asked.

I shrugged, "Free country."

I peered over at Bianca again and saw that she started walking deeper into the water. "Bianca, don't go out that far!"

She looked back at me with a little blush, knowing she was doing something she shouldn't be, and said, "Sorry Heta!"

Jacob allowed a smile, "Cute sister."

"Thanks."

Embry and Quil took a seat on either side of me. Quil looked at me, "We've never seen you down here before. And we've met all the pale faces that come down to our beach."

"First," I held up a finger, "don't call me a pale face, I'm half Mexican. Second," I held up another finger, "you don't own this beach so stop acting that way. Third," I held up a third finger, "I've never been here before. Me and my family just moved here from San Francisco."

"San Fran? Cool," Embry commented.

"You like it here so far?" Jacob asked suddenly.

"Huh," I peered up at him, "He speaks."

Jacob rolled his eyes and sat down by Quil, "You gonna answer the question?"

I shrugged, "I've only been here for a couple days. Nothing to like and nothing not to like so far."

"You going to school in Forks?"

I nodded at Embry, "Start with the new school year."

"What do your parents do?" Quil asked.

I sighed, "My mom's a cop. My dad's a surgeon. They both works nights unless they get called in."

"Very..." Jacob trailed off.

"Morbid?" I finished. I mean my mom dealt with criminals, beat them up more often than not – and got pretty beat up herself sometimes – and my dad cut people up.

Bianca ran up to us and plopped her soaking self into my lap, making me groan, "I'm hungry!"

I laughed, "Well lets get lunch then."

I stood and started folding the blanket, then looked at the guys, "Maybe I'll see you around."

Embry smiled, "Hopefully."

There's a little more development of Heather. Hope you like it!

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RegalGirl94