I want to say thank you to all y'all who reviewed last chapter: absolutehottie88, cali-beach-babe, chelsea, grullo-cowgirl, Jmacsgurl15, kandykane33, and steviebrockluvr90. Thank you all very much.

Chapter Two

Bradin shrugged off his jacket and threw it across the back of the couch as he wandered into his apartment. The sand colored coat slid off the black leather couch and landed silently on the hardwood floor. Bradin glanced at the fallen jacket before making his way into the kitchen.

A pile of mail sat on the kitchen counter, the envelopes a stark white against the deep jade green tiles. He'd been ignoring the growing pile for two weeks, too busy to bother with it. It was all junk anyway. He headed for the fridge and grabbed a beer out of the door. Opening it, he chugged down half the bottle.

Being a doctor had been a dream of his since high school. But it wasn't without its ups and downs. Sure he made a lot of money and was able to afford a nice apartment. But it was too hard on him when someone died.

Bradin never had been one who could deal with death easily. When his parents died he hadn't really had time to mourn. He'd had to become the comforter to his brother and sister, and had to put his own sadness on hold so that he could help them cope with theirs. Still, even after his parents had been dead for almost eleven years, Bradin still hadn't been able to sufficiently mourn their passing. Death was a sore subject for him. He didn't want to deal with it. Instead, he simply wanted it to go away. Much like Anakin Skywalker- one of Bradin's favorite movie characters- Bradin wanted to find a way to remove death from the world. So, when a patient died, Bradin took it hard. He acted as if it were his own fault, his own short-giving's that had caused that one person to lose their life.

Finishing his beer, Bradin pulled another from the fridge and sat down at the counter. He didn't want to do anything but sit there and mope over the loss of yet another patient.

The mail sat there in front of him, looking bleak and boring. With a sigh Bradin reached for the top envelope. Boring was something that he needed right about then. As the envelopes were opened he would toss them into differing piles- trash, bills, letters and cards- until only one envelope remained. This one had the Playa Linda High insignia on it and Bradin couldn't help but wonder what they were asking money for this time. But it wasn't a solicitation, at least not this time. No, it was an invitation to a reunion for his graduating class.

Definitely boring, Bradin thought as he read the invitation. Then again, it could be a chance to see what everyone else is up to.

He bit his lip as he considered the possibility of going. It would be nice to see his old teammates again, see if any of them were still on the circuit or if they had gone on and gotten jobs and become "respectable citizens." He placed the card in its own separate pile and grabbed another beer.

>>>>>

The knock came at exactly seven o'clock. Edie smiled as she opened the door; Alex always had been very punctual. This night was no exception.

He stood at the door, dressed in a designer suit, his hair casually spiked, his blue eyes reflecting the smile on his bow shaped mouth. A bouquet of white daisies and miniature sunflowers- her favorites- was clasped in his hand.

"Wow," he breathed, looking Edie up and down, "you look amazing."

Edie blushed and ran a hand over the non-existent wrinkles in her sapphire dress. No matter how many times Alex complimented her, Edie always blushed. She never had been able to get used to compliments after so many years of ridicule.

"These are for you." He held out the flowers. Edie's smile widened as she breathed in the flowers' fresh scent.

"Thank you." She said, leaning in to kiss him. The stubble on his chiseled jaw tickled her skin as their mouths and tongues moved in a hypnotic dance.

"Do you want to come in?" Edie asked, coyly, playing with Alex's tie. He bit his lip in the cute way that drove her wild.

"I would, but then we'd never get to dinner." He replied, meeting her suggestive stare with one of his own.

"You know me too well." Edie chuckled. "Let me just put these in water and grab my coat and then we can go."

>>>>>

The small, out-of-the-way Italian restaurant was one that the couple frequented often. It was a place untouched by LA's posh, low-carb, nothing but soy foolishness. Instead, it was a quiet restaurant lit by candles and dim chandeliers. The tables were small and set far apart, allowing for intimate conversations between couples. The food there was delicious, and the service fantastic.

Alex pulled Edie's chair out for her. She smiled at him gratefully as she sat. Their waiter soon appeared and to take their drink orders and hand them the dinner menus. As the waiter poured their wine, Edie glanced over the menu, though she already knew what she was going to have.

"So," Alex reached across the table and gripped her hand, his thumb running over her skin softly. "How was your day?"

"Long." Edie sighed. "I swear, if one more client says that they want to change the ad just as we're about to launch the campaign I am going to strangle somebody."

Alex's fingers tightened around her own in a show of sympathy.

"No you won't," he shook his head and smiled, "you're too nice to commit murder."

Edie laughed. She couldn't help it. Alex always had a way of making her see that things would get better. It was like he had some sort of magical powers or something. The superhuman ability to make everything okay again. Edie loved him for that. She loved him for everything about him: his smile, his kindness, his laugh, everything. She didn't know what she would do without him. He had been the first to see beyond physical appearance and straight into her soul. And that was what had first made Edie fall for him.

"I love you so much." She said quietly, staring straight into his beautiful eyes.

"Yeah I know." He leaned back in his chair, acting as if girls declaring their love for him happened everyday. Edie slipped her hand from his and slapped his arm playfully.

"You're such an idiot." She laughed.

"An idiot in love." Alex suddenly turned very serious, his eyes boring into Edie's. He leaned across the table and kissed her soundly on the lips. Edie could feel her cheeks burn hot with embarrassment. She never had been one for being affectionate in public.

"Edie," he took her hand once more, "I want to ask you something and I don't want you to answer until you've thought it over."

Oh god, her eyes widened as she watched Alex to get his feet and then kneel in front of her. Oh god, oh god, oh god!

"Edie, when I first met you, you were a geeky looking freshman. And I fell in love with you instantly. Ever since we met you have done nothing but reveal yourself to be a smart, funny, and caring woman who has so much to offer. Over the years you have blossomed into a beautiful woman whose appearance now matches her soul. I don't know why it was me that you chose to give your love to. But I know damn well that I would be a fool not to take that love and hide it away so that no other can steal it. I know that you hate flowery speeches, and that you are probably thinking of killing me right now for doing this in public. But I love you, Edie, and I want you to be my wife. And I don't give a damn whose around to witness this."

Alex reached into his pocket and drew out a small black box. Lifting the top, he held out a beautiful silver ring to Edie.

"Edie Branwell, will you marry me?"

All through his speech, Edie's eyes had been burning with tears that flowed slowly down her cheeks. She placed a trembling hand over her mouth in astonishment as she stared at Alex. His eyes were so hopeful, so full of love. She drew in a shaky breath before throwing herself into his arms and kissing him wildly.

"Yes," she whispered in his ear, "of course I will."

Alex let out a loud whoop and picked Edie up, spinning her around excitedly. As her feet touched back down on the ground, Alex placed the engagement ring on her finger.

"There," he said, looking down at the ring, "now everyone knows just how much I love you."

Smiling like a fool, Edie kissed her fiancé.

>>>>>

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