It occurred to me this week I should have warned people this story was written before my nothing but the fluff days. Sorry if you've been taken by surprise with the angst and douchey Edward. I hope you'll stick with him. He gets sweeter. My roads always lead to cotton candy.

oOo

Chapter Ten

Catch Me

Bella was laid out on the couch with her foot propped up on three pillows. Her eyes were closed and a tipsy smile graced her features. Edward took advantage of her lack of sight and openly stared for several minutes. Her chestnut hair spilled over the pillow, her cheeks were flushed, and Edward realized for the first time that he truly found his roommate beautiful. He let out a small growl and Bella's eyes popped open.

"Are you okay? You don't have to stay here, Edward. I know I'm not good company right now. I wouldn't be upset at all if you wanted to get out of the house. You can even take my car, as long as you promise not to drive it drunk. God knows I won't be using it any time soon." She looked ruefully at her right leg, which was encased in a cast up to her knee.

Edward pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting the urge to do as she suggested: run. Without warning, his mind flooded with the images from that morning.

oOo

He'd heard her screams in his sound sleep. Hell, all of the neighbors had heard her screams. His movements had been completely involuntary as he 'd launched himself from the bed and torn through the house toward the direction of her cries. The front door had nearly been ripped off its hinges, and he was met with the sight of Bella in a heap at the bottom of the steps.

"I thought I could get away with them," she'd said in a choked voice, pointing at the black patent stiletto wedged into the soft earth.

Edward, taking no notice of the fact that he was clad only in his black boxer-briefs, had fallen to his knees next to her and cupped her face in his hands.

"Where are you hurt?" he had asked, his voice ragged with sleep and concern.

"My ankle. I really think I broke it. I heard it snap. I was screaming before I even felt the pain."

"Will you be okay long enough for me to get dressed?" he asked. "I can drive you myself and we won't have to wait for an ambulance."

She nodded, and he vaulted back up onto the porch. Within moments, he was back at her side, clad in a pair of ragged jeans and a tight black tee. She meekly handed over her keys and began to stand.

"What are you doing?" he growled.

She froze and stared.

"I have to get in the car," she explained, as if to a simpleton.

"You'll not walk on that foot unless a doctor says it's okay," he commanded.

"Well, then, you tell me how you expect—" Her snappy retort was cut short as he reached down and gathered her close. "Oh, fuck no! You're not going to carry me! You won't be abl—"

Again, her words were cut short as he stood fluidly, holding her as easily as he would a feather.

Somewhere in his mind, he registered the feel of her body against his, but he pushed it away and carefully set her in the passenger seat of her car. After he had settled himself in the driver's seat, he took a deep breath and turned to her.

"I've not driven in America," he confessed.

Her eyes widened in shock, but she covered his hand with hers. "I'll guide you. Can you get us to the end of the street while I let someone know what's going on?"

He nodded as she pulled out her phone.

"Hey, Alice. I'm glad you answered. I'm on the way to the hospital, 'cause I'm pretty sure I broke my ankle… Turn right here, Edward."

Edward watched the early morning traffic carefully, but couldn't help turning an ear to her conversation. Especially when he heard her next words.

"Could you make sure Mike knows I can't be there this morning? No, Edward, right lane! Right lane!"

Edward cursed and swerved back into his own lane. His mind had wandered briefly from his task when he'd heard her mention another man's name, but he concentrated on putting all his energy toward driving her to the emergency room.

"It doesn't really hurt any more than it usually does, Al," she was saying as she pointed left for him to take the next turn.

He really was trying to keep his mind on the road, but her words tore at his heart. Did her leg really always feel as if a bone were broken? Did the poor girl really live in that kind of agony every day?

"We're going to Skyline... Really? What's he doing— Never mind. I don't want to know... Um, if they really want to, I guess."

Edward quickly grew frustrated hearing only her side of the conversation. By the time he pulled under the portico at the emergency room, Bella had ended the call. He put the car in park and ran around to her side. The pain had obviously started to set in, because her cheeks were flushed and her eyes a bit glassy. He couldn't believe she had not yet cried.

oOo

"Edward?" Bella asked, bringing him back to the present.

He realized he was feeling things he had never felt before, and it scared the shit out of him. He wanted to cross the room, gather her close, and ease all of her pain. He knew she was hurting, but she still hadn't cried. Of course, she was on some serious painkillers, so those had helped.

"Are you hungry?" he asked suddenly. He looked at the clock and realized that it was almost time for her to take another Percocet.

"I am," Bella realized suddenly. "I can't believe it's so late. Ugh. I didn't think about cooking. Shit."

"I got it," Edward said with a small smile.

"You don't have to," Bella began, but he silenced her with a glare.

"Really, Bella. It's the least I can do. Is an omelet okay? Even I find it hard to mess those up."

"An omelet sounds bloody fantastic." Bella sighed. "This just fucking sucks."

Edward grinned at her familiar slang, and there was something outrageously adorable about her angelic lips speaking foul words.

oOo

After two weeks of waiting on Bella, Edward finally snapped. It wasn't her fault, he conceded, because he'd insisted on driving her to work and picking her up in the evenings. He'd demanded that she sit on the couch and let him make dinner and serve her. Every night, he helped her to her bed, and propped her leg up onto three fluffy pillows that he'd sacrificed from his own bed. And he'd helped her tape plastic bags over her cast so she could bathe in the claw foot tub in what was once "his" bathroom. He hadn't seen anything indecent, but the mental images of what came after he firmly shut the door behind him haunted him into his sleep.

Bella sat on the couch, fidgeting horribly because she had once again refused any pain medication, saying that it left her feeling out of sorts and drowsy. She flicked through the channels at a breakneck pace, driving Edward out of his mind. Suddenly, he realized that he'd been acting the part of her boyfriend without any of the privileges or advantages.

Bella started in surprise as he shot up from the couch and ran for the car keys.

"Oh, thank God," she sighed. He shot her a dirty look. "No, no. I'm so grateful to you, Edward. You can't even know. But I feel horrible for monopolizing your time. You should be out having fun and doing things that guys do. You've only left the house to drive me to work or take me to rehearsal or do the shopping for me. You're a real pro at driving here now, and that's the only thing you've gotten out of this whole arrangement."

Edward was immediately chastened. "Are you kidding me? You let me live here rent-free and make sure I'm not starving to death. It's the least I could do. I just need to get out and clear my head."

"You're not fooling me Edward. Please take a cab home if you get drunk. We'll worry about my car later."

Edward approached, unsure of what he planned to do once he reached her. He crouched down for a moment and made the mistake of looking into her eyes. The sheer gratitude he saw brought him to his knees. Tentatively, he reached out and placed his hand on top of her head. The hair beneath his fingers was silky, and he resisted the urge to run his fingers through it. Instead, he patted her awkwardly and stood abruptly. Her phone rang, distracting them both from the uncomfortable situation, and she waved at him as she answered.

Edward was at the door when he heard her say, "Oh, hey Mike!" With a low growl, he slammed the door behind himself.

Once he was in the car, he leaned forward and pressed his forehead to the steering wheel. The feelings inside him were twisting him into something completely unrecognizable, even to himself. He was horribly aware of his growing attraction to his roommate and hated himself for it. Bella had proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she had a pure heart, and she deserved far more than anyone like him could ever give her. The most he could handle was two weeks of helping her before he felt like running out and getting plastered like the colossal dick he was.

Whoever that Mike guy was, he seemed to really care about Bella. He called at least every other day to check in on her, even if it was under the guise of checking on the paperwork she had been working on from home. As much as the idea pissed him off, he wondered if maybe seeing Bella find a guy that would be that good to her would be the best thing for her.

With a strangled cry, he started the car and whipped backwards out of the driveway. Why was he even thinking these things? Did he really believe that Bella had more than friendly feelings for him? Never once had she indicated that she might be attracted to him. Perhaps, since she was always so generous, he had just assumed. As he made his way through the familiar streets, he ran back over their time together. Yes, she had saved his ass with his ex-landlord. She had offered up a room and food, asking nothing in return. She had called him out on his growing attraction to her, but she'd never once admitted to finding him attractive. In fact, he would believe she felt more for Emmett or Jasper, or even that Mike clown, when he took into account the way she spoke to them.

And that was why he found himself so fascinated by her. She was truly a nice person. She had her heartaches, but she didn't allow them to darken her world. It was refreshing and infuriating all at the same time. By the time Edward parked the car outside the Red Door Saloon, he knew he'd be calling a cab. He was getting pissed, because it was the only way to escape.

oOo

Chapter title by Tony Lucca again.

Also, I feel I missed someone's request for the M version of this story. It's been a crazy week, and reviews and PMs got lost in the shuffle. I'm committed to sending it to anyone who asks, and I thank you for your patience when I forget or take too long to send. If you're the person I missed, please forgive me and send a new request.

On a similar note, thank you so much to those who review even though this story was posted before. Some of you even review each chapter when you've already read the whole M version by PDF. I can't tell you how much that means to me. I wish wish wish I could respond to every review, but I honestly have to sneak time during work to edit so I can post. Please accept this sincere thank you.