Is that what you do?

"There you are!" Said the voice of Angela as I took my bag out from the trunk of my Ubers car. She was in her uniform but unlike usual she was wearing her glasses today. For whatever reason, she never wore them. She ran up to me as I walked towards the building.

"Hey." I said with a smile.

"Where the hell were you? Alice said you just left town? How dare you leave me in her hands when I need help picking my cotillion dress!" She said as we walked into the building and toward the elevator.

"I was out of town visiting a friend, and Alice would be a better person to pick a dress out with." I said as I pressed my floor number. "Did you do your homework?" I asked.

"Yes, now why did Alice make it sound like you were leaving and never coming back or something? Did you talk to Edward did you find out who that skank was? I followed him all day for you." She said going off as we left the elevator on my floor and rounded the corner to my apartment.

"I already knew who she was she's his friend from high school. Angela stop being nosey" I said as I turned the key.

"Who laughs that much with friends!" She exclaimed raising her hand in frustration trying to get me to see reason. I pushed my door open and when I did Edward jumped up from my couch. His clothes were dishevelled, and he looked exhausted, as if he camped out here all night.

"Uh… What are you doing here?" I asked softly, pulling my suitcase into the house. Angela just stood there looking between the two of us.

"I was waiting for you. Look I. am. So. Sorry." He started walking over to me. It was just then that I noticed his eyes were blood shot. I looked over at Angela who didn't look pleased at all.

"Why don't you go upstairs and we can talk about your cotillion dress… when I'm done here." I said to her softly. She just nodded with her arms crossed.

"Fine." She answered turning on her heel and leaving the apartment, closing the door behind her. I brought my attention back to Edward.

"Ok so you want to tell me how you ended up in my house?"

"I found your spare key, in your desk-

"You went through my desk?"

"I had to Bella… I had to look…. I don't know why you left town and have been ignoring my calls but I can only assume it's because of Irena and what you heard and."

"I don't care about Irena, Edward." I answered throwing my key on the counter and walking into my kitchen. Pouring myself some water, I made no effort to drink it though. He followed me and was on the other side of the counter.

"Is it about what happened in the Hamptons or…. About what didn't happen?" He said nervously fisting his hair. I just sighed a little bit before I spoke.

"Edward…. This… isn't going to work."

"God Bella don't say that… it's because of the Hamptons isn't look I didn't make a move that night because I-

"Because I wasn't what you wanted?"

"No!... because I didn't want to royally fuck up and make you think that… I didn't… I wasn't right for you by pushing you or us."

"Regardless Edward I… I can't be that girl okay? I can't be an Irena or a Tanya and I know that's what you need I know that's what people like your mother expect from you and-

"My mother… How did my mother get into this?" He held his hands out in frustration. I just let out a breath not wanting to have this conversation so early. I was so tired from my flight and being on the airport I had so much shit going through my mind. But the man had broken into my house, so it was clear that this was going to get resolved, whether for the good or the bad.

"She came by to invite me to her anniversary party with your father… and … Edward she doesn't like me." I breathed out, he shook his head taking my face in his hands.

"I don't care Bella…. I don't care about my mother and what she likes and what she doesn't like…. I'm not going to lie to you I've been hesitant, my world sucks and I don't want anyone to poison what's growing between us… but I guess they already are and I'm not particularly helping it am I?"

"No really…. Look I just don't need to be anyone's charity case. I really don't need it, and I'm not going to subject myself to scrutiny for someone who seems to be confused-

"I'm not confused anymore…. Bella, I care about you and this is the first time in a long time that I've been happy and sane and not sad…. And it's because of you…. Don't leave me don't leave." He begged. I leaned in closer to him. He kissed my forehead before he wrapped his arms around me. He got down on one knee and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Be my girlfriend?" He asked me placing a diamond tennis bracelet on my wrist before I could even answer. I just laughed nodding and he got back up, he kissed me passionately and I the next thing I knew it was getting urgent. He lifted me up and carried me to my kitchen counter and I started to unbutton his shirt, while he kissed down my neck. My eyes rolled to the back of my head and tangled into his messy hair.

"Are you sure?" He asked softly. I nodded as I continued to kiss him. He lifted me up and carried me into my bedroom. He took off my shirt and immediately attacked one of my nipples that sprang free.

"Fuck." I said. He looked into my eyes with this intense gaze that I knew was taken over by lust.

"You ready?" he murmured. I just nodded as he left himself into me and I kept my eyes focused on those green eyes of his, getting totally and completely lost in them.

OOOoo

"What about this one?" I asked as I brushed a soft scar on his shoulder. He laid on his back putting his hands behind his head.

"Me and my little sister Rosalie were at summer camp, and she pushed me off a canoe."

"What!?"

"Yeah she was always trying to kill me and ruin my life, I genuinely plan to keep you far away from her she's a little psycho."

"Sounds fun."

"You can handle her." He assured as he held me closer to him. I snuggled my head into his neck. He intertwined his finger with mine. We were just laying here after our love-making if that's what you could call it. I mean I definitely wasn't going to say it out loud, but I was sure that's what it was.

"Where'd you go by the way?" He asked against my skin.

"Dartmouth." I answered simply, his eyebrows knitted together.

"Who's at Dartmouth?"

"An old high school friend." I answered flipped myself so that I was on top of him.

"Dartmouth is impressive." He said putting his hands behind his head to prop himself. I kissed down his chest.

"Yes, the poor waitress has friends in high places." I said softly as I kissed him.

"I didn't mean it like that," He argued softly holding onto my thigs and gripping them. "Dartmouth is impressive in general but I guess it would make sense that you and your friends were smart people, you were at Stanford." He commented.

"Yeah for a semester." I said sarcastically as I rested my head against his chest, he played with my hair.

"That's still a hard school to get into." He whispered encouragingly.

"It wasn't for me." I said truthfully, knowing he wouldn't know the double meaning behind my words.

"Would you ever go back?"

"To Stanford?" I asked my voice raising an octave. He nodded. I thought about it for a second.

"I mean … no. I can't." I answered getting up. He followed behind me as I went into the kitchen in his shirt. I was avoiding looking at him in the eye because he was doing that thing. That incredibly annoying thing where he would look at me with this look, this look where I knew he was trying to figure me out, trying to piece things together and understand me. Understand why I said things, why I did things, what things meant.

I hated that look.

That look made me trust him, it made me want to believe in him and us and the idea that there can be a future for whatever this was. That look made me want to stay.

DING!

"Ah nourishment." I exclaimed going over to the toaster and putting one pop tart on the table for me and then one for him. He bit into it, still looking at me.

"What?" I asked annoyed. He just pulled me to him, he kissed my forehead.

"Nothing, nothing at all"

OOOOooo

"Okay stay still."

"Alice this is ridiculous."

"It's fucking needed okay. We're talking about Cullen's at the Volturi mansion. Do you even understand the death trap you're about to go into?"

"The Volturi mansion is not that prestigious" I said with an eyeroll as I held onto a chair in front of me, while Alice worked to zip up this monstrosity of a dress she thought I just had to wear to Edward's parents' anniversary party.

"How would you know? You've never been there."

"I have been there thank you very much." I snapped as she pulled and tried to zip. I gripped the chair in front of me while Alice's little hands did all she could to zip up the dress, I honestly thought was butt ugly. It was green, with frills and pearls with silk and buttons. This thing was hideous and even worse it was like six-thousand dollars. I almost barfed at the ridiculousness of it all. Angela busted through the door holding two big bags of Chinese food and Maria by her side eating a popsicle she most likely wasn't supposed to have.

"Why does she have that?" Alice snapped letting me go, my dress all forgotten as she looked at her daughter with the treat. Angela shrugged.

"We flipped a coin, I lost." She answered as she rummaged through the bag looking for her food. Maria scrunched up her eyebrows at me, and I gave Alice a pointed look.

"I told you this thing was butt ugly." I said as I shimmied out of it and went into my closet.

"No Bella! You need to wear this!"

"No actually I don't" I said as I went into my closet and rummaged through the dresses I had in here. I went to the very back of the closet and picked up the big white box that I hadn't touched in ages. I pulled out the dress from the box and slipped the dress on, careful not to ruin the makeup that Alice had done so long to do. When the dress was finally on, I walked out of the closet and back into the living room where they were all waiting.

"Wow you look gorgeous." Angela praised with a mouth full of noodles. Alice folded her arms.

"You look beautiful… where'd you get that? Is that vintage-

"Dior? Yes." I said smugly as I zipped it up from the side. The dress in question was a royal blue halter dress that reached mid- thigh. It was simple but still extremely sexy and elegant. I put on diamond earrings that I stole from my mother years ago and went to go stand in front of the mirror.

"Where'd you get Vintage Dior money… how much is Edward paying you exactly?"

"For your information this is a dress I had before Edward started paying me anything". I said particularly snippy today not exactly knowing why. I didn't know if it was nerves for going around Edward's parents- which I don't know why seeing as how I'd met people like them before and I had never been intimidated. Or if it was something else. I stared at myself in the mirror and wanted so desperately to add a bracelet or something -but I didn't, I knew that I probably shouldn't have, as it would raise more questions that I didn't have the answer too if I pulled out expensive jewellery. I slid on some black strappy heels and got a simple black Dior clutch that I just kept my keys in and nothing else.

"Well you look beautiful but I still think-

"Alice no one is going to respect her if she goes looking like the wicked witch of the west. Just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's good." Angela argued as she fed Maria some noodles carefully from her fork. Maria was playing with her Ipad and wouldn't have eaten if Angela wasn't spoon feeding her. Sometimes it was weird to me how hyperactive kids could be.

"Yah!" Maria started with a mouth full of noodles.

"Swallow your food first." Angela prompted softly as Maria chewed holding her Ipad. She chewed all her food and then smiled up at Angela. "Okay, speak." She said.

"I think Bellsey looks great mama." Maria said coming over to my leg.

"Why thank you little woman." I said holding onto her. She gave me a greasy kiss on the cheek but I didn't mind, she ran off right after to go do what she does.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

All of us turned toward the door and Maria ran toward it.

"Who is it?" she sang.

"Eddie-kins." Said Edward's muffled voice. She swung the door open excitedly and jumped into his arms. He was dressed in a button down and had his silk shirt rolled up, exposing muscular incredible arms. He wasn't wearing a jacket but I knew it was because of how hot it'd been in New York lately. He came in carrying Maria and Alice took her from her arms.

"Nice Edward, very chic." Angela praised again.

"Thank you little lady number two." He said kissing the top of her head.

"How come I can't go to the party." She asked

"Because I think it's best we keep you away from my mother." He said nicely. She nodded in agreement and gave a little shrug, then he glided over to me and hooked one arm around me kissing me on the cheek.

"Ready to go to the shark tank?"

"Oh yeah I was born ready. How bad can it be?"

OOOOOoooo

It was pretty bad.

No, it was pretty horrible. The women were anyways, a lot of them didn't like me. Why? Because they loved Tanya. She may have cheated on Edward and left him for his best friend but that didn't matter, she was Tanya Denali the golden child. I had been introduced to a lot of powerful women in New York's elite by Edward- Friends of his mothers' and they'd smile and then once it realised that I was the new girl that Esme probably shared her disapproval of, they'd give me a look that was anything but nice and they'd turn and ask Edward about the company and then about Tanya or Irina or any other socially acceptable woman. He was polite, always charismatic, and always comforting. Gone was the Edward that I felt was hiding me, his hands were around my waist. I got reassuring squeezes, he would constantly whisper questions asking me for assurance on if I was okay. I could tell he was worrying about me but I could also tell that he had a job to do. He had to smooze and he had to network, I knew that much so I hid my discomfort and I hid my anger and I hid the constant nagging feeling that I wanted to go home just to prove a point to these people, but I didn't- because I loved Edward- and running away to my world wasn't going to help me accepted into his- even if I liked mine better- In reality … this was a new feeling for me. I had never been on the other side of this kind of elite scrutiny- I hated it. Especially since I knew I did not have to deal with any of it. On the other side of things, we hadn't seen Edwards parents yet and I was preparing myself for that meeting. I was already dreading it.

"Sweetie are you going to be okay by yourself for five minutes while I get this deal settled?" He asked me in front of some man he was talking too.

"Of course." I answered softly. He smiled softly kissing me briefly before he walked off with whoever that guy was to go finish talk business. The guy in question left his girlfriend behind- I assumed so that us girls would talk and get along- but that wasn't going to happen. She had a bitchy raised eyebrow and challenged I say anything to her.

"Can I help you?" I snapped.

"You know you'll never fit in here, your mom was a whole swinger you think that's going to fly?" She scoffed. My phone rang in my little clutch and I pulled it out looking at the area code that always made my heart skip a beat. I looked up at her from my phone.

"I don't need to fit in here." Was all I said before I turned and walked away and went to go stand beside one of the pretty bars. The Volturi mansion was a prestigious castle like residence in New York. It was created by Aro Volturi a famous artist- one of the richest in the world- and he retired to Italy half of the year and allowed for upscale parties and events to be held on the compound the other half. To have a party here though cost a pretty penny, especially one of this magnitude. There were fancy tents, waiters and waitresses with flutes of champagne. Romantic lanterns lit all over the expansive backyard of the residence as people walked around mingled in their finest designer dresses and pressed suits. My phone was basically screaming at me to pick it up but I ignored it when I made eye contact with the pretty bartender I spoke.

"Martini please, Dirty." I instructed she just nodded and went to fetch me my drink. Just then I heard a voice behind me.

"You always did have a little drinking problem." Said a familiar voice I turned to be faced with the dirty blonde hair and green eyes of Alec. He was standing there holding his cell phone in his hands. The one he just used to call me..

"Why aren't you answering my call?"

"Because I don't want to speak to you… ass." I shot at him. I looked right then looked left making sure Edward didn't see us talking. This is one question my smart ass would not even have the answer too.

"I already told you I was sorry for what I did." He reasoned softly. I just took the newly placed martini and chugged it down.

"Edward can't see us talking to each other."

"Who?"

"My boyfriend… this is his parents' party." I said quietly. "Now go away."

"You know he's going to find out the truth eventually it might as well be now." He reasoned as he took a sip of his own drink.

"You can't tell him anything, okay?" I begged quietly.

"Why?" He shot back angrily. "what the hell are trying to do dye you hair some more?… you want to continue playing dress up in Jane's clothes?" He shot back quietly.

"Bella?" Said the voice of Edward, both Alec and I looked over to see Edward approaching us. He wrapped his arm around my waist. "Sorry that took longer than expected he was being difficult." He said to me. I smiled, and kissed his cheek.

"Its okay." I whispered to him. Because it was, anything he did was okay with me and this is why I was such a damn mess of a person right now.

His eyes met Alec.

"Who's your friend?" Edward asked me.

"Oh how rude of me. Alec, Alec Volturi" He said his free hand to meet Edward's. Edward looked impressed.

"Oh, wow this is your house then isn't it?" He joked. Alec laughed along with him.

"Yeah it is I'm just here to pick some clothes before I heard off to Paris for the rest of the summer. I shouldn't even be on this side of the property but you know, free alcohol." He said raising his drink. Edward saluted him.

"I hear that, how do you two know each other?"

I looked at Alec with pleading eyes.

"Oh we lived close to each other when we both went to Stanford. Become good old friends there… bonding over keggers." He said lightheartedly. I let out a little laugh, trying to hide how uncomfortable I was. Edward didn't seem to notice my discomfort or if he did, he didn't say anything.

"Sounds like my Bella, did you guys smoke a lot of pot too?" He asked Alec threw his head back and laughed, despite my discomfort I let out a laugh too – a real one- and then I looked up at him. His eyes met mine. He held me tighter to him.

"She likes to have fun." He said looking directly in my eyes.

"Alright you two love birds you go enjoy the rest of the party." Alec said nicely shoving us off.

"Nice to meet you." Edward said removing his arm form me to shake his hand in goodbye. I waved softly and when Edward and I turned our backs I heard my name.

"Bella?"

"Yeah?" I said turning around to face Alec once more.

"I'll be calling to catch up… Jane would love to see you again." He said with sincerity in his eyes. I just gave a little nod and then turned around to take Edward's awaiting hand, and he whisked me away to the rest of the party. To show me off to a bunch of people, who would rather not see me at all.

Pacifist.

Edward's father was a pacifist.

He was nice, he was genuine and like his son he had a magnetic personality that everyone kind of just was drawn too. How he was in love with Esme and liked her is something I will never understand. Carlisle was trying to get to know me, that much was obvious. Esme was trying to get me mad and Rosalie? Well Rosalie just stared.

"And Carlisle little Bella here is from Vegas…"

"Ahh sin city" Carlisle said enthusiastically as we sat at one of the many small round tables that was beautifully decorated. People were walking around coming up every so often to say congratulations, give hugs, gossip. Edward and I were sitting hand in hand in the presence of his parents and occasionally Rosalie. She was sitting with us earlier but I think she got upset at her fathers' kindness toward me so she left with Irina. Who Esme fawned over – by the way-

"I lived in Vegas for two years after high school, I loved it I loved the culture." He complimented. Edward let out a laugh.

"What culture? It's Vegas you get drunk and do drugs." He said amused at Carlisle.

"Exactly." Carlisle said, Esme rolled her eyes. "Do you miss it? Home?" He asked me nicely as he loosened up the button on his shirt sleeve.

"Uh sometimes… I miss the warmth." I answered truthfully. Carlisle nodded thoughtfully.

"What about your family? You ever go back and see your parents?" He asked. I just smiled softly and shook my head.

"No." I answered simply. He was about to speak but Rosalie came back to the table.

"Edward, Dr. Willard is looking for you something about his daughters amazing potential best seller?"

Edward rolled his eyes.

"Right, right. I'll be right back." He said to me softly. I just nodded, he gave me a kiss on the forehead and then he and Rosalie disappeared into the small crowd of people. I was left with the sharks and I felt an attack coming.

"So Bella, Edward is planning on having children do you want children?" Esme asked forcefully. Carlisle gave her a side eye.

"Esme let the kids live." He said a half attempt to try and control his wife but it wasn't going to happen that much I knew.

"You understand the place that Edward holds in our society he can't just be with a anybody… and quite frankly we don't even know you." She continued.

"Have you tried?" I asked amused, she tilted her head at me then crossed her arms. I said nothing for a few seconds but then I did.

"Look I get it, your son is the best thing that's ever happened to the world in your eyes…. But I would wonder if you loved him so much why you wouldn't just want him to be as happy as you." I said softly before I picked up my glass and tilted it in her direction before I got up and left that table. I shot down what was left in my glass and I wondered into the house to look at the amazing artwork Aro Volturi had hung up in the estate that I never paid attention to in the past. I was staring at one of his most famous paintings and tilted my head to the side at the image of familiar brown eyes at stared back at me in the painting. I felt a presence beside me.

"He has amazing work but most people have no idea what he means by anything to be honest." Tanya said from beside me. I turned to look at her and smiled softly.

"I know." I answered softly.

"Really?" She asked shocked that I could know anything about art.

"Really… that one's my favourite." I said pointing to the one in front of her. "I like the meaning behind it."

"What's the meaning?" She asked me.

"It's about an orgy in Italy." I said strongly. Tanya choked on her drink.

"I highly doubt that, that amazing piece of work is about something so crude… and it's a little disrespectful to even say something like that." She said the last part lowly as if scolding me. I couldn't open my mouth to say anything back to her, because Edward's amused voice spoke.

"Bella, the car is here to bring us home." He said softly. He reached his hand out for mine and I took it.

"It was nice to see you Tanya." He said in goodbye. She waved albeit reluctantly and the two of us walked in silence through the party, he said goodbye to his sister, various family members and friends and then we made our way to the front where the valet was waiting with his car. He held the door open for me and I got in. It was a silent ride to his house, neither of us saying much. I didn't know what to say, was he mad? Was he happy? Did he realize just how hard this relationship would be to fuel? It was only when I was brushing my teeth that he came over to me, taking my face in his hands -in his pjs.

"Hi." He said softly.

"Hi." I squinted my eyes at him. He looked amused, he put his forehead to mine.

"I'm happy you came tonight." He said quietly.

"I'm scared." I admitted quietly. He quirked his eyebrow.

"Why?"

"I… don't belong there and one day it's going to blow up and –

"I don't care Bella." He whispered brushing a lock of my hair behind my ear. I rested my head against his chest and breathed in his scent.

"I have something to tell you." I started with.

"Me first." He said taking my hand and guiding me into his bedroom. He walked over to the side drawer and pulled out a ring. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"It's a promise ring." He assured as he popped open to the reveal the classic emerald cut, emerald ring from Harry Winston. "You said green was your favourite color right?"

"Oh my God." I whispered taking the box delicately in my hand. He popped it out of the box and placed the huge diamond ring on my finger.

"Size five, dainty fingers." He whispered to me as he put his forehead to mine. I was admiring the ring holding my hand up away from me.

"Edward, I cant believe you bought me this." I said as he kissed down my neck. Totally enthralled by the flesh on my collar as he licked and nipped.

"Don't leave me." He begged barely above a whisper. "I don't care what anyone says, I don't care what anyone wants… just don't leave me because of it. I want you and only you nothing else matters." He whispered his green eyes smoldering into mine.

"Ok." I promised softly through my tears.

"Promise me Bella.."

"I promise Edward… I'll never leave you."