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The Way Back Home 15/02/2009 18:04:00

Chapter 3: Chance Meeting (Edward POV)

So, I'll see you tomorrow then?" my heart did back flips when she asked me. Did she think I was actually going to not see her again, I quickly responded "Oh yes, bright and early. Good night Bella, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow." Yeah don't sound too desperate Eddie boy I thought to myself. "Me too, Edward, don't let the bed bugs bite". She was way too cute. "Night Bella." I hung up the phone and realized that I was still leaning against the door to my room.

Did I just spend the evening with the most beautiful girl in the world or am I dreaming. I laughed at myself and began to undress. I sat on the bed and recalled what had happened.

When I landed in Chicago this morning I had just planned on going to the hotel and relaxing until my brothers landed tomorrow night. I checked in the hotel and was immediately doted upon by the girl at the front desk. As she was checking me in she just kept staring and smiling. She was taking too long, no way too long. So I looked at her name tag. Her name was Irina. I decided to be nice despite how grumpy I was.

" So Irina, how are you doing today.?" I looked at her. She had straight blond hair that fell just above her shoulders and blue eyes. She had on a lot of jewelry and she definitely had some work done on her chest. One quick look and I knew she was definitely not my type.

She was now looking at me and her eyes went from curiosity to a lustful glare.

"I'm a lot better now that you are here".

Oh please, she was the cookie cutter airhead bimbo. I know I rolled my eyes.

"Is this going to take too much longer? I am tired and would really like to get to my room and lie down for a while."

She looked up from her computer screen and had that look in her eye again.

"Oh no Mr. Cullen I will be done momentarily, and I can show you too your room if you like."

She sure doesn't beat around the bush does she. "No, that wont be necessary, I think I can find the way."

She handed me my key card. You are on the top floor in the penthouse. Oh and Mr. Cullen I am here the whole night, so if you need anything, just let me know." She handed me a piece of paper and I quickly walked away.

I briskly walked to the elevator and climbed inside. A young man was waiting in the elevator and asked me what floor I was heading too. I told him the penthouse. He pushed the button and I realized that this was his job. I didn't think they had people run the elevator anymore.

"Don't worry too much about Irina, she gets like that when anyone that's halfway decent and has money walks in."

I looked at him and laughed, "Well thanks for the compliment, umm," I looked at his nametag.

"Oh its Tyler Mr. Cullen."

"Please don't call me Mr. Cullen, its Edward. We shook hands. He looked flustered.

"I didn't mean that you were unattractive, I was just…"

I laughed at that and said "I know what you meant, no need to explain. "I was hoping that maybe you could let me know a good music store around here, I hear Chicago is full of them, and I was hoping to add to my collection.".

He looked at me and beamed. "Of course, the best one in town is Reckless records, its on Madison Ave."

The elevators doors opened and I looked at Tyler.

"Thanks for the info man, I'll see you around." "No Problem Edward, oh and if you need anything don't call the front desk just call my phone, or you will definitely have to deal with Irina. He handed me his card and walked back into the elevator.

"Later"

The doors closed and I opened the door to my room. I looked around the room for my bags, and sure enough they were already here. The penthouse was big and it was nice. Not as nice as my mother Esme would have decorated, but nice none the less.

To be honest I could care less how the room looked, I just wanted a bed. I decided to take the first bedroom on the left. I dropped my bags at the foot of the bed and plopped down it. It was comfortable enough. I didn't wake again until 3 hours later. I looked at the clock and it was 5:30. I rolled over and debated ordering room service, or going out to eat. I decided that I would see a bit of the city and find something while I was out. I quickly showered and changed and found Tylers card. I asked him to get me a cab and if Irina was around. He said that she wasn't and that the coast was clear. I normally don't avoid women, I had plenty of attention when it came to women, It was just that I was working really long hours doing my residency that I just really wanted to take it easy on this trip, with no distractions.

This was my first real vacation in years. Jasper had called me about 2 weeks ago and asked both Emmett and I to come to Chicago with him. He wanted us to officially meet Alice, as we had only spoken on the phone, and to meet Alice's best friend, and her roommate. I didn't really want to go, but after Emmett pleaded and started talking about how great Chicago food was supposed to be, I gave in.

I got off of the elevator and bee lined it to the front entrance. There was a cab waiting outside and Tyler was talking to the cabbie. He walked toward me and told me that the cabbie knew to take me to the record store and where it was. I went to give Tyler a tip but he refused and walked back inside. I got into the cab and watched city as we drove. I never lived in the big city and often wondered what is was like. The crowds of people in the street were amazing. The buildings looked so old but they were proud and statuesque.

As we drove I started thinking about how I felt about where I was in the current stage of my life. I had broken off the relationship I had with Tanya months ago. She was not at all liked by my family members but she helped me pass the time and she was beautiful. All of the men always stared when she was with me. She was eye candy, as Emmett had put it. But like Irina she was cookie cutter. Sure our sex life was great, but there was nothing more to it. I couldn't hold long conversations, no take that back, any actual conversations with her. If we weren't having sex we weren't together. I was hard to believe that we had stayed together for over a year. The crazy part was that I didn't miss her at all.

Esme and Carlisle once told me that I would know when I found the one. My mother and father were definitately soul mates. They had been together so long and when they looked at each other they still had that sparkle in their eyes. Don't even mention the sex. I had once gotten off of work early and stopped by for a quick visit. I walked in the house was so quiet. Then I heard my mother yell and ran up the stairs to find out what had happened. When I got to the top of the stairs I heard them, my parents doing something I hoped I would never hear. I quickly turned around and left. I don't think I ever blushed as hard as I had that day.

I laughed to myself and the cab driver looked into his rearview mirror and smiled. "We are here, Reckless Records." I paid the man and stood in front of the store.

It was small and the windows were plastered with posters. I stepped inside and saw a stage set up in the back. A young woman had just stepped onto the stage and there were cries of encouragement coming from the crowd. I heard the music start and walked closer to the stage.

She was beautiful and her face was red from blushing. She had long chestnut colored hair and the most beautiful chocolate brown eyes I had ever seen. She began singing and I knew that it was Love Shack. Her voice was so angelic and I loved the sound of it. She began dancing on the stage and was swaying her hips to and fro. The crowd was clapping and I joined along. She was mocking the singers as she sang and I laughed out loud. She was brilliant. She was beautiful and funny. I just could not take my eyes off of her. She finished her song and took a bow. As soon as she looked up our eyes locked and I saw it, her eyes were sparkling and I did not look away, I couldn't. She was like a hypnotist.

I realized that I had not stopped cheering and clapping and the whole room had turned around to look at me. OK, AWKWARD, so I stopped and smiled. I looked at her again and I winked. She turned all red again and I made a mental note that I would love to see her do that again. An older man made his way to me and asked "Excuse me sir, it seems that you have stumbled upon a private gathering, can I ask how I can help you." Oops I didn't know the place was closed. "Oh, well the door was open and the lights were on, I was only looking for some music, and I hear this is the best place to go while in Chicago.: The man looked at me and smiled and said "Flattery gets you everything my boy, why don't you come and join us.". He introduced himself as Gene and when his wife approached he introduced her as Lynda.

"I don't want to intrude". Lynda walked up to me and rested her hand on my arm "Oh you are not intruding, just bring your cute little self in here and have some fun." I looked at her on the stage again and smiled. "You see son, this is a going away party for my dear Bella, she is leaving us and I wanted her to go out with a bang." I then understood that I didn't want to leave and that I had to be polite. "Well, the least I can do is offer her my best wishes then, where is she" At that moment Lynda turned and was talking to someone. "Bella come say hello to this nice man."

When Lynda moved out of the way, there she stood. She was even more beautiful standing right in front of me. I had butterflies in my stomach. "Be cool, Edward, be cool" I thought to myself. I started to stare at her again, her long brown hair had beautiful long waves in it. She was not tall, but not short either and she had a very nice body, but that wasn't what had me so entranced, it was her eyes and her smile. I wanted to kiss her, I wanted to hold her and not let her go, Whoaaa, did I just think that, where the hell did that come from.

I needed to say something "Ah, so you are Bella," I stood offered my hand to her. I reached to shake hands and felt an immediate surge of electricity. "What the he…… " I had never felt that before, did she feel it too, I looked at her quickly and she blushed again. "In the flesh" she replied. "Well I must say that you put the B-52's to shame. I think they should make you an official part of the band" Some line, well its all I had, I just couldn't think right around this woman. I didn't catch your name….." " she was asking me something Oh my apologies I am Edward." "Edward huh, okay Edward, since you are new here and its my party, you have to sing next." She was forward and I liked it. I smirked and responded "Very well then, its only fair". I walked up on the stage and looked through the list of songs. I knew exactly the song I wanted to sing I just hoped they had it. Then I found it "A Pair of Brown Eyes by the Pogues. I looked into the crow for her and she was right in front of me. I smiled at her and began to sing. I sang to her, and only her and her eyes never left mine.

I walked right off the stage and up to her and asked : So what did you think" "Id like to kiss you.". What did she say, she said it so softly but I'd heard it. I started nervously laughing and running my hands through my hair. I don't think she meant for me to hear it, so I started laughing" So you want to kiss me? But the truth was that I wouldn't have minded. "Oh crap I said that out loud, "Smooth move ExLax." I laughed "Its alright, I figured you were kidding." "I could not be more embarrassed than I am this very moment. " I am sorry, I just….., I didn't,….. , well I meant. I laughed harder and looked at her, she was just so… I cant explain it I was without words and completely intrigued. "Your actually quite pretty when you blush like that" I needed to feel her again so I ran the side of my hand across her cheek and I felt that surge again. I looked into her brown eyes and they were deep and I was drowning, but I wanted to drown in them and never be rescued.

She immediately tried to change the subject, "So you like the Pogues huh?" I looked at her surprised. "You knew that was the Pogues, I am really impressed Bella, most people don't know Irish Punk music" Check one, similar musical tastes "Well the Pogues and Flogging Molly are about it for Irish Punk, but I like all kinds of music. I have an eclectic taste for music and I enjoy them all." She responded and smiled. " I have to say that's impressive Bella. Can I ask how old you are?' I would have to ask you first Edward?" I smiled and said "I am 23, and I am currently doing a residency to become a doctor, hmm what else, Oh I like dogs, long walks on the beach and pina colada's. I don't think I missed anything. So you Bella?' I awaited her response "I am 22, graduating in 3 days, I want to be a teacher, English teacher to be exact, but most of all I want to write. I want to write books like Jane Austen, you know classics. And I also like dogs, long walks on the beach and Pina Colada's." I laughed. She was perfect.

"So what brings you to Chicago Edward?" Why am I here again, my mind is a mess, "Well I am meeting with some family, I have never been here before and wanted to visit. There are so many things to see here, like the big silver bean, that's on the top of my list." She laughed. "So out of all the museums, shows, the Planetarium, the Aquarium, and the Sports teams, you pick the giant Bean in Millenium Park?" I smiled to myself "Well actually it's the closest to here, and I was hoping that you would like to join me? Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes my mind kept repeating "Seriously". Wait is that a yes??? Ahhh, I need help, say something idiot "Of course Bella, I don't know my way around to well, and my brothers wont be in until tomorrow, and I could use a friend and guide tonight. " I looked into here eyes anxiously, yeah way to look desperate "Well If a guide is what you need, then I am at your service" she curtsied and smiled. I laughed nervously. "Of course we do kind of have to wait for my party to end, if you don't mind? Did I mind, as long as she was going to be with me I didn't mind anything." If I get to spend time with you Bella, I don't mind at all."