A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews you guys. This really encourages me to keep writing.

Disclaimer: I am not Stephenie Meyer. How many times do I have to say this? Oh right … every time!

Chapter 1: Who Are You?

EPOV

Two months earlier…

Is it just me or is my life becoming really repetitive these days? I go to work with Emmett and Jasper at my father's company, I go home to the apartment I share with Emmett and Jasper, I drive to the club where I dance with scantily clad women and eventually get drunk with Emmett and Jasper. Lather, rinse, repeat. You get the picture.

It's been a year since I graduated from the University of Seattle and I have to say I'm a little disappointed. After high school I thought to myself, now my real life is finally beginning. And then I realized that college was just high school except the teachers had Ph. Ds and you didn't have to sneak out of your parent's house to get to the party. Instead you just walked to the frat house two buildings down. And then when that was over, I figured entering the work field would be different. No. In fact listening to the office gossip puts me right back into the twelfth grade.

It almost feels as though I'm at an impasse. Just waiting for something to happen, to come and rock my world so that everyday doesn't make me nauseous with déjà vu. Well, be careful what you wish for.



"Come on guys," I pleaded to my two best friends. "I don't think I can do this anymore. It's just the same girls every night, wearing the same clothes, grinding to same songs. Don't you ever get sick of it?"

Jasper and Emmett looked at me like I was speaking Norwegian or something and then said at the same time, "No."

"He's at it again," spoke Emmett already losing interest. I guess even my 'It's all the same' speech was becoming predictable.

"You talk to him this time Jas. I think I see a few ladies with some nice potential over by the dance floor." He was already on his way over by the time even finished his sentence.

Jasper put his hand on my shoulder saying, "Listen Edward. You do this every time. Just relax and have a good time tonight because we all know you need it. What happened to the outrageous guy I met in college who was the life of every party?"

"I don't know Jasper," I sighed in exasperation. I knew he was right. I needed to unwind and have some fun. I've had enough of Emmett saying 'Oh no! What are we going to do! Edward's lost his mojo!' "Maybe I just need to have a couple of drinks first to help me loosen up."

"Do whatever you've got to do Edward. Besides you know the ladies love you. For some reason they like the fact that your hair is the color of a penny," he chuckled.

I walked off towards the bar after Jasper took off to join Emmett. After the bartender gave me my drink I stood there wondering whether to join my friends or order another beer. Right when I turned around I noticed that there was a woman walking to up to the bar right next to me. Or maybe it was more like she swayed. She sauntered right up wearing a pair of strappy, silver stilettos that made her defined legs go on for days. Her sequined silver dress hugged her curves in all the right places. And man did she have a lot of those. Her mahogany hair cascaded down her back and shoulders. I was breathless before I even reached her deep chocolate eyes. I think I 

should stop now. I'm getting a little worked up. I almost felt as if some part of her seemed familiar but I would have remembered seeing this goddess.

She seemed to notice that I was looking her over because she had a smirk on her full lips.

"Should I be flattered or do you stare at all women this way," she giggled.

"Believe me when I say this," I finally got out. "You are definitely not just any woman."

She didn't seem fazed at all by my compliment and called the bartender over to order a shot of tequila. I noticed the guy making her drink's eyes glaze over listening to her seductive voice. In fact, once I looked more closely, practically every man in a fifteen foot radius was staring at her. I realized that I needed to take advantage of this opportunity before the beautiful woman before me moved on to one of her many other suitors.

I inched closer to her and smoothly moved her hair away from the side of her face with my fingertips as I whispered in her ear.

"So tell me. Do you always have this effect on people?"

She turned her head and looked at me, doe eyes wide, with fake innocence, "And what effect would that be?"

"The ability to stun a man by simply walking near him."

"And are you one of those men," she purred.

"Absolutely."



She suddenly laughed. I couldn't find any of what I had said funny. After all it was the truth. Why did I feel as though I was missing something?

"I can't believe it. I finally get to witness firsthand Edward Cullen's charm."

Whoa. Wait a minute. How did she know my name? And most importantly: Why didn't I know hers?

"Ex… excuse me?" I stuttered out. "Who are you? How do you know who I am?"

"Oh come on," she whispered in my ear. I shiver ran down my spine. "Don't tell me you don't remember your best friend."

"B… best friend?"

She turned around and slowly began to lift her hair up and out of the way. If I wasn't in such shock right now this would be so terribly sexy. Her scent was intoxicating. But as she revealed more of her skin, I could see a bit of writing on the nape of her neck. I audibly gasped. It was a tattoo of a pair of angel wings with small writing under it that said 'To my angel'.

FLASHBACK

I was sitting at home anxiously waiting for her to return. Bella was my best friend and I loved her, but sometimes I swear I was ready to strangle her. She was so damn stubborn.

Bella wasn't exactly the most popular girl in school. Well, actually it was like she wasn't even on the radar. She was the quiet girl who stumbled around and was never really paying attention to a conversation because she always had her nose in a book. People always wondered why I was such close friends with her since we were practically polar opposites, but it has always been me 

and Bella. Since the day she moved next door to me in the second grade, I knew we would be friends and nothing would change that. Not even the fact that I was a shoo in for homecoming king and she was the mousy brunette who blushed too much and was known mostly as 'Edward's friend'.

For some reason, today she made a big deal of coming to my eighteenth birthday party, even though we both knew that she hated parties. I told her not to come and that we could do something else later instead but she insisted that she wasn't going to miss it and wouldn't spend the night standing in a corner this time. And unfortunately she was telling the truth. She ended up getting a beer, after I tried to warn her that it wasn't the best idea, and the next thing I know she's already downed three. So much for the warning. I got sidetracked talking to one of the guys on the basketball team while I was trying to find her and when I finally started looking again she was nowhere to be found.

So here I am pacing around my living room and hoping she hasn't done anything stupid. I should have never let her come to this party. We were supposed to hang out at my place afterwards and she was staying over since my parents were out of town for the weekend. Right when I'm about to explode I hear giggling at my front door. I run to open it and there come Bella stumbling in. After I close the door I lay it on her.

"Where the hell have you been? I've been worried sick," I yell.

"Oh Edwaaaard," she slurred. "I was just getting you a little surprise."

"What are you talking about Bella? God, you are trashed."

"Nuh uh… I'm not telling you until you promise to calm down."

She then tripped over her own feet and I caught her just before she hit the floor. As her hair hung to the ground, I noticed that she had a small square of gauze taped to the back of her neck. Oh no. I peel off the tape and see a pair of little angel wings and in cursive under the bottom the words 'To my angel'.

"Happy bir…hiccup…birthday!"

I sigh, "I am never letting you drink again."

END FLASHBACK

I stare at her as she turns back around with the smirk back on her face as she knows I have finally recognized her.

"B… Bella?"

Two words:

Holy shit!