A/N

I would like to thank xX-Twilght-lover-xX, D.J-HALE, Shylady16, Hydriad, Genehh, luvu4ever, vinvinong86 and RosalieTheBeautyQueen for putting my story on alert, putting me on author (!) alert and for putting it on their favourites list. Also thanks to the last two members for reviewing. I feel almost giddy with excitement when I saw 10 new mails in my inbox and 4 more while I was going through them. So thanks so much for making my day!

This part starts from where I left off in the last chapter. It's still in Edward's POV.

Disclaimer: The super-awesome Stephenie Meyer owns Bella and (sadly) Edward too.

Edward

If I was being truthful, I envied Sister Charlotte sometimes. I had heard that she got married very young, miscarried her first child and caught her husband cheating on her not long after that incident. After going through all these traumatic experiences, she was still able to stand up straight with her head held high. After her divorce was finalized, she set up this orphanage and since then had stopped receiving anyone's sympathy or pity, and welcomed life with open arms.

And here I was, still bitter, still finding faults in everything and in everyone, even though it's been over four years since that incident. I was not living my life, as it clichéd as it might sound; it seemed as if I were just existing. My soul had died that day and all that was left was this cold, hard shell. Empty and numb.

After I'd apologized to the woman for being rude to the newcomer, she introduced us.

"Now if you would let me, I'd like to introduce our new teacher, Ms. Bella Swan," Sister Charlotte muttered through clenched teeth. She was still pissed off at me.

Swan?

I chanced a glance at her and decided that the last name somehow did justice to her. She was ivory-skinned, had dark eyes and had her chin lifted in the air proudly – just like a swan. All that was missing was a yellow beak. This image made me bite back a chuckle and I quickly averted her gaze after nodding in acknowledgement.

Wait, I stifled the urge to chuckle?

Where did that come from?

As soon as the introductions were done, Bella Swan exited the room in such haste, that I had to wonder, what is up with this woman?

After Bella left, Sister Charlotte was quiet for a few minutes, just going through the student records and completely ignoring me. I sighed and pulled a chair and sat down.

"Mr. Cullen, would you be free around 3pm for the football practice?" she inquired, while still keeping her nose buried into the stack of papers.

I whipped out my Blackberry and checked my schedule. Normally, I had to stay at the office around that time on Thursdays to finish up my work on our current project, but I decided I could ask Stephen to let me do that work on Thursday evenings instead.

"That's fine with me. Should I leave now?" I asked.

"No," she interjected. I sighed and fell back in my chair.

"Since you are here already, you might as well help me out with our birthday planning," she replied, finally looking up and meeting my gaze.

I mentally cursed myself and my hand itched to smack myself at the back of my head – the kids' birthdays were coming up. And like always, I'd forgotten about it. Every year, on a random date we would organize a birthday party for all the kids here, since no one's actual birthday was known. Every year we would celebrate the day on a different date, hoping that by a twist of fate at least one of the 1329 kids might get to rejoice on their real birth date.

So I settled myself more comfortably and began suggesting Sister Charlotte ideas about how to make this party even more special than the last one. Last year, our very own cook, Emmett Masen did juggling tricks and the kids absolutely treasured that.

One hour and several drumming on the desk with my pen later, I still had not come up with anything even remotely fun for a kids aged from 7 to 14. I considered asking my co-workers for help, but then imagined Lauren Mallory eavesdropping and then wanting to help me. For all I knew, she might even suggest pole dancing or a fancy dress party with her being the sexy nurse or the hot librarian, and so I quickly dismissed the idea of involving people from my work. On top of that I was not that close with anyone from work – and moreover no one knew about my volunteer work apart from Stephen.

After thinking for another forty-five minutes, I gave up and promised Sister Charlotte brilliant suggestions next week.

I was not too eager to get back home so early, so I wandered around the streets idly. I did this every Thursday after my practice sessions. On other weekdays, I try to occupy my evenings by working late.

I liked this part of New York. Even though I grew up in New Jersey, I had always felt more at home in Brooklyn. It was probably because this part of the City was full of artists. Not that I consider myself to be one, hell I can't even draw a straight line without my hand shaking – but I did know one or two things about music; which is why I found myself following the familiar path to the Bistro Café at the west side of Brooklyn.

The door of the café opened with a soft chime as I pushed it and the warm smell of cappuccino hit my nose. I pushed my way through the crowd of people, and found myself a table.

Since my college days in CUNY, I have been coming to this place regularly on Thursdays. I came here mostly because the much unknown New York underground alternative bands played here and I enjoy listening to new musicians. Once in a while some new acoustic guitarist would play, and that was refreshing as well. Good music immediately lifted my spirits and so this is the only was I can escape from my morose life.

Tonight, a hard rock band was playing, which exactly wasn't of my taste, but I enjoyed it nevertheless with my steaming cup of latte. I heard a chair scraping while I was still looking at the stage where the band was playing, but I had an idea who the person might be.

"Whatchya doin'?" someone chirped in an annoying merry voice.

"Alice…" I groaned, exasperatedly when I finally turned to look at the offender.

"Wow, nice to see you too, Edward," she replied sarcastically, before sticking her tongue out at me.

I couldn't help but laugh. Alice Brandon and I had known each other since pre-school. Our mothers are friends, which is why I practically grew up with her. We went to high school together, and she also went to Dartmouth, even though she majored in Accounting.

Alice was….unexpected. She would do the craziest things for fun. However, she has matured so much in the past few years that it was surreal to see that this was the same mad person I used to hang out with. I remember back in college she used to take up bets like pouring a bucket of black ink on a senior, or eating fifty pancakes in a row and loads of other insane things. Conversely, now she knows what she's doing, thinks before making decision. Even though her mother still lives in New Jersey like mine, she brought her two younger siblings to New York with her, so that she can send them to a private school – a privilege neither she nor I had when we were younger.

Sometimes I felt like Alice was the sister I never had.

No, I corrected myself, she was more like a brother to me, I realized with a smile.

Alice did not have a pint of girlish behaviour in her. I used to play football with her when we were younger and I had to give it to the girl – she shows some major talent in that sport. I have never seen her wear a dress, not even in Prom. She would always go for skinny jeans, sweatshirt and converse, with her short pixie-like hair sticking out pointedly in different directions. She never hollered me for watching a chick-flick with her, she never cried over a guy; she was more like the type who made guys cry for her. She listened to emo-rock, hated wearing make-up and loved her family to death. She's the only person I've been able to open up to. She was my best friend.

"So, what are you up to these days?" she asked

"Oh, where should I begin? I spent my weekend in Paris, made barbeque yesterday with my friends and I also hooked up with Megan Fox. Oh, and I am going cruising next month," I replied dryly.

"C'mon, Edward, don't you know me at all? You can't fool me, you know" she said.

"Isn't that what you wanted to hear? That I am happy and enjoying myself?" I asked.

"Yes, but not if all that's a lie, we all want you to move on.." she began.

"Stop it! First my boss, and now you too. Can't I just mope on my own miserable fate?" I inquired.

"That is not a solution, Edward. You have to understand that. Esme is really worried about you, and she can't even talk to you about it, because you can't control that temper of yours. Why are you hurting her? She only wants you to be…"

"Happy?" I finished her sentence.

"No, she wants you to be able to get a grip on yourself. You have your entire life ahead of you and remaining this depressed is not going to get you anywhere. Do you have any idea how much pain you are causing to her?" she questioned.

I closed my eyes and dropped my face, hoping to escape the daggers she was shooting at me with her eyes. The mention of Esme did the trick – it broke me completely. It was one thing being down myself, but it was not fair that my mother had to suffer with me as well. She didn't deserve this. She had already had her share of unhappiness and grief – I didn't need to burden her with anymore of mine.

"I am sorry, Alice. No, I mean it. I have hurt you guys so much by staying this way. I feel terrible for doing this to you guys," I mumbled.

Alice reached forward and squeezed my hand.

"I am sorry too, Edward; for you and for everything that happened."

I felt my heart getting heavier and all the memories were rushing back faster in my mind. I pushed them back and quickly changed the topic.

"So, what are you up to these days?" I asked, ruffling her hair.

"You remember I sent some job applications a few weeks ago to a number of companies? Well, I was called back for an interview at one of them, and guess what? They hired me!" she squealed enthusiastically.

"Cool, congrats. So what company is it?" I asked sipping my now cold cappuccino.

"It's this fashion magazine in Manhattan – Haute Couture. Have you heard of it?"

I choked on my coffee and nearly spat it out.

"You are going to work at a Fashion Magazine? Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?" I asked, dramatically.

"Relax, Cullen. I will their accountant. Their accounts section is on the third floor, totally isolated from the main office of the magazine. You can count on me for not gushing over a Marc Jacobs handbag anytime soon," she smirked.

"That's good to know. But as soon as you start dragging me to watch Sex And The City Movie with you or ask me to accompany you to buy the correct shade of pink nail polish, I will be done being friends with you. Do we have a deal?"

"Deal," she agreed happily.

Wow, another long chapter. Do you want to know a secret? I had not intention of putting Alice in this story, at all. It's just that you guys were so awesome to put my story on alert that I thought all I could to return your favour is by posting another chapter. Hence, I just created Alice's part today, while I was in my shower.

Reviews are better than listening to New York bands with Edward :D