Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Bella, Alice and Edward.

I can't those few people enough who took their time to review my story.

Those who didn't review but read this, I still love you guys.

Bella

Monday morning I was being clumsier than usual, if such a thing were even possible. The reason was that, after every ten seconds or so, a pair of green eyes would pop up in my mind, and I would knock over anything next to me or drop something I was holding. This was totally ridiculous. I could not let a guy have that much control over me – even if he was the most gorgeous man I've ever seen. Wow, I sound so lame and pathetic – like a teenage girl obsessing over her first crush.

My romantic history was something my friends often liked to laugh about. I have never dated a guy in high school or in college, let alone have a relationship with one. The most I have had was a few crushes on senior guys back when I was 13. After that, as I grew up, I realized that most guys were jerks and they consider women as nothing more than an object of pleasure. This is why I brushed off any guy who approached me, and that didn't happen very often due to the plain features that I had. But I never complained about that because I was content with my life. I had studies and work to keep me occupied; a wonderful family who loved me and good friends I can hang out with. Sure I drooled over a handsome guy if I spotted one, but that was it. I never had the nerve to actually go up to that person and start talking.

However, Edward Cullen changed all of that. Also the fact that he misbehaved with me was making me more attracted to him.

Get over him; he's probably just a loser who treats women like dirt, the logical part of me warned.

But how can I ignore the warm, fuzzy feeling I had that almost made me light-headed, even when he looked at me with anger in his eyes?, the slightly less-logical part of my brain asked.

I put these questions aside to ponder on later.

"Bella?" a voice shook me out of my reverie.

Michelle was waving her hand in front of me, hoping to get my attention.

"Oh, yes, sorry Michelle, did you want something?" I stammered.

"David wants you," she said.

I jumped up from my chair and went to my boss' room.

"Ah, Bella, come in. I have some work for you," David said.

I went and stood next to his desk, waiting for him to start.

"You see, we have a new employee here - an accountant. I need you to go the third floor and give her this month's sales records, so that she can draw up the balance sheet," he said handing me a file with the sales figures in them.

"Um, David, her name…?" I inquired.

"It's Alice. Alice Brandon," he replied.

I have never been to the upper floors of this building, which is why I had to ask random strangers where the accounts section was.

After I have been pointed in what was hopefully the right direction, I came to a halt in front of a cubicle occupied by a person so tiny that all I could see was her shiny black hair, cut short up to her ears. On the inside wall of the cubicle there was a poster of my favourite band and the question involuntarily rolled out of my mouth.

"Cradle of Filth? Are you a fan?" I asked stupidly. Since she had their poster, she must like them enough to put it up.

At my question, the tiny head looked up and eyed me, like she was having eye-sight problems.

"Isn't that obvious? Otherwise why would I have their poster?" she asked me.

I nodded at this and tried to avoid the awkward moment by introducing myself.

"Hi, I am Bella Swan, the Editor's secretary. He asked me to give you these sales figures," I said while passing her the file.

She kept her eyes on my face as she took the file, but once she opened it, her eyes snapped to it, going through all the numbers, I supposed.

I took that as my queue to leave. As I was backing away, she spoke up.

"I am Alice, by the way," she said, still looking at the file I just gave her.

I went back to my work desk in a state of daze. Jeez, has everyone in this city vowed to be mean to me? I wondered idly.

At lunch, I spotted Alice standing in front of the table serving the cafeteria food, and crinkling her nose. She reminded me of myself of my first day, just last week. I went up to her, fully expecting her to snap at me again.

"You know, you could try the chicken sandwich – that's the only non-veg food available here," I suggested.

Alice looked up at me, and then back at the food table. Surprisingly she did pick up the sandwich I suggested.

"Sorry for acting so rudely back then, it was nothing personal" she said with a grim face.

"You don't need to apologize; the first day can be a little stressful. I myself started my job just this past week."

We walked to the table where I had sat last week, along with Eric, Grace, Michelle, Gabriella and Olivia. After I introduced Alice to everyone, I asked her to sit at that table.

"That's very kind of you to ask," and she settled down in a chair beside Grace.

Alice was actually a fun person to talk to. She was very knowledgeable about everything, which made conversing with her quiet easy. She was twenty-nine and had two little brothers, Ethan and Robbie, staying with her, while her mum lived in New Jersey. She loved to listen to rock music and had never worn a dress.

"Seriously, dear? How do you get guys to ask you out then?" Eric questioned, apparently horrified at this discovery.

"Um, by my taste in music? I don't care about guys who go for my looks," she replied in a serious tone.

"But honey, you are so pretty. All you need to do is grow your hair, add a little bit of make-up.." Eric started suggesting.

"Like I would ever do something like that!" she replied, not being able to believe that Eric would even suggest something as incredulous as applying make-up.

"I would rather go to a Fall Out Boy concert than spend time or money on my looks," she finished.

I immediately decided that I was going to like this quirky, somewhat insane little person. Anyone who is not a huge fan of dressing up like a doll definitely falls in my league. I secretly thanked the Creator above for sending one person in my work place I could genuinely be fond of.

I apologise if the descriptions of Bella's infatuation/obsession with Edward seem like the same old thing – I'll admit it here, I suck at writing romance. Hope you'll overlook that part.

Reviews make Alice and Bella become friends even faster…:D