The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful

**this is not a western! LOL!**

Let me first say, I am making this ENTIRE fic *FICTION* (gasp!) I did so much dang research on FD that I missed out on some of the fun parts. I just want to enjoy this fic. The only "real" things will be the state she lives, the state her dad lives, and Harvard. I won't even promise that her courses are legit. I just wanna have fun lol.

Next, this is going to be a darker fic. Yes, I may have funny stuff here and there, because, well, I can't help it. I live with a bunch of clowns so sometimes they rub off on me. However, this will NOT be a comedy. (so that means no appearances from a very funny OC like FD, lol—sorry, I miss him too)

I need to thank my Literary Crew (LC) and yes, I have an actual crew this time! My darling beta, Spellboundagain had to step down and just become a pre-reader for me because she had to have shoulder surgery. I feel that her position is no less important than it was before, however, I have to introduce you to my newest beta, Rags, who will be taking over editing duty for sba :) Of course, Allysue08 will continue to be my meatier beta, who helps me beef up my chapters. Thanks guys! I have added two new positions to my LC and that is idea-bouncer-back-and-forther. LOL! I have to thank Shereebedee and Alitriona (aka Elia) for that job! They have helped me decide what should and should not be included in this fic! Thank you so much guys! You have all made this possible!

As always, I am only leasing these characters, unfortunately.

A New Leaf

BPOV

August 19, 2009

"Dad, I appreciate the help, I really do, but you've already driven me clear across the country, you don't need to help me unpack, too."

"I know, Bells, but…well…I'm gonna miss you." My dad, Charlie, had always been a man of few words. His exterior was tough, but inside, he was just a big ole softy.

My dad had always been supportive of my plan after high school, but when the day came for me to move all the way to Massachusetts, I could tell he was hurting inside. He was ecstatic that his only child had made it into Harvard, but being a Chief of Police didn't pay much and he knew our visits would be few and far between. This broke his heart more than he was willing to admit. After Mom died eight years ago, I was all Charlie had. I hated leaving him, but I had great plans for my future and I could only achieve them by leaving Forks…and therefore also my dad.

I compromised with him and let him help me unpack a few boxes, but made him promise to let me take him out to lunch afterward.

We were midway through the second box when I heard a soft knock on the opened dorm room door. I twirled around to see a girl my age smiling timidly and carrying a few suitcases.

She was a very pretty girl. She had long brown hair and wore the cutest pair of Mykita glasses, which complimented her smooth, slender face perfectly.

I stood up, gesturing quickly for her to come in, and rushed to scoot my boxes out of the way for her.

Her smile grew and she said, "You must be Isabella. Hello, I'm Angela. It's so nice to meet you." Her voice was so soft and gentle, letting me know right away that she was very kind-hearted and most likely shy as well.

This would be perfect. My biggest fear was that I would end up with a crazy and loud roommate who liked to party all hours of the night (and quite possibly be promiscuous right here in my room). I came to college for one reason, and one reason only, and that didn't include parties (or promiscuity for that matter). Yeah, call me a geek, call me a prude, but academics were my number one priority. I could have fun after having made a life for myself.

I held out my hand and said, "Bella, actually, just Bella." I smiled and she shook my hand. "It's very nice to meet you, too, Angela." I nudged my dad with my elbow, but rolled my eyes as I looked at Angela. "This is my dad, Charlie."

Dad simply nodded and shook her hand.

"I wasn't sure which side you would prefer, so I haven't exactly chosen a side. You can pick, I am fine with either." I shrugged one shoulder letting her know it didn't matter to me.

"Um…well, I'm fine with either as well. How about I take the left?" She looked at me to make sure I was really fine with it, which I was.

Dad helped me finish up the second box and I offered Angela an invitation to lunch with us. She graciously declined, explaining that her older sister was coming to greet her in an hour or so. She informed us that her sister was a senior and she planned to 'show her the ropes' so she wouldn't feel like such a freshman. We both giggled and she told me that she would let me in on it as well.

As we were walking towards the nearest coffee shop, I started a conversation with my dad. Fat chance he would start one anytime soon.

"So, Angela seems nice."

Grunt

"I bet she will make a really great roommate."

Hmm

"Maybe I can get her to buy me some alcohol and cocaine and throw wild parties that include orgies."

Grunt

"Wait, what?" Dad looked at me as if I had just grown horns out of my head.

"Maybe next time you will actually pay attention to me when I am talking, Dad!" I giggled and wrapped my arm around his waist.

We had a nice lunch, with minimal conversation, of course. I paid the bill, even though Dad tried to take it from me three times, and we headed back to the dorms.

I stopped in front of my building. I really wanted to avoid crying and I knew I had a better chance of accomplishing that by remaining out in public.

Charlie looked at the sidewalk and dug his toe into the concrete. He lifted his hand and rubbed the back of his neck. "I know you probably don't want your dad to go all mushy on you, so I will try to just hug you quickly and go. I'm sure gonna miss you, Bells. Keep your grades up. I know you can do this. I have faith in you. Be responsible. Please call me if you ever need me. No matter what the time…I…uh….I love you, Bells." His voice cracked in the end.

I leapt forward and wrapped my arms around him. That was the most my dad had said to me all in one sitting since…well, I didn't know when.

"Oh, Dad! I love you so much! I'll check in with you at least once a week. I'm gonna email you…you remember how to check your emails, right? I put a note card by the computer to help you remember your password and login information. I'll keep you updated. I sure am going to miss you, Dad." I kissed his cheek, "I really love you Dad. Thank you so much for…just for everything!"

Tears started to form in my eyes and I really didn't want to drag this out. I was a sucker for a man crying, and I would probably go right back to Washington with him if I would see him cry. I squeezed him one more time and ran to my room. I didn't look back for fear of what I would see on his face.

This was it…the first day of the rest of my life.

August 20, 2009

I was finally unpacking my last box—my books—when I came across an envelope with my name written in chicken scratch. Dad.

I opened the envelope and began reading the letter.

Bells,

I had to put this in your final box because I knew you wouldn't accept it. But now you have no choice. The guys at the station and the families on the Rez pitched in to help out with your college living expenses. You can't send it back—it's a money order with your name on it. Please accept it from everyone who loves you. We want your first year to be as stress-free as possible. Enjoy your independence. Buy yourself something nice.

We love you,

Dad and the gang

I was put off by the fact that these people, who were barely above poverty themselves, actually gave me money to splurge with. Dad knew I had saved enough working at Newton's to supply all of my necessities for the first semester and I had planned on getting a part-time job to add to it for the following semester.

I pulled out the money order and quite literally fell out of my computer chair. Five thousand dollars!?!

I grabbed my phone and dialed Dad's cell.

He answered on the second ring, "I thought for sure you would have found it last night. You didn't fully unpack? That's unusual for you."

"Cut the crap, Dad. How could you let them do this? They can't afford it, Dad, and neither can you. I know you put money in on it, too, don't try to tell me you didn't. I can't accept this." Yes, I was whining like a bratty three-year-old, but I just couldn't fathom taking money knowing they needed it just as much as I did…probably more since I didn't exactly have bills.

"You have no choice, Bells. I told you in the letter. It is a money order, you have to accept it. I knew if it was a check you would tear it up or conveniently lose it, but with a money order the money has already been spent and I don't think even you would throw away five grand. Just take it, Bells. Everyone was very excited to help you out. They all love you and have watched you grow up…you are like their little girl. Don't make this difficult, Bells, please." He was begging me. Charlie Swan didn't beg.

I huffed, "Fine…but I don't like it. Tell everyone I said 'thanks,' and please don't tell them I was being pissy about it, okay?" I giggled, knowing darn good and well, he would go straight and tell everyone my reaction. "I love you, Dad, and thank you. I think I'm gonna get that MacBook I had wanted to save up for. I will send you an email from it after I buy it, okay? G'night, Dad."

"'Night, Bells. I love you. Buy yourself a new outfit, too. Take a picture of yourself all dolled up and send it to us." He chuckled and we ended the call.

Once I accepted it, I started to get excited about the prospect of going out to spend money on items I had been wanting for quite some time. The MacBook, a cell phone upgrade—an iPhone would be nice – and I really wanted one of those dorm-size refrigerators. This was turning out to be a good thing after all.

August 23, 2009

I had already made my purchase at Best Buy. I went all out on the Mac. I had never had a brand new computer before, let alone a laptop, so I decked that sucker out. I was a bit proud of how thrifty I was and yet still able to come away with a top-of-the-line piece of equipment. I also upgraded to an iPhone while I was there.

This is going to be a good year.

I decided to do as my dad said and I stopped to buy some new clothes. Not being one to get 'dolled up' as he so anciently put it, I preferred to get sophisticated clothing, but casual as well. It should be okay to wear to class and also look nice if I decided to go out to a nice restaurant. I managed to come away with five very nice, conservative outfits and three of my favorite kinds—tattered jeans, hoodie, t-shirt, and Chucks. I was quite pleased with myself.

To complete the ensemble, I stopped at the salon and had my first ever manicure and decided to finally change my hair. I had always had hair to my waist, but I was turning over a new leaf…a new chapter in my life, as they say. I donated fifteen inches of my dark brown curly hair to Locks of Love and then had a relaxer put in. I was blessed with candlestick curls all over my head, but I was ready to try straight hair for a while…curls were not a wake-up-and-go hairdo.

When all was said and done, I looked totally different, but pretty darn good, at least I think so.

Before I hopped into bed that evening, I made myself a note to stop at the bank and deposit the twenty-five hundred dollars I had left.

Yes, this is definitely going to be a good year.

August 24, 2009—First day of classes

I was never late. Never. You could set your watch by me. And here I was, two minutes before class…lost. I couldn't find the stupid Literature room. I had been up and down building three at least five times. This idiotic map that was smudged with barely legible letters didn't help me out one bit. I huffed, dropped my bag, and leaned against the wall, bending forward and placing my hands on my knees. I was muttering to myself so I didn't hear when someone approached.

"Need some help?"

I was startled by the sexiest voice to ever reach my ears. My head jerked up and saw the face that went along with that sweet sound, and I nearly lost my breath right then and there. The male specimen that stood before me was absolutely magnificent. They don't grow 'em like that back in Forks.

I realized I was gaping so I quickly shut my mouth. "Uh..hi…um…uh…I uh.." Nice. I had the brains to get into Harvard and yet I couldn't even put words together to form a sentence.

His emerald eyes twinkled and he slowly licked his full, gorgeous, kissable lips before he snickered softly and said, "Are you having a hard time finding a class? This place is very confusing, and the maps they give out are ancient. Which room are you looking for? I can probably help you. I came a week early in order to memorize the campus." Lord, have mercy.

I blinked way too many times to not appear like a deranged lunatic and swallowed loudly. "Uh, three…um three…uh," I looked down at my schedule because, well, honestly, I couldn't think of anything except running my fingers through his messy head of golden auburn hair. My fingers were literally twitching. I had never fantasized about hair before…heck, I didn't believe I had fantasized about anything before. Yes, I was boring, I knew this. Did you think I was this smart naturally? Anyway, I had to get it together, this was quite pathetic. I took a deep breath, "Three-oh-four," I said, keeping my eyes on my paper in order to remain coherent.

"Ah, you have Professor Denali, same as I do." He grinned and picked up my messenger bag, which I had dropped beside me on the floor. "Come on, I'll show you the way."

He turned around and sweet Jesus, the back was almost as nice as the front – it just lacked the sexy smile and eyes. I am in so much trouble.

I followed him to our Lit class, and once we stepped inside I realized that the room was almost full. There weren't many seats left, but two were conveniently side by side in the back of the room. He didn't even seem to think about it, he walked toward the seats and paused to see which desk I would choose.

I didn't look at his face, but quickly smiled and sat in the seat on the right. He handed me my bag and sat in the other seat. He scooted closer to me and my palms started to sweat.

"I'm Edward, by the way. Edward Cullen." He reached his hand out and I shook it softly, hoping he couldn't feel the perspiration that had gathered.

"Um…Bella," I gulped, "Swan. Thank you for your help, Edward. It was really…sweet." I prayed I wasn't blushing, but I doubted it was working; I always blushed.

"It's very nice to meet you, Umbella," Edward smirked, and continued "and, it was no problem. I couldn't let you wander aimlessly around the halls." His mouth tipped to one side and he chuckled.

We weren't able to speak again for the next hour and a half because Prof. Denali decided to take the entire time to go over our syllabus and his expectations for everyone in his class, along with the required readings and several suggested readings as well. I rolled my eyes since nearly everything on his list was something I had read before I turned fifteen. This was why I wished it had been possible to skip Intro to American Lit – this class was going to bore me to tears.

Class was winding down and Edward started fidgeting with his notebook. I glanced over at him and he quickly lowered his head and started tapping his pencil on his desk. I noticed him swallow a few times, because, yes, I was fixated with his neck…and his chin…and his nose…and his ears…and his…anyway. He acted nervous and I couldn't figure out why. He had been so friendly at the beginning of class, even possibly outgoing, and now he was behaving strangely.

He began gathering his things and placing them in his bag. I noticed he had begun bouncing his knee and his breath appeared to be shallower.

Class was dismissed and suddenly I wasn't sure how to react towards Edward. He shifted slightly, to face me, but didn't meet my gaze. "It was…uh, it was very nice to meet you Bella. Um…enjoy your afternoon." He then rushed out of the room, leaving me standing there in shock. What just happened?

Thank you so much for reading! I'm not going to beg for reviews, but I have 4 more chapters written and I just might be tempted to give a teaser of the next chapter for a review *wink*