All recognisable characters belong to SM. I just own the plot.

Thank you to A Jasper For Me for putting up with my excessive use of commas.

"You look nice," I commented.

Jessica had on a silk shirt and skinny pants, which she paired off with a pair of sexy high heels. They were all black, except for her shoulder bag, which was red. It was a sophisticated look I was certain she had intended for her mother.

"Ya sure black compliments me? I bought this a week ago just for this occasion." She was going to have lunch with her mother, who had just arrived last night.

"I like it, but if Cecilia doesn't then that just means she has bad taste," I replied drily. "A little over the top for this place though." I waved my hands around the almost empty library. There was only one student at the far corner, and he seemed to be oblivious to us.

Jessica stomped her foot in frustration, and I rolled my eyes.

"Bella, stop jerking around! I need to know whether I'm presentable-"

"Yes, you are! And if you don't stop fretting over this luncheon with your mother, I'm gonna strangle you."

Anxiety radiated from her; I could almost feel it. Although her mother was manipulative, it wouldn't do much damage if Jessica wouldn't allow it.

I pushed back my chair and hugged her. She hugged back, her arms tightened around me as the seconds ticked, like she was drawing strength from me. When she started to pull away, I held her face in my hands so she could see and hopefully believe the truth in my words.

"You're beautiful. Don't let anything Cecilia says make you think otherwise."

She blew out a long breath and reluctantly nodded. Her eyes held all her trepidations, making me want to go find and smack that awful mother of hers. That woman always seemed so nice to me, which was quite the opposite when she dealt with her daughter.

"Come with me, Bells."

I sighed and gave her a smile.

"You don't even need to invite me, I would have volunteered for a chance to put your mother in her place," I started, "but sweetie, I have a clinical case presentation today and I can't miss that."

"Shit, I forgot," she muttered, frowning.

"Your mother's lucky I have that presentation or she would see the wrath of Bella," I teased, hoping it would relax her a bit. I winked at her, and she giggled.

I gave her a little shove.

"Get your ass outta here or I will have to call the librarian on you."

I was in the university's library when Jessica called and said she needed to see me, without doubt to calm down and prep herself before she met with Cecilia.

"This place gives me the creeps," she said, looking around as if the library had suddenly transformed into something scary. "You're the only reason I find myself visiting these kinds of establishments."

"That's because all you can think about are things that are found in the x-rated section, which are limited in libraries."

She stuck her tongue out at me. She was so immature.

"No, the reason I hate places like this is because they make me look nerdy."

"And what's wrong with that?"

She looked horrified at my question. I totally knew what she meant, but I was just messing with her. She loved fashion and all things chic, so being inside a building full of books was uncool for her. I got that.

"Everything is about appearance these days, Bells. Haven't you learned anything I taught you?"

"Apparently not." I had a hard time keeping a straight face, but she seemed oblivious. She was too caught up with being branded a dork.

"Appearance is important … and nothing anyone says can change that." She huffed, clearly exasperated when I just stayed quiet. "Don't you get it? I don't want to be branded nerdy or bookish or whatever other words are synonymous to that."

"You're a snob."

"And you're annoying."

I laughed, and she scowled, crossing her arms around her chest. She was too easy to mess with.

"It's a good thing you're gorgeous, or I wouldn't associate with the likes of you," she said arrogantly.

"I didn't know you were that shallow. I have better qualities than that, you know."

"Oh, you know what I mean!" She looked so frustrated, like she would stomp her foot any second now.

"I do?"

"I refuse to stay here another minute and listen to you make fun of me … so I'll leave you alone with all these books," she said, pouting.

I suddenly felt guilty. She was stressed and I was adding to it.

"So Jess, I'll see you tonight?"

"You better make time for me," she threatened.

"Of course. Just make sure you don't suddenly abandon me like you did last time."

The sudden flush on her face confirmed what I knew all along. She had canceled on me two nights ago because of some man.

"I already apologized for that … and I promise it won't happen again."

"Ah huh," I replied, nodding my head but not really believing her.

"I'm serious!"

"I know."

"Bella?"

"Yes?"

"Knock their socks off." She was referring to my presentation.

I grinned. "I will, but just make sure you enjoy your lunch no matter what."

At the reminder of her meeting with her mother, her face soured.

"Punch Cecilia for me if she insults you or something," I told her, trying to make her feel better.

Her response was a big loud sigh before she turned away to leave me alone in the library.

This was where I frequented when I wasn't in school or in the hospital. Something about being surrounded by hundreds of books, new and old, lured me to come and check them out. That was why Jessica had found herself inside libraries more often than she wanted to. She would drag me away so we could do some things she loved, and one thing on that favorite list of hers was shopping. She and Alice were like two peas in a pod in that category.

I was so engrossed in rereading and making sure my notes for the presentation were ready, I didn't notice the noise around me, not until I heard footsteps becoming louder as that person came closer.

I glanced up and froze.

Edward.

He looked immaculate as ever in his crisp sport shirt and jacket. Unlike the last time I saw him, he had this air of confidence about him. This was more like the Edward I knew.

He stood a few yards from where I sat. It would be safe to assume he wasn't here because of me, but the mere sight of him caused my heart rate to accelerate. It was an inevitable reaction, one I couldn't contain even if I wanted to. If his presence unnerved me, then his stare – cool yet determined – alarmed me.

I gave him a nervous smile, but he remained impassive, like he didn't care. Instead, he continued his perusal and I caved in and broke our stare. I tried not to look back up, refusing to acknowledge him again.

It would be too much to give him the benefit, especially after he just snobbed me. The nerve! I let him cry on my shoulder the last time I saw him … and now …now… shit! I wasn't one to expect anything in return for any good deed I did, but the least he could do was be pleasant around me.

A shadow cast over the pages in front of me. There was no doubt it would be him.

"Bella."

I raised my brow in question, not making this easy for him. He frowned, but I continued to wait for him to say something.

He seemed to have lost the ability to speak, and that irritated me. I scrambled to arrange my things, needing to get away from him.

"Where are you going?" He was so calm.

I ignored his question, because I couldn't find any words to say to him. I was so wound up, I thought I might scream. I continued to gather my book and papers, shoving them in the bag I brought, hoping to escape soon. When his hand wrapped around my wrist, tightening when I tried to pull away, I knew then he wouldn't allow me to go without talking to him.

"Jess is waiting for me."

"I saw her a few minutes ago. It didn't look like she was waiting for you." It was a statement, not a question.

"What are you doing here, Edward?" I asked, exasperated.

"I'm here because of you."

"What?"

"You heard me, Bella."

I stared at him, narrowing my eyes … suspicious. His presence at this library – my sanctuary – was not sitting well with me. He was right. I heard him. The only problem was my messed up reaction to him being here. This was not like last time. This was like three years ago, and it was making me uncomfortable. I didn't like it.

He had been missing in my life for so long, and now it seemed he was popping out of thin air, and it was more than I could handle. I wasn't sure if this was some sort of game to him, but I didn't want any part of it. No way.

He had dropped my hand, and I took that as an opportunity to escape. I was halfway across the hallway, my eyes focused on the exit door.

"I wanted to see you."

His words stopped me dead in my tracks. My chest thumped like crazy, but all I could hear was what he said … resonating all throughout my body like some kind of echo. He had said it earlier, but this time it felt more sincere … more serious. And the tingle that spread across my skin from his words was something I didn't like.

I turned around to face him, furious at myself for showing this kind of reaction to him, but I couldn't help myself. "Is this some kind of a joke … because it's not funny."

"I assure you it's not." His eyes bore into mine, but I refused to cower from the intensity.

"Coming from a person who had broken his promise … that's hard to believe." His promise to come back for me never came through. I waited and made excuses for him, but he never came back when he said he would, and that was all I could focus on.

The tightening of his jaw was all the indication he showed I had hit him where it hurt. It wasn't my intention to insult, but I was becoming more nervous each second I was around him.

"I thought we were friends now … especially after you allowed me to cry on you. We are friends, aren't we, Bella?" There was no sign of a grudge at what I had said in his tone. He was all cool confidence, which unnerved me. His self-assurance was a part of his charm, and I had forgotten how deadly it was. "All I'm asking is a little of your time. Can't you indulge an old friend?"

"Edward, I don't think that's a good idea."

He ran his fingers through his hair, ruffling it in the process. I tried not to stare, but it was useless. He was always a sight to behold.

"A drink or two perhaps. Please … just to talk."

I closed my eyes again, wondering if I was dreaming and all this was a hallucination.

"Bella?" The uncertainty in his voice was unmistakable, and somehow that fueled my desire to get away.

"No. I'm so sorry." I pushed past him, and practically ran out of the building. I ignored the two security escorts, who were clearly there for Edward, and made my way to my car.

There was no reason for me to feel guilty. This was what was best, and I was going to take that route.

OOOOOOOOOO

"You've got to tell me now, Bella." Tanya whispered as she pulled me to the side.

There was another delivery of a bouquet of white lilies at the hospital. This has been going on for four consecutive days now.

"Tell you about?" I asked, feigning ignorance. I knew exactly what she wanted, but I wouldn't make it easy on her.

Tanya nudged me when the same uniformed man in a suit, whom I recognized as Felix, handed the vase full of lilies to one of the nurses on the station. There was no longer any fuss like the first day it had happened. The card that came with the flowers was given directly to me so the royal insignia engraved on the inside of the card hadn't attracted attention. Dr. Brock even reprimanded me about receiving gifts in the hospital during duty hours, but later changed his position on the matter when he learned who had sent them. Felix, however, made sure the senior physician would keep that information to himself.

"Your admirer. It's been killing me to not know!"

"What makes you think I have an idea who it is?"

She narrowed her eyes at me. "I have this feeling you know who this stalker is. And for some reason, you're just not telling."

Tanya had pestered me for details, but I refrained from giving out any information. Knowledge could give them ammunition to question, and I wasn't ready to give any answers.

"Maybe it's someone I know." She tapped her upper lip with a finger, deep in thought. "Is he in one of our classes?"

"Tans, you're bordering on harassment," I said flatly. Although being in some of the same classes for almost three years of medical school had given us the opportunity to bond, that wasn't enough for me to trust her yet, especially with this. She was a good friend, but my priority was to make sure only a handful of people knew about Edward and me – our past … and this current situation, which I myself had yet to wrap my head around. The Cullens were powerful people, and it was in my best interest to be cautious when dealing with issues that involved any of them. Alice was right.

"Oh God, Bells. I didn't mean to intrude in your personal life. I'm just looking for a little excitement … and this secrecy seem so cool, you know," Tanya said, looking panicked. "I'm so sorry if you think I'm nosy."

"Yeah, you're nosy. You always seem to stick your fingers in things that doesn't concern you." That was James.

"And here he comes again," Tanya muttered, like James wasn't in the same vicinity. "Are you here to pester Bella again?"

"No," was his only reply. He glared at her, and she glared back.

"Yeah, as if anyone would believe you," she replied, her tone condescending. "You've been hounding Bella since day one of medical school. Aren't you tired yet?"

"You're just a jealous, little b-"

"Oh my God … the two of you! Can you just please stop bickering? You're giving me a headache," I said, exasperated.

My shift had been long and these two were adding to my exhaustion. They were both cool people, but they argued like an old married couple and times like today, it grated on my nerves. I pushed past them, intending to go home, which was what I had planned to do when I was interrupted by Tanya earlier.

Felix was standing near the nurse's station when I went to collect the vase of flowers he had just placed there. I glanced his way, and he gave me a nod – no smile accompanied. Just like the other four days he had delivered the flowers for Edward, he dutily waited until I would take the flowers with me. It was a mystery why the delivery was made here in the hospital, and even though it was killing me not to know, I had refrained from questioning Felix again. It was useless. That was the first question I had asked him when he delivered the first batch of flowers last Tuesday, and all the answer he gave me was to thrust his hand forward to give me the card. He was loyal to Edward and the royal family, so it wouldn't do me any good to question him again.

The flowers were heavy, and it was a task to bring them home. And as much as I didn't want to attract more attention by carrying a large vase of while lilies, which I could say were lovely, Dr. Brock wouldn't like it one bit if I left them here.

"I'll get that for you," James offered, but I shook my head.

It was so obvious he wanted to sneak a peak in case there was something between the lilies that would divulge the identity of who sent them. His interest went beyond friendship … I knew this. He had admitted his desire to pursue a romantic relationship with me a month after we were classed together in anatomy that first year. It was just his luck I wasn't interested.

He would wait, he promised. And he had been waiting ever since.

"This is heavy," he said, and efficiently removed the vase from my hands.

He looked smug as I stared at him. I wasn't sure whether to be grateful or irritated.

"Don't look at me like that. I just wanted to help." He gave me a smile, exaggerating it to the point he looked silly.

I sighed, and nodded. He beamed.

"You want to grab a cup of coffee somewhere?" James asked, grinning. "It has been a grueling couple hours and it would be nice to unwind before we go home."

It hadn't escaped my notice he had excluded Tanya from the invitation.

"Yeah, that'll be great, James," Tanya answered. I almost laughed when I saw the irritation in James' face. "C'mmon Bella, we need this! Let's go to that little café you love so much. What's it called again? … Oh, Jeremy's."

I was tired but coffee sounded like a good idea. "Okay."

I saw the satisfaction on Tanya's face. I didn't turn to look at James, but I was certain he didn't like her intrusion.

He was one determined guy, I'd give him that. His persistence was admirable, but when it was focused on you, it would sometimes get frustrating. Not that he was a bad guy, quite the opposite in fact. He was cute and a lot of fun to be with, but the heart, as I learned, couldn't be dictated. It would love whomever it chose, whenever it chose, consequences be damned.

Still a slow burn ... so ...

You still with me?

Thanks for reading.

xoxo