Chapter 1

First Encounter

Disclaimer: The only character I own thus far is Joe. Bella & the rest of the characters belong to Stephanie Meyer, I have no claim to them.

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This is the story of when I truly started living. Some people might not want to hear it or care but I'm going to tell you about it anyway. If you don't want to listen you can just plug your ears or leave, for the few that do want to listen sit back and relax because you'll be at my mercy for awhile. Just kidding.

It all started the last day of school my junior year. I went through my morning classes as usual. But at lunch I didn't go and eat with the girls in the cafeteria, instead I went to eat lunch with my older brother, Jasper, at the garage where he works. I had gone to KFC and bought a bucket of fried chicken and a two liter of soda. I climbed into my yellow 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible and made my way to Joe's Garage.

"Hey Joe. Has Jasper gone on his lunch break yet?" I asked the owner, who was like a father to Jasper and me since our own had died two years earlier.

"No he hasn't, he's working on that Thunderbird over in the corner of the shop. Is that chicken I smell?" Joe smiled.

"Yeah, do you want some?" I asked smiling as I offered the bucket.

"Thanks Bells." Joe grinned as he reached into the bucket and pulled out two breasts and a wing.

I headed back to the corner of the shop to meet up with Jasper, "Hey bro, what's kickin'?"

"I thought I smelled chicken," Jasper smiled as he whipped his greasy hands on a shop rag in his coveralls and kissed me on the cheek.

"Go wash your hands so we can eat this in Joe's office," I replied as I headed for the office.

"It won't make any difference the grease won't come off. Besides if we eat in Joe's office won't he want some?" Jasper asked on his way to the bathroom.

"I already gave him some. Hurry up before I have to get back to school."

"Okay let's go," Jasper smiled as he grabbed the soda and drank out of the bottle.

"I wanted some of that!"

"You can still have some," Jasper smirked as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and sat down at Joe's desk, "So are you excited for the school year to be over?"

"Well it's not really over yet but yeah pretty much. I don't know what I'm going to do all summer though."

"I'm sure Joe will let you get your hands dirty here for awhile," Jasper replied taking a bite of a wing.

"Hey Jasper, could you come here for a minute?" Joe asked as he poked his head in the door.

"Sorry sis, but duty calls," Jasper smiled weakly and headed for the door.

As I sat there contemplating what I was going to do over the summer I heard a small knock at the door, "Yeah, it's open," I retorted.

"Excuse me but are you Bella?"

"Yeah who's askin'?" I replied getting up from my chair and wiping my mouth on a napkin.

"Hi my name is Edward Cullen. I'm the new mechanic," He smiled as he offered me his hand. I looked him over from head to toe. Athletic build, about 6'3", beautiful golden eyes, scruffy bronzed hair, and a great smile. Man, I loved his smile.

"Where did you say you were from?" I asked still shaking his hand.

"I didn't," He half smiled and I felt a tingling go up my arm and straight to my heart. I quickly let go of his hand and wiped the dampness on my jeans.

"Did Jasper send you in here?" I asked sitting in the chair behind Joe's desk taking a bite of chicken.

"Yeah actually he did," Edward smiled as he sat across from me looking at me in the most intense way as if he was trying to figure everything out about me just by examining my face.

"Why did he send you in here? Let me guess he didn't want me eating all of his chicken," I coyly smiled.

"Actually he didn't want you eating his chicken all by yourself."

"In that case you can eat his chicken," I smiled as I offered him Jasper's plate, "Did you want something to drink?" I asked getting up from my chair and grabbing a coffee mug with Joe's Garage written on it and filled it.

"Thanks," Edward smiled as he took a deep drink from the mug.

"So where is it that you're from?" I asked as I leaned against the edge of the desk and took a bite out of a wing.

"Well originally I'm from Chicago but my family was recently relocated to Los Angeles because my dad was transferred."

"What does he do?"

"He's a cop."

"Really? My dad was a cop too," I smiled.

"What do you mean 'was'?"

"Well he died two years ago in the line of duty during a drug raid. But it's no big deal, I mean, I miss him and all but I know that if he could choose anyway to die that he would want to die doing what he loved. Joe kind of took Jasper and me under his wing, which is pretty cool, this garage is like Jasper's home away from home."

"At least you know that Jasper is doing something that he loves and that he's always wanted to do."

"That's because him and dad used to restore classic cars all the ti-- wait exactly how long have you been working here?" I asked.

"I started about three weeks ago," Edward smiled as he took a bite out of Jasper's chicken breast.

"Do you know why I'm just now meeting you?"

"I have no idea," Edward shrugged and took a sip from his cup.

I walked over to the door, "Hey Jasper, come here a minute!" I walked back to Joe's chair and put my feet on the desk with my arms across my chest.

"Yeah sis?" Jasper asked as he walked in the door, "So I see you met Edward," He smiled looking at Edward.

"Yeah no thanks to you I'm just now meeting him," I glared at Jasper as I stood up from the chair and walked over to him, I was two inches shorter so I couldn't really look him in the eyes.

"Well I didn't know if you would like him or not," Jasper shrugged.

"How could I not like him he's perfect for me in every way!" I screamed as I punched Jasper in the arm as hard as I could.

"How was I supposed to know that? Do you remember the last guy you dated?" Jasper grinned as he rubbed his arm.

"Because I'm your sister, that's why! And you're supposed to know what I like, besides this has nothing to do with Mike so don't change the subject!" I yelled as I punched Jasper in the arm again.

"So you like me?" Edward asked as he stood up and walked over to were Jasper and I were arguing.

"Bella, what is going on here? My clients are asking questions," Joe asked from the doorway.

"Sorry Joe. Jasper and I were just saying goodbye because I have to get back to class," I smiled at Joe and glared at Jasper as I gathered my purse and car keys to head out the door.

"I'll walk you out," Edward smiled as he grabbed my elbow to lead me out the door.

"Listen I'm really sorry about that back there. It's just that Jasper pisses me off so bad sometimes," I apologized as Edward walked me to my car.

"Oh that's okay. So you really like me huh?" Edward smiled.

"I didn't know what I was saying. You know it was one of those heat of the moment kind of things."

"But did you mean what you said? About liking me I mean."

"Maybe. Why, what are you going to do about it if I did mean it?" I asked smiling.

"I might just have to do this," Edward grinned as he moved his hands from my elbow to my waist, where he tightened his grip. His arms circled me, and I didn't pull away. Edward's strong arms pulled me nearer to him, and he bent his head down so our foreheads touched. I could feel his breath on my face. Then his mouth moved closer. Edward's nose caressed the edge of mine. Every nerve in my body was standing on end.

He tucked one hand behind my head, with the other still on the small of my back, and in one smooth motion pulled me towards him, connecting his mouth to mine. Gentle, sweet, soft, and tender. I could have staid like that forever, but then Edward pulled back slowly, brushing his lips over my forehead. He gave me the most incredibly irresistible crooked smile and let his arms drop from around my waist, he continued to stand there looking into my eyes.

"So now do you like me even a little bit?"

"Maybe a little, but right now you need to quit trying to romance me so I can get back to class," I smiled as I clambered into the drivers seat of my convertible and slipped on my diamond studded sunglasses.

"Tell me Bella; is my romancing working even a little bit?" Edward asked as he leaned against my door smiling.

"I'll have to let you know when you meet me and the guys at the football field tomorrow," I grinned as I started the engine and turned up the radio.

"It's a date," Edward grinned as he kissed me once more on the forehead. I put on my seat belt and headed back to the high school but before I turned the corner I looked in my rearview mirror to see Edward doing a small victory dance, I laughed as I sped up. I didn't plan on telling the girls. Not right away, about Edward. But they are my best friends and they can always tell when something is up.

"Hey Bells! How was your lunch?" Rosalie, my stunning blond best friend asked as she met me by my locker before our next class.

"I had lunch with Jasper, how do you think it was?" I asked as I piled my advanced biology book into my arms.

"It must have been pretty good seeing that you can't stop smiling."

"What can I say, I love my brother," I replied as I looked at myself in the mirror in my locker and shut the door.

"No one loves their brother that much," Rosalie grimaced as she walked with me to advanced biology.

"Maybe I'm not like everyone else."

"Yeah right," Rosalie laughed as she sat down at her desk and started talking to her latest flirt sitting next to her, Tyler.

"Hey Bells you weren't at lunch, where did you go?" Alice asked from behind me.

I turned around in my seat to face the gorgeous green eyed pixie, "I had lunch with Jasper," I smiled, "But I didn't do much eating because Joe hired a new mechanic."

"Bella dear, do tell," Rosalie leaned over smiling abandoning her conversation with Tyler, who looked disappointed.

"He's no one really, except that he's perfect for me in every way possible," I replied as I gave Tyler a sympathetic look.

"Let me guess he's heinous in every way possible," Rosalie smirked and rolled her eyes.

"Come on Rose I don't go for complete dorks that are 'heinous' to put it in your terms," I glared at her and turned back to Alice.

"Don't tell me that you forgot about Mike. Come on Bella he was horrible," Rosalie retorted.

Okay let me just explain that Mike wasn't bad at all. So he followed me around like a little puppy and could be very overprotective. But he knew how to make me laugh and made me feel gorgeous every day. Every girl dates a clingy guy once in their lives right?

"How can anyone forget about Mike. He was by far the most amazing guy that Bella has ever dated. I absolutely loved him," Alice smiled at me with a wink.

"Yeah you would say that you always take Bella's side when we try to have a decent conversation," Rosalie glared at Alice as she turned around in her chair to face the front of the class.

"Are you forgetting Rose that you always seem to go against me when I express my opinion?" I asked smirking at her, "By the way I don't care if you're mad at me. If you are this just means that you won't get to meet Edward and try to steal him from me like you did Mike," I whispered in her ear.

"How dare you Bella! I never stole--"

"And how dare you Miss Hale talk while I am taking attendance. I really could care less about what you did or didn't steal from Miss Swan," Mr. Varner leaned against his desk in the front of the class with the attendance sheet in his hand as he looked at Rosalie, "You ladies can finish your conversation after class."

"Don't worry Mr. Varner, we will," Rosalie smiled viciously as she looked back at me.

So we did end up finishing our conversation and let me tell you, when Rosalie argues she can go on for hours without taking a breath.

"Let's finish what we started during bio," Rosalie glared at me by my locker after school.

"I'm forgetting, what was the thing that we were fighting over in bio?" I grinned at Alice and winked.

"I do believe that it was a boy," she sarcastically replied.

"Well that's nothing new," I laughed as I closed my locker door for the last time my junior year and linked arms with Alice to walk to my car.

"How can you think this is funny?" Rosalie asked as she stormed after us.

"Because Rose, you stole Mike from me ages ago."

"It was five months ago!"

"See what I did there Al, I got her to admit that she deliberately stole Mike from me," I smiled as I threw my purse in my car.

"I do and that was the work of a true genius," Alice grinned, "I do believe I would like to kiss your hand, my lady."

"Why thank you good sir," I smiled as I held out my hand, "Just make sure you don't break one of my nails I just got them done."

Alice bowed and kissed my hand and we both broke into a fit of giggles. Rosalie glared at us, "You two are so immature," she said as he playfully smacked me on the arm with her purse.

"Come on Rose we were just joking! Rsoe we love you, please don't leave!" I yelled at her as she walked away barely suppressing my fit of laughter, "Come on Al, I'll take you home," I smiled as I slid into the drivers seat.

Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is a little slow I promise it will pick up later. I hope to update soon, I will post a new chapter once I get at least 2 reviews. Please review and give me your ideas!

Thanks,

AnnaCullen05