Chapter Ten

EPOV

I led Bella out of the library and into the bright sun. I knew she was following me; I could feel her. I could also feel what she was feeling too and I didn't like it. She was feeling uncertain. I understood it to a point. After all, she didn't know me in this life and I didn't know her so I would need to take this slowly and reacquaint myself with her as a person and her with me. I suggested getting a coffee and she agreed.

We stepped into the busy coffee shop located in the main compound of the campus and I led her over to a table, pulling the chair out for her to sit in. she shot me a thankful smile and sat down.

"What would you like to drink?" I asked nervously.

"Coffee, Black, two sugars, please." She replied

Ahh… my kind of girl. Wait, I already knew she was. I just meant she drank her coffee the same way I did mine. I mean I knew she was my soul mate already, I was just…you know what, forget it. I'm rambling.

I headed to the counter and ordered two black coffees. I leaned against the counter with my back to the server as I waited for my order and I observed my angel. Bella. I had a name for her now. It really did suit her, so much more than all of the other ones. She looked even more beautiful in person than she did in my dreams and I couldn't take my eyes off of her. As if she felt me looking at her (let's face it, she more than likely did!) she lifted her eyes to meet mine and we stayed there, locked in a gaze that neither one of us wanted to break. I could feel everything she was feeling and I somehow knew that she could feel my emotions too.

Our stare off was interrupted by the server clearing her throat. I spun to take my order from her with a slight show of annoyance and I heard my angel giggle lightly behind me. The sound made me smile; I loved hearing it and wanted to do so again and again. I made my way back to our table, holding the coffees carefully so as not to spill them. I set down hers in front of her and took the seat opposite her and sat down.

"So, you're a Psyche Major too?" she asked.

"Yep. I wanna be a shrink when I grow up." I said with a waggle of my eyebrows.

She giggled again. Ahh.. .Mission accomplished.

"What about you?" I questioned her as I lifted my cup to my lips.

"Pre-Law." She answered.

I was impressed. Brains and beauty. What more could I ask for?

"You know I told Rose she should have gone for that." I started.

"Oh, I know. I also know what she told you too." She laughed and the sound shot through my whole body, awakening it.

"Oh?" I asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Mmhm…I believe her words were 'Mind your own fucking business', am I right?" she replied as she took a sip of her coffee.

Her saying the word 'fuck' did something to my body. I was turned on beyond belief and I had never had this reaction with any of my three girlfriends and they had sworn a hell of a lot more. I shifted in my seat and prayed she couldn't feel what I was feeling. I looked back at her and found her smirking at me. Shit. She could feel it. I cleared my throat.

"So, you have a brother? What does he do?" I asked in a desperate attempt to detract attention from my emotions.

"He's at NYU on a football scholarship. He's a Sports Therapy major." She replied, sipping her coffee.

"This is strange, isn't it?" I asked softly, running a hand through my hair.

"Yeah. I know you and yet…" she trailed off.

"And yet you don't." I finished for her. She nodded.

I could feel her uncertainty and remorse.

"Hey, what are you uncertain about?" I said in the gentlest voice I could.

"Wha-" she started.

"I feel you, remember?" I explained, cutting her off. She blushed.

"Oh…yeah. Sorry." She said, biting her bottom lips causing my pants to tighten and her eyes to widen.

"And you feel me." I said. She nodded.

"Yeah…sorry about that too." She whispered shooting a quick glance down at my pants.

"Why are you sorry?" I laughed.

"Must be an intrusion and it certainly must be uncomfortable for you to know that I can feel your emotions and despite the fact that we know each other, we really don't. At least not right now." She explained.

"You don't need to be sorry, angel and if it helps, I am not uncomfortable per say. Yes, it is odd to know that you know what I am feeling, but certainly not uncomfortable and I would like to get to know you, if you will allow me that honour?" I replied.

"I think I like the idea of getting to know you properly, in this life." She returned shyly.

"My sentiments exactly." I smiled at her and she smiled back.

We spent the rest of the afternoon together, simply asking questions and chatting. We talked, we laughed and we teased each other. We had a lot of thing in common, ranging from books and music to viewpoints on world issues and certain articles in Psychology Today. I found her to be well read and brilliantly smart and fell a bit more in love with her over the course of the afternoon; the real her, the her now. We tried not to call each other out on certain emotions we each picked up on over the course of the afternoon, but sometimes we brought them up only to agree to ignore them again.

I was surprised when at 4pm my cell phone range and I looked down at the display to see my sister's name flashing at me. I had forgotten that I was supposed to meet her at 3pm to talk about what to do for our parent's 25th wedding anniversary in three months time. We were lucky that it fell on the same time as Winter Break so we would be home to celebrate with them. I quickly answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Edward Anthony Cullen! Where the hell are you?"

"Um…Café in the main compound."

"Did you forget you were meeting me at 3pm?"

"Ummm….no?"

"Well, darling brother, its 4pm now and you are still not here, which means you are ONE hour late!"

"Shit, Ali, I'm sorry, honey."

"Don't you honey me! Stay where you are, I'm on my way!"

Before I could say anything more, she hung up the phone and all I got was silence on the other end. I glanced up at Bella when I felt a wave of pain and jealousy go through me.

"Angel, what's wrong?" I asked quickly.

"Nothing." She answered, not looking at me.

"Baby? This is me, remember?" I said as I gently pulled her face back round to me by her chin.

"Girlfriend?" she asked quietly.

I looked at her confused for a moment until it hit me what she was asking and I couldn't help but laugh. I stopped when I felt her irritation hit me.

"No, angel, not girlfriend. Sister. Twin sister actually." I assured her.

I felt her relax and then her embarrassment.

"Hey, don't be embarrassed. I know what it sounded like." I said softly as I covered her tiny hand with my larger one, relishing in the tingle.

"I'm sorry, Edward" I shook my head.

"No baby, don't be. Look, we don't know each other well, but you know better than anyone that I belong to no one else. I can't, it's impossible for me to do so." I said gently.

"I know that. It was just a silly reaction and for that I'm sorry." She returned.

"I think I should make it clear to you what my intentions are, but then I think you already know them. Angel, I have had girlfriends, but none of them have meant to me what you do. After thirteen years of seeing you in my dreams and realising that they were memories and not dreams, do you really think I would be able to belong to anyone but you?" I asked her.

"No, Edward, I don't think that. I know who you belong to just as much as I know who I belong to. It's just…what do we call this relationship now? I've been you lover, your friend and your secret girlfriend so what does that make me now?" she asked back.

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair and licked my lips to wet them. I felt a wave of attraction and snapped my eyes back to her. She blushed and looked down to the table. Well, at least I knew the attraction was mutual.

"How about we start with a proper date?" I said finally. Her smile lit up her face and her eyes sparkled.

"I'd like that." She replied calmly, but I could feel her extreme happiness through our bond and that made me smile wide.

"How about tomorrow night? 7pm?" I questioned.

"Perfect." She hummed.

We exchanged numbers and she immediately text me her address. Sweet, it was the next building over from mine. She started to gather her things and got up to leave. I felt an acute pain in my chest at the thought of being apart from her and she looked back at me, her emotions telling me she felt the same and her eyes telling me it would be okay. Just as we stood up I took her hand in mine. There was one more thing I had to clear up before she left.

"You asked what I would call this relationship now. I want to call it everything, but a secret. We have had our fair share of a secret love affair with one another and I refuse for it to be that way this time. I want you as my friend, my lover, my girlfriend and as my forever." I told her and then lifted her hand to my lips and brushed a gently across her knuckles.

"Thank you." she whispered.

Tears shone in her eyes and her emotions bombarded me with love and gratitude. I gave that love right back to her through my own emotions and she gasped and closed her eyes, an expression of serenity washing over her beautiful features. I traced her face with the tips of my fingers and heard a soft sigh escape her kissable lips. I leaned forward before I knew what I was doing and then suddenly pulled back. I would do this the proper way; the right way. Date first, and then kiss.

I straightened up and looked down at her. She opened her eyes slowly as she felt me move back and gazed at me. I felt her dejection and shook my head.

"No, angel, I'm not rejecting you. I would never. I just…I want to do this properly this time. I won't hide you or our relationship. I will take you out, we will date and we will do it out in the open so that means that the right way will be to take you out on a date first and then have our first kiss." I reassured her firmly.

She giggled, sending waves of pleasure through me.

"Technically, it wouldn't be our first kiss, my prince." She teased. I laughed and nodded.

"True. Okay, how about our first kiss in this life and in the flesh?" I countered.

"Agreed." She replied, smiling brightly up at me.

"I have to go. I have a study session in an hour and I need to stop at home to pick up my room mate first." She said remorsefully and I could feel how much she didn't want to go.

"Okay baby. I'll see you tomorrow evening?" I replied, equally as remorsefully.

She nodded and I released her hand. She stepped away from me and bumped into someone standing behind her and fell forward towards me. I quickly caught before she could fall further by grabbing her hips. I pulled her closer to me to ensure she regained her footing and then looked up at the person behind her, mildly irritated that they nearly made her fall. I was surprised to find my sister standing there with her mouth hanging open. Now, I have never and I do mean never, seen my sister speechless so this was a shocker to me. I cleared my throat and tightened my grip on Bella.

"Hey, Ali." I said to my sister who ignored me and continued to stare at Bella.

"Alice?" I questioned.

My sister snapped her mouth shut and slowly raised her eyes to me and lifted her hand, which was shaking slightly, to point at Bella.

"It's…it's…she…Annabelle!" she stuttered. I chuckled.

"Alice I would like for you to meet Bella Swan, Bella this is my sister Alice." I waved a hand between them.

Bella turned in my arms and looked at Alice, blushing.

"Hi Alice, it's nice to meet you." my angel said shyly.

Alice looked from Bella to me and I nodded in encouragement.

"You see her too right? I'm not losing it am I?" my sister whispered to me.

Bella and I burst out laughing at that. Seriously, what are the odds that both she and Jasper would say the same thing on the same damn day?

"Yeah, I see her too Ali. She's real." I assured her when our laughter had died down slightly.

There was a beat of silence and the air was broken by a loud squeal as Alice launched herself at Bella and hugged her with all her might. I felt Bella's panic hit me before it was replaced by calm acceptance as she hugged my sister back, laughing. I felt my heart swell with love for my angel at her acceptance of my crazy over zealous twin. Bella's eyes snapped up to meet mine as she felt my emotions. Her eyes softened and filled with love and I felt the same thing through our bond. I smiled down at her, thanking her with my eye. She nodded over my sister's shoulder.

Alice finally released Bella and stepped back and looked at her up and down, appraising.

"You sure are as beautiful as the picture. More so, actually." Alice stated in a matter of fact tone.

"Um…Thank you?" Bella offered. I chuckled.

"Bella was just going, she needs to get to her study session, Ali." I explained.

"Oh. Ok." Alice said sounding disappointed.

"Don't worry, Ali, you'll see her again soon I'm sure." I reassured my twin at which she brightened up.

"Really? Oh that would be so cool!" she clapped her hands together.

I turned back to my angel and lifted my hand to stroke her cheek again.

"Tomorrow?" I whispered.

"Tomorrow." She confirmed.

She left soon after, taking my heart with her. I slumped back onto the chair that I had just spent the afternoon sitting on whilst getting to know my angel.

The next day found me frantically pacing my bedroom at 5.30pm as I tried to come up with a plan for tonight. Ok, I know what you're thinking; why hadn't had something planned already, right? Well, see the reason would be a 5'2" pain in my ass twin of mine. My darling sister kept me sitting with her at the café for five hours. Five. Fucking. Hours! We spent most of the time talking about Bella. Okay, lie. I spent most of that time talking about Bella while Alice fired off question after question at me. Seriously, she asked me everything. From the dream to how we met and how we ended up at the café. And then on top of that, she roped me into planning a party for my parent's 25th anniversary.

She decided she wanted to do a Ball. I blanched at the idea immediately as it reminded me too much of my past, especially the one where Bella and I, or rather Anna and Aron were killed by the Royal Advisor. Thankfully Alice compromised and said she would make it a masquerade ball and the outfits would be cocktail attire. I agreed with that. There was no way in which I wanted to relive the Imperial Ball at my parent's anniversary. The other way my darling sister got me to agree was to invite Bella too. I was hesitant on that front at first but she convinced me that it was three months away, so Bella and I had plenty of time to get to know each other beforehand. Sneaky little shit.

So after she finally released me, it was too late to plan anything yesterday and then this morning, Jasper, the fucktard as I have now started to call him, decided to slip on the bath mat and knock himself out, thus causing me to rush him to ER where we spent three and half hours waiting to be seen and then another hour for him to be x-rayed and finally add on another hour for the Doctor to return after he finished his rounds to release said fucktard. So that brought me to now, pacing and panicking because I had nothing planned for the biggest date of my seven lives!

I was continuously running my hand through my hair as I wracked my brains to think of something to do when my saviour, I mean my sister bounced into my room.

"Edward, I know you haven't had time to plan anything for your date tonight so I took the liberty of doing it for you. Here are two tickets to a concert on the beach, a blanket; the cooler and picnic basket are in the kitchen waiting for you. Wear your black jeans and light blue button down shirt. Text Bella and tell her to wear casual too as she will need to know. Let her know that sandals are acceptable, sneakers however are not. For you, wear your converses, the black ones. Cool?"

With that she bounced right back out of the room, leaving me gaping like a fish after her. I shook my head slowly, amazed at the fact that she got all of that out without pausing for breath and even requiring an answer from me. I heard Jasper laugh from my doorway so I flipped him the bird and pulled out my phone to text my Bella.

Mmm…my Bella. I like the sound of that. Also eerily similar to what I had called her as Eric.

Hey angel, I am under strict instructions to tell you to dress casual for tonight, also, sandals are acceptable, and sneakers are not (Alice's words, not mine!). I'll see you 7pm. E

I quickly sent the message and tucked my phone back into my jeans. I opened my closet and pulled out the items of clothing my twin had deemed appropriate for tonight and laid them out on the couch in my room. I stripped out of my current clothes, leaving me only in my boxers and headed into my en suite bathroom.

I showered slowly, savouring the feel of the warm water against my skin. Once the water had started to cool I stepped out of the shower and wrapped my towel around my waist. Yeah, I still liked to air dry. I made quick work of shaving and brushing my teeth, splashing a light smattering of cologne after I was done. I left the bathroom and headed back into my room only to stop. Sitting on my bed was Marcus, my uncle.

"Uncle Marcus? What are you doing here?" I asked in surprise.

He got up from my bed and walked over to me, holding out his hand, which I took and shook heartily. Marcus was my father's half brother and an amazing man. Out of all of my uncle's he was my favourite. He had always treated me as an equal and sometimes even come down to the level of a child when it came to pranks and jokes. He lived in New York, working for a big law firm there, though he did travel when work called for it and no one had told me that he would be in town today, so imagine my surprise.

"Edward, my boy! How are you, son?" he said as he pumped my hand.

"I'm good, Uncle M. How are you?" I replied with a wide smile.

"I was in town for a depo meeting and thought I'd look you up. Fancy going out for dinner with your old Unc?" he asked, grinning at me.

"Sorry, Unc, I got a date tonight." I answered, with a grin of my own.

"Who? You? I thought you didn't date?" he asked in surprise.

I threw my head back and laughed.

"I do date, Unc." I assured him, patting his shoulder.

"Last I heard, you were gay." He smirked at me slyly.

"Nope, not gay, merely waiting for the right one. Girl that is." I replied, amused.

"Ahh…and this is the right one?" he surmised.

Before I could reply my phone beeped from my jeans pocket. I crossed to where I had placed them and pulled it out. 1 message. From Bella. I felt a goofy smile overtake my face as I read her words.

Hello my prince, casual works for me. Please tell Alice that what she doesn't know won't hurt her on the footwear front, but I shall abide by her wishes for tonight. Do I get a hint on what the plan is? B

I quickly tapped back my response.

For the record, I don't care what you wear on your feet, just as long as they are covered enough for you to walk with me. As for the plans, my princess, you shall have to wait and see. ;-) E

I sent the message and turned back to face my uncle, who I found watching me with a curious expression on his face.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"You're in love." He stated, rather than asked.

"I am." I confirmed. He smiled widely at me and strode over to give me a quick guy-hug.

"So? Who is she? And when do I get to meet her?" he asked excitedly.

"Whoa, whoa, hold the phone. This is only our first date; give me some time here, yeah?" I said to him with my hand raised in a surrender motion.

"What? How can you know you love her if this is only your first date then?" Marcus almost screeched. Shit, how do I explain this without sounding like a complete wakco? I decided that avoidance would work for now.

"It's a long story, Unc. One that I don't have time for right now. It's 6.15pm and I'm due to pick her up in 45 minutes. Rain check?" I pleaded.

Okay, but I'll hold you to that rain check." Marcus conceded and I let an out quiet sigh of relief.

"Um…Could I have some privacy? I need to get ready." I asked.

"Oh. OH! Yeah, sure. I'll head out. Give me a call tomorrow and we'll get together. I'm in town until the end of the week." He said. I nodded.

I quickly dressed as soon as he left the room and dashed out to the kitchen to grab the cooler, blanket and basket. I checked the time and it said 6.50pm. Perfect. It would only take me a minute to walk out of my building and to her one, next to me. I called out a hurried goodbye to Jasper and Alice as I left, but didn't go into Jasper's room as I heard giggling coming from there. There was no way in which I wanted to see that shit again. Once was enough, trust me.

I caught the elevator down and stepped out into the balmy night. It was a beautiful night tonight and what better way than to spend it than listening to music on the beach with a picnic and the most beautiful girl sat beside me?

I crossed the wide grassed area that separated our buildings and walked into hers. I checked my phone to make sure I had the right address and made sure I looked at the apartment number again. The first time I had seen it I almost laughed at the irony. My apartment was 1309 and hers was 2006. I said almost laughed because after our conversation yesterday, she had told me that her birthday was September 13th and seeing as mine was June 20th, you can see why I thought it was ironic, right? What are the odds, huh? It also didn't escape my notice that her birthday had been last week either. I would need to do something to make it up to her for missing it. Well technically, we hadn't met at that point, but still. I wanted to do something because my stupid analytical brain had calculated that the night of our dream with The Angel had been her 21st birthday.

I made it up to her floor and knocked on the door. I felt the pull as soon as I stepped out of the elevator and as soon as I made it to her door I could feel her emotions too. She was excited and nervous at the same time as being happy. Her emotions matched mine perfectly. The door swung open and I swear I stopped breathing. There stood my angel dressed in a pair of skin tight dark wash jeans and a royal blue halter top. Her hair was loose and hung down her back in waves. She had on very little make up, just some mascara and eyeliner on her eyes, making them look darker, almost as if they were filled with lust and on her lips. Oh God, her lips! She had on clear lip gloss, showing them off to perfection.

I stood and stared at her, my eyes drinking all of her in as if I were a thirsty man lost in the desert and she was my oasis. She was perfection personified. I released a long breath that I didn't know I was holding and stepped forward, taking her hand in mine and bending to kiss it.

"You look…there are no words, angel. I can't…" I stammered. She blushed and looked down to the floor.

"Thank you Edward." She murmured.

"Shall we?" I stepped back before I gave in to the desire to kiss her senseless and held out my arm for her to take.

"We shall." She giggled and I swear my dick twitched in my pants at the sound.

I led her out of her building after a sexually charged elevator ride down from her floor and over to my parking lot.

"Where are you going? Where did you park?" she asked curiously.

"I parked where I always park, angel. In my parking lot." I told her, confused.

"Your parking lot?" she question, one eyebrow cocked.

It occurred to me then that she didn't know where I lived and I laughed.

"Yes, angel, my parking lot. You see, I just so happen to be lucky enough to be your neighbour." I said as I gestured to my building.

She looked from me to my building and back again, her mouth open in an adorable 'O'.

"You live in the building next to mine?" she clarified.

"Yep." I confirmed, popping the 'p'.

"Well, why didn't you tell me, you ass!" she exclaimed, slapping my arm lightly.

"Because it was more necessary for me to know your address right now than it was for you to know mine." I answered, still laughing.

She 'Hrumpd' and pouted. Her pout made me want to kiss her all the more so I distracted myself with sharing another bit of information with her.

"So, you're apartment 2006?" I said, clearing my throat. She looked at me confused and I could feel her confusion too.

"Uh..Yeah, isn't that where you just picked me up from Einstein?" she returned. I chuckled.

"It just so happens that my birthday is June 20th." I explained.

I felt her surprise and then mirth through our bond before she actually burst out laughing. I joined her. Her laugh was really an amazing sound, light and airy, yet with a hint of sexiness; just like her voice.

"What are the odds?" she gasped out through her laughs.

"I thought the same thing!" I managed.

We continued to laugh as I opened her door for her. I climbed into the driver side not seconds later, not wanting to be apart from her for too long.

"My apartment is 1309." I said quietly.

This time all I felt was surprise and awe; no mirth. I peeked at her out of the corner of my eye as I pulled my car out of the lot and headed to the beach.


A/N - First date...Sorry it had to be split into two chapters but this was getting to be too long! Next update: Tomorrow! (Friday 2nd Nov)

As always, R&R!