I adopted this plot bunny a year or so ago. It really intrigued me. I posted a poll in my group asking which story I should work on next and this was the winner. It's definitely a WIP. I've only got a rough outline figured out and I'm going back to my roots with this … writing with a vague plan. I hope that I can do this justice.

None of this is mine … I wish it was. Sigh …

I truly appreciate the wonderful reviews I've gotten for this story. I'm so grateful for the kind words and encouragement. I enjoy writing so much. It puts my overactive mind at ease, especially in the past year. If I could, I'd hug all of you.

Up next will be the introduction of Edward to Bella and Jasper. We'll get to know DirectorWard, in his voice, but again, this is Bella's story.

On with it.

Chapter Two

Bella

I was drinking my coffee, praying that it would wake me up. I was exhausted. Beyond exhausted, to be honest. I'd hidden my dark circles with concealer, but I looked drawn.

"Bells! You decent?" Jasper asked, knocking on the adjoining door.

"Give me a second," I responded, getting up and smoothing my black pant suit. I padded to the door, opening it for Jasper. He was dressed in a grey suit, with a burgundy tie and an easy smile. "You clean up nicely, Hale."

"I know," he smirked. "Though, you look like you went twenty rounds with Mike Tyson. Did you sleep at all?"

Jasper couldn't know about why I was unable to sleep. No one knew. Hell, Seth didn't even know. He suspected, but he never said anything. "I got a couple hours," I lied.

"Uh huh, and I'm world-class athlete, competing in the next Olympic games," Jasper deadpanned.

"Rhythmic gymnastics?" I teased.

"You're hysterical, Swan. A laugh riot," he chuckled wryly. He checked his watch. "We probably should go. I've already called Liam. He's waiting for us downstairs. The studio is buying us brunch at the restaurant. Once we're done, we're going to come back here so you can get some sleep. You're safe, Bells."

I blinked up at him, my eyes swirling. "Jasper …"

"I don't know your story, but I know you carry the burden of fear on your tiny shoulders," Jasper said softly, hugging me to his side. "You ready?"

"I need to grab my purse and computer," I said.

"I've got mine and I'll take notes for us. You focus on the meeting. Anything that we discuss, I'll share with you once we get back to the hotel, sweet girl," Jasper grinned. "Shall we?"

I nodded, looping my purse over my arm and leaving the hotel room with Jasper. Riding down the elevator, we walked through the lobby and out to the waiting car. Liam gave us a warm smile, helping me into the backseat of the limo. We arrived at the club and were escorted out to a beautiful outdoor patio at the City Club Los Angeles. The patio was pretty deserted. Only a handful of tables were occupied.

"There's Laurent and your director, Edward," Jasper said, giving me a smile and guiding me to a table overlooking the city.

"Ahhh, good morning, Miss Swan and Mr. Hale," Laurent said, standing up to hold out his hand. I shook it with a grin. "Let me introduce you to Edward Cullen, Academy Award winning director."

A tall man with reddish-brown hair with blondish highlights, stood up. His skin was lightly tanned and his teeth were incredibly white compared to his complexion. He was wearing a blue suit with a white shirt, unbuttoned. To be honest, he was the most handsome man I'd ever seen in my life. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Swan," Edward breathed, extending his hand. I pressed my palm to his and I felt an overwhelming sense of warmth. "I was blown away by your book. It was poignant, action-packed and … wow!"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cullen," I replied.

"Call me Edward, please," he insisted, a smile spreading over his face and he squeezed my hand, warming me further.

"Only if you call me Bella," I blushed.

"Bella," he repeated with another squeeze to my hand. "A beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

"Very eloquent, Edward," chirped a woman next to him, practically pushing him out of the way. She looked at me with an appraising eye and a slight wrinkle to her nose. Her face smoothed out, giving me a false grin. "I'm Alice Cullen. I'm my brother's attorney."

"Shut it, wee one," Edward teased his sister. "Not everyone can use those Harvard words … I'm an artist, not a thesaurus. Who's this?" He gestured to Jasper.

"Oh, this is my agent and friend, Jasper Hale. He's representing the publishing house," I explained.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Edward. Bella and I watched your latest film and it was beyond amazing," Jasper fangirled. I elbowed him. "Sorry, I'm a huge fan."

"I can tell," Edward quipped dryly. "Please, have a seat."

We all settled into the chairs. I was in between Edward and Jasper. Edward smelled like sandalwood and fresh air.

"So, Miss Swan," Laurent began.

"Bella, please," I insisted.

"Of course, Bella," Laurent smiled, opening up his portfolio. "As I mentioned in our emails, we're very interested in optioning the rights for your novel, Long and Winding Road. The story is, to be put it simply, one of the best we've read and it would translate well to the big screen. Especially with Edward at the helm, this film will be … I can foresee great things."

"How closely will you follow the book?" Jasper asked. "One of the things that we're concerned about is that you will butcher the prose, skipping over essential aspects of the story."

"In regard to the story, we will follow the plot line, but we can't put in everything," Edward explained. "We don't want to have the movie be too long. We need to pick and choose on what's relevant to move the story along. However, I can assure you that we will be faithful to your novel."

"One of the ways we can ensure that we stay faithful is that Bella be on the screenwriting team," Jasper said.

"No, not going to happen," Alice said sharply. "We have a team of amazing writers. We don't need an overbearing author telling us how to do our job."

"Then, our conversation is over," Jasper sighed, preparing to leave the meeting.

"No, it's not," Edward said, shooting his sister a glare. "Alice, you're here as a courtesy, but you do not make that decision. It's up to the studio and it's up to the director, not the director's pushy, bossy and bitchy sister. Personally, I think having Bella on the writing team would be beneficial."

"I'm with Edward on this, Ms. Cullen," Laurent agreed. "I think your input on the script would work in our favor."

"Excellent," Jasper grinned. "We have a few other stipulations before we agree to working with you."

After those first few tense moments, things calmed down. Food was ordered and we hammered out the deal to option my novel into a movie. Edward and Laurent were very involved, eager to make the movie. Their excitement carried over to me and Jasper. The only fly in our ointment was Alice. She seemed to be dead set against every suggestion, making her disapproval apparent.

Halfway through the meeting, I excused myself to go to the bathroom. While I was enjoying talking to Laurent and Edward, I needed a moment away from Alice's judgmental glares and pursed lips. Washing my hands, I heard Alice's voice outside of the bathroom.

"I don't see how this movie is going to be lucrative for my brother, Heidi," she hissed. "It was poorly written dreck." There was a pause. "Oh, and the author? She's a mousy thing. I don't even think she wrote the novel. She doesn't seem to be able to string two intelligent words together. It's like she's afraid of her own fucking shadow."

Pushing out of the bathroom, I gave Alice a harsh stare. She rolled her eyes, ending her call. "You don't know me, but you have no right to talk about me in that manner. If this is how this relationship is going to be? I'll walk away. From my understanding, your presence was a courtesy and now you're trash talking the author the studio is supposed to be wooing … for a lawyer, you're pretty fucking dumb." I stepped closer to her. "How's that for a woman who's afraid of her own fucking shadow, hmmm?"

Without giving her a chance to respond, I turned on my heel and walked back to the dining room. When I got back to the table, I looked at Edward, giving him a tight smile. "I was really hoping that we could work together, but I don't think it's the best fit," I said succinctly.

"What?" Laurent barked. "We were so close to finalizing everything."

"Ask your attorney," I retorted. "Come on, Jasper."

My best friend and agent didn't bat an eyelash as he got up. He gave a nod to me and we left the dining room.

xx Blockbuster xx

Edward

"What the fuck does that mean?" Laurent asked as we watched the beautiful Bella and her agent, Jasper, left the dining room. "What did your sister do?"

"Don't think I won't find out," I sneered. Standing up, I went in search of my sister, who had been my legal representation since I'd started pulling away from the teeny-bopper movies my agent kept sending me. For the most part, she was an excellent attorney, but she had a lot of biases. One of those biases was related to single women. She saw them all as gold diggers. Alice was sitting outside of the bathroom. "What did you say, Mary Alice? Tell me, what the fuck did you say to make Bella and Jasper run out of here? What bullshit? You know I'm this close to finding new legal representation …"

"I fucked up, Edward," she whispered.

"Yeah, you did, Alice. Because of your explicit bias toward single women, you ran off the author of an amazing novel that would have been perfect on screen. Who did you blab to? Why did you feel the need to be this bitch?" I hissed. "What happened to you?"

"I just want the best for you, Edward," she explained. "That movie wouldn't have been the best."

"Well, I guess we won't know because they left," I said. "I wanted to make this movie."

"No, you wanted a break. You said you wanted a break," Alice argued with me.

"A break would have been awesome, but this story needs to be told!" I growled. "What. Did. You. Say?!"

"I said the story was poorly written and I made some comments about how mousy the author is, if she's even the author," she muttered. "Finally, I said she was afraid of her own shadow."

"Did you even read the information we were given about Isabella Swan?" I asked. "She has every right to be afraid of her own shadow. I don't know everything, but it wasn't pretty. Now, I have to go and try and salvage this deal because of you."

"I'm sorry, Edward," Alice murmured.

"You're sorry you got caught," I sighed, scrubbing my face. "If this happens again, you'll do it again." I scowled at her. "Find your own way home. I'm going to try and get Bella and Jasper to work with Summit and with me. As far as we're concerned, you are not my attorney. Not anymore."

"Edward …" she cried.

"No, I love you, but I don't like you at all right now," I said. Shaking my head, I went back to the dining room and I told Laurent that I'd try to persuade Bella and Jasper to work with me. I tossed a thousand dollars in cash, more than covering the bill before darting down to the parking lot. I got into my vintage Aston Martin DB5 convertible and drove to the hotel where the studio set up Bella and Jasper.

My sister was correct that I wanted to take a break. D-Day was an exhausting film to make, both while on location, during production and in post-production. I loved the accolades that the movie received. It was well-received by the critics and audiences alike. The interview circuit and the film festivals just got to be so much. I loved my job. I loved my job as a director more than when I was an actor.

It was just doubly draining.

It was also doubly rewarding.

Starting with an idea, a script, a dream and creating something completely new … it was magic.

When Laurent called me, asking me to read this novel, I was ready to tell him to shove it. But, he was the man who gave me a chance to direct my first film after I'd completed my college degree. Granted, it was a small indie movie, with a shoe-string budget and virtually unknown actors. The movie was critically acclaimed and put the actors on the map. I was also established as an up-and-coming director.

My love of film-making harkened back to my years as a child actor. I started acting when I was ten, doing commercials and small parts in episodic television. As I got older, I started doing movies and that's when I noticed for my looks. Then, I was splashed on teen magazines and on the tabloids. My love life became paparazzi fodder when I was seventeen. It only grew from there.

The studio that bankrolled the movie that put me on the map, some vampire movie, forced me into a contrived relationship with the leading actress. I signed a stupid contract and acted like a doting boyfriend until the actress 'cheated' on me with the director of her next film. Then, I had Alice get me out of that fake relationship and the actress had to issue a public apology, stating that our relationship was a sham. The studio fought me, but I'd been made a fool of by that woman.

On top of that, she tried to swindle me out of money. I think that was the reason why Alice was so against single women.

They eventually caved when I threatened to go public about what they encouraged me to do with the fake relationship. So, I got an apology from the studio and the actress. That meant little when my love life was now on the front pages on every single tabloid rag and magazine. I went into acting for the art, not the notoriety. Not the drama behind everything.

I wanted to make movies.

I did not want everyone to know my business of who I was dating, who I was fucking or whatever else.

When I started working on the film following that vampire saga, I approached the director and explained my love of making movies and not starring in them. He eyed me dubiously, but gave me a few scenes to direct. He was impressed with my skill and intuition. That further solidified my decision. When that movie was done, I fulfilled my contractual obligations and then enrolled in college.

The rest, as they say, is history.

I'd been working for the better part of a decade and I decided to take some time off after the obligations for D-Day had wrapped up. That was when I accepted the Oscar for Best Motion Picture. I had a vacation planned and was eagerly looking forward to a year off.

That all changed when I read the book, Long and Winding Road, at Laurent's insistence. I wasn't sure about it. The novel was initially self-published and then, picked up by a smaller publishing house. When it got some more press, its popularity grew and a larger publishing house was sniffing around. Bella firmly said that she was happier with the smaller company.

That told me something about her integrity.

It also told me that I needed to make this movie, my time off be damned.

I wasn't about to let my bratty sister, with her preconceived notions about single women that they were all gold diggers, was going to stop me from doing it.

I pulled up to the hotel. The valet salivated over my car. "You ding her, I own you," I said, handing him my keys.

"I'll take care of her, Mr. Cullen," the valet vowed.

I nodded and strode into the hotel, to the front desk. "I'm looking for a couple of guests," I said. "Isabella Swan and Jasper Hale."

"I'm sorry, but I cannot give out …" the receptionist began until I put down a couple hundred dollars. "Room 810 and 812."

It's true what they say … money talks.

"Thank you," I answered, turning on my heel. I rode up to the eighth floor. I found the two rooms, knocking on the door.

xx Blockbuster xx

Bella

"I wasn't being too rash?" I asked, pacing in my room before sitting down on the couch.

"No, you weren't, Bells. Alice was sexy as fuck, but that was bullshit that she was saying about you," Jasper reaffirmed me. "You are the farthest thing from mousy and you could have kicked her hoity-toity ass."

"I just … what if I messed up? This was a huge deal for me, for the publisher," I frowned.

"At what cost?" he pressed. There was a knock at the door. Jasper kissed my temple, walking to the door. He opened it up. "You've got some nerve coming here …"

"My sister does not speak for me," Edward murmured. "She was out of line."

"What does your sister have against Bella?" Jasper asked harshly. "She's one of the nicest people I've ever met."

"It's a long story," Edward snorted, stepping into the room. "Look, this book needs to be made into a movie. It's beyond amazing and the story should be shared." He moved around Jasper, kneeling in front of me. He took my hand and that warmth I'd felt before wrapped around me like a cocoon. "I want to take the novel you wrote and put Charlotte and Peter's story on the big screen." His thumb caressed my knuckles.

"Would you be offended if said that I needed to think about it?" I asked.

"No, I wouldn't be offended," he replied. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. "Let me give you my number. You can call me at any point in time when you want to talk. The three of us can meet, if that's what makes you comfortable. Laurent trusts me to have the studio's best interests at heart, but that's not who I want to worry about. I was worried about you."

"Maybe you should put a muzzle on your sister," Jasper growled.

"You're not the first person to say that," Edward laughed. "She's a bulldog of a lawyer, but she lacks tact. As far as this situation is concerned, she's no longer involved." He blinked back to me. "Can I get your number?"

"Um, yeah," I said, prattling off my cell phone number. My phone vibrated on the table next to me. "Your number?"

"Yes," he nodded, standing up and giving me a warm smile. "Take the time you need, Bella, but do not let what my sister said … don't take it to heart. She's a pain in the ass."

"Well, don't expect me to be besties with her any time soon," I smirked. "I have bigger fish to fry."

"Exactly," Jasper nodded. "We're planning on getting some rest and then heading out to do some touristy things."

"Those are not worth the money you will pay to go," Edward chuckled. "Let me, a Hollywood brat, be your personal guide." Edward looked at me, his green eyes sparkling in the late-morning sun. "What do you think?"

"I don't know," I hemmed and hawed.

"You two go," Jasper suggested. "Maybe I can try surfing while you are out."

"Surfing is better in the morning," Edward explained. "There's a place in Malibu that has some killer swells."

"You surf?" I asked.

"Not well, but it's fun," he laughed. "I could take you out on the water."

"I'll get some lessons, but you two do the touristy thing," Jasper said with a knowing grin. I gave him a glower over Edward's shoulder. "For now, we're going to talk about your proposal."

"I can live with that," Edward said, holding out his hand to Jasper. "I am truly sorry for what happened this morning with my sister. She was out of line and she never should have … said those things." He turned back to me, kneeling in front of me again and taking my hand. "You are a brilliant writer, with a gift. A gift that needs to be shared. You are also incredibly beautiful. You're the entire package, Bella." He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. "Don't make me wait too long." He stood up, kissing my cheek. I shuddered at the soft, velvety caress of his lips on my skin. With a soft, lopsided grin, he ambled out of the room.

"Holy heat, Batman," Jasper laughed, looking at me. "He's got it bad for you."

"Whatever, Jasper," I grumbled, rolling my eyes. "He does not."

"He so does," Jasper smirked. "Do you want to talk about his proposal?"

"I think I want to sleep. I've got a migraine," I yawned.

"Okay," Jasper sighed. "We'll go out for dinner and discuss. Get some rest, Bells."

"Thanks, Jas."

He left the room, smirking as the door closed. I closed the drapes and stripped out of my dress clothes. Pulling on an oversized t-shirt and a pair of shorts, I curled up under the covers. For once, my brain didn't battle my exhaustion. I drifted off.

xx Blockbuster xx

Flashback

"Mommy, how long is the ride?" Seth asked from his car seat.

Normally, the drive to Seattle would take about three hours from Forks. My decrepit truck couldn't go faster than fifty miles an hour. It was older than dirt, but it was the only that was truly mine other than my little boy. So, our meager belongings were in the bed of the truck and I had the money from my last paycheck along with what was in my savings account. I also had my dad's service revolver stuffed in my bag for protection.

"Mommy?"

"I'm sorry, baby," I chuckled. "We should get to Seattle by the afternoon. We're going to stay in a hotel tonight and tomorrow because I need to find a job."

"Are you going to work at the Thriftway again?" he asked. "You got good food from Thriftway."

"We'll see," I shrugged. "I'm thinking a restaurant."

A restaurant meant tips and tips meant more liquid cash. That would be easiest since I didn't have a permanent address. At least not in the foreseeable future, to be perfectly honest.

Besides, this was a stop on our journey.

A brief stop.

We arrived at Seattle as the sun was starting to set. I found the cheapest motel and booked two nights after we got some fast food. I made sure that Seth had a healthy meal and I'd eat what I could. He was my priority. He'd always be priority.

The next day, I went in search of a job and luckily managed to get hired at a small diner. I also enrolled Seth in kindergarten and an afternoon daycare through the YMCA. The housing situation was a bit sticky. The address that I used was a set of apartments within the school boundaries. If someone would try to do a home visit, I'd be royally screwed. Seth could sleep anywhere and we could use the YMCA to clean up.

Life was okay. As best as it could be despite the circumstances. Seth and I lived in my truck. He thought it was the coolest thing ever. He could sleep anywhere. His favorite place to sleep was curled up with his head on my lap, his arms wrapped around my waist. I stayed awake for as long as I could and then crash.

It was a couple of months where Seth and I were living in the truck. I was making some money at the diner, but not enough to get an apartment or to make headway on getting myself out of the hole I was currently trying to dig out.

On Halloween weekend, I found a secluded spot to park. Seth was down for the count after we went trick or treating in a nice neighborhood. Seth put on his pajamas and curled up in the ginormous sleeping bag. I read him a book, holding him until his quiet snores filled the cab of the truck. I stayed up, eventually nodding off at two.

I didn't rest for long. I heard someone trying to open the truck door. A scraggly man was trying to get into the truck. I tried to turn over the truck, but the keys fell out of my hand and onto the floor. The man managed to open the door, dragging me out of the truck.

"Let go of me," I said, trying to push him away. Despite his scrawny appearance, he was strong.

He was also strung out.

"I want some of that goodness," he slurred, trying to reach for my jeans. "I want to fuck you."

"No!" I cried and he pushed me against the truck, slamming my head against the door. Then, he slapped me, punched me and went for my jeans again. I wriggled and squirmed, elbowing him in the face. He fell onto his ass and I got back into the truck. I turned over the engine, tearing out of the parking lot. Seth was up, his eyes wide and tears falling down his cheeks.

"Mommy …" he sobbed.

"Mommy's okay," I murmured, pulling him against my side and grimacing as he curled up around me.

"You're bleeding, Mommy. Your eye is turning colors," he said.

"We just need to get out of the city, baby," I mumbled, my hands shaking uncontrollably. "Once I get us to someplace safe, I'll take care of me."

The adrenaline was pumping through my body and I managed to drive us Puyallup and into Motel Puyallup. I tugged on a hat and picked up Seth, who was incredibly clingy. Understandably so …

I paid for a week at the motel. The front desk clerk eyed me dubiously but gave me the room. I knew I was acting sketchy, but my face was in flames and every part of my body was aching. I also had the desire to shower for years. That man had tried to take from me. Something he had not right to take.

It was my body.

We went into the room and I settled Seth into the bed. "Get some sleep, Seth. I'm okay," I whispered, brushing his too-long hair from his face. I waited until he fell asleep. It took some time. He clung to me, obviously upset at what happened.

Kissing his forehead, I pulled myself away from my son and I dragged my aching sore body to the bathroom. I turned the faucet as hot as it would go and I stripped out of my clothes. I threw them directly into the garbage. I didn't have a lot, but I knew I could never wear those clothes again. Blinking up, I was shocked at my appearance.

My skin was sallow from lack of nutrition and obviously bruised thanks to the attack from the monster. I had dark circles from too little sleep. I was far too thin. My bones were apparent and I looked sick.

Shaking my head, I crawled into the shower and let the scalding hot water pour over me. It was then that allowed the dam to break and sobs broke through.

What had I done to deserve this?

xx Blockbuster xx

Bella

"Wake up, Bella," Jasper said from a distance. "Open your eyes for me, sweet girl."

I blinked up at him, seeing his distressed face. "What is it?" I mumbled, my throat raw and sore. "

"You were screaming, Bella," he murmured. "It sounded like you were being attacked, asking why."

Fuck me.

"I'm sorry if I woke you," I mumbled.

"I wasn't sleeping," he replied. "Talk to me."

"I can't," I argued. "Jasper, I can't."

"Why? Why can't you talk to me?" Jasper pressed.

"I just can't." I sat up, wiping my cheeks and drawing my knees to my chest. "I can't infect you with my story. You're too good, Jas. Everyone is too good. Hell, even Seth is too good. He's seen everything. I can't relive that, Jasper. I don't want to relive that. My life was hell before I happened upon Emmett and Rose's café. It was a literal and figurative hell."

"If it was so bad, surely you have scars, right?" he asked.

"Yeah, scars," I snorted derisively. "That's putting it lightly."

"Bella," Jasper chided.

"I'm okay, Jasper," I explained.

"If you were okay, you wouldn't be screaming out in terror," Jasper whispered. "Have you talked to anyone? Therapy is a good thing. Psychotropic drugs are even better."

I shot him glower. "Really?"

"Sweet girl, I'm saying this from a place of love and affection, but I think you need help. I sound like a broken record, but you need to talk to someone," Jasper said softly, wiping a tear away from my cheek. "I love you, Bells, like another sister. I hate to see you so upset." He stared at me and I couldn't hold his gaze. I found the comforter far more interesting. "The book … your book … This is your story."

"Jasper," I breathed, shaking my head.

"How much of it is true?" he asked. His fingers gently guided me to look up at him. "How much, Bella?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I evaded. I pulled my chin from his grasp. He sighed and sat back, shaking his head. "It's a part of my life that I don't want to revisit, Jasper. The girl who gave birth to Seth is not the same woman who's sitting here today. I'm better now. I have a life. I'm happy." I reached over and picked up my phone.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm texting Edward and telling him that I want to work with him on this project," I said definitively. "He's the only one who can make my book into a movie without making it a farce. But, I don't know about the whole day."

I've thought about it and I think you would be the best choice for the movie ~ Bella

I'm so thrilled to hear that, Bella! I'll have Laurent draw up a contract and we'll move on from there. Would you like to celebrate over dinner? ~ Edward

Not tonight, but I'd like a chance to meet up with you tomorrow? ~ Bella

That works for me. I'm counting the minutes. ~ Edward

"We're going to meet up for dinner. Do you want to join?" I asked.

"Oh, no. He wasn't giving me the googly eyes. You have fun, flirting with the hot, sexy director, Bella. Maybe you can open up to him," Jasper said, arching a brow.

"Jasper," I grumbled. "Stop."

"It's not healthy, Bella," he said, crawling to sit next to me and tucking me to his side. "The not talking thing. Flirting with the sexy director? That's healthy. Tell him yes or I will go with you on your date. I'll be obnoxious and encourage him to date you."

"Yeah, I don't think so," I laughed, picking up my phone and spinning it in my hands. "Are you going to hover while I attempt to text Edward?"

"I have to make sure you actually flirt and not treat this like a business transaction," Jasper teased.

"Isn't that what it is?" I asked.

"No, Bella. Even a blind man could see the sparks between you and Edward Cullen, Academy Award Winning Director," Jasper smirked, poking my side. "Text. Him."

"It's not a date, Jasper," I sighed.

"Do I need to text him?" Jasper chuckled.

"No, I've got it," I replied. Sliding my finger across the screen, I looked at the last text from Edward. That works for me. I'm counting the minutes. ~ Edward

I'm looking forward to dinner, too. ~ Bella

The three dots danced on the bottom of the screen, indicating that he was typing. Or, that was Jasper told me. I'm so excited to see you. I'll be over around six tomorrow evening. Does that work for you? ~ Edward

Sounds perfect. I'll see you then. I'm also excited to work with you ~ Bella

So am I. I'll see you tomorrow ~ Edward

"We need to work on your game, Swan," Jasper chided.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's a coworker," I said. "Now, can we eat? I really didn't get a chance to finish my meal at the club. I deserve chocolate."

"You and your fucking chocolate," Jasper sighed, shaking his head. He looked at me. Leaning over, he kissed my temple. "I'm going to find you some chocolate, sweet girl. Ask and ye shall receive …"

A/N: So, yeah … that happened. Leave me your thoughts. What did you think of their first meeting? Was it what you expected? What did you think about Alice?

Now, up next will be some time alone with Edward and Bella. He'll give her a tour of his hometown … a tour that only a native Los Angeles resident could give her. What do you think will happen on their 'tour'?

Pictures from this chapter are on my blog. You can access that from a link on my profile. I'm on also on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation. I'm on twitter, too: tufano79. I'd appreciate your thoughts! Thank you so much for reading and I'll see you on flipside!