Chapter Nine

"Are you on drugs? We've never met each other before this." I said as I crossed my arms. I should've told him to shut up again and not try to play mind games with me.

He chuckled. "No, I don't do drugs. Why don't you grab your lunch and sit down and eat? I think most of your anger is because you're hungry."

I shook my head and walked to the cabinet, grabbing a granola bar from the diabetic snack box. We weren't supposed to eat out of it, but at the moment, I didn't care.

"If you insist," He sighed. "You have a strong will, which I like. It's what attracted me to you the first time we met."

I chomped down on the granola. "What the hell are you talking about. We've never met before. I think you're confusing me with another girl."

He shook his head. "I'm not. I remember you quite well."

"Enlighten me then," I said sarcastically as I sat down across from him. "Where have we met before, because I've only lived in New York for two months and three weeks. Unless you came to Forks Washington, I highly doubt we've met."

He was chuckling to himself as he spread a generous amount of peanut butter on a piece of bread.

"January seventh of 2021, you graduated from Seattle university with your bachelors in medical science. You graduated early, at the top of your class and you already had an acceptance letter from online the nursing program at Cornell university."

"And what does that prove? You said you looked me up and it's clear that you did." I took a sip of my water before hissing, "Which is creepy."

He chuckled. "No, I remembered all of this because you told me yourself."

I sighed heavily, rubbing my temples. "Okay, I'm going to make you take a drug test because, aside from being completely insane, you have to be taking drugs. I never told you any of this."

"You told me all of this when we met January tenth, at the commencement dinner for the students who graduated with honors and who were moving into ivy league colleges." He raised an eyebrow, as if I should know this information.

I made a face and shook my head. "Yeah, and I ate some appetizers and left. I was there for like twenty minutes. And I didn't talk to anyone because I already had my financial plans in place. I didn't need to kiss up to anyone for money."

He shook his head. "No, you were there for about four hours before you left because you got a distressing phone call from your mother."

I paused my chewing as I thought about this. Now that I thought about it, that was the night my mother and I had got into a huge argument about me moving to New York. It was the worst fight we had ever had, and I was so angry that I blocked everything out and went straight home.

"So you're saying we met the night of my commencement dinner, and I told you all of this? Not likely. If I did meet you, I would've certainly remembered you. What were you doing all the way in Seattle anyways?"

"The committee in charge of the dinner invited honor students from several ivy league colleges from across the country and donors to come and meet their students. I had already graduated from Harvard, so I was a donor at that time. When we first met and you read my nametag, which stated what organization I was from and that I was a potential donor, you even told me that you weren't going to kiss up to me because you had already had a financial plan in place."

I started bouncing my leg underneath the table as I thought about this. I tried so hard to remember that night, but all I could honestly remember was the fight my mother and I had. It had been a pretty brutal one.

"That was the first thing you said to me. You didn't say hi, or asked me how I was, you told me right to my face that you were not kissing up to me. I loved your moxie, because our conversation started with me apologizing for bumping into you, but you seemed to not want to be there, so I don't even think you realized what I had said to you. It made me laugh and you rolled your eyes and told me to fuck off."

I raised an eyebrow. "You're a crazy person. Why would me telling you to fuck off make me attractive to you?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I loved the attitude. I've never met a woman with such a big attitude and a strong head on her shoulders. It was refreshing. Most of the women I meet are very meek acting or are pretending because they're interested in my money." He smiled slowly. "Or it could've possible been that beautiful blue dress you were wearing. It was dark blue, and it wasn't too revealing. Your hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail because it looked like you couldn't figure out what to do with your hair and you didn't feel like putting in the effort. You didn't wear any makeup either. Not that you honestly need any. Your personality and the way you carried yourself screamed that you were a woman who knew she was the best and didn't need anyone to tell her so. I loved everything about you when we first met. It was so refreshing."

I stared at him for a moment. "So, my suspicions are confirmed. You are a serial killer, because how could you remember all of that from a year ago from our one interaction. That's just… serial killer behavior. Very Jeffry Dahmer."

He laughed. "I remember all of this because we spent the rest of the night talking. Your tried to storm away, but I caught up to you and gave you my sincerest apologies."

"And you didn't leave me alone after that. Shocking."

He sighed softly. "No because you accepted my apology, and we started talking. You really opened up after I mentioned that I lived in New York. You wanted to know as much as possible about the big city and I was more than happy to tell you all about it. I even showed you a bunch of pictures on my phone of different places I knew. You were very intrigued and so talkative. Right before your mother called, we exchanged numbers. I texted you several times afterwards, but you never responded."

"Because I threw my phone and I had to get a new one," I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "That is… just… so weird Edward. I'm sorry. I just can't believe you remember all of this. And the fact that I'm having trouble remembering it is making me think you're exaggerating."

He chuckled lightly. "I swear it happened. We even had our picture taken together and it was put in the university's newspaper. I have a copy of the newspaper. If I weren't in here, I could show you."

I tossed my wrapper into the trashcan. "Well, even if we got along back then and had a wonderful night, it doesn't change anything. And it doesn't make me want to hang out with you anymore."

He groaned but chuckled. "You are stubborn, but I have to say, I really like your stubbornness."

I rolled my eyes. "Finish eating."

"I still owe you a night out on the town," He said. "I didn't forget. I told you that as soon as you were in New York and you were settled, I'd take you out and show you all of the cool places this city has to offer."

"Whatever."

"And you said, and I quote, it's a date." He grinned. "You even blushed after you said it. The same blush that happens every time I'm around. I still remember it."

"I'm sure I didn't tell you it was a date. I know would've remembered that." I said.

He stared at me for a few minutes. "Because it would've been your first date?"

My eyes widened, and against my will, I blushed. "N-no."

He smiled widely. "I knew you never went on a date before! It was the only time you stumbled over your words and got really giggly." He mocked my giggle, making me blush even more.

"I don't believe any of this." I shook my head. "Not unless there's concrete proof because I would've one hundred percent remembered this. Even if I had a huge fight with my mom. I wouldn't have forgotten this. I have a great memory."

"I do have concrete proof," He said, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. "You're shift is about to end and I know Debra is coming in. I will call Jasper right now and have him take you to my apartment in the city. In the lockbox in my study is where I keep the newspaper that proves we met that night and had a fantastic time together. I even kept the piece of paper that you scribbled your number on. It's all there."

"I am not going to your apartment. For all I know, this is a set up where I'm going to be raped."

"Hand to god," He said, holding up his hand. "I would never even think of that. Jasper is supposed to be going out with my sister tonight, so there will be a girl there. And you've rode with Jasper plenty of times, if he was going to rape you or take you to be raped, it would've happened by now."

I inhaled sharply and thought about it. "So what if you do have proof. You could've just had it made up, like you did with the medical form."

"That would be a very hard thing to make up and have delivered to my apartment in only an hour's time. I'm good, but I'm not that good."

"And if I see the proof, what do you thinks going to happen?" I asked.

"Well, I'm hoping you'll live up to your word and let me take you out on a night of the town." He grinned. "Of course, if you're the kind of person that breaks her word, then well, I guess that's a huge character flaw."

Damn him.

"Well, I don't remember agreeing to go on a date with you, so it's not really my word." I said with a glare. "It wouldn't matter anyways because you're in here."

"I'm getting out in five weeks," He smiled happily. "Got my parole hearing on the third. I'm getting out and I'll take you out that very night."

I rolled my eyes and walked to the cabinet to get his medicine.

"So, do you want me to call Jasper?" He asked. "Have him take you to my place? You're getting off in forty-three minutes."

I turned and stared at him for a few moments before letting out an exasperated sigh.

"Fine. But I'm telling you now, even if I believe your proof, it's not changing anything."

He smiled and pulled a cellphone out of his jumpsuit. I gasped.

"That's—"

"Contraband I know," He chuckled as he dialed a number. "But it's not hurting anyone, so no need to hurt my feelings by calling me a bad person."

I crossed my arms and watched as he talked to Jasper on the phone. He asked him to drive me to his apartment in the city and let me in. He didn't tell me what I would be doing there, only to let me go in.

"Done." He said as he hung up the phone. "The key to my lockbox is in my room, in a small red box, in my nightstand. It's a green key with blue and purple polka-dots on it. It should be pretty easy to spot. And please try not to judge me too harshly on the other items in my lockbox. Some things are a little embarrassing without an explanation."

I rolled my eyes sarcastically said. "Sounds fantastic."

"Hopefully when you see the proof for yourself you won't have so much animosity towards me." He said, before grinning, "Of course, I do have to say, I am quite enjoying your animosity."

"You're gross."

"I'm being a gentleman; I'm keeping my thoughts to myself."

I shuddered. "You are not a gentleman. You're an—,"

"Inmate," He cut in. "Yeah, I know I am. I'm hoping though, that this helps us move passed the name calling."

"It's probably not going to change anything, Edward." I shook my head before dropping the pill in front of him. "Now, please, take your medicine and shut up."