Bella's POV

September 1, 2005

"Damn!" I fumed as I tripped over the fan's cord in the living room. I crashed to the floor with a thud. The impact caused a glass cup to fall onto the floor, where it shattered into a million pieces. It was one of my mother's-her name is Renee-favorite cups too. It was part of a set that had belonged to her mother, my Grandma Marie, who died before I was born. I was going to be in huge trouble!

I had to sweep away the mess before Mom came downstairs. Unfortunately, she had already heard the glass breaking. I was just leaving the room when she appeared with a deep scowl on her face. Shit!

"What the hell happened?" she demanded, peering over my shoulder. "How did. . .how did my cup break?!"

Putting distance between me and her, I backed up warily. "I fell, and. . ." I replied.

Mom glared at me in rage and frustration. "You fell?! You are always falling, you clumsy little bitch! I supposed that you knocked the cup over as you did, didn't you?" She slapped me so hard that I was abruptly staring at the clock behind me.

I winced. "No, Mom! It broke after I fell. It slid off of the table," I explained.

"Whatever, Bella! The damage is done. Just clean this shit up and get out of my sight!" she yelled. She shoved me before going back upstairs.

I gloomily headed for the kitchen to retrieve the broom and dustpan.

As you could see, you have probably guessed that me and my mother were not on the best of terms. And you have guessed right.

My mother did not love me, and reminded me of it every other day for almost eighteen years. It was clear that she did not want me too, and never had. I didn't know why she chose to bring me with her to Phoenix, Arizona after she had divorced my father since she didn't.

We had been living here in Phoenix since I was three months old. Before that, we lived with my father Charlie in Forks, Washington. I only visited him for a few weeks every August because of legal issues. Even then, I rarely saw him. He was the Chief of Police, so he was very busy, especially during the summer. There was a lot of crime in Forks, Port Angeles, and Seattle at that time. So, before going to the police station, he would leave me with friends from town until he was finished working.

It was because of this that Charlie and I never had much of a chance to create any type of relationship. I did not even know if he loved me, or if I loved him.

At least staying with Charlie wasn't as bad as living with Mom. She usually ignored me and left me to myself. If she wasn't doing that, then she was screaming at me. It could be for any number of reasons. It may have been because she wanted to tell me of how much she hated me. That she didn't want me. That she did not know why she didn't ship me off to Charlie's and grant him permanent custody of me. If she wasn't complaining about that, then she was blowing her top over my clumsiness. But with her being erratic and harebrained, and my father being rather absentminded, I was predestined to be clumsy.

She was abusive too, but not physically. At least, not that much. She would mostly slap or shove me if she were angry enough. When I grew taller, there were times where she actually punched me! However, she never punched me in the face. But it was really the verbal and psychological abuse that I have to put up with. Of course, that was worst. I would rather that she had hit me.

It was just as well that I had learned to cook and pay the bills by the time I was eleven. Otherwise, we would have starved to death. Mom didn't really know how to cook, and she often forgot when the bills had to be sent. I had a job too, and was glad that I did. Otherwise, I would have had to deal with Mom more often than I would have wanted to after school.

I could not understand why Mom didn't love or want me. And no matter how hard I tried to, I could never do anything to please her. Or to get her to love me. Even if I gave her something that she liked, she would just wave me away dismissively.

Through it all, I had mostly lived a lonely, depressing life. Mom neglected me, and Dad never paid much attention to me. I had never had any friends either, in school or out of it. My clumsiness and awkwardness was not very appealing, so people my age tended to avoid me. I could never remember a time when anyone had truly been nice to me.

Except once, when I was seven years old. And I would never forget that day.

Flashback

Mom and I were visiting one of her friends named Juliet, who had moved to Vancouver, Canada. Juliet talked to Mom for a while, then Mom went to take a tour of the city.

Vancouver was gigantic. There were so many things to see and to look at that I would need more eyes to take everything in. There were also a lot of people, just like there were in Phoenix.

As Mom and I were strolling along a busy street, I happened to notice a brown teddy bear on display in a toy store window. It was large, but small enough to put in the book bag that I was carrying. Next to that store was a candy shop. There were multicolored lollipops and jawbreakers and chocolate and so many other sweets that it would take days to name them all!

I tugged Mom's hand. "Mommy! Mommy! Look at that teddy bear! And look at all of the candy! Can I have the bear and some candy? Pretty please?" I begged.

"No!" she said coldly. "Now leave me alone, you little brat!"

"But Mo-om. . .!" I whined. She was being so unfair, as usual!

"Shut up! Just shut up! I have had enough of your complaining! Do you want me to slap you?"

I bowed my head and grew quiet. Tears pricked my eyes as we kept walking. She hardly ever let me have anything that I wanted.

Moments later, she brought us a lunch from a street vendor. Once we had finished eating, Mom headed into a clothes shop to buy a few things. She made me sit on a bench while she went to look over the jeans.

I laid my head in my palm and stared at the people passing by me. I was bored out of my mind. I wished that I was at that toy store. Or at the candy shop. I didn't see how shopping for clothes could be enjoyable.

"Psst. Little girl," a gentle voice belonging to a man whispered. It sounded like it belonged to an angel.

I ignored it, not thinking that it was speaking to me.

"Little girl on the bench," the voice hissed.

Frowning, I turned to see a blonde-haired man standing next to a clothes rack. Gosh, he was handsome! He looked better than any movie star I've ever seen! And he had gold eyes too! How weird. I had never seen anybody with eyes that color. I found myself staring at him in awe.

The man smiled at me. "Hi there, cutie," he greeted.

I reddened. No one had ever called me that before. "Uh. . .hi," I mumbled.

He glanced to his left, then knelt beside me. "Here, sweetheart. I couldn't help but notice that you really wanted them."

To my surprise, he handed me the teddy bear that was in the toy store window! He had also given me a bag of sweets from that shop! In it was cotton candy, multicolored lollipops, white and dark chocolate, sour balls, caramel squares, and Laffy Taffies.

I looked to see where Mom was. She was still busy picking out clothes. I cautiously took the bear and the candy from him because I knew that I wasn't suppose to accept anything from strangers. But for some reason, I knew that this man wouldn't hurt me or anything. I didn't know why I knew it, though.

"Thanks. But why are you giving them to me?" I inquired, putting everything in my backpack. "You don't even know who I am."

"I am giving it to you because I can tell that you are a good girl. You deserve every wonderful thing that could be given to someone."

This man was too nice! "Oh. Well. . .thank you again. This is the nicest thing that anybody has ever done for me. I'm Bella."

He shook my hand. "Pleased to meet you, Bella. I am glad to be of service. My name is Carlisle."

Well, that was an odd name, but I liked it. It sounded like a song. "Pleased to meet you too. I think you should leave now. My mom would be mad if she sees me talking to someone that I don't know."

"I understand what you mean. Don't waste your candy too quickly. Good-bye, Bella."

"I won't. Bye-bye, Carlisle."

He left with a wave.

End of Flashback

It had been ten years since then, but the memory of it had never faded away. I managed to prevent Mom from finding out that I had the teddy bear and the candy. I ate the candy when I had the chance to, but I kept the wrappers in a suitcase that I used for traveling. I even had the teddy bear after all this time. When Mom was asleep, I would take them out for a while, just to look at them and hug the bear. They were my relics of Carlisle's kindness.

I often wondered about Carlisle over the years. Wondered where he was, and if he was doing all right. I tried to imagine what his life would be like. He was a nice, drop-dead gorgeous man, so he likely had a wife. Perhaps he had children too, and lived in a nice house with front and back yards that were surrounded by a white picket fence. They probably loved each other very much.

I wished that I had that kind of life...

"Bella!" Mom shouted, jerking me out of my thoughts by punching me on the arm. It became numb within seconds. "Why the hell are you standing there daydreaming? Clean up that mess like I told you to! If I step on any of that glass, you don't want to know what I'll do!"

"Ouch! Okay, Mom, I'm sorry," I groaned.

She frowned at me in disgust, as if I were a puddle of vomit. "Yeah, you'd better be. Go on!"

With a sigh, I grabbed the broom and dustpan. Then I went to the living room and swept the floor, my mind still on Carlisle.

(A few days later-September 6th)

I was in my bedroom, sitting in front of my computer. It was quiet for once; Mom was taking a nap. I was glad that I didn't have to put up with her at the moment.

I wasn't really doing much, just talking to various people in a chat room. Truthfully, I wasn't allowed to do that. Mom said that I could end up in some of form of trouble, or be kidnapped. I didn't know why she would care if I did. Plus, she would probably be happy to get rid of me.

Not many people were online at this time of day, so the chat room was nearly empty. Half of the people who wanted to talk to me were men that were phishing for young women. I mostly ignored them and spoke to the girls. Some of them were interested in the same things that I was, and some were not.

I was just in the middle of a conversation when a Private Messaging box appeared on my screen.

Hello, Bellissima298. Would you like to have a private webcam chat with me? someone named CarlC87 asked.

CarlC87...ha, it made me think of Carlisle. Of course, I knew that it wasn't him. He didn't seem like the type that went into chat rooms. Still, this guy might be cute.

I listened to make sure that Mom had not awakened, then sent a reply.

Yeah, I guess so. As long as you don't try to flirt with me, I typed.

lol No, I am not planning to do that. I am here to talk, not to flirt-CarlC87

Okay, then. I'm turning my webcam on now.

All right. So am I.

I promptly switched on my camera. Then I waited until he appeared on my screen.

Once he did, I eyed him closely. This man did not look like a pervert. In fact, he was very handsome! He had golden-blonde hair and amber eyes...

Amber eyes?!

I froze.

No.

It couldn't be! It couldn't be him!

But it was.

I gaped at the man in stunned disbelief.

It was him. . .It was Carlisle. He was right before me, looking as if he hadn't aged a day at all.

Carlisle's POV

The girl-Bellissima298-stared at me for a long time, which began to make me uncomfortable. I knew that it was because she thought that I were good-looking, as people thought that I was.

If she knew what I was, she wouldn't be ogling me. She would have left the site faster than lightning.

I had been relaxing in my office when I had decided to enter the chat room. There was not much to do. I worked in a hospital, but I had the day off. My paperwork had been completed hours ago, and my children were out hunting.

I decided to kill time by chatting with a few people. However, none of them had caught my attention but her-Bellissima298. Her name was similar to a little girl's that I had briefly spoken to years ago.

And what a poor little soul she was too. . .

The young lady suddenly gasped, and my attention was redirected to her. I scowled at her in concern. From her expression, it was apparent that something may have been wrong.

"What is the matter?" I queried.

She lowered her hand, which had been covering her mouth. "Oh my God...oh my God! Carlisle?! Is that you?!" she demanded in astonishment.

My jaw dropped.

How did...how did she know my name?! I did not recall meeting her in my entire life. Well, her chocolate-brown eyes looked familiar. Other than that, I did not recognize her.

It took several minutes for me to find my voice. "Er. . .yes, I am Carlisle. But how do you know? Have we met?" I inquired, my voice full of wonder.

"Yes. . .we've met ten years ago in Vancouver. I was seven at the time, though. . .you probably don't remember me," she responded.

Narrowing my eyes, I shook my head. "No, I am afraid that I don't."

The girl slumped, but then her eyes brightened. "Hold on a minute. You might know who I am after I show you something. Do you mind if I get it?"

"Of course not."

She smiled a rather beautiful smile and disappeared from view. I heard a door opening and what sounded like rustling paper.

A minute later, she came back. "You gave me this when I was clothes shopping with my mom. You saw that I wanted them and bought them for me," she remarked.

Then she held up a stuffed teddy bear and various candy wrappers.

I leaned forward, my eyes growing wide. Suddenly, I did remember her. I remembered her quite clearly.

She was the little girl that I had met during a trip in Canada. The girl who desired the candy and the teddy bear. The girl who was being treated unfairly by her mother.

The girl who I thought looked so starved, but not for food.

For reasons that I was not able to explain, I could see that she was starving for kindness. For affection. For love. It seemed as if no one had ever treated her nicely.

Right then and there, I decided to buy what she wanted to have. I had no idea what drove me to do it. However, I had the feeling that I would regret it deeply if I hadn't.

I went to the toy store to get the bear, then to the candy shop to purchase a bag of sweets. After that, I met her in the clothes shop and gave them to her.

With amazement crashing through me, I turned to the girl. "B-Bella?" I murmured.

Bella's POV

I wanted to jump for joy!

He knew who I was!

"Yes, I'm Bella! You do remember me!" I exclaimed.

A grin slowly spread across his face. "I never did forget about you. I suppose it was because I had felt so sorry for you that you stuck in my memory. But. . .you remember me, after all this time?! It has been more than ten years!"

I nodded, beaming brightly. "You look the same as you did when we had first met."

Carlisle ran his fingers through his hair. "I understand that, but it was no wonder that I couldn't recognize you. How old are you now, Bella?"

"I'll be eighteen on the thirteenth."

"Mmm, I see. You have grown into quite a beautiful young woman."

It felt as if my cheeks were blistering. "Thank you," I said in a low voice.

He smiled at me. "So. . .how is it that you remember me? We had not talked long enough to have much of an impression on each other that day."

"Well, maybe not. But I could never forget you, or that you bought the bear and candy for me. That was the nicest thing that anyone had ever done for me."

Carlisle rose his eyebrows in surprise. "Really?" he asked with interest.

"Yeah," I admitted. I decided to change the subject. "So...do you still live in Vancouver?"

He shook his head. "No, I had never lived in Canada. I was only on a small trip there."

"Oh. Well, where do you live?"

"I live outside of a small town in Washington called Forks."

He had to be lying! "No way! Really?! Forks?!"

Carlisle chuckled. "It is a rather funny name for a town, isn't it?"

"No, you don't understand. I was born in Forks! But when my mom divorced my dad, she took me with her to Arizona," I remarked.

"You have to be joking!" he exclaimed.

"I'm not! But that's so cool that you live there. How long have you been in Forks?"

He leaned back. "For a little more than a year. I had a job opportunity at the hospital in town, where I work as a doctor."

I cocked my head to the side. "Whoa. I would never have guessed that you were one. Then again, you are a very generous and helpful person."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Are you married? Do you have children?"

"Yes, I have five whom I had adopted. They are your age, or close to it. But I am divorced. The marriage did not work out."

Why would anyone divorce him?! He was too kind and too sweet to be divorced!

"Oh. That's too bad," I stated.

Carlisle waved his hand. "Do not worry about it. It was for the best."

Just then, I heard a bed creaking, followed by a yawn.

I turned to him. "My mom's awake. I gotta go...she wouldn't like it if she caught me speaking to you in this chat room," I hissed.

He smiled. "I know what you mean. Well, it was a pleasure to see you again, Bella. Perhaps we can talk again sometime?" he questioned.

"Sure, when I can manage to. It was great to see you too, Carlisle. Good-bye."

"Good-bye, dear."

I hastily shut my own camera off and made to exit the chat room. Before I could, however, the door opened with a CRASH.

"WHAT THE...WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, GIRL?!" Mom bellowed.

Oh, man! I was in huge trouble again!

(A/N: PLEASE REVIEW! Did I start off good? Let me know what you think, please!)