CHAPTER ONE: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

"Isabella Swan?"

"That's Bella Swan, Professor Coolidge," Bella said, rolling her eyes at his mistake after she reminded him time and time again she preferred to be called Bella. She knew she shouldn't have, but she hated having to get used to people constantly using a name she hated. And considering she had been in Coolidge's class for two months already she would think he would know her name by now.

"Yes," Coolidge murmured in his usual monotone, but she knew he wouldn't remember. "Here's your quiz, quite a tumble from the last I must say. The real test will be next week, if you fail that I would hate for you to be my student next semester."

Bella glared at him and snatched her quiz from his hand and walked out of the class. Once she was out in the hallway, she finally looked at the grade written atop her test paper. Dammit! Her parents were going to kill her when they found out. Bella shook her head, twenty-two years old and she was still afraid of her parents—well, mother and step-dad. Phil and Renee expected their only daughter to do well at law school and make exceptionally good grades so she could take over the family law firm one day. It was Bella's first year of law school and already she had a C. She would have to tell her parents, because knowing her parents they would find out anyway. And Bella didn't want to have liar on the list of everything against her too. As Bella walked out the building towards the parking lot all she could think about was how she hated her life. Her parents never let her think for herself ever. Even when Bella finally moved out of the family estate a year ago her parents didn't support her moving and they would drop by her apartment unannounced for a month to be sure she could actually take care of herself.

Phil and Renee never trusted their daughter to lead her own life so instead they had mapped it out for Bella her whole life. Bella went to the college of Phil's alma mater because it was expected. She couldn't take her dream job of working at the popular teen club called Night Vision when she was seventeen because her Mom made her be a gopher at the family firm instead. And worst of all, none of Bella's boyfriends were acceptable to bring in the infamous Renee and Phil's presence. If the guy didn't fit Phil and Renee's crazy list of expectations they made sure their daughter didn't go out with the kid. Needless to say when Bella's prom came, she hired Ben Cheney to pretend to be her date for a hundred and fifty dollars (he's expensive) and then he took her to pick up her real prom date after meeting the parents who absolutely loved Ben, as expected of course. They would have never liked Tyler Crowley, her real prom date and then high school boyfriend. Who was all about bumpin' hiphop and gangsta rap from his Escalade while driving high above the speed limit and cutting off other cars. Though Tyler had a death wish, he was one of the sweetest guys Bella had ever met and they were still friends till this day. But you could never tell Phil and Renee that, they only liked guys like Ben Cheney—perfect on the surface and perfect on paper.

Bella started her Altima and drove home feeling even more stressed than usual. She didn't think she could handle law school anymore. Law was just something she had no interest in whatsoever. Bella obviously took it to please Phil and Renee and get them off her back. Bella didn't understand why she had to be the one to handle the family law firm one day. Why did her parents force her to do it? At times like this, Bella hated her parents for never considering her feelings. And she hated herself for never standing up to them.

When Bella got to her apartment, which was in the perfect neighbourhood of course—her parents wouldn't accept nothing less—she called her best friend Jacob Black. It was Friday and she wanted to go dancing like she did every weekend. Dance was the only time Bella felt free, dancing always made her forget the stress of her life. She always felt like the weights were being lifted off her shoulders when she did a spin or a new move she just invented. Bella use to take dance classes until she was ten, and even though she was clumsy and knocked everyone over at her Swan Lake recital, she practised and what came out of it was knowing ballet wasn't her calling. Tyler introduced her to hip hop when they became friends at eleven, and she fell in love—and not with just the dance. When she was fourteen and her parents found out, they made her quit because she was in high school now and she was expected to pay even more attention to her studies and in-school extracurriculars that would look good on her college applications. So the only time Bella could dance was at parties with her friends or clubs. Dancing was way too fun for her to give up doing completely just because her parents wanted her to.

"Hello," Jacob picked up on the first ring and Bella smiled.

For some reason all Bella's friends were guys, it wasn't that she didn't get along with girls or anything. It was just she was one of those girls who were considered to be just one of the guys because she could do everything the guys could or better. When she was kid she was always rough housing with the guys and playing football or basketball. But her parents made her stop because a lady wasn't suppose to act like that. So even though that Bella was now a girlie girl she still had her tomboy moments and she stuck to having all guy friends. She felt more comfortable around guys and attracting guys friends became second nature. Though it sometimes had its bad moments, the guys girlfriends would always get jealous and some of the girls even wanted to do damage to her like this girl named Lauren—but that's another story.

"Picked up on the first ring? Mmm you must be bored," Bella said. "How long have you been waiting for me to call?"

Bella could tell he was rolling his eyes, "You flatter yourself way too much Bella. But you're right I am bored out of my mind, so let me guess you want to go dancing tonight?"

"Do you even need to ask?" Bella laughed lightly. "And besides I need to get my mind off my quiz score. I got a C."

Jacob felt her pain, he knew how Renee and Phil were, and for that reason he stayed away from them completely. He always felt like they were judging him just because his family didn't have as much money or because he went to a cooking school instead of college. "A C isn't that bad."

"Are you kidding?" Bella said in disbelief. "My mom tripped because she found out I got a B in one of my classes last quarter. It's straight A's and nothing else is acceptable you know that."

Jacob sighed, "Bella, don't stress about that, you know its impossible to live up to your parents standards and its time you stopped trying."

"What do you mean?" Bella asked confused.

"Bella, you know what I mean. It's time you stand up to them, you're going to make yourself sick if everything you do in your life is for them," Jacob said matter of factually. "When you're older you're going to regret not following your dreams and I don't want to see you so unhappy going to a job you hate everyday. And face it Bella, you'd never cut it out as a lawyer, you're just too nice."

Bella laughed, "I'm too nice to be a lawyer? What does that mean?"

Jacob knew she was choosing to ignore everything he just told her so he let it slide that time, the girl was already stressed enough. "Oh please, you can't even lie to your parents without stuttering or getting remorseful. And you plain suck at arguments, and when things get tough you tend to either run away or fold instead of face it head on. How are you going to be a Prosecutor if you can't even do those simple things?"

"Wow, that was straight to the point," Bella said quietly, and she expected nothing less with Jacob. It was always no holds barred with him, Jacob always told her the truth because he wanted what's best for her but in a different way from her parents and Bella appreciated that.

Jacob figured it was time for a change of subject before Bella shrunk further in her shell of depression that she so desperately tried to hide from him, "So what time are you picking me up tonight? My car's in the shop again, I wish I had the money to get a new one."

"I'll pick you up at say...seven? and don't worry, you can always call me for a ride," Bella said.

"Seven is good, so you want to be my chauffeur now? Wow, I knew it was a good idea to become friends with you in Junior High," Jacob said.

Bella laughed, and her sour mood lifted once again with Jacob's words. He always knew how to make her laugh, he was a great best friend. "Damn right I'll be your chauffeur, so tonight you'll address me as Ms. Swan and I'll expect a bonus by the end of the night."

"You'd charge a struggling chef?" Jacob said in mock disappointment. "Maybe I should have listened to Ben Cheney in high school when he called you evil."

"He did not! And if he did, it was probably because I never wanted to date his spoiled ass," Bella remarked. "It's weird that you brought up Ben, I was just thinking of him for some reason today."

"Why?" Jacob asked surprised, knowing how much Bella despised the guy.

"Well whenever I think of my senior prom, he comes up too. It's inevitable," Bella said.

"Oh yeah, that was absolutely hilarious!" Jacob said, as the memory of his best friend's prom date or dates came to him again. "I thought Tyler would kill Ben because he refused to leave you alone, even after you paid him he still acted like he was your real prom date instead of Tyler."

"I know, I would have at least gave Tyler a dance if he didn't charge me so much," Bella said with a laugh. "He brought it on himself."

"I think that was the only time you never got caught by your parents," Jacob said. "Thinking about it, I think that was the only time you ever defied your parents also. A little lies here and there, but it was the only time you didn't do exactly what was expected of you. You did something for yourself. Where is that girl again?"

Bella rolled her eyes, "You're talking to her."

"Really?" Jacob said skeptically. "Whatever you say sunshine..."

Later that night, Bella was dressed in her standard club clothes: a short sequined silver dress that reached mid thigh, adorned with translucent black tights. To complete her look Bella wore open toe tall heels that made her legs as long as possible. Her dark brown hair was curlier than usual and she had a few new accessories to make herself look even more beautiful—a thick black belt cinching her waist, and matching hoop earrings. Jacob was going to die when he saw her. He always took it upon himself to be her protector—Jacob was like the older brother she never had, despite being a year younger than her. He hated when Bella came out the house showing too much skin and so would make her go change. But Bella was doing the driving tonight and picking Jacob up, so there was no way he could talk her into changing. Jacob would just have to deal.

Bella pulled up in front of Jacob's house on the reserve five minutes after seven. She honked her horn and seconds later the Native American came out. He was looking handsome as usual, his black hair straight. He was gorgeous and made of muscle, but that never phased Bella. To her he was her best friend and brother rolled into one, who was always trying to tell her what to do and make sure no one hurt her.

"You honked your horn? You're such a guy," Jacob was saying as he opened her car door. He stopped immediately when saw what she was wearing. He hopped into the car and tried to remain calm and Bella started to drive off. He looked her over again with a critical eye and Bella caught it.

"What?" Bella said annoyed, knowing he wanted to criticize her outfit.

"That outfit is too drastic for fall weather," he muttered under his breath before trying to shrug nonchalantly, "Nothing, I just never knew you could come outside looking...like that!"

Bella rolled her eyes, "Please, if it was any girl but me wearing this you would be all over her."

"Damn right I would, I am a guy of course," Jacob said looking at her as if she was crazy. "But thats beside the point. The point is you can't go to Circa looking like that. You'd be a target for every drunk guy looking to get some!"

Bella laughed, "No matter what I wear I'm always a target for every drunk guy looking to get some! So chill out Jacob. And you're with me, so I know no guy will be able to get within a inch of me with you as my personal bodyguard."

"Do you think I like going out with you to be your personal bodyguard? I want to have fun too," Jacob sighed. "But how can I when I obviously have to keep a eye out for you."

Bella was definitely beyond annoyed now, "There's no rule that says you have to watch out for me. I'm twenty-two years old Jacob and I can take care of myself. I have a father and I don't need another overbearing one!"

"Whatever," Jacob said shaking his head. He busied himself with putting in one of Bella's mixed CDs. He leaned back in relaxed in his seat as the music overtook him.

After a moment of silently singing along to the music Bella said, "So are you not talking to me now? Jacob! You know I'll never leave you alone unless you talk. You know you want to... you get so sad when we're not speaking."

"Gosh you're so annoying," Jacob finally said. "No I'm not mad at you, now lets forget this. Well actually I can't, all I have to do is look at what you're wearing and I remember what we were just talking about."

"Jacob!" Bella said. "You are too much. Now behave, we arrived."

The parking lot at Circa was already full and Bella instantly sent out a sigh of frustration. A full parking lot meant she would have to park at least a block or two away to get a space for her Altima. "This sucks, if I walk in these heels my feet are going to be aching by time we get in Circa."

"What are those? Four inches? Are you trying to kill yourself?" Jacob joked.

Bella chuckled, glad Jacob was back to joking again, "You're a guy, you couldn't possibly understand."

Luckily Bella found a parking space a half a block away from the club, so it wouldn't be too much walking for her. But as she actually walked, Bella had to admit she was tempted to have Jacob carry her on his back like when they were kids. But then Jacob would be all 'I told you so' and Bella could not have that.

The two friends walked into quake to find the loudest party atmosphere that you could find in Arizona. Circa was the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights. Anyone who was anyone was there and the place had a strict dress code, so you had to be dressed right or you could not get in. One of the reasons Bella loved the place so much was because her parents absolutely hated it, they were so convinced that it was a club used for drug running. The ideas her parents had sometimes were just so out there that all Bella could do was shake her head and pretend she wasn't related to the most unhip people in the world. Circa was actually a upscale establishment mostly full of the older college kids and mid to late twenties crowd. Never once has something of drugs come up since Bella started regularly going to the club when she turned twenty-one. It's not like she was so naive to believe that type of stuff didn't happen, but from what she seen of Circa over the year mostly everyone was just looking to have fun more than anything.

Already Bella felt eyes on her, and she knew the guys were checking her out. She just hoped Jacob didn't notice or he'd go all big brother on her again. She loved Jacob but sometimes he needed to leave things alone. If Jacob had his way, she'd dress like her mother. All conservative in nothing but khaki skirt's and turtlenecks. No way would Bella ever be like that. "Let's get a table so I can rest my feet before I dance okay?"

"Why don't you get a table and I'll get us some drinks," Jacob said already head toward the bar.

"Sure," Bella called, then she turned and head in the other direction.

"Well look who's here," a smooth male voice said from behind Bella.

Bella smiled as she recognized it, she spun on her heels to be met with Tyler. Her ex-boyfriend, but better friend. He was dressed in his usual club apparel of baggy jeans and a baggy t-Shirt to match, and his hair was braided into perfect cornrolls. Much to the annoyance of Bella, their's was a relationship that could never work but Bella couldn't help but admire his attractive features anytime. No girl wouldn't be able to ignore Tyler, which was a pain in itself when they were dating. "I should have known you'd be here. Where's the lucky lady?"

"Lucky lady?" Tyler feigned ignorance.

"Well if you're not here with any one, then you're most definitely came to chase skirts," Bella said with her hands on her hips.

"My, my Bella, you're looking hot this evening," Tyler said, slowing looking her up and down. "Are you trying to make me wish we never broke up?"

Bella rolled her eyes, "We both know we make better friends, so that distraction technique isn't going to work on me."

Tyler laughed, "C'mon I set up shop back here, come join me."

Bella smiled as she followed him to his table, he pulled her chair out for her like the perfect gentlemen he was or was most of the time anyway.

"So I'm guessing you came with your partner in crime?" Tyler said as he sat across from her.

"Jacob?" Bella said as Tyler nodded. "Of course, you know Jacob never lets me go out to clubs alone. He's like a bulldog or something, trying to keep the guys away."

"Don't I know it," Tyler said. "You remember the hard time he gave me when we first went out the summer before senior year? He's a year younger but he looks older than everyone our year!"

"Oh jeez," As the flood of memories came back. "Let's not go there."

"Go where?" Jacob finally appeared, sliding two drinks on the table. He glanced at Tyler and smiled, "What's up man?"

Tyler nodded at him, "We were talking about how you wouldn't let me near Bella with a ten foot pole when we first started going out."

Jacob laughed, "I don't think anyone would blame me with how insane you drive, I doubted Phil and Renee would have liked to have known the boyfriend of their daughter they never met got her in a accident."

"And its a good thing I never met the infamous Phil and Renee face to face then," Tyler said.

Bella would have gotten uncomfortable talking about her parents with Tyler in the past, but they were over it now. One of the reasons they broke up was because she had to keep Tyler hidden from her parents at all costs and he hated all the secrets. Bella didn't blame Tyler for rethinking their relationship and then they both decided their relationship was too crazy so they just ended it.

"Well you guys have fun talking, because I'm about to have some fun dancing," Bella said getting up from the table.

"Be careful out there," Jacob said, taking a sip of his drink.

"Don't worry so much Dad," Bella grinned and Tyler laughed.

"That girl has claws, don't worry so much Jacob," Tyler said with a smirk.

"I don't even want to know how you know that," Jacob said with a mock shudder.

Bella ignored them as she walked off, muttering 'Guys' under her breath.

Once on the dance floor Bella let loose, when she danced she seemed like she didn't have a care in the world. The only thing that was on her mind was the music and what move would go with each beat. She moved flawlessly, breaking out the moves that you hardly ever see every day... or at least at Circa. You could tell that Bella had choreographed the moves herself. It wasn't like she went out of her way making up moves in her apartment front room or anything, it was just every time she was at the club she challenged herself to come up with something new. It was something everyone around her appreciated, to see dances so fresh that it constantly held your attention. Soon Bella had the whole dance floors attention and they all moved out of her way and surrounded her as she danced, watching in awe. Bella could see Tyler and Jacob rolling their eyes at her antics because she had done it so many times before, but cheering her own nonetheless, they knew the girl could dance and was impressed each time at the funk she possessed.

"Go Bella!" A few people shouted. Since she was a regular at Circa, Bella had quite a few acquaintances at the club. And everyone at Circa loved the energy Bella would bring to the club each week she came. Everyone was surprised that Bella couldn't see it, see how much natural talent she had.

Sitting in the far end corner of the bar across the room, a young man who was once frowning looked up curiously at the commotion that was coming from the dance floor. He was dressed in basic black to blend in, so no one would approach him. He wasn't in the mood to chat, he never was anymore. But he guessed it didn't make since that he was in a club if he wasn't looking to be social. But he had to get out of his hotel, his best friend and that annoying sibling of his were driving him nuts. Trying to get him to talk and open up, he wanted none of that. Circa wasn't too far from the hotel and the young man had decided he really needed a drink. Now he was pushing the glass of brandy away uninterestedly.

What could be the big deal that everyone was just standing at the sides watching? he wondered. Well, he was never the type to sit around, so he slowly got up and walked toward the dance floor where all the commotion was taking place. He had to shuffle through a few unpleased people but he made it forward and was met with what captivated the clubbers of Circa.

He knew a lot about the art of dance at his young age, more than people knew and he could tell that this girl came up with her own dance moves. And she moved all right, he was practically entranced as she moved on beat exuding sexiness he never seen from a girl. The girl dancers he always been around moves sometimes bordered on skanky. This girl was a natural born dancer, not a club dancer where you saw all the same splits and spins in such repetitiveness. Her dancing was a style he never seen. She was perfect to take Tanya Denali's place. He had to get her. He wondered who she was. Then he heard some of her friends say "Go Bella! It's your birthday! Go! Go!"

And he knew instantly Bella was the mystery dancer and he had to talk to her. He just hoped she accepted his offer.

Bella laughed in delight as the song ended, "Thank you! Now if you'll excuse me people, I'm a little thirsty."

People laughed, and instantly started dancing again as a hip-hop song blared.

Bella made it over back to her table and took her drink in one gulp.

"Worked up a sweat Bella?" Tyler asked with a grin.

"You know it!" Bella said happily, every time she danced she always had the biggest high.

"Glad you came back, now I can leave, Jacob is driving me crazy," Tyler said standing up. "Now I can see what the sexy ladies in this club have to offer."

"Too much information Tyler," Bella said with a laugh. "I'm still your ex-girlfriend."

Tyler just laughed and too off and Bella turned to Jacob.

"Ever think about getting back with him?" Jacob asked her.

Bella looked at him surprised, "You're kidding right? Tyler and I were so wrong for each other and we couldn't handle each other's life styles."

"I know, but he was a lot better than some of your recent boy toys," Jacob said.

"Uh you're so wrong, get away! Go dance or something!" Bella joked.

Jacob rolled his eyes then scanned the club, "Hmm, that chick over there is looking hot."

"Well go ask her to dance, stupid," Bella said pushing him out of his chair practically.

"Don't have to push now, I'll gladly go," Jacob said with a smirk.

Bella was a little bored sitting at the table by herself, especially since she was done with her drink so she got up and headed towards the bar. She took a seat on one of the empty stools, "A rum and coke please." She was about to pay, but a hand holding a twenty beat her to it. Bella looked up to find herself staring into the most gorgeous green eyes she ever seen.

"Umm, you don't have to do that."

"But I want to," green eyes said in a enticing deep voice.

Bella examined him closely and shrugged. The guy was over six feet, and he was dressed too casual for a club, suggesting that he either didn't care how he looked or coming to Circa was a last minute decision. He had cut close copper hair that was lined up perfectly. Even though he was only wearing jeans and a regular t-shirt, everything about him screamed expensive. Maybe it was the silver watch with small diamonds circling it's face, and the obviously costly shoes. It was odd but Bella's father bought the same brand of shoes, and they equalled a months rent at her small apartment. "Sure, I guess." At least he wasn't going overboard with the jewelry and clothes like some of the wannabes Bella knew of.

She sipped her drink and looked over at the guy who was now sitting on the stool next to her, she noticed him giving her looks too. But it wasn't the type of looks she usually got from guys. He didn't even seem to notice her short or low cut dress—okay maybe that wasn't exactly true, his eyes did travel to her legs a couple of times.

"So Bella—"

Bella looked at him confused, "How did you know my name?"

He just smirked, "It's hard not to, when you practically had the whole club screaming it when you danced."

Bella giggled, "Right."

"Right," he repeated. "You're really talented you know that?"

Bella shot him a weird look, she always heard she was a good dancer but this was the first time she heard the word talented, "Thanks I guess."

"You guess?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "So what dance class do you take?"

Bella looked lost in thought for a moment, "Jeez, the last time I took a dance class I was about 15, but that was just a friend teaching me a few moves..."

He looked at her shocked, "So when did you come up with your routine?"

"Routine?" Bella laughed. "That was just random dancing, it wasn't a big deal."

"Are you kidding?" he asked. "I would have thought you choreographed every moved you did. Your dancing was absolutely flawless, like you always knew what you're next move was going to be."

"I just love to dance thats all. So I never met a guy so interested in dancing before," Bella said.

He shrugged, "I guess you could say its what I do for a living."

Bella nodded, growing a little bored with their conversation. The guy was cute, but the experience she had with club guys was not a good one, most of them just wanted somebody in their bed by the end of the night, and she could barely hear him anyway over the music, "Yeah, I think I'm going to go find my friends, I'll see you later."

"Wait!" he said, grabbing her arms.

Bella looked down at his hands on her arms and he instantly let her go, "Sorry, its just I wanted to ask—"

"Ask what?" Bella asked looking at him confused. This guy was acting really weird.

"What are you doing here?!" a rude female voice interrupted.

Bella turned to see Lauren Mallory, also known as Bella's walking nightmare. She was also Jacob's ex-girlfriend and for some reason she blamed Bella for their break up. When in actuality Lauren was just jealous that Jacob had a girl best friend and she always tried to accuse Bella of trying to steal Jacob from her. Jacob couldn't take Lauren's outrageous behaviour anymore and dumped her.

"Lauren, how wonderful to see you again!" Bella said sarcastically. "It's hard to believe it's been a month or so since I've seen you."

"Yeah, and its your fault!" Lauren snapped.

Bella rolled her eyes, "Look Lauren, I came here to have fun not get into a fight with you, so if you'll excuse me."

"No you're not going anywhere, first you steal my boyfriend—"

"You can't be serious?" Bella said, she shook her head and walked away from the belligerent girl. Bella quickly went to find Jacob so she could leave. No way could she have fun with Lauren pestering her. Jacob gave the brunette he was dancing with a kiss on the cheek and they quickly bounced from the club, Bella completely forgetting all about that guy for the moment as she complained about Lauren all the way on the car ride home.