Okay, be happy that I'm posting. I don't know when I'll be able to post next so just bear with me and be patient. The teachers in school are giving us TONS of homework and its only the first week of school. It just keeps piling up. And to make it worse, its all due this week. AAAHH!!! Another reason behind why I'm updating early is because I'm trying to get all these dang math sums out of my head!! I can see numbers flying everywhere so excuse me if I type a number or two in this chapter.

Okay, I'm going to shut up now. Here's Chapter 7!

Disclaimer: I don't own twilight (full stop)


"I'm Edward Cullen," he said.

I smiled in response. "Isabella Swan. Please, do call me Bella,"

"Bella. I agree with your name. You truly are beautiful," he said as he lifted his hand to caress my cheek.

I looked up into his bright, piercing green eyes and then moved on to the rest of his face, examining every curve and line of it. He had untidy bronze hair which stood out against his pale skin. I could feel the muscles on his chest and arms when he had hugged me earlier. He was about a head or two taller than me. His jaw was hard and his lips curved at all the right places. I had the sudden desire to suddenly lean in and...

No, don't even think about it. You hardly know this man. Don't become one of those average street hookers who sleep with every guy they meet. No. I'm already bad enough as it is. I looked away, trying to get rid of the feeling but with his hand still on one side of my cheek, the electric impulses radiating through my body was almost unbearable.

I gave a small sigh and continued gazing out the window, trying to distract my mind from the gorgeous figure in front of me. I started thinking about Susan, who would constantly look out the window on clear nights like these to observe the stars. She would pull me close as we sat on the window sill and gently stoke my hair.

"The future does not lie in the stars, but in yourself," she would gently whisper in my ear as I fell asleep on her lap. It was nights like those that I missed the most. The nights were Susan would hold me tight and whisper words of comfort in my ear.

I could feel a tear slide down the side of my cheek.

"Bella?" a voice called, breaking my silent reverie. I didn't answer and closed my eyes, hoping to stop the tears from flooding but that only made it worse.

I felt two hands cup either side of my face as they brought me to face forward again. I opened my eyes and looked up. I could see the small glimmers shining from my wet eye lashes, reflected by the street lights outside. Edward's eyes were filled with worry and sadness. It hurt me even more to see his face like that. An angel like him doesn't deserve sadness. An angel like him doesn't deserve an insignificant person like me. I sighed, looking down again. Edward pulled me in a tight embrace as I rested both my hands on his chest. I could feel his heart beating, faster and faster, as I slid my hands higher around his neck.

"Please, tell me," he murmured against my ear. His voice, so soft and caring, echoed in my thoughts. Soothing my mind of all my worries.

"Don't worry about me," I breathed against his chest. Oh how I wish I could stay in this moment for the rest of eternity.

I pulled myself away from him as I straightened his coat which I was still wearing. I turned back towards him, trying to ignore my sudden need to run back into his arms.

"So," I said, faking a smile, "What brings you here? I mean, I know you wish to purchase this shop but why," Putting in as much enthusiasm in my voice as much as I possibly could in hopes that it would change the subject.

He shot me a worry glance at first, pausing a few seconds to see if I would break down again before finally answering me. "Well, I'm hoping I could open up a music shop here, you know? You see, I intense passion for music. Ever since I was a small boy. So now, I'm hoping to open up a shop to teach other younger children to play and love music, just like I once did. My father agreed with my intentions and gave me a certain budget to spend on the store. My siblings are more than willing to help out as well," he said excitedly.

I smiled warmly at him. "But why here? Of all the places in Seattle, why this dump?" I asked, curiously.

He gave a small chuckle. "The people in this part of town are not brought up from the best kind of families, Bella. And they may not be the richest in the world either but some of the kids here are really good at heart. I'm just hoping that by opening my store here, I get to brighten up this part of town, and hopefully making the lives of the people in this town a little bit better,"

I was dumbstruck. He was so compassionate and kind. He was truly beautiful inside out. How did I ever get so lucky as to stumble upon a man like this in my pathetic life? But all good things must come to an end sometime...

"Wow," was all I could muster up.

He smiled at me, his eyes growing soft. "You have no idea how easy it is for me to open up to of you. It's just so different with you," he said, whispering as he got to the end of his sentence.

"So," he turned to me. Uh, oh. "Now it's my turn to ask you the questions," he said, grinning.

I signed, seeing as it seemed impossible to escape the inevitable. "What do you want to know?" I whispered, looking at my feet.

"Why do you work here? I mean, you don't seem like the kind who would. I could see the disgust in your eyes when you walked on that stage last night," I turned around, not wanting him to see the tears that were threatening to spill in my eyes. I looked down, covering my face with my hair.

I could hear his footsteps behind me. Then, two hands slid around my waist and I was pulled tightly against his chest.

"Please, tell me. I won't judge you for whatever it is you're about to say," he whispered into my ear, his sweet breath fanning across my cheek. I shuddered at the sudden wave of pleasure that coursed through my body.

There was a moment's silence. Edward patiently waited for me to answer, his hands still holding my waist protectively as I took in a deep breath before speaking.

"I was five when my parents died back in Phoenix. We were in a car accident, you see. My parents were taking me on a surprise trip to the zoo for my birthday when a car on the wrong side of the road, slammed against ours. I survived miraculously, seeing as I was in the back seat while both my parents were in the front. If it wasn't for my constant nagging and curiosity, the probably would still be alive right now. If it wasn't for me." I shuddered at the memory. Remembering the last thing I saw before the car crashed into ours in a matter of seconds before any of us had any time to react.

"Bella, you couldn't have possible kno-" I turned around and placed a finger on his lips, cutting him off at mid sentence.

"Please, let me finish before you say anything. I won't be surprised if you go running out of the store before I'm finished," I whispered, keeping my finger firmly on his lips to prevent him from saying anything further.

"Later, Susan, one of my mother's closest friends, adopted me. Taking me as her own daughter. I never thought of her as a mom as I had only one room in my heart for a mom even though she's no longer living. After three years, she met Ryan. Ryan was very much in love with her. But we would never talk, neither of us wishing to extend our relationship. They got married and we moved to Seattle, explaining how we ended up here. When I was thirteen, I didn't socialize very well in school. I always had my face hidden behind a good book or two while other girls would talk about fashion and gossip. They used to bully me as well, not that I didn't deserve it. But one day, two girls approached me and told me that I was to blame for my parents death. Before I knew it, I had punched her. I don't even know why I did that. I had always accepted that it was always my fault to begin with,"

I paused momentarily, studying his facial features. They were calm as he urged me to continue. I obliged.

"I got called back for detention and was only allowed to go back until late. I waited at the school for about an hour and when Susan never showed up, I had assumed that she was either busy or had just forgotten, seeing as she was always forgetting little memos here and there. I decided to walk home instead. Ryan started despising me for getting in the way of his relationship with Susan ever since they had gotten married, always giving me a slap or two for it seeing as I was such a nuisance.

"At around midnight, we had gotten a call from the police. Ryan dragged me to the car as he sped off towards the police station. They told us Susan was r-raped and murdered outside the school. The wave of guilt which consumed my body was indescribable. Everything around me was silent. I could see the movement of their lips but no sound came out. When I finally snapped out of it, the police suggested I go to the hospital but I stubbornly declined. I insisted that they take me to see Susan's body. When we got back, Ryan started beating me, blaming me that it was my fault Susan was now dead and gone. I didn't bother fighting back, knowing its what I deserved.

Because of me, Ryan started drinking his troubles away. He would come home drunk and would practically drop dead on the floor and would usually miss work the next day. He got fired countless times and was soon jobless. He started loosing his money fast because of his drinking problem. So one afternoon, he picked me up from school and drove to Seattle. He then brought me to a bar. They were talking secretly and I could hardly make out what they were saying. The next thing I know, I was being dragged off by the mysterious man whom I know know as Jerry. He explained that Ryan had sold me in exchange for money. I wasn't exactly sad at first, knowing that I wouldn't be a burden to Ryan anymore. But now.." I trailed off, not knowing what to say.

I looked up at Edward, his expression was incredulous. He just stared at first, not knowing what to say and letting my words sink in. He looked down and murmured, "Bella, how could you think that? How can you blame yourself for everything that's happened to you. What I would give to take away your pain.."

"No, please. You don't have to act kindly towards me. Please. I don't want to cause you sadness. I've caused enough of it," I whispered, gazing out the window again. I noticed that it had now started raining. I sighed.

"But then who's going to cure your sadness?" he asked looking up. I didn't look at him. I continued to watch the water drip from the window. He walked towards me and pulled me close to his chest. I didn't sob this time. I had done enough of that today. Instead, I couldn't help but smell Edward's overwhelming scent. This is truly heaven..

He gently rubbed circles on my back, leaving a trail of heat wherever his skin touched. I smile formed on my lips.

"Please, let me be there for you," he said. When I didn't answer, he pulled me closer and sighed.

"I wish we could stay this way forever" I murmured into his chest, hoping he didn't hear it.

Unfortunately, he did and chuckled as he led me towards a chair he sat, lifting me onto his lap. I leaned my head against his chest as his hands slid themselves around my waist.

"Tell me," he said.

"Hmm?"

"Why is it you never tried to leave? Don't even try lying," his voice hard.

"I tried once. Let's just say it didn't end very well. And even if I did manage, where would I go? I have no money, no friend, relatives that I know of. I'm allowed to leave once I'm 18. Jerry knows this but doesn't believe I'd actually leave,"

"Bella.." he whispered.

I grabbed on to his sweater, hoping that he wasn't going to leave.

"Please, don't go," I begged, looking up into his eyes.

He sighed and pulled my head towards his chest again. I could feel his chest rising and falling with every breath he took. The rhythm of his heart beat. His intoxicating scent flowing through the air...

Edward, my guardian angel.


Whoo! Well, I guess that's all for this chapter. Waaait, now that I'm done with this, I have to go back to my math sums! Dang it!

Now, you see that button down there? Review and tell me how the story's going so far! This chapter wasn't really needed but I guess you guys wanted updates so I updated! I'm waiting for the weekends to write the more interesting chapters! But if the reviews for this chapter top the ones from the last chapter, I may be able to update by tomorrow. Dum dee dum dum dum... Ciao!

Sabby