A/N: Thanks to everyone who has been so kind and review this new story. Special thanks to Evilnat and Nicffwhisperer who recommended it on Twitter and Facebook.

To clarify for non-American readers, Bella is 25, and Edward is 21 in the "past" chapters. Our medical education system is thus: 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, then residency. Orthopedic surgery residency is 5 years. Bella's Sports Fellowship is a sixth year tacked on past residency. Sorry, I know it's confusing, and I have noticed that many American fan fiction writers mix this up, too. Bella is 31, and Edward is 27 in the "present chapters."

And, many of you have expressed dismay that Bella is so concerned about such a small age difference. I hear you! But this Bella has many issues, which will become apparent as the story moves on. I'm not saying I agree with her. However, she could seriously jeopardize her future by being caught in a location where underage drinking is occurring, so she's right about that one thing.

Let's continue…

Chapter 3

December 21-25, 2007

Edward led me up the back stairs through the door into the kitchen of his house. He paused just inside and slipped his feet into a pair of discarded blue Havaianas that were lying there. I realized I'd been staring at his bare toes when I looked up to see his smirk. I shrugged; he did have nice looking feet.

I followed him on through the kitchen where a couple of guys were clustered over a pizza box lying on the island. They looked at us curiously but said nothing. Edward ignored them. I noticed the house was laid out similarly to Cindy's house and seemed about the same age. It was cleaner than expected for a bunch of college guys, but since they were baseball players, maybe they had a maid who came by.

Several more guys were crowded onto chairs and couches set up in front of a giant TV in the living room. They were absorbed in some sort of video game war, shouting at it and each other. We walked past them without comment, and Edward opened the front door, motioning for me to go out ahead of him. I thought that one of the guys may have yelled something after us, but Edward didn't turn around or acknowledge it.

We crossed the surprisingly well-kept lawn and started down the sidewalk in the direction of Greenbriar Drive. I wondered again if they mowed their own grass or had someone come and do it for them. Edward's head was down watching his flip-flops slap the sidewalk, and his hands were shoved deep in his jeans pockets. The temperature had dropped the further we went from sunset, and I crossed my arms over my chest feeling a chill despite my sweater. We walked up the block in silence, and I opened my mouth to tell him once again that he didn't need to leave his party to walk with me. But he spoke first.

"I guess your parents are pretty proud of you," he said into the darkness, still looking at the sidewalk. I was unable to stop the scoff that escaped as a result of his comment. He looked up at me in surprise.

"They're not?" he asked. I shook my head.

"No, um, sorry. I'm sure they are on some level, but my parents are just kind of a sore subject," I answered. Definitely not something I wanted to talk about now, I mentally added. However, Edward's interest was piqued.

"I don't mean to pry," he said in a way that made me think he really did. "I'm just trying to get to know you better, Bella."

"I don't know why. I doubt we'll ever see each other again. We don't exactly run in the same circles," I replied a bit harshly. He gave me a small smile.

"Maybe, but I find you very interesting," he responded. All traces of the cocky asshole from the party were gone, a fact I found a little unsettling.

"My mom is a cardiac nurse," I found myself explaining against my will. "I was born in Houston, but we moved down south when I was very small. My mom and I moved back to Houston when I was twelve from Brownsville. My dad was Border Patrol; he died on the job. She got a cushy job at Texas Heart Institute up here and found herself a cardiothoracic surgeon in less than a year. I lived with the two of them through high school." I figured the beer had affected me more than I thought since I blurted that explanation out, unable to filter myself. I fell silent in embarrassment. Edward was silent for a few steps but spoke softly in response.

"My dad's a doctor." I was grateful that he absorbed my sob story and changed the subject, so I grabbed on to his statement.

"Really? Where?" I asked. He raised his face to smile at me.

"Hermann," he answered simply, referring to the prestigious hospital associated with the University of Texas Houston. "He's a burn surgeon." My eyes widened, and I couldn't help but be impressed. Not only was that a competitive subspecialty, it was selfless and heartbreaking.

"Wow," was all I could manage to say. Edward nodded like he understood my sentiment. "So are your parents proud of you?" I asked, turning the tables on him. He smirked at me under the low brim of his hat. I had the sudden urge to pull it off his head so I could see his face better. I had no idea where it had come from and avoided it down fervently. Luckily, he answered without a fuss, distracting me.

"Yes, I'd say so. They've always been supportive, if a little overbearing. We lived in River Oaks, but they bought a house and moved so I could qualify to play for Bellaire High School. I'll be sad when I'm drafted that they can't come to all my games like they always have. My dad's busy, so they can't really travel," he explained.

"My parents live in River Oaks," I exclaimed before I could help myself. He smiled triumphantly.

"See, we have more in common than you'll admit!" he crowed. "My parents moved back to the old house once I went to Rice." I let a small chuckle escape at his gleeful response. "What street? Maybe I'll walk past your house on Christmas morning," he teased, but it caused me to frown.

"Willowick," I answered tersely, "but I won't be there on Christmas morning. I'll be at my apartment." Edward slowed his walk, and it annoyed me. I was ready to be home and away from his intrusive questions. But he wasn't done yet.

"So you don't get along with your mom and step-dad?" he asked.

"Brilliant deduction," I snapped. I felt a flicker of remorse when I saw Edward's face fall. It did seem like he really was trying to be nice, but I didn't apologize.

"Sorry, it just seems like they would be happy that you're going into the medical field like them. I can't believe you're going to spend Christmas alone," he lamented. I stopped walking and whirled to face him. He turned toward me, too, startled by my sudden movement.

"Don't you dare feel sorry for me," I said steadily. "I'm living my dream, and nothing will stop me; I've worked too hard. They can't understand why I've chosen orthopedics. Cardiothoracic is the most difficult and exclusive subspecialty according to most, and they want me to do that. So I avoid their negativity. In case you haven't noticed, Edward, I'm an adult. I'm twenty-five years old, old enough to be married, to have kids even. Adults don't always see family for the holidays."

Edward responded to my speech by removing his hat and running his fingers through his hair again. I thought this might be a nervous habit for him. His eyes never left mine. I forced mine away finally and started walking again moving a few steps ahead of him. But he was too tall and was even with me again in just a few seconds.

"I'm not a child, Bella," he rebuked me, "and I'm sorry you're unhappy." I scoffed.

"I'm not unhappy." I insisted. He eyed me skeptically as we approached the corner of Main Street. Then, his face split into a mischievous grin.

"Let's go into Albertsons and buy some beer. You definitely need to relax. There's got to be a pool at The Greenbriar, right? We can sit out there and have a few," he suggested. He glanced down Main a few blocks where the lights of Albertsons shone. Just then the light changed on the crosswalk, and I took off across Main and away from the grocery store before he could say anything more. He followed me with a muttered curse. We were only a block away from my apartment complex now. He overtook me and blocked my path.

"What the hell, Bella?" he demanded.

"Edward, I told you that I wanted to go home and that I didn't need an escort. I really meant that. I'm not going to buy beer with you, and we're not going to keep drinking. You need to go back to your party with people your own age." I told him patiently. He was undeterred but allowed me to start walking again.

"Bella, I'm not that much younger than you are," he told me sullenly, highlighting his immaturity in my book.

"You're a college athlete, and I'm a medical student going into a competitive surgical subspecialty. They are different worlds," I tried to explain patiently, but he wasn't having it. We'd reached the pedestrian gate to the complex, and I turned toward him. "Okay we're here. You can go now," I dismissed him, but his eyes were filled with determination.

"No dice, sweetheart," he insisted with insolence. "I'm walking you to your door." The cocky smirk from the party reappeared. I shook my head, but Edward stepped closer to me. I backed up until I felt the metal gate against my shoulder blades. Still, he moved closer until his face hovered only inches from my own. I wanted to close my eyes, but I couldn't. They were fixed on his bright green ones and wouldn't respond.

"We're not so different," he whispered, and he was so close I could feel his breath tickle my cheek. When his eyes dropped to lips, I wanted to give in. I wanted to close my eyes and let his lips touch my own. I could feel that he wanted to kiss me, and I wanted it, too. But I hadn't gotten this far by giving into whims and desires at every turn. I lifted my hands and shoved his chest. He stepped back in obvious disappointment.

"That may work on most girls, but I'm not a silly college coed, don't forget," I told him. He nodded but didn't back down.

"I'm still going to make sure you get inside your apartment safely," he insisted. I figured the simplest way to make him go was to give in.

"Fine," I spat and turned to key in the code on the gate. I could feel his body close behind my back and hated that I craved the warmth. The latch gave, and I pushed the gate open. Edward followed me through. I turned left and silently followed the sidewalk to the corner building that overlooked Greenbriar Drive and Braes Bayou. I didn't look behind to see if Edward was following me up the stairs to the second floor. My door was just to the left of the first landing. I paused just beside it.

"This is me. I'm not going to invite you in, so don't ask," I said bluntly. He chuckled with a wide smile and dug his hands into his pockets.

"Well, that's some gratitude for the escort, I tell ya," he joked. I frowned.

"I told you I didn't need your assistance, so I don't think you deserve a thanks," I said primly. His grin widened. He raised his arm and ran the fingertips of his right hand along my jaw before I could step back or stop him. I gasped slightly at the electricity I felt from his fingers, and he looked a little taken aback as well.

"Static electricity," I said dumbly and turned to unlock the door. I went inside without a backward glance, but I could hear him chuckle, still standing outside my door.

"Good night, Bella," he called to me, and then I heard his footsteps echoing down the stairs.

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I was antsy after he left, thinking about him more than I should. What was the point? I'd never see him again. I finally drank another beer from my fridge and managed to fall asleep well after 2 AM. I didn't hear from Alice, which surprised me. I figured I'd get a call, reprimanding me for leaving early. But maybe she was wrapped up with Jasper and not thinking of me at all.

I slept in the next morning and took myself to Le Peep for banana waffles as a treat. When I got back home, it was warm enough to sit by the pool in shorts and a t-shirt even though it was December 22. I took a novel, something I hadn't had time to read in ages and settled myself on one of the plastic loungers. I was well into it when my cell phone rang. It was Alice.

"Hey, are you on the road?" I asked without a greeting. She was supposed to be driving to Mississippi with Cindy this afternoon.

"Yeah," she answered shortly. "Cindy's passed out in the back. She indulged a bit too much last night. I guess we'll have to stop somewhere outside of Jackson for her to get her act together." I laughed. Typical, self-centered Cindy.

"Nice," I responded as Alice huffed in disgust. "So, why didn't you tell me you were into that Jasper guy. I suppose that was the real reason you wanted to go to the party. There was no need to drag me into it," I scolded. Alice was silent for a beat too long.

"Bella, I'm not even going to respond to that statement. You're getting more antisocial by the day. I'm not sure I even know you anymore," she said seriously. Her words stung a bit, but she went on. "Yeah, I like Jasper a lot. After last night, I guess you could say we're dating. I'll be back in town on Tuesday, and we're going to grab some dinner." She didn't say more, just waited on my retort. I didn't have the heart to argue with her.

"Well, Alice, I think that's great," I said simply. "Good luck." The silence stretched a bit again.

"What about you?" she finally asked. "I heard Edward Masen left the party with a mystery brunette very early and never came back."

"What?" I exclaimed a bit too loudly, startling awake the middle-aged man wearing socks with his sandals who was lying several loungers down from me. "He left me at The Greenbriar no later than 10:30. He should have made it back to the party." It was Alice's turn to sound surprised.

"You really left the party with him?" she asked incredulously. "And brought him back to your apartment?"

"No, that's not how it was," I groaned.

"Explain," she demanded shortly.

"I talked to him for a few minutes, but I didn't know anyone at the party, and you were busy with Jasper, so I said I was leaving. He insisted that I not walk alone in the dark, so he walked with me back to The Greenbriar, but I woudn't let him come inside," I detailed. Alice laughed a little, but it was a humorless sound.

"So, one of the hottest guys in town came onto you, and you allowed him to walk you home, then threw him out like a frigid bitch. Do I have that right?" she said sarcastically. Her words irritated me.

"What do you care, Alice?" I asked hotly. "He's twenty-one years old and a famous Rice baseball player. He's hardly an appropriate liaison for me." She laughed again with even more of an edge.

"Bella, you sound like your mother," she declared. That was the straw that broke the camel's back.

"Alice, I've got to go," I ground out. "Have a nice Christmas and drive safe." I hung up before she could respond.

She was wrong about me. I was just being responsible, protecting my future and myself. Why couldn't she see that? I sighed and went back inside to find something on TV to distract my chaotic thoughts.

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Saturday morning I went for a long walk along the paved bayou bike trail. In the afternoon, I went to see the new movie Enchanted at the theater in an attempt to put myself firmly in fantasyland. I felt bad about my fight with Alice, but not enough to call and apologize. I still thought she was mainly in the wrong. I went to Chuy's and got an order of chips and an 8-ounce cup of creamy jalapeno dip and ate the entire thing for dinner. I fell asleep early.

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Sunday morning I went to church at the stately gothic Methodist Church on Main Street. The service was beautiful, and in honor of Christmas Eve, they sang the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah at the end. That and all the Christmas carols raised my spirits considerably.

But by the time I got home, I was done with relaxing. The itch to study for my upcoming Orthopedics elective was too strong, so I pulled out some medical books and started reviewing anatomy. I was disappointed to be assigned to Carlisle Cullen, the newest attending in the department. I didn't think he'd have much pull in resident selection, and I really wanted to stay at Baylor for my residency. So I figured I'd need to be extra dazzling. I quizzed myself heavily and lost track of time. I was completely startled when there was a knock at my door. It was already after 5 PM.

I was worried it might be my mom, or worse my step-dad, come to make me feel guilty for skipping dinner the next day at home. But I didn't think they'd care enough to come all the way over here, so I really had no idea what to expect when I put my eye to the peephole.

I was utterly shocked to see Edward Masen smiling at me through the warped glass. He was dressed in khakis and a blue and white striped button up shirt rolled up at the sleeves and un-tucked. I registered how broad his shoulders were and how the shirt tugged and pulled attractively across his chest as he moved. He was taller than I remembered. His unruly hair curled over his ears, but he was without a hat tonight. His face was even more handsome now that I could see it clearly. He was far too good-looking. I stood silently, wondering if I could get away with staying still and quiet until he left. But he put an end to the fantasy quickly.

"Bella, I can hear you in there. Plus, you admitted you had no plans for the holiday. I'm here to take you to dinner," he declared. I looked down at my scrub pants, unmatched t-shirt, and bare feet and shook my head. I wasn't going anywhere, but I would have to deal with him to get him to leave. I cracked the door and peaked through.

"Edward, what are you doing here? How'd you get through the gate?" I snapped. He just smiled wider when he saw my face.

"Well, I'm pretty sure you just heard what I said, and you should have been more careful about punching in your code in front of a stranger the other night. I'm taking you to dinner," he answered. I had to press my lips together to keep from smiling when I realized he was wearing flip-flops with his dinner attire. He looked far too adorable for his own good. I opened the door a little wider so he could see how I was dressed.

"Edward, I'm hardly presentable. I've been studying all afternoon. I'm not going out tonight," I punctuated my declaration with a shake of my head. "Where do your parents think you are, anyway? Don't they expect you home on Christmas Eve?" He kept smiling and ran his left hand through his riotous hair.

"I told them I was staying at my house. I promised I'd be back home by 10:00 tomorrow morning for presents and brunch. They didn't ask too many questions; I'm an adult, after all," he added with a sly look.

"Hardly," I scoffed. "What's the deal, anyway? The other night you were all offended that I'd never heard of Edward Masen." He shook his head and fixed me with his piercing green eyes.

"No, I wasn't offended, just interested. And that's the deal," he summarized. "I'm interested. Are you going to make me keep standing out here?" he asked. I gave in and took a step back allowing him to pass by me. He settled on the edge of one of the bar stools just inside the door by the kitchen bar. It separated the kitchen from the living room. He gestured to my attire

"You should get changed so we can go," he insisted. I shook my head.

"I'm not going anywhere with you. You are not an appropriate person for me to date," I said primly. He just smiled wider and shook his head again indulgently.

"And why not? I'm not married, if that's what you're worried about," he countered insultingly. I huffed and threw myself on the couch across the room. I covered my eyes with my left palm. I heard him get up and cross the space toward me. I moved my hand to see him crouched on the floor in front of me. His face was now serious.

"You can't be alone on Christmas Eve, Bella. Give me a chance," he pleaded. He looked so handsome and sincere that I suddenly wanted to go with him. I wanted things that I shouldn't. The chance to have company on a holiday was too strong a temptation.

"OK," I said grudgingly, and he grinned like he'd won the lottery and jumped to his feet. He rubbed his hands together gleefully.

"Get changed," he demanded. "We're going to Kemah for the boat parade, so we need to leave pretty soon." He checked his watch. "Can you do twenty minutes?" I nodded but answered him snarkily.

"You were pretty sure it wouldn't take much to convince me."

"I hoped," he said with a boyish expression that reminded me why this was such a bad idea, but the die had been cast.

"Edward, this is not a date. We can only be friends," I warned. He just smiled like he had a secret.

"I'll take what I can get," he promised. I shook my head and couldn't help but lift the corners of my mouth a little bit.

"I love Kemah Boardwalk," I admitted. His face lit up.

"Then, hurry," he told me simply, and I did.

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The ride to Kemah took about half an hour, and parking was a little tough. Edward drove a very nice silver Volvo that was a few years old. It was remarkably clean considering it belonged to a college boy. The leather seats were soft, and it made sense when he admitted it was a hand-me-down from his mom, another thing we had in common.

Kemah was crowded for the annual Christmas Eve boat parade. I had never been before, but had been telling the truth when I said I loved Kemah. It was a boardwalk/entertainment complex built on Clear Lake just south of Houston. There were several restaurants, shops, and amusement park-type rides. A brand new roller coaster had opened earlier in the year.

The parade was just starting when we made our way down the boardwalk to find an open spot at the railing. Various sailboats, powerboats, and barges were decorated to the nines in Christmas glory. They moved slowly by the spectators in a line. Edward told me they gave a prize to the best boat at the end. I was delighted by the sight and was surprised when I realized I had migrated so close to Edward that I was leaning against his side.

I moved away as soon as I noticed but looked up at Edward to see if he had been aware. He was smiling down at me tenderly, like he was enjoying me enjoying the boats. It made me feel uncomfortable, but I couldn't decide if it was because I didn't want to lead him on or if I missed the warmth of his body close to mine.

"So, I think I need a drink," I announced, really meaning it. Edward looked a bit confused, but agreed.

"We have reservations at Aquarium," he told me and reached out like he was going to grasp my hand but thought better of it. It ended up in his pocket. I turned away from the last few boats and leaned against the railing.

"No, that's too expensive," I objected. Edward just smiled and shook his head like I was the most amusing thing in the world.

"I'm paying, Bella," he answered. I shook my head stubbornly.

"No, this isn't a date. We have to split the check, and I plan to have several drinks." He raised his eyebrows.

"Several, huh? This should be good," he joked. I gave his shoulder a gentle shove.

"I'm serious, Edward. I can't let you pay," I insisted.

"You're my guest, and I'm the one who made you come out tonight. I can afford it," he winked.

"With what? All the money you make from your part-time job?" I asked. "I feel uncomfortable with you using your parents money on me."

"Oh, I didn't realize that a medical student had time for a second job. I suppose you pay the rent on your place, not your surgeon step-father?" Edward turned the tables on me. He was right, unfortunately. I had help supporting myself, but not for long, I promised myself.

"Fine," I grumbled unable to make a coherent argument at this point and really wanting a glass of wine. He smiled triumphantly and motioned for me to follow him down the boardwalk to Aquarium, a lovely seafood restaurant decorated with massive aquariums. It felt like having dinner under the sea. I'd only been there once with my mom a few years ago for lunch, just the two of us, but I remembered it well. I was excited to eat there again.

The hostess did a double take when she saw Edward. She was cute, blonde, and probably a college student, too, about his age. She stared unabashedly at him and fluttered her eyelids. He smiled and charmed her easily, and we were seated before our reservation time even though there were lots of people waiting. She gave me a dismissive glance, obviously deciding I was an older sister or something like that. She watched him walk away but he didn't look back at her at all. Hmm.

He got similar treatment from the young waitress. When I questioned him about it, he looked surprised and insisted that he hadn't noticed the attention at all. I ordered a glass of Chardonnay to go with my gulf snapper. Then, I had a glass of Cabernet to go with my chocolate cake. It's possible I had two glasses of Chardonnay before the Cabernet.

Edward told stories, and they were so funny. I laughed so hard. Then I told funny stories, and he laughed, too. It was the best time I'd had in as long as I could remember. Now, why was I avoiding him when he seemed so interested? Why was it a bad idea to get involved? Through all the confusion, I was having trouble remembering.

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I groaned and rolled toward the blinds, which I'd obviously forgotten to close the night before when I went to bed. My head was pounding, and the small movement caused me to groan again. I froze when I met a barrier in my quest for the window pull. I tentatively cracked open an eye and was met with a sight that sent both a chill through my bones and heat through my blood.

Edward was in my bed. He was lying bare-chested between the window and me with one arm behind his head on my spare pillow. And he was smirking at me knowingly. I quickly took stock and realized I was only wearing my bra and panties, no nightshirt or anything. I closed my eyes and tried desperately to remember anything, but all I could think of was the restaurant. And laughing.

"Good morning, Sunshine," Edward greeted teasingly. I felt his spare hand run through my hair. "And how are you feeling this fine morning?" I kept my eyes closed, willing all of this to just go away, but I knew I was in trouble when I felt his lips close to my ear.

"Merry Christmas," he whispered. I opened my eyes to face him.

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A/N: Sooooo…please leave me a review if you feel moved. I'm hoping to stick to a weekly update schedule.

Thanks for reading! EG