A.N: Well, here it is, Chapter 10. This is basically the chapter leading up to the Vegas Trip, bunch of random things, but I wanted to get something out there while I write bout Vegas. Enjoy!

And as always, review!

Chapter 10 – Thinking of you

"I love you Bella," Edward murmured. I snuggled closer to him on the warm sand and pressed my lips to his cheek very gently.

I whispered, "I love you too."

He looked at me, his expression soft and tender and loving. He smiled at me and his lips came crashing down on mine with impressive force. I knotted my hands into his bronze hair that glowed in the sunlight. He wrapped his arms around my waist and laid me down slowly on the sand. We kept kissing. There was no other sound besides our breathing and the waves lapping against the sand and the rocks. Suddenly, he pulled back and smirked at me.

"Bella? Bella!" he yelled, but it was not his voice. It sounded female, and nasally. Not like his velvet smooth voice.

I snapped out of my day dream and looked around me. Oh, I was not on a beach with Edward, I was in my office. I worked as a journalist for The Seattle Times. I realized that it was Mrs. Cope, the secretary, who was calling my name.

"Y-yes?" I stuttered, still shocked from my bizarre day dream. I wasn't supposed to think, let alone dream about Edward.

Over the past week, he had sent flowers, chocolates and had even tried showing up at my apartment each day. Luckily, I wasn't home at the time, but Jasper told me that Rosalie had given him one hell of a beating. He had called and texted me numerous times, but I had ignored him. At first, it had hurt, I had even cried a few times because I felt bad for treating him this way. But Alice had a very simple remedy for the guilt; 3 bottles of wine, chocolate frosting, and Bridget Jones' Diary.

Ms. Cope waddled down the hallway towards my office and stopped in front of my desk. She was in her 50's, with bright red hair, and glasses. To be honest, when she walked she looked like a penguin. So every time I saw her, I had to purse my lips together to keep from laughing.

"Ms. Swan, Mr. Caius needs you to go Volterra again," she rolled her eyes, "apparently they've got a new chef working there and we need a 'current' review." She made air quotes around the word current.

This was my job, I was the Food critic. I smiled and started planning tonight's dinner out. I loved being the Food critic; I got a bunch of free meals, I got to take however many people I wanted and I always got treated with extra-special care. I nodded to her and she turned around, walking away from me.

"Wait!" I called after her. Ms. Cope drudgingly turned around and stared at me. "What time?"

"He said anytime between 7 and 8 o'clock should be fine. And he needs the review by Monday. He said he's only extending the deadline since you're going on vacation tomorrow."

"Okay, thank-you!" I told her. She didn't even look at me; she simply stalked away and threw her hand up in the air.

To be honest, I'd never really liked Shelly Cope.

I pulled out my iPhone and started texting the gang.

To: Alice Brandon

Cc: Rosalie Hale, Emmett McCarty, Jasper Whitlock

Hey guys,

I have to go to Volterra tonight for the column.

Interested?

-Bella

I almost considered sending it to Edward. Almost. I hit send and put it on my desk. About 15 seconds later, I already had a reply. I chuckled quietly to myself. It was from Emmett…of course.

Bella,

Do u not know me?

Hell yeah!

What time?

Emmett.

I quickly shot back to him:

Emmett,

Um, be at our apt. around 7:00 ish?

Don't text me anymore, my boss is getting pissed.

Bella.

Sure enough, Mr. Aro was looking at me with a disapproving look as he floated down the hall. He sort of creeped me out. He wasn't literally floating, but he was so thin and old and fragile, that he looked like he was floating as he walked towards me.

"Isabella my dear," he always addressed me as 'my dear', "can you please call La Bella Italia for me? Since you're reviewing Volterra tonight, I need you to make a reservation for Lauren to review it. Alright?" he didn't even wait for me to respond, "Good, make one for 7:00pm. Goodbye my dear." He turned around and floated back down the hallway.

Lauren was me second in command; my Beta. And I absolutely loathed her. She was my age, although looked much, much older. Her hair was slick and artificially platinum blonde, her eyes were a nasty grey color and her face was so thin it looked like she hadn't eaten for years.

"Bella," she sneered turning to me; she hated me too, "I have a lunch date in a few minutes, I need you to watch my phone calls."

"Ha ha, funny joke. I have my own calls to watch Lauren."

"Bella, don't make this difficult."

"I'm not making this difficult, in case you haven't figured it out, I'm your boss, not the other way around."

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and widened her eyes at me, "Whatever."

I slumped back in my chair and stared ahead. As much as I loved getting free food, I had to admit that my job was extremely boring. It was slow. Usually, the Newspaper industry is pretty busy, apart from the few slow days now and then. Like today.

I leaned forward and started drumming my fingers on my desk; short and staccato, while snapping my spearmint gum.

Could life get any more boring than this?

…

"Bella, Bella!" Alice squealed, flinging her arms around me as I stepped into the apartment. It was 5:00pm right now and I had just gotten home from work.

I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her spiky hair, "What's wrong Al?"

She jumped back and I finally caught a glimpse of her. I laughed when I saw the huge grin she was wearing from ear to ear. "Nothing's wrong! Everything's right!"

"What do you mean?" I asked her quizzically.

"Ugh! Don't just stand there, come, sit down on the couch and we'll talk." She yanked on my hand and pulled me over to the sofa. "Sit," she commanded. I sat down on the edge of the sofa and looked at her, gesturing with my hands for her to continue.

"Oh well let's see, first of all we're going to Volterra tonight! Do you have any idea how much I've been wanting to go there? Secondly, we're going to Vegas tomorrow! And thirdly, Jasper and I spent the entire day together! He had the day off and we stayed together all…day," she breathed and an expression of pure bliss came over her face. I smiled automatically, happy that she was happy. But, a tiny part of me was actually…jealous? I didn't know why though, that's the thing that frustrated me.

"Well, aren't you going to go get ready for dinner tonight?" I asked. Usually Alice was already dressed and ready to go out the door 2 hours before we had to leave, "don't you need a 'minimum of at least 2 hours to get ready'?" I repeated the words she had once told me.

She smirked and ruffled my hair, "Silly Bella, my clothes are already laid out on my bed. And I've already taken a shower. My hair's done, all I need to do is my makeup. Ooh, and a facial!"

"Alright then, well I'm not a freak of nature. I don't need 5 hours to get ready for dinner," I walked into the kitchen, "I'm making coffee, do you want any?"

"Yeah sure," she yelled, "be back in a moment."

I leaned against the counter and started to make the coffee. I was halfway through pouring in the beans when something caught my eye in my peripheral vision. White Roses were beautifully arranged in the crystal vase Rosalie had gotten for Christmas one year. They're absolutely gorgeous! I walked over to admire them, stroking my fingers across the delicate petals. I was bending down to smell them when a small card in the middle of the arrangement caught my eye.

Bella,

You are such a wonderful friend,

Thank-you so much for being such a great person.

I thought that I would inform you of the fact that

Edward will be coming along to tonight's dinner.

Hope you don't scratch my eyes out,

Jasper

P.S: Alice told me it was okay FYI

Oh no, oh NO! How can they be serious? Edward? Are you fucking kidding me?

"Alice!" I screamed, "Get your ass out here right this second!"

She ran out of her bedroom with a seaweed facial on her face and a mascara brush in one hand. She was standing in front of me wearing nothing more than a fluffy cotton robe. If I wasn't so pissed at her right now, I probably would have laughed my ass off.

"What? Bella what's wrong? Are you hurt?" she asked, worry and concern in her voice.

"No I'm not hurt, not physically anyways."

She looked at me and quizzically raised her eyebrows, "Then what the hell is the matter?"

I stalked over and picked the card out of the middle of the bouquet. I walked back to her and flung the card at her stomach. She fumbled around trying to catch it.

"I think you can answer that question for me!" I sneered at her.

She flipped up the card with unsteady fingers, looking absolutely terrified, she started to read it. I stood there with my arms crossed, tapping my foot on the ground impatiently. Her eyes widened significantly when she got towards the bottom of the card.

She looked up at me and edged back towards her bedroom door, gripping the walls for support while I followed after her. My eyes were narrowed into slits and my hands were so tightly balled into fists that my nails were digging into my palms.

"B-Bella, I'm so, so sorry, I-I just thought that m-maybe if you t-two got together and t-talked that maybe you c-could find out what really h-happened with Tanya and Ed-"

"Alice," I spat, "I told you that I don't want to hear it! No matter what you or Rose or Jasper or Emmett or even Edward say, I can never forgive him! I don't want to face him tonight!"

I saw that I was really scaring her, and I decided to back off and sit down on the couch. I shut my eyes and took deep breaths while trying to calm my system. Alice came over and timidly, carefully, placed her hand on my shoulder. I didn't show any aversion to her gesture, so she started rubbing it and then gently rested her head on it instead.

I took a deep breath. "Alice, I'm sorry that I blew up at you like that. It's just, I care about him so much, and for him to do that to me is just…" I trailed off as tears started to appear in my eyes. I blinked and one slowly rolled down my cheek. I slumped over and just started sobbing uncontrollably. Alice hugged me and started rubbing my arm, while whispering "sshh". I felt like a baby who needed to be comforted by her mother.

Finally, I seemed to have cried myself out, so I sat up and tried to give her a brave smile. She frowned and shook her head; she knew me better than that.

"Bella, listen. I know that what he did to you was absolutely horrible, but if you don't speak and sort everything out, then you won't be able to move past it and start dating."

I stared at her, unable to comprehend what she had just said, "What are you talking about?"

"Well, you wake me up at night with your moaning and your sleep talking…and lately…"

"Lately what?"

She seemed to choose her words very carefully. "You've been, saying his name…a lot," she blushed and I sensed that there was something else to the story.

"Alice, what else?" I gulped. I knew that I talked in my sleep; my mother teased me about it all the time, but if I'd been saying Edward's name…

"Well, it wasn't really mumbling, it was more like…moaning or screaming," she hid her face to muffle the laughter, "one time I actually thought that he was in there with you and that you two were…you know."

I tried opening my mouth to speak, but all that came out was, "Shit."

Alice was in hysterics when I said that and she ran to her bedroom door, slamming it behind her. I could hear the springs of her bed as she collapsed with loud laughter.

"Stop laughing Alice, it's not that funny! Open up!" I yelled, pounding on her door.

"Are you kidding me Bella? It's absolutely bloody hilarious!" she unlocked the door and I saw that she had tears in her eyes.

"Alice," I begged her, pinning her against the wall. Her lips were pursed together. I waited until she has stopped laughing. "Just promise me that you didn't tell Rosalie or Jasper or Emmett." I saw her bite her lip and shut her eyes; trying to keep from laughing again. She shook her head and slipped out from under my arms.

"No. No, no, no, no, NO!" I blushed and ran into my bedroom, locking the door and flinging myself on the bed. "ALICE, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

My rage obviously amused her, as she continued laughing hysterically. I stood up, grabbed my towel and strode quickly into the bathroom. I glanced at the clock on the wall; it was already 6:00pm! How the hell did we talk for one hour?

I tugged on the handle of the shower so hard that it nearly fell off. When I stepped in, the water was scorching hot against my skin, but I honestly didn't care. I turned my back to the water and started my daily routine. I was trying to be fast, but the continuous stream of hot water couldn't be rushed; it soothed my system. It unknotted all of the kinks in my back that resulted from a tough day at work, sitting in a very stiff, uncomfortable chair.

After 15 minutes, I stepped out and hooked the towel around myself. My wet feet made noises against the tiled floor as I padded across to my bedroom. Luckily, the door was still locked (Alice had a key to my room) so I dried myself quickly, and sat down to start blow-drying my hair.

45 minutes later, I was completely ready. My hair was curled into an elegant half-up do, I had put on minimal make-up (much to Alice's dismay) and I was wearing the black dress and heels that I had planned to wear for my first date with Ed-

I stopped myself. It was not healthy to be thinking about him constantly, according to Rosalie anyways. So every time my mind wandered off, I had to literally stop it before I started thinking about Ed-I mean him again.

I checked my watch. Okay, it said 7:00; Emmett and Jasper and him were planning on meeting us at the apartment.

The door rang and my breathing stopped. It was like déjà vu; the boys ringing the door bell, Alice and Rosalie getting up and excitedly opening the door for them while compliments and greetings were being said by all. My palms became sweaty as I imagined him coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

I spun around - expecting to see him - but no one was there. My heart sank a little for some reason, and my throat started closing up.

No Bella, no.

I shook it off, stood up and smoothed out my dress. I looked at myself again in the mirror and decided that this was as good as it's going to get. I grabbed my coat and purse, and walked confidently out the door.

Immediately, my eyes scanned the room, looking for him. But, my eyes flew straight to Emmett. Had he always been so…big? He looked absolutely huge now; the muscles on his arm were definitely larger than I remember.

He laughed when he saw me eyeing them, "No Bella, I'm not on steroids."

I saw Jasper next. He was dressed in a grey jacket, a black, button down shirt and dark-wash jeans. Alice was standing by his side, gazing up at him with nothing but love and adoration. I felt another pang of jealousy when I saw Rosalie wrapped around Emmett as well. Before things could get any worse, Rosalie piped up.

"Where's you-know-who?" she said with a sneer. Things had not gotten better between her and him. In fact, if possible, it got worse. Every time he called the house, Rosalie would pick up and start swearing at him. The first time I thought it was pretty funny, but now, I sort of feel sorry for him.

"Well, Alice called and told me that Bella here," Jasper gestured to me, "didn't want him to come with."

Emmett chuckled, "I don't really mind, guys a miserable old man."

"Neither do I," Rosalie said.

"Wait, I understand Rose but, Emmett, I thought you were his best friend?"

"Well, to be honest Bella, he's been really depressed lately. Like, he doesn't get up for work anymore, whenever we're going out, he stays home and mopes. And he mumbles things, like people's names…" he shot me a sly look and I blushed.

I couldn't help feeling a little guilty; it was probably because of me that he was acting this way.

I took a chance, even though I probably knew the answer already, "Whose names?"

"Bella, you have to know someth-" Emmett opened his mouth to speak, but Alice interrupted him.

"Oh wow, look at the time. It's already 7:10! Let's get going shall we?" she ushered everybody out the door, and I shot her a strange look. She smiled at me beautifully, trying to conceal whatever she was hiding.

"Later," I muttered to Emmett. He nodded and opened the car door for me.

…

It was dark, very dark, and probably close to around 2:00 am…I think? Lately, I noticed, it has become a habit of mine to get absolutely wasted. Me and Rosalie had drunk the most, Alice was relatively sober, and Jasper hadn't touched a drop of alcohol (because we all remember what happened the last time). Emmett was Emmett. He had drunk a little less than me and Rosalie, and he was still completely sober. I'll have to ask him how he does it later on.

"Careful Bella," Emmett grabbed my shoulder and yanked me out of the way as I was about to bump into a lamp post. I laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

"Thanks Em."

"So, um, where are we going now?" Rosalie asked, leaning on Alice.

"We're going to get you girls safely home," Jasper told us. He always sounded very calm and serene.

"Alrighty then," I hiccupped. Rosalie looked over at me and we both burst into hysterics. God only knows why.

"Bella, try to control yourself. We're here at the car now, get in the backseat."

I slid into the back seat of his jeep and closed my eyes, leaning my head against the window. I was about to fall asleep when all too soon, we were home.

Emmett picked up Rosalie in his arms, Jasper tried to sling me over his shoulder, but I refused and carefully walked up the stairs. I was gripping the handrail for support so hard that I thought my hands would be stuck like that forever.

When we reached the apartment, I turned to Emmett and slurred, "Now, if you're going to sleep on the couch this time, try to have some clothes on. I don't want to burn the new slip covers we have." Everybody started laughing, even Emmett; nothing could faze him. They waved us goodbye and we stumbled into our apartment.

I got up, stretched my arms and wandered into my bedroom. As I caught sight of my bag of luggage, I realized something. In exactly 7 hours, we would be on a plane to Vegas.

"HEY GIRLS?" I yelled, "YOU REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO LEAVE FOR THE AIRPORT IN 5 HOURS?"

"SHIT!" I heard Rosalie scream, I started chuckling to myself as I heard her rummaging through her closets, nearly breaking the doors off while she frantically tried to pack. "I HAVENT PACKED A FUCKING THING!" I was laughing even harder than before as I drifted off to sleep.

AN: So, not my best chapter, lots of little fluff and stuff. But, I feel bad because I haven't updated in like a week.

We found out what Bella does for a living, and incase you wanted to know, Rose works at Sephora. Alice is a personal shopper at Nordstrom. Jazz and Em are Football coaches, and Edward works in a law firm.

VEGAS BABY! Lol, that's the name of the next chapter. I have it completely done, I just need to edit it and stuff. Make sure that I really deliver.

Please, I am DESPERATE for reviews. I mean, its nice to get like, any? But I would really like just a little bit more, if that's no too much to ask… =]

Thanks for reading as always