I do not own Twilight…or Cinderella…or Ever After…

Chapter 1

"Married? How could you get married?!" I screamed, ignoring the way my voice squeaked. Of course I was only nine years old, and didn't fully understand what my father getting married meant. I only knew that I didn't like it, I rarely even liked him dating, it was just so odd after the death of mom that my dad would find a way to move on somehow.

"Sweetheart, you need a mother, and she has two daughters of her own. They are very sweet." He didn't say anything about how sweet my "mother" was. I hated this, I didn't want anyone to come. My father and I had been close over the years since my mother's death.

"Can I go now?" I didn't want to face it anymore, I just wanted to go in my room and mope.

"No, I want you there with me at the party. Her daughters will be there and I want all of you to become the best of friends." Friends…I hated the idea. Something bad was going to happen, my dad had left no inclination over any possible dating or even marriage. "She bought you this, wear it tonight." I stuck my chin out, and my dad realized the stubborn edge.

"I swear Bells, don't even start. I love you sweetheart, and I'm doing this for us both." I reached up and took the small dress, disliking the bright pink of it. "Everything will be fine honey, stop worrying." I finally smiled at him, realizing the battle was lost.

--

I jumped awake, my skin clammy still from the dream. I hated that particular dream, knowing that in the end nothing had turned out the way he thought. I ran towards the bathroom, stumbling halfway towards the door. I wiped the sweat from my brow and threw on a pair of jeans and a simple blue t-shirt. I pulled my hair into a bun as I stumbled down the stairway, tripping over the final step.

I walked down the driveway, towards my old truck, which Billy Black had given to me a year or so ago. He had been a very good friend of my Dad up until my Dad had died. I still kept in touch somewhat, whenever my step-mother was home he would call constantly.

I started the truck, cringing slightly as the thundering roar from the engine. I knew I was going to be late, but ever since Victoria, my step mother, had suddenly forced me into independent study during my freshman year, I had been going to school once a week to turn all my homework in and pick up any new work. Victoria had never truly told me why she wanted me out of school, but technically I would be a junior.

I pulled into the parking lot, seeing how utterly abandoned it was. I hated going before school started, I was usually bum rushed by Mike and his group. Although they were my friends, it got irritating at times the way they fought. I shut off my truck and hurried into the office, not seeing a last minute car pull into the lot.

I smiled at the brightly red-haired receptionist, there was a large stack of homework for me beside her. "Hello, Isabella. Do you have your homework for me?" She smiled brightly, looking around for some sign of a backpack. Suddenly I realized that I had left my bag in my truck.

"I'm so sorry, I left my backpack in my truck. Is it okay if I go get it real quickly?" I asked and quickly dashed out of the office. I saw my truck from the sidewalk, so brightly colored in the moody dark of Forks. The silver Volvo parked beside it caught my attention, being the nicest car I had ever seen parked in the school lot of Forks High School. Even nicer then the teachers cars. Suddenly the skies opened, up and it began to rain…hard. Feeling utterly terrible over the fact that I had forgotten my jacket at home I tried my luck and dashed forward toward my truck, hoping not to trip on any cracks in the street.

I wasn't truly paying attention, only watching the ground for dangers that could trip me. Well, technically everything was a danger to me, at least with my coordination. I wasn't looking up, just counting the steps to get to my truck and out of this rain, when I ran straight into a boulder. I fell back hard, no longer having feeling in my butt from the fall on the ground. The growl from above caught me totally off guard, I looked up, okay so technically it wasn't a boulder but it sure felt like one. There standing above me, was the Greek Adonis himself, looking utterly gorgeous in the pouring rain.

"Uh…so sorry." I pulled myself back up, still not feeling my butt at all. I slowly raised my head to look at his face, amazed at how tall he was. The expression on his face shocked me, completely disdainful yet curious as he looked me over. Suddenly he sniffed and covered his mouth frantically, his black eyes glaring hatefully at me. "S-sorry?" He rushed away, almost too fast, completely ignoring me. I stared after him, standing completely dumbfounded in the rain.

--

"Here's my work…s-sorry it's a l-little w-wet." I began to stutter, shivering heavily from the rain.

"That's alright dear. Here's your work, and I will see you next week. Maybe you'll be able to come back soon to school." She smiled at me and I smiled back.

"I've been thinking about it, I just need to talk to Victoria." Her smile faded, she knew what my step-mother was like. Everyone in town did, they all steered clear whenever she was around. Of course, she had been gone for over a year with her daughters Jessica and Lauren. I waved to her quickly and left the office, looking again for any signs of the copper-haired boy. I even looked around for the silver Volvo which had miraculously disappeared.

--

I ran inside the house, only tripping once, which in my case was a grand achievement. I heard a buzzing from inside the front room, seeing my phone vibrating flashing Victoria's name on the screen.

"Hello?" I answered warily, knowing that if she was calling I was in for a scolding.

"Hello Cinderbella." I frowned, hearing Jessica's eerily different voice over the phone. Her voice seemed to sing, which I was never used to before.

"Hello Jessica, how's Italy?" I asked, trying not to sound too rude.

"Very interesting. Did you paint our rooms?" She asked, I could hear Lauren's nasal snickering in the background.

"Yes." I was beyond annoyed, and practically itching to hang up.

"Good, mom needs to talk to you, hold on for a bit." I heard the phone being passed around, and finally I could hear it settle into someone's hand.

"Hello, Isabella. How are things in dreary old Forks?" Victoria's utterly girly voice had me fooled when I had first met her. When I was younger it brought to mind bubble gum and bells ringing. Now I hated the sound, as much as I hated her.

"Fine, it's pouring outside." I said, stunned into to silence by the sound of her light laughter. Somehow Victoria was in a good mood, which was a very, very rare occurrence.

"Well that sounds like always. Is there something on your mind, Isabella?" Her voice was still twinkling with laughter, which was starting to set my nerves on edge.

"I was wondering, if I could get off independent study and go back to Forks High School?" It all came out in a blur, wanting to see the mysterious boy again.

"If you can keep straight A's and do all your chores then I see no reason why not." I was in a daze for a minute, completely unsure of what I was hearing. I heard Lauren and Jessica whining and complaining in the background.

"Thank you!" I was so excited, uncaring of the fact that she hung up abruptly.

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