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And special thanks to Kimberly Ann T, VC-Girl, Capricorn75, and Ajasper Forme! These ladies keep me sane and help me make sense!

= 21 =

A lot of it just has to do with luck, serendipity.
—Emanuel Ax

As soon as I'm in the building, I sprint through the lobby with one plan in mind: get on the elevator and inside the condo as fast as possible. Thoughts of me hiding in the closet with a knife in my hand flash through my mind, but I decide to worry about phase two once I'm safely inside.

There are people—staff and residents—hanging around the lobby, but I barely spare them a hello. I sure as hell don't pay attention to their looks of confusion either. Yeah, running through here like a bat of hell might be a shock to them, but they're the ones hanging out in the lobby at damn near three o'clock in the morning. Therefore, they're hardly in any position to judge me.

The elevator ride is the longest it's ever been, and not just because of the horrendous music or the stale stench of ammonia and other cleaning products I've never noticed before. It's, of course, because I'm panicking.

When the bell dings signaling I've reached our floor, my ass is bolting down the hall before the elevator doors fully open. Still panicking, I fumble with the keys and almost slam myself into the door trying to get it open. Right now, I'm that annoying chick in the scary movies the killer sticks his hooks in on the front steps because she's taking too long.

Fuck! That has got to be the worst possible thing to be thinking of right now.

"Come on, come on … yes!" I cheer when the key finally turns in the lock.

The small amount of running and panicking I've done is making me sweat like a pig and once I'm finally through the door, I rip my t-shirt off and call out for Edward. I hope my standing in just a bra doesn't confuse him into thinking we're getting ready to jump into sexy times, though. Ain't nobody got time for that.

"Edward!" I call out for him again while double checking the locks. More silence makes me nervous, and after seeing he's not in any of the rooms, I try not to panic.

And at that I fail.

When I send him a text and two minutes pass without an answer, and then I call and he doesn't pick up—I'm damn near close to hyperventilating.

All I can think about is Leah hanging around outside and … I jump when my phone buzzes in my hand, Edward's ringtone chiming along with it.

"Baby, where are you?"

There's a beat of silence. "What's wrong?"

"Are you almost home?" He reluctantly tells me he was down the street but decided he was hungry and turned back around to grab something to eat. "No! There's no time!"

"Sweetheart, what—"

"I'm not sure yet. But I need you here as soon as possible. I think I figured something out and I'm scared as hell. Come home. Don't stop to collect two hundred, just pass go and get here. This is not a drill, do you hear me?"

I'm shocked when he doesn't protest or ask me to clarify what the hell I'm talking about. I have no idea.

All I can do now is pace and wait while trying to make sense of what I'm thinking. Of course there's the chance I'm making more out of things than what's here but—call it a gut feeling—this time it just fits.

Leah.

Of course.

The constant up and down attitude toward me; her annoyance with anything involving Edward. Her seeming to always be at the wrong place at the right times … wait …

Edward! That's it!

Suddenly a thought dawns on me that isn't really disgusting, in theory, but still elicits my gag reflex. More running ensues as I make a mad dash to the bathroom, quickly becoming one with the porcelain throne.

Edward and Leah.

"Oh God," I groan, dry heaving now.

Before my time, I know for a fact Edward had ... let's call them indiscretions with a few girls that worked at the club. In his exact words, he said, "I was never a ho about it. But over the past ten years, I can't lie and say I never indulged an offer."

Thankfully, none of those girls work there now and I've made a point to tell him to never have me in a room with someone he slept with in the past. I know I technically can't be jealous since they happened before we knew each other existed, but I'd rather not have to mix and mingle with them. Ever.

Now to think there's a chance he and Leah had something going on once upon a time, I can't figure out if I'd be more embarrassed she'd spent months laughing and smiling in my face or livid that he never told me. But then again, if that's the case—if something happened between them—why wouldn't he have told me? Leah's only been working at the club about two years now, that's hardly enough time to flat out forget something like that. Plus she'd probably have said something by now—a little jab about how she had him first, right?

Maybe nothing happened then.

Maybe she liked him, he turned her down, and was no doubt, a dick about it. Now she ... what? Wants to scare me away from him? That doesn't seem like it makes much sense, but that's how far my conspiracy theory goes.

I got nothing else.

And of course there's the option this isn't about Edward at all.

With a few deep breaths, I summon the energy to get up off the floor, wash my face, rinse my mouth and head to the couch just in time to hear Edward's keys turning in the door.

I try and smile at him but he sees right through it and is immediately at my side, helping me sit down. "What's wrong?"

Through a ragged breath, all I manage to get out is, "Leah."

"Alright?"

"Leah … did you ever—did you guys?"

"Did we ever what?" He pinches my chin, forcing eye contact, but I clench my eyes shut, trying to gather my nerve.

"Were you and Leah ever … you know? Did something ever happen with you two?"

"Sweetheart, open your eyes and look at me."

I can only open one, then gasp and open both when I notice a bruise on his left cheek.

"Edward!"

"It's fine."

"What happened?"

"Carlos thinks he's a tough guy." He chuckles, but it's dry and I hear the hurt behind it. "How long have you been home?"

I have no idea, so I guess. "Ten or fifteen minutes, maybe—why?"

"I must have just missed you then."

"Did you go by the club? Tell me what happened."

"Yeah, I did and when I pulled up, Carlos was there even though he knows he's not supposed to be coming around. Ever since he got in trouble, Carlisle told him to keep his drama elsewhere. I told him to leave—he wasn't happy."

"And what happened? You exchanged words and he hit you?"

"Pretty much."

That's kinda fucked up. I remember how sweet he seemed when I first met him. Somewhat slick—like my mom would say—but to treat Edward like that? Because all the trouble he's been in. "Wow."

"Yeah," he breathes. "It's a fucking mess, but he's about to get brought down a few notches. I tried to help him—warn him even, but he won't listen and now I can't bring myself to give a shit. He needs to learn a lesson. He needs to learn some fucking respect, you know?"

"Right." That's always a good answer in the face of not knowing what the hell someone is talking about.

"So." He looks at me expectantly, but now he's annoyed and hesitant looking as well. "Now, what the fuck is this about me and Leah?"

"Yeaaaaahhh."

As best as I can, I explain my thoughts to him about Leah being the weirdo, since for some reason it doesn't feel right calling her a 'stalker'.

"The flowers—the roses? They didn't show up until the day after she dropped me off at home that first night after my car got messed up. And think about how she just happened to be there. I mean, you were there, too. But …" I shake my head to clear away the thought. We've already crossed that bridge. "And then the letter! She's the one who gave it to me. Then after the fire, she kept trying to get me to stay at her house. I thought she was just being nice at first. But …"

Rambling on, I mention her constant mood changes anytime I talked to certain people at the club, how she seemed to detest Edward for no reason and so on and so forth. It all makes sense while at the same time not making sense at all. But like I said, it just fits.

Edward sits listening on intently, humming and nodding and throwing out a couple 'son of a bitch'es when appropriate. Then to my utter shock, when all is said and done, do you know what the motherfucker says to me?

"It can't be Leah, though."

"Say what now?"

"At most, we've exchanged ten words to each other. Why would she have an issue with you about me? Nah," he waves a hand in the air, "can't be."

I narrow my eyes at him. Granted, I thought the same thing at first, but even without a valid reason, everything still fits. And I find myself suddenly hurt and slightly enraged that he's dismissing me.

"And let's assume this isn't about you then. Let's assume not all the women in the world are ready to throw themselves at your feet. Even if that's not the reason, doesn't it make sense it might be Leah? Doesn't it make sense we've missed it because we've spent the whole time thinking it was a guy? Think about that, Edward!"

His eyes bug out at my rant and near breakdown and I drop my head in my hands and start sobbing.

"Baby, what the hell is wrong?" Despite his harsh tone, he pulls me into his arms, awkwardly patting my back. "Talk to me."

"I don't know!" I wail. "I don't even know why I'm crying."

"All right, okay," he chuckles and stands us up. "Shh … stop crying. Were you about to take a bath?"

"A bath?" I lean back to look at him and hiccup.

"Yeah, you're not wearing a shirt and you were coming out of the bathroom when I walked in."

"Oh." Another hiccup. "I just … I wasn't feeling good. I got sick."

"YOU THREW UP?"

"Yeah, what the hell?" I jump back. "Why are you screaming?"

"Why didn't you tell me you're throwing up now?"

"I just did."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you throwing up, Bella?"

Embarrassed, I look away and mumble, "The thought of you and Leah, might have … well—repulsed me?"

"The thought … of me and Leah …. repulsed you? That's the excuse you're gonna give me."

I don't get it. "That's what happened."

"And there's no other reason you can think of?"

"I wasn't drinking or anything if that's what you're asking me," I say—jutting my chin out. Edward clearly doesn't care if I drink, but the two times I've overdone it since we've been together and suffered catastrophic hangovers the next day weren't pretty.

In simple terms—he was an ass about it. That was our second biggest fight next to the car debacle that I've since tried to put out of my mind.

There's a brief standoff where his glaring eyes face off against my confused ones as if he's searching for something, waiting for something. Then with a huff, his shoulders sag and he reaches out to me. "Come on. If you're feeling better, I think I want to help you with that bath."

Bath time doesn't turn into sexy times, and with my emotions being up and down tonight, I don't necessarily consider that a bad thing.

Despite my nerves, I sleep like the dead and only wake up when I feel Edward's arms snaking around my waist.

Smiling, I turn over in his arms and can't hold in the giggle when I notice he's still breathing heavily and sleeping.

Aww … my little sleep groper.

With a slight shift of my leg, I hitch my thigh over his hips and press my mouth to the skin right underneath his jaw. Then, because I can't help myself, I dart my tongue out to lick it.

"Did you just lick my jaw?" His voice comes out raspy, thick with sleep, and sexy as hell.

My body responds immediately, I feel myself getting wet so I do it again and say, "Yup, sure did." Then for good measure graze his skin with my teeth. His throaty chuckle spurs me on to run my nails down his chest, but I'm deflated when he grabs my hands, kisses my palm then places it flat on the bed.

"How are you feeling?" He sits up, stretching his arms over his head. And I swear I try not to take the subtle rejection personally, but I do.

I clear my throat and turn over on the bed, doing my best to avoid making any form of eye contact with him. "I'm fine."

He laughs, I know he doesn't believe me but he continues on anyway. "What are your plans today?"

"I don't know." I shrug, still refusing to look at him. "Why?"

"I was gonna suggest you finally get that massage you've been putting off."

Massage? "Oh! My gift certificate. Babe, I've completely forgotten about that."

"I'm not surprised," he mumbles, but I can tell I wasn't supposed to hear that so I let it go.

A few hours, a not so subtle rejection, two separate showers, and a quiet breakfast later, Edward and I part ways to go about our day.

I try to be hyperaware of everything around me—you know, look for things that are out of the ordinary, but nothing seems amiss. Still, on my way to the spa, I decide to give Alice and Rose a call to see if they'd like to join me, my treat if need be, because I don't really want to be driving around alone.

Alice is a flop because she's not even around and spending all her money at Sawgrass. She's always at some mall, so I'm not even surprised.

Rose is still lounging around in bed, but says for me to call her when I'm done. She wants to meet up for lunch because she wants to talk to me about something.

"I can go for some sushi," I offer.

She shuts that down quickly, almost panicked like, but tries to cover it up by saying she'd rather go for something else—like a juicy burger.

"Okay. So give me an hour or so, I'll call you when I get out."

"OK, love you."

"Love you too, Rose."

Finding parking, mid-day near Collins Avenue always drives me crazy, so I don't bother driving around and head straight for one of the garages.

When I walk in, the small spa looks nice, with white and light blue walls. It automatically gives off a comforting vibe and I feel at ease.

"Hi, I'm Bella. I called this morning?"

The perky redhead behind the counter smiles a friendly smile and leads me to the back, where for the next hour, I fall into a relaxed induced coma.

Slightly hazy, I make my way back to the garage and decide to call Edward before calling Rose. He was spot on in suggesting me to come here today and I hope he's not hurt that I'd forgotten about it. He never did explain what his 'I'm not surprised' comment was about.

"Hey sweetheart, everything okay?"

"Yeah." I smile, figuring he must have been waiting for my call. He picked up on the first ring. "I just finished my massage and it was so good I almost fell asleep."

"Good." He chuckles. "That's good. I can't stay, but—"

"No, no it's fine. I was just calling to call. I'll see you at home later? Much later though because I'm gonna go hang out with Rose and try to convince her to meet up with Alice."

"Sounds like fun. Be safe."

With a parting 'I love you', I click end on the call and start dialing Rose once I reach my car.

But I stop and my spine stiffens when I see it tilted to the side. I know without looking that someone slashed my tire.

Fuck, not again.

I whip around, ready to run out of the garage but end up colliding with something—no someone.

"Hey, Mami."

I gasp. "Carlos?"

*Ducks*

Next chap is already complete and with the girls, so the wait for the next update won't be too long. Thank you all for your patience. We have about 2 chaps then an Epi left.

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Until Next Time

~Lo

P.S. I'm working on an outtake, a Lucky EPOV, to donate to the Fandom4animals compilation. ;-)