Chapter 1: Welcome to The Cullen
The reason I am posting this story is because I need to post something and to write this story, I need you all to help me, decide what happens to one of the characters. So, this story is new. I hope you all like it. This is Giving Up. (To all of the people who read the other story, I will try and update that one soon. I just have to decide which direction I'm taking with it! I know! It's been forever. I'm sorry!) I hope you all enjoy. The title will make sense in for later chapters. Hopefully, this chapter is nice. Sorry if there are any mistakes.
Bella POV
I wiped down the bar because Angela asked me to and I had nothing to do. No one was here since it was before hours. I sat on one of the stools.
"Virgin anything," I said to Guy, who was at the bar.
"No problem," he said and handed me a drink. I took a sip and looked around. I stopped the guy I was in love with, Edward Cullen. I sighed.
"If you don't make a move, I'll make you make one," Guy said.
"Guy, his father owns this casino," I said and shook my head. "I'm just boring, 20 year old Bella Swan, brown hair, and dull chocolate brown eyes, and short with my still naturally tan skin. I am nothing like him."
Bronze hair, dazzling green eyes, skin that has been tanned by years of living in Vegas, the guy grew up on the Vegas Strip because of his father. My boss, Carlisle Cullen, Mr. Cullen to me, Mr. Cullen owned one of the most profitable casinos in all of Vegas, okay, the man owned four casinos. The one I working at was the most famous, The Cullen. (AN: Yes, I watch Oceans films a bit too much) The other three were The Estate and the E.A.E, named after his three children, Edward, Alice, and Emmett. (AN: Thought I was clever, not sure if it is) The last one doesn't have a name yet since it isn't finished.
"No way," Guy said. "You're gor-gus!" he said.
You pegged it; Guy is gay.
"Go talk to him! Now!" Guy said and pushed me off my stool. I stood up.
"Bella!" Alice said. I turned my head there stood the one and Alice Cullen.
"Hey Alice," I said and hugged her. She was, somehow, one of my friends.
"Alice," I heard a smooth musical voice. "You know what dad says about making friends with the staff."
"If you talked to her and asked her out instead of being a bitter man, then maybe you'd stop sending all the wrong signs," Alice said.
"What?" I asked, not sure what was going on.
"Forget it, Miss Swan. I apologize for my rude sister," he said.
"No, it's fine," I said and looked into his endless green orbs.
"Children," I heard Carlisle himself.
"I'll be going now," I said.
"No!" Alice said. "I want to go shopping."
"Alice, I hate shopping," I said.
"Please? No one will go with me," she said.
"I have my first shift in 10 minutes," I said, begging her to let it go.
"Please?" Alice asked.
"Alice, I can't just walk out," I said.
"Go ahead," Carlisle said. "Not many people come this early. Don't even worry about it. Keep the hours and no need to do a double."
"Thank you, sir," I said. He smiled at me.
"Bella!" I heard Guy shouted. "Mom on the phone!"
"Guy! Shhh!" I shouted back and turned back to the Cullens.
"I'm sorry, I must have misheard you," I said.
"You can go," Esme said and smiled.
"Mom," Edward started.
"I'll make an exception," Carlisle cut in.
"Bells! She's shouting at me!" Guy said, helpless.
"Toss it!" I said and he threw my IPhone. It was about 50 feet away and I caught my phone with ease.
"Hang on," I said.
"Isabella Marie!" she shouted. I put my phone against my leg, dampening my mother's shouting.
She resorted to shouting in French. I put my cell to my ear.
"Mom!" I said. "I'm right here, calm down," I said in fluent French.
"Bella!" I heard the concierge shouted. I looked and my eyes went wide. I hid behind Edward, really bad idea.
"What are you doing?" Edward asked.
"Hiding from my ex," I admitted lamely. He laughed.
"Go right ahead, I know the feeling," Edward said and smiled his heart stopping crooked smile at me. I brought my phone to my ear.
"What did you want to tell me?" I whispered.
"Is this a bad time?" my mom asked.
"Mom, I resorted to hiding," I said.
"From?" she asked.
"Jacob," I said.
"Where?" she asked.
"Behind my boss's son," I muttered.
"That's a bad idea!" she shouted.
"Mom, please, cut the shouting," I said.
"I'll call you later," she said and hung up.
"Stop hiding and go talk to your ex," Alice said. I gave her, a, 'you have got to be kidding me,' look.
"No," I said. "Not ever."
"Why?" Alice asked.
"I dumped him because he cheated, let's not go there," I said.
He never saw me, good. Alice did actually drag me shopping and I came back for my late shift.
Edward POV
"SQUIRT!" my grandfather shouted and I hugged him.
"Hey, Grandpa," I said.
"Guy! Stop it!" I heard Bella shout, laughing. I turned my head and stared at her.
"You are just like your father," he said to me. "Falling for an employee."
"Am I that obvious?" I asked. He nodded.
"Squirt, just go ask her out," he said.
"No way," I said.
"Just like your father," he said.
"Oh! Gross! He's my friend! Stop it! I never want to hear that!" she shouted, laughing. I wish I were the one making her laugh instead of Guy.
"Oh lighten up!" Guy shouted back.
"I tolerate the gay love, I just don't need to hear about you and him and gross!" she said
"Hey, quiet," Guy said.
"She's gorgeous," my grandmother said.
"Believe me, I know," I said and downed the rest of my drink.
"Why me? Ask Angela," she said. Guy handed her a drink and practically pushed her off her bar stool. Bella sighed and got up and walked over. She took my glass and put the one in her hand down.
"Not yours?" I joked.
"Can't," she said. "Still 20 for another month and Guy is making fun of me about it."
I laughed and took a sip.
"Oh, you must be," she started.
"Sweetie," my grandmother cut her off. "Just call me Lucy."
"And I'm Henry," my grandfather said.
"Okay," she said, rather confused.
"Bella! Dad alert!" Guy shouted. Bella sighed.
"I have to go. It was nice meeting you," she said and waved. She walked off in her too short uniform and 4-inch heels.
"You really need new uniforms," my grandfather said. "I think his eyes are traveling a bit too much."
I glared at him and downed my drink yet again.
"Yes, of course," Bella's voice came and she had another drink in her hand. "Okay, bye dad."
She slipped her phone in her pocket and took my glass.
"This is your last one before I hand you water and Advil," she said. I laughed.
"Actually, I think I'll get the Advil," she said.
"Can I have a refill?" my dad asked.
"Yes sir," she said and took his glass. I downed mine and handed it to her.
"Rough day?" she asked. I nodded. She ruffled my hair and walked back to the bar.
"Wow, she is special. She can touch your hair!" Emmett said.
"Shut up," I said. True to her word, Bella came back, handing me water and two Advil.
"How do you know?" my mom asked.
"I know the limit," she said. "Some count money, I count drinks."
We all laughed.
"Do you want to play Blackjack?" my grandfather asked. Bella shook her head.
"No, you wouldn't want me to play," she said.
"You can't be that bad," I said.
"I'm not bad. I'm that good," she said.
"Bella," my dad said and lifted up a deck. "Count them."
He started flashing card after card to her and put them back. Even I lost count. I wasn't a card counter, but I was good.
"Repeat," my father said and started at the top. Bella began reciting ever card in the deck in order.
"No way," Emmett said as Bella finished the deck.
"I hate playing," she said.
"How do you manage to deal?" I asked.
She shrugged and said, "Just stop counting. That's why I watch drinks. If I count, everyone at the table would loose, so I count drinks."
"What's your IQ?" my grandfather asked.
"147," she said.
"Same as Edward's," my mom said. Bella shrugged and handed me two Advil.
"You're going to need them," she said.
"What makes you think I'm drunk?" I asked and stood up.
She sighed and put two fingers in front of my eyes and I followed them perfectly.
"Spin around," she said. Okay, I was going to be sick.
"Head back," she ordered and I titled my head back.
"How did you know that?" my father asked.
"My father was always big on drinking and playing poker. I grew up around it," she said and shrugged.
"Open," she said and I opened my mouth. I swallowed the two Advil she popped in my mouth.
"Wow, I can't even get him to do that," Alice said.
"I used to be able to do that with 35 year old men half asleep, drunk on beer. That was a snap," she said. "Head all the way up."
I did as she asked.
"Put your hands on top of your head and take a deep breath," she said. I did as she asked.
"Open your eyes. I never said close them," she said. I opened my eyes.
"Follow," she said and I followed her fingers.
"Okay, not that bad," she said and pushed me a bit and I sat down. "You're buzzed a bit. Not that bad."
My grandfather smiled and said, "Old fashioned way. I hate those breath test things."
"I always do them wrong. That's easier. If you're too drunk, I can't let you play," she smiled at me. I smiled back.
"Okay, now I think you're over the limit," she said.
"Why is that?" I asked.
"No reason," she said.
She walked away. My eyes, yet again, fell to her ass.
"Edward!" my grandma and mom said in unison. I felt two hands smack me.
"Ouch!" I said and sat down, defeated. "You didn't have to hit me."
"Yes, we did," they said in unison.
"No harm ever came from looking," I muttered. They hit me again.
"Ouch! Until you two!" I said.
"Touch me again and I swear, you'll regret it," Bella hissed at some drunken guy. He reached for her again, but she just smacked his arm.
"Buzz off," Bella said.
"You should get fired," the drawled and started to touch her, but she moved again.
"Why?" Bella asked. "I could have you arrested for assault."
"You could stay with me," he said.
Bella got up and walked to one of the security guards. He took the drunken guy out quickly. He tipped his hat to Bella and she just smiled back.
"You know, she's like Nina Dobrev who just walked off the screen of Vampire Diaries," Rose said.
I looked at Bella and then said, "Most definitely."
My mom smacked my arm again.
"Ouch!" I repeated.
"Stop looking at her like that," she said.
"No harm ever came in looking," is aid. "Touching, now that's different, looking isn't a crime."
Emmett chuckled and I smacked my fist against his out stretched one.
"He's right," Emmett said.
I looked at her again. I couldn't stop. She was just so perfect and so addicting. I had a feeling that I was falling for Bella Swan.