A/N: I know, I know, you want to get to the good stuff with Bella and Edward. Sorry, but I needed to set things up a bit. I am going to try to get them together more next chapter.

I do need to know something, though. I don't know how long I should make these chapters. I personally hate to have to wait on new chapters for stories I'm reading, but sometimes don't have enough time to finish reading the long ones all in one sitting.

You probably get asked this a lot, but do you want longer chapters or shorter ones? Either way won't affect update times right now, because I have a lot of the story already written.

Disclaimer: Meyer owns them, I do not. The characters, that is. At least most of them.

Chapter 2

BPOV

I sighed in relief as the day manager came through the door at 6am. I'd never been so happy to see him before. I gave him the information about Mr. Masen and company and warned him of the difficult time they'd given us. I headed to the hotel gym and spa to work out. That day I had a lot of stress to get out so I could have relaxed enough to sleep. It was a fairly new routine, chosen to relieve the stresses of a manager dealing with demanding guests. "Richard" wasn't the first guest to make such demands, and I spent the better part of an hour trying to figure out why he bothered me so much. I finally guessed that it was because he was linked in my head with my favorite character and he'd shown himself as obviously not as unselfish as said fictional character.

After my work out, I was very physically exhausted. I went home, showered, and went to bed. I got home at 9, later than usual because I'd had so much to work out. During the week I didn't do much other than work and school. I usually got home at 8am and slept until 5 or 5:30. I fixed some dinner, spent some time with my roommate Alice, and got to work at 8pm. There wasn't a lot of time during the week to spend with my friends. Alice and I worked out together and she usually got home about the time I woke up. I hung out on Friday and Saturday nights when I was off. My life was full. I loved it. Not a lot of time to sit and think.

"Isabella. Isabella. Wake up sleepy head." I thought I heard Alice's voice but it wasn't enough to pull me awake. "C'mon, Isabella. You're cutting into our roommate time!" It still wasn't working, so she hit below the belt. "Isabella Marie Swan, wake up now!"

"Alright, alright. You didn't have to bring up my middle name, Mary Alice Brandon." She giggled as I rolled over on my back. She smacked my leg and walked out of the room. I groaned as I headed towards my bathroom, and I heard her laugh again. Day people. Alice was one of those constantly perky people that got on normal people's nerves. I had known her most of our lives so I was used to her by now. I just couldn't stand it when she used her energy to wake me up.

I'd forgotten all about Edward Cullen until we were seated on our couch watching tv, waiting for the lasagna in the oven.

"Bella, you seem tense. Bad night?" I described for her the night, leaving out the details that would identify the guest. We weren't allowed to give out specifics and Alice was just as obsessed with Edward Cullen as most girls were. She would have freaked out if she knew Edward was staying at the hotel.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Maybe things won't be so bad today. Maybe he'll get over himself and leave you alone. How far did you get in your book?"

"Not very far. I'm just now halfway through. I kept getting interrupted and it was time to switch to homework before I got very far."

"How long is that guest planning to stay?"

"At least three weeks, maybe more." Alice groaned with me and changed the subject. She really liked a guy at work named Jasper and he made her happy today. That's all she talked about the rest of the time. The lasagna was done and I got to eat this time. Usually we were both talking so much that I had to take most of my dinner with me to finish at work.

Alice was a paralegal and was taking online classes to be a lawyer. My online classes were for a Master's degree in English. She was still talking as I got ready for work. She followed me around our small apartment, talking a mile a minute. So much had happened that day and she wanted to talk over it all and dissect it. She didn't even notice my distraction.

I knew that as far as check in and out was concerned work would not be busy. Seven pm is about the time that the fishermen are returning from the water and are leaving to get dinner. The hotel usually calms down again by 10pm. As the two weeks drag on, they settle down earlier and earlier as they soak up more sun and feel the drag of the tournament.

I had no clue why "Richard" would be in Forks, WA, but I doubted it was the fishing. He hadn't had any fishing tackle with him. It bothered me that I was still thinking about him. I just didn't know what to expect from the fourteen hours I'd been off. Would he have left? Did any other desk clerk meet him yet? Had he been discovered, or did he have some kind of disguise?

"Bella." I heard my name called before I even got to the front desk. I guessed it would be bad. Ericka was waiting for me. Oh crap.

"Hey Ericka. What's up?" She was looking very frazzled. The day manager and the head manager usually left at five, leaving Ericka or whoever else on their own until I showed up at eight. Neither of us liked it, because that was a busy time of the day and a time when a lot of mishaps occur. She wasn't alone, but there were still things happening that needed a manager. But of course you couldn't tell them that.

"The plumbing went out in five rooms today. Thankfully most of the guests were out, but we've only just got it fixed. We left messages on their cells, but there is still the possibility that you will have to deal with telling them. Sorry to leave you hanging with this. Lauren called in sick so I've been dealing with this all by myself. Mr. Morgan authorized a free week for each room. Here." She handed me the already signed vouchers.

"Oh, one more thing. Mr. Varner in 500 had a family emergency and had to check out early. So I was able to get Richard Masen his Jacuzzi." I rolled my eyes. She winked at me, letting me know she knew who he was.

"He was really nice. I didn't get one demand from him today. He'd probably just had a long, hard day and got just a little testy with you. Okay, see you tomorrow, bye!" She already had all her stuff collected and she left at that. I doubted that Ericka would have noticed even if "Richard" had been a jerk. She was a sucker for a pretty face, even if that guy wasn't a well-known celebrity.

The guests with the plumbing problems were all taken care of by about 9:30. They were all very calm and only one family accepted the free week. No damage had been done in any room and the one family seemed the type who'd spent their month's pay so the dad could spend two week's vacation fishing. I was always glad when someone like that got a chance to stay at our hotel. I hated that that kind of luxury was only for the rich.

I was finished with all my regular duties by 11 and was pretty much free until about 4am. I settled in for a few hours with my book—the short amount I would have until I would have to switch to homework. I was interrupted a few minutes later by a group of teenaged girls approaching my desk. I could hear them giggling all the way from the front door.

"May I help you?" I asked, already knowing what they wanted. It was a small town and I thought I recognized some of the girls, but didn't know any by name. Did they come from Port Angeles, or something? How could they know Edward was here? Did someone leak the story?

"Yes, we were wondering if you would tell us if a certain person were staying here?"

"I'm sorry but we cannot give out any information about our guests."

"Oh, come on, we won't tell anyone."

"I'm sorry but we cannot give out any information about our guests."

"But it's Edward Cullen! We heard he was staying here! He's famous and hot and has been in so many movies!" She gushed.

"I'm sorry but we cannot give out any information about our guests." I repeated for the third time. I kept hoping that maybe they'd get the hint and leave me alone. I had to wrack my brains for something that would keep from giving him away. As mad as he'd made me, I believed that celebrities should be treated as regular people and as such they deserved privacy if they wanted it.

"Ugly," one of the girls whispered behind her hand. I held onto my temper.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"You can answer my question. It's just a simple yes or no. Is Edward Cullen staying here or not?" The girl that seemed like the leader was model blonde and thin. She spoke very slowly, enunciating every word as if I were ignorant or deaf. I tried not to stereotype her but it was difficult. After all, she couldn't help being born with a silver spoon in her mouth and blonde hair on her head.

"I'm sorry but we cannot give out any information about our guests," I said, speaking slowly myself, wondering if she were ignorant or deaf.

"What are you, some kind of parrot, or can't you think of anything original to say?" A small little brunette with red highlights said.

"Alright then. I will not give out any information about my guests." They stared me down, all five of them, little hands on their hips, fully expecting to get their way in this as in all other things.

"Fine. We'll just sit here and wait. If he's here, he'll have to come or go sometime." They made to sit in the chairs and couches across the way from my desk.

"Sure, however, this sign here says that anyone who sleeps here must pay at least 125 dollars a night per room. My managers love to take people's money. However, we do have the right to kick people off our property."

"Aren't you a manager? Your only reason for not telling us is that you can't tell us. That doesn't mean that you wouldn't."

"Ah, but I have bosses." We stared each other down again.

"Fine, we'll just have to find another way to find out." She flipped her long hair over her shoulder and the group walked out, cussing and insulting me the whole way. I smiled and went back to my book. I pushed my worry aside that someone had spilled Edward's whereabouts. It was not my job to investigate.

I tend to get very absorbed in books when I read, however I try not to get in too deep when at work. I must have got in deeper than I thought in my book, because before I even heard a squeak on the floor, someone stood over my desk, clearing their throat.

The front desk is a long counter with two levels. The upper level was for customers to lean and write on and the lower level was where our computers and such were. That lower counter was low enough to sit at, but also high enough for us to comfortably stand up and type on the computer. We weren't allowed to sit down with people at our desk. I was sitting, my head down focused on my book when the guest cleared his throat. I looked straight up into Edward Cullen's beautiful green eyes.

"May I help you?" I asked, closing my book quickly. The good mood I'd had left me. He glanced down at my book, the cover was up. A smirk crossed his face, but then he stifled it. I thought I knew what he was thinking. He was probably wondering if I'd seen the movies and if I'd recognized him, but also thinking that if I had, I would have treated him much different than I had. He might even think I was rude because I was trying to hide how flustered I was by him. Jerk.

"I want to apologize for last night. I was tired and rude. I am used to Jacuzzis in hotel rooms, because I can afford to stay in the kind of hotels that would. However, there is no excuse for my rude behavior. I am sorry." He smiled and held out his hand. Oh my god was his crooked smile gorgeous. I grasped at my irritation to put some sound into my breathless voice.

"Apology accepted." I didn't shake his hand. "But there's really no need. We try to make our guests as comfortable as possible, whatever the request. It is my job."

"I am sure, but I am wanting to let you know that I am normally not like that," he said, frowning deepera little irritated. He still stood there, so I didn't feel released to turn back to my book, but I didn't have anything else to say. I just nodded and waited. He went down another path.

"So, reading, huh?" I nodded again, looking down at my book and moving my hands that futilely tried to hide the cover. "I've already read all five in the series myself. I liked them a lot. Do you like them?" I nodded again and looked back at him. He still had a stupid smirk on his perfect face.

"They were good books, which one is your favorite?"He'd asked a question I couldn't answer with just a nod. I had to speak. He was still smiling, and I couldn't quite think clearly. I looked down again, but I still couldn't figure out which one was my favorite. I liked them all. He took my silence as something else and went on himself.

"I personally liked that one the best. I liked reading the story from his viewpoint." I had a habit of speaking before thinking, and my words slipped out before I thought, especially since I was mad.

"I wonder, though, if you would have read them if you hadn't played him in the movies." You could feel the tension and almost cut it with a knife. He went from smiling and leaning towards me to a deep frown and rigid stance instantly. We heard a sort of stampede then. The sound of many feet walking down the lobby towards the desk.

Our hotel lobby was set up differently from most others. The front doors were to the right of the main desk, which was hidden by a small outcropping of the wall. The lobby was L-shaped slightly. The wall was just wide enough so that you couldn't see who was standing at the desk until you were there. It was designed to give privacy to our more exclusive guests. I looked down at the security camera and saw that the group of girls was back with about 10 more. Edward must have guessed who was coming because he darted off towards the elevators without another word. The girls' voices were high-pitched, giggly, and excited. Edward was out of sight by the time they came around the wall.

"May I help you?" I fought to keep my voice polite since our lobby was voice recorded.

"Yes, this is the mayor's daughter. She is the daughter of the head judge. We demand that you tell us if Edward Cullen is staying here. And we will not leave until you do." The blonde had a smug smile on her face, as did the two brunettes on either side of her. The other girls in the group looked expectant. I was very tempted to just point them in his annoying direction with a secret sign that the cameras would never catch. But that pleasure wasn't worth my job, no matter how much I hated him.

"This is not city hall or the courthouse. And, this is not a government or a criminal matter. So, I repeat. I cannot and will not give out any information on our guests. And, may I point out again, these signs that are clearly marked. And approved by the local government of Forks." In case they couldn't read, I explained them in plain English.

"This one means that, in order to sleep here, our lowest rate is 125 dollars 300a night, per room. This one means that we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone and that we can have someone forcefully removed from our private property.

"I'm sure that Brittany Nail there can explain the difference between the rules and rights of public and private property. If not, I'm sure her father would be glad to do so." Brittany's eyes got very wide.

"Melissa, I can't get into anymore trouble. I can't go to prom with Tyler if I do."

"Brit, prom is a year away. This is the summer. This is Edward Cullen. The hottest new star and the cover of every magazine you subscribe to."

"Sorry, Melissa. He might not even be here. Besides, I'm not sure if he's worth it."

"What? You know what Lauren said. He could so be here, right now, somewhere in this very hotel! He so is worth it. He is hot. I am so gonna marry him someday," she finished dreamily. I snorted and she whirled to me.

"What's so funny, ugly?" I ignored the insult.

"Oh, just the idea of a movie star marrying anyone from Forks, WA. Much less a girl about eight years his junior. You'd be jail bait for two more years." I hoped she didn't catch the fact I knew how old he was. Oops. I was trying to remain unimpressed, but little facts about him like that kept slipping through.

"That's what you know. I am beautiful and rich. I am going to Hollywood and be an actress. Daddy says he'll pay for anything I want. Might as well introduce myself to my future husband early. Get him used to the idea." I suppressed another smile and snort. She shook her head to clear the daydream.

"So, you gonna help me or not?"

"If you would like to reserve a room, I can help you. However, we are all booked up for the next two weeks. I can also help you out the lobby doors. But I cannot help you to any personal information about our guests." I picked up the cordless phone and made to dial.

"You wouldn't," Melissa said. She stood her ground and I dialed the police department.

"Yes, hi. This is Bella Swan, the night manager at the Meadow Hotel. There is a large group of teenaged girls who are refusing to leave our lobby and are being loud and are starting to disturb our guests. Could you please send an officer by to help me? Thank you very much." I wanted to be more vague for the teen's benefit, but my dad was chief of police and I knew he'd freak out over any call from me. He hated that I was night shift manager.

By the time I'd hung up, a few of the girls including Brittany, the judge's daughter, had headed towards the front door. The majority, including Melissa and the mayor's daughter, stayed.

The officers that showed up ran silent and shut off their lights once they reached the end of our drive. The police department understood the management's desire to maintain a certain quiet and peaceful atmosphere. The teens started looking nervous as they saw the officers walking in. One of them was Charlie, my dad. Oh boy.

"Melissa Allinder. What are you doing at the Meadow Hotel causing trouble at midnight?" Chief Charlie asked. That's the trouble with being friends with the judge's daughter and living in a small town. She stuttered an explanation, full of lies and whines while one of the other officers stepped over to me.

"Bella Swan. What are you doing working here?"

"Mike Newton. A police officer. Never would have figured you for a law enforcer from high school." I tried to stay out of the station as much as possible once Charlie had bragged that Mike had begun working there.

"Yeah, I was a trouble maker wasn't I? I decided to be an officer. So, you work here?"

"Well, just while I'm working on my Master's Degree."

"Oh, okay. So, what's the problem here?" The chief and the other officer walked over then to hear it as well.

"They came in demanding that I tell them if a certain person was a guest here. I told them that we could not give out any information about our guests. They refused to leave. They were here first about 30 minutes ago, but they did leave after I pointed out our policies.

"They came back later with more girls threatening to stay until they found out if the person was here. They became very loud. Some of them did leave when I asked, but these did not." Melissa glared at me. I had pointed out a few things she'd lied about. She also knew I had a camera system to back me up. Charlie turned to the group.

"I will not tell your parents about this if you leave right now and do not come back." After one more glare from Melissa, the girls all left.

"Alright Bella, couldn't handle a few teenaged girls?"

"Dad, now you know teens are vicious and disrespectful now a days. I stayed polite but they were threatening with the mayor and I didn't want my guests disturbed." I was embarrassed. I should have told him that the judge's precious daughter was there, but at least she'd left, the mayor's daughter had stayed. I was not so much an adult that I was a snitch needlessly.

"Who were they wanted to know about?"

"Edward Cullen. He's a movie star who played in a few big movies." At the mention of Edward, Charlie's face flashed a knowing look.

"Oh. Is he here?"

"There is no Edward Cullen registered here."

"Bella, that's not what I asked."

"Dad, you know I can't tell you if he is here or not."

"You know those girls. If Melissa wants to know if he's here, they'll find out."

"This is a nice, four star hotel. Our guests want peace and quiet and Chase Morgan will fight to keep all four stars. If those girls have to be trespassed, they will be. And he will press charges against every single one of those girls, juveniles or not. I don't want them to get in that much trouble. I did all I could to get them to leave. We will not give out any information about our guests. Mr. Morgan even believes that even if the person is not here, we will take the harassment as if they were."

"That's a lot of trouble for rich people," Mike snorted

"Mr. Morgan wants to bring money to this area. Even if they just stay here for activities in Port Angeles or other places, they will still eat here and discover the charm of the area. This is a good spot for the rich and famous to come to get away from paparazzi. No one would guess that a movie star would go near Washington, much less Forks. We have suites that cost 1000 a night and others that are 300 a night."

"The police need to know if there is a big movie star staying here, but I guess that is Morgan's responsibility to tell us. If the locals found out there'd be a lot of trouble and we need to know to be prepared."

"But you would of course have to keep it a secret from the judge, too." Charlie blushed and looked away, confirming what I'd suspected. He quickly ushered the other two out. Charlie knew that the judge's daughter was Melissa's best friend, and had probably been there as well. The judge didn't like him and Charlie looked for ways to get in good with him. He was usually clueless about Hollywood, but he'd been forced to listen to enough gossip that he couldn't be ignorant of Edward Cullen.

"Have a peaceful night, Bella. Come see me soon."

"Okay, Dad. Talk to you later."

Once again I was left alone. I returned to my seat and my book. In spite of the fact that'd I'd been talking about him, I hadn't thought of Edward since he'd disappeared. Now I wondered where he was and if he'd heard any of what went on. I figured he'd retreated back to his room, packing to leave to escape the screaming teenaged girls.

I tried to put him out of my mind, but was finding it hard. Edward didn't return, didn't call to check out, either.

My workout wasn't as relaxing as it usually was. Alice and I worked out together, talking very little. I was exhausted so finished early. At home, I let the hot water of the shower wash over me, soothing my knotted back. I needed a Jacuzzi myself. The water ran cold so I reluctantly got out. Hopefully it would be warm when Alice got back. I still felt stiff from sitting still for so long—one of the few reasons I was unsatisfied with my job. The workout and shower helped some, but I knew I needed a vacation soon. It was summer, hot outside, but nice and cool in my bed in my west-facing room.