A/N: Thoroughly enjoyed reading your reviews guys. Will get back to you all asap. Yes, Bella is a little off-kilter, LOL, as some of you put it. And yes, this story will be different from ToH. I like writing different kinds of stories. Keeps me on my toes.

And before you all think that Michelle and I are total grammatical idiots, just want to let you know that Fanfic had some serious fail last chapter with hyphens and commas and quotes and stuff, and totally screwed up my punctuation. I'm sure there were probably a few things Mich and I missed, but seriously, we're not that clueless!

Lots of you want to know what happened to the logger dude. Don't worry. You'll find out.

So hopefully this chappy will have less errors. If not, please know my beta baby Michelle Renker Rhodes and I tried our best!

Ch. 2 – Jealous and Stupid

BPoV

I'm not even sure how it started. It wasn't with the money though, I know that much. It was way before that. Maybe it was the desperation marring your incredibly handsome face that started it all. Even then, I would've done anything to get rid of your pain.

No. It's not fair to blame it on your desperation. The truth is it started because I wanted it to start, more than I'd ever wanted anything in my life. You simply said two words…I'm the one who jumped at them…

OOOOOOOOOO

There's this statue called 'The David,' over in Florence - you know, the birthplace of the Renaissance? Anyway, I always dreamt of seeing "The David" and finally figuring out what Michelangelo was thinking when he created him, all hard marble and defined lines. I wanted to gaze at "The David," and feel my own inspiration finally building.

So I found it hilarious to no end when I found him here, in this small town (Forks, was it?) in the middle of the Olympic Mountains.

Who knew "The David" was a real boy, all flesh and bone and muscle? All the chiseled lines were there, the surreal beauty, the perfectly defined jaw, the tall, lean hardness, the full lips - even if this "David" did seem to have his pursed in a perpetual smirk.

"Bella Swan. Is that your given name?" he frowned.

"Yup." I swung my legs back and forth – kind of nervously if I had to be honest, which sort of amused me when I thought about it because other than freaky-logger man, when was the last time a guy made me nervous?

"Actually, it's Isabella," I admitted, "but no one ever-"

"Isabella Swan," he repeated, his lips pursed as he took an eraser to where I'd filled my name out and did me the favor of rewriting it. "Age twenty-two," he checked off, mumbling to himself.

Okay, so "The David" personified had a bit of a stick up his ass…

"When was your last physical?"

"I'm not sure. Who was president before Obama?"

Another smirk.

"Any heart problems?"

"Nope."

"Joint stiffness."

"None that I've noticed," I giggled.

"Vision problems?"

"20/20," I sang.

"When was the date of your last menstrual period?"

"Exactly when I was expecting it. Phew!" I laughed, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand in mock relief.

He didn't even crack a smile. Tough audience, this guy.

My legs kept swinging away.

"Do you smoke?"

"Occasionally."

This deepened the line of disapproval that had formed over his brow, but he kept his eyes on my chart. "You do know that smoking causes cancer and a myriad of other health complications?"

"I've heard rumors to that effect, yes," I said, in a tone as serious as his.

"Rumors?" he practically growled.

"Just kidding," I chuckled. "Look, I'll quit one of these days, really. I haven't even been doing it long. I really just do it when I'm stressed. It's something I picked up from my ex. Now that wasa human chimney," I smirked.

My walking sculpture finally looked up. When his eyes met mine, my legs stopped swinging because holy mother of juggernauts, were they the greenest eyes ever. Only my fear of barfing all over the place could've kept me from noticing them before.

Scratch that "David" shit. This dude was go-zillions of miles beyond "David."

"Well?"

"Huh?"

"I asked," he said impatiently, "if you'd like me to provide you with some patches today. It's as good a day as any to start breaking the habit."

Break the habit? Recovering from those eyes alone was going to require a crapload of puffing.

I shook my head quickly. "No. Thanks but no thanks, doc." He kept staring at me, and now that I'd seen those eyes, his gaze made me self-conscious. "Let's just…get on with it please." I motioned with my hand for him to continue.

The horizontal lines on his forehead gave way to a cute little vertical line just between his brow, before he plowed on with his medical inquisition.

"Do you drink?"

"Here and there," I said, grinning slowly because there went the lines of disapproval once more. My walking sculpture was apparently a straight-laced boy scout. His eyes seemed to darken and hell was it sexy - Mr. Sexy-Eyes.

I'd bet that "David" over in Florence didn't have sexy eyes.

"Another habit picked up from your ex-boyfriend?" Sexy-Eyed Boy Scout asked with a raised brow.

"Who said my ex was a boy?"

Sexy-Eyed Boy Scout visibly startled, his face turned crimson.

"Uhm, I…I didn't mean to assume-"

I broke out into fits of laughter and had to wrap my arms around my stomach to stop. "I'm just messing with you doc," I finally said. "Felix was definitely a boy."

That brought on the biggest smirk yet.

Somebody was clearly PMS-ing today.

"To answer your question, no, it's not a habit I picked up from my ex. I discovered the joys of a nice cool beer on a hot summer day all by myself," I nodded smugly, swinging my legs again.

His full lips tightened into a straight line, pretty, pretty eyes blazing. They moved back and forth between my face and legs before he took a deep breath and looked back down at his chart.

"Chill out, doc," I teased. "I'm no alcky or anything - just your occasional beer and stuff."

His eyes shot up again, darker now. The chart got placed to the side, on top of the counter so he could level me with the most intense glare yet. My legs stopped once more because that look was doing seriously wet things to my panties and my poor panties hadn't been wet in a while, and shit it was time for my kegels.

"Well?"

"Huh?"

He rolled his sexy eyes. "I asked you, stuff like what? Stuff like drugs?"

"God no!"

"You sure?" He looked unequivocally…angry now. Ooh Sexy Angry eyes was the hottest yet.

Kegel away, Bella. Kegel away.

"Are you sure you haven't discovered the joys of a tightly rolled up stogy on a cool fall night?" he practically hissed.

I burst out laughing again. "Oh my God who even calls it a stogy anymore!" I asked incredulously while he glowered my way. "No! As I indicated with my chicken scratching Doctor Cullen, I don't do drugs, not occasionally, not recreationally. Though by the way you put it, it sounds like you may know a thing or two about that…"

His nostrils flared, pretty/sexy/angry eyes blinking furiously.

"I'm just kidding, doc! Sheesh!" I chuckled. "Don't go into convulsions or anything." Though if he did, I'd be forced to give him mouth to mouth…

He breathed out heavily through his nose and sneered.

"Boy, are all doctors in this town this…intense or did I just hit the lottery?" I blurted.

In an instant, all intenseness disappeared. Doctor Cullen reached into his pocket and pulled out a writing pad. I wasn't sure whether to be relieved or disappointed that those eyes were finally off of me. The kegels came to a stop.

"I'll write you some instructions," he said, in a voice much more subdued and professional than the one from a few seconds ago, "in case your arm starts aching. Ibuprofen twice a day, and…."

But my attention had been diverted to something to the side of him. It was a picture resting against a shelf. I got up off the examining table and made my way over to it. There was a wooden step stool right next to Doctor Cullen so I kicked it over and climbed on.

"Is this yours?" I murmured.

He cleared his throat. "Yes. It's the Piazza Antfiteatro in Lucca. Lucca's a small town in-"

"In Tuscany. The Piazza was built around a roman amphitheater in medieval times. They have open markets in the square on Saturdays, where they sell fresh fruits and flowers."

We were silent for a couple of minutes. I studied the picture, tracing the roofs of the centuries-old buildings in shades of yellow and red.

"Have you ever been there?" I asked.

I saw him nod out of my periphery. "I was in Tuscany for a couple of weeks. Just got back last night." He ran a hand through his curiously-bronze-toned hair. "Today is…actually my first day as a resident."

I pulled my eyes away from the picture and looked at him. There was a touch of sheepishness, and dare I say, self-consciousness, on his flawless face now.

"Ahh," I smirked. "So you're new at this."

He ran his hand through his hair again, cheeks pinking in the cutest way. "Yes, I suppose I am." He sighed. "Look, I'm sorry if-"

I never did find out what he was going to apologize for, because I lost my footing on the stool and as I tried to right myself I put too much weight on one side and the stool shifted over and I started going over with it…

Until Doctor Cullen's arm wrapped around my waist while his other arm went under my legs. Instinctively my arms went around his neck and suddenly, I was in Doctor Cullen's arms, held tightly against his chest.

I gasped - not at all discreetly either. Doctor Cullen's Adam's apple bobbed up and down as we stared at each other. This close to him, it became pretty clear that there was no competition between him and Michelangelo's marble statue, because whoever was responsible for creating Doctor Cullen would always win - hands down. This close to his chest, it was obvious that Doctor Cullen was well toned…and defined…and physically perfect…

Poor Michelangelo. Wherever he was, did he know what a cheap imitation his statue had turned out to be?

EPoV

She smelled like lavender and honey and flowers and something I couldn't even put a name to. Her body felt warm and soft. I mean, I'd had other women in my arms before. Jessica had been soft and slightly plump at the time, so many years ago. Gianna, just a week ago, had been tall and slender and toned. And Bree…well, Bree had always been so thin and fragile - delicate.

But Isabella…Isabella felt so…different. I didn't dare move my hands but Jesus the effort to keep them still was staggering, because I could feel her curves under my arms, how small her waist was, yet how round and voluptuous her ass was. As her chest rose and fell so close to me, I could see out of my periphery how full and ample her breasts were under that tiny tank top. Shit, she was Jessica Rabbit personified. God help me because they'd never taught us in med school what the M.O. was if a patient constantly gave you an erection.

She grinned. "Oops."

'Oops' was a goddamned understatement.

Slowly, I angled her down so that she could place her feet on the floor and when she did, I moved both my arms to her tiny waist to steady her. She kept her arms around my neck, her big brown eyes locked on mine.

"You have really pretty eyes," she blurted.

I couldn't help grinning, because I'd just been thinking the same thing about her eyes - and her ass and tits as well.

"So do you," I admitted with a small smile.

Two knocks sounded on the door just then and both our heads turned as the door opened wide…

And in walked Bree.

"Doctor Cullen, Julia told me you were in here and might need my…assistance."

Oh. Fuck.

She gasped and froze in her tracks, looking between my patient and me.

"Dr. Tanner," I said, and then nothing else, because I couldn't think of one. damn. thing. to say.

Meanwhile, my pretty little patient still had her arms wrapped around my neck. And oh shit, will you look at that? I still had my arms wrapped around her waist.

I dropped my arms quickly and pulled away from Ms. Swan, taking a few steps back. Isabella just watched me, still grinning her impish grin.

"Um, no," I said, turning back to Bree. "We have everything under control, actually."

"I can see," Bree said, her eyes flashing between Isabella and me. There was suddenly something strange in them - something…different. "Well I'll just let you get back to…whatever you were doing." She turned to leave.

"She was about to fall, Bree," I tried to explain, "and I-"

Bree whipped around. "Just lock the door next time, Edward," she hissed quietly, "so you don't get caught. That's what Mike and I do."

My scalp prickled, because I really hadn't needed to hear that shit and she knew it.

Oh yeah?

"Perhaps next time you should wait to be invited in, Doctor Tanner, and then you won't walk in on such an…uncomfortable situation."

Bree had always had big eyes. Jess and Tanya and the rest used to make fun of them when we were kids. They used to say she looked like an owl sometimes. I'd always found it endearing. I mean yeah, I wasn't blind, I could see they were…okay, BIG, but I was in love.

Now, I could sort of see where they got the owl reference from, because her eyes grew so wide it was almost comical.

"I suppose I just never expected to find you like this." Her huge eyes jumped between me and a still grinning Isabella. "It's not like it's something you and I-" – she shook her head and cleared her throat -"something you would've ever done before."

"There are a lot of things I do now that I never used to do," I found myself answering. In the back of my mind, I was aware that this was the most un-friggin-professional conversation ever to be had in front of a patient.

But Isabella kept grinning, looking between Bree and me as if all she needed was popcorn.

"Why don't you introduce us?" Bree suddenly asked.

Every muscle in my body tensed. Alright, so maybe I'd taken this a little too far.

Isabella moved forward and stuck her hand out. "Hi, I'm Isabella Swan," she smiled pleasantly.

Bree studied her up and down, her forehead wrinkled as she slowly took Isabella's hand. That expression crossed her face again, the one I'd never seen before…

"Doctor Tanner, was it?" Isabella asked, her grin still in place. Bree nodded, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "It's so nice to meet you, Doctor Tanner!" The shit was, she sounded so sincere.

And there it was again. Bree glared at Isabella and her face literally turned…green.

"Bree, I'd like you to meet Isabella." I cleared my throat. "My…girlfriend."

I guess I should've warned her, given her some sort of indication of what I was about to say, but really, I'd had no idea I was going to say that until the words were already out there.

Isabella choked, coughing violently. I moved forward quickly and patted her back.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" I flinched and prayed she wouldn't leave me hanging here. Or sue me.

Once the coughs subsided she turned and gave me a sideways glance. "I'm just fine. Honey. Thanks." She smiled sardonically.

Oh fuck.

"So…how did you two meet?" Bree asked. She was going for nonchalant, but I knew her well. The way her dainty little nostrils flared slightly.

"At a club," Isabella said.

"In Tuscany," I happened to say at the same time.

Oh fuck.

"At a club in Tuscany," I clarified.

"You went to a club while you were in Tuscany?" Bree questioned, lifting a brow.

"Tuscany is full of wonders," I said dryly.

"Really Edward? A club in Tuscany? You?" Bree asked, putting her fists on her hips. She wasn't buying it, and that pissed me off, because what the hell was so unbelievable about that?

"Yes," I replied firmly. "I was at a club one night, drinking a beer and smoking a stogy," – out of the corner of my eye I could see Isabella watching me with a huge grin on her face – "when in walked this gorgeous girl-"

"Not that the beer and stogy affected his vision," Bella laughed, cutting me off. She put a hand on my chest, and I had to repress the shudder that her contact once again caused.

"We met at a club," Bella continued for me, her voice taking on a faraway air, "in a little town called Florence. Have you ever heard of Florence?"

"Of course I've heard of Florence," Bree bristled.

"Oh. Good," Isabella smiled on, ignoring Bree's tone. "Well there was this club there. El Bello Amore." She moved her mouth perfectly around the Italian words.

"The Beautiful Love?' Bree spit out dubiously.

"Yes!" Bella cried with an enthusiastic fist pump. "Yes! The Beautiful Love! Anyway," she continued, apparently on a roll now, "I walked into the club, and there, in the middle of a bunch of smoke and stale beer stench, was Edward. It was love at first sight." She sighed and put her hands over her heart. "Wasn't it darling?"

I blinked. "What? Oh yeah. Yeah. It sure was."

"He asked me to dance and didn't leave my side all night. And then come morning I took him back to my hotel room and screwed his brains out on the balcony overlooking the Ponte Vecchio."

Now it was my turn to choke.

"Do you know what the Ponte Vecchio is?" she asked Bree innocently.

Bree nodded, eyes wide and obviously horrified.

But this didn't stop Isabella. Didn't even slow her down. She smiled and turned her eyes back to me; they glazed over as she continued her tale.

"You should've seen the way our joined bodies glistened under the warm Tuscan sun that morning." She sighed dramatically. "And then afterwards, we lay all spent and sweaty on the balcony floor, while the scent of our lovemaking drifted and swirled all around us in the air. It was really beautiful - in a hot and erotic sort of way," she grinned wickedly.

Silence filled the air. Isabella wrapped her arms around my waist and looked up at me through those dark eyes of hers, and though at first all I could do was stare at her, my jaw hanging open, at one point when I looked in her eyes, I could've sworn I saw that smoky club in Florence, and I saw us out on that balcony, with the Ponte Vecchio in the background…

"We've been inseparable ever since," Bella sighed again, giving me an impish smile.

"So you brought her home with you, Edward?" Bree asked. Though she had no right to it, I could hear the note of hurt in Bree's voice.

I sighed, coming back down to reality. No, she had not right to it, but despite everything, I couldn't hurt Bree. "Bree, actually none of that-"

"Yes," Isabella cut in. "Apparently two weeks of non-stop sexing just wasn't enough for him, so he brought me home so we could keep going at it like fucking bunnies. And I'm telling you, it has not Stopped," she whispered conspiratorially in Bree's direction.

Then she squeezed my ass and grinned wickedly again. "I mean, he even did me on the airplane! The airplane! Can you believe that? The man is friggin' insatiable," she chuckled.

All color drained from Bree's face.

"Isabella! Darling," I said, disentangling her arms from around me, "You're arm's all fixed up. Now I really need to get back to my rounds."

"Oh!" Bella giggled. "Okay. I'll see you later then, honey pop." She turned back to Bree and lowered her voice again. "I'm sure you can guess why I call him honey pop," she chuckled, wriggling her brows.

"Isabella!" I yelled, fisting my hair. "Baby! I'll see you later!"

And then, with absolutely no warning – which I guess was only fair since I'd given her no warning about the whole 'girlfriend' thing - Isabella Swan, my crazy patient, threw her arms around my neck and pressed her mouth to mine.

If the sparks that flew when I touched her arm were strange, there were no words for this. My lips absolutely burned when they touched hers. And I swear I meant to pull away, but I simply couldn't. It was like we were glued together at the mouth in a slow motion lip-lock that lasted and lasted.

And lasted.

Until I finally managed to pull my mouth away from hers. When I did, Isabella's lips remained puckered, her eyes closed. Slowly she opened her eyes and traced her lips with one finger.

"Wow," she chuckled lowly, her eyes shining.

I swallowed thickly. "I'll see you later, Isabella," I managed to murmur.

She smiled and then turned to Bree. "Doctor Tanner, it was nice to meet you." Again, there was nothing but genuineness in her voice.

Bree stared at her outstretched hand for a few seconds before meeting it silently.

And then Isabella Swan picked up her backpack and with one last backwards glance and grin my way, walked out of the room.

A/N: Thoughts?

The first few chapters of a story always raise a bunch of questions. Why did she say this? Why did he do that? So ask away, loves, if anything seems unclear, but be warned that I may or may not be able to answer just yet. :)