Bella's POV

I couldn't believe today was my first day of college. Everything seemed to be falling into place for me. My mother wasn't too happy of my decision to attend the University of Washington, but I couldn't help but feel more drawn to it.

It was a really beautiful school. I fell in love with the cherry blossom trees on campus. It seemed like a great place to spend my next four years.

After all, Seattle is closer to Forks than Phoenix. I could still return home to see my friends if I needed to.

Charlie and Renee even surprised me with an apartment for my graduation present so I wouldn't have to stay in the dorms. It was pretty close to campus.

My high school experience wasn't anything special. People seemed to like me at Forks a lot more than at Phoenix. I didn't understand why. Well, everyone seemed to like me except Edward Cullen.

I winced at his name. His piercing black eyes haunted me for weeks after our weird encounter. He was so angry that he had to sit by me that he completely changed schools. I never got my explanation for it.

There was something else about him that made me so curious. I still had dreams of him at night. Some were terrifying, others were… erotic.

It was impossible to not to find him attractive even with his malicious glare replaying in my head.

His siblings remained at Forks, but they were always a constant reminder of him.

Alice Cullen even tried inviting me to hang out with her a few times, but the rest of the siblings looked too terrifying to be around. I politely declined due to their evil glances at me.

I knew they were something different, and I needed answers. When Edward never returned, it tortured me for weeks. I never got to tell him how rude he was. I never got to stare into his beautiful eyes ever again…

One day when I was hanging out with Jessica, Mike, Angela, and a few other friends, I was reunited with my friend, Jacob Black.

Somehow the Cullens were brought up, and he seemed to know a lot about them. I didn't get a lot of information out of him, but he did inform me that they were evil. He warned me to stay away from them. His expression was serious and it terrified me.

Months later, I started settling into my new life. Jacob and Angela became my best friends. We did everything together. It was really hard to say goodbye.

A year after I moved to town, we had another new student-Bryce.

He became the new center of attention for all of the girls. Bryce had tan skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. Mike despised him. Some would say he was better looking than Edward. I scoffed at that thought. Bryce was very attractive, but comparing him to Edward was like comparing him to a Greek god.

At first, I wasn't too fond of Bryce. He went out of his way to be my friend. He asked me to be his girlfriend several times, but I kept denying him. Jessica and Lauren absolutely hated me for it. They thought I ruined their chances with him.

I hung out with Bryce along with Jacob and Angela a few times. They approved of him, so I decided to finally give into his antics this past summer.

All of my friends had boyfriends except for me, so I felt like it was normal to have one as well.

We got along well, and I liked him a lot. I thought our relationship would end when we went to college, but he ended up getting accepted to the University of Washington as well. So I decided to actually take our relationship seriously.

I never had a boyfriend before him so I took things a little too slowly than the average person. It made me feel uncomfortable at the thought of being intimate. Everyone else did it like it was natural. Maybe something was wrong with me.

We kissed a few times, but I never let it go any farther than that.

Bryce was jealous that I had an apartment, since he had to stay in a dorm. I think he wanted to move in with me, but I was not ready for that. I barely knew him really. I hoped to get to know him better this year. It excited me.

I pulled into the parking lot and gulped. This school was huge. As I stepped out of my red Chevy truck, I smiled. It was a nice day, probably in the low 70's. Clouds filled the sky, like always, but it was a great atmosphere.

I studied my schedule the previous night along with the map of the school. I didn't want to be noticed as the typical freshman with a map glued to my face.

I thought I knew where I was going after I passed the infamous cherry blossom trees, but I ended up getting lead to a different building.

My first class was an introductory course to English literature. It was going to be pretty easy for me. I eventually had to pull out a map because I was lost.

I groaned when I realized I was all of the way on the other side of campus. So much for getting to class early.

I whisked past all of the other students, wondering what all of their lives were like. It was pretty cool to think about.

I eventually made my way to the right building. I flew into the classroom, nearly face planting as I tripped over my own feet, not expecting the class to be so large. The cinema-like style surprised me as well. Maybe I had gotten too used to Forks.

I blushed when I noticed all of people starring at me as I searched for a seat. It was all the way in back by the corner. My eyes suddenly locked with someone's that I never thought I'd see again.

Edward Cullen.

My heart sped frantically, and I felt as though I was going to throw up. I actually considered turning around and never coming back. Why was the only seat available next to him? He loathes me. It couldn't be a coincidence for this event. Surely this entire thing was a giant prank. Yes, that would make sense. Edward Cullen was here to make me feel afraid again because someone was puling a prank on me. Probably Jacob.

I shook my head at my silly, paranoid thoughts and took a deep breath. Edward Cullen was here not because of a prank; it was just fate's sick way of torturing me. Time to not be the cowardly lion.

I stumbled my way over to the seat and I never felt his eyes leave my presence. I apologized to the people I had to step over. Maybe I wouldn't have to step over everyone if they had just sat next to Edward so I could sit at the end seat where I'd be safe.

Just when I thought I could make it to my seat without dying, I tripped over someone's shoe. I couldn't stop myself from falling on the chair before me, embarrassing myself right in front of Edward. I closed my eyes on instinct because I knew it was going to hurt.

Cold hands gripped me tightly around my waist, shocking me. I still managed to stumble into the stranger's chest. I knew who it was though immediately. When he touched me, an exhilarating feeling ran through my body. I couldn't describe the intense emotions I was feeling.

He had a very unique scent. It didn't smell like regular cologne. It smelled manly, yet it was mixed with honey and sunshine. I almost fainted right then and there. That is, until I saw his expression. His eyes were once again coal black. I felt like a mouse being hypnotized by a snake, unable to move. His hatred for me was still present, and I had almost fell right in front of him. I guess I annoyed him. Why was high school repeating itself all over again? I wanted to cry.
Eventually I was able to break eye contact with him so I could speak.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered, "Please don't be mad…"

He locked eyes with me again, and he hesitated. It felt like years until he replied.

"It's fine." He said nonchalantly, as if his murderous glare was nothing.

We eventually departed and my body felt lonely without him holding me.

Was I losing my mind? I tried to not move throughout the rest of class, but it was impossible. My body was shaking slightly from what just occurred. I couldn't settle my nerves. I don't think I paid attention to a single word the Professor said.

When class ended, I got up and tried to leave as soon as possible, but Edward ran out of the classroom faster than me. That asshole.

Bryce met me before my next class. I told him I had class soon, but lied because I really wanted to go back to my truck to calm down a little. He greeted me by kissing me on the cheek and I blushed.

"Hey babe! How was your first class?" he asked, smiling.

I shrugged, deciding to not tell him about the Edward Cullen incident.

"It was ok…" I replied. I didn't feel like talking right now.

My expression confused him as he grabbed my hand. I didn't realize that both of my arms were wrapped around my torso.

"What's wrong?" he asked me. His handsome face twisted to worry.

"It's nothing, Bryce. My first class was just really overwhelming. The syllabus stressed me out…" I lied.

He looked annoyed since that was always my usual excuse for everything.

"I'm going to be late…" I explained to him, trying to get away.

"Whatever, Babe." He said, tearing his hand from mine and walked away frustrated.

He always got mad when I said, "school is stressing me out". It was the reason I couldn't ever hang out late. It was the reason I didn't want to go any further. It was a really crappy excuse because I was a terrible person. I'm actually surprised the excuse even worked over the summer.

I wasn't very good at being a girlfriend.

After I made sure the coast was clear, I walked back to my truck. When I got in, I felt all my emotions pouring down on me as his stare penetrated my mind. I ran my hands through my hair as my body started shaking again. Then the tears came.


Thank you to everyone who has reviewed/ viewed! I was so surprised to see that this morning! I tried to quickly write the next chapter. Also, each chapter is not going to always go into detail with each of their POV. I just felt like it was necessary for this part of the story. I have a lot of chapters already written, but I always skip around. By the way, I don't know a single thing about the University of Washington or English Majors. I attend college in Indiana and my major is nutrition science. So forgive me if I don't make sense. I will try to write the next chapter soon, but I have lots of exams this week. Thank you all again!