AN: Hi!

This chapter introduces two new characters, and two ones you already know, but haven't seen yet.

Stephine Meyer owns everything, the lucky bitch. I own (most) of the Callan family, though. And I started a Polyvore for outfits and Crap.

So, read.

The ding of the elevator sounded cheery in the condensed space. I was squished between a lady with what seemed like a million shopping bags and Mason in the back of the elevator.

When the car reached our floor, I carefully dodged the people and squeezed out of the small space, Mason behind me.

The lobby was clean, the wooden floors practically sparkling under the recessed lighting. One of the reasons that we picked this building was the homey feeling. It didn't have marble floors and chandeliers; it felt like my parents home in Montclair.

I would've been living in New Jersey, but my job made it impossible. I worked in Manhattan Memorial Hospital, and I had to be a minimum 30 minute drive from the hospital when I was on-call. From the train station in Montclair it was a 30 minute ride to the World Trade Center stop, and then a 10 minute subway ride to Manhattan Memorial.

So, NYC apartment living it is.

"Hey, Bella. Heading somewhere?" Peter, the doorman asked.

Peter was one of the nicest people I know . He was probably 70 or so years old, and kind of looked like my grandfather. He walked the kids that lived in the building to the bus stop every day.

"Yeah. My niece and nephews birthday is in a few days." I replied.

"Chelsea and Chase, right?" There was a crease in his eyebrows, like he was trying really had to remember.

"Yep." I said popping the 'p'.

"Well," he started "Have a good day. And take Mr. Mason with you, if you plan to stay out after dark."

I rolled my eyes. Would I ever escape the clutches of overprotective males? I mean between my Dad, Chris, Jaxson, Ashton, Mason, and now Peter, I was forever doomed to always be reminded to have a buddy with me in the city.

"Yeah sure, whatever."

Peter laughed raising his hand in a goodbye.

Mason brushed past me, loosely entangling his fingers with mine to pull me along.

The sun was covered up by a thick veil of gray clouds, which made the swirling gusts of wind, laced with snowflakes seem all the more bone chilling. I shivered inside my coat.

"God, It's freaking cold out here." Mason groped, pulling his arms around his torso.

"Maybe it will ward off some people." I said optimistically.

Mason snorted. "Yeah right, Look at that." He said, pointing ahead.

Oh.

At the sidewalk crossing ahead, I saw more people there than there probably was in my whole town. And we were still about 15 blocks away from the madness of 5th Avenue.

"Holy Shit." I said, drawing out the cuss word. I was going to be a long day.

Mason laughed. "It was your idea."

"Shut up." I said playfully, nudging his shoulder with mine.

X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X

I swear, this store would never end. Fao Schwartz, a toy store on fifth avenues was probably the best toy store in the world. Aside from Magic Factory, a small toy store in Montclair that was run by one of the seniors from MCHS and their parents.

And how in the world do I buy presents for 6 year olds? I mean Chelsea wanted a doll. A doll. And Chase said something about sparklers. Um, sorry little boy, nothing fiery for you. I think I was going to go to the American girl doll store for Chelsea, and a electronic drum set for Chase, so he can drive Sophia and Ashton crazy.

I walked around the model car shelf, seeing Mason playing guitar hero.

"Mason. Act your age, not your shoe size please." I yelled.

He rolled his eyes, giving the guitar to a blonde little boy next to him, ruffling his hair,

"Who was that?" I asked as we went to the checkout line.

"Riley Paige. Devin and Olivia's kid." Devin and Olivia were two kids from MCHS.

We got to the front and paid, walking out of the store.

"Here," Mason said, "I'll make you a deal. You pick up the gremlins after, and I'll get the stupid doll."

YES! No more shopping!

"Deal!" I shouted, grabbing his hand and shaking it.

He rolled his eyes. "I'll meet you at Sophia's store."

"Kay. Bye." I turned around heading toward the upper end of Fifth Avenue, where Sophia's shop was.

I crossed the street, skirting between cabs.

Sophia Callan designs were open, with a fair amount of people walking in the store. The bell jingled as I walked in the door.

The store was well, awesome. And that's not just because I helped design it. The floors were a warm, rich hickory, the walls were a deep blue teal, a grayish lavender, a hunter green, and a chocolate brown, and a maroon red. Each of the walls represented one of the Calllan kids. Sophie was the teal. In that section was girly, outgoing with bright neon colors in-keeping with the trends. The Hunter green was Jaxson. That section had athletic clothes, fashionable ones of course. The chocolate brown was Chris. Those were jeans, plain comfy clothes, because that was my brother. My section was the gray. It had plain color shirts, pastel colors, and lace jeans. The maroon was Luke, the oldest adopted Callan child. He had fancy clothes. This was really silly, because he was the most laid back of us all.

The store was under the bridal area. Sophia designed wedding dresses as well. I cannot tell you how many times I had to be a human mannequin for her.

"Izza! Help!" Sophia called from behind the register. This was New York City after all, and they were crazy shopping people.

I darted behind the counter, finding my frazzled sister. She had fly-aways in her hair and had small purple circles under her eyes.

"Hey Soph," I said as I hugged her, "This was not the sister time I wanted."

She laughed. "You know this store as well as I do. Can you help people find things?"

"Yep." I said, Pulling my hair into a ponytail.

30 minutes later when Sophia closed the store for 'lunch breaks' I was exhausted. So much for a day off.

"Wow. Have you ever considered, I don't know open a new store?" I said, raising my eyebrows at her.

She sighed, pulling her fingers through her hair.

"Maybe. I just don't trust people around my stuff."

I laughed.

"You-don't-have-to-tell-me!" I was laughing so hard that that I could barley breathe.

Sophia walked over and punched me in the shoulder.

"Do you have any Idea where Ashton is taking me tonight?"

I smiled angelically. "Nope."

Sophia was in the process of glaring at me when the doorbell jingled.

"Miss, I'm sorry were closed." Sophia said, calling out to whoever was at the door.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" The voice was happy, almost chirpy in tone.

But why did it sound so familiar?

"Bella?!"

I twirled around, so fast it made my head spin.

"Alice!?"

She was standing in front of me. All 4'11 inches of her.

"Do you two know each other?" Sophia said.

"Oh. Um, yeah." I stuttered, my eyes wide, matching Alice's'.

"This is Alice Cullen." I finished.

The name Cullen must have rung a bell, she turned and said "I'll just be- here for a while." She disappeared into the back room.

"Bella."

"Alice."

We started at the same time, and laughed.

"Wow. Bella you haven't changed a bit. Wait…" she trailed off. "You haven't changed a bit. What.. What happened?"

I smirked. "Well, something kind of magical…"

A voice with a strong southern drawl came from the door.

"Ali you ready to go?" Ah. It was Jasper.

"Jas! Come in here! you'll never believe who I found."

Jasper walked in, and he smiled and huffed one small unbelieving laugh.

"Hello, Bella."

"Hi, Jasper."

"What were you starting to say…" Alice started but got cut off by Sophia walking out of the back room with her phone by her ear.

"ISABELLA! Please tell me why my husband told me I need to pack a bikini?" Sophia raised her eyebrows.

"I would tell you, but then I had to kill you." I giggled.

Sophia just glared at me.

I pulled my IPhone out of my pocket, glancing at the screen. 2:43.

"I need to go pick up the kids anyway." I walked over and hugged my sister.

"Bye Soph."

"Bye Bella."

"Can we walk with you?" Alice said.

"Sure." I said, stepping outside into the cold.

As soon as I walked out the door, I was bombarded.

"Who was that? You know Sophia Callan? Why are you in New York City? You have kids?"

I laughed as I replied "My sister, yes, because I lived here, and no, they're my sisters' kids."

"Wow. Sophia Callan is your sister." Alice marveled.

"So," Jasper said, "Where are these kids?" We walked through the masses of people, artfully dodging people.

"West 31rst street. A small little private school."

"Can I buy them clothes?" Alice said, eyes wide."

"Um, no. Their mother is a fashion legend. You think they need clothes?" I laughed.

We reached the opening to Upper Manhattan Elementary, and waited in a herd of parents for the kids to be let out.

"So, how'd you get to New York?" Jasper asked, turning to me.

"Well, my dad works at Mann Memorial, and he really liked it there, so I decided to work there."

"Wait…. What? I thought Charlie was a cop? In Forks!?" Alice shrieked.

The bell rang, and the gates opened, kids pouring out.

"Well, there were some things that I forgot to tell you." I laughed. Alice was about to say something when I heard,

"Auntie Bella!" A high, tinkling soprano rang out.

I saw brown curls bouncing, and then Chelsea jumping onto me. I caught her, she barley weighed anything.

"Hi, Chels. Where's your brother?" She had bright, chocolaty eyes that looked like mine. It was a Callan trait.

"I'm right here, Aunt B." Chase was to my left, holding his sister's book bag. He had brown hair, but had blonde streaks, his father's color." It was really amazing, the contrast.

"Sup, Chase." I shifted so I could bump fists with him.

"Who are these people?" Chelsea asked.

"These are my friends, Alice and Jasper."

"Hi Ms. Alice, Mr. Jasper." Chase said, nodding his head.

"Aw! Aren't you two the cutest?" Alice said.

"Thank you." Chelsea replied, looking down at the ground, her cheeks a deep pink.

Well, I didn't say all Callan traits were good, did I?

"Let's get home guys, you're staying with me and Mason tonight."

"YES!" Chase yelled.

The whole group laughed.

EN: Well, how was it?

(Review, Review, REVIEW, please.)

Thank you!

-Kylie M.