A/N: congrats to Malhith who was my first ever reviewer ever!!!!!! You rock!!!!!!

I was staying in Woodward hall so I made my way over there in my truck still worried about Alice. Maybe she wouldn't be so bad. For all I know that man might not even know her- he could just want to make me worried. Yeah- I thought to myself, that's all he was doing. My room was on the second floor so I decided to check it out before taking my bags up. I stepped slowly out of my truck aware of my ribs making sure to lock the truck because ever since I watched Veronica Mars 'Welcome wagon' episode where Piz gets his stuff stolen I made sure to always lock my car doors.

"15, 16 ahh room 17" I muttered to myself proud that I had found the room finally.

"You know talking to yourself is the second sign of madness," a tickling voice came from behind me. I screamed and spun around to see a short black haired girl standing in front of me smiling. She was absolutely stunning. She belonged on the cover of Vogue. "Shrieking like a mad man is the first," she continued laughing. "Hi I'm Alice are you Isabella?"

My heart still pounding from the shock I stuck with one-syllable words. "Yup that's me."

"Ohhh goody! I can tell we're going to have the best of times!!! We can do each other's make up and dress up and go shopping and Oh My Carlisle we are just going to have the best of times!! Have you got your bags? Where are your clothes? I love your t-shirt is it vintage?" She squealed without even taking a breath. I groaned. This was not going to be good.

"Well my bags are still in my truck because I couldn't carry them and um how old does a t-shirt have to be to be vintage? Cos this is about 3 years, does that count?" I answered her but from the look on her face it was not the reply she was looking for.

"WHAT?" I winced covering my ears from her loud voice, "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT MAKES CLOTHES VINTAGE?"

"Umm no?" I didn't know if my answer was a statement or a question. She grabbed my arm and pulled me into her room or rather our room. Her face was switching between pity, anger and sorrow. She looked like someone had kicked her puppy. I felt instantly guilty.

"I-I-if you want you can um, show what vintage clothes are." As soon as these words were out of my mouth I instantly regretted ever saying them.

"Oh that is sooo good but first I really want to get to know you. Why don't you sit on your bed while I phone my boyfriend and he can bring your stuff up to the room," she offered.

"Oh no that's okay I don't want to bother anybody," I replied. I really don't like anybody having to do anything for me. It always makes me feel like I owe them something back and I learnt from Charlie never to leave someone an IOU.

"Nonsense besides I want him to meet my new roomie!! Oh Bella I can just tell your going to get on so well!!! He's so hot and ..." she launched into telling me all about it movie star looks and how he always knows exactly what she's feeling etc. To be honest I tuned out and took the time to look around the room. It looked like an interior designer had done it. It was very classy a sort of off white colour. The curtains were a mixture of black, white and grey colour. The bedspreads matched the curtains and we each had a set of drawers, wardrobe and bedside cabinets all in white to match the walls.

When I finally tuned back Alice was hanging up her phone. She looked up at me and told me Jasper was just pulling into the parking lot so we decided to go on down. On our way to the parking lot we discussed our favourite music and books. I discovered – big shock- Alice was an avid shopper. Apparently last year her father put a daily spending limit on her credit card to stop her buying too many clothes. Then we came to the topic I had been subtly avoiding, family.

"So Izzy,"

"Bella" I interrupted her.

"What?"

"I prefer to be called Bella." I corrected her.

"Oh well Bella then, what's your family like?" at this I internally groaned. I had prepared my answer to this the whole way to Dartmouth but actually saying it out loud was difficult.

"Um well, my family are all dead. My Mom died when I was little and then a few years ago my brother died. My dad died about a month ago" I answered my voice quivering. Alice probably thought it was from emotion over my 'dead' family but really I was hoping she wouldn't see through my lies. Of course Emmett could be dead for all I know but Charlie is still very much alive.

"Oh Bella that's so horrible. You've had so much tragedy I'm so sorry" she gushed. I felt instantly guilty for lying but I knew it was for the best. The best way to keep myself safe was to keep secrets. I sighed.

"Honestly Alice its fine. Now where is this lovely boyfriend of yours?" I changed the subject quickly. She instantly forgot about my, 'situation' and looked around. All of a sudden I looked up to see a tall sandy haired man walking towards us. His eyes were looked with Alice's and the moment was so fierce that I felt the need to look away and let them have their privacy. Seconds later Alice seemed to break out of it by starting to introduce us.

"Jasper, this is my roommate Bella. Bella this sexy man is my soul mate!" she said wrapping her arm around his waist. The difference in height was quite comical. He held out his hand and assuming he was just going to shake it I held mine out but he took it and brought it up to his mouth to kiss the back of it. I was shocked. The only boys I had ever seen doing that were those in the movies. To hide my amazement I blushed and said,

"And there was I thinking chivalry only lived in the movies."

He smiled and stood straight up again towering over us with his height.

"So ladies are we going to stand here all day or are you going to let me carry your stuff upstairs, Bella?" He asked in a southern drawl. I have to admit it only added to his attractiveness. I could definitely see why Alice was in love with him.

"Of course," I smiled at him, "my truck is that red one of there." I pointed to my truck and burst out laughing at the horror on his face. Everyone always reacted like that when I showed them my truck but I liked it. When I was in it, it made me feel safe from everything in the world. Its sturdy structure and lead paint could probably live through an atom bomb and I know that I always have an escape root should Charlie show up.

Jasper must have realised his face and quickly sobered up.

"I'm sorry Bella I didn't mean to offend you it's just that, well it's a bit old," he said sheepishly.

"No that's okay. I don't think anyone understands why like it." I smiled reassuringly at him and we started towards it. He bent into my truck and lifted out my three bags.

"Jeez, Bella what the hell do you have in here? Everything you own?" I know he meant it as a joke but it hurt.

"Actually Jasper that is exactly what is in there. I had to bring all my belongings with me." I said it with more venom in my voice than I had actually intended using. He looked taken back and instantly I felt guilty. "I'm so sorry I didn't mean"

"It's fine Bella. Isn't that right sweetie?" Alice interrupted me turning to Jasper.

"Of course, come on let's get these bags up to your room so you can unpack them. I'm sure your dying to feel at home." He said picking up my bags and walking in the direction of the dorms.

After a brisk walk which made my ribs hurt, we finally got to my new 'home' for the next year. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. Jasper set my stuff on my bed while Alice announced she was going to go see if Rose was in her room so they could go shopping. I had politely declined saying I needed to unpack. It was a downright lie. I could've unpacked at anytime but the man in starbucks description of her shopping tactics had me terrified. Alice's hyperness didn't help her case either. I was pondering the man in the coffee shop when Jasper brought me out of my thoughts.

"Um Bella, I really didn't mean to hurt your feelings earlier. I was just trying to make you smile properly."

I looked up at him confused. What did he mean by smile properly?

"What I mean is, all those smiles you gave Alice and I didn't really meet your eyes and I was just hoping to make you laugh at the hope at seeing a proper one," Jasper cleared up his meaning for me. I could only look at him with yet more amazement. No one had ever noticed that before. Thinking back now the last time I ever smiled properly was when I got my admission to Dartmouth and the day before that had been back when Emmett was with us. Luckily I was saved from having to reply because Alice came dancing into the room on her toes and grabbed a very fancy handbag. Looking closely I noticed it was one of the brand new Gucci bags on the tattoo heart collection. I was stunned – she must be rich. Great just my luck! I get stuck with someone who wears designer clothes and no doubt has never even set foot in an outlet store never mind shopped in one. She and Jasper left with swift goodbyes and left me alone to my thought. Trying to unpack and figure out where I was going to put everything, there was only one thought on my mind- what was that man's name. God how desperate do you have to be to spend what was now 4 hours obsessing over one man and his name?

Just letting you guys know one thing- I have no idea what college is like at home never mind in America so if you have any ways to help please (please please) feel free to share them!!!!!