I got out of the shower and breathed in the heavy steam that had fogged up my bathroom.
With a sigh I let out the deep breath and watched as the mirror only fogged up a little more, making it completetly impossible to see myself in it. Probably better for the entire world that way. Not being able to see my face.
I'm thinking that as if they actually saw it anyways.
I walked over and slipped on some jeans and a blue blouse. My favorite. I decided to dress somewhat nice for my first day. Even though as soon as I arrive at the station I'll be changing into uniform for the day. Maybe I shouldn't put so much effort into what I'm going to look like - it'll never matter anyways.
I blew my hair dry quickly before pulling it back in a blue ribbon. I decided on just a half pony today. I really should worry about keeping my hair out of the way, with it being so long, but I don't see us getting any too worrisome cases today.
I slipped on some converse before walking out the door and to my truck. My truck isn't great, I would hardly call it good, but it's mine and it gets me where I need to go. And you never really need to go too far when living in this small town.
I was born and raised in Forks, Washington. It's never been my favorite place to be, but I can't get myself to leave for multiple reasons.
I'll spare you the details for the time being.
As I drove through the streets of Forks it was rain poured down on my winshield. It was raining hard, as I figured it'd be. Terrific. This town will never go a week without rain! Or at least a constant overcast. The rain is such a downer, to me, I've never understood some people's love for it.
It just feels wet, and cold, and another one of those things that make life uncomfortable.
After parking I quickly stumbled out of my car and into the firestation. I knew my way around here pretty well from training and volunteer work. I knew it'd help me out someday because if I hadn't spent so much time here in the past, I know I would have no clue what to do with myself now.
Today's my first day on duty as a paramedic. I'd always wanted to be one, just like my Mom, Renee. I really looked up to her...when she was around me. She dropped me off her in Forks, at Dad's house, when I wasn't even old enough to spell my name.
I think that's one thing that held me in Forks, and to this job, even though I'm twenty-three. I think I'd always hoped that maybe she'd come back and find me, or get a job here, or something. That she'd save me from this droopy old place.
But she hasn't, and probably wont, but a girl can dream right?
I shook off the deep thoughts as I made my way to the locker room, being greeted by some of the fireman and stuff. I only blushed, nodded, but stared at my feet along the way. They were probably speaking out of pure courtesy. Manners, right?
I quickly slipped on the uniform. It wasn't exactly the most attractive article of clothing, but it was my job. Mom looked great in hers...I remember what she looked like to this day. I would never look as good in anything as she ever did. I shook my head, again, telling myself to quit thinking about her so much.
I walked outside after locking up and found my assigned bus. I'd already clocked in, and didn't bother going to the morning meeting. Those were more for the fireman, the Paramedics just go for something to do. It's not really my thing.
It was locked when I got there so I was stuck just leaning up against the side and holding my extra bag above my head while I waited. I didn't like this one bit, and I was beginning to get really, really cold. I sighed with relief when the doors opened and the other few Medics came out and ran to their buses.
I hadn't thought much about who I'd be partnered with. I just hope it's somebody decent. I'm not looking for a best friend, I wouldn't expect that from anybody. I sighed with relief when a figure began it's way towards me. They ran throught he downpour and unlocked the bus, yelling out an apology as they climbed intot he front. I climbed in too.
"Jesus, it's cold!" He chuckled as he breathed into his hands.
I couldn't help but stare.
I'm not going to lie, this man was absolutely gorgeous, even in uniform. His body was perfect, from what I could see. He looked tall, but he wasn't a giant, muscular, yet lean...he was beautiful. And then there was his perfectly sculpted face, surrounding his bright, emerald eyes. His hair topped it off, falling in a dissaray around his face. It looked copper, but I can't tell with it wet-down.
He didn't look my age either. I'm twenty-three, and he looked like he could be in his late twenties, or early thirties. Neither one would be too old for me, if he weren't so far out of my league. He's gorgoues. Beautiful. God-like. He looks like a personal Adonis, sent to me to make my life a living hell.
"How long were you out there?" He pulled me from my staring, leaving me to blush as I looked down at my completely soaked apparel. I was almost too focused on how his voice sounded like velvet, or bells. I loved it already.
"Um...a while."
"How long?" He asked, speaking sternly.
"Well, I came out here instead of roll-call, I-..."
"It's freezing and wet out there! You're going to catch a pneumonia just sitting in here!" He quickly turned on the heat and reached into the back, over my seat.
I took in a deep breath without thinking, inhaling his scent along the way. He smelled like heaven. It was a masculine smell, completely male, but it had this soft touch to it. Like honey, or something woodsy. It was completely him and I'd never smelled anything like it before in my life.
He pulled back, sitting in his seat, with a brand new, unopened uniformin his hands. I looked at it, shocked as he handed it to me. He watched me, as if waiting for something.
"Um...wha-..."
"Change into it." He spoke bluntly and turned to look away. "I wont watch, but you can't wear that all day. You'll get sick."
"O-okay." I stuttered, nodding as I began unbuttoning my uniform. It was raining so hard that nobody could see in the windows. Hell, I can't even see out of them! I was perfectly hidden in here.
I pulled it off, struggling to get it off over my shoes with the small space. I sighed, glancing at him nervously, as I was now just in my underwear. I went to open the package, but my fingers just weren't cutting it. I huffed, trying to slice it again, but not getting anywhere. My face flushed red as I looked back to Edward.
"Um," I began and he turned to look at me, gasped, and looked back away.
I wouldn't want to see me naked either. It's not pretty.
"It's not opening..." I whispered softly and he held a hand out for it.
"Sorry," he muttered. "For looking I mean."
"No...um, my bad." I sighed as I slipped the other uniform on, happy with the dry texture. I buttoned it up as quickly as possible, trying to make things less uncomfortable for my partner. If this is awkward for me, it must be absolutely horrific for him.
He turned back around when I told him that he could and he climbed into the back to take inventory. He had me turn around so that he could point out where everything was and how it worked. I watched, taking in as much as I could, trying not to get to distracted by the sight of him.
Guys don't usually effect me so strongly. I've seen guys, and I've felt attracted to them, but never to this level. I've never seen someone this beautiful, and they have more than their pretty face too.
And he's not a complete, and utter bully.
"I'm Edward Cullen, by the way." He smiled at me after a little while. "I should have done that first,"
"Right...sorry...I'm Isabella Swan." I told him and his brow furrowed.
"What?" He asked me and I felt my face flush bright red. "I mean, you're speaking too softly. You can speak up."
"Um, sorry, again...I'm Isabella...Swan."
"Why do you keep apologizing?" He asked me, his green eyes shooting at me quickly, but then back to the road. I looked down at my interlocked hands.
"I just...Um, I don't know. Sorry, it's a habit I guess. Just the way I was raised, I suppose." I told him and he pursed his own perfect lips.
"Well, it's unnecessary. Unless you've done something absolutely wrong, on purpose, I don't want to hear an apology. Alright? You didn't do anything wrong." He stated the rules, and I nodded, keeping them in mind. I'm so used to living by my Dad's rules, and his only, that I'm not used to doing what other people want.
I turned to look out the window after a few seconds. I was so aware of his presence that I didn't know what to do with myself. Ususally I'm so good at keeping to myself, and not speaking to others, but with him it's just...strange. I feel like I want to talk to him. I want to know him.
But I also know better. Way better. I know better than to think that he'd ever want to know me back. Who would? I've never met a single person who's actually wanted to know me, well one person, but she's required to.
I'm all she has.
And I hate that!
"Is something wrong? I didn't say anything to upset you, Bella, right?" He asked me and I felt my face frown as I turned to him.
"B-Bella?" I asked him softly.
"Oh...sorry...just got it from Isabella, you know?"
"But why?"
"I don't now." He shrugged, his face turning pink. "Maybe I'll tell you someday." He whispered and I was curious. "Anyways...did I do something to make you upset?"
"No, of course not, Edward." I shook my head furiously.
"Oh...well, then why are you upset?"
"Just...um...I'm not. It's nothing," I lied, looking him in the eyes. He stared for a second before nodding once.
I could tell that he knew I was lying immediately. I gave him my 'I'm serious' look thought and it seemed as though this stopped him for now. He understood that I just needed my space and that he's not going to push it today.
Good.
"So..." He spoke after the awkward moment. "My daughter, Alice, she's been so good lately. I had to take a few weeks off after she was born, but now she's doing great."
"Your daughter?" I glanced at his ring finger.
It was empty, which implied that he was unmarried, but that doesn't mean he was single. He may just be with a girlfriend. Maybe she's not even that to him, yet. Though there's now way any woman would leave a wonderful man like him to raise a baby alone. He cleared his throat and I realized that I'd spaced out again.
"Yes..." He began again. "My daughter...she's almost two. Her name is Alice. Her Mother, Tanya, left. She want's no part of her, but that's her problem, because I honestly want no part of her. Unless it's Alice. I want Alice to have a Mom, but her Mom, her Mom was a basket case."
"Why doesn't she want Alice?" I asked softly, trying to comprehend why she wouldn't want her own daughter. How could someone be like that?
My Mom was like that.
"Alice was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome. We don't know how advanced it is yet, because she's so young, but it's definitely there." He told me and I nodded, shrugging.
"So she just upped and left? How could someone do that to their own baby? I mean, my God, does she think that Alice won't want her? That she won't need her there? Having you as her Father, that would be great, but a girl needs her Mom. Now she's got the seed of doubt in her head, and she has the possibility of growing up feeling abandoned, and lonely, she-..."
"Damn, you're really opinionated on this subject, aren't you Swan?" He snickered glancing away from the road, and at me. His eyes caught mine and I watched as his face dropped, slowly, and his eyes saddened. "Something happened to your Mom..."
"She...she dropped me off at my Dad's when I was about five." I whispered and I watched as he shook his head, watching the road carefully. "I don't understand...I just...she acted like she liked me. She did things with me, and I looked up to her," I cried feeling embarrassed. "And she just left me."
"I'm so, so sorry..." He whispered, his voice broken too.
"You aren't the one who gave up on me...yet, anyways."
"What about your Dad? He was there for you...right? I mean, I'm going to do absolutely everything I can for Alice. Did it help you?" He asked me and I shifted my eyes away from him.
"My Dad was, and still is, upset about Mom leaving him. He never paid much attention to me. I mean, he was there, I was fed and clean, but...he just wasn't there for me when needed. I don't know."
"That's a bunch of bull..." He sighed. "He doesn't have an excuse for not being there for you. He was the grown up, and you were a baby, that just...it's not right."
"You don't know me yet." I shrugged, and he shook his head.
"Whatever, Bella." He sighed. "Anyways, Alice is doing absolutely great. Her twitches are way, way, way smaller, and far apart now that she's living with me. When she was with her Mom, she blinked more than she could breathe. And then the slapping, wow. The slapping's gone completely. I'm so proud of her."
"She sounds sweet." I whisped, and he nodded, his face full of pride.
"Here, my wallet's in the console," He told me and I pulled it out. "Open it."
"Kay," I whispered and flipped it open. First there was a picture of him, in scrubs. He was holding a tiny baby, wrapped up in pink. She was obviously crying in this picture, but she was a newborn, and completely beautiful.
The second picture was of a little green-eyed beauty. She looked just like him, other than the fact that she had dark curls. Next to her was a boy with the same eyes, and shorter hair. They looked just alike, right down to the single dimple they'd accumulated from her father.
"That's her brother, Emmett." He told me and I smiled at him. "He's eight, and amazing. You'd love him. Totally wild, and he's got his Aunt Carmen's imagination. He's also an amazing brother. He really hit it off with Ali, too."
"That's good. They're both gorgeous." I whispered.
"Best part of my life." He shook his head, smiling widely. I'd never seen someone so happy as he was when talking about his children.
"Where are they now?" I asked him.
"My Mom babysits. She could only have two kids. Myself and my twin sister, Carmen." He sighed shaking his head. "She would have been amazing with a huge family, but was diagnosed with ovarian cancer right after having us. All of her dreams were taken away. I think that's why we were so spoiled sometimes."
"You don't act spoiled," I whispered, thinking of the really spoiled people out there.
"We were taught better." He shook his head. "My father knew his manners. Him and Mom were quite the team. They still are amazing people. Maybe you'll meet them sometime," he grinned.
"Right." I nodded, slowly. I've never met anyone's parents before. That'd be weird to me.
"How about you, Bella?" He asked after a few silent moments. "Have any kids?"
"Um, no...I have a nine-year-old sister though. She lives with Dad...actually...I'm not sure who her Mother is, and she doesn't know either. Dad just came home with her one day. If she didn't look identical to me, I wouldn't believe that she's my sister. I raised her, um, but I love her. She's pretty much the only person who's ever stuck around."
"I don't blame her, so far you seem great." He shrugged and I blushed, rolling my eyes.
"You're just a good person."
"Whatever."
The rest of the shift when pretty smoothly. I got to know Edward and his kids rather well, actually. They're all he talked about. I couldn't be happier though, because it's nice to know that there is still good parents out there in this world.
I liked Edward. I don't mean that I'm in love with him or anything. We just met and he has better things to do right now than worry about a mess like me. This only brought my mood down a bit more, so I turned to look away and out the window.
We only got two calls today. An elderly woman had a heart attack and a little boy with an asthma attack. It was nothing too bad, the woman took an aspirin, saving herself and the boy had his inhaler handy. They both survived and possibly went home later today, anyways. I can't wait for the real work.
When we got back to the station I followed Edward to the station and up to the locker room where we changed. I sat down on the bench with a sigh as I tied my shoes. My fingers were shaking horribly, and I'm not sure why. But I kept having to restart, completely incapable of getting them tied.
"Here," Edward chuckled and sat down on the floor in front of me, taking my foot into his lap. "You're stressed." He whispered as he expertly tied one shoe, and then the other for me. "You need rest."
"Right..." I yawned and he eyed me seriously.
"I'm serious B, get some rest. You need it if you want to be up and working tomorrow. Lives are on the line."
I sighed standing up and he offered to walk me to my car. I only agreed because I could see that he had an umbrella on him and I didn't feel like getting into sopping wet seats tomorrow morning. He linked his arm with mine and walked with me on out of the station and to the old, beat down truck.
To say I was shocked when he pulled the door open for me would be an understatement. The worst part is that this was probably one of the nicest things that a guy has done for me in a really long time. I smiled sheepishly as he took my hand and helped me in too.
"You have a good night, Bella. Drive safely, and get to bed safe too." He whispered and I nodded, pursing my lips.
"You too, Ed."
"I'll see you in the morning." He watched as I closed my door and started the car, turning on the heat in the process.
I watched as his silhouette made it's way back across the area and to his own car. I couldn't tell what he drove, it was still raining to hard, and probably too dark out anyways. You can't really tell at this time and weather point.
I slowly pulled out and thought about my day with Edward Cullen.
This may be the start of my first, real friendship.
I shouldn't let myself get my hopes up too high.
A/N: Hello readers! So, the second & third chapters are done and that they may get posted today, I may take my time. They are much longer than this one, I can promise you that much. I hadn't planned on posting this one for a while, you know? At least not until I was absolutely positive that I'd be able to finish it...but I'm me and I don't have the will-power to go on like that.
So, here it is!
Bella's kind of a downer, huh? You still love her anyways. The reason I chose to post it now instead of waiting was because I know I'll be starting school soon and the next few weeks will be busy. School...yuck. I love my summer break, but it comes and goes so quickly. Let's hope for a quick school year? And if not quick, one that I have time write during?
I'm rambling. Let me know what you think! In all honesty, reviews are what keep me going and I love to hear opinions/criticism. Try to refrain from being rude, though I won't reprimend you if you are. Some people are jerks, and I understand that. I'm far from a paramedic, though I've considered it as a career path when I'm older, so if you have any tips for as far as that area goes.
So, until then, you must bare with me and use your imagination, jsut as I am!
Just remember, reviews are golden!
- Em