This is it. It's all over, everything. My life: over. A chance at love: over. Why, all because of a round of pool.
Earlier That Night
Man it sure is good to go on vacation. I've never been to New Orleans before, but so far I love it. To complete my tourist façade I am now sitting in a bar on Bourbon St. This really is the life, sipping on a beer with no responsibilities. "Hey man how about we play some pool?" asked this big blonde guy. "Name is James."
"Hey, I'm Edward. How bout we make it interesting, five bucks a ball?"
"Yea sounds good. You break."
"Nah you break." This guy is such a sucker. I'm one of the best pool players in my home town. This guy won't know what hit him.
Man I'm so wasted. Guess it's a cab night. God, love to run tabs. One more ball. All tied up, my shot. I just got to sink it. This guy has way surpassed my expectations. Alright the eight ball is in my line 3…2…1… it's in! Let's see, five a ball and sixteen balls that's eighty bucks! Just enough to satisfy the tab and get a cab and maybe some left over.
I look over to see James fuming. He reaches to go for his wallet, but stops. "You cheated! I know you did."
"That's preposterous. I've done nothing wrong. Besides how and when did I cheat? Hmm?" I countered
What is this guy thinking? We have now attracted a crowd. Great. "I saw you grease your cue (an. I'm not sure if it's really illegal but it sounds good)." Is this guy on drugs? He must be.
This random stranger calls out, "I saw him do it." How is this possible? I didn't do anything wrong. Ok think Edward think. I've got it.
"You claim that I 'greased' my cue. My question for you is what did I, supposedly grease it with, and where is it now, because I do not have anything of the sort." Uh oh, that's not a good look on his face.
"Y'all I've had enough of this punk trying to weasel his way out of his lies. Let's teach him a lesson on not lying and cheating its sinful. Jake, Dimitri, grab him and bring him to the ally way out back." As they approach me all I can think is something one of my professors told me. Sometimes battles are lost before they begin. This is one of those times.
They had come out ready for a fight. There was nothing I could do. The odds were way against me. There all wasted they won't know when to end. They'll just keep hitting and hitting all night. My poor mother, she begged me not to come here. She swore it was too dangerous to come here alone. I know the end is coming because of the black that is seeping into my vision. One last punch and everything is black.
BPOV:
I hate going into the city it's a forty minute drive, usually for something stupid too. I like my little cottage by the Gulf (AN: it's the Gulf of Mexico) no one bothers me there. I'm five minutes away from the little town where I work as the local doctor, the only doctor for that matter. My brother Emmet just left from a weeklong visit. Needless to say he drank all of my beer. The big goof, came down to tell me he and his long term girlfriend, Rosalie, are getting married. I'm happy for him. I really am, but hearing about his glorious love life reminds me all about how mine is nonexistent. I've had two or three past relationships, but they were all crap. Low life's every one of them.
Holy shit! There's something in the road. Looks more like a someone then a something. Well they better get out of the damn road. I'm gonna go give him a piece of my mind. Crap he is beat to a pulp. Ok. Dr. Bella is in the house. Check for a pulse. Pulse is present, mild lacerations around the upper torso. There is also heavy bruising around his face and abdomen. He'll need a lot of stitches. I need to get him out of the road but he's twice my size. Poor guy didn't even stand a chance. He has bruises on his wrists where two men held him back with. I'm going to turn my car around, put the seats down then put him in the way back. 1, 2, 3, I've got him lifted and ready to put in my car.
He'll have to come to my house its closer than my office and I can treat him at my house. Once I get him settled I'll call the police. Poor guy, he is like the Greek Adonis under the bruising. I know what I need to do. I need nurse him back to health. And I will.
