I don't own Twilight or any of its characters.
The evening crept on us and caught me almost off guard. As the Cullens ate their dinner quietly, so did we, in another room of course. All the old folks at one long table and all the young folks sat at another long table. The radio played in the background but I didn't really listen to it. Not unless it was one of those mystery shows or music. A lot of the older folks didn't like jazz so it never played in our dining room.
On the menu for us was chicken stew and rolls. The rolls were fresh, but stew was made from whatever was left over from what made the Cullens meal. The gravy was really thick and had those onion pearls I loved so much. I savored each bite, each spoonful. As I ate, I tried not to pay attention to all the gossip that went on around me but it was hard.
"So Emmett hasn't returned yet from wherever he went yet. Probably laying in a frozen alley somewhere." I heard someone's voice say.
"I hope not. That poor guy" Angie said.
"Poor guy? He's hardboiled. He'll be ok. If I were a Cullen, I wouldn't act that way." Jacob said as he placed his glass down.
"Here we go again." She sighed. I couldn't eat anymore; I knew where this would be headed. So I placed my spoon down and sat back in my chair.
"He has all this money and it's all gone to waste. Wish the Cullens would go bust and then they'd now how it feels to be us." Jake shook his head.
"If they lost their money then we'd lose ours too Jake. Don't jinx anything." I said finally. He shrugged his shoulders.
"I just want to see them struggle a bit. They have everything handed to them. I have to work hard at making sure their stupid cars run the right way and fix everything around this stupid mansion. I don't even have my own bedroom. You know how annoying that is? To have to share a room with my dad?"
"Bella doesn't know, she has her own room" Angie teased.
"Yeah a room that's smaller than the broom and mop closet!" I snapped.
"Its still your own space. I can't bring home a hot mama if I wanted." Hot mama? What girls did Jacob know outside the mansion? Should I care? A nervous smile crossed my mouth.
"Jake, it's a so small and separated from everyone. I wish I shared a room. It gets pretty lonely and scary. You know this place makes those weird noises." It really was like a matchbox. I had my bed, a dresser, a tiny closet and a huge window. I did feel lonely away from all the other maids with my room at the very end of the hallway.
"Those weird noises are Emmett's women" Angie said. I just rolled my eyes. I gave her the rest of my soup, and then I took my empty bowl and empty glass to the sink. I turned on the faucet and started to wash them. Everyone always left his or her dishes for the scullery maid, but I always washed my own since I was younger.
I knew Jake was next to me. I didn't have to see him to know. "I didn't mean to make you upset Liberty Bell." He whispered.
"You know how I feel about what they say about me. And being treated special. You know about it all Jake." I shook my head.
"I do. I understand, but I guess I'm getting fed up." I dried my hands and then looked at him. I could feel my eyes widened.
"Fed up with me?"
"No, never. I mean with this job. I've been looking at other gigs in the paper." My mouth shot open. We headed out the kitchen and stood close to the door. We had to leave so no one could hear our conversation.
"You're thinking of leaving? During the Depression? You're a genius." I shove him as hard as I can. Of course he doesn't budge. Jacob is as solid as a marble statue. He's tall, wide and plenty rugged because he boxes in his free time.
"If I found something, I could get my own cave somewhere. I wouldn't have to worry about working for these pale faced..."
"Jake" I interrupted him before he said something rude. "It doesn't make sense. Promise you won't leave"
"I'm gonna leave eventually...you know that." He took his large hand and tried to smooth out my hair. At this point of the day it wanted to break from bun on top of my head. I knew he was trying to comfort me, but I was still upset. It just reminded me of how someone would pat the head of a pet.
"Just wait until this is over...things'll get better in America." I said trying to convince him. He smirked at me.
"You know your hair looks like a really huge sticky bun with the braid going in a circle like this." He won't promise. He told me before; he doesn't make promises he can't keep.
"I just want to cut it all off like Alice's." I admitted. He made a face.
"You'd cut all of this off? Maybe you should just conk it like mines" he pretended to comb his and that is how our dispute got settled: with a joke.
Everyone headed to his or her rooms; the day was officially over for everyone but me. Well in a few minutes it would be. I placed my little white hat on my head, covered my bun and headed upstairs. With my basket, I knocked carefully on each room door. Esme was already fast asleep; I took the black dress she wore today and threw it in the basket along with her underclothes and her nylons.
Then I went to Alice's room. She isn't asleep but seemed to be well on her way. She said 'thank you' as I collected her clothes and turned the light off. Then I went to Emmett's room. I peaked in he isn't there still.
So lastly I went to Edward's room. He had fallen asleep on top of the sheets, fully dressed. I guessed that coffee did it to him. His tie now completely loosened but still around his neck. On the other side of his bed was the journal he was writing in earlier. I'm tempted to pick it up but I don't.
I wondered if I should wake him. Even laying down he looks so long. How did he get so tall over the years? I guessed we all changed somehow, even though I felt exactly the same. "He can't sleep in his shoes," I thought, but I'm not bold enough to remove them so I will have to wake him.
I tapped him softly "Sir" I said softly. His eyes slowly opened and he sat up slowly. He rubbed his head and his eyes.
"I haven't been able to sleep since I found out." His voice was even raspier.
"I understand," I answered.
He looked and seen the large basket of clothes in my arms. Then he looked into my eyes before his cheeks flushed red.
"Don't worry about my clothes. I...I can bring them down tomorrow morning Bella." I opened my mouth to speak but the way he looked at me I couldn't. He continued to stare at me then took his shoes off.
"Thank you sir. Goodnight Sir." I said as I tried to force myself away from him.
"You too Bella. If...you run into Emmett...just go the other way." He furrowed his eyebrows as he said it.
"Oh Emmett doesn't even notice me sir." I said as I shook my head. I held the large basket now in front of me. It started to get heavy and my hands started to sweat. Edward looked back at me, concern on his face.
"He's said some things...and...And he's been drinking since this morning." I nodded yes.
"Yes sir."
"And... I'm going to be sleeping late...whatever was in the coffee..."he smirked "so there's no need to come...come to my room in the early morning." he added. I nodded again. Then we heard a loud crash noise come from downstairs. Emmett had finally come home.
Edward stood up, and caught me off guard as he looked down at me. His hair isn't smoothed back anymore, but the wild curls have started to fight against the pomade. My heart beat a little faster.
He left out the room and stood in the hallway. I followed behind him. He stood in front of me sort of protected me. Emmett staggered and his clothes are messed up. He walked down the hall and stopped to glare at us. Edward moved back a little toward me.
"Hey! Isn't it against the rules to have a maid in your room after hours? You crumb! You think because you run the business now, you can do what you want? " He hissed.
"Emmett, y-y-you're embarrassing yourself" Edward stuttered. Emmett waved his hand at us, and then went in his room. He slammed the door behind him. Edward shook his head and exhaled. He turned to me.
"I think you should go back to your room Bella now." he commanded as he stared deeply into my eyes.
I nodded and rushed away. I could feel his emerald eyes on me. As I rushed down the stairs, the large basket bumped against me. I dropped the basket down by the laundry room and headed through the narrow hall that led to my room.
Alone in my room, I wondered what Emmett said about me. He never made any moves on me. Then I thought about Edward and his concern for me. I've been warned about Emmett before, but the way he did it, seemed to come from somewhere else. Could it be he actually cared for me?
I stripped out of my uniform carefully placed my shoes under the bed. Tomorrow it will be my old starchy one. I hung it back up in my closet and closed it. I kept my slip on but I took off my brassiere. I carefully took off my heavy stockings.
I unhooked them from the little suspenders and rolled them down. Then I took off my garter belt and placed it on the dresser next to stockings. I wished I had pretty nylons like the Cullen women, but mine can easily be sewn and fixed up when necessary. I took down my bun and the braid fell against my back. I lie down and looked out the window at the snowflakes that have started to pile against it. They made a light tapping sound as they hit the glass.
I thought about opening the window to so they can hit my face. Even though it's always a tough winter, I never got tired of the snow. I stared at the flakes, listened to it as I drifted to sleep.
As daylight broke, I grabbed a towel and joined the line with the rest of the maids.
"Bella!" Angie said as she grabbed my arm. "Are you alright?"
"Yes. Why wouldn't I be?" If there's gossip in the mansion, she knows about it. Angie had curly hair that went every which way every morning until she slicked it calm with some pomade.
"I heard that Emmett barged in on you and Edward pitching the woo and went crazy."
"Pitching the woo? Angie!" I could feel my own eyes widen.
"Well that's what everyone is saying. You better hope you ma-" she stopped because my Mama suddenly stood next to us.
"Isabella...now you know the rules. I don't know what these people are saying about you being intimate with Edward but I hope it ain't true. I raised you better than being loose." If I were light as Angie I'm sure I'd be blushing too.
"Mama! It isn't true! I didn't do anything but my job, that's all." I was embarrassed. She stared in my eyes to see if I were lying then went back to her spot.
Angie and I shared the bathroom, we always did. It worked out better that way. We shared the sink and had our own kind of routine where we never bumped heads.
"I can't believe you thought it was true..."
"I don't know. It seemed true enough."
"How? When have I ever had anything with Edward?" She shrugged her shoulders. I shook my head. She headed to my room as we left out the bathroom.
"I don't know." Not only did we share the bathroom, we shared my room to get ready so we could gossip. I asked Angie plenty of times to move in my room, but she refused to share a bed. She had no problem when it came to sharing my mirror though.
"Don't you think if I were about to make whoopee I'd ask you for the low down?" I asked as I brushed my hair. I sat on my bed and started to braid it neatly
"I guess you would. You don't know the first thing about it," she giggled.
"I know…I just haven't done it. That's it" I wrapped the braid around and then pinned it into place.
"Dontcha ever want to? Give those poor little fingers a break." Angie smiled. She sat next to me on the bed and put on her shoes.
"Button your mouth we're gonna be late for breakfast" I said as I avoided the question.
"Bella it's amazin'. You feel so alive. It's like dancin' to your favorite song, with the best dancer without clothes on." She continued.
"Dancin'?" I said.
"It's as easy as dancin'. You just have to keep in step with each other. One person takes the lead then the other." she smiled.
"You said it hurts the first time though." I frowned.
"It's does, but not the whole time. If the Joe is any good that is. Sounds like your ready to give it a try." She laughed.
"I don't know…maybe. If I found the right guy." I got up and looked in the mirror one last time.
Thanks everyone for the reviews of my story! i'm glad to have new readers on board and old readers! Thanks for putting me in your alerts too ;) So what do you guys make of things so far? tell me in a private message or a review! Have a great week! and a great Valentine's day :D