Title: Impressions
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Bella is a single, shy, and timid writer. Edward is an engaged, charming, and handsome businessman. What do you get when Bella has to cover "Seattle's New Couple?"
Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephanie Meyer I own nothing.
Comments: AU, AH. I couldn't get this plot bunny out of my head. It demanded to be written.

Chapter 4

Bella's POV.

"There. All done."

I dragged my head up and looked straight back into the mirror. My face had makeup, Rosalie had put moisturizer, then she applied eyeliner and two sets of mascara. Completing it with lip liner and a hint of gloss. It wasn't a lot but it "highlighted" my assets at least that's what Rose said.

"You like?"

I smiled at her through the mirror. "It's great Rose!"

Rosalie then ran her fingers through my now curly tresses. She had used the curling iron and she was quite efficient with it. She had my hair styled in less than an hour. I was pleased because that meant I could change while she primped.

I walked over to my bedroom; Rosalie had brought out my dress already. And she had put out my heels too.
"Don't change yet."

"What?" I yelled back.

"Don't change yet, I don't want you messing up your dress."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes mother."

Rosalie giggled from the bathroom.

I flopped down on the side of my bed and looked up at the ceiling. In a matter of hours I'd be at some hotel banquet meeting the couple who would be in featured in the magazine I worked for. I would be interviewing them and talking with them. Ugh. I didn't want to do this. Stupid Jessica. She just had to get sick now.

Just then Rosalie emerged from the bathroom. Her makeup applied. Her hair swept up in a nice up-do. Rosalie didn't really need to work to look beautiful. She is beautiful.

"Are you OK Bella?"

"Yea just nervous."

"About what?"

"I have no idea what I'm doing or why I'm even going" I shrugged.

Rose walked up to me and placed both her hands on my shoulders, "you my dear, are a fabulous writer, so I am not surprised that Mike gave this piece to you. You are gonna go to this party and you are gonna introduce yourself with dignity and pride, got it?" she looked straight in my eyes.

I nodded. "What would I do without you Rose?"

"Absolutely nothing." she stated. "Now go get dressed."

Fifteen minutes later I was standing in the hallway waiting for Rosalie. I could hear her scurrying around her room. Probably going this way and that opening drawers and slipping on her heels.

Her door opened, "ready?"

"Yea." I nodded. "Wait." I took a deep breath and inhaled, then breathing out. "Ok now I'm ready."

"Come on it'll be fun." she chided. We linked our arms together and headed out the door.

***

We arrived at the venue in record time. We walked through the hotel lobby and over to the escalator. The party was being held upstairs in one of the hotel's signature restaurants. We reached the second floor and spotted the Asian styled restaurant.

"Wow." Rosalie breathed

Wow indeed. We stood in front of the entrance and could see the brightly covered tables. Red and black tablecloths, paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling, a fountain in the open waiting area.

I turned to Rose, "ready?"

She smiled "let's do this."

We walked into the waiting area and from standing inside I could see that many of the guests were here. There must have been about fifty or sixty guests. There was a lot of buzz and chattering. Everyone seemed to be having a nice time already.

"Bella I'm going to the restroom, wait for me please?"

"Sure Rose." She left to duck into the ladies room. I had no intention on going to sit down at the table unless Rose was with me. So I just pranced around and waited for her. Finally she came out and we made our way to the hostess table.

"May I have your invitation card, please?"

I rummaged through my purse and pulled out the small card. My ticket to get in here.

"Thank you. You are at table six." She moved to let us pass and with that, Rose and I walked to find our table.

***

After finding our table Rose and I sat down and surveyed the room. A lot of people were standing and walking around between tables. I tried to see if I could figure it who the people I was supposed to meet. I had never seen them before. I knew nothing about them. I had only talked to Tanya once and that was just to confirm my invitation.

A small older woman dressed in a a pant suit walked to the middle of the tables clearing her throat, ready to address the guests. She introduced herself as the "mother of the soon to be bride" and welcomed everyone to please sit down and eat.

The guests started finding their tables and I was happy to note that the people in my table were very nice. They were friends of Tanya and Edward and they asked Rose and I who we are.

I was about to introduce myself and Rose but was grateful that Rose beat me to it. She knew I was abnormally shy.

"My name is Rosalie Hale, and this is Isabella Swan she works for Northwest Island and she's here to interview Tanya and Edward."

Someone asked why I was here; and Rose explained to her that Tanya and Edward would be featured in my magazine. Needles to say they were delighted to hear that Tanya and Edward would make the "holiday issue."

Throughout dinner I looked around the room again. I was hoping to distinguish Tanya and Edward from the other couples. I didn't have to look that long because a young couple was making their ways around all the tables. Greeting people and stopping to talk.

I couldn't get a good look at them, their backs were always turned to me. I really didn't want to stay here longer than I needed to but I knew I couldn't leave till enough time had lapsed and I had meet them.

Rosalie and I had just started on the dessert when I voice from our table rang:

"Edward! Tanya!"

I looked up to see Edward and Tanya standing right at our table. Tanya was a slender, strawberry-blonde, with blue eyes. She was pretty and probably couldn't be anymore than twenty-six.

When I saw Edward I almost couldn't believe it. Standing not five feet away from me was the gorgeous man from "Starbucks." The one I yelled at. The one that paid for my coffee. The one whose voice was so smooth and seductive. The one whose emerald green eyes I could get lost in. Damn it!

Edward and his green eyes and his charming personality doesn't have any effect on my whatsoever. The day at the coffee shop was just a random thing. The fact that Edward is drop dead gorgeous has no effect on me. The fact that he is Tanya's fiancée' and the fact that I'm writing about them is just work. I can do this.

Tanya walked over to us with Edward right beside her. She looked at us and smiled.

"You must be the writers." She spoke with sugary sweetness and pride.

Bitch.

Rosalie and I got up. I thrust my hand out to shake Tanya's and then Edward's.

"Yes, my name is Isabella Swan and this is my friend Rosalie Hale."

Tanya's eyes widened and Edward gave me a slight smirk. Like he recognized me but was keeping a secret. He evidently hadn't told Tanya about his run in with me. But why should he? I was just some random bitchy stranger.

Tanya spoke again, "Rosalie Hale? You're the model aren't you? Are you by any chance related to Jasper Hale?"

Rosalie was caught off guard but regained her composure quickly. "Yes I model and yes my brother is Jasper Hale. Do you know him?"

Tanya laughed, "Know him? He and Edward's sister; Alice and I all go out on double dates!"

What the fuck?

Rosalie eyes grew wide then, "Oh really? I've actually never meet Alice, Jasper tries to keep her away from me." she joked.

Tanya laughed again.

God that laugh was so fake.

Edward then spoke up, "So Ms. Swan I understand you're here to interview us."

I looked over at him and was met with his sparkling emerald eyes and that same smirk.

"Edward, let Ms. Swan enjoy her time here right now we can discuss business later." Tanya admonished him.

Edward shrugged and slipped his arm around Tanya's waist.

I felt it was my cue to talk now. "You both give a wonderful dinner, it was very nice."

Tanya's eyes sparkled then, "Oh thank you! We just threw this together at the last minute and it's such a small gathering but so intimate but of course we had to invite you and I'm so glad you enjoyed yourself."

God she was kissing my ass. No doubt so that I would write nice things about her and Edward.

I smiled acknowledging her comments. Just when I thought there would be an awkward silence Rose spoke up.

"I see my brother is here, excuse me I'll go say hi." She left to walk across the room leaving me with the happy couple.

Edward spoke again, "Allow me to introduce my family Ms. Swan, this is my older brother Emmett," he gestured to a big burly guy with a cute face. I studied his face then realized I had seen it before. Last night at dinner when Rosalie was shooting daggers. Well this is just perfect. "and this" he continued talking, "is my younger sister Alice." and there stood a short petite woman. She had spiky black hair and an angelic face.

"Pleased to meet you!" she chirped. By now Rosalie and her brother Jasper had made it back to the table.

"Hello Bella." said Jasper's voice. He reached out to give me a little hug.

I returned it, "Hi Jasper."

Alice, noticing our behavior asked, "you know each other?"

I nodded yes, "I'm Rosalie's friend."

"Oh!"

And here comes the silence again.

"I'm so glad we all know each other! Bella I've read your articles and I think we're gonna be great friends!" said Alice.

Whoa. That was random and flattering. I blushed and mumbled a "thank you." She gave me a smile.

I was staring at Alice and when I looked around I noticed that Edward and Tanya had excused themselves to visit their other guests and Rosalie was talking with Emmett. No doubt giving him hell about last night. Rose was a vindictive person.

"Well, we'll let you get back to your dessert."

I nodded again. "Thank you."

"People." said Alice giving me a head shake in the direction of the guests. Indicating she had to mingle. She rolled her eyes then and I laughed softly.

***

The dinner was great. The food was fantastic. And meeting Edward and Tanya wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Although I was having an internal monologue with myself when Tanya spoke to me I found her to be a good enough person. Edward was handsome as ever. And it was just a little awkward that I had meet him previously at "Starbucks."

Alice is friendly. And I liked her despite her random comment. I had known Jasper through Rose and had always liked him as a person. Emmett I found to be a funny person. Although I didn't talk to him I had seen and heard his booming voice throughout the dinner.

When Rosalie and I got back home I asked her to tell me about Emmett. Basically I wanted to know what she talked him about. The whole thing about last night.

Rose told me that the girl from last night was just a friend. When I gave her a doubting look she then told me Emmett was very firm in stating the girl wasn't a romantic interest to him. That pleased Rose and they decided to go out next week.

As I laid down on my bed my mind began to wander. I had a lot of doubts about this piece and meeting Edward and Tanya. But it wasn't horrible. Awkward at times but not anything I couldn't deal with.

The only thing that bothered me or unsettled me was when I would catch Edward looking at me, glancing at me and then sometimes he would have that smirk on his face. And I wondered why? Is he just toying with me and trying to get a rise out of me or is he just being nice?