Goodbye's & Hello's.

"You promise to write every day?" he asked me with a hopeful look on his face.

"Of course I do."

"You promise to call and e-mail too?" he asked again, searching my eyes intently.

"Yes, of course. Do you promise?" I asked him, just as hopeful as he asked me.

"Without a doubt Bells. Best friends forever?" he asked with his famous crooked smile I grew to love over the summer.

"Of course. Best friends forever." I told him before he walked away. My heart hurt because I knew we were not going to see each other until the next year, but I was determined to stay in touch.

I was always the shy girl, so making friends was like an arduous task for me. In my thirteen years of living, I have never thought I could make friends with anyone my age, until I met Edward who quite ironically was my complete opposite.

Edward is popular guy, the "big man on campus". He knew everyone at camp and loved to socialize, so you can imagine my surprise when he approached me and we actually became friends. We spent the entire summer talking about the future, what we wanted to do with our lives and telling one another our dreams. We became best friends. He became my best friend, but now it is time to leave.

I'm usually excited to see my mom's red Toyota Camry drive through the gates of Camp but not this time. I wondered why it felt different. Maybe it is because I actually feel like for the first time someone understands me and I have to leave him behind or is it because I know my life wouldn't be the same after I leave. My mom just got engaged. I know I should be happy for her, I mean I love Phil. He's her new fiancé' and they've been dating for about a year now, but somehow I feel like it would never be the same without my dad. His name was Charlie. He died three years ago, when I was 10. I always tried to cover up my grief for the sake of my mom, but knowing that she would be marrying someone else feels weird.

Her car finally pulled up the camp driveway and I braced myself for the huge hug she would give me.

"Oh honey, I missed you so much! Look at you. You look so grown up." She squealed wiping away tears.

"Mom, I've only been gone for two months."

"I know honey, but two months is a long time" she said through tears, hugging me again.

"I know mom. I missed you."

"Oh, I missed you too. Phil did too. He is so excited that you're coming home!"

I felt guilty at once.

I knew how much Phil loved me, and I wanted him and my mom to be happy. I guess I just need time to get used to the fact that my dad is never coming back. A tear escaped my eye but I wiped it away quickly. I knew I needed to be strong for my mom.

I looked up, trying to disguise my pain when I saw Edward staring at me. His eyes looked pained as though he knew what I was feeling. He knew about my dad's death, but I never told him how much I missed him or how I felt about this new addition to my family. He kept looking at me with searching eyes as he always did and finally mouthed the words, "You will be okay."

I smiled, reassuring him that I would be and turned away. I didn't want him to see me this way.

As my mom piled up my luggage in the trunk, I looked around at the camp, revelling in the memories of one of the greatest summer's I had ever had. I would miss it. I would miss the early morning wake up calls. I would miss the open air and the remoteness. I would miss the bonfires that we had every night, but most importantly, I would miss Edward. The talks we had. The dreams we shared. I would miss our friendship. I continued to think about the good times we had together until the camp and all of the memories it held was out of sight.

***6 Years Later***

"ISABELLA SWAN!" my mom screamed from the kitchen.

I nearly knocked my head against my bed head as I fell face down on the floor.

"Mom, I'm up. I'm up!" I screamed downstairs after I finally dragged my exhausted body up from the floor.

"Okay honey, hurry. Today is the day!" she creamed back up excitedly.

I knew I should be happy. I mean, it was my first day of college but knowing that I would be leaving home scared me. I'm not afraid to live away from home or anything, I'm only afraid that I would spend my four years at college friendless and lonely, like my high school experience.

I had a lot of acquaintances throughout my high school years, people that I talked to in class and people that asked me for tutoring, but never someone I could actually call a friend. He was the only true friend that I had. My heart hurt as I thought of him and I pinched myself on the arm, hard.

Bella, I told you to forget about him.

It was 6 years ago.

I forced myself to think about something else as I walked over all of my packed boxes into the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror. My green eyes looks sad, and I knew why but I needed to get myself together before going downstairs. I wanted mom and Phil to continue feeling proud and happy, not worried because of my depression.

I stood in the shower an extra five minutes, allowing the water to soothe my tense body, and when I got out I realized that all of my boxes were gone. My room was completely empty except for my bed frame and bed head.

I forced myself to hold back tears.

After putting on my favourite pair of dark jeans with a white V-knocked shirt and brown combat boots I went to look in the mirror again at the woman I've become. As I brushed my long hair into its normal ponytail, I looked intently at myself. My features had matured over the years which I was happy about, although my dimples never left, which I always regretted after a boy in my grade school told me it looks like someone shot holes in my cheeks.

I stared into the mirror one more time, as if I was searching for some sort of contentment, until I heard Phil's voice.

"Bella! Time to come down or we'll be behind schedule honey."

"Okay Phil, I'll be right down." I yelled downstairs.

I mentally and physically prepared myself for what was next and looked in the mirror one more time.

You can do this Bella.

Think of it as a new adventure.

Remember what Edward said? Face every new journey as a new adventure.

Wait. No. I'm not supposed to be thinking about him.

After I finished arguing with myself internally, I finally went downstairs to meet Phil piling the remainder of my boxes into his Jeep and my mom looking at me with tears in her eyes.

Not again. I thought before her body slammed into my own.

She hugged me tighter than usual today and I guess I can understand why. Her only child was leaving for college.

"Mom, I'm not even leaving yet. We're still in the house."

"I know Bella. I'm just….I'm going to miss you so much sweetie" I could hear the pain in her voice and squeezed her tighter.

"I will miss you too mom. You and Phil."

I didn't realize we were both crying until I saw Phil come back into the room and started crying.

"Please don't do this here you guys." He said, wiping away tears.

I laughed, trying to be strong for all of us.

"Look at us, like a bunch of babies. I will be fine you guys and I'll be home for every holiday remember?" I reassured them.

"I guess so." My mom told me, wiping tears from her eyes.

"Okay girls, it's time we get a move on before we hit traffic."

I could hear the pain in Phil's voice and my heart softened. Over the years I've grown to love him a as a father. Even though I knew he would never take the place of my dad, he had his own place in my heart. I hugged him tightly and said "I love you dad."

He started crying again. "You never called me dad before."

"I know. Don't you think tis about time?" I told him with tears in my eyes.

"Yes. I think so." He said, hugging me again.

"Okay guys, I think we should get a move on it. " I heard my mom say behind us.

I knew she was trying to be strong and I finally got myself together.

"Okay, I'm ready." He told them before looking around the house one more time.

The drive to Cullen University was six hours and we made it there in four. With Phil's driving I'm surprised we didn't get pulled over for speeding but I thanked God that we made it there in one piece.

Cullen University was the top school in the state. Home of the Cardinals and I might add, home some of the richest people in the country. Of course I wanted to go somewhere else, but my parents insisted that I go here.

Think of the opportunities this will allow for you Bella. They told me insistently.

When we finally arrived, we all unloaded my things and got sorted out with my dorm room. I found out that I was rooming with another first year student and felt nervous at once. I was never good at making friends, but at the back of my mind I was hopeful that we get along well. I wanted to make at least one friend here.

After getting settled in, I knew mom and Phil had to leave. They both had jobs to go back to the next day. My heart began to break quietly, but as always I plastered a fake smile on my face to reassure them.

"I guess this is it you guys." I told them.

"It is honey" my mom said through tears.

"Let's try to be strong Renee, for Bella" I heard Phil say while holding back tears myself.

"Okay. I will." My mom said before hugging me for the last time.

"I love you mom. I love you both so much." I said, when Phil came to hug me.

We all said our final goodbyes, and I watched the Jeep drive out of sight. I knew the tears were still streaming down my face, and felt like a loser as I looked around at the other students. Everyone looked excited. Excited to build a new life, to start a new journey, yet I was still holding onto my past. I let out a sigh, before turning around, only to bump into someone's chest, hard.

I felt my body slam against the concrete ground. I was in pain. I looked up and could see a figure standing over me before I blacked out.

"Isabella? Isabella Swan?" I heard someone repeat over and over.

I began to stir.

"Where am I?" I barely got out of my mouth.

"You're at the Campus Nurse sweetie. You fell pretty hard. Your friend brought you here three hours ago. He is really worried."

"My friend. I don't have any friends here?" I told her, although it sounded more like a question.

"You don't? He told me your name and everything. He's right outside waiting for you. He hasn't left since he brought you here."

I was confused. Was I dreaming? I know I hadn't made any friends here yet. My head started to hurt again, and I could feel myself drifting back to sleep.

"Sleep now honey, don't hurt your head. You'll feel better in a few hours after you get some rest." I heard her say before I was out again.

I woke up to a bright light. Was it morning?

"Good morning Isabella." I heard the familiar voice say. "I trust you slept well?"

I looked up and saw the nurse smiling at me intently.

"Yes…I did. How long have I been in here?"

"Oh, since last night. Your friend stayed all through the night. I literally had to force him to go to his dorm and wash up. He will be back to take you to your dorm soon." She said with a smile.

Why does she keep mentioning my friend?

I wanted to ask her again, but I knew she would think I'm suffering from a concussion and kept my mouth shut.

She left the room filling out some documents and told me that I could go in the bathroom and wash up. I didn't realize how weak my body felt until I walked to the bathroom. Even though it was only a few steps from my bed, I felt like I walked a mile.

I washed my face, and pinched my cheeks to bring some colour to them. I ran my fingers through my now dishevelled hair and placed it in a neat plait down my back before going into the room and filling out some paperwork.

"I'm sure your friend will be back soon. Do you want to wait for him?" the nurse asked me worriedly.

"Oh, no it's okay. I'll just leave now." I told her; oblivious to the fact that I had no idea who she was talking about.

She looked at me for a while before she finally said "Okay honey. Have a great day. If he comes back I'll tell him you left and you're okay."

"Okay, thanks." I told her before walking outside.

The early morning breeze greeted me and I smiled inwardly as I saw the sun creeping up from beneath the trees. I always loved early mornings.

I stood there taking in the sight when I heard the nurse call my name.

"Isabella!"

I turned around to see her poking her head out of the door.

If I walk away slowly maybe she would think I didn't hear. I thought desperately.

"Isabella! You left your wallet."

Oh, crap. I have to go back.

I turned around slowly as if I just heard her call and walked back into the room. I sat in the waiting room as she went to collect my wallet, when I heard her talking to someone about me. I tried my best to listen intently.

"Is she still here?" I heard a velvety voice ask.

It sounded so familiar, but I couldn't figure out where I had heard it before.

"Oh yes sweetie, she's right in the waiting room. I'm about to get her wallet. You almost missed her before."

"Oh, great." I heard the strange voice reply to the nurse.

I heard footsteps walking towards the waiting room and I knew that there was someone behind me. For some reason my body was unable to move. Maybe it was because I still felt weak.

"Bells?" I heard the voice say.

I froze.

It can't be Edward. Am I dreaming?

I wanted to reply but couldn't bring myself to. I heard the footsteps walk around me and now the figure stood in front of me.

As my eyes bore holes into my combat boots the figure spoke again.

"Bells."

I couldn't bring myself to look up. It was only until the nurse tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around quickly and took the wallet.

When I finally forced myself to turn around again, there he was.

He looked the same but different. He got taller, really tall but his eyes were the same. They were still kind, only this time there was a hint of regret in them. I took in his face. It was as if I had just seen him yesterday, only today he was more mature and more handsome than before.

I don't know how long we stood there looking at each other until he spoke again.

"Bells?"

I finally brought myself to speak "Yes. Edward?" I barely got out.

His searching eyes and somehow perplexed expression was replaced with the familiar crooked smile.

My heart leaped.

"Hi there." He said, before I blacked out again.