A/N: Can I just say that you guys are fuck awesome? 90 reviews, yay! From next week on, I'm going to try to get back to my Monday updating schedule but I can't promise anything because I have exams coming up.

Thanks to MsSailorman for beta'ing.

As promised, here's some E/B for you…

Chapter 10: Opportunities

I was glad when I read the email the main editor, Aro, had sent me. Bella and her management had approved the article and it would be published soon. In my own opinion, I hadn't written anything that could be considered too personal but I couldn't know for sure until we got the okay from them.

I leaned back in my chair and relaxed a little. I took a moment to enjoy the feeling of satisfaction, then continued with the other emails that awaited my reply. Apparently Aro wanted me to write a CD review. He apologised because he knew I didn't do a lot of those anymore, but the guy who was meant to review it had fallen sick and wouldn't be able to make it before tomorrow's deadline.

I replied to him I would have the time to listen and write today, and within minutes Aro had sent me a download link to get the album. While my notebook downloaded and unpacked the file, I decided to fix myself a large cup of coffee.

My flight back had been delayed and after hours of waiting at the airport, it had been nearly dawn when I had finally arrived at my apartment. Then, I stayed up another few hours because I wanted the article to be done as quickly as possible and I had finally submitted it after two hours of simply staring at the screen, while letting my thoughts drift off to Bella.

My internal clock was still messed up from the weird sleeping pattern I had the last few days, and I had only just woken up while it was 2PM already. It would take a few more days before I had a regular schedule going again, but it wasn't an unusual occurrence with a job like mine.

While the coffee was brewing – yeah, I liked my coffee old style – I decided on a bowl of cereal for brunch and headed back into my home office, as I called it. Mostly just because it had a desk and enough room on it to put my notebook there. It didn't really look like an office, because three out of the four walls – the fourth wall being the one with the windows, otherwise I would have used that one too - were stacked with CD's, but as writing about music actually was my job, it fitted.

My notebook pinged, signalling a new email had found its way into my inbox. I sat down in my chair and opened the window of my email manager. It was another one from Aro.

Someone is active today.

'I'm considering emailing Swan's management to ask if we could do one of our 'On The Road With...' specials with her. Don't know if they'll agree, but if so, you in?'

I almost choked on the cereal I'd just shoved into my mouth and reread Aro's email. Yep, he really asked me to join Bella on her tour if her management agreed.

Fuck, yes.

Don't get your hopes up. Why would they agree? She never does things like this.

Well, you don't know until you ask, right?

'Good luck with that. But yeah, count me in.'

I went back to the kitchen to get my coffee and when I returned Aro had replied again.

'Awesome. I'll email them right away.'

After brunch and a quick shower, I spent the next hour listening to the album I had to review today and spent another thirty minutes finding information on the band and writing up the review. I looked over it one more time before sending it to Aro.

'Here's that review.

Any word from her management yet?'

'Thanks, Ed. Knew I could count on you.

Got a reply, saying they'd check with her but couldn't make any guarantees yet.'

I hadn't expected any other reply, but I felt rather impatient about it. If it was a yes, I would have to known soon because it would be a last-minute thing, and I would have little time to pack and make arrangements.

Sure, your impatience has nothing to do with the fact you'd be touring with Bella.

Fine, that has everything to do with it.

I ran my hand through my hair nervously, my thoughts returning to Bella for the zillionth time that day. I had to admit to myself she fascinated me. Her dark wavy hair, her chocolate brown eyes, the way she had been moving on the dance floor, I couldn't get it out of my mind. And honestly, I didn't really want to.

But thinking about it, how likely would it be that I ever saw her again? Or, well, that was before Aro had emailed me about his idea to ask her for our 'On The Road With...' item. Now, I felt like praying to god to please have her say yes. It was fucking pathetic.

My notebook pinged again and I launched up in my chair, almost knocking over the coffee mug on my desk in the process. I checked my inbox quickly and a feeling of disappointed ran through me when it wasn't Aro who had e-mailed me but it was an email without subject line and from an unknown sender waiting for me. Probably spam, but I opened it anyway.

'Would you be the one to tour with me?

BS.'

Holy fuck.

She'd sent me an email. Oh. My. Fucking. God.

Taking a moment, I did an internal happy dance.

Fuck, Cullen, what are you being all girly about? She sent you an email, now fucking reply.

Right. I clicked the reply button and quickly typed a response.

'Yes, I believe my editor wants me to.

EC.'

I hit 'send' and tapped the desk nervously with my fingers, waiting if she would reply or not. When I heard another ping, I didn't think I had ever felt so relieved before. Silently I thanked her that it had only taken her a minute.

'So you'd be touring with us, and then... you'll write an article, blog, or what?'

'Blog. It's an online thing that should be updated regularly, but parts of it might get published in the hard copy magazine as well. Unless you wouldn't want that?'

'Alright. That sounds fine by me, Cullen. Start packing ;)'

I stared at my screen for a moment, rereading the email a few times. I hadn't fully recovered from my shock yet, when I got Aro's email.

'They agreed. You better get ready soon, they expect you to join them tomorrow morning. I'll book the flight for you and text you later with the details.

Happy touring.'

Right before I wanted to shut down my email manager, it pinged another time. The unknown address again.

'Thought this might be useful. Don't mind the female items, or singer-related stuff.

See you tomorrow,

B.'

I was confused for a moment, until I spotted the attachment. When I opened it, it turned out to be a checklist of things to pack. I let my eyes dart over the first page and I smirked when I noticed tampons on the list. Yep, definitely some female items on it.

'Thanks. Definitely useful, I totally would have forgotten to bring along my tampons.

See you later,

Edward.'

I printed the checklist because it would be a lot easier to take a piece of paper with me around the apartment than dragging my notebook along. But before I could start packing, there was another ping. I grinned, knowing whose email it would be.

'I could tell Jasper to cancel, you know.'

'Sorry :)'

'That sounded sincere.'

'I apologise, Miss Swan.'

'You're not going to call me that the entire time we're on tour, are you? Anyway, gonna finish packing now, as should you, Cullen. I won't be lending you any tampons, just so you know.'

'I'll keep that in mind. Happy packing :)'

When it stayed quiet after that email, I figured she really was packing. The moment I took the checklist out of the printer and skipped over it, I was sure she had to be packing, because shit, that list was long. Seven pages, two columns each and a font size of fucking minus 10. At least, I didn't have to pack everything that was on it myself.

I went over the list crossing off the items I wouldn't need to pack anyway, then went into the bedroom to get my suitcase and an extra bag – or two – because I doubted everything would fit in my middle-sized suitcase. It almost felt like I was going to travel around the world instead of the States.

The rest of the day was spent packing, interrupted by a short shopping trip to buy a few things I might need but didn't have yet. When I was having dinner, Aro texted me about my flight tomorrow and that he had arranged for a cab to pick me up at my place at 5AM. I groaned when I read about the early hour, but reminded myself I'd be in for a lot more short nights when I was actually on tour with Bella.

On tour with Bella.

I couldn't help but smile at that. I had to admit I was even more excited about this than I had been about the interview. The ping I had heard often today tore me out of my thoughts and I checked my email again.

'How's the packing going?'

Realising it was Bella again, a shit-eating grin spread across my face and I couldn't do anything about it.

'Fine, I think I have everything now. You?'

'I think the airplane might not be able to take off once my suitcases are on board :)'

'I'm sure it won't, if you've packed everything that was on that list.'

'Not even close. But my stylist made me take a lot of clothes and stuff.'

'Don't all women pack too many clothes?'

'Ha. You wait until we're in the middle of nowhere and you've run out of clean underwear.'

'I'll go commando.'

'TMI.'

'You asked for it :)'

'I did not, thank you very much.'

'You're welcome.'

'I should have gotten to know you a little better before agreeing to this... This is going to be a looong tour if you continue to act this way :)'

'Admit it, you love it.'

'I already have a big brother to embarrass me, no need to add another person.'

'Alright, alright. You win. I'll behave :)'

'Again with the sincerity, Cullen.'

Before I could reply, my cell phone rang. My mother's name flashed on the display and I couldn't ignore the call. "Mom, just a sec."

'Gotta go, phone call. Later, Swan.'

I sent the message, then got back to my phone again. "Back, sorry about that."

"Eddie! How dare you putting your mother away like that?" She scolded, but I clearly heard the smile in her voice.

"I had to finish an email conversation so I can fully focus on your call now." My computer pinged again and I opened the new email.

'I bet it's your mother who's calling.'

'How did you know that, are you stalking me? :)'

'You wish. I get stalked, not the other way around.'

"Edward? Are you even listening?"

"Huh? What?" I blushed when I realised I had completely forgotten I was having a conversation with my mother. "Sorry, I got another email."

When Esme stayed silent, I continued. "I've been asked to do an item for the magazine that's called 'On The Road With...'. They wanted to do it with Isabella Swan this time and I was just talking a few things over with her about tagging along on the tour. I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

"Oh, that's great news!"

"Yeah, it is." I hesitated. "I'm pretty excited."

"I bet you are." She sounded way too happy for my liking and I groaned. "What? You did mention certain things last time we spoke."

"Yeah, I'm aware of that. Don't make me regret it." I heard a soft laugh on the other end of the line but decided to ignore it. "Anyway, I'm leaving tomorrow, so I can't come over this weekend as planned. It was kind of a last-minute thing."

"Of course, dear. You can come by any other time you like, you know that."

"Sure. Listen, I gotta go, I have to finish up on some packing and then I'll head to bed. I've got an early day tomorrow."

"Don't let me keep you. Keep me posted about the tour, okay?"

"Sure. Bye, mom. Tell dad I said 'hi'?"

I shut my phone the second Esme had said her goodbyes too, then wrote an email again.

'Sorry, my mother claimed my undivided attention :) Think I'm gonna head to bed now. Early day tomorrow, but you know all about that.'

'Unfortunately, I do. Sleep tight and see you tomorrow. I'll be the one with the tampons.'

I laughed at her last comment, then shut the notebook down and put it in its bag, ready to take it on tour with me.

A/N: I know, only digital E/B, but it has to start somewhere.

Review, please? Thoughts, favourite lines? Let me know if you want a teaser :)