A/N: Wow. I love you guys so, so, so much. .Cucumber, you rock my world. I love your story. Actually, after I finish writing this chappy, I'm gonna go read your latest update. Haha. Please review this chapter as well. ( : Chapter title from Miss Kellie Pickler.

Three

Just the Way You Are

BELLA

The next two weeks passed by awkwardly, as expected. Every time I conjured up enough courage to speak with Edward, we were interrupted by either Emmett or Mike, who was constantly picking me up early now that we had another employee around to take over. I was always apologetic, but Edward was quick to assure me that he did not mind staying late to close up.

I wouldn't have minded staying late, either, if it gave me a couple extra hours to talk to him about something other than pizza and sodas. My spirits were crushed, day after day, when Mike arrived promptly at the restaurant. He made no attempt to hide his frustration with me on most occasions, and I could see that it pained Edward to have to witness our little shows of what Mike considered affection. It pained me, too. Just in a whole different way.

So you can imagine my surprise when I received a very impromptu call from my overzealous boyfriend instead of a visit one day…

"Bells, is that you?" Mike slurred. He had just woken up, I was sure.

"Yeah, Mike, it's me. Where are you?" I had become so accustomed to being picked up at six o' clock on the dot that I was ready for him, jacket on, notebook in hand, waiting for the familiar DING of the door's bells that meant he had come, again.

"I'm at home. I'm really sorry, Baby, but I've gotta go out of town for a few days," he muttered apologetically.

I wanted to shout something along the lines of "YES!" or "Don't come back, either!" but instead I said, "Oh. All right. I'll miss you." What a blatant, terrible lie to tell.

"Miss you, too, Bells. I love you," he said, wheezing a bit.

I said nothing.

"BELLA!" he shouted, causing me to rip the phone away from my ear. "I said 'I love you'!"

"Love you too," I winced. I could hear him smiling through the receiver.

"See you."

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"What's the matter with you, today, Bella?" Edward asked, reaching behind my back to clean the other side of the counter. I froze. He smelled so sweet, like cologne and fabric softener…. Mmmmmmmmmm, what a combination.

"N-nothing," I embarrassed myself further. Why did he have to smell so delicious? And look so inviting? And talk so sweetly? And… Get a grip, Bella!

"It doesn't seem like nothing," he said worriedly, turning to me. My breathing hitched. "Is something bothering you?"

I nodded, cursing myself for falling for yet another charmer. "I-I mean nothing's bothering me, per say… I think it's a good thing…"

"Oh?" He cocked an eyebrow, and my knees buckled. I held the counter to steady myself. How could one person possibly have this kind of effect on me, especially after I'd known so many guys before him?

"Umm… yeah. It's just… Mike's going out of town… so you can leave early… if… if you want… It's my turn to close by myself…" Of course I was hoping he'd say that he had nothing else to do, that he'd rather stay here with me, but I didn't want to seem clingy.

"Actually… I was planning on staying late tonight, anyway…" Only because he stayed late every other night, no doubt. "I cancelled plans with Emmett… and if I don't work late he'll actually make me go with him… to a public place… so if it's all right with you…"

I laughed, relieved. "Yeah, we can both close. Wouldn't want you to die of embarrassment or anything…" I finished quickly, before he had a moment to change his mind.

"Cool." He grinned. I felt sure I'd never get tired of seeing him happy like that.

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Yes, I acted a bit eager when Bella told me that that cretin was leaving town, but I simply could not help myself. I told myself it was for her. She was only on break for Christmas in Forks for two months. I wanted her to enjoy it.

That was only partly true. Deep, deep inside I knew the reason I was so excited had nothing to do with her, and everything to do with the time we would be spending alone together. Sure, I felt selfish. I hated myself for caring more about that than I did about her happiness.

But it was inevitable. Not thinking about being with Bella was just too difficult for me to handle. Besides, thinking about the fact that she was only here on break, not to mention the fact that she only had about five weeks left, depressed me greatly. I preferred not to think about it.

That meant I only had a month and a week to get Mike and Bella separated. I could live if Bella and I never got a shot, but I would not be able to handle it if I knew that Mike was still abusing her. No, I had to do something about that.

"It's about that time," I reminded Bella for the fifth consecutive time in about three minutes.

She was not annoyed, apparently, because she shrugged it off with a laugh, again. "I know, I know, Edward. You keep telling me. Why are you so excited about it?"

"Closing time is my favorite time of the day," I lied defensively. "It's so… quiet in her… without all of the customers' conversations buzzing."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," she agreed, dragging a wash towel across Table Number Seven. "And I'm just so tired after work because Mike…" She stopped abruptly, blushing profusely.

"Mike what?" I prodded, trying to sound as nonchalant as humanly possible.

"He… you know…" she stuttered, looking, I must admit, adorably flustered. A single damp, brown curl stuck to her face, and she pushed it away, averting her eyes.

"Bella," I said, changing my tone so it came across a bit more serious. "Why… I don't understand why you put yourself through this... You don't deserve it…"

"Yes, well… that is a conversation I do not want to get into," she babbled, tossing the towel into the bucket of suds she was dipping into.

"But... you have told your parents?" I continued.

"My parents wouldn't care if I did tell them…" she admitted, a single tear cascading down her ruddy cheeks. She wiped it away quickly, and no more tears fell. She was holding back so much.

"Bella…" I repeated.

"Look, if this is about you feeling sorry for me because I'm trapped in a relationship with an unappreciative, violent boyfriend, then save it. I don't need sympathy. I… I can take care of myself." And as she said it, I knew that even she could tell she was lying.

"But you wouldn't have to take care of yourself if you'd just leave him," I protested, inching closer to her. "Can you honestly look into my eyes and tell me that you love him? Or that you even like him anymore?"

She looked away once more. "No," she said to the floor. "I can't. But I don't expect you to understand that there's just no escaping this for me. Believe me, I've tried."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, standing directly beside her now. "What do you mean you've tried?"

"Exactly that!" she shouted, facing me. "I've tried. But every time his grip gets stronger. He'll always come back for me. I can't get away from him, Edward! I just… can't! and Renee and Charlie love him. They trust him over me! Don't you see that there's no way I can leave Mike? Not when he's so physically… capable…"

"I still don't see it, Bella," I admitted.

"Like I said," she continued coldly, "I wouldn't expect you to." And she took off running into the kitchen, slamming the door behind her, and, I knew, resolving to tears the moment she was safe behind closed doors. I wanted to hold her, to comfort her. I wanted to kiss her and tell her everything was going to be fine. But I couldn't.

Not yet, anyway.

A/N: Yay! This chapter is finally finished! It took ForEVER! So I really, really hope you guys enjoy it. Please, please review. It makes it so much easier to update quickly if everyone leaves a nice leetle review. Love you guys,

C.J.