Chapter 1 - Armpits & Coffee Stains

                                                                                       *Tuesday, December 22*

My phone alerted me to an incoming text message.

B-

Meet me in the conference room, 10 mins. Need to talk before meeting at 9:30.

Rose

I looked at the time: 9:10.

Oh please God, I hope she doesn’t expect me to attend this meeting

Yeah I tend to pray a lot when dealing with Rosalie.

Chapter 2 - Drunk Ironing & Snark

“Hey, Bellaboo, care to tell me why my girlfriend is drunk-ironing?” Emmett was standing in my apartment with two open bottles of beer in his hands.

After handing one to me, he continued. “You know that she only drunk-irons when she’s really pissed off, and I get the feeling that you know why.”

When Rose would get really angry she drank tequila. While drinking, she would brood. Then she would drink more tequila and go into Emmett’s closet, remove his shirts and pants, and start ironing.

When we had gotten home, I fixed dinner for Rose and I, but promptly left for my own apartment when she pulled out the tequila.

Chapter 3 - The Snowman & Midnight Mass

I was still a little dazed as I made my way through the grocery store.

I could easily fall for Edward Masen, or Cullen, or whatever. Yoohoo, Bella, did you forget he has a girlfriend? A very well-known girlfriend. And you are, sorry to remind you, a nobody.

 Just like that my former happy mood disintegrated.

Chapter 4 - Grits & Vitamin R

Much later that morning we all stumbled downstairs where everyone proceeded to help make brunch.

I made French toast, and the toppings. Charlie cooked up some sausage. Emmett made his specialty, scrambled eggs, and Rose was in charge of grits and biscuits.

“I may not sound Southern, but I was born in Texas, and my Mama’s from Georgia. Tough shit if you don’t like grits, I’m making them anyway! And besides, it‘s one of the few things I know how to cook!” Rose snarked when Emmett teased her about her grits obsession.

I had to admit that I really liked grits, especially when Rose taught me the proper way to eat them.

Chapter 5 - Kelly Kapowski & The Cougar

The next morning, we needed to return to Seattle. By tradition, we always went to the Forks coffee shop for breakfast. We did this every year because, as Dad put it, “Bella deserved a vacation from cooking after all her hard work“.

We packed up the hummer, and headed out in two vehicles. I rode with Dad in the patrol car.

Chapter 6 - Enchiladas & Store Bought Ta Ta's

As soon as I got home, I threw together the ingredients for chicken enchiladas and a couple of side dishes. While the dinner was cooking, I went to my room to change my clothes.

I decided that I would dress casually. Just the same as if I were home relaxing. I had just slipped into my jeans and my fuzzy green v-neck sweater when my phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Hi Bella, I was just calling make sure you made it home.” Rosalie sounded a little wary.

“Hey Rose, yeah I’m here.”

Chapter 7 - Mercer Island & Mini-bars

“I don’t get to come home as often as I would like, and I actually find myself missing winter. Rather, I miss the change in the weather. In L.A. the weather is just too constant.”

“Unlike here” Rose smirked as she motioned toward the light mist which had forced she and Edward to employ the use of a rather large umbrella as they walked through the Bonsai Garden for day two of Edward‘s interview.

Chapter 8 - The Dude & Dirty Harry

*Wednesday, December 30*

I woke up long before my alarm went off, happier than I ever remembered being before, but nervous as hell. It reminded me of those Christmas mornings when I was a little kid. The night before I’d be so excited that it seemed to take hours to finally fall asleep, but as soon as my body would register that it was morning, I would wake up, tummy full of butterflies, jump out of bed, and go to see what Santa brought. The euphoria overwhelming.

Chapter 9 - Stellar Hineys & Carriage Rides

*New Year’s Eve*

I awoke abruptly from a deep sleep. My dreams so full of Edward, so vivid, so real, so explicit? Coming from the mind of someone who’d never had sex, it was perplexing.

After some time to ponder, I decided to blame my ‘sexy dreams’ on the fact that I’m head over heels in love with Edward a.k.a. ‘Sexward’ Masen.

And also the fact that I‘ve seen his naked tushy.

It’s true that I’d seen several of Edward’s movies over the last few years. But none of them got me ’worked up’ quite as much as September Ends. It was a steamy love story Edward filmed last year.

Chapter 10 - Cosmic Boogers & Black Eyed Peas

*New Years Day*


Emmett had just parked the hummer outside of Saint James Cathedral. He had also just received his first smack-upside-the-head of the New Year, courtesy of Rosalie. The smack being the result of his statement regarding The Feast of the Circumcision being proof that God was indeed a man because “No chick would allow an entire day to be dedicated to the schlotskin!”

Chapter 11 - Fried Ice Cream & A Cup of Tea

I thought about that day. It had been almost seven years, and there were certain memories that were still so fresh in my mind that it was as if they’d happened yesterday.

“The day started beautifully, it was a Saturday in May. I had made plans for my best friend Lianne to come over and spend the night. We were going to do all those typical girl things, paint our nails, talk about boys.” I winked at Edward and he smiled.

Chapter 12 - Hello Kitty Undies & Lucky Thirteen

I was getting ready for Church when Rose popped over for a few minutes. Yes, Church again. After today, I’d be back to only going on Sundays until the next Holy Day arrived. It was probably a good thing, less chances for embarrassment. I used to think Emmett was the main cause of my public humiliation, but lately I’ve been doing a pretty fantastic job of that myself.

“Bella, I’m sorry I can’t go with you this morning.”

“That’s okay Rose. I didn’t expect you to.”

Chapter 13 - Red Roses & Burst Bubbles

The forecast called for cloudy with rain, temperatures in the 40’s. Big surprise. Welcome to January in Seattle. When my alarm went off, I literally dragged myself out of bed.

Vacation was officially over. More importantly, the time Edward and I had together in our little bubble was over. Hopefully, to be revisited when he returns, but apparently, we had a ‘conversation‘ to get through before that could happen.

Chapter 14 - Pedophiles & Daddy's Little Girl

I got the feeling that I’d been sleeping for a long time. I opened my eyes and looked around my room. My alarm clock said it was 5:30, and I was still wearing the clothes I’d had on the night before.

I dragged myself from the bed, picked up my cell phone and switched it on.

Emmett wasn’t kidding.

There were a lot of missed calls from Edward. There were also some from Rose and Emmett, obviously before they realized I didn’t have my phone. Even Charlie had tried to reach me a couple of times.

My poor Dad does not need to worry about me again.

Chapter 15 - Bourbon & Epitaphs

Emmett and I stood there gaping in shock not only at what Rose had said, but at her whole change in demeanor from just an hour ago. We had fully expected Edward to barely make it out of there alive, but instead they both march into my apartment like they were the best of friends.

Where was the verbal tsunami that only Rose can inflict on her enemies?

It seemed to have evaporated. I was stunned into silence. Emmett on the other hand was having none of it. “You’ve got to be kidding Rose.” He said incredulously.

Chapter 16 - Tasers & Interrogations

I was standing in my living room watching Edward sleep. Last night’s talk had been exhausting, and thanks to the drinking, my head was now throbbing. It was so late, or should I say early, when Rose and Emmett finally left, that I wouldn’t allow Edward to go to a hotel. I made up the sleeper sofa for him, and that’s where I found him this morning.

While I slept, it had been oddly comforting knowing that he was in the next room, not miles away at a hotel or at his parents’ house.