AN: Major thank you to SunflowerFran who recommended my story on her FB page. That was so very sweet of you! And thank you and welcome to all of my new readers. I hope you enjoy my story.

I'm sorry if there are any mistakes. I'm posting as I write and I don't have a beta.

Chapter Four

Delirious from too much sleep, I swat away at whatever is poking into my side. I peek over my blanket to see it's Rose and one of her talons.

"Are you alive? I'm starting to think there's something wrong with you."

I blink at Rose and sink further into my couch cushions. "I'm fine."

"Then stop being lazy. Every time I come home, you're still on this damn sofa. Have you even showered?"

I lift up my arm and unceremoniously sniff my pit. I'm alright. She'd die if she knew how long I didn't shower while I was in Nepal. Three days is nothing. Besides, I finished my article and signed for the packages of products sent from several companies for me to review. I haven't been dead to the world, just strangely listless. "What do you want?"

"I want you to tell me why you've been on the couch for three days or walking around sighing at everything. You're usually a ball of energy. It's freaking me out."

I start to sigh, but she just accused me of doing it too much, so I catch myself. "I'm just really tired."

"You're lying through your teeth that probably have fuzz growing on them by now. Nasty. Are you mad at me for bailing on you at the bar? I was surprised to hear you left."

I groan and cover my head. "I'm not mad. Nothing happened." Everything happened and I have no right to be pissy about seeing Edward again.

"I never asked if anything happened. Ha! You just told on yourself. So spill."

"No."

"I'll sit on you until you tell me," she says as she starts to crawl on top of me.

"What the fuck?" I sit up.

Rose plops down in the seat next to me and moves the hair out of my eyes. "Bella, for real. I know I'm being pushy, but I'm kind of scared. Are you like depressed? Do you need help?"

"No. I'm just trying to work something out in my head."

"Like what?"

I trace over the tattoo on my wrist. All the little things in it that said so much. Though it was a cartoon penis he drew on my notebook, Edward was actually a really good artist. As we walked around the city having a great conversation and not our usual arguing, he pulled the compass drawing out of his bag and handed it to me. I looked up at him and he just smiled without his normal bravado, telling me he'd meant to give it to me the night of Mike's party.

"I don't want you to forget where home is."

"I ran into an old friend at Eclipse. The old friend," I say as I tap my tattoo, hoping she'll get me.

"The guy who drew this?" I'd kind of told her about Edward, but not really. I'd referred to him as the only guy who truly got under my skin. We were all wrong at the wrong time and I still don't know if the whole thing will ever be right. I stopped questioning it years ago, but seeing him again has pulled the tarp off all the old things packed away inside me.

"Yeah. He's Emmett's friend. And Marcy's new boyfriend."

Rose's eyes widen and her mouth drops open in surprise. "Oh my God. Edward? It's Edward."

"It's Edward," I confirm.

"Holy shit, Bella."

"I know. I'm just having a lot of feelings about it."

"Seeing him again?"

I nod, but it's so much more than that. More than I can articulate.

Seattle, 2004

My eyes sting as I look over the compass drawing Edward just gave to me. He sees the tears in my eyes and starts apologizing, something he rarely does. "No, no, it's okay. This is great, Edward. Why a compass?"

He looks away from me and tucks his chin to his shoulder. "It's how I refer to you in my head. My compass. Not that you're mine, of course you aren't, but I admire you. How ballsy you are. I don't want you to forget where home is once you go out into the world. I know you will. Go explore the world, I mean."

I feel like there's a fist around my heart and it's like I'm seeing Edward for the first time. He hasn't irritated me once this afternoon as we looked through shops and listened to a few musicians on the streets, just enjoying the sunny weather and our time together. The crazy idea forms quickly and before I can think too much about it, I know it's meant to be. "Let's go find a tattoo parlor."

"What?"

"I want this on me. I have this idea of getting tattoos on every continent. Make my skin a map."

"What about Antarctica?"

I laugh. "A girl can dream, but I can make the others happen."

"Are you sure?"

I'm starting to think there's a reason bigger than a mechanical failure that I'm stuck in Seattle today and that our paths crossed. "I'm very sure. I may as well knock North America off my list."

It doesn't take us long to find a tattoo parlor that's accepting walk-ins. The girl who does my tattoo is completely down with the idea and compliments Edward on his work. She scans the drawing to make a stencil that's fitted to my right wrist.

"Why'd you choose your wrist?" Edward asks as I lie on the chair with my arm out.

"So I see it every single day."

I'm a little shocked by the fiery sting of the needle on my skin, but I clench my teeth and bear the discomfort. The reward is worth it. Edward watches with rapt attention as his drawing slowly but surely becomes imbedded into my skin. His hand finds mine and I hold onto it tightly when my tattoo artist starts filling in the middle, the most sensitive part.

"Are you okay?" He whispers into my ear.

I look over at him, his eyes bright and so damn green on mine, and smile. "I am."

The whole process is quicker than I thought it would be. I'm so happy with the end result. Once I pay and leave a tip for my artist, Edward and I walk hand in hand out of the shop. "I can't believe you got a tattoo of my drawing."

"Well, you watched." It's sore, welted up, and shiny from the ointment, but the lines are crisp and the color is solid. It's beautiful, like it was always meant to be there.

The sun is beginning to set and I'm not ready for this day to be over. I think Edward feels the same way because he slows down our pace and has a contemplative look in his eyes. "So, Compass, are you hungry?"

I feel so shy and the silly grin on my face feels too wide. "I could eat."

"There's a place a few blocks from here that has great tacos. Do you like tacos?"

"I love them."

"Then let me treat you to dinner."

"I'd like that."

"Me too. Let's go," he says as he leads the way.

AN: Those darn tacos. Thank you for reading!