My old truck rattled into the parking lot at the boardwalk on Sunday, just after three o'clock. I scanned the crowd for Sean, but he found me first, my one-of-a-kind truck sticking out like a beacon on the shore. I smiled as I watched him jog up to my door as I got out. He wore a matching smile, and I couldn't help but zero in on his eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

"I'm glad you made it." He greeted me, closing my truck door for me and reaching out to touch my arm hesitantly. I could tell he was holding himself back, like he wanted to hug me, but wasn't sure what my reaction would be. "You look great. Well rested."

"Thanks. I did get to catch up on my sleep last night." Between the nightmares and my nerves, sleep didn't come easy last night. The twelve hours from last night along with a full night's sleep tonight should recharge me enough to make it through yet another grueling week.

"Good, then you're ready for some thrills and excitement, right?" He walked beside me as we approached the mass of rides and buildings on the beach in front of us. I decided to go with comfort and functionality today and hoped jeans and simple top were appropriate enough for a date like this. My first date. My heart hammered with excitement and nerves. I'm sure my face would remain some shade of red throughout the entire ordeal.

"Sure. You know I've never done anything like this, so you'll have to help me out." We stopped a little ways off from the ticket booth and he turned to me.

"Like what? Like you've never been to an amusement park? Or you've never been on a date?"

I could feel the heat flooding my face. "Neither." My eyes stayed locked on my feet, noting that I had already scuffed the white toes of my sneakers.

Sean sucked in a breath before his hand cupped my chin and tipped my face up until I was looking into those blue eyes again. "Are you telling me this is your first date, Bella?" I nodded. His jaw flexed and he looked away, cursing under his breath. "I wish I had known. I would have done things right."

This time I reached out for him and took his hand. "Hey." I said, hoping he would look at me again, and he did. "It doesn't matter. We're here to have fun right?"

He nodded, still sullen. "Yeah, but I should have picked you up and gotten you flowers or something. I should have taken you somewhere nicer..."

I cut him off. "None of that matters to me, ok? Honestly, I'd much prefer something like this anyway. I'm not one for fancy dinners, or flowers, or dancing. Now, show me some fun." I pulled him towards the ticket booth, where he purchased two unlimited ride passes.

"So what did you want to ride first?"

"I have no clue, Sean! I've never been to a place like this." The sights and sounds and smells were whirling around me and it hit me hard that I'd missed out on so much in my life.

"Not even a little county fair? You've never even ridden a carousel?" He asked incredulously.

I shook my head. "Nothing. Ever. You're going to have to lead."

He took a deep breath and spent a few moments deep in thought, chewing on his bottom lip, just like I did. His head suddenly shot up and he grinned at me. "Ok, let's go!" He grabbed my hand and led me off into the crowds, weaving expertly through the people.

We stopped in front of a carousel and I watched the horses as they spun around, the typical carousel organ music drowning out everything but the screams of the others on more exciting rides. He pulled me in front of him in the line to get on and leaned down, so I could hear him. "We'll start slow, and build up to the bigger rides. Everyone has to ride on a carousel at some point in their life." I nodded as the adrenaline began to course through my body. I'm sure carousels are as tame as they come, but it was still new to me. This entire experience was new. I was here, with a guy, on a date at an amusement park, and I had no idea what to expect from all these rides, or from Sean for that matter. No one had ever enlightened me on the rules for dating. I was flying blind and it was quite exhilarating.

The carousel stopped and we waited as everyone exited, before they let on the next group. Sean helped me up onto the platform and let me choose whichever horse I'd like. I decided on a white one near the middle because I was slightly afraid of falling off and wanted to avoid the inside and outside edges of the ride. Sean climbed on a brown one by my side and we waiting for it to fill up before it started with a jolt. It took a a couple of rounds before I felt steady enough to be comfortable, and then I was able to enjoy the rather tame ride. I could feel his eyes on me, watching me take it all in, and we exchanged glances and smiles. It felt nice to be out and trying new things. I felt alive. I almost felt normal.

Sean helped me down and kept an arm around my waist since I was a little unsteady. Once we were out of the exit stampede, he pulled me aside. "Did you like that?" I nodded. His grin was addictive. "Ready for more?"

"Yes!" I said, a little too enthusiastically, and he grabbed my hand and pulled me over to a haunted house.

We rode a handful of rides and each one was a little more exciting than the last. Sean watched me and seemed to enjoy my reactions more than the rides themselves. It was getting later and we decided to grab some food and go down to the beach. There were so many different choices for food, and once again I asked Sean to choose for me. His eyes lit up a kid in a candy store and he pulled me from vendor to vendor. First we had corn dogs and fresh squeezed lemonade. The appeal of a hot dog on a stick, deep fried in cornmeal was a bit repugnant, but I was quickly swayed by the joys of deep fried food on a stick. Sean explained how it was a staple at amusement parks and fairs. For desert he insisted we share a funnel cake, yet another deep fried creation, coated in powdered sugar. I was impressed that simple fried dough could taste so good. We laughed together as our faces and fingers and shirts were covered in the white powder by the time we were done. Next he decided I absolutely had to have some cotton candy. He watched me intently as I took my first bite of the pink spun sugar which was as soft as clouds and disappeared into a sticky film the instant I closed my mouth. It tasted like what childhood should be – simple and sweet. He carried the rest of the cotton candy for me and we made our way to the beach, slipping off our shoes so we could feel the sand between our toes.

The sun was getting lower in the sky and we walked down near the water, letting the cool tide wash in and out over our feet as we watched the waves upon the water. It was peaceful, and the sounds of the amusement park and other beach-goers faded into the background.

"It's beautiful." I murmured.

"Yes it is. I wish I had brought a blanket or something so we could sit and talk."

"Come on." I grabbed his hand, more confident this time and pulled him up the beach to drier sand. "I don't mind. It's just sand." I quipped and promptly sat down, earning me another dimpled smile.

"You're something else, Bella." He ran his fingers through his hair and then turned towards me. "So, tell me more about yourself."

"Like what?" I asked, diverting my gaze nervously. I wondered what he wanted to know and if I would be able to answer his questions. Scooping up a handful of sand, I watched the grains slide through my fingers.

"Tell me why you've never been to an amusement park, or tasted cotton candy...." He trailed off.

I blew out a long breath, and continued to play with the sand. "I've led a very sheltered life, Sean. I told you my father was extremely religious, and that's why. He believed we should live as simply and modestly as possible, and as the years passed, the more strict he became. My day literally consisted of cooking, cleaning, school, and prayer. That was it. I was rarely allowed to go anywhere outside of school and home. We moved around a lot, so making friends was hard, especially when I was usually considered an outcast on my first day. We never had sweets, other than the rare piece of fruit, and we didn't eat any animal products. In fact, I'll probably be bouncing around like an idiot as soon as all that sugar hits me." I teased to lighten the mood.

His eyebrows knit together as took in what I had said. "Wow. I don't know what to say, other than it must have been really difficult for you." I nodded. "It was fascinating watching you today. The way your face lit up and your eyes took in every detail. You're not like anyone else I've ever known. Most everyone I know is so jaded. They let the world pass them by, never taking a moment to stop and take in their surroundings. You're like a breath of fresh air, reminding me there's more to life and that I take far too much for granted. It's rather inspiring."

I snorted. "Inspiring?"

He blushed and nodded. "You have no idea." He murmured. looking out over the water with a far away look in his eye.

"Ok, so it's your turn. Tell me something about yourself." I wrapped my arms around my knees and studied his profile. His long hair was blowing the in ocean breeze.

"Like what?" He mimicked with a teasing smile.

"Gosh, I don't know. How did you get into music?"

Sean tossed his hair back and chuckled. "That's an easy one. Dave. In middle school, he wanted to start a band and so we all picked instruments and learned to play. He was my first friend when we moved out here, and then he introduced me to Jesse and Shane. The four of us have been inseparable ever since. We play together mostly for fun, though we've been known to do a party or two for friends. I've written a few songs, but mostly we just cover songs that are already out there."

"That must be nice, having so many close friends. Always knowing someone is there for you. Maybe one day I'll get to hear you play."

He smiled. "I'd like that." Then he sighed. "Things have changed between the four of us, and we're not as close as we used to be, but you can't just forget that kind of friendship." He sounded sad.

"Oh, did something happen?"

"Nothing major. Our lives have just taken different paths. I don't really agree with some of the things Dave does, and he of course has his own opinions of me. Jesse and Shane are more career driven and so we've started growing apart." He shrugged.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not a big deal, just something that happens as you get older."

"So what changed for you?" I pried.

"A lot." He leaned back, resting his weight on his hands and turned his head so he could look at me. "Let's just say that my life was the complete opposite of yours. I was knee deep in everything your father hoped to shelter you from. Once we moved out here and it was just Mom and me, I was pretty much on my own. She had to work, and was left to my own devices. I'm not proud of the way I've lived my life, but I wouldn't be who I am if I hadn't gone through all that."

I took a deep breath. "What kinds of things did you do?" My voice was quiet as I tried to keep it from cracking. I wasn't sure if I truly wanted to know these things, but if I knew anything at all about relationships, being open and honest with each other was necessary.

Sean sat up again, fiddling nervously with the hem of his jeans. "Dave and I did quite a lot of partying in high school. Drugs, alcohol, sex...you name it, we did it." He huffed out a breath. "I stayed out till all hours of the night, skipped school, hung out with the types of people I hope you never meet." The emotion swirling in his eyes was intense as he watched my reaction.

"What did your mother do?" I asked tentatively.

He snorted. "She didn't know. She might have had and idea about some of it, but she never let on that she knew anything. We were good at hiding things from each other. We both dealt with things in our own ways."

"Do you do those thing now?"

"No." He shook his head vehemently. "I might have a couple of drinks, but nothing like I used to. I haven't even been on a date in close to a year. One day I just woke up and realized that I wasn't happy with the way my life was going. I used all that as a means of escape. I knew if I ever wanted to move on, then I'd have to face what happened. I couldn't keep running, it was destroying me and I wanted something better."

I wanted something better. Those words hit home with me. Here I was trying to make something of my life, and I couldn't help but wonder if things would have been better if I'd stayed in Forks. I had no way to improve my situation other than working myself to the bone and saving all the money I could so that eventually college would be an option. If I'd stayed, I might have had the support I needed to accomplish that. Or, the Weber's might have thrown me out at 18 and not cared what became of me, though it was highly unlikely, knowing that they were good, kind people. I'd been so sure that this was the right path, but now nothing made sense to me. What had I ever done to deserve this? To be abandoned by the people who were supposed to care for me.

"Bella?" Sean's voice startled me, his face mere inches from mine as he tentatively reached up to wipe away the tear I didn't realize had escaped. "What's wrong?"

"Oh. I'm sorry." I rubbed my eyes, willing away the tears. "It's nothing. I'm glad you had a change of heart and wanted something better." He didn't take the bait.

"No, no, no, no. You're not going to change the subject. You're crying for Christ's sake. What's wrong? Did I say something to upset you?"

I laughed humorlessly. "Aren't we supposed to be discussing favorite colors and foods? Seems like we're jumping in pretty deep for a first date."

His face fell and he pulled back. "I'm sorry, Bella. I didn't mean to pry. I just wanted to put everything out there so you know what you're dealing with. I'd hate for you to find out from someone else and think I was being dishonest with you. You don't have to tell me anything."

I nodded. "It's okay. There's probably some things I should tell you as well, but I'm just not ready to talk about it yet. I haven't really talked to anyone about what's happened to me. I guess I'm kind of running away from everything right now. I'm not ready to face it."

His hand slipped over mine and he gave it a gentle squeeze. "Believe me, I understand. If you ever want to talk, I'd be happy to listen. It must be hard to be so alone."

"Yeah, it is." I bit my lip, hoping tears wouldn't betray me again. Sean let go of my hand and scooted closer to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his side. He was warm and comfortable, and the contact felt nice. We watched the people on the beach and waves crashing over the sand. The evening was cooling off as the sun lowered further in the sky.

"Blue."

I looked up at him in confusion. "Huh?"

"My favorite color. Blue." He smiled at me, and I had the compulsion to kiss his dimple, but didn't.

"I like blue too."

"I like pizza."

"Hmm. That's a hard one for me. I think I'm going to have to say chocolate cake though."

He chuckled, his voice was warm and rich, and I felt the vibrations through his chest. Suddenly, he pulled away and stood up, holding out a hand for me. "Come on, there's one more ride I want to go on."

We dusted ourselves off and jogged sluggishly through the sand, back to the boardwalk. Once we slipped on our shoes, he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the ferris wheel. I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face as I realized that he wanted to watch the sunset with me on the ferris wheel. We had to wait for one more turn before we reached the front of the line, and as soon as we were seated, his arm wrapped around my shoulders once again. The sun had just begun to dip below the horizon. As we slowly made our way towards the top, splashes of color were painted across the blue canvas of the sky. Purple, orange, red, and blue all melted together as the orange ball continued it's descent. All of this reflecting in the darkening water.

I was comfortable in Sean's embrace and the romance of the moment was not lost on me. However, I couldn't help but remember another boy in another town who had made me feel the same way – safe, protected, cared for. There was no magnetism or spark with Sean, like there was with Edward, and I wondered what he was doing right now. I missed our late night talks, and the comfort he brought me when I'd awake from my nightmares. His scent alone was enough to calm me. I'd probably never see him, or Alice again. I'm not sure I could ever go back to Forks, and the Cullens had probably already forgotten about me. Suddenly I felt like I had been punched in the gut. There was no one out there thinking of me. I didn't have a mother or father wondering what time I'd be home from a date, or friends waiting to hear the details and wondering when Sean would kiss me. All I had was here and now. Sean, sitting here beside me, was likely the only person who cared for me at this moment. While I was thankful to be here next to him, I couldn't help the weight that settled deep in my soul at the whole picture. Once Sean was gone, there would once again be no one. Sean shifted beside me and pulled me in closer, pulling me back to this moment, almost as if he knew what I was thinking.

Before I realized it, we were standing in front of my truck, getting ready to say goodnight. It had been a wonderful day, and I was happy to have met Sean. I was comfortable around him and it seemed like we both needed someone to talk to. Truthfully, I didn't want the date to end. I didn't want to go back to my lonely room in a seedy hotel and be forced to be alone with my thoughts.

"Bella, I had a great time, and I hope you did too?"

"It was wonderful, Sean. Thank you." I held the stuffed panda he had won for me at one of the carnival games. He insisted it wouldn't be a real date unless he won me something.

"I know you work a lot, but would you want to get together again some time?" He was looking down at our joined hands as he spoke.

"I really would like to see you again, Sean." I replied earnestly, willing him to look up at me, and he did. His whole body relaxed when he heard my answer. "I don't have a lot of free time, but maybe next Sunday?"

He bit his lip, but nodded. "Sounds good. I'll stop by sometime this week and we can make plans."

"Sure."

"Alright, then. I'll see you soon. Drive safely." He stood, contemplating something, before raising my hands to his lips and kissing them reverently.

He made sure I got in and locked the doors and watched as I drove away. I wouldn't have minded a kiss, but I appreciated that he was taking things slow. Everything was so new to me, I wasn't sure what to expect. Today had been perfect, but it reminded me how lonely I was. I couldn't wait to see him again and wished I had a phone so we could talk during the week.

When I made it to the hotel, I sprinted to the door and was inside in less than a minute. I'd gotten that down to a science. There was a creepy looking guy leaning against a car in front of a room a couple doors down. Making sure the door was locked, I placed the desk chair under the handle and hoped no one tried anything tonight. Cursing once more that this crappy hotel didn't have the decency to put phones in the room, I turned on the television. When I came out of the bathroom, I turned it up to drown out the sound of the people in the room next to me who were obviously having a very good time, only to have the occupants on the opposite side bang on the wall to tell me to turn it down. A radio with headphones would be nice, then I wouldn't hear anything. Or maybe I could buy some earplugs – those were cheap.

I was restless and couldn't settle down for sleep, so I pulled out my journal and began writing. It helped to get things out on paper when you don't have anyone to talk to. Tonight, I would have given anything to have Alice there to talk to. I'd see Marie tomorrow night, but she wasn't easy to talk to. I mused briefly about getting some kind of pay-as-you-go cell phone. If I called Alice, would she want to talk to me?

I wrinkled my nose as a nasty odor permeated my room, and I didn't even want to think what it could be. Thankfully, writing about my date and Sean had helped dispel some of my nervous energy and I buried my head in my pillow, hoping for pleasant dreams tonight.

A/N: Edward will be back soon. Alice is currently taunting him with visions of Bella & Sean, and his patience is growing thin. He'd like for her to live a happy, human life, but he's a jealous creature at heart. Let him know how much you like the story and he might step in sooner than planned.