Blood Amongst the Roses – Chapter 2: The Move
My first day quickly ended, Dr. Cullen kept a smile on his face every time he walked by me. And I of course blushed at every smile.
Just as we were cleaning up our stations, the good doctor walked into the lab and handed me a card.
"If you have any concerns, or if you need to pull out feel free to call me. And call as soon as you pass your test." As I took the card from his hand his skin brushed against mine. The sensation of his frozen flesh shocked me a made me pull away.
"Sorry," he grimaced "I've got very poor circulation. I didn't mean to disturb you."
I shook my head and smiled "Don't worry about it, it just shocked me is all."
"Alright then, make sure you call Bella. I'm looking forward to having you in Forks."
"Me too, I'll call my dad as soon as I get home tonight." again I imagined my father running into my bedroom and trying to dust and vacuum, and chuckled.
"I'm sure I'll have the chance to speak with him myself. It was a pleasure to meet you Ms. Swan. Thank you for your help today." I watched as he left the office and walked to a black Mercedes with heavily tinted windows.
Dinner was a quiet affair, I cooked up a grilled cheese sandwich and thought about Dr. Cullen's offers. It was quite generous that he would even offer me a job, but to offer me a house to stay in while I grew accustomed to life in Washington, almost seemed like he was begging me.
He was nice enough. I was sure I would have no problem acclimating at Charlie's house.
I picked up the phone and dialed my mom first. "Hey this is Renee," "And Phil." "We're not in at the moment, so leave a message," "And we'll get back to ya."
"Hey mom, hey Phil, it's Bella. So, I guess you guys are out to dinner. Internship went great, in fact I've already been offered a job, in Forks of all places. I know, I know, but hey, Charlie will be so happy to see me. Anyway I'm going to go give him a call, and I'll talk to you tomorrow. Love you mom, later Phil."
I hung up and then redialed for Charlie.
"Hello?"
"Hey Dad, it's Bella…"
It was finally moving day, I had sold all my furniture to friends, and packed all the things I would once I got to Washington. My wardrobe was sorely lacking in the sleeves department. My mom had sent $300 as a christmas gift. "Buy yourself something to wear in the dismal little town. You're going to freeze your ass off."
I had laughed at the time, but when it came down to it, she was right.
Charlie had been so excited that I was coming to live with him, that when I called Dr. Cullen to tell him my license had arrived he simply laughed and said: "Yes your father walked right into the ER to shake my hand and thank me for getting his beautiful daughter to join our little town."
Embarrassing much?
Everything I owned managed to fit into my teeny-tiny KIA Soul, which I intended to drive from San Gabriel, CA to Forks, WA. At least I got good mileage. I took my apartment keys down to the Leasing Office, the complex manager Katerina took them and slid a sheet of paper in front of me to sign.
"Going to miss you around here Bella." She said shaking her head. "You're the only tenant I've ever had who never had a complaint lodged against them."
"I guess you just got lucky." I said carefully signing the paper in my untidy scrawl. "I think I'm going to miss it here too. The sunshine, the 79° winter days."
Katerina laughed. "Try and write will you? I don't want to miss you too much." she smirked at me and I joined her laughter.
"You won't have the chance to miss me, I hear the new tenant has three kids, that will keep you too busy to even think of me."
We laughed and exchanged a few pleasantries, how much we would miss each other, and how no tenant would ever compare.
The interstate was jammed, people were honking, and shaking their fists angrily. I should have known better than to leave on a Friday evening. I pulled off the freeway and spotted JP's Diner it was small, but it looked comfortable enough to wait out the traffic.
"Hi there!" I walked in to see a tiny little girl with sparkling blue eyes bouncing on her heels. "Come on in and have a seat, My name is Beth and I'll be your server tonight. What can I get you to drink?"
I looked at the back of the menu she handed me, Damn no Coke, only Pepsi I thought. "I'll have Pepsi, no ice please." I said, she bounded off looking almost like a kitten, tripping over a lump in the carpet.
I perused the menu for a time until she came back, placing the glass in front of me carefully.
"Decided what you'd like yet?" she asked.
"I'll have a Bacon Barbeque Burger with Swiss cheese. No side please." I wasn't reall all that hungry, but if I didn't eat now I'd have to stop again later.
It was three am, I was so tired I couldn't see straight. Charlie had made me promise not to sleep in the car, I drove through a smallish town in northern Nevada looking for a cheap hotel. Lone Palm Inn, was the only one that looked even remotely safe. I doubted it would be cheap, but Charlie promised to reimburse me for any place I needed to sleep.
"Welcome to the Lone Palm Inn." A warm looking woman sat behind a mahogany desk looking at me with probing eyes. "How long will you be staying?"
I saw a name badge on the lapel of her shirt "Donna" it said. "Just the night, I'm on my way Washington."
"Really? I have a cousin who lives in Tacoma. Where abouts are you headed?" She asked suddenly awake enough to appear interested.
"I'll be more south-west of the sound. Forks actually." I answered signing a sheet of paper she had handed me.
"No kidding? Never been near the peninsula myself, they say it's a sight to behold." She laughed once and handed my a key with a purple card marked with a large white 14.
"Alrighty, you'll be in room 14, that's on the second floor, you go up the stairs to the left. Third door is yours."
Morning came too soon, but I was wet and sticky from the dry heat that seemed to be sucking all the oxygen out of the air. I took a quick cool shower and threw a sundress on, casually throwing my hair into a clip. I returned to the office, to turn in the key and sign out.
Back on the road again. I threw in a Celldweller CD and cranked it up, in some ways loud music was better than caffeine. I wasn't good with caffeine.
I had just crossed into Oregon when my cell phone rang. I pulled to the side of the road and answered it.
"Hey kid, it's me." Charlie said after my greeting.
"Hey dad, what's up?" I asked turning my head to glare at an idiot who was holding his horn as he blazed by me.
"Just checking to see where you are." he replied. I could hear him blushing. It wasn't like him to be so anxious.
"Medford Oregon Dad, just passed the Nevada border."
"So you stayed the night somewhere in Nevada then?" he asked. Ooooh that's what this was about.
"Yes, I stayed at the Lone Palm Inn in Yreka. Nice place, good continental breakfast. Only have about 500 miles to go." I informed him doing math in my head "So a little less than eight hours to Forks"
"Oh, okay kid. Well, call when you get into Washington." He was beginning to sound a little worried.
"Sure thing dad. It'll be about three hours but I'll definitely call. Don't sound so worried okay?"
"Well, Billy is coming over to watch the Mariners game. So if I don't get to the phone, you'll know why."
"Alright, well don't worry about it Dad. I'll call and if you don't answer then I'll see you when I get there. I'd better get back on the road though."
"Right, well uhh, see you in a bit then Bells."
"See you in a while dad."