AN: Here's the next chapter! I'll probably try to update every Friday. Thanks to those of you who have put this little ditty on your alerts and favorites! That's awesome. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or the characters.

Chapter 3

Edward

"Honestly, bro, I dunno why you let it get to you so bad" Emmett dropped the newspaper on the coffee table and slumped onto the couch.

"I know you don't. You're not the one with screaming paparazzi and fan-girls running after you."

"Hey, I have my share of it. Everyone in this family does. It comes with the Cullen name. And they only chase you worse 'cause you run."

He had a point. I knew keeping to myself and taking every chance I had to run from the spotlight only made them hunt me down that much more.

Dr. Carlisle Cullen, my father, was the best surgeon in the country. Hospitals all over would fly him in to do impossible surgeries and life-saving techniques. He had written two books and made quite the name for himself and, by association, his family. Esme Cullen, my mother, was one of the hottest designers in the world. Dealing mostly with architecture and interior decorating, she knew almost every celebrity in Hollywood. My younger sister, Alice, loved to go with her to meetings and gave input in redesign methods. And Emmett was the prince of the city. Local party boy and "Mr. Personality"; he had no qualms about public scrutiny. Probably because everyone loved him.

Hell, I can see why. My siblings and I were closer than close. Maybe even closer than blood siblings; all three of us were adopted. My parents were married at 24 years old and, soon after, attempted to start their family. When they found out that, biologically, it was never to be, they filed for adoption. The fame and fortune side of their lives made the adoption process a lot less grueling than it is for others. Emmett, Alice, and myself were all adopted before the age of two. The only thing I was told about my birth was that my mother had died in childbirth. Though, truly it didn't matter- none of us had any desire to find our birth parents. Carlisle and Esme were all we needed in this life. We were as bonded together as a family could be.

And the three of us made the joint decision to stay in the city for college- Columbia University winning our favor.

You would think I would have wanted to go far away from New York for college. I studied in London for a year of prep school and hated every moment. The Cullen name was just as prestigious overseas as in the States. Except overseas I didn't have my family. Mostly Alice. From the start, Alice took watch over me, which is funny since I'm a year older. She's the strongest person and personality I know. What Alice wants…Alice gets.

"Leave him alone, Em. You've seen what it's like for him…girls throw themselves at him at every corner. You don't have to worry about that now you have Rose." Alice bounded into the room and plopped onto the couch with him, feet in his lap.

"Even still…having girls all over you is never a bad thing. But Edster here acts like they've all got the bubonic plague."

"Shove it with the 'Edster' nickname, Emmett. Or I'll gladly assist you." I demanded.

"Shove it with the thought of girls all over you or you are definitely not getting any ever again!" Rosalie called from the kitchen.

"That'll shut him up." Jasper chortled from the doorway. Alice squealed and launched herself into his arms.

Jasper Whitlock was what you would call a true southern gentleman. (Let's forget the fact that he cusses like a sailor and drinks like a fish on weekends) Great-great-great grandson of a Charlestonian plantation owner, he was definitely 'Southern Money'. The Whitlock family owned one of the houses on the Battery that overlooks Fort Sumter and- to hear them tell it, they watched the beginning of the Civil War from their second-story balcony. They had gone into the tobacco business and forced Jasper to focus only on like pursuits. He never spoke much about his family, but it seems like a pretty tumultuous relationship that led him to drink his demons away.

Jasper had come to NY two years ago for a break from his family- a change of scenery. One night, at Jane Volturi's party, he met Alice and that visit turned into a permanent relocation. I was really happy for them. They worked together like nothing I had ever seen before, save for my parents. He knew how to keep the pixie down-to-earth, and she knew how to lift the spirits of a man who had seen his share of dirty dealings.

Emmett's girlfriend, Rosalie Hale, was a bitch in heels if I ever met one. We loved her, though, because in the past seven months she managed to tame the beast we call Emmett. She and I didn't see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues and had an immediate brother/sister, love/hate relationship. Rose was the only member of my close circle who wasn't from big money. Not that that is a problem by any means. In fact, I preferred not to mingle with other NY elite. But often times, those who weren't within my family's circle were after me. But Rosalie made it clear that I was not her target and my brother went goofy with happiness whenever she was around.

I was alone of my own making. I really just didn't think romance or a partner in life is on my path…much to the dismay of my parents, Alice, and Rose.

Rose had tried on several occasions to set me up with her socialite friend, Tanya Denali. Tanya was the picture of a Barbie doll. Stick straight strawberry blonde hair, slender, lean frame from working out five days a week, big boobs, and knew everyone in town. She even drove a hot pink Lexus convertible with zebra print seats. In other words…exactly the opposite from what I was attracted to.

An image popped into my mind of chestnut brown waves and big chocolate brown eyes. I wondered where I'd seen them before briefly before I was thrown out of my thought process by a jog-by pillow to the head.

"Yo! Are you in there little bro? You haven't answered my question."

"What was your question, Em?" I chucked the pillow back at him.

"Well…while you were off in the La La Land that is your mind, Alice and Rose were telling me about the innocent girl you frightened today. I asked you if you were planning on scaring the pants off every girl who comes in a five foot radius of you now." He caught me in a head lock and ruffled my already unruly mess of hair.

Chestnut waves…brown eyes…freesias. My hallway attacker.

"I wasn't trying to scare her, you big giant. She came tearing around the corner and I thought it was another crazy fan girl. I didn't realize she simply just ran into me until she ran off into her class."

"She was pretty! I wonder who she is? Oh, she would be so much more beautiful if she knew how to dress! I don't understand these girls who think that frumpy t-shirts and jeans are a good look. She had such nice features. If only I could get my hands on her…" Alice babbled on about color schemes and whatnot for a good five minutes with Rose. Jasper and Emmett started playing Call of Duty while I my mind kept reliving this morning.

AN: They will meet next chapter. Please review! :)