Almost a year later and here we are again! Unfortunately, my original computer crashed that had this story. So I've been trying to continue writing from where I left off. I should be releasing content soon enough!

Also, has anyone heard of archive of our own? I've recently heard about it and it sounds interesting. Anyways, I hope you all had a great New Year.

Ness

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Chapter 13

I woke up pretty early the next day so I decided to lounge around and watch some TV. The outside world looked as cold as yesterday from the fogged-up windows and I dreaded it. At about ten fifteen, I peeked over at my phone and saw it was empty from messages. He didn't message me. He was usually the one who texted me, I guess it would be fine if I at least texted him to thank him for last night. Last night… I remembered my over-presumptuous behavior and shivered.

Hi,

I just wanted to say thank you for last night. I had a good time. Hope you got home safe.

Bella.

It was funny how a message to a particular person could make you feel nervous. Ten minutes later, I got a response and I quickly looked through my phone.

Good morning,

I'm glad you had a good time, Bella. Thank you for accompanying me and yes, I got home safe. Once again, Happy New Years.

Edward

I read over the message again and noticed there was no 'see you again' message or implication. Like always he sounded like a twentieth century poetry book. I sighed and tossed my phone to the side, no need to respond to something that didn't seem to be going anywhere.

He didn't reach out to me again for the remainder of the day and that just somewhat irritated me. Was it irrational? Probably. I grabbed my phone around five and called Alice.

"Bella!" She sang happily into the receiver. "Happy New Years! What's up?"

"Hi Alice." I laughed. "You're extremely happy."

"It's New Year's." She bubbled happily. "Now what's going on?"

"I wanted to know if you wanted to go out."

"Sure." She sang. "I was going to ask you later because I have a few other friends coming with me, do you mind if I bring them?"

"No, not at all. Bring them."

"Awesome." She clapped. "It's just two or three girls. You'll really like them. Want to do a bar?"

"Sounds excellent to me."

"We'll meet eight-thirty, sound good?"

"Sounds good." I agreed.

"Awesome." She chirped. "I'll finish sorting out my clothes and start getting ready. See you soon, love you, bye!" She was a hurricane of fun and emotion it was a big shake in my life.

I still had about two hours and a half until I had to leave. I decided to take another nap and around six-thirty, I woke up and started to get ready. It was a girl's night so that meant looking good but in New York that also meant staying warm.

So finally dressed in a comfortably black over the shoulder sweater and leather heeled boots, I hailed a cab and made it to the nearby bar. When I walked in, I already saw Alice bouncing in her seat with a small glass that looked like a tequila glass in her hand. In front of her were two women. One was a pale woman with piercing green eyes and auburn hair that cascaded in silky flips down her shoulders. The other woman was tanned in skin with glossy pin-straight black hair that disappeared down her back. Her eyes were extremely dark and stood out against her tanned skin and a birthmark decorated around her upper lip.

"Hey Alice." I called and she turned, her bright eyes becoming even bigger.

"Bella!" She waved me over and I sat down between her and the red-haired woman. "This is my friend Bella." She said. "Bella this is Victoria—" She gestured to the red-haired woman beside me who smiled and revealed pearly white teeth that rivaled her snow-white skin. "And this is Emily." Emily grinned and rose up her glass of alcohol. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a little out of place, but the women were welcoming enough. "They all go to our school."

"Really?" I wondered incredulously. I had never seen them. Victoria nodded.

"Yeah I've had class with them. You're taking that writing class next semester right Bella?" I nodded and Alice squealed.

"You'll have it with Victoria."

"Awesome." Victoria chipped in. "At least I won't be lonely now." She laughed and I noticed one of the men at the far right looked over to catch a glimpse of her. She was a beautiful woman. "Let's drink. It's a new year which means a new chance to get trashed." She ordered us all a round of tequila and Alice laughed wildly. I could tell she was already tipsy.

After that round and a dry martini later, I felt ridiculously tipsy. I got up and stumbled along to the bathroom with Victoria who still had big lead in being sober than all of us. She laughed at me a couple of times but made sure I didn't die.

"Did I bring my bag?" I asked out loud from the other side of the bathroom stall door to Victoria.

"No, you left it outside by the table, Bella." She replied and I quickly washed my hands and made my way back to my seat. I pressed my phone and saw that Edward still hadn't contacted me, angering me. Stupid man.

"I'll buy a round of shots!" I volunteered and the girls cheered loudly. My phone rang and I had hope it was Edward only for it to be shot down when I saw it was James in our group chat. "Al, James said he's offended you didn't invite him."

She giggled and rolled her eyes. "He's missing a vagina. Tell him that." I quickly typed it, straining my eyes so that I could see every letter I was typing correctly.

"Ah James." Emily said dreamily. "He's so hot."

"Someone get her another shot." Alice called out loud and we all laughed. Another couple rounds of shots came our direction and I felt as though my hearing was acting weird and disoriented.

"Oh and Bella here had a date the other day." Alice, now, drunkenly giggled with her sixth or so shot of tequila in her hand. Victoria instantly turned my way with a huge grin.

"Do tell!" Somehow, she still looked perfectly collected after shots and her third gin and tonic in front of her.

"It was alrigh…" I slurred and downed my last tequila shot along with Alice. What number was this anyways?

"But you were so excited." Alice mumbled and I hung my head. "Was he cute?"

"He was so handsome." I managed to roll out with my swollen tongue. The image of Edward popped into my head and I leaned my chin into my hand and smiled. I could see his blue eyes and dark hair along with that snarky smirk.

"Look at that smile!" I think Emily's voice laughed and I hummed to myself, seeing everyone swaying along. "Another shot!" Actually, the walls were swaying too…even the liquor bottles on the shelf…

The bartender slid us another four shots and when I went to grab mine, something grabbed my arm and my head snapped around quickly, causing my brain to rattle furiously in my head. I groaned and gripped my head with my other hand.

"Come with me, Bella." The voice was smooth and familiar, but I couldn't put a name to it. There was silence around me. I glanced up and saw a washed-out form of the pretty blonde from that day in the classroom. Edward's sister…She had the same blue eyes that just stared at me and her lips were pressed tightly together.

"I know you!" I jumped with recognition. "You're Ed—" Her other free hand covered my mouth while I mumbled frantically. Her other hand had a firm hold on my arm.

"I'm sorry, I'm her neighbor and friend. She told me where she'd be and asked if I could pick her up."

"Oh." Victoria's voice said suspiciously. "Bella, do you know her?" Kinda. But I was already nodding my head rapidly and obediently.

"Bye, bye, Bella!" Alice waved with her glassy eyes. "I will see you tomorrow and you're welcome."

"For what?" I called back but she ignored me and continued to laugh along with the other girls.

The blonde girl held my arm steadily and helped me walk out into the frigid air of the night, although it didn't feel as cold as when I arrived. Heels clacked along the pavement and soon enough I bumped into something hard but soft.

"Oof." I grumbled and rubbed my nose.

"Thanks, Rose." Edward's voice filled my ears but I was too tired to look up at him.

"No problem, but you owe me big time." She responded. Rose? "She almost blurted to her friends about who I was." I heard a sigh.

"Sorry."

"It's okay. Do you need help taking her home or what?"

"No, you go home—" The rest of the conversation became a garbled mess and I closed my eyes and leaned against the hard yet soft thing, drifting off.

"…Ella." I felt a small nudge and I groaned, gripping onto something and snuggling closer. "Bella…Bella." The voice hit me and I opened my eyes, seeing I had my hands fisted on a jacket and I was lying down on a chest.

"Wha—"

"Let's get you to your place." Edward's voice filled my ears and I looked up to see him staring at me. We were inside a cab and I nearly scrambled off of him. He helped me out after he paid and took me up the stairs so I wouldn't trip or stumble in my stupor.

After ten attempts to stick the key into the keyhole, I finally opened the door and walked through, throwing my jacket on the floor.

"Bella, let's put you to bed."

"No." I argued. "I need to take off my makeup." I regrettably moved to the bathroom and stripped my face until I was bare-faced. He was standing in the middle of my living room and I tackled him from behind, wrapping my arms around him and pressing my face into his back.

He jumped and jolted forward. He quickly removed my arms from around him and released himself. I pouted and went closer only to have him take a step back. I moved past him and laid down on the couch.

"Bella, let's go to your room."

"No."

"Bella." He tried again with more sternness.

"I said no."

"Go to your bed, you're drunk."

"No. If you want you go and sleep." I spat back and he breathed in, his nostrils slightly flared.

"What's wrong with you?" Edward asked, keeping ample distance between us. I stood up and stomped my foot, feeling a slight sway of unbalance because of it.

"You." I jabbed my finger into his chest. "You don't like me." I slurred and he suddenly frowned.

"Excuse me?"

"You don't like—" I struggled and his frown deepened.

"Why would you say that?"

"You don't touch me." I couldn't believe the words that came out of my mouth. As soon as they tumbled out, my inner-sober-self cringed. What the actual fuck are you saying Bella? The more sensible side wanted to slap my drunk self repeatedly. As expected, Edward's eyes widened to the point of saucers. "No kiss—no holding hands…" My fingers twiddled with each other as if I felt nervous.

"Bella…I can't." He explained simply in those two words. My head snapped up and I pursed my lips.

"You can!" I argued petulantly like a child. I grabbed the end of his coat and pulled him towards me, pushing on the tips of my toes to be able to get close enough to kiss him. He instantly wrapped his gloved hands around my wrists, straining the genuine leather of his gloves, and pulled away from me with a panicked expression. Even in my drunken state, I felt a wave of sadness and rejection wash over me. My forceful attempt and I went limp. Edward must have felt the difference because his eyes softened and he swallowed while his jaw became taut.

"Hey please—"

"Leave." I voiced feeling some sort of common sense breaking through my inner-self to my outward self. He looked taken aback and I took the chance to rip free of his hold on my wrists.

"Be—"

"Please leave." I repeated in a more solid voice, rather than a drunken slur. "Please." He reached to me and I nearly stumbled back when I took a step away from him. I pushed his worried hands away. "Please." I emphasized and noticed something pass through his eyes. His hand balled at his side before it relaxed. He took a few steps towards the door, before tossing me a look over his shoulder.

"Get into bed, okay?" I didn't answer. I simply shut the door, feeling cold.

I somehow stumbled onto my bed without really noticing. I laid still in an uncomfortable position and squeezed my eyes shut. I wasn't angry at him—I couldn't be because it would be irrational—but I was angrier at myself. How much more embarrassing and desperate could I be? Why was I so desperate for love? The small sob that broke through the silent air was mine and startled me. Could I really cry like this again? I felt the wet tracks slide down my cheeks but didn't pay it anymore mind.

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I felt a thudding sound pounding against my head. I groaned and squeezed my eyes shut from the unusually bright winter sun that shined in from the window. The action of squeezing my eyes shut, made my headache intensify. Ugh this fucking hangover. I felt sick to my stomach but at the same time I was starving. Just the thought of moving made me want to fall back to sleep to forget it.

When I rolled over, I suddenly had the flashing memories of the night before. The persistent me yelling at a poor guy. I threw my palms over my eyes and sighed. "I should probably text him and apologize." Especially since I threw him from my apartment late at night after he just tried to help. "Actually, maybe I won't and we can both get rid of each other and save ourselves the awkward conversation." It sounded effective. "Wait a second, how the hell did he know where I was?" I didn't recall ever telling him since we never spoke…so how? He couldn't have seen it if we never met… Just trying to think of a solution made me wince. I needed coffee.

After another twenty minutes in bed, I was forced to get up from bed because of the sound my stomach made. My hair was damp so I just threw it into a bun and packed on a large chunky sweater and a comfy knit scarf I could hide behind. I placed a pair of sunglasses over my eyes so that I wouldn't lose my eyes when I walked out into the outside world. I got a phone call from Alice before I walked out and instantly picked up.

"Are you alive?" Was the first thing through the receiver that I heard.

"Barely." I murmured. "How are you feeling? You were pretty gone from what I remember?"

"I want to shut myself in the darkest room I could find." She sighed. "I'm going to stop by later, is that fine?"

"Sure. I'll go get something to eat and drink. Then I'll let you know when I'm back."

"Sounds great. I'm with Victoria, so can I bring her with me?" I remembered the pale beauty with the striking eyes and smile.

"Yes. She was really fun."

"Great." I opened the front door and yelped. "Bella what's wrong?" Alice's suddenly panicked voice pushed through.

"I—nothing." I excused, with my mouth to the floor. "I tripped over one of my shoes."

"Stupid you scared me." She sneered. "I thought something happened."

"Sorry." I said quickly. "I'll call you later, I have to go." I hung up just as fast and just stared at the unrealistic figment of my imagination. "What the hell?" I blurted and Edward lifted his head, with slightly tired eyes.

"Well good morning." I removed my sunglasses and fully stepped out of my place to get a good look. Edward was sitting on the floor in front of my apartment with his usual blue peak coat and his back leaned against the wall.

"Edward what are you doing? Why are you on the floor? You didn't sleep here, did you?" I suddenly panicked again and he shook his head.

"I came here early in the morning but I guess you were sleeping."

"What time?" I asked and he pulled back the sleeve of his coat to reveal a silver watch.

"About eight."

"In the morning? Are you nuts? What people are up at that time after drinking?"

"I was worried how you would wake up, you were pretty drunk last night." Ugh, last night. A shiver ran up my spine. I sighed and squatted in front of him.

"Come inside. You probably have a messed up back for sitting there for over three hours." He quickly stood up and I nervously closed the door after he walked inside. There was a deafening silence that hung in the air, which is the biggest oxymoron I could think of, but in all honesty that's exactly what it felt like. It was so awkwardly quiet that I didn't know how to behave. "Want some coffee?" I offered softly and he nodded.

"Yes, please." He settled on the couch but I could feel his eyes on me, which only worsened my nerves. My hands shook putting the water into the coffee maker and after I shut the top, I took a deep breath.

"Were you going somewhere?" He suddenly wondered and I glanced at him over my shoulder. He still had on his coat and his leather gloves.

"Uh, actually coffee." I awkwardly admitted while squirming.

"Oh I didn't mean to intrud—"

"It's fine, you saved me money." I interrupted. "I was going to contact you later for what happened yesterday." The silence once again stretched out between us. The sudden beep of the coffee maker made me jump. I placed the blue mug before him on the table and gave him an awkward smile.

"Thank you." He gripped the mug and blew the smoke off the surface of it before taking a sip. His eyes suddenly turned to me and his eyebrows pressed together. "And yours?"

"I'll get myself one later." The sudden need for coffee disappeared and I just felt anxiousness in the pit of my stomach as well as shame the more I recalled my actions last night. With his gloved hands, he used his index finger to turn the mug by its ear.

"About last night—" I interrupted him before he could even start.

"About last night." I breathed and curled my fingers on the edge of the counter. "I'm sorry. I was drunk." I sighed. He didn't say anything, he simply sat down and studied me closely with his eyes, making the blood rush to my face. "I—what I said was stupid." I brushed my hands through my hair. "But I guess it's a good thing it happened because I can see how pushy I can get…" I squirmed uncomfortably.

"How much do you actually remember?" He asked without batting an eyelash. Everything.

"Um…" I shut my eyes. "All of it."

"Then you should remember what you were accusing me of?" I frowned not a hundred percent sure of what he meant.

"What do you mean?" He raised the mug and put it to his lips to take another sip. Why is he being so casual? He made a sound of satisfaction and rubbed his lips.

"That I don't like you."

"Oh…that."

"That." He suddenly stood up, catching my attention.

"I had my reasons." I justified lamely and he cocked his eyebrow.

"Why? Because I didn't kiss you?"

"You saying that makes me feel weird." I rubbed my arms. "But there was no physical contact between us, so I assumed—"

"You know there can't be any." His response made me twitch with slight irritation. "You'll have absolutely no privacy."

"Then there's no way we could be a normal couple." I replied softly. "A lot of relationships are made up of little touches here and there but you keep a three-foot distance radius from me." I could hear the sting in my voice.

"You aren't seeing it from my point of view."

"And you're not seeing mine." I retorted, whipping to face him. "There is nothing we can do, there's simply no compatibility even in our ideologies." The bottom of my throat pained me and I felt the stinging from my eyes. I stood up straight and stepped away from the counter. "Let me apologize for yesterday. For you going out of your way to get me and then hearing my drunken rants." I placed a hand along my collar bone. "Let's simply go back to being student and professor."

"This sounds like a break up for a couple who has barely begun."

"This will always be a point of arguments so in some ways it is a break up." I chuckled bitterly. "For a non-existing couple that is." His seat screeched against the tiled floor and he walked towards us, making my body press up against the counter top.

"You're so childish." He said harshly and I pursed my lips. He swiftly yanked off his right leather glove and hovered it over my face. "The moment this hand touches any part of your skin, you will be exposed to whatever I see." I hesitated and simply stared at the hand. It was like a lingering physical threat of his words. He might see things I didn't even want him to see, how would I react to this? I already jumped down his throat before when he checked to see if I actually kept his ability a secret. His eyes searched mine but he didn't move his hand. "See. Not so easy and eager now."

"It has nothing to do with being eager or not." I voiced softly. "Just because you say that doesn't make me want to do it any less. While that is something that could be annoying you have to get used to it and by that, I mean you and whoever your partner is." His brows knitted together, causing creases in the middle of his forehead. "Isn't avoiding human contact hard?" He swallowed but I got no immediate response to my question. "But it's not my business, I'm just stating my opinion on the matter." The silence was thick but soon enough his hand slowly inched towards my face. I would be lying if I said it didn't make me feel a little anxious. The harsh beating of my heart gave that away and I could have sworn that you could hear it out loud.

His fingers skimmed the strands of my hair behind my ear, barely brushing upon the skin of my face. His blue eyes followed his every movement while I held my breath and stared directly at him. The feel of his warm fingers on my skin sent a jolt through my body considering any sort of contact we had was usually with his leather gloves on. It was like a barrier had been momentarily lifted. My eyes fell to his movements that now centered down to my chin when I felt a slight tug.

I gasped at the feeling of his lips on mine and I blinked, unable to process what was going on. His eyes were closed and I got a full look at his face without his eyes judging me. He looked just as impassive as he usually did with his eyes opened. I wanted to laugh, but I held it back and simply shut my eyes and pressed my lips back against him. Edward pulled back and released a breath with his eyes still closed. I opened my mouth but nothing came out from it. After a few seconds, he dropped his hand like a hot potato from my skin and he opened his eyes, focusing them on me once more.

"I'm willing to compromise." He said firmly and I cocked my head.

"On?"

"I can't give you a completely normal relationship." He swore with a serious look. "I just can't touch you whenever I want to. It's a safety precaution for both of us." The honesty in his voice did have me hanging onto every word he said. "But I can promise you that I will try. There's just something about not being able to see your face anymore that has me feeling very irritated." He shook his head. "If I can try, then can you try?" The question was open ended and it almost felt like the dramatic moment in a soap opera where the dramatic music was played before a big decision was taken. I knew the question was very important right now, especially to him. This question was more than just an initiation of a relationship or anything like that, it was the choice that he was giving me. He was giving me the ability to choose to step away from this now, because we both knew that this would be something that would limit us.

"I can try too." I replied and the corner of his lip lifted into a crooked smile. A sudden banging on my door startled me.

"Are you expecting someone?" He wondered calmly.

"I'm not a hundred percent sure."

"Bella!" Alice's high-pitch voice echoed through my apartment and I cringed at the pain it caused my head.

"Alice, you're so loud, shut the hell up." A familiar female voice followed after Alice's call and I heard a shushed apology.

"Alice came early." I muttered to myself.

"Sure seems it." Edward murmured and realization dawned on me. I whipped around furiously to face him and probably looked like a fish out of water. "What?"

"Hide. Now." I grinded out and he lifted an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Alice is in school with me and I don't know who else came with her." He looked completely unfazed by it all, it was incredulous. "I thought you wanted to keep it quiet so we didn't get in trouble."

"Yes, but I don't have to hide like a teenage kid either." I slammed my hands against him and shoved him backwards into my bedroom.

"Just stay there, I'll come get you in a few." He looked thoroughly amused as I closed the door to shut him in. Another round of knocks on my front door echoed through my apartment and I quickly shuffled over to open the door. Alice and the red-haired woman, Victoria, were on the other side looking perfectly comfortable in matching leggings and oversized sweaters.

"Hi." Alice chirped happily, smiling through the obvious hangover she had. "I know we came over earlier than expected and unannounced but we were around the block picking up Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts." She lifted the tray of donuts while Victoria presented the three hot drinks in her tray. I laughed and moved over allowing them in. Alice quickly made her way into my home comfortably and stripped off her heavier coat. "Do you have Advil? I ran out and forgot to get some on the way over."

"You would think you'd at least slow down with a massive headache." Victoria laughed and I followed suit.

"How are you so okay?" I asked her and she smirked.

"I'm Irish and Russian so my alcohol threshold is a lot higher than most peoples." She looked perfectly fine to me. In fact, she looked as though she didn't go out drinking the night before. Her eyes scanned my kitchen and she zeroed in on the mugs.

"I was making some for myself not knowing you guys were coming." I excused, gripping the now warm coffee.

"Two mugs?" Alice questioned and I shrugged.

"I put too much sugar in the first one." Shit, how do I get Edward out of here? He's right…I do feel like a sixteen-year-old girl hiding her boyfriend from her father.

"Sorry Bella can I use your bathroom?" Victoria asked, interrupting my train of thought.

"Of course." I remembered that I kept a lot of my medicine in the bathroom cabinet. "The Advil is also in the bathroom." Alice took the bait and walked over to Victoria.

"I'm in dire need of it." She groaned, shaking her head. "I'll go with you."

"To the right!" I called after them and Alice threw me a wave.

"I know!" I quickly made my way over to my room and saw that Edward was casually lounging on my bed, still fully dressed and with his coat still on.

"Come." I hissed, waving him over. I gripped his hand and quietly pulled him out, hearing the loud laughter of the two women in my bathroom. I opened the front door and prayed they wouldn't come out yet.

"I have never done this before. It's kind of fun." He chuckled. "I'll call you later, all right?" I nodded and he smiled before heading down the stairs and into the cold day. I shut the door and released a breath.

"So, who'd you let out?" Alice's voice caused me to yelp and I turned to see her staring evilly at me.

"What?"

"Is it your mystery date from the other day?" She wiggled her eyebrows and I cleared my throat. "Come on, I am a quarter of a century old and besides, I can guess a lot from this—" She pulled out a leather glove from behind her back and I choked on my saliva. Edward forgot his damn glove. Her grin widened and her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Victoria is still in the bathroom. Come on." She nudged my shoulder with a wink. Her eyes looked at the glove and she pursed her lips. "I've seen this before too, I think."

"It's Edward's." I admitted softly and she furrowed her brows in confusion. "Masen." I grumbled and her eyes suddenly widened.

"No fucking way!" She whisper-yelled. I put a finger to my lips and urged her to quiet down.

"Alice." I groaned and she composed yourself.

"Let me be perfectly honest with you." She glanced behind her to see if Victoria was coming and when the coast was clear she leaned over to me to whisper by my ear. "Me and James kind of knew the guy that caused you such a headache was him." This time my jaw dropped and she giggled. "It was a little obvious but I couldn't say anything since you didn't confide in me."

"So, you knew I liked him?"

"I was ninety-three percent certain." She affirmed. "The other seven percent I assumed it could've been someone else." She shrugged. "So, you had a relationship with him?" I shook my head furiously.

"No. I swear." I even lifted my hand while she just watched on comically.

"I don't judge. In fact, it seems adventurous to have a relationship with your professor."

"I didn't have one though. We only went out after our finals." She pursed her lips and deflated slightly.

"That's no fun." She whined.

"There would be big trouble if we did anything while officially student and professor."

"I guess you're right." I heard the toilet flush, meaning Victoria was coming out. I gripped Alice's wrist.

"Alice, please don't tell anyone, including Victoria." I begged. "I'm only telling you but I don't want this to get out." She patted my hand and shrugged.

"I don't even know to what you're referring to." She smiled and winked at me, assuring me that my secret was safe with her.