Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns the Twilight Characters. She keeps them underground. I'm working on something with plastic forks though…Get it? Forks? Ahaha…ha…
BPOVThe weekend passed far quicker than those of late. Probably because Sunday signified the arrival of the results to our Careers test. So, in other words, very bad news for me. All too soon, it was Sunday morning. I groaned, and rolled over in bed. A cold breeze rushing through my open window had stirred me from my slumber. I glanced at my digital clock. It was still early - not yet nine in the morning. So why did I feel so tired? I then remembered the previous night. I had been up late with Edward, once again discussing the details of my human life and my lack of control over it. Speaking of which, where was my vampire?
I sat up and looked about the room. He was nowhere to be seen. I had lost my vampire? I threw the covers off the bed. No Edward there. I crossed to the open window. It was raining – how unusual. Charlie's cruiser was gone – I vaguely recalled him telling me he would be gone all day, meaning I was free for the next eight or so hours. But that didn't matter right now. Where was Edward?
I scanned the street for a silver Volvo…nothing. I shut the window, confused. Edward always waited to bid me good morning before he left. I crossed my room and descended the creaky wooden stairs. Disappointment took me when I turned to see both the kitchen and the sitting room deprived of life – and unlife.
I shuffled into the kitchen with a sigh. Obviously he had more important things on his mind this morning. Didn't he realise I would be worried about him? I opened a cupboard and pulled out the box of cornflakes. How selfish of him – just leaving me alone like that. He could have at least told me where he was going. I slammed a bowl down onto the bench, and spilt the milk in my fury. I cursed before mopping it up.
I was just about to sit down to my cereal when I heard a polite tapping on the front door. "Coming," I called. I shoved my chair back in place and moved to entrance. I was too cranky with Edward to care that I was still dressed in my pyjamas and had not yet done my hair. I unlocked the door and threw it open to welcome my unexpected guest.
There he was – as if I had summoned him with my searching. His bronze hair was ruffled – like it always was – and windswept from running. He wore loose jeans and a long-sleeved light blue t-shirt, which he had rolled over several times, revealing his alabaster arms. Tiny droplets of water speckled his skin and clothing. His golden eyes were on fire with excitement and the smile he wore was my favourite. I stopped breathing. No person should be submitted to this kind of beauty so early in the morning – and in their pyjamas!
"Good morning, my love," his silky voice greeted me. I blinked back, unsure wether to be relieved or cranky.
"Hey Bella!" I had been so consumed by Edward's presence I had failed to notice Alice, standing just behind him, and looking almost as perfect. Her spiky hair was still intact, even after running here, and her eyes glittered almost mysteriously. She looked like she was dancing, even though she was standing stock-still. Again, I blinked.
"Bella?" Edward asked, concerned. Had I started breathing again yet? I inhaled deeply, and felt the flush on my cheeks as I did. Somehow, I managed to frown at the perfect creature that was Edward. He smiled, amused. "What have I done now?"
"Where were you?" I accused. His smile faltered. Good. "I wake up, and your not there. No note, no explanation, no nothing!"
"I didn't mean to worry you Bella." His tone was sincere. "I thought you were fast asleep, so I went out to quickly grab-"
"What was I supposed to think Edward?" I crossed my arms and leant away from him. Alice was watching me curiously, as if observing a rarely found single-celled organism under a microscope for the first time. She seemed almost intrigued by my little rant. It was extremely off-putting, but I went on. "You just disappeared!"
He frowned. "Where did you think I was?" he asked.
I opened my mouth to speak, but then a thought occurred to me. I looked down at my feet. Where had I thought he had gone? Why was this upsetting me so much? A tug in my chest helped me realise. I was so horrified of being away from Edward – of loosing him, like last spring – that not knowing where he was, or if he was coming back, shook me more than it should. That hole in my chest was still there – ready to rip open again should I begin to doubt anything. "I don't know, Edward. I didn't know what to think…"
I looked up into his topaz eyes, and saw sorrow. He knew what I meant. I felt horrible for putting this back on him – I knew he hated himself for what he had done to me. It wasn't fair, letting him know that it was still affecting me. I felt the wave of guilt wash over me, as he stepped forward and pulled me into a tight hug. I felt his cold stone arms enclose me, willing me closer to him. "I'm not going anywhere," He whispered, "Not until you send me away."
I hugged him back, and smiled. In his arms, it was hard not to have faith. "I know," I whispered back. We broke our embrace and entered the kitchen together. It took a moment for me to realise something – or someone – was missing. "Where'd Alice go?"
A pixie-like face peered round the corner at me from the staircase. You two made up yet?" she inquired. I grinned back, and nodded. "I've been in your room – your wardrobe needs a serious update, Bella." I sighed. Alice would never be satisfied with my apparent lack of fashion sense. I heard Edward chuckle.
She pranced into the room and stood in front of Edward and I. "We took the liberty of getting your mail, Bella." At that, Edward produced a rolled up yellow envelope from his back pocket. I winced. "C'mon Bella! You're supposed to be excited you know!"
I scoffed. "I didn't read that in the test instructions."
"You must have skipped over it then – I assure you, it was a mandatory requirement." She responded to my sarcasm far too quickly for me to retaliate – give me a break, Alice, it's before nine o'clock! I snatched the envelope from Edward and looked upon it with disdain. "Don't open it yet!" Alice commanded.
"Gladly," I scoffed. "I won't open it at all if you'd like?"
Alice rolled her honey-coloured eyes. "You have to open it at our house, right Edward?" She glanced at her bronze-haired brother expectantly.
"None of us have opened our results yet, Bella. We were waiting for you to come around and open yours with us." He stroked my cheek softly, and then smiled. "Esme would be over the moon if you could join us."
How could I say no to that? Not only were my best friend and my boyfriend begging me to do it, but I also had Esme – the closest thing I had to a motherly figure in Forks, and the gentlest person I knew – wanting me to do it too. There was no question to it. It would seem I would be facing my doom at the Cullen's house today. I sighed, and nodded in agreement to Edward. "Ok, your house it is."
Edward beamed down at me, radiating happiness, and Alice squealed with delight. She danced over to me and grabbed my hand. "C'mon Bella," she enthused, pulling me towards the staircase, "Let's go pick out your outfit for today!"
Two hours of humouring Alice and her dress-up games and one terrifying and wet piggyback ride later, I was walking up the stairs to the Cullen mansion. It's size still managed to astound me – no matter how many times I dropped by. I admired the view out the glass wall as we stepped inside – somehow this particular view made Forks look somewhat pretty in the rain. But maybe I was bias.
"About time!" Emmett was a blur as he descended the great, marble staircase and ran up to join us. "What took so long? I don't remember all that human stuff taking close to three hours of a morning – even if I was hung over." He grinned. "You keep falling over or something?"
"Morning Emmett," I blushed. "It's Alice's fault we are late. Apparently one wardrobe just isn't enough."
"You don't understand Bella," Alice whined from behind me, "It's not the amount of clothes that needs improving – though I'm not saying you couldn't use an extra outfit or six. But it's the quality." She sighed. "I wish you would buy clothes that compliment your figure – you have such a nice figure, Bella, and I wish you would flaunt it a little!" Her features turned down into a pout, her bottom lip trembling and her delicate eyebrows creased.
I scowled, but Edward's mouth near my neck soothed me immediately. He whispered softly into my throat, "Everyone, Bella is here. Are we ready?" Immediately, the entire Cullen family assembled in the lounge room. Of course they had been able to hear him. Alice and Emmett joined them at the lounges, yellow envelopes in hand. I sighed, and I felt Edward's cool breath on my skin as he snickered. "Sooner than later, love. Best to get it out of the way, like a bandaid – just rip it off."
"Yeah, but sometimes the bandaid gets stuck, and trying to rip it off just makes it worse," I muttered. He laughed aloud at that, and then led me towards the white leather lounges to join the rest of his family.
He sat with his arm still draped across my shoulders, holding me to him. Carlisle and Esme sat on another couch and the Hale twins sat on the other. Alice and Emmett, however, were kneeling on the floor next to the small coffee table, twitching with excitement. They reminded me of a couple of kids waiting to open presents on Christmas day. Alice clapped her hands and scrunched her face, whilst Emmett jumped about wearing a goofy grin. I had to laugh.
"So," Carlisle began. "Who's going first?"
"ME!" Alice and Emmett shrieked at once. Alice, however, was a split second faster due to her overall unfair advantage of being able to see Carlisle's question coming, and got to open hers first. She tore the envelope open with enthusiasm and tossed the returned exam booklet aside to read through the two other letters. A few moments passed in silence as she searched intensely through the paragraphs of psychiatric analysis which we all knew should have read 'Needs serious help'.
Finally, an ear-splitting squeal erupted from her tiny body, and she was prancing around the table with joy. "Yes!" she screeched again.
"What'd she get?" I asked Edward. There was no point asking Alice – at the moment she was beyond the reaches of communication. I watched her leap around the table once more, laughing maniacally.
"Sales clerk." Edward announced. I cocked my eyebrow in surprise. Alice had changed her answers so she would get to be a sales clerk for two days? I watched Alice leap up onto Carlisle and Esme's couch and begin jumping up and down as if she was on a trampoline as I thought. Then it hit me. She would, of course, be working in the fashion department.
"My turn – my turn!" Emmett whined. Alice took up her seat on the ground, but never quite stopped bouncing. The happiness exuding from her was tangible, and it flowed through Jasper and on to me. I couldn't stop myself from smiling, as Emmett ripped open his letter.
He too, threw the booklet aside and scanned the other papers. Within seconds, he had a very confused and yet very irritated look on his face. "What's this rubbish?" he scoffed. He reread the paper once more, and growled. His face went into full-blown pout mode, as he tossed the letters and crossed his arms. A two-year-old throwing a tantrum.
I glanced up at Edward expectantly. He seemed amused by whatever Emmett had been assigned. He winked at me. "My poor unfortunate brother has the delightful task of creating fine cuisine this week." He looked up to address his entire family. "Emmett got Chef".
Esme and Carlisle chuckled politely from the lounge next to us, and Rosalie smirked. Jasper grinned down at his curly-haired brother while Edward continued to chuckle in my ear. Alice, however, was in hysterics on the ground. Apparently she hadn't quite calmed down after receiving her fabulous news, and was literally rolling on the floor, laughing. "Chef Emmett!" she cackled.
Emmett huffed, but the laughter was contagious – especially with Jasper around – and pretty soon we were all sharing the laugh, though not quite as extensively as Alice. "Ahh well," he admitted in defeat, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye, "I can still have fun – I'll just give 'em hell!"
"Wasn't that the original plan?" Rosalie asked.
Emmett chuckled at his wife, then winked in agreement. "Well Rose, I reckon it's your turn next." Emmett grinned and Rosalie gave him a dark look that was almost fitting enough for me – the disruptive human. Apparently she was looking forward to this as much as I was. Slowly, she picked up her envelope and neatly opened it. She glanced over the booklet briefly, before turning to the letter. She stared at it for quite some time, as if deciding what to think of it. Eventually, a small smile touched her perfect lips. "Nurse," she barely whispered.
I saw Carlisle smile warmly at Rosalie, and Esme beam with pride. So Rosalie was going to be working with Dr. Cullen at the hospital for two days. Carlisle must be proud. Edward, however, seemed a little on edge about her career selection. I wondered what Rosalie was thinking that could possibly make Edward worry, but before I could come up with anything, Alice was shouting in Jasper's face, "Open-it!"
Poor Jasper. He still had traces of the lime green dye Alice had used to punish him for his unfavourable bet near the roots of his hair. He flicked the honey-gold strands of hair out of his eyes, and pulled apart the envelope in one flowing movement. The wave of horror hit me just a few moments before I felt Edward tense beside me. Whatever career Jasper had been assigned, was not good.
Immediately, Alice was by Jasper's side on the couch – sandwiched between him and Rosalie, who was giving her brother a sympathetic look. Both had seen the career choice written on Jasper's letter. Alice whispered frantically at Esme and Carlisle, who both creased their foreheads in worry. My human ears were too poor to pick up what was said. I looked up at Edward in confusion, but he refused to look at me. He was no doubt listening to everyone's thoughts on the situation.
"He can't not do it." Edward spoke out against the silence. Jasper met his gaze. His eyes were frightened. "Yes, it will be hard. But you can get around it. You're strong, Jasper." Jasper sat in silence for a moment, not even breathing. Eventually, he gave Edward a short nod, then looked down at his hands. They were scrunched into fists from stress. Alice petted his arm lovingly.
In an attempt to lighten the mood, Edward gave me a gentle nudge in the ribs. "Your turn, Bella." He smiled weakly. I understood he wasn't about to tell me what was happening. I would ask about Jasper later.
Everyone seemed to be brought back from their distant place at Edward's words, and suddenly all the attention was focused entirely upon me. I sunk in my seat and lowered my eyes to my enemy – that stupid yellow envelope. Edward gave me a reassuring squeeze, and when I looked up, six encouraging faces greeted me. I sighed, and reached for my doom.
I carefully tore the tag open, and slid the papers out. On top was my exam booklet. I placed it on the table in front of me, and looked at the first of the two letters. It was an extensive review of the answers I had made in my test. Edward was right – it was very much like a self-analysis quiz. Apparently I had little self-esteem, no control over my emotions and did not cope well under stress. No surprises there – I already knew all that. It classed me as an "independent low-stress worker". I blinked – it meant absolutely nothing to me.
The next letter was a permission note for our parents to sign. It informed us where we would be working for the next two days, who we would be working with. The details of the job and – most importantly – what the career we had been assigned for was. I gulped. I started reading through the top paragraph.
Dear Mr Swan,
This week, all senior students will be attending two work experience days as part of their high-school education requirements. After sitting the career's exam, your daughter, Isabella Swan, has been assigned with the career –
I stopped.
I blinked.
I could see the bold word written before me, but my mind was refusing to process it. I tried again to read the letters. B-e-a-u-t-i-c-i-a-n…nope, my mind was refusing to recognise the word, let alone register it's meaning. Edward peered over my shoulder after I didn't say anything. "What is it?" He saw the word in bold and laughed out loud. "You? Beautician?"
Edward saying it aloud caused my brain to start up. Beautician. Beautician. Beautician. I began to panic. Beautician. What!? Alice rushed over to me in a frenzy. "Oh, Bella! This is fantastic!" At least one of us thought so. I was vaguely aware of the room howling with laughter – especially Emmett. I remembered how Edward had said the words 'You? Beautician?' and I flushed with anger. What was that supposed to mean?
I glared up at Edward, who was still laughing at my misfortune. He caught my eye and stopped almost instantly. I must have looked cranky – which was good, anger was a good, strong emotion. Much better then worry, shame or embarrassment. Anger, I could work with. "I think it's your turn now, Edward." I growled menacingly.
I threw his yellow envelope onto his lap, and he chuckled. "Alright Bella, sounds fair." He slit the edge perfectly with seemingly no effort, and the contents dropped neatly into his lap. I scowled at his perfection. Ignoring the booklet and analysis papers, he moved straight for the letter of truth. His amused eyes skimmed the top paragraph, and I grinned with victory as I saw his eye's bulge and his body tense.
I leant over his shoulder, and read the bold print. It was my turn to laugh like a sadistic idiot this time. The victory tasted sweet. "You're a cop!" I heard his family laugh politely at the news, as I giggled endlessly next to his still stiff form. A thought then occurred to me, and I doubled over in further hysterics.
He glared down at me. "What is it that is so funny, Bella?"
It took a lot of effort, but I managed to raise my head to look at him. I couldn't keep from laughing as I spoke. "Because Edward…You have to be a cop!" He looked impatient, so I didn't wait for him to figure it out. "Guess who is going to be your boss for the next two days?" I didn't think it was possible for Edward to 'grow pale' and yet, he somehow managed it as the little light bulb above his head flickered on. "Charlie's gonna love this!"
Author's Note: So there you have it – the Cullens are (temporarily) employed! Sorry if you had bigger plans for them – but I promise I have a round about idea as to what I am doing! Ahh, and what troublesome career does Jasper have? You shall have to wait and see – and yes, I am one of those diabolical cliffhanger-ish writers. Sorry. Also, I have half-yearly exams approaching, so unfortunately the story might be a bit slow going for a couple of weeks. Sorry guys, but I can't flunk these ones -- Read and review – let me know what you liked, and how to improve! Thanks!