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Broken	By : LadyExcalibur Category: Twilight Series > AU/AR > Het > Het Views: 3150 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or make any money from this story.

Chapter List
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__________Chapter 4: Bad Habits___________

Bella was not surprised to see HIM waiting for her in the alley the next night. Strangely, the sight of him did not inspire fear or even anxiety, even knowing the problems Shauna had been having with her overly enthusiastic “admirer” lately.

Somehow, she had known he would be there, and somehow, it was all right. She heaved a loud sigh and shook her head at him, as if disappointed in him. In fact, she had been on the watch for him all night. She had told herself firmly that she was most definitely not upset when she had not seen his pale, handsome face in the crowd.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, putting one hand on her hip and holding the strap of her backpack with the other. “Didn’t your mama warn you about hanging out with the wrong kind of girls?” She smirked at him.

He gave her an easy, crooked smile. “I think I can figure out the wrong kind of girl for myself, thanks.”

Bella rolled her eyes at him. “So, Joe College, what are you doing on this side of the tracks?” She clicked her tongue. “You should be in bed. It’s a school night.”

He paused for a moment, giving a shrug. “I don’t need much sleep. Besides, we’re old friends, remember?” Then he laughed. “Wait…that came out all wrong. Of course you don’t.” His expression was apologetic. “Let’s just say that I’m here to walk an old friend home after a hard night’s work.”

They began walking and were silent for a while. Finally Bella said, “You know, you’ve got me at a disadvantage here. You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”

He came to a halt and turned to look at her. When he spoke, his velvet voice was so low and quiet that she had to lean forward to hear him. “My name is Edward…Edward Cullen.” Carefully, he searched her eyes when he told her his name.

Bella knew that look. He was looking for some spark of recognition, because he was quite sure that she would remember him. Or his name. Or some tiny glimmer from the past. As usual, however, there was nothing.

“Sorry, Ed,” Bella told him with a quirk of her lips. “Doesn’t ring a bell.” She tapped the side of her head. “I told you…broken skull equals shitty memory.”

Edward smiled at her, but the expression in his eyes was sad. Bella frowned and moved slightly. His eyes didn’t look as dark tonight. Perhaps it was the lighting. She shrugged it off. “That’s all right,” he said softly. “Maybe we can use this opportunity to get reacquainted?”

“Maybe,” she agreed, and started to walk again. He fell into step beside her, putting his hands in his pockets and hunching his shoulders. “You should have worn a heavier jacket,” Bella told him admonishingly. “You’ll catch a cold.”

Edward laughed and shook his head. “Actually, I think I’ll be all right.”

Bella shrugged. “All right, then. You’re the one who’s gonna have snot running out of your nose for a week.”

“I think I’ll risk it,” he teased. “Besides, the pleasure of your company is worth risking a slight cold.”

Bella glanced at him from beneath her lashes, appreciating the way the streetlights caught the rich bronze of his hair. “I’m not going invite you up to my apartment, you know. So if you’re walking me home hoping to get into my pants, I gotta tell you, it isn’t going to work.”

“I never thought it would,” he assured her. And oddly, she believed him.

“Okay, just so we’re straight.”

“Consider us straight,” he said with a nod of his head. “No funny business.”

They continued walking, their silence comfortable. He was the first one to speak. “So, how long have you been…dancing?”

Bella laughed at the discomfort in his voice. “A while,” she replied, and then nudged him as they walked. “It’s just a job, you know. It pays the rent, buys the groceries…and put clothes on my back.” She laughed. “That’s kind of funny, isn’t it; since I take my clothes OFF to make the money.”

He didn’t respond and Bella fell silent once more.

“Why did you leave Forks?” he asked suddenly.

Bella paused and sighed. “It just…it just didn’t fit me anymore. I felt like I was suffocating.” Her teeth worried at her lower lip. “And I could see what it was doing to Charlie – that’s my dad – seeing how different I was. I think it’s easier for him now, since the new Bella’s not right there in his face all the time. I guess he can pretend I’m still the same old Bella.”

“You are,” Edward said fervently. “In all the ways that matter.”

His words were such a close echo of Jake’s that Bella’s breath caught in her throat. Something vague and undefined nudged at the edges of her awareness but then slipped away before she could catch it. “Well, you’re in the minority then, if you believe that.”

“All right then, let’s examine the facts” Edward said. “Do you deliberately hurt people?”

“No,” she muttered.

“Have you taken up any bad habits lately? Larceny? Burglary? Grand theft auto?’

“Not lately,” she answered with a smile.

“Do you kick puppies for fun or torment preschoolers by stealing their candy?” His smile was wicked now and something warm unfurled within her.

“Only on Wednesdays,” Bella said virtuously.

“Then see? Still the same Bella, just with new…interests.” He winked at her.

“Well, I did develop this ONE bad habit lately,” she said.

“And what’s that?”

“I let this strange guy walk me home,” Bella told him, her lips twitching.

“Ah, yes, well, that IS a bad habit,” he replied, his own smile widening. “You should be more careful, you know.”

They had stopped walking but she couldn’t remember actually doing so. She looked up at him in confusion. “You’re kind of scary, Edward Cullen.”

Something odd flashed across his expression and he took a step back. “I’m sorry.”

Tilting her head, she put out one hand and placed it lightly over his sweater. “No, I didn’t mean like actually scaring me, just that…a guy like you…it’s sort of crazy to be talking to you, talking like we’re old friends when really I can’t remember anything about you. I want to, that’s the really crazy part, but I can’t.” She shook her head. “And that scares me.”

“Well then, perhaps we should start anew,” he offered. “I’ll pretend I’ve never met you, and since you’ve just met me, we’ll proceed from here and see where it goes.” He flashed a brilliant smile that made her toes curl and all sorts of naughty images flash through her head.

“I’m too old for you,” she protested half-heartedly. “Even as a friend. We’d have nothing in common.”

He laughed then, and she thought of warm honey and the sound of the ocean – sweet and hot and heavy against her skin. “I can promise you that you’re not too old for me.”

“Then how old are you?”

“Let’s not talk about age yet,” Edward said, shaking his head slightly and putting his hand at her elbow. “And certainly that’s nothing ladies like to talk about with gentlemen they’ve just met.”

They began walking again.

“Ed?”

“Edward,” he corrected her with a grin.

“Edward?”

“Yes, Bella?” The sound of her name on his lips did strange things to her body.

“Thanks.”

“For what?” She felt his eyes on her and liked the feeling.

“For calling me a lady,” she said softly.

“That’s what you are Bella,” he replied just as quietly. “Come on, let’s get you home and out of this cold.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Edward saw her to the door of her building, watched her unlock it. She stopped and turned toward him. “Thanks…for the walk home, for everything.”

They were so close that he could feel her heat radiating out of her in waves that crashed against his skin. He trembled at the nearness of her, the power of her scent, the unbelievable temptation of her heat. But his throat did not burn and the venom did not pool in his mouth.

When had he gotten over the lust for her blood?

He wasn’t sure, but maybe living without her for so long and been enough to cure him. The temptation she represented now had nothing to do with the nectar that ran in her veins. Instead, it was the silk of her flesh that called to him now. He wanted to pull her up against him and part her lips with his own, let his tongue sweep in to mate with hers, press her against him from head to toe. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides.

“You should go inside,” Edward said, unable to hide the huskiness in his voice.

She blinked up at him, cocking her head to the side as she studied him. “Who ARE you, Edward Cullen?”

“I’m a guy you’ve just met,” he answered as he gave into the temptation to brush the hair back away from her face. It curled around his fingers as if pulling him closer to her. Carefully, he stepped away, his innate caution urging him to move.

Her heart was thundering in her chest and he heard the rapid pace of her breathing. Her lips were warm and moist and slightly parted, and he knew that if he pressed his mouth to hers, she would not refuse him.

His smile was rueful. “Get inside, Bella, before YOU catch a cold.”

“Goodnight,” she said and then slipped through the door.

Edward stood outside and listened to her steps go up the stairs, heard the door open and the locks click into place. His Bella was safe, for now. A light came on in a window and he stared up at it, wishing more than anything that he was up there with her right now, holding her close, and telling her how much he loved her.

How much he would always love her, even if she couldn’t remember loving him in return. He sighed. Things had certainly gotten complicated. Then Edward smiled. He didn’t mind convoluted so much, as long as it was Bella who was confusing matters.

He stood on the street, hidden in the shadows, until the light in her window went off.
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Broken