BPOVI knew it was risky, walking around Port Angeles alone, but Angela had invited Jessica along and they were now rummaging through every rack in every clothing store.
I hated shopping, but I hated shopping with Jessica even more. Sure, I could endure shopping when it was only for a short period of time. Short periods of times just didn't exist to Jessica. So it wasn't long before I politely excused myself to look for a bookstore.
I had been to Port Angeles many times, but none at night and none alone. Although I had a great sense of direction during the day, I occasionally got confused at night. With low lights and my luck with trouble, it never ended well.
I was walking in the direction I thought was the closest bookstore. I should have taken the hint when foot traffic began to thin out, but I didn't and I kept going. Soon enough I heard footsteps behind me.
Without making it too obvious I looked over my shoulder. It was just a couple of guys walking home from work. Just great, that's all I needed, a couple of guys following me. I rounded the corner, and made myself go in a circle heading back the way I came from.
At my last corner, I saw more guys just standing around. One of them yelled out towards me. I thought they were yelling at me but found out soon enough it was to the guys who were still behind me. That made the total of guys 4. Four on one wasn't too bad.
I had watched all those self defence movies and I knew a thing or two about defending yourself. I tied my hair into a bun as it was long enough to be grabbed in just a pony tail. I clutched my bag closer to my body as I neared the men waiting on the sidewalk.
The pepper spray was in the side pocket. My elbow was strong enough to do some damage. Just push the nose up and I would do some more damage. And I had always heard that kicking a man in the crotch hurt them a lot.
"Hey beautiful, what are you doing here tonight?" one of the guys said to me. I smiled, not saying a word, and made a move to walk around them. He reached his hand out to me, and grabbed my arm. "I said, what are you doing here tonight?"
I look at him and say "I was just looking around, but I should get going, my friends are waiting for me." I turn to walk away, but he just pulls me into him.
"You are so beautiful, why must you leave so soon? Just stay for a little while," he says, and smiles to his friends, who close in behind us.
I reach into my bag and say, "Let me go," in a calm tone. I smile at him and try to spray him in the eye, but the spray nozzle is clogged. Great, due to my lack of needs for pepper spray it clogged itself.
He laughs at me, pushing me into a wall. "Now, gorgeous, why did you do that? You just went and got me all mad," he says, as he pushes his hand under my shirt.
"Let me go" I say as I knee him hard in the crotch. Sure enough, he falls to the ground in pain.
His friends crowd around him until he croaks out, "get her," in an angry tone. I try to make a run for it but they grab me. I feel their strong grips on me and I scream out for help.
EPOVEarlier that evening I saw her enter a clothing store with Jessica and Angela. They were all laughing and giggling. They went in, but I only saw Jessica and Angela come out. After trailing them and listening to their thoughts, I heard that Bella had left them to go find a bookstore.
I wished she hadn't, because now I can't find her. I have driven for hours, looking and searching. I can't see her, and I can't hear her thoughts. I can't keep driving around like this.
After rounding the same corner for the 10th time I see a few guys hanging around together. I think nothing of it from the sight but their thoughts are what caught me. I look into their thoughts and hear them thinking of the beautiful girl. They view her and they replay the fight between her and their friend.
I speed up and jump the curb in my Volvo in time to see her being grabbed by the guys again. They get frightened of my reckless driving and I see Bella's face. I roll my window down and say, "Hop in. NOW!"
I watch as she elbows the guy holding onto her hard. He fumbles, trying to maintain his grip on her, but she runs off, and jumps into my car. I smile at her as I say, "Hold on tight," as I speed up and head off.
As I hit the main road I slow down. I chance a glance at Bella as I slow down. I smile at her as she looks just as stunned as me. "What are you doing here Bella?" I ask as she looks at me.
"I should ask you the same thing. I do believe you have been missing for a couple of days," she asks in her own voice full of mystery. I try to read her emotions and feelings on the matter, but can't decipher her tone or face.
"Well, to be honest, I was making sure you didn't get into any trouble, since you hurt yourself enough at school," I reply with a smile on her face.
I hear her heart beat pick up pace, and I see the red rush to her face. Ah, her beautiful flush. I don't think that anyone or anything has seemed so perfect, so beautiful, to me before. Not even Tanya, though she likes to think I see her that way.
"Well thankyou, but I really must meet up with Jessica and Angela. We were going to try the new restaurant in town, Twilight." She was babbling, and I knew it. She was beginning to get nervous and anxious around me, perhaps I should just call it a night.
BPOV
"Well thankyou, but I really must meet up with Jessica and Angela. We were going to try the new restaurant in town, Twilight." I was babbling. Why was I telling Edward Cullen of all people what I was doing? Why should he even care? I am sure that he doesn't care at all about a plain old girl like me.
"I'll drop you off then. What time were you meant to meet them?" he asks. Maybe he does like me. Maybe he seriously thinks I am wonderful and different and…utterly stupid! I trip over bags and hurt myself in front of him. I blush at stupid comments about him seeming to care about me.
I look at him and say, "Well I was meant to meet them at 6. But I think they will still be waiting for me." He heads off toward the restaurant and as we pull up I see Jessica and Angela heading off.
"Hey Guys!" I yell as I clamber out of the car. "Wait up!" I run up to them, Edward close at my heels. I look at them with a small smile. "Sorry for being late. I got into a bit of trouble."
They both look from me, to Edward, then back again. I do admit, seeing him there even in the night light I felt like I was standing beside a God.
"To be honest, you were so late that we have already eaten. Perhaps if Edward doesn't mind…" says Angela, trailing off and smiling at Edward.
"Of course, I could always feed you and take you home. But only if you would like?" Edward asks with a mischievous smirk on his face.
Jessica begins to mumble, saying things like "it isn't fair" and "why would he want to be alone with her?" I choose to ignore her and say, "Well I am hungry and my throat is awfully dry."
Angela smiles at me, as Edward guides me into the restaurant. Angela practically has to drag Jessica away as she tries to stay to make sure Edward doesn't try anything with me.
I had to laugh as Edward and I headed into the restaurant. The waitress comes up to us instantly, or more like Edward, and guides us to a table. She looks to Edward and says "would you like anything to drink?"
"Two sodas, please," he says, not even looking at her. He looks at me, not that I watch him. I feel his eyes on me as the waitress walks away. Not too long after, another waitress comes and she hands us our drinks. I look up at her and say, "thanks" but I see she is only staring at Edward too.
I laugh at her, and she glares at me. She turns on her heel and stalks away after taking my order as Edward isn't hungry. My food comes out pretty quick, but by then my drink is finished.
"Have mine," Edward says as he pushes his drink toward me along the table.
I finish his drink, and my meal. "You should probably take me home now" I say as I get my wallet out of my pocket.
"Let me," he says as he takes a 20 bill out of his jacket pocket. Edward waves his hand to get the waitresses attention which isn't hard as a group of them stare at him constantly. They all jump as Edward looks up at them, and I let out a soft giggle as one of them almost trip over their own feet as they come to us. Edward passes her the bill and she runs off, getting his change. We get up, and before the girl comes back, Edward guides me outside toward his car.
I look at him and say, "Thanks, for everything tonight." I begin to shiver as the night cools even more. As we reach his car, he shrugs out of his jacket and passes it to me. I wrap it around my shoulders, and cuddle into it. Although it has been on him the whole time, it feels cold. I look at Edward as we get into his car, and I smell his sweet scent on the jacket.
As he starts the car, I watch as he turns the heat up. "You still cold? Or are you feeling better now?" he asks as I curl up into the jacket more.
"I am good, thanks for asking," I reply as I feel the heat from the air conditioning of the car warm up. Our conversation for the car ride ends there, as he turns on the radio. His music plays through, and I identify the song immediately as it has been playing on my own radio at home. It isn't long before we are home, and I thank him for the ride. I drop the jacket onto his car seat and say, "See you around," as I head to my front door.
I get inside, and tell Charlie that I am home. He grumbles at me, and I go into the lounge room and see him. "Charlie, let's get you to bed," I say as I take his arm in both of my hands. I slowly guide him upstairs and into his room before I head back downstairs to lock up and turn the TV off.
I go to my room, turning my radio on and listening to the one song again. As I fall asleep I think only of two things, Edward and the song playing. I listen to the lyrics of the song as I slowly drift to sleep…
"I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad. The dreams, in which I'm dying, are the best I've ever had. I find it hard to tell you, cause I find it hard to take. When people run in circles, it's a very, very… mad world."