AN. After a long hiatus from writing, I'm back. Some things went down, blah blah blah. I guess sometimes real life just gets in the way. I promise these won't be abandoned, and if you're back to read some more thank you so much. I'll be seeing you again very soon! Once again, a thank you to everyone who read or reviewed:)

"Would you like a ride home?"

I stared at the monotonous brown of her eyes, pooling into tears that threatened to spill over again.

"I'll need you to pay me now, we can go back to yours... Or if your wife is home just drive me... Somewhere...", she whispered, her eyes darting around as if weighing up her desire to run against the likelihood that I would follow.

"No, I'm not asking you for. That. I just want to see that you get home safe, you shouldn't be sat alone in an alley. Anything could happen to you!"

She looked at me in fear, and I realized that if I wanted her to look at me without cowering away I probably shouldn't have been towering over her the way I was. I looked at the floor with skepticism, trickles of moisture from dubious origin ran in chaotic lines from the doorway she had huddled herself in. I sighed, no doubt the bottoms of my jeans already soaked in urine. I crouched down beside her and asked again whether she wanted a ride.

"A ride to where?" She answered, biting her bottom lip with obvious suspicion.

"Home, of course".

"Look mister," she seemed to sigh, "if you don't want to fuck me then I suggest you leave because there really is nothing else I'm good for." Her voice wobbled around the same time my knees threatened to give out.

"Where are you staying?"

"What the fuck do you want with me? I was staying in the basement of the club but seeing as I just got fired that's probably not a possibility anymore. I'm not interested in a ride, unless I'm getting paid for it. I'm not really interested in getting in a car with you, I don't want to be found dead in a ditch tomorrow morning."

It wasn't my place to, but the irritation at the situation travelled up my spine raising the heckles on the back of my neck.

"I will pay you to get in the car, will that help?"

She looked around and quickly deduced that I was her best option. I handed her $30 and she followed me to the parking lot. I was suddenly glad that my oaf of a brother downed my shot as well as his own, and that I had only managed a sip of my beer before all hell broke loose. At least now I could drive without making her dead in a ditch fear come true.

"Where are we going?" She asked timidly, all the earlier fire in her tone completely drained.

I pulled in front of the Moore Hotel after driving aimlessly next to the waterfront for a while. She stiffened her back when she saw where we were. I ignored her obvious assumptions and walked her into reception. She stood and picked at her nails, pretending to read the notice board while I booked a room.

I walked over to her and handed her the key. "Right, this place is booked for a week. 7 nights okay? It's all yours." She looked at the key in wonder and disbelief.

"What... I can't afford... Oh... Will you be coming up tonight?"

"For goodness sake, no! I've paid for the place, alright? Just stay here until you can figure out a friend to stay with or something. Whatever, it's nothing. Just do me a favour." Her eyes flashed with wariness. I grabbed an envelope from the complementary stationery on the desk, put the remainder of the cash in my wallet inside and wrote down my cell phone number. Underneath I printed my name in block capitals. "If you're every in trouble, call. I know we don't know each other and this is a really fucking weird situation but can you just promise me please that if you need help you'll call this number?"

She took the piece of paper from my hand and slowly nodded, with her eyes wide and distrusting.

"Bella" she whispered, barely audible above the low hum of a vacuum cleaner in the lobby.

"What?"

"You're Edward. I'm Bella. Swan. Thank you, but..."

"No buts, Bella. Get some sleep. Call me if something comes up."

I left her standing in the lobby as I stalked out towards the car. It felt huge. Life changing. One of those weird moments in your life when a shooting star crosses the sky and you have to double take evaluate whether it really happened or not. I didn't usually behave like this. I was no philanthropist. I was just a man. And whether it was from guilt or blame or common human decency it was such a contrast to my prosaic life that it required some serious reflective thought. And thought it got. All day, every day for the next 2 months.

Already working on a new chapter, just wanted to wet your appetite! xx