Ok so first off - - thank you SO MUCH for reading and favoriting, not so much for reviewing but I'll get over it *pouts a little*

Secondly, In case it is in any way unclear, this is definitely an EDWARD/BELLA story. HOWEVER yes it is true.....Edward and Victoria (GASP!)are BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND. And boyfriends and girlfriends have sex and fight and then make up and then fight more and have sex again. :O So yes, Victoria plays a supporting role in this story at least for the moment. And if that disgusts you to the point where you can't even be bothered to read this....well then, ummm, I don't know what to tell ya.

Hmmm, ok I think that was everything :D Please forgive typos.

SM owns all things Twilight.

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BPOV

"Nice phrase today, Bells," Emmett snorts, slicing his thumb over his shoulder at the front door and beyond that to the sidewalk where the blackboard announcing my carefully crafted phrase is standing proud. Let's see what that beautiful mouth can do. Indeed.

I've only known Edward for the very briefest of time, mere hours if I really thought about it, and in those moments I've learned that he's from the same town where I was born, has probably been arrested by my father on more than one occasion, reads Kafka, plays the piano and the guitar, has a constant sex-fueled habit of dragging his fingers through his luscious golden brown hair, is funny and sarcastic as fuck at the same time, has just as little of a clue what he wants to do with his life as I did, doesn't pussy out when he loses a bet, and...oh yeah...has a fucking girlfriend.

Game over.

It may be going on two months since I've been laid, but I'm not getting involved with a dude that's got a girlfriend. Even if he is gorgeous. And intoxicating. And just told me he has feelings for me. And who I just told I had feelings for too. Fuck. How did I let that shit happen?? Oh yeah.....Everything turns fuzzy when he's doing that thing he does when he's, y'know...looking at me. I have ZERO social filter with him and end up saying anything that's in my head. I've never had that problem with anyone before. In fact my problem has always been the exact opposite - getting the words out and getting them to be the right words, which they usually aren't, and which is why I'm still single. But with Edward I'm an open spigot gushing non-stop. It's freaking me out. I've never been that way with anyone before, let alone a stranger I just met.

It can't matter. I need to shut the valve before I drown. I've never been in a girl-fight over a guy before and I'm not starting at 23. No way.

Thank fucking God Emmett started barking my name from behind the bar like a rabid pit bull or I probably would have kept right on talking about my feelings like some high school cheerleader. I gave Edward an apologetic look and rolled on my shoulder and out the kitchen door, leaving him inside to fend for himself.

And now all I'm thinking about while Emmett goes over his inane inventory list is how I'm going to get away from him and find my way back into the cage of Edward's arms. Why won't Emmett shut the fuck up about how many cocktail napkins come in a package?

He's momentarily distracted by a loud crash that is most likely Edward knocking a teetering stack of sauce pans off the stove top.

"Who the fuck is that?" Emmett grumbles, barely looking up from the notepad.

"That is a person, Emmett. And his name is Edward. He lost a bet and that's his punishment, so don't worry, you don't have to pay him."

Emmett shakes his head and mumbles something about 'bumbling idiot' and 'tupperware'.

"Excuse us, Em," Alice interrupts from out of nowhere. "Bella and I need to have a serious discussion in the ladies room."

She's actually hurting me with those stubby painted fingernails as she pulls me down the hall and flings me into the stall slamming the latch.

"Where did you come from? Aren't you off today?" I mumble. I'm really not in the mood for the pixie-stick and the Noah's Ark flood of 1,000 questions that I know is coming.

"Holy crap, Bella!" I almost start bursting out laughing right then and there. Her quiet whisper is the loudest thing I've ever heard.

"IS THAT HIM?? He's GORGEOUS! Oh my God if someone like that knocked me over I would NOT have complained and I sure as shit would not be standing around with him in our grimy kitchen. I'd be laying in his bed exhausted from the sex-a-thon we just had. And that hair??? And what about those eyes?? I don't think I've ever seen eyes that shade of green before. They're not emerald or hunter or kelly...I bet he's great in bed, don't you? Shit yeah. I'd let him fuck me sideways in a heartbeat..."

"Alice," I pinch the bridge of my nose. I can't. "Are you being for real right now? I thought you had the silent hots for Jasper? Which btw, are so transparent..."

"Ugh, whatever. You are sooo lucky. It looks like he's into you, too. Are you guys going to go out on a date?"

"On a what??" I laugh-snort. "Who are you, my grandma? A date? Is that even something people do anymore? Christ, Al, I think you were born in the wrong decade. You're like a living extra from The Wonder Years. Besides, he has a girlfriend."

"AWHAT?!"

"Shhh!" I cringe. Whisper-shriek is more like it. "Can you shut up? …..A girlfriend. You know, one of those constant female companions that you fuck sideways on a regular basis? Yeah. He's got one of his very own."

"Shut. Up. How long have they been together?"

"No idea. I didn't want to ask and make it look like I care."

"But you do care."

"Yes ok. I care. I like him. I've known him for a total of 20 minutes and every time I think about him I get a knot in the pit of my stomach and I want to crawl into bed and die. Happy now?"

"Wow."

"Wait til you hear the next part."

"I don't know if I can take it..."

"Yeah well hang on. ….He just told me that he has...feelings for me." Her jaw drops open and her hand flies to the center of her chest.

"Are you serious? Feelings? He used the word 'feelings'? What kind of feelings?"

"I don't know. It all happened so fast. One minute I was telling him about my writing and watching him put on an apron, the next thing I know he's breathing on me and talking about his fucking feelings. I didn't know guys still did that shit."

I rest my head back on the tiled wall and squeeze my eyes closed until I see stars.

"What did you say?"

"You're not going to like it."

"Just say it." She could be scary for a midget.

"....I told him I did too. ...Fuck off don't give me that look, Alice. You were just telling me how I should have followed him home and fucked him on his front porch. You see what he looks like, right? Well wait til you hear how he talks and how he just IS. What do you want from me?!"

"I want you to tell him to go fuck himself! You can't get involved with a guy that's got a girlfriend, Bella. That's bullshit. You deserve so much better than that. Especially after 'he who shall remain nameless'. This is a big city with lots of boys in it. If you wanted one we could have been going out for months now. I've tried to set you up with guys from Fordham a million times and you never wanted to go."

"I know all this. And you know me, bunny. I'm not social, I'm not outgoing. I don't like most things about most people with the exception of you and Jasper, and yes even Emmett. Shut up, he's cool. But there's something about this boyyyyyy. I like him. I don't want to but I dooooo."

I'm whining. I even stomped my foot just now. I'm pathetic.

"Well get over it cuz you can't have him. He's taken, honey. And I can't believe you told him about your writing. That's so unfair! I've been trying to get you to open up about that since I first met you in that cafe on Bleeker."

"Blame Edward."

Alice rolls her eyes and pretend vomits into the trash can. "Right. There's just something about him. Come on let's get out of this toilet before I yak for real."

We leave the facilities and head back to the bar, where Edward is sitting on a stool, sipping a mixed drink of some kind and...talking to Emmett? Over the line! No one likes Emmett! Except me! That makes him mine!

Alice pops a squat next to Edward and interrupts their conversation. I notice that Edward's long fingers are puckered at the tips. That asshole. He actually did dishes while he was in there. The front hem of his tight gray American Apparel t-shirt is damp from leaning against the sink and there's stray beads of sweat across his forehead that I want to lick off one by one and...huh?

I go behind the bar and pour a pint of Stella for a customer and pretend to keep myself busy by refilling the lime cup. Emmett looks at me from the side of his eyes like a suspect. If he weren't always covering it up with a funky attitude, Emmett would have a great personality. He's built like a quarterback with jet black hair and light blue eyes. I've seen him toss drunk assholes out of the bar on their faces after they insulted or upset a female and I've seen him go over to that same girl afterwards and console her, tell her it's ok and apologize for the douchbag's behavior. Emmett's solid in my book.

"So Edward. Where do you live?" Alice asks inquisitively

"...Live?" Edward asks his drink, as if looking directly at Alice will turn him to stone.

"Yes, darling. You know, your current place of residence? Not a hard question, sweetie. It's one of those beginning ones."

"Ha, right. Um, right now I live on 91st and 1st."

"The Upper East Side? Wow. That's a long way from here. How'd you find our humble establishment?"

"I stumbled upon it. Quite literally."

He shoots a crooked grin in my direction and my knees start to shake. I give him a weak smile and roll my eyes.

"How long have you known my Isabella?"

"Umm, about 26 hours. Not that I've been counting."

"And how long have you been with your girlfriend?"

"Alice! Stop being so rude!" I yelp apologetically with pleading eyes. I'm mortified.

"No it's ok." Edward clears his throat and musses his hair damp with sweat and dishwater.

"...We've been together on and off for about five years."

My stomach plummets. A fucking long-term relationship. Un-REAL. Emmett starts laughing from his perch on the countertop.

"I don't think I'd be able to hit the same pussy for five days, let alone five years, dude. I'm impressed."

"That's because you're a disgusting pig," Alice spits. Emmett shrugs and goes back to assessing the vodka situation.

"Like I said," Edward continues. "It's been on and off for five years. She's older than me so when she left for college, I stayed in Forks. Then I went to South America for a year after I graduated and I only saw her maybe three times in that year."

"She visited you in South America?" Alice was reading my mind.

Edward nods and begins shifting awkwardly in his seat. I feel bad. He's being grilled and he hasn't done anything wrong...except give me false hope, but I'm putting a stop to that immediately.

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At 6 o'clock Alice moves over to the coffee bar station. The club is starting to get pretty packed. Thursday is the new Friday, as Jasper says. Alice makes a mean vanilla latte and is the heart behind the cafe portion of the Bowery Poetry Club and Cafe. We serve all your beverage needs. She's also been keeping Edward's glass of vodka soda refilled. He's been planted at the end of the bar since Alice's mini-interrogation and has been keeping me company while Emmett barks orders and sends me scurrying all over the fucking place fetching cases of beer and wine to stock up for the weekend.

I finally get a breather and climb on a stool so I can crank the AC up. Then I plug in my iPod and put on Bromst, Dan Deacon's latest album. I know it will cause Emmett's eyes to roll out of his head but if it were up to him, which it's NOT, he'd have The Grateful Dead on morning, noon, and night. I fucking hate The Dead. I'll meet him in the middle and put a little Ryan Adams on later in the evening. Thursday's are typically music only nights unless I book a local band or get lucky and book a headliner that's passing through town. It's been known to happen. If not I usually make a playlist of stuff that's doing it for me at the moment.

"The new Dan Deacon, huh?" Edward yells across the bar at me. I turn to him. He's chewing on the end of a red stirrer and has twirled the end into a knot with his tongue. FUCK. OFF.

"You, uh, you know this?" I gulp. What are we listening to again?

He laughs and shakes his head. I realize how stuck up that just sounded.

"We get music in Forks, too, y'know. If you have a computer and know the right blogs to download leaks from it's fairly easy." He winks at me and I make him another vodka soda. He already looks pretty sauced and pulls more money from his wallet. I put a chip on the counter and slide it towards him. He looks up at me through hooded eyes and licks his lips. I keep my finger on the chip for a few seconds as I hold his gaze and then slowly pull it back .

"This one's on me."

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After Bromst plays through, I keep the music selections in the D's and put on Department of Eagles, In Ear Park. In between pouring beers and making drinks for customers I glance over in Edward's direction from time to time. Each time I do I meet his gaze head on. He doesn't turn away or seem embarrassed that I've caught him watching me. I make myself a vodka cranberry to take the edge off and suck on it hungrily.

Alice has just as many customers at the coffee bar as I do. I can see that she's not drinking booze tonight. Probably because Jasper's not around. She usually needs a few cosmos to work up the nerve to flirt her guts out with him. It's so nauseating.

The lyrics of "No One Does It Like You" compel me to turn towards Edward again.

Out in the morning come
You don't need to ask an alibi
And in the morning comes
You don't need to be so honest

Part of me wishes that Edward hadn't been so honest earlier. Any other guy would totally have lied about having a girlfriend. Why would he ruin his chance at getting ass by telling me he not only has a steady gf but that he's practically fucking married? He sucks. I stick my tongue out at him and playfully give him the finger as the chorus kicks in, No one does it like you. He doesn't smile or look offended or give me any reaction at all. He just keeps staring at me.

Emmett breaks me from my trance. He pulls the wet rag out of my hands that I'm wringing mercilessly and nods towards Alice.

"We can handle it tonight, B. It's about time Brandon learned how to hustle. Plus that fucking Whitlock pest isn't here to distract her and Donovan should be here any minute to finish inventory. G'head and take off before I change my mind."

I open my mouth to object but he gives me the "end of story" eyebrow raise and looks over at Edward who's now politely entertaining the advances of a mini-skirt wearing skank with a tacky half-sleeve and lame cheek piercings that has been eye-fucking him for the last hour.

"Oh and Bells," Emmett gets close enough for me to smell his aftershave.

"I wasn't going to tell you this cuz I didn't want to upset you. I don't even know if it upsets you anymore but the last time you...and then. Ah fuck it..."

"Em?" My brow wrinkles in confusion. I lean in closer to hear him over the music and out of the corner of my eye I see Emmett's babbling has caught Edward's attention. He's tilted his head away from Stankonia and is attempting to be a better eavesdropper. Em is fidgeting with a stack of plastic shot glasses and avoiding eye contact like the plague. I put my hand on his beefy forearm to get him to look at me. He sighs and finally spills it.

"Jake came in here last Saturday looking for you. James told him to get the fuck out blablabla same shit as last time and he left without drama. Anyway, I thought you should know. ...Don't worry about it, ok? He'll never show his face within 50 blocks of this place when he knows I'm around. And I'm around when you're around, remember?"

"I know, Emmett. It's ok. I'm not afraid anymore. Thank you for telling me though." I smile and squeeze his arm to let him know I mean it.

"Yeah no problem. So, you gonna take him home tonight or what?" He motions over his shoulder to the corner of the bar where Edward is sitting.

"If not I think I know someone who will. That ho Tanya has been riding his jock all night and she usually goes home with what she wants."

I shrug and grab my faded, stained army green Fossil bag covered in band badges and the strap attached with safety pins from under the register and give Em a goodnight salute. I walk to the end of the bar and smack it twice to get Edward's attention.

"Hey!" His face lights up and my heart skips a beat. Tanya rolls her eyes to make sure I know she hates me and slings her leg over Edward's thigh.

"I'm getting out of here. Emmet's removed my collar so I'm gonna scurry home before he realizes he can't function without me."

"OK! Yeah great!! I'll come with you," he answers without hesitation, chugging the rest of his drink and sucking in a few ice cubes for good measure before slamming the glass down and smiling sheepishly at Tanya. He gives her leg back and meets me at the front door.

I avoid Alice's death ray, giving her a quick goodnight wave before heading out. I'll deal with her tomorrow.

We walk up the avenue in silence, enjoying the night air. The humidity has dropped leaving behind only the pure heat, which is bearable and almost pleasant. I stare at the sidewalk in front of me, listening to the sound of mine and Edward's footsteps hitting the pavement in unison. I fiddle absentmindedly with the strap of my bag slung across my chest.

"Thank you for saving me from her," Edward says finally. "If I had to inhale one more noseful of that foul Sarah Jessica Parker's 'Lovely' fragrance I think I would have passed out under the bar in a pool of my own vomit."

His grossed out vomit face is too hilarious for words. I throw my head back and laugh out loud before slapping my hand over my mouth.

"I cannot believe you know what it's called," I mumble through my fingers. "That's hysterical. Maybe we should discuss your sexual orientation for real this time."

"Ha, whatever. I know more about that kind of shit than any man, straight or gay, should. If you ever meet my sister, you'll understand why." He does a cringy shoulder-shake-shiver thing and I swear to God I want to throw myself at him and drag him behind a building.

Instead we keep walking. I'm dying to know what he's thinking but I'm also kind of liking our silent little walk with our private thoughts.

"So. Isabella." Out of the corner of my eye I see his hands are in his pockets and the weight of his guitar case is causing him to walk slightly hunched at the shoulders.

"Yes?"

"What will it take for you to read your poetry in front of people?" We're stopped at a crosswalk. I look up at him. He's looking across the street.

"What will it take to get you to perform again?" The light changes and we begin walking again.

"Ha, clever girl. You are wonderful at deflecting questions that you are not ready to answer. How about we make a deal. You do deals, don't you?"

"Depends. Spill it, Cullen."

"OK. I saw the schedule posted on the wall in the club. Wednesday's are Spoken Word nights, right?"

"Your point being?"

"I assumed it was blatantly obvious. You get up there. You read your stuff..."

"No way..."

"Let me finish. You get up there and read something of yours..." He cocks his eyebrow to see if I'm going to cut him off again. I don't. "...And I'll get up there and sing."

"You lie."

"Whoa. I do NOT lie. I would hope you'd at least know that about me by now."

"...I don't know, Edward. I've never read my stuff for anyone. Ever."

"You've got to start somewhere."

"...You first."

"Huh?"

"Fine. But only if you go first. Tomorrow night. Friday Night Open Mic. If you show up and play...then next week I'll..." I can't believe I'm about to say it. I can't believe how easy I gave in to him. No one will believe me.

"...I'll do it." His ear to eat shit-eating grin is worth the absolute gut-splitting terror I feel at the thought of standing in front of anyone and reading my stuff.

"Deal." he sticks out his hand and I shake it.

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We've reached my block and my building on the corner and suddenly I'm more terrified than if I were in a dark alley with Freddy Krueger. There's only one lamppost on the block flooding the street in hazy muted yellow.

"You live by the park," Edward observes. He looks up at the street sign and says it under his breath, "Avenue B and 7th."

"Um, so yeah, this is my door. Thanks for walking me home, Edward. You didn't have to do that."

He smiles and shrugs modestly. "Your friends are really nice."

"Sorry Alice pulled the Spanish Inquisition move on you, but she was asking all the questions I was thinking."

"It's ok. I deserved it. I'm a stranger volunteering to do your dirty dishes. Plus she knows I have a…well, I'm sure she thinks I'm a complete prick…"

"Edward, stop."

"Stop what?" There's a real concern in his eyes that proves to me this is going too far. I want him, I want to try him, and I can't. He belongs to someone else.

"I can't do this. I thought I could, but after hanging out with you all night and then walking home with you now...I like it. And that scares me, because I'm only going to keep liking it more and more..."

"...I know how this must look. How I must look to you. Yes, I have a girlfriend. But that doesn't change the way I'm beginning to feel for you, Bella. It sounds cheesy, but I've never felt this way before. I've never felt this pull in my chest before and I have had other opportunities with other women and this feeling was never there with them either. You said you felt it too. Was that a lie? Were you just humoring me?"

"No. Which is why I'm going inside now and you're going home."

I turn my back to him and set my trembling hand on the door handle. I hear the shuffle of his feet behind me and I know he's leaving. I'll probably never see him again but I'm not ready to think about that now. I'll think about that later.

Suddenly his hand slides deftly around my waist, tugging me back to his chiseled stomach. His thumb moves in circles over the skin above my belly button as his grip around me tightens.

"Turn around, Bella. Look at me."

I shake my head. If I turn around my resolve will crumble under the weight of those eyes. I can smell the vodka on his breath. It's wafting across my neck and sending shivers down my arms. As if he can see them too, his hands – soft and supple yet manly and strong, I know they'd hold me the way I need to be held – find their way down my forearms and clasp themselves around my thin wrists.

"Bella. Please. Turn around."

He applies the gentlest of pressure on my pulse points in an attempt to move me and I instantly know that this man, despite all his faults, will never intentionally hurt me.

He brushes my pony tail over my shoulder to expose the back of my damp neck and releases one of my wrists so he can use his free hand to trace the outline of the tattoo sticking out of the top of my tank. His index finger glides over it, moving my shirt down a little more with each swipe.

"What is this?" he asks, placing a tiny kiss on the scarred skin. The heat from his lips burns like an iron.

"It's a ribbon," I blurt out. "It goes down my shoulder blade. I'd have to take my shirt off for you to see the whole thing."

I swear I hear him mutter, 'maybe one day', under his breath.

My feet finally betray me like I knew they would and I pivot on my toes to face him. His eyes meet mine instantly.

"Hi," he smiles.

"Hi. ….Edward?"

"Yes?" his stare is so powerful with his eyes boring in to mine.

"Please don't kiss me."

"ok."

Our foreheads are touching, my head is swimming under his aroma. His eyes are closed and he's breathing through his nose like a stallion. I watch his broad chest rise and fall under his thin shirt, stained with the marks of his sweat. I'm holding my breath.

"Edward," I squeak. "I'm sorry."

He nods in understanding. I lift my head and I know he lips are going to be there waiting for me. I meet the edges of their warmth with my own. A sweet peck and I hear him sigh in exaltation. He pushes down deeper and my arms snake their way around his waist. All is lost and I slide them roughly up his muscled torso until I'm at the back of his neck and pushing my hands into his hair, grabbing handfuls and pulling forcefully to move his head where I want it. I moan into his open mouth. My hands are everywhere, clawing into his back to push him closer while he steadies us against the wall with the weight of his body . My tongue ring clinks against his teeth and he growls. I can feel that stir something inside him. I know I must seem desperate for him but I don't care. I didn't know it would be like this. I wrap my leg around his calf so he can't get away, squirming and writhing under his persistent touch. His lips are at my ear whispering my name and I groan yes's into the hot night air. I let him scrape my shoulder blades across the brick wall of my building excited to see the marks that they'll leave tomorrow.

"I want you to come inside." I let it slip out but I don't regret saying it. We won't start lying to each other now.

"I know." he runs his tongue across my top lip and sucks my bottom into his mouth. It's ecstasy.

And I'm about to ruin it.

"Which is why you need to leave. Now, Edward. Please leave now...and don't come back."