Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement was intended.

This story will eventually have a HEA. So please be patient as I get my characters into position. There will be extreme adult subject matter, drama, talk of abortion and angst; please be advised.

Thank you to carolinacullen2012 and piesmom for everything you did to make this story what it is today. I love you ladies with all my heart. Could not have done it without you!

After we left Renee's office, we picked up Ali's girls to spend some time with them. When Renee called and wanted us to have dinner with her, I didn't want to spend any more time at home. So I decided I was going to sleep over Ali's. Ali knew I was having issues with the party because I had been so restless during the day. I needed to relax or I was going to have a breakdown before it even got to be Friday. Noticing my distress, Ali decided we needed to get out of the house. It was Tuesday night so we were headed to our favorite bar 'Twilight'. Tuesday night at 'Twilight' was Ladies Night, which meant we would be drinking for free. Neither one of us was technically old enough to drink, but we knew the owner. We had been drinking there since I was fifteen.

Ali and I sat there talking while downing the usual Jager with the backer of Bud Light. Closing time came and went as Aro let us sit and hang out for awhile. Everyone here at the bar treated us like family and allowed us to stay well past closing time. When we finally left the bar, it was around five thirty in the morning. Deciding we needed something to eat before we headed home, we went to a twenty-four hour diner. It was normally a bunch of us that went, but I just didn't feel like socializing tonight.

Ali spent the next three hours convincing me that I could go to the party. I was worried about making a complete ass out of myself, but Ali assured me that things would be fine, that I was overreacting. After our long talk that I could get through Friday night, and maybe even finally speak more than two words to him, we finally went back to Ali's house.

I couldn't sleep that night, opting to take a shower and head straight to work. Thank God, I was young and my body could handle this up all night shit. Otherwise, I would have been useless at work. On Wednesday, I went home and decided that I need to find something to wear. Something that would meet Renee's standards of not being bar slut attire. I finally decided on a nice pair of black pants and a white tank top with a red pull over shirt. I wanted to make sure I looked good for him and was dressed appropriately for Renee. However, there was no way I was breaking away from wearing my 5 inch heels, whether she liked it or not. I loved those shoes. I would wear them in my coffin when I die.

The next few days passed without incident. Renee reminded me daily about volunteering on Friday. She also told me to make sure Alice was there and that she had a sitter. I just rolled my eyes; she lived with her parents for God sake! Why wouldn't she have a sitter?

Ali came over all dressed up, and I couldn't help but laugh at her. She was going to get yelled at for sure. Damn slut, no wonder she had two kids!

"Ali...I am really nervous. I don't know what to do. I want to talk to him, but I don't want to. What if he laughs at me? He could make a fool out of me. Shit, I bet he has a girlfriend. Oh. My. God. What the fuck is wrong with me? I have lost my mind."

"Bells, put your damn clothes on, and let's go, for the love of God. Just remember you're gonna marry him one day. I'm physic, remember?"

We climbed into my truck. As the truck roared to life, Alice reached into my glove box and pulled out my CD case. She showed me the CD. I nodded my approval, and I pulled out onto the street as she popped in the CD into the player. Before long, we were singing our hearts out all the way there. We really were two very strange girls. How anyone could put up with either of us was beyond me. Then, add the fact of us being best friends; well that was something of a miracle.

When we pulled into the parking lot of Renee's office, I sat in the truck for a moment trying to calm myself down before walking in there. Ali hopped out of the truck and stood there watching me; waiting for me to get out. It was now or never, I told myself as I placed my hands on the doorknob and opened the door. I knew this was most likely going to be my one and only chance to talk with him.

We walked in and looked around the area. I saw that no one was there yet, except Renee and that bitch Lauren. As soon as Renee saw us, she started barking orders. Hell, we hadn't even made it through the door entirely yet.

Renee told us that it was an open house for the company. We were supposed to set up the tables and chairs, but we had to wait for them to get dropped off. She informed us that Edward was bringing them over in the work truck. So we were supposed to help unload them from the truck once he got here.

Edward must have showed up a few minutes after we got there because I heard the big garage door open. Ali bounced over to the door before I could get there. He had unloaded everything into piles to be moved, opened the door, and then left to get himself ready for the party. let out a huge sigh of relief. Not having to climb up into the bed of a truck and move tables with Ali, in front of him, was a blessing. I wasn't the most coordinated person in the world, and the both of us together was even worse.

Ali and I did everything we were asked to do. We basically set it up like we would for a birthday party for one of the girls. We got all the food set up, placed the beverages for the party on the makeshift bar, and added what needed to be cooled on ice. After all the guests showed up, we were to mingle around and clean up after the guests.

Most of the people here knew who I was because of Renee. They had worked there for so long and by extension, they also knew Ali, since she was always around. It also didn't help that my Uncle Charlie worked for the company next door. We talked with the people we knew, and Ali flirted her ass off with every single guy in the room. She was so funny to watch. However, I wasn't as relaxed as Ali and was on guard from the moment the party started. Lauren never took her eyes off of me. It felt like she was boring a hole in my chest. I knew he would be here soon. I just didn't know when he would show up.

"Bitch needs to get laid," Ali whispered as she walked by. I almost spit out the Coke I was drinking.

That's when I felt it, the warm tingling sensation I got when he was near. I have never had more than a two word conversation with the man and somehow I still got those warm and fuzzy feeling by being in his presence. I was so scared to turn around. I mean what if he had brought a date, a girl. Silently, I prayed to God or whoever the hell was listening up there. Please don't let him be with a girl. I knew he wasn't married because I had asked Renee once. But what if he was dating someone? I knew that if I kept asking Renee about him, she would start asking questions and that is something I didn't want to happen. It was then I had the startling thought, What if he's with that bitch Lauren? All this thinking and worrying was making me sick to my stomach. I turned quickly, hoping to escape him. I bee lined straight for the bathroom, running right into someone.

"I'm so sorry," I said, without looking up.

I knew it was him the instant the words left my lips. The tingles pulsed through my body as he touched my arms. I knew I was going to pass out any minute if he kept touching me.

"Hi Bella."

All I could do was look up into his eyes. What I saw in them totally took my breath away. He smiled down at me. I whispered a faint hello, I think, but I couldn't be sure. Thank God for Ali and her quick reflexes. She must have saw my swooning and decided to save me.

"Hi. I'm Alice, Bella's best friend, you must be Edward. I have heard a lot about you. You look very handsome this evening. Are you trying to impress someone?"

Not only had Ali saved me, but she also embarrassed me in a matter of seconds. She played it off well and acted like she had heard about him. I knew I was in for it now. Ali had made contact with him and spoken to him. Now all that was left was for her to get us together.

I was pulled from the scene by Renee yelling mine and Ali's names. Ali finished her sentence, but because of Renee's calling, he never got a chance to answer. When I looked over at Lauren, I noticed her standing right next to Renee with her arms folded. I was going to have to figure out if something was going on between these two or if she really was a jealous bitch.

We both walked slowly over to where they were standing and listened as they both babbled on about what they wanted done. It seems both were demanded to make sure they got all the free labor they could out of us. Ali and I got back to work cleaning up the messes left behind by the guests. Maybe that was my one chance, I thought.

Over the next couple hours, I found myself watching him. I didn't know if he could tell I was watching him or if he was watching me too. We would share quick smiles or he would nod his head in my direction. I was done for. I was already falling for this guy … man … that I barely knew.

"Dum…Dum…Da…Dum," Ali sang as she wandered by me.

Finally towards the end of the night, Renee and the bitch left the party area. I was glad that Edward and Lauren hardly talked to one another besides a brief hello. She did have her claws out and her eyes on both of us during the night.

Ali kicked me when I wasn't paying any attention. I was about to punch her until I realized why. I watched as he started walking towards Ali and I. Watching him walk across the floor towards us made me smile and hopeful that he was coming to talk to me.

"Hi Girls. I was wondered what you were both doing later? Some of us are going out and would like to know if you wanted to join us."

Fuck. My. Life. Of all nights Ali had to go home, why did it have to be this one? Her daughter, Alex, was sick and there was no way I could do this by myself, especially the first time. I looked between him and Ali, trying to figure out what to do in a panic. Pull yourself together, Isabella.

"Actually, Edward, we have another job to go to right after this one. Bella is babysitting tonight."

I was ready to jump up and down, and fist pump the air that she came up with that idea. You really don't babysit your own kids, but whatever. I really didn't want to make a fool of myself, being alone with him. Let alone jumping him in some bar after I got a little bit of liquid courage in me. Ali decided to walk away at that point; I guess to give us some time to talk.

"Well, since you can't go tonight, would you like to get together another night for drinks or something? Maybe get to know one another a little better?" Edward asked, in a voice that made my heart skip a beat.

"Sure, what are you thinking?" I asked, playing it off cool, still cleaning up.

He mentioned a local bar and restaurant in the area that we could meet up at in a couple days. I agreed that it sounded great. We exchanged phone numbers and talked for a few more minutes before Ali came running into the room yelling.

"Bitch Alert! Bitch Alert!"

I laughed; Edward looked at me confused, so I shrugged.

"Oompa Loompa doom-pa-de-do. I have a perfect puzzle for you," Ali sang as she swept the floor in the back shop. I was trying so hard not to laugh out loud as a tear rolled down my cheek. Edward leaned forward and wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. "I love your laugh," he whispered in my ear. Thank God I was leaning against a table. He had a smirk on his face before he turned; walking towards the door, just as it swung open for Lauren to rush thru. Edward turned to look at us with a questioning face. I am sure he was wondering if the alert was for Lauren. He chuckled and shook his head as he left.

"Dum…Dum…Da…Dum," Ali sang. I was not sure if she knew Lauren was behind us yet or not.

"Why are you singing the Wedding March, Alice?" Lauren growled. Alice and I burst into hysterics.

After I gained control of myself and started to clean up the rest of the garbage, I started to think more about what just happened. What was wrong with my body? I have talked to guys before, plenty of times. This was an entire different world for me. I needed to grow some balls, so to say, and jump in; especially if I ever wanted a chance because no man was gonna want a kid.