Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with Twilight or the movie 'night at the museum'
Authors note: Thanks for the reviews! So, here's another chapter of Bella/Edward…but I decided to have Emmett, Jasper and Alice in it too…I'm not entirely sure when I'm going to bring Rosalie into the story but she will make her appearance…sometime.
Sorry about the delay but my inspiration temporarily evaporated…
Renewing old acquaintances
It was now 10:30am; half an hour into my shift and the café was much busier than it had been for the past couple of days with a total of 6 tables full, a marginal difference.
Alice had dropped me off earlier and had promised to come in later because she wanted to look around the garden centre and gift shop, unable to resist the chance to shop when she had enough time to do so.
As predicted; my parents got home last night, took one look at Jamie's now black hair and grounded Jake, instantly knowing he was the cause of it. They knew him well. So now, not only does he have to survive for two weeks without any contact with Nessie but his punishment is to look after James and Vicky, and then Laury and Irina when they arrive.
I almost feel sorry for him; Jamie and Laury are a lethal combination when they get together. Although he really did deserve some punishment for his prank, I think that that is a little too severe. Even I would dread to have to look after all for of them, the most evil 6-year-olds know to man-kind, all on my own.
Alice was supposed to go collect Laury and Irina around midday so I was anxious of the chaos I would arrive home to. You never knew what to expect when the four of them got together. They could be complete little angels on minute and then absolute devils the next.
I handed the customer I was serving their change and let out a small sigh in relief. That was the busiest it had been since I started working here and I really wasn't used to it yet.
My eyes glanced over to the table where the object of my affections, Edward, was sitting, facing me, across from Emmett and a tall blond guy. I was positive I recognised him but I wasn't entirely sure because I hadn't seen his face since they had come in fifteen minutes ago. I was honestly surprised to see them here because Emmett wasn't working and on his days off he would usually sleep in.
Edward's eyes glanced in my direction and a crooked grin fell upon his face when his eyes met mine. I could feel a light blush heating my cheeks from being caught looking but I reminded myself that although he had caught me staring, he had looked in my direction to catch me in the first place.
The blond man turned his head to the side and my eyes immediately took in every detail of his profile. I had to stop myself from squealing with excitement once I recognised him. Alice would be over the moon to find out he was here. I quickly told Angela I would be back in a few minutes and walked quickly, but quietly, over to their table, aware of Edward's eyes on me the whole time.
"Edward, what are you—" The blond began to speak but immediately stopped when I placed my hands over his eyes. I almost burst out laughing when hiss whole body tensed at my movement.
"Long time, no see, Jazzy-Jazz." I giggled; using the nick-name I had called him when we were younger. He immediately relaxed and I felt his large hands covering mine as he began to stand and turn towards me.
"Bella!" He grinned and wrapped his arms around me. Jasper was Rosalie's older brother. I hadn't seen him since I was ten and Jamie was just a baby, almost 6 years ago. He had gone to University when he was 17; his birthday was in February so he was one of the youngest in his year, to train to be a psychologist. "How's Jamie? Still a little monster?" He released me from his hug and asked playfully. Jamie had always been trouble, even when he was only a few months old.
"More than you can possibly know. Him and Jake put together is terrible." I smirked at him. That was the understatement of the year.
"And Alice, how is she?" A new excitement and eagerness lit up his face at the sound of her name. To any normal person it was obvious that they had both had feelings for each other and it seemed that those feelings were still strong after all these years. I knew for a fact Alice liked Jasper more than a friend; she had cried for weeks after he left.
"She's great. In fact, she said she would be looking around the garden centre for a bit." I said, smiling knowingly. Alice continually played 'match maker' for me so it was time I would return the favour.
A wide grin spread across his face and excitement seemed to radiate off him in waves. Jasper was usually an extremely calm person, at least that's how I remember him. But seeing him this excited instantly reminded me of Alice. "That's brilliant…I mean, I'd better be going now. I'll see you later Bella." He gave me one last hug and began to walk out the doors saying bye to Edward and Emmett as an after thought. If he thought he was being sly he was severely mistaken.
"What was that all about?" Edward asked, raising an eyebrow at me in question.
"It's a long story, a really long story." I rolled my eyes and smiled at him before turning and going back behind the counter. I was going to have to corner Alice after work to find out how her meeting with Jasper went.
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Just over half an hour later and it was busier than ever, the café completely full and a long queue at the counter. I was now clearing the tables as people left because I got a bit flustered at the counter when there was a line of people waiting, trying to be quit but only causing myself to make mistakes in the process.
Edward and Emmett were still sitting at the same table they had been earlier and I continued to sneak glances at Edward as I worked. I really couldn't take my eyes off him for more than a few minutes, as if they were drawn to him whenever I looked away.
I lifted the plates off the table I had been clearing and stacked them on the tray along with the cups and cutlery. I wiped the table down before lifting the tray and walking back towards the kitchen. Although it held about nine plates, three cups plus the cutlery, it wasn't actually that heavy.
"Ah-woof!" I jumped as the lady to my right sneezed very loudly and very strangely. It sounded more like a bark than anything else and me being the klutz I was managed to drop the tray I was holding, causing the crashing of plates to echo around the café.
I dropped to the floor, hurriedly picking up the plates that were still in one piece and setting them on the tray as I felt the heat rise on my face, no doubt blushing bright red. I heard a loud boisterous laugh which was cut off abruptly by a loud smack and looked up to see Emmett rubbing his arm with a frown on his face and Edward making his way towards me.
I immediately dropped my gaze and focused on the task at hand. Why did this have to happen to me? Whatever I did to deserve this, I'm sorry. It was just my luck that I would manage to embarrass myself in a room full of people, including one of my best friends and the amazingly gorgeous Edward Cullen. Brilliant.
"Bella, are you ok?" He asked softly, his voice laced with concern, as he crouched down beside me, helping to clear up the broken shards of what had once been four plates. If possible, the blush on my cheeks darkened with embarrassment. This was as bad as those horrible nightmares where you find yourself at school naked. If I had any good luck at all, the ground would swallow me up but, unfortunately, I had never been very lucky.
I mumbled incoherently and nodded my head, too flustered and embarrassed for a better response. I picked the tray up and stood quickly, a little too quickly, causing me to stumble slightly as I almost feel for a second time. The only thing stopping me with having another unwanted meeting with the floor was a strong arm being wrapped tightly around my waist keeping me upright.
"Um, thanks." I mumbled and kept my gaze downwards, trying to avoid looking at Edward.
"Your welcome." He breathed in my ear and I involuntarily shivered in response.
"Erm…I need to get back to work. I'll see you later." I said in a rush and walked hurriedly away before I could make an even bigger fool of myself than I had managed to already. Great, I really like Edward and I just had to embarrass myself twice in that many minutes. Stupid clumsy genes. How, out of four children, did I manage to have the 'klutz gene'? My siblings were all pretty graceful but I was the complete opposite. I guess I'm clumsy enough for the four of us.
After that disaster I tried to stay away from Edward for the remainder of the time he was here, unwilling to embarrass myself yet again. I sighed in relief when my shift was over and went straight to Alice's Porsche, curious as to what was waiting for us at home.
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I opened the front door cautiously, glancing around the clear hallway as my brow furrowed in confusion. Irina and Laury were here so where was the mess that was usually created by the four of them?
I walked into the living room, hearing the soft sounds of the TV and peeked my head through the door. Jacob was lying sprawled across the sofa with Jamie and Laury sitting on top of him while Vicky and Irina sat on the arm chair, side by side.
"Bella!" Jake leaped off the chair, in effect throwing James and Laury to the floor, before bounding over to me. "Bella, please, can I have your phone?" He asked hurriedly as I just stared at him, confused.
"huh?"
"Your phone, Bella. I need to speak to Nessie, please?" He pleaded as understanding lit up face. I had almost forgotten about that. He looked completely desperate although he had spoken to her less than twenty-four hours ago.
"Yeah, su—" I started to speak but was cut off mid-sentence.
"Don't even think about it Bella." I glanced up at the door way to the living room and smiled.
"Mum, I thought you were working today." I turned my head slightly in Jake's direction and whispered an apology. Mum raised her eyes brows at me before disappearing back into the house.
Jake groaned and threw himself back down on the sofa while James and Laury just picked themselves up off the floor and resumed their positions on Jake's stomach as if nothing had happened. Well, at least I knew why the house hadn't been destroyed yet; Mum was here.
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I got dressed into more comfortable clothes and sat watching a video (night at the museum) with the four six year olds. Jake was up in his room moping and Alice had said she was going to call Jasper an hour ago on her mobile phone so I assume she's still on the phone with him.
The film was just at the part where the skeleton of the tyrannosaurus rex first came to life. The spooky atmosphere (for a children's movie) and music had all four children sitting up straight and leaning closer to the television. I saw James moving his hands closer to Vicky, who sat beside him, he jolted her shoulders roaring and she screamed loudly, making everyone else jump in surprise.
At the shrill sound of the phone ringing I jumped up from the chair I was sitting on and went to get it, lifting it off the cradle and holding it to my ear.
"Hello?" I asked quietly so I wouldn't interrupt the movie.
"Bella? It's Edward."
"Edward?" I asked in confusion. "How do you have my number?" Not that I particularly minded but I was curious.
"I asked Emmett for it." He said sheepishly. Ah, that would explain it; I wonder why I didn't think of that… "Em, I, well, I was just wondering if would like a lift into work tomorrow." He stuttered. "Emmett said Alice was working and you wouldn't have anybody to drive you so, I, I just thought that maybe I could give you a lift. I mean, if you don't want to that's fine but—" He started to ramble. Why was he so nervous? Don't get me wrong, a nervous Edward is certainly a cute Edward but I honestly didn't know why he seemed so unsure.
"Edward, I would really appreciate that. Thank you." I cut him off quickly, smiling. I had been wondering about what I was going to do tomorrow. If he hadn't offered I would have had to walk and I that really didn't appeal to me considering it would probably take an hour at least.
"Great." He sighed in relief and I giggled slightly. "What time should I pick you up?"
"Well, I start at eleven tomorrow so about quarter to would be brilliant."
"Alright, I'll see you then. Bye, Bella."
"Goodbye, Edward." I said as I hung up the phone. A sense of elation rushed through me at the thought of Edward driving me to work. Sure, it was only about a ten minute drive but still, it was an exciting prospect. All I had to do was not trip, fall, stumble or embarrass myself in anyway. A piece of cake.
A/N: That sneezing lady is real! She gave me one heck of a fright one day at work. It really did sound like a dog barking!
Mwahahah! Alice and Jasper are getting together! Yay!...Just so you know, Alice is almost 20 and Jasper is 23 so there isn't much of an age difference.
When I was in Jordan with some people from my school we had this huge discussion on age differences when we were on a particularly long bus ride. One of the boys, Ali, said there was something called a 'two year rule' which all the boys were agreeing with. It basically meant you could only go out with someone if they were either two years younger or two years older. One of the girls, Leanne, said it was nonsense, which I completely agree with. She said it all depends on what age they are to begin with, for example, a thirty year-old with a forty year-old seems fine but when you say a ten-year-old and twenty-year-old, that's just creepy.
Then we went on to say to Ali that his 'two year rule' would mean it would be ok for him, a 16 year old, to go out with a fourteen year old but he said that was just wrong because they wouldn't be 'legal' so his stupid rule thingy back fired and us girls won the argument! Yay!
Review and you'll get a sneak peak of the next chapter!
