And here we go again! Loved everyone's response to the last chapter! As to Bella and Rosalie's connection...you'll just have to wait and see. Here we go with more. Hope you enjoy.

Unbeta'd so please excuse any mistakes.

I only own the plot!


Cover Girl Chapter 9

Edward woke the next day eager for it to be halfway over so he could spend time with Bella. The rest of his sleep was filled with memories from their past. He dreamt of their times discussing books, playing in the woods, and getting sticky with popsicles, cupcakes, and ice cream.

He dressed and headed out, leaving Emmett still sleeping drunkenly in his bed, sending him a text that he'd be back later. He got his car from the valet and navigated the short drive to UNLV's campus. Making his way to the main office, he signed in to meet with his financial advisor. It was only a few minutes before he was greeted by Ms. Alice Brandon. She was a tiny little thing, easily reminding him of a pixie, but she was loud and boisterous and was a presence in the room.

She guided him to her office and they spent several hours discussing options, scholarships, grants, and what would be required from him based on his parents' income. Edward knew that federal financial aid wouldn't be much help for him, and his parents had already guaranteed him that they would cover his tuition, but being that he was an out of state student he would have a higher tuition rate than the in-state students.

Ms. Brandon felt confident that he would qualify for several scholarships given his grades and extracurricular activities, but deadlines were quickly approaching so once Edward returned to Forks he would have to get the ball rolling on applying for them. Edward wanted to make the cost of his education as minimal as he could even though they had assured him that they could afford wherever he wanted to go.

By the time he finished, Edward was ravenous given that he had forgone breakfast to get to campus faster. He texted Bella to see if she was out of class, and she quickly replied that he was. As he was texting a reply, his phone rang with Bella's name flashing on the screen. Edward answered and was greeted with Bella's sweet voice.

"Hey, I was just about to text you back," Edward said right after the call connected.

"Ah okay, well I'm starved, how does pizza sound? There's an incredible place around the corner that is to die for," Bella replied and Edward's stomach growled at the thought.

"Perfect. Where are you right now? Should I just meet you there?"

But Bella didn't answer.

"Bella? Hello? Are you there?" Edward asked, pulling the phone away to see if the call had dropped but they were still connected and he had full antenna.

"Boo!" Bella's voice sounded behind him and he felt her hands grab his sides, startling him.

"Jesus, woman! Don't scare me like that," Edward cried out as he spun around to face a giggling Bella.

"Oh, don't pout, I was just having fun. Come on, I'm dying for a slice," Bella said, tucking her phone into her pocket before hooking her arm in Edward's and dragging him across the grass.

Settled with two slices each, which surprised Edward as most of the girls back in Forks refused to eat more than a nibble or two in front of the boys, they relaxed into an easy conversation about the rest of the day at UNLV.

Edward was enthralled simply watching the sheer excitement Bella contained talking about the courses, professors, and labs that the campus had. When she started talking about Professor Cope, she became even more animated than before. It was more than obvious that Bella looked up to the woman and Edward was dying to meet her to see who had become so close to the girl he adored.

"You about ready to head back?" Bella asked, checking her phone for the time. "Professor Cope's lecture starts in about thirty minutes and I want you to experience it."

"I'm ready whenever you are," Edward replied and gathered up their collective trash, disposing of it while Bella gathered her stuff.

Being the gentleman, Edward held the door open for Bella, earning a bright smile from her, and then he took it a step further and slid her laptop bag off her shoulder and slung it over his.

"You're just too damn sweet!" Bella cooed playfully but then made Edward's day when she moved closer to him and looped her arm through his, leaning on his shoulder as they walked.

They were quiet for a few minutes, and then Bella spoke up as they were crossing the main lawn of the campus.

"Did you ever think you'd run into me again?" Bella asked softly, looking up at Edward slightly.

"Honestly, no. I hate to admit this but I had actually stored away the memory of you up until yesterday," Edward said, guilt coloring his tone.

"Oh…"

"It's not because you're forgettable, please don't think that. It's just, my childhood was filled with a revolving door of kids, some only staying for the summer, some throughout the year, and there were times that my mom had so many kids in her care that she had to feed us in three shifts because the table didn't hold enough to feed us all at once. I was teased by Emmet and his friends, tormented by many of the older boys, and not to remind you tremendously picked on for having a girl as my best friend. They weren't the best of years and I tried to block them out, not realizing that I was also shutting the memory of you out. I didn't think I'd run into you again because I was just thinking about getting out of Forks and making something of myself so I didn't get trapped there. But, now that I have you back in my life, I'm remembering all of the good and very little of the bad. I'm remembering the fun we had, the memories we made that would be nothing of value to others, but meant something to us. And I'm remembering how much I loved just being around you."

Edward paused, realizing that he was rambling and spilling more than he had intended. He waited to see if Bella would say anything, would laugh at him for his answer, but she didn't. She stopped, pulling him to stand in front of her. She looked up at him, her rich brown eyes staring softly into his vivid green ones, ensnaring him and making him get lost in her gaze.

Slowly, so slowly Edward wasn't sure she was even moving at first, Bella inched her way forward until she was pressed up against him. Her left arm lowered and dropped her backpack to the ground, and then both arms slowly reached forward until her fingertips found his, gently brushing against them.

Edward could feel the tingle start up and then begin to spread up his arms, awakening his skin and making it burn where her skin met his. His breathing was shallow, nearly panting as she looked up at him and gently pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, and Edward's lips yearned to press against hers so fiercely that he instinctively licked his lips in anticipation.

"Bella," her name fell off his tongue in a whisper and she inched forward even more until their bodies were touching.

Her chin tilted up, her lips parting with words that made Edward's heart race.

"I wanted to do this all those years ago but never got the chance," she said softly as her fingers dragged burning trails up his arms, settling on the back of his neck as she rose up on her toes.

Not letting the moment escape him, Edward met her halfway, his arms instinctively wrapping around her body, pulling her even closer than before. Their mouths were so close they shared a single breath before finally meeting in a tentative first kiss.

It was soft, chaste, and what Edward had dreamed of so many years before, and almost the only thing he had thought of since reuniting with her the day before. Bella sighed against his face and Edward breathed in her essence before pressing harder, tilting his head as he claimed her mouth further. His arms tightened against her back and her fingers flexed, moving into his hair.

The kiss changed from tentative and hesitant to deep in a matter of seconds, and before Edward could even think the desire, both of their mouths parted and their tongues touched in a hot, moist, heated embrace. Time ceased to exist as they shared their fist of what Edward hoped would be many kisses to come. But all too soon, it came to an end and they were left panting against one another as their foreheads pressed together. Edward was the first to break the heated silence.

"I think that was worth the years-long wait," he breathed out and Bella giggled against the corner of his mouth.

"I think I'm glad I waited to try that. I can only imagine how horrible it would have been way back then," Bella replied as she pulled back and looked at Edward.

"Yeah, I don't see that going over as well back then, but I vote we do it again and often to make up for the lost time."

"I concur," Bella replied before leaning in to kiss him again.

Edward pulled her tight once more, relishing the feel of her mouth against his, his body nearly quaking with desire for more. Her fingers wove deeper into his hair, tangling, twisting, pulling. Her soft sighs made every single inch of him wake and beg for other ways to cause her to make those lusty noises again and again. He let one hand slip down, gently grasping her perfect ass as he pulled her fully against him until they were nearly one.

"Get a room," someone shouted from outside of their bubble and they broke apart, both looking around sheepishly as they caught the stares from the onlookers that had begun to gather to watch the show.

"Maybe we should take a rain check on this? Besides, isn't the lecture about to start?" Edward said reluctantly as he'd much rather find a quiet place for them to continue in private, but he knew that they had obligations on campus to attend to.

"As much as this pains me to say, you're right. Let's go," Bella replied, switching gears quickly as she bent over to grab her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and then grabbed Edward's hand and pulled him off across the lawn.

They made it to Professor Cope's class right before the lecture started, and Bella sat in the last row, motioning for Edward to sit beside her. Edward looked around and saw the room was nearly packed. It seemed that this was a highly admired and respected class and the way Bella sat nearly starry eyed as she looked down on the woman preparing for the class, Edward could tell she felt the same way.

"Good afternoon, everyone," the Professor Cope said a moment later and was greeted with an enthusiastic reply from the class.

"As you all know, software is important for most every type of profession in the world. Even stay-at-home moms, kindergarteners, and fast food restaurants rely on some type of software or another on a daily basis. We all also know that there is the free software, and that which you have to pay for. Now, can anyone tell me why software is like sex?"

Professor Cope looked across the sea of people but no one offered a response. He glanced over at Bella and saw her smiling and biting her lip as she awaited the answer from her mentor.

"Software is like sex because it's better when it's free," Professor Cope answered her own question with a wide smile and the room was filled with chuckles, snickers, giggles, and a few people laughing loudly.

Edward couldn't contain the smile the joke brought to his face and Bella muffled her giggles beside him. He looked over at her and took in her simple and natural beauty, relishing in the fact that she was there beside him and that they had plans for more later on.

Wanting to be closer to her at that moment, he slowly slid his hand over and placed it on hers that was resting on her thigh. She smiled up at him and then pulled hers out from underneath his, crossed it over the top, and gently laced her fingers into his. It was a perfect fit and Edward felt instantly soothed as they sat there looking at one another, their hands clasped together, their eyes locked on one another, and the world disappearing around them.

He wasn't sure how long they lost in their little bubble, but when the spell was finally broken by louder talking in the room, the moment was lost and Edward realized that the class was over and people were gathering their things to leave.

"Oh, um, sorry. Guess you didn't really get much out of that lecture, did you?" Bella said sheepishly and Edward looked back at her in time to see the blush tinge her cheeks.

"I got exactly what I desired," he replied honestly knowing that the lecture was something he'd get to re-experience while that moment with Bella was one in a million.

"Come on, I want you to meet Professor Cope."

"After you," Edward replied, relenting his hold on her hand as they got up and headed to the front to meet the woman that Bella admired.

They ended up talking with Professor Cope for nearly an hour, and as much as Edward enjoyed it, he would have preferred alone time with Bella. But he was a good boy and talked, laughed, and discussed majors and career desires with the two women. Finally, they had to leave as Professor Cope had another lecture to conduct, and he took Bella's hand once more, pulling her up and out of the class, down the hall though he didn't know where he was going, and out a side door of the building.

Bella didn't protest as she let Edward drag her around, and then he finally saw what he was looking for, a quiet and secluded corner. He headed straight for it, pulling Bella in front of him as he pulled off her backpack and set it and her laptop bag on the ground. Next, his hands were on her jaws, gently cupping her face as he pushed her into the corner and pressed his lips to hers, not wanting to wait another moment to taste her again.

She eagerly responded, opening up to him and pulling him in closer. Her hands grasped his back, her body arched into his, and her contact lit his skin on fire, the heat consuming him as he consumed her.

They barely broke for air, only for a second or two to grab a deep breath and then their seductive dance resumed. It was sweet, sexy, erotic, and felt like home to Edward. He didn't know how he was going to leave Vegas knowing Bella was there, but he knew it would only be for a few months until he graduated, the he would be back and she would be in his arms again.

Time passed as they practically became one and it was only when both of their phones started to vibrate in their pockets that they finally broke apart. Bella reluctantly grabbed hers and Edward snatched his out, angry that they were interrupted once more.

Emmett: Hey bro, sorry about last night, I got shitty drunk. But I saw that picture, YOU GO MAN! So, we're going back tonight, we leave in two hours. Get back to the room so you can shower the stinky college hippies off of you and get ready for your girl.

"Fuck," Bella muttered as she looked at her screen. "I didn't realize it was so late. I have to go, Edward. I'm so sorry. But tomorrow I am skipping class and spending the day with you. I know you leave the day after. But I really do have to go."

"It's okay, I have to go too, Emmett's demanding my presence. But tomorrow, you promise?"

She leaned up and kissed him, gently nipping his bottom lip before pulling away, her lips swollen from their corner interlude.

"Promise, I'm all yours tomorrow. Text or call me later," she said and Edward relunctantly picked up her bags and handed them to her.

"I will, and you do the same. Don't have too much fun tonight," he replied.

"Trust me, I won't. Bye," she said and kissed him one last time before rushing off across the campus, leaving Edward alone for the walk back to his car.

He made his way there and back to the hotel, then up to the room to find Emmett tipping the room service delivery. Edward saw that he had ordered him food as well, and eagerly snatched up the extra large bacon cheeseburger and fries with his name on them, plopping down to inhale them before they headed out.

While he did want to go back to the Adult Entertainment Expo, a part of him told him it was wrong to go in order to see a woman when he had just had the moments with Bella earlier. Edward tried not to think about it because he knew he didn't have a chance in hell with Rosalie and that Bella was real, tangible, and that his feelings for her were genuine and not simply out of admiration. It was that simple thought that allowed him to go through with the plans for the evening. An hour later, as he and Emmett headed downstairs, he had a feeling that he as in for the night of his life.


Well? Thoughts? Suspicions? Ideas? And how about that kiss? I can say I truly enjoyed writing it out! See you soon with more!