Disclaimer: None of the characters in this story belong to me, they are all the work Stephanie Meyer.

Chapter 4

Bella's POV

The next day went by swiftly and I avoided all the members of the Cullen family only speaking to Esme when she asked me to clean the rooms of her children. My life would go on as normal, plus Edward, I was sure, would probably be leaving soon. I couldn't help myself from desperately hoping that maybe Edward would look at me and everything would just click. He would somehow remember me and we could talk, and it wouldn't be a short exchange of words with no meaning and full of awkwardness but an actual conversation. But a part of me, buried deep down bellow the surface new that would never happen. As I walked glumly back to my room to rest, I heard squeals of delight coming from the entrance hall. I stopped walking and turned around pausing just before the hall curiosity controlling my step.

"Oh Alice, it's so wonderful that your back, Emmett and Edward will be so happy to see you." Esme was saying, and although I couldn't see her, I detected a smile in her voice.

"Yes, and I can't wait to see them – where are they though?" Alice asked happily. I took one step closer to the hall hiding behind the shadow of an intricately designed arch.

"I think they are out in the grounds" Esme answered quietly and I leant forward straining to hear. "Maybe I should ask someone to-" At that precise moment my feet got caught up in my dress and I stumbled into full view of Esme and Alice, blushing furiously. I smiled trying to cover my embarrassment and straightening up I brushed out the creases in my dress the unexpected fall had made.

"Ah, Isabella, what brilliant timing, could you go and find Edward and Emmett, they are out in the grounds I think." She smiled at me, expecting me to nod and scurry off but my eyes were trained on Alice, was it possible that she had forgotten me too?

Yes, yes it was.

There was no sign of the friendliness that I had grown so used to when she was here. All she did was smile and look at me expectantly. I finally got my self together albeit still crushed that Alice had indeed forgotten me.

"Y-yes of course miss." I managed to stutter out. I turned around and walked towards the back door. I stepped into the mid morning sunlight scanning the area surrounding the house. My thoughts quickly drifted back to the youngest member of the Cullen family. I couldn't believe that Alice had also forgotten me. She was my only friend when we were little, but I'm sure I wasn't her only friend. I walked to the end of neatly mowed grass and stood on the edge of a large wild meadow. Scattered splodges of colourful wild flowers were dotted in several places giving the feeling of peace

"Edward, Emmett!" I called out timidly disturbing the silence. "Can you hear me?!" I shouted slightly louder. "Edward!" I paused waiting for a response "Emmett!"

"Yes?" A voice said from behind but it wasn't the musical voice that I knew so well. I turned around and saw the towering figure of Emmett looming over me. He looked the same as he did when we were children, just older. His baby blue eyes twinkled as he grinned.

"I'm sorry Mister Cullen, but your Mother requests you back at the house, your sister has arrived." I informed him and his grin grew wider.

"That's excellent." He said smiling.

"Where is your brother" I asked in the most casual manner I could muster.

Emmett looked around before belting out "Edward! Come here!" His voice boomed around us and not two minutes later Edward ran swiftly towards us his gaze falling on my frozen face. His bronze hair was windswept and his green eyes had soft bags bellow them – as if he hadn't been sleeping well, a small part of me wanted to find out why and comfort him.

Something inside me changed and an unrecognisable feeling made my heart jump a bit.

"Yes, what is it Emmett?" Edward said glancing at his brother before fixing his eyes on me again.

"Isabella here has told me that Alice is here" Emmett stated. I couldn't believe it. He remembered me, possibly the only one of the three siblings. It was the first time he had addressed me. I knew that Emmett had arrived recently with Rosalie but I had rarely seen him. My shocked expression refused to leave my face. Edward looked at his brother beaming.

"That is wonderful!" " Edward said as he turned to look at me still smiling. I had to hold back a gasp, he was beautiful and his crooked smile made the corners of my mouth lift into a small smile.

"Let's go meet our dear sister of ours." Emmett said tapping Edward shoulder "I'll race you there." Emmett said - his competitive streak getting the better of him - as he bounded off towards the house his laughter trailing behind him. Edward gave me one quick nod before shooting of after his brother. I was left there frozen; even the air around me was still, lazy. I took one slow step forward begging my unhurried walk back to the house.

By the time I reached the hall, it was empty and quiet, and I could hear laughter filtering in from the drawing room accompanied by throaty laughs and chuckles. Not wanting a repeat of the incident with Alice and Esme earlier I stayed clear of the drawing room wandering in and out of the bedrooms making sure they were all spotless. I occasionally overheard the gossip going on between the maid and it wasn't until two hours later that I got pulled out my thoughts by Leah.

"Bella, I need you to help me in the Kitchen, one of the kitchen staff is off ill today." Leah said leading me into the kitchen. It was steamy, pots and pans filled with all sorts of food brewing over the stove. I had only ever been in the Kitchen once before and that had been a total disaster. I was only 8 at the time and having just reached my peak of clumsiness kitchens and me did not bode well. I had entered the Kitchen on a particular busy night when the Cullen's had guests, curious to see what was going on after hearing shouts. I crawled in surrounded by a tense atmosphere and it wasn't until maid Lauren spotted me that the nightmare really commenced. She jumped back as a small scream escaped her mouth and crashed into the cook who was stirring a large bowl of soup as the starter. Long story short the soup ended up on the floor accompanied by a very angry chef and I was forever banned from the kitchen.

I looked worriedly over at Leah before starting "Leah I understand that you need help but if you remember my, um, history with the kitchen it's not particularly good"

"Oh stop worrying Bella, that happened 10 years ago, it's all forgotten now" Everything about me seemed to be forgotten lately I thought bitterly.

"But are you sure, I mean I'm not very good at cooking as it is and-" Leah shut me up by holding up her hand in midair and I stopped in midsentence.

"Bella, I shall have none of that now get to work and start by chopping up chives" She gave me a little push and walked off grumbling along the way. Great, now I was stuck working in the Kitchen. The Kitchen of all places, was it worse than cleaning the stables? For me, yes.

I felt someone brush past me and looked up slightly startled. The face I immediately recognized. Lauren Mallory. She had always preferred to be with Jessica who was three years older then her. Lauren was 20 years old only two years older then I was, but she was also the same age as Edward.

"So, Isabella, will you be helping us today?" She asked snidely. Lauren really wasn't very nice and I was starting to thank whoever was watching over me that she choose not to stay with me.

I looked up at her standing my ground "Yes I am in fact, now excuse me" I pushed past her looking down and went straight to get a chopping board. Hopefully she would leave me be and I could concentrate on the task at hand. I focused on cutting (I did want to leave the kitchen unscathed) letting the commotion behind me melt away.

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About an hour later I let myself sigh as I stood, slumped against the wall, my shoulders hunched. I hadn't managed to cause that much trouble but now, finally, my time in the kitchen was over. I hadn't uttered a single word for a whole hour, all my concentration focused on what I was doing. Every one had worked around me probably just ignoring me but I didn't really care or mind. I looked left and right before facing the door tip toeing towards it. Almost…. there. My hand reached to the door knob.

"Hold it right there" A familiar voice said from behind me. Leah. My shoulders sagged and I turned on my heel.

"Yes, what is it" I said in a tired voice looking at Leah. Her hands where on her hips and her foot was tapping the floor. If it wasn't for the fact that she was about to make me do more work in the kitchen I would have laughed.

"I want you to help bring out plates." Oh no. That was the worst possible thing anyone could have ever asked me to do. Had she completely forgotten that I tripped all the time! I was bound to fall over and collapse in a heap on the floor, found flying everywhere. I could picture it now, the whole family peering over me before laughing and sending me packing. I shivered. There was no way I would let that happen.

"Oh no no no," I stuttered "There is absolutely no way I will step into there dinning room with a plate of food in my hand." The image of there exquisite dinning room flashed before my eyes. I did not want to ruin Esme's precious table with my clumsiness. Leah just stared at me her eyes narrowing, not saying a word. I could swear she hadn't blinked in over a minute and the thought creeped me out. I looked down at me feet, fidgeting with my dress.

"Isabella" Oh God, she used my full name. Her stern voice echoed in my ears

making me cringe. If possible, her gaze narrowed even more and I found my self succumbing.

"Fine! Fine!" I let out a frustrated sigh before stomping over to her. Sometimes Leah could really annoy me to no end."Give me the plates." I half growled She handed me an elaborate dish wordlessly and I stormed out the kitchen nearly tripping over my own two feet.

This was not going to end well.

This chapter is kinda short and more of a filler. It was going to be one long chapter but I decided to split it into two.

Next chap is going to start in Edward POV

Review Please!!

glittergirlaura