Welcome to my story! First full length story I'll be trying to accomplish finishing EVER. So we'll see how this goes.

Read and review. I am going through and making changes, which is why the next update is taking so long. So hang in there with me. I don't want to disappoint.

DISCLAIMER: Twilight and all its recognizable characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.

"Bella! Bella! Isabella!"

"Sorry, sorry. Yes?"

"Last order of your shift. Table six." Eric handed me a hot plate to balance in the palm of my hand. "And be careful. Don't spill the customer's order in their lap like yesterday."

"I won't." Grabbing the plate, I carefully picked my way through the people, a drink in one hand, a burning plate in my other. There was an easy aisle between tables, made larger since when I had been hired for this purpose. The people at table six were regulars and were aware of my more or less disability of clumsyness but they were nice about it, only cringing away when I came too close.

"Here you go," I said, smiling, successfully setting their large plate of fries to share on the table without incident. "Enjoy."

I was back in the kitchen, taking off my apron to get ready for the ride to the school immediately after my shift was over.

"Good job, Bella." Eric said, flipping over a burger. "You managed to not trip over your own feet. It's a new record, right?"

I stuck my tongue at him out as I fixed my shirt. "I'm just saying," he continued. "I mean, you're the reason why we can't get our no-accident bonus."

"I'm also the reason you're keep getting the customers. I have a personality. You don't."

Eric just smiled, turning away from me to fix his attenion on his burgers. Our banter was every day, had been for the past year now. Shame we wouldn't be spending much more time together. Eric was beginning to grow on me.

Our manager came out of his back room, waving an envelope that was the light of my week. "Here you are, Bella, full week's pay," he handed me the paper and I felt a sense of relief in my chest. "And," he opened the freezer. "And, and, and this." He held a bag of cut chicken out to me with a flourish. "Take this home for dinner tonight."

I went to take the bag, then stopped. "That's very kind of you, Mr. Webber. But I can't afford this."

Mr. Webber smiled kindly and leaned in conspiritor-like. "Who said you were paying me for this?" He gently pressed the bag into my hands. "It's on me. You work hard. Think of it as... as a raise for your hard work."

I stared at him, and then at the bag. We had only been eating left overs the night before and with this, I could actually make Sue and Peter an actual meal. Biting my lip, I gave in. "Thank you, Mr. Webber."

He grinned wider and pat my shoulder. "Any time, Bella. Just make sure to get that cold fast." A bell rang over the door and he jumped a little. "Oh, the Marlers are here. Time out and we'll see you tomorrow." He left to seat the customers.

I felt guilty taking the bag... but Mr. Webber had said that I could. And I had put an extra few hours in this past week.

I caught sight of the clock on the wall, realized I was running late, and gasped. Grabbing my bag off the table, I threw my money in it and tossed the bag over my shoulders as I ran out the door. I had to catch the bus at eleven and then walk two blocks to Masen University for my next job.

I was only a short walk from the bus stop when I saw it pull up and then open and close the doors almost as soon as it pulled up. "Hey! Wait!" I began running after the bus cursing under my breath. They knew I was coming, I always took the bus come rain or shine, even hail. "Wait!" I tripped over my own feet and landed on my face, scraping my hands on the way down. It stung terribly, but it was nothing I wasn't used to, but it made it harder for me to get up quickly to catch the attention of old Mr. Clearwater who rode the bus to the city from the reserve every Tuesday. I was just about to give up and try to find some other way to the Univeristy when the bus slowed and the doors opened. Tripping up the stairs, I fished out the change and collapsed in a seat. The bus driver rolled his eyes and continued on his way. Good morning to you, too.

I held the bag of chicken up to make sure there was nothing wrong with it especially since I fell. But it was still cold, meaning I did have time to get it to the University's kitchen before it went bad and then I could easily get it home to prepare.

I sighed, relaxing against the seat and closing my eyes. I felt the easy sense of sleep trickling in my mind; a nap would be perfect after getting only three hours of sleep. But as time passed, I had to open them, despite the effort it took to keep my eyes open. I looked out the window instead, looking at the greenery I had known since I was young and counting cars as they passed. I sighed again, fogging the window to the point where I couldn't see out. I was trying to decide if I was looking forward to this new job or not.

Suddenly, the bus came to a screeching halt, throwing all of us forward, sprawling me out into the aisle.

"What's going on?"

"Why have we stopped?"

"I have somewhere to be, you know!"

I pushed my hair out of my face and tried to sit up, stabling myself against one of the other seats, watching the bus driver standing near the front window, shaking his fist at whatever was in front of the bus. Everyone was either craning their necks to see too, or gathering their things strewn across the floor of the bus.

Oh, the chicken! I rushed under two seats and snatched it back. There didn't seem to be a problem with it, no holes or anything.

"What is he doing? Is he crazy?" Someone on the bus shouted. "How stupid!"

I pulled my window down and stuck my head out, craning to see around the bus. What I couldn't believe was that a silver car had stopped right in the middle of the road, right in front of the bus at an awkward angle, and two people were just sitting in the car; I think they were yelling at each other.

The bus driver honked the horn loud enough for me to jump and hit my head on the edge of the window, but the two in the car both ignored it and the people on the bus were getting more and more agitated. Their mood was catching on, setting my mouth in a firm line. I had a job to get to, one that meant money and if I didn't get all that I could there wasn't an escape in sight for me.

I hauled my bag over my shoulder, grabbed the bag of poultry, and made my way past the people in the aisle and out the bus.

"What is she doing?"

"Where does she think she's going?"

Just as the bus driver opened the doors for me, I heard the woman yelling at the top of her voice to the man.

"You promised me!"

"I promised you no such thing. I said that we would try and I can see that this is not going to work." Said the man calmly. "I would appreciate it if you would try to refrain from screaming so much."

"Screaming? This is not screaming!" The woman shrieked, throwing her sun glasses on top of her head. "Edward, please, listen. I've liked you for a very long time. And on our first date you tell me I'm not what you're looking for? How could you even know?"

"I know what I want, Lauren. And though you are a nice girl, you are not it."

"Edward!"

"Lauren, it is not beneath me to push you out of my car, no matter if it is rude."

"Edward!"

"Excuse me."

Both heads turned to face me. I had the idea to look at the man first since it was apparently his car and found myself staring at the most attractive person I had ever seen, with green eyes that were looking coldly, expantently, at me. I was so taken aback by it that I turned my attention to the woman beside him and addressed her.

"Could you please take this conversation somewhere else? You are parked right in front of our bus and we all have places to be."

"That's right!" Came shouts from the bus.

"Didn't anyone ever teach you to mind your own business?" The blonde woman snapped. She was attractive too, with a sheet of pretty silver-blonde hair and grey eyes the color of an angry sky. "We are having a private conversation."

I raised my eyebrows. "It's not very private in the middle of the road though, is it? I'm not saying to stop talking, and I'm sure not trying to butt in. But we," I gestured to the bus, "need to be somewhere."

I saw the man raise his eyebrows at me from the corner of my eye. The woman took an angry breath to retort her answer to me but was cut off by her companion slamming his door.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" He asked me, coming to stand in front of me.

I paused a moment, debating if I was going to look him in the eyes or at all. "Bella."

"It's nice to meet you, Bella." He said, leaning against his car. "But Lauren and I need to settle this now."

"Could you not settle it elsewhere?" I all but snapped. "I have somewhere I have to be and I can't be late."

He stared at me with those green eyes and I almost forgot what I had just said.

Without looking at her, he said, "Lauren, get out of the car."

"What!"

He didn't repeat himself. With a tight mouth, Lauren got out, pushing me aside and slamming the door with more force than necessary.

"I'll move." He said, pulling his keys out of his pocket. "If you can move my car for me."

I was completely lost now. "I'm sorry?"

He held the keys out. "If you need to be somewhere, I'll let you move my car. Or better yet, you can drive it there." He smiled. "I've always liked walking."

I wasn't sure if he was serious. He sounded genuine enough, but I wasn't sure if he was just playing with me. I knew he was higher class, the car, the clothes, and the girl told me so. But his voice and his manner was different. It was clear, however, that I was nowhere near his league, he could have been mocking me for fun.

"Why can't you?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I told you, I don't mind walking." He held the keys out farther.

I debated and knew I was pressed when no sounds were coming from behind me, meaning I was being watched. I was never good under pressure.

Slowly I reached for the keys and he dropped them into my palm like it was nothing and stepped aside. I watched him for any other reaction, almost hoping he was joking, but I didn't see anything. So I took a few steps. And then some more. When he didn't stop me, I got into his car and put the key in the ignition and put his car in drive. I wondered if it would be a good idea to tell him I had never actually driven before. I wondered if then he would move his own damn car to keep me from crashing it into ditch and ultimately the trees.

I inched the car forward, waiting for him to seriously stop me. Why would he let me do this? Was there something I was missing? But he was honestly going to let me drive his car away. Just to be safe, I went forward a little ways and then parked his car on the side of the road and got out. I walked back to him, and held his keys out. Lauren was sneering at the distance.

"You said you liked walking." I reminded him, handing him his keys. He took my wrist instead, and I couldn't help but notice that his hand easily circled my wrist, overlapping his thumb. Talk about pianist fingers.

"I do." He said and then he took the keys with his other hand. "Thank you, Bella." He murmured and then left. "I'll drop you off at school, Lauren."

"Are we going to talk about this at all?" She asked, catching up with him.

"We already have, Lauren." I watched them walking away, his long legs easily able to outrun hers, but she was jogging beside him to make sure her voice was hear. I don't know how he could ignore it, I could hear it from where I was still standing.

As they neared the car, the man, Edward, turned around and looked at me, slowing his walk as he did so. I felt the blood rise in my face and turned away, ignoring the rest of their conversation as I got back on the bus, blushing under the immense stares of the passengers. The bus driver took off before the two other people, Edward and Lauren, were in their car; probably afraid that they would take off before he did.

As we passed, I watched the man watch the bus, his eyes searching each window. I sunk down low enough so he wouldn't see me and stayed like that until the next stop.

I was rushing into the cafeteria, bypassing all the students coming in for lunch to get to the fridge in the back.

"What are you doing here?" Peter asked. I cringed as I ran past him. "You're supposed to be in library helping your mother!"

"I got stopped on the way and I have this for dinner tonight." I gasped, throwing the door open and tossing the bag in.

"You're going to be late!"

"No, I won't!" I said, dashing back out the door, almost falling over a chair leg to the snickers of the students coming in.

"Then you'll trip!"

I ignored his comment and ran the rest of the way into the huge building where Sue was waiting for me. She was just pulling out a new stack of books when she spotted me.

"Bella! There you are, I thought you were going to be late. Here, you're just in time for the new arriving books. Will you put them away for me so I can take the check out counter?"

"Sure." I took the books, checking the spines for names as I went. Maybe they would let me borrow some books to read. But I seriously doubted it.

"Bella." I was just done with shelving the new books when Sue called me over. "Bella, I need to go run down to the kitchen. Peter needs help because this wave of kids came in. Do you mind doing this by yourself for a little while?"

"Not at all." The library was almost empty anyway, I could handle it myself for a little while.

"You remember how to work the book scanner?"

"Yes."

"And the computer?"

"Sure do."

"Alright then. Thank you, dear. I'll be back as fast as I can."

"And while I'm thinking about it," I called to her. "There's some chicken in the fridge from Mr. Webber. Will you grab it, please, on your way out?"

She nodded and put her name pin down and walked out the door, a little lost as she tried to navigate the big campus.

Every time Sue and I were introduced as mother and daughter, we had to explain that it was step-mother and daughter. The looks we got when they compared her beautiful copper skin to my albino white almost made it worth the well worn explanation.

I loved Sue, she was very good for my father and treated me like a daughter. Which was why I didn't mind going with her or staying with her even when I was old enough to leave. I didn't want to leave her alone.

"Miss?"

A voice behind a tall stack of books was calling me from my shelves.

As I neared the counter, I asked, "Can I help you?"

"Could I check these out?" He asked, letting them drop onto the counter. "Geez, they're heavy."

"Sure." I answered, pushing them aside so I could see his face. "Do you have a library card?"

He paused, looking frazzled enough by the amount of books he had that I don't think he registered what I was asking. "Um, I think I have it with me." He dug in his pockets until he came out with a shiny, new wallet. "Let me see. Oh, here." He pulled it out and I scanned the name while I scanned the card. Mike Newton.

"Are you the new librarian?" He asked, friendly.

I nodded. "Yes."

"I have a report in English." He said, answering my unasked question. "I'm not very good, you see, so I'm checking out all the books I can find to help me." I pushed a pile towards him to take. "I need all the help I can get."

"Are you going to be able to get these to your dorm?" I laughed.

He joined in. "We'll see."

He literally staggered out of the library; watching him struggle without any help from the other studnents watching his journey me feel bad for him. The dorms were a ways away. I wondered if anyone would help him outside.

It looked like today would be easy day, the first one in a long time compared to the hectic schedule at the restaurant. After giving up the night shift at Webber's for this, I knew better than to think this would be an easy job. Masen University was full of the brightest students. It had the least party percentage and the least campus crime. If anyone came to learn it, that's what they did.

At least, on campus.

For being a small state, Washington's Masen University was a prestigeous school, where rich parents sent their rich kids. On campus, from what I understood, they were on their best behavior. But once they were off, apparently the parents' money came in handy when their kids got in trouble.

I sighed, thinking of when I would get enough money to leave, then considering how long it would take me to get money to go to a good college. I cringed at the thought.

Maybe I could teach myself while I worked here. But that would take time and I hardly had any to spare.

By the time Sue got back it was almost time to leave. I was relieved for the rest time. Enough time to eat dinner and then to go to sleep before I had to get up at four-thirty to start a shift at five at the restaurant in the morning. I was so used to schedules like these that it didn't bother me much anymore. At least now I wasn't falling sleep during a shift.

We all left at the same time and took the bus back home. Peter had a car he could have used, but he was afraid some kid would steal it. I thought this was preposterous: who would want his beat up, dried up, ugly Chevy?

I was preparing the chicken before Sue shooed me out of the kitchen much to my protest. I would rather have cooked dinner and let her relax, but she wouldn't hear of it, so I left for a shower instead.

The shower was in the hallway beside Peter and Sue's room and then my room beside their's. I brought everything I needed to get ready for bed with me into the bathroom: my pyjamas, toothbrush, and face wash with my blow dryer already under the sink. When I walked in, I wanted to walk out clothed and dry as before.

I ran into Peter on the way to the bathroom, ducking my head as I passed and making a run for the bathroom with my stuff bundled in my arms. The door was easy to come open, so I had to push the laundry basket against it. Our windows didn't have blinds and though we were basically out in the middle of nowhere, I put the boards I hid behind the washing machine in front of them just in case. I felt safer that way.

There was just enough hot water for a ten minute shower, most of that concentrated on washing my hair. There's wasn't time to let the water relax the muscles in my shoulders or time to really even get wet. It was get in and get out. No relaxing or thorough washing.

As I was stepping out of the shower, a noise spooked me enough to wrap the shower curtain around me. I couldn't see outside the room and I knew no one could see in, but it still made me uneasy. The noise came again, the sound of something stepping out around this side of the house.

I quickly toweled down and got into my sleeping clothes as fast as I could. After brushing my teeth and hair, I blew my hair dry and then threw it back into a ponytail. By the time I stepped out of the bathroom, Sue was finishing with dinner.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" I asked her coming into the kitchen.

"No, I'm done." She handed me the plate of fried chicken tenders. "But if you'll take that to the table it'd be nice."

The front door opened and Peter came into the house, shaking his coat off. "Where'd you go?" Sue asked over her shoulder.

"I thought I saw a wolf outside the house." He answered, sitting across from me.

"There wasn't one, was there?"

"No."

Sue sat down beside him with her ever constant smile. "Help yourselves. Thank Mr. Webber for me when you go to work, Bella. That was very kind of him."

"I will." With what we had, Sue was able to make a wonderful meal out of the chicken and potatoes. There was small talk at the table, but the exhaustion was settling in fast in my body and if I didn't eat fast, I was going to fall asleep at the table.

"May I be excused?" I asked, finishing my plate.

"Of course." Sue said. I took my plate to the sink and washed it out, looking at the growing pile of dishes that I had to balance my plate on. If I could, I'd start the dishes tomorrow before I left for my first shift.

I shut my door behind me, locking the door lock and then locking the bolt in place. I checked to make sure my windows were locked and the crawled under my covers until my head was almost covered. There was no way it was still there after all these years, but I still thought I smelt the familiar smell of my parents when we were all together years and years ago. It was at times like these, just before I went to sleep, when I missed them both.