REPOST - my old account was hacked
Chapter One
Moving to New York could be considered the biggest step for a girl like myself: shy, from a small town, nearly invisible to those around me. I guess people would normally describe me as an observer, through high school and college I never fully grasped the concept of parties and no-strings-attached sex. I preferred to spend my evenings with Jane Austen rather than Jack Daniel. Of course, this set me aside, who would bother with the outsider, the girl who never bothered to join in with the fun?
It's pretty silly looking back at those times, I effectively wasted 'the best years of my life' by being a bookworm, hopefully this move will change that. Honestly, I think a fresh start is exactly what I needed. I had secured a position at the Empire State News newspaper, fetching coffee and doing other small tasks, it was my opportunity to climb and become a Journalist.
I managed to find my apartment block with relative ease, a tall, domineering building in east Manhattan. Surprisingly, the rent is very cheap. My college roommate was a devoted fan of gossip girl – much to my displeasure I learnt all about the spoiled, filthy rich teens who supposedly lived here, so I guessed that I really was getting a bargain. The ad was placed in the New York Times; I was amazed when my application was accepted.
The following week I received an email from a girl called Rosalie Hale, explaining her father had bought the apartment for her and her twin brother, Jasper. This explained the low rent; they only wanted a contribution to the electricity and water bills. In all honesty, this intimidated me far more than it should have done, I mean, I grew up comfortably – though we were never well off it was only me and my father living off a police chief's wages. However, I'd never truly been confronted with great wealth, Forks (my home in Washington state) was a tiny place – the most impressive car anyone had was a Volvo and all the houses looked similar. Would Rosalie and Jasper approve of me and my lack of a wealthy upbringing?
I entered the building, stepping into a grand entrance hall with marble floors and uniformed staff busying around, doing their jobs. Surely I was in the wrong place? Tentatively, I approached the security desk.
"Hello?" I asked. Quickly, the man swung round and looked at me questioningly, making me feel more out of place than I already did.
"Can I help?" he asked brusquely.
"Where can I find apartment 64?"
He pointed me to the elevators, informing me I needed to go to floor 16 and I would find it in no time. I could feel his wary eyes on my back as I walked away, he probably thought I was some kind of squatter or that maybe I was going to beg long lost relatives for money.
Finally, I found the correct door and fumbled through my purse for the keys that had been posted to me a few days ago. Found them. They turned in the lock and I heard a click so I pushed the door and it swung open. I peeked inside. Wow.
The apartment was enormous, well decorated and impressively furnished. A black leather corner sofa stood in the middle of the room, pointing towards a large television and hugging around the edges of a soft, fluffy looking grey rug. The monochromatic colour scheme was highlighted with red accents in pillows and artwork and gave a modern well-tailored impression. These twins certainly had it all. I turned around and reached for my bags, crossing the threshold hesitantly.
From around a corner, a tall slender blonde girl walked and approached me. Shit, she was beautiful. She smiled warmly and held out her hand in greeting.
"Hi, you must be Bella? I'm Rosalie Hale"
"H-hi" I stammer, I'm still shocked that this model-esque woman is being so accepting of me. She giggles slightly, making me flush.
"Don't worry, it must be pretty overwhelming coming to New York, I was the same when we got here! Jasper's just in his room, I'll go get him. Please, make yourself at home!" and with that thought she turned and walked through the exquisite kitchen I hadn't seen from the doorway, through an archway into a small hallway with two doors leading into what I presumed were bedrooms and she knocked on one of the doors.
"Jasper she's here!" she calls and within a few seconds a man opens the door in response.
As his head appears around the frame, I can immediately tell he's as beautiful as his sister, tall and blonde. I marvel at the gene pool they've been blessed with. He too walks towards me, arm outstretched. I stand awkwardly and blushing furiously as I wait for him to reach me, again I hold out my hand and he takes it, giving me the same kind smile as Rosalie.
"Jasper Hale, pleasure to meet you"
I smile and return his greeting.
"Bella," I turn to meet Rosalie's words, "Your room is opposite Jasper's, just through there," she points through the archway, "Mine is just through the door that's on your right at the moment," I notice the door that leads out of the living area, "if you need anything either of us can help. Why don't you get settled in? Then we can maybe have a drink, get to know each other?"
I nod and reach for my bags, but Jasper beats me to it, and lifts of them for me, I mumble thanks and follow him through to my room.
The room is large, larger than I'm used to at home and definitely bigger than my dorm at college. A king size bed stands against the wall, dressed in white linen, and a giant, dark wood closet is against the wall to its right. Opposite the bed is a dresser made of identical wood and a grand mirror hangs from the wall above it. In the corner of the room in line with this door is another, which I assume leads to my bathroom. I love all of it instantly.
"If there is anything you don't like, feel free to change it," I shake my head in disagreement and he looks relieved, "great, well if you need help unpacking I'm just across the hall"
I thank him again and enter my new bedroom, I'm certain I'll be able to feel at home here.
At midnight, the three of us are still sat talking on the large sofa, surrounded by takeaway packages and working our way through another bottle of wine. I have learned that Jasper is a psychology major interning at a practice nearby and Rosalie, or Rose as she prefers, is still studying for the Bar, whilst interning at a prestigious law firm. I quickly realise they are a well-connected family. Both attended Columbia, leaving their family home in the Hamptons. Their life is like something out of a movie, both have enormous trust funds.
"So Bella," she probes, "any man in your life?"
I bow and shake my head, she pouts almost disappointedly. I don't have the courage to tell her I've never even kissed a boy, let alone dated one. I mean, this is the most welcome I've ever felt around people my own age. The Hales couldn't have been kinder to me, you would think I had known them for years, that there was no social difference.
"Rose is desperate for someone to introduce her to a new man, she's convinced she's going to die a lonely old woman" Jasper teases, "she's been single a whole two months'' he adds with a wink, she hits him playfully.
"Shush Jaz," she smiles, "Bella, do you like shopping?"
Her eyes gleam with excitement and I shrug, honestly I don't. I never look right in fashionable or revealing clothes, I mostly just wear whatever my mom buys me or my jeans.
"When I have money" I lie.
She shakes her head, "Don't worry, we're going tomorrow. Call it bonding, my treat"
Again, I can't let her down, although her generosity makes me somewhat uneasy I feel it would be rude to say no.
Eventually, I excuse myself and head off to my room, nearly unable to hold my eyes open. They day had been a whirlwind of new experiences and people and at that moment, all I needed was to rest and absorb all the new things I had seen.
I'm the first to wake the next morning, light streaming through the gap in the curtains that cover the window that overlooks the shorter building next door. Slowly, I rise and enter my bathroom. I barely registered the scenery in here the night before, most likely due to the alcohol and my overtiredness. Luckily, I've managed to sleep through any hangover I may have had.
I glance round, the bathroom is entirely white, a bath stands in one corner, a large shower in the other. On the wall behind me is a lavatory and to my right there is a basin. Again, this all looks so expensive and chic, I have to remind myself again how lucky I am to be paying such little rent!
I jump in the shower and let the hot water run over me, I try and work out how I can repay their kindness. When I get out, I towel myself down and try and get ready. I want to make an effort, if I'm going to be seen in public with Rosalie I want to look as if I almost belong in her world. I search my closet and pull out my best jeans and a long sleeved white top. I decide that if I wear my leather jacket I'll look somewhat fashionable. I pull my stubborn, limp hair into a ponytail and at the last moment decide to apply a little make-up. This isn't something I'm used to doing, to say the least. I stare at my reflection and sigh, at least I'm not a troll I reassure myself. Plain old Bella Swan, what on earth are you trying to achieve?
I hear no signs of life coming from either Jasper or Rose's room so I think it best not to disturb them. I grab my purse, keys and scribble a quick note explaining that I have gone for a quick walk to explore the neighbourhood.
The streets are busy, even at 8.30 in the morning, and I struggle not to get lost. I work out where the nearest tube station is and find a coffee shop where I pick up three cups and a bag of bagels, a meagre offering in response to the Hales' generosity.
I arrive back at my building and decide on taking the stairs back up to the sixteenth floor, I felt energised from my early-morning stroll. Eventually, my legs aching, I reach my destination. Outside the door across the hall from me stands a man. He has two small bags at his feet, both bearing airline luggage tags. He doesn't look up, he just continues to search his jacket furiously.
"Fuck," he hisses, "Where the fuck are my fucking keys?"
I stare, wide-eyed at this display of temper. He bangs his fist against the door.
"Fucking BRILLIANT!" he throws his hands up in despair. He looks round and catches me staring.
I'm instantly taken aback by his appearance, his face is beautiful, crafted, like nothing I've ever seen. His copper coloured hair seems perfectly styled despite his frustration and outburst. I gasp, and he looks at me, his furious face held in a scowl.
"Who the fuck are you?" he snarls, "what are you looking at?"
I blush and mutter an apology; quickly I dart into the apartment, thankful that I forgot to lock the door. I close the door, and hear that he hasn't finished taking his anger out on the door. I glance up to see Rosalie glaring my way in distaste, I realise she's not looking at me, but rather she's looking past me, observing the actions of her neighbour.
"I see you've met Edward"