Hi everyone. Thank you for stopping by and giving me a chance. I really hope you'll enjoy. This is my very first story and English is not my first language, so if you see any grammar or spelling mistakes, please tell me! I have no beta, so if you feel like you could do something for this story, send me a PM or something :)

I try to give every chapter a fitting song, generally from Dutch artists, for y'all to get to know some of our great singers ;)

Of course, none of this is mine, it all belongs to Miss Meyer, I only own a huge pile of Med books ;)

Please, enjoy!

Love, Liss

You hide your heart in the shadows
So afraid to open up to anyone
But I can see your faded halo
And I can make it burn again, like the sun

VanVelzen and Armin van Buuren – Broken Tonight

~WTW~

I was sure I left it on my desk. I lifted a few clothes, but the only things underneath were papers. It couldn't be gone. I left it there only minutes ago. I groaned softly. That phone could not be far. It's not as if gnomes that stole mobile phones existed.

"Alice?" I called, hoping she would be in her room. I didn't actually know if she was at home. Alice was my roommate, also in her junior year in college. We met when we both moved in and she had immediately decided we would be friends. I wasn't going to complain, I did not know a soul in Phoenix, except the kids I went to kindergarten with. I doubted I would recognise them. I had lived with Renee, my mother, the years after my parents' divorce here in Phoenix. It hadn't lasted very long though, as Renee realised she was not really cut out to be a mom and brought me back to Charlie. She now lived with Phil, a minor league baseball player, in Jacksonville, Florida.

"Yes?" she replied. My door flew open and Alice was in the doorway. The small pixie-like girl with black short hair was a striking appearance. She might be petite, but you couldn't miss her. You just knew when she was in the room. Not only for her looks, but her behaviour made everyone back up. She was hyperactive and made you smile. I didn't know how she did it, but when she was around no one fought. I had noticed it first-hand. Always-bitching-next-door-Lauren was a tad bit nicer than she usually was, when Alice' happy gulf waved over her. I had been first to move in and meet Lauren, which had put me in doubt to whether I would survive college. Not a nice word had come out. When she met Alice the day after, Lauren had complimented me on my skinny jeans. I'm still wondering where it came from.

"What's up?"

"Do you know where my cell phone is?"

"It's right there…" Alice answered and pointed to a place on the windowsill just behind the curtains. Indeed, there was the mobile telephone. I sighed. I really should try to get less messy. Since the day I moved in, it had been untidy. It hadn't changed in the two years after. My habit to drop everything at the first place I could, was starting to turn against me.

"Thank you. You're my saviour!" I smiled at Alice, who grinned. Her laugh sounded clear through the room.

"You're welcome. By the way, I was going to ask you anyway, but do you want to have lunch together today? There's this really nice new place I came across!" Alice rattled and I couldn't hide the smile that came up. Alice and talking. A never-ending relationship.

"Sure," I said. The first weeks of the new year had been so busy that we hadn't really had time to get together. Now that everything had calmed down, it was time for us to catch up.

"Great!" Alice said enthusiastically. She hopped out of the room, leaving the door open. I took my books and put them in a bag. Ready to go.

~WTW~

Alice was waiting for me when I left my class.

"Hi, how are you?" I greeted her. While we left the building, I looked for my sunglasses, as the sun had come out and warmed my skin. After living with my father in Forks, Washington – where clouds packed the sky for most days of the year – I had really started to appreciate sunlight.

"I'm good, thanks. You?"

"I'm okay. The sun's shining! I can't not be happy."

Alice chuckled and led the way to the place she was so excited about. Just off-campus there was a petite restaurant with lots of flowers on the windowsills. The colours shone in the sunlight and made the place even more attractive than it already was. It just sparkled of hospitality. I wondered how I could have missed that before, but remembered that Alice said it was a new place.

"That looks so cute," I breathed, too excited to say anything else.

"I know, right?" Alice pulled my arm and took me with her, making her way across the street without being run over.

When we entered the restaurant, there was more light than I thought there'd be. The windows seemed small from the outside, but the room was filled with the sunlight I adored. I was wondering if some fairy spoke a charm over this place. I had no idea with the food was any good, but I'd definitely enjoy the surroundings.

We sat down at the only table available. The place was loaded, but still rustique. Something about this place, made you feel the urge to whisper and be quiet.

"Choose whatever you like, I'll pay," Alice said. "And don't make me notice you're just picking what's cheapest!" Her threat came with a smile, but I knew she'd make me get something else if I did. Looking at the menu, I saw I'd have trouble choosing anyway, there was plenty choice.

When I finally decided after a lot of deliberating, I closed the booklet. Alice had put her menu down a long while ago and was patiently watching the other people in the restaurant.

She caught the attention of a server walking by and we ordered our meals. The girl wrote it down on a small note pad and asked if we wanted anything to drink.

"Yes sure," Alice said and looked at me to answer.

"Green tea, please."

"A latte." Alice demanded and the girl left after writing it down.

"That guy there," Alice bobbed her head to the left, without making it too obvious that she was looking. "He's really hot!" I glared at the left and saw this beautiful man sitting alone two tables away. My mouth almost flew open. His bronze hair, the green eyes, his face, everything seemed perfect. He was just gorgeous, there was simply no other way to put it. He was like some Greek god who descended from mount Olympus.

"Don't look like that, he'll notice!" whispered Alice and she kicked against my leg. A pain flash rolled through my shin.

"Ow, that hurt!" I muttered.

"Well don't make it so obvious!" she hissed and peeked at the guy again. "If I were not seeing anyone I would totally go for him!"

I rolled my eyes at her. My experience with a person of the other sex was limited to Charlie, my father and I couldn't really figure him out. Maybe that had to do with the fact that Charlie only watched sports, drank beer, went fishing and worked. The other experience I had was not good and I didn't wish for it to recur. Alice had tried to play matchmaker, but I had always purposefully avoided her blind-dates and set-ups.

"Isn't he something for you?" she asked with this smile I didn't trust. She was up to no good. What did I just tell you?

"He's handsome, but I doubt he'd be interested. He won't even look at me. No way I'm talking to him!" I said making sure Alice heard every word. She was not going to do some matchmaking again. "So? Who are you seeing? Spill the beans!" I asked, trying desperately to distract her.

But Alice only smiled and got up.

"I'll be right back," she said and walked in the direction of the cute guy. I wanted to protest, but she was gone before I could make a sound. I shot an angry gaze at her hoping she would see it, but she didn't and just went on with her expedition. She had arrived at the table of the most handsome creature that walked the surface of planet earth.

Alice said something. He looked up and answered her, watching Alice curious. She said something else. He looked around and caught my eye. I felt my legs turn into jelly. His green gaze attacked me like a slap in the face. Then he told Alice something. He got up and together with Alice, he came to the table Alice and I had been sharing a minute ago. I gasped and was even angrier at Alice then I already had been. She was not doing this to me. I would be dying of embarrassment. I didn't know how to behave around most people, let alone this drop-dead-gorgeous guy and I really hoped Alice was not expecting me to flirt, because I was completely sure I was not capable of that.

"Bells," Alice almost shrieked enthusiastically. "This is Edward and I thought, let's invite him, because he's all on his own."

The man, who apparently had the name Edward, smiled apologizing. Alice took the vacant chair that had been at our table and pushed Edward down on it. I rolled my eyes. Alice was taking this way too far. Was there any possibility to stop her?

"Well, so I'm Edward. Nice to meet you." He shook my hand.

"Bella Swan," I said, but my voice broke halfway. I flushed and looked down. This was going to be awful.

"Where are you from Edward? I hear a British accent, but there's this Mediterranean – Italian or something? – hint in your English." Alice was going to be the one to make conversation, I'll just try to sit on the side line and wait for this to be over.

"From Europe, a little island in the Mediterranean Sea." Edward seemed a little uncomfortable with this question, reluctant to reply. He recovered soon enough though and turned the roles around, making him the one to ask the questions.

"And what are you two beautiful ladies doing here?" Of course he was only talking about Alice.

"We're having lunch," Alice deadpanned. I sniggered.

"No kidding. What do you do when you're not having lunch? Jobs, college?"

"Bella is a pre-med and I major in fashion."

"Interesting." Edward looked at me. It seemed like he looked right through me. I felt weak. This man had a huge impact on me and he seemed to know it, because he smiled at me in this lovely crooked way.

"I'm going to the toilet, Bells, Edward, I'll be back in a sec." Alice rose and was gone before I realised she was going to leave. This was the first and the last time I was ever going to lunch with her. She totally blew it. My throat got dry by the idea that I was now alone with this very handsome man.

"How do you survive her?" Edward grinned.

"I have no idea," I sighed. "She's my roommate since freshman year, so I have developed a coping method since." I sighed. "It's not that bad though, she pulls me out of my shell."

He cocked an eyebrow and looked at me curiously.

"I don't understand."

"I'm not really a talkative person." I felt the heat coming to my cheeks. "And as you probably noticed, she is."

"And what made you decide to talk to her, besides that she is your roommate?"

"I didn't. It just happened. She has this influence, you know."

He watched me elaborately. I didn't know what he was thinking, but he was probably wondering who the hell he was talking to.

"And you're talking to me." It was not a question, just stating the fact.

I nodded, not having a slightest idea what to respond to that.

"Hello buddies, back again." I didn't have to look to see who that was. At the same moment the waitress came to our table with our lunch. Her eyes widened when she saw Edward sitting with us. She put the plates and glasses on the table.

"Can I get you something, Sir?"

"A minute ago I was on that table," Edward pointed. "Could I get what I ordered?"

"Sure." And with a – was it flirting? – smile, she left. Of course it would be flirting. The boy was gorgeous enough for it. I shook my head and tried to erase all the odd feelings rushing through me. Was that jealousy? Shut it Bella, he's not even close to being a person who is legitimate to jealousy.

"You want to have a part of my sandwich?" I offered, watching Edward from under my eyelashes.

"No, I'll be fine. My lunch will be arriving in a sec, at least, I hope. Just eat yours!" He seemed to be quite certain of it, so I took a knife and began slicing the bread.

It now came to me that Alice had been quiet for probably the longest time in her existence. I gave her a suspicious look, but she was only focussing on her mozzarella with a grin on her face. I didn't trust her.

"And what are you doing here Edward?" I asked, hoping to stop the silence, because it began to feel awkward.

"I'm just getting away, to see the world." He answered shortly and scowled. I frowned, he was not telling the whole truth, I knew it. I decided to just go along with his story and hear him out.

"So you're just staying in a hotel or something?"

"No, an apartment that my parents own."

He must be loaded. I took a look at his clothes, they looked expensive. It was not that I had ever experienced money problems, but Charlie or Renee hadn't been wealthy. I started to feel a little out of place, as I knew Alice came from an upper-class family too.

Alice looked at the tiny silver watch around her pulse and acted shocked.

"Oh fuck, I have to leave!" she shrieked and collected her bag. She rummaged in her bag and threw some bills on the table. "It was good to meet you Edward, I really hope to see you again!" And she was gone. She seemed to have disappeared into thin air.

"She was working on this the whole time, right?" Edward asked and stared at the place Alice had still been sitting half a minute ago.

"Probably," I nodded, still flabbergasted and agreed with myself to do some serious talking with Alice later today.

"Do you mind if I claim you for the afternoon? I want to get to know you better." Edward said, fetching this dazzling smile again. I could only nod and let out a raspy "Yes".

At that moment the waitress came by our table again and placed a salad in front of Edward. "Can I help you with anything else?"

"No, we're fine." Edward answered, as I was still struggling to get my voice back. I swallowed a couple of times and felt my throat relax.

I had already finished my sandwich and watched him eat. His features were graceful, elegant and just stunning. I was looking for an error, something that looked out of place. Just to prove to me that he was real and not some kind of fantasy. I pinched my leg. It hurt. What made me actually think I could come up with a man so handsome? There was no way my imagination was that good.

"Is it fascinating?" Damnit – he caught me staring. The amused look on his face made me blush even more. How could I react to this?

"Well, yes, but I guess you hear that everyday…" I said softly.

He frowned and asked for explanation.

"Have you looked in a mirror? It must have gotten to you that women might be attracted to you… I don't know if you saw the waitress trying to seduce you?"

"So you think I'm attractive?" He was still amused.

"I don't think you could find a woman on this planet that doesn't find you attractive." I looked down at my plate, afraid to look him in the eye.

He lifted my chin with his finger and made me look him in the eyes. The place where our skins touched was now burning. The bright green of his eyes almost blinded me. I was distracted by all this physical violence that I was scared stiff when he started talking.

"Bella, you shouldn't worry so much. I hear it often, but I would like it very much coming from you."

"What are you trying to accomplish?" I tried to flirt and knew it was a bad attempt.

"That you say straight forward that you find me attractive." His eyes did this thing I didn't understand. What I did understand was that I was going to give in, I felt it. He dazzled me.

"I think you're attractive." I said and flushed again. Was there a way to make it stop? He probably thought I was crimson permanently.

"Why, thank you," he said smiling.

"You're welcome," I muttered and decided to watch my plate once again.

He continued eating and a few minutes later he put down his cutlery.

"Shall we?" I gave a quick nod and then wondered where we were going. I hand no idea what he had planned for the afternoon.

We both looked at the money Alice left on the table. "It's more than enough to pay for our lunch, but I feel so guilty if we let her pay…" I mumbled, not sure what to do.

"We'll just pay her back when we see her again." Edward suggested. That seemed like a good idea to me, so we got up and left.

~WTW~

Please let me know what you think! You can also find me on twitter LissFF for updates on the story, teasers etc etc. I also have an account which I normally use. This however is mostly in Dutch and contains all my nonsense in life and irritations about everything and nothing ;) You can find me there at LissLove0