Welcome to my story!

Please send reviews with any comments/concerns/questions/suggestions...and thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoy it : )

Please note that if you recognize anything in this story, I do not own it : )

CHAPTER 1

Okay, now where am I supposed to go?

She scanned the busy area, without a clue. There were people everywhere, all seeming to know exactly where they were going and what they were doing. Eating, drinking, talking with friends, reading, walking with a purpose. No one looked nearly as lost as she was.

She glanced at her phone one more time. Ten minutes to go. And for all she knew, she needed to be at the other end of campus. She found a doorway with an Exit sign above it and chose that one.

Here goes nothing.

She walked briskly, pulling her folded schedule out of her jeans pocket to check one last time. Wait, maybe it's this way. She began to turn around to go back in the direction she was coming from – her sneakers squeaking on the linoleum floor – but instead slammed hard into someone. A set of hands reached out on impulse to steady her.

"Oh!" she called out, startled, dropping her crumpled-up schedule. "I am so sorry."

"That's alright," he replied, as he bent down to pick it up. Their eyes met when he handed it back to her. Whoa. Hello, there.

"I was just…in a hurry," she began, waving her hand around to convey how silly it all was, as though she owed any sort of explanation at all. But those green eyes held her and she couldn't make herself leave. Her next words spilled out quickly. "I have this class and I have no idea where the building is, and I needed to get the textbook, but they didn't have it at the bookstore, so I had put my name on a waiting list and they finally called me this morning, so I went to get it and the line was just ridiculous, and now I'm late and I don't know where I'm going because they just switched the location of the class last night and I didn't have time to figure out where it actually is," she paused to take a breath when she noticed the slight smirk on his perfect face, looking amused but friendly.

He had to be perfect, didn't he, she thought to herself.

She didn't notice the way his eyes roamed over the features of her face as she frantically explained herself. She did, however, notice the way his wire-rimmed glasses sat atop the strong slant of his nose, doing nothing to conceal the intensity of his green eyes.

Her cheeks turned instantly pink and she looked down at her feet, smiling timidly. "Sorry. You don't need to know my life story."

"It's really okay," he said again with a chuckle. "It happens to everyone in the first week of school. Maybe I can help you. Where do you need to be?"

"Um…Earl Hall."

"Well, you're in luck. It's past the library, but before the Behavioral Research Lab. Just go through those doors and follow the path. You should be there in a few minutes, so you won't be late."

The Exit-sign door would have definitely taken her in the exact opposite direction.

She smiled brightly at the beautiful stranger who helped her find her way to class. "Okay. Thanks so much." Must not be a freshman, she thought.

"No problem," he replied coolly, although his bright, crooked grin suggested he felt anything but cool.

Their smiles lingered on one another for a fraction of a second longer. "I should probably get going. Thanks again." She reluctantly pulled away and began taking a few steps backwards, her wide smile still plastered on her face.

He laughed at her gratitude. "You're welcome."

"Have a good day," she replied, raising her hand to waive as she turned around.

He watched her retreating figure for a second and shook his head, still smiling. After his alarm not going off, not being able to find a pen for his first class, spilling coffee on himself, and ending up in the wrong lecture hall, his day had suddenly turned around. He held that smile at the forefront of his mind all day long, though he knew deep down that it was wrong to do so.

After her class, Bella headed back to her dorm room. Just as she was unlocking the door, her cell phone buzzed from her backpack. She pulled it out as she walked inside and smiled when she saw the name that appeared on the screen.

"Hey," she said in greeting.

"Hey, Bella!" The familiar voice was enthusiastic, as was his usual. "How was your first class?"

"Fine," she sneered. "Once I found it. I got so lost this morning. But, I did run into the most beautiful boy I've ever seen in my life."

His laughter was loud in her ear, and she had to pull back from the earpiece.

"What's so funny?" She asked her best friend, though she already knew. Bella was not one to have boys at the forefront of her mind. She had given up on the male species when she had her heart broken at age sixteen.

"I'm happy to hear you finally getting all hot and bothered over someone, that's all."

"Hey! I am not hot and bothered, okay? And you clearly didn't hear me: I bumped into him. Literally."

"Yeah, well, you're a klutz. Fact of life, Bella."

"I'm past klutzy. They should invent a new word for me," she mumbled.

"So what's his name?"

"I have no idea. Probably something gorgeous. Oh, well, at least one good thing came out of my miserable morning, right?"

"Oh, come on. I'm sure it wasn't that bad. You're a lot more charismatic than you give yourself credit for. I bet he was thinking about you all morning." He teased.

"You're a jerk."

"Am not. You know I think you're too hard on yourself. I've been telling you this all through high school."

"Yeah, I know. But you and I went to different high schools, Jasper."

"Only in your mind, Bells." She rolled her eyes. It was true; he was always trying to get her to see more of herself. "What are you doing now? Want to come over here?" Jasper's dorm room was in the next building, and the two were ecstatic to have been neighbours.

"I have a class in an hour. Maybe later?"

"Sure, Bells. I'll be here. Later!"

"Bye, Jasper."

Just as Bella was ending the call, her roommate came barging into the room.

"Hey Rosalie," Bella said absently as she sorted through her books at her desk.

"Bella. Have you seen our RA?" Her lack of greeting and serious tone caught Bella's full attention.

Rosalie was clearly excited, which was surprising. Although Bella had only known her for a few weeks, Rosalie clearly wasn't one for game-playing. She was a stunning, ethereal beauty with flowing long blonde hair. She dressed mainly in earth tones and her bohemian chic style suited her perfectly. She majored in Environmental Science, and from the few school-related conversations the girls had together, Bella realized that Rosalie wanted to save the planet. And could probably do it single-handedly, at that. Upon first laying eyes on Rosalie's impeccable beauty, all Bella could think was, I really hope this girl's a bitch. But after the first two words that came out of Rosalie's mouth, Bella couldn't help but love her. Though Rosalie had a very intimidating no-nonsense attitude, there was something about her that just clicked.

"Emmett McCarty? Yeah, I met him a few days ago at that welcome event."

"Um, hello! Why didn't you tell me he's perfect? I can't believe my first shift at work had to be that day. I've missed out on three whole days of knowing him."

Bella laughed, enjoying this playful new side of Rosalie.

"You're into Emmett? Seriously?"

"You're not? Wait, don't answer that. I don't want to know." Bella giggled. "I bet every girl in this dorm is into him. He's gorgeous. Seriously gorgeous. And smart. Did you know he's majoring in International Business? And he's really nice, too. Wow," she breathed as she sat on her bed.

Bella nodded in agreement. It was true; Emmett was a great RA so far, though she was very much certain that Rosalie's feelings for him ran much deeper than hers.

"What's the etiquette on dating your RA?"

Bella burst out laughing at this unexpected question. "I don't know. Is there etiquette?"

"There must be. I should probably look into this."

"I would imagine it's frowned upon," Bella told her between fits of giggles.

"You think?" Rosalie sounded genuinely horrified. "That would be awful. I think I'd consider switching dorms."

"Don't you dare," Bella exclaimed as she tossed one of her pillows at Rosalie. "I like you, and with my luck I'd end up getting stuck with some creepy psychopath." Rosalie laughed. "Alright, I'd better head out to find this class. Later, Rosalie!"

"Bye, Bella. I'll be looking into it!" She shouted as Bella left to find her next class.

Much to Bella's satisfaction, the rest of her afternoon went by uneventfully, with no getting lost before class or embarrassing bump-ins, although she wouldn't complain if she happened to bump into him again. She walked back into her dorm and tossed her bag onto her bed.

"Okay, so I Googled it and it seems as though we're good to go," Rosalie began by way of hello.

"For what?" Bella asked absently.

Rosalie stared blankly at Bella, as though she couldn't believe Bella could forget something so important. Bella stared back, waiting for Rosalie to elaborate.

"The RA thing," Rosalie finally prompted.

"You Googled it?" Bella asked in disbelief.

"Yes."

"And Google said it was fine to date your RA?"

"Well, I mean, yes. Generally. Unless he or she is your roommate, in which case it is frowned upon. But that's just common sense. Emmett's all the way at the other end of the hall, so…"

Bella giggled as she shook her head in disbelief. "Rosalie, you are one determined girl."

Rosalie grinned at Bella, taking it as a compliment, given that her determination had never failed her in the past.

"Thank heavens for Google, right?" Bella teased.

Rosalie just shrugged. "I would have gone after him anyways."

The week passed quickly, and Bella barely had a minute to call her parents and give them an update on how her first week of classes was going. Come Friday, she was sure she was finding her way around campus a little easier and had found the perfect spot in the library where she would likely do most of her studying.

She was walking back to her dorm after her last class of the week, skimming over the syllabus and mentally plotting when she would start her assignments. She went rooting through her bag in order to compare the syllabus she was holding with another, when a gust of wind snatched it from her hand and sent it flying.

"Shit," Bella muttered and she chased after it, thoroughly embarrassed in case people were watching, but desperate to get hold of it.

Just as she was about to reach down to grab it, a foot stepped on it and held it down for her. She grabbed it quickly and stood up to thank the stranger.

"Thank you," she started, brushing her hair off of her face, but stopped abruptly when she noticed that it was him. The Beautiful Stranger.

"My pleasure," he responded with a grin.

"Wow, you just keep rescuing me. I swear I'm not always this flakey," she said with nervous laughter, referring to the time they first met. Wait, what if he doesn't remember that? Way to look like a stalker.

"I don't think you're flakey at all," he answered, causing her to blush. He does remember me.

"Well, thank you. Again."

"You're welcome. Again."

She smiled up at him in response to his kindness. Those eyes. And that was all Bella could focus on. He was just one of those people who owned beautiful eyes and probably didn't even know the effect they had on people.

Ask him for his name, idiot. But the words wouldn't come.

"Well, um, have a good rest of your day," she stammered, unable to come up with any other way to prolong the conversation.

"I will, thanks. And you too."

Bella waved shyly as she continued her walk to her dorm. His name, get his name, she shouted at herself. Oh, who am I kidding? Bella had never been the type to be able to just ask for a cute boy's name. She would never be the one to make the first move, because she had never been that girl. She resigned herself to the fact that she would just have to lock his handsome face to her memory, and accept that her relationship with him would remain at accidental meetings as a result of her doing something embarrassing, followed by him rescuing her in one way or another.

Her phone rang just as she was getting out of the shower after her morning run on Saturday.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Bells! Lunch?" It was Jasper, confirming their plans that they had discussed the day before.

"Yep! Noon at your place?"

"Awesome. See you later!"

Bella and Jasper had clicked instantly when they met on the first day of the third grade. Jasper Whitlock had moved to Forks from Fort Worth, Texas to live with his father – along with his younger siblings, Charlotte and Peter – after their mother had taken a job which would have her travelling for most of the time. It pained her to have to send her children so far away, but she knew this job would offer them much more than she could currently give them. It was how Jasper was able to afford moving across the country to go to a great college with his best friend, and how he was able to acquire a functioning second-hand car to call his own.

Ever since the day that shy young Bella had approached the new boy in class to make him feel welcome, the two became inseparable. Despite their wildly different personalities and reputations, they leaned on each other through the good and bad, making for a remarkable friendship.

Jasper had quickly turned into The Boy Everyone Loved. Literally, everyone. He was loved by his teachers, his classmates, his boss at the local gas station, his siblings, his friends' parents. Everyone. He didn't have one enemy, because no one could bring themselves to ever hate him. He emanated warmth wherever he went, and was able to relate to people easily. He did well in school and got involved in all the activities. He was the absolute definition of popular.

Bella, on the other hand, had grown into a very shy, very reserved young woman. She was generally awkward in high school, unable to connect with many people. She often wondered why Jasper had stayed friends with her after seeing that he could clearly be seen around anyone that he wanted, and he hated when she would say that. "You're my best friend, Bella. No one could come close to that, ever."

While Jasper often took centre stage, Bella supported him from the sidelines. Although she would rather stay home and curl up with a good book, Jasper rarely did anything without her. As such, she was often dragged to parties and events alongside of him and she would go, knowing how important those things were to him. Most of all, she didn't want to hold him back. Unfortunately, this was how she got the reputation of being Jasper's mousy charity case. Though no one understood them or knew the depths of their friendship, on the outside it just seemed like he was pulling her through high school.

She was the one he told everything to first – good news and bad news, happiness and complaints, sadness and excitement. They talked everything through together before deciding on anything and weighed out each available option, even if it was as simple as where to go for lunch before the matinee.

"Bella?"

"Yeah, Jasper?"

They were sitting in the school library, studying for their Biology test one October afternoon. Jasper voice had broken their deep concentration, and he sounded serious.

"What are you going to do for college? Where are you going to apply? Have you thought about it?"

She put her pen down and gave him her full attention. This was something that had been plaguing him lately. He was worried that they would end up on opposite ends of the country.

"I was thinking Columbia, actually," she told him, and cleared her throat. She wasn't sure what Jasper's possibilities were, and she hoped that her answer didn't upset him for whatever reason. Bella hadn't told him her latest option yet.

"Hm. Columbia." He seemed to mull this over in his head for a few seconds. "I could do Columbia. Do you think they have a good Pharmacology program?"

Bella stared blankly at him. "Have you completely turned small-town? It's Columbia. I'm sure their Pharmacology program is half decent."

"Okay. Let's do Columbia."

"'Let's'?"

"Yeah. Let's. Together." He went back to his notes.

"Jasper," Bella laughed nervously. "How can you decide just like that? Columbia might not be what you want. You should look into it."

He put his pen down and looked her straight in the eyes. "Bella, do you really want us to be separated? I'm hurt." She knew he was joking.

"Well, no, but…you know I don't want to hold you back," she finished shyly.

He laughed. "You're right. You'd totally be holding me back at shabby old Columbia. Who's small-town now?" He shook his head, still laughing and went back to his notes.

"Well, if that's what you want, then let's do it." She certainly wouldn't turn down having him go to college with her. The thought of being all alone was daunting enough as it was.

"Okay. If we both get into Columbia, we'll go to college together. If not, then I'll just find someplace close enough that we can still hang out. Deal?"

Bella smiled widely at her best friend. "Deal. But what if I don't get into Columbia?"

"You will. Don't be an idiot."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I know you better than you know yourself."

"I hope you're right," she giggled and turned her attention back to her notes.

It was true, Jasper had a better grasp of who she was, even if she didn't always believe him. He believed in her – really believed in her – and she loved the Bella that he saw through his eyes. She just couldn't bring herself to believe that that Bella actually existed.

Bella arrived at Jasper's dorm room at noon, as promised.

"No Edward again?" she asked. Jasper's roommate was never around, and Bella was starting to think he didn't actually exist, as she had yet to meet him.

"Nope. Working today."

"Does that guy go out of his way to avoid you? He is never here when I come by."

Jasper laughed. "Our schedules are completely opposite. He's really cool, actually. Maybe we should make a game out of it. See how long it will take before you two cross paths. He air quotes your name now when I mention you."

Bella laughed at that. "I know. How have we been here for almost a month and I've never met the guy? You've seen Rosalie a million times."

"Have I ever," Jasper said, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

Bella rolled her eyes. Rosalie was the type of girl that could get a guy hit by a car from starting too hard. "She would never go for you, you know." she said bluntly.

"Why not?" he asked, mock offended.

"Because you drink out of plastic water bottles."

"Maybe she can look past that once she gets to know how awesome I am."

Bella laughed at his cockiness. She knew he was only joking, though it was actually true – you'd be hard-pressed to find a girl who didn't fall for Jasper Whitlock.

"Food court?" she asked to change the subject.

"Yep!"

The two made their way to the food court and perused the available options before both deciding on burgers, fries and milkshakes.

"I saw him again yesterday," Bella began as they got situated at a table.

"Who?"

Bella rolled her eyes at Jasper, as though it should be obvious. "You know. The guy. Beautiful Stranger."

Jasper laughed. "How could I forget? And? Did you talk to him?"

"Yes. After he rescued my piece of paper that was flying away in the wind."

"Oh, Bella," Jasper groaned. Bella was – and would always be – the world's biggest klutz.

"I know, it was humiliating. But we did talk, so that was nice. He has a great voice."

"A great voice? Are you kidding me? Wow, this guy woke you from the dead. I've never heard you talk about anyone like this – especially someone you don't even know."

Bella sighed. "I wish I knew him. If only to be able to look at him whenever I want."

"Do I have a great voice?" he asked her.

"It's fine, I guess."

"Ouch, Bella. That was harsh."

"Well, it certainly doesn't give me goose bumps like his does, I'll tell you that much."

"I'm sure there's a girl out there who thinks I have a nice voice. And maybe even someone that calls me Beautiful Stranger."

"Yeah, sure. Maybe." They were teasing each other, as Jasper was never one to be short of admirers, though he would never admit to that. "Are you working tonight?"

He nodded through a mouthful of food. Jasper had gotten a job almost immediately as a pizza delivery boy for a place a few blocks from campus.

Bella sighed. "I need a job," she mumbled and took another bite. "Where's your roommate working?"

"Butler Library."

"Oh, cool! Is he an English major like me?"

"No, Bella. Only losers like you are English majors." She threw a fry at his face and he swiftly caught it between his teeth, much to her chagrin. "He's in Architecture. He just likes to read. Also, having an English major is not a prerequisite to working in a library."

She was starting to like the elusive roommate more and more. Maybe he had some good books she could borrow. Of course, she'd have to meet him first.

"Well, I don't know. What random college student works at the library unless they're obsessed with literature?"

"People, Bella. People work at libraries. It's a job and it's close to our dorm."

"Whatever."

Something dawned on Jasper at that very moment, and his eyebrows shot up as he sped up his chewing to finish his bite.

"Why don't you work at the pizzeria with me?" he asked, clearly very excited about the idea.

"I am not delivering pizzas."

"You wouldn't be delivering them, you'd be answering phones. They need someone; I saw the ad on the store window. And what's wrong with delivering pizzas?"

"Well, nothing. If you're not inept like me. I'd end up in debt just having to pay for all the pizzas I dropped."

"So answer the phones then. Even you can't screw that up."

"Thanks," she replied flatly, though she really didn't think it was such a horrible idea. She needed a job that required the least amount of opportunities to drop or break things. Answering phones seemed pretty harmless.

"So?" Jasper prompted.

"It's not a horrible idea."

"Yes!" he said enthusiastically. "Come with me tonight and fill out an application."

"Okay, fine. What time?"

DISCLAIMER: Though I've used the names of actual buildings at Columbia, I have never been there and have no idea where they are actually located or their proximity to one another or other buildings. For the purpose of this story, let's pretend it all makes sense. And for those of you who go to Columbia: I'm sorry for butchering your beautiful school!

Oh, and I know that the girls would have met their RA when they first arrived at school, but let's all remember that I'm a confused little Canadian who lived with her parents through university, as many Canadians do…it's fiction, right? ; )