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Thanks to lotusblosm and chainedirisheagle for everything:) Secretobsession7 is now my beta!

Stephenie Meyer owns these guys.

~Chapter 10~Bangers

~~Bella~~

A girlfriend. Almost engaged. Rose's words continuously ran through my head. How could he have a girlfriend...that he was going to marry?I just didn't understand it. It reminded me of that old saying; if something seems too good to be true, it usually is. I almost felt bad for her.

Technically our lunch at the pizzeria wasn't inappropriate because we were in the same field and were working. Technically meeting out the last two Fridays was innocent since we had mutual friends. Technically I was injured so there was a valid reason for flowers. Technically he was an ASSHOLE for kissing me like I had never been kissed in my entire life when he had a fucking girlfriend at home.

The night that began so awesome had turned to shit so fast. I took a cab home. When I got there I made a grilled cheese and popped in Pretty Woman. I needed some comfort and without my mom, that would have to do. I thought of calling Renee but it was late, especially since she lived in Florida. I fell asleep on the couch until I heard Alice clumsily trying to maneuver her away around in the dark.

"Alice."

"Jesus Mother Fuck Bella! You scared the hell out of me." She was practically screeching.

"Sorry." For some reason I couldn't get more than one word responses out of my mouth.

"What the hell are you doing out here?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"Bella!" She was quickly becoming annoyed.

"Alright." I snickered, as she threw herself on top of me. She gave me the biggest hug and no words were needed. We snuggled up under the blanket and fell asleep.

When I woke up the next morning, she had already left for work. I had absolutely nothing to do and if I stayed home, I would have gone crazy thinking about the green-eyed asshole.

I threw on some jeans and a hoodie, grabbed my bag, and headed to work. I knew there would be a huge pile of paperwork that I could get done because I hadn't been in the office since Tuesday. It was pretty nice out, so I figured I could take a walk after I got some stuff done. I found a kick ass parking spot seeing as it was Saturday morning, which was a bonus.

My desk had a pile of papers on it that would make the Olympia National Forest cringe. I settled in and wrote a shitload of reports, checked my email, bought a new pair of jeans online, verified some addresses, and returned some calls. I moved the furniture in my office around and closed some files. I checked my supervisor's office for new placements and found five waiting for me. I put them in order of release date and opened the first one.

The offender was getting out of prison in two weeks with no place to live. In the 'old' days they would have to remain in prison until they found someone to take them in. Nowadays they got out regardless. He had an extensive criminal record that went back twenty-five years. He was a criminal longer than I had been alive! Those were the worst. They were hopeless cases for the most part and a ton of work.

The next four consisted of two small time drug dealers, which equaled punks, a car thief, and an armed robber. Always lovely. It was a revolving door. The minute we got someone off of parole there were two more getting out. Job security at its finest.

Now that my work was done, there was nothing left to do but think about last night. How could I have possibly thought that a guy like him could have been into me? There was definitely an attraction and chemistry, but obviously it was way stronger on my end.

When I stopped to think long and hard about it, the situation that is, not his unit, it did make sense that he was taken. I mean let's be real, he was hot, straight, and a federal agent. I thought about how aroused he was when we were dancing. Typical guy. Let them rub up against an ass and it didn't really matter who it belonged to.

As if she could tell I needed to be brought out of my thoughts, my phone vibrated with a text.

BS~Want to grab dinner when I get off of work? Alice thought she was fucking hilarious. My initials were technically IS anyways!

I guess.

FU. Nothing like showing some excitement.

Sorry if I'm not feelin' it today:( That was the understatement of the year.

You got to sleep with me at least;P I couldn't help but laugh.

It was the best I've ever gotten. That was pretty much true.

Meet me here at 6.

K

I was hungry, so I headed across the street to the deli and ordered my favorite turkey wrap. I figured I would eat outside since it was nice out, and my office was only a few blocks from the walking trails and park system. My co-workers and I went there a lot, weather permitting of course. They ran, and I read. It was a beautiful place and I had never been there on a weekend. You could see the ocean surrounded by lush green vegetation and plenty of trees. It was somewhere that always made me happy. After last night I needed to at least enjoy the scenery. I sat on a bench and started to eat my wrap.

There were a few people out walking, a few runners, a couple laying on a blanket and a group of teenagers clustered together laughing and goofing off. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something wasn't quite right. The group of teenagers were suddenly quiet and I noticed a couple of them head for the woods. Weird, they all had matching white t-shirts and blue Nikes on.

As if in slow motion, one of them, a tall skinny kid, ran directly over to the couple's blanket, grabbed a purse that was sitting there, and took off towards the parking lot. The lady started to yell, and as the man got up to head towards the parking lot, one of the teenagers charged at him knocking him to the ground. Two more appeared and started kicking the man in the ribs. The lady continued screaming, and the man was literally getting stomped. No one was paying the least bit of attention to the situation except for me. Fuck. I got up and headed over there and was quickly noticed.

"Hey little lady. Want to join in the fun?" one of them said to me.

"Stop it now!" I screamed.

"Make us." He was taunting me and getting closer.

"I said fucking stop!"

"Yum, talk dirty some more."

"I'm Parole Officer Swan and you better get the fuck off of him now."

"What are you going to do shoot me?" He was coming closer and closer. Think Bella. You can't just shoot him. You already killed a dog this week. Plus your gun is tucked safely away in your night stand. Fuck!

I had my hands in my hoodie's front pocket and felt for the canister I always kept handy when I came to the park. When he was close enough, I took out my pepper spray and blasted him right in the eyes. He started to scream and swear and lunge at me. I got out of his way, but noticed the other two stop their beat down and head my way. Shit. I heard a noise behind me and then a voice.

"Freeze. Don't fucking move. I won't think twice about shooting you."

They immediately stopped and put their hands in the air.

I turned around and there was my knight in cheating armor, who I still wanted to kick in the balls. He was sweaty, disheveled and his eyes were bloodshot, but he was still the most beautiful man I had ever seen. He flashed me a nervous grin and called the police on his cell phone.

The police arrived a few minutes later and took the hoodlums to jail. "Swan, you better watch your back," said the one who I had pepper sprayed. He was flushed red with snot pouring out of is nose.

"Bella. What the fuck are you doing in this park alone...on a Saturday?" he asked, in an irritated tone.

"Why aren't you with your girlfriend ?" I shouted. An immature response, but too bad he was swearing at me.

"Seriously? You almost got attacked by the South End Riders and all you can do is make a stupid comment about a girlfriend?"

What? Oh, shit. I had heard of them. They were the fastest growing street gang in Seattle. Realization quickly set in. I had just witnessed and then stopped a gang initiation. That explains why they were all wearing the same clothes. I felt like I was going to vomit.

"Everyone knows this park is their hangout on the weekends." He was looking at me like I was an idiot.

"Apparently they don't!" I stood, pointing at the couple. The man was rubbing his side and holding his bloody nose with a t-shirt. "What are you doing here then?"

"I was running and then heard the commotion. Plus, I brought my gun."

Our banter was cut short by Officer Meyer, who needed to take my statement. The couple walked over to me and were so grateful. They couldn't tell me enough how thankful they were that I stood up for them. I could feel myself blush and was beginning to get uncomfortable with all of the undue attention. I told them it was my duty as a law enforcement officer to assist when someone needed help. I just happened to leave out the part about forgetting my gun at home. The lady gave me a hug that nearly broke my ribs and they left.

I started to sneak away when I saw a flashbulb go off to my right. I looked in that direction and, fuck me, Lauren Mallory gave me a small wave. I continued walking and planned to make my way back to the state building unnoticed. My back was burning from the intense heat of Edward's stare, but he was stuck giving his statement. I only hoped he wouldn't finish in time to follow me. I wasn't in the mood for some lame ass explanation regarding his personal life. I started this day with plans to avoid thinking about him, which proved futile and then he happened to rescue me from gang bangers. Ugh. This weekend just continued to get shittier.

I could feel Edward behind me before I even got out of the park. I'm sure after the incident he wanted to make sure that I got back to the office safely. After all, I had just pissed off an entire street gang and told them my name for fucks sake. What a rookie mistake. I would have looked a lot tougher with my gun, but the gang banger was right. Was I really going to shoot him? No, definitely not. That would really have been overkill. He cleared his throat behind me and I hoped he was nervous.

"Uum, Bella?" He was nervous!

I stopped walking and turned around slowly. "Yes, Edward?"

"Can we go somewhere and talk?" he asked timidly.

"Tell me one reason why I should go anywhere with you?" I said, glaring at him.

"I just saved you from getting banged," he said, with a sexy grin.

"For the second time," I said, under my breath.

Just looking at him was making my heart ache. I did not need to hear how he made a mistake or any other excuses he could have come up with. I knew I would lose all composure and my self pride would not let that happen.

So I said what I thought was best. "Thanks for that. I've had a really shitty week Edward. I shot a dog, my eye looks like it belongs to fucking Barney, and someone, who I thought was great, turned out to be a total ass. I thought maybe I could be productive today and get some work done and then I have to interrupt an initiation. Now an entire gang will be after me, and I am stuck being saved by said ass. I'm really pretty tired and I can't imagine what there is to talk about. So we made out, whatever. I had a lot to drink and we should probably just forget the whole thing ever happened. Don't worry. I'm not going to tell your girlfriend. I'm meeting someone, so I really have to get going. Thanks again for coming to my rescue." I was shaking and didn't want him to see the tears that were forming in my eyes. I gave him a small wave and headed back to my office.

I never looked back. I reached my car, and once I was safely locked inside, I let it all out. Sobs racked my body and it felt good. I cried for the dog that I killed, and because I just saved a man by pepper spraying a gang member, but most of all because I would never get to truly know the man who had stolen my heart with one incredible kiss.

There was still a little time to kill before I had to meet Alice. I flipped on the archaic 19" television set in my bedroom and jumped into the shower. I thought about what I said to Edward. As much as it broke my heart, I was proud of myself for having enough dignity to act like I didn't care and that our kiss was no big deal. I haven't had a serious boyfriend in, um, never, so it wasn't like I could miss what I never had. I would just have to make a conscious effort to forget about the federale. I had enough to do with work and my friends to keep me busy. My thought process sounded good at least. I got out of the shower and was heading back to my room when the sound of the T.V. stopped me dead in my tracks:

"OVERKILL P.O. OVERSPRAYS GANG MEMBER IN THE PARK, BLACK EYE AND ALL!"

I sat there horrified as I watched Lauren Mallory report live from the park. What did I do in a previous life to piss off this bitch? She continuously referred back to the dog incident on Tuesday and then, just when I thought she was making me look like a hero, she went on to describe how I needed to be rescued by a good looking jogger. She said I went from "Overkill to Over My Head" in less than a week.

I needed tequila, and I needed it bad. All of a sudden I couldn't wait to meet Alice. I got ready and arrived at the salon a little while later. I was early, but I figured maybe Alice could do the cover-eye-hair-thing again. She saw me and waved for me to come to the back where her station was. The first words she said to me put a devious smile on my face.

"Guess who just booked their first appointment with me?" she said, with a smirk.

I'll give you three guesses! Let me know what you think. If you need something to read check out my favorite stories. I'm sure they are most of your favorites as well, but you never know:)

For the record, I have been pepper sprayed and it hurts like a motherfucker!

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