A/N; So, this is another unbeta'ed chapter. Chapters will probably be unbeta'ed until my life gets back on track. And that may be a while; I'm just being honest. I had some extra time off of work, so I churned this chapter out, and am posting it early since all day tomorrow I will be cleaning up and cleaning out - getting ready to move. Yep, on top of all this, I am getting ready to move into my first place.
As always, thanks to those of you who have read...favorited...followed...commented.
See you below...
xxbsgnrxx
BPOV
It had been about a month since the last time I saw Edward. Truth be told, even though I hadn't seen him, I had thought about him quite often. My dad been busy wrapping one case and stuck in the middle of handling Jessica's case so, I hadn't seen much of much of him either. School was starting to pick which meant my birthday was slowly approaching. I dreaded my birthday because I hated being the center of attention and, this year was going to be another highlight year. I was turning eighteen. Thankfully, my dad was nothing like my mother. She made such a big deal of my sixteenth birthday a few years ago; I still had nightmares.
On the way to school, the roads were damp from the slight rain fall from the night before. The closer I got to school, the crazier the driving became.
Idiots.
Angela was getting out of her car when I pulled into a parking spot near her. Hurriedly, I shoved my rust bucket on wheels into park and pulled the hood of my jacket up as I slid out the door, careful not to fall.
"Morning," Ang greeted me as I slowed my stride to match hers.
"Hey," I huffed.
"Sooo – tomorrow is the big day! The one – eight! Are you excited?"
I loved Angela but, sometimes I wondered just how much sugar she put in her coffee in the mornings. That girl was bounds and bounds of energy way too early in the morning.
"Ang, I think you're excited enough for the both of us." I smiled, shaking my head.
"What are the plans, hmm? Hmmm?"
"Dad's taking me out to Currants' tonight. Or probably anywhere that has a class A steak. Then he's letting me have a small get together at the Lodge Saturday night."
"Am I invited?" Angela laughed with a pleading look on her face as she draped her student identification card around her neck.
"Of course! As long as Mike doesn't make an appearance."
"Speak of the devil -"
Mike was leaning against the door frame of the cafeteria, feeding into Lauren's flirtation. His jacket was, of course, hanging from her shoulders.
Figures.
"Hey Swan!" Mike yelled when he saw me pass by.
"Douche.. I mean Mike," I rolled my eyes and faked a smile.
Lauren rolled her eyes and squared her shoulders, no doubt trying show off Mike's oversized jacket – strutting like a peacock. She knew that Mike and I briefly dated but, hopefully she knew that I didn't want him back – ever again.
"So word in the hall is that your birthday is coming up…" Mike started walking up to me.
"I don't know, Mike."
I walked away, heading toward my locker to switch out my books and, get ready for the day. Ang and I parted ways, only having her promise to catch up with me later in the day.
-BSGNR-
The day went by slowly, no thanks to the quiz I forgot to study for. The dismal bell rang loudly through the empty hallways that soon flooded with quick – moving teenagers. As always, I loitered around in the hallway, waiting on Ang to get back to her locker and allowing the parking lot to empty out some before I got to the truck.
Angela chatted my ear off with ideas for Saturday night as we walked back out to our cars. Out of habit, my eyes scanned the area, locking on the gas station across the street. Parked at the pump was a truck, a sexy beast of a truck; a truck that I hadn't seen in quite a while – Mr. Tattoo's truck.
"Bella…are you with me?"
"Huh? Sorry, yeah."
"What is it?"
I shook my head. It wasn't like I didn't want to tell Angela what or who I saw. She knew about Edward, or some about him. It was that I didn't think that I would see him anymore. It had been a while since I laid eyes on him. He hadn't even been by the pizza shop in the meantime. It was all strange. Every time I heard a motorcycle, I would always look around in hopes of seeing him.
A week ago, while Ang and I were hanging around outside of the shop, I could have sworn that I saw Edward ride by on a motorcycle and then rev off like he was angry at something.
The pull I felt anytime Edward was mentioned or around was something that I couldn't explain. Granted, right now things were tricky simply because of the age difference but, that didn't bother me. It didn't cross my mind. However, the one thing that did cross my mind a lot was the story that he told me the last time I saw him. There was something about that story that just didn't sit right with me. It like something out of a novel, I couldn't imagine having to carry that burden around for that many years.
"Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow," Angela dismissed us and ended my internal day dream.
"Okay. I've got to go anyways. I need to get dressed; apparently Charlie wants to dress nice for dinner tonight."
"It isn't like you can blame him. His only child is turning eighteen."
As always, Ang had a point. I offered a quick wave and started my truck. If I was lucky, I could get home without it stalling out on me.
No.
Such.
Luck.
Ten minutes away from my house, my old truck stalled. I turned the key in the ignition several times but, the truck didn't want to turn with it. First, I had a crappy day at school with a failed quiz, now this. I gave up and hit the steering wheel repeatedly.
My dad would be home in about twenty minutes and in a hurry to leave in attempts to beat the dinner time rush. I still had to get dressed – the world was against me today.
I don't know how much time had passed before truck came down the road, effectively splattering water off the pavement onto my windshield.
That truck…that damn truck…
I climbed out of my truck in a hurry, hopefully he would see me in his rearview mirror and come and help me – see me – talk to me. Anything.
I don't know, maybe the universe was trying to offer an apology for my shitty day but, that silver Ford truck slowed down and started backing up, heading towards me. Instantly, I ran my hands down the front of my shirt smoothing out any wrinkles.
"Darlin'." Edward leaned out the driver side window.
"Hi, Mr. Tattoo", I smiled but trying to remember that I was stranded.
"What's going on?" He parked the truck in the ditch on the other side of road.
"My truck won't start. I turned the ignition but the motor wouldn't turn."
Edward climbed out of his truck and, I couldn't help but notice there was new ink on his arm. More than likely, there had to be a story behind any of his tattoos because, he didn't seem like the kind of guy that would pick a random design off the wall. He grabbed some things out of the back of his truck and popped the hood of my truck with a loud squeak.
"So, uh, what's up with the new arm décor?" I leaned against my truck, watching as his shoulders moved back and forth as he worked on the engine.
"You noticed that, huh?"
"Yep."
"I just had the itch to get another. Probably gonna be getting another here soon. It just depends on when Jas gets the design down." He answered wiping his hands off on a grease rag, "There, you should be good to go now."
"I'm thinking of getting my belly button pierced when me and Angela go into town next weekend," I blurted out.
Truthfully, the thought hadn't crossed my mind at all.
"Don't you have to be eighteen to get that done?"
"I will be. My birthday is Friday." I felt a blush creep up in my cheeks.
"Oh, in that case; any big plans?" He propped himself on the side of the truck, crossing his feet at the ankles.
"Yeah. I have dinner plans with my dad tonight and then Saturday night he's letting me rent out the Lodge to have a few friends over."
"I see, I see. Nothing to major then?"
I shook my head with my teeth digging into my bottom lip, opening the driver side door to my truck. I didn't want to leave but, I knew I had to get back home if I was going to dinner.
"Keep one eye open then, darling."
He cranked the Ford truck up and waited for me to start my truck. I toyed over Edward's words just briefly before the rust bucket started with a slight pitter and put.
-BSGNR-
My dad sat on the sofa waiting for me to come home. He was already dressed and not looking in the least bit pleased.
"Sorry dad; the truck stalled out and I had to figure out something."
"How'd you get home?"
"A friend drove by and helped me out."
The less he knew- the better. Edward didn't seem like the kind of guy that would easily earn my father's approval. Besides, I didn't know exactly what was going on with the two of us right now or even between us.
After searching through my closet for longer than I had planned, I finally settled on a teal colored, short sleeve dress. It wasn't over –the-top what Charlie probably expected but, it was heads and tails above what I typically wore.
I took my hair down out of the fishtail braid that I wore to school, allowing the loose waves fall on my shoulders and, with a slight pinch to my cheeks for a touch of color; I was ready to go.
My dad was standing at the foot of the stairs, waiting for me. As soon as my foot hit the bottom stair, he offered me his elbow.
"You look nice tonight," My dad muttered.
He was never one to express his feelings but, I chanced a glance in his general direction and noticed his eyes were glassy.
"You look handsome too, dad," I replied, gently squeezing his elbow.
Even though I had not been that long moved in, I was quickly turning into a daddy's girl.
The sun was starting to set as we pulled into the parking lot of Currant. True to my dad's character, he pulled into the farthest parking spot in a vain attempt to keep some stranger from dinging up his precious beige Toyota Avalon. I was just thankful for my inability to walk in a straight line in anything other than flats.
"So, no talk about work tonight, I promise, Bells." Charlie looped his arm in mine as we made our way to the door.
"Okay," I replied dumbly, not able to think of a better response.
Inside the restaurant, the hostess escorted us to a small table in the corner. A candle sat in the middle of the table on top of a royal blue table cloth with cream linen napkins.
"So, do you know what you want?" Charlie asked, his eyes focusing on the menu.
"I don't know, it's either between the mushroom ravioli or the grilled chicken with the pineapple salsa."
"Bells, honey, you're at a steak restaurant, why not indulge and get a steak?"
I shrugged, " 'Cause I'm not in the mood for steak. I mean, just because we're at a steak house doesn't mean I have to order steak, as long as I eat something right?"
Charlie shook his head, "You know if you present facts like that, you just might have a chance in the legal field."
Before I had a chance to respond, a blonde haired waitress stood at the end of our table with her booklet in hand, ready to take our drink orders. Since working in the food industry, I always tried to be courteous to my waiters; there were plenty of assholes at other tables.
"Um, sweet tea, please," I answered when I felt her gaze on me.
Once she returned with my dad's glass of wine and my sweet tea, we were ready to place our food orders. Of course, my dad went with the steak he was looking at earlier and I ordered the grilled chicken, much to the chagrin of my dad.
We were about halfway through dinner before my dad asked me something that I hadn't really given much thought to, "What are you planning for college?"
"I honestly hadn't thought much of it. I know Angela is headed to UWG so, I may look into that."
"What about Athens and, the University of Georgia? It is closer to home."
"Oh yeah, dad. Can't you just see me barking at football games?"
"What's wrong with a little school spirit?" My dad asked with a chuckle.
Shortly thereafter, my dad paid the bill and we headed towards the parking lot. There wasn't much said between the two of us but, that was okay. We were both full and enjoying being in each other's company.
He parked the car in the driveway beside my truck and, I grabbed the to – go box from the back seat. By the time I was closing the door to the car, Charlie was standing on the small front porch unlocking the door.
We lived in a quiet part of town so when I heard the rev of an engine driving down my street, I stopped in my tracks. He had told me to keep an eye out but, surely he couldn't be that brazen – could he?
However, if he wanted to be, he could at least wait until Friday.
So, as always, I would love to hear your thoughts and theories!