A/N – You will recognize characters and etc, etc… They're not mine. Obviously.
Chapter 3
"Rosie, you and your brother are my friends since your family moved out right next to me. I know you since I was 4… We're best friends since when?" – I was trying to force her to admit she was at least pleasantly surprised with Emmett. Of course she didn't know him and her fiancée was something to consider in this equation but I knew her very well and damn it she could only be blind if she didn't see the way he looked at her all evening and the way he made his lips linger in her cheek… Yes, she let him kiss her goodnight!
"I don't know… Since ever I guess. Maybe since we started chasing Jasper's girlfriends away when we were on fourth grade." She recalled with a smile.
I started laughing and she joined me. Angela was already sleeping in her bedroom. Well, she was with her boyfriend Ben who was staying the night so I couldn't really tell what they were doing but...
"God, don't remind me about that!" – I said a little embarrassed. She only laughed harder at my red face. Jasper was 2 years older than us and he was the only kid who treated me right when we were younger. He didn't throw mud pies at my face. He was always very polite with girls in general but especially with me. Well, at least that's what I used to think. It's like he didn't went through that fase when boys get grossed out by girls and are mean to them. So it wasn't surprising at all the bunch of girls who followed him around. The thing is I had a crush on him. A big one. Well, as big as a 10 year old could crush on a boy, but still. I even told Rose he was my prince charming and I would marry him so that we could be sisters for real. She was always very protective of her loved ones and she never thought any girl was right for her brother, so we started to interfere in Jasper's relationships. We were mean and at the end the girl always ended up screaming at Jasper like a maniac. Of course, that's what he thought she was so he always broke up with them. He never had a clue or at least he never show he knew all about what we did.
"So you can't deny you like the guy"
"What are you saying bitch? I have a fiancé, ok?"
"I know, believe me. But you weren't thinking about him when you kissed Emmett, right?"
"I was no big deal Bella, c'mon don't be a prude."
"I'm not a prude!" – I almost shouted. "Oh Bella you are so crazy meeting 2 strangers for dinner" – I tried to imitate the girlish yet kind of too strong voice of hers. "But of course, I can let said stranger kiss me on the cheek the first time I saw him and that's no big deal. Oh, and yeah I just remembered I have a fiancée." And in a lower voice I added. "Who is a real douche bag so I'm not judging you but…"
"Bella"- She said through her teeth though I knew she wasn't really mad at me. "He was nice, that's all. And he likes cars too so we talked a lot. He doesn't know a tenth of what I know but you know guys always think they know better when the subject is cars. But he wasn't like that at all. Any who, he's just a friend." –At this point she was already rambling but then her eyes started to shine in a way I didn't like at all. "And I wasn't the only one who got along with the 'strangers'. You certainly couldn't take your eyes of Edward. And you two were all smiles all diner. What's with that, huh?"
Wow, nice change of subject… Just put me in the spotlight, you know how I like that…
"Well, you were paying attention to Emmett alone and Angela was bored, I think she missed Ben, we should have invited him by the way, and so we just started talking, that's all."
"Yeah, right. Why did you got in the car with a stupid smile on your face, then?"
"Well, he is nice and I usually deal with creeps such as Mike and so on… It was nice having someone to talk to, someone interesting who doesn't talk about cats all the time." I shuddered slightly. While Royce was clearly obsessed with dogs, and I would pay to see Rose dealing with the puppy he bought her, Mike was always talking about cats… It was really strange, because he never had one and when he talked about them he had this strange look on in face like he was dreaming or something. Sometimes he just talked about cats or something related to them out of nowhere, like "Let's go out Bella" And I would say "What about Jessica? You know your girlfriend?" "Oh, that's okay. We can have dinner next Friday. She would like a cat. Would you like to buy a cat with me?" I usually just walked away, trying to understand why he wasn't in a padded cell somewhere.
"Oh right"- Rose wasn't giving up. "That's why you were flushed and I could tell that even in the car and his interesting conversation is what has you blushing right now when you talk about him"
"Okay bitch." – I was tired and I wanted to go to bed and dream about crooked smiles although I was a little scared I ended up dreaming about cats. "He asked me if I wanted to see him again… You know to show him around town of course. And, since you don't want to admit you like that giant more than you let me know I'll go to bed now, ok?" – I stood up and headed for my bedroom.
"Show him around" – She muttered a little amused. "Don't show him too much." – She almost shouted at me and started laughing to herself.
"No Mike, go away please. Now!"- I was at the library working late because Jessica left me here alone all day long. It was Friday and it was the end of the month so I had tons of work to do. It was past eight already and I was shoving Mike away from the papers I was immersed in. He always touched things he shouldn't like now when his hand was tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear and asking me out again. I said no for the tenth time today and shoved his hand away. He sighed.
"Bella, it's late and it's already dark outside so let me at least drive you home."
"I appreciate that, Mike, I seriously do. But my truck is waiting for me and I could be at home right now if you didn't distract me from my work so please go now." To be honest I was a little scared to stay here alone but Mike was really distracting me and I was hungry and tired and wanted to finally go home.
"Ok, I'll be right next door. Scream if you need help."- He said grinning as if the idea of me being a victim of a crime amused him. Yeah, and he claimed he liked me.
He turned to leave and I returned to the final stack of paperwork I had to deal with.
"Oh, Bella?" – He turned to me again.
"Yes?"
"Are we still going on a date tomorrow?"- He asked all serious.
"What?" – I couldn't help the stupid surprised look I certainly had on my face. What was wrong with him?
"Never mind"- He laughed out loud. "You can't blame me for trying." – He threw me a goofy grin and was finally gone.
I shrugged. What else could I do, right? Boys will be boys. Or, well, nuts will be nuts. I concentrated on work. I finished at ten and did a last round everywhere turning lights off and closing doors. I started on the first floor making sure there was no one in the room where we kept our most valuable books. I had found some people hiding there a few times. Yes, Mike too. I didn't bother going to the attic, the stairs up there were usually blocked by something heavy anyway and I couldn't think of a reason to go there in the first place. So I was headed downstairs when I noticed a box of old volumes we were replacing because they looked survivors of the Civil War. I smiled to myself. Jasper's obsession with History was rubbing on me. I picked up the box and headed downstairs slowly and carefully. It didn't take much for me to cause and suffer accidents. I made it downstairs without breaking anything or anyone. I was walking toward the counter on the main desk when I heard his voice from behind me.
"Hello." – I gasped and dropped the box on my left foot. "Fuck!"- I cried. The damn books were heavy and as I tried to save my compressed foot while the other one was still in the air from the step I was taking, I just lost my balance and fell to the floor. He was there in a second helping me get up again.
"I'm sorry" – He apologized. "I didn't mean to scare you"- his voice was worried and gentle as if he was afraid he would scare me again.
I knew who it was when he said hello but I was on the floor with my hair all around my head and covering my view and haven't seen him yet so when I turned around and flipped my hair I was a little surprised with our proximity. Our faces were inches apart and as I looked in his eyes my own widen a little I was sure, and my face became a little more coloured. Suddenly I was aware of his arms around my waist holding me up firmly as if he thought I would fall again (which was a possibility since I was a little mesmerized) but yet with a lot of care, very gently. He smiled a crooked smile at my obvious embarrassment as I stuttered a little.
"No… It's ok, Edward. Thank you… I... thanks, really." – His smiled widened but this time it had a hint of amusement. I smiled up at him too as I relaxed in his arms. He sensed it and it was like he realized he was still holding me at the same time I was finally able to look away from him so he released me. "Thanks, Edward. I mean I am so clumsy. You just scared the hell out of me that's all. And those damn books are really heavy"
"Yes, I could tell that. I apologize again for scaring you. Do you need to go to the hospital?"
"No I'm used to it. I have books coming at me
all the time" – I tried to make a joke of it and I even let out a laugh but it sounded better on my head than coming out of my lips. Yeah, because getting attacked by books was certainly normal… not. But Edward laughed like it really amused him and not making fun of me.
"If you want I could teach them a lesson. Anyway, I just came here to see the progresses on the music store and I saw your truck on the parking lot. So I came here to make sure everything's okay. Just because it's kind of late."
"Oh, thank you. I was working late today. Just finished really. So is your store almost completed or what?"
"Well not yet but it will be soon enough. I'll be more involved from now on. I couldn't be here today but I want to be involved in everything, so next week I'll start hanging around and coordinating things at least."
"That's nice" – I smiled. "You can make it more personal that way. It won't be just another music store." I knew he hadn't been here all day. I was peeking at the future music store and the people working on it every time I could all day long.
"Exactly" – he smiled back. "Music is my passion. I try to treat it with as much respect as possible. Sometimes people forget music is a form of art and it's as important as sculpture or painting. I mean, I'm just glad I'm able to do something I really like"
"Wow, you would get along just fine with Jasper"
"Who's Jasper?"
"He's Rosalie's brother. He's an artist. Like the most complete artist I've ever heard about. He's mostly a painter and sculptor but he can do about anything. Well he is a History teacher but he shares your love for the arts. But I can understand what you're saying, I love literature and I love working here. Love everything about this library. Well, almost everything"
"What do you mean?"
"It's just my boss. She's not so nice for me"
"Why?"
"Well, she's Mike's girlfriend and…"
My cell phone began to ring then and I told Edward to hold on for a second.
"Hello, Rose"
"Where the hell are you?"
"Calm down, I'm still at the store. I was alone all day working and it's the end of the month so I had a lot to do. I'm finished now so I won't be long, ok? I'm really tired and hungry"
"You have to tell that cockroach to treat you better. Do you want me to teach her a lesson?"
"No Rose." I smiled at Edward.
"I can hear your smile lady. What's with that?"
"Nothing Rose. I just think you are very protective of me today."
"Ok, never mind. Do you want me to come and get you?"
"No, it's ok I'll get home alone just fine. If I'm too scared I'll call Mike and ask him to go with me. He already offered so."
"Is Mike there with you?"
"No, he's not. I sent him away a while ago. He didn't stop bothering me all day."
"Well if you don't want to come alone just call Jasper. Mike would be too pleased if you asked for his help"
"No that's ok. I'll go alone anyway and I won't bother Jasper, he's probably with his nose buried in his History books"- Edward, who was looking through one of the old books I had on the box snapped his head up suddenly and said "I could go with you if you want."
"Who was that?" – Rosalie sounded suspicious. "Please don't tell me Mike is there again?"
"No, it's Edward. He says he can take me home too so don't worry."
"Oh, your man candy is there. That's why you were working late" – I could almost see the smirk on her face.
"Rose"- I began turning a little red. "Please behave. It's not like that" – I continued almost whispering, Edward was almost certainly in hearing range for crying out loud.
"Ok, I believe you Bella, see you later."- She obviously didn't and the smirk was still there I'd bet.
"Bye"
"You don't have to go with me, I have my truck in the parking lot and it's not such a big drive until I get home. Besides, nobody messes with me when I'm inside that monster" – I joked.
"Ok, but I'll walk you to the parking lot"
I smiled up at him and as I was about to thank him when we heard a high pitched scream outside.
