I'm speechless. Thank you so so so so sooooo much to everyone who's put my little story on alert/favorites. Seriously, I love all of you!

Special shout out to the awesome chicas at Rob's imbd page! They're all amazing! They run a fan fic community on livejournal called Edwardville. The link's on my profile page, you should check it out.

"She stands with a well intentioned man
But she can't relax with his hand
On the small of her back"

-Cath… by Death Cab for Cutie



Eventually, the reception had ended. The caterers had left and the only guests remaining were a few family members and the DJ. Jasper was talking with the DJ while I went upstairs to help Rose get her suitcases for her honeymoon. When I walked in, she was on her bed crying. Immediately, I ran to her and threw my arms around her.

"What's wrong?" As I comforted her, she showed me the scrapbook she had in her hands. It was open to a page from four years ago, the day I left for freshman year of college and I remembered it like it had just happened.

Rose and Emmett had just started dating when she brought him home to meet Mom and Phil. We spent the entire week lounging on the beach. It was only a week, but the four of us forged a strong bond. We took more pictures that week than I think we had our whole entire lives

Even though it was only four years ago, we looked so young then.

"I'm married to that boy." Rose's voice jarred me from my reverie.

"Yes you are Mrs. McCarty." She wiped a tear that had fallen down my cheek.

"No, it's Mrs. Swan-McCarty. You know I hyphenated that shit." We both laughed and wiped away any remaining tears.

"Come on, Emmett's probably waiting downstairs for you." She nodded and I gave her another hug. We grabbed her suitcases and headed down the stairs.

Emmett was waiting, as I expected, with Jasper in the living room. They were whispering to each other like a couple of schoolgirls. When they saw us come in, they quickly stopped.

"And just what are you two gossiping about?" Rose butted in.

"Jazzy boy here was just giving me a few suggestions for some honeymoon activities." Emmett wiggled his eyebrows suggestively towards Rose. I felt the blush creep up my neck. Jasper looked mortified and started shaking his head, while Emmett boomed with laughter.

Thankfully, mom and Phil came in which ended any discussion of Jasper and mine's sex life. We all said our goodbyes and promised to call each other the next day. Once Rose and Emmett were on their way to the airport, Jasper and I headed back outside to retrieve my purse. I noticed the DJ still hadn't packed up his things, but didn't really think too much about it, because a certain pair of emerald eyes crept back into my consciousness.

"Isabella Marie Swan," Jasper's smooth voice boomed through the speakers interrupting my daydream. I looked over to the dance floor and there he was standing alone with a microphone in his hand.

"May I have the honor of one more dance with you?" He turned around and nodded at the DJ. Then Ella Fitzgerald's voice was all I heard, as the beginning of "In a Sentimental Mood" began to play. I took his hand and we began to sway to the music. I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes.

As we moved to the song, I felt no spark, no electricity. It was just familiar and comfortable. There was no doubt I loved Jasper, but something felt wrong. Something was missing.

Shame and guilt swept through my body and I told myself nothing was missing. Everything was still there. The man whose arms held me tight was the man I was going to marry someday. I couldn't let someone I didn't even know effect my emotions. Immediately I felt silly for creating such feelings towards a complete stranger.

"I love you." His lips were right by my ear and he placed a soft kiss on my neck. I had made up my mind at that moment - I was going to forget everything that was Edward Cullen.

I did not need his job offer.

I can find work without the help of his freaky static electricity emitting skin.

"I love you too." I looked up at Jasper just as the song was ending. We made our way back to the house hand in hand and said our final goodbyes of the night.

The entire drive to the house I could feel the business card Edward Cullen gave me burning a hole right through my purse. It was close to midnight when we returned to our apartment. While Jazz was getting ready for bed, I went in the kitchen and threw away the offending business card.

I intended on standing my ground and forgetting everything that was Edward Cullen, but as I slept that night, my subconscious did nothing but remind me of bronze hair and emerald eyes.

The next day was a Sunday. Ever since college Jasper and I would order Chinese food and watch a movie every week and this week was no different. For the weekly movie I picked Fight Club, hoping all the violence and blood would take my mind off Edward Cullen. However, Brad Pitt's messy hair and square jaw did nothing but remind me of what I was trying so hard to forget.

After the movie, Jasper was in the kitchen being responsible and actually taking the garbage out for trash night, when suddenly he walked out with his face contorted in confusion.

"Hey Bella? Can you come here a sec?" He turned back into the kitchen, with me closely behind.

There on top of the trash was that damn business card coming back to haunt me. As if the fact the man's fucking eyes were embedded in my mind wasn't torture enough. I shivered and he just stood there studying it, as if it was some puzzle.

"What's your new boss's business card doing in the trash?" I rolled my eyes.

"I don't need some guy to do me a favor and offer me a job," I said as I walked away from him.

"What are you talking about?! You've wanted a job at there since we were 17 years old. I know I was there! Here you have it on a silver platter waiting for you and you fucking push it away? Are you high?!" Jasper said, his southern accent coming through clear as day. Usually, it's so muted you'd never notice, except for when he would say the occasional "y'all", but when he became very passionate about something, you'd think he was raised on a plantation during the Civil War.

"I want to work up to my dream job. Not have it handed to me." I sat on the couch and put my head in my hands. It wasn't a complete lie, I did mean it, but I hated holding something back from him.

The truth at that point was something I didn't even know. My emotions were running haywire and I had no control over them whatsoever. I knew I was being stupid, silly, and crazy but I had no power over my own mind.

A moment passed where neither of us said anything.

"I'm sorry, but I want you to at least call him and schedule an interview or something." With that, he tossed the card beside me, and left trash in hand.

How one little piece of cardstock could make me feel flustered was beyond me.

Japer went straight to bed after coming back in, while I stayed in the living room. My mind was running a millions miles a minute.

To calm my thoughts a bit, I decided to check my email. Mostly it was junk mail and spam, but the last one was the Twilight Gallery Newsletter. My heart rate picked up a little bit. Years ago, I signed up for the newsletter and I read it faithfully, but at that moment, I regretted it. An internal war raged on in my mind, while some force beyond me clicked it open.

All it discussed was a new exhibit opening this week, but there was the link at the bottom linking back to the website. Again, that damn force clicked on it, then on the Meet the Owner link at the top.

Staring back at me was a crooked, cocky smile and bronze hair. Even Edward Cullen's picture did strange things to my body.

"When are you coming to bed?" Jasper's sleepy tone made me jump and toss my laptop across the room, the screen cracking as it hit the coffee table.

"Holy shit!" I screamed and threw my hands in the air as if I was caught in a drug bust and the police barged in.

"What the hell was that?" He stood there, his eyes big as saucers.

To steady my breathing, I took a second before answering.

"You startled me." My breathing was still a tad irregular.

"What were you doing? Looking at porn or something?" He cocked an eyebrow at me.

"Yes I was looking at porn," I said, my voice drenched with sarcasm, topping it off with an eye roll.

"Really?" Apparently, sarcasm was lost on Jasper at that moment. "Cause that would be pretty hot and I actually have some you and I could…" I waved my hand cutting him off, not wanting to hear any more.

"No, I wasn't looking at anything like that. I was being sarcastic. But I'm going to pretend I didn't here anything about this secret porn stash, I already know you keep in a file labeled 'Tax Returns 2007'. Alright?"

I went over to pick up my computer and examine the damage. We didn't really have the money for a new laptop. I could always ask my mom, but I hated doing that. I was proud of the fact that I was able to be independent. I made it through school with grants and scholarships, so I could work to save up enough money for Jasper and I to live together after we graduated. That money was quickly dissipating and I desperately needed a job. Art Curator's weren't exactly in high demand then.

My mind went over the mental list of bills that were piling up:

Rent due in two weeks

Car payment due tomorrow

Utilities due in five days

New laptop as soon as possible

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the business card, a small glimmer of hope, but I quickly pushed that thought aside.

Jasper, turned back into the bedroom and I followed suddenly exhausted. Shortly, I fell into a dreamless slumber.

I woke up the next day, bronze hair burned into my retinas. I couldn't help but notice the fact that I hardly focused on anything else when it came to Edward Cullen. There was nothing that burned brighter in my memory than the color of his eyes and hair. Everywhere I looked, they were there, his intense stare gazing back at me, his messy hair begging for my fingers to run through it.

It was the only thing I could focus on. In the shower, in the car, in the grocery store, there was nothing else but emerald and bronze. I walked aimlessly through the store list in hand, but the items I searched for seemed to have disappeared.

Get a fucking grip Bella.

I shook it off, trying desperately to focus on anything else and somewhat succeeded.

Eventually, I did get everything on my list and I went to the check out. I was digging through my purse for my wallet, when low and behold right there hooked to my wallet with a paperclip was that fucking little card. That just meant that Jasper was not going to drop this until I gave in. I rarely won when it came to our arguments. He was just so damn charming when he wanted to be.

Five minutes later, there I was, sitting in my car, ice cream melting in the trunk, staring at that card.

I ran the pros and cons once again through my head. The job was definitely my dream job and the money would be better than anything I could get elsewhere. The only real thing holding me back was a certain man with bronze hair.

I couldn't even control my emotions without his presence, how would I be able to be in control of myself near him every day?

Finally, I came to the decision that I would be professional and that everything I had been thinking about was sheer insanity. I laughed at all the hype my mind had created around nothing at all. I knew I was going crazy. Without any more hesitation, I dialed the number. A high-pitched valley girl accent squawked through my phone.

"Twilight Gallery, Jessica speaking, how may I like help ya?" She said as she popped her gum after each syllable.

"May I speak with Mr. Cullen please?" I put on my nicest, sweetest telephone voice and waited for her reply.

"I'm sorry, he's at like lunch. You can like leave a message though. Who should I say is like calling?" It was hard to understand her, what with the constant gum smacking and likes.

"Bella Swan. Thank you." I hung up then to avoid any more hearing problems that her screeching voice could cause.

There I did it. I called.

With my head held high, I drove home. Jasper wasn't there when I arrived. He had landed a big job recently with a local film company that was making a documentary about the local music scene. It was him dream to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary and be the next big edgy documentarian so I was ecstatic for him when he told me about the job a few weeks back.

After all the groceries were put away and the runny ice cream was re-freezing, I paced nervously in the small kitchen. Doubt and fear tiptoed back into my mind.

Too wrapped up in my own thoughts, I didn't even notice my phone was ringing. Finally, I snapped out of my stupor and picked it up frantically.

"Hello?" My voice cracked as I answered.

"Bella Swan?" A velvet voice replied from the other end.

"Yes?" Yet again, my voice cracked, making me sound like a pubescent boy.

"It's Edward Cullen. I just got your message. Are you free tomorrow?"

Is he trying to ask me out?

"I believe I am free. Why?" My heart was beating so fast I was sure it would explode in my chest.

"To schedule an interview. That is why you called?" I slapped my forehead for jumping to earlier conclusions.

"Yes it is." That time I was able to speak without any speech impediments.

"Well, I only have one slot open tomorrow from 10 to 10:30. Is that alright with you?" His voice was like honey to my ears.

"I'll be there. Thank you again, Mr. Cullen." I took a breath, hating to say goodbye. Why was I so upset to hang up with a man I've spoken to twice?

"My pleasure, Bella. I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow. Goodbye." A chill ran down my spine. I waited to hear the click from him hanging up, but it had yet to come. Reluctantly, I closed my phone. Jasper walked in the door a second later.

"Is something wrong?" Jasper asked as I stared at my phone.

"Hmm?" I looked up and he was right in front of me staring as if I had two heads.

"Did someone die?" He asked suddenly worried.

"No! I, uh, just called and scheduled an interview for tomorrow with Mr. Cullen." I set my phone down and shook myself out of the daze. The emptiness I felt was just silly.

"Baby!" Jasper hugged me tightly, lifting me off the ground a little.

"Ok, ok you got your way now put me down, I can't breathe!" I giggled and he set me down.

For the rest of the evening I physically was with Jasper, but my mind belonged to Edward Cullen and the fact that I would be seeing him the next day.