Chapter 7

BPOV

I was silent and kept my head down looking at the table while the wait staff served the appetizers. I could barely say thank you as mine was placed in front of me. I wasn't hungry anymore, but I figured I should eat after quickly deciding that I wasn't drinking enough. I took a sip of the third gin and tonic I picked up at the bar right before dinner started. This was not strong enough to last me the rest of the night, so I downed the entire glass and pushed it away from me when I put it back on the table.

"Getting the party started I see. Let me catch up with you so we liven up this funeral." Jasper whispered in my ear and waved a server over. "We'll have another beer and a gin a-"

Cutting Jasper off, "No, make it a scotch, neat and a shot of whatever is the strongest liquor you have." I didn't even look up as placed my order. I heard someone at the table fail to suppress their laugh.

Jasper shifted his chair, "Yeah actually make it two of what she ordered." I heard the server leave. "Well, this should be an interesting dinner." Finally I looked up at him and saw Jasper shaking his head with laughter.

"Sorry, um, all these people make me nervous." I whispered. It was partly true; talking to everyone was a bit nerve-racking, but not as much as Edward Cullen made me with just a flash of his eyes moments ago. Figuring I would be totally embarrassing if I didn't eat something, I inhaled my food, and when the plate was almost licked clean, the server returned with our drinks.

"Here you go. Two orders of scotch, neat and two shots of Bacardi 151. Good luck." She set our drinks down and I nodded to her my thanks before she walked away.

"Here goes nothing." I took the shot timidly in my hands and slowly brought the glass to my lips. Please God, don't let me fuck things up tonight. And why the hell did you have to make Edward Cullen so unbelievably dreamy. Thanks a lot. I closed my eyes and downed the shot in one gulp. It burned and I winched when I felt the fire hit my stomach. "Gah! That was horrible." Everyone around the table no doubt watched the whole thing because they all were snickering while trying to eat their food.

"No shit Sherlock." Poor Jazz, he must have just taken his shot because his face was contorted in pain. It was kind of cute though. He reached for a water the same time I went for mine, attempting to sooth the burn.

"Sorry, I didn't know they would bring that. Next time I'll just get a shot of tequila." Jasper rolled his eyes at me. I could tell he wasn't up for that, at least not yet.

Soon they brought the next course of lobster tail and mussels. It looked so rich and tasty, but I still wasn't hungry. I forced myself to eat a few bites and tried listening to the conversations between the different department professors. Dr. Maurice sat across from me and was explaining to everyone about his trip to Africa in June when he and a few of his students went to study the living habits and culture of the indigenous people. He was planning on using his experience in his lectures for Anthropology classes this year.

Both Jazz and I were quiet for most of the dinner. I was trying to appear interested so not to be rude by nodding along, but I couldn't help it that my eyes would look over to the direction I knew Edward Cullen was seated. After the hundredth time I caught myself doing this, the servers were taking away the prime rib, which was the best I had ever tasted in my entire life. Even though I only had around four bites, I was seriously thinking about asking the staff if they could set some aside for me to take home so I could eat later when I got back to my room and my appetite would have returned. I didn't though because that would have just been tacky.

I had finished the scotch sometime during the last course and I was feeling a slight numbness all over I was thankful for and my heart wasn't hammering with anxiousness as much. It's never a good idea to mix your alcohol, but I was past the point of caring because the wine that was poured at the beginning of the meal looked rather tempting right now. If I got sick, it would just be a reasonable excuse for Jasper to drop me back at my place sooner.

"How are you feeling there champ?" Jasper stretched his arms and leaned back in his chair, content with the delicious meal so far. He draped his arm behind me on the chair and waited for my response.

"Good, nice and warm from head to toe. I think I'm going to have to remove my shoes before I get up from dinner, or you'll be making a detour to the hospital tonight." I laughed and he just nodded his head, agreeing that it would be the likely outcome.

They were finally serving desert and I was getting knots in my stomach again. It would mean that the dinner was fast approaching the end and people would be gathering in the living room to chat more. It also meant that Dr. Edward Cullen would not be confined to the opposite side of the room from me any longer. I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my neck at the thought.

"Jazz, can you take me back to the residence hall after desert? I think I'm done for the night. The wine is making me a bit sleepy, and I still have a lot to do tomorrow so I need to get some rest." And I really don't want to embarrass myself by running my fingers through my mentor's gorgeous messy hair while I threw myself at him so he could take me in a closest were I could force my tongue in his mouth and breathe him in.

"Are you sure? Esme did promise to finish the tour." He looked concerned.

"I'm sure; I'll just have to ask for a rain check." I gave a small, probably unconvincing smile.

"Ok, sure thing, after dinner is done I'll go get our coats and meet you in the entryway then we can go." He started to eat his chocolate soufflé. About to dig in to the desert myself, there was a sudden squealing of a chair moving back across he wooden floor quickly that echoed in the room. My mouth was full of the chocolaty goodness as I looked at the faces of my fellow dinner companions and followed the direction they were all facing with my eyes. It became extremely difficult to swallow my food when the quick glimpse of the now familiar bronze hair was in my line of vision.

I dropped my fork gently on the table and tried to compose myself before taking another look at him. My legs were still numb from the amount of alcohol I had consumed tonight but my heart was no longer calmed and was on the verge of pounding out of my chest. I could tell he was getting closer and I looked up. I felt a jolt when he crossed in front of my table. His fists were clenched and he had his eyes closed. He looked angry, furious even. His beautiful pale face was turning red as if he was about to explode and hit someone.

I wanted to rush over and see if he was ok, but my sudden fear of him at the moment kept me seated. His gate sped up as he turned so all I could see was his backside. My face felt red and I bit my lower lip because his back looked just as delicious as his front. I was having thoughts of what it would be to touch his broad and strong shoulders and then trail my hands lower on his body when he threw himself though out of the room and ran down the hall. The slamming of the doors behind him made me jump.

"Wow, he looks pissed." I surmised.

"He probably just forgot to take his medication today. Carlisle told me he was pretty busy since he helped pick up some of his team members from the airport today." Jasper whispered so I was the only one who heard.

"Medication? Is he ok?" Was Edward really sick? What was wrong with him?

"He's fine. When I first met at a dinner last May he was really jumpy and hardly spoke to me, let alone anyone else that night. I thought I had offended Edward, and asked his brother what I had done. Emmett told me it wasn't my fault, Edward has occasional anxiety attacks and it makes him quite anti-social if he hasn't taken his medicine. When we met again later this summer he seemed just fine, and a pretty cool guy. I just don't know why he's a professor or how he is able to speak at all those conferences he attends with that. I feel sorry for the man, it's gotta be torture." He finished and continued to eat his desert deep in thought.

I wasn't able to finish mine. It was delicious like everything else was tonight, but it was just too difficult at the moment. I sipped the remainder of my wine until I drained it of the last drop. When Jasper was done, people were getting up from their chairs and were walking out of the room. It looked like the evening was finally over for me and I was thankful.

Jasper helped me out of my chair and we both checked my balance when I stood. I was surprised I could still walk in my shoes. Maybe I would be able to wear heels more often now. I could allow Alice to help pick some for me in the future. I picked up my purse from the table and looked inside at my cell phone. There was a missed call from Jacob, I would return that tomorrow. I checked the time after clearing the message screen; it was almost 9pm which means it was only 7pm in Forks. There was a feeling I was forgetting something as we walked away from our table. We were almost to the door of the dinning room when I remembered that I was missing Esme's copy of Pride and Prejudice.

"Jazz, go on and get our coats, I'll meet you at the entrance. I need to go back, I forgot Esme's book at the table."

"I'll be a waitin'." He smiled back at me and then walked to the hallway.

Being careful not to fall, I rushed back to my seat. I quickly looked around the table and I didn't see the book anywhere on the table. I bent to look underneath incase it had fallen when I knocked the silverware off from earlier. It wasn't there either. I stood back up and tried to remember when I had the book last. If it wasn't at the table, I must have put it down somewhere else. The only place I thought it would be would be back in the library. I must have left it there because Esme had to hurry back downstairs to get dinner started. I probably just left it on the shelf.

I felt confident that's where it was and exited the dining room as the staff continued to clean off the tables. I walked down the hallway, stumbling every now and then from the mixture of alcohol and heels, almost taking down a vase that was on a table next to the downstairs bathroom. I really needed to take these shoes off before I took someone or something out.

I saw Jasper at the end of the hall holding our coats in his arms. I did my best to walk over to him to ask him to wait for a little bit. There were a few close calls at tripping. As I got closer, I quickly took a peak at the livening room. There were less people in there then earlier in the night, so people must have already left. I saw Esme and Dr. Cullen in the corner speaking to their older son and Jasper's sister. No sign of the younger Cullen though, which left me a bit disappointed. Finally I reached Jasper.

"Hey, you mind waiting just a little bit? I couldn't find the book at the table. So I think I left the it in the library. I'll be just a moment."

"Sure thing . I'll go say goodnight to my sister and the Cullens while you run up."

"I'll be down soon." I started up the stairs as he walked to the corner of the other room. When I reached the top, I had to count the doors to remember where the Library was.

One… two… three… four… five… library.

The door was unlocked so I walked in. I ran over to the shelf I took the book from earlier the night and I couldn't find it anywhere.

"FUCK!" I yelled. Thanks to Jake I would usually have a trucker mouth when I had done something stupid or if I was going to be in trouble.

I had looked at that painting in the room earlier, maybe….

"Shit, goddamn it mother fucker! Where the fuck is it?!?" I was frustrated. I couldn't find it anywhere in the room and I was panicking. How could I lose a book, especially Esme's book. She just met me tonight and now she would never trust me. I knew she would take back her invitation to visit after I told her about losing the book.

"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck. I'm in deep shit."

I was about to break down and cry in frustration when I suddenly remembered something. I ran through the events of what happened after we left the library in my mind. Esme had to go downstairs. Jazz and I walked back into the large living room behind her, I was holding on to the book then. Carlisle said it was time for dinner and Jazz and I ordered a drink at the bar before we followed.

I remembered. I set the book down on the side table when I went to pick up my drink.

"I'm such a fucking ass." I turned around to run out of the library to retrieve the book.

I was getting close to the door when it swung open. My legs completely gave out on me when I realized who it was walking in the room. Unable to stop the perpetual motion of my body, I ran hard into them and took down the one person I was hoping to avoid tonight.

Edward Cullen fell hard on the floor and I heard the loud crack as his head hit the wood floor. I winched realizing he would be even angrier then he was during desert. I had fucked up royally tonight. First the book, and now this. I was determined on not being an embarrassment or ruining my chances at impressing mentor and here I was causing him bodily harm. I was terrified that he would be so mad that I would be asked to return to Forks and have the fellowship taken away.

His eyes were fluttering open, as if he was trying to focus them. "Fuck." He groaned.

He was breathing hard, almost like he was fighting for air when I realized that I was lying on top of his chest. I needed to move off of him so he could breathe, but I was frozen where I was. My mind was having a private argument with its self where a part of me wanted me to stay where I was to check that he was ok, but the other part was scared he would yell at me for injuring him and needed to run away. So my body just stayed where it was unable to make a decision.

I wanted to touch his face and comfort him, but thankfully resisted. It looked like he was coming around and his hands moved. Still frozen, I knew what he was trying to do. He was going to push me off. I was blocking off his air and I should move but I couldn't. Next thing I knew, my body felt like it was on fire. Not the same fire I felt from the shot of 151 earlier, this feeling was so much more intense. What I felt now when his hands touched my bare shoulders started from my warm center and shot through every nerve washing me over with immense sense of pleasure. I felt myself trembling after his hands jerked away and he looked down his chest towards me. His bright green eyes connected with mine, and I knew if I stayed any longer, it was pushing the boundaries of professionalism.

Snapping myself out of it, I quickly slid to the right of him and sat on my knees. His was still looking at me, his face blank of expression. He was going to yell at me, I need to apologize and then get the hell out of here.

"I'm so sorry Dr. Cullen, I didn't see you. I was trying to get downstairs, but I tripped on my shoes when you came in. I hope you head is alright, do you need me to get some help. I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry, I'm a horrible klutz." I couldn't stop babbling my apology.

"It's ok. I'm… fine, I think." He started to sit up slowly, grabbing the back of his head. His eyes squinted slightly from pain. I had my hand over my mouth to stop me from saying anything more. "Are you ok Ms. Swan? You took a big spill there too."

"I'm f-… uh how do you my name." We hadn't met but yet he knew who I was. That was odd.

"Um, well, my father told me you would be here and that Jasper would bring you with him tonight. I figured who you were when I saw you sitting next to him when I arrived." He looked like he was editing what he was saying as he was getting to his feet. When he finally stood up he patted his slacks to de-wrinkle them then held a hand to me to help me up off the floor.

"Thank you, Dr. Cullen. Again, I'm very sorry for knocking you over." I blushed and checked my dress to make sure I hadn't ripped it in the fall. I noticed that it had slid down some, exposing more of my chest then was allowed as lady-like, so I quickly pulled it up. I would be mortified to flash my boss during our first meeting.

He let out a small chuckle, "Its fine, I'm still alive and I'm conscious. No harm, no foul. Are you sure you are alright though? You sounded very panicky before I came in. Did you lose something?" He started to look around the room, something caught his eye near his feet and picked it up off the floor. I noticed it was a small blue book. It looked familiar.

"Yes, well, Esme had given me a tour of your beautiful home earlier tonight, which is quite lovely, and when we stopped in here she said I could borrow a book from the collection and then return it after I promised to come and visit. When we went to dinner, I couldn't remember where I had placed it. I came upstairs to look in for it but didn't see it anywhere. Then I remembered I left it on one of the side tables near the bar downstairs. I was going to go get it and then… well… you know what happened next." I looked down at the floor, embarrassed, and bit my lip.

"That book wouldn't happen to be Pride and Prejudice, would it?" My head shot up to see him holding him holding the blue book up for me to see that it was in fact the book I had misplaced. I started to tell him my thanks when he gave me a crooked smile that made my knees go weak instantly. Next thing I knew Dr. Cullen was trying to prevent me from falling by holding me up in a tight grip and I was once held against his chest, only we were upright this time.

"Are you sure you're fine, Ms. Swan?" His hands were holding me close against him, and his voice cracked with concern. It felt wonderful to be in his arms and my heart raced.

"Yes, yes, I'm ok. I just lost my footing. I'm not used to wearing these heels." I quickly lied, enjoying his hold on me too much. Before I did something inappropriate, I slid out of his grip and then stepped out of my heels to try and support my lie. I went to pick them up.

"Please, allow me to get those for you, I don't know if you have all your balance back yet." He smiled bending forward swiftly and then placed my shoes in my hands when he stood up.

"Thanks." I was continuing to embarrass myself in front of this sexy, beautiful, god-like man and I needed to go now before I would do any more damage. I moved to leave the room.

"Wait, you don't want to forget the book, now do you. I know Esme would be rather disappointed if she found out you didn't take it with you. She wouldn't have a good excuse for you to visit and help her with one of her little projects." He held the book out for me.

"I would have come to visit anyways. She did promise to finish her tour from earlier, I'm leaving now, so I'm hoping to cash in on a rain check later." I was finding it strangely easy to talk with Edward.

"Oh, you aren't going to finish it tonight?" He seemed disappointed.

"Yes, unfortunately. I asked Jasper to take me home after dinner. I'm feeling a bit jet lagged from my flight and I had a few drinks with dinner so the combination makes it hard to stay fully conscious. Better to get home and get some sleep. Still need to settle in before Monday morning meetings." I was rambling.

"You're right. It's probably best for you after having to deal with the lot downstairs. Let me make sure you get down the stairs in one piece." He motioned that I should exit before him.

I waited briefly in the hall for Edward as he closed the library and then joined me.

"So what hall did the university place you in?" We started our descent to the ground floor slowly. I was trying to concentrate on not taking a nosedive, which he was making rather difficult with his close proximity.

"I think its Hammond Hall?"

"That's the co-ed one next to the Behavioral Science building isn't it?" He was trying to make small talk.

"Yes, I believe so. I'm still not familiar with the campus. I think Alice Brandon pointed it out to me when we came back from the grocery store today."

"You met Ms. Brandon?" I nodded. "She's a little spitfire, that one." I loved that he laughed, it was hypnotic and I joined him with my own slightly nervous laugh. Though I should have paid more attention to walking instead of him, it was at that moment I tripped again, thankfully it was at the bottom of the landing and I was able to grab the banister just in time, dropping my shoes in the process. Jasper was back at the door waiting for me, shaking his head at my little display.

"Did you throw back another shot up there, Bella?" He held out my coat and I slipped my arms into the sleeves. Edward was picking up my shoes I dropped and then placed them in front of me. I was lifting my foot to slip them on, when his hand took my ankle and he guided me into the shoe. My breath caught at the shock of his action. When he had the right one on, he helped me into the other. Something about this simple act was making my inside turn into mush and my brain was not fully functioning. He stood up after making sure my feet were secure in the shoes.

"Thank you Dr. Cullen. It was very nice to meet you, and again I'm so sorry for earlier." I held out my hand to say goodnight.

He took my hand, it was warm, and the burning fire in me ignited again. "You're Welcome Ms. Swan, and the pleasure was all mine. Don't worry about earlier, I'm still alive, that's all that counts right?" I nodded. "And please, you can call me Edward when we are away from the University." He was still holding my hand in his, and I thought I felt his thumb rub a few small circles on the back of it. I closed my eyes from the pleasant sensation.

"Then I guess you can call me Bella in that case. Good night Edward. I will see you on Monday?" I opened my eyes and saw his staring back. My earlier desire to leave was disappearing. When he finally released my hand, I could still feel the burning sensation linger.

"Until then, Bella, sleep well." He smiled his crooked smile and then turned and walked away from Jasper and me. My head swirling confusion.

"You ready to head home there girly?" Jasper slung his arm around my waist to steer me out the door. The walk to his car was quick, and I was buckled in the passenger seat in no time. Jasper then handed me something in a tupperwear container.

"What is this?" I tried to see what was inside, but it was too dark out.

"Leftovers. I noticed you didn't eat a lot at dinner, so when you were in the library, I asked Esme if I could take some of the prime rib for you to eat later."

"Thank you Jazz. That's sweet. I think I may help myself to it as a midnight snack."

"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?"

"It was alright, there were a lot of more people there then I thought there would be. Thanks for driving and saving me from your sister and her fiancé."

"All part of my services that come with me being your friend." He gave a small salute I chuckled at. "So what was Edward taking about when he said to not worry about what happened?"

"Oh that, well I accidentally ran him over when I was leaving the library. I think I gave him a concussion." Jasper let out a loud laugh. "I left a great first impression with him. Surprised he did take back the fellowship from me afterwards." I looked out the window into the night sky when I answered.

The stars were bright and twinkling. It had been several years since I had been able to see a night sky like this. Forks was always too cloudy and rainy to see the stars. It was beautiful and peaceful looking up tonight and my eyelids were becoming heavy as we continued to drive. I knew jasper was trying to talk to me, but I was drifting off to sleep that I didn't hear a word he said.

"Bella? Bella, wake up? We're here." I felt the soft nudge of Jasper's hand on my shoulder.

"Hmm?" I looked around sleepily and sure enough, the headlights of the car illuminated the front of my residence hall.

"Oh." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. Jasper walked to my side and slid his arm around me to guide me up the stairs to the door of the hall.

"Thank you again for your help today Jazz. It was really nice of you." I leaned in and gave him a hug.

"Sure thing there . It was a good time today. Say, I know you are going to be busy for the next few weeks, but if you want to catch a lunch or get some dinner sometime, give me a call and I'll be happy to join you." He gave a little wink.

"I think I'll do that. Have a safe drive home Jazz. I'll call you soon." I opened the door and turned back looking through the glass door to wave at Jazz as he drove away.

It was over. My first night in Chicago was finally done. I knew I had made a complete fool of myself through most of it, but I didn't want to give up and run back to Forks. I had to stay and see things through.

When I made it into my room, I immediately took off my coat and kicked the damned heels away from me. I unzipped my dress, sliding down to the floor, and then picked it up to put it in my laundry bin I purchased today with Alice. I walked to my bathroom only wearing my bra and panties and stood there facing my mirror for some time looking at my reflection. I was such a spaz tonight. I brushed my teeth for a few minutes trying to not think of all the stupid things I did.

I pulled the pins out of my hair so that it fell in soft curls to my shoulders. After all the pins I could find were out, I washed my face and decided that a bath sounded very fitting at the moment. I sat on the side of the tub as it filled with the soapy hot water, my mind drifting to thoughts of those green eyes that mesmerized me tonight.

I knew it was wrong. He was technically my boss and my mentor. It would be bad form and unprofessional to have a relationship with him. But that was what I wanted more than anything right now. I wanted to feel him against my body again, only this time on purpose. I wanted to have him crush his lips against mine, and have him make love to me all night.

The tub was full enough, so I shut off the water. I unclasped my bra and dropped it to the floor and then slipped my panties off to join its counterpart. Once my body was submerged, my mind went back to Edward. Imagining him showing up outside my room and throwing me on my bed, his long fingers caressing my breasts, his lips kissing every inch of my skin. As images of him flooded my mind, the fire was returning and it made my blood pulse with desire.

Though I had taken to pleasure myself during my relationship with Jacob when I was sexually frustrated, it wasn't anything to how it felt when I started tonight and thought of Edward. It didn't take me as long to start reaching my peak soon after I began. When I slipped a finger inside of me and thought of grabbing that head of bronze hair of his, I was almost there. I was pulsing all over and was about to go over the edge when my cell phone started to ring.

"Fuck me." I groaned. I splashed the water angrily then stepped out of the tub.

Wrapping a towel around my dripping body, I took out my cell from my purse and looked at the caller ID.

"Of all times to call…" I flipped open the phone. "Hey Jake, What's up?"

I knew I wouldn't be able to finish what I started earlier in the tub, so I settled myself into my bed for the next hour to talk to my best friend. Maybe it was a good thing to be destracted.

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A/N: Everyone, thank you so much for reading my little story. Also, thank you to everyone who reviewed. Please let me know how you guys are liking it.

I'm going to try and get a few more chapters out really soon, sorry it takes me a while. I usually post most of the chapter on the weekend because I work a lot during the week.

Up next is Edward's POV. I hope you like it.