THE SECOND CHAPTER
Charlie agreed to leave after my pleading with him. I needed space. I couldn't sleep with his snoring too. I just needed to try and think about what on earth had happened. The more I tried the bigger the stress became.
It was late. Just past midnight and sleeping was well and truly too far from my reach.
Flicking through the TV channels was pointless. That is unless I wanted to buy useless shit. I simply opted for staring into the dark room. Examining different sections of it. The sink, the toilet door, the window, my doctor.
"Hey," the kind voice moves across my small room.
His smile is warm and welcoming. Sort of like a hug. He simply stands in my doorway in his white doctor scrubs. Incredibly stoic.
"Hey," I say softly.
"How are you holding up?" he approaches me holding a wooden clipboard and clicking his pen.
"I'm okay. My side hurts a little," I say.
"Turns out cutting people open does that," he nods writing something down.
"How long do I need to be here?" I ask.
"Jesus Bella. Why am I boring you already?" he raises an eyebrow.
"Yep," I joke.
"How quickly you've destroyed what this could have been," he gasps pretending to be hurt.
That glorious smile wrecks the composure. His expression makes my heart excited. The sly smirk and playful gleam to his eyes. Each inch of his face worth the exploration. The copper, messy hair begged for my hands, his tall frame demanded my attention.
"And what could we have been, Edward?" I ask playfully.
"I guess you'll never know," he shrugs moving to place a blood pressure wrap around my arm.
He pumps air into it and holds a stethoscope slightly beneath it listening to my pulse.
"Why, beautiful. Did your heart just skip a beat for me?" he winks.
"Does that usually help you get all of the girls?" I roll my eyes smiling.
"Only matters if it worked on you," he tears the velcro off and puts the blood pressure machine away.
"My father said you've just moved here," I offer.
"You were asking about me?" he grins.
"How could I help myself."
"You couldn't."
I smile up at him as he replaces my drip bag.
"Isn't this the nurse's job?" I ask.
"Yeah but for my special patients I prefer to," he smiles.
"How sweet of you. I'd like to repay the favour maybe one day," I say.
"Bella, you're not flirting with me are you?" he leans down slightly so he's closer to eye level.
"You're the one flirting with me," I laugh.
The sudden jolt of my body pushes pain right through my side. Why did he have to be funny.
"You okay?" he asks concerned.
"It hurts to laugh," I nod.
"Noted. I won't make you laugh. Although it is a gorgeous sound," he smiles apologetically, "Get some more rest, Bells. I'll come back shortly to check on you again."
"Bells?" I raise an eyebrow.
"You don't like it?" he pops the clipboard at the end of my bed, wrapping his stethoscope around his neck.
By god he was sexy.
"I like it," I nod, "More when you call me it."
He laughs that velvety chuckle I've already come to favour. I felt so ugly but when he was speaking to me my personal worries got lost in the back of my mind. Maybe the charm was part of his job, maybe he put it on just for me.
He came back at 3am.
"I'm about to clock off. But I wanted to see how my special patient was going," he says entering the room.
In silence he checks my blood pressure, my IV, my heart monitor and signs the chart at the foot of my bed. I worried for a moment scared he'd leave.
"So what do you do?" he asked taking a seat beside me.
"You're sitting on the job," I raise an eyebrow.
"My shift ended ten minutes ago," he shrugs, "what do you do?"
"I study," I answer sitting up slightly.
Wincing I manage to find a position so that I can speak with him sat up.
"Study what?" he prompts.
"Criminology," I say robotically.
"Nice. In Seattle?"
"New york."
"What brings you to Forks? You from here?"
"My dad lives here," I say, "I'm visiting him."
"And he was first responder to your accident. That's tough. I know he'd see a lot of crap, I do too. But when it's your family it's a whole new ball game," he explains, "You like New York?"
The mood shifts from serious instantly. I can tell he is trying to make it light.
"I guess it has it's perks. I like the food," I smile.
He laughs nodding.
"I agree. If I'm ever that way promise me to a meal," he grins at me.
"Why Edward Cullen. Are you asking me on a date?" I raise any eyebrow.
"Well I actually intended to do that a lot sooner," he smiles, "when you're better."
"Why on earth would you want to date me? I look absolutely disgusting," I roll my eyes.
"I thought women were all about handling at their worst. Marilyn Monroe? I see people at their worst, but something about you is intriguing," he grins, "I have had to fight myself coming back here all night when I didn't need to just to learn more. I couldn't care less you have no makeup on or your hair isn't neat. You are beautiful without all of that, I promise."
"Does this always work?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Never tried it before," he shrugs smiling.
I'm unable to stop the small giddy giggle.
"Where are you from?" I ask suddenly.
I felt as if he was asking all of the questions. I had the urge to know more too.
"Originally Chicago. My mother adopted me and we wound up in Seattle for most of my childhood. I followed my dad into medicine and loved it," he explains, "Forks hospital begged the Seattle hospital I am from for more doctors for a while. I'm here for a little under a month and need friends."
"Wow adopted. That's incredible," I smile.
"I'll tell you more over our date," he promises.
"Well, I'm here for about the same time you are," I say "then I have to head back to school."
"Name a stronger coincidence," he raises his hands happily.
"Hurry up and discharge me then, doc," I tease.
"Tempting but I'm off the clock. And the next doctor on shift is a real hard ass. Don't tell him I said so," he grins, "my dad will kick my ass."
Every time I think my smile can't grow wider he outdoes himself.
"How long do I need to stay here?" I ask.
"When you're able to walk around better and we're happy with those wounds. Then you're free," he explains, "for now you're stuck in here. But I'll keep you company."
I am in awe. This angel actually came after his shift to speak to me, when he could have left and gone home. The excitement bubbled under my skin.
"I really like the sound of that," I smile at him.
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