Thanks so much for all the reviews! I really hadn't expected ya'll to actually want me to continue! This chapter's a little bit longer, and I'll be working on slowly increasing the length as I get further into the story. Still let me know what you think about the story, I love to hear ya'll thoughts.

Also, I would really like to have a Beta Reader who can edit what I write. Maybe give some input and advice as well. Send me a message if you or someone you know is interested.

Here we go.

Chapter O2:She just needs someone to take her home

BPOV

My arm dangles over the side of the old wooden bench I'm currently laying on, my glasses hanging loosing from my fingers. Luckily, I'm in a smaller part of town, one that isn't heavily populated a few minutes to midnight on a Wednesday night, so I don't feel weird about relaxing on the bench. I probably wouldn't have been uncomfortable lying on the bench if the area was crowded, but it sure did help not having people staring and making comments at you every five minutes…not like I would know or anything.

I close my eyes, enjoying the wind brushing against my face, blowing my clean wet hair.

If I hadn't been able to scurry through the gym's doors before they closed behind a group of college-aged guys, I honestly don't know what I would've done. I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that having Jasper show up with me looking like a street rat wasn't going to go over well. He'd ask too many questions I wouldn't have answers to. I knew he knew that I wasn't exactly well off, but I didn't plan on telling him how much in the gutter I really was. After all, I was a grown woman with a college degree; I could handle my own problems.

I didn't need a white knight to sweep me off my feet.

I did; however, need to figure out what the hell I was going to do.

Even if I stayed with Jasper tonight, that didn't solve where I was going to stay the night after that or the one after that. The sooner I could get out of Jasper's the fewer questions I would have to answer. I know I can't afford rent anywhere remotely inhabitable without a job, a job I can't seem to get.

Apparently just because I had walked across a stage donning a fancy robe and a newly signed degree meant nothing unless you had recommendations and a name to back it up. I had applied to countless places, had half as many interviews scheduled, and absolutely no offers.

But I simply refuse to give up.

Why couldn't they have given me a manual to life instead of a useless plaque? It sure would have made my life a hell of a lot easier.

I take a deep, calming breath. Somehow, someday, I'll figure it all out. One day I'll be a book editor with a nice office and fancy apartment to go home to at the end of the day. I will have my own business card complete with an elegant inscription beneath my name. I'll attend extravagant banquets, parties and conventions, have more frequent flyer miles than I'll know what to do with, and order a college intern around during the summers.

I know, one day, that'll all come true.

Until then, however, I'm stuck rationing my negative funds and throwing my hair into buns in order to hide the grease and dandruff I can't afford to wash out.

Bright lights flash against my close lids and I clench them tighter in hope of blocking it out. I can hear the gentle hum of the engine as it cruises down the smooth payment, coming to a stop in what I could only assume to be one of the fitness center's parking spots.

I crack open one eye, lean over to catch a glimpse of the car, and flop back down, shifting against the bench to get more comfortable. I'd been in Jasper's car enough times to know which car he actually had, and the small black flashy sedan idling on the curb definitely wasn't it, unfortunately. It wasn't as if I minded waiting for him, it was just that October in Seattle isn't exactly the warmest place in the world, especially with a wet head.

Whoever it was cut their engine and got out the car, slamming the door behind them.

"No man, I don't see anyone." The mystery man sighs, "There's just some person sleeping on a bench and a few people working out. No, no, there isn't anyone else. What? Dude, you're lucky I even came; I'm not going to- fine. Fine but if she goes a-wall on me, I blame you."

I hear a click from his phone as he ends the call with a groan. His feet shuffle against the cement as he…walks over to me, I think?

The sounds of the shuffling get louder as he approaches the bench. I peak out of my left eye and catch a blur of navy blue slacks. I let out a gust of air and swing my arm up so that I can place my glasses on and see again. After propping myself up with my arms, I glance over at Mystery Man, standing right in front of me.

I nearly gasp at the sight of him. Sure, he has a scowl on his face, black bags beneath his eyes, and his cooper hair is in disarray, but that doesn't take away from his beauty. He's gorgeous, from the smooth skin on his face, to the depth of his green orbs and the way his suit hugs his obviously toned body; this man is definitely not unfortunate looking.

"Uh…can I help you?" I ask, after uncomfortably sitting under his gaze for at least a minute or so. It seems like the polite thing to do.

He scrunches his eyebrows together and reaches into his pants pockets, I can hear the clank of his keys and he twiddles with them. "Are you Bella?" He asks, avoiding my original question and making one of his own.

I tilt my head to the side and try to see if I recognize Mystery Man. As I look closer, I know for sure I've never seen this man in my life. Surely, if I had, I would've remembered him. I slowly nod, cautiously, waiting for him to suddenly stuff me in his trunk.

He lets out a sigh of what I could only assume to be relief. "Oh thank god. Come on then." Mystery Man takes a step back with both hands in his pockets.

I give him a look. Does this complete stranger really expect me to just follow him into his car in the middle of the night? Do I really come off that naïve? The only reassurance I have is that he knew my name, or at least part of my first name, but then again, any good stalker would.

"Thanks, but I'm really waiting for a friend." I say as politely as I can, slouching back onto the bench but not lying down. It'd be harder for him to pick me up in this position than it would if I was just lying here, I decide internally, hoping that it actually makes a difference.

He rolls his eyes, "Yes, Yes, I know. Jasper Hale, right? He had to leave for a company emergency in Oregon, he sent me to collect you." Mystery man explains exasperatedly. "Now that that's all settled, can you get in the car? I don't have all night to stand here waiting for you to make up your mind." He tags on a full-toothed smile at the end and despite his horrible attitude I can't help but swoon inside.

Hesitantly I rise from the bench, grabbing my bag from the ground and slinging it over my shoulder. "I'll go on one condition, I need your name." I state, figuring if he knew all of the things about me and Jasper that he was either actually a friend of Jasper's or a serious stalker that had done his research and deserved the catch.

I'm hoping it's the first.

He clears his throat and looks at me like I've just asked why the sky was blue. "Edward, Edward Cullen." He says, sounding awfully similar to James Bond.

I shrug, hugging my back closer to me. Edward stares at me for a moment before shaking his head and briskly walking over his car, sliding into the driver's spot.

I stumble over, ignoring my growing headache and the heat filling my cheeks. Nearly tripping into the car, I set my bag onto my lap and quickly buckle up for one of my most uncomfortable quiet car rides to date.

He glances over at me briefly before starting up the engine and speeding out of the lot. My hands immediately reach down to clench the edge of the seat before I'm thrown across the car. With wide eyes I stare at the side of his head, wondering if he's even sober. Probably should've asked that five minutes ago, huh?

My eyes flicker down to the speedometer and cringe when I see the dial hovering over ninety. I didn't even know cars could actually go the fast, the result of being raised by a cop who drove five under the limit.

Without looking away from the road, he reaches down to the control panel and begins to fiddle with a few buttons. Moments later an obnoxiously loud, glass shattering song screeches through the sound system. I cringe into the seat, the screamo music only flaring my headache.

I stare at him incredulously, wondering if he even remembers that I'm with him.

"Is that really necessary?" I snap; the music like nails on a chalkboard. "Like, really?" I add in a surprisingly ditsy voice.

I blame the music for clouding my head.

His head barely turns in my direction before he snorts and rolls his thumb around a circular piece on his steering wheel. I assume it's the volume controller because seconds later the music blares even louder and a smirk makes an appearance on his face.

I huff and glare, turning my attention to the scenery flashing by us. What Jasper was one when he decided Edward should come and get me, I might never know. After all, he easily swept away any competition for 'World's Biggest Prick'.

-x-x-x-

"Where are we going?" I ask, slightly panicked when we pull into an unfamiliar parking lot. I stretch my neck in order to look out the windows, praying that I wasn't right about him being a crazed stalker.

Edward chuckles slightly, "My apartment, of course."

"I thought I was going to Jasper's." He had said that Jasper, and probably Alice as well, was in Portland, but I didn't think that meant I couldn't stay in his apartment. It wasn't like I hadn't been there alone before.

Edward shakes his head, turning the car into an underground garage. My breath hitches, I knew it. Deep down I knew it. This was it. He wasn't a friend of Jasper; odds are they probably didn't even know each other. I was going to die and Edward was going to kill me, probably stash my body behind one of the stone columns.

"Jasper took his keys, he didn't think about it until he was already at the airport and it was too late to turn around. You'll just have to stay with me…unless of course you'd rather I bring you to a hotel or something." Edward pulls the key out of the engine, unbuckling his seatbelt and opening his door, half of his body already out leaning out. I swear I hear him mutter something, but he's too far away for me to make anything out.

I shake my head, doing the same, and quickly follow after him. He leads to an elevator where he presses a bottom a little too far up for my liking. I wasn't afraid of heights, per say, but even with his attitude getting surprisingly better; I still don't trust Edward on the 32th floor. I wouldn't put it past him to nudge me just a little too hard a little too close to the edge.

The ride up doesn't take as long as I had expected and before I have time to wrap my mind around the whole situation, the doors ding open. Edward steps out, holding his hand in front of the doors as I walk out after him. I look around on the floor, surprised at how big it actually is.

"You coming?" Edward asks, his voice laced with amusement. I blush, avoiding his gaze as I step around him and into the darkened apartment. He reaches behind me and the lights flicker on, his scent surrounding me. It takes all the strength I have left to prevent myself from taking in a deep breath. After dropping his keys onto a small table, he turns to me.

"I'm not going to force you to stay here or anything. It was Jasper's idea. If you want to, you can stay in the guest room." He runs a pale hand through his bronze locks, leaving the choice entirely up to me.

I nod, looking down at my scuffed shoes. I feel pressure on my shoulder and immediately my head snaps up. Edward's hand doesn't move, not even when I turn to glare at it. He's trying to take my bag. Some part of me knows that he isn't going to steal it from me, but the other part, the part of me that knows this bag and everything in its all that I have, clutches onto it tighter.

"Hey, its fine, I'm just going to carry it for you. You look wiped." His voice is soft, almost as if he's talking a small child.

My blush darkens; I drop my shoulder and hand so that he can slide the bag off my shoulder. The weight immediately leaves, giving me a little more strength that I had before.

He offers a soft smile as he continues walking down the long hallway. When he finally stops in front of a closed door, I almost sigh in relief. At this point, I don't even care that I don't know this man, that I've never met him in my entire life, and don't know a thing about him, except that he listens to horrible music and is half asshole.. It doesn't even bother me that I'm going to fall asleep in his house without even knowing who he really is. All I know is that behind that door is a bed, a bed I fully intend on snuggling up in and sleeping for a very, very long time.

"Well, this is it," Edward opens the door and gestures with his arm, "It hasn't been used yet so the sheets are clean. Through that door is the bathroom, and if you need anything my room's three doors down and to the right." He walks in to place my bag on the bed.

I nod again, biting down on my lip to stop the yawn that was threatening to break through. I manage to mumble out a muffled 'thanks' before he starts to leave. I turn to my bag, slowly unzipping it. I'm about to dump all of its contents onto the nice fluffy red comforter when I hear a soft, almost whispered, "Goodnight Bella.".

My head snaps over my shoulder, hoping to get a glance at him before he leaves, and say it back to him. By the time I'm able to look, he's already gone with the door shut quietly behind him.

I change into the only comfortable clothes I own before shaking my head and dropping down onto the bed, not even bothering to take my bag off of it. Within seconds of my head hitting the pillow, I'm already drifting away into a long awaiting, much needed sleep of years past.

So that's that. Bella and Edward meet. No, I'm not going to rush this, I just needed this to happen. I'm sorry if it was a little slow and uneventful. It's the starter chapters here and I can't have a whole lot of plot and suspense...yet. It'll pick up soon, I promise.

Review!

Next update most likely Wednesday...maybe a bit sooner if ya'll really show me you want one. :]

-Rae