Note from Author: Hey everyone!! Thanks so much for choosing to read this story. First of all please be patient with me, besides a couple one shots this is my first fanfic. So I would love your reviews!! Happy reading!!

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight.

How Forever Feels

Chapter One:

It was a fairly sunny the day Isabella swan stepped her shinny brown leather boots on the pavement of Dothan, Iowa. She cringed as the heels she seldom wears tore at the already forming blisters on her feel.

Why did I ever let Alice convince me to buy these? She silently questioned herself.

But being a recent print journalism graduate of the University of Arizona, Bella wanted to make a professional appearance on her first day at work.

As she closed her car door and swung her bag over her shoulder, Bella took in the town of Dothan. I was quite small, she observed, in fact, if you blinked while driving though, you just might miss it. She was currently standing next to City Hall, and next to that was the Public Library. Across the street from the Library was the Clean Cut Beauty Saloon, next to that was the location of her new job, the Dothan Prophet Newspaper. She also looked down the street and saw the Cornerstone Café, the Fire Station, the Police Station, and the Dothan Bar. All in all Bella decided that this would be a good place to hide. The less this town is known for, the harder it will be for my family to find me. Bella sighed as she though about the events that had lead her to this small, barely inhabited town.

Flashback

"I don't want marry him mother!"

"Bella, this is not up for discussion, you will marry James and that is the end of it!"

"No!"

"Bella…"

"The only reason you want me to marry James is because of stupid family connections that will be good for father's company! I refuse to be a pawn in his 10 year company plan!"

"This has nothing to do with your father's company Bella, we just want you to be happy…"

"This has nothing to do with my happiness!"

"…and James is a good match for you."

"A good match mother? I hate him and he hates me!"

"Bella that's enough, James is quit fond of you, I can see it every time he looks at you."

"He killed Mike mother."

silence

"Now I want you to listen to me right now Isabella Marie Swan. James did not kill Mike Newton, he would never do anything of the sort! I don't know what went on between Mike and yourself, but you need to get that boy out of your head. Maybe its for the best that he is dead."

End Flashback

HONK HONK HONK

A startled Bella was torn from her memories as a rather large truck honked at her from behind. It was then that she realized that she was standing in the middle of the street.

"Sorry!" She cringed as she made her way to the sidewalk.

"The middle of the street isn't exactly the safest place to stand ma'am," said a beautiful velvety voice from behind her.

Bella turned around to see the truck stopped right ahead of where she had been standing only a few moments ago. The truck had seen better days, the paint was multicolored, red and rust, and it looked like it could have used a wash a few weeks ago. The windows were rolled down, probably because of the lack of air conditioning, and behind the wheel sat the most gorgeous creature Bella had ever laid eyes on.

He had marble like skin, and beautiful topaz eyes. His hair, worn in a casually tousled style, was an unusual bronze shade Bella had never seen before. She suddenly felt an odd sensation come over her, like she just wanted to dig her fingers into his thick mane. He had an amazingly beautiful crooked smile that left Bella dazzled. It took a moment before she realized that he was laughing at her. Probably because of her inability to respond to him.

"Oh, um, yeah…I…." she stammered.

"Dothan isn't that big of a town I can't imagine anyone getting lost, especially in the middle of the street," the stranger teased.

Bella laughed nervously, "Yeah…I was…thinking." She said, finally finding her voice, "I'm really sorry!"

"Well I don't know you, but I'd take it thinking is a dangerous thing for you," he observed, flashing Bella that crooked smile again.

"You have no idea," Bella said with a small laugh, "although usually its because I trip over my own two feet. Just existing has a tendency to be a dangerous thing for me."

The stranger laughed, the most beautiful sound Bella had ever heard, "Well than maybe I should introduce myself in case you get into anymore trouble. My name is Edward Cullen."

"Bella Swan," she answered.

"Well Ms. Swan," Edward said, "what brings you to the streets of Dothan?"

Bella looked back at the building behind her as she answered, "I'm the new reporter for the Dothan Prophet."

"Ah," Edward gave a knowing nod, "your Mrs. Billow's new tenant."

Bella eyed him, "Um, well, yeah I am. How did you know that?"

"She is my grandmother."

"Oh..."

Just then another horn sounded behind Edwards truck and they both looked to see another truck behind Edward's waiting to get through.

"Sorry Chuck!" Edward called through the window. "I guess I should be going," he said to Bella.

"Oh yeah," Bella said with an embarrassed laugh, looking at her watch she continued, "I should really be getting to work too, don't want to be late on my first day!"

"Yes well I suppose you'll try and stay safe now wont you? Edward teased some more. "I don't have to escort you into the building?"

"No I think I can make it," Bella replied.

But as she turned to walk into the building she realized too late that during her conversation with Edward, her boot heal had gotten stuck in a sidewalk crack. Unfortunately there wasn't time to pull it out before she went crashing to the ground. Picking up her bag Bella jumped right back up and checked to make sure she hadn't ripped any part of her clothing as she quietly said, "I'm alright." She then raced into the newspaper office, to afraid too look at Edward's face which she was sure would be plastered with that crooked smile that would make her want to collapse all over again.

As she arrived inside Bella smiled to see an old woman manning the front desk, "May I help you?' The woman asked quietly.

"Yes," Bella answered, "my name is Bella Swan, I'm the new reporter, I was supposed to start today."

"Oh yes!" the woman replied, rising out of her seat as quickly as her old legs would allow, "I'm Irene McCarty."

"It is wonderful to meet you Mrs. McCarty," Bella replied.

"Oh please, call me Irene," the woman told her with a wave of her hand. "Now follow me, Jasper has been waiting for you."

As Bella and Irene walked, Bella took the time to look around. The building was small. It had cream-colored walls decorated with framed editions of The Dothan Prophet arranged on all the walls. Furniture was minimal except for two hard chairs and a coffee table in the main entrance. Soon Bella found herself in front of a closed door marked Jasper Hale, Editor. Irene knocked and upon hearing a "come in" command, opened and escorted Bella through the door. The room was quite cozy with a desk, with two upholstered chairs in front of it, and bookshelves lining the walls. Expecting an older man, considering this was the Editor, Bella was especially surprised to see that Jasper Hale was only a few years older than herself.

"Ms. Swan," Jasper addressed her as he rose from behind his desk and stuck his hand out for a handshake, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Like wise, and please, call me Bella," Bella insisted.

Jasper smiled, "As you wish Bella. Irene will I plan on speaking with Bella for a bit and then I'll show her to her office, so if anyone calls, tell them I'm out."

"Of course. It was wonderful to meet you Bella." Irene stated as she exited the room and closed the door behind herself.

Jasper sat down and smiled at Bella. He was tall with honey blond hair. He was muscular but not necessarily built. He also seemed to have crescent shapes scars along arms. Bella wondered momentarily how he got them.

"So how do you like Dothan so far Bella?" he asked.

"Oh, well, I haven't been here long," Bella replied. "I just flew into Omaha, Nebraska this mourning and drove here straight from the airport."

"Wow, I'll bet your exhausted," Jasper observed.

Just then Bella noticed how tired she truly was. "Yeah I guess I am."

"Well I'll make this short then, that way you can get home and settled in."

Bella wondered momentarily what he meant by 'home'. 'Home' to her was still in New York City. 'Home' was her studio apartment that she shared with her cat; Phil. 'Home' was a place she could never go back to.

"…and so I can give you directions to the school and you can start on the story tomorrow," Jasper was just finishing as Bella came to again.

Bella blushed, "I am so sorry, um, I guess I am really tired, can you repeat that again?"

Jasper laughed, "Its alright, moving to a new place, starting a new job, it's all a lot to handle, especially your first job out of college. I understand. But I was saying that we do a special segment every week on one of the classes in our local grade school. This next week it's the kindergarten. I'd like for you to do the write up as your first story here with us. It's really simple. Just call up the teacher, her name is Rosalie, and see what special things they're doing in the classroom currently. Then Wednesday you can go in with a photographer and get your information for the story. I'd like to see a first draft copy Thursday morning right away. Then we'll publish it next week." He grabbed a post it note off of his desk as he finished, "Here is Rosalie's number and directions to the school."

Bella took the post it note from his out stretched hand and tucked it into her pocket without bothering to look at it.

"Now how about I show you your office and then you can go home for the day?" Jasper suggested.

"That sounds wonderful," Bella answered.

The both rose from their respective chairs and Bella followed Jasper out the door and two doors down the hall. She read the sign on the door, Bella Swan, Reporter. Bella smiled as Jasper opened the door.

The office was small, but cozy. It was carpeted with a large desk and desk chair and a desk top computer. That was all.

"Its not much," Jasper said. "But feel free to do whatever you want with it."

"Its perfect," Bella said sincerely. "I can't believe I have my own office!"

Jasper laughed, "I'm glad you like it. Next door on both sides are our other reporters. On your left is Jacob Black, and on your right is Tanya Denali. Across the hall is our photographer, Laurent."

Bella looked around nervously and sighed as she silently wondered whether or not this town would actually serve as an adequate hiding place.

"It will be ok Bella," Jasper assured her mistaking her reaction as nervousness. "We're all here to help you make this transition as easy as possible. "

Bella nodded her head. If he only knew half of it. She thought. I don't know how I'm going to be able to keep secret my past and stay hidden, but I'll do whatever it takes to see that it happens. No one can find out that I'm here.

Author's Note: I know some things are a little different than in the book. For example Edward drives a crappy truck…don't worry he still has the Volvo…that's coming. And Bella was at one point in love with Mike Newton. This is because I wanted to use original characters. I would have used Jacob but Jacob can't be dead…yet. Just kidding! Oh…and yes, I made Phil into a cat. So PLEASE REVIEW!! You have no idea how much I want to hear what you have to say about the story!!