Author's note: Just to let you all know I have changed the University they attend to University of Washington Seattle instead. Sorry for the mix up! Also this is my longest chapter yet!

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight not me!

Chapter songs: Holy Moly – Motorcade, Live Your Life –TI feat Rihanna

I had been in Seattle for two weeks now, I hadn't heard from Brad since the phone call and life couldn't be better.

My birthday was three days away. I was turning 21, and Alice had planned a party. Small she promised, just a few close friends from high school, Charlie and Sue, Leah and Seth, the Quileute boys from the reservation. Alice and Rosalie's parents were going to be there too and their siblings.

I had to admit I was looking forward to my party. Alice had a surprise planned for me that she said I would love and she wasn't giving me any clues.

Since my birthday was on a Monday she had organised that party for Saturday 18th September 2010, 7:00pm onwards I read on the invitation.

Today was Friday, I had woken early due to the brilliant sunshine streaming through my bedroom window, and not wanting to miss a second of it since summer was officially over I rose out of bed and quickly got dressed for the day.

Tonight we were going to Tyler Crowley's house warming. Tyler went to Forks High like Rose, Alice and I, he had moved out of the college dorms this year and had found a place with Eric Yorkie, Ben Cheney and Mike Newton who we also went to school with. I was looking forward to seeing some old friends, with the exception of Lauren Mallory who I hoped wasn't going to be there.

Lauren had hated me from the very first day I set foot in Forks High back when I was fifteen and I was certain her feelings towards me wouldn't have changed much over time. I set about making breakfast and was soon joined by Alice and Jasper.

"Morning!" trilled Alice, Jasper had stayed over last night so it was fairly obvious as to why Alice was in a terrific mood.

"Morning Bella" added Jasper.

"Hey guys sleep well?" I asked.

"Well there wasn't that much sleeping going on but yes, thanks!" Alice informed me grabbing a piece of toast.

"Too much information Allie!" I exclaimed.

Alice laughed "We so need to get you a man Bella, I could set you up if you want" she said winking.

I rolled my eyes; I was wondering how long it would take her to bring up my single state and beg to set me up.

"No thanks Allie, I'm doing just fine" and I was.

Ever since I broke up with Brad a month and a half ago I was perfectly content. Although I was still trying to convince myself that my developing feelings for Edward were only ones of friendship but I hadn't told Alice or Rose this. They would take that juicy piece of information and run with it.

Both sets of couples went out for the day to spend some quality time together so I had the house to myself. I caught up on my laundry and sent a few emails then grabbed my well loved copy of Wuthering Heights and headed outside to soak up the sun.

An hour or so later there was a knock at the door; I hurried to see who it was. I opened the door to find Edward standing there; he looked amazing in low rise jeans and a t-shirt that clung just a little in all the right places.

"Hey" he greeted me, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" he asked.

"Hi! No not at all I was just reading, come on in" I replied, my heart spluttered in my chest, I hadn't really spent any time alone with Edward since we met, so I was feeling nervous at the thought of one on one interaction with him.

"I was wondering if you wanted to hang out" he said.

"Sure" I replied enthusiastically. "Did you have anything in mind?" I asked him.

"Not really but maybe we could go grab a bite to eat?" he shrugged.

"That sounds good" I said earnestly, "Let me just grab my bag and lock up."

I ran upstairs to grab my purse pausing to check my appearance in the mirror above my dresser. I looked presentable, maybe I should put on just a little more makeup I mused, and then I paused. What was I doing? This wasn't a date, just two friends grabbing lunch. I hurried down the stairs and met Edward by the front door.

"Let's go" I told him.

"Great, shall I drive?" he asked.

"Sure" I replied, we walked next door to his house. Edward drove a silver Volvo, it was his pride and joy, boys and their cars I thought, it was ridiculous. He unlocked the car and held the door open for me.

We pulled up outside a cute cafe and headed inside. We studied our menus and told the waitress our order.

"How are you finding Seattle?" Edward asked, "Do you miss Phoenix?"

I stared at him thinking about my answer. "I love it here" I replied honestly, "I miss certain things about Phoenix, the sun, the blistering heat, the desert, my friends Chelsea and Tara. I miss my Renee and Phil, but they are in Florida now. I think she is the thing I miss most about Phoenix" I explained, "We are very close, she is always the one person I can go to about anything. She's my best friend"

Edward looked thoughtful, "Do you think you would ever move back there? Or to Florida to be closer to her?" he asked.

I thought for a moment before answering "Honestly, no I wouldn't" I told him truthfully, "I'd like to go back for a visit later in year but no, I wouldn't move back. As for Florida, I would love to visit them".

Edward smiled at me, "Where did you grow up?" I asked him.

"Believe it or not Port Angeles" he replied.

"Really?" I asked astonished.

"Yeah" he laughed, "When I found out that you and the girls had lived in Forks I was a little shocked we had never all run into each other" he told me.

I nodded in agreement, "Do your parents still live there?" I asked.

"They do, my father Carlisle is the Chief of Surgery at Olympic Memorial Hospital and my mother Esme is an interior designer" he answered.

"Did your father ever work at the hospital in Forks?" I asked curiously.

"He did actually when they were understaffed or needed him to oversee a surgery, why's that?" he asked me.

I laughed, "I spent a lot of time in that hospital over the years, I was and still am a total clutz" he laughed "I was on a first name basis with most of the staff. I think I remember your father"

Edward laughed again "I'll mention you when I next talk to him" he told me. "How often did you end up in hospital?" he asked.

"Every other week, most were minor injuries, some a little more serious" I replied.

To steer the conversation away from myself I asked Edward more about his family.

"Emmett is my only sibling" he told me "But Jasper was like another brother to us, we grew up together. He's my Mom's sister's son". Edward was the youngest, he twenty one already, Jasper was older by a few months and Emmett was the eldest by a little over a year making him twenty two, "Leah and Seth are your step siblings right?" he asked me, I was shocked he remembered their names.

"Yes" I told him, "Leah is twenty one a little older than me and Seth is nineteen".

Our food arrived halting our conversation a little; after we had eaten we went for a walk down the water front chatting easily.

Neither of us had realised how late it had gotten until Alice text me and asked me where I was because it was time to start getting ready for the party. It was so easy to spend time with Edward; we had a lot in common I mused. I didn't want to admit to myself how I really felt about Edward; he only wanted friendship I kept telling myself.

As we got ready for Tyler's party Alice and Rose grilled me about my day out with Edward, there was nothing to tell I told them repeatedly and besides I had just gotten out of a relationship that had ended badly, I needed some time.

Alice couldn't decide what to wear holding up different tops on their hangers in front of the mirror before deciding on a one shoulder plum coloured top, that cinched in under the bust and then flowed in ruffles. She had paired this with tight black jeans and super high heels.

Rose looked amazing in a high necked white sleeveless top with black beading around the neckline and a tight black skirt with black heels.

I was wearing a pair of dark wash jeans and gold sequinned top (A/N think Kristen Stewarts People's Choice Awards dress) with matching gold heels. Rose had slightly curled my hair and pinned a few bits back off my face.

Alice put the cap back on her mascara wand looking at herself in the mirror, "Ready!" she announced.

When we arrived at Tyler's address the party was in full swing.

Mike greeted us at the door. "Hey!" he exclaimed letting us in, "Isabella Swan is that you?" he asked shocked.

"Hey Mike" I answered.

"Wow I haven't seen you since graduation!" he said excitedly, "How are you!"

"I'm good, I just moved back here a few weeks ago" I replied.

"Yo it's Bella Swan" interrupted Tyler, "How have you been girl!" he asked putting his arm around me.

Mike looked jealous, great I thought, it looks like his crush on me hadn't faded over the years, "Hey Eric, Ben, Angela!" Tyler shouted "Look who it is!"

"Bella!" cried Angela hugging me "It's so good to see you! Alice said you were moving here"

"Hey Ange! It's great to see you too" I said, I had missed Angela; she was so easy to get along with.

I greeted the rest of the gang and headed to the kitchen with Rose to get a drink. Drinks in hand we made our way back to the rest of our group. Emmett and Jasper were talking animatedly with Tyler, while Alice was chatting to Eric. I went and stood next to Edward who was casually leaning against the wall and began chatting easily, carrying on our conversation from this afternoon.

It wasn't long before we were interrupted by a sneering voice.

"Well well well if it isn't Isabella Swan" I looked up already knowing who that nasally voice belonged to.

"Hi Lauren" I replied with a grimace, she looked the same as she had back in school, long bleached blonde hair, too much make up and clothes that were too tight and revealing. It looked like luck wasn't on my side tonight.

"Hi Edward!" she purred

"Lauren" he nodded.

She turned to sneer at me again looking me up and down, "What are you doing here?" she asked bluntly, I was right, she still hated me and apparently over the years it had intensified.

"I was invited" I replied calmly.

She looked at me disgusted before turning away and flouncing off.

"Whoa!" Edward exclaimed "What the hell was her problem?" he asked me.

"She's always hated me" I replied, "Ever since I set foot in Forks High, I have no idea why."

I really didn't, mind you she didn't much like Alice or Rose either I thought.

"She likes you" I said gauging Edward's reaction, maybe they had dated or something, she seemed pretty excited to see him.

He grimaced, "The feeling isn't mutual, never has been and it never will" he told me. I was secretly pleased and relieved; I tried not to let it show too much.

I tried to avoid Lauren for the rest of the night since I hated confrontation unless it was absolutely necessary. However I was unsuccessful, on my way to the kitchen to grab another drink for Edward and myself Lauren ambushed me accompanied by Jessica.

Jess and I had been sometimes friends back in high school when she wasn't hanging around with Lauren that is. Lauren stood in front of me with her hands on her hips, I looked at her warily.

"I want you to stay away from Edward" she sneered pointing her finger at me, "He is mine, I saw him first and besides he wouldn't ever go for someone like you" she added.

That last part shocked me. Either Edward had lied, perhaps out of embarrassment or Lauren was deluded.

Since Edward had been pretty sincere when he told me that he wasn't at all interested in Lauren and the fact that he didn't seem the type to lie I figured that my second theory was the most plausible.

Lauren had always been delusional, this wasn't the first time she had tried to claim that a guy liked her when it was far from the truth. She had been jealous of my friendship with Jacob Black back in Forks; we spent a lot of time together and had known each other since before we could walk.

Our fathers were best friends and fishing buddies. Jacob was tall, tanned and good looking, of Quileute descent. All Lauren looked for in a man was looks so she set her sights on Jake, it didn't sit well with her that I spent a lot of time with him so she decided to try and break up our friendship by throwing herself at him and feeding me lies of what Jacob 'really thought about me'.

When Jacob figured out what she was up to he told her to take a hike in so many words, ever since then Lauren's hate for me had not only intensified but she had apparently declared war on me, this time I wasn't so naive.

"Really?" I asked her, I glanced at Jessica; she wouldn't meet my eyes and was staring at the floor as though it was the most interesting thing she had seen all day.

Lauren nodded flicking her hair.

"I didn't know you two were an item" I replied feigning ignorance, I was the world's worst actor but luckily for me Lauren still was thicker than two planks of wood because she bought it.

"Yeah, we are" she told me looking smug, "Edward is so like amazing in every way imaginable" she added suggestively.

I looked at her disgusted but just as I opened my mouth to reply we were interrupted by the sound of Rose's laughter.

"Holy shit Lauren!" she exclaimed walking into the room, apparently she had overheard our whole exchange "Edward wouldn't come near you with a ten foot pole and you know it!"

Lauren looked furious, "What would you know Hale!" she shrieked.

Rosalie laughed "Did you forget I'm dating Edward's brother?" she asked as thought she was speaking to a two year old.

This infuriated Lauren even more "I have no idea what Emmett sees in you, I could satisfy him in a way you never could" she retorted.

Rosalie was no longer laughing, Lauren had crossed the line "Look you bitch" spat Rosalie walking closer to Lauren, "Stay away from me and my friends. If I hear you have been hassling Bella again you will regret it".

Fear flashed in Lauren's eyes, she huffed and stormed off with Jessica trailing behind her.

Rosalie put her arm around me, "She is unbelievable!" she said.

I laughed, "Seriously Bella, don't let her get to you. She is just jealous and always has been"

"Jealous? Of what?"

"You of course!" Rose replied leading me back to where the rest of the group stood.

I felt bewildered, I was certain Lauren wasn't jealous of me. I put it down to a case of sour grapes, Edward had obviously turned her down and seeing me talking to him must have set her off.

I was lost in my own thoughts as Rosalie told everyone what had happened.

Of course they were all outraged, I definitely wouldn't want to be Lauren right now Alice could be scary when she was angry. We stayed for a while longer with Lauren was glaring at me from across the room before I had finally had enough of the drama and said I was thinking of heading home.

Since we had had such a big night the night before they all readily agreed to head home early with promises from Mike and the gang that they would see us next weekend at my party.