Forgot to add a disclaimer!!!
Disclaimer: Of course Twilight and its characters don't belong to me!!!! Only Jared, Edna, and 'Rita's Readings' do. Not even The Dark Half belongs to me. That's Stephen King's!
Loved that people are reading this! But could you please review? Please?!
Sorry, guys, but Edward isn't in this chapter. I'll be sure to put him in the next one... probably in his point of view!
And this isn't the kind of story where Bella dumps Edward or anything... Not really anyway. So please read and review!!!!!!!!
CHAPTER TWO: Something New
Driving was nice. It was just as simple as that.
Nice.
Bella rolled the window down to let her stuffy truck air out. The air conditioner was broken and the inside was extremely hot. Wind tickled her face and made her relax a little. For some reason, being with Edward that night made her feel so angry. All she could think about was his carefulness. The wariness he always showed to her was getting annoying. Sure, it was endearing at first, but it was so expected from Edward to overreact and shut her out. Her thoughts blurred at the many times Edward just up and left her alone. It hurt to think about those times… It was a while before she realized that she pulled in front of a bookstore in Port Angeles.
'Oh crap. I've been driving that long?' she thought. Then she shrugged. 'It couldn't hurt to go into the store. Maybe there's something… or someone… interesting in it.'
Entering 'Rita's Readings' was awkward at first. It reeked of heavy incense that overpowered Bella's senses. However she adjusted gradually into the scent as she wandered around the store. Very few people were there which made sense. It was probably past midnight or something. Only some bookworms remained. Bella chuckled lowly when she noticed one of the readers in particular. His nose was so in the book that it was sure to join the tale and get ink on the tip.
She abruptly turned away when the guy seemed to feel her gaze and stare right at her. Her face burned. She could feel it. The heat was incredibly overwhelming, and she mentally cursed her face. However in her hurry to get away from the guy's eyes, she bumped into a rack of books that were sectioned as 'New Releases – Action'.
The poor rack hit a desk nearby that alarmed the young woman who was sitting there reading The Dark Half, by Stephen King. She screamed due to the rather sudden thud and the creepy book itself which she had thrown into the air. Bella felt the hard cover of the book hit her forehead and she cried out painfully as the cover knocked her over and the pages made little cuts on the side of her right eye.
To say the least, this really sucked.
Everyone in the quiet store looked at the scene with open mouths. This was truly the highlight of their evening.
One of the employees ran to the fallen books and put them back carefully after setting the rack straight up again. She asked the Stephen King lady if she was all right and that this didn't happen in 'Rita's' often and apologized repeatedly for the inconvenience. The employee didn't seem too concerned about Bella who was being hovered by someone else. Really, the employee didn't even want to talk to Bella. How could anyone dare harm the precious books? What had they done to her? There was a scratch now where the rack had knocked into the desk. The employee just about wanted to cry, but she held back her emotions. Hopefully this clumsy girl would leave the store soon and leave the books alone.
Meanwhile Bella felt quite disoriented on the ground. Her vision wasn't exactly on point. She could see colors and blurs but nothing really came into focus all that well… except for a pair of hazel-green eyes.
"Are you okay?" the owner of the eyes asked, concern lacing his voice.
Bella blinked. Then she blinked again. The face in front of her was so close that it was the first thing that she saw clearly. The eyes fitted so well on the guy's face. His skin was bronze whether inherited or from the sun or artificially, Bella couldn't decipher at the moment. Straight black hair with a few natural brown highlights framed his face.
'He's really hot,' Bella thought in her dazed state but then she immediately felt horrible when the guy tried to help her sit up. A sharp gasp of pain left her lips, and the guy immediately began to apologize.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you. This'll hurt, but you'll have to sit up."
He didn't run away like Edward. Edward would have raced to the other side of the store and scold himself in self-loathing. Bella liked this guy that knew she was in pain but still stayed by her. It was nice… like driving.
Bella sat up with the help of the gorgeous guy and focused her eyes. Things were clear now. Finally. Blurs weren't exactly appealing to Bella's eyes. They made her dizzy with nausea. She finally paid her full attention to the guy at her side and jumped a little.
He was the same guy that she had been laughing at earlier. Just her luck.
"I… I… I'm fine. Thanks. You can go now."
Bella concentrated on standing up but her crinkled brow earned her another rush of pain as it agitated the cut that the book cover gave her.
"Of course you're fine," the guy said mockingly and smirked. He grabbed her around her waist to help her stand. "You should get the award for daftest person alive… and clumsiest."
Bella tensed and tried to pull out of the grasp. "Who do you think you are to talk to me like that? Do I know you?"
"To answer the first question: I think my name is Jared who was innocently reading a book until I decided to help the girl who was basically staring at me when she walked by. As for the second question: No. I don't know you at all. Now will you just let me help you up? I'm attempting to be a Good Samaritan here and you're acting pretty ungrateful."
Bella was shocked by the guy's… Jared's response. It was really blunt, bordering rude, and covered with spite/snarkiness. Bella wasn't so sure if she liked this guy anymore.
While Bella contemplated on whether or not to trust the guy in front of her, Jared took the moment to help her stand. He noticed her wrapped left hand and wondered if this girl got into accidents as much as Stewie Griffin planned deaths. He also took note of her beautiful dark locks of hair that sharply contrasted with her rather pale skin that covered her tiny frame. Jared couldn't deny that he was attracted to her, but that didn't mean he was going to dive in just yet. Usually, his conquests were quick, impersonal, and fine by him. But for some reason, he felt he had to get to know this girl a little first. Just a little.
"I answered your questions, but you haven't answered mine. Are you okay?" Jared asked again.
"Yeah. Just cut and bruised. This happens so often," Bella replied quietly, not wanting to draw more attention to herself. She saw the employee that fixed things up give her a little glare when she walked away. Bella looked away quickly, face burning… again.
"Aww. Are you blushing just for little ol' me?" quipped Jared.
That made Bella even redder. "No!"
Jared laughed. "I was just kidding! Don't mind that employee. Edna just really loves books. I'm sure she would marry them if she got the chance."
"You know her?"
"Yeah. We're pretty good, if not best, friends. She and I moved here before our freshman year at the same time. She's been a little cranky though. I'm going to be moving to some town nearby named Forks, and she doesn't approve. Apparently she's read about some weird stuff going on over there… Wow. I may as well have told you my life story!" Jared laughed heartily at his loose lips.
Bella laughed along with him then stopped when the action made her head hurt like a bitch.
Jared looked at Bella's face wounds with concern again. "We should really clean those up. Come on. I have a first aid kit in my car."
Bella raised an eyebrow, ignoring the pain that came with it. "Why do you have a first aid kit in your car? Isn't that a little odd? And why in the world should I go to your car?! I don't even know you."
"I thought I already explained that my name is Jar –"
"No! I mean, I don't really know you and it's dark outside. It would be really stupid of me to go out with you to your car."
"You think I'm going to hurt you or something? Kidnap? Rape? Take you to the prom against your will?"
While Jared's words were mocking, his voice was covered with hurt. Bella felt bad immediately. She was about to take back her words when Jared raised a hand up like a stop sign.
"No. It's okay. I get it. I'll just get the kit and bring it inside, all right? You can sit where I was earlier. I'll patch you up there."
Bella nodded slightly and watched Jared walk out of the bookstore. Her head hurt and sitting down sounded like a good idea. When she sat in the soft chair, she realized how under-dressed she was. She hadn't changed her clothes to go out except the added jacket. Her shorts rode up a little too close to mid-thigh when she sat and her sleeveless shirt wasn't helping. She tried to pull her shorts down and tug on the jacket a little more firmly around her.
'Well, this is fantastic,' her mind thought bitterly. 'A bruised hand. A bruised forehead. I'm sure there are cuts by my eye. Stupid paper cuts! And I'm not doubting that I damaged my butt somehow when I fell. All in one night! I have to be cursed. I'm sure I'm cursed. Cursed, cursed, cursed!'
Jared came back with a first aid kit and a jacket.
"What's with the jacket? You're already wearing a hoodie. It's not that cold outside," Bella said, breaking out of her thoughts.
"For you," he simply said.
"Oh… Thanks."
Bella laid the extra jacket over her legs and looked down, trying to cover her blush. 'How many times have you blushed tonight, Bella? Just how many times?!' her mind scolded.
Jared grinned. "You're welcome. Now for those cuts…"
He was sweet when he cleaned her wounds, asking if she was all right whenever she flinched. His touches were smooth and warm. They reminded Bella of a blanket she used to have when she was younger. It was a baby blue and had Cinderella on it. She always carried it around because she thought it would protect her from her nightmares and the boogeyman. Bella loved that blanket. Her eyes fluttered at Jared's touches and she smiled softly at the memory.
Jared had finished his work and was staring at Bella oddly. She had a really goofy smile on her face. Was she on meds or something? Maybe the book knocked some sense out of her instead of in.
It took 30 seconds for Bella to come out of her remembrance to realize that no one was touching her anymore. Her eyes opened in a flash and laid on Jared who was laughing at her antics. She ignored that and instead touched around her head. There was a wrap that went around her head and covered the cut on her forehead. Three mini bandages were near her right eye.
"How bad is it?" she asked, still marveling at how much damage she had done to herself.
Jared quelled his laughter and straightened up to stand. Before answering her question, he sat in the chair beside her and put his hands behind his head.
"Well, that was a pretty bad cut but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. There was a lot of blood. You're lucky it didn't get in your eyes. The rest was little stuff. You should be fine."
There was blood?! Bella didn't even feel or smell that! How could she not notice that there was… blood?! It was probably better she was distracted and disoriented at the time anyway. She may have fainted or done something else in the bookstore… And she highly doubted that employee would have lifted a finger to call 911.
"Oh…" Bella seemed to be saying that a lot lately. "Thanks." That was said a lot too.
"It was my pleasure. At least I got a little thrill before leaving here."
"Wait… You said you were moving to Forks?" Bella just remembered Jared's words from early on.
"Yeah… Do you know anything about the place? My dad and I are going there for his new police post. I'm excited to leave, be somewhere new. But still! It would be nice to know something about the place!"
Bella wasn't sure it was such a good idea to tell him she lived there. He would immediately cling to her as his guide or something, and she didn't need anyone else to interfere with her and Edwa – wait a minute. No. Edward would just have to hold on. Bella needed new surroundings and Jared may just be one of them.
"I live there."
"Do you?! Well aren't I lucky! So tell me! What's Forks like?"
"Not much. Cloudy mostly. Little town where everyone seems to know your business. Nice people. Okay people. Downright awful people. The usual."
"Hmmm… nothing unusual? Edna really had me excited with that!"
Bella thought of the vampires and werewolves that she held dear. "Not really."
"Well that sucks ass!"
"Jared! We're closing! Get your potty mouth out of here!" Edna yelled from the cashier's counter.
"You know you love it!" Jared teased.
Edna rolled her eyes and began to turn out the lights. It wasn't until then that Bella realized that everyone else had left.
She stood up and handed Jared his jacket. "I should get going. It's late."
"Yeah. Well let me walk with you outside. I have to head out as well."
Bella walked to the exit and waited for Jared who was saying farewell to Edna.
"See you later, Eds! Don't be a bad girl while I'm gone!"
"Shut up, you big idiot. Bye!" Edna hugged Jared but gave Bella a quick glare. "Hopefully she won't trip you out of the store."
Jared grinned and walked over to Bella. When he opened the door, a cold breeze blew in and made her shiver like mad.
"Crap. It's cold."
"Well, let's run to your car. Where is it?"
Bella didn't answer and instead led the way quickly, praying that her feet didn't trip her. She was about to open her truck when Jared held the door shut. She looked at him incredulously. Couldn't he see she was freezing?!
"You know, I've told you so much and you haven't returned the favor. I don't even know your name."
Bella would have blushed if her cheeks weren't as cold as ice. "Bella. My name is Bella."
"Well, nice to meet you, Bella," Jared said and extended his right hand for a shake.
Was this guy serious? A handshake? Right now?
Seeing that he didn't put his hand down, Bella took it and shook it although with little strength in comparison to his strong ones. She thought it was over but he didn't let go. Her eyes focused on his and she couldn't look away when he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.
"The French usually do that. I think the gesture was appropriate, no?" Jared smiled rather sensually and Bella smiled back.
"Maybe. But right now, Jared, I'm freezing. We can talk more when you come to Forks, no?"
He laughed and put her hand down. "Okay. Bye, Bella." He touched her bandaged forehead lightly. "I'll see you soon."
When Bella was finally driving away, she could see Jared looking after her in the rearview mirror. For some reason, she couldn't get the way he said her name out of her mind. It sounded so… so… well, Bella didn't know, but it was something. She looked longingly at the hand he kissed then laughed. Port Angeles never failed to amaze her.