Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Please read chapter 1. Basically, I own NOTHING. Stephanie Meyer does, and I love her for creating the Twilight world, and the Bella and Edward characters.

Thanks for reading!

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I wore jeans and a t-shirt, paired with my favorite snickers and a black tailored jacket. I put dark blue make up on my eyes, accentuating their brown color. My hair had grown almost to my waist, and I was glad the stylist had cut layers in it – otherwise, my head would be a circus. I looked in the mirror one more time to check my teeth, before my cell phone buzzed in my back pocket.

Are you ready? Car's here.

I smiled as I read Edward's text, and I made my way out to the front door, where him and our assistants waited for me. He looked at me and smiled, his eyes hovering over the deep neckline of my shirt. He raised his eyebrows, questioningly. I wasn't one to dress too revealing, but this specific vintage shirt had been Edward's first gift to me.

"The shirt tonight, huh?" He rubbed his thumb against my hand, and leaned down to kiss my head.

"Yeah. Makes me feel connected to you." I responded shyly, as we walked to the taxi – him right behind me.

"Bella," He turned me as we reached the car's open door and looked at me intently. "I am always here. Don't forget that. You are mine, and I am yours, ok?"

I nodded, still feeling insecure of our 'situation' while in public. Truth of the mater was, we had a rough start… a lot of people had been against our relationship, and there had been too many obstacles that made me feel shaken once we left the bubble of our home. The comfort of our shared solitude…

Edward and I met at an audition - him as the leading man, me as a secondary character. As I stood with him during the last of the screening tests, he had hoards of fans, and hundreds of gorgeous actresses begging for his attention. We noticed each other, but ignored the initial attraction pulling us together.

Edward had a high profile girlfriend – his then costar, Kate Denali. She was absolutely beautiful, and the caliber of actor I could only dream to become. She was the real reason I went through Hell to get the audition in the first place – one that my agent thought I was crazy to even try for.

I had followed Kate's career, ever since she was a kid. We were about the same age, and she had starred in my favorite Disney Channel T.V. show. She was incredibly talented… she sang, she danced, she played the violin, and she was a natural actress all around. I joined my theater group, for the sole purpose of convincing my mother to let me get started with an agency. I wanted to be a star so badly, that I was ready to leave everything behind. My mother agreed to pay for my multiple talent classes – singing, dancing, and piano lessons – only if I had straight As in school, and found a steady baby-sitting job to help with some of the costs. I longed for my dream so badly, that I succeeded in everything like a miracle. By the time I was fifteen, I was the star of my school play, had done six different local and national commercials, and was preparing for an audition for a new show with Disney.

They gave the part to Tanya DeMarco. And I cried for weeks.

My mother forced me to attend my lessons, even though I was ready to let go of everything and have a fresh start; perhaps show business wasn't really for me. I remember clearly what my mother told me the night I was refusing to attend the opening of my school play:

"Bella, if you think one rejection is the only rejection you'll get in life, you are in for a rocky ride, sweet girl. You will get lots of rejections. And you will fail so many times, you will feel heart aches worst that this. But one thing is the truth: the only way to know you're doing something right, is when you get up from the ground after a fall, climb up the top again, and double your failures for wins. Now, clean you face, get dressed and meet me downstairs for the play tonight. A lot of people depend on you, and your miss should not be theirs to pay for."

My mother was right. At that opening night, a casting director had seen me, and grown desperate to have my star in his film – an independent movie, but one that opened the door to my future.

I didn't follow the Disney path – for which I was eternally grateful – and instead focused on small budget films, and theater. The fact was, I learned that I didn't want to be a star. I wanted to be an artist.

"Bella?" Edward's voice called from my side, as we sat in the car on our way to the restaurant. I turned to meet his eyes, and smiled. He patted the hand that rested on my leg and held it, squeezing gently. "Everything alright?"

I nodded and squeezed his hand back. Mark was in the front seat, and I saw his eyes searching for mine through the rearview mirror. I gave him a small smile to let him know I was fine.

"You know," Edward began, as he leaned closer to my ear for a private whisper. "We could skip this shit tonight. I mean, they know who we are. No need to socialize with these people, anyway."

I rolled my eyes and raised my hand to his jaw, caressing the stubble there. "Edward, we have to go."

"Whatever." He shrugged and turned his face to kiss the hand holding his face. "It's an uncomfortable situation, and I'm fucking done with those. I thought we were over this?"

I shook my head, because he sounded like he was seriously considering turning around and missing the dinner. Was I really being that bad of an influence on him? On his career? No! I couldn't let him follow that path. This movie – this franchise – was entirely too important for him. For me… For us.

"Listen to me, Edward," My eyes met his, finding all the strength I could find. "I am fine. In fact, I was just distracted, thinking about our shower today…" I kissed his lips, and let my tongue run along the line of his teeth. I heard him moan, restraining any other guttural sound that might put Mark in an uncomfortable position.

"You know, I understand you're supposed to be encouraging me to want to go to this shit. Right now, I was to ask the driver to turn around so I can go home and fuck you senseless."

The tone of his voice was way too raw and arousing for our current situation… not good for the way my body began to react, so I decided to put some distance between us. Edward was having none of it. He followed me all the way to the other side of the car, his arms circling my shoulders protectively.

"I'm sorry. I just… I want you so much. All the time." He explained against my hair, as if I was mad for his advances.

Please. After two years, he should know better.

I sighed, resigning to my next words, and kissed his cheek with all the love I could muster. "I want you just as much. But right now, we have to work, and that means eating sushi was the lovely Tanya DeMarco."