Hey all!

Here is chapter 3 of my little story. I hope you all enjoy!

All character belong to SM, I just have the plot.

Chapter 3 - Cullen Environmental

I noticed tonight that the world has been turning

While I've been stuck here dithering around

Though I know I said I'd wait around till you need me

But I have to go, I hate to let you down

But I can't stop now

I've got troubles of my own

Cause I'm short on time

I'm lonely

And I'm too tired to talk

- "Can't Stop Now", Keane

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.

"Damn it!"

I groaned as I got out of bed and turned my alarm off. I hated that stupid little piece of technology, but it was my best friend, on most days at least.

I rolled over and saw the calendar I hung on the wall last night. Monday. Today was Monday. That meant it was my first day of grad school.

I didn't move to Oregon to just get away from living in the Valley and to grow up, but it gave me a chance to continue my education, and that meant grad school. Today I started classes towards receiving a master's degree in Environmental Geology and hopefully making a career out of it.

Jumping out of bed, I hurried to the bathroom to take a shower. Today being my first day as a grad student, I made sure I shaved my legs and that I used my new rosemary mint shampoo.

After my shower, I just about ran into the kitchen and started my coffee pot. Dancing back to my room at the end of the apartment, I debated what I was going to wear today. As I opened my closet, I figured I would go with the usual: jeans, a black tank, a plaid button down (a little nicer one), and my black wedge Mary Jane's. It seemed like feminine modern geology wear.

When I was back in the kitchen, I made myself coffee in my travel mug then made a cup in Alice's Harry Potter mug and stuck it in the microwave. I grabbed a zone bar from the pantry and sipped my coffee on the way back to my room. I jotted down a quick note on a post-it for Alice and stuck it to the bathroom mirror. It was our little system: I was the morning person so I made coffee and left a sticky note letting her know wherever I left it.

Once I gathered up things for class, I headed out to my Jeep and climbed in. I set my travel mug in between the parking break and my seat as I started my beauty up. As it warmed up a bit, I rubbed the beads that hung around my rear view mirror for good luck. They were my Jake beads so they always brought me good luck.

Driving to school I listened to Papa Roach to completely wake up and be more me. They were my favorite band and always made me feel better. And I really mean always, any mood; they were my feel better drug.

Arriving at the University of Oregon, a whole fifteen minutes away from the apartment, I gathered my things from the car and headed off for the lecture hall.

"I know it's time to go, but listen up," states Professor Banner, "there are a few jobs around town and they are looking for fresh grad students to be employees. Quite a few of the companies I know will work around your class schedule. So if anyone is interested please let me know. You may all run off now."

I hurried and gathered my thing to race down the stairs of the lecture hall to the Professor. I needed one of these jobs. Not only would it be handy to get a job without searching for one, but it would also give me something else to put down on a resume.

"Umm, Professor Banner, my name is Bella Swan and I would like to know more about the jobs you were talking about."

"Well Miss Swan, you sure can know more about the jobs I mentioned." He walked over to the computer while talking so I just kept following. Just like that he sat down and began typing away. "Just let me get to my email, now. Ok, I have three jobs for the county, one for the state, two for an oil company, and one for an environmental firm. What area of Envio Geology are you looking into, Miss..."

"Swan. I'm interested in consulting, evaluating land for construction sites, soil samples, sustainability."

"It sounds like Cullen Environmental is for you then."

"I'm assuming you mean the firm you mentioned."

"That's the one. My good friend Carlisle Cullen started it not too long after he finished college. It has become quite an amazing firm. I would say it's the best in the state. Now, let me email him to let him know I'm sending you over to him right now."

"If he's busy I can, you know, send over my resume."

"Dear, go with my connection. Trust me, its better." He continued typing away as I debated this. Not sending in my resume and receiving a job with a top environmental firm. Check yes to an amazing start to my continuing education. "Ok, be at his office at 2pm this afternoon. That gives you two hours to get there. It's just off the Beltline, so it's easy to get there. And good luck, Miss..."

"It's Swan. And thank you very much Professor Banner."

I walked into Cullen Environmental in awe. It beautiful in every architectural way, like it jumped right out of Sunset magazine. The walls were white with a blue hue; the ceiling in the entry way was high and had sculptured light fixtures; the floor was multicolored slate; the windows were crystal clear. I was here for an interview. I could be working here tomorrow.

"May I help you?" The secretary woke me out of my daze.

"Yes, I'm Bella Swan. I'm here to meet Mr. Cullen at 2pm."

"Please, have a seat and I will let him know you're here."

"Thank you."

I picked up a Real Simple off the side table smiling because I have the same one on my coffee table. It was a one stop magazine. I used it for dinner ideas and what the new trends were.

"Bella?"

I looked to find a gorgeous man standing in front of me. He was a blond hair, blue eyed, casual but sophisticated type of man. He looked like he was in his young 30's, but the lines around his eyes told me else wise.

"I go by Bella. I'm Bella Swan."

"Well, in that case follow me dear. Let's interview in the comfy chairs I have in my office."

I followed Mr. Cullen down the slate hallway to an office with large glass windows.

"Have a seat my dear." I sat down, becoming instantly nervous. "Tell me a little about yourself. Maybe starting with where you attend college."

"I grew up in the Valley of Southern California and I went to UCLA where I received BS in Geology with a minor in environmental studies. I just began grad school at Oregon. I live with my best friend and I am going to get a cat for a pet."

"My wife loves cats. We have always had one around the house. And UCLA, now Oregon, you sound dedicated to the Pac-10 football."

I giggled football and cats in an interview? I hope I get the job. "Yeah, well I was born and raised in a football family; it has always been on."

"You sound like my son. Well, I guess I should get down to business. What are you studying towards?"

"I'm in the Environmental Science Master's program currently. I hope to do consulting where I can combine my love for geology and the environment."

"Well, that's what we do here. So, what times are you available?"

"I have class Monday through Thursday morning. So, I'm free from noon on and all day Friday."

"Cool. So how about you come in tomorrow at noon and I will pair you up with someone and let you get to work. I will have the paper work you will need to fill out up front with Jane and you can get that back to us whenever. Oh, and we don't dress up really for work. My wife has this thing about my clothes so I always seem to look nice. So dress however you want, just no Hooters shirts in the office is all I ask."

"Ok, wow. I can do that."

"Great. I hate to be rude but being in charge of the company means that I have to attend a million meetings."

"Understandable. Thank you very much again, Mr. Cullen."

"Call me Carlisle. We're all on a first name basis here; makes it easier."

I smiled and made my way out of Cullen Environmental, my now current employer.

Well scratch that off my list! I have a job. I am in my master's program. I have an apartment. Now I just need to figure out what to make for dinner.

By Friday I had my new schedule down: i got up; made coffee; got ready for the day; left coffee for Alice; went to class; went to work; and came home. It was perfect for me.

Working at Cullen Enviro was like a dream come true. It was exactly the type of place I saw myself work at. I was assigned to help Angela Webber, an amazingly beautiful and smart geologist. She was only five years older than me and began here the same way I did. We were a great pair and she was great at showing me the ropes of the place.

When Friday afternoon approached us, I found out that it was common for people to talk about their Saturday game plans. The Ducks were going to win this year; we all had our fingers crossed. It was perfect to be around people enthusiastic about the same things.

"What are your plans for the game, Bella?" Angela asked as I organized my papers on my desk to go home.

"I think Alice and I are going to make some food and watch the game. We are still kinda putting stuff away and I'm not sure I like how I put everything away in the kitchen. What are you going to do?"

"Ben will have the game on, so I will probably make some food and enjoy a relaxing day."

"That sounds amazing!"

Once I packed up my desk, I headed on home for a calm evening. Alice and I had planned a movie night around Breakfast at Tiffany's. On the menu was wine and finger foods. I couldn't wait to get home.

Saturday: game day.

I woke up and cleaned the apartment. I t didn't really need to be cleaned, but I did anyway. I think it drives Alice crazy how OCD I can get, but helps move the furniture as I go about it.

About noon I was busy getting the ingredients for homemade pizza when my phone rang. "Hello?"

"Bella! It's Jazz, what are you doing for the game?"

"Not much, Alice and I are staying in and I'm making homemade pizza. I'm assuming you want to come over for the game too."

"Can I bring someone with me?"

"If you try setting me up with this person I will cut off your balls so you can't nail Alice. Don't think I haven't seen you looking at her."

"I wasn't going to. You like guys that nobody can classify, your life is a writer's wet dream."

"Alice has already called the right to write a story about my last few years, and she knows if she does I will kill her. She lives with me, so it's not very hard."

"I'm sorry I brought it up, Bells."

"Its ok, Jazz. It still gets to me, that's all."

"Have you talked to anyone about it?"

"I will talk about it when I want; right now it's no one's business but my own. Are you coming over with this friend of not?"

"Bella, the year is coming up, you need to talk; that's all I'm saying and I'm dropping it. And, yeah, I'm bringing Emmett, my roommate. You know him, well you've never met him but I've told you all about him. Remember the guy I roomed with all of college? It's him. We still room together."

"Yeah, yeah, I remember. Come over in an hour or so, ok?"

"Love you, my favorite cousin!"

I hung up and threw the phone across the kitchen to the table. I wasn't going to let Jasper ruin my mood. I've been going fine for quite a while, and he had to break me down a little bit. I hated being weak. I was never weak. I knew he cared, more than I think he should sometimes, but this was something I had to do on my own.

My Ducks had won. Of course they had, this was the season they would make it all the way. Washington was easy to beat; they had been going downhill for quite some time.

Watching the game with Jasper and Emmett was amazing. I think Alice and I made Emmett pee his pants when we started yelling at the TV telling the players which way to go.

When the game was over, I ended up making some pasta and a salad for the four of us. Nothing was better than my homemade chicken Alfredo. Getting to know Emmett a little better over dinner was nice. He was a handful for sure.

As I was clearing off the table, my shirt slide up revealing the cupcake tattooed on the back of my right hip.

"Whoa, do you seriously have a cupcake tattooed on your body?" Emmett blurted out.

"We have matching ones." Alice piped in. "Mine is on the left; hers is on the right. Do you have any tats?"

"I have two. I have a tribal on my right arm and an angel on my back. How many do you have little one?"

I laughed as I filled the sink up with soapy water to do the dishes. Alice had been called "little one" all afternoon my Emmett. It pissed her off like no other, too. I found it funny since I was shorter by a few inches.

"I have four. I have the cupcake; a treble clef and bass clef making a heart on my foot; a Latin phrase down my left side; and a yellow ribbon on my right side. Bella has nine. They are amazing. Bell, you have to show them your tree and the roses."

Jasper made a choking noise. "Nine?"

I turned to glare at him. Why the hell was he pulling the big brother shit on me? He rubbed me wrong before the game and now, this.

"You have nine? On your little body?" Emmett seemed amazed.

"Yes I do. You can see them some other time."

"I want to see them tonight."

Shit.

"No."

"Come on Bella, just show me."

Damn it. Emmett was persistent.

I dropped my hands the edge of the sink and sighed. I had to get over this; it was permanent on my body. I never regretted it, but it was personal. I don't mean the tree on my back or the roses on my hip, but the one on my ribs next to the tree.

Turning around I lifted my shirt so that it was almost off. "Wow, that's amazing. The tree is so sick!"

Alice was all smiles; she helped me figure out how I wanted it. "Doesn't it look like the tree just lost all of its leaves? I helped her design it. Mainly, I just found the pictures she based it on."

Emmett seemed deep in concentration as I rotated to show him the roses on my front. "Wait, what does you side say? Its small writing."

"That's a personal one," I said quickly trying to pull my shirt down and move away from Emmett at the same time.

"Is it a memorial tat?" His words caught me off guard. As I tried moving faster away, I hit the chair and fell.

Emmett jumped up to help me. "That's some grace there, Bella. Hey, who's Jake?"

I looked up him like a deer in head lights. "What?"

"Your side says a name; all I could see was Jake."

I ignored Emmett's offered hand and got up on my own. I just about ran to my room in the back of the apartment. I slammed the door as hard as I could in frustration.

Fuck! Twice in one day!

I heard a knock. "Bella, honey, it's just me."

"Alice, not now." I yelled through the door.

"Just put on Paramour Sessions by Papa Roach and climb in to bed. I'll get them out of the house and finish the kitchen. I love you, bestie."

"Love you too, Al."

I turned on my stereo. The CD was already in it. I hit play and climbed into bed.

I cried myself to sleep.

I wasn't ready for the one year mark.

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