Disclaimer: I don't own twilight

Chapter eight

After spending the last six days in Forks feeling bored to death I decided to do something to occupy my time, and that lucky thing was opening a store. I decided to ask Leah about Mrs. Mason's store. Maybe I could rent it. So there I was, sitting at the kitchen table feeling nervous and unsure about asking Leah.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, probably noticing my nervousness.

"No, I just want to ask you about something." I said hesitantly.

"Go ahead." she urged, her tone encouraging.

"Do you think that I could rent Mrs. Mason's store?" I asked, unsure of her reaction.

"I think it's a good idea," she paused thoughtfully, "people were starting to get suspicious about how I can support both of us financially with my small wage." I debated what she had just said and found that she was right; I was supposed to be homeless and broke after all.

"Then I think I should talk to Jasper." I realized, dreading his reaction.

"I think you should talk him, too," she agreed, turning back to cooking. But her encouraging words didn't kill my fear of his reaction. He might get angry - after all this was such a risky idea. So when Jasper picked up his phone and gave me the usual greetings, I found that my tongue could not form the words.

"Bella, is everything alright?" he asked, worried by my silence. Sure, I thought sarcastically, I'm being stalked by a pervert, my husband dumped me for another woman who used to be my best friend, my friends dumped me in a small town in the middle of nowhere named after a utensil, I have absolutely no privacy because of a nosy neighbor, I'm dying from boredom, and I'm falling in love again. Oh, right, there's also the fact that I'm being chased by the police officers. Totally fine.

"Oh yes, everything is just fine," I lied.

"Then, what?" he asked.

"Jasper, I want to rent a store in Forks," I said quickly. He didn't say anything for a couple of minutes, thinking of what I had just said. I winced, thinking that he was going to yell at me.

"I don't know, Bella, this is such a risky idea," I could see him frowning.

"But Leah said that it would be a good idea," I continued, trying to reason with him, "she said that people were starting to get suspicious about how she could support us both and this would be a good idea to shut them up."

"But renting a store will need a lot of papers and besides that what are you going to sell in this so called store?" he pointed out. I hesitated before replying.

"That's why I called you, genius! And what I am going to sell is between me and Alice."

"I will do my best." He sighed reluctantly.

"Thank you, Jazz; this means the world to me! Is Alice with you?"

"No, I'm at the office now. But she is missing you like crazy and has waited for your call. She's probably with Rose right now."

"Is there anything new in the case?" I questioned before hanging up.

"Actually, yes. I was going to call you to tell you, but you called me." he answered, and my heart stopped with anticipation.

"Is it good news or bad?"

"It's in the middle of both; we found where Jessica and Jacob are staying," he continued, "they are in Switzerland,"

"So now we can contact them and face them, right?" I asked, emotionless.

"It's not that easy, Bella, but I am trying my best, believe me," he said softly.

"I'm so sorry," I exhaled shakily.

"For what?" he asked, confused.

"For not listening to all your warnings about Jacob, if I hadn't been so stubborn, none of this mess would have happened," I explained, regret and guilt filling me.

"We don't blame you, Bella, it's not your fault you fell in love with the wrong guy," he comforted me, "but you better pick a better one next time." I laughed at his teasing and told him to call me if anything new occurred, and he advised me to go see the store to make sure that I like it.

"So how did it go?" Leah asked as she arrived after work.

"It went well, and I wanted to ask you if you could take me to Mrs. Mason's store so I could inspect it," I asked.

"Sure, how about going tomorrow's afternoon?" she suggested. I don't know why but her tone and smile screamed mischief and evil like she was planning something.

"That's fine with me." I replied, narrowing my eyes at her suspiciously. Something was up. I started to get ready after Leah came back from work the next day; the weather was freezing in Forks so I was practically wearing the entire closet.

"Finally, you decided to grace us with your presence," Leah said as I descended the stairs, "I am really honored, Your Majesty."

"Shut up and let's go." I said, rolling my eyes and brushing past her. "So how are we going to go to the store?"

"By foot, it's pretty close to the house." she answered as she started walking, and I followed her. We hadn't gone far when a car stopped us. The car was a shiny silver Volvo.

"Want a ride, ladies?" the driver asked, and his voice sounded familiar. I turned my head to find Edward Cullen smiling at me, when my gaze met his, his smile got wider.

"Yes, please!" Leah exclaimed so quickly that I had not time to refuse. I glared at her. Edward got out of his seat in the car and went to open the passenger door for me. I blushed and mumbled my thanks to him.

"So where are you two going?" he asked as he started the car.

"To Mrs. Mason's store," I answered, and for some reason Leah looked like she was about to burst out laughing.

"Why?" he asked, confuzzled and amused.

"I want to rent it." I said, and he arched an eyebrow.

"And what are you going to sell?" he asked, curious.

"I still don't know," I said truthfully, "I'm about to die of boredom. Why are you asking all this questions?"

"Well, you are going to rent my grandmother's store," he said casually, as if it was no big deal. When I didn't say anything, he looked at me, surprised to see my shocked expression. "No one told you?" he asked.

"No, no one told me." I glared at Leah; I guess I knew now why she was fighting laughter.

"I guess we are stuck with each other," Leah grinned, "Edward goes to visit Mrs. Mason every Thursday afternoon."

"I don't mind being stuck with the two of you," he said, but I felt that he was talking about me by the way he glanced at me. The drive to the store was short, but I didn't think that the distance between Leah's house and the store was that short if we had really gone by foot. After Edward parked the car, he got out of his seat and rushed to open the door for me.

"I think you do this on purpose." I said, blushing. He smiled crookedly.

"What do I do on purpose?" he asked innocently, but I could see the amusement in his eyes.

"Make me blush."

He leaned to whisper in my ear, "I can't help it; you look absolutely beautiful when you blush."

My blush deepened due to his words and closeness, and my mouth opened and closed.

"Edward, dear, you didn't tell me that you would bring guests with you," a woman's soft voice exclaimed, and I jolted.

"They are not guests, grandma, they came to see the store." he said, turning to his grandmother.

"Oh! Come inside then," she invited warmly. The store was fabulous, I decided as I walked in. It had such a warm feeling that attracted you to it and made you feel at ease. It wasn't a grand store, but it was perfect for what I had in mind. I talked to Mrs. Mason about the rent and the condition of the store and told her that my lawyer would take care of all the papers.

"Thank you, Mrs. Mason," I thanked her as we were about to leave.

"It's nothing, dear," she dismissed, " beside that Edward seems to like you, so I have to be nice to the woman my grandson likes."

"Gran!" Edward admonished, affronted. I turned to look at him and noticed that he was blushing. I smiled; I wasn't now the only one who blushed.

"Oh! Shut up," she said, smirking, "you know I am right, and she likes you, too!" It was now my turn to blush.

"I think we should go before, gran here, embarrass you two again," Leah said, walking out the door. Mrs. Mason turned away, leaving me and Edward looking awkwardly at each other.

"Do you want me to drive you?" he asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"No thanks," I replied, "You've done enough."

"It's fine, really," he tried again, but I shook my head. He sighed and looked at the direction his grandmother ambled away in. "She can be a lot sometimes, but she's very sweet."

"I believe you," I said, turning away and heading to Leah. Before I left the store, I looked over my shoulder and smirked. "Oh, and you look absolutely adorable when you blush."

"You really should have warned me that he was her grandson!" I hissed at Leah when we were far away from the store.

"I'm sorry!" she apologized, not sounding sorry at all, "I must have forgotten!"

"No, you hadn't. You did this to embarrass me." I told her, indignant, "don't think that I'm going to forget this!"

"Hey, I said I am sorry!" she protested. I ignored her rest of the way home. When we got home, I quickly ran upstairs and grabbed my cell phone.

"Hello," I greeted cheerfully when Alice picked up.

"Bella?" she asked.

"Who else?" I joked.

"Oh my God!" she squealed. "I miss you so much!"

"I miss you, too, Ali," I smiled, "how is everybody?"

"Everybody is fine and we all miss you!"

"Alice, did Jasper tell you about the store I want to open?" I asked.

"Oh, yes, he did," she exclaimed, "I think it's a crazy idea, but you must be bored to death where you are, and you're right, getting a job will kill anyone's suspicious."

"I need your help; I found the perfect store, but..." I stopped, nervous.

"But?" she prodded, encouraging me to continue.

"I don't know what to sell," I admitted, falling onto my bed.

"And of course you want the amazing Alice to help you find something," she teased.

"Yeah."

"Do you have something in mind?"

"Yeah. I want something different, something that's not me. You think I've gone insane, right?"

"No, I actually know what you're talking about," she denied happily, "and I also happen to know something that matches all your descriptions!"

"Really, what is it?" I asked, eager to know her brilliant idea.