CHAPTER NINE

"Why are you so mad? I thought you wanted me gone. You were the one who gave me that look of contempt and a speech of how you couldn't be friends with me." Edward chased me back into the kitchen while I tried to quickly undue my apron strings.

"I don't know, Edward. Maybe it's because I went out of my way to help you out and the least you could do was say thank you. Instead you just fucking…left. No note. No…nothing not even a fuck you very much, Bella. Thanks for making my night miserable as always."

"My night wasn't miserable and I didn't thank you because…what was I supposed to say, Bella. Thank you for letting me crash for the night and thank you for always being so fucking stubborn that I have to jump through hoops to try to get you to understand that I just want to be your friend. I'm not expecting more. I'm not going to hurt or abuse our friendship but you just build this wall…you do everything you can to keep everyone out and you should prepare yourself for a fucking miserable life. P.S. takeout food isn't healthy. Take some fucking cooking lessons already."

"You're going to stand here and try to school me on what is and isn't healthy? From what I can see, you are homeless by choice. You take all your money and give it away instead of trying to become a productive member of society. You're probably riddled with disease and god knows what else from sleeping on the streets."

"Riddled with disease? This coming from the girl who can't even remember who she slept with." He spit.

I stepped back like he had slapped me and immediately he started to apologize. It was exactly like my nightmare. It took me a moment to compose myself while he stood there biting his lip.

"Fuck you. I went to the doctors on Wednesday and for your information she gave me a clean bill of health. Keep your fucking soup kitchen and stay the hell away from me." I threw my apron at him and walked out.

I doubt Alice would miss me much since I had just made a mess of her tiled floor with food that I'm sure some hungry person would have enjoyed. I probably wasn't the best at being in control of my emotions but hey, it wasn't like I was giving seminars on the subject.

I almost laughed out loud when I realized the irony of it all. I had told my Grandfather I would give it four honest days' work and that is it exactly what I had done. Four days at Horizons officially done. I guess I could go back and tell my grandfather now but I was too ashamed to. Even though I had done everything he asked I knew that if I were him, I would be disappointed in me.

Fuck Jacob Black!

Fuck Edward…Edward…

I didn't even know the dude's last name. The only silver lining to that one is that I didn't sleep with him.

I sighed and pulled into my garage. What a day! How many times have I quit that damn place and somehow they always pull me back in but not this time. I pulled my ugly yellow shirt off my body and walked directly into my kitchen to look for a tool to dissemble it. I grabbed a pair of scissors and tried to cut the material but the material is so thick that it hurts my hands just doing so. I pull a knife out and start stabbing it but that doesn't do anything but poke holes into it.

"Rawraghrah." I grunt as I tried ripping it apart. What the hell did they make this out of? I'm sweating and panting and I don't know what is worse for wear, me or the shirt. One thing is for sure, there is no way in hell I can wear that shirt again. I would look like a bargain basement prostitute.

I had just flopped down on my couch and caught my breath when my doorbell rang. What was this place turning into? Grand Central Station? I huffed and picked myself up off the couch with every intention of telling that no good homeless asshole off again. But when I arrived at my video surveillance, it wasn't Edward, it was Alice.

Shit!

I looked down and saw my pink lacy bra staring back at me and the shredded yellow shirt in my hand.

Shit!

I threw the yellow shirt into a corner like it was on fire and scrambled over to my washer and dryer to try to find something to wear. I slid to a halt when I saw all my once dirty clothes, washed and folded neatly in a pile on the dryer.

Edward did my laundry?

I walked forward slowly and placed a hand on the soft material.

He did my laundry.

The door bell ringing once more snapped me out of whatever moment I was having and I quickly pulled a shirt from the folded stack and threw it on running back over to my front door. I threw open the door and scared Alice with my sudden appearance.

"You are home…I was just about to give up." She said softly.

"What are you doing here? If this is about the Jell-O, I'll pay for it."

"No…I don't really care about the Jell-O…I was more concerned about you." She gave me a small smile and I immediately wondered what she was up to.

"Why me?"

"Because Edward was an asshole…and because it's hard to find good people these days willing to help out for free. I…thought we could both use a drink." She held up a bottle of wine and I considered her for a moment.

I sighed and pulled open my door allowing her to enter.

"Wow, this is a beautiful house, Bella." She marveled.

"I'm sure you grew up in something similar…I heard you were the daughter to a prominent person."

"I did but since I got married, Jasper and I live a more modest lifestyle. My father doesn't define who I am."

"Carlisle Cullen. I never really got around to finding out who he was but the way your sister-in-law talked about him, I figured he must be important."

"He runs a large multi-media corporation. Newspapers, television…that sort of thing but it was never really my thing so I followed in my mother's footsteps. All my life she was running and working with various charities and I decided that I wanted to do something like that. Don't get me wrong, my father does a lot with charities but…he obviously has a very important position that doesn't leave him time for much else."

I pulled open a drawer and found my bottle opener.

"I know exactly how you feel. My father's a workaholic too. I never see him but the important thing is that he makes a lot of money for a lot of rich people so…in the end I'm sure he will feel his life was worthwhile." I replied sarcastically.

"If you don't mind me asking…what exactly is your relationship with…Edward?"

"Relationship? Uh…he's homeless and I…am not."

"You too seem to spend quite a lot of time together but you fight like cats and dogs. One minute everything is all right and the next…"

"There will never be a relationship between Edward and myself because this isn't some Beauty and the Beast fairytale." I stared at the label on the bottle of wine.

"He's not that bad of a guy…just because he is…whatever he is…it doesn't make him a beast." Alice softly objected.

"I never said Edward was the beast." I sighed and pulled down two wine glasses filling them quickly. "I think we all know that Edward isn't the villain here. I think that's why I don't want to be around him. Edward is like a big fucking mirror and he…makes you see what's really inside and when I look at him…I see everything wrong with me."

"Annoying isn't he?"

I pushed a glass toward her and took a gulp from mine.

"Yeah…can be a real bitch."

She laughed a little, "But…he honestly does just care…he's not malicious. He doesn't mean to do that but he has always been really intuitive and known the right questions to ask. It really is a bitch."

"How long have you known him? You talk like you've known him forever."

"I've…know Edward…longer then you would believe. He…we're practically family."

"So you're close…really good friends. Did he send you here to talk to me?"

"Well of course he knew he fucked up but I wanted to come here. I had a feeling if I didn't then you would never come back and that would be such a shame."

"Wow, you must really have trouble finding help if you are going out of your way to try to get me back. I am not a gem, I think you should use your time more wisely looking else ware." I replied.

"Bella. Why did you come to Horizons? Edward won't tell me but I can tell that he knows…your reasons."

I felt bad for what I was about to say because I essentially had made a mockery of her lifelong work with my petty reasons.

"Well…if you really must know. I met Edward on the street and he told me that Jacob Black comes every Thanksgiving. I had made a stupid bet with my fr…former friends that I could engage Jacob Black in conversation for at least thirty minutes and I wasn't allowed to use money in any way. Edward gave me the idea to volunteer at your soup kitchen and wait for Thanksgiving…so you see I am just as disgusting as Edward probably said I was."

She scrunched up her face and looked in thought over my confession.

"You did all this work just to meet Jacob?" She asked.

"I didn't have very many options available to me since I can't use money."

"And Edward told you that your best bet was to meet him at Horizons?"

"Yes…why does he not go to Horizons on Thanksgiving? Ooo I am going to kill him if he made me believe…" I was working myself up into a frenzy when Alice placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Don't get crazy. Edward didn't lie, Jacob does come on Thanksgiving. He's an old family friend and yes he will be there on Thanksgiving and yes you will meet him and win your bet." She stated determined.

"Wait, you're not like incredibly pissed off that I used your charity for my own selfish gain?"

"Why would I be pissed? You're going to work your ass off for the next two months for thirty minutes of face time with Jacob. Talk about charity! Thank you so much for all your dedication to our cause Bella, you're a real peach." She beamed up at me with a great big smile and glittery eyes.

"Hold up there, old tiny one. I never said I was going back to Horizons. In fact, if I was you and I was capable of making an intelligent decision, I would call my lawyer and ask for a restraining order against me."

"Pish posh. Like you said, it is hard to find good help these days and where else am I going to find good free help three days a week? You want Jacob Black and it just so happens that I know Jacob Black and even though you want to sit up here in your mansion feeling sorry for yourself, you have to admit that being at Horizons is better than being here alone. Even if Edward is there with his big mirror but just know that even though it may be pointing at you, he too is not exempt from having to take a good look every once in a while and I assure you, it's not as spotless as you would think."

Man, she is determined which meant bringing out one last ditched attempt. I quickly walked over to the corner where I stashed the violated yellow shirt and brought it back to her.

"My uniform…had an accident."

She held the pieces up. "With what? A weed whacker?"

"It was a very…traumatic experience. I don't like to talk about it." I dismissed and went back to my wine.

"Then it's a good thing that I just got some new shirts in. I was planning on giving you a new one next week."

"UGH! Why do you want me at Horizons so badly? I don't fit in. I never do anything right. I am bad for business. I know that it's not that bad out there that you would have to resort to needing me of all people to help."

"Because I am gifted. I have a talent for being able to look at someone and know whether they are on the right path for their life. Your life isn't going anywhere, right Bella? Do you find yourself doing the same thing day after day and never feeling truly satisfied. I believe that if you come and help at Horizons that you will find something fulfilling. I'm not going to say that it will be easy. There are many bumps coming up in your path but I honestly believe that when you get past all the bumpies then you will find fulfillment and happiness. Don't you want something more than stupid bets and all this?" She held up her hands looking around my house.

I sighed, "I have to think about it. Believe it or not homeless people aren't the turn off here, it's just one homeless person that makes me unnerved."

"And what exactly is the worst thing that could happen if you were to befriend Edward?"

I couldn't give Alice an answer because I knew she would never understand. When she asked me that question I had a small glimpse into my future and it included me in a white dress. People like Alice just wouldn't understand why I would be running away from something potentially good.

She knew she wasn't going to get any more out of me that night. I had already shared far too much and since we still didn't know one another well, she just left me with a small quick plea for me to really think about coming back to Horizons. She would have a shirt ready for me when I decided to return.

I was completely shocked that she didn't immediately hate me for my confession on why I was there in the first place. I wouldn't have been surprised if she was utterly disgusted with me but I was starting to believe that Alice was one of those one in a million people who were genuinely good-hearted and only wanted to focus on the positive.

Would I really take my chances and return to Horizons? Alice was right when she said I had nothing for me here. How sad had my life become that working at a soup kitchen was a highlight of my week? It was a question that plagued me all night long as I tossed and turned in my bed. I wanted to blame the wine but I think it was my own conscience.

By the next morning I was anything but a fresh daisy. I was battling some serious bed head and a blotchy face. I was in the middle of washing the crusties out of my eyes when my doorbell rang.

"Ugh." I groaned aloud. I used to have peaceful days when no one would bother me. Wait. Just yesterday I was complaining of being alone and today I annoyed. Even I can't make up my mind.

I grabbed a towel and dried off my face while I stomped down the stairs. If it was Michael, there might be a murder in my near future.

I wretched open the door and there was Edward standing with a couple of grocery bags.

"I heard you had a job opening…personal chef? I was told I should become a productive member of society." He sheepishly started while I stood there giving him the good ole stare down.

"Aren't you afraid your boss will infect you with some horrific STD?"

"I plan on keeping this completely professional and plus I'll use gloves." He quipped as I started to slam the door in his face but he blocked me. "I'm just kidding. Come on Bella, would you at least let me make a proper grovel breakfast before you kick me out of your life forever?"

I gave him one last indignant look before sighing and flipping to walk toward the kitchen.

"This better be one amazing ass breakfast for me to forget all your assholiness." I complained perching myself up on my breakfast bar stool.

"It will be and for a bonus I will show you a meal that will cost less than eight dollars."

"Yes, that is important. You can see how I struggle these days."

He rolled his eyes and started to bring out the proper pans.

"Before I break eggs. I thought this would go better if you accepted a peace-offering before I get down to negotiations."

"Negotiations?" I inquired.

"Not yet. No jumping ahead Miss Swan." He waved a naughty finger at me.

"By the way. What is your last name? You know mine but I don't know yours." I interjected.

"Uh…that can be part of the negotiations. I want to keep my last name if you won't yield."

I furrowed my brow and shook my head. "Fine, give me my peace-offering."

He walked over to his other bag and pulled out an old book. He handed it to me all proud.

"A dictionary? You…think I'm so stupid that I need a dictionary?"

"What kind of dictionary?" He tapped his finger on the cover of the book.

I looked down and paused when I read the title.

"Oxford." I whispered.

"I thought it could sit on your desk when you matriculated there. Never know when it could come in handy. There are a lot of really important things in that book."

I put the book back down on the counter. "I probably won't ever get there."

He handed me the book back, "If you want it, then yes you will but you can't ever let anything stand in your way. Not even Isabella Swan."

Damn that was a really good peace-offering. I pulled the book back from him and sighed. "All right where are my eggs, cook?"

"Coming right up, madam." He smiled at me knowingly and I tried to turn my focus else ware.

He worked around my kitchen like he had lived here his entire life. If you were an outsider looking in, you would think that this was his house not mine.

"Negotiations." I brought up again.

"I will get to those but first I want you to try to just…trust me. For one second in your life, trust me when I tell you that I will not make fun of you. I will not think you're stupid. Trust me with your real reason for why we cannot be friends. You said you had one. Tell me."

I cringed and got down from my bar stool. I walked toward my television room already rubbing my temples to rid the oncoming headache.

"Bella. Come on. Don't run away." He said strongly.

"I don't want to tell you. It's private." I whined.

"Well, I will chase you around the house if I have to. You are going to tell me because this doesn't affect just you. It affects me too and I think that the next two months would go a lot smoother if you could just admit that we are friends."

He followed me over to the television room and handed me a plate with an omelet before taking up residence on my recliner.

"It's personal." I whispered.

"That's okay." He replied softly.

I waited for a moment just staring down at my food. I was hungry but on the other hand just thinking of this conversation made me not want to eat. It was weird because I had always been so private when it came to my friends Jessica and Lauren. I never wanted them to know much about me because it all could be used against me. But Edward…I didn't get that feeling and I wondered if this was going to be a big mistake, trusting him with a little part of me. It was something I never told anyone before. Not my family or my small list of friends. The reason he wanted to know made me feel ashamed all over again.

"You have to understand that this is hard for me. I've never told anybody this." I started.

Edward nodded and waited for me to continue not saying a word.

"In high school; I did everything right. I…studied. I never partied. I was a model kid. When it was time to pick colleges to send applications to, I only had one in mind. Yale. My father's school. I wanted to make him proud like Michael had done. I was accepted but like I told you before, he said I didn't meet the criteria. He said that it would be better for me to go out and live life and that I would make a good wife someday. That is all he pictured for me. I was only good enough to become a desperate housewife even though I had worked my ass off in school to get accepted. He practically pushed me out of the house when I turned eighteen. In his eyes I wasn't good enough. For the first couple of years, I didn't do anything but lay around this house or go shopping because what else was I going to do. All my friends from high school had moved on to their Ivy league schools which you know are all on the east coast and I was embarrassed that they had all gone on with their futures and my future was to find a good husband. So…one day…I decided that I never wanted to get married. I never wanted to be in a relationship because I was afraid that some guy would make me forget. I wanted to stay single out of spite. I don't ever want to get married. I never want to have kids. I would feel like even more of failure then I already am. Like I had become what my father wanted me to become. So I never befriend guys. Not even gay guys because I don't want to fall for anyone…ever."

"You're afraid that you will fall for me?" Edward asked cautiously.

"I don't even want to give my brain that option."

He exhaled while I could see his mind working to figure out this predicament.

"Well what if I…made you a deal. You come back to Horizons. Spend your two months there and finally meet your Jacob Black to win your bet. For the next two months, you and I will be friends. I will promise to never let it go any further than friends. Even if you drunkenly beg me for more, I will shoot you down and remind you of your mission of spite against your father. When Thanksgiving comes and goes and you no longer need Horizons then we can renegotiate this contract. If you wish to just move on with your life and explore other venues…then that will be it for us. If you want to continue being friends then we can reevaluate our contract then."

"Our contract? We don't have a contract." I rolled my eyes.

Edward quickly put down his plate and ran over to grab a pen and my book he had given me off the counter. He ripped a page out of the dictionary he had just gifted me.

"Hey! That was my peace-offering." I complained

"It's just the last page. Nothing interesting is ever on the last page." He flipped over the page and started to jot something down upon it. It was taking him a pretty ass minute to do whatever he was doing.

"What are you writing? A novel. What is taking so long?" I tried to peek over at what he was doing and he pulled the paper closer and blocked my view. Finally, a gray hair later he finished and handed it back to me.

"Contract for friendship." I read aloud giving him a look before continuing on. "The first party promises to the second party that he will be responsible for maintaining the integrity of the relationship which here is defined as a basic friendship with no additional benefits. There will be absolutely no physical contact or negotiations to upgrade the basic friendship package. The second party promises to respect the first party in all decisions he must determine to uphold and sustain the current working relationship, i.e. basic friendship package."

I looked over to him, "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"What? I thought it was properly written. Would you like me to add an addendum?"

"Yeah, how about how the second party will kick the first parties ass if there is a breach of contract."

"The first party agrees to accept the terms." He nabs the paper back from me and starts to write, Breach of Contract. The pound of flesh clause. If the second party is wronged, then she will have all rights to the first party's ass, to do whatever she sees fit to be compensated.

He hands the paper back and asked, "Are you satisfied?"

I sighed and thought through this. It wasn't like this contract was real. It would never hold up in a court of law and I highly doubt down the line if we ever found ourselves in a compromising position that one of us would be smart enough to wave this little paper at the other to stop ourselves. It didn't mean anything. It was just a piece of paper, not a chastity belt.

I sighed and finally took the pen signing my name at the bottom. Edward smiled at me and signed his name as well.

"Edward Masen?" I said reading his last name.

"Edward Masen." He said but it was like he was saddened just thinking about it. He quickly let that pass and folded up the paper, sliding it back into my Oxford Dictionary.

"Friends." He held out a hand to shake on it.

"Friends." I sighed shaking his hand tentatively. "Wait, did we just violate the contract? I thought there was supposed to be no physical contact?"

"Small amounts of contact is okay…just nothing more. Like say you step out into oncoming traffic…well then I highly doubt you would want me to make a motion before pulling you back from near death." He assured.

He picked up his plate and so did I. We both started to dig in. Our eggs a tad colder than when we started.

"Maybe I should add something." Edward said with a full mouth, "The second party isn't allowed dirty dreams or thoughts of the first party."

I practically choked on my eggs and couldn't stop my alabaster skin from turning red. I focused quickly on my plate allowing my hair to fall in front of my face.

"Isabella Swan! Did you have a dirty dream about me?" He replied in shock.

Just thinking of that one tiny dirty dream made me angry all over again. I looked up at him and narrowed my eyes. I believe the fury he saw behind them caused him to sit back in his chair further.

"More like a nightmare and just for the record, you're an asshole."

AN: Sending this to you early because nothing makes me write faster then knowing you all are enjoying this story. Thank you for all your reviews and time to read this.