A/N: I just want to thank all of you who have left me a review, put me on alert, and/or favorited this story. The response has truly been overwhelming, and so, I'm already bringing you chapter two as my way of saying thanks! I hope you enjoy. Follow me on Facebook for teasers under LisaDawn Fanfiction and on Twitter under (at)LisaDawn75 for updates on teasers and chapter postings.

I also want to give a big thanks to my pre-reader, EternallyCullen, and my beta, Jenny Cullen, aka Jenrar. You both are truly lovely.

Edward walked into her apartment and was shocked. It looked… homey. Comfortable – not at all like what he had envisioned the Peninsula Apartment complex to be like; of course, he had never been there. He had imagined warped paneling, shag carpeting, and outdated appliances. The apartment would not win any magazine covers, but it was cozy looking, with its mismatched furniture and somewhat updated appliances.

And it was clean – as in neat and clean. Again, not at all what he had imagined.

Oh, Ms. Swan had just invited him inside. He needed to untie his tongue and speak. "Thank you, Ms. Swan."

"Don't call me Ms. Swan, please."

He glanced at his paper. "Okay, Isabella."

"Just Bella," she automatically corrected. God, don't be such a bitch. He's here to help you and Matt. "So, what do we need to do today to get this project underway?"

Edward looked around and spotted a small dining set with unmatched chairs. "Can we set up here?"

"Sure. Coffee?" she offered.

Edward noticed who he assumed to be Matt in his room playing with his Star Wars toys.

"Thank you," Edward said, amazement clouding his voice. This was not what he had expected. He had just assumed she was like every other person who could not hold a job. Boy, had he misjudged. "How did the employment search go?"

Bella sighed and set a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. He shook his head at her offer of sugar or cream. "Not good. I've worked almost everywhere around here, so I'm running out of options."

Edward took a sip of his coffee. "Have you thought about moving?"

She slammed her cup down on the table, the coffee splashing over the edge and onto the pressed wood. How dare he! He just met me, has no idea of my situation, and just suggests I move! What nerve! She glared at him. "No."

"Is it because of the Free Clinic in Port Angeles that you go to? There's one in Seattle, too," he said, trying to be helpful.

Bella stood up. "I think we need to do this another time, Mr. Cullen."

Edward knew he had royally fucked up, but he was not used to being around people who were limited in their resources, and he was not sure how to act. He had not meant to offend her. "Look, Bella, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply anything."

She was seething. "Yes, you did, just like everyone else does. You just assume that I'm here for any handout I can get, including the Free Clinic. Am I glad that I go to the Free Clinic? I'm very grateful for them, but I'd much rather have a job with insurance benefits so that I could take my son to a specialist. My son is not just a Medicaid case, and I'm not looking for anything free." Her chest was heaving.

"I'm really sorry. I just… I've never had to deal with…"

"With someone like me," she finished for him. "You know what? You want to be a doctor, but not everyone you see will be wealthy and wonderful."

Edward's temper flared. "I never said that. I know the patient types I'll be seeing. I'm sorry that my family situation was different from yours, but I can't help that. And I'm sorry that I offended you, whether you believe it or not. That was not my intent whatsoever, but I'm not going to keep begging your forgiveness."

Bella walked over to the door. "Good evening, Mr. Cullen."

Edward sighed and gathered his items. "I'll give you time to cool down and call you tomorrow."

"For what?" Bella asked, confused.

"Because whether we like it or not, we're stuck together until I get my project done and your son gets proper medical care."

She gritted her teeth. "Not if I refuse."

Edward growled to himself. "And if you do, they'll cut your benefits. I don't think you want that."

"Argh! Fine. I'll talk to you tomorrow," she said, shutting the door in his face before he could reply.

xXx

"What is wrong with me?" Bella asked her only true friend, Angela. "I know he's here to help, but I'll be damned if he didn't step on every nerve I had!"

Angela gave her a gentle smile. "Try not to be too tough on him, Bella. He wasn't raised the same way you were, and he's rich and probably a bit snobbish, but it's just because of his upbringing. You said he seemed nice at first."

Bella nodded. "Yeah, but I just hate being looked at with pity. It pisses me off."

"Maybe he wasn't pitying you. Maybe he's just trying to help, and he stuck his foot in his mouth."

Bella laughed lightly. "He sure did that. And he has to help me, or he'll flunk his Ethics class."

"Then don't give him such a hard time."

Bella smiled. "If he wants to really pass, he's gonna have to work at it. I'm not going to be like I'm sure countless females would be and just drool all over him and make it easy. Last time I made something easy, I ended up pregnant."

Angela hugged her friend. "He was an asshole, Bells. And it's not like you have to sleep with this guy, just cooperate on his project."

Bella made a noncommittal sound.

Angela bit her lip. "Speaking of… is he cute?"

"Ang!"

"Well, is he?" she asked, her brown eyes bright and shining.

Bella shrugged. "He's all right, I guess. But I told you, men are out of my life. I'm never putting myself at a man's mercy again."

"Geez, hon, I'm not asking you to marry the dude. Just tell me what he looks like." She waggled her eyebrows at Bella.

She sighed. "Well, he's tall – at least six feet – and he has the greenest eyes I've ever seen, and the strangest color of hair. It's dark, but with these bronze highlights. It's different."

"Nice to know you didn't pay attention," Angela teased. "So, he's cute."

"I suppose, if you like that tall, dark, and handsome thing. But like I said, he was a dickhead."

Angela shook her head. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe you overreacted?"

"Me?" Bella asked innocently. "I would never do such a thing," she said, causing her and Angela to collapse in a heap of giggles. "But enough about me. How are things going with Ben?"

"Great," Angela gushed. "He's such a great guy."

"Yes, he is," Bella agreed, happy for her friend. Ben was the one good guy she knew on the planet; she had decided that all other decent guys were married or preferred men themselves. Ben would help her out when she needed a man around for something, and he and Angela had basically adopted Matthew so that he had at least one strong, male role model in his life besides Charlie.

She would do anything she needed for , unfortunately, meant she was going to have to cooperate with Edward Cullen.

xXx

Edward knocked on his professor's door.

"Come in!"

Edward opened the door and stepped into the small office. "Dr. Simon? Do you have a moment where I can speak with you regarding my project?"

Dr. Simon indicated that Edward should have a seat. "Of course, Mr. Cullen. I heard that you had already picked up the information on the family you will be working with. Very impressive."

"Yes, sir. I contacted Ms. Swan yesterday and met with her last night. What I wanted to discuss with you is if it's possible for me to get another assignment. Ms. Swan was very adamant that she did not wish to participate." So, he stretched the truth a bit. Big deal…

Dr. Simon sighed and removed his glasses. "Mr. Cullen, I can tell that you have an aversion to this project, but once it is completed, I believe it will help you immensely in your medical career. You will continue to work with Ms. Swan and her son, and you will complete the project."

"But how am I supposed to do that when she—"

He was cut off. "Mr. Cullen, do you know anything about Matthew Swan's condition?"

Edward shook his head slightly. "No, sir. We didn't make it that far."

"Then I would suggest you start there. Her caseworker at the Medicaid office will be glad to work with you. Maybe you should start with her to gain a full understanding of what you will be dealing with." He slid a Post-It note with a name and number on it.

Edward took the paper, trying not to let his disappointment show. "I'll do that. Thank you for your time, sir."

"Good luck, Mr. Cullen."

Edward made his way across campus and flopped into a chair next to his brother, Emmett, whom he found in the campus center. "Shit," he muttered under his breath.

"What's up, dude?" Emmett asked, working on his algebra homework.

"This fucking Ethics project." Edward pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

Emmett looked up from his work and shrugged. "Those are the breaks, doc."

Edward leaned forward. "No, you don't understand. This… woman… I have to work with was a total pain in the ass last night."

"What did you do to piss her off?" Emmett asked astutely.

He hesitated. "I'm not sure," he lied.

"Bullshit."

Edward sighed. "Fine, I might have let my own ideas slip out and offended her. She lives in the projects in Forks, and I may have said some things I shouldn't have."

Emmett shook his head. "Dude. You need to work on your people skills."

He bristled. "I have wonderful people skills."

Emmett laughed loudly. "Yeah, you usually do, but you must have really fucked this one up, because most females are eating out of your hand."

"She kicked me out," Edward admitted, his face red with shame. Emmett was correct; his old-fashioned manners and good looks usually had the female population bending over backwards to accommodate anything he needed. "I guess I misread her."

"Can you get out of it?"

Edward shook his head. "No, I just came from Dr. Simon's office, and he won't let me out of it."

"Then it sounds to me like you're gonna have to eat some crow."

"Shit," Edward muttered under his breath, knowing his brother was right. He pulled out his folder and dialed Isabella Swan's number again.

"Hello?" she said breathlessly.

"Ms. Swan?" he asked, uncomfortable with calling her by her first name after their falling out the night before.

"Yeah? Who is this?"

He rolled his eyes. "This is Edward Cullen. We met last night," he prompted, partially hoping she had forgotten the entire escapade.

"Oh," she said, her voice deflating. "Look, can I call you back? Matt's having blood sugar problems, and I have to go." She hung up abruptly.

Edward stared at the phone in his hand.

"Yo, dude. What is it?" Emmett asked.

He shook his head, feeling contrite. He was not a complete asshole. "Her son's having problems with his blood sugar. It sounded serious."

"Then maybe you need to go over there and help her. If you help out, maybe she'll feel sorry for being such a bitch to you, and you guys can start over."

Edward nodded, picking up his bag and keys. "Yeah, see you later."

"Later, dude."

End Notes: So, how do you think their second meeting will go? Do you think Edward will apologize, or do you think his ego will get in the way? I'd LOVE to hear what you think, so just push that little button right there that says "review." I know you want to!