I don't own Twilight.

Bella

"Isabella Swan! Heyyyy! I'm Alice! I'm your neighbor here," a small girl with short, dark hair screams in my ear.

"Hi, Alice. Nice to meet you."

"Are you nervous, Isabella? I'm nervous. I know I basically work for Edward and I've seen Edward in his boxers eating ice cream sandwiches on his couch - that is a sight you want to see if you know what I mean - but this is a job! And with the economy being this terrible there is no way I can find anything after I graduate and I know I'd hate to leave Manhattan for Forks for good but coming home won't be that terrible you know, so I have to be on my best behavior, thank God there's another girl here. What law school do you go to?"

She really needs to stop for a second and breathe.

"I'll be a senior at Forks High School this fall," I shrug.

"High School! Wow! So am I the only legal intern here other than Jacob Black? Where is he anyway? He's late. Alice-1, Jacob-0. Yes!"

"Jake's interning here too?" I ask.

"You know this Jacob Black?"

"Yeah, ummm our fathers are friends. He's nice enough," I tell her… And pretty hot, in a bad boy sort of way.

"Ladies," I hear the familiar voice and my heart skips a beat. "Jacob won't be here until two weeks into the summer program."

Wait, back up there. My heart did what? I'm totally going to have a crush on the boss. The boss. Boxers. Ice cream. Something happens in my belly, stirs or something. Shit. I shift a little in my seat. It's a little hot in here.

"Mr. Cullen. Alice Brandon here, reporting for duty."

"Really, Alice. Chill out," he says, rolling his eyes. "You guys just read the stuff I left on your desks, get a little idea of what's going on here, how things are done. I'll be back after my meeting."

I sigh, my nerves are all over the place today.

"So, how do you know Edward?" asks Alice.

"I don't. I met him last night, he knows my dad. He drove me here this morning."

Alice's eyes grow big and she leans in. I feel like we're about to conspire to commit a crime.

"Well, let me tell you a little about the boss. He's twenty-six. As you can see, he's totally gorgeous. Broke hearts left and right back in the city. That's not entirely true, but come on, look at him. He went to NYU, passed the NY bar, and had a job at a large firm after he graduated. Then he got laid off along with all the other first-year associates as soon as the recession hit. He came back to Washington in January and started working here after he took the bar exam again, this time for Washington. He got hired full time once he found out he passed. He lives in Forks now at his parents' home, it's gorgeous. They're in Kenya now where his dad works for Doctors Without Borders. His sister Rosalie is my best friend from high school and college. She's still in New York and just got engaged to my boyfriend's brother. Isn't that awesome? You'll meet Jasper, my boyfriend. He's coming here to visit this weekend. SO! Are you dating anyone? Any cute local boys or no! An older college man? Spill!"

Wow, she can really talk.

Usually I'd be annoyed and avoid this sort of person but there is something warm and genuine about Alice. So I smile and start talking.

"No boyfriend. Nothing like that going on in my life. I moved here from Phoenix recently and I'm staying with my dad. I'd love to visit New York someday, it sounds great."

Not as detailed and wordy as Alice, but a good start.

"Omigod, so great!" she cries. "You'll definitely come to visit when I get back. I'll take you to the coolest places. I absolutely love hosting and I'm the best tour guide! And we'll shop! Soho, Fifth Ave, boutiques in the Village… you'll love it!"

I gulp and smile. I'm in the Twilight Zone or something, I've heard more about fashion and shopping in the past twenty-four hours than I have all year.

The day goes by quickly and Edward and I don't really talk much. He seems busy and gives me some stuff to print out, copy, or organize. I mostly sit and play around with my iPhone, chat with Alice who is on her BlackBerry texting her boyfriend all day. This isn't that bad, I can get used to it. I spin around in my chair and giggle at something I read on a blog.

"Earth to Bella. Let's take you home, little girl."

This time my heart actually stops for a second. That voice. It's masculine but melts me, it's the softest thing ever. That thing in my belly comes back. It's almost like an ache. I feel a pulsing sensation between my legs. I blush.

Breathe, Bella. Don't embarrass yourself. He's a 26-year-old man.

"Sorry, I ummm... was reading something, I'm ready."

He gives me a smile that makes my stomach drop to the floor. I cannot describe how I feel. This is getting ridiculous. Get a grip. What is the age of consent in Washington? Oh. My. God. I'm losing my mind. I grab my cardigan and attempt to put it on but somehow can't manage. Ugh, he's probably regretting this whole internship thing already. I'm a 16-year-old moron who can't put on her cardigan. I quickly walk past him out the door, and hear him chuckling as he follows me out.

I keep my phone out the entire ride back, pretending to read and text because I can't handle a conversation with this man. That's right, this man. Because he's a man, not a boy. He doesn't need to waste his breath on me; it's probably so annoying for him to attempt small talk all the time.

I yawn and stretch and immediately realize the edge of my bra is showing and it's a lacy white thing which was the only clean bra I could find this morning. I glance over at Edward and he's looking at me. I'm pretty sure I'm bright red at this point but his face is the reddest I've seen any face in my entire life. Instead of acting normal, I jump up and cover my chest with my cardigan. Thank God we're almost home. As I'm getting out I turn to say goodnight and see him sitting there with his eyes closed, breathing deeply.

"Goodnight, Edward. Thank you for the ride, rides, everything. See you tomorrow, I guess."

"8am. Goodnight."

Right.

The first thing I do when I get away from him is Google 'age of consent washington'.

Sixteen.