Thank you for all the reviews on the Prologue. Here is the first chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 1 – EPOV

I turned the page and began to read.

Chapter 1 – The Day We Met

"You had me at hello…" – movie; Jerry Maguire

For this chapter you need to be here in the bookstore. However, I need you to go to the desk up front. Go on, get up! Don't argue with me! Good, now please have a seat. Here is where our tale begins. It was a hot July day and I was at the store working. I was stocking shelves, when I heard the bell ring, notifying me that a customer just came in. Do you remember sweetheart?

I laughed out loud and thought back to the day that changed my life.

FLASHBACK

"Hello!" Emmett boomed out into the small little bookstore we just entered. I followed him in and closed the door behind me as I stepped inside.

"Emmett, is that really necessary? I'm sure the owner heard the bell above the door, they don't need to hear your obnoxious self too." I said as I began to look at books on a nearby bookcase.

"Dude, what crawled up your ass? You've been PMSing all week." Emmett snickered at his little jab.

"Shut up fuc…" I was suddenly cut off by a sweet sounding voice.

"Can I help you gentlemen find something?" the sweet voice asked.

I turned to see who it was and my breath was taken from me then and there. She was gorgeous! Long brown hair, brown eyes to match, incredible figure, and a beautiful smile.

"Hello there little lady!" My brother boomed with his big goofy smile. I was still struck speechless by the beauty before me. "I'm looking for a book and I was wondering if you might have it in stock?"

She nodded her head and motioned with her hand for us to approach the desk. She walked over to her computer. "Okay, so what is it that you are looking for?" she asked as she wiggled the computer mouse to wake it up.

I continued to just stare at her in absolute wonder. Okay what is my problem? She's just a girl! You've dated lots of girls in your time and you've never been struck stupid before just by the sight of them. Get a grip!

"I'm looking for a book called, The Street Lawyer. It's by John Grisham. Do you have it?" Emmett leaned his elbows onto her desk while she skimmed through her computer.

A smile formed on her face as she turned to Emmett. "Yes we do. Follow me and I'll show you where to find it." We followed her as she started making her way through the many bookcases. "Are you a lawyer yourself or just enjoy reading thrillers that evolve around the law?" She asked over her shoulder as she pulled the ladder down to a certain case. She climbed up the ladder and reached for the top shelf grabbing a book and climbing back down.

My brother smiled at her and answered her question as she handed him the book. "Nope, not a lawyer. I just enjoy reading about it I guess. My wife's a lawyer so that might have something to do with it. Thanks!" He said as he looked down at the novel in his hand. "How much do I owe you?" He asked reaching back for his wallet.

"It's a paperback edition so it's only $10. Oh, I'm sorry, were you looking for something as well sir?" She asked and it took my brother elbowing me in the gut to stop staring at her. I still couldn't find any words to speak to her which caused her to look at me a little concerned and a little amused. My brother stepped in and answered for me.

"No, he's just here for moral support." He laughed and she smiled in return. We followed her to the front of the store where Emmett paid her and we made our way out the door. I stared at her as we walked past her store window. Once we were out of sight of her, my brother turned to me and slapped me on the back of the head. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

I began to rub at the spot he just smacked. "Nothing! Ouch, damn it Em! What the hell was that for?"

"That was for whatever the hell was going on in there! Dude, you didn't say a word to her. It was like you didn't know how to talk or something." Emmett shook his head.

"Yeah, well I… I… shit!" I couldn't come up with a good excuse. I knew that if Emmett found out I was attracted to her; he'd be pulling me back into that store and begging the girl to marry me. My mom and sister have been dying for me to get married for a few years now. I keep telling them it will happen, I just haven't found the one yet.

"Well whatever is up your ass, yank it out, and move on." He looked at his watch. "Damn, come on we're going to be late. If we're late to the family dinner again, mom and Rose will both have our asses."

We made our way to the weekly dinner my family usually has on Friday evenings. I couldn't get my mind off of the woman in the bookstore. She was just… wow. No words, really. I really regret not saying anything to her, but what would I have said? I mulled over the what-ifs all during dinner and when I was on my way home I decided to take the long way and drive through town. I passed by the little book store and noticed that it still appeared to be open. I looked at the time on my car radio and it said it was 8:30pm. I turned around and parked in front of the store.

I'm not really sure what made me do it, but I got out of the car and walked up the door. I noticed the business hours on the door. They close at 9:00pm, okay plenty of time to wander and maybe actually talk to her this time. I take a deep breath and then walk through the door. The bell rings above me and I shut the door. I wait a moment to see if she appears like she did before, but she didn't.

"Hello?" I hollered.

"I'll be out in just a second. You can look around if you know what you're looking for, but if you don't know where it's at then just give me a second and I'll be right out to help you." I heard the familiar sweet voice call back to me.

I began to shuffle my feet nervously by the door, and that's when it hit me. What am I going to say when she asks if she can help me find something? I don't know a lot of books! Shit! I seriously didn't think this one through. I rummaged through my mind trying to think of a book that I could be here to buy. Think!

Too late. "Sorry about that, but you caught me doing some inventory in back. So what can I… Oh it's you again!" She said as she finally looked up and saw it was me, again.

"Hello." Finally! I can speak! It's a miracle!

She looks a little shocked for a second before she slightly shakes her head and then smiles up at me. "So, is there something I can help you find, or are you just here for moral support again?" She asked as she quirked an eyebrow at me.

I let out a nervous laugh. "No, I'm here for a book actually, I guess." I really need to sound more confident here.

"You guess? You're not sure if you're here to buy a book?" She smirked at me.

"No, I'm not sure. That all depends on whether you actually have it or not." I smirked back. Ah ha! There's my confidence. Welcome back!

She nodded her head at me and giggled. "Touché." She motioned for me to come up to her desk and she woke up her computer once more. "So what are we looking for?"

Shit! Think! Um…. "Shakespeare?" Seriously? Shakespeare? You couldn't think of something more manly to say? Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

She furrowed her eyebrows at me and then pushed away from the computer. "Shakespeare?" She questioned me.

I know, I know! I cleared my throat. "Yeah, Shakespeare." I nodded.

She studied me for a moment and then glanced quickly down at her phone lying nearby. She studied me again, grabbed her phone, and then motioned for me to follow her. As we were walking through the bookcases she kept talking to me over her shoulder. "I only have 3 pieces of Shakespeare's work here in the store. I usually only carry these 3 because I have yet to have anyone come here and request any of his other works." She reached up to a nearby shelf and pulled down 3 books. "Here we go; Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth. Which one are you after?"

I studied them all for a moment before I finally decided on one. I pointed to Romeo and Juliet and she placed the other two back on the shelf. "Interesting choice." She said as she made her way back through the bookcases towards the front of the store.

"Why do you say it like that? Are you not a fan of the classics?" I asked her while she rang up my purchase.

"Look Mister, I'm a fan of all books. I wouldn't own a bookstore if I only liked a certain type. I'm just a little surprised that you chose the love tragedy out of the three." She shrugged.

"Oh, well it's a classic and I've never actually read it all the way through, so I figured why not?" I shrugged my shoulders.

"Okay well, since this book is a hardcover and like you said it is a classic. Your total is $25.00."

I grabbed my wallet and handed her the exact change. She slid the book across the counter at me and smiled as I picked it up. "Thanks." I smiled back at her.

"Thank you for your business. Have a good night." She said and I noticed her start to lock up and clean up everything as I walked towards the door. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was 8:57pm. Wow, I was in here longer than I thought.

Before I closed the door behind me I stopped and turned back to her. She stopped what she was doing and smiled as she looked up at me. I smiled at her as I said, "Edward. My name is Edward." She looked at me confused. "You called me Mister earlier. Just wanted you to know that it's Edward." I smiled at her.

Her smile returned and she laughed. "Thanks for telling me Edward. You can call me Bella, you know like it says out front." She laughed again. "Have a good night Edward. Come back when you're ready for another Shakespearean tragedy."

I laughed along with her. "I will. Goodnight Bella." I smiled as I closed the door. My smile grew bigger when I finally read the store's sign out front. Bella's Book Boutique. I wonder if tomorrow is too soon to come back for another book.

END FLASHBACK

I bring myself back to her story as I get to the end of the first chapter.

I still to this day cannot believe that you bought Romeo and Juliet. I still laugh thinking about it. You absolutely cannot stand Shakespeare! It just shows how you were always putty in my hands. I'm just kidding! We both know that I was the one who was really the putty.

I miss your hands, Edward. I miss the way you'd look at me when we would be teasing and joking with one another. I miss your laugh. I miss everything.

I ran my fingers across the tear stains on the page. Her tears. I watched as one of my own hit the page. My tears. Our tears. God, I miss her. I re-read her last sentence on the page. 'I miss everything.'

"Me too." I said as another round of tears fell from my eyes.

Okay, so let me know what you think! Thanks! :)