Every Second Counts

Bella Swan is an intelligent, sarcastic but beautiful girl trying to make it as a writer, but stuck in a dead end job. She lives with her best friend, Jasper Hale - a cocky, but lovable lawyer. What happens when Jasper runs into Edward Cullen, and old friend without a place to stay? How will Bella respond? Stuck in the same space, they'll experience the up's and down's of love along the way.

RATED M FOR LANGUAGE/CONTENT. AU/AH. CANON PAIRINGS. 
Oh and, I don't own Twilight. What a shame.

A/N: Thank you for all the sweet reviews on chapter 1, it really means a lot. Just to answer some questions, Bella studied Journalism to be a writer in college, but she never really got anywhere with it, and running out of money she had to get a job. And where she works.. well you're about to find out!

Chapter 1: Time Warp

BellaPOV

Of course, Just when I actually have something to do, I'd be interrupted.

Of course, it's me and my tremendous luck.

The phone rang, and it echoed through the entire flat.

I was tempted not to answer it. But I did anyway.

"Bells, it's Emmett" Emmett was my goofy colleague, He reminded me of a big teddy bear, but I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of him.

"Yeah, hi Em. I have a feeling this is bad news."

"It's not bad news, you get to spend the next 4 hours with me!"

I laughed. It was impossible to be sour when talking to Emmett.

"Oh God, maybe they'll let me switch to a different shift.." I joked.

"Aww, I'm so hurt Bells. Now get your ass over here."

"Alright, alright. I'm coming." I sighed as I hung up the phone. 4 hours of fun, here we come.

***

I threw on my black t-shirt and grabbed my keys, and headed for work. I worked at Time Warp Records, the music store in the mall, specialising in alternative and classic hits from the 80's. The store was for the die hards. You didn't get too many blond Britney fans in here. And if they were, they left pretty quickly.

When I got to the store it was no busier than usual.

So why the hell did I get called in? There's no riot or anything.

Across the store, I saw Emmett waving to be over some small girl. She had short spiky black hair, and was wearing out in our black uniforms, but managed to look like a supermodel. Life isn't fair. I tugged at the hem of my shirt and slowly wandered over to Em and the mystery supermodel.

"Hi, Em"

"Oh, hey Bells. This is the new girl. Boss wants her 'coached' so, I guess you're it."

"He gave this job to you, didn't he?" Stupid Emmett. I knew there had to be a reason he called me.

Em nodded. I knew it.

"Please, Bells?" Emmett was begging. I hated it when he begged. it was impossible to say no. I felt myself caving in.

Why do I always give in? Stand up this once Bella!

"Oh Alright! Just this once Em" I sighed.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you Bells!" Emmett pulled me into a bone crashing hug and swirled me around. When he finally set me down, the room was spinning. I steaded myself against the counter, and closed my eyes.

"Uh, are you alright?" a sparkling soprano voice filled my spinning head.

"I'm fine, just dizzy." I laughed at myself before standing up straight and opening my eyes.

It was the supermodel who was staring at me, her eyes alarmed.

"No really, I'm fine." I smiled. She relaxed a little.

"I'm Alice," she offered. I shook her hand firmly. Alice was small, like a pixie but incredibly gorgeous. Her sky high cheekbones and dark lashes were features that any girl would kill for. Her smile was constantly plastered on her face, and I can understand why. Her sparkling white smile was her best asset.

"Bella." I smiled, again. I couldn't help it. Alice seemed to ooze happiness. "So why on Earth would you want to spend your free time earning minimum wage in the armpit of hell?" I gestured as I looked around the store.

"Well, I spend too much time here usually, so why not get paid for it?" She giggled. I laughed along with her too, I'd only just met her, but I was looking forward to working shifts with her.

We spent the next couple of hours together, reorganising the cd's and cleaning the stage area. Once a fortnight the store held shows showcasing the hottest new bands in the area. It was a pretty big thing, but the store was always trashed afterwards.

"So Bella, Where are you staying?" Alice asked after a while. She didn't stay too quiet for long, but it didn't bother me.

"Just in a small apartment downtown, with Jasper"

Alice stopped sweeping and turned to look at me.

"Jasper?" Her eyes were twinkling.

"He's my best friend, we've been rooming since college." I saw what she was thinking. I was sure to clear that up quickly.

"Tell me about him." I told Alice everything about Jasper, about the way we met, to how when I'm really tired he cooks dinner. Alice was completely focused the whole time I was talking.

"Ok, enough of me talking. Tell me about you Alice!"

She smiled. "Well, I grew up in a town called Forks with my mother,Esme and my father Carlisle, oh and my brother. How could I forget him." She giggled.

I was surprised she didn't name him, but I didn't press for details.

"I had a good childhood, you know? Esme is the kindest person I know. I was so grateful they took me in. And Carlisle, he's a doctor. He could probably have earned more money in some big city, but chose to stay in Forks and help them. I really admire them" And just listening to Alice tell me about them, I did too.

"Oh, I love this song!" She cried! She grabbed my wrist as we danced like fools to The Great Escape.

"Throw it away, forget yesterday, we'll make the great escape!" We screamed with the chorus "We won't hear a word they say, they don't know us anyway!" We were spinning around, laughing more than we were singing, and had a small audience watching us. Alice started dancing while I broke out in an air guitar solo, "Cause we are finally free tonight!" we cried in unison.

When the song finished we ended with a big jump and giggled some more, being applauded while our heads spun from dizziness. Alice's good mood was infectious.

I was almost sad at the end of my shift. Almost. But I was sad to say goodbye to Alice. we we're having a good time.

"I 'spose I'll see you tomorrow then?" I said as I grabbed my stuff from the drawer. I passed Alice's shiny silver purse to her.

"Well, what are you up to tonight?" She asked, hopeful.

"Up for drinks?"

"I thought you'd never ask" She joked. I had to laugh along with her. "Bring Jasper, too. It will be fun."

***

"Hey Jazzy!" I yelled as I walked through the door. I was in a great mood from our sing along today.

"What's got you so chirpy?" He asked, turning his head slightly away from the TV, but not moving from the couch.

I bounded over to him and plopped myself on the couch next to him.

"I just had a good day, is all. How about you?"

"Average. Sometimes working in the firm is so," he searched for the right word. "Unsatisfying."

"So you're going to sit her a brood over a bad day in the office?" I teased.

"Why not, I don't have any plans. And I feel like pizza."

I could fix this. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. There's a new girl at work, Alice. She's really nice. Really gorgeous too. In fact, we're going out for drinks tonight, down at Eclipse. I was hoping you'd come and meet her. I told her about you." Beautiful women were his undoing.

Next thing, Jasper was racing up the stairs, pulling off his work shirt as he ran.

"Give me 10 minutes!" He called.

Ahh I'm sorry that Bella didn't go to the bookstore, but hopefully all will be forgiven when I post the next chapter tomorrow!

Reviews are good, like working at Time Warp with Emmett and Alice!