I apologize for the fact that this probably hasn't been properly proof read. I wanted to submit it while I had access to wireless Internet at my friend's house. If anyone wants to beta this for me that would be amazing! Hope you enjoy the longer chapter!! As always please review!!!
I don't own any part of Twilight.
BPOV (her thoughts are in italics)
I thought this was supposed to be an office party. The whole town has shown up! I can't believe I'm here right now. I wish I could talk to Alice. I miss her so much. Stop Bella. You know that this is for the best. You can't marry James. You just can't. You'll make new friends. Everything will be fine. This is for the best. This is for the best. This is for the best.
Bella's thoughts were interrupted by a women saying, "Ahem…Isabella?"
She turned to see a tall women with long blonde hair stood before her.
"I wanted to introduce myself, my name is Tanya Denali."
"Oh yeah, its wonderful to meet you, and you can just call me Bella" Bella said holding out her hand for Tanya to shake.
Tanya ignored this small act of common courtesy and instead continued speaking. "I understand you're living with Mrs. Billows."
"Yeah I …"
"That's Edward Cullen's grandmother."
" I know we've…"
"If you go anywhere near Edward I'll have to hurt you," Tanya said in a strongly sweet voice.
I thought Edward was married.
"Rosalie will back me up on this," Tanya continued.
Ah, she's friends with Edwards wife.
"Ok well you don't have anything to worry about."
"Good. I have a feeling we'll be good friends then."
And with that Tanya walked away and back into her office where she shut the door.
Creepy
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JPOV (his thoughts are in italics)
So much for getting anything done today, this whole office party thing is not what I had in mind. I had thought that a small, short get together would be a good way for Bella to get to know the other employees. I told Jake no beer! I also told him it was employees only, but no, the almost the whole town shows up. But what do you expect in a small town like this?
"Hey Jasper? You going to write a story about this here get together?" One of the townsfolk called from across the room. Jasper wasn't quite sure who it was. But he ignored him.
Finally he found Bella who was cornered by Reverend Biggs and his wife Cecelia. "…I tell you the Lord works in mysterious ways its unbelievable the amount of times…Jasper! Its good to see you."
"Reverend Biggs." Jasper said shaking the mans hand, "Mrs. Biggs how are you?"
"Just fine," the Reverend answered, "I was just telling Ms. Swan—"
"Bella," Bella corrected with a kind smile.
"Of course, my dear my sincerest apology," The Reverend corrected himself. "I was just telling Bella of some of kind ways our Lord has weaved his loving hand in our beautiful community."
"We certainly are blessed," Jasper agreed, "I don't mean to interrupt but I was wondering If I could steal Bella for a moment, there are a few people I'd like her to meet."
"Of course," Mrs. Biggs answered for her husband, "We need to be leaving anyway. If we don't get home soon dear you're going to be eating a burnt pie for your desert tonight."
"Well we wouldn't want that!" The Reverend exclaimed. "We'll be seeing you Jasper, It was pleasure meeting you Bella I hope to see you Sunday."
"Thank you so much!" Bella said to Japer with a sigh as the older couple walked away. "They seem nice but I was getting tired of the endless stories."
Jasper laughed, "Yeah, I completely understand."
He took Bella by the elbow and began to lead her over to a couple standing in line for drinks. "I'm assuming you'd like to meet some of the women here in town. Bella this is Angela ______and her husband Ben. Angela this is Bella Swan."
Angela took Bella's hands in her own and said, "Its so nice to meet you Bella. It's always nice to have another women in town; the men have out numbered us far too long."
Bella smiled, "Well I'm excited to be here."
"So are you planning on attending the Fall Festival Bella?" Angela asked excitedly.
Bella stole a glance at Jasper, "I have no idea. I don't even know what that is."
"It's a tradition here in town," Jasper clarified for her, "Every year we have out annual Fall Festival, kind of a kick off harvest thing. Its huge actually we usually do a big front-page spread in the paper. Street dance, concerts, parade, pot luck supper, the whole deal."
"Its actually a lot of fun," Ben put in.
"Yes!" Angela agreed enthusiastically, "And I can introduce you to all the rest of the women in town Bella it will be so much fun! You have to promise me you'll come!"
"I suppose I can make it," Bella answered.
"Wonderful!"
"So where are you from Bella?" Ben asked.
Bella simply answered, "I just graduated from the University of Arizona. But my family is from New York."
"Must be quite the change in scenery, New York and Arizona are quite different from Iowa," Angela observed.
"Yeah," Bella said with a laugh, "Iowa is…ah…"
"Flat?" Angela, Ben, and Jasper all answered in unison.
"Pretty much," Bella answered with a laugh, "I had a very uneventful drive from the Omaha airport anyway."
The conversation eventually dwindled. Neither Angela nor Ben had ever been big talkers. It ended with promises of lunch dates, and an exchange of phone numbers on Angela and Bella's parts.
"So what do you think is the best way to get people out of here Bella?" Jasper asked as they walked away.
"I have no idea but we really need to think of something quick," was Bella's reply.
"It's like you read my mind."
Jasper lifted his head as he heard the bell above the door ring. More people? Could this place seriously get anymore crowded? Luckily it was only his best friend Edward who was now walking up to him.
"Bella?" Jasper said, "I don't know if you've meet Edward Cullen, he's the grandson of your land lady Mrs. Billows. Edward and I go way back."
"Actually," Bella answered, "we have had the pleasure of meeting."
"Yes," Edward agreed, "Although I must say it's nice to see you not in mortal danger."
What?!
Bella laughed, "Um??...Thanks. But I guarantee that sometime before you leave you'll have the privilege of seeing my embarrass myself. Probably because I'll trip over someone or spill punch all over myself."
"Well then maybe I should stick close and make sure you don't hurt yourself. Grandmother likes you, it would be a shame if something were to happen you," Edward said with a smile.
Is he filtering?!
Edward turned to Jasper and said, "So I stopped at grandmother's this morning, which is of course where I got the pleasure of seeing Ms. Swan here right out of bed—"
"Quite a scary sight don't forget," Bella interrupted with a laugh.
"An incredibly scary sight! But grandmother invited to have super with Bella and herself, and insists that you join us. I'm assuming you wont let grandmother down."
Jasper smiled, "Well I could never let Mrs. Billows down. You can plan on me being there."
"Alright, well I'd better be going. I pretty much only showed up to make an appearance. I hope you don't mind," Edward said flashing Bella a smile.
"Of course not, I'm sure you've got things to do," Bella said smiling back although her eyes told a different story. She almost looked sad to see him leave.
Something is going on here.
Edward was gone in a flash, and Bella turned to Jasper and pointed out, "Is it just me or does he not stay in one place for long?"
"What do you mean?" Jasper said naturally confused.
"Well whenever I see him he always has to hurry off," Bella explained.
It's because he likes you and he just doesn't want to admit it. Jasper wanted to admit but rather he said, "He's a pretty busy guy."
"I see," Bella said quietly staring out the front window where we were given a good view of Edward entering his truck.
"You'll probably get a chance to speak with him more at dinner time if that's what your concerned about," Jasper told her.
Bella's head snapped, "Ahh…I don't really mind one way another…I was just saying…"
Jasper smiled at her obvious embarrassment, "Right."
Just saying my ass…she likes him too…. oh this is going to be good.
BPOV (Her thoughts are in italics)
"Are you sure there's nothing I can help you with Mrs. Billows?" Bella asked curiously as she watched the older women stir the gravy and mash the potatoes at the same time.
She's like a modern day wonder woman. Bella thought as she was reminded of her own grandmother, Grandma Swan was never like this. I'll bet she never made a home cooked meal in one of her 83 years.
Mrs. Billows smiled up at her as she responded, "Oh I have everything under control here dear, but why don't you have Edward and Jasper start setting the table?"
"I can take care of the table, its not a problem," Bella said.
I have to do something so that I don't stair at Edward all night. He is married Bella! Remember what happened to Mike? You promised yourself you wouldn't fall for anyone after what happened to him.
"Oh dear I didn't mean to imply that I thought you couldn't," Mrs. Billows explained as she set the spoons in her hands down and reached for a bowl that sitting next to the stove, "but its kind of a tradition that we've had ever since the boys were younger. They always set the table."
"I think we can start a new tradition," Edward said as he walked into the room and headed towards the kitchen cabinets to retrieve the plates. "One in which Bella helps Jasper and I set the table."
He's married. He's married. Don't stair at his incredibly sexy arms! He's married!
"Whatever you think is best Edward," Mrs. Billows said quite smugly.
After retrieving the last plate Edward turned to Bella and said, "Well now that we have that solved, would you like to set the plates, glasses, or silverware Bella?"
"Silverware," she responded as she took the forks, knives, and spoons from Edward's out stretched hand. As the eating utensils were passed from one set of hands to the other their hands accidently brushed and a wave of electricity was sent straight up Bella's arm. She glanced up at Edward's face to see if he had felt it too. Judging from the look of surprise on his face I'll say that he felt that too. He's married Bella remember that.
"I call the glasses," Jasper said, bringing the pair back to reality, as he walked into the room. "Ha ha Edward, plates person always has to do the napkins too, aren't you glad you made that rule when we were in 3rd grade?"
"Hey it got me out of doing them that one time," was Edward's comeback before turning back to Bella and explaining, "My grandmother is very particular about how her napkins are set. The have to be folded in a triangle, and placed on the top of the plates. When we were younger we just liked to throw them wherever they landed so grandmother would always make us go back and re-do it. Therefore neither one of us ever wanted to set the napkins. So in third grand in order to get out of it I made a rule stating that whoever set the plates had to set the napkins because Jasper was setting the plates that night. Somehow ever since then I've always got stuck with the plates."
"And to think," Jasper said, "if you would have just sucked it up that one time, you might not be suffering the consequences now."
Edward rolled his eyes.
Bella smiled at their memory as she set down the last fork. "So you two have really been friends since 3rd grade?" She asked in disbelief.
"Yep," Jasper said as he clapped Edward on the back. "We meet when Edward here kicked me in the head while he was swinging."
"Its not my fault you ran in front of the swing!" Edward replied, jokingly punching Jasper in the gut.
"All right boys that's enough," Mrs. Billow scolded as she walked into the room and set the mashed potatoes and ham on the table. "Don't worry Bella their always like this. Now lets sit down and eat."
As they all look their seats; Edward at the head of the table, Mrs. Billows to his left, with Jasper to her left, and Bella at Edward's right, Bella looked around, Hmm, I would have thought that Rosalie, Edward's wife would be here.
Deciding to voice her thought she turned to Edward, "So what is your wife up to tonight Edward, I was looking forward to meeting her this evening. "
All heads at the table snapped in Bella's direction. Did I say something wrong? Bella thought.
"My wife?" Edward asked in a very confused voice.
All of a sudden the realization hit Bella, "You don't have a wife do you?"
Edward flashed Bella that crooked smile that made her go weak at the knees. "No wife that I know of."
"But the kindergarten teacher that Jasper asked me to interview's name is Rosalie Cullen. I just assumed…"
Jasper started to laugh.
"Rosalie is married to my brother Emmet, she is my sister-in-law," Edward explained.
Bella turned beat red. I always have to embarrass myself don't I?
"Don't be embarrassed dear," Mrs. Billows comforted her sensing her discomfort, "It was a understandable assumption."
It's a little late to not be embarrassed.
Changing the subject Mrs. Billows continued, "So my Bella dear have you given any more thought to taking a trip to Des Moines?"
"Well," Bella said as she worked on cutting up her slice of ham, "I don't have a vehicle so I don't really know how I'll get there."
"I drive into Des Moines every Saturday if you'd like a ride," Edward offered.
Bella stole a glance at Mrs. Billows only to see a smug smile plastered all over the women's face.
If I didn't know better I'd think she was trying to set us up.
"Oh I couldn't impose like that," Bella answered quickly.
"You wouldn't be imposing," Edward told her. "Like I said I drive there every Saturday. It wouldn't be a problem."
"I think you should take him up on his offer dear," Mrs. Billows cut in with a smile, "It would give you a chance to see what it is he's up to there, he wont tell any of us."
Edward gave his grandmother a loving smile and replied, "Just for that I might tell Bella what it is, and then swear her to secrecy so that she's not able to tell you."
"If I were you I'd take him up on his offer Bella," Jasper said. "I've never known Edward to let anyone in on his secret excursions to the big city."
You need the clothes Bella. It's just an hour and a half drive. Then he'll go on and do his business and you'll do yours, and then an hour and a half drive back. That makes 3 hours you spend together tops. Nothing is going to happen in 3 hours.
"Alright," Bella agreed, "I guess I can ride a long, but only so that I learn the way. I think I'm going to have to find a vehicle somehow."
"Great," Edward said, "and I can probably help you with your vehicle problem too. I'm looking to get rid of my old Chevy truck."
"Finally," Jasper commented. "I was wondering when you were going to get rid of the that hunk of junk. But as for Bella buying it, I'd advise you not to. It pretty much looks like it's going to fall apart any minute."
"It is not going to fall apart any minute!" Edward exclaimed defensively, turning to Bella he continued. "Besides the paint job its in excellent condition and as for buying it, that's not necessary. I'm willing to give it to you for free, I just want it off my hands."
Did I hear him correctly? "For free? What's the catch?"
"There is no catch," Edward said, "You'd be doing me a favor, I have another car and I don't really see the point in having two vehicles. "
Bella hesitated; nobody gives away vehicles for free, "I don't know…"
Edward set his fork down and though for a minute, "I'll tell you what, how about if I charge you $500 for it and…"
"500 still isn't very much for a truck," Bella interrupted.
"Which is why you're crazy to have not accepted my offer by now," Edward said smiling that crooked grin of his. "Besides, I wasn't finished. In addition to the $500…please don't shoot me…but you have to attend the town's fall festival with me."
Bella heard Mrs. Billows small intake of a breath and then looked over at her to see her eyes shinning and a smile stretched across her delicate wrinkly face. Jasper had a look of pure amusement on his.
He is asking me on a date already? 10 minutes ago I thought he was married!
"You want me to what?!" Bella exclaimed as soon as she recovered from her own shock.
"It wouldn't be a date of course," Edward was quick to clarify.
Bella surprised herself at the sudden emotion she felt a hearing this. It wasn't disappointment; it couldn't be disappointment, could it?
Edward continued, he seemed to be rather flustered as he stammered on, "Its just that…well you see… all the older women in the town, and yes you are included in this grandmother, are always trying to fix me up with one young women or another and I just don't really want to be subjected to that for once, I just want to have fun, for once."
"Um….well…," Bella was lost for words.
"If you don't want to attend the festival with me I totally understand," Edward said quietly as he pushed around the food on his plate, almost appearing to be hurt. "But I still only want $500 for the truck."
Suddenly Bella heard the words "I'd love to go to the dance with you Edward," spoken softly. It took her a moment to realize that they had come from her mouth. She blushed a bright red as she tried to recover herself, "I mean, I think I can live with that."
Edward seemed to perk up at this. He even threw her his adorable crooked smile. "Thank you, it's a deal then. I'll bring the paper work on Saturday."
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