Chapter Two:

The Torture Begins

EPOV

When we got there we met the other guys that are going to be in the same grouping as us. It wasn't so bad there were actually some pretty cool guys. Or so they seemed at the moment. Emmett and Jasper were having an animated conversation with a guy named Carlisle when I found them at the bar. He was actually pretty cool. He was a surgeon at the local hospital. It seems that he has worked one too many 72 hour shifts and he needed a woman that could stick around through the chaos. I felt even worse for him. This is the best he could come up with for finding a girl. The really sad part is that he seemed like a cool guy.

"Not to sound rude, but this was the best you could come up with for finding someone?" I asked him

"Not exactly," He chuckled "It is a little involved." He said, with a mischievous and knowing smile.

"I have time." I said with a smile of my own. The least I could do is get a good story for my time. I wouldn't be surprised if this was my most interesting conversation of the evening, including my conversation with the guys earlier.

"Well, I happen to know this young lady." He chuckled again. "I have known her for some time as she has an odd knack for getting herself hurt. That is how I originally met her. She came into the hospital after slicing her head open when she fell down some stairs. I sometimes wonder how the poor girl is still alive." He chuckled "Anyway, her friends decided that they were going to bring her tonight as they know the owners. They decided that if I came then she would have at least one person that she could have a real conversation with through the stress of tonight. Not that there is anything wrong with her. She is just not the most confident of people. I am really just here for moral support. Anything beyond that is bonus." He chuckled lightly.

"So what's this girlie's name?" A voice came from behind me. "Maybe I could help show her a good time." God, if there was anything worse than a slut, it was a man whore. This guy was disgusting.

"And your name was?" Carlisle asked him with an eyebrow raised and a scowl on his face.

"Mike, Michael Newton. I own Newton Outfitters. It's going to be the next REI." Man this guy was full of himself.

"Okay guys." Ben said coming up to us. "It is time. Each of you will need to pull a number out of this bag and then go and sit at the corresponding table. Remember you will have one minute between ladies to make your notes on the score card. Then at the end you will turn them in and Angela and myself will review them. Don't forget to provide your email address on each card as that is how we will be informing you of which girls liked you as much as you liked them. I now need each of you to pull a number from this bag and then take your seat. Good luck to you all."

As each guy picked a number they left the group for their table. Emmett and Jasper pulled before me and each smacked me on the back as they left to find their tables. I then drew my number and walked over to table seven. I looked around and saw that Emmett and Jasper were at the other side of the room at tables five and six. The layout of this place was kind of nice. There was a row of six semi-circular booths in a large semi-circle. Then there was another set of four semi-circle booths facing the first six. It gave the tables a very comfortable and private feel. As I sat looking around I noticed that Carlisle had taken the booth connected to mine. He wished me luck as he sat down.

We waited for the women to come in. They each walked in and sat down with their first match. The girl that sat in front of me was so perky I really couldn't help but smile. She was cute and sweet. I really couldn't get a single word in though. She was way too perky for me. Not to mention way too short. This woman could easily be taken for a teenager, she was so short. I would be surprised if she was even five feet tall. And she wouldn't stop talking about shopping. That was a definite put off. I was quite happy when the five minutes was up.

I took my minute to write down that she was definitely a perky, happy person but not for me. I then looked up as a quite beautiful blond sat down in front of me. I took a second to give her a once over. She was tall with blond hair and blue eyes. The poster board bimbo in the skanky outfit to boot. Let's just say that I immediately felt like shit for labeling her before I gave her a chance to speak.

"Hello," she said with a smile while she stuck out her hand for me to shake. "My name is Rosalie. And before you get any ideas I am a black belt in Tai Kwan Do and I happen to own my own business."

"Wow, I don't think I actually know anyone who has studied Tai Kwan Do before. And my name is Edward." Am I ever glad that my mother always taught me not to speak if I had nothing nice to say? I am sure this woman would have kicked my ass if I had said what I was thinking.

"What do you do for a living?" She asked still smiling.

"I am a musician."

"Oh really? Are you in any band I have heard of?"

"Not that kind of musician. I play the piano mostly I am commissioned to play for the Philharmonic."

"Does that pay well?"

"It can. I am not in music for the money though." She laughed lightly and I smiled. Her laugh wasn't annoying like some can be. "So you said you own your own business. What is it?"

"I am a mechanic at Rosie's Shop. And the owner that is. It was always my dream to own my own garage. I worked my way through high school and college to be able to own it. I was also helped out by one of my best friend's father. He is a doctor and has become like a second father to me and our other friend Bella."

"It's nice to see a woman that is willing to work hard to make her dreams come true. Congratulations to you." She smiled at me again.

"So Edward, what makes a man play piano for a famous orchestra? And not want to go out there and make his real dent in the world?" She looked shocked for a second. "I didn't mean that like it sounded." She said apologetically.

"No sweat, I get it. I have played piano since I was little. I just feel it is my way to make my mark."

"At least you know what you want from life."

Just then the buzzer went off and Rosalie stood up. "Well it was nice to meet you Edward. Hopefully we will meet again."

"Same here Rosalie. I hope the rest of your evening goes well."

She smiled again as she walked past me to the next table. I watched her walk to Carlisle's table and give him a hug before she sat down. She had a huge smile on her face. I wondered if this was the girl he was telling me about earlier or just one of her friends. I doubt it was her. Rosalie had shown a lot of self confidence. And I am not sure a mechanic is the kind of job someone would have if they were prone to accidentally hurting themselves. I turned back around to write down a few things about Rosalie, than looked up to face another blond. This one was just as tall with a darker blond hair not quite brown though. She also had the most peculiar purple eyes.

"Hi! I'm Heidi. What's your name?" She asked with a wink.

"Edward." I said with a smile as I shook her hand.

"So, Eddie, do you like fishing?"

BPOV

Oh my God! I was so happy when I sat down and was opposite Carlisle. "What are you doing here?" I couldn't wipe the smile from my face.

"Alice and Rose asked if I could help you out. How did they get you here anyway?"

"That would be your wonderful little sprite of a daughter. You may not want to hear this but they think that I have been without a man for far too long. I told them that they needed to leave me alone. Hey, maybe you could help me get them off my back. Please. I would love you forever."

He laughed for a minute before he wiped the tears from his eyes. "I am sorry my dear but I am sure you realize by now that Alice will not listen to what anyone says when she thinks it is what is destined to happen. And I thought that you would already love me forever. Or was I wrong about that?" He tried to look sad for a second but I could see the hint of a smile.

"You know I love you. You have always been there for me. I guess everyone is thrown to the wolves when Alice is involved." He laughed again.

"Bella my dear," He took a quick look around then looked back at me a little more seriously. "You know I love you, Rosalie and Alice right?" I nodded wondering where he was going with this. He then looked around again before looking back at me. "Please, for my peace of mind, be careful. There are quite a few guys in this room that I would love for you three to stay away from. Please be careful."

"I promise Carlisle. Thank you." He grabbed my hand and squeezed it slightly. "Just out of curiosity, is there anyone in the room that you approve of? Because I am sorry I love you, but not like that."

Carlisle laughed again and then nodded. "Actually I think there are a couple gentleman in the room that may be worthy of my three beautiful daughters." I smiled as he said this. I always loved when he thought of me as his daughter. He smiled again as he jerked his head at the guy at the table behind him. "I had quite a conversation with the gentleman behind me and his two friends over on the other wall were quite nice. However," He looked to his left again. "Beware of tables one, two, three, and four. I can't really say anything about the others though."

I looked to the tables he was talking about. The guys at the first couple of tables had kind of shifty looks anyway. I think I was smart enough to be weary of them. The guys across the room, number eight's friends, looked okay, if not a tad intimidating, especially the big guy. I would be finding out about nine and ten soon enough.

"So are you really here for me? Or are you looking for a lucky lady?" I asked knowing we didn't have much time before I was going to be thrown back to the wolves.

"I can honestly say that I came for you." That sounded like a loaded answer.

"Carlisle, I have known you for many a year. I know that that was not as innocent an answer as you are making it out to be."

"I honestly came so you would have someone here with your actual best interests at heart. However," He looked around, trying to find Alice I suppose. He kept going once he found her. His eyes watching the back of her head as she sat at the table behind us. "If I should find … Someone here to which I wouldn't totally despise spending some extra time with …" He looked back at me now. "Would you begrudge me that?"

He had true sadness in his eyes. How could he think that I, that any of us for that matter, would say anything against him finding someone to spend his time with. He was a great father. He had adopted Alice when her parents, his cousin and her husband, died when Alice was only ten years old. This man was a saint. He was a hard worker, and a great friend. Carlisle reached across the table and wiped the tears from my eyes. I had no words for him. But I had to think of something. I did not want him to think that I thought he shouldn't be looking for someone.

The bell rang and I got up and hugged Carlisle before moving to the next table. "Carlisle, dad, you need to do what you think is right. You cannot let what you think Alice, or Rosalie, or even I will think to stop you from finding someone. We love you. You are the best father and you sacrifice so much for others. Please believe me when I say that I hope you do find someone. I will be so happy for you."

I hugged him again before being poked in my side. I looked to my side to be met by Alice's wide eyes. "Get your paws off my father." She said with a huge smile on her face.

I laughed and winked at Alice as I kissed Carlisle on the cheek. I then whispered in his ear before going to the next table. "Tell her the truth. She will tell you the same thing I did." He kissed me on the cheek as I turned to go to table nine.

"Hi, my name is Tyler, what's yours?" Said a happy voice as I sat down.

AN: I am so sorry that I forgot this last time. Thank you so much to esthermarie, My-Bella, and prpurpledragon for all of your help with this story. If it wasn't for you this would still be sitting on my laptop being played with. I guess you are all right. If you fiddle with a story too much it will only make it worse. Much love to you all.