My Little Runaway
By Maddux and BrokenFirePen
Chapter Two
"Miss? Are you all right?" I spoke calmly, softly, so as not to startle her. I saw her stiffen, her slim shoulders squared off before she raised her head from the steering wheel.
Through a mass of dark, chestnut hair, I saw a set of red-rimmed, deep brown eyes peep up at me. She visibly relaxed and I saw a glimmer of recognition flash briefly in those chocolate depths.
I gave her a little smile and asked, "Did you know that it is illegal to stay here during the night?"
Her ghostly face paled a shade lighter before she spoke softly, "You won't call the cops, will you?"
I bit my lip to keep from smiling. "Well, I am the chair of the community watch program; this is a community service that would be required of me. I'd hate to have to break the rules I work so hard to uphold."
The girl groaned and let her head fall back against the headrest.
"But, I'm prepared to be sympathetic to your plight. You should know, though, that my sympathy does not come without conditions." I know I sounded mean and maybe even slightly nefarious, but I had to get this girl some help – by any means possible.
Her big eyes moved to mine and warily sized me up. "What conditions?"
"Don't worry, I just want to help. Tru, here, was the one that found you. So, you can place all the blame on him for ratting you out." I glanced down at the pepper and salt colored dog and he just stared back up at me with his ears perked and head tilted to the side.
The girl raised herself to look out the window and down at the dog. I could tell she was smiling. "What did you call him?" she quietly asked.
"Tru. It's short for Truant, because he's just a runaway. I have to keep him on a leash at all times or he's gone. He'd run away from his previous owners, I'm sure of it. I put up fliers, but nobody wanted to claim the sorry mutt. So he stays with me now." I bent down and gave Tru a good scratch. In hindsight, I was thankful for the wild goose chase he'd led me on. It brought me to her.
"So… it's Tru's dinner time. Mine too, for that matter. And we'd like the pleasure of your company, if you would join us?" Tru and I both tilted our heads to the side as we looked up at the girl looking down at us from her beat-up pickup.
"Is that one of your conditions for not turning me in to the authorities?" she asked.
"Um, just one of many," I told her shamelessly. "But, the first thing we have to do is get this beast to a different location. Does it run?" I stepped back and gave the truck a skeptical once-over.
"Of course it runs." She crossed her arms indignantly.
"Oh, excellent." I lifted Tru into the bed of the truck and tied his leash to an open slot in the metal side panel.
"I should drive, since I know where we're going. If you wouldn't mind sliding over?" I gestured to the passenger's side.
"I don't even know you, mister. How do I know you're not some axe murderer or rapist that happens to reel in his prey with a becoming smile and a cute little dog?"
I laughed out loud, happy to see that she had a quick wit about her. "Lady, I'm a lawyer. I put axe murderers and rapists away."
She seemed to consider this. I put my hand out to her and introduced myself. "My name is Edward Cullen, and as I've said, I'm a lawyer, and a damn good one. I live just around the corner. I've lived there for almost two years. That's where we can park your truck. Now it's your turn. How do I know you're not an axe murderer or a rapist?"
Her hand touched with mine and there was a sweet warmth that swept through me, starting at my fingertips. She rolled her eyes at me before she said, "I'm Bella, and… this is my truck."
"Okay, that's a start," I smiled. "Bella, is it all right if I drive your truck for a few minutes?" I moved my eyes over it in a depreciating manner before saying, "I promise not to wreck it."
Bella let out a deep breath and reluctantly opened the door. She slid over, away from the wheel, and gathered her things at her feet. I slowly got in and oriented myself to the old, outdated controls. They really didn't build these trucks for six-foot-two-sized men back in the nineteen-whatevers.
The turning engine cranked with a loud rumble and I looked over to Bella with a triumphant smile. She watched me closely as I pulled out of the public lot and turned onto the next side street. The sun had set, leaving the sky a half pink and half darkening blue. I guided the truck to the end of the private drive where my house was located.
I had a nice house. It was my dream house, and I worked hard to make payments on it every month. The driveway curled around a few trees to reveal the handsome two-story. It was a lot of space for one man and one dog, but all that space came in handy when the whole family came over to visit.
I pulled the keys out of the truck's ignition and put them in my pocket for safe-keeping. Then I untied Tru's leash and let him off the back of the truck.
I rushed to the front door to hold it open for her. She looked so small as she approached my house.
"Milady," I said as I bowed and swept my hand through the door.
The lovely thing blushed and slowly walked in.
"May I take your jacket and your bag, Bella?"
The girl looked around the foyer and hugged her arms around herself. She shook her head, readjusting a bag she had slung over her shoulder. I said, "Okay," and then led her through to the great room.
I heard her quick intake of breath as she walked behind me. The cathedral ceiling was high and impressive. Tall, expertly dressed windows lined one wall and overlooked the deck and the beach. Logs sat ready to be lit in the large fireplace. A widescreen television hung over the mantle. Cozy, matching couches and chairs were placed around the middle of the room, comfortable and inviting. My mother, Esme Cullen, had designed and laid out everything just so. It really was a wonderful place to call home.
I entered through the archway under the upstairs balcony at the end of the room which led to the kitchen and dining room.
As soon as we stepped through to the large kitchen, I heard a small growl. At first thought, it sounded like it had come from Tru, but when I looked behind me, the girl had her small hands pressed to her stomach, trying to cover up the noise.
A flush of pink rushed to her cheeks, blossoming into a rosy red over her pale, delicate features. As if to reply to her stomach's growl, Tru's stomach made the same noise. I gave them both a small smile and leaned against the marble-topped island counter that also held a sink. "So… who's hungry?"
Tru barked once and Bella's fingers came from the tucked position under her arm as she slightly raised her hand, appearing to be ashamed that she was hungry. I nodded, satisfied, and stood straight.
"Do you have any requests on what you'd like to eat?" She shook her head. "Are you allergic to anything?" Another shake. "Any foods you'd prefer not to eat?"
A faint, almost nonexistent smile crept onto her face. "Eggs," she whispered, her jaw tightening then relaxing a few times.
I nodded and got to work. I retrieved a few things from the refrigerator for my dinner with Bella, but remembered Tru when he whined at me, nipping at my ankles to make sure I didn't forget him. I sighed, but put down his dog bowl and filled it with food. He dove in, scattering kibble around his spot on the floor, but he efficiently snatched up any stray bits.
With hands washed and dried, I began to prepare the food. While chopping up vegetables, that I was later going to stir fry, I looked up and saw Bella still in the same position, her sad and lanky figure awkwardly standing in the middle of the kitchen. I put my cutting knife down and appraised her, a curious look on my face. She watched me through her wall of hair, her chocolate eyes wary and dark. I kept staring at her, only blinking once or twice. She swallowed nervously, her eyes shining brightly at me, despite their sadness.
"You are allowed to sit down, you know," I said quietly, slowly taking the vegetables in my hands and placing them in the sizzling butter. I reached across the island and tapped the back of the barstool with my wooden spoon. "Have a seat, make yourself comfortable."
She moved slowly, reaching a hand toward the seat, but then reared back before she made contact with it. "No, thank you, though."
I furrowed my brow at her, genuinely confused as to why the girl wouldn't want to sit down. She swallowed nervously again, hugging her torso tightly. Her eyes drifted to the hard wood floor and I felt a twang of sadness for her. Is she afraid to sit down? I thought to myself, putting the rest of the vegetables in the pan.
"You… you could-" She looked up at me, her long and messy hair hiding most of her face. I sighed, struggling to find the right words, and tried again. "What would you like to do?"
Bella's face twisted in confusion. "Excuse me?"
"Well, you can't possibly be comfortable standing in the middle of my kitchen." A half smile appeared on her face and I praised myself for its appearance. "So, what would you like to do?"
Bella looked at the floor, then down at herself. Her ghostly white hands reached up to grab some of her hair and brought it gingerly to her nose. "Shower."
I nodded once. "Well, there's my bathroom down here, and two more upstairs. Help yourself to whichever one you-"
"No," she said, the quiet word interrupting me. "I can't. I don't want to impose."
I shook my head slightly, quickly, shocked by her words. Was it not I who invited her to dinner when she looked as though she hadn't eaten a proper meal in weeks? Was it not I who wanted to give her a place to stay when she was living in her rusty old truck and had nowhere to go? After contemplating for a moment, it suddenly dawned on me.
"Host's honor, I won't look." She bit her lip, rocking back and forth on the balls of her small feet. I noticed the rubber toe to one of her sneakers was beginning to wear thin, and I could see the slightest rip in the front of it. When she still didn't respond, I sighed. "There's a lock on the door. If I did try to come in, you would hear the click; it's the loudest lock in the world."
That seemed to please the young girl because her face lit up, hopeful. I wiped my hands on a dish towel and lead her up the stairs from the great room. I hesitated out on the balcony, looking between the three rooms I had to offer. One was decked out in a navy-blue nautical theme. My oldest brother, Jasper, usually took that room when he visited. The next was a room with two twin-sized beds. I humored myself and always made my other brother, Emmett, and his girlfriend stay in that one whenever they came over.
The last was probably perfect — for Bella. Its window faced the beach, and the queen-sized bed looked a little more feminine with its ruffled skirts and flowered quilt. Mom had fixed this one up for herself for when she and dad came to visit. I opened the door and looked behind me to see Bella marveling at the room, gripping the strap of the bag, which was slung over her shoulder, very tightly.
"There's the bathroom," I said, pointing into the bedroom, to the small door on the far side wall. I stepped in, feeling her presence behind me. "Towels here, soap under the sink and anything else you need in that cabinet."
I paused and stared down into her eyes, willing her to understand. "You're safe here."
She swallowed, nodded and gave me a small "Thank you," before I left, shutting the bathroom door behind me. As soon as the door was shut, I heard the lock loudly click. I laughed silently to myself, once, and then reached out to press the lock on the bedroom door, just for good measure, shutting that behind me as well.
