Disclaimer: Things I own: One fiancé, 3 cats and a laptop that I'm still paying on

What I don't own: Twilight (though I'd sell my soul for an hour with Jasper) or Dollhouse. They belong to Stephenie Meyer and Joss Whedon respectively. I wish I were that lucky.

Special thanks to my wonderful Beta, lada_8, without whom, my grammar and mistakes would be glaringly obvious.

Sorry about the Long delay on this chapter. I've been prepping chapters 1 through 3 for Twilighted (where it was accepted a little over a week ago) dealing with MAJOR computer problems (Dell got to have my laptop for 1 ½ months before it became mine again) and a slight bit of writers block. I promise things will start moving quicker shortly. I have quite a bit written further on, I just need to finish putting chapter 5 together & I promise at least one Cullen will be shortly introduced into this craziness.

Chapter 4 – Carmel Apple Spice

"Hello Isabella, I've been waiting for your call."

I sucked in a breath, pulling my hand back from the phone, "How did you...?"

"Very few people have access to this number. I am only expecting one person to call me, and now you have. I must say that I am pleased. I was not expecting you to actually call until after you classes were completed tomorrow."

"Well, I... I have to work tomorrow," this was really awkward, "I... You said I should call if I had any questions. I was wondering if you could explain some of the information that I found in the papers you gave me today." I couldn't help but blurt it all out in one big rush. This felt both right and wrong at the same time.

"Of course," I could almost hear the smile on the other end of the line, "I will be happy to answer all the questions you have, Isabella. However, it would be much easier to do so in person. Would you care to meet up with me in Port Angeles? I believe there is a Starbucks near the Veteran's Park."

"Meet you? " Wow, that was brilliant Bella, "I mean, I'd love to. It takes about an hour and a half to get there in my truck," I needed time to call Charlie and let him know I was going out. Even if I didn't tell him exactly where I'd be going. "Should I bring anything?"

"Just yourself Isabella," I had to stop that, "and perhaps those papers I handed to you today. So that you will be able to remember what it is you wish to ask."

"Thank you Mrs. DeWitt, I'll see you in an hour."

"Adelle, please Isabella. You are most welcome. I will see you shortly."

The line went dead in my ear and I took a quick breath of relief. That went better than I'd thought it would. I still didn't have any answers that I was looking for, but maybe I was close to getting some.

As quickly as I hung up the phone, I picked it back up again and dialed the number for Charlie's desk; it only rang once before he answered, "Chief Swan."

"Dad," hoping he could hear the smile that was actually starting to come back.

"Bells, are you alright?"

Rolling my eyes, "Dad, I'm fine. I promised I'd call if my plans changed. Some of the seniors are heading into Port Angeles for dinner and a movie tonight. I thought I might join them."

"It's a school night, don't be out too late."

"I won't, I promise. See you in the morning dad."

I was about to hang up when I heard him start to talk again, "It's good to see you going out Bells, I'll see you in the morning."

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It really didn't take me all that long to shove what I needed into my bag and start on my way to Port Angeles. Although the drive was long, especially when driving alone, I found it rather relaxing. For the first time in months, I was actually feeling just a little bit of excitement over something that didn't have anything to do with the men who used to be in my life, or the danger they brought into it.

The silence of the trip was deafening, if I'd been with others, the music would be going. There would be constant chatter that I'd have to try and keep up with. Things I didn't want, but needed at the same time. It kept my thoughts from turning inwards at times like this.

Maybe this was a good idea, to actually get away from Forks for a little while. Going to Renee's wasn't where I needed to be, but maybe this would be good for me. It didn't mean that I couldn't come back. It would be more of a release from the memories that haunted me here. He was everywhere that I looked. Everywhere that I went. I couldn't even escape to the sanctity of my room because his sweet scent still lingered after all this time. The only place I had been able to go to escape him was La Push, and even that was barred from me now.

My life had been so normal before Forks. Okay, so I didn't have a lot of friends and I never dated, but at least I hadn't been a broken shell. I hadn't been in this little godforsaken town for 15 months and I'd already had my heart torn out twice and lost the only family I ever felt close to. But I really didn't want to leave.

Would I do it again if I had the chance? In a heartbeat because no matter what the hurting felt like, for a short time, I'd been more than happy than I'd ever been in my short life. Also, maybe, I'd be able to change 'his' mind. Convince him to stay with me or at least try harder to keep him from leaving. I'd keep myself from going to that stupid party that I never wanted to go to in the first place.

Of course, at the time, I had no choice in going. Trying to say no to the Pixie was impossible.

The hour-long drive felt like it was taking forever, but I knew that the final destination wasn't all that far away. What was I going to tell this woman? I know nothing of what your company stands for, I know nothing about this advanced program for High School students, but please take me into it and take me away from this little town of hell? I couldn't help but laugh to myself while thinking that. Yeah, that would go over well.

Maybe if I approached this sanely, I could convince her to at least speak to Charlie about it. It's so close to the end of the school year, it was probably too late, but I had to at least try. There has to be a reason she asked to see me again tonight.

I couldn't make up my mind of what to say until I, at least, started talking to her though. Maybe I was misconstruing this. It was a job fair today, not a college fair. There was no reason to assume that they were looking for me for the education program. I'd have to let her tell me exactly why they were interested in me.

What a laugh, someone interested in me, that wasn't for my blood. Of course, one thing I had learned in the last 15 months, never take anything for granted. This could be so much more than I thought it was. Except for the fact that she definitely didn't look like any vampire I had seen. Yes, she was a beautiful woman, but she didn't compare to any of the vampires I'd met in the last year. I had to assume that she was at least human and try to take this at face value, until I learned more.

By the time I reached the town limits of Port Angeles, I was more than a little nervous about this conversation. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. As much as I wanted to get out of this small town and away from everything that was killing me on the inside, I didn't want to give it up either. This is where I came alive for the first time ever.

It, however, wouldn't help me from this meeting I had with Adelle in just a few minutes. Pulling into the small parking lot of the strip mall where the Starbucks resided, I mentally berated myself, parked and got out of my truck. For some reason, I knew that this would be a turning point in everything I was going to do in the future.

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It took a few minutes to get up the guts to get out of the truck and walk into the small coffee shop. I knew this is where a lot of my friends came for dates, or even a quick coffee before heading to the movies and I wasn't sure if seeing them would be a good idea right now. I knew a lot of them were planning on going to the movies tonight, but since I didn't see any of them in here, I figured it was still too early for them.

I did see Adelle, sitting in the small armchair section near the side window, with a cup of tea in front of her. Giving a small wave, I stepped up to the counter to make my order.

After receiving my Venti Caramel Apple Spice with extra caramel, I took a deep breath and took the seat across from her, "Hi," brilliant Bella.

She smiled and leaned back in her chair, taking a sip of her tea. I felt like she was sizing me up for something, "I wanted to thank you for being willing to see me again."

"It is my pleasure, Isabella."

"Bella, please."

"Bella," she nodded her head to me, "as I was saying, it is my pleasure to meet up with you again. I believe we could work very well together," she leaned forward just a bit to place her cup down on the small table between us. Her soft English lilt relaxing me, "Normally, this would be done in a much different matter, in one of my offices in Los Angeles. However, for you, I am making an exception."

"Are you one of the professors at the College?"

Laughing softly, "Oh no. I have a much different position with the Rossum Corporation." She smiled at me, "I am the director of the Los Angeles office."

"YOU'RE WHAT?!" I couldn't help it, then ducked once I realized how loud that was, "But, but... why are you here then? I mean you have other people who do this sort of thing, don't you?"

"Typically, yes, I do. You, however, Miss Swan are a special case. There are a few who I take the time to work with personally. You would fit in well with our organization and I believe this is the right time to speak with you." I leaned forward at about the same time she did, "We can offer you something Bella, something that I know you are looking for."

"What?" My voice was almost non-existent, "How do you know what I want?"

She smiled again, "I have worked with many young people over the last several years. Although, you come from a different place than most of the people I work with, you've experienced a life changing event." I drew back a bit, "It's evident in your grades, Bella. You went from a B+ average to an A+ average since last year. This started around the time the local doctor and his family moved away," she reached out and grabbed my hand. "Your file says that you have withdrawn from everyone at your school, yet your schoolwork has not suffered. That tells us it is not drugs. Your work record for Newton's shows that you haven't missed a day; except for one week after you were lost in the woods for a night; which tells us you are dedicated to what you do."

I pulled my hand away, "How... how do you know all of this?"

"We have our sources Bella. We need to know the background of the people who come to work for us." She sat back up, taking her tea with her and pausing to take a sip. "I would like to make you two offers," she glanced around the room, "however, this is not the appropriate place for us to speak of this."

She put her tea back down on the table and stood up, "Bella, will you come with me? We will go back to my Hotel room and I will tell you everything you want to know."

What the hell, what did I have to lose?