Disclaimer: Stephanie Myers owns all things Twilight. I'm just borrowing Edward for my little daydream. *Sigh*
I don't want to live this way anymore. Reality bites. All I want to do is close my eyes and continue with my daydream. I'm just basically going through the motions of everyday life. Cleaning. Cooking. Laundry. I used to love TV. I don't care anymore. At all. I do it so that they won't think I've gone nuts.
I never go downtown, especially by myself, but I have this certificate for a haircut at a salon in the trendy area of Toronto-Yorkville. I called and made the appointment. I almost made it to the spot. I just couldn't make one foot step in front of the other to make it up the stairs to their front door. I'm too embarrassed. Surely they've never seen anyone so hideous. They'll laugh behind the mirrors at me. Did you see her? Can you believe someone who looks like that has the nerve to go out in public? What could she possibly be thinking?
Nope, couldn't do it. Part of me thinks, who cares what anybody thinks. What does it really matter?
I'm sort of numb as I walk down Yonge Street. My mind is blank. There are so many people walking in both directions. I'm not really walking with the flow, so people are passing by me, exasperated. I'm sorry. I want to stop, but where? There's no place that's not going to block these robots, going to work or shopping.
Shopping…there must be a mall soon. I can duck in there and stop. My feet hurt. My heart is pounding in my chest - anxiety again. Relax, it'll be over soon. Where is it? It's taking so long. This section doesn't feel safe. I remember walking along here a few years ago with my daughter, looking for the Eaton Center. I remember now, it was a really long walk. And I remember thinking that I didn't feel good in this part of town. It can't be that much farther…
I found a Starbucks! I'll have a coffee, by myself. Of course. I did bring a magazine to read, for the train ride.
Oh no, it's almost my turn. Anxiety.
I never know how or what to order. And there's never enough time to read the board for the selections. Tall, Grande, Vente? Cappuccino, Americano, Caramel Macchiato? Frappachino? What the hell were they thinking when they made up their menu? Do they want to make people look like idiots? They must. Maybe there are hidden cameras and they have a big laugh on their training sessions or staff meetings.
I try to order the same thing every time. That way I can't screw it up. Tall cappuccino wet. Oh, right-tall wet cappuccino. Wrong again.
There's a chair that's free! Really? I can't believe it. That never happens. Can I get to it before someone else can grab it?
Waiting for my beverage. Grande non-fat latte? Nope. Vente chai latte? No, not mine. Grande dry cappuccino? Close enough, I'll take it.
The chair is still open. It's in the corner, perfect. Now I can just melt into the background and read or watch the people come and go.
They all seem to know what they're ordering. How do they do it? I'm envious.
My mind is wandering, but I notice some kind of hub-bub starting in the café. There's a pile of people walking in. They're like brick wall of massive men to whomever they're surrounding.
What are they doing in here? They're scanning everybody in the place. The counter staff is suddenly looking very nervous and are gathering together so they all can hear the order.
It looks like they might all try to be the first to complete the order. That's really weird. But then again, this is downtown. Maybe it's someone well known. I can't see past the wall.
Oh well, maybe I'll ask someone before I leave. It'd be good to have an interesting story to tell when I get home. Home. Although there's nobody there anymore. Just the cat. She just wants to eat all the time. That's all she needs me for. I start to read my magazine, while sipping at my…whatever.
"Excuse me, can I use this chair?" It was a quiet, warm voice. I don't know if I should look up. He might not be talking to me.
Is there a chair at this table? I snuck a peak without lifting my head. There is. I lift my chin just a bit. I nod.
I caught a tiny glimpse of him. A young man. Nice looking. "Thank you," he said. I gave a slight grin, maybe not a grin so much as lifting the corners of my mouth slightly.
I love music. "Leave out all the Rest" by Linkin Park is playing on the music system in the café. I don't know why that's registering in my brain.
He sat down at my table. He had a tea. Grande? Tall? Vente? Earl Grey? Chai? Rooibos? I continued to read my book.
One of the guard is standing in close proximity to this man sitting across from me. I don't think anyone can see him through their girth. I can't see past them. That's kind of annoying. I did want to people watch in between my reading, in case there was someone who caught my eye. I cast my eyes down to hide my frustration.
"I'm sorry, do you mind if I sit here?" His voice was so smooth, like someone on the radio.
"Sure, no problem," I said, "I was about to leave, anyway." I really wasn't ready at all. I'm a slow drinker and I wasn't even half-way.
He sipped at his tea, clearly his mind on other faraway things.
Stop staring at him, you idiot. He's quite handsome. You'll scare him. Put your head down and leave. I felt awkward and a little put off by the intrusion to my little piece of sanity. I started to rise up out of my comfortable chair.
I'll find somewhere else to sit, maybe I'll walk to the small park-like place near the CBC building, or there might be something to sit on near the Convention Center.
Ugh. More crowds. What time of day isn't it crowded? I can't walk fast because my coffee would spill. Thankfully it wasn't far. I walked in through the first door, which I thought was the Center, but it was the hotel right beside it.
I remembered this place. I've stayed here lots of times. I wonder if they'd mind if I just sat for a few minutes. They might not notice, or might just think that I'm one of their guests. I could eat something at their bistro, just so I didn't feel guilty.
I'll finish my coffee first. This is a great place to people watch as well, but with more room than the coffee shop. I pulled out my magazine again. After I finished my coffee, I thought I should find the restrooms and then head over to the bistro. They were downstairs, by way of the escalators.
As I was riding the stairs, a group of men were coming up in the other direction. They looked familiar. Oh no! It was that bizarre entourage again, from Starbucks. Before I could look away, a pair of large green eyes caught mine. I couldn't drop my gaze. He nodded and gave a half smile in recognition, I think. I'm not sure, but I think I might have lifted the corners of my mouth to attempt a smile, but it might not have been in time for him to see it.
Damn. I'm stupid. Why would he care? Why couldn't I just not look and save myself the embarrassment? Shit.
The restrooms were empty. Good. As I walked out a few people were walking toward the men's room.
I looked up again. No!
What is happening? Why do I keep running into this guy? He didn't see me this time.
I'm getting out of this place. I think I can get over to the ice rink through the underground parking garage. I see the signs…
"Miss? Miss!" Someone touched my arm. Oh crap! Did I do something wrong? He looked like security from the hotel. Maybe they'd noticed me sitting in the lobby and that was not kosher with them. What will I say?
An apology was probably the best plan. "I'm sorry if I was trespassing or something, I just needed to sit for a few minutes. I won't do it again." I wanted the tiles to disappear from underneath my feet and fall into the earth.
"No, Miss. I'm not with the hotel." He looked a little bit confused.
Oh, double crap! He's going to hurt me. I don't know any self-defense. There's not a soul nearby, so yelling would be useless. I'll just give him my purse. Surely, he wouldn't want anything else from me. I could try and make a run for it, back up the escalator.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Miss. I'm sorry if I've made you nervous. I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Jasper and I'm with the gentleman you met at Starbucks. He'd like it if you'd care to join him for a minute in the Bistro upstairs."
"Ummm…I don't know…why? I don't even know who he is. I don't think so. Thank you. Thank him. Very much." I started to try to pass him to reach the escalator.
He grabbed my arm lightly again. "Please. He'd be very disappointed if you didn't come."
He looked amazingly friendly now. I couldn't imagine why that young man wanted to see me. Maybe I left something at the table back at Starbucks? That must be it.
"Okay, for just a minute." This man, Jasper, turned and walked away, expecting me to follow. I could just turn and go the other way…but now I'm kind of curious. What did I leave? I started to peek into my purse while I was walking, to see what could be missing.
Before I knew it, we had reached the Bistro and he walked me into the far corner where I saw a couple of the same body-builders from Starbucks. There was a table behind them, hidden from everything else, where he was sitting, looking intently at his phone, or I-phone maybe.
I stood by the table, ready to leave as soon as he allowed it. I cleared my throat, but it didn't make enough noise to alert him to my presence. I should just leave. It doesn't really matter what I'd left behind. I can live without it.
I forced my body to turn in order to walk away. My 'friend' , Jasper, was right behind me and I practically smacked into his cement truck of a body. Umph!
I turned back around to face the table. He was now looking up at me, grinning, practically from ear to ear. Ok, now I'm the joke. That's why I'm here. He thought I was funny looking. I frowned.
"Yes? Did I leave something at the last table?"
"No, why would you think that? I'm sorry, it must be super weird to you, what with my entourage and all. I should perhaps introduce myself…I'm… Edward Cullen." He held out his hand to mine. I returned the gesture.
"Ummm...I'm Tracy," I thought about giving him a fake name. Who would be the wiser? But I couldn't think fast enough to sound convincing.
"How do you do?" My hand lingered in his cool long hand, and shook it gently. "Please have a seat."
"I don't understand why you asked me to come…" I stammered, getting very nervous. What could he possibly want from me?
"I'm sorry if I am doing this all wrong…"
What is he doing all wrong? My head is spinning now. It's not making sense to me.
A/N: Since this is my very first FanFic, please...please be kind.
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