So sorry for the very late update...real life is eating you up sometimes!

Thank you to my readers for your support thrpugh my twitter and encouraging me to update. Heart you all ^_^

This is chapter 15 for you.

Chapter 15

Edward's Heart

I watched Margaret and Edward talked for a while. It was obvious they were close and if I remember correctly she never told me she was close to Edward. Not until my absence for two days. Did something happen? Even if it did, it was a good one. And then, Margaret approached me and gave me a hug. I hugged her back.

"Thank you for today, Bella," she whispered in my ear.

I smiled and patted her back. "You're welcome, Margaret. I hope you like it and don't forget to talk to your parents about the scholarship offer."

I felt she nodded and I released my hug.

"Night, Bella."

I smiled. "Night, Margaret."

She grinned and ran to the building after playfully hitting Edward's shoulder. "There, I return her to you. You should thank me."

I blinked. What did she say?

Edward smiled warmly. "Yes, you did, Margaret. Thank you."

Margaret entered the building and leaving the two of us. Suddenly, I felt nervous and I leaned myself to my truck. Edward smirked and walked to my direction. I swore my heart beating in erratic rhythm as his footsteps were getting closer to me.

"Hi."

I smiled weakly. "Hi." Lord, I almost forgot how handsome he is. The soft light from the building illuminated his face and turned him more handsome than the last time I remember. How a handsome man like him could ever be in this place? Life is not fair sometimes.

"How are you?"

I raised my eyebrows and chuckled. Man, we haven't met for two days and we returned to square one where we were just met. "Seriously, Edward. I was expecting you to hug me or maybe kiss me after not seeing me for two days." My cheeks flushed when I realized I said to him that I was expecting him to kiss me.

Edward took one step closer. "Was?"

I blinked. My instinct told me to take a step back, but my feet won't even move.

"Was."

Edward raised his hand and cupped my face. My heart pounded so heavily, I was sure Edward could feel it from his touch. He leaned slowly and stopped an inch from my lips. I could feel his warm breath and I almost passed out. His other hand wrapped my waist and he trapped me between him and my truck.

"How about now?" he asked me with husky tone.

My breathing was getting shallow when I saw Edward's eyes turned dark. I lost all my coherent thoughts. How could that possible?

"I don't know," I answered him barely audible.

"Let me help you, then," he said again before knotted his hand to my hair and kissed me.

His lips gently massaged mine and I wrapped my arms to his neck. His kiss turned deeper and I felt his tongue on my lips. I gasped and leaned away from him. I put my hands on his chest, silently tells him to stop.

I tried very hard to control my breathing while he did the same.

"I'm sorry," Finally Edward said.

I shook my head. "No, it's not your fault. You just...caught me off guard."

I heard Edward sigh and I felt he pressed his forehead to mine.

"I miss you," he said.

I smiled slightly. "I know."

"Do you miss me too?"

I blinked several times. Do I? I never thought about that. Sometimes I did think about him whenever I need distractions and yes, I wondered how he's been doing when I couldn't visit him. Is his session with his therapist made a progress? Or not?

I looked at Edward's eyes. They were bright and green. My heart clenched. "Maybe I am, but not as much as yours," I answered truthfully.

Edward chuckled. "I can take that."

I smiled again.

Edward took my hand and walked me to the steps in front of the building. We both sat next to each other. I looked over to the building and realized half of it was already dark. I turned to Edward.

"Is that alright with you for sitting here with me?"

He raised his eyebrows. "I'm not 17 anymore. I don't have curfew in this place."

Oh!

"Okay," I said without thinking.

The weather in the night somehow didn't make me cold. I could feel his warm body even though we didn't sit so close to each other. I understood he wanted to give space after our kiss earlier. I blushed. That kiss was amazing; really...I've never kissed anyone like that before. But, it was also terrified me. Our status was fragile, as an observer and a subject, and I didn't want to ruin it now.

"How's your day?" he asked me.

I exhaled and shrugged. "Exhausted, but we do have some fun. Margaret seems happy."

Edward nodded. "Yes, she is. I think she was amazed by your dart skills."

I rolled my eyes. "It was nothing."

"You know something, Bella?"

I looked at him. "Yes?"

Edward smirked. "I learned not to trust you if you said the word 'nothing'. That means 'everything' in your book."

I blinked.

He smiled warmly and I looked away from him, unable to control the fluttered rhythms in my chest.

"You and Margaret seem close. What happened when I was away for two days?" I asked him as a distraction.

Edward titled his head. His expression made him look younger. "Didn't she tell you?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Tell me what? No, she didn't say anything."

What happened? If something happened, why didn't she tell me? Or Kate?

Edward smiled. "Well, it's best if you asked her."

I blinked. "Okay," I said automatically.

Silence.

"I went home to Chicago couple of days ago," Edward said again.

I nodded slowly and playing with my shoe lace. "I know. Your dad told me."

"He did?"

I nodded again. "He wanted to see me when I came back after my two day absence.. He told me you went home with Emmett." I smiled and looked at Edward. He smiled slightly when our eyes met. "Speaking of Emmett, I miss him."

Edward raised his eyebrows. "Really? Do I have to compete with my big brother to win your heart?"

I blushed while he chuckled.

"That's not funny," I said.

"Funny?" His eyes smoldering and my stomach knotted. "Do you think it's a joke, Bella?"

I could feel my cheeks were getting warm. "I'm not beautiful if that was you're asking."

Edward scoffed. "Not beautiful? You are beautiful to me."

I chuckled lightly. "Yeah, for you."

"I'm serious, Bella."

I looked at him and Edward looked back with such intensity in his eyes. At that moment I know he is serious.

"Do you know how I felt the first time I saw you from the window?"

I took a deep breath.

"I saw a beautiful girl...the loveliest girl I've ever seen. And then, our eyes met and I saw wisdom and braveness from her eyes. She was not like any other girl I've ever met in my life."

My heart pounded heavily. His words were really touching, but I also noticed the amazement from his tone. Perhaps what Emmett said to me once was true. Maybe I changed Edward.

"You barely know anything about me," I said in low voice.

Edward smiled and moved an inch closer. "Not really. I learn so much from you. I can control some of my anger from you."

"It's my job," I blurted out and instantly regretted it.

Edward's face turned hard and I knew I was just made a mistake.

"Edward, I didn't mean to-"

"What are exactly you meant by that?" he said to me. His voice was hard.

Oh, no!

I swallowed hard. "Edward...you need to understand. Our status is still an observer and a subject. But, you are also my friend. It's...my job to help you as an observer and a friend."

Edward narrowed his eyes and scoffed again. "What if I don't want to become your subject anymore?"

A shiver ran down my spine and my body went colder. "You don't?"

"No."

I took a deep breath. Well, I guess my time in this place is indeed over.

And then, I heard he cursed under his breath. "No, Bella. That was not what I meant. Damn it! What I mean is...can we be friends?"

I blinked several times. "Friends?" Friends who could kiss each other passionately? Um...I don't think so.

"Or...maybe...more than friends?" Edward said again and now he was nervous.

My mind already went hazy. I can't be a friend with benefit to him. "I can't...become a friend with benefit, Edward. It's not fair to you."

Edward looked at me in disbelief and then he laughed so hard.

Huh?

Why is he laughing?

His laughter subside and gingerly held my hands. My small hands seemed to fit on his large ones and I didn't know somehow I felt...safe.

"No, Bella. I wasn't talking about friends with benefit. I hate that term too," he shuddered slightly, "What I meant was I want to become more than a friend for you. I want to be someone special...if you let me."

Someone special?

Oh!

OH!

My heart turned erratic again and my world seemed to spin. He just asked me to become...I don't know...his girlfriend?

"You don't have to answer it now, Bella. I can wait. But, you haven't answered my invitation to go to Chicago. What do you say about that?"

I took several deep breaths and chuckled nervously. "Thank you...um...I think I do need some time."

We both laughed lightly.

"And, about Chicago...well, your dad mentioned that to me too and he sort of invited me to come," I answered him.

"Did you give your answer yet?"

I smiled slightly. "Not yet at that time, but I already did now."

Edward leaned closer and our face were merely inch from each other. I could smell his masculine scent and my stomach knotted again. God, this guy is really making me weak from the inside.

"What is your answer, then?"

I looked at his green eyes, they were bright and full of love, and I lost for a moment.

"Yes," I answered in a daze.

Edward blinked. "Really?"

I tried to smile and nodded.

Edward smiled widely and suddenly hugged me. I was taken aback, but then hugging him back.

"Thank you," he whispered in my ear.

"Anytime, Edward."

He released his hug and kissed my cheek. "My mom will be happy to meet you."

I raised my eyebrows. "Woo...hold on! I just want to meet with your family, nothing else."

He grinned and his eyes glinted mischievously. "Of course."

I rolled my eyes and patted his shoulder gently. "I can't wait to meet your family. I'm sure they are good people."

Edward blew a breath. "Do you really think so?"

"Yes."

"Including my dad?"

I looked at Edward. I knew he wanted me to say bad things about his dad, to justify all he did for his family. But, honestly I saw Carlisle as someone who also lost, just like Edward.

I smiled. "Your dad is a good man, Edward."

Edward looked at me briefly and closed his eyes. Slowly, he leaned his forehead to mine. He opened his eyes again and looked at his hands. "He is a good man, but not a good father."

"How can you say that?" I asked him.

"He's my father that's why I know."

"Maybe there's something that you don't know about your father."

"And you do?"

I smiled again. "It's still a theory, but I expect my theory is true."

Edward nodded. "I hope you're right."

I looked at his eyes. "I hope so too."

"So, it's a date, then?" he grinned.

I laughed.

Short, but I just wanna do a simple chapter between Edward and Bella without any interference :) I hope you guys like it. Next chapter hopefully next week...

As always, please to leave your review.

Thank you ^^