Author's Note: Please remember to review!! It would mean the world to me!!

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight.

Chapter Two:

It was almost dark by the time Edward arrived home. His first stop was the kitchen where he opened the refrigerator door to see what he could scrounge up for supper. Spotting a bowl of spaghetti left over from the previous night, he grabbed it, pulled off the saran wrap, and popped it in the microwave. Once it was done he took the bowl and a fork, sank into the living room couch, and flipped on the television.

Finding nothing better, he settled on an FBI crime drama. Unfortunately the show didn't hold his attention for long and soon he found his mind wandering to the young girl he had found standing in the street that morning. Bella. Edward smiled as he remembered her standing in the middle of the street with that odd look on her face, and that cute blush as soon as she noticed she what was going on.

Edward felt a strange and unfamiliar feeling rise through him at the thought of Bella. She was so beautiful. He thought. She looked like she belonged in some big city, considering the way she was dressed, I wonder what brought her to Iowa.

But he didn't have much time to wonder because just then he heard the familiar tune of his doorbell echo through the house. Setting the remainder of his meal down on the coffee table he went to the door to find his best friend, Jasper Hale on the other side.

"Hey, man hurry up and open this thing, its cold out here!" Jasper called through the door.

"Patience," Edward called back as he reached for the doorknob.

"Finally," said Jasper as he stepped into the warm house.

"Hi to you too buddy," Edward said sarcastically as he gave Jasper a pat on the back.

"Right," Jasper smile, "Hey Edward! How's it going?"

Edward laughed him off.

"Got any beer?"

"I knew you were going to ask that."

"Is that a yes or a no? Because I have some in the car but I figured I'd rather drink yours than mine."

"You know where it is."

With that Jasper turned and headed into the kitchen grabbing two Budweiser's from the fridge. After which he made his way back into the living room where Edward was finishing his supper. Popping the caps off both of them he set one in front of Edward and kept the other for himself.

"So seriously, how's it going?" Jasper asked.

"Oh you know, it's going." Edward answered without looking up.

Smiling Jasper added, "Gone out with anyone lately?"

"Jazz this is a town of less than 800 people. I you'd think you'd know if there was," Edward told him. "In fact, don't think that I'm unaware of the fact that my grandmother calls you personally every time I do go on a date."

"Good point."

"Thank you."

"So speaking of your grandmother, my new reporter is her new tenant," Jasper informed him.

Edward looked up from his meal momentarily, "Yeah she told me that."

"It's a woman."

"Of course my grandmothers a woman," Edward teased, despite the fact that he knew exactly who Jasper was referring to.

"No!" Jasper exclaimed as he punched Edward in the shoulder. "My new reporter!"

Edward laughed.

"She's hot."

Edward stopped laughing.

"So are you going to stop by and check her out?" Jasper pushed.

"I think I'll probably end up seeing her eventually. I don't see what the hurry is."

"Ouch."

Edward glared at him, "I didn't mean it in a mean way."

"Then how did you mean it?"

"I just mean that I have stuff to do and I think my grandmother would have called me if they needed any help with anything. It might be a little obvious if I just went over there without being invited."

"Its your grandmother's house, going without being invited is like an unsaid rule, even I know that."

"I don't' want to make the new girl uncomfortable."

"I think your making excuses." Jasper was silent for a moment before he asked, "Dude, what aren't you telling me?"

"I can't hide anything from you can I?"

"Never could, never will. Now spit it out."

Edward gave a resigned sigh, "I've already meet Bella."

"What! Why didn't you say that?"

"Because its not a big deal."

"Not a big deal? " Jasper said. "Edward you've been alone for far too long. Personally I don't know what you've been waiting for you've had plenty of opportunities to fix that. But that's beside the point, there is a beautiful woman living in your grandmother's house. How are you not going to take advantage of this?"

"Why don't you date her if you think she's so beautiful?" Edward asked.

"Because I don't date my employees." Jasper explained, "My job means to much to me to compromise it like that."

The sat in silence for a few moments before Jasper exclaimed, "But she is so hot Edward!"

"I am well aware of how beautiful she is!" Edward said without meaning to.

Jasper raised his eyebrows, "Oh yeah, then what are you waiting for."
"I'm just not ready for that yet, not after what happened with Tanya and I," Edward told him.

"Edward that was a year ago."
"Yeah and I'm still not over it. What she did to me was unforgivable."

"You know what Edward?" Jasper said suddenly getting a little angry, "You have been wallowing in your own sorrow for a year now. You force me to listen to how horrible of a person the best reporter on my team is, yet you won't even tell me what she did! Don't you see how this could be a little frustrating?"

"She cheated on me," Edward said suddenly without looking up, " twice. I forgave her the first time. It was early on in our relationship and she promised she wouldn't do anything like it again. But then she did, and I couldn't forgive her for cheating on me after we'd been together 2 ½ years. Especially when I found out she'd been cheating for 8 whole months before I caught them together in my bed. "

"So that's why you got a new bed."

Edward glared at him.

Feeling a little guilty Jasper said, "I'm really sorry buddy."

"Yeah so am I but what can you do."

Jasper hesitated for a moment, "You can understand that if a person does something like that then they're obviously not the one for you, and then you can move on."

Edward looked up and gave him a faint smile, "I'm working on it. But please understand, I don't think being in a relationship is a good idea right now. I just don't it want to turn out that it's a re-bound thing and end up hurting them."

Jasper laughed, "I can understand that, but I don't think you need to worry about rebounding a year after the fact."

"Well regardless, I'd just like to be sure."
"Fine," Jasper said holding up his hands in defeat, "I'll stop pushing."

"Thank you."

Riiiiiinnnggg!! Riiiiiiinnnnggg!! Riiiiiinnnggg!!

Bella ran to her phone the second she heard sound of her ringtone. No one here knew her number, the only person who could be calling was someone from home. Looking at the caller I.D, Bella couldn't help but smile despite how angry she was.

"Alice I told you not to call me!" She hissed into the mouthpiece.

"I'm sorry Bella," her friend Alice apologized, "but I just couldn't help it. I had to know that everything was ok."

"How do you know they're not tracing your calls?" Bella demanded.

"They don't even know that you're gone yet," Alice told her.

"What do you mean they don't know I'm gone yet? I've been gone for two days now."

"I called your mother and told her we were taking a shopping trip to L.A. I figured it would buy you a little time and me a good excuse to shop! Admit it Bella, I think of everything!"

"As much as I appreciate this Alice, you didn't think of everything."

"What didn't I think of?"

"What's going to happen when you arrive home without me?"

"I just figured they would think you got kidnapped…"
"This is James, Alice. Did you buy me a plane ticket? Was there anyone sitting next to you that looked like me on the plane? Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if he had you followed, in which case this phone conversation is probably being traced!"

"Ok I get it, your paranoid. But I promise you everything will be fine Bella. I wouldn't have done this had I not thought that it would be safe," Alice assured her.

"Alice, it's not necessarily my safety that I'm worried about right now. I know what James is capable of. Mike tried getting in the way of James marrying me and look what happened to him. I just don't want James to do the same thing to you."

"Bella I can take care of myself. I will be fine."

"I just don't want him to hurt you because of me."

"Everything will be fine."

Bella was silent for a moment, "I'm disconnecting me cell phone and getting a new number. I should have thought of that sooner. If anything happens you know where I'm at. Just be careful as to how you get here, make sure your not followed, and only come if you have to." Bella told her. "I'm really sorry it has to be like this Alice. But I can't live that life. I can't be married to James."

"I understand."

"Do you really, or are you just saying that to make me feel better?"

"No I really do."

"Goodbye Alice."

"Goodbye Bella, I love you."

"I love you too, and I'll miss you."

After hanging up the phone with Alice, Bella made her way downstairs. She found her new land lady, Mrs. Billows sitting in her recliner chair, crocheting.

"All settled in?" Mrs. Billows asked.

"Getting there," Bella said with a smile. "I don't really have a lot of things. I was wondering if there was a good department store around where I could get some more clothes. I wasn't able to bring a lot with me."
"Well maybe you can send for some more. I'm sure your folks would send you out some," Mrs. Billows kindly suggested.

Bella gave a light laugh, "I'm not so sure about that. I think its better if I just get new ones."

"Whatever you want dear, your probably going have the best luck driving into Des Moines, it's only about an hour and a half drive."

An hour and a half just to go to the mall! Bella thought, "Wow that's a really long drive. There isn't anything here in Dothan?"

"Not much I'm afraid. If you plan on getting a lot I'd suggest going to Des Moines. If it's the drive your afraid of I'm sure my grandson, Edward would be pleased to take you."

Bella's first reaction was pure joy. A whole hour and a half car ride with Edward Cullen would make my life perfect. Wait! What are you thinking Bella Swan? You don't even know this man! And the last thing you need right now is another man in your life.

"Oh no Mrs. Billows, thank you so much for the offer but I'm sure your grandson has many other things he'd rather be doing on a Saturday than driving me around.

"Actually he drives into Des Moines on the weekend quite frequently," Mrs. Billows insisted. "I don't quite know what it is that he does, he keeps that to himself. "

Bella gave Mrs. Billows a masterful fake smile, "Well maybe next time I'll grab a ride."

"I think that's a wonderful plan!" Mrs. Billows told her as she arose from her chair. "And now I think I'm going to be going to bed. It's getting late."

Bella looked at the clock, it read 8:30.

"Ok, well goodnight."

"Yes goodnight dear, I hope you sleep well."

"Thank you so much Mrs. Billows," Bella said sincerely, "For everything. It means so much to me."

Mrs. Billows gave Bella a pat on the cheek as she said, "Its not a problem dear. Its kind of nice to think that after all these years, I don't have to worry about being alone."

As Mrs. Billows walked up the stairs, Bella pulled out the paper Jasper had given to her from her pocket.

Rosalie Cullen 444-9877.

Rosalie Cullen?? Bella thought. I didn't realize Edward was married. A strange sense of disappointment washed over her, but she pushed it aside. Well I guess that's for the best. Now I don't have to worry about any feelings for him creeping up.

Author's Note: I really hope you enjoyed this chapter I wont be able to post again till next week Wednesday on account of Fall Break…my family only has dial-up i-net so it takes to long to upload it at home. Plus its kinda a pain to hook up my laptop. Sorry! Please remember to review!! Thanks!