Bella.

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I looked an absolute mess. If I had been one to seriously care about my appearance, I would have suffered a heart attack at the sight of me. But it was something else that was making me anxious. I could have left myself like this; with strands of loose hairs everywhere, pale, draught skin and red eyes– – and left the bathroom with a wrinkled dress and nauseated expression. But that would only cause attention to myself.

I would not have that.

I made a desperate attempt to fix my hair using the only items I had on me; My hands and water. It would have been smart to have at least grabbed my purse before I left the table, but I was too preoccupied with not throwing up.

And it was all Cullen's fault.

The eyes of the girl in the mirror, standing before me, narrowed in disgust. If I had ever regretted anything in my life, it did not amount to how much I regret allowing Edward to accompany me.

Hot tears formed in my eyes, but were quickly washed away when I splashed my face with water from the sink. Even with my hair slightly more tidy, and my face a tad bit cleaner, I still looked a mess. I looked exactly like a person who had been removing all traces of food, including cow intestines– – I winced at the words– – from their systems.

Sighing, I dabbed my face with a paper towel and tried to smooth my dress. It was putting up a difficult fight. Wherever my hands pressed over to flatten, crinkled back out when I turned my attention to another crease. But the wretched folds were stubborn, and they refused to be settled.

'A lot like Cullen.'

I thought bitterly.

I peaked into the mirror one final time to assure myself that I looked at least partially decent, and headed out of the bathroom, barefoot as I had come.

I wanted to die whenever a guest or waiter noticed my bare-footedness. It was mortifying; and Cullen was the one to cause it all.

I was angry at him, furious even. However, I was also, peculiarly, hurt.

Cullen was a jerk, yes, but I had never expected him to take his truculence so far. To laugh at ones misfortune was a different matter from causing it. We had only known each other for two weeks, and what a bothersome two weeks they were, but never did I consider him the type of person who would humiliate someone else, especially in the company of friends. Though it wasn't by much, I had finally begun to think he wasn't so bad.

I felt like an complete idiot for trying to believe that.

I wanted to cry; from the embarrassment, from the betrayal, and from the regret. I refused to let even a single tear drop. I would never cry for that guy– – for both him and his infuriating actions. He just wasn't worth it. I wouldn't let him be.

I made a desperate attempt to block out the stares and whispers of the people around me. If there was even the slightest chance that I would not break down and cry in the middle of the restaurant, this was it. My eyes focused only before me, and my ears tried to turn deaf to all noise; tuning out anything that would disrupt my perseverance. I would make it to the table in once piece. I couldn't be so weak.

Despite my mental struggle to make it to the table, my body did a complete one-eighty when I had finally reached the golden statue that had previously tore a large hole in my purse– – standing a little over a yard from where Alice and Jasper sat. From where he sat.

I stared at his profile, and watched as he breathed a deep sigh into his hands. That itself, was surprising. I was expecting him to be dying of laughter by the time I came back.

In recognition of my noticeable stare, Cullen's head flew up and turned in my direction. A silent gasp broke from my still lips, and I could almost feel my body stiffen involuntary. Before I knew it, my body had turned on its heels and spun around, turning my back on him. I didn't have control of it. Like a defensive reflex, I recoiled from him. From him, and from whatever he was doing to my rapid-beating heart.

I was almost four yards away when I heard someone call, "Bella", softly from behind me.

Without thinking, I froze in my tracks. How did he get so close? Had he even been following me? I hadn't even been running and I felt like I would break into a sweat at any moment.

"Bella," his musical voice called again. I cringed from it.

I didn't think I was capable of it. My voice felt so dry that the mere thought of speaking seemed almost painful. Impossible. But it was not impossible, and my voice– – though hoarse– – responded to him, even without my mental consent.

"What?" I snapped, unaware and completely oblivious to the people around me. For someone who hated attention, I wasn't doing so badly; considering that I was the object of it right now.

"I'm sorry," I stiffened at his sudden apology, and my eyes opened wide, "I'm so sorry, Bella. I'm so sorry."

His tone was edged with traces of remorse and guilt. Of sorrow. Could he have been serious? Was his apology honest? His voice was sincere with regret, but I wouldn't listen. I refused to listen. I tried to believe him before and look where it got me; Standing in the middle of a restaurant bare-foot, looking like I just barely survived an nuclear attack.

I ignored him. My back never turned around to face him, and my eyes never closed, or even blinked, from the strain.

"Bella, please…" Cullen continued, his voice almost begging. I swallowed hard. "Wont you listen to me for even a second? That's all I'm asking for. Please?"

'A

second?' 'All he's asking for?' Like he had the right to ask a request of me? I wanted nothing more than to walk away from him, leaving his sorry ass there to apologize– – if that was what he was really doing. It would be simple; I would go to work, inform my boss that I would leave the agency if he wasn't removed from my sight, from my care. If he rejected my demands, I would leave. I was an adequate worker; I could easily find work somewhere else. I would even go to work in China! Anything to be away from him.

It would be easy. That was all I had to do. And yet, I couldn't stop myself from wanting to hear what he had to say.

"Bella…?" Cullen cautioned at my sudden movement. I nodded, deeply, but never turned to face him. I didn't want to look at him. His face was not what I wanted to see. So, if that were the case, why did I want to hear him out so badly?

After I nodded once, I swiftly walked away, in the direction of the spiral stairs. The fact that I was devastatingly clumsy slipped my mind, and I stomped up the stairs without incident. Maybe God had mercy on me, after all.

I didn't hear Cullen behind me, his footsteps were even softer than I could ever remember, but somehow, I knew he was there. I never looked back once since the time I agreed to hear him out. And though he was silent as the wind, I knew he was following me. When I finally made it to the very top, it took every ounce of control I had to not turn around and push him down. It wouldn't make things right, of course, but it would make me feel better. That, at least, counted for something.

I was still aware of Cullen walking behind me when I reached the main entrance. I allowed my anger to push me forward, so that I could not be distracted by the fact that I was still shoe-less when I walked outside. I felt stupid for not grabbing my shoes when I had the chance. Why did it always feel that I made things worse in complicated situations? Not that I had many before Cullen entered the picture.

Walking as proudly as I could, I headed to the main desk at the entrance, and called out, "Excuse me, sir," to the man in the blue and green uniform.

I watched, fighting my embarrassment the whole time, as he glanced down at my bare feet and wrinkled dress. He must have thought that I was some restaurant-crasher or something.

"What may I help you with, ma'am?" He asked kindly, trying to hide his astonishment.

I gave him my best smile– – hoping that it was even a smile at all– – and said, "My name is Bella Swan, and I had a reservation for today. There was a little….accident– – " He cocked his brow at me and his eyes flickered to my messy dress and, once again, at my bare toes, "– – so I will be stepping out for a bit. Would you be so kind as to send a message to my company at table twelve that I will be returning shortly?"

He stared at me for a moment, and then nodded.

I almost sighed in relief.

"Bella Swan, was it," he asked as he jotted my name in a large, yellow book, "and the man behind you is…?"

I scowled as I said, "Edward Cullen." My throat felt like I had just shoved a hot iron inside it when I said his name.

"Very well," the man assured me, his expression startled by my sudden change in attitude. "They will receive the message shortly. You will be allowed entry upon your return."

"Thank you." I tried to smile, but I knew it was a wasted effort. I was sure that the man thought I was grimacing or something.

Without turning around, I left the restaurant. Now that I was more angry than embarrassed, even though it was just by a notch, I was able to almost completely ignore the people around me. Even the valet who had been so infatuated with me earlier, looked at me like I had just survived a plane crash. I almost snorted when he brought my car to me, and dropped the keys into my hand, making sure not to touch me directly, or look me in the eye.

"Thanks," I muttered darkly at the young man. He nodded gravely, and left quickly. The sound of him gulping did not get past me. Did I really look so bad?

I opened the car door and slid myself in the drivers seat. There was nothing that I wanted more than to just kick the engine and speed my way home. I wanted to, but I didn't, because I wanted to hear Cullen out– – even if the reasons for that was unknown to me.

"Are you getting in?" I asked, sourly, still refusing to look at him.

Cullen sighed deeply before rounding the car, and hopped in. Once the sound of the passengers door parallel to mine shut close, I pressed my bare foot sharply on the pedal and sped straight ahead. I kept on driving, fully aware of where I was headed. I needed an empty place where I could park the car. Some place where– – if worse comes to worse– – – I would not get caught murdering him. Of course, that thought was applied to me as well, but I would take my chances.

I drove quickly, focusing intently on the road before me. There weren't many people, but it prevented me from falling under the pressure of his stare; which I had already started to do. It was uncomfortable; him watching me. It made my heart beat faster. Before my mind would go anywhere dangerous, I convinced myself that it was because I was angry. That was true, after all.

I pulled over and stopped the car in the middle of a dirt road behind an umbrella factory. It was empty enough that if I had a screaming fit, or I killed Cullen– – either one, no one would notice. Perfect.

Though the car had stopped nearly five minutes ago, Cullen had not said a word. My patience was at it's limit. I was already thinking of grabbing a crowbar from the back of the trunk and beating him to death. He would surely talk then.

"Bella," His voice suddenly called.

I could do nothing to stop the overwhelming feeling of discomfort in my chest. It was as if I was choking– – caught between my anger and sadness. I knew that the sadness was derived from the betrayal I felt, but why I felt betrayed in the first place was beyond me. It wasn't as if I had been anticipating his well-behavior. I wasn't that stupid. But I didn't expect him to be such a jerk, either, and that was senseless of me.

"Bella," once again, I felt as if something washed over me at the sound of my name being called, "I truly am sorry. I really am."

"Why should I believe you?" I snapped, blackly. "You haven't given me any reason to do so." I was still at a loss as to why I was even here, listening to Cullen's phony apology. If I was smart, I would have just left the guy in the restaurant and done what I had originally planned to do. Not only had he humiliated me but, but he was also the reason why I was doubting my intelligence and sanity. Great.

"I know," he started, his tone desperate, "Bella, wont you please just look at me?"

I snorted aloud. Even with that poor attempt of humor, I knew that it was because I couldn't afford to look at him. His face… his eyes were dangerous. I didn't know exactly why, but I felt that they were. I wouldn't risk myself falling into whatever ruse he was playing at.

"Please, Bella?"

That one nearly got me. I flinched, but forced my head to remain facing ahead.

And when the warm feel of flesh touched my cheek, I gasped aloud. Cullen's hand cupped my face, and turned it– – ever so softly– – to face him.

That's when I remembered why his face was so dangerous.

I was momentarily dazzled by his beauty– – literally. Although the car was indeed dark, his features were almost completely visible. His deep, hazel eyes bore into mine, and I couldn't look away. His eye brows were pulled together, and a mixture of both worry and nervousness crossed his face. Once again, it was not an expression that I was expecting, or prepared to see.

"Bella, I'm so sorry. Wont you let me explain?"

I found myself nodding before I even realized it.

Cullen continued to stare into my eyes, before his hand fell from my face. Before he opened his mouth to speak, he inhaled deeply from his nose and exhaled sharply from his slightly open mouth. He sighed, and then spoke.

"Bella, I'm so sorry. What happened… was… well, I don't even know, to be honest– – " I raised my eyebrows incredulously, and he continued, "– – What I did… was horrible. I've never regretted anything before as much as I regret what I did tonight. I pulled a…prank, on you… but it wasn't with the intention of hurting you. It was for fun, or so I thought it was. It was the response to the uneasiness that you cause me. I can't even explain it, really. I didn't ask to accompany you to cause you humiliation. Of course, enjoying it at your own expense is another matter, but never expected myself to be the cause of it. It was really a spur of a moment thing, not that that justifies it.

"You see… I panicked. I initially came with the intention of keeping myself entertained. I was prepared to come and just enjoy myself; at the sight of your reactions and such. But something changed. I'm not really sure what, but something did, and what I did… was the cause of that change."

Cullen looked completely stressed, as if he, too, were trying to figure everything out. I had no clue what he was talking about, and how it even related to an apology. I just listened as he spoke, completely fallen under the intensity of his stare.

"Even though I did it with a foul motive, I was still uncertain. My uncertainty soon changed into guilt, and that soon changed into regret. Every second that passed was spent wishing on our waiters' misfortune: That he would fall and drop your food, that he would bump into someone and the tray would go flying…you get what I mean. And then when he came, I almost wanted to die. I thought of letting you eat it, and never mentioning it to you. It would have been better that way, for the both of us. But I couldn't. Before I knew it, my hand had grabbed yours in an attempt to stop you. More than the guilt of doing something so cruel, was the horror of seeing you eat something like that. I couldn't stand it.

"I tried to stop you, but you wouldn't listen. For anybody else, I would have just said 'screw it' and let them eat the damn thing. Not that I would have probably regretted it, since I rarely do things that I regret. But I couldn't not stop you. I didn't want to see you eat it. I couldn't see you eat it. Before I knew it, I wanted to protect you. Even if it was from something that I, myself, caused, I didn't want to see you get hurt. To see you get humiliated. I snapped, only because of your own stubbornness. It frustrated me, that you wouldn't believe me; not that you had any reason to, in the first place, of course. But it still made me angry. And when you ran off like you did, looking so fragile… I thought I would die."

Cullen's face moved closer to my own, and continued to penetrate me; never faltering for even a second. If I hadn't known any better, I wouldn't have thought he even blinked since he had started speaking. When our faces were nearly inches apart, he spoke again, his breath sweetly blowing into my face.

"Bella, I am really sorry. I swear that I will never do anything like that again– – not that I could, anyways. Even if I have to work to gain your trust once more, I will do it. And it isn't for the sole purpose of easing my guilt, either, but because I want to. I want you to trust me, even if I have to earn it, first. That being said, wont you forgive me?"

If I had been breathing that entire time, I was unaware of it. To be honest, I didn't know what to do. I wanted, more than anything, to believe him– – though I couldn't comprehend why, but I also didn't want to. If he were to lie, and trick me again, I was unsure if my heart would be able to take it– – though that, too, was obscurely questionable. I couldn't determine why my heart would not be able to take it , but I had a feeling that it just wouldn't.

No matter how genuine his pleading eyes appeared to be, I couldn't trust him. He would have to earn that, along with the feelings of friendship that were just beginning to blossom before he ruined it. Because, for some odd, unknown reason, I wanted to be friends with him. Even if he was a jerk– – more so today than any other day, I really did want to get close to him. Though, I would never admit it to him.

"Fine," I finally managed to say, despite the throbbing in my chest and the hoarseness of my throat, "I'll forgive you, Cullen. But that doesn't mean that I trust you."

And like the sun breaking free from the early-morning clouds, Cullen's lips pulled into the brightest of smiles. I nearly flinched back from the luminosity of it. If I thought that he was dazzling before, he was beyond that now. If I didn't know better, I wouldn't even consider him human. No human could look as beautiful as he was. As perfect as him. Even if I had wanted to, I don't think I would ever be able to look away. Like butterflies falling victim to the warmness of light, disregarding the flames, I was caught. And, to be honest, I didn't want to escape.

"Bella, thank you." Edward breathed, his sweet smell once again washing over my face. His hand moved back to cup the side of my face, and I almost closed my eyes from the delighted feeling of him touching me so tenderly.

"Edward…" I breathed back, closing the space between us ever-so-slightly. I couldn't think, and I didn't want to. If I had been so utterly angry at him only minutes before, it didn't matter. The only thing I could concentrate was his eyes, his liquid iris's that were smoldering me, pulling me into whatever sea he was in. His eyes, and his lips, that were only inches away from mine. His perfect, pink lips…

And as he pulled himself into me, and our lips brushed together, I felt a shiver of irrevocable pleasure run through me. Edward pulled back, and our connection was cut. If he hadn't spoken, I would have reached out and grabbed him to me. I didn't want him to move away. I didn't want to be separated.

"That's," he said, smiling crookedly, brilliantly, "the first time you called me by my first name, Bella."

I started to tremble as his fingers brushed over my bottom lip, and then the top. My lips parted under his hand. I wanted him to kiss me again. So badly, I wanted his mouth on mine. Without thinking, I shot forward, ignoring the bounds made by my safety belt, and pressed my lips against him again, only harder. The scent of him was almost intoxicating. I was becoming intoxicated by him, and I didn't mind it at all.

Edward, clearly shocked, smiled at my sudden bold outburst of passion. He pushed himself closer to me, and held the nape of my neck with his hand. I shivered again, when he ran his fingers from the tip of my earlobe, down to my shoulder blade; trailing it softly.

"Ed..ward…" I nearly panted, impatiently trying to remove the stupid seat belt that was binding me. That was keeping me from him. Edward sucked on my bottom lip fiercely, and I gasped. On the odd day that I decided to use the darn belt, it just had to be today! Why wasn't this thing coming off? And where were the scissors when I needed them?

Edward chuckled humorously at my effortless struggle, and I scowled. Why did it always seem like he was making fun of me? My new expression seemed to please him, and he laughed slightly louder, saying, "You are so cute, Bella…"

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, and Edward touched the area that burned most ferociously. I guess he liked the sight of me blushing.

I waited– – eagerly, impatiently– – as he tried to unclasp the seat belt. It gave him some trouble as well, but soon enough, it had come undone. Everything was perfect now. There was nothing holding me back. I could touch him as much as I wanted to….

As soon as it was released completely from off my body, I pulled my arm around Edwards light brown, messy hair, and pulled him closer to me as my fingers entwined inside his soft locks. Even his hair seemed perfect.

"Bella," he cooed, positioning his mouth to fall onto mine. We were nearly there, barely an inch away from the hot, passionate kisses that were now possible due to the freedom of movement that I gained. We were nearly a centimeter apart, when a sudden loud buzzing vibrated from the compartment beside the steering wheel, causing us both to jump in alarm.

And with the sound came reality, and the realization of my actions. I was so, forcefully, pulled back from the pleasant dream-like state I was in, and brought back to the situation. The situation where I had just been kissing my model, just after he had infuriatingly humiliated me. 'Yes, nice going, Bella. Skip the forgiveness part and make out with the guy who fed you cow guts!' My mental conscious scolded, sarcastically.

I pushed myself away from Edward, and looked away. What the heck had just happened? What had I just done? I wondered if a person in a coma felt like this once they woke up.

We sat there for a minute, until I finally decided to open the compartment in front of me and take out the phone that still continued to vibrate. Without looking at Edward, though he was obviously staring at me, I flipped it open– – forgetting to check on the sender– – and read the text-message that someone had just sent me.

The phone fell from my hands as my mouth dropped open. This was definitely the worst. No, it was more than that. This was hell. And if I hadn't been feeling the heat of the flames earlier, well, I was surely feeling it now.

"Bella?" Edward called, his voice full of concern and confusion.

I closed my eyes, and put my head in my hands, as the message flashed once again into my mind:

Bella,

Surprise! Guess who came back super early?

I'll be waiting for you at your apartment.

Try to get home soon, beautiful.

Jacob.

I moaned aloud, and buried my face even deeper into the palm of my hands. Could things have gotten any worse? No, I didnt think they could have.