I feel like such a bad person for not updating in the longest time. I have had the worst case of writers block ever. But, I hope you all enjoyed Edward's POV. I personally thought it sucked…But that's my opinion.

Thank you to all that reviewed. Reviews make me want to write more and more just to make you all happy...like ducks in springtime...

Disclaimer: I'm not claiming Twilight. Obviously. I doubt SM would even let me have it…

Chapter 9: I Woke Up

Edward – POV

I was exceedingly overjoyed to have Bella except my invitation for tomorrow. Her beautiful chocolate brown eyes were stuck in my mind like a catchy song. However, a thought in the back of my head felt a little guilty. What if, by some odd chance, that the angel of my dreams is interested in me. She had no idea that I was already seeing someone. I would have to decide between a multi-personality girlfriend, and a beautiful stranger who seemed to be out of my league.

It was a chance I would gladly take.

I pinched the bridge of my nose with my thumb and forefinger before sliding out my sleek black phone from my jeans pocket and dialed the familiar number.

"Hello?" She answered on the third ring.

"Tanya, it's me." I said, my tone was lacking emotion.

"Oh, hey baby!" She shouted into the phone. "I was totally like going to just call you."

Oh great, she was back to normal.

"Listen, I have something to discuss with you tonight." I said, my voice was at maximum seriousness.

"Oh, sorry…I'm actually heading over to Irina's house tonight…"

"How about tomorrow night?" I asked, impatiently.

"Yeah…how about you stop by at nine…and we will have that…discussion…" Now she was just being smart.

"Yes. That's fine. Goodbye." I said before hanging up. I had to do this, once and for all. No turning back now.

-&-

The sun was beginning so set causing a light glow to reflect off the pond. Bella's pale skin was practically glowing. She was a goddess with the way her brown curls blew softly in the wind. She was a vision I never wanted to disappear.

We encountered in small talk. I told her about how I came to find this spot. I didn't want to depress the moment with the story of my parents. I only lingered on that for only a short time. I was somewhat difficult to talk about; she didn't need to hear all the sad details of the sadness in my life. I preferred to see her beautiful smile.

"I play piano…well, keyboards, in the band's case." I told her with a smile. "I always wanted to learn guitar, but when I tried it was too hard." I admitted with a grin.

"Same thing with me!" Her face brightened with excitement. I let out a small laugh at her adorable outburst. Yes indeed, she was absolutely adorable.

"Maybe we could help each other out sometime." I said, looking into those deep brown eyes.

"I'd like that."

We sat down the grass side by side. However, our bodies were turned to one another's. Our faces were merely more than a couple inches from each other's. If I moved any closer, I would be able to feel her breath on my face. Despite my desire to reach out and caress her cheek, I remained where I was, admiring her beauty.

"Edward?"

That was the last voice I wanted to hear.

I turned towards the voice. Tanya was standing a few feet from me and Bella. I wanted to scream out. Why was that perfect moment ruined? I reluctantly sat up, offering my hand to help Bella up as well. And slowly walked towards the blonde woman.

"Edward! I have been looking for you all over this city." Her voice was far more whiner than usual. I wondered if I made her jealous by being here with Bella. I fought back the smirk that tried to creep up onto my lips.

"I told you I'd be out." I said to her, showing no affection. "I was going to meet you later."

"There has been a change of plans." She said. Her eyes made their way to Bella, who was frozen. "So you are the girl he saved from that van. Aren't you a lucky one?" She said in an impolite tone. "Well, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Tanya said to me. Her eyes burned holes through my skin. She couldn't have just waited until nine?

The look on Bella's face was unreadable. I was always gifted at reading peoples expressions, and almost getting into their mind. But Bella, I couldn't tell. She was standing there with a face that read, shock, but also calm. She was simply unreadable.

"Bella, this is Tanya. Tanya, this is Bella." I said. Simple enough. Out of the corner of my eye I caught Tanya glaring at me. It was almost as if she was ushering me to further her title. I, for one, did not want to admit these words, but if I didn't I'm sure Tanya would make the assumptions clear. "Tanya is my girlfriend." I unwillingly said. Tanya looked pleased. However, Bella did not.

"Nice to meet you." Bella mumbled.

"Likewise." Tanya practically spat. I gave her a warning glance.

"Look, Tanya...why don't you just wait for me on the sidewalk?" I suggested.

"Fine." She smiled. "I expect to see you in 30 seconds." she commanded before sauntering off.

I looked toward the angel beside me. She wasn't looking at me. She just stared down at her feet. "Bella-" I began but was immediately cut off.

"I should get home, it's getting late." She said, still not looking at me.

Good job, Edward. Now she thinks you were leading her on. I mentally kicked myself for being so stupid. This was all my fault. If I had been a man and followed Sam's advice sooner, Tanya would not be waiting for me on the sidewalk right now. Perhaps, by now I would be able to hold Bella in a close embrace, and maybe kiss those full pink lips...

I shook my head of the thoughts of what could have been. Because that is never going to happen. I needed to fix this now. "I would walk you back…to you're home…if you'd like." I offered.

She looked up at me and shook her head. "No...it's fine…really...I, uh, don't live to far from here..." She said taking her eyes away from mine and looking down at her feet once more.

"Are you sure." I asked softly.

"Yeah." She began to walk away from me. She stopped a few feet ahead and turned to face me. "I'll see you around, I guess..." She said.

And she was gone.

I pinched the bridge of my nose with my thumb and forefinger. This was not supposed to happen. I was intending to take Bella here, have small conversation, then walk her back to her apartment, then go see Tanya, break it off for good, then gradually try to prove myself worthy to the beauty that carries the name Bella.

Now, all the guilt in the world was on my shoulders. Words could never express how terrible I feel at this moment. I couldn't imagine how Bella felt. She left on a very awkward note. She must despise me for leading her on…and that was the one thing I wasn't trying to do.

I trudged toward the sidewalk where Tanya was waiting for me. Sure enough, she was there sitting on a bench, looking at her face in a compact mirror.

I stood in front of her, waiting for her to get up so I can get this over with. She looked up, her blue eyes piercing. "How was your date?" She asked, still looking in the mirror. She said the last word like it was a deadly poison.

I glared at her. "You seriously did not say that." I said in disbelief.

She placed the tiny mirror back in her purse. "You seriously were not interested in her." She shot back. There was no doubt that she was beyond angry with me. I could hear the venom dripping out with every word.

Here we go...

"She has nothing to do with anything. Do not bring Bella into this just so you have something to complain about." I said harshly.

"Well then-" She began.

I held up my right hand and cut her off. "Listen, this has been a very rocky relationship for me." I said truthfully. "It was great at the beginning...but as time passed you...changed...you weren't the same person that I asked out on that first date. You were never stereotypical or superficial, like you are now." I took a deep breath. "I can't...do this anymore...I'm dearly sorry, Tanya..." I sighed. "..it's over between us."

Fury came over her face. "You are so not breaking up with me."

"I'm terribly sorry, but my words have been spoken." I reached for her hand and kissed the top of it. "Take care of yourself, you deserve a strong man who can take care of all your desires...I'm not that man." I said before turning away from her and walking in the direction of my apartment.

It felt nice to have the weight of the world off my shoulders. But all the weight was not gone. I still felt all the guilt that kept building up higher and higher with every passing second. I knew I had to explain things and make them right.

Now I had to make it up to the angel, herself.

Bella.

-&-&-&-

Bella - POV

My eyes felt like they were on fire. I fought back the tears that desperately wanted to make a steam down my face. I jogged back to my apartment, just to have the comfort of familiar things.

I quickly scurried up the stairs and entered my studio. Closing the door behind me, I fell to the floor and let the tears out.

How could I have been so naïve? Of course, he had to have a girlfriend. And of course, she was one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen (Of course, a blonde). I have been nothing but and idiot for actually thinking that he could be possibly interested in me. Me? Plain, little Bella. I have always known that I would never be good enough for him. He was impossibly handsome, funny, sweet, and can save me from being hit by vans.

That little memory triggered a thought.

Why did he save me? Why did he bother? No one else hurried to my side to help. I was completely and utterly confused.

Maybe that was his scheme…if he had a scheme. Perhaps he used me as the damsel in distress just to get me…no. No, no, no. He was not like that. He was much too polite to be like that. That ruled that reason out.

I wiped the tears from my face and proceeded into the bathroom to wash my face. Alternatively, I ended up taking a shower. The hot water pouring down, relaxing my muscles, made me feel somewhat better. I stepped out and wrapped a fluffy white towel around my body.

I pondered the thought of him keeping his precious girlfriend a secret. I knew he was much too nice to lead me on like that. Perhaps the subject never came up. I have to admit that I never flat out asked him if he was single. Although, someone as gorgeous as him must be taken by someone. I don't know how I let myself believe that he was unattached.

I quickly got dressed in comfortable sweats and fell backwards onto my futon.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

As I reluctantly got up to retrieve the phone, I mentally made a note to throw it off a building after I answered.

"Hello?" I said, I could hear the depression and disappointment dripping from my words.

"Bella? Are you okay? You sound pretty down? Ehmigawd! What happened?" There was an endless amount of questions that Alice was blurting out.

"Alice…" I said with a sniffle.

"Bella! Tell me right now, what is the matter?" She inquired.

"Edward…" I took a deep breath. "…well…uh…" I couldn't find the words to talk. Alice patiently waited on the other line. I sighed. "He already has a girlfriend." I mumbled.

Alice was quiet only for a second. "That bastard!"

"Alice?"

"How dare he ask you out when he had a freaking girlfriend!" She shouted.

"Alice, he obviously didn't ask me out…" I said trying to calm her down.

"Yes he did!" Alice said.

"Maybe he wasn't asking me out…maybe he was just asking me to hang out…you know…like friends hang out…" I said.

"Are you okay, Bella?" Alice asked softly.

"I've been better…" I trailed off.

"You stay right where you are. Don't move an inch. I will be at your apartment in a half hour. Okay?" She said.

"Okay, Al." I said.

We both hung up and I walked back into my room and rested my head onto my feather-filled pillow. I hope Alice won't mind that I moved a couple inches…

My eyes roamed over to my desk. I sighed as I began to think about my newest song. I knew I wouldn't be able to finish it. My little crush on him was crumpled then ripped into a thousand little pieces.

Alice arrived at my door as planned. She held a bag from 'Hollywood Video' and another from 'A & P'. I gave her a questioning glance.

"What's that?" I asked.

"This is our comfort zone." She said placing both bags on the counter. From the grocery bag, she pulled out three cartons of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, along with miniature cans of cherry coke, a bag of peanut M&M's, and Tostitos tortilla chips with salsa. From Hollywood Video, she rented the movies Finding Nemo, Napoleon Dynamite, and Blades of Glory. I laughed at the random film choices.

"Which one should we watch first?" She asked.

"Blades of Glory." I said with a smug smile.

The movie, obviously, was hilarious. Jon Heder and Will Farrell always put a smile on my face with their humorous acting skills.

I lent Alice some pajamas, the rest of the night was spent watching the movies, and munching on the goodies that Alice graciously provided us.

It was nearly three in two in the morning when we had finished watching Finding Nemo. We both slowly drifted away in our little blanket made sleeping bags we set up on the floor. I felt like a fifth grader having a sleepover with her best friend.

The girl's night did accomplish making me forget the day's events. However, the minute the lights were out, and Alice's slow steady breathing indicated that she was sleeping; I felt a small roll of nausea in my stomach.

I wonder why he kept his girlfriend a secret. The only thing I knew right now was that I could never face him again. It would be much too awkward. Awkwardness and I do not mix well.

But I can't just stop going there. That would make it worse if I saw him on the street or in a deli, or something else. Then he would ask me where I've been and then I'd probably run away like the chicken I am.

I tossed and turned all night long, weighing my chances of seeing Edward in the city.

His named was somewhat hard to think about. I knew because of that, that I would never be able to face him. Tonight was in fact, embarrassing on my account. I cannot imagine what his girlfriend thought of me.

I forced my eyes closed before I could think about this anymore. I mentally begged sleep to overtake me and bring me away from reality and into my dreams.

Edward was definitely like a dream. A dream that is too good to be true.

It's too bad I woke up.

This chapter was boring…

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