chapter 1+

I ran my finger along the sentences of the book I was reading. It kept me on the right line and not off track. I was lying on my bed reading my text book like teacher would do. Since I was hoping that one day I will become a teacher in Ashland I decided to practice. I looked up at my "students" to see if they were working. I sighed and put my book aside.

"Kennith, quit talking to Courtney," I said to my two dolls with button eyes and sewed on smiles.

I puffed and continued my reading.

"They make it look so easy in class." I muttered. There were tiny drawn pictures of forgein signs and letters. I shook my head and put the book on my stand, or table, and looked t my "students".

"Okay, pull out your books and turn to page 27." I said with a smile.

Since they were in no shape to move or talk I walked over and placed a English book for Courtney and a Math book for Kennith since I didn't have three books that were the same.

I brushed of my imaginary lint from my dress and walked back proudly to my stand, or table.

"Okay, for todays assignment you will right a paragraph of what you want to be when you grow up."

I pretended the class groaned in frusteration and held up my hands, "No complaining."

"Now I want it to be titled. No fragments and correct your puncuation, Kennith." I directed it to him.

"Please give it your best try and really think about it because this is very important since this will count on most of your grade for this six weeks."

I pretended Courtney raised her hand, "Yes?" I called on her.

I also pretended that she asked when this was due.

"It will be due my the end of this week." I remembered that today was Monday.

I walked around my room passing them a sheet of paper to write on and a neatly sharpened pencil.

"Your text books will help you so I suggest you use them. And-"

"ESME!" my father called.

"Class dismissed!" I said in shock. I crumbled up the paper and threw it away while stuffing my dolls in the closet and neatly placed the text books in my bag.

"Coming father!" I called from upstairs.

"I better not find you with those silly dolls of yours!"

"Courtney and Kennith are students." I said under my breath while going down the stairs.

I stumbled on the last step but kept by balance. I slyly smoothed out the invisible wrinkles on my dress.

My father was getting his drink of coffee and sitting down at his chair.

I smiled, "Yes father?"

He looked up to me,"Ah there you are Esme. I thought you might need to know your chores for today."

He took a long sip of his coffee,"We will have guests over today so I want this...this pigsty to be straightened up."

I looked around the kitchen, the dishes needed to be washed and dried and even the cabnets needed to be dusted.

I looked back at him, "So I must clean the dishes?"

"And dust." he said. I knew it.

"Yes father. Were is mother?" I havent seen her.

"Down at the Evenson's. Mrs. Evenson invited her to go with them down town. Something about gardening." he shook his head. I smiled wider.

"Too womanly for you?" I asked.

He nodded his head after he took his sip, "I'm not a man who likes gardening. Pansy's are good enough."

I snickered and he looked at me.

"What?"

I had to ask him, "You planted pansy's?"

He had a faint smile, "Your mother was pregnant with you and wanted pansy's. Since she couldn't bend over to plant them who do you think she ran to?" he pointed his finger to his chest.

"Timothy?" I played.

"No me!" he said. I started laughing.

I looked around the room while it was silent for now. I noticed I was still standing so sat across from father.

"So what were you doing up there?" he gestured toward upstairs.

I bit my lower lip and hung me head low, I wasn't the person to lie to father, or anyone for that matter, but he did ask.

"I was...um...teaching." I nearly whispered. He sighed and shook his head.

"Esme, how many times do we have to go over this?" I shrugged with my head still down.

"Its not respectable for a lady to live alone in the wilds. Besides, dont yu tink the west is to far away?"

I looked up at him with pleading eyes, "It's something I always wanted to do. Its never too far away."

"Your only 21 Esme."

"I'm going to be 22 very soon father. Its not like I can stay this same age forever."

He laughed very faintly,"Yes but wouldnt it be nice?"

I shook my head, "Not at all." he looked up at me.

"Life is a circle in full rotation." I said. he shook his head and kept his head down mumbling something to himself.

It was silent for along time. I saw that he had finished his coffee, so I took the glass and rinsed it out.

"Esme, leave it for now." he said. His green eyes that I wanted were gleeming like usual.

I nodded with a grin and set them down. I wiped my hands with a dish towel and set it back in its proper place.

"What do you want me to do?"

He looked out the window then back to me, "Your mother wont be back anytime soon. Why dont you go play with the horses?"

I crossed my arms and leaned against the sink, "Father, I'm 21...not 8."

He smiled, "Oh...well then uh...why dont you go next door to Heather's."

I rolled my eyes, "Heather is married...remember?"

He looked confused, "Did she move?"

I nodded and he sighed, "I know you dont like me talking about it but," here we go, "Esme you need to be married."

I rolled my eyes again and walked aorund wiping the counters, "And why is that?"

He shrugged, "Well, all your freinds are. Dont you think its time?"

I shook my head while wiping the place in front of him, "I dont need a man."

He laughed, "You sound like you meant it."

I twisted my face, "I did mean it."

He quit laughing. It was silent but I broke it once again.

"So again, what do you want me to do?"

He sat here in thought, "Maybe you can bake a pie or something...I dont know!"

I laughed because he gets so frustrated. I finished up and placed the clothe back again.

"Okay, I guess so. I'll go get some apples or something." he nodded in agreement and walked out with me.

The warm sun shined on my face once I reached outside. I grabbed a woven basket to set te apples in. Father went to go milk the cows while I went picking the apples for the pie. I'm guessing our guests for tonight was the Evensons and I knew how much they loved apple pies.

I reached the tree with the red and green apples hanging from the branches. I set the basket in front of me and reaced up for a apple. I easily reached a neat red one. I inspected it closer for any bruises or welts but found it clean. I plopped it in the basket and continued the process. I had 5 so far and needed about 2 more. I wiped my forhead from the thin line of sweat shown across it.

Then I had a thought I thought I'd forgotten by now. I was picturing all my freinds married off to thier loyal husbands...and I was appart of it too. I was married to a man with golden hair and pale skin with bruised like circles under his eyes from no sleep or stress at work. His facual structure was perfect, like the rest of him...flawless. His golden shaded eyes would melt into my brown eyes with pure love. He'd hold me hands and, with the softess voice ever, told me I was beautiful. I would be named Esme Ann Platt Cullen. I closed my eyes picturing it.

"Esme Cullen." I said to myself. It had a ring to it. I smiled to myself and opened my eyes. I saw th basket full of apples. I carried them to the house wearing a huge smile. I pretneded the whole way that I was a happily married wife and devoted for that matter. I set the basket of apples on the table and got out my tools for the making of my pie. In the cabnet mother said she had made a crust already and wrapped it up for me. I pulled open the doors, got it out, and set it next to the basket.

I unfolded it to smell the heavnly scent. I breathed and got out an apple.

"Why thank you dear." I said pretending my husband handed me the apple.

I cut out the core of the apple and rinsed it off. I peeled the skin off and chopped it up. I set it in the crust very gently. I ,again, continued this process till all the apples were cut up and peeled. I threw away the left overs and stuff. I walked over breifly to pull out a secret sause that made the apples sweet and poured it on the pie. I set the oven on 350 degress and waited for a little while.

It was about time so I set it in there carfully so it didnt burn me. I waited for about 15 minutes till I lifted it out.

"Perfect." I breathed. I set it on the window seal so it would cool off.

I wiped my hands then placed them on my hips. It was time for the dishes. I hd about 12 to do so it shouldnt take long. I washed, rinsed, and dried them all till we had 4 plates,3 cups,3 bowls and 2 saucers.

I smiled at myself. I walked over to retreive the pie and sat it on the table. I took out mothers sugar jar and piched a little bit. I sprinkled it all over the pie to make it extra sweet. I put the lid back on and placed it back were it was.

I walked to a closet and unfolded a white laced cloth. I spread it across the table very evenly. I placed the freshly dried plates in front of each chair along with forks, spoons, and knifes beside them. I tapped my chin thinking I had forgotten something.

"Oh!" I said. I realized there was no glasses. I set out a clear glass cup at each chair.

For an effect I went up to my room and pulled out 3 already used candles.

I set them in the middle and light them.

"Perfect." I said. I blew out the match and threw it out.

I reached in the refrigorater and pulled out dinner she had prepared for tonight and sat it around the table for everyone to get. I took a step back and sighed in acheivment.

"Mmm...what smells good?" father said walking in.

I smiled, "I made the pie just like you suggested." he smiled back.

"Good job Esme." he noticed the table finally and looked aw struck.

"Esme, you didnt have to do all this.' he gestured to the table.

I shrugged, "I wanted to." He tore his eyes from my master peice to see me.

"Well in that case, it looks very nice." I smiled. He walked up the stairs to take a shower.

I looked out that window, the sun was setting.

"There fixing to be here." I said to no one.

I opened the windows everywhere to let the warm breeze in. I took in the scent from outside and sighed.

"Lovely." I said.

I turned and went upstairs as well to change.

I put on my very best dress, white with a green silk bow tied around it. I pulled my curls up to a dazzling hair style.

I slipped off my shoes and exchanged them for dress shoes. I rolled up my long sking tight white sleeves twice so that they were at my wrist and bot hanging off. I looked in the mirror for anything that need to be fixed up. I pinched my cheeks for some color and walked gracefully down the stairs.

Right then, mother and the Evenson's walked in laughing.

I walked down faster to meet my mother. She saw me and smiled warmly.

"Esme dear, you look lovely." she said.

"Thank you mother." I said. I stood beside her and took her coat.

I then turned to the Eveson's and took theirs as well.

"Why aren't you just lady like?" Mrs. Evenson said. I smiled.

I turned to take mr. Evenson's, "Why thank you ma'am." I nodded.

Then I finally reached Charles. He was next to his father and was starring at me.

I bent my head to the floor so he wuldnt stare at me. I gently took his coat from him, but his hand caught my wrist in a firm grasp.

"You look lovely today Miss Platt." he said. He didnt smile, it was more like a statment.

I looked up in his eyes and smiled weakly, "Thank you, Charles."

He nodded and let me go. I twisted my wrist around a couple of times.

"Dinner is in the kitchen,' I looked at Charles, "Please enjoy."

He smiled at me but it did not fit his eyes. I hun the coats on the coat hanger and went upstairs to father.

I do not know why I still had the same feeling whne Charles was here. I was scared or uncomfortable when he was in my presense. I have known him forever by now, I thought the feeling would be lost by now.

I knocked on fathers door, "Father?"

"One moment Esme." I nodded even though he could not see me.

I moment later he opened the door, "Yes?"

He had on a formal outfit, "They're here."

He shut the door behind him and walked down the stairs with me.

"There he is!" Mr. Eveson said.

"Sorry for the delay, I was trying on this old thing." he directed to the suit.

I sat across from Charles. He stared at me with starnge eyes so I looked around.

"This is lovely ham Karen." Charles said to my mother.

"Why thank you Charles, what a fine man you have Mrs. Evenson."

"Oh! You know that Charles!" she said plopping a peice of ham in her mouth.

I cleared my throat and looked at Charles, "So, how are you?"

He kept starring, "I'm well. And you?"

My stomach was churning, "I'm fine. Plowing alot these days though."

He nodded, "I as well."

I smiled half heartly and continued to eat.

We were done no sooner after. I returned the coats to their rightful owners. All the adults went outside for a short chat while me and Charles were still at the doorway. He looked at me.

"Esme?" he said.

"Yes?" I nearly whispered.

He looked as if he was struggling to say something, but then abruptly he put his hands on both sides of my face and pulled me to his lips. His lips her hard and not soft one bit.

He continued to kiss me with passion. I, however was struggling. His hands moved to the back of my head to pull me closer and his other hand sneaked to my waist to make me even closer. I did as he commanded for an odd reason till I pulled away.

"Good night." he said with an evil grin. He turned on his heel and walked off.

I leaned against the wall gasping. The room was tilted a weird direction till I fell and hit the ground. I sat there till father came in and lifted me up.

"Aw, you and Charles are really hitting it off huh?" he said.

"At least he thinks so." I responded. My mother looked at father and the shared a silent conversation. Then he turned to me with a fake smile.

"Esme...can we go back to talking about your marraige situation?"

I was confused, "Who's asking?"

He cleared his throat and looked at me with honest eyes, "Charles Evenson."