Disclaimer: I Don't Own

Chapter One, The Proposition (Prologue)

BPOV

(Mike and ERIC YORKIE! He couldn't have chosen anyone better, could he?)

It was just one of those days when you wish you never existed, a day you wished had never happened.

I was at work, the last half hour of the day in what felt like the longest 8 hours of my life at "New York Today!", the magazine that I worked for.

It was the day I had dumped my long-time boyfriend Mike Newton, the golden retriever, because –surprise, surprise- he turned out to be was gay and had the guts to cheat on me, with Eric Yorkie- of all people!

Today was also the day that I had tripped up the stairs because the elevators in my building had broken down, and I had the bruises to prove it. And to top it off, my two best friends had informed me that I was going clubbing with them tonight.

It wasn't that I didn't love my best friends dearly, I had known Alice Brandon and Rosalie Hale since the very first day of high school. They kept me sane and I loved them both like sisters. However, when we went out, they had a tendency to go overboard, and of course, they both had boyfriends, so whenever I went out with them I always felt like a fifth wheel- unnecessary at best. I didn't want to be ungrateful, they had both done so much for me, but tonight I just wasn't feeling up to it.

Both of them also worked at New York Today. Alice was happiest whenever she was around clothes, so naturally she became the leading fashion editor of the magazine. Rosalie however, had decided to take the more high-powered route when we decided on our speciality's in journalism. She was an important editor of the magazine, and at only 26 she did an excellent job.

I heard the soft thump of books hitting the desk next to me and looked up to see Edward Cullen. He was the music critic for the paper, and because I reviewed movies, we had been stuck in the same office since the first day of work. Edward was your stereotypical nerd. Normal height, with thick black glasses, a baggy sweater vest tucked into his brown corduroy pants which had come straight from the stone age and an IQ of 132, which made him one of the smartest people I knew. He looked as if he had just stepped out the front doors of his high school, even though I knew he was around a year older than me.

But it really didn't matter to me if Edward worked with me. Although he was awkward and a little shy, he was very sweet and was always good company. We shared some of the same interest's, liked the same music and both had difficulty getting our writing into the editor on time, which called for a lot of late night pizza sessions in the office. I liked Edward a lot, and at once stage, I might have admitted that I had a little crush on him... but Alice and Rose would say that he wasn't my type. And of course he wasn't! One day he would meet a woman with an IQ as high as his and have lots of nerdy little babies- he would be much better off without me.

I glanced at the clock for the five hundredth time today, hoping that clock would speed up.

It was still 5 minutes until I could leave.

Then again, although it was five minutes until the work day ended, it was also five minutes until Alice began her makeover, and five minutes until my next disaster started.

'Um… Bella?' a small voice behind me stuttered. I turned around.

'I-I-I heard that y-you and Mike broke up?' Edward stammered, his soft velvety voice barely audible even in the quiet room. I was surprised that he was starting this conversation; he usually kept to himself while he was working on a piece of writing.

I had been doing my best not to think of Mike in the past hours, he wasn't even worth it, but Edwards question brought him to the forefront of my mind.

'Yeah,' I said softly.

'I'm sorry'

'Don't be!' I said snorting 'to tell you the truth, he was never much of a boyfriend anyway. Thanks though.' Yes, Mike had been FAR from the perfect boyfriend. But I couldn't tell anyone the truth. Mike had sworn me to secrecy about his true feelings for Eric. He thought that he would be the laughing stock of the office if the truth came out. Mike worked as a photographer for the magazine.

'B-b-but Bella?' Edward insisted, questioning me and making me to look back to continue talking to him.

'Yes?' I said to him.

'I-I was wondering if… maybe… sometime you would… um… maybe, like to… er… um… out… I mean... go… with…-'

'What is it Edward?' I said grinning at him, I found his awkwardness endearing. Edward seemed reluctant to answer, almost unsure about what he should say.

'I-I… need a favour f-for something!' He spat out, almost as if he hadn't meant to say that.

'From me?'

'Well,' he said pondering silently. 'I…I…I… need a makeover!' He finally stuttered, looking somewhat relieved. I'm sick of the way I look! I want to fit in better and since you're a friend of mine, and Alice is the fashion editor and Rosalie is the most confident person I know, I thought that I should go to you for some help.' He said.

'Um…' I said, surprised that he could actually string a full sentence together without stuttering. Rosalie and Alice would be all over this if I told them, but I didn't know if it was something I really wanted him to do.

'Well, you see Edward… the thing is'- I was interrupted by a loud ringing. I looked down to see my phone buzzing on my desk. I answered it only to find a perky Alice on the line.

'Hey Bells! The work day is done and I'm coming to bust you out. We're going clubbing! Hold on a sec, I'm nearly at your office-'

Alice burst into the room, snapping her phone shut

'Hello Edward!' She chimed in her beautiful musical voice 'I'm really sorry but Bella has to come with me to get her makeover done now. Sorry for dragging her away like this, but we really have to go. See you later!' She said, all in one breath. I managed to shut my phone whilst being dragged out the door.

'Bye Edward' I said, feeling like a little child being dragged away by her mother. Alice definitely needed some new hobbies. Barbie doll Bella wasn't exactly a blast for me.

I spotted Rosalie as soon as we were out of the building. 'Are you excited Bella?' Said Rose smirking. 'Maybe today we can find you a nice man to go out with now that you finally dumped that turd, Mike.'

'Yeah,' I said, my mind still on Edward's question.

'Maybe'

And it all came down to just that- Maybe's. The world was full of them.

Maybe I would have a good time and meet a man tonight.

Maybe I could learn to forgive Mike, one day.

And maybe Edward didn't need to change.

And just maybe, y'all are going to review?

Thoughts, comments and feedback are appreciated, just please be nice to my baby! It's taken me a long time to write. I promise this story will be as funny as it is sweet and romantic… you just have to wait a while for the plot to thicken! The chapters will also be longer, this is just the Prologue. Love FWWBH