Chapter 1: New Beginning

Starting over is hard. No one likes to and yet somehow it's like it's inevitable. People move constantly or not at all. Some people move across town or maybe a city over. But moving away from the only life you've ever known and starting somewhere completely new is the hardest. Being separated by miles from the friends you've laughed with, cried with and gotten to know over the years' takes time to adjust to. That's what I'm trying to do. Adjust. I'm no longer part of the place I left and at this point I don't know how much I'm a part of the place I'm going. But what can I do about it? Nothing. This is my life now.

I'm Kelly, Kelly Price for what it's worth. I'm just a typical girl trying to find a way to cope with my life and the terrible luck I've been forced to deal with recently. How's that saying go? 'When life throws you curveballs you have to be ready'. Well that's what they say. But who are they? I don't know. But I wasn't ready and I'm still not. Who can ever be ready for something like this? That's the point I guess. Life doesn't wait for you it just goes on and that's why I've been pulled into a whole different world. Guess I better suck it up.

La Push, Washington. A town situated on the farthest side of the US I've ever been is where I'm headed. I'm from the Midwest and haven't really traveled all that far my whole life. Hell, I barely made it out of my state to the neighboring ones. You know the Midwest; Cornfields, farming and country fun (Not to mention booze for a lot of people). Well that's at least the case for some people I knew. I'm not the stereotype. Ok well I am short, 5'4" to be exact and have shoulder length blonde hair and blue eyes but I'm definitely not a farmer's daughter and I don't go mudding on the weekends or listen to country music unless forced. (Which let me just say, that's about all the radio stations we have where I'm from. That and polka.) Honestly I think I'd thrive better in a big city like New York or something but that hasn't happened, at least not yet.

The only correct Midwest stereotype I know of is the weather. Tons of comedians make fun of us. It's either stifling hot with the humidity in the summer or completely frigid beyond the North Pole cold in the winter. We have the regular seasons (sometimes anyway) but they haven't really been falling during the normal times as of late. This last year we skipped from winter to summer. Skipped spring. We went from buckets of snow and wind-chills that could give you frostbite in 2.2 seconds to my skin is melting off humidity. It sucked. Basically it hardly ever rains and when it does its maybe for a day or two. Unlike where I'm going where it rains constantly and the clouds never leave. Reminds me what I've heard about London, England where it rains and nothing else ALL the time. That has to get depressing. As for me, I don't even own a raincoat or poncho but bonus points, I did remember an umbrella. Although I swear I'll start missing the snow after endless dreary rainy days that await me.

Looking out the window of the plane, I felt my ears start popping after the slow start of the descent. I could already see the ground coming closer and closer. Sighing, I turned and looked to the brown-haired lanky giant next to me, better known as my brother Eric. His eyes were shut and the little snores coming from him had been driving me nuts for the last half hour. Shaking my head, I gave him one hard shove to which he startled awake. Gasping his eyes went everywhere before resting on me. Glaring he said, "Hey! You could've just shook me."

I raised my eyebrow. "And miss your look of terror? Please."

"I'll remember that the next time you're sleeping and I have to wake you."

I snorted. "How often does that happen again?"

"Shut up."

As I chuckled, the plane landed and began taxiing down the runway before coming to a stop. We were pretty close to the front of the plane (and believe I'm grateful; people take forever to move!) so after grabbing our carry-on's we were able to get off pretty quickly. Unfortunately that was only the first plane we had to ride on today. We had one more to go, a smaller one that would allow us to meet our Uncle Joe in La Push at the Quillayute State Airport.

Walking inside, we looked up to see where we needed to go to make our connection. It wasn't that far away luckily. Because let me tell you, I didn't really want to cross an entire airport. I was already tired. Eric's snoring definitely didn't help me get any z's. Suddenly my stomach grumbled and I oulled out my cell and glanced at the time. We still had a little over an hour before we left again so I looked around and saw a McDonalds in the center of the hub of terminals. Nudging Eric I asked, "You hungry? We didn't really grab breakfast before we left."

"It's technically lunch now."

"You get the point. Do you want something?"

"I don't know maybe some fries and a drink?"

"Sprite like always?"

"Like I ever change?" he answered while raising an eyebrow.

"Fine. Just find us somewhere to sit maybe?"

Eric nodded as I went off to order our food. I got the same as him practically before paying the cashier. Bringing our tray over, I found him sitting at a table next to an overhanging plant. I batted it out of the way since it hung over my seat. Sitting down, I handed him his fries and drink as we ate and drank in silence. No words needed to be said. Both of us pretty much felt the same about having to move. We didn't have a choice we just had to. The last few weeks before this were the suckiest we've ever had to go through. See, we just lost our parents in a car crash. We've tried our best to keep our heads above water but I'm sure you can guess it's not the easiest thing in the world. Eric seemed to be doing okay, I mean he hasn't cried since the funeral and but mostly I think it's because he's still in shock. Me on the other hand, I feel like any second I'm going to drown. It's like I'm treading water but the undercurrent is constantly grabbing at my ankles, which I swear have weights on them, pulling me down. That's why we're headed out to La Push. Our uncle stepped up to take us in almost immediately though I suppose we could've gone off on our own. Neither Eric nor I could be apart from each other just yet, not after this. He just turned eighteen and I'm twenty, not a huge difference but for some siblings that can feel like a decade. We both already had plans to move away but since the funeral we decided together that we would stick together for now and be there for each other.

"We should probably head out. We only have 45 minutes 'take-off so they'll be boarding pretty soon," Eric said as he finished the last of his fries.

Nodding, I slurped the last bit of soda through my straw before picking up the tray and dumping it into the garbage. Grabbing our bags, we headed towards our gate where we saw the little plane that would transport us. Turning back to him I said, "Looks like it's just us. No one else will fit."

Erick laughed as we approached the small plane. The pilot grabbed our bags and told us to strap in and we'd leave within ten minutes. I turned to my brother one more time to make sure he was fine but he just sat there giddily waiting for take-off. Me, I took a breath and looked out the window one last time before closing my eyes. Maybe with him awake I could catch a little bit of rest.

Luckily the second flight flew by and I opened my eyes as we landed on a small strip. Eric groaned that I opened my eyes just as she was about to shove me. I chuckled as we unstrapped ourselves and got out of the plane. The pilot handed us our bags and we headed towards the building. As we walked closer inside, I saw an older man with long dark hair smiling and waving at us. We hadn't seen Uncle Joe since we were really small but since no one else got off the plane and it didn't look like anyone else was there waiting, I thought it was a safe bet it was him. His large grin and twinkle in his eyes seemed like he was very eager to see us, though I'm sure part of it is because he's worried how we're coping. Still, seeing someone glad to see us in general made me smile.

As we approached him, Uncle Joe threw his arms around us. "It's good to see you kids," he said , gently pulling away before he said, "I'm sorry I couldn't make it out to the funeral. I loved them as much as you two and nothing will be quite the same without them. But," he sighed, "I hope you had a good flight. I'm sorry it wasn't a one stop shop kinda deal."

"It's alright," I said, "They both were fine."

Eyes darting between Eric and I, he asked, "You both ready to go?"

We nodded as he added, "Well then let's get goin'."

Uncle Joe led us to his car, a semi-rusty Chevy Impala. I'm pretty good with cars but I couldn't tell the year. It's cool though, it's better than a beat up truck I guess. He even loaded up our stuff, though I did try to help only to be shooed into the car. I thanked him before calling shotgun and sliding in the front seat. Eric slid into the back and off we went. Both of us stared out the window to look at the town that approached us.

La Push is a reservation for the Quileute Native Americans and honestly it made me feel out of place. Our parents weren't Quileute, our birth parents anyway. See, Eric and I were adopted when we small because our birth mother apparently became addicted to meth and couldn't support two kids. Forced into foster care, Eric and I were taken in by a loving couple who gave us a good home. Our father was true Quileute and had fallen in love with our mother who was a Midwest native. She unfortunately couldn't bear children, so they adopted Eric and me so that we could stay together. Regardless that they weren't our biological parents, they became our family. I know a lot of foster kids can't say the same but I'm glad we were one of the few that got a happy ending. Well, at least a short-lived one.

We knew of Uncle Joe but had only met him when he visited once a long time ago and we came out here a few times as kids. Then I'm sure it didn't matter as much but now it felt different and more than just because our parents were gone. Given that we weren't technically blood Quileute I was worried how those on the reservation would view us. We were "pale faces" after all and everyone takes at least a basic history class throughout their life so they know that Native American's aren't really happy around whites. I felt like it was a long shot to even fit in here. At least Eric and I already finished high school so we didn't have to suffer through that. We had been deciding about college when our parents died. Obviously college plans were put on hold.

"Here we are. Home sweet home" Uncle Joe said in a welcoming tone, breaking my inner monologue.

Looking out the window of the car up ahead, Eric and I saw our new place. The house was a simple one story with 3 bedrooms which we found as we stepped inside. The fresh paint smell was everywhere and the paint cans sat along the wall. Uncle Joe grabbed our bags as we looked around and took in what would be our home. It wasn't huge but Eric and I both got our own room so in all honestly that felt like enough. We never wanted to encroach on each other's space no matter how close we are. In that sense we were every bit normal siblings except for a lot of bickering some suffer from. Venturing further inside, I took the room with the large window overlooking the woods. It seemed oddly calming to me. I've never been a hugely nature person but it just felt right for some reason. "Figured you'd pick this one," he said, handing me my suitcases.

Smiling I took them and said, "Thanks" before tossing my suitcase on the bed. I quickly started unpacking my things. I had a lot to unpack because, well, let's be honest, I'm a girl and girls tend to have more stuff than guys. Plus, if it's my room I needed to feel more at home and that would be hard enough as is. Putting some clothes in the closet and in the dresser, I heard my uncle down the hall, "We'll have to pick up some groceries. I don't know what you kids eat nowadays. Keep in mind I'm an older man and I have limited cooking skills. My best one is ordering pizza."

Chuckling, I stopped for a moment then stepped out into the hall and said with a grin, "No worries, Uncle, I can cook. Just let me finish getting things settled and we can move onto food."

Uncle Joe nodded his head and left us to unpack. I went back into the room and finished putting my clothes away at least. Eric would be quicker; he has like 5 things because the only important things to him are his laptop, his games and books. Throw in clothes and toiletries and you have all of Eric's things. Meanwhile I tried to make my room as homey as possible once the necessities were put away, putting up some posters and a couple drawings I had. As I looked around though, I realized it could never be like the home I had left. I sighed, leaning against my bed. But Eric and I would persevere, I just knew it. As long as we stayed together, we could make it through anything. He was the best brother I could've ever asked for. We've always been close. We could make it work here, right?

After cleaning up a little we piled back into the Impala and headed to the store. Grocery shopping took forever when I was used to it being quick and painless. Uncle Joe really didn't eat a lot of the same things we did and he wasn't kidding about his cooking skills. I had to completely stock the kitchen and considering the first store on the reservation was so tiny there was no way I could get everything, we headed to a town named Forks, which was nearby. Forks, I laughed to myself. What's next? Spoons and Knives? I shook my head. Who names these things?

After we got back, I organized the cupboards and started dinner. I could tell Uncle Joe was grateful that I took the initiative because he seemed every bit as exhausted as we did. He really must've only lived off pizza, fish and anything he could put in the microwave which is not exactly a healthy diet. I made pork chops with mashed potatoes and corn and served it up to two clearly starving men seeing as it disappeared as fast as I put it down in front of them. I sat down, eating mine slowly, remembering when my mom made it. I shook the thought away, trying to focus on the here and now. There wasn't much talk at the dinner table but what was there to say? It was day one. Plus they guys were too busy stuffing their faces. I guess none of us had a good meal in a while.

Afterwards, I cleaned up the table and got the dishes in the sink and decided I'd wash them tomorrow. I was beat from traveling all day. I retreated to my room to relax. I tried to read but I couldn't focus on the words. I kept trying but after about 20 minutes I gave up. Uncle didn't have the internet set up yet so I couldn't use my laptop. I set up my DVD player quickly, hooking up the cords to the TV he said I could use. I popped in a movie that could distract me for awhile. I contemplated calling some friends from back home, but I was just too tired and frankly couldn't bear the thought of talking to them just yet. I got tired watching the movie about halfway through so I shut it off and crawled into bed, hoping the next day would go smoothly.