Chapter Nine

A few weeks had passed, but I barely noticed. Every waking hour was filled with him. When we weren't together, I was thriving on the anticipation to see him again, and became anxious when from some reason I couldn't. We'd been keeping to ourselves, mostly. No one at my office knew. Alice was so busy with wedding preparations it was impossible to get anything by her, work included. And Edward admitted he hadn't had many friends to begin with, so he saw no reason to share it with anyone. I suspected he'd told his brother, but it wasn't something we'd wasted time talking about.

It was one day in the beginning of June when I walked into my office, and found a manila envelope stuck under my door, carrying my name in Alice's handwriting. Forehead cringing in confusion, I knelt to pick it up. I carried it over to my desk, wondering what on earth she would have sent me, but at the same time unsurprised – it was Alice, after all.

A smaller envelope fell out of the bigger one, along with a neatly folded note. The envelope was addressed to Bella + ? / Angela + Ben. I immediately knew what it must contain, and unfolded Alice's note.

Jasper brought these along after you left yesterday, and I didn't want to waste time on posting it. This question mark is better be replaced by then, dear bridesmaid! Don't let me regret hiring you for the job! A x

I smiled to myself, and turned back to the envelope. Their invitation was beautiful; curly, golden letters on thin, nearly transparent maple-colored paper, matching Alice's theme colors, of course. I couldn't believe how close it suddenly was – a little over a month to go. I picked up my phone and dialed the number in her office, but she wasn't in yet.

I let my eyes wander to the note she attached. This question mark is better be replaced by then. It was prophetic almost, as if despite her ongoing distraction with her wedding, and without me saying anything, she'd known anyway. I smiled to myself, knowing that for the first time I was going to make Alice proud of me.

I don't know why it hadn't occurred to me that like she had stuck the invitation under my door, Alice would do the same with our colleagues, the Newtons included. In fact, it had so not occurred to me, that by the time Mike showed up on my doorway half an hour later holding up a similar envelope, I didn't even suspect I was supposed to stay on my guard.

"Good morning, Bella."

"Mike," I nodded back without a note of enthusiasm in my voice.

"Lovely day, isn't it?"

I let out a non-committing murmur reluctant to break off my concentration over his attempt at small talk.

"So I suppose you heard about a certain happy occasion in our near future," he told me, sort of waving the invitation as if it were a small flag. If Alice had seen this treatment for her precious work of art, she would have got a heart attack.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm one of Alice's bridesmaids, Mike, of course I heard about it."

"Oh, are you?" His face lit up, and I knew I had just provided him with mental images that would last him a century. "Does that mean you're planning on being one yourself any time soon?"

"Being what?" I asked, suddenly weary although it was barely nine in the morning.

"Why, a bride."

"I really don't think so." With the way my parents' marriage ended, weddings had never been on top of my to-do list in life, let alone a wedding a-la-Alice.

"My parents and I have just received our invitation this morning," he said then. I didn't even have a chance to prepare myself to what was coming, when he continued. "I was wondering if you would like to come with me to Alice and Jason's wedding."

"Jasper."

"I'm sorry?"

"Alice's fiancé's name is Jasper. And anyway, I'm sorry, I can't."

"Are you bridesmaids not supposed to bring dates?"

I hoped he thought my smile was in response to his supposedly witty remark. "Umm, no, it isn't that," I said, biting my bottom lip. This was it, my one chance to get rid of him for good, once and for all. I didn't know the future. Edward and I might not last the year, the next few months, or even the short time that was left until Alice's wedding, but as of right now, he was my Prince Charming, my knight in shining armor. And he was going to rescue me from the evil beast.

I tried not to cringe when I locked my gaze with Mike's. I needed to do this once, but it had to be the right one. "I'm already going with someone."

For a moment he just stood there, blinking a few times, his eyes tiny behind his protective specs. And then, just as suddenly, he snapped out of it. "Oh. Well, that's… I haven't realized you were… w-when, I mean, for how long have you been…"

"A few weeks now," I replied, thinking it was probably our longest conversation ever – one which wasn't a monologue, that is.

It would sound crazy, but for once I saw him for what he was – a scared, defenseless guy, a child of thirty who didn't dare making a step without seeking for his mother's approval. And there I was, crushing what little he still had left of his already crushed ego. Suddenly, I felt bad for him.

"You know what, though," I told him, trying not to think of the way his shoulders sagged and his face fell. "Do you know Lauren from Accounting?" I flashed a conspirator's smile at him. "I happened to hear her mention your name to a friend during lunch the other day." I paused for impact, and winked at him. He looked terrified. "You should ask your mom to introduce the two of you."

I didn't know why I hadn't thought of it before – way before. Lauren Mallory was relatively new in Rainbow, about a couple of months at the Accounting section on the other end of the floor. And I had heard her speak about Mike once. I should have done this before.

I glanced at Mike. I knew this plotting, contemplative face. I feared it. "Is that so? Well, I will, umm, make sure to do that." He looked at the invitation in a wistful sort of way. Then he looked at me, and shook his head. I couldn't really recognize the expression on his face. "You have a good day, Bella."

He'd said it almost every time he left my office, but it had distinct sense of finality to it now. This was the end of an era.

He shut the door quietly behind him, and I let out a sigh of relief.

It was the end of my alleged affair with Mike Newton.

xoxox

Alice showed up at my door not too long afterwards, all aglow. "Hi," she singsonged as she waltzed into my office.

"Hey. I got your invitation. It's very pretty."

"Pretty? It's a masterpiece! Far better than the ones Jasper wanted to – hey, what's wrong?"

Sometimes I wished she wasn't so intuitive. "Oh, not much, I just… I think I really hurt someone without really meaning to."

"I doubt it, sweetie; you couldn't hurt a fly." She turned her back on me and walked over to shut the door. Then she sat across from me and gave me her full attention. "Tell Auntie Alice what happened."

"Mike came to see me an hour ago."

She shook her head disapprovingly. "This is about Mike? Are you serious?"

"Kind of," I admitted; "I feel awful."

"Why? It isn't the first time you turn him down. It sure won't be the last."

"I know, but…" I sighed, unsure how to continue.

"Alright. Tell me exactly what happened."

"He… came over here to ask if I wanted to be his date for your wedding, and I told him I couldn't."

"Okay, but I still don't see the problem. Nothing new there."

Wait for it, I grumbled voicelessly, and took a deep breath. "I, umm, told him I already had a date for your wedding."

It had always amazed me how she had still managed to look graceful even with a frown. "So, what, it bothers you that you had to lie? Sometimes it's just necessary, Bella. It is, in Mike's case. You shouldn't make a fuss about it; it isn't worth it."

"I wasn't lying to him."

She gawked at me. "You weren't…"

Her voice trailed when I shook my head. "I do have a date for your wedding." I ignored the way her jaw dropped; I just wanted to be out with it already. "I'm sort of seeing someone. For about a month now."

"You're… what?" she asked, blinking. For a moment, I wasn't sure if she heard me. And then it sank in. Confusion shifted into comprehension, and she leaped out of her seat, all but landing in mine. "You're seeing someone? For real? About a month? How did this happen? When? How come you didn't tell me – why am I always the last to know?"

"Alice, breathe," I laughed. "If anything, you're one of the first to know, because I haven't told anyone."

"Mike knows before me," she pouted.

"Only because he needed to know the truth, not because I wanted to tell him."

"I can't believe this! I can't believe you've been so secretive about it! Gah!" She hit my arm, and sprang to her feet again. Too restless to stay seated, I stood up as well. "Well, who is this guy?"

"I met him at that gala I went to with Angela."

My eyes wandered involuntarily to the window across the street. He wasn't there when I looked earlier, but now he was, pacing in his office with a bunch of documents in his hands. His concentration was fascinating to watch. For a moment, I forgot Alice was still in the room.

"What are you looking at?"

I blinked, realizing a second too late her eyes were following mine. She wasn't stupid; I knew it wouldn't be long before she put two and two together.

"Please tell me I got it wrong and this isn't what I think."

Self defense was an instinct. "What's wrong with him?"

She squealed. "It is what I think! Nicely done, my dear, stealing the heart of Medicine Today's editor in chief!"

I blinked in disbelief. "Do you know Edward?"

"Not personally. But I have a few girlfriends on that floor who would die to be in your shoes just now! The stories I've heard about the company's heartthrob! I see they're completely justified, now."

As if he could somehow hear her, Edward suddenly looked up and found us watching him. A smile broke his bothered expression; he waved at me. I waved back shyly, painfully aware of Alice's inspecting gaze passing between us.

"Well, well, well," she murmured lowly, as if to herself, "Looks like his isn't the only heart stolen."

"Shut up, Alice," I muttered, reluctantly looking away from him.

"I have waited long enough to be able to do this, let me have my fun!" She flashed her impish smile at me, and did a little flirty wave with the tips of her fingers in his direction.

Smiling sheepishly, he waved back. Then his eyes flickered back to mine.

I shrugged helplessly. I'm sorry.

He shook his head as if he knew. Don't worry about it.

"Well, for what it's worth," said Alice; "This is one hell of a way to rid yourself of Mike Newton."

But even Alice's approval didn't make me feel better about all this.

xoxox

Mike didn't bother me again, and pretty soon I started feeling less guilty about what happened. Alice even told me she heard he was bringing Lauren to the wedding. Although I found it hard to believe at first, soon afterwards I got it confirmed by Mrs. Newton, who summoned me to her office to confide in me about her son's new romantic interest. Although I was really better off with less information about Mike Newton's love life, it was encouraging. I was grateful Lauren was enough of a distraction for him to finally let go a little.

As for me, I had distractions of my own, or actually just one big one who answered the name Edward Cullen. I hadn't seen him for nearly a week because he had an important deadline at work. He spent nearly every waking hour at the office – he was already there when I arrived at my office, and he was still there when I left. At least I could catch a glimpse of him every now and again through the window. We kept in touch through emails mostly, and he made sure to call me at least once each day, even if it was for a little while.

It was weird to be apart after spending so much time together; it made the week longer, but I didn't resent him for keeping his distance. I'd become as anxious about this deadline as he had been. This was why I was glad to find an email waiting for me on Friday morning. His message was businesslike and yet hilarious, inviting me to a surprise dinner at his place on Saturday evening.

I'd never been to his place before. It so happened that in the short time we'd been together, there had just never been a chance. Usually we'd gone out, or hung out at my place with Angela and Ben. I pondered over the content of his email. A surprise dinner, were his exact words. I knew it was probably another attempt to coax me into agreeing to meet his parents. He'd asked me several times now, all of which I'd turned him down. It felt like too big a step; thinking about it alone made me giddy.

For some reason, the thought about dinner at Edward's place made me impossibly giddier. Even if his intentions were completely innocent, I wasn't stupid. Another invitation, a completely different one, was hidden behind each and every word. Deep down I already knew how this evening was going to end before it had even begun.

I dressed with extra care, choosing a low cut jeans, lower than I'd normally go for, and a deep purple top Alice had bought me ages ago. It wasn't over the top – he did mention casual dress was in order – but it wasn't just my usual (and preferable) combination of jeans, top and sneakers.

And it served its purpose well. He gaped at me when he got the door open. My nervous giggle eventually broke his stare. "This color looks great on you," he managed, leaning forward to peck my cheek.

"Thanks," I replied, and shyly followed him inside.

I wasn't sure what I'd been expecting his place to look like, but I wasn't expecting this. It was smaller than Emmett's place, and cozier somehow. He had lit a few lamps that cast a golden glow around the room. The rest of it was swimming in dark shadows. He had quite a view of the city, shimmering like hundreds of diamonds through an enormous window which opened into a small balcony.

There were two massive sofas in teddy bear brown. They looked shabby, the kind you wanted to sink into and never get up from again. But what caught my attention most, aside for the sophisticated looking sound system and enormous plasma screen, were the shelves, dozens of them, filled entirely with CDs and books. I breathed in awe and walked over to one almost blindly. I traced a few binds with my finger. They looked ancient, some of them worn out leather. I'd always been fascinated by books, especially old ones like these. I examined them slowly, entranced, which was why I literally jolted when his arms slowly wrapped around my waist.

"Sorry," he murmured, his breath hot against my neck.

"That's, umm, quite a collection you've got here," I managed. My face felt warm; I knew that standing so close to me, he could feel the way my heart was suddenly racing.

"Thank you. I'm quite proud of it, actually. It makes moving a bitch, though, so it's probably safe to say I wouldn't be moving out any time soon."

As I leaned my back against his chest, I idly wondered if this place was rented, or if it was his, as I'd suspected. I didn't ask though. My mind was on other things. "I missed you," I whispered. I thought I felt him smile against the top of my head, but then I caught up on the music in the background, playing so softly it was easy to miss. I turned in his arms. "Clair de Lune?"

There was a flicker of something in his eyes. His arms tightened around me. "Do you know Debussy?"

"My mom used to play a lot of classical music around the house. Some of it stuck. This one is my favorite."

A smile curled on his lips. "It's mine too."

He leaned over to kiss me then, slowly, and I instinctively kissed him back. I couldn't believe it had been a week. Soon it turned into something a little more than the sweet kiss he had probably meant it to be, and I found myself wondering if there was more to it than us not seeing each other for a week. It was as if our bodies, as well as our minds, had known there was something different about tonight.

"Tell me something," I murmured, pulling away from him with difficulty. He nodded and trailed kisses along my cheeks, gently sucking on the skin just beneath my earlobe. It was extremely difficult to stay focused, but I needed to keep talking to keep my mind on the right track. "Your invitation didn't make sense. If you invite me to a surprise dinner, where exactly is the surprise in that?"

"Dinner isn't your surprise, silly," he smiled against my neck. His hand slipped, searching, along my side. When he found my hand, he laced our fingers together, and slowly led me across the room, where a small dining table was set for two.

We had a lot of catching up to do over dinner, but eventually the conversation died a little, and that thick tension was back double forced. Edward went over to turn off the music. We put the dirty dishes in the kitchen, and he took my hand and led the way back into the living room. He turned the TV on and told me to have a seat. I sank into one of the sofas; it was as comfortable as I knew it would be.

"When I was a kid," he told me as he came to sit beside me, "there was this community center that held screenings of classics every weekend. Since my dad was working a lot during weekends, my mom used to take us there. They had an amazing selection; black and white ones, epics, musicals, you name it. And it's still going on; my parents still go there, every now and again.

"I wanted to take you there, but they do Gone with the Wind this weekend and it's too long, so I thought a private screening would be more fun."

He reached for the remote and turned the DVD on. There wasn't a DVD case anywhere, so I had no idea what he had in mind. He asked me to close my eyes as he set the menu and hit play. When he told me to open my eyes, I blinked, and brought my attention to what started running onscreen. From the corner of my eye I could see him watching me with a hint of a smile on in the corner of his lips.

I recognized it before the orchestra even hit the opening notes of the Overture. "It's…"

The curl of his lips turned into a proper smile now, a sheepish one. "I thought that since it's your favorite, we could watch it together."

The sting in my eyes was embarrassing. There was so much I wanted to tell him, but suddenly I couldn't find the words. So I did what I had apparently done best – I attacked him. I threw my arms around him, all but crushing him in a hug.

"Why, you're welcome," he laughed softly, and gently untangled himself from my grip. Then he moved to lay on his side and pulled me against him. I let out a contented sigh and leaned into him. There was something very intimate and yet not the least awkward about laying there so close to each other. It was as if we'd always done that. It was so comfortable that I'd almost forgotten to be embarrassed.

We watched in silence for a while. Every now and again he would ask me questions, or comment on bits he liked, all in a whisper right into my ear. At some point, while Maria was telling Captain Von Trapp off about mistreating his children, Edward shifted ever so slightly behind me. "Ah."

I threw him a glance from over my shoulder. "What?"

"I think we can now surmise where that temper is coming from."

For a second his expression was completely blank; then he chuckled. I did, too. "You're mean," I pouted, and brought my attention back to the film. Gently, he took my hand and intertwined his fingers with mine. I kept my eyes on the screen, but my attention was diverted by the feather light sensation of his touch. When the Captain joined the children in singing, I found myself enchanted again. This moment had never failed to stir something within me.

I glanced over my shoulder again, and realized Edward was staring at me. I also realized, to my horror, that there were tears in my eyes, streaming down my cheeks. "Damn it," I muttered, and flashed a grin at him. "I told you I was scary."

"I don't think you're scary at all," he said lowly. His eyes were smoldering, darker than usual in the dim light.

I turned all the way in his arms, laying on my side with my back to the screen so I could have a better look at him. "Thank you. It was really sweet of you to do this. No one's ever…"

"You're welcome."

And I still didn't look away. He wouldn't let me. I couldn't bring myself to turn my back on him. But then whatever was in the air was violently broken with the first shrill notes of The Lonely Goatherd. His lips turned in a tiny grin. "That's my favorite part."

But I wasn't sure he was talking about the movie anymore.

His fingers ghosted their way across my face. The touch made me shiver, and then burn, to the level I wasn't sure if I was hot or cold anymore. I couldn't look away from him; I didn't want to. His thumb traced a path opposite to my tears, ending at the corner of my eye. I smiled at him, a nervous sort of smile. The way my heart was beating was downright embarrassing.

"Bella," he murmured, and there was an edge to the way he uttered my name. More than anything, it reflected a need similar to my own. This realization filled me with sudden confidence. I leaned forward to kiss him. He moaned softly as soon as our lips touched, as if he'd contemplated doing it himself. His hand slipped from my eye to the side of my cheek, holding on to my face as our kiss deepened.

Pretty soon both of us were out of breath, but stopping now, even for air, seemed impossible. I wasn't sure which one of us broke it off eventually, or how we sat up, but there we were, tangled in one another and breathing heavily. He cradled me against his chest.

"Bella," he gasped before pressing his lips to my temple. "I don't want you to think I'm… I didn't invite you here for…" His ramble turned into a hiss when my fingers found their way beneath his shirt.

I wanted to tell him to stop being silly, but I couldn't string my words together. Instead, I kissed him again, but there was hesitation now in his every movement. While this sudden lack of confidence was endearing, it was also sort of frustrating. I didn't want him to pull back now because he believed he was forcing things on me. There had to be a way to explain to him all this guilt was completely unnecessary.

I pulled away from him, trailing kisses to his neck. I reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head, thinking it was enough of a hint as for what I really wanted. I caught a glimpse of the TV screen when I tossed the material over my shoulder, and turned back to grin at him. "I think the screening will just have to wait for a while."

Instead of replying, he kissed me hard, crushing me to him as he brought us to a standing position somehow with our lips still locked around one another's. The TV remained on, the movie forgotten, as we kissed our way down the dark hallway.