Thank you all for reading my first chapter. I really appreciated the reviews that I received. Now that I have published I will definitely will be leaving comments on those that I read.

SM owns Twilight. I just enjoy it too much and like to play with it.

Enjoy!

Out of the Shadows

Chapter 2: White Knuckles

When I finally had a chance to breath again I couldn't believe what had just happened. I was expecting someone to jump out say that it was all a set up for some stupid show. In the span of 24 hours, my life had been turned upside down not because of the work but because of whom I was working with.

No sooner had I put the pen down Alice came bounding into the room.

"Isabella, here is a list of all of Edward's contacts, the family, agent, publicist and the rest who have a say. I was quite certain this afternoon that you would take the job so you're booked on the flight tomorrow with Edward to Vancouver. You do have a passport don't you?"

"Uh…yeah. W-what time is the flight tomorrow?"

"Oh, it leaves around 2:30 so you have plenty of time to pack and get ready. Here is a folder with all the information that you'll need for Vancouver. Edward is up there for about 6 weeks or so. You know how it is." Alice turned the pixie charm on full as she piled me high with folders and envelopes.

"You cool with all of this, Isabella?" Edward stood in the doorframe with a dazzling smile. It took me a moment to realize that he was talking to me.

"Uh…yeah. Not a problem. I should probably go since I have a lot to get ready for. Unless you need me to finalize anything for you, Edward?" Even though I was feeling overwhelmed my professionalism kicked in. My eyes were hovering somewhere around his Adam's apple. Anything higher and I was done for.

"No, I think I'm good for the night. A car will pick you up at around 11 before it gets to me. We'll have time to get to know each other on the flight. Have a good night." With that, Edward left the room.

"I know that this isn't the normal procedure but I know that this is going to work out. There is something so familiar about you that I know you'll fit into our little family quickly." With that Alice helped me pick up my bag and all the reading material for the night and walked me to the door.

I stumbled to my car and had to take a very deep breath after I got in. What are you doing to yourself? Are you crazy taking this job? Edward-friggin'-Cullen of all people. How are you going to pull this off without losing yourself? We didn't work this hard to take a million steps back.

My inner voice was berating me for my lack of judgment. I'll just have to be professional and not get involved emotionally. This was just a job, just a paycheck until the gig was up. I'm sure once they figure out who I really am I won't be allowed into their 'little family' anymore. I started the car and turned up the stereo. I needed some good music before I slammed the lid on this pity, so Adele was cranked up as I took off down the road.

It was January, raining and cold. I was running behind for school because it was the morning from hell. My day started off badly when I slipped getting out of the shower and smacked my head on the sink. I was seeing stars for quite a while. I put my usual shirts and hoodies on to cover me up but I did choose my favorite jeans. The only pair that I felt made my fat ass look good. As if slipping in the shower and then down the stairs wasn't bad enough, when I bent down to pick up my bag the jeans ripped. Not in a good area but right across my ass. A quick tantrum and a wardrobe change made me late for school. I always liked to arrive early so I could get out of everyone's way before they arrived. There was a great spot near the back of the lot by the bushes. Just another way to stay in the shadows.

I pulled into the parking lot to see it was almost full. All of the popular kids were just arriving so my usual routine of run-and-hide was not in the cards today. As I scanned the parking lot, the only spot left was next to Edward's Volvo, and conveniently he was still in his car.

Into the spot I went and cut the engine quickly to try and not attract more attention. In my haste to get into the school I didn't notice how close to Edward's car I had parked.

I pushed my door open quickly but didn't get far. I heard the sickening crunch of metal on metal.

"What the hell did you do?" I could feel the anger in his voice. I scrunched up my eyes and waited for the rest.

"Look at what you did to my car! Are you going to say anything? Hello? Are you gonna at least get out to see what you did?"

I nodded my head, squeezed out my truck and closed the door. I kept my eyes on the ground.

"Are you going to look at what you did!" I quickly looked at the door of his Volvo. There was a dent covered with red rust.

"I-I-I'm s-s-sorry."

"Is that all you have to say! You really are a waste of space!" Edward stormed off and left me standing there with tears falling down my cheeks. The first time he talks to me is only to confirm what I always thought about myself… a waste of space.

I could hear his footsteps quicken as he left but that was the last thing that I heard for quite awhile. The sobs took over then and I stayed in the same spot until I could hear no one else in the parking lot. I climbed back into my truck and through my tears I drove home.

The bingeing started that morning. I don't remember how long I was hoarding food in my room for. I entered a deep depression. It took Charlie a long time to get me out of it. He even threatened to send me to my mom, which was a worse fate. I spent the days in a trance almost, trying my best to go back to the shadows.

Edward never spoken to me again about the car but I could hear his comments to his friends, 'I can't believe she did that' or 'What a total waste of space'. The idea of ever having a normal senior year was gone. Graduation couldn't come quick enough and the college, any college, couldn't be far enough away.

The next morning was a flurry of activity. I was emailing and calling everyone who needed to know all while I was trying to pack. I grabbed every thing that I thought would be appropriate for the next few weeks in Vancouver. It was one of those cities that were always close growing up but I never made it there. I was looking forward to see it, if I got any free time.

I had already started a file on Edward with all the information that Alice had given me the night before. I don't think that I slept much as it took me awhile to program my iPhone with all the information that I needed. I always carried a paper copy in my bags but all the important stuff was in my phone.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. A quick look at the clock told me it was already 11, and I was running late. I opened the door as I ran back to my room to get my bags.

"I'm coming! Just give me a sec to grab my bags." I picked up my suitcase, carry on and purse. A quick look around my apartment confirmed that I had turned everything off. When I got back to the front door the driver was already back in the car. I locked everything up and went to the car.

I waited in the car when we got to the house that Edward was staying. The driver loaded his bags and then got back into the car. Edward came out about 5 minutes later looking just as delicious as the night before. I had to be a professional (even though my hormones were screaming at me). I just needed to keep my inner sex kitten contained until they realized the truth. Then I wouldn't be around him or his family any longer.

The ride to the airport was uneventful. We talked about the flight, the movie and L.A. It was pretty commonplace conversation. We got our seats in first class and settled in.

"Isabella, do you go by Bella at all?"

"No, my friends usually call me Izzy."

"I knew a Bella in school that's why I asked. So Izzy, have you ever been to Vancouver?" And there was the statement that I was worried about. He remembered me from school but not that it was me. I just had to keep the focus away from my past.

"I've never been to Vancouver but always wanted to go. It looked so gorgeous during the Olympics."

"Well, hopefully we'll get a chance to see more than the set and hotel. I arranged with my agent last night for you to have your own room in the hotel. You might be sharing with one of the other PAs but hopefully it won't be too bad." He turned to me and gave me the thousand-watt smile of his, with just a little smirk for good measure.

"Whatever works is fine with me. I've gone over your call sheets and I'll do your wake up calls instead of the hotel. I don't trust the hotels to be punctual. Are there any other arrangements that you need made when we arrive?" I went straight into work mode. The less talk about me the better.

"No I trust you to know what needs to be done. When we arrive in Vancouver we will want to separate to get to the hotel. I've been tipped off that the papps will be there waiting for me. I'm sure you don't want them linking your to me romantically."

With that he put his ear buds in and we didn't talk much for the flight. The occasional fan would stop by giggling and ask for an autograph but I managed to scare a few of them off since I was in the aisle seat.

The flight was uneventful and as usual the flight crew let Edward and I off first. By the time we got to the end of the gangway, security was waiting for him. The airports had gotten good with making sure the celebrities made it out as quick as possible, mainly for their own benefit. I waited for the bags at the carousel like any other passenger, except I had Edward's bag as well. The papps and Edward were long gone by the time I got to the taxi stand.

I got to our hotel and checked myself in. I already knew which room was Edward's so I took his bag there first. I knocked and waited. After about 2 minutes I knocked again and was rewarded with a 'Just a minute'.

"Who is it?" came his voice from the other side of the door.

"Izzy" I replied. The door slowly opened and I walked in to be greeted with the most incredible sight.

As I rounded the corner of the room, there was Edward in nothing by a towel around his waist. I looked the other way but only after the image was burned in the mind for future reference.

"Sorry about that. I always have to have a shower after a flight. I don't know what it is but that's my habit."

"I'll remember that for next time and give you a bit more time to yourself before I come to your room."

"No, that's fine. I need my bags anyway to get dressed. I hope this doesn't make you uncomfortable. I've gotten so used to people seeing me in different stages of undress that I don't even think about it. At first I hated being looked at like a side of beef…"

"Oh…Iwasn'tthinking that all" saying it so fast that you could barely tell the words apart.

Edward let out a big laugh, which was incredible. It put a smile to my face and a blush on my cheeks that was embarrassing.

"I didn't think that about you but casting people and directors. No worries." He was looking at me intensely.

I found it hard to keep his stare. My cheeks were burning red and giving away every naughty thought that I was having of him, especially only dressed in a towel. He started to walk towards me, still not breaking eye contact. I didn't know what to do or say. I hoped he didn't try to kiss me. I only wanted to keep this professional. If this happened 6 years ago I would have been lunging towards him. I didn't know what to do so I stood there like a mannequin just staring at him.

He was only inches from me when he stopped. I inhaled quickly only to be assaulted with the most incredible scent. I couldn't describe it but it was pure sex, pure Edward.

"Izzy, can I have my bag now?"

"Oh my God, I'm soooo sorry." I was so ashamed. There I was standing like an idiot, having schoolgirl fantasies while all he wanted was his bag. I quickly handed him the bag and turned to go.

"I'll go check into my room. Please call me if there is anything else you need. I'm in room 1323 and I've texted you with my number." I couldn't move quick enough to get out of the room.

Once I was down the hall and around a corner I stopped and clumped against the wall. What the hell were you doing? Do you really want to be treated like some lovesick stocker? You're his PA for Christ's sake. Stop being so stupid. Just professional. Think of him as any young cocky actor.

I found my room and luckily I was the only one there. I unpacked and pick the better of the two beds, just in case I ended up with a roommate. I flicked the through the TV channels for a while until my phone beeped.

Text from Edward:

Izzy, I'm good for the night. I'll see you in the morning.

It was about 7 at that point so I decided to go looking for a good restaurant and to check out the city a bit. When I got back to my room I put my stuff in order for tomorrow, set my own alarm at a ridiculous 5 am, and then went to bed.

You can't go back now, the same way you came. Maybe it's not so bad, so let your hair hang down.