Chapter Two:

The Kind Stranger

I was beyond the point of anxiety by the time he pulled up in front of Nessie and Jake's place. How was Kailee? Had her fever gotten worse? My poor baby was probably crying out for me, and I wasn't even there for her. My heart clenched in my chest at the thought of my daughter lying there, in so much pain, calling for me—and I wasn't there to help ease it away.

It helped to have the nice stranger there to take my mind off of Kailee every once in a while. He would ask about my daughter, ask about me, he even asked about Nessie and Jake. I was more than happy to tell him all about our misadventures at the daycare. But I loved telling him about my little Kailee…

My beautiful baby…

Who was lying sick in my sister's house…

"Thank you," I said to the beautiful stranger as I grabbed my plastic bag full of medicine and pulled the hood of my jacket over my hair. "I don't even know your name…" I said, fumbling through my purse for my wallet.

"Edward," he said with a smile that made me blush like a school girl. "Edward Cullen," he said as I pulled out my wallet.

"Thank you for helping me, Edward Cullen." I said, holding out the only bill I had in my wallet—a wrinkled and faded five.

He shook his head politely. "Keep it," he said.

I frowned. "But I insist!" I said, holding it out towards him. "It's the least I can do—I know it's not much, but…I don't know, you could use it for gas or something." It would make me feel a little better about having him go out of his way to help me get back to my sick little girl lying inside my sister and her husband's apartment.

Edward shook his head at me again, looking a little amused. "It's fine…?"

"Bella…Swan," I said.

"Bella, I don't need you to pay me for helping you." He chuckled, his emerald eyes sparkling in the dim glow of the dashboard. "Besides, I'd do anything for a beautiful woman, no fee," he said with a grin.

I blushed at his words. Beautiful? I was a single, twenty-two year old mother wearing clothes from a thrift shop. There was no way I could even come remotely close to being beautiful. But I didn't say anything; just stared at him with wide eyes and trying not to look like a retarded fish. "I…well, thank you, Edward. But, please. I insist—"

He surprised me by closing my hand over the bill. "Keep it, Bella. I don't need you to pay me for helping you out." He said, his voice as smooth as velvet and making my body feel about a million degrees warmer—a got a tingly feeling all the way down my spine to my toes; something I never felt before. "If you don't hurry, your daughter might get worse," he said seriously.

"Oh…Oh! God, Kailee!" I gasped, shoving the bill back in my wallet and throwing my wallet into my purse. "Thank you, Edward! I can't thank you enough!" I said before running towards the house. I fumbled with the key they'd given me and pushed through the front door. "I'm back!" I called, kicking off my heels as I slipped and slid into the house.

"Oh, good!" Nessie said happily—talking quieter than usual. "She's sleeping. I gave her what little medicine we had left. She went out like a light," she said.

I nodded, shrugging out of my coat and hanging it up against the back of a chair as I followed her into the kitchen, setting the bag down on the table. "How is she?" I asked, helping her sort through the medicine and put them away in the cabinet.

Nessie shrugged. "Her fever's dropping thanks to the medicine," she said. "But you might be right—it's probably that twenty-four hour bug. At least, I hope it is. God, that poor kid," she sighed, shaking her head. "She'll be in so much pain the rest of today and tomorrow." She said, putting away the last of the medicine.

"Where's Jake?" I asked.

"Oh, crap. That reminds me," she said, hurrying towards the phone. She dialed a familiar number and stood with her back to me in silence for a couple seconds. "Oh, good! You answered! Bella's back," she said. Pause. "No, she came home in one piece—more worried about Kailee than anything." Pause. "Just come on home, Jake. Okay, love you too. Be careful! Bye," she said before hanging up.

Nessie was so lucky. Was it wrong for me to be jealous of my little sister for having the life I couldn't have? True, I was the one who screwed it all up…but Nessie didn't have a child—she had the kids she took care of. I had Kailee…and I wouldn't trade the world for her. Still; I wished I could support her better.

"That reminds me, Bella. I didn't hear your car pull up—and that engine sounds worse than Gumpy when he slept." She said, chuckling.

I chuckled, remembering the days when we used to go to our grandparents house in the summer and how grandpa could sleep through anything…he was louder than the blender! God bless him. The summer before I got pregnant with Kailee, Nessie and I were over and he decided to take a little nap. He started snoring louder than hell, and then…it just stopped.

"I miss him," Nessie said after a moment of silent reminiscing.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Good old Gumpy," I chuckled.

Nessie sighed. "You ever wonder what it would be like if he were still here?" she asked, setting her hands down on the counter and staring out the window over the sink as the rain splattered against the glass. "Sure, he didn't like the whole idea of teen pregnancy—but he would've done something to help, don't you think?" she asked. "He would've argued with Mom and Dad—you would've still been living at home. And if that didn't work, he and Gran would've kept you in the attic." She chuckled.

I smiled. "I don't think so, Ness. I think they would've given me a little cash and then pushed me on my way and prayed for me." I said.

She shook her head. "You're so negative."

"It's the way the world works, Ness," I shrugged. "They were old—they couldn't watch out for me and my baby. I'd drive them crazy and vice versa. Can you imagine how it would've been like—me living with Gumpy and Gran? Kailee would be up crying all night because of Gumpy's snores." I chuckled.

Nessie snorted. "Touché," she said. "I wonder how Gran got over the snoring…"

I shrugged. "I remember lying awake at night and wondering the same thing. I'm surprised we wouldn't wake up one morning and find out that Gumpy'd suffocated himself with his pillow or something." I said, to which the two of us started laughing.

We were brought back to reality when Kailee started moaning.

I grabbed the medicine off the table and hurried into the living room, Nessie hot on my heels. "Kailee, baby, are you okay?" I asked, crouching down beside her.

"My tummy hurts, Momma." Kailee grumbled. "I feel sick, and I'm so…cold," she said, body shaking all over. I frowned as I pushed her bangs out of her unnaturally pale face. She moaned, squeezing her eyes shut tight.

My heart went out to her. "Kailee, sweetheart—take some more medicine. I know it tastes yucky, but it will help you get better really fast." I said, fumbling with the medicine cap. "Please, baby," I said when she made a face. "It'll make Momma feel better to know that you're getting better." I said.

She nodded slowly. "Okay, Momma." She said as I helped her sit up. I quickly poured some of the medicine into the supplied plastic measuring cup and handed it to her. She stared at it with disgust before plugging her nose and chugging it. Then she unplugged her nose and made a face. "Blech!" she cried in disgust.

I laughed slightly as I helped her lie back down on the couch and tucked the blankets around her.

"Ness, I thought you said Bella was ba—oh, she is back." Jake said, walking into the living room and looking worse than a wet dog. "Hey, Bella. Where's your car?"

"Oh my God! Someone stole it?" Nessie cried, running to stare out the window.

"No, it's not stolen—"

"I don't see it in the drive way!" Nessie cried.

I sighed. "Jake, you're gonna have to go to the store and pick it up tomorrow or something. The engine just died on me. I had to get a ride from someone." I said dismissively as Kailee dropped back into sleep.

Nessie stared at me with a look of horror on her face while Jake hurried to leave the room so he wouldn't have to be caught in the middle. I knew there was a reason Nessie married him. Smart man. "You…you got a ride? With a stranger in this part of town?" She looked pale.

I bit my lip and turned away from Kailee, leading my sister back into the kitchen before she could wake up my baby. "Yeah, I did."

"Bella, that's just asking, no, begging to be victimized. Man or woman?" she demanded crossly.

I sat down at the table with a heavy sigh and scratched an itchy spot on the side of my leg without meeting Nessie's infuriated gaze. For being my younger sister of two years, the woman sure knew how to make me rueful. "Man."

She sat down across from me and continued to glare. "How old?"

I looked up at her and shrugged. "Um…couldn't be older than twenty eight, I'd guess."

"Did he look sleezy?"

I gritted my teeth together and slammed my fist on the table, turning my eyes to glare at her. "Jesus, Ness. Do I look like I was molested? It was just a man who kindly offered me a ride! Why are you so goddamn bent on yelling at me today?!"

She tensed. "Is it my fault you give me so much reason to worry?! You're my older sister, Bella! You were kicked out of the house and left me with Charlie and Renee when I was freaking fourteen years old! It was years before I actually saw your face again, and you had a four year old daughter. You're always tight on money, moving from temporary home to temporary home, with no job whatsoever. You hate accepting any help from me or Jake, and sometimes I'm honestly, truly scared for you. Dammit, is it so wrong for me to care?!"

I stared at her, shocked. "I still don't understand why you think my problems need to be yours too, Ness."

She sighed tiredly and rubbed her temples, eyes shut. "Just tell me if he was sleezy or not."

I shook my head, though she couldn't see it. "No. My car wouldn't start, so I swung the door open—and you know how it sticks sometimes—and I didn't see him, but I hit him…well, you know where, as he was walking by."

She snorted on a sudden and unexpected laugh. "A guy gave you a ride because you smashed your crap car's door against his balls?"

I laughed with her, finding that I felt better, laughing with my sister. My best friend. "I guess so. He was walking away after a few moments and I asked then. He wouldn't let me pay him either, even though I'm sure coming here was way out of his way."

Her eyes became curious. "Ooh. Young and generous. Was he cute?"

I thought about it for a moment and my lips involuntary curled into a smile. Cute was not the right word for it. He'd been gorgeous, of course, with his carefully uncombed hair, bright green eyes, and crooked smile, all plastered on blemish-free skin that stretched over a flawless, sharp bone structure. Someone with obvious money, by the uniformity of designer clothing and the shiny silver Volvo he'd driven.

"He was…hot," I finally allowed, grinning at Nessie.

Her interest heightened and she grinned back, looking like an excited school girl. "Did you get his name?"

"Edward," I recalled perfectly and without hesitation. That beautiful, compassionate stranger. "Edward Cullen."

"Oh, geez Bella, even his name is hot," she swooned, fanning herself with her hand. I laughed as I saw Jake enter the room past her shoulder, his eyes nailed on his wife with half a smile. Amused.

"I know you're talking about my name, baby," he said, making Nessie jump in her chair.

"Oh God!" she exclaimed as she whirled around to see Jake leaning against the counter, grinning. She smiled sweetly after a swift recovery from the surprise and went to him. "Of course, sweetie."

He chuckled and wrapped her in his arms. "I knew it."

I watched them adoringly, so glad that the two had each other, yet the pang of emptiness that hit me whenever I saw their affections wavered through me and my smile faded. I wanted a love like theirs so badly; it had been all I ever dreamed about as a pre-pregnant high school girl. I'd seen so many movies and read so many books that portrayed the kind of whirlwind romance that I desired more than anything in the world.

Of course, even though I was in my prime years, I had a daughter. A six year old daughter named Kailee, at that. I was jobless, almost homeless again, and apparently, I was without a vehicle now too. Why in the hell would anyone want to have to clean up that sort of mess, all just for someone like me? Sometimes, I wondered if I would be worth more dead.

I sighed as Jake bent down, Nessie still in his arms, to give her a chaste kiss, crushing his lips against hers quickly and passionately. I took this as my cue to leave.

"Mind if I borrow the car, Ness? I'd better get Kailee home," I said just loud enough to claim her attention.

"Not at all. The keys are in the ignition. But you know you can stay the ni—"

I looked at Jake who was practically pleading with me by eye contact. I laughed inwardly at his impatience to have me and Kailee out of his house so he could be alone with Nessie and I shook my head.

"No, Ness. I don't want to spoil your evening." I grinned wickedly as I went to pick up my baby. "You kids have fun now. Don't make too much noise; the police will be called in again."

Nessie blushed as Jake chuckled and kissed his wife's temple. "It was our first time, Bella," Nessie insisted, embarrassed that I'd brought up the unmentionable humiliation; the event that her and Jake had experienced the night before their wedding, when they'd been two very, very happy people, who were very much in love. "I didn't expect to—"

I held up my hand to stop her just before I scooped Kailee's sleeping body into my arms. "Whoa, Renesmee, I don't need to hear the details."

"Don't worry, Bells," Jake assured me, "I know how to keep her quiet."

"You know how to make me scream too," she pointed out bluntly with a grin.

I shuddered and quickened my pace. "Leaving now."

The quiet laughter of both Nessie and Jake followed me out to the garage until I kicked the door shut behind me and went to Nessie's Prius. I buckled Kailee in without waking her up successfully and slid into the driver's side of the car. I smiled at my baby's sleeping form in my rearview mirror before adjusting it, starting the engine, opening the garage door, and backing out.

As I left the driveway, the lights of the house went out.

*

I felt the warm slants of rare, late afternoon sunlight streaking through the dusty blinds and falling on my face. I smiled at the heat and rolled over in my bed, opening my eyes to look at Kailee, sleeping still beside me.

I hadn't actually gone to bed until five that morning because Kailee had woken up, crying and moaning the minute we walked over the threshold around eight. She'd fallen back asleep finally around four when her 'tummy stopped hurting'.

I lifted a hand and brushed away her wild, wavy hair from her face, smiling at her plump, beautiful features. She was going to be a knock-out when she was older, I could tell now. I wondered briefly if she would ever fall for a boy in high school and I frowned slightly at the thought. Well, whatever she did with a boy, it would not be without my supervision. I was not going to allow her to make the same mistakes I did, even if I was blessed with her through those mess ups.

Kailee stirred under my touch and her blue eyes found my face the second she opened them. "Hi, Momma," she croaked.

I smoothed her hair back again. "Hey, baby," I smiled. "You feeling any better?"

She nodded and scooted towards me, snuggling into my neck and arms. "Yeah."

I hugged her closely to me and kissed the top of her head, cuddling her against me. My little Kailee. She was getting so big already, going on six years and seven months. "Don't worry, Kailee. It'll all be over by tomorrow." I said. "Here, sit still for a minute, Kailee." I said, grabbing the thermometer from my bedside table.

It was a nice little gizmo—something Nessie and Jake got for me as one of my Christmas presents last year because my other one broke. It was the kind you could just swipe across a person's forehead.

Gently, I moved it across Kailee's forehead. I frowned when I saw that her fever had only gone down a little bit.

"I'll go and get some medicine, okay, Kails?" I said, climbing off the bed and setting the thermometer back down on the bedside table.

"'Kay, Momma." Kailee said before snuggling up back under the covers.

I smiled before, reluctantly, leaving the room. The second I shut the door behind me, I looked at our empty living room and reality crashed back into me. I was being evicted—I had to be out of here in three days. Kailee and I wouldn't have a home.

Oh my God, I thought, rubbing my forehead as I walked into the kitchen to get the medicine for Kailee. What was I going to do? I mean, sure. I could move in with Nessie and Jake temporarily—but I didn't want to be any more of a bother to them.

I sighed as I poured the purple liquid into a measuring cup for Kailee. I guess I better start packing today. I'm sure Ness wouldn't mind if we moved in for a few more days? I'd have to ask when I brought back her car.

"Here, you go, baby. Drink it all up," I said, handing her the medicine. She sniffed it and made a face. I laughed as I watched her chug it all down anyway. "That's good," I said, smoothing out her hair as I set the plastic cup on the bedside table.

"I don't feel good, Momma." Kailee groaned as I lay down beside her.

I tried to smile as I ran my hand through her hair. "I know you don't, baby. I'm so sorry." I said, holding her close to me. "It'll be okay now. I promise," I said. I wasn't sure if I meant to reassure her or both of us.

*

"Ness-IE!" I hollered, barging into my sister and her husband's house without knocking—as was the bad habit of mine that Kailee so often reprimanded me about—and cradling my poor baby in my arms as I ran into their house. "Could you watch Kailee for me for a little while? I need to get everything moved out of—you have company."

Standing with my sister and Jake was a small woman—shorter than me. She was beautiful, petite with a curvaceous frame. Her innocent heart-shaped face and wide green eyes were framed by black hair styled in a pixie-cut. Standing beside her was a little girl with curly blond hair pulled into pigtails with pink bows. She wore a cute pink dress with white leggings and pink shoes. Like the woman whose hand she held, she had wide eyes the color of grass and she kept her hand balled up in a fist, her thumb in her mouth.

Nessie smiled. "Bella!" she said happily. "This is Mary Alice Whitlock. She wishes to enroll her daughter, Melanie, in the daycare." She said. "Mrs. Whitlock, this is my sister, Bella and her daughter, Kailee." Nessie said.

"Alice," the beautiful woman said—her voice twinkled, sounding like wind chimes playing a beautiful melody—as she held out her hand to me. I shook it.

"It's nice to meet you," I said with a smile. There was a friendly air around her; I liked her instantly. She seemed so nice. "Your daughter is very beautiful," I said, smiling down at who I guessed was Melanie. The small girl gripped her mother's hand tightly, still sucking on her thumb as she moved in closer.

Alice chuckled. "Thank you," she said before peering around me to see Kailee, she gave me a sympathetic smile. "Is it that stomach bug?" I nodded. She sighed, shaking her head. "Melanie had it last week. Now my oldest—Olivia—is home sick with it. But Daddy's taking good care of her, isn't he, Mellie?" Alice said to her youngest.

Melanie just nodded once, now mostly hiding behind her mother as she stared up at me, her thumb still held between her lips. Her wide green eyes widened—if at all possible—as they stared up at me with the familiar childlike curiosity. She was so cute!

"Your daughter would love it at the daycare," I said to Alice with a warm and friendly and honest-to-God smile. "I've seen the kids in action. They play outside in the backyard, they have dress up games inside, they have art classes…it's amazing what my sister and brother-in-law do." I said.

"It seems so nice." Alice said with a smile. "It definitely seems like something I would love to send Melanie to."

"Melanie was here for a whole day to interact with the other kids and see if she would like to come here." Nessie explained.

I nodded and bent down so I was level with Melanie. "And did you like it here?" I asked quietly, as if I were sharing a secret that only the two of us could share.

I only expected her to nod, like she had earlier. I was surprised when she pulled her thumb out of her mouth with a pop and gave me a very cute, toothy grin. "Yes!" she said loudly. "I like it vewy much!" she said. Even her voice was adorable!

"That's good!" I said, clapping my hands enthusiastically before standing up to my normal height. "I think you have yourself an answer!" I said to Alice.

She smiled. "Yes, I think I do." She said.

There was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it," Jake said, removing his arm from around Nessie's shoulders as he went to answer the door.

I turned back to Kailee, who was snuggled up closely to the couch, gripping the blankets tightly around herself as she tried to sleep. She looked so pale, so miserable. I wanted to take all of her pain and misery away and put it on myself. I wished I could, so simply like that. My poor baby; my poor, sweet, adorably baby…

I felt like the worst mother in the world.

"Alice, are you ready?" a familiar velvety voice asked.

I froze in the middle of pushing Kailee's bangs out of her face.

"Oh, yes. Sorry, Edward. Were you waiting long?" Alice asked. I heard the faint sound of little feet padding across the floor as Melanie ran to the familiar stranger whom I'd met just the day before.

I turned, standing up from my spot on the couch next to Kailee and looked at Edward. Sure enough, he was the exact same man who'd given me a ride yesterday. He scooped Melanie into his arms just as she was about to collide with his legs.

"Hey, you!" he greeted her with a dazzling grin. "Did you have fun today?"

He was married. I knew it! Of course, in my imagination, his wife had been tall and blond. But Alice was still dazzlingly beautiful. Green eyes and black hair as night as a dark sky…And he had a daughter. A cute, adorable, amazing little daughter.

Damn.

"I had so much fun today! I played in the sandbox with Miss Nessie. Mr. Jake helped me with my pretty picture for Olivia." Melanie chattered away.

I sighed. At least he was happy. I was happy too, right? I had Kailee, and Nessie and Jake. They were my family—they were my happiness. I lived for them, and I would die for them. I was perfectly content with my life—if only I could get a job and keep a home for a while longer…

Edward—the mysterious stranger from the night before—looked up, his green eyes catching my brown ones. I found it hard to look away. He smiled at me, a crooked smile that made my heart freeze up before going into overdrive. "Bella, funny running into you here," he said, shifting Melanie in his arms.

I raised an eyebrow, smiling inwardly that he remembered my name. "Funny? You gave me a ride here last night." I said, feeling a bit weird discussing this in front of his wife. Did she already know? I chanced a glance over at her. She was looking at him, a perfectly plucked and arched eyebrow raised. I guess she didn't…

He chuckled. "I guess I did, didn't I." He said. "I hope you don't mind. My sister was looking for a daycare to send Melanie to—she and Jasper just moved to Seattle with their daughters. Running into you and finding out that your sister owned a daycare was luck for us." He said.

"Oh, well…I'm glad I could help." I said. "Did you say Alice was your sister?" I asked, just for clarification. I wasn't sure I'd heard right. Maybe I was just imagining things for my own benefit?

Edward chuckled. "Yes, I did." He said. "Melanie's my niece." He said. "How's your daughter—you said her name was Kailee, right?"

I nodded, amazed that he even remembered; first mine then hers. "Yes…" I said. "She's…" I cleared my throat, "she's getting a little bit better." I said, noticing that the others were leaving the room. Even Melanie was walking out with her mother to another room, leaving Edward and I alone in a room. "Thank you for asking." I said.

He nodded. "Have you gotten your car back yet?"

"I…no," I said, feeling suddenly embarrassed. "Um…my brother-in-law is supposed to take me to fix it himself. He repairs cars for a living, besides the daycare, that is." I said. "Excuse me, I need to talk with my sister. I'll go get your sister for you." I said before hurrying out of the living room.

Nessie and Alice had been talking quietly to themselves. All chatter ceased when I walked into the kitchen. Nessie smiled when she saw me. "Hey, Bells. What's up?" she asked calmly.

I smiled at Alice. "Your brother's waiting for you in the living room."

"Yes. Thank you," Alice said with a smile before walking—more like dancing—out of the kitchen. She was just that graceful. I envied her.

"What's wrong, Bella?" Nessie asked, walking towards me as I leaned against the kitchen counter for support.

"He's…he's the guy who gave me the ride back here." I said.

Nessie nodded. "So I heard," she said. "I'm impressed, Bells—he's one fine piece of man." She said, raising her eyebrows suggestively. I rolled my eyes and gave her a playful shove. She laughed. "What? I can still have a little fun with my sister." She said.

"But you're married."

She scoffed, rolling her brown eyes. "I'll always be faithful to Jake." She said with a smile, staring past me as she thought of, no doubt, her husband. "Nothing will ever change that. I love him with every fiber of my being." She said dreamily.

I sighed.

I was happy for Nessie and everything, I just wished she wouldn't brag about having the things I didn't. But I should be happy, right? I had Kailee. Kailee was my little girl, my angel, my support beam. I kept going because of her. This was for her. For her, I had to remember that.

Nessie shook herself out of whatever fantasy she was having and turned her attention back to me. "My point is, Bella," she said quietly so the others in the living room wouldn't hear us talk amongst ourselves, "he's perfect for you. He's single, he's handsome, he's nice—"

"You don't even know that much about him," I replied quietly, rolling my eyes at her as I moved over to take a seat at the kitchen table.

"Oh, Bella," she sighed. "Not all men are assholes like Mike Newton. You know that, don't you?" she said with a sympathetic smile as she placed her hand over mine on the table. "Besides, there are still lots of people who love you. Gran's still waiting for you to visit." She said. "She's getting older, B. You should take Kailee to meet her great grandma one day."

"Soon, I promise." I said, placing my other hand over the one she had over mine. "Right now, I need to talk to you about temporarily moving in with you and Jake until I can find another cheap apartment." I said.

Nessie groaned. "Bella, why don't you just move in with us?" she asked, plopping down in the seat beside me, never releasing her hold on my hands. "Really, it's not a problem if you and Kailee do. There's the spare bedroom right down the hall from us—"

I sighed. "I just want to do this temporarily, Ness. I don't want to keep depending on you and Jake for the rest of my life. What kind of an influence would that be for Kailee?" I said.

Silence passed between us. It was long and quiet. I could feel Nessie's annoyance radiating off of her towards me, but I ignored it. I was bent on making this is temporary arrangement.

I expected my sister to start something. She usually never let things go without a fight/argument. But, to my surprise, Nessie just smiled and nodded before getting up from her seat. I was shocked for a moment, but then I started thinking. Was this a new way for her to deal with me saying no?

Was she going to bottle it up inside like I did and then cry about it at night when she thought no one was listening?

"Nessie?" I called.

She didn't come back.

I sighed and stood up from my seat. I nearly collided with Edward at the entry to the kitchen. "Oh, jeez," I gasped as I took a step back away from him. "Sorry, I was just going to find my sister."

"Actually, Bella, I'd like to talk to you—if that's alright." He said.

I swallowed hard over the lump in my throat, feeling suddenly weak in the knees as I stared into his green eyes—eyes as green as emeralds, darker than his sister's. My stomach flipped, as if it were on a roller coaster. My heart squeezed in my chest. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks as inappropriate images raced through my mind. Fine piece of man was an understatement.

"I…um…yeah, sure," I mumbled, moving back towards the table and taking a seat. He sat down across from me. "So…what did you want to talk to me about?" I asked, hoping I didn't sound as bad as I felt.

"I, well, I," he started, running a hand through his hair as he avoided my eyes suddenly—an action thatI found extremely attractive. "I heard you talking to your sister about moving in here?"

I nodded, biting my lip as his eyes met mine again. "Yes."

He lifted his head up a little and shifted in his seat. I hadn't really noticed what he was wearing when I'd first seen him—now or last night—because I'd been distracted by the beauty of his face. But now I made myself look at his clothes, and I could see that he was wearing something that you'd wear to work in an office; a suit with a black tie. He was gorgeous. "I was wondering if you wanted any help."

"What?" I asked, unable to quite grasp what he was offering. There were a lot of things he could help me with…however, none of those things revolved around the G rating his words implied.

"I wanted to know if you wanted my help moving in here. My Volvo has a large backseat and a good sized trunk. It would be quicker and easier than using your car," he clarified, relaxing when he was done. I could see a stiffness leave his shoulders and I felt envious of him for it. What was so comfortable about this situation?

"You know," I said, tapping my bottom lip. I noted that he was staring at me. "Nessie was furious when she found out I got a ride from a stranger last night. She thought you were going to haul me off against my will and rape me." I wanted to suck the words back into my mouth as soon as I'd said them. What the hell, Bella? Like he needed to know any of this!

But he chuckled, and I liked the way it sounded. "Don't worry, I'm usually a gentleman. I don't rape, abuse, or murder, women or otherwise."

I blushed, knowing he was teasing me. "Asshole."

He grinned wickedly instead of being offended at my instinctual word-choice. What could I say, it was a bad habit. "So, have I reassured you?"

I twisted my fingers together and gnawed on my bottom lip some more, pulling it in with my tongue between my top and bottom teeth. He became unblinking again. Weird. "I don't know…I don't want to be a problem, and I mean, I hardly know you and likewise and—"

He cut me off abruptly, his eyes no longer joking, only deep and intense. "I want to help," he insisted.

I blushed, hating myself for it. "And if I refused?"

His eyes twinkled again. "I don't take no for an answer."

"And why are you telling me this?"

"Future references," he said confidently. Honestly, I usually envied confident people, but with him, it only turned me on. He pushed away from the table and stood, grinning down at me. "We'd better get started."


Taylor: I love this story. I really do. I can't wait to get on with it. Edward. Gah. Incoherency…lol. I hope that we get lots of support on this chapter because we write faster with reviews. Really. If you think that's just some cliché authors here tell you just so that they can get lots of feedback, you are wrong. It really does help us update faster. Lol. No pressure. x)

Nicole: Enough of her rambling—time for ME! Haha, just kidding. I don't really have that much to add on to what Taylor said. I love what we have going with this and I hope everyone will be kind enough to review for us? *pause* What the hell am I saying? YOU BETTER REVIEW, OR I WILL BEAT YOU!!! Okay. No, I won't. That was my aggressive side talking. Heh…so, yeah. Thanks for reading!! :)