Disclaimer: Twilight character names belong to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. All characterizations, plot lines, backgrounds and details belong to Bella Baby24. Plagiarism is bad. Just say no.
A/N: Thank you for being so patient in waiting for this chapter.
Irritable Grizzzly- Thank you for being the best beta a girl could ask for.
Previously:
"Alec, do you see my lip gloss anywhere?" I asked.
When Alec told me he hadn't, the two of us scoured around the floor hoping to find the tube before someone slipped on it. With our heads down, we did not notice the approaching man.
A familiar, velvety voice said, "I believe you dropped this..."
2008 (At Prologue)
No. No. No.
My head snapped up when I recognized who that voice belonged to. Edward was holding the lip gloss out towards me with a shaky hand.
When I caught his gaze, Edward's face lit up with a smile and his green eyes sparkled. The look on his face was reminiscent of the first time I agreed to go on a date with him. The whole encounter was giving me a feeling of déjà vu.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Flashback to 1996 (Bella decides to give Edward a Chance)
I was standing in the middle of the Reference section at the student library trying to find books for my latest research paper. After scanning the call numbers on the spines of each book, I finally found the one I was looking for.
I was walking to a different aisle in the library when I heard a velvety voice call out, "I believe you dropped this."
When I turned around, I was met with a pair of extraordinary green eyes.
Edward Masen.
A few weekends ago, Tanya and I had met Edward at a house party. Tanya had immediately called dibs, but he didn't appear to be interested in her. Instead, the bronze-haired junior followed me around that night.
Initially, I was flattered that such a gorgeous man was interested in me. Then Jasper and Rosalie quickly informed me that Edward had a reputation as a player. After that, I refused to flirt with or date him. I had no interest in becoming another girl he used for sex. However, when I saw him on campus during the next few weeks, he was never with any girls. Player or not, Edward was gorgeous.
He waved a piece of paper in front of my face and said, "Bella? Is this yours? Did you drop it?"
I had been so busy shamelessly staring that I forgot to answer him.
The paper held the call numbers of the necessary resources for my term paper. If I lost it, it would have cost me hours of work.
After I thanked him and retrieved it, Edward continued, "Bella, I know you said you didn't want to go to dinner with me, but could I maybe talk you into getting a cup of coffee at the cafe downstairs?"
I debated for a few minutes and determined there couldn't be any harm in one cup of coffee.
"Sure, Edward. Just let me check these materials out," I replied.
He had a victorious smile on his face as he carried my books up to the counter. After I was finished, Edward escorted me to the cafe downstairs.
-o-o-o-
When we first reached the cafe, our conversation was forced. I was distracted and intimidated by Edward's good looks. I knew I was a pretty girl, but he could have anyone he wanted.
And he probably did.
It was that sarcastic thought that saved my afternoon with Edward. I was someone to be valued, not a random fuck. If Edward wanted to date or sleep with me, he would have to prove that he was more than just a pretty face.
After I got over my initial bout of shyness, the conversation easily flowed between us. We talked about school, family, friends, and our dreams. Once I looked past the exterior, I realized Edward was someone I had a lot in common with.
He admitted that he normally did not take the time to get to know the girls he 'dated.' In turn, I admitted that his reputation is what caused me to turn down his dinner invitations. I had assumed that he would be just another frat boy.
A few hours later, it was time for me to meet Tanya for dinner.
"It was nice talking with you, Edward," I smiled.
Edward replied, "I had fun today, Bella. Would you reconsider going to dinner with me?"
"I will go to dinner with you, but I won't be having sex with you. I don't want to waste either of our time. If you're interested in actually dating me, then here's my number," I answered as I jotted down my number and handed it to him. "If you just want to sleep with me, don't call."
Edward's face lit up with a smile and his green eyes sparkled. He was jubilant when he assured me, "I'll be calling you, Bella."
End of Flashback
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
I was pulled out of my memories by the sound of Alec clearing his throat. By the look on his face, I knew I had zoned out.
I took the lip gloss and calmly said, "Thank you, Edward."
An awkward silence fell over the three of us. After a moment, I cleared my throat and said, "Alec, this is Dr. Edward Masen. Edward, please meet Alec Jensen."
Alec wound his left arm around my waist and held out his other hand to Edward.
"Nice to meet you, Edward."
"Likewise," Edward responded.
The two men shook hands and blatantly sized each other up. Never before was I so thankful to have Alec in my life. He was such a cocky man and I knew that he was driving Edward crazy with his blasé disposition. Edward looked between Alec and me, trying to determine what our relationship status was.
It was obvious that he was uncomfortable with the way Alec was touching me. Alec realized this and continued to lavish me with intimate touches. I'm sure he got a kick out of provoking Edward. Jealousy and rage were flashing behind Edward's eyes. In the past, his possessive demeanor would have turned me on; however, now it just annoyed me.
Looking at him now, and not from the Edward-colored glasses I'd had on earlier, I realized that he no longer enchanted me. The old Bella would be thrilled to see him happy and smiling. She would have laughed at the irony of meeting Edward again under the same circumstances. She would have been elated to be reunited with the love of her life.
All Ifelt was bittersweet regret.
While I enjoyed most of my time with Edward, I should have stayed away from him all those years ago. Maybe I would have found happiness with someone else. Someone who wouldn't have fucked my friend on our wedding anniversary.
Hello, Anger.
My hands began to shake as I realized that I was still mad at Edward. In fact, I was furious with him. He inspired emotions in me that I wished were dead.
How dare he still affect me?
It had been years, but there were times when I really wanted to talk to Edward.
For instance, when Rosalie told me that her friend Charlotte was getting married to Edward's college friend Peter, I was dying to call Edward. It was a well-known fact in college that Charlotte and Peter hated each other. Edward and I used to tease the two of them because they were so much alike. We used to joke about how Peter and Charlotte would one day get married and have the dumbest kids alive.
I had laughed for days when Rosalie told me the news. While Rosalie thought the situation was humorous, she didn't understand the hilarity the way Edward would have.
God, I missed the connection with him.
Our inside jokes still haunted me everyday. When I would see someone wearing a poncho, I would giggle thinking about how Edward wore one with a sombrero when we were drinking one Cinco de Mayo.
Whenever I saw someone scratch the inside of their wrist, I would remember how it used to be one of the signals we would use at social functions to let the other one know that the person we were talking to was boring and we needed to be rescued. The signal worked beautifully until one event when Edward rigorously scratched the inside of his wrist trying to get my attention. The man Edward was talking to asked him if he had a rash. I almost peed I was laughing so hard.
Prior to tonight, I naively thought I had moved past Edward's betrayal. Now I realized I was fooling myself. All of the raw pain of our fractured relationship came flooding back. My seeing him tonight was reviving all sorts of old feelings I thought I had long forgotten.
The sexual and mental attractions were still there. This was the man I had dedicated a decade of my life to. We had ten years of shared experiences and history. I was furious that Edward's affair had tainted my memories of him. Instead of remembering the wonderful things about life with Edward, all I could remember was the devastation I felt as I watched him fuck Tanya.
Son of a fucking bitch.
Edward must have noticed the shift in my disposition because he nervously asked, "What are you doing in Denver, Bella?"
"I live here," I answered in a clipped tone. "What are you doing here?"
... Jackass
"I just finished my fellowship and accepted a position at the Denver Children's Hospital. I'm surprised to see you here tonight. How have you been?" Edward questioned cautiously.
Peachy.
Alec's fingers tightened around my waist in warning. He knew I was about to lose my cool and scream at Edward. I took a deep breath before I responded.
"I'm doing really well, Edward. Life is working out the way I always hoped it would."
Except my love life.…
Edward's eyes widened and he noticeably gulped. "I'm glad you're doing well. Are you still an Editor?"
Shit. Shit. Shit.
One thing I did not want to talk to Edward about was my 'job'. Sure, I didn't mind if he found out about "A Woman Scorned," but that didn't mean I wanted to tell him about Masen Edwards right now.
Alec looked at me and quickly cut in, "I'm sorry to interrupt, Darling, but we really need to go over and speak with Alice. We promised that we would meet her ten minutes ago."
Thank you, Alec.
Alec looked over at Edward and continued, "Sorry, man. Alice is the event planner running this gala. We promised to help her throughout the night."
If I didn't know any better, I would have thought we really needed to help Alice. Alec was a smooth talker.
Edward looked remorseful as he said, "Of course. Bella, it was nice to see you. Hopefully, we can catch up sometime soon."
The look on his face indicated that he was sincere. I kept my attitude in-check and replied, "I would like that, Edward."
I would also like to put my heel up your ass.
Edward made an awkward move towards me, and lifted his arms as if he wanted to give me a hug. Before he got too far, he must have determined that the gesture wouldn't be appropriate, put his arms down and took a step back.
I hadn't felt this awkward since I attended my first middle-school dance.
I chose to ignore it like it never happened and said, "I hope you enjoy the rest of your night, Edward."
Look at me being so polite.
"You too," Edward answered.
As we walked away, Alec tightened his grip on my waist and leaned down to whisper in my ear, "You did well, kid."
I gave Alec a wink and replied, "Who knew you were such a smooth liar? That was totally worth going to three of your work functions."
Alec kissed my neck and laughed, "What can I say? I'm an attentive fake lover."
-o-o-o-
Alec and I rejoined Alice and Felix by the bar. After ordering a whiskey sour, I turned to Alice and said, "Well, it could have been worse."
She gave me a small hug and whispered, "From here it looked like you were indifferent. Edward, on the other hand, looked like he was in pain."
"Too bad I can't feel indifferent," I sighed. "I really wish that I could not care about him at all. But no. I want to know how the jackass is doing."
Stupid girl.
Alec placed his hand on my lower back and joked, "Fake it 'til you make it, Bells."
"Alec would know all about girls faking it," Emmett boomed.
I looked over to my right and saw Rosalie and Emmett join our circle. Ever since Rose helped me move to Denver, she had been enamored with Emmett. The two of them talked on the phone daily when Rose had returned to Chicago.
After seven months of phone calls and two visits, Rosalie decided to move to Denver. She applied with several local newspapers and landed a job with "The Denver Post". Rose quickly moved in with me; however, she spent most of her nights with Emmett. I expected them to get engaged any day now.
Rose and Emmett had disappeared earlier in the evening and were just now reappearing. Her complexion was flushed and he was wearing a huge smile.
I miss sex…
"Do I even want to know?" I asked Rosalie.
She blushed and replied, "I can't help it. The man has made me insatiable."
Alec snorted, "It must suck for you, Rose. You keep having all this sex with Emmett, but you never get off. Maybe if the man got some skills you would be properly sated for once."
Alec darted behind me as Emmett lunged for him.
"Seriously, man. Premature ejaculation is a common problem. With some help, there are things you can do to last longer," he laughed.
Emmett growled, "I know how to keep my woman happy, Alec. She just can't get enough of a good thing."
"Just good?" Felix questioned. "That's sad. You would think that a sexy woman like Rosalie would want more than good. That's only one step up from 'nice'."
Emmett's face turned a bright red and it was obvious that he was going to lose his temper. However, before he could say anything, Alice interrupted.
"Stop. I don't want to hear about my brother having sex. Besides, I'm sure you both should be more concerned with honing your own skills, because it appears that Emmett has more sex than the two of you put together."
The six of us laughed loudly and the subject was changed. I looked around my group of friends and knew that coming to Denver was the best decision I had ever made.
-o-o-o-
When a big-band song started playing, Alec turned to me and said, "What do you say, B? Should we show everyone how to swing?"
I laughed and replied, "Sure, but no fancy tricks. I'm in heels and a long dress tonight."
He took my hand and led me out onto the dance floor. I was excited to swing with Alec again.
After Alice had been living with Felix for a year, she was concerned because they were no longer going out on dates. In a moment of pure insanity, she signed the two of them up to take swing dance lessons. What Alice failed to remember is that Felix would be out of town for a few weeks on business. When the dance school informed her they didn't issue refunds, she asked Alec and me if we wanted to take them over.
Six weeks later, Alec and I determined that we loved swing dancing. We made a point to go swinging at least once a month. So we were both thrilled to show off our skills, spinning and twirling to the music.
As the song went on, Alec tripped on the edge of my dress. He stumbled into another couple before he could catch his balance.
When I laughed at him, Alec grumbled, "It's not my fault. I can't believe you wore a long dress when you knew there could be swing music!"
"I can't believe you tripped into that couple," I replied.
I was still laughing when the music changed and a slow song began to play. Alec pulled me closer and said, "You know, it would be a whole lot easier if you would just agree to date me."
With a chuckle, I replied, "Sure, but you would have to give up your womanizing ways."
Alec quipped, "It might be worth it. I hear you're a freak in bed."
I tried to keep a straight face as I replied, "Seriously. It's so hard to find a man who's willing to be adventurous in bed. Usually they start running when I say 'anal beads.'"
Alec stopped dancing and gawked at me.
"If you're really a fan of anal beads, you're going to have to be my girl, Cullen," he demanded.
I laughed so hard that I snorted.
Alec glared at me and continued, "I'm not fucking around, B."
I was just about to reply when a smooth voice asked, "May I cut in?"
Alec scowled at Tyler as he agreed to let him cut in.
Tyler noticed Alec's displeasure and joked, "I'm really doing you a favor, Alec. What she failed to tell you was that the anal beads were for you."
God, I missed this man…
Alec's face blanched and I deadpanned, "I told you I was kinky."
Tyler and I continued to laugh as he led me around the dance floor. Once our amusement had run its course, the mood turned somber.
"How are you holding up, Princess?" Tyler asked.
A year ago, this nickname would have enraged me. Now that I knew him better, the name was more a term of endearment and an inside joke. Hearing him call me 'Princess' with adoration and concern made me feel terribly guilty. Tyler Crowley was a wonderful man and I wished things had gone differently.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Flashback to Three Months Ago
Tyler and I had been dating for close to six months. During the last two months, we had been spending most nights together. One morning I woke up in Tyler's Ice House loft, and was surprised that he wasn't in bed with me. I went downstairs and saw that Tyler was making omelets for breakfast. I took a moment to appreciate his boxer-clad body.
He is beautiful.
Tyler must have noticed my presence because he called out, "Morning, Princess. Come show me some love."
I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed a kiss on the bare skin between his shoulder blades. I mumbled, "Good Morning," and poured myself a cup of coffee.
As we ate our breakfast, I noticed that Tyler appeared nervous. He was bouncing his right leg and was uncharacteristically quiet.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
Tyler smiled at me and responded, "I'm okay, but I would really like to talk to you about something after breakfast."
My smile faltered and my stomach dropped as I tried to determine what Tyler wanted to talk about.
Was he breaking up with me?
Was something wrong?
Tyler noticed the look on my face and quickly assured me that everything was fine. After he finished his omelet, he quietly asked, "Bella, will you move in with me?"
"No. Why would we do that," I blurted without thinking.
Tyler barked, "I don't know? Maybe because you're here almost every night anyway? Maybe because we love each other?"
Shit. Damage control, Bella.
"I'm sorry. You just caught me off-guard," I apologized.
"Hell, Bella. I never would have asked if I knew you would react like this. I thought you wanted to live with me. You're always saying how you like waking up with me every morning," he continued.
"I do like waking up next to you. I just don't want to live with you. It's comforting to know that at the end of the day, I still have my place for when things don't…." my voice trailed off as I realized what I was about to say.
…Work out. He's not 'The One'.
"Work out?" Tyler finished for me, understanding where I was going.
I nodded my head in affirmation.
"Is it too soon for this or will you never want to live with me?" he inquired.
It scared me that I immediately knew the answer to his question. I wasn't sure when I had made the decision, but I knew that I would never desire to live with Tyler.
"I'm not sure that I will ever want to live with a man again. I don't think it's a matter of timing, Tyler," I said gently.
He tilted his head to the side and seemed to be mulling over what I just said. After a few moments, Tyler asked, "So you never want to get married again? Or have children?"
"As of right now, no. Someday I may change my mind, but I don't think it's likely," I stated.
"You don't trust that we'll stay together. It's not a matter of if we break up, but when," Tyler surmised.
"Of course I don't trust that we'll stay together forever," I sighed, "The odds of that happening are slim to none. It would be foolish to think otherwise."
Tyler had been relatively calm, but now he was obviously infuriated. His blue eyes flashed as he retorted, "Why would it be foolish to trust me? I have never given you any reason to doubt me, Bella. Don't blame statistics. We both know that you're projecting your past relationship issues onto me."
"I know. I should trust you, but I can't," I snapped.
"Then what the hell is this all about, Bella?" he demanded. "What do you want from me? From us?"
"I don't know. I love spending time with you, but I'm not ready for anything else," I said.
The fire behind Tyler's eyes diminished as he asked, "But you don't think you'll ever be ready for more with me?"
"No," I whispered.
"We can take this at your pace. I'm willing to wait for you to trust me. We have something special, Bella. I really think this could be it for me. Please tell me that you want us to work," he pleaded.
Tyler's shoulders slumped when I didn't respond to his statement. He was expecting some kind of reassurance and I couldn't give it to him.
"I'm sorry, Bella. I shouldn't have pushed you to move in with me so soon, but I want a family one day. I want to get married and have kids. Considering you don't ever want these things, I don't think we should see each other anymore," Tyler concluded.
The tears were running down my face, as I replied, "I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I wish I could be that woman for you."
"Bella, you don't have to change for anyone. You deserve to be loved for who you are. I just hope that someday you will let someone into your heart and allow them to love you," Tyler said.
After a tearful hug, I left Tyler's loft and walked home. I was so frustrated with myself. He was a wonderful man; however, I sabotaged our relationship and hurt him. He didn't deserve this turmoil. All Tyler did was love me. He was passionate, honest, and reliable.
Why couldn't I just trust in him?
End of Flashback
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
I was brought out of my memories when Tyler brushed his thumb across my cheek.
"Bella, are you ok?" he questioned.
"Yes," I answered. "I just miss you. I was thinking about what a jerk I am."
Tyler sighed as he hugged my body closer to his. "You aren't a jerk, Bella. We just want different things."
"I really wish things were different," I whispered.
I enjoyed the feeling of Tyler's arms around me as we continued to dance. He smelled so manly and delicious.
During my reverie, I almost didn't hear him whisper, "Me too."
God, I missed him.
After a few moments, Tyler asked cautiously, "What is he doing here? Did you know he would be here?"
He had to ask…
"He works at the Children's Hospital," I replied. "How do you know him?"
I tilted my head back and noticed Tyler's facial expressions. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were filled with anger.
"I don't know him," he growled. "I was standing at the bar and decided to talk to a total stranger. He seemed like a nice guy. I thought I may have found a new friend. It wasn't until the end of our conversation that I thought to ask his name. If I had known who he was upfront, I would never have talked to the asshole. When he told me his name, I almost lost it. I had to walk away before I hit him."
The amount of anger Tyler was projecting was surprising. I massaged the base of his neck in an effort to calm him down.
He took a deep breath and continued, "I just wanted to see how you were handling his presence. Last time we talked, you mentioned that you were going to therapy. I just wanted to make sure that Edward's appearance in Denver wasn't going to set you back."
Last month, I ended up on the same Habitat for Humanity construction site with Tyler. The day started off awkward because it was the first time since the break-up that I saw him. I had finally admitted to Tyler that he influenced me to attend therapy. I explained to him how my issues had held the two of us back and that I was seeking help. I made sure to emphasize that I would always be thankful for our relationship because it caused me to examine how my trust issues affected my life and the lives of those around me.
My therapy sessions were going well, but I understood Tyler's concerns.
"I'm sure I'll be okay. This will just give me new material to talk about," I joked.
My awkward laugh was met with silence. Tyler was not finding the situation humorous at all.
"Look, I know that there is cause for concern. When I first found out that Edward was here in Denver, I freaked out. Now I'm choosing to be optimistic. Edward's presence will force me to address all the issues surrounding my failed marriage that I've been trying to ignore. It's scary as hell, but maybe, this will be a good thing," I said hopefully.
If only I could believe that in my heart…
Tyler sighed, "I hope you're right, Bella. I just want to murder him for what he did to you. I keep thinking that if he hadn't betrayed your trust, we would have worked out."
That doesn't make any sense.
I was just about to voice my thoughts when Tyler continued, "Ridiculous, huh? I know that if he never cheated on you, then you'd still be married. We were just never meant to be."
With a small smile, I said, "We may not have worked out, but I will always be grateful for the time we had. Without you, I don't think I would have ever sought out help for my trust issues. You've made me a better person."
As the music died down, so did our conversation. Tyler lightly kissed my cheek. When I stepped out of his arms, I already began to miss him. I opened my mouth, but I didn't know what to say.
He noticed my dilemma and said, "We're both going to be okay, Princess."
All I could do was nod. As I turned to walk away, Tyler smacked my ass and joked, "Now go make Alec think he's a prude because he's never tried anal beads. I'll buy you Jamba Juice for a month if you can convince him that he should be practicing with them while he's at home."
What the…?
"Alone," he quickly added. "I am not encouraging you to sexually experiment with him."
I threw my head back and laughed, "You're on, Crowley."
I wiped a stray tear from my face as I walked away from him. The moment was ridiculous, bittersweet, and so incredibly us.
-o-o-o-
After my dance with Tyler, I rejoined my group of friends. Emmett wrapped a protective arm around my shoulders and asked, "Am I going to have to beat someone's ass?"
I slapped the middle of his chest and replied, "No. There's no need to get violent."
"I disagree," he argued. "You're family. There is every reason for me to beat any man who makes you uncomfortable."
Once again I was reminded of why Emmett and Rosalie were perfect for each other. They were loyal to a fault and would always have my back. I loved them both dearly.
Instead of embarrassing Emmett with a mushy speech, I gave him a hug and said, "I love you, Em, but we both know that I'm the one at fault in the situation with Tyler."
Emmett just shrugged his shoulders and let the subject drop. We were quickly immersed in the group conversation.
After a few minutes, I felt the weight of someone's stare on me. I looked to my left and noticed it was Edward. He appeared apprehensive as he mouthed, "Are you okay?"
I smiled and nodded at him. His facial features relaxed and he smiled back at me.
The moment between us was interrupted when Rosalie tugged on my arm. "What the hell was that, Bella?" she demanded.
"Nothing," I shrugged. "He just wanted to make sure I was okay."
"Don't give me that shit, B," Rose seethed. "That asshole had better stay the hell away from you. Not to mention, you should be staying far, far away from him."
"Rose, calm down. I was just trying to be a mature adult. We're at a charity gala. There's no need to draw attention to ourselves by not acting polite," I scolded.
"Sure, Emily Post. Politeness is overrated. That fucker better hope that he doesn't run into me. I'll make sure he regrets even looking at Tanya," Emmett growled.
When I looked over at Emmett, I was surprised to see both Alec and Felix nodding their heads in agreement. If I didn't handle this situation now, I was certain I would be bailing their asses out of jail at some point for assault.
"Emmett, promise me that you will not fight Edward," I demanded.
"But, Bella…" he pleaded.
"Emmett!" I threatened.
After Rosalie gave him a stern look, he grumbled, "Fine."
"That goes for the two of you as well," I pointed at Alec and Felix.
The two promised they would not fight Edward and I started to relax. While I should have felt better about their promises, I knew I was forgetting something. I probably should make them agree to leave Edward alone altogether, but it's not like they would seek him out.
Would they?
The conversation continued to flow around me, but I was having trouble focusing on what was being said. Alec noticed my distracted state and announced, "I think I'm going to take my sexy date home."
I smiled my thanks at him and agreed.
As I hugged Rose, she warned, "Don't think I'm letting this drop, Bella. I'll be calling you tomorrow."
Damn.
"I'm looking forward to it, Rose," I stated calmly.
Alec wrapped his arm around me and we walked away from the group. As we were leaving the ballroom, I caught sight of Edward's bronze hair. It was unnerving being in the same place he was again. I didn't know how I felt about his presence in Denver. All I knew was that things would never be the same…
A/N: As always, I appreciate everyone's constructive criticism and support. This week's bribe is an EPOV of this chapter. Please be sure to read the prior EPOVs before reading this week's bribe. All past bribes are located in the separate story, "A Woman Scorned Outtakes."
Big kisses to Rose Arcadia for creating the AWS, Team Alec, and Team Edward blinkies. If you aren't following her blog, you should be. rosearcadia(dot)blogspot(dot)com
Thank you to the lovely Diamond Black for featuring 'A Woman Scorned' on her blog. She does have some insider information on AWS posted ;) (dot)blogspot(dot)com
Thank you to everyone else who is pimping out AWS.
If you would like to follow me on twitter, my name is Bella_Baby24.