Hello again!

Let me present you with Chapter 7. I had fun writing it, especially the scene in the conference room ;) Chapter 9 is already at my beta and I'm telling you, you're gonna LOVE it.

Thanks for my beta, Shelby (BriarBaneRose).

Enjoy!


Chapter 7. Cautious

I leaned back against the wall of the elevator I was currently in, small smile ghosting on my lips. My mind wandered back to last night reminiscing our conversation and the kiss he had placed on my cheek when he had walked me to my room. It was a really sweet kiss, full of unspoken feelings and affection. It caused a shiver to run down my spine and warmed me up pleasantly.

Yeah, I definitely enjoyed it far too much.

I heard the familiar 'ding' and escaped the elevator, heading towards the foyer. I had training in forty minutes. Alice was already waiting in the cab she ordered for only the two of us, since Jasper was already on the spot.

I gripped my tennis bag tighter as I reached the foyer, my gaze wandering around casually. I saw a man standing by the front desk. He looked to be in his fifties, though I couldn't deny that he was still very handsome. He had blond hair and the type of face where you could clearly point out the bones beneath the skin. It did not give him a sharp and unpleasant look – on the contrary, it contributed to his good looks.

He reminded me of someone, though I wasn't really sure who. Soon the mystery was solved, when I heard him repeat his name to the women behind the desk.

"Yes that's it, Cullen. Carlisle Cullen."

Huh. So this was Edward's father. He definitely inherited his good looks from his father.

"Let me check that," the clerk said and started typing something on the keyboard in front of her. Soon she lifted her head and smiled at him. "Yes, I have the reservation in my system. Now, please fill this brochure, sir..." she handed him a sheet of paper and pen.

I watched their exchange for a moment, not caring whether it was rude or not, but vibrating in my pocket reminded me that I had somewhere to be. I dismissed the call quickly and started making my way towards the glass front door. I couldn't help but look over my shoulder a few times as I went, though.

I was sure my and Carlisle Cullen's roads would cross more than this one time, and I was to be proven right.

"Finally!" Alice exclaimed as I took a sit by her side in the taxi. "I was starting to think you fell of the stairs and broke your legs or something. How low can a ride an elevator take?" she shook her head in exasperation.

"I'm sorry," I said in apology. "I got caught by something."

The second I had said the sentence I knew I shouldn't have done that. I could prepare myself for a full interrogation then.

"Something?" Alice asked curiosity evident in her voice. She turned in her seat and put her hands on her hips. "Or someone maybe?"

I shook my head, laughing quietly. She was even kind of scary when she looked at me like that, demanding the answer.

"Okay, someone," I confirmed, knowing very well that the interrogation would not stop at that point.

"Oh really?" Alice mused out loud, cocking an eyebrow. "And may I ask who engaged you attention so strongly?"

I bit my lip, wondering whether I should tell her or not. Being honest with her could bring on me a tone of questions, but I didn't really have a choice. Alice could read me like an open book. She always knew when I was lying.

"Carlisle Cullen."

"Carlisle Cullen? Should I know him?" Alice wondered for a while. I waited for the 'click' when she would add two and two, and of course it happened pretty soon. "Wait... Cullen? Is he in any way related to Edward?"

"Actually, he is," I nodded. "It's his father."

"Huh," was all Alice said. She peered at me curiously for a long moment. I snapped my eyes shut, waiting for the attack to begin.

"How do you even know it?"

I opened my eyes. Alice moved her hands from her hips to her chest, crossing them in front of them and was currently looking at me questioningly.

"Um..." I hesitated. "From Edward."

Alice brow went even further up if it was even possible.

"When did he manage to tell you that? I thought you two only met briefly a few times and then ran together a few days before. Have you two spoken about Carlisle in the gardens?"

"No," I confessed silently, flushing pink. "He told me that last night."

"Last night?"

"When we met on the roof patio," I mumbled, avoiding her gaze.

"Roof patio? What, you two just ran into each other there?" she said sarcastically.

I snorted. "Not really. He asked me to meet him on the roof after my yesterday's match."

"Huh. And how did he know when to look for you?"

"He..." I hesitated again, knowing very well that Alice would think about it much more than there was to think. "He actually watched my match on the stadium."

"What?" Alice exclaimed. "Okay, I officially exclude you from my best friends' list. How could you not tell me that?"

"I didn't think it was that important."

"Bullshit. You were afraid of my interrogation."

"Well, I was right, wasn't I?" I laughed and Alice rolled her eyes.

"Bella," Alice's expression changed from angry to thoughtful, or even a bit concerned? "Please, tell me, sweetheart – what is going on between you and Edward?"

"We are... friends, I guess?" I replied cautiously, feeling a pang of sadness deep inside me. My heart wanted more than 'friends', so much more than I cared to admit.

Alice stared at me intently for a few more seconds, and then breathed out a quiet 'okay', sitting back straight in her seat. I sighed in relief and leaned back as well, closing my eyes. I wondered how Edward's match was going and wished that I had been there with him.

I made an internal resolution. I would do everything to watch his next match on the stadium. I just had to be there for him.

"Shit, shit, shit," I muttered under my breath after another too long ball. This was so not looking good.


It was Wednesday morning and I was playing my quarter-final match against Jessica Stanley. She was from the USA as well and we had played against each other multiple times already. It had its numerous advantages – I knew everything about her play, meaning her favourite hits, time it took her to reach balls etc. Unfortunately, Jessica knew such things about me as well. We basically knew each other too well and neither one of us could figure out a way to win with the other one.

It was the beginning of the third set. I won the first one after a long and difficult fight and lost the second one in a similar battle. Apparently being thirty-one places lower in the female ranking did nothing to intimidate Jessica. I was getting really nervous, since I was already tired and there was a long set ahead us. Stanley was much better prepared physically to fight for a long time than me, so I needed to figure out a way to end this match really quickly.

Out of the corner of my eyes I could see Edward sitting in one of the lower rows, crossing his fingers all the time and chanting quietly. He looked concerned and it did little to reduce my nervousness.

"Time," the umpire announced and I stood up, heading to the opposite side of the court. I threw my towel towards the ball boy in frustration and took the appropriate position by the baseline. I won the first game and it was my time to receive service.

Jessica squinted her eyes threw the ball in the air, hitting it with great strength. Fortunately for me, it was stopped by the net.

"Second serve."

Come on, I whispered to myself to get myself pumped up.

Jessica's second serve was shorter than the first one and I hit it strongly towards the baseline, making a run to the net. Jessica tried to make a lob, but her trial was ineffective and I managed to end the exchange with a spectacular smash.

"Love – Fifteen," the umpire announced among the applause, I fisted my left hand in satisfaction and returned to the end line slowly.

We continued to win the points alternatively agitated with every passing second. I needed to break her in that game, because I was quickly losing energy and would soon be too weak for that.

I gritted my teeth while doing a cross and manage to send a strong ball that hit the inner part of the sideline. Jessica huffed in frustration from the other side of the court.

"Advantage, Miss Swan."

The audience started clapping faster and faster, sensing a sensation hanging in the air.

"Thank you," the umpire murmured to shush the audience and I squatted down slightly, preparing to return the serve.

Jessica fixed her hair, bounced the ball a few times and hit it. The ball landed in the perfect position for me to return it – not to deeply and I could answer with a forehand. I bent my legs and hit the ball strongly, giving it an external rotation. It caught the eternal side of the right side line, making it impossible for Jessica to return it.

I was about to throw my fist in the air, when I heard one of the linesmen shout "Out!"

"What?" I exclaimed and run towards the net. The audience started fussing and whistling. Edward stood up, running his hands through his wild hair. He looked furious.

"Challenge, please!" I shouted towards the chair umpire. I crossed my fingers and held my breath as I waited for the Hawk-Eye system to start working.

The audience was silent as we watched the 3D computer simulation displayed on the Louis Armstrong Stadium video boards. The ball flew towards the sideline and then in the close up we could clearly see that it indeed made a contact with the it. On the board appeared two big letters 'IN'.

"Yes!" I hissed as the whole audience started cheering and clapping. I could see Edward clapping as well and smiling brightly.

"The ball was in. Game, Miss Swan. Miss Swan keeps all the three challenges she had," the umpire announced as I stared making my way towards my bench.

Breaking Jessica in the game boosted my self-confidence and helped me find some hidden reserves of strength. As I expected neither one of us was able to break the other till the end of the set, and soon enough I heard the desired words 'game, set, match, Miss Swan'.

I hid my face in my hands and did the last thing I would have expected.

I started crying with happiness.


I was surrounded by polite clapping as I took a sit in the chair designed for me. The room was full of journalists and photographers. I was sure I would get blind by the amount of flashing lights soon. Apparently the match was a huge sensation because of both me and Stanley being Americans and the stiff, long battle we had fought in.

"You may ask questions now," the moderator indicated towards the audience.

I was asked the standard set of questions first – my general comments, what did I think about my play, Jessica's play, about the weather conditions, about the court and what was my key to success. I was also asked about the challenge and I answered as politely as I could, trying to keep my nerves at bay. I was still slightly agitated by the whole situation.

Somewhere in the middle of the questioning I noticed Edward enter the room by the back door. I should have really been surprised – he was a tennis player after all, so he had an access to various places. Still, seeing him there taking a sit in a back row and waving timidly at me caused something to stir in my stomach and I felt myself blush slightly.

"Miss Swan," I was brought back to reality by one of the journalists asking another question about the match.

Ten minutes later I felt exhausted and dreamed about coming back to my room and taking a long nap. The moderator must have noticed that.

"Okay, last question, please," he stated and indicated towards a man in the first row.

"Miss Swan, I have a question of a more private nature," he started and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. That did not sound good. "Mister Edward Cullen was seen in the audience during your last two matches. Would you like to comment on that?"

The room got silent as the journalists waited for my answer. The number of flashes, if it was even possible, increases. I could see my father and Alice in the second row. My best friend gasped and put her hand to her mouth, surprise painted on her face. She must have not expected the question as much as me. Charlie looked at me warily, his face seemingly indifferent, though I knew he was as curious of my answer as the whole room.

The moderator looked at me, quietly asking me if I wanted to answer, and I nodded my head gently. Avoiding the question would not be a good move.

I turned back towards the audience and took a deep breath, preparing myself to speak. However, just as I opened my mouth, my eyes connected with Edward's. He was grinning at me, his head cocked to the side. A few journalists in the back had noticed his presence and were now observing him intently, but other than that, he remained unnoticed.

"Edward Cullen is my friend and I'm grateful for his support," I replied cautiously, keeping the eye connection with Edward. I wanted him to know that I really meant that. Alice looked at me curiously, her head following my gaze and I saw realization hit her. She giggled quietly and the reporter sitting at her side looked at her weirdly.

"Thank you," the moderator said, and Jasper and me stood up, heading towards the exit. The people in the audience started gathering their things and standing up as well. Edward was the first to head to the back door, but he stopped in the doorframe and winked at me.

And my heart skipped a beat once again.


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