This might have been a better Ch. 1, and I might end up switching it anyway. Regardless, I hope you like!

Oh, and I don't own anything related to Twilight, unless you count my box of Sweet Tarts with Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson on it.

BPOV

I should be used to flying by now. I fly almost once every other month to visit my friends and family in Forks, but the nerves never seem to go away. I always book a window seat and then always regret it when I watch the buildings get smaller and smaller as we ascend. It freaks me out but I still do it because it also gives me perspective. Don't sweat the small stuff, because it's all small stuff. I also should have known better than to try to bring work with me on the plane. I'm a relationship columnist for LoveLite magazine. I'm also fully aware of the irony that I'm a relationship columnist who is completely unable to be in a relationship. Every month my editor decides on a theme for the column and I do a 4 part blog on the subject and then wrap it all up into one article for the magazine. This month's theme is compromise and I'm stumped as to what to open with.

"If it were easy for people to compromise, I wouldn't be writing about this in the first place", I thought to myself.

"What's that deary?" An elderly lady on my left asked me. Apparently I wasn't thinking to myself.

"I'm sorry ma'am, I'm just working on an article; don't mind me"

"Well I couldn't help but notice that the only word you have written there is compromise…"

I couldn't decide if I should be upset that she was trying to read what I was doing, or be grateful for the distraction. I'd had a bloody mary before I got on the plane, and apparently that made me more receptive to nosy old women. I went with the grateful route.

"Well, how do you feel about compromise and relationships?" I questioned her.

"If you want to get a man to compromise, you don't have sex on the first date," she stated matter-of-factly.

I'm sure she heard me gasp, but she just continued on, "Now relax, I'm not accusing you of doing so, although you're a very pretty girl and I'm sure you've had your kicks a time or two!"

This woman was not at all what she seemed. I learned her name was Norma, she had been married for 38 years, was very liberal, and she was obviously not shy about any subject. I spent the last hour or so of the flight listening to Norma giving her ideas of how to get a man to compromise. Basically, she told me to wait to have sex, and then make sure to keep it kinky and he'll do anything you want. And she actually used the word kinky. I can't say that I'd argue with the fact, although unfortunately not from personal experience. I laughed the whole flight and didn't even realize we had landed until the pilot announced we could exit the aircraft. I needed a Norma for every flight.

"Now remember deary, just be patient. You'll know when you know and it'll be worth the wait. And remember, men like a little spice!" She told me as she hugged me goodbye. I grabbed my laptop and carry-on bag and turned back around and just that fast, she was gone.

"I thought old people were supposed to be slow," I muttered to myself.

As I walked through the airport towards the front entrance my thoughts drifted to Edward. If only Norma knew what I wanted to do to that man. She wouldn't have to tell me to keep it spicy! I'd known Edward for a couple of years now and while there had been flirtations back and forth, neither of us had ever made a move. I wasn't sure Edward really wanted to make a move. His sister Alice was one of my best friends and she works for the same magazine that I do, working on photo shoots and set designs. Alice and Edward's parents had died in a car accident when she was still in high school and Edward was the only other family she had. When a spot became available last year she transferred to our Port Angeles location with her long time boyfriend, Jasper to be closer to Edward and our friends. My parents also lived in Forks and I came back as often as I could to visit.

"BELLAAAAAAAAA!"

I looked up to see Alice literally jumping at the entrance holding a dry-erase board with SWAN written across it. Of course. Alice always goes over the top and in Alice-terms this was light compared to some of the receptions I had gotten.

"Alice, it's so good to see you," I told her as I hugged her with the arm not wheeling my carry-on. "We have to go get something to eat, I'm famished!" I continued, walking towards the parking garage.

"The eating part is going to have to wait Bella, we already have plans tonight!" She replied with way too much enthusiasm.

"Alice, I've had one bag of pretzels all day today. ONE freaking bag!" I answered, then stopped and turned back around to face her. "And what plans are these?" I asked, suddenly hearing the full sentence in my mind.

"Oh, we're just going to go out to Jake's bar for a while, you can grab a burger there," she replied innocently and tried to keep walking. I grabbed the stupid white board she was still holding and turned her around.

"Who is we?" I asked, trying to glare at her.

"Oh Bella, relax. It's just you, me, and Rose."

I relaxed and kept walking, when I suddenly heard her practically whisper behind me "And Jasper, Emmett, and Edward."

"ALICE!" I wheeled back around to her. "Alice, I just got in! I need some time to unwind before including men in anything!"

"Well, Rose is already at my place waiting for us to get there, and she's got a bottle of wine ready to go. We're never going to get you laid if we don't push you a little bit. And you're not here long enough to get time to unwind Bella!"

"First off, that's your brother you are trying to get me laid with." I started to tell her.

"In my mind there are two Edward's," she interrupted. "One is my brother who likes to threaten Jasper against doing the things he knows damn well we already do. The other is the guy who my very best friend is in love with although she won't admit it and who I am determined to get together."

"Secondly, I've got some news." I continued on as if I didn't hear anything she said. I had finally convinced my editor that I could write my column from our Port Angeles location. I hadn't told anybody that I was moving to Washington yet and I couldn't wait for their reactions.

"Good news or bad news?"

"Good news, and I'm going to make you wait for not at least giving me a heads up about tonight. I don't like to be ambushed, Alice!"

"If that's the extent of your complaining about tonight, I'll wait. It's good news, which means you won't keep it from me for very long anyway." I was bracing myself for an argument and was definitely surprised. She was one of those people who could keep a secret, but also had to know everything.

"Well way to take all of the fun out of that," I said as I put my carry-on in the trunk.

We spent the 30 minute drive to Alice and Jasper's house catching up on the last couple of months. I kept the conversation away from me because I knew I'd tell her about moving otherwise. Rose and Emmett had finally set a date for their wedding, and apparently we were going to get fitted for our bridesmaid's dresses tomorrow. Jasper was promoted to department head of the Psychology department at the University he taught, and Alice was getting ready to start a new photo shoot. She was creating different scenes of couples' proposals, and I could tell her mind was on Jasper. We all knew it wasn't an if so much as a when.

When we pulled in, Rose was sitting on the front step with a glass of wine waiting for us.

"Bell Swan, it's about damn time you got here! I was getting bored so I opened the wine. Here finish this because you need some alcohol. You need to loosen up because otherwise the sexual tension with you and Edward is going to make me uncomfortable and I just had sex an hour ago." Rose was always blunt, but even more so when she started drinking. She told me all of this in one breath while pulling me into the house.

"Bella, I've got the perfect dress for you tonight! It's going to make Edward crazy and it's still comfortable," Alice practically sang from behind me.

I drained my glass of wine while she disappeared into her bedroom to go get the dress. She apparently changes at the light of speed too because she came out wearing a strapless black dress with a sweetheart neckline that flared out ever-so-slightly at the bottom. She handed me a beautiful dark blue dress that I couldn't help but love instantly. I tried it on, and even I had to admit it looked good. It was a v-neck cut with ¾ sleeves and a hem that hit just about the knee. I grabbed another glass of wine and went to go touch up my make-up and put a few curls in my hair.

"Alright ladies, are we ready for a good night of debauchery?" Rose called as I walked down the hall to the living room. She was gorgeous as always in a one-shouldered red dress that hit mid thigh and fit her like a glove. She used to be a model for LoveLite, choosing recently to step out of the spotlight and is now extremely choosy about what she will model for.

Alice decided a toast was in order as we heard the cab honk outside.

"To us," she began, and I started giggling instantly. I really hadn't eaten anything today but that damn package of airplane pretzels and I was already finishing my second glass of wine.

"Okay fine. Let's go have some fun!" She raised her glass and looked at me..

I was still giggling and wasn't sure if she wanted me to respond or just drink, so I finished my glass and then blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Let's get spicy!"

Please tell me what you think :)