Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter one

Bella had done as Jasper had said. She'd arrived at the airport and booked a seat on the first flight out which took her to San Francisco International Airport. Bella had taken a cab to the coast from there and booked into a hotel in a town called Santa Carla. That had been two weeks ago, Bella had barely left the hotel because she was so afraid of Alice and Edward finding her. The only times she had left was when she had ditched her wedding dress, visited a hair salon and bought some more clothes or for food. Bella has dyed her hair auburn and had a full fringe cut in so the Cullens would have to get up close before they recognized her now.

As the days turned into weeks Bella began to feel a little safer in Santa Carla. So on her third Saturday night in town Bella got dressed and headed down to boardwalk which was everyone seemed to go to. She wandered past all the shops and towards where she could hear live music playing. She was only a few feet away when she noticed a couple of guys pushing a kid around with long hair. Bella saw red. She hated people who picked on someone smaller than them. She closed the distance frowning.

"What the hell is your problem?" she asked, the boy darted out of one of the mens reach standing behind Bella. "Didn't like your chances against someone your own size?"

"What exactly are you gonna do it about it, little girl?" the bigger one of the two asked.

"Go!" Bella told the boy pushing him out of the way and one of them swung at her. Bella ducked and his friend took the punch. Bella went to run but the guy who had swung for her grabbed her from behind. She stomped on his foot and elbowed him in the face. The crunch of his nose when her elbow connected with it left no doubt that she broke it. The other guy came at her then. Bella punched him in the face and grabbed his shoulders kneeing him between his legs. Bella turned and ran as he crumpled to the ground next to his friend.

Bella grabbed the kid's hand as she passed and the two of them ran full pelt down the boardwalk, laughing as they went. Bella came to a stop when she ran out of breath, she looked down at the kid who seemed fine. She must be really out of shape. "So whats your name kid?" Bella asked when she caught her breath.

"It's Laddie," he answered. "What's yours?"

"It's Bella Whitlock," she answered, the name still sounding strange on her tongue. "Aren't you a little young to be out alone?"

"My brothers are here somewhere. I was with their friend, Star, but she left me alone to go with Michael."

"Where will you brothers be?" Bella asked.

"I don't know, but they usually park their bikes outside the video store."

"Okay, lets go see if we can find them."

Laddie tucked his hand into Bella's again and led her down the boardwalk. A few minutes later they approached the store and his brothers bike were outside. "Whoa, I like your brothers bikes," Bella said and Laddie smiled. Bella led him into the video store and Max looked from behind the counter. He saw Laddie with the human and frowned.

"Laddie," he said. "Where's Star?"

"She left with Michael. This is Bella. She stopped two guys beating me up, Max. It was so cool."

Max smiled at Bella and held out his hand. "Nice to you meet Bella. I'm Max, I know Laddie's brothers."

"Oh, good," Bella said with a smile shaking his hand. "Can I leave him with you until they come back for their bikes?"

"Sure," Max said. "Thank you for bringing him back safe."

"Not a problem." Bella leaned down so she was eye level with Laddie. "I'll see you around kid," she told him and he nodded. "High five?" Laddie raised his hand and high fived her. Bella laughed and pulled him for a hug. "Bye."

Max watched Bella go smiling. She could have been exactly what he had been waiting for ever since the mishap with Star. Sure he had Lucy and her boys but since Star had moved in with him there was no one to look out for Laddie. He kept watching Bella until she disappeared from his sight. He'd talk to the boys when they returned.

Bella walked away from the video store down the boardwalk. She stopped and bought a pack of cigarettes before leaning against the railing overlooking the beach just a few feet from a carousel. She lit a cig and propped one of her legs against the railing bending it at the knee. She was flexing her fist and debating the need for ice when she spotted the guy from earlier. He was sat with what Bella could only assume was his girlfriend. "What an ass," Bella whispered as she brought her cigarette back to her lips.

That was when she spotted the Lost Boys for the first time. They were walking in between the horses on the moving Carousel. She watched David reach out and touch surfer dudes girlfriend. She froze when she caught sight of the dark haired one when surfer dude made a grad for him in retaliation. Her mouth went dry and she couldn't take her eyes off him. He was gorgeous. Long dark hair hung down his shoulders and he had no shirt on under his jacket.

A boardwalk cop came up behind them then and put his baton around David's neck stopping him. Bella couldn't hear what he said but the guys turned stepping of the Carousel.

Dwayne looked up as he followed his brothers away from the cop who had just unwittingly made himself their meal tonight sensing he was being watched. He meet a pair of bright green eyes and stopped dead. Paul grunted as he walked into him. David turned to see what he had stopped for and the other three men followed Dwayne's like of sight. They all smirked when they saw her.

Bella blushed under Dwayne's scrutiny. Dwayne was admiring how beautiful she was leaning their casually against the rail smoking. Bella took one last puff of her cigarette before she turned tossing it over the railing into the sea. She turned back, adjusting her bag on her shoulder and set off walking. She snuck one last look at Dwayne and found him still staring. Bella offered him a shy smile before she turned the corner.

David grinned patting Dwayne's shoulder as she walked out of sight. Dwayne looked up and they carried on walking. Dwayne looked back at where Bella has disappeared one last time before he followed his brothers. "I think Dwayne's in love," Paul teased. Dwayne put his hand on the back off his head shoving him down as he walked passed him making the others laugh.

A/N: Posted on 30/09/2015. All outfits are on my profile. Violet x.