Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
"Alice. This is ridiculously expensive. Let's eat somewhere a little bit cheaper," I complained.
"Bella. Don't worry about it. This is my treat to you," my best friend Alice said. "Anyway. I really wanted to show this place to you before it's discovered. Mark my words, this place is amazing! It's what you call a hole-in-the-wall restaurant."
"Fine. Whatever. I'll just order the cheapest thing on the menu," I snapped back.
"Nope. I've already ordered for us," Alice said, smug. "All you have to do is order your drink when the waitress comes, and I'll even let you order my drink, too."
"Alice, you'll be the death of me, I swear," I muttered.
"But you still love me, right?"
I took a minute. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
"I know you do.
A couple of minutes later the waitress came to take our drink orders. "Hi, my name is Angela. May I take your drink orders?" she smiled.
"Yes. We would like two cokes, please," I said.
"Ok. I'll have that out in a couple of minutes, and your meals should be out in about 10 minutes," Angela said.
"Ok. Thanks," Alice said.
As we waited on our food, Alice and I started talking about our plans for the summer. I was going to start working at a daycare near my house to get some intern hours in for my major, while Alice was going to intern for a clothing designer in Seattle.
"Really, Bella. I can't believe how lucky I am. I mean, usually they choose people who've already graduated and have been working a little bit. For them to choose me, that's...that's...just amazing, you know?" Alice chirped.
"I know, Alice. I knew when you told me the first thousand times," I smiled. "I just hope you remember your old friends when you take the fashion world by storm. Little old me's just going to stay here and take care of children in boring little Forks. Nothing ever happens here."
"Maybe you'll be surprised. Maybe you'll meet your soulmate this summer. You never know," Alice said with a mysterious grin.
"Come on, Alice. You can't believe in a thing like 'soulmates.' It's just not logical," I said.
"Just because you've never really been in love, doesn't mean it isn't real. I believe in soulmates," she said.
"You're just saying that to make me feel better about you leaving me for Jasper," I said.
"I'm not leaving you for Jasper. I just met him yesterday. Anyway, it's just a coincidence that we'll be working in the same office. It's really great that he's interning there too. Although we're not going to be doing the same things, obviously. I mean, when you look as Jasper, you don't think 'fashion designer.' You think 'business person,' you know? And we'll get to know each other better. That way I can be sure that he's my soulmate and not some guy that I'll end up not liking after a few days," Alice said dreamily.
"Yeah, and that's why you get this dreamy look on your face every time his name comes up," I retorted.
Alice opened her mouth to comeback with a witty reply but was interrupted by Angela. "Here you go ladies. Two servings of mushroom ravioli, hot and fresh from the kitchen," Angela said with a smile.
"Thank you," Alice and I said at the same time.
"Let me know if you need anything else," she said, turning to walk away.
"Actually, could we get a refill, please?" Alice asked.
"Sure thing. Let me take these glasses from you and I'll be back in a minute," she said.
"Thanks again," Alice said. She turned to me. "Dig in before it gets cold. I know you don't like cold mushroom ravioli."
"Sure, sure. Thanks again for the lunch, even though I think it is ridiculous to spend this much on any meal," I said as I started in on my lunch.
"You know you like it. Plus, you'll probably not get a chance to eat like this for a while, what with you working at the daycare this summer. Packed lunches and fast food. Yum. Not," she grinned.
"Here's your cokes. Don't hesitate to let me know if you need anything," Angela said as she returned.
"Thanks, Angela," I said. "Don't worry, we will."
As Angela turned around and walked away, I noticed an odd colored head of hair in the corner of my eye. I turned my head to look around the restaurant and noticed that the hair belonged to a guy that had his back toward us and seemed to be talking animatedly to his date. His date looked like a cheerleader-type girl. You know, with the straight blonde hair and the tiny figure.
"Alice, look at that guy's hair. That's a strange color to see on a guy, isn't it?" I asked.
Alice turned and looked. "Hmm. I guess. If he'd only turn around so that we could see his face. Maybe then..." she trailed off.
"What are you thinking, Alice?" I asked warily. Alice was known for her big ideas and usually they didn't end up so well. For me, anyway.
"Nothing," she said, turning back to her food. "Eat, before it goes to waste. I need to get some more coke, can I have a sip of yours? Please?" she asked innocently.
"Sure. Go ahead," I said. She reached her hand over the table to take my glass but at the last moment she started coughing and knocked over my glass into my lap.
"Alice!" I screeched as the she knocked over the ice-cold drink into my lap.
"I'm so sorry Bella! I didn't mean to! I mean, I just started coughing," she exclaimed.
"I know. Don't worry about that. It's just really, really cold," I said.
"Maybe you should head to the bathroom to get some paper towels so you can blot some of it," Alice said, with a twinkle in her eyes.
I turned to my left and my nose instantly met flesh. "Oh, my goodness. I'm so sorry," I started rambling. "I wasn't looking where I was going..." I trailed off as I looked up into the face of the person who stood in front of me.
"It's no problem," the man said as he laughed. His laugh had a musical undertone to it that made me go weak in the knees. His hands shot out and held onto my arms to steady me. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah. I mean, yes, I'm ok," I stammered. As I stared at his face I realized that this was the guy Alice and I had been staring at earlier, the one with the beautiful hair.
"My name's Edward Cullen and you are?" he asked, looking into my eyes.
I tried to answer but I was so dazed by his amazingly green eyes that I just stood there staring at him. I felt Alice kick me as I stood there. I jumped a little bit and replied, "Bella. Bella Swan."
"Nice to meet you Bella," Edward said as he released my arms. "You might want to be more careful the next time you get up out of a chair," he said, his eyes dancing with laughter.
"Th–thanks," I said.
"Sorry Bella, but I've got to be going. Hopefully I'll see you around sometime this summer," Edward said as he turned to leave.
"Hopefully," I whispered. As he paid his bill, I watched him with awe and embarrassment. I thought of how good it felt, how right it felt, to have his arms hold my own, I started to blush.
"What are you blushing about, Bella?" Alice grinned.
"Nothing. Nothing at all," I whispered. Edward was leaving the café now with his date and he waved at me as he left. The blonde with him glared at me as I raised my hand to wave back.
"Bella has a crush, Bella has a crush," Alice sang. "I approve, Bella. He's really cute."
"Thanks, Alice. I'm so glad," I said sarcastically. "I do not have a crush on him. I...I was just..."
"You were just blushing because you've finally found your soulmate!" Alice sang.
"Alice! Edward Cullen is not my soulmate. I was just blushing because I was thinking that he probably thinks that I'm such a klutz and everything," I said in a rush.
Alice nodded. "I'm so sure that's the reason why. Are you finished? I guess we should get back to the apartment so we can get ready for tomorrow and then we can watch a movie!"
"I'm done. Let's go," I said as we rose. Before we left the table, though, I left a tip for Angela. She was really sweet and kind. You don't meet a lot of waiters and waitresses that are that nice. I followed Alice to the register and stood there thinking as she paid for the meal. I was thinking about how I had run into Edward and just stood there like a silly schoolgirl with a crush. He must have thought that I was a head case or something, I thought.
"Bella, come on. We're leaving now," Alice said, interrupting my thoughts. Maybe I will see him around this summer, I thought. Hopefully.