Some people were a little bummed that there wasn't any Edward last chapter... Good News: This chapter is ALL Edward :) Bad News: Some chapters up until chapter 9 will not have Edward in them at all, but don't worry! I promise he'll be around... :)

Soph edited this chappie... and in blue! :)

Chapter 3 – Fruit & Boxes
Edward Masen

Never move. Ever.

It had taken nearly an hour to put my bed together. I ended up losing one of the little screws and was crawling around the floor in search for it half of that time.

Now, for the past two hours I have been sifting through box after box in search of my bedding and sheets. I decided to just start unpacking each box and successfully found all my cups, plates, and silverware.

But I didn't want to eat right now. I wanted to sleep, damn it.

I got pretty excited when I came across a box labeled 'Bedroom', but it was only filled with pillows.

Around midnight I gave up hope after opening the umpteenth box and just finding clothes.

I picked up the box of pillows and padded to my room. The space looked bare. All that sat in my bedroom was an open suitcase that clothes were spilling out of and my bed that consisted of its frame and a mattress. I threw two pillows onto it and lay down.

It helped that it wasn't terribly chilly out tonight; I think the temperature was around the mid-sixties, but the rough texture of my mattress made it impossible for me to get comfortable. I finally just decided to go tough it out on the couch and dragged my feet into the living room, only to find that I had piled even more unopened boxes on top of it.

In my half-asleep state, I moved behind the couch and pushed all the boxes to the floor in front. Then I flopped over the back and nestled into the cushions, my feet hanging over the edge.

I was so exhausted that I didn't even care anymore and fell right to sleep.

.

The next morning I awoke to the alarm of my cell phone, which still blared through my ears even though it was in a totally different room. I peeped an eye open and took in the wreck that was my apartment. I had thrown empty boxes all over and you could no longer tell if there even was a floor there to begin with. Adding to the empty boxes were the multiple still full ones that had crap I still needed to unpack, and I had to go into work today. Great.

I climbed over the back of the couch again to stand up (since there were, of course, boxes blocking the front of the couch) and immediately felt a sharp pain shoot through my spine.

I'm finding those bed sheets first thing when I get home.

Not even bothering to shower, I changed my clothes and threw on a baseball cap before heading out the door.

I decided to wander the street of my building in search of something for breakfast and so I could see what all was close by. It looked like I lived in a pretty decent area. There was a 99 cent store, grocery store, convenience store, music store, computer repair business, a small restaurant, a coffee shop, dry cleaner's, a video rental store, and then more apartment buildings showed up.

I glanced at my watch and decided I had enough time to stop by the grocery store and grab a few things so my cabinets weren't completely bare.

Stepping through the automatic doors, I noticed it wasn't very lively. Well, I guess that would make sense; not many people go grocery shopping this early in the morning, I would assume. There was only one cashier and two stock boys that I could tell and maybe a total of two other customers.

I grabbed a cart and started wandering aimlessly down the aisles, just looking over all the shelves. I didn't really have a clue of what to buy. I went from my mother providing meals for me, to the college cafeteria, then back to my mother after finishing school, and the very few nights I've lived here, Emmett had cooked. This was completely out of my element.

I tried thinking of things I liked to eat and healthy stuff that my Mom made me eat. I started off in the cereal aisle, then moved on to milk to go with my cereal, and everything started getting easier from there. All I had to do was think of something I would want to eat in the near future and a list of items I needed would pop into my head.

I had to admit I was oddly proud of myself. The basket was filled with future meals I had put together, all without any help.

So this is what it feels like to be a self-providing adult…

My pride quickly dissolved when I reached the produce center. There were so many fruits and vegetables; I didn't know which you were supposed to smell, knock on, check for green spots…

I probably stood there just staring at everything for a good ten minutes. That is, until I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Do you need any help? You've been standing there for like, ten minutes." The girl giggled and verified that I had been staring helplessly for a long time like I had thought.

I felt my face heat up at the fact of having to admit to this stranger that I had no idea what I was doing, "I… uh, well, I don't know… how..."

"I figured as much. You're a guy and you look like a virgin judging by all the frozen dinners you picked up."

My eyes bugged out, "W-What?"

Her eyes went wide as well once she registered what had actually come out of her mouth and quickly clamped a hand over her lips to try and hide her giggles, "No! I meant grocery store virgin. You've never been grocery shopping before, by yourself, have you?"

"Oh. No, actually it's… my first time." I smirked, playing along with her virgin comment from before.

"Okay, so…" She took a deep breath and started schooling me on the ins and outs of produce. I started to feel like I needed to write what she was telling me down and when I started typing a memo on my phone furiously to keep up with her speedy voice, she stopped and raised an eyebrow at me.

"What? We both know I'm going to forget all of this the second you walk away."

She snorted and nodded, "True. You are a guy."

Together we had successfully picked out enough healthy foods so that now when my mother called and inevitably asked if I was eating right, I didn't have to lie.

After I finished paying, I hooked all the plastic bags on my arms and caught up with my 'produce teacher' as she exited the store as well.

"Thanks helping me, now I have a little experience under my belt." I chuckled.

"You're welcome, just don't forget who… popped your cherry!" she started giggling again and waved goodbye as we went our separate ways.

Once I got back up to my apartment, I unloaded all the food and couldn't help but smile when I placed the bag of cherries on a shelf in my fridge.

Then, like any experienced grocery shopper would do, I stuck a piece of paper to my refrigerator as a start to my next list… along with a written out copy of how to buy fruits and vegetables.

Later that morning, Jasper stopped by after his morning show so I could hitch a ride with him over to the station. Hopefully my car would arrive within the next few days. It was getting old having to ask for rides everywhere.

I was finally finished with filling out paperwork, messing around with transfer documents from my old workplace, and filed into the KZIZ employee directory.

Eric Yorkie, the man who I will be replacing, had me start shadowing him so I could get the feel of what he did on a daily basis. It seemed straightforward enough. I showed up at an ungodly hour of the morning, made sure there were no technical problems with the equipment, and made sure the broadcasts ran smoothly.

Then I was introduced to my colleagues, Sam and Angela.

"So, you're the new guy." Sam stated, shaking my hand.

"Yes sir. Does that make you the… old guy?" I chuckled.

"Heck no! Thirty is not that old." He seemed like he was reassuring himself more than me.

"He's in denial. Hi, I'm Angela." She rolled her eyes at Sam and shook my hand as well.

"Edward Masen." I nodded.

"When was it that you moved here? Carlisle mentioned that it wasn't too long ago…"

"Yeah, I just got here late yesterday morning."

"Wow. And when do you start work here at KZIZ?"

"Next week. Bright and early Monday morning." I said with a tight smile, not excited about the time I had to start waking up.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to the hours. If an old man like me can do it, so can you." Sam grumbled teasingly.

I was in the middle messing around with some of the older gadgets, just to figure out how they worked, when my phone started ringing.

"Hello?"

"Hi, this is Seattle Moving Co. in regards to your vehicle under the name Masen. It has just been delivered and you can come by and pick it up any time."

"How about right now?" I asked excitedly.

"Perfect, we'll have it ready."

I dropped what I was doing, dashed by Carlisle's office to let him know I would be back later and hailed a cab to go pick up my Volvo.

If I was a fourteen-year-old girl, you might call me giddy from the way I bounced in the backseat as the driver pulled into the Seattle Moving Corporation's parking lot.

I quickly threw him my fare and hopped out, practically skipping to the entrance. Yes, I was that excited about a car. This meant I could finally put good use to one of the two parking spaces I received when I bought the apartment… plus the fact that I didn't have to car pool anymore.

After going through all the necessary actions with paperwork, I was finally handed the keys where I then proceeded to not even bother with a 'goodbye' before bolting out the door.

My shiny, silver Volvo was sitting in front of me, not a scratch on her, just like I had left it. That didn't keep me from inspecting further though. I did the whole once over, even getting down on my hands and knees to make sure that she was still in pristine condition.

And, no, I did not name the car. I refer to her as a girl only because I take care of her as I would a lady. It only makes since, she's just as expensive…

That was a joke.

With a new highlight to my day, I cheerily headed back over to the station to finish up the day. The last task I had was organizing my section of the office Sam, Angela, and I shared.

I hummed the tune of the song that was last playing on the radio as I stepped through the doors. There was a woman that walked up right behind me and like the gentleman that I was, I held open the door and let her pass by.

"Thank you. Good song by the way; for such a young kid that Bieber boy sure knows a hell of a lot about love." She smirked.

I had to laugh at that, "Yes, the heartbreak of a recess romance is truly the best inspiration for lyrics." I rolled my eyes.

She laughed along with me and I only noticed her age when the laugh lines crinkled around her eyes. We followed along the same path for a few seconds before she turned and held out her hand. "Esme Cullen. I think that was the highlight of my day, seeing a grown man bopping his head to "Baby.""

I immediately took notice of her last name and mentally high-fived myself for making a good impression on the boss' wife as I shook her hand. "Edward Masen. And in my defense, Ludacris adds a nice edge to the song with his rapping…"

"Edward Masen. Hm." It wasn't like a drawn out 'hmmm…' but more like she was just acknowledging she knew of me, which I guessed as much seeing that she lived with the man who hired me.

We rounded the corner where Jasper and Carlisle stood casually, discussing something. "My, my, Esme. Don't you look lovely today." Jasper laid the charm on thick, purposefully as far as I could tell.

"No, no, no Mr. Whitlock, don't try that act with me," she chuckled, "I will not set you up with any of my employees. They are hardworking women and it will be no picnic when they show up to the office, sniffling and puffy-eyed because you didn't call them back. No amount of compliments will change my mind, even if they are true." She smirked as she made her way over to Carlisle and Jasper frowned.

"On another note, I just ran into your new audio manager on my way in." Esme continued, "He is quite the gentleman."

Carlisle raised his eyebrows up at me and I snickered, "And apparently we both enjoy a little pop now and then. Specifically when it's sung by a ten-year-old."

"Bieber? No, the guy's almost sixteen." Jasper chimed in. We all looked back at him, wondering exactly how and why he knew that, but he just shrugged it off.

Carlisle cleared his throat to cover up a laugh, "Well, Mr. Masen, looks like you are the master of first impressions." I decided to take that as a compliment, hoping Carlisle meant that he felt I would continue to make many more, good, future impressions.

I hoped.

We ended our conversation then, Carlisle and Esme headed out and Jasper asked if I was ready to go. I let him know that I had just gotten back from picking up my car and would see him when I finished up here.

Emmett and Jasper were going to help me unpack later and I would provide food and beer since I had gone grocery shopping today and for some reason felt the need to for everyone know I had.

I was still proud of myself.

When I arrived back at my apartment, I whipped up a couple plates of wings and then called the guys over. Before eating we hooked up the TV and cable in my living room so we could catch some of the game scores as we ate.

After that, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. I let out a bitter laugh when the first box I put my hands on contained basically all of the bedding I was looking for last night. Without hesitation, I sprinted into my room and made the bed. I was more than ready for a good night's sleep and couldn't wait to crawl under the covers tonight.

About an hour later the three of us found ourselves a little distracted. When we started crushing up the empty boxes I was stopped by Emmett before stomping down on one of the larger ones. He was so sure that he would be able to fit inside and wanted to try. I looked back from him to the box several times and didn't think Emmett really had a clear picture in his head of how huge he really was.

"Dude, I'm telling you, I can fit!" he argued.

"Just let him, he can find out the hard way. And plus, it'll be hilarious watching him squeeze himself in there only to get stuck." Jasper chuckled as his friend studied the box, most likely trying to decide the best way to get in.

From the short time that I had known Emmett, I realized that he didn't really think before acting. This is a conclusion I came to when he stood on my couch and settled on diving, butt first, into the box.

"Hey, Emmett I don't think-"

"Shh, shh. This is the beauty of being friends with Emmett. Just enjoy the moment." Jasper shook his head and laughed.

Emmett started bouncing up and down slightly for some momentum before counting off, "5…. 4…. 3…. 2…."

I barely had the strength to watch, already cringing from the thought of pain he was sure to go through.

"1!"

It all happened relatively fast, Emmett flung his body up and backwards, his aim amazingly accurate as he started to sink down. Jasper had already assumed the position, hands braced on his knees, so when the right time struck he could let out the laugh he was holding in. I was still cringing away, but couldn't not watch. It's like when you watch America's Funniest Home Videos and you make sounds of distress when you see the person fall off their roof or send a bike barreling for a tree, but you watch and laugh at them anyway.

This was exactly like that, except it was more painful and funnier to watch at the same time because I actually knew the idiot.

A flash of panic quickly registered in Emmett's face when he realized the position his body would be in a matter of seconds…

"Ah, ah! AH!" Thud.

And that my friends, was the glorious sound effects of Emmett hitting the bottom of the box.

His reaction was a little delayed if you ask me. It took approximately five seconds before Emmett started cursing all kinds of things. I think he might have even made up a few words.

"Motherof-! Shit! SHIT! I'm stuck! You guys, I'm fucking stuck! It hurts! Oh hot damn, does it hurt!"

Jasper was totally oblivious to his shouting though, because he was shaking on the floor, gasping for breath. I was in a state of shock. I just couldn't believe that he actually went through with it. The dumb shithead had actually thought this was a good idea and landed himself wedged between four walls of cardboard!

When Jazz started slapping the floor, wheezing, as he tried to get some oxygen to his lungs, I lost it. I toppled over and had to catch myself on the edge of the coffee table before I cracked my head on it. It didn't help that Emmett's legs were flailing around and I could barely make out his fingertips, grasping the edges of the box as he tried to climb out.

We had sobered up, but then the sides of the box gave in from his tugging and his hands snapped down and smacked him in the head.

"Fuckin'A! Ow, my eye!"

I regretted right then not grabbing my camera because this shit would have won us ten thousand dollars for sure. Tom Bergeron would have, without a doubt, thanked us for sharing this 'you-will-crap-your-pants-because-its-the-most-hilarious-thing-you-will-ever-watch-period' video.

Then Emmett realized why we weren't over there helping him.

"Get your asses over here now! I don't see any part of this being in any way so fucking funny! Valuable things are getting squished and I think I pulled a butt muscle!"

We both stumbled over to the box and when I peered down inside, Emmett's face was all kinds of purple and I swear he was going to pop a vein.

I took a deep breath and tried to talk normally, "I think we should… tip… the box… over!" and then I lost it again, just imagining Emmett's face when we turned the box on its side.

Jasper just wheezed again and motioned for me to help him tip it. It took ten minutes because neither of us were very strong while dissolving into fits of giggles like a couple of girls.

"Damn it! Get me out of this thing! NOW!" Emmett roared.

We finally managed to accomplish tipping the box, but not without another string of profanities pouring from Emmett's mouth. Jasper unfolded the bottom of the box, hoping that he would be able to just shimmy his way free, but that only managed to pull his shorts down, giving us a nice view of his crack.

Aaaand… like the twelve-year-olds that we were, Jazz and I grabbed some hand-fulls of packing peanuts and started stuffing them down his pants.

"I swear on all my families' secret recipes, when I get out of here, I will be kicking both of your asses!"

"Well, considering that you're relying on Edward and myself to get you out of there, I don't think you should threaten us like that." Jasper said smugly.

Emmett just muttered something under his breath, probably some more cuss words, as we tried to push him out the top.

"Ow, ow, ow! If you expect me to walk like a normal human being again, I would suggest stopping with the destruction of my spine!"

We took a break to get the rest of our laughs out and then decided pushing or pulling him out wasn't going to work. I grabbed the box cutter of the counter and started slicing it through the cardboard.

"Edward, I know we haven't known each other too long and I really do think of you as a friend, but if you cut me I will have to shank you."

"Shank me? With what? I have the knife." I reminded him.

He didn't have time to answer because I nicked the last end of the box and it burst open, Emmett's limbs shooting out and falling to the floor.

"Ahhhhhhuhooooohhhhwahhhhh…" he groaned/moaned/sighed. It was a really weird sound…

"Feel better?" Jasper smirked and had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing again.

"Much… except for all these damn peanuts!" he said suddenly and reached down his backside, grabbing fistfuls of packing peanuts to empty out his pants.

I took one glance at Jasper and like that I was rolling on the floor, snorting and guffawing my little heart out.

Emmett scrunched up his face angrily and smacked each of us on the back of our heads, hard.

"Ughhh…" I groaned clutching my hair. Then a wild look entered his eyes and I immediately snatched the box cutter off the floor before any ideas entered his head, especially ones resembling prison fights.

.

That night I slept peacefully, knowing that my apartment was completely unpacked, I had a great job (well, so far anyway), friends that did stupid, hilarious crap, my car…

Yup, things seemed to be looking pretty great from where I was standing.

As I waited for the darkness to take me, I went over a list in my head of what I had to do tomorrow.

I needed to remember to call my mother soon before she thought that her only son forgot about her and called here herself, crying.

I needed to remember to get gas on my way to work tomorrow.

I needed to meet Leah, the other Radio DJ I would be working with.

I needed to get to know Sam and Angela a little more if I was going to be working with them as closely as Eric had made it seem.

I needed to…

I couldn't really think of anything else. Though out of that list I was dreading calling my mother the most. I just knew she would launch into an interrogation about if I met anyone yet and I would tell her about Emmett and Jasper and people from work. But then she would say 'No, Edward. Have you met any women?' and I would try to awkwardly change the subject but it wouldn't work so I would end up telling her no. This would lead into an entire round of questions, tips, and tricks that were supposed to help me find a place to meet women. Which then would cause me to make up an excuse so I could get off the phone as quickly as possible.

A week would go by and then we would go through the same routine again.

This is exactly what I went through all during college. That is, until I had told her I met someone, then it was a whole new conversation.

I realized the only thing I could do to shut her up was to find someone. And at the moment it didn't seem like such a bad idea. All the other pieces of my life were just falling into place, maybe meeting a girl wouldn't be such a bad thing.

I finally drifted off, images of grocery stores and cherries flashing through my dreams.

Okay, okay! I'm bringing back favorite part! I wanted to see how this would work out without doing it, but i don't like it one bit! Soooo, what was your favorite part of this chapter?

Mine:

Aaaand… like the twelve-year-olds that we were, Jazz and I grabbed some hand-fulls of packing peanuts and started stuffing them down his pants.

totally have done that to my brother :)

.

Reviews are better than packing peanuts :)
(especially when reviewers get a tease!)

Love,
Emeleigh

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:)