Chapter 4

Whenever Angela's boyfriend Ben stayed the night, Bella had made it a policy of hers to go out for breakfast to give them some alone time. Angela had questioned Bella's behaviour at first, thinking that she was uncomfortable with the occasional sleep-overs, but had had giggled during their ice-cream confessional that Ben was really enjoying the getting up in the morning with the apartment to themselves in more ways than one.

Having enjoyed a quiet breakfast, Bella was now browsing through some of the local stores. As soon as she entered the Whole Foods Market, she had immediately decided to cook a special thank you meal for Angela. She had been staying at the apartment for two weeks now, and more work was steadily trickling in. Of course, a great interview with one of Hollywood's finest leading men certainly helped. Bella had sent up silent thanks to Edward when her cheque for the Bitten interview had arrived. The funds were higher than expected, and so Bella was in the happy position of being able to reward Angela's generosity.

"Whole Foods? More like whole budget."

Bella was slowly making her way through the produce store, marvelling at some of the imported ingredients and gaping at the prices. Clearly either she'd been away from LA for too long, or this was a store that catered to the more affluent locals. Still, the quality of the food couldn't be denied.

It wasn't until she was quietly marvelling over some bizarre looking mushrooms that she felt like she was being watched. She had unconsciously registered that the same flannel shirt had been in her peripheral vision for a few minutes at other sections of the store. Whoever it was, they were slowly getting closer. They were probably just shopping for the same stuff.

She gave a mental shrug and moved onto the refrigerated section. After their post-interview celebrations last week, she knew if there was one thing Angela loved above all else it was gourmet ice-cream. She stood checking out the different flavours for a while and then saw the one she wanted. It was on one of the higher shelves, and she grumbled in quiet frustration as it remained just out of reach as she stood on tip-toe flailing at it with her fingertips. She was about to give up with a flannel sleeve appeared.

Whoever he was, he was tall. All she could see at first was the column of his throat as he leaned past her and into the freezer to pick up the tub she had been after. His movement sent a gust of whatever aftershave he was wearing into her face, and she instinctively leaned forward for more. Just as she sniffed appreciatively, his descending arm bumped her head, and she felt her face flush hotly as she was knocked into his chest. If she thought he had smelled good, he felt even better.

"Uh, sorry." She stammered.

She took a step back as she looked up into his … eyes. Oh my god. Those eyes.

"Hi." And he spoke too. Just when she thought it couldn't get any more perfect.

"Guh." She cleared her throat and started again. "Um, I mean, Hi yourself."

Edward Cullen. Holding icecream. That had to be any red-blooded woman's fantasy.

He shut the freezer door and the blast of cold air restored her sanity somewhat. She narrowed her eyes, looking at the tub of ice-cream he was holding.

"You know, I should probably warn you that if you're trying to buy that, I'm prepared to fight you for it."

"What?" He looked puzzled and then looked at the tub he was holding with a laugh. "Oh, here." He extended it towards her. "You looked like you were having trouble reaching it, so I was just giving you a hand."

"Oh!" Could her face get any redder? "Thanks."

"No problem. Besides," he continued with a grin, "I've learned never to get between a woman and her ice-cream."

"Well someone trained you right, and it must have been a smart woman." The tart reply was out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

He laughed. "Thanks, I'll tell my mom you said so."

"So," they both began awkwardly at the same time, then stopped and laughed together.

"You first." she gestured.

"It's .. Bella, right?"

"Right, and you're … "

He looked taken aback for a moment, until he caught the sly smile on her face and decided to play along. His face lit up with a grin before he composed himself.

"Edward," he held out his hand, and she shook it with exaggerated politeness. "Edward Cullen."

"It's nice to meet you Edward."

"Likewise."

They grinned at each other for a moment, holding hands for perhaps just a moment longer than necessary before letting go Edward glanced at her shopping basket.

"So, doing a bit of shopping?"

"Nothing gets past you does it," she teased. "But yes, I'm getting a few things to cook dinner for a friend."

"Lucky friend."

They both turned and started to meander along the aisle.

"I just decided to do it actually, so I'm still getting ideas. It feels like ages since I've had a nice kitchen to play in, and my friend has been putting up with me for a while now so I thought I'd better spoil her a bit to say thanks."

Edward nudged her with his shoulder. "Oh I don't know, surely a little thing like you couldn't be that hard to take."

She wrinkled her nose. "Well you know what they say, after three days fish and guests stink," He laughed, and she felt a glow at having been the cause of it. "and I don't want to wear out my welcome."

"Not possible."

He grinned at her, and she marvelled again at his smile. Was it even remotely possible that Edward Cullen was flirting with her? He peered at her shopping basket which she had been steadily adding to as they had wandered around the store chatting.

"Are you nearly done?"

"Just about, why?"

He shrugged. He even looked gorgeous doing that. Now she was obsessing. Living with Angela wasn't helping. Ever since the interview Angela had been asking Bella for little details, how he moved, what his laugh was like, was he really that gorgeous face to face. The more they had talked about him - amply assisted with copious alcohol at the time – the more inclined Bella was to agree with her. The man was seriously hot. Angela was going to pee her pants when Bella told her about today's encounter.

"You want to get a coffee or something?"

"With you?"

"Yeah with me," he looked puzzled, "is that a problem?"

"Hell no. I mean, sorry. Sure, I'd love to, but … the icecream."

"Hmm." He looked at the tub, cocking his head in thought. "I think we can get that sorted."

Bella stopped and picked up a few more items on the way to the cashier, noting with amusement that all Edward was carrying was a packet of Granola.

"Is that all you're getting?"

"Yup. My houseguest polished off the last of it."

"Oh." Bella immediately felt disappointed, but of course it figured that he was taken. Gods like Edward Cullen are never single.

"I mean," Edward continued hurriedly. "My brother finished it off. He and his wife arrived last night, and he's inhaling the contents of the kitchen as we speak."

Bella felt an irrational sense of joy. Just because he was apparently available didn't mean that he was going to be interested in her. He had probably only remembered her name because she'd virtually insulted him by calling him a seal. She was never going to live that one down, of that she was pretty certain. She managed not to blanch when the grand total of her splurge was rung up, and stood in quiet amazement as Edward charmed the cashier into putting Bella's cold purchases in storage for her to pick up later. As they exited the store, Bella thanked him.

"I didn't even know they let people do that here."

"Well uh, " he rubbed the back of his neck and looked at her shyly. "Generally they don't."

"Ahhh I get it. Fame has its privileges?"

"Something like that."

"Well, it's nice to know that you use your powers for good Mr Cullen."

"No charge."

Edward stood with a hand jammed in his jeans pocket, and she was struck at how shy he suddenly looked. It was all she could do not to step forward and cup his face in her hands, he looked like a nervous boy. But it couldn't be because of her. There was no way he could be nervous around her. Knowing she had no chance with Edward Cullen, international object of lust and attention was a curiously liberating experience. She cocked her head towards a nearby café and raised an eyebrow.

"So come on, are we getting a coffee?"

"Absolutely."

He ushered her towards the café, holding the door open so that she could enter. Dimpling her thanks, they quickly ordered and found a table. They each took a seat, sorted out their shopping on the floor around them and then looked at each other. For a moment, neither of them had anything to say. There was a moment's pause before they both started laughing.

"This is … " she started.

".. a bit weird?" he finished.

"I feel like I should have some discussion topics ready."

"Oh god, please don't say that." He closed his eyes and affected a pained shudder. "I've just had a whole month of that, and there's more coming."

"Aww, poor guy." Without evening thinking she reached over and patted his arm in mock sympathy. He looked startled at the contact, and then grinned. "All those nice hotels, all those people saying nice things." She pouted. Wait a minute was she flirting with him now? "It must be terrible."

"Well it has its moments," he dipped his head towards her, "but for most of the time I feel like a puppet when I'm on the press tours like that."

"Really? You seemed like you were having a really good time the other week."

"Well I was, but that was largely because of you."

"Me?"

"You were the only one to acknowledge the performing seal aspect, and you didn't go with all the usual questions." He paused as their coffees were delivered, smiling his thanks at the dumbstruck waitress who was desperately trying to play it cool. "You made it fun, and I haven't had that in a long time."

"How long has it been since you had fun?"

"A while."

There was a pause as Bella took that in. Of all the things she had felt for Edward: lust, admiration, curiosity, she hadn't expected to feel sorry for him. His simple admission made her aware of the goldfish bowl existence that came with fame. She looked at him with new eyes, and saw a handsome man who was working hard at his career, and yet looked tired and lonely. And to think that she had envied his lifestyle. The fame, the money, the adulation. Now her more pedestrian existence suddenly seemed all the more precious to her, because it was hers, and hers alone.

"So what's your idea of fun?"

He sat hunched over the table, toying absently with a sugar sachet while he considered her question, then he looked up at her uncertainly.

"Honestly?"

"Sure."

"Well, I guess just doing stuff like this." He gestured around him. "Just being able to hang out and enjoy a bit of peace and quiet."

"And that's something you don't get to do very often?"

"Not often, no. I'm usually reading scripts, talking to my agent. When there's a movie due out it feels like every minute of my time has been arranged by someone else. You have no idea how good it feels to just be able to kick back and talk to someone like a normal person."

He was speaking so quietly that she had to lean forward to catch what he was saying.

"I'd never really thought of a movie star's life as being like that."

He looked up and gave her a sad little smile. "I'm just a guy Bella, earning a living like everyone else. I just get a bit more attention for what I do."

Bella nodded slowly and bit her lip as she thought. There was a silence between the two of them, but it was companionable.

"It must be pretty isolating for you sometimes." She ventured.

"So you do understand."

"I think I do." She gave him a crooked grin. "Same planet, different worlds."

"Not that different."

"Maybe not." She agreed, and reached across to give his arm and affectionate squeeze. He smiled and rubbed his hand over hers, keeping it where it was. She felt a shiver of delight ripple through her at the warmth of his hand over hers. As someone who moved through life with a minimum of fuss or recognition, she was flattered and confused by his attention.

"Why me?" the question slipped out before she could stop herself.

"Because you're smart, you're funny, you're beautiful, and you're the first person in a long time that has treated me more than a trained seal."

"I'm never going to live that down am I?" she couldn't help the flush that covered her cheeks. He had called her beautiful. Edward Cullen had called her beautiful.

"Not if I can help it." he grinned, laughing as she reached over to lightly punch his shoulder.

An hour and another coffee later, their conversation was interrupted by Bella's phone. Edward raised an eyebrow at the tune.

"Not a word from you about my music taste Cullen." She pointed a stern finger at him in warning, but was laughing as she answered the call.

"Hey Charlie, what's up?" The smile slid off her face as she frowned in concentration. "Is it serious? Where are you now?" the conversation was brief, but serious. "Okay, I'm out at the moment but I'll call you when I get home and we'll sort something out … okay …. Okay … I love you too."

She snapped the phone shut and looked at Edward in dismay. "I'm so sorry, that was my Dad. Mom's sick and he's not sure …" the sentence trailed off as she looked blankly at the table for a moment and then leaned down to pick up her bags.

Edward got up and took care of the bill as Bella headed towards the door, stumbling a little in her haste. By the time he got outside she had already hailed a cab.

"You didn't drive here?"

She laughed, but her attention was elsewhere. "My truck can be a bit temperamental."

"Listen, I can …"

"No, it's okay, the cab's here." She paused and bit her lip, what bad timing. "I'm really sorry to have to take off like this."

"No that's okay, I just hope it's not serious."

"I'll know when I get back and make a few more calls."

She hesitated, her hand on the cab. And then with a muttered "oh fuck it", sprang forward and swiftly kissed his cheek.

He was reaching for her as she turned and jumped into the cab and closed the door.

Bella cursed quietly as she kicked a couple of bags of shopping out of the way to make room for her feet, and gave the driver Angela's address. They had gone two blocks when she suddenly let out a anguished wail.

"My number! I didn't give him my number!"

o * o * o * o

"So what's the prognosis?" Angela wandered into the living room just as Bella hung up the phone.

"Appendicitis. She's going into surgery in an hour." Bella slumped back into the armchair with a sigh. "The way Charlie described it, I thought she only had minutes to live."

"Well, it can be pretty serious if they don't get it in time."

"I know." Bella rubbed her forehead and then glanced up at Angela. "But I should have remembered that Renee has a low pain tolerance. She can't even tear off a bandaid."

Angela gave a low whistle. "Man, then she must have been in agony."

"Not as much agony as I'm in at the moment." Bella replied gloomily. "Edward Cullen. I was having coffee with Edward Cullen."

There was a dull thud as Angela's empty mug hit the carpet.

"Go back to that last bit?"

Bella looked up at Angela, biting her lip in a useless attempt to hold back the smile that was slowly spreading over her face.

"You mean the bit where I was in agony?"

"No," Angela sat down on the couch opposite her. "The other bit."

"The bit about how I was with Edward Cullen?"

"Yeah, that bit."

"Oh, so you wanted to hear the bit about how I bumped into Edward at Whole Foods, and we started chatting and ended up going for coffee."

"That'd be the bit I was thinking of." Angela said slowly. "The bit where … " she trailed off and raised nodded at Bella slowly for her to continue

" … where I was sitting across a table from Edward, his hand on mine as we talked and laughed for over an hour."

"Yeah."

"Mmmmmm."

The girls nodded at each other slowly for a moment before erupting into squeals of delight. Once they had calmed down, Angela heaved a sigh at Bella.

"So what are you going to do?"

"About what?"

Angela slapped her forehead in despair. "Oh my god woman. You're telling me that a heart throb you interviewed and felt a real connection for, the most shit hot man on the planet recognised you in a store and took you on a date."

"It was hardly a date we just went for a cof-"

"It was a DATE if I'm telling the story!" yelled Angela.

"Okay." Bella agreed in a meek voice. "Please continue."

"Then you get a call from your Dad saying that your Mom was on the verge of exploding, and you fled the scene in a cab, even though – and I feel duty bound to point this out – he offered you a lift home."

"Correct."

"And you didn't give him your number."

There was a moment of silence.

"Are you mad at me?" asked Bella.

"Honey, if I were to show you just how mad I am right now, it would take the forensic team a week to count the stab marks in your body."

o * o * o * o

After an anxious wait, Charlie had called again to advise that Renee's surgery had gone well, and she would be in hospital for a couple of days to recover. Bella hung up the phone with a sigh of relief, and was about to call out the news to Angela when the phone range again. She frowned at the display, the number was unknown.

"Hello?"

There was a moment's pause. "Hi .. is that Bella?"

"Speaking. What can I do for you?"

"It's more about what I can do for you."

Bella snorted. "Listen, if this is about insurance I'm already covered. Have a nice …"

"Wait, don't hang up! It's Edward."

"Edward?"

"Yeah."

"As in … Edward Cullen."

There was a startled pause, then a short laugh. "Yeah, that'd be me last time I checked."

"Wow."

"Look, I was really sorry that you had to take off this morning, but you left your icecream behind at the store."

"Did I?" Bella walked into the kitchen to check her backs. "Oh holy snapping duckshit, you're absolutely right."

"What did you just say?"

Bella clapped a hand over her mouth in horror, then started to giggle. "I said, why yes Edward, you're absolutely right."

"That's what I thought you said."

"Thanks for the heads up about the ice-cream, I'll head back to the store later to pick it up."

"Actually, I picked it up for you, and thought … god this is crazy, I feel like I'm back in high school! .. I thought that maybe we could bump into each other again soon so that I can deliver it to you."

"Really? Oh that would be … " Angela had walked into kitchen, and Bella pantomimed Edward's name, pointing silently at the phone. Angela stared at the handset and mouthed a silent oh my god. Bella stopped short for a moment and continued. "Hang on, I'm a bit confused though, how did you get my number?"

"I kind of called in a couple of favours last week and got your number from the publicity department." He paused. "I actually wanted to call you a week ago."

"And you didn't?"

"I … uh …"

"It's okay," she laughed. "I'm teasing!"

"And you got me."

"So you really went through all those people to find me, and you've been walking around with my phone number for a few days?"

"Um, yeah."

"That's so …."

He laughed. "Stalkerish?"

"I guess that's one way of putting it. I was going to say it was really sweet of you to call."

"I think I like your version better."

"No charge." Bella replied, echoing his comment from earlier that day.

"So, the ice-cream handover."

"Right, let's talk business."

"Where would you like it delivered?"

Bella looked at the bags on the kitchen counter, and then at Angela's wide-eyed excitement.

"Tell you what," she said slowly. "How about you bring it over at 7pm, and join my friends and I for a home cooked meal?"