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not beta'd

storyline - "beginning"

prompt - exercise

Bella's shift was almost over. Her glances at the wall clock became more frequent as the day darkened into dusk, and the café slowly filled with yet another rush.

Post-class, pre-dinner time.

Never having been too coordinated, Bella stayed behind the counter. She let girls like Alice and Lauren wait tables while she ran the register, or made coffee drinks and sandwiches with Angela behind the scenes. Upon employment, everyone was expected to do everything, but as time passed the girls fell into designated roles.

Bella had worked at the café for most of her college career, and now as a senior, also enjoyed senior status as an employee. Sometimes she even helped Jasper with the book keeping, despite the fact that Alice was better at numbers than she.

Alice and Jasper had been dancing around their attraction even longer than Bella and Edward had been muddling about in theirs.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear; apparently this applied to thinking about him as well: Bella looked up from the cash register right as Edward slipped in the door, mid-winter wind whipping in with him.

Bella's heart skipped, and then sank. She hadn't seen him since New Year's. She longed for him, but she was also annoyed by him. Amazing how his pretty face had been compromised by his stupid attitude and his stupid antics.

Their eyes met. He took off his gloves, she put down her pen. He halted halfway between the door and the counter; she stepped back until she hit the kitchen door and then disappeared behind it.

Tyler glanced up from his salad assembly. "The Cobb's ready, if you want to take it out."

"I'll wait till they're both done," Bella murmured, leaning against the wall.

"Mkay," Tyler hummed.

Angela poked her head through the door. "I took care of him. He's at a table now," she said, her eyes kind.

Bella smiled her thanks and ventured back outside, sneaking a muffin to pick at. Try as she did, she couldn't keep her eyes from searching the cozy crowd. Edward's hair, as usual, stood out. He turned when she spotted him, as if he could sense her the way she sensed him. Even in the glow of recessed lighting, his bright eyes glimmered rather tempestuously. Bella thought about those eyes gleaming in the half-dark, staring up at her while his mouth took care of her down below.

The little bell rang, letting Bella know the salads were now both ready. She grabbed them and set them on the counter, looking for either Alice or Lauren, but they were both busy on the floor, trying to keep up with the influx of people.

Sighing, Bella picked up the overflowing bowls and stepped on to the floor, her eyes fastened on table twelve. She managed to go and come back without incident, until Edward grasped her arm.

And she'd purposely avoided passing his booth.

"Yes?" she said, staring at Angela-behind-the-counter instead of Edward-at-her-side.

"I'm sorry about New Year's," he said with a sigh, gripping her tightly as if he knew she wanted to get away.

Bella carefully peeled his fingers off of her arm anyway and shrugged. "Nothing new."

"Don't be that way."

Bella scowled up at him, finding it near impossible to exercise restraint when he was being this obtuse.

"Seriously? You frigging left me at that girl's house, Edward. I don't even know her. I had to sneak out the next morning like a slut because I didn't want to run in to her."

Edward blinked slowly, not used to this sort of pisssyness from Bella. Sure they'd had their fair share of squabbles – first as close friends and then as more than friends – but this was different.

Perhaps Bella was tired of his games.

Only, Edward didn't mean to play games. He'd felt guilty the second he'd left the room where he and Bella had slept, and even worse as he'd gotten in to his car to jet to work. It had sucked having to work New Year's Day, but that's what small businesses had to do to survive in this economy.

"I was… late for work," he offered lamely.

"You could have woken me up to tell me." Bella moved aside to allow someone else to pass by. "You could have given me a ride home. I had to take the bus." Fed up and a little heart-hurt, she left abruptly to return to the counter.

Edward sat back down and tried to reabsorb himself in to the conversation in his booth. His coworkers were excited about the newest client they'd helped bring on. He'd had a huge part in that and tonight was supposed to be a mellow sort of celebration.

There were dozens of restaurants, and even bars they could have gone to, but he'd chosen here.

Because no matter what, he couldn't keep away from Bella. Not even when he pushed her away.

He'd always been drawn to her. It was why he reassigned himself to certain classes, and frequented the café to do home work or job work. It was why he had a hard time seeing other women, even the fascinating ones with smarts, excellent taste in music and nice racks. He kissed them sometimes, but his mind stayed on the brunette with the dark eyes and quiet laugh, making it impossible to go further.

He supposed he loved her, even if he couldn't commit. The thought strangled him.

He wondered how far he could go before losing her altogether. He imagined that might be a relief; Bella cutting herself off from him once and for all, making his life easy, if not empty.

He watched her now, smiling for customers as she wandered back and forth behind the counter, serving and helping.

Yes, he probably did love her. Yes, he was probably even a little infatuated.

It was why, if he wouldn't let himself be inside Bella, he seduced her in to other things, kissing her all over and tasting her until she came.

A blonde waitress appeared, serving their table the drinks they'd ordered earlier.

Jessica raised her beer in a toast, thanking Edward for his hard work as they all clinked their bottles together.