“Isabella Swan. But call me Bella.”

“I love that name. It’s a perfect name for you.” I blushed yet again. I knew what he’d meant, but I didn’t believe him. My name means beautiful. By his statement, he means to say I’m beautiful. But . . . I don’t understand why he said it. He was probably just trying to be nice. I’m not pretty at all. Jacob just likes me because of my body—that has never been fully revealed to him. I was still a virgin and proud of it. I wasn’t planning on giving up my virginity to anyone I didn’t truly love. And I didn’t truly love Jacob—not anymore.

“Thank you. I like your name too. You never meet many Edwards these days.” I’d had a thing for Edwards ever since I started reading classics. There were a lot of heroes in them named Edward.

“Yeah, I like the uniqueness of it. I wouldn’t be so happy if I had a common name such as . . . Tyler . . . or something.” I had to laugh at that. “What?”

“I know a Tyler. He used to practically stalk me in high school.” He laughed this time.

“Wow. I had a girl named Lauren stalk me in high school. I bet they’d make the perfect pair.”

“I agree.” He smiled. Crap. I suddenly remembered Jacob and thought about what’d happen if he found out I was talking to Edward . . . “Well, I must go now,” I said hurriedly.

“Oh, okay. I’ll . . . talk to you soon?” He placed it like a question, a look of rejection passing through his eyes. I couldn’t resist him—I just couldn’t.

“Um . . . Sure,” I said with a nervous smile.

I left soon after, heading immediately to the hospital. I was stuck in traffic though. My thoughts drifted to Edward, and I knew I’d have to do something about Jacob—and soon.

I was thinking of the different ways I could break up with him and the only possible result of it when something happened. I puked blood all over the passenger seat. Fuck.

I’d always hated blood. I felt queasy whenever I was around it. I was used to the hospital smell, though, since I’d been there a lot in my childhood—being a klutz, you have to get used to it.

Thankfully, the traffic light turned green and I drove—as fast as I could—to the hospital. I practically ran inside and told the receptionist what happened. She got me a nurse in less than two minutes, and the nurse, Jessica, raced to get me a room.

I was given water and some ice, and the nurse told me to wait.

“Hold on,” I said as Jessica was walking out the door. She turned to look at me. “What’s the rice for?”

“Oh, the rice sticks inside your stomach. We need you to eat it so that you don’t get malnutritioned.” I nodded, and she left, saying she had to find the doctor.

I waited on the hospital bed for a few minutes until the doctor entered. His lithe but muscular figure topped with bronze hair was breathtaking. I was completely shocked as to who it was.

“Edward?” I asked, my voice disbelieving.

“Bella?!” he exclaimed in the same voice.