Tears Of Joy
Ch. 1
I looked up from the game I was playing with the little girl in my lap as a new passenger boarded the bus. I glanced around and realized the only empty seat was the one next to mine. I hoped he would decide to stand but I had no such luck. He sat down right next to me. I was awe struck by his beauty. His skin looked like he could he albino but he had bronze hair and golden eyes. My daughter, sitting in my lap, tapped him on the shoulder and asked him exactly what I had been thinking.
"Are you albino?" He looked up and chuckled. He looked young, but his eyes were full of wisdom like he had seen things I could never imagine.
"No." He answered gently.
"I'm sorry sir, she was just curious. I'm Bella." I stuck my hand out but he ignored it.
"I'm Edward," he answered.
"I'm Ali!" Ali said, happily joining the conversation. "She's my mama!" She said pointing to me. I blushed and Edward went rigid. "Mister, do you have a dog?" Ali asked. Her newest obsession was dogs. It was all she ever seemed to talk about.
"Ali," I said, "Stop bothering him. I'm sorry." I said again.
"It's okay, and no, I don't have a dog. Do you?"
"Nope." Ali pouted. "Do you have a brother, I've always wanted a little brother."
"I have two brothers and two sisters. Are you siblings?"
"No." I answered quietly, embarrassed. "I'm her mother."
"Oh… I'm sorry. May I ask how old you are?" He paused. "Sorry, you don't have to answer that."
"Five and a half!" Ali yelled.
"Twenty-two." I said quietly, a little ashamed.
"Hmm… me too. Are you married?" He asked, eyeing the ring on my left hand.
"No, no."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. That was rude."
"No! It's fine!" I couldn't stand to see that beautiful face sad. "I don't believe I've ever seen you on the bus before. You're not a regular around here, are you?" I asked to change the subject.
"Not exactly." He answered. "I've been here before but…" He shook his head quickly. "But that doesn't matter. His voice turned a bit sharper. He was turned away now but I could still see his body buckle as he took a ragged breath. "I don't think I've seen you around here either."
"I live a bit south of here, in Phoenix." I clarified. The bus stopped and people came and went, tracking mud and water through the isles. It had been the most amount of rain some parts of Arizona had seen in over a decade. After a few moments he spoke again. "I can't believe it's raining."
"It's wet, too wet!" Ali announced. I was pretty sure it was the first time she had ever seen real rain before. I had barely seen any here myself, although Forks was a different matter.
"Ugh." I grunted.
"You don't like it?" Edward asked, seeing surprised.
"It reminds me of some things..." I trailed off. "My dad lives in Washington – the Olympic Peninsula - where its rainy all the time and I still haven't told him about… about Ali." I say slowly, not really sure why I'm telling my life story to this stranger.
"Wow. Why?"
"I don't know. He'd probably freak… I mean he'd get really mad." I shuttered at the thought. "My stop's coming up." I said, changing the subject.
"Are you going to the mall?" He asked.
"Yeah."
"Me too."
We continued to ride in silence and I said a quick goodbye as we got off the bus. I went straight for the food court, carrying Ali, and stood in the line for the sandwich place. They had the cheapest food in the whole mall. I ordered Ali her milk and a peanut butter and banana sandwich. I didn't have the money to buy myself a sandwich even though you could hear my stomach rumbling. As I went to sit down, Edward spotted me and came over. He glanced at the mostly empty tray and raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"I'm broke." I said.
"I'll get you something." He then walked briskly away before I could protest. He came back a little while later with a perfect looking wrap, a chicken salad, a slice of cake, and a smoothie. I didn't get why he was being so kind to me. We barely knew each other.
"Yummy!" Ali yelled, reaching for the cake. I grabbed her arm and told her,
"No desert until you finish your lunch." Turning to Edward I said, "I can't eat all of this! Even with Ali's help! Please have some." I pushed the tray towards him.
"Uh… I ate before I came." He said awkwardly.
"Well I don't want to throw all this food out! You spent money on that! You could have bought plenty with it!" I was yelling now and people were beginning to stare. I sat down and apologized.
"It's okay, I understand, but really, it was nothing." I raised an eyebrow as I began to pick at the salad. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ali eyeing the cake.
"Have you finished your sandwich?" I asked her.
"Yes." She said and I pushed the cake towards her as I turned back to Edward.
"My dad's a doctor and my mom…" he paused, his eyes looking downward.
"I'm so sorry." I said, thinking how it had seemed like my mom had died. He looked a little confused but continued.
"Well since money's tight maybe you would like to… oh wait, sorry, never mind. I could lend you some cash though." I was aghast. I barely knew this guy and he was offering to lend me money?
"Um… No, it's okay."
"Then can I at least offer you a ride home?"
"Uh… didn't you ride the bus here?"
"Yes, I'm picking up my car from the shop."
"Oh. I guess. I haven't done my shopping though."
"Oh right. What store are you going to?"
"Nearly New." I answered, a bit embarrassed to be shopping at a second-hand store.
"Okay. I'll be done quickly so I'll meet you there when I'm done, alright?"
"I guess…" I walked off with Ali into Nearly New. As I turned I noticed Edward stride right into one of the most expensive stores. I tried to shop quickly so he wouldn't have to wait for me but I had such a hard time finding something that Ali liked and would fit her too. I only ended up getting a pair of brown pants for myself. Ali was growing so fast though. She needed new clothes practically every week. Well nearly new to be precise. She ended up with four shirts, two dresses, five pairs of pants and one pair of shoes. Thankfully we only went a dollar over budget. Good thing I had a ride home because that last dollar was my bus money.
