A/N: Just as I said on my author's note for Due to a Stalled Train Ahead, I am SORRY! It's been hellish the last few weeks dealing with my husband's clots and such. I'm hoping to get on a better schedule, but no guarantees yet. Enjoy the chapter. There isn't too much drama in this chapter. I kept it fairly light.

As always review, review review. I love them all, so keep them coming.

I love SM, but she does own Twilight and all of its characters, I just own…ummm… I'll get back to you on that.

Chapter 5 – Stranger in a Strange Land

BPOV

I have completely sworn off men. After my disastrous date with Tyler, I decided I was not going to deal with another man ever again. This was just getting ridiculous for me. I couldn't take it anymore.

I got home and took a nice hot shower washing away all trace of Tyler. I could ruin him, but that would be a waste of energy. I dried off and put my flannel pajamas on. It was starting to get cool at night and I hated the cold.

I checked my cell phone and saw I had one missed message from Alice.

"Hey Bella! I miss you so much! Call me. I want to know what you're doing for Thanksgiving this year. Love ya!"

I dialed her number and she picked up on the second ring.

"Bella!!!" she screamed. I had to hold the phone away from my ear.

"Easy with the eardrums, Ali."

"Sorry, but I've missed you. I haven't spoken to you in ages."

"Yeah, I know. I've been busy with school. Sorry about that."

"Nonsense," she said brushing it off. "I totally understand. So how was your day?"

I knew she was asking because of the significance of the day. I breathed out loudly. "It was okay. I actually had a date."

"Really?! That's awesome. Details please!"

"Not much to tell. He's a co-worker. We went to dinner in separate cars. He didn't hold the door open for me and he forced a kiss on me so I had to knee him to get him away from me."

"Whoa, Bella. I'm so sorry."

"Eh, whatever. Seems my luck with men vanished with Ed…ummm…with him."

"They are more fish in the sea, don't despair. If it helps any, he's not dating. He's become quite the recluse actually. Totally dedicated to his work at the hospital and that's it."

No, it didn't make me feel any better. We were bother suffering for his wrongs and both throwing ourselves in our work. It wasn't healthy.

"Well, I don't care about the sea. I'm thinking of swearing off men for a while anyway."

Alice gasped. "Woman, do not say that." I laughed.

"It's not the end of the world."

"Not yet, it isn't. Anyway, I called for a reason." To check up on me, though she won't admit it. "Thanksgiving."

"What about it?"

"What are you doing for Thanksgiving?"

"Nothing. Why?"

"You weren't planning on coming home at all?" she asked sounding shocked.

"Anyplace I could run into him, I am avoiding like the plague," I stated.

"Fine, then we're coming to you. Expect us the day before and we're staying through the whole weekend."

"Ummm…okay. Did you already plan this?" I was shocked myself.

"Yes. I had a feeling you wouldn't be coming home and I don't blame you. So I already went and bought the tickets."

I couldn't help but laugh at my best friend. "You are something else little one."

"Yes, but you love me."

"Yes, yes I do. You are, by far, my favorite Cullen, but don't tell Emmett that." We both giggled.

"Don't worry; your secret is safe with me."

"So who's coming?"

"Just me and Rosalie. It'll be just like old times. The three musketeers."

"I look forward to it. Now if you don't mind. I'm going to sleep. It's eleven here and I have a long day ahead."

"Night Bella!"

"Night, Ali. Send my love to everyone."

"Will do."

I hung up with Alice and started thinking about the good old days.

1994 – Senior Year in High School

I hated having to start a new school, especially in my senior year, but my flaky mother wanted to travel the world with her new beau. I love her dearly, but she couldn't have picked the worst possible time.

My father, the Chief of Police in the small town of Forks, wanted to make my welcome as smooth as possible so he did two things. He bought me an old truck, which I so lovingly christened The Beast, and he introduced me the town gossip, Jessica Stanley. Loved the truck, could have done without the girl. Whatever, he tried.

I hung out with Jessica and she proceeded to tell me about everyone in school I would be meeting. There was Mike Newton, the so-called cute blonde that she secretly loves; Ben Cheney, who was dating Angela Webb; Eric Yorkie; and the elusive Cullens, Alice and Edward. Alice was dating Jasper Whitlock and Edward was, apparently, the town manwhore who I could forget about because he only liked a particular type of girl. From what I gathered, he likes girls like Jessica. She hinted as much when she told me she had a date with him a few weeks prior.

I also spent time with Jacob. He was a childhood friend from my summer days when I came to visit. My father was best friends with his father and actually bought The Beast from them. Jacob lived on the reservation a few miles away, so he didn't go to Forks High School which totally sucked.

My first day of school was interesting to say the least. I was ambushed by Jessica the moment I arrived and was somehow suckered into sitting with her at lunch.

I met the ball of energy known as Alice in my English class. As tiny and somewhat annoying as she was, I actually liked her. She had asked me to sit with her and her brother at lunch, but I told her I had already promised Jessica. Damn.

I later was introduced to Jasper in History. He calmed me down sensing my nervousness. It seemed everyone was talking about me and it was seriously getting to me. He was cute, too. Lucky Alice.

Lunch finally came around and that's when I first saw him. I could see why he was so wanted by all the girls in school. He was beyond hot.

Jessica had told me he was staring and I turned around. I was met with beautiful green eyes. He looked right at me and, of course, I blushed profusely. I immediately turned back to the table. How embarrassing. I hoped I didn't have him in any of my classes.

Unfortunately, I spoke to soon. I walked into my Biology class and there he was sitting next to the only available seat. I had gotten lost and was late to class. Had I known I would sit next to the Adonis I would have tried a lot harder to get here on time. Damn again.

I quickly sat down and covered my face with my hair. I didn't want him to see me blushing like a fool. Then I heard the worse news. We were going to be partners for the rest of the year. Forget damn. FUCK!

"Ummm…hi. I'm Edward Cullen," he said offering his hand.

I shook his hand, still not looking directly at him. "I know who you are. I'm Isabella Swan."

"So, I've heard. You go by Bella, right?" I nodded.

I continued looking everywhere but at him. I don't think I could have handled it. We didn't say anything for a couple of minutes.

"Yeah, so how do you like Forks so far?" he finally asked.

"It's wet," I replied. "Listen," I finally looked at him, realizing then that I could never have him, "you don't have to be nice to me or anything. I know the type of guy that you are and you don't have to pretend with me. I know I'm not your type, so we'll just leave it as us being lab partners and nothing else. I don't want to ruin anything for you with the other girls."

His mouth dropped, but honestly it was the truth. This was strictly business. We were lab partners and I didn't want anything to get in the way of my work. Or so I told myself. I knew he wouldn't go for plain old me so there was no point in kidding myself otherwise.

Luckily, before he could respond, Mr. Banner called us back to order. As soon as the bell rang, I bolted out of class.

My next and last class was gym, the bane of my existence. I was the clumsiest person I knew and gym was just one big giant hazard zone for me.

Both Jessica and Mike were in class with me. I had met Mike earlier at lunch and he wouldn't stop staring at me, it was unnerving. Not to mention he kept trying to ask me out. This only caused me to get glaring daggers from Jessica.

Mike offered to be on a team with me and I quickly informed him that a team with me is a team of one since I would end up out of commission. He didn't seem to care and he pretty much stared at my ass the whole period. Asshole.

After class, I headed to my truck and Mike was hot on my trail.

"So, Bella, have any plans on Friday?" he asked practically pinning me to my truck.

"No, Mike. For the hundredth time I am not going out with you." I replied pushing him away from me.

He stepped closer again. "Awww come on. It'll be fun. We'll go to the movies or something. I swear it'll be totally innocent." For some reason, I had a hard time believing that.

"Mike, I already said no."

"You're missing out…"

"Michael Newton, get away from Bella this instant!" I turned to my savior only to see Alice standing there in all of her pint size glory. Amazingly enough, Mike backed off.

"We'll talk later." I rolled my eyes and shook my head as he walked away.

"That was impressive, Alice."

She shrugged it off. "Mike's a douche. He tries that move with all the girls here. You learn to deal with it."

"Well, thanks for that anyway," I said pointing my head in the direction he left.

"No problem. You shouldn't have too many problems with him, or with anyone else. If you do, just tell me or Edward."

"Right…Edward…I don't think Edward likes me right now." She looked at me quizzically and I related what happened in Biology.

She started laughing uncontrollably. "I love it!" I raised an eyebrow. "I think you're the first girl to ever talk to him in that fashion. Don't be surprised if you two fall in love."

"I highly doubt that."

"Well, at least I have someone who can help me gang up on him. He won't know what hit him."

And that was the first day of a lasting friendship.

Of course, when I went to bed that night all I could dream about was green eyes and cooper hair.

AN: so there's Bella's first day of school. In case you haven't noticed I will be going back and forth in time.

I will also, hopefully, be updating every Wednesday, though not until the following week.

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