Thanks to those of you who have read and reviewed. I really appreciate it. Here's the next chapter. Unbeta'd so my apologies for the mistakes. Hope you like the meeting!

I don't have a Beta currently so if anyone is interested send me a PM or let me know via review. Thanks!

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Playlist:

Evanescence - Hello

The Killers - All these things I have done

Chapter 3

What am I going to do just go up and say, 'Hi Edward, I know you probably don't remember me but I never forgot you.'"

Suddenly the smooth voice that was on stage was behind me. "I don't know that I could ever forget you, Isabella."

I know that I stopped breathing for a few seconds. It could possibly have been a minute. I know that spots began to dance in my vision and I had to remind myself to inhale. I almost coughed but managed to stifle it. I noticed Alice's eyes bouncing from me to the man before me waiting for something to happen. I just hadn't been able to decide an outcome yet.

"Bella," His voice questioned. For that moment, he almost sounded like the unsure boy I remembered.

I grabbed the last shot off the bar and sucked it back before turning to meet the green gaze of a man who was somehow still in my thoughts after all this time. My eyes greedily took in the sight before me. His black tee shirt and torn jeans only served to accentuate the look. He hadn't shaved recently, and the scruffy look was definitely working for him. I finally met his eyes, unsure of what they would hold, but he had his emotions guarded behind a blank gaze. His hand reached automatically and tugged through his bronze locks. I wondered if they felt the same as they did ten years ago.

"Edward," I breathed, and damn if I didn't make his name slide like a well-aged whiskey off my tongue. I wanted to smack myself.

We stood for a moment. The noise of the bar had faded away, leaving the two of us in our own world. I had no clue where to start, or even what to say. Try as I may, I was unable to decipher his enigmatic expression.

"Hi! I'm Alice!" My best friend and lifesaver jumped in.

He turned his head slightly to acknowledge her. "Hello Alice."

"I'm Jasper." The man who I was oblivious until this point said and reached his hand forward to shake with Alice's and mine.

I wanted to laugh, yell, or do something to break the tension that had built between us. Thankfully, our friends saved me from making an ass of myself anymore then I already had.

"Let's get a table over here. We can do an official meet and greet." Alice said speaking mostly to Jasper.

"Absolutely, but let me get you ladies a drink first." I had finally acknowledged Jasper and realized the slight southern twang to his voice.

This was also the first time I realized that Edward's attention had not strayed from me either. It was as if we were in our own little world. That was until Alice pulled on my arm and away from the encompassing looks that he and I were throwing at each other. I always manage to forget how strong my petite friend is. She said something about getting a table and Jasper agreed to meet us over there, but my mind was somewhat mushy at this point.

"Bella!" She slapped me lightly on the side of the head. "Snap out of it. The only thing that's saving your ass from looking like a love-struck fool is that he was staring at you the same way!" She fussed some with her dress and pushed my hair around my shoulders a little. "Now would you take a deep breath and try not to look like you want to eat him for dinner! I know that you need to get laid, but what about the tirades I just sat through?"

My brain finally decided to find the medium of speech and use it. "I don't know Alice! I just saw him and I feel like I was thrown back in time. I mean he was a wonderful person then, but what if he's an asshole now?"

She giggled a bit before her look softened and glanced at the bar. I looked up to see Edward and Jasper making their way through the crowd to us. I was only feeling a little bit of a buzz and regretted not having more to drink earlier.

"Bella, this is the perfect time to find out. Let's just talk and have a few drinks, and maybe if things go well you can do a personal interview for the up and coming band." She arched an eyebrow in my direction.

Before I could reply, I had a tall glass set on the table by my hand. Edward took the stool by me. I noticed he and Jasper had a quick non-verbal conversation before Alice began babbling about their band and music in general.

I was able to relax a little as she and Jasper started talking back and forth. Occasionally they would ask Edward or me to supply answers but neither of us had readily volunteered information. I stared at my drink and across the table at Jasper and Alice most of the time.

"So Bella, what do you do with yourself?" Jasper asked congenially.

"Oh, I just write articles for a magazine." I managed to say without stuttering.

"Bella!" Alice chided. "You act like you don't do anything important." Her little pixie face turned up and she looked to both of the guys. "Have you ever heard of Izzy Marie?"

By the looks that both fixed me with, I could tell they had. I'm not sure it was a good idea to have my pen name ousted to musicians, but I guess it's too late now. There was a reason I don't use my real name in writing. It keeps people from bothering me or trying to plea for a good review. It's amazing how much weight my word holds for up and coming bands.

"Well holy shit!" Jasper let out.

"Yeah," Edward's voice spoke, his face lined with surprise and something else I couldn't decipher. "Holy shit is right."

I felt my blush flushing through my face and knew that it was now spreading down my chest. Stupid blush. I'm a grown woman and here I am blushing like a freaking teenager.

"It's really not that big of a deal." I said trying to downplay my role as quickly as possible. I went to take another drink and realized that mine was empty. "Um, drinks anyone?"

I pushed out my chair and stood, intent on going to the bar. I didn't even look at the others as I bolted toward the bar. I made orders for drinks and hoped that the guys would be happy with beers because I honestly had no idea what they were drinking.

"Do you need a hand carrying the drinks back?" Edward asked from behind me.

I could almost feel his body heat against my back and had gripped the bar slightly tighter to keep myself from pressing into him. There was so much I wanted to say and do to this man, but there was also too much in the way.

"Talk to me, Isabella." He said lightly right by my ear. "I think you owe me that much."

I could almost feel his breath in my hair. Was Alice telling the truth when she told me that he was looking at me the same way? I wanted to hit myself repeatedly. I never really hesitated with a guy I liked. We progressed and then we fell apart. That was my way.

There was also the little matter of the girl at home who had a striking resemblance to the man currently putting his hands on my hips and spinning me around to face him. Oh, OH!

"Do you want me to leave you alone, Bella?" His use of my favored name took me off guard and I realized that I had not really spoken to him all night.

I glanced up at him and gave him the most honest answer I could. "I don't know. No. Maybe. Can I have a pass on that question for this second?" I was so confused and flustered that my words were tangling on my tongue.

He smiled, that sexy crooked grin that I used to love so much. I saw the light of it reach his eyes. I forgot how beautiful he really was. My breath caught in my throat.

"I knew you had to be in there somewhere." He murmured as he pulled me into a hug.

It wasn't until then that I caught a little of my old self, shining through. It felt good. Almost as good as the arms of the man now wrapped around me, but not quite. My arms wrapped around him before I could think to give them permission. Confusion welled up in me but I just wanted to hold on to this moment before he hated me. I needed something good to remember before I messed this up.

"I'm sorry," I apologized. I'm not sure what I was apologizing for; my actions tonight, my actions ten years ago, or the pain that I could bring him in the future, maybe all of it.

I squeezed him back and took stock in how tall he was now. When we were younger, he was only a few inches taller then me. Now my head barely came up to his chin.

"I'd like to talk to you if you are still willing." I offered.

"That sounds like a good idea." He agreed.

We carried the drinks back to the table and finished them while speaking to Jasper and Alice. Some of the tension had drained from me and it seemed as if Edward was more talkative as well. We stayed with them for a little longer before I pulled Alice to the side.

"I need to ask a big favor, Alice." I pleaded with my eyes.

"I'll go watch Nessie, Bella. Go talk to him." She responded almost before I had finished my sentence. Sometimes I swore she was psychic. "There is a lot you two have to catch up on!" The knowing twinkle in her eyes just served to make me stutter, but she put her finger to my lips. "Go, talk to him, and for God sakes, Bella, and don't try to ruin it."

Before I could respond she walked over to where it seemed Jasper and Edward were having a heated debate. That was when I noticed Jasper's eyes lighting up upon the appearance of my small friend. I had been so embroiled in my own drama all night that I hadn't noticed the exchanges between Edward's friends and mine. It appeared that there was something going on that had completely escaped my attention.

Edward walked over to me with a small smirk on his face as he turned around to see Jasper and Alice talking animatedly. He approached me, I noticed the trepidation in his stride, and way his face seemed to close off slightly before he reached me. A small smile graced his lips.

"There's an all-night diner around the corner if you want to go there?"

My head nodded before my words were out. "Yeah, that sounds great!"

He began to walk and I saw his hand reach toward me before pulling back and clenching into a fist. My heart fell slightly. I had no idea what he wanted to talk about, and the thought worried me. Tonight had been nothing but a rollercoaster of feelings and emotions. He had seemed so standoffish but then hugged me so tightly. Now we seemed to be back to the beginning. Maybe all he really wanted to have was some closure in what happened between us.

If I was honest with myself, I could admit that I wasn't sure I wanted closure. I wanted to know this person next to me. He radiated a confidence that my shy friend never had. I wondered how much of the Edward that I used to care deeply for was buried in this man next to me. My heart was slightly sick at the thought that he seemed so different.

The walk to the diner was in silence. It was only two blocks over and I just busied myself in my own head, trying to sort out what to say to him. Honesty seemed to be the best way to go, especially since I couldn't lie for shit. Then I needed to put a filter on my honesty. I don't want to wreck his life, and become a burden for him to bear again.

Any situations involving Nessie were automatically important to me. I couldn't up-heave her life. Yes, she did have some resemblance to Edward, but I didn't want to talk about that. I would have to avoid bringing her up. Admit that I have a daughter only if questioned but stop there. It wouldn't be fair to him.

When the hostess seated us at the table, we stared at each other uncomfortably.

"So-" we both started at the same time before cracking into grins. I shook my head as he looked at the table for a moment.

"Ladies first," he said softly. His hand rubbed the back of his neck in a gesture I remember well from when he was nervous.

I shook my head for a second with a smile on my face. "Where do you want me to begin?" I asked.

"How about why and what happened when you left?" His voice sounded almost desperate.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered my courage and began to tell him the story of when I got home after that night. "I didn't have time to even call you before we left." I pleaded with my eyes. "And then when I got to Arizona, I couldn't use the phone because my mom wanted to discipline me for my behavior." I snorted. "Guess she figured out that she wanted to be a mother just in time for me to be all grown up.

"I wanted to bad to go back to Forks and live with you and your family. I wished for a long time that I could just call you and move back there."

"So why didn't you?" Edward asked, breaking my rant.

I couldn't tell him the whole truth; that I had gotten knocked up and couldn't bear the thought of him hating me for my stupidity and horrible ways. Therefore, I settled on another truth. "I couldn't take the rejection if your family couldn't take me." I paused before adding, "I also didn't want to lose my mom."

Our food came out and I picked at my salad as he took a few bites out of his burger. We munched quietly while mulling over our thoughts.

"What happened with you?" I blurted out. Then in my attempt to cover, the word vomit spewed. "I mean look at you, you're all grown up and I'm sure you have a fiancee if you haven't gotten yourself hitched already. I mean that blond you were with earlier that plays the drums was beautiful and really talented. You can't tell me that you two are completely platonic."

His eyebrows rose in surprise and my mouth continued to spew despite my brains desperate attempts to hit the stop button. "I mean you were always cute, but God you grew up great, and now your singing in that really talented band, and oh man, I am such a fucking ass. I need to seriously shut the hell up now."

I looked down feeling my face flaming like it caught on fire. A bark of laughter made me look up to see Edward's eyes dancing as he looked directly at me. I couldn't break the connection. The mirth in his eyes was catching and soon I was laughing along with him. After a few moments, we were able to compose ourselves and the few other patrons at the diner had returned to their own business.

"I missed you, Isabella." He said in a voice edged with longing and desire.

I looked away. I couldn't do this, not yet. In addition, he had yet to tell me anything about himself. I knew nothing about the man he had become. Was he still the same guy who delved into chemistry experiments and couldn't cook to save his life? Was this the same boy that destroyed his clothes by washing his red and blue tee shirts together, and made me keep the purple colored mishaps so that his parents wouldn't find them?

I really wanted to know him now. I took a deep breath and requested, "Tell me about you and your life, Edward."

"I've been doing okay I guess. I work for a pharmaceutical company on new medicines for nerve regeneration. My parents still live in Forks, and my father is now the Chief of Staff at the hospital. My mom's design firm is going well. She now employs a few of our old friends. The company is small but she still does excellent work. We get together and have dinner usually once a month.

"The drummer is Rosalie, and no we are not and never were a couple. She is too facetious for me." He let out a little chuckle as if it was a private joke. Pinching the bridge of his nose momentarily, he let his gaze wander to the table where he was drawing absent patterns in the water left by the condensation of his glass.

It didn't escape my attention that he had avoided mentioning the fiancée or any other serious relationships. I decided that he was keeping his secrets, and I could keep mine. It wasn't fair of me to ask him to talk to me after I had left.

"I really wanted to talk to you for so long." I murmured.

He looked at me, his eyes hard. "Then why didn't you call?"

"I tried so many times, but I was so afraid that the one person I always saw as a friend would hate me. I guess I preferred to think of the happy times and not give into the fear of rejection." I had been staring at the remains of the salad in front of me as if it would give me answers. It wouldn't so I moved my eyes to meet his.

"My grandfather told me to call you or email you so many times. I just couldn't let go of my fears. I remember picking up the phone and imagining the things, we would say to each other, but then the nightmares of what you could say to me always overrode the happy thoughts. In the end I guess I decided that you were better off without me."

During my confession, his eyes shifted through several different emotions. Then his face fell blank and he looked down again before starting his rebuttal.

"I was really angry at you for a long time. My parents had heard from your mother briefly but only to convey her thanks for being good neighbors and that you both were moving away. No one knew where you went or what happened.

"The school was rampant with rumors of course." He looked back up to me and I could see the pain clearly in his eyes. "The things they were saying about you were horrible. Even my own friends were regaling tales they had heard about your abrupt departure. It hurt, and the fact that you never even bothered to tell me you were leaving made me mad for a long time."

"I'm sorry," I whispered and captured his hand across the table. His fingers twined with mine as he started to speak again. The same buzz that filled me years ago when he touched me was still there alighting my skin, but now the intensity seemed to grow ten fold.

"I was angry when I saw you again tonight. I wanted to hurt you, but damn Bella; I just couldn't bring myself to. You're still so fucking beautiful." He looked startled at his last sentence. His fingers left mine and went back to massaging the bridge of his nose once more.

The words hung in the air between us. I was afraid to talk or move, hell even breathe. He shifted uncomfortably. I knew he never meant to say that aloud. The tension shifted and I felt a spark of desire in our locked gazes. We didn't say anything else. The server dropped off the check and we fought over paying it and settled on halving it. Walking outside I took a deep breath and looked at him again. His eyes clouded over with some emotion that looked vaguely like he was having lusty thoughts.

I swallowed hard, "I think I need to get home."

"I'll drive you," he offered immediately. Then he looked almost unsure, "that is if you need me to. I have no idea how you got here." He ran a hand nervously through his hair and shot me his crooked grin.

"I don't - no - don't go out of your way." I managed to stammer out. "I - I practically live across town. I'll catch a cab, it'll be fine."

I really wanted to smack myself or just run away, but between the death traps that I was barely walking in and the fact that my head already hurt neither seemed like a smart move.

"Bella," Edward sounded a little exasperated. "Its fine I don't mind. Besides, trying to catch a cab now is going to be difficult."

I glanced at my cell phone and realized that it was almost one in the morning. "Oh shit!" I bemoaned. I had no idea it had gotten so late.

"I'm guessing that you didn't realize how late it is." Looking at him, I was instantly aware of the smarmy smirk firmly in place on his face.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to smack it or kiss it off. No, no, bad thoughts. No more thoughts like those.

He took my hand and walked me back to his car that he'd parked at the bar. The sparks ignited in our touch once again. I was surprised to see a silver Volvo as his choice of rides. I had to mention it because I'm a jackass like that.

"Somehow this is not the car that your image screams." I taunted.

He frowned for a moment before a mischievous twinkle lit his eyes. "Well wouldn't you like to know what else is in my garage?"

He opened the door for me and it threw me off. I hadn't been catered to in… well ever.

I sat in the car and gave him directions to the complex. We talked lightly about work and he was anxious to know how I got involved in the magazine. He never asked about what I thought of the performance or what I wanted to write about his band. I was oddly thankful.

We pulled up to the building and he let out a little laugh. Before I could question him where he lived, he answered.

"I just thought it's funny that I have been living two miles from you for over three years and had no clue." He shook his head and looked back up at my face.

I wanted to kiss him. I knew there were a hundred reasons for me not to. I wanted to see him again, but wasn't sure if it was my place to ask. I had wronged this man in so many ways I lost count. It wasn't fair for me to destroy his life anymore, but maybe I could do him one good thing. I took a deep breath and faced forward out the front windshield. I knew if I looked at him, I'd never be able to get through this little speech.

"I know that you probably still are angry with me for stuff and I totally understand it. I just want you to know that I have a lot of good things to say about your band, and I'm hoping they will let me do an interview with you guys." I handed him my business card. "Call me this week and I'll see about helping you promote. That is, if you want me to." I managed not to stutter.

His fingertips gently touched my chin to turn my face to him. The spark from his touch danced across my skin.

"What if I just want to call you, Isabella?" He asked staring right at me.

"I don't know if that's a good idea, Edward," I almost whispered.

His hands were now stroking my chin, and pushing my hair away from my face. I felt him almost guiding me toward him. I blinked and then realized how close our faces had gotten. I pulled away and offered him a small smile.

"I'm not good for you, Edward." I sighed.

"I think that's my choice to make, Bella." He looked resigned.

"There is a lot that has changed about me, and I'm not sure if I can do or be what you need," I tried again.

"Then let's find out." He prompted. "I think you owe me the chance." He repeated his earlier words, but softened them with a slight smile.

He had played the guilt card and it worked like a charm. My defenses were only so strong. I gave a small nod. "Yeah, yeah I do."

I touched his hand once more, opened the door and got out.

"Goodnight Isabella," he called from the window.

I pulled out my keys. "Goodnight, Edward."

I looked up to see two heads peeking through the curtains of the apartment and knew that I would be in for a grilling. I only hoped that I would survive my second inquisition of the night. I heard his car pull away as I closed the door to the foyer and made my way upstairs.

The apartment door opened even before I had gotten there and I found a bouncing Alice and a giddy Emmett just on the other side of the threshold. They grilled me on everything from what happened to the history we shared. I know I was a little short-tempered with them, but I was tired and I wasn't ready to divulge everything just yet. I had a lot to think on before my next run in with Edward Cullen.

Alice asked me one question as she left for the night that practically sent my mind turning in circles. "Why would he have gone out of his way to spend three hours talking to you and then drive you home if he still hated you, Bella?"

That was the question...Why indeed?

Hope you guys are like reading this story as much much as I like writing it!

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