A/N: Thank you to anyone who is about to read this, I really appreciate it! This is my first venture into any form of fan fiction, so please be gentle!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of its characters, but messing around with them is fun.

Chapter 1: Machine

"Bella? Bella! Isabella Swan, are you even listening to me?!"

A loud thwack on the table from Alice's tiny hand sent me out of my day dream and back into the reality of Forks High School's cafeteria.

I loved Alice whole heartedly. She was my best friend. We'd been inseparable from the moment we met 13 years ago, but it always bemused me how someone who was so inconceivably small could be so God damn annoying. Couldn't she just give it a rest already?

I rolled my eyes at her over dramatics and peered over her head of spiky hair to glance at the large clock on the wall.

1.30

Wow. She'd been talking non-stop for the past 30 minutes and had only just realised I wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention. I swear Alice would talk all day if given the opportunity.

I'd stopped listening as soon as the conversation moved onto her's and Jasper's sex life. If I heard one more word about how irresistible Jasper was going to find her ass in the new lacy panties she bought yesterday I was quite literally going to explode.

Sleep was so much more appealing.

"Um, yeah I just… Sorry Alice. You were saying?"

It's not that I had a problem with Jasper. That was far from the truth. Through spending so much time with him he had quickly become one of my closest friends. I could talk to him about anything.

Jaz was one of the most genuine guys I had ever come across. It was not at all hard to see why Alice was so in love with him. There was not one thing I could fault him for. I really couldn't imagine anyone more perfect for my best friend. He was smitten by her, and I was so happy that Alice had found the one person who truly completed her.

So no, it wasn't that I had a problem with him at all. It was just that sometimes it would get to the point where seeing the two of them together would be too much for me. They were both so hopelessly in love with each other that at times it was almost too much to take.

Basically, I was insanely jealous. I knew I shouldn't have been, but I couldn't help it.

Everything about the two of them was pure perfection. They both had great personalities that complimented each other perfectly. They were hard working students with excellent grades, and they were both devastatingly beautiful. They had the kind of beauty that a model would die for. Alice may have been tiny, but she was one of the most beautiful girls I had ever met, and that wasn't just me being biased. I'd known her all of my life, and she was still one of the most stunning people I had ever come across.

Next to me, she looked like a freaking goddess. I had boring chocolate brown hair that I never made any effort with, and the same lifeless coloured eyes with heavy bags under them from lack of sleep. My features were average, my height was average, my body shape was average… see the pattern here? Everything about my appearance was dull. I was nothing special to look at.

Alice made an effort for school every single day, and whilst I envied her for being able to have the right amount of confidence to pull that off, I couldn't bare to let her have her way with me. Alice devoured the attention she got from people at school. I on the other hand, hated being in the spotlight. I was much happier blending into the background and keeping my head down. Life was easier that way.

"Bella? Bella you're doing it again!" Alice hissed, glaring at me.

"Doing what?" I asked, as innocent as possible. I was very aware of the fact that I still wasn't listening to a single word of what she was saying.

"Day dreaming! Would it honestly kill you to listen to me?"

"Alice I'm sorry. But really, how the hell do you expect me to pay attention when the topic at hand is your panties? You've been gushing about them for half an hour now! Surely there are only so many things that can be discussed regarding a flimsy piece of fabric."

"Bella, these aren't just a 'flimsy piece of fabric'. God! They're limited editions from Victoria Secrets. Pink satin, with intricate detail in the lace, they're gorgeous. And they fit my ass so perfectly Bella!"

"So help me Al, if I hear the word 'panties' fall from your lips once more, I am going to slap your pretty little face so hard that you'll be seeing stars for days. Got it?"

"Who'll be seeing stars?" Jasper chuckled in his southern drawl as he made his way to sit with us at our table. He leaned in to kiss Alice's cheek, to which she responded with a beaming smile and a deep pink blush.

I smiled at their exchange and took a swig of my water. "Your girlfriend will be if she carries on talking about her… recent purchases."

He snickered and began to softly stroke Alice's spiky array of hair. "Torturing Bella again are we love? What did you buy this time?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Alice giggled, "Let's just say you'll find out later tonight," she said as she bit her lip at him seductively.

Jaz quirked an eyebrow at her, "Oh will I really now?" he said, leaning into Alice, to kiss her.

I forced my gaze away from them and focused on my food. I never liked to intrude on their intimate moments.

Pulling away from Alice and sensing my discomfort, Jasper broke his gaze away from her and gave me a small smile. "Are you working tonight Bella?"

I sighed, "When am I not?"

It was true. There was rarely ever a day when I wasn't at work recently. James needed me more than ever, and I couldn't abandon him.

"Bella, sweetie, if you hate it so much then why are you still working there? You don't have to if you don't want to," Alice asked.

We'd had this discussion so many times, each time her persistence in getting me to change my mind and leave my job at Dwyer's. She never succeeded.

"Look Al, you don't understand--"

"Yes, I do Bella! James is a complete asshole for making you do these ridiculous hours while he's off hanging with his friends or his girlfriend. It's completely ridiculous and unfair. You can't possibly be expected to run that place by yourself."

"Alice, I've told you once and I'll tell you again. James is my brother. Asshole or not, he's family and he needs me. He's having a really difficult year after everything that's happened; I'm just trying to make things easier for him, and if that involves me working a few extra hours for him, then I'll do it. I'm just trying to help."

"There's helping, and then there's exhausting your self. You're like a machine Bella. It's not healthy," Alice sighed, leaning back into her chair.

"I know that, but… it's only temporary. Just until things settle down and James is happy," I said, playing with the sleeves on my sweater.

"Well if he isn't happy then why is he even bothering with the diner in the first place?"

"Because it's what's expected of him. The diner's been in their family for years, you know that Alice. "

She huffed and folded her arms over her chest, "I know but that has nothing to do with you! He can't force you to work there."

"He's not forcing me! I want to work there. I owe it to Mom to be there for him and to help him out. I was selfish enough to avoid them when they needed me most, so I'm doing everything I can to prove that I'm here for them now. I need them to realise that, especially Mom. This is just something I have to do. Please understand that Alice. I'm okay, I promise," I lied, chewing on my lip and looking down at the table nervously.

I heard Alice let out a heavy sigh, and her and Jasper moved from their side of the table to come and sit in the chairs either side of me. Jasper put his arm round my shoulder while Alice took my hand in hers.

"Bella you're not okay in the slightest," Jaz said, hugging me against his side. It was times like this when I realised the inconveniences of being Jasper's friend. He was so perceptive to everything; I could never lie to him without getting caught.

"Am I really that obvious?"

He smirked at me, shaking his head. "Yeah Bells. You really are."

"We're just worried about you Bella. I hate seeing you so stressed. You have too much going on right now. You're 17 for God's sakes; you should have more of a life than just school and work. You can hardly stay awake, you're short tempered and you never pay attention to anything I say anymore. I really miss you Bells," Alice said, her voice cracking.

"Oh Alice," I shifted away from Jaz and turned to my left to pull Alice's tiny body into my arms and squeeze her tightly, "I'm so sorry. I don't mean to be snappy or short tempered with you. I'm just tired I guess. I miss you too, but it won't be for much longer. It's just until we can get the diner up and running again and get the customers back."

I pulled away from our embrace and gave her a bright smile.

"Hey, how about I ask James if I can take this Saturday off and me and you can go shopping. Sound good?"

"Yay!" she squealed, clapping her hands and bouncing in her chair like a three year old on Christmas morning. Nothing could cheer Alice up more than a shopping trip.

"That sounds wonderful. Just take care of yourself Bella. Promise me?"

"I will. I promise. Love you Al." I smiled, taking her hand in mine and squeezing it in reassurance.

"Love you too Bells," she said, mirroring my own smile.

Jaz pulled his chair back and stood up. "Come on you two love birds, let's get to class," he chuckled, pulling Alice up into a hug.

I gathered my things and left the cafeteria walking alongside Alice and Jaz to last period, thankful that I could count on the two of them to be there for me, no matter how rough things were at the moment.

A/N: Incredibly boring I know, and there are a few things that may not be clear right now but this is just the first chapter. I will reveal more over time, I promise. :)

It's short because I just wanted this chapter to set the scene if you will. There will be more action in future chapters.

I just want to make it clear that James is not going to be a bad guy in my story. He's Bella's older step brother and more will be revealed about him soon.

Edward will be introduced to us in the next chapter. I'm not sure whether I'm going to alternate between point of views yet, we'll see.

I'm still working out where I'm going with this, so bare with me!

Any feedback is welcomed with open arms. Thank you for reading :)

-TE x