A/N: Thanks so much for your support you guys. You people are phenomenal. Starting with this chapter, I'm going back to my habit of responding with reviews. They should be found at the bottom, after the ending authors note.

Disclaimer: All rights to SM

Summary: Isabella Swan is the one person to go to about love – even though she has virtually no love life of her own…until a drunken blind date lands her married to the sexy Dr. Edward Masen.

I just want to say that I'm very happy that you guys like this story. With all of my stories, I try my best to make them as unique as possible. I'd hate it if someone were to open my story, take a look at it, and say "I've read something exactly like this before."

All my stories come from the most retarded places. I might be drinking juice from a can, and suddenly come up with an idea of Edward and Bella going bowling. It's all random and they never make sense, so I really hope that these ideas are my own.

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter

[I'm improving in updating quicker!!]

Urban Decay

Chapter 4: A Car Crash Kind of Love

B

Having the love of your life break up with you and say, "We can still be friends" is like your dog dying and your mom saying "You can still keep it." Personally, I'd rather not have the carcass of my dog lying around the house.

There are people who would laugh at the quote, and think it is one of the stupidest similes they have ever read. But that's probably because they've never really been in love.

Rosalie…well her situation is a bit complicated. Five years ago, Rosalie and Emmett decided to end their relationship – over an incredibly superficial fight. They hadn't parted very mutually, but they decided to leave with that overused cliché "we can still be friends."

And here comes the age old question: Is it possible to be friends with your ex?

Now, you'll hear, almost every time you ask the question, the following sentences (in a variety of different forms, of course): "It is easier to turn a friend into a lover, than turn a lover into a friend." It may be one of the corniest, unremarkable quotes you will ever hear, and it isn't always right. It is possible to make your ex a friend – all it takes is persistence.

If you love that person enough, you'll put your heart into keeping them close – even if it is only as a friend.

The thing about Rosalie and Emmett…is that they loved each other too much, and keeping each other close was not an option, unless it meant they were back in a relationship. Five years passed with very little contact between the two of them – though I am not saying Rosalie didn't try to find him on the internet or in the phonebook. God knows how many days I found my web history spammed with the pages she encountered after spending the night Googling him.

For five years I've seen Rosalie jump from one relationship to the other. I've seen her try to replace that void in her heart. I've watched as she got home after breaking up with a guy, only to meet another the next day. I've seen her heart broken – no, that was wrong. It had always been broken. Every relationship was just a notch on her bedpost. Just a check in her list. She tried to replace him. She needed to replace him…She's failed every time.

Sometimes, when you can't get someone out of your mind….they're probably supposed to be there.

Rosalie learned it the hard way. And now, she's right back to where she started five years ago. It was like she was a sophomore all over again.

I was at the opposite end of that spectrum. I felt old. I was married. I'm twenty-one and I have a husband. I'm an old woman trapped in a barely-legal year old body.

Fantastic.

R

I sat on the couch of my remarkably decorated living room. It was still dusk, and I hadn't bothered to turn on the light. The only light in the room was from the silver moonlight, flashing to the mirrors on the tables and on the walls.

I had a pillow pressed tightly to my body. I felt like I was twenty again. I felt as vulnerable as I did then – and I wondered if I was kidding myself. I'd never changed. He irreversibly changed me, and it was about time I accepted the fact that I couldn't go back to the way I was before I met him.

I must not be a very good best friend. Bella was in the middle of a crisis – an urgent, life-altering crisis at the age of twenty-one. I'm three years older than her, and here I was, sulking like a child in my living room. It was pathetic.

I was pathetic.

I hugged the pillow tighter. His heavy lidded eyes flashed in my mind, and I cringed. That smirk…those eyes….that hair…it was just too familiar. I didn't want to remember all the stupid fights we'd gotten into during those years – and I especially didn't want to remember the unbearably sweet moments we'd shared.

It was too much…

Bella didn't know this, but I saw him once. Two years ago. I was walking down to one of my many pit stops before the magazine shoot.

His hair was longer than I remembered, but his eyes held that same mischievous glint, and his smirk was as playful and as alluring as it had always been. He was a little taller but I could still see that boy I had fallen in love with three years before – that boy who dreamed more than anyone I'd ever met.

He was sitting in one of the quaint café's that this city offered. Except for a couple in the corner, he was the only one there. He had chosen to sit outside, just like we always used to – "Why not go oh natural, Rosie?" He hadn't seen me, and I felt something close to a stalker as I watched him like a hawk.

A girl had come. She was decently attractive – had shoulder length dark brown hair. I felt a stab at my heart – I couldn't see myself in her…I could see that soft air of shyness around her…I could see that beautiful caramel hair. I could see how she bit her lip, how she followed and laughed at whatever he said. He had succeeded in finding a replacement for me. He had succeeded in finding someone who didn't have all the flaws I had. Someone who wasn't compassionate, who wasn't opinioned. Someone who wouldn't argue when he wanted something…someone who he could love.

I couldn't breathe.

I ended up missing the shoot that day. I ended up sitting on that bench across from the café, watching as she flirted with him relentlessly. I could feel my breath catch when she ran her hand down his arm. I could feel my fists clench when I saw him smile at her. The way he used to smile at me. Only it wasn't the same.

I was watching it as a spectator. It wasn't the same. It had a hard edge to it.

I couldn't pull my eyes away. I stayed there till late afternoon, only leaving when they'd gone their separate ways.

I didn't know why I couldn't stop watching. I don't know why I had an urge to follow them. I don't know why I wanted to be her.

Watching them was like a car crash. You really don't want to look…but you can't stop staring.

B

I won't lie to you. I was scared. Rosalie had been gone for hours – she didn't give us a clue about where she had left to. She gave us each a cup of quarters, and swift a kiss on the cheek, before grabbing Alice's keys and heading out. And it's been hours since she left.

I finished over three cups of quarters. Alice was dozing off in one of the waiting chairs. I shifted uncomfortably on the chair I was sitting on – out of all the beautifully designed chairs, I chose to sit on the scratched up leather stool.

Smart, Bella. Real smart.

"…Bella?"

I snapped my gaze to the side, and found an almost smiling Edward staring at me. I returned the smile with a small one of my own.

"Hey, Edward." I said, softly. I felt horrible for leaving him in the hallway like that – it must have been terribly embarrassing. God knows someone with his title should not be streaking one of the fanciest hotels in the history of the city.

"Can we talk?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow.

I swallowed roughly. "I think that'd be a good idea."

He offered me his hand, and I took it. He helped me off the stool – which wobbled a little.

"Of all chairs, you chose the deformed one?" He chuckled.

"Everyone deserves a chance." I shrugged, "It isn't easy to fit in! Sometimes it's better to stand out."

"You realize you're not on television right?" He smirked. "You don't need to give advice about everything."

I flushed. "I'm sorry, I guess I forget sometimes."

"That's fine." He smiled. "I do it all the time. I have to force myself to not cut people open when I'm waiting in line at the McDonalds."

"I really hope you're kidding, Edward." I laughed. "Some people actually do that."

He just laughed.

"Where are we going?" I asked, looking around. "I thought you said we needed to talk?"

"We are talking." He pointed out. "And in any case, it's a good idea to go somewhere where we'll remain inconspicuous. Preferably with a lot of other people – god knows what happens when you lose your temper."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Here it comes…" he whistled.

"Shut up." I rolled my eyes. "I'm not that frisky when I'm mad."

"I beg to differ." He replied. "Do I need to remind you of what happened this morning?"

I blinked. "I knew that this would come up."

"Well, I was left stranded, naked –save for the pillow – in the middle of a hallway around noon."

"I apologize for that." I said, genuinely. "I wasn't thinking straight, and I'm sure you weren't either. At least nothing too bad happened, right?" I prompted, hopefully.

"Actually, I had a few…moments that were especially embarrassing this morning." He admitted.

I cringed. "Like what?"

"Well, for one, the head lecturer noticed my pants were on backwards. When I turned around, my fly was still open, and my shirt was sticking out of it."

I giggled. "That's priceless." His eyes narrowed. "As in, those shoes. Yeah…"

He rolled his eyes. "Okay, here's the perfect place. No one will realize we're talking about what we're talking about, and around all these people, you won't attack me."

I looked around. "…the bar?"

"The most crowded place in the hotel." He shrugged.

He brought me to one of the bar stools. I hopped on. "What do yer want?" The bar tender drawled, his accent thick.

"A vodka martini, please. Extra dry with extra olives." I ordered.

"And you?" his gaze turned to Edward.

"Kamikaze, dry." He replied, waving him off.

"Nice choice." I commented.

He shrugged. "Can't live life being afraid of being drunk."

"Well said." I laughed. "I'll be sure to put that on my next show."

We chatted about random things, before my drink came. I sipped it, and I was hit by a startling wave of déjà vu. "Do you realize this is exactly how the night started?"

He blinked. "You're right. You're even drinking the same cocktail."

"Wait, you didn't bring me here to take advantage of me again are you?" I was half teasing and half serious. I put down my drink, quirking my eyebrows.

"What do you take me for?" He asked. "I'm not a rapist. Trust me."

I laughed. "I'll be the judge of that."

He quirked an eyebrow. "You're strange."

"So are you."

"I think we should start over."

"That'd probably be a good idea."

He smiled a little. The bartender shoved the glass towards Edward, and he grabbed it easily. Taking a sip, he turned around and left. I cocked my head to the side, but he had disappeared in the sea of buzzed people.

I twirled the tip of my finger in my drink, before licking it off with a pop. I felt like a child, sticking my hands in a bag of cheesy chips and sucking the cheese off my fingers. It always tasted better that way.

I felt someone sit beside me. I turned around. Edward was sipping his drink, smiling friendlily.

"Hello." He said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Uhm, Hi." An involuntary smile crept onto my face.

"May I ask for your name?"

"Isabella Swan – though my friends call me Bella most of the time."

"That's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl." He commented, winking.

I rolled my eyes at the lame line.

"My name is Edward Masen." He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

I wasn't fazed. Two could play at this game. I trailed my hand down his arm. "No, the pleasure is all mine."

He blinked. "Cheap shot."

I laughed. "I think we've done enough goofing around, Edward. We have to talk about our situation."

He face immediately turned serious. He nodded, taking the seat beside me. "What are we going to do?"

"Well, Jacob just called me and told me one of my possible sponsors are asking for an interview." I replied, frowning. "He also knew that I was married to you, and he wasn't very happy."

"I'm assuming Jacob Black is your boyfriend?" He asked.

I laughed heartily, sipping my martini. "I'm sorry!" I sputtered. "That's hysterical!"

He frowned. "Why is that funny?"

"I'm not going to lie to you – Jake is gorgeous. Unconventionally and incredibly gorgeous. But it's never going to happen."

"Why? I doubt he'd choose not to date someone like you."

I rolled my eyes. "That's a strange indirect compliment." I commented. "Anyway, Jake would never go for a person like me."

"Why?"

I shrugged. "I think it has to do with the fact that I'm a girl."

He blinked, before he laughed, finally understanding. "Got it." He nodded.

"Anyway, let's get back to our situation."

"What do the sponsors have to do with our issues?"

"Well, I'm assuming since Jacob, who's my publicist/friend by the way, found out…that means the press is going to find out soon. And in any case, there are eyes everywhere. Someone must have seen us and must have called the press. I'm not the most non-descript person. I get noticed a lot."

"I get that." He smiled. "Now, you still haven't explained what that has to do with our – uh – marriage."

"Well, they're going to want to talk to me about it." I shrugged. "And people have always been suspecting that I'm lying about my single status. It's not going to do any good denying it. I mean, think about it. How much backlash would I have if I denied it, and they found out about the annulment after that?"

"That's true."

"So, I know I'm being incredibly selfish, and I know this is asking for so much…" I began. "But would you mind pretending – well not really pretending since we actually are –we're married? I mean, pretend that we didn't get married because of a few too many vodka martinis." I blushed pink. I sneaked a glance at him.

He was still. "…and?"

"Well, the sponsorship deal isn't completely worked out yet." I replied. "They're only going to be in New York for a month or two, and if I can just get them to sign the contract…then my show will be financially steady for the next few years, until we need another sponsorship."

He nodded ,understanding.

"So, basically, I'm just wondering if you'll be willing to…postpone that annulment for another month or so." I frowned. "I told Rosalie I wanted an annulment as soon as possible, but I decided my show needs a boost – and I can handle a few weeks of not being single." I smiled a little. "Would you mind?"

He mulled it over. He took a large gulp of his cocktail – causing him to wince a little from the sharp sour taste. "I suppose that's okay."

I nodded mutely, but I was bursting with relief and happiness. I was so sure that he would refuse.

"Thank you so much!" I grinned, throwing my arms around me. He embraced me tentatively. I pulled away. "You have absolutely no idea how much this means to me, Edward. You just…you just saved my life."

He smiled somberly. "You're not going to burst into tears are you? I'm not very good with crying women."

I brushed my hand against my watering eyes. "I'm good, don't worry." I smiled. "Really, thank you so much!"

"Don't worry about it. What does this deal entitle again?"

I frowned. "Well, I have a few interviews and press conferences – and television appearances – I will have to do, and you're probably going to need to be there."

"What kind of television appearances?"

"Are you forgetting that I'm the host of a certain syndicated television show?"

"Well, that, of course. But are you going to make appearances on Jay Leno and Ellen DeGeneres and what not?"

"Of course, don't worry about it. It's not as scary as you might think."

He frowned. "I'll be the judge of that."

"I never knew that you could be scared of something I do all the time." I laughed. He seemed so macho.

"It could be worse." He smirked.

"Oh, do explain."

"You could have ended up married to a loser, instead of someone unattainable like me." He sipped his cocktail, winking suggestively.

I snorted a laugh, gulping down more of my drink. This situation could have been so much worse. If I could, I would have gone back in time and avoided this situation in the first place. But since I can't, I'm grateful that the person I wound up marrying was Edward, and not an insincere stranger. At least he had a sense of humor and a certain sincerity. And, it was great that he was both kind and incredibly handsome.

"Thanks." I smiled.

"For a weak joke?"

"For not being a complete loser. I know a lot of people who would have treated our…unique situation a lot differently." I giggled a little.

He winked. "Hey, I'm your husband remember?"

A

"Open the door, Rosalie! It isn't good to cry alone!" I said loudly, knocking her door frantically. I had a feeling (an incredibly strong pull) that Rosalie wasn't feeling very good. I could have easily been wrong, but that tug in my guts meant that I was right. I hoped I wasn't. Rosalie was always so strong. She never cried during break ups (or the normally tissue-filled-flegem-infested aftermath of the break up). "I brought ice cream! The good one! Not the crappy non-fat shit you can get at Ralphs!"

I heard some footsteps from the inside, and pressed my ear to the door. She was coming! She was finally being cooperative. One point for Alice! I heard her fumble with the lock on the door.

The door was flung open, and I closed my eyes while preparing my lips to form the thousands of comforting words I could ever think about it.

"You can't beat yourself up over a guy like—"

"Hey Alice!" her voice was oddly…cheery for the situation.

I looked at her. She was wearing short pajama shorts – similar to the volleyball shorts we had when we were in Caltech – and a white cotton shirt with a large yellow happy face, with the tongue out. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, random strands of her gorgeous blond hair falling freely, framing her face. She had a lollipop in her mouth, and she was wearing her glasses on the bridge of her nose. I could hear the song American Boy by Estelle playing loudly in the background.

It was like a freaking sleepover.

"Come in!" She pulled me in. I looked around. No wet tissues…no random strings of snot…no torn up sheets…

"Your flat seems…clean…" I said, lamely.

"Thanks, I guess." She laughed, sucking on her lollipop.

"You're welcome."

"So what are you up to, Alice? Why did you stop by?"

"Well…I figured because you left without us that you were in trouble…"

"How'd you get home, by the way?"

"Jasper gave me a lift."

"What about Bella?"

"She's still in Atlantic City. She had a couple things she had to sort out."

"Okay. Why do you think I'd be in trouble?"

"Well I figured you had gone to meet…him…and I thought you'd need some moral support."

She shrugged, throwing the lollipop away and grabbing a new one – a green one now. "Why would I be sad because of that?"

"I mean its Emmett –"

"Exactly." She pulled the lollipop out of her mouth. "It's Emmett. Maybe you forgot. I broke up with him five years ago. Half a decade ago. I was a stupid college student. I didn't know anything about love, Alice."

"But I just thought –"

"You thought wrong." She said simply, sucking the lollipop again. "Dance with me?"

I sighed. I was expecting a sobfest, with tons of tissues and chick flicks. I was expecting her to be crying – finally admitting she was still in love. I didn't get what I'd expected.

I spent the entire night with Rosalie, playing games and talking like we had when we were teenagers. We had Kanye West playing in the background, with a few snippets of Mayday Parade and Metro Station. I can't tell you how long we spent shaking it to Shake It.

We had a complete girl's night – full of things teenaged girls did. Not twenty-four year olds.

I just hope I'll see the day that Rosalie admits what she's actually feeling, instead of hiding behind her thousands of relationships and photo shoots.

"I'LL TAKE YOU HOME IF YOU DON'T LEAVE ME AT THE FRONT DOOR! LEAVE ME AT THE FRONT DOOR!" She screamed, dancing on the table. "YOUR BODY'S COLD BUT GIRL WE'RE GETTING SO WARM! AND I WAS THINKING OF WAYS TO GET INSIDE! TONIGHT WE'RE FALLING IN LOVE! LET ME GO NOW! THIS FEELINGS TEARING ME UP! HERE WE GO NOW!"

She jumped off the table and shimmied to the couch.

"NOW IF SHE DOES IT LIKE THIS, WILL YOU DO IT LIKE THAT? NOW IF SHE TOUCHES LIKE THIS, WILL YOU TOUCH HER RIGHT BACK? NOW IF SHE MOVES LIKE THIS, WILL YOU MOVE HER LIKE THAT? COME ON!!"

She screamed louder, break dancing on the carpet. She gestured for me to join her. "SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE, UH SHAKE IT!"

I groaned, throwing my head down on the pillow.

A/N: Sorta short, but not really. My definition of short isn't actually short. Just a chapter to tie some loose ends. I hope you guys like this story so far! Please review. Thanks for all the favorites and reviews. It got into 6 communities! Thank you to whoever recommended my stories to the communities. I love you to death!

If you have any questions, just ask!

Lots of love!

-Kim

Number of Pages: 11

Number of Words: 4,321

Completed: Yes

Edited: No

Review Responses:

Oh my goodness, bellaroxursocx, thank you so much. You have no idea how much that means to me.

Tania19, you're welcome for the chapter. Thank you for the review :P

I absolutely love this story too lil miss bella Cullen. I really ONLY just met you, but I really LOVE you too! Haha =)

Confused55 I want to say that I appreciate how much you review my work. I'm ecstatic that you like my stories. And to answer your question, Rose talked to Bella about the annulment off-screen. I didn't think it was worth adding to the chapter – but if needed, I will add it in! I loved writing their talk, so I hope you love reading it. I think love can't be on the spot, but I hate the cliché of them 'hating' each other and then suddenly falling in love in a matter of seconds. I think it's better if they hit it off. Why would you try to get on the good side of someone you hate, you know?

Really? I didn't know that! Where does it say that? I re-read the chapter and I didn't notice it. Mind pointing it out so I can edit those stupid plot holes? Thank you for the heads up, lovedforeternity. I'm glad this is on your alert list!

____ I wish I knew your name. But anonymity is cool too! I'm glad you like it! Thanks for the greeting and the congrats. How are you ?

I love Rosalie and Emmett is cool. I love the side story too. I'm sorry I suddenly changed the whole premise of the Rosalie-Emmett relationship, but it just popped in my mind after a crazy dream I had. Angel4057, I'm really glad that you like the story. I'm working on that 'good idea' about Bella & Edward. It'll be epic, I promise! I can't wait to write it, and I hope you like it too!

Calico Rayne, first of all, I am completely in love with your name. Really. If you see any other account on the internet with that username, just know that its ME stealing your username! Go AWAY AlternativePunk, I'm Calico Rayne now! How kick ass is that? I'm glad you love the story, and I'm glad you think I write well. My English teacher seems to disagree…

Medea Ariadne DeMarchiHow in the world did all of you come up with the most fantastic usernames? I'm glad you liked the story. Here's the update!