A/N:

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How could I let this happen?

"Please, tell me you're joking." Alice had no sense of humor in her voice.

"Alice, please stop judging me. It's not like I went into there planning on being screwed up against the wall."

"But Edward Cullen, Bella? Really?"

"You don't even know him, Alice. So please don't pretend that it was Hitler I fucked instead of some guy I went to high school with."

"Bella, you don't even know the guy either! He could be a crazed maniac for all you know! I think that was just really irresponsible and not like you at all! You used to make fun of all those girls who gave into him so easily. And now you were in the same room with him, for what, thirty seconds? Now he can just add you to the long list of girls who fell to their knees begging for his cock."

"It wasn't like that!"

"Okay, so please, enlighten me. How exactly was it like?"

It was like my entire world came together at that moment he was inside me. It was like I found what I have been searching for my entire life. It was like he broke down all my walls, piece by piece, with each kiss and each touch.

"It just wasn't like that, okay? Please, Alice, I don't need your scrutiny right now."

"Bella, you know I love you. I truly do have your best intentions at heart. And I can see how this could have been a one time thing. But if you want him to respect you as the grown, confident, successful woman you are, then you need to respect yourself enough to not give into him just because he looks your way. I'm not trying to judge you or make you feel bad for what happened. I just want you to be careful. You're better than this."

"Thanks, Alice."

"I love you. Don't beat yourself up. Just relax and it will be fine. I'm sorry if I'm coming off as a raging bitch, I just know you, and this is not my Bella."

"It's okay, I needed to hear it. But I'm going to go to bed now. We have that stupid breakfast thing tomorrow and then I'm going to spend the day at the hospital with Charlie."

"Okay, but promise to call me tomorrow?"

"Promise."

"All right, sweetest dreams, Bella."

"Sweetest dreams, Alice."

I hung up the phone and crawled into bed. Getting to sleep that night was hell. My mind couldn't stop going over what happened. Again, and again I thought about, and could almost feel, what it was like to be with Edward that way. He was strong and confident in his actions. It's not the most romantic way to be with somebody, but the way he looked at me and kissed me made me feel beautiful and wanted, emotions that I have not felt for a long time.

But why now? What is so special about me now? I really have never had a conversation with him before. He was my lab partner in my junior year biology class, but he never spoke to me unless it was to tell me I wrote down the answer wrong. Smug little prick. Okay, maybe not little. No, definitely not little. God, Bella. Get your head out of the gutter.

If I thought I made a bad impression on him then, I really didn't want to know what he thought about me now. I nearly knocked him over when I shoved him to get off me after our little personal reunion.

I quickly gathered my clothes and ran into the bathroom, but not before I told him that if he touched me again I would be feeding his balls to my dogs. Okay, so maybe not an entirely truthful statement, but I think I got my point across. By the time I made it out of the bathroom, he was gone.

…

When I woke up that morning I was feeling tense, sore, and very irritable. Alice's words came screaming back at me. I am not some easy sleaze-bag that a man can just have his way with. The whole situation kind of made me angry. But I guess there is no use on dwelling on it either. Today I am going to go to breakfast, face that creepy bastard, and make him think that last night didn't even faze me. But damn, I needed some caffeine first.

I ended up being late to breakfast, and by the time I got there most people were already eating and getting up for seconds. Luckily, the buffet line was short, so I quickly made my way to get my food.

"Good morning, Isabella." There's that electricity again.

"Isabella? What are you my father?"

"Come on, drop the hostilities. Can we please talk?"

"I'm sorry, Edward; I'm not in the mood for your kind of 'talking' today." My tone wasn't necessarily harsh, just thick with impatience and exhaustion. "Please just let me eat in peace and get out of here. I have a long day ahead." My countdown to my visit with Charlie was fast approaching, and my nerves and anxiety beat out my morning confidence and anger.

"Fine. Suit yourself." He extended his arm out to me to go ahead and get my breakfast.

After I got my food, I went and found a table in the back of the room that was, to my extreme luck, empty. Edward didn't make an attempt to talk to me again and instead sat with a beautiful blond girl and that guy who pulled him off James last night at a table nearby. I wasn't close enough to hear their conversation, and I purposefully turned my body so my back was facing towards them.

I was starting to think my morning was looking up when I finished my breakfast with no interruptions, but of course I'm not that lucky. Right as I was about to stand up, no other than Mike Newton sat down next to me.

"Bella Swan! Man, you're looking hot!"

"Really, Mike? But, uh, yeah, hi to you, too."

As I skimmed over my past ten years to Mike I couldn't help that notice he was paying more attention to my chest than to our conversation. I even slipped in a, "You know, my breasts are really enjoying all the attention they're getting from you," with just a nod in response. Pig.

I stood up and left after that. I had my reached my limit for dealing with arrogant assholes for one day and it wasn't even 10:00 a.m. I made my way out of the ballroom, and my heart about jumped out of my chest when I turned the corner and ran straight into a rock hard body.

"Damn it, Edward! You're so creepy! I swear I feel like you're following me! Do you not have anything better to do then watch my every move?" I let out an exasperated sigh and looked at him with annoyance. "I promise, there are a lot more interesting people in that room besides me who give a shit about what you've been doing since high school. Now please, excuse me." I started to walk away and his voice, now angry, was following behind me.

"Bella, have you always been such a pain in the ass? All I want is to have a conversation with you, and you either jump down my throat or run away!

"What conversation do you need to have with me that is so important you need to resort to stalker status?"

I think he had reached his own limit with me, and instead of including me on this important conversation, he simply looked at me with irritation and frustration. "You know what, Bella? It doesn't even matter! You'll find out soon enough."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I'll leave you to enjoy your own pleasant company. It's been such a pleasure, I assure you!" Sarcasm ran thick in his voice. "Besides, I'm going to be late for work."

"You work in Seattle?"

"Yes, I do. But apparently you're not concerned about what I've been doing since high school, so I guess I'll tell the more interesting people inside all about it." He was throwing my previous words in my face.

"Be my guest."

He just laughed bitterly and walked away. Part of me was kind of sad when he left. I knew that it would probably be my last time seeing Edward Cullen. The reunion was officially over, and I definitely didn't plan on sticking around and finding out his number for future reference. I just stood there dumbfounded for a moment, watching him walk away from me. I wish I could say I regretted what happened last night, but honestly I couldn't. It was mind blowing sex, what girl would regret that? I guess I was just disappointed because I knew it would never happen again. Get a grip, Bella. It's not like it's the last man in the world you'll ever come across.

I shook myself out of the stupor and continued walking towards the elevator back up to my suite. I had more important issues to deal with today than an old high school classmate. I went ahead and called a cab to come pick me up from the hotel when I got back to my room, then made my way to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. I should not be this nervous about seeing my dad. I guess I was anxious because I wasn't sure of what I was going to see. My dad, Charlie, was the police chief in Forks and always wore a mask that hid all emotion. I was nervous about seeing him in a hospital bed, full of pain and realization that he had no control over his current situation. I had to be strong for him. I would be strong for him.

Before I knew it, I was walking into Seattle Grace hospital. I asked the receptionist for directions up to my father's room when I spotted a head of bronze hair. There is no fucking way.

"Ms. Swan?"

I turned around to see a slender woman looking at me curiously.

"Yes, that's me."

"Charlie Swan's room is right this way. Please follow me."

I had no time to turn around and observe the man standing down the hall. The nurse led me to the other side of the building to the fourth floor. We stood in front of a green door and she ushered me in. Fuck, I can't do this.

"Ms. Swan? Is everything all right?"

Charlie was just lying there, lifeless. I guessed he was asleep because his eyes were closed and his breathing was even. But I couldn't help but notice how there were slight bruises under his eyes and how his face was so much thinner than I last remembered.

"Uh, yes, thank you."

"All right, dear, the doctor will be here in a few minutes to speak with you."

I just nodded at her and made my way to his bedside and pulled up a chair. I knew nothing about cancer, but he looked so much worse than I imagined. I could only guess that this was the reason he refused all visitors. He didn't want anyone to see him like this. This is not how my dad would want to be remembered. I guess I couldn't blame him for that, but I wish he would have included me on the reality of his condition. I was his daughter, damn it! Yeah, what a great daughter you've been these last ten years.

Fuck! Why the hell did I have to stay away? Why couldn't I have just stayed here and taken care of him? He is my father. He deserves so much better. Before I could fall into my own deep self-loathing, there was a knock at the door.

"Uh, yes? You can come in."

Holy shit. What the hell is he doing here?

"It's nice to see you again, Bella."

I swear the world hates me.

"You know that important conversation I wanted to have earlier? Yes, it was to inform you that I was your father's primary doctor here at Seattle Grace."

Fuck my life. So, I guess I didn't fuck just simply Edward Cullen last night, but it was actually Dr. Edward Cullen. My trip to Washington just kept getting more and more interesting.

Chapter End Notes:

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