Hi everyone! After taking lots and lots of time off from my writing world, I've decided it's time to make a return. I felt like the only proper way to do that was to rewrite one of my very favorite pieces and actually finish it this time. I'll be leaving the original story posted, but I will definitely be cleaning things up and changing bits and pieces. With that, welcome to the second, and very much refined, installment of Unhinged! Enjoy!

Chapter 1-

Aria Clearwater had impeccable memory. It was as if random, or sometimes not random, information and interactions stuck in her subconscious like glue. Dates, smells, outfits, even specific colors from events actively swarmed her mind and ran it at nearly a million miles an hour. Even from a young age, her ability to make connections from memory to people was extraordinary.

Growing up, she had, of course, held onto some memories more tightly than others. Most, if not all, of these memories were related to her own family, the Black's, and her heritage. Though mere stories in her mind, she felt as though there was no better culture to be birthed into than her own. There was truly nothing greater in her young existence than listening to Billy Black tell the tales of their ancestors, and doing so surrounded by her family and most cherished relationships made her glow with pride.

It wasn't until the legends of her people came to life, her family began to fall apart, and she began to question everyone she had known in her life that the bright colors of her childhood began to wash away with the Washington rain.

"Tag, you're it!"

Quil Ateara, no more than six-years old, called out in triumph. He had successfully, and clumsily, tagged Jacob, a feat not just anyone could accomplish. Embry hadn't been able to, ever.

The taller boy had crinkled his nose upon his 'tagging,' and if it weren't for the rule of no tag-backs, he would've made his friend pay for it. He allowed himself to wallow in his own defeat for only a moment before regaining composure and seeking out his next victim.

And then he saw her.

Aria's eyes widened as they met with his, and she released a squeal of giddiness and fear in response to her impending attack.

It took the larger boy only the blink of an eye to reach her. Both arms encapsulated her torso, and suddenly the two were tumbling to the ground in a heap of giggles and tickling.

"Jacob!" His mother called from the porch, "you be careful with her, she's little." She was flanked by all of the older sisters: Jacob's, Aria's, and even Seth's. Sometimes, the four of them were a more brutal team than the boys.

Jacob grumbled, but he soon laughed and stood up, not even bothering to dust himself off before reaching a hand out to help Aria up. She was the only girl he didn't think was gross. She smiled a toothless smile and allowed herself to be yanked to her feet.

"Kiddos!" Billy bellowed. He joined his wife on the porch, making sure to place a chaste kiss on her cheek before walking down the steps. The children scurried to meet him, wide eyes looking up at him.

"How about we bring this party indoors and wash up? I've got a new friend for you all to meet, and I doubt she'll want to roll around in the dirt like a bunch of wild animals." He released a belly laugh as he reached out both arms to grab Aria and Quil, tickling them while wrapping them in a hug. Their laughter erupted and filled the yard, Jacob and Embry joining in with giggles as they followed Billy into the house.

Upon their return to the floor, Aria and Quil joined the others in their march to the bathroom sink to wash their hands- a trip that they were no strangers to. One by one, they took turns washing their hands.

By the time Aria had propped herself up on the edges of the sink far enough to get her hands under the water, the boys had all left the room. She pouted her lips and crinkled her forehead as she begrudgingly dried her hands, as if the boys could somehow sense her anger towards them.

She had just stomped her way out of the bathroom when Sarah rounded the corner, her mere presence enough to wipe the attitude clean off of the child's face.

"There you are," Sarah beamed. She practically glowed in the evening light. She swept Aria into her arms with ease, resting the small girl on her hip and returning to the kitchen. Aria tried not to wiggle as she craned her neck in search of her boys. She was too caught up in her own quest to notice the nearly porcelain figures talking to her parents.

"Here's Miss Aria," Sarah chimed, gently placing her back on her feet. She looked up to her parents and grinned before her eyes moved to the man beside them.

Recognition flashed before her, and she knew he was someone safe, but she couldn't quite place why. She moved her attention to the girl standing in front of him, her body partially turned to face him.

Sarah knelt down between the two girls, and Aria quickly found herself pressing her body against Sarah's knees for comfort. A warm hand rubbed her back.

"Aria," Sarah began, smiling at her encouragingly, "this is Isabella Swan-"

"Bella," the pale girl interrupted, a hand quickly coming to cover her mouth with bashfulness.

"Bella Swan," Sarah corrected, still smiling, "she's Chief Swan's daughter. You remember Chief Swan, right?"

Aria looked up at him again. He had brown eyes, like her daddy's. She looked to her dad quickly and smiled before turning back to Sarah and nodding. She did remember him.

"Bella's three years older than you. Do you know how old that makes her?"

Aria bit her lip, raising her hand to count on her fingers silently.

"I'm six, she's nine."

Her parents and Sarah proudly beamed at her, and Sarah nodded, "That's right!" Aria smiled, she loved to make everyone happy. "Bella came here to play, but I don't think she'll want to play with all those dirty boys like you do. Why don't you two go into the girls' room and paint your nails with them?"

Aria nodded without hesitation. She didn't know Bella, but she was Chief Swan's daughter, and Sarah wanted her to, and that was enough for her.

She led Bella to Rachel and Rebecca's room, pushing the door open for the two of them and fearlessly launching herself into whatever the older girls were giggling about. Even though the others didn't talk to Bella much as they all painted their toes, Aria decided she liked her.

That day began the long running tradition of Bella's visits to La Push during her custody time with Charlie. As the years passed by, the visits became less frequent before ending entirely. And despite that it felt a million years away, Aria held onto that memory and that time in her life with all her might. Sarah Black was still alive, Billy could still walk, and life was as easy as eating a bowl of ice cream on a hot day.

But things had changed. And as much as Aria wanted to plant herself back in those times, she couldn't. She would never again be able to tuck herself away into a golden memory of powder pink toenails and muddy cheeks with Jacob Black.

Before she was even aware that the ground was crumbling beneath her feet, Aria's world began to shatter and erupt. Trust became rare, loss transpired, and all that she knew began to stretch just out of reach. Before she ever had the chance to glue it all back together, Aria's world became unhinged.