Chapter 2 – Location, Location

EPOV

"Hey Alice! You'll never-"

"YOU GOT THE PART!" Alice chirped in my ear at such a high decibel that I had to pull the phone away from my ear. The pixie was little, but loud.

"How did you know?

"You know that I have a sixth sense about these things."

Alice is many things, amongst them; my best friend, my sister and psychic. Well not so much that latter, but she liked to think she had very good intuition, shall we say.

" I just knew that my sexy brother would leave them no other choice. When do you meet the other cast members?… They aren't filming here in LA, are they?… I don't know why you were so nervous – Oh! That reminds me… did you get to meet her? Alice was going on about a mile a minute and I even think I heard clapping in there at one point.

"Ummm… whom are you referring to exactly?" Knowing exactly who, but trying to avoid as usual these topics.

"Edwarrrrrd! You know sometimes you can be so dense… I really don't see how we could be related. Esme and Carlisle insist that there wasn't a mix-up, but I might ask for a genetic recount!" Esme and Dr. Carlisle Cullen, otherwise known as mom and dad, are about the most understanding parents out there. They would have to be with such an eccentric daughter and a talented, introverted son. The ladies were drawn to that shit like a magnet.

"Well, yeh… I sort of had to audition with Bella on a bed. So I guess you could say we have been introduced."

"What!?

"We had to make out for one of the scenes in the movie – me being the leading love interest and all. No big deal".

"This is getting even more interesting… you are going to fall for each other deep before this is all over- I can see it now." I felt like I could see the glazed over look in her face from here. "I have to come over to your apartment – now. There is just too much to do before you leave for- -where are you shooting this film?"

"Vancouver". I doubt that they have seen 10 days of sun the whole year in that corner of the Pacific Northwest with all the rain and cloud cover. That shits going to do wonders for my already non-existent tan.

"I'm coming over and I'll be there in 20- and you will have to tell me all the details about Bella too!" Again with the clapping…

Things were happening so quickly. The production crew would be ready in 2 weeks and I had much packing. I had talked to my agent, Tanya, on the way back home. She would have ripped my head off if I hadn't showed up for the audition. I was pretty confident that my music skills would be an excellent fallback, if the acting didn't work out. I had been playing piano since the age of 3 and had composed a few pieces in my spare time.

So with nothing else to do for a while until Alice showed up, I went over to my baby… my baby grand piano that is. I stroked the keys and played until one song was flowing into another as I thought about Bella… how she flushed so innocently when I held her thigh. I needed … and I held her face to tell her with my eyes that I wanted this. The spark that leapt between us was undeniable. I could still feel her kiss on my lips. I guess that I had gotten carried away because the next thing I knew, we were at the head of the bed and I was going to take her and let her have it like she'd never had it before. There was no denying the arousal.

I snapped out of my reverie as Alice stepped through the door.

"Hey! You look like you have a lot on your mind. Do you mind if I help you pack? I am really going to miss you so much… You know, I could take some time off of work to come visit…"

I know that I really should take the bait. "Sure Alice. I would love that."

We spent the remainder of the day packing up the essentials from my little apartment in LA. Goodbye sun… I'll see you in a few!

BPOV

"Mike. Yes it is necessary for me to move to Vancouver. You don't honestly expect me to somehow commute?"

"Well, we do have a home here in Los Angeles… I mean, I can't live up there while you are on location for the whole time. Is that what you expect of me?"

"It'll work out somehow. It just has to… we've been dating for 2 years now- we are not newbies. I trust you and I know that you trust me- right?"

"Bella, of course I trust you, it's the other fans and actors that I don't trust. How about this… I promise to come visit every other weekend- ok?"

"Sounds fair… Hey! Can you pass me those Converses over there – the black ones? I need to get packing."

As he handed me the shoes he looked down at the floor and shifted around like he was trying to decide to say something.

"Bella- who is playing opposite of you in this film? Is it someone I know?"

Mike was also an actor and had been in acting circles since he was a child. He knew most everyone our age at least professionally.

"Oh- you wouldn't know him. He has only been in a few minor roles. His name is Edward Cullen." I liked the way his name rolled off my tongue and the way that my heart sped up, however I knew that Mike wouldn't, so I kept it low key.

"You'll have to introduce me to him and we'll all go out sometime when I visit, then!"

Oh, I am sure that you will be bestest of friends, I though sarcastically. Mike and Edward were nothing alike from what I found out in my little bit of research – thank you Google. Edward apparently went to private schools growing up, had a very upper class upbringing and was only discovered a couple of years ago. Mike had a blue collar fam and had been acting since the age of 6, although recently roles weren't really chasing him like they had been for me.

This would be interesting to say the least.

EPOV

I am going to need snow tires. I can see it now. Its only September, but this place is cold. I put my little Volvo C30 into park and sighed. Looking around, I could see the charm of this town. I was listening to Van Morrison through my iPod. He could really put poetry to music.

Glancing down at my notes, I was to live at the "D Hotel" for the duration of the film and any time needed thereafter. It was a decent size hotel with about 7 stories and it took up most of the block with several wings.

I quickly hopped out and grabbed what I could. I would send for the rest later, after I got settled. I just wanted to rest my head on a decent pillow and check out my surroundings later this evening.

The hotel was very upscale and had all the amenities that one could ask for, which included a pool and weight room – the studio really wanted me to beef up a bit to actually be able to more accurately portray the vision of a Greek God-like vampire.

I chuckled to myself. The studio also wanted me to wear an Invisaline mouthpiece to straighten my teeth more… that shit is not happening and they can just fuck off if they have a problem.

As I arrived at the check-in desk, the lady behind the counter quickly gave me the once over before handing me my room assignment. The she also informed me the cast of "At Dusk" would be staying in one wing of the 7th floor, while the crew would take up the entirety of the other wing on that floor. That little tidbit of information could be very useful… hmmm.

I scanned the lobby and noticed a lot of activity. It looked something like the first day of college in the dorms when eager students were scurrying around to move all their crap into matchbox- sized rooms.

I headed for the elevators, looking down, not wanting to make much eye contact with them.

Just need a soft –

"Fuck me!"

Blinding pain shooting up my leg… I wish I could have moved quicker to see the motherfucker who just knocked me in the leg. I was sort of immobilized for the moment from the pain, though. By the time that I did turn, all that I saw a flash of blonde and a large piece of luggage entering the elevator ahead of me.

"Thanks for not looking where you're going!"

"You snooze, you loose!" a woman's voice called after me as the doors closed.

I vowed to figure out who that was and collected myself enough to enter the next available elevator.

"Hold the door please! Can you please hold the door?!"

On a normal day, I would have ignored the request, quickly start pressing the "close door" key and pretend that I couldn't keep the door open for the person, but this time was different. I knew that voice… like music almost. It was Bella.

I pressed "open door".

She quickly stepped in the lift with luggage and so did another guy. They seemed to know each other as they were finishing a conversation as the doors closed.

The ride was quiet. I caught her steal a glance a time or two. I could feel some sort of tension radiating off of her. Finally, she blatantly looked up at me. I hadn't taken my eyes off of her. I know that she must have felt the weight of my stare.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh hi Edward! I hadn't realized that was you there! I don't know where my mind is sometimes!"

I know where mine was…

By this point the elevator doors opened and we started down the hallway. I was wondering if this guy she knew had a room as well. Worse yet, would he be staying in hers? I nervously ran my hand through my hair.

She continued. "Just getting here too- I see."

"Who is your friend here?"

"Mike Newton… he is my boyfriend."

Shitonafuckingstick!

This could pose a problem. I better keep the flirting to a minimum until I figure out what kind of relationship they have.

"Mike." I bumped fists with him.

Mike seemed like your typical looking extraverted type of guy. Dirty blonde hair, hazel eyes, average build and I would say I had a good 5 or 6 inches in height over him – not that I was checking him out.

"How long is she letting you stay?" I nodded in Bella's direction.

"I'm not. I am helping her with her crap and I'll be outta here. I have things to do really, back at home." He reached around to scratch the back of his neck while avoiding her glare. "… But I will be back for your birthday, Bella, I promise!" This time directing the conversation her way.

I noticed the scowl on her face as she stopped in front of her door and dropped her stuff, rather abruptly. Her long mahogany colored hair cascaded over the sides of her face as she fished around in her pocket for her key card. Mike turned back to me.

"Edward- I know that you are going to be camped out here for a while. I was wondering if you could kind of keep a watch out for my Bella being that you appear to be one of the more mature ones here?"

I hoped that he wasn't trying to call me out saying I was old or something, but then I saw him motioning down the hallway to two guys chasing each other quickly headed our way. The tall blonde guy was holding some clothes, while the dark haired brawny guy gave chase in nothing but a towel. Freshmen.

"No problem" I assured him with a mock punch to the arm.

Bella had already gone into the room and drug her bags inside with no help from Mike. I wondered if he was that unobservant or just unchivalrous.

Then I heard her yell "Miiike" and I saw an arm reach out and pull him by the shoulder only to yank him into the room. Just as quickly, the door shut.

I shouted "Catch you later!" from the outside of the room door and proceeded to mine.

Mental note- Bella room number 712.

As I entered my own suite, a big shit-eating grin spread across my face. Yes, it will be like the cat watching the canary.