All normal disclaimers apply. Thanks to the three wonderful ladies who keep us readable ... Jess2002, Savannavansmutsmut and AWayWithWords.
Special thanks to MooAH for telling us what kind of characters she wanted.
"Did your leg get hurt, too?" I ask as I open my door and she nods at me. "Take a seat, please. I'll just get my first-aid kit, unless you want to go to the hospital?"
Bella shakes her head at me and I grab the first-aid box from my desk.
"I'm going to clean up your hand and knee as you tell what happened, okay?"
Bella bobs her head again seemingly not to be able to answer me verbally. I take her hands into mine and start to wipe them clean with the antibacterial wipes I keep at my desk.
"I was walking home and wanted to think about some stuff. I was sitting in the park writing down just random thoughts. I was pretty caught up in my own thoughts, because the next thing I knew it was dark. I packed up my stuff and started to walk home. The next thing I knew, some guy grabbed the strap of my purse. Since I had the strap around my wrist, too, he didn't get away clean with it. He—the guy was not happy and turned around slapping me across my face. That's when I fell to the ground. The strap must have come undone, because then he ran off with my purse."
I look at her face and notice her hair is shrouding her features. I move her hair out of the way and see that half of her face is very red and there is a clear hand print there.
"Oh, doesn't that just look nice. I'm sorry Bella, but I'll need to photograph it."
"Yeah, I know," Bella says giving me a weak smile and a shrug. "The guy was about five-ten, reddish hair and hazel eyes. He was in his late twenties. I didn't see any marks or tattoos that would make him stand out. He had on black Sketchers, blue jeans, and a brown jacket—like an off market Car hart."
I smile nodding at her. "That's a really good description."
I watch as she blushes and bites her lip. "My dad was a cop, so things such as this have been drummed into me. I was always taught what to look for."
I notice she seems far off for a few seconds and then she shakes her head a little.
"He even taught me how to defend myself, but that went out the window."
I tilt my head a little shocked that she's a cop's kid. My mind tries to think if I know anyone with the last name Swan. "Are you okay with me looking at your knees?"
Bella nods quickly, looks away, and gulps. I watch her close her eyes as I push her skirt over the top of her knees. It's clear she's not overly comfortable with this.
"Does your dad work here? Do you want me to let him know?" I ask as I try to get her mind off of me cleaning her knees. Both of them are a little cut up from her fall. I look up at her when she doesn't answer me. "Bella?" I say and she glances up at me.
I watch as her eyes fill up with tears. "He passed away four months ago."
I frown a little and touch her arm gently. "I'm sorry, did he work here? I am not sure if I can think of a Swan," I say and she shakes her head.
"No, I'm from a small town a couple hours from here called Forks. My father was the Chief of Police there."
I let out a soft sigh. "I'm sorry, is there anyone you want me to call?"
Bella again shakes her head at me. "My mom passed when I was eighteen, and I've only been here three months, and I don't really know anyone apart from Rose."
I feel my heart starting to beat fast as I hear the pain behind her words. "Bella, I teach a self-defense class every Sunday at ten, you're welcome to attend. Once a month the class all stays after and we have coffee and chat?"
Bella bites her lip as she looks at me. "Where about is it held?"
I give her a kind smile. "It's here at the station in the gym."
"Are you sure it's okay, that I am not intruding or anything? I mean that you're okay with me being there?"
I look at her a little confused not sure what she's getting at. "Why wouldn't I be okay with that?"
Bella drops her head and her hair falls over her face again. "I haven't seen you in almost a week ... I thought ..." Bella stops and rubs her head. "I thought that I had embarrassed you by asking you out for a drink."
My mouth falls open and I look at her. "What… no, Bella, really I was faltered—but I didn't want to string you along—this," I say waving my hands around the room, "this is my wife, my child—my life."
Bella chuckles and nods at me. "Yeah, that was how my dad was, too."
"Then you must understand why I turned you down?"
Bella motions her head with a jerky move and gives me a weak smile.
I go through everything that happened again with her, writing it down along with a list of what was taken. I then take some pictures of her marks.
"Come on and I will give you a lift home."
I walk her to my car and open the door to let her in, before walking around to the driver side. As soon as I start to drive the music comes on. I frown a little knowing most of the younger people don't seem to like the old rock music. My hand goes to change it as Bella starts to sing along with it.
"You know who AC/DC is?" I ask a little shocked.
"Yeah, my dad was a big fan of theirs."
I shake my head as I chuckle. "I didn't think young people like you listened to this kind of stuff."
"I'll have you know I'm twenty-three, soon to be twenty-four, not some kid."
I grin at her knowing she's a little older than what I first thought. "How soon is soon?" I ask and I watch as she blushes and bites her lip.
"September," she whispers out after a few seconds.
"Does Rose know?"I ask knowing that Rose gives all her staff a birthday cake on their birthdays.
Bella lets out a little ugh and looks at me. "I'm hoping she forgets. Don't get me wrong—I think it's great what she does—but I'm just not the type of girl that likes the whole attention-on-me thing. I'd rather be given stuff in a small group of no more than six."
"Duly noted," I say. I chuckle looking at her from the corner of my eye.
A/N: We want to point out that we were using the HWP and BMI calculators to figure out what Bella would be considered and at 5'2 and 180 pounds and size 14 bottom and 16 top she scored a BMI of 32.9 and anything over 30 is considered obese. Bella is only ashamed of her weight because of someone close to her who has always made her feel that shame. I hope this answered any questions anyone had. Thanks for reading and reviewing, we are so happy to see so many of you loving this already! Nikky and Kasi~
