Hello all! This is the third installment of 1918, it's a bit longer but not by much. I am still laying groundwork for what is to come, so it might be boring so far, but I hope you will all bear with me. After all, most beginning chapters of any good story are boring. As always, all rights belong to the lovely Stephanie Meyer. I do not own a thing. Thank you for reading my story, beauties :)

Chapter Three: The Financial Situation

The next day I woke up to the sound of birds chirping and sunlight streaming through my window. I was irrevocably happy. And it wasn't a mystery why. Meeting Edward Masen was nothing that I had ever experienced, and yet it was everything I had ever hoped for. We were still strangers, considerably, but I felt like I was walking on sunshine despite that fact. I longed to see him again, even if it was in passing.

"Isabella," my mother called from downstairs, breaking through my little bubble of happiness, "Please go to the market today and buy me some beets, and afterwards you should go visit Mrs. Brandon and pick up a meal that she prepared for us, and when you get home please do your daily chores. I have to get to the factory right now, and I won't be back until tonight," she finished.

Realizing the reality of my situation, I stood up from my bed and began to get ready for another normal day. Today was not another day of my fantasizing, but a day of getting things done. I would not think of Edward Masen today, he was extremely out of my league in the first place. My mother and I were alone, and on the brink of losing everything and moving to my grandfather's farm in the country, we could not afford daydreaming. My mother worked hard at the factory, while I worked hard at home. There was no time to fantasize about foolish things that would never happen.

"Yes mother," I called back, soon hearing the sound of a door closing. I pulled on my "working dress", a simple brown fabric with white lace trim. This was what most of my dresses looked like recently, sadly it made it very clear to the whole town about our situation. Our social standing has been on a downhill slide ever since we sold my dresses for food. Mary Alice was the only one who stood by me through it all. While the other girls; Elizabeth, Annie, and Katherine left my side the second I could no longer dress the part for the weekly teas. Mary Alice and her mother have even went out of their way to cook meals for us every week, which I often went to pick up, like today.

As soon as I was ready, I left the house- or rather small apartment- and walked down the three concrete steps to the sidewalk. Taking notice again of Mrs. Harbinger's marigolds to my right, I smiled to myself. Her marigolds often brightened my day, as they were a bright spot of yellow and orange on an otherwise dreary street. I was so caught up in them, in fact, that I almost didn't recognize another source of brightness on this street.

"Good morning, Ms. Bella," a soft, musical voice broke me out of my reverie, surprising me.

"Oh!" I gasped, my hand flying to my heart as I looked to my left to see none other than Mr. Edward Masen standing before me in all his glory. He smiled a dazzling crooked smile and held out his hand for mine.

"Please forgive me, Ms. I didn't mean to frighten you," He said, still smiling as if finding amusement in my reaction, while placing yet another kiss upon my hand.

"Well that's quite all right, I am sure my heart will restart momentarily, if you will just give me a few moments," I teased, taking my hand back gently. "May I ask what you're doing in this corner of town, Edward? This is surely out of your way," I asked, genuinely curious.

"Ah, well, I figured I would come see you again, and perhaps see what is on your agenda for the day,"

"Well, Mr. Masen, I must regrettably inform you that I have many chores today," I replied, feeling an enormous amount of grief for having to turn down such a beautiful face. His eyes downcast, I almost threw all of my responsibilities out the window to take him up on his offer.

"Well perhaps I can assist you then," his eyes glinted in excitement, and I could not find the will to turn down such a face. However, I did not wish for him to find out about my financial standing. Surely, he would catch on when I went to pick up a meal from Mary Alice?

Against my better judgement, "That would be lovely," I was kicking myself in the rear all the way to the Mary Alice's house.

When we arrived, I saw my dear friend sitting on her porch steps, waiting for me with the meal in her lap. I picked up my pace to reach her sooner and gave her a hug of greeting. Edward caught up with us soon after.

"How was your evening, Mary Alice? I hope pleasant," I inquired as I loosened my hug and we broke apart.

"Probably not half as pleasant as yours," She whispered under her breath so Edward would not hear, I resisted the urge to gasp and softly smack her, luckily she recovered herself, "It was, thank you for asking," she announced in a louder voice, smiling mischievously. I smiled teasingly back, not the least bit surprised at my friend.

"How was yours, Mr. Masen?" Mary Alice asked, turning to him.

He smiled, "Please Ms. Brandon, call me Edward, I asked the same of Isabella. I do not prefer being called something so formal and stiff," he finished, giving her a friendly smile. His use of my given name surprised me. He had called me Bella since last night, it was almost like he wanted that nickname to be between us. The idea made me smile, and I had to hide it, probably without success.

She returned it, "Well, that's certainly understandable, call me Mary Alice then, Edward. That way we can all be on a first name basis," for some reason, this made me extremely happy. I immensely enjoyed us all acting like close friends.

"Yes, indeed, also I had a fine evening, thank you for asking," I almost deluded myself into thinking I saw his eye twitch my way ever so slightly.

"Well Isabella, here is the meal for the party," she said extending the meal to me, her eyes silently telling me she was lying, even though I already knew it. I appreciated her discretion, surely she understood how I didn't want Edward to know my situation.

"You're having a party, Isabella," he asked, and suddenly I was kicking myself, now he'd want to come.

"Uh, well, yes. However, it is my mother's party for her and her friends," I lied with ease. I deserved a medal. I never lied so quickly and seamlessly before. I was worried the surprise of that was mirrored in my facial expression. Edward seemed to accept this easily enough.

"Well, I hope it goes smoothly," He smiled down at me, causing another round of blushes to creep up my neck.

"Thank you very much," I smiled ear to ear, his politeness and friendliness always causing my mouth muscles to react against my will. "Well I must take my leave now, actually, I have to go to the marketplace and then go back to my house for the small party tonight," I finished, looking to both of them.

Mary Alice seemed to almost take my hint, but she seemed hesitant, "Actually, Isabella, how about I come with you and assist, I really do not have much else to occupy my time," she looked hopeful, but somehow also mischievous, I felt she was up to something. I did not have the energy to guess what.

"Yes, of course, dear Mary Alice," I could never deny anyone. Well I could, but apparently not today.

"In that case, is it all right if I come as well," Edward asked and I kicked myself. At this point I might as well tell him the truth so he can just hurry up with losing interest in me and moving on to the more eligible ladies of the town. I nodded, smiling despite it all, because I was still selfishly happy that I could spend time with him, no matter how brief.

And so, we set off. The three of us engaging in topics including the World War that had been going on for a couple of years, and was still happening. Rumors had been spreading that it was ending soon. Edward had often made comments that he wished he was a couple of years older so he could have had the chance to sign up for the draft and fight for his country. Meanwhile, I was silently thanking God that he was still seventeen, and therefore too young. Our topics ranged wildly from the war to the recent rising topic of contention, the right to vote for women. Edward surprised us both, telling us that he supported it wholeheartedly. We also talked of much simpler things, including other favorite books that we hadn't covered the night before. Soon Edward began to talk of his family again, a topic that I learned was sore for him.

"My mother insists on finding me a wife of fair features and a high standing family before the year is out. I honestly wish she would just let me choose for myself," this new course sent a chill through me, making me silently hope that he was thinking of me. It was a foolish wish, surely.

"Well, my mother insists on making sure I look my best every day to snatch up a husband as quickly as possible," Mary Alice added, "finding a spouse is a high risk game nowadays, dearies, you have to snatch them up as quick as you can," She smiled, chuckling lightly. For us ladies to speak so freely around a potential future spouse was so outrageous that I found myself laughing at the whole situation. It was surely unheard of, and if our mothers could see us now, we would surely be reprimanded severely. They wanted nothing more than for us to find husbands, and I was sure we were ruining our chances. Edward never seemed to mind, though, which amazed me to a great extent. He seemed to genuinely enjoy our outlandish conversations.

By this time, we had reached the marketplace. It was held in an outdoor area, with the occasional tent. The lines were surprisingly short, I could see stacks of food near the check out. After finding the beets, I walked over to the line and reached for my purse, only to find it wasn't there. I froze. I know I grabbed it this morning. How had I not realized it was gone until now? I turned to Mary Alice in a panic.

"Mary Alice," I hissed under my breath, hoping not to attract the attention of Edward who was standing behind us, looking at a stack of apples.

"What's wrong," she asked worried, picking up on the tone of my voice.

"I don't know where my purse is, it's gone, that held all of my money for the rest of this week, it's for food," I said, beginning to panic. My mother wouldn't get another paycheck until next week. This was the worst thing that could've happened. My mother would surely be very upset with me, and it would be my fault if we starved during the course of the upcoming week.

"What," she gasped, "Are you sure," her voice got louder as she became more panicked, realizing the severity of the situation.

"If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't have said anything," I muttered, still hoping to not alarm Edward.

She quickly grabbed her own purse, pulling out money for the beets she began to hand it over. I pushed her hand away gently, "Oh no, Mary, I really couldn't," I never called her Mary, "It's your money, please don't make me use your money," I begged. I hated to borrow money from anyone. It made me feel guilty beyond belief.

"Please, Isabella, like you have any choice in the matter," She forced the money into my hand, "Please let me help you, and my family and I will make meals for every night this week instead of just one," I began to shake my head, "No, Isabella, don't argue with me. This is temporary, anyway, just until your mother gets her paycheck and then we will go back to the original once a week deal," she had a tone of finality, and I knew she wouldn't let me say anything further.

"Thank you," I said finally, she smiled warmly and gave me a hug which I returned wholeheartedly. I began to cry silently, "Thank you so much Mary Alice, we will do our best to repay you, thank you," my voice breaking, I couldn't control myself.

"What is wrong," a worried, musical voice suddenly asked, we stopped hugging and I wiped my face hurriedly.

"Oh, it's nothing," I replied with a wave of my hand. I decided I would search for my purse later, I would not give up. He didn't say anything further, although I had a feeling that didn't mean he wasn't going to.