Sorry for late update – I'm a teacher and we've just had assessment week, so my evenings have been filled with marking!

Twelve Things To Do In A Power Cut

Chapter 2 – What's new pussycat?

BPOV

I was absolutely cream crackered. We had been pushed excruciatingly hard in class today – I was greasy, smelly and sweaty. I was halfway through my two year Culinary Arts course, and rarely ever had to cook in the evenings – just the way I liked it. As much as I love cooking, it's far too easy to have too much of a good thing. I could easily see myself loathing my chosen career if I was forced to provide for myself in the evenings after spending my entire day in an over-crowded, over-heated, over-smelly kitchen.

Precariously balancing the fruits of my day's labours – zuppa pasta fagioli, panzerotti porcini and fondente al cacao - I juggled with my keys, my bag and the door. I'd had a hellish journey back – involving two blocked subway lines, a completely incomprehensible ticket advisor and an entire pavement of unmarked wet cement - and I just wanted to snuggle down on my sofa with my gorgeous Italian (food that is), my fluffiest blanket and an evening with my favourite film, Hairspray. The slightly wrong attractiveness of Zac Efron was calling to me, and I was ready to collapse – if I could just get the frigging key in the door without dropping everything, including my ass, on the floor!

I could sense rather than see that my hazardous pile was slowly slipping from my arms. Cursing, I resigned myself to the resounding crash – and the devastating splat of my chocolate dessert – that would be the icing on the fucking cake of my ridiculously stressful day.

When the resounding crash failed to resound, I opened my eyes a crack to see what had averted disaster. I could see ten long, delicate fingers, attached to two flexible hands, cradling my carefully wrapped packages of mouth-watering (though I say it myself) goodness. Breathing a sigh of relief, I turned my face up to declare my undying gratitude, when my words froze in my throat as I found myself nose-to-nose with the Grouch – a.k.a. The Sexiest Man Alive.

'Um...' was the stunning witticism I managed to utter, clearly enthralling him with my way with words. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I was sent spiralling again by the delicious scent emanating from his soft, tantalizing skin. He smelt like chocolate, mangoes and man – my three favourite things.

"Hi," he murmured in warm, velvet tones. He snuck a look at the personalised key chain in my hand. "Bella... it suits you."

"Er... swh?" was my intelligent response.

The corner of his lip lifted in the sexiest smirk I'd ever seen. My good time muscles automatically clenched, sending a small wave of pleasure through my body.

Realising we were only an inch apart – although my body was desperate to close the gap – I reluctantly took a step back, giving myself space to breathe and eventually manage to respond in English.

"Thanks – I thought I was going to lose my dessert then. It's my favourite – it's better than sex..."

I blushed fire-engine red, my mind finally catching up with my unruly tongue.

"Really?" he inquired, eyebrows raising and smirk somehow managing to become even sexier. "I'd like to test that theory..." He winked impishly at me.

My brain completely blanked for about ten seconds, leaving me slack-jawed and gaping like a moron. At this point, I swear my orgasm took control of my tongue.

"Would you like to come over for dinner?" I asked eagerly.

When he paused, my insecurity surfaced, immediately assuming the worst.

"I mean... if... if you want to..." I stammered.

"Actually, I was thinking you could bring it up to mine – I've got a bottle of rose cooling in the fridge. That was why I came down – I wanted to make a fresh start with you. I have a feeling my first impression wasn't really favourable to my usually sunny personality."

I nodded silently, no longer trusting my mouth with words.

"Great," he grinned, and suddenly the Smirk had a contender for Sexiest Facial Expression. He gripped the packages of food and gently drew them out of my hands.

"I'll go and get these heated up – see you in about half an hour?"

He jogged quickly up the stairs and I managed a strangled gurgle that meant 'Where?'

He paused on the stairs briefly and shouted down, "Apartment 4B – and I'm Edward."

~*~

As soon as I stepped in the door, I slammed it shut and raced for the shower.

Right... wash hair, wash face, shave legs, moisturise...

Twenty-five minutes later, I was on my way out the door. Talk about eager beaver...

Nervously, I smoothed my top, pulling up the waistband of my jeans, as I ascended the stairs slowly. I'd contemplated phoning Alice for advice, but by that point I'd already changed four times and speculated that I was entering crazy territory.

As I reached the fourth floor, I forced myself to take a deep breath. Calm the fuck down Bella! I ordered myself. You've already made an utter fool of yourself – the worst part's over.

Pausing outside his door, I knocked softly. Suddenly realising I had been holding my breath for far too long, I panicked, and tried to take a huge breath. My head spun, my vision went blurry, and I stumbled over the threshold of the doorway, just as the door opened and I fell into oblivion.

~*~

I was floating softly in a sea of bright lights. Blinking slowly, struggling to open my eyes, I was lost in a green ocean. Shaking my head gently to clear it, wincing at the pain this action caused me, I forced myself to focus, drawing my vision back until I recognised the face above me. I could feel something cold on the back of my head. I reached back slowly and felt something icy and hard, being cradled to my head by warm, soft fingers.

The beautiful green eyes smiled at me, and a voice I recognised chuckled.

"Now that's what I call an entrance!" exclaimed the voice.

Feeling more or less coherent now, I smiled ruefully.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, concerned. "Any dizziness or nausea?"

I did a quick run through of my hurts. Solid bump on back of head – throbbing slightly. Stomach – hungry but not nauseous. Being held in Adonis' arms – Priceless.

"I'm good," I assured him. "Don't worry, this is nothing compared to the stunts I've pulled before – I am infamously clumsy!"

"Are you sure?" he questioned me. "If I wasn't a doctor and able to keep an eye on you here, I would send you to hospital for a concussion!"

Woah! So not only is he gorgeous, with the sexy green eyes, and the devilish smirk, but he is also a doctor! I could hear Alice in the back of my head. Don't you dare screw this up girlfriend!

"Yeah, honestly, back in high school, my feet were up in the air more than they were on the ground." My internal Emmett snickered as I realised what I'd said. That's what she said! he sang in my head.

Edward was clearly more of a gentleman. He simply raised an eyebrow, pulled me to my feet and said, "Well you'll have to regale me with these amusing slapstick moments – and I'll repay you with mine."

~*~

Half an hour of swapping high school horror stories later – my worst involving falling down three consecutive flights of stairs to land at the principal's feet, his asking out the hottest girl in school by phone, not realising she had it on speaker to her entire class – and more than a couple glasses of wine, I was feeling much more relaxed.

Edward looked at me archly and grinned. Clearly something amused him.

"What?" I asked.

He just shook his head and kept on grinning.

There is nothing I hate more than secrets.

"What?!" I asked in a sharper tone.

"Nothing." He replied innocently.

I growled warningly, narrowing my eyes.

"Alright, alright!" he laughed. "I was just thinking how much fun we're going to have, what with you possibly having concussion and not being able to spend the night alone..." he trailed off playfully.

My mind went into overdrive at the thought of spending the whole night with Edward.

"So," I said, grinning. "What shall we do?"

~*~

Forty minutes later, I was sat on Edward's sofa, with his cat, Reggie, curled up on my knee, waiting for Edward to finish heating the chocolate fondant I had made this afternoon. Finally I heard the satisfying ping of the microwave, and sensed the signature scent wafting towards me. I could hear the clink of metal spoons and satisfied yummy sounds...

"Hey! Don't start without me!" I yelled, as I dashed to the kitchen to rescue my dessert. I wrenched the tiny ramekin from his hands and a little shriek escaped my lips when I realise how little was left.

"Pig!" I laughed, as I licked the last scraps of chocolate from the edges. I threw open the doors of his cupboards and began dragging various ingredients out.

"What are you doing?" he asked, confused.

"Making another one – just for me!"

At that moment, the lights went out.

~*~

A/N: Duh duh DUN! Lol Sorry again for late update, there's just one week left until the Christmas holidays so I should be able to update more quickly. I really am looking forward to your feedback – please give me your thoughts, don't worry about sparing my feelings, if it's bad tell me and tell me how to make it better.

Still looking for a beta-reader, please message me if you'd like to volunteer.

Enjoy!