A/N: Hi Everybody, here is the next longer story I wrote. The story takes place 2 years after Edward left Bella that dreadful day in the forrest in New Moon, Bella has been staying in Forks all that time and now it's time for her to move on. She moves to New York and attends NYU. Only after a couple of days she meets a couple of old acquaintances, namely the Cullen family, they have moved to NY as well and are also attending NYU. This leaves Bella in quite an uncomfortable situation when she meets Edward again after all that time. Will they get back together? Find out what happens.

Here's the first chapter of the story, it's called Fresh Start and it's kind of the background/introduction of the story. I hope you enjoy it. I'll try to upload a new chapter every day, most of the story is already written anyways so that shouldn't be a problem I think. Enjoy and let me know what you think :)

Fresh start

It had been two years since that one horrific day in the forest with Edward. He had told me goodbye and left me for good. He hadn't returned and I had given up hoping that he ever would. He didn't want me and it was time that I moved on. That meant that I would have to leave Forks though, because everything here reminded me of him. We had spent so much time together, at school, in my room, everywhere. I had to get away. It was a good thing that I had graduated from high school a year ago, being there without him next to me had been complete disaster.

Now I was telling Jacob, my best friend in the whole world and my personal savior, and Charlie, my dad, goodbye. I was leaving for college today. I had postponed college for long enough now. I had stayed in Forks one extra year because I had blown all my money on those bikes I had gotten for me and Jacob and their parts. Jacob had been a truly wonderful friend to me since the moment Edward left, he had always been there. Sure there had been awkward moments when Jacob thought he was in love with me. And at some point we actually had given it a go. Only to find out that we were best off as friends. Not that I didn't enjoy being with Jacob and kissing him was definitely pleasurable but he wasn't Edward and I still wasn't ready to move on like that. Besides, Jacob finally figured out that I wasn't the girl for him either, we were just too close, too much like family, it could never work. I had been sad about that but now our friendship was tighter than ever before and I was thankful for that.

I wasn't the miserable zombie I had been before anymore. The last year I had worked at the Newton's store to save up for college and I had actually started hanging out with my friends more. Angela and I had become rather close and she, Ben and Mike were really the only people I had stayed in touch with after graduation. Angela and Mike had just finished their first year of college, they were both doing great and were happy where they were. Angela was studying medicine to become a surgeon one day and I knew she was going to be amazing at it. She cared for people a lot and I always knew she would end up helping people in one way or another and this suited her perfectly. Mike had gone into graphic designing, he was completely into computers and everything so I guess this was perfect for him as well.

Mike and I were friends but we weren't that close. He helped out at his parents' store every now and then and we chatted then but neither of us ever sought out contact aside from that. I didn't mind. Things were always still a little uncomfortable between him and me. Surely he had gotten over most of his feelings for me throughout my state of the living-dead but they had returned just as quickly when I had snapped out of it. He had made numerous passes at me and I got so annoyed that I on one day just told him the uncensored truth. I felt horrible afterwards, he didn't deserve that, but I was so fed up with everyone trying to get me to love someone else. It just wasn't going to happen! Luckily he had taken the hint and left me alone after that. But every time I saw him now I noticed that there was still a hint of the look he used to give me in his eyes and it made me feel sorry as well as annoyed. Why couldn't he just find a nice girl that wasn't me already?

The last months after those horrible first few had passed rather quickly. I spent every day with Jake and the pack. Mostly because a vindictive vampire had been out to drink my blood. But also because I enjoyed their company. They were all very welcoming and very nice. I had grown very fond of each werewolf. I was glad that I had been able to help Jacob through the most difficult period of his life, becoming a werewolf, like he had helped me. That's what friends were for and I was glad that we were even after that. Or at least, if it was up to Jacob that is. I still felt guilty for being such a wreck around him every single day. Not that I would ever let him see that of course!

"My little girl is growing up so fast!" Charlie's sobbing broke me out of my reminiscing.

"Dad! I have never really qualified as a little girl! I've been taking care of myself since I was ten, maybe even before that!" I exclaimed while rolling my eyes at him.

"Still, going to college is a big step!"

"I know dad, and I'm sorry to move out, I don't want to leave you to fend for yourself."

"I'll look after him Bella." I hadn't seen Sue come in so she took me by surprise a little. She put her arm around my dad's waist and I saw the blush on his face before he smiled happily at his new 'girlfriend', I found it strange to call her that. They were way too old to be called boyfriend and girlfriend! But my dad and Sue had found each other at one of the bonfires over at La Push beach and they had been inseparable ever since. I was happy that my dad finally found someone after all these years of loving my mother.

"Please don't let him cook, ever!" I begged the woman who was soon enough going to be my stepmother, even though my dad had not popped the question yet. I knew he was carrying around the ring in his pocket, waiting for the right moment. It never seemed to arrive. But I was sure he was going to be able to do it sooner or later, they were destined to be together.

Sue hadn't been the only one coming over to see me off. Her children, Seth and Leah, also had come along. And quickly after they entered our house I saw the rest of the pack walking in. Followed by Billy. I couldn't stop the tears from filling in my eyes. All my friends were here to say goodbye. They had been so wonderful to me. They had saved my life from Victoria more than once and they had finally killed her only a few weeks ago, I would be eternally in depth with them for that.

I hugged each of the boys, who all seemed very uncomfortable with the gesture. I had never been one for the hugging, especially not with them. But at this moment I was feeling so overwhelmed that I couldn't stop myself.

Then it was time for me to hug my dad goodbye and kiss Jacob on the cheek while mumbling "thank you for everything, you truly are an amazing friend!" into his ear. He had hugged me close and whispered "I'll miss you so much Bells! Please visit often and I'll try to do the same!". I promised I would visit often and I would call him every week at least once.

I walked over to my truck, which was fully packed with basically everything I owned and started the impossibly long drive to New York University, my new home. Surely it would have been a lot easier, and not to mention shorter, to fly there but I didn't mind a road trip, it gave me some time to mentally prepare myself for a new year of school, I was sure I was completely out of that routine after hanging with werewolves and working for the past year and especially after hardly paying any attention throughout my senior year of high school since I was too busy crying over my lost love. Besides, I wanted my truck to come with me. I loved the thing more than anything and it had been my trusted companion for so long now that I just couldn't say goodbye to it just yet. Of course Jake and my dad had made fun of me for being unable to leave the damn thing behind. I had scowled at them.

When I entered the campus of NYU it was beautiful. Just the way I had pictured it and I was sure I was going to be able to blend into the background around here. There were many students, no one would know I'm here, just the way I liked it. I was looking on the map I had received through the mail to see where exactly I was going to have to pick up my key and where I could get instructions on where I was supposed to go next. Of course it was hopeless. I was horrible at reading maps and it had only been because of pure luck that I had even found my way to New York City, let alone to campus. I wasn't sure where I was going but I decided standing around looking at a map like a freaking tourist wouldn't help me along anyway, so I started walking in the general direction of a big building that looked like one of the academic buildings.

"Are you lost?" A deep voice asked me.

"Er… just a little bit," I admitted ashamed. I turned around to look at the stranger and it turned out to be a rather good-looking boy, not at all my taste but I supposed he was rather popular with the girls nonetheless.

"What are you looking for?" The boy asked me.

"Well, someone who can give me my room key and tell me where that is really. And I still need to pick up the general information as well. But I can't figure out this map." I was blushing deep red when I admitted this to the guy.

"That's probably because you're holding it upside down," he said, trying to hide his laughter.

"Oh," I muttered, "right, that would make sense." I didn't think my face could get any hotter without evaporating but apparently it could because it was red hot.

The guy chuckled. "Why don't I help you find your way then?" he suggested, still smiling.

"That would be very much appreciated!" I told him enthusiastically.

"I'm Max, by the way." He told me while holding out his hand for me to shake.

"Bella," I said while shaking his hand.

"It's nice to meet you Bella," he said sincerely, "Now the building you're looking for is right over there," he said while pointing in the direction of a rather large building. "Why don't I walk with you? Just in case you get lost again."

"That would be great, thanks!" I said sincerely.

He showed me to the office of a woman who looked a bit disorganized and messy but still nice. He said she could take it from there.

"It was nice to meet you Bella, and I'm sure I'll see you around campus. Don't get lost on the way to your building now okay?" he said teasingly.

"Right… I'll do my best," I rolled my eyes at him before smiling. It surprised me how easy it was to communicate with him. And just like that I had made my first acquaintance at the new school. "Thanks for everything! See you!" I told him before waving goodbye.

The woman behind the desk gave me my keys and pointed me in the direction of the building I was staying at.

I parked my truck in front the building the woman had pointed out to me and I walked in to my room as soon as I had found it. It was a double room, which meant I was going to have to deal with a roommate. I hoped he or she would be nice. Otherwise this whole situation was just going to be difficult. I wasn't that happy that I was in a double room but I guess that was to be expected, since I had tried everything to pay as little money as possible and I guessed double rooms were just cheaper. I could handle this. It wasn't like I was hanging out with vampires and needed to keep it a secret anymore anyways.

I decided to call my dad and mom first, to tell them I had found the place alright. Then I would start unpacking and after that I would just relax and probably call Jake for a while.

My dad was excited to hear that I had arrived on campus and had been able to find my way to my new room. Apparently he had been worried about my ability to do things on my own. I couldn't really blame him. I was pretty mature for my age but I wasn't very handy when it came to things like this. He passed on Sue's love and I told him to return the sentiment. Then we hung up again. I never needed many words with Charlie, we were one and the same person when it came to sharing our feelings. I knew Charlie loved me more than anyone in the world and he knew I felt the same way about him. I hadn't properly thanked him for everything he had done for me since I had been living with him but I knew he knew how grateful I was to him. And he knew I enjoyed living with him immensely.

Then I called my mom, I always needed more time when it came to my mom. Mostly because I hardly ever talked to her as it was and we always had a lot of catching up to do. She had been traveling a lot with Phil and his baseball team. They were still doing great and I felt a wave of happiness when I heard that my mom was still very much in love with Phil. I rambled about college and campus and my ride over here a little. I told her how much I missed her and we chatted about nothing specific for a while.

I heard something in my mother's voice that was telling me that she was hiding something from me. Like me, my mom had never been good at keeping secrets. Especially not when it came to keeping secrets from me. She could never hide anything from me. It had always been that way. She hadn't been able to get away with telling me that my little duckling just ran away because he had found his true mommy when I was four so when I had pried long enough my mom told me the neighbor's cat had eaten him. I was shocked and hurt and very angry with the cat. So angry that every time it would walk into our garden I would demonstratively turn around and ignore the animal. I never spoke to him again. I used to talk to him a lot before but he had crushed my trust in him so our relationship was over. That had been my first real brake up.

"Why do I get the feeling you're hiding something from me?" I asked my mom suspiciously.

"You noticed that huh?" she said reluctantly.

"Yes, you know you can't keep secrets from me!" I accused.

"I know, I just wanted to tell you when I came over there for a visit. But I guess since you already noticed I can't keep it to myself any longer. Just don't freak out okay?" she said hesitantly.

"Out with it already!" I was getting really impatient.

"Alright! Relax," she said laughing a little, "Well, honey, Phil and I are expecting a baby. You're going to be a big sister!" she gushed.

I was speechless. A little brother or sister? That was so great! I was so happy for my mother and Phil!

"Wow," I choked out, "that's awesome mom! Congratulations! So what does Phil think of it all?"

"Well, he's ecstatic really, he was so happy when I told him we were having a baby, you should have seen him, his face lit up and he ran out of the door to buy a mini baseball glove immediately," she told me adoringly. "He was so sweet, and he has already started building a nursery. He is so enthusiastic about it all. Oh, Bella, I'm so happy." Her voice broke a little at the end.

"I'm happy for you two! I can't wait to meet my little sibling," I told her sincerely.

We chatted about the baby for a bit. My mom was much more mature than she had been when she was pregnant of me but she was still my silly mother, always childish in her ways. I was sure that this baby was going to have an awesome childhood.

Then it was time to say our goodbyes again. My mother promised she was going to visit soon. Since it wouldn't be long before she wasn't allowed to fly anymore. And I promised to visit her on my breaks as well. I was still smiling excitedly when I hung up the phone.

I walked back towards my truck and began taking my stuff into my room. A lot of time had passed since I had first set foot on campus and I was already a bit behind with unpacking so I was going to have to make up for that now.

When I was finally done unpacking I was exhausted but my side of the room was decorated and stuffed with almost everything I owned. I still left some of my stuff behind at Charlie's just so it wouldn't be too much of a hassle when I went over there to visit. And the same was true for Renee's.

I was laying on my bed, appreciating my new home and mindlessly staring at my new laptop. Trying to figure out how the damn thing worked. I had never been a genius with any of these things but I had understood that a laptop was necessary when you went to college so I had given in and had let Charlie buy me one for my birthday. Of course I had thought it too expensive to get as a gift but Charlie said that since I was not letting him pay for college, it was the least he could do. I was grateful.

Then I remembered that I had wanted to call Jacob and chat with him, share my experiences so far and just hear his voice again. I already missed being only a fifteen minute drive away from him. He picked up the phone after the first ring.

"Jacob Black speaking," he said in a serious tone. I giggled. "Bells? Is that you?"

"Hi Jake, yeah, it's me!"

"Oh my god! It's good to hear your voice! Are you on campus already? How is everything? Are the people nice?" He was firing questions at me with what seemed inhuman speed but I had never heard of fast-talking werewolves, that was just a vampire thing right? Still his words were too fast for me to make sense of them.

"Jake slow down!" I told him laughing.

"Right, sorry, just glad to talk to you again. Is it really weird that I already miss you? It wasn't like we saw each other every day before but at least the possibility was there…" he trailed off.

"I know what you mean, I miss you too!" I told him sincerely.

"Well, aren't we pathetic," he joked and I couldn't help but laugh with him.

"Yeah I guess we are. Ah well, at least we have each other right? So we're not pathetic alone," I joked back.

"Anyways, how is everything?" Jake had slowed down enough for me to make sense of his words.

"It's great so far. Campus is really pretty and I already met one nice student so I guess that's more than many people could say of their first hour at college right?"

"I guess so," Jake agreed. "So when do your classes start?"

"I start tomorrow at nine, I'm a bit nervous, I've been quite out of the school routine for a while, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to handle it all." I hadn't voiced my concerns before but it felt nice to have it off my chest.

"You'll do great Bells! You always do! I've never known anyone as capable as you so you'd better make it or you'll break my whole trust in humanity," he said jokingly and I relaxed.

"Thanks Jake, I'm glad I have you! Thank you so much for everything you've done and are still doing for me." I didn't know why I had to change the mood so suddenly but I was dead serious and I wanted to let Jake know exactly how much he meant to me. "You're my best friend and I love you like a brother!"

"Any time Bells, it's not like you didn't help me tremendously with the whole werewolf situation. So thank you for that!" I was glad he wasn't bothered by the change in atmosphere. "I love you like a sister, we're family Bells, don't forget that."

"Like you would ever let me forget it," I said jokingly again and Jake laughed. "Well, I'm kind of tired right now, it has been a rather long day, so I'm going to turn in."

"Of course, sleep tight Bells, sweet dreams. Call me soon!"

"I promise, talk to you soon Jake, miss you!" I told him sincerely.

"Miss you too, bye Bells, good luck tomorrow."

"Thanks, 'night Jake." I hung up the phone and went into the bathroom to take a shower and get ready for bed.

After the shower I went to bed, I turned off my laptop and switched off the lights, ready for sleep to come over me. This was it. My fresh start. Tomorrow classes would start and I would be starting a completely new life. I was sure it was going to be a wonderful experience.

A/N: Well, that's it for the very first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it :) There will be a new chapter up tomorrow.