A/N: I can't tell you all how much I'm enjoying your reviews and your thoughts, as well as all the craziness on the fb page from this week's teasers, LOL.

So without further ado…

Betad over and over by Michelle Renker Rhodes.

Most characters belong to S. Meyer

Chapter 13 – The World is Full of Possibilities

BPOV

Mel is acting weird.

She's broody this afternoon, barely looked at me when she arrived, and her dancing is sluggish to say the least. I've had to tell her twice already to pick up her feet and put some life into it. When Jake starts pop, locking and b-boying, I catch Becca whispering in Mel's ear and gesturing towards him with a lusty grin, but Mel just shrugs her off.

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask her during the mid-class water break.

"I guess," she says, still not looking at me. "Are you leaving now?"

"Yes," I say because I mentioned this to her Wednesday night, "but like I told you, Angie's going to stay with you until your uncle picks you up, okay?"

She nods and glares down at the floor. "Whatever," she says and walks away without another word.

Now normally, I'd deal with this attitude after class, but tonight I'm leaving early, like right now because I've got that thing to get ready for. That date.

So I study her carefully while she fidgets and glares at her water bottle, her blue eyes downcast, still refusing to meet my gaze.

And now confusion is turning into concern. Did something happen to her?

Did something happen to Edward?

"Bella, you're leaving, right?" Jake asks me. "Go on, I've got the class."

He's pretty excited to see me go, but I'm not taking it personally. Jake's just eager to show me that he can handle a class on his own – been asking me for his own class for a while and yeah, I'll probably give him one. But that is the last thing on my mind right now.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm leaving now."

"Alright, don't worry about the class. I got this," he grins, the diamond stud on his lip sparkling.

"I know you do," I smile back. "I'll see you tomorrow morning for Comp practice?"

"I'll be there," he confirms, and then I wave goodbye to everyone, and on my way out, I wrap my hand around Mel's wrist.

"Come outside with me for a sec."

She sighs and follows me.

The waiting area is pretty empty right now because most of the kids are in their respective classes. A few girls walk around, going to the bathroom or taking quick breaks. I gently pull Mel behind the counter where Angie is sitting.

"Bella, you gotta get going!" Angie says. "You're going to be late!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm leaving, I'm leaving," I confirm. "Do me a favor, Angie. Will you go get my phone from my room? I forgot it inside the stereo." I make eyes at her indicating I want to be alone with Mel.

She frowns before the light goes on in her head. "Oh! Okay, I'll be right back with it. Matter of fact, maybe I'll keep Jake company for a few…"

"Thanks."

I take a seat and indicate to Mel that she should take a seat too. Another eye roll, so it seems that those are back, but she sits.

"Now tell me what's going on," I ask directly because I can't even think of leaving until I know.

"Nothing," she mutters.

"Mel…" I sigh deeply because seriously, between her and her uncle, I'm going to lose my mind here. So I wait her out while she glares at her lap, looks left and right refusing to look up, and then huffs and puffs until she finally meets my gaze; her blue, blue eyes clearly upset.

"I heard you on the phone Wednesday night. You're going on a date." It's stated as an accusation.

"Yes," I say slowly because I'm still not sure what the problem is here. "I told you about it."

"You said you were going out. You didn't say you were going on a date."

I bite my lip, my brows furrowing in confusion, but then she clears it up a bit more.

"I thought you were going to hang out with me on Friday nights."

I sit back in my chair, my shoulders sagging in relief because it's just this.

"Mel…" I smile. "I'm just going on a date. It doesn't mean it's going to happen every Friday."

"But what if you like him, and you want to go out with him again next Friday?" she frowns darkly.

I sigh again, reaching up to run my fingers down the length of her silky, black hair. "Princesa, I promise I'm not going to stop hanging out with you on Fridays."

She smirks skeptically, and with that one action manages to look so much like her uncle that my heart clenches in my chest.

No, I refuse to think of Edward tonight.

"Look, it's just a first date," I chuckle. "The guy doesn't know my schedule, so he made reservations for eight o'clock. If I happen to go out with him again…" – something I already doubt, and I haven't even met the guy, and I think I know the reason why I doubt it, and it's already unfair to the poor guy…

But that's definitely not a subject I'm going to explore with Mel –

"I'll make sure that he knows I hang with my girl Mel Friday nights," I grin. "Okay?"

Her pronounced frown slowly relaxes, blue eyes clearing, and then little by little, the scowl on her face disappears.

"Okay," she smiles. But then suddenly she looks so thoughtful, and she bites her lip as if she's measuring her words. "Bella…"

"Yes?"

She doesn't answer right away, and then, "Nothing. Have a good time on your date."

Her wishes don't sound very heartfelt at all, but before I can say anything, she leans over and gives me a hug and then runs back to class.

And for tonight, I've got to leave it like that because yeah, I've got to go get ready for my date.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Back at my place, I have no idea what to wear. The fact that I have zero desire to go may have something to do with my indecision, but I pull out outfit after outfit, standing stoically with them in front of the full length mirror on my closet door, trying to find something that speaks to me. Too short, too long, too tight, too loose, and who the hell am I kidding? I'm in no mood for this.

But Angie is right. I've got to get back out there, back into the real world. Put everything else behind me and just…

My eyes fall to the glittery costumes Mel and I had been trying on the other day; they're thrown on the floor of my closet, and I suddenly realize how quiet the loft is. I'm starting to get used to the constant chatter and giggles of a pre-teen as well as the quiet brooding of her uncle…

But no, they're not for me to get used to. Edward has made that perfectly clear over and over and over again.

With an angry huff, I blindly slide the dress I currently have in my hands over my head because it'll do just as well as any other and this is ridiculous. I've got a date with someone who wants to meet me, who wants to spend time with me, who wants to have dinner with me; I'm meeting someone who hopefully won't play push and pull games with me and damn it, I'm going to make the most of it.

"Make the most of it, make the most of it," I recite to myself as I zip up the black, sleeveless sheath, adjusting my boobs and smoothing down the skirt over my plump ass.

"Make the most of it, make the most of it," I repeat like a mantra while I apply my makeup, curling my long lashes with the mascara brush, blotting my red lips carefully so that the color doesn't bleed.

"Make the most of it, make the most of it," I breathe as I slide my feet into, long, black heels before wrapping a shawl around my shoulders and lifting my loose hair over it. With one last look in the mirror, I confirm that I look good and then remind myself that the world is full of possibilities for everyone.

Who knows? Tonight may be the beginning of all of mine.

OOOOOOOOOO

James Reed is an investment banker down on Wall Street. He owns a duplex apartment not too far from where we're dining, down by West 15th. He's considering buying a summer home in the Hamptons this coming season because a guy like him needs a weekend place to wind down. He drives a silver Beamer. Wasn't it a sweet ride? He's planning on buying a Red Ferrari because he enjoys fast drives. He and his buddies vacation in Mexico or in Veil every few months, depending on the season. Hey, they work hard, and they deserve their playtime too. Don't I agree?

"Of course," I nod blankly.

We're at a swanky steakhouse in the Meatpacking district of Manhattan, a restaurant James picked out and where I met him sixty-four minutes ago.

Oh yeah, I'm counting the minutes.

And you know what else? I am going to fucking murder Angie when I see her.

"How about you, Isabella? Do you own property?"

"I own my loft, and I'm half-partner at the dance school where I teach."

"That's cool. How about any vacation homes or cars?"

"No, I have none of those." With a faint smile, I shrug and take another sip of wine because I need the liquid fortitude to get through this fucking night.

"He's a nice guy," Angie said. I mean I know I haven't actually dated in a while, but is this the definition of a nice guy nowadays, the simple fact that he doesn't seem to have committed any capital crimes – beyond possible money-laundering?

And speaking of capital crimes, have I mentioned how I'm going to choke the shit out of Angie for setting me up with this dude?

I mean, yeah, he's good-looking: cropped blond hair, blue eyes, nice body, decked out in a dark, three piece suit and crisp, white dress shirt. But fuck, if the wine doesn't end up making me nauseous, the conversation definitely will.

"No car? How do you get around?"

"There are these things called trains," I grin. "And buses. And my own two legs. And when all those fail, I hail a cab. That's the beauty of New York City."

He scowls. "Ugh. I would never be caught dead riding this city's public transportation. It's for low lives and city scum." He shudders.

I grin widely and resist the urge to raise my hand. City scum here.

"And vacations? You do vacation, don't you?"

"I used to visit my grandmother in Puerto Rico quite a bit in the summers, but I haven't been down in a while."

"Have you ever been off the continent?"

"Nope."

"Oh. That's a shame. Anyway, I've heard it's too damn hot in Puerto Rico," he says with disgust. "Maybe if you play your cards right, I'll let you come with us to Cancun next time," he winks.

I chuckle heartily, glaring down at my half-empty glass of wine, and his resounding laughter makes me think that he thinks I'm laughing with him, not at him.

Which is fine; he can think whatever the hell he wants at this point. I gave up on this date five minutes after stepping in here.

And if I'm being honest with myself, which I might as well be at this point, I gave up on it long before I arrived. My heart was never in it because it's stupidly stuck somewhere else.

"Hey, how does your portfolio look? Are you diversified enough?"

"Boy, I sure hope so."

"Let me tell you what a young woman in your position should be investing in right now."

"Please do," I say, sipping my wine and plastering a smile on my face.

So James Reed dives right into stocks and bonds and buying short and selling high, apparently as in love with his portfolio as he is with the sound of his own voice.

And for the next fifteen minutes, I get a nice, free lesson on how to grow my income.

OOOOOOOOOO

Fifteen minutes later, I excuse myself to go to the restroom before I vomit all over James' nice, crisp, three-piece suit.

I take my fucking time in the stall: reciting the alphabet in English and Spanish, singing the national anthem, mentally sorting my laundry to save time this weekend. Humming quietly, I reapply my lipstick, going around and around and around my lips until they're blood red like that lipstick Mel used to wear those first couple of weeks after I met her. Thank God she doesn't wear it anymore, not after I gave her a case of pretty, neutral-toned lipsticks and explained the importance of skin-tone and age in picking lip colors.

Then I shake my head because I'm on a date, and I'm hiding out in the bathroom thinking of Edward's niece.

Thinking of Edward.

About how his green eyes blazed the last time I saw him, and about how he almost kissed me, how close his mouth was to mine…how rough and wonderful his hands felt on my skin…

"Shit, shit, shit," I groan, and bang my forehead against the mirror a few times to try to clear the images of Edward out of it. How sad am I?

Needless to say, head-banging does no use. I think he's used some of that cement he works with and cemented himself into my brain.

With a deep sigh, I lean against the white, porcelain sink and pull my cell phone out of my clutch.

Did Mel get picked up yet?

Angie's response appears right away.

Yup. Nice and early.

Okay. Thanks for watching her.

Why r U thanking me?

I don't respond, so she texts back thirty seconds later.

How's your date?

I'm hiding out in the bathroom contemplating all the different ways I'm going to kill u when I see u. That answer your question?

LOL! U look good though, right? Make sure you smile and laugh a lot and that you look like you're having loads of fun! And stick those tetas out nice and sexy-like.

WTF? I'm ready to leave. Think I'll use the good ole headache excuse.

NO! DO NOT LEAVE YET! I REPEAT: DO NOT LEAVE YET! Go back out there and look like you're having the time of your life! NOW!

What? Why?

Coño, puñeta, just trust me and do it!

"Whatever," I mutter to myself, and then throw the phone back in my bag. With a frustrated sigh, I leave the safety of the restroom and step back out into my lame-as-balls date.

OOOOOOOOOO

James is explaining the difference between a mutual fund and a hedge fund when my phone vibrates again. Now normally I consider it really rude when someone takes out there phone during dinner, but now I pull that shit out of my bag quick-fast, and when I see Edward's name appear across the screen, my spiritless heart wakes up and performs a summersault. But admitted elation quickly turns to dread, because why would Edward be calling me? Angie said he'd already picked up Mel.

Did something go wrong?

"And so if you're looking to be more aggressive in your investment, I would definitely recommend-"

I throw James a sharp glance and hold a finger up to my mouth, indicating that he should shut the fuck up for thirty seconds.

"Excuse me for one moment, but I really need to take this. Hello?"

"Bella…hey."

Edward sounds…nervous, which in turn stops my heart.

"Is everything okay? Is Mel alright?"

"Yeah, yeah. Mel's fine. I picked her up a while ago. She's with her grandparents now."

"Okay," I exhale in relief. "Okay." I wait for my heart to start up again.

On the other line, Edward is silent.

"Is there something else?" I ask.

No answer.

"Hello?"

I hear a deep intake of breath followed by a thick swallow. "You look beautiful."

When my heart stops this time, it's with a couple of massively hefty thumps, after which everything around me goes perfectly still and silent.

"What?"

"You look beautiful, Bella. I mean, you always look beautiful; I've wanted to tell you that…for a while. But tonight…right now…you look…God, there are no words…"

The entire world disappears, and suddenly all I can hear are Edward's and my heavy breaths. They continue on and on for an endless moment; his so potent that I can practically feel them tickling my ear. When my heart somehow throbs back into service, it races.

"Isabella? Isabella, what's going on?" James asks impatiently, and I get the feeling he's asked more than once. So I swiftly shoot him one more look, holding another finger up to my lips.

But it's actually a good question, and so I ask Edward exactly that. "What's going on?"

"What's going on?" he snorts. "What's going on is that…I've been a total and complete…idiot…and now that I see, I might be too late. So instead of being there with you, instead of being the man granted the honor of sitting across from you when you look so heartbreakingly beautiful, I'm watching you do something with another man that you should be doing with me, something I should've asked you to do a long time ago. Then maybe you would've worn that dress that looks so god damn gorgeous on you for me. And you would've worn your hair like that for me…"

My breaths escape in short, shallow bursts, eyes glazed over, seeing nothing, hearing nothing but his voice.

"Isabella, is everything okay?" James questions, once more breaking me out of my trance, yet I can't make myself respond because something Edward just said hits me…

"…watching you do something with another man that you should be doing with me…that dress that looks so god damn gorgeous on you…

I gasp at the realization, and with huge, bewildered eyes, turn my head from side to side, scanning everything before me with new purpose. There are more couples like James and I seated around the restaurant, at small tables lit by solitary, votive candles; some are laughing quietly, some are whispering, heads close together, drinking wine. The larger parties are louder, rowdier, yet none of them have the one person I'm searching for, so maybe I'm wrong.

Then I anxiously look out through large, restaurant window, where people stroll by in the cool, dark evening. But none of them are familiar. Half lifting myself off my seat and heart pounding in my chest, I narrow my eyes and look across the street; more people walking back and forth, here and there and then…then…in the corner…a tall, solitary figure…standing still, on his cell phone, eyes on me…

"That guy doesn't deserve you."

"And you do?" I breathe shakily, taking a seat again and somehow holding his gaze across the distance.

"No. But that doesn't change anything. It doesn't change how much I want you."

I close my eyes and swallow thickly, dropping my head. "Do you? I'm not so sure you do."

"I want you so badly my head spins when I'm around you. You drive me so crazy that I say the stupidest shit when all I want to do is tell you how perfect you are. And you want me too, Bella."

I snort unevenly, probably sounding ridiculous actually. My face feels hot; my entire body burns.

"You sound pretty sure of that."

"Bella, I can practically see your blush from here; I've memorized the way it slowly crawls up your shoulders, over your neck and into your cheeks. I hear it in your voice, and whenever you blush like that I know I've gotten something right; I've said something right, and God, I love seeing you blush. It's perfect, just like you."

"I'm not. I'm far from it."

"You are to me. And yes, you want me too. I do know that, just like I know that you'd rather be with me right now than with that asshole sitting across from you."

My eyes trail to James. He's staring at me in confusion, looking quite irritated, and for one second, I feel a bit sorry, so I shoot him an apologetic smile.

He rolls his eyes.

But I can't be bothered to care beyond that because this entire scene seems surreal. I'm dreaming. That has to be it. The boredom has knocked me out and now I'm dreaming. And just how in dreams falling causes you to wake up, if I hang up, I'll end this dream.

So I won't hang up. Not while Edward is saying these things to me, things I've wanted to hear for so long now…

"Where's all this coming from? Why now?"

"Why now?" he snorts. "Because I couldn't wait any longer. Because another day without telling you would've killed me."

"Oh Jesus," I whisper because I may need His holy help getting through this.

Edward remains silent too. Across from me, James taps indignant fingers over the table, sighing heavily, resting his head over his other hand.

"I'm in the middle of a date."

"Tell him something came up. Tell him you have to go. Tell him you're not interested. Tell him the truth: that I'm out here waiting for you. Tell him whatever you want, and then get up, and come finish your night with me."

I laugh a loud, manic laugh, and I know I must sound insane. My entire body shivers.

"You're crazy," I say breathlessly.

"Maybe I am. But I don't care anymore because it doesn't change anything. It doesn't change what I feel, or what either one of us wants."

A heady thrill runs up my spine into every extremity, making my entire body hum and tingle. I palm my cheek to try to cool myself down, but I'm on fire. Maybe I'm not dreaming after all.

"I'll make you a deal," he murmurs, his voice warm and rough all at once, with a slight tremble to it as if despite the self-assertiveness of his words, he's not so sure of himself, and little does he know what that alone does to me.

"Are you listening?"

"Intently," I assure him.

"Just give me the next few hours. Come out here, and let me take you out. Spend some time with me, and if after those few hours I haven't convinced you, I won't bother you again, and you can call Mr. Three-piece-suit, and I'm sure he'll be more than willing to take you out again."

My heart's about to beat out of my chest. "I've got one question," I say.

"What is it?"

"Convince me of what?"

His voice sounds like velvet against my ear when he answers. "Convince you that you belong with me."

This time, when my eyes flutter closed, I've got to bite my lip to keep from whimpering aloud. I don't respond right away, but I'm sure that Edward can hear my labored breathing because I can hear how it echoes over the phone line. I'm sure James can hear it as well.

"Isabella, are you feeling okay?" James asks.

"What do you say, Bella? Just give me the next few hours…that's all I'm asking for…just the next few hours…"

I'm gripping the phone so tightly in my hands that I'm afraid it'll break before I can answer because I can't speak. I can't utter one single word.

"Isabella."

"I…" I draw in a deep breath and exhale through narrowed lips, trying desperately to regain the power of speech. "I…I've got to go."

As soon as I hit 'End', James mutters, "'Bout time."

"James, I said I've got to go."

"What?" he scowls.

I could lie. I could tell him I have a headache, a stomach ache, period cramps, but that's not how I want to start this. My body vibrates with anticipation. I couldn't disguise it even if I wanted to.

"I'm sorry, James," I say, already getting up, "but this was never going to work." He frowns. "And agreeing to have dinner with you was unfair of me, but...I've got somewhere else I need to be right now."

Without waiting for his reaction, I gather my shawl and wrap it around my shoulders. My head spins with my impatience to be outside, to be near him; with him.

"Wait!" James gets up and grabs my arm, not hard, but with enough force to turn me around, and I'm ready to curse him out because I need to get outside. "You look flushed. Are you sure okay?"

I smile at him because I guess he's not such a bad guy after all.

"I'm just fine," I sigh unevenly, full of unbridled excitement. "I'm...great."

And with a rushed "thanks for dinner," I untangle my arm from his hold and swiftly make my way through the maze of tables.

"Isabella! Don't you want me to at least take you home?"

This time, I can't even bother to turn around. "Thanks, but I've got a ride!"

And with more than one pair of curious eyes on me, I dash out of the restaurant because there was never a choice for me. There was never a decision to make.

OOOOOOOOOO

Outside, I'd swear that the city lights sparkle brighter than they did when I arrived. They're blinding in their beauty, but I struggle to see through their luster, straining my eyes in the darkness towards where I saw the tall, handsome figure, and I rush towards him now, holding the shawl tightly around my shoulders and only barely stopping to look left and right before I cross because it would be totally ironic if I died just now.

When I'm almost at the other side of the street, I feel a hand that's rough and somehow smooth all at once tighten around my wrist and pull me up from the curb. I look up and gasp because Edward spends his days in work clothes with dirt and grime and compound all over him - and he's still the most striking man I've ever met.

But now…

Now he wears a short, black, leather jacket with a grey sweater peeking out from underneath, and it accentuates wide shoulders and an oh so strong chest. Everything narrows to lean hips in dark slacks and shiny, black Oxfords on his feet. His face is smooth and freshly shaven, and his hair is so clean: bronze and brown positively shine under the city lights. The entire universe narrows to this moment, to Edward and I, while the city lives and breathes around us. Behind him, a couple of women walk by decked out for a Friday night in the city and devour him with their eyes; one makes some sort of comment, but his eyes don't stray from mine.

Nothing else exists.

He sighs as if in relief, as if he doubted that I'd come, as if he still doesn't understand that I'll always come. Swallowing thickly, his bright green eyes sparkle and dance in the dark light, and he looks at me like I'm the best thing that's happened to him…in a long time, and I want to be. I want to put everything in the past and be the best for him. And when he looks at me this way…it's so easy to believe that it's possible.

He rests his forehead on mine.

"Hey," he grins, pulling me closer, his warm breath washing over me. "I'm Edward Cullen."

I'm lost in those eyes. I think maybe I'll always be.

"Hey," I breathe because yes, the world is full of possibilities. "I'm Bella Swan."

A/N: Thoughts?

After posting this chapter's teaser on my fb page, there was a lot of discussion as to whether Bella should've gone to Edward, or made him suffer. But as Bella says towards the end of this chapter, it was never really a choice for her, right or wrong. Sometimes, the heart just wants what the heart wants - reason and common sense play no part in it. *Shrugs*

So yeah, Happy ALMOST Valentine's Day. 3

TRANSLATIONS:

Princesa – Princess

Coño, puñeta – damn, damn

Tetas - tits

We're moving on next week, kiddies, and if you think this chapter's teaser was something, wait 'til you see next week's teaser. :)

See you all on Monday!

Twitter: PattyRosa817

Link to 'Stories by Pattyrose' is on my profile page. (Where you can get the aforementioned teasers). :)