Edward POV

How did my brothers convince me into this? We had a show tonight, but this silly beach party just couldn't be missed.

"Guys, why are we even going? We're just going to cause a scene," I reminded them.

"Well, you knew what we signed on for when we entered that recording studio for the first time!" Jasper shouted from the closet.

"I did know, but I also wasn't going to do it on purpose! San Diego to a beach party with who knows how many crazy high school fans."

"You know Alice wants us to go, Edward. It'll help us seem more 'down to earth' like, plus Alice has an old friend that goes to the school," Emmett chirped in. "It'll make Alice happy, which makes Jasper happy, which eventually will make us happy too, remember?"

"Alright, whatever. Let's just get this over with."

I guess if there wasn't anyway I could get out of it, I might as well grin and bear it. We had a show tomorrow night at the House of Blues in San Diego, but we came a day early since this is where Jasper's girlfriend, Alice, is originally from. She had some old friends to see, so we all just came a little earlier.

Alice's old high school was throwing some end of the year bash down at the beach, but no one knew that the hot, new, up and coming band would be there. Now Alice had a tutor like the rest of us, since she was slowly becoming just as famous as my brothers and me.

Oh, and did I mention that I was the signer?

Bella POV

"Bella, time to go!" Jacob yelled up the stairs.

My blue bathing suit top, some matching short board shops, and my favorite flip flops, and I was set.

"Alright, Jake! I'm ready! Aw look, we match. How cute," I said with a wink.

His swim trunks were the same color as my top. He wasn't wearing a shirt. He never did, and I think the girls were fine with that.

"You nervous?" He asked me and put an arm around my waist.

"Eh, a little bit. I know I can beat them though!" I said, like my normal cocky self.

Tonight at the party, there was a bit of a volleyball competition going on. Everyone knew I was the best, but some girls (and a few boys) were willing to take me up on that. There wasn't a prize for winning, it was just a pride thing. That was the biggest prize that could be offered in my book though.

This girl Jessica had always given me problems. At school, we were in the same social group. Well, I was one of the most known girls. Not popular, no, to be popular you had to be liked. Let's put it this way, I had been called the b-word more than once. What can I say? I didn't put up with anyone's crap. I was confident, and no one stood in my way. She was friends with my friends, which made us have to at least be decent to each other. Anyway, now that school was out, she was ready to take me on in volleyball. Growing up a mile away from the beach, everyone could play. Whether they were good at it or not, that was another thing.

I was ready to take on this tournament full force. I was stretched and ready to go. Jake and I walked to the beach, and I went straight to the net.

"You ready, Jess?" I asked her, not caring.

"Of course. You ready to get beat?" She countered.

I scoffed, rolled my eyes, and took my place.

The score was 24 - 23.

Alright. Game point for me, I needed to focus. Jessica had put up a good fight, but not good enough. It was my serve, and I was ready to dominate.

There was some ruckus in the crowd, and bam straight over the net. Jessica set it back over and I went for a hit. She returned with a pass. Pretty good, I dived and got it back over.

Short!

I had just won the game. Oh, thank God. I had been worried for a second. Not that I would ever admit that to anyone.

I walked off the court after shaking Jessica's hand. A few of my "friends" gave me some slaps on the back.

"Hey, Bella, right?" I heard a voice call behind me.

"That's my name, don't wear it out," I replied, not looking back.

"I was wondering if you wanted to come hang out. I heard you were single?" Mystery Man said, making it sound like a question.

"Really? That's cool, cause I heard I wasn't interested," I yelled back, dismissing him.

EPOV

We got to the beach and the five of us -me, Jasper, Emmett, Alice, and Emmett's girlfriend Rosalie- walked to where everybody stood.

They were watching a volleyball game between two girls. Wow, one of the girls was just… Wow. She had long brown hair that was tied back into a ponytail. A few pieces carelessly came down her neck, obviously that had come loose. These chocolate brown eyes that I could've gotten lost in and defiantly focused on the game she was playing. Not to mention a nice body.

Not just the looks, but that determination and athletic. This seemed like my ideal girl. I wanted her. She could be my Alice, my Rosalie. The guys said that I needed a girl in my life anyway. Boost up the popularity a bit.

"Who is that?" I whispered to myself.

"That's Bella Swan, don't even think about it." A guy next to me said, and then got a good luck at me. "Wait, you're him! You're Edward Cullen! What are you doing here?"

Great. Now everyone was staring me, except for that girl. Bella Swan was her name. Oh, a beautiful name to match her. Time for pictures and autographs, joy.

"Bella Swan? Is she single?" I asked the kid.

"She says she is, but-" He started.

"That's all I needed to know."

Just as I said it, everyone started cheering. Bella and the other girl shook hands, and then Bella walked through the crowd getting a few congratulatory slaps on the back. Now was my chance, I was sure she'd fall for me as soon as she realized who I was.

Just as she passed me, I turned to follow her.

"Hey, Bella, right?" I called to her. "Hey, Bella, right?" I heard a voice call behind me.

Without looking back, she countered, "That's my name, don't wear it out."

"I was wondering if you wanted to come hang out. I heard you were single?"

"Really? That's cool, cause I heard I wasn't interested," she yelled back.

Ooh, feisty. That's always nice.

What I saw next almost ruined my hope. Key word, almost.

There she was, my dream girl, going to sit next to some guy on a towel. He wrapped an arm around her and I heard him give her a congratulations. That guy had said she was single, right? Maybe I should've listened to every thing he had to say.

BPOV

"Congratulations, Bells!" Jacob shouted and put an arm around my shoulders.

"Thanks, hun. Do you have my shorts? These ones are really bothering me," I asked.

He pulled out my jean short-shorts from my bag and a white tank top. I quickly changed, just putting them on over my bathing suit. I might go into the ocean later anyway. Right now, everybody was eating though.

"Congratulations at the game!" Lauren said mockingly and then eyed Jacob's arms.

Oh, thank God I was done at that stupid school. These silly girls that didn't get the picture. Me and Jake didn't exist. He was Jake, I was Bella, and there was nothing going on between us. He was my best friend in the entire world, more like a brother. Sure, at one point we had been more than friends. And sure, he was my first everything. That's right, I lost it to Jacob Black. But as for now, there was nothing going on. No one seemed to believe that though. Didn't help that we were a little touchy, I guess.

"Can't you back off? You know there's nothing going on!" I shouted back at her.

"Geeze, chill. I know there's like more going on. It's gross. I don't know what he like sees in you," Lauren said.

I just rolled my eyes, she wasn't worth it.

Jake nudged me in the ribs. At first, I was about to come up with some snotty response, but then I saw what he was looking at. Some guy was staring at us. Creep. Hmm… I bet it was that guy talking to me earlier. Ha, I had completely forgotten about him. I hadn't even told Jake, and I told him everything.

"Want me to go take care of him?" He whispered.

"Nope, I've got it. He looks familiar sort of? That's weird."

"I was just thinking the same thing. Whatever, go show him not to mess with my Belly!"

"You know I hate that nickname!" I shouted as I walked to this Mystery Guy.

"Hey, do you have a problem?" I asked him.

"Nope, no problem here. I just wanted to know if you wanted to come hang out with me and my friends," he said and pointed back to some people a bit away.

"Well, that's just too bad. I have this rule about not hanging out with strangers. Actually, I just made it tonight."

"And an attitude? I'm starting to like you a little more, Bella."

"How is it that you know my name?"

"Some kid at your game, who had the hots for you by the way, told me. Oh yeah, and congratulations on that."

People kept looking over at us, and I wanted to slap them. What was their problem? I couldn't talk to some guy, well, I'd rather not be talking to him anyway.

"Eh, probably Mike. Thank you." I wasn't one to deny compliments. "Best at our school, best out of everyone I've ever played. What can I say? It's my game. Now, remind me why I'm talking to you? And, what's your name?"

"Do you really not know who I am or is this part of your game?"

"I really don't know who you are. Should I? My friend and I thought you looked a little familiar. Did you use to go to West High?"

"Looked like more than a friend to me." I could've swore I heard him mutter under his breath. "I'll give you a hint. My name's Edward. Edward Cullen. Ring any bells?"

I shook my head. Why did he have to play games? He couldn't just tell me who the heck he was?

"Two brothers, Emmett and Jasper. We've been on just about every cover of any teenage magazine over the last year?"

"I don't read teenage magazine. I'm not your regular teenager, you could say. Oh yeah! I remember now! You're in that band? The singer!"

"You really didn't know, did you? So, now that you know, will you come hang out with us? I'm starting to like you, Bells."

"Hold up, that nickname is reserved for friends, my best friend actually. And you don't get to use that quite yet. Also, do you really think you being famous would make me come hang out with you? I'm not that low. I'll hang out with you because I like you, not because you're a singer."

"BELLY!" I heard someone yell.