CHAPTER ONE

For most the arrival of March brought about a profound change in the air. A fresh start that came with the beginning of every passing season, natural changes occurring everywhere, life and death. It all came as another season arrived. However, in Forks, Washington it always seemed like either the concept of seasons had skipped over the rainy town altogether beside one, or the town refused to bend to the season system that was accepted all over the world. Whatever the reason, an obvious change in seasons was non-existent, leaving only the constant cycle of rain, wind, cloud and fog. 

The seasons, as Forks' residents continued their endless march through the year, refused to change. A sunny day or even a day where there wasn't at least one shower of rain was a rare occurrence, one that was always welcomed with open arms. 

Eleanora Hadley was never a big fan of change, but a long-time lover of the rain. For a seventeen-year-old who had had her life completely altered multiple times Forks, Washington was the best place for her. The light pitter-patter of the rain on the Hadley family home roof never failed to soothe her, lulling her gently into sleep. But even the rain couldn't shroud the days when all she wanted to do was give up. Those days terrified her, just as much as they did to her mum. 

"When is the troll coming back?" Eleanora asked, staring into her cereal bowl, the reflections of the kitchen lights above her floating between soggy flakes, shuddering with each movement. 

"Ellie! What have I told you about using that nickname for your brother?"

"Only speaking the truth, Mum. To be fair it's the only name that describes him perfectly. Surely, you have to agree with that." Ellie retorted, avoiding the sharp glare her mum shot back at her. 

"I think Elijah should be back this weekend. He wants some time in Forks before his college semester goes back."

"More like to steal more money to pay petrol for that gaudy car." Ellie continued, meeting her mother's exasperated gaze. "What? You know it's true. He completely screws you over with every visit and you let it happen." 

"Ellie. . ." Allison Hadley breathed, considering her next words carefully. "Your brother just needs some time to get back onto his feet, and we need to help him until he gets there."

"He's been out of school for nearly two years by now, Mum. He hardly goes to college, his grades are practically non-existent and he doesn't have a job. He doesn't even fall asleep eight times a day, who knows what he is doing with all that extra time?"

"I really shouldn't be talking to you about this." Allison sighed, pressing her fingertips against her temples. 

"Yet we continue to have the same conversation over and over." Ellie mused quietly. 

But the truth was that Allison Hadley didn't have anyone but her only daughter to confide in about her constant struggles with her son's apparent allergy towards responsibility and growing up. An immense busy schedule had prevented the woman from blending into Forks' community as easy as Ellie or Elijah eventually had. But with a limited support group and only occasional interactions with their neighbours, it wasn't easy to have people to hold you up when times got tough. And times were often tough for the Hadley family. 

It had been Allison's decision to move to Forks five years ago. A fresh start in a brand new town, she had tried to sell the idea to her children. One who had just had her life turned upside with an unexpected diagnosis and the other one holding a grudge against his mother for all eternity. The leaving of their father, the divorce and the move were the cherries on top of the cake of the longest year of their lives. 

So after being given very little choice, the Hadley family were forced to integrate into a new society and accept their new normal. 12-year-old Eleanora Hadley had joined the Forks community seamlessly despite the neon sign on her forehead that now marked her as different while Elijah Hadley had taken longer, the sudden loss of his father taking over in everything he did. But even he made friends, joined the community and successfully graduated high school, escaping the second his diploma was handed to him. 

Even after five years, there were a few wounds that wouldn't ever completely heal. Ones that were wrapped underneath layers of gauze, dried blood forced out of mind, but the wounds would never completely scab over, no matter how much time passed. 

"Come on, you better go get ready." Allison continued, swiping the cereal bowl away from Ellie, pressing a kiss to her head, her eyes flickering up to the archaic clock that was still somehow ticking along. "Sydney will be here in ten."

The clock continued to tick down the seconds until the loud honk of a car just as ancient echoed throughout the Hadley family residence. 

"See you after school!" Ellie shouted, pausing on the threshold for a moment only to receive no response. She shrugged slightly in response, it was an unusual occurrence that even at top volume the house would swallow up words and refuse to spit them out once more. 

The honk sounded once more, even louder and more obnoxious. A car that summed up the personality of best friend perfectly. 

"Jesus Christ, I'm coming," Ellie muttered, opening the car door and shutting it behind her, wincing at the loud thud it made. 

"What is it with you and lingering at your front door for so long every single day like something huge is gonna happen while you stare into space?" Sydney Taylor asked, pulling out of the driveway. 

"Good to see you, Syd." Ellie returned ignoring the comment, before looking into the rearview mirror, her eyes landing on Brendon Taylor, crumpled against the back seat, his eyes engrossed into the video game flickering across his screen. "And you too, Brendon."

"Oh hi, El." He muttered, his eyes still stuck on the dim screen. 

"How was your weekend?" Ellie asked, turning back to Sydney, knowing that she wouldn't get any more of a response from the boy. 

"Well, Dad forced us into camping in the backyard, some good old family bonding time. And sure, it would have been fun if my air mattress didn't deflate in the middle of the night."

"Sounds like you need another air mattress." Ellie joked. 

"Yeah, no shit." Sydney returned with an eye roll. 

"Okay, what else?" 

"Nothing much. Heard that we've got a new girl today though-"

"Well that's not exactly nothing, is it?" Ellie interrupted. "When was the last time we even had someone new and high school aged move into town?"

"It was probably you or the Cullens." 

"Precisely." Ellie returned smugly. "It's the little things, Syd."

"Yeah, whatever you say," Sydney replied, putting the car into park. "Now come on, I don't exactly want to be late."

"You never do," Ellie added but was interrupted by the slamming of the door, one moody teenager stalking into the crowd. "What's up with him?"

"How am I to know? Kid's always pissed at the world." Sydney began. "But probably the fact that Mum caught him playing video games with all his international friends at like 2 in the morning. That screaming match definitely woke the neighbours."

"How fun," Ellie muttered jokily, having experienced many screaming matches late at night between her mum and brother. "But I thought you didn't want to be late?" Ellie asked as the bell trilled throughout the parking lot. 

"Goddamn it, El," Sydney muttered as her best friend had already weaved her way into the crowd, her cheeky smile for everyone to see. "I'm not paid enough to deal with her every day."