Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 2

As I entered the house I noticed Alice following, I rolled my eyes, thinking she was probably going to be like a lost puppy and follow me everywhere since Jasper was out. Right when I thought she was following she turned and walked up to the steps and sat down beside Edward to have a chat. This bothered me a little, I was afraid of what she might say… no, I won't allow myself to think of it.

As I walked into the foyer I heard Mummy in the kitchen helping with the cook. She never could let them do their job to their full extent, she thought she had to be in everything, and somehow she was. There was not one thing going on in this house that she didn't know about. I decided to go talk to her, try and keep my mind busy, and not wandering.

"Hi, Mummy." I said with as much perk as I could muster up with me being as paranoid as I was at the moment.

"Hello dear." She said looking around the room for something.

"Mum what are you searching for?" I asked hoping I could help a bit.

"The flower vase." She answered shortly.

"Which one?" I asked eager for some task.

"The one that your father and I got for a wedding gift from his parents." She spoke again.

"Oh, I know where that one is Mother, it is on the piano with roses in it at the moment." I told her.

"Good heavens, I would have never looked there. What would I do without you Isabella?" she smiled and ruffled my hair, like I was a young child, "would you mind going to empty that for me and arranging something new for tonight?"

I shook my head and headed for the study. As I climbed the stairs I just couldn't help but think about the party tonight, at least I wasn't thinking about Alice and Edward sitting on the stairs chatting. I had been looking forward to it for awhile, all us friends together again, and the family. It had been so long. Almost four years. Sure we kept in touch through mail and Rosalie and I ate brunch together a few times, but this is the first time the whole gang would be together. I was also very much looking forward to seeing Jacob.

I haven't seen Jacob in two weeks; he had been gone to Europe on business. I was so glad he was coming home. Even though it had only been two weeks it seemed like forever. I guess with the excitement of the engagement and everything I was just antsy. Rosalie brought me out of my thoughts as I walked into the study; she was lounging on the window seat reading a book, she looked so beautiful. I was envious of her beauty. I was grateful for her engagement to Emmett. Because I knew as soon as Jacob saw her he would've left me right then and there. But I tore my thoughts from that and spoke to her to make my presence known.

"Hi Rose." I said, bringing her out of her book.

"Hey Bella." She replied.

"Who are you reading?" I asked, maybe it was something I'd read.

"I believe it's Miss Austen." She replied.

"Ah, I do like her novels, I let you get back to it then." And with that I made my way over to the piano. I picked up the vase and headed down stairs. The vase really was beautiful. It was slender at the bottom and the top got broader as it got taller, then at the top it had gentle scallops, with two handles on the sides. It had beautiful and intricate designs on it. The vase was just casual enough and just formal enough that you could just about use it for anything, whether it was for a dinner party or if you were just having friends over to sip tea with. It was very old and probably worth more than our house. Like Mother had said it had been given to her as a wedding gift from my father's parents. It has probably been in our family for generations, but who knows.

I stepped outside; and shivered in the warm summer breeze I could feel through my light shirt. It was made out of silk and nearly see through, being nearly see through enough that I had to wear my slip under it. I had on my new pair of slacks, my very first pair. Father did not approve at all but mother insisted that the times were changing, as did little Alice. And after seeing a few picture films with the American women wearing slacks we had him convinced, but only after compromising that I would only wear them around the house and not to dinner, which was fine with me.

I was walking down the steps and Edward was still sitting there. I was dreading having to speak to him. I know that sounds horrible seeing that we have been friends our whole lives, but while both of us were at college, something had changed. I'm not sure what but something defiantly had, and that kind of scared me. I'm not sure if we both just matured more or if we had just grown apart. But, I was still incredible weary of what Alice might have said to him.

Don't get me wrong, Edward was, how should I put this, very nice to look at. I mean, with his bronze colored hair, emerald green eyes, and skin so milky white, he is also muscular, but sort of lanky at the same time. I would go as far as to say he is quite good looking, but the polar opposite of my Jake. Now, Jake is extremely handsome, he has a tan skin tone, dark brown hair, and brown eyes. He is not from England. I he is from America, that is why he is so dark skinned. But anyway, he too is muscular, and they are both taller than I.

As I approached Edward he was rolling a cigarette. I sat down beside him, he made the best cigarettes. I don't know what he did to them but they always burned better. Maybe I could get him to make me one.

"Hello," he spoke to me without looking up; did I mention that his voice was amazingly smooth?

"Hello Eddy." I said, trying to annoy him.

"Belly, I've asked you not to call me that." He said looking up at me with those stunning green eyes. Honestly, I have never in my life seen eyes so vivid. Here I was trying to annoy him and he annoys me first, how fair is that? He got me with the Belly, these were nick names we called each other when we were younger, but now both of us hated them.

"Ok, I'll quit calling you that only if you promise not to call me that again." I said, making sure not to say the horrid nick names. After all I wanted to at least get something out of this compromise.

He smirked,"Alright, it's a deal."

"So do you mind rolling me one?" I asked, while setting the vase down and turning towards him.

He looked at me for a moment, as if trying to decide whether to or not, then he answered, "Sure, sure."

I placed my hand on the step behind me and stretched out my legs; I arched my back and leaned my head back, basking in the warmth of the sun. We fell into a comfortable silence, after awhile I felt eyes watching me. I opened my own eyes and saw him staring at me.

"Can I help you, or do you just like to ogle?" I asked a bit rudely, for some reason it bothered me that he was staring.

"Uh… s-s-sorry," he stuttered, "here you are." he blushed and handed the cigarette to me ever so gentle.

"Do you have a light?" I asked again in the same tone.

"Um," he said patting his pockets down, "yes."

"Well do you mind if I use it?" I spoke. He shook his head 'no' and then lit my freshly rolled cigarette. I inhaled deeply, enjoying every second of it. Then exhaled, as I got my vase and turned to walk to the old diving pool to empty it, "Thanks," I said just as I got to the bottom of the steps looking back at him. He looked a bit frustrated, like he wanted to say something more but didn't know quite how.

I was walking quite briskly and if I hadn't paused to inhale again I wouldn't have heard him.

"Damn," he muttered under his breath, and then louder he, almost shouted, "Bella, wait!"

Well there you go. We got a little Edward that time. I hope you enjoyed it. It is a lot longer than the first chapter. Let me know your thoughts on the chapter please and thank you. Should I do a chapter from Edwards POV? Let me know. Until next time, Ciao

-Bryonie Elise