A/N: Thanks for the reviews, guys! I was glad to hear you didn't mind the OCs =u=

Disclaimer: Twilight is not mine!

Chapter 13

Edward ended up going to the restaurant he'd mentioned, and I found myself staring at him more than usual. If he noticed it, he didn't mention it.

"So do you do this often?" he asked, reaching across the table for something before hesitating and pulling his hand back.

"Do what?" I asked, then picked the salt up and offered it to him. "Want this?"

"No, it's alright," he smiled. I shrugged and set it down. "I mean, do you go to the park to play with children often?"

"I told you, I'm not a child person. I don't even go to the park like that," I replied, sipping my orange juice.

"So why'd you go today?"

"Woke up early and got bored out of my mind," I said, "That's what I get for going to bed so early yesterday."

"Ah, come on, you must've gone to sleep at what, one a.m.? Two? That's not that early," he argued.

"On a Friday night? It is for me."

"Oh, so you're the partying type," he chuckled. "I used to be like that, too."

I remembered what little I knew about Edward's past, about his mother abandoning him when he was 15 and about Emmett and Rosalie looking after him. "Back when you were going through 'hard times'?" I quoted him.

He laughed, if a little self-depreciatingly. "Yeah. My teen years were kind of bumpy, you could say."

"And now look where you are."

"Yeah," he sighed, smiling. "Look where I am."

We were just starting to fall into that silence that sometimes happened with us when he spoke again, his tone cheerful. "So, Bella, since we couldn't go out properly yesterday, want to do something today?"

"Um, I have somewhere I have to be at five," I said.

"Oh, that's right, you did say that. Isn't that kind of early for a date, though?" he said, smirking devilishly.

"I'm not going on a date!" I protested, shuddering at the thought of dating the ex-secretary Martha.

"In that case, can I come with you?"

"Of course not!" I said immediately, and his smile faltered a little. Feeling a little guilty, I sighed. "I'm sorry. I have… an appointment… with my… gynecologist," I lied.

"Oh. Oh!" he laughed and scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed. "Of course. It would be weird if I went with you, then, right? Sorry for pushing."

"It's alright," I said, giving a mental sigh of relief.

"When're you getting out?"

"You sure are persistent, aren't you?" I gave an annoyed chuckle that I hoped he interpreted as a nervous one. He shrugged and nodded with a smile. "I was planning on going out tonight to make up for yesterday… If you want to come… I don't mind."

"Okay," he agreed immediately.

Although that would mean that I'd have to forsake my usual escapades.

"…Where? What time?" he continued.

Damn, what didn't I do for this stupid job? Another perfectly good night wasted…

"Bella?"

Unless…

"Hey, are you listening?"

I was brought back from my reverie when Edward reached across the table and shook my arm lightly. I looked up at him and saw his frown.

"Oh. Sorry. Yes, um… How about you call Emmett, too? I bet he doesn't go out much," I suggested, remembering how the older man looked at Edward. He'd make him company in case I suddenly disappeared in the club.

"Ah, Emmett. Yeah, sure… I'll give him a call." Edward seemed like he wanted to say something else, but he just looked down at the empty plate that had been filled with food.

I was acutely aware of how slutty I sounded — even to myself — planning on how I'd ditch a perfectly nice guy to go off with some stranger, but there was nothing I could do about it. If Edward offered to be my "stranger", I'd probably accept, even though it'd be inappropriate in so many levels. However, I didn't think that'd be happening any time soon.

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I gave myself a mental slap. Edward was not "a perfectly nice guy," but rather a "seemingly perfectly nice guy who really doesn't give a shit about anyone else besides himself." He was not perfect, and he would never be another stranger to me. He was off-limits.

That didn't stop me from wanting him to be, though.

"You done eating? Can we go?" I asked.

Edward nodded, taking a few bills from his wallet and leaving them on the table before standing up. I raised an eyebrow at the large tip he was leaving, but stood up after him. He held the door open for me and I stepped outside.

"Well, I still have time until I have to leave for my appointment," I said, "Want to go back to the park?"

"Yeah." He retrieved his BMX bicycle and mounted it. "Want a ride?"

"Uh, I don't think it's… made for two people," I said, eyeing the its beaten down state.

"So what?" he grinned, "I'll even let you have the seat. I don't need it." He leaned back so he was standing on the pedals instead of sitting down on the seat. "I bet you've never done anything like this before. Come on," he motioned me closer with an arm.

"Ah, what the hell," I mounted the bike, sitting down on the seat in front of Edward. I grabbed the inside part of the handlebars just as he reached around me for them, and just like that, he took off.

I couldn't help but tense as we flew down the street. My hair whipped around me as Edward expertly maneuvered the bike, occasionally dodging passersby and other obstacles. I heard him laugh contentedly behind me as he alternated between pushing against the pedals and leaning forward until he was almost towering over me. I tilted my head back as much as I dared and my breath caught at what I saw.

Edward was no doubt one of the most beautiful men I'd ever seen, but at that moment, with the little sun that streamed in from between the tall buildings of New York shining brightly on his face and almost reflecting off his impossibly green eyes, he was no doubt the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. Cheesy metaphors aside, he looked years younger, like a kid unwrapping a huge Christmas gift.

"Amazing, isn't it?" he called, not slowing down or taking his eyes off the route. We broke free from the buildings and reached the edge of the park, but he didn't stop, just turned so we were riding round the park on the bike path.

I wanted to say something, wanted to agree, wanted to say he was amazing,but my mouth wouldn't move from it's agape state. My stomach clenched uncomfortably and I suddenly felt sick.

The first word that came from my mouth was a very desperate, "STOP!"

The bike immediately came to a halt and I was shoved forward with the suddenness of it. The bike swerved to the left sharply and went crashing down. We hit the ground, and I pushed away from arms that had cushioned my fall to crawl away and barely make it in time to puke out the contents of my recent meal onto the grass. My heaving only worsened when I felt warm hands gently pull my hair back from my face.

"Are you okay?" I heard him, but I couldn't respond. Couldn't turn to face him. I just remained on my hands and knees, eyes squeezed shut.

"Is she okay?" I heard a female voice ask from somewhere off to the side.

"Yeah… Just a little motion sickness, I think. Thanks," Edward replied.

"Here, have this. It'll make her feel better," the lady said. A moment later, a cool bottle of mineral bottle was pressed to the side of my face. I sat back and gratefully took it from Edward's hand, sipping it carefully in case my stomach protested again.

I drank as much as I dared before recapping the bottle with shaky hands and handing it back to Edward without looking up. I heard him thank the lady, but she told him I could keep the bottle.

"Are you okay? You should get that checked," the lady said. I jerked back and finally looked at Edward.

While I only had a scrapped palm to attest to our fall, Edward had obviously taken most of the blow when he'd cushioned my fall earlier. There was blood oozing all the way from his left cheek to underneath his hair, where his copper strands were matted and darkened with more blood.

"Oh fucking shit," I gasped, my hands flying to his shoulders. "Edward! You're bleeding!"

"I'm sorry."

"Your head is bleeding!" I repeated.

"It's my fault. Are you okay?"

"Who cares about me? You have to go to the hospital!"

"You really should. Take care of him, young lady. And be more careful next time, kids," the lady who had helped us said, but I didn't look away from Edward as I heard her ride off.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I got excited, wanted to show off, and ended up making you sick. I'm such an idiot. I'm so sorry," Edward's hand clutched the left side of his chest as he panted his apology. He looked awfully pale.

"Edward, we're going to the hospital. Right now. Come on," I stood up and pulled him up when he hesitated.

"No—wait," he protested, still panting, and lay his free hand against the trunk of a tree while the other still clutched at his chest. "Give… me—" He suddenly moved behind the tree and out of my sight.

O-kay. Just how hard had he hit his head? I frowned concernedly and went around to see what had happened to him, and found Edward shoving something into his pocket and gulping down the water the lady had given me.

"Edward? You okay?"

"Yes, I—sorry. Wait… please."

I observed as his breathing eventually slowed down his grip on his shirt slacked. After a few moments, he finally looked up at with with an apologetic smile.

"What was that?" I asked. He shrugged. "Panic attack?"

"Something like that," he spoke after a moment. "I'd better get going now, my head kind of hurts."

I was silent as he pushed away from the tree and approached me. "Yeah. Let's get you to the hospital," I finally agreed.

"You should stay. You have somewhere to be, right? Who knows how long this'll take?" he said, pointing to his bloody left temple. "And don't worry, I won't be riding my bike there."

I nodded carefully, eyeing his wound. "Are you really okay, Edward?"

"Yeah. Just a little cut, that's all. Brought it upon myself." His tone suddenly sobered and he reached to stroke the side of my face with the back of his fingers. I tensed, then relaxed, letting myself just feel his gentle touch. "I'm sorry."

I shook my head. "It's not your fault I'm a wuss."

He smiled and moved away, uprighting his bike. "Argh, what am I supposed to do with you now?"

"I can watch over it," I offered. He looked up curiously. "I can take it to my meeting and keep an eye on it for you, if you want. You can come get it when you're back."

"I think I'll take you up on that offer," he laughed a little. "Thank you, Bella."

"No problem. Now get yourself to the ER already."

After parted ways when Edward got into a cab, I rolled his bike towards my meeting place with Martha. I'd initially planned on going back to my apartment before meeting with her, but there was no way I could do that now with Edward's bike.

I didn't regret it, though. It was the least I could do for him after the little accident I'd just caused. Thinking about it made me feel a little sick again, so I just pushed those thoughts aside.

I tried walking as slowly as I could to the Rockefeller Center, but it wasn't very far, so it didn't take as long as I'd hoped it did. I still had quite some time before I had to meet Martha, so I stopped and had a burger to fill my once again empty stomach.

Charles Masen's ex-secretary arrived at our meeting place at 5 o'clock on the dot, and I knew that because I recognized her immediately. I was idly sitting down on a bench, holding Edward's bike upright, when I saw a prim, middle-aged lady, stop and look around. I stood up and approached her carefully.

"Excuse me, ma'am, are you Martha Summers?"

"Yes." She raised her eyebrows and took in my unkempt state. "Don't tell me you're that journalist?"

"Yes, Isabella Swan. It's nice to finally meet you," I greeted, extending my hand politely. She looked down at it dismissively, not even trying to hide her aversion to the throughout of shaking my hand. I dropped it to my side. "Would you like to sit down somewhere so we can talk properly, Mrs. Summers?"

"Hmph. I don't know how worthy of my while this will turn out to be, but that is fine. This way, Ms. Swan."

She turned her back on me and started walking off, I followed her. I was throwing mental daggers at her exposed back when Martha suddenly stopped and turned around.

"And I suggested you get rid of that… thing. They are not admitted inside where we are headed."

"Oh, that's quite alright, thank you for the warning."

She huffed and resumed walking. I merely rolled my eyes as I followed behind, hoping no one noticed I was walking with the old hag.

A/N: Just a reminder — reviews are really, really appreciated~