In my defense, I have none

For never leaving well enough alone.

- Taylor Swift

NA. All mistakes are mine. Hope you like it.

"You know, I was certain I was done having first dates. But here we are, all over again." he tells me while his dimples are showing.

"Well, this is definitely not a date, so your certainty was well placed." I tell you while grinning.

"Way to act tough Bellaboo, and here I thought we had something special."

I can't help but laugh.

"I am also certain, than Rose would smack you if she heard you teasing me while I am so anxious Emmybear, but I appreciate the laugh."

You pout, "We were over the Emmybear phase."

"Until you brought up Bellaboo" I stick my tongue out at him.

I am thankful for Emmett, I can name at least ten things than I am sure he'd rather be doing, like his girlfriend for example. But he is a great guy and when Rose asked him, he jumped to it. He knows the whole story, between you and me. So he knows how to protect my heart and ease my nerves.

After graduation, they did turn into this couple that adopted me, and took me under their wing, and for that, I'll be eternally grateful.

I can't believe my first week here has passed so by, and most importantly, that Dr. Volturi did feel the need to follow through with the dinner, I was sure, it was something you said when a new person arrived to ease them in, but apparently he was very set in following it through.

So here we are, parking outside his house, with a bottle of wine and the worst colitis in history of humankind. The dress Rose lent me does look amazing and her going all out while doing my very minimal makeup and hair is a plus I needed for the confidence boost.

"You're gonna be fine Bella, and if Fuckface says something again, I'll tell him off."

"It's Professor Fuckface" I answer with a laugh.

This brings a smile to Emmett's face, "At least your sense of humor is intact. Come on, let's do this."

The door is open as Aro said it would be, he also told us to just go right in, we're fashionably late with 10 minutes and hoping no one else is here because I do not want to say hi to people - even though this whole thing is about me - but I do know I can put my big girl panties and deal with this.

I am not the 23 year old you last saw, I've grown, traveled, studied and fallen in and out of love. I must remember that, we're colleagues now. We stand both on the same ground, and I'll be damned if I'll let my insecurities get to me… tonight in the very least.

"Miss Swan, you're here!" Dr. Volturi tells me excitedly. "Sulpicia, they've arrived darling." He shouts for his wife, I think it is sweet, he seems so serious in the office.

"Please call me Bella" I tell them as his wife arrives, "This is my friend Emmett, I hope it is okay I brought him, I probably should have checked first" I answer now a bit nervous, I do not want to come across as rude. "Oh Bella, I'm so glad you brought such a handsome fella" Sulpicia says cheekily and Emmett gives her his best smile with the dimples. "I'm afraid Aro has advertised this whole thing far too serious, we're just friends having some drinks and hors d'oeuvre. I hope that's okay." I beam, I could kiss her.

Knowing this, it means I won't have to sit rigidly with anyone I do not want to, and I can just hide in different corners throughout the night, that I can do.

"We brought this wine, we hope you like it, it's from Mexico. I brought it back on my last trip there." Emmett says, he's being charming and I love him for that. His news gather both of the hosts attention and I can hear someone coming in, that twist my stomach even more.

As I turn around, I realize it's Jasper and who I assume it's the infamous Alice.

When you and I first started talking, you'd mention your sister a lot, so it is nice, in a weird way, to finally meet her.

"Oh Bella, I've heard so much about you" she tells me while going in for a hug, she catches me off guard and I can't help to hug her back, in the end, she's not guilty from any spilled blood.

"You're taller than I thought" she tells me as a matter of fact.

"And you're tiny." I tell her with a wink, and everyone laughs.

"Bella, it's good to see you." Jasper states. He turns around to introduce himself to Emmett and Sulpicia and Aro usher the four of us to their living room, I offer to help out in the kitchen but they both decline, they're good hosts.

"It's good to meet Bella's colleagues, she's been real quiet about her first week" Emmett makes conversation with Jasper, and I can feel Alice staring deeply at me. I wonder how much she knows, or if she knows anything at all.

"Well, Bella was an amazing student, and now she's an amazing professor, I've heard excellent comments from her class already." Jasper says very seriously, and I'm glad because that does get my attention.

"Really?" I say blushing.

"Really. Whenever we have someone new their class always gets a lot of the initial attention, be it for the good or bad, but yours have been all positive reviews."

I'm glad to hear that, because in the end, that's the reason I came back. It means the world to me to share new ideas with my students and that they learn something new.

"That's a lovely dress Bella" Alice tells me.

"Thank you, green is my favorite color."

I hear some steps and Sulpicia greeting someone, even though I can't really tell who since my back is facing the door, but the voice I do recognize as soon as she speaks.

"Oh, I am sure you love green. How funny it is to see you again Bella."

As I look up, Lauren is standing next to me looking much more dressed up than I.

And behind her, a glaring set of green eyes that look right past me and right into Emmett.

NA. There's so much happening in this scene I had to split it. I hope you like it and I can't wait to hear what you think will happen next.

Reviews are the perfect fuel for faster updates. Have a lovely Friday :)