Dearest friends, family, associates,

You are cordially invited to

Cullen Inc.'s Annual Banquet

Saturday, September 22nd 2012

6 PM

Hotel 1000

Cullen Inc. Executives

To say I was surprised to receive this invitation would be an understatement. I looked at the fine print on what was clearly an expensive parchment, flipping it over to make sure there was no other message. I was hoping to see a "just kidding" or "this was a mistake" written on the back but I couldn't find one. I had really been invited, unless, he had sent them months in advance. That was probably it. I scolded myself for thinking just for a second he would actually want me there. Of course he doesn't. I thought to myself. I shook the other thoughts that followed into my mind and set the invitation down on the kitchen counter of my tiny apartment. I take a look around me, and my surroundings.

The tiny kitchen was merely big enough for one person to get in there. The appliances weren't that great, either. An updated stove, after my old one had nearly lit the entire building on fire, and an older dishwasher machine. I was thankful for that seeing as I am no friend of dish washing myself. The refrigerator wasn't anything special. I had a toaster, for the only food items I could make myself. There was a coffee pot, probably the most expensive thing I owned for the coffee addict I was. I had some pots and pans in the cabinet space, a dining set, some cups and silverware. The counter tops were knock-off marble, and the plain wooden table and chairs in the space between my kitchen and living completed the look of 'boring' that emanate from my apartment.

I continued to glance over at my living room, although not much living could be done in there because it was so small. It was big enough for me though. I had one small loveseat, a plain grey color, a matching sofa with throw pillows and blankets covering it, and a small glass coffee table, which was inhabited by books and papers. I hadn't bothered with a television. I never watched it, nor did company come over often. There was a small one in my bedroom, but only for noise purposes. The rest of my apartment was just as small and dull. I didn't spend much time here, and there was nothing personalized about it.

I sighed. I was finally having a halfway decent day until that damn invitation showed up. I worked at the small bookstore down the way. After what happened in the recent year, I settled for a job with no complications or distractions. Sure, working the cash register from 8-3 wasn't my dream job but it paid the bills.

I picked up my phone; there was only one person I wanted to speak to.

"Hello?" An unfamiliar voice said on the other line.

"Um, hi." I said, unsure if I maybe dialed the wrong number.

"Lookin' for Alice?" I could now tell the voice on the other end was deep, and southern. Strange to my ears, and I wondered how Alice could have ever picked up a southern boy. They were not her type.

"Um, yes." I spoke. Surprise still lingered in my voice.

"Hold up." He said, and then I heard some shuffling and muffled voices.

"Bella! Hi!" I heard Alice's voice. I let out a sigh of relief, not sure why though. Then I scolded her over the phone.

"Alice, who was that?" I demanded. I was like a mother hen to Alice. She always got into trouble and it was my unspoken job to make sure she was safe and thinking clearly.

"Oh, Bella, you worry too much! He's just this guy I met. Isn't he sweet?" I knew the look she had on her face, having seen it about a thousand times before. She was "in love".

"Well, I don't know Alice. I've never met him. When did you meet him?" I questioned. "Don't tell me last night or this morning. Alice, how many times do I have to tell you to stop being so irresponsible with these men you find. Apparently-"

"Bella, calm down. I met him a few weeks ago actually…" She admitted.

"A few weeks ago? And you're only telling me now?" I was confused. I admit I was hurt. She always told me everything right away. Good or bad, no matter who or when it was.

"I know, I know. I'm so sorry. It was so hard to keep quiet but when I met him it was like something totally different. I didn't want to ruin it or jinx it. He's amazing, Elle." Elle was my nickname Alice only used when she thinks she's in trouble or she's sad. This time I'm not sure why she was using it, seeing as how she was neither in trouble or sad.

"You thought I would have jinxed it? Or ruin it for you?" Again, I was hurt.

"No! Gosh, no. I just wanted to keep him to myself. I wanted to do things differently this time."

"Oh, ok." I couldn't argue with that. I kept a lot to myself, even when Alice was always so open and honest.

"Have you talked to him?" She asked. I knew whom she was talking about.

"Alice, no. Don't start." I retorted.

"Isabella Swan. You cannot ignore him forever." She was scolding at me now, I could tell.

"I'm not ignoring him. That would require him trying to contact me, which he hasn't. Although, I'm sure you've been trying to get him to. You can't control your brother, Alice. He's a grown man." I sighed. Alice was always trying to meddle in my life, and her brothers. She has a special talent of manipulation and gossiping.

"Well then he should act like a grown man." She snapped. She was mad now.

"Maybe…" I didn't completely agree with Alice on this subject matter but I wasn't about to fight about it. "I got an invitation."

"You got it? Good!" Alice was excited now.

"What? You sent it?" I was confused now. Despite Alice's last name being on the company header, she wanted nothing to do with the company.

"Of course, silly. I still can go to their functions, you know." Of course, I should've known.

"Alice, I'm not going. No way in hell." And that was true. There's no way I could face him, or anyone else for that matter.

"You have to! I have to. It would give you two a chance to talk." She was whining, what she did to get her way.

"No." I said, firmly. "There's nothing to talk about and I don't want to go. How humiliating would that be. Think of everything that will be there. I can already see it now, everyone whispering about me. No. No way."

"You can't be afraid of what those people think. They don't matter. Come on! I need you there. I'll just die without you there with me. Please, please, please!" She begged. I could already tell I was losing this battle. You don't say no to Alice Cullen.

"I will…consider it. Ok?" I was already dreading this. Why would she do this to me? I shook my head.

"Yay!" She was so happy. It tore at my heart to think of letting her down. "I have to go now Elle. His name is Jasper, by the way." She informed.

"Jasper." I repeated. It was such an odd name for a southern boy. But I didn't argue. "Ok. Goodnight, Alice."

"Bye, Bella!" She hung up.

I flopped down onto my love seat. I was exhausted. Thoughts of him came into my mind as I drifted off…of the day we first met. The day where it all began…