Are you from another world
I never seen someone who looks like you
Beautiful stranger how do you do?
Tell me is there something I can do for you
Your energy when you touch me
Lifted me off the ground
Your words to me are like music

Katy B - Perfect Stranger


The door chimed as I walked through it, escaping the cold air from outside, and the mouth watering aroma of fresh coffee surrounding me as I make my way to the counter whilst rubbing my hands together to warm them up.

"Hey Bella, the usual?" Mrs Cope, the owner asks me with a smile.

"Please," I reply smiling in return. 'Il caffè grotta' is a small coffee shop just around the corner from my house. It's quiet, calm and homely in here. It's pretty irresistible and snug, perfect for me to get my work done. You see, I'm a hopeful writer, currently half way through writing my first ever novel. It's my dream to become a published author and for the past six months since I graduated from university I have began to try and achieve my dream, and apart from a few spots of writers block, I think it's going quite well.

Mrs Cope makes me my usual, a gingerbread latte and I quickly give her the money.

"So how's the book coming along Bella?" Mrs Cope asks as she follows me to my regular spot in the corner and sits down next to me on the extremely comfortable but well worn dark red leather sofa facing the window. I like to people watch as I sit here, observing people as they walk by, and using them and their actions as inspiration; especially when I get stuck for what to write. Obviously as I am not yet a fully accomplished author, I still have to work part time to make ends meet. Currently this means I am a waitress at a local Italian restaurant. Not the most amazing job, but it pays the bills.

I place my late on the coffee table between us as I answer Mrs Cope.

"It's going really well thanks Mrs Cope, I've had a lot of time to write lately so I've made quite a lot of progress."

"Oh, that's wonderful. Remember me when you become a famous author," she jokes with me.

"I'm not sure I'll get that far," I reply with a smile, thankful for the support.

"Well I'll let you get on now; you're not going to get anything done if I keep bothering you. Give me a shout if you need anything." Mrs Cope replied as she started to stand up and walk towards the counter.

"You're never a bother Mrs Cope," I called with a light laugh as she began to wipe down the counters.

Mrs Cope is a lovely woman, she turned sixty a few months ago yet she still works every day she can in 'Il caffè grotta' which she opened over thirty years ago with her husband.

I take a sip of my latte, the familiar taste warming me from the inside out. I start up my laptop once I've set my drink back on the table, I settle back into the sofa to start typing.

I soon become engrossed in my writing getting many pages written before I am interrupted by the laughter of a young girl. I look up from my laptop screen to see a young girl, no older than five dragging her mother by the hand through the cold street outside 'Il caffè grotta', the mother laughing at something the young girl had said. Seeing this brought back my own memories with my mother from when I was that age. My parents separated when I was four years old. My mother Renee currently lives with her boyfriend Phil, whereas my father Charlie lives alone. Renee isn't the typical mother, I was born when she was just 16, and she treats me as more of a sister than her daughter. We've had quite a close relationship as I lived with her until I was 16, when I moved to live with Charlie to finish High School and to study at the university close to where he lives and so Mum and Phil could travel the world. My mother and Phil are currently in Africa, but they're due to get married in the summer, here in London.

I am brought from my thoughts by the sudden sound of the doorbell chiming, announcing someone's entrance into the coffee shop. I blink rapidly to bring myself from my thoughts to notice that the woman and child re now gone.

The sound of someone's footsteps along the floor reminds me that there is someone else in the coffee shop now.

I look to my right, towards where the sound came from to see a man standing at the counter, waiting to be served.

He was tall, at least six foot with hair an unusual bronze colour which was sticking up in many different directions as if he had been running his hands through it. He had his back to me, so his face remained concealed from me, but from what I could see, I was positive I would not be disappointed.

His long legs were covered by slim fitting dark blue jeans; he was wearing a black leather jacket, a red plaid shirt peeking out the bottom with simple black vans for shoes. He looked slender, not skinny, but not overweight or excessively muscular.

As if he had sensed I was staring, he looked towards me, and I was right, I was definitely not disappointed. He was slightly tanned and had a little bit of stubble covering his chin and jaw as if he hadn't shaved in a few days. His gleaming emerald eyes met my dull brown ones, and I quickly looked back down at my laptop, feeling the embarrassment of being caught staring rise up my cheeks with my annoying blush. He was gorgeous. I shook my head trying to free it from the thoughts of this mysterious green-eyed-bronze-haired man.

Again, I was distracted from my work as Liz entered the shop from the back room. Liz, or Elizabeth was the only employee of Mrs Cope here at 'Il caffè grotta'. As Liz noticed the mysterious stranger stood at the counter her eyes went wide and she rushed towards him as she rushed towards him and he extended his arms to her, bringing her into his chest for a hug. I turned back to face the window, my back now turned toward the gorgeous stranger, unable to watch their intimate moment, feeling like I was intruding.

I sighed deeply, the display of affection I'd just witnessed brought up the unwanted thoughts of my own pitiful relationship status. Single. It's not as if I'd had my fair share of relationships either - well you couldn't really call them relationships, it was more like we went on a few dates, kissed a couple of times before they realised how mind-numbingly boring I was and how much better they could do.

I looked down at my watch, checking the time, 4:45pm. I let out a sigh before I started to turn off my laptop and gather my things to leave.

I slipped my laptop into my bag and slung the strap over my shoulder, wincing at the heavy weight. I picked up my mobile phone, noticing the little flashing light notifying me of new messages. I had two new messages. The first was from my mother - I'll deal with that later. The other was from Alice, enquiring as to whether I would still be going out with them tonight. We were planning to meet at my house at 7:00pm, go out to a restaurant for dinner, and then to the cinema to see the new and final Harry Potter film.

I began to text her back to confirm our plans when I walked straight into someone, sending my phone falling to the floor.

"I'm so sorry; I should have been watching where I was going..." I began rambling my apology as I bent down to retrieve my phone, when I realised he was also bent down, my phone already in his outstretched hand.

"Please, don't worry about it. No harm, no foul." He replied handing my phone back to me as one side of his lips twisted into a crooked smirk. His voice was deep yet smooth and extremely sexy.

"Thanks, I'm not usually this clumsy," I replied sincerely as I looked up at him. I gasped and my eyes widened in disbelief. He was gorgeous! It was the mysterious stranger from earlier, only now his face was just centimetres from my own. His eyes were a mesmerising emerald, his nose perfectly straight and his lips which were perfectly plumped were pulled up at the corners into a smile as he watched me obviously checking him out.

"It's fine." He continued to charm me with his smile, "I'm Edward," he held his hand out to help me up after he gracefully stood up. Even his hands were perfect, with his long and thin fingers.

"Oh, um... I'm Isabella...Bella," I stuttered overcome by how close he was. I took his outstretched hand and allowed him to pull me up, allowing myself to see how tall he really was. He was at least a foot taller than me, the perfect height for him to tuck me into his chest and his chin would rest on the top of my head.

I was brought out of my dreams by his deep chuckle. "Well it's nice to meet you Bella."

"Yeah, you too," I stood mesmerised by this man, watching his eyes swirling, bringing a sense of calm over me. However I was annoyed that I could not seem to find anything of worth say to this glorious man.

"Edward, are you ready to go? I don't have to close up now so we can leave now if you're ready?" We were interrupted by Liz as she stood in the doorway of the back room.

"Sure," Was Edward's reply as Liz disappeared into the back room again.

"So I'd better be going now, sorry again." I was sad to have to leave him now, I would have loved to talk to him properly and have a real conversation where I can actually respond with proper sentences and full answers. Anyway I really needed to go home and get ready for tonight with Alice and Rose.

"Oh... sorry if I'm holding you up or something..." he said apologetically putting his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.

"No, no, its fine," I quickly cut him off, "I'm just going out tonight and I need to go home to get ready."

"Well... have fun wherever you are going. It was nice to meet you." His smile was still lighting up his face.

"Thanks, it was lovely meeting you; I'm sorry for bumping into you like that though."

"Please, stop apologizing... its fine... I suppose I should let you go now. But maybe we'll bump into each other soon?" I couldn't help but hope that there was hope and longing in Edward's eyes as he said this.

"Yeah... maybe," I smiled, inwardly praying that we would meet again, but knowing really that the possibility of this happening is close to nothing. I awkwardly shifted the strap of my bag on my shoulder, not wanting to turn away, but knowing I had to. Luckily or unluckily for me, I didn't need to as Liz came rushing back into the shop with her coat on and her bag in her hands.

"Umm... I'll be going now... See you around Edward," I called as I made my way towards the door, looking back only as I had opened the door to see Liz linking her arm with Edward's as he smiled wryly at me, offering me a small wave. I offered a meek smile in return; annoyed at myself for getting my hopes up when Edward was obviously taken, as I slipped out of the door. I began the short walk to my house thinking about what just happened. Of course Edward has a girlfriend. He was amazing! So tall, his mesmerising eyes... I sighed yet again. Liz was beautiful; she had blonde straight hair and bright blue eyes. I shook my head to clear it of these thoughts. It's more than likely I'll never see him again anyway.


On my way home, I take a detour to the bookshop and by the time I get home, I don't have little time left to get ready. I dropped my bag on the floor as the door clicked shut behind me. I take off my hoodie, throwing it over the arm of the sofa as I pass by. In my bedroom I go straight to my wardrobe to choose and outfit to wear tonight. I decide on a knee length floral dress, a grey cardigan and brown flat suede pumps. I take a quick shower and then change into my chosen outfit, throwing the discarded clothes into the washing basket on the other side of my bedroom. My bedroom isn't very big, but neither is the house for that matter. It's a modest one bedroom house, quite near Covent Garden in London.

I now have thirty minutes until Alice and Rosalie will be here, so I stand before my mirror and quickly blow-dry my hair, attempting to style it, and it ends up looking half decent and Alice would definitely approve.

As I stand in front of the mirror I realise how different I am from my friends. I'm taller than Alice but shorter than Rose. I'm average weight with average brown wavy hair and average brown eyes.

I've known Alice Brandon since Pre-school; we became best friends then and have stayed close ever since. Alice is quite short, and has dark brown hair cut into a stylish bob.

I didn't meet Rosalie Hale until I started university, when she became Alice and I's roommate. Rose has long blonde hair, gorgeous blue eyes; she looks like a supermodel and has men falling at her feet.

I shake my head to get rid of my miserable thoughts and finish getting ready by putting on a little bit of makeup on, I grabbed my handbag and filled it with the essentials; money, phone, lip gloss and keys. My phone vibrates in my bag as I am topping up my lip gloss.

1 New Message: Alice

Hey, we're here! Get your ass out here now! -A xxx

I send a quick reply as I slip on my earrings and a bangle I got for Christmas from my mother and Phil.

I'm on my way now :D -B xxx

When we get to the restaurant we are met with a relaxing atmosphere as we are led to our booth by a waitress.

Once we had ordered our food Abby began to tell us about her latest conquest, Jasper.

"Guys, he's so amazing. He's got blonde wavy hair and the most amazing blue eyes and god... what that man can do with his hands."

"Whoa," I interrupted Alice before she could say something I'm sure I won't want to hear.

"Yeah, yeah," Alice taunted as she continued anyway, "We've been on a few dates now and last night we made it official - he's my boyfriend!" Alice squealed as she said this dancing in her seat.

Alice is currently a personal shopper at Harrods, which is where she met Jasper. He was struggling to find a birthday present for his mother, when Alice noticed he was having trouble finding something suitable, she stepped in and helped... and the rest was history, she's convinced it was fate, but I think it was just luck.

Our food came shortly after and we ate at a leisurely pace, whilst catching up on what we'd been up to - I left out my encounter with Edward though, wanting to keep that to myself.


We left the restaurant after settling the bill and made our way to the cinema. With our arms full of sweets, popcorn and fizzy drinks we made our way to our seats. We decided to sit quite near to the back, in the middle of the row, but we had fifteen minutes to wait, so I decided to go to the toilet, so I wouldn't need to go half way through the film.

There wasn't a queue, so I was very quick, and rushed back to the theatre so I wouldn't miss the start of the film. However for the second time in one day as I glanced at a promotional poster for a film coming out later in the year, I found myself bumping into someone, large warm hands came up to grasp my shoulders to keep me steady on my feet, sending a spark throughout my body just with a single touch. I could feel my infamous blush spreading over my cheeks as I heard a familiar chuckle.

"Bella, we must stop meeting like this..."