I'm starting this story over! I've read all the chapters and I wasn't very satisfied, so I decided to edit and re-edit and change things and add things and delete things and tweak and prod and… whew. I want to be able to give you guys a great story , so please give this another chance, and shoot me an honest review.

Moonshine

Chapter 1

-The Cotton Club-

First Date

"If you're not here at town hall- get here. Take a cab; hitch a ride- you don't want to miss the speech of the century! But hey- say you can't come, don't worry. Just kick up your dogs and lay back, I'm here to help. Mayor Charlie Swan should be here sometime soon to give the public an earful about this town's criminal problem, and what he's gonna' do about it. It's five PM here in Chicago and we are ab-so-lut- ely-" I cut the radio off there.

I was riding in a separate car- with Jake and his goons- instead of the car my own father was in, and I wasn't happy about it.

"Aw- come on Bella, cheer up!" Jake smiled at me and fake punched my arm.

"Dry up Jake."

"See! What did I tell you? She a regular bear-cat." Jake smiled and leaned back on the seat, winking to his friends. I tuned out as they started talking some new car that was coming out soon.

As their fantasies turned to wheels and metal, mine turned to where they always went. Dancing until dawn, drinking one of those famous cocktails- finding a boy to be goofy about. The life I live is sheltered, and I know it. It hadn't always been this way. I have memories from ages ago, when ma was still with Charlie. The three of us- we were a team. We ate ice cream at the old diner; we swam in the warm waters of the pacific. When ma skipped out, everything changed, Charlie seemed to forget how to show affection. He became livid about his work, and what he wanted to stop was what I dreamed of. Charlie took a stand on all the speakeasies in town- just to spite ma, who ran off with the owner of a speakeasy. Charlie took a stand on many people's happiness- including mine.

"Bella? It's time to go, don't want to be an owl." Jake pulled on my arm and gave me smile. He tried to wrap his arm around me and I shrugged him off.

Jake, yet another person who changed in my life. We went from making mud pies to listening to baseball on the radio. He was there for my awkward childhood, and I had always thought we would be best friends. I don't when or why he changed his thoughts of our relationship- but all I knew is that he was planning on walking me down the middle aisle.

"Ready for your first public appearance?" One of my fathers many assistants asked me. I could never remember their names.

My father has been the mayor for a year, and I hadn't been shown to the public until now. He had rambled on and on about how important it was that the public not know who I am- what with all the gangsters and mobs around. Something horrible could happen to you Bella.As if acting like I didn't exist wasn't horrible enough.

"Your father should be introducing you in about twenty minutes. Feel free to relax kiddo." Billy, my father's adviser and best friend, not to mention Jake's father, rolled his wheelchair over towards the side of the stage. I was left standing alone while everyone's eyes were on my father.

Well I got twenty minutes to kill...

I turned towards the city and started walking down the street. I'm not sure what it was that gave me the impulse to just leave- but my new found freedom felt exhilarating. Mimi's Cafe, Joe's Cleaners, Billiards Hall, there are so many shops and clubs that I had never seen before.

When I turned the corner, in front of me was a bookstore that I was immediately drawn to. The store had variety; mysteries, adventure... they even had all the classics. I love reading novels like Romeo and Juliet, Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice. The deep love etched in the pages was something I could only dream of. The owner of the shop- a sweet little bird named Ethel- showed me around. She told me stories of her grandchildren and her past experiences. I learned that she had just become a widow recently; her husband Carl had passed a couple months ago. Ethel has five children that she loves very dearly and she can't stand to have them far. Her eldest daughter is just about to make her a grandmother. She brought me back into her past- telling me stories of how Carl had courted her and their lives raising their five children.

I was almost envious of the life she had. In her stories there were celebrations and parties, laughter and happiness, anger and sadness, but never a loss of love. I wished I had that.

She introduced me to many different books, books she knew that I would love. How she came to know me in such a short time was a mystery to me, but she said that she had the ability to read people.

"This book just came in recently. It's not very popular with the public yet." She pulled out a book titled The Great Gatsby.

I caressed the cover, "What is this about?"

"Well, I guess on the surface most would think that it is a raging romance between Gatsby and his off-limits girl. I suppose that is what the story is about."

The cover was peculiar, so strange and foreign to me, "What about under the surface?"

Ethel smiled, "I will leave that to you." She pushed the book towards me. I caught up with her meaning shortly.

"Oh Ethel, you're too kind. Here let me pay." I reached into the pockets of my dress to find a couple coins, but it was pointless. I never carried any money with me.

She just smiled and shook her head, "Oh no charge dear. You fascinate me, and let me tell you it's been awhile since I have met someone of your age that fascinates me like you do. I can see the intelligence you have, the potential in your eyes. You remind me of, well... me when I was younger." She nudged my arm towards the door, the book still tucked in my arm, " Now run along- it's suppertime. Your elders must be worried."

I grinned, "Bye Ethel."

"Bye Isabella. Hope to see you again." With a wink she left me standing outside her shop. Only now did her words make sense. She had said suppertime; I had been in the shop for over an hour. Charlie, Jake, Billy, they must all be worried about me. I had missed my father's speech and my first appearance in public. I clutched the book tighter to me and looked around. There was nobody out anymore; everyone was either away at home or in a restaurant. The vacant feeling was disorienting. I walked down the street- past all the glowing lights- trying to find the way back from where I came from. Somehow I knew I was going the wrong way- for I had wandered deeper into the city. I was just about to give up when I spotted a group of men walking across the street. They were laughing and pushing each other playfully, and they looked to be about my age. I figured the only way I would find my way out- is to ask for help.

"Excuse me!" I took a step out into the street.

All of the men seemed to turn at the same time; strange smiles crossed their faces.

"Can you help me?" My voice had gone meek; something told me they were not the right people to ask.

"Hey little lady, what are you doing all alone?"

"Looks like we got ourselves a guest, huh Frank."

"Sure baby, we can help you."

"Well ain't she water-proof"

The men started getting closer and at that moment I knew I was in trouble.

"You know what, I don't really need any help" My voice shook, and I didn't sound as confident as I wanted to, "I've figured out where I am."

They all just laughed and kept on coming closer- I was getting backed up onto a brick wall. Out of the corner of my eye I looked right and left, trying to gauge how far I could run until they caught me. I took a deep breath and prayed that I could run far enough into the city so that somebody would find me. As I broke out into a run I heard their voices call after me.

"Hey, where ya going!"

Their footsteps echoed behind me- and I felt the need to run even faster- my book clutched to my chest. Today just had to be the day my dad made me wear a longer skirt and heels. I stumbled a few times, but caught myself quickly. I ran as fast as I could but they had the advantage of longer legs and more power, and they were closing in on me. I quickly turned the corner, and almost immediately I ran straight into a hard object. Judging by the big "oomph" I heard when I ran into him- it was another man. He had caught himself before he fell, but I wasn't so lucky. I fell right on my back, and I scrambled to get up.

"There you are!" The other men had finally caught up. I cringed and tucked into myself, but the air was silent.

I took the opportunity to quickly look around and find out what was happening. There had been four men chasing me, all tall and intimidating. The man I had ran into was not quite as tall or built as them, but his features made up for it. He had emerald green eyes, as green as the jewelry my mother used to wear. He was lean, but definitely strong; as he reached up to run his hand through his hair, his muscles flexed underneath his shirt. He wore black pants with a belt- a crease down the line of each pant leg, along with a nice white dress shirt and a black satin tie. An old, beat-up black fedora covered his shaggy golden brown, almost copper, hair. Despite his pretty face, he looked beyond furious.

"I send you goons out for One. Simple. Task. I ask you not screw something up for once, and you swear to me you won't goof around. And now I see with my own eyes, that you fools, and two of you fools even have wives, are taking advantage of an innocent girl. Scum." His voice was like velvet- but he spoke with authority.

I balked, all of these men, who were bigger and buffer than the one perfect one, were staring at him sheepishly.

Only one of them dared to speak, "Um, sorry boss, she was just... lost. She was lost and she was asking for help, and we were trying to help. I guess she thought we were, trying to hurt her, or something."

"Tell it to Sweeney."

All four of them flinched.

"Now scram."

They all scrambled and pushed each other in their haste to get away.

I took a deep breath, grateful that I had ran into the man with the beautiful eyes and copper hair, "Hey thanks, you really helped me." I busied myself with brushing myself off. The book Ethel had given me was lying on the sidewalk, and I reached to pick it up.

"Hey- you all right?" his voice suddenly was closer.

I blushed, "Copacetic."

A hand appeared in front of my face, and I hesitantly took it. His strong hold took me by surprise, and seconds later I was inches from his face. I studied him, every line every detail. Charlie went through this period of introducing me to every boy he deemed worthy of courting me. I spent months going out with handsome men, and listening to them spiel every line in the book. But this guy, compared to all the men I had met, trumped them all.

"You sure?" his breath was hot on my face. I realized how close we really were, he was still holding one of my hands, and I was pressed flush up to his chest.

"I'm sure." I blushed even deeper.

He chuckled, took a step back and offered his hand, "I'm Edward."

I shyly offered my own, "I'm Isabella. Well, Bella."

I tried to pull away but he brought my hand to his mouth and kissed it, "Pleasure to meet you."

I smiled slightly, "Likewise."

Before I could hyperventilate and pass out on the sidewalk, I turned and started walking back where I came from. I could hear Edward jog to catch up with me.

"May I ask you where you're going? It's not safe for a doll like you to be wandering alone at night. At least let me get you where you need to be." He kept pace with me easily.

I shrugged, "Well, I'm not entirely sure where I'm going either. I'm kind of- lost. Those guys weren't lying when they said I was asking for directions. I wandered away from my pops and... Just ended up here."

We walked in silence while he considered that.

"You said your name was Isabella? Is it Isabella Swan?"

I stopped dead in my tracks, "How do you know that?"

He smiled a dazzling crooked smile, "Won't you let me take you out to dinner?"

I shook my head, "That's not an answer."

He took a step towards me- I couldn't think when he was this close, "I'll take you to my restaurant. People say it's the bee's knees."

He seemed trustworthy, and I was hungry. I could probably get him to talk when we were eating. Why I accepted his offer, when all reason and logic pointed against it, I did not understand. As we walked my mind turned back to it's ultimate fantasy; speakeasies, liquor, dancing, laughing, a new dream took place in my head. Edward and I, together. He was dreamy, yes, but completely off limits. I imagined plenty of girls crushing on him. I was just one in a million.

My insecure thoughts were interrupted when a trio of men seemed to appear out of nowhere, walking straight towards us. I stole a glance at Edward, and he didn't seem concerned. His facial expressions and body language remained the same. Unconsciously, I drifted closer to him, seeking his comfort. The closer the men got the more nervous I was, and before long I was sliding my arm through his, gripping tightly. He looked over and just seemed to notice my discomfort.

"Hey, it's alright. I'm here." He whispered in my ear.

I just nodded and pressed my head into his shoulder. The four men chasing me before had been enough; I couldn't stand being alone in this city.

Edward being with me brought a sense of security I hadn't felt ever before.

"Well if it isn't little Eddie!" A voice boomed.

I lifted my head momentarily from Edward's shoulder to peek at the three boys, and they just seemed to notice me.

"Well, well, well, looks like he finally found himself a moll!"

I blushed- they thought...

"Bout time, huh." Edward laughed along with them. I shoot him a curious gaze- and he just shook his head at me. I took that as a sign to stay quiet and just agree with what he was saying. I kept hanging on to Edward as they talked, and found myself tuning out. I replayed the events of the day in my head. It started out normal, me being dressed up in gaudy clothing and eating breakfast with the nanny instead of dad. Jacob and his friends had come to pick me up and take me to the place where my father was supposed to be delivering his speech. The drive had been long and boring- I had to endure a bunch of small talk. Somehow I had ended up in a wonderful bookstore, and before I knew it- into Edward's arms. I'm miles away from home, in an unfamiliar town with an unfamiliar boy.

And the weirdest thing is- I feel right at home.

I was snapped back into reality when Edward tugged on my arm a bit to get me moving. Millions of questions were running through my mind.

"I feel so out-of-the-loop. Everybody but me seems to know exactly who you are." I made no move to untangle my arm from his, and he didn't seem to mind.

He chuckled under his breath, "We don't exactly run in the same circle."

Before I could respond he stopped in front of a tall building.

"We're here." he swept his arm around like a showcase girl. I looked up to see a sign reading The Cotton Club, flickering above me.

"Edward," I breathed, "Your restaurant is The Cotton Club."

He chuckled nervously, "Yeah...look if-"

"I've always wanted to go here! This is like a dream come true!" Before I could actually think about it, I had jumped into his arms and wrapped mine around him tight.

He was surprised, but wrapped his own around my waist quickly. "Well I'm glad I could make that dream come true."

I pulled back and blushed, and he chuckled while pushing a stray hair out of my face.

"Come on, you must be hungry."

First Impressions

"Where is Edward- I'm hungry." Alice sighed and pushed her short bangs out of her face. Jasper rested his hand over hers.

"Is that him?" Rose pointed over towards the entrance. Edward was there alright, hugging a girl nobody had seen before.

"Edward never told us he had a Sheba! She looks pretty." Alice turned back to the rest of the people at the table, "I'll have to razz him about not telling me later, I wonder if she's a flapper." Her face light up, anyone could see a thousand things were running through her mind.

Jasper shook his head, "It's not any of our beeswax Alice."

She pouted, "Well- you'll help you won't you Em?"

The man, Em presumably, grinned, "Of course sis."

"We mind as well order now. Edward looks a little wrapped up at the moment. Sides', we're going to have to open up the juice joint in a bit. I need my strength." Rose rubbed her leg on Emmett's suggestively. He leaned in to give her a kiss.

She put her hand over his face, "Banks closed." His pout was enough to make her smirk.

Jasper called over Susan, the waitress, so they could all order. They pretended not to pay attention to Edward and the new girl laughing and hugging out front, but anybody who saw them knew better. Something had changed.
-

"It was in the 1920s, when nobody had time to reflect, that I saw a still-life painting with a flower that was perfectly exquisite, but so small you really could not appreciate it."

-Georgia O'Keeffe