I just want to say a massive thanks to DutchessDeeDee and SweetVenom69 for beta'ing this chapter. Also big thanks to Latessitrice for pre reading.
Big thanks to Raggdoloftwilight who made me an amazing Banner, the link is on my profile page check it out because it really is beautiful.
Love's Little Book
Chapter 3
The next morning I was fairly excited. This I was sure that this was the start of the new me. It just had to be.
I jumped out of bed. Which in itself was unusual, normally I crawled out of bed. But that morning, I bounced out of it and opened my bland, white curtains. The sun blasted in making me squint, yet it bought a genuine smile to my face.
'Today will be a good day' I thought. The warmth from the sun was exaggerated as it passed through the glass of the window and embedded itself inside my skin. Then it raced like fire through my veins warming me.
I relaxed my eyes and instead of squinting, I just let them close. I took a deep breath and relaxed in the warmth and light I was bathed in. A small smile pulled at my lips. I was buoyed for the first time in a long time I felt hopeful. I could change things; I could pick myself up and brush myself down. I could be hopeful, because that day was going to be a good day, a better day, a new day.
With my new found energy, I decided not to waste a second of the blissful sunshine.
I got changed into a summery dress and left my apartment for down town. I headed to my favourite coffee shop 'Gino's'. It wasn't one of the generic chains that seemed to dominate town center and cities across the world. It was a home grown, family run shop that fought hard against the corporations. They made their drinks with care, they knew their customers well and they needed all the help they could get.
I went to the counter and made my order, a large cappuccino seemed like the perfect way to start the day. I sat outside at the rickety, old, metal tables that had been placed on the side walk and enjoyed my coffee.
I contemplated what my day was going to be like. Was I going to like it? Or was it going to turn out to be a disappointment?
I continued to think about the next few hours on the journey to The Book Exchange. It was going to be my first day as a volunteer and also meant spending a whole two hours with the strange but intriguing Edward Cullen. I was in a state of nervous anticipation and before I knew it I was stood outside the shop again.
When I got to The Book Exchange, everything was exactly the same as the day before. The dust was still floating in unsynchronized patterns around the room, the light was still dim, there were still books in piles laying around on the floor and Edward was still nowhere to be seen.
I headed into the dark cavern of the shop a lot more confidently then the day before, and I found Edward in the same spot, sitting at the desk, pen in hand.
This time he looked up instantly and gave me a breath taking smile.
"Your here!" he said in surprise.
"Yes," I said, laughing lightly.
He blushed at my laughter and his gaze fell to the dusty brown floor boards beneath our feet.
"Sorry, I just thought that maybe you would of changed your mind," he said softly.
"Relax, Edward, I haven't changed my mind," I responded calmly. I didn't want to make him feel any more insecure then he already felt.
He looked up and his green eyes met my brown ones, he smiled which in turn made the corners of my mouth curl upwards. His smile was just so contagious.
"Well...um...maybe we should sit down and discuss a few things before we get started," Edward said formally.
I suppressed the urge to giggle again; clearly Edward Cullen was not a social butterfly.
He quickly turned back to his desk, and in a rush, emptied the spare chair of all the books that were on top of it. This caused more dust to despatch in clouds around the room.
When he was done, he gestured for me to sit. I looked at the rickety wooden chair and prayed that it wouldn't collapse under my weight.
I softly sat down. The chair creaked and strained, but to my relief, held firm. He quickly walked around and sat down on the other side of the desk.
"So, um, maybe I should tell you a little bit about what we do here," he started quietly. "We obviously are a book exchange. Normally we take books from places like schools and prisons and exchange them with other books that they need. We also offer this to the general public as well." As he spoke, his fingers fiddled with the papers on his desk and his eyes sparsely made contact with mine.
"When you say we, who do you mean exactly?" I asked.
His cheeks instantly turned red at my question, and he frowned lightly. He started fiddling with his fingers instead of the papers.
"Well, I really mean me or soon us, maybe," he said, grimacing.
I stayed quiet, not wanting to rush him or make him feel even more uncomfortable.
"You see the thing is, I am not really a people person. In fact, I am not a people person at all. I thought opening this place would be a good way to get over that, but people came with books from all over, and I couldn't keep up. Now, I am in this mess, and people don't come any more because it is a mess and I need help," he said animatedly.
After he had finished, he looked at me, trying to gage my reaction to his rant.
I smiled widely, finding him quite adorable. His skin was still flushed and his eyes were wide as he waited for me to say something. He looked anxious and I assumed he was scared he had frightened me away.
The truth couldn't have been more different; instead of being put off by the kooky guy in front of me, I was more determined than ever that I wanted to help him and The Book Exchange.
"Well, that's what I'm here for. I think a little dusting, some organizing and maybe a lick of paint, and this place will be as good as new."
He smiled shyly. "Really?" he asked.
"Sure! If you sort out what books you have and the business side of all this, I am pretty sure I can get this place cleaned up and looking welcoming again. If that's what you want, of course." I added when I realized I was getting as animated and excited as he was.
"That would be amazing," he said, going back to his soft voice from before. Excited Edward was gone.
"Well, you advertised for a volunteer and here I am," I said, shrugging.
"Okay, so, um, if you take a look around and make a list of what you will need, I will get it for you. Is that okay?"
I nodded lightly.
The rest of my time was spent looking around the dingy rooms and stacks. The task ahead of me was daunting. The shop wasn't dirty; it was just dusty and cluttered. It was going to take a lot of work, but together, I was sure we could do it.
I was excited, I had a purpose, something to achieve, a goal to reach and it felt good. It had been a long time since I felt like I had a purpose.
We worked in relative silence, which was not my choice. I was a fairly chatty person, but talking to Edward was hard work. When he said he wasn't a people person, he really wasn't lying. Getting a sentence out of him without him blushing or stuttering, was like drawing blood from a stone.
It was endearing and cute, but I couldn't help but think it was really odd. He seemed really nice, and it seemed strange that he would have anything to be nervous about.
The time passed quickly, too quickly, and soon I was home staring at my plain walls. I briefly felt a twinge of sadness deep in my chest when I realized I was back on my own again. Edward's company may have been strained and full of nervous tension on his side, but it was company all the same.
The company of a new person, the company of a man, was something I hadn't experienced in a long time. If anyone should have been nervous, it should have been me! But Edward was far more superior at that than me.
Eventually, I decided to spend my evening with a glass of wine and a good book. But my plans were interrupted by my phone. I grimaced because there was only one person who would phone me in the evening. There was only one person who would call me at all.
I trudged over to the phone and picked it up.
"Hello, Bella?" My mom said before I had the chance to say anything. I hated the way she asked. Who else did she think would answer the phone? If she gave me the chance to actually answer the phone, she would know it was me.
"Hi, Mom," I said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Bella, you said you were going to call me, you didn't. I was worried." Her shrill voice cut straight through me.
I pressed my fingers to my temples lightly, trying to relieve some of the stress already building from talking to her.
"Sorry, Mom, I've been busy." As soon as I finished that sentence, I knew it was a bad move.
"Busy? With whom? Doing what?" she demanded, and I knew there was no getting out of it. She would hound me with the ferocity of a sniffer dog untill I caved. I had no choice but to spill.
"I have started volunteering in a shop; it's called The Book Exchange."
"The Book Exchange? You don't want to work there. The place is a mess and I have heard the man who runs it is a little odd." I sighed heavily.
"I do want to work there, Mom, and Edward is really nice." I leaned my back against the white wall of the hallway where I was stood and slowly sank to the floor. I knew I was probably going to be there a long time.
"Is he single?" she asked.
I gasped in shock; she really was unbelievable.
"I don't know, Mom, but that's not the point. I have told you already I am not interested in dating right now," I whined.
"Now, Bella, I don't want you to get angry at me. You know I only do these things because I love you, don't you?" I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, I was fairly sure what ever was coming next was not something I wanted to hear.
"What have you done?" I spat a little harsher then she deserved.
"Well, I was in the grocery store yesterday when I bumped into my friend, Billy. You may recall me saying that his son Jacob was newly single?"
I rubbed my hand over my forehead;, I knew where this was going.
"Yes I remember. I also remember saying that I wasn't ready to date yet."
"You cannot wait around forever, Isabella. Give Jacob a chance he is a very nice man," she said stubbornly.
"I wouldn't know, Mother, I've never met him."
"Well that's not going to be a problem. He is picking you up tomorrow at seven o'clock." I jumped up off the floor.
"WHAT?" I shouted.
"Oh, is that the time?" she said in mock surprise "Deary me, doesn't time fly when your chatting. I've got to go. Your Father will be in soon, and you know how irritable he gets if dinner isn't ready. Talk to you later," she said in her sing song voice.
"Don't you ha..." but it was too late; she had already hung up on me.
I tried calling her back, but she didn't answer, and I didn't have this Jacobs phone number so I could call and cancel.
I had no choice...I was going on a date.
I really hope you like this chapter. Please let me know what you thought. Would you be angry with your Mum if she did that to you? Or do you think it's ok.
Thanks for reading : )
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