A/N: ok guys...heres chapter one! its kind of a flashback/background info chapter to get the story rolling. Chapter will pick up three years later. This one is in third person cuz it just seemed to work better that way but im still debating about the pov for chapter 2. Its in third person too at the moment but im thinking of changing to Bella POV and doing the rest of the story that way. Let me know your opinions so i can get it editted and posted asap. BTW, in this chapter Bella is 22 and Edward is only about a month short of it. When chap 2 picks up Bella will have just turned 26 and Edward will still be 25.

Chapter 1: Befriending Strangers

Bella was standing there in her torn up jeans, motorcycle t-shirt, and worn red converse slashing away at a canvas with her paintbrush. This, and the music blaring from the speakers behind her, was a way of distracting herself from things she didn't want to think about. It was also the reason she didn't see the young man standing in the doorway watching her. She didn't notice he had approached until her music cut off abruptly. When she spun around to give her intruder a piece of her mind, she was met with his chest. The stranger was about 6 feet tall, which was quite a bit more than her height of 5'6". He had messy bronze hair, which looked like he had just rolled out of bed looking perfect. His eyes were a vibrant green color, like emeralds. Their beauty was something Bella could appreciate. She'd always had a habit of looking at peoples' eyes and picking out the colors and shades. She also had a tendency to give peoples' clothes a once over. The guy in front of her was wearing faded jeans and a plain navy t-shirt. She could tell his muscles were well defined, even if it wasn't obvious. Bella was observant; she spent a lot of time people watching so the paleness of his skin, the way his smile lifted up slightly higher on the right, and the fact that his left shoe was untied didn't escape her notice. She saw things other people missed, and she did it all in a matter of seconds.

"I didn't mean to startle you. I just wanted to see what you were working on. I'm Edward." He held out his hand and she took it without hesitation. She had a feeling she could trust this stranger and that he would be important to her someday.

"Isabella, but call me Bella. Sorry for almost whacking you with my brush. You sort of caught me in a moment." She realized a second to late that she was on the verge of spilling her guts to someone she had just met and hoped that he wouldn't push the topic.

"I totally would've deserved it so don't worry about it. Plus, it looks like you've already been painting on yourself so at least I wouldn't be alone." He began chuckling as he pointed at the streak of her hair that was dyed blue. It ran from her part down the right side of her dark wavy hair, which was currently in pigtails. The streak had been something she'd wanted to do for a long time and had tried it temporarily before but had only recently plucked up the nerve to have it done permanently.

"Hey, I like my hair. The color is one of the few things in life I feel I have complete control over. At least I didn't choose 'snot-green' or something repulsive like that." Edward had her completely at ease. There had only ever been a handful of people who had accomplished that before and it had taken a lot longer than five minutes. They fell into an easy conversation about having control, dying their hair, getting tattoos. He told her about the small cross on his shoulder blade and the little pink ribbon that adorned it. He had gotten it two years ago, after his grandmother died of breast cancer. They had been close and this was his way of keeping her close by. When he finished, Bella told about the tattoo she had gotten on her hip three months earlier. It was small and not particularly noticeable, but she wanted it that way. The tattoo itself was a small red heart that looked as though a large piece was missing from the center of it. She told him she wasn't quite ready to tell the story just yet, but maybe someday, if he was still willing to listen, she would tell him all about Jacob Black.

"So, you're an art major? How many more years of school do you have left?" The conversation had gone on to more superficial topics, which suited Bella just fine.

"No, actually, I'm majoring in the culinary arts. Professor Jenkins just lets me use the studio every once in a while when there isn't a class in here. I've only got the rest of this semester left though. I guess I'll actually have to start painting at my own place."Bella expected Edward to laugh and ask her what her real major was. Everyone else thought it was a joke. He thought it was a joke. He laughed at her. Being a chef wasn't impressive or brag worthy, apparently. But Edward didn't laugh. When she looked up at him, he was smiling at her. Not in a "that's a worthless profession" kind of way, but in an encouraging and maybe slightly amused way. He had a very thoughtful look on his face as he looked at her.

"Strangely enough, I can totally see you in front of an assortment of elaborate cakes in an apron, holding a bowl and a big stirring spoon, with flour smudged across your nose. Is that weird since I just met you?" Bella wanted so badly just to hug him. He had been the first person outside of her family to make her feel like wanting to cook was acceptable.

"No, it's weird because somehow you knew I wanted to be a pastry chef after having just met me." They had a good laugh at that before resuming their conversation on school. Edward was a pre-med student, with hopes of being a surgeon. He was in his last semester here before he was off to some big shot medical school for his PhD. Pretty soon, Bella had forgotten all about her painting and the frustration she was trying to relieve. Her newest friend had somehow made the pain she was feeling disappear completely, even if it was only for a little while. She promised herself she would spend as much time in his presence as possible, but with only two weeks left until graduation she knew she wouldn't be seeing much of him. As a matter of fact, she only saw him once more, by chance in the cafeteria before she left the school behind to start on a new adventure. She had never even learned his last name.

I just want to thank all of you reading this one and dont forget to let me know which POV you want me to continue in (third person or bella). Thanks again and i hope you guys like this one.

~KizzieJanay