A/N: Do you really like this story? I don't know if it is working out. If you want me to continue, review and let me know. If you're not really feeling it, let me know that too. I am trying to have more time to write on it, but like I said, I don't really know if it is working out.

Alright readers, I need your help with something. I am working on a new story and I need your help with some ideas. It's a new idea that will not leave me alone, but of course my other stories are priority for now. I just need your ideas so the story will shut up. My question is this:

What is some quality about you that is simple and random that has surprised a guy before?

Example: In Twilight, Edward is shocked at Bella's taste in music—Debussy and Linkin Park (the CD that is not specifically named in the book when Edward asks what is in her CD player).

Example: I have a credit card with the painting Starry Night by Van Gogh as the background. I used it at a bookstore and the guy at the register was very loud about how impressed he was by that. He was also impressed by one of the books that I was buying. His words were "You're just impressing me all over the place tonight!"

That's the kinds of things I need. Random, simple, silly little quirks and preferences that impress guys. I need random things that have amazed/ shocked many different types of guys. Maybe some stupid little thing that made a guy fall in love with you or realize that you were perfect for him. So, please help me by PM or review. Thanks in advance.

Chapter 3

APOV

Edward and I were fixing a problem with the sound system. I had been waiting for the perfect time to ask Edward about Bella. I knew that Edward had been avoiding her and decided that today was the day to ask. I was sick of being in the middle.

"Edward, are you avoiding Bella?" Edward seemed caught off-guard, which was the best way to get information from him. He was so darn controlled all the time. He kept his head buried in the sound box for a few seconds.

"Edward why are you avoiding Bella?" I asked, hoping to get a direct answer for my direct question.

"Don't worry about it. This is ready; we better get ready for practice." He turned to leave but I grabbed his arm.

"Answer me. I am not going to be stuck in between anymore. I'm stuck between my best friend and my brother. She apologized, and is trying to be your friend again, but you keep blowing her off. I know you do. I want to know why." Edward stood silent a while, sighed, and then gave in. He sat down in the nearest seat.

"Alice, has it ever occurred to you that I avoid her because I'm not good enough for her, but really want to be?" I was silent, trying to let his words sink into my head so I could comprehend them.

"I'm not sure that it is love, but I do like her more than I have any other girl I've ever known." Huh? Love? When did love enter into the conversation? Could Edward love Bella? Wait a minute.

"Wh-Why did you treat her like you did?"

"Because of the no-fraternization rule. I need the money too much to lose this job."

"With your experience you could get a job on any cruise liner in the world. And I don't think they'd fire you for dating staff. They rely on you too much. They'd just give you a warning or something. And you know it. What do you do with all the money anyway?"

"Well see, that's another thing. I can't get serious about any girl. What if it was to lead to something? I can barely support myself, much less a family."

"Calm down. Slow down. Support a family? Explain what you mean."

"The first time I saw Bella, I knew she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. There was something about her that was different. She wasn't classically beautiful, but she was extremely unaware of how bright her smile was. It was refreshing to look into her deep brown eyes and see intelligence. I guess I was seeing her heart more than her face. I knew there was a plan for her. She was special and would touch people. And for a second, I wondered if that plan included me. And I got scared.

"The rule was a safety net. I could be near her, get to know her, be her friend, without the--."

"Commitment? Work? Trouble? Intimacy? Edward, she didn't propose to you."

"Okay, okay. But the whole time I was aware of myself, kept my off-season activities a secret. I also kept the biggest part of myself away from her. You don't know how much I wanted to tell her."

"Why are you so afraid to tell her about the children's center? She knows about one out in LA and even considered giving this year to them. She just needed to make money, not pay it. She is amazed and touched by them. She wants to help people too."

"Don't tell me that," he groaned. "Without the rule, I had to push her away. I know she is very touchy about how young she looks. So I used that to try to push her away for good. I knew they were going to repeal it. I didn't want to be so mean. I didn't want to lie and confirm something that I've tried so hard to get her to not believe. I didn't want to hurt her. I wanted to hold her and tell her everything. Once again, I got scared. I turned my fear into hurt.

"For three months out of the year, DayStar Children's Center is my home and my life. I'm not settled down. I'm not ready to start anything." Edward was trying to convince himself. He was making excuses and had forgotten that I was there.

"Bull. Bella didn't ask you to marry her. She was only telling you how she felt."

"No, Alice. I know what I'm doing. Do you remember Jessica? I really liked her and she said she really liked me. But then I told her about DayStar. At first she was all into it. Researched the area needs, visited the center for a couple of days. Really seemed to get into it. But then she learned where all of my money went. She just thought it was a summer job, not a passion. She stopped answering the phone when I called. And then I saw her with another guy, kissing behind a hill in the park. She'd agreed with my wish to keep physical contact to a minimum. Until she saw that my heart was for the children at DayStar and I would never be rich."

"But Bella is different. You said so yourself. She doesn't want to be rich."

"No. Jacob is good for Bella. Yeah, I've noticed him. He has a more stable job and a house in Florida. I'll even encourage them. Even if they don't get together, at least she'll be okay without me. Two years from now, she'll finish college and forget about Dream Inspiration and me." That was the end of the subject for then. And I had to hold my tongue and forget all about the conversation.

BPOV

When we got closer to Ireland, we had the nights off so the Irish could take it. There would be no more of our performances until we left Ireland. Tyler made sure the guests were sick of Ireland by bombarding them with the stereotypical Irish cultural icons. Green was everywhere on the ship. Shamrocks, alcohol, leprechauns, and things were everywhere. We still had practices and we still had to mingle and join the guests and the crew at dinner, however.

That night was Riverdance. I was amazed and enthralled with the culture of it. For once I didn't have to try to ignore Edward. I ignored my dinner and my friends.

"Hey, Bella, aren't you going to eat?" Apparently Jacob had been trying for a few moments to get my attention.

"Oh yeah, I forgot."

"She loves other cultures, especially Irish." Edward explained, almost as an aside.

"I wish I could sing that well. Wouldn't mind knowing how to dance like that either," I added.

The Irish performers didn't hang out with the rest of us. Few of the guest performers did. They had a different routine than we did. Moreover, the passengers and sometimes the crew tended to be a little star-struck. They could go crazy if the guest performers were famous. I wasn't one to fall all over someone just because they were a celebrity, but I was in awe of Astor, the female lead. She had an amazing talent.

"Bells. Hello, Bella?" Alice had to touch me before I answered her.

"Sorry Alice, what is it?"

"If we're going to the early practice, we'd better leave now."

"I guess you're right, but I'd hate to miss a second." I did eventually get up and follow Alice, without another word to Jacob or Edward.

EPOV

"She loved it," Jacob said.

"Bella is a very passionate person about certain things. She can get absorbed. I'm glad it isn't a lot of things. Usually it's just books, but Ireland is a very close second. She'd wear herself and her friends out," I replied.

"I guess passion can be exhausting."

"Yes, but it's better than not having passion at all. It keeps people motivated." Jacob was irritating me. He mocked Bella's passion and didn't have any of his own. At least, none that he'd spoken about. I hadn't heard him talk about anything other than himself, and his love for the sea seemed a bit flat to me.

Maybe, though, I could give him some hints about how to handle Bella. Maybe he'd let her know more about him than he showed me.

"Her birthday is the sixteenth and Alice has Ireland planned for her. Three days of the culture she loves so much."

"What are you doing for her?" Jacob asked, with a failed attempt at nonchalance. He'd been hanging out with us a lot more than I was really comfortable with. I knew that if I was smart, I'd encourage Jacob in his pursuit of Bella and leave her alone as I'd told Alice was my plan. If I couldn't give her all of me, it was selfish to try to keep her my secret. That's why I tried to give Jacob hints now and then.

"A day of lessons with them," I pointed at the performers on stage.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Monday Bella is going to learn to dance and sing with them."

"Way to use your power for good."

"Bella deserves it." I almost stopped there, but he needed a little bit of information about her. He was interested, obviously, what guy wouldn't be, but was still hesitant. I guessed maybe it was because of me. "She works hard at helping with things that aren't her responsibility. Most of the people on this staff only do their jobs. Bella is always helping someone even when she should be resting."

"She sounds like someone I should get to know better." That was all I could take for the moment.

"I better get to bed myself, practice comes early."

BPOV

My dreams that night involved me, Edward, and Irish music.

I woke up late and had to rush to get to practice on time. I had to leave out most of my morning routine so I felt rushed the entire day. We were docked for the weekend to refuel and to let the guests have a little change of pace. The guests were required to spend the night on shore so the staff had the entire ship to ourselves. Practice that morning was more of a stress relief than actual practice.

Jacob, Edward, Alice, and I spent the entire day in and around the pool. I was surprised that Edward wasn't somewhere else; he usually didn't hang out with us. But I thought that maybe Alice was right. Maybe he'd just been busy with the start of the season and was now ready to be friends again.

It was almost like old times. We kidded each other all day and just had fun. No stress, no pressure. Sunday started out great too. However, Edward seemed like he was trying to get my attention on Jacob. He kept asking him questions and maneuvering so that I was next to Jacob a lot. He also gave out way too much information about me. The attention was becoming annoying.

Sunday morning I put on some music and had my own little quiet time. I read and spent a few hours thinking over things. Alice and Edward had gone ashore to a Catholic church. They wanted some structure; even if it wasn't the kind of church they usually went to. I didn't know what Jacob was doing.

After lunch I walked the decks, taking pictures of the port and the water. I also took the opportunity to take pictures of the ship. I preferred not to have strangers in my pictures that I put in my online blog. My blog was very popular in the summer when I worked Dream because people loved reading about the different places I saw. They also loved the pictures.

I was on the pool deck taking pictures of the port when I saw Edward walking with a girl that worked mainly as a dancer. She was very flirty with him, and he seemed to be enjoying it. He was casually strolling alone, laughing. I hadn't heard him laugh in a long time. They looked like they were best friends. Every step they took, every time she touched him, every time he laughed, was a stab of pain to my heart. I realized that he had never been that free with me. Never been completely at ease. But at the same time, he'd laughed much more genuinely with me. And he'd never seemed that controlled with me.

He looked up and directly at me, as if he'd known the entire time that I was there. I turned around and walked away, my pictures finished for the moment. I went to the computer labs and uploaded my pictures to my online picture account. I avoided everyone the rest of the day. I skipped dinner and stayed in my room, writing.

After dinner, Alice came by my room. I heard someone knock, but I didn't answer it.

"I'm not available right now, so if you would please leave a message at the beep, I'll get back to you as soon as I am ready to see anyone. Beep." I called through the door. The door opened anyway and Alice walked in.

"If you didn't want me to come in, then you shouldn't have given me a key, or you should have locked the bolt." I continued walking away and sat in my favorite chair.

"What happened Bella?"

"I, I, um." I broke down and cried. Alice just sat there, on the arm of the chair, rubbing my back.

"Okay, okay. I'll be okay. I'm okay now."

"Really? Now, what happened?"

"I was up on deck, taking pictures. It was after lunch, and I saw Edward and, and."

"Ah. You saw Edward and Lauren."

"Lauren? Is that her name?"

"Yeah. She kind of ambushed us on our way out of Mass. Then she proceeded to edge me out and away from him. She's had the hots for Edward longer than you. And she's been a pro for four years. She is really forward towards him."

"Why didn't I know about it before now? I haven't seen her much."

"Because she doesn't try anything when you are around. You know, typical girl catty behavior. I guess you aren't the only one who's noticed Edward doesn't hang out with you as much anymore." She left a little while after that, after I had cried my tears out.

I needed air, so I walked out on the pool deck. The ship was pulling out of port and the wind was blowing a little harder than normal. There must have been a storm out at sea somewhere. The ship was rocking with the waves and it was getting worse with each wave.

"All I've ever wanted was not to hurt. But I don't want to have a hard heart. I've avoided this my entire life. And just now do I know--." The ship rocked and someone stumbled from around the corner not very far from me.

"Oh!"

"Edward? Are you okay? What happened?"

EPOV

I was standing on deck, and heard a door open and someone walk out on deck. I peered around the corner and saw that it was Bella. She hadn't been at dinner and I'd missed her. It was difficult to not think about her, when even her absence was like a rebuff for my past behavior. The look on her face when she'd noticed me with Lauren had cut me to the bone.

I didn't exactly like Lauren, but she'd pushed herself on me. I tried to get her to leave me alone, but when she wouldn't, I had decided to make the best of it. I allowed myself to relax and ended up laughing like I hadn't in a while. Until I saw Bella.

"I didn't want to hurt her," I whispered to the waves. I knew she was hurt when she didn't show up to dinner. I didn't know what to do next time I saw her. I couldn't apologize as I wanted without showing how much I really felt. But I didn't want to just ignore her, either. Now, here we both were, a few feet apart, under the romantic sky. I nervously tried to very carefully to get behind her to the door. She would stand right in front of the door.

I paused at the corner for a few seconds. She sighed and I leaned closer to hear if she would say anything. I wanted so much to hear her speak. And then she did.

"All I've ever wanted was not to hurt. But I don't want to have a hard heart. I've avoided this my entire life. And just now do I know--." I hadn't noticed how far I was leaned over until the boat rocked with the next wave and I fell over.

BPOV

He picked himself up and brushed himself off. I didn't know what to do or how to act. How long had he been there? Had I whispered loud enough for him to hear?

"Yeah, I'm okay. I've been out here for a while and was trying to get by without disturbing you." There was so much to ask. So much to talk about. I didn't say anything.

"I'm going to bed. You should too. Alice said that you two were going to the early practice. Good night."

"Good night." I stayed a few minutes longer after he left.

I woke up late and once again had to rush to get to practice. Since I was going to be getting sweaty and it was Monday, I didn't bother to really look nice. I wish I had.

I approached the practice room and didn't hear or see anyone else. And then no one was in the room. I put my stuff down in the corner and started warming up. I glanced at my watch and saw that everyone was late. I was confused until I saw the dry erase board.

"Practice is cancelled today. Enjoy your day off. Edward Cullen."

"Oh that's great. Why didn't he tell me last night or put it in the newsletter?"

"Because I wanted to surprise you." I turned around and Edward stood there with all ten Irish performers.

"We hear that Thursday is your birthday," said one of the girls.

"And that you are really interested in learning Riverdance," said one of the guys.

"Edward asked us to give you some lessons as a birthday present," another added. I was speechless. Did he really do all this for me? And why did he have to mention my birthday?

Juliana and Anderson taught me part of a Riverdance in the morning. They taught me first about the cultural aspect of it. I was enjoying it so much that I forgot about Edward again. But when I looked for him, he was as into as I was.

Edward left sometime before lunch, but I was invited to eat with the group, so I ended up spending the whole day with them. Over lunch, I listened to their stories of Ireland and got to know them a little.

They were all from around Dublin and had been friends for years. Sean and Astor were married to each other and Juliana and Lachlan were married to other people in the company. After I learned a little about them, they asked about me. They asked why I was so into Ireland. I said because the little bit of the culture I knew had just gotten into my blood and heart.

"Yeah, the land will do that to you. You must have some Irish in you somewhere," Astor said.

After lunch, I had one more dance lesson and then the guys left me to Astor and Juliana to teach me to sing. That was my favorite part. The guys rejoined us later and Anderson asked if I would like to join them on stage.

"Thanks, but I'm not ready for that."

"You did very well. We'll put you in the back so no one will see you. You only know one dance and one song so it won't be the whole performance. It just so happens that we'll ask some of the guests and other staff to join us at different times in the night," Juliana said.

They finally convinced me. The other performers were just as excited to have me join them. I was surprised that they were so welcoming. I realized that maybe the guest performers didn't have to be strangers after all.

As they promised I was in the back. I danced the one dance and sang the one song. And I really enjoyed it. I also loved the costume they gave me. Jacob and Alice gave me a standing ovation.

After dinner, I chased Edward down and gave him a hug. I didn't even think about the night before. I didn't want it to get awkward. He'd left the dining room before my song was over. I found him up on deck cleaning the spilled liquor from around the outside bar. He was still in his suit and after I hugged him, I began helping him. I was still in the costume that the performers had given me, and it was awkward to bend over.

"That was the best present I've ever gotten. No one has ever given me that much thought. They usually don't really listen."

"It wasn't that time consuming. All I had to do was ask them. They didn't even have to be convinced."

"Thanks just the same." I took the chance of him turning his back and hugged him again. I squeezed tight and he actually hugged back this time. I let go too soon, smiled at him, and walked away. I decided not to look back. My forwardness had shocked me and my blush would have been noticeable even in the dark.