I forgot to mention - this is completely unbeta'd, so forgive my mistakes.
Someone asked if this was a reprieve from the angst-ridden The Fall. Yes. Yes it is. Enjoy!
The Fall Factor
Chapter 12
"Well, hey there. Don't you look like a bucket of fun this morning."
Vicki pops her head up from behind the dessert cabinet, looking way too cheery for so early.
"Just give me whatever you have that's greasy and salty," I grunt.
She laughs, throwing a dishcloth over her shoulder. "Ooh. I can feel your pain from here. Big night?"
Resting against the glass counter-front, I sigh. "Not especially."
"Really?"
I shrug. "Tequila."
"Ooh, girl. That's the devil's drink. That shit is nasty."
God knows why I thought tequila shots were a good idea. All I can think was I was high on Edward's goofy smile, and those big green eyes. They're just so goddamn bright and open – it's like looking right into his soul and it kills me.
Hangover aside, the thought of him still brings a smile to my face.
The guy is just so awkward. And it would be weird, except that I kind of find it endearing. Every time he blushes—which is a lot—I want to squish his handsome face in my hands and kiss the shit out of him. Needless to say, I have the urge to kiss him quite a bit.
"Here you go, sweetie," says Vicki.
She hands a paper-wrapped parcel to me over the counter, the smell of bacon and eggs wafting from inside, followed by a scalding hot cup of black coffee.
I take a big sniff of the greasy goodness in my hand, sighing with delight. "You are a goddess."
The sandwich barely makes it across the street. I'm shoveling the final mouthful in as I unlock the door, running for the phone as it rings loudly.
"Newton Fitness and Rock, this is Bella."
"Talking with your mouth full. Classy."
"I'm sorry, I'll try that again. Newton Fitness and Rock, go fuck yourself, this is Bella."
Rosalie snorts. "Such a lady. Hey, are my sunglasses at front desk? I think I left them there last night."
Pushing a few things aside, I make a quick pass, checking for a pair of sunglasses. "That's a big fat no."
"Hmmm. Must be around here somewhere then. So, how did your date go?"
Shouldering the cordless phone, I begin switching lights on. "Your glasses aren't here are they?"
Rose just laughs.
"Surely you have something better to do on a Saturday morning than grill me about my date. Say—I don't know—preparing for your date with Emmett."
"Nope. Free as a bird," replies Rose. "You didn't answer my question. How was it?"
I want to grill her further about Emmett, I really do, but the urge to gush is overwhelming. I sink down onto one of the yoga mats and proceed to talk Rose through the night.
"Next time?" she teases. "Well, it sounds like you're a pair of adorable idiots."
Flopping down on to my back, I smile. "Right?"
"I can't believe he shook your hand," she says with a cackle. "Classic."
"Yeah. Classic Edward."
"Bella?"
Mike's voice rings out through the gym—the gym that's mostly dark and very much not set up.
"Oh, shit. I gotta go," I whisper. "Newton's here."
I whisper a quick goodbye and tuck the phone into the back of my shorts.
"In here," I call, grabbing a few mats to make myself look busy.
Mike appears at the door as I'm flicking the last of the yoga studio lights on. If it's possible, he looks even more tanned than yesterday. He's practically glowing.
"You know it's five forty-five, right?"
Smiling, I nod. "Got stuck in traffic."
"At five-thirty in the morning?"
"Yep."
I can tell Mike knows I'm lying. Thankfully, he just glares at me until I make a beeline for the front desk.
"Did you wear that yesterday?" I ask Alice as she slinks into the staff room around lunchtime.
She looks down at her yoga shorts and t-shirt. "Did I? Huh."
I chase a stray tomato around the bottom of my bowl half-heartedly, watching Alice toss her stuff into her locker. "That exact outfit," I murmur, my hangover-addled brain ticking over slowly.
It's not until she passes, and I spot a badly covered up spot on her neck, that it all clicks into place. I stand up so quickly my chair falls backward.
"You slept with Jasper!"
Alice is on me faster than white on rice. "Can you keep your goddamn voice down?" She cups a hand over my mouth. "I'd prefer it if you didn't broadcast it to the entire gym."
Not even her hand can hide my smile. "Sorry," I whisper. "I got a little excited."
Alice releases me from her grip, instead using her hand to cover the bruise-like hickey on her neck.
With very little time to spare before her class begins, I sprint over to my locker, grab my serious business concealer, and run back over to her. I hold out the makeup for her, snatching it back just as she reaches for it.
"Tell me everything."
And she does. In glorious high definition detail that leaves me a bit of a swoony mess afterward.
"Finally," I sigh. "I was worried I was going to have to sleep with him just to relieve a bit of the sexual tension around here."
Alice smirks. "You would not."
Her side-eye makes me laugh. "I would not, no."
With a glance at her watch, Alice skips off to her first class and I immediately grab my phone to text Rose.
She doesn't answer.
Frustrated, I stare at my phone, willing her to call me or text back.
I think about texting Jasper, but don't really know what to say. He's a guy so "OH EM GEE" and the heart-eyes emoji seems a little over the top. In the end I send him the thumbs up.
I consider something more vulgar, but decide against it.
God. The urge to gossip is killing me. I need to talk to someone desperately, and of course the one person I really want to talk to about this is Edward.
I'm such a tool for not getting his phone number.
"Or am I?"
A few minutes later, I slide into the reception chair. My fingers tap lightly on the reception keyboard, and I hover my hand over the mouse, trying figure out exactly how much trouble I'll get in.
It's too much in the end. I do a quick search for his details and tap out a message within a few minutes. No one is the wiser.
B: Alice and Jasper totally banged last night.
B: Oh. This is Bella by the way.
The little typing bubble pops up, and my heart jumps, but then it disappears.
Then it pops up again, and then disappears again—this time for a few minutes.
"Shit."
I check in a few members and field a few enquiries, the whole time worrying that I've over-stepped the line somehow. By the time I reach for my phone again, I've convinced myself that I'm going to get fired for invasion of privacy.
E: Yeah? How did you find that out?
My heart thunders at his reply. It's ridiculous how stupid he makes me.
B: Alice came into work with a HUUUUGE hickey on her neck. She's totally in looooove.
E: LOL. A hickey? Is Jasper sixteen?
E: Heyyy, I don't remember being smooth enough to give you my number…
"Double shit."
B: Yeeeah. About that.
B: I kind of accidentally found it on your registration form. It was an accident!
"Please don't think I'm a stalker. Please don't think I'm a stalker."
E: Sneaky.
"Oh, thank God."
E: I'm just pissed I didn't have the good sense to ask you for your number last night.
"You're not actually texting at the front desk, are you?"
I toss my phone away like it's on fire, hiding it beneath some paper. "No way. Just checking the weather forecast."
Mike frowns, shaking his head. "Restock the bathrooms, will you? Make yourself useful."
"But the front desk…"
"The bathrooms, Bella. And the towels in the weights room while you're at it."
I flip Mike the double-bird the minute his back is turned.
The gym is actually pretty busy, so it takes me a little longer than it should to get done. When I get back there are three additional messages.
Rose: NO FUCKING WAY! Be there in 30mins. You can tell me everythingggg.
Edward: I meant to say that I had a really cool time last night. Thanks for inviting me.
E: I'll totally understand if you've changed your mind about next time though. It's cool.
He even puts a smiley face at the end. Like that's going to fly.
Looking around quickly, I tap out a quick reply, shaking my head at Edward's incredible lack of self-esteem.
B: You don't have to be smooth with me, Edward. I kinda like you anyway.
B: Like, a lot.
B: I gotta go. At work. See you Monday x
