Thanks so much for all of the kind reviews! I'm pretty sure I sent everyone the teaser, and if I didn't I'm sincerely sorry. My inbox is so cluttered I could only find the one set of emails with reviews and it was about the right number. If I missed anyone just know I'll definitely make sure I catch you next time!

As always, thanks to the lovely EverlastingMuse for beta-ing this. Check out her stuff, its pretty awesome!

I have a new story going called Catch Me. It's already posted so you can go read it. :)

Here we go.

Chapter O8: She doesn't want to feel this way

BPOV

I am going to murder the owner of whatever restaurant Mystery Man had taken me to yesterday. Better yet, I plan on castrating him, hiring a hit man to out him and then get a necromancer to bring him back, so that I can do it all over again. And to think I had even contemplated adding my own bit to the tip.

A nasty bout of nausea had woken me up in the wee hours of the morning. I had quickly crawled out of the corner in the single stall bathroom and dashed to the toilet, throwing my head over the edge of the bowl just in time…for absolutely nothing to happen. No vomit, no bile, absolutely nothing happened; that would have been the better alternative. Instead of the few seconds of disgusting upchucking that would lead to a glorious relief of the nausea, I had been stuck with it for the past six hours.

Three tums and four glasses of water later, I am hunched over my desk with my head cradled in my arms. I keep my eyes closed and reach in the draw where I stored my bag. I fish out the one bottle I hope can take away the awful feeling in my stomach.

I pull it out, frowning when it doesn't rattle. I lift my head up and look at it, my jaw tightening when I realize I have already chewed on the last few chewable tablets in the bottle. Despite the fact that I had bought the bottle the same day I baked the cookies for Edward, my daily stomach aches and spurts of vomiting has obviously taken its toll on the small bottle. Frustrated I throw the bottle back into the drawer and slam it shut, the sounds echoing off the walls of the silent room.

With nothing to ease my aching stomach, I decide to actually start doing something productive. It's already ten-thirty –an hour and a half into my work day- and I haven't done anything besides bring Edward his daily coffee. I glance down at the sticky-note I had placed on top of my computer screen before leaving yesterday and get to work.

Not even five minutes into my search on the online yellowpages for a number Edward has requested do I stop as time pauses. I watch as the ad flickers to the beginning again, my blood running cold.

Are you nauseated? Yes.

Experiencing morning sickness? Maybe.

Missed a period? Due to my lack of nutrition and strange sleep habits I haven't had one in months, but might be there was something behind that.

You may be pregnant! Call our hotline to participate in a free survey to find out.

The small side-bar advertisement flickered back to the starting point. I watch as it runs through the same three questions again, my stomach twisting even tighter.

There is no way I can be pregnant.

Right?

No, I decide, there really is no way I can be. Sure I had blurred out most of the lectures in my high school biology class and ditched on the sexual education pep rally, but even in my innocent state, I'm about ninety percent sure that you can't just magically get pregnant. That's just not possible, not physically possible. I latch onto this hope as the two glass doors open and Edward steps through them.

He saunters over to my desk carrying a small notepad and folder. Not wanting to seem unprofessional, I quickly look up from my desk and attempt to put a half-decent smile onto my face. I don't think it works because he frowns when he stops in front of me. Edward places the paper products on the ledge of my desk before leaning over it.

"Are you all right? You don't look good," he tilts his head to the side as if he's examining me.

"You can't be pregnant without sex, right?" I blurt out thanks to my foggy head and my brain filter being out of commission.

His eyes widen and his mouth pops open into a perfect 'o'. He gapes at me before coming to his senses and shaking his head. "No, you can't, but if you think you may be…" he trails off.

I let out a breath of relief. I know I look like a blushing twelve year old, but with my brain not functioning properly, and my stomach churning; I can't bring myself to care. I lean back in my chair and try to focus on Edward.

"Did you need something?" I ask. He had brought with him a few things and I'm sure he wants me to do something with them.

He blinks twice before leaning back again, "I need you to finish everything on this list. You'll need the papers in the folder to do it. I need it finished for a meeting Monday morning." He slides the stack over with limber fingers.

I nod and take the papers from him, dropping them onto the clear surface in front of me. I don't even bother trying to look guilty for barely doing anything this morning. In my defense, though, he hasn't asked me to do a whole lot besides bring him coffee and file a few things.

I wait for him to walk away but when he doesn't I throw him a questioning look. He runs a hand throw his hair, shaking it when he reaches the tips. Before speaking he clears his throat, "Saturday, well tomorrow now, my parents are having a small barbeque at their house. I know Jasper and Alice are going."

I don't understand why he's telling me this. Last time I checked, attending family outings weren't apart of the job description for a personal assistant unless he planned on having me screen his calls for him or something. I do the only polite thing I can think of in my clouded state.

"That sounds nice; I heard the weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend." I state lamely, but it's true. Thanks to the body-image obsessed couple staying at the gym well past eleven last night I was fortunate enough to see the ten-thirty news and weather. I was even forced to bike for a whole three and a half hours without any real break, go me.

He chuckles nervously, "No, I'm asking you to come. It's going to be pretty casual, and I know Jasper offered to bring you since practically everyone gets lost their first time trying to find it." Only Edward can make rambling seem so sophisticated.

"As what, your personal assistant or…" I trail off, not wanting to suggest as his friend in order to save myself the hurt if he says the first one.

He smiles softly, "My friend, of course," he pauses, "Bella, would you come to my parents barbeque…as my friend?" he asks, leaning on the ledge again, his breath assaulting me immediately. I'm breathless and dazed within seconds, a growing effect Mystery Man seems to be having on me.

I nod quickly, smiling. "Well, my friend, I think I will." I step out of my comfort zone and tease.

Maybe this truce thing won't be that bad after all. I smile in anticipation.

-x-x-x-

Moments after the doors click shut, the office phone begins to ring. I glance at the number, notice it's an extension from within the building, and quickly pick it. There is no way Edward could have made it back to his desk already so I automatically know it's not him. The only other person within the company that I can think of whom would call me is Jasper. I assume it's him and answer casually.

"Bella Swan."

"Bells, it's Jasper." he greets me, his southern accent prominent when he says his name. "Has Edward asked you about tomorrow?"

I nod before remembering that he can't see me, "Yeah, he has. Do you think you can give me a ride?" I'm still giddy and excited over that fact that Edward –Mr. Mysterious and Arrogant- actually asked me , a friend of his, to go. I feel like a teenager all over again.

Jasper, the man who knows me too well, catches on and laughs, "Of course, but how about you stay in the guest bedroom tonight? Alice is staying over as well. It's a good four hour drive but with early morning traffic, it'll probably be longer and Esme wants everyone there for about eleven. You'd get to snooze a bit longer."

I assume Esme is Edward's mother, and smile at the newest bit of information about him. I'm actually thankful that Jasper wants me to stay over. I can't have him pick me up at the gym, because he's known me long enough to know that there is no way I'd be working out, let alone that early in the morning. I could've always picked a random apartment complex and waited outside, claiming it as my own, but that would've required more research, work, and energy than I really felt like exerting. This was just easier.

I agree eagerly, and he promises to stop by my desk on his way down for the night. We wrap up our conversation quickly once I scan the list and see how much work I actually have to do.

I hang up and grab the waterbottle I snatched for the break room. I take a sip, enjoying the way the cold liquid feels running down my throat before I situate myself and get to work.

I breeze through the small mundane tasks left behind from yesterday before I start on the new list. I groan when I realize I'll have to go to the copy machine located in the very, very public room with the cubicles. I am already over my little moment of blind embarrassment that occurred my first day here, but apparently the rest of the workers haven't quite let it go. While most of it is harmless good-natured teasing, a few select females have decided that I'm not worthy of working in the same establishment as them, let alone the same floor.

I take in a calming breath and snatch the papers off the desk and head towards the doors, my head held high. I open them as nonchalantly as I can and set my sights on the large white machine tucked away in the corner

…all the way across the room.

I don't look at any of the other workers, only stopping to smile or return the few greetings I get on my journey.

I almost make it there without a hitch, almost but not quite.

Just as I'm about six feet away from the copier, a perfectly pedicured food clad in an expensive looking stiletto juts out from the opening of a cubicle. I don't notice it until my leg makes contact with the foot and I'm sent tumbling to the floor, the packet of papers flying out in front of me.

Unfortunately for me, not only do I fall to the rough carpet with a thump, my head also has the opportunity to meet the outlet with a varied of plugs. Pain pulses through my head as I clench my eyes shut, trying to fight back the tears of embarrassment and pain.

"Bella, are you okay?" Angela, one of the nicer women in the office, exclaims. She bends down next to me, worry etched in her expression.

I nod and offer a smile. As I'm situating myself enough so that I'll be able to get up without showing the entire floor up my skirt, a toned tan arm reaches out. It grabs a hold of my forearm and helps me up; maintain its grasp on my even after I'm standing.

I mumble a thanks but keep my head down, my hair shielding my red face from view. I look around for my glasses so that I can gather the papers and finish copying them as quickly as possible. I can't see them, I can't see anything actually. Fortunately Angela, bless her, is compassionate enough to slide them back onto my face.

"You should get contacts," she teases, "they never fall off."

I chuckle with her, remembering the days when I did have contacts. The pair I had on the day my parents died could only last so long and after that I was never able to get any more. After a few months of wearing just glasses, I didn't feel the need for them anymore.

"Jesus Bella, did that just happen?" Jake, the owner of the toned tan arms, asks, his hand reaching up to brush over the top of my forehead. I wince when his thumb makes contact with my skin. Taking in my reaction as an answer, he retracts his hand. "It's already knotting, that'll be one nasty bruise later."

I hold back a groan and turn my head, noticing that the packet of papers has been placed on top of the copier already. I smile, realizing how nice the two people in front of me really are. If only everyone in the room shared the same kind hearts as they did...

"Thanks, I'd probably be crawling around looking for everything if it wasn't for you." I claim, knowing that would be exactly what I would be doing.

They smile, even though it doesn't quite reach their eyes. Angela brushes her hand down my arm, giving my hand a gentle squeeze before going backing into her cubicle feet away. Jacob doesn't leave though, instead, he starts asking questions.

"What did you trip over?" he asks, looking around for anything around our feet that may have been the cause of my fall. When he sees nothing he looks back up at me, confused. I look over at Lauren's harsh glare and snap my head back.

"Uh, my own feet, I guess," I say sheepishly, not willing to admit what really happened. I couldn't even imagine what kind of revenge Lauren would conjure up if I got her in trouble by tattling.

He shakes his head, chuckling, "What are we going to do with you?"

I shrug and smile, hoping he'll drop it any second now. Fortunately he does.

"Be careful, Bella," he says softly, looking around at the floor briefly before taking the few steps back to his desk.

I fight the urge to look back at Lauren and quickly head over to the coping machine, my head throbbing, my stomach aching, and my desire for the day to end stronger than ever.

-x-x-x-

Jasper meets me early than I I'm supposed to get off, making the end of my horrific day that much more bearable. It is almost as if he had sensed how craptastic everything was going and decided to spare me from further humiliation.

I finish up the last few things Edward has asked me to do, delivering the papers and darting out of his room as quickly as possible. He had been in the bathroom at the time, so I didn't have to explain to him the knotted purple bruise that had taken residence on my forehead. I already stuttered through my explanation to Jasper and knew attempting to tell Edward about it would be that much more embarrassing.

I don't know why, but within the past twenty-four hours something had shifted between us. We weren't best buds yet, and I knew we had a long road ahead of us before we got there, but it was almost as if the past had disappeared. As if all those things that had happened between us didn't happen or better yet, that we didn't feel the emotions that came with it. I still remember what Edward had said, but I didn't hold it against him anymore and it seemed as if he is over his first impression of me.

At least I hope he is.

I shake off any doubts that are growing and take Jasper's out-stretched hand. Despite that fact that we hadn't seen each other in months, in the last week or so we had been able to pick up right back where had left off, and I love it. It wasn't until we started seeing each other daily that I realized how much I had missed him and our easy friendship. He had been the one to keep me from drowning in a puddle of self-pity in college, and now he anchored me down without even realizing it.

I take the next step and place myself a little bit closer to him, the only barrier between us my bulging messenger bag. Jasper chuckles at my efforts, seeing right through me. He slides the bag off my shoulder and drapes it over his own before throwing his arm over my shoulder and pulling me in closer.

I shake my head and swat his chest teasingly.

Before long I'm comfortably seated in Jasper's car, my head resting against the window. We drive through the busy streets of Seattle, luckily arriving at his apartment before the evening traffic can really back-up.

Once we're parked he takes my bad and leads me up to his apartment. When the elevator dings open I head towards his door and stop, assuming that it's locked.

"It's already opened," he calls out from a few feet behind me. I look back at him before turning the knob actually surprised when it does in fact open.

"Imagine that," I mumble under my breath, holding the door open for him. He chuckles and ruffles my hair as he walks by, sidestepping my flailing arms.

"What on earth are you two doing?" Alice's voice interrupts. We both freeze and look up to see her standing feet away, hands perched on her hips and a smile on her lips.

Jasper and I glance at each other before erupting in a fit of laughter, sinking down onto the floor clutching our stomachs. It's contagious and soon Alice joins us, the three of us giggling like school girls until we come to our senses.

"Man, I'm starved," Jasper announces once we're calmed and leaning against the wall together. Alice nods her concurrence against his shoulder.

I don't say anything, not really wanting to eat anything after my nausea finally subsided.

"Let's just finish off the leftovers and call it a night. We have to leave at five in order to get there in time anyway." Alice says, standing up and walking into the kitchen. I can hear her rummaging around in the refrigerator moments later.

Jasper stands as well, offering his hand out to me. I take and follow him, watching as the two of them maneuver around the kitchen. It is as I'm watching them together that I realize how perfect and in love they really are. Unlike many other couples, there's some sort of electric pull connecting them, pulling them together when they drift to far apart. The looks they share alone express more love than I've ever seen two people share. Even my parents didn't have the intense, deep, relationship that these two people do.

I clear my throat, "I'm not really hungry." I announce, "If it's okay, I think I'll just turn in early." I leave it open-ended with room for arguing. After all it is their apartment and if they want me to eat dinner with them, I won't be rude and disappear.

Alice smiles softly and Jasper nods, "That's fine, Bells, I'll wake you up about thirty minutes before we leave?"

I nod, "Thanks," I say somewhat awkwardly before stumbling back to the guest room I stayed in days ago. I swoop up my bag on the way there, knowing I'll need it for tomorrow. I quickly change into my sweats and dive into the warm bed, curling into the pillow before drifting to sleep, mentally preparing myself for the day ahead of me.

Today is my birthday. :) So send some extra love! Reviewers get teasers and this time I promise to send them sooner! I'm about to go out so this might be a little rushed. Any guesses to how old I am today?

So Edward and Bella are starting to finally click and who knows how her day with fam is going to go? Any thoughts?

Last chapter we almost got to 20 reviews! We did reach over a 100 though! Ya'll are awesome. I know this time we can surely get there.

No one recommended anything last chapter, but if you have one you'd like to share that'd be great.

I'm sure I'm missing something but I can't think of it at the moment. See you next time. :)

xoxox

Rae.