A/N: I don't own Twilight or its characters. If I did, I would have A LOT more money than I have in my pocket! I'm just playing around here!

*crickets chirping* Uh, hi!

I don't even know how to begin to apologize to you all. I'm so sorry for being radio silence for so long. I won't make excuses (you probably wouldn't believe me anyways!) because it really was just careless of me to leave all of you hanging!

So, sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry!

Now that the apologies are out of the way, I present to you A Delicate Pas de Deux. This story is very personal for me. I was a dancer for many, many years (still am!) but I was never en pointe, having hopelessly abandoned ballet when I was 14. All of my knowledge in this story comes from friends and research. If there are any ballerinas out there, please let me know if I get something wrong!

WARNING. PLEASE READ: This story does contain the effects of depression and body image disorders (Body Dysmorphic Disorder). If this effects you in any way, please read at your own risk.

Phew, lots of AN today!

On with the story!

Chapter 1

Entrée – Entrance

BPOV

I took a deep breath, adjusted the strap of my worn leather messenger bag on my shoulder, and knocked on the door of apartment 4C.

Heavy footsteps echoed on the other side of the door before the door was suddenly thrust open and a huge man stood in the doorway.

"Uh, hi," I stammered, playing awkwardly with the strap on my bag as I looked up at the enormous man that stood, smiling down at me. "I'm here about the ad for a roommate?"

The bug guy smiled. "You must be Bella! Come on in."

I gave him a quizzical look as he took my coat. "And you are . . .?" I asked him quietly.

He barked out a booming laugh as he hung my coat on the closet doorknob that made me jump in surprise. "Sorry, Tiny, I'm Emmett McCarty." He stuck out a hand the size of a dinner plate which I shook. "I'm one of the guys that live here."

I felt my eyebrows raise in surprise. One, at him calling me Tiny and two, at him saying he lived here. When I called here yesterday, a woman answered. "And who else lives here?"

"Me and my two buddies, Jasper and Edward."

I balked. Three guys? I'm interviewing to live in an apartment with three guys?

Holy crap . . .

"Wh-when I called y-yesterday a woman answered." I stuttered out nervously.

Emmett smiled. "Oh yeah, that was Esme. She was the one who told me you called. She's Edward's sister-in-law so she's always around here somewhere."

With that settled, my thoughts moved to the inhabitants of this gorgeous apartment I was now following Emmett through. It's a sort of spacious loft space with large windows that made the whole place seem bright and open.

Could I live with three guys?

I've never had any sort of experience with guys who aren't related to me. My two best friends, who I've known since the first day of college, are women and my work friends are women and gay men, except for Jake. I was always overlooked in high school, never pretty enough to hang out with the popular kids but not smart enough for the nerds. I don't think a boy ever spoke to me in high school unless we had a required group project or if he was a friend's boyfriend just trying to be nice.

I've dated a little – and by a little I mean once. I even attempted to lose my virginity to a guy college who seemed to like me, just to get it over with, but it turned out that he only went on a date with me as a dare. I've never had a long term relationship. When I'm around people I've just met, I tend to get a little awkward and stumble over my words. Not great first date material.

Yep, that's right. Still a virgin at 23.

Emmett gestured for me to sit on the brown leather loveseat adjacent to the long matching couch. "Hold on," he dashed over to a door at the head of a hallway, just inside my line of sight. He pounded his huge fist on the door and yelled, "Jazz, get your ass out here."

He quickly returned to sit on the couch before a tall blonde stumbled out into the living room. He was a good looking guy, but I didn't really go for the curly blonde, lanky types.

Emmett smiled again and gestured him over. "Hey, Jazz this is Bella. She's here to see the spare room."

The blonde man smiled sweetly and took my hand that I held out for him to shake. But to my surprise, instead of shaking it like I thought, he pulled it up to his lips and kissed it. "Nice to meet you, Miss Bella. I'm Jasper Whitlock." he said in deep southern twang that almost made my jaw drop.

"Oh, um, nice to meet you too." I stammered.

Jasper plopped on the couch next to Emmett. "So, where's Ed?" Jasper asked Emmett.

"He mumbled something about sheet music and a broken A-string when he left this morning." Emmett rolled his eyes before turning to me. "So, Tiny, what's your story?"

"My story?"

They both nodded, looking a little like bobble heads. "Yes, ma'am," Jasper said. "Tell us about yourself."

"Uh, well," I started unintelligently. "I was born and raised in Forks, Washington, about three hours from here. My dad's the Chief of Police and my mom's a kindergarten teacher. I'm twenty-three. I graduated from Julliard two years ago with – "

"Wait, hold up," Emmett held up his hand. "You went to Julliard?" He managed to look impressed and dumbfounded in the same expression.

I felt my cheeks heat up in a deep blush. "Yeah, I did."

Emmett turned to Jasper. "Ed went there, didn't he?"

Jasper rolled his. "Yeah, Em," he said patronizingly. "So what do you do Bella?"

"I'm a ballet dancer."

Their eyebrows shot up simultaneously then they glanced at each other meaningfully. "Please continue," Jasper said with a smile.

"I'm the Second Soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet and I hope to open my own studio one day." I paused to gather my thoughts. "I wasn't able to find a place after my lease on my last apartment ran out a few months ago so I've been living with my two best friends. I thought it was time that I stop crashing on their couch and find my own place and stop mooching on their hospitality." I let out a small, unladylike snort of laughter. "They would actually kill me if they found out I was looking for a place. They don't want me to leave."

Jasper and Emmett chuckled and then told me a little bit about the amenities of the place, laundry room in the apartment, professional level kitchen since Jasper apparently is a chef at a restaurant downtown, and a weight room for Emmett, a personal trainer, and a music room for the allusive Edward, a composer. There's also a pool in the basement of the complex.

Since the apartment will be shared by four people, the rent estimate they gave me was well within my budget. They gave me a quick tour of the place and walked me out to my car.

"Well, you have my vote, Tiny!" Emmett boomed as he held my car door open.

Jasper nodded. "Me too,"

I smiled up at them, finally feeling comfortable around the two goofballs. "Thanks, I have to say I really loved the place."

With a promise to call me as soon as they talk to their roommate, Emmett gave me a huge bear hug and Jasper kissed my hand politely before disappearing back inside their building.

I did a little squeal and a happy wiggle as I drove back to Alice and Rose's apartment. I had a good feeling about these guys.

A/N: Thanks SO much for reading! PLEASE leave me a review to let me know what you think! Love it? Hate it? Just okay? I want to know!

Thank you to everyone who read!

I apologize again for my VERY long absence.

NEW chapter of My Little Secret coming soon! Stay tuned for that!

Thanks again!

- Niknak