After dropping Bella off, Edward spends the rest of the afternoon mindlessly re-stocking and organizing. It's Saturday, so the rink has been filled with a decent sized crowd. Several people recognize and greet him, but for the most part he's content to remain silent with his thoughts.

As is usual these days, he thinks the most about Bella. He can't help but be excited about their potential future. Nothing is certain, especially not with someone in her situation. He knows this. But he also knows that what he's feeling isn't being felt alone and he can't help but be hopeful that they're getting there.

Up until last night, he wasn't sure they ever would. Though he may not show it, Bella brings out a lot of insecurity. Questions of his patience, strength and maturity are suddenly important to examine, and he constantly works to be the best he can be.

She isn't perfect, far from it- but he hopes that the more he shares with her, the more she'll understand that he isn't either. No one is.

But he remains hopeful and is content in that he is trying to have perfect acceptance of an imperfect person.

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It's near closing time- almost midnight. Edward hates this part, having to make rounds and kick people out. Most nights, the task isn't too difficult but sometimes...it is.

Edward soon realizes tonight may be one of those nights.

He notices his grandfather gesticulating at a group of guys as they laugh and taunt. The same group that had been acting rowdy since they entered the rink. Beside the usual antics - chasing girls, being loud and body slamming one another - Emesto also suspected some more nefarious business, he just didn't have the proof. He was nothing if not fair, so he kept a close eye but left them alone.

Edward walks over, irritated.

Five pairs of eyes follow his movements as he approaches, but it's the stormy grey ones that confuse him the most. He looks a bit older than the rest, and it shows in the way the other's look to him every so often. He calls the shots. Those eyes hold something deeper than annoyance - it feels like they're burning through him. Edward doesn't like it-at all. Instantly, he's tense.

Edward's brows furrow as he glares right back, before sweeping over the rest of the group. Among them he notices the kid Bella spoke to at the party. His name started with a J.

Jake, maybe? He'd asked Bella about him as they left the party. She seemed fond of him, but wary all the same. She'd explained how he was like her in many ways, but just didn't have the support system she did. He was a street kid through and through, she'd explained, but also one of the sweetest guys she knows.

Edward believed her, but briefly couldn't help but wonder - was her judgement clouded when it came to her past group of friends? After all - how sweet could he be if he was giving an old man a hard time?

"Alright, guys. We're closing." Edward says, his tone exasperated. He decides to try the nice route.

"Ah, come on. We were just fuckin' around. Right, gramps?" Jake says, lightly patting Emesto on the shoulder. He's clearly not sober and Emesto is clearly annoyed by the fact. "We're about to head out."

"I don't know...I kinda wanna chill a little more. Kick it with gramps and his grandson." Says grey eyes, nodding towards Edward.

He doesn't like the way he says grandson.

"Listen. No trouble, you just can't be here." Edward steps in front of his grandfather, instinctively wanting to protect him. His voice is harder this time.

"Trouble..." Grey eyes chuckles darkly. His smirk is borderline sinister before saying, "Seems to me you like trouble. Looking for it."

What does that mean? Edward's confused gazed sweeps across the group again. The other's are tense.

"Do I know you?" Edward asks, tired of this back and forth. Grey eyes stands so that the two are almost chest to chest.

"You probably should -" he starts.

This kind of heat can only stem from some kind of dislike - or maybe the guy's a hot headed psycho. Edward thinks it's a bit of both. Whatever the case is, it's obvious he knows Edward. But how?

Mentally, Edward prepares for an altercation. Though he isn't a naturally violent person, he isn't afraid to fight. He's done it before and he gets the feeling that it's what this guy-grey eyes- is looking for.

Before Edward can reply, Jake finally steps in, his hand on Riley's chest.

"C'mon, bro. Not like this."

Grey eyes looks over a Jake, his chest heaving looking like he's going to punch him instead. But, much to Edward's surprise, he chuckles darkly, shaking his head as he looks down.

"Whatever, man." he says, shoving Jake away from him before turning sharply to walk away from the group. The rest follow, some jogging to hold the door open ahead of him like some king. Who the fuck is this guy?

Halfway to the exit, he turns again looking directly at Edward.

"Ask Bella 'bout me! Biers!" He shouts, chuckling, before heading out the back exit.

Edward stiffens as understanding washes over him like a flood - fast and unforgiving.

So, this is Riley.

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The confrontation leaves Edward uneasy, prompting questions from his grandfather: Who is that? Why'd he mention Bella? Blah, Blah, Blah.

Edward has some questions himself. How does Riley know about him? Has he actually been in contact with Bella this whole time? What was his end goal?

He was tempted to call Bella, maybe even visit her but the time - midnight - had him reconsidering. They had been texting sporadically throughout the day but the conversation had ended when Bella decided to nap and let Edward work.

He prepared to leave in a daze. After cleaning up, organizing and shutting down - he walks out after his Emesto, who looks at his grandson's blank face with worry. Always the doting grandparent - he walks Edward to his car, murmuring words of wisdom in his ear. He knows that once his grandson is upset, it can take him a while to get over it. He tells him things like, Be careful, don't be a hothead, they were just high...

His words stop abruptly as the two make it to Edward's car. It's clear from where they stand that something is off, and once they're close enough, they can see that his tires have been slashed, and a rock haphazardly thrown at his passenger side car door, leaving a small dent. They could have done much worse- but the message is clear.

This confirms Edward's suspicions - tonight wasn't random. Somehow - Riley knew who Edward was, where he worked and what his car looked like.

Riley had been watching him or having him watched - it was the only thing that made sense.

Bella and Edward had really only glazed over her past relationship, the implications clear - it was toxic and unhealthy and at its core - just two lost people who wanted to find...something.

But when Bella had decided that she hadn't found what she was looking for in Riley, he was furious. He liked control and was possessive by nature. He hated the fact that Bella had seemingly taken some power back - ignoring and avoiding him. In his mind - they weren't over until he said so.

It was definitely concerning Edward, having a person go to such great lengths. So deep in his head, he almost forgets that he has to explain to his grandfather. Once he's recovered from his shock, Emesto was shouting away in Italian. Edward barely hears, as his mind was only focused on one thing:

If Riley had enough balls to do this, what could he have planned for Bella?


Happy Friday! Short, but important update. Leave me a thought if you're inclined- i read them all :)