I stood looking out over the crowd of people surrounding me, as an immense sadness washed over my body, I had finally graduated. I had spent four years at the University of Washington, and yet it had felt like it passed in the blink of an eye.

"Bella! I want you to come and meet the rest of my family!" Alice my pixie-haired-roommate of the past four years ran up to me, interrupting my internal ponderings.

"Now I must warn you, Edward is being grumpy about being here so try not to take anything personal from him, but the rest of my family is excited to finally meet you!" she squealed. I had met Alice's mother and father several times before but had only been acquainted with one of her brothers, Jasper, who was our age and also graduated today with us. I had come to known Alice and Jasper very well over the past two years, and they were the only two friends I could say I would miss after graduation. I tried to calm my nerves while I was being pulled through the crowed by Alice, but with every step I felt them intensify, I hate meeting new people, even if they are my best friends family. Alice is very close with her family, and she has told me a lot about her siblings over the years, Emmett is her oldest brother and is the rambunctious personal trainer who is married to Rosalie, her older sister who teaches women empowerment classes and owns her own auto-repair shop, and lastly, Edward who is our age but graduated college extremely early, and was currently the CEO of a very profitable company, he began once he graduated. Success seemed to follow the Cullen's. Even Alice and Jasper had jobs set to start a month after graduating, Alice was to intern at one of Seattle's top clothing designers, and Jasper was going to start working at Edward's company. Both she and her siblings were all adopted by the Cullen's at various ages.

"Okay, Bella!" she smiles at me expectantly and then turns opening herself up to the rest of her family. "Of course you know Carlisle and Esme, but this is my oldest brother Emmett…" she said as she gestured towards a bear of a man dressed in a button down shirt and khaki pants, he waved at me with a smile on his face that reminded me of an excited young boy, "…and this is Rosalie…" she gestured to a tall blonde wearing a low cut red, form-fitting- dress, who had one arm wrapped around Emmett, Rosalie showed a small smile and said Hello, "…and this is Edward!" the last man to be introduced wore a dark grey suit with a white button down shirt, and was breathtaking. He looked at me with dark narrowed eyes and nodded his head in my direction without a smile on his face as if I was a mere insignificant distraction. The effect made me feel half an inch tall.

"Bella, honey, you look absolutely gorgeous" Esme said. I tried to form a smile on my face but could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as I looked down at my feet.

"Thank you Esme, but I am just happy that I made it across the stage without falling on my face if I am being honest."

"You did perfect, graceful as a swan." Carlisle winked at me, and I chuckled at his pun, "Did Renee or Charlie make it out today?"

"No, unfortunately they were both tied up, but I heard that the school streamed the ceremony so I am sure that they both watched online."

"Well in that case we cannot let you wander off by yourself, would you like to join us for lunch dear?" I had always loved being around Esme and Carlisle, they always took me in and made me feel welcome in any situation, even when their son clearly wanted nothing to do with me.

"Um, yes, sure that would be great thank you very much" my cheeks burned brighter in their kindness.

"Okay, Great! Edward you can drive Alice, Bella, and Jasper, and we will meet you wherever the girls choose to go!" Carlisle instructed. Edward gave a pointed look towards Carlisle, but strode off in the direction of the exit without saying anything to contradict the plan. My heart sank as I stared off at him as he left, and could not help but feel that his reaction had been because of my inclusion, the last thing I wanted to do was get in the car with him.

"Don't worry about him Bella," Alice said as she snaked her arm with mine, "he is my brother and I love him, but he can sure be moody". Alice and I laughed and chatted about all the girls dresses and how we could not believe that we had finally finished our undergrad, until we got to the car. We stopped next to a sleek, silver car, that I could tell cost a fortune, and was probably the most expensive car in the lot. Jasper slid into the front seat while Alice and I slid into the back of the car, the interior was black leather and smelled of fresh cotton, every square inch of the car was clean, not a speck of dirt in sight. Unlike Alice's car that was filled with shopping bags, packets of gum and smelled like flowers, this car had no signs of personalization. Edward Cullen was a very formal man.

"So, Where to?" Jasper asked. I have always liked Jasper, he is the perfect calm to the whirlwind that is Alice Cullen.

"Um…I don't know. We haven't had Metropolitan Grill in a while! Oh or Spinasee! OOOO how about Altura! OR TERRA PLATA!" Alice was speaking very loudly, clearly very excited to be with her family.

"Alice, please be a little quitter." Edward asked as he closed his eyes and began massaging his temples and stomach. But I could tell in all her glee, Alice had not heard him.

"I don't really know, cause I kinda want sushi, but then again Italiana sounds good, but also a steak sounds divine, and I know you love El Gaucho Jasper" Alice continued on in the same volume with her high pitched voice, "I mean it's not like we will not be in Seattle anymore, so I guess it really doesn't matter, but I just want it to be SPECIAL! I KNOW HOW ABOUT…"

"ALICE! SHUT UP!" Edward boomed, making me jump but effectively quieting his sister's ramblings. "I do not know why mom and dad ever give you the option of choosing a place, you will be happy no matter where we go." Alice looked slightly crestfallen but shrugged her shoulders in agreement. "Jasper, please pick one of the twelve things Alice listed and then notify Esme or Carlisle with the decision." Jeez, even when he spoke Edward was formal, it made we wonder what he was like as a child.

"Okay, does El Gaucho sound good to everyone?" Alice and I both nodded our heads, Alice with a smile on her face because she knew what Jasper would pick ahead of time, I swear those two were destined to be together. "Edward is that okay with you?"

"I will not be eating." Alice crinkled her eyes in concern for her brother then placed a hand one his shoulder.

"Are you not feeling well? We don't have to go if-"Edward cut her off again.

"Alice. Stop it." Edward said in a cold tone. He glared at her in his rearview mirror and she removed her hand from his shoulder and sat back in her seat. This was not the Edward Cullen I expected to meet. Alice had always claimed that Edward was her favorite brother, and that he and her were always the closest growing up, but the man seated in the driver's seat seemed to be the furthest thing from the loving brother Alice had described. Edward put the car in reverse and headed in the direction of the restaurant. We all remained quiet on the drive over, and I could not wait to get out of the car.

The rest of the Cullen family arrived in better moods and we were all seated at the table. All the girls sat on one side and the boys on the other with Carlisle and Esme at opposite heads of the table, and I couldn't help but feel like this was the routine seating arrangement for the Cullen's. The only seat open to my dismay was the corner seat opposite of Edward, but thankfully next to Alice and Carlisle. During the meal we talked about plans for the weekend, out best memories from college, and random happenings back at the Cullen's small home town of Forks. I noticed that Edward ordered an ice water and left it untouched. He did not once say anything and instead kept his eyes glued to the table top, w with his hands clutching his abdomen. The rest of the family made no effort to converse with him, and with the exception of Esme who sent him a few worried looks, paid no attention to him. I found their behavior odd, but decided to try and follow suit. As Emmett began to talk about his muscle gains and new approaches to workouts, however, my eyes and thoughts shifted to Edward. How could someone so smart and successful in the business world be so distant and cold? Wasn't the business world about making connections and socializing? I could not even imagine the Edward I observed today being friendly or simply smiling for that matter. Maybe it was because he wasn't feeling well? Why isn't his family talking to him or trying to comfort him? On second thought I couldn't picture Edward willingly allowing anyone to comfort him, the scene in the car with Alice told me that much. He was much too formal for comfort. But talking to him at least surely would help right? Unless, possibly, this was a normal thing for Edward, and his family already knew what was wrong? That would explain his families dismissal of the pained Edward seated at the end of the table. At that moment, Edward broke his stare with the table and lifted his eyes to mine. If looks could kill, I would be dead. He held his glare as if he could hear my thoughts and wished to burn me to ashes, try as I may, I couldn't break the stare. He then unceremoniously stood, pushed his chair back and walked towards the back of the restaurant.

"He is being such a downer today" Rosalie rolled her eyes then popped another piece of steak into her mouth.

"Rose, not now." Esme looked at her with a disapproving look, which Rosalie shrugged off.

"So, Bella where are you going to be living now that you've graduated?" Carlisle asked

"Um, well I hoped to crash with Alice for a couple of weeks until I could find a job and get a steady income. I have a few interviews next Monday, so it shouldn't be too long until I can get my own place."

"Oh Shoot!" Alice dropped her fork and exclaimed, "Bella I am so so so so so sorry, I thought I had told you! Well um, you see, I'm actually moving in with Edward now. He was very determined that he didn't want me to be living somewhere without proper protection and amenities. He's very protective you see. And well… I agreed! And I meant to ask him about you moving in as well but it slipped my mind with graduation and finals! I feel like the worst best friend in the world!" My heart sank into my shoes. My mind went to the worst and I came to the determination that I would have to live in my car.

"Well that's fine Alice dear, I'm sure Edward will allow Bella to stay with him for a little while until she gets settled!" Esme piped in.

"No, it is okay, I don't want to be a bother. It's really fine, Ill figure it out!"

"Bella, do not be ridiculous! There is plenty of room at Edward's Apartment. Please do not make me worry about you, just stay with Alice so that I know you are safe." Esme could be very convincing especially when she looked at me with those motherly eyes. I really did not want to make her worry.

"I don't think Edward would like it if-" Esme cut across me,

"Any son of mine will happily open his door to a friend of the family. I will make sure Edward is on his best behavior. I know tonight he has not given you the best impression dear, but Edward does have a kind and caring soul."

"Bella I will talk to him and we can figure this out before we have to move out! Tonight isn't the night though." Alice promised.

"Do not worry about anything Bella dear, we will not leave you homeless".

The Family finished their meals, and Edward returned to the table just in time to leave. The drive back to campus was a quite one, with everyone's stomachs full of food or mind full of thoughts. When we pulled up to our apartment we all got out of the car, including Edward who shook hands with Jasper, congratulating him on his graduation. Edward then turned to Alice and pulled her close to him in a tight hug, kissed her on the head and then told her that he was proud of her. This was a completely different man I was seeing, one that matched the Edward in Alice's stories. Maybe there was hope for him. Then after releasing Alice, he narrowed his eyes and his stone mask reappeared on his face as he glanced at me then got back into his car. Whoa, talk about a mood swing.