Hi again, friends! Home just long enough to squeeze out another chapter for ya! My good friend MW2 decided to throw a whopper at me with the word prompt, tampon. Uh huh, she did. Sneaky little shit. So, I feel totally justified in throwing a whopper right back at her. Hee, hee... Read to the end and you shall see what it is. ;)
Disclaimer: SM owns it all, I'm just unoriginal.
Chapter 11 – Tampon (MW2, grrr...)
Bella
"Bella, can I see you in my office please?"
I'm sitting in my cubicle, just about to take a sip of my chai tea when Jasper calls me in. This is nothing new, Jasper calls me into his office every Monday, at this time, so we can go over the details of the publication and prepare our part for the weekly meeting. I smooth my hair and then check the front of my blouse for crumbs. I don't see any but brush my hands over my chest anyway. Why do we do this? I shake my head.
Walking towards his office, I am tugging on my skirt and shifting it to the left slightly, no matter what I do though, it still feels wrong.
I fucking hate skirts.
Jasper's sitting behind his desk as I enter the office, he's got his glasses perched on the end of his nose and is flipping through some papers.
Ahhh...what a great way to start the work day. Mmm.
"There you are. Come on in, have a seat." His smile is genuine, but I detect some underlying stress. He motions with his hand towards the leather chair in front of his desk and I follow his direction and sit.
He continues to flip through the papers and I'm just sitting there watching and waiting for him to begin speaking. This really doesn't bother me because I get several minutes to just appreciate the pretty.
Fine male specimen I tell you.
A couple of minutes go by before he finally sets the papers down and gets on with it. He drops the papers to his desk and pushes back in his chair with a heavy sigh.
"Alright, so I need to talk to you about a couple of things and I want to apologize now for my lack of organization. There were some last minute changes to the November issue and, as you know, Heidi has been out for a couple of weeks now on maternity leave." I nod."
I have had to work double duty while we find a temporary replacement for her." He looks up at me now and my stomach drops. Is he going to ask me to fill in?
"You'd be surprised at how difficult it is to find an editor who is multi-lingual."
Shit, he's not going to ask me.
"So, until we find someone I'm kind of stuck playing multiple roles. Here's where I need you, Bella. I'd like for you to co-edit the feature stories with me. I trust you, you've proven yourself on more than one occasion and I really think you're ready for something more. What do you think"
I am screaming internally.
I am nodding my head and trying like hell not to stand on my chair and scream for joy. This is my break, this is my chance to really go the distance.
Junior Editor here I come!
"Well, do you think you're up for it? I mean, I'm going to need you to do this on top of everything else you already do. It could be challenging, but quite frankly I think you are ready. What do you say?"
Composing myself, I place my hands on the edge of his desk and smile confidently.
"Yes. I appreciate you asking me, Jasper, and I would be happy to take on a little more responsibility. When do I get started?"
I hope I look composed on the outside, because right now it is becoming extremely difficult to sit in this chair without bouncing.
Jasper chuckles. "Okay then, I'll get back to you later this afternoon with more details. Now though, how about that research you promised me? The story waits for no one!"
My smile is huge. I stand and speak at the same time," I'm on top of it, I'll send it right to you."
Right before I make it to the door, he stops me. I love it when he does that.
"Oh and Bella, as always, nice work." Then he winks.
My left knee buckles just then and thank the lord the door frame is there to save me from embarassment. "Thanks." I manage to squeak out. Smiling, I hurry back out to my desk.
I'm sitting and bouncing...and just itching to tell somebody, anybody, my good news, but I don't have anyone. Gosh, aren't I pathetic. I look over the cubicle wall to see if Jessica is there...of course not. She'd probably be jealous anyway, and think I'm rubbing it in. Definitely not the person to tell. I sigh.
Edward.
I really wish I could just call him or text, but we haven't exchanged numbers yet. Ours is still just in the "friendly neighbor" stage. Sure, we know personal things about each other, but we haven't really explored much further than that. I really want to explore further, but am afraid to push.
Over the past couple of weeks, since we opened up to each other, things have been going pretty well. I see him just about every morning and we do our friendly chit chat in the hallway before my run. I had him over on Saturday; it started out as him just coming to help me fix a leaky pipe, but ended with him staying for pizza. It was so embarassing, I thought I removed all of the items from under the vanity but just as he was kneeling to the floor to take a look, I spotted a stray tampon way in the back of the cabinet.
That is sooo not how I wanted him imagining my nether regions.
Edward just took that opportunity to tease me relentlessly though and make up funny limericks on the spot. Like, "There once was a man eating grey poupon..."
The man is sick I tell you, and I love it.
Edward just makes me feel happy, like there is someone in my corner for a change. It's a good feeling...no, a great feeling! He is the perfect person to share great news with and that is exactly what I plan to do.
I kick off my heals and take the stairs to my apartment two at a time. Kinda hard in a pencil skirt, but I am talented like that.
I practically skip down the hallway, past my door, and straight on down to 34-B. I tap three times and wait. My foot is tapping with anticipation, I give it three seconds before I start rapping on the door again, only this time to the beat of a song playing in my head.
Still no answer. Hmph.
I knock one more time for posterity, already knowing what the result will be.
Still not answering. Shit.
Sighing heavily and pouting like a petulant child, I turn to walk back to my lonely apartment. I take each step slowly, just not wanting to face the rest of the night alone. I hate to waste all of this excitement.
The type of party I was wanting to have is certainly not of the pity variety.
"Meeeeoooowww"
Dingleberry.
I come to a stop right in the middle of the hallway, between mine and Edward's doors. The cat is laying down just looking at me. I decide, "what the fuck."
"You'll do I suppose."
I sit next to the damn hairball on the floor, and against my better judgement, start petting the fucker.
Ohh, this isn't so bad
The cat is purring and rubbing it's head against my hand, pushing itself into me, onto my lap. I feel wanted and it feels...amazing. I never had any pets as a child, I am now understanding the fascination. This is very relaxing. I start to speak to the cat...
"Yes, you like that don't you? You like me petting your furry little dingleberry head, don't you?" My voice gradually gets all high pitched and, I'm sure, annoying. "Such a cute little, furry dingleberry."
"Um, Bella?"
Shit!
I look up to see Edward standing at the top of the stairs with a huge grin on his face.
"You're not talking to the cat are you?" And now he's laughing, just all out laughing. The cat scurries from my lap and is gone before I can turn my head.
"Edward! We were bonding, you scared him!"
Edward is now hunched over in hysterics.
I get up and try to brush off the large clumps of cat hair that are stuck to my black skirt. It's impossible.
Screw it.
I remember why I am in the hallway in the first place, the excitement is back and I start swiftly walking toward's Edward's hunched over form. I can't wait to tell him my excellent news.
I am a few feet away, though, when I start to see a blonde head of hair ascending the stairs behind him.
"Edward, could you please slow down. I ..."
I'm just standing there, looking at probably the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. And she is with Edward...and they are going to his apartment.
My good mood has deflated and I start to feel a little nauseous.
Edward looks back to the woman, still smiling, and then back to me.
"I'm sorry, that's just funny as hell. Hi, Bella."
I'm crushed. I'm sad. I'm...jealous as fuck.
I'm getting the hell out of here.
Edward's smile falters and his expression changes.
"Oh hi...um, Edward. I was just...I'll just tell you about it tomorrow. No biggy." I wave my hand slightly at the woman and point my finger at Edward. All the while trying not to show the disappointment on my face.
"You have a good one, neighbor!" And then I turn around and walk swiftly to my apartment door.
A/N
Poor Bella. :( MW2, help these two out would you!
Hee hee.
Word Prompt - "pustule"
*rolling on the floor*
Have fun with that one you little stinker!
Thanks for reading, everyone! xxxooo
