Edward's POV

I dragged myself out of bed the same time as yesterday. This was big move since I had no alarm clock anymore; basically I just sat in bed and mentally calculated the degree of sunlight I had to wait for. What was happening to me? But, eventually, I was back to the park and I was expecting to come across her any moment now. I was right; she was jogging a few feet ahead of me. This time, I jogged easily up to her since I wasn't hung-over anymore. And she didn't appear to be wearing earphones.

"Hey!" I called.

She looked back instantly. Her glance lasted the fraction of a second before she started sprinting, running even faster than she was going before I called out. Was she trying to run away from me? She didn't seem like the cowardice type.

I ran faster too, pushing myself until we were within inches of each other. I had to admit, for such a tiny person this girl was fast. She turned left around a corner and onto the main road. I followed in suit.

"Go away!" she screamed.

"No!" I yelled back.

I followed her all the way down two blocks, all the while she kept looking back to see if I was still there. I was. I sat up all night reassessing the situation and realized that my life has been nothing but a bore for the past few years. I wasn't about to let this little bit of excitement get away from me that easily.

As we passed an alleyway I got an idea. I slowed down enough to see her disappear down the road and the smile on her face when she looked back to see my pause. I fled down the alley and turned behind the buildings. The noise of traffic was what I followed. I prayed that I wasn't too late as I quickly ducked down the next alley and back to the main road. She was just in front of me. All I had to do was reach out to touch her. She turned back, a shocked expression on her face.

"What the fuck?!" she hissed.

I ran beside her. "What are you doing for lunch?" I ask. She opens her mouth and I stop her. "I will keep following you until you tell me," I warn. "I'll follow you all the way home if I have to!"

"I'll call the police!"

"Then they'll take me kicking and screaming from your front yard!" I struggle to keep up but I knew this was my only chance. Tomorrow, she may change her route.

"Why are you running here?!" she screams.

"Because this is my neighborhood!" I shout back.

"No, this is my route!"

"The road is public property. This is my route too."

"Then change it!"

"I don't want to!"

She stops abruptly and I trip over my own feet. I get up and stare down at her.

"Why are you so annoying?"

I sigh. "I wouldn't have to be if you would just tell me." I smile crookedly and I watch as a blush starts across her already pink cheeks.

"Fine," she relents at last. "I'll tell you what I'm doing for lunch today if you promise never to harass me while I'm running again."

"Deal."

She sighs. "There's a coffee shop just North of Central Park, across from Kings Hotel."

"I know the place. See you at noon."

She raises an eyebrow and walks to edge of the street. She puts two fingers between her lips and whistles loudly. "TAXI!"

One stops almost immediately and she opens the door. She doesn't even give me a second glance before hopping in. But I would see her at noon. That was enough to keep me from following her for now.

After I had showered and dressed in jeans and a shirt, I was ready to go. I left my hair undone because girls usually reacted well to that. I made it to the café in only ten minutes, knowing where I was going. She was early, as I suspected. She would have wanted to come and go earlier than I could get here. Rookie mistake, I chuckled to myself.

She was at the counter, her hair hung down to her back and she was wearing skinny jeans and a blue shirt. She hadn't heard me come in so I walked up top the counter and stood beside her.

"That color looks great on you," I noted, making her blush again.

"Hello, Edward," she greeted, not taking her eyes off the menu on the wall.

"You know, I think it would speed this process up along greatly if you just told me your name . . ." I hedged.

Her head snapped to me. "Look, I know what you want, okay. I can't believe I thought you were a deent guy. It seems like you're only that way when you're drunk."

"Wait a second," I said. "What are you talking about."

"I know the only reason you're stalking me is because you haven't been laid in a long time."

I blanched. "That's not true."

"Suuure it isn't," she said sarcastically. "Admit it; you saw me, you found me sexually appealing and now you won't stop until you get into my pants."

"I'm telling you, that's not why I'm following you."

She shakes her head. "Well, what is it then? I mean, you don't know me at all. I could be a psycho! I could be a killer. I could have twenty fucking personalities!" she growled.

"Alright!" I put my hands up as a show of peace.

"What can I get you, sir?" the lady behind the counter asked.

I stared at the little black dress girl and smiled back at the waitress. "I'll have a double espresso shot cappuccino. And also twenty of whatever she's having." I pointed my thumb at little black dress and her head snapped up, an unwilling smile playing on the corners of her lips. "Let's start over," I suggested, holding out my hand. "I'm Edward."

She actually laughed. "Bella." She shook my hand and I smiled triumphantly.

"That's a pretty name," I say honestly.

Finally, I'm getting somewhere.