The Way it Could've Been
Sophomore Me
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.
Summary: If the Cullens came five years later, how would that night in the alley in Port Angeles turned out differently? This is Bella's life meeting the Cullens five years later.
ENJOY Chapter 4!
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EDWARD'S POV
It had been a week since the incident with the wolf and Vanessa. I wasn't concerned, Vanessa was Jacob's imprint, and she wouldn't get hurt. I was more concerned with her lack of social skills among her peers.
Miss Stanton's last day was yesterday, Friday, and when I approached her about Vanessa, she didn't seemed concerned. And when I mentioned that Vanessa's mother hadn't returned any of my two phone calls, she mentioned that Miss Swan had had a hard life and that she was probably working a lot of hours.
I had noticed that the Chief had been dropping Vanessa off and Jacob picking her up more often. I hadn't had a chance to talk to Miss Swan in the few times that she did drop her daughter up.
This morning, I was concerned, because Alice was humming Britney Spears, effectively keeping me out of her head. Then at ten in the morning, she came skipping in my room.
"Alice?" I asked, slightly concerned.
"Oh, dearest brother…today, you will become the happiest man on the earth. But to be the happiest man you must listen to me."
"Alice, enough with the cryptic talk."
"Be at the diner on Fifth Street by noon, and you'll thank me."
I sighed. If there was one thing that had learned in all the years of living with Alice, it was never to bet against her.
"Ok." And she left. Today was going to be interesting.
BELLA'S POV
"Jacob?" I asked through phone, already knowing what he was about to say.
"Bells-"
I sighed, cutting him off.
"I know I said I'd take Nessie, but Embry's sister is very sick and no one else can cover for him. You know it's my responsibility."
"I know Jake, and I don't blame you. Don't worry about."
"Ok, Bells, I owe you."
"No problem. Be safe."
"Always."
And we hung up.
"Nessa?"
"Yeah, Mommy?" she asked as she walked into the living room, where I was.
"Jacob has to be wolf today, so how do you feel about going to work with mommy?"
She smiled. "Ok, momma, can I bring my coloring book?"
"Of course, go get your coloring book, we have to leave soon."
She hurried off to the stairs while I got things ready downstairs.
By the time we got to the diner, I was five minutes late. I hurried Nessa in and got her situated at a table in the back corner of my section and quickly clocked in.
"You're late Swan."
"I know, Mark, my baby sitter fell through."
He shook his head and winked at me. He wasn't mad; he never got mad at me…thankfully. He had a huge soft spot for Vanessa and me.
I walked over to the old couple in my section already seated and began to take their orders.
Just as I was about to take my break, I wasn't paying attention and I ran into a brick wall. It was actually the chest of a bronze god, but it felt like a brick wall.
I fell to the ground, and in true Bella Swan fashion knocked my head against the corner of the table I was next to. I clutched the back of my head and groaned. Damn, that hurt.
"Are you ok? I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was walking."
I smiled as he helped me up, pulling me dangerously to him. As I looked up, I instantly recognized him as my daughter's teacher.
"Mr. Cullen!" I looked quickly to my daughter who had ran up to us.
"Hey Skittles." I smiled, as I remembered Nessa talking my ear off about the nickname Mr. Cullen had given her, and the specific instructions to make one for him. She still had yet to come up with one.
"What are you doing here?" she asked innocently.
He looked puzzled for a moment. "Um, I heard that this place has the best coffee in Washington, and I thought I would try it out."
Mr. Cullen, though he looked sincere, was definitely lying. I have no idea why I knew though.
"Well Skittles, let's get your mom a seat, she hit her head pretty hard."
Vanessa led the way to her small table. Thankfully I had a fifteen minute break because, my goodness, my head hurt.
"Actually, Mr. Cullen—"
"Edward, please," he interrupted me.
"Edward, I wanted to talk to you. I've been meaning to return your phone calls; I've just been so busy." I said.
"Oh, no problem. It's understandable."
"Well, I'm actually glad you brought the situation up. Um, Vanessa, sweetie. Why don't you go ask Mark if you can help him decorate the cake he's making." I gave her the look that left no room for arguments.
"Ok, Momma. Make sure you say bye before you leave Mr. Cullen." And then she ran off.
"Ok, well, I mentioned in my message that Vanessa doesn't seem to have any friends at school."
"I gathered that much, she never talks about the people at school, but the books she reads and learns…and more recently you, Edward."
"Oh. Well, it seems like the other children don't like her. Did something happen at school before I got here?"
"Shit." I muttered under my breath, but somehow I knew he had heard it. "Yeah, but it has nothing to do with Ness. It was on parents day, and well I'm not in contact with Vanessa's father," Due to the fact that he rapped me and is currently doing life in jail. "And on parent's day, when Vanessa was the only student who didn't have a mother and father there. Gosh, I hope that's not it. I know Jessica was spreading some nasty rumors about me, but I didn't think they would affect Nessa, hell she's only in preschool."
EDWARD'S POV
After Vanessa's mother's rant, I realized there was something much more deeper than just not being in contact with the father.
"Miss Swan-"
"Bella, please."
"Bella," What a beautiful name. Gosh, I was falling for this woman and I don't even know her. "I'll try my hardest to make sure no one hurts Skittles, sorry Vanessa at school."
"That's not what I'm worried about." She said, as she paused, smiling briefly. "Ness can take care of herself…Jacob has shown her enough violence that she could take down a full blown man on steroids." She laughed nervously.
"Oh?" I asked concerned.
"The other kids, if I'm assuming correctly from what Nessa says, don't talk to her because they think that I'm a, for lack of a better word, whore. I believe Nessa used the word, 'cootie-brain', at one point. I think some parents have told their children, in a not so blantant way, that I slept around…but…but that's not true." She looked away, glancing at the clock, but I knew better. Even if I couldn't read her thoughts, which worried me, only slightly, I knew that was a cover. She was embarrassed and hurt, and I'll be damned, which is probably true, if I was going to sit by and watch this go on for much longer.
"Bella, if you don't mind my asking, um, why is Nessa here? I'm sure a diner is the last place she wants to be."
"She doesn't mind, I suppose. My babysitter fell through and I couldn't find one last minute. Mark doesn't care, she's quiet." Bella explained.
"Well, if you don't mind, I could take Nessa for your shift and then when you're done; maybe the three of us could go get something to eat?" Wow! Did I just ask her out? Where in the world did that come from?
She blushed and boy did that blush drive me crazy. "Um, Mr. Cullen," she gasped. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
"With your daughter, but I suppose we could view it as a date. It'll be our little secret," I winked, watching her blush. Emmett would be proud of that one. "What time do you get off work?"
She smiled. "You're assuming that I'm agreeing to this little get together you call a date."
"Oh? But am I wrong?" I don't know what came over me, but I felt like a new man…vampire…whatever.
She shook her head.
"I get off at 4:30…give or take a few minutes or so."
"Ok, then, Nessa and I will be back around then."
She grinned. "Ok, but you don't really have to…and if she gets too much to handle then just bring her back…I don't want to burden you."
I shook my head no. "Skittles and I have a blast when we hang out at school, so I don't think she'll be too much outside of school."
We both shared a smile, and as if she knew the perfect time to show up, Vanessa walked over to us.
"Mr. Cullen, I've decided on a nickname."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I wanna call you the Flash." She grinned up at the two us. Bella laughed, obviously knowing something I didn't.
I quickly peeked into Vanessa's mind to see what I was missing.
I hope he likes it. Sometimes he moves so fast he flashes past chairs after I've fallen, but I'm the only one who's see him move that fast because it after everyone else leaves. And he has reddish hair and yellowish eyes. Plus, the Flash is waaaaaaaay better than Superman…I don't care what grampa and Jake say.
Wow, she's perceptive. Didn't realize that she noticed me that fast when she started to fall the other day.
"Sure Skittles, I would love it if you called me Flash." She cheered cutely and hugged my leg. I reached down and picked her up. "So Skittles, how about we go to the park while Mommy finishes up working? What do you say?"
"No way! Can I mommy?" Bella nodded. I set Vanessa down and she went to get her coat and bag.
"Thanks for this. I really appreciate it."
"No problem, Bella. Well I'll see you in a few hours." She nodded and went off to work.
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