Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I don't own twilight! And this story is inspired by the movie Friends with Benefits! Enjoy!

It is 5 o'clock on the west coast, and up and coming journalist of an underground magazine blog, Edward Cullen, is hard at work in his downtown LA office. At the tender age of 25, Edward has single-handedly started and ran a successful news company that told of current events in pop culture, art, and sports around the world. With an impending deadline and only 2 out of the 5 required segments completed, he and his team are frantically brainstorming ideas.

"Ok, now that's that settled, let's move on. We need to decide on a center picture. Let's see what we have here…" Edward says as he directs his team's attention to the giant screen, "No…lose that…cut this…that freaks me out a bit…no…out…no…delete…hell no! Are you fucking kidding me? Have we no pictures that will portray the emotion I need? Look I know this is a hard-hitting piece, but c'mon people this is the internet! We need traffic…traffic…traffic."

The stressed out young man tries to emphasis the urgency to his staff as he sees a hand go up. He calls on the woman, Lauren, he recalls her name. She was the same woman who has propositioned him numerous of times since she started to work for him. Even though she has a serious problem with the word "no", she came highly recommended and her work has been up to par. Thinking that he has found his guiding light, Edward breathes a sigh, and acknowledges her raised hand. "Yes, Ms. Mallory? What do you have?"

"How...about…this?" Lauren asks, as she ticks on her computer causing a picture to appear on the giant screen behind her boss.

Edward turns to the screen and the calm and relief leave his face; the look that now graced his beautiful face is one of fake contemplation as he looks over a provocative photo of a young woman dressed in just a tiny apron, stockings, high heels, and lacy white panties with ruffles on the ass, "Perfect! Now doesn't she look smart and knowledgeable about immigration reform?" Edward asks sarcastically. When he receives hesitant and reluctant murmurs of agreement, Edward's temper and impatient tendencies reach an all-time new high.

"Yeah, I'm fucking with you people! This isn't some porn site! What are we nerds trying to look at some tits? C'mon, keep looking!" He says through gritted teeth. In an attempt to dispel all the anger, tension, and stress from his body, Edward reaches for his cup of coffee. For a normal person, the highly caffeinated drink would only rile up their body more and in the end causing only more tension and anxiety, but not Edward. Coffee only seemed to put Edward's body at perfect ease. It seemed that as soon as Edward's body was at some semblance of balance, his cell phone rang, startling him into dropping his coffee all over his pants. There on the screen was a picture of his current girlfriend, Tanya.

"Hello?" He answers.

"Edward? Why are you not here? Are you still at the office?"

"No! Nowhere even close!" Edward says, scrambling around.

"Well, I'm outside the venue now, and the show starts in like 10 minutes!"

"I know!"

Edward is looking around for a solution to his problem. He forgot that he was supposed to be out with Tanya tonight, and now he can't make it on time because his pants have coffee all over them. He could try to jet over to his apartment and change but that would mean risking traffic, and he is already late. Tired of not coming up with any solutions, Edward finally decides to use his position over the people around him.

He points to the kid sitting directly in front of him and barks out an order.

"Give me your pants!" Edward whisper-shouts away from the receiver end of his cell phone.

"What?" The kid, Tyler, asks dumbfounded.

"Look I'm buy you lunch tomorrow." Edward usually isn't one to beg, but he was in a really tight spot right now.

"No!" Tyler defiance only succeeded in pissing Edward off.

"I'm your fucking boss! Give me your god dammed pants now!" Edward demands.

Knowing that it was in his best interest not to piss Edward off any more than he already had, Tyler gets up out of his seat, turn around, unbuttons his pants and precedes to lower them over his butt; but when Edward is treated with a view of Tyler's lily white ass, he chooses another victim, hopefully this guy wore underwear.

"Edward, I told you to leave work early, and I called you throughout the day to remind you!" Tanya continues to whine in Edward's ear as he retrieves a pair of pants from some poor soul.

"I know…I know." Edward repeats vehemently.

Once he checked to make sure that the pants were a good fit, and that he looked decent, Edward hurried out of the office, to his Vovlo, and into downtown LA traffic. All the while, Tanya was still complaining in his ear.

"I know, baby, but I am almost there!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, I think I see you!" Edward lies as he speeds through traffic.

"I am so like totally excited to see Justin Bieber!"

"I know. Me too!" Edward cringes as this lie in particular falls from his lips. He can't for the life of him understand why anyone other than pubescent teenage girls would want to see Justin Bieber. "I'm here, but there are so many people that I can't see you. What are you wearing?" He asks as he nears the venue.

"My favorite purple tube top, leather mini skirt, and my toms."

"I love that outfit! You look so sexy in it!" Edward proclaims as he looks for a parking space.

"Edward, this night really meant a lot to me."

"I know it meant a lot to you, which means it means a lot to me." After had found a parking space, Edward is now running down the sidewalk toward the entrance of the building.

"Edward, where are you? The show has started already! Where are you?"

"I'm looking at you right now! I can see you!" This time, Edward is telling the truth as he can see Tanya standing outside the venue, as he crosses the street.

"Hey…hey, I'm here." Edward breathes out when he's a few feet away from Tanya. "Tan, I am so sorry."

Tanya spins around quickly at the sound of Edward's voice. The fire in his girlfriend's eyes, visible even from the few feet that he's from her, is enough to stop Edward dead in his tracks.

"We missed 'Somebody to Love!'" Tanya screeches.

"Ok, only one song. That's ok, right?" Edward says, trying to placate Tanya.

"It was fucking 'Somebody to Love!'" Tanya says incredulously.

"Well…the good news is…that he has so many…good…ones." Edward couldn't bring himself to say songs. In his opinion, what Justin Bieber does, shouldn't be classified as music.

"Here's an idea. Next time instead of being late, why don't you just piss on my face, because that is the same as missing 'Somebody to Love'."

"Look, Tan, I already said that I was sorry. So why don't we just go in and try to enjoy the rest of the night." Edward says, wishing that the night was already over.

"I think we should take a break." Tanya blurts out suddenly.

"Wait…what? Y-you're breaking up with me?" Edward couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"You never spend time with me anymore! Tonight was just the tip of the iceberg." Tanya whines like a child who's just had their toy taken away from them.

"I was tied up at work." Edward defends; she knew how important his job was to him. "I'm sorry."

"Maybe you should care a little less about work and a little more about the girl you are dating, ok, because the last time I checked work doesn't reassure you that spending a whole thirty minutes on your hair in the morning, doesn't make you a metrosexual." Tanya grits through her teeth.

"Ok, that's not fair! Do you know how hard it is to get my hair like this?" Edward yells, as he points to his perfectly messy mop of hair. "You know what? It is not your issue anymore."

"Eddie-kins! Don't be like that! I just feel as though we are heading in different directions."

"Yeah, you to the Justin Bieber concert and me not. Thank you for doing this before the concert, by the way. Best…breakup…ever!"

"He is the Aaron Carter of our generation!" Tanya defends the little teeny-bopper. She can literately feel her blood boil at the blatant disrespect toward the Biebs good name. But she soon calms when she hear that the screams inside are getting louder, she done with the conversation. Justin Fuckin' Bieber is on the other side of the wall! "You know what it's not you it's me." She uses the cliché line, in hopes that they could be done talking.

"Of course it's me! You can't say that. You are breaking up with me!"

"It's really not…it's me! I…don't like you…anymore."

Edward looks at her as if she has grown a third head.

"Look Edward, you're a great guy. You are a little too emotionally unavailable…if you ask me but..."

"I didn't." Edward interrupts sarcastically.

"But I really want to remain friends." Tanya begs, looking at Edward desperately.

"Sure." Edward relents. He was so done with this conversation.

"So…I am just going to go… you know…Justin Bieber and all." Tanya turns around sprints toward the entrance without another word to Edward.

As Edward turns to make his way back to his car, he could distinctively hear Tanya shout "Justin Fuckin' Bieber". With a sigh and a shake of his head, Edward pulls out his cell phone and calls the one person he knows he can count on right now.

Meanwhile: 3 hours ahead in New York

Bella Swan, fresh off the subway, is making her way to her favorite old-fashioned movie theatre. She is running a few minutes late so she decides to call her boyfriend to make sure he is on his way.

"Hey baby! Where are you? Are you still at work?"

"No, babe, I am actually on my way there." Her boyfriend of 6 months voice sounds through the phone.

"Just so you know…the movie starts in ten minutes."

"I know Bells, I am almost there, I just need to make a short stop at the corner store first to get our drinks."

"Please try not to be late! I really hate missing the beginning!"

"I know, I'm at the store now."

"How far away is it from the theater? Because I am like three minutes away."

"Not that far, Bella."

"I'm here. Where are you?" Bella says as she stands under the brightly lit marquee that reads "Pretty Woman 8pm."

"I am almost there. What are you wearing so I can easily spot you."

"I am wearing the only clothes outside the theater, because I am the only one out here! You know that I love this movie! If a prostitute and a hard ass business man can fall in love…than anyone can." Bella pauses for dramatic effect.

"I know that is your favorite movie, and I know that this night meant something to you, which in return means a lot to me."

"Well obviously it doesn't. Because you're not here."

"Bella!"

Bella turns at the sound of her named being called from behind her. She turns to see her russet-colored boyfriend, Jake, strutting toward her.

"Hey." She greets him with a kiss, as soon as he is in arms reach.

"Hey," Jacob returns the pleasantry, "Sorry I'm late."

"It's ok. I got us sandwiches. I got you turkey, no cheese, gluten-free bread." Bella says as she hands his.

Jacob takes skeptically. He studies it for a while before he asks, "Are you sure that this was prepared in an air-free facility?"

"Yes, I am fully aware of your allergies." Bella replies, her voice dripping of sarcasm, and disbelief. She couldn't understand the confusing man with quirky ways that stood before her.

"Ok, let's go in! Julia Roberts is about to put on her really tall boots." Bella says as she makes a step in the direction on the entrance.

"Um…" Jacob grabs her writs gently in an attempt to stop her. "We need to talk."

"Well those words are never good." Bella mumbles as she turns to face Jacob once again.

"This is never easy…" Jacob trails off, as if he was searching for the right words to say.

"Well, why don't you just spit it out Jake." Bella demands, having a good idea what he was about to say.

Jacob takes in a deep breath, holds it, and then lets it out before he rushes out his next words. "I don't think this is working out?"

"W-what are you talking about?"

"Don't be mad. I just feel that we should just chill out for a while, you know?"

"You're really doing this right now?" Bella asks incredulously.

"Yeah, I just don't feel like we're really right for each other."

"But…but you said I was your soul mate."

"I did? When?"

"When we were at that bed & breakfast…having sex!" Bella whisper-shouts, suddenly feeling very self-conscious.

"But…you know that…doesn't…" Jacob starts, but then stops as if he is rethinking the words in his head.

"I'm sorry. That doesn't what?" Bella asks.

"Count." Jacob mutters out.

Bella slaps the sandwich out of Jacob's hand, needing an outlet from all the anger in her body.

"Is this why you were late? You were worried about how to break up with me?"

"Oh, no…no, I was trying to decide what to wear."

"And you settled on some sneakers and a hoodie."

"Yeah." Jacob drawls, obviously proud of what he picked out.

"What are you going to do? Take the SAT's after this or go see a Justin Bieber concert?"

"Don't lash out, ok, you're better than that." Jacob soothes.

"I'm really not." Bella says defiantly.

"Bella, you just going have to face the fact that we aren't working out."

"Ok, let just ask a quick question. And just know that you can tell me the truth. It won't hurt my feelings in any way. I am not at all crushed by this break up, so just be honest. Why?"

"Wait is this a trick?" Jacob asks, skeptic again, he had been on the bad end of a woman playing tricks once before, and he did not want to go down that road again.

"No, no!" Bella reassures him. "Just pure research!"

"Ok…you want somebody to sweep you off your feet, and you don't care at all about who's doing the sweeping. You seem like you got it all together, but you are really emotionally damaged. Also you have like…really big eyes…and that creeps me out a little…"

"Ok! Ok, I got it!"

Jacob sigh dejectedly, "Look this is my fault. I caused this. You deserve better than me. Which is why I am doing this…but I really want to stay friends." He finishes hopefully.

"Sure. Totally."

"Ok…well I'll see you around, Bella." Jacob says as he turns to leave.

Bella, still in disbelief of what had just transpired, stands frozen on the sidewalk until a horn being blown in the distance knocks her out of her trance.

"Stupid Jacob, Stupid Julia Roberts and Richard Gere." Bella mumbles as she takes one last look at the marquee and pulls out her cell phone to call her best friends for an emergency drink.

Back in Los Angeles

"I mean can you believe it man? Tanya broke up with me!" Edward exclaims to his best friend Jasper as they walk down the busy streets of LA.

Edward had been friends with the curly, blonde haired Jasper Whitlock his whole life. And he knew that if he was going to talk about his breakup with Tanya, Jasper would be the one to call on. Even though now, he is regretting the decision.

Jasper, Edward's so-called-best friend was bent over at the waist, with tears rolling down his cheeks, having a good laugh at Edward's expense.

"It's not that funny dickwad!" Edward hisses.

"Oh…man…but…it really…is!" Jaspers says between laughs. "I mean Tanya, Justin Bieber loving Tanya, broke up with you! Edward Fuckin' Playboy Cullen! Bro, that is just comedic gold!"

"Dude this is serious! I am having a god dammed crisis and you're here laughing your ass off."

"You're right…you're right! I'm better now!" Jasper says sobering up, and wiping his face. "What were you saying now?"

"Never mind man. I just want to know why relationships always start out so fun, but then just turn into piles of shit! I mean just look at me and Tanya. In the beginning, she was hot, the sex was great, and we had fun. But towards the end, she became more naggy, and whiny, needy, and just plain fucking annoying."

"That's just what happens when you commit to a relationship. First you're dating a Vickie secret model, and the next thing you know you're waking up to a whiny, needy, Justin Bieber Lover!" Jasper says as he tries to stifle his laughs.

"Well, not anymore! I am done with relationships. I am just going to work and fuck…like George Clooney!"

At the same time back in New York

"I am serious, Alice, I have got to stop buying into the bullshit Hollywood cliché of true love! It is doing a hard number on my self-esteem."

Bella says as she finishes recalling her evening to her pixie of a best friend as the walk out of the liquor store. Bella and Alice had been friends ever since they became roommates at NYU. They both graduated with a degree in business, Alice with a minor in Fashion. With their degrees, they both landed a job at the same magazine after college. They have been as thick as thieves ever since.

"Bella, sweetie, I am happy you are finally seeing the light. Maybe now you can be happy and single!"

"Yeah, you're right Alice! I mean I have a great life, loving friends and an awesome job! Who needs a man?" Bella asks rhetorically as they come up a wall covered in the latest romantic comedy, promising that true love will be found in the end.

The title of the movie seems to just job off the pages at Bella mockingly, wiping away the confidence she had felt from her speech earlier. Bella stops and stares at the haunting posters advertising the movie 'The Ugly Truth' until she can't stand it anymore.

"SHUT UP KATHERINE HEIGL! YOU STUPID LIAR!" Bella screams at the posters before she storms off, leaving Alice to shake her head in disappointment at her friend.

"Bella, wait up, Bella!" Alice runs to try and catch up with her crazy friend with the longer legs, who is crazy fast despite the high heels she is in.

"You know what Alice, I am just going to work and shut myself down emotionally…Like George Clooney."