"Oh... how are Rosalie and Emmett?" Bella asked hearing the disappointing news. She was sad for them, but she was also selfishly worried what that meant for her and the rest of the Cullens. Would they still want to see her? Could she at least keep in contact with Alice?

"They'll be okay," Alice gave her a sad smile.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help," Bella lifted her leg to pull on a sock.

Venom pooled in Edward's mouth smelling the small fresh cut on Bella's leg. In that moment he hated her for cutting herself and the power her blood seemed to have over him.

Venom reacts to blood, Edward focused on the stray thought for a second before focusing on the conversation again.

"How late do you have to work?" Alice asked, noticing the time.

"Around one, why?"

"No reason," Alice grinned. "You're going to be late."

"Oh shoot," Bella glanced at her watch before jumping up to rush around to get ready.

"Don't worry, Edward will drive you, and I'll drive your truck," Alice suggested.

"Um..." Bella hesitated.

"It's fine. I'll take you," Edward agreed, standing to wait in the hallway.

"Keys?" Alice asked as Bella hurried out the door.

"Here – oomph!" she stumbled into Edward. "I'm so sorry," she apologized as he steadied her.

"That might bruise," he winced handing Bella's keys to Alice.

Bella grimaced checking for one as he led them to outside to his car.

"Whoa, this is not your car," Bella gaped at the new shiny car, noticing several guys across the street taking pictures of it.

"I had to drive this one because we're still waiting on the new door for the Volvo," he said opening the door for her.

"Thank you," she looked up at him noticing the color of his eyes as he got in. "I thought I was doing okay not annoying you, but I guess not."

"What? No you haven't annoyed me - not you exactly."

"Well is there anything I can do to prevent it?"

"Probably not."

"Hmm…"

"Remember what Alice said about singers?"

"Yes that you wouldn't be able to resist yours if you met them."

"Yes but it seems that I've been able to resist mine..."

"Wow that's great. Right?"

"Yes it would be if you valued your life at all," he snorted.

"Me? I'm your singer?"

"Yes," he sighed relieved by her normalreaction.

"So that's why you don't like me! Plus the fact that I wanted to help Rosalie and Emmett - and also when you thought I wanted to be a vampire. Wow, you must really not like me."

"Oh now you don't want to be a vampire?" Edward raised an eyebrow at her.

"Not really," Bella wrinkled her nose. "No sleeping, no eating, no aging. You can't be outside in the sun for some mysterious reason. And then there's the urge to kill people and drink the blood of poor animals? Sounds like great fun."

"You know," he parked his car in front of the restaurant. "For the record I do like you more now."

"And I like you less now I know you want to kill me," she joked. "Why haven't you? I thought my blood was supposed to be irresistible?"

"It was. Still is. I can't believe my control myself, and I would have killed you in the hotel room if it weren't for Jasper and Alice. But being around you and not too close has helped. I've gotten used to your scent and I'm able to control myself much more easily."

"Well that's good. Thank you for the ride Edward, and thanks for being honest, I guess."

"You're welcome, have a nice day at work," he said as she closed the door. He watched her walk inside before pulling out his phone.

"Hello Edward?"

"Carlisle, do you still have that second sample? I've got an idea."

Bella snapped down her tray on the bar, frustrated with her customers.

"What's wrong?" Mitch asked putting money into the register.

"This girl just chewed me out because I wouldn't get her a margarita. She didn't have her ID, and I explained to her several times that I couldn't serve her alcohol without her ID. It really ticks me off."

"How old is she?"

"Maybe 21? Her friend didn't order one and looked really nervous though."

"You did the right thing. Is Boss talking to them now?"

"Yeah, I hate serving. And I hate Amber for calling in sick. I was just supposed to be helping you tonight."

"Hey if we get out early, you want to head over to Billy's?" Mitch mistook Bella's pout for flirting.

"Sure why not," Bella agreed reluctantly, remembering the lie she told Jacob. Mitch wasn't so bad...Maybe she could turn her lie into a half truth.

"Great, I'll tell the others," he grinned before taking another order.

"I'll have an Old Fashioned…"

"Edward?" Bella turned around to find Edward sitting at the bar.

"Coming right up…" Mitch frowned, turning to the other side of the bar.

"What are you doing here?"

"Carlisle asked me to invite you to come over tomorrow," he glanced at Mitch. "There's another theory. We'd liked your help."

"Of course, I can come over tonight!"

"Um," he lowered his voice with another glance at Mitch. "Alice brought you clothes for your date."

"Oh it's not…" Bella reminded herself that it was. "Never mind."

"By the way, that girl was nineteen," he told her as Mitch set the drink in front of him.

"Old Fashioned…"

"Thank you," Edward placed a bill on the bar and took a sip of his drink. "Keep the change."

"Did you check his ID?" Bella bit her lip as both of them glared at her.

"I forgot," Mitch shrugged as Edward fished it out of his wallet. "If this is a fake, you got your money's worth Kid."

"It does look real…" Bella took the ID from him.

"Because it is real," Edward rolled his eyes, taking it back, accidentally brushing his fingers against hers.

"Sorry I don't know how old you are," Bella quickly pulled back her hand. "I have to get back to work."

AN: what just happened? I'd love to hear your theories because I've finally have an official almost-outline... at least I know where the story is going. haha

Thanks for Reading!