A/N Ok so short chapter…but we really aren't even into the real "story" yet…That begins NEXT chapter.
I am so surprised by the number of people who have added this to their story alerts. Thank you all so much…I already got in trouble when someone pointed out that I had said Jackson instead of Jasper in the synopsis…*sigh* I knew I was gonna screw that up sometime, just didn't think it would be so soon!
So, to clarify…this is a Jasper and Bella fic. But, you're gonna notice a lot of Jackson in it…but seeing as how I hope to meet him again in the future, for my sanity and the hopes of ever being able to look him in the eye again (which won't be easier considering I sent him a script I had written for him with a friend)…anyway… I give you Jasper and Bella…
Chapter 2
The door shut behind me and I pulled my faded leather bomber jacket closer around me trying to hide myself from the freezing cold drizzle that sobered me much faster than I would have liked.
I stood just outside the door looking left, then looking right. In the haze of the alcohol, the dark of the night and the slight fog that was beginning to roll in through the nearly deserted streets, I seemed to have lost my way.
I debated for a moment before settling on the left path. As I walked quickly through the streets I thought of the pretty girl at the bar, Bella I remembered her boss, our boss call her. I worried that maybe I should have stayed. I hated the thought of her out on a night like this, alone. But, surely, she had a car to which her boss, our boss I mentally corrected again, would have escorted her to at the end of the night. Or, she would have someone waiting for her. A girl like her would have someone, someone who was concerned for her well being. And that someone was definitely not me. I told myself I was only concerned about her, as I would be for any other woman who would be unaccompanied on a dark, dreary night like this.
Because after all, I didn't "care" about anyone, not anymore. I cared about and for myself. It was easier that way and that was the way I wanted it to stay.
Finally I arrived at the cheap, rundown motel I had chosen to spend my time at while I was here. I walked around to the back of the building and wished it was an actual hotel, one with an elevator and a lobby. But this one I had to walk around outdoors in the rain and climb three flights of slippery stairs. I hesitated, trying to remember the room number. 322 was it? No 332...maybe. I took a guess and slid the key into 322 and found success. The door opened inward to two old, lumpy double beds, a table and chairs and wallpaper that looked like it was circa 1985, complete with a TV that used rabbit ears, and even then it only got 3 channels.
I threw my keys on the table before walking over to the little fridge which I had stocked with beer first thing after I had arrived. I grabbed a beer and made my way to the bed where I sat heavily down with a sigh.
I reached down to remove my cowboy boots and then thought better of it, I wasn't entirely sure the carpet was all that sanitary. I looked around and saw nothing of interest. There were magazines. There was the TV. I think there was even a crossword in the daily newspaper (the only feature the room actually came with). But I didn't care about any of it.
I eyed my guitar propped up against the wall. I took a sip of the beer before crossing the room and picking up the case. I walked back and laid it on the bed. I opened it and carefully removed the one of the few possessions that I really, truly owned. My beautiful guitar, Annabelle.
She was nothing really special. An old guitar that I had picked up at a pawn shop. No, she didn't look like much, but, man, could she play.
I settled myself back on the bed and got as comfortable as the lumpy, old bed would allow. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath as I strummed the first note. This was one of the only things that brought me true pleasure anymore, the only thing that could slow my always running mind. When I played I thought of nothing but the music that Annabelle and I were making together.
Not playing anything in particular, just playing for the sake of playing. But suddenly I realized that I was thinking of the girl from the bar again. I remembered those deep, thoughtful green eyes. I remembered that beautiful, glowing smile and the long flowing brown hair. Would was so extraordinary about this very ordinary girl and why couldn't I get her off my mind?
I almost couldn't wait to go to "work" tomorrow. I thought about the empty bar which would mean that I probably not be making much money, especially in tips. But, it didn't seem to matter to me just then. It was another chance to be with this girl that interested me so.
Looking out the window to the cars below and tried to think of something else. I was getting too caught up this girl. She was nothing like my usual type. Usually, I went for the ones that one night stands didn't bother. Ones that you could have a good time with and never see again...unless, you were both just looking for another good time with. This, Bella, I was pretty sure was nothing like that. She seemed like the kind of girl that you should be taking home to mom and there was definitely no chance of that happening. A girlfriend type of girl. I shuddered at the though of a relationship.
Mentally I shook myself. I was a traveller. This was my job. Play in a place for a little while, make enough money for gas, another room, food, alcohol and then move on. I shouldn't even be thinking about relationships. It had been a very long time since I'd been down that road and it didn't end up well for either of us. My brain was going in circles, thinking about things I didn't even want to be considering. I just got to this tiny town in the basic middle of nowhere. I would play, like I always did and then I would move on, just like I always did. I looked at my beer and downed it, maybe more alcohol would help this situation.
I felt the beer settle and that was the last time I thought of Bella that night. I just let the music wrap around me and let the beer work its numbing magic and drifted to a state where nothing mattered except for the sounds that Annabelle was making.
A/N: And now the story begins. Thanks for reading and I hope you'll continue even with what little happened in this chapter! As always feel free to drop me a line here or on twitter .com/BellasGuardian