A/N: Twilight and all of it's characters are only borrowed for my enterainment purposes only, I own nothing.

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Chapter 1

First day of college. I was used to only juggling a dozen classrooms, then only having to cross a small courtyard to shrug off pragmatism and enter freedom in the shape of my car and my cd-player in it. Imagine my utter shock, stepping out of the rental van, containing the tiny collection of all my earthly possessions in it, gazing at the amazing college grounds. Compared to my hometown of Forks in either size or habitants, I was not sure which would win.

I saw my dad, Charlie Swan, police chief back home, manage his step a second, warily eyeing the view in silence. I knew this look. He was afraid to let his little girl go into the big world. And he was probably feeling slightly intimidated by the big world himself. I huffed irritated, starting to carry my stuff towards the direction my little print-out map said my dorm would be. I heard him speed up behind me and catching up, and I was happy to see he carried a heavier load then mine so there'd be less back's and forth's.

"Bella, are you sure you are ready for this?" Charlie glanced worriedly over the brown paper box at me. I rolled my eyes.

"Dad, I'm 21 years old now, if I'm not ready by now I might as well just throw in the towel and start gathering my collection of cats," I said darkly, letting it seep through just how much I had resented myself for not going off to college immediately after high school. Instead I stayed home working in a local shop not quite daring to take the big plunge into adulthood. Watching Mrs. Newton there, a small-town beauty queen who never dared to leave, stuck between the isles of fishing gear, made me shiver just to think of it. She'd been what had made me take the final plunge, so in some sick way I had to be thankful for her life not turning out better then it had.

"Allright, Bells." He wasn't going to push it further, knowing he had to tread easily to not push me away. It wasn't many years ago when we couldn't even be in the same room for more then minutes before I picked a fight. I shuddered in guilt thinking of how I'd been, blaming him for being unable to keep my feelings inside. I knew how now.

I fumbled for my map again, and steered us down the halls towards room 1109. There were hardly any space left for us to maneuver in, the linoleum-covered hallways were filled with people unpacking and stacking boxes, or just people chattering and saying goodbyes.

We reached the right door; I raised my hand to knock, but noticed it was already open and gave it a push instead. A blonde girl turned by the sound, or, twirled would be a more appropriate word; I had no words to express Rosalie's bodily movements. She beamed a bright welcoming smile towards us and chirped. Chirped.

"Ooh, hii!" She moved towards me, I entered the room and put my box down to shake her hand. "I am so happy to meet you, I am Rosalie Hale." She shook my hand gracefully, I stuttered my name clumsily. She moved on to Charlie, who seemed, just as I was, a bit uncomfortable with the friendliness and stunned by her beauty. Being emotionally reserved ran in the family, never easily carried away with emotions, at least not the ones in the positive end of the scale. We were especially not at ease when we met those who mastered the art of congeniality.

The room was middle sized, a hidden line splitting the room in two, the sides mirror images of the other. Two beds, two windows, two desks and closets. The walls were painted in faded blue and cheap furniture, a faint glow of institutionalization.

"Well, wow, I must say I am relieved," she drew the back of her hand dramatically over her forehead, laughing. "I was worried I'd be stuck with someone strange, but I can see you're not, so, phew. I got a normal roomie! Yay!"

Charlie and I let go a strained laughter. There was uncomfortable silence after, I was unsure how to pick up a conversation after being announced normal, which was pretty much what I could dare to hope for in best case scenario, and I was painfully aware of the fact that there was pretty much only a downhill slope for her impression of me from now on.

As if coordinated, Charlie and I turned to each other and started to find reasons for him to split. We'd have a better chance of pulling this off if he wasn't here to help me put my foot in my mouth.

Don't get me wrong, I am not person you would suspect if hearing about a home town massacre. But not being shunned, nay, actually being counted as "normal" by the views of Rosalie's like was like being crowned queen for people with my popularity rank.

I started careful conversation with Rosalie while unpacking, she seemed nice and we got along surprisingly fine. I had to strain myself to be happy and smile more then I normally would, hardly noticing that I shamelessly let my dad carry all my stuff back and forth. I don't think he minded.

The last time he returned, he brought with himself an unexpected surprise. My best friend from back home, Jake. "Look who I found wandering campus," dad chuckled merrily, before setting the last box down.

"Hi, Bella! You just arrived? I got here yesterday, this place is unbelievable!" Jake nearly jumped up and down of excitement.

I didn't feel as uncomfortable viewing his public display of joy as I did Rosalie, but then again I felt as comfortable near Jake as any. He had been my friend my entire life, and now we got to go to the same college. I had asked him several times if he was sure this was the college he really wanted to attend, even though he easily could be accepted many other places with more revered zoology programs. I didn't want him to come just on account on me, and I found it pleasing he actually liked the place.

"I haven't seen much more then distantly, with boxes covering most of my view, but I am glad you like it," I smiled. Jake was a synonym to my smiles. We had a very easy going relationship, always having tons of fun. I didn't have anyone else like that in my life, I guess I didn't really like to meet new people. Only reason I was even trying with Rosalie was this recent drive I felt inside of me, thrilled to be a new place and starting all over again. With my best friend there with me.

"Will you join me for a coffee at the coffee shop later on? I am dying to catch up," Jake nearly begged. We hadn't seen each other the last weeks; I had to pull some extra shifts to feel like I put some money in my college funds. I had enough money there, for four lifetimes of attending college, but I wanted to contribute to it myself. I didn't just want to leech off it.

"Sure, let me just unpack and I'll give you a call. Live far off?"

"Nope, three minutes of walking away, see you then," he flashed a smile and said bye to Charlie and Rosalie.

"Well, I guess that's my cue as well," Charlie muttering, dreading the upcoming departure scene. Mostly because we had an audience who probably cried and wrote theatrical scenes of their family's goodbye's, but it felt tense to share something as intimate as a hug between us even when alone. Rosalie looked anticipating at us as we closed the gap between us, waiting for a dramatic father-daughter farewell.

We embraced awkwardly.

"Bye, Bells." Dad coughed forcedly.

"Bye, dad."

He smiled towards Rosalie, then turned and left. I exhaled.

"So, want to come with me to a back to school party later on? Bring your friend Jake, if you'd like." Rosalie broke the silence after awhile of me unpacking various clothing items. She shot a look at my pile. I cringed under the inspection. She was nice enough to not say anything, but I saw her eyebrows rise knowingly. This gesture forced me into accepting, just as to save myself from losing my status as "normal according to Rosalie".

It's not that I didn't want to party, I was personally just not that experienced with big parties. This stems from the fact of the short list of people actually eligible to perform underage drinking in Forks. Everyone knows everyone as well, and everyone has to shop their clothes at "Forks Clothing Shop". Notice the name not even opening for the possibility of there being more then one place selling clothes. Plus, I have lately had a series of uncontrollable reactions which I'd like to keep away from public, especially now with my new, fine and shiny title as normal. But I would have to risk it. I wanted to risk it, I realized, suddenly feeling excitement rising in my belly. A new and normal life, perhaps all my worries from past would not be following me into college? Could I escape that easily?

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Don't worry about the J/B relationship, Edward will be introduced soon enough.

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