BPOV

The morning sun tickled my face. For once I had actually gotten a decent rest. I let my mind wake, but refused to open my eyes. My senses slowly began to come into focus. I suddenly became acutely aware of the strange warmth my body was tangled around. Waking up in the morning usually consisted of me, hugging my blankets and trying not to move out of the warm spot my body had created over night. I had never woken up this cozy before and I allowed myself to open my eyes and see why.

Over night my body had gravitated towards the only other source of heat in the bed. Edward Cullen. I froze, as I assessed my current position.

Edward was lying on his back, his face peaceful and quiet, still dreaming. One arm was outstretched and rested underneath my head, the other was on his chest, his hand gently covering mine. I listened to him breathe, reveling in the fact that he was still here. That all of yesterday's events had been real. That he was holding me.

I was suddenly afraid that he would wake up. That he would realize he didn't want me and get up and leave.

But then I found myself even more afraid, that if he did wake up, I would kiss him. Right then and there, without even thinking twice.

This is when I realized I should probably remove myself from temptation. After all, I just met him yesterday. Kissing him would probably scare him away. I knew now that was the last thing I wanted.

Carefully, I lifted my head and slowly slipped my hand from underneath his. He only stirred slightly. His beautiful face was lost in dreams. I quietly slipped out of bed and turned to look at the clock. It was 9:30am, Friday morning. I had to be to work at ten thirty for my first appointment of the day with Noah and his family.

How torn I was. I let my eyes rest on the sleeping man in my bed. His bare chest was perfectly sculpted. He didn't look like a body builder, he looked like a handsome, healthy, strong man. I hadn't realized in the dark last night just how fit he really was. His arms, resting lightly on the bed, were defined and toned. I remembered how they felt around me as he caught me from nearly falling on my face last night.

I noticed his expression changing in his sleep. His face moved only slightly, but I was afraid he would wake up. Surely he would notice the absence of warmth in the bed. I reached out and pulled the blankets closer to him, feeling more at ease when he was once again peaceful. I wanted so badly to crawl back into bed with him and just enjoy this while he was here. While this was still real.

But I knew I would beat myself up terribly if I cancelled on Noah. I forced myself to turn around and head to the bathroom, knowing the shower would put some sense back into me.

Taking a shower in my apartment? I had it down to a science. It had taken me about a week when I first moved in to get the hang of making the most of my hot water time. I had it all timed out. I yanked the knob on the shower, getting the water running, then turned to the cabinet to grab my toothbrush. It took exactly two minutes for the water to warm up - just enough time to brush. As soon as the water was hot, I stripped out of my ratty old pajamas and hopped in. I had exactly seven minutes before the water would lose its heat.

I took extra care getting ready this morning. I made sure every inch of me was clean and smelling sweetly. I washed my hair with my favorite strawberry shampoo, shaved my legs - nicking myself a few times of course - a girl could only manage so much in seven minutes.

I hopped out of the shower, covering myself in lotion and brushing out my hair. I was especially aware of my appearance today. I couldn't deny that this was solely because the man sleeping in the next room. I wanted to be beautiful for him.

When I was dressed and ready, I quietly opened the bathroom door and peeked out. Edward had moved. He was on his side now but still sound asleep. I couldn't wake him. I wanted to stare at him all day long. I checked the clock. It was almost ten - I had to get going if I was going to walk to the Rec in time.

I went to the kitchen counter and wrote a quick note...

Edward,

I didn't have the heart to wake you this morning. Had to run to work. If you're not here when I get back I understand.

I took a deep breath. Hoping to God he would be here when I returned.

But if you do decide you want to stay, I'll be back tonight around six - with take out.

~Bella

Someone did tell me once that the best way to a man's heart was through his stomach.

I checked on Mrs. Faye before taking the stairs and heading out the door. I was relieved to see Annie had decided to show up for work today. I tried my best not to glare at her, but I was sure she could feel me radiating anger when I saw her. I had written letters of my concern to Faye's children, but none of them were responded to. Annie was certainly not the best nurse, but she was all Mrs. Faye had.

Work seemed to go by at a snail's pace. I loved every moment of it, as I usually did. However, my mind was in torment, wondering if Edward would be in my apartment when I got home. I had two appointments that day. Normally I would have been home by one at the latest, but recently the Rec staff had been interested in putting us through defense training courses. The Rec was in the middle of a fallen town and the staff was becoming more and more aware of it as crime rates went up. They made it mandatory for all of us to learn how to protect ourselves and the children we worked with.

I was thankful for these courses, but they scared me. I couldn't imagine anyone trying to harm the kids. I shuddered just thinking of it. Today's building safety policies and procedures lecture seemed to drag on for an eternity. I found myself day dreaming.

I thought of the night before, how easy it had been to forget the time. I thought of the way Edward had looked in candle light. How he pulled a blanket around me. How he had locked his eyes with mine while I spoke. How he was such a gentleman, trying to sleep on my cold wooden floor. How somehow, I knew I could trust him.

I thought of him now, wondering if maybe he had woken up this morning, looked around at my shitty apartment and booked it back to his hotel - disappearing from my life just as quickly as he had come into it.

Or if maybe...I would open the door tonight and find him there, waiting for me.

When the day was done, I found myself walking briskly to the nearest chinese place. The short asian man behind the counter grew impatient with me - I took forever to order. I had no idea what Edward liked and I wanted to get this right. I changed my order at least three times.

With a warm paper bag of food in my arms, I made my way home. The butterflies in my stomach were relentless. I raced up the stairs to my floor, stopping at the top to catch my breath and smooth my hair. It was 5:30, I made it back early.

I opened the door quickly, my anxiety governing me. My heart sank when I saw my couch. The bed was neatly tucked away, the blankets were all folded and put away in my cabinet. His duffle bag was no where to be found. I felt so incredibly stupid. How had I let myself get my hopes up? This was so silly of me.

I pulled off my jacket and started to hang it up, along with my keys when I heard laughter coming from the kitchen. It sounded like Mrs. Faye.

I held the warm paper bag of food closer to be as I turned the corner into the kitchen.

There was Mrs. Faye, sitting at my tiny kitchen table, playing cards with Edward Cullen - who was looking at me - beaming.

"Bella honey your home!" exclaimed Mrs. Faye. "You're just in time for another round of gin." She smiled as she shuffled cards. I nodded in response to her, but my eyes had never left Edward's.

"You stayed." I breathed, knowing that no matter how softly I said it, I could not contain the joy behind my words. His rose to his feet and crossed the tiny kitchen to meet me, taking the heavy paper bag from my arms and smiling brilliantly all the while.

"Let me help you with that..." his eyes lingered on mine.

"You brought food home Bella?" Mrs. Faye said. Edward moved the food to the counter where I helped him find plates. "Thats good to see, dear. I was just telling Edward you need to eat more. You work too hard sweet heart."

"I get by alright..." I tried to argue, but Mrs. Faye's mind had already jumped to the next thought.

"Edward is quite good at gin, Bella. You should see him." she kept shuffling cards. "Reminds me of my Arthur he does... He loved to play cards too..."

I turned to Edward, who was smiled sweetly at me and started helping me dish out food for the three of us.

"I ran out for a bit this morning," Edward explained to me as we sat down to eat. "I had a few things to take care of. But I got your note and I knew I had to come back." he blushed, looking down at his food. "On my way back I found Mrs. Faye in the lobby."

"Alone?" I asked, not able to hide my contempt for Annie in my tone. Mrs. Faye took no notice of this.

"Edward was such a gentleman, Bella." she raved. "He's a good boy." She reached out and held my hand, her eyes looking through me. I knew she saw my loneliness, even when I tried to hide it from her. She had told me more than once that I needed someone like Arthur was to her. Someone to take care of me when I couldn't take care of myself.

I could barely wrap my head around how perfect Edward was. All through dinner his conversation charmed us. He was attentive, polite, and funny. I, once again, reveled in how gently he had helped me get Mrs. Faye to bed again that night. I couldn't understand this. In just two days, I had met the perfect man.

And here I was. Terrified of what this could be and even more terrified of letting it go.

We walked slowly back to my door, both of us trying to prolong a good bye. My face hurt from smiling so much. But when I was around him, I just couldn't help it.

"Thank you so much," I said turning to him as we reached my door. I sincerely meant it. "I still can't believe you spent the afternoon with Mrs. Faye. I-I can't tell you how much that means to me..."

He nodded meaningfully at me. "It was my pleasure, Bella."

I was blushing again. "I was afraid..." I said, almost in a whisper, looking down at my shoes and then back at him. "...that you would be gone when I got back." I was surprised by how much I was letting myself admit. "Afraid...that none of this had been real."

"I was afraid of the same thing when I woke up this morning..." he replied with a grin. "There's something about you Bella..." His green eyes were bright with intensity. "...I don't understand it yet, but...I...I don't want to be away from you."

My heart jumped.

"I want to know everything about you." he breathed, his face moving slightly closer to mine. I was lost in his eyes, forgetting about the oxygen I needed, when I clumsily dropped my keys with a loud clank on the floor. I was almost thankful for the break in this intense moment. Before I could move, he reached down and picked them up. I swear I heard him chuckling.

"Bella," he said, a playful expression on his face. "I was wondering...what are your plans tomorrow?"

"I hadn't really planned anything." I answered honestly. "Why?"

"Well you've been so good to me, letting me stay... I must make it up to you." he said. I started to protest.

"Edward it's really ok, you don't have to do anything special for me. I - "

"No please, I insist." he said. His eyes were soft as he looked at me. He spoke carefully... "Will you spend the day with me tomorrow, Bella?"

How could anyone say no to this man and his beautiful, crooked smile?

Hehehe...stay tuned for the next chapter! It's gonna be goooood. R&R pretty please :)