Author's Note:

I got my first review! Thank you (you know who you are). I hope you all like it so far. I'm sorry the chapters are short – each of them are around the 2000 word mark and that seems to be all I'm able to write well… Well, as well as I can write… Haha. This one is actually a little longer than the others so I hope it's OK.

Oh and I know people don't actually write their names at the end of texts in the real world but I picked it up from a few other stories and it seems to work for me.

IMPORTANT: There is mention of Bella losing her virginity in this chapter. I work with high school students regularly and, while I know some of them are probably sexually active, I find the thought disturbing. So, please know that I DO NOT condone the age at which Bella lost her virginity. Having said that, I do not, in any way, judge her for it either.

Please show a girl some love through reviews. Thank you for reading!

Of course, I don't own Twilight. I'm just playing with the characters a bit…

Chapter 3:

Bella awoke with a start the next morning. She'd had a dream that she was running late for the first day of her internship so, glancing at her phone, she checked the time and date: Saturday, 7:15am. Nothing on today. She sighed, letting the panic subside. It was just her mind playing tricks on her. She still had a few weeks to wait before her internship started and she had absolutely nothing on this weekend as she'd taken it off from the bookstore so that she could relax for a while after graduation.

Having come to the conclusion that she wasn't going to fall asleep again, she climbed out of bed and made her way to the kitchen and her reason for existing: coffee. Other than the low groan of the espresso machine, the apartment was silent. Alice must still be sleeping, Bella thought. Alice was a heavy sleeper, something Bella had always been jealous of. However, it was a very happy coincidence when they were sharing a room in college since Bella had a very annoying habit of talking in her sleep. The few embarrassing occasions on which Bella had fallen asleep before Alice, allowing Alice the opportunity to hear her unconscious musings, were burned into her mind.

What made the sleep talking worse – and perhaps the reason for it – were Bella's vivid dreams. Whether it was running late to work or extraordinary sex with a hot guy, if Bella had a dream, it was a vivid one.

"Wouldn't vivid sex dreams be a good thing?" Alice had asked after Bella had confessed her not-so-secret secret.

"Not when people can hear every sound you make and every word you say, Alice." Bella replied, blushing crimson.

It was true. Bella had lost her virginity to her high school sweetheart, Mike Newton, in their senior year. They had dated for the first two years of college and as Bella's sexual experience grew, her dreams became more vivid. Not only had she woken Charlie up on a few occasions in senior year – always coming up with some lame excuse for her shouts – but she felt the need to talk to Alice about it before she managed to embarrass herself in front of her new friend/dorm roommate.

Now, as an adult, having graduated school and college, living in an apartment with her own room, Bella wasn't so concerned about waking anyone up with her sleep talking. Besides, she was only ever truly embarrassed by it when it was a sex dream and those were few and far between these days. After all, she hadn't been interested in dating anyone for a while. That was why she ended things with Mike. She just needed some time to get to know herself and what she wanted out of life before sharing that with someone else.

Finishing her coffee, she returned to her room and got changed for the gym. She pulled her hair into a messy bun before brushing her teeth and heading out. Bella's visits to the gym weren't just about trying to lose weight, it was about commitment, drive and energy. Her gym was just down the street and whenever she was having a bad day, a quick workout at the gym always made her feel better. Not to mention, it was a great environment since she knew most of the people who worked there.

Emmett had been working at this gym for as long as Bella had known the Cullens. At first, he was doing a course to become a Personal Trainer and, now that he was fully qualified, he practically never left the place. Since he worked such long hours during the week – out of choice, not necessity – weekends were the only time he spent away from the gym. Even then, Bella often crossed paths with him when he was stopping by for a workout. His sister, on the other hand, made a point to avoid the gym like the plague. Not only did she feel no real desire to workout, on the occasions she had been roped into joining Bella, she had despised the sights, smells and sounds.

The receptionist, just starting for the day, was organising some paperwork and looked up as Bella walked through the door.

"Morning, Bella."

"Morning, Jess. Starting early today, are you?"

"Nah, they've changed the staffed hours on us again. We're here from 8am until 4pm on Saturdays now and not at all on Sundays. Don't ask me why but I'm not complaining – it gives me more time to get ready before going out on Saturday nights." She laughed.

"And more time to sleep off a hangover on Sunday." Bella joked with her. The staffed hours never really impacted her anyway since the gym was open 24 hours a day.

"Exactly." Jessica joked, nodding with mock seriousness. "Anyway, I'd better get to it. Enjoy your workout!"

"Thanks!" Bella replied, heading past the reception desk and into the main gym.

Sliding her gear into a locker, Bella looked around the room. It was fairly empty and she only really felt like a quick workout today so she made her way to the area in which the machines were set up as a circuit for a full body workout.

As always, Bella's workout flew by, leaving her muscles exhausted but a post-workout buzz was still running through her body as she let herself in to the apartment.

"Honey, I'm home." She called, hearing noises from the kitchen.

"Morning." Alice grumbled, rounding the corner with a plateful of toast before flopping onto the couch.

"Are you doing OK?" Bella looked at her friend with mock concern. Despite Bella's advice last night, Alice had too much wine. She was only little, after all, and couldn't hold much liquor.

"I'm fine." Alice glared. "You should take a shower. You smell gross." She complained.

Bella laughed. "It's not my fault you drank too much. I told you not to but you said 'I'm a strong, independent woman, Bella. I'll drink as much as I like.'" Bella re-enacted her friend's words in a sing-song voice before throwing a cushion at her and running to her bedroom before Alice could retaliate.

Laughing to herself, Bella made her way to her ensuite to have a shower.

"Damn it!" She had forgotten her shower was broken. She was going to have to brave a murderous Alice in the living room to get to the main bathroom.

Bella quickly collected up the toiletries she'd need. "Shampoo, conditioner and razor," she said, plucking the products from the shower, "and hairbrush, mousse, toothbrush and toothpaste." She muttered, collecting the items from the vanity. OK, now to face a hungover Alice, she thought before readying herself to open her bedroom door and sprint to the main bathroom.

Evidently, Alice hadn't forgotten that Bella's shower was broken because she was ready and waiting, armed with the very same cushion Bella had thrown at her just moments ago.

"Ahhh!" Bella screamed, attempting to push past her friend but Alice was having none of it. She tackled Bella to the carpeted floor, scattering the toiletry products everywhere. In that moment, feeling a sense of responsibility for Esme's carpet, they both froze to check that nothing had broken and spilled. Seeing that nothing had been damaged, Bella took advantage of Alice's distraction. She made it half way to her feet before Alice pounced on her again, beating her with the cushion as Bella continued to scream and Alice laughed hysterically. Thanks to Alice's laughter though, her grip wasn't as strong this time and Bella managed to wriggle free, pushing Alice away in the process.

Stumbling as she rushed to pick up her toiletries – Hairbrush. Where's my hairbrush? – Bella glanced back at her friend who was regaining her balance with a mischievous expression on her face. Panicked and spotting her hairbrush, Bella scooped it up without a second thought and sprinted to the bathroom. As she made her way through the door, she felt the cushion hit her heel before she closed it and locked it behind her.

"Phew!" Bella laughed, leaning her back against the bathroom door. "You're a crazy woman, Alice!" Bella shouted through the door.

"Not nearly as crazy as you, missy!" Alice retorted. "Now, go and wash all that sweat off. It was disgusting to touch you in that state." They both laughed and Bella pushed herself off the door, putting all her gear down and noticing an iPod dock.

Nice touch, Bella thought, pulling her phone out, placing it in the docking station and playing an album she was currently in love with. Turning the shower on, she undressed and let her hair down as she waited for the water to warm up. Looking at herself in the mirror, she was able to appreciate the toning she'd achieved in her arms and legs. Although it wasn't getting rid of her curves – which she was slowly coming to understand would never change – her time at the gym had definitely helped her tone up and she felt better for it. She could see muscles in her arms and legs that she never knew were there – a physical representation of her commitment to working out. It was a good feeling and she held herself a little taller because of it.

Stepping into the steamy shower, she sighed as the warm water ran over her body, soothing the muscle soreness from her workout. Taking her time to relax, she washed her hair and shaved her legs, letting the water soak into her skin. By the time she was done, her skin was wrinkly and any muscle soreness had subsided.

She climbed out of the shower, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around her but letting herself air-dry as she brushed her hair. If she didn't brush her hair immediately after washing it, it could end in disaster. She then ran some mousse through it in an effort to control the craziness.

It was a testament to Esme's interior design skills that Bella felt so comfortable in a bathroom that wasn't hers. She went to open the drawer which should have contained her makeup but she suddenly realised she hadn't brought it with her. Nor had she brought any clothes from her room.

"Damn." It was no big deal for Alice and Bella to see one another in just a towel. They'd seen each other in less while getting changed in their dorm room but she could only hope that Alice wasn't still on the warpath. Opening the door a crack, Bella called out to her friend. "Alice, please don't attack me! I forgot my clothes!"

In the next few moments, everything happened so quickly it was like slow motion. Without bothering to wait for a response from Alice, she opened the door and, in true Bella fashion, slipped on the tiles, stumbling and falling onto the carpeted floor of the living room. The toiletries she had been hugging to her chest one-handed flew everywhere again, and she tried – and failed – to catch each piece on her descent to the floor. Finally hitting the floor herself, knees first, she let out a grunt followed by a defeated sigh.

She stayed as she was for a moment, flat on her stomach, wondering if there was any point in getting up. After all, Bella and the floor were on very good terms and they would be reunited soon enough. Eventually, she pulled herself onto all fours, pulling each of her toiletries products towards her. At least my towel stayed on, she thought as a helping hand reached down to pick up her hairbrush and toothpaste – the two products that were farthest from her – before handing them to her.

"Thanks." Bella said and it took her a moment to realise that the hand was too big, too masculine to belong to Alice. Her head snapped up, meeting the stunningly green eyes of the man crouching down in front of her. He was regarding her with a worried look, like he wasn't sure if she was safe… or sane. HOLY SHIT! Thank god my towel stayed on! She screamed to herself as she scrambled to her feet, facing him.

"Um…" Bella laughed nervously, "sorry about that… and thank you." She was 100 percent sure that she was blushing from head to toe. That, or she was still flushed from the shower. Either way, she was acutely embarrassed.

This man, this stunningly good-looking, green-eyed, sinfully masculine man was staring at her and he was no longer looking at her with concern. It was as though he'd only just realised she was in a towel and he was as stunned as she was. As his eyes wandered, he wasn't just giving her a standard onceover. His eyes were roaming from her feet, up her legs and to the towel – his gaze making her feel like he could see right through it – before pausing on her chest for a moment and finally coming to rest on her eyes. As their eyes locked and he took a step closer to her, Bella took a deep breath to compose herself but the breath was annoyingly shaky and it only served to draw his eyes back to her chest as it rose and fell with her breathing. After a moment, his eyes found hers again and she knew that the lust in his eyes was reflected in her own but she didn't know this man and, having gained some composure, Bella forced herself to blink a few times and take a step back to clear the lust-fuelled fog from her head.

"I found it!" Alice announced as she charged into the room, holding a key above her head triumphantly before stopping in her tracks. "Bella, are you OK? Why are you only wearing a towel?"

Bella, still a little foggy, couldn't explain properly. "Well, I… Uh… I fell?"

Alice just gave her friend with a questioning look.

"Well," Green Eyes jumped in, apparently fully composed, "Bella, here, had a pretty nasty fall as she was coming out of the bathroom and I was checking that she was OK."

"Well, welcome to the world of Bella Swan but is she OK, Doctor Edward?" Alice asked mockingly.

"Yes, she can be discharged with a clean bill of health." Edward joked as Alice rolled her eyes.

Edward? Edward! This is Edward?! The "I have a model for a girlfriend" Edward?! My best friend's brother, Edward?! Bella remarked to herself. Nice of him to introduce himself.

"So, you're the famous Edward Cullen?" Bella asked, her embarrassment and lust turning into annoyance but expressing itself as politeness.

"I am." Edward smiled at her, meeting her eyes with a knowing look as he extended his right hand. She took it in hers, returning the handshake and doing her best to ignore the jolt of excitement as their skin touched.

"It's nice to officially meet you." She said as though they hadn't just been ready to jump one another.

"You as well, Bella." He replied, the picture of politeness but the playful look in his eyes told her those lust-filled thoughts weren't forgotten.

"Well," Bella started awkwardly, removing her hand from Edward's, "I should probably go… and –"

"Get dressed?" Alice suggested, laughing.

"Yes! That!" Bella said, pointing at Alice as she took inventory of the toiletries in her arms and started backing towards her room. Alice, not understanding Bella's strange behaviour, gave her a questioning look before turning to a grinning Edward and offering to give him a tour of the apartment. At this, Bella turned, rushing to her room and closing the door behind her.

"Jesus Christ." Bella sighed, her back against the door as she slid to the floor, her knees finally giving out. "Jesus fucking Christ. How and why? Yes, he's hot but why didn't you expect that, Bella? Their whole family is hot… Not to mention, he's dating some European supermodel. Of course he's hot. Shit." She sighed again, forcing herself to get to her feet. "Shake it off, Bella. Shake it off." She muttered, making herself move towards her ensuite to finish getting ready.