 Episode Six: Cook for meI slept well for the first time in ages. I had a message from Jasper when I awoke. “Once again, I say good sir, you are a dramatic bitch.” I just laughed and shook my head. He wasn’t wrong. I didn't have much in the way of work for the day, but I already had a plan. Hopefully, one that Bella would agree to. First, I got in a good workout before I decided to head into the living room. Bella was nowhere in sight, so I went to get myself a drink of milk. Lazy, I didn't see the need for a glass. As soon as I started gulping it down, my eyes locked on hers. Bella was sitting outside in the sunshine, working on her computer. Her expression was clearly amused by me. "Good morning," I told her happily, starting off strong with my mask in place just in case she rejected the idea. Eddie could handle it. Tony could not, and he had come out to play enough the evening before. “Afternoon,” she smirked. “Meh, close enough.” I had no idea of the time, actually. “So, you said you were sick of eating out and wanted to cook real food, yeah?” “Yeah.” Bella cocked her head to the side slightly in confusion. "Let me shower, and we can run to a proper market. I'll buy the groceries if you cook," I suggested casually. Her face was instantly worried. “Do you have time for that?” "Yeah. I'm going to do a little recording and editing today, but it's all at home. I need a home-cooked meal. I haven't had one in ages. Like real proper food not from a box.” I thought about her words from the day before. She had been right. I was also curious about what she would make. “What do you want?” She asked as if she could see into my mind. I just shrugged. “You're the chef. You can pick the menu. Carbs and cheese, right? I trust your tastes. Surprise me.” “I guess we'll go to the store and we'll see what looks good.” She delicately shrugged her shoulders before closing her laptop. Bella smiled sweetly. Showering quickly, I was frankly shocked she had agreed so easily to it. I was literally asking her to cook for me. She was so easy going. She needed to teach me how. I needed to be so zen. “I might be dramatic, but it doesn’t mean it’s untrue,” I sent back to Jasper. Bella declined coffee at the store. I was starving, though, so I suffered through their crappy cafe food. As we walked around together, I found myself shy and unsure again. She was so intent in her shopping, occasionally looking over at me in curiosity. I knew I was being too quiet, but I couldn't seem to help it. She asked me questions about food, my favorite subject, and I would give her one-word answers. It was shameful. Bella kept frowning. I kept throwing things into the cart nervously, thinking about how I was going to eat it in the middle of the night. All of it was salt and sugar. “What about dessert?” She asked me finally. “Why don’t you pick out something for dessert for us?” “Oh, yeah. Sure,” I cheerfully agreed. We were already in the freezer section. “Ice cream?” “Perfect.” She gave me a quick smile, walking beside me as she pushed the cart. “Just ice cream or the whole nine yards?” “Obviously, I want everything,” I told her with a cheesy grin, trying again to find my mask. “What flavor would you like?” “Oh, I’m easy. I’m good with anything,” she said pleasantly. “I don’t think there is bad ice cream.” “I bet there is,” I joked. “Why don’t I pick out a few good pints?” Then I picked a whole assortment. Vanilla based, chocolate based, fruit, with nuts, with caramel, and cookies and cream. One of those was bound to be a flavor she liked. If anything else, I liked them all. Afterward, we got whipped cream, cherries, and a couple of kinds of syrup. When we got back to the house, she helped me bring in the groceries and put them away. “So… Uh,” I drew out. “I have some videos I need to do. A fan from Japan sent me a bunch of snacks and sodas. Would you care to join me in them? You were so lovely in the last.” “Oh,” she sort of giggled and smiled, a slight blush on her cheeks. “That sounds like so much fun. I’d love to, Edward.” I really liked when Bella called me Edward. I so wanted to be her Edward. While I worked around my office, she took pictures of me. I was struggling to concentrate on taking photos of the candy bars. They were shiny, and I couldn't make them out in the photos. It was starting to piss me off. “Can I do something?” She asked gently. “Sure.” Bella came to stand beside me and arranged the chocolates before taking my camera from my hands. She tinkered for a moment before bending over to snap several shots. When she stood back up, she showed me the results. "The wrappers are reflective, so you have to adjust for the glare, and by arranging them in pairs with complementary colors it leads the eye through the picture," she informed me as she scrolled through the photos. They were all better than mine by a lot. With no editing. “Oh, yes. That is better. I don't know much about color, obviously. Thanks.” Bella was genuinely hilarious in every video. Playing off of me effortlessly, she was excited to try everything, even the weird flavors. She was honest with what she thought, but in such a gentle and funny way. "So," she began with a little laugh as she took a sip of a peach cola we had just rated. "When I was twenty I went to Disneyworld for the first time. And Epcot at the time had this part where you could try different sodas from around the world, and it genuinely ruined sodas for me for years. So many were terrible. Horrible… Just literally cruel,” she giggled at the memory. “I didn’t drink soda for almost four years after that before I broke down and started having them every once in a while.” “That bad?” I asked curiously. “There was a soda from… Oh, I don’t remember. Some South American country and I was super excited because Mexican sodas are the bomb. Like the best. I took a huge gulp, and it was like a carbonated cocktail made with reject vinegar." “Gross!” I laughed at her choice of description. “No.” “I just automatically,” she stuck out her tongue. “It was terrible. Like a baby who just tried something healthy for the first time. And my husband was like, ‘did you sneak liquor into the park and not share?!' And I should have been offended that was his first thought that I was drunk, but it sounds like something I would have done at twenty because screw him, he could buy his own drinks. And Disneyworld drunk sounds like a ton of fun when you're that age," she continued to laugh, her expression playful and silly. She bobbed her head to the words, making her curls bounce. Bella looked too innocent for her story, which made it all the funnier. I laughed as well at her little routine she was performing for me. I covered my mouth quickly so I wouldn’t spit soda everywhere. I wasn’t sure if she was screwing with me or not. I couldn’t see this mild-mannered little woman drunk, let alone in public. Though, I was sure it was something interesting to witness. “Should have gone to school in Sydney. The drinking age is eighteen.” “Oh, good god no. Not having unlimited access to liquor at eighteen is probably the only reason I’m still alive. And, not a stripper in Jersey.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder in a funny way. Yeah, she was for sure fucking with me. I think. She was so good at keeping her face straight, and I was extremely gullible. My brain fizzled at the idea of her stripping. I heard her giggle at my expression, and I looked away, trying to compose myself. I was sure my cheeks were red hot. I gave a short nervous laugh. “Honestly, I’ve gone to a strip club a grand total of three times. Once out of curiosity and then twice for bachelor parties for my friends and I loathed it each time. It’s so embarrassing,” I admitted to her quietly. “Why?” She laughed curiously. “If they work there willingly, I’m sure they wouldn’t hate dancing for you,” Bella teased. “There would be girls having cat fights over you. Hot, young, wealthy, as tall as a stripper pole...” I laughed loudly in embarrassment, throwing my head back. “I don’t want to be aroused by strangers in public. Thanks.” None of this conversation was going into the video. She seemed to be not bothered, and I felt like my face was on fire. I think she knew I was easily embarrassed. I could practically see the twinkle in her eye. "So, in private, it would be fine?" She asked me dryly over her soda before taking another drink. She was screwing with me now purposely. I was sure of it. Then she slowly raised her eyebrows. “The stranger part is a problem, too,” I replied. “I’m too shy for that.” "You know, last week I would have scoffed, but yeah, I can maybe see that,” Bella said a bit disbelievingly. “Mm, I can understand that though,” she said thoughtfully. Her smile grew a little wicked. “Kudos to you to have the restraint to not screw everything that moves. I’m impressed.” I giggled meanly and smiled at the camera as I knew who exactly was going to watching this later. “My best mate is so disappointed in me. He’s told me if he were me he’d fuck everyone. Which, I love him, but he’s already accomplishing that on his own. But, he’s right. I probably should relax more.” It was her turn to laugh. “Honestly, good for him! Get some! Life is too short.” “Get some diseases!” I joked. “Condoms exist. Oh, god. Why did I just use the word condoms in a video about Japanese sodas, Eddie? Where is this conversation even going?” She laughed, her cheeks pleasantly pink. We were both having too much fun being stupid with each other. I put both of my hands over my eyes and laughed as well as I pushed my hair off of my forehead. “Fuck if I know. None of that will leave this room. I swear.” “Good,” she said with a little smile. “This one is pretty good. I might finish it. I like it. Is this the last one or…?” “Shit. No. Hold on,” I said, finally getting back to work. It was fun just to joke around with her. When I couldn't think of another video to make with her, Bella left me alone in my office to edit. She said she needed to start cooking anyway. When she left, I checked my messages. “Is there any particular reason you’re in love with her now? Or is it just in general?” He joked. “Well, she’s cooking for me right now.” “Cooking for you?” He answered back surprisingly quick. “Yes. She’s making us dinner tonight in my kitchen.” “So, are you getting laid tonight?” I snorted at the message. “This is obvo a date.” “No, it’s not lol. And no. I don’t see that happening.” “Then why tf is she cooking for you?” "I kind of asked. She said she missed her own food, so I offered to pay for the groceries if she wanted to cook. She picked out a ton of shit. I'm excited. And I filmed some more videos with her." “What are you going to do when this chick leaves?” He asked me curiously. I didn’t have an answer for him. “I’m not sure. Beg her to stay? I know what I’m doing tonight at least.” I worked for a long time, quickly editing the simple videos with Bella in them so I could put them up as fast as possible. I wanted to see how everyone else reacted to her. I wondered if they would love her as much as I did. I threw them up into the queue to automatically post on my busiest days. My flow was interrupted by the beeping of a text. I half expected it to be Jasper again or maybe one of my sisters. But instead, it was Bella. “The food is ready.” After washing my hands, I hurried into the living room like an eager child. It immediately smelled delicious. Chicken and cheese perfumed the air. The wine was already waiting for us on the table with beautifully made plates. "Oh, my god! It smells so amazing in here! I don't even know what you made, and I'm already thrilled to eat it!" Bella flushed a little at my complimentary words. “Roasted chicken with a creamy Parmesan, spinach, and mushroom sauce served with crispy roasted Italian butter potatoes. And, garlic toast for the sauce. The glass of wine is the same kind that I put in the sauce, so it should pair well.” “Goodness! That sounds magnificent!” I praised her happily. It was wildly more complicated than I had been expecting it to be. It was a full-on dining experience. “Thank you!” “No, thank you for cooking all of this! I'm so excited to shove all of this into my face.” I sat down and eagerly took a drink of my wine. Everything tasted better than it smelled. It was by far the best meal any person had ever cooked for me. Even if I burned my mouth like an idiot trying to shovel it down too quickly. I was far too charmed by her to even think about my mask for once. She teased me as I ate. Our conversations were so easy. The way she described food somehow made me even more hungry while we dined. “You should learn to cook. At least a few things. You love food so much. Just seems like a natural fit. You know, even if you do hire someone else to do it for you,” she said in passing. "Maybe. You want to teach me?" I asked, hopefully. “If we had more time I'd love to. We're going to be so busy the next few days, though. You have the charity game tomorrow and then skydiving Saturday. I'm sure you'll be tired on Sunday.” Bella had a pretty little pout on her very kissable lips. “Come visit me in Queens. I'll teach you in my tiny kitchen. It is fully loaded.” That was quite a thought. I wondered what it would be like to be alone with her in her apartment. Not for work, but because we wanted to be together. I would willingly do whatever she wished if I got the chance to spend time in her kitchen. “What would you teach me to cook?” I asked her curiously as I stabbed at the salad. Even the dressing was homemade. “Anything you wanted.” “I'll make a list before I come to visit then.” I smiled at her. She grinned in return. I so wanted to reach over and kiss her in that moment of silence that followed. I instead decided to eat my feelings. At least it was delicious. It was so easy to devour. "I thought you didn't like to indulge when you're working," my mouth commented without my permission. I instantly regretted it. Bella stopped what she was doing, and I could see a hot embarrassed blush crawl up her cheeks. Fuck. "Oh. I don't normally, but I didn't even think about it. I just went into hostess mode like I would for my friends. I'm sorry." Well, something good came out of that. I could barely breathe out the words, “does that mean you think of me as a friend?” She looked down at her empty plate, biting her bottom lip before glancing up at me with her pretty eyes. “I mean... yeah. I guess I do. You're so friendly and easy to be around. If that's okay?” "Why wouldn't it be okay? I feel the same, to be honest. We've gotten tattoos together. It's kind of a serious step in any friendship. I think. I don't know. Perhaps." I couldn't find the words to tell her I wanted to be more than friends. But, she was there for work, and I didn't want to be the kind of creep who would push himself on a woman in this situation. I had embarrassed her with wine, after all. I glanced at the clock. I wanted to give her all of my attention. "I think I'll stop editing for the night. It's a busy day tomorrow." “Did you finish what you need to?” She asked me curiously, her face almost seemed sad though I wasn’t sure why. "Oh, yeah. I make a lot more videos than I post, actually. Kind of save them up for a rainy day. You know, if I'm busy or sick. Or, just not in the mood. Or traveling or working. So, I'm always way ahead when it comes to my video content for my channel. I just enjoy editing, too." “How many fully made unposted videos do you have right now?” “About forty.” “Wow!” Her eyes got big in surprise. “That's so many. How often do you post online?” "Daily. I know it sounds like a lot but most of them are just little videos. Quick ones I did alone in the house. Lots of food ones and lists. Video game playthroughs. The big ones I film with Seth and Tyler go up pretty quickly, usually. Within the month. But, I also film ahead for holidays, too," I explained. Honestly, I usually had more videos than that lined up, but I was working a lot lately. “I guess that makes sense. Do you ever make a video you don't post period?” Bella asked curiously. She was so full of questions. I liked them. "Mm, they generally get posted. If I don't think it's amazing, I throw up two a day up, one as a bonus episode. I also have a private video diary, but I don't ever show that to anyone, and I don't intend to. It's just for me." I didn't mean to tell her the last part. I wanted to take it all back. "My pictures are my diary. I don't mind showing people, though. They don't understand the memories behind them." Her smile was so encouraging as she shared this part of herself with me easily. I felt exposed to her, and she was perfectly accepting. And she had no idea. It obviously came to her naturally. “I can see that,” I whispered. We held each other’s gaze for a long hot second. I saw as her chest began to rise and fall more quickly before she shook her head. Bella finished the rest of her drink in one long gulp as she looked away. Maybe she felt the heat, too. "So, would you like to have ice cream sundaes by the pool with me?" I asked, hopefully. "That sounds like an extremely effective pickup line," Bella deadpanned, but I could see her teasing in the shape of her mouth. I couldn't help but laugh. She called me out perfectly. “You are not wrong.” “Handsome Youtuber used obscene wealth and sugar. It was super effective,” she smirked as she made the Pokemon reference. Oh, if that were only true. "No, it's not! I've been single for bloody months." My mouth began to run away again, and I couldn't stop it as I got up to make us our desserts. Two big glasses of wine and I was already buzzed. "I guess if I just wanted a shag, it would be one thing but I'm not comfortable with it. I've not even been on a proper date in months. What would you like in yours?" “Fix it however you like, but with extra cherries,” she replied before surprisingly taking my picture. I had almost forgotten about her camera. “How long has it been, if I may ask?” "I had a blind date to a Fourth of July party at a work friend's place. It was dreadful. I've met a bag of rocks, who was a better conversation partner." I was mad at Seth for a week after that bullshit. Awkward as hell. “No personality.” When I brought her the ice cream, she took pictures with a slight giggle and a cheeky smile. She looked excited to eat it too, though. “What about you? Last date?” “I've not dated since my husband passed.” She shrugged. “Dating is tough everywhere, I guess.” Fuck. Why do I keep picking bad topics? What the fuck. Of course, it wasn't since her dead husband. I was extremely curious about him, though. I wanted to ask her so many questions. “What was his name? Your husband? If I may ask.” "Aiden Levi Zucker. Doctor, actually. Dr. Zucker," she said, almost wistfully with a sigh. Then she forced a smile. “You didn't take his last name,” I said automatically. "No, I was kind of using my name professionally by then. Working and in school, and it would have been so hard to change everything. I didn't mind his name. But I kinda think he liked it, to appear more liberal to his friends in that sense. He was a professor of anthropology," she explained to me as she mainly ate the cherries from her ice cream. "His friends could be such judgemental assholes. I had a thicker accent then, and they thought I was stupid trash. They weren't afraid to let me know in their own special ways. And, they probably thought I was a gold digger, too. Not that Aiden would have told me if they thought that." What the actual fuck? Rude judgemental cunts. “Just because of your accent?” What the hell is wrong with her accent? It was sweet and charming. I loved it. “I was much younger than him too, but I don't know. Well, people are just terrible sometimes. My friends all loved him, though. He was a good man.” I decided to ask a different question and offer up some of myself in the process. “What's your full name? I don't know your middle name. Mine is Anthony, by the way. Edward Anthony Cullen.” I wasn’t ready for her to meet Tony yet, I think. I wasn’t sure I ever would. I liked being Edward with her. “Isabella Marie Swan.” I had forgotten that she had said her name. I didn't realize it was actually her name, though. "Oh... I thought you were just joking before with the beauty queen bit. Are you named after anyone? It's a pretty name." “I don’t know. It's a really common name, especially now. My mom picked it out. I don't know if I am or not. Never got to ask her. I'd love to ask her a whole lot of things actually. Mainly like what the fuck, but eh. That's life, I guess. Wholly unsatisfying with its lack of answers,” she complained with a little sigh in her voice before shaking her head to herself. That was another question I wanted to ask. “What happened to your mom? You said she died when you were five. Was she sick?” Bella's face dropped for a moment before it morphed into what I realized was her mask. Her voice was perfectly calm, and even as she spoke the most horrifying thing I had ever heard. "Oh, um. No. Not exactly. She was an addict. She overdosed on heroin while driving and rammed into a power pole at fifty miles an hour. She shot up right before she started driving. Did it in a Sonic parking lot and rammed into the pole about fifty feet away." FUCK. I actually gasped loudly. “Jesus! I'm...That just... sucks. My god! Oh no. How terrible. I am so sorry. She seemed to be not upset for some reason. Instead, she indulged curiosities she couldn't possibly have known I had. She showed me the scar on her cheek like a fond battle wound. "It's much fainter than it used to be, but that's how I got this." She traced her finger over her skin. I had noticed it before, but it was very light. "A no parking sign went into my face. I broke several bones, too. Went through the glass. I was in the hospital in a medically induced coma for a week. Good times.” I think I might have choked on my tongue for a moment. Then my outrage set in. "Oh, no. And you were just five? You were in the car, though? She took drugs with you and drove while high? I know I smoke weed, but I'd never drive ever, let alone with my little helpless daughter in the car. I am... Gah. I don't even know. Angry and sad. I want to go back to give little… well smaller, you a hug. You've lost more people before you were even a teenager than I have in my entire life. Even my grandparents are still alive and in good health. One of them moved to Australia to be closer to my parents and the other fucked off to Ireland to retire just recently,” I blathered on. “Where are your parents and grandparents from originally again?” She asked, changing the subject for both of us. I was glad to let it be changed. “Father's Scottish and my Mum's English. They met at Uni. They moved down under for my mom's work. She was a lawyer and now a retired judge.” “Impressive.” “Yeah, but it means I got away with literally fucking nothing growing up,” I told her honestly. Bella just laughed. "I couldn't either, but that's because my grandmother was a strict Catholic who made me go to church several times a week. She filled every second of every day with something to keep me busy. Idle hands are the devil's playground, you know. Too busy to be too bad." She then made the sign of the cross. “I didn't realize you were Catholic.” “I'm not anymore. I was just raised in the church. And, went to a Catholic school. And, worked at a church for four years. But I haven't been to church in years now. I've been to temple more recently than that.” “Temple?” She gave me a small smile as she ducked her head. “Aiden was Jewish. We had a little Jewish wedding where you stomp on the glass and everything. I went to my niece's Bat Mitzvah about a month ago. Because there is nothing more adult than thirty thirteen-year-old girls trying to figure out how to dance to a DJ who stopped listening to music in the early 2000s surrounded by your ancient relatives.” I laughed as I could very clearly imagine it. “I don't know. Sounds fun.” "It was. Great food, too," she replied before she pushed the rest of her ice cream in my direction. She had picked out the dozen or so cherries I had put it in for her. I wouldn't turn it down. I was still nervously eating. It didn't stop my mouth, though. “So, are you Jewish then?” "Atheist, actually. So was he, but we went for his mother. It made her happy, and he was all about his family. Which was one of the reasons I loved him so much." So was I, and I could understand doing that for one’s family. "I miss my family. I'm the youngest of five. I'm the only boy, too. I'm really close to my sisters. I talk to them every day through text practically. I miss seeing them almost every day, though. And, my nieces. I've got seven nieces, and I used to babysit them all. Well, one of them was only born very recently. That's the last time I saw them. When the new baby, Ava, was born. So, two months ago. My parents have been driving the new mother up the wall," I explained to her. I hated not seeing her growing up. I got sent pictures nearly daily, but it wasn't enough. I wanted to help Irina as much as I had helped Tanya, Carmen, or Sasha. I was admittedly not sad about not being around my insane and bitchy mother. Irina had been fighting with her all week, and they were both fit to be tied. "Wow, seven. I just have the one technically. She is a sweetie, though. I used to babysit her, as well. I'm glad my in-laws let me hang around, but I've always felt out of place, even if they've only ever been kind to me." "My sisters would love you. They'd fawn over your pretty hair and your pictures. I actually bought one of them, and my mom, one of your prints as a gift. From your website. Before you came here. For their birthdays coming up," I blurted out and just kept talking. I meant just for my mother's birthday, but I didn't want to keep spewing at her. It didn't matter anyway. I was still feeling the wine. She seemed embarrassed again. “Oh! That's so nice… I have pretty hair?” Bella asked me slowly. Hell, might as well be honest with her... "Yeah. Those pretty ringlets of yours. They'd want to know how you do it. Ask for all your magical secrets. All their hair is board straight, and I don't know how many hours of their lives they've wasted trying to make it curly," I laughed a little as I thought of my sisters fighting over the bathroom mirror. "I wash and condition my hair and then comb it... and then let it dry into whatever ungodly mess it feels like creating that day. Sometimes it's ringlets, sometimes it's a fro. It's a chance game. Sometimes I blow dry and straighten it, but I didn't bring any of that with me. I forgot them. Photographers aren't really supposed to be the ones being looked at anyway," she said as she glanced up from under her eyelashes. She might have been a free spirit, but she could be shy, too. Bella hid behind her camera just like I hid in front of mine. “Fair enough.” “When will you see them again? Your family?” She decided to change the subject again. "February, sadly. Around Valentine's some time. Everyone is coming together. My parents are going on some kind of crazy month-long cruise at Christmas, and I work pretty solid until then anyway. It's the longest I've been away from them." Sad about missing my siblings, over the moon about missing out on that stressful family function. Bella made a disgusted little face. It was almost the same as the one I made when I heard the news. “A month-long cruise? That is too long on a boat.” "I agree, but it is their retirement money they're wasting," I said as I started to clean up. I had run out of things to eat and needed to do something with my hands. Bella began to gather the items left on the table. "Thank you for all the amazing food and the company tonight. And, the videos earlier, too." "I had a great time, and I'm glad you enjoyed the meal." Her smile was so easy and warm. "I think I'm going to have a smoke. Would you like to join me?" I asked, hopefully. I wasn't ready for the evening to over with yet. “Um, actually I should probably get some work done myself before heading to bed. Again, thank you so much for today. Dinner was exactly what I needed.” “Me, too.” I was starting to think Bella was precisely what I needed and not just for the day. I watched her retreating form with a little sigh. Well, it wasn't a perfect evening. It wasn't my best performance. Then I remembered I wasn't performing for her. I was being myself. But, she didn't seem to be upset about how the evening went. Talking about her tragedy didn't seem to bother her. Maybe she needed to talk about it. Perhaps she just needed someone to listen. For a brief second, I wondered if I could be exactly what she needed, too.  Episode Five: VoiceI had several messages waiting for me on the phone when we got back to the house after the tattoo parlor. Bella quickly excused herself off to bed. Though I was tired, I wasn’t ready to sleep. So, of course, I sat by the pool with a smoke. I decided to answer my sister’s text first. It read, “how’s the ink?” “Nice. I like it.” I lit my joint, taking a long drag as I waited for her undoubtedly quick reply. “Are you around?” She asked me instantly. “Can you talk?” “Sure,” I answered back. Within a second, my phone rang. "Hey, Sasha." “Hey, baby brother. So, did it hurt?” She asked quickly, her voice clearly amused. “Yes,” I said with a laugh. “Think you’ll get more?” “Oh, for sure,” I laughed again. “I love the results.” “That picture was nice. It’s very cool. Mum is going to be fuming,” she giggled. “Well, Mum can go fuck herself with a cactus,” I mumbled. Part of the reason I decided to get a tattoo in the first place was her trash talking Jasper over all of his. In front of him, I might add. Not that he could hear her. It was at the party for the birth of my youngest niece. But if he had, it wouldn’t have been the first time she insulted him to his face. My mother was never shy about her opinions. She openly hated Jasper. “Ow,” she breathed. “That’s harsh.” “So, befitting?” “Very.” I could almost see her smirk that matched mine. Sasha, Tanya, and I looked the most alike. Carmen and Irina looked like, taking more after our mother. “So, how are you otherwise, Tony?” It was weird being called Tony after so many months of going by Eddie or Edward all the time. My family and friends in Australia had all always called me by middle name. When I moved to America, I decided to make the change from Tony to Eddie complete. I thought it was just part of the actor’s mask, but I knew it was starting to change me as a person. I didn’t want to be Tony anymore. Eddie was happier and liked himself more. Edward was a smart businessman and was making money hand over fist. Tony was the anxious little fat boy who hid in his room eating Tim Tams and playing World of Warcraft for ten hours a day. “Good,” I answered distractedly. “What do you have going on?” She questioned me since I wasn’t giving her much to work with. “Well, actually, do you know that pretty picture I sent to you and for mom’s birthday-” I began. She quickly interrupted me. “Oh, yes! I love it! It’s so lovely, Tony! Thank you. Mum liked hers too, surprisingly.” “Well, that’s good. The photographer that took them is following me around this week, actually. She’s even staying in my house, oddly enough. It’s for a magazine,” I explained. “Well, tell her she’s very talented. I love it very much and look forward to purchasing more.” “Mm, I will,” I hummed. I wasn’t sure if I would say anything or not. “What’s her name?” Sasha pressed further curiously. I could hear Peppa Pig in the background. I wondered who and how many of my nieces were watching the cartoon. My sister was very bored as a housewife. “Bella.” “Ooo. Sound’s Italian.” I laughed, “she’s not. I think she’s maybe part Latino. She’s from Texas, but she lives in New York City,” I explained to her. “She’s not sure, actually. We’ve talked about it a little.” “Oh, I see,” she said knowingly. Sasha paused for a moment. “So, is her name fitting?” My nosy sister was asking if she was pretty. I chuckled and sighed. “Very,” I said quietly. Sasha giggled, “oh, you sound dreamy. She must be something. What does she look like?” “I’ll send you a picture later,” I said. She knew me perhaps better than anyone else in my family. Actually, all of my sisters knew me well and probably exchanged information. That was fine. I already knew they were a team that stuck together. They worked better that way. “She is something though,” I agreed with her. “She’s exciting to be around, honestly. She got a tattoo with me tonight. Just decided on the spot.” “Oh, wow!” "As someone who plans the fuck out of everything, I was very impressed," I chuckled again, teasing myself mostly. "I don't think tattoos are a big deal to her, though. She has a bunch. She's obviously spent a mint on them, too. All of them are so bright, like her pictures. Everything about her is so vivid. Honestly, I've never met a person where the word ‘vivacious' would fit, but it's exactly what Bella is. Amazing and vivacious.” “Tony!” My sister said in her gushing tone. “Are you dating?” “What? No,” I laughed automatically in embarrassment. “I just met her two days ago.” “But, you’re going to date.” “No.” “Yes, you are,” she said quickly. I laughed at her words. Sasha thought she knew everything. “Okay, well, as much as I’d like that to be true, I don’t think that’s how that’s going to work. She lives in New York City. We’re both busy. She’s leaving next Monday.” “Oh, brother. You called her vivacious. You’re going to date her. You’re already in love with her,” she sounded like she was in school again. I just laughed harder. “What?” “How do you do that? Hm?” “Know that you’re in love? Maybe because I know you so well?” She questioned. I actually meant sound so confident when she was so full of shit, but I would let her have it. “I helped raise you, my darling baby brother. So, you’re in love with her?” “No,” I snorted, shaking my head. Maybe. I lit the joint again, taking another hit. I would not be telling her a single thing about my confused feelings. “What does Jasper think?” Of course, she knew that I had spoken to my best friend obsessively about it. I couldn’t help but smirk to myself, taking another drag. “He thinks it’s exciting drama.” “It is! Keep me updated. Can I ask him questions?” “He’s your friend, too. It’s not like I’ve sworn him to secrecy.” I didn’t care what my sisters knew, most of the time. I knew if they wanted to know one of them would push until they found out anyway. They seemed to know me better than I knew myself, sometimes. Jasper would cheerfully and in a funny way probably tell her to fuck off though. “I love how accepting you are of our bullshit,” she told me in a laugh. “I expect it. I accept it. I’m used to it. I know it’s done with love,” I replied honestly. “So, how are the girls? I miss them. Tell me everything. Did they like the presents I sent them? And how did Ruby’s swim thing go?” We talked for another hour before I let her go. I missed her terribly but enjoyed the phone conversations we were having. It was like when she went off to college when I was younger, and we spoke almost every other night. Her leaving was perhaps the hardest for me. When Irina finally went, I was excited to be by myself. Tanya lived at home during university, and Carmen left when I was very little. She was fifteen when I was born, though. Being the youngest by six years meant I also had the longest amount of alone time with my parents. It was a curse and a blessing. Being alone and lonely also started me making videos, though. I would still much rather have been a happy teen than a YouTube celebrity. When I got off the phone with Sasha, I had several text messages from Jasper. I had already sent him the footage from the day before I called my sister and he was probably skimming through it. “The way she sucks that sugar off her fingers should be illegal. She’s so funny. Wtf, how much can she eat? Where does it go? Just to her ass and tits? I think Seth and Tyler like her, too. I bet she likes a little pain, winky face, winky face, winky face. He almost dropped the camera lol Holy shit. Me too, gov. I can’t believe she took off her shirts like it was nothing. Omg, all of your faces hahaha. On camera, too! I don’t think she’s shy at all. Her tattoos tho. Mmmmmmm… My kind of lady. Duddddeee… You seriously look like you’re about to eat her lol Like you’re a half-second from just onnomnomnoming her face off. And all of you are openly staring at her tits. All fucking three of you. I’ve watched several good pornos that started that way. 10/10 would watch this one.” I laughed at all of them, shaking my head. I decided to just call him. It was easier that way. “I might actually be in love with this woman,” I joked when he answered. “Between her accent, her tattoos, her curly hair, and sassy ass little attitude…” I trailed off. Jasper laughed in return. “Sassy is one word for it. She’s quite the feisty one. I do love her tattoos.” “Me too.” “Lots of rainbows. Wonder if she’s gay,” he said offhandedly. The thought hadn’t occurred to me. “Oh? I don’t know. She was married to a man.” “She could be bisexual. Or pan. Or a whole host of things. Sexuality is a fluid spectrum,” he said casually. Sex and sexuality had never been a subject he shied away from. He was purposefully a pervert for the fun of it. “I suppose,” I commented. “I think she likes you either way,” he replied. “She’s flirting with you pretty hard.” “Do you think?” "Yes," he laughed again. He thought I was being stupid and I could tell by his tone. "I haven't watched everything, but I'd say she's at the very least interested." “I actually really like her,” I admitted quietly. “As a person. I’m starting to get worried.” “About what exactly?” “What if the girl of my dreams lives a thousand miles away and isn’t interested in me?” Jasper sighed, "well, she does live far away, but like I said…" he trailed off. "You know it's all up to you. You're the man. Take charge. Be bold and take chances. You can do that in your career. Apply your skills here." I laughed bitterly. “That has never once worked.” “You learn more from failure,” he tried to encourage. “I don’t think I could take this failure,” I conceded. “It doesn’t matter. Anyway, we’ve talked about this shit too much. Tell me about your day. Is your boss still being a prick?” “Yes, of fucking course he’s still a goddamn prick,” he began to rant angrily. I stayed up way too late and went to sleep later than I meant to. I forgot to set my alarm. When I woke up at ten thirty, I threw myself out of bed and into the shower. Bella was waiting for me in the living room, dressed in a pretty blue silk blouse and once again blue jeans. She looked lovely. "Sorry, sorry, sorry. I should have been up sooner. We'll stop for something to eat on the way," I apologized as I shoved my stuff in my pockets for the day. I was embarrassed about not being ready to go sooner. I hated being in a rush. I wanted to be early for everything. "I couldn't sleep." It wasn't entirely a lie. I spent too much time talking to Jasper instead of going to bed. “That sucks. I woke up at five,” Bella commented as she watched me patiently. I quickly looked up at her in shock. “Jesus, I'm sorry.” She gave me a small sweet smile, looking down at her feet bashfully. “Oh, it's fine. My body is still used to home. Time zone and everything. I got pictures of the sunrise, though. It was gorgeous.” “Oh, well, that's good then. I can't wait to see them.” I smiled at her. I wondered if I would actually get to see all the pictures she was taking. She had taken literally thousands the day before. Of what exactly, I had no idea. I felt flustered and hated so much that we were in a rush because of me. Bella seemed quietly unbothered. Despite that, my anxiety ate at me as we stopped for food. "I must seem a little bit of a mess," I mumbled as I took a bite of my breakfast sandwich. Looking forward to the studio, I knew I was in for a long day. This was a big project, and I wanted all of it to go right. I wasn't exactly in the right headspace, though. “Why would I think that?” She asked me curiously, her head cocked to the side slightly. Bella offered me some of her fruit. Carefully, I took a green piece of melon. It was delicious, especially with my ham and cheese sandwich with egg. It made me wish I had ordered some to go with mine as well, but I didn’t really have time for that. I wanted to eat away all my stress. “I sleep till almost noon every day. I'm not that organized. I'm kind of winging it.” Bella slowly shook her head. “I don't care when you sleep. You work hard, so you do you. And, you're here early, so I don't see how this is disorganized. I don't judge you for it. You're doing better than me. That's for sure.” “I don't like rushing,” I admitted to her. Bella shrugged in response. “No one does. And everyone is winging it. Just so you know.” "I suppose that's true," I said in a nervous sigh before gulping down my Earl Grey tea quickly. I didn't want to waste it, and the hot liquid was good for my throat. She stopped and considered me hard for a long minute. “You really are anxious, aren't you?” Bella stopped before softening her voice, “that sounds insulting. I don't mean it to be. I mean, I'm anxious, too. I understand how you feel. Don't worry. Don't listen to the little voices, you're doing just fine. I'm not judging you.” Bella was so kind, gentle, and sincere. She meant every word she said. I had heard the words before at my doctor’s office actually. “You've been in therapy,” I said offhandedly as I looked over at her. “Oh, for years and years. Can't you tell?” She smiled before scrunching up her nose. “It sucks, but I get it.” I wished she didn't get it. I wished no one ever felt the anxiety that I did. I wished I could take all her stress from her. Closing my eyes for just a second, I took in a deep breath through my nose and out my mouth before sighing heavily. “I need to get in there.” "You got this. I'm excited to see you do your work. I have no idea how any of this is done so you'll have to teach me everything," she said with a big smile. Bella was so warm and reassuring. It instantly made me feel more excited. I wanted to perform flawlessly for her. As I opened her car door for her, I slipped on my actor’s mask. It was time to be Eddie again. “It's easy. I stand in a black closet and make crazy noises for several hours straight.” “Sounds exciting,” she said with a sly little smile, her voice purposefully dry. “Very,” I said as I looked back at her, opening the door as I made my eyes wide. I loved her answering smirk and swaying hips as she followed behind. “Mr. Cullen!” One of the many assistants working on the series called to me excitedly as soon as I came into the building. I was, shockingly, right on time. “If you and Ms. Swan could just follow me right this way. We’ve got your booth all ready to go.” “Perfect. Thank you!” "Do you need anything?" She asked, pleasantly. “No. Thank you,” I said as charmingly as possible. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours,” I said to Bella. She smiled at me and pressed a hand on my forearm. “You’re going to be amazing,” she told me. “I’m so glad I get to watch you do this.” “I’m…” Speechless. I took in a deep breath. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re here, too. I hope you have fun. I’ll try my best for you,” I said teasingly even if I meant it. "I have no doubt," she grinned before following the assistant into the recording booth with all the controls. I could see her through the glass. Bella gave me a little smile as she stood in the corner. It was apparent she was trying to make herself as small and out of the way as possible. I acted my ass off. Stretching my voice, I tried to be as perfect as possible. And it showed. It showed on Bella's face, especially. I could see her smiling behind her camera, laughing at my stupidity. I saw it in the reaction of the voice director, Claudette. She was a lovely thin African American woman with astounding cotton white hair. “You’re on it today!” She praised when we took a little break. “I’m loving everything you’re doing.” “I know, right?” I smirked at her. I needed Bella to watch me every time I voice acted. "So, let's talk about this new Disney thing. I think for your character…" She went on, chatting with me while Bella took our pictures. I tried my best not to smile too much and act natural. Normally, I didn't like my photo to be taken very much. I wanted her to take mine, though. The result of giving one thousand percent though was being exhausted at the end of the day. And hungry. My bagel sandwich was not enough by any means. Bella easily agreed to pizza. I stopped at the first random shop I saw. I had never eaten there before, but I was all about trying new places, even outside of work. “Can I have half lemonade, half tea?” Bella asked the waitress politely after I ordered a tall draft beer and chicken wings. I needed something cold for my throat. It probably wasn’t the best idea, but I didn’t care. “And can I also have a side salad with extra tomatoes and no onions with mine?” “Sure,” the waitress said, writing it down quickly as she continued to eye me. I knew that look. She was trying to figure out where she knew me from. I hoped she didn’t ask or figure it out. Bella leaned her chin on her palm with a little frown on her pretty lips as she poked at her grape tomato in her salad. I watched her over my wings, wondering what she was thinking about. She seemed almost depressed. “How is it?” Her lips pushed to one side before she scrunched up her nose. “It's fine.” She was not enjoying either the food or the company. I hoped it wasn’t me. “You don't seem very enthusiastic about it,” I offered hopefully. “Oh,” Bella’s face reddened slightly as she sat up straight in her chair. She shrugged her delicate shoulders. “I don't know. I miss real food. It's fine.” “This isn't real food?” Leaning her head to a slight angle, she considered her words carefully. “I miss my own cooking, I mean. I'm spoiled to my own food. I don't usually eat out this much in a row anymore. I do the cooking for me and my roommate.” “What do you like to cook?” I was just relieved it wasn’t me. I had almost forgotten she said she cooked during college at an Italian place. I could see her being a good one and wondered if she would ever be willing to do so for me. "I try to do healthy stuff, but Alice and I are working on being fatties. So, lots of carbs and cheese," she explained with a little eye roll at herself. “So, like pizza,” I said with a little laugh. “We do pizza a lot. I do a lot of Tex-Mex. Being Texans it's one of our great loves, but you can't get it good anywhere outside of Texas really.” LA had its lovely share of Mexican food. Some of it claimed to be Tex-Mex. I didn’t know the difference honestly. It all just tasted good to me. “What makes it Tex-Mex?” Bella giggled, “you see, you stuff it with cheese. Then you deep fry it and then you cover it in a cheese sauce. Then put more shredded cheese on top. Then add salsa and all you can eat chips.” My mouth actually watered, and my sad excuse of wings was now just disappointing. But, at least the company was charming. “Oh, my hips just got wider thinking about it,” I joked a bit too high pitched, my accent slipping somewhere weird. I had worked too long. ”Oi, I became me Gran there for a sec.” She giggled again, smiling at me. I returned it. “I eat terribly, too,” I admitted. "I've noticed," Bella said with a little smirk, looking between the bland barbeque chicken and me. “It is literally the only reason I work out," I said in a joking tone. It was dangerously true. I was a chubby child because I so loved to eat. It was how I coped with every negative emotion I had. It wasn't until secondary school, and Jasper and I both started running that I realized the joys of being able to eat more food because you exercise. “You could afford to pay someone to do that, you know. Cook, I mean.” "For just me? Seems a waste." I shook my head. I hated having a maid come in, but I hated cleaning more. And that was what delivery services were for. I wasn't going to tell her that though. It was the same reason I didn't want a personal assistant, even if I could use one. "Well, you're worth a lot now. Your health is your greatest asset. The healthier you are, the more you can work. And you may look great, but looks can be deceiving. It's what's inside that counts." As soon as the words left her lips, I knew she wasn’t talking about me. Bella was talking about her husband. She said he was healthy in the video and she still seemed bitter. I wanted to ask her a million questions about it but also didn’t want to pry. How hard must it have been for her? She was perhaps twenty-eight or twenty-nine when she became a widow. It seemed tragically young. Bella was right, though. My health was an asset I needed to protect. I knew what I was. The waiter laid the pizza down between us. “You're right. I guess I have to see myself as a product now.” Bella frowned at my answer. “That's rather unnerving. But we're all products in some way. We're always trying to sell ourselves to someone for something. Ugh, depressing.” She took a bite of her pizza, making a little face. On the table was the spicy honey that had become so popular of late. She drizzled a bunch on it. She seemed to enjoy it more, taking another bite. “But, it is always important to care about your health. It's selfish not to.” “Selfish, how?” “People love you. Your family. Friends. They deserve the best you so you can do the best for them. You don't have to be a vegan who works out four hours a day. But you can at least try to eat whole, freshly cooked food, and stuff... not salt soaked cardboard. At least every once in a while.” Bella wasn’t thinking of me in terms of a product. She was thinking of me as someone who was cherished and who would be missed. The pretty photographer could have been an excellent life coach. I gulped down my beer and ordered a water to drink as the waiter passed. “You're not wrong. It gives me something to at least consider. I am going to be so busy soon, too. How do you even hire someone to do that, you know?” I admitted to her in a sad little sigh. “Google is amazing,” she replied sarcastically. I nodded my head in embarrassment, rubbing my fingers over the back of my neck as it heated. I must have seemed so naive to her. So young. “Oh. Duh. Right. True story. There is probably a website.” “Probably a few.” "This adulting thing is goddamn tedious. I'm good at getting my bills paid, but I lack all the other skills I need, I think," I tried to joke. Bella then added a fucking ton of red pepper flakes to her slice of pepperoni pizza. On top of the spicy honey. So, she likes things on the hotter side... She leaned in little before she spoke, "that's more than some can accomplish. I'll tell you a secret, though... It's always going to be something. You can't do everything for yourself all the time. It's okay to delegate and to ask for help.” I wasn't sure what to say to her insightful words. She wasn't chiding me. It felt like this woman whom I had only known for three days actually cared about me. She wanted me to be healthy so that I could be happy. So I could be there for those whom I loved and loved me. It felt as if she was looking at me like no one had in a very long time. Perhaps ever. I realized I hadn’t said anything in a very long time and needed to speak. “I forget that sometimes,” my mouth answered for me. Bella nodded her head, glancing over at me before giving me a reassuring smile. "Everyone does." Once we arrived back to the house, Bella again quickly excused herself off to bed. I couldn’t imagine how tired she was if she woke up at five in the morning. I was tired, too. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel the need to smoke before I went to bed. I was already exhausted. When I slipped under the covers, I decided to send Jasper a message before I fell asleep. I hadn't spoken to him all day. “I realize that I said it jokingly before, but I might actually be in love with this woman.”  Episode Four: Charmed“So?" I texted Jasper just after one in the morning. I had barely given him enough time to get home and watch the video that I had sent him. He had an extremely long day, and I knew that. I was being a pushy asshole. I couldn't seem to stop myself. “I can see why you’re charmed,” he replied back vaguely. “What does that mean?” “Well, we already agree on the banging body so we’ll skip that. Let’s start with that accent. I know your thing for them.” “Yeah, okay. I’ll give you that. It is charming. She’s Texan.” “I saw that,” he answered. I could almost see the sarcasm dripping from it. “She’s had a hard life. Poor little wounded bird. No family. Dead husband. She seems sad. But, she still seems like a good person. I get what you like about her.” “It’s not just how she looks,” I answered quickly. “No. I can see that. It just really helps. Really, really, really helps.” “Right?” I actually laughed out loud when I typed it. “I like her smile.” "I agree with you that she's funny. That snack cake video is going to hilarious. She's got a really good sense of timing. You play off of each other really well.” “I told her she was a natural.” “She is. Are you sure she’s never done anything like this before?” He asked next. I thought about it for a moment. “I’m not sure. I don’t think she’s done this bullshit before. From her past five jobs, I’d say not. I would watch her if she had a channel.” “And not just because of the tits.” “Omg, stfu you fucking moron. Yes. Not just because of her awesome assets, asshole.” “I like your alliteration,” he commented, sending several smiling faces. I sighed to myself. “You’re such a fucking stoner.” “So are you now,” he answered back quickly. Jasper thought it was funny. He had been trying to corrupt me for years. He had been smoking since he was in his early teens. I always thought he was incredibly cool. I just figured out he was just incredibly shy and nervous like me. He just figured it out on his own that it helped. “She’s got all the answers. Do you think she ever says ‘idk’?” “Idk lol. Do I?” “No lol,” he replied. I knew he actually laughed at that. I could almost imagine his smile and the voice he used when he said it. I missed him terribly and wish he was there so I could actually talk to him. “Christ, you’re going to get so many thirsty comments on any video she’s in. Especially any of the food ones. She keeps sucking on her fingers in the sweets one.” “I know,” I replied. “I bet you’re so horny lol,” he said meanly. “You’re really not being helpful,” I informed him. “I’m not intending to be. So. Come on. What are you going to do? You obviously want to bang this chick. It’s pretty clear in the videos. You’re all dopey and giggly and look like you’re about to eat the poor girl.” “God, is it that fucking obvious?” “To me? Yes. To her, idk. She likes you too, though. She’s all giggles and smiles, too.” “Probably not after twenty questions.” “Idk if that actually bothered her or not,” he replied quickly. “She seems so raw.” “She does.” “So, answer my question. Now what? You've got her number. She's given it to you. Are you going to try to sleep with her? This is the most interesting thing that has happened in a month, and I'm wholly too invested in your self created drama.” “I don’t want to just sleep with her.” “Just lol,” he answered. I actually laughed out loud again. “No, lol. I want to know everything about her. I want to find out what makes her happy and give it all to her. I want to give her the world.” “Goddamn. You are so fucking dramatic, darling.” I sighed, “ Yeah, I know. Anyway, I should go to bed. I’m going to get my tattoo tomorrow.” “Good luck. Sweet dreams.” When I got out of the shower in the morning after working out, the house smelled deliciously of coffee. I hurriedly dressed and followed the delightful smell into the living room. Bella was already working in the kitchen, a small smile on her face when she noticed me. I decided to be a ham, lifting my nose in the air to take in a deep sniff. “That makes the whole house smell so good,” I told her as I came to sit in front of her at the bar. “Would you like a cup?” She asked sweetly. “Yes, please.” “How do you take it?” She asked without hesitation, quickly going to get a clean cup to make my drink. She seemed to have so much more energy than me. I felt exhausted. “A little sugar, a little creamer.” “One or two sugars?” “Two.” I liked my coffee sugary. “The creamer is sweet.” “I know,” I grinned ruefully. “Otherwise it would be three. Or, five.” Bella giggled quietly, making me the drink as I requested before carefully passing it to me. It was actually better than I expected. I groaned into the cup, slurping it down eagerly. “This is the best coffee I've had since the last time I was in Australia. How did you do that?” "Oh, it's not hard. I'll show you," and she instantly began to teach me. "First, you need coffee grounds. You need a generously heaping tablespoon per six-ounce cup you want to make. Not your monster mugs. A normal cup size. Course, not too fine. You want it chunky, or it'll get through the filter." She added a pinch of salt into the course dry coffee. “Salt, really?” “Just a little. Salt literally makes everything better.” After the kettle whistled, she began to explain things again, "so, you need to bloom the coffee, which just means get it wet to wake it up. Jesus, that's what she said,” Bella said with a little giggle. I smiled to myself a little at her joke. “Anyway, once your minute is up,” she showed me the timer on her phone, “add the rest of the water to the top and set another timer for three minutes.” “Would you say this is quicker than a machine?” I asked. It seemed like a lot of steps but not really that hard. "Than a pod machine? No, but they're gross. A drip, maybe. It's a little more work, but it's worth it, I think. I'm not sure. I've not compared them recently." When the time was up, she made me another cup of coffee without me having to ask her. I found it very touching for some reason. She was very considerate. “So, that's it? That doesn't seem that complicated at all. And to think I've been trying to get used to the shitty coffee you people have here!” I took a sip. “No offense.” “Obviously I'm not one of those people,” Bella said challengingly. “Well, yeah. Obviously. God, this fan-fucking-tastic.,” I agreed loudly before taking another gulp. “Thank you.” She flipped her pretty hair over her shoulder, smiling at me charmingly. “I told you coffee was my favorite drink.” I heard the car door slam a moment before there was a quick knock on the door. Seth and Tyler knew my keycode, and I allowed them to come and go freely. They were my friends, and I trusted them. Seth needed to learn to be more gentle with the fucking door, though. It slammed, making Bella jump. “Hey, Boss!” Seth called to me rather loudly. He was dressed well, his clothes always perfectly crisp. He was a sneakerhead that kept his shoes pristine all times. It sometimes made me feel a little bad that I wasn’t always as naturally well kept as him. Tyler came behind him more quietly. He was more like me, trying but still wearing comfortable clothes. "Hey. Sorry, I'm not ready yet. I got distracted." I stood quickly. "Seth. Tyler. This is Bella, the photographer I was telling you about. Bella, this Seth." They took turns, shaking her hand. Literally, all they knew was that there was a photographer coming to follow me around and I wasn't too pleased about it. "And, that's Tyler. It's okay if you confuse them for one another. They're obviously very hard to tell apart," I joked stupidly. She smiled at me. Seth and I exchanged a quick look over her head. “I mean, we're practically twins,” Tyler went along with it with a small smile. Bella giggled lightly, “hi, lovely to meet you. Just let me know if I ever get in your way.” "Are you going to join us in the videos?" Tyler asked her, glancing over at me meaningfully. We hadn't discussed anything beforehand. "We have a lot of fun together when we make them." Bella looked at me before shrugging. "I enjoyed doing them yesterday, but it's up to him, of course. He's the boss. I'm just here to take pictures and not get in the way." “Absolutely not in the way! More the merrier,” I smiled and said it a bit too loudly. Seth’s eyes got big over her head from behind, looking at me in confusion. I quickly shook my head so that she wouldn’t see. “Alright, let me go get dressed. I'll be right back.” And then I ran-walk like a bitch to my room. My friends both had so many thoughts they wanted to share with me, most of them probably jokes at my expense. They knew I was dreading this and I had forgotten to warn them that she was… Well, Bella. I quickly got dressed, grabbing whatever I first found. A button down shirt with a vest and a pair of dark black jeans all were hung up together. My friends and the pretty photographer were chatting about a rather grim subject on my way back down the hall. “Oh yeah. It was a... bridge. It's impressive, I guess. I was kind of worried the entire time I'd see someone jump off. It actually gave me a lot of anxiety. I'm kind of morbid that way,” she said as if commenting on my own thoughts. "I'd be paranoid, too. People try to jump there all the damn time. I think they put nets up, and that helps, but you know how people are," Seth replied before saying, "thanks." “It seems like such a terrible way to die, jumping off a bridge. You have time to regret what you have done and know that it's going to hurt when you hit the water. I can't imagine,” she answered him darkly. I decided to break the tension with a joke when I reappeared from the hall. "I'm gone for five minutes, and you're already talking about killing yourselves?" Bella looked down at herself and then at me in total confusion, ignoring my stupid comment. “Do I need to wear nicer clothes?” She was wearing lovely tight blue jeans again and a blue flannel shirt that hugged her body. I liked it. She looked very comfortable. “No, you're fine. He's just a fancy bitch,” Seth joked meanly before flashing me a smile. I faked laughed like the dramatic asshole that I was with my hands on my hips. “Ha. Ha. Har. Fuck you, sir. I am not a bitch,” I said in my mother’s London accent. "No, he's a hipster," Tyler said, looking directly at me. They had both called me that many times before. They knew that I didn't like it. But, I wasn't going to let it get to me in front of the beautiful woman. I clutched my pearls playfully. “Take that back!” “If he could grow a mustache, he'd have one of those goofy handlebar ones,” Seth laughed. "No. No, I would not. My best mate Jasper has one, and it's stupid. Why are you teasing me in front of the pretty girl?" I spat out before I realized what was coming out of my mouth. I was used to being myself with them, and my mouth just decided to continue. Bella was unbothered. She softly brushed her hand across my shoulder as she walked towards the bedrooms. “I'm not a girl. I'm a woman.” Both of my friends began to laugh, both at her words and my expression. “Shut up,” I whispered to them. “Ha,” Tyler breathed out, looking me over as if he was sizing me up. Seth saw his chance and ran with it. "Right! She's a woman, you chauvinist swine! She's a guest in your home, and you're STILL making her make the coffee for you? You know, he thought you were a dude," he yelled so she could hear it. My eyes got wide, and I shook my head. “I didn't know! My manager kept saying ‘he’ and Swan Photography doesn’t tell you a whole lot about gender, thank you! Not that it matters. And I didn't ask her to! I mean, kinda, but not like that!" “It's surprising, especially coming from a man with four older sisters. You'd think they would have beaten it out of him,” Tyler played along. They both knew my sisters. They both knew what they were like. “My sisters never beat me. They loved me and babied me. And, played with me all the time like I was a damn dress up Barbie doll,” I complained a little towards the end. “And, that's why you are a fancy bitch now,” Bella sassed me dryly, her smile just ever so slightly pleased with herself. Both of my friends fell over themselves at her mocking. She smiled at me prettily. “So, no vest then? Is this what we're trying to say? As meanly as possible?” I asked her sarcastically. Bella nodded slowly, amused with my expression. After I removed the stupid vest I was trying, she closed the distance between us and carefully undid one of the buttons of my shirt. My world sort of melted away. I swallowed heavily as she fixed my collar. Bella smiled up at me, sweetly again. “That's better.” "Thanks," I could barely talk, but my lips copied her smile. I saw my friends smirking behind her back at me. I cleared my throat loudly. "Alright, let's get this show on the road." It was always a good day when a video involved doughnuts. It was made even better by the fact that Bella was there as well. When I asked her if she would like to film, she instantly smiled and asked me where I wanted her. My douche brain ran wild with that the entire time she innocently ate pastries with me. I hoped to God no one caught on. Bella was charming the whole time. "So," Tyler said quietly while Seth set up some camera equipment and Bella was walking around taking pictures at the Korean place Seth had requested. It was one of his favorites, but it was crazy expensive. It sounded like a great idea to me. I just liked to eat. “So, what?” “Bella isn’t a man,” he stated the obvious. “She’s, in fact, a very beautiful woman.” “I’ve noticed,” I breathed out. He chuckled, smirking over at me. “Oh, we’ve noticed that you’ve noticed.” “Am I that obvious?” I asked him quietly. “No, but you’re that stupid,” he muttered before smiling widely at me. “You gave that up easy.” “I could fire you,” I warned. He snorted, rolling his eyes. We both knew how much shit I was full of. “Please don’t tease me in front of her.” “We’ll take it under consideration,” he said cryptically. “I like her,” he said more seriously. “She seems very friendly.” “Mm,” I hummed in agreement. “No, but seriously. I could fire you. Knock that shit off.” “Fine.” He rolled his eyes again. The Korean family meal for eight was worth the price. It was also worth it to see Seth so happy with his leftovers. It was nice to make videos for my friends. "We're not supposed to be to the tattoo shop for an hour, and I need to walk all this off. I think there is a nice park on the way. Let's stop there. It'll be a good place for Bella to take pictures," I offered from the backseat "It's going to be sunset soon, though." I ate too much, and I was miserable. I shouldn't have done it right before getting my tattoo. It wasn't brilliant planning on my part. "That would be good," she agreed readily. "Dusk is the best time to take pictures." The two men met me at the boot of the car to get their camera equipment while Bella was far enough away taking pictures to not hear us. “Go take background shots in the opposite direction of us,” I mumbled to them. Seth snorted. I gave him a sharp look. “So, I shouldn’t ask for her number?” He teased me. I almost growled at him. Tyler started to laugh, "don't taunt him. It's not nice. Plus, it's too easy. Come on. Let's do what the boss asks while he tries to get in the young, pretty photographer's panties." “First, no. I’m not, asshole. Second, she’s older than me.” “Nice,” Seth grinned. “Well, if you’re not interested, let me know.” “Fuck off,” I breathed out before hurrying to catch up to Bella. “Walk with me?” I asked her politely. “Sure,” she smiled, watching my two idiot friends head away from us to take videos and pictures of the sunset for stock footage. I was always collecting more. You never knew when it would come in handy. We walked along the path. I felt so nervous and unsure suddenly. Everything had been going really well all day. “So, how is it going?” I asked as I looked back at her. She smiled slightly as she took my photograph. “Good,” she replied over the black device, taking another picture. “Sick of me yet?” I wasn’t even sure that was possible. I wanted to spend every possible second with her. “Not at all. I like working with you. You're a natural.” The words just slipped out. “You think?” Bella asked me shyly. “Yes. You're very well spoken.” I leaned against a statue, just wanting to take a break for a moment. I wanted to look at her and study her expression as we talked. “I took speech and drama in school. I'm pretty good at turning on that Texas beauty queen voice when I need to,” she said almost teasingly. I liked her accent so much already. “Texas beauty queen?” I asked, just wondering if she would do it for me. She happily obliged. Bella's face instantly became innocent and teasingly sweet, her eyes wide as she grinned at me fakely. "Hi, there! My name is Bella Marie, and I'm from Harris County, Texas! My hobbies include music, dancing, and cooking! My talents include playing the fiddle AND the banjo! Yeehaw, y'all," she began with the thickest accent until the very end. As dryly as possible she said ‘yeehaw, y'all.' I cackled at the unexpectedness of it. She was so funny. “Oh, my god. Yes, you're right. You are good at that.” “Are you laughing at my real accent?” Then she looked annoyed. I was shocked by the suddenness of her mood change until she began to giggle at me. “It is, though. My real accent. It's okay, it's funny as fuck.” Sometimes I hated how much of a naive and gullible boob I was. She was purposefully teasing me. I decided to be honest with her. “It's cute. I like it.” “Well, I'm glad someone does. It's terrible. Anyway, what are we doing at the tattoo shop, exactly?” She said quickly. I wanted to correct her, but she obviously wanted to move on. I pushed off the statue so we could continue down the stone path. “I'm getting my first tattoo.” “And, you're filming the experience?” “Of course. Then I can write it off as a tax expense,” I somewhat teased. It was, of course, a work expense since I was filming it. It would be well worth the upfront costs. “What are you getting?” “Cullen family crest on my chest. The artist designed it for me already. I'm really excited. It's pretty sweet.” I had wanted a tattoo for years. Jasper was covered in them. I went with him often and bought a few of them for him as gifts for birthdays and holidays. My mother hated them. She looked down at people with them as trashy. This felt like my final act of rebellion, cutting the last tie. I was permanently marking myself as other. I would forever be one of the rubbish people Mum despised. I was very much looking forward to it. And even better, I was going to broadcast it to the world. I was extremely excited. “And this is your very first? Any piercings or anything?” She questioned. “Nope. None.” “Oh, boy,” she giggled nervously. “Good luck with that. I hope it's small.” "Hurting myself always gets more views. It's fine," I replied honestly. "I don't think I want any piercings, though. I don't think I could care for them properly. I'd probably lose an ear." “I have a bunch,” Bella said before lifting up her very thick curly black hair away from her neck and shoulder. In each ear was a few silver earrings. They were very fetching on her. I leaned in for a better look, mindlessly brushing some hair back to do so. I didn’t even realize I was doing it until I brought my hand away. “Do they hurt?” Bella was still as she could be as she let me look at her so close that I could smell the coconut of her shampoo or body wash again. I could still smell the faint hint of sugar from the doughnut shop, too. “Of course when you get them. They don't hurt afterward unless you don't take care of them.” “They look nice on you,” I whispered. She blushed a little, quickly combing her hair back over her shoulder as she looked away from me. “Thanks.” It was a gorgeous night, the temperature just right as it got darker. The playground was empty. Bella put her camera away, moving quietly to the swings. I sat beside her. I decided to try to make small talk with her. “So, you were interested in drama? You took it in school, yeah?” Bella seemed a little embarrassed. She gave me a small shrug. "Yeah, in high school and some in college. Just a little. I don't think I was that good. I never had a lead role in anything. Just supporting roles. Chorus line, usually." It was my turn to shrug. “Well, maybe that's because you're just supposed to be yourself in front of the camera.” The pretty photographer leaned her head against the chain of the swing as she looked at me with her piercing mismatched eyes. “Are you yourself in front of the camera?” “No,” my mouth answered for me. It decided to be honest with her. “I am a character of myself.” “You are more self-aware than I'd imagine you would be from your videos. I mean that as a compliment even if it doesn't sound like it. I'd imagine most celebrities aren't self-aware.” Celebrity. Ha. Of course, she saw me like that. “Do you really think I'm a celebrity?” “Why else would I be here?” She asked lightly. “Good point.” I kicked at the rocks gently. “I'm still kinda feeling new to this.” I suddenly felt like I was all alone, and I was always going to be alone. I was a celebrity, and no one was actually going to see me for who I was ever again. No matter if I wanted to be myself with this woman, I never would be able to. “Don't worry. Me too.” She smiled at me sweetly. It was so genuine and kind. I didn’t know what to say. “Hey, boss! We need to head out!” Tyler shouted at us, breaking up the awkward silence between us. Both of us were obviously grateful for it. The tattoo shop wasn’t impressive, but the artist was. "Tyler doesn't have any tattoos, but I know Seth has a couple. Do you have any, Bella?" I asked her. She was standing beside Tyler. Her eyes got wide, a little shocked I was talking to her. “I have a ton,” she answered as she came around to stand beside me in the shot. “How many do you have?” “Oh, um, a few dozen? At least. I'm not sure. Some are really small,” she replied casually. My brain struggled to think if I had seen any tattoos on her. I hadn't, though. She hadn't worn much in the way of revealing clothing, either. There weren't any obvious ones on her arms, neck, or chest. I hadn't seen enough of her legs to see any. When she had worn her dress, she had also worn knee socks. “Can I see any of them?” I decided to go for it. "Um, sure," Bella said before she began to take off her shoes and socks, tugging the denim of her blue jeans up to reveal a whole series of lovely little tattoos. Then she took off her flannel shirt and pulled up her tank top to show off the art on her stomach and back. She was decorated with beautiful pieces that included lots of color and flowers. "I've got more, but I'd have to take my clothes off to show you." “Holy shit! I had no idea!” I said in surprise before I could stop myself. I also had to stop myself from reaching out and touching her silky looking skin as I had done with her hair. Each piece fit her perfectly. I had a million questions that I wanted to ask her. I wanted to know every single story she had about her art. “I try to look professional,” Bella answered. "I love them, though!" The tattoo artist wasn’t shy in the least and reached out to examine something on her ribs, just below her heavy breasts. It was bright orange and red and made up of swirls, flowers, and little birds. “This is some quality ink,” he complimented her. "Thanks. I've spent thousands over the years. I'd love something new, but I've been broke the past couple of years now," she said softly. The artist moved his fingers over to another tattoo, this one directly under her left breast. It was a rainbow heart made to look as if it was made from thread with a needle shoved into it. It was very detailed. Then I got an idea. “Yo, do you think you could give her a tattoo after me as well. For the video.” “If you pay for it, I can do whatever you want. I'd normally be closed right now, so I don't have any appointments coming in,” he answered with a shrug. “Are you serious?” Bella asked me in excited surprise. “Yeah, if you want one. Do you know what you'd like to get?” She was thrilled. It gave me an immediate boost of confidence. “I know exactly what I want to get.” She quickly pulled out her phone and showed it to the tattoo artist. He eyed it curiously. I couldn’t see it. “It'd like it as jewel-toned as possible with blues, greens, and purples like this. Is that possible?” “Yeah, Mama. I got you. Where you want it?” He smiled at her, looking her over. “Collarbone, just below. About three inches across.” Bella pulled her tank top to one side to show him. He nodded thoughtfully. "Let me work on his piece, and I'll hook you up after." I wasn't sure if I was nervous about the pain that I was about to go through or being shirtless in front of Bella. Especially as she quickly took pictures of me. Then I realized I needed to be worried about the pain. “Motherfucker!” “Doing okay, boss?” Seth said mockingly. “It feels like I'm being stabbed a million times in a row in the chest by a very tiny needle,” I said through gritted teeth. “Explaining things to you very accurately in an Australian accent, brought to you by Eddie Cullen,” Bella said funnily to Tyler, making him laugh. She really was too good at being in front of the camera. "Come for the quality content, stay for the sexy accent," I tried to joke, but it was hard while hurting that much. I knew for sure already this was going in the video. “That's probably going to be the worst part,” Bella said to me reassuringly, standing very close to me. “The rest is going to be quick little swipes with a smaller needle.” “She’s right. Breathe, man. You're holding your breath,” I heard the guy say. I was starting to feel a touch dizzy. “Eddie,” Bella said sweetly. I looked at her and realized that I was gripping the arm of the chair way too tightly. “In through your nose, hold it, and count to four, let it out through your mouth slowly. Repeat.” I was terrible with pain. I was a wimp. A total bitch. I wanted to cry. Tears pricked at my eyes despite trying to hold them in. I cursed and complained the entire way. “Holy mother of shit fuckers, you ball-less twat monkey!” “A ball-less twat monkey?” Seth laughed. I said dumber shit all the time. “Where in your brain comes up with these?” “The same place that comes up with terrible video ideas that hurt me,” I whined. “Why do you have so many tattoos? How?” I asked before I could stop myself. “I like pain,” she said rather seductively. I moaned in a complaint, unable to look at her. “Fucking obviously.” Bella giggled, “it's not that bad, you big baby. You're just a big ham.” “It hurts.” “Try having it done on your feet. Or, ribs,” she countered. “You'll be fine. Just stopping tensing up and breathe. Pain is in the mind.” As much as it hurt, it was beautiful, and I instantly knew I would get more. It only took a few minutes for the artist to reset and make her design. We snacked on leftover doughnuts while we waited. Bella took off her purple flannel again when the artist asked her where she wanted her bejeweled butterfly. She struggled with her tank top sleeve for just a moment before pulling off her shirt smoothly. In one graceful movement, she pulled off one strap of her bra and tucked it in. Seth almost dropped his camera. I saw it begin to slip from his fingers as his mouth went slack for a moment. He quickly caught himself and adjusted. I heard Tyler snicker, watching us both with his own camera. Oh, my god, he mouthed to me. My eyes got big in answer. “What?” Bella asked innocently as she picked up both of her shirts and put them under her head so that she was more comfortable. I decided to play it off. “What? Oh? Um, nothing. You've got a lot of tattoos. Do they all have stories?” It took all my willpower not to look at her amazing breasts or smooth stomach. She was obviously very fit and worked out often. “Some do. They represent events and people. But, not all of them. Sometimes a girl just likes cute ass little dragons when she's eighteen,” she giggled. Once again, I found myself charmed by her. After watching her for a few minutes, I realized something. She looked like she was about to take a nice long nap. "Maybe I am a bitch." Bella had her eyes closed, a small smile on her face as her arm laid over them. She honestly looked very relaxed. I wondered if she actually did enjoy pain. She kind of smirked to herself before yawning. “But you're a fancy one,” she teased. Bella lifted her arm up just a little to look at me, her smile innocent and cloying. There was so little distance between us, the sugar scent still strong despite the cleaning product odor of the tattoo shop. I wondered if she tasted as good as she smelled. Then she bit her lip playfully before lowering her arm back down into place. I truly wanted to kiss her, even if she did just deservedly call me a bitch. 
 Episode Three: NaturalI tried to stubbornly carry everything in with as few trips as possible into the house. It was stupid, I didn’t care. The only problem with that was that I accidentally shredded the thin plastic bags that had the chips and sweets in them. I could have, I suppose, put them in another bag or made more trips, but once again I was moronically stubborn. I heard Bella giggle and take pictures of me as I dropped things. “Goddammit!” I shouted as I embarrassingly dropped them to the floor for the second time in a row. “Mm, pringle shards,” Bella playfully joked as she took a picture of me. Afterward, she helped me to pick them all up and carry them the rest of the way into the office. “Whoops,” I laughed in embarrassment before smiling at her. She returned it a little slyly. I hurried to set up. I didn’t want her to wait even a few minutes. I lined things up, brought us drinks, and set up the table. "So, I'll do the unboxing video first," I started, but then I realized that once I got started with her, I didn't want to stop. On the off chance that we got on a roll, I didn't want to break the momentum. "Actually, I'll take pictures for the thumbnails first. Then I'll do the unboxing video. And then we can do the food ranking videos. Sound good?” “Yup. Is it okay if I take pictures of you while you set up?” She asked. “Go ahead.” I felt horribly awkward as I took pictures of the stuff, and she took pictures of me. It was hard not to notice her intense focus and determined expression. I liked it so much. Quickly I brought up my camera and took her picture. Her eyes got large with surprise. I couldn't help but smile. “If you don't use a flash you can take pictures during the video if you want.” I came around to the video camera, setting it up at the right angle after putting down my handheld camera. “Good to know,” she commented. I felt more nervous than I had in years doing one of these stupid videos. I took in a deep breath and cleared my throat. I was determined not to fuck up in front of Bella. "Three, two, one... Hello everyone, and welcome back! I'm Eddie, your not so humble host! So today, I've got an extra special treat for you! I'm a very lucky boy, and the wonderful developers over at Blue Box have sent me the special limited edition of Death Calling, the game of the year edition, and they have given me the honor... NAY! The privilege of being the first to unveil it to the public in all of its morbid glory. “Not only do you get the game and all of it's DLC, but you get a Creator Science mug, just like the collectible from the game. Too bad it doesn't actually increase your energy in real life. Of course, we need something to put in those mugs! So, we've got ourselves this gorgeous bright red health tonic, cherry pomegranate flavored so it might actually be healthy for you but probably not. I'm not going to drink it because it's too beautiful to waste. It also comes with an enamel pin of the Frost gun, which is my favorite weapon in the game, hands down. Because nothing is more fun than freezing your enemies whole and shattering them into a million pieces like a savage. And then last but certainly not least I am proud to reveal the very best part of this already amazing set. A Funko pop of my character. That's right! Plex, the very best worst robot is getting his very own figure! But this ain't no newb Plexie. No! He is rocking his very own fully upgraded tank armor. And he is a sexy beast. I can't tell how excited this makes me! It's my first Funko! But, hopefully not the last!” I hammed it up for the camera, being loud and obnoxious as I tried to hurry up through the video to get the next part. Bella was watching me intently, a slight but beautiful smile spread over her plush lips. “Alright everyone, that is what I've got for you today. If you want to pre-order this awesome edition head over to my website, Eddie Cullen dot com and click on the link or you can go directly to Blue Box Games dot com. If you're not already, please like, subscribe and remember to hit the bell so you can stay up to date with my ever growing ego. Buh-bye!” Bella took my picture the moment the video ended. I felt my breath catch in my throat as I looked over at her. Her eyes met mine, and it felt as if she was looking right into me. “How was that?” I asked quietly. “Seemed solid. I couldn't say to the visuals. I didn't see what the camera was filming, but I think you got it,” she told me in return, her voice soft and encouraging. “Yay, first take,” I said in surprised relief, putting my new toys away on my favorite shelf of stupid goodies. It was all my toys, games, and books. I loved it so much. I knew my room was overflowing, but I didn’t care. I realized Bella was taking my picture, so I posed for her, giving her my cheesiest smile as I showcased my favorite loot. "Would you like to do sweet or salty first?" I could tell she thought I was being cute, so I pushed it further. I did the duck face again since she had liked it so much from before. Bella shook her head a little and rolled her eyes in amusement. "Your choice." “Salty then sweet.” "Sounds perfect," I said excitedly as I put the chips onto the table. "So, I'll start, and you can jump in whenever you feel comfortable. I'll start on one, like before. Just let me know if you need to stop for any reason." “Alright. Where shall I sit?” She put down her camera and came over with a bottle of water. Bella seemed eager to take my directions. That was good. It would make all of this easier. “Either is fine.” I put some paper and something to write with on the table so we could keep a tally of the scores. Bella sat, her ankles crossed to one side. She delicately took a sip of water, taking a deep breath through her nose. She was nervous, but I was ready. I could control this situation. I was excited. "Okay. Three, two, one... Hello everyone, and welcome back! We've done Walker's. We've done Smith's. We've done Lay's. You've been asking for it so today we're ranking Pringles flavors. But, no, I'm not doing it alone! Today I'm joined by a super special guest. She has the unfortunate task of following me around and taking my picture for a full week. She's super talented, and we're wasting her precious time with our tomfoolery, so everyone give a warm welcome to the very lovely Ms. Bella Swan!" She waved delicately, smiling. “Hi! I'm really excited to be here actually.” “So, do you like chips? Or crisps as my parents would call them?” I started as if I was going to interview her. Maybe I could be a terrible talk show host one day. Or, maybe like Colbert. That could be fun. “I do. They're probably one of my favorite quick snack foods to buy because it's just impossible to get the same result from a homemade version,” she chatted comfortably. All of her nervousness seemed to be for nothing. “Do you have a favorite flavor?” Bella tilted her head to the side in thought. “Of Pringles or of any chip in general?” “Mm, both.” “Pringle's originals are simple and perfect. Of any chip, in general, I'd say either honey barbecue or fried green tomatoes. I have to admit I have to just not buy them because I'll eat them all at one time and they don’t come in little bags,” she explained smoothly as if she had been thinking about the answer all morning and knew exactly what she had to say on the matter. It actually surprised me. "Oh, my god! I've never tried either of those, and they sound delicious.” I could see the corners of her mouth twitch in an almost smile. “They're both Lay's.” “I'll have to look for those! Those are such interesting flavors! Not very common. They're both very southern American, too.” "You can take the girl out of Texas..." Bella trailed off once again in that thick accent. I realized then that it was entirely real. It was very charming, and I couldn't help but chuckle at it. "So, what we have here is the top ten selling flavors of potato goodness, and we're going to taste each flavor and rank it on one thing alone. Flavor. We'll give it a number one to ten and then audience we will give you the definitive list of Pringles flavors. I know you've all been on the edge of your seat waiting for this," I started in my biggest voice. I could see Bella watching me just barely out of the corner of her eyes. She was smirking a little, but she looked like she was having fun. I hoped she was. "First, the original!" I started, but the stupid safety seal refused to come free. In my frustration, I tore it right off. "Dammit!" I snapped at it. She laughed quietly as she took the can of chips from me. With one of her nails, she pushed a hole into the seal and then quickly ripped it away. "Show off." “If that's showing off, you're in for a long day, sugar,” she said in a funny but dainty southern drawl. It was amazingly dry. I was already having fun. Any worries of her being terrible for the camera melted away. She was a natural. Bella looked into my eyes, holding my stare with a slightly bemused smile. She knew she was getting to me, and she was enjoying it. “You're not wrong,” I told her too honestly, making my eyes as wide as possible as I stared her down. As I did, I shoved several chips into my mouth at one time. I could actually see her cheeks suck in as she held her little laugh. Bella quickly composed her amusement, though. “They're in better shape than I expected,” she began to tease me, popping one into her mouth as well. “Eddie kept tossing them around like a football for some reason.” “Not on purpose!” I clutched my pearls for half a second before moving on. “What do you rank this? Do we even need to talk about the flavor of this one?” She pretended to look bored. “No. Perfect potato-y flavor. Perfectly overly salted. Classic. Eleven out of ten, would snack again.” “Wow, you're already bucking the system and awarding a whole extra bonus point,” I teased her. “What can I say? I'm a rebel.” The words fell so dryly from her lips. It was so perfectly unexpected. I laughed despite myself. She began to giggle as well, both of us looking away from each other as we tried to compose ourselves once again. Bella was impressively good at this. Shockingly so. I had friends who took years to get this comfortable in front of a camera. Jasper was good at it, but that was because he was as big a ham as I was. I wondered if I felt this way just because I was so attracted to her. I would send Jasper all the footage later to see what he thought. He would always be honest with me. We went through all the flavors of chips, going back and forth. She was playful, kind, funny, and always charming. Her accent was subtle at times, and at others, it came out thick. Especially with certain words. “So, what you're telling me is after all that, my extra point determines the winner and breaks a hard three-way tie?” She counted up the score, tapping the pen on the paper as she did. “That's exactly how it worked out! So, our top three is Originals, followed by the amazing loaded baked potato and cheddar and sour cream! Maybe skip the barbecue. What is your favorite flavor? Comment down below and let me know what foods you'd like me to rank in the future. Bella, do you have anything you want to plug?” I asked. “You can follow me on Facebook or Instagram at Swan Photography. You can also go to Swan Photography dot com to buy prints of some of my favorite pictures that I've taken.” “And everyone, they're so awesome! Definitely check them out. The links will be down below. If you're not already, don't forget to click subscribe and the hit the bell so you can stay up to date on whatever ridiculous thing I call work next! Buh-bye!” Maybe for the first time ever, I relaxed beside her as the camera turned off. I was so pleased with how everything was going. We flew through the video easily. “You did so good!” “Really?” She didn’t seem to believe me. “Yea! Especially for your first time. I really like your... How should I say this? Acerbic wit. I like the banter. Just relax and don't be afraid to say whatever is on your mind. If it doesn't work, I can always edit it out after.” "In Texas, we'd call that being a smartass, and I got my ass whooped a lot for it,” she did her accent purposefully thick to be silly. I laughed as I cleaned the table. I would probably get my ass kicked back home too. My mum was not against corporal punishment. She was rather known for being a harsh judge in the courtroom. That extended to her home life as well. I got a lot of smacks. A lot. "You're not wrong. But, so am I. Two peas in a sarcastic pod. So, are you ready for the next video, or do you need a break?" She bit her lip a little. “Can I get some milk to drink instead of water first?” “Good idea. I'll be right back.” I stood up quickly and left into the kitchen to get her drink. I was happy to have a few moments to breathe. I was feeling so nervous again now that I saw how good she was. I checked my phone. Jasper sent a message that said, "how is it going?” “Really really good. We just finished filming a video together.” “Are you fucking serious?” He asked me in surprise. He knew me better than anyone. Jasper knew my anxiety around people. “You must like her. How is she?” “Good. Really good. Talented.” “I didn’t realize having big tits was a talent.” “It’s not lol. She’s funny. And smart. And good in front of the camera.” “You got this from one video?” “You’ll see,” I told him. I hurriedly finished making our drinks and rushed back into my office to the patiently waiting Bella. A thought came to mind as I set up the sweets on the table in front of her. This would show him. “Would you like to do the intro this time?” I questioned her quietly. Bella looked a little surprised to be asked. “How?” "However you like. You've seen how I do it. If it doesn't work, we can cut and start again. We're doing really well on time." We had rushed through the first video. I looked at my watch. "It's earlier than I thought." “Okay,” she lazily shrugged her shoulders. It was no big deal to her. I sat down beside her and began to count down. “Three, two, one...” "Hello everyone, and welcome back! Today we're about to get mad diabetes because we're going to rank Little Debbie's snack cakes. This is Eddie Cullen." It was everything I could to not burst into hysterical laughter as she said everything too brightly, her accent too funny. It was perfect. Bella was fucking with me. I loved it. I could imagine her as the perfect improv partner. She was not scared of me in the least. I could tell she was having as much fun as I was too. She pointed her little finger at me when she said my name. I knew she wanted me to jump in. “And that is my very special guest, Bella Swan.” Bella looked dead-eyed into the camera. “And if you're seeing this video, please send insulin.” I tried to hold it in. I did. I covered my mouth with my fist as I looked at her purposefully emotionless face. She was so goddamn good at it. I got myself under wraps until I looked back and saw her silly smile. It curved imperfectly to one side, a little scar to the corner of her mouth that moved up her cheek. It was very faint. A loud snort came out as I tried to control my face. Bella slowly moved to look at me, her expression hard as she casually sipped her milk. I lost it, dissolving into nervous giggles. “You've not even had sugar yet!” She playfully chided me. I tried to breathe and control myself. “I know. I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me.” I did know. I was a nervous pervert with a crush on the very pretty and very funny woman sitting beside me. I giggled and made jokes when I was anxious. Especially around women. “Okay, so first we're going to start with the oatmeal cookie,” I cleared my throat. I needed to move on. “We're going to split this in half and...” I offered her whichever she wanted. She took one and split it in half again. I had legitimately never had so much fun filming a video in my office before. I enjoyed them for sure, but she was honestly a riot. At one point, she laughed so much that she almost sprayed milk out of her nose. I couldn't stop laughing. Bella was patient and witty. Her smile was so easy, and her comic timing surprised the hell out of me. “Alright, everyone! There you have it! Swiss Cake Rolls are king. Cosmic Brownies may be at the bottom of our list, but are they your personal favorites? Let me know down in the comments and let me know what you'd like to see ranked next!” I began to wrap up the video. I wondered if she knew what to do if I just pointed at her. “So, don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you can keep up to date with all the sweet, sweet content!” She said without hesitation. “Buh-bye!” I said too loudly, the sweets rushing through my brain painfully. I laughed, rubbing my skin. “I've got a sugar headache.” “I'm not surprised. You ate all of yours,” she said teasingly. Bella was still licking chocolate off her fingers. I wanted to lunge at her, grabbing her up and kissing the sugar away from her lips. I had to look away quickly and distract myself. Then I got an idea when I saw my cheap ass Halloween store top hat on the shelf. “I can't believe how quickly we got done,” I said after looking at my watch. “I think we have time for one more video... if you're willing.” Once again, she didn’t hesitate at all. And once again, I thought of her in improv. “Sure. What kind of video? I'm not sure I can do more food just yet.” "Me either," I agreed. My idea had nothing to do with food, though, but everything to do with getting to know her better. "I was thinking since you're here... Would you like to do one of my ‘Twenty Questions and an Impression' videos?" “Oh,” she drew out softly. “I thought you only did that with your close friends.” I was surprised. She had maybe paid better attention to my videos than I thought. I cleared my throat as I tried to recover. "Um, well. I mean, I've done it mostly with my friends, but it really is a game about getting to know new people while being able to practice whatever accent I may get. If you don't want to, you don't have to. I wouldn't want to make you do something you might be uncomfortable with." My dumbass mouth took over and ran away from me. It was the worst it had done all day. Bella tilted her head to the side thoughtfully before she answered, “I'm not the most exciting person to learn about, but I don't mind.” Um, fucking doubtful. “Awesome! Perfect! Just give me a few moments.” I practically jumped to my feet in excitement. I had been literally handed the best excuse to learn about her and film the response to overanalyze later like the weirdo that I was. I set up again, letting her sit alone behind the desk. I put the mic on as I pulled up the app with the random question generator that I had made myself. Finally, I pulled out the hat filled with the voices for her to pick from. "Alright, three, two, one... Hello everyone, and welcome back! It's time once again for everyone's favorite filler episode... Twenty Questions and an Impression. The show where a friend pulls a voice from a hat and then I ask them twenty random questions in that voice. This week we have our latest victim, the lovely Ms. Bella Swan,” I pointed to her. “Hi!” She beamed before reaching into the hat. Bella looked at the paper, frowned deeply, said, “nope,” and put it right back. “Wait!” I laughed, “which was that?” Bella blushed at my question. “Southern. Bad southern accents are like my pet peeve. Sorry.” Maybe I should have been offended that she assumed my southern was bad. She wasn’t wrong. I wasn’t a master of it, by any means. Her reaction was so sincere and innocent, though. “What makes you think mine will be bad?” Bella decided to be funny, going expressionless again with wide eyes. She saw that she was getting to me and decided to egg me on by tilting her head to the side like a confused puppy. I couldn’t help but laugh again, waving her on to pick another accent. “Scottish.” She showed me the slip after she picked a new one. Oh no. My Scottish was terrible. I had made it purposely outrageous for so long to tease my grandparents that I actually had trouble fixing it. I often did it to my sisters to make them cringe. Once my mother outright slapped me for doing my grandfather’s accent at a family reunion. I was ten. I probably deserved it. “Oh! Yer done given me an easy one.” Bella cringed, but it melted into a smirk. "Alright, Mr. McDuck." She put the hat away. "I'm ready when you are." “First question! Hae ye ever played a sport?” "Yes," Bella nodded. "I did gymnastics as a kid and dance, too. And I was a cheerleader." My brain sputtered. Cheerleader. I couldn’t look at her. I just nodded, quickly clicking the next question. “Question two! Whit movie scarred ye as a wee bairn?” “Scarred me? Like stuck with me, messed me up. Ummmm....” She subconsciously bit her bottom lip as she considered it for a moment. “Raiders of the Lost Ark. The snake part. I don't like snakes. That, or David Bowie's codpiece in Labyrinth. That ruined me forever.” The way she looked into the camera, blinking like a sad broken child, her innocence lost forever, was hilarious. I actually bit my lip to keep from snorting loudly into the mic. Tapping on the screen, the app wasn’t loading nearly fast enough for me. “Three! Whit is ye dream car?” “A self-driving one. I haven't driven more than a few hours in like ten years. Cars are not really in my wheelhouse.” “Question Four! Is a hot dug a sandwich?” Jasper and I put the dumbest fucking questions in this thing. I wonder which of us idiots put this one in there. We had programmed thousands. Bella giggled. “Um, no. A hot dog is a sausage, not a sandwich, but I know what you mean. No. It is meat stuffed into bread. A sandwich usually includes two or more separate slices of leavened bread. And, it is possible to make a hot dog sandwich, suggesting that a hot dog is not already a sandwich.” “ 'At was way moor thoughtful than it deserved,” I told her, still wanting to laugh. “Question Fife! Whit is yer first fife jobs?” "Oh, um. I'm not sure if I've had five jobs. Let's see. I started babysitting when I was, like, eleven, like most kids do. Then I started working at my church when I was fourteen. I had to get my Mamaw to sign a special paper and talk to someone since I was so young. I worked in the baby room there until I graduated high school." "They lit ye wark in the wee bairns' room? So young." My sisters started having babies when I was around twelve, and they didn't trust me to be with their kids until I was, maybe, fifteen, and I was their brother. After a while, they became rather demanding of my babysitting services. I was good with my nieces. "Well, I actually started volunteering in the kids' rooms when I was like ten to get out of sitting still during church. I started out helping with the toddlers, but then I got a chance to work with the babies, and I loved it," she explained. I smiled a little. “So, ye good with wee babes?” “Yeah, I have mastered the newborn to about eighteen month age range, at least. I love babies. Anyway, after high school, I moved to New York. I worked in a family owned Italian place in the kitchen as a cook for about five years while I put myself through school. After that, I started my career in photography and helped my friend start up her non-profit. I worked in the office. And, I've been doing that pretty much ever since. So, I guess that's five?” “Whit sort of non-profit is it?” I asked her curiously. My charity work was probably one of my favorite parts of my fame. I loved that simply throwing my name towards something could help somebody. “We help those who might not be able to travel for whatever reason and help them to get exposed to other cultures and travel. We help kids who have never left the Bronx get to go to places like Germany or England. Australia. Or, adults who've been unable to get out of the house because of disabilities and take them to the beach or the garden. There is a whole host of things we do every week. Long trips, day trips, two-hour outings. Classes. It's a fantastic organization that I am so proud to be a part of. It's called Culture for All, at Culture for all dot com. Please, please, please donate so we can continue to open up the world for everyone if you can.” She put up her hands, literally begging. She obviously cared very much about it. “Link in the box down below!” I said normally before I realized what I was doing. “Six! If animals could gab, which wood be th' rudest?” “If animals could talk... hm...” Bella giggled a little very softly, tilting her head to the side thoughtfully. “Well, I think the rudest can already talk. I think it was Andrew Jackson's parrot that got kicked out of his funeral for cursing too much.” "Seriously?!" I laughed, wondering if she was telling the truth. I would have eaten any information she gave me out the palm of her hand, though. “Yeah, I think so.” She smiled. “Birds are kind of assholes anyway. They're just mad they’re not dinosaurs anymore.” “Question seven,” I kind of laughed. “Are ye close wit yer mum and dad?” Her face went instantly a little sad and dark behind her pretty eyes. "Uh... no. I don't know who my father is, actually. There is no name on my birth certificate. My mom died when I was five, so I didn't really get to ask. My maternal grandmother raised me until I was fifteen, but then she passed away." Oh, well, damn. I felt like such a jackass. “I'm sorry. I can ask another question. Or, we can stop,” I spoke normally, embarrassed. “No, it's fine. I'm really removed from it all now.” She gave me an awkward little smile that was meant to be reassuring. “It happened so long ago. Anyway, I was really lucky because my best friends' mother became my guardian and I'm still very close to her today. Hi, Mrs. Brandon! Love you.” She waved playfully at the camera. “She's going to show this to every person she knows.” Well, if that was the truth, I was going to make this the perfect video for her. Though, I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to put it up. "Alright, somethin lighter now." I tried to get the next question to load. It was another stupid one, and I grimace to myself. "Question eight. Whit is th' sexiest name ye can tink of?" She didn’t miss a beat. “Bella, obviously.” She was moving on easily. So, I decided to help that along. “Wrong. It's Edward,” I told her like an asshole. She scoffed but then laughed. Then I decided to go off script since the app was taking forever to load again. It’s something I wanted to bring up but not seem nosy or rude. “Nine! Whit is yer eye colour?” She opened her eyes wide for me, leaning forward slightly so that I could look into them. “I have one brown and one blue eye. I have full genetic heterochromia, meaning I have two different colored eyes, or rather the blue is lacking pigment. It doesn't affect my eyesight though,” she explained it as if she had done it a million times before. Her eyes were strikingly unique. I wondered if it bothered her. I decided to play dumb. I tilted my head as I pretended to notice them for the first time. When I did, she did as well, her eyes getting comically wide again for effect. "That's cool," I said honestly. "Like David Bowie." It was the coolest person I could remember from the brief bit of googling on the matter I did. She had mentioned Labyrinth before. "Bowie got his from a punch during a fight over a girl. His pupil was just always fully dilated, and he had naturally blue eyes," Bella answered back knowingly, smoothly correcting me. “Gah, really? I'm learning so much today,” I spouted out automatically. She smirked at me before playfully answering, “I am full of useless knowledge.” “Question...” “Ten.” I smiled at her charmingly. “Right. Not completely useless. Ten! Wood ye rather fin true love or fife million dollars?” “True love. Money doesn't buy happiness, only security. Beside five million isn't what it used to be,” she said without hesitation. I nodded slowly. What a lovely answer. “Eleven! Top fife favorite video games. Do ye play?” Bella began to smile as I asked the question. “I do! I used to play a lot with my husband, less so now.” I was instantly deflated. “You're married?” The words left my mouth before I could stop myself. Of course, she was married. How could she not be? She was practically an angel. Not just in terms of looks. She was kind and funny, too. She hadn't been wearing a ring, though. Not that I had checked or anything. Bella flushed and then quickly shook her head as she looked down. “No. I'm a widow, actually.” Several things filtered through my mind. First, I was relieved that she was not married. Second, I felt guilty for thinking that. I felt embarrassed at myself and completely unsure of how to continue. I kept bringing up sad things I was sure she didn’t wish to speak about. At the very least on camera. “Jesus, I am so sorry.” She laughed humorlessly as she rubbed her tiny fingers over the place where her heart was. It was like it still ached, and her hand automatically went to the wound. Her eyes were a little distant for a moment before Bella looked back at me with such intensity. “Really, you don't have to keep apologizing. Death... happens. I get it, though. What else can you say?” “You're so young, though." I couldn't imagine, this poor woman who was all alone in the world. I had so many sisters and nieces. I had too much family. I wondered if she had anyone on this earth. Bella shrugged, looking nervous as chewed at her bottom lip for a moment. "Death can happen at any moment. Trust me, I know. My husband just dropped dead of an undiagnosed birth defect while getting breakfast one morning. He was healthy, active, ate right. He had a full check-up the month before because we were trying to get pregnant, too. He was just forty. And he was dead before he hit the sidewalk. That was three almost four years ago, and it's still shocking," She forced a pained smile. "Anyway, my husband used to collect video games and video game systems. Half his office was just shelves and shelves of video games and the books that go with them. Even if they were terrible, for some reason." She shook her head and smiled wistfully. “I'd probably say my favorite games are,” she pushed on. “Gosh, that's hard... Final Fantasy X. Kingdom Hearts, the first one. Any of the Mario Kart games. Maybe one of the Grand Theft Auto series or maybe the Mass Effect series. One and two were both great. But if we just go on the sheer number of hours played it would probably be World of Warcraft or Stardew Valley. I've played both for literal months. Don't Starve, too. Or, maybe old school Rollercoaster Tycoon.” She basically listed off all of my favorite games. Every single one of them I had played obsessively. “I like those, too,” I tried to hide my excitement as I put my accent into place again. "I'm a filthy casual, though." “That tis th' dumbest tin,” I shook my head. I frowned at the voice. “Oh, that sounded more Jamaican.” “How many people are you going to offend with this accent, by the way?” She asked sarcastically. I scoffed at her question. I decided to be somewhat honest. “Well... I'm doing a near spot-on impression of me grandpa, so... at least my entire family.” I couldn’t help my smile as she laughed. It was a lovely sound. “Question twelve. Wood ye rather ne'er be angry again or envious again?” "I'm not really a jealous or possessive person. But I am angry all the time. I don't know what I'd do with myself if I was never angry again, though. Anger is a powerful tool. It forces change. But, I guess anger. I don't think either would be beneficial." Everything that came from her mouth seemed to be well thought out and genuine. So, I decided to be an idiot and do a Yoda impression. “Anger leads to hate.” “Only if you don't do anything about it,” she countered. “Wise, you are,” I did in the Yoda voice again before going back into the terrible Scottish. “Thirteen. Favorite book?” “A Stranger beside me by Ann Rule.” Never heard of it. I would research that at a later date. “Fourteen. Where war ye born?” “Houston, Texas.” She did say she was from Texas. It really did explain the accent though. I had never been to Houston before. I had only been in Dallas once for a flight. “Question fifteen. Whit any person wood ye like tae have dinner wit? Livin o ded.” "My father," she replied simply. Bella didn't seem bothered by it, so I decided to ask a question. She was the one bringing it back up after all. “So, you really don't have any idea?” "No. Not really. I only have the vaguest context clues. My appearance is the biggest. I'm guessing he was probably Mexican or maybe Afro-Latino. My hair is pretty curly and thick, but I'm pretty light. I don't know, though. My white mom worked at a Tex-Mex restaurant when she got pregnant, I think. And, I think if he had been white, or passing at least, my mom's parents would have forced a shotgun wedding but I think their racism was stronger than their religion. My grandmother really improved after my grandfather and mom died, though. I don't know if she knew who it was either or if I was just too young for her to tell me before she died. My grandmother didn't talk about any of it, though, to be honest. She barely spoke about my mom at all," Bella explained to me. I'm not sure she meant to tell me all of this. She seemed so opened and exposed. I could tell right away that it upset her. This also answered a question I had. She didn't know what nationality she was either. “That's a lot for a kid to handle,” I told her truthfully. I wanted to comfort her so badly despite only knowing her a single day. “I think it would be a lot for anyone at any age. It sucks. But we can move on though if you like,” she encouraged. “Right, sorry,” I cleared my throat, wanting to move on, too. “Question sixteen. Oh, no. I don't think I can ask this one,” the words slipped from my lips before I could stop them. I instantly turned red. Why did I have to add these stupid questions to this? “What is it?” Bella asked, her head slightly tilted to the side in curiosity. I wanted to crawl into a hole. I covered the mic with my hand before I whispered, “does the carpet match the drapes?” Bella wasn’t bothered in the least. She laughed loudly, throwing her head back. It made her lovely hair bounce. “I've never dyed my hair before. So, take from that what you will.” I was having a hard time keeping myself from wondering what the carpet looked like. “Oh god,” I laughed nervously as I forcefully rubbed my eyes. “Okay. Okay, um. Moving on. Seventeen. Whit is yer most visited website?” For me, it was my own. It took up a lot of my damn time. She bit her lip as she thought about it for a second. “The one I put all the photos I take for just me. I spend a lot of time editing and arranging them in groups. I find it really soothing. It’s my meditation.” “So, ye hav' a personal collection?” "A massive one, yea. Just because I find something interesting doesn't mean it will sell as a print or poster. I'm always surprised at what sells. All my friends and family can see them, though. They're not private or anything." She smiled at me a little bit charmingly. I needed to see those pictures. I needed to know what she liked and found interesting. “I want to see them. If that's okay. I really like what you're selling,” I asked quietly. “I can send you the link later. And, If you see anything you really like, I can put it in the shop,” she told me like a smart businesswoman. “Yas, thenks. Question eighteen. Whit is yae guilty pleasure?” Please say rolling around with nerdy Australian men in the nude, my brain joked at me. "Um... Guilty pleasures usually refer to food, and I actually have a really hard time keeping on weight so I kind of just eat everything and as much as I want. And I don't feel guilty about anything I do that gives me pleasure, to be honest," she laughed nervously. "I do try to not keep the worst stuff out of the house because I will eat it all, but when I do get it, I never feel bad. Life is too short. Don't deny yourself pleasure." Her answer was better, my brain mocked me before it tried to turn off for the day. All I wanted to do for the rest of the evening was think about her and all the pleasure she wasn’t denying herself. I cleared my throat and willed myself forward. “Question nineteen. Whit is yer favorite drink?” “Coffee.” I could see the ‘obviously’ in her sassy little smile. It was hard not to return it. “Last question. Book o' telly?” “Audiobook.” Of course, she had to give her own answer. It was perfect. I went back to my announcer's voice. "Fantastic! And there we have it! If you enjoyed this interview and would like to see the extended version, you can visit my page, Eddie Cullen dot com, and for just a five dollar donation you can unlock unlimited access to tons of bonus content for a whole month! And best of all is that one hundred percent of donations are given to the charity of the month! So, please like, subscribe, and don't forget to hit the notifications button! Buh-bye!" I stopped for a second to consider what I wanted to do next. I thought about it only briefly. "Bella, why don't you do a blurb about your website? I can add it in as an end card to anything you're in so you just don't have to keep repeating it." It would bring so much business to her little website. I hoped, at least. The companies I supported always talked about how pleased they were with sales after working with me. Hopefully, the boost would go to her as well. Bella smiled as she looked directly into the camera. Smoothly she gave me a nice clip to add to the end of any video. "Hi, my name is Bella Swan, and I am a freelance photographer from New York City. If you're interested in purchasing a print, postcard, mug, canvas, or something else equally cool, you can visit my website, Swan Photography dot com. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram at the same name. Thanks! Bye!" “My goodness. What a video that's going to be. Don't worry, I'll not put anything too personal. I promise.” I wasn’t sure if I would ever put it up, to be honest. I almost wanted to squirrel it away just for me. I was definitely going to spend the night overthinking her every answer. And I was going to make Jasper watch the whole damn thing. "It's fine. I don't mind. I wouldn't have told you if I was uncomfortable with it," she told me quickly as she stood from the table. Bella picked up her camera and twisted it in her hands to look at the settings. Her lovely, naturally black hair fell over her face like a curtain. I wanted to brush it away so that I could look into her eyes. “Thank you for being so open,” I said genuinely. I knew without a doubt that every answer she gave me was true. Bella seemed almost honest to a fault. I adored it. I wanted her to be truthful with me. This personable little woman wasn't scared of me in the least. Between my height and now a being celebrity, women tended to have one of two reactions to me. They either stared at me with wide-eyed fear or nervousness, or they tried to figure out how willingly I would get into their pants. They were always disappointed. I didn't enjoy casual sex. I was too anxious and too controlling to find it fun. Otherwise, I would be getting laid every single night. Shockingly, she took my picture, pulling me out of my thoughts before Bella whispered, “you're welcome.”
 Episode Two: TargetAfter cleaning up and having another smoke, I went to bed myself. I was exhausted, and I needed to rest if I was going to be human for the woman who was sleeping down the hall from me. I was so nervous for so many stupid reasons. When I laid in bed, I thought about why the hell I was feeling the way I was about her. It was so quick. I had never reacted to anyone like that before, male or female. I had found certain people attractive, sure, but it usually took me ages to really like anyone. I was extremely particular about the people I had dated. I had only dated two women seriously and gone on a handful of dates. I did like being in relationships, though. I had been with Vicky, my ex, for well over three years when we had broken up earlier in the year. I had missed her, but I also liked being on my own again. I didn't realize how little we really had in common until I wasn't with her anymore. I didn't enjoy talking to her at the end. I was lying to myself about my feelings for her, but I was trying. I would honestly want to spend my time with Jasper over Victoria any day of the week. She wasn't a bad person, but we were just a bad match. I hated myself for lusting over Bella. She was gorgeous, sure, but I was not going to be anything else than a gentleman towards her. I tried to imagine myself dating her. She was a world away from me, on an entirely different coast. This was perhaps the first time I really considered how my money might help me get a woman I actually wanted. I wasn't sure if I liked that or not about myself. It was nice as an option to have, though. I could certainly imagine myself kissing her, though. I couldn't stop thinking about her mouth, in fact, and how she would look up at me as I kissed her soft lips. That quickly turned into something dirtier. I wondered if her breasts were as perfect as I imagined under that simple black dress. I wondered if she knew how that look would affect me. It was a nice thought to imagine her wearing anything for me. Most women didn't realize that even when modestly dressed people as tall as me could still see down their shirts whether they wanted to or not. Most of the time, it was just embarrassing. It occasionally had a perverted upside. I jerked off lazily before falling asleep. I wasn’t proud, but I couldn’t stop myself either. It felt grossly indulgent. I dreamed about her, but I couldn't hear her speak. I want to hear her voice. A song I knew but couldn't place was playing over us loudly. She was looking towards me in the darkness, flashes of light, and color behind her. It was making her eyes brilliantly flash in my direction. I kept kissing her in the dream, grabbing her face to bring it towards mine. But it would reset like it never happened, and I would grab her again. Our lips would touch for a second, and it was like I was being kissed for the first time. I could still feel the rush when I awoke. My heart ached in my chest. What I did in the shower after my workout was far less lazy. It was worse than when I was a teenager. I had even gone extra hard on my workout in the hopes of calming myself down, but it actually made things worse for me. I wanted to try to dress a little nicer for her while still looking casual. I had a hard time and simply gave up and grabbed the first outfit I could find. My tendency to overthink things was eating at me. Bella was in the kitchen on her computer when I came to the living room. I hung back for a second to look at her from behind. Once again, her hair was down, and it went to the center of her back in a sheet of messy black curls. She was wearing a tight t-shirt and blue jeans again. Both hugged her body smoothly. Her ass actually gave me pause. The way it looked in her little dark blue jeans, propped up on the stool? It was perfect. The urge to bite it, among other things, came on strong. I felt embarrassed for even thinking about it. It got worse when she caught me looking at her, glancing back in my direction curiously. I wanted to walk back into the shadows towards my room like the creep I was proving to be. “Good morning. How did you sleep? Is the bed alright?” I tried to calm my nerves as I went to get something to eat out of the fridge. I didn't want Chinese again. It gave me heartburn the night before. Or, maybe it was my anxiety. “It's was very comfortable, thank you. I wish I could have slept more, frankly,” she said politely as I looked blankly inside the cold box. I had mostly liquor in it. It was kind of shameful. I had been working or traveling so much that I was living almost entirely on takeout. The maid had thrown all the contents away on Saturday. "So, I'm going to be real honest. I've never done anything like this before, so I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I'm supposed to follow you around and capture your real life, yes, but I don't want to get in your way either." I glanced back at Bella. She seemed so nervous. I didn't want her to be. I was always most comfortable when I was performing in front of the camera, even if it instantly turned off as soon as the electronic did. I had a very sudden and stupid idea. It came out of my mouth before I could stop myself. "You won't be in the way. In fact, I wanted to talk to you about something," I was actually disappointed in myself. Sometimes I disliked how good of a liar I could be, even if I only used it generally for harmless things. I was going to have to follow through. I shut the fridge door too hard. It made the glass bottles in the door rattle in quiet complaint. “Oh?” She asked in soft curiosity, her head tilted slightly to the side as she looked at me. I came to sit beside her at the corner of the table that she took up. “I was hoping you would like to be a guest in my videos this week.” Bella seemed surprised. Usually, I only asked people I really liked to be in my videos. My closest friends or family. I tried to control as much as possible. A full week of not know how she would be in front of the camera was a lot for me, normally. But, I didn't care in the least. She was lovely, and I wanted to interact with her in as charming a way as possible, as much as possible. “What do you mean?” My heart was in my throat as I spoke. She was so close, and I could make out all the details of her lovely eyes. "You know how I like to have my friends in my videos? It's weird to reference my own work like you should know what I'm talking about. Have you actually watched anything of mine? I guess I should ask that first. It's okay if not." I am a babbling twat. She opened her mouth a little as she thought about her answer, bringing her hand up to the end of her curls to mindlessly play with one of them. I'm not sure she even knew she was doing it. “Not every single one, but a lot of them. Like when you do a taste test or whatever?” I smiled a bit too big. I knew it. I couldn't stop it. "Yes! Exactly. I've got three videos to film here today alone, and you could be in some of them. If you want to, of course." “What if I'm terrible and boring?” She looked at me from underneath her eyelashes. I couldn't see how it was even possible. “How can you be terrible at trying new foods?” She rolled her eyes, smiling so vast that it made her cheeks grow round and I could see her nice straight teeth again. She had a very mild gap between the front two. It was adorable. “Okay. Well...The boring part is more of the problem here. I've mastered eating. Mostly.” I was almost sure she was flirting with me. I was so bad at these things. “Don't worry about that. It's my job to be the entertainment. If you don't want to, I understand. It's not for everyone, but I love filming with new people.” I tried to flirt back in the only way I could think of. Apparently, that was by lying. "Yeah, sure. Why not? But don't hesitate to kick me out if I'm bad though," she agreed readily. I was shocked. I laughed nervously, smiling at how well that had gone. I pulled out some of the papers I brought with me when I filmed. They were pretty general for guests in the video. The business owners mainly. “Seriously, don't worry about that. Alright, so... I need you to sign something. It basically says that I have permission to use your likeness. It's so I don't get sued if I put a video up of you.” “Sure, but try not to make me look like a toolbag, please?” She joked as she signed her name quickly. I.M. Swan That wasn't going to happen. I was going to do my damnedest to make her look like a goddess. “The only person I make look like a fool in my videos is me. Okay, so do you have Pay Pal?” Bella looked confused. “Yes. Why?” "I give everyone who's in my video a percentage. I give a standard amount to my friends... You know, of the ad revenue from my uploads. Or, endorsements or whatever implies. It's different for every video. Some make more than others. Some videos make nothing because they get demonetized for some stupid reason," I started babbling again. I hadn't entirely thought this part through and was starting to feel like an idiot, but couldn't stop talking for some reason. "I do it through this program that divides it automatically, and it will send the money to your Pay Pal once you reach a certain amount. It can be one hundred, five hundred, one thousand, five thousand, or ten thousand. Which would you prefer?" Bella blinked a couple of times slowly. I just word vomited all over her. Great. "Oh, wow. Okay. Um... I guess one hundred? But you don't have to give me any money. I'm going to get paid to be here." I shook my head. I always felt terrible when I made money when someone else was helping me. Even when I was just starting out and my friends were just helping me do dumb shit for fun. “No, I do it with anyone who's in my videos. Everyone. I feel guilty otherwise. Here, just fill this out.” I gave her the other paper. Her signature was only six letters long. I.M. Swan. I imagined her mother did that on purpose, her cute initials. Her letters were very loopy and smooth. It was very feminine. As soon as she signed, I felt so much better. I could act in the videos with her. I could be charming with her there. Maybe I could make her like me there and move into her liking me outside of the videos. Maybe. I could hope. “So, I need to go to the store before we get started. I need to pick up a few things for the shoots. Let's stop for lunch before and then we can go to Target. There is one just up the street.” I nervously fucked with the papers, clicking them on the wooden table top. I was trying not to focus on her eyes again. “Whatever you want to do. I'm just going to bring my camera along with me everywhere and take pictures of you whenever I can if that's alright? Please let me know if I'm starting to bother you or if you need me to leave you alone.” She seemed so apprehensive. "Yeah, of course. I will, but you shouldn't worry about that. Bring your camera. It sounds like fun, I've never modeled at a Target before," I joked at her stupidly. She smirked at me, so I decided to take it a step further, making a duck face. “Have you modeled at a Walmart before?” Bella was clearly amused, but she kept her voice even and her face perfectly unmoved. She was good. But so was I. Oh, I like this. I could play along. I held her gaze. “Yes.” Bella broke out into a full smile and laughed at me, turning her head away to hide her cute giggle. I shook my head, too pleased that it worked so well. "I've not modeled before. I've done some photo shoots, but I feel very awkward in them. I actually try to avoid the press and all that. I make it part of my contracts as much as possible," I told her honestly. “Then why did you agree to this?” She asked, confused. That was a good question. I had really actually tried very hard to get out of it. I decided to try to play it cool. “I got to pick my photographer.” She bit into her plush bottom lip, her nose a little pink as well as her cheeks. I realized I made her blush. “But... I've never done this before. I just don't understand.” I didn't want to seem like a stalker, so I figured honesty was the best idea. "I got to look at the portfolios of my options. I liked yours the best." “I've only ever done product pictures for the magazine. I know what's in my portfolio for them. It's not anything to write home about.” I actually knew that. Her name was literally last on the list of choices, I. Swan- Swan Photography. There weren't that many pictures under her file. It made me curious to why they would include her, so I looked up the page name online. That's when I found her store. She had so many pictures that I liked. So many that were beautiful. Colorful. They made me feel things. Excited. Happy. They were joyful to look at. I sent my favorite to Sasha. She had loved it. I shook my head as I tried to think about how to explain myself. “I saw your pictures online. The ones in your online gallery. The ones you sell yourself. They were so... vivid. Very pretty. I liked the colors. Everything you shoot seems to be so vibrant and full of life, even if I don't know what it is.” “Thank you. That's very flattering.” She turned redder, her chest heaving a little as she breathed. I wanted to imagine her like that because of me. Because of things I wanted to do to her. I was instantly turned on. Fuck my stupid douchebag brain. “It's true. I am excited to see your work. I feel like you will be able to capture the enthusiasm and optimism I want to portray in my work.” I tried to spit out as smoothly as possible. “Thanks,” she said quietly. Bella held my gaze for a minute before looking away. “I'll be right back. I'll go get my things.” I felt my phone beep in my pocket. Jasper had just gotten up very early for work. “How’s the new love of your life?” The message read. He was fucking with me. “When’s the wedding?” “Fuck off.” “Darling, why must you take things so seriously?” He asked me jokingly. We had started calling each other annoying pet names as teenagers after my grandparents visited and he heard all the things they called my sisters and me. We had become such vicious assholes about it that it turned into a habit. If he didn't call me darling occasionally I would have thought he was mad at me. It annoyed me how much I still did it in my daily life, not on purpose. Like a slang word you use ironically but then accidentally start to use unironically. “I am legitimately nervous.” “Why?” “I have no fucking clue. Maybe because I think she’s hot. Her jeans look painted on, though. In my defense.” His response was instant. “Pics?” “Really? You fucking pig.” “Take them for both of us.” I snorted out loud when I read it. “You’re a fucking pervert.” “Look… You want them. I want them. Let's not lie to ourselves.” He was harmless. Jasper was just trying to be funny. Though, he had been single for several months. Maybe he was just as lonely as I was. “What if she, idk, notices I’m taking pictures of her ass?” “Use your charm and just ask her,” he teased me. Then he sent me several winky faces. I wanted to punch him in his stupid face because he wasn’t helping. He knew that and enjoyed it. I swiftly put my phone away when Bella came back into the living room. When I opened her car door for her, she moved past me smoothly, her perfume wafting up towards me deliciously. Or, maybe it was her shampoo. It smelled faintly of coconuts, one of my favorite scents. I tried to hold up a normal conversation with her. Bella was surprisingly easy to talk to once we started. In the car, she engaged in mindless chit chat with me about the weather happily. “It's so warm here,” she said pleasantly, looking out the window. “There is so much sunshine. It's so beautiful.” “Is there not a lot of sun in New York?” I questioned. "In October? No. It's been raining quite a bit. I looked at the weather here earlier, and there isn't even much of a chance of rain in the next ten days," she said as she relaxed back in her seat with one of her feet tucked under her other leg. "Maybe a little the day I leave, but it was like a twenty percent chance. So, probably not." “Yeah. There hasn't been much of anything in months. There has been a drought. Though it's not as bad as it was before from what I understand. I'd like it to rain. We could use it.” “I love the rain,” she said in a quiet hum of pleasure like she was savoring something delicious. “Especially at night when it falls against the window panes. When it's nice and cold with a cup of hot tea while I'm working on pictures. Under a soft blanket on the couch. It's the best way to work.” I liked the look of evident joy and wanting on her face. “You make it seem very relaxing.” “It is. I like working on pictures. It's soothing,” she told me lightly. I understood what she meant perfectly. I couldn’t imagine editing video was much different. I could see us sitting in the same room together on a rainy fall night, working together in pleasant silence. It gave me a pang of loneliness. We pulled into the restaurant I had picked out. There were only a couple of cars in the parking lot. Sunglasses at Night was playing on the radio when we walked inside. She followed behind me, her large camera bag swaying at her side and bumping against her hip. She ordered a burger and fries while I ordered my regular breakfast foods. I was feeling very awkward. She was easy enough to talk to in the car, but I wasn't sure what to move to beyond the weather. I wasn't great at real small talk. I heard the camera click as I looked out the window. I smiled despite myself nervously, pushing my hair out of my eyes. Bella smiled as she looked down onto the camera screen, taking about a dozen pictures in quick order. She must have liked what she saw because she took her whole bottom lip into her mouth, looking as if she were the cat who ate the canary. "Are you sure you've never modeled before?" She brought her camera up to show me one of the pictures she had just taken. It wasn't bad at all. I hated pictures of myself, though. But she liked them, so I didn't mind. I liked her reaction more than anything else. “Nope, not even in a Walmart,” I tried to flirt. “I guess it comes naturally when you're this pretty,” she teased me. She was flirting with me again. Right? "You must be an amazing model then." I decided to try my luck. But my random number generator failed hard, and I must have rolled a one. I could practically see the 'nice try' in her eye roll. Obviously, men flirted with her all the time, and I was going to have to do better than that. "Aren't you smooth?" She began to make her tea sweeter, adding the sugar then squeezing the lemon into the liquid. Bella licked the juice that came out of fruit from her fingers. It was incredibly sexy, but she certainly didn't do it on purpose or for me. I felt like a pervert again. I had to take a deep breath to talk evenly. “You seem unaffected so not that smooth, obviously.” She put her chin on her hand delicately, her other hand twisting her straw in her drink. Her lips slightly twitched upwards before she answered, “with an opening that wide?” “Yeah, it was. I'm sorry. I'll try harder next time.” I liked her so much already. She was playful, not mean. I enjoyed our banter already so much. “Why don't you just try relaxing and being yourself?” Bella told me seriously. It caught me off guard a little bit. “What if I'm boring and terrible?” It came out of my mouth before I could stop myself. She took a slow sip of her drink as she considered her answer, stirring her drink again when she was done. “There is a reason your videos have been viewed billions of times,” she offered. I laughed, a bit annoyed about that. YouTube was hardly a measure of success. “That means literally nothing. Terrible and boring things do amazingly on YouTube. I don't understand why people watch me. I don't. I just make videos that are fun for me to make and... It's all a mask, really. One I'm good at putting on, but it's a routine. That’s all.” What the fuck was coming out of my mouth? Why was I babbling this to this beautiful woman? She didn't need to know about my major insecurities. She wasn’t my therapist. Bella brushed her hair away from her shoulder, smirking a little bit to herself. She didn't seem bothered by my stupid rant. “So... none of that is you in your videos? In them you seem so genuine and witty. Funny, too. What a shame. Is there some writer I should actually be speaking to?” I shook my head slowly, slightly embarrassed. “You don't have to act humble. It's okay. I've seen the news. I’ve done my googling.” “Do you think I'm funny?” I asked. “You're hilarious. I wish you weren't so self-deprecating sometimes, but I get it. It's an easy laugh. It's a thing right now. It's just not my style.” My sister Tanya and Jasper, as well as my therapist, would think she was right. “I should probably work on that.” Bella almost looked bitter when she replied back, “what do I know? You probably shouldn't listen to me. I'm nobody.” “I don't think that's true. Besides, my therapist would agree with you,” I said sarcastically even though it was painfully true. We chatted for the rest of the meal about lighter subjects. We did argue a bit about the bill. When she saw that I was going to be stubborn about it, she put her part on the tray as a tip in cash. I assured her that I tipped them as well, explaining my theory on the subject. Bella seemed to highly impressed with it, though it wasn't very much money. She was passionate about it, though, so much so that it gave me pause. Bella’s wild black curly hair bounced as it shook her around her head. Her forehead was furrowed in frustration. “No. Fifty is a power bill. Or, a week of groceries. A credit card bill. It's a lot for most of us. It's a lot to me, at least. And to a waitress probably, too.” “Well, I just hope it makes someone's day better then, I guess,” I said softly. I didn’t know what else to say. She looked away, obviously a little embarrassed for some reason. We didn't make small talk again until we got to the store. But the small talk quickly changed into more meaningful conversations. Bella seemed so engaged with what I was saying, asking me questions, and making me feel like she actually cared about the answers. I wasn't sure when the last time I felt like that with someone in person. Maybe Jasper? It was part of the reason I hated the media. “Do you enjoy voice acting?” Bella asked as she mindlessly played with the end of one of her curls. She really seemed to enjoy fidgeting with it. That was an easy thing to answer. "Honestly, it's what I've always wanted to be. Even as a little kid. I'd do stupid voices all the time and drive my mum up the wall. Even when I was in uni and getting a degree that I knew I'd never use it. I was just getting it to make my parents happy." “What did you get a degree in?” She questioned curiously. It made me frown even to think about the time I wasted there being unhappy. I was so angry back then. I was always so tired too. I never slept then, practically feeling like a vampire. “Business and Marketing.” Bella was quick to answer, “well, I don't think that's a waste of a degree. I've got a wasted degree. You're still obviously using those skills. When did you start doing YouTube? Before college?” I wondered what her wasted degree was. She would have told me if she wanted me to know, I figured. "Way before. I started doing it when I was still in school. Sixteen, I suppose. But by the time I had finished my first year at university, I was able to support myself fully with my videos. I got my first voice acting role right before I graduated. That was almost four years ago now." She had brought her thumb up to her mouth to chew on it delicately, nervously. She gave a small uncomfortable laugh. “Christ, that makes me feel old. What are you? Twenty-five or six?” I glanced over at her, confused by her response. “Twenty four. My birthday is in November.” “Ugh...” She said far too dramatically, making me chuckle. Bella was being silly. “You're still a baby!” I had no idea why she was reacting this way. “How old are you? You can't be that much older than me, surely! I thought you were my age,” I told her truthfully. "Aw, honey, that is so sweet, even if you're a filthy liar. I'm thirty-three," Bella answered me in an impressively thick, somewhat realistic sounding, southern accent. It was actually really good, but I had no time to consider that as I filtered the new information she had just given me. "Really?!" I said, embarrassingly loud. Then I realized how much of an asshole I probably sounded like. "Oh, that sounded bad. I mean, you don't look over thirty at all. You are very baby faced. I would have never guessed." "It's not the face. It's the height." She used her finger to circle her face, then motioned up and down with a giggle. "Being part dwarf knocks ten years off, apparently." “You're not a dwarf. I'd say you're more halfling,” I replied honestly. She stopped, narrowing her eyes before turning to fully look at me. “Did you just make a Dungeons and Dragons reference?” I just knew she was about to tease me. I could see the wheels turning in her pretty eyes. I stepped into it. “Yes. Yes, I did.” “Nerd,” she said in a monotone way, but there was a slight curl at the end of her lips. It was so light and not what I was expecting at all. I laughed quietly, “did you play?” I used to all the time when I was younger. The skills actually helped me as a writer. Most of my friends were gamers, too. Even the female ones. We used to stay up all night with snacks, playing. I missed them all terribly. Bella bit her lip self consciously before she answered me, "yes. And Vampire the Masquerade. Like decades ago, though." “Nerd,” I commented back to her. I liked the way she smiled at my teasing. She tried to turn her head to hide it. I wondered if Bella knew how charming she was, especially when she fluttered those pretty eyelashes of hers at me. I don’t think she did. She stopped in front of the bags of delicious smelling coffee. “Not to change the subject, but do you have a coffee machine?” “I have one of those pod machines.” She pursed her lips in obvious displeasure. “I don't like it that much either.” She was chewing on her thumb again. I don't think she even knew she was doing it. “Do you have a drip machine or a french press?” I wasn't even entirely sure what a french press was. “No?” “Oh. Do you like coffee?” “Yes, but I'm not very good at making it. I don't know what to buy either, to be honest. And the coffee shops are different than at home. Frankly, it's all pretty terrible.” I had never done anything more than heat up takeout in my kitchen. I had barely used the toaster. I was good at eating food, not making it. She seemed nervous to ask, “would you mind if I got the stuff to make coffee at your place?” “Why would I mind that?” "I don't know. It's loud. It'll take up space. I'll have to leave it or throw it away when I go. If not, I can just get me some strong tea, but I like coffee a lot better. And as much as I drink it would still be cheaper to buy the machine than going to Starbucks or whatever every day." “I have a kettle if you want tea, but I don't have a lot of things for my kitchen.” Her smirk was a little sarcastic. “I've noticed.” Well, this was one way to get her to agree to have a cup of coffee with me. “Well, you'll have to leave it at my house anyway, so why don't I buy it? I just haven't known what to buy. I need it anyway. You know?” “Oh… Um… It's pretty easy. You just have to decide what level of lazy you want to be. It's not a huge difference. But, it does affect the quality of the coffee,” she explained as if she was very well informed in the field of hot beverages. I didn't have enough knowledge to argue about it with her. I thought wistfully about the last great cup of coffee I had. It was a couple of months previously when I went back to visit my family. “I'd like a really good cup of coffee. It's my favorite in the morning... or mid-afternoon, usually. And it's been ages since I've had one. Australian coffee is in another league.” “Do you like it strong?” She tapped her lip mindlessly. “Very. American's is weak, bitter, shit,” I blurted out. “K. We'll need sugar. Creamer or milk, too,” Bella told me after quickly selecting a bag and tossing it into the cart. There were so many boxes, filled with things I didn't know what to do with, in the coffee aisle. She seemed to be considering her choices carefully. Bella made her selection and practically rolled her eyes at me when I asked if she knew how to use all of it for sure. It was almost as if I insulted her. When we were done picking up what we needed, we started going towards the front of the store to check out. She stopped to look at a tiny black dress with lovely little flowers on it. I could very easily imagine her wearing it and looking even more stunning. “That's cute,” I tried to say coolly. “I like the flowers.” She ran her finger over the neck, tilting her head to the side to admire it. “I like roses.” “Why don't you get it?” I asked her. Yes, please get it and wear it for me. "I don't have any reason to get it, and I shouldn't spend the money." Her expression was a little bitter before it softened in embarrassment. "Remember, fifty is a lot to me?" It was Target. Nothing was ever that expensive at one of these stores. I checked the tag. It had several clearance tags on it that showed it was originally thirty-five dollars. “It's seven dollars.” "Oh, that's not bad." She bit her lip again. I really liked it when she did that. I hoped it didn't show on my face. I was having a hard time stopping myself from staring at her. “Is this your size?” I asked her. Bella still had her lip in her mouth when she nodded. I took it off the rack without another thought and placed it into the red cart. Her mouth opened wide in surprise. “Wait-” she called after me as I made my way towards the front again. “Nah. Consider it your reward for coming with me on a boring errand run. And for showing me how to use this shit,” I told her as I pointed at the two boxes. "I'm getting paid to do that, and you bought me lunch anyway. And, I'll drink the coffee, too," she replied argumentatively. I rolled my eyes. "You're not getting paid to pick up Zebra Cakes and Cosmic Brownies with me. It's just seven dollars. It's cool." And if I were lucky, I would get a chance to see her in it. On a date, maybe. “It makes me feel weird.” She pouted out her bottom lip a little bit. “Why?” She thought about it for a moment. “I don't know. It just does. Coffee is one thing. But, you don't have to feel like you need to pay for all these things. I know you have the money, but as I said, I'm getting paid. I don't know how others are with you, but I don't want to use you. I have the cash.” I liked that she didn't want to use me for my money, but it made me worry about how well they were actually paying her. “Well, obviously not enough if you can't impulse buy a pretty seven dollar dress.” Bella waited for a long pause before she answered, looking up at me from underneath those thick black eyelashes, “thank you.” “Yeah, of course. You're very welcome.” Just looking at her made me feel warm all over. I had to look away and distract myself. I grabbed a couple of sweets for later. Right outside the front door of the store, a couple of kids had set up a little stand to sell things. They rushed towards us, jumping right up in front of Bella. They were already nearly as tall as her despite being very young. "¡Hola!" They yelled at her in perfect unison. They said more, but I didn't understand the rest. Bella did though, perfectly. She smiled at them warmly and spoke to them as if she was an encouraging teacher. “Disneyland!” They said in unison again even louder this time. I understood that perfectly well. I smiled a little to myself. They were selling things for a trip to Disney. I felt guilty for not having cash. They were very cute. I loved kids. I hated how sexy I thought her speaking Spanish was. It made me feel flustered. I wondered if she was part Spanish. I wasn't sure. Maybe Mexican? I didn’t know how to ask. Honestly, she kind of reminded me of a curly-haired Pocahontas from the kid's movie. Or, maybe the gypsy from the Hunchback of Notre Dame. “I don't speak Spanish,” I stupidity word vomited when she got done, walking away with two boxes and a bag of fruit. She actually laughed, but it wasn't in a mean way. Bella just seemed amused. “I took Spanish in sixth through twelfth grade. I was treasurer of the Spanish club in high school. It's helpful in Texas, where I grew up. And, in New York, too,” she explained to me pleasantly. That made a lot of sense. She still didn’t say what she was. I hated being curious. Sometimes I was too nosy for my own good. Spanish would have been the more helpful language option for me in school. Especially now that I lived in America. Of course, I didn't take Spanish. “Here, too. I took German in school,” I admitted. “Can you still speak it?” She questioned curiously. I instantly conjured up the basic conversation stuff. She was making me too flustered to think of anything more impressive. “Guten Nachmittag, Fräulein,” I pretended to tip a hat at her as I told her good afternoon and instantly regretted it. I was an idiot. “Gesundheit,” Bella replied back flatly. “Har Har,” I smirked at her. I tried to think of a good German word to describe her. Schön came to mind. Perfekt was another. “Lustige dame,” I called her instead. "What does that mean? Stupid woman?" She laughed a bit again more sarcastically. Her laugh made me happy. “No. Funny woman. I think.” She pursed her lips a little bit. “So, close then.” I came to open the car door for her. She was so tiny that she had to look up at me with her chin fully tilted upwards. Bella smelled so amazing, perhaps even better than she had right after the shower the day before. “I don't think you're stupid at all. I think you're lovely. You made those boys very happy. It's funny, you didn't give it a single thought about handing them the extra money but wouldn't buy a seven dollar dress for yourself. I just feel bad that I didn't have any cash for them,” I told her honestly. My words clearly made her flustered. I hadn't meant to embarrass her, but she had a good comeback waiting for me. “They need to go to Disney more than I need a dress. Anyway, you did something nice for me. I can pay it forward. It's not that much. Besides, I needed something for breakfast. I can't just drink the free coffee.”
 Episode One: Nerves“Explain to me why I'd want to do this, Zafrina?” I asked into the phone in annoyance as I tried to edit some visuals on the computer. This was the third time she had called me in a week about this goddamn Vaudevillian thing. I was sick of hearing about it. I had made my decision. “You want to be big time or not?” She asked back quickly. “How is being in a magazine big time exactly? Aren't they dying?” I asked sarcastically. “This is different. This is the magazine. This is the one that directors read. This is the one that the producers or movie studio's read. This is snobby shit that matters. You need to be in it. This Disney thing needs to be thrown out there. You are quality. We need to be promoting you that way.” “Don't you think I am promoting myself enough already on my own? I happen to like controlling what I put out there of myself.” She knew this, she didn't like it. She didn't care. That was not part of her job. "You still get to be in control. You're getting your way on the photographer. They've finally agreed, and the photographer has already been arranged. He'll be there on the fourteenth of October. And they're staying at your house," Zafrina replied back firmly. "I want you to appear as open and welcoming as possible." I took a long swig of my beer before answering her, “that sounds terrible.” “It makes you seem more trustworthy to the Disney folks if you’re an open book. Eddie, you said you'd do it if you got to pick the photographer. You did. Now you have to go through with it. Stop being a pain in my ass. It'll be fine.” I tapped the bottom of my beer bottle on my desk. “What if this dude is a fucking weirdo?” “Then you'll have something in common," she answered, making me click my tongue in annoyance. "If he is then I'll personally drive him to a hotel for you. Just be nice. Get it over with, and you'll have more work than you'll know what to do with it. Be charming. I know you can be," she scolded me properly. “A week is so long though,” I whined like a child. "No, it's not. Alright… Look... You're not getting out of this now. It's done. Anyway, I'm going to send over three scripts I want you to read, I think they're good possibilities, and I have got a couple of offers from Blue Box that I want you to look at. No scripts yet. They involve some motion capture stuff." I rubbed my fingers over my forehead, a headache starting to form in the back of my skull. "Alright, sounds good. Send them my way, and I'll look at them," I sighed, already feeling exhausted. I wasn't sleeping well. "October fourteenth. What time?" I brought the calendar up on my computer. It was a Sunday. My day off. Great. “The flight should arrive around six pm,” Zafrina replied before quickly adding, “check your emails.” I typed in the information she had just given me. “Yes, ma'am. I've got to get back to work. Have a good evening,” I tried to keep the sourness out of my tone. She ignored it and wished me a good night. I tried to push it out of my head until the day of. Luckily, I was always busy. It made that easier. The night before the fourteenth, I did not sleep at all, no matter how much I tried. I smoked to try to relax, but my anxiety ate at me as I thought of a stranger in my own home. At least I finished work on two videos and started on a third. I was annoyingly productive when I didn't sleep. It made it a harder habit to break. As time got closer to when the photographer was supposed to arrive, I moved into my living room so that I could listen for his arrival. I looked at zero of the information I had been sent about it, wanting to avoid the anxiety it would fill me with. I had a script to read for some animated thing that I would rather throw my attention it. Even if I wasn't sure if I was feeling it. Though I might have just disliked it because I was in a bad mood. My phone vibrated, distracting me from my reading. “I am so bloody bored. What are you doing?” Jasper asked in text. “Waiting for this wanker to show up. Should be here at any moment. Then I'm going to order dinner,” I typed back. “It's making me anxious.” “Why?” “I don't like people in my house that I don't know.” “It'll be fine,” he tried to reassure me. “Why don't you do one of your video things?” He was referring to my diary. He was one of the few people who knew about it. Sasha and Tanya did as well, and probably my other sisters did, too. But they didn't care about it. Jasper knew it generally made me feel better to talk my feelings out. He was probably one of the only people I trusted to be almost completely open with. I had been making a lot of journal entries lately. Being alone in America had been rough for me. “Yeah,” I replied back. “Probably not a terrible idea.” I tossed the script to the side and brought up my smartphone, turning on the front-facing camera. I grimaced a little bit and pushed my hair back away from my forehead. I needed to shave. And probably brush my teeth. I showered the night before, but I hadn't done anything all day. "So, it is October fourteenth, and it is..." I looked at my watch. "Just after six thirty in the evening. And, I am waiting for this complete stranger to come into my home and... I fucking hate it. I already feel so uncomfortable around the media because I don't know how to handle myself completely, but to have them in my home? Fuck. I realize Zafrina wants me to seem as open and as welcoming as possible but damn. It's... I'm not entirely sure I can do it. God, I hope they're normal,” I said into the camera. I grimaced again when I heard a car pull into my driveway. “And, here they are.” I walked over to the front door, leaning to look through the curtain covered front windows beside it. I could see an older man pulling a suitcase out of the boot of the car, but I could not see the person beside them. “I wonder if it's the old guy,” I mumbled at the phone. And then the old man handed the luggage over to perhaps the tiniest woman I had ever seen. First, all I could see was her general form, short but heavily curved in all the right way. Her wild black curly hair fell all the way down past her shoulders to the center of her back. She was dressed very casually with a long sleeved v neck black tee shirt and tight blue jeans and a flannel shirt tied around her waist. I realized I didn’t know the name of the photographer. Didn’t Zafrina say he? There was no gender mentioned at all on their website when I did research before. They just had their beautiful bright pictures for sale. “It's not a man,” I mumbled stupidly into the camera because that’s all my brain was stuck on. She came more into view as she walked up the pathway. She was very lightly tanned. Perhaps mixed race in some way? I wasn't sure in what way. Her hair was in tight shiny ringlets that bounced around her lovely face when she walked. The feature I noticed first was her nose. It was very strong in the middle of her symmetrical face, just above her very plush light pink lips.“Oh, she's gorgeous. I think I might be in love," I said in a soft whisper to the screen before I realized something. "Fuck, fuck, fuck... I haven't showered,” I cursed as I turned off my phone and put it back in my pocket. She brought the side of her thumb up to her lips, biting into it before she lifted her other hand to ring the bell. She looked so nervous. I opened the door before the dinging sound even began to happen, my heart in my throat already. The small woman looked up at me with huge surprised eyes, her lips parted slightly as she took a step back. In the porchlight, I noticed that her eyes were different colors. Shockingly so. One was a pale, almost too pale, blue and the other was a solid dark chocolate brown. I had never seen anything like them before. My heart began to thump in my chest. Her hand delicately went up to her heart because I had surprised her accidentally. Her tiny fingers rested just above her breast, holding her own racing heart in place. Great start. Let's just scare her. "Hello! Hi! Come in!" I said too loudly, my face stretching in my nervous smile. She smiled at me as I took a step back so that she could come inside. She couldn't have been over five feet tall. At least one of my nieces was taller than her, even though she was very clearly shaped like a woman. She was very well endowed, and her full hips filled out her jeans in an entirely pleasing way. “Hi. Um, I'm Bella. From Vaudevillian Magazine,” she said from behind me. Her voice was tiny and a little frightened. I didn't want her to be. How scary was it for her to stay in a stranger's home alone? Especially a large man’s? I had to try to not be a creep. Or, an asshole. My anxiety at having a stranger in my home melted away and was replaced with a new sort of nervousness. "Yes! I've been expecting you. I'm so excited to meet you. I'm Edward. Of course, you know that," I blathered, my heart crawling up my throat again as I spoke to her. I can do this. I was good at talking to people. I had to control my voice. "You can call me Edward or Eddie, though. I don't mind either. Here, let me take that," I told her when I realized I was being rude for not taking her bags from her. My fingers moved across hers for just a moment, sending tingles up my arm. I didn't know what to do next, so my mouth just automatically took over. "I'll show you where you'll be staying real quick, and we can put this away. Then I was just going to order dinner if you're hungry." "Great," she said quietly. "Yeah. I am. I could use a restroom, as well." Her accent was different from what I had been expecting. She had flown in from New York, but she sounded more southern. There was a slight twang to it. "Right. There is one in your room." I hurried her towards my spare bedroom. I had only been in it twice since I moved in. My maid came the day before to make sure it was prepared for Bella. "This is yours." I had to feel for the light before finding it. The view was better than I had realized, catching me off guard for just a second. When I turned back to look at her again, she was gazing in wonder at the space, her mouth opened in a surprised smile. Her eyes were so bright and beautiful, her thick eyelashes fluttering as she took it in. My hands were actually shaking. Why are they trembling? What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve just met her. I needed to get out of the room. I was actually starting to feel dizzy. “I'll give you some privacy so you can get freshened up. I'll be in the living room whenever you're ready,” I tried to say normally, calmly. “Thanks,” Bella said in a sweet little voice, smiling back at me just slightly. My lips curled automatically in a grin to match hers. I had begun to have a panic attack as soon as I shut the door. I pulled my phone out so that I could text Jasper again. “Fuck, I think I just met the person I'm going to marry.” “You are such a dramatic bitch,” he responded back. “What the fuck are you on about?” "The photographer is here, and she is the hottest woman I have ever seen," I admitted to him, trying to take a deep breath through my nose. I wasn’t good at talking to women I wasn’t working with professionally. My ex used to complain about it all the time. She actually said I was a real sarcastic asshole half the time. Most of the time. “I thought it was a guy.” “I thought so, too.” The message popped up quickly. “Obvo not tho.” I frowned at my phone. That wasn’t helpful. “Yes, obviously.” “So, how hot are we talking about? Can I have pics, pls?” He asked in a bid to funny. “I’m so lonely.” "No, she's getting settled in, and I'm not a fucking creepy bastard. She's the tiniest little thing I've ever seen. I can't scare her," I informed him quickly, pulling my laptop on my lap when I got onto the couch. I needed to find out more about her. Obviously, my research from before had not been adequate. I typed in her name and New York Photographer. The website was Swan Photography. I found a Facebook page that was private with her face, and the next search result was for her store where I had ordered prints for my family the month previously. I did like her photography, even if I hadn't wanted her in my home at first. I was certainly feeling differently about that now. I hated not knowing more about her before. Fuck, why haven’t I showered? I’m a fucking slob. “Well, a good description at least, pls. I need to know what she looks like if you're so infatuated already. You're picky af. She must be hottt.” I thought about arguing, but he wasn't exactly wrong either. I was picky. "I'd guess less than five feet. So, like I said, tiny af. So much curly black hair. It's long, too. All the way down her back. Light tan. Olive skinned? Is that the right word? Idk. I'm going to guess… mixed? Probably. I don't know how. Maybe Latino or Asian. She's mainly Caucasian though, I'd guess. Nice lips. But it's her eyes. Holy shit. One is legit blue, and one is brown, and they're perfect." “How are her tits?” He questioned next. I smirked a little bit to myself. “Perfect. Huge. And so is her arse in the best way possible. Like damn. I have never wanted to grab one more in my entire life,” I joked with him. “I bet that’s not the only thing you want to do that ass,” Jasper replied. “I’m not a creep.” “I don't fucking believe you. Send pictures, you twat,” he responded, making me laugh. “So lonely.” “I'll try. She's been in the bathroom for a few minutes. Hopefully, I haven't scared her off with my freakishly big Frankenstein body,” I typed. “Frankenstein was the doctor.” “Fuck off, cunt.” He sent me several middle fingers. I heard the door close down the hall, so I quickly exited my search on the computer and brought up a food delivery page. I shoved my phone back in my pocket and tried to pretend that I was normal. I watched as she came down the hall slowly, playing with her own fingers anxiously as she did. Bella had showered and changed into clean clothes after her flight. I couldn't blame her. I liked getting cleaned up after traveling, too. Her black hair was slicked back into a ponytail that hung over her shoulder. Her hair had already started to curl back around the edges where it was drying. Her new outfit was a short-sleeved black jersey cotton dress that went to right above her knees. It fit her nicely, hugging her hips and flaring out slightly around her thighs. And she was wearing knee socks, making my mind go to horrible places automatically. Her in just those just for me. I swallowed back my nerves and perverse thoughts and smiled. “You didn't have to rush.” “No. It's fine. Thanks for being patient,” she smiled back prettily, her eyes downcast a little as she spoke. I needed to keep talking, keep moving, so she couldn't see what she was doing to me. I had literally only met her minutes before, and I was being a fucking idiot. I got off the couch and brought my computer over to the bar. I need to pretend to be normal. “I was going to order take out. What would you like?” Her hand subconsciously went up to her heart again, her eyes a little wide. “Oh. I don't know. I don't know what my options are.” I laughed nervously. I couldn't help it. “It's LA. So pretty much anything you want.” I will get you whatever you want, baby. “Why don't you pick a style?” Bella told me as she came to stand beside me. I could smell the fresh hot shower scent wafting off of her beautifully. “I'm not picky.” "Asian?" I answered automatically. That was always my first choice. It was my favorite. My mouth was taking over again, thankfully. My brain had been distracted from my dirty thoughts. She bit her lip a little, smiling, “sure.” I went to the right screen. My hands were shaking a little. What the hell is wrong with me? She wasn't doing anything or had even said that much to me. “Chinese?” “Sounds great,” her voice was so soft and sweet. I really enjoyed her accent. I wanted to ask her all about it. I wanted to ask her a million questions. I wanted to spend the rest of the night getting to know all about her. I showed her the screen. "These are the top ones. Why don't you pick one?" She was so close, and she was leaning over slightly. I could see down her dress to the tops of her very round and lovely breasts. I had to quickly glance away, pulling her a stool out so she could sit beside me. It didn't help, though, and I could still see down her dress. I could only keep my eyes directly pointed at the screen, pretending to read. I couldn't focus on a single word. Bella selected my favorite place. “I was hoping you'd pick that one. I order there a lot. It's so good. Do you want to get a lot of stuff and just share? So we can have a little bit of everything,” I offered her. I always ordered a shit ton anyway, this way I would seem less like a pig. I loved the way her lips pursed a little when she thought. She looked so kissable. Sometimes, I really hated my douchebag brain. “Oh, sure. Sounds great.” I picked all my favorites before passing the menu over to her. It was all the things I would usually just get for myself. “Okay, what would you like to get?” Her eyes flitted over everything, but she didn't add anything else to the order. "Duck sauce, if they have it. Um, Do you have soy sauce?" "I sure do." I didn't like the cheap shit they put in take out, so I always kept some in the cabinet. I went to fetch it for her so she could see if she liked it as well. "Do you want to order yourself a drink or a dessert?" I hoped she wasn't just not getting anything because she was nervous. "Don't you think that's enough food?" Bella was quick to answer, adding a drink to the order. I realized I had forgotten my favorite dessert, but I really felt like a piggy. “I guess,” I pouted a little bit stupidly. She giggled at my expression, making me smile. It was a lovely sound. I wanted to hear it again. "Don't let that stop you, though. I doubt I can eat as much as you can." She was probably right about that. But she was also right about the other thing. And I was right to think I was a pig. For multiple reasons. “No, you're right. It is a lot of food. I tend to go overboard with things I like,” I told her honestly as I ordered a drink for now and one for later to have with my leftovers in the middle of the night. “If you want to split the check I have cash.” She actually patted her hip before she realized she had changed out of her trousers and didn't have her money on her. She made moves as if she was going to go get it from her bedroom. “No, I got this.” There was no way I was going to be anything other than a gentleman the entire time she was around. I wanted to impress her. I didn’t know how else to do it. “Thank you,” she answered me quietly. "No problem. In fact, while you're a guest in my home, food is on me," I promised her before even realizing what my mouth was doing. She didn't seem to like this, though. She shook her head, her hair falling off her shoulder as she did. I wanted to brush the water droplets off her exposed shoulder but didn't. “That's not necessary,” Bella replied quickly. "No, no. You're here because of me, and I was raised to be a gracious host," I told her warmly. That was kind of a lie. My mother hated guests. Well, she hated people in general. My grandparents had always been very gracious, though, and they would have approved of this sort of thing, I figured. “You don't have to pay for all of my food to be a gracious host,” she pursed her pretty lips a little bit, looking away from me in almost embarrassment. I didn't know what to do or say. I shut my laptop, trying to think. My mouth took charge and led the way. "I suppose it's possible, but I have the ability to do so and enjoy doing it. I pay for my friends," I quoted a line from one of my favorite stupid songs. It had been stuck in my head for three days. “And, do you take it as a compliment?” Bella said rather flirtatiously, smiling at me as she used my bad song line back at me. She did it to the beat, too. I couldn't help but smile back and nod at her happily. I already liked her tastes in music. She bit her lip as she considered my words. Bella looked so bashful. "I want to argue, but my bank account says to shut up and say thank you." "No, it's cool! You're very welcome!" I said too loudly again. I needed to chill the fuck out. "So, I was going to sit outside and smoke while we waited for the food. Would you care to join me?" I tried to act cool, but I was failing incredibly. I stretched, trying to get some of the nervous energy out. She seemed very calm in comparison. She looked off towards the pool. It was why I bought the house in the first place. Bella was so beautiful and thoughtful. I caught myself smiling stupidly. “Sounds good.” Her eyes moved over me for just a second before looking outside again. Normally, I didn't smoke before sundown, but on Sundays, it was my day off, so I usually spent it somewhat high in hopes of unwinding. I had picked out a nice bud, and they rolled it into joints for me with filters at the store. I kept them in a scent-proof silver case that I had gotten for myself when I first started smoking because I thought it was cool. I was not in any way cool. I led the way to the pool, pulling the box from my short's pocket. She was watching me from her seat, her lips ever so slightly parted and her eyes curious. I wanted to rub my finger over her bottom lip and see what her tongue felt like. Fucking chill. I quickly brought the joint to my mouth and lit it. "Would you like some?" I took a long draw of smoke into my lungs, hoping it would calm me. It was legal in California, so I didn't feel so bad offering. I had been prudish growing up, so this was quite a difference. She didn't seem bothered, just curiously watching. “No, thank you,” Bella smiled sweetly, tilting her face ever so slightly down bashfully again. It was fucking adorable. I swallowed back, realizing I might have fucked up already. Cool. Let's just do drugs five minutes after meeting her. Good idea. "I'm sorry. I should have asked you first if it bothered you." I hurried to put it out, but she actually reached forward to stop me. “No. It doesn't bother me. I smoke at home sometimes. I just don't want to be unprofessional right now. This is the biggest thing I've ever done so I don't want to screw it up.” Right, this was work. She wasn't here for me. This was a professional thing. Fuck. "You're not working until tomorrow. But, I understand. Let me know if you change your mind." I took another hit, feeling embarrassed as the words just came out. I looked out at the sunset so that I didn't have to meet her pretty and inquisitive eyes. “How's the weed here?” She didn't seem bothered. Bella actually seemed genuinely interested. “Strong. I just started smoking this year though so I'm not sure how it compares to other places. I've been using it for my anxiety and insomnia. My doctor recommended it,” I decided to be honest with her. She tilted her head to the side, watching me. Her hair was visibly getting curlier as I watched her, drying in the dying sunlight. “Does it help?” Well, that very much depended. "The sleeplessness it helps for sure. I am not sure about anxiety. It helps at the moment, but you can't be stoned all the time either. I don't usually smoke this early, but Sundays are my off day. The weed does help when I can't get my brain to shut off, though." Maybe I didn't need to be that honest with her. I decided to change the subject. “So, how was your flight?” Her eyes were so intently focused on me. It made me feel butterflies swirling in the pit of my stomach. “Uneventful, luckily. Your home is gorgeous,” she replied back pleasantly. I was really proud of my place. It was the first home I had ever bought, and I had paid for it in cash up front. It was all mine no matter what happened in the future. "Thank you. I just moved in a little over six months ago. I don't really have enough things to fill it yet. I only had a small apartment before in Sydney, and I was sharing it with a roommate. My best mate, Jasper," I wasn't sure why I told her all that, but she seemed interested. Bella seemed to shyly look away again. "Well, I can't judge you for it. I own very little, and I share an apartment with my best friend, too. I sleep in the living room, and she has the bedroom." That wasn't the answer I had expected. “Oh.” She actually laughed, genuine and bright. “That makes it sound terrible. My bedroom is surprisingly huge and not just by New York standards. We have lovely hardwood floors. Our neighborhood is nice and quiet. Lots of families. And you can see the Empire State Building from my window.” She seemed happy about it. And to see the Empire State Building must have been something. I had been in New York before, and it was always breathtaking to see it lit up on the skyline, especially at night. “Wow. Do you live in Manhattan?” She laughed again, melodiously. "No. Not for the price I'm paying. I live on the edge of Sunnyside and Astoria. In Queens. It's not as unique a boast as it sounds, being able to a cool building in New York. It just makes me happy still." I didn't know any of those places besides Queens. I made a mental note to look them up later. “Well, it sounds like something to boast about. New York is lovely. Maybe I'll live there one day. For the Summertime anyway,” I mused, tapping out the ashes of my joint. It was already starting to make me feel a little better. "Oh, not for the summer. It's too muggy, and there isn't enough air conditioning everywhere like the south. New York was made for Autumn. And spring isn't bad either. Honestly, I love snow, too. The snow is my favorite," she said, almost wistfully with a soft laugh in her beautiful voice. You could tell she really loved her home. Her smile so was friendly. It would stretch out over her straight white teeth for just a second before pursing a little as it curled around the edges. “It rarely snows in Australia. It does happen from time to time, but it's nothing like I imagine it does in New York in the winter,” I told her honestly, for once happy my mouth was carrying on a conversation without me. I had only seen snow when I went skiing in Germany with my family on holiday. “Especially around the mountains. We always go to the Finger Lakes to see the snow in the mountains and forest. My roommate and I sometimes rent a cabin,” she grinned. “Sounds peaceful.” “It is. We like to go up to Maine or Vermont to take pictures sometimes, too. Just for a weekend usually. She likes to take pictures too, but as a hobby,” she explained to me pleasantly. She seemed very much to enjoy the subject. I didn't know a thing Vermont was known for though. I actually still knew little about the US in general. “What is there to do in Vermont?” “Um... you can... eat cheese and get lost in the woods. There is probably maple syrup,” she said funnily. I couldn't help but laugh. She smiled, pleased to have amused me. “I like the cheese part.” I nodded, tapping my ashes out again. Bella scrunched up her nose a little, smiling as she answered me. Her eyes were mesmerizing. "The woods part isn't too bad, either. It's beautiful. Especially right now. End of October is the peak leaves season. You should have seen it this morning on the way to the airport from my apartment, so much beautiful red foliage all along the interstate. I hadn't been that way in ages and had forgotten how beautiful it could be, especially at sunrise. And it was foggy, too. Such a perfect serene morning." I took another hit, my heart beating violently in my chest again for a reason I couldn't explain as I listened to her speak. It was almost as if she was reciting a beautiful poem. “The way you describe it makes me want to take a flight at sunrise in New York City.” “If you're going to travel at sunrise in New York, may I suggest the ferry. You can watch the sunrise behind the Statue of Liberty. It's free, too,” she said conversationally. Bella smirked a little. “Well, almost free. It’s the same as a bus or subway ride.” I was exhausted just thinking about another sunrise. I was so tired already. I had to be honest with her about my sleep schedule. I was barely scraping by, sleep-wise. It had made me a grouchy asshole. "That sounds nice. But... I think I'm going to have to warn you right now that I am not a morning person. At all. Like I said, I'm an insomniac. I try not to plan anything until the afternoon. You know, I should probably send you my work schedule for the next week. What's your email?" I said as I began to ramble again nervously. I pulled out my phone for her. I was definitely going to internet stalk her that evening when I was alone, shamelessly. "Uhhh... Bella Swan photography at Gmail," she looked over, biting her lip as she watched me. I swallowed hard. I put my smoke down, trying not to seem like a creep. "We should have each other's cell phone number, just in case. Just in case your gate code doesn't work or whatever." I half expected her to tell me to piss off, but she took my cell without question and quickly typed in her number. When she handed it back to me, I sent her a message so she would have my number in return. She giggled a little softly when she saw the stupid emojis I quickly selected. “I got it,” Bella said in amusement. “Great,” I smiled. That went better than expected. “If you ever need to get into the house without me, by the way, I'll give you the passcode. It's a keyless entry.” “How fancy. Well, mine has TWO deadbolts and a chain.” She put her pretty chin high up in the air, pretending to be snobby. Instead, she only came off as charming and adorable. I smiled widely. She was enchanting. The doorbell rang, pulling me out of my daze. I jumped out of my chair to go fetch the food. It gave me a moment to breathe, my hammering heart making my chest ache. She came in after me, watching me from the doorway to the pool. She looked to be glowing angel dressed in all black with the backdrop of the fiery orange sunset against mountains. Bella helped me take everything out of the bag cheerfully as I got us real plates to eat off of. She delicately used chopsticks while I could barely ham-fist a fork. Her hands were dainty and so small, her arms long and slender. I liked the way her fingers always seemed to go to her lips subconsciously. I hadn't expected her to be so easy to talk to. My mouth was happily running away with her, but she didn't seem to mind in the least. She took in everything I said with such sweet curiosity. Bella was also incredibly witty, always quick with a full answer to my own questions. She seemed very smart, knowing things I hadn't expected her to know. I tried to imagine her age, but I couldn't decide how old she was. I didn't think she was much out of college, but I wasn't sure. She was so delicate, all of her feature smooth. Her lips and cheeks were plump, as were her breasts and ass, as I had told Jasper earlier in my stupid texts. I was actually having the hardest time not staring into her eyes, though. They were so enthralling. My phone vibrated beside me. “Pics or it didn’t happen,” Jasper sent me. “You’re a dumbass,” I replied to him. I sighed as I considered my options. I did want a picture of her. I also wanted him to tell me she was hot too, so I knew I wasn't acting like a tool for no reason. I had just finished making my plate of food, so I decided to use it as an excuse to take a picture of her from across the top of the table. "Sorry," I muttered. "I'm one of those trash people who like to take pictures of their food." She actually laughed, “you know I'm a photographer, right? I do it all the time. Like daily.” I chuckled, "I guess I forgot." I decided to take a chance. It would be better if she actually agreed to it. "Can I take a picture of you? I need one for my contacts. It's easier if there is a name and a face." “Oh, sure.” She sat up straighter, holding up her chin to the side and smiling ever so slightly with her mouth closed softly. Bella folded her arms on the table, posing for me briefly so I could snap a quick photograph of her. She had pulled her hair out of her headband at some point and started wearing it around her wrist as a bracelet. Her wild curls almost blended into the black background, except for where the lights reflected off the shiny strands. “Thanks,” I said quietly. “That's a good picture.” “Let me see,” she asked curiously, leaning over to see what I had done. I showed her the image. “No, it's not bad. Those phones have such good cameras. I'm going to have to upgrade someday.” She must have been hungry because she ate a lot quickly. By the end of the meal, she also seemed to become more tired. Leaning her temple onto her hand, her eyes looked exhausted with faint hints of purple along the edges. I knew how she felt. When she straightened up, Bella said, "thank you so much for the lovely meal. I think I'm going to head to bed. I've been up for the past twenty-four hours." “Me too,” I admitted to her. Maybe we had some things in common. “I'll see you tomorrow,” I replied to her, already excited to be around her again. I watched her as she left to go to bed from the kitchen, putting away the leftovers for later. Her ass looked so good as she walked, swishing as it went. She had deliciously thick thighs, too. Bella was well built. And she was definitely the sexiest woman I had ever shared a meal with. I texted the picture to Jasper when I heard her bedroom door close behind her. “I can see why you're in love. She could fuck me left, right, and sideways.” His answer made me laugh. “Ikr,” I typed back. “She's got a brain, too. She’s funny af.” “Does it matter when it comes to those tits? I’d sure like to take her on a bumpy ride in the jeep. God bless that shirt.” "It was a dress, actually. A short one. With black knee socks." I sent him a gif of a man biting his fist. “What are you going to do?” He asked curiously “Not a fucking clue. What can I do?” “Idk… Ask for her bloody phone number?” Jasper said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He wasn't great at relationships, but he could always get dates. "Actually, I already have."
Perfect Snapshots: Induction/Summary, Author's Notes, and Warnings!Summary: Eddie Cullen is an up and rising Australian star who has just arrived in Los Angeles. His career is on the fast track, but old anxieties still plague him. Even his playtime is work. He never slows down, he doesn't even know how. He puts on a brave face and a nice mask, but he's lonely. That is until he meets the beautiful photographer hired to follow him around for a week. Can he move past his fears to get the person of his dreams? Hey everyone! So this is a little different. This is not a novel or a short story. This is a serial. It’s going to be more like a television soap opera. I want it to feel like an episodic view into their daily lives. Basically, this adventure ain’t over until it’s canceled. There is no end in sight and I’m not working towards ending anything anytime soon. Basically, this is the story idea that brought me back into writing. This is my practice to get back to it after almost five years of writing nothing at all. I hope to develop these characters and create a rich world soap opera world for them to go do all the fun things I wanna do. This story will not be perfect. This story won't be too realistic. I just really like the characters, and I hope you also do. This is what I write for fun. This is an alternative universe and OOC. Some nationalities and details of the characters have been changed. (For example, I’m changing their birthdays for storytelling purposes.) Also, there will be some OC characters. (You’ll see) Warnings: this story will eventually involve LGBTQ+ themes, drug use, polyamory, graphic sexual scenes, issues of racism, mental illness, homophobia, mentions of sexual assault and murder. I will try my best to put trigger warnings whenever possible. Yes, there will be some angst but a lot more fluff and smut overall. Lots of fun. This is Edward’s POV. If you’d like to check out her POV, check out Imperfect Pictures! Anyway, enjoy! |
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