Disclaimer- The only place I own Twilight is in my dreams. Sadly, this is not my dreams, therefore I do not own Twilight.

By the way, in this story, everyone is Human! Enjoy.

"Goodbye my love, I will see you again." I whispered, so quietly that even my own ears had to strain the catch the words, soaked in sorrow and bare of any form of happiness. I gazed down at the land below, watching as it grew father and farther away from my eyes until the people weren't people anymore, only tiny black specks in the distance like ants.

"We'll come back to visit some time, I promise." A new voice spoke up, gruff and hoarse. I glanced to the left, not meeting my fathers eyes.

"I know Char-Dad. I just wish we didn't have to leave him behind like this…" I trailed off, realizing the mistake in my own words.

"Don't forget Isabella. Jacob isn't the only one we're leaving behind." I didn't have to look up to see his annoyed, almost angry expression. I loved my father, I truly did. But deep down, I know that he blames me for what happened that night. Like their was anything I could have done to stop it.

I leaned back against the small airplane seat, sandwiched between Charlie, my dad, and the wall of the plane. Luckily though, I had a window to gaze out of, letting my thoughts wander as the plane moved through the air. Knowing that I would have to face the pain of this later, I closed my eyes and let the memories flood over me, dipping into the deepest cells of my heart to withdraw the sights… The sounds… The love that burned within me…

"You look… beautiful, Bella" The voice was so warm and tender, so sincere that blood flooded my cheeks, brightening them. I started to duck my head in embarrassment, but firm fingers caught my chin, holding my face up.

"You know me a little too well." I laughed, resting my hand on his. I was standing beside a strikingly tall teenage boy. His skin was a beautiful russet color, only to be countered in beauty by his eyes. His eyes always managed to take my breath away, leaving my lost in the wide, brown depths that they were. Staring into those eyes, I often felt as though I was showing him a diary holding all of my deepest secrets.

"I'm glad to hear that." He chuckled, a grin spreading across his face. He looked away from me for a moment, and silence overtook us. We were standing close together, hand in hand at the end of a parking lot, at the edge of a beach, watching the sun fall back into the night, casting golden rays across the lake as it splashed softly against the sand.

"You know, this truly has been one of my best days." Jacob said, and this time I could hear the love in them.

"Yeah, who would have thought?" I joked lightly. He smiled back, leaning forward to wrap his arms around me, pulling me close so that my back was pressed against his chest. We were down at Lake Tahoe, me, Jacob, and then my parents, Charlie and Renee. But we all lived back in Phoenix, Arizona. My parents had won four tickets down to Reno, so they offered to let my boyfriend, Jacob Black, come along if he wanted to. Of course he had said yes. So here we were, more in love than we had ever been before. We had been at the beach all day, not our choice of course. Our rental car had broken down here, so we were pretty much stuck until my mom came to pick us up.

"Well, I found this day rather exciting." He said, a teasing look growing in his eyes. "Especially that little thing we did down on the beach…"

"Oh please!" I snorted, rolling my eyes. "We kissed!."

"What's your point?" he asked. And then I felt his warm lips press against my neck. I shivered. Jacob's hold on me tighten ever so slightly.

"Are you cold?" he asked, just as a car pulled into the parking lot.

"Not exactly." I said, glancing back to see my mom step out of the car that had been parked a little ways away. And of course, she was holding a camera. "Ugh." I muttered.

"What?" Jacob asked.

"My moms got her camera, so prepare to be here until she gets the perfect picture." I explained. Jacob smiled, looking back at my mom.

"Don't move an inch!" My mom called to us, quickly walking over to us, a smile spread across her face.

"Hi, Mrs. Swan." Jake called to her, still holding me to him.

"I've told you again and again Jacob! Call me Renee!" She replied, holding the camera up at us. She took one shot, then moved to a different position.

"Look towards the ocean, you two!" She ordered, and we followed her command without hesitation. She snapped the shot. I started to move out of Jacob's arms, but my mom stopped me, saying.

"Just one more, Bella?" She begged. I sighed and glanced from my mom to Jacob. They had identical looks of puppy begging on their faces. I sighed and nodded.

"Good. Jake, I think that you know what I want for the last shot?" Jake nodded, eyes glowing. He turned to me, hands catching my face as I looked a him in confusion.

"Close your eyes," he whispered softly. A little wary, I did so. And then I felt his lips against mine, moving gently, seeming to be in time with the soft lake waves. Jacob finally pulled away, smiling.

"Perfect!" I heard my mom breath. I smiled too, eyes fluttering open.

"Okay, you two! Lets get going before your father starts gambling again!" My mom called.

"Shotgun!" Jake called to me, jogging ahead to claim the passenger seat.

"You don't get that seat! Its not even your car!" I argued playfully.

"Doesn't matter, I called it, I got it!" He laughed back, opening the door and jumping into the car, closing the door behind him. I rolled my eyes, but didn't really care all that much. Opening the back door, I slid into the car seat behind Jacob, giving him a swat on the head as I sat down. He snickered, and I could hear the smirk on his face.

"All right you two, cool it!" My mom scolded, sitting in the drivers seat beside Jacob. I smiled, pulling my seat belt on. Renee started the car, and pulled out of the small deserted parking lot. Silence collapsed over us until my mom leaned down and flicked the radio on to her favorite radio station. I sat quietly in the back seat, closing my eyes and focusing on the music flowing through my ears.

And Id give up forever to touch you,

Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You're the closest to heaven that Ill Ever be,

And I don't want to go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment, And all I can breathe is your life

cause sooner or later its over, I just don't want to miss you tonight

"Are you awake, Bella?" a soft voice interrupted my peaceful daydreams.

"Yes…" I mumbled through a yawn, opening my eyes to meet Jacobs warm brown ones.

"We're almost there-" My mom started, but was almost instantly cut off when she suddenly swerved to the left, crossing into the opposite lane. I looked up just in time to see the lithe figure of a deer bounding across the rode, black eyes flashing in the night.

"Damn deer!" Mom muttered.

"Mom!" I suddenly shrieked, meeting the fierce gaze of the head lights of a huge truck as it swerved around the corner, straight into us.

The next thing I knew, I was lying at an odd angle, feeling the warmth of fresh blood seep across my scalp and other various places. Our car was lying on its side, engine stuttering. The radio was still playing.

A soft moan of pain escaped my mouth as my eyelids flickered open. My stomach threatened to return my lunch at the stench of blood that filled the air. I let my eyes close for a moment, holding my breath.

Opening them again, I stared forward at the dark, limp hand that hung over the seat. Blood was dripping from it.

"Jacob…" I choked out, feeling the tears well up in my eyes. "Mom…" My whisper was lost to the night then, as voices from outside called out. But I couldn't make sense of the words. My head was spinning, eyes closing shut again. The sound of the radio seemed to fill my ears with the soft notes.

And you cant fight the tears that ain't

Coming, Or the moment of truth in your lies

When everything feels like the movies

Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me, because I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am

Those were the last words I heard before the darkness swelled up, swallowing me whole.

"Bella!" a gruff voice broke through my dreaming, pulling me back to reality. "We're here." Charlie said, not looking at me. I nodded, lips pulled down in a grimace. I peered out the window, staring down at the world beneath me that was the Port Angles airport. Sighing, I gathered my carry-on items and stood with Charlie. Together we made our way off the plane to collect our larger suitcases. I then followed my dad out into the parking lot where he had an old friend waiting to give us a ride down to the small town of Forks where Charlie had bought a small two room house for us to live in.

"Charlie!" a voice called loudly. I glanced up to see a tall, rather burly man in his late thirties jogging towards us. He was dressed in the formal outfit of a police officer, graying hair cut short.

"Its great to see you again Robbie!" Charlie called as we approached the man. He and Charlie shook hands before leaning forward for a one armed hug.

"And this can't be Bella? Wow Bells, you sure have grown!" Robbie exclaimed, smiling down at me. I smiled tentatively back, a little nervous. Robbie and Charlie had been best friends growing up here in Forks, and at one point had both been cops here. But then Charlie had met me mom, fell in love, and ended up moving away. Robbie had been able to get Charlie a job back on force again.

"Well, we should get going then." Robbie said, turning towards the parking lot. We walked together to the parking lot and then to the police car that was Robbie's. I climbed into the back, while Charlie got into the passenger seat, and Robbie into the drivers seat. A shiver shot through me as I recognized the familiar setting. Me in the back, with a loved one in front of me. Pushing away fearful thoughts, I leaned against the seat, pulling on my seat belt.

"And Charlie," Robbie started, pushing the key into the ignition and turning it. "I had your car dropped off at your house. The police car." Charlie replied but I wasn't listening. I stared out the window catching a glimpse of my reflection.

I slender brown haired girl stared back at me, brown eyes emotionless. My skin was unusually pale for someone who had lived in Phoenix, but that was how I had always been. A small easily visible scar showed just above my right eye. I had had to have stitches for that one. The night of the accident. No! I I growled silently, pushing away the memories again, not sure if I could cope with it at the moment. At the moment I was moving farther and farther away from him. Just like I had when I was on the plane, I closed my eyes and leaned back against the seat, but this time I kept a firm wall around those precious memories that always haunted the black of my mind, lingering like the storm clouds outside.

My eyes jerked open when the car came to a graceful halt. I unbuckled the seat belt, grabbing my bags and shoving the door open.

"Here, let me help you!" Robbie called to me walking around to my side of the car, taking a couple of my bags and smiling warmly at me. I returned the smile, though it was weak and painfully fake.

"Thanks." I mumbled, stepping out of the car, struggling to keep my eyes completely wide. I finally turned to my new home, or rather house. I didn't think that this place would ever- could ever be my home. It was small, but well spaced from the other houses. The house itself was a light brown with darker headings. Weeds were growing at the corners of the lot and the grass was yellowing in some spots, but all together it was a nice house. Together, the three of us made our way up the porch. Charlie pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. We stepped in, placing our bags in the front room.

"Well," Robbie started, glancing at his wrist watch, "I really do have to get going now. Great to see you two again." The police officer smiled at us, nodded then turned and left, closing the door behind him. I felt emptier when he left, leaving me and Charlie just standing there. I stared at the door, wishing that it would open and my beautiful mother would step through it to reassure me, embrace me in her arms and hold me like a little girl again, because at that moment, that's all I was. A lost little girl, drowning in her own world.

Charlie was the first to break the silence. "I'm going to the store. To get some food and stuff."

"Okay." Was my simply answer. Without another word or ever a farewell gesture he left, opening the door and closing it behind him. I waited until I heard the rumble of Charlie's new car and then the soft splash as he pulled out of the driveway and into a small puddle to grab my bags and heave them upstairs. I dumped them in the doorway of my new room. It was small and empty. The walls were an ugly off-white color, the same as the rest of the walls in this house. Sighing, I knelt by my bags, unzipped one and pulled out a soft blue blanket. It might have been childish, but I had had this blanket for as long as I could remember, and it always comforted me in the worst of times. Pulling my pillow out as well, I dragged myself over to a corner of my room, pulling the blanket over me and hugging my pillow to me as if I could use it as a shield to block the pain that was emanating from my torso, ripping through my skin, soul, mind, heart. Tears slipped past my eyes crashing down onto the carpet. I let them fall, watching as I cried my heart away.

Time passed and before I had realized it, I slipped into a dreamless, fidgety sleep, only to be awoken by the sound of rain pattering on the roof and the sound of footsteps downstairs. Blinking the sleep away from my eyes, I struggled to my feet. As I walked downstairs, a strange scent caught the attention of my nose. It was sour and acrid, burning my nostrils. Alcohol! But Charlie didn't drink! Letting my thoughts wander, I didn't watch my steps and slipped. Down I went, falling to the bottom of the stairs. I groaned, rubbing my stiff legs. But nothing seemed to be broken. The footsteps came again, coming closer.

"Dad? Is that you?" I called weakly, straightening my body. I saw him then. It was Charlie, but not the Charlie I knew. No, this Charlie was empty looking, eyes bloodshot and angry. His mouth curled down in a grimace. The smell of alcohol grew stronger. The source of it was clearly Charlie.

"Dad!" I said, struggling to his feet. "Are you drunk?" I asked, confused. He had never gotten drunk before, at least not in front of me.

"You klutz!" He snarled, walking right up to me. He was close enough that I could almost taste the beer.

"D-dad?" I choked out, struggling to my feet, only to be shoved down by my own father. His hands were rough as he grabbed my shoulders, shaking me furiously.

"Its your fault, bitch!" He shouted. He was close enough that I could smell the foulness of his breath. I tried to turn away, tears forming in my eyes, My mind wasn't working right. I couldn't comprehend what was happening. "Look at me!" He growled, catching my face in one of his dirty hands. "Look at me and accept the punishment you deserve!" He snarled, raising a fist. Punishment? Punishment? Did I really deserve to be punished?I thought to myself, still hopelessly trying to escape my tormenters grasp. Yes. A small voice in my head answered, sending a sob ripping out of my chest. It was me who had been stuck at that stupid beach. Me who hadn't made sure we had enough gas in the rental car. Me, who had let Jacob sit in the front seat of the car, resulting in his terrible injuries. That terrible stillness….

My eyes flickered open, but I almost instantly closed them. I was lying on a hospital bed beneath scratchy sheets. Someone, probably a nurse, had taken the liberty of replacing my bloody and torn clothes with a snowy white hospital gown.

"Ugh…" I muttered. What had happened this time? I wondered, then it hit me. The flash of the deer's eyes as it bounded across the road… The blinding glare of the trucks headlights… "Mom, Jake!" I cried out, eyes fluttering open again. I struggled to sit up, but firm hands held me down. A middle aged female doctor was gazing down at me, eyes full of remorse.

"Hush, hush! Everything's fine, sweetie." She murmured. But I could hear the lie in her gentle words. No! Everything was not fine. Where was my precious mother? My beloved Jacob? "You were in an accident. Do you understand that?" she asked. I nodded, eyes filling with tears.

"My mom? Jacob?" I choked out. The doctor hesitate, trying to look away, but I held her gaze firmly. "Please tell me!" I whispered, bracing myself for the worst.

"I'm sorry sweetie, your mother didn't make it." She said, leaning forward to rest a hand on my shoulder as doctors often did. Another sob ripped from my chest, tears exploding from my eyes. Forcing the pain away for the moment, I looked up at the doctor, silently praying to God to have let my Jacob have lived.

"Jake?" I spluttered. The nurse smiled briefly, though it looked fake.

"He is alive. "She said quietly. I couldn't stop the tears from falling now.

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" I whispered. But the doctor still had a strange look on her face. "What is it? What's wrong with him?" I asked, voice breaking.

"He's suffered severe brain damage, and has gone into a coma." The doctor said quietly.

"Well, he'll wake up soon, right?" I asked.

"He has what we call persistent vegetative state." The doctor paused, and I knew this was bad.

"What is that?" I asked, confused.

"He might not wake up for a while. These types of comas can last for years, even decades."

"Will he live?" I asked, ever so softly.

"it's a fifty-fifty chance with him. But so far, things aren't looking good."

The reality finally broke through my shock. I realized what was happening. Hard hands had shoved me against the wall, holding me by the neck. I reached up to tear at Charlie's hands with my own, but he ignored me, pulling a fist back and slamming it against my face. My head slammed back against the wall. I let out another cry, eyes brimming with tears. His hands slammed against my stomach, arms, head. I could feel the bruises forming already. IWhy was this happening?/I I wondered to myself. I had given up struggling a few minutes ago, deciding just to wait it out.

It took me a moment to realize it, but Charlie had stopped. I opened my eyes to see that Charlie had stopped. He had collapsed at my feet, completely passed out drunk. Cries of pain threatened to overspill from my chest, but I held them in. All I wanted to do now was be in Jacob's arms. To feel protected and safe. I sat there for a moment, lost in both physical and mental pain.

Finally, when the tears were the shed and the pain released, I forced myself to move. I stumbled back upstairs, tripping over. I slipped into my room, locking the door behind me. I sank to my knees, peeling off my jeans and shirt to examine my body. I could already see the bruises forming. They were the worst around my arms. But if I wore a long sleeve shirt tomorrow, no one would see. Pulling on my baggy pajamas, I crawled back into the corner of my room, pulling my blue blanket over me, resting my head on my pillow. Fresh out of tears, I lay there thinking about what had happened. I blamed myself for the death of my mom and apparently my father did too. I had taken my punishment, and that was that. Surely Charlie wouldn't hit me again, would he? But a tiny voice in the back of my mind told me that this wasn't over.

And thats the end of Chapter one! Hope I gets lots of reviews! I'll update soon.