A/N: I told you guys this would come out sooner. I have the next chapter planned out so it should be out soon too! This really isn't much of a chapter, it REALLY is a filler. Thanks for all the reviews!!

APOV

I looked around at the small crowd of people remaining in the coffee shop. They all seemed to be in their own happy little worlds, oblivious to the struggles that I was facing. But should I expect it to be any other way? Bella had gone through four years with no one else's pity to help her through the day… Bella.

Ever since she had shown up, my life had suddenly become… better. That I could not deny. You would think that she would have gone on a rampage about everything we had done to her, but she had been surprisingly cool. Maybe if I had taken the time in high school, I would have found out sooner.

The smile that had situated itself on my face soon disappeared as I remembered this morning. Although I shouldn't be bothered by it, Bella and Tanya's interaction was somewhat depressing. The thing was that I couldn't figure out why. I had thought it was because someone was stealing my only friend, but that didn't seem to fit.

"Earth to Alice." Bree waved her hands in my face. "Wooo whooo."

"Huh?" I shook my head to clear my thoughts. "Oh hey, what's up?"

"Well, everything is set up for closing time. Unless you want to the night." She laughed.

I blushed, looking around at the empty room.

"Sorry, I just seemed to zone out a little." I muttered.

"Don't worry, it happens to everyone." She smiled. "Well, if you would be kind enough to get ready and leave, I have to close up tonight."

"Oh yeah, sorry." I said awkwardly.

I limped over to the break room and located my bag. On the way back, I looked down at my feet and smiled. The shoes Bella gave me truly were amazing. Though I was only wearing one, I could tell that they were going to be amazing for work.

I smiled at Bree as we walked around the counter and towards the door.

"Hey, I notice that you live really close to my house. Would you mind if I walked with you?" Bree asked shyly.

"No, not at all. I would like some company." I replied.

She fell into step with me and a comfortable silence began. I looked over at her and it appeared that she seemed to be struggling with something.

"So," She started off awkwardly. "how old are you?"

"I'm twenty five. Though, I feel a lot older." I rolled my eyes. "I think all this stress that I'm going through is starting to take its toll."

"Well, if it helps, you don't look a day over twenty. I'm actually surprised to hear that." She tried to comfort me.

"Thanks for the words of comfort, but I can tell you're lying. How old are you anyway?" I asked.

"I'm somewhere in your range." She smiled. "I'm twenty, so it's legal."

"What's legal?" I asked, truly curious.

"Nothing." Even in the night I could see her blush. "I think I was just rambling."

"Hmm, right. If you're talking about drinking, I think you're off by a year." I laughed.

"Oh, no. I've sworn that I will never consume any alcohol until I'm thirty. I've seen what it does and I don't want to take any risk." She shook her head. "I probably sound like a nerd."

"No, no you don't. That's actually very mature of you and I wish I were like that when I was younger. I would have avoided a lot of mistakes." I reassured her.

"Right, and this is coming from someone who got a DWI when they were a sophomore in high school." She quickly shot her had to her mouth as she realized her mistake.

I laughed at her reaction. It wasn't like I didn't deserve it. I actually deserved much more.

"It's okay. I'm pretty sure you guys were told of my criminal background." I giggled.

"For safety purposes only." She laughed back.

It actually put me to shame to know that my co workers had been informed about me. It wasn't like I was still that same person I was seven years ago. I believe that I have actually changed for the better. I've made an effort to be a better person.

I looked up and saw that we were only a block away. It was embarrassing that she was going to see my 'humble abode.'

I stopped stride when I saw a figure sitting on the steps of my building.

"Hey, I think you should go on. There's someone waiting on the steps of my building and I don't know if it's safe." I turned to her.

"Then it is my obligation to help a fellow Starbucks employee make her journey home." She waved her hand in front of me. "After you."

"If you insist. But it isn't my fault if you don't come out alive." I muttered.

We started walking toward my building again, when the figure stood up and turned toward us. I could barely see from the dim lighting that this person was a girl. She raised her hand in the air and hesitantly waved at us. As we neared I could see the features of Bella's face and instantly recognize her.

"Hey Bella. What are you doing here?" I asked shyly.

There was an awkward silence as everyone looked at a different person. I was looking at Bella; she was looking, glaring, at Bree; and I could see Bree looking at me through my peripheral vision.

I tore my eyes from Bella and turned toward Bree.

"It was nice of you to walk me home." I grabbed her shoulder and squeezed. "It means a lot for you to help me these first few days."

She smiled brightly at me. "It was no problem." She looked down shyly. "Maybe we can do this another time?"

"That would be nice. See you tomorrow." I smiled back at her.

She walked away, still looking back. "See ya later Alice."

Bella and I stood there, staring at Bree's retreating form.

"She totally has the hots for you." Bella said through her teeth..

I turned back to her. "No she doesn't, she was just walking me home."

"Well if the 'maybe we can do this another time' isn't enough of a hint, I don't know what is." She shot back.

"We're just friends." I mumbled.

"Oh, I know." She laughed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"It means Alice, that you're straight." She patted my shoulder.

"Whatever. Is there a reason that you are waiting on my door step at seven in the night?" I asked, getting to the point.

"Well yes." She paused, obviously thinking of an excuse. "Actually, no. I just wanted to see you again, we didn't talk much this morning." She shrugged.

"Well, you were pretty caught up in that Tanya girl. I'm surprised you're not with her now." I said sourly.

"I just came from her apartment actually." She shrugged.

My head shot in her direction, trying to confirm this piece of information.

"I'm just kidding Alice." She laughed. "What kind of girl do you take me for?"

"A lesbian!" I yelled at her.

Her laughter stopped and her eyes narrowed.

"What is that supposed to mean?" She demanded.

I truly feared her at this moment. The comment I had just made probably wasn't my smartest move. I probably just triggered something that reminded her of all the reasons she should hate me.

"I mean…" I looked down timidly. "That is what you are."

She took in a deep breath to calm herself down and I patiently waited for the scorning I was going to receive.

"I don't like to be labeled. I don't think it's fair to label anyone by anything." She glared at me. "You should learn to think things through before you say them, you aren't in high school anymore so you can't get away with it. What if I were to start referring you as the 'poor girl?' How would you feel?"

"Not good." I replied like a child that had just been reprimanded.

"Exactly."

I felt an arm on my shoulder and the force of being pulled. Bella's body came in to contact with mine as she gave me a hug.

"I didn't mean to sound mean. There are just some things that I won't stand for anymore, and you just said the worst thing you could say." I patted my head.

I pulled back puzzled.

"Oh, I am a lesbian, but it's not like I announce it to the world proudly. There are some people who judge too much and in my job field, I have to make myself more appealing. Being a lesbian isn't something that everyone looks for in a lawyer, some people are actually grossed out by it." She whispered the last part sadly.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, you didn't know." She looked around. "So, I was thinking we could just talk."

"Now? Don't you have work to do?" I questioned her.

"Yeah, but it's nothing really, I just have to go through some papers and study up. That's about it." She waved it off.

"Okay, well what do you want to talk about?"

"I really don't know." She laughed, quickly thinking of something to say. "How was your day?"

"It was okay. I mean, as far as working at Starbucks is… And thanks for the shoes." I remembered.

BPOV

It was at times like these, that I truly felt bad for the poor girl. I mean, after only an hour after watching the video today, I was already at her doorstep begging for more attention from her. I knew that I was going to go through with the plan, there was no point in denying that; but I felt as if I should savor the moments I do have with her until I ruin her life.

"It was really no problem. I was happy to get them for you." I smiled at her. "Maybe we can take this conversation inside? I've always hated staying outside at night."

"Yeah, of course. Where are my manners?" She turned around and quickly wobbled up to her apartment building.

"You know, you really should get the land lord to fix that lock. You don't know how many creeps there are in this city." I told her.

"Yeah, I've wanted to discuss that with him, but he always seems to be avoiding it. I just think he's a cheap bastard." She laughed.

"Well, I would feel better knowing that your apartment building wasn't susceptible to, well anything. You really should talk to him about that." I pushed.

"Wow mom, I'll get right on that." She said sarcastically.

"Don't ever call me mom again. It isn't even funny." I shook my head.

"I was only joking." We were already in the elevator, waiting for it to reach the top floor.

"Is Jasper up there?"

"Um, I don't think so. He usually goes out with friends on Saturday." She said irritatingly. "He just doesn't understand the meaning of 'we don't have money to spend.' We're going to be in debt soon enough and I'm going to have to find another job to support us."

"I know that it isn't right for me to say anything, but I think you should just leave him. You could do so much better than him and I'm sure who ever you find will cherish you more than Jasper does." I made sure she was looking at me in the eye. "I always thought Jasper was a douche bag, and it isn't far from the truth."

"You don't know him, well the old him. He was always sweet and nice to me. I think that's why I've stayed with him this whole time, cause I know there's a better side of him."

"I know that old him well enough. Even then he wasn't such a swell guy. Have you ever thought of asking what he spent his money on? I remember you telling me that he spent all the money he made in college on things you didn't even know about." I questioned her. "For all you know, he could have transferred some STD to you!"

"Are you implying that Jasper cheats on me? He isn't that type of person. He may be a lazy person, but I know that he would never cheat on me." She said defensively.

"I would think of actually asking him, maybe you should even follow him one day. You'll soon realize that some people are never what you put them out to be."

"You don't know him." She huffed.

"I don't need to know him personally; actually, I'd prefer not to." I countered.

The elevator started stalling, starting and stopping. I looked up as the light flickered on and off. I really wasn't in the mood to get stuck in an elevator, but I don't think fate shares my mind-set.

"You have got to be kidding me." I said under my breath.

The elevator came to a full and complete stop and the light shut off.

"Piece of crap." Alice muttered.

I pulled out my cell phone and slid it open, letting the light illuminate to small elevator.

"I hope you aren't claustrophobic." I begged.

"No… I'm so sorry this happened. I should have warned you that this might happen." She said worriedly.

"You mean this has happened before?" I half yelled.

"Yes, but it didn't happen to me." She assured me.

"How long did it take to get them out?"

"Well, it was during the day so everyone was coming in a out of the building, so it was easier to notice that the elevator wasn't working. They were only in there for about thirty minutes." She explained. "Since it's night and everyone in this building is above the age of sixty, we're probably going to be stuck for the rest of the night."

"Not if I can help it." I said typing in 911. "You seem oddly calm right now."

"Well, it was bound to happen to me at some point; luckily it was with yo-." She stopped, and I could imagine the blush coming onto her face. "I mean, you're good company."

"Hmm, right." I laughed. "I'm quite flattered. The infamous Alice Brandon enjoys my company."

"Shut up." She muttered.

"Is there any service in this freaking place?" I asked.

"We're in an elevator." I could tell she was sitting down by now.

"Ugh, I have to be at work early." I smacked my forehead.

"I'm cold." Alice stated randomly.

"Here take my jacket." I pulled my jacket off and blindly handed it out.

"Thanks…for everything." She added the last part quickly.

"Like getting stuck in an elevator with you?" I chuckled.

"Yes, I guess this can give us time to get to know each other better." She chirped.

"What wouldya like to know." I asked, sitting down in defeat.

"Hmm, what's your favorite color?"

"I don't really have one. I really like all colors, but I guess if I had to choose it would be turquoise." I answered.

"Hmm, that's a nice color."

"What's yours?" I quickly asked.

"Yellow." She simply stated.

"Yellow? Why yellow?"

"It's just a calming color. I know that a lot of people don't like it, but that's what I like about it. It's like I'm the only one that feels sympathetic towards it." She mused. "…That didn't really make sense, even to me."

"No, I mean, yeah that made no sense what so ever, but I understand…oddly." I laughed.

"Your turn."

"For what?" I asked.

"To ask a question." She said in a high voice.

"Umm, what's the thing you're most proud of?"

"That's a toughy." She mumbled.

"What happened to you, Rosalie, and Lauren?" I blurted out.

I had to get this straight for some reason. Maybe that could lead to something else that I could use. There was also the possibility that this could be a touchy subject and bring up bad memories. Hopefully it was the former.

"I don't think I remember that being one of the usual questions for twenty questions." She laughed. "Any way, we-we just grew up I guess. After high school, I think we realized that we were only friends out of convenience, and we haven't communicated since graduation." I reminisced. "I think Lauren was always jealous of me. She knew that she could never have Jasper because of me."

"I wouldn't say that." I whispered.

"What?"

"Nothing, I just remember something." I lied.

"What time is it?"

"8:45. Are you sure there isn't a possible way out of this?" I pleaded.

"The emergency button doesn't work, so no, I don't believe so."

"We'll, if you don't mind, I'm going to go to bed early. I need to be ready to start screaming early in the morning." I told her.

"Good idea…. Goodnight." She said shyly.

"Night." I mumbled, already dozing off.

I jumped up when I felt Alice move into me.

"Alice?"

"Sorry, I just like to feel someone close to me when I sleep." She excused herself.

"If you want to snuggle, all you have to do is ask." I smirked.

"I wouldn't mind." I whispered.

I was thrown off by her confession.

"Jasper always holds me when we sleep."

"Oh." I said, hating that it was only because she wanted to feel like Jasper was holding her.

I wanted her to want me to hold her. I didn't want to be the substitution of that Jackass.

Either way, I wrapped my arm around her midsection and pulled her to me.

"Thank you, Bella." She said sleepily.

"Anytime." And I meant anytime.

A/N: This really isn't my best work, there wasn't any progression in the relationship, but I just wanted them to talk more. I myself don't think that it would be realistic for Alice to ask Bella to hold her, but I just couldn't help myself. Thanks for all the review that you have all kindly given me. I don't mind criticism; it would really help if anyone had any advice. R&R.