DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters, Stephanie M. does. I'm just borrowing them from the metaphorical toy box. I promise I'll give them back after I'm done : )

Chapter 2

"Edward? Edward Cullen?" I tore my eyes away from his to look at the rest of his face, ensuring that it was him.

"Are you alright?" I moved to nod, but winced as my head began to throb with the motion of it. He appeared extremely concerned. I guess he didn't know that this happened to me every day.

"Here, let me help you up. Let's sit you down" Luckily, we had bumped into each other (no pun intended) outside of a coffee shop. He helped me to sit in a chair outside.

"You alright?" His worried expression was adorable.

"Yeah, I think so…" We sat in comfortable silence for a few seconds, before he started poking and prodding me:

"Alright, follow my finger with your eyes. Can you do that for me, Bella?" I did as he asked, but not without giving him a wry look.

"Sorry – Doctor! It's in my genetic code." He held up his hands defensively.

I chuckled sarcastically, but let him look me over anyway. Eventually, we started talking, catching up; that is, until I remembered,

"Oh, shit! Lucy!" I exclaimed in realization.

"What?" He looked confused.

"Erm, my daughter. I'm supposed to be picking her up from preschool, I've got to go!" I began to gather my things.

"Oh – Alright. Um, I guess I'll see you around?"

"Oh! Um, no, Alice has my number. Give me a call, we should catch up sometime." I gathered all of my possessions together, and began to walk (briskly) to my car.

He caught up with me halfway there.

"Okay, I'll do that, Bella. I'll see you around?" He looked at me through his long lashes, (a smoldering look) and suddenly, I felt like I was in high school again. I blushed, but held his gaze.

"I'll see you around, Bella."

"Bye."

In the end, I was twenty minutes late picking up Lucy from school.

"Harrumph" Arms folded. Eyes glaring. Lips pouting.

"Alright! I'm sorry, Luce. I'm sorry"

Her glare softens.

"…I guess it's okay mommy. Can I have an ice pop when we get home?"

I smiled. Of course, anything was forgiven for a treat.

"I think that might be a possibility, sweetheart."

She squealed and did a little dance. I glanced back at her in my rearview mirror to see her smiles.

"Hey!" I picked up the phone to hear Alice's voice on the other line.

"Hey you!"

"So, I was thinking that, in order to celebrate our newfound refound friendship, we ought to go out to dinner.

"Um, okay," I wedged the phone between my ear and my shoulder and rolled up my sleeves to do the breakfast dishes. "Sounds like a plan, so long as you don't expect me to put out at the end of the evening. When were you thinking?"

"Ha-ha, very funny. How about tonight?"

"Um, Alice, I don't know…Lucy's at James's tonight, and-"

"Then it's perfect! C'mon Bella, you need a night out!"

"Ahhh – alright…" I relented, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. I glared at the unoffending soap bubbles that had taken up residence on my forehead.

"Oh! Yay!" She squealed into the phone. I winced and imagined her clapping her clapping her hands and jumping up and down in delight, like some sugar – high pixie.

"Okay, so I'll pick you up tonight at seven, and we can go out to eat. Wear something nice!" She was talking a mile a minute, but at least I could hear again.

"Nice? Alice, where are you taking me? I can't afford anything fancy!" This was already starting to sound like a bad idea.

"Don't worry about it Bella!"

"I mean it Alice!"

"Mmhmm, I'll see you tonight!"

"Alice-"

"Goodbye Bella! Be ready at seven!"

Before I could respond, she'd hung up. Ugh. Tonight was gonna be fun.

A/N: Sorry it's so short guys! It was kind of an interlude chapter… The next one'll be longer, I promise.