I don't own Twilight.

Bella

A silver Volvo is parked outside at 7:57 the next morning.

I make my way towards the car and smile, even though I feel slightly uneasy. I'm not sure I'm dressed properly for an internship. I'm wearing slim black pants and a white tunic with a heather grey cardigan and flats.

As I open the door and slide into the passenger seat I almost gasp. What was I smoking last night? I'm sitting next to a gorgeous man with that same messy hair and a pair of wayfarers sitting on a perfect nose. He is wearing a periwinkle blue shirt and charcoal pants and his long fingers are tapping the steering wheel.

"Isabella, you look very business casual this morning. Glad you decided to put away the Chucks for the day," he smiles.

Is he for real? Maybe he's gay, or at least very metro. The two full sentences he has spoken to me have been about fashion.

"You really have a thing for fashion, don't you? I didn't realize I'd be working in the fashion capital of the Pacific Northwest."

He gives me that same funny look from yesterday.

"Sorry, can't help it. My sister Rosalie and I shared an apartment when I was in law school in New York, she'd talk clothes all day with her friend Alice. You'll meet Alice, she just finished her second year of law school and I got her an internship here for the summer."

"Cool."

"So, tell me, how old are you? Nineteen? Just finished your freshman year?"

Does he mean college?

"Errr... emmm," I blush, freaking out, "I thought my father told you. I'm going to be a senior in high school this year. If I'm too young or inexperienced, I'm sorry. Just drive me back. We're only five minutes from my house."

"Bella, no. I mean, you're right, what was I thinking? Of course I knew you're going to be a senior. You're... seventeen then? Eighteen? Wow. Shit."

Do I give off a Golden Girl vibe? 'Wow?' Really?

"I turn seventeen in September. Really, if you don't think I'm ready..."

Shock turns into... disappointment?

"Bella, I apologize," he says quickly. "You're ready. I'm sure you'll do fine. We rarely hire anyone who is still in high school, but we make exceptions. Charlie told me about you, you're really bright. Don't worry, though. It's easy stuff. I don't even give our college interns anything substantive. You'll mostly be hanging around."

"Oh that sounds exciting," I blurt out sarcastically, immediately realizing I sound like a complete asshole.

He laughs.

"So, little girl, what kinda music would you like to listen to? You choose today."

I start changing the stations and hear "Creep" playing. Ah, I don't know anyone who doesn't love this song. Pretty neutral. I leave it. I start humming and I guess at some point I begin singing along to it.

"I guess this song is still popular with the kids," he looks over at me and smiles.

"Ummm, yeah, I guess. I mean, who doesn't feel they don't belong at some point or another, right?"

What the fuck are you talking about, Bella? Shut up.

"Right... that feeling doesn't go away no matter how old you get."

He's totally emo.

Ugh.

"Edward, umm, how old are you, if you don't mind my asking?"

"I just turned twenty-six."

"Oh."

The rest of the ride over to Port Angeles is quiet. I fall asleep at some point and wake when the car comes to a stop. Edward walks me inside and after some preliminary ID stuff he brings me to a cubicle and tells me to make myself comfortable. He's all serious now, no small talk, no smiles. I guess this is boss Edward. As he walks away it hits me again just how good-looking he is. I realize that the entire time we were in the car I had been staring at my lap, or out the window and not looking straight at him. I better not form some sort of crush on Edward. That would be awkward.