San Francisco Skylines

Prologue

"Hi Mrs. Madeleine, how are you this morning?"

"I'm fine as always dear, fine as always. What can I get for you today Bella?"

"Oh, I'll just take the fresh mango, please ma'am."

"That's all you want for breakfast? You're far too skinny honey, you really need to eat more. How about these croissants? Just finished baking, still warm. You could stand to eat a good 2 or 3 at least." Mrs. Madeleine suggested.

"I'll just take the fruit today, ma'am. Thanks though. I promise I'll get more for lunch." I assured her.

"Oh Bella, you feed me that same line everyday, and everyday it's a lie." She shook her head in exasperation. I grinned sheepishly at her and shrugged, paying for the $2 mango with some spare change from my worn coin pouch.

Mrs. Madeleine worked at the open market downtown in San Francisco, and had become the surrogate mother I never had, who nagged me about my eating habits and slipped me baked goods whenever possible.

We had become close ever since I had begun working at the small library a couple of blocks over. Everyday before work, I would come down to the market to get whatever fresh fruit looked good for breakfast that day, and then venture back on my lunch break later in the day. So I did receive a lot of food-related nagging from her, but she wouldn't say anything if she didn't care. And having someone who cared for once meant a lot to me. She was the only friend I had made in this city since I moved here about a year ago, and even if she was a good 45 years older than me, I loved her kindness and friendship.

Anyway, today was going to be special because I had a little extra money to spend on myself for once. Not much, but after I had done my bills, paid my awful landlord, and bought groceries (i.e.: Ramen Noodles for me, and dog food for Benny) I actually had something left over.

So today I was treating myself to some new art supplies, because who knew how long it had been since I had.

I hugged Mrs. Madeleine good bye, promising to see her at lunch, and made my way down the market stands that were lined along the sidewalk until I reached a tent with a table full of art supplies.

As I browsed the row of sketchbooks, I took a piece of the fresh cut mango out of the small plastic baggie and slid it into my mouth. Examining the lowest priced one, I sighed sadly. I guess I wouldn't be having a new sketchbook today after all. I only had $15, and the smallest, cheapest sketchpad was exactly that. I calculated tax in my head and realized I didn't have change since I had bought breakfast. I sadly put it back on the shelf. My old, almost full one would have to do for now.

I did find a pack of charcoal pencils for $7 and bought them instead, telling myself to be happy that I had any money at all to spend on frivolous things. It was better than last week when I barely made it in time to pay my landlord. It wasn't like I wasn't used to not getting what I wanted, and there were people who had it so much worse than me.

Growing up we had very little. Until the time I was 7 and my parents split, we lived on the salary of my moms substitute teacher career and my dad's job as a mailman in the rainy town of Forks, Washington.

When my parents split, and I went to live with my mom for my freshman and sophomore years, I learned how to take care of myself, and I learned it fast. I had no other choice.

My mom had always cared more for her own self than my dad and I when we were all together, but when they divorced and we moved to Phoenix, she met Phil and became greedy. He was willing to give her whatever she wanted, things my dad had never been able to afford to give her, and they married a few months after meeting.

She resented me.

I was an inconvenience to her and the way she pictured their life together, without the reminder of the failed marriage she had had with my father.

She wanted a clean slate, so I gave it to her. When she moved into Phil's large-scale home, I moved back to Forks to finish out high school with my dad.

Life was better for a while. My dad and I understood each other; we got along well enough and never had any problems. I was a shy, quiet kid and didn't cause any trouble. Everything went fine for my last two years of high school. Life was adequate. Not amazing, but I had no problems.

Until Jacob Black moved to town and ruined my entire life.

"Oh my God!" I suddenly heard someone squeal in my ear, and I jumped about a foot in the air, knocked from my thoughts violently. "Sorry for the scare," The voice continued quickly. "But you are just perfect, oh my –oh and very nice skirt, it reminds me of a spread I did on Eternal Sunshine Creations last fall, don't you think? Fabulous, it sure its. Have you ever done any modeling? Oh what am I saying, with a face like that of course you have! So, where's your portfolio? May I see it?" She stopped talking and held her hands out to me, her face expectant.

I blinked at her.

"Oh you don't have it with you? That's fine, totally cool. I'll just have to see it later, I'm sure it's ah-maz-ing!" She smiled at me, flipping a piece of her black spiked black hair off of her forehead.

What was going on? Who was this miniature elf that had startled me in the middle of the market, demanding to see some portfolio that I didn't own?

"Um, I think you're mistaking me for someone else, Miss. I don't –I'm not sure what…" I trailed off as she started talking again.

"No, of course I'm not mistaking you! But oh, how rude of me, I didn't even introduce myself! So sorry, sometimes I just get so excited I get ahead of myself. My name is Alice Brandon, I'm a fashion designer and creator of the Mary Alice clothes line, as well as the host of one of the biggest fashion shows in the world and creator of my own magazine, ALI. And you are?" She smiled at me, seeming sincere. She could have sounded snobbish giving me her entire life's accomplishments like that, but she just sounded genuine and proud.

Alice Brandon, as she had introduced herself, was a small, sprite-like woman who had choppy shoulder length black hair, and couldn't have been but a few years older than myself. She was wearing the most stylish clothing I had ever seen in my life, and the surrounding landscape of the cheap, cluttered market place contrasted so hilariously with her fur collared silk-like top. She looked out of place, yet acted like she was entirely in her environment. Alice Brandon was a mystery. I didn't know what to make of her, but she was so spunky and nice that I couldn't help but like her.

"Oh, I'm Bella Swan. N… Nice to meet you Alice." I said somewhat timidly. I had never been good at making friends, but Alice didn't seem put off at all as she continued talking.

"It's so fabulous to meet you too Bella, you have no idea! So let's do lunch, yeah? It'll be so fun! I know this great little restaurant a few streets over, called Kiha. You like Japanese right? They have the best." She grinned at me, waiting on my reply in the affirmative.

"Do Lunch"? She wanted to "Do Lunch" with me? I honestly could not remember the last time I had been to a restaurant. Not since I had moved here at least. I didn't have anyone to "Do Lunch" with and it was kind of pathetic to go by myself. Plus, there was the little issue of how I would pay… Would the $7.23 I had left cover lunch out? Probably not. I had planned on using it to buy a turkey sandwich from Mrs. Madeleine for lunch and having one packet of Ramen Noodles for dinner.

I must have paused too long, because Alice started up again.

"Oh you don't like Japanese food? Man, I live on it! But that's fine, we can sure find somewhere else –"

"No, Alice, I love Japanese food, but, um…" I stalled, trying to think of a reason for not being able to go, when suddenly I remembered. Shit, Work! What was the time? "Do you know what time it is?"

"Oh sure thing, it is…11:23. Kind of early for lunch, I know but it'll be fine." She smiled.

Oh my God, 11:23? I was so late! I couldn't lose this library job, it was the only thing keeping me in my apartment and semi-fed. Oh God what was I going to do? I hadn't been late one day since I had gotten the job, and I had never taken a sick day either. My boss, Alec Ross, was a complete jerk who wouldn't hesitate to fire me the minute he had reason. I had to go beg him to let me keep my job.

"Alice I'm so sorry," I started hurriedly. "I'm late for my job, I work at the library a few blocks over. Alec is going to kill me, or worse, fire me. I can't lose this job. I have to go. I'm so sorry." I finished as I turned and took off in the direction of my work, until I felt a small hand around my wrist pulling me back. It was Alice, using surprising strength.

"Alice, I'm sorry, but I really have to go, I can't lose this job, you don't understand –"

"Bella, calm down, I'll handle this, no problem. It's my fault you're late anyway; the least I can do is get you out of trouble with your boss. Alec, you said his name was? Sounds like a grouchy old man to me. I'm great at charming my way into an old man's heart. Trust me, he won't stand a chance." She smiled and linked her arm through mine in a show of friendship.

I looked at her skeptically. No one charmed Alec. But it wouldn't hurt to let her try, I suppose.

"Okay, Alice, if you're sure. But seriously, he's a tough shell to crack –"

"Don't worry, I can handle it. Now, lead the way. I have no clue where the library is, the only thing I've read recently have been fashion reviews." She giggled and I smiled at her generally happy personality.

I think I officially had my first age appropriate friend in San Francisco.

AN: Hey guys, new story! This totally came to me today, and I just sat down and wrote it. It's just the prologue of sorts, but you kind of have to read it to know what's going on in the later chapters. I know I sometimes skip prologues.

Hope you liked it so far, please leave me a review or something:)