Nia's Author's Note: Hey guys, just wanted to remind you all – this story is set in 1968. So, when the guys all talk about weird stuff that you may have no idea of, just stay with me, it's not like it's particularly essential to the plot! Sorry again about the lateness!

Rosalie POV

Ugh. This was the worst way to start a new school year! Tomorrow, I would be walking down the hallways of Forks University with a freakin' twisted ankle wrapped in bandages. I'd asked the nurse if she could give me those thingies you use to balance yourself, but apparently the school didn't have any 'crutches' at the moment, and that I wouldn't need them since "you'll barely feel it tomorrow."

That was a fucking bunch of bullshit. Once Emmett had dropped me off on my bed, life had been hell. Let's just say my roommates aren't as strong as Emmett.

It took both Bella and Alice to bring me into the bathroom so I could brush my teeth. I couldn't do anything alone! Did God hate me or something? Why did this have to happen to me?!
"Rosalie, you're being a drama queen." Bella sighed.

"But God hates me!" I groaned again, banging my fists on my thighs.

"Rosalie, it was an accident." Bella told me.

"I'm so sorry Rose!" Alice winced. I sighed.

"It's okay Alice, I know you didn't mean to do it." I told her.

"Your bag is ready for tomorrow." Bella informed me, pointing near the door.

"You have your binder and pencil case, and a snack incase you get hungry during your class." Alice piped in, guilt all over her face.

"Thanks girls." I told them, smiling for the first time since the accident. I yawned and stretched my arms. "Well, I think I'm going to go to bed. We have a big day tomorrow."

"Yep!" Alice squealed.

"Night Rosalie." Bella and Alice said. Alice got off from the bed and made her way to her bed as Bella left the room.

"Alice?"

"Yeah, Rose?"

"Stop feeling guilty."

"Okay. Love you Rose."

"You too, honey." I turned awkwardly on my side, glad that Alice felt a little better, even if I didn't.

Tomorrow was going to be hell.

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I hobbled slowly to my class – somehow, the nurse had been right and my foot wasn't altogether that bad this morning. It still twinged when I put pressure on it, though, which made me walk awkwardly. It was so embarrassing – I didn't even have crutches, just a bandaged foot shoved into my flats. Emmett wasn't even here to lug me along.

I looked down at my offending foot and cursed under my breath. Why?! Why, on the first day of college? I needed to make an impression today! With my luck – or more likely, Bella's luck, seeing as I'd stolen her clumsiness – I'd be known as "the hobble girl" for the next few years!

Suddenly, I felt a body collide with mine, and I crumpled to the floor.

"Oof!" The other body was still on his feet, and then looked down in shock to me. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going! How is your foot? Oh my God I've probably made it worse-"

I smiled tiredly. "It's fine. If you could just help me up, that'd be great."

He picked up my bags and held me by the waist, pulling me up. "I'm Royce, by the way."

"Rosalie." I said, thanking him for my bag. I began to walk away with a tiny wave, but he stopped me, putting his large hands on my ribs – dangerously close to my chest, may I add.

"Hey, now, baby, not so fast! I feel so bad for hitting you over, lemme' take you to your next class. Don't' wanna be late now, do ya' sugar?"

Looks like Royce was a smarmy git. But he was nice, too – and I did admittedly need the help.

"Um…that'd be great, thank you, Royce." I smiled, grateful. So, he looked a bit like a sleaze bag, but when you're in need and it's between making friends with the floor or with a sleaze bag, I'd go for the sleazebag. I think.

"You want me to carry you? You're a slim little thing, I'm sure I could carry you and both our bags."

"Um, no thanks, just give me a little help and I should be fine. I mean, it doesn't hurt too much." I lied, it absolutely killed. I think I'd landed on it incorrectly when Royce hit into me.

Like I said, I seemed to be stealing some of Bella's clumsiness, and her luck.

We talked as we walked – Royce's father owned a bank, and after college, he'd be taking over that bank. The guy was, even though he didn't say so, rich. The bank he was talking about was one of the most successful banks in the world, and once Royce took over, he would be rolling in money.

Turns out, Royce was a really nice guy. When I brought up how well he'd live once he took over, he said, "I've lived a pretty sheltered life, yeah, but…God, sometimes I wish I didn't have to take over, sometimes I wish I could start a family and fall in love, just live humbly. I've got enough money to be secure, I don't need any more. Do you get me?"

Once Royce and I got to class – we were in the same class, as it happens – we didn't really stop talking. He was interested in cars, of course, and couldn't believe that I was as interested as him, even more. Royce was a really caring guy, and constantly asked how I was feeling – was my foot hurting? Did I understand what the lecture was about? Did I want to borrow his notes?

When class ended, he offered to walk me wherever I needed to go – which was The Bean, our coffee house. He drove me in his car – a fancy Dino 206 (I squealed so bad when I saw it, I mean seriously! A Ferrari!) a gift from his father – to The Bean, and as I got out, I asked him to join us. He agreed, parked up then helped me to the door. The second my head popped in the door, Emmett was up, ready to help me.

His face sported a frown when he spotted Royce. "I can take her from here, thanks buddy."

"Emmett, this is Royce – we're in the same class, he's helped me get around campus. He's got an awesome car, a Dino! A Dino!" I repeated, still thrilling. You could just feel the power when you sat in it, I couldn't imagine driving it! Royce had promised to give me a try when my foot was better.

"Aren't you gonna introduce me, Rosie?" Emmett asked, wrapping his arm around my waist.

"Oh, man – I already know all about you. Rose spoke about you plenty. 'Said you were the best boyfriend ever, funny, caring and all that stuff." Royce clapped Emmett on the shoulder. "You sound like a real great guy, you're lucky to have her and her you!"

"You told him all that stuff?" Emmett looked a bit happier and I kissed him on the cheek.

"'Course I did, baby. Royce is my new friend, I'm gonna tell all my friends about you. I invited Royce to have some coffee with us."

"Sure, sure!" Emmett said, smiling widely at Royce. "Come sit down, man, pull up a chair and I'll introduce you to the gang.

Emmett picked me up and set me down on his lap in a comfy chair, Royce next to us. Edward, Alice and Jasper were already sitting down, Edward staring solemnly into his coffee cup.

"Royce, this is Alice, Jasper, and Edward. Bella, Ed's girl, should be here any second…" They all smiled or gave their own greetings as Emmett said their names.

"Where is Bella?" I asked Edward, looking around for a sign of her in the café.

"No idea." Edward said. "She said she'd meet us here, seeing as we've all got pretty much the same timetable."

"She doesn't have a class?" I said, frowning.

"Nope. She told me she didn't." Alice said.

"Well…anyway…" Royce came to the rescue, and as he changed the subject I smiled. He was definitely gonna be a part of our group – he was so nice, not really a sleaze bag at all, and when he knew things were gettin' awkward, he diffused the tension. "What car have you got, Rose?"

"Right now?" I asked, frowning a bit. "My old car broke, I got a hopeless old Fiat 124. I really want the 1966 Alfa Romeo Spider! I mean, that car is gorgeous! Red, sleek – Gosh, I am so gonna buy that, I'll have to save up!"

Royce laughed. "It is a damn great car, did ya' see it in The Graduate? I mean, that film is a damn good picture! When I borrowed the car from my buddy, I just couldn't stop hummin' the damn Mrs Robinson theme tune!"

We all laughed, and then a clatter from behind us stopped us short.

Bella, flanked by five tall tanned guys, a girl I didn't know and Leah, came stumbling in, laughing hysterically. Bella's pale skin stood out like a beacon against their tanned skin, and she looked utterly out of place, but comfortable too.

"Dude, is Bella drunk? During the day?" Emmett asked into my ear, incredulous.

Edward stood up, frowning.

"Guys!" Bella crowed through her giggles. "I have to introduce you all – this is Paul, my old friend from when we were kids, this is Quil, another of the La Push guys, Jake, Seth, Sam, his girlfriend Emily, and to everyone who doesn't know her – Leah, our roommate! She's so tidy!"

They all laughed in an uproar, and I couldn't exactly work out what they were laughing at. After they'd finished, Bella apologized. "I bet this looks pretty weird guys, but honestly I'm not drunk or anything – we've just been reminiscing! It's just this thing with a sea snake-"

She broke off and started laughing hysterically with her new – or, I suppose, old - friends, tears rolling down her face as she leaned on Paul.

A waitress walked over then, a disapproving frown on her face. "Do you guys want anythin' to eat or drink?"

"Um…I'll go for an ice cream sundae?" Bella said, turning to look at Leah.

"Yeah, me too." Leah said, smiling at Bella.

The others mumbled their orders, and then they all began pulling chairs from God knows where to sit on around our shared tables. Edward was sitting down, dumbstruck. Bella hadn't even looked his way once, and I knew the guys had some kind of a problem with the La Push boys.

Emmett frowned, as Bella went to sit on the arm of Edward's chair and gave him a kiss. "Um, I'll go put somethin' on the jukebox."

In seconds, I heard the opening notes of-

"SURFING USA! Man, I love this song!" Paul called.

Emmett actually smiled as he sat down. "I know, dude. It's awesome."

"Free spirit and all that," Leah mumbled.

Emmett, Alice and the La Push boys began a rendition of Surfing USA, and Royce laughed, joining in now and again. I didn't join in - I was a bit lost for words. Bella? Our Bella, stumbling in with a crew of people we barely know, laughing like they were long lost buds? And now Emmett? Making buds with some guys they claimed to hate?

Edward looked distraught, and Jasper wasn't too much better. I was so confused, but Alice, Emmett and Royce looked like they were having plenty of fun with Bella's friends, so I kept my mouth firmly shut. When the ice creams and coffees came, I ordered a latte, and Royce ordered a black coffee.

A dark cloud slipped over my day, but I focused on my new friend and the idea of a new car. I could forget everything else for now, I guess.

Aha, oohh so many new people in college! You guys can thank Nia for this chapter, since she wrote pretty much all of it! Nia and I will be writing chapters before hand now, so we can get them out quicker! We hope you enjoy this chapter! Last time, we didn't get much feedback..

So give us feedback..

Unless you want BellaxPaul and RosaliexRoyce and.... EMMETTXEDWARD

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xox

Nia and Sarah