Chapter 9

"Bella, Mike said he'd meet you at the Student Union in ten. Aw, shoot, I'm late," Angie yelled over her shoulder as she pulled open the door.

I waved her off saying, "I'm out the door in a minute, Ang." I smiled as her footfalls were heard speed-walking down the hall.

It had been an excellent first year at the University of Washington. Mike, Ben, Angie and I were at U-Dub together. I was thankful to have friends with me. Eric, our class valedictorian, made it to Yale on scholarship. Our little group lived vicariously through his adventures further out into the world. We all greedily shared texts and updates from him.

Smiling, I ended my email to Uncle Charlie and Aunt Renee and closed my laptop. I stood and looked out my second story window at the quad below.

He stood below my window in the morning light, a stranger but so heart-known.

I smiled brightly, pushed it open, and leaned out.

"Hey, Starboy," I yelled.

He started and looked around before looking up. Smiling brightly, he waved.

"You stay where you are. I'm coming down." I said.

I pulled my head in from the window and raced down the stairs, bursting out the front doors.

The sidewalk was empty.

"Damn, I hate when he does that!" I panted.

"Over here, Bella," he called.

I looked around to find him at the edge of the jogging path.

I sighed with relief and walked over to where he stood.

Exasperated, I gave him a smack on the arm.

He froze as his smile slipped.

"Are you angry with me?" he asked with alarm.

I stopped walking and looked at the genuine concern on his face.

He didn't know how to interpret a common social gesture.

It gave me a start and I realized this was the first time we've ever greeted each other openly, normally, here in the middle of the quad with students milling about.

I smiled softly and hugged him. He slowly put his arms around me.

"I'm glad to see you," I said softly.

He sighed into my hair, "I missed you, my little one. This was a long turning," he said giving me a squeeze before stepping back.

I threaded my fingers through his before he could drop my hand. He smiled and pulled our joined hands to his lips for a kiss.

With his head still bowed over my hand he looked up, "Walk with me?"

"Okay," I nodded.

I'd follow him anywhere, didn't he know that?

He led me onto the wooded jogging path and for a while we were content to just walk, holding hands, to be in each other's presence. I felt the difference. There was no reserve with him.

"You changed your hair." His words jarred me out of my reverie. I turned to see him studying me.

I touched my hair, self-consciously. "Um, yeah, I let it grow."

"It has more curl," he says as he brushes a finger along a lock framing my face.

My heart jerked and raced at his touch.

That's new.

"Um, mousse and hot curlers," I shrugged as I tried to control my breathing.

"I like it," he said softly taking a small step closer.

I got the nerve to look up into his eyes just in time for a jogger to blow past me.

Mike, aw-shhhit

The spell broken, I took a step back and pulled my phone out of my pocket. I shot off a text.

Cant' make our run. Catch you later.-B

"Am I interrupting your day?" his question drew me back to him. He looked—unsure. I had never seen this in him. I took a moment to appreciate the shift.

Feeling empowered, I stepped closer as I tucked my phone away.

I hooked my arm in his, resting my hand on his forearm. "No, Mike and I were meeting up to go for a run but I canceled." I ran my nails over his smooth skin as I talked.

He caught my hand and brought it to his lips, "Mike?"

I cocked my head at his clipped tone.

"Mike is my friend from Forks. We've been running together for years."

"Is this the friend that seduced you on the dance floor?" he asked as he stopped walking.

Seduced? Is that even possible with Jr. High kids?

I thought for a moment and decided, yes, in his fumbling, amateur way; Mike was trying to seduce me.

I smiled softly at the thought.

Edward shifted next to me.

"Yes, we've been friends since third grade. Just friends," I stressed, relishing his jealousy, for that was what I identified it to be—good, old-fashioned jealousy.

Edward rounded on me. "He placed his hands, his lips on you; felt he had the right to claim you in such a way," he swallowed thickly at the memory. "Does he still feel he has that right?" he asked as he ran his thumb over the star on my bracelet.

I studied him for a moment. He stood stiffly, his head bowed, jaw twitching—waiting.

I stepped into his space, forcing him to look at me. I brought our joined hands to rest between our chests and looked him in the eye.

"No, Edward, after that night, no one has had that right," I whispered.

A wave of relief washed over him quickly replaced by remorse.

He tugged me closer to him and placed his warm hand on my face.

"Have you been lonely, Bella? I—I tried to let you live your life, make the decisions you needed, but I felt you needed me here. I'm sorry if I kept you from growing in any area . . ." he trailed off with a shake of his head, his conflict evident.

I smiled over his bowed head and leaned forward to kiss his brow, "It's all right if you didn't want me to grow in the area of romance, Edward," I whispered.

His eyes shot up to mine. And then he frowned trying to read me. It tickled me to see him confused.

I smiled, "You are a hard man to measure up to, no one has ever come close." I shrugged, starting to feel exposed.

A cautious hope washed across his face.

This man should never play poker.

"Am I?" he murmured, leaning toward me.

"You are," I said and leaned back, "What about you? Is there a woman in your life? My God, I know nothing about you, your life, your world. God, Edward you could be married with six kids for all I know. You could be some intergalactic player!" I said with alarm elevating my voice.

He smiled through my tirade, blinking with each escalation. When I seem to burn out, he grabbed me by my upper arms and pulled me against his chest. When I didn't hesitate, he wrapped his arms around me. I rested my cheek on his chest, listening to his odd heartbeat, and cherishing being in his arms.

"Intergalactic player?" he laughed quietly. He ran his hand down my hair and reconnected them at the small of my back. "I know you know very little, but no, there has never been anyone for me—but you."

I felt him hold his breath—waiting.

When I calmed enough to speak, I whispered, "No one for me, but you too."

He pulled me tighter against him. I could feel his relief, his joy and –fear?

I pulled back to look up at him, to read him.

"What?" I asked, searching his eyes for answers.

He shook his head in frustration. "There's so much to tell you," he said and swallowed thickly, "and so much that could—will make you run from me." He finished in a defeated whisper.

Fear shot through me and was just as quickly gone. We were finally here. He was not getting away, now.

I pulled back, but locked his hand in mine, entwining our fingers. I walked us to a bench niched into the woods along the path and pulled him to sit with me.

He angled to face me with his arm on the back of our seat. He picked up my hand and ran his thumb over each of my nails.

"Edward, give me the answers to three questions, without reservation, and then I will tell you if I want to know more." My heart was racing, but I was ready—charged—this was it.

Edward braced and then relaxed against me, dropping my hand. "All right, little one," he said without looking at me.

I reclaimed his hand and placed it on my knee entwining our fingers. He looked up and his worry melted into a genuine smile and he nodded giving my hand a squeeze.

"Okay, ready?" I asked taking a deep breath.

He smiled at my business-like tone. "Ready, Ms. Swan." He responded with mock formality.

I tucked my hair nervously behind my ear and licked my lips.

"Okay, first question," I looked at our tangled hands, "can we have sex?"

I felt the jolt of my question hit him and realizing too late how it sounded, I rushed to rephrase, "I—I mean, can our two peoples have sex?" I felt the heat crawl up my neck and take up residence on my cheeks.

He shifted next to me, and leaned away slightly before saying, "Yes, it has been documented in our history that our species are compatible." He stilled next to me and I didn't dare look at him.

"Okay," I blew out a breath and regrouped, "Second question," he nodded and I continued, "Children, is it possible to have healthy children between our species?"

He relaxed a bit with that one and a small smile formed on his lowered face, "Yes, Bella, children have resulted in our unions in the past."

I relaxed with that.

Okay—okay.

I was surprised how relieved I was with that.

I felt him relax and lean back into me.

I leaned into him, playing with his strong, masculine hand and asked, "Last question," I took a breath, "do you think you would want that with me someday?" I whispered.

I felt the heat rise between us and I became acutely aware of how close our bodies were.

I heard him swallow and felt his hand slide down my leg as his long fingers came to rest just inside my knee, innocent but so—not.

His breath washed through my hair and down my neck, "Yes, my love, someday, I want that very much—with you."

Breathe, Bella, Breathe—Gah!

"Bella?"

Our heads jerked up in tandem, Mike stood panting in front of us.

"Mike!" I jumped.

In that split second, I realized the true nature of my relationship with Mike. I had never dated, never shown interest. Mike had gone steady with several girls through the years and was currently dating a girl. But now I knew that we held each other in reserve, a safe relationship to fall back on. His place in my life had never been challenged –until now.

He stepped toward me as Edward positioned himself next to me.

"Is this why you blew me off?" he shot a glance at Edward and focused back on me.

"Um—yes, ah—Mike, this is Edward. Edward this is my very good friend Mike.

"Mike."

"Edward?" Mike frowned at him and then me. I saw the idea register before he spit out, "Is this the guy? He's real?"

"What?" I shot back.

"Angie said when you went to New York she thought you met someone. You got flowers and you were all dreamy. You never talked about him so we thought he went the way of all pen pals. Is this the guy, he's real?" Mike looked hurt and furious.

Before I could make sense of the words flying around in my head, Edward's hand snaked around my shoulder and the words, "Yes, I've been her long-distance boyfriend for three years. It's nice to finally meet you. Bella speaks fondly of her friends, Angie, and Mike."

"Really, because she hasn't said jack shit about you, Edward," he spit on the ground without looking at the man next to me.

Realizing I needed to engage before this escalated, I grabbed hold of some of the swirling words and push them out of my mouth.

"I didn't want to be teased if it didn't last. I wanted to keep it to myself," I felt Edward's hand drop to my hip and watched Mike's eyes follow the path.

The red fury faded to pale resignation, "So this is serious." He stated.

"I—I think so. Yes—yes it's very serious," I stammered and felt Edward's proud joy wash over me. I smiled in spite of the awkwardness of the moment.

I looked at Mike tenderly, "Can you be happy for me?"

He stared at me for the longest moment and finally shrugged, "Yeah, I'm happy for you, B." His face slid into an evil grin, "But Angie is going to be another matter."

He laughed as I paled and turned to Edward.

"How long you here for, Edward?" Mike asked not quite looking at him.

"Um, I have a red eye later," Edward said.

"Okay, meet us at McGee's at seven," Mike said and took a step back.

"Are you bringing Tanya?" I asked.

"She'll just muddy the waters. No, this is for the Forks Four," Mike smiled.

I popped my hip out and crossed my arms, "Is this an intervention?"

Mike threw his head back and laughed, "Oh hell no, B., this is going to be an inquisition."