It had been six weeks since the incident in Swanage. I could no longer call it home and the realisation of being back there allowed me to see why I was so keen on leaving it in the first place. I was Isabella, the girl whose mother had left her and her father years ago for a younger cooler man. A girl who didn't fit in, in a small town where most of the children were spiteful.

Yesterday was my first day back at work; Eric had allowed me to work from home until I was fine to come back. Rose had been pressuring me since the day he told me to get back there and knock Lauren and Jessica with my crutches. Tempting, but too obvious. I waited until my cast was off, to be sure.

Edward drove by to take me to work, he insisted not that I minded. He was walking to my desk, while Sally and Ryan started to welcome me back. That was until Jessica screamed behind me. "OH MY GOD IS THAT YOU EDWARD?!" She ran up to him and hugged, well really tried to hug and grind him except she looked beyond skanky. She tried to introduce me to Edward believing he was there to see her. "Bella, this is Edward Cullen, we went on a date a few weeks ago at this French restaurant didn't we, hunny bunny?" She asked while batting her false lashes at him, that made me think Rose's voodoo doll really worked from year 12 and she had pins in her eyes. She just didn't see him wink at me, he then later told me she was his date that night we met.

BPOV

I refused all offers to take me to work today. I wanted everything to go back to normal; I didn't want to depend on them to take me to places. Even if it meant sitting on the underground at rush hour, well standing stuck between the door and the tall guy who needed new deodorant, as well as a dark shirt so the sweat patches were less obvious.

Before I got a chance to sit down at my desk Erik called me into his office.

"It's great to see you back Bella."

"Thanks, it's great to be back to normal."

"I've been reading your replies to questions. Usually I don't, but I think you're not working to your full potential." I nodded. "Have you heard of Jole Rossi?"

"No."

"Well by tomorrow night you will. He's a breakthrough artist from America who is trying to break the UK now. We were able to get his first international interview. I thought you would be best for the job. No offence to Lauren and Jessica, but I'm worried they may act unprofessional towards him." No offence? None taken!

"Oh, cool. Is there anything in particular you want me to ask him?"

"No, just the usual. You have a table booked at the Ava hotel, under 'Yorkie'. Any other questions?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Oh and Bella?"

"Yes?"

"We're all going for a drink on Friday, you should come you haven't met everyone yet and we're all a good bunch of people - even with a few down us. We could celebrate your return; yeah that's our agenda for the night."

.... .... ....

"Alice could you not enhance my girlfriends beauty for some rotten creepy man please." Edward said sitting on Alice's bed. Aww, he's jealous.

"Its Bella Barbie time how can I not?"

"Nice try Edward, she won't break though, she's persistent like that." Alice was working on my hair and I felt something stab my scalp. "Ow"

"Opps, sorry!" Alice said with a smirk.

"Oh yeah, nice try at saving your unapologetic arse." I said sarcastically.

Alice shrugged. "I have no idea what you're on about." She carried on with my hair until she walked into her wardrobe to grab something. I noticed she had a formal dress on, and Edward was dressed formally too.

"Where are you two going?"

"Table 27, Ava Hotel 8:30pm" Edward smiled.

"If it turns ugly, we're there." Alice shouted.

"And why would it turn ugly?" I asked her.

"You have a knack for making a fool out of yourself."

"I need to keep you away from Rosalie; you're too bitchy near her."

She walked over to me and hugged me. "Aww, you know you can't separate us three!" She then threw a cardigan at me. "Put that on, and I swear if you look at your hoodie one more time, it's going to meet my fabric scissors."

"But I look too formal!" Alice clothed me (literally) in a black dress that had a kind of glittery sheen to it. Taped my feet up into black ruffled high heels, they were Rosalie's and should have had "life threatening" added to the tag.

She looked at me as if to scream "No shit!" but just shook her head at me. "We'll be at the table behind you, courtesy of Julius."

"Who?" They better not have spent money, just to get themselves in there for me.

"The guy who booked my table…well Rosalie's table at such a short notice." Bless the poor guy; he probably thinks he has a chance of seeing Rose again.

.... .... ....

Inside the car I went through my printed off pile of information on Jole. A 17 year old Italian born American, whose parents moved to America to give him a chance to make it in the world of music. With apparently a long-term girlfriend, looking at his pictures he seemed like the kind of heartthrob thirteen year olds would be interested in. I guess I'll leave that little piece of information out.

We only had 50 minutes to travel into central London, but with Alice behind the wheel and her special power of avoiding the police and speed cameras, I knew we'd be there with time to spare. Likewise, as if by clockwork my phone started ringing. Every day since I was able to leave the hospital, my mum would ring me. Who would have thought I would have had to go to the length of nearly dying to get Renée to keep in contact with me – finally.

"Bella?" Who else?

"Hey mum."

"How are you? Everything okay up there?" She'd ask each time.

"I'm good, so is life"

"Oh, good good." She'd reply disappointed each time.

"What are you doing in a few weeks? I thought about us two spending some time down here would be a great idea." As long as you lock up that book-eating monster.

"Mum, I can't I've just spent roughly two months away from work, and to be honest I'm not really in the mood for another holiday at the moment."

"Oh, well...maybe it'll appeal to you in a few weeks." I doubt that. "I mean you stayed at your dads for a few days so anything is better than there."

"If you're going to slag off Charlie, just tell me and I'll get back to preparing for this interview I have to do." I said annoyed.

"Bella! I was just joking, lighten up."

"Mum, I'm not an idiot, so don't treat me like one."

"You really did inherit your dad's sternness."

"If you say so mum." I put the phone down on her; I was fed up of her conversations, her bitter jealousy too.

"Bella, no offence, but aren't you being a bit bloody towards your mum?" Alice asked.

"Not exactly, you don't understand."

"Well why don't you humour us?" Alice laughed.

I took a deep breath, "Well you asked for it. When she left I was a little kid, I didn't really think she was leaving us. She did, and didn't contact us at all until I was thirteen and was in hospital again. That's what she meant about the hospital thing Edward. I didn't hear from her at Christmas, on my birthday, for anything concerning school. Then when I finally get to see her, she acted as if nothing had happened! She invited me to go home with her, of course me being so naive I thought it would be a great thing. I spent the week being their doormat. Even their dog was treated like royalty. I was just the left over baggage from her previous marriage. Something that she wasn't able to return properly as she was past the refund period. She always degrades Charlie; well at least Charlie was there to care for me. It's just pure jealousy and guilt from her. If I'm honest, I can't even be bothered to try to salvage any kind of relationship with her. It's just a lost cause. Too little too late." I sighed as I caused a huge silence in the car.

If we had Rosalie here, we'd all be laughing at my expense right now.

"Haven't you told her how you feel?" Edward asked looking at me through the passenger mirror.

"I've tried to, but as soon as I start she changes the subject completely."

Once we approached the front of the hotel to find the car park Alice squealed. "What?"

"It's Tim!" I looked out the window to see my colleague Tim who was the photographer. Alice had popped by yesterday lunchtime to hang out, code for check on me. Tim had walked into the office singing a Ting Tings song; Alice noticed and spent most of my lunch break talking to him about them and other music they had in common. When I got home she then told me she got his phone number! The cheeky thing was that she said it was a habit, as she was use to trying to find eligible boyfriends for me.

Alice told me to go ahead, just in case Tim thought it was all a ploy to get with him.

"There you are Bella!" Tim said.

I checked my watch. "Am I late?"

"No, but the guy you're interviewing was early and I had to sit there and keep him company. I didn't have a clue what to say to him."

"How is he?"

"Waiting for his spotlight and curtain call." He rolled his eyes.

"Wow, that bad?"

"Just don't say I told you so if he pulls a full on Lauren diva move"

"Lauren diva move?"

"Oh, sorry you haven't been in enough to see Lauren make an eejit out of herself because she can't get everything she wants. Then her minion Jessica stirs it all up."

"Ahh, I see, let's hope he doesn't then, eh?"

"Sorry, I shouldn't be bitching about other members of staff to you."

"Don't worry." Shame you didn't know about Lauren when she was bleach blonde, and auditioning for a role as a oompa loompa by the looks of her choice of makeup. Alongside pissing Rose and I off to the depths of hell every single day.

Our table was in a small secluded area where there were only two or three other tables. Jole was sporting a leather jacket and sunglasses. He did know it was 10 degrees and completely pissing it down, right? I walked towards him with Tim behind me pulling out his camera from his bag. "Hi I'm Bella Swan from QTStyle, It's nice to meet you Jole," I offered my hand to him and he took it and kissed it. Okay Tim's right, this is so awkward.

"Short for Isabella right?" I nodded, "As beautiful as the name!" I blushed as I sat down. Please don't try it on with me, please. He has such an odd accent, a southern American with a strong hint of Italian and maybe Spanish too. "Well what shall we order?"

I picked up the menu and tried to avoid looking at the price of everything. I knew Erik was paying for it all, but I still felt guilty knowing how much even an appetiser would cost in this place. "I honestly haven't got a clue."

He laughed, "I thought you'd been here before?"

I shook my head, "Actually completely different from where I've been." Try Peter's chippy, a place where I would not need a loan just to order something reasonable.

"Y'know if you ask me, it's just too much! I know you Brits like to be grand and all but really? 'Coq au Vin' you just need to say chicken in wine thanks."

"Top restaurant, top nosh." I said.

He stared at me confused. "Huh?"

"Never mind." Our waitress arrived at the table, well bumped into it, and took a while to apologise repeatedly. "Hi and welcome to the Ava Hotel restaurant, I'm Nicola your server tonight." She placed a basket of breadsticks on our table, "Would you like still or sparkling water?"

"Still please, if that's okay with you Isabella?" I nodded.

"Okay, may I take your orders?"

"I'd like the beef stroganoff please."

"What would you like Madame?"

"The Coq au Vin please." I tried not to laugh whilst ordering. I thought playing the humour card would make the night be a lot easier. I still hadn't a clue how I was going to do this interview.

"Thank you, I'll be back in a moment with your water. If you have any problems just ask." She smiled.

"Like I said y'all too grand. I feel like I'm the queen or something."

I picked up my bag and rummaged through it to try to find the tape recorder, I debated whether to take that or use a pen and pad. Laziness overruled in the end. I hit the record button and laid it on my lap, I tested it out earlier with Emmett being on the other side of the room and I could still hear him even when he spoke to me quietly.

"So have you ever been to the UK before then?"

"Nope, I've always wanted to go though. It looks so cool in pictures but man it's even better in real life, and everyone's so friendly!"

"What have you enjoyed about it so far? Seen any tourist attractions?"

"Everything! Like last night me and my girlfriend went on the London eye and the London underground, going on that was so fun." Should try going on it on a daily basis at peak time, that's where the real fun lies. "Then the day before we visited all the galleries. Oh and everyone has really cool accents, like seriously you guys sound so awesome on the TV and movies, but in real life it sounds like one hundred times better."

Nicola arrived with our jug of water and a basket of breadsticks. "Your meals will be here in five minutes." We thanked her as she walked behind me. I could hear her welcoming another customer and I turned quickly to see that it was Alice and Edward. Alice gave me a wink before sitting down holding the menu to her face.

Moments later Nicola arrived with our meals in her hands, she stood beside Jole staring straight at him. "Your beef stroganoff sir." she said as she placed it on the table. Still staring at Jole, she tried to pass me my plate; I reached out to try to get it. Her arm knocked our jug over, pouring water down the side of our table. She jumped at the sight and tried to rush towards the spillage but forgot my plate was in her hand.

It was like those lame films where they slowed everything down to make it look dramatic. Where the other person could tell exactly what was going to happen, and try as they might to stop it, even though they know that it's irrevocable. It still happens. My dish landed smack in the middle of Jole's lap. The wine from the dish splashing all over his once white shirt. He screamed, jumping off his seat and threw his napkin down on the table before storming off to the toilets.

I could hear Alice and Tim laughing, "As I said, you have a knack for turning things ugly Bella." Alice teased.

I wanted to join in with the laughter, but I knew I needed this interview to prove to Erik that I'm more than capable. Stress wasn't my best personality trait. "How was that my fault?"

"It was your dish that went for a ride." I shrugged not bothering argue back.

.... .... ....

After twenty minutes, Jole returned looking irritated. We ate our meals in silence; any of my attempts at a conversation were blown off by him. I needed this to work, Erik was depending on me, and there was no way in hell, I would let Lauren and Jessica use this against me. So I tried humour again, "Well at least there's one thing you can rely on in Mc Donald's, the food given to you will be on a tray and grease stains are less obvious."

"But you rather when you're here than Mc Donald's right?"

"Actually it's my first time here; it's my first interview too." He stared at me surprised.

"Seriously? Well you're doing a great job at it, sorry for being stubborn."

"It's okay. What made you want to be a singer?"

"My mom used to be the owner of this choir when she lived at home, so I've always been around singing. I took part in this competition to sing for Italy. A few companies wanted to sign me up, ones from Europe, but there was this American one and honestly the deal was a lot better so we went for it."

"If you hadn't been singing what would you do instead?"

"Finish High School, I dropped out when I was a freshman to concentrate on my career so I'd finish school and go on to college to study music composition probably."

.... .... ....

"Your new single I'm There for you what's the-" I could see Nicola walking towards our table appearing to be nervous with a broad man next to her.

He strutted over to us, keeping his head held up high looking directly at us. "Sir, Madame," he nodded his head at us. "I am sincerely sorry about the service which you have received tonight." He looked at Jole, "If you are staying at our hotel tonight sir I can remove that stain from your garments for free." At the extra cost of say a few hundred pounds for a room.

"No, but what about free desert?" he winked at me.

"Unfortunately I do not think that will be possible sir."

"Well that'll be all then, thanks for the wine stained shirt and pants." Jole stood from his seat and threw his napkin on his empty plate. The man regarded him before deciding Jole was not worth his time and walked off. Nicola scrambled our plates up and followed his tail. "Shall we go somewhere else Bella?"

I looked at Alice and Edward staring at me. "I'm sorry my carriage awaits me." I nodded towards them.

"Ahh, well it was nice meeting you Isabella." He moved closer to me and hugged me quickly.

"You too, good luck with everything." He waved bye to me and walked towards the exit.

Tim noticed Alice and started talking to her, inviting her to pub with everyone tomorrow meaning I had no way out of a quite Friday night in front of the telly watching whatever crap I could find. Tim raised his eyebrow at Edward and asked me how many other girls he sees on the trot. Then was surprised when I told him just one – me. This gave him to courage to ask Alice in the first place.

.... .... ....

"This is great, it's a shame we couldn't bring Rose along then we'd finally have a Friday night out again!" Alice said enthusiastically driving us towards Edward's home.

"Hey can we stop off at the end of the bridge?" I asked.

"Why?"

"So I can jump off of it before you touch me tomorrow."

Instead, she sped up and drove the long way instead of taking the rail bridge.

I sighed, "Well at least I tried." Edward laughed, "Hey why don't you come?"

"Urm, because I have to help my mother with something, sorry."

"Liar liar, pants on fire." I sung at him.

"Okay, I'd rather not see Jessica again."

"Damn it, we have dumb and dumber to put up with for the night." Alice groaned. Although Alice wasn't on the same level of loathing as Rose and I, she still couldn't stand them.

A/N: I still need to replace my keyboard man LOL However that requires me leaving my cave. It's warm and cosy, I get three meals a day, a restraining order on my little dweeby brother, and limitless resources containing the gorgeous and completely yummy Winchester brothers (Supernatural, if you haven't seen the light and watched it.)

2 days to go until hell, grab your chance to win by shooting me.

Small print: Contestants must be over 10, please ask owner of murder weapon permission before using said weapon. Winner may be subjected to arrest for murder; prize includes title of manslaughter, free media publicity and a nice new dwelling protecting yourself and others behind bars.

Good luck! Closing date is the 27th August 9:30am BST (British Summer Time- GMT+1). Unless you live in London and can track me down and kill me on my way to school then you have until 10am.