Disclaimer: I own nothing. They all belong to the lovely Stephenie Meyer who we all owe dearly for introducing us to the world's most perfect man, the one, the only EDWARD CULLEN. Also, the name of this story is shamelessly taken from one of my favorite French movies. The plot is totally different from this one but you'll see how it applies in later chapters.

A/N Here is the second chapter. I know it took me awhile but do forgive me because I had a stye the size of Africa and I could be barely see through it, much less type. It still isn't completely gone but I can see better and I'll be updating more now. With that, I'd like to thank RikkuYuki for the review and to all the others for alerting this story. Thanks to asimpledesign who even added me as a favorite! That definitely made my day. Hope you guys enjoy. :)

October 11, 2007

I lay against the wall of the church Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. Somehow being close to this church gave me some solace. The story of St. Cecilia had always interested me, how she came into martyrdom and how she became known as a miracle since her body never seemed to decay. Because that was what I now was: an undecaying corpse. However, a miracle I was not. How could I be when this… this thing that happened to me was keeping me away from my Bella? I cared nothing of my soul. That mattered little to me compared to that beautiful girl I had met by the fountain. What filled me with burgeoning agony was that my heart had stop beating. I didn't care if I was dead. But once upon a time, I had lived for Bella, my heart literally beat for Bella and now that was taken away from me. She was taken away from me.

But the memories would never be. I would not allow it.

See that was the thing. Even if my body had gone through an insurmountable pain those three days I was being turned by that wretched woman into this disgusting piece of existence… I was so sure it would be enough to rip away all memories I had of my past life… of Bella… But when I woke up, they were still there. I had promised myself I wouldn't lose them but I didn't think that would actually hold true.

And as much as it pained me to remember all these things and not be able to look deep into her eyes, to kiss her, to touch her… I could never want these things taken away. Because ye, they hurt. They certainly didn't help my situation any. But a life without even the memory of Bella would be nothing, just meaningless.

And so here I sat. Carlisle and Esme would start wondering where I am but I didn't really care much at the moment. I was having one of those days where bearing with the pain was especially hard. And so I did the only thing the ache in my chest would be satisfied with - I sat and thought of her, of our story.

I had heard people talk about the Earth moving when they meet that special person, only to scoff at them in disbelief. I mean, really, world spinning and feelings of floating? Please.

I still don't believe in that.

Because for me, it was a very different experience when I met Bella.

When I first laid eyes on Bella, my heart shattered and found its missing parts all at the same time. I stopped breathing and couldn't get enough breaths all at the same time. I knew what it was I was feeling but couldn't even begin to give justice to the elation.

All I knew at that time was that I had found her and I would do everything I could to keep her.

February 8, 2004 (The italicized date is to indicate that this is a flashback. I would make the whole thing italicized but there are going to be a lot of flashbacks these next few chapters and personally, it becomes a little uncomfortable to read in that form after awhile)

I couldn't even begin to stop thinking about her. It had been four days since I had met Bella in the Piazza Navona and I was waiting for an opportune moment to call her. Work had been killing me these past few days since the construction of two of my designs was going less than smoothly. I actually had a lot to think about but I couldn't help it. She was always there, at the back of my mind.

I walked into my office after having checked up on the construction of one of my current projects. I immediately went over to my secretary's desk, hoping she had good news for me. "Ciao, Alessandra. Please tell me I have some spare time before I have to go on site again."

Alessandra smiled just a little too sweetly and said in a light Italian accent, "Ciao, Edward," I asked all my employees to call me this. It was just too weird having to hear Mr. Masen everyday. "I am glad to report that you have a little over an hour before you have to be down at Al Ceppo for your lunch with those people looking to put up a new museum."

"Brilliant. Thanks, Sandra," I said before dashing into my office. After all, I was a man with a plan. The moment I had closed my door, I took out my phone and looked for her name in my phonebook. I had long encoded her number into my phone. I began to dial and suddenly, a million thoughts raced through my head. What would I say? I didn't even think to plan ahead of time. This was just great. I would sound like a complete bumbling…

"Hello?" said a soft voice from the speaker.

"Good morning," I said, my racing mind quieting at the sound of lovely voice. Just what time is it? I hope I didn't wake her up, I thought. Too late now though. "This is Edward Masen. Is this Ms Bella Swan?" I asked.

"Oh, hello. Yes, this is Bella Swan. I was wondering when you would call, Edward," she said. I felt the smile creeping up my cheeks at the way she addressed me. And she was wondering when I would call… I almost began to skip at the joy spreading through me. But I smacked myself in the forehead before I became that much of a moron, thank God.

"Yes, I realize it's been four days but I've just been swamped at work. How are you?" I asked. As if we were old friends. Who was I to really be talking to this amazing girl?

"Oh, I've been good. I've been quite busy with work as well since I am sort of new. And you?" her voice was enthralling. It wasn't too high but it was fluid, almost graceful.

"Honestly? Not very well. Calling you has been the only thing on my mind lately and so everything else just seemed like a disturbance," I admitted.

She was silent a moment and I wondered if I had been too forward. "Well, you certainly know how to make a girl blush," she joked.

I pictured that rosy tint spreading through her faultless face. It was enough to embolden my words even further, "I need to see you again, Bella. Will you meet with me?"

"That sounds great, Edward. When?"

"As soon as your schedule will allow," I said.

"Hold on a sec," she said. There was a clinking sound so I assumed that she put down the phone to go check her schedule. She returned a few moments later. "How about this Thursday?"

I went behind my desk and checked my planner as well. Thursday I had a late afternoon meeting with that Dr Cullen who wanted to build a new hospital in Travestere. That shouldn't take too long. I'll just explain to him my haste, if ever, I thought. "Thursday is perfect. I'll pick you up about half past 7?" I asked.

"Pick me up?" she asked.

I furrowed my brows. "Of course. I would never make you get there by yourself."

She chuckled lightly into the phone. And yet another time, that sound just seemed to lift my spirits. "So chivalry isn't dead. Great. I'll see you at 7:30, Edward."

"Yes. Text me your address and I'll see you then," I said. "Goodbye, Bella."

"Goodbye, Edward," and with that, she put down the phone and I realized that Thursday just could not come fast enough.

A/N A bit short, I know, but if I had added the date, it would've been way too long. So here it is and I hope you enjoyed.