Disclaimer:

I don't own 'em. Sadly : (

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Alice POV

Running into Jasper had completely made my night. No, make that my week. When I'd last seen him, we'd both been juniors in high school back in Forks. Now, four years later, he had turned into the gorgeous man his not-so-awkward teenage years had promised he would. And the best part: he still remembered me. And seemed to enjoy the memories.

At my friends' encouragement I'd gone back into the club last night and asked him to take me to an early breakfast and we'd spent the next six hours until dawn talking at the twenty-four hour Denny's two blocks from the club. So much had changed in the past four years but we were able to pick up conversations as easily as we had back then.

Having left our rides behind at the club, he managed to get us a cab and dropped me off first. I lingered briefly in the backseat, staring at him as though memorizing his features. The attraction I had had for him was definitely still there and, with his older, more mature good looks, it was easily doubled.

I offered a smile and leaned in, placing a kiss on his cheek that brought an answering smile to his lips. "Call me," and then I got out of the cab, not looking back as I walked up to the second floor. The cab pulled away as I shut the door behind me.

I'd seen the BMW in the parking lot out front so I knew Bella and Rose were home but, like I'd figured, they were both asleep. I made enough coffee for one and stood against the kitchen counter, sipping it while I brought memories of our previous relationship to the front of my mind, bringing another smile to my face.

The smell of coffee permeated throughout the apartment and woke my two zombie roommates, both of whom entered the kitchen and looked disappointedly at the coffee maker. I immediately refilled it and started a larger pot. I finished off my mug and rinsed it out, bouncing on the balls of my feet a bit.

"Why are you so chipper at," Bella glanced at the clock on the microwave. "Seven in the morning?"

I barely suppressed my grin, keeping it to a small smile. "I just got home."

Rosalie's eyes focused on my face then took in every detail of my body, from the slightly rumpled clothes I was wearing - rumpled because I'd been wearing them for a full twelve hours when most club clothes were only meant to be worn for half that time - to my makeup-less face - due to the vigorous scrubbing in the Denny's bathroom, and the smile on my face. I watched her eyes light up with her assumption and immediately squashed it.

"No, Rose. I didn't sleep with him." I couldn't hide the small voice in the back of my head that wondered why I hadn't invited him back and done just that.

Rosalie just sighed and shook her head, pouring herself and Bella a mug of the fresh coffee. We stood around the island in our kitchen, them in their pajamas and me still wearing the skirt and slut top from last night, and talked the morning away. I had to spill everything, and I do mean everything about my past relationship with Jasper and then was forced to speculate what might be in store for us.

And then Rose asked the question I had been dreading. Well, mostly dreading. "So, did you sleep with him in high school?"

I dipped my gaze down briefly, which was enough of an answer for the both of them. Bella giggled and Rose strangled a squeal. "You were what, sixteen?" Bella asked, a slight playful disapproving tone in her voice.

I grinned at her, completely unashamed. "Yeah. He was seventeen. It was right before he left to go leave with his uncle."

"Wow, and I thought I started young," Rosalie murmured, conveniently loud enough for me to just barely hear her.

I picked up one of the candies in the large bowl in the middle of the island and chunked it at her. "For your information, Rose, you lost yours when you were fifteen. I beat you by a year."

Her eyes got as wide as the plates in our cabinets. "You mean he was your first? He's the infamous 'glorious first time'?"

I blushed ever so slightly as she brought back a conversation we'd had about a year ago about the guys we'd lost our virginities to. Bella hadn't been included in that one. "Yeah, Rose. He was my wonderful, glorious first."

She really did squeal think time, coming over to give me the biggest hug imaginable. "Oh my god, Alice! And now you're getting back together with him. How perfect is that?"

Her excitement had me bouncing on the balls of my feet again, a grin on my face. "I don't know if we're going to get back together, Rose. It was just breakfast."

Bella snorted. "Yeah, a six hour breakfast." I stuck my tongue out at her. She just laughed.

"Okay, girls. I'm going to bed," I said, pushing past the two of them and heading towards my room. I hear Rose call, "Sweet Jasper dreams, Alice!" And I gave her a one fingered salute before closing the door to my sanctuary.

I kicked off my shoes with a sigh, stripping down to my underwear and climbing under the covers. As much as I'd love to say I didn't take Rosalie's advice, my dreams were pleasantly Jasper-filled.

Edward POV

Saturday started way too late for my tastes. I overslept, having spent more then a few sleepless hours worrying over James coming to Seattle. When I finally drifted off into something resembling sleep, the sun was starting to peak over the horizon, filtering soft grey light through my curtains. I didn't wake up until noon when my phone rang.

I silenced the ringer only to have whoever it was call back again. I considered turning the damn thing off but instead of pushing the power button, my sleep disoriented fingers pushed the answer button. I groaned at my own miscalculation and put the phone to my ear.

"Yeah?"

There was a pause on the other end and I thought I might have heard someone snickering in the background. "You still in bed, Edward?" A soft, feminine voice asked.

I sighed, recognizing the voice of my date from a few nights ago. Jessie, great. "Hey, Jessie. Yeah, I had a late night." I let the implications of that settle in. Maybe if she thought I had spent my night in someone else's bed, I could get away without having to tell her I didn't want to see her again.

Her high giggle did nothing to make me think I'd succeeded. "I'm sorry." She sure didn't sound like it. "I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me tonight." At least she was straightforward about what she wanted.

I sighed again, fluffing the pillow under my head for some support. "I don't think so, Jessie."

"Oh, well. Okay. See you around, Edward." And then she hung up. Yet she hadn't sounded put out at all.

I pulled the phone from my ear and just stared at it like it held all the answers to the universe. With a shrug I flipped it closed and sat up, covers pooling in my lap, running my fingers through my bronze hair. At least she took it well. She probably had another date already lined up. Less guilt on my shoulders so whatever.

I dragged myself through a shower and into a pair of faded jeans. I walked barefoot and shirtless into the kitchen and went to start coffee. Only to find out that I was completely out of beans. This was not turning out to be the best morning - er, afternoon - ever. Back to the bedroom and I pulled on a t-shirt that clung to my torso. I'd need to do laundry soon.

Riding boots and a leather jacket later, I was in the garage, checking my pockets to make sure I had everything. Wallet, check. Keys, check. Helmet, check. I backed my bike out, shutting the garage door behind me, and motored off toward center city. My intention had been to go to the grocery store, pick up some coffee beans, and go home. My bike, however, had other plans, and without even thinking about it - actually, I was thinking about some place completely different - I ended up stopped on the sidewalk in front of the Twilight Café.

I frowned then shrugged. Hell, café's had coffee and that was what I needed. I swung my body off the bike, balancing it on the kickstand, and pulled my helmet off. I ran my fingers through my hair to straighten what the helmet had squashed down, and left the offending head gear on the backseat of the bike. I wasn't worried about someone stealing; one would have to be a complete idiot to steal something off a bike parked right in front of a store.

The bell above the door - that was new - chimed when I pushed the door open. The place was a little busier then it had been the last time I'd been here, what with a whole two more people scattered about, one reading and two on computers. My eyes flicked to the counter and I immediately recognized the girl behind it.

She looked up when the bell chimed and grinned at me, waving with more energy then she should have had. I knew Jasper hadn't gotten in until well after dawn - thanks to the text message I'd read after my shower - and I'd assumed she'd been with him all night. That was only a few hours ago so either she hadn't slept, or she was one of those lucky few who could sleep an hour or two and function the rest of the day.

I stepped up to the counter, palms flat on it as I returned her smile. "Hey. Alice, right?"

She nodded and stood from where she'd been leaning and reading a magazine. "Yeah. You're Edward, right?" At my slightly confused nod she explained, "Jasper described his two best friends and detailed a lot of your exploits last night."

I lifted a single brow in amusement, wondering if the 'get Jasper laid' plan hadn't worked out as well as me and Emmett had thought it would. "Really? I think I'm better off not knowing what he said about that."

Her excitement was contagious and I found myself grinning with her. I really didn't see how this girl and my friend could have known each and been able to stand to be around each other in the past. She had more energy then any sane person would know what to do with and he was about as laid back as a person could get without being comatose.

"No worries. It wasn't all bad." I just shook my head, laughing to myself. Yeah, definitely didn't want to know. "So, what can I get you? Or did you come here just to find out if me and Jasper got lucky last night?"

A questioning look followed her last statement. "Jasper told me about your plan to get him laid."

I nodded a few times and then came to my own defense. "It wasn't only my plan so don't give me that look. Emmett was equally involved in that."

She shrugged. "Emmett's not here so you get the blame." She smiled to ease the blow.

I shook my head, running my fingers through my hair again. "Alright, alright. I take the blame. Now can I get a coffee? Black, strong as you can make it."

She laughed and turned back to a fancy coffee machine. The door to what I assumed was a kitchen opened as she was pushing buttons and another girl came from the back.

"Hey, Alice. We're out of --" Her sentence cut short when she noticed me standing there. With her hair pulled back from her face, I could really take in her pretty face. She stopped in her tracks when she stopped talking and Alice looked up from her button pushing.

"Out of what, Bella?" And then she saw what Bella was staring at and looked between me and Bella a couple of times. Her face practically lit up with excitement.

"Is this him?" Alice asked, pushing a final button on the machine and turning so she could both of us more clearly. I was focused on Bella, remembering the graceful seduction I'd seen in her dance the night before. I could only imagine what Bella was thinking.

A blush colored Bella's cheeks and she dropped her head, breaking eye contact with me. I turned my attention to Alice to give Bella a moment to pull herself together. Alice, however, kept talking. "So you're the gorgeous green-eyes Bella mentioned."

I saw Bella's blush strengthen ten-fold at this comment and felt a small smile tug at my lips. So she'd been talking about me, had she? I was entertained by that thought, though it wasn't even close to the first time I'd caught someone talking about me.

Bella mumbled something and turned on her heel, making a fast escape.

"I think you embarrassed her, Alice." I said, conversationally.

She shrugged, unashamed. "She'll be okay." She turned when the machine dinged and poured me a cup of coffee.

"So. Gorgeous green eyes?" I'd never actually been referred to like that. Usually girls noticed other things before my eyes. It made me think better of the girl that she hadn't been so shallow.

Alice nodded, grinning again. "Yeah. She didn't say much, she never does. But she said she'd never seen eyes like yours. I think she described it as being hypnotized." She passed the steaming coffee over to me and I took it gingerly in both hands, inhaling the welcome scent.

As I took the first, careful sip, my eyes darted to the door Bella had disappeared through. "Hypnotized, huh?"

Alice followed my gaze and started toward the door. "Want me to bring her back out here?"

I shook my head, glancing at my watch. "No, probably best to leave her alone. I'm surprised she didn't faint from all the blood rushing to her head thanks to you." I gave her a knowing smile and turned to leave. "I'll be around."

The bell chimed as I opened the door and stood by my bike. I swung my leg over it, just sitting there while I drank the cooling coffee. I glanced up through the big window I'd parked in front of and noticed Bella had emerged from her hiding place. It looked like she was scolding Alice for something while Alice took it with the biggest grin on her face. I watched this exchange for a few minutes more, finishing the coffee and tossing the empty cup into a nearby trashcan.

I secured the helmet on my head and eased the bike off the sidewalk by way of the handicapped ramp then took off, my mind wandering back to the girl in the coffee shop who thought I had gorgeous eyes.

Bella POV

As soon as I heard the bell above the door chime I peeked out the kitchen door, stepping back into the main area of the shop when I realized the object of my gossiping was leaving. I turned on Alice with a glare that would melt the ice caps yet she wielded it with the grace of someone who was unashamed of what they'd done.

"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" I asked, voice low and menacing.

She smirked at me, glancing out the big picture window to watch Mr. Green Eyes climb onto a motorcycle parked on the sidewalk and sip on his coffee. When she looked back at me, it was with a knowing look in her eyes. "Now why would I want to do that? Mr. Gorgeous Green Eyes might want have to give you CPR if that happened."

I held my hands up near her throat like I wanted to strangle her. And I kind of did but only in that loving, sisterly way. "I cannot believe you called me out like that! No, wait," I crossed my arms over my stomach to keep from actually strangling her. "I can believe. You live to embarrass me."

She swiped a hand through her short hair, brushing back a single strand that had fallen in her face. "Oh, relax, Bella. I saw the way he was staring at you. He was just as interested as you were."

I snorted, a very unladylike sound that thoroughly expressed my disbelief. "Yeah, right. And I'm the Easter Bunny."

Alice ducked around behind me, lifting up the back of my shirt until I turned around a slapped her hand away. "What the hell are you doing?"

She grinned at me, bouncing back to where she had started cleaning the coffee machine. "Checking to see if you have the cute little cotton ball tail. I think that might be something Edward would need to know if you guys want to get together."

I looked up when I heard the motor of the bike rumble and watched as he drove away before turning back to my irritating friend. "So you guys are on a first name basis now, are you?" And there was my irritation, plain as day.

Her shoulders lifted in a deep sigh as she shook her head, turning to look at me over her shoulder. "He's friends with Jasper, Bella. That's how I know who he is."

I felt my eyes widen briefly while I pretended to ignore the tiny flutter in my chest. "Really? When did you learn this?"

"When he walked in. I saw him with Jasper last night at the club and I knew who he was from Jasper's description of his friends." She grinned again, the bouncing returning. "From what I hear, I think Rosalie should meet Emmett. Apparently he's as horny as she always is."

I grinned at the thought and shook my head. Alice bounced over and hugged me as hard as she could which, for someone her size, was pretty damn hard. She already knew she was forgiven for her little 'slip'. I sighed and picked up a damp rag, wiping down the countertops.

It was some time later, after our shift was over and Carli had come to replace us and we were on our way home in my old truck, that the subject of Edward of the gorgeous eyes was brought up again. This time, though, it was me to bring it up.

I wrapped my fingers around the steering wheel to ward of the embarrassment I knew was about to make its appearance. "Hey, Alice. You said Jasper was friends with that guy. Edward. Right?"

She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, her lips twitching as fought back what I could only assume was a knowing smile. It didn't take a genius to figure out what I was about to say. "Yeah. What about it?"

I took a deep breath, mentally bracing myself for the teasing I'd have to endure at her hands. "Do you think you could maybe find out if he's interested in going… on a date… or something… from Jasper?" By the last word my voice had dropped to a mortified whisper and I felt the blush coloring my cheeks. My god, what was wrong with me? I should be able to ask a simple question without a flood of embarrassment.

Alice grinned at me, turning to put her back against the passenger side door so she could face me, one knee pulled up into the seat. "So you are interested." This was a statement of knowledge she already had. Not a question of confirmation.

I shot her a muted death glare. "Of course I am. I'm not blind!"

She just laughed at me, reaching over to turn the radio down a bit. "Oh, Bella. I can promise you he's definitely interested. No need to even ask anyone that."

I blushed redder then before. I knew full well what she meant when she said he was interested and that definitely had not been what I meant. I gripped the steering wheel harder and just stared straight in front of me, focusing on the road. After a while, Alice got the message and sighed, shifting to sit back in the seat the way she was supposed. Just in time for me to pull into our parking lot and park next to Rose' BMW.

We both got out of my truck and headed to the second floor. While I was unlocking the door, Alice said, "I'm not going to ask Jasper, Bella. Because I know if you just wait it out, he'll tell you himself."

I sighed and looked back at her, telling her with a glance that I wasn't mad at her like she thought I'd been. But I nodded and decided to take her advice. Maybe he would ask me out. But if he didn't, I sure wasn't going to sit about worrying over it. I'd never worried over a guy in the past and I wasn't about to start now.

With that pleasant thought, I sat down on the couch next to Rosalie, stealing a hand full of popcorn from the bowl in her lap and let myself fall into the trance that was cable TV.

Edward POV

"I saw your girlfriend today." Was my opening line as I let myself into Jasper's first floor apartment with the key he'd given me. I tossed my bike keys on the little table by his door for just such clutter and kicked off my boots, leaving them by the door as well.

Jasper looked up from whatever book he was reading, probably another Civil War history, and raised a questioning brow at me. "Really? Where at?"

I dropped into the recliner directly across from the one he was curled up in. His couch was between the two chairs and a coffee table took center stage in front of all three pieces of furniture. I kicked the recliner back, letting the footrest come out. "She works over at that Twilight Café you like so much. I'm surprised you've never seen her there."

He shrugged and closed his book, tossing it onto the coffee table. I was able to glance the title then. Just as I'd thought, some account from the Civil War told by someone who actually lived it. "Bad timing, I guess."

I sighed and relaxed in the dim living room. His only light right now was the floor lamp behind his chair. "She works with that one girl I was telling you about."

"Which one?" he asked, standing and moving into his kitchen. "The one you made blush real bad?"

"Mm. Yeah. Her. Her name's Bella." I thought I caught a hint of wistfulness in my voice and glanced to the kitchen to see if Jasper had caught it. He was a lot more perceptive then Emmett was and while sometimes that was great and wonderful, sometimes it was just a pain. Now might be one of those times.

"Bella, huh? I remember Alice mentioning a Bella." He emerged from the kitchen, bowl in hand. I smelled the ramen from where I was sitting and my stomach rumbled, reminding me that I'd only had one cup of coffee for sustenance today. "She also said that she's in desperate need of company. Of a sorts." He smirked around the noodles he was stuffing his face with. "Hey, maybe you should help out with that."

And this was why his perception could be a pain in the ass. "Can it, Jasper. She doesn't seem like the type for a one-night stand." Though I wouldn't mind getting her under me for a night, I had a feeling it would take a lot more then charming good looks to do it.

Jasper shrugged again and finished his ramen. I'd honestly never seen anyone inhale food as fast as that guy did. "Suit yourself. But hey, maybe she didn't mean company. Maybe she meant boyfriend." And with that he turned and went to wash his bowl, leaving me to my thoughts for a bit.

Six hours later, I was rudely woken up by a swift kick to my calf that caused me to curl up around the muscle cramp it resulted in. I glared at Jasper and cursed him through my teeth while I tried to work the muscles out. "What the fuck was that for?"

He looked completely unashamed. "I'm going to pick up Alice in an hour. You should meet me there and talk to Bella."

I massaged my aching calf through my jeans. "How do you know Bella will be with Alice?"

He was already heading back to his bedroom, presumably to get ready for his date. "They live together." His door clicked shut and I heard the shower cut on a few minutes later. I stayed where I was for a full five minutes contemplating the idea then decided it was a damn good one and hurried home.

Half an hour later I was showered, dressed and waiting in the parking lot of Jasper's apartment while he locked up. I had my Volvo with me instead of the bike, figuring it'd be easier if Bella did actually agree to come out with me tonight. Jasper climbed on his bike and led the way to the girls' apartment, parking next to an Chevy truck that looked in pretty good condition, considering its age and the tendency people had to let cars like that rust.

I got out of the car and went to lean against the hood of it as Jasper walked over to me. "Want me to tell Bella to come down or you want to come up?"

I'd thought this one through already. "Tell her to come down." If I went up it would seem a bit stalker-ish and I didn't want her to think that. Jasper just nodded and took the stairs two at a time to the second floor. I heard a distant knock and a few seconds later, I recognized Alice's voice though I couldn't make out what they were saying.

Alice came bounding down the stairs ahead of Jasper, the two linked only by their hands. She beamed at me as she reached the parking lot and the two of them walked over to join me.

"Bella will be down in a minute. I think Rose is still trying to convince her you're really here." Alice seemed to take great amusement in this fact. I couldn't blame. I was amused as well, though the dominant feeling right now was a strange kind of excitement that she would possibly be excited to see me.

"Thanks, Alice. I owe you one." I gave her a hug, arm briefly wrapped around her waist, before her and Jasper made it over to his Buell. He got on first, handing her the spare helmet, and then she got on behind him. His engine roared and, with a wave from Alice, they were gone.

A few minutes later I heard a door open somewhere above me and heard footsteps on the stairs. Bella came into view at the top of the first floor landing, just visible from my position in the parking lot, and she stopped. I couldn't even begin to guess what was going through her mind but whatever it was, she sorted through it quickly enough and she was back on her way down the stairs. When she reached the parking lot, she approached me with caution and no small amount of suspicion in her eyes. What could she possibly think I was going to do to her to warrant that look?

Instead of being put off by her expression, I offered my most charming smile. "Hey, Bella."

She gave me a full once over, taking in my appearance - worn jeans, navy button down shirt, sleeves rolled above my elbows, a leather cuff on each wrist - and my posture - relaxed against my hood, arms crossed over my chest. She seemed pleased, or at least not threatened, by what she saw, and came a little closer.

"Hey, Edward. What are you doing here?" Her tone was a cautious as her eyes had been a moment before.

It struck a weird, unused note in my chest that she already knew my name. Of course, with Jasper and Alice and their six hour breakfast talk, it made sense she'd know my name. But still. It made me almost… giddy.

But I conveyed none of this, shrugging to put on the appearance of casual nonchalance. "Thought I might drop by and see if maybe you wanted to get something to eat." That's it, Edward, nice and smooth.

I thought I saw a faint tint of pink across her cheeks before she dipped her head, brushing hair back behind her ears. It was cute, really, the way the slightest thing would make her blush. "Um, okay. Where… did you have someplace in mind?"

I shrugged again. "Not really. Figured I'd wait and see what you might be in the mood for." I angled my head a little, trying to catch her gaze and get her to look at me again.

She glanced up through a veil of her hair before lifting her head, the possible blush gone from her face. "Do you like Chinese?" Her voice was a little more confident with this question.

I nodded once, pushing myself away from the car and dropping my arms to my sides. "Chinese sounds good. Do you need some time to get ready or…" I trailed off, realizing too late that that might have been construed as an insult to some girls, implying they weren't good enough to go out looking the way they were.

Bella, however, was made of better stuff then that. She just smiled, the small quirk of lips making her face light up. She really was beautiful in her own right. "No, I'm ready. Let me just grab my stuff." I nodded again as she turned on her heel and ran back up the stairs.

I let out a small sigh of relief and went over to the driver's side, opening the door and sliding behind the wheel. That had gone a lot better then I'd thought it would. Of course, I'd thought up the most horrendous scenario's for how it could've gone, picturing everything from flat out refusal to a cop showing up with reports of a stalker. Yeah, it could've gone worse.

It seemed like no time at all before she was back down the stairs, a small messenger bag slung across her chest and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. She was watching her feet carefully as she took each step and I used the time to watch her. Even with nothing more complicated then jeans and a long-sleeved shirt that barely clung to her, she was beautiful. And it was then that I realized I wanted to get to know this girl more.

She climbed into the passenger side and buckled up while I tried to figure out when I'd become so attracted to her. I must have been thinking pretty hard, or maybe just frowning, because she gave me a worried look, her hand going to the buckle on her seat belt as if she might release it and get back out of the car.

"Is everything okay? Do you not want to go?" Embarrassment colored her voice.

I shook myself from my thoughts and flashed her a smile that relaxed her almost immediately. Oh, I liked that. "No, no. I was just thinking." I turned the engine over and put the car in gear, backing out of the parking lot. "You know of any really good Chinese places around here?" I knew of a few but I wanted her insight.

She didn't even hesitate. "Lin Chung's on 5th street is the best I've ever been to but it's a little pricey. Ting's on 9th is my next favorite." The fact that she'd added a second option and worried about the price told me she wasn't high maintenance and wouldn't expect expensive gifts every time I turned around, like some of my ex's had. I liked her already.

I sent another smile her way as I turned onto Billings Ave, the connector to 5th. "Lin Chung's it is. Wouldn't want to go second best, now would we?" The smile she answered me with was well worth the few extra dollars I'd spend tonight, even if money had been an issue. I could tell tonight was going to be one worth remembering.

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So, what'd you think? Emmett and Rose get their meeting next chapter, after Bella and Edward's date, of course. Oh, and James might make an appearance next chapter. Or at least a phone call. So, read and review. Hope you enjoyed. : ) : ) : )