Author Note: Thanks for the great response to the last chapter! FF seemed to send out alerts properly on Thursday, so hopefully everyone is all caught up!

Readers are definitely split between the majority who feel Bella should hear him out and a pretty sizeable minority who are praising her for remaining strong and not making it easy for him.

I stumped everyone with this chapter's title by Bon Jovi. It'll hopefully make sense after the chapter.

Thanks again to moosals for pre-reading. Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.

Chapter 7 – I'll Be There for You

After my encounter with Edward, Alice, Jake and I go home for the long Labor Day weekend to see our respective families before returning to our off-campus apartment.

The next week passes relatively uneventfully, with my dick of a professor completely ignoring me in class once again. Actually, I'm not complaining; I'm rather thankful for small favors. He seems to be able to keep our interactions just teacher-student during class time, allowing me to concentrate on our discussions and my work. Sometimes I catch an odd look on his face when he looks at me though.

My 19th birthday happens to fall on a Wednesday this year, which means I've got Professor Cullen's class. Ugh. I try not to let it ruin the day for me. Alice is planning some big get-together later this evening at the Student Center, inviting all of the new friends the three of us have made over the first three weeks of classes. I'm really looking forward to it.

Walking into the classroom, I take my usual seat and pull out my copy of the book we're reading. Professor Cullen isn't here yet, so I take the time to pull out my phone and reply to some of the many Happy Birthday messages left on my Facebook wall. Angela makes me smile, having uploaded a video of herself singing Happy Birthday; she was in the a cappella choir in high school and has a great singing voice.

When I hear the door close, I look up automatically, my mouth falling open. Edward is wearing those fucking blue pants that never fail to turn me on. I narrow my eyes and he slips me a covert wink as he returns last week's essay. The little shit totally knows what those pants do to me. I'm surprised though that he returns the papers silently, without his usual demeaning commentary.

Throughout the class, I do my best to avoid looking at my teacher. I will not notice the way those blue pants emphasize his… endowment. Of course, he seems to deliberately walk down the row beside me multiple times during the discussion, as if daring me to look.

Try as I might, I can't help but oblige. Goddamn, I also can't help but rub my thighs together. I know what's lurking in those pants and I know what it can do.

Unfortunately the big dick is attached to… an even bigger dick. Forget about it, Bella, I tell myself over and over.

I breathe a sigh of relief when class is over, quickly collecting my things.

"Happy birthday, Ms. Swan," I hear just as I'm about to walk out the door. I know I can keep going, pretend I didn't hear him, but it's as if he has some mystical hold over me.

Obediently, I turn around. "How did you know?" I question.

"I remember from last year when your friends wished you a happy birthday."

My mouth drops open. He seriously remembers that? I mean, I can imagine he would recall the birthday wishes, but to remember the date 12 months later?

"Do you like your gift?" he asks, smirking.

"My—ugh!" I scream once I realize that he absolutely did wear the blue pants on purpose.

Laughing, he steps closer to me. "I have to admit, I'm not exactly sure why you like these pants. I just know that you can't stop staring every time I wear them," he says quietly. Before I can think of a reply, he reaches out and twirls the end of my hair around his finger. I know I should take a step back, but I can't move. I'm rooted to the spot.

"Any big plans for your birthday?" he asks.

"Al-Alice and Jake have planned something at the Student Center this evening," I stutter.

"Who are they?" he asks, eyes narrowing.

"Friends of mine — not that it's any of your business," I reply irritably. "I met them last semester and since we're all students here, we decided to get an off-campus apartment together."

"You share an apartment with a man?" he asks as he drops his hand. His tone sounds almost… resentful.

"Don't even pretend you have a right to be jealous," I reply angrily. Then I sneer at him, "How's Tanya?"

"Back in Chicago."

"What?"

"She didn't want to leave her job in Chicago when I took this position."

I open my mouth to make a snarky comment, then close it again. Why am I standing here talking to him anyway? And why did I let him touch my hair?

Pissed at myself, I turn and stomp out of the classroom.

After my last class of the day, I study for a while, then take my books out to my car and head to the Millennium Student Center. Alice told everyone to show up any time after 4pm.

"Happy birthday!" she greets me with a hug when I arrive.

"You already wished me a happy birthday this morning!" I laugh, hugging her back.

"Come on, there are some people I want you to meet!"

It feels like Alice knows half the campus, though I know there are probably only a few dozen people here. She's of course pledging a sorority — I declined on that one — and is planning to join the student government, so she's met a lot of upperclassmen already.

And Jake has brought the athletes. Basketball season doesn't begin until November, but the team is already practicing regularly.

We migrate over to The Nosh to order food to bring back before it closes at 6pm. They even have a Pizza Hut, so many of the students go in together on large pizzas.

Alice, Jake and I are seated together sharing a pizza when she looks straight ahead and narrows her eyes. "That guy with the ponytail is kinda creepy," she says. "Don't look! He's at about 3 o'clock to you, Bella."

Jake ignores her warning and turns his head anyway. "That's James Hunter," he says. "He's a senior. I've gotta admit, he seems a little off. He's not a basketball player — obviously — but he hangs around with the team helping with strength and conditioning exercises since he's planning to be a Phys Ed teacher. To be honest, I didn't really want to invite him but he was there when I was asking the other guys, sorry."

"Yeah, definitely stay away from him," Kate says. She's in the sorority Alice wants to join. "A friend of mine dated him briefly last year and thought he had a bit of wandering eye, if you know what I mean."

"Are you from the area, Bella?" Kate's boyfriend, Garrett, asks.

"I finished high school at Lafayette, but I lived in Chicago for nearly 10 years prior to that. What about you?"

"I grew up nearby in Florissant. Kate is from out near Columbia," he answers.

"And you didn't go to Mizzou, Kate?" I question. The largest school in the University of Missouri system is located in Columbia.

"Too many people," she smiles. "And besides, there isn't a whole lot going on in Columbia outside of Mizzou. I wanted to move to a larger city."

Once we've eaten, we move into the social area where there are dart boards, a few arcade games and several pool tables. Alice, of course, had a pool table in her home's huge basement rec room, so she's quite good. Me, not so much.

Alice and I team up against Jake and another basketball player — whose name escapes me — for a round of pool. I completely suck, so Alice is totally carrying our duo.

It's my turn and there are just a couple of balls remaining when I feel a warm body come up behind me. Tattooed arms wrap around me, arranging my hands on the pool cue.

"You're holding it wrong," a male voice says into my right ear. "Do it like this."

I have no idea who this man is, and I wonder if this is his way of hitting on me. I'm more uncomfortable than turned on though. I look up and see that Alice is laughing with Kate, who's playing at the table beside us, so she's oblivious to my discomfort. Jake ran off to get another drink after he flubbed his last shot; I can't rely on him to help me.

"I've got it," I say, hoping the tattooed guy will back off.

Instead, he starts moving my body slightly, showing me how to line up the shot. And then I feel something. Is he hard?

"R-really, I've got it now. I'm ready to take the shot," I add.

"You need to relax, take a deep breath first," he continues, clearly unable to take the hint.

"'I've got it!" I yell in frustration, standing up straight. "Get away from me."

The next thing I know, the tattooed man is gone and I hear a loud thud. Turning toward the noise, my mouth falls open at the sight of Professor Cullen holding a man against the nearest wall with a forearm across his chest. He is my savior?

"Jesus, man, I was just trying to help her!" the tattooed guy exclaims. As he turns his head, I see he's got a ponytail — this must be the creepy James.

"The lady didn't want your attention," the professor says through gritted teeth.

"James," Jake calls, rushing over toward the melee, "maybe you should leave, huh? Come on, let me show you out."

At the sight of the six-foot-seven Jacob, the professor relinquishes James to his custody, straightening his shirt as he turns to look at me.

"Are you OK, Bella?" Alice asks. She puts her arm around me and I instinctually cringe from the unexpected touch.

"I'm fine," I tell her, giving her a small smile. My heart is still beating madly though. "Why don't you finish out the game? I'm gonna get a drink."

The café is now closed, but there are a few vending machines scattered around the Student Center. I insert my money, then bend over to grab my selection, startling when I turn around to see Professor Cullen.

"Are you really all right, Bella?" he asks.

"I'm fine," I repeat. "What are you even doing here? Did you come because I told you I'd be here?"

"Staff are allowed to visit the Student Center." I narrow my eyes. "You're shaking, Bella. Come on, let's go find a place to sit."

Even though I'm still pissed at him, I allow him to lead me over to a couch in front of the fireplace in the Fireside Lounge. The fire is roaring, despite the warm temperatures outside, but I'm grateful for it.

I pop the pull-tab on my can of Pepsi, then take a long sip, hoping the sugar will help calm my nerves.

Professor Cullen — Edward — brushes my hair back behind my ear, and I find myself not cringing at his touch the way I should.

"Did you know that guy?" he asks.

I shake my head. "Never seen him before. Jake said he's a senior who hangs around with the basketball team."

My hand is still shaking a bit as Edward gently takes the can from my hand and sets it on the table. He then takes both of my hands in his, squeezing gently.

"Are you feeling any better?"

"A little," I admit, giving him a small smile. "It's… it's stupid. Yes, he made me uncomfortable, but we were surrounded by two dozen people. Nothing was going to happen."

"No one should ever touch you without your permission," he states, and my face flushes as I remember how he had made sure he didn't do anything I didn't want.

I look down at our still-joined hands, and he drops them suddenly. "I suppose this isn't exactly private," he shrugs, and I nod, picking up my can for another sip. No one seems to be paying any attention to us though.

"Why are you here?" I try asking again.

He sighs, running his hand through his hair. "I have office hours all afternoon on Wednesdays. I decided to come by here for dinner instead of going through a drive-thru on my way home."

"Two weeks ago, I heard you complain about eating in the cafeteria."

He smiles. "It actually wasn't half bad once I tried it; much better than the cafeteria at Lincoln Park. Anyway, I saw your group there and… I don't know, lack of anything better to do I guess, I came upstairs once I'd finished eating."

"So you were following us," I reply, narrowing my eyes.

"This time, maybe," he admits. "And it's a good thing I did."

"I'm sure Jake would've taken care of him. You were just closer." Almost immediately, I regret being so dismissive. I am grateful to Edward for stepping in when he did. And as much as it kills me, I should thank him.

"Jake's the tall guy who escorted him out?" he asks before I get the chance.

I nod.

"Look, Bella—"

"There you are!" Alice calls, walking over toward us. "It's time to cut the cake!"

"Now I know you didn't make a cake," I smile, standing.

"Duh! I bought it from my favorite bakery. Come on!"

"That's Alice," I tell Edward as we start walking back to the group. "She's a force of nature."

"I can see that," he laughs.

I've never enjoyed being the center of attention, but that's exactly what I am once I reach the group. Edward fades into the background, standing by the wall, as the other students sing Happy Birthday and then Alice begins cutting the large sheet cake.

"Can you really be trusted with such a large knife?" I joke.

"Shut it, Swan!"

Alice hands me the first piece, the corner piece with tons of frosting — my favorite! Since I still have my can of Pepsi, I don't have enough hands to remain standing, so I find a chair while I eat the sweet treat.

"So," Alice begins, sitting beside me a couple of minutes later, "who was that totally hot guy you were just sitting with?"

A/N: So Edward remembered Bella's birthday and gave her a little gift, heehee. He may have been kinda stalkerish following her later on, but it was for the best, as he was able to step in when creepy James wouldn't leave her alone. I hope the title makes sense now.

Next update on Thursday. What should she tell Alice?

For a teaser: A Top 5 mid-80s hit by a female singer who also had huge success as part of a band in the 70s. I just changed my mind on this one on Friday lol.

"Lonely in Your Nightmare" has been voted into Round 2 of the TwiFic Fandom Awards in the categories of "Favorite Drop Everything Fic" (for WIP, which is was at the time of the nominations) and "Favorite Empire Records" (includes a playlist). Please vote if you're so inclined! I'll post a real link on FictionPad since FF makes this difficult:

twificfandomawards. blogspot. c-o-m /p/vote. html