A/N: Wow, you guys are the bomb! I didn't get a single negative comment (although I also accept criticism in a constructive form). I totally love you guys. Chapter title borrowed from "If I Never Knew You".

Two

How Precious Life Can Be

BELLA

Mike was a horrible, terrible, defiant, abusive creep, and I knew it. I desperately needed to break up with him, but how could I do that? I had tried, on many occasions, to simply tell him we were over, that I didn't want him in my life anymore, but he had shrugged it off as if I'd never said anything.

One thing did change ever time I tried to leave him, though: His grip grew tighter. I mean this in a physical and possessive state. Whenever he picked me up for a date, he held on to me a little tighter. And every time I talked to other guys, he was there, hoarding over me like a vulture. This especially applied to guys.

For this reason, I was extremely surprised that Mike even allowed him to look at me. And by "him", I mean Edward, of course.

He had become my lifeline over the next week or so. I had, miraculously, convinced Renee and Charlie to hire him for their benefit as well as mine. I'm not going to lie, watching Edward wait on people and clean tables was enough to make me go mad. He was so graceful, so charming, and, above all else, so beautiful. I was none of these things. His presence, believe it or not, significantly raised our profits.

"Bella!" Edward called, waltzing through the front door, his smock already neat and tied into place. I turned around; tripping over the leg of the table I was cleaning. He was by my side within seconds, catching me before I hit the ground. "Do you do this kind of stuff to torment me?" he whispered, his lips dangerously close to my ear.

I groaned as we both stood back up. "Yeah, Edward. I trip over things and make myself look like an idiot solely to attract your attention. Thank goodness you noticed."

He grinned, the sideways smile that made me weak at the knees. I caught myself this time, reaching out for the table for support.

"Are you okay?" he wondered.

"Yeah. Just a little… faint," I lied. How does one go about telling a person of the opposite sex that they drive them completely crazy? I had no clue.

"Umm… All right," he said disbelievingly. "I was just going to ask you if you wanted to… erm… join me for some coffee… When we get off… you know, to talk about… sales and such."

I laughed lightheartedly. When was the last time I'd done that? "Edward… It's not that I don't want to at all…" I paused. That was far from the truth. The urge to ask him out had been driving me insane for the past week. "But if Mike were to walk by…" Which he would. He most certainly would find a way to be wherever I was. "He might get the wrong impression…" And think that you actually asked me out on a date! Why couldn't I just say that?

His eyes tinged with read at the mention of Mike's name, as they had a week ago. "Makes sense, I guess," he mumbled, setting off to work again.

EDWARD

I don't… fully understand why she makes herself stay with him. The only reason I can possibly imagine is that he's making her. Physically making her. I didn't know how I felt about that. No, that's not right, I did know. Even wondering if Mike was doing those… despicable things to my Bella made me want to hurl him across the room. (Wait, when had she become "my" Bella?)

"Edward?" a familiar voice from behind called out.

"What is it, Emmett? I'm working," I answered, not even bothering to turn around and look at him. I was willing to bet that he looked like a complete idiot, and laughing now would only make me more depressed about Bella later.

"Would you just look at me?" he demanded. I shook my head, scrubbing the circular table furiously.

"No, Emmett, I will not look at you. Because I am almost positive whatever you have got to show me is going to distract me from doing my job, which is what I'm currently doing," I said calmly.

"You wouldn't even have this job if I hadn't taken you out here last week," he reminded me. Of course he had to go there.

"What is so important that you couldn't wait for me to get off, Emmett?" I asked, turning on my heel to face him. Bella came out from behind the counter, giggling madly.

"Emmett!" she blurted. "What is all over your face?"

Sure enough, purplish, viscous liquid was plastered to his cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead. I erupted in a fit of inevitable laughter, mocking him.

"How did you manage all of that, Em?" I wondered.

"Well… I went to try and talk to Rose at her apartment… and… let's just say I was not welcome. Alice bombarded me and held me down while Rosalie got all this… gunk from her kitchen and rubbed it all over my face," he explained, looking deathly serious. I laughed again.

"Come on, Emmett," Bella offered. "Come back into the kitchen. We'll clean you up."

"Mr. and Mrs. Boyardee won't mind?" he asked jokingly.

Bella looked away, and I saw the trace of tears on her face when she looked back up. "No, they are otherwise occupied."

BELLA

Otherwise occupied? Vague, Bella. Very vague. Why couldn't I ever say exactly what I meant? For instance, if I had simply said "No, they aren't here. They're probably having dinner right about now, discussing my future," then Edward would not be staring at me like I had grown a third eye right about then.

"Not trying to question your expertise or anything, Bella," Emmett spoke, dragging me out of my thoughts. "But how exactly are you planning on… erm… de-gooing me?"

I giggled at the play with words. Every girl should have an Emmett to make them laugh when they're feeling absolutely desolate as I was.

"Actually, I have no idea," I admitted, starting on it with a wet dish cloth. "Any offers?"

He shook his head. "Your guess is as good as mine."

"Then this is what we'll do." I scrubbed a bit harder, expecting him to jump, but, of course, he never did. He stood motionless, as if he didn't feel a thing. "Any thoughts?"

He grinned a bit. "Yeah. But you'll probably hate me for asking."

I gulped. This couldn't be good. "Ask away. I promise not to hate you."

His smile grew a bit wider at that. "Well… I was just wondering why you don't like Edward."

I dropped the rag, and, being the klutz that I am, slipped on it, landing unceremoniously on the ground. The kitchen door slammed open a split second later.

"Bella, are you all right?" Edward asked, placing one hand underneath my bruised head, the other maneuvering around my neck, checking for my pulse, no doubt. I tried no nod, but all I could muster was a less-than-reassuring cough.

"I-I'm fine. I do this kind of stuff all the time." It was true.

"Are you sure?" I was touched by the genuine concern on his voice. In a perfect world (one where Mike was not my jealous, extremely possessive boyfriend), I would have kissed him right then and there. However, considering the fact that I did not want to be the one responsible for his murder, I did not.

"No," I smiled. He laughed nervously.

"Could you… maybe… not ever do that to me again?" he requested.

"No promises," I answered, allowing him to help me up carefully.

All of this awkwardness between Edward and I was going to have to stop. I didn't know how, and I didn't know when, but I was going to be friends with him. Real friends.

A/N: Sorry, guys. I know it's a short one. But I just had to update after all of those wonderful reviews. (Thanks so much for those, by the way). I've just been so busy… I have to sing tomorrow night. Thank you guys for being so patient. You guys are the best!

C.J.