Thank you to my readers who keep waiting for the update :)

Thank you to my beta, xx-twilight7-xx (Anita) for beta'ing the chapter. You guys should read her stories too ^^

Chapter 11

The Kiss?

I woke up the next morning when I felt someone gently shake my body. My eyes fluttered open to see Alice perched on the edge of my bed. The sun rays through the curtain signalled that it was morning. I rubbed my eyes.

"Morning, sleeping beauty," Alice greeted me.

"Morning," I mumbled sleepily and looked at my best friend. She was dressed in her pajamas and I swore she looked great even in her sleeping outfit. "What time did you come home?"

Alice shrugged. "Around 11, I guess. When I got home you already fast asleep."

I sighed. "Sorry. I was so tired last night."

Alice smiled slightly. "So, you already feel connected with Our Hearts?"

I smiled. "You can say that." And then, I titled my head. "So, what have you been doing lately? Does it have anything to do with your project or the hot guy from the mall?"

Alice rolled her eyes. "The hot guy from the mall has a name, Bella."

I giggled. "Alright...alright. So, how are things with Jasper now? I can guess it's good because you seem happy after you met him."

She nodded. "He is great and I simply cannot wait to have my date with him this weekend." Alice looked at me. "How about you? How is everything going?"

I ran my hand through my messy hair. "It's great. I just have to plan to take Margaret for a walk...well, actually that was for my final report. If I did it, my project is done."

"Oh...wow. That soon?"

I shrugged. "It's just a project, Alice. Not the final report." I titled my head. "It's not a common thing for you to be asking me about what I do. What's up?"

Alice frowned playfully. "You know that already? Damn! I think I'm beginning to lose my ability for decoying in front of you."

I chuckled. "Come on. Spill it!"

Alice sighed. "Well...you know that Rosalie is Jasper's sister and she is Emmett's girlfriend therefore it brings us to a conclusion."

I blinked. "Huh?"

Alice smiled slightly. "Jasper told me about Edward."

I went rigid. Suddenly Edward's words about the walls having ears rang in my mind.

"It's not a bad thing, though," Alice quickly assured me when she saw my expression. "Actually Emmett and his dad are really happy with Edward's change."

I looked at Alice in disbelief. "Edward's change?"

She nodded. "They told how excited he was for being with you and he was more...alive. They've never seen Edward like that before. I think you're doing great, Bella."

I shook my head. I knew I was doing the right thing, but I still felt Edward's family didn't help him to recover. Edward is vulnerable, to say the least. He might look strong, but he was broken on the inside. I could only help to make him trusted, but the thing that could help him was his family and, of course, himself.

"I'm just trying to help, Alice. The only one who could heal him is himself," I said to her.

Alice rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I was just trying to give you a compliment."

I chuckled and grabbed my phone from the night stand. I sighed when screen read 6.30 am. I put the phone back on my night stand and Alice smiled at me. "You better hurry or you're going to be late."

I grinned. "Yes, Mom."

Alice made a disgusted face and threw a pillow in my face. I chuckled and quickly got up from my bed. I took my shower and changed into clean clothes to prepare for my day at 'Our Hearts'. I prepared my bag and looked over towards the Rubik cube and placed it into my bag before I zipped it closed. Alice was drawing something on her notepad on a chair when I was leaving.

"Oh...hey, almost forgot something," she said to me and quickly got up from her chair. She walked to her bed and pulled open a drawer. She took a card and gave it to me. "The dorm head gave it to me yesterday because you were gone."

I furrowed my eyebrows when I realized it was a postcard with the picture of Chicago. I looked over at the postcard and realized it was from my mom.

Bella,

I'm in Chicago right now with Phil. I'll give you something from this city. Love you, honey.

Mom.

"Your mom?" I heard Alice ask me.

I nodded and looked at her. "She's in Chicago now. I guess Phil has a game there." Phil is my mom's new husband and he is a minor baseball player. They travelled a lot since I moved to Forks to stay with my dad. I put the postcard in the side pocket of my bag. "I'll see you this evening."

Alice nodded. "Maybe we could have a girl's night."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure."

I arrived five minutes early as usual and walked straight to the hall where the volunteers usually gathered around before they started to assist their kids. I met Angela there and she was reading a newspaper.

"Morning," I greeted her and sat next to her.

She raised her head slightly and smiled at me. "Morning, Bella."

I gestured to the paper she read. "Any news?"

Angela shrugged. "Nothing much," she answered me and folded the paper.

"Can I see it?" I asked her.

"Sure," she said to me and handed me the paper.

I took the paper from her hand and started to read. I turned to the next page and another before I found a news article about a festival which will be held at one of high schools here. I suddenly remembered my plan to take Margaret for a walk and reminded myself to talk again with Kate and maybe...Carlisle. I cringed. The last time we had conversation, it was not a pleasant one. But, I knew as long as I assist Edward, I had to speak with him nonetheless.

My attention snapped back to reality when I heard sounds in the room grow louder. Some of the volunteers started to prepare themselves this morning and I turned to look at Angela. I saw she pulled out an encyclopaedia book from her bag. I raised my eyebrows.

"What is that?" I asked her. As long as I could remember, she assisted a boy who has trouble sleeping because he always remembers how his father used to abuse him.

Angela grinned. "My kid is interested in reading it after I told him some interesting facts about sleeping."

I grinned back. "Tricky."

She chuckled lightly. "I know, but we have to do that here." And then, she titled her head. "How about you? I heard you assist Edward now."

I grimaced. Wow, news did spread fast.

"Yes, I do. He is nice, though. Not entirely dangerous just like other people think about him," I said to her.

Angela nodded. "I understand that. I once thought that my kid was a junkie because he looked so horrible and then I learned it was because he couldn't sleep."

"Oh," I frowned. "Is he alright now?"

She smiled sadly. "I think so." Angela started to get up from her chair and pick up the book from the desk. "I'll see you again, Bella."

I nodded and waved my hand to her. I watched Angela retreat from the room and looked back to the paper in front of me. As I expected, the festival would be held on weekends and if I'm not mistaken, I could do my project this weekend so I could ask Margaret out next week. If everything was good, my project is finished. And I could focus on what would happen next with Edward.

I got up from my chair when the room was empty. Before I went to see Margaret, I wanted to talk with Kate first. I walked from the room and headed to the employee's room. I was expecting to see Kate in the room, but I only saw Garrett.

"Hey, Bella. Good morning," he greeted me.

I smiled. "Morning. Um...is Kate here?"

"Oh, she just went to see Dr. Cullen in his room."

My heart rate sped up when I heard Garrett mentioned Dr. Cullen. "Oh, I see." I was thinking to talk with Kate later in the afternoon, but I knew I must see Carlisle sooner or later.

"Is there anything that I could help you, Bella?" Garrett asked me, seemingly oblivious to my internal battle.

I blinked. "No, thank you. I'll just see Kate and Dr. Cullen myself. See you later, Garrett."

He waved his hand to me and I walked out from the room. I walked to the next building and began to walk down the stairs. I passed a room which I assumed was Edward's and I heard soft music from inside. I bit my lip and slowly walked towards the half-opened door. My breath hitched in my throat when I saw Edward sitting on a chair in front of his desk. The sun rays illuminated his beautiful bronze hair and made him look like a figure that just came out of a painting. As always, he seemed to know I was standing here and watching him. He slowly turned around to face me and I smiled sheepishly.

"Hi. Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I just-"

"No, not at all," he cut my words. He smiled and got up from his chair. "Please, come in."

I peeked at Dr. Cullen's door and then turned to look at Edward. He still stood there waiting for me to answer. I nodded slowly. "Alright," I said to him in low voice.

I walked into his room and looked around. I shivered when I realized that this was my first time visiting his room. I shivered not because I was afraid, but knowing Edward, perhaps I was the only one who could see his room properly. His room was neat, with small bed, a desk and a chair, a cupboard, a stereo set and I saw a guitar in the corner of the room. That didn't surprise me. He was talented at piano. He might be wonderful playing guitar too. And the most amazing thing was his room was smell just like him. I felt something strange surge through my body when I thought about that.

"What do you think about my room?" he asked me.

I smiled and looked at him. "Your room is wonderful." I looked around one more time and I caught a glimpse of Harvard banner on a memorabilia board. I instantly remembered Kate saying that he was studying medical before everything happened. I shook my head slightly and looked back to Edward. "May I sit here?" I gestured towards his bed.

Edward blinked several times. "Oh, of course. Sorry, I'm not used to people visiting my room. You are my first guest since I stayed in this place."

I smiled again when I saw him shift nervously. I sat slowly on the bed and he followed my move. My heart beat sped up again when I saw we were sitting very close next to each other. I played with the hem of my shirt when I suddenly remembered about the Rubik cube.

"I brought you something," I said to him, breaking the silence. I zipped my bag open and pulled out the Rubik cube. Edward's expression was priceless when he saw the cube.

"You brought me a Rubik cube?" he asked me in disbelief. His lips turned into a coy smile.

I smiled. "It's just a simple therapy for your anger management."

He chuckled. "You even didn't finish the cube."

I shrugged. "Well, that's because I don't have anger management issue. I'm not smart enough to do this."

Edward's eyebrows shot up. "Not smart enough? Really? I don't believe that." He looked at me with smouldering eyes.

I stopped breathing momentarily.

Edward slowly raised his hand and caressed my cheek. "You are the most beautiful girl I've ever met in my entire life," he whispered in husky voice and I fought hard to remember how to breathe.

He leaned closer to me rendering me still. Edward paused a few inches from my face and our lips were nearly touching. My breathing turned shallow and my stomach knotted. "Bella..."

"Edward!"

Edward quickly put distance between us while I still sat there with a stunned expression. What just happened? Did he try to...kiss me?

"Bella? What are you doing in here?"

I blinked several times and slowly turned my head to see Carlisle standing at Edward's door. "Oh...I...uh...wanted to...meet you, but I saw Edward and then he invited me in," I answered breathlessly.

Carlisle raised his eyebrows.

I cleared my throat. "Can I see you now?" I asked him.

Carlisle nodded.

I slowly stood from Edward's bed while Edward followed my movements with his eyes. I smiled and took one of his hands. I placed the colourful cube gently in his hand. "Tell me when you finish this," I said to him.

Edward smiled and held my hand which still held the cube. "I will."

I smiled back and slowly pulled my hand from his. I glanced to Edward briefly before I walked out of his room.

So, I guess the excitement for BD has just begun ^^

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