Summary: Bella is alone in the world. She goes to NYU, but has no friends. She once had a friend - a best friend. She thought he died long ago, at 9/11, while visiting his uncle at the World Trade Center. Bella then meets a bronze haired boy who seems to be also alone in the world - because he left someone very important to him, behind. It's until Bella unveils secrets about this bronzed haired boy, that makes her think that she for sure isn't alone anymore.

-Three Little Birds-

1. I Walk Alone.

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all the characters. I only own the plot.

--

On My Own by Three Days Grace

--

Bella stared blankly towards the front of the classroom.

She never gave much interest in Astronomy. The only thing that she had to know was that the Universe had planets and stars and that was it. What else could there be? Galaxies? They are made up of stars, so there you go. Nebulas? Stars. Black holes? Also made from a star. Bella seemed to wonder if the Universe ever had an ending - just like her life. Did her story have an ending? To her surprise, it did not. And yet she was the most unliked girl at New York University or A.K.A. NYU. Maybe it was because she had no friends, but then again, she did not want to have friends. She didn't even try to make friends at school. She did not want to. All she wanted was to live her life the way she wanted - unwanted.

She once had a bright, happy filled life. But that life was gone now, just like every other memory of him. Who was him? Bella didn't even remember. Her life was a complicated one, and yet no one would understand it - but Bella didn't want them to. She lived in a the small town of Forks, in Washington of the United States. She always wondered what it would be like to travel outside of Forks. Maybe go to Canada, visit the provinces and territories, pick up some of Quebec's wonderful poutine, which they had made first. She thought once of going to Africa, to meet the different people in a different lifestyle and see if she could help. She was born in South Africa, that is. She was born, but she had moved to Forks not long after. Her mother was a traveler and liked to discover different animls that she hadn't seen before - you know, kind of like The Wild Thornberrys family.

But once Bella's mother had given birth, she had a tragic accident, which led to death. She had given birth to Bella right there in the African hospital, and died right there in the African hospital. When Bella had turned three years old, she was already living in Forks for two - three years, her father had been murdered in a riot. So little Bella had been taken off to the Forks Orphanage Home. When she had first gotten there, she was quite scared. No mommy or daddy - all alone by herself with people she didn't even know. She had gone to her new bed that the carewoman had assigned her, and she sat there alone, only her brown teddy bear, Bananas, to keep her company.

But then, a little boy the same age as her, came and comforted her. He wrapped his arm around her, and just shushed her, so she could stop crying. And then that's when he whispered, in his little three year old angelic voice, "Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing gonna be all right."

She never forgot that sentence. That one little whisper - even now, that she was just days away from turning twenty, she still remembered it from three years old. But as that little boy payed attention to her everyday - at every moment - they grew to be the best of friends. They were very close - practically joined to the hip, the carewoman had once said. Of course they had no romantic feelings for each other - well, at least Bella didn't. She didn't know what was going on through the little boy's mind, but she knew, just as he told her, that every little thing was going to be all right. They grew up together and never left each other's side. He was always there for her - no matter what the circumstance. When Bella was around five or six years old, she started getting nightmares everynight and she did scream. It had drove the other foster children insane - but the boy didn't care. He would hear Bella's heavy breathing, and listen to her gasp and he knew right away that she was having an unpleasant nightmare. He would run out of his bed and climb into Bella's, and stare with her there, and in less than ten seconds, Bella's breathing would slow down, and she would snuggle in her pillow as she felt boy arms wrap around her.

They went everywhere together. Bella can even remember the day on Halloween, when she was dressed up as Harley Quinn, and the boy was dressed up as the Joker. Every person that they passed had said that they had amazing costumes. What else were thirteen year olds supposed to dress up as on Halloween? Harley Quinn and the Joker seemed to fit perfectly.

But now, even though Bella was nineteen years old (four days away from becoming twenty), she couldn't remember what the boy looked like. She didn't even remember his name. Repressed memories, she had told herself. But she had a couple memories - she remembered what he did for her, she remembered quotes from him and she remembered the song he always used to sing to her, every time she was sad or feeling blue.

But she did have one thing that reminded her of him - even though she couldn't remember his face or his name, she could still remember his actions and his quotes. And, as if he knew he was going to die, gave her a necklace. It was a bronze colored necklace, with a large chain. Attached to it was a bronze heart, which opened up to let small, fainting music of the song "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley flowed by. Bella did not even know how he even got the necklace - let alone had a very famous inside of it. But, it didn't really all matter. It helped her remember bits and pieces, but not enough to remember everything. She would open it before going to bed and would leave it on her night table, as the faint music, almost like a whisper, flowed around the room, through her and finally reaching down into her heart, and remained until she awoke the next morning.

She also remembered the day they announced that he was gone. Dead - like everyone else in her life. He had gone to the World Trade Center, the carewoman of the orphanage had told the children, to visit his uncle, and that was when the airplane came and crashed into the building. Bella kept shaking her head, not believing a word. They told her it was the truth, but there was a nagging feeling deep into the middle of her heart, that told her that he was still alive and moving. She was only sixteen, after all. She loved him very much - as a best friend can. He had given her the necklace before he left for New York. She remembered what he had said, though. "I have to go somewhere today," he said, and as though making sure no sadness escaped. "Promise me to be the Bella I knew, for ever?"

Bella had simply nodded and was confused. What was he saying? Was he leaving his only best friend? But then, he planted the bronze heart into her soft, warm hand, and he whispered, "To remember me. You may not remember my face, but you will remember this song. I know you will. I hope you think of me everytime you think of this song." And with that, he closed his eyes, and slowly leaned closer to Bella. Of course she had no idea of what was happening, but before she could do anything, he had planted his lips on her.

They were soft and warm and made her feel fuzzy and tingly all over. But she could tell from this kiss that it wasn't a kiss of romance - no, no, no. She knew what it felt like and it had pained her to think of it, also. The kiss, to Bella's mortal pain, was a goodbye. At the time she had no idea what he was doing, why he was leaving. But she had accepted the kiss, and when he pulled away, he brought his lips to her left ear, and whispered so lowly, she barely heard him. "I won't be gone. Not now. Not forever."

And he had turned away and stalked off.

It was later the next day that she had heard the news. She had stomped around, crying, screaming, throwing everything around. She didn't want him gone. She didn't want him dead. He understood her. She understood him. He needed her. And she needed him like nothing else - not even food or water. He was the one person who she could share everything with and not even feel embarrassed. He was the one person who was just like her and helped her with all her problems. She would run to him when she was in trouble. She would run into his arms when she was crying and unhappy. He would wrap his arms around her repeat the same thing, as he always did, "Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing gonna be all right."

And now he was gone. That part of Bella's life was gone, also. She had only herself right now, and that's all she needed. She knew he would come back one day - but when was that day?

She wasn't even sure. But she knew that he was still alive and when he was ready and willing, he would come looking for her and not stop at anything.

--

"Again," repeated Miss Parker.

Bella eternally groaned. She was in her music class and she was somewhat off beat, for some reason. She played the drums and had one of the highest marks in the class and yet today she wasn't even trying to be good. She couldn't even get herself to smash a drumb with her wooden stick. Was she too tired? Did she get enough sleep? Bella did not know the reason why she was like this, and she was not liking it one beat. She lifted her hands up again and smashed the wooden drumb sticks, that were taped at the bottom for they wouldn't sleep out of Bella's hand, against the drums and brought herself to making a disgusting beat.

Miss Parker, the music teacher, pinched the bridge of her nose, while the rest of the students of the class just looked at Bella. They never saw her suck this much before but it wasn't like they cared. They couldn't give a rat's ass, because honestly, no one liked Bella. Everyone disliked her for the fact that she disliked each one of them. They had no idea why Bella hated them so much, they hadn't done anything wrong towards her. So they left her be, and let their hatred flow around in them. Just before Miss Parker could fully lecture Bella on how she wasn't focusing enough today, there was a knock on the door.

Everyone then turned their attention towards the classroom door. They rarely got people knocking on that door, and seeing as how someone just did, it kind of made them all surprised and excited. Even Bella leaned forward on the drums to get a closer look at the door. Miss Parker walked casually towards it, and opened it gracefully. What is this? Bella thought to herself as she watched Miss Parker, this fifty-something year old woman strut her stuff. A freaking run away?

"I am sorry to interrupt, Miss Parker," a female's voice said. Bella recognized that voice, and she knew it was the secretary. What was the secretary doing there, anyway? She had no business there. Bella watched as Miss Parker just nodded her head, accepting the secretary's apology. "You have a new student joining your classroom. Now, I know he should have just found his way here, but since he is a transfer student, I knew he wouldn't be able to find his way around."

Miss Parker nodded once again. "Yes," she replied, "of course. Where is the boy?"

A boy? Bella and the rest of the classroom students thought. They rarely got knocks on the door and now they are getting a new student? A boy student, to top it off? Bella was a little bit nervous, but then again, it was a new person. A new person to try and be friends with her and act like life is just so joyful and fun. That wasn't what Bella thought. She thought that just when she was loving life, it had to go and end up ruined. But before Bella could just ignore the fact of the students trying to peer through the door, a bronzed hair boy walked in. Bella practically stopped breathing. He was just amazingly gorgeous. His hair was all messed up like he had awoken from bed, and didn't even bother with his hair. His eyes were like Emerald jewels, glisining as he stared around the classroom. Bella could see the nervousness behind his eyes, but she couldn't blame him. He was a new student after all.

"Class, attention, please," Miss Parker said loudly. It was odd how everyone was already paying attention, since that first knock on the door. "We have a new student here in NYU, who just so happens to be joining our classroom. Please welcome Edward Masen."

Edward Masen just scanned through the classroom, and gave a nervous smile. "You may seat by the piano, Mr Masen," Miss Parker informed him.

That was when Bella noticed that the piano was right beside the drum set. She would be practically sitting beside him. He walked down the aisle, a couple of girls swooning after him. Bella could have sworn she saw pink hearts in their eyes. How drole. Falling for the new kid. He the sat on the piano bench, and looked around, probably wondering where to put his books. He then just put them on the tile floor, and looked up to the front of the classroom. Miss Parker hd now been seated at her desk, and was staring out at the classroom. "Now, since you are new here, Mr Masen," Miss Parker began, "I should tell you about the rules. You have only missed two weeks of school here, so you have not missed anything important. The rules here in my classroom aren't hard to follow, even though many of my students choose not to follow.

"Now, you may eat in my classroom. Just please, don't eat while we are using the instruments - I cannot afford to get them cleaned. Eat quickly and silently, then throw out your trash. Please raise your hand if you would like to speak - never call out. Yada yada yada, I'm sure the secretary filled you in, basically?"

Edward nodded quickly.

"Good." Miss Parker gave him a smile, which Bella thought was quite frightening. "Now, Miss Swan, about that beat. . ."

Bella did not want to hear her lecturing. So instead, Bella thought quickly. "Let me try again?" Even though it was more of a question than a regular sentence, she justed wanted to know if it was all right with the teacher. "Honest, Miss, I can do better. . ."

Miss Parker thought for a minute. She then sighed. "Very well, Miss Swan. You may try again."

Bella then hit her drum sticks against the drums and this time, she made an interesting beat. When she was done, she looked up nervously at Miss Parker. "Good," Miss Parker commented. "Much better than before."

When class had been over, Bella grabbed her things and walked out of class. But someone had caught up with her. It was Edward Masen. "Nice drum playing back there," he commented her, walking up beside her casually. "I'm Edward Masen, by the way." Bella hadn't noticed but his voice sounded faintly familiar. He had a husky voice, like any other man here, and it was smooth and musical. He held out his free hand, but Bella didn't shake it. She didn't even look at him. She did not even speak.

"Are you upset at me. . .?" Edward guessed, trying to find out why Bella was grumpy. She wasn't at all grumpy, actually. She just didn't like it when people tried to be her friend. She was alone in the world, and she knew no one would be able to change that. "Because honestly, I didn't do anything to you and you look like you are ready to murder someone. . ."

Bella sighed fustratedly. "If you must know," she answered, irritated, "I don't like it when people try to befriend me."

This only made Edward ask more questions. "Why?"

"Because," Bella said. Her lockette was dangling around roughly as she walked faster.

"I've seen that somewhere," she heard Edward say. "Years ago. . ."

"Well, it's a common object, so I don't see why you wouldn't have seen it." And without saying anything further, she walked into a complete different direction, and walked to her apartment, thanking God that it was lunch. The reason I don't want to befriend people, she had wanted to sneer that him, is because they don't want to befriend me. And no, I do not have a problem with that. I've lived alone for years and I will still live alone for years to come. And yet she still had that nagging feeling in the middle center of her heart, like she always did, that soon enough, she wouldn't be alone anymore. That he would come back looking for her, and he would find her and they could live their lives as they once did back in Bella's bright life.

But now, her life is dull. Not colors - nothing but darkness. Because she won't let people in - even though she isn't letting one particular person out. When she was finished lunch, she headed back to the school, and walked through the hallways, hearing people whisper to each other. "Heard she practically punched out that new kid," one kid, Henry Wick, had said.

"She hates him - just like she hates the rest of us," another person said.

"I wonder why she is always grumpy. . ."

"I heard from Mimi that she does drugs." Completely and utter load. Bella has never even touched drugs, let alone taken them. "Mimi also told me that she slapped the new fellow." Another lie. That's what everyone did here - made up lies. The most lies that were ever made and spoken was about Bella. Every rumor was practically about her. That she did drugs, that she was raised by hippies, that she's crushing on the new kid, Edward, that's why she is hating him so much.

She didn't hate him. She disliked him. Very different words. She disliked all of them, actually but she never did hate them. Okay, maybe she hated Mimi and Lauren and all those types, but she didn't hate Edward. He was the new kid, aftr all, what was there to hate? He didn't do anything wrong, even though he did something Bella hated. But all Bella did was ignore them all and just repeated the same thing over and over and over again in her mind, "Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing gonna be alright. Singing': "Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing gonna be alright."

The song that was once them. The song that brought them together always. He always sang it to her everytime she looked sad in the face. He could tell in an instant. So what he did was that he would beckon for Bella to come into his arms, and she would follow, cuddling up to him, as he slowly and gently placed his arms around her, running one hand up and down her back slowly, to comfort her, as the other hand held her head. She would put her head against his chest and listened to him breathing, as she closed her eyes and drifted off. And he would sing. He would sing that song, everytime, softly into her ear, his voice musical and velvety smooth. He had believed himself to not worry about a thing, and he tought it to Bella, so Bella wouldn't worry - even when he was gone. And the one sentence where it was the honest truth, because in the end, every little thing is going to be all right. May not be now, maybe not tomorrow, but someday, it will all be okay.

And Bella just had to believe that. For her. For others. But mostly, for him.

--

A/N: Another fic that I started. . .Sorry. I keep getting ideas, and honestly, I liked this one the best! I hope you like it very much. I worked very hard on it :)

By the way, the song he sings to Bella is "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley - hence the title of this fanfic. I really like that song. OH, and when I put a song at the top of each chapter, please listen to it while reading the chapter. For me? Thank you :) Oh, and please ignore any spelling or grammar errors.

And thank you all again! You all are great, honestly. Reviewing and faving my stories makes me feel tingly and happy XD

Please, PLEASE review. No flames.

Thank you.