Chapter One

Present Day - BPOV

"It's not that I don't care; it's just that there are more issues to worry about then your boyfriend of three years deciding to cut his hair without asking you first" I sighed as I balanced the phone between my ear and shoulder.

"It's not that he did it without asking me it's the fact that he just did it as if it didn't mean anything, like hair means nothing. I didn't realise he was so impulsive. Where does that leave our relationship huh? What if he decides that he doesn't love me anymore and just breaks it off?"

I took a deep slow breath "Alice, its 7am and I haven't had my morning coffee yet so please stop talking before I end up saying something I'll regret"

She went quiet for a few seconds before saying "I'm sorry. I'm just hormonal that's all, you know what I get like when it's that time of the month" Yes, because I needed that visual "How about I meet you for lunch later?"

"Sorry no can do, I have the twins to look after today and you know how much a handful those two can be" The twins were the two children I looked after three times a week for Mrs Stanley. I loved children, which was why I decided to become a teacher. However living in a small town like Forks they weren't exactly looking for new teachers. So I took the next best thing, I became a nanny.

"I do not envy you" Alice laughed "How about drinks at my place tonight then? Please?"

I rolled my eyes; she was never going to let me say no "I'll be there at 8 okay?"

"Yay" she squealed "See you then" then she hung up the phone. I laughed to myself as I placed the phone back onto the counter and I flicked the coffee machine on, as I waited for it to be ready I made myself some toast. I didn't have to be at my job until 8am.

I knew why Alice insisted on seeing me today. Today was June 20th; Edward's birthday. My former best friend; the boy I had grown up with. The boy who also broke my heart.

Things started changing when Edward met Tanya Haven. It was only subtle changes at first; he would casually drop her name into conversations; he would occasionally cancel plans with me to see Tanya instead. After a few months of cancelled dates I'd had enough.

April 2006

"….so it's cool if we rearrange yeah?" Edward finished saying at lunchtime; after spending the past 20 minutes talking about Tanya and her "empty house" this weekend.

"But Edward we've had this planned for months. You can't just ditch me because your girlfriend's parents have gone out of town" I sighed.

"I'm not ditching you, I'm just asking for a rain check that's all" he shrugged as he stuck another fry in his mouth "We can do it next weekend instead"

"I don't want to do it next weekend, I want to do it this weekend" I argued.

"Bella don't be selfish"

"Selfish?" I almost shouted "I'm being selfish because I want to hang out with my best friend this weekend? Something we've had planned for months and you're telling me I'm bring selfish because you want to spend this weekend getting into your girlfriend's pants instead?"

Then Edward said the words that got me even more angry "Bella calm down"

"Don't you dare tell me to calm down!" I shouted this time; a few people at the other tables looked over at my outburst "You're the one blowing our plans and you want me to just be okay with that? You're the one being selfish Edward, you and that whore you call a girlfriend"

"Watch your mouth Bella" he warned me "You don't need to start calling Tanya names"

"Why? I'm only telling the truth"

Edward abruptly stood up and I flinched back, he then leaned forward and said calmly "You're my best friend Bella and I love you but don't make me choose"

Tears started collecting in my eyes "Edward, please don't" I whispered.

"If you can't accept that Tanya is a part of my life then we can't hang out anymore" he said "I'm sorry" he added before walking away from the table.

Present Day

I shook my head trying to wipe the memory from my head. That was the last time I had a conversation with Edward. For the next 2 years we barely said a word to each other, after we graduated from high school and went off to college, Edward stopped coming home for the holidays, opting to stay with Tanya and her parents instead. I haven't seen Edward for three years; I try not to think about him but today was his birthday. He would be 23 today.

Renee and Charlie would occasionally bring Edward up in conversation but I always changed the subject; they eventually stopped mentioning Edward.

During the remainder of high school Edward changed, he didn't seem to be the Edward I had known since I was a child. He started going to parties, drinking, smoking and never getting home until gone 3am.

He was crowned homecoming king and Tanya was his queen, it made me sick to think that my Edward resembled someone we always used to avoid. It was always Edward and I against everybody but when Tanya came onto the scene, Edward became one of "them"

I couldn't blame Tanya entirely; Edward willingly did everything she told him. I do blame Tanya for bringing drugs into Edward's world though. Growing up with a doctor as a father, Edward heard stories about kids taking accidental overdoses, kids ending up in hospital after drink driving. I never imagined him becoming one of those people but unfortunately he did.

He became someone I didn't even know anymore; someone who I started to despise. Like I said, I couldn't blame Tanya entirely, but without her I would still have my best friend.

"No, no Ben don't throw that on the floor" I told the 4 year old boy as I tried cleaning the spaghetti off of my shirt "Just leave it on the side and I'll get rid of it. No Ben no!" I shouted as the remainder of his spaghetti fell onto the floor "Dammit" I cursed.

"Dammit" Ben repeated.

Shit.

"No Ben, don't say that word"

"Dammit. Dammit. Dammit" he started chanting.

"That's a naughty word, don't say that" I said as I helped him off of the chair.

"Naughty word" he giggled and started running around the table screaming "dammit" at the top of his lungs. His twin brother Eric started to copy Ben and soon enough I had two four year old boys running around the house laughing and shouting "dammit"

I looked at the clock and saw I had an hour before Mrs Stanley would be home, one hour to get another word into the boy's heads.

By the time Mrs Stanley got home the word "dammit" was no longer being used by the boys. Instead they were sitting in their bedroom saying "ribbit" over and over.

"Is there any reason why my sons are acting like frogs?" Mrs Stanley chuckled as she walked back into the kitchen after checking on the twins.

"I may have let them watch The Frog Song earlier" I smiled "They've been ribbiting ever since"

"At least that's the only word they're saying. I caught Ben saying "asshole" the other day; I blame Mike for that one. That's the last time I let my sons watch the football game with my husband"

I laughed.

"I should be off now. I've given the boys their dinner and bathed them. They should be good for the rest of the evening"

"Wonderful Bella, I'll see you on Monday"

"Do you not need me this weekend?" I asked as I pulled my jacket on.

"No. The boys have a birthday party to go to tomorrow. The mother is my best friend so I thought I'd take the boys there myself. Perhaps have some cake" she winked. Mrs Stanley or Jessica as she wanted me to call her was obsessed with exercise and eating healthily. Something she always tried to instil into her boys.

"Well if you need me at all then just call me"

"I will do Bella. Have a nice weekend"

I just downed my 2nd beer when Alice attacked me with the subject of Jasper's hair again.

"Do you think I should be worried? I mean I know it's his hair but I don't know"

"Alice, Jasper loves you. He's not leaving you. Just because he was impulsive with his hair doesn't mean that he'll change his mind about you. You two are made for each other" I assured her. To be honest I was a little jealous of her's and Jasper's relationship. It was literally love at first sight; they were besotted with each other.

"You're right. You're right. I'm just being silly" she slapped my knee "Oh I have something for you!" she squealed and jumped off the sofa and disappeared out of the room. She returned a minute later with a piece of paper "Now don't get mad at me but here" she handed me the paper.

I looked at it and let out a huge sigh. I stared at the number written down and looked up at Alice with a frown "What have you done?"

"I know you said no more blind dates but trust me; this guy is perfect for you"

"You said that about Tyler, Garrett and Sam" I reminded her.

"They were losers" I dismissed "But this guy is amazing. He's tall, dark and very, very swoon worthy" she smiled. Swoon worthy? Who says swoon worthy?

"Alice" I groaned.

"Just give him a chance. Trust me, you'll love him"

She wasn't going to drop it.

"What's his name?" I asked,

She squealed and clapped his hands "His name is Jacob Black, he lives in La Push and owns his own garage and motorcycle shop. He doesn't live with his parents and he has all of his own hair"

"That's a bonus" I muttered to myself "How old is he?"

"26"

"How did you meet him?"

"My car broke down on the way to Leah's house and I stopped off at his garage and naturally we became best friends. He mentioned he was single and looking and I automatically thought of you"

"He doesn't even know what I look like"

"Oh he does, I showed him a picture of you and he was instantly interested" she grinned.

"Wait, what picture?"

"The one of you at the beach"

I shook my head "Well no wonder, I was wearing a bikini. Alice, you've just pimped me out to a guy who probably only wants one thing"

"No trust me; he's looking for more than sex"

"How do you know that?"

"He told me"

Of course he did. You can never say no to Alice.

"I don't know Alice"

"Bella come on, I've known you for almost two years now and not once have I seen you in a serious relationship. I beginning to think you still hold your v-card"

"No, Tyler took that" I said quietly.

She gasped "You little slut" she said shoving me playfully.

"One date alright? I can't offer anything else. I'll see how it goes"

"Trust me Bella, after being with Jacob for 5 minutes you'll instantly fall in love with him"

Yeah, let's see about that.

Chapter one done. What do you think? I'm not too sure how long chapters will be. I'll just see how it goes. Please let me know what you think.

We'll see Edward again in maybe the next chapter or the one after. There is still a lot more backstory to give regarding how Edward and Bella drifted apart and soon you'll meet Tanya. Dun, dun, dun.