Chapter 1

“Mama, may I please go outside? I finished cleaning my room and Edward is waiting for me.”

“Isabella, can’t you just play dolls with Laura and Sarah next door?” My mother Renee responded.

“I don’t want to play dolls. I want to go play with Edward, he’s more fun and doesn’t tell me what to do.”

“Renee, why don’t you just let her play with whomever she wants to? You know that she has no desire to play indoors,” My father Charlie said.

“But Charles, she is a seven-year-old girl who should be learning how to sew, playing with dolls, and cooking, not running around outside getting dirty!”

“Renee,” Papa said in a warning tone as he rose from his chair and walked over to Mama,

“She is a very spirited young girl that shouldn’t be kept inside. I say that if she wants to play outside, then we should let her.” He placed a loving kiss on her cheek.

“Alright, but please be home by sundown.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you Mama, and Papa!” I said with a grin as I ran over to hug them before I went outside.

“Edward!”

“Gosh Bella, what took so long?”

“Mama was trying to convince me that I should act like a normal girl. You know like playing with dolls and stuff.”

“I can’t see why she would keep trying to get you to be normal. I mean, you couldn’t even if you tried!” He said while trying not to laugh.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that it is impossible for you to be normal because you are simply not normal!” He flashed his little crooked smile before he took off running.

“Edward that’s cheating!” I yelled as I took off after him.

I needed to catch up with Edward so I pushed myself faster. As luck would hav eit, I tripped over a tiny, little rock and fell flat on my face.

“Bella, are you alright?”

“Edward, you should know that its just a scratch and I am used to falling on the ground.”

“So, what does the dirt taste like this time?” he said laughing.

“Hmm…like old shoes, dirt, and fish,” I said and he burst into another round of laughter.

“Here,” he held out his hand to help me up.