Disclaimer: I own only the plot of the story. The names of the characters belong to S.M.

CHAPTER 3 – Bella

2008

BPOV

I had twenty more minutes until my next class, so I took the time to sit at my favorite spot, under the tree close to the entrance door of Building 4. I loved that tree, tall and shadowy, its leaves hanging above me protectively. It reminded me so much of home, and the forest surrounding it at the outskirts of town.

I pressed my face on its wide trunk, inhaling its scent. Oh, I missed my home so much. Well, not the house itself, but the people living inside. I smiled involuntary. I admit it; I am a daddy's girl. Don't get me wrong, I loved both my parents to death, but I always had a special relationship with my father; always looking up to him, always dreaming to follow his steps.

Carlisle Cullen, renowned surgeon, that's my father. He was a living legend; a whole building here in Dartmouth was named after him, for Christ's sake. He was the reason I had come to this university, studying to become a doctor, along with my brothers. He had been so proud of us following into his footsteps, although he wouldn't admit it. And he was even prouder because we had all managed to get into this University by our own merit, riding on full scholarship, and not because of our name.

He was the best father a child could ask for. He was kind, loving, caring and considerate. He, along with Esme, my mother, nurtured me and my brothers with love and respect, molding us into the fine individuals we had become. Oh, mom…

I smiled thinking of my sweet old mom. "I'm not old," she would say if she could listen to me. God, I missed her so much. Her loving embrace when I would be feeling down, her words of advice when I needed one, her delicious cooking, her constant flurrying in the house, always in motion, full of life and joy. Oh, my, I'm getting all sappy now. Emmett would never let me forget if he knew, but I didn't care.

I loved my family; my father, my mother, my brothers, Emmett and Jasper. I knew that all the girls, and many boys too, were jealous of my family. Most of them were jealous of our social status. We were, after all, the Cullens. We came from "old money", with a family tree starting almost three centuries ago, infested with many important members of the medical world.

What can I say? Medicine runs in the family.

And, besides money and achievements, did I mention that we were good-looking? Yes, you heard me right. At least, that's what all the students here, and some of the faculty members too, seemed to believe. Numerous times, I had overheard people whispering comments, ranging from sweet to horribly crude. When my brothers and I strolled through the campus, I could feel all eyes on us, full of lust and envy.

I entertained myself watching all the girls, and some boys too, swooning over Emmett and Jasper. Not that they were my brothers, but they were really handsome, each in his own way.

Emmett was my older brother. He is at his fifth year now, his mind set on becoming a Surgeon. He was huge, muscled and tall, at six feet five, with short brown hair, warm brown eyes and a pair of killer dimples. At first glance, he was intimidating, ready to protect the ones he loves, but deep down, he was just a cuddly bear.

The girls seemed to catch a drift of his conflicting tendencies, and were constantly throwing themselves at him. But he never paid any attention, as he had already given his heart away. The name of his heart's keeper and guardian angel? Rosalie Hale, a blonde goddess with violet eyes and a heart of gold, in her fourth year in Dartmouth, intent on becoming OB/GYN.

Aww, young love…they are so perfect together!

Jasper, my younger brother, was in his fourth year here, focusing in Psychiatry, a specialty so much in character to him. He was tall, about six feet two, well built body. His face was strong and determined, with ice blue eyes, framed by honey blond curls. He was collected and unobtrusive, his presence a calming force around us.

Like Emmett, Jasper had hordes of girls making a bee-line for him, but he didn't seem to care much. Of course, he was a man, he liked women. But he rarely hooked up with a girl and, in the rare event it happened, it wouldn't last long, his interest in them waning after a while. Since he came here, he hadn't been with more than three girls, and not for more than three months.

When he broke up with the last one, about eight months ago, I cornered him at home.

"What's up with you, Jasper? What was wrong with Lisa? She seemed nice," I said, worried for him.

He smiled at me, a faraway look on his face.

"Yes, she was. But she isn't the one for me." He paused, staring at me with a serious expression on his face.

"I will be waiting for my girl forever. She will come, in time. And I have a feeling that you," he pointed at me, "you will have something to do with it."

"Brother dear," I said, "you are crazy," and, kissing his hair, I left him alone…

A loud slamming noise brought me out of my day dreaming, and I turned towards the building door. That was when I saw her.

Alice Brandon….I knew her by sight, although we did share some classes. She was one of the few people with a disability to go around campus, the nature of her disability unknown to me. I knew she wasn't completely paralyzed, that she had very limited walking ability, because I had observed her in class struggling to walk herself out of her wheelchair to her designated seat, her face always showing her pain and exhaustion. There should be something wrong with her spine, causing her excruciating pain, which had forced her on a wheelchair.

I had watched her many times, both in class and outside, going through the hardship of her everyday life, and was amazed at her gracefulness. She had a rather small frame, and a sweet face, though she never smiled. She was diligent in class, her answers and remarks showing that she was very clever, and would make a great doctor someday.

But she hated attracting attention to herself, especially in regards to her disability. I had watched her face when the idiots in class, and they were only too many, would stare down at her like watching a freak show. It was times like these that a violent side of me would emerge and I wanted to scream at them to let her be. Or, better yet, I wanted to call Emmett and Jasper to smack them down. They both would be only too willing…

She was so sad again. Why did she seem so...defeated? She was staring at the door, and I noticed the flow of people walking through the door, passing her by without even a glance. What the..?

I checked the time and suddenly wanted to hit my head on the tree trunk. Of course, how stupid of me! She was supposed to be in class in ten minutes, and she couldn't get inside, because nobody cared to hold the damn door open for her! Idiots!

I jumped up, and, picking up my bag, walked towards her. She didn't notice me when I approached her, so I reached out and touch her shoulder lightly.

"Do you need any help?"

APOV

A soft touch on my shoulder startled me, taking my mind out of my miserable thoughts. I blinked, noticing a girl standing next to me, and looked up.

She was about my age, with long chestnut hair and warm brown eyes, smiling softly at me. I arched my eyebrow inquiringly.

"Do you need any help?" she asked politely.

"Do you think I am here because I have nothing better to do?" I answered dryly.

She didn't flinch at my bitterness, and I immediately regretted my sour attitude. It was the first time someone gave a damn about me, and I just bit her like a rabid dog. I stared at her in disbelief. Who was she? And why the hell did she want to help me? Why did she even care? Nobody else does.

"Look, I am sorry for being so bitchy to you. I am just not used at other people being nice to me." I paused, waiting for her reaction. Would she accept my apology?

Her expression changed minutely into surprise and…anger? Oh, my God, I had offended her! I hang my head dejected. What did I expect? She was being helpful and I blew her off. I gave it a last try.

"Please, I am really sorry. I really appreciate the offer. Look, don't mind me at all," I moved my wheelchair away from the door, "you can go inside now. I will get inside somehow, eventually. I always fend for myself."

I was already planning. Maybe, if I could move fast enough after her, I might be able to get hold of the door, and get myself inside.

She stared at me, smiling again, but didn't move. "I think we both have to be in class in…nine minutes, or else Professor Bates will give us an earful." She turned around and pushed the door open. Turning again to me, her hand still on the open door, she smirked at me.

"Are you coming? We have a lecture to catch."

I was floored, never expecting her to be so persistent. I thought she would storm off and leave me hanging high and dry. But, there was something about this girl, something special. She seemed different from the brainless girls roaming the university grounds. Her whole demeanor emanated kindness and concern for the others, a value I had never seen in any of my peers. I pushed myself through the door inside the building, and again a question popped inside my mind. Who was this girl?

She probably had sensed my internal battle, because she laughed at me. "You really thought I would leave you there! Girl, you are so wrong!" she let the door close behind me and reached out to shake my hand, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

"I am Bella Cullen, by the way," she grinned at me. Her disposition began rubbing off on me, and my lips twitched in a half-smile.

"Alice Brandon," I said and tried to pull my hand away. But she wouldn't let it go.

"Alice, I think this is the beginning of a great friendship," she quoted a line from Casablanca. Wow, Bella Cullen, famous Dr. Cullen's daughter, wanted to be my friend!? Could this be possible? Of all the girls in campus, she was the only one to really care for little poor crippled me??

Ok, where's the catch?

I looked at her, trying to figure her out. There had to be an ulterior motive behind. But, I couldn't find anything wrong with her. Everything about this girl screamed sincerity, like she really meant what she was saying. Still, I was having a hard time believing her. Only time would show her true colors. Maybe I could take it slow, and see where it would lead me.

"Do you really want to be friends with me?" I asked her timidly. She nodded. I went on, still confused.

"Why?" I asked her. She looked at me, frowning at the question. But I had to know the truth, so I insisted.

"Why you, Bella Cullen, member of the esteemed Cullen family, who has everything, why do you wish to be friends with an unimportant girl like me? What do I have to offer to you other than be a burden and a hassle to you?" I said, truly meaning every word I said.

She was a beautiful girl, in her own quiet way. A lot of girls would kill to call her their friend, and I was sure that many boys would die to claim her as their girlfriend. Lucky her…

She pointed at a nearby chair. "Do you mind if I take a seat? I think it will take a while." I followed close behind. She sat down gesturing at me to move near her. When I was at arm's reach, she surprised me by cupping my face firmly with her soft hands, her eyes looking disapprovingly at me.

"Now listen Alice Brandon, and listen good. I want to be your friend, not because I pity you or to make me appear kind-hearted, but because I believe that, underneath your hard exterior, you are a kindred spirit.

"You are who you are because of what you have inside. This…" she pointed at my wheelchair, "it is just an unfortunate means of transportation, not defining you as a person. You have so much to give…It is just a pity that the right person hasn't found you yet to help you shine."

Her voice was softer now. "I want to be your friend, I want to help you be the woman you truly are. Will you let me?" she asked, looking at me expectantly.

I was speechless. She really meant it! Could I be so lucky? Was it possible? After all those years of loneliness, my life seemed to change for the better.

I made up my mind quickly. What did I have to lose? Maybe I should give this a try.

I reached out and grabbed her hands in mine, my eyes suddenly rimmed with unshed tears. But, for the first time in my life, they were happy tears. I actually had made a new friend, I said to myself.

"Yes," I whispered, "I will. Thank you, so much."

She stood up, checking her watch. "We really have to go to class now, but how about we have lunch together afterwards? Are you free at two? We can go at one of the in-campus restaurants, or…Hey, do you like Italian?" she asked eagerly.

My mouth watered at the thought. Do I love Italian? I nodded profusely. She grinned at me.

"Great, because I know a cute little Italian bistro, not far from here, that makes some killer pasta. Until two o'clock, then," and we both turned towards the theater.