Edward's POV
I groaned as the alarm clock next to my bed went off. My head was pounding and I felt a spasm of pain as I rolled over on my custom made bed to switch it off. My hand fumbled around looking for the button for a while. But it took only a second for me to get sick of the noise and knock it completely off the table, probably breaking it.
I rolled over again, about to go back to sleep. But the noise in my head made that impossible. So, with a moan of pain, I decided to drag myself out of bed and go for a run. You know, get the oxygen flowing to my brain. I couldn't even bring myself to change out of the sweats and white shirt I had slept in or even do my hair. The most I could do was pull on my old running sneakers. I paused at the door, debating whether or not I was really willing to run in this heat. But something, I don't know what, made me believe that I wouldn't regret the workout.
I could just about manage a slow jog up to Central Park, where there were dozens of people running around the gardens. I slowed down further to a walk, ignoring the stares I got from the mothers. Disapproval, it was a face I knew well. Here I was, moving about in my sleeping clothes, panting and sweaty. Whatever.
I watched the runners in front of me. I saw many different types of people. Everyone had a running partner. There were two blonds running side by side. A red-haired girl jogging next to a really muscular guy. I hate to admit it, but I slowed down even more because I actually found him kind of intimidating. I had muscle, but my muscles were more subtle, leaner than the huge, buff body builders that don't seem healthy at all.
Then someone caught my eyes. She was a slender brunette, wearing yoga tights and a purple tank top. She was running at a moderate pace, just barely more than a quick jog, and her ears held earphones that were probably blasting music. And I knew her. Little black dress.
"Hey!" I tried to call. She didn't seem to have heard me. "Hey! Little black dress girl!" I shouted louder. By now I was receiving more than a few awkward stares. I ran faster, until I was running next to her. Her ponytail was bouncing as she stepped and I tapped her shoulder.
She looked at me, not stopping and her eyes widened. She pulled out her earphones and tucked them into her bra. I tried very hard to keep my eyes on her face.
"How the hell did you find me?" she asked, breathless. "What are you, some kind of stalker?"
I shook my head. "I live around here," I said.
"How come I've never seen you running before?" she challenged. "I'm out here every day."
I shrug. "I guess I've been short on time as of late." I tried to catch my breath. "Do you wanna slow down?"
"Nope." She popped the 'P' and sped up slightly. "Why do you look like you just got out of bed after having wild sex with your wife all night?"
"I don't have a wife," I said with a smile. "What about you? Where's your boyfriend?"
"As if I have time for all that," she sighed.
"So, what did you say your name was?" I ask hopefully.
"I didn't," she reminded me with a coy look.
I groan, but only sort of because my heart was hammering and my breathing was quick. "Well, I'm Edward."
"Do you just give out your details to random strangers every day? Or am I a special case?"
"Yes." I didn't specify which one I was answering, which seemed to frustrate her. I noticed the way her nose scrunched up just a little. It was cute. I shook my head to rid myself of the thought. "So, did you change your mind? About going out?"
She finally stopped running and I bent down over my knees to catch my breath. "You're quite persistent, you know that?"
I looked up with a crooked smile playing on my lips. "Don't you find it charming?"
"More like annoying." She sighed. "Look, I'm gonna let you down easy; I don't date. I need to get my own life together before I can start involving other people in it."
I stood up straight and found that she was at least a foot shorter than me without her high heels. "I'm sure we can work something out, though. I'm a good guy."
"That's irrelevant." She rolled her eyes. "You're hot and everything, but I don't need any drama."
"At least give me your number," I persisted, staring deep into her brown eyes. "You just said I was hot."
She groaned in frustration. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure." She opened her mouth and I put on of my long fingers over her lips. "But, in return, you have to let me take you to dinner tonight."
"Sorry," she said, stepping away from my finger. "I'm busy tonight." She started backing away into a jog. "In fact, I'm busy every night for the next two years." She turned around and started jogging again.
"I'll see you later, then!" I called after her.
"Don't bet on it!" I could almost see her eyes rolling as she disappeared.
I smiled all the way back to my apartment. I think I'm making progress.
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A/N Sorry it's so short people. But I couldn't think of a good way to interpret the next chapter into this one. The next one will come soon, though! And REVIEW!
