Hi! I am really sorry for the delay. I am kind of busy with work as the impeachment trial of our chief justice just ended and I am also busy fixing my paper for law school. Just today I got enrolled and I am a student again. I am already starting with chapter 9 and hopefully I could finish it by this week. I have another story in mind but I'll stick to this one first enjoy reading!

Chapter 8

EPOV

The rest of my stuff was already packed in Bella's car. The drive to her place is pretty much quiet. Neither of us would want to open up about the month long separation since both of us are new in this department. We held hands as we enter her apartment.

"So, this is my place. Well the girls' place actually." She laughed.

She toured me a little since there wasn't anything to be seen. She's already packed most of her stuff leaving only her bed, dresser and a clothes rack.

"This is my room. Sorry, everything's inside the boxes now. The shower is over there if you wanted to get changed or whatever. I'll just lock up and be back."

I slowly made my way to the bathroom. I washed freshened up and traded my jeans with some sweatpants that I brought with me. Bella isn't back yet so I just made myself comfortable on her bed. Beside it is a table where an alarm clock was situated together with a couple of framed pictures. One is a picture of her and her mother. The other is with Charlie. There was also a picture of her and Alice and Angela from high school which I assume. But it was the last one that caught my attention. It was a solo picture of her. She looked younger in that photo, maybe in grade school. She was seated on top of a boulder completely unaware that someone is taking a snap of her. She looked so innocent, pure, and beautiful.

"Hey! You're not supposed to see that!" She said flopping down the bed beside me.

"It's on display love."

"Then you should've just ignored it." She teased.

"I can't help it. You're too beautiful to resist." I barely whispered in her ear as I kissed her temple. The sexual tension is very evident and I know that she could feel it as well. We tried to keep our hands off from each other most of the time, trying to hold back the intense physical attraction. Every kiss and touch we made would be chaste, enough just to reassure each other that the connection is still there. She remained silent, but I could feel her blushing.

"I'll just freshen up." She stood up pressing her lips on my forehead. It has been two months since I first kissed her lips and often times I would think if it was only a dream. I wanted to taste her lips again, to feel it against my own, to get lost in the pool of her chocolate brown eyes. I want to, I really wanted to. When she emerged from the bathroom and went to bed beside me, I wasted no time. I reached out for her, cradled her face and crushed my lips onto her. Needing, wanting. Too much of pent up emotion I release in this kiss. At first, the kiss was slow, light but building and it becomes intense. She wanted it too, waited for it for too long. She fisted her hand through my hair pulling me closer. My memory didn't do justice. Her lips are so warm and soft, molding onto mine. I traced her lower lip with my tongue asking for permission. She parted her lips and I entered into another world. Our kiss became more fervent and hungry as we taste each other. Without breaking the kiss, she moved herself so now she is straddling me. I automatically placed my hands on her hips, grazing at her curves. I barely whispered her name in between our kisses, her moaning my name as well. Every move and sound we did has become too much for my anatomy to hold.

"We should do that more often." I panted as our kisses dwindle down to pecks.

"Mhmm." Was her only response. She is now lying on top of me and it is not helping with my evident erection.

"Isabella, I think you should just lie beside me, I wouldn't be able to help myself if you stay on top of me."

She looked at me under her lashes with a sly smile before rolling off on me. We now lay side by side, hands entwined.

"I'll miss you." She said softly

"As I will miss you too." I said kissing her nose.

"Promise me you'll call okay?"

"Yes love, I will." I promised.

"I love it when you call me that."

"What?"

"When you call me love. Edward, can I ask you something?"

"Anything" pulling her closer to me.

"Do you?" without finishing her question I knew what she meant. It might be too early for some to say the "L" word, but in truth, it is really how I feel for her. I guess once you fell in love and I mean really love the person, it doesn't matter how long have you known or spent time with them. You would just feel it. Pulling her hand on top of my chest, I let her feel my heart beat.

"Isabella, do you feel that?" she nodded "That is because of you. I know we agreed to take things slow but I just can't control how I feel. Every moment, it is you that I think about, I care about, I dream about. I'm not saying this because we will be apart but because I've been wanting to tell you this for so long and I want to tell you this every single day. From the very first time that I laid eyes upon you, I knew that I fell in love with you and now that I have come to know you more, I know, I feel and I can assure you that I do. Yes Isabella, I do love you. I love you."

For a moment, I contemplated whether I did the right thing of telling her that I do love her. What if she's not ready or she doesn't feel the same way. Slowly she sat up before speaking. "I have always believed that things happen for a reason. Imagine us, meeting in the most unlikely circumstance. Do you remember that day when we first met? I felt it too. Something inside me says that, it's you. But I ignored it, what does an Anthony Masen want from me. But then the following events that led to this, I knew then that God planned it. He wanted me to be happy, to assure me that I will never make my parents' mistake. Every single day that I have come to know you, the real you, I have fallen in love with you as well." She turned to me with watery eyes, I sat up and kissed the unshed tears away. Looking in her soulful pool of chocolates, I asked her. "Isabella, Bella, uhm, will you be my, girlfriend then?" her only response is her heartfelt smile.

"I love you."

"I love you too. Here, before I forget it." I handed her the box. "Alice dragged me to Seattle early morning. She said that I should buy you jewelry. I knew the moment that I saw this that it would be perfect."

"Oh, a promise ring. So you'll wear the other half right?" She asked as she toyed with the ring.

"Of course, here, let me put it on you." I slid the ring on her finger and kissed it.

We held onto each other that night with the promise of new beginnings as we take another step in our relationship.

###

BPOV

I am on my way to the airport to meet Rosalie and Angela. Emmet will be there too as he will assist with the security of my book launch. He was supposed to come with Alice and Jasper to Los Angeles together with, Edward, well, Anthony, for a couple of photo shoots and interviews, but Rose insisted that he be my personal security.

Glancing at my ring, I remembered last night's events. To say that I was surprised that Edward loved me was an understatement. Hell, I was scared. I knew that what we feel for each other certainly have become stronger and more intense in the couple of weeks that we've been dating but to finally let it all out and admit it brought me relief. And the kiss, my oh my. The memory of our first kiss didn't do it justice. His lips tastes like berries and mint and they are so soft and warm. His body against mine brought unexplained sensation throughout my body. But like the gentleman he always will be, he controlled himself and pull away from temptation.

Inside the airport, I immediately spotted Angela and Ben.

"Ange, long time no see! I've missed you!" I ran into Angela and hugged her, then turning to Ben, to acknowledge him.

"It's so nice to see you again Bells. You've got a lot of story to tell me! And by the way, Alice called last night just to remind us about her wedding location."

"We have a couple of hours to catch up on that. Ben, I'll be borrowing your wife for a couple days, I hope you wouldn't mind."

Mid way through their honeymoon account, Roe and Lia came running followed by Rosalie and Emmet.

"Hey Bella, what are you doing here?" Emmet's confused faced greeted me.

"Well, Mr. McCarty, I believe that I'll need your services for the following days for my book tour. I'm Helen Marie by the way." Extending my hand greeted him with a smirk.

"No way! You? Ow! I should've known! Rosie baby, why didn't you tell me earlier? Does Alice know?"

"Nope, she doesn't, but she'll find out soon. Very soon, in fact, you and Anthony Masen will be on the same show with Ellen." Rosalie said."

The following days were kind of busy. I have attended at least seven interviews from local and school papers. Even UW has sent their correspondents after Rosalie informed them of my "identity" and they were really proud of me. I've also had a chance to be invited in one of the online radio programs there as well. But what took all my energy in my 4 days stay there was the book signing. I went to 3 different venues and boy do I have to sign at least a thousand times. Every night, despite the time difference, Edward and I would talk on the phone. I told him that I would be attending the publishing house's annual book tour. He did buy the idea but still with reservations because he is still persistent to know who I am as an author. Little did he know that we'll be crossing paths soon. After Seattle our next destination was Phoenix. We did the same routine, of interviews but had the book signing at community high school where I spent my freshmen and sophomore year. I was even asked to talk for the annual English Club conference.

"You know what, I never really liked L.A. I mean, I don't know, it seems like most people here know nothing but to party." Emmet huffed as we made our way out of LAX

"Well maybe because you came from a small tight knit town. If ever I have to stay here I might not make it alive too. My tolerance with parties and gatherings are pretty low, not to mention how much I suck with booze." I snorted.

"Now that it something that I want to see. A drunk Bella.!" Emmet laughed loudly causing Roe to stir from his sleep.

"I'd be glad to fill you up with all of her demise from drinking. I'm surprised Alice hasn't outed you yet." Angela teased.

"That's because she's afraid that I'll trash her wedding. By the way Rose, where are we staying?"

"Oh yeah, good thing you asked. We will be staying at Hilton's. I should warn you though; we will be staying at the same hotel where the others are staying. I have already booked it prior to our meeting back then, it was just last week that I've learned that Jasper booked themselves in the same hotel so."

"At least we'll be in the south wing. Edward has mentioned me that they are staying at the north, which to his dismay doesn't have much of a view." I said.

We went straight to the concierge upon arriving and made ourselves comfortable in the 4 bedroom suite that Meyer's booked for us. I let Rose and Emmet take the biggest room as they have the kids with them. If it weren't for the privacy, I would gladly camp out in the living room area with the magnificent view of the city.

"Mummy, I'm hungry. When are we going to eat?" Lia whined. It has been five minutes past six and I myself am pretty hungry too.

"Ok, so where do we dine? I don't really want to take a risk and go down. We might ruin the surprise." Emmet said.

"How about I go out and just tell me what you guys want. Even if Alice and the gang see me, I could simply come up with something. So may I take your orders then?" Angela suggested.

Luckily, Angela was able to buy us dinner without crossing paths with the 'north wing' team. We ate dinner and started plotting all evil schemes just in case Alice will put a fit with the surprise that is bound to come her way. It was during our deliberate discussion that my phone rang. Edward Anthony!

"Edward!"

"Hey sweetheart. How was your day?" he asked while I shushed everyone. He thinks that I am already back at Forks since I never told him about L.A. of course

"Good. How about you?"

"I just had a photo shoot with Vanity Fair. A short interview about the movie followed. I miss you so much love. I wish you were here." I can hear the sadness in his voice.

"Me too baby, me too. Don't worry. We'll see each other very soon." More like, tomorrow. "So what's your agenda for tomorrow?"

"I'll be with Ellen. The episode's going to be live so if you want, you can actually watch."

"Oh, really? I wouldn't miss the chance to see my handsome boyfriend be interviewed by Ellen." I kept my enthusiasm.

"Excited are we? But not so much as I am. I'll be joined by my co-stars" I took note of the way he talked about being with his co-stars.

"Oooh, Tanya?" suddenly I was glad that I would be there too. I better get the message to her fast. Edward, well, Anthony is mine.

"Yeah. But don't worry, I'll make sure that everybody, including her knows that I am already taken." Huh what? is he planning on announcing it? Then I noticed Rosalie calling my attention.

"Well I hope it goes well. I have to go; I need to run some errands for Charlie. I miss you."

"Okay love. I'll call you as soon as I'm done with the interview. I love you."

"Love you too. Always." And with that we ended the call. "Sorry" I said turning back to the others at the table.

"That's fine. Well, I totally forgot about Tanya but I guess Edward beat me out of it. You'll be the last guest to go. So we could all camp out inside the designated dressing room" Rose explained

"Well that is we could keep Alice away from it. I'm sure once she learns that Helen Marie will be there, she'll do everything in her power to meet her." Angela scoffed.

"I'll have someone to accompany me, and he'll take care of the midget." Emmet assured.

Now all I can do is hope that everything turns out well for tomorrow.