Disclaimer: All things Twilight belong to S. Meyer, this storyline belongs to WeeKittyAndTAT. Huge thanks to Jess2002 , MustangMel1968, mersedez2001, and Sarah


Chapter 7: New Job

I arrive at Midnight Sun a little early. I need to get the paperwork ready for Isabella to sign. I know I will be paying her 'under the table', but I want to try to get as much in order as I can.

I've written everything out, when I notice that it's ten minutes after ten. I know that being on time is something she's normally good at. I rub my face. Fuck, maybe she changed her mind about the job, or maybe she lied to me just like every other fucking woman I've ever known.

Or maybe you scared her, and she said yes to the job thinking that you wouldn't let her leave the room unless she agreed.

Knock. Knock.

Thank God, she's finally here. "Come in Isabella," I say to the closed door. The door opens, but it's Taylor standing there.

I frown at him. "Hello, I see you beat me here," he says smiling at me. I wave at him to come in, but I'm still frowning. "I take it I'm not who you're waiting for?"

I shake my head. "I was expecting someone, but I don't think she's coming." I sigh and throw my pen on the desk.

"Small pale girl, brown hair, looks a little lost?" I look at him, and nod my head. "I think she's standing outside," he says motioning his thumb toward the door. I move toward the door, and Taylor stops me. "Here, take this; it's really coming down out there." He offers me his umbrella and chuckles as I take it and head out of the office.

I head to the front, and see Isabella standing in front of the window in the rain. I open the door. "Isabella," I call to her standing in the doorway, she turns and looks at me. I wave at her to come in. "How long have you been standing outside? Why didn't you come in the restaurant when you arrived?"

She walks up to me, clearly worrying that I am mad by the look on her face. "I thought that you said to meet you outside. Didn't you? Never mind, I'm so sorry… "

Looking at her, I see that she's drenched. The jacket she's wearing is paper thin, and clearly very old and well used. I can see that she's been outside for a while. I close my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I'm sorry, I meant for you to come in if I wasn't out here." She walks through the door, and I see that she needs to get out of her wet clothes immediately.

I direct her to my office. "Okay Isabella, this is my office, I keep it locked when I'm not there. Taylor has a key to the door, and I have made one for you. Always remember to lock the door when you are finished in here. I look up at her and she nods her head, she is shivering so hard her teeth clatter together. I go to the cabinet behind my desk, and open the door. "You are a size zero, correct?" I ask, estimating her clothes size. I look at her over my shoulder; I'm pretty good at guessing. She looks confused, so I clarify what I mean. "Your clothing, what size are your clothes? Do you wear a size zero?"

She shrugs her shoulders. "I'm not sure, but my overalls for the college have an S on them, and they are a little big on me. I have to roll up the legs and arms a little. I wear my clothes under it, so I'm not sure. I don't know if that helps." I thought all women knew their clothing size! The S is for small, so my guess is that she's a zero, or maybe a double zero. I know she is petite and very thin. I nod my head anyway and continue looking for a uniform for her. I look her up and down noticing that her shoes look old and worn out.

"This is your uniform. There are two pair of slacks, two skirts, two white shirts, two black ones, and an apron to wear when you clean the bathrooms. What size are your shoes?"

She takes the stack of clothing and looks at me. "I wear a five; why are you asking?"

I clear my throat while I think of the right words to say. "You need shoes as a part of your uniform. I give all of my employee's uniforms. I need to know your shoe size so I can get you a pair that will fit." She nods her head, and I notice that her face is a little red. "Please change into one of the uniforms now, and I'll get you a bag for your wet clothes." I place the coordinating jacket that I have just now located, on the desk and walk out.

Taylor is at the bar looking at me. "Do we have any plastic bags that she can put her wet clothes in?"

He nods his head, and hands me a plastic bag from under the bar. "Isn't she the girl that came in here a few days ago?"

I nod my head at him. "Yes she is," I say looking right at him. I can tell he thinks I have lost my mind, in which he may just be right. I hold up a hand, hoping that he won't start asking more questions.

I walk back to my office, deciding to knock first, just in case. "Isabella, it's Edward." Shit, I think may have said my first name to her once, maybe. "I mean Professor Masen. May I come in?" I wait for a reply.

"Yes sir, this is your office," I hear and chuckle a little as I walk in. She is standing in the same spot I left her in, but has changed into her uniform. I see the pants are a good fit. I can truly see now just how thin she is; her legs look amazingly toned, though. I notice for the first time that her breasts are much bigger than I had previously thought. The shirt fits her, but is a little tight across the chest. I go over to the cabinet and find some size two shirts and exchange them for the smaller ones I had previously given her.

"Here are some bigger shirts, those look a little tight. I don't want you to be uncomfortable. Okay, so you have your uniform, what time will you be available to work?"

She looks at me, then at the floor. "I can be here at nine-twenty each weekday morning. On Tuesday and Thursdays, Seth and Leah go to a club group at their school. I don't need to pick them up until four-thirty. On the other days, I need to pick them up at three. They start school on Monday." I nod my head, writing down the information as she gives it to me. "I like spending the weekends with them, because I don't really see them during the week. But, I can work a few weekends if needed."

I smile at her reassuringly. "I was thinking about you working from nine-thirty to eleven-thirty here, then from noon until two-thirty at my house on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Tuesday you can work in my home from nine-thirty until three-thirty, and on Thursday work here nine-thirty until four." She nods her head and I give her a smile. "Okay then, I'll take you around the restaurant after we finish the paperwork." She nods again. "I need to know your social security number."

She bites her lip as I look at her, waiting for the information. "I don't have one, Sir."

I look at her frowning. "Did you lose your social security card? I only need it for my insurance. I will still pay you cash. I don't want you to lose the medical insurance, food stamps, or whatever government help you get for the kids."

She looks at me, her face filled with confusion. "No sir, I mean I don't have one, and I don't know how to get one, either. I know that it's wrong to be paid under the table, and you're taking a risk with me, but I really don't have one. We don't get any help from anyone apart from Aro and Zafrina. What are food stamps anyway? Are they like the coupons from the newspaper?"

I look at her and my mind is shouting 'bullshit', but there is something in her eyes that indicates that she is telling the truth. I rub my face trying to work out what the fuck is going on. How in the hell can she manage everything? She is paying everything with less than three hundred dollars a week?

She stands up. "I'm sorry I wasted your time. I'll wash the uniform I'm wearing and bring it back to you tomorrow. Thank you for trying, Sir." I look at her and she looks so fucking tired and lost.

I hold my hand up. "No, I just didn't have all the information; it's fine. I will pay you three hundred and fifty each week. I'll need your bank account number." I grab the forms from my desk, waiting for her information. I look at her since she still hasn't answered me. I see her looking at me open-mouthed, and slightly shaking her head. "What? What's wrong?" I ask, as she closes her eyes.

"But, I will only be working twenty-six and a half hours per week."

Shaking my head, "No, twenty-nine if you include the travel from here to my place, and you will also have your lunch break included in your hours."

She rubs her hand over the back of her head, and neck. "But even at that, you're paying me over twelve dollars an hour. It's far too much, Sir."

I smile, proud that she is able to figure the amount in her head so quickly. "No, most of my staff gets between ten to fifteen dollars per hour, plus tips. Since you are cleaning you will only get a share of the tips that are split among all the employees once a week. Your starting pay is a little higher to reflect that your job does not normally include tips." She nods her head whispering a low 'thank you'. "Okay then, can you give me your bank details?"

She shakes her head, biting her lip again. "I don't have an account at the bank."

I look up at her, unable to hide my shock. "Really?" I ask out loud, not hiding very well at all the surprise in my voice. She nods her head. "May I ask why?" As she goes to answer, I hold up my hand knowing what she going to say. "You don't know how, do you?"

She shakes her head, confirming her lack of knowledge. "And I don't like banks," she says looking down at her feet.

Why the fuck doesn't she like banks? I let out a sigh as I decide to file away the rest of the questions I have for later. "Okay, I'll pay you in cash, every Friday. I will give you as much notice as I can if I need you to work on a weekend, but I don't really think it will be often. When and if I need you to come in, I'll pay you at the end of that day. She nods her head, agreeing to the pay schedule. "I need to go over your personal information to make sure everything is correct, okay?" I take her through each part of the form, most of which I have already filled in, asking her to tell me if something isn't correct. "Come on, I'll show you around." She stands up and I see that she is still holding the bag of wet clothes. I take it from her, and set it down.

"Taylor," I call out to him and he walks over to us.

"Taylor, this is Isabella. Isabella will be starting here on Monday morning. She is going to be cleaning and helping to set up." Taylor smiles at her, holding out his hand for her to shake. She looks at his hand, then at me as if to ask if it's safe to allow him to touch her. I watch as she reluctantly places just her fingers in his hand. She attempts to shake his hand by touching just her fingers to his palm. Her behavior is like a skittish animal sometimes; at least I can trust Taylor not to harm her. "Isabella has a key to my office, and she is allowed access whenever she needs it." He nods his head at Isabella who is now looking at the ground.

I show her around the restaurant. My establishment is a large square building with the front wall made completely of glass. The bar is along the back wall separating the main dining area from the kitchen, office, and bathrooms. To the left of the bar is the hallway that leads to the restrooms and to the right is the kitchen and the hallway to my office. Isabella is quiet the entire time I am showing her around. She doesn't really ask any questions, and seems to understand what she is supposed to do. I also show her the storage closet off of the kitchen where all of the cleaning supplies are kept.

"Are you okay with traveling on the bus?" I ask, looking at her and hoping that she is. I let out a sigh of relief when she nods her head. I walk her down to the bus stop; it's only few minutes' walk from Midnight Sun. "This is the bus you will need to take; it comes every ten minutes during the week and every half-hour on the weekends." I pay our fare, and she sits on the seat behind me. She doesn't look my way, or speak to me as we take our journey. We are on the bus for ten minutes when we arrive at our stop.

"This is the best place to get off," I say. She nods her head, and we walk five minutes further to my home. My townhouse is in the middle of a small street just two blocks from the bus stop. I love the secluded area of my townhouse, and the neighbors are all professionals who stick to themselves. "I need you to give me a number, at least four digits that you'll be able to remember. It will be the code you'll use to get into my home. Each person who has permission to enter my home has their own code."

She nods her head. "Zero, nine, one, three," she says looking down.

I know that is her birthdate. I have no doubt that she will be able to remember her code. I smile at her and show her how to enter it. She surprises me by getting it right first time she tries. I had to show Emmett four times before he got it right. We enter the house and I close the door behind her.

"As you can see, the front door opens into the living room." She gives me a smile. "This is the hall… " I trail off as I notice that she has stopped following me. Turning around, I see that she is motionless looking at my grand piano. "Don't worry about cleaning that, it's a little hard to do correctly and I enjoy doing it."

She is still looking at it, almost in awe. "Do you play?" She asks, looking at me in the eye for the first time today. She shakes her head slightly, and looks back to the floor. "I'm sorry it's none of my business, Sir. It is beautiful, if you can use that word when talking about a piano."

I smile at her, nodding my head. "I think it's beautiful too, and it's okay that you asked. Yes I do play." She moves closer to me, until she is standing a few feet behind me. Assuming she is waiting for the rest of the tour, I resume my previous path. "This is my home office; it is also the study and library all rolled into one." As we go in, I watch her face light up.

I watch her as she looks around the room her eyes seem to sparkle when she looks at the many books I own. I feel myself smile at her reaction to the books, when suddenly I notice that there seems to be a flash of pain that comes over her face. There is something else there, I'm not sure what it is, but it almost seems like longing. I notice her face goes a little pink; she's embarrassed, but I don't know why. Her eyes drop to the ground, so I store the memory away for another time.

I show her the rest of the first floor. After showing her the bathroom, dining room, and kitchen, I take her upstairs to the second floor. I show her the junk room I have; it is full of items I have stored away. I show her the three separate guest bedrooms, with their adjoining bathrooms. After looking around, I take her to the third floor. At one time it was the attic, but I have remodeled it into my bedroom and bathroom. She looks taken aback by the size of my bedroom. I chuckle a little.

"I like my space. The larger bedroom on the second floor was my bedroom, but it was rather crowded. I felt like I was enclosed and I wanted a larger space. I had the entire attic redesigned to give me all this space. Besides, being on the third floor gives me plenty of time before anyone can just barge into my room. Alice has the habit of just walking right in. With my room up here, it gives me a few minutes to get dressed before she appears."

Isabella looks at me with an odd expression. "Why don't you just block her number, so she can't get in?" She asks, then blushes shaking her head again. "Sorry Sir, it's none of my business. I was just thinking out loud."

I wave my hand at her, and smile. "Don't think I haven't tried. I don't know how she manages to get around it. She doesn't do it much anymore. She mainly came here unannounced when Jasper stayed over. He's another friend of mine and also Alice's husband."

Isabella smiles shyly and glances around the room. Oddly enough, I'm not stressed at all by her presence in my home. I move out of the room, and start making my way down the stairs. Walking back into the kitchen I finally speak, making sure she is still following me. "I'll just show you around the basement next. I have turned the entire basement into two separate rooms. Come on, I'll show you the home gym first," I say as we enter the room on the left. "As you can see, there is a treadmill, some weights, and a punching bag. There isn't much to do in here, but you can clean the wall of mirrors and wipe down the equipment. Across the hall we have the laundry room. I won't ask you to do much laundry, but there might be some every now and again." She nods her head as she follows me around the basement. I show her where she can find the cleaning products.

"Do you have any questions?" She bites her lip again, as if she's afraid to ask anything. "Isabella, I know that I have been a short-tempered asshole to you, but if you want to ask me something you can." I look at her and wait to hear what she has to say. Most people ask me how I can afford all of this on a teacher's salary. Don't get me wrong, my house is nowhere near top of the market like Jasper, Emmett, or Carlisle's, just entering their homes, you know without a doubt they have money. The Cullen's are very well-off, they are well-known and are counted among the richest families in the area. Carlisle has invested well over the years, and is a fine mix of both old and new money. Both Emmett and Jasper earn more money than they need to survive. I was more in the second-class family. I never had to worry about money, but I couldn't spend freely either. After my father died, my mother received a large sum of money. The court case to obtain the settlement for my father's estate took some time. That is how my mother met Esme. She went to work with Esme while we awaited the settlement. It wasn't like she had to work; my mother was also from a wealthy family. Before she worked for Esme, we were living on her inheritance and savings. When she left me, she took only enough for her to live on, leaving me the remaining amount.

I got my first job when I was seventeen. Esme and Carlisle refused to use any of my money for my living expenses; they always gave me an allowance. I have been saving money since I earned my first paycheck. When I turned eighteen, I got half of my inheritance money. I thought that was all of it, and was surprised when I turned twenty-one and received another installment. I am pulled from my inner thoughts as Isabella starts to speak.

"How do I contact you, if I am running late or need time off? I mean, I have only ever been late twice in the four years I worked at the hotel, three times at the college, but I always called to let them know. I have never taken any time off, but just in case." Of the questions she could have asked, I am surprised that she chose that one. At the same time, I realize that I don't have her phone number. I take my phone from my pocket.

"I have a few numbers that you will need. Why don't you give me your cell phone number? I'll text the different numbers where you can reach me." She nods her head, taking out of her bag a model of cell phone that I haven't seen in over a decade. It has to be analog, there is no way it has GPS capability. "Is that your cell phone?" I ask, not meaning my voice to sound so harsh. She looks at me in embarrassment and nods before looking down. "Shit! Fuck! Isabella, I didn't mean it that way. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings," I say, full of remorse.

She gives me a forced smile, which I really have started to dislike. "It's fine Sir, my cell phone number is 206-555-0913 and my home number is 206-555-1202." I punch in both numbers and send her a text with my contact numbers.

"What should I call you when we here or at Midnight Sun? I mean, do I still call you Professor Masen, Mr. Masen, or Sir?"

I look at her, remembering that I still haven't told her to call me Edward. "How about Edward, all my staff calls me by my first name." I smile at her, but it falls as I notice that she seems upset by this. "Isabella, what would you be comfortable calling me?"

She closes her eyes and fidgets. "It isn't my choice; you are my boss, so I have to call you whatever you ask me to."

I nod my head. "Okay then Isabella, I would like you to call me Edward." I see something flash in her eyes, so I quickly re-think. "However, if it makes you more comfortable then you can call me Professor Masen, or Mr. Masen. I am happy with all three of them. I will let you choose which one you want to call me." She nods her head in acknowledgement. "Do you want to ask anything else?" She shakes her head. "So you don't want to know how I got all this?" I ask her, waving my hand around the room.

Suddenly I feel like an asshole again, because she looks at me with a confused and hurt look on her face. "That is not my concern; you're paying me to clean your things, not to inquire how you earned them. If I had to guess, I would assume that you paid for them, like every other person who has a house full of his own things." Her voice is a mixture of hurt and anger, and I deserve the anger. I feel regret knowing I have hurt her yet again.

"I'm sorry. It's just most people ask how I managed to get all of this. It's one of the reasons why I no longer bring people here."

She closes her eyes, and shakes her head slightly. "May I speak freely, Sir?" What? I pull my eyes to meet hers. Why would she use those words? "Can I say something without putting this job on the line?"

I nod my head at her and wave my hand to which she just gives a confused look. "Yes, you may speak freely," I sigh.

"If it really bothers you bringing me here, then why did you? I didn't ask you for a job; well, I know that I went into your restaurant for a job, but I wouldn't have done that had I known that it was yours. How you got this house and bought your restaurant, well that's your business. It's also your choice if you tell me or not, but finding out how you earned your things hasn't even crossed my mind. I've been trying to keep track of what you want me to do here and trying to survive. I have cleaned your classroom for four years now, and I know how hard you work. I would assume that's how you got all of this. It's your money to spend how you choose. If you feel that this was a mistake or is too much for you, then just tell me."

This has been the most I have ever heard her speak at one time. Her tone was soft, low, and respectful, and at no point did it change. Her face begins to turn red, and I realize I still haven't replied to her. "Isabella I told you that I'm an asshole, and you're right, not everyone cares about wealth and greed." I'm sorry; I will try harder to be nice." She nods her head. "So are you okay to start work on Monday?" Again she nods her head. "Well you'll need this," I say. I hand her seventy-five dollars, and she looks at the money, then me. "I kept you for four and half hours today," I say. Double checking the time I look at my watch to see that it's almost two o'clock. "That's your pay for today, and since it's Friday, it's payday."

She looks at the money and then asks with a confusion-laced voice, "But, I didn't do anything today. Also four and half hours at twelve dollars an hour is only fifty-four dollars. There is seventy-five dollars here; that is twenty-one dollars too much."

I smile again about how quickly she is able to work out basic math in her head. "The other twenty-one is for your bus fare which I will pay you each week." She looks at me like she wants to reject that idea. "Isabella I know that you like walking, but since you're working for me I would like you to take the bus, at least from Midnight Sun to here and back again."

She places the money in her pocket. "Thank you Mr. Masen." I am upset that she called me Mr. Masen instead of Edward. I'm not sure why this bothers me as much as it does.

"I have one last thing to give you before we leave." Her eyes flash to mine before dropping back down to the floor. I walk over to the table, get my almost twenty year old personal tape player, and hand it to her. "This was mine when I was younger, and since I caused yours to get broken I would like you to have this one." I extend it out to her.

She just looks at the tape player in my hand. "There really is no need to give it to me, Sir. You didn't break the one I had, the ground did."

I chuckle and raise my eyebrows at her. "But, I am the asshole that made you fall." I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck thinking of a way to make her take it. "I'll tell you what; I'll lend it to you until you get one of your own. I'd really like you to take it. As your boss, it will make me happy for you to be able to listen to books while you work."

I smile, seeing her hand reach to take it from me. "Thank you, Sir." I smile at her, and she returns the smile shyly. For once I feel the smile from a woman is sincere and not some put-on or game.

We walk out, lock the door, and head for the bus stop. I show her that she takes the same bus, but catches it on the opposite side of the road. On the bus she once again sits behind me, and doesn't speak at all. Once we exit the bus, we walk back to the front of Midnight Sun.

"Thanks again Mr. Masen. I'll see you on Monday morning," she says, giving me a little wave before walking away.

I head into my office, thinking back on my time with her today. I keep trying to figure her out; in many ways she has a submissive attitude. It troubles me and makes me wonder if this is her nature, or if she has she been conditioned to be like this. Part of me thinks that she seems a bit 'born yesterday', but her vocabulary and math skills indicate that it's not necessarily true. Argh… I grip my hair, pick up my cellphone and call Jasper.

"Hello Edward." Alice answers the phone in her manically happy mode. "Why didn't you call me back? I left like four voice mails for you." I try to answer her, but can't because she continues to speak, cutting off my attempt. "Anyway, I need to book a table for Saturday the tenth of September at six. There will be ten of us, which does include you." I sigh as she harps on about booking a table three weeks in advance. "I want one away from the window and the walls, and not one near the kitchen or the bar. Oh, and not in the middle of the room either. I really hate it when people are always moving around your table, and I would like one of your better waiters, not one that picks his nose or coughs a lot; someone with some manners and class." I bang my head against the desk as she keeps talking. "You will be there, so don't make me come and get you. Since it will be at your place, you have no excuse, and you can go back to work after we leave if you need to. I don't know if you'll want to go, but the rest of us are hitting a few clubs after we eat." She stops talking, but I can hear her talking away to Jasper. "Okay Edward, Jasper is demanding I give him the phone, he's such a meanie. By the way, you're an ass for not calling me, but I still love you. Edward, we really do need to talk more." Please, for the love of God, make her give Jasper the phone. "Jasper stop! Please! No, not my Jimmy Choo's." I can hear Alice's screams through the phone. "Here's Jasper, we will talk more soon. Next time you better call me, damn it."

"Sorry about that Edward, we were having a late lunch," Jasper says. Thank you God!

"I need to talk to you about Isabella again. I can call you back when your Sweetie Pie's not there."

He laughs at me calling Alice his Sweetie Pie. "It's fine Edward, I'm in my home office and she's in the living room buying more shoes online; I may have thrown her Jimmy Choo's in the garbage compactor."

I laugh. "Really?"

"Yes really, I heard her talking to you and asked her to pass me the phone. I know you well enough that if you didn't hang up on her right away, then you really needed to speak to me. Plus she has the same pair in five different colors." I laugh along with him. "So are you going to tell me what happened?"

I sigh rubbing my face. "Well, she took the job," I say picking up my pen and doodling on a piece of paper.

"I thought that was what you were aiming for? Why don't you sound happy about it?"

"I just get a strange feeling. It's hard to put into words Jasper. When I first spoke with her… I'm not going to say she was stupid, but she seemed a little, you know, slow. But today, she spoke better than some of the English teachers I've met. She is extremely fast at math, and she works it out in her head. She was able to work out her hourly pay in her head so fast, faster than using a calculator. She always call me Sir, or by my title." I pinch the bridge of my nose, having stopped talking.

"Edward, she may have just been brought up to be polite. Most people who are really shy are distant during conversations. A shy person can often be judged by their inability to carry on a conversation, and it may cause others to have a poor impression of them. She may just be getting more comfortable with you."

I frown. "I know what you're saying and I agree, but I can't get rid of the feeling that there is something I am missing. She's not telling me something, and it worries me. Jasper, what if the person who hurt her is still in her life? I mean what if they're still hurting her." That thought alone is causing me sharp chest pains. I grab my bottle of pills, pop one and swallow a drink of water.

"Just keep gaining her trust. Would you like me to come by for a visit, and slyly observe her?" Half of me wants to say yes, the other half is saying no. I know that she wouldn't like that. But the part of me saying yes, knows that I can get more insight into Isabella if I can get Jasper's input.

"Yes, can you come to my place at one on Monday? I have a break from UW, so I was going to be there to see how she is getting on." He agrees to the meeting, and I hang up. I head out to tend bar until it is time to go to Aro's.

Arriving at the club, I swing by Aro's office and fill him in on giving Isabella a job. After we talk briefly, I head down to the BDSM playroom. Tonight I am seeing Carmen, and I am really looking forward it. I step into the room to change into my soft, black, button-fly jeans. Entering the hallway, I shake Garrett's hand and he tells me Carmen is set up the way I requested.

Opening the door, I see Carmen, blindfolded and kneeling in the center of the floor. I move to stand in front of her. I know she can feel my presence; her whole body is vibrating with anticipation. She knows that when I leave this room in three hours, she will have been more than satisfied.

"Hello Carmen, you may use your hands to release my cock. I want to fuck that hot, little mouth of yours," I say wrapping her long, black, braided hair around my fist. Her hands make fast work of releasing me, and I quickly thrust my hard cock deep into her mouth. She sucks and nibbles, lightly dragging her tongue under the head of my cock and hollowing her cheeks as she sucks me in with each thrust. The whole experience makes me harder, and just before I blow my load I picture Isabella with her mouth around me. "Oh… oh fuck, yes, oh fuck yes… Isabella… "

After arriving home, I sit down at the piano with three fingers of bourbon. I have no idea what came over me tonight at the club, or what possessed me to think of Isabella. Deciding that I have just been overcome with stress, I lock it away and decide that I will talk to Jazz if it happens again.

~HCV~

It's Saturday and I am at the local shopping mall to get a few last minute things before the fall semester officially starts on Wednesday. I am looking in a shop window when I have a strange urge to turn around. Upon doing so, I see Isabella with Seth and Leah. I look at them, and I mean really look at them.

Seth is just a little shorter than Bella, who is about Alice's height. I would say a few inches below five feet. He is wearing a pair of jean shorts, a skater t-shirt and an unbuttoned jacket. He has brownish-blond hair, which he has styled like that pop singer kid, Justin Bieber. He has a clean, almost new-looking pair of trainers on and white ankle socks. Leah is about two inches shorter than him with mid-length, strawberry-blond hair reaching just below her shoulders. It looks like has recently been cut. She has her hair held up in clips that pull the sides back. She is wearing a knee-length, blue printed skirt and matching top and has an unbuttoned jacket on. She is also wearing knee length socks and blue shoes.

I look at Isabella; she's wearing jeans that look a little big for her. She is wearing the same jacket that she always wears. I can see where she has sewn the arm. Her hair is loose this time, and it is much longer than I thought; it hits below her ass. There is no obvious style to it, and it looks as if she has never really had it cut by a professional. Her shoes are the same ones I always see her in, and they look as if they're a few years old. She is carrying a lot of bags and by the look of them, I would say they contain Seth and Leah's school clothes.

"We're almost done. Just shoes and a school bag for each of you, I think. How about we get something to eat?" I look around realizing that I have been staring at them. I have moved and I'm now following them like a god-damned stalker again. I carry on watching them, even following them into the food court.

"May I please get a ham salad sandwich, a tuna salad sandwich, two chocolate milkshakes, and a bottle of water?" I hear her order, and watch as she pays for the food and drinks. She moves them to a small, clean table and she sits across from Leah and Seth. Seth takes the ham salad sandwich and Leah takes the tuna salad. Isabella doesn't look like she is going to eat anything with them. I watch her as she only drinks the bottle of water. I'm sitting away from them, but still close enough that I can hear them talking.

"Let me just double check and see what we have?" Isabella smiles at Leah. "We've got barrettes, headbands, and hair ties," she says holding up one of the bags. "You have two skirts, two dresses, and a pair of jeans. Three school shirts and two polo shirts." She holds up more bags. "Three grey sweaters, and two black cardigans. Then we have tights, socks, and underwear; a pencil case, pencils, notebooks, folders, crayons, scissors, glue, and a lunch box. Which means you still need shoes and a school bag?" Leah smiles and nods her head.

"Seth you've got three pairs of jeans and two pairs of khakis, three school shirts, two polo shirts, two grey round-collar sweaters, two black V-neck sweaters, and one black cardigan. Plus we have your pencil case, pencils, notebooks, folders, crayons, scissors, and glue; underwear, socks, one black tie, and your lunch box. Looks like you only need shoes and a school bag as well, agreed?" They both nod their heads, mumbling a yes as they eat.

Isabella frowns at them. "Please don't speak with your mouth full."

As they finish eating, Isabella unnecessarily cleans the table. "Do you need the bathroom before we leave?" They both nod their heads and walk my way toward the bathrooms. Isabella's eyes flash to mine, and she gives me her normal half-smile and nod. I return it before she can look away.

"Bella, do I have to use the women's bathroom? Please can I use the men's? I promise not to go anywhere, and I'll stay right here 'til you come out." Bella rubs her head before nodding her head at him.

"Leah, will you be okay to go in by yourself?" Bella asks.

Leah smiles at Bella. "Yes," she says nodding her head as she speaks.

"Okay you two, I'll be standing right here, so no messing around, and wash your hands please." They both nod and go into the restrooms. True to her word, Isabella stands right outside the doors waiting for them to exit.

I clean my table, placing what I haven't eaten in the trash. Instead of just leaving, I find myself walking over to her. I am unable to stop myself, and not really sure that I want to.

"Good afternoon Isabella, how are you today?"

She smiles at me; meeting my eyes with her own before down-casting her eyes. "I'm good, thank you Mr. Masen."

I nod my head. "Are you out shopping for anything special?" I ask, pointing to her bags.

"Yes, for Seth and Leah, they seem to be growing all the time. They needed new school things, because they have outgrown everything from last year already." She bites her lip as she looks towards the bathroom doors.

"They seem really nice, both of them."

She turns to look at me with a big smile on her face. "Yes they are. They're great; both are really smart and talented. They are, well the most amazing kids anyone could ask for. I don't think it's possible to get better ones. They are, well they're my life. " I notice her eyes; full of sparkle and life as she talks about them.

We both turn as the kids come out of their respective restrooms at almost the same time. They stop as they look toward me, then Bella, and freeze. I didn't realize that during our talk, I had moved closer to her. I take a step back, and almost simultaneously they both relax and move toward us.

"Seth, Leah, this Mr. Masen. He is one of the professors at the college, and he is also my boss at the new job I was telling you about."

Leah looks at Bella. "A Professor is like a fancy teacher, right?"

I laugh a little, and smile at the little girl. "Yes, I am a teacher."

Seth frowns at me. "Why do they call you Professor then? Why not just teacher or mister? So can I call my new teacher Professor Stroker, instead of Mr. Stroker?"

Leah starts laughing. "I don't think so Seth, Mr. Stroker is just a teacher. I think professors only teach at colleges." Isabella looks to me almost if to confirm what she just said.

"Yes, that's right," I say looking at Leah and Seth who are both laughing now.

"It's rude to laugh at somebody's name, not very nice at all," Isabella says, frowning at them. "You don't even know why you're laughing. Just because the older kids laugh at his name doesn't mean you have to as well." They both keep laughing until Isabella gives them a look as if to say, I'm not kidding and they both stop.

"Mr. Masen do you think his name is funny?" Leah asks me, and I shake my head as Seth starts talking.

"All the big kids say, hello Mr. Dick Stroker, and… " Before Seth can finish what he was saying I burst out laughing, which sets them both off again. I hear Isabella clear her throat, looking right at me.

I hold up my hands. "Shit, I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting that."

She shakes her head at me. "Oh you said the S word, that's bad," I hear from both kids at once.

I look at Seth and Leah, completely embarrassed by my vulgar mouth. "Oh shit, fuck," I slap my hand over my mouth. Why the hell do I keep swearing? Regaining my composure quickly, I look at Seth and Leah. "I'm sorry for swearing in front of you both," I say. Turning my gaze, I look at Isabella. "I'm really sorry about that, it just slipped out."

She nods her head. "I see your filter is still not fixed, then."

I smile at her, glad that she is not upset about it. "No, not yet."

"It was nice to see you Mr. Masen, but we better get going. We have a few more things to get."

Seth and Leah each take a bag and give me a wave. "Bye Mr. Masen," they both say.

"Good bye Seth, Leah, Isabella," I say giving her one last smile as she leaves.

~HCV~

Driving out of the parking lot, my head turns involuntarily and I see Isabella, Seth, and Leah. I pull back in and watch them. They are standing at the bus stop. I see the bus as it stops and they board. Their home is only a twenty to thirty minute walk from here. I know that the only reason Isabella is on the bus is because the twins are with her. It's almost as if she'll do anything, pay anything to make sure they have what they need, but from what I can see, she doesn't take very good care of herself.


A/N: So how is the redemption coming along in your eyes? Were you happy to see that he replaced that darn obsolete cassette tape player? (I fondly remember my Sony Walkman, I was so cool. Ah, the 80's… sigh. ) What are your thoughts on the shopping experience? Edward sure does enjoy his surveillance of her, doesn't he?

~ Kasi (& Nikky)

We both want to say a HUGE thank you for your votes and support for the recent nominations and polls we have been in. Thank you so very much.

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This is truly an amazing story, and it currently owns me. I am a fan-girl of Michele's anyway, so I hope you'll like it. Please take a moment and read and review, tell her Kasi sent you.

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