AN: 'Asthenia – Blink-182'. Soo…I just used one of their songs last chap but…I don't care. It kinda works and I'm looking for another song at this point.

Just so we're all on the same page: Jacob Black will NOT be making an appearance in this little story of ours. I thought long and hard about it ('kay, not really) and decided to go a different route. I also knew I'd have to practically force my fingers to type him into the chapter and that wouldn't be enjoyable for any of us.

I noticed that the beginning of this chapter was a lot like the one in Twilight (by the way, Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight) without me even realizing it so I had to change some of it, teh.

BPOV

"Bella, are you sure you want to go through with this?" my mother asked in hopes of convincing me to stay. It got old after hearing the same words eleven times being spoken to you in one hour. "I didn't really mean it when I suggested it last week." Renee was fighting back tears but I could tell they were of mixed emotions. It was a bittersweet moment for her; she was saddened at the thought of her only daughter leaving her for more than a month but at the same time she was thrilled to be getting the opportunity to spend some much needed time with Phil.

I sighed, "I want to do this, Mom. I haven't seen Dad in almost a year."

She nodded in defeat/giddiness and gathered me into a tight hug. "I think this will be good for you," Renee said, looking on the bright side. "I really am proud of you, honey. I knew you'd be able to get over your problem." I attempted a smile for her benefit. "Remember to call and e-mail me."

"Okay Mom. I really have to go now," I said hurriedly as I stole a glance at the clock on the wall. My plane was boarding soon. "I love you," I added, oblivious to the fact that this would only start the waterworks for Renee.

"Oh, I love you too!" Again with the chokeholds.

After reassuring her I wouldn't completely cut her out of my life I left before she could reconsider the situation… again.

The plane ride went by painstakingly slow; it wasn't safe for myself to be left to the seclusion of my own thoughts. There was only one subject running through my mind: Edward. I could feel my heart physically clench every time I thought of him and I was constantly second guessing my decision to move to Forks. Before I could compose myself to attempt to make myself look 'excited', I was walking through the gate looking through the crowd of people for Charlie.

"Bells!" I could hear my nickname being called out from over the crowd and I turned in the direction it was coming from. There he was, my dad, waiting for me in all his awkwardness.

"Hey Dad!" I greeted, hoping to sound enthusiastic.

"How are you?" He asked. I got my disability for making small talk from him, if it wasn't already obvious.

"Fine," I lied. "How are you?"

He smiled warmly and replied with the same answer I gave him. That's all we needed.

The ride to Charlie's home –I guess I could say my home as well now— was spent in comfortable silence. I hadn't made a noise until we reached the house when I immediately noticed the unfamiliar vehicle in the small driveway.

"Oh, do you have company?" I asked in confusion.

A faint blush appeared on Charlie's cheeks (yet another trait from him) and he shook his head bashfully. "I got you a truck."

I stared at him for a minute processing this information. He got me a car?!I whipped my head around to take in the vehicle again. Well, I guess it couldn't really be classified as a car per se. The rusty, red truck looked well worn and I was certain that if it were to ever take on an eighteen-wheeler it would come out of the scuffle barely scathed. The beast of an automobile was monstrous and I was astounded that I loved it so much.

My father took my silence for hesitancy and began to ramble. "It used to be an old friend of mine's truck. You remember Billy Black, right? From the reservation? (AN That's the only time he'll be mentioned, I swear) It's very reliable and sturdy. I know it's not the most modern vehicle, in fact—"

"How old is it?" I asked for curiosity's sake.

"Well, it was new in the late fifties, I believe, or the early sixties maybe…but anyway, it's a solid truck and in perfect working condition."

"I love it, thank you," I smiled, but it faded when I realized what he had done for me. "But you really didn't have to do this. I could have bought one on my own."

"I wanted to. Besides, think of it as a 'Welcome to Forks' kind of gift," he suggested.

I refrained from giving him a hug; we both weren't partial to that sign of affection. Plus I was still too stunned by the fact that I actually loved this huge truck.

Charlie's home was just how I remembered it; he didn't change a thing. It was small but I didn't mind. After walking up the narrow staircase I found my old room from when I was a baby. Again, this room was the exact same as how I remembered it. I breathed out a heavy sigh as I flopped onto my bed, tired after putting up the charade of not being pathetically depressed. You were the one who chose this Bella, I thought bitterly. This was supposed to be for the best, for everyone, and I was just going to have to keep telling myself that. It'll be my little, silent mantra.

I made sure to keep myself busy that evening, unpacking and putting away my clothes and various things I brought with me. I was shocked to hear that Charlie had been horrifically living off of fried eggs and bacon for the past seventeen years. Maybe appalled would have been the better word to use. I put together an actual dinner for him and immediately vowed that I would be doing the cooking from there on out.

At 10:30pm, I decided I would try to go to sleep after informing Charlie that I would like to go to school the next day. He said I could stay home for one day but I stubbornly disagreed. It wasn't the school part I wanted, I just couldn't see how I could spend a whole day home alone with myself. I knew the self-loathing and hateful thoughts would commence almost instantly.

I had never had such a worse nights sleep before. The downpour of rain against my bedroom window only helped my guilty thoughts take over and keep me up all night. The one time I did fall asleep I was greeted with terrifying nightmares.

The next morning I felt dead. It was early but I had long since given up on sleeping. I groggily made my way downstairs in the morning to find Charlie making his infamous eggs and bacon.

"Bells, you're up early," he said, not taking his eyes off the frying pan he was currently holding.

"Couldn't sleep too well," I explained monotonously.

"You'll get used to the rain," he assured me. If only it was that easy with the nightmares. "Would you like some?" he asked me motioning to the same frying pan, bringing me back to reality.

I scrunched my nose in distaste but declined politely, deciding on a simple granola bar for breakfast. My stomach was far too nervous to be able to hold anything down. I'd be going to a whole new school and I was frantically wondering if the students here would be as stuck up and full of themselves as they were in Phoenix. I prayed to anyone who was listening that they weren't or else I would quickly hate myself for even thinking about coming here.

If I had been tired before, hearing the sound of my truck roar to life surely woke me up. I let out a small scream and cursed my jumpiness. I'd have to watch myself and make sure I didn't have a repeat of this scene in the school parking lot after school; that would be embarrassing.

This town suited me perfectly. The constant rain in this town matched my mood to the T. Maybe I could just live here for forever. I would get over the fact that nothing in Forks seemed natural. Everything that was supposed to be brown, like rocks and trees, wasn't. Everything was green. Maybe if I was in any other situation I would have gotten over this fact quicker, but the greenness of my surroundings only made me remember a certain pair of emerald green eyes and it was eating away at me.

I found the school—if you could call it that—with little trouble. It was an odd set up, at least to me, with a bunch of buildings scattered around with numbers on them. Finding a parking space was a little trickier and with the size of my vehicle it only added to the difficulty. As I walked past the other cars after parking I was happy to see that my truck wouldn't stick out too much because there were other antique-ish cars in the lot; all except for one big jeep that could rival my bigger truck.

I stepped foot into the small secretary office and was met by a middle-aged woman clacking away at her outdated computer. I cleared my throat unsubtly when she didn't look up from the screen. The woman—who, after reading the nameplate, I came to know as Ms. Cope—dragged her eyes from the computer monitor to look at me.

"Hi," I said impatiently. "I'm Isabella Swan, I'm new here…" I trailed off not really knowing what else to say.

"Oh!" Ms. Cope all of the sudden snapped to attention. "Of course, we've been waiting for you," Of course. "Now, here is your class schedule and a map of the school. Take this slip, and if you could have all of your teachers sign it that would be great. Good luck, dear."

I mumbled a thank you and walked briskly out of the building. She was too perky for me; the dark cloud hanging over my head was making it unclear as to why anyone could possibly be happy at this time.

My morning was going smoothly until the period before lunch (AN What is that, like fourth? I dunno, I only have 4 classes a day…). I was fortunate enough to not have to introduce myself in front of the class but as I walked down the aisle in the classroom to get to my seat, that annoying clumsy side of me decided to step in and take over. This resulted in me tripping over air and falling flat on my face…in front of everyone. Great first impression. "Ow," I mumbled as I sat up, rubbing my elbow which I had hit on a desk.

I received a round of laughter for my performance and I turned a nasty shade of red when I heard someone laugh louder near me.

"What a loser," he said.

"Shut up, Yorkie," another voice scolded from above me. A large hand appeared in my line of sight and I graciously took it without a second thought. When I was on my feet I came face to face—more like face to chest—to a boy with a mop of brown curls on his head. I was at first extremely intimidated by this boy on account of his unnatural sized muscles; he must have had the entire school trembling in his wake. But as he broke out into a smile (probably at the fact that I was blatantly staring wide-eyed at his stature) I couldn't help but to return a small smile. I wouldn't have taken him for having dimples but they suited him and, to be honest, made him a little less scary.

"Thank you," I said quietly, still trying to get over my near fatal heart attack.

"No problem. I'm Emmet," he said with a grin.

"Isabella but please, call me Bella," I replied.

"I would like to start the lesson sometime today, Mr. McCarty," Mr. Mason stated impatiently.

"Sorry," we both muttered. As I walked back to my seat, once again, I tripped. Luckily I now had Emmet and he was near enough to catch me.

"Thanks," I said, blushing furiously. The entire class is going to think I'm incompetent or something.

Emmet's booming laugh filled the room, "I like you, Bella." He ruffled my hair for effect.

We didn't get the chance to talk throughout the rest of class but after the period, Emmet asked me to sit with him at lunch. I hesitantly agreed. I wasn't sure if he sat with a crowd; that was the last thing I wanted. All eyes were on me in the cafeteria and I seriously thought then and there about turning on my heel and leaving the building. I subtly located myself behind Emmet, away from the view of the students, in the lunch line.

"Bella," he laughed, "what are you doing?"

"Everyone's staring," I mumbled.

Emmet looked at me like I had something foreign growing on my face until he turned to look at the student body in the cafeteria. He raised an eyebrow in amusement and turned fully to the crowd.

"What's the matter with all of you? Haven't you seen a pretty girl before?" He asked, winking at me.

Another blush crawled up my neck and I was beginning to think that was the only reason he said that. "Emmet," I whined.

"Fine, fine."

He led me to a table away from all of the piercing eyes and for that I was grateful. We hadn't been seated for long when I noticed a stunning blonde storming her way over to our table. I was utterly confused as to why she seemed so angry and also rather scared. She had to have been the most beautiful girl I had ever seen and she was angry; that can't be a good mix.

"Emmet," she all but growled, "who is this?"

I'm pretty sure my eyes widened a bit when her scrutinizing eyes landed on me, sizing me up.

"Hey, Rose," Emmet greeted her, standing up to kiss her on the cheek. "This is Bella, the new student. Bella, this is Rosalie, my girlfriend." He turned to look at her again with loving eyes and my heart lurched. I was jealous. Not that Emmet had a girlfriend, but the fact that his love was there in his presence and mine was miles away most likely either pissed at me or happy to have been rid of me.

Rosalie's eyes seemed to soften with the recognition that I was most definitely not a threat and she soon happily sat down at our table and threw herself into the conversation.

"So, what made you move to Forks?" Rosalie asked halfway through lunch. The newfound smile that had been on my face faded quickly as I remembered who I was and the reason behind me coming here. For a while there I had felt normal. Just a normal, teenage girl enjoying lunch with her two new friends. Could I tell them everything that had happened to me? My past? I didn't want everyone in the school knowing, though it was a small town and it was bound to spread somehow.

With a steady breath I asked, "I can trust you two, right?"

"Of course," Emmet said while Rosalie nodded her head in agreement.

"And you won't think any differently of me when I tell you this?" I stalled.

"You didn't kill anyone, did you?" Emmet asked, feigning worry. Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"Ignore him. Come on, you can tell us. We're your friends, we won't think differently of you," she said. I simply sat there for a minute smiling like an idiot at her words. How did I get so lucky as to find these two on my first day?

"All right. In Phoenix, Arizona, I was a cocaine addict," I said. I could hear Rosalie gasp softly but continued. "I was committed to a rehabilitation center and stayed there for six months. After I was released I figured coming here to live with my dad would be a nice, fresh start to my new freedom," I explained, editing the story greatly.

"That's not all," Rosalie stated. "You're leaving something out, something important," she said accusingly, pointing her plastic salad fork at me.

I sighed; well, there was no going back now.

"While I was at PRC, I met someone. Edward." My lips involuntarily curved upwards at the sound of his name coming from my mouth. I had gone too long without hearing his name. "We fell in love. Well, we still are. At least I am," I added in a mumble. "But…I had to leave, I was being let out…and when I left, Edward had a relapse and I couldn't help but know that it was my fault. I had hurt him. But not just him, I hurt my best friend and especially my mother. She just remarried and she hadn't been able to spend anytime with him because he travels so much. So, I figured leaving Phoenix would be the best way for everyone to move on with their lives." I ended with a small shrug. I looked up to my two new acquainted friends to find their mouths slightly agape. Rosalie was the first to speak.

"That…that might just be the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"Excuse me?" I asked, a bit offended.

"You leaving them like that. I don't even know them but I can tell you mean a lot to them and you just…left so abruptly. Poor Edward. I can't see your thought process behind this at all," Rosalie said bluntly, leaning back.

"Well, he's probably happier now…" I said weakly. "He doesn't have a burden hanging around him now."

"Okay, now that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Emmet scoffed. "You said he loved you right?" he asked.

"Well yeah…"

"Then he sure as hell wouldn't have hated your company. He's probably too depressed to function right now. I can't even imagine how I'd be if Rose ever left me for 'my own good'," Emmet said, once again turning his adoring eyes to Rosalie.

They looked like they were having a moment so I decided to stay quiet and think things over. I hadn't even known Emmet for that long but that was probably the smartest thing I had heard him say so far. He was right. How could I just leave like that? Now a new wave of guilt was hitting me. I knew Renee would get over me leaving because she would be too busy being ecstatic over traveling with Phil. But Edward…God, how could I have done this to him? Twice? I had thought leaving would cease the hurt I was causing him but it only inflated it. I didn't deserve him; I was too ignorant and cold-hearted. Now I really couldn't return to Arizona out of fear of the hateful words Edward would say to me. But that's the thing; Edward's too good for that. He'd probably do better by just ignoring me. Now I was sure of my move here. I would stay and hopefully in time forget about the beautiful God I had once had but foolishly pushed away.

"Hey, hello?" Emmet was waving his hand in front of me face. "Are you in there?" I snapped out of my dreary daze.

"Sorry," I said with a blush.

"'S'all right," Emmet said with amusement clear in his face. I do believe I had quickly become his new source of entertainment but I didn't mind.

As I finally began to eat my lunch a student approached our table but I was too embarrassed by my previous actions to look up.

"Shove off, Eric," Emmet said in a bored voice. My face paled, Eric? Great. He was probably here to laugh at me some more. I chanced a looked at him and I could see him scowling at Emmet.

"I'm not here to talk to you, McCarty," he sneered. His face softened when he turned to me. "Hey Bella. What do you say to going out to see a movie with me tonight?" I sat there with my jaw hanging. Was he seriously asking me out now? Right after he had so nicely taken on the responsibility of becoming my one-man audience to my comedy act?

"Um…" I was too flabbergasted to even turn him down.

"You're kidding me," Emmet said, astonished. "Go away and leave the poor girl alone." I could see Emmet's massive muscles flex in his arms as he glared and for a second even I was a bit scared for Eric. But then I came back to my senses. I grinned at Emmet, though; he was acting like a big brother to me and I loved him for it.

"She doesn't want to go out with you, Yorkie," Rosalie said in disgust. "She already has a boyfriend." My wide eyes snapped to hers. What was she doing?!

"What? Where?" Eric stammered in confusion.

Rosalie rolled her eyes while she stared down at her perfectly manicured nails. "Well he's not here, obviously, but that doesn't mean she's automatically attainable," she said in a tone that sounded like she was attempting to talk to an annoying ten year old.

"Oh." Was all Eric was able to say as he scurried off.

"…Thanks?" I said, bewildered.

"Not a problem. That'll keep the boys away from you. You'll notice they're quite…forward here," she said with a smirk.

"Great," I sighed. And I thought I had left my annoying admirers behind me in Phoenix.

AN: Wow. I really need to sort out my priorities (haha, I love you Ron). Well, here you are, I hope you all are happy that I'm not working on my essay right now to finish this. I really hope I don't fail… anyway; do you love me for putting in Emmet and Rosalie?? Ye of little faith, my readers, tsk tsk. That wasn't my original plan but tonkatruckss. gave me this idea and I thought it was brilliant (thank you!). I'm sure I didn't really capture their character that well but I tried and that's all that matters. I think. Review please!