I hope you have all been looking forward to this chapter as much as I have. Chapter 3 contains a few new parts, one of which is probably my favorite in this whole story. I love it when Edward is selfless. SWOON! There is a brief inappropriate episode in here, not a lemon but remember, this is rated M for a reason. Ok?

Chapter 3

Present Day ... Suburbs of Seattle, Washington

Bella's POV

It had been four days since I left Edward and my heart was still breaking. I knew it was best to avoid him; unfortunately he called me this afternoon and asked me to stop by the house this evening. I was apprehensive at first but then he finally convinced me. I pulled into the driveway and paused in front of the closed garage door. Out of habit I pushed the button on the remote near my visor and pulled into the garage.

As I entered the house I saw him standing in the kitchen, hands tugging on his hair. He turned around and faced me with pain reflecting from his emerald eyes. My heart lurched at the sight of him. "Please sit, Bella." He sat on one stool at the kitchen island and I sat on another. "I'm glad you're here. I have some news for you."

"What is it?" I tried with all my might to remain calm. The sight of him hurting like this was very difficult for me to watch.

"I quit my job at Boeing today. I'm going to start privately consulting for the city manager's office next week... part time."

I shook my head at him impatiently. "You know, that would have been a good idea years ago. I don't see why you'd bother now. Weren't your daughter and I enough before? You wait until we're both gone to make this decision? It's too little too late, I'm afraid." I had tears pooling in my eyes and was embarrassed that his revelation had affected me this way.

"I realize it's not soon enough to salvage anything we had. I am so sorry that I hurt you both. I only wanted to make a good life for us. I realize my attempt to do that drove a wedge between us. You deserve happiness that I obviously didn't give you. I can't go back and give you the time we lost. I wish I could."

"You really don't have to explain any of this to me. We should let bygones be bygones and move on with our lives." I swallowed hard, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. "I'm not sure what that means right now. I just can't do…this," my hand motioned between the two of us, "…anymore."

His eyes met mine and shook his head at me. "I don't expect you to, Bella. I love you too much to make you unhappy any longer." He cleared his throat, "which is why I'm giving you the house. It's your home and you deserve it more than I do."

My tears became heavier and clouded my vision. "Edward this is your home too. You love this house as much as I do …"

"I love you more…and you are the one who made this house our home, Bella. I want you to have it." He insisted.

"There is no way I can afford the mortgage, even for the few years we have left. Not on my tutor's salary …" I began.

"That's why I went to the bank today and paid the mortgage off in full. The house is all yours now. Well ours actually. It's still in both of our names, of course. But I want you to have it. And if you have any trouble with the taxes or utilities I will pay those too. I can't stay here, it reminds me too much of you and 'Nes." His voice cracked and my heart nearly broke.

"This really isn't necessary. I've been looking for apartments." I argued.

"Bella there is no use arguing with me. I have my mind made up. My things are all packed. Whatever I can't fit in the Volvo tonight I'll come back and get with a moving van another time. My new schedule starts next week. Boeing agreed to let me take my vacation time in lieu of notice. So for the next month I'll still be on salary but not working. I'll have more time to move and be able to help you with whatever you need to make this transition smoother. I'll be staying at my parents' house for a while until I can find something else."

"I don't know what to say Edward. Thank you doesn't seem adequate." I choked.

"It's my job to provide for you and I can't stand the thought of you staying in a hotel any longer. I don't care how luxurious it is. This is where you belong."

"How did you know where I was staying?" I inquired.

"Mom and I called 'Nes last night to invite her and Jake to dinner this weekend and she told me. Bella, I'm not stalking you, really." He joked with a forced smile. Then added, "You deserve this. So much more than this really, but this is all I have to give you right now. Please accept it?"

I finally allowed tears to run down my cheeks and I sobbed into my hands. He was such a generous man and I realized how difficult this must be for him. Before I could look up I felt his arms around me. He was holding me close to him, making hushing sounds. "I'm not trying to change your mind, Bella. I just can't stand to see you cry." His embrace was so warm and inviting and I relaxed in his arms. He held me until my sobs stopped and I wiped the tears from my face.

I took a deep breath of his scent before pulling away from his chest. "Thank you Edward."

"You're welcome. I am going to pack the car with a few of my things and get going. I'll let you know when I can come get the rest. You can call me anytime, of course." He looked at me, and the pain was back in his sparkling eyes. He put his hands on the sides of my cheeks and briefly pressed his lips to mine in a chaste but sweet kiss. "I'll never stop loving you, Bella."

I stood there in a daze and watched as he picked up a few plastic totes and a rolling suitcase from the landing. He left the door open as he loaded everything in the trunk of his car and waved sadly to me as he climbed in and drove away. I stood there in the kitchen and couldn't believe what just happened.

Edward was letting me have the house…and that wasn't half as shocking as the kiss he gave me. A warm, moist, amazing kiss that was so much like the very first one he ever gave me…

August 1987…Forks Washington

Bella's POV

In that one moment, after Edward first kissed me, my world tipped sideways. I had never cheated on Mike before, but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to feel guilty. Edward's kiss was unbelievable and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want more. His hands on my waist sent shivers up my spine that I'd never felt before. I mean Mike was what I would consider a 'good kisser' he didn't have gross breath or use his teeth like some other boys I'd kissed. But Edward was unbelievable.

I watched him on the way back to the bonfire after our kiss and admired the way his butt looked in his uniform. Maybe it was the shiny fabric of the football pants…then again maybe not. Yeah, admit it Bella, he is hot!

The teams were all lining up to go inside for pictures and I stood together with my squad while we waited our turn. "Where were you?" Alice asked.

"At the concession stand…" I answered, not lying.

"Jess was looking for you and now it's time to go inside and she's not here."

"She's around somewhere. We won't take the pictures without her." I walked with the girls into the bathroom so we could check our hair and makeup before the pictures. When we came out the band was on the gym bleachers trying to get their hats all straight and instruments balanced for pictures. Tyler Crowley ran up to me with a panicked look. "There you are, Bella! Have you seen Mike?"

I shook my head. Actually I hadn't seen him since before my concession-stand-kiss with Edward.

"Why?"

"We got all lined up for pictures but he wasn't here. No one's seen him; we thought he was with you." I glanced over at the team, scanning the players, almost like I didn't believe what Tyler was saying. I met Edward's eyes and quickly moved my gaze back to Tyler.

"I have no idea. Maybe he's still outside?" I suggested. Tyler shook his head, explaining that everyone had been looking for him for a while now.

My dad walked over and started questioning me as I explained what I'd been saying to Tyler. Edward joined our conversation, "Coach, I saw Mike head out to the student parking lot a while back, while I was getting food at the concession stand. Maybe he went to his car for something?" Dad agreed and went out to the parking lot to look. I wanted to follow but pulled Edward aside first.

"You don't think Mike saw…us…do you?" I whispered frantically.

He smiled a sexy smile at me, "So what if he did?" At my mortified expression, he shook his head apologetically. "I can't feel sorry about what happened between us. But I don't want you to be uncomfortable with it either. Come on, let's go look for your boyfriend." His last word was full of disdain.

We were just stepping out of the gymnasium entrance when I heard a commotion from the parking lot. A group of students were standing around Mike's car and at first I thought he was hurt but then I saw him standing beside the driver's side door, head hanging shamefully while my dad stood over him. The look on Dad's face was livid. I left Edward's side and hurried to the parking lot but was immediately stopped by Alice. "Don't go over there, Bella." She warned.

"What's going on?" I asked while she was tugging me back toward the building.

"It's Mike and Jess…they were…" Her voice trailed off and I wriggled free from her grasp and ran to where Dad and Mike were standing.

"What the hell is going on?" I shouted.

My dad looked at me with a painful stare, and then he looked back at Mike who was turning pale. "Michael, would you like to tell Isabella or would you like me to tell her?" Mike opened his mouth to speak but then I heard a tearful sob behind me, I turned to see Jess standing there with Angela and Lauren. Her face was covered in black smudges, mascara running down her cheeks.

"Bella…I'm so sorry." Jess cried. "I never meant to hurt you, honest."

"What happened?" I choked; my face was suddenly hot, realizing that practically every student in the school was standing around looking at me.

Mike finally broke his silence, "Coach, can I speak to Bella in private?"

Dad shook his head, "Michael I don't ever want you to be 'in private' with my daughter. You can tell her here…"

He nodded and couldn't look at my face, "Bella I was…fooling around with Jess…in my car."

"What?" I was stunned at the implication. "What exactly do you mean?"

Alice came up and whispered in my ear, "Jess was giving him head, Bella."

My stomach lurched and I felt nauseated. I glared at Mike and then awkwardly at my Dad and then spun around and ran as fast as I could toward the gym. I heard voices behind me but my pulse pounding in my ears made everything muffled. I felt tears of embarrassment begin to sting my eyes and I felt like I was going to barf. My stomach twisted and I lurched forward in the grass ready to humiliate myself even more when Edward pulled up beside me in a Mercedes. He reached his hand out the car window. "Do you need a ride somewhere?" I looked up at him pathetically and nodded. He leaned over and opened the passenger door and I got in just before he pulled away quickly.

I leaned my head back into the seat of his car and rolled the window down to minimize my nausea. I gasped for breath, nearly hyperventilating. "Are you okay? Do you need a doctor?" Edward asked, concerned.

I shook my head, "I'll be fine, just get me to hell away from this school."

He drove around a few streets and then he pulled over to the coffee shop. "I think you need to get something to eat." He smiled at me, "after all, you never got your burger from the concession stand." I agreed and we went inside. We were seated at a booth and ordered coffees.

"I'm going to have an order of fries and a hot fudge sundae" He told the waitress.

That sounded good. "Same for me." I smiled slightly. "Thank you for rescuing me, Edward. That was the most humiliating moment of my life."

"That's what friends are for." He responded. "So…do you want to talk about it?"

I shivered and shrugged. "I guess. I'm kind of in shock right now. I can't believe they both would do that to me!"

"Crowley told me…I'm sorry Bella. You must feel terrible." I nodded in agreement and we sat there quietly for a few minutes, before he asked, "Do you love him?"

I flinched at his assumption. "Of course not! I told you I wasn't serious about him. I just can't believe he would do that to me…after all of the times we…" I stopped speaking and Edward's face registered surprise. I chuckled, "That sounds worse than I meant it to. Mike and I haven't ever…fooled around or anything thing like that. He was always trying to get me to but I wasn't ready. Still, it makes me sick that he…and Jess would betray me like that."

He acknowledged my feelings and we started talking about all of the chaos that was likely going on back at the school right now. He joked that they were probably all out looking for me now and I joked that Mike was likely forming a lynch mob for Edward and me both. "I don't know if he saw you get in my car. He was probably too busy trying to talk his way out of trouble with Coach."

I laughed, "My dad is probably worried. I should call him." Edward gave me money for the payphone and I dialed my dad's office.

"Coach Charlie Swan," his voice was tense.

"Dad, I wanted you to know I'm fine. Edward Cullen brought me to the coffee shop to calm down. I'll be home soon."

"Bells, thank goodness you're okay. I won't be home soon, I have some …" He stopped momentarily then continued, "…player discipline to take care of with the principal." Uh oh, Mike was in trouble! I suppressed a giggle then hung up, telling Dad I would see him at home.

I explained with laughter to Edward what my Dad had told me and we took turns wondering what Mike's punishment would be. It only took Edward a few minutes before he was reaching for my hand over the table. "Is this alright?" he asked. I nodded my head. I needed the distraction.

"So do you plan to talk to …him?"

"I plan to call him when I get home and tell him to go fly a kite."

"What? You mean you don't want to work it out with him?" He joked.

"Nah. After all, just before Mike got caught… I was kissing…someone else." I blushed.

"You don't say?" He teased, holding my hand a little firmer. "And do you plan to confess your indiscretion?"

"Nope. What he doesn't know won't hurt him."

We finished our food and Edward paid the check and we left the coffee shop still holding hands. Once we were outside he pulled me into a comfortable embrace which I returned. "Mmm. You feel so good in my arms Bella. I am sorry about everything that went wrong tonight. I hoped our first kiss would be smoother."

"I thought it was very smooth. Unforgettable in fact. Unless you think we should try again to be sure we took full advantage of that opportunity…"

He smiled amusedly at me. "I thought you'd never ask." He lowered his mouth to mine the second I leaned in to kiss him. This kiss was gentle, slow and arousing. He seemed to know exactly how to kiss me, when to turn his head, when to open his mouth and when to slow the kiss and trail small wet kisses down to my neck. "We'd better go, Bella. I'd hate to get caught kissing you in public while you still have a boyfriend."

I scoffed at his choice of words. "I'm done with Mike, Edward."

"I'm glad," He commented as we climbed into his car and he drove me home. He kissed me one slow, tender kiss when he dropped me off, asking if he could still call me like we agreed on earlier. I nodded and blew him a kiss from my front step before walking in the door.

Edward's POV

After I dropped her off at home, I was driving to my house and listening to the radio. My lips still could taste the strawberry gloss she wore on her lips. As I was turning the stations I caught the beginning of a song, She Drives Me Crazy by the Fine Young Cannibals.

I listened to the lyrics:

I can't stop the way I feel,

Things you do don't seem real,

Tell you what I got in mind,

'cause we're running out of time,

Won't you ever set me free?

Right away I thought, she does drive me crazy, those eyes, those beautiful pink lips and they were just on my lips. Jesus, what was this girl doing' to me? Just then I started singing along…

She drives me crazy,

Like no one else,

She drives me crazy, and I can't help myself.

I pulled up into my driveway at home and listened to the rest of the song. As it ended I shut the engine off, grabbed my bag, and headed inside. I walked in the house and dropped my bag off at the door. I went into the kitchen as my mom was loading the dishwasher.

"Hi honey, how was school and the game?" she asked

"It was good. Is there any dinner left for me?" I asked as I went to the fridge and opened the door.

"Yes, it's right there in the blue Tupperware. It's roasted chicken, potatoes and a salad." I popped it in the microwave after removing the lid and put it in for two minutes and grabbed a Coke to drink.

"So tell me about the pep rally. Were any of your new friends there?" She asked with a cocked eyebrow. Just then the microwave beeped. I pulled my dinner out and grabbed my fork, blowing to cool down and taking a bite.

"Yes, actually." I said to her in a pleasing tone.

She sat down next to me at the table, "Do tell, Son."

"My friend, Isabella Swan, was there. She goes by Bella…her dad is the football coach and she is a cheerleader." I said in between bites.

"A girl, huh? My, my Son. What's she like?"

"She is funny, smart, and beautiful. She has the most incredible eyes and a blush to die for." I said in a play full tone.

"Edward, you'd better be careful I hear she is going out with Mike Newton, the quarterback. He is quite popular you know." She had a concerned, motherly tone.

"Well she isn't going out with him anymore. At least I hope she's not."

"What do you mean?"

"He was caught by her dad doing something with one her friends. Needless to say I think he is trouble both ways, literally speaking. But I intend to be Bella's shoulder to cry on."

"Just be careful. I don't want you getting hurt by him or her."

"Don't worry I have everything under control. I better head upstairs to do my homework" … and call Bella.

I grabbed my bag and headed to my room. I laid my bag on the bed and grabbed my phone. My parents got me my own private line when we moved in, and bought me a cool phone too. I dialed her number and waited…

Bella's POV

The phone was ringing as soon as I closed the door; I turned on the light and rushed to answer it. "Hello."

"Bella! My God I was so worried about you. Are you okay?" Mike rasped.

"I'm fine." I answered tersely.

"I'm so sorry, Bella. I'm begging you to forgive me! I don't know what I was thinking…" he began.

But I cut him off. "Michael Newton, you make me sick! I can't believe you have nerve enough to call me asking for forgiveness, after what you did! We're through! Do you understand me?"

"You're not breaking up with me are you?" Was he stupid? Of course I was. "No Bella please…"

"If you really wanted me so bad then why would you do something like that?" I questioned.

"Bella! You know how horny you've been making me; it's not like I haven't told you. And Jessica offered so I screwed up and let her… well you know. So now I'm suspended for the next week and I can't play football and if you don't take me back I'll be devastated." He ranted

"You actually want to make this out to be my fault? Yes, I'm breaking up with you and I don't care how devastated you are. If you really cared you wouldn't have let Jessica Stanley near you!" I slammed the phone down and then took it off the hook while I went upstairs to shower and change out of my cheer uniform. When I came back down I returned the receiver to its cradle and it immediately began to ring again. This time I lifted the receiver but didn't speak. I paused to see whose voice was on the other end.

"Hello?" It was Edward.

"Hi Edward." I smiled into the phone, explaining my hesitation in answering.

"Did you talk to Newton?" He prompted. I explained that I did and the outcome of my conversation with Mike. I heard Edward let out a sigh of relief. "So not to put you on the spot or anything…but I was wondering, since you're not dating anyone if you'd like to go out with me next Friday."

Wow, totally not what I expected to hear. "I'd love to go out with you." I bit down on my lower lip nervously.

"Cool. So I'll see you at the game tomorrow, right?"

Darn! I'd forgotten about the homecoming game. "I'll be there, cheering the team on. Oh and I'll especially be rooting for our new quarterback."

"I'd better hit the sack. I'm going to need lots of rest for the game tomorrow. Good night Bella."

"Good night Edward."

That night when Dad finally got home it was after eleven o'clock and he and I sat up talking about the Mike incident. I had to admit that I was uncomfortable, but as far as father-daughter sex talks go, it was over pretty quickly. I explained to him that I was still a virgin and assure him that Mike had never pressured me into anything. He was relieved at not only that but also that I had broken up with Mike earlier. Then we both went to bed so we could rest up for tomorrow.

…

Dad and I arrived to the school several hours ahead of the game. He wanted to review some plays that had formerly included Mike and after that, he prepared a pep-talk for the team. I had to re-work some of the cheer routines because Jessica was also suspended. I opted to replace several easy pom-pom routines for the stunts that would require another cheerleader and by game-time we were warmed up and ready to go. The bleachers were filled and we were lining up at the door ready to go and support our team. I had painted a huge paper banner that said "C'mon Spartans, let's kick a little 'A'". The squad and I ran ahead of the team, stretching the banner across the field as the team, led for the first time by Edward, ran through the banner.

The band played, the crowd cheered and at half time the Spartans were ahead 36-27. It was a close game, but Edward was playing perfectly and the team was following his lead with no difficulty. I stood nervously in the girls' locker room and paced, hoping for a win so that Dad would see Edward as the competitive player he clearly was. The squad attributed my nervousness to my break-up with Mike and our temporary loss of Jess and I didn't attempt to correct them.

The second half of the game was nail-bitingly close and in the last few seconds, Edward threw a 'Hail Mary' pass into the end-zone to win the game 56-51. The crowd was screaming, the team was jumping in victory and the players dumped an entire jug of ice water over Dad's head. The team lifted Edward over their heads, carrying him into the locker room.

The jubilation continued into the evening with a celebratory pizza party at our house. Dad ordered dozens of pizzas to feed the team, their families and a whole slew of others. There were at least 100 people at our house and the celebration continued into the night.

Dad started a bonfire in the back yard and by dark there was only the team, a couple of girls from the squad and me left at the party. I changed into jeans and a sweatshirt to stay warm and went to sit by the fire. "Great job cheering us on today, Bells." Dad commented. You really kept the crowd going." He put his arm around my back and I returned his hug. I sat on a bench beside Dad but I really was looking for Edward. He was the man everyone wanted to talk to and I noticed several times since afternoon that a grin never left his face.

I went inside to grab another Coke and heard the phone ring, but I was blocked in the kitchen by two of the linebackers. They were mowing down on pizza and discussing the pros of all meat pizza for football players.

I couldn't squeeze around them to get to the hall to answer the phone, so instead I shouted, "If anyone is near that phone, would you please answer it for me?"

I could barely see around the corner but heard Edward's smooth voice say, "Swan residence. Edward Cullen speaking," I finally succeeded in climbing under the table between the two mouths constantly chewing.

As I stepped into the hall, I smiled at him, standing there with the phone in his hand and his mouth open. He smiled back at me and held up one finger over his lips. "I'm sorry Newton, but Isabella is off celebrating somewhere. Uhm, yes I've seen her… She's about 5- foot-2 with brown hair right?" He put his arm around my waist and pulled me close to his side as I suppressed a giggle. "Sure, I can go look for her but the last time I saw her she was cuddling next to one of the players …" My eyes got wide and his did too. "Aww, that's too bad. He hung up." He looked innocently at me. "I'm glad to see you!" He wrapped both of his arms around me and pulled me into the unoccupied living room.

Edward's POV

I was enjoying my time with my teammates, of course but I wanted time alone with Bella. "Come in the den with me?" She suggested. I agreed and followed her, holding her hand. She dropped down on the sofa and turned on the TV. "No one will come in here, I'm sure." She told me, patting the seat beside her.

I sat next to her and put my arm around her, as she leaned into my shoulder "I haven't been able to talk to you all day." I explained to her.

She nodded in acknowledgment. "You did great today, by the way." She flashed me a beautiful smile.

"You did too; every time I got tense I suddenly heard the crowd cheer and you were leading the way. I couldn't have done it without you."

"Like you said, that's what friends are for."

"Am I your friend?" I wondered.

"Of course you are," she replied with confidence.

"I was kind of hoping that after our kiss … and you breaking up with Newton, that we could be more than friends …" I suggested.

She sat up straight, "I'd like that… someday," she blushed.

I leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Someday soon?"

"We'll have to see." Her smile was so sweet and genuine that my heart melted.

I wondered what was holding her back, so I asked, "you're not ready yet, are you?"

"Not yet, but I'll be thinking about it."

"Take all the time you need, Bella." I pivoted my body closer to hers and placed several soft kisses to her lips. "I'll wait."

"How about I put a movie into the VCR? We could watch Dirty Dancing?" Bella asked.

"You just like Patrick Swayze don't you? That's okay because, Baby, is very cute also," I said teasing Bella. She play slapped me and put the movie in...

In the middle of the movie, I heard Bella snoring. She was half way between lying on my chest and the couch, sound asleep. She was so cute! She had her arm wrapped around my waist and she was snuggled up close to me.

Coach Swan came in and said loudly, "Hey Bella, have you..." he stopped mid sentenced and saw her sleeping against me on the couch.

Thankfully, I had the VCR and TV remote beside me. I turned it down immediately. "I'm sorry, Coach. She just fell asleep while we were watching a movie …" I started to explain, but he nodded and held up his hand.

"No need to explain, Edward. She's had a rough couple of days. All week, actually. It's getting late. Here I can take her and put her to bed," he said, reaching for her.

"I can do it, if you don't' mind. I wouldn't want to disturb her… then I will just head home." He nodded and I lifted her into my arms. I walked up the stairs, carrying her as she lightly snored. I took her to her bed, kissed her on the cheek as I pulled the blankets over her, and left her room.

Coach Swan was in the kitchen when I got back down the stairs. "Okay, she's in her bed. I will call her tomorrow, good night Coach Swan." I said leaving.

"Edward, here at my house, you can call me Charlie, okay?"

"Whatever you say, Coach," I smiled at him and left out the front door. As I drove home I thought about Bella and realized that I was completely in love with her. I can't believe it happened so fast. She is everything I ever wanted in a girl; pretty, sweet, down to earth. Perfect.

As I drove in the driveway, I noticed the living room light on. As I opened the front door, I was greeted by my mom.

"Did you have a good game?" she asked.

"Yeah, we won. Why are you up so late, it's not like you to wait up?" I asked sitting down on the couch.

"I wasn't waiting up for you son. Your dad should be home shortly. Congrats on the win by the way. What did you do afterward?"

"Coach Swan had us over for a party at his home, and I spent some time with Bella watching a movie. She actually fell asleep on me."

"Oh, what happened to Mike? Was he there?" she asked concerned.

"No mom, he wasn't there. He is suspended; remember I told you he got in trouble? Well, Bella broke up with him … so I stuck around to spend time with her."

"Are you two going out then?"

"We have a date this Friday." I answered.

"Just be careful son. Rebound relationships seldom last very long." She warned.

"Don't worry mom. Everything will be fine, I promise. It's been a long day and I'm tired. Good night." I climbed the stairs, went down the hallway to my room, took my clothes off and went to bed.

So that's Chapter 3. What was your favorite part? Review PLEASE!

Next up: Bella and Edward's date. What will that be like?