A/N: For those who think the worst of Edward: hope this chapter gives you a better grasp of his situation. And thanks for all the love :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

"Edward, where are you right now? Where's Bella? What happened?"

"In her apartment, she's locked in her bathroom but she locked the bedroom door so I wouldn't come anywhere near her most likely. She just handed me the phone and walked away like a zombie. Alice, please help me. I fucked up badly and I don't think she wants to see me any time soon. Please come over so you could explain. Please." I begged, I was so fucked and it had all been my fault.

How the fuck am I going to get out of this one?

The Saturday before, mid-afternoon...

BPOV

Oh how I wish I could be as plastic as Heidi Montag. I'd be so close to being Barbie…

Emmett Cullen has commented your status…

Why do you want to be like that media whore? You're right, she's so plastic now, I wonder if the plastic surgeon misplaced her lady parts.

I laughed out loud when I read this, and typed away my response.

Respond to Emmet Cullen's comment…

Hahaha, Emmett, I'm pretty sure they closed that garage down because they didn't have enough skin for her beach ball boobs.

I waited for his comment, when I realized that someone else had updated their status.

Edward Cullen: Some people just don't realize how stunningly beautiful they are, and compare themselves to trash.

I wanted to know if that was meant for me, if it did I could break out in hives and have to be taken to the hospital. The pure shock that Edward was saying I was "stunningly beautiful" would have given me a heart attack.

Two seconds later, Jasper commented Edward's status. Like always, I read it without the slightest bit of guilt.

Why thanks, Eddie (Edward hated that nickname, I could hear him fuming in my mind) I didn't know you felt that way towards me. I'll be sure not to forget your thoughts on me ;)

I laughed to hard, the ice cream icicle I had in my mouth almost came flying out and into my laptop monitor, complete with spit and all. I loved our relationships with each other.

Emmett Cullen has commented your status…

Hahahahahahahahahaha I will say something, as much as I love the roundness and firmness of tits, I draw the line when they're that fake. A man needs flesh, not Marvel's discarded action figure material melted into that atrocity.

I rolled my eyes, and typed my answer.

Respond to Emmett Cullen's comment.

-rolls eyes- you're so sweet, Emmett. The woman that tames you will be a very lucky woman.

"Hell yeah." Alice Cullen said as she looked at herself, satisfied. I looked up from my laptop, Haagen Dasz ice cream pop hanging from my mouth. I was commenting the article Speidi had broken over the weekend in my Us Weekly magazine.

What? I have a lot of time for an at home newspaper writer for The Seattle Times.

"Bella, stop looking like a deranged cat lady and tell me what you think." Alice looked at me, hands in hips looking scary for a dainty 5'2" incher.

"You look awesome Alice." I said licking off some of the ice cream from my lips, as I logged out of my Facebook and turned off my laptop. And paying attention to one of my best friends trying on a gold sequin Gucci dress, just then her twin brother walked in. Did I mention that he was gorgeous? Well, he was.

I loved the fact that all six of us lived on the same street. Edward, Jasper and I lived in the same building, while Rosalie, Emmett (no surprise there) and Alice lived in the one next door.

How did that happen, you ask? Well, when I had announced to my friends that I wanted to live in Downtown Seattle instead of one of its suburbs after college, they bombarded me with ideas of their own to move down here too.

Edward was the first one, he claimed he wanted to be closer to the heart of the city, as well as the hospital he was currently doing his residence. And (he made this last bit, a point) giving me the honor of his being my neighbor. And please, don't mention the fact that he was only trying to take advantage of a great real estate offer… To say that I was EXTREMELY happy that he had moved into my building and being directly above me (the irony of that statement was not lost to me, thank you) would be a horrific understatement.

Then, Jasper decided to make the move; his reasons were more realistic (and honest), he wanted to be closer to the bars and clubs of the city. Even though his office (he was a child psychologist), was uptown. Alice felt lonely that her college roommate, and twin brother as well as the love of her life were so close and she was so far that she was the fourth person to move downtown. After fighting with Edward for his apartment, (all of the apartments in our building were taken ((yay! Sorry Alice!)) and after my secret praying for him not to secede) she moved in next door. The buildings were just as comfortable and safe, but of course Alice wanted to be closer to me (codeword for Jasper).

Rose felt totally forgotten, and lonely that her BFFs were so close to each other while she was uptown, so she decided to move next door to Alice. Emmett had the same reasons that Alice had, as well as the ulterior motives but he said that just like Edward and Jasper, he wanted to be close to the bars and clubs (also code words, in his case: Rosalie).

"Hey ladies," Edward said in his extremely sexy voice as he brought me back to the present. Today he was sporting black faded jeans, a vintage Beatles tee and his favorite black chucks. As well as his signature messy mop of delicious copper blonde hair. He made casual look haute couture.

I could already feel my girly parts saying hello…

"Hey Edward, I wasn't expecting you today, what's up?" Alice said, turning around and going to him to hug him hello. We were currently guests of Alice, in her home full of pictorials of models wearing AWESOME clothes, as well as being surrounded by the most fabulous interior designing ever.

Well, shucks… I guess having a famous interior designer for a mother was a good thing…

"Sorry to drop in unannounced little sis, but Emmett got us some VIP spots at Midnight. I came to ask you if you and the girls, it's going to be a midnight beach party," he looked up at me and sent me his devilish grin.

Oh god, I think I just came a little…

"Really?" Alice said, with a hint in her eye and a little tone in her voice. "When is it?"

"Tonight. It's an event for the reopening of the club in downtown, but since it's the beginning of summer, they're doing it at First Beach, by Forks." Edward looked at me, I stared at him and then it hit me why he would point this out.

"Forks? Oh my god! My hometown! Oh my god, Alice! We have to go!" Then I remembered that I had an article due on the following Monday and that I hadn't even started it.

"Something wrong?" Edward looked at me, worried.

"It's just that I have some stuff to do, so I don't know if I'll be able to make it…" I said, looking at my laptop and hating it for a second. Then I remembered the comment Edward had written on his Wall and suddenly went on to daydream about he and I dirty dancing in one of my favorite beaches surrounded by torch lights, bonfires, alcohol and people in very little clothes…

"So you won't be able to come?" Alice asked, looking at me as I had slaughtered a puppy.

"Hmm?" I asked dumbly, I felt my Us Weekly fall to the floor, I looked down startled and went to retrieve it. When I did, I could have sworn I heard a small gasp but thought nothing of it. When I sat back up, I looked at Edward, who had a weird look on his face and then back at the awaiting Alice who looked like the cat that ate the canary.

Did I miss something?

"Sure Alice, I'll go." I said, unsure of what was wrong with the Cullen twins, but suddenly remembered that I would have a chance to be somewhat alone with Edward…

Edward cleared his throat and looking away, he ran his hand through his untamed locks trying to look normal, Alice on the other hand started to jump up and down like a lunatic from happiness.

"This is going to be so much fun!" She said, walking into her room and prattling about what she wanted to wear tonight.

Edward on the other hand cleared his throat once again, and sat down in Alice's Ethan Allen love seat. "Midnight, huh?" I said going to him and sitting in Alice's matching lazy boy. The only reason she got a lazy boy, was because Edward, Emmett and Jasper practically lived in her house and to accommodate them she decided to get the "quintessential men's arm chair".

"Do you really want to go?" Edward said, looking strained.

"Yes, why do you ask? You don't want me to go?" I said, feeling slightly hurt.

"No!" He said startled, and putting up his hands and shaking them profusely, "it's just that you're not a club person that's all."

"Oh. I'm not?" I asked, shyly. Edward groaned and looked up at me looking sad, "Why is it that instead of making things better, I'm making them worse?"

I didn't understand what he meant by that but just stared, "I'm sorry Bella. I don't know what's come over me. I meant that you're not one to doll up and go party like my sister and Rose." He looked down as if embarrassed to say the next words, "you're different."

I willed my body not blush at his words, but it didn't really work. He looked up, and suddenly his face broke into pure happiness. "You're blushing!"

"No I'm not!" I said looking away. When I did I could have sworn I saw gold sequins flash away in Alice's room direction.

Huh?

"Anyway, I have to go," Edward said looking at his watch, somewhat disappointed.

"Why?" I hated that my voice suddenly dropped and turned sad, I hoped he hadn't noticed that.

"I have to see someone, he's expecting me and I can't let him down." He said, getting up and going to the door.

"A patient" I asked, known Edward was always busy with his medical career. He was following his father's footsteps, who was the Chief of Medicine at the Seattle Medical Center, the most important private hospital in the city.

The Cullens were rich. but not your Paris Hilton rich, or even your Bill Gates rich, they were able-to-feed-a-small-country-for-ten-years-kind of rich.

Yeah, I know.

"Yeah, a patient." He said, his smile not reaching his eyes, interesting… "anyway, tell Alice that since I'll be tied up, Jasper and Emmett will be over to pick you ladies up around eight to drive down, and Emmett says that he won't wait of for anyone so to please be ready by then. See you tonight. Oh! and, tell her I'll pay for the first round of drinks." He gave me a friendly peck and ran out the door, looking distracted.

"Ed-" I said but didn't finish calling after him because he literally ran down the hall and out of view.

I closed the door and gave out a sigh, why did he suddenly get so awkward?

"Hey Bella," Alice said walking in, now wearing her favorite Carolina Herrera maxi dress with her red braided thong sandals by the same designer.

"Alice, that maxi dress makes you look shorter than what you are." I said, pointing something that everyone said to her whenever she put on a maxi dress. But of course, she didn't care.

"I know, but big things come in small packages." She winked at me sitting down where Edward had been not five minutes ago and crossed her leg under her rear. "So where's Edward?" She said, taking out her cell.

"He left," I said, trying to play it off that something weird was going on with him, "he said to expect him tonight at Midnight, that Emmett and Jasper will be here for us no later than eight and to be ready by then otherwise they'll leave without us" Alice clicked her tongue as if to say, "we'll see about that", I kept going with my list of things to inform her, "and that the first round of drinks was on him."

"That's great!" Alice said, after pressing the number she wanted she held her cell to her ear and waited for a response.

"Tish?…" Tisha? Oh no. Alice was calling her personal assistant, that only meant one thing… "Yeah it's me. How are you?… That's great. Hey, I'm going clubbing tonight with my friends and I was wondering if you could bring me the Victoria's Secret stash I have in your office."

I got up and waved my hands in her face, telling her not to ask Tisha for anything in my name, but Alice flagged me down and kept talking as if I wasn't there, "uh-huh, that one. Yes, could you bring it to my apartment by…" she looked at the clock, "four o'clock this evening?"

I slumped down in the lazy boy and crossed my arms over my chest, looking like a slighted ten-year old girl. "Ok thanks, love you lots." Alice hung up and looked up at me. Noticing my dejected look, she rolled her eyes and said, "get over it."

The doorbell rang and Alice called out from her seat that the door was open. It was Rosalie, fresh from a day at the spa. "Hey bioches. Emmett called and told me about tonight. You going?" She sat down next to Alice, who looked super happy. At east one of her best friends was interested in tonight.

"Yes! And I already called Tisha, she's bringing over my early birthday presents for you two!"

"What?" Rosalie said, looking surprised.

"I bought some Victoria's Secret clothing for the three of us!" Rosalie and I stared at each other and back at Alice, totally lost. "You know how you're the Victoria's Secret spokesmodel?"

That's right. Rosalie, my best friend was the new Victoria's Secret Angel. Needless to say, I was totally jealous.

"Yes…" Rosalie said unsure of what she was going to hear.

"Well, because I want you to get more press, I called Emmett who pulled some strings and got us the VIP tickets, and afterwards I called the press to tell them you were going to be there, and since I'm a regular "Paris Hilton", only without the jail-time, pussy photos and douchbaggery of boyfriends-"

"Yes Alice, go on." I pressed. Alice stuck her tongue out at me and went on, "Anyway, since I have the title of "socialite" in Seattle as well as being the youngest Head Designer at Dior, they know who I am, and" she looked at me, "because you wrote that award-winning exposé on the abuse from the employees to the retirees in some homes" (yes, I am the recipient of the Association of Women in Communications' Clarion Award, :D) as well as one of People's "Most Beautiful People" of 2010" -blush- "they're going to be swarming that party like there's no tomorrow." She will never live it down… Personally, I thought they had made a huge mistake in adding me on to such a list, and I even sent them a letter and picture of to make sure that they knew they had the wrong Bella Swan.

It had been me who made a mistake, and after telling me that I was indeed beautiful and that what I had done for those defenseless retirees had made me even more beautiful on the outside because my inside was a pocket full of daisies and candy corn. Ok the last statement was me, but that's basically what their response letter said. -blush even more-.

"Don't forget Edward, who came in at number two in said list right before Julia Roberts who is beaten by no one. And is considered by the West Coast Medical League to be the most prominent doctor of his generation." I looked down, trying not to blush my face off.

"As well as Emmett! Who is also press-worthy. I mean after all, he is the youngest President in the history of your grandparents' investment company" Rose said, trying to sound natural and not at all defensive.

"And Jasper! Who at the age of 20, received two Ph.D.s! One in Child Psychology and the other one in Child Development!" Alice yelled.

We looked at each other and laughed, "well, aren't we a bunch of accomplished know-it-alls…" I said, trying to sound pompous, while taking my hand out and making it look like I was drinking high tea with my pinky out.

"Here, here." Alice said in her best British accent. Rosalie's cellphone went off and we tried to be a little quieter as to give her a little bit of respect so as to hear the other person.

"Hello?" She said into the phone. "Emmett." She whispered putting her hand slightly on the end of the phone, she went back to talking to him, "eight o'clock?" She said looking at Alice's wall clock, "fine, we'll try and be ready no later than eight, but I'm not making any promises!" She waited for his response, "Ok, ttyl." She hung up, so loving…

"You heard. Jasper and Emmett want us ready by eight o'clock." Rose said throwing her cell into her LV tote. "Isn't Edward going with us too?"

"Apparently he has stuff to do before, so he's leaving after we do in his own car." I tried to sound annoyed after remembering his sudden departure.

"I see…" Alice said looking at Rose and sending her a quick look. I internally rolled my eyes and plopped back to my seat not caring that my boobs were about to pop out of my low cut, pink blouse.

"Damn, your girls look bigger today." Rose said, blatantly staring at my boobs.

"You wanna taste?" I said, sarcastically.

"Fuck, that would make my day." Emmett's boom was heard entering the flat as the British say. Jasper followed suit, looking just as horny as Emmett.

"Sorry babe," Rosalie looked at me, playing along, "after the boys leave." She sent me a wink.

I groaned trying to sound disappointed, "damn." I turned back to the guys, "leave that way Rose and I could finish our business."

"Not on your life." Jasper said, chuckling, while Alice sent him a dirty look, which he didn't notice. We all knew his game. He did everything under the sun to try and make her jealous. Again, he thought that this had no effect on her, but still he tried out the waters. Unfortunately Alice thought this was his normal self and not a fake personality to try and get her to react, that indeed she didn't react. The two idiots literally pushed each other away.

"Why are you here? We're going to start to change." Alice said, annoyed. Oh Alice, Jasper won't stop unless you tell him to.

"To personally remind you, that we're not waiting any longer than 8:00 p.m." Emmett said, rather annoyingly.

"We get it. No later than than 8:00 p.m.!"

"Damn, sis, what's gotten into you? Emmett said, trying to walk away from her. Hell hath no fury like a jealous Alice.

She all but growled at him. "Oookayyy… we're leaving!" Emmett said, running away into the safety of anywhere else but Alice's apartment. Jasper sent her a small smile and closed the door behind him.

I was about to say something but Rosalie sent me a warning look. This was no time to challenge Alice, as well as everyone but Jasper and Alice had nonverbally agreed on never mentioning the situation to each other or the affected parties.

I bit the inside of my cheek and went back to my laptop to see what my schedule was like and if I could allow myself a night of partying.

Edward's sudden departure had me hanging. I didn't know if I wanted to go now because of his sudden and cold good bye. Which in turn made me want to go even more to try and forget my almost invisible troubles with him and drink and dance the night away. Maybe I would bet laid tonight, who knew.

Just as I decided this, the doorbell rang and Alice went to open it. There stood Tisha with bags and bags full of VS merchandise. This further solidified my plans, to hell with Edward and his random mood swings. Tonight I was going to forget about him and have a night full of drinking, dancing and possibly a good fucking.

Jesus and all his angels knew I needed it.

EPOV

"Tanya, I told you not to tell him that. As much as I love him, you know I can never take that place." I said, rubbing my temples for the umpteenth time tonight and tried to make her understand.

"But Edward, you're the only father he's even known. I can't tell him otherwise." She said, trying not to talk loudly in case he heard our conversation.

"Look, I talked to Alice who spoke to a mutual friend of ours that has a Ph.D. in child psychology, if you lead him on, telling him that I'm his father, when really I'm just your doctor and old flame from college and nothing more, and he finds out, he'll be crushed."

Tanya started to tear up. Fuck no…

"Edward, all I need from you is just a day or two to spend two hours with him. That's all."

I sighed, I was getting nowhere and I needed to be somewhere, "fine." She grinned from ear to ear, "but you have to tell him I'm not his father. I'll be his father figure, but not his father. as much as I have grown to love him in the last three weeks, I can't do that to him, or my family."

"Thank you Edward!" She threw herself at me and kissed me. Before I could push her away we heard a small gasp coming from the doorway and when Tanya pulled away, she herself gasped. "Jason!"

"Mommy, does this mean Daddy's staying with us?" He ran up to us, looking heart-crushingly happy. Tanya threw me a look to not say anything, and crouched down to his level, "sweetie, why aren't you in bed?"

"I heard you and Daddy talking and I wanted to know why." I looked away, uncomfortable.

"Um…" Tanya looked up, noticing my awkwardness, she looked back at him smiling, "Edward" she emphasized, I smiled at her clear attempt to distinguish my name but also feeling like crap, "and I were just talking about some work stuff. Honey, you have to go to bed though. It's way past your bed time and I don't want you to loose any sleep." Tanya straightened up, trying to regain her authority.

As if on cue, Jason rubbed his eyes trying to fight his sleepiness, "your mom's right, Champ," I said going to him and also crouching down to meet his eye level, "it's bad for you if you don't sleep the hours you have to. You'll get sick and you know that I wouldn't like that." I said, taking him in my arms and carrying him to his room. Tanya stayed in the living room clearly watching us.

After I assured him I would be back in a couple of days to play with him and take him out to see Toy Story 3 when it came out, he finally let himself fall asleep. It made me extremely sad to realize how desperate and anxious he was whenever he and I said our goodbyes. I could tell he was terrified of me never coming back, which made me feel absolutely horrible.

I dimmed his Buzz Lightyear and Woody lights, and closed the door quietly. I walked to the living room to find Tanya sitting in one of her sofas with a cup of coffee in her hand and a second one in her coffee table.

"I was hoping you would stay a bit and we could talk…" she sounded hopeful. I didn't like this…

"Sorry Tanya," I looked at her clock that hung adjacent to me, it read 8:30 p.m. "But I have plans already." She tried to hide her disappointment.

"Oh. Well, I guess we'll leave it for another day than." She said setting her cup down while getting up.

"Well, good night." I said heading for the door while grabbing my coat from the arm rest of the couch she had been sitting in. I wanted to leave because I wanted to see everyone, especially…

"Goodnight." Tanya said, kissing my cheek goodbye. "About earlier…"

"Don't worry about it," I internally winced, I didn't want her to get the wrong idea so I carefully chose my words, "I know you were excited about my decision so I won't think anything of it. It was the spur-of-the-moment-kind of thing." I said, hinting slightly.

"Right…" She said looking down.

"Well, anyway," I said as I opened the door, "see you later."

"When" she said, trying to hold me a couple of more seconds, noticing this she changed her tone, "will you come see him?"

"I'll call you some time during the week." She looked doubtful, "I promise." I said sincerely. I really did care for Jason, and the last thing I wanted was to leave him hanging like his real father. "By the way," I said holding the door, "where is his father?" Tanya hadn't really delved into that topic, and even though it was a private matter, I somewhat felt that I had a right to know some of the details.

"He walked out on him and I." She said, looking down while looking somber.

"I see…"

"Well, I think I should turn in…"

"Right. Goodnight." I said walking away.

"Goodnight." She called out to me.

I ran down the hallway and to my silver Volvo and hurried to my apartment so I could change into a fresh set of clothes as well as get into my party mood. Although the guilt of running out on Tanya and leaving a sleepy Jason made me somewhat guilty. But I reminded myself, that I wasn't a father, and that I was a bachelor trying to start my career as a prominent doctor in the medical world.

Alice knew about my situation with Jason, even though she didn't love the idea, she understood and promised me she would keep it a secret until necessary. What she didn't know was that I was in love with her best friend. Athough every day, I had a feeling she figured me out little by little.

I would worry about that later. Right now, I was more worried about not running into a cop as I raced down the freeway on my way to the beach and my friends.

A/N: So? Do you feel better about Edward? If you do, tell me, if not, also tell me! Thanks for reading! Next chapter is the party, the alcohol, the sexual tension between all the three main couples and of course a little bit of Tanya. But remember, that the first chapter hasn't happened yet as of this chapter. I did it this way as to have the first chapter be a sort of prologue :D