Author's Note:
All the characters names in this story belong to Stephenie Meyer. The story line and incidents are purely a fun invention from my crazy mind.

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: 1 :

"We are worried about you…"Jessica Stanley, one of my best friends and roommates stated, in plural, before sucking down the last dregs of her fruit smoothie through her straw. "You have to come with us. We aren't taking a 'no' for an answer."

Angela Weber, my other best friend and roommate, nodded, agreeing with Jessica. I looked at the determined look on their faces, sighed, and hung my head. I'm in trouble, I thought silently to myself.

Ever since Edward Mason, broke up with me. I'll admit that I've been a mess. That's why after a month of hibernating and licking my wounds, Jessica and Angela dragged me out of my safe haven (my room), and brought me here to the mall, to shop. They forced me into a spa for "rejuvenation." It didn't work. I still hurt. No manicure, pedicure, or facial, could ever mend a broken heart.

Edward and I were together for ten months. I fell head over heels in love with the man. We fit perfectly together… Well we used to fit perfectly together. Edward was my first boyfriend, my first kiss, my first love… possibly my last. I should have known that it wasn't going to last. Edward is angelically beautiful, with his high cheekbones, strong jaw line, straight nose, and full lips. I always got lost in his green eyes. I miss the feel of his messy, unusual, natural bronze hair, in my fingertips. I miss everything about him…

"Bella," Angela spoke up this time, winning my attention.

I slowly lifted my head up to meet her dark gaze. I've always envied my two best friends they were so Vogue magazine beautiful.

"My birthday is in two days. We are going to celebrate big, and you've never taken a day off of work…"

"Ohmigod, and its spring break! Which means Vegas will be swarming with hot college guys." Jessica chimed in excitedly.

Angela and I rolled our eyes at our sexually hungry friend.

"I'll talk to my boss about taking some time off," I mumbled looking down at my freshly manicured fingernails.

"We're leaving in two days." Angela smiled.

"What? I don't even have my airline tickets." I dully stated.

"I bought them for you. You can thank me when you hit the jackpot in Vegas baby!" Jessica excitedly clapped in her chair.

The next day I walked into the old building where I worked as a column writer for the Seattle Times. The first day I came here as an intern, I was in such awe of the different colored glass mosaic that decorates the entrance to the fifth floor. Now, I just walk past them as if they weren't there, if only I can do the same thing mentally, when it comes to Edward.

I slid into my comfy, black leather, computer chair in front of my cherry wood desk. I rested my head back on the chair's high back and closed my eyes.

:: One Month Before::
"Bella, we need to talk…" Edward said after wiping his mouth with the fancy napkin of the restaurant he brought me to tonight, the candlelight on the table illuminating his beautiful green eyes. I thought for sure he was going to ask me to marry him. I already had my answer on the tip of my tongue.

"I'm moving to New York, as a financial advisor I have more of an opportunity to be more successful." I couldn't place the emotion that ran across his face.

I shrugged my shoulders, "As a writer I can move anywhere and in New York, there are countless magazine companies I could work for…"

"Bella, I'm going alone." He interrupted seeming a bit agitated. This is not where I thought our special dinner night would be heading.

"You're breaking up with me." I sat back looking at him stunned.

He nodded, "Let's be realistic Bella. A long distance relationship would have never worked."

"I said I was willing to move to New York."

"And leave Seattle? Your friends? I can't ask you to do that."

"I love you. I would do it for you." I let out a little gasp as tears began to roll down my cheeks.

"I love you too Bella, but honestly I'm no longer in love with you. That's why I took the job in New York. You're a wonderful woman and I enjoyed our time together very much, but you deserve better. It's not you, it's all me. I know that sounds so cliché, but it's true." With one last kiss on my cheek, Edward Mason deleted himself from my life, but not my thoughts, my memories, or my heart.

. . .

"Bella, did you ask Victoria for the time off yet?" Angela whispered to me from her cubicle across the way from mine.

I shook my head, "I'm scared, and what if she won't give it to me?"

Angela looked at me from above the rim of her reading glasses, "Take a deep breath, march in there, and just ask. She'll give it to you. I promise."

"How can you be so…"

"Ladies, looking lovely as always," Eric Yorkie, a free lance writer, and Angela's ex-high school boyfriend interrupted. He is so lanky and nerdy looking I don't understand what a beautiful girl like Angela ever saw in him, but she thankfully out grew him and the immature Ben Cheney she was involved with in college.

"Go away Eric, can't you see we're talking." Angela shooed him away. "What were you saying?"

"Um… Ang I'm sorry to interrupt but the boss needs the slides of yesterday's festival." Eric said leaning on her desk.

She got up from her chair and stood nose to nose with Eric. "They're at the printers as soon as they get on my desk I'll hand deliver them. Now run along, like the good little butt kisser that you are."

I chuckled and turned my chair back around to finish typing up the article of said festival. The phone on my desk shrilled to life.

"Seattle Times this is Bella."

"Bella, can you please come to my office." Victoria Sutherland, Chief Editor of the newspaper, had one hell of an attitude and the flaming red hair to match.

When Victoria beckons you, you have to run. She doesn't like to wait for anyone or anything. I can't blame her it's a lot of stress to be Chief Editor of an important newspaper.

"Have a seat," She gestured towards the chairs that faced her.

With a gulp, I nervously tucked an array piece of my hair behind my ear, as I took my seat.

"You have my article?" She asked not looking away from whatever paperwork she was currently proof reading.

"Uh…" I cleared my throat that suddenly felt like the Sahara. "I'm finishing it up."

"By when will it be on my desk?" She asked leaning back in her chair, glaring at me with dark predatory eyes.

"A… a… h-h-hour or less," I stuttered out.

"Okay, I called you in here for something else. I need you to do an article on a Chinese restaurant for their seventeenth anniversary. They're one of our big advertisers. Depending on how this article turns out I might promote you to editor." She winked at me.

I nodded. "Is that all?"

"What's wrong? Usually people get excited when they here promotion." She crossed her arms and furrowed her perfectly arched eyebrows at me.

"I am excited. I just show it differently." I semi-lied, a part of me was happy because now I had an excuse to not go to Vegas with the girls, but I was surprised that I was a little disappointed… a change of scenery would have been nice.

I stood up from my chair, "I'll have that article on the festival, on your desk as soon as possible, Mrs. Sutherland."

"Bella?"

"Yes, Mrs. Sutherland?" I turned around to face her but kept my hand on the silver plated door handle.

"When was the last time you took a vacation?" She asked getting up from her chair and walking around her desk.

"Never, but that's okay I like working." I let go of the door handle and folded my hands in front of me.

"Don't lie to me Bella. You know why I hired you?" She leaned against her desk and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

I just shook my head lightly from side to side.

"I loved your easy style of writing. You showed great potential to be a wonderful editor, but lately all of your work lacks that… that passion. You don't want talk to me about your personal life? That's fine, I completely understand. Take some time off, I'll get someone else to write that article." She turned back around and began shuffling the papers around on her desk.

"But…" I was about to cry, this felt a lot like being dumped again.

"Bella, you're not fired and I'll still promote you. I tell you what; when you get back from your vacation, bring me an article about what you did during your time off. Remind me why I hired you a year ago." She picked up her phone and began barking demands at the other people in the office.

. . .

The beauty of The Bellagio Hotel and Casino greeted us upon arriving at the front door from the Taxi ride. I breathed in the warm air and felt like I was back in my hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, in the dry heat. This is nice, I'm glad I wound up coming after all.

"Bella after we check-in we should check out the Garden. I read somewhere that it's a must see." Angela said to me as we made our way into the hotel.

"Umm… no after we check-in we're changing into our bathing suits and lounging pool side to work on our tans and sexy college boys." Jessica's words drifted after a group of young looking college boys passed us by. "What? Don't look at me like that. We only live once. Why not live it up before we get knocked up and tied to a life of slavery."

"I love you're outlook on marriage and family." Angela said sarcastically.

Once we were in our room, I threw myself on the plush bed that I'll be resting my head on for the next few nights. I can't believe I'm in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"We got a fully loaded mini bar!" Jessica shrieked.

I propped myself up on my elbows, "I can definitely use a drink."

"Alright Bella that's what I'm talking about!" Jessica happily handed Angela and myself a mini whisky bottle that burned going down my throat and tasted just as bad, but now I can drink until I go numb. I'm going to drink until I no longer see Edward every time I close my eyes.