Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight Saga.

Author's Note: I'm so sorry for the late delay, you guys. I knew I wanted to include another chapter from the past but I didn't know what to write about. I finally did; but it took me so long. Anyway, this is from when Bella was 13 yrs old, a year after she moved to Forks. I hope you enjoy.

12 Years Ago

I didn't ever think I'd be saying this but living here was one of the best things I'd done in my life. Not that it was my decision. Ever since I'd moved here, my weekends were no longer quiet mornings where I sat at my desk to read my novels. I still made time for reading but my weekends were also occupied by shopping at Port Angeles. For clothes. Attending my classmates' parties. Never thought I'd hear myself say that.

Mom obviously thought this was a great idea. The fact that I seemed more comfortable in shorts and t-shirts rather than dresses baffled her. I was a girl. Girls were supposed to dress up, wear make up, go out shopping. Her words. And now that I was actually doing those things, mom was happy. I was glad she was. So was I, only because I got to spend time doing those things with Alice.

I didn't mind it that much either. Even though my feet would be sore by the time I made it home. But I was glad I went with Alice. Since that summer we'd met, our friendship had only grown stronger. We always sat together during lunch and recess. I'd also ended up making some other friends. Angela Weber was a really nice girl I'd made friends with in my math class. She was shy like me, but we got on really well. Alice was rubbing off on me, making me be more social and open.

Alice Cullen truly felt like my best friend. Something else I didn't think I'd ever say. I wouldn't have said that if I knew we had to move again. But dad had confirmed that we'd be here for a long time. Long enough for me to finish high school at least. I was excited at the prospect of actually having a childhood best friend. But there were times like today, when I'd tend to regret being friends with her. Kidding. Not really.

I was suspicious when she asked me to meet her early this morning.

Yesterday:

It was the last day of school. Esme was driving us today. Dad was busy at the station and Mom was busy doing… God knew what. Esme hadn't minded, saying she was fine with it and there were no problems since we were neighbors and all. Anyway, on the way home, Alice chattered about some cute boy she'd met in her Science class. I tried to pay attention to her. I noticed Esme sneaking glances at us and smiling whenever she caught my eyes. I smiled back at her in return.

"So Bella, you didn't find any cute boys in your class?" Esme asked teasingly.

I blushed. "Uh…" I said, tucking my hair behind my ears. "No. No boys."

Alice rolled her eyes. "So not true. Didn't you tell me that the boy from our History class was cute?"

I jerked in my seat. I glanced at the front mirror to see Esme raising an eyebrow at me inquisitively. Flustered, I turned to Alice. "What boy are you talking about? And when did I ever tell you that some boy looked cute?"

Alice cocked her head, confused. "Didn't you? The boy with the glasses?"

I stared at her, trying to recall who she was talking about. When recognition hit, I started to laugh. "Oh, you mean Steven?"

Alice's eyes widened. "Yes! Exactly. Him!" Alice pointed at me. "He's the 'cute guy' right?"

"When did I ever tell you he's cute? In fact, you're the one who told me that two weeks ago during lunch break."

"I did? Why would I say that?"

I rolled my eyes. "Who knows?"

Alice nearly commented the same thing about a different boy every other week.

"Huh…" Alice was mulling over this, while Esme and I were trying to stifle our giggles. "You're right. I did think that boy was cute."

I rolled my eyes. I wondered how she mustered enough brain juice to sit and think about all these boys; their likes and dislikes, their hobbies and whatnot.

"Of course I'm right."

Alice pouted. "So does that mean no one has caught your eye in our school?"

"Hey!" I raised my hands defensively. "I'm not boy crazy like you. It's not my fault none of the boys at school are interesting enough."

"Yeah right." She scoffed. "You'd much rather fantasize about fictional men."

"What?!"

"Oh yes. I've seen you giggling and blushing whenever you're reading your romance novels. You're probably pretending that the hero is wooing you the entire time."

I blushed down to my hairline. Esme laughed in the background at our banter. Alice was not wrong. Men in books were way better than those in real life.

As we turned down our street, I asked, "So, any plans for tomorrow?" I hoped we weren't going shopping again. At this point I had sufficient clothes to last me a lifetime.

"No." I breathed a sigh of relief. "We'll go shopping next week."

I groaned. "Seriously. Isn't your closet already full of clothes? How many more do you need?"

"It's summer Bella. We'll need new outfits. And plus, the old clothes are probably not gonna fit anymore."

I folded my arms across my chest and released a breath. "Not you. You're still as tiny as ever."

"That is true." Esme said, coming to my defense. She was right. We were thirteen years old and she was only four and a half feet. I had a good six inches on her.

Esme turned right into their driveway. Grabbing our bags, Alice and I got out. Right before I headed to my home, I turned back.

"If we're not shopping tomorrow, what are we doing?"

Esme and Alice shared a look. Uh-oh. That couldn't mean well.

Alice looked at me, seriousness gone from her face. "Just be ready tomorrow at 7. And don't shower."

"What…" I drawled. "What do you mean, don't shower?"

Esme went to speak but Alice cut her off. "It's nothing. We're gonna hangout like usual. We'll be outside, in the sun and it'll be great. You can shower once we're back."

I looked at Esme to see if she would say something. She just smiled at me and nodded encouragingly.

"Okay. I'll come by your place tomorrow." I said, still wary of what she was planning.

Alice brightened up. "That's the spirit. Can't wait to see you tomorrow." She bounded over to where I was standing and landed a kiss on my cheek. I stiffened when she did, still not used to the affectionate gesture. Once Alice went inside, I waved Esme bye and got into my own home.

Hours later after dinner and a quick shower, I retired upstairs to my room leaving my parents to watch TV. I smiled when I immediately spotted my battered copy of 'Little Women' on my study table. It was the first classic I'd read and loved it so much that I read it every few months. In fact the notebook was filled with annotations and sticky notes.

I switched off the bedroom lights (my parents didn't need to know I was going to be up late) and eagerly sat at the table, turned on the reading lamp and started to read. It was nine and there was still enough time until I went to bed.

A while later, bright light reflected in my room. I blinked dazily, and looked out the window to see where the light was coming from.

I could faintly hear the sound of a door being shut and before I knew it, I saw Edward walking past the window to presumably go to the bathroom. What the hell is wrong with you? Why do you need to think about what he's doing? Mind your own business.

Instead of walking away, he did a double take when he saw me sitting at my table. I stared at him, offering a smile and a small wave.

I had gotten pretty acquainted with Edward Cullen in the year Alice and I had become friends. I was often at her house and on more than one occasion Edward had had to come pick us up from school.

He was so different from what I'd expected. The first night I'd seen him the day we moved here, he'd returned home from a party (which Alice told me later on; she was jealous that Edward and I had windows facing each other and not me and her). I thought he would be the typical brother who was annoyed with his little sister and wouldn't want to include her in anything he did.

But that was so far from the truth. In the year I'd known him, he always supported Alice in whatever she wanted to do, showed up for any school event Alice was participating in and he was good to all of Alice's friends. I was pleasantly surprised when he showed up for my birthday last year. That had been the only highlight of that day since I was naturally not a fan of celebrating birthday parties. He'd gifted me a discount coupon for a bookstore; no doubt seeing me reading at my table more than I can count.

"How are you still up?"

I jerked back in my chair, caught off guard. Looking back at him, I saw him looking at me curiously. He was dressed in jeans and a gray T-shirt.

I averted my eyes as I answered, "I was reading. Didn't keep track of time."

He chuckled lightly. "I can understand that." I assumed he was referring to the times when he played his keyboard.

I nodded. He was still standing at the window.

"So any plans for the weekend? Or the summer?"

He shrugged casually. "Yeah. I'm hanging out with the family tomorrow."

Huh. I wondered if he knew I was tagging along too. "Alice asked me to come along as well."

"Wow. Alice asked you?" A strange look on his face.

What did that mean? Was he not happy I was coming along? He knew Alice and I hung out together almost every day.

"Alice and I are pretty much joined at the hip. Isn't it obvious we'd spend time together tomorrow as well? After all, it's summer."

If Edward heard the defensiveness in my voice he didn't show it. Rather, he cocked an eyebrow. "In this instance, I am surprised you agreed."

Something in the way he told me, implied that I wouldn't normally agree with her if she'd asked her before.

"What's there not to agree with? All I have to do is show up at your door at 7 and we'll go out right?"

A smirk crossed his lips. "She hasn't told you what we're doing tomorrow, has she?"

My eyes widened. "Oh my god. What has she planned now?"

He laughed out loud, not paying any attention to the way I was panicking. I got up from my chair and leaned towards my window.

"Stop laughing like a deranged psycho and tell me what Alice is up to." I hissed at him.

I slapped a hand over my mouth as soon as the words were out. I was often sarcastic with Alice and most of the people around me. Edward was not most of them. I only ever spoke to him when Alice was around and that too with polite interest. I considered him in a different league than the people around me. This was the first time I'd let the frustration take over me and speak this way to him.

Edward stopped laughing and stared at me eyes wide. Something in my expression seemed to get him laughing again.

"Did you just call me a 'deranged psycho'?" He asked, eyes mirthful.

I rolled mine to hide my shock. "I seriously don't understand what's so funny about this. All I asked was what we are going to do tomorrow."

Edward looked away, contemplating whether he should tell me or not. But why? What was this plan that Alice had concocted that I wouldn't agree with?

"Why don't you come over tomorrow and find out?" He taunted. Throwing a last smirk in my direction, he moved away from the window while wishing me good night.

I sighed. Great. Guess I'll find out tomorrow. Or today, in fact, I realized when I saw the clock on the table showing 12:06.

I tucked myself in bed and hoped that whatever we doing tomorrow would be something I was comfortable with and have fun with.

I somehow managed to drag myself out of bed and show up at Cullen's door by 7.

I was thinking about our conversation last night when Edward opened the door.

"So you showed up after all huh?" He smirked, leaning against the wall, looking down at me.

He was dressed in straight jeans and a dark t-shirt, his feet covered in white vans and a baseball cap on his head. His slightly long hair was peaking out of his cap.

I looked down at myself, frowning. I was dressed similarly to him in jeans and white Henley. My feet were sporting my worn out tennis shoes and my hair tied up in a ponytail.

I scrunched my nose at him. "I still have no idea what we're doing today."

He laughed. "All in good time." He sounded smug.

I sighed resignedly. No point dwelling on this now. You're already here. Might as well get along with whatever they're doing.

Just then Alice came storming out the door and attacking me in a hug, making me stumble. "I'm so glad you're here."

I hugged her back, balancing myself. "I told you I'd be here."

Carlisle called for Alice from the garage.

"Dad, Alice and Bella are having a moment here. Don't interrupt them." Edward teasingly chided.

"Glad you're joining us Bella." Carlisle called out.

I released Alice and responded, "Thank you so much for having me, Mr. Cullen."

Carlisle walked out of the garage and I did a double take. He was dressed in dark jeans, t-shirt and a worn out varsity jacket. It was very rare to see him dressed in anything informal.

He smiled at me as he walked past Edward into the house.

I turned to Alice just as she asked Edward, "Did you tell her yet?"

He slyly smiled. "Nah." He shoved his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his feet. "I'll let you do the honors."

I looked back and forth between them, suspiciously. "What are you not telling me?"

"Let's get going okay?" Alice giggled nervously. I narrowed my eyes. She swallowed.

"Come on! What have you guys-"

Esme interrupted. "Everything's set. Let's go!"

Her enthusiasm was contagious.

Carlisle brought the car out of the driveway and parked it on the road so Esme could load the picnic basket and blanket in the trunk.

Once done, she climbed in to sit next to Carlisle leaving the three of us to climb in the back.

With Alice between us, I locked the door and we drove off.

I couldn't help but express my gratitude again for letting me tag along with them.

"Thank you so much Dr. and Mrs. Cullen, for letting me come along."

Carlisle smiled. "Don't mention it."

He said just as Esme added. "We love having you around." She turned around in her seat to smile at me. "Also, what have I told you before Bella? Please call me Esme." She sternly looked at me.

I shyly looked down and nodded my head murmuring, "OK. Thank you Esme."

She nodded satisfied and turned forward. "Good."

Right then, Edward mumbled under his breath. "Wonder how long you'll still feel the sentiment."

I threw him and Alice a bewildered look. I cocked an eyebrow at Alice.

She avoided my gaze and Edward simply smirked at me, eyes dancing with amusement.

I frowned. I met Esme's eyes in the rear-view mirror. "So, Mrs. Cul-"

"Bella…"

"Esme," I corrected. "So we're having a picnic today?"

"Yeah."

Carlisle added. "After the game."

"The game?"

He met my eyes in the mirror. "Yeah. The summer family baseball game. You said you'd play?"

My eyes widened. I remembered Mike and Tyler talking about this after the exam yesterday.

I looked at Alice. "This is why you asked me to come?"

Alice sheepishly nodded.

I let out a disbelieving laugh. "I can't believe this. I should have said no."

"Come on Bella. All the kids in the neighborhood are playing. You live in the neighborhood, so you're playing too." Alice said pleadingly. "I'm playing too. It'll be fun."

"Me playing sports. Yeah it'll be fun. You forget, I have zero coordination when it comes to physical activities." I said begrudgingly.

Edward laughed at that. I noticed Esme smiling through the rearview mirror. They knew this to be a fact. After all they had witnessed how badly I'd failed the dance recital when Alice had brilliantly made the decision to sign us up for the show. I'd twisted my ankle in the first practice and Esme had to help me to the nurse's office.

The car indicator sounded as Carlisle turned into the parking lot near the ground's entrance. Once parked, we got out of the car. Esme moved to the trunk and Carlisle followed to help her.

The rest of us moved to the ground's gate and entered. Alice looped her arm with mine and gave me her classic pleading look. I groaned. "Please Bella. I didn't get to participate last time since nobody wanted me in their team. This year I have you and I wanna participate. Won't you play with me?"

The words combined with the pouting lips and enlarged eyes threatened to break any resolve I'd made.

I sighed resignedly. "Fine. But don't blame me when we lose."

Alice squealed and released my arm to hug me. She ran towards where the parents were sitting. "I'm gonna pick out a spot for us." She screamed as she ran.

Edward stood next to me, gaze fixed on Alice. He looked down at me as I looked up at him.

"You gonna play?"

"Yeah. She told me some sob story about how she didn't get to play last year and now here I am trying to help her out."

Edward laughed, his green eyes sparkling. "Don't worry. It'll be fine. You're not gonna be televised or anything."

"You sure?" I looked pointed at Esme and Carlisle. Carlisle was carrying the picnic basket while Esme held a camcorder in her hands walking backwards and recording her surroundings.

She pointed the camcorder at us and shouted. "You kids coming or not?"

I smiled hesitantly while Edward rolled his eyes and nudged me towards them.

Before the game began, I turned to Edward nervously as I re-tied my shoelaces.

"Baseball's easy right? Just hit the ball and run around the field."

Edward looked up at me from where he was sitting. "Run around the field? You're murdering the sport Bella." He shaked his head in mock disappointment.

I rolled my eyes. "I couldn't care less. I'm only doing this because of your manipulative sister." I halfheartedly glared at Alice who was across the field talking to some of the other students in our class and seniors.

"Relax, Bella. It's just a game. No one's gonna make fun of you if you fail."

I looked down. He gave me a lazy smile. "Why did you come here? Don't you have friends to hangout with?"

"Alice mentioned you'd be playing. How could I resist the opportunity?" He said teasingly. "Besides, I'm here to help if you guys get injured." He shook the first aid kit in his hand.

I frowned. Alice called out my name. I turned to her, motioning for me to join her. The boys standing next to her, our teammates, shared nervous glances. No doubt wondering how the team would fare with girls in it.

I swallowed self consciously and made my way over to them. Let the game begin.

The game went surprisingly well. According to Tyler, we'd lost just shy of three points. Alice and I were overjoyed with the results.

I didn't understand much of it. I just did what Tyler, our team captain, asked me to do. I did fall a couple of times trying to catch the ball. When I did, I could hear Esme shout in concern.

The parents were cheering for their kids. I heard Esme and Carlisle cheering for Alice and I whenever we scored for the team. Alice and I ecstatically hugged each other at the outcome of the game while Tyler grumbled about the loss to the other boys.

As we made our way over to her parents, Alice spoke. "Didn't I say you'd have fun."

I glared at her. "Don't push it. I still hate sports."

Alice laughed. "Cheer up Bella. It was fine."

"Did you see the number of times I stumbled?" I grimaced. "You're mom has probably recorded every single moment of this game."

Esme stood up once we made our way over to her. She and Carlisle congratulated on playing well. Soon after, Esme dragged Alice to tend to her injuries while Edward pointed at the same in front of him.

I sat down before him. He pulled out a water bottle and proceeded to pour the water on the scraps on my knees.

"You're clumsy aren't you?" He asked.

"You could say that."

He looked at me and smiled. "But you played well nonetheless."

I rolled my eyes. "Please. I could hear Tyler muttering how bad it was having girls on his team. I doubt I did anything good."

He frowned at that. "I'm serious. You did well."

I was startled. He sounded very serious. I didn't understand. All I could do was nod and thank him.

"Good." He packed the first aid kit and turned towards his parents. "Can we finally start eating now?"

We all laughed at his request. Carlisle opened the basket and handed out sandwiches to each of us.

Edward bit into his and groaned appreciatively. "This sandwich is too good."

"I agree. So tasty Esme." I added in between bites.

Edward and I shared a smile as he nudged my shoulder playfully. It was nice, I realized. Being around Edward. This was the first time we'd had a conversation that Alice hadn't been a catalyst of. He'd made me feel better about myself and not ignored. Edward and I are gonna be great friends one day, I thought.

Author's Note: That's chapter 5 everybody! I hope you liked it. This is not my favorite chapter, but, oh well. Also, excuse any grammatical errors if I've made any.