A/N: Hey guys! So happy you guys liked EPOV! And thank you so much for reviewing and for giving me such amazing feedback on my writing and such an awesome point of view! You guys ROCK! And yes, Bella did sleep with Jacob back in college. Sadly. lol.

Comment: Jerz, if you're reading this, I tried PMing you back but I'm not so sure that I succeeded, cause there are some problems with the website or something, so hope you got my message! :) --- and sorry about this, folks.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, and neither of these horny characters lol.



Chapter 7: The Distressed Damsel.

Edward always got his way.

If he wasn't given what he wanted, he would charm his way into getting it, and nobody was resistant to that charm.

I worked hard, and took everything seriously, but Edward always tried to charm his way into getting what I wanted as well. If he couldn't do that, he would still do everything he could to help me. Be it getting us out of class, or helping me get my father's permission to go to Port Angeles, or tutoring me until I scored an A in Trig.

Edward always helped me get by.

When a bunch of Triple P's would harass me, he would come to the rescue. When I was particularly upset about something, he would climb up a tree and through my window at night to hold me while I slept, so I wouldn't have nightmares. When I still had nightmares, because they always got worse when I felt bad, he would calm me down and wiped the tears of panic.

Edward always saved me.

He was the best friend I've ever had. Even when he was a jerk, even when he was absent, he was my best friend. I always knew that, even though we'd lost touch, if I ever called him and told him I needed him, he would be at my doorstep in a heartbeat.

4 years ago, Forks.

"I'm fine, mom, really," I tried persuading my mother, Renee, over the phone.

"Baby, are you sure? Because you don't sound too hot," she said.

She might've been erratic, and forgetful, but she never failed to notice when something was wrong with me. She knew me too well. Of course, I didn't want to worry her and tell her that she was right.

"Really, everything is just… its usual boring self," I sat down on my bed. "I just really miss you."

That was the main reason for my sucky day. I missed Renee terribly, but she was traveling with her new husband, Phil, and I had no business raining on her sunny day.

"Aww, Bells. I miss you too, sweetie. I promise I will be home in Jacksonville next month. Plain ticket's on me," she said encouragingly.

"Okay, mom. Love you," I smiled weakly.

"Love you, too. Bye, hun."

I hung up the cell phone and threw my head back on my pillow. I hesitated for a moment, but then quickly pressed number 1 on my speed dial. It rang twice before it was picked up.

"Hey, Bells," Edward answered.

"Hey," I said, relieved to hear his voice.

"What's wrong?" he immediately asked.

That guy really is a know-it-all, isn't he?

"Why would you assume anything was wrong?" I asked.

"I can hear it in the tone of your voice," he said, sounding concerned. "Is this about what happened at school today? Cause those bitches had…"

"No, no, it's not about the Triple P's," I cut him off. "Well, it is. I mean, it's not just that, this whole day is just… ugh." I sighed deeply. Edward was referring to Lauren, who always tried to make me miserable, and Jessica – who recently decided that I got on her bad side for "hitting on her man". I calmly tried to explain to her that I had no interest whatsoever in Mike, and that it's not my fault that he preferred to ask me out instead of her.

That, of course, didn't go so well, but Edward got there just in time to tell those girls to back off. Saved, once again, by the knight in shining armor. They walked away, but not before they made a comment on how I'd be moving schools by now if it weren't for Edward. Which was probably true, but it still got on my nerves.

That was only the beginning of my day.

"Okay, time for you to vent," Edward said. "Tell me all about it."

"Well, there was that. Then, on my way home, I got a flat tire and had to change it in the rain, which took me like an hour. Then I burnt dinner, and had a fight with Charlie, and I really, really miss my mother," I said in one breath.

I heard him sigh. "I'm sorry, Bells. I promise by tomorrow you'll forget about all those things. I wish I could come over tonight, but Carlisle and Esme are still pissed off at me from last time they realized I wasn't in my bed at night."

"No, don't come over. I don't want you in any kind of trouble," I immediately said. "Talking to you over the phone helps, too," I tried sounding as happy as I could. "Besides, I'll probably turn in early tonight. Charlie's already asleep."

"How about a friendly game of Unreal Tournament over the web, until then?" he suggested.

Edward and I used to play that game all the time. It involved shooting each other with various weapons until we kill each other numerous times to our satisfaction.

"What, you feel like getting torn to pieces by a girl?" I grinned. Edward was a worthy player, but I was Godlike.

"Yeah, we'll see about that, Swan," he chuckled.

We were in the midst of playing, and I was literally taking him apart, thinking how much easier it was to beat him this time, when I heard a noise from outside my window.

I froze in my spot.

If I'm playing with Edward, then who the hell is right outside my house?

I considered waking up my dad, but at the same time curiosity pulled me towards the window to look down, just as the large figure reached the window.

I shrieked and jumped backwards, and then sighed and opened the window. I heard Charlie snore loudly, thankfully not awoken by my yelp.

Normally, I would've yelled at him for scaring me, if I wasn't so damn happy to see him.

"Who am I playing against?" I asked Edward, who climbed into my room, shutting the window behind him.

"Emmett," he grinned, pulling me in for a hug.

God, he smells so good.

"I knew it was too easy," I rolled my eyes, and then pulled away to look at him disapprovingly. "Edward, what are you doing here?"

"I couldn't just go to sleep knowing you're spending the night alone after the day you had," he frowned, rubbing his thumb on my cheek. I felt myself turning red with blush immediately at his touch.

I love you so much for being you.

My heart was pounding so hard, I hoped I wouldn't start to sweat or something. Now, that would've been embarrassing.

"I don't want your parents to be mad at you," I grimaced.

"Just shut up and say thank you, Bells," he pulled me to him again tightly. These expressions of endearment were so not helping me feel any less in love with Edward.

"Thank you," I mumbled into his chest, making him laugh.

"You're welcome. Love you, Bells," he said, tearing my heart apart. All I wished was for him to really mean it when he said it, but that wouldn't happen.

I guess I can pretend just for one moment.

"I love you too, Edward," I said, meaning every word. But he would never know that I did.

When we lied in bed together, cuddled together, I used to pretend that we were a couple, going to bed together in each other's comforting arms. I knew it was kind of pathetic, but being there – and so close to Edward's warm body – would cause anyone to do stupid shit.

Like staying up and looking at his peaceful face as he slept, smiling at how childlike he looks when his eyes are closed and his mouth curls upwards to a small smile. Sometimes I even dared to reach out and touch his face gently, or run my hand through his silky hair.

It was an incredible feeling, loving him. It was so painful, and yet so exciting, because even though I knew he didn't feel the same – I could still look at him, touch him, talk to him, and feel like my entire existence had meaning. Like my heart was about to explode of emotion.

But still, that emotion was powerful enough to ache.

Edward taught me that while love is undoubtedly amazing, it can also be undoubtedly dangerous to the sanity, especially with a man like him.


Today, Seattle book store, the middle of a long ass shift.

"Bella? Bella, you're totally spacing out on me," I heard Alice as I snapped back to the present. Alice and I were doing some reorganizing in the storage room together, which gave us some extra girl time, courtesy of Rosalie.

"Sorry, sorry, what you were saying?" I asked with an apologetic look.

"I was telling you that I went to that nightclub yesterday, and left my phone number to that bartender guy," she smiled.

"Alice! Didn't you say that he stood you up? You're giving him your number?" I asked in shock.

"Seriously? You're judging me for going back to see someone who blew me off?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Good point," I nodded.

"He probably had a good reason. I know he wouldn't just take off on me like that."

"I hope you're right, Alice, but if that guy hurts you, he's getting his ass kicked."

"Great, thanks! Now tell me what you were daydreaming about," she grinned to me.

I rolled my eyes. "Just… high school stuff." Edward climbing into my room stuff.

"Aw, I miss high school! I used to have so many friends –" she started. "Sorry, that didn't come out right."

"It's okay," I chuckled. "One or two friends were enough for me."

"Especially when we're talking about a friend like Edward Cullen, right?" she teased.

I shook my head, laughing. "Speaking of, remember that little talk I told you I had with him?"

"The one where you were demoted to friend instead of being promoted to girlfriend?" she asked, making me glare in her direction.

"Actually, I would consider what we did last night as some sort of promotion," I grinned.

She gasped. "You had sex with Ed –"

"Shut up! You're yelling, and Jacob is right inside the store!" I whispered.

"Sorry," she calmed down. "He doesn't know about you and Edward?"

"Jake knows virtually nothing about me. He doesn't even know we're friends again," I said quietly.

"Does Edward know that Jake works here?" she asked.

"It never came up," I shrugged. "It's not like it really means anything," I started, but someone interrupted us.

"Well, anyway, you really need to start standing your ground if you want to get anywhere with Edward. If you keep slipping up like that, he'll never have reason to want more."

"Bella?" Jake peeked inside the room. "Oh, hey Alice. I thought I heard voices in here," he said.

Alice and I exchanged looks.

He doesn't sound like he heard us. He would be upset if he did. I think.

"Hi, Jake," Alice smiled.

"Hey," I raised my hand for a weak wave. "Did you want something?"

"Just wanted to ask you when the new Stephen King's arriving," he said.

"It should be here tomorrow morning."

"Okay, thanks," he smiled awkwardly.

"You're welcome," I smiled back as he lingered for a moment on the doorstep, and then nodded and left.

"Wow," she chuckled a few moments after he left. "That guy is so awkward around you… I swear he makes you look like the poster girl for confidence."

I just shook my head and laughed.

Guys tend to get like that around girls they had sex with, even if they weren't romantically interested in them anymore, right?

I hoped so.

I had just gotten home and finished my shower, when I heard my doorbell rang.

"Just a minute!" I called, finding a robe I can wear and opened the door.

"Hey, I know you're still mad at me, but I had to tell you something," Edward stood at my doorstep, looking all gloomy and brooding and beautiful.

"Are you okay?" I asked, a slight feeling of anxiety creeping up my body.

He sighed. "I, uh… not really, no," he said.

"Come in," I opened the door further and walked him to my couch.

"I just came here to tell you that I'm leaving the country… tomorrow," he said grimly, his green eyes darker than usual. He wore every expression well and looked amazing, but I hated seeing him like that.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Where? For how long?" He's going on a vacation?

"L.A… and an unlimited period of time," he said.

This is not a vacation. No, I thought. I can't lose him.

"W-why? Are you moving?" I asked sadly. And leaving me again?

He ran an unsteady hand through his copper hair. "There's been a flood in my apartment," he started. I gasped, biting my lip, but let him continue. "It wasn't ensured, so now I don't have a place to stay, so…"

"Carlisle and Esme?" I assumed. I knew Edward wasn't exactly well off, like I wasn't. The only thing he owned was that apartment, and now that was gone.

"Yeah," he nodded.

This is really happening. He's really leaving. Damn it, no! I don't think I could survive another day without him.

"Oh my god… well, can't you stay at Emmett's or something?" I tried.

"Nah, he lives with his girlfriend, and I don't want to be the third wheel or anything," he said, gazing at me with the strangest look. He looked at me the same way that Charlie looked at my mother when she left him, or at least how she described it.

I needed him to stay.

And more importantly, I wanted to help him. He always helped me, he always rescued me. Maybe it was time for me to rescue him.

"What would you say if I… suggested that you stay here?" I said slowly, hoping he won't be too proud to accept my offer.

"You mean…?" he looked confused.

"I mean, be my roommate. Your room will be tiny, and you'll have to sleep on a futon couch for now, but you'll have my divine company," I smiled sweetly.

"I don't know, I don't want to intrude on your life like that, you know," he shook his head. "Be a liability."

"You're not going to be a liability. The rent is not so bad, we can split it. You'd actually be doing me a huge favor, helping me out with the payments," I tried to convince him.

He contemplated for a moment to himself. "You would do this for me?" he asked, looking in my eyes in awe.

"I don't want you to go," I said sincerely.

"I don't want to leave you," he replied, looking just as honest.

You could break the tension with a knife, but I decided to break it with words.

"So where's your stuff?" I said lightly, with a smile.

"Actually," he chuckled. "It's right outside your door."

"You brought it here?" I raised a questioning eyebrow.

"I just figured that since I was supposed to be leaving tomorrow, maybe…"

"I'd let you spend the night here?" I completed his sentence.

"That's one way to put it, yeah," he laughed softly. "Sorry."

"That's okay, you were probably right anyway. Go get your stuff before somebody steals it."

I followed him into his new room, where he put down his suitcase, and then turned around to face me. When he did, I noticed his eyes wonder up my body from my bare legs to the cleavage formed by the silky robe I was wearing.

He had this lusty look in his eyes - one that never failed to set me on fire - and for a moment there, I felt my knees weakening along with my will power. I tried focusing what Alice had said, and my previous resolution to stop giving away the milk for free.

I cleared my throat, turning his attention back to my face.

"We're going to need some ground rules," I said firmly.

We sat back down on the sofa with a little notebook and a pen. I brought my feet up on the table and rested the notebook on my legs.

"Okay, first of all, what happened last night was a slip up. Yes, I would probably let you fuck me senseless if you were going away tomorrow, but since you're actually moving in, I think we should go back to being just friends."

"Now you've got me kind of rethinking the whole moving in thing," he said.

"No, you were right, we need to stay friends until we figure out… well, rule number 1 – no sex until we figure us out," I said.

"Fine," he groaned. I wrote the first rule down in my notebook, and when I looked up, I caught sight of a mesmerized Edward gazing over my legs again - which were bare almost up to my ass in this position - and licking his lips.

God, I love that he's looking at me like that.

"Rule number 2," I said loudly, making his eyes snap back up again. "No lustful stares of any kind, I won't be able to follow the first rule with you looking at me like that."

"Fine, then rule number 3 is – if you want rule number 2 to be followed, don't wear silky robes with absolutely nothing underneath," he countered, narrowing his eyes at me.

I pulled on the robe to cover some more of my legs.

"Okay, no overly revealing clothes," I wrote down rules 2 and 3.

"What else?" he said, trying not to look at me.

"Each of us does their own dishes," I suggested and he nodded. "And number 5 is, I'm in charge of laundry and cooking, but you do the cleaning – I really hate that."

What, a girl can't take advantage of a certain situation? Besides, watching Edward clean, probably shirtless, with his flexing muscles…

"Agreed," he smiled.

Right before we went to bed – to separate beds, that is – Edward and I lingered outside our bedrooms, saying goodnight. It felt like the end of a date, with all the excitement that entailed.

"Hey, uh… thanks for letting me move in," he said in a low voice, close enough to make me slightly shiver.

"N-No problem," I stuttered, giving him a weak smile.

In my head he was already leaning over and opening my robe, letting his hands run all over my body and taking me to my bed.

In reality he was leaning over, and running his hand through my hair. I closed my eyes and tried focusing on breathing, but when I opened them, his green eyes were aimed to mine like a lethal weapon.

"You had a little string in your hair," he said, almost whispering.

"Right," I said, barely paying attention. His lips looked incredibly delicious and cherry red, and not so far away from mine.

He was completely ignoring my second rule. And I wanted him to. Damn.

"Good night," I broke the silence, and opened the door to my room, walking in. I smiled to myself in triumph, because I managed to resist the irresistible and leave him in awe of me.

"Good night," Edward said, chuckling to himself. I caught his grin just before closing my bedroom door.

He knew I just shot him down, but he also knew that he had a major influence on me, and that it was only a matter of time before I cracked.

Oh yeah, this is going to be interesting.