A\N Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

BPOV

Emmett McCarty is nothing like Mike Newton. That's what I'd been telling myself since I stepped out of the clubhouse after agreeing to hang out with him on the Sidewinders off day tomorrow. I also couldn't help but wondering if he was going to bring his mysterious green-eyed friend Edward Cullen along. I had overheard him talking to Jasper about apartment hunting with Edward and telling him of their plans to room together. Did that meant his plans for tomorrow included the gorgeous centerfielder? Ugh, I had to stop torturing myself with these things. Tonight I needed to concentrate on my friends. I was determined to show them that the old Bella was making a comeback.

Despite the grueling day at the ballpark, I had still wanted to grab dinner, drinks and a movie with Jake, Seth and Alice. I also knew that after the movie I'd need to spend some quality time baring my soul to Alice and cluing her in on what's been going on in my head and heart for the past few months that has had me holding everyone, including her, my best friend, at arm's length. It was going to be a long night.

After finishing my story and sending it over to my editor, I'd gone home to our thankfully empty townhouse to shower and change before meeting everyone over at Pompeii's Grotto for dinner. Alice had a late shoot today so she'd be rushing straight from work, which meant not only did I get a little extra time at the house to myself, I also got to dress myself, always an extra added bonus. Again, trying to channel the old Bella, I chose a pair of perfectly faded jeans and a shimmery black halter that showed off just the right amount of cleavage, but staying true to myself, I slid into a pair of Adidas sandals to top off the ensemble. Alice would be thrilled until her eyes hit my shoes, but the expression on her face when she noticed would be classic. Giggling at the thought of it, I grabbed my lip gloss (the only makeup I owned), purse, cell phone, keys and raced out of the house.

Entering the restaurant I was feeling pretty good. I had belted out songs along with the radio the whole way here and even cruised with the windows down, despite the heat and let the wind take my hair. I immediately spotted Alice sitting at a table for four by herself fiddling with her Blackberry while simultaneously reading the menu. I started hurrying over to the table and the next thing I knew I ran into what felt like a brick wall, but must have been a bus boy, because I was on the ground surrounded by plates, cups and silverware. The bus boy, unscathed, was looked horrified staring down at me, while Alice, two tables away couldn't control her laughter. A nearby waiter finally came over to help me up and began offering apologies since the bus boy was still frozen to his spot, terrified. I immediately cut off the apologetic waiter, signaling that I was okay, explaining that it was entirely my fault and begging that he not blame the poor bus boy for my pure and utter clumsiness.

When I finally made it over to the table, Alice was no longer making an attempt to hide her laughter behind her menu, but was openly howling at my latest act of gracelessness.

"I've got to give that a 9.5," Alice squeaked out. "The Russian judge deducted points the sloppy landing."

"Thanks Alice," I laughed as I sat down. While glancing around the restaurant and happily noticing that most of the diners had gone back to enjoying their own meals, I continued to pick of the bits of food that had landed on me during my fall.

"Wow, your fall really knocked off my sense of fashion judgment," Alice exclaimed a few seconds later. "Stand up! Let me look at you!"

I immediately complied, knowing that if I didn't, she wouldn't let up until I did. So I stood and slowly turned in a full circle, knowing from experience that would be the next thing she demanded of me.

"Isabella Marie, I am impressed," she said with awe. "I haven't seen that shirt in months. I remember when I made you buy it, it looks fantastic on you. And you even made an attempt with your hair and makeup today. What brought all this on?

"But what are those abominable shoes adorning your feet?" she chastised.

I couldn't help but laugh at the expression on her face, which was a raging battle between pure shock and outrage.

"These are my favorite sandals Alice," I simply said as I sat back down. "Can't you be happy with the rest of the outfit."

"I am. I am," she quickly amended. "I'm also curious what brought on the sudden change in appearance. Not that I don't love it, well 95% of it anyway."

Before I got a chance to tell Alice about my day and all the events that had brought on the sudden changes in my appearance and demeanor, Jake and Seth came ambling over to our table together.

"Bells, I'm really liking the new look," Seth greeted me. "But I'm not so sure the fettuccini in your hair compliments your outfit."

I groaned, grabbing for my hair and pulled out the offending strand of fettuccini while Seth, Jake and Alice chuckled some more. Alice quickly filled the guys in on my run in with the bus boy, drawing more laughs from the guys as they settled into the seats across from us and pulled out their menus.

"Well if that's not a sign the old Bells is back, nothing is," Jake said, which made everyone giggle again.

Our light banter continued until our waitress showed up to take our order. Once again we were being waited on by a young blonde with eyes only for Jake, which set Alice and I off on yet another round of hysterics, while Seth pretended to be offended that the waitress paid him no attention.

After the waitress left, Alice asked about our day at the ballpark. I knew it was coming, so I figured a no nonsense answer was the best approach, so I started in before either of the guys had a chance to speak.

"Mike waved around a thong pretending it was mine, I threw my coffee on our new gorgeous centerfielder, had a breakdown in Harry's office, realized I'd been a shell of my former self lately, decided that needed to change, spent the game thinking about said gorgeous centerfielder and agreed to hang out with another one of our new players tomorrow because he seemed really persistent and genuinely nice. I think that about covers it."

"Wow." Alice said slowly. "That certainly was more interesting than my day."

"Normally I'd say tell me more about the Mike situation," she continued. "But I haven't heard you get excited about a guy in a long time, so tell me about the new guy, and the one you are going to hang out with tomorrow."

"Alice, I know nothing about him aside from his name and eye color," I groaned.

Alice pelted me with more questions for a few more minutes, and I tried to answer, while the guys also interjected a few tidbits to try to keep her satisfied. She seemed genuinely excited about Edward and Emmett for some reason. I tried explaining that they were just new players, and there weren't going to be any romantic involvements with either of them, probably not even friendships because any relationships with the team at this point were a bad idea, but there was no convincing Alice that nothing would come of this.

Dinner was the first time in a long time that I'd felt completely relaxed and I didn't want the night to end. We decided to forgo the movie and just head over to Toppers for a few drinks to unwind and continue our friendly conversation and banter. It was truly one of the best nights I'd had in months.

Once we got home Alice immediately pulled me into a hug.

"I'm so glad you're back, Bells," Alice said softly. "I missed you so much."

I started to cry. I couldn't help it. I felt awful that I'd let Alice down. I felt sorry for myself that I'd missed out on a chunk of my life by being in that shell. Alice and I stayed like that for a while, me crying and her just holding me and rubbing my back. I loved my best friend.

After a while I pulled away, wiped away the tears and thanked her. I truly believed that the worst was behind me and now, I was finally moving on. I told all of this to Alice who agreed and we both decided that it was time to call it a night.

The next day we had decided to go bowling. Alice, Seth and Jake were all fairly athletic and could excel at any sport, while I would usually just tag along and being as it was summer in Arizona, bowling was the best option since it was indoors. Being as I was the one with Emmett's phone number, I called him that morning to see if he still wanted to join us and he enthusiastically agreed, claiming to love bowling. A few minutes into our conversation I learned that he and Edward were actually staying in the same townhouse complex as Alice and I, so Emmett decided to meet us at our place rather than the lanes. He did offer to drive since he wanted to learn the area a little better.

Emmett arrived shortly before 1 and engulfed me into one of his enormous bear hugs and upon being introduced to Alice, captured her in one too. I couldn't help be giggle at the sight of tiny Alice wrapped in Emmett's mammoth arms. Alice took an immediate liking to Emmett, but more in a brotherly way, which was good because I really still didn't want Alice dating any off the players. I think she's too good for most of them.

We piled into Emmett's Jeep and set off for the local bowling alley, which on a weekday afternoon was pretty empty. Jake and Seth were already practicing, so we got the necessary shoes and balls and headed over to join in.

"Hey guys," Emmett greeted the group. "Thanks for letting me crash your party today. I appreciate the chance to get out and get to know some people aside from my roommate."

"Where is your roommate today," Alice inquired. I wanted to know too actually, but I'm glad Alice was the one to ask and not me.

"He's a little shy," Emmett said. "Edward's a great guy. I've known him since I was 10 and he's been like my brother since then, but he has some trouble getting to know new people. I wanted him to come, but he kept mumbling something about not being invited and needing to unpack."

"Tell him he's welcome anytime," Alice said with a mischievous smile that surprisingly matched Emmett's. "We're a really friendly group, and we could always use a few new faces."

"I'll be sure to mention that," replied Emmett.

"Emmett, are your bowling skills as good as your baseball skills," asked Jake, changing the subject.

"Not quite," he laughed. I kind of forget the object isn't to crush the bowling pins."

"You'll fit in just fine then," Seth called out from the other lane.

"Absolutely," said Jake. "Just watch out for Bells here. We all take cover when she bowls. The ball seems to have a mind of its own when it leaves her hand. It can go backward, forward, sideways. You just never know."

"Should I have worn my helmet?" Emmett asked warily.

"Probably. My dad wouldn't be too happy if you got a concussion on your off day after just one game," Seth joked.

"Oh come on guys, stop scaring him," I said.

Turing to Emmett, I said "I'm really not as bad as they say. You just kind of have to keep me in your sights at all times if I have a bowling ball in my hands, that's all."

"I'll try to remember that," Emmett said.

"Okay guys, time to start bowling for real," called Alice as she pulled out her customized Tinkerbell bowling ball. She seemed to be tiptoeing down the lane before she daintily released the ball, which of course flew at a crazy speed, knocking down all ten pins for a strike to start the game.

"Nice shot Tink," called Emmett. "I'm loving the ball! My adopted mom would love it. Esme has a thing for Disney characters."

"Thanks!" Alice responded. "Bella got me the ball for me. She's been comparing me to Tinkerbell forever and she's a sucker for Disney too."

Jake and Seth quickly followed with strikes of their own and then it was my turn.

"I'm going to trust you Bella," Emmett said as he sat in the seat closet to the lane I was going to be bowling on.

"Bad move Em. Bad move," said Jake.

"Shut up Jake!" I cried out.

I walked purposely up to the lane drew my arm back just like everyone had taught me and when I brought it forward I expected to see the ball start gliding down the lane just like it did for everyone else, but I hearing a thud behind me I groaned and closed my eyes wishing the floor would open up and swallow me. Slowly turning around I saw Emmett with a huge grin on his face holding my ball that had apparently rolled to a stop at his feet. Everyone else was doubled over with laughter. How do these things happen to me?

I was about to start apologizing when Emmett cut me off.

"I'm going to need to come bowling with you more often Bella," he said. "I love extreme sports!"

Everyone laughed even harder at that and even I had to join in. I'm glad Emmett had asked to tag along with us today. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy and he certainly made us all laugh. I knew that everyone else liked him as well.

The rest of our bowling match was fairly uneventful. I did manage to send my ball into the next lane once, but no one was injured, so it was all good. The more we got to know Emmett the more we liked him. We invited him out to dinner at Victorino's, a steakhouse in downtown Tucson. Alice told him to call Edward and see if he'd like to join us.

"I'll give him a call, but odds are he'll give me some excuse to say no," Emmett said. "Please don't be offended if he says no. He takes a little longer to warm up to new people than I do, but please keep trying. He needs good friends too. Don't let him know I told you this, because he'd kill me, but he's shy and lonely behind that focused and determined attitude he displays. I hope you guys will give him a chance."

I mulled over everything that Emmett had said and wondered why he'd said it so passionately and also why had he been looking at me when he'd given his little speech about Edward. Thinking about Edward immediately made me flashback to mental images of his hauntingly picturesque green eyes. What was hiding behind those eyes? And why was I disappointed when Emmett returned to tell us that Edward had turned us down for dinner?

A/N Sorry for the long delay between updates. I was in San Francisco to watch my beloved Phillies take on the Giants and didn't get back until yesterday. I promise updates will be more frequent now and I might even have time for two chapters tomorrow. Thanks for all of the reviews, feedback and hits to my story. I appreciate it all.

As per request of one of my favorite reviewers (and since I happen to think Cardinal fans are almost as wonderful as Philadelphia fans), I seem to forget that not everyone is as fanatical about baseball as I am, so a quick overview of the minor league system, at least for the purpose of my story. Players are divided into leagues based on their abilities. The lowest is Single-A, then players progress and move to Double-A, after that is Triple-A, which is the level of the Sidewinders (Emmett, Edward and James came from Double-A so they were promoted, but players can also be demoted) and after Triple-A is the Major Leagues. Hope that helps! Any other questions, just shout! Thanks again!