COLLIDE Cht. 1
"Crap!" I yelled. It was already 6pm. I had to be at work at 6:30pm. That was the last time I take a nap before work.
I rushed around and got dressed. I was completely ready except I had no idea where my nametag was and if I showed up without it again my manager would kill me. ."Damnit where is that thing" I said as I was throwing all the clothes on my floor out of the way to try and find it. It was now 6:20 and if I didn't leave now I would be completely late. I would just have to steal Alice's again. Hopefully no one will notice.
Luckily work was only 5 minutes from where I lived. I made it just a few minutes late.
"That was a close one Bella." Angela, my co-worker yelled. "Boss was starting t think that you weren't coming in at all. "Sorry. I couldn't find my nametag." I said as I grabbed my apron off the wall. I worked at the local sports bar and restaurant. The hours sucked but the pay and tips weren't bad. I also worked with my friend Alice which made it better.
"Apparently you never found it." She said pointing at Alice's name on my shirt.
"Shhh" I said and we laughed.
"Oh and Mike is here…again and he said you could have a drink on him and he waited 30 minutes when he didn't have to, to end up in your section."
"Like he always does." I sighed. Mike was a regular and he came in mainly to see me. I couldn't count the number of times he has tried to ask me out. When he tries, I usually can think of an excuse to let him down easy, but every once in awhile I had to be more stern about it. You think he might get a hint. But right now I might have to be stern. He and only one other group were in my section and that meant I had very few excuses to leave his table.
I slowly walked to where he was sitting, not wanting to talk to him at all. "Hey, Mike what can I get you?" There was so much fake enthusiasm in my voice. I could barely believe he thought I was sincere.
"Bella! I have been waiting to see you! Did you get your drink yet?" He asked excitedly. I swear if he was a dog he would be wagging his tail right now.
I took a deep breathe to calm myself and through gritted teeth said, "No, not yet Mike. But I really shouldn't drink while I am working anyway." That excuse was such a lie. I wasn't even 21. I couldn't have alcoholic beverages anyway.
"Yeah, you're right. But just charge me for it and have one after work or maybe I can stop by when your shift ends to have one with you."
"Oh, sorry but I have to get out of here fast tonight. I have a lot of school work due tomorrow that I have barely started." His face fell. I hated hurting his feelings. He really was a nice guy but he was not for me. "Maybe another time" I added.
His face perked up. "Alright!"
Yet I hated giving him false hope like I just did. This was just a lose-lose situation. "Well, I have other tables. Do you know what you want?" I knew what he was going to order. He never changed it, Burger, well-done, mashed potatoes and a cherry coke.
"Uh, yeah. Burger, well-done with mashed potatoes and a cherry coke."
I didn't write it down. "Coming right up."
I walked back to place the order. But when I got there, it was already done. "Very funny Angela." I yelled. She was on the other side of the bar serving drinks.
"I was just being helpful." She said sarcastically.
I walked back with his coke and quickly place it on the table and walked away. I had another table anyway.
I went over to the only other table in my section. There were three people sitting there. I didn't know who they were, which was odd. This was a small college in the middle in the city. But only the college kids came here or a small group of regulars. I knew mostly everyone. There was a big burly guy with a goofy grin sitting with his arm a beautiful blonde girl. She was so beautiful that it took a hit on my self-esteem. Then on the other side was another boy with reddish brown messy hair. I couldn't see his face.
"Hey, I will be your waitress tonight" I was avoiding names. I couldn't lie but my nametag was. "Do you know what you want to drink or do you need time?"
The reddish brown haired boy looked up at me. He was very handsome, and the smile he gave me made me think he knew how nice looking he was. He just stared for a while. It was somewhat uncomfortable. His stare was so intense. He finally looked at the other two and spoke "I am ready if you two are." His voice was velvety smooth and was full of confidence. Great, the voice confirmed it. Just what we need another cocky man who thinks he can have any girl he wants. Those guys are why I am always so nice to Mike. Mike was a truly nice guy and deserved a nice girl more than guys like him.
The blonde spoke up first. "I will just have a water thanks."
"I want a coke but can I also have a chocolate milkshake to go with it." The burly one said excitedly. The excitement he exuded made me chuckle. I nodded and wrote it down. I then looked at the bronze haired boy.
"You work here, what do you suggest?"
Seriously, I thought. I can understand that flirty question with the meal but drinks. "Well, I always have coke but if you were thinking alcoholic, I wouldn't know." I said in a monotone to show that I hade no interest in his uncreative way at flirting with me.
"A coke, it is then" He said it and flashed a gorgeous crooked smile that would probably make most girls faint, but I knew his angle. I would be just another number on his long list, so I ignored it as best I could. It still made me a little flustered and I almost dropped the pen. I was angered that he could have that effect on me. Even though I knew what he really wanted and that he was no good, he still could leave an impression. It was not fair. I hate men like him.
"Alight. I will get that for you right away." I said with another fake smile. I walked away fuming about how he could make me flustered.
Mike was flagging me down again. But I was too annoyed with Mr. Pretty Boy to deal with him. I just pretended not to see it as I walked back to the bar. I would check on him when I brought his order. I put my head on the bar to clear my mind and cool off. Those guys just always make me so angry. I knew why and it really had nothing to do with him specifically but I couldn't help my reaction. Cocky men just bugged me.
"Bella, are you okay?" Angela asked.
I sighed and lifted my head. "Yeah, I just have a feeling it is going to be a long night."
"I don't know about that. You seem to have an admirer"
"Yeah Mike what a help he is!"
"No, not mike. The gorgeous one with bronze hair."
"What? How do you know he was flirting with me at the table?" There was no way she could have heard him all the way behind the bar.
"Well he has been staring at you since you came in and he is still doing it right now."
"What?" I whipped around to see. There was no way. His type would only flirt when it was convenient for him. But sure enough, his eyes were on me. His stare was not smutty like he was imagining me naked but sweet and still as intense as before. That confused me. No one had ever looked at me like that. I forced myself to look away from him. He made me weak in the knees. Great he could affect me from afar. This was really not helping my mood.
My head was swimming with questions about why and how angered I was until I was interrupted by a high squeak and a hug. "Bella! We decided to visit."
"Alice, Jasper! I thought you two were staying in and studying tonight." Well at least they would be here make this night better.
"We have been studying since one and I can't take it anymore." She complained "We need a drink"
"Okay, go sit in my section and I will bring you two some Cokes." I laughed.
"Alright, Alice…" Jasper said looking at me. Damn, I forgot about the nametag.
"Why did you call…" Alice started to say but then she noticed the nametag too. She just laughed and I blushed at my inablility to find anything. "Nice Bella. Yours, by the way, is under your sketchpad. You put it there and the book fell on it a few days ago." She had an uncanny way of knowing those things. "Oh and who is the guy that won't take his eyes off you. He is hot!"
I began to blush. "He is no one and he is not staring!" I stressed.
"That is a lie" Angela yelled. "He has been looking at her since she walked in and according to her, has been flirting with her."
"OOHHH" Alice yelled. "This is great. He is cute, likes you, and you really need to get out. He is perfect"
"No he is not and I get out plenty. I am out right now." I was beginning to wish that she and Jasper did not come in tonight.
"Work does not count"
"Whatever." I replied. Angela was now done with my drinks. "Just go to your table and you can bring your own drinks with you."
She quickly grabbed her drink and ran to my section. "Okay but we are sitting at the table closest to the pretty boy!" She yelled.
Damn it I didn't tell them which table. Yeah, this was going to be a long night. I took a deep breath and took the drink tray to the table that I knew Alice would forever refer to as the "Pretty boy table"
"Are you ready to order or do you need more time?" I asked sweetly.
The big one answered almost before I got out my question. "I will have the sirloin steak with a side of fries and side of a burger with everything." I laughed. I was interested in seeing if he really could eat all that. By the look of him and his huge muscles, he could. He gestured to the blonde." You're turn rose."
"Oh, I thought that the amount you ordered was for both of us?" She said sarcastically.
"But you don't like any of the food I ordered" He said, sincerely confused. Probably thinking that there was no way that amount of food could be for only two people.
She just rolled her eyes. "I will have the chicken parmesan. The chicken is grilled, correct?"
"Yes it is." I replied. "And for you." I turned expecting to see the "pretty boy" look up but his eyes were already on me.
"I will have the mushroom ravioli." I heard a squeak right after he said it. Could Alice ever be quiet? I loved her but the pitch of her voice could make someone go deaf.
"What was that?" He asked.
"Oh nothing. Just an annoying, small customer that will be hurt if she does not quiet herself." I said angrily and loud enough for her to hear. But it was a bad choice. She just giggled and made more noise. The boy then looked more confused. I might as well just tell him or Alice would tell anyway and somehow that would be worse. "Its nothing. You just ordered my favorite dish here and my friend…" I pointed behind me. "…finds it amusing."
He laughed. "Well, its nice to know that I have something in common with our beautiful waitress."
I blushed. I didn't want to. It would only make him think he had an effect on me but I blushed at everything so it really didn't mean that much. And I was definitely more angry than embarrassed by his comment. "Wow, what a line. How many waitresses have you snagged with that one." Shit I shouldn't have said that. He was still a customer. But my mood was not being helped. However, he was not mad. He was confused again. "Sorry, I have been having a long night."
"Yeah, she lashes out at times. I am Alice!" Alice had actually turned around to talk to him. She had to know that this was a bad idea, if she wanted to keep me calm.
"I am Edward and this is my brother Emmett and his girlfriend Rosalie."
"Nice to meet you. Oh and this is my boyfriend Jasper" Alice said. She was very excited. She loved meeting knew people and annoying me. Well at least Alice will have fun tonight.
"Hey" Jasper said. He tended to be shy at first.
"What is her name? I am guessing it is not Alice if that is your name." Edward mused gesturing to my nametag.
"My name is nothing." I said quickly. "I am sorry for my friends intrusion on your dinner. I will be right back with refills and your meals." I gave Alice a death stare as I walked away. I knew Alice wouldn't tell him my name but I wanted to solidify that. She probably would have more fun messing with me by almost saying it all night anyway. I then walked away as quickly as I could. I knew my face had to be beet red. It got redder. When I noticed that Alice did not stop talking to them.
I was muttering to myself as I started inputting the orders. I also put in Alice and Jasper's orders because I knew what they wanted. "Why not just invite them to sit with you. You picked the biggest table in my section just so you could bug me all night about this. Because that…"
Angela walked up in the middle of my small rant to myself. "So that looked interesting." I just sighed and did not look away from the screen. "Mike's order is ready also" she said and walked away. She knew when I did not want to be bothered but my best friend on the other hand…I grabbed Mikes order and walked to his table.
"Everything look okay?" More fake enthusiasm. This job could make me a very good actress.
"Like always. Are you okay? I saw the annoyed faces you were making when you were talking to that guy."
" It was nothing. He really was very nice." Too nice
"Okay, but if you need my help with him don't hesitate to ask."
"Okay thanks mike." I headed back to the bar thinking about mike trying to help me by beating up Edward and it made me laugh. Mike was not a big guy and I guessed that Emmett would help his brother if someone tried to hurt him. Mike would be down in less than 3 seconds. I could see it all. Mike pulling Edward up by his shirt, missing the punch he threw, then Emmett getting mad and just picking him up off Edward and throwing him to the ground hard enough to knock him out. I laughed.
"What is so funny?" I heard. It was the familiar velvet voice.
"Uh, nothing. Did you need something? You're order is going to be ready soon."
"I just wanted to talk to you. "
"Oh okay." I wasn't going to ask a question. If he wants to talk to me he can talk! I just raised my eyebrows and looked away.
"You're not going to make this easy for me are you?"
"You said you wanted to talk to me, so shouldn't you be the one talking?" I asked.
"I guess that is true." He laughed. "You definitely have wit. Wow beauty and brains."
"Wow, another line. I wonder how many you have. " I said with some acid.
"That wasn't a line. Your are really beautiful and from talking to you I can tell you are intelligent."
I scoffed. "You really should get back to your table." I was serious. He really shouldn't be interested in me. I am not the type that people have relationships Besides, most relationships are lies anyway.
"I can wait. And then I can help you carry the order. There has to be at least two trays to carry with all the food Emmett ordered. " He laughed at his brother.
That was true but I am Independent. "I can handle it. I have been a waitress for a while. Besides Angela helps the waiters with large orders." It was true.
"Actually, Bella…," Damn he now knew my name. "Could he help you? I am getting swamped back here. There is a Bears game on." Shoot. There was no way she could help. Bears games bring in the biggest crowds to the bar. "Also, Alice and Jazz's will be ready at the same time. You could take all the orders on the two trays."
"Its no problem. I am happy to help you, Bella." He stressed my name.
"Fine" I said through gritted teeth.
"How much time until the orders are up?" Edward asked innocently.
"Soon hopefully." I muttered too low for anyone to hear. " I don't know. Only a few more minutes probably." I responded nicely.
We stood there leaning on the bar in silence. It took all my strength to keep a semi smile on my face. However, Edward was just beaming happily next to me. Why was he so happy? It's not like he got anything that great. He was only getting to carry the trays over with me. That was not a big prize.
The orders were finally ready. Of course if Emmett would not have ordered that steak, they would have been up almost before Edward walked up, definitely before he could ask to help me. He grabbed the heavier one to my annoyance and I took the other one. I let him know I was annoyed with my facial expression and he just smiled more. I rolled my eyes and we walked to his table.
"Yes! What took so long I am starving." Emmet said and he never took his eyes off of the food. "But it looks worth the wait" His eyes were swimming with eagerness as he looked at all of his food.
Rosalie just gave a polite, "Thank you" as she got her food.
"Well thanks for the help." I said to Edward, trying to sound sincere.
"It was my pleasure, Bella." He said it with such happiness and he put stress on my name again.
I turned my attention to Alice and Jasper. "Like what you got?"
Jasper could only nod because his mouth was full and I laughed.
"You always know what we like!" Alice said.
"I know. Ok well I will be back in a minute. I have to get Mike to leave since he has finished."
I walked over to mike's table. "Do you need anything else or just the check?" I hated having to ask. Sometimes he would get dessert just to stay longer. With the way my night was going, it would tonight that he stays.
"No, the check is fine. I wish I could stay but I have a major exam in Bio tomorrow."
"Oh that sucks." I said with a huge smile as I handed him the check.
"Well I guess I could stay a bit…"
I cut him off, "No, you should really study."
"Right. Well here. No change."
"Thanks." It was still only a two buck tip but it was nice. He then got up and gave one last look at the "pretty boy" table before he left. At least one of my strains was gone. Now if only I could get rid of pretty boy and Alice.
I put the money in the in the cashier drawer. My section was still just Alice and the Pretty boy table. The restaurant tends to be slow during bears games while the bar is crazy. I couldn't help at the bar since I wasn't 21 so I just decided to walk back to spend time with Alice and Jazz and hopefully be able to ignore Edward. But as I turned all my hopes were dashed. They were all now sitting with Alice at her table. Was she trying to kill me?
"Bella, Bella." Alice yelled as she waved for me to come closer.
I couldn't ignore Alice. She would kill me. I just slowly walked with a fake grin.
"Bella, you have no other tables come relax a bit! These 3 are actually really fun. Please come sit"
What else did I have to do? This would be better than sulking angrily in the corner. Now I could take my annoyance out on the person annoying. That thought actually perked me up a bit.
I walked over to the table. "Okay you know all there names" Alice began and quickly continued with more fun facts. "Edward and Emmett are brothers and Rosalie is Emmett's girlfriend. They just transferred here form Alaska State because their father is a medical professor and changed Universities. He is a medical school professor and they get free schooling if they go where he teaches. Well not Rosalie but she wanted to stay with Emmett. Is that all?"
"Yeah I think you told her everything we said in the last 20 minutes in about 30 seconds." Edward replied in his velvet voice. "Please sit." He then asked pulling out a chair. I was about to sit in the chair he offered when I snagged my foot on the table leg and tripped. I was about to fall but Edward moved and caught me right before I hit the floor.
We looked into each other's eyes. His look was still intense and then his voice matched that intensity. "Are you alright?"
My mind went blank. I had seen that look lie that before. I saw all the images flash across my mind in a blur. I pushed them out. I didn't need to see those, not now. "uh….yeah, fine." I stammered. I was not angry anymore that he had an effect on me. Now I was scared, terrified that he did. He just smiled.
Before He let me go I barely heard Alice say, "She always does stuff like that. She can barely stay upright on the smoothest surfaces. It can be quite entertaining."
He finally put me back on my feet. I was only in his arm for a few seconds but it felt like hours. "You know what I can't stay. Angela is really swamped. I bet she needs my help. Nice meeting all of you." I ran quickly back to the bar. Alice stared at me confused as I left. I didn't know what to say to her.
The rest of the night was busy. I barely had time to talk to Alice and her "new friends." I like the restaurant busy though. It made time go by faster and made me forget about the boy and that look we shared. Before I knew it, it was time to close. I was exhausted and glad for my night to be over.
I walked out into the night air. It was September and it was cool but nice. I loved Chicago at night in the fall. It was warm but there was a brisk breeze that would cool you off. Then the city just looked so pretty at night. I walked home the slow way to enjoy what was soon to be one of the last warm nights. Chicago got cold quickly in the fall.