Glossary:

Blouse - the coat or jacket of a service uniform or dress uniform of the armed forces.

"Jake, it's been six months, and I've hardly seen you since I moved in!" I'm whining into the phone, sounding more and more like a child that hasn't had their afternoon nap, but I don't care. One of the biggest selling points to me moving in with Jake was that he and I would get to spend time together.

Then that asshole went and got himself a boyfriend, and he's been ditching me since my second night in the house. Edward was busy "entertaining", so I had to set up all my stuff by myself and return the U-Haul without any help. I'm more than capable, but it would have been nice to have my best friend by my side.

I fill up Jake's voicemail box before hanging up and tossing my phone onto my bed. I drag my eyes around the four walls of my room and sigh. Grabbing my phone, I pop out of my room and glance down the hall. At the end is Jake's master suite that hasn't seen an overnight guest since I moved in. Just around the corner is Edward's room, across from him is the huge bathroom that he and I share.

I flip on the light in the powder room and smile. After I moved in I had to set down some ground rules with Edward, otherwise I'm pretty sure I would have killed him by now. Toilet seat down, clean the sink after shaving, spray down the shower with Clorox after your shower, and hang up the towels. We take turns cleaning it, but I know I do it more often.

Just like I cook for all of us on a regular basis, do more household chores. Not because they aren't capable but because they aren't home a lot. I am; I work from home, and frankly, I get bored.

I'm out checking the mail when Edward pulls up in his dark blue pickup and nods to me as he climbs out. My relationship with him has always been … tenuous. As far as we know, we have almost nothing in common, except for Jake. The truth is when Edward and I first met, I was instantly attracted to him; I mean, I would have dropped my panties in the parking lot of the bar we were at if it meant I got the chance to climb his frame. But he ultimately dismissed me and hit on every bimbo who tried to pass our table.

I take a moment to ogle him in his uniform before he starts up the curved driveway. "Hey," I call out as he walks up the driveway.

He walks past me into the house. "Aren't you supposed to be out with Jake?"

Rolling my eyes, I cross the threshold, locking up behind us. Edward isn't even looking at me, just unlacing his boots and lining them up neatly in the downstairs coat closet.

I huff, stomping up the stairs to the living room. "He ditched me for what's his name." I'm shuffling through the mail and sorting it into piles on the coffee table when Edward comes up.

"Yeah, what is his name?" Edward asks as he strips his blouse off and stands staring at me in the tight navy blue T-shirt tucked into his pants. I glance over at him and snort as he rolls his eyes. "I really don't know his name, Bella!"

"Embry. It's Embry Call." I roll my eyes. "So, he took Embry to dinner, and I think they're going to see some show."

Edward perches on the arm of the couch and looks down at me. "Uh-oh, isn't that the type of shit you two do? Which show?"

Flopping onto the couch, I grab a pillow, screaming into it for effect.

"I'm sorry, would you like to speak up so the rest of the class can hear you?" He rips the pillow out of my hands, tossing it onto the couch behind me.

"Spamalot! It's Spamalot, okay?"

Edward starts laughing at my outburst but quickly stops when he sees me wiping away my tears.

I sigh, wiping at my face furiously. "I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone. If you need anything, you know where to find me." Pushing off the couch, I start down the hallway.

"Bella?" I turn around to find Edward looking up at me. "You wanna go do something?"

"You don't have to do that, Edward. I appreciate it, but it's okay; besides, I'm sure you have plans later." I smile and turn to walk away.

"I do, but she can just come over when we're done." He shrugs like it's no big deal.

I turn back around slowly and laugh. "Yuck, Edward. I'm not going to go hang out with you, and then come back here to listen to you hook up with some chick."

He rolls his eyes. "Oh, come on. It's not that big of a deal. I'm trying to do something nice."

"Forget it." I turn back around, walking to my room and slamming the door behind me.

I'm scrolling through my contacts, trying to decide which fair-weather friend I'll call to go out when I hear a tapping on my door. "Go away, Edward. I don't want your pity, pre-bang hang out."

The door clicks. "Can I come in?"

"Must you?" I ask him, turning around. "Shouldn't you be shaving or changing the fitted sheet on your mattress?"

"I can shave in the shower." He chuckles, leaning against the jamb, "And I'll have you know, I already changed the sheets to match the dust ruffle on my bed."

"How 1987 of you. What do you want?"

"Have dinner with me." He holds his hand up to stop me when I open my mouth to refuse. "I know we're not besties like you and Jake. In fact, I suspect that you don't necessarily care for me."

"What tipped you off?" I turn back to my closet.

"Look, I get it. I'm a pig, and your feminist sensibilities hate it. But come have dinner with me. I'm offering to hang out with you when I know that your best friend has all but abandoned you."

My shoulders slump a little before I turn back around slowly. "Okay, but I need you to do something else for me tonight too."

Edward squints his eyes slightly. "Depends on what it is."

"You've been breaking one of the rules lately." I can see the confusion cross his face. "Keep the bitch quiet tonight. I'll be ready in half an hour." Taking two steps toward him, I push him into the hallway and shut my door.

I'm sure there are worse ways for me to spend my evening than going out with Edward Cullen. I just can't think of any right now.