We're the Cullens

Chapter 2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WTC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emmett: Yo! How was the first chapter? *wiggling his eyebrows*

Me: It was great! I had fun writing! *grin widely*

Emmett: *looking thoughtful* Hmm… What next? Eddie has to make a fake family, right?

Me: Well, yes… But before that we have to see Bella's POV too! And don't call him Eddie, he doesn't like it! *looking disapprovingly*

Emmett: Ok. But, you still haven't mentioned me! *pouts*

Me: That's because you're in the latter part of the story.

Emmett: What am I? His neighbor? His brother? His father? *laughs loudly*

Me: *roll my eyes*you don't want to ruin the fun Emmett.

Emmett: Fine. *huffs*

Me: I still don't know how Rosalie handles you. *shake my head*

Emmett: My Rosie's there in the story! *exclaims loudly*

Me: Of course she is. No Emmett is complete without his Rose. *wink*

Emmett: *smiles like a Cheshire cat*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WTC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns it all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WTC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bella

'So Bella, are you free on Friday, I've got an extra ticket to the Knicks game.' Erick, my fellow waiter asked as I waited for my order to be ready. I looked up at his face, and he gave me a smile which I suppose was to look sexy but looked kinda pathetic.

Erick was 23, three years younger than me. Doing a part time job while doing his college classes. He was not that bad. Blue eyes, 5''8 height, brown hair, but not my type.

'No, thanks Erick but I'll be working this Friday.' I lied.

'Would you cons-'He was cut short.

'One chicken salad, two mushroom ravioli for Table 8 right up!' Joshua, the head chef shouted over the chaos. I sighed of relief and excused myself. I took the order and made my way towards the table.

I made sure to look at my feet as I walked to make sure I don't trip over the flat surface.

I reached my destination safely, happy that I didn't trip once. I was serving a family of three people. The couple had a beautiful daughter, who was chatting the whole time and her parents were listening with rapt attention. The couple seemed to be in their early 30s and their daughter looked 6 or 7 years old.

'Here's your order, ma'am.' I said, placing the chicken salad. 'Your mushroom ravioli sir and your favorite little miss.' I placed her dish and gave her a smile.

'What do you say Biannca?' her father prompted.

'Thank you, Miss Bella.' She said giving me a sweet smile.

'You're welcome sweetie.' I said. 'Enjoy your meal and let me know if you'll need anything else.' I walked away from the table giving them privacy.

I made a beeline for the washroom as tears left their trail. I knew I had 15 minutes before they'll order any further. So I just sat curled up in the corner. Looking at that family reminded me of my own.

It's been 8 years since that unfortunate car accident killed my parents. 8 years since I've been all alone.

My dad, Charlie was the chief of police in a small town named Forks. He was the best father a girl could ask for. He was not a big fan of showing affection but he always made me feel safe and protected.

My mom used to say I'm perceptive like him. My mom Renee was a first grade teacher in the Forks Elementary School. She had a new hobby every week. Her mind changed like the wind. My mom and I were very close. She was very beautiful. Blonde hair, blue eyes like the ocean.

I miss both of them so much. They were returning from Port Angeles when a drunk driver hit their car. Their death was instant. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye.

I finished my high school and immediately left Forks. I couldn't stand that town which held the memories of my dead parents. It was too much. There were too many memories.

I felt familiar arms wrap around me. She was 5 years older than me. She called me to pack my bags and come to New York. My parents had left me enough money to survive through college and pay the down payment for a house. I had gotten accepted in the New York University already.

She was there for my graduation ceremony. She was there when I had nightmares. She took care of me when I was sick. She is my rock. Angela Webber.

'Bella honey, it's time to let go. It's been way too long.' Angela said. I wiped my tears and looked into her deep brown eyes that held nothing but compassion for me.

'I know, I just.' I sighed, I couldn't' finish the sentence.

'I understand. It's okay.' She said gently. 'How about you wash your face and go check on your table? I think they are waiting for the bill.' She suggested.

'Yes boss.' I said. We both stood up and she walked out of the washroom. She turned and winked at me; I gave her a weak smile and washed my face as she told.

Boss was the right word for her. Angela and her husband Ben majored in Business studies. They own a small restaurant few blocks down my apartment. Yep, it's where I work.

It's been a year since I graduated from college, majoring in English. I want to be a writer. I love to read. My bookshelf is probably filled entirely with classics. I've always had a greater interest in classics than any other genre. My favorite book is Wuthering Heights. I've lost count of the number of times I've read the book. I always have a copy with me.

I lived with Angela and Ben in their apartment until 2 years ago. When I finally got the courage to live on my own, I rented an apartment. I love my apartment. Everything is just a block or two away. I have enough money to pay rent and help buy groceries.

My shift dragged on mercilessly and finally it was 4! Hallelujah! Angela came out from her office towards me.

Angela is a very pretty girl. 5''5, brown hair, hazel eyes and a sweet smile. She is a shy person, but can be fiercely protective of the people she loves. Apparently, Ben thinks she is not at all shy in bed. Ugh. Something I didn't want to know. She is like the sister I never had.

'Hey Bells, wanna go to Starbucks?' she asked. 'It's been way too long since we've talked about your sex life.' She said bluntly. Did I mention she can be extremely blunt at times?

I blushed. My face probably looks like a tomato right now. I got my blush from my dad. So, I can trip easily, blush fire engine red and am a bad liar. Yeah, nothing much to know about me.

'Thanks Ang, can you say it louder? I think the person in the back did not here us.' I whispered, gritting my teeth. Angela laughed out loud.

'Oh Bella, stop being such a prude.' She said wrapping her right arm around my shoulders. 'Let's go.'

Yep, ladies and gentlemen, my best friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WTC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'What did he do now?' Angela asked taking sip from her coffee.

'It doesn't matter, Ang. I called him last night after my shift and ended things.' I told her which made her smile like a Cheshire cat.

I rolled my eyes at her. I knew she was never a big fan of James. Who am I kidding? She totally loathed that man. James Smith was my boyfriend for the past 8 months until yesterday I broke up with him when I knew the relationship was going nowhere.

He was a charming man. Icy blue eyes, long blonde hair, about 6''1 height, although he had a smile that gave me creeps. I never knew why.

He was four years older than me. He asked me out when he came in the restaurant I worked. It was fun in the beginning. We went on dates every week. It was going great until 4 months ago, when he started acting all weird. He said it was concerning his family, funny because I never met or heard about any of his family members.

He told me he worked in a bank as an accountant but never mentioned which bank. Angela was always concerned about me regarding James. She said the guy was creepy.

I ignored her warnings and dated him anyway because he was so smart and mature. That's what attracted me to him. He was extremely possessive, wouldn't let me talk to a guy when I was with him.

I hadn't seen him in 3 weeks, just spoken on the phone three or four times. I mean what kind of relation was it? I still remember the conversation I had with James last night.

'Hey James.' I said in the phone.

'Hey babe, what's up?' He said sounding distracted. Ugh. I hate when he called me that.

'Nothing much, I just came back from my shift. I decided to work tonight. I was getting bored sitting at-' I was cut off by his irritated voice.

'What is it Bella?' he asked distracted again.

'Do you have ten minutes to spare? Or are you too busy to speak with your girlfriend, who by the way hasn't spoken to you in 7 days?' I asked sarcastically.

'Fine.' James sighed. 'Speak.'

I rolled my eyes thanking god I was ending it with this dick. What did I see in this man 8 months ago is beyond me.

'You know James; I don't think we are going to work out. I mean you are not here, it's been forever and I just think we should not see each other anymore.' I blurted out in one breathe.

'What the fuck does that mean?' he barked through the phone.

'What do you think? It means I'm breaking up with you.' I said trying to keep my voice calm. Inside I was terrified of his angry voice. I've never heard him so angry.

'You can't do that! Is it some other guy? Huh? I know it's some other guy.' He said coldly.

'No, it's not. You have no right to question me. I'm not an object you can be possessive about.' I said as quietly as I could.

'You fucking bitch!' he cursed through the phone. 'I know you're sleeping with someone else, you slut!' he accused me with venom in his voice.

I felt tears start to form in my eyes. Tears of anger. I felt so angry right now; I would've strangled him if he was right in front of me.

'Listen you little son of a bitch, who the fuck do you think you are talking to me like that! I won't listen a single word you're accusing me of. Fucking douchebag.' I replied him loudly through my phone. By the end of my conversation I was panting loudly.

'We'll see about that Isabella.' He said acidly, sending creeps all over my body. 'Give me four days, you bitch. Four days. I'll show you what James Smith can do.' He said with a wave of confidence in his voice. For a moment I was sure he was going to do something dangerous.

I shrugged that thought coming up with nothing he could do. 'Whatever, piece of shit.' I said. 'Just so you know, I rather have sex with someone than see your pencil dick again.' I finished my sentence and hung up before he could say something else.

Just then I heard some noise coming from outside…

I shook my thoughts when I heard Angela mention my name.

'…. It's fine Bells. You don't' need to mop around after breaking up with him. That guy sure was creepy; he looked like a drug dealer more than an accountant in a bank.' She said finishing her cup of coffee.

I nodded my head and continued sipping my frappe and mumbled, 'I still can't believe I broke up with him.'

'I know.' Angela said loudly making few heads turn our way. 'You can finally have some great sex!' I ducked my head totally embarrassed by her lack of decency. Yeah, she just had coffee that ought to do it.

When I was finally sure that my face wasn't blushing anymore, I looked up at her. She was already looking at me with amusement.

'What?' I asked her.

'You know.' She said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. 'I know a very hot guy, you might be interested in.'

'Who might that hot guy be?' I asked sarcastically.

'Edward Cullen.' She said casually. I groaned loudly.

'You know Angela the day was going great until you mentioned his name.' I said with obvious disgust.

'Oh come on Bells.' Angela said rolling her eyes. 'That man is gorgeous. What is it between you two, I still don't understand. Maybe it's just the pent up sexual frustration of two years.'

'You know what a jerk he is.' I said as a way of explanation. That was always my answer.

'You never answer this question, Bella.' Angela said. 'The guy lives right in front of you, why can't you just ask him out?' she asked irritated. 'If I were in your place, I would've named our babies by now.'

'Whoa, Ang.' I said stopping her right there. 'You remember Ben? Your husband? You love him?' I asked her mockingly.

She huffed muttering a 'whatever'.

I rolled my eyes. Angela was right, he is gorgeous. Adonis, really. Reddish-copper colored hair which is always messed up as he runs his hand through it. Not that I notice. Straight nose, strong jaw which you feel like licking, not that I want to. Crooked smile that can make your heart beat faster. Ripped body, which clearly tells he works out. Tall, about 6''2. Long, pale fingers that I don't wish to be anywhere near my body. The best part about him though is his eyes. Dark green like the forest. They are the most unusual shade I've ever seen. You can get lost into them easily. Not that I ever was, I mean we fight more than talk to each other.

'Hello, Bells?' Angela said shaking my arm. 'Lost in Edwardland?' she teased.

I gave her a dirty look and she snorted seeing my look. We chatted for a while later, completing leaving the Edward chapter behind.

I looked at my watch and saw it was already 6pm. I have to call Mindy; a friend of Angela's who had submitted the first manuscript of my book to a private publication agency. I was excited about it. The letter telling the details was supposed to be here by Saturday, but for some strange reason I didn't get it yet.

I have started writing a short story which I am not so confident about. I think it lacks something I'm not able to pin yet. But, if they like it, it'll be great!

'Okay, Bells!' Angela said, 'I should get going too. I have to make dinner for Ben and me.'

We stood up and made our way towards our parked cars. Ah ah. Her car and my truck. Angela was never fond of my truck, but I loved it! It was a red Chevy truck, old but reliable. My dad got it repaired by one of his friends and gave it to me as a high school present.

Giving Angela a quick hug I stepped into my truck when I heard her shout, 'Think what I said about that hottie.'

'Goodbye Angela!' I shouted back.

I'm thankful for my best friend who has a knack of embarrassing me anywhere.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WTC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During my ride to the apartment I thought about what Angela said. Sure I can ask Edward Cullen out. If he didn't act like a jerk all the time. I've never seen him bring a woman into his apartment. Maybe he's gay. I don't think so. Anyway, he deserves someone very beautiful. Blonde hair, blue eyes, beautiful body. Not me.

I am an average girl. Brown hair, boring brown eyes, clumsy, who blushes like an idiot, and lacks in the fashion sense department. Angela always tried to increase my self-esteem . Saying that I am pretty and blah, blah, blah. That's just because I'm her best friend.

I made my way to the parking lot and parked the car on the edge of my designated area. Ha! I'm before him today! Let him have trouble trying to park tonight. That jerk too thinks that my car is a 'piece of shit.' His words.

Stupid, handsome jerk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WTC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Hi, Mindy, It's Bella Swan.' I said nervously through the phone.

'Oh, Hi Bella! How are you?' she asked cheerfully, not helping my mood.

'I'm great. Um, I actually called to ask you about the book manuscript I gave you. You said their letter was supposed to be here by Saturday. I didn't get it; do you have any idea about this?' I asked her uncertainly.

'Oh yeah Bella, they did send you the letter with their reply on Saturday.' She said with certainty.

I laughed nervously, 'I didn't receive it, and actually I had an evening shift last Saturday.' I rubbed the back of my neck.

'Bella, I think your letter was collected in by your neighbor, Cullen is it?' she asked ruffling through some pages.

'Yes, yes. Edward Cullen. He is my neighbor. I'll ask him about it when he gets back from work.' I said, getting more irritated every minute.

'What kind of neighbor is he? It's been two days already.' Mindy said clearly confused. He's the jerk kind. 'I bet he is some divorced old man who has nothing to do.' She continued, making assumptions.

If only you were right! 'Yeah. Um. Thanks for your help though, I'll see you around.' I said clearly wanting to end the conversation.

'Sure, Bella! Anytime. Good luck!' she said and the line went dead.

I stood there in the middle of my living room thinking of ways to kill Edward Cullen. Killing him wouldn't help. Clearly he's making it for the time I burned his laundry, collecting it on behalf of him and confusing it with my ex-boyfriend's.

Oh that was hell of a day! Happy memories. Hmm. Now is not the time! I looked at my watch and saw it was 6:45, he'll be here anytime. I went in the hallway and waited for him to enter in all his glory.

Boy did he. The elevator dinged making me know the stop was on my floor. The doors opened revealing a very sexy; I mean the jerk of the year Edward Cullen. I checked him out through my glare. I've learned that a long time ago. His hair was disheveled as always but looked so soft, I wish… Ahem! He was wearing a dark-blue button down shirt; the sleeves were rolled up till his elbows revealing his strong arms. His black dress pants fit him perfectly, I wish… Again! His coat was draped across his right arm as he strolled towards me.

I kept my glare unwavering, reminding myself why I was standing here. He noticed my glare and smirked right back. That mouth! Enough! I glared even harder. I can kill him right now. Yeah, right. That cocky bastard!

Ugh. I hate Mondays!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WTC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So…. What do you think? Like it? Hate it? Please review and let me know if I should really continue with my story!

And James? What do you think he'll do?

Love, Paint the Walls. XOXO.