First FanFiction I've written. hope at least someone likes it:)
Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight series, nor any of the characters created by Stephenie Meyer. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
BPOV
It has been three years since that fateful day when Edward left me in the woods of Forks. At first I was destroyed, a shell of a human being at best.
I started scaring my Father though when my walking zombie stage did not just ware off, he had been willing to let me morn my loss of my first big relationship but when he realized that what I was going through was more than the normal morning, he got frightened, and so came the day when he told me he was sending me to live with Renee and Phil in Jacksonville.
It was at this point that a piece of the old Bella made its way back to me and what I saw in my father's eyes that day made me realise that I had to make some drastic changes in my life.
Charlie wanted me to see a counsellor, and I agreed only to make Charlie feel as though he was helping me in some way. If he thought that an experienced counsellor was in charge he could then stop feeling as though he was supposed to be in charge of my mental well being.
Counselling was a joke for the most part. I mean really, what was I supposed to say, "well you see, my boyfriend and his family, who all just so happen to be a family of vampires just up and left me one day, with only an I don't love you any more from Edward, and not even that much from the rest of the family who told me I was one of them" I mean come on really how could I explain that Edwards and my relationship was so much more than just the everyday high school romance. I couldn't explain how he had saved me from a van that should have killed me, or explain how he must have loved me because not only was he a vampire but my blood was so much more appealing to him than that of anyone else and yet he still found a way to be with me despite that. To tell her that after a crazy nomad vampire had tricked me into meeting with him so that he could kill me, Edward had not only saved me again but also had sucked the venom out of me to stop me from changing into a vampire myself, only to have his own brother try to kill me at my next birthday.
Whether these were things I felt I had to keep a secret out of loyalty to the Cullen's or not, which they were, I could still not have told anyone in less I was hoping for a one way ticket to a padded room for the rest of my life. So I went to see my counsellor twice a week and told her of how we went to prom together, and how he would talk of our future together. I told her how he was always so afraid for my safety, and how he was always there to catch me when I fell.
I would talk and she would write notes and give me for the most part useless information, because she didn't have all the facts and never would.
By February I was seeing her less and had started seeing Jacob more. Katherine my counsellor had given me the advise that I needed a hobby, something fun and totally unrelated to my life with Edward, and it was on the way home that day that I passed the two bikes that a kid from schools dad was getting rid of. I saw the two bikes laying lifeless in the rain and thought to myself how exhilarating it would feel to just let loose and ride one of them, and how if Edward was here he would freak at the mere idea of my being anywhere near a motorcycle. After I had loaded the bikes into the back of my truck I knew I could never just take them home, Edward and Charlie were on the same side when it came to motorcycles. And so I had called Charlie at work and after getting directions, drove down to La Push to see Jacob.
Jacob and I had been so close after that, we spent time fixing the bikes or rather he fixed the bikes while I talked to him or ordered pizza, and when they were finished he taught me how to ride mine. Life was still difficult but I had Jake and I was doing well in school, and Charlie wasn't worried any longer so life was looking up.
It was a little while later after a movie night with Jake and Mike Newton that things changed. Jake got sick, then he just stopped wanting to see me. It broke me for a while but nothing like Edwards betrayal had and when I started to see that look in Charlie's eyes again I knew I couldn't be so dependent on others. That was my true turning point. I started dating never going on more than a third date, I wasn't really interested in a relationship, I just needed a distraction, and dating like I was doing gave me all the power and as much as I hate to admit it I liked it. I had control of something in my life. And so for the rest of school I worked at Newton's, worked hard at school, and dated on and off. And when I came to graduation I had received a full academic scholarship to Western Washington University. I had been accepted elsewhere also, but I wanted to stay close to Charlie, in the time that I had lived with him I came to realize just how alike we were and how much my absence in my younger years had hurt him. I couldn't change the past but I could let him in on my future.
By this time Jacob and I were on speaking terms again, he said that it had just been too difficult for him to be close to me when our feelings were not the same for each other. I respected that but I also knew it wasn't the real reason for whatever had happened. He became best friends with Sam and his gang and I decided that it didn't matter anymore, I had been hurt too much, Jacob could look after himself and I would do the same, And so we made a deal to keep the friendship alive from a distance. Every Saturday we would he would call me and we would talk for hours about the week and anything else. After some time Jacob would show up now and again with Billy to watch a game and visit a bit and when it came to graduation he and Billy attended mine but it was just a normal friendship nothing more. And so in August I packed my bags and with Charlie drove out to Seattle.
My first year of university, I rented a fully furnished apartment instead of living on campus. I liked my privacy and with my sleep talking, my nightmares that still sometimes took a hold of me, and my danger magnet quality I thought it was best for all involved for me to have my own space. Plus with the hide-a-bed Charlie could visit sometimes without the need to make the 4 hour drive twice in one day.
It was in my second semester of university that I met him. I was an English literature major but had decided to take a biology course as an elective. I enjoyed the class and my professor gave great lectures, one of those classes that kept you captivated the whole time whether you were generally interested in the subject or not. He was 26 and handsome, 6'2 with dark chestnut hair that was somewhere between the length Emmet's had been and Edwards. He had a great body too, nothing overly muscular like Emmet's but the kind of body that radiated masculinity, and strength yet was still 100% human.
I had been off campus at my favourite coffee shop one Saturday afternoon; I had just finished work at a local bookstore and now had reading to do for Mondays classes. It was around 3 o'clock when he walked in, I had my head in my books and he must have recognized me.
"Bella?" he said
"Yes" I said looking up, only then realizing who it was, "Oh, Professor Campbell, how nice to see you"
"And you to Bella, may I sit with you?" he questioned smiling, always so at ease.
"Of course, sorry how rude of me, I was just too caught up in my reading I guess" I said closing my book and smiling. "Please do sit down"
"I'm not interrupting am I? He said while taking the seat opposite me.
"No, no, just trying to get ahead with some of my class readings, nothing that can't wait" I said
He was looking down and fingered one of the books in front of him, "You're not a Biology major?" the tone implying he seemed surprised by this.
"Oh! No, your class was just an elective really; I enjoy Biology but could never see a career developing from it for myself. I'm actually an English Lit major." I said.
"It's a shame you seem to be quite talented in Biology, I've noticed you in class, your one of my best students you know" he replied in a low voice.
My blush was instantaneous, "Oh well thank-you, it's easy to do well in your class, you're a great professor." She didn't know if she was flirting or not at this point, what she said wasn't a lie but somehow it meant a little more to her.
He looked up straight into her eyes with a wickedly hansom look on his face, "Thank you Bella, it means a lot to me to hear you say that," not once did he look away from her and I felt as if my traitor skin was aflame, " do you come here often then?" he asked.
Thankful for the change in subject she answered calmly, "yes actually, I found it last semester, it's between where I work and my house so it's convenient and I find the atmosphere great for studying."
"Yes" he said, "I've just found this place and already I can agree with you, the atmosphere is lovely, where do you work then?
"That little bookstore just down the street actually, do you know it?"I asked
"Yes, I'm familiar with it, sadly I haven't had much time for reading lately, and when I do I usually just grab something from my small library at home. I should make some time to go and find some new books though." He said
"I know what you mean actually, with all the reading for school, even me working in a bookstore I haven't bought anything new to read, what's the point really when I won't be able to crack the pages open until after the semester is up" I replied, " although I must admit I do the same, my small collection at home can hardly be called a library but when I find a few spare moments I usually can find my way to one of Jane Austen's or Emily Bronte's books."
"The Classic's, few young people are interested in them anymore, it's nice to see." He replied happily.
We talked for a bit longer until my cell phone started ringing, "Oh my! One moment please" Bella asked shyly while flipping open her phone.
"Of course" he answered.
"Hello....Oh Jacob I'm so sorry, I'm running late and I'm not back at my place yet. Would you give me half an hour and then I'll call you back? Okay perfect, thanks, talk to you in 30. Bye" Bella shut the phone," Sorry about that, I actually have to get going now but it was nice talking to you" she started to gather her things together.
"Of course I'm sorry for keeping you for so long." He said smiling a little sadly, he hesitated a moment before continuing knowing that he shouldn't say what he was about to, that by saying it he was blurring the lines and yet he couldn't find it in himself to care, "Are you finding the long distance thing hard?"
"Long Distance thing?"Bella stopped putting her things away and looked confused for a moment,"Oh you mean Jacob? No there's no relationship between Jacob and I other then friendship, we never saw each other even when we lived 15 minutes from each other. We just try to stay in touch" he didn't need to know that for a few short months Jacob had been her world, still only as a friend, but still closer then she was letting on.
"Oh sorry for just assuming" he stumbled, "I didn't mean to pry or presume"
Bella finished collecting her things standing up to leave."No worries, I know some times we can sound like an old married couple to others listening but were just old friends, known him my whole life, our fathers are best friends so he's like family. Well I better get going, hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend and I'll see you in class on Tuesday."
"Yes, see you Tuesday Bella" he said to her retreating back.
WPOV (Will, or Professor Campbell)
It all started in his 2nd semester of his 2nd year teaching at the university. Never before had he had feelings for one of his students, sure there were beautiful women in his classes and smart ones, and everything in between but it wasn't until that Tuesday afternoon when she walked into his Lab that he found himself standing on that very thin line of what is appropriate.
'Bella' even her name was beautiful, It wasn't about her looks although he did find her extremely attractive, and it wasn't that she was smart, although she was that too, but he wouldn't figure that out until later. It was something in her mere presence, her being.
Every class he found himself looking for her not happy until their eyes met. In his spare moments he found his mind wander to her, where was she? Does she have a boyfriend? And sometimes he would find himself waking from a dream of them together.
He never saw her outside of class, she never came to his office hours, and they never ran into each other off campus, that is until this Saturday afternoon.
He had no marking to do and so he found himself walking along the water near the Public Market something he hadn't done in months too caught up in work and life. It was still chilly out being February and so when he passed the coffee shop he didn't hesitate to going and warm up with a coffee.
He was only going to get the coffee to go and continue on his way but as he grabbed his coffee and turned to go, he saw her."Bella?" It was out of his mouth before he realised he had even spoken and she looked up obviously having heard him.
He had asked to sit with her and they proceeded to talk for hours, only stopping when her phone had rang.
'Jacob'.
when she had said his name he was instantly Jealous and was surprised by the force of it. He knew he had no claim on her, but that knowledge did nothing for his feelings.
He couldn't help but ask the question about the long distance relationship, having to know if she was taken or not. Her answer, was not enough, he was happy to hear that Jacob was just a friend and there was no doubt in her voice that she wasn't hiding more, that was evident in how long it took her to figure out what he had meant by long distance. But she didn't say whether she had a boyfriend or not, just that Jacob was not.
She had told him about the bookstore she worked at and he found himself frequenting either the bookstore or that coffee shop in his spare moments over the month.
She wasn't always there but when she was they would talk and he would feel whole.
BPOV
After the first run in with Professor Campbell, Bella started to see him around more regularly, sometimes at the bookstore where she worked, and sometime at the coffee shop.
When he saw her at the bookstore he would just smile and say hello, then disappear to browse for a while he would always buy a book and then talk to her for a few moments at the till until leaving. When they ran into each other at the coffee shop which was the more frequent occurrence, he would always ask to sit with her and then would begin grading or putting together lesson plans. Sometimes he would ask her opinion on what he was thinking about doing for a lesson, claiming that he didn't want to bore his students and after he had finished as well as she, they would sit and talk.
By the beginning of March Bella new she Liked him more then she should, the fact that she was even questioning her feelings was proof enough of that.
She hadn't had a truly romantic interest in anyone since Edw... Him, and she found she was relieved to know she was still capable of having those feelings, even if they were for someone she probably shouldn't be. She found it funny how she seemed to only be interested in men that were no good for her, Vampires that craved her blood, Professors that were off limits, but she felt that he seemed to like her more then perhaps he should have also, after all it was him showing up where she was not the other way around.
It was the second Friday in March now and here they were yet again sitting in their coffee shop, this time talking instead of working. Both of them claimed to have finished early and she noticed that the more they saw each other the more their visits became social rather than two acquaintances that happen to be working at the same table.
They talked for hours, until Bella's phone went off, "sorry one moment" she said while pulling out and flipping open her phone. "Hello?"...."yes this is she....Oh, yes of course I'll be there as soon as I can, Is he alright?"..."Thank-you so much I'll be there soon "she flipped her phone shut, her eyes glassy with the promise of tears to come.
"Was that about your boyfriend?" he asked softly
She actually flinched back slightly at his words not having suspected them," No, I don't have a boyfriend..." remembering the phone call she finished, "that was actually the hospital in Forks, my father is police chief there and it appears he's been hit by a car while on duty, I'm so sorry but I have to go, it was nice talking to you" she hurriedly said while getting up and gathering her things, the tears seemed to be pushing their way through.
He got up and grabbed her arm, "Bella stop a moment" he paused not sure he should say what he was thinking, the lines were already blurring, but unable to stop himself in the end, "Let me drive you Bella, your upset and crying, you could get into an accident and that wouldn't help anyone, please."
She looked up at him tears running down her cheeks, she knew that if she attempted to drive home alone she would be in hysterics and it would be hard enough to make good time with her truck without the added problem of her emotions. "Are you sure? It's not a short drive or anything; you must have plans this weekend"
He grabbed her bag from her gently, pulled a napkin from the table and wiped her tears away slowly and gently, "I'm sure, I wouldn't have offered otherwise. And no I don't have any plans for this weekend and no class's until Tuesday afternoon so I have the time"
"Thank you so much Professor" she breathed out.
"Please Bella, I told you to call me Will, do you need to pick anything up from your house before we leave or shall we leave from here." He asked
"I'm fine I have clothes and stuff in Forks, Oh but you don't do you need to stop anywhere?" she asked.
"no I'm fine I have my gym bag in the back along with a spare set of clothes" he said softly while leading her out to his car.
"here we are" he said opening the passenger door of his 2008 Shelby gt500. and helping her in.
Do all men have this obsession with cars she thought to herself.
After they settled into the car they started off towards forks, the trip seemed to take forever but Bella new that they were actually making good time; Apparently Will thought the posted speed limit was just a suggestion too.
They made small talk during the drive, talking mostly about Charlie. Bella found it easy talking to Will and realised after the fact that she was giving out details about her life that she usually never would. By the time they passed the 'Welcome to Forks' sign he knew all about her parents divorce and the living arrangements that had followed, how she hated forks and stopped visiting Charlie there as soon as she was able to, how Renee remarried and Bella moved back to Forks and how she was glad now that she had because she was close to Charlie now, even though they never really voiced their feelings toward each other.
Bella directed him to the hospital where she slowly got out of the car, nervous now that she was so close, not knowing what news awaited her inside those too familiar walls. Will seemed to sense this in her and came to stand in front of her, he took a hold of her by her shoulders and looked her in the eyes, "Listen Bella, we're here now and I know it's hard, but you have to be strong now for your father, he needs you to be strong so he can focus on healing himself, he won't do that if you go inside looking as you do now. Take a deep breath, centre yourself, and then we'll go in there. When we leave you can fall apart, I'll look after you."
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