Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight.
In the spirit of NaNoWriMo, I thought I'd write this up for you all. It was just for fun, so please don't take it seriously.
Bella Swan was out on a double date. It had been a long time since Bella had taken some time for herself. They were all at a Mexican restaurant.
They were all sitting together at the table, laughing at a joke that Ben had just told. He had his arm wrapped around Angela's waist. Mike and Bella sat across the other side of the table, listening in to the joke that Ben was telling and laughing at what he said.
Suddenly, Bella's phone rang. It was unusual for this to happen on a Saturday night, so Bella whipped out her phone from her purse as fast as she could.
She recognized the number. It was Dr. Cullen from Forks, Washington.
"Miss Swan, I'm sorry to bother you at such an hour," he started. "This is a private conversation, is it not?" he asked.
"Yes, Dr. Cullen. It is." Bella answered on the third or fourth ring – she couldn't remember now.
"It's about my son, Edward," said the doctor, with a pain in his voice that Bella could recognize in all of her clients.
"Oh, my," was all that Bella could say. "What's happened?"
"Edward was driving this evening, and – you know how he drives fast… he's…. he's…"
"Yes?" Bella couldn't stand the suspense.
"He's hit someone with his car. A homeless man. He's dead," Mr. Cullen's voice was monotone.
"Oh, God." Bella sucked in a breath. "What do you want me to do?" she asked, feeling dumbfounded.
"I want you to represent him as his lawyer, if you can," he challenged. The strength was returning to Dr. Cullen's voice now, urgent. "I want you to help him with the case."
Four Weeks Later
Bella paced back and forth as she turned over the phone call in her mind once more from last night. She'd had to pull an all-nighter to prepare for Edward's trial this morning, make sure she had all the details right. Bella always won her cases, and if she didn't, she knew why.
She knew Edward Cullen, of course – knew him from high school. He hadn't been a popular guy, but he certainly had been the most handsome. He had always been polite to Bella, but there was a certain arrogancy about him that she didn't like.
Now, he was entering the courthouse in a tight-fitting gray turtleneck and pair of black slacks. The dark circles under his eyes from where he hadn't gotten any sleep made him look like he'd gotten a black eye in a bar fight.
But Edward wasn't the type to go to bars.
"Good morning," said Edward Cullen. "You're Bella Swan."
"Yes," she said tentatively, eyeing him up and down. He'd hardly aged a day, yet he was even more handsome than he was before.
"I remember you from high school." Edward tried for a half-smile.
"Yes," Bella nodded slowly, unsure of how to bring up the case, this courthouse, any of it.
He sighed suddenly, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. "I can't believe I'm here today."
"I can't believe you are, either," said Bella honestly.
"He stepped out right in front of me," Edward said bitterly.
"I believe you," she said. "That's something you'll have to convince the judge today."
Edward nodded. "I know. I'm going to."
Bella shook her head. "Don't be so sure."
The doors to the courtroom opened, the previous case closed. People were filing their way out of the courtroom, out of the courthouse, and into the streets of downtown Forks, Washington.
Inside, the room smelled of old books, justice, and honor. Bella felt a wave of confidence flow through her body as she stepped into the room. She'd won many cases here, but today – if she won, today would be the best yet.
Something Granny Swan had always told her was the best is yet to come. Maybe Granny Swan was right.
The judge was sitting at the front and center of the back of the room. The jury was to the right, in the corner. Young and old sat in the jury waiting to give Edward Cullen the verdict of his future.
"Mr Cullen," began the judge. "I believe we're here today because a Police Chief Charles Swan pulled over by your car – four weeks ago – because of something dreadful." The judge frowned down at Edward Cullen.
Bella stood tentatively.
"Your honor," Bella Swan started. "Today, we sit here gathered together because of a terrible incident that has occurred in our community. An incident that was a freak accident, a mistake." Bella went on to describe the time that the car incident occurred, and all the other details.
The judge listened to Bella Swan intently, a frown on his aging face.
"Thank you, your honor." Bella went to take her seat.
"Your honor," began the lawyer representing the deceased homeless man. "We're gathered here today because of a reckless driver within our community in Forks, Washington. A reckless driver and a reckless man, if I may, your honor." The lawyer continued on with details of Edward Cullen's driving records and speeding tickets.
"As you can see, this is not the first time Edward Cullen has taken chances with a car," said the lawyer.
Edward closed his eyes tightly, seeming angry. Bella wanted to stretch out her hand to comfort him, but she refrained.
"I say at the very least his license should be suspended," continued the lawyer.
"Reasonable," Edward said quietly.
"Mr. Cullen, you have spoken out of turn," said the judge. "Is there anything else you would like to say?"
"Yes, your honor." Edward paused, standing up slowly, as though all this had aged him decades. "The man who is dead because of my car…"
"He's guilty," said the other lawyer.
"He stepped out in front of me," said Edward.
Suddenly, the whole room went silent. Some of the women gasped. Next, there was outrage amongst the men. A commotion was stirring up in the courtroom.
"Order, order," the judge banged his gavel. "That's enough. Mr. Cullen, you're sure?" the judge leaned forward in his seat.
"Yes, sir."
"We will let the jury decide," said the judge, expressionless. "We will adjourn in one day with a decision."
The judge banged his gavel once more, and that was that.
The people of Forks were filing out of the courtroom, talking hurriedly amongst each other as they left the room for the break.
Edward turned to Bella.
"This is going to be the longest day of my life," he said, laughing humorlessly.
"I'll bet," said Bella. "I'm glad you told the judge that he stepped in front of you."
"Yeah. I still can't believe this happened to me."
"I can't either," whispered Bella. Suddenly, she felt the need to cry. But tears were unprofessional for a lawyer. She blinked them away. "Come on, let's get out of this room."
"While I can," muttered Edward.
"Don't talk like that," said Bella. "I'm your lawyer." But on the inside, Bella didn't know if she would win this one.
"And we're not going to win," said Edward. "I'm going to jail."
"No, you're not," said Bella firmly. "You're going to be free tomorrow. Free to go."
Edward harrumphed.
They stepped out of the courtroom together. "Say, Bella," began Edward.
"Yeah?"
"I know we know each other from high school. And we've both changed a lot. This wreck has got me thinking about a lot of things…. I was thinking, maybe…" Edward paused, shaking his head. "Never mind."
Bella nodded, thinking she knew what he was going to ask, but couldn't believe it. He was so handsome, and Bella was so plain – even if she was a lawyer.
A flashy car pulled up to the front of the courthouse. Edward waved and ran up to the car, got in, and then he was gone.
The Next Day
He looked even more tired than he did the day before. Edward Cullen was not getting any sleep because of this case. Bella was sure she wouldn't either, if she was on his side.
"How are you today?" Edward asked.
"Ready to win," Bella said. "How are you feeling today? You look tired…" she trailed off.
"Don't worry about it," said Edward. "Bella, about yesterday, when I started to say something to you…"
"Yes?" Bella started hopefully. She forgot her boyfriend Mike, she forgot her position as his lawyer, she forgot everything. All she could see was Edward.
"Well, this wreck has got me thinking," said Edward. "I remember you from high school, and you always seemed so nice," he shrugged.
"Yeah?" Bella blinked. Nice. Nice was a word people used to describe her often in high school. There wasn't anything special about Bella Swan in high school, other than her ridiculous clumsiness.
An announcement came over the loud speaker, saying that court would be in session in two minutes.
"We better go back in," interrupted Bella. "Tell me later?"
"Sure," nodded Edward, running his fingers through his hair, looking frustrated.
Everyone took their seats in the courtroom once more. There was a buzzing going through the room where people were talking amongst each other, whispering. What were they saying?
The judge stepped into the room and took his seat. Everything quieted.
"Well?" said the judge, turning to the jury. "What is the verdict?"
"We find Edward Cullen to be not guilty of manslaughter," said an aging man from the jury. "However, if I may – and I speak on behalf of the whole jury – Edward Cullen's license should be suspended for at least three months."
The judge sighed. "The jury has spoken." The judge banged his gavel.
Some people cheered, others looked aggravated and kept silent. But the people poured out of the courthouse, and soon the local Forks press rounded on Edward Cullen.
"How did you feel when the jury handed out the verdict, Mr. Cullen?" asked a reporter.
"I was relieved. Bella?"
"Who is Bella?" asked the reporter.
Edward Cullen frowned. "She was my lawyer for the case. Bella?"
"Here!"
Suddenly, it was as though it were just the two of them – Edward and Bella.
"I'd like to take you out sometime," Edward said seriously. "On a date."
"Oh, Edward," said Bella, feeling butterflies. "I don't know. I have a boyfriend."
"Please. Just give it some thought." Edward put his hand gently on Bella's shoulder. "And seriously. Thank you for winning this case for me."
"You can't drive," she said.
"I know," Edward said casually – too casually.
Three Weeks Later
For the next three weeks, every day, Edward called Bella on the phone during her lunch hour. He called her and asked to take her on a date. She would laugh and say he couldn't drive her, he would laugh too and say that he might have her do the driving, in a deep tone of voice.
It had been three weeks, and Edward had called her every day.
"So, Bella, I've been thinking," started Edward that lunch hour.
"You're always thinking," Bella teased.
"I'd really like to take you on a date," said Edward. "Really and truly. Would you do me the honor?"
Bella paused. He had never posed the question that way before. "It's just a date," she said reluctantly.
"You're saying yes?"
"To a date," Bella clarified. "Just one. Yes."
Until next time, take care. Please give a review, if you'd like.