This chapter covers some of the meeting of Bella and Edward in her POV.

It's also a little part of the back story into Bellas life since coming to Chicago.

Gives you some insight into her relationship with one of the few people she's met.

Don't be shy to comment and critique. Let me know what you think. I'm open to all opinions! :)

Chapter 2

It was Thursday and I was working my usual evening shift down at the bar, one of the many jobs I had to keep to live in this city. I have worked there Wednesday through Saturday from 4pm until the bar closed which was between midnight and 2am depending on the day for a little over 4 years now and loved it. I had come to know the regulars over time by their first names and enjoyed all of their company whenever they would come in for a few drinks after their days in the big bad world.

I had seen this place grow more and more popular over the years and was glad I could be here to witness it. The owner, my boss Joe had become like a father to me and saw me like a daughter he never had. I also met my 'brother from another mother' as Emmet liked to say, working there. He was a bouncer on the weekends. We may not have been a night club but we were as popular as one. The bar was more of a chill out place for people to hang out if they weren't feeling up to the heavy party scene.

Thursday, usually my favorite night of the week. It was busier than the rest of the week but still much calmer than weekends. This meant I usually worked alone from Wednesday through Thursday which I preferred because I wasn't keen on the other people who were staffed here over the weekend. That is until I saw him. I would recognize those piercing green eyes anywhere, even after all these years.

I had just got done handing over a drink to Emmet and chiding him playfully about him getting drunk and his wife Rosalie kicking my ass if he did. I remember the last time I let him get drunk all too well and would avoid another tongue lashing from Rose at any means necessary. She really was a force to be reckoned with when she wanted to be. Of course it was probably nothing compared to what she gave poor Em! I shudder to think.

A guy further down the bar got my attention. Sweet thing? Oh god, he was one of those customers. I put a smile on my face and started walking over to them until I glanced at his friend standing next to him. Edward Cullen. It had definitely been a while. Hasn't changed much. Looks like he's grown a few inches. Hair still the same bed head bronze and a few more muscles than I remember. Still the same pretty boy that I remember. I figured I'd play dumb and pretend like I didn't know him. It didn't seem like he knew who I was. Lets hope it stayed that way. I was in no mood for a reunion, especially with him.

After some playful banter with the friend, who introduced himself as James, I could see Edward was starting to get uncomfortable and I had other customers to get to. I don't know why I was flirting with James. Maybe it was to show Edward that he didn't effect me anymore. I doubt he even knew who I was. I guess I upset James or something because he stormed off. I'm sure he'll get over it and find someone else to hit on. He just seemed like that type. I don't know what made me reach over to Edward, it had completely shocked me but I didn't let it show.

Before he left, Edward asked if he knew me. I knew he would sometime because of the look that kept flashing on his face, like he was trying to place where he knew me from. It finally clicked for him and he started to tell me who he was. I interrupted him letting him know I already knew who he was. I didn't want to go through this, not here.. Not now.. Not never. After that there was an awkward silence. He took the drinks back to the table but not before saying that he hoped we'd be able to get together and catch up sometime. I suppressed a snort. He obviously didn't remember the last few weeks that I was in Forks or I'm sure he wouldn't have said that.

The rest of the night went smoothly. The place quieted down after that. I kept myself busy cleaning in between orders so I didn't have so much to do after my shift. Every once in a while I'd spare a glance over in the direction of Edward and his friends. I wished I could just ignore his presence but if I was being completely honest with myself I knew I wouldn't be able to. It was like a constant nagging at the back of my mind. They looked like they were having a good time but I did catch him looking over at me a few times. They finally left an hour before closing, pretty drunk too I might add. I had to call a cab for them.

Finally, it was time to lock up and go home. I untied the black apron from around my waist and left it under the bar for tomorrow night. Kissing Joe on the cheek I wished him a good night and left home bound.

Once I was home I put on a cup of coffee, decaf so I would still be able to get a few hours sleep before getting up and going to my second job, working at 'Musique', a retro music store that had everything from vinyl records to CDs. It was a cozy little place. The music was stacked on shelves and in bins on one side of the store, on the other was a few comfy couches, a couple of bean bags and one of two tables and chairs as well as a mini drink bar where you could purchase different assortments of coffee, tea and smoothies. Basically a hang out place for music buffs. There was a small stage against the back wall where the seating was and on occasion bands would play or there would be karaoke night. It was owned by another good friend of mine, Jasper.

We had met when I first moved to Chicago, we ended up being roommates and when he heard I was looking for work he offered me a job on the spot. I've been working there ever since. Because of my past it took me a while to open up to him but he has become my closest and dearest friend and helped me through a lot of trying times. He was the only one that knew everything about my past. He was trying to defeat some personal demons of his own at the time and I think he both healed each other. Because of that we had a very strong bond.

I had studied in journalism and writing songs was one of my favorite past times. Jasper had stumbled across them one day and claimed they were too good to be just sitting in a notebook unused. Since then he's been pushing me to do a few songs at the Open Mic Nights we have at the store but I would rather not sing. Instead, have my songs sung.

I sat at the little round wooden table in the middle of the kitchen sorting through the mail. Bills, bills and more bills. I sighed, wondering whether I would ever get out of this scrimping and scraping stage. My mind wondered back to tonight and seeing Edward again after all these years. It brought back a flood of emotions but it wasn't as bad or overwhelming as I thought it would be. It shows that I really was getting over that situation and I was happy at that fact.

The sound of a door opening and footsteps across the wooden floor broke me from my thoughts.

"Hey, Jazz. Did I wake you?" I said without looking up from the pile of papers on the table.

"Naw, Hells Bells. I always seem to wake up just before you get home. I think my mind wakes me up to make sure you got in safe." he replied, kissing the back of my head before walking over to the coffee pot and pouring himself a cup before turning to me and leaning back against the counter.

"That's sweet, but what a crap alarm clock, maybe you should exchange it." we both laughed. I smiled up at him taking in his appearance. I always found him cutest after just waking up. His unruly shaggy blond hair all over the place, his hazel eyes still heavy with sleep and his voice always a little deeper and huskier than it usually is. He didn't sleep in anything but a pair of sweat pants so I got to look at his sculpted chest a lot. Hey, a girl can look! No harm, no foul.

Although we were the best of friends, those lines of friendship had been blurred a little from time to time. By no means were we friends with benefits and there were no romantic feelings towards each other. Neither of us were looking for a relationship and we were just very comfortable around each other. It was just so much more with Jasper. We clicked on a deep emotional level. It was nice to share the same point sof view and tastes with someone.

I cleared my throat, "So.. You'll never guess who I saw tonight.."