Okay. It's almost 1AM and I'm going to post this up real fast so I can go sleep.

Thank you all for bearing with me the past few weeks. I know I've neglected this story, but hopefully in the next few weeks I can start updating regularly again.

Enjoy!

After shopping, we met the boys at a burger place in Port Angeles. I stared at the menu absently as they all talked animatedly. Alice was going on about the shirts and things that she bought me. Japser was talking with her about what he should order. Edward wasn't talking, as I soon realized. He was looking at the menu too, but was also watching me. My eyes turned up at him and my brown orbs met his beautiful green ones. He gave a small smile. I forced one back, and saw the sadness cloud in his eyes along with that action. Could he tell it was forced?

"Soooo Bella!!!" Alice snapped both of us out of out magnetic gaze. "Don't you love love love your new clothes?? They're soooo much better than the other ones that were in your closet. " I looked to her, annoyed.

"I liked the clothes I had before… " They were…sensible. Sure, they weren't flashy and sequeny, and none of them had short sleeves for obvious reasons, but I liked them. Plus, Edward bought them for me. I blinked, wondering why I thought that was a factor in my liking them.

"Yes…but those were so….so drab. You like the new ones I got you, right? Right?" Then she gave me these big, wide-eyes, puppy dog eyes. I clenched my teeth and smiled begrudgingly.

"Of course I like them, Alice. I love them. Thank you so much for getting them for me." She grinned and hugged me from her spot next to me in the booth. I looked to Edward and saw his eyes were amused. Inadvertently, he took a pen from his pocket and scribbled on his napkin. He slid the napkin towards me, and I read his beautiful cursive.

'Now even you, Bella Swan, can resist Alice's evil powers.' I smiled genuinely and rolled my eyes, reaching over and taking the pen from his hand.

'Shut up and read your menu.' He read what I wrote to him and let out a chuckle, nudging my shin with the tip of his shoe teasingly. I blushed. I looked up from the note and saw that Alice and Jasper were eyeing both of us supiciously. I looked down and blushed harder. Alice opened her mouth to say something, but just as she was about to, the waited came to take our orders. Thank goodness.

"I'll have the garden burger," Alice ordered. Why did that not surprise me? No wonder she was skinny as a stick. "Oh, and sweet potato fries!"

The waiter nodded and wrote hers down "And for you ma'am?" He looked to me.

"I-I'll have the bacon c-cheeseburger, w-with shoestring f-f-fries." Damn it! Why did I always clam up when talking to strangers? It was so pathetic. I looked down, shutting my eyes tight in my own embarrassment.

The guys ordered and waiter went to the kitchen to give the cook our orders. I looked down, eyes shut tight in my own pitiful embarrassment. I felt the familiar little nudge on my shin and looked up at Edward, seeing that his face was soft and his eyes were beautifully shining at me. 'It's ok," He mouthed and offered a reassuring smile.

I looked down, still embarrassed. I hated the fact that I made Edward pretend to care and comfort me in my stupid…stupidity. Damn him for being so gentlemanly and making sure I was ok…

"I-I'll be right back." I found the idea of going to the bathroom in a public place by myself scary and a little disgusting, but I needed to clear my head, and maybe taking this damn makeup off would help a little.

I slid out of the booth without making eye contact with anyone, and strode to the bathroom quickly. I must've looked like a mess, stumbling and closing my eyes tight, almost to the point where I couldn't see where I was going.

I rushed into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. This wasn't me. Well, technically speaking, it was. But it still wasn't. I hate makeup. Whose knows what could be in it?! Nothing could cover up my ugly, and it only dramatized the ugliness that was my face. I gasped two shaky breaths, feeling dizzy and like I couldn't breathe. My heart raced. In anger and frustration, I ripped a piece of paper towel from the dispenser and wet it with water, splashing it onto my face.

It was a stupid move, and I realized this as the mascara and eyeliner seeped into my eyes and made them burn. I rubbed the vigorously, only making me look even more ridiculous. There was a giant black ring of makeup around each eye, and the foundation or whatever she put on me was streaking with the water and dripping down my face.

It was childish and stupid, but I hung my head, put my head in my hands, and began to cry. Out of embarrassment, frustration, and because the makeup stung my eyes so damn bad. I let the tears fall for a good while. It probably wasn't that long, but it felt like forever.

I clenched the countertop to stop my hands from shaking, and took deep breaths until my heart stopped breathing and my teeth stopped chattering. Once I composed myself, I did the best to wipe the makeup off my face. There was still noticeable black under my eyes and I thankfully got all the foundation off. I walked over to the exit and opened the door. What I saw there shocked.

Edward.

He was standing there, looking down at the ground, waiting for me. He looked nervous and awkward, like he didn't really know what to do. When he saw me, his head shot up and he walked to me. "B-Bella!" He said, looking at my disheveled appearance in slight shock. My cheeks burned under his appraising gaze, feeling nervous and extremely self-conscious.

"I wanted to make sure you're allright…." He said softly, sensing my nervousness and bending a little to get a closer look at me. "You washed the makeup off, I see…" I could only nod, feeling the tears well up again in my eyes. He reached his hand up and gently brushed a black stained tear from my eye gently with his ring finger.

"It's okay, Bella…I think you're prettier without…"

Before I could even stop and be rational about what I was doing, I shot forwards and held onto Edward. He was different, when he touched me it didn't make me scared, like any other guy who I might bump into or touch by accident. I could find comfort in him. And for the second time that night, I started to cry.

Edward tensed for a little bit before relaxing and putting his arms around me, patting my back and whispering that it was okay. I let him lead both of us out of the restaurant, discovering that Alice and Jasper had already left. Probably couldn't stand to be near me any longer.

We sat in his car in the parking lot for a little while. I could tell he had no idea what to do, and I was only making the situation worse because my eyes wouldn't listen when I told them to stop crying. Out of nowhere, he turned to me and said "We keep ending up like this, eh?"

And I don't know why it was funny, or if it was even meant to be, but I started laughing. And laughing hard too. Like a maniac. The feeling was different and new, because who knows when was the last time I'd really laughed. But it felt good. He seemed a little stunned at first, but soon the corners of Edward's mouth twitched up and soon he was laughing too, his giggles similar in rhythm to mine. It felt so nice to share this moment of bliss with him in the midst of the crappy evening I had caused.

We stopped a few minutes later, me wiping laughing tears from my eyes and him holding his stomach and trying to suppress his chuckles. The moonlight shone through his window, and made his bronze hair glisten and shine, making it look like a beautiful bronze penny. I stared at it in amazement for a while before I saw that he was staring at me too. "Bella, I…" He looked down and then back up to me, "You okay…?"

And thought it wasn't really true, I nodded and said "Yes, I will be, Edward." He gave a little crooked smile, one that made my heart ache, and turned to the wheel. The ride home was silent, except for the whirring of the wind rushing past the car. I stared out the window as we move, and blinked when we came across a familiar place. It was a bridge. It was the St. Marcus Bridge, where I'd tried to take my life. I closed my eyes and let a few tears fall, wondering if it

was a mistake that Edward saved me. I was only causing him and his family trouble.

Once we got home, I scrubbed my face three times until it was red and burned a little. Then I went into the guest room and changed into soft, warm pajamas, and went under the covers.

It wasn't long before I got to sleep.

I dreamt, as always, but it was different this time. I was driving through the woods to go home, and suddenly I was crossing a bridge. Rain was pouring hard, and I just made out a moving figure in it. I stopped and stared. It took me a minute to realize who it was. It was Edward.

"Edward."

He was standing on the bridge and his knees were bent.

"Edward..!"

I screamed and rushed out of the car. I called his name, but my voice got lost in the thunder.

"Edward!!!"

He turned his head slowly, staring at me with eyes that showed they were in extreme pain. Was that what I looked like?

"EDWARD!"

I rushed towards him, but I was just a second too late. I watched as he fell and fell and fell. I screamed out and cried, watching him plummet to his death.

I was shocked out of the dream just before he crashed into the ground. Someone was shaking me hard, but gentle at the same time. "No, no, no!" I screamed and opened my eyes. Edward was dying! Someone needed to save him!

"Bella? Bella! I'm here, it's okay, it was just a bad dream…" His voice registered in my ears a few seconds late because of the disorientation of my dreams. I grabbed onto him and stared for a long time, tears coming down my face.

"Edward…?"

"Yes, Bella…I'm right here…" He whispered, our faces just inches apart.

"Oh, Edward…" I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead to touch his. "I thought I...you..." I let out a sob.

"Shhh shh shh, sweet Bella....I'm here, …I'm here…" He then lifted his head from mine and kissed my forehead. I looked at him and bit my lip. If Edward fell off, I…

No. That put it all into focus. No wonder I blushed in front of Edward. No wonder I got all nervous around him. And no wonder he took my breath away. No wonder I couldn't even contemplate a world without him. It was because I couldn't live without him. He was like a drug. I needed him. I…I loved him.

I loved Edward fucking Cullen.

"Edward…" I whispered and moved forwards, pressing my lips to his gently. His eyes widened, but soon his lids closed halfway and he wrapped his arms around my waist. Then he did something that astonished me. He closed his eyes completely and kissed me back. Could he possibly feel the same way…? Was that even possible? Edward Cullen, a rich, beautiful, author, had feelings for me. Me, Bella Swan, a plain, nothing special, waste of space. The most people ever thought of me was a suicide risk or a liability. But yet he returned the feeling; the soft, gentle passion that had been building up within me. Our kisses were gentle, exploring. We were testing the waters and seeing what each other was okay with. After a few minutes, he laid us both back in the bed and kissed the top of my head, holding me to him close. He chuckled and ran a hand through my hair.

"Sleep, Bella…" He whispered and smiled his beautiful smile. I gave a smile and closed my eyes, nestling close into him. I fell asleep soon, and for once I didn't even dream.

For those of you who like this story, I encourage you to check out my new stories, My Prey, My Savior, and Caged. It would mean so so much if you guys could tell me how you thought of those too, cause I really value your opinions.

Reviews are greatly appreciated, as always.