Sorry about the long wait. I've been MIA when it comes to writing for a while. But I've started working again. I can't promise a new chapter tomorrow, I can promise it won't be a 4 month wait again.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight

After my amazing brother ditched me, along with the others, I turned to Edward. "Cullen, I need to go back to the hotel room. So let's go."

"Why do I have to come?" he complained.

"Because here in New York, you're fresh meat. Wouldn't wanna leave you to the dogs, 'cause I am not taking you to a clinic to get tested for herpes. I mean, how embarrassing would that be for me?"

"Gee, thanks so much. Why do you even need to go back to the hotel room, anyway?"

"Because I left my pepper spray in there, duh."

He looked at me, trying to decide whether or not I was crazy. "Is New York really that dangerous?"

I chuckled. "Silly Edward. I'm a big girl. I think I can handle myself. The pepper spray is to help you keep your distance, that's all."

The waiter came by our table and set down the bill. "Come on, Cullen," I beckoned, grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him out of his seat. I threw three one hundred dollar bills on the table. "That should cover it. Keep the change," I told the waiter.

Once we were outside of the restaurant, Edward asked me, "Did you even look at the bill? You gave them almost a one hundred dollar tip."

"The act of giving. Beautiful, isn't it? Now hurry up and get in the limo before the paparazzi show up. I like to keep a low profile."

We climbed in and Bill drove us back to the hotel. Edward opened the door to our room and I sat down on one of the chairs. "So Cullen, how are you and I going to deal with this living situation for the next few days?"

"Well, we could always go back to my idea. 'Cause you know, body heat helps in life or death situations."

"Nah. How 'bout you take the couch and I'll take the bed? Sound good? Good." I dived for the bed before he could say anything.

"You didn't even give me a choice," he spluttered.

"Aw, is wittle Eddie not used to sleeping on the couch?" I mocked him. I threw one of the pillows at him. "Man up, Cullen. Ever heard of the term 'Ladies first'?"

He picked up the pillow off the ground and lumbered over to the couch, mumbling what sounded like, "Stupid Alice."

I grinned. I lounged on my bed with my hands behind my head. "So," I began, "now that that's all said and done, I'm gonna go grab my pepper spray, and then we can head out. I was thinking we should go around Central Park, then explore the city later."

"Sounds good to me."

I ran to my suitcase and threw the pepper spray in the bag.

"Where did you even get that anyway?" Edward asked.

"Charlie. He just wants to make sure that I can keep the pervs away. A little insulting, but I appreciate it even more now that I have some use for it." I looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. "Well, it's about a quarter past twelve, so it should be a little warmer outside. Let's get going."

Once we were out of the hotel, we began walking.

"Let's go to the music store." I pointed at a small building in the middle of the street. I'd decided that it would keep us occupied and we wouldn't have to talk so much.

As we were walking, I got curious, so I asked, "So why is it you do what you do?"

He turned to me. "What do you mean?"

"You know. You hook up with anything lacking a Y chromosome. Or am I wrong about that? Do you bat for the other team, Edward?" I asked mischievously.

He scoffed. "As if. I'm not interested in anyone with anything hanging between their legs, thanks for asking."

"Sure. You still haven't answered the question. Why do you do what you do? It's not classy."

Edward rolled his eyes. "I don't need your opinions on my sex life. Unless you want to be part of it, of course." He waggled his eyebrows. "But to answer your question, I don't really know. It's fun."

"Sure," I said dryly. "Fun."

We walked into the store, and were met with rows upon rows up CD's. Over in the corner there was a stack of old records.

Edward looked positively stunned, and I swear a saw of trickle of drool coming out of his mouth.

"Have at it."

Five minutes later, I regretted taking him to the music store. After the third time of him saying, "Whoa, Bella! This is an original autographed copy of The Rolling Stones' record! Can you believe it?", I was ready to rip my hair out.

Once we got to the checkout counter, the day just wasn't going well for me. The girl completely ignored me, instead keeping her eyes trained on Edward. Twirling her hair, she asked "Will that be all today?"

Edward gave her his signature crooked grin, and her eyes glazed over for a second. "Yeah, that'll be it."

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Hey Romeo, Juliet. Cut the crap. Edward, pay for your damn CD's you keep bugging me about so we can leave."

The girl looked at me surprised, seeming like she just noticed me. She glared and turned back to Edward.

"Edward, is it? Such a sexy name, for such a sexy guy," she purred.

Facepalm moment.

"Oh for crying out loud, you're in a public place! Couldn't you leave this for the strip club? Come on, Edward," I said, dragging him by the arm.

I led him over to a bench and sat down. "So Edward, since Alice obviously left us alone to 'get to know each other', let's do that. Tell me about yourself."

He sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. It seemed like a nervous habit of his. "There isn't much to tell. Did you know Alice and I aren't really twins?" They weren't? He must've seen the questioning look in my eye, because he continued speaking. "We were born in the same year, but that's as close as we'll get to being twins. Carlisle and Esme aren't my biological parents. My real parents were Edward and Elizabeth Cullen. They died in a car crash when I was nine. Luckily my dad had a younger brother- Carlisle. He and Esme took me in, and I've lived with them ever since."

"Wow, Alice never mentioned any of this."

"Of course she didn't," he muttered.

"What do you mean?"

"She feels it isn't her place to discuss things, but I can see it in her eye. She feels sorry for me. That's why she won't talk."

I couldn't think of what to say. The only thing I got out was "I'm sorry."

He laughed bitterly. "Of course you are. Isn't everyone? Thank god Alice and I have the same last name. No one in Forks knows we're cousins. That way I'm not known as the town doctor's screw-up son."

"What are you talking about? Why are you getting so angry?"

He had a wild look on his face, but all I saw was the pained, vulnerable face of a nine-year-old boy. "Why am I angry?" he repeated.

"I'm just trying to help," I whispered.

A loud snap made me flinch. "That! That is why I'm angry, Bella! I don't need your pity! I don't want to be reminded that I don't have parents!"

We were both quiet for a moment, but then I opened my mouth to speak. "Edward, you're not the only one who had someone die on you, okay?" I said quietly, keeping my eyes on the ground.

He looked up, and saw my tear-filled eyes. "Oh Bella, I'm so sorry."

I didn't respond to him. I focused on getting rid of the lump in my throat, so that when I decided to reply, I could be sure that my voice wouldn't break. I took a deep breath, and exhaled shakily. Before I began to speak, I focused my eyes on a fountain in the distance. "His name was Jacob, Jacob Black. He was my best friend. We met at school, in the fourth grade. Jacob never had a good relationship with his father. His dad wanted what he couldn't give him. He always tried so hard to please him, but it was never enough. See, Jake's mom died in childbirth. His dad never forgave him. But the thing is, he loved his dad, a lot. Almost as much as he loved me. One day his dad died in a car crash. He was devastated. I lost contact with him for a couple of days. He wouldn't take my calls. So I decided to leave him alone for a while. But a couple days later I got a text from him. It read, "Bye." And it all went downhill from there. I ran to his house. I couldn't find him anywhere. Just a note that he left. They found his body a couple days later in a special meadow he and I used to go to. He died of a drug overdose."

By the time I had finished I had tears running down my eyes. I sniffed, and wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be dumping all my problems on you," I said, grinning weakly through my tears.

Edward reached out his arms, as if he wanted to comfort me by giving me a hug. He hesitated, and must've decided not to, because he put his arms back down.

We sat in silence for a moment. I still had my eyes on the fountain. After a while, I decided a needed a shoulder to cry on, so I leaned my head on Edward's shoulder and closed my eyes. The light breeze blew against my body, and after a moment, Edward put his arm around me and pulled me closer.

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