This chapter is insanely short…please forgive me…I'll post two today to make up for it. Thanks to all my readers out there and keep posting your comments!

OK so Stephenie Meyers still hasn't given me these characters despite my many insane fan letters – kidding – I only borrow them for my story.

Binky911 no words honey….you know it! LOVE YA!

CHAPTER 8

~ BELLA POV ~

As I straightened the shelves in Newton's Outfitters my mind wandered as it did most days to Edward. Two weeks had passed since that night. He should be back in LA by now but there had been no contact. I was sure he had resumed his life and I didn't even know what that entailed. We never spoke about what he did in LA. Come to think of it …we didn't really speak much at all. I really knew very little about this green eyed devil that had turned my head and put my body into a tailspin.

I found myself checking my cell phone constantly for a message that I knew wasn't there. Mom had told me Edward had a reputation and I was young and naïve and totally fell for it. I had no one to blame but myself. It was time to shake him off and move forward.

"Expecting a call?" Mike asked.

"Oh, no. I just thought I felt my phone vibrate."

Mike was a good buddy, his parent's owned Newton Outfitter's and he'd also just started dating my friend Jessica.

"Come out with us tonight?" he asked, "Jess and I were going to catch a movie in Port Angeles and my cousin just moved back to Forks. He doesn't know many people and you'll like him he's nice."

"Nice." I repeated the word using air quotes and continued to straighten the already organized items on the shelves. On Saturday's we closed Newton's at 5:00pm which left plenty of time to drive to Port Angeles for a movie. It wasn't like I had anything else to do.

"Come on Bella. Really, he's a cool guy - you'll like him."

"OK. OK. I'll go. What's his name anyway?"

"James. His name is James. Awesome, I'll pick you up at 6:00 ok?"

I walked downstairs as it was minutes to 6:00 and I knew they would be here to pick me up soon. I was happy to be doing something to take my mind off Edward. Dad came in from work just as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Hey Bells you look nice." He said as he hung up his gun belt. "Where are you heading to?"

"Busy day at work?" I giggled. As the Police Chief of the very small town of Forks, Charlie had very little to look after, just the odd rumble at the local bar. "You just saved me from searching for paper and a pen to write you a note. I'm heading to the movies in Port Angeles with Jessica, Mike and … " I hesitated before I added. "Mike's cousin James."

"Oh. I see." I could see he was itching to lecture me. "Well, just be careful, okay? You still have that pepper spray I gave you right?" He was always a little overprotective, an occupational hazard I supposed.

The doorbell rang just then and as I suspected it was Jessica. "Yes Dad! I still have the pepper spray." I was thankful my back was turned and he couldn't see me roll my eyes or I would have had to endure a lecture on the reasons why pepper spray was mandatory because of all the crazies out there.

"Bells, I wanted to talk to you about your birthday. Did you have anything …"

I cut him off. "Be home right after the movie Dad. Don't wait up." I kissed him on the forehead and bounded out the door. The last thing I wanted to discuss was my upcoming birthday. I would be twenty and still didn't have a chosen direction for my life. It was depressing.

Mike introduced me to his cousin James who made a big show of opening the door for me and sweeping his arm towards the car for me to enter. "After you, madam." He said with a big smile. Jessica winked at me and I got in. Jessica obviously approved.

James wasn't just "nice"; he was pretty cute. Longish blonde hair pulled into a low ponytail at the base of his neck. He wore a tight white t-shirt and some ripped up blue jeans much like the white t-shirt and the fashionably ripped blue jeans I was wearing. That was too coincidental. We spoke easily during the drive to Port Angeles. Laughing and telling corny jokes.

Mike turned on the radio and he groaned, "Ugh what is this?"

"I love this song!" James and I both shouted it at the same time. We looked at each other and laughed. Mike conceded and turned it up so James and I could play up our inner 'gangsta' and sang at the top of our lungs to Shut It Down by Pitbull.

I hit the jackpot chi-chi-chi-chi-chi-chi-chi-chi-ching

Real chicos do real things on the road to the riches
get diamond rings
moved up from the streets graduated hustla
on his way to an entrepreneur
undefeated Don Shula

Mike and I caught each other's eyes in the rear view mirror and he mouthed "See he's nice."

The movie was some low budget zombie thriller chosen by Mike probably to scare Jessica into the shelter of his awaiting arms. James and I spent the entire movie elbowing each other and laughing at the horrible movie effects and throwing popcorn at Mike and Jessica.

"Bella, I've had a really great time with you." James started as we walked to the car. "Would you mind if I took your number? I would really like to see you again."

My mind was running through reasons I should or should not give this guy my number. Edward. What about Edward? I think it was clear that ship had sailed.

"Sure. I would like it very much if you called me." I took his cell phone and punched my number in.