Author's Note: So I lied - I'm posting three chapters today! This may just be because I'm procrastinating on B.I.D. and all that jazz. I hope you liked the last chapter and I hope you like this chapter too. But don't think that all of the updates for this story will be this quick b/c I was just in a hurry to get this out! Please review after you read!

Bookcases and Dorm-Room Hallways

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All are human.

So Edward was dating Alice and they were in love. I knew that I could never get a really great guy like him. He was so sweet when he paid for half of my books and for my coffee and when he bought me a cookie. But there were a few things I didn't get. If he was dating Alice and so in love with her, why did he put his arm around me when we left Starbucks? Why had his face fallen when I had mentioned Emmett moving down here to be close to me? And why did he admit to being in Alice's dorm if he was just going to hit on me and make me feel uncomfortable?

I didn't know the answers to any of these questions but I wasn't sure if I wanted to find out. Right now, we were going to some store where he was going to help me pick out a bookcase, For that, I was grateful. This way, I wouldn't get ripped off.

And the fact that Edward's father was a doctor could be both a good thing and a bad thing. If I made as many trips to the E.R. as I had back in Forks and in Phoenix, I was going to become quite acquainted with his father. But, that would also be embarrassing. If, for some reason, we did end up dating, I would hate for him to know all about my 'incidents'. But it would be nice to have someone like him to be there for me... What am I saying? That'll never happen. He's totally gorgeous and I'm so... not. What could he ever see in me?

"Bella?" I heard his angelic voice somewhere in the background.

"Hmmm?" How intelligent of a response. Way to go, Bells.

"I was just asking if you liked this one." He looked worried, as if he actually cared about me. I looked at the bookcase he was trying to show me. It was actually really pretty - for a bookcase. It had a three shelves, a little store compartment on the bottom, and was taller (and wider) than Emmett! I really liked it and hoped to fill it up some day.

"I like it." I moved to look at the price and he stepped in front of me.

"Let me," he said. I couldn't let him pay for it.

"If you aren't going to let me pay for it or at least look at the price, as least let me chip in." I grabbed some money out of my pocket and thrust it at him. He was not going to get out of this one. He moved his eyes from the money in my hand to my face to the bookcase. I could tell that he knew that he had lost this one. He grabbed the money and as his hand grazed mine, I felt a jolt of electricity. He stilled and I couldn't help but wonder if he had felt it too.

"Fine, then. You win." I resisted sticking my tongue out like a five year old when he turned his back. To my surprise, he lifted the bookcase up and placed it on the dolley he had grabbed on the way in. I watched as the muscles under his shirt flexed, leaving little to the imagination as to how toned he really was.

"Like what you see?" My head snapped up and I saw an amazingly crooked grin spread across those full, smooth lips. I resisted reaching up and running my thumb across them. He had caught me ogling. Busted!

"I've seen bigger." Did I just say that? I must have because he smirked before turning to push the dolley to the counter. I just hung back and enjoyed the view. Hopefully, he wouldn't catch me this time. He didn't and I was very grateful for that. Maybe moving down south wouldn't be so bad after all.

When we got to the counter, Edward grabbed some bills from his pocket and threw a glance at me before rolling his eyes and putting the bills I had given him on top. I hid a smirk from thise gorgeous green eyes. The clerk took the money and handed Edward the change before signalling another clerk to come over and help roll the bookcase out to Edward's car. Edward waved him away and took the dolley from him. The clerk had to follow him out ot retrieve the dolley so we couldn't talk until he left.

I got in the passenger side as Edward climbed in the driver's side and slid the key into the ignition. I must have been really used to the growl of my truck because I didn't even realize he had started the car until we started to pull out of the parking slot. He had a C.D. in that I recognized I couldn't really say that I was surprised that he listened to this kind of music. Classical suited him.

"Claire de Lune is great," I said. I couldn't help myself. I had to tell him what I thought.

"There aren't many people that listen to DeBussy."

"Well, I just know my favourites. My mom used to play them around the house when we were at my grandma's house."

We spent the rest of the ride back to school talking about music. It wasn't a long ride so when we pulled up to my dorm, I was disappoointed that it was already over. Reluctantly, I opened my door and got out to find Edward already getting my books out of the backseat.

"Thanks, Edward. You didn't have to do all of this." I took the last of the books from the seat and closed the door. He followed me to the door and I held it open for him and then he followed me up the stairs. When I was almost to my door, I saw a man standing in front of my door. He was knocking and looked angry. I saw the sun coming through the window catch in his hair. The golden specks caught my eye and I slowed in my pace. Please don't let this be who I thought it was.

The man turned and I saw his face. My heart stopped and my feet did the same. It couldn't be. Why had he followed me here? When I had broken up with him, I had told him that I didn't want to see him - EVER. AGAIN. Why was here?

"Bella! There you are! I was wondering when you were going to get back." I didn't miss how his eyes darted over to Edward's arm that had wrapped around my waist.

"Do you know this man, Bella?" he whispered in my ear. I could only nod. I was still in shock of seeing him here. There was no way.

"How've you been, Bells? I haven't seen you since the funeral. After that, you just knda hung out with Emmett and didn't come out of your house. I was getting worried." He had made his way over to us now and at first, Edward's hand had slackened at the mention of Emmett but it had tightened when my ex had gotten less than 24 inches from us.

"I think that we need to talk. Come with me." I turned to Edward with as apologetic of a look as I could muster. "Would you mind waiting out here for a few minutes? I just need to straighten something out. I won't be long, I promise." I took the rest of my books as he nodded and walked over to my door before sliding the key in and throwing one last glance at Edward over my shoulder before going inside. Who knew what was going to happen?

XXXXXXX

Edward POV

I was sitting by her door and could hear voices rise every so often. I was getting worried. She said it wouldn't be long but it had been thirty minutes already. I hoped everything was ok. I didn't know who that guy was but I had an idea. I gave up sitting and stood up. I began pacing up and down the hallway.

When door at the end of the hall opened, I didn't really pay any attention. That was, until, I heard a high soprano voice call my name.

"Edward! What are you doing here?" I looked up and saw Alice sprinting towards me. I had made a full rotation up and down the hall and was now in front of Bella's door. Seeing Alice made me put 2 and 2 together. This was Alice's dorm, too. Alice was bogged down in bags from getting who knows what for their room. At least now, I would have a legitimate reason for making frequent visits to Bella's dorm.

"Hi, Alice. I just met your roommate at the mall and helped her bring her stuff back to her dorm. But we met an unexpected visitor. I think it was her ex and -" I was cut off because we both heard a scream and then a crash. I ran over to Bella's door and started beating on it.

"Edward, what's going on?!" I turned to my sister.

"Alice! Shut up and open the damn door!" I had never yelled at my sister like that but this was an emergency.

She dropped her bags and pulled her key out of her pocket. She dropped it but I grabbed it before it could hit the ground. I shoved the key into the hole before I could drop it like my sister and threw the door open. What I saw was something that I don' think that I'll ever forget.

Bella's ex was leaning over Bella - on her bed. She had her shirt torn open and he had his hand over her mouth. I could see the shear terror in her eyes as she saw me and Alice come through the door. His hand slipped only a fraction of an inch and Bella took her chance. She bit him. But that didn't help matters much.

"You Bitch!" he yelled before back-handing my angel. She let out another shriek and before I knew it, I was in motion.

"You get the HELL off of HER! NOW!" I yelled. I lunged at him knocked him to the floor. I heard Alice behind me and knew that Bella was in good hands. Her ex was throwing punches at me and missing. I got him flat on his back and sat on him before pulling back my fist and then putting all the force I could manage into breaking his nose. I heard the crunch as the bones broke and knew I had made perfect contact. I pulled my hand away to see it covered in blood. I didn't let that stop and kept swinging. Eventually, the little bugger got free and I had to go after him.

He ran out of the room and into the hallway. I chased him the whole way. I ended up following him downstairs and outside before he got to his car and drove away but I did manage to make a pretty good impression on his baby face. I only let the anger control me for a second before I took off to Bella and Alice's dorm room.

When I got there, I almost had to fight my way through the crowd that was forming at their doorway. I made my way through and closed the door behind me. I made sure to lock it and took in the situation. Bella's books were on the floor near the door and Alice had her in her arms on the other side of her bed. She was cradling her, comforting her. Alice just had that in her blood, to be a comforter. I suppose she go that from our mother. Esme was such a giving person. Like mother, like daughter I guess.

I slowly made my way to them, making sure not to startle them - most importantly, Bella. My angel should never have anything like this happen to her - EVER! Wait - when did she become mine? It didn't matter. What did matter was that she was safe.

"Edward," I heard her whisper. I hurried to her side and knelt beside her.

"Yes?" I whispered back, putting a displaced hair behind her ear. She looked up at me through her long lashes.

"Thank you." I simply nodded before taking a chance. I planted a soft kiss on her forehead, earning a look from my sister. I knew I would be explaining later and gave her a look that told her I would comply.

"You're welcome, Bella." She pulled away from my sister and pulled me into a vice grip hug. She was shaking. I held onto her and could smell the strawberries in her hair. That explained the glorious scent radiating from her. She held on for a long time but I had no complaints. I never wanted her to let go.

"I suppose I should explain," she said as she pulled away from me. I suppressed a groan at the loss of her warmth and sat back on the floor. I didn't know how long this was going to take but I was prepared to wait it out. I would give anything hear her magnificent voice.

Additional Author's Note: I know, I know - it was short. But I needed to stop to let you guys catch your breathe and I need some reviews! This story is already on at least one alert list but they didn't review! Now - any guesses at to who Bella's ex was? Anybody, anybody? Leave your guess in a review! Just click the little button below... There Ya go!