Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are the property of Stephenie Meyer. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Turn to Stone
By: nikkipattinson
Chapter 6 – Definitely NOT Gay
As I walk away from Edward's table, I look across the room and see Jessica. Oh, shit, she doesn't look happy. I fill the tea glass of the lady at table 15 as I try to not look at her again. What should I say? Nope, he's definitely not gay. He asked for my phone number, so definitely not gay. I go back to his now empty table and pick up the money he left on the check. I smile to myself when I notice that he has left a $13.00 tip.
I turn to put $7.00 of the twenty he left in the register when Jessica catches me. "He's not gay, is he?" She looks so disappointed. I start to feel a little bad. "No, apparently not," I say as I look down at the money in my hand. I shouldn't have given him my number. I feel like a horrible friend.
"He asked for your number, didn't he?" I nod my head slowly. I feel terrible. "And you gave it to him." It's more of a statement than a question, but a nod yes to her anyway. "Oh, well. He must be a brunette man. Too bad for me, but kudos for you." I look up to see her smiling again. "He's fucking hot!"
"You're not mad?" I assumed that she would never speak to me again.
"Hell, no! I'm a little disappointed that he didn't want my number, but at least he wanted yours; someone that I like. And now he'll probably come in here all the time and I can drool over him from afar. That is if you don't mind. A piece of art like that man should be admired."
I laugh and hug her. "Thank you, Jess. I was so worried that you would be mad. You can look and drool all you want; I'll be doing the same. He's delicious, isn't he?" She smiles and squeezes my hand before she turns back to the waiting customers. I am so happy that she isn't angry. I don't have enough friends to lose one.
Business slows as the day progresses, which gives me time to think. My God, what have I done? There is no way that I am going to be able to carry on a conversation with Edward. I can barely hold a conversation with Alice and Jessica. I don't know what to talk about. I absolutely cannot talk about myself. I have no hobbies or interests. If he knew about the incident he would run away screaming. My sordid past is not something I want him to know about just yet, if ever. I can't tell him that until a year ago I was a shut-in. He'll know then just how screwed up I am. I have nothing to say to this man!
I must have started to look really freaked out, because Jessica asks me if I'm alright. "No," I answer her. "I am most definitely not alright. I cannot talk to Edward tonight. I have nothing to say. I'm boring. He's going to be disappointed that he got my number. It will be the first and final phone conversation we ever have. What am I going to do? I don't know why I thought I could do this. I just won't answer the phone. I just won't!" I know I'm being hysterical, but I can't help myself. This is ridiculous. I'm not ready.
"Whoa, calm down. Here, sit." She pulls out a chair from one of the tables and helps me sit down. "Take a deep breath and relax. He's just a guy. Yes, he is an incredibly gorgeous guy, but still… just a guy. He obviously liked something about you because he asked to call you; build on that. Talk about him; they like that. Don't talk about work; he won't like that. Ask him what kind of music he likes; see if you have any musical interests in common. I know you read, talk about that. You aren't boring. Don't freak out over this. It's not a big deal."
If she only knew. "But, Jess, he's an attorney. He's educated and has an interesting job. He probably has an extremely interesting life. I'll seem so hokey next to him. I'm not answering the phone." I dropped my head into my hands. I don't know why I gave him my number. I must truly be insane.
"He's a lawyer? What was his name?" I look up briefly to tell her that his name is Edward, before I drop my head back into my hands. "No, I'm sure she said Edgar," she mumbles to herself. I look at her questioningly. "It's nothing. Lauren hooked up with a lawyer last weekend, but I'm sure she said that his name is Edgar. He promised to call her, but never did. It's nothing; don't worry about it. It's not the same guy. Why are you worried about his education? You're educated too, remember? You're way too smart to be working here. And I'm sure that you are more interesting than you think. Are you going to answer the phone when he calls or not?"
"I don't know," I groan. "Maybe, probably; I should. We'll see." I have until tonight to make up my mind. I look up at her and smile, although I doubt that it reaches my eyes. "I'll answer the phone. I don't know what I'm going to talk about with him, but I will at least answer when he calls. I'm scared to death, you know?"
"I can come over and offer moral support. Alice and I could be there to help if you need us. I'll just need to make a call and cancel with Lauren." She takes out her phone, but I put my hand on it to stop her.
"No, I can do it by myself. Don't cancel your plans. Alice won't be there anyway; she has a date with Jasper. I can do this," I say to her. She gives me a look. "Really, I can do this. I think." She cocks her head and raises an eyebrow. "I know I can do this. I'll talk about music and books. I'll let him talk about himself. I can do it. Thanks for the pep talk." I get up and she throws her arm around my shoulders.
"It's going to be fine. Remember, he's just a guy." Yeah, I think to myself, just an incredibly gorgeous guy that doesn't know anything about you. And he will continue to not know everything about me. I want him to like me; knowing about what I did will not make that happen.
My shift ends at 5:00. Jessica and I close out the shift and turn everything over to the dinner crew. We walk to our cars in the back. Before I get in my car Jessica touches my arm. "Hey, it's going to be fine. Just talk to him. He seems really nice. I think he'd be good for you. You need someone, Bella. This could be the one. Give him a chance; take a chance yourself. Tell me how it goes." She turns to go to her car, but turns back to me after taking a few steps. "Answer the phone. You'll regret it if you don't. See you Monday." I smile as she retreats to her car. I open the car door and get in. The entire drive home I have mock conversations with Edward in my mind. I pull into my spot in front of the apartment and see that Alice is already home. She's probably getting ready for her date.
I open the door and walk into the apartment. "Alice, I'm home," I call toward her bedroom. I pick up the mail from the bar and begin to look through it. Alice comes out in her bathrobe. Her hair is wet. She must have just gotten out of the shower. "Hey, how was your day?" I ask her.
"The people of Seattle need to have a complete fashion makeover. I have made it my mission to educate them. It's a lot to ask of me, but I'm up for the challenge. How was it for you?" she says as she opens the refrigerator to get a soda.
"Good. Met a guy. Gave him my phone number," I say without looking up from the mail. I hear the soda can hit the floor.
"What did you just say?"
"Did you just make a mess in the kitchen floor?" I ask as I walk around the bar and into the kitchen. "Oh good, you hadn't opened it yet. Put that one back and get another one; that one's angry now." I walk over to the cabinet and get out a granola bar.
"Bella Swan, WHAT did you just say?"
"I said to get another soda out. That one is shaken. It will explode if you open it. Get me one too while you're at it."
"Before that."
"How was your day?" I know what she wants me to say, but I like making her work for it.
"After that."
I blush brightly. "It's nothing really. A guy I was waiting on asked for my phone number so I gave it to him. No big deal."
"No big deal? No big deal she says. It is a huge deal, Bella." She hops over to me and throws her arms around me. She doesn't stop bouncing; therefore, I am now bouncing. "You met a guy! You met a guy!" she sings. "Come into the living and sit with me. You have to tell me everything!"
"You have a date to get ready for, remember? We can talk later. Go get ready." I pull myself out of her arms and try to leave the kitchen. I should have known better.
"Uh, uh. Couch, now! Jasper won't mind waiting. You are telling me everything… now." She points to the couch. From the expression on her face, it would be in my best interest to comply with her 'request.' I walk over the couch and sit. Alice bounces behind me and lands softly on the other side. "Out with it."
"He came in the café on Monday with another man and I noticed him then. Alice, he's beautiful. He has the most interesting bronze colored hair and these green eyes that I swear look like emeralds imbedded in the sockets. I have never seen a more gorgeous man in my entire life. He came back in everyday this week, but he always sat in Jessica's section. I really wanted to meet him. I just felt drawn to him. Does that make any sense?"
Alice takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. "I feel the same way about Jasper. It's just something about him. I saw him and couldn't help myself. It's like a magnet pulling me to him. It makes total sense, honey. I so understand. What happened today? Did he sit in your section today instead?"
"Not exactly; I kind of tricked Jessica into switching with me. I still feel kind of bad about that. She liked him too. Evidently, she had been flirting with him all week and he wasn't responding. She thought that he might be gay. I convinced her to switch and let me use my gaydar to find out." I look down as I blush again. It's so embarrassing.
"You have no gaydar," Alice says.
"I know this. I just wanted to hear his voice. I had been imagining how it would sound. I was sure it would be soft as velvet." I sigh and look out the sliding glass door as I recall his voice in my mind."
"Well?" She looks at me expectantly.
"It was better than I could ever have imagined. My insides turned to mush when he spoke. I almost had to sit. He was so adorably nervous. He had the hardest time asking for my phone number. I think he actually thought I wouldn't give it to him. And when I shook his hand… oh my God, Alice, it was like electricity running up my arm. I've never felt anything like it. It was the most pleasurable sensation I have ever felt in my entire life. I didn't want to let go of his hand. It felt like my hand belonged in his. It was amazing." I look up at Alice; she's smiling.
"So, when is he going to call?" She's vibrating with excitement.
"He asked if he could call tonight," I answer. I start to pick at a string on one of the pillows on the couch. "But, I don't know if I'm going to answer if he calls. I don't know what to say to him."
"Oh, Bella, you have to answer the phone. Jasper and I can stay here with you if you want. He won't mind staying in tonight. Let me call him." She gets up to get the phone.
"No, Alice, don't change your plans. He probably won't even call." I'm beginning to hope that he doesn't. I'm so nervous, I may vomit.
"Are you sure?" she asks. "We could be here for moral support."
"I'm sure. Go finish getting ready so I can have the bathroom. I think I need a long bubble bath tonight. I can hear Wuthering Heights calling my name." I get up to change out of my uniform.
"You're reading it again? Don't you have it memorized by now?" Alice whines as she retreats back into the bathroom. Thirty minutes later I hear the doorbell ring. Jasper's here! Alice yells that she's leaving and to call if I need her. I yell for her to have a good time. I go into the bathroom to start my bubble bath. I get my worn copy of Wuthering Heights and my bathrobe. I think about it and decide to get my phone and have it by the bathtub in case Alice or my dad calls.
I step into the warm bath and settle in with my favorite book. The water feels so nice and relaxing. I get through a chapter when the phone rings. My heart stops. I stare at the phone. I don't know what to do. I pick it up and look at the caller ID. Oh, thank God, it's Alice. "Hey, Alice, what's up?"
"I just wanted to check on you before we go into the movie. Are you alright?" I can hear the movie theater music in the background. She's calling to see if I'll answer the phone. She thinks she's being sneaky. I'm not that stupid.
"You wanted to see if I would answer the phone," I say to her accusingly.
"That too. Are you going to answer when he calls?" I hear Jasper in the background tell her to tell me to answer the phone.
"Tell the peanut gallery that I haven't made up my mind yet. You both will just have to find out when you get home. Bye." I hang up on her. I don't need to be pushed. If I feel ready I'll answer; if I don't I won't.
The phones rings again before I can put it back on the shelf. I don't even look at the caller ID; I know that it's Alice. She can be so annoying sometimes. "Listen, Alice, I'll let you know when you get home. Leave me alone and enjoy your date, for God's sake."
"Who's Alice?" Oh, shit, it's not Alice.
