Previously in Her Anchored Past: I look up a moment later to see Edward Cullen walking through the restaurant doors, and believe me when I say, a person can change a lot in ten years.

Chapter 2

"Bella, wow, you look even more beautiful in person." Edwards says to me as he takes off his soaking wet jacket to hang it on the back of his chair.

I blush and smile as he goes over to give Alice a kiss on the cheek and shake hands with Jasper. I know that I'm not supposed to expect the fifteen year old boy I last saw him as but he took me by surprise. His hair was much longer than I remember with the beautifully copper colored pieces casually falling as they may. His face matured and now looked toned yet delicate with a jaw structure like no man I had ever seen before. My thoughts are interrupted as he sits down beside me and leans in to whisper in my ear.

"Now I see why Alice was so persistent on me coming." He looks over to the couple just as Alice lets out a girlish giggle and tucks her short hair behind her ear.

"You're my savior Edward, thank you."

"So, how's little Bella? You grew up. I mean, I've seen you in some magazines but it has been a long time." He says to me conversationally.

"Yeah well, we all had to get out of Forks some time or another. I think the last time I saw you, I was in sixth grade. What have you been doing since then?" I ask him.

"Well, I'm just finishing up my last year of med school in Boston. I haven't seen Al and my parents in just under a year so I thought a visit was necessary."

"Wow, med school. Dr. Cullen, I'm impressed."

We're interrupted by the waitress returning to take our orders but none of us have had the chance to read over the menu yet. Edward politely asks for four waters and our waitress nods and walks away.

"So I've seen some of your movies Bella, you're truly very talented. I can't say I wasn't surprised though, I've always remembered you to be a bit shy."

"I grew up I guess, broke free of my shell..."

"I'm glad you found yourself." He says with such sincerity that I gaze into his eyes for a few seconds too long, making it obvious.

"So," he says, breaking the moment, "how are your parents doing? Do they live in California?"

"No, my dad still lives in Forks. My mom moved here for me when I came a few years ago, but she just recently moved to Florida to live with her boyfriend."

"So you're all alone in this huge city?" He asks, gently placing his hand on top of mine on the table. I immediately feel a current flow through my body, something I am not used to. Part of being an actress is being controlled around whoever you are with - fans, reporters, paparazzi - an not letting anything distract you, but this was different. I couldn't ignore the way he made me feel but I had to compose myself. I casually pulled my hand away, trying not to be rude, and looked back to him.

"I could see it was hurting her to be away from Phil so when I turned 21 I told her that I was fine with her leaving. Besides, Jasper and Emmett take great care of me." I said, my speech speeding up. "We should decide on what to order."

We sat in silence for a few minutes until the waitress returned with our water.

"What can I get for you guys tonight?" She asked.

"I'll have the cheese ravioli please." I ordered.

"The chicken with mushroom sauce please." Edward said from beside me.

"I'll have the grilled salmon please, and fettucini alfredo for the lady." Jasper tells her.

The waitress leans forward to collect the menus and it surprises me when she whispers, "I know this is really rude and I could get fired for asking, but can I please get your autograph Bella? I'm a huge fan."

"Of course, I'd be happy to," I tell her honestly. My eyes quickly scan the table for something I can write on and I pick up my napkin. "What's your name?" I ask the girl.

"Emily." She says with a beaming smile.

I quickly write, "To Emily, Thanks for being an awesome fan. Love Bella Swan" and hand it to her. She thanks me profusely and tells us our orders will be on their way.

"That was sweet." Edward says as she walks away.

"I wouldn't be here without my fans, I like to do things for them." I reply, and he smiles.

Our food comes twenty minutes later and by then Edward and I have begun a conversation with Alice and Jasper, pulling them out of their own little world. We eat, talk and catch up for another hour or so until our dinner comes to an end.

We all stand up and Edward and Jasper go to get the cars, leaving Alice and I standing beside the table.

"It looks like you enjoyed yourself." I comment, referring to Alice and Jasper.

"He's amazing Bella!" she beams, "He's sweet, and caring, and actually interesting to talk to."

"I'm glad Al, you deserve someone like him."

"Was it awkward? I'm sorry we kind of left you out at the beginning, I know you hate that." She ask concerned.

"No, Edward was great company." I told her, wishing I could tell her more, but he's her brother and that would be weird.

We turn to the door to see Edward motioning for us to come. Alice and I put on our coats and walk to the front door. Edward puts his hand on the small of my back and leads me to Jasper's car.

The moment we step outside of the doors, flashes go off and I'm suddenly aware of the paparazzi standing outside despite the rain. Edward makes sure that I get into the car before getting into his, where Alice is already waiting in the passenger seat. I can't help but notice that as I sit down beside Jasper, that he is already texting Alice.

The next day I wake up to the sound of a blender. Confused, I walk downstairs in my pajama shorts and a bra only to find Jasper and Emmett preparing breakfast for themselves in my kitchen.

"What the hell?"

"Good morning Bells." Emmett says cheerfully as if nothing is wrong.

I walk over to shut off the blender with what looks like a smoothie being made inside of it. Emmet sees the scowl on my face and finally understands.

"Oh sorry, did we wake you?" He asks innocently.

I walk over and punch him on the shoulder, but this ends up hurting my hand more than it hurts him.

Jasper laughs and asks, "So where to today Bella?"

"I've got a few errands... Grocery shopping and book store. I won't be ready for a while though, you guys make yourselves at home." I add sarcastically.

I'm standing in the checkout line at Whole Foods, putting my groceries on the counter when I spot my picture on a tabloid. Normally I am not interested in what they say, but I was curious to know if they were still going on about Jake and me. I was shocked to read the title, HAS BELLA SWAN MOVED ON? Unbelievable. There was a grainy picture of Edward helping me into Jasper's car with one hand on my back, and one holding the door, just as I was stepping in. I toss the magazine into my collection of groceries and wait impatiently as the lady begins to scan my items. She picks up the tabloid last and gives me a strange look before placing it in a bag. Furious with the situation, I quickly pick up the plastic bags and find my car in the parking lot before anyone can see me.

As soon as I put the bags in the back seat and I'm in with the door closed, Emmett, who is sitting in the passenger seat, knows something is wrong. Before he even has the time to ask, I fling the stupid magazine in his lap and start the car. I must have been driving faster than I expected because in five minutes I'm pulling into my driveway, carrying my groceries in without a word to Emmett, and the moment my hands are free, I text Alice urgently.

I need your brother's number. - B

Ooh la la, may I ask why? - A

Not the time Al, please. - B

She must have understood my urgency because the next text I receive is his number and says Explain later? - A.

I dial what must be his Boston cell number but get his voicemail instead. I'm debating whether or not to leave a message but the sound of the beep leaves me no choice.

"Hi Edward, it's Bella. I'm so sorry! I never meant for that to happen, oh god, I'm freaking out. Can you please call me back? I need to talk to you."

I hang up and pray that he'll call back so I can apologize properly. I sit at the kitchen table tapping my fingers when my phone rings five minutes later.

"Hello?" I say urgently.

"Hi Bella?" I hear Edward's voice say, not knowing if I should be relieved or nervous.

"I'm so sorry Edward, I wish I could explain myself but there there really isn't any excuse. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have put you in that position especially so soon after Jake and I just want - " I rant to him, but I'm cut off.

" - Bella, calm down. What are you talking about? Who's Jake?" He asks confused.

"What?" I ask, stopping my outburst. "Didn't you see?"

"See what?"

I'm silent because I realize I just made things way worse than they were.

"Look Bella, I have no clue what's going on here. You have nothing to be sorry for. Why don't we meet for lunch and we can talk?"

"That'll just make things worse..." I whisper.

"Make what worse?" I can tell he's frustrated now.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Yes, I need to show you something. Can you come over?"

"Yeah, sure, I'll be over as soon as I can."

I give him my address and he tells me to give him twenty minutes, and he'll be here. Before we hang up, I add, "And Edward, can you try not to be seen coming here? Like wear a hat or something and don't pull into the driveway if the paparazzi is there."

"What? That's crazy." He states confused.

"Just please Edward, it's for you. I'll explain everything when you get here."

Edward and I are sitting at the coffee table in the room off my kitchen when I hand him the magazine. He looks at it in silence for a few minutes before he looks up at me.

"What's the big deal?" He says, to my surprise.

"You don't care?" I ask him astonished.

"Well, it's not your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for. You scared the hell out of me with that message Bella, but this is nothing." He says tossing the magazine on the table. I take a huge sigh of relief and I feel unnecessary tears starting to fall down my face. My hand instinctively go to my face to wipe them away and I tilt my head down to hide them from Edward. Of course he notices though. He places his hand on my chin and gently raises my head so my eyes meet his.

"Hey," he whispers, "Why are you crying?"

"I don't know." I sob.

He pulls me into a hug and I stain his shirt with my tears for a few minutes before I pull back, needing to explain myself.

"It's just the whole thing with Jake. We were happy. Well, I was happy, and then he just screwed everything up. He left me to deal with all this crap, and I just wish everything was back to normal."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. It doesn't matter to me that I'm on the front cover of that tabloid, so it shouldn't matter to you. Listen Bella, as long as we both know the truth, it doesn't matter what they say." He reassures me, calming me down.

"What about your girlfriend? What happens when she sees it?" I ask him.

"My girlfriend?" He's shocked, like I'm not supposed to assume someone like him automatically has a girlfriend. "I'm not seeing anyone Bella."

"Oh... Sorry." Now I'm embarrassed.

"No, no, don't worry." He says and tries to change the subject. "So... Do you want to talk about... Jacob? I'm here to listen if..." He offers awkwardly.

I'm usually very private about my life but something about Edward makes me want to open up to him. It's not like he's a stranger. We've known each other for as long as I can remember and even though I haven't seen him since I was a child, it's as if the years separating then and now don't matter. He is genuinely concerned and although I've let out all my feelings out to Alice, talking about what happened may help me. I'm sitting on the couch scared and confused but I'm certain of one thing. Edward Cullen coming into town just after my break up with Jake and my elusive draw towards him is not something that I'm going to overlook.

"Yeah, I'd like that." I smile at him, "Thank you."

Edward and I talk and I lose track of time because conversation with him is just so comfortable and natural. We begin with the details about my break up with Jacob and then we diverse into topics about him and his life in Boston. Edward opens up to me about missing his family and that once he graduates he doesn't know where he's going to go or what he's going to do with his life.

"Why don't you just come back here and work at your dad's hospital?" I ask, like it's the obvious solution to his problem.

"I considered that," He explains, "But ever since I was a kid, all I ever wanted was freedom. I don't want to feel like I'm trapped in my father's path. Don't get me wrong, I respect him and I love him, but I don't want to become him. I went into medicine because I knew that's what he's always wanted of me, but now I'm my own man."

I stare into his eyes and see that he is truly conflicted and that it's causing him pain. He blinks a moment later and it's gone. He smiles, trying to lighten the mood and picks up the magazine once more.

"That is why you cannot let these things get to you." He says holding the tabloid, "We run our own lives Bella. Don't let anyone take that control away from you."

We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes, staring at the cover.

"I just have to ask though." He says suddenly holding up the magazine. "Have you?"

"What?" I ask, having no clue what he's talking about.

"Have you moved on?" He says pointing to the title. And now I understand the question.

A/N

Thanks guys for reading! I've been able to update so quickly because I'm off school, but it's about to start up again so I hate to say it, but the next update won't be as quick as this one. I'm going to wait until I get some reviews and suggestions before I continue, but I have an idea of where the story is headed. Please comment, suggest, etc...

Thanks!