Reese Bennett's whole life is uprooted when her family is forced to move to a small town in Washington for her father's job - where she meets a mysterious family - more importantly, Alice Cullen, who teaches her a lot of new things about herself.
HILA-MAE HAD GIVEN HER daughter the idea to throw a "sleepover party" and invite some of the girls she liked from school. Reese wasn't exactly a party girl much, but considering it was going to be tame, she figured it would be fine. Plus, as her mother said, she needed to open herself up more to the people of Forks and make some friends.
She'd been at the beach when her phone started ringing beside her. Without checking who was calling, she pressed accept and placed the phone to her ear.
It was Alice Cullen's voice that greeted her. "So have you decided what time for the party tonight?"
"I'm still not sure if I'm going to go through with it, honestly," Reese admitted sheepishly.
Alice's voice rose. "Reese, why not? It'll be fun!"
"I know, but, I just don't see how I can have a party right now," Reese said with a sigh. "I just... don't feel that comfortable here yet. I don't even know if people like me enough to show up."
"I like you," Alice pointed out in an exasperated tone.
"Besides you, Alice," Reese chuckled. "It would be silly to throw a party and have only you show up. You could come over if you wanted anyway, we don't need the excuse of a party."
"I'll bring my sisters, too," Alice added excitedly. "That's four of us."
"Again, you guys could come over whenever you want," Reese repeated. "I don't have to claim I'm throwing a party for that."
"Reese, I'm positive people will show up tonight. You need to think better of yourself. People like you. I've seen it," Alice gently said. "I have to go right now, but you are throwing this party, and I'm not taking no for an answer!"
"Ali—" Reese was cut off by the noise signaling that Alice had already hung up on her. With a frustrated sigh, she shut her phone off, amazed at how stubborn Alice was.
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Reese had been going for a walk, distracted in her thoughts when she stepped on something hard and unusual in the grass. Pulling her foot away, she saw a necklace underneath her foot. Crouching down, she picked it up. It was a round, silver necklace—a locket, though there was nothing inside. An aquamarine-colored gem sat on top of the locket frame. It was quite a beautiful piece of jewelry.
"Pretty necklace," a male voice said from beside her, making her jump. She stood up straight to see that it was Jasper Hale—the blond boy she'd been seeing with Alice and Rosalie so often. Jasper and Rosalie were twins, and they were Alice's cousins.
"There's nothing in it, I just found it right here," Reese explained, a confused look on her face. "I hope it wasn't important to somebody and they lost it."
"It would go pretty with your earrings," Rosalie piped up softly from the other side of Reese. She had a small smile on her face. "I don't think it belongs to anyone—not anymore, at least. There's no picture in it, and it looks like it's been sitting here for a while."
