Thank you all so much for your reviews, I really appreciate your feedback. Here is the next chapter. It is a little shorter than the first one but it provides some background information on Bella. Enjoy…

Gasping, I opened my eyes. The luminous, natural light streaming in through the window blinded me momentarily. Groaning I rubbed at my aching side as I glared down at the sofa where I had fallen asleep yet again. I really had to get over my phobia of sleeping in the bedroom, of waking up in the middle of the night with no one warm to hold me until my nightmares subsided. I longed for the late night chats and bouts of laughter that we had at 3am, it was one of the things I would always miss most about him. One of many.

Pulling a sweater over my head I stumbled into my tiny kitchen, stubbing my toe on a chair as I went. Glancing around I wrinkled my nose in disgust at the unwashed dishes and empty tins littered around the kitchen, I was grateful that I hadn't been drunk enough to invite Rose back the previous night, she would have been appalled. Pushing a pile of plates to the side I scrambled up onto the counter to look in the cupboard. Nothing. Nada. Absolutely fuck all. My stomach growled in protest as I searched the fridge only to come to the same conclusion. I was a wreck. I was pathetic, starving wreck who was failing drastically to keep my promises.

Slamming the fridge shut I pulled my hair back off my face and then shoved my feet into my untied converse. Glancing in the mirror hanging in the lounge I let out a soft groan. In a way I looked almost haunted. Limp strands of my muddy coloured hair fell out of my make shift bun and around my pale, almost gaunt looking face. The prominent dark circles under my eyes told the world that I had been getting literally no sleep. And my eyes themselves looked sad as if I would burst into tears at any given moment. But I was done with tears. I was not going to waste any more water longing for things that were out of control, longing for the past. Getting rid of the smudged make up under my left eye I sighed before heading for the door. I had to face the world at some point.

The rain fell furiously around me, as if in a desperate attempt to clean up the tainted world. I spared a longing look at my truck before walking in the opposite direction. I had to take it into a garage and get it repaired at some point but the thought was like a punch in the stomach, like a stab of betrayal. It had always been his project, something he was desperate to finish before he left but he never had the opportunity, never had the strength. Instead it sat there day after day looking neglected, like a sad excuse for a vehicle, but it had always been my baby and there was no way I was giving up on it. I had taken a chance using it the previous day to get to my dreadful interview but it's insistent wheezing and grumbling told me it was going to die if it didn't get fixed, soon.

Stopping at the end of the street I paused to look back at my apartment block. The windows were fogged up with the rain and my patch of grass looked overgrown, wild and out of control, a little like I felt. I vowed to buy some paint and find the lawn mower, no doubt the neighbours were pissed off about my lack of 'neighbourhood pride.' I scoffed, that had always been Jake's area of expertise. His enthusiasm for getting involved masked my quiet tendencies. His charming smiles made up for my awkwardness. He had always been my protector. I hadn't realised how much he had helped me out of my shell until he was gone.

Ten minutes later I stumbled through the door of our regular diner, my feet squeaked on the mud streaked, tiled floor and I walked carefully desperate not to fall over and make a fool of myself like I had done numerous times before. Ignoring the pitying looks that were shot in my direction I hurried towards the counter, my head ducked. I bit my lip to stop myself from cursing.

"Bella!" Plastering a fake smile upon my face I forced myself to look up into the slightly orange face of Jessica Stanley. She hadn't changed one little bit since high school. I could almost see the eagerness in her eyes, her desire to know the gossip before anyone else did. Her red lip stick seemed to scream out amongst the surrounding bleakness of the diner. I had always thought she would disappear immediately after graduation, become an actress or something equally as dramatic to complement her full on personality but she had surprised me by sticking around. It saddened me a little. At least I had a reason for staying, at least I had an excuse to throw my life away. She could have had everything she had ever dreamed of and instead she had nothing.

"Jessica," I replied in a monotone, I was already itching to leave, people like Jessica Stanley had always been my downfall in life. My inability to form sentences and participate in small talk had always been frowned upon, I took it after my Dad.

"What can I get you?" I winced as she tapped her claw like nails on the work top and leant forward as if letting me in on some deep, dark secret. I couldn't help but smirk. Curling my hands into fists I tensed as I felt someone come up behind me, their obviously masculine smell made me edgy. Jessica straightened up and tried unsuccessfully to flutter her eyelashes, she looked a bit like a demented cat.

"The usual Jess," I murmured, very aware of the man behind me shuffling impatiently from foot to foot. I took a deep breath.

"Which is?" I fought the urge to smirk as she twirled a piece of her hair around her hair. She was trying way too hard. The man behind me let out another cough, he sounded almost agitated.

"Black coffee and a chocolate muffin Jess. You would think after working here for five years you would know one of your regular's orders." The man behind me laughed again deeply whish sent a tingling sensation down my spine. Jessica proceeded to roll her eyes and stalk through to the kitchen. I hid my own laughter behind my hand. Swirling around my laughter caught in my throat as my eyes drunk in the messy copper hair and memorable emerald eyes before me. Just fucking perfect.

"Mr Cullen?" I was proud that I had managed not to stutter. His emerald eyes seem to narrow in confusion as his eyes flickered down the length of my body almost with distaste as if he was trying to remember if he should know me. He seemed to smirk in satisfaction as my face flared red under his scrutiny. My cheeks grew more profoundly red as I realised I was wearing the coffee stained shirt from the day before. I fought the urge to hide my face in my hands and groan loudly.

"What are you doing here?" his voice was clipped as if he suddenly remembered who I was, almost as if he couldn't be bothered conversing with someone like me. I curled my hands into fists as I felt the sudden urge to break his nose, it would have been easy, I had Jake's self defence lessons ingrained permanently in my head.

"This is my regular diner," I snapped as Jessica returned with my coffee, "I think it is me who should be asking that question of you Mr Cullen." He didn't even flinch at the icy edge to my voice, instead he looked rather bored as he glanced down at his nails. What an ass.

"Unfortunately my car was involved in an accident and this was the only place I could get breakfast without walking too far. Believe me this would not have been my first choice," Jessica almost seemed to swoon as Mr Cullen continued to talk while I rolled my eyes and snatched my coffee from the counter, eager to leave.

"Of course not," I muttered under my breath, "I would ask if you were alright after your 'accident' but I simply cannot be bothered to waste my breath on a jerk such as yourself." His mouth curled downwards into a frown as if he couldn't quite believe the way in which I had spoken to him. I wanted nothing more than to go and hide in my apartment for the rest of the day and avoid cleaning. My stomach fluttered as he reached up to run a hand through his tangled hair giving me a show of his sculpted torso. I swallowed loudly.

"That is no way to talk to your employer," he spoke in a monotone as he picked up the plastic menu on the counter almost as if it was diseased. He really had no regard for anyone's feelings at all.

"Now you listen here-" I faltered as his words finally registered in my brain, "Wait. Employer? You didn't hire me."

"I left a message on your phone to say you were successful in obtaining the position of my PA which was why I was so surprised to see you here," his eyes once again flickered up and down my body as if he was making a decision, "I will give you today off so you can perhaps…clean up?" I tried to speak but no words would come out. I seemed to be in a complete state of shock.

"I've changed my mind," Mr Cullen placed the menu back on the counter, "I think I will suffer a longer walk in order to purchase something edible for breakfast. I do not appreciate tardiness Miss Swan. See you tomorrow."

What the hell had just happened?

Thoughts?