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Chapter 2
You Learn As You Go
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Life in New York was in full swing. There were moments of peace mixed with moments of chaos. At times, I felt like I was ahead of the game while at other times, I felt like the greatest city on earth was swallowing me alive; it could be a very overwhelming experience at times.
Throw out any and all ideas that living in New York is anything like an episode of Sex and the City. Trust me, that's an illusion. I learned really quick, wearing four inch heels was a bad idea. A helpful tip from Rose - wear tennis shoes and pack those sexy heels for the office in a bag.
People are everywhere, and sometimes they're in your personal space. People will cough, people will sneeze, people will breathe on you, and practically sit on your lap on the subway. And don't even get me started on how crowded the subway can sometimes be, or the buses. Hailing a cab isn't as easy and simple as they make it look on TV either. People will literally steal your cab, even if you're standing right there ready to get in.
People can be nice, but they can sometimes be downright rude as well. I guess it's just one of those things in life where you have to take the good with the bad; suck it up, and move forward.
The first couple of weeks were busy. I moved out of the hotel and into the apartment with Alice and Rose. I absolutely loved living with them, and considering Jasper and Emmett lived right across the hall from us, and were pretty much at Alice's place daily, there were never really any dull moments.
Eating out every night can get quite expensive. Thank goodness I lived with a chef, and a damn good one at that. Alice loved cooking, and a good thing she did, because our gang loved eating.
Bonding with Alice again, came naturally. However, she had changed a little. She was no longer this carefree teenager whose mother had to practically scream at her to clean her room. To say Alice was a neat freak would have been an understatement; she was obsessed with keeping everything clean. But I suppose that was a good quality to have. I'd much rather live with a neat freak than a slob.
I noticed right away, Alice kind of played a mothering role. She was always cooking and cleaning, making sure that the rest of us were okay or on schedule. It was because of her, there were always clean towels in the bathroom. She had grown up so much since our silly days in high school.
Rose was amazing. She was a pistol, and I loved everything about her. She was down to earth, caring, and treated people with respect. However, considering she'd had a rough start in life, she was also as tough as nails, and knew how to stand her ground - when need be.
Rose had a strong mind; she was very upfront and honest. And the thing I liked best about her, as beautiful as she was, looks and shallow minded things meant absolutely nothing to her. She truly had a good head on her shoulders.
I was amazed at how swiftly I became close to my new-found friends. They made me feel like I was on top of the world, like I had found a new family. I loved that my new apartment was huge, reasonably priced, and the fact that our building was only one block away from Central Perk only sweetened the deal.
Every evening after work, we would go to Central Perk. It was kind of like our second home. We would hang out, enjoy one another's company, and relax over good conversation and good coffee.
Life was sweet. Actually life was wonderful.
My first day at Ralph Lauren was unforgettable. On the one hand, I was beyond excited, but on the other hand, I was as nervous as a child on their first day of school.
Luckily, I hit it off with my new boss, Angela Webber, from day one. Considering, I loved my job so much, it wasn't really much of a challenge for me to throw myself into my work wholeheartedly.
I was a fashion designer. Traveling and deadlines played a huge role within my job description, and although a college degree wasn't necessarily required in the world of fashion, candidates compete for jobs and having a degree certainly gave me my edge. But I never dreamed my degree would gain me my first hater.
A woman by the name of Jessica Stanley was apart of the design team I worked with. She wasn't exactly thrilled when our team leader, Ben, moved to Paris, and Angela chose me to take Ben's place as team leader.
I wholly could understand why Jessica would be upset with Angela's decision. She had been with Ralph Lauren for over two years. However, what I couldn't understand was why Jessica chose to react the way she did. She became very vile toward me, and at times, downright childish.
When I first arrived at Ralph Lauren, Jessica and I never really hit it off, but for the most part, she kept to her uncompromising self and ignored me, which was really fine by me. Once I was made team leader, Jessica became manipulative, spiteful, and very unpleasant.
Other employees informed me Jessica came from a very wealthy family, and the only reason she made any effort to work at all was because her father had threatened to cut her off.
Jessica was creating problems for our team, even stooping to grade school levels of causing unnecessarily drama. It wasn't fair; I was busting my butt alongside inventive workers who were giving their all, and because of one irresponsible person not pulling their weight, it was making the entire team look bad.
There were moments when I felt like I was failing the entire team and unworthy to be a leader, mostly because of Jessica's behavior. However, that all changed when Angela informed me, as team leader, I would have to do evaluations on everyone. I was completely honest when I wrote those evaluations, and as soon as they made their way to Angela's desk, I was called into her office to discuss Jessica in private.
Angela informed me she had had problems out of Jessica before. However, Ben had always given her the benefit of the doubt on his evaluations for some reason or another. After my meeting with Angela, she spoke privately with a few other employees, and later that same day with Jessica.
In all honesty, I thought Angela would perhaps speak with her about her behavior, or give her some sort of pep talk. I soon discovered that wasn't at all what happened when Jessica returned to the design room, calling me names, threatening me, all while she collected her belongings and then left.
It was so hard, and beyond embarrassing, to sit there and not say anything back to her, but I didn't want to cause an even bigger scene. Truthfully, I just wanted her to leave.
Talk about total lack of professionalism and respect, I mused as Jessica continued her rampage in the design room.
Up until that point of my life, I had never known what it felt like to be hated by someone. Especially someone who never really gave me a chance to prove myself.
The thing that mind-boggled me the most was why anyone would throw away two years with a company over such pettiness. It wasn't my fault she chose not to further her schooling in fashion, and I'd be damned if I was going to feel bad because I had.
However, being the soft-hearted person I usually am, I did feel bad. I truly wished things could have been different, because Jessica had an eye for fashion. Her ideas and opinions were quite helpful at times when Ben was team leader. But what choice does one really have when someone starts slacking at their job and completely ignoring their assignments, all while treating, not only me, but the entire team, disrespectfully?
Returning Jessica's hate would have been as easy as breathing, but instead I felt sorry for her. I couldn't imagine what was going on inside of her head that would cause her to be so miserable, so I tried to not think about it.
I had no idea what happened to Jessica. Did Angela fire her or perhaps she just moved her? In the end, it was really none of my business when all was said and done.
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~ F, L & G C ~
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"So you got the poor girl fired?" Emmett sarcastically chuckled right after I had told the gang about my situation at work, and with Jessica.
"I don't know. I feel bad, but I don't know if she was fired or moved." I tried to explain.
"Well, in my opinion, you did the right thing." Rose crossed her arms over her chest, glaring toward Emmett. "You handled it as professionally as you could. Believe me, I'm all about respecting others, but if someone screamed at me the way Jessica did to you, you guys would probably have to come up with some bail money."
"Yeah, Bella, you did the right thing, I was only kidding." Emmett shot me one of his best dimpled-smiles.
"I just feel really bad," I told them. "I've never had to deal with someone so... angry."
"I bet I have some news that will make you feel better." Alice intervened, placing her coffee mug on the table with a bright grin.
Now curious, I glanced over toward her with questioning eyes as I took a sip from my own mug.
"Edward is coming home today." As soon as the words left her mouth, I spat coffee everywhere, clearly choked. Although, I wasn't sure whether it was because of the coffee or Alice's words.
Edward? My Edward... I mean my old friend, Edward?
"Excuse me?" I managed to choke out as I used a napkin to clean up the mess.
"Edward, along with our parents, will be home today," she informed with excitement, checking her watch. "Any minute now."
Although I had been in New York for thirty-eight days, Alice and I really hadn't gotten the chance to talk about Edward. The gang had mentioned his name occasionally here and there , but as far as the details, I had nothing.
"Things will be easier around here now that Tanya has moved." Jasper pointed out, and his words only made me all the more curious as I stared in his direction.
What tied Tanya's move to Edward?
"Edward and Tanya dated for a while," Jasper answered as if he were reading my mind.
"We all thought Tanya and Edward would end up getting married, but once Riley came on the scene, Tanya fell head over heels in love with him," Rose said.
"There was a lot of tension between Edward, Tanya and Riley for a while, and although things got better over time, things never were exactly the same. Tanya and Edward remained friends, but like I said, there was a lot of tension between Edward and Riley," Emmett interjected.
"How long did Edward and Tanya date?" I asked the first question that popped into my head.
Of course Edward dated Tanya. I mean, I only knew her briefly, but she seemed nice enough, and let's not forget how absolutely beautiful she was.
"It was more of an on-again, off-again relationship." Alice chimed back into the conversation. "Probably two or three years, I'm not sure. I wasn't exactly thrilled with my big brother dating one of my best friends. It was always awkward for me when they'd argue."
I could completely understand Alice's point, more than they all knew... even Alice.
"It was awkward for everyone," Jasper said. "We sometimes felt like we had to choose sides."
"Makes sense," I agreed in understanding. "So where has Edward been?"
"He and my folks actually left a few weeks before I bumped into you. They wanted to spend the remainder of the summer in New Hampshire with Aunt Kate. You remember her, don't ya, Bella?"
"I do." I warmly smiled at the few memories I had of Alice and Edward's aunt played in my head.
"Edward works at the Academy of Art University, but he owns his own nightclub here in Manhattan," Alice said. "I know that's not usually a common mix, but that's Edward. Speaking of nightclubs though, I can't believe you've already been here for over a month and we haven't taken you to Edward's club."
"Edward really does have one of the coolest clubs in town," Rose stated. "And I don't just say that because he's my friend either. Personally, I thought his club would flop, but it just so happens to be one of the trendiest clubs in town."
"Really?" I questioned, thoroughly confused. "I always knew Edward was smart, well above average, so I can see him at the Academy of Art University, but a nightclub owner?"
I most definitely didn't see that one coming. Edward always had a love for science and art. A very handsome young man, but the bookworm type.
"It actually happened on sheer accident," Alice explained with a light chuckle, tracing her finger around the rim of her coffee mug. "Edward temporarily bought shares in the stock market that did really well, and paid off rather handsomely. He wanted to invest the money, and it was Emmett and Jasper who talked him into buying and transforming the old building into a nightclub."
Hearing my friends discuss Edward had my stomach in knots. Or perhaps it was in knowing he could walk through the door at any given moment that had my stomach in knots.
Butterflies much.
I tried to compose myself before speaking again. "What's the name of Edward's club?"
"Club Cullen," Emmett dryly answered. "I wanted him to open up a simple bar, without the crowd and all the loud music and lights, you know? Something with a small TV set overhead. A place where the guys could go to unwind, throw back a couple of beers and burp without offending the ladies."
"And your idea was dumb." Rose playfully rolled her eyes, and I could have sworn I saw something between her and Emmett for a second... a spark? "New York is full of boring bars, but Edward's club is amazing. Beautiful lights, lots of open space and energy. The perfect combination of soul and funk will lift you to the heavens. I love going to Club Cullen."
"Speaking of Mr. Cullen, his cab just pulled up," Alice said from the window before darting toward the door.
I swallowed thickly as I watched her jump into her brother's arms just outside the threshold. I was a nervous wreck, anxious and excited, all at the same time. I couldn't believe I was about to see Edward Cullen after all this time; after everything that had gone down between us.
"Edward, you remember Bella Swan?" Alice asked as she pulled her brother by the hand, toward us.
"Yeah." He freed his hand from Alice's, only to run it uneasily through his already tousled-hair. "Hello, Bella. What brings you to New York?"
He's nervous too.
"That's the surprise I was telling you about on the phone earlier," Alice answered him instead. "Bella lives in New York now. She landed a job with Ralph Lauren, and she's rooming with Rose and me... Surprise!"
"Really?" Edward's eyes narrowed on me. "How 'bout that?
Although I had already bonded with everyone, and felt I had finally found my place, I suddenly felt like a fish out of water, like I was treading on his turf. I suddenly felt out of place.
The Edward I remembered from high school was tall, thin and at times, awkward. He was usually very shy, and wore simple t-shirts with casual jeans, sometimes a hoodie, depending on the weather. He usually kept his hair cut short. However, gone was the awkward, shy boy wearing t-shirts and jeans. Standing before me now was a man wearing black slacks with a thin royal blue button down shirt - top three buttons open - revealing the top of his broad chest.
He's changed so much.
He wasn't anywhere near as muscular as Emmett. However, he wasn't just tall and thin anymore either. Edward Cullen was tall and well-built. As cute as I thought Edward was back in the day, it was nothing compared to the gorgeous man standing before me.
His bronzed-colored hair was tossed all over his head; a beautiful mess, whether he chose to wear it that way or it was just really that messy. Either way, it was very sexy and seemed to work for him.
I was finding it harder and harder to take my eyes off of him. When he offered his hand, I swear to God, time stood still as I gazed into his piercing blue eyes.
His eyes were the only thing on him that hadn't dramatically changed; they were as delightful as ever. A marvelous shade of cerulean-blue, surrounded by long, thick dark lashes.
"Hi, Edward," I managed to say as I carefully slid my hand into his. "It's nice to see you again."
"Hi," he said as we stood a few seconds lost in the moment, hand in hand.
As happy as I was to see him, I had an ache in my heart. I had always carried around so much guilt over how things had ended between us so many years ago. Although we were once very close, when it ended, it ended; no goodbye, no closure, only guilt and confusion left inside.
"Welcome home, Bro." It was Emmett's voice who started time again, helping me find the willpower to look away from Edward.
"Thanks, man."
"Go ahead, tell us all about your trip, and how many honeys you had at your beck and call." Emmett chuckled as Edward gave him a sharp look, then grinned, sitting down next to him.
"Oh my goodness!" Edward stood as soon as he had sat down.
Looking back over his shoulder, he had an apologetic smile plastered on his face as he stared in the direction of a petite lady with loose, black curls that hung to her shoulders. The tiny woman, with beautiful, clear, tanned skin, sweet, doe-eyes, and a perfect smile seemed rather shy as Edward made his way over to her.
"Julie, I'm so sorry," he said, walking toward her and then placing a firm kiss to her forehead.
My heart rate sped up as I watched the two of them. Edward has a girlfriend... The gang failed to mention this.
Obviously, they were a couple. Had not his actions and body language already pointed it out, the fact they were wrapped in one another's arms, making their way over to us, definitely confirmed it.
My eyes widened and my heart now felt like it had just fallen into my stomach. And I had no idea why I was feeling this way. It wasn't like Edward and I were long lost lovers being reunited, or that we even dated at all.
I didn't come to New York to find love. I came to New York for one reason, and one reason only, and that was to solely focus on a career in fashion.
"Everyone, this is Julie." Edward started introducing everyone to Julie, which explained why the gang never mentioned her.
Edward wanted to smile. I could see a smile trying to form on his full lips as he avoided all eye contact with me.
"Julie, this is everyone. My friends; Emmett, Jasper, Rose, and my sister Alice... and this... this is Bella," he said, saving me for last.
I couldn't quite pinpoint why Edward never named me among his friends or why he left me for last, or why he paused, taking a deep breath before saying my name. And I wasn't exactly sure whether he had said my name with aversion or approval. Either way it was stiff and tense, and it made me feel very uncomfortable.
Does he hate me?
As everyone greeted Julie, I too offered my hand with a tight, but friendly smile. I had no reason to hate this woman.
"Edward has told me so much about you guys. I feel like I already know you all." Her eyes then fell on me. "Except for you, Bella, I wasn't expecting to find you here at all."
She spoke as if she knew me, but that wasn't at all possible. I had never met Julie. Perhaps Edward had shared childhood stories with her?
"T-that's because I had no idea Bella would be here." Edward stumbled over his own words. "She used to be Alice's best friend in high school, back in New Hampshire, and she recently moved here."
Ouch! Just Alice's friend, huh?
His eyes fell upon me as an inscrutable expression overtook his face. "New job," he finally confirmed.
It stung a little when Edward said I was only Alice's best friend from high school. I considered him one of my best friends too. But I guess I could understand why he wouldn't consider me one.
"Oh, well, I'm sure we'll all grow to be great friends." She smiled toward everyone, but her smile slowly faded as she glared toward me.
She definitely hates me.
"Ahem." Rose cleared her throat as she stood. "Bella, you and I really need to get back if you want my input on that project you're working on. I have an early morning; I need my beauty sleep."
Bail out. Thank God for Rose.
"Yes." I quickly agreed as I collected my bag and stood. "Julie, it was lovely meeting you, and Edward, it was nice seeing you again."
"You too, Bella." He then stepped closer, offering his hand again, but this time, I gave him a quick, firm shake without making eye contact, and then walked right past him and Julie.
"I'll see you guys later," I said as I left with Rose and we headed back to the apartment.
Breathe, Bella, breathe.
A/N
Thank you guys so much for reading and leaving reviews. I truly appreciate the encouragement and kind words.
Edward has officially arrived back home and I know that Bella didn't really reveal too much from her past with Edward, but don't worry, Rose thoroughly interrogates her in the next chapter. God love Bella's heart, she thought Rose had given her bail out, little does she know, she's getting ready to play a game of twenty questions.
I would like to thank a few people. First, I wanna say thank you to Cared for extending her helpful hand in helping me find a beta, and for recommending this story, both on the FicSisters site and social networking. I also wanna say thank you for the cool banner, I appreciate everything you have done :) Second, I wanna say thank you to my new beta, Songster, who is amazing. I've worked with this lady on two chapters and I'm already learning so much from her. Third, I wanna thank one of my best friends, C-Mo, who is always there for me when I'm in writing mode. Whether I need files transferred or need her opinions, like I said, she is always there for me. I truly love her like a sister.
Until Next Time,
Minerva