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Chapter One
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Bella sat in her truck's passenger seat awkwardly. They were already half way there and Charlie hadn't said a word.
She sighed and looked out of her window, watching the small city of Forks pass her by. It was hard to imagine that she wouldn't be able to see the market, the school, and the beach, even the Cullen house.
"You gonna miss it here?" Bella jumped slightly by Charlie's sudden urge to speak.
"I'm only going to be gone for six months," she said, partially to herself. When she thought about all that could happen in six months, though, she began to feel the barrier start to cascade to the floorboards below her.
"You act like that's a short time. I won't be able to see my princess as much."
Oh no. The nicknames.
She was reminded of why she wasn't moving out yet. To keep Charlie company before she disappeared completely with Edward. Married and vamped.
"I know it might not seem much to you now."
Crap. Is he going to go all "fatherly" on me now? I don't think I can listen.
And she didn't have to. When she was done complaining to herself, Bella realized that he had grown silent. And more than making her feel more comfortable, she felt insecure.
"I'll be back before you know it. Why don't you invite a friend over? Maybe that Sam Uley?" Bella didn't know much about Sam, only that he helped with search and rescue, was a little close with Charlie, and that he was engaged to an Emily Young.
"I don't know. I might." His tone wasn't very convincing.
Suddenly, Bella felt her back pocket vibrating. Edward's cell phone was with her, in case the others wanted to talk to her.
She picked up the small hand device and pressed to her ear gently. "Hello?"
"Bella, tell Charlie that Carlisle would like to get to know him if he would like." Alice. She had obviously seen this conversation.
Then again, Alice saw everything didn't she?
"Alice says 'hi'," Bella merely replied and immediately saw the smile spread across her father's face. He always had liked her.
He was probably very elated that Alice was also attending her college.
"Bella, we're waiting. Edward's a little excited."
"What are you talking about?" Emmett's voice made Bella smile. But if he was there, so was Rosalie.
Rose and Bella weren't exactly "close" if you know what I mean. But they had each other's back if the situation called for it.
"Alice…" Bella smiled when she heard Edward's voice. "Hang up. She's almost here since I can hear Charlie's thought."
Sure enough, they were in the train station's parking lot.
"I know. I was just informing her!" A sigh escaped the excited pixie on the other end. "See you soon." Click.
Bella placed the phone back into her back pocket and looked at Charlie as he parked her truck.
The loud rattling of the engine died as he turned the key. For a minute there, Bella thought that her father's stern expression meant that Edward was coming.
But her sex idol of a boyfriend wasn't in sight.
Suddenly, she felt warm arms embrace her cold figure.
"D-Dad," she stuttered out from the shock. His arms loosened a bit and she realized why he had been so nervous.
Charlie was worried about the breaking down that would happen eventually. He was trying to be more fatherly and manly at the same time.
"I'm going to miss you, Bella." Bella was shocked at Charlie's sudden loving attitude. He was always the caring, laid back father, but now he sounded sincerely sad.
And she felt guilty about leaving him alone now. Harry, Renee, and now Bella had left him.
"I'll miss you too, Dad," she said, hugging him back. He seemed so out of placed in this fatherly-daughter moment. And even more out of character, he was in jeans and a neat, Polo shirt; he wasn't in his usual uniform.
"Write me. No, better yet, call me."
"I can't do that unless you let me go," she said, but as politely as she could make it sound.
"Yeah, okay. Call me when you get there." He kissed her forehead gently and pulled away.
Bella stepped out, scared that he would take her into another bear hug. "Bye, Dad."
"Bye, Bells."
She grabbed her stuff and began to walk into the train station. When she looked back, she swore that she saw Charlie wipe a tear away.
She hurried to platform six, fighting the guilt on her way.
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Bella knew when she was close.
Her guilt seemed to shift into a calm state of serenity. Jasper had to be manipulating people's emotions again.
She rounded a corner and smiled as she saw seven familiar, pale beings. The two tallest she knew were Carlisle and Emmett. Emmett's large build didn't intimidate Bella anymore, but she noticed other humans shy away from him.
Carlisle had just come from the hospital, seeing as his long, white coat was draped around sea green scrubs. His beautiful wife Esme was talking to Edward, turning his attention away from Bella. She noticed that Emmett made a throaty laugh at something that had been said.
Next, Bella noticed the blonde goddess tucked into Emmett's side. Rosalie. Her blonde hair seemed to go well with the blue, even though that was obvious. The girl always seemed to be the idol of perfection.
Sometimes, Bella had to wonder why she didn't acknowledge her own imperfection when near Rosalie.
Then, she saw Jasper. The most recent add on to the family seemed to be eyeing the many different humans passing by them. After the past that he had been forced into, Bella wasn't shocked that he was always… hungry. But he was a very antisocial person unless he changed when his only company was Alice.
Speaking of Alice, the little pixie was skipping Bella's way. It wasn't childlike when she skipped; it was fluid and graceful.
Alice's short hair made her uniform look less feminine, but it changed into womanly when she noticed the blouse had a button undone at the top and bottom each. And there were only five on the whole thing!
"Alice! Why are you-" But before she could finish her protest, the petite girl replied, "Jasper likes it. And it's hot outside." Not that the temperature really mattered, but some humans were listening in on the conversation.
When she began dragging Bella to the Cullen family, the human girl had to pay attention to her luggage. If she made one wrong movement, everything would go flying.
"Oh come on, Edward! Nothing holding you back now. No parental guidance. I mean, you both want to," she heard Emmett say with a mischievous grin.
Bella's face must have been bright red from the sudden rush of blood to her face. She could feel the burning on her cheeks and Jasper's gaze said it all.
She looked up just in time to see Edward's burning eyes if gold. He must have smelt the blood or heard someone's thoughts to know she had arrived.
"You okay," he merely asked. By the way he looked at the entrance, she knew that he meant Charlie.
"I'm fine," she said after smiling kindly toward the whole family while letting go of her luggage at last. She hadn't seen them in a while, seeing as Edward and Alice were the only "high schoolers" in the family. And she was able to avoid the hospital for once.
"Do they have mixed dorms," Esme asked while eyeing Emmett and Edward. Emmett sighed with a sort of disappointment.
"They don't."
Suddenly, a whistle sounded and the family realized that the train was departing soon.
Everyone said their goodbyes as the six boarded.
"Why did we have to ride a train," Bella asked as Edward put her luggage away.
Edward smiled as she began to take in the small compartment. Only two or three could fit in one. Well, maybe just one Emmett.
"They're paying for it, Bella. Esme wanted us to be courteous about it." She knew that Edward would've rathered his Volvo.
"They" obviously meant the college.
Bella sat near the window, hoping that the sudden heat of the compartment would fade in the shower to come.
Might as well be comfortable for the hour ride.
She looked up as Edward closed the sliding door behind him. His reddish brown hair seemed to glow in the dim light and Bella had to keep from staring.
Instead, she went to remove her coat, but Edward stopped her. "You're going to get cold."
He sat next to her and pulled her into his arms, the chill of his body helping so much.
"Air conditioning. Finally." She gave him a smiled as he looked down at her. The way his golden gaze burned into her soul made her want to kiss him. And not just an ordinary kiss either.
But she didn't. She just nuzzled into his body, noticing how they fit.
"Finally going to college," he said while running his fingers through her hair.
"Yeah." That was her intelligent response.
Bella watched flashing red lights pass and she thought of Charlie. No more Charlie for six months.
"When should we marry?" She knew it came out of nowhere, but this was probably the best time to discuss it. That way, she wouldn't look like some petifile while she was with Edward.
"Soon," he replied before kissing her forehead. "Whenever Alice can convince Charlie."
Great, she thought. We're never going to get married.
Edward's arms wrapped around her as he said with that crooked grin that she loved, "You're so adorable when you're impatient."
Bella smiled, feeling all of the negative feelings dissipate. "You spoil me."
She shivered slightly when his chin rested on her shoulder and he took in her scent. When there was only silence, she felt him smirk against her ear. "No. It is you that spoils me."
Bella looked at him, his eyes holding all of the temptation she had ever felt. She went up and interlocked their lips, feeling the delicious ice in her mouth.
And he returned the kiss, unable to resist it any longer.
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To Be Continued
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