A/N –

Just wanted to ask for review again. I can use all the feedback I can get!

I don't own Twilight or anything affiliated with Twilight. I don't even own the Twilight Woods scented lotion from Bath & Body Works.

Oh and as always – Rated M for mature adult aged people.

Chapter Three – The Introduction

BPOV

"Hi, I'm Rosalie, can I help you?" The tall blonde amazon woman greeted me as I walked in the door to the Taekwondo studio.

"Hi, um, I don't know…um, I was just wondering what this place was about." I babbled, completely embarrassed because I had no idea what to say.

"Ok, well we have classes for adults for exercise, strength, confidence-"

"Confidence! That sounds like what I need. I mean, I'm not exactly the social butterfly that I used to be."

Oh my god, I can't believe I'm rambling about my insecurities to this complete stranger.

"That's great! We have an introduction lesson for adults tomorrow at noon. Would you be interested in trying that out?"

Rosalie looked like she could definitely kick my ass; I totally needed that kind of confidence. Then maybe I could put my life back in order and finally be normal. Alice would be so proud.

"Sure, that's great. Um, what should I wear?"

"Any kind of exercise clothes will be fine. Just no shoes on the mat. Oh and here's some more information on the different programs we offer." I took the information packet she handed me and thanked her as I made my way out.

As I made my way back out to my car, I started to feel excited. I felt like I was starting to pull myself out of this mess I've let myself dwell in for far too long. I felt inspired. Then I remembered the party still going on at my apartment, and I just felt beaten down again. I couldn't deal with that scene right now. I let out a sigh and got in my car. I decided to go down to First Beach and maybe watch the waves. Just wait the party out for a little longer.

I sat down on a big piece of driftwood and gazed out to the ocean. It was a lovely nice. The smell of the salt in the air, the feel of the cool breeze. It was mid-July but the nights were really chilly next to the water. I felt myself instantly relax and I inhaled deeply. I took my shoes off and dug my toes into the grainy sand. I felt at peace. I let myself forget about everything in the world. Nothing bothered me. My eyes started closing of their own accord. I felt my body slack and I knew I was asleep.

Someone was calling my name in the distance. I could hear it clearly, even though it sounded so far away. I opened my eyes and looked around. I was still at the beach, but it was daylight now. I scanned the beach for the person calling me. Then I saw him. A man was running down the beach towards me. He was smiling and calling my name. I couldn't make out his features though, nothing except the messy bronze hair blowing in the wind. I felt so happy to see him. I felt like I should run to him. Everything within was drawn to this unknown person. Just as he was nearing me, he reached to grab my hand, but our fingers wouldn't connect. Then I felt myself being pulled back. I didn't want to go, but something was pulling me away.

I woke up with a start. I checked my watch to see what time it was and saw I had only been asleep for a few minutes. That was the strangest dream I've ever had. I've never felt so connected to something before, but to the person in my dream, I felt like I was whole. I shook my head to wake myself up and rid my brain of these thoughts.

It's just a silly dream.

I went back to my car and headed home. Even if the party wasn't over, I can just sneak in and make my way upstairs to my room. I just really wanted to go back to sleep to see if I could finish the dream. It was nice.

Once I was home, the party had dwindled, but it clearly wasn't over. I looked around the living room to see if I could spot Alice, but she didn't seem to be anywhere around. So, either she's with Jasper in her room, or she's out back. Either way, she's left our house unattended. Does she even know all of these people? We may need to discuss scaling back these invites if she continues to throw these insane parties.

Sleeping was pointless. I felt like my powernap on the beach was all the sleep I was going to get for the night. I tossed and turned, and just before sunrise, I finally drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, I awoke earlier than I intended. I still had a few hours before the Taekwondo class, so I decided to make breakfast for myself. Cooking was something I loved to do, but rarely got the chance. When I lived at home with my parents, I would cook dinner every night. I loved trying new recipes and my parents were always receptive to the even the strangest concoctions I served them. They always appreciated my cooking. My dad was the Chief of Police in Forks, and my mother was a school teacher. On the occasion during the summer, my mom would pick up other jobs around town to make ends meet. They wanted me to have everything they didn't because they were so young when I was born, so they worked extra hard to send me to college straight out of high school. I went to the University of Washington and got my degree in Accounting. In college was where I met Alec. We didn't have classes together, as he is a few years older, but we hung out in the same clubs. Alice, who I roomed with, and I would go hang out in the local Seattle dives to hear some really awesome bands. I saw Alec at a few places, and one night he came up to me and we started chatting. It seemed to go easy enough after that. I felt like this was the progression that I should be making with him. Meet, chat, go on dates, fall in love, move in, and get married. But I think I got hung up on the love stage. I guess I loved him in a sense, but I guess I never can really say for sure because when I think about him, I wonder if I ever really knew him.

"Yummmmm. You made breakfast." Alice lazily walked into the kitchen where I was making an egg-white omelet. She definitely could use coffee.

"I need caffeine!" She whined while pouring a cup of coffee. She just about inhaled the cup, quite a feat since I just made it. Just like that, the energizer bunny was reawakened.

"So, Bells, whatcha got planned for today? I think we need to go shopping; you are in serious need of a few new wardrobe choices. Why are you wearing yoga pants? Are you going to a yoga class? I've always loved yoga, getting all bendy and stretchy. I'm sure Jasper would appreciate that as well." She smirked at that thought while taking the last pull of her coffee.

"Wow. Alice, you never cease to amaze me. Don't ever try espresso. I wouldn't survive." With that she playfully swatted my shoulder and told me to shut it.

"Actually, I'm going to try out a Taekwondo class. You know the new studio downtown?" She nodded indicating she knew.

"Fun! You're going to be a ninja!"

"I'm not going to be a ninja. At least, I don't think I'm going to be a ninja. I just wanted to try it out, see if it was something that I could do. Who knows, maybe I'll be really good at it."

"Well great Bella. I'm happy that you are coming out into the daytime amongst the living. I was starting to wonder if I should be worried that you'd turned into a vampire." I laughed at that because I just thought almost the same thing the previous night.

"I'm alive, don't worry, you don't have to cover your neck or carry crosses around. I've decided to turn over a new leaf. I'm going to start living my life again. I shouldn't give a crap about anything that happened. It's done, it's over with. So, I'm moving on." I made Alice an omelet as well, and we ate in comfortable silence. Well, I was comfortably silent, she was prattling on about some design show, or something. She didn't even notice that I was hardly paying attention. I was just thinking about the lesson I was going to take in the afternoon. My mind wandered to thoughts of kicking and punching. That evolved into thoughts of being an actual ninja and sneaking around fighting crime.

"Bella, hello?" Alice obviously just noticed I was a little spaced out.

"Sorry Al, I was just thinking. I need to go, so I can make it to the studio. I'll see you later?" I got up and cleaned the kitchen before checking myself one more time to make sure I was presentable for a workout. I suppose I shouldn't worry about that, because I'm going to be sweaty after like 10 minutes of whatever they have planned.

I entered the studio about 10 minutes early. Another class was going on. The class was made up of children, from maybe 8 to 12. I don't know, children are either really small or adults. That's how they seemed to me. They had on different color belts as well. Some were green, some were purple, and there was even a black belt. I didn't know much about this sport, but I knew that black was pretty high. The kids were good too. They were running and kicking a target the instructor was holding. They were yelling with each kick. Then the instructor yelled, "Set," and magically every child knew what to do. They all lined up in a straight line across the front. I couldn't help but think that was a nifty little trick they had there. That could definitely come in handy, if I were a parent, which I'm not.

The children turned to bow at the section I was sitting in. I didn't know what to do, so I just remained in my seat. They turned back and started repeating the instructor, something about being a good student and having body strength. Then bowed again to the instructor.

Wow, that's a lot of bowing. Do I have to do that? Should I be taking notes?

"Hi, I'm Emmett McCarty, and you must be Bella." Emmett, Mr. McCarty, Sensei? I'm not sure what to call him, but he was huge. He was a bear of a man, easily over six-foot, and muscles straining through his karate outfit. He could kick my ass, I was sure of it. I will make sure not to piss him off.

"Um, yes."

Wow, great response there. Starting the confidence off with a bang.

"Well, you can go leave your shoes in the back and make your way out onto the mat. You still have a few minutes before class starts, you can stretch out or whatever you like."

"Great, thanks." I dropped my shoes in the back room and sat down on the mat. I decided that stretching would probably be a good idea. For someone that doesn't really exercise, I'm still kind of stretchy. I never had problems doing a split when I was younger. So I decided that was a good stretch for now. It will open my hips up, because I know I will be sore if I'm supposed to kick things.

I stretched each leg out to the side in a full straddle split and reached as far forwards with my hands as I could. With my face buried in the mat, I felt something like tingles go up my spine. I sat up slowly, because I didn't want to injure myself before I even started the class, and I saw bronze hair. I had deja-vu. Seeing that hair last night at the party, then the dream. I can't be that crazy, can I?

He was tall and lean. Definitely toned muscles were under the gray t-shirt he was wearing. He seemed to have an air about him, sexy, confident. I was immediately attracted to him. I don't know if I believe in love at first sight, because that seems completely ludicrous. But I am now very convinced of lust at first sight. He made eye contact with me as he made his way to the back and my breath hitched. He had the most amazing green eyes. It reminded me of the lush greens that I loved so much about Forks. If I had to describe him in just one word, it would be, 'sex'. Just pure sex walking by. Then I guess we held our gaze too long because he nearly fell over when a rogue child came barreling through to the front. I let out a small giggle, because this guy was perfect. Sexy and clumsy. I had to speak to him.

EPOV

I walked through the door and Rosalie told me where I could put my shoes. I was just going to walk by the brunette and try my best to look irresistible. How does one do that though? I tried to make eye contact with her and then nearly took out a kid, luckily I caught myself before I face planted. I thought I heard her giggle at me. Hopefully it was someone else.

I put my shoes in the back and went out to the mat. Emmett, introduced himself to me and shook my hand. What am I supposed to call him? Sensei? I swear I watch too many movies.

"Edward, you can stretch or whatever you like, we are just about ready to start."

"Thanks."

Stretch? Right.

I sat down in the floor and put one leg out and touched my toes. Then I switched feet and was startled to hear someone sit down next to me.

"Hi, I'm Bella. I'm glad there is another person in this class my age. When they said adult, I thought adult, not teenage boy."

Fuck, she was speaking to me. What do I do? Be calm, be cool.

Her voice was so sweet. She was mesmerizing. This is exactly what I wanted when I agreed to come to this class. Just to speak with her. Now that she was speaking, I was completely thrown off.

"You don't talk much, do you?"

"Um, no…but-"

"Ok class, I want everyone to stand up and line up on the stars on the floor." Sensei Emmett decided now it was time for class. I almost had a whole sentence out to this amazing woman. I also felt like a complete bumbling tool.

We all stood up and Bella, such a fitting name, took the star next to me. I just look straight ahead into the mirrors and I noticed she glanced over at me with a small smile on her face. I looked over at her and gave my best panty-dropping smile, or so that's what all the other girls I've dated have told me. I guess it worked, because I saw the cutest blush spread across her face and she looked back to Sensei Emmett.

The class progressed, we kicked, we punched, and I sweated my ass off. Bella, such a beautiful name, glistened. I didn't get another chance to speak with her during class though. I needed to find another opportunity to hear her speak. I started to approach her and Sensei Emmett stopped me short.

"Hi Edward, how did you like class?"

"It was great. Thanks for letting me take it." I said as I looked back over his shoulders to the front where Bella was headed.

"No problem, do you want to go talk in my office?"

I saw Rosalie approach Bella and I figured she was getting the same speech. So I relented and went with the Sensei. I took a seat in his office and we started to discuss program options. I decided that I actually did like the class and it really seemed like a fun way to spend my time. Emmett, evidently not a Sensei, because my dumbass asked him, told me about noon and night time classes. I figured I wasn't doing much else during the day after I got off work, so I had time to kill. Tanya would be at work for the noon class, and maybe she would be ok with me taking some classes at night. Maybe this could be like a phasing out. I would be in class all the time and she would get used to me not being around. It would soften the blow of breaking up, and then she wouldn't freak out and try to kill herself again.

"Sure, sign me up for the leadership program. I get to come to class anytime I want, right?" I figured if Bella was signing up as well, even if we weren't on the same program, I could arrange to come whenever she does.

Is it stalking if it's a public place that I pay to come to?

"Ok, we will just go up front and get your gear and you are all set."

Emmett actually seemed like a pretty cool guy. I could definitely see how he has students already even though the school is pretty new. He seems very personable and at ease with people.

We walked up front to get all the stuff I would need to protect me during class. At the front counter, Bella was with Rosalie. Rosalie was shoving a bunch of stuff in a really big bag as Bella looked on with excitement.

"Here you go Bella, everything is in there and we are excited that you joined." Rosalie handed Bella the bag of gear, which means that Bella did sign up for classes. Emmett also came around the counter with a matching bag full of stuff for me. I thanked Emmett just as Bella said thanks to Rosalie. We both looked at each other. She blushed again. Then I said bye and Bella said bye. It was crazy; we were in sync or something. I just smiled and held the door for her and we walked out, together.

"I didn't get a chance to introduce myself before. I'm Edward Cullen, and you're Bella?" I kept my gaze forward as we made our way to the parking lot. I felt an energy between up.

"Edward, Edward." She mused aloud, tilting her head and looking up at me. "I like it. It suits you."

"Yeah", I chuckled. "Thanks, Bella definitely suits you."

What the fuck did I just say?

She just chuckled and smiled at me. I looked down at her with a sly smirk trying to redirect her attention from what I said.

"So, you joined as well?" Bella asked and she stopped at a black Subaru STI.

If that's her car, she has great taste! I wonder what she tastes like.

"Oh, um, yeah, I did. I joined the leadership program. How about you?"

"Same. Maybe I'll see you in class sometime."

"Yeah, I'm going to take the noon classes and try to make it some of the evening classes."

"Really? Me too. Ok, well I guess I will see you Monday then." She said with a smile and another blush.

God, that blush. I wonder where else she blushes. I wonder how many ways I can make her blush.

"Sure, it was nice to meet you Bella."

"It was nice to meet you to Edward." She gave a small wave and loaded her car with her new gear. I walked over to my Volvo and started loading my gear in as well. I saw her wave quickly as she passed in her car. I got in and drove home, so thankful that Tanya was out of town on her retreat.

For the rest of the weekend, I thought of Bella. How she moved in class. Her tight little ass in those yoga pants. Her deep chocolate eyes as she looked up at my and smiled. Chocolate eyes as they looked up with her mouth around my dick. Ok, that hasn't actually happened, yet. Just the thought of her makes me incredibly hard. I don't think I've been this turned on, all the time, since I was a kid and discovered the art of self-love.

Down boy. I cannot wait to go to class on Monday.