Heyya everyone! This is another chapter where I introduce Jasper and another little part of the story. Sorry, my updates are infrequent; I happen to have the biggest exam of my short lived life tomorrow, but I thought I'd give you another filling. Your two other favourite characters will be coming soon - patience is a virtue ;] So please leave a review and tell me how you think the developing chapters are going. Lots of huggies, Maaya.
Chapter Two
The following week brought better weather, rejuvenating our dreary lives by gracing us with warm sunshine, a light breeze and the occasional patch of blue sky. The elation of people was obvious; there was a bounce in everyone's step, people were friendlier and the skirts became shorter. However, this made Lauren Mallory all the more malicious. Her fish blue eyes would narrow into slits as she threw accusations with her orbs. The piles of sheets, manuscripts and editorials only increased on my desk as each day passed. As soon as I would hand in one piece of work to Mr. Crowley, another folder of sheets would automatically appear, alongside a smug looking Lauren.
"I want this in by tomorrow – no excuses!" She ordered, placing one bony hand on her hip while the other flung the papers at me.
"I already have six other assignments, so I'll give that in by Friday" I reasoned.
Lauren's jaw hardened and she looked up with a pompous expression, "Fine, then expect your termination letter that day too"
I looked up at her slowly, trying to see if she was serious. Her face was determined and a smirk slowly crept across her face. With such attitude, I wouldn't have minded a termination; however I needed another job to replace this one with.
"Okay, tomorrow it is" I agreed while making all the contingency plans in my head.
She smiled at me and then strutted away.
I sat on my black leather seat and fumed for a few minutes, yelling profanities at my line manager in my head. I furiously smashed the letters on the keyboard, completing my task while thinking of my alcohol supply at home; today I would, for the first time, drink due to work stress, just like the top business managers in movies did. It really was a shame I wasn't some rich, successful businesswoman.
The shrill ring of my telephone jerked me out of my wild imagination, causing me gasp loudly and the scramble for the old fashioned corded phone on the opposite side of my desk.
"Hello, Miss Swan, NY Publishing House" I answered formally, sounding a little breathless.
A silvery chuckle came from across the line, and I recognised Alice immediately, "This is Miss Hale, I'd like to book an appointment with you at Starbucks Coffee Shop on 1st Avenue at 4.30pm regarding Miss R. Hale" Alice replied in the same business tone she used on her customers.
"Rosalie wants to meet up for coffee?" I asked.
"Yes, she said it was urgent, kind of" Alice replied.
I agreed that I would meet them there; I needed to get out of this place anyway, and start job hunting in the process. I considered informing the tribunals about Lauren's vicious behaviour – maybe I'd earn compensation money and take a tour around the world. Unfortunately, my logical and pessimistic side argued, fat chance.
I bustled into the always busy Starbucks and ordered my regular Frappicino with extra cream and caramel. I spotted Rosalie nestled into a deep purple sofa in her work clothes as well. She was the owner of a garage across town which was famous for its female mechanics. She looked up and waved me over. Ever since the night at hour apartment, Rosalie and I had bonded strangely, surprising Alice who was dead set on us, remaining eternal enemies.
"Hey Rose" I called as Alice also trotted towards us, carrying a large Chanel bag and a latte.
"Hey Bella, Alice" She nodded and spread the newspaper wide on the coffee table.
Rosalie didn't waste any time in fumbling about and got straight to the point.
Alice and I looked at each other and laughed loudly.
"Hey! I came to tell you that we're joining a club" She announced.
I stopped my tittering at once and turned to glare at her.
"What club, and why?"
Rosalie hesitated and then spoke, "Well, it isn't really a club per se, it's actually...speed dating"
My eyes widened, spanning out like saucers as I took in her words. Just because I was sexually deprived at the moment, it did not mean that I had to join a group of weirdoes!
"No way...No way" I repeated, while Alice looked unaffected, seeing as she already had a boyfriend who was also secretly planning to propose to her quite soon.
"Too bad, I already signed us up. By the way the fees were quite hefty, so you can't back out" Rose smirked.
"I'll come too! I've always wanted to see how speed dating works. I'll be there for moral support Bella. Wait, I have Jasper...never mind" Alice failed to comfort me.
I grimaced deeply; I did not need my friends running my love life for me. However, it may be a good idea since I did need something to divert my attention from the work situation.
"Fine., I'll do it" I sighed in defeat and sipped away at my Frappicino, staring at the smug faces of Rosalie and Alice.
Over the next few weeks, I concentrated on my assignments and then threw them at Lauren's face, figuratively, of course and then continued to complete the work she gave to me. Alice helped me find a new job, preferably in the rival Brooklyn Publishing House, so I could get out of my own personal hell, but so far, there was no progress.
"Look, Isabella, you're not working like I want you to. Concentrate on the quality, not the quantity" Lauren said to me one morning in her ever irritating nasal voice.
"Look, Lauren, I'm doing my best – it's not my fault you're heartlessly ordering me to do three times as much work I'm getting paid for." I retorted, feeling a sense of high at my pitiful rebellion.
The scornful blonde tossed her hair behind her neck and walked off, as if challenging me to do something about it. Well maybe I will.
To make matters worse, our first speed-dating session was fast approaching; I spent, on average twenty minutes a day fretting over the kind of people I may meet – perverts, hippies, losers, nerds, the socially retarded. This list could go on.
It was three in the afternoon on a Saturday and I was curled up on the sofa, concluding my review on a fictitious story about a crazed woman who had resorted to necrophilia. It was horrific and entertaining at the same time, but I couldn't help but think that the author had personal experience in the subject – it was so vivid. Or maybe it was her talent to conjure up such realistic settings.
My seldom used mobile phone buzzed away on the coffee table, nearing the edge each time it vibrated. The sound was ironically, louder than my actual ringtone. I leapt off the sofa and gripped the small electronic in my hand, wanting to know who would call me at such a serene moment.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Bella, I'm going to do it!" My brother yelled down the line.
"Do what? I really don't need to know about your private life, thanks" I warned him.
He chuckled, his laughter reminding me of Charlie, my fathers' laughter when we were younger.
"Bella, I'm going to propose to Alice" He said calmly, his voice laced with some unusual tension; surely he must know Alice would never reject him.
"Finally. Did you get the ring?" I asked, unsurprised.
"Yeah...about that, can you help me pick one?" He asked hesitantly, I could literally feel his blush across the phone, similar to mine.
I laughed loudly, and readily agreed before arranging to meet at the Tiffany's on Fourth Avenue.
"Thanks Bella, you're the best, really" Jasper said and then hung up.
Luckily, Alice was not at home, since she reluctantly worked two hours at the Fashion House as her boss Jessica had made it mandatory after moving this season's issue deadline date to three months earlier. When Alice told me, I laughed evilly at her expense for a full five minutes, trying to envision my friend working on a weekend.
I donned my favourite navy denim jeans, an informal trench coat, some black leather, but not rocker boots and my all time green scarf and made my way to the jeweller's. The wind nipped at the bare parts of my body, being my face and hands. Perhaps I should have bought the leather gloves Alice insisted on; sometime the pixie is actually right.
Jasper stood at the entrance of the grandiose shop, stuffed inside a trench coat of his own on top of navy jeans and a blue scarf. His hair was wild as always, and a faint tinge of red lined the skin about his high cheekbones.
"Hey, thank you so much for doing this!" Jasper said while hugging my heavily clad figure.
"It's okay, what are sisters for? And by the way, stop trying to dress like me" I replied, while gesturing to our very similar attire.
He laughed deeply while leading me inside the toasty building.
I took in the view, awed by the amount of money it was all worth. Each and every item was unique in design and structure. The halogen lights allowed the crystals and diamonds to glitter in their glory, making them look all the more special and valuable.
"Are you sure you have the funds?" I muttered to my brother as I caught sight of a price tag.
Jasper rolled his eyes and said, "Of course! I'll buy you one as well" He grinned and pointed to the beautiful bracelets, while placing a hand on his heart.
"Thanks, but no thanks" I declined his offer.
We arrived in the far left hand side corner of the vast collection, to stand in front of the rings. Each and every one was stunning in its own way; however, Alice wasn't one to simply pick one up. Most of them were silver, but a few gold ones were dotted in the display, with ornate designs carved onto them or a delicate diamond. Jasper stood there, his eyebrows mashed together in concentration as he mentally compared two of the potential rings. Finally, he sighed loudly and let me shortlist them. One was a thick silver band with small stones building up to the largest and distinct one while the other had a medium sized shiny band which was also silver. There was a luminous ostentatious diamond nestled comfortably on the peak, where it would flaunt itself on Alice's finger.
"The second one" I decided, quite confidently, too.
"Sure?" Jasper confirmed.
I nodded profusely, "I know Alice and I know this is just like her. And besides, women know what other women like" I said, smugly.
My brother scratched his head awkwardly after nodding and then went to the counter.
A small blue velvety box slipped itself into the breast pocket of Jasper's coat as we briskly walked along the wide pavements of New York. The wind swirled around us causing everybody's hair to dance around them like hurricanes. My hands were safely tucked in my large coat pockets and my mouth was sheathed by my favourite green scarf. After much running, toppling and laughing, we boarded the haven of a bus.
"So, I heard about the speed-dating thing you have tomorrow" Jasper started while I instantly blushed bright red. Hopefully he would it write off due to the weather.
I smiled at him sheepishly, "Rosalie is guilty"
He nodded calmly; he knew was Rosalie was like, and his pursed lips were proof he didn't like the idea of this.
"O...k. Just, be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you. And I hope you know that if anything goes wrong, you must tell me" He said carefully and then patted my head.
"Thanks, Jazz. You mean the world to me as weird as that sounds, coming from your sister" I replied feeling a little strange at being so nice to my sibling.
"Okay, enough courteousness, and take care" Jasper ordered after I descended at my stop.
I smirked and then mock saluted him.
"Wish me luck, I'm going in"
"Going where?" I asked.
"To her work, to propose in public" Jasper grinned
My eyes widened in recognition, "You'll need it!"
And then I wondered when my soul mate would propose to me.
-Leave a review? Thankiees :]