now and again I get the feeling
well if I don't win, I'm a gonna break even
rescue me, should I go wrong
if I dig too deep, if I stay too long

BPOV

I sigh as I look at the clock, I cringe internally as I realize ten minutes have passed by. Only thirty minutes until it's time for me to close.

Time in Forks always seems to move slow. It's a sleepy town, and there is nothing exciting that ever really happens. There are parties and beach get togethers, usually the same people every night. My father Charlie, is the chief of police. His job consists of poker and trying to keep the local wild wolves out of town.

There hasn't been a wolf sighting in the nine months since my mom's death.

I flip through a magazine tabloid, almost hating myself for taking the job here at Newton's. It's a grocery store and it's nine thirty on a Sunday night, and it's the tail end of summer.

I glance at my reflection in the nearby window. My hair is long and brown. It's nothing to look twice at, and my eyes match. Nothing about me screams my name. I should be named Jane or Tammy; not anything exotic or pretty as Isabella, or Bella which is what I go by.

Headlights shining through the window catch me off guard. I smile when I see the truck that seems to include my very best days and more recently, nights. The only exciting thing about Forks to me is Edward Cullen. I watch as he swaggers in with my brother behind him. He glances at me behind the counter with his lazy half smirk that gets him whatever the hell he wants. Always. His hair is always a complete mess from his tendency to run his hands through it; or because he was just freshly fucked. You never know with him. His eyes are a bluish kind of green, and his jaw could cut glass.

"Belly Bella! You look bored!" My brother, Emmett says. Em is six four and he looks like he's Forks own version of the Hulk. He annoys the shit out of me, but I secretly love that his best friend is Edward. We have the twin thing going on, but we're complete opposites. He also happens to be one of my best friends.

"Well, yeah. My last customer left..." I look at the clock, "three hours ago. There's only so much busy work you can do in this piece of shit before you wanna blow your brains out."

Emmett's already down the aisle with his arms full of shit, but I hear Edward snort.

"Bella." He says, softly in greeting. His eyes are always so intense. I wish I knew what went on inside of his head. We stick to this weird staring contest that seems to always go on.

I look away first, shaking my head when I hear something crash to the floor and Emmett's string of curse words.

"Clean that shit up, you son of a bitch." I yell at him. I watch as he walks to the front, puts down an array of chips, beef jerky, red bull and bologna. He grabs a broom and dust pan, side smirking at me. His dimples suck.

Edward shakes his head. "Rose needs to get the fuck back from New York before I kill this idiot." He flings his arm out, shaking his head.

Rose is my best friend and Emmett's girlfriend. She went to New York to visit family for the week. I'm pissed because she left me with these two who are nothing but trouble. Edward is more trouble for a number of reasons, all pertaining to my heart strings and verbal filter.

"I'll help you hide the body. Also, I have pull with the local authorities..." I trail off, causing him to smile.

Edward on a good day is beautiful. When he smiles, it does something inside of me. I never wanted to be the girl that fell for her brother's best friend; but somewhere between junior year and this summer, he began to make my heart beat a little bit faster, I blushed a little more, and dressed a lot more girly.

I smile when I think of how proud Rose would be. I miss her and in moments like this, I'd kill to tell her just how much Edward being ten feet away from me and looking at me like he is, is messing with my head.

Something happened two nights ago, which was the last time I saw him before tonight. We were at some party on the beach, and I was watching the fire trying not to follow or look at him. I jumped when I felt him near me. Edward sank down next to me on my towel, and bumped his shoulder with mine.

He was as close as he could be, and it was probably the beer, and definitely the weed but it sent my emotions into overdrive.

"What are you doing? You're so quiet..." He trails off. I turn to look at him, and he's looking at me in a new way. The fire reflects in his eyes, and I don't miss the new fire burning in his eyes.

I shrug, unable to answer him.

I feel his pinky rub against mine, and his touch warms me.

"Bella." He's closer and I angle myself to look straight at him. He pushed a piece of hair behind my ear and he's looking at my lips and back into my eyes.

Please kiss me, I think

He leans a little closer and then Emmett is sitting next to him, and tickling my legs, and what the fuck?

"..tonight, and we should totally go. You've been all crazy cat lady on us. What the fuck is that look for?" Em's voice brings me back to the present.

He's standing across the counter with his arms folded.

"Huh?" I ask, ignoring his glare and look to Edward. He shrugs and smirks, no help.

"I said Ty's having another party tonight. We should go. Think you can hang, granny Swan?"

"Yeah, whatever. Are you seriously getting all of this shit, Em?"

He shrugs, "I'm a growing boy and I needa keep up my strength for Rose. I can't wait to fu..." I glare at him and shove a bag of chips at him,gutting him off.

He laughs, and I shake my head.

"Come on, Em. You done shitting around? B needs to close up, and we gotta go get some shit." Edward says, finally.

Emmett nods, pays for his shit and leans over the counter to rub my head. "See ya in twenty minutes, twin. We'll be waiting for you." He walks out, and Edward hovers.

"I'll be right out, Em." He says, tossing him his keys.

Edward walks to the candy shelf next to the counter and grabs a pack of Lemonheads and some gum.

"Will that be all?" I ask, scanning them and taking his five. I'm nervous and why isn't he rushing out like he should be?

He shakes his head and his voice is rough, "Me and you, girl . You don't get a choice, tonight we talk."

He grabs his candy, not even bothering to get his change. I watch him walk to the door, and flip the annoying "Newton's is open and proudly serving You" sign to "Sorry, we're closed."

He walks to his truck, shrugs when Em says something and never looks back.

xo

not beta'd

next chapter... next week-ish. doing my best to make sure real life doesn't eff this one up. please be patient; i'm kinda planning a wedding and going through hell with family stuffs.