A/N: Chapters 5 and 6 are not too different from each other so I decided to post them both at the same day. But please, leave reviews for EACH. That's what I only ask of you. Thank you and enjoy.

~WHAT IT TAKES TO STAND~

Chapter 6: Call for a Change

Friday was every employee's favorite. It entails clubbing, getting drunk, meeting strangers and spending intimacy with loved ones. For me, it only means staying at home, sulking at my pathetic life. But an e-mail on my computer alerted me, making me think that my friday could turn the other way around.

You didn't call.

I worried how to answer him but told the truth all the same.

I'm not yet ready for my answer.

I was holding my breath for his response and exhaled a loud gust when he seemed not to resent me.

I'm bored.

Go find something to keep your interest.

A picture of you in a bikini would keep my interest.

You're so cheeky.

Or without…

Excuse me, Mister, but I'm trying to work here.

Aren't you the Grinch? Go bitter and give me my punishment.

I contemplated to send my next message, wondering if it would be too suggestive, but held on my breath as I pressed the enter key.

Lie down and I'll spank you six times.

Edward groaned and knocked over his stack of papers. My co-workers eyed him and looking embarrassed, he explained "I just have a stomach-ache."

Like before, I pretended to cough to hide my laugh.

At lunch, Edward was once again asked by our co-workers to join them, chiding him for not staying yesterday on the press-con to eat with them. He was telling them that he wanted to work more for lunch, tentatively looking at me, but they wouldn't hear of it and dragged him to come with them. He gave me an apologetic look as he was heralded out.

Once again, I was alone. I scanned the streets outside while I bring out my lunch – this time I chose beef tacos, my favorite. The streets don't hold the same interest as they once do. There were still the varying people walking by but I couldn't look long at them to hold my interest. How could one man completely alter my outlook at the world? I felt pathetic.

The ding of my e-mail alerted me.

I wish you were here.

Just that sentence dispelled all the self-pitying I was feeling. Smiling hugely, I eagerly sent a reply.

Pretend Angela's Angelina Jolie, and Jessica's Jessica Simpson.

It's not the same. I like talking to you better. You make senseless things make sense.

I chuckled, but also felt warmth in my heart to know we have mutual feelings about our conversations.

How are you sending me e-mail?

Through my phone.

Sneak out.

The moment I pressed "sent", I panicked, realizing how clingy that sounds. Did I really ask him to ditch them to come to me? After several minutes I realized he wouldn't send me another reply and probably felt I was entirely joking. Sulking, I finished my lunch. I was surprised when I saw Edward walking towards me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, stunned.

"You told me to sneak out."

"I was just kidding!"

"Well, I'm here," he said as he dragged a seat towards me.

"Have you finished your lunch at least?"

"I ate half of it. Don't worry – I'm not starving."

There were still a few remains of my lunch and I offered it to him. He smiled as he accepts it.

"I can't believe you."

"I told you, I wanted to spend time with you. Jessica was talking nonstop about her current date and Kate was irritating me while she asks me stupid questions. And what's up with that Eric guy?"

I laughed, imagining him straddled with our inquisitive co-workers. "Eric is a closet gay."

He almost spit the food in his mouth. "Fuck! Are you serious?"

I nodded. "Yes. Nobody notices but I once caught him and Tyler making out."

"Shit. Shit. Shit." He looked like he would burst.

"Why?"

"That's why he couldn't get his hands off of me! I went to the comfort room and he followed me there, all the while engaging me with talk. I was feeling uncomfortable as he kept glancing at me, but the others assured me he is a stud."

I laughed louder, unable to erase my imagination of Eric looking at Edward in the male's room.

"You just gave him a free peak."

"Shit."

I had tears in my eyes from laughing. Edward's expression was priceless as he visibly shuddered.

I noticed him staring at me and that's when I stopped.

"I really like your laugh."

I blushed, staring at my hands.

"Tell me something, Miss Swan…"

"Bella," I corrected him. "Call me Bella."

He smiled. "Alright, I'll call you Bella you call me Edward."

I nodded.

"Bella, why do you keep avoiding other people?"

I was astonished. I didn't know he was paying attention to how I interact with people. I couldn't pry away from my hands as I spoke.

"I think you can clearly see why, Edward. I'm not normal. People only look at me with pity, or disgust, or indifference. I can't mingle with them the way I used to." I didn't tell him that if I find someone like me before, I'd be one of those people giving those looks.

He was quiet for a moment. I glanced at him.

"Do I look at you that way?"

I surveyed his expression, looking for the looks that I just enumerated, but not finding even one morsel of them. He looks at me with interest, with devotion and even with desire. I looked away.

"I'm fascinating now. I would be boring later."

"I wanted to have a chance to see that for myself," he says. I couldn't speak.

"You have my number. I'll be waiting for your call. Please, give me at least one chance."

At that he rose, just in time for my co-workers to come. I looked towards him as he went to his cubicle. How could this sexy man find interest with me? He looks at me, and when our eyes met, I knew right then that I would take a chance with this man. Determinedly, I nodded, letting him know that I was giving him the chance. He smiled gloatingly, and just before I looked away, I saw him winked at me. I rolled my eyes at him.

As soon as I got to my apartment, Cheeky languidly greeted me by the front door.

"Get out of here," I told her. She looked at me with irritated eyes.

"Right. I'll call him. Don't give me that look."

She jumped towards my couch, circled two times, and laid there with eyes closed.

"Lazy cat," I mumbled. I wheeled myself towards my room to change to comfortable clothing, and then went out of the room, went near the telephone, and stared at it for the entire five minutes, getting the nerve to give the damn call. A few more minutes later, I finally lifted the receiver and punched the numbers. The phone rang a few times before the call was picked up.

"Dr. Brandon's private clinic, how may I help you?"

"Hi. It's Isabella Swan. I would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Brandon on Saturday. Would that be possible?"

Gianna, Alice's assistant, answered in a surprised voice.

"Hold on one moment Ms. Swan. I will have to check her schedule."

I was put on hold for a few moments as I bit my nails.

After the six years of my inability to walk, I was passed down from doctor to doctor, until they learned that my condition wasn't because of some accident, but deeper. I was diagnosed with a Somatoform Disorder called Conversion Disorder. It was formerly known as "hysteria" because not until just later they thought people with this disorder were faking illness. However, it was learned that the disorder was mostly psychological and that the patient could have suffered some sort of trauma, converting the psychological pain into physical manifestations. It was bulls-eye for me.

Since then, I was transported from one shrink to another. They couldn't crack me; they couldn't even make me speak about the damn accident. I wasn't even rich to begin with so I'm not really an ideal patient. Giving up, I would be transferred to another shrink. That was before I met Dr. Brandon.

Alice was my fifth shrink. One look at my record and she was convinced I was the patient she was waiting for. She told me she simply wanted to help me and I shouldn't worry too much about the payment– she could make do with what I am able to pay her.

At first, I wouldn't want to confide to her about my true nightmares. She only shrugged, telling me I have all the time in the world and that she is willing to wait and be patient with me. One by one she learns of my past and I learned my true issues as she guides me to realize them on my own, but it wasn't still enough for me to move on and finally walk. However, she is patient as hell and it has been six years, five years with her, and she's still my shrink. So, my decision to volunteer information will be like a psychological breakthrough for her.

"Miss Swan? Dr. Brandon wants to speak with you."

I didn't even get a chance to speak before Alice was all over me.

"Finally Bella! After six long years, you finally wanted to share something on your own. Get your butt here down this instant."

I chuckled at her enthusiasm and felt stupid for feeling agitated on calling her. "Hello to you too, Dr. Brandon."

"What do I keep repeating you call me?" she reprimanded in a scowling voice.

"Sorry. Alice." I corrected. "Would tomorrow be agreeable to you? At nine?"

"Tomorrow at nine would be perfect."

I heard Gianna talking to her in the background saying how her Saturday is full.

"Shh. Just cancel one of my appointments there and put Miss Swan's," she told her.

"So, see you tomorrow?"

"Yes, see you. I'm already excited about this."

I'm not sure if I'm equally as excited, but it at least is one step forward.