END OF THE TUNNEL
"Alice, we've been going back and forth for three times in a row and still, you're not finish putting all your luggage in! I won't have space to see the back anymore." Edward complained as he helped his sister with her bags.
"This is the last trip, I swear."
"You said that the last time"
Suddenly, Alice stopped and looked at his brother.
"Are you really okay?" she asked
"I'm fine"
"Are you and Bella okay?"
"Why did you ask that?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know. It's just that it was weird with her earlier. Usually she would ask about you whenever she finds out that we talked, but today she didn't. She seems to be avoiding it, to say the least. I thought she was just preoccupied with Jacob but you as well, you've been here for what, two hours now, and you didn't even mention her once."
"We're fine Alice. We are just busy with our own lives, but we're okay. We really need to go if you want us to make it on time for the flight!" Edward said, ignoring the painful twist the he felt at the mention of Bella's name.
Her smell lingering in their apartment is already too much to bear; talking about her and what happened is worst. Besides he have a feeling that Bella didn't tell Alice and he knew for a fact that Bella tells her everything. She told her about Jacob, but not about him. Maybe Emmett was right that it was just a one night stand, or worst, a pity sex that Bella's too embarrass to talk about.
Edward winced.
"You okay there?" Alice asked
"Yeah, I think I twisted my wrist with your heavy loads!" He lied.
As they both settled themselves in the car, both cramped inside the Volvo to give way to Alice's numerous "gifts", Alice picked up her phone to make a call.
After waiting for a minute, she spoke.
"Hi B! I know you're working but Edward and I are on our way to the airport now and I would just like to stop by to give you a proper goodbye. See you!"
Edward looked at his sister.
"What? We're stopping to say goodbye; is that a crime?"
Edward gripped the steering wheel and took a deep breath. Turning the car on, he directed the Volvo towards Bella's workplace with a heavy heart.
Alice just sat down quietly, staring at her brother
Something is definitely going on………
When they got to Bella's workplace, Edward stopped on the curbside and idled the car.
"You're not coming out to say goodbye?"
"Alice, I cannot leave the car, we're not allowed to park here. Just go ahead and say goodbye for me will you!" he reasoned, a little bit irritated.
Alice just kept quiet and got out of the car going inside the café with a curious Mike peeking through the glass windows.
Edward can see Mike's sleazy smile as Alice approached him. He cannot see Bella anywhere.
Maybe she's in the back.
Although he tried to ignore it, he felt a little bit of excited anticipation, wondering if Bella would actually come out and bid him goodbye.
Just then, Alice got in the car.
"She left. The sleazeball said she quit and ran after Jacob", Alice said crunching her nose.
"I hope everything's okay. There couldn't be trouble in paradise right away but Jacob's leaving tonight. Maybe that's what kept her preoccupied…" Alice said, thinking out loudly.
"Oh, oooh! Maybe he wanted her to spend the summer with him! Wouldn't that be wonderful?" Alice exclaimed bouncing up and down on her seat at the same time dialing her phone.
Edward just kept quiet.
"What, aren't you happy for your friend? It's time for her to have a life aside from you, you know."
"I didn't even say anything!"
"I know you! You're just jealous because finally, Bella is not your shadow anymore. She's actually enjoying her life instead of taking care of your every whim. Jesus Edward, I'm your sister, but as her friend, I have to tell you that you have taken enough advantage of her generosity already, so stop being childish and let her be!"
"I'm letting her be!" Edward retaliated.
"Good!" Alice exclaimed, ending the argument.
Alice was right, he is jealous! But not because of the reasons she thought.
He actually saw her earlier.
On his way to the apartment, he finally got the courage to face Bella. Knowing that she would be at work from a previous phone call with Alice, he was just parking his car from the other side of the street when he saw him go into the café. For some reason, knowing that he is in her workplace made him paralyzed inside the car. Instead of going in, he fidgeted inside his car, anxious to know what's going on in the cafe.
When he finally was able to move his feet out of the car, Bella and Jacob appeared out of the café, hugging each other in plain view. He saw him kissed her on the head as she closed her eyes and hugged him tightly as if not willing to let go.
Edward didn't even notice that he was holding his breath until he felt the dizziness consume him. He let out a deep breath and noticed that he was trembling. He put his hand on the steering wheel and gripped it hard until he felt the pain from his knuckles shooting all the way up to his elbows. He was so consumed with jealousy that it was actually giving him a headache.
Alice said he's jealous because he lost his 'shadow'.
He is jealous all right.
But it is because he's supposed to be the one hugging and kissing her. He's supposed to be at the receiving end of that look of yearning he just witnessed across the street.
Not him.
Slowly, he turned and moved the car forward but as he reached the first turn, he stepped on the accelerator fully, getting a loud growl from the car engine, as he inwardly growl his frustration and anger towards Bella, Jacob and most of all to himself.
_________________
Locking her apartment door, Bella knew that Alice already left the moment she turned around and saw their place barren. There were no more shopping bags lying all over the place. There was however one bag on top of her bed with a note from Alice. As usual her friend went out of her way to buy her clothes.
It was a fern green taffeta dress accented with black-flocked roses, with a black velveteen waistband and lace trim. It came with a one-button ¾ sleeves shrug cardigan with velveteen and lace lining as well.
Not bad
Who can hate Alice? Even if she felt betrayed earlier, she cannot hate her friend. Alice always thinks about her even though most of the time, she seems out of it. A lot of times, other people think she's into something but that's just Alice. She might look oblivious to what's going on around her, but she's more aware of her surroundings than she does let on. That's why she's very careful with her when it comes to Edward. Alice once teased her that she have a crush on her brother, which Bella vehemently denied. She even stopped talking to her for days until Alice promised that she would not tease her ever again. To make sure that Alice won't suspect, she even accepted dates from guys that she doesn't have any interest in. Whatever it was that made Alice start teasing her, she didn't found out for Alice didn't brought it up again. Bella was just relieved that her secret was safe.
Bella quickly put away the dress and went for a quick bath. She has been roaming around Central Park for hours. She knew that it wasn't safe but what could another bad luck do to her life right now? At one point she was even entertaining it, because maybe after that, good things would start to happen.
As she lay down in bed, she took her cell phone to listen to Alice's messages. She knew that her friend called twice but there was only one message there, letting her know that Edward and her are stopping by her work.
Good thing I quit and left then. I cannot bear to see Edward right now.
Too bad Alice has to face the sleazeball.
They're on their way to Forks now……..
As she delved into her backpack to get her book, a piece of paper was slipped through the pages. Taking it out, she noticed that it was Alice's message for her from Friday evening.
When she read about the job opportunity once again, Bella decided to call the agency first thing Monday. She knew that she passed summer job apprenticeship applications to different publications around the country. She was not planning on taking any summer classes this year, instead, being a student majoring in English with a minor in journalism, she was aiming on getting into a prestigious publication house to gain experience as early as possible. In two years she will be graduating and the earlier she get experience and connections, the better it is for her to find a better job once she finish University. Plus, it will also look good in her portfolio.
Sunday went like a blur with Bella just cooped up in her bed like a big lump; even meals were forgotten at some point. Bella woke up after a restless night. Remembering about the job opportunity, she quickly looked into her portfolio for the client number that the agency gave her when she applied to them. She was actually referred by her teacher to this agency, telling her that it was reliable and worth the hundred dollars processing fee. Soon after she went there and paid her dues, she was then taught how to do different types of applications based on the workplace she was applying for. Even not for work, she taught that learning those different formats is worth what she paid for. She managed to pass 7 applications that day based on the list of employers she was given as choices. She was then told to keep her client number for the agency or prospective employers will communicate with her through it. She was also asked to leave a photo in which she have given one which she had taken from a photo booth at the mall beside it.
As she contacted the agency and gave her client number when requested, she was then asked to hold the line.
" Oh yes, Miss Swan, there was actually 3 employers who are interested in meeting you for an interview. We're just going to call you today to inform you about it for we have the last two employers contacted us only last Friday afternoon. The other prospective employer however preferred to contact you directly, although they have told us that they will refer you back to us for additional information. I would guess that this employer already called you?"
"Yes ma'am but I was not able to speak to them directly. They just left a message for me and I was instructed to call you." Bella explained.
"Okay. For the first one, they are actually conducting an interview today only. That is also the reason why they contacted you directly because we we're informed in such a short notice regarding their interest in your employment that we told them that it's better to get hold of you directly. The other two are set for next week, so you have the whole week to prepare for it. Do you want to get the information for all three?"
"Yes please" Bella replied.
After getting all the information about the three possible summer jobs, Bella finished the call. She then sat for a while, contemplating if she should go for that interview today. The lady on the phone said that the interview would be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a lunch break at 12 noon. It was already 10:00 a.m. when she checked the time. She was also told that the interview is on a first come first serve basis but she have to give to reception the agency's referral ID so that they will know that she was sent by them.
Deciding that she will take her chances, she went on preparing for the interview.
First problem—what to wear.
She then remembered the dress that Alice bought her. Taking it out of her closet, she cut the tag carefully and tried it on, crossing her fingers that it will fit perfectly.
It did.
And I don't look bad. I actually look fancy but not too fancy
Coupled it up with her baby doll flats plus the accompanying cardigan, her ensemble was finished. She then went on putting on a thin black satin head band and let her natural brown wavy hair cascade down her shoulders. With a hint of blush and a little mascara and lip gloss, Bella took her portfolio and left for the interview.
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Bella have been waiting for three hours. She arrived just after lunchtime into a room full of applicants in black pants and blazers. She nearly turned around and left because she felt stupid wearing a dress while everyone else has black pants on.
Of all the days, I chose to wear a dress today!
Unfortunately, the lady at the reception called her and motioned her to approach the desk. She gave her agency's information and after checking their list, she was then asked to fill out their own forms.
She did that three hours ago. She had been staring at her reflection on the glass wall for three hours with a rumbling stomach. An hour more is left and if she doesn't get interviewed by then, it's goodbye opportunity for her.
"Isabella Marie Swan" came the call from the lady standing by the door.
Finally! Maybe there is light at the end after all.
"That's me" Bella replied.
"Follow me please"
Bella stood up and followed the lady. She was about to go into the room that she saw previous applicants go in and out every time she get a glimpse of them from the open doorway for the past three hours.
"Miss Swan not there; over here please" the lady informed her.
'Oh" Bella said confused but she followed anyways.
The lady opened the door and motioned for her to get in. She then closed the door leaving Bella alone in the room.
Bella then turned to her left and realized that she can see the applicants seating outside.
"Oh crap! It's a one way glass wall! I hope I was not seating with my legs open! Bella silently panicked
"Good Afternoon Miss Swan. I apologize for your long wait." came a calm masculine voice.
"Oh fuck me! Didn't know there was someone here" she inwardly berated herself as she turned to face the owner of the voice.
"I'm Jasper Whitlock"
