A/N: Hello! This is my first attempt at writing fan fiction. Well I once wrote something when I was 13 but that doesn't count lol. Im not a writer, this is un beta'd and not pre read or edited by anyone other than me. I'm just writing for fun to challenge myself to something. I'm obsessed with twilight and obsessed with reading fan fiction on here so I thought I would give it a try!
Let me know if you like it and think I should continue, I'm really just winging this as I go.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephanie Meyer blah blah blah you know the deal.
Anyways here we go…
Chapter 1
Bella POV
"Yo where is Ed man?" Emmetts voice booms over the speaker filling my apartment with Brandon Flowers.
He's stuffing his face with his 4th slice of pizza and honestly we should order a pie just for him at this point - I'm not sure why we don't.
"He's your brother, shouldn't you know where he's at?" Jasper replies taking a swig of his beer.
"He's your best friend, shouldn't you know where he's at? Emmett shoots back flicking a piece of pepperoni at him, he misses.
"What kind of logic is that?" Rosalie asks the both of them rolling her eyes. She pushes a few strands of golden hair out of her face that have fallen out of the braid flowing down her back.
It's my favorite hairstyle on her, her mother used to braid her hair for school when we were younger reminding me of Rapunzel. She tells me I remind her of belle - and not because of my name. Well that helps a little too, I guess.
She says its because of my chocolate brown hair that curls loosely down my back and the fact that I can usually be found getting lost in the wonders of fiction.
Jasper and Rosalie are my best friends. They have been since they moved in next door when I was 5 years old. Their mom Helen and my mom Renee became best friends quickly and by default we did too.
Rosalie was the most beautiful girl I'd ever met, even at 5 years old.
Tan skin with natural blonde hair the color of honey. I sometimes think this combo looks cheap but not on Rosalie. Her mother signed her up for modeling when we were 10 but she hated it, claiming she'd rather play sports and hangout with Jasper and I.
That's why I love Rose, at 24 she's still the most beautiful girl I've ever met in real life but she doesn't think she's better than anyone. She knows she's gorgeous, she'd have to be stupid or blind not to but she's never let it go to her head.
She's the Rapunzel to my Belle, declaring me her best friend when my mother dragged me next door to drop off a batch of 'welcome to the neighborhood cookies'
Even though Jasper's 2 years older than us he always let us tag along with him and his friends growing up. He looked out for us and scared off any guys who would look just a moment too long. He's my pseudo older brother, considering I'm an only child he was more than willing to take the role.
I think our mom's hoped we would get married one day.
One time Rose and I went to visit Jasper at Udub his freshman year, we got drunk and made out testing the waters.
It was too weird.
He's my brother in every way but blood and although our affection is often mis-read by others I'm his kid sister - in every way but blood.
When I got my period in the 6th grade Rose asked her mom to buy me tampons because I was too embarrassed to ask my own mother.
Jasper's the reason I have good taste in music.
He punched Paul in the face for me when I was in 11th grade for taking my virginity then fucking Lauren Mallory the next weekend, and when Rose and I finally graduated Fork's High the three of us got shitfaced drunk together and egged Lauren's house.
"He said he got stuck at the firehouse, a call came in right at the end of his shift." Alice's musical voice mixes with the tune of 'Jenny Was a Friend of Mine'.
Alice.
Where do I begin?
Alice is Jasper's fiancé, they got engaged 6 months ago.
Jasper and Alice met 8 years ago when Jasper and Emmett became roommates at Udub freshman year.
Alice is Emmett and Edward's sister, she's my age and so is Edward - they're twins.
They grew up here in Seattle, their Dad Carlisle is a Surgeon at UW Medical Center, Alice followed in her dads footsteps - sort of - she's a nurse there now.
Alice and Edward tagged along on parents weekend freshman year and well Jasper wouldn't shut the fuck up about her. It took him 3 years to actually ask her out though.
He was worried it would effect his friendship with Emmett, guy code says you don't date your friend's sister but I guess that doesn't matter if you BOTH wanna date each other's sister.
It took Alice awhile to warm up to me, not that she was ever particularly mean to me just cautious about my relationship with Jasper.
Rose the loyal friend she is returned the cold shoulder, claiming she was too shallow to understand.
I never held it against Alice, we were 18 and 19 years old - its a hard concept to grasp when you're filled with teenage hormones and in love with your first real boyfriend.
Hard to imagine now considering I'm going to be her maid of honor.
"I'd be surprised if he even shows, getting off a 24 hour shift I'm sure he's exhausted." Jasper chimes in flicking an onion at Emmett in retaliation - Emmett hates onions.
"Nah man, Edwards always good for a beer or two after a long shift. His lazy ass probably slept all shift anyway" Emmett tries to dodge the offensive pizza topping but he's too slow.
This makes me roll my eyes. As if. Edward's a lieutenant at one of the busiest fire houses in the city, he's lucky if he gets any sleep on shift.
Once Jasper and Alice and Rose and Emmett coupled up it left me with more time than I was used to without my two best friends - not that I minded I was and still am happy that they're happy together. The relationships in our group is what makes us special, it makes us closer.
When Rose and I graduated she went to cosmetology school, she eventually moved to Seattle to be closer to Emmett where he works as a mechanic.
He dropped out of Udub sophomore year claiming the college life wasn't for him.
She wasn't going to make any real money in Fork's so her parents offered to pay half her rent until she started making money. She wants to own her own salon one day instead of working for her bitchy boss she's nicknamed Margaret Tate.
When she saw my confused face she rolled her eyes and called me uncultured making me sit through "The Proposal"
Rom-coms aren't usually my thing but I watch them for Rose plus Ryan Reynolds isn't bad to stare at for two hours.
Edward starting hanging with us around the time the love birds got together, he'd gone to the fire academy straight out of high school - much to Esme's dismay. I don't think she sleeps at all either when Edward is on shift.
I sometimes go visit Esme when he's working, if I'm not busy or working myself. We cook together as a distraction. She's always trying new recipes and needs a second opinion.
Mr and Mrs. Cullen are the most welcoming people I know, the 6 of us ending up at their house often for bbq's, football games and various events.
Edward and I became fast friends, faster than Alice and I that's for sure. I would say he's my best friend because he is, but I don't think it counts as a best friend if you're also in love with them.
I've been in love with Edward Cullen since the moment I looked into his mossy green eyes.
Jasper introduced me to Edward at a party when I followed him to Udub, my parents could only afford to send me to a state school on a teacher and police chiefs salary. Not that I minded Udub was where Jasper was and it was close enough to still see Rose all the time.
Jasper got a degree in finance. Don't ask me what he does, I'm not actually sure.
I spilled my beer all over him the second he flashed that crooked smile at me, loosing my ability to think clearly and when he told me he'd just graduated from the fire academy I suddenly couldn't stop picturing him from coming to my rescue in a burning building.
Don't judge me, everyone has a firefighter fantasy.
It's kind of said unsaid that Bella is in love with Edward. Everyone knows but nobody talks about it. Hell, I think even his mother knows.
Rosalie tried to bring it up to me when she was painting my toe nails one night when we were stuffing our faces with Chinese food and watching the newest chick flick but I shut it down right away.
This group of people mean too much to me and I don't want to do anything that could ruin the dynamic of it.
Rosalie thinks I'm an idiot, but its not the same as her and Emmett or Alice and Jasper.
This group was formed because of those relationships - too much time has gone by now that Edward and I being together could cause a rift if things didn't work out. We're friends because of this group - not because we made it.
Plus if I was going to date Edward he would have to feel the same way as me.
Edward is who I call when there's a new horror movie that's just come out that Rose and Alice won't watch with me.
He listens to me rant about my mother's never ending questions about my "big city life" as she calls it and lack of love life.
He plays Mario Kart with me because Jasper won't anymore - I've beat him too many times.
If he's had a bad shift he asks to come over, sometimes he tells me what happened and sometimes he doesn't. I bake him cookies and we pass out on my couch watching 'The Office' - his favorite show.
And now he joins Jasper in scaring off any boys who glance in my direction just a moment too long.
"Plus were celebrating Bella and he would never flake on Belle" Rosalie smirks catching my eye. I look away and take a sip of my beer.
"Celebrating what? That I quit my shitty job?" I laugh.
I graduated Udub with a teaching degree, I haven't been able to land a full time position so I'm subbing every chance there is and I was bartending a couple nights a week at one of the local spots but my co worker Mike got a little too handsy the other night and I decided I couldn't stand to be there anymore between him and my boss who was constantly guilting me to pick up a shift anytime someone called out.
Good thing I have Rose as a roommate, although I'm not sure how much longer I can count on that considering Emmett's been asking her to move in with him for awhile now. I know she stays because I can't afford this place without her and she's waiting for me to get a full time position.
I'm trying. I thought there was a teacher shortage in America?
"Hell yeah B, fuck that douche bag Mike. Who does he think he is, next time I see that fucker he better watch his back." Jasper said angrily.
Alice and I make eye contact and roll our eyes at each other. She knows I can take care of myself but we both think its sweet of Jas anyway, his protective side endearing and irritating at times. He would do anything for any of us, even if it means he lands himself a night in jail which he has once when some asshole picked a fight with Edward outside a bar once.
Swing first, ask questions later is Jasper's motto.
Just then the man in question strolls through my door. His hair is wet from his shower he probably took at the firehouse. He's wearing jeans that hang dangerously low on his hips and a station 10 t shirt. He's sporting a little scruff on his face today, I guess he didn't shave on shift.
Relax, Bella.
His smile is big when he spots me standing at mine and Rose's kitchen island with our friends.
My face breaks out into a matching one, from the corner of my eye I see Rose's not so subtle stare as her eyes bounce between me and Edward and she shakes her head.
I ignore her.
"Ah there she is! The girl of the night" He smirks coming to stand next to me, he grabs my half full beer out of my hand and downs it in 3 gulps.
Edward was as fond of my bartending job as Jasper was. Clearly.
"Sure I was done with that" my voice dripping with sarcasm. I push him towards the fridge telling him to get me another one.
"What? I gotta catch up to you guys" he laughs.
"Don't worry, you didn't miss much man just me kicking your brother's ass in beer pong." Jasper gloats.
He never beats Emmett in beer pong, we'll probably be hearing about this until they rematch and Emmett humbles him.
Emmett rolls his eyes "Dude, you've beat me like once out of the hundred times we've played. Rematch me later once I'm a little more drunk, you know I'm not as good sober."
Jasper doesn't reply, he knows its true.
"What took you so long anyway?" I ask him taking the beer he's handing me. He's already popped the cap off me for.
"Aw did you miss me Swan?" He smirks taking a sip of his drink.
I admire the way his neck looks stretched out as he tips his head back to swallow. The way it connects to perfectly broad shoulders that are connected to his perfectly sculpted arms littered with tattoos, connecting to his perfect hands with long fingers that I imagine touching me….
Focus Bella.
"Only slightly, don't flatter yourself Cullen" I say once I snap out of the inappropriate appraisal of my best friend.
He chuckles.
"Truthfully I just need you here for my flip cup team, you know I'm not a good chugger" I tell him.
Every now and then we all decide to play shitty frat party games like were all still 21, Emmett says its only fair because him, Rose and Edward never got the "college experience". Which is so not true since they partied at Udub so much some kids thought they actually went there.
From across the island I see Jasper watching us.
He's been doing that a lot lately when were all together. I think him and Alice gossip too much.
"Edward's on my team! Come on!" Alice grabs his hand and drags him out the sliding glass to the folding table that's set up on the balcony.
He doesn't protest, he's got a soft spot for his twin sister.
"Oh god the twins are plotting against us!" Emmett says running out to join them.
Alice, Edward and I win the first round. I spill beer down my arctic monkeys tee in my effort to chug faster than Rose which makes Edward laugh and me pout.
He knows I have a thing for Alex Turner.
We switch up the teams next girls against guys, the guys win.
The girls have gone to relieve their bladder while Emmet and Jasper go get more beer for their beer pong rematch leaving just me and Edward outside.
He sits down on one of the shitty lawn chairs we have out here and lights up a cigarette.
Which is ironic, you know him being a firefighter and all.
He only smokes when he's had a bad shift though, and I sit next to him taking the cigarette from his hands taking a drag.
"What's up Cullen?" I ask blowing the smoke from my lungs away from him.
He looks at me and a can see in his face he's deciding if he's going to spill or if he's going to keep this one bottled up.
Sometimes he doesn't tell me because he thinks its his fault, and he doesn't want me to think less of him he says.
I tell him never, but he doesn't believe me.
"Nothing to worry your pretty head about" he says simultaneously blowing his drag.
I stare at him. I don't believe him but I don't pry and I don't push.
"Ok" I tell him simply.
"Hey" he pushes his knee against mine
"Hey" I push back
"The annual firefighters ball is coming up" he says.
My heart flutters. He usually takes Esme to the ball but I hang onto his words hoping this year might be different.
"Oh right, that should be fun" I say back.
"Eh you know that stuffy shit aint really my thing Swan." he shrugs. I do know.
"I know but Esme loves to show you off for the night" I smile at him. He knows that too, that's why he takes her. He's a mama's boy.
"Yeah well mom and dad are going out of town for some conference for the hospital that weekend so she won't be around"
My heart flutters again. Is he going to stag? Or maybe…
That stuffy shit isn't my thing either, its actually something we both love about each other but I wouldn't mind seeing Edward in his dress blues for a night.
"Oh that sucks, are you gonna ask Alice?" I already know Alice can't go. Her and Jasper are going out of town to visit different wedding venues that weekend.
"Nah" he blows another drag.
He doesn't speak for a moment
"I'm gonna ask Tanya to go with me. You know Tanya right?"
My heart plummets into my stomach.
Of course I know the gorgeous blonde paramedic that works at the fire house with him.
I've met her multiple occasions when I've visited the fire house. I'm always met with an icy glare from her and her red headed side kick Tori.
The jealously churns in my stomach and I think the beer I chugged earlier is about to make an appearance.
Sure Edward has dated girls before but I was in college gaining my own experience. His last girlfriend was Kate and that was over a year ago, he was never that serious about her anyway.
Still though the 6 months he dated her I avoided being in the same room as them together as much as possible.
"Oh. yeah. That's cool. I didn't know you were into Tanya" Im avoiding his gaze now.
"She's cool" he shrugs.
The jealousy is licking my insides like wild flames when Jasper and Emmett appear again with pitchers of beer in hand.
"Come on Ed be my partner!" Jasper calls out setting up the cup formation.
Edward stares at me for a couple moments before he says "Sure bud" and gets up to join him.
"Come on Swan, let me kick your ass in beer pong"
The girls emerge again giggling together about something. As if Rosalie can sense my inner turmoil we make eye contact.
I force a smile on my face when I tell him "Not with Jasper as your partner"
He throws his head back and laughs as I hear Jasper protest from behind him.
I get up to take my place next to Emmett opposite him and Jasper.
Rosalie bumps my shoulder "you good?" She whispers in my ear.
I don't look at her as I lie "Yeah, all good" I know if I look at her she'll see right through me. Hell she probably does anyway.
She and Alice replace Edward and I on the lawn chairs to cheer on their respective partners and heckle each others.
Emmett says we get first toss, he shoots and makes it cheering as Jasper downs the first cup.
I can feel Edwards eyes on me as I line up my shot, I make it. Balls back.
Emmetts already talking shit high off our first turn but I can't find it in me to return the enthusiasm as my mind is occupied by Edward and a blonde paramedic.
I'm fucked. And not in the good way.
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you like it and think I should continue!
Until next time.