Author's Note: I can't wait to get this story out and available to the public. I hope that you guys don't hate me too much for the last chapter but it was really a prologue so you can't hate me too terribly. Please keep reading and I promise that it will get better in the future. Like i promised, here's a second chapter in one day! That's a first for me! My BETA and close personal friend, Running On Faith, has given me a few ideas and I hope will continue to do so in the future. So enough of the babbling... Here's the real 1st chaper! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All are human

Books and Coffee

I still couldn't believe what had happened over the last week. My father had died, Emmett and I had cleaned up our house for the realtors, and I had just gotten on a plane to start my Freshman year at college. So far, college wasn't lookin' so hot.

But there was still Edward. I hadn't met him yet but I intended on doing so shortly. I needed to see those green eyes again. I had only dreamt of him once more, last night, since that first night. It was a different scene because we were in Barnes and Noble now and I had a small stack of books in my arms whereas he only had a few. (For those who don't know what a Barnes and Noble is, it's a bookstore here in Tennessee. I love it there!) I hadn't said anything to Emmett because he would probably tell me that I should stop thinking about him and to forget about him.

Emmett had always been a good big brother. He had always been there for me, especially this spring when I had ended it with my one and only boyfriend. He had been there when I had been shunned by the two mean girls of the school last year and had even helped me pass math so I could graduate. It had never been my strong suit. When Emmett had put me on the plane this morning, I could tell that he was holding back tears. He had been so much like Charlie in that way, always trying to hold back the mushy stuff, trying to be strong. Even if he wasn't his real father. (A/N: Muwahahaha - forshadowing perhaps?)

I think that I fell asleep again because now I was in some room, maybe it was my dorm room, and there was a girl there, probably my roommate, playing with some little decorations on one side of the room. She had short spiky black hair and was really tiny. I hadn't the faintest clue who she was but I fully intended to find out. Maybe she and the boy were linked somehow...

Wait. There was a picture in her hand, she was trying to she me who was in it... Was that-? It couldn't be! That was Edward, the boy with the green eyes... Maybe they were dating... If so, I shouldn't even bother trying to find out who they were.

"Attention, passengers. If you would please place your seats back into the upright positions and fold back your trays, we are about to make our landing. Thank you for flying Northwestern Airlines." I was pulled back from my dream by the stupid stewardess. I leaned my chair back up and pulled the pillow out from behind my head. I don't even know how long the flight had been but I didn't really want to find out. I had had enough of a struggle getting over the fact that I was actually going to school so far away from my friends.

Going to school in the south was probably not the best idea I'd ever had in the world but it was too late to go back now. I had enrolled and it would be a waste of good scholarship money if I dropped out. My dad may have been a cop but we were never rich. I had so many scholarships and grants that it wasn't even funny. I had a Buchanan Fellowhip (It's real and I'm applying for it) and a butt load of others to follow it up.

I grabbed my carry on bag and followed the other passengers to the door. When we got to the terminal, I went to stupid baggage claim and tried to make sure that none of my luggage was lost. If it was, I'd be royally screwed out of clothes for the year. Emmett was planning on moving down here shortly and then I would have someone that I actually knew here. I just hoped that I could make it until then. Thankfully, nothing was lost so I grabbed my suitcases and headed for the door.

Being late August, it was rather warm. I had grown used to the temperatures of the north and the sudden heat surprised me a bit. I stood outside for who knows how long until I finally got hold of a taxi and then threw my stuff in the trunk before telling the driver where I was headed. I had no idea where the school was so I hoped that he was going the right way.

The driver was probably a bit older than Emmett but he had a bit of a farmer's tan. Maybe he was just driving cabs before school started. I didn't know. He had shaggy brown hair and seemed like a big kid at heart.

"So, are you from around these here parts, Miss?" I could hear the southern twang in his voice and I knew that I would have to get used to it eventually.

"Um, no. I'm originally from Arizona but I just came from Washington to go to school." I was trying to be polite yet give as little information as possible. He seemed to get it because he only nodded.

"I hope that you like our fine state, Miss. Well, here's your stop." I turned at the sound of his words and looked to my right to see a huge campus. There were buildings everywhere and the greens were covered in masses of students. I could only imagine what a typical school day here would be like.

He slowed to a stop at the entrance where everyone else was going and I got out to get my things. The driver suprised me a bit when I looked up to see him beside me. I stifled a shudder.

"Let me help you with those. My name's Seth, by the way." He reached out a hand and I hesitated for a moment before taking it. I guess it was just Southern hospitality.

"Bella. Bella Swan. Thank you, Seth." I went to close the trunk but he beat me to it. I smiled at him as politely as I could manage.

"Here's my card, Ms. Swan. Please feel free to call anytime you need a ride somewhere." He gave me a big grin and I could see that he used some kind of tobacco. His teeth were very dirty and looked as if he hadn't been to the dentist in years.

.

"Thank you, Seth. I'll be sure to remember that." I nodded and stuck the card in my back pocket before turning to go inside. I went to the admissions office and got my dorm assignment before going to the place where I would be spending the next four years of my life.

It was a huge campus and it took me a while to find the right dorm. For once, I was glad that I didn't have that many clothes. When I finally found the dorm, I went into the air-conditioned building and looked around at my new 'living room'. It was ok looking. I stared at the paper in my hand and read the room number: 318. (Anybody get what the number 18 stands for?) I let out an exasperated sigh. That meant that it was on the stupid third floor. I had some climbing to do.

I gathered up my stuff and made my way up the stupid stairs, sweat starting to bead on my forehead. I hadn't been this hot in a while. There was no air-conditioning in the stairwell yet. I finally made it up the stairs and down the hall to my room. I sat down my stuff and and pulled my key out of my pocket. I almost dropped it before getting it into the keyhole. I turned the key and walked in to see that my roommate had already been here. And that she loved bright colour.

Her bed spread was a dull yellow colour and she had a matching throw rug on one side of her bed. I walked over to the open bed and threw my stuff onto it. I then walked over to her side of the room and looked at the pictures she had on display. I saw one that caught my eye and I went to pick it up. I had to do a double-take. The girl in the picture was the girl from my dream. That meant that she was also my roommate. Wait a minute. That boy in the picture was the boy from my dream, Edward. He was kissing her on the cheek and she had a big smile on her face. Oh yeah. They were definitely dating.

I put the picture down and walked back over to my bed. I needed to unpack before she came back but I was a bit tired. I laid back for what felt like a few minutes before waking up and realizing that I had dozed off. I sat straight up and jumped off my bed a few seconds later. I had to steady myself before I fell over because I didn't have the best balance in the world.I got that from my dad. That was why my young years spent in Ballet lessons had been a waste of time and money.

Once I had my balance, I turned around and unzipped the biggest suitcase. I picked up a few of my clothes and went to the open dresser. I proceeded to unpack the rest of my things in silence. When I was finished, I slid my suitcase under my bed and sat back on my bed. The room wasn't that small but it was still a bit cramped for two teenage girls. I was starting to get bored and wished that I hadn't sold all of my books to pay for college. Especially since I ended up not needing to in the end.

That gave me an idea. I stood up and pulled Seth's card out of my pocket. For once, I was glad that Emmett had insisted on me getting a cell phone. I had the red nv2 but I rarely used it. (This is really my phone and I wanted it to have a small role in this. lol) I pushed in the numbers and waited as it rung. His ringback tone was a stupid country song and I hated it. Country music was absolutely repulsive. (I personally love country music but Bella and Edward hate it in this story for all intensive purposes)

When he finally answered, I asked him if he could come get me because I needed to get somewhere. He said yeah and I told him that I would meet him where he had dropped me off earlier. He said ok and we hung up. I put my phone back in my pocket and got up. When I got to the door, I noticed a note taped onto the back of the door for the first time. I took it off and read what must have been my roommate's exquisite hand-writing.

'Sorry I don't know your name yet but I hope that we will become the best of friends. I'm sorry that I'm not there but I stepped out to get a few decorating supplies. This room is absolutely dreadful. Anyway, I hope to be back in a few hours and then I can introduce myself properly. I hope to see you soon, Roomie! Much Love, Alice'

So her name was Alice and she hoped to be the best of friends. Maybe that would be possible but right now, I had to get back all the way across campus. I went back and grabbed my wallet out of my carry-on and then stepped out into the hallway. There were a few more students arriving and I nodded at them when they said hello. I was just anxious to get where I was going.

When I got to the gate, Seth was already there and I apologized for making him wait but he said it was ok. He drove in silence and I wasn't about to go prying into his personal life. Maybe if I knew him a bit longer, I would feel comfortable asking him questions about his life but not right now. I was trying to make a list of what to get. I had about a hundred and seventy-five dollars with me because I had the rest of it hidden deep in one of my drawers back at the dorm so I could get quite a bit. When we got to the mall, I thanked Seth, tried to pay him although he refused, saying that it was what friends would do, and then went inside.

It took a few minutes to find the store but when I found it, I walked right in. It felt right being there, like a second home almost. I went straight to the classics. I found a new copy of Wuthering Heights and even a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility before going to the newer books. I loved a good romance but I was open to all genres. That way, I would have something to do on my days off after I found a job because there was no way I would have another boyfriend from this place. I hated Rednecks.

I found a few more books that I had read before (For a Few Demons More, The Outlaw Demon Wails, Wicked Nights, Wicked Pleasure, and MoonGazer) and a few that I hadn't (Fangs For the Memories, Fangs But No Fangs, Heaven's Kiss, Flight to Freedom, and The Host) (These are all books that I've read and loved) It was good thing that I had enough to buy a bookcase because I was going to need it. I fully intended on building up my book collection again and hopefully have a bigger one this time.

That was when I noticed him. He was peering around the corner and if I hadn't've recognized those eyes, I would have been totally peeved that I was being stalked.

Edward P.O.V.

I had come to the mall to get some new clothes for school. I had wondered into Barnes and Noble because I thought that I had seen a familiar face. I had only seen the face once before, and only for a brief moment in time. After my family had moved here from Washington, my father hadn't kept in great touch with Chief Swan. Although they had gone to school together, they hadn't been able to remain close friends after they parted ways. We all moved here about ten years ago and after that, they had only talked to each other on the phone every so often and eventually, Charlie entered the twenty-first century by getting a computer.

He had emailed a picture to my father and I had been using his laptop at the time so I had seen what it contained. There had been a picture of the most beautiful creature along with a brief message. 'This is Bella, all grown up. She's a Senior now, the same as your Edward. I wish they had met before you and Esme had moved away. Charlie'

I hadn't meant to read the mesage but I simply couldn't take my eyes off of her. I had had to close the mesage once Carlisle had walked into the room and I haven't looked at it since.

When I saw her, I had to follow, to know if it was her or not. I also had to see if she was as beautiful in person. I had no doubt that she was but I had to be sure.

I meandered through the aisles for a few minutes before hearing the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. I heard someone humming to themselves. After a few minutes, I realized that it was actually someone talking rapidly to themselves. I walked a bit further until I found the aisle from which the sound was coming from. I hid in the next aisle over and peeked around the corner. There was a stack on the floor containing around eleven books and she had another one in her hand. I read the title and smiled to myself. I had read the book months ago when it had first been released. It was The Host and it was a great book. There was a conversation starter for you.

I must have been lost in my thoughts because I blinked and then was met with the most beautiful, round, wide brown eyes I had ever seen. She had spotted me so now there was nothing to do but go and introduce myself properly. Maybe this would go well, maybe not.

I walked up to her slowly and she lowered her book onto the top of her others. She was going to buy all of those? I knew that Charlie didn't have a lot of money and she didn't need to spend all of her money on these. She still had to buy her school books. If that was why she was here in the first place. But that was none of my business...

Wait. Was that why she here in the first place? Tennesse was a long ways away from Washington.

I stopped in front of her and smiled. She looked as if she had seen me before, like she had seen a picture as I had. I didn't know if Carlisle had sent Charlie a picture but, again, that was none of my business.

"Hi. I'm Edward." I stuck out my hand and she looked at it for a split second before taking it.

"Bella." That one word spoke hundreds.

"Hi." I repeated. I glanced at her stack of books before continuing. "Do you need some help with those? I don't have that many myself." I only had two books and they weren't that heavy. She nodded and I bent to pick up half of the books. I heard her mutter a soft thank you and I smiled at her again. She picked up the rest of them and I led the way to the checkout counter. How could I get her to talk to me? I needed to hear her voice again.

"So... Have you always lived in Tennessee, Bella?" I tried to ease into the conversation. I turned to see her shake her head before continuing.

"No. I just moved here today go to school. My dad died last week." She said the last part quietly and I wasn't sure if I had heard her correctly. I stopped in my treacks. Charlie was dead? How had that happened?

"I'm sorry to ask you this but, did you just say that your father passed away last week?" I looked over to see her staring at the ground and nodding slightly. "I'm so sorry, Bella. No one should have to lose their father so early in life." I shifted my weight so I wouldn't drop the books and planted a hand on her fore-arm. To my surprise, she didn't try to pull away. She just stood there, holding in her tears.

"Thank you, Edward. Um, can we go now? My roommate's due back any moment and I don't want her to think that I abandoned her. She went shopping." I could hear the eyes roll in her head at the mention of shopping. That was weird. A girl who didn't like shopping. Huh. That was a nice refreshment from my sister- she loved to shop.

"So, um. you don't like shopping, Bella?" I caught a whiff of strawberries and turned to see that her hair had fallen over her shoulders.

"No, I'm not really the girly type, Edward. I'm sorry for being so rude but can I ask you a question?" She stopped in her tracks and I did the same. What could she want to know about me?

"Sure, Bella. Shoot."

"Well, I can tell that you aren't from here, your accent's not Southern at all. So, where are you from originally?" I looked at those gorgeous brown eyes again before answering. She was going to love this. Too bad I had to call and tell Carlisle about Charlie when I got back to the dorm.

"I'm actually from Washington. A little town near the coast called Forks." I smiled as I watched her eyes go even wider.

"You're... from Forks?" I nodded. "That's where I'm from. When did you move away?" She sounded extremely earnest at this point so I started moving again. We were almost to the checkout counter and I was going to try to slip this half of the books past her...

"We moved about ten years ago. My dad's a doctor and he got a really good job offer down here. He grew up in Forks and was really good friends with half of the town when we left." I didn't want to go straight out and tell her that our fathers had been good friends. That would have been a little strange since she hadn't told me anything about Charlie.

"That's cool. I just came down here because I wanted to get away from all of the jerks at my school. And my ex is kind of a stalker..." She trailed off and I wondered who could be her ex. She probably had a million of them. Nobody that gorgeous was ever single for long... That probably meant that she had a boyfriend back in Forks and I was S.O.L.

"That's kinda creepy, Bella." I slid the cashier two fifties and muttered for him to keep the change. I came in here quite frequently and knew the whole staff. Not to mention that I had classes with most of the younger staff. Eric was working today and he knew by the way Bella and I were ignoring everyone else that he should keep his mouth shut for the time being. I heard the ch-ching of the register being opened and then the annoying beeping as he began to ring up Bella's half of the books. I don't even think she noticed that I had paid for half of them.

We waited quietly until Eric was finished and she paid. I held back a smile when her eyes went wide as she realized that I had paid for half of her things. She probably still had to get a bookcase if she was living in a dorm and I knew the perfect place to take her. She probably wouldn't have had enough to pay for all of the books and a bookcase. Maybe I could get her to ride home with me.

"Edward, did you-?"

"Yes and don't say a word, Bella." I cut her short so that she wouldn't be able to try and pay me back.

"Thank you," she mumbled as she handed Eric a fifty and some twenties. Now I just had to convince her to let me chip in on the bookcase later.

We grabbed our things and went back out into the main 'hallway' while I stared at her. I was still taken by her beauty.

"Bella, do you want to put your things in my car? I can give you a ride home and you would still be able to shop a bit more without having to carry all of these books around. It's no problem really." I saw her blush a bit before she turned her head away from me. She nodded and I touched her arm again so she would look at me. I gestured towards the door and she started walking.

"Where is your car, Edward?" She asked as if she trusted me. I tended to have that effect on girls for some reason...

"It's over there, in row 13 (Anyone get what what 13 stands for?) It's the silver volvo." I pointed and she nodded before taking off in the right direction. We made it to my car and I opened the back door for her. She smiled her thanks and placed her books inside. I did the same and then we walked back into the mall. I was going to take her to this little shop and get her a bookcase but she seemed too distracted. I thought of something else to do.

"Bella, do you want to get some coffee? There's a Starbucks in here somewhere. I'm buying so don't say anything." I had to tack that on at the end because I knew that she would object. If she was anything like here father, she wouldn't want anyone to spend money on her.

I saw her hide another blush before turning away from me and nodding yet again. For some reason, I thought that was extremely attractive. She seemed to be quite the shy type. If she knew my sister, then she was going to have to get a lot braver. Maybe they would have a class together or something. I led her to the food court and we found where the Starbucks was located. I gestured for her to go first and she ordered a simple French Vanilla Cappucino (My fave coffee drink!) and I ordered the same.

"I'll go find us a table, Edward." I nodded and she left. She found us a table not too far from where we were standing and I turned back to the vendor.

"I would also like to get two chocolate chip cookies, please." I hoped that she wasn't allergic to chocolate. I paid and he handed me our order. I went to join her and I could tell that she was holding back a protest of me getting her more than she had originally ordered. I smile to myself as I broke off a piece of my cookie.

"So, Edward. Do you go to school here or something?" Bella asked before mimicking me in picking off a piece of her cookie. She probably knew that I wasn't going to let her refuse it. I swallowed my cookie and took a sip of my coffe before answering her.

"Yes, actually. I go to mitsue. How about you, Bella?" I took another pinch off my cookie and popped it into my mouth.

I could see the confused look on her face and wondered what had put it there. Had it been something I said?

"Mitsue? What school it that?" She did the same as I had done only seconds before with her cookie.

"It's what people around here call MTSU. Did I confuse you?" I had to hold back a smile. It was now evident that she had just gotten here.

"Oh, well, I guess that makes some sort of sense. I go there too, now." She took a sip of her coffe and I saw her relax as soon as I saw her swallow. The warm liquid sliding down her throat...

"Yep. So what are you studying to be?" I took another drink of my coffee and sat it back on the table. Maybe now I would get more than a few words out of her.

"Um... Well, I've really enjoyed writing for the past few years and I've already completed a few poems and short stories so I thought I would take a few courses in that. I was also thinking of getting a degree in English so that I could teach but I don't know if I could do the same thing all day, every year... It would probably get a bit tiring after a while. What about you, Edward?" She took a big drink of her coffe and I was a bit distracted as I watched it slide down her slender neck...

"Um. I was actually going to sign up for a few courses in music so that I might teach it to kids one day. But now that you say that, it kinda makes me rethink it a bit..." I saw the change in her posture and her eyes going wide. Had I just said something wrong?

"I didn't mean to make you rethink your career choice, Edward. I was just saying what I thought." She put her coffee down and scooted her chair back. Was she leaving? "I think I should go now..." I had offended her in some way. I had to make her stay somehow.

"Wait." She stilled in her movements and I hid a smile. " How long did you live in Forks, Bella?" Maybe I could somehow ease onto the subject of our fathers being friends.

"I lived with my mom a when I was little kid." She sat back down and slid back up to the table. " My grandma was sick and we stayed with her in Phoenix until she passed. I moved back up to Washington when I was seven. Why do you ask?" She had grown even more quiet towards the end, as if she wasn't sure if she should ask or not.

"Well, I moved down here when I was five and I didn't know if maybe we had met we were little kids or anything but I don't think that would be possible now. So, um, why did you decide to go to school here in the south? There are almost 2,000 colleges in the United States. Why did you decide on going in Tennessee?" There was no way she could answer that in just a sentence or two.

"Well, I knew that I wanted to go to school far from home. Well, not really far from home, but far from all of the rain and cold. I didn't think that I could ever leave my dad alone. After my mom died of Breast Cancer a few years ago... Well, Emmett went to MTSU and loved it so it kind of influenced my choice a bit. Plus, Emmett said that he would move back down here if I really wanted to go here so I would be alone. Sorry, I'm rambling. What about you, Edward?"

I had gotten too absorbed in her story. I wanted to hear her talk some more. Her voice was so magical, so alluring. I had to think for a minute on what she had just said, to even register it in my brain that she had asked me a question. Wait, who was this 'Emmett' person anyways? Was this her boyfriend? I heard her say that her ex was a stalker so he couldn't be the ex. Why would she go somewhere where he might be?

"Like I said, my father's a doctor. But instead of pressuring me to be like him, to follow in his footsteps, he told me to follow my heart. My heart's always been in music and MTSU was close to home so it seemed like a good choice. Plus, Alice wanted to go to school where-ever I went and she wanted to stay close to a mall. That may have been what made my decision - I could never leave alice. I love her too much." When I said this, Bella's eyes went really wide.

"So, you love Alice a lot, don't you?" I just nodded and decided to change the subject.

"Bella, do you need a bookcase? I noticed how many books you got and I know what the girls dorms look like because of Alice. I could take you to this one store that has a great selection if you want me to." I was leaving this up to her. I wanted nothing more than to spend more time with her and hear her magnificent voice but I didn't want to pressure her or not give her a choice.

"Sure, that would be great." She stood up and went to throw away her trash. I followed her and then realized that we had both finished out cookies and coffees with out even acknowledging it. I saw that she was waiting for me outside the door of the little shop and sped up a bit. I didn't want to be away from her for too long.

Without thinking, I slid my arm around her waist and pulled her closer. I heard her gasp but she didn't move from my side. What did that mean? I pondered this and we walked to the little shop where I would actually be helping her pick out something that would be going into her bedroom. Maybe she would need some help getting it in there...

Additional Author's Note: Ok, how much do you guys hate me for stopping it there? It was just getting too long with what's about to happen... The next chapter is a bit of a filler fro something important that's about to happen and this one would have been really long if I had put it in here. I hope you don't hate me for what I wrote in this chapter but without all of the misleading from both of them, what happens next would be a bit different. Please don't hate me! Now - Review! Click on the little box right below this line... there ya go!!