Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns everything

Chapter 2

Age 7

Bella and Edward spent hours after school playing, whether it be at her house or his. It was always just the two of them. They ran, they chased and most of all they laughed. Many hours were spent building a tree house, so they would have somewhere to go that was just there's.

One of their favourite things to do was make dares. She dared him to steal the neighbour's underwear from the line and he dared her to lick the ground.

One day she stared deep into his bright green eyes and dared him to kiss her. The boy's first reaction was to say 'ew' and refuse. He was young and kissing girls was not something on his list of things he ever wanted to do.

But he stared into his best friends brown eyes and found himself leaning forward until their lips were just inches apart. But before his lips could touch hers the young girl let out a high pitched squeal and ran quickly away giggling.

The boy stood there for a moment slightly stunned but then he came to his senses and ran after the girl. He grabbed her around her waist and tickled her until she begged him, through her giggles, to stop.

Both of them slumped to the ground and looked up at the blue sky. It was a rare sunny day in Forks and they were making the most of the beautiful weather.

The girl reached her hand over to grip his tightly. Even at a young age Edward marvelled at just how well they fit together.

"You're my best friend Belly" Edward whispered. He had been calling her Belly ever since he could remember.

Bella smiled "You too"

-----------

Present-Age 20

Bella's POV

I was settling in much quicker than I had ever imagined. With Alice and Rose's help I was able to unpack all of my things quickly. I had brought my old quilt and pillows from home, which were in a simple blue colour or as Alice said 'boring'. But when she suggested buying new stuff, which showed my personality I refused. I liked having something that was familiar and reminded me of my home. Besides I wasn't sure what bedding could possibly show my personality when I wasn't sure I had one anymore.

After I was all unpacked Alice and Rose took me out to dinner. The place on campus was surprisingly good. Alice and Rose introduced me to their boyfriends, Jasper and Emmett. Emmett was huge with curly hair and a goofy smile which made it impossible to be scared of him despite his massiveness. Jasper was tall and blonde and seemed like the quiet and serious type. I liked both of them and they seemed to suit Alice and Rose perfectly.

During dinner the four of them chatted about their classes and people I didn't know. They all included me in the conversation. They asked me about my old college and the classes I planned to take. As we were chatting I saw out the corner of my eye a flash of bronze hair. I immediately looked but saw nothing. I shut my eyes and breathed deeply. I must be seeing things and besides I'm sure many other people have that coloured hair.

"Are you okay Bella?" Alice asked worriedly.

I opened my eyes "Yeah I'm fine"

She nodded but still looked a bit concerned.

I pushed the thought of Edward out of mind and concentrated on what the others were saying.

--------

Alice and Rose were going to Emmett and Jaspers room to watch movies. They invited me to go along but I told them I was too tired. It was true, the plane trip and unpacking had really taken it out of me.

I dressed in the blue shirt that was way too big for me and had long since lost the smell of its previous owner. As I lay in bed trying to fall asleep I pulled the neck up over my nose and breathed in as hard as I could as though if I breathed hard enough I may somehow smell the delicious scent that I missed so much. But all I smelt was the flowery scent of my perfume.

I felt tears well in my eyes and not for the first time I cried myself to sleep.

---------

Age 17

Edward was searching through his closet. When he couldn't find it there he looked through all his drawers but it wasn't there either. He looked over at his girlfriend Bella who was lying on her stomach across his bed, flipping through a magazine. He looked more closely at her face and noticed she had a way to innocent expression on her face.

"Bellaaa" he said walking towards her.

"What?" she asked faking innocence. She looked up from her magazine and was momentarily dazed by his bare torso. Damn he was hot she thought to herself. No matter how many times she had seen him naked it still had the same effect on her.

"Do you know where my blue shirt is? You know my favourite one?" he asked placing his hands on his hips.

"No idea" she said looking back down at her magazine.

"Oh really? Are you sure? It's the one you like wearing and the one I saw you sniffing the other day" he said teasingly.

Bella's face immediately flushed red "You did not!" she squealed hiding her face in her hands.

Edward erupted into laughter and Bella grabbed his pillow and buried her face under it.

Edward jumped on the bed next to her and placed a hand on her back. "Aw Belly don't be embarrassed, though most people might find it creepy I actually find it cute"

Bella groaned into the pillow and tried to move away from his hand.

He chuckled again and lay next to her. He continued to rub circles into her back.

"Belly, Belly" he whispered but she ignored him.

"Bella, come on stop hiding… I'm sorry"

She snorted into the pillow.

He pulled the pillow off her head and she squealed "Hey"

When he saw her face his expression went from amusement to horror. She had tears running down her cheeks.

"Bella, baby I was only joking. Please don't cry" he wiped at her tears and pulled her into his chest and hugged her tightly.

"I know. Its just I like smelling you when you're not there and…please don't make fun of how much I love you" she said sobbing softly.

He pulled away so he could see her face "I'm really sorry" he said earnestly and kissed her gently.

"Don't be, I'm just overacting" she said stroking his check gently.

He pulled her back against him and hugged her tightly "You can keep the shirt. Oh and by the way I often sniff you clothes too"

Bella giggled quietly into his chest "Really?"

"Yep your shirts, your sweaters oh and your underwear too there my favourite…"

Bella erupted into giggles and punched his chest playfully "You're so disgusting"

"I know, but you love me anyway, right?"

She nodded seriously and kissed his nose "I guess I love you no matter how disgusting you are"

He smiled "Good"

---------

Present- Age 20

The next day was the first day of my classes.

I woke up early and jumped in the shower. Alice and Rose were still sleeping so I dressed quietly, so not to wake them up.

I dressed in a blue sweater and black jeans and straightened my long hair. I looked in the mirror for a long time trying to find that girl in the photo. I tried smiling but it just looked fake, finally after a few minutes I gave up and turned away in disgust. It was no use, I wasn't that girl anymore.

I decided to go and get coffee to bring back for Alice and Rose.

While I was in line waiting to order, a guy behind me started to talk to me. He was kind of cute I suppose with spiky blond hair and bright blue eyes. But I barely saw him.

"Hey so I haven't seen you around before" he said.

I smiled tentatively "Well, I just started"

"Oh… well anyway my names Mike Newton, it's nice to meet you" he held out his hand to shake mine.

I shook his hand quickly "Bella Swan"

He held my hand for a moment longer than necessary. I wanted to pull away but didn't want to seem rude.

"Well if you need anyone to show you around just ask" he said and winked at me.

I gave him a weak smile and it was fortunately my turn to order. I ordered three coffees and some muffins.

The staff was quick so I got my order before Mike was able to come speak to me again. He seemed nice enough but I really wasn't ready to see anyone. Would I ever be ready? It had been three years and I didn't feel any closer to being ready and I knew that wasn't normal.

I brought the coffees and muffins back to my room. Alice and Rose were up and getting dressed.

Alice squealed when she saw me "Bella I was just wondering where you were"

"Breakfast" I replied holding up the coffees.

"Yay" Alice said happily as I held out her coffee and muffin "Blueberry my favourite"

We drank our coffees and ate our muffins. After that Alice and Rose finished getting ready and we left our room.

They gave me a quick tour around the campus, pointing me towards where my classes were and then we agreed on a place to meet so we could grab lunch together.

My first class was English literature which I was excited about. I was majoring in English and I loved it.

I walked into the lecture room and looked around nervously. I hated not having anybody to sit with. I chose a seat near the back and sat down hoping that someone would come and sit next to me. The class wasn't that large so unfortunately I ended up sitting by myself.

The lecture was great and I found I liked the teacher here way more than the one at my old college.

Once the class was over I packed up my books and began walking towards the door. I was halfway there when a tall guy walked into the room. I stopped walking and felt someone run into the back of me but I barely noticed. The guy was lean but muscular with piercing green eyes and a mop of messy bronze hair.

He looked slightly different then he had three years ago. His eyes weren't as bright and they looked sad. His face had hardened and become even more beautiful. He was dressed in a long sleeved grey shirt and blue jeans.

He hadn't seen me yet. He walked over to the professor and began talking to him. I stayed frozen in the spot I was standing. People were walking around me throwing me slightly curious glances.

He finally looked over at me and his words stopped. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open. I stared back into his eyes for a long moment until everything went black and my body fell to the ground.

Age 9

Edward and Bella were playing monopoly on her bedroom floor when a giant spider crawled across the board. Both of them screamed and jumped to their feet. Edward grabbed Bella's smaller hand and gripped it in his.

"Where'd it go?" Bella asked sounding frightened.

"I don't know" Edward said breathlessly looking around them but not seeing it anywhere "I think it's gone"

He looked back at Bella and saw that her face was white "What?" he asked.

She pointed at the floor and he looked down and saw that the spider had crawled onto his shoe.

He yelled and kicked his foot until the spider fell off and scurried under the bed.

He felt Bella's hand get limp and she started to fall to the ground but he caught her before she hit the ground. She had fainted.

Edward screamed for Bella's father, who came running. They woke Bella up and her father killed the spider.

Bella didn't faint that often, only if something scared her so bad she couldn't take it.

Present-Age 20

"Wake up; you're okay come on wake up"

I felt someone gently tapping my face and I opened my eyes. I was slightly disorientated and confused as to why I was lying on the ground of the lecture room with my professor and some class mates standing around me.

"What…?" I started to ask.

"You fainted… Belly is it?" the professor asked.

The name made my heart stop. I had really seen Edward. I looked around but he was no where in sight.

"Bella" I mumbled.

"Oh well that's what Edward called you. Do you know him? Where is he? He was here just a moment ago" the professor looked around the room again as though Edward was somehow hiding somewhere.

He helped me to my feet and suggested I see a doctor. I barely listened to him and just made a lame excuse about not drinking enough water.

I walked out of the room in a daze.

As I walked across campus I scanned the crowd for bronze hair.

AN: Please review