A/N: This chapter is dedicated to the wonderful Bittenev and Bella of the ball because it is their birthdays todaaaaay! I love you both something fierce and I hope you both are having wonderful days!

Disclaimer: Do not ooown!

Tell me what you think!

Edward

I stood there too stunned to move as I watched Bella fumble with the door knob. After several seconds, she finally wrenched it open and stubbed her toe. A subconscious smile spread across my lips, but it faded quickly as I watched her run away from me.

What the hell was that?

I didn't understand her. That girl…was an enigma. I never knew what she would do next.

Clap on, clap off.

Pick a setting, Bella.

Did she accept my flowers? Or, did she just come in to finish what we had started last night but decided on arguing as foreplay?

Did I not push her pleasure button correctly?

My feet finally unfroze, and I pushed myself against the sink, bracing my arms behind me as I looked up at the ceiling.

I was confused.

I knew that my move last night would earn some type of rise out of her, but I thought for sure the lilies would neutralize her. Flowers usually stunned any girl like venom and had them melting into my arms mere seconds later.

But I guess Bella isn't most girls…

I shook my head at my own stupidity. Of course she's not! I must have been on meth for even considering it. I should have known it was going to take more than just flowers to earn Bella's trust and forgiveness. Bella was different…unique. She deserved something unique in return.

I needed to take a class on containing word vomit or maybe write myself a prescription. My words would be my downfall to the Roman Empire that is Bella.

What was this? Comparing Bella to the Roman Empire?

Man up, sap. Jesus Christ, you're gone.

I finally decided to wash the shaving cream that was now stuck in my hair, making me look like a preppy Edward Scissor Hands.

Bella's hands felt lovely moving through my hair…her lips felt like silk against mine…

I groaned loudly. I had to gain this girl's affection somehow. I needed to find a way to make her mine. She was too much to lose. I couldn't bear it.

Not again.

I walked out of the bathroom and threw my bag onto my bed. I caught a glimpse of Ryan standing out on the balcony, puffing on a hand rolled cigarette. His shoulders looked tense and hunched.

Huh, I thought Ryan didn't smoke?

I shrugged my shoulders at my inner thought then went back to rummaging through my bag for a decent outfit for today. I started to think of ways to win Bella over as I walked back into the bathroom with a faded band tee, some black jeans, and my green Converse in hand.

Hmm…I heard that Bella really loves coffee. Maybe a latte mixed with a shot of desperation would be a delectable concoction?

I shook my head.

Too heavy on the wimp.

I pulled my shirt over my head quickly then slipped into my form fitting jeans.

Bella was not that easily swayed by the bean. I needed something more. Something…

I cringed inwardly.

Romantic.

In general standards, I was a romantic guy. I knew what cards to play and how to use them; it's how I got most of the girls in college. I could be the sappy, poetic type. I could be the badass. I could mold myself into all these different forms for each girl's liking, but I was never truly happy. I was never myself with them. I always had on a mask to cover the vulnerability that was two inches beneath it.

But, with Bella…with Bella, I was myself. Despite my horrible habit of using sarcasm as a relief factor for tension, I was utterly naked in front of that girl, and it scared and excited me at the same time. With her, I knew it would take more than chocolates and sappy love poems I had ripped off from school notes. It would take me actually being myself. I had to put myself out on the line to let her know that I loved her too. I just didn't know how to express it.

I still couldn't believe Bella was in love with me. Drunken confession it may have been, but I could see through the haze that covered her beautiful features. I could see the meaning behind those three words. I saw her heart in those deep chocolate brown eyes, and I shot her down. Not even remotely intentionally, but I still broke her heart.

I had finally breached an idea that seemed to be good enough for my gesture towards Bella, when Ryan's voice cut through my thoughts.

"Hey!"

I snapped my head up from my Converse and focused in on my friend. He didn't seem too happy.

"What's up, man? You're looking a little perturbed," I inquired. He glowered at me.

He really wasn't happy.

"I know what you did last night, Edward. It was pretty fucking sick of you. Are you proud of yourself? I mean, you seem to feel no remorse. You stepped on her heart, and I had to pick up the pieces. Does shame not fit with your pants, or are they so constricting that they also cut off blood flow to your brain?" Ryan began as he ran a hand through his hair and fixed the dark, square framed glasses that were perched on his nose. I felt my brow knit into a confused line.

"Ryan, what are you talking about? I…no remorse? I do-" He cut me off with a loud snort.

"What?" I offered to the Piranha after he cleared his throat of the phlegm.

"You should have pursued acting, Edward. You're bloody brilliant," Ryan said through a malicious smile. I shook my head in disgust.

"Real mature, Ryan."

"I try. Don't mess with my best friend. I mean it, stay away from her." His tone had turned deadly.

"I haven't done anything!" I scoffed. I got off the bed and turned my back to him shaking my head at the sheer idiocy of this argument.

Bad move.

I suddenly felt my back being slammed into the hotel wall roughly. Plaster from the ceiling rained down into Ryan's spiked up hair. His expression was murderous. I returned a similar look.

"Stay. Away. From. Her," Ryan spelled out for me clearly, growling each word through clenched teeth. I smiled at his attempt at using a "threatening" tone.

"Make me," I breathed out through my smirk.

"Oh, do not tempt me, Cullen. I am five seconds away from breaking that perfect nose of yours." Ryan hissed and took a fistful of my collar into his right hand and twisted it tightly. I felt a slight pain as the material brushed against my neck. I tried to disguise the moan of discomfort, but he had caught it. A smirk now danced across his face, and my back became reacquainted with the wall behind me. Harder this time.

"Stay away from her, and we won't have problems," he sneered.

I coughed out a laugh as I caught the breath that had been knocked out of my system from the force of being pushed against the wall. My arms moved from my sides, and I pushed Ryan's shoulders roughly. He didn't move an inch.

"Hey," I began, trying to contain the flow of testosterone that was threatening to bubble from my fists, "if that's what Bella wants, I have no problem with it."

Ryan started to answer, but the door to our room opened revealing a vision that took my breath away. My heart began to thump wildly in my chest, and all the blood that had been flowing to my face in a fit of rage was now draining to the center of me. I felt Ryan's grip slacken.

Bella.

She was dressed simply, yet stunningly. Her brown hair was cascading beautifully down her shoulders in waves, and she wore a brown polka dot dress. The dress displayed her boobs quite nicely; even my gentlemanly side had to admit that.

The black pumps and the smirk dressed on her face did it for me, though.

Ryan pulled his hand away from me and took a few steps away from me as he continued to ogle Bella.

I took that free moment of distraction to fix myself inconspicuously.

Bella had purred something at Ryan, then turned around on her heel and left the room. I felt my body drag slightly.

No…come back and let me show you just how much I love that dress on you…

I felt Ryan's hand clamp on my shoulder, and I turned quickly to face him. I wasn't going to let him have the advantage again. Fool me twice, shame on me.

We stood and stared each other down for a few seconds. I was taken off guard when Ryan thrust his hand towards me. I looked at it warily.

"May the best man win."

Comprehension dawned on me, and I felt raw male pride fill my frame. I clutched his hand, tighter than necessary, and shook it firmly.

"I'll let you know what the finish line looks like."

Ryan's eyes narrowed into tiny slits, and he dropped my hand like it hand burned him. A grunt was the only "game on" I got from him.

So much for our budding friendship.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Anything? Anything at all," I asked as desperation filled my tone. It must have been seeping through my facial expressions also because the guy's eyes hardened.

"Man, stop being such a damn pussy," the guy with the Sailor Moon tattoo spat at me.

I gave him a sarcastic smile.

This had been the sixth music store I had raided in L.A. None of them wanted to lend me a guitar for tonight. No one. Nothing I did seemed to convince them I wasn't some flaky out of towner who would steal their instruments upon leaving the store. This guy was no different.

"Listen, Bubbles," I began as I leaned toward the guy. Sailor Moon backed up a little, threatened by my close proximity. "Not that you would know, but girls are nice. Lovely even, if you're not too choosy. I need a guitar to prove to a girl that I'm worthy. I need her to understand how I feel for her, and the only way she'll get it is through song."

"Through Bush, you mean,"

"Do not underestimate Gavin, my friend," I countered. "Now, give me a guitar for tonight, and I promise it will be back in this store by tomorrow morning with a card to the best laser surgeon to remove that ghastly tattoo of yours."

"What! I don-" I cut him off, shaking my head.

"Don't even attempt it."

"Fine. Tomorrow morning," he grumbled as he took my credit card.

I smiled the most charming smile I could muster and waited for the acoustic guitar to be brought to me.

Project Get Bella: Go.

Bella

"Before you say anything, let me explain."

I froze at the sound of his voice. What was he doing here, and why did he sprinkle death traps through out my room?

"Explain the slippery death you've got booby trapped throughout my room?" I asked as I carefully picked myself up from the floor. I stepped over a patch of rose petals and tip toed to the table on the left hand side of the room. Edward's chuckle surrounded me.

"Yeah, about that…it was supposed to be romantic, not hazardous. I forgot your affinity for hurting yourself."

I rolled my eyes, still refusing to look full at him. "Hah. Hah."

"Look, I'm not here to argue with you, or even talk to you; I'm here to sing to you." Edward said I as I heard him shift off the bed.

Sing to me? What was this, Say Anything?

I finally tore my gaze from the table and looked over towards the bed. Edward stood there smiling softly. He had a single lily in his hand and a guitar slung over his shoulder. My breath caught in my throat.

This was too much like my day dream…I thought to myself as I remembered the day at Alice's where Edward invaded my day dreams. My stomach twisted into knots, and I felt a blush cross my face.

I got over that though when my brain fully processed that he had a guitar slung over his shoulder.

I stared at Edward's smirking face disbelievingly.

"Where did you get the guitar?" I asked, trying to get rid of the butterflies in my stomach.

"Rented it," Edward stated simply.

He had to be kidding.

"You rented it?"

"Yes."

"You rented...a guitar?"

"Righto."

"Of all the things to rent in LA, you rented a guitar?"

"It's for the gesture," He said, annoyance slipping into his tone.

"Who rents guitars?" I asked, still stuck.

"Will you let it go?"

"But-" He cut me off swiftly by standing and walking directly up to me and cupped my face with his hands gently. My heart thumped treacherously in my chest.

"Bella, if you don't shut the fuck up, I won't be able to remember the chord progressions and I'll be stuck having to use my own words. We both don't want that."

My mouth immediately closed as Edward's tone became sharp. I was oddly surprised and…turned on?

I felt him place a feather-light kiss onto my lips, and I froze under his touch for the second time today. I pushed Edward back.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Do not think that you coming in here sprinkling rose petals and offering to serenade me changes my opinion of you. To quote the fantastic Gwen Stefani, 'Thank you for turning on the light. Thank you, now you're the parasite. I didn't think you had it in you.' I'm done with you." I tried to push past him, but Edward's arm encircled my waist, refusing to let go.

"Stop trying to intimidate me by quoting angry, flat-chested chick rock. It won't work, and you're further proving that we are destined to be together."

I looked up at him shaking my head. "You're incorrigible."

He flashed me his crooked smile, and my heart melted. "Thank you."

He unlatched his arm from my waist and gently trailed his fingers down the length of my arm and grasped my hand lightly in his. After giving it a quick squeeze, he led me over to the bed and sat me down. He took three steps away from me, then turned back to face me. He positioned the guitar so it was now in front of him. He took a deep breath.

"Don't laugh. I did my best to learn the chords as quickly as I could."

I felt myself nod when words didn't seem to suffice. Edward placed his hands on the frets, and music began to pour out of the guitar.

I recognized the riff immediately, and my heart began to beat faster. I snorted as I caught on to his joke earlier; we were destined to be together. I quoted Gwen Stefani and here he was playing one of her husband's songs.

My thoughts froze once he began to sing.

Must be your skin that I'm sinkin in

Must be for real cause now I can feel

Edward's singing voice was warmer then his speaking voice. It was like honey and fizzing champagne. It was smooth, silky, and deep. I was transfixed by the way his lips seemed to caress each word he sang.

If I treated you

bad you bruise my face

couldn't love you more

you got a beautiful taste

Edward's eyes bore deeply into mine as he sang "couldn't love you more." I felt my cheeks grow red as the meaning behind pushed its way through my clogged mind.

Wait, was there a hidden meaning…?

Edward's eyes softened, and he whispered the next few lines,

could have been easier on you

I couldn't change though I wanted to

could have been easier by three

our old friend fear and you and me

glycerine

My heart wrenched pathetically as he put a new meaning behind the words. I soon realized, much to my horror, that I was falling head first for Edward Cullen. How a song was making me swoon so hardcore for this man was amazing. I never thought myself to be the type to melt over a bad 90's song, but the way he sang it, the meaning he put behind it, changed my mind completely.

Once he finished the song, we just stared at each other; green and brown mingling for what seemed like an eternity as we both refused to break the intense gaze between us. Edward's face morphed through several emotions, but his eyes always held the same warm hue, never letting his eyes trail from mine. Once the silence became suffocating, and I noticed my head was becoming foggy from lack of oxygen, I took in a shuttering breath.

"Bella…"Edward whispered lightly.

My hand snaked its way up my chest and clutched at my heart.

But, I was supposed to be over him…

"Bella," Edward began again as he kneeled directly in front of me. I could feel the heat radiating off him again, and it reminded me of the two kisses we had shared. My face flushed. "I've been in love with you, also. Ever since I laid eyes on you. I was just too stupid then to realize how unique you truly were and are. Look, I'm not one for big, grand romantic gestures…but I love you, Bella Swan."

My heart gave out. I couldn't feel it moving anymore. I had no idea if I was still breathing. All I knew, all I could feel, was the intense joy that encompassed me.

Edward Cullen loved me.

He loved me. This prick loved me.

I felt my face break out into a goofy grin, and I saw Edward's face do the same.

"You love me?" I asked quietly as his fingers grazed my cheek. I felt electricity spark through his touch and warm my body. He nodded. My goofy grin widened, and I felt my bones turn to mush.

"Really, you're forgiving me this easily? I thought for sure I'd deal with a lioness or something equally ball decapitating."

I laughed and shook my head, staring deep into his emerald eyes. "Who said anything about forgiving? I'm simply basking. The anger will return within the next five minutes."

"Oh, five minutes, huh?" Edward asked as he brought his lips closer to mine. I saw his eyes drop from mine and focus onto my lips. He subconsciously wet his lips. "Do we need to find a closet, or can we have heaven right here?" Edward whispered as he touched his nose with mine.

"Wow, you're right. Thank God you decided to sing to me," I teased. Edward mocked offense, then, without waiting any longer, pressed his lips fully against mine.

Every cell in my body erupted in pleasure as his lips moved softly against mine. I was finally able to enjoy a kiss without any remorse. Sure, I'd been pissed at him half the day, but when his lips were moving against mine, every worry seemed to disappear with each swipe of his lips.

He began to deepen the kiss, and I obliged by wrapping my arms tightly around his neck. A strange sound escaped my lips as his tongue asked for entrance into my mouth.

Edward pulled back slightly with an amused smirk playing on his lips.

"What?" I asked breathlessly.

"Did you just mewl?"

My eyes narrowed. "Ruin this moment, Cullen, and I swear you won't get laid."

Ryan

I smiled to myself as I closed the door behind me.

Today was a good day. Today was a good day, because I knew I'd win.

Edward Cullen was no competition for an intimate friend of five years. He didn't know my Bella like I knew her. This was too easy.

I was more than happy to wipe off that final smirk he gave me today before I left today.

Jackass.

After using the bathroom quickly, I ducked back into the room nonchalantly looking for any signs of Edward. I walked completely into the bedroom hesitantly, and when I saw he was no where to be found, I felt my body relax.

Good. Drown yourself in that beer, buddy. Bella hates a lush.

I plopped onto my bed, and reached for the remote when a sound stopped me. I felt my ears perk as they strained to identify the sound coming from wall separating my room with Bella's.

Acoustic guitar?

I got off the bed and padded over to the wall quietly as to not miss any of the noise. I pressed my ear against the wall and heard a male voice singing.

Who…

My throat constricted and my legs wobbled.

Edward.

A wave of pain and jealousy raged up from the pit of my stomach to my heart. I felt light headed. I needed air.

Sonofabitch.

I stumbled across the room and grasped my key card tightly into my hand. I felt the edges bite deeply into my hand. I smiled at the pain. It was almost laughable.

It didn't compare.

Jim Bean, take me away…