BELLA'S POV
Arriving in the city of Seattle was annoying. I had gotten there just in time for morning traffic. Everyone was trying to get into Seattle to get to work, and I had been stuck in the traffic of a fucking accident for the past hour. I had just wanted to get out of my car and throw the wreckage off the road, just so all these fuckers would get out of my way. I was getting impatient and very annoyed. I also realised that I could smell the blood from the accident; my throat was burning from the smell, which I guess was from hunger. I tried to ignore it as best I could; I needed to get away from the smell of it.After another half hour, the traffic finally cleared up and I got into Seattle. Having no idea where to start looking for Esme, I decided to check the phone book first. Parking my car, I walked around to find one. When I finally did, I jumped in and grabbed the phone book and looked up Esme Platt. Esme wasn't a very common name so I should have no problem with it, right? Wrong! There were five Esme's in Seattle and the surrounding area. There were no Platt's, so I'm guessing she married or moved on. I wrote down the names and addresses on a piece of paper before leaving the booth.As I closed the door, I bumped into someone. He stumbled, but my now perfect balance didn't budge.I grabbed his arm to stop him from falling on his ass, and I said, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking."The man glared at me. "Stupid teenager…"I glared at him. "Excuse me?" He looked at me."I called you a stupid teenager; all bloody kids are just a waist of space." He pushed past me, and I smelt it again. Blood.He must have cut something. I decided this guy was a complete asshole—no one would miss him. I followed him till he turned down an alley. Being a bigger guy, he probably thought he was safe. Wrong! I grabbed him by the back of the neck and slammed him against the wall. He tried to push away, but I held him there with no effort.I growled at him when he yelled, "Let go of me, you freak!" I shook my head."You really shouldn't insult people you don't know. You never know who or what they are." I slammed my fangs into his throat sucking in the sweet tasting blood of this man. I hadn't realised how hungry I was; I just keep drinking and drinking and when I finished and dropped him, I wanted more. I wiped my mouth on his shirt before realising I couldn't leave him here in the middle of an alleyway; people might notice a dead body on the ground. I looked to my left and saw we were near the harbour.I found a garbage bag and filled it with rocks and the man before tying it. Making sure no one was watching, I dumped him into the ocean and watched him sink. I then realised that maybe watching all those cop shows were useful.Walking away from the harbour, I got back to my car and decided to find a place that had a computer. I needed to look up these addresses, and not having my phone, I couldn't do that. Driving around, I finally found an internet café. I grabbed my wallet and locked my car before walking inside. Keeping my sunglasses on, I paid for an hour of computer time before jumping on one, far enough away from the rest of the humans inside.It took me 40 minutes to locate all five Esme's I had found, and then I decided that maybe I would need to buy some contacts to hide my eyes, not wanting to freak anyone out. Stopping at a chemist, I brought some 2 dollar contacts that were brown, and bought a few, just in case. I paid for them before going in search. The closest address was Esme Harrison, living in an apartment building in the dead centre of Seattle. It took me 25 minutes to drive to the apartment. Asking what floor her apartment was on, I rode the elevator up in silence.Finding apartment 32D, I knocked gently. I quickly slipped in the contacts and rested my sunglasses on my head. The door opened and there stood a woman in her late 30's at least who had long blonde hair and blue eyes. She looked tired. I smiled at her."Hi, I'm Bella. I'm looking for Esme?" She nodded and smiled softly."Yes, that's me. What can I do for you?""I was just wondering…did you have a child 19 years ago? A girl." She shook her head."No, sorry, I have only one child, and that's my little boy." I nodded."That's alright, sorry for interrupting you day. Thank you.""It's fine, I hope you find her." I smiled."Have a good day.""You, too." She closed the door, and I pulled out the list, crossing off Esme Harrison. The next Esme was Esme May, stupid name if you ask me, but I guess you don't really pick your name. Getting down to my car, I looked up the next address, 132 Diamond Blvd, Lake Wood. So I took off to Lake Wood which was 40 minutes outside of Seattle. I turned the radio up and drove with my window down, this day in Washington turned out to be quite warm out. The traffic was good leaving Seattle, and I was in Lake Wood in no time. Working my way through the streets, I finally found Diamond Blvd. Number 132 was a single story house that sat on the corner of Diamond Blvd and Lila Lane.Parking out front, the few people who stood outside looked at my car; I'm guessing it wasn't a normal car you would see around here in the middle class working area. I walked up to the door and knocked. The door was opened by an older man in his early 40's. He smiled."Hi, can I help you?""Hopefully, um I'm looking for Esme? Is she here?" He nodded."One moment." He called out for Esme, a woman probably also in her early 40's.She smiled and asked, "How can I help you?""I'm Bella…" I shook her hand "…and I was wondering, did you have a little girl about 19 years ago?" She shook her head."No I'm sorry, I can't have children." She smiled sadly at me."Oh, I'm sorry, thank you." She nodded, and I left. Two down, three to go.The next two Esme's, I had no luck with either. I had just been told to fuck off by the 4th Esme—she was completely rude and her house was disgusting. She had holes in her arm, druggy I'm guessing. As soon as she opened the door, I prayed she wasn't my mother, and I was glad she wasn't. I looked at the last address. She lived a few minutes out of a small town called Forks, just off the Olympic Highway down an unnamed road.Driving an hour out of Port Angeles to get there, I was getting very disappointed. If this wasn't her, then I had no idea where to find her. When I found the dirt road to turn down, it was hidden by a lot of trees, very concealed unless you were really looking for it. Turning down the drive, I drove for 5 minutes before I saw a massive house hidden behind the trees. I pulled into the clearing and parked just outside the house. It was beautiful, three stories and very open, massive windows lined the walls and very modern. A four car garage was to the right, and the road continued to go around the back of the house.Climbing out of my car, I slowly made my way up to the front door. I rang the doorbell and waited. A minute later, a very young handsome man—he couldn't be older than 30—opened the door. He smiled at me softly. I looked into his eyes, and they were so different, a unique topaz colour that I had never seen before."How can I help you?""I'm looking for Esme? Is she here?" He nodded."Come on in. I will take you to her." Following the man, he said "I'm Carlisle Cullen, by the way, Esme is my wife.""Bella." I shook his hand and followed him up a flight of stairs. Listening carefully, I noticed I couldn't hear any heartbeats, also his hand hadn't felt warm when I grasped it like human's did, he was the same temperature as me. I thought to myself, is it possible for them to be like me? But why did he have topaz eyes while I had red?On the second floor, I followed him to a living area where a beautiful young woman sat. She had the same brown hair that I did, and it sat just below her shoulders in soft waves."Esme, dear, this young woman, Bella, is here to see you." She turned and stood up; her eyes were the same colour as Carlisle. Also no heartbeat, and I couldn't smell the blood in their veins either. She stared at me with a soft smile and asked."How can I help you, dear?" I didn't know what to say. I opened and closed my mouth, and then it slipped out."Are you vampires?" Carlisle raised an eyebrow."Yes, like you, by the way your contacts are disappearing."I shook my head. "No, you can't be…if you are, then how am I…"Esme walked over and asked, "Dear, what's wrong?" She gently held my shoulders like a mother would in comfort, and I asked another question."How long have you been a vampire?""Only a very short time, 13 years, as long as I have known Carlisle.""So it's possible then?""What's possible?" she asked."Did you have a child 19 years ago with a man named Charlie Swan?" She glared at the mention of his name."What has that asshole done to her?" I shook my head."So you did?"She nodded. "Is my little girl ok?"I nodded. "I'm fine now."She gasped and covered her mouth. "You're my little girl, you're my baby." She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around her as she hugged me. I did it; I finally found my mother, and maybe now, I could get some answers about both her and about being a vampire since she is one. My life is getting so bloody complicated.After our long hug and her covering me with hugs and kisses, she questioned me all about my life, me of course leaving out the last two months. She was gushing all over me, covering me with the motherly love I hadn't received as long as I can remember.When she finally stopped questioning me, it was my turn. We sat side by side on the couch as I asked, "Can I ask you a couple of things?"She nodded. "Of course, darling, anything you want to know."I sighed and asked, "Why didn't you take me with you?"She looked down before back up at me and took my hands in hers. "When I became pregnant with you, I was only 16, I was in love with your father, Charlie. He was 22, and I know the age difference was stupid, but I was young and I thought he was god. When I got pregnant and my parents found out, they wanted me to get rid of you—they didn't want the Platt name ruined. When they found out about Charlie and how much Charlie wanted to be a father, I said I would give you to him, he could raise you, and I would have nothing to do with you."Charlie and I planned it so that once I had you, we would leave and take you with us. Me being stupid, I believed him and agreed. So for my pregnancy, I lived with his parents, Maria and George, lovely people. They were so sweet, but they believed strongly in sex after marriage. However, they were so excited about being grandparents that they didn't care."I thought everything was going perfectly until a few weeks before you were due. I found out Charlie was engaged to be married, and he had been since he was 19, an arranged marriage organised by his parents and the girl's parents. Charlie had been playing me all along while having another relationship at the same time. No one told me. I found out all by myself, and having nowhere to go, I tried to make a run for it."However, on my way to the train station, I had an accident and ended up in the hospital. I almost lost you. Once the C-section was completed, I thought I would see you, but I never did—I never even got to hold you. My parents arrived and told me that Maria and George were disappointed that I tried to steal their grandchild; according to everyone, I had no rights to my own flesh and blood."When I was released, Charlie and his fiancée had left and moved away, and Maria and George were already making arrangements. I tried to find you, I did, but I couldn't. Once I was 18, I left home and continued my search. When I did locate you, you were already calling someone else "mummy". Charlie was well off, and my parents had cut me off. I had nothing, so I let you be. I figured you would be brought up in a happy home."I tried to move on but I couldn't, I was heartbroken. I ended up attempting suicide, and that's when Carlisle found me. He saved me and changed me, and for the last 13 years, we have been together. But I want you to know, I thought of you every day. I tried to send birthday and Christmas cards, but I always got them sent back. Speaking of which, your birthday was last week." She stood up, and I looked at the calendar that sat on the wall. She was right; it was the 19th of September. I hadn't even thought to check the date. I wasn't 19 anymore—I was 20. 20 years old.She walked back into the room with a small gift and a card. She gave it to me and said, "Happy Birthday, Bella." I smiled and hugged her."Thank you…Mum." I heard her gasp softly and hug me tighter. I opened my card and it was beautiful. On the inside was a small note.Dear Bella, Happy 20th Birthday! Every day, I think about you. I wish I could see your beautiful face and see what a beautiful woman you have turned into. If you get this card, call me on this number, and I will explain everything. I love you. Esme, your mother.I smiled at the note and then opened the present. Inside was a small box, and inside the box was a pendent with "My Baby Girl" engraved on the front. I felt tears gather in my eyes but they never fell. I wrapped Esme…no, my mother…in a tight hug and whispered, "I love you, Mum.""I love you, too, my sweet Bella .
