A/N; um, yes, I updated, huzzah! Please read & review, the more feedback the better! And, yeah, this chapter is a bit longer. THANKS TIMES A MILLION to F-Clearwater, my friend, who did all the editing.
My eyes were droopy as I carefully opened them and looked at my surroundings. I was sitting near a door, in a dirty small…apartment? And it wasn't even my apartment. As I slowly recalled past events, I quickly did an inventory check on myself. Yup, everything were it was supposed to be, they hadn't touched me yet. I slowly turned my head to see four men sitting at a round table discussing over a few beers.
I quickly closed my eyes again and one of them peeked to see if I was awake. What could they possible want from me? Jeez, I wasn't even that pretty.
"So, what are we going to do with her?" asked one of the men, the round one, most likely. His voice was raucous and aged.
"Ransom?"
"To who, though?"
"I don't know, Paul. Maybe the police will put in some effort to return her to her family, or whoever wants her." A few of them snickered.
I peeked through one eye at the door, recognizing a throbbing at the back of my head. I quietly mumbled to myself as I realized the door was unlocked. I quickly calculated my chances of getting out, they seemed pretty good. As long as I didn't fall, I would make it… Well, that's just great. I mentally rolled my eyes. I slowly counted to ten in my head.
1…2…3…4…10
I couldn't wait much longer. I bounced up, sprinted the short distance to the door and yanked it open. I could hear the furious yells behind me as I slid into the elevator in front of the door. Where was I? When I reached the lobby, I ran as fast as I could. I ended up in a neighbourhood I had never seen before, let alone heard of. The pounding in my head got heavier and I started to feel a bit dizzy as I frantically searched around for an escape, for someone to save me. I turned around and saw two of the men from the apartment leaving the building, probably to come and get me. I ran faster ducking into an alleyway.
I looked around the curb to see them heading into another alley. For the moment I was safe. Thankfully I pulled head back into the alley before the thick stream of tears blurred my vision. My legs gave way and I crashed into the pavement. I wanted to know how far my home was, or at least the nearest taxi. There were no cars to be seen. I pulled my knees to my chest and hung my head. I noticed a flashing light in front of me, blurred by tears. A man, or a boy, I couldn't tell, stepped out of the car walking to me slowly with his hands up.
"Are you okay?" he asked. I could faintly make out pale skin, gold eyes, and bronze hair. However, most of his face was still blurred, like everything else, due to thick tears streaming down my face.
"Leave me alone," I whispered, trying to get away from him. I didn't know if he was anything like the four men that I had encountered and I preferred to keep my distance. I didn't have enough energy to get my point across as effectively as I wanted to. I could barely see him frowning as he took a few more steps toward me. He crouched down so he was eye level a few inches away from me.
"I won't hurt you, are you okay?" he repeated. He spoke with so much concern that my resolve melted and tears started rolling down my face as I shook my head. He helped me up, but my legs still felt like Jell-O underneath me, I fumbled and was a few centimetres from the cement and closed my eyes for the impact, but it never came; instead, two strong arms wound their way around my waist and helped me up. He looked alarmed and carefully lifted me and set me in the back of a shiny silver Volvo.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked through sobs.
"Well, I can take you to a hospital…" he tilted his head to the side and frowned again. I shook my head furiously.
"Can you take me home?" I questioned.
"Where do you live?" I deliberated a bit, wondering if I should actually tell him where I lived. After a minute of awkward silence, I opened my mouth to speak.
"Um…Main street, the apartment building behind the complex," I tired to explain.
"Oh, okay, I live near there…" he said as he started the car.
The scenery flashed by and I noticed how fast he was driving. On a normal occasion, this would bother me, but I was too tired to complain.
"Can I ask what you're doing so far from home?" he asked, gazing at me from the mirror.
I turned to look out the window again as I said "I don't know," which, technically, was the truth. My tears started to clear and so did my surroundings. I could also plainly see his face. He was perfect. His pale skin was smooth, his gold eyes were genuinely emitting concern, for me, I supposed. His bronze hair was in casual disarray. I gazed at him for a while, like an idiot, and quickly looked away as I caught his eye. I looked back out through the window and saw we were about a minute from my apartment.
"Thank you," I muttered, as he parked outside the building. He got out of the car and opened my door. He held out a hand, and I reached out for it gratefully, knowing I still hadn't regained my balance.
"Your welcome" And he smiled a crooked smile so beautiful I almost forgot to breathe.
He walked me into the building and led me into the elevator. I pressed the 'five' button and closed my eyes while he leaned against the side of the elevator. He then walked me to my room. I was about to open it when somebody opened it from the inside. Jacob stood in the doorway, taking in my appearance, shocked.
"Bella! Are you okay? Where were you? I was so worried?!" He managed to say all that in just one breath and when he took the much need air for his lungs, I decided to interrupt.
"Jacob, I'm fine, really." I assured him. I didn't want him to get so worked up over me.
"I was about to check the local hospital, you know to make sure that you weren't there for a visit." He continued in the same frantic voice as before.
His comment distracted me for the moment. "Come on Jake, I'm not that bad. I'll admit that I do go to the ER a few times a month, but that shouldn't be the first place you think of when I don't show up." I was kind of upset and embarrassed at the fact that my clumsiness was so obvious.
Jake raised an eyebrow and an amused smirk appeared on his face "Oh really Bella? Just this last month you ended up in the ER at least 4 times."
I blushed a deep burgundy colour and asked "Why are you still in my house?" I attempted at a change of topic. I knew that the conversation on my being a klutz was not going to end in my favour.
"Oh, um, I got hungry." He gave me a sheepish smile while I giggled. A muffled cough came from behind me; I almost forgot that my saviour was still there.
"Who's your friend, Bells?" Jacob asked pointing to the bronze haired guy.
"Oh, uh…." I looked towards him with a frown on my face. He laughed and held out his hand.
"My name is Edward Cullen," He said with a grin.
"My name is Bella, Bella Swan." I spoke quietly while taking his hand and giving it a firm shake.
"I should get going…" Edward started.
"Oh, right. Thank you so much, I don't know how I'll ever be able to make it up to you…" I gave him a quick hug, and smiled. I waved to him as he returned the smile and walked back towards the elevators. I sighed and went into the apartment.
That was the first night I dreamed of Edward Cullen.
