DISCLAIMER: I don't any of the characters.

Ok I've changed the status on How did we get here? To complete. It wasn't originally how I planned it to end but I reread the story and decided that it was an ok place to put it to an end. If anybody wants to continue the story, go ahead.

Anyway this is new idea, just let me know if you think it's worth continuing.

Thanks guys!

- Charlotte.

CHAPTER 1

"Bella come on! It's just one night out with me and Rose, you need a break!"

Alice was trying to get me to come out for the third time this week. And I was again, much to her agitation, refusing.

"Ali, you know I'm stressed with my show opening, once that's over I promise I'll start coming out with you guys again."

I had my first ever exhibition of my photographs opening on Saturday night and I really felt that I didn't have time to be going out. "Besides it's a Wednesday."

Alice looked at me with a sheepish expression, "there's a new club opening and there's this guy..."

"There's always a guy Al," I cut her off.

"There's not always a guy," she defended, "and besides this one's special, his names..."

Again I cut her off, "I don't want to know what his name is until you know he's important to you, ok?"

She opened her mouth to argue but shut it again before agreeing, "fine, ok, not until he's important. Got it."

I looked back down at the photo's I was currently studying still trying to make the final decision as to which ones I would put in show. Most had been decided obviously with the show only a few days away, but there were still a few spots that needed filling.

After a few more minutes arguing with Alice, and a heated conversation with Rose over the phone I was finally left to my own devices on the condition that following the opening on Saturday I would be going out with them. Usually I went out with Rose and Alice two or three times a week, being anti-social really didn't work for us, but with my photos going on display so soon the last couple of weeks had been just that for me. And while I missed my friends desperately, and it felt as though the walls of my New York apartment that I shared with Alice seemed to be closing in, I knew that my main focus had to be my work.

I had the majority of the photos that would be going on display framed and packed ready to take to the gallery I was using. I was getting access to the gallery from Thursday night onwards. A glance at my watch told me it was eight o'clock which was enough to remind me that I hadn't eaten in about six hours. Just as I was about to get up to see what I had, my phone when off with a message from my brother.

Hey sis,

if you won't come to the outside world, its coming to you,

on my way with Chinese c u :-)

I laughed and replied quickly

Thanks Em, sounds great

Xx

Emmett was there within ten minutes and we sat on my living room floor eating the food he had brought with him.

"So, Bells, what's been going on? Haven't heard from you in a few days." Emmett and I were in constant contact, so while for any other person a few days wasn't long not to talk to somebody, for us, it was forever.

"I know, I'm sorry, I've just been so bogged down with the show opening," is looked at him with a sorry smile.

"I know, I've just missed you, we haven't hung out in forever," Emmett replied. I had to laugh at the whininess in his voice. While Emmett was more than two years older than me, it often felt like I was the older sibling. Emmett always needed a little bit of attention to be happy and I realised then that by being so caught up in my work I had neglected to give him that.

"Well it's only a couple more days, and I promised Rose and Ali that I'd go out with them afterwards on Saturday, you should come," I suggested.

Emmett's eyes lit up, "Rosalie will be there?"

I laughed at his expression; Rose had become fast friends with me and Ali once we moved to New York and as long as we've been friends with her, Emmett's had a thing for her.

"Yes she is, maybe this time you could actually ask her out or something," I said with a smile. Em and Rose were always flirtatious with one another but it never went anywhere, and knowing Rose the way I did the only way it would go somewhere was if Emmett made the first move. Rose was a traditionalist when it came to guys; she never moved first.

He looked down at the take out box he was eating from, "yeah, maybe." And knowing Emmett the way I did, it would be a big deal for him to make a move on Rose. While Emmett had no problems getting women, we both knew it was different with Rose and I knew he was probably terrified of being rejected by the women of his dreams.

We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes while we finished our food. Once we had discarded the take out boxes we sat down on the couch with mugs of coffee.

"So what have you been up to the last few days?" I asked Em.

"Not much, still looking for a job," Em had been looking for a job for a few months now, he hated the job he was at, at the moment and was looking for a job that offered him better hours and pay. "But I caught up with an old friend from school the other day."

"Oh yeah, anyone I know?" I asked, just simply being curious.

Emmett looked uncomfortable for a moment like he had said something he really shouldn't have, he recovered and replied, "nah I don't think so, he was a senior with me." I let it go, but still felt as though his reaction was strange and that he was hiding something from me.

"Anyway it's getting late and I better get going," Emmett said as he stood from the couch. I had found the last couple of minutes very strange and with Emmett rushing to leave it felt even stranger.

I gave Emmett a hug at the door and promised I'd talk to him soon and that I'd see him Saturday night at the latest.

I moved back into the living area to pick up the mugs from our drinks, I took them to the kitchen and made myself a tea before moving to my room. I climbed into bed and by the time I had finished my tea, I was already half asleep.

I woke up the next morning to increasingly common butterflies in my stomach, the day after tomorrow, my show would open. I got out of bed and made my way quietly passed Alice's room, not wanting to wake her. I got to the kitchen and made myself a coffee. I decided what I needed this morning was some exercise so I made my way down to the gym in our apartment building for only the second time this week.

After an hour and a half at the gym I made my way back to our apartment and made myself a fruit smoothie for breakfast before making my way into the bathroom to get ready.

I flat ironed my hair and put on some make up before leaving the bathroom to get dressed. I put on a casual deep purple dress that came to just above my knee and a pair of black pumps on my feet, before grabbing my pale brown suede tote bag and making my way out to the kitchen. Was now nine o'clock and while I had been up for close to three hours Alice was just moving into the kitchen now, and she looked a little worse for wear.

"Morning Ali, rough night?" I asked sweetly.

"Shut up Miss I'm-Too-Busy-To-Come-Out-Anymore. And don't look at me like that; you know that if it weren't for your show you would be looking just like me right now."

I had to give her that, Alice and I were not known for partying half-heartedly, if were gonna do it, were gonna do it properly. And she was right, if it wasn't for work I would have been out with them all night.

I laughed, "I know, I know. I'll call you later, up for some shopping?"I got a smile out of her at least with the thought of shopping. I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and made my way out of the apartment.

Once outside it didn't take me long to hail a taxi. I had a lot to do today; I had to talk to the caterers who were providing food for my event, I had to go to the framers to make sure that my pictures were framed the way I wanted and to make sure that they were being delivered to the gallery tomorrow morning and finally I had to buy a new dress for the exhibit. I was hoping to get everything else finished so that I could spend more time on this part of my to-do list. I had inherited my love of shopping from Alice; it was actually quite contagious if you got into it, needless to say I was now hooked.

Once I had finished with the framers and caterers it was about quarter to one. I called Alice.

She answered the phone sounding decidedly more cheery than she had that morning.

"Hey Ali, up for some lunch and then shopping?" I asked.

"Sounds great, usual place in twenty?"

"Okay, sounds good, I'll see you soon, hon."

When we first came to New York, Ali and I had found a little cafe in one of the little side streets. They made amazing coffee and over the years it had become our "usual".

I made my way into the cafe about fifteen minutes later to find Ali already there.

I sat down opposite her and took a sip of the coffee she had already ordered for me. I smiled over the cup at her with appreciation.

A waiter came and took our order and half an hour later we had finished four cups of coffee and two salads between us.

We made our way out into the street and made our way to the mall a block or so away.

After three hours of shopping we emerged; me with a new dress, heels and a clutch.

We parted ways, Alice having to get pack to work and me making my way home to drop off our purchases. Alice was the manager of a boutique clothing store and was hoping to break through with her own label in the next few years.

Once home I slipped of my stilettos and put Alice's clothes on her bed and put all my new things away. It was five at the moment and the keys to the gallery were being given to me at six oclock tonight till a week from now, the following Thursday. This meant I had them for the duration of the display. I pottered around the house for a little while longer before putting my shoes back on and making my way out side to make the fifteen minute taxi ride to the gallery.

Once I got there it was ten to six and the owner of the gallery happily handed the keys over early.

I was so lucky to have been given these premises, and while it wasn't cheap I was lucky that I had my grandfather's inheritance in my favour. In other words Daddy's credit card was more than easily paying for it. I didn't like to boast about the fact that I was well off, but at times like this I appreciated that the money my grandfather had left Dad's more than paid for me to satisfy my ambitions. I intended that as soon as my work was making what I wanted it to make, I would stop being so reliant on the family gold.

I made my way into the gallery to have a look around the premises and start to get an idea of which photos I would put where.

I left the gallery about seven and made my way back to the apartment, I needed to get a good night sleep; tomorrow would be hectic.