Authors Note: I've had this idea for a while. I was inspired by one of my all time favorite shows, Charmed. A little warning this chapter contains a little violence.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or Charmed.
Chapter 1
The door chimes as I step into the cool air conditioned store, a big difference from the unseasonably warm August night. 'Please let this be the last one,' I mentally chant a few times.
Arlene's is a mid-size Wine and Liquor Shop nestled in downtown San Francisco. The fifth one I've had to visit tonight. The cashier sits looking slightly bored, barely looking up as the bell chimes. Checking the paper in my hand, heavily creased from constantly folding and refolding, I head down the tightly spaced aisles looking for the specific bottle of wine I've been tasked with finding.
My phone rings, answering it I bring it to my ear without checking the screen, my eyes scanning the shelves.
"Yes, Alice."
My best friend/roommate's voice comes through slightly frantic and rushed.
"Bella! Have you seen my black pumps, I can't find them anywhere! I have to wear them for the dinner tonight, without them the whole outfit falls apart."
"Woah, Alice slow down, I think I may have seen them in Rose's room last week, check there." That would be my other roommate and best friend.
There's a pause, and hurried footsteps, followed by a squeal. I continue scanning the aisles.
That wine has to be here somewhere. I'm about two seconds from giving up and grabbing a random bottle. My feet are screaming for me to go home. And plus, Alice doesn't even drink.
"And please don't forget the wine, Bella." Alice is back on the line with that creepy way of reading my mind.
"I know Alice. This is my Fifth Store. Remind me to never have to owe you a favor again by the way."
Rolling my eyes, I almost miss the man walking back and forth past the main entrance, glancing around him. It wouldn't be too suspicious… if this wasn't his third time and he wasn't glancing every few seconds around him muttering something to himself.
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Bella this is a really important night. I only have one shot at making a good first impression on Jaspers parents."
"Yeah and a $100-dollar bottle of wine will do the trick." I quietly mutter to myself. Oh, I really do love my best friend and her good intentions. But sometimes… "I know Alice, don't worry everything will go just fine tonight, they're gonna love you. Now calm down before you break out in hives." I chance a glance at the man outside again. However, he seems to have left, I note with a slight sigh of relief.
"Ok that was one time and for the thousandth time it was an allergic reaction!"
I can't help the giggle that escapes. "Yes!" I exclaim a little too loudly. There on the bottom shelf sits one bottle of the 20-year-old wine. My feet give a sigh of relief.
"I'll be home soon Alice, remember no more stressing." I hang up as I make my way to the front counter to pay for the ridiculously expensive wine. The store is pretty empty, save for a younger guy in line checking out ahead of me. A middle aged woman with at least 30 bottles of liquor in her tiny shopping cart is coming up one of the aisles.
Spacing out I begin mentally calculating how fast I can get home and supply Alice's wine, calm her down some, complete an assignment due for class, and settle down with one of my newly acquired novels from Mrs. Newton. The chime on the door sounds, the pacing man from earlier has returned. His hair is in a low ponytail, blonde, covered by a beanie, his jacket slightly dirty in some areas. He looks a little disheveled.
I have the urge to check out and get out of the store as soon as possible. Trying not to catch his eye, I glance at him from the side. He walks over to one of the display cases looking at a few bottles of wine.
Multiple things suddenly happen at once. The man in front of me finishes paying, making a step towards the door as I step up to the counter. The pacing man pulls a metal object out from underneath his jacket, yelling. The woman with the cart, now at the front of the store only a few feet away, begins hysterically screaming.
"You know what this is." He yells, a silver handgun in hand.
The gun is shaking uncontrollably, pointed towards the clerk whose hands are now up in the air.
"Woah Man." The guy in front of me holds his bag up, stepping back.
"Ohmygod!" the woman begins sobbing.
I am frozen. Incapable of movement or any other thought. This can't be happening.
"Shut up!" The man yells. "All of you get against the wall."
My feet are like bricks, somehow I slowly make my way to the wall. He points his gun towards the group of us. His back turned towards the clerk. This gives the clerk an opportunity, as I see one of his raised hands began to slowly inch down towards what I hope is a panic button.
The robber begins to turn around towards the clerk. Oh no. He's going to realize what the clerk is attempting to do. My mouth opens before I can stop it.
"You don't have to do this." It does the trick because his head snaps towards me. I note from the side of my eye the clerk reaches down rapidly pressing something.
"What did you say?" He takes a step closer. My mouth goes dry and my heart begins pounding even faster if possible. I know it's all over now, my thoughts turning to Rose and Alice, the only family I have, how they'll feel when I'm gone.
The man's gun is pointed towards me, there's a slight hesitance as the gun continues to shake. Spotting an opening I take it.
"I- I mean…you're in control here, you can still get out of here, you haven't committed a crime yet. You don't have to go through with this."
He pauses for a second. I think he may decide to bolt. But suddenly he pulls an empty bag out of his jacket, his eyes hardening.
"Shut up! Any of you make another noise or move I will use this on you." He waves the gun at me, before turning around. "Now fill this up." He throws the bag onto the counter, anxiously glancing at the door every few seconds. The cashier begins grabbing bills from the register and shoving them into the bag.
I glance at the other two people beside me. The woman is sobbing silently, I try to give her a small reassuring smile, though I think it may come off more like a grimace. The man beside me is clutching his shopping bag, his eyes moving between the door and the robber every few seconds.
I send a silent prayer up; pleading. I don't want to die in this store. I still have so much more I want to do, that I need to accomplish. I realize how cliché it sounds in this moment, but it's my biggest wish.
"Now the safe." The man gestures behind the clerk.
"I- I don't have a s-safe."
The gun cocks. Gulping, the clerk turns around going to what I presume is the safe.
What seems like hours has only been around five minutes since the man pulled his gun. He finally holds the full bag, giving the store a once over before starting to turn. The man beside me reaches down into his own pocket, taking a step forward. A fatal mistake.
The thief swings back around holding the gun up firing one shot.
A blood-curdling scream breaks the silence, the man crumples to the floor. The robber looks to be in his own form of shock, before turning and bolting out of the store.
"Oh God, call 911!" I yell to the clerk, my instincts kicking in. I rush to the fallen man. I can faintly hear the crying woman, still sobbing in the background, as I look over his injuries.
The shot hit his shoulder, the blood is slowly spreading, staining his tan jacket. He clutches his right arm, shaking. Sweat is beginning to form on his forehead, his breathing slightly labored. I meet his eyes, elevating him slightly off of the ground.
"Hey there, you're going to be ok, alright. I'm a nurse." I leave out the in training part. He nods his head slowly. Removing his jacket, I'm careful not to move him too much. I see the bullet has made it in deep, and the bleeding is beginning to speed up. He's going to need immediate surgery to remove the bullet.
"What's your name?" I ask in my calmest voice, removing my thin flannel button down, I am suddenly grateful for my undershirt.
"J-Jack" He grunts out. There is a faint sound of police sirens outside. Taking a deep breath, I continue on wadding my shirt up.
"Hi Jack, I'm Bella. I'm going to apply some pressure to this wound, Ok?" I press the shirt down on his wound, careful to keep steady pressure.
Suddenly there is a loud commotion outside, the police have arrived, and frantic yelling begins, though I can't make out the words. The clerk has begun comforting the woman behind me, as I continue tending to Jack.
Gunshots rang outside the door, making us all inside jump, followed by a long silence.
Finally, what seems like forever later, though it could've only been a few seconds, the front doors of the Store burst open.
Well, what an introduction to Bella. Hoped you enjoyed. The next Chapter we'll meet Edward. Thanks for reading! Reviews would be amazing too.