Disclaimer: We do not own Twilight, but we appreciate Stephenie Meyer loaning us her characters. We Really do Appreciate it :)

A/N: Hi guys, *waves* told you it would be up soon :). Goldentemptress and I decided that we would get some feedback on the intro's before we started getting into the posting.

As Goldentemptress did, I also wish to thank Ashel-13 and HaydenMCullen, and dedicate this chapter to them.

Alice Brandon Introduction

Twenty-five years on this planet and I still hadn't found the 'right man', whatever that means. My best friend, Bella, had found her soul mate in one Edward Cullen. He had been the shining star in our college and it was inevitable from the first time they'd met.

I was still single and loving every minute of it; I had a high-pressure job in the city and really didn't have time for a man in my life. I was working my way up the corporate ladder in the fashion magazine, Couture. I had little time and I was known for my broad expertise in the fashion world. I was on fire and I couldn't lose my grasp on the reputation I had built for myself. In the magazine business, I was known for my determination. I am four foot nine and have a tongue like a razor blade when needed, but I rarely had to use it.

I knew that being pleasant but firm was the best way to get what I wanted. The ball busters left a trail of destruction behind them without ever truly knowing it. They burned bridges and cornered themselves, whereas I built connections and could always count on my sources. I was feared and loved all in the same breath.

Bella was the only person who knew the real me, and she never took any of my shit. We'd been friends since high school - we were polar opposites. Bella was the quiet, studious type, always having a book in her hands and wearing clothes off the rack from places like the GAP. Whereas I was in the cheer squad, dated the football captain, who was an asshole, and had a closet full of designer clothes. My mom was a fashion designer and would have it no other way.

Being so completely opposite had almost sealed the deal with our friendship; we evened one another out, ying and yang. Bella lived vicariously through me because she preferred to blend into the wallpaper, I would cling to her world when I was fed up of all the high school melodrama.

We met when she had transferred to Forks High School in our junior year. She had moved to Forks from Phoenix to live with her father. Everyone had known, Forks wasn't the biggest place in the world and someone new was something big. Not to mention the fact that she was the police chief's daughter.

On her first day, she was sitting all alone at lunch, her nose buried in a book. She was so shy and timid, typical Bella, but something in me knew that we would be the greatest of friends. Jessica and Angela had looked at me like I was insane when I popped up from the table we were sitting at.

I made my way over to where she was sitting alone and plopped down next to her, introducing myself as "Alice, your new best friend." I could almost here the rest of the squad shitting bricks, and I couldn't help but laugh. They were all so predictable and pretentious.

From that moment on Bella and I were practically inseparable. She was my confidante, even being the quiet reserved type, she always knew what advice to give me and she was always right. I loved her like the sister I never had; she was my sister.

After high school, we continued on by applying to all of the same colleges. Being athletic and vivacious hadn't changed my grades; Bella and I had the same GPA.

We were lucky enough to get our choice of any school, but we chose the one closest to home. The University of Washington; and there was never any question we would become roommates. Bella and I spent as much time as we could together, but conflicting schedules sometimes made that more difficult than we liked.

My second year was when I got the highly coveted internship at the fashion magazine, Couture. It was one of the only fashion magazines based in the Northwest Peninsula, and it was internationally renowned. I knew just how lucky I was to get one of the two spots, and I wasn't going to waste it.

It also came in useful when I realized Bella had a crush on the other most coveted thing at the University of Washington; Edward Cullen. I knew that she was infatuated; it didn't take a lot to notice; but it was Rosalie, Bella's brother Emmett's girlfriend, that was the first to notice, because she introduced them.

Rosalie and I had collectively decided that Bella was going to get a make over whether she liked it or not. The first stop was the salon. The girl's hair was gorgeous, but it just lay against her back in one long unruly line. We had it layered, highlighted and the stylist showed her how to get her natural curl to work for her.

Next was the make up artist; Rosalie and I stood dutifully by her side in case our assistance was ever needed. I knew make up, and I knew colors, but brown eyes were beyond me. The woman we used did amazingly and I secured her a spot at Couture; even the editor used her. It was my first foot in the door.

Next was the spa; poor Bella was subjected to pain before we could pamper her; Rosalie insisted she had a wax seeing as bikini season was almost upon us.

The last stop was the Couture treasure-trove; The Closet. Designers loved to send us samples and it was free range for all employees and friends. It was where the extent of my shoe collection came from; everyone knew I had first pick with the shoes and I was never crossed. Bella was the perfect size for this veritable heaven. We spent two hours in what was known as 'the office' and she ended up leaving with more clothes than she actually owned. Needless to say the contents of her closet before was donated to charity.

The transformation was similar to that of caterpillar to butterfly. It sounded so cliché, but Bella had literally come out of her cocoon. With her new look, came renewed confidence. Everything seemed to enhance her beauty and Rosalie plotted to get Edward and Bella together in the same room again.

Bella had made herself a close guy friend, Jacob. He was sweet and doting but it was obvious he was in for heartbreak. Bella had eyes for one man alone. When Jacob pledged at Emmett's fraternity, Bella started attending parties with him, and Jacob became her guardian, warding off the unwanted attention.

Rosalie's first opportunity to play matchmaker came at spring formal. She had told Jacob to bring Bella. I was always amazed at how easily scheming came to Rosalie, but she was good at what she did. Jacob agreed and Rosalie and I made sure we helped Bella put herself together.

With my internship, I found that attending parties and functions became difficult. The hours that I was needed coincided with every major fraternity and sorority event. I made the sacrifice knowing that it would pay off eventually. Still, I was able to make most functions; I was just constantly fashionably late. The magic-closet was always my saving grace.

It turned out Bella hadn't really needed that push. They had barely spoken the night of the spring fling.

It turned out later that Edward had found Bella, and pursued her because he wanted it. It had been only two weeks before the end of class, but after that one moment, they were inseparable.

Poor Jacob looked lost with out his friend. He was six foot seven and athletic, but a huge teddy bear at heart. He was a frat boy through and through, but Bella had meant something to him. She had been the balance to his partying; she kept him level.

This was painfully obvious six weeks into Bella's quiet love affair. Bella and Edward were inseparable; but they were beautiful together. Bella glowed and Edward looked happier than I had ever seen him. I couldn't have been happier for my best friend. I had constantly felt terrible about staying out and working until the early hours of the morning, as it was now, I knew she spent every waking minute with Edward at his apartment.

I didn't mind coming home to the empty apartment, because I knew that Bella was safe and happy. She called me every day apologizing about her absence, but I would ease her conscience and tell her the time I actually made it back to the apartment.

It was two am when Jacob hammered on the front door of the apartment one night. He was drunk out of his mind and confused as all hell. I had no idea Bella had dealt with this. He'd slurred his words and had almost fallen into the apartment. There was no way I was catching him, he was just too large. Luckily, he just stumbled and found his balance against the wall.

I didn't have the heart to ask him to leave so I guided him into my room and pushed him on my bed; there was no way he would fit on the couch. I pulled off his shoes and his jacket and covered him in my blankets. I hated seeing anyone suffer and the boy was going to wake up with a hangover.

I brushed his black hair from his eyes and whispered goodnight, ready to crash on Bella's bed. Jacob's long arms shot out and wrapped around my waist, pulling me onto the bed and holding snug against his chest. He begged me not to go and promised not to try anything, so I relented and snuggled against him, glad of the warm body.

I woke up in Jacob's big arms wrapped tightly against his chest, and it was a nice feeling.

We became close friends after that; he took up his role as guardian again, but with me instead of Bella. We spent time with one another when the two couples in our group craved their own company. He became one of my closest friends; that was until James showed up.

James and I met at Couture. He was an ad executive from New York. He was also a fuck head with whom I wasted two years.

He would fly in occasionally, well, once every three months so he could maintain his account with Couture and bring in the new proofs for his clients. He was an executive, and he swept me off my feet, he was charming and such a smooth talker. Unfortunately, he wasn't as satisfying in the bedroom. Small was an overstatement.

He would fly in; take me to dinner and we would spend hours talking over a bottle of wine. We would stay at my apartment and spend a whole day in bed as we made love. He told me he loved me after six months and I was powerless against him.

Bella and all of my friends liked him. He fit in easily and was never too mature to attend frat parties with me or just spend an evening with my friends. Jacob couldn't stand him, and looking at it with hindsight he'd been right not to.

I had graduated college and managed to get a full time position with Couture. They appreciated my dedication and they had told me I was an asset to the company. James would continue to fly in, but the occasions were few and far between. I guess I knew the end was near.

Bella speculated that he was probably nervous because he was going to propose. I had been excited at the idea, but also hugely afraid. If he had, he would want me to move to New York with him. The thought of leaving my entire life behind me scared the living crap out of me.

It turned out that the speculation was completely false. He turned up on one trip with a beautiful red head in tow; her name was Victoria, she was an intern at Vogue, New York. I could have slapped myself when he introduced her as his fiancée.

I stayed away from him as much as I could, but that night, he turned up outside my condo alone; his eyes full of desire as he pushed me up against the wall that ran parallel with the door. He kissed me, but the kiss was broken after a "swift kick" in the nuts. I couldn't believe he had the audacity to come to my home and try continuing our relationship.

He was doubled over in pain and looked horrified at what I had done. He told me he'd been dating her for years and he thought I understood. I told him how he'd failed to mention her, taking away my opportunity to NOT be okay with it, pushed him out the door and slammed it in his face. I knew how much power he held over me and I didn't want him convincing me otherwise.

I went solo to Edward and Bella's wedding, and I was glad the Jacob had done the same. I was maid of honor and he kept me occupied and on track as I played out all my duties. He was still one of my best friends and I couldn't be more thankful to him for being so forgiving.

Bella was a beautiful bride; her pale skin glowed as it exuded her happiness, and Edward had never looked so proud. Rosalie and Emmett had married the previous summer and, of course, James had been there to distract me, so I hadn't paid as much attention as I should have.

I found myself a little jealous of my best friend; she had everything I didn't know I wanted. She'd found her knight in shining armor, her soul mate. He was whom she would give everything for and she was the one he wanted to come home to at the end of every day. It was beautiful.

I threw myself into work and partying a little too hard. I met with Bella weekly, we couldn't go a day without talking to one another and a week was about all we could stand not seeing one another. We were still the best of friends and there was nothing that could change that.

At the end of my second year at Couture, I was beginning to crawl my way to the top. I was junior editor in the fashion department; which meant I would style, organize shoots, proof test shots, and decide what made it into the monthly issue. The editors trusted every decision I made.

I worked in downtown Seattle and bought a condo close to the building. I was, to be honest, a workaholic. My whole world revolved around it and I found myself spending more and more time in the office. I knew what I wanted and I took it with both hands.

I had just finished the basic layout to present to the editor when I bumped into Jacob on my way home; he was in the elevator of the magazine's offices. Coincidentally he worked at one of the male magazines in our building. I hadn't seen him since the wedding and we immediately took off like we had seen each other every day since.

He took me out to dinner that night and we got to talking. It seemed he was in the same situation, personally, as I was. He worked the same hours as I did and we soon found ourselves in a routine.

Every night, we would head out and do something together. We craved the human company. The only time we didn't see one another was the nights I spent with Bella.

We'd been laughing one evening about the scarcity of our apartments when I invited him to mine. It was stupid and both of us had indulged a little too much in alcohol. We didn't make it all the way up in the elevator before we crashed into one another.

I had vaulted into his arms, crushing my lips against his. I had been so lonely I craved any kind of affection. Jacob was more than willing to oblige. We kissed all the way to my floor, and I doubt his eyes even touched my condo as he made his way, with my navigation, to my bedroom.

Needless to say we screwed like a pair of horny teenagers. Jacob was amazing; I had never had anyone like him in the bedroom. He was gentle but took control and he knew how to please. I had never had toe-curling pleasure the way he dealt it out.

When I woke in the morning, he was gone. There were no remnants of his even being in the condo, just an indentation in the pillow and a simple short note lying against the alarm clock.

Thank you Shorty. I will call you at work.

That certainly wasn't the last time Jacob and I indulged in one another. In fact, I was planning on seeing him tonight. There was something about the no strings attached arrangement we had that made the sex better.

Jacob and I were friends with benefits; neither of us expected anything more. It was the perfect arrangement.

I shuddered lightly as I huddled over the light box in my office. I had to keep my head in my work; I was meeting Bella for drinks tonight and I really didn't want her to know about Jacob and I.

Screwing a mutual friend wasn't really great etiquette, so I had kept my mouth closed. As far as Bella knew, it was a guy from the office and the sex was amazing. I hated not telling her, but Jake and I were only friends and there was really no need to complicate things.

A/N: So there you have it, Alice's introduction, I hope you enjoyed it :) I know things are slightly OOC . . . but keep reading LOL you will see how things shape up, I have a few surprises up my sleeve.

I would also like to thank Goldentemptress for being an awesome co-writer. You are awesome chick . . .

I hope you guys enjoyed, we should be posting more here pretty soon. Eager to know what you think . . .

MUCH LOVE & BIG HUGZ - L -