CHAPTER TWO: DECISIONS, DECISIONS
"A rave?" Bella asked her friend Mike the next night on the phone. "No thanks Mike, but raves aren't exactly my scene."
"Okay, I guess you're not exactly a raver but still it'll be so much fun," Mike said.
Bella smiled. Whenever she talked to Mike all she could ever think about was quarterback and too much caffeine. Because in a nutshell—that was Mike Newton.
Bella rolled her eyes as she looked over at Jacob who was flipping through a magazine. "I don't know Mike, dark warehouses and earsplitting techno are not my idea of fun. I'm a hip hop chick and you know I can be a rock chick, but techno? No thank you." Bella told him firmly. "But call me tomorrow, I haven't seen you in a while and we all need to get together."
"That's what I was trying to do, get together. But you Bella is being no fun," Mike said.
"Oh please, it's not like we'd be able to talk in a crowded smoke filled environment anyway," Bella told him. "Now you get your butt off the phone."
Mike laughed, "See ya."
"Bye," Bella said and hung up the phone. "When did Mike start getting into raves? Jeez."
"Since when have you ever even been to a rave?" Jacob asked pointedly.
"I don't have to go to a rave to know what goes on there," Bella said sitting across from him. Jacob put aside the magazine he was reading and Bella's eyes instantly focused on the cover, "Cosmo?" She burst out laughing. "I can't believe you were actually reading one of my magazines this whole time!"
"Hey don't get the wrong idea, I was just being nosey and was checking out this quiz you took," Jacob said evilly as Bella's eyes went wide. "Tallying up your score, according to Cosmo when it comes to the fellas you're a Temptress rather than a Angel or a Dominatrix because you—"
Bella instantly slapped her hand over his mouth, "If you don't shut the hell up right now you won't be alive to find out what I'll do."
Jacob's muffled laughter was heard and Bella shot him a look.
"Okay," Jacob said removing her hand.
"You're lucky I'm worried about Mike or your ass would be grass right now for changing the subject," Bella said pushing Jacob away from her. Bella rolled her eyes again.
"Your eyes are going to get stuck if you keep that up," Jacob said.
"You've been telling me that since sixth grade," Bella said. "What if Mike has a girlfriend? I can't say anything because whenever I'm hanging around the crazy chick she thinks I'm hitting on Mike."
Jacob laughed, "Well Bella you are pretty hot, you can't help it if all of your friends girlfriends are threatened by you."
"Shut up!" Bella told him annoyed.
"See this is why you should make more friends that are girls," Jacob said. "Do you have any close friends that are girls? And acquaintances don't count."
"You know I don't, so leave me alone," Bella said. "Girls just never want to be my friend, they're either jealous or think I want to steal their boyfriend. Like Lauren. I don't like you like that and I definitely don't like Mike like that—he's such a jock for goodness sakes! If I wanted Mike, I could've hooked up with him way before he got with Jess."
"Don't sound too cocky there," Jacob said sarcastically.
"I don't mean to sound cocky, its just that Mike and I have been friends just as long as you and I have and I hate when you guys tend to date these insecure girls who hate me for no reason, its just hard sometimes," Bella said. "I mean even I'm insecure sometimes, but instead of trying to relate to me, they would rather hate me."
"I'm sorry Bella," Jacob said softly. "If Mike, Tyler, and Eric, and especially me don't find a girl who loves you the way we love you then we know that relationship will never be meant to be. One thing all of us guys need is a girl who'll focus on us instead of our beautiful best friend."
Bella smiled, "Thanks Jake. So I know we're not going to sit in my apartment on a Saturday night, what do you want to do?"
"I was thinking we could catch the new movie, it starts in a half and hour and then maybe go out to dinner because I know popcorn is never enough for your greedy self," Jacob said.
Bella pouted at the comment, "Thanks so much Jacob. Your flattery means so much to me."
"Glad to be of service," Jacob said slipping on his jacket. "Now get your jacket and shoes on, I want to get there in time to stand in line and get nachos and—"
"See the previews," Bella finished for him. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Dude, you are so predictable."
"Please, one of these days I could surprise you," Jacob said. "But I love you too much to let my best friend die of shock."
"Ha ha," Bella said as they headed out the door.
After the movie—which was great by the way, action movies were always the best—Bella and Jacob found themselves at Rosato's, the Italian restaurant that Jacob was trying to get a job at. The place was his dream job, only fifteen minutes away from his house and it had the salary he desired. But for now he was stuck working at Gugino's, a small Italian eatery that Jacob was growing wary of.
"This place needs Jacob in it's life, I still can't believe the owner hasn't called you back yet," Bella said.
"You're biased Bella, not everyone thinks like you and I," Jacob said. "I would love to work here, but Liam Rosato has about three chefs and entire assisting staff, there's no way they're going to hire a guy who just got out of cooking school."
"Well that sucks, I know you want to work here more than any of the other restaurants you applied to," Bella said. "I still think you should open your own restaurant right now and give Rosato's a run for it's money."
"You know its my dream to open my own restaurant one day, but I don't think I'm ready to do it just now," Jacob said. "First I want experience with just finally working as a chef and seeing how a restaurant operates that isn't Gugino's or a McDonalds," He said, referring to his high school job. "Gugino's will just have to do for now."
"Whatever, I think you're more ready then you think," Bella said, forking another bite of spaghetti in her mouth. "Billy's behind you for whatever you decide, unlike my parents."
"Oh no, now is not the time to let Phil and Renee get you down," Jacob said. "Did you tell them about your test grade yet?"
"The C? Oh yeah, and of course they weren't thrilled, they're making me have lunch with them this Sunday," Bella said with a cringe. "They told me I better be studying hard tonight, but guess what—I'm out with you!"
Jacob laughed, "I would say that you're showing rebellion, but this is not high school anymore and you're twenty-two years old Bella."
"I know, and please refrain from your speech on how not to let my parents maintain control over my life," Bella said dryly.
"I wasn't going to say anything," Jacob said trying to look innocent.
"Sure," Bella sarcastically said.
"Look I'm going to go make a phone call, if that waitress comes by again order me another sprite," Jacob said as he got up from the table.
Bella nodded. Little did she know, across the restaurant a familiar face was watching her as she interacted with her friend. Not because he was curious why she was out with some guy, well maybe he was a little bit. But he figured it was only her boyfriend and he had more pressing matters to talk with her about anyway. She had gotten away from him so easily last night, and he wasn't sure if he would ever see her again. This was his chance and he was going to take it.
"Hello," he greeted her. "Mind if I sit here?"
"Well actually someone is sitting there and they'll be back soon," Bella said barely glancing at the guy as she sipped her juice. When she finally looked up she was met with the familiar green eyes from last night. He looked like he took his time to get dressed this time as he stood in semi baggy jeans and a perfectly pressed button down shirt. He was still sporting the watch, different expensive looking black shoes, and today he had on a thin silver chain around his neck. It was a engraved dog tags, that had the initials EAM and...was that EM? There was something else, but it was engraved in a smaller script and Bella couldn't make it out without being obvious. Bella didn't think he was wearing that last night or was he? Realizing that she was focusing too much on his outer appearance, which Bella couldn't help because she learned that studying people was a good habit to have if you were to be a lawyer, Bella looked up into his eyes and shot him an annoyed glare. "You again? Is this a coincidence or are you following me?"
"I assure you this is a coincidence, this is one of the best restaurants to eat out in Arizona and highly recommended," he said with one of his rare smiles. He was floored when saw the infamous Bella from Circa entering the restaurant as he mulled over what to order. She looked a bit different from last night. Her wardrobe wasn't as over the top, she was wearing fitted flared blue jeans and a black tank top over a knitted white sweater that hung off her right shoulder. Her slightly wavy brown hair was pulled into a ponytail—which she hadn't been sporting last night. But he could never forget her face, he noticed that as she was talking to the guy she was with that when she smiled, her eyes lit up, unlike him. "I'm just as shocked to see you."
"Well it was nice seeing you again," Bella said pointedly, waiting for him to go.
"Are you always this welcoming?" he asked sarcastically.
"Only to people who obviously have a agenda," Bella said.
He nodded, obviously impressed. He knew that he would have to get to the point then, this girl wasn't going to stand for any of the charm and bullshit he could easily pull on any of the other women he was constantly around. But usually doing that nowadays was a constant strain and he couldn't take that.
"Edward Cullen," he introduced, holding out his hand for her to shake. She reluctantly took it. "And if I remember correctly you're Bella?"
Bella nodded as he stared at her for a moment.
"I gather you don't recognize my name?" Edward asked a little surprised.
"Should I?" Bella asked dryly.
"Well I knew you didn't recognize my face in the club, and I was hoping you'd at least recognize my name so this could go a little easier," Edward said. He wasn't being cocky, he was just telling the truth but that didn't stop the incredulous look from spreading across Bella's face. "But I guess I'm not that lucky."
"Apparently not," Bella said. "So Edward is it? What exactly do you want from me?"
"I want to hire you as a dancer," Edward said simply.
Bella looked at him skeptically for a second then she was disgusted, "Look I don't know who you really are, but I don't strip, do exotic, or any other dances your sleazy mind is probably coming up with."
"Wait, hold up!" Edward said, putting up his hands in defense of himself. He was not one of those shady types trying to recruit young girls into pornos, and he couldn't believe Bella could think that. But then he remembered she didn't know him—she didn't know anything about him. He guessed that was fine, it was better when people didn't know his name or face and tried to offer their unneeded two cents into his life. He'd rather deal with Bella's unfair assumptions then another person who knew too much about his life and no longer knew how to act around him. "I'm not asking you to do that!"
"Well what kind of dancing do you need me for then?" Bella asked. "Because I know most of the guys in this town are all about looking for girls to do that."
"Well not me, I'm actually a choreographer and right now I'm choreographing for Angela Weber—maybe you've heard of her," Edward said, almost snottily. Well he was good at what he did, Edward was one of the most sought after choreographers in today's music.
Sure Bella had heard of her, Angela Weber was a famous R&B singer. Anyone who loved music had to know who she was. The girl was everywhere. When she wasn't singing and touring she was making movies, doing Pepsi commercials, and stints on Saturday Night Live.
"You know Angela Weber? You're trying to tell me you're her choreographer?" Bella said incredulously. "You gotta be kidding me."
"Actually I'm not, and right now we're in the middle of her Crystal Ball Tour," Edward said. "One of the dancers quit for personal reasons, and when I saw you I could tell you would be able to pick up the moves I did for Angela quickly and take her place."
Bella shook her head, did this guy really think she was believing this garbage?
"Why are you shaking your head?" Edward asked, growing even more surprised with her behaviour. This was the first time someone hadn't believed he wasn't who he said he was. Actually this was the first time someone hadn't recognized him or his name. Did this girl live under a rock or something? He thought since she was a dancer, she would know who he was. All female dancers knew who he was. They either wanted Edward to get them dance jobs, or become his newest girlfriend. This Bella was a type he had yet to come across. Unless she was lying about not knowing him, but Edward didn't believe that. Bella showed no signs of recognition at his name or his face and after years of being in the business Edward had learned to be good at reading the people he surrounded himself with. It was hard to know who you could trust in a high profile job such as his. Frowning a little, Edward realized there was one person who had managed to fool him because he was too quick to let his guard down, but Edward would never do that again.
"I'm shaking my head because if you were really a famous choreographer why can't you do a casting call or whatever it is and replace this other dancer or hire one of your dancer friends?" Bella said.
Edward explained his situation quickly before Bella lost interest, "As I said before we're right in the middle of Angela's tour and we don't have the time and energy to audition people right now. And my other dancing friends as you said are either on tour themselves, on the first real vacation they had in months or choreographing for other artists. I was sure we were just going to have to go without a fifth female dancer, no matter how much I didn't want that to happen. Because Angela's routine is five girls and five guys and it wouldn't work as well any other way. And when I saw you, my hope returned."
Bella wanted to believe him, but she wasn't too trusting of people she hardly knew, "Prove it."
"You still don't believe me?" Edward asked, getting annoyed. "Fine."
Bella was sure he was about to leave, but instead he pulled out a square business card from his back pocket.
"This card has my official website on it, when you check it out and see exactly what I've been telling you call me before Tuesday, I'll be leaving town then," Edward said, and with that he walked away without another word.
Bella was staring at the card when Jacob finally returned to the table.
"Hey, you didn't get me a sprite,"Jacob complained.
Bella finally looked up, "Jacob we have to go, I want to go home and get on the computer."
"What? Why?" Jacob said.
But Bella was already dragging him out the restaurant.
By the time Bella got back to her apartment she had already told Jacob everything that happened with her and Edward Cullen.
"Do you think he's legit?" Jacob asked as Bella logged on to her computer.
Bella shrugged, "It wouldn't hurt to see."
"Don't pull that nonchalant attitude with me missy," Jacob said taking a seat beside her. "You obviously want him to be legit or you would've let me finish my food before dragging me out Rosato's like a bat out of hell."
"I'm just curious, and even if he was legit I have school anyway," Bella said. "I could never take his offer."
"Correction. You have law school, and you're only going to that because your parents are forcing you," Jacob said.
"Jacob don't start, I just want to see if this guy is for real and then take you home and go to bed," Bella said quietly.
Jacob didn't say anything, he silently hoped that this guy was for real. He knew that Bella always had a love for dancing and to be able to do it as a career would be a dream come true for her. A job like this might be the only thing that could make Bella take over her life and stop Phil and Renee from controlling it. It was time his best friend did something for her.
"Wow," Bella said in genuine shock when she arrived at and even Jacob was captivated. The site was obviously professionally done, with pictures of the familiar male face everywhere.
"Edward Cullen has been dancing since he was three years old, now at twenty-five, he has amazing work history. He has worked with groups Charlie & The Officers, Wolf Gang Pack, B.R.B. Volterra, singers Angela Weber, Quil Ateara, Lee Stephens, and more. Now he's working with one of his good friends Angela Weber again on her Crystal Ball Tour," Bella read out loud. "The tour kicked off on September 25th, get your tickets now. This is said to be Angela's best tour with Edward yet, with cool set designs, great choreography and the opening acts of Forks-Town and ACM—"
Bella then clicked on the photo gallery and saw pictures of Edward—the same guy from the club and restaurant—with all the famous artists he choreographed for, "Wow."
There were pictures of Edward rehearsing with the singers and a picture of him and Angela Weber wrapped in a friendly hug. He looked so carefree and happier in the pictures than he did in person. Even though Edward tried to hide it as he was too busy trying to talk her into a job, there was a twinge of coldness to him. It confused Bella greatly, he wore a smile that was so obviously fake.
"So I'm taking from your reaction to these pictures this was the guy you met?" Jacob asked hopefully, interrupting Bella's thoughts.
Bella just nodded dumbly, still in shock.
"Wow is right," Jacob said. "Bella you have to take this job. I mean think about it, you touring on Angela Weber's tour? How cool is that! You'd get to travel!"
"It really is a great opportunity," Bella said reluctantly. "But Jacob, you of all people know I couldn't do this even if I wanted to."
"Why the hell not?" Jacob asked getting angry. "And if you mention Phil and Renee I will kill you!"
"Jacob, you know death threats aren't nice," Bella joked half heartedly.
"Bella don't do this, just don't," Jacob said trying to stay calm.
"Do what?" Bella asked, shutting down her computer.
"Bella if you pass up a opportunity like this I'm never speaking to you again!" Jacob threatened.
"Jacob you can't use that threat every time I don't want to do what you want me to," Bella said, folding her arms across her chest. "Now I'm not taking the job plain and simple, now that's the end of the discussion."
"Fine, do what you want! But when you're a horrible lawyer and hate your job don't come complaining to me because I will tell you I told you so! Opportunities like this don't happen everyday. If they did I'd be working at Rosato's already. No, actually I would have my own restaurant and it would be more successful than Rosato's. But none of those things have happened for me, but your opportunity has and I can't believe you refuse to take it because of your parents! Are you going to be scared of them all your life Bella? Are you going to let them dictate your life when you're fifty too?" Jacob just shook his head. "Don't bother taking me home, I'd rather walk."
Bella winced as Jacob slammed the front door after him. Bella didn't want her best friend being mad at her, but her parents being disappointed in her was even worse. No matter how much she wanted the job, she couldn't take it. She took one more look at Edward Cullen's business card and threw it in the wastebasket beside the computer desk.