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Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. This is very unfortunate, but I am just not talented enough to have written such a great book. I can't wait for my copy of New Moon to come in.

Chapter Three-Things Change

Bella's POV

After the incident with Edward the day before, I was a bit distressed. That being an understatement. Seeing him again just hurt me more, but it was really strange. I had no desire to be with him. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

But he bought this on himself. This was what he supposedly wanted. For me to have a normal, average life as a human, to fall in love with a human boy, to finish school, get married, have kids, get old and…die?

How could he want that? For me to die! Pft. Men are idiots. Ok, so maybe not all men. One in particular wasn't…

I was developing feelings for Ryan. I mean, I couldn't really be sure. It had only happened once in my life and look how that turned out. It hardly turned out at all!

If only I could ask Edward what Ryan's thoughts were about me…or maybe…Jasper! He could feel people emotions! He could tell me if Ryan loved me. But how was I supposed to talk to Jasper without either Alice seeing it beforehand, or Edward reading Jasper's thoughts and finding out?

And if Edward found out what I had been asking him about, if Ryan loved me, he would put two and two together. I might be putting Ryan and myself in danger if I did that.

I sat, starring at the phone and debating in my head.

Yes! Ring Jasper! You'll be doing just what Edward wanted by living a normal life. Screw the retard, he'll get over it.

Don't ring Jasper, it's not fair. Edward will be crushed if he finds out. Don't you have any decency left at all! You broke his heart, don't rub salt in his wounds!

Edward wanted you to have a normal life as a human. Normal humans don't have vampires to find things out. Just go ask Ryan yourself!

All the thoughts were rushing through my head, melting together. I reached slowly for the phone, then drew my hand back quickly and glanced away. Suddenly there was a loud, shrill ring. I stared, wide eyed at the phone.

It was ringing. I snatched it up and clutched it to my ear. "Hello"? I asked, praying that a sweet, alluring voice wouldn't answer. "Hey", it was Ryan! "Ryan! Oh my gosh, hey"! I said with a little too much enthusiasm. He didn't seem to mind. In fact, he seemed pleased.

"Um, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out sometime this week", he said slowly. "Like a…date", he added sheepishly. "Sure"! I replied, relief filling my voice. I could practically hear Ryan grinning. "Okay, um, what day"? He asked.

I thought for a moment. My whole week was free to spend with him. But as if I was going to tell him that. "Well, you could come round to my house now if you like", I said casually. "Yeah, that'd be cool. I'll be right over", he answered.

"Okay then. See you in a few minutes", I giggled. I giggled. I was appalled with myself. "See you", and then there was the beeping. I quickly slammed down the phone and ran to my closet. What was I going to wear? I found a floral skirt and a soft pink tank top and tossed it on.

The next challenge was my hair, after I slipped on some sandals and smoothed all the creases in my outfit. I ran a brush through it, and it fell in chocolate waves down my shoulders. I put in a butterfly hair clip and dusted some blush across my cheeks.

Like Edward, I knew Ryan loved my blush. So now he didn't need to embarrass me to see it. There was a sudden knock at the front door. Gee, that was quick. The knock sounded way over eager. I rushed down the stairs and tripped. Instinctively my hands shot out. I crashed.

"Ouch"! I yelped. The door flung open. Ryan had obviously heard my distress. His eyes were wide and confused. "What happened"? He asked, rushing to my side. I blushed. "I fell", I admitted. But he didn't laugh like Edward often had. "Honestly, these stairs are dangerous", he shook his head.

I was surprised at his reaction. Edward had automatically assumed that it was always me being clumsy. He never once thought that maybe there was some other explanation. "Maybe I was just being an accident magnet", I suggested.

But Ryan stood firm. He pulled me up and shook his head. "No way. You should definitely get those stairs checked out. You could have been really badly hurt", he said with a small smile. But I could tell he was being serious.

"Sure, I'll tell Charlie to call someone about it", I said carelessly. Ryan looked at me with his beautiful blue eyes. He was still holding my hands after pulling me up. He dropped one hand and brushed my hair back from my face.

I was about to pull away, but I got lost in his eyes like I often had in Edward's. Ryan leaned forward and kissed my lips softly. They tingled, but I had spent too much time with Edward to do what my instincts wanted, so I stayed put.

Ryan is not Edward! I told myself fiercely. But none the less, I still wasn't sure how…exactly, to kiss someone any other way but like that. But thankfully, Ryan obviously did. He pulled me closer to him, and grabbed my wrists and wrapped them around his neck, encouraging me to kiss him back.

So I did. I kept my arms wrapped around his neck and pulled his head in closer. Ryan's hand was up in my hair, the other around my waist now. I struggled to breath. Eventually we both had to break apart to breath, but our hands stayed put and our faces were only inches apart.

"That was…", I trailed off, breathing hard. "Different"? Ryan suggested, his breathing equally heavy. I just nodded and gave a slight smile. Different didn't explain half of it. I couldn't describe it. But it was nice, in a way. The best part being, I hadn't wished it was Edward kissing me like that.

Ever since I had broken up with him I was worried I would keep comparing future boyfriends to Edward. It was a relief to know that that was not doing to be an issue.

"So, um…do you…want to do it, uh…again"? Ryan asked almost sheepishly. I paused, pretending to think for a moment. Without a word, I pulled his head closer to mine so our foreheads touched. Then I pressed my lips to his. His lips moved against my, they were wet and sweet.

"Mmm", I smiled. I closed my eyes. "Mmm", Ryan agreed. When we finally pulled back, it was time for Ryan to go home. He looked reluctant. I had a feeling my face showed the same disappointment. "How about we go down to the shops together tomorrow"? He asked, suddenly brightening. I nodded automatically.

I wasn't going to say no to more time with him. "So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow", he said, and gave a little wave before going out the front door. I sighed. What was happening to me? I was becoming a different person, almost.

Ryan had picked me up early the next morning, and we had gone to the shops together. I saw Alice in the food court, but Edward was nowhere in sight. I have no idea why Alice decided to talk to me, but she did. She just walked right up.

"You're making this hard for him", she said softly in a sad voice. Like she was about to cry. That was the only thing she had said, and then she glided off in the direction of the clothing stores. Where I was supposed to be meeting Sam in about ten minutes.

I tried to ignore her comment, but it was hard. Even after Ryan had gone home and I went to hang out with Sam. Alice had been my best friend, after all. But I threw it away. Now I had Ryan and Sam. Normal people, humans.

I walked in the clothing stores with Sam. She didn't have the slightest clue that I was troubled. "So, what do you think of this outfit"? She asked, holding up a short skirt and plain t-shirt. "It's nice actually. I might buy it myself", I was surprised. I took the outfit and held it up against my body, examining myself in the mirror.

"Hot. It's perfect for the party next week", Sam clapped. I glanced at her warily. "Party"? I asked. She just nodded. "At one of my friend's houses. It's gonna go off"! She said. I just shrugged.

No one had told me about any party. Maybe Ryan had mentioned it but I was too lost looking at his naturally hot face. It was a very likely possibility, considering I was absolutely besotted with him.

For only the second time in my life I was experiencing true love. The first time had crashed and burned. All I could do was pray that Ryan was different from normal human boys, who never truly cared about personality, just a pretty face. And I didn't need to worry that he was like Edward.

No one was like Edward.

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