Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.
Prompt:Word Prompt ~ Transform
EPOV
Previously:
I contemplated what would make me happy and came to the conclusion that I needed to go home.
It was time to quit racing through life and take time to enjoy the journey.
A month had passed since I had came to the realization that I needed to return to the only place I had ever called home. My life had not slowed down but I could barely contain the excitement and anticipation I felt at the thought of going back to live in Seattle, near my siblings and parents. After thinking it over for a couple days, I decided to call my best friend, my sister Alice, for her advice.
“Edward? Is everything all right?” Alice asked with a hint of worry in her voice. Was it so strange for me to just call my sister up and talk? I guess it was.
“Everything's fine, Squirt, I just wanted to call and talk to my sister,” I said.
I asked about our parents, and found out my dad had been selected to receive a prestigious award for his years of dedication to his patients and the advancements he had made in neonatal heart surgery. My mom was busy renovating an old Victorian house for an important client and it would be featured on the cover of an Interior Design magazine next spring. Alice happily told me about her wedding plans and caught me up on her fiancé, Jasper's work as a social worker dealing with children in foster care. My big brother, Emmett, was thriving as an architect and had recently started seeing a girl a couple months ago. Alice had got to meet her last week and she was sure that she was “the one” for Em.
“You know I can see these things, Edward,” she said. She always claimed to have the ability to “see” the future. I snorted and rolled my eyes.
“So when are we going to get to the real reason you called me?” she asked.
“That transparent am I?” I chuckled.
“I'm waiting, brother of mine, and I don't have all day. What's on your mind?” she asked impatiently.
“Well, I was thinking about making some changes and I wanted to get your input. I realized the other day that I don't like the direction my life is heading. I don't know, Ali, I just feel like if I continue down the path I am on I am going to end up a very rich but very lonely old man who has nobody to share his life with.” I explained. “I pushed you all away after what happened this spring. I miss you guys so much.”
“Oh Edward,” she sniffled. “I am so glad to hear you say that. We have all missed you too. What kind of changes do you have in mind? What can I do to help?”
I took a deep breath and slowly released it. “I was thinking of moving back to Seattle. There really isn't anything holding me here in Boston anymore. What do you think?”
“Ohmygosh! Are you serious?” she squealed excitedly. “That would be so great! Wait until I tell Emmett, oh and mom and dad will be ecstatic. They miss you so much.”
“Hold on there, kiddo, I haven't made my final decision yet. And I would kinda like to surprise them with the news myself.” I laughed. He enthusiasm sometimes got the best of her.
“Yes have to come home, E. I want my family back together again. Please?” Alice pouted. We talked for a while longer and by the time I hung up I knew that going back home was the right decision.
After my discussion with Alice, I brought up my laptop and tendered a letter of resignation to the law firm I worked at. The partners were disappointed in my decision to leave. With my track record for winning impossible cases, they had hoped to make me partner in the near future. I still had cases that I needed to wrap up with trial dates as late as early December, so I planned my move to coincide with Christmas. I had not been home for the holidays for three years now.
I had contacted my realtor to make arrangements to sell the house. I knew that with the economy so bad I would probably have to take a loss on the sale, but I really didn't care. I was anxious to close this chapter of my life and that home was full of memories I did not care to revisit.
I was tempted to contact our family realtor back in Seattle to get the ball rolling to find a new place quickly. I decided to wait until after I got back home to search for a house. The old Edward would have worked tirelessly with the realtor to have a place ready for me to move right into. But I was trying to transform from the guy who rushed through life with tunnel vision to the guy that appreciated what I had and took the time to enjoy what was around me. I really did not need to hurry to find a home, since I was positive that my parents would let me stay with them for as long as I needed. I liked the idea of taking my time to pick the right neighborhood and look for the perfect house for me.
On weekdays I worked finishing up my caseload, but on evenings and weekends, I began studying to take the Washington state bar exam. I was not sure where I would go with my career once I got back to Seattle. Instead of looking for work right away when I got there, I planned on taking time to spend with my family and reconnect with them. I had invested wisely over the years so between those profits and my trust fund that I had not touched, I could live comfortably for some time to come. Financial independence afforded me the luxury to spend as much time as I needed to find the direction I wanted to take in the future.
I came to the realization over the past couple weeks that my success as a high profile defense attorney brought me little satisfaction. In making a name for myself I felt like I had sold my soul to the Devil. I had compromised my morals by defending criminals and crooks who deserved to serve time for their crimes. The shame of this knowledge was humbling. That was not the man that I wanted to be.
Today, I had to be in court at nine to begin jury selection in one of my last cases. Since today was Friday and the following week was Thanksgiving the courts kept a light docket and we would not reconvene until the Monday after the holiday for opening arguments. This could not have worked out more perfectly for me. My flight to Seattle was scheduled for a 6:30 pm departure tonight. I planned to hole up in the hotel all weekend burying my nose in my books cramming the best I could for the Bar Exam that would begin on Monday. The test was to take two and a half days. I decided to surprise my family by showing up on Thanksgiving Day, sharing the good news of my pending move and spending the remainder of the weekend with them before my return flight to Boston on Sunday. Only Alice knew of my plans. She said she told her best friend about it but she was sworn to secrecy.
Jury selection went well and I was satisfied that the men and women selected would look at the case with an open mind. I consoled myself that at least my client was actually innocent of the crime he was charged with. I had insurmountable evidence that he was nowhere near the house when his wife was brutally murdered. His alibi was rock solid with eyewitness testimony and a timestamped security video showing him at work thirty minutes away during the timeframe of the murder. He had no motive for killing his wife and he was completely devastated. The police could not find any other suspects and the DA was anxious to pin the crime on someone and keep the public appeased. There were no way that they could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the crime and I was confident that we would get an acquittal.
As I was just about to walk out of the courthouse, I heard a voice I didn't want to hear again.
“Edward,” Carmen called. I froze. My eyes drifted closed slowly and I took a deep breath. I didn't want to see her, not now, but I was nothing if not a gentleman and thus my manners dictated that I acknowledge her presence.
“Carmen,” I replied tersely as I turned around. It isn't like I haven't seen her since that day. I couldn't avoid her entirely since she worked for the office of the District Attorney, but I hadn't spoken to her directly since we split.
She sighed. “I heard you were leaving the firm. Are you starting your own firm or something?”
“Or Something,” I replied. Why did she care now? She certainly didn't care about me before.
“Oh,” she said with her eyes downcast. She was still a beautiful woman, but her beauty did not hold the power over me that it once had. “Do you have some time? Maybe we could go grab a coffee.”
I was not going down that road, never again. “I don't think that's a good idea, Carmen. And you know I hate coffee. Listen, I'm in a hurry. I have a flight to catch.” I turned to go.
“Edward?” she called after me. I turned to look at her one last time. “I'm sorry.”
“Goodbye, Carmen,” I replied. I turn toward the exit and walked out the doors into the cold November air. I walked down the steps and got into my car.
I drove directly to the airport to get on a plane to take a step toward my future.
So our Edward is going through quite the transformation right now. He saw some things about himself that he wanted to change and took steps to make that happen. He is quite the busy guy right now. He is packing up his house and arranging to sell, finishing up his last few clients, studying to take the bar exam and planning a move across the country in less than a month.
Do you think that enough closure for his relationship with Carmen? I promise we will get into what she did to him later, when he tells Bella about it. Our couple will meet in the soon but not over Thanksgiving.
Finally I wanted to say thank you to my good friend, butterflybetty, for recommending this story today. Without her encouragment, I probably would not have started this story. ALL of her stories are great and I encourage you to check them out, but my all time favorite of hers is “Living Through the Pain”. Check it out.
Please Review!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Fictionista WitFit Daily Challenge~ 3/06/2010 Flock
Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.
Prompt: Multimedia Share: Search Google or YouTube for one of the following words, then select a search result at random and write about it: Flock, horse, crumple
BPOV
Devastated. Completely devastated. And to think the day had started out so well.
I spent the weekend with Charlie in Forks to celebrate his birthday. He grumpled the whole time that he didn't care much for birthdays, but I could tell that he was glad I came home to spend time with him. When I put a plate of his favorite lasagna with garlic bread and tossed salad in front of him, the look of ecstasy on his face was priceless. My dad was a man of few words and didn't do well with expressing his feelings, so when he pulled me into an awkward hug and mumbled “Thank You”, I knew he was grateful I came home.
Before heading back to Seattle, I decided to take detour to First Beach and play around with my new digital camera that Jake had bought me for my birthday. The camera was state of the art and he had also purchased high quality lenses. He really should not have spent so much on a gift for me, but trying to talk him out of something was like talking to a brick wall. He was so stubborn sometimes, but I loved him. I was disappointed that he could not come back to Forks with me this weekend, but he had to stay behind and work at the Auto Shop he managed.
Jacob Black and I had been a couple for as long as I could remember. Even before he asked me to “go steady” with him when we were in junior high, we were inseparable. Jake grew up in La Push, the Quileute Indian Reservation, and his dad, Billy, was a good friend to Charlie. I don't remember a time in my life that Jake was not around. We played together on the beach as kids, building sandcastles and chasing each other in the ice cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. As I got older, my feelings for him evolved as well and he transformed from being Jake, my best friend and playmate to Jake, the boy that I loved. After I became his girlfriend, not much changed. We still hung out together like we did before, but we also held hands and stole kisses when our fathers weren't looking.
It almost seemed like a foregone conclusion that Jake and I would be together forever. In high school, nobody ever bothered to ask me out on a date because it was common knowledge that I was “Jake's Girl”. After we graduated from high school, we both moved to Seattle, he apprenticed in a repair shop while I went to college at the University of Washington. Last year, after I graduated with a teaching credential, I was offered a position teaching freshmen English at the local high school and I jumped at the opportunity. Jake was a fantastic mechanic and had worked his way up to manage the shop he worked in. We shared a small two bedroom house that we could just afford on our meager incomes, but we were blissfully happy. Or so I thought. Jake asked me to marry him a couple months ago, just before school started up and we were planning the wedding for the following June.
It was a rare sunny day in La Push and families were out enjoying the beach. I waved and greeted friends and acquaintances as I made my way along the beach. I took a few shots of a little girl building sandcastles, a couple action shots of local boys surfing in the tumbling swells off the shore, I even did a candid shot of an unsuspecting couple walking along picking up rocks and shells.
Photography has been my passion since I was a young girl. My dad gave me my first camera when I was eight years old and I have been capturing snapshots of the world around me ever since. I have never had any formal photography classes, but my friends and family tell me that I have a natural eye for catching images of life and nature from a unique perspective.
I was turning to head back to my truck when I hear the rustle of feathers in motion and the squawks from a flock of seagulls. They were rapidly flying toward me and I had to duck down low to the ground to avoid a bird careening into my forehead. On instinct, I raised my camera and pressed the shutter, hoping to get a halfway decent picture. After the birds were gone, I raised up and walked the rest of the way to my truck. Once inside, I could not resist the temptation to look at my most recent shots on the LCD screen of the camera. I flipped through the images quickly and was pleased with what I saw. When I got to the last picture, the one with the flock of seagulls, my breath caught.
I could not believe the perspective and motion that I had unknowingly captured. Off in the distance the waves were rolling in and a couple people stood near the water looking out toward the sea. The sky was a perfectly clear blue, the sun was bright in the sky and reflected off the water. There was a boy running carefree in the sand amongst the birds. There were nearly a hundred seagulls flying toward the forefront of the image in various stages of flight. They looked like they were right on top of me, still in flight and I almost felt like ducking for cover again. I had never taken a shot that encompassed so much life and motion, and I was overwhelmed with pride for such an accomplishment.
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I couldn't wait to get home to load the picture onto my laptop and show Jake. I love the process of editing images and I was excited to tweak the shot in PhotoShop, my photo editing software. I drove home to Seattle as fast as my old truck would take me, and pulled up onto our street three hours later. The first thing I noticed was that Jake's VW Rabbit was parked in the driveway. I thought this was strange since he was supposed to be working today. I also spotted a red BMW convertible parked next to Jake's car.
“Hmm,” I mumbled to myself. “I wonder who is here?”
The answer to that question rocked my world. I gathered my overnight bag as well as my camera bag, and hauled them it into the house. I was just about to throw my stuff on the couch and find Jake, when I saw what looked to be a very expensive ladies handbag sitting on the end table next to an assortment of framed pictures of Jake and I over the years. I suddenly had a bad feeling grip me. Something was definitely not right with this situation.
I climbed the stairs after surveying the lower level without finding Jake and the feeling of dread only increased. As I got closer to our room, the cries and moans painted a clear picture of what was happening in the room I shared with my fiance. I had a decision to make. Did I want to open the door and be confronted my the visual image of his infidelity or did I want to just descend the stairs, get back in my truck and drive away?
The Bella I was before this moment, timid and shy, an accommodating pushover, wanted nothing more than to run. The Bella I became when my mind finally wrapped around the reality that the man I loved was nothing more than a cheating son of a bitch was filled with anger and wanted to burst through the door and tear them both apart. Angry tears threatened to spill over, but I stubbornly wiped them away and swallowed the lump that was forming in my throat. I was not going to allow them the satisfaction of seeing just how much pain I was in.
I gently turned the handle of the door, mentally steeling myself for what I was going to see. They didn't notice my presence right away. I saw clothing scattered all over the floor. An unfamiliar odor that could only be described as sex was thick in the room. I didn't know the odor first hand because I had made a commitment to retain my virginity until my wedding night. I didn't do this because of any religious belief or anything of the sort. I knew I was a plain girl with an average body. I didn't come from money and I didn't have much to offer my husband. I decided long ago that the one gift I could give my husband on the occasion of our wedding was my purity. I always assumed that I would be sharing that experience for the first time with Jake. I raised my eyes to the scene unfolding on the bed-our bed. I couldn't take much more of this so I cleared my throat.
All the disgusting noises stopped and motion ceased as they realized that they were not alone. Jake looked over his shoulder with wide eyes. He visibly paled as he pulled away from his...tramp. As his body moved to the side, I finally got a glimpse of the woman that he was fucking Jake and tearing my world apart. I could not deny that she was beautiful with her long blond hair and piercing blue eyes. She had the look of a model with her long legs and pert breasts. I wondered if they were real. She wore an evil smirk on her face, clearly she was pleased with herself.
“Bella, ah..uh, this isn't what it looks like,” Jake stammered and he reached down the floor and scrambled to put on his jeans.
I gave him an incredulous look. Was he out of his mind? “Really, Jake? Because I am pretty sure this is exactly what it looks like. How could you do this to me? What did I do wrong?”
Jake stood up and approached me as I took a step back. “Bells, I am so sorry. Please forgive me. This was a one time thing and it will never happen again. Please, just give me a chance,” Jake pleaded.
The blonde bombshell snorted. “Just a one time thing? If you are too chickenshit to tell Mary Poppins over there that we have been having sex for the past three months, then I will,” she turned to me, still smirking. “Apparently, since you won't put out till you say 'I do', Jake here had to seek out his release elsewhere.”
“Get dressed and get out!” Jake roared at her. She rolled her eyes and shrugged before she gathered her clothes.
I had seen and heard enough. I had to get out of there. Now. I turned away from them and walked down the stairs. As I made my way onto the porch, Jake caught up to me, followed by his fuck buddy.
He grabbed my arm desperately. “Where are you going?” he fumed.
“Don't touch me!” I bit back. I yanked my arm free from his grasp. “You lost the right to know where I am going when you stuck your cock into that whore over there.” I emphasized this by pointing exaggeratedly at the unnamed blond home wrecker.
A look of anger overtook the smirk that was previously plastered across her face. “Look here bitch,” she seethed at me. “Who do you think you are calling a wh-”.
“Save it Barbie, I really don't care what you have to say for yourself. You can have him.”
“Bella, please wait, honey, don't..don't leave me” Jake said weakly. His shoulders were slumped forward in defeat.
“Go to hell, Jake,” I yelled back at him. I walked away, flipping him off over my shoulder. I climbed into the cab of my truck and drove away without looking back.
I finally allowed my tears to fall freely.
Prompt: Multimedia Share: Search Google or YouTube for one of the following words, then select a search result at random and write about it: Flock, horse, crumple
BPOV
Devastated. Completely devastated. And to think the day had started out so well.
I spent the weekend with Charlie in Forks to celebrate his birthday. He grumpled the whole time that he didn't care much for birthdays, but I could tell that he was glad I came home to spend time with him. When I put a plate of his favorite lasagna with garlic bread and tossed salad in front of him, the look of ecstasy on his face was priceless. My dad was a man of few words and didn't do well with expressing his feelings, so when he pulled me into an awkward hug and mumbled “Thank You”, I knew he was grateful I came home.
Before heading back to Seattle, I decided to take detour to First Beach and play around with my new digital camera that Jake had bought me for my birthday. The camera was state of the art and he had also purchased high quality lenses. He really should not have spent so much on a gift for me, but trying to talk him out of something was like talking to a brick wall. He was so stubborn sometimes, but I loved him. I was disappointed that he could not come back to Forks with me this weekend, but he had to stay behind and work at the Auto Shop he managed.
Jacob Black and I had been a couple for as long as I could remember. Even before he asked me to “go steady” with him when we were in junior high, we were inseparable. Jake grew up in La Push, the Quileute Indian Reservation, and his dad, Billy, was a good friend to Charlie. I don't remember a time in my life that Jake was not around. We played together on the beach as kids, building sandcastles and chasing each other in the ice cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. As I got older, my feelings for him evolved as well and he transformed from being Jake, my best friend and playmate to Jake, the boy that I loved. After I became his girlfriend, not much changed. We still hung out together like we did before, but we also held hands and stole kisses when our fathers weren't looking.
It almost seemed like a foregone conclusion that Jake and I would be together forever. In high school, nobody ever bothered to ask me out on a date because it was common knowledge that I was “Jake's Girl”. After we graduated from high school, we both moved to Seattle, he apprenticed in a repair shop while I went to college at the University of Washington. Last year, after I graduated with a teaching credential, I was offered a position teaching freshmen English at the local high school and I jumped at the opportunity. Jake was a fantastic mechanic and had worked his way up to manage the shop he worked in. We shared a small two bedroom house that we could just afford on our meager incomes, but we were blissfully happy. Or so I thought. Jake asked me to marry him a couple months ago, just before school started up and we were planning the wedding for the following June.
It was a rare sunny day in La Push and families were out enjoying the beach. I waved and greeted friends and acquaintances as I made my way along the beach. I took a few shots of a little girl building sandcastles, a couple action shots of local boys surfing in the tumbling swells off the shore, I even did a candid shot of an unsuspecting couple walking along picking up rocks and shells.
Photography has been my passion since I was a young girl. My dad gave me my first camera when I was eight years old and I have been capturing snapshots of the world around me ever since. I have never had any formal photography classes, but my friends and family tell me that I have a natural eye for catching images of life and nature from a unique perspective.
I was turning to head back to my truck when I hear the rustle of feathers in motion and the squawks from a flock of seagulls. They were rapidly flying toward me and I had to duck down low to the ground to avoid a bird careening into my forehead. On instinct, I raised my camera and pressed the shutter, hoping to get a halfway decent picture. After the birds were gone, I raised up and walked the rest of the way to my truck. Once inside, I could not resist the temptation to look at my most recent shots on the LCD screen of the camera. I flipped through the images quickly and was pleased with what I saw. When I got to the last picture, the one with the flock of seagulls, my breath caught.
I could not believe the perspective and motion that I had unknowingly captured. Off in the distance the waves were rolling in and a couple people stood near the water looking out toward the sea. The sky was a perfectly clear blue, the sun was bright in the sky and reflected off the water. There was a boy running carefree in the sand amongst the birds. There were nearly a hundred seagulls flying toward the forefront of the image in various stages of flight. They looked like they were right on top of me, still in flight and I almost felt like ducking for cover again. I had never taken a shot that encompassed so much life and motion, and I was overwhelmed with pride for such an accomplishment.
.jpg)
I couldn't wait to get home to load the picture onto my laptop and show Jake. I love the process of editing images and I was excited to tweak the shot in PhotoShop, my photo editing software. I drove home to Seattle as fast as my old truck would take me, and pulled up onto our street three hours later. The first thing I noticed was that Jake's VW Rabbit was parked in the driveway. I thought this was strange since he was supposed to be working today. I also spotted a red BMW convertible parked next to Jake's car.
“Hmm,” I mumbled to myself. “I wonder who is here?”
The answer to that question rocked my world. I gathered my overnight bag as well as my camera bag, and hauled them it into the house. I was just about to throw my stuff on the couch and find Jake, when I saw what looked to be a very expensive ladies handbag sitting on the end table next to an assortment of framed pictures of Jake and I over the years. I suddenly had a bad feeling grip me. Something was definitely not right with this situation.
I climbed the stairs after surveying the lower level without finding Jake and the feeling of dread only increased. As I got closer to our room, the cries and moans painted a clear picture of what was happening in the room I shared with my fiance. I had a decision to make. Did I want to open the door and be confronted my the visual image of his infidelity or did I want to just descend the stairs, get back in my truck and drive away?
The Bella I was before this moment, timid and shy, an accommodating pushover, wanted nothing more than to run. The Bella I became when my mind finally wrapped around the reality that the man I loved was nothing more than a cheating son of a bitch was filled with anger and wanted to burst through the door and tear them both apart. Angry tears threatened to spill over, but I stubbornly wiped them away and swallowed the lump that was forming in my throat. I was not going to allow them the satisfaction of seeing just how much pain I was in.
I gently turned the handle of the door, mentally steeling myself for what I was going to see. They didn't notice my presence right away. I saw clothing scattered all over the floor. An unfamiliar odor that could only be described as sex was thick in the room. I didn't know the odor first hand because I had made a commitment to retain my virginity until my wedding night. I didn't do this because of any religious belief or anything of the sort. I knew I was a plain girl with an average body. I didn't come from money and I didn't have much to offer my husband. I decided long ago that the one gift I could give my husband on the occasion of our wedding was my purity. I always assumed that I would be sharing that experience for the first time with Jake. I raised my eyes to the scene unfolding on the bed-our bed. I couldn't take much more of this so I cleared my throat.
All the disgusting noises stopped and motion ceased as they realized that they were not alone. Jake looked over his shoulder with wide eyes. He visibly paled as he pulled away from his...tramp. As his body moved to the side, I finally got a glimpse of the woman that he was fucking Jake and tearing my world apart. I could not deny that she was beautiful with her long blond hair and piercing blue eyes. She had the look of a model with her long legs and pert breasts. I wondered if they were real. She wore an evil smirk on her face, clearly she was pleased with herself.
“Bella, ah..uh, this isn't what it looks like,” Jake stammered and he reached down the floor and scrambled to put on his jeans.
I gave him an incredulous look. Was he out of his mind? “Really, Jake? Because I am pretty sure this is exactly what it looks like. How could you do this to me? What did I do wrong?”
Jake stood up and approached me as I took a step back. “Bells, I am so sorry. Please forgive me. This was a one time thing and it will never happen again. Please, just give me a chance,” Jake pleaded.
The blonde bombshell snorted. “Just a one time thing? If you are too chickenshit to tell Mary Poppins over there that we have been having sex for the past three months, then I will,” she turned to me, still smirking. “Apparently, since you won't put out till you say 'I do', Jake here had to seek out his release elsewhere.”
“Get dressed and get out!” Jake roared at her. She rolled her eyes and shrugged before she gathered her clothes.
I had seen and heard enough. I had to get out of there. Now. I turned away from them and walked down the stairs. As I made my way onto the porch, Jake caught up to me, followed by his fuck buddy.
He grabbed my arm desperately. “Where are you going?” he fumed.
“Don't touch me!” I bit back. I yanked my arm free from his grasp. “You lost the right to know where I am going when you stuck your cock into that whore over there.” I emphasized this by pointing exaggeratedly at the unnamed blond home wrecker.
A look of anger overtook the smirk that was previously plastered across her face. “Look here bitch,” she seethed at me. “Who do you think you are calling a wh-”.
“Save it Barbie, I really don't care what you have to say for yourself. You can have him.”
“Bella, please wait, honey, don't..don't leave me” Jake said weakly. His shoulders were slumped forward in defeat.
“Go to hell, Jake,” I yelled back at him. I walked away, flipping him off over my shoulder. I climbed into the cab of my truck and drove away without looking back.
I finally allowed my tears to fall freely.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Fictionista WitFit Daily Challenge~ 3/05/2010 Race
After reading hundreds of stories in fan fiction, my mind has wondered, as minds often do, and I have outlined a few plots along the way, which I have filed away to work on (or not) at a later time. After reading one of said plots, my friend not so subtly told me to start writing because my stuff is just as good as the other stories out there in the fandom.
My problem is that I have what could only be called "writer's stage fright". I truly don't know why that is. I am not nervous when I write here on the blog, but the thought of putting my work up alongside other truly amazing authors in Twilight Fan Fiction makes me practically break out in hives. I am not a eloquent public speaker and publishing my work feels an awful lot like standing in front of my English class during my Senior Year giving a speech about Sewing (but I can't sit and imagine my audience naked, because for all I know they may actually be reading in the buff).
I need to put on my big girl panties and start putting my work (and myself) out there. It is in this vein that I decided to take on the Fictionista WitFit Daily Challenge and use the prescribed writing prompts to get my feet wet. Every day I receive an email detailing a word prompt or other media resource to spur my imagination. For instance, today's word is "Race". My job is to write something that incorporates that word somehow, or interpret it in some way. Many people that write take part in this challenge only write these as individual mini stories or drabbles.
My intention is to use the prompts to inspire me as I create a multi-chapter story. I have no idea what the prompt will be for the next day, so I have no clear path or outline for the story. It feels like I am writing a choose your own adventure book, and in some ways I am. I only know one thing about the story. I know what the ultimate goal is but I don't know how I will get there. I will tell you that it is based of the song from Nickelback called "Gotta Be Somebody". Will you take this journey with me? I would really appreciate constructive criticism and comments to help me shape and improve my writing.
So without further ado, here is my first entry~
Original or Derivative (fanfiction): DERIVATIVE
Rating: M
Notes: The is not edited or beta'd. In this series, I am utilizing the Fictionista WitFit Daily Prompts to write a continuous story. I have no idea where it is going.
Genre: AH~Edward & Bella~Drama/Romance
Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.
Prompt: Word Prompt~Race
EPOV
Sweat. Straining muscles burned with the ache of exertion. All while the rushing wind whipped past me, tousling my hair and tickling me senses. My eyes were focused straight ahead and did not deviate from the course I was set on. With the pace I had set, I did not have time to look around me to enjoy the autumn leaves as they reflected off the Charles River or the sounds of children's giggles as they fed bread to the geese on a nearby park bench.
I don't know why I was in such a hurry. I love the crisp air that is Fall in Boston, but as my legs pedaling propelled me forward, I could not help myself but race against some unknown force.
Just like everything in my life, I was in a hurry as I navigated the bike trail. I was never a patient person. From graduating from high school early so I could start at Harvard, to finishing law school and landing my dream job as a defense attorney at a top firm. I knew what I wanted and was determined to get it. I sometimes wonder where my life would have taken me had I not been in a rush to get where I was going?
Maybe I would have spent more time at home with my sister and brother before I started my higher education on the other side of the country. Maybe I would have traveled over summer breaks instead of taking summer classes to finish school early. If I had not been in such a hurry to attain success I might have enjoyed my time in college, spent more time building lifelong friendships, perhaps even taken up rowing.
If I wasn't so impatient, I may not have been in such a hurry to settle down. And maybe I would have never let her have the opportunity to break my heart. I guess you could say that I grew up with the perfect example of what great marriage looked like. I knew from watching my parents, Carlisle and Esme, that love can last a lifetime. I also saw that it took time and effort on both of their parts to keep their passion for each other alive. I wanted to love and be loved by someone, I wanted someone I could trust with my heart, I wanted someone who could finish my sentences and someone that I love unconditionally, forsaking all others.
In my haste to find that all consuming relationship, I chose a woman who was passionate and fiery, determined and beautiful. She was full of energy and a firecracker in the bedroom. Carmen was everything I thought I wanted in a woman. Apparently I was not what she wanted in a husband.
Nearly six months had passed since the time she left me shattered and broken. In that time, I had thrown myself more into my work, if that was even possible. I put up a wall around myself and did not let anyone in. My family had tried on more than one occasion to break down the walls, but I shut them out and soldiered on, determined to make partner. If I could not be successful in love, at the very least I could have success in my career. But not even the distraction of work could mask how truly lonely I felt.
I slowed my pace and took a deep breath. Coming to a stop, I swung my leg over my bike and and rolled it over to lean it up against a nearby tree. I took off my helmet, ran my fingers through my hair and wiped the sweat that covered my face. I sank down and leaned my back against the tree and stretched my legs out in front of me. I looked out across the water and watched boats pass my by. I could not remember the last I took time just to sit down and enjoy the view.
Maybe it was time to stop being in such a hurry. I had so much to be grateful for, but I didn't take the time to enjoy it. I had a lovely family who were there for me even when I pushed them away. I had a successful career that brought me no joy. I had a beautiful house that did not feel like a home. I contemplated what would make me happy and came to the conclusion that I needed to go home.
It was time to quit racing through life and take time to enjoy the journey.
My problem is that I have what could only be called "writer's stage fright". I truly don't know why that is. I am not nervous when I write here on the blog, but the thought of putting my work up alongside other truly amazing authors in Twilight Fan Fiction makes me practically break out in hives. I am not a eloquent public speaker and publishing my work feels an awful lot like standing in front of my English class during my Senior Year giving a speech about Sewing (but I can't sit and imagine my audience naked, because for all I know they may actually be reading in the buff).
I need to put on my big girl panties and start putting my work (and myself) out there. It is in this vein that I decided to take on the Fictionista WitFit Daily Challenge and use the prescribed writing prompts to get my feet wet. Every day I receive an email detailing a word prompt or other media resource to spur my imagination. For instance, today's word is "Race". My job is to write something that incorporates that word somehow, or interpret it in some way. Many people that write take part in this challenge only write these as individual mini stories or drabbles.
My intention is to use the prompts to inspire me as I create a multi-chapter story. I have no idea what the prompt will be for the next day, so I have no clear path or outline for the story. It feels like I am writing a choose your own adventure book, and in some ways I am. I only know one thing about the story. I know what the ultimate goal is but I don't know how I will get there. I will tell you that it is based of the song from Nickelback called "Gotta Be Somebody". Will you take this journey with me? I would really appreciate constructive criticism and comments to help me shape and improve my writing.
So without further ado, here is my first entry~
Original or Derivative (fanfiction): DERIVATIVE
Rating: M
Notes: The is not edited or beta'd. In this series, I am utilizing the Fictionista WitFit Daily Prompts to write a continuous story. I have no idea where it is going.
Genre: AH~Edward & Bella~Drama/Romance
Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.
Prompt: Word Prompt~Race
EPOV
Sweat. Straining muscles burned with the ache of exertion. All while the rushing wind whipped past me, tousling my hair and tickling me senses. My eyes were focused straight ahead and did not deviate from the course I was set on. With the pace I had set, I did not have time to look around me to enjoy the autumn leaves as they reflected off the Charles River or the sounds of children's giggles as they fed bread to the geese on a nearby park bench.
I don't know why I was in such a hurry. I love the crisp air that is Fall in Boston, but as my legs pedaling propelled me forward, I could not help myself but race against some unknown force.
Just like everything in my life, I was in a hurry as I navigated the bike trail. I was never a patient person. From graduating from high school early so I could start at Harvard, to finishing law school and landing my dream job as a defense attorney at a top firm. I knew what I wanted and was determined to get it. I sometimes wonder where my life would have taken me had I not been in a rush to get where I was going?
Maybe I would have spent more time at home with my sister and brother before I started my higher education on the other side of the country. Maybe I would have traveled over summer breaks instead of taking summer classes to finish school early. If I had not been in such a hurry to attain success I might have enjoyed my time in college, spent more time building lifelong friendships, perhaps even taken up rowing.
If I wasn't so impatient, I may not have been in such a hurry to settle down. And maybe I would have never let her have the opportunity to break my heart. I guess you could say that I grew up with the perfect example of what great marriage looked like. I knew from watching my parents, Carlisle and Esme, that love can last a lifetime. I also saw that it took time and effort on both of their parts to keep their passion for each other alive. I wanted to love and be loved by someone, I wanted someone I could trust with my heart, I wanted someone who could finish my sentences and someone that I love unconditionally, forsaking all others.
In my haste to find that all consuming relationship, I chose a woman who was passionate and fiery, determined and beautiful. She was full of energy and a firecracker in the bedroom. Carmen was everything I thought I wanted in a woman. Apparently I was not what she wanted in a husband.
Nearly six months had passed since the time she left me shattered and broken. In that time, I had thrown myself more into my work, if that was even possible. I put up a wall around myself and did not let anyone in. My family had tried on more than one occasion to break down the walls, but I shut them out and soldiered on, determined to make partner. If I could not be successful in love, at the very least I could have success in my career. But not even the distraction of work could mask how truly lonely I felt.
I slowed my pace and took a deep breath. Coming to a stop, I swung my leg over my bike and and rolled it over to lean it up against a nearby tree. I took off my helmet, ran my fingers through my hair and wiped the sweat that covered my face. I sank down and leaned my back against the tree and stretched my legs out in front of me. I looked out across the water and watched boats pass my by. I could not remember the last I took time just to sit down and enjoy the view.
Maybe it was time to stop being in such a hurry. I had so much to be grateful for, but I didn't take the time to enjoy it. I had a lovely family who were there for me even when I pushed them away. I had a successful career that brought me no joy. I had a beautiful house that did not feel like a home. I contemplated what would make me happy and came to the conclusion that I needed to go home.
It was time to quit racing through life and take time to enjoy the journey.
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Twilight Zone: A Glimpse of Supernatural Fics I Love
My dear friend Bean is stuck in a rut. An All-human rut, that is. I have recommended many a story to her that contained vampires, but she is has yet to delve into the realm of vampires. I actually find this hilarious because she loved the original Twilight story, in which most of the main characters were...vampires. I figure I would give a few stories that don't necessary have vampires, but do deal with topics that are unexplainable by natural law or phenomena. Ghosts, Witches, Time Travel and more, these stories have characters that deal with many of the emotions and situations as their human counterparts, with a fantasy twist to keep it interesting.
Bean, this is for you!
Across the Years by AMayes (Incomplete)
This story mirrors the movie, The Lake House. Edward receives a letter from a stranger by the name of Isabella, and discovers they are living two years apart. He in 2007; Bella in 2009. Through a mystical mailbox they are able to communicate...and fall in love. Rated T
Dragon Stones by katmom (Incomplete)
Edward and his dragon, Volterra, believe that Volterra's mate is lost, gone either in death or time. Bella, a servant at Ruthin Castle, discovers and makes a connection with Kathea, a long dead dragon, who asks her for help with her daughter, ShayTan. Rated T
Elemental by TallulahBelle (Incomplete)
When the Swans return to their birthplace, Bella learns she is no ordinary teenager, and Forks is no ordinary town. Can she fulfill her destiny with the powerful Edward Cullen, or will the dark forces that threaten their families destroy them all? Rated M
Vendetta at Twilight by muggleinlove (Incomplete)
This is a Harry Potter/Twilight Crossover. Edward and Bella have been best friends age 11. The attraction between them is obvious. Will they admit their feelings to each other? What is James and his family plotting? Twilight Characters in HP setting. Rated M
The Mirrors by adorablecullens (complete)
Teddy's secret and magical childhood is lost when a family heirloom is destroyed, changing his life forever. Now an adult, can Edward open himself back up to magic and love when he meets a beautiful - and hauntingly familiar - woman in real life? Rated M
In Another Life by the-glory-days (complete)
When Edward Cullen is killed in a car accident, it’s Bella Swan who finds herself helping his ghost find out why he died. Rated T
Spirit to Flesh by LittleWing2 (Incomplete)
This story is based on the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie called The Love Letter. You can watch this movie on YouTube (broken up into 14 segments). Honestly, LittleWing2 wrote a better version than the movie while giving the characters attributes we would recognize from Twilight. Edward finds a letter written by a mysterious woman 92 years ago. Their correspondence ignites a love affair that tests the bounds of their relationships, their hearts and time itself. Rated M
I hope you enjoy these "out of this world" stories as much as I have!
Scarlet Nite
Bean, this is for you!
Across the Years by AMayes (Incomplete)
This story mirrors the movie, The Lake House. Edward receives a letter from a stranger by the name of Isabella, and discovers they are living two years apart. He in 2007; Bella in 2009. Through a mystical mailbox they are able to communicate...and fall in love. Rated T
Dragon Stones by katmom (Incomplete)
Edward and his dragon, Volterra, believe that Volterra's mate is lost, gone either in death or time. Bella, a servant at Ruthin Castle, discovers and makes a connection with Kathea, a long dead dragon, who asks her for help with her daughter, ShayTan. Rated T
Elemental by TallulahBelle (Incomplete)
When the Swans return to their birthplace, Bella learns she is no ordinary teenager, and Forks is no ordinary town. Can she fulfill her destiny with the powerful Edward Cullen, or will the dark forces that threaten their families destroy them all? Rated M
Vendetta at Twilight by muggleinlove (Incomplete)
This is a Harry Potter/Twilight Crossover. Edward and Bella have been best friends age 11. The attraction between them is obvious. Will they admit their feelings to each other? What is James and his family plotting? Twilight Characters in HP setting. Rated M
The Mirrors by adorablecullens (complete)
Teddy's secret and magical childhood is lost when a family heirloom is destroyed, changing his life forever. Now an adult, can Edward open himself back up to magic and love when he meets a beautiful - and hauntingly familiar - woman in real life? Rated M
In Another Life by the-glory-days (complete)
When Edward Cullen is killed in a car accident, it’s Bella Swan who finds herself helping his ghost find out why he died. Rated T
Spirit to Flesh by LittleWing2 (Incomplete)
This story is based on the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie called The Love Letter. You can watch this movie on YouTube (broken up into 14 segments). Honestly, LittleWing2 wrote a better version than the movie while giving the characters attributes we would recognize from Twilight. Edward finds a letter written by a mysterious woman 92 years ago. Their correspondence ignites a love affair that tests the bounds of their relationships, their hearts and time itself. Rated M
I hope you enjoy these "out of this world" stories as much as I have!
Scarlet Nite
Sunday, January 31, 2010
My Current Reading List
Waking Up by RiaMaria (Incomplete)
This was recommended by A Cullen Wannabe. I always love to read AU of the original Twilight story. Edward wakes up in Bella's bedroom as a human. Rated M. I have read through Chapter 11.
My Cowardly Lion by Laughablelamb (Incomplete)
This was recommended by SunKing. It is for anyone tired of the reading about a self assured, confident Edward. Rated M. I have read through Chapter 1.
Passing Notes by Arbitrarygirl (Complete)
This was recommended by my good friend, fourpeanuts. A sweet, lighthearted romance. Rated T. I have read through Chapter 2.
Emancipation Proclamation by kharizzmatik (Incomplete)
This was recommended (among other places) by Pears13. This story is epic in length and has more than it's fair share of angst. Rated M. I am unsure where I left off in this story, The angst got too heavy for me and I had to step away for a while. I will resume at some point.
The Cannabean Betrothal by ItzMegan73 (Incomplete)
This was recommended by A Cullen Wannabe. Not sure what it is about but very popular and written by the same author as "A Rough Start". Rated M. I have read through Chapter 1.
12.21.12 by Dani Navy (Incomplete)
This was recommended by A Cullen Wannabe. Another Vampire AU story. Bella is a hybrid vampire found and brought in by the Cullens. Rated T. I have read through Chapter 1.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Welcome to Scarlet Nite
Hello and welcome to Scarlet Nite, my home for Twilight Fan Fiction recommendations, announcements and my current reading queue. I decided to create this blog for a couple of reasons. The first and most important reason is that I saw something lacking on fanfiction.net. Many respected authors leave fiction recommendations in their updates and I want to read many of these quality stories...just not right away. In the absence of a tool to "queue" stories for my future reading pleasure, I created this blog to create a Reading Queue for stories that I want to read. The second reason I created this blog is because I have a couple good friends that often look to me to recommend their next story. Having this site set up will be an easy resource for my buddies to find recommendations plus they can pass this site along to their friends.
I have a few ideas for Twilight Fan Fiction Stories of my own, and when I get the nerve to write them, I will use this blog to post teasers and other related information here.
I have a few ideas for Twilight Fan Fiction Stories of my own, and when I get the nerve to write them, I will use this blog to post teasers and other related information here.
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