I. N E W C H A P T E R

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Trees

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Trees. That's all Cassie saw since they entered the town. Her eyes trained on the road before her, in the car before her, her parents lead her into town. The 17 year old girl had tried to occupy her mind as much as she could while driving, from trying to talk to her younger brother in the seat besides her, to blaring Queen on the radio. The trees left her mind a little comfort as she sped through the small town roads.

The town of Forks only had a population of 3,120 people, well now 3,124.  It would be  big difference from her life in Denver, Colorado, where the population was 2,181,000. As far as she could tell, this would be a big difference from her city life.

The further they drove, the more Cassie came to appreciate the landscape. Sure she loved the city, but it was refreshing to get away from the hellish traffic, the giant crowds, and the mountains of buildings that made it hard for Cassie to see the mountains in her old city.

******

"Well, what do you guys think?" Erica asked, as the two teens climbed out of Cassie's car. The female teen looked up, and saw a simple 2 story house mounted on the corner of the neighbor hood. It's grey paint peeling a bit, and the only other cars parked near it was Erica's White Toyota, and her father's police car.

"It....small." Chris, Cassie's step brother said, making her smack his arm.

"It's awesome!" She said, making her step-mom smile.

"Glad you like it, but there's one problem." Daniel said, walking around the car. "There's only two bedroom's. One of you is going to have to sleep in the attic."

Cassie and Chris made eye contact, before Chris shoved her to the side, and bolted to the house.

"I call dibs!"

"No you don't!" Cassie yelling, chasing after him.

********

It took Cassie a couple of hours to unpack. Unfortunately, her speed does not match her 6'4, basketball playing step-brother, so he won the bedroom, while she was stuck in the attic.

She threw her empty boxed down the stairs, and looked around, examining her work. The room was small, so she had to make due. Her queen sized bed was shoved in the middle of the room, different types of fake plants surrounded the room. Underneath the bed had different baskets, so she didn't need to worry about a dresser. In the corner, she shoved her desk, pictures and vines occupied the wall.

Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, the bright red letters flashed 7pm. Not wanting to be alone, she threw on a crewneck, and ran downstairs.

Chris was still in his room, making Cassie be alone with her dad and step-mom.

"All done, sweet-heart?" Erica asked, not taking her eyes off the stove, where she was currently cooking pork chops.

"Yeah. Didn't take as long as I thought." Cassie said, making Erica chuckle.

"Glad your not an extremist, like some people we know." Erica responded, motioning up the stairs, to Chris's room.

Cassie chuckled, and sat at the table next to her Dad. Looking outside, she saw the rain wasn't too bad.

"Do you guys mind if I take a walk?" Cassie asked.

"Of course not. Will you be ok though?" Daniel replied.

"Yeah, I won't get lost." Cassie joked. Daniel let out a single laugh, as Cassie threw on her boots, and grabbed a raincoat. She walked around the neighborhood, taking in her new home.

The family decided to move down to Forks because Erica had gotten a new job offer at the hospital. She would go from an underpaid nurse, to a head nurse who would make a lot more. Daniel didn't mind because they had an opening at the police station. Cassie didn't mind, but Chris was livid. Having to move away from their school where he was one of the most popular guys, he didn't want that to change. Cassie wasn't unpopular, but she wasn't exactly popular. She had her group of friends, and was well-known because of Chris. She and him having been going to school together since she was in 7th grade, and he was in 5th.

Cassie's mom died when she was young, really young. She doesn't have any memories of her, just that her dad was devastated. It took him a couple of years to start dating, and one day he met Erica.

Erica had Chris with her previous husband. He and Cassie got along just like normal siblings. Hating each other, but protecting each other.

Cassie snapped out of her thoughts when a car honked at her.

"Sorry!" She yelled, running out of the road. She decided that she had enough time to explore Forks, and ran back home, wanting to hide from the embarrassment that now flooded her veins.

******

"Back already?" Daniel asked, and Cassie shook her shoes off, and threw her coat into the closet.

"Yeah. It was getting late anyways. Don't want to be tired for school tomorrow." Cassie replied, sparing the detail of her walking into the road without paying attention.

"Ok. Do you like Forks?" He asked.

"Yeah, I think it's going to be a good change."

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