Dollybigmomma is my beta lover.
Chapter 2 - Suicide hotline, please hold…
EDWARD
I was so embarrassed by my stupid brother, that I decided to study at the park instead of the library. No way was I going back in there to face her. She was just so amazing and beautiful and complicated and...
I walked into a tree and fell down on a guy sleeping under it.
"Oh, my gosh, I'm so, so sorry, Sir! It was an accident, I really was just so distracted that I didn't see the tree, and I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" I quickly apologized.
The old man smiled at me. "You didn't see the tree?" he asked, looking up at the massive oak. It was probably about three times my width.
I blushed, because I sounded like a complete moron. "No, I didn't."
"So, who is she?" the old man asked with a smile.
I cleared my throat. "Um, a girl who…um…works at the library," I stuttered out.
He let out a laugh. "Nice. She must be smart."
I blushed and shrugged. Truth was, I didn't know anything about the girl.
He looked down next to me, and I noticed my Louis L'Amour book had fallen out of my bag. I had read it a thousand times.
"Hey, Louis L'Amour, he's really good."
"Yeah, he's awesome. I have his whole collection. I usually have one of his books with me to kill time."
"I haven't read this one yet," he said.
"Would you like to borrow it?" I offered.
He looked at me like I was crazy, and I wondered if I'd done something wrong. "Really? That'd be great!" he said excitedly. "What's your name, Son?"
"Edward, and it's no problem, I'll just get it from you next time I come through the park. Are you usually around the park at lunchtime?"
"Yes, I am, actually. I have a friend I meet up with here every day."
"Cool, I'll see you around, then."
I found myself at a picnic table under a large ramada. My books and notebooks were spread across the table, as I lost myself in my studies.
"Hey, Joe, she's coming, get up and look alive!" someone shouted not too far from me.
I looked up to see several worn-looking men with packs and bedrolls making their way to where I was sitting. There were four tables under the ramada, and by the looks of it, they were going to need all of them. I quickly started packing up my books, apologizing for being in their way.
The man I had loaned my book to put a hand on my shoulder. "Stay, Son, you don't have to go. There's plenty of room for everyone," he offered
Moments later, the whole group joyfully shouted, "Bella!"
I almost fell off the bench.
There she stood, with a wide smile on her face, as several men surrounded her, hugging her and helping take the bags she was carrying.
I sat there, shocked, with my mouth hanging open.
They passed the bags around, taking out paper plates and plastic forks. I smiled, when I saw they were from Mandela's. There were also two large trays of lasagna and four huge plastic containers full of something that smelled heavenly.
The man I had loaned my book to smiled and passed me a plate. "Go on, boy, she won't mind." I looked up to see Bella looking at me curiously. "This is my friend, Edward. He's loaning me a book to read."
"Hi again," I said nervously, offering my hand to her.
She smiled, as if she was laughing to herself, and ignored my extended hand. She scooped out something that smelled delicious onto a plate and handed it to me. I couldn't contain the moan, when I put a forkful of it into my mouth.
It tasted amazing.
I noticed the other men referred to my new "friend" as Sweet-tooth Tom. I asked him about it, and he pulled a lollipop from his bag.
"I quit smoking using these. I always have them on me now," he grinned.
"So, how did you meet Bella?" I asked, sure to speak softly, so she wouldn't hear. She was busy listening to some men at a different table.
"Much like I met you, I suppose," Tom's smile widened as he spoke. "She was walking while reading a book and tripped over my legs. The shirt she was wearing said, 'Strangers have the best candy.' It made me laugh, so I just had to give her some candy. I offered her one of my lollipops, and to my surprise, she not only took it, but she sat down next to me and split her sandwich with me. She started finding me at lunchtime, and next thing I know, there's a group of us, and we're meeting here," he said, motioning to the ramada.
"She's really something. Joe says she works at the library. Maybe she knows the girl you like." Before I could stop him, he shouted out, "Hey, Bella, Edward here is enamored with a girl who works at the library, walked straight into a tree thinking about her today. You mind helping my boy out?"
I was mortified. I wished the earth would open up and swallow me whole.
Bella looked at me and gave me a wink.
Tom patted my back and said, "See, boy, she'll help you out."
I silently prayed I would be able to leave the park with my balls intact.
