I was chopping carrots for my spicy stew when I heard the front door lock click open and I knew Alice had to be home. I heard laughter and a male voice speaking softly. Great, she brought Jasper home with her – just what I needed. I had to start urging Alice to start looking for her own place. A few minutes later, she wandered in, but she was alone, thankfully.

"Mmmm, something smells good," she hummed, coming towards me. I rolled my eyes and continued with my work, sliding the carrots into the boiling stew.

"Of course it does, I'm practically a gourmet chef," I joked, and Alice chuckled.

"So…I had a wonderful time with Jasper!" Alice sang and I knew what she was getting at, internally cringing at what was promising to be a long night of girl-talk.

"Really?" I tried to put some interested inflection in my voice, but it sounded way too forced. Alice didn't seem to notice, however, and continued on excitedly.

"Yeah! We have so much in common! He likes all the same movies I like, and the same music! But he's so calm, you know? So collected! I need that in my life, what with all the hectic mania of the fashion world! Jasper's really interested in my business –"

"Alice, deep breath, and slow down," I insisted, trying to make sense of the jumble that was falling out of her mouth. She took a seat at the island and pulled bag of lettuce towards her and started nibbling on the stray pieces. I snatched it away.

"I haven't washed those yet!"

"It's fine, Bella. So anyways, he's from Texas, but he moved up here because he wanted to be in a smaller town and he has family connections up here."

"Really? It's kind of a far distance," I supplied, trying to keep in the conversation so she wouldn't get ahead of herself.

"Yeah, that's what I said, but he said that his parents liked a colder climate – they've been living up here since he was in college."

"And how old is he, then?" I asked, thinking about whether or not he knew of Edward. Judging by his parent's information, they must have known him – or about him, more probably, since they'd been up here long enough.

"He's twenty-three and he's got a bachelors degree in psychology – he's trying to get a degree in psychiatry, he's really good at talking to people and understanding their emotions."

"Alice, he sounds great, but how's he going to get his psychiatry degree in Forks, Washington? What's he doing here in the meantime? Does he have a job?" I turned off the burner, sprinkling the last bit of spices into the mix before giving it a few more stirs.

"He's been working at a Outdoor Supply store, and he's been taking classes online until he has the chance to apply to a more suitable college," Alice replied, beaming. "He's thinking of staying in-state, though, to stay close to family…" I looked over at her.

"Has he asked if you wanted to meet his parents' yet?" I asked in a curious tone – this boy sounded highly sensitive and quiet, totally unlike Alice – family seemed to be important to him – he must have been really into Alice to explain all this to her. I hoped that Alice realized all this and why she was so into someone who was completely different in character.

"No, but he wants to see me again – and I do too. I really like him, Bella," Alice sighed, gazing off into the distance. I didn't say anything, instead opting to ladle some stew into a bowl, sliding it in front of her. She didn't seem to register it. I poured myself my own bowl and sat across from her.

"I'm glad you've found someone, Alice, and I'm glad it's going so well..." she didn't seem to be hearing me, but I continued on, hoping she'd catch up, "but if you're going to be getting involved with someone, don't you think it would be helpful to have your own place…?" I trailed off. She didn't respond, but looked down and, noticing the stew, picked up a stray spoon and began eating.

"Yum – the gourmet chef strikes again!"

"Alice," she looked up at me, "have you thought about looking for another place?" Alice looked at me for a moment, before returning to her soup.

"I have thought about it Bella…" she trailed off before looking up at me, here eyes probing, "I just want to make sure that you're doing alright, though…I mean, I don't want you to be alone…after Mike, and all, you know?" I expected to feel a tightening in my gut at the mention of Mike's name, but nothing happened. Instead, I wondered what Edward would think of me being a widow…But I had to make Alice feel assured.

"I'm fine, Alice – Mike is…well, I'm moving on from, from that and I'm doing alright. I have this beautiful house and now I have a job. So you don't have to worry about me." Alice continued to look at me, I suppose because she thought I might just be saying these things to appease her, but she eventually seemed satisfied.

"Fine, I'll start looking tomorrow."

"Good," I stated, happily, clinking my spoon against my bowl and grabbing Alice's. "I'm just going to wash up and then go to bed, I'm kind of tired." I hoped that she'd buy that story, because in all truth, I wanted to scope out my room and see if Edward was there. Perhaps I could get a chance to talk to him…Wait, what? I didn't really want to talk to him, did I? My thoughts were interrupted by Alice's exclamation.

"I'll be right back!" and she rushed out of the room, only to return a second later with a gigantic white plastic bag.

"Alice, what is that?" I asked and she pulled out a large plastic casing that seemed to contain –

"Bedding?" I questioned. Alice nodded excitedly.

"I saw this while out with Jasper today and I had to get it – it was so you!" I took the case from her and unzipped it, revealing a beautiful duvet of navy blue color adorned with embroidered white stars.

"Wow Alice, this is…well…beautiful – thank you…I'll get you the money as soon as I can –"

"No, Bella, this is a housewarming gift from me to you," Alice interrupted, smiling. "And I got matching sheets, so now you can sleep in your own bed and in comfort! Enjoy!" Bella smiled and hugged her good friend.

"Thank you, Alice. You've been so good to me all this time…I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You're my best friend, Bella. I love you as if you were my sister and you know I love being here with you." She gave Bella a tight squeeze then stepped back.

"Good night, Bella, sleep well."

"Are you turning in too, then?" If Alice was going to bed, then it was quite possible that Bella could have a conversation with Edward – if he were there – without being overheard.

"Yeah – I'm tired too. Plus I told Jasper that I would call him before I went to bed." I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, I see how it is – Well in that case, goodnight lover girl, and try and keep it short, I'm sure we'll be plenty busy tomorrow." Alice rolled her eyes at me and headed off to the guest bedroom. I finished washing up the dishes before making my way slowly up the stairs to my own bedroom. I stood outside it for a moment, cautious, preparing myself for what might lay beyond the threshold. It was rather silent, so I made my way slowly in.

I don't know what I expected to happen, whether I expected Edward to be leaning casually against the wall or to be contemplating the view from the window – but whatever, he wasn't there. I let out a sigh, but I wasn't sure whether it was of relief or disappointment. I was frightened of it being the latter – he was a ghost, nothing more, why should I want anything to do with him?

I made my way further into the room, carrying the bedding. The sheets fit my mattress perfectly – thank God for Alice – and it looked beautiful with the duvet.

Grabbing my nightgown, I sauntered into my bathroom and got dressed for bed, brushed my teeth and spent some time observing my unusually plain brown hair. I was considering getting it cut or styled – at the moment it fell past my shoulders, slightly curly, but more wavy. Other than that, I did nothing to it, but Alice had made several hints at getting it styled. I had never taken her seriously because at those times I wasn't worried about looking good for anyone, not even myself, but now…

What was I thinking! I huffed and headed out of the bathroom. It was silly of me, checking myself out in my mirror – there was no one in my life I wanted to please…But some how subconsciously, and embarrassingly enough, I wanted to look for Edward – crazy! He was a ghost! What did it matter how I looked to him? But it was as if there were a little voice in my head, planting thoughts. Why shouldn't I look good? Shouldn't I prove to him that he's not the only one who can be good looking? But all this proved to do was to make me feel more self-conscious about just how plain I looked. When I was with Mike, he would tell me I was pretty and all, but with him I never felt like I had to look a certain way. He just liked me for me.

Not that Edward was any different – and why should I hope for him to like me anyway? We were already at odds just because I was living in his house and he wanted to pretend it was still his and that he was alive in it. I shook my head at these thoughts. I was getting extremely ridiculous and this had to stop.

Turning off the lights impatiently, I got quickly into my new bed, relishing in the coolness of the sheets as they caressed my legs. Hopefully sleep would clear up all this nonsense that was circling in my brain and I would wake up and not have to deal with any of it.

"Don't let anyone tell you that you don't have a perfect figure."

I sat up straight in bed, my eyes searching through the dark for him. However that velvet voice was all that indicated his presence in my room for I could see no trace of his figure.

"Where are you?" I hissed. "If you're going to talk to me I demand that you be present. None of this disembodied voice nonsense! It's too –"

"Ghostly?" he finished, and there he was, standing at the foot of my bed, moonbeams catching on his face as he contemplated me. I drew the covers up further, so that they covered most of my chest. I was suddenly extremely self-conscious of my body, particularly since he was standing there, looking at me. I saw his eyes travel up the length of my form.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"You should know. I am a ghost. Obviously some of my…habits are going to be a little supernatural, it's only reasonable."

"No," I replied, shaking my head, "what you said before. What did you mean about…perfect figure?" Of course my overly critical, self-conscious brain would pick up on that part of the conversation. He grinned.

"I meant exactly what it sounded like. Don't let anyone tell you to be ashamed of your body…It's quite lovely." I hate him! I hate him and his stupid teasing ways!

"How dare you! You are so crude, Edward Masen, and if you can't respect me while I live in this house than I'm going to have to forbid you from entering this room. Let's get something straight: when I'm going to bed, that means that this place is off limits and you can't come in. Show some respect and shove off!" I yelled, but quietly, trying not to alert Alice to the noise. Edward just shook his head, still smiling obnoxiously.

"Well, Swan, I can see I've upset you – and for that, I'm sorry. I just thought I'd pay you the compliment, but I can see I was overstepping my boundaries. From now on, I shall respect your wishes and, as you so politely put it, 'Shove off.'" And he disappeared, but I had the feeling he had been mocking me. I still felt his presence, my skin tingling. I don't know quite how it was possible, but whenever he was around, my body was on hyper alert, and I knew he had to still be in the room. Somehow this was worse, not being able to see him but knowing he could see me, spy on me.

Needless to say I didn't get any sleep that night.

Playlist:

Stars - Midnight Coward

Motion City Soundtrack – This Is For Real

U2 – Exit

Cake – Palm of Your Hand

The Beach Boys – In My Room

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it took me a while to write it. Hard to top the first Edward/Bella exchange, but I think that the story is going well and it will pick up some pace soon. Please review and let me know what you think! Cheers.