I'm so happy with my reviews! So, this chapter is dedicated to XxrudexbutxnicexX, Anscombe, DarkFireAngel00 and Egyptian Lotus .I wrote this for YOU!
And of course, my super awesome beta Real Emma Gray .I LOVE YOU!
Introductions
"Alice."
Of course he'd mistaken me with someone! How are the odds that a man like him would know someone as plain as me? For starters, look at his clothes. All designers names and shining with his grey vests, and me with my simple jeans and blue shirt. No one of his caliber would give a second glance to someone like me on the streets.
"No, I'm sorry sir, my name's Charlotte, Charlotte Liddel. I work at the tea store in the town." Either he didn't listen me, or this Alice looked more like me than I thought, because the look he was giving me was of sanity. Believe me, I know the look.
"Again, I'm truly sorry for taking your time. I'm not some crazy serial killer or anything." Why did I say that? I always say the most inappropriate things! That's why my sister tells me I'm the crazy one.
He has such deep green eyes. It was almost he was studying every inch of me and… I knew this man before. But where?
He wasn't moving, or talking .Oh no, maybe I really did interrupt him.
"Ok, thank you for your time .I'll just leave.…" Something seemed to snap in him, because before I turned around, he was talking for the time first.
"No, please. I apologize for my actions. You just caught me unprepared, that's all." He smiled at me, and suddenly I was the one who couldn't speak. "I'm Jefferson." It took me a minute to realize that I was supposed to shake his hand.
"Oh yes, hi. I'm Charlotte." He smiled again and if I could I'd slap myself for being so dumb. I mean, I'm like this most of the time, but not in front of complete strangers.
"I apologize for my behavior, it's just that you reminded me of a very good friend of mine." And just like that, his smile was gone. He looked so sad and torn that I felt like I was intruding in a memory.
"But enough of that! How may I help you Mrs. Liddel?" His eyes were shinning, but when I was about to speak, my dear cat started to rub his very expensive pants. How embarrassing.
"Chester, don't!" Could this go any more wrong?
"Why, hello there." He calmly picked the cat up in his arms. And Chester never lets anyone do that. Not even me.
"He likes you." I stood there, not believing in my eyes. There's a reason why my cat doesn't have other friends, not even human ones. He's nasty to everyone!
And apparently, he's bipolar too, because he started to snarl at me.
"Chester! I'm really sorry Mr. Jefferson, I'll just take him away and… HEY!" He scratched me! What the hell? If Jefferson wasn't holding him out of my reach, he'd have gone to my face as well.
"Oh man, that looks bad." Thankfully, Chester's new best friend dropped him and came to my aid. The marks of his claws were visible on my left arm and starting to bleed.
"Come inside. Let me take a look at this." I felt his hand on my back guiding me inside as I threw daggers to the vile monster that attacked me. Just wait until he comes begging for milk.
I wasn't prepared for the majestic sight that appeared when I entered the house. It was big enough from the outside view, but on the inside it was just massive! This could easily be turned into a hotel! I wonder how many people live here.
And it wasn't just the size, there were so many artifacts that I never see in a house before. Ancients masks, tons of colorful fabrics among other things. But what really caught my attention were the tea pots. Just lovely.
"Curiouser and curiouser." I felt Jefferson stiffen as he was still leading me through his home as he carefully told me to sit on the couch while he went to grab the first aid kit.
As I looked closer at my surroundings, I noticed something that should be very evident in every place. The lack of pictures.
There were no photos in this house. Not even a tiny one. How curious is that? I may take lousy photos on my camera, my sister is usually the photogenic one, but we still have them spread in our home. Why didn't he have some?
"There you go. This'll be very quick, I promise." He kneeled in front of me, between my legs, and I instantly blushed. "Do you feel any pain?" Wow, he really has the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen.
"Charlotte?"
"Oh yes. I mean, no. I don't feel any pain." Just a sting that I could easily be distracted from by the monument in front of me. What is with me? I'm not shallow! I don't judge a person by the looks. Lord knows this never worked well before.
But he's not some stranger, is he?
"I can't seem to stop to apologize to you. But I really am sorry for all of this. If I knew my cat would be turn into the Hulk, I'd never come to cause you trouble Mr. Jefferson." He laughed again and I look at my arm, the patch was done. Good, at least he was making fun of me instead of being mad.
"Jefferson." He held my other hand to help me stand.
"What?" I giggled for some unknown reason. Apparently being stretched by my pet made me feel giddy.
"You called me Mr. Jefferson, it's just Jefferson. We're practically the same age, don't make me feel old." His fake attempt to mock was hilarious and I couldn't help but laugh too.
"Yes, you're right. Wait, how do you know we're the same age?" I didn't know, so how could he?
"Well, you seem to be about my age. Not that I'm calling you old or anythi…." My laughter stopped his rambling. I guess we were on the same boat.
"I suppose you're right, Jefferson." I felt weird by saying his name. It was a good feeling.
"And stop apologizing .You weren't responsible for your cat's actions… or were you?" He winked and I felt giddy all over again. What was the matter with me?
"Tea?" There was wood door behind him that I didn't notice before. It seemed so out of place in contrast with the modern architecture of the place.
"I love tea." And it was true. One of the best things about working in a tea shop and love it, is that you don't really call it a job. "Thank you." I thanked him, like the good polite woman that my mother raised me to be.
What the door showed me was a surprise, such a cozy and warm room! Very different from the part of the house I've seen. There were so many colors at once and paintings! Well, it wasn't necessarily photos, but when I look closer to see, it was a small, but most beautiful cottage I've ever seen!
It looked like it was out of a fairy tale book.
"Do you like my drawings." I traced the tiny chimney on the portrait and smiled. For some reason this scene made me feel so safe.
"It's wonderful." I smiled and could see that his joy was bigger than mine. "Did you draw this?" I was amazed by this man! What else could he do?
"Yeah, I'm a bit of an amateur sketcher." It was cute the way his eyes turned when he was embarrassed.
"Picasso couldn't have done better." I turned back to the painting. Somehow I couldn't tear my eyes off it. It was all so simple and bright. Like a dream.
"Shall we?" He pointed to a small wood round table with the most adorable blue and purple fabric on it and I couldn't rip the smile off my face.
We sat and I noticed that this room didn't seem to be used that much. There were some dust in the corners and the curtains a bit as well. Other than that, everything seems like new.
Much to my surprise, I discovered that Jefferson lives here all by himself. He has no family and he works at home, which gives him spare time to do his beautiful paintings. I felt bad for him, he said he didn't go out very often.
"But why not? Storybrooke is such a good place. Trust me, I've lived here all my life." Again, the sad look on his features that I couldn't put my finger on it.
"And why did I never see you around town either?" He took a sip of his cup and it was my time to be uncomfortable.
"I don't… go out very much. I spend most of the time in the house or working in the shop." Chester appeared out of nowhere and stood there while I drink my tea. Chamomile, my favorite.
"I think it's time we change that, don't you think?" The cat meowed loud enough to get our attention, and Jefferson laughed as he poured some tea on a plate for him.
"There you are. I forgot that you liked Chamomile as well, Chess."
"How did you know that?" I wasn't shocked, just surprised that he seemed to know that.
"What? I… he looks like he likes tea." When he started to ramble, it was the cutest thing I've ever seen. And I think he poorly interpreted my reaction, because he turned again for Chester.
"This is the first time someone has given him that much attention besides me. Thank you." His full smile was enough to knock me on my ass. Good thing I was sitting.
"I really like him too." He put the cup down and poured another for us. Fennel this time. "So, Charlotte, what can I help you with?" That was the obvious question, but for a moment, I forgot why I was there in the first place. The shop, yeah right.
"Oh, yes, of course. Silly me." I was being me again. Oh no, my dad always said that not everyone might understand me. But, somehow, Jefferson seemed to get me. "Sorry."
"It's alright. You have a tea shop, right?"
Calmly, thanks to my tea, I explained to him that we were a small, but traditional tea shop that was offering an event in the town the next couple of weeks to raise money for our reform. And I was searching for the loving and willing people of our town to contribute with a donation.
Somehow, I felt ashamed to go ask him for money.
"But you don't have to do that, of course. You already took care of my arm and my cat, and…." But I stopped when he held my shoulders and gave me a smile.
"I'll love to help. Who can I make the check?" Was he serious? Just like that?
"Wait, what?"
"The check. To whom do I make it to? Are you alright Charlotte?" He already had the check and pen in hand.
"It's just that, you're the first person who didn't slam the door in my face, and now you're offering a donation. This is more than I could expect." He paused and we stood facing each other. I was very aware of how red I must be now.
"Now, why would I let the door slam on your face?" He touched my nose with his thumb. And I swear, it was such a familiar feeling, that I instantly missed it.
"You, um… the donations are made on the day of the party. Here's your invitation." By some miracle, I wasn't shaking or stuttering. "So you have to go to the party." I didn't mean to sound this desperate. But that was how it came out.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."
And with that, we said our goodbyes, with the promise to bump into each other now.
Unfortunately, my job wasn't near to be over. Which meant that I had to be ready for more rejections.
But, to my surprise, that was not what happened in the next house I went to.
And that's how I met Paige.
Review, please. It's the only way I'll update faster.
