Author's Note: The next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Chapter 39
Bella's Point of View
I made my usual rounds in the morning. By afternoon, I had eaten lunch with my fellow colleagues, and had even finished poring over my files of patients. By six o'clock, I was quite cheerful, despite my exhaustion. Today had been an easy day, with no surgeries at all. I was in a good mood too, as I started to leave the university hospital, when Sharon had to ruin it.
"Bella!" I heard her shouting as she ran through the hallways to catch up to me. "Bella, Bella, Bella!"
"Sharon," I sighed, turning. "How many times do I have to tell you? Don't shout out my name and attract attention. You know I don't like that. I've had enough attention on me eight years ago to last me a lifetime."
"Bella!" Sharon gasped for breath, holding onto my shoulder for support as she doubled over. "I…have…something…to…tell…you!"
"What?"
She straightened up. She looked excited. "I set up a blind date for you!"
My eyes bugged out. "What?"
She nodded eagerly. "Do you remember my brother? Well, he has a friend in the Pediatric Division of the university's hospital. He agreed to tell his friend about you, and guess what? His friend said he wants to meet you!"
I glared at her. "I thought you were going to stop setting me up with people? I believe I rejected every single one of those men you made me meet? When will you ever learn, Sharon?"
"Come on, Bella," Sharon pleaded. "At least meet him once. He's a really nice guy. He's handsome and tall and smart. He has really nice manners too."
I rolled my eyes as I sighed. "I believe I told you this when we first met. I'm done with men."
"But you only dated one man your entire life! You're just calling it quits?"
"Look, Sharon," I said. "I appreciate the way you're trying hard to help me find a man. But really, girl, marrying the same man I dated a couple times, and divorcing is enough to last a lifetime. I promised myself that when I came to UCLA that I would never date again. I'm standing by that vow."
"But Bella…! You haven't even met him!"
"And I don't need to."
Sharon narrowed her eyes. "Tell me why, Isabella Swan. Why do you refuse to meet men? It's because you haven't forgotten about him, isn't it?"
I blinked. "What?"
"Edward Cullen," she emphasized slowly. I resisted the urge to flinch like I still did when I heard his name. "You still can't forget about him. Is that why?"
When I didn't respond, she burst out, "That was eight years ago! You have to let go now! You claim that you forgot all about that incident, but you really haven't! You're the one that demanded a divorce, not him. That means that you have to forget about him!"
"Stop it," I said, my face hardened. "That's enough, Sharon. I'm not meeting him."
"Isn't that also the reason why you cut off all contact from your family?" Sharon continued. "You refused to call, even your brother, someone you love and care the most! He may not be your biological brother, but you still cared about him! But you refused to go see him and congratulate him at his wedding. Because you didn't want to see him!"
I shot her an annoyed look. "Well, then, what was I supposed to do? Go face my ex who is now my in-law?" I stopped talking abruptly. I'd just admitted that Sharon was right.
Sharon looked smug. "Ha! I knew it. I so knew it! You never forgot about him! That explains all the rejections you gave to those men who asked you out!"
I glowered at her. "That's enough, Sharon Brown. I won't meet the guy, so you might as well give up."
"I was just trying to help you," Sharon said. "You may have gotten over the fact that you lost your baby, but you haven't forgotten about him!"
I sighed, annoyed. "It's the other way around, Sharon. I've forgotten about him, but I haven't forgotten about losing my baby. I never will. Happy?"
Sharon smiled. "Yes, I am. But that's no excuse. You will meet my brother's friend right this minute. Let's go!" She grabbed my arm and started dragging me away.
"Sharon! No!"
"What's going on?"
We both stopped dead and bowed immediately to our professor. She looked curious.
"I thought you were leaving, Bella?" she asked.
"I was, professor," I said quickly. "But Sharon came and intercepted me. She's dragging me to another matchmaking meeting."
Sharon glared at me. "I was only trying to get her to go out instead of staying home and reading books all the time, professor."
The professor chuckled. "I don't think that's such a bad idea, Bella. Why don't you go meet the fellow?"
I looked up at her. "But…"
"I think it's time you let go of your past now," she said wisely. "Forget it now, and go out! Go out and have fun. Go fool around. Go make some trouble!" She winked. "You're too goody-good, Bella." She nodded at us before walking away.
I gaped at her. "She's got to be kidding."
Sharon grinned wickedly. "Come along, my friend. Let us go meet him."
I cleared my throat awkwardly. I didn't know what to say. He just stared at me in amazement.
"Oh, I'm sorry," the young man said. "I should probably introduce myself. My name is Anthony Kitchen."
"Isabella Swan," I replied awkwardly.
He smiled. "I know. Who wouldn't know you?"
"You…wanted to see me," I stated.
"Yes," Anthony agreed. "I've heard a lot about you. I thought you might be perfect for me. I've been lonely for a while, you see."
I resisted the urge to shudder. The man was indeed handsome and tall and intelligent-looking, but he was totally not my type. I decided to get rid of him.
"Um," I said, trying to meet his piercing gaze forcibly and failing. I looked at his nose instead. "I don't know why you wanted to meet me, but… Um, I'm sure you're aware that my past is not that clean. I'm a divorcee, you know."
"I know."
I blinked. "That doesn't bother you?"
He shrugged. "Why does it matter? You do not look like a divorcee, and you have no child."
This man was unbelievable. He reminded me of Mike Newton.
I cleared my throat again. "I'm so sorry, but I don't think you're really my type."
He smiled that creepy smile of his again. "Well, you're my type. Did you know that when I set my eyes on a woman, I never fail to get them?"
A player too. I wasn't going to have a player in my life again. I'd lost so much because of one eight years ago.
"That's nice," I said, forcing a smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me…"
I grabbed my purse and rushed out of there. I was going to kill that girl.
"Bella!" Sharon called from behind a pillar outside. She waved to me.
I marched over to her. I started hitting every spot I could with my purse.
"Ow, Bella!" Sharon said, trying to dodge my attacks. "Why, what happened?"
"What happened?" I repeated, my hands on my hips. "A nice guy? Seriously? I met the guy because you went through so much trouble for me to set it up. But that guy is too much! That man is a player, Sharon!"
Sharon looked shocked. "How do you know that? He wouldn't have told you that."
I huffed. "Excuse me. I dealt with players in my past. I divorced one. I know it when I see one."
Sharon laughed. "Edward wasn't a player. Oh, come now," she added when I flinched. "Your ex was a one time thing. It was a mistake."
"Whatever." I looked at her sternly. "Sharon Brown, if you ever try matchmaking with me again, I will never speak to you again!"
Sharon looked disappointed. "Alright, alright. I promise."
"I'm going home." Sighing tiredly, I turned on my heels and left her there. She looked crestfallen, but then, from the corner of my eyes, I saw her perk up and dash away. She had another idea, I was sure.
And as I got into my car, I hoped I would never have to see that awful guy again.
AN: We're up another one hundred in our reviews! Thank you all for supporting me so much! I know I have a lot of faults, and I'm not perfect, but thanks just the same for encouraging me so much! Thank you!
