CHAPTER 7

Disclaimer: If you know it, I don't own it. Stephenie Meyer gets all the credit for Twilight and its characters. I get credit for throwing them into my own storyline ;).

Please excuse the long A/N, but I must do the following:

Huge thanks to the following for adding DG as a Favorite Story: woshivamp, Shayxoxo, bellapatri, lmjohn, teena123, SexyNaNa25, Twilightaholic1122

Equally huge thanks to the following for adding DG to their Story Alerts: Shayxoxo, amrawo, itachi159159, punkparty17, perfectmess, VainVamp

And huge thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far (lmjohn, amrawo, teena123, VainVamp)…. I love and appreciate them all (Lmjohn's rank pretty high because they're detailed, frequent, and she's family ;).) Really, I do love and appreciate them ALL! Reviews are what keep writers going, so keep them coming. Check my profile for Rose's outfit from Chapter 6 and Bella and Edward's outfits for chapter 8 (I'm still working on the rest of the gang's); Do an Internet search for "liberator" for the wedge pillow used in Chapter 6; finally, I've had a couple of requests for one-shots, if you'd like to see certain ones or be included in one, let me know. Much like Edward, I aim to please.

****

Edward was deep in a financial review of a new client when his office phone rang. He sighed and tossed his pen down.

"Edward Cullen," he answered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Bro! Answer your cell phone!"

"Emmett, is this an emergency?" he asked, his voice tinged in annoyment.

"No, but you wouldn't answer my texts or my calls," Emmett said.

"Did it ever occur to you that I am busy? You're only supposed to use my office phone for emergencies."

"Oh, stop being a grouch. You're never too busy for me. You have to meet me for lunch."

"I don't have to do anything."

"Edward, come on! I have major news to tell you," Emmet said.

"You're whining like Alice."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

"And now we're arguing like five year olds. Lovely. I'll meet you for lunch. Baggio's in thirty minutes. You're buying since you interrupted my work and whined like a girl," Edward finally said.

"Fine. Later," Emmett hung up. Edward laughed. He retrieved the paperwork and marked his stopping place. Emmett had distracted him just as he had been able to focus for once today. His entire morning had been taken up with thoughts of what tonight held. He wanted it to be perfect, but he wasn't sure how she was going to react to anything, especially with her resistance on Monday. He'd finally been able to focus on some work and then Emmett called. His whole focus for the day was blown and he knew it. He wasted 20 minutes checking his personal e-mail and looking at Emmett's recent article before he left for lunch.

****

He laughed when he walked up to the bistro and found Emmett at a small patio table. Emmett's large shoulders were hunched over a newspaper, dwarfing the table and his knees hit the underside of the table.

"How was the walk?" Emmett asked when Edward sat down.

"Better than the drive," Edward smirked back. He had purposefully picked this place because it was a 15 minute drive from Emmett's office and only a 5 minute walk from his own. Yet another way to annoy Emmett for annoying him.

"The drive was gorgeous," Emmett snorted before the waiter came and took their drink orders.

"What was so important you had to call me in the middle of work? Shouldn't you be working too?" Edward asked.

"Eh, work will always be there. Besides I finished the article for tomorrow is this morning. My article for Sunday is almost done. I'm on a role today," Emmett said.

"That must be the big reason to interrupt me," Edward teased. The waiter returned with their drinks and took their food orders. Edward studied the street and passersby when Emmett ordered. "Why is Esme's Beamer here? Where's your Jeep?"

"That's why I called you," Emmett said, "That's the big news."

"You sold the Jeep? How'd you get Esme to part with her car? Better yet, how do you fit in it?"

"I didn't sell the Jeep. Esme let me borrow it. Fitting in it is a pain in my ass and more," Emmett grinned. "Nah, the Jeep broke down last night."

"Good reason to sell it."

"What do you have against the Jeep? You're just jealous because it gets more girls than the Altima," Emmett teased.

"Hardly. I just know how much you love it. I personally think it's simply a boast on how big your penis is."

"And how would you know how big my penis is?"

"I wouldn't and I don't want to. It's just that, typically guys in Jeeps have something to prove about whatever is in their pants," Edward laughed, "I'm hardly jealous. The Altima gets me where I need to go. I don't have the money to get something else yet."

"Stop working for Dad and you will," Emmett said. Edward nodded. "But, we're getting off track. So, anyways, I'm no my way home last night after scouting an NFL draft and the Jeep threw a fan belt. Well, I pull into an apartment complex and this blonde girl comes out and starts going on and on about how she can fix it and I'm useless, basically. I start acting all dick-like with her, but I feel bad because she is smoking hot and seems like she may know what she's talking about. I mean, she's blonde with a killer rack and a nice ass – an ass so nice I stared at it as much as I stared at her boobs."

"And, you're not an ass man."

"I am now," Emmett grinned, "Anyways, I feel like a dick so I let her look at the Jeep. She goes to work on it and she really does know what she's doing. It's so fucking hot. Well, she has to make some phone calls about parts and stuff so I go to her apartment again."

"Again?" Edward asked as the waiter brought their food.

"Again. I was there once so she could get some tools. Well, anyways, she's off making phone calls so I start checking out her place, looking at pictures and all that shit. So, I see this picture of her in a bikini and I definitely store that image away for later," Emmett laughed when Edward made a face at him, "but there's another girl in the picture. Guess who it was?"

"Jessica?"

"Nope."

"Angela?"

"No. Not a girl I've slept with," Emmett said.

"Do you really want me to guess?"

"Izzie! They're sisters!" Emmett practically yelled, slamming his hand on the table, jarring their glasses and plates and drawing attention from the other patrons. The combination of her name and Emmett's commotion caused Edward to choke on his drink.

"What?" Edward coughed, setting his glass down. Emmett looked around and lowered his voice.

"Izzie. You know that girl from Sorrows Drown?"

"Yes, I know that girl. Her name is Bella."

"What?"

"Her name is Bella…well, Isabella," Edward said. Emmett looked at him quizzically. "I saw her in the grocery store."

"You stalked her?"

"No," Edward said pointedly, "I was in the grocery store getting food to cook for your big ass last Sunday and she was there too. I called her 'Izzie' and she ignored me. She prefers to be called Bella."

"Hmm, well, anyways," Emmett shifted focus back to his topic, "So, I saw Bella in a picture and I called her a cock tease and her sister, Rosalie, got pissed off at that, understandably," Emmett laughed.

"Of course," Edward agreed.

"And she slapped me and then I dared her to scream and it ended up in a two hour fuckfest," Emmett grinned.

"Do you have to call it that? It's so graphic and I'm sure females and the patrons of the patio would appreciate it if you weren't so vulgar."

"Calm down, dude. Get the stick out of your ass. Everyone enjoys a good fuck, but if you'd prefer me to change it – we had sex for two hours. Sex, because it damn sure wasn't 'making love'," Emmett grinned.

"And then she kicked you out," Edward said.

"Actually, no, then I had to figure out how to get to work today. So, I called Alice and had her pick me up and take me to dad's."

"So, it was a one night stand?"

"Not even. We exchanged numbers. I'm not dumb, man. I will be seeing her again and again and again. Alice met her and they seemed to like each other. Maybe I can ask her if you can see her sister again. I can call her for you," Emmett offered.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I can take care of myself."

"Really? You just gonna stalk her at the grocery store again, bro?"

"For your information, bro, she's a PT intern with Newton at Carlisle's practice. I saw her Monday. She wasn't too pleased. That's where she informed me that she prefers to be called Bella and it's where she agreed to go on a date with me tonight."

"Really? Edward manned up and asked a girl out? I'm proud of you."

"Whatever. I'm just excited about tonight. I don't want to go out tonight and then not see her again, except for at the grocery store," he laughed.

"Good luck," Emmett grinned.

****

Edward was wrapping up for the day when his cell phone rang. He looked at it and didn't know the number. Normally he would let it ring to voicemail, but something told him to answer it.

"Edward Cullen," he answered.

"Hey," the sweet voice was shy as it drifted to his ears.

"Hi, Bella," he replied, "How did you get my number?"

"My sister met your brother last night and they exchanged numbers. I had her call him to get your number. I hope you don't mind," she said.

"Fate is at work again," he said.

"Anyways," she was clearly ignoring that, "What should I wear tonight?"

"Dressy casual. We're going to a wine bar and then down to the port," he said.

"Okay, thanks," she hung up abruptly. Edward stared at his phone. He would have to work hard to get through the wall this girl had clearly built up. He also knew he would need to tone down this new "ballsy Edward" side of him. He sighed and called The Purple Café to confirm his reservations as he walked to his car. On his drive home he thought of how this date could go. He expected Bella would be stand-offish about everything and knew the end result was all in his hands. It could be a good night or a bad night and he would have no way of knowing until it was over.

****

Bella hurriedly unlocked her apartment door as she heard her phone ringing on the other side.

"Hello?" she answered breathlessly as she rushed inside.

"Bella! Answer the damn phone! Geez, that's why you have one and when you don't answer all day, it worries me," Jasper chastised her.

"Jazz, calm down, please. I forgot to charge my phone. It died on my way home."

"Did you not see the million missed calls from earlier today?"

"No, big brother, I didn't. I left the phone in the truck and I called Edward after work and I then the phone died."

"Edward?"

"The guy from Sorrow's Drown. The 'keeper', as Rose called him."

"You're talking to him?"

"We're going on a date tonight," she said. She heard Jasper begin to say something, "Don't say a thing. It's a long story and I'll tell you later, I promise. Right now, tell me whey you called me a million times today."

"Um," Jasper hesitated.

"Spit it out, Jasper. It's clearly important."

"Mom called me," he sighed.

"When? Why?"

"She left a message on my machine last night and I called her back this morning. She's coming into town next weekend."

"Why?"

"Sam Uley's sister is graduating college and you know mom was always close with his mom, Yvonne. Apparently they've kept in touch and Yvonne invited her up here."

"Why'd she call you?"

"She wanted to know if we wanted to get together with her while she's in town."

"We?" Bella asked, frustrated that she had to continue to ask questions because her brother wouldn't just spit everything out. He knew a lot more information and was dragging it out.

"Me, Rose, Dad, and you," Jasper said.

"Dad and me? Why the hell would she want to see Dad and me? Dad hasn't talked to her since I turned 18 and she didn't have to ask him about me in order to seem like she cared. I haven't talked to her since I was 16."

"Bella, you talked to her," Jasper said.

"Off and on in very strained conversations. She knows I want nothing to do with her and why the hell would she think that Dad and I of all people would want to see her?"

"I don't know, Bells. Maybe she wants to work on your relationship," Jasper said.

"There's nothing to work on, Jasper. I don't want to talk to her, period. Does she think Dad will take her back?"

"I don't know. She did say Phil has cancer," Jasper said.

"Testicular, I hope," Bella said.

"Bells, come on."

"Jasper, we're not talking about this. You feel the same way I do about Renee."

"Bella, true, I don't agree with anything she's done and I am still angry at her, but she is our mom, we have to be cordial."

"No, we don't. Jasper, there's a reason she called you and not me or Rose. She knows that I wouldn't answer the phone and that Rose would curse her out and hang up on her. She knows you have a little bit more sympathy or empathy or whatever and you would at least talk to her and tell her that you would at least talk to Rose and me. You know as well as I do that I am not going to be around her at all and neither is Rose. I know you don't really want to either, but I also know you feel like she is our mom and it would be wrong to be rude. I understand and respect that, but don't push me to have anything to do with her," Bella said.

"I wasn't trying to," Jasper said, "I really just wanted you to know that she'll be in town. You know she may be nosey and snoop, so you may want to lay low while she's here. I would say go hang out with Dad, but I think she'll go there too."

"Thanks, Jasper. I'm sorry if I was snippy to you."

"You weren't, Bells. I understand completely."

"Thanks. I love you."

"Love ya too, sis," Jasper said before they said their goodbyes and hung up. This was the last thing she needed. Why was her mother suddenly interested in her and her father? Surely Renee knew that she was the last person Bella and Charlie wanted to see. She had to focus on getting ready or she was going to be in a horrible mood. As much as she didn't want to go on this date, she didn't want to have a bad date either. If she was really, truly honest though, she really did want to go on this date and have a great time with Edward and see where things could go. She hated being honest with herself. She got up, taking her cordless phone with her and dialing Rosalie's number as she plugged her cell phone in to charge.

"Bells, excited about your big date?" Rosalie answered.

"Thrilled," Bella replied with a snarky tone. "Rose, I need help figuring out what to wear. We're going to a wine bar and then to the port."

"Hmmm, I'm not sure if you have anything," Rosalie said, "I'm coming over. Take a shower and dry and straighten your hair while you're waiting on me. I'm coming armed with clothes, accessories, and make up, so don't you dare complain."

"Yes ma'am," Bella said before they hung up. At least Rosalie could distract her. Bella would tell her about Renee's visit later.

****

"Hey gorgeous," his voice rang through Rosalie's phone as she drove to Bella's.

"Hey yourself," she smiled. Sure he had insulted her sister last night, but he made up for it at least 4 times over. Rosalie didn't want to let him go last night, but she knew he had to go. His sister was adorable and fun too, so Rosalie knew he was a keeper because she could hang out with him and have amazing sex while also developing a close friendship with his sister. Rosalie and Bella generally kept to themselves and didn't have any outside friendships; a friendship with someone as fun as Alice seemed to be could be beneficial to them both.

"What are you doing?"

"Driving to Bella's to help her pick out clothes for tonight. She is clueless when it comes to that sometimes," she laughed.

"When can I get my car?"

"Shit," she said, "I forgot to call you. It's all fixed thanks to me and a half-day at work," she teased.

"Ooo, I'll have to make that up to you somehow."

"I'm sure you can figure that out," she grinned. "You can come pick it up any time, but the keys are in my apartment. You'll have to at least wait until I get home."

"When will that be?"

"About 30 minutes? I'll call you when I leave her place."

"Cool. Do you want to go get dinner?"

"I'm supposed to meet my brother for dinner," she said, a little disappointed, but then an idea came to her. "Is your sister doing anything?"

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"Bring her along. It'll be sort of like a double date," she said, "I think Jasper and Alice will hit it off famously."

"You've only met Alice once. She can be intense at times," Emmett said.

"Jasper needs intensity," she laughed. "Seriously, ask her and let me know when I call you back. Jasper won't mind."

"Okay, sounds good. Later, sexy," Emmett said.

"Bye," Rosalie grinned and hung up the phone as she pulled into the parking deck at Bella's apartment.

****

A/N: Sorry you there was no date in this chapter. I had fully intended to have Bella and FMH's date in this chapter, but then the phone call from Renee distracted me the other day, so the date is delayed. I promise you will get B and FMH's date in chapter 8, along with the double date between Rose, Alice, Jasper, and Emmett. Yeah, that one came out of nowhere for me. These characters, I swear….they get their own ideas ;)