Oxytocin

I. Beginning of a new Chapter

Her eyes were sore from exhaustion as she sat with her head in her hands. Her earbuds drowning out the sound of her the car, next to her, her father Daniel drove. Cassie had lost track on how long they have been driving. From switching from reading her mom's copy of 'To Kill A Mockingbird' and staring out the window, watching the colors change, all while trying not to sleep, so she doesn't have to think about why she's moving.

Within a span of a month, her entire life had changed. Going from a popular, happy, cheerful teenager, to a mourning daughter who had a hard time finding a reason to get out of bed.

Her mother was her best friend. She could always go to her whenever she had a problem, or whenever she wanted to talk about a cute boy she's met. Amelia Davie was the only one who Cassie could count on, but that all went away. When her mother was diagnosed with cancer, it was too late. It had already spread to much.

Her father wasn't around much. He and Amelia had divorced when Cassie was 9. After a year, he moved to Forks, Washington, while Cassie and her mom stayed back in New York. He had gotten a better job offer. Cassie couldn't blame him for moving. He went from a mall security officer, to a deputy of police. He even met her step-mom, Erica, a nurse down at Fork's Hospital.

A knock at her window startled the teen, looking up, she saw is was her step-mom. Realizing they had made it to their destination, Cassie tugged her earbuds out, and climbed out of the car, the damp air immediately hitting her skin.

Before she could even close the door, Erica had already pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.

"Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry about you mom." Erica said, as she pulled away from the girl. She pushed some hair out of Cassie's face, and cupped her hands around her face. "You've gotten so big."

Cassie smiled at her step-mom. Despite all the stereo-types, Cassie loved Erica like a mother-figure.

"You two going to help, or am I going to have to do this all myself?" Daniel, asked, already having half of Cassie stuff out of the car.

"Calm down, we're coming now." Erica said, looking at Cassie and rolling her eyes. Cassie laughed at the two, and walked over and started bringing her stuff to her bed room. It was going to be hard getting everything to her room. The house was small, and only 1 bedroom. Meaning Cassie's room had been stationed in the attic.

It was a good thing because she basically got a whole floor to herself, a bad thing because she has to climb two sets of stairs to get to it.

It took around 10 minutes, with Erica and Daniel's help, to get everything up to her room.

"Will you need any help?" Daniel asked, turning to the brunette.

"Nah. I think I have it." She responded, smiling at the couple.

"Alright, well if you need anything we'll be downstairs." Erica said, following down the stairs.

*****

It took Cassie a couple of hours to completely finish unpacking. Not only did she have to put everything away, she also had to redecorate her room. She got this room when she was 10, and unicorns and pink weren't really her thing anymore.

She looked around the room, proud of her work. It was simple, a twin bed with a white bedding, some fairy lights hanging from the wall, a bookshelf in the corner covered in books and candles, a dresser next to her bed to be used as both her closet and night stand, and a desk against the banister. The only real decorations were the polaroid pictures she had put up, and the brown fury rug she stole from the hallway.

The simplicity of it made Cassie feel at home. Her mom was never huge on decorations, so their house was never filled with many decorations. Maybe a fake plant here and there, but nothing to extravagant.

She glanced at the clock on her dresser, the red letters flashing 8. Sighing, she made her way downstairs.

Daniel and Erica in the living room, Daniel watching football on the TV, and Erica reading some murder mystery book.

"I finished unpacking." Cassie announced, Erica looking up from her book.

"Great! Do you think you will like living here?" She asked, placing her book on the cushion next to her.

Cassie shrugged. "I've only been here a couple of hours." She said, making Erica laugh.

"Sorry, I'm just happy to have you around more. Though, I wish it was under different circumstances." Erica said, her face turning into a sad expression.

"Seriously Erica?" Daniel said, turning to the blonde.

"What? What did I say?" Erica asked.

Cassie laughed at the two, and looked at the house.

"You might want to think about heading to bed soon. Tomorrow's your first day at Forks High School." Daniel said, turning his body to look at Cassie.

"Dang. I feel like that's soon." Cassie said, tugging at her sleeves.

"If you don't feel comfortable, you can always wait." Erica said, her eyes filling with worry.

"No, I think its fine. I'll already be behind. I don't need to miss anymore." Cassie responded.

"Ok." Erica said, giving Cassie a small smile, her eyes still filled with worry.

"I think I'll take dad's advise. It's been a long day. Good night." Cassie waved at the both of them, then quickly ran up the stairs to her new room.

She sat in bed, thinking about her new life. One thing was clear, It definitely wasn't New York. But maybe she could get use to Forks, her new home.