Author's Note: Hi everyone! This is my very first chaptered fanfic! Of course, I'll only be able to keep writing if I get enough pressure. I tend to leave stuff out to dry unless someone insists. XD By the way, everyone's human here.

In any case, here's the first chapter. I promise it'll get better in the following ones. It's all in my head.

Enjoy! And please review, reviews make me smile. :)

Disclaimer: If I owned Twilight, Edward would've lost his virtue in the first book, and I'd have been very descriptive about it.

Chapter 1: The Hunt

Coat on and résumés in hand, I head out the door in search of destiny; in other words, a job. As a student in an Ivy League college, it's hard to make a decent living while hopping from class to class practically the entire time. What with photo copies, books, extra pencils, caffeine pills, and that silly little thing called food; you do what you can to survive. There are no breaks. Not even in the summer. This is my way of prevailing in the real world.

I need an income.

And so the job hunt begins.

I can do this. I tell myself. Bella, you can do this.

I walk down the streets of Hanover, New Hampshire. The weather is fair, considering it is summer. I hope to find a decent, humble occupation. Something that can keep me busy during the summer, give me enough money that, together with my savings account, can get me through the following semester, and something I won't completely despise. The possibilities are slim to none, but I'm keeping my chin up. Despite my hopes, I only have one major condition. No fast food places.

Want ads in hand, I walk into Possibility #1: receptionist at a pediatrician's office. A small bell jingles as I open the door, children playing at colorful tables or sitting with their parents on deco cushioned seats while watching cartoons. I head towards the receptionist's desk, where I assume the doctor might be able to greet me. There's an orange…beehive where there should be a receptionist, that hopefully being me. Oh. The beehive is the receptionist. Actually, her hair.

"Yes?" Her voice is nasal, annoying.

"I came for the receptionist job that was on the want ads, but I can see the spot has been occupied."

"Yes, honey. I got it yesterday." She smacked her gum loudly, while her inch long fingernails clattered against her keyboard.

"Oh, well, have a nice day." Glad to be free of the loud lady, I walk out of the pediatrician's office. Glancing at the want ads, I realize I only have three options left.

Possibility #2: Waitress at the local Italian food restaurant

Not fast food. Good.

The restaurant is small, but quaint. The doors are always, literally, open. The host greets me.

"Good morning. Table for one?" She is a very beautiful girl; blonde with large blue eyes. She seems very nice as well. No wonder she's the hostess.

"No, thank you. I'm here for the waitress job on the want ads."

"Oh, sure. I'll go get Sue, she's our manager. You can sit if you want." She gestures to a small couch placed next to her podium, meant for customers. I gladly take a seat. The hostess is gone for only a minute. She soon comes back with a lady whom I assume to be Sue. Sue is a kind eyed 30 or so year old lady, with dark hair piled up in a neat bun. I immediately stand up.

"Hello." She extends her hand out to greet me. "I'm Sue."

I shake her hand. "Hello, my name is Isabella Swan. It's very nice to meet you."

Sue smiles. "I understand you're here for the waitressing position?"

"Yes, I saw your ad in the newspaper."

"Let's sit down at a table, so I can know a bit more about you."

We walk towards a table close to the kitchen; I can hear the clatter of plates being dumped in the sink and smell the delightful aromas of the freshly cooked food.

"So, Isabella?" She inquires, making sure she got my name right.

"Yes; everyone calls me Bella, though."

She nods. "So, Bella, do you have any previous waitressing experience?"

"No, I don't." I say, regretfully. Maybe I should've lied. "But do have experience working in general. I worked at McDonald's for two months." I hand her my resume as I say this.

Now you know why I hate fast food.

Sue nods thoughtfully while looking at my resume. "Well, you seem more than qualified, although not having any experience as a waitress is a little frightening."

I laugh nervously. "There's a first time for everything."

She taps her chin, deep in thought. "True, true…"

It's silent for a moment, until she abruptly snaps her fingers and smiles. "I've got it. Come with me."

We swiftly rise from the table and walk inside the kitchen. It's a large square room full of silver stove tops in the very middle of it, and sinks at the walls. Various people zoom by us, whether carrying food or leftovers. Sue picks up a tray and loads it with two plates, two glasses, and a bowl, then hands it to me.

I blink.

"Don't just stand there." Sue laughs. "Go walk around the kitchen once while holding the tray. I'd like to see if you're capable of it."

I gulp. I forgot I can't walk straight when I'm not carrying anything. How am I supposed to do this?

You can. I tell myself.

I start to make a slow descent around the kitchen, trying to avoid bumping heads with any of the zooming waiters and cooks.

"So far, so good…" I mutter to myself, but I spoke too soon, for right then and there, an unexpected waiter runs past me. The breeze throws me off balance, and the tray, along with myself, stumble down to the floor. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, the man in charge of the dishes slipped on the tray, bringing down with him a large pot full of soapy water. The pot spills forward, all over a lady with very nice leather shoes, as the employee falls on top of me. Grimacing, I look up at the lady's face. It was Sue.

Sue's eyes blazed in an unspeakable manner, her fingers twitched as if wanting to snap my throat in two.

I chuckle nervously as I see her and mutter a sorry. I feel the man get off me, feeling a large relief on my shoulders. I saw the man's hand extended towards me. I graciously grab it and lift myself up, saying thank you while brushing some crumbs my shirt, picked up from the floor. Luckily, none of the water had fallen on me.

"Are you alright?" A voice soft like velvet asks me. I look at him through my lashes and notice his hair, a shade of bronze unlike any I'd ever seen before, and very unruly; his features sharp and angular like those of a statue, pale as one too; and lastly, his eyes, a piercing emerald green. Thankfully, I am out of the trance quick enough to answer before it becoming awkward.

"I'm fine," I say, aware of the fact that I was still blushing. "Thank you."

"Out," Sue interrupts, venom in her words. I lowered my head and began to walk out of the kitchen, not even wanting to look Sue in the eyes again.

"Sorry again," I mutter, not to anyone particular, still staring at the floor.

"You too, Cullen." I hear her say.

There is silence before she speaks again. "I said out, Cullen."

"…What do you mean?" The velvet voice says. Oh. So he's Cullen. My heart thumps wildly out of control as I try to hurry out of the kitchen quickly. Waiters stand in the way blocking the exit, watching the spectacle. Groaning, I try to get past the waiters but end up stuck in the middle, watching the spectacle as well. I cover my face with my hands and try not to pay too much attention.

"You're fired, Cullen. You got the boot. Now skedaddle."

"But why?!"

Sue glares at him, then signals to her clothing.

"That's not my fault!" He bellows.

I feel a heavy blush rising to my cheeks.

"You should've been more careful!" Sue yells back.

He fumes silently, his ears red. Untying his apron, he walks through the crowd of waiters angrily. They all seem to move around him, not trying to get in his way. I make a run for it, going through the passage way he created, and get outside. By the time I get there, I see him throw his apron on the ground and spit on it. I try to get past him without him seeing me, but I'm not successful. His emerald eyes flare as he sees me. I walk faster, not sure of where I'm really going.

"How am I supposed to get through college now, hmm?" He's walking right behind me.

I stop walking abruptly. "This is not my fault."

"If I recall correctly, I tripped over you."

Inhaling sharply, I turn around to face him, deciding to stare at the bridge of his as to not get distracted. "It was an accident!"

He scoffs. "Accident or not, you cost me my job."

I scoff back. "As if I'm not feeling bad enough! I need a job too, you know? And I've had a pretty bad day as it is, so I'd appreciate it if you'd just leave me alone!" I say this as I poke him hard in the chest, then turn back around and continue to walk. I assume he didn't follow this time, since no one's yelling at me. Maybe he actually decided I was miserable enough without his help.

Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the want ads page and stare at my last possibility. I can't concentrate, though. I keep thinking of that stupid accident, and of stupid Cullen and his stupid bronze hair and stupid green eyes. You know, he's not even that cute. I was probably delusional from the fall. Sighing, I turn my attention to the want ads and read my last possible job.

Cashier at K-Mart.

Another note: Don't worry about Edward being a bit of a jerk. It'll get better. D
REVIEW, DARN IT! XD