Disclaimer: Even if I'm as good as an author (in that I'm just as slow to finish), I'm not one, and I don't own these characters or anything like that. Oh dear.

JPOV:

I had found the perfect apartment. It was mid-sized; small enough to keep out of the public eye, but big enough to be comfortable, and it fit all my belongings inside, with room to spare. Just as I'd planned, I had paid entirely in cash. The landlady had been hesitant at first; I felt her puzzlement, curiosity, and worry. But I had given her a dazzling smile, and she didn't ask any questions. I suppose it paid sometimes, to be a vampire.

It had come with sparse furniture, but it was in good condition, and I could always buy more when I went back into town.

And it happened to be about eleven blocks away from Bella.

I kept trying to convince myself that this had been pure coincidence, that this had been the most convenient location. It was to no avail. I'd never been able to lie to myself, because I felt my own emotions. The guilt. The uncertainty. The anxiety. I couldn't just push them to the back of my mind, because even in the darkest, most deserted corners of the mind, I felt the emotion. I could even feel the void left by lack of emotion.

I decided, for the time being, that I had only come so close to make sure Bella was alright. I'd be able to feel her emotions from here, if a little faintly. When, or if, I ever got to know her better, I would be able to read her much more clearly. Until then, vague whispers of her emotional state would have to suffice.

I had also found a job. I'd mailed a contact in Seattle, who gave me a new identity. I was now, for the purposes of my new job, James Cooper. I had a new I.D., new birth certificate, new passports, and a Doctorate.

I had originally planned to go with only a Masters, because a 20 something year old with such high certifications might come across as slightly suspicious. But for the job I had in mind, there were a number of PhD's working in the same field. A Doctorate wouldn't stand out too much.

I was going to be a psychologist.

I had thought of working a menial desk job, where I could be completely anonymous, but I did want the money, and I had been through colleges and universities so many times that I was probably the best qualified person for the job anywhere. Or at least, I was far better qualified than any human was. And my empathic ability might just come in handy.

I planned to set up shop in Port Angeles, in a strip mall. That way, I wouldn't run the risk of running into anyone I knew. How strange it would be for my classmates to see me as a fully qualified psychologist, without technically having graduated high school.

This strip mall had nothing teenagers in Forks would be interested in. There was a travel agency, a crochet shop, and a clinic for geriatrics. I had to wonder at the type of clients I would get here.

When I finally drove to up to Port Angeles, a couple days after the idea first popped into my mind, I didn't know what to expect. I had never held down a job before, having neither the time nor the need to do so. In my earlier days, there had been only war. And then I joined the Cullens, who were all almost ridiculously rich. I had never truly gotten used to it, but I'd grown accustomed to it. I wasn't shocked by it anymore, anyway.

Ordinarily, renting an office might have taken some days, at least, to run a background check. But the person renting out the office was a thirty something year old woman, who seemed to have a penchant for trying to snag a younger man.

I'd driven to her office, where she rented out all manner of office suites and industrial buildings. She was making a name for herself in the area.

Her office was nondescript, painted a warm beige outside. There was a sign stuck in the small patch of grass that bordered the office, which told me that they were "#3 In The Area!"

The door had a bell on it that rang when I pushed it open.

When I walked into her office, I flashed a gleaming smile at her, and ran a hand through my hair.

She batted her eyelashes at me, and called a greeting.

"Ma'am, I'd like to rent an office, as soon as I can. I'd be willing to pay everything in cash, deposit and first month's rent. I've got all my documents in the car, if you need them."

She looked thoughtful for a minute.

"You look a little young…"

I felt only slight hesitation, though this was clouded by lust and desire. She only wanted to talk to me longer.

"I'm blessed with good genes, ma'am." I gave another smile and a wink. Her heart beat erratically.

"Please, please, call me Stacy."

"Stacy," I began, and I heard her heart skip a beat, "…the thing is, I want to open a psychologist's office here. I don't think there's one nearby, and I'd really like to give one to the community. But I want to open up as quickly as I can, because…well, to be honest, I don't have a job right now."

She was now feeling strong attraction, some admiration, some amazement and…no more hesitation.

"Well, why didn't you say so?! Still, a man like you," she said, raking her eyes over my body, "could probably get a job anywhere as a model. Am I right?"

"I suppose so. But…this feels like my calling. Sometimes…it almost feels as if I can read what a person is feeling, almost instantly."

"Ooh, I had an aunt like that, kind of. She could read their palms, and tell a whole lot."

I wanted to laugh, and, in fact, had to bite my tongue to keep from doing so.

"Oh, wow. Stacy, that's really something. Have you got any hidden talents?"

"Ah, I can tell a person's intent. Well, I can tell whether they mean to do harm or good."

I felt only complete conviction in this statement. Maybe it was true, and maybe she, like so many other humans, had a talent that was nowhere near what its full potential was.

"Well, that's even rarer. What do you see about me?"

"That you're an honest, hardworking type." She laughed. "I'm sure you've got a wife, or at least a girlfriend, right? I bet you treat her real well."

I put on my best look of embarrassment, while hiding the pain that threatened to break through my carefully constructed mask. Of course she would bring up Alice.

"Well…to be honest…my girlfriend just left me. But, I did treat her well. At least…I like to think so…"

I felt a pang of regret and self loathing.

"I'm so sorry to have brought it up. It…wasn't my place to do so."

I paused for a split second before giving her another smile, but this was a different one. A warm one. She had a heart of gold, even if her heart did yearn for men about 15 years her junior.

"No, that's alright. It's bound to come up eventually. No need to beat yourself up."

"Well…thank you. What did you say your name was?"

"James, James Cooper."

"It was nice meeting you, James. If you can just bring me your paperwork, we should have you up and running by the end of the day. You've got your own furniture? The office doesn't have any."

"Yes, I do. I'll be back in just a second; I'm going to go get the papers. And, Stacy? Thank you."

"Not a problem."

When I came back from my car, she was scrawling something on a form.

"Oh, you're back? Good. Now, if you can give me the following…"

I gave her everything on the list she pushed across the table to me. When she saw that everything seemed to be in order, she smiled in relief, and told me to sign in various places on the form she'd been filling out earlier.

"Alright, you're all set."

"Thank you, thank you again. You have no idea how much this means to me."

"Oh, it's nothing. Now…I'll be back with an inspector in a few weeks or so, to make sure everything's up to code."

"Okay. I'll have it ready by then."

"Good. Well...I think that's everything."

"Thank you ma'am. I'll be seeing you in a bit then."

With that, I left the office, wondering how I'd possibly spent so much time on small talk. It wasn't something I particularly enjoyed, but I was excited to start my job, and I wanted it to go as smoothly as possible. If buttering up the woman renting me the property was the way to go, then so be it.

I had half considered just buying the office, but if the family wasn't going to have as much money as usual (not that we wouldn't still have a great fortune) then I didn't want to waste money. We'd have to leave soon anyway, since so much of the town was getting suspicious about Esme's good looks, claiming that she was getting plastic surgery. They said similar things about Carlisle, but he could shrug it off more easily. Something I'd learned about women, even the vampire ones, is that you never question their age. Ever.

Shaking my head to clear it, I hopped into my car, revved the engine, and flew back to my apartment.

When I opened my front door, I felt like I should call someone to celebrate.

But who?

Carlisle? Esme?

No…they'd probably figure that I was trying to pull away from them. Which I was, in a way, but…as much as they hurt me, distrusted me, I couldn't do the same to them. I couldn't tell them that I didn't need them. They were, in a strange sense, my parents.

Emmett?

Somehow, I didn't think he'd understand why I was so happy to be working. He'd wonder who the hell hit me in the head so hard that it made me a bit crazy.

Rose?

Maybe. But I had the feeling she'd either take the same stance as Emmett, or ask why I wasn't living with them anymore. And I didn't want to open that issue up, not just yet.

Bella?

Another maybe. I had no doubt that she would give me her congratulations, but I didn't know whether she would be wary of me (as she had every right to be) after I'd almost killed her. Then again, she hadn't minded being in the same car, in the same vicinity as me all that time. And she'd stood up for me.

Maybe…maybe it would be nice to share this news with her. I wanted to be closer to her, to show her that I wasn't some crazed, uncontrollable vampire. Despite what she said, it would be only natural to have doubts lingering in the back of her mind.

I wondered when I should go see her though. I didn't want to just drop by at school. People might talk, and probably already are, only it was about Edward. If I came, they might get the wrong idea (or not care what the situation was, but if they were loathsome enough at her sudden popularity…) and spread rumors. Bella would hate that. Anyone would, really, but Bella more than most because of her shyness and hatred of the spotlight. She'd already had enough gossip about her, what with being a new student, having half the boys in school trying to go out with her, and befriending us Cullens.

I figured going to her house would be alright…maybe. I wouldn't know how to explain myself if Charlie was there, and despite my immortality, I didn't exactly want to get shot by the Chief of Police. I could hang around in the tree outside her window and climb in when I heard her arrive, but that tasted too strongly of a psychotic serial killer. Or…I could wait till I knew she was home, feel for emotions to see if Charlie was there, and if he wasn't, I could go and talk to her.

Gah. This was all so secretive. I didn't know how Edward had managed it.

One way or the other, though, I'd find a way.

A/N:

See? Two chappies in one day.

Hope you enjoy it.

And the plot twist.

Haha, don't worry though. There'll be a life or death situation a little further along.