The Edge

Part of the process

Summary: Bella and Alice spend some time together, and reflect on the changes in their lives

A Week Later

Bella looked up from the book she had been reading and allowed her eyes to scan her small room, which was presently in a state of organized chaos. She had inherited her father's organizational skills instead of her mothers, and even though the move to Seattle for University wasn't for over a month, Bella had begun to stockpile some items she'd need like soaps and shampoos and box them, as well as beginning to pack up some of the personal belonging she only used occasionally, in an attempt to lessen the amount of preparation she'd need to do when it got closer to actual moving date.

She was beginning to wish she wasn't so organized however, because seeing the boxes around her room was beginning to depress her and freak her out. The boxes and bare spots on her shelves made the move seem more imminent than it was. They made it seem real, and the more she thought about it, the more anxious she became about the whole thing.

She liked her life. She liked how things were, right that moment. She didn't want things to change, because she couldn't fathom how they could possibly change for the better.

She had a pretty good set up in Forks. She had Angela and Jacob, and occasionally even Mike to hang around with. Things between her and Charlie were better than ever. Her home away from home was just fifteen minutes down the road. She got to see Alice everyday, and sleep in the same bed as her every other night. And, now that Charlie knew about her relationship with Alice, she could even hold her girlfriends hand in the house.

Hers was, at the moment, a very idyllic existence.

Logically, Bella knew that her life didn't have to, and probably wouldn't, change too drastically. Even though she wouldn't see them as much in person, she could still talk to Jake and Angela (though probably not Mike) on the phone and through email. She knew that her moving out wouldn't sever the connection she had made with Charlie over the past two years. And, the Cullen's would be moving to Seattle, so she would still see them often as well.

However, even knowing those things, she couldn't help but be anxious sometimes when she thought about going away to school.

Alice had tried to assure her that everything would be fine, that she would love the less structured system of schooling, that she would love not having to cook for herself or anyone else, that she would meet tons of interesting people, that she would be introduced to all kinds of new ideas and perspectives that would make her mind swim.

And Bella believed Alice, she did. She always bet on her girlfriend. But, Alice had admitted that her visions of Bella's University life where vague, hazy, more of a vignette than a detailed story of what was to come and that being true, Bella couldn't stop herself from worrying.

She knew that she would be in an apartment style dorm so space wouldn't be an issue, and she knew that she would have her own room with a lock and door, so she'd be able to maintain her privacy. But she couldn't stop herself from wondering about things like:

Would she like her roommate?

Would her roommate like her?

Would her roommate have a problem with her relationship with Alice?

Where would she and Alice spend their free time when Charlie's living room wasn't an option anymore?

Would Alice want to hang around the apartment with her or would she find it juvenile?

Would the etiquette police come after her if she started out the year having a 'sleepover' guest?

Would they have to start spending more time over at the Cullen's to get some privacy?