Gah I know, I know my chaps are getting shorter and the intervals are longer…I know, I know…I'll try and get another chapter up next week. I'm getting my wisdom teeth out, so I'll be confined to my house for a few days…I'm sorry, I just haven't had the time.

Don't own.

Ch 22: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

"I just don't feel comfortable leaving you alone with him." Edward said for probably the tenth time since we'd sat down to lunch at the small café.

"It was once, and you can listen to the tape if you want. He just did a lot of whining." I said, sighing. I was getting sick of this conversation.

A silence fell over us, as I picked at my salad. I was tired. Not physically, but mentally. All of this nonsense was taking its toll on me.

The whole ordeal with Jacob, then the paparazzi, then getting a new job, and having to deal with Jacob again, and Edward's paranoia…

When was it going to end?

I had my prince charming, my knight in shining armor…wasn't I supposed to ride off into the sunset, live happily ever after?

Edward stopped, looking at me. I was staring down into my leafy greens, but I could feel his eyes on me. I knew he was analyzing me, probing my appearance to figure out what was wrong.

He'd figure it out in a couple seconds, I wouldn't have to say anything. He was really good at reading people, he almost seemed to be able to read their minds. He could always tell what was going on…

Any second now. Three…

Two…

On--

"I'm sorry." he said, his voice quiet and apologetic.

Right on time.

I looked up, and upon seeing his eyes, the look in them, the look of affection I had grown to love, melted. I couldn't be upset with him, even if he was ridiculous.

"It's okay." I said softly, sighing. "It's not you, it's everything else."

"I just don't want anything to happen to you. It kills me to think that he hurt you, that I let it happen the first time…"

"How many times do we have to go over this? It wasn't your fault, you came to my rescue. It was my own stupidity that got me into it."

"I'll back off." he said, forcing a complacent smile. "I'll trust you to do what you think is right."

"I'm not sore at you, I just want all this to end. I can't take it."

"It takes time." he said, taking my good hand and kissing it. "We've made it this far, a little longer won't be that bad. Just until after the hearing."

"You think anyone else is as messed up as our situation?" I cracked a small smile, looking up into his beautiful eyes.

"Probably. They're just not made public." he said, pulling me close to him as we left, to kiss my forehead.

I wasn't upset with him. I was upset with myself for allowing all of this to happen. I knew I wasn't handling all of this very well. I needed to close myself off from the situation, stop letting it affect me. It was driving me mad, and I was taking it out on Edward.

Edward kissed me on the corner, and paid my cab driver in advance, no doubt giving him a far too large tip. He could always make me smile, and I was still smiling when I entered the office.

Well…I was smiling until I heard a loud, angry voice calling my name.

"Swan! In my office, now!" Mack said the second I walked through the door. I obeyed, confused. I had done everything he asked…right?

…right?

"I thought you had an interview with Jacob Black today, at lunchtime." he said, the instant the latch on the door clicked.

"I did, sir." I said, puzzled. What was he getting at?

"Why, then, did I see you at lunch with Mr. Cullen? Do not blow this story for me, Bella."

"My interview with Mr. Black was over. I took my lunch break. I didn't think there was a rule against going out to lunch with someone." I said, defensive.

"Give me the footage from that interview. That had to have been the shortest interview of all time, if the lunch date was over and you had time to go out to lunch." he said, and I silently cursed. There was no footage on the actual article, it was all him whining.

I held out the tape recorder, sighing, as he played it.

"What are you doing here."

"Getting my interview. I gave your office a false name. And my new boss gave me this story, so deal with it."

"What about your little restraining order, hmm? Won't that get in the way?"

"We've worked that out for this meeting. Now Mr. Black, I understand your firm is sponsoring the Brooklyn Community Center Fundraising dinner? How did you get involved with that?"

"I'm not giving you an interview."

I sighed. He was going to be so angry…I just wasted time.

"Yes you are. What is your expected turnout for this event?"

"Fine. I'll answer some questions if you do."

"This is an interview, Jacob. I'm not going to answer any questions of yours, this is strictly for my story."

"I won't answer anything if you don't."

"I'm not trying to harass you, I'm trying to get an interview for my story. Please, let's handle this like adults, for once?"

I was nervous. I was shaking. I looked up at Mr. Mackenzie, who was listening intently. I regretted speaking to Jacob like I had. It was completely unprofessional, and I was going to get an earful for this…

"I don't see what's so hard about a few questions. You're the one who arranged this, the least you could do is answer a few questions."

"It's not my fault I was assigned this, I don't want to do this any more than you do. For once in your life, realize that this isn't about you and me, this is about something completely different."

"But it is about you and me, Bella, everything is about you and me. Everywhere I look your paper is publishing something related to the trial, something about the situation. Everywhere I look, I'm reminded of the mistakes I've made, and that there you are with another man. Everything I've done since high school has been about you and me. I made a mistake in losing you, and I tried to be successful, I wanted you to see that I was worth your while."

"How am I supposed to believe you, when you made no conscious effort to make contact in college, and only started following me around when by chance we crossed paths at that banquet. Stop fooling yourself, Jake. None of this was about me. Everything you've done since high school has been about you. You could have a million girls out there, the same girls that go to those banquets, the same girls that you've wanted all along. You only started after me for the thrill of the gossip in your circle, so please, go back to your trophy girls."

"I think I've heard enough." Mack said, turning off the tape, then throwing my recorder against the wall, smashing it.

I flinched, my eyes widened. I knew he could be an asshole, but he was so angry…

"You are wasting my time. What am I paying you for? I'm not paying you to have a fight with your ex boyfriend, or your pimp, or whatever the hell he was."

I gritted my teeth, as I'm sure my face turned red. I was pissed off. How dare he?

There it was. My pride. I couldn't let him talk to me like this, I was going to lose my job over this. I knew it.

I tried to hold it in, I tried not to let it out, but my fury bubbled over.

"You have it all wrong!" I exclaimed, on my feet. He was already standing, and leaning over the desk at me. "I wanted nothing to do with Jacob Black, and you forced me to take this article. I have a restraining order against him, and I'm pressing charges against him for sexual harassment and assault! And you forced me to do this, you did this! I tried to be professional and all you see is his immaturity screwing up my interview--"

"I was trying to make you into a decent journalist, but apparently the only thing that matters to you is this scandal--"

"Just butt out, and let me write this piece." I said, cutting him off. I didn't want to hear any more of this. "I'll have the interview on my desk in the morning, and I'll have my 

story on your desk tomorrow evening."

"You know, the only reason you're still standing there is because I'm intrigued." Mackenzie said with a sort of wicked smile. "One thing I adore about you is your fire, your passion, as you mentioned that day at the newsstand."

He stood with his back to me, behind his desk.

I stood there, wary. He was seriously freaking me out. I felt unsafe. He was that creepy boss, that creepy boss stalker that was often involved in inter office relationships.

"You truly are one of a kind, Miss Swan."

He turned to face me, walking slowly around to stand in front of me.

"I'm looking forward to your story." he breathed in my ear, as he walked past me to get a drink from his minibar area in his office. I shuddered, and was at the door before he opened his mouth again.

"Now run along, get out of my sight before I fire you."

He didn't need to tell me twice. I nearly ran out of the office, and walked quickly to my cubicle, breathing heavily.

What a creepasaurus.

My eyes were wide as I tried to calm myself down, gripping my desk for support. I didn't like it here. I didn't want this job anymore. I didn't want to deal with him anymore, he was way worse than Jacob on the creep factor…

But I needed it. I knew I needed this job, because it was the only chance I'd get. Going through two jobs in two weeks? No other paper would hire me after this whole mess…

I needed this. I needed to keep going…

"Bella?" Angela's voice said a moment later, she peering over the wall of her cubicle at me. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." I said, forcing a smile. "I just…is he always so…"

"Disturbing?" she said, sighing. "Yeah. He's a skeevemonster. Don't worry about it though, he'll let up once you work here for a bit. And you're romantically attached to someone else."

"That doesn't mean he'll leave me alone. I know his type…"

"Really, Bella, don't worry about it." Angela said, then paused, looking like she was contemplating something. "Hey, how about you come out with me and the girls tonight? Bring a friend if you want, Lauren's not going…it'll be fun."

"Sure, yeah." I said, returning her smile. Me, being social? Gasp!

I hadn't had a ladies night in a long time. Since college, I think…

"Great…we'll swing by your place at nine…where is it?"

"I'm not sure this is a good idea." I yelled over the loud club music as Robb and I followed Angela and Jessica through the throng of people. "We have work in the morning!"

It was supposed to be a night out with the girls, but Robb's boyfriend Justin was DJ-ing at this particular club, as he usually did on Wednesday nights. It was 80s night, and currently a master mix of "Can't touch this" was playing.

"C'mon, live a little!" Angela shouted back, smiling, as we reached the bar.

"Fine. Just one drink…I'm not going into work with a hangover my first week." I said, as Robb shook his head at me, and ordered four apple martinis for us.

It figured, there was a girl working the bar tonight, and she was ignoring her female clientele.

Jessica, Angela, and I watched as Robb flirted expertly with the bartender, despite the fact that he was quite obviously and plainly gay.

"How did you do that?" I gaped, as we found seats around a small coffee table.

"Honey, just because I'm gay, doesn't mean I don't know how to charm a girl." he said, purposely adding more flamboyance to his voice.

"So, Robb is it?" Jessica said, more friendly today than she was the last time I'd spoken with her. "You work at the Herald?"

"Yes, in reception." he said, and I tuned it out after that. I knew all about Robb, I didn't need to hear any more about it.

Instead I began scoping the room, people watching. I wasn't bored, I was just uneasy. I needed to relax, I needed to stop worrying.

I needed to let go.

This night, this whole thing was what I needed. Something to feel normal again. Something that didn't remind me that I was in the worst legal situation ever, that my face wasn't posted in the tabloids and newspapers everywhere. I didn't want to be a celebrity in the first place, and especially not with this reasoning.

Okay, so I wasn't really a celebrity, and I didn't pretend to be. But still, this whole fiasco was giving me way too much publicity, and way too much stress.

I think I understood why Edward was lamenting about it the other day. Just this afternoon I was about to have a breakdown because of my creepy boss and the fact that if I was fired from this job, I wouldn't get another chance in New York.

I began to relax after a little bit, as Jessica and Angela became friendly with Robb, and it may have been the liquor kicking in from the second round of drinks Robb ordered for us, "on him", but I was actually having fun. Me, Isabella Swan, out having fun.

Through the crowd, as I went to go to the ladies room, I stumbled a little, and knocked into someone I hadn't seen since college.

"Bella? Bella Swan, is that you?" a cheerful voice said, as hands helped me stand.

"Mike Newton?" I gaped, swaying a little. He hadn't changed at all. He still had that frat boy style, with his perfect blonde hair and baby blue eyes…still looking like a puppy dog.

"How have you been?" he said, helping me catch my balance. Okay, so I was a bit tipsy…

"Good…" I said, smiling. "Can you give me a minute? I have to use the ladies room…"

Damn. I realized that I was tipsy, which, in turn, would make tomorrow hellish for me. I had that whole article to write, and now I was going to feel like crap for it…

No. No, Bella. Relax. So you had a little too much, so what? It's not like anything was going to happen, I was with Robb and the girls…

I returned to our little corner and saw that Mike knew Jessica and Angela, and they were chatting it up. Mike and Jessica…they'd be cute together…

I took my seat by Robb, who'd seen how I was stumbling, and shook his head at me.

"Gone, after two drinks." he laughed, pinching my cheeks. "Bella's such a little girl!"

I swatted him away, and found myself yawning. What time was it, anyway? I should be sleeping, I had work in the morning…

"Actually, I think I'm going to go…" I said after a while and another drink, and stood. Robb stood with me. Woah…too fast. The room was spinning…

"I'll take you home." he said, as I quirked my eyebrow at him. I knew for a fact he usually stayed out in the clubs all night…

Edward.

Edward had spoken to him this afternoon before he left, and asked him to look after me.

I shook my head as we left, more and more tired with every minute that passed. That, and I was trying to make the sidewalk stay still.

"He put you up to it, didn't he?" I said, sighing, as we waited at the corner to cross the street, Robb holding me back from walking right into oncoming traffic.

"I don't mind." he said, putting his arm around me not only to guide me, but because it was extremely cold. I had my new jacket from Edward on, but the clubbish tank top that Alice had lent me wasn't very warm, and a cool draft made me shiver. "We haven't gone out in a while, anyway."

"Because if this was a burden to you…" I continued what was going through my head. Another person Edward had burdened unnecessarily with my safekeeping. Nobody would attack me at a club…

"Bella, its fine." he smiled, mussing up my hair and leading me down a side street. I recognized this neighborhood…

"Why are you taking me to Edward's?" I asked, yawning. "I have work in the morning. I have to go home…my boss…"

"Relax. Edward will take care of you. If your mother saw you stumbling into her house like this, she'd have a cow." he said, buzzing up to Edward's apartment.

I rolled my eyes at him, but knew he was right. Robb dropped me off at Edward's door, and I tried not to sway any. I found myself looking face to face with my stunning boyfriend, who was holding a mug of coffee in one hand and looked like he was falling asleep. He was already in pajamas, and greeted me with a smile and a kiss on the forehead.

"How many?" he asked Robb, who waited for him to open the door.

"Three and a half martinis." He said, then bid us goodnight. Three? It hadn't been three, had it? I thought I had two…

Did I really have three and a half? Goodness, no wonder I was so tired. I went right past the annoying buzzed hyper stage and straight into the crash.

I looked up at him, confused. Three? Really?

"I didn't have that much…" I mumbled, as he invited me inside.

I was glad he put his arm around me, because it meant I didn't have to try and walk straight. Things were still spinning a bit…okay, a lot…

"Did you have fun?" he asked, yawning as he walked to the kitchen to dump out the rest of his coffee.

I nodded, yawning as well. Yawns were contagious.

He took me into his arms, and I stood there for a moment, resting my head against his chest. I could fall asleep like this, I think. I breathed in his scent, smiling. I had the best boyfriend in the world.

How many people can say they're dating Edward Cullen? I'll tell you. One, and that's me.

I still didn't see what he saw in me, but I'm glad he did. I couldn't imagine not being with him, now that I had him. Before, I hadn't had time to deal with finding a boyfriend, but now I couldn't see myself without him.

Passing through the living room, I saw that there was a blanket on the couch, and that the television was on, probably once tuned into the news, but now on some sitcom rerun aired when nobody was awake to see it. I could just see it; he was waiting up for me, with lukewarm coffee on the table and curled up with a blanket, watching the news, falling asleep to the drone of some reporter.

I loved watching him sleep. He was gorgeous when he was awake, but he was angelic when he slept. He looked so serene and innocent, it was hard to imagine that he could get as angry as he could.

I tripped twice on the way to the bathroom to shower and brush my teeth, vaguely remembering him mentioning that he'd bought an extra for me to keep at his apartment. He hovered around me, making sure I didn't fall, chuckling a little at my disorientation.

It felt good to be under warm water, to wash the club grime off of me. I didn't exactly trust the cleanliness of the club, or the people who went there…

It also helped me gain my bearings. I saw his toiletries in the shower, next to very familiar looking feminine ones. He went out and bought me shampoo? And a toothbrush?

I don't think he would make the suggestion so soon, about moving in together, but it looked like he wanted me to…

And moving in together was usually a precursor to engagement…

Woah woah woah, Bella, relax. You've been together for a little over a month, he wouldn't pop the question this soon…

He was probably just being nice, and prepared, like he usually was. I mean, I'd spent quite some time over here, staying a few nights…it was a hassle to go home to shower in the morning, or not have a toothbrush and always be worried about my breath…

I was sure that was it. He wouldn't put so much pressure on me so soon.

I saw that he'd crept in while I was showering and put a set of pajamas on the toilet seat cover for me, and smiled. He thought of everything, he really did…

Cutie.

I loved wearing his clothes, even if it was just for pajamas. They were just so comfortable, and just the fact that they were his made me love them that much more.

"I don't remember having that much…" I said, still on the previous train of thought when I exited the bathroom a few minutes later. I flopped down onto his bed, exhausted.

"C'mon. Under the blanket." He said, smiling down at me, ready to tuck me in. Purposely, I struggled against him as he knelt over me, trying to move me. This soon progressed into him discovering that I was extremely ticklish, and torturing me with it relentlessly until I wiggled my way under the covers to get away from him.

Oh…you sly dog, you. Note to self: find out if Edward is ticklish and plot revenge.

Meh…I'll plot revenge another time. I just wanted sleep…and cuddling. The second he joined me under the blanket, I was on his half of the bed, snuggling into him. I was winding down, and things weren't spinning any more as he embraced me and gave me a kiss on the forehead.

"I love you." I whispered in his ear, as my head was nestled in the crook of his neck. His hand was at my back, absently tracing up and down my spine, and the rhythm was broken as I said this. I didn't have to look to see that he was smiling, and my good hand felt his heartbeat quicken, resting lightly on his chest.

"I love you, too." He answered softly, craning his neck so his lips could brush my forehead.

"Bad news, Bells." Edward's voice said the next morning, waking me up. Woah…why did my head hurt so much? Sunlight streamed through the windows, lighting up the room and blinding me as I slowly sat up. I saw Edward standing beside the bed, already up and ready for the day.

"What?" I mumbled, groggy, squinting against the light. He tossed a magazine into my lap, with a blaring red headline.

Bella Swan's Bar Buddies: Who are these men?

"Oh no…" I groaned, sighing. "No no no no no no NO! What the hell!" I looked up at Edward, and saw a hint of fury building in his eyes. "You know I wasn't with any other men, right? I was with Robb, and ran into an old friend from college…"

"From the journalism program?" Edward said, quirking his eye brow at this. I nodded, and my eyes widened when he pointed out the author of this wretched article. Michael Newton. "Was it him?"

"Oh, that little bastard…" I mumbled, then caught a glimpse at the time. "Oh no! I have work in twenty minutes! I'm going to be late, I have tog o back home and get clothes…"

"Here." Edward said, producing an old shopping bag with my clothes in it, for work. "I had to print the paper this morning, so I dropped by your mother's on the way back."

"You are a saint." I said, taking it and running into the bathroom to change. Probably not more than two minutes later I was putting my hair up in a ponytail as I exited the bathroom, and saw that Edward had also picked up a coffee and bagel for me. He waited at the door, already in his coat, and held mine out for me.

"You have fifteen minutes to walk seven blocks." He said, checking his watch as we got onto the street. "Walk quick and you should be fine. I'm overdue at the office, but I'll see you for dinner?"

I nodded, waiting to cross the street, already checked out.

"Relax." He said, cupping my face in his hands, and drawing me in for a quick kiss before traffic was stopped and I could walk.

"Thanks." I said, smiling, as we parted ways. "I'll see you later!"

I clocked in just on time, and sat down exhausted, already. Angela peered over the barrier at me, and saw the headline of the magazine I hadn't realized I was still carrying.

"You alright?" she asked, before she saw it. "Oh…oh dear."

She popped over and crouched in front of me, as I sat there for a few moments, breathless.

"What?" I said, snapping out of it. "Ugh…yeah. I'll be fine. Just haven't woken up yet…pressed for time this morning."

"Me, too. Ben has a motorcycle, though, so he got me to work on time." She said, standing. "You had quite a night, last night. I'm surprised you made it on time."

"Edward woke me up with this." I sighed, looking at the magazine. "I can't believe Mike used me to fabricate a story. It's an awful headline, too. No wonder he's working for a tabloid."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, crumpled up the magazine and threw it in the trash, then went to work. As promised, Jacob's interview was on my desk, faxed and put there by Jessica.

Well…time to get to work.

Hope you liked, sorry about the delay, again, and review!