LyricalKris A/N: Aieeeee this fic came out of nowhere. Well, no, that's not true. This fic was born when Bella said "I want to write a LARP fic, but I shouldn't," and I was like, "Damn, now I want to write a LARP fic, but I shouldn't!" So we're like… but if each of us writes half of one… ah huh! Cheeeaaaaats.

EveryDayBella A/N: My brain, it does silly, silly things to me. I was watching LARP and the New Girl (Supernatural) and this plot bunneh bounced across my head, and then Kris fed the bunneh. Moral of this story: I must stop watching tv.

General notes: Edward's PoV will be done by EveryDayBella and Bella's by LyricalKris.

Edward watched Bella talk with her boss from over the top of the cubicle. He'd watched this scene a hundred times and knew exactly what they were saying.

Boss: Bella, I need you to pick up an extra project.

Bella: Of course, sir.

Boss: And it's due at the end of the week.

Bella: Right away, sir.

The thing Edward had always found strange about this exchange was the fact she did it without groaning or bitching that she was picking up someone else's work. Any of the other helpless saps there would have kicked up a storm, but not Bella. She did her work without another word. Edward called her a pushover and had never known what to think of the small, brown-haired girl. Now, he had need of her.

He watched her, head down, long hair falling in her face, until finally her boss appeared satisfied and walked away. Then Edward straightened the tie around his neck and ran a hand through his hair in an effort to bring some order to the disorganized mass. Charm was more than a matter of words after all.

With a cocky swagger, Edward leaned on the cabinet next to where Bella was fixing her coffee. He didn't miss the fact that her head remained down and she took no notice of him. This caused a moment of uncertainty. Everyone knew when he was there. He just had a presence. Still, Edward refused to be unnerved. No one had turned him down since he learned how to ask.

"So, Bella, is that a new haircut? I gotta say, it's gorgeous today." Edward knew there was nothing different about the plain, brown curls that tumbled about her face, but the easiest way to catch a girl off guard was to compliment their appearance. Bella was pretty, but she wasn't Edward's style. Nope, this was business

"No, it's the same as always." Bella's voice was soft and muffled. Edward had never heard her raise her voice. It was one of the reasons that he had filed her under Easily Manipulated.

"Oh, well, like I said, it's really pretty." Edward infused just the right amount of allure into his voice, baiting the hook.

She sighed and raised her head. This rattled Edward a little. Bella didn't usually look at people when she talked to them. Some called her ice queen because of it, but Edward didn't think that was fair. He just thought she was awkward. He had no idea what to make of her meeting his gaze, and he didn't like one bit. "Look, Edward, what do you want? I have work to do."

He quickly erased the frown from his face. It was just Bella. There was not a lot going on there. He could charm her just like every other girl. "I don't mean to annoy you. Sorry. I was just going to ask a favor."

He moved to the side and slumped his shoulders, giving the appearance that he had been beaten. He hadn't of course; it was just part of the game. He played the game very well.

She sighed again and rolled her dark brown eyes. "Just spit it out. How can I help you?"

"Well, see my brother, Emmett, scored tickets to the Blackhawk's game, and he wants me to go, only I've got a project I have to stay late for. You know what, it's not a big deal. I'll just tell him I'll go next time."

Edward began to walk away, fully expecting Bella to pull him back. After all, who didn't want to help him?

"Whatever." Bella shrugged and went back to her coffee.

Edward stared in shock. This play had never failed him. It was like fishing; you baited the hook, and you reeled the fish in. Bella wasn't even nibbling though.

Knowing that he couldn't just stand there, he would look like an idiot after all, he pulled the next idea out of his hat and hoped it worked. Bella would appreciate the sympathy card, right?

"I, uh, haven't seen him in about six months. He only recently got stationed here." It wasn't an outright lie. Emmett had just been stationed there, but Edward had seen him the week before.

"Okay, can the crap." She rolled her eyes. He could have sworn there was a half amused smirk hidden in her lips. She didn't sound amused at all. If anything, she was annoyed. "You and I both know the games you play. If you want something, spit it out. If not, I have more important things to take care of."

Edward blinked in shock. This was Bella? He was forced to look at her with fresh eyes. She was short, but not small. She stood straight with her shoulders back. Her hair wasn't as dull as he had thought but slightly glossy. Her round face was soft and her eyes hid a spark of mischievousness. He had been wrong. There was more to Bella than met the eye.

"Look, I want to go to the game with my brother, but I'm a little behind. Help me out?"

Bella shrugged and he watched her eyes as they wandered over his body. He would have said that she was checking him out, but there was nothing sexual in her gaze. She was measuring him up for something and he had no idea what. This was odd, very odd.

After she had made the trek from his shiny, black shoes to the top of his fly away, red hair, she pressed her lips together and thought for a moment. "If I do this, you'd owe me."

Edward did an internal fist pump. He had her right where he wanted her. "Totally fair. You're a rock star, Bella."

"Oh, no, not that quickly." Bella crossed her arms over her chest, and there was new steel in her voice. "This wouldn't be just any favor. It would happen whenever I say, and you won't know what it is. No arguing, no moaning, no bitching. Deal?"

For a moment, Edward thought he was staring at a brand new Bella. Gone was the mousy, bookish girl and in her place was a woman with a heart of stone. This Bella was self-assured and confident. In charge, he decided; she was in charge.

Suddenly, he was uneasy about this idea. This new Bella could have been very dangerous.

He shrugged. What's the worst she could tell him to do, mow her lawn? "Deal."

So, maybe she wasn't a pushover, but she had still given in. How bad could this be?

A/N: Many thanks to Songster for beta work!

So! Initial thoughts? Guesses? Hehehe.