Chapter 4 – Kismet

We walked down the street toward our apartments. I was still shaken from the robbery, slowly regaining my composure and pulling myself together.

"So, how far do you live from here?" Edward asked.

How the hell do I answer that question? I can't say I live in the building next door. Then I'd seem like a creepy stalker when that isn't the case. I merely noticed the man's existence a couple of times since the day he moved in is all. Not creepy by any means.

"Just a couple of blocks up, not far at all." I replied.

It was silent for a little while as we walked. Our buildings came into view and I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't want this interaction to end yet, and I wasn't sure if I could handle being alone.

As if reading my mind he turned toward me and slowed down his pace, "Do you want to get a drink or something?"

"Sure," I nodded. "Where would you like to go?"

He ran a hand through his hair and looked around, "I don't really know what's around here."

"We can just go to my place, if you want. It's cheaper and right over there." I pointed ahead.

I led the way up the stairs to my apartment. Thankfully I'd just cleaned it thoroughly. I struggled with the lock, my hands shaking. I'd never had a man in my apartment before. In fact, I rarely had people over in general.

Edward chuckled beside me, "You're still shook up from earlier. Here, let me help you."

I gladly handed him my keys and in seconds the door was unlocked and open. I entered the room first, the sun had just gone down and I flipped on the light beside the door so we could see.

"You should sit down. You look petrified. Just tell me where the alcohol is."

I did as he suggested and plopped down on the couch, slipping my shoes off my feet and curling my legs under me. If my father, Charlie could see me now he'd be scolding me for letting a stranger into my home. But, Edward didn't seem so strange and unfamiliar. He had saved my life without even knowing me. I highly doubted that I was in any sort of danger.

"I have some wine in the fridge if you'd like some of that," I announced from my spot on the cozy sofa.

I could see him from where I sat, a little breakfast bar separated the kitchen from the living room. I liked the open floor plan of my apartment most. It seemed more homey and comfortable, and since I lived alone it was important for me to be able to see almost everything from every room in the house. Call me paranoid, but it put my mind at ease.

He opened the stainless steel door and looked inside, "Moscato, huh? Do you have anything a bit harder?"

I pointed to the cabinet next to the fridge, "The rest of the stash is in there."

"Bella Swan, I never would have pegged you for a whiskey drinker." Even with his back to me, I could hear the smile in his tone as he rummaged through my collection of booze.

I cocked an eyebrow, "You don't even know me, Mr. Masen. I highly doubt you could accurately peg me for anything."

He came into the living room with the bottle of Jack Daniels and spiced rum in his clutches. No glasses, no ice, nothing else. I watched as he took a seat on the floor across from me, the coffee table sat idly between us.

"That brings me to another point," he grinned and set the bottles down. "You shouldn't be letting strange men into your apartment like this."

I smirked and grabbed the bottle of whiskey, unscrewing the cap as I spoke and ignored his statement, "And you didn't think to grab any glasses?"

"I prefer to drink my Jack straight out of the bottle."

"Ah," I smiled and looked at him again, "As do I."

I brought the bottle to my lips and took a sip, trying not to grimace as it slipped down my throat.

What the hell are you doing? You don't even like whiskey.

So maybe I was putting on a tiny bit of an act. I wasn't really a whiskey drinker, I couldn't even remember how I ended up with that bottle, but I was going to go with the moment. Edward seemed intrigued by my response. I tried not to stare at him, but that was proving to be more and more difficult. He had angular features. His jaw squared, strong, and extremely sexy. His eyes were a deep and intense shade of green, alluring and captivating. Those ancient Roman and Greek statues could have been modeled after him.

I looked down at my hands after setting the bottle on the table.

I heard him chuckle, "This isn't at all awkward, now is it?"

"Only a little bit. It isn't every day I invite a total stranger into my apartment."

"But you witness armed robberies often, got it."

My gaze met his and he was smiling, his teeth were perfectly white and straight. I couldn't help but laugh, "No, I can't really say that usually happens either."

I watched as he took a few swigs of whiskey and reached for the rum. This stuff I could drink any day, normally mixed with some soda, but it appears we weren't going to be mixing drinks tonight.

"You saved my life tonight," I finally said after a few more moments of silence.

"I don't know about that, nobody got hurt."

"But," I took another sip of rum. "They shot a gun!"

He stared at the carpet, avoiding my gaze just as much as I was trying to avoid his, "They shot their gun at the ceiling to intimidate the clerk. Nobody was hurt and I doubt they would have shot anyone, but I didn't want them to see you. You didn't even react when you heard them yelling for the money, I couldn't watch you stand there like an idiot, they would have seen you eventually. So, I just acted quickly."

"Well, thank you for yanking me to the back of the store and knocking me to the ground," I shrugged jokingly and added, "I appreciate it."

"You make it sound so violent. I didn't yank or knock you around anywhere. I just moved you…effectively."

I glanced at him, "And don't think I didn't notice you referred to me as an idiot."

Teasing, a harmless icebreaker that I had a feeling would work. Or at least I hoped it would. I got self-conscious far too easily sometimes.

He smiled that gorgeous smile of his and ran a hand through his hair, "I didn't mean it like that, I just meant that you were-"

"Edward," I cut him off and his eyes met mine. "I'm just teasing you."

I could see the tension leave his body that very moment. His shoulders slouched and he sighed.

"You have a nice place," he said.

We were back to being a bit more formal, "Thank you. I've been living here for about a year and a half."

Edward got to his feet and walked over to the window that overlooked his apartment and surveyed the area. He was quiet as he did so, obviously thinking to himself.

"I live right across from you."

I stood up and walked over to him and peered out at the dark sky, "Do you?"

I tried to play it cool, pretending I didn't know.

"I think I saw you the other night," he half muttered.

Hiding my panic I came up with something innocent to say, "That's the only thing I don't like about these apartments, hardly any privacy."

He turned his back to the glass and scanned my living room. "You were watching something on TV. I wasn't spying on you, I just noticed you as I looked out the window."

"It's okay," I fiddled with my hands. "I noticed you when you first moved in. I was closing my curtains and saw you sorting through boxes."

Why the hell did you just admit to that?

"Well, well, well, Miss Swan, you are quite the little devious one, now aren't you?"

I took another swig of rum and fell onto the couch again, "Not at all!"

We smiled at each other. There was this easy chemistry we had. I probably couldn't have put it fully into words even if I had wanted, but it was just easy to joke around. Our banter was effortless and I certainly enjoyed it.

"I don't know about you, but I think I need to get drunk."

He resumed his seat on the floor and drank a bit more. I could hear the gulps as he chugged it down. I was a bit speechless as I took another sip of my rum. I was starting to feel warm and knew I was a bit buzzed. I didn't drink very much and I had never been very drunk before. Tipsy, yes. Drunk, not so much.

"It's been one of those days, hasn't it?" I asked.

Edward chuckled again and rolled his eyes, "After that whole incident at the store, I need this."

"You seemed pretty put together during the whole thing."

He shook his head and tugged on his hair, "I remain calm when shit hits the fan. I've always been good at not panicking. But, that doesn't mean I don't feel that way inside though. I wasn't focused on me; I didn't want you to get hurt."

"That was very noble of you, Edward."

Neither of us spoke, just taking drinks off our bottles. He offered me the whiskey and we traded. He watched me as I drank from the bottle.

"You're not much of a whiskey drinker, are you?" he asked as I swallowed, unable to hide my disgust this time.

I ran my tongue over my lips before pursing them, "No, not really. Actually, I'm not much of a drinker in general. I may have a glass or two of wine every so often, but I've never been drunk."

His jaw dropped, "You've never been drunk?"

"Never," I shook my head.

"Not even in high school?"

I leaned against the back of the couch and propped the bottle in my lap, pulling my sweatshirt over my head and setting it beside me on the vacant cushion. The room was getting considerably warmer.

"Not even in high school. I was never really the party type. Besides, when your father is the chief of police in the small town you live and grew up in, you don't really have many opportunities to go out and be wild."

He leaned on the table and tilted his head slightly, "Your father is the chief of police? Where are you originally from?"

"Forks, Washington. He has been a police officer for twenty-five years, since before I was born." I answered.

This was getting even easier as time progressed.

It was my turn to ask a question, "Where did you move here from?"

"Seattle, Washington. I loved living there, but something brought me here."

"Were you offered a better job or something?"

He rubbed his face and took another drink, "Something like that."

Okay, so that question seemed to be off limits. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of wine out of the refrigerator.

"Are you hungry at all? I can make us something to eat." I suggested.

Edward got up and joined me in the kitchen, "What do you have?"

After searching through my kitchen, we decided nothing looked very good and we settled for ordering a pizza. It was starting to get a bit later in the night, after ten o'clock. I was normally ready to crawl into bed by this time, but I didn't want to kick Edward out. I was enjoying his company and there was still so much more I wanted to learn about him.

We sat on my couch, the television on as we ate together. I assumed eating would help fight the buzz I had been feeling and it did.

"You look like you're about to pass out," he said as I yawned and stretched.

"No, I'm fine. I swear."

I fought back another yawn and watched as Edward got to his feet, "I better let you get to sleep, and I didn't even mean to stay over here this long anyway. I've intruded enough."

"You didn't intrude at all. I've enjoyed your company. To be honest, I've never really had anyone over here before. This was nice," I admitted.

We walked toward the door and he turned to look at me, "Thank you for your hospitality."

"It was the least I could do. You did save my life tonight. Really, I should be the one thanking you."

"You're right," he grinned. "You should be."

I laughed and shook my head, "Thank you, Edward."

"If you need rescuing again, all you need to do is call me."

The door was open now and he was standing in the hall.

"That would be great, if I had your number."

He looked at his hands for a brief moment and added, "You can always try yelling out of a window. Or you could just flash your lights three times and I'll know you're in distress."

"Oh my goodness…" I muttered and tried not to laugh.

"It was nice meeting you, Bella Swan. I'll be seeing you around."

I spoke quickly before he turned to walk away, "We should do this again sometime, or something."

"I have a feeling we will," he smiled at me again. "Or something. Goodnight, Bella Swan."

"Goodnight, Edward Masen."

I watched him descend down the stairwell before I closed the door to my apartment. Tonight had been completely unexpected, from the whole store incident to having Edward come over after saving me. I wasn't going to complain one bit. I put the leftover pizza in the fridge and put the alcohol back where it belonged. I closed the curtains in my living room, turning off the lights as I went.

The following morning arrived faster than I would have liked.

"Did you hear the little market right by your house was robbed last night?" Rose asked as soon as I took a seat behind my desk.

The lobby was completely dead and I knew today was going to be yet another slow one.

"Yeah, I was there."

"What!?" She shouted, her voice raising an entire octave.

I nodded, "I was getting a few things and this random person pulled me to the back of the store and hid me behind the end of an aisle."

And as she stared at me in stunned silence, the glass doors opened and I heard one of our teller's voices chime a friendly, "Hello" to whoever had entered the branch.

"Hi. I'd like to open an account, who would I talk to about that?"

I froze. I knew that voice. I swiveled my chair around just in time to see Angela walking him over to my desk.

"Why Miss Bella Swan, what a pleasant surprise it is to see you here."

I stood and motioned for him to take a seat opposite me, "Mr. Edward Masen, please have a seat."

We sat across from each other, a smile spread across his lips. What was the likelihood I'd run into him twice in two days? I was in a completely different neighborhood outside of bustling, downtown Portland.

"You're looking rather well-rested today. I take it you got enough sleep once I left your place last night?" he grinned.

I heard Rosalie choke on her coffee at her desk and tried not to turn red. He was making this sound bad on purpose.

I decided to play back a bit, "Why yes, I did. It was a late night for me though and far too much excitement for one day."

Life was definitely on my side right now.