"I'll be waiting, wishing, wanting, yours for the taking. Just sneak out and don't tell a soul goodbye."
-We the Kings

EIGHT YEARS LATER

Edward: My fingers froze. The snow pelted down hard on my jacket. Some part of me told me to go home. She wasn't coming. I looked like a fool standing here. I just couldn't give up so easily though. She just had to come. The least she could do is come and tell me she didn't want this, but I guess by not coming she was already giving me that message.

I rubbed my hands together and breathed into them. They warmed but only for a few moments before the cold reached them once more. I buried my hands in my jacket and tried not shiver. The crowds passed. Some completely ignored me; others gave me a sad glance.

Alice came back with the coffee.

"I think you're stupid," she said as I greedily reached for my cups. I wrapped my frozen fingers around the warm container. Instantly the feeling began to return and blood rushed to them. I took a sip and enjoyed the scalding heat on my tongue.

"I know I should have worn gloves," I joked as a puff of white escaped my mouth. She rolled her eyes. Her small hands enclosed the cup she had and she too began to stare at the crowds.

"I don't think she's coming. We should just go home," she said with a heavy sigh. I shook my head.

"I can't just leave. I gave up too easily once before. If I do it again, I'll never be able to live with myself. I'll keep wondering if I would have stayed a little longer would she have come. The cold is worth a life time of wondering," I said sternly and took another swig.

"She told you she wasn't coming! What more does it take for you to get it through you head. Waiting here all night?"

"If that's what it takes," I said softly. She growled in frustration.

"And when she doesn't show?"

"If. If she doesn't show. I'll go home and forget about it. I'll leave it be. I'll enjoy the memories of my first love, but I've got to be sure it's over," I whispered.

"Tempt not a desperate man," Alice quoted from beside me and leaned against the brick wall. I laughed a bit. The quote brought memories of all the times she quoted to be before. Whether she was trying to get a point across or simply wanting to make me laugh.

I let myself think about that for awhile. I let myself trace over every centimeter of our relationship. From the beginning to where I stood right now wondering if this would be our new beginning or simply the end. Both seemed to scare me.

The sky darkened further. The cold numbed my face and finger completely. Alice left sometime after. She mumbled an excuse but I wasn't listening. I just kept glancing at all the people hoping to catch a familiar face. She just had to come. There was too much between us to just let go.

But maybe I had waited too long. I should have done something sooner like she had accused the other day. But I didn't. Still I had a chance right now to make it right and I was going to.

I couldn't do it by myself though.

I needed here

So I waited.

A WEEK EARLIER

Bella: I couldn't feel my fingers. This was crazy. What was I doing here? Apparently I was in for a death wish.

"Oh in here!" Rose said and quickly dragged me into yet another store. Vera pushed me from behind leaving me completely trapped.

She seemed to know her way around pretty well. She pulled me along to the back where the dresses hung on tiny mannequins. She pulled a glittery black one and held it against my coat covered form.

"No, I don't think it suits her," Vera said softly. She was Rose's best friend. I liked her enough. She was small and the exact opposite of Rosalie. Where Rose had long wavy golden hair, Vera had short straight black hair. Vera was shy and quiet, Rose was loud and outgoing and I realized Vera was a lot like me. Maybe that's why we all got along so well.

"I think we need her bulky coat off," Rosalie said pulling at my zipper. I sighed.

"We're here to shop for Vera. Not me," I said with a stern look and they both rolled their eyes.

"It's okay to shop for someone other than me, Bella," she said in a snarky tone and I stuck my tongue out at her.

"No. Bella doesn't like shopping. It would be easier to get an elephant into a dress than her," Rosalie teased.

"I don't know whether I should be offended or agree," I said and the girls began to laugh. It didn't matter much. We continued with the shopping trip. We went to five different stores before deciding to take a lunch break.

"So I've got to say, Bella, I love your hair, I do, I just wish you would have kept it longer," Rosalie said taking a fork full of chicken and popping it into her mouth. I shrugged and ran a hand through my layered shoulder length hair.

"I needed a change," I said and took a bite of my egg roll.

"Well I think it looks lovely," Vera said with simple smile. I smiled a thanks.

"That's only because you've never seen her with long hair," Rose replied.

"I've seen pictures," Vera quipped. Rose rolled her eyes and Vera lightly pushed her shoulder.

"So where do we go after this?" Rosalie asked.

"Home, please," I begged.

"Bella, you're in Chicago for two weeks. We need to show you around," Rosalie said widening her eyes to make her sad face. It didn't work on me.

"You're the one who chose to move to this city. I prefer my warmer states," I said and began to eat my noodles.

"It's not my fault you didn't come during summer," Rose grumbled.

"Why didn't you come during summer?" Vera asked.

"I wanted to be with Rose and Jasper during the holidays," I answered.

"What about your family?"

"My parents will be fine without me for one Christmas," I said and waved my hands to dismiss it.

"And Jake?" Vera asked.

"He will do fine. We're not too serious yet anyway," I said though I knew it was a lie. We were getting serious.

"That's not what I hear," Rosalie chimed. I snapped my head toward her.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well he called me before you left. Said he wanted my help in picking out a ring. He's proposing," Rosalie said with an evil glint. Vera gasped and swatted her arm.

"You're not supposed to tell her Rosie!" Vera reprimanded but I was shocked into silence.

"Propose? I… but…we've only been going out for 6 months. Isn't that too early?" I gasped.

"No. Well preferably it's a year but if you guys are in love…what's the wait?" Vera said with glittering blue eyes. I sat there in silence not sure how I felt about it.

I mean, I think I loved him. I know I loved him, but I wasn't ready for marriage. I mean it all seemed so sudden. I didn't see Jake as the guy I wanted to marry.

"I'm not sure I want this," I sputtered.

"Every girl wants that, Bella! Jake's a good guy. He loves you and treats you well. What more could you want?" Rose asked.

"I just never seen myself marrying someone like Jake," I said astonished.

"Who did you see yourself marrying?" Vera asked.

Instantly I pictured brilliant green eyes and messy copper hair. A tall lean form and a smirk that could light a dark room.

My chest pounded a bit harder and I bit back the gasp. I hadn't seen or heard from him in eight years. It was ridiculous to think of him now. I looked up to see Rose staring at me with worried eyes. As though she knew who I was thinking of.

She probably did.

"I don't know," I answered.

"Are you not happy, darling?" Vera asked with sympathetic eyes. I shook my head and managed a full blown grin.

"Are you kidding? I'm great. I'm going to get married!" I squealed and the girls laughed.

"Oh hun, you just need to let me plan it!" Vera said and grasped my hand.

"Oh no! I've got dibs," Rose said pushing Vera's shoulders playfully.

"Well if you girls team up, I have no doubt my wedding will be every little girl's dream come true," I said and they shot me bright grins.

"We need to get started on the invitations."

"The food."

"The flowers."

"The dresses."

"We need to let him ask the question first," I said a bit panicked. I mean I didn't need to get married exactly after he proposed. We could wait awhile. Rose again shot me one of those looks.

"So any news of the Cullen's?" Rose asked confirming my suspicion and I shook my head.

"Not really. Kate got married, to a guy named Garrett," I said and took a bite of my beef.

"Who's Kate? Sorry I only know the main family," Vera said with a soft smile.

"Kate's a cousin. Her grandmother was Cullen but got married. Which makes it easier for Kate. Her name was never Cullen so she never had to worry about it," Rosalie explained. Vera nodded. Kate's grandmother was Elizabeth. That reminded me of Granddad and again that small tug on my heart appeared.

The rivalry has pretty much stopped now. The only Swans who live in Forks are Rose's and Jazz's dad and his current wife. Rose and Jazz moved to California and then Illinois after graduation. I stayed in Arizona with my mother and father. Jake moved there too after sometime. It was shocking to find out he had lived there. Soon we began hanging out and we gave it another try.

It was easy to be around Jake. Even easier knowing I wasn't attached. It hurt to be around him because for a while it felt like I was betraying Edward, but it soon settled that we no longer had ties. He hadn't contacted me after he graduated. I waited for six years. It was my right to move on. I convinced myself that and now I had a perfectly good guy who wanted to propose to me.

I wouldn't let this dampen my mood. I was going to be happy, like I was supposed to.

I mean sure for a while I couldn't exactly grasp the fact that he and I were over, because for a long time I kept imagining him finding me and taking me away. We would live together, and get married and our families would either accept that or shun us. But we would take whatever choice in stride.

Those thoughts kept me sane for awhile, but I couldn't blame him. I had broken up with him. I had told him to move on. To be happy. I told him I didn't think we had a future, so it shouldn't have been a surprise when I never heard from him, yet it still hurt.

I realized Vera and Rose were in a middle of a conversation while I sat in my thoughts.

"I'm going to the washroom," I told them. Rose nodded and I left without being missed.

I took my time. Rose and Vera could easily forget the world around them as spoke to each other. I was glad Rosalie had found a friend here. She never made me feel like a third wheel, but sometimes the feeling crept up without permission.

I walked out of the washroom and something caught my eyes from the large windows. A flash of red copper hair. I looked closer.

It couldn't be…

I walked toward the exit quickly and was hit a rush of cold air. The wind stung and my eyes began to water, but I didn't let it distract me. Quickly I walked toward the side of the building where I had seen him turn.

I could see him in the crowd. He stood at the corner talking on the phone waiting for the light to change. A smile came over my face because there was no doubting it.

It was him.

"Edward!" I called loudly. He didn't turn so I began to run. The light turned yellow and I picked up my pace. He hung up the phone and I called again.

"Edward!" I yelled and he turned his head. The light changed to green, but he didn't move. The crowd around him disappeared across the street and he spotted me. I stopped when I reached the curve and smiled at him.

He glanced down at me with confused eyes.

"Um…" he trailed off awkwardly.

"You don't recognize me?" I asked with saddened eyes.

"I'm sorry, I…" he trailed off as he glanced at the street to see he had missed his chance to cross. His shoulders tensed and I knew he didn't want to be here. Cars zoomed by and then he looked at me again.

His eyes widened.

"Bella!" he exclaimed and I nodded with a smile. A large bright smile over took his face. It made my knees weak.

I guess in all honestly I should have expected it, but I didn't. He wrapped his arms around me and I was met with heat. His scent drifted around me and I was lost in it. I hugged him back. I didn't think I would see him again.

He pulled away after a second. His brow scrunched as he looked me over.

"Where's your coat?" he asked and I realized I had stepped out into the cold without it. I wrapped my arms around me.

"It's at the restaurant. I was having lunch with Rosalie and I just happened to see you past. I didn't want to miss the chance to say…hi," I said lamely and a light blush decorated my cheeks. He chuckled and a small pang of hurt went straight to my heart because I had missed him terribly.

"Wow…I… you look amazing. You changed your hair," he said and gently grabbed a strand of my brown locks. I smiled.

"Yeah," I said with a smile.

The cold was getting to me, but I didn't want to say goodbye.

"I should get back," I said and rubbed my arms hoping to create warmth with the friction.

"Could I get your number? We should catch up," he said and I smiled again.

"I would really like that. Can I see your phone?" I asked and he handed it over quickly. I dialed my number into it and saved it. I handed it back.

"It was really nice to see you," I said and began to walk back. He nodded and waved as I turned to run back to the small Chinese restaurant.

…

"You should call him," Rosalie said as she flipped through the channels on her TV. I sat on the love seat. The phone in my hands.

"I don't have his number," I mumbled.

"Well that was mighty stupid don't you think?" she asked and I shook my head.

"I wasn't really thinking at the time. God, Rose he looked amazing. Had he always looked that good," I said reminiscing on our earlier encounter. Rosalie laughed lightly and put the television on mute as she stared at me.

"Time can do a lot of things, but I'm pretty sure he was always pretty cute," she said and I sighed.

"I shouldn't have said that. Gosh, I have an almost fiancé. What is wrong with me!" I said and lay back onto the couch. My feet swung over the arm rest.

"There's nothing wrong with noticing a cute guy. Beside he was special to you. He was your first love," she said.

"He was a lot of my first," I said thinking back and instantly a blush heated my cheeks. She laughed harder.

"You're 25 years old Bella. You shouldn't blush about it," she said and gently smacked my leg. I sighed as I rubbed my hand down my face. We had shared less than a hundred words and yet I couldn't get them out of my head. I hadn't felt this way since…well since the last time I was around him.

"It just doesn't feel right thinking about him like this," I said exasperated.

"Had your relationship ever felt right?" she asked. I shook my head.

Then my phone rang. I sat up and stared at it. It was an unfamiliar number.

"I think it's him," I whispered.

"Well answer it!"

"I don't know what to say!"

"Try: Hello!" she shouted and I stared at the phone as it started its third ring.

"I thought you waited a day before calling someone," I said in shock.

"That's when you're dating. Just answer the damn phone," she growled and then took the phone out my hands, flipped it open, and placed it at my ear.

I swallowed.

"Hello?" I said. I took the phone and she sat back staring at me.

"Bella?" he said on the other end. I nodded.

Rose smacked her head and I realized I was on a phone. Duh.

"Uh, yeah. Edward?" I asked confirming it.

"Yeah, I hope I didn't call at a bad time," he apologized and I could imagine him running his fingers through his messy hair. Again a pang of hurt came as all on the memories of the late night conversations with him ran through my head.

"No, not at all. I was um just talking with Rose," I said and stared at her. She was flipping through the channels, but I could tell I had her full attention.

"Oh okay. Well I was wondering if you weren't too busy tomorrow you might want to get a coffee," he asked nervously. I smiled.

"Sure, what time?" I asked and we shared the details of the meeting and then we hung up. It was simple and brief. Rose shut the TV and stared at me.

"I don't know where this is," I said looking at the paper on the coffee table with an address I had scribbled.

"I do. I'll drive you," she said with a wide smile. I nodded and shook my head.

"I can't go. I have Jake to think of Rosie, I just can't pretend we can go back to normal," I said and began to scrunch the paper. She stole it from my hands and soothed it out.

"Bella, you have a chance to…become friends. I think that's worth it. End this rivalry for good. If you're friends with him, then your kids will be too," she said and I felt hurt thinking of Edward with someone else. Even more saddened thinking of him having a family.

"This feels too weird," I said.

"Bella, you love Jake. You haven't seen, Edward in seven years. Feelings fade and eventually go away. He probably doesn't even see you like that anymore. I mean, you don't see him that way do you?" she asked and I quickly shook my head.

"No. I don't even know him anymore," I sighed.

"Exactly. You have nothing to worry about," she assured me with a radiant smile.

Nothing to worry about.

. . .

Had he changed his mind? That could have been a very real possibility. He could have decided that it wasn't worth it. I was just a girl in his past why should he care? I was just a stupid mistake.

All of these things could have crossed his mind.

I sat on the high stool and played with my cup of coffee. Maybe I was too early, but hadn't he said twelve.

Maybe I should stop sweating it. He was only late by 15 minutes.

I would wait a half hour, if he didn't show I'd call Rose and have her pick me up. I'd label it a lost cause. At least I tried to reconnect.

But who was he to not come. I mean it was him who had called me. It was him who had scheduled this meeting. Why should I be stood up?

"Hey," he said with a smile and I snapped my head up. Instantly my anger was gone and a lazy smile came over my face. He placed down a batch of cookies in front of me and sat. He began to shrug out of his coat.

His hair was windblown and his cheeks were pink from the weather.

"Chocolate chip, right?" he asked and it took me a minute to realize what he was talking about. Looking down at the basket I realized he meant the cookies. They were pretty normal sized cookies, except I could see the steam coming off them and the chocolate looked just melted. I grabbed one and bit.

They were delicious.

"Mmm, yes. It's nice of you to remember," I said and finished the cookie. He laughed and began to drink his coffee.

"I have an elephant's memory. It's hard for me to forget," he said. I looked away.

"So…um what brings you to Chicago?" I asked.

"Oh, an internship, I'm not sure if I'm staying but it would be nice if I got it," he said and shrugged his shoulders.

"You really did it huh?" I asked.

"Did what?"

"Become a doctor?"

"Oh. Yeah I guess I did. I mean I always seen myself becoming one. How about you? What do you do?" he asked.

"I'm a teacher. First graders," I said and he laughed.

"I thought you didn't like kids," he said and I shrugged.

"My mother was a substitute for kindergarten classes after we returned to Arizona. She loved it. She would come home tired, but she never hated going to work. I wanted that," I said and he smiled.

"So I guess Miss Swan is very popular," he said and I gave him a cheesy grin.

"You better believe it. I'm the damn best teacher that school has ever had," I said and he laughed.

"I wouldn't doubt it. So…have any kids of your own?" he asked and his shoulders tensed. I coughed awkwardly. I hadn't expected that.

"Why do you?" I had to admit the thought had never crossed my mind. He shook his head and I was surprised on how much of a relief that was.

"No. No I haven't really settled down," he said and shrugged his shoulders.

"No I don't have children. But it would be nice to have my own first grader running around the house one day," I said with a beam.

"I would imagine. So you seeing someone then?" he asked but he seemed to already know.

"Why don't you tell me?" I challenged. He laughed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Seth tells me you're dating Jacob Black," he admitted and I swallowed hard. He looked almost hurt and I actually wished I could tell him I wasn't. But that wasn't the truth.

"Yes, I am," I said leaned back in my chair while taking another cookie.

"So how did that happen?" he asked shamelessly and popped a cookie into his mouth.

"It was actually after I started working at the Elementary. He was a mechanic for our buses and I spotted him one day. We began talking. We were friends for a year before he asked me out on a date. I accepted and things just sort of built on from then," I said taking a drink of my coffee.

"Well I hope things work out for you," he said and gave a forced grin. I laughed loudly.

"No, you don't. You still don't like him," I said after my giggles had calmed down. He chuckled.

"No, I don't like him, but I want you to be happy," he said. There was a smile in his eyes and I knew he meant it.

"Thank you," I said and a calm quiet came between us. It felt like before when we would take long drives because we couldn't stop anywhere for fear of someone seeing us. We would run out of things to say and yet there was never an awkward silence because we could just enjoy being together.

It was like that and it hurt to think of the memories because I wanted them back. I wanted to go back, because I still loved him. I always would. But I loved a different Edward. He was not that same person, just like I wasn't the same Bella.

He cleared his throat.

"So what about you? Why are you in Chicago?" he asked and sipped at his coffee looking at me through his dark eyelashes.

"Um…vacation. I'm here with Rose for the holidays. Jasper too, I guess," I said and he shrugged.

"I didn't know Rosalie lived here," he mused. I nodded.

"Yeah. I don't think I like it here too much," I said and scrunched my nose.

"Why is that?" he asked.

"It's too…cold. I got enough of that in Forks," I said and realized I might have gone a bit too far. I don't think either one of us was ready to talk about the past right now.

"That's right. You wanted to live somewhere in Hawaii," he said with a grin not letting the statement bother him. I laughed because this was easy, however much it might hurt. Talking with him was simple and there was no anger between us.

"Or North Carolina. I hear it's lovely there," I teased and took another drink of my coffee.

"I've been there. It's actually very beautiful. I think the coldest it gets out there is about…a Chicago's autumn weather," he said and I gasped.

"Is it? Oh then it's settled. I might just move there," I said and he chuckled.

"I'm glad I could help."

"Well that's always been one of your better qualities."

"As opposed to my bad ones?" he asked.

"You act like you don't have any."

"I like to believe I don't."

"Well someone needs a cup of reality. Should I order one or do you want to get it?" I mocked and he only gave me his crooked smile.

"Name one," he said. I thought for a moment.

"You Mr. Cullen are a perfectionist," I said with a triumphant grin.

"Oh am I now?" he said with mock shock. I laughed at his expression.

"Well you're not so perfect Miss Swan and I settled for you," he said and I gasped. I could tell by his eyes that he was joking and the comment didn't hurt only made me want to tease him more.

"Oh really? Name my flaws," I challenged.

"I don't think we would have enough time to name all of them," he joked and I laughed.

"Name the ones off the top of your head," I said and he gave me an evil smirk.

"You lose things almost all the time. You don't admit it, but I think you're a neat freak, and you have a hard time with staying in the real world," he said without missing a beat and took a swig of his coffee.

"Wouldn't being a neat freak and losing things be a contradiction to each other?" I asked.

"I supposed, but I'm assuming it's just another one of your flaws," he said and I laughed again. I was glad to know that even though he had known a form of me seven years ago he still knew part of me today. I did lose things way too much and I did clean a bit too often.

Another comfortable quiet was laid on top of us. Both of us lost in our individual thoughts.

"So are you done?" he asked breaking the silence after a moment. I shook my container. There was very little coffee. I drank the rest of it and nodded.

"Yeah I am," I said.

"You want to catch a movie?" he asked and I nodded. We had never gone to a theater together before and it felt wrong because we should have experienced things like that. We were a couple and normal couples went to movies and diners and coffee shops. But we never did.

"Yeah, okay," I agreed and we were off. We talked in the car about silly things. We talked about new books we had read, bands that had caught our interest, or television shows we enjoyed. We talked about school. About our families.

Alice was now an interior designer. She was married. She lived in Chicago, which was why Edward wanted the internship.

Emmett was in construction. He was dating but swore he would never settle down. He still lived in Forks.

I told him how Rose had got into fashion. She was working for a small company now, but people were seeing her talent. She tinkered with cars and worked as a mechanic as a side job.

Jasper had gone into law. He moved out of Forks against his will but unwilling to let Rose go out of state. He eventually met a girl was currently engaged.

I told him how I still lived in Phoenix. I liked it there.

When we got to the movie theater we decided to watch a comedy. It was nice to sit at a movie theater, laughing together and sharing popcorn. When we left it was dark outside.

"Well that was fun," I said with a smile as we stepped out. He laughed.

"I'm glad. I would hate for you to be in a hurry to get home," he said and I only laughed.

"You know, I don't think I've ever felt like that with you," I admitted. He stopped just outside the steps to the theater.

"I don't believe that," he said and I nodded. His face was illuminated by the bright red and yellow lights of the signs.

"It's true," I admitted and leaned against the railing.

"How about the time when you had just found out about me being a Cullen," he challenged. I bit my lip. I had never told him this.

"Even then the only reason I wanted to get away was because I wanted to get closer. It was scary," I reveled. He smiled slowly.

"I didn't know that," he said.

"I never told you," I responded. It was quiet and I recognized the song playing on the speakers of the theater. I smiled.

"This was our first dance," I said with a bright smile. He listened and laughed.

"Well it would be plain bad luck if we didn't dance it now," he said and held out his hand.

"We can't dance here," I said shocked.

"Why not?"

"People can see, it's strange."

"So, let them. We don't have to hide anything," he said. I bit my lip hard before taking his hand. There were only a few people coming in and out of the entrance anyway. It could have been because we left out the back entrance.

He pulled me close and we twirled to the music. I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled up at him.

It felt so intimate. To dance with him to this song in front of the movies. It felt nice. Right.

I laughed softly but didn't speak much.

"See, not weird?" he breathed into my ear. Another giggle.

No it wasn't weird. It felt natural. Too natural and I knew Rose was wrong.

This was definitely something to worry about.

. . .

Okay, so the next chapter we'll figure out what's up with the whole little Edward POV and see what's going on there.

I decided that on account of my last day of school being yesterday I would post this chapter a day early! :) So please review and I might surprise you by giving the next chapter early too.

But if not then expect the next Chapter Saturday. June 5th.

Review!

-T. Tanya