Author's Note: I know some of you are still in high school so the thought of midterms doesn't frighten you, yet. I have three midterms next week. All very difficuly, all about economics, ugh. So here's the third chapter, I don't know what to say about except that I think I need to re-read Twilight so I can keep Bella in character. Also, thanks to everyone that reviewed, you guys added a much needed boost to my self esteem. )

Disclaimer. I own nothing.

Brooklyn wasn't the safest place to live, but I naturally attract trouble so it wasn't really something I considered when I moved here. Plus, there was danger everywhere and I had acquired first hand experience in Forks.

Gregory grabbed my hand and pulled me through the small crowd. I hated how his hands were always so cold, it reminded me of Edward. I sighed and mentally prepared myself for whatever lay ahead.

"Sorry ma'am you can't go into the building," said a husky police officer. He was the type of police officer that made you wonder if cops actually did spend all their time in donut shops.

"But I live here, what's going on?" I tried to keep the curiosity out of my voice.

"Sorry, but the whole building has been evacuted. Come back tommorrow morning."

Great, now where was I suppose to go. I felt myself being dragged away when I suddenly remembered Gregory had a hold of my hand.

We were walking away from my building. "Hey, where are we going?"

"You heard the man, you can come back tommorrow. I have a comfy couch in my place unless you prefer to spend the night on the street."

It wasn't really a question, I had no choice in the matter. I felt uncomfortable accepting his invitation but I was too tired to argue. I realized I had never asked Gregory where he lived. A friend should know these type of things, shouldn't they?

"Where exactly do you live, Gregory?"

"You'll see.," he said as a sly smirk spread across his face. He suddenly stepped out on the street and waved down a taxi. "Fifth and 60th, please," he said to the driver as soon as we were inside.

I didn't know much about real estate but I knew that Fifth Avenue was known for expensive shops and mansions. He must have seen the confused look on my face because he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Don't look so surprised Bella. You never really ask anything about me so there's know way you would have known I was loaded," he said with a hint of smugness.

"Yeah, I guess I'm stuck in my own world sometimes."

"Bella, your stuck in your own world ninety percent of the time but its okay I'll be here when you decide to join the real world."

We both fell silent after that. Gregory always seemed to put things so bluntly. No sugar coating or polite phrases, just the utter truth. The traffic wasn't as horrific as most days and we made it to Midtown in a record hour.

When we stepped out of the cab, Gregory was at the building entrance waiting for me. The lobby was lite by small lamps and everything seemed to glow. "So, this is where you live," I said trying to make the akward moment less akward. It didn't work.

"Well, I inherited it from my grandfather. He passed away a year ago." We entered the elevators and he pressed the button for the penthouse.

"Oh, and where's the rest of your family?"

He smiled as if I had said something funny. "Well, I don't have any close family. Both my parents died in a car accident when I was six, and I was an only child. I do have some uncles and cousins that live in Europe, though. I visit them a few times a year."

The elevator door opened to reveal two wooden doors. Gregory grabbed his keys from the back of his jean pocket, and fumbled with them looking for the right one. When he finally opened the door, I gasped.

"I take it you approve?"

The whole place was white. White walls, white furniture, white countertops. What took me by surprise was the view. The fourth wall of the apartment was completely glass and overlooked Central Park. Gregory grabbed my hand and led me down a hallway to the right until we stopped at the third door.

"You can stay here, it's the guest room. I'll be sleeping over there if you need me." He pointed to the door directly across the hall from mine. "Oh, there's food in the fridge if your hungry. I would keep you company but I'm dead tired," he said as he stepped towards his room. "G'night."

I sighed and entered the room. The room was a beige-pink color with soft white carpeting. It had a granny feeling to it. The bed was made of oak with nightstands on both sides. It was nothing extravagant but it managed to amaze me. I realized I didn't have anything to sleep in when I heard a soft knock at the door. "Come in."

"So, do you like it or would you prefer the couch?"

"No, I think I'll be able to manage." I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, here I brought you these." He tossed me a pair of sweats and a faded shirt with the words Amoeba Music splattered in red and yellow across the front. "They probably won't fit but its better than sleeping in jeans."

"Thanks." I closed my eyes and yawned. When I refocused my eyes, Gregory was gone.

I slept better than I had in months that night. I tried to tell myself it was because of the huge bed, but I couldn't help thinking it had something to do with Gregory's presence.

With the soft light of the rising sun, I could fully appreciate the appearance of the room. The lace curtains hung limply over the window, I sighed and grabbed my messenger bag from the nightstand. I found my ipod, and jammed the earphones into my ears. I settled for The Shins, and got up to stretch.

I remembered I hadn't really looked around the place. Gregory had pratically dragged me to the door of my room without more than a glimpse. Everything was silent as I quietly opened the door.

The whiteness and plainess of the front room made me feel like I was in an office. Yes, it was modern and high tech, but Gregory had too much personality for this room. It was if he didn't really live here, like he hadn't made this place his own. I headed towards the fridge and grabbed the carton of milk from inside. To my surprise, there was a ton of food inside.

For some demented reason, I had always thought Gregory would make a good vampire. Other than the fact that he rivaled my paleness, his body tempature already seemed to be off by a few degrees and I never saw him eat. He was already beautiful and strong. What more do you need to be considered a good canditate for vampirism?

Oh, yeah. You have to be on the verge of death. Otherwise, its considered inhumane, well, at least to one vampire I knew. While I was rummaging through the cupboards, Gregory decided to make his appearance.

His hair was deshelved and he was scratching his head. I don't think he was fully awake because he hardly acknowledged my presence. He slowly made his way to the white leather couch and turned on the big plasma.

"Good morning, Bella. The cereal is in the cupboard above the fridge." He said all this without taking his eyes away from the plasma. Apparently, there was a Daria marathon on MTV that required his full attention.

"Aren't you going to eat? I can make you something." It had been a while since I had actually cooked.

"Nah, I'll grab something later."

"Well, I'm going to see what hideous crime took place in my building, do you want to come?"

"Sure." I could tell Gregory wasn't much of a morning person. He was usually a lot more talkative when I saw him. I started to think something was wrong, but I thought it was best if I left him alone. I knew I didn't like to be bothered when I was in a bad mood.

I took my cereal and headed to my room. It took me less than twenty minutes to get ready, but somehow Gregory was ready before me.

"Took you long enough." His mood had brightened.

"I just couldn't decide what to wear," I said with dripping sarcasm.

"Oh, Bella." He patted my head.

"Let's go before the whole building collapses." I dragged him away from the plasma and out the door.

When we reached my apartment, I wanted to cry. There were two fire trucks parked across the street. The building had caught fire and collapsed. Within a span of twenty four hours the little bubble I had managed to create had literally fallen to the ground.

"I guess we weren't in time to save the building. Maybe if you wouldn't have taken so long getting ready…"

"This isn't funny Gregory." I thought about the things that had vanished along with the building. My clothes. Pictures. Edward's CD. I started sobbing and fell to my knees.

Gregory picked me up by the shoulders and steadied me.

"Come on, there's nothing left for you here."

As Gregory dragged me away, I looked back at the ashes that held my last material connections to Edward. What was to keep me from thinking he was just a part of my imagination now?

Playlist: (I forgot about this in the other chapters, I always wanted to make one, hehe.)

Caring is Creepy – The Shins

War- Subvert – Zounds

Sunbeam- Canyon Country

Superconnected- Broken Social Scene

Amsterdam- Peter Bjorn & John (the song Anabel was humming in the last chapter)