**** Thank for to everyone who has taken the time to reacy my story, it really means a lot to me!!! Reviews of course are always welcome, just so I can know what everybody thinks as well as take any suggestions. This story is going to start taking off now and I already have the chapter after this one half way completed! Thanks again everybody!**

The summer passed…causing whatever we may call 'warm' to leave Forks along with the random days of sunlight we may have and gave way to over cast days and snow boots. Ah winter, something I had forgotten about after living in Phoenix all those years.

Many of the thoughts of Edward began to fade as the winter months approached, focusing on her relationship with Charlie and Emmett as the month of November came upon them.

The colors outside were changing as quickly as her life was. She had adjusted to living with Emmett quickly, finding it easy to balance her time between him and her father who was over on a more regular basis.

Months of physical therapy brought Emmett back to his usual self, and gave way to the adjustments that needed to make Bella's room feel more like her own. The dark blue walls of Bella's room changed to a light lavender, along with a cream color that took over Emmett's room. The colors were not only a sign of Bella being fully acquainted to the household, but resembled a growth in the family as well.

"It's kind of freaking me out," Emmett admitted as he and Bella spread lines of the light color along his bedroom wall.

"Why? Everything is going great between you guys."

"Do you think it's too early?"

"If you're comfortable with it Em, that's all that matters."

"Well how do you feel about this whole thing?"

Bella smiled. The thing her brother was referring to was the addition of Rosalie to the household. After Emmett's accident Rosalie was at the house daily, which lead to Emmett asking her to become a permanent member of the household.

"I think it's wonderful," Bella smiled. "She's an amazing person Emmett and I think she's going to be a great addition to our family."

Emmett grinned at his younger sister, "I'm really glad you said that Bells. I feel like things are really coming together with you being here as well as Rosalie joining us, kinda feels like I'm getting my own little family started."

"Maybe one day you will," Bella wiggled her eyebrows at him.

"One step at a time Bells," Emmett chuckled. "You know, I really wanted to thank you for all of this."

"What did I do?"

"I've just been thinking about how things became so different when you got here," Emmett smiled as he finished off a corner. "It I wasn't for you I would have gotten where I am, I'd still be here by myself with nothing but that stack of paperwork on my desk."

"Now you have someone to work through that with you."

Emmett chuckled and hopped off of the ladder he had been standing on, "I cant stop smiling. This is crazy."

So in love, Bella thought as she leaned against the door, trying not to be jealous of her brothers happiness. Even though Edward had disappeared off of the face of the planet, he still left a bitter taste in her mouth whenever she thought of him. Any intentions she had on finding love completely disappeared along with the memories she was trying to suppress.

"Bella, I'm loosing you aren't I?" Emmett shook the door a little to get her attention.

"Yea, just thinking."

"Not about HIM, I hope."

"No," Bella rolled her eyes. "I was just thinking about school since the semester starts next week and everything."

"You don't sound excited."

"Were you excited about law school?" She asked making him laugh, "I guess I just need some rest."

"Go lay down, I've kidnapped you enough today. I'm going to take a break anyway, Rose should be back with food soon."

Bella patted her brother on the shoulder and made her way into her freshly painted bedroom, the pile of text books on her desk caste a dark shadow in the corner of her room.

Required reading, yay.

"Emmett!" She called as she piled the books into her new book bag along with the list of required reading, "I'm going to run down to the coffee shop to do some reading OK?"

"I thought you were going to lay down?"

"I was, she yelled as she walked down the hallway and down the stairs, grabbing er car keys on the way out.

Emmett and Rosalie had been more then generous to her over the past couple of months, deciding Bella would need a car if she was going to be traveling back and forth from campus. A shiny new Volkswagen Jetta sat in the driveway, its grey paint almost blending in with the overcast sky.

She had tried to give it back twice, deciding it was too extravagant to be considered a back to school present. Yet Rosalie and Emmett wouldn't stand for it, stating over and over again that she deserved it.

The shiny black tires glided across the damp asphalt of the driveway as she slowly backed the car out, a sigh escaping her lips as she carefully made her way through the neighborhood.

It felt like the past three months had been years instead, leaving Bella feeling like she was beginning to fully adapt to Forks. Small town life seemed to be suiting her well, finding the small coffee shop across from the Forks Diner as her new favorite place.

A frown crossed Bella's lips as she pulled into the small parking lot, observing an unusually large amount of cars parked outside.

College kids, she sighed as she made her way into the shop. She inhaled deeply as the strong scent of freshly ground coffee beans washed over her, along with the chatter of the small groups that were scattered throughout the shop.

"What's going on?" Bella asked James, the long blonde haired cashier as he prepared her usual.

"Almost the start of the semester," he said eyeing her bookbag. "Probably doing the same thing you are."

"Thanks," Bella said as she slipped a few dollar bills into the tip jar by the register as James slid her caramel latte across the counter.

A groan escaped her lips as her brown eyes darted around the shop for a free table. A small two person table sat vacant in the corner of the room, probably remaining unoccupied due to the chairs backing up to the large, cold glass windows.

Beggars cant be choosers. She frowned and quickly started making her way towards the table.

A tall, skinny man came at the table from the front door quickly, his book bag meeting Bella's as they set them down on the table simultaneously.

"Sorry," he smiled, his white teeth showing brightly against his copper colored skin.

"It's OK," Bella couldn't help but look him over, her brown eyes wondering over his well built frame and up to his spiky black hair. "Doesn't look like there is enough seats for everybody, we can share if you want."

"You sure?"

"Why not?" She shrugged, "Looks like you are in for the same thing I am."

The man looked down at the shoulder bag resting on his right shoulder, then at Bella's full bag that sat on the table.

"Unfortunately," he frowned. "English Lit isn't a light subject I guess."

"Where do you go?" Bella asked as they sat down.

"Washington State," he chuckled as they pulled out identical books. " I'm Jacob."

"Bella," she said as she offered her hand. "I'm starting there as well, English Lit."

"Well Bella, it looks like we might be having some of the same classes together."

"That would be nice," Bella thought aloud, resulting in a surprised look from Jacob.

"Definitely wasn't supposed to be saying that out loud," she blushed.

"Happens to me all the time," Jacob chuckled.

"God that was so awkward."

"So have you always lived here? I don't remembering seeing you around here before."

"I moved here from Phoenix almost a years ago to come stay with my brother."

"Now Phoenix is my kind of place! I've been there before with my dad. Why did you guys pick Forks?"

"Well," Bella paused to take a sip of her slowly cooling coffee. "My brother moved out here a while ago after he graduated from school to join a law firm, and things got crazy for me at home…so here I am."

"You like it?"

"I didn't really at first, but this place is starting to grow on me."

"It happens."

It's almost like he never stops smiling.

"It's almost like this place puts a spell on you or something."

The people do too, Bella tried not to frown as thoughts of Edward popped into her mind.

'Did I say something wrong?" A worried look crossed Jacob's face as he noticed the frown on her face.

"No, no you're fine. It's just funny you said that, it seems true in a way."

"Don't tell me someone did you wrong in the short time you've been here."

Bella only nodded, "I'm just not a huge fan of being lied to."

"I don't see how anyone could have lied to you," Jacob shook his head. "You seem to nice of a person for that."

Stop it, Bella scolded herself as she blushed again. I have a feeling that I am not going to get any work done.

"So Bella, I hope you don't mind me being a little forward especially after what you just said…but um…before the semester starts a bunch of my friends are having a bon fire down at the reservation…and well, would you want to come along?"

"That would be nice," Bella smiled. "I haven't really been anywhere besides Port Angeles and my brother is ripping our house apart to make room for his girlfriend, so it would be nice to get away from the paint fumes for a while."

"Great," he grinned as he toyed with a page of his open book.

Bella found herself laughing and smiling more as time passed, the minutes that she spent with Jacob turned into hours. The talk between them grew, going from embarrassing childhood stories to the touchy subject of previous relationships.

Part of Bella felt silly for being as mad as she was about the whole Edward situation, but no one likes having things kept from them right?

Her nerves were put slightly at ease as Jacob seemed to be just as annoyed as she told him her story, reassuring her that she shouldn't have had to go through that.

What was going on?

She wasn't asking for another shot at a relationship, but the bond that was developing between her and Jacob wasn't easy to ignore. It wasn't the same thing that had developed between her and Edward, there seemed to be more substance rather than raw passion. It was a relief to her in a way, making the chance of history repeating itself less and less likely.

After several cups of coffee and long conversations later, their time together was interrupted by a phone call from Emmett. Much to Bella's disappointment Emmett was requesting her presence, needing help as he and Rosalie began to shift furniture around.

"So I'll see you?" Jacob stared down at the floor as he and Bella stood under the small canopy that blocked the downpour of rain from drenching them.

"Sure," Bella nodded. "Do you need a ride or anything?"

"Nah," Jacob nodded to an old red pick up truck parked at the far end of the lot. "She's still old but she still runs good."

"I'll see you," Bella chuckled and waved as she walked to her car.

Jacob waved as Bella pulled out of her spot, his dark brown eyes following her as she steered the car through the parking lot. A smile crossed his lips for a moment as a sudden thought of Bella entered his mind, a hand running through the dark strands of his hair.

He was pretty sweet, she thought as she carefully directed the car through the light traffic clogging the one direct root directly through town. Attractive too.

God, what am I doing? She frowned, her mind unable to rap itself around the concept of someone else coming into her life. She wasn't looking for that by any means, nor was she even sure she would ever want it.

"It's just a bon fire Bella," she scolded herself as she pulled into her driveway, Rosalie's sleek Nissan Rogue now sat beside Emmett's new Chevy Tahoe. "Just get a grip."

"Talking to yourself Bella?" Emmett asked as he tapped on her window, walking by with a large trash bag in his hand.

Bella huffed and got out of the car, not sure if she was in the mood for her brothers antics this afternoon or not.

"Stop looking at me like that before your face gets stuck that way," he grinned.

"You know that's not true," Bella scolded as she rolled her eyes.

"Hey now! I was just kidding Bells!" Emmett frowned as he ran up the driveway to catch up with Bella, "What's wrong with you?"

Bella sighed, her mind immediately went for the typical response of 'nothing' but she knew that Emmett wasn't going to fall for it.

"Come on Bella, you never snap at me." He wrapped an arm around her as they walked up to the driveway, "Class going to be that bad?"

"Em, what do you do if you meet someone and you know deep down in your heart that you're not ready for anything like that yet?"

Emmett looked over at his younger sister in surprise, she hadn't mentioned anyone else as far as a guy was concerned besides her father and Jasper in the last few months.

"Does this person have the potential to stick around for a while?"

"I don't know, I don't know if I even want to know. What do I do Emmett?"

"Hey remember that fortune cookie that I gave you?"

"Remember what happened the last time I went through that?"

"Bella don't let Cullen get to you OK?" Emmett said firmly as he held the front door of the house open for her, "We aren't all that bad. And you know what? Sometimes you have to go through a few bad eggs before you find the right one."

"Maybe I don't want to," Bella let her book bag fall to the floor with a thud.

"Maybe you should," Rosalie patted Emmett on the butt as she walked by. "You never know until you try."

"How do you even know what we are talking about?" Bella teased.

"I am Rosalie, I know all." Rosalie chuckled.

"My family is going nuts," Bella shook her head as a giggle escaped her lips.

"Who is he?" Rosalie walked across the hallway again, resting the laundry basket against her hip.

"Why do I feel like I'm being interrogated?" Bella said as she reluctantly made her way into the living room, plopping down on the couch next to Rosalie.

"You're not, we're just curious. Emmett's the lawyer, he's handling the interrogation."

"His name is Jacob," Bella mumbled. "We have the same major and classes."

"It's a sign," Rosalie smiled as she handed Bella some t-shirts to fold.

"What happened if I don't believe in signs?"

"It'll find a way to get through to you."

"I just want to be his friend, I mean I am already going to have to deal with Edward rooming the halls. There will be no way to hide if something started and ended with Jacob, we have all the same classes and everything."

"Another sign," Rosalie said as she folded some socks and threw them into her basket.

"Rosie," Bella frowned.

"Bella if you want to just be his friend then just be his friend. You're not required to be in a relationship with him just because you guys like spending time with each other. A lot of the time it will find you without you having to look for it."

"And if I'm not wanting it?"

"Drop the negativity, if it was meant to be it will be."

Bella shook her head and set the folded shirts back in the basket before standing up, " I trust you Rosie."

"Don't worry Bella," Rosalie shot Bella a supportive smile before Bella walked out of the room.

Maybe that's my problem, Bella pondered as she made her way up the stairs to her room, letting her body fall onto her bed.

" Ugh, what?" Bella muttered as she cell phone buzzed loudly from her purse on the floor.

"It cant hear you!" Rosalie shouted on her way to her and Emmett's bedroom.

"Creeper!" Bella shouted at her as she scooted her way across the bed, quickly grabbing the phone out of the purse.

Are you busy?

Bella bit her lip nervously as she stared down at the phone, it was Jacob.

Trying not to be, why? She typed finally.

Jacob: Reading stuff for class, not getting very far.

Bella: Looking for a distraction?

Jacob: Of course. Kind of hard to focus with everything that went on today.

Bella's eyebrows rose in curiosity. Pick up line much?

Jacob: Sorry, that was a pretty lame attempt.

Bella: Its OK. I didn't mean to come off rude.

Jacob: You're fine, I should have figured that that wasn't exactly what you are looking for right now.

Really? I didn't even have to tell him.

Bella: Not really, to be honest. I did enjoy your company though.

Jacob: Me too.

Bella tapped her pointer finger on the keyboard of her phone, contemplating what to say next.

Jacob: Have you read at all?

Bella: Nope. My book bag is calling to me from the floor though.

Jacob: It's going to be a long semester.

"Bella! Alice is here!" Emmett shouted up the stairwell.

Bella: Gotta go. Maid of honor duties.

Bella tossed her phone onto the bed behind her as she quickly scrambled off the bed and down the stairs.

"You ready?" Alice asked as she hugged her friendly tightly.

"As long as you didn't pick out one of those dresses that consists mostly of lace I am."

"Darn it," Alice snapped her fingers. "I had one lined up that would make you look like a birthday cake with a huge bow on your ass."

Bella's eyes grew wide in horror, "NO!!"

"What's going on in there? It sounds like you're dying Bella," Emmett hollered from the kitchen.

"I am, from the onslaught of lace!" Bella shouted as she and Alice headed out of the door, "Save me Emmett."

"You're insane," Alice chuckled as they hopped into Alice's red Mercedes.

"Hey! I hang out with you so what do you expect?"

"Don't make me go all Bridzilla on you!"

"No! Spare me!" Bella could barely breath from laughing so hard.

"God Bella you are in rare form today," Alice chuckled. "What's gotten into you?"

"I don't know honestly," Bella couldn't help but smile.

"Who is he?" Alice asked, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.

"Why does there have be a 'he'? Can't I just be happy?"

"Because you haven't been happy like this since…well since Edward."

"How is he anyway?"

"I wouldn't know, he spends so much of his time on campus these days so I never see him." Alice didn't sound happy, "I haven't seen him for days now. Not since me and Jasper and I started really moving with the wedding plans and getting the house set. Carlisle says he is happy."

Makes two of us.

"Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," Bella shrugged. " He just fell off the face of the planet after everything happened."

"Yeah he's kind of fallen back into his old ways," Alice frowned. "He's just been keeping more to himself it seems."

Part of what Aliced told her made her nervous, leaving her what it meant exactly. Was he depressed or was he just choosing to focus on work, or was it someone else?

Even if it was someone else, what was the big deal? They hadn't spoken in months and given the earlier events, there very well might have been a possibility of someone else being in her life. It she wanted it of course.

"So who is he?" Alice asked again, bringing her back to reality.

"Alice there is no…"

"Don't even tell me that there isn't, because I can tell these things. You can see it in your face."

Bella sighed, she didn't feel like getting into it again.

"Just a friend Alice," Bella muttered. "We have classes together this semester."

Alice only nodded, a mischievous grin spread across her face.

Bella was scared by Alice sometimes, it almost seemed like she knew things were going to happen before they did and that smile on her face was always an indication that something had just clicked in her mind.

"As long as you're happy Bella, that's all that matters."

"You know what? I am happy," Bella said confidently.

"Good," Alice smiled as they pulled into the parking lot of the wedding dress shop. "Hopefully you will be happy with your dress too."

"I trust you," Bella stared up at the tall glass windows that made up the front of the store. "Though I must say I have seen some doozies in my day."

"Alice!" An average sized woman came out from behind the large marble topped counter with a rush of energy, wrapping Alice in a hug before she had a chance to respond.

"Leah, how are you?" Alice smiled excitedly.

"Fantastic! I am so glad we could get you in so soon, your dress and your maid of honors dress just arrived." Leah peered over at Bella, "This must be Isabella. I can tell by your size."

"Yes ma'am," Bella said politely. "You can call me Bella."

"Well Bella, I am going to get you both into the dressing room so we can make any adjustments OK?" Leah shooed the two girls towards the back of the store and into small dressing rooms right beside each other.

Bella sighed heavily as she stared at the white dress bag, with large gold letters spread across the front spelling out 'Clearwater's'. Her eyes closed as she pulled the zipper down, letting the white fabric separate.

Here goes nothing, Bella groaned and opened her eyes amazed by the relief that washed over her. An olive colored strapless ball gown sat inside, starting with a corset top and ending with a long and billowy skirt.

"Thank you," Bella said to herself letting the rest of the dress bag fall of the hanger.

"What do you think?" Alice asked, shouting over the tall white wall that separated them.

"Alice its beautiful!" Bella grunted as she slid the dress on, struggling to get the zipper up on the side.

"Come out and let me see!"

Bella hiked up the skirt of her dress as she pushed the dressing room door open, greeting a white covered pixie woman in front of the set of dressing room mirrors.

"Oh my god Alice, look at you." Bella said in awe.

"You like?" Alice smiled, standing on the pedestal to get a better look at the dress.

"Love it," Bella reached out to touch the smooth silk fabric of her friends dress.

"I think this is it," Alice smoothed over the bodice of her off-shoulder dress.

"I agree."

"You don't look so bad yourself you know," Alice smiled at Bella's reflection.

"I'm just glad you didn't stick to the whole lace covered idea."

"You know I had your dress specially made, everybody else is getting stuck with the same thing." Alice said, turning around carefully so she could look at Bella.

"Alice you didn't have to do that, that must have been such a hassle."

"Not for my best friend," Alice stepped down carefully so she could give Bella a hug. "Jasper told me about the talk the two of you had the night you guys first met. I owe you."

"He did all of the talking," Bella chuckled.

"Ladies! Look at you both! Come on out so I can do some adjustments," Leah Clearwater exclaimed, clasping her measuring tape in between her two hands.

"Bridge first," Bella nudged Alice.

"Nope, you first my dear." Leah pulled Bella along, "I think I may have underestimated how small your frame is."

Bella bit her lip nervously, she didn't like being the center of attention but disliked it even more if she was being poked in the process.

"This color is fabulous on you," Leah said as she pulled Bella's corset tighter.

"Bella, it's true." Alice pointed out the window, "There's two guys staring at you out there."

I guess she was right, it will find you if you're not looking for it.

Bella sighed before slowly turning around, trying not to displace the pins Leah had stuck in the fabric of her dress.

"Quil, Jacob stop ogling! You're scaring my customers!" Leah shouted at the two young men standing in front of the store window.

Jacob, Bella's eyes shot open. Did she just say Jacob?

Sure enough as Bella turned around, her rather attractive classmate pushed through the glass door, an unfamiliar young man with long jet black hair followed.

"Bella?" Jacob smiled as he eyed her, his brown eyes unable to keep from roaming over her curves.

"Jacob, hi." Bella stumbled off the pedestal, flying forward as the pins caught hold of the carpeted flooring of the stool.

"Watch it there," Jacob chuckled as he caught Bella in his strong arms.

"I tried to talk them out of giving me those high heels, but no one would listen to me." Bella blushed a deep shade of red as she leaned against him to stabilize herself.

"Hear that Leah?"

"Jacob I heard nothing." Bella couldn't help but notice the smile that sat on Leah's face, "You and Quil create trouble whenever you guys come in here."

"I did nothing," Quil laughed as he leaned against one of the mirrors. " I can't help it that Jacob's poor flirting skills knocked her off of her feet."

Jacob shot Quil a dirty look as he released Bella from his grasp.

"Bella, get back up here so I can get to some of Alice's dress before I close." Leah pulled Bella back onto the stool, "And you two get going. I don't need anymore chaos today."

"See you Saturday Bella," Jacob flashed Bella a bright smile before following Quil out the front door.

"So you know Jacob huh?" Leah asked as she repositioned the pins in the hemline of Bella's dress.

"Yeah, we have the same classes together at Washington."

"He's a sweet boy."

Here we go.

"You are making the right choice there honey."

Bella wanted to die, the interrogating began again.

Alice remained quiet, sitting in a chair in front of Bella. A grin crossed her lips, as if she received some sort of satisfaction by figuring out whom Bella's mystery man was.

"Jacob's just a friend." Bella shrugged, trying to stay as casual as she could.

"That's a shame honey, he would be a good fit for you."

Bella could only nod as Leah continued her adjustments, taking what felt like an eternity to Bella for her to finish. As soon as Leah gave her the go ahead, she scrambled off of the stool and into the dressing room without a word.

What was she afraid of? It had been months since she had spoken to or seen Edward Cullen, and besides…they cut it off before it got anywhere right? All men aren't like Edward are they?

"Bella?" Alice called as she knocked on the door to Bella's dressing room.

Crap.

"You OK? You just kind of ran off on me."

"I'm fine," Bella said as she opened the door to reveal a worried looking Alice. "Just cant get this damn zipper."

"I'm sorry if what Leah said bothered you," Alice said as she undid the zipper to Bella's dress, "She means well but she can pry a lot sometimes."

"It's OK, I just didn't want to ruin any of this for you."

"You're fine," Alice sat next to her friend on the plush bench of the dressing room. "Was he your big secret?"

"Jacob is not my secret," Bella frowned.

"There's something there though," Alice said, causing a huff to come form Bella. "I'm not trying to instigate by any means. I was just listening to the two of your earlier and I don't know. I can just tell that he likes you, and there's something that just seems so genuine about it."

"Something so un-Edward."

"Bella look, I cant speak for my brother OK? He's done a lot of stup;id shit and what he did to you is only adding to it. But please, whatever you do, don't give up on love because of him. I still love you and wouldn't think less of you if you decided to hang out with Jacob, it could be good for you. And when I say that, I mean not necessarily in the form of a relationship."

Good save,

"So what do I do?" Bella asked, her gaze falling to the rose colored carpeting beneath their feet.

"Why don't you see if he wants to hang out? Jasper's almost done with work anyway," Alice shrugged.

"No, this is my day with you." Bella protested, "I'll see him in the next couple of days anyway."

"OK," Alice patted her on the shoulder as she stood up. "You loss, I mean decision."

Alice managed to dart of the dressing room before Bella had a chance to protest, leaving Bella amazed at how fast she could move with all of that fabric.

"Speak of the devil," Bella sighed as her cell phone went off.

Sorry, didn't want you to feel like I was creepin' on you. Jacob's text read.

Bella: No worried, just kind of creeped out now.

Jacob: Awesome. Not exactly the impression I wanted to leave you with.

Bella: You're fine.

"Edward listen to me," Alice's voice boomed over the wall. "I'm not going to go into this with you. This is my day and I have a say in who came come."

What? Bella stood perfectly still as she listened to Alice, Edward? Who's he brining? Where?

"I said no. I don't like her," Alice huffed as she was interrupted by her brother. "I don't care, tell her to go crawl back under the rock she came from! I said no!"

So tell me, are you free tonight? Jacob buzzed in.

"I said no, and that's final!" Alice shouted again, "And you leave her out of this."

Bella let her phone drop from her hand as she continued to listen to her friends argument, her body pressed against the wall.

"We arent talking about it when I get home, I will not let her in the building if you bring her," Alice said sternly and snapped her phone shut.

"Alice, are you OK?" Bella asked as a few moments of silence passed.

"Yeah, sorry." Alice sighed heavily," My brother is at it again."

"What happened?" Bella asked as she slipped her sneakers back on and popped the dressing room door open.

"Remember when I told you about Irina?" Alice said as she came out of her own dressing room.

Bella nodded slowly, remaining silent.

"Well given the actions of my 'wonderful' brother, the bitch is back."