Summary: Seventeen-year-old Isabella Swan probably makes one of the hardest decisions of her life; she decides to leave everything behind in order to attend a famous University down in New York City. What happens when she meets a certain bronze haired boy named Edward Cullen, as well as the rest of the Cullens and Hales? All HUMAN.

Bella Swan: 17 (almost 18)
Alice Cullen: 19
Edward Cullen: 20
Rosalie Hale: 21
Jasper Hale: 21
Emmett Cullen: 21

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Bella?" My mom, Renee, asked for the millionth time this week.

"Yes mom. I'll be just fine." I sighed; she was giving me the look. Again. "Don't worry about it mom; I'll be fine. I want to go."

"Are you sure?"

I inwardly rolled my eyes. Trust a mom to worry about University more than her daughter. "Yes, mom. I'm sure. Let's get going. I don't want to miss my flight," I said with mock enthusiasm.

And with that, my mother started the engine and drove us to the Fort Lauderdale airport.

My mom wasn't really the chatterer, and neither was I, so we both sat in silence for the hour-long car ride. I took a deep breath and sighed. I could feel my mother glancing at me sideways, so I decided to look out my right window, too lost in my own thoughts to notice my surroundings.

I will never regret the decision I made to move away; away from my home, my friends, my mother and most of all, my childhood memories. I had already said my goodbyes to the sun and my friends, knowing I wouldn't see them for about four years.

I was born in Forks, Washington, and moved to Florida with my mother when I was two, where I lived a happy fifteen years with my mother in our apartment. Just like everyone else, I began school when I was four, eventually made new friends, and created a serene, comfortable life for myself.

Just recently, I won a scholarship to a very famous university down in New York City, where I was headed to. It was hard leaving my whole behind, but I knew it was for the best.

Before I knew it, we had reached the airport.

My mother unlocked the trunk for me as she said, "I'm really doing to miss you, Bells." Her voice broke on my name, and it was then that I realized she was trying to hold back her tears.

I softly brushed away my moms' tears with the pad of my thumb. I grabbed her hands and patted them with my own. "I know mom. I'll be fine though. I promise, and don't worry. We can always chat and talk on the phone together, and before you know it, I'll be coming home for Christmas."

I hoped my voice wasn't shaky. Somehow, I've managed to get this far on the journey to my new life awaiting my three hours from now. If I break down now, she'll notice and I'll never be able to leave.

My mom shook her head and attempted a half-hearted smile as she took out one of my bags and handed it to me, keeping the other two in her left hand. I shut the trunk, and we began walking towards the airport.

As I took one of my last breaths of the hot, humid air and gorgeous sceneries of palm trees surrounding me, I sighed.

I'm really going to miss this place.

Soon enough, we found my gate; Fort Lauderdale to New York. My suspicions were confirmed; it was, indeed, a three hour flight. I said my farewells to my mom, promising her that I'd call and e-mail her regularly.

I quickly checked that I had everything with me, and made my way inside.

I admit it—I was lost. I didn't know where to go, or how to get to GATE 3. Heck, I didn't even know where I was, and my flight was leaving in one hour. I glanced at my wrist and mentally cursed myself for not bringing a watch. I took deep breaths, and tried to push the negatives out of my mind. There was no need to panic.

Everyone was walking around very quickly, not stopping to a halt or to take a break. Everyone seemed in such a rush.

All except for one person.

I noticed a tall man leaning against the wall. I decided to take my chances and went up to him. He wore ripped jeans and a plain black t-shirt that looked like it hadn't been washed for years. He was much taller than my five feet and five inches. He was practically bald. The only hairs he had on his head were white. He didn't seem to notice me approach him seeing as his eyes were closed.

Overall, he looked in a pretty bad state, but I decided to take my chances. This is just like that old quote 'don't judge a book by its cover', right? And maybe this guy could actually help me.

When I was only two feet away from him, I cleared my throat to catch his attention. It didn't seem to work. Maybe he was sleeping, or maybe I wasn't loud enough. But seriously, who sleeps while standing up and slouching on the wall? I tried again. Automatically, his eyes snapped open and a smile crept onto his damaged lips.

He was eying me up and down, and then glanced at the bags in my hands longer than necessary. "Yes?"

His eyes were startlingly yellow and looked wicked in a sense. I thought his teeth would probably be terribly crooked and yellow, but when I saw them, I knew that was a big understatement.

Even by saying one simple word, his breath hit me hard. It smelt so terrible; I don't even think there were words to describe it. I thought there could be no smell worse than rotting fish, or a decaying body, but I guess I was dead wrong. I think bad breath now has a completely new meaning when being described for him.

Now that I noticed, he himself also had a very foul odour, as if his breath wasn't bad enough. I didn't notice it from far away, but now his clothes also look in a very bad condition and disoriented. His whole appearance made me want to throw up.

I suddenly had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Maybe coming here was a bad idea after all. Maybe I—

"Yes?" He cleared his throat, and I noticed myself absently staring at his gold tooth.

Ew...

A blush slowly crept onto my cheeks. He oddly seemed to be enjoying himself. "Uh...," it was then that I remembered what I had walked up to him for. "Um, I was just wondering which hallway leads to TERMINAL 3? You know the one for New York?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but someone beat him to it. "That would be the one on your right side, over there." The husky voice that sounded like velvet came from behind me.

I turned around to find a guy who looked around my age, or probably a few years older than me, with gorgeous emerald green eyes and auburn coloured hair, pointing to an entrance at my right. I couldn't form coherent words to say, so I just kept staring like an idiot until he said, "Come on. I'm going there too."

I picked up my bags and noticed the auburn-haired boy glaring at the man. Yes, he was actually glaring. He looked so menacing, that his expression actually sent chills down my spine, and the tiny hairs on my forearm to stick up on end.

But he quickly turned to face me, and gave me shockingly dazzling smile, exposing a set of perfect ultra-white teeth. He motioned for us to go with his left hand. As we were walking, I couldn't help but feel curious.

"So," I said, trying to start up a conversation, "you know that guy." It sounded more like a statement rather than a question, but I didn't want him to think I was nosy.

"No, I don't really know him, but he tried stealing some of my sisters' bags when I wasn't there. Luckily, the security guards were though. They let him go after he somehow convinced them that he thought those were his bags. As if a full grown man would carry around hot pink suitcases," he shook his head back and forth. "Sometimes, those security guards are so blind..." He trailed off, probably re-calling some event he remembered. I couldn't help but feel strangely curious about this stranger.

"Yeah, okay. I get that part, but why'd you come here? I mean, I think I was fine. I was only asking him where TERMINAL 3 was." I stopped my rambling there, now feeling completely idiotic.

He simply chuckled. "You looked pretty lost. Actually, my family and I were having pizza over there." He pointed to Pizza Hut, "And then my brother started laughing out of the bloom. We turned to look in the direction he was pointing at, and we saw you. You were slowly walking somewhere looking completely lost.

"After that, we didn't really pay attention to you seeing as you turned a corner and disappeared. After about five minutes though, my brother nudged me to get my attention and pointed to you. It looked like you were going in circles, and you looked really stressed out. My brother said 'Don't get involved', but as everyone left for a washroom break, I noticed that guy watching you."

His face suddenly sharpened again as that same frightening death-glare appeared on his face. This guy obviously hated that old man to the bone. But quicker than I could notice, it dissolved into a beautiful crooked smile, and he went on. "He pretended to be sleeping when he noticed you walking in his direction. So I assumed that he was planning to steal your bags as well.

"Since I wasn't in any hurry to do anything, I decided to go and help you," he finished.

"Well, thanks."

By now, we reached TERMINAL 3, and I began rummaging through my purse for my ticket and anything else I might need.

He glanced at his watch and panic rose on his beautiful face.

I looked up at him. "What's wrong?"

"I have to find my brother and sister." He slowly started to sound calmer. "I guess I've got to go. But the way, my name's Edward." He stuck out his hand and I shook it. His hand felt surprisingly warm and soft against mine.

When our skin made contact, it felt like an electric current was passing through it. It didn't feel painful or bad. It strangely felt... right?

"My name's Isabella, but you can call me Bella," I said.

"Maybe I'll see you on the plane, Bella."

"Yeah. See ya."

He then took off—more like ran off—clearly in a hurry.

After the three-hour flight, I was finally in New York City. I grabbed a TAXI, giving the driver the University address.

In twenty minutes tops, I arrived at Twilight University.

It was pretty easy finding the dorms. The tall building had 'STUDENT DORMS' neatly printed on the front glass door. I went inside and the security guard asked me for my ID. I showed it to him and he told me where the elevator was located, handing me my room key. It opened with ding! and fancy elevator music began playing in the background as I stepped inside.

Out of the eleven floors, mine's was on the fifth. I soon found my room and went in. I flicked on the lights and my jaw dropped.

The dorm had been designed like a mini-apartment.

No, it was much, much better.

I gave myself a tour of my new 'house' and found that there was only one bedroom with two beds in it. I wondered who my new room mate would be, or how she'd be like, or when she'd arrive, for that matter.

I dumped my bags on my bed and went to wash up in the washroom. I went to the kitchen, and to my surprise, the fridge was loaded. Drinks, junk food, deserts, literally anything and everything.

I made myself microwavable frozen pasta, and poured some Sprite to go along with it. I sat on the kitchen island and ate my dinner in silence.

When I was finished, I dumped the plastic plate and up in the garbage and headed for the living room. I had such a nice leather couch and an awesome 62 inch plasma screen television hooked up and screwed to the wall. I decided to watch an episode of 'Gossip Girl' and found myself slowly drifting to peaceful sleep in the process.

I woke up much too soon for my liking. It felt like a person was shaking me, trying to get me to wake up. "Hey! Wake up!" A girls' voice said. My eyes fluttered open to find a short beautiful girl with spiky get black hair and wonderfully pretty green eyes, crouched down, kneeling, in front o me.

"Wh...?" I stuttered. I embarrassingly cleared my throat. "Not to sound rude or anything, but you are…?"

"I'm your new roomy. And this," she said, gesturing to everything around her, "is our room."

"Are you new here, too?" I asked curiously.

"Nope. This is my second year here." At my questioning look, she rolled her eyes and flopped down beside me. "Usually, first years get paired with other first years, so I'm not sure why this happened." She shrugged. "But I could care less whether I shared a dorm with a freshman or a sophomore. What's your name?

"Bella. Short for Isabella. I moved here from Jacksonville…So what's your name?" I asked, sitting up.

"I'm Alice Cullen. I can tell we'll be great friends. You have a great sense of fashion you know." Up until now, I hadn't realized that I didn't change. I was still wearing my light purple American Eagle halter top with sequenced shiny beads along the neckline and bottom, faded black skinny jeans, a pair of black strappy four-inch heels, large purple hoop earrings, and some dark heavy make-up around my eyes. My hair was straightened to the extreme, and hung loosely, falling over my shoulders and ended midway, right above my elbow.

This outfit was a gift from my mom, as a going away present. I guess I did look a bit overdressed for an average student attending University.

"So what brings you here, Bella?" she asked, as she took a seat beside me on the couch.

"I got a scholarship to this place, all expenses paid. So I thought, hey, why not? What's there to lose? It's New York for God sakes!" At this, Alice chuckled. "Now tell me about yourself. It's got to be a much more interesting story than mine."

"Sure. So let's see... I graduated from Tenor High School in Fort Lauderdale in the summer of 2007. My brothers were already enrolled in this school, so I thought 'Why not just go with them?' It's freakin' New York City, like you said."

"So this is your first year in University?" she asked.

"Yeah. So that makes you a year older than me." She seemed pleased by this, but why? I may never know.

"So have you seen much of New York, Bella?"

I nodded my head. "Yeah. I got here by taxi, and on my way here, the taxi driver showed me the attractions and all that jazz. We so have to go shopping some time. I saw some pretty big malls here."

"Oh, I'd love to go shopping, Bella! I just know we're going to be the best of friends."

Her hyper mood was contagious. I laughed at her cheerfulness, and suddenly remembered something. "You know, I'd love to keep talking, but I have classes tomorrow." I glanced at the clock hung on the wall, right above the television. "You know, Alice, it's already 3:56 am. We should seriously get some sleep."

Her face fell a little from hearing this, but she quickly regained her composure before I could comment on it. She got up and gestured for us to go. She changed in the bathroom while I changed in the bedroom. I jumped on my bed and let wonderful sleep take over me.

I groggily woke up the next morning thanks to Alice opening the curtains and blinding me with sunlight. "Come on, Bella. You gotta get up or we'll be late."

I moaned and put my pillow over my head. Several people started laughing and my head immediately shot up to meet four pairs of curious eyes examining me.

Alice was on my bed, literally jumping up and down, trying to get my attention, and then there were the three mysterious unknown people standing around the room. There were two boys and one girl. They all seemed older than me.

The girl was blond and had light blue eyes like crystal, which looked like they were glittering. She looked like the type who'd be a model by now. The type who'd make every girl take a hit on her self-esteem just by being in the same building. The type of girl who'd appear on the cover of a swim suit magazine.

The guy beside her looked taller than average and he had short dirty blond hair, spiked up, with hazel eyes. He had huge muscles. He looked like the type of guy who'd do some serious weight lifting. He looked at least 25, not 20, and looked quite intimidating, at the very least.

Leaning at the door frame was yet another guy. This stranger had light brown hair and violet coloured eyes. He wasn't that built, but you could tell he worked out.

These three strangers looked completely opposite of each other. Yet these four looked undeniably beautiful. And here I was, plain Jane, in the middle of them all.

It was Alice who broke the brief silence. "These are my friends, Bella. The guy with the dirty blond hair is Emmett, my oldest brother. The girl beside him is his girlfriend, Rosalie. And lastly, the guy standing at the doorway is Jasper Hale, my boyfriend. He and Rosalie are siblings." They all gave me warm smiles, which I immediately returned. "'Kay Bella. Now that you've met the group, it's time to get dressed. There's only one hour until school starts."

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. When I got out, I decided to wear an Aeropostale polo with pink and purple stripes along with a denim jeans mini skirt, and a pair of black flats with a bow at the front, along with a pair of purple hoop earrings that I wore yesterday. I decided to wear my hair down, since it was already straightened.

I applied some lip gloss and headed to the kitchen to find it completely deserted, except for a short pixie-like figure occupying a stool at the kitchen island, silently eating a bagel. "Where's everyone?"

"They left to their dorms to get ready. I just wanted to introduce them to you. Come sit and eat."

Turns out, Alice didn't have any classes in the morning, so I had to find my own way around.

"I'll see you at lunch, right?" I asked, just to be sure.

"Yup." She smiled. "We'll be at the caf."

As I was headed to my class, I thought about all that Alice told me. Apparently, she was headed for the fashion industry, while I was going for journalism. I learnt Rosalie was into auto, and Jasper was more in the History. Emmett was studying to go to law school.

My nose was 'buried' in my map so deep that I didn't even notice the person ahead of me, until I bumped into them, and much to my embarrassment, fell flat on my butt. That's going to leave a mark, I thought.

"I'm so sorry!"

I jerked my head up to look at the person, and with a jolt, realized this was the same green-eyed, tan skinned, beautiful guy who looked like he could be an Abercrombie model. This was the same Edward I met at the airport.

He, too, seemed to realize this. His expression softened up a bit. "Bella?" he asked, clearly dazed. His voice was completely filled with shock.

"Yeah, it's me. It's such a surprise to see you here," I replied truthfully as he helped me collect my books.

"I'd say the same to you. Do you need any help finding your next class?" He asked, extending out his hand for me which I gladly took as he helped me up.

"No thanks. I think I can find it."

"Edward!" A group of boys and girls were waving to him from the other end of the hallway. He seemed to be a pretty popular person. I wonder...

He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "I'll see you 'round?"

I nodded as answer, and he turned on his heel and left.

I went in the direction of my class.

After much too long for my liking, the hour was finally up, which meant I could finally meet up with Alice and the gang. I gathered my books and headed in the direction most students were headed to, since I figured it was lunch time and everyone must be at the food court.