I sighed, looking out the car window. The scenery didn't change much. It was all green. Unchanging, steadfast, green. Another day, another school. It was always like this, isn't it? The constant moving due to my heartbroken mother, the feeling of hopelessness as I arrive at a new school, meet new faces, and soon have to leave again. It was tiring, but that's what I had to do. What we had to do to escape the ghosts of our past.

"Bella, I know that this is hard on you, but it's hard on me too. Can you at least look at me? Please, I told you I was sorry. It's not my fault that Dave turned out to be a two-timing jerk. Really, I thought I knew him better than that, apparently not."

I finally turned to look at her after a quiet three hours in the car. The silence was doing us both good, because my self control could only go so far. A few nudges in the wrong direction, and I'd lash out at her horribly. It just isn't fair.

But when is life ever fair? The little voice in the back of mind taunted me, like my own personal devil.

My mother Renee looks almost identical to me, only more laugh lines on her face. She had the same chocolate brown eyes, the chestnut brown hair, only it works for her. She had the same full lips as I did, and the same nose. People in the past have often confused us as sisters, she being the more prettier one, even though she was older than me. Renee also had slightly darker skin than mine, a pretty peach color. Whereas, mine was an ivory color, so light and pale.

Our personalities couldn't be more different though. Renee was outgoing and full of life. Myself? I'm cautious, safe. Somehow, our roles were reversed and instead of her acting the parental role she was given, she was like a child herself.

I chose my words carefully, not wanting to get into another fight with her, over the same subject. God knows how many times we've bickered over this.

"Renee, I know that you believed he was your soul-mate. But you have a tendency to run when things get tough, so please, for my sake, and sanity, don't repeat your past mistakes," I said patiently.

My mother and I have moved several times over the past year. Every time was the same old story. She fell for him, he cheated on her. She didn't like staying in the same area as the jerk who had dumped her, so she tells me we're moving, and we pack up our belongings. We've lived practically everywhere. From Phoenix, Arizona to New York City, New York. While the two of us stayed in places all over the country, we've never found a place we could call home before.

And it was so painfully obvious what each relationship would bring. They, the men she dated, were awful, sleazy, and not worth her time. They were despicable and didn't deserve to lick the gum off of her shoes, but she was blind, so blind, not to see the truth.

"I'll try, Isabella. I swear I will."

"That's what you said last time. Didn't work so well, did it?" I didn't mean to come off so cold, but I was tired. Tired of running. Tired of never being able to settle and make friends I could keep.

"Isabella Marie Swan, don't test me."

That was the end of our conversation. I wasn't in the mood to reply back, and receive a biting remark. She had to learn on her own that she couldn't be running away from her problems.

Our car entered the destination my mom picked for us this time, Forks, Washington. I read online that this small town had the most annual rainfall in the U.S. You can only imagine the joy I felt, a person like me who unquestionably loathe the wet and cold.

My mother's old 1953 Chevrolet stopped in front of a quaint looking house. It was a two-bedroom house that was painted a light blue color, standing out outrageously. There were a number of other houses on the block too, though those houses were more extravagant, and more subtly painted, shades of off-white and tan.

It didn't take too long for me and my mom to unpack all our stuff. We didn't have much, because the less we carried, the easier for us to pack up again. We can afford what we needed, and that was enough.

As I walked up the stairs, I made my way into the smaller bedroom. It faced the front yard, and it had a wide window, perfect for looking out of. My bed was already here, and Renee already put in place my new desk. I set up my laptop that I had gotten for my 14th birthday on it. I started it up, and composed a email to my former best friend, Kayla.

I met Kayla on the first day of my last school, in Sacramento, California. She was a sweet girl, the first girl I had ever gotten close too. I told her about how unnaturally green Forks was, the frustration I felt at my mother, and how I longed to be back at West Campus High. Clicking the send button, I stopped to wonder what she was up to hundreds of miles away from me.

Downstairs, I heard the the faint ringing of the doorbell I went to the bathroom, to wash my face, and stared at the girl in the mirror. Her eyes had dark circles from the nights she stayed up, her lips slightly swollen from the constant lip biting. Knowing my appearance wasn't going to get any better, I trudged downstairs and went outside, where my mother was.

"Bella! Come meet our new neighbors. This is Dr. Carlisle Cullen, and his wife, Esme," she introduced, a wide smile plastered on her face. It was so startlingly fake, that I couldn't believe that our guests hadn't noticed.

I turned from my mother, to the people in the driveway. Easily, they were two of the most beautiful people I've ever seen in my life. The doctor looked very young, no more than thirty years at most, with blond hair, golden and silky. He was handsomer than any movie star or celebrity. His wife, had flowing caramel hair and she had the sincere look of a mother. She and her husband's skin was similar to mine. Pale. At least I wouldn't stand out.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Cullen," I said politely. They were looking at me with bright smiles, showing me their perfectly white teeth. Good God, were they white.

"Please, call us Carlisle and Esme. We're happy to welcome you to the neighborhood. If you need any help at all, please feel free to come by," said Esme in a soft voice.

"Thank you, Esme. We're pleased to have met you." I replied for Renee. My mother stared at Carlisle with a certain longing. Not the kind of longing, as in she would attempt to steal the doctor from his wife, but the kind that she wished she had a husband like Esme.

Carlisle grinned at me and spoke eloquently, "We have a daughter and a son. They're in the same grade as you are Bella. Would you like to meet them?"

I figured there would be no harm in making new friends, and it would be nice to know a familiar face tomorrow at school. As long as I don't get too attached to them, because sooner or later, it'd be time to pack up and leave, regardless of what my mother says.

"Sure, that'd be great."

"Why don't you come inside to our house for a visit? I can show your mother some of my recipes," offered Esme, kindly.

"Oh no, I have to finish unpacking, but thank you anyway. Bella, you go on ahead." Renee looked like she was in a daze and simply nodded. I said my goodbye and followed the Cullens' house next door.

I'm not much for conversation, especially with people who I met only minutes ago. They asked me questions about where I traveled to, if I liked Washington, small talk basically. It felt awkward speaking to them; they were so, what word could describe them? Graceful and elegant would be one way. But that would still be insufficient.

"Well, here is our humble abode. Esme is into interior designing, and this house is one of her favorite projects." We had just walked into the grand entrance. My jaw literally dropped, it was spectacular. A white canvas, so pristine, but adorned with small touches such as baby pictures lining the east wall, to give it a homely effect.

"It's incredible. It truly is. You must've spent a great deal of time and effort on this, Esme," I replied. I tried not to sound too much in awe, feeling a strange urge to run my fingers against the smooth surfaces.

"Thanks, Bella." Esme gave me a warm smile, and I returned one back to her.

"Well, let's get you acquainted with Edward and Alice," suggested Carlisle. Such old fashioned, unpopular names. He called their names only once in a clear, authoritative voice, and the pair came into the living room.

If I had been in amazement staring at their parents, there was no word that could describe how I felt towards their children. The girl was the more welcoming me one, and she came and gave me a hug, her small arms wrapping around me in an unfamiliar way. I couldn't remember the last time my mother hugged me like this. I blushed, she was certainly friendly.

"Bella, this Alice." Alice was a tiny, little girl, miniature in size. She had short, spiky black hair, and what she lacked in height, she made up in impeccable clothing tastes. Bright colors, pink, yellow, green. Her cashmere sweater rubbed on my bare skin, soft, like air.

I felt like a frump standing near her.

"Hi Bella. It's nice to meet you. I'm so glad you're our new neighbor."

"Hello Alice. It's nice to meet you too."

Then there was her brother, Edward. He had a boyish, lean look. His bronze hair was messy and fell over his green eyes. Peculiar color. It wasn't quite emerald, not quite lime. Just... Edward's green. He was wearing a white shirt that outlined the muscles he had, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. He lifted a corner of his lips into a crooked smirk, as if he was aware of my staring. Which, you know, I am.

"Hello Bella, I'm Edward. I see you met my sister, Alice. Affectionate, that one. What grade are you in?"

"Yes, I go to Forks High. Hi." That was all I uttered out before blushing a brilliant pink. Consistency in my sentences left the building a long time ago. He raised an eyebrow at me, amused at my antics.

"Bella is a sophomore at Forks High, similar to you two," said Carlisle from behind me. The laughter in his tone did not escape me. I felt grateful to him, yet at the same time, annoyed at myself for giving the worst impression possible.

"That's great! We may have some classes together," crooned Alice.

"Oh wow, that'd be nice. I'd love to have someone to know on the first day of school," I answered, looking at Edward out of the corner of my eye. He was staring at me intently, with a frustrated look on his face. I then turned to look at him straight on. When I caught him staring, he regained his composure, and simply looked bored. What happened to the guy before?

"Come upstairs to Edward's room Bella! We were just listening to Edward's collection," cried Alice. I wanted to make new friends, but at the same time, I didn't. Who knew how much longer I could stay here? How much longer I could fool myself into believing that this time was different than all the others before?

"That sounds like fun, but I have to help my mother set up for dinner. I don't dare let her around the kitchen; she tends to burn a lot of her dishes," I chuckled. The mere thought of Renee touching a stove was laughable.

"Another time, then." I had expected that from Alice, but to my surprise it came from Edward. His reply wasn't sincere, it was sarcastic. I tried to bite back a remark, only to realize that there was humor in his eyes.

Alice, not sensing the confusion I felt, asked, "Would you like a ride to school tomorrow, Bella?"

I contemplated my answer. If I said yes, then I'd see Edward again and I don't know if I could survive the encounter without doing something embarrassing. However, if I declined, I'd have no ride, and I have no desire to walk two miles to school, so early in the morning. Either way, I'd lose. I might as well be warm, and revel in the luxury of a heater.

"That'd be great, if you don't mind."

"Of course not. We'll arrive around seven." Edward smiled once again, sincere, pretty-like. It reminded me of the childhood doll my dad gave me when I was two. Her name was Lucy and she was porcelain and fragile, and like Edward, her smile was so absurdly devastating.

I thanked them for their generosity and went back to my own house. My mother was asleep on the couch, her arms resting behind her head. For the first time, in what seemed like months, she resembled a woman of her age. Tired, weary. Maybe I wasn't the only one who was tired of running away.

Deciding to prepare dinner for the both of us, I looked in the fridge, and found a half empty carton of milk. I should tell Renee to pick up groceries when she wakes up. Instead of making pasta, like I originally planned to, I found a number in the phone book and phoned a local pizza shop for a medium pepperoni pizza. While the food was being delivered, I went upstairs to take a shower.

My muscles tensed up as the warm water hit my skin, but soon they relaxed again. I loved the time I spent in my shower. Quiet time, an escape from the world, was rare to find. But here, underneath the drizzling drops, being cleansed inside and out, I could breathe. Free from being suffocated, from my mother, from the traveling, from Edward Cullen and the rest of the male gender. Because, really, who needed guys?

Maybe you do, the voice in the back of my head replied.

Author's Note: So yeah, I was reading this story the other day, and I was thinking about how much my writing sucked a lot. SO, I decided to rewrite this entire story. Fixing fragmented sentences, adding more details, checking spelling and grammar, that sort of stuff. Don't worry! I won't be adding chapters or altering the plot. Everything will remain the same, except I'll get rid of plot holes and other yucky, amateurish crap.