Join us as Bella is completely oblivious to the crushing shock Edward just received!

Whee!

Rating: (T) This chapter has some sexual situations and mild cursing.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

~MaraJadeblu


Metropolis City, Washington, USA

June 22, 2012 5:30PM

Chapter 10: Bella

What an amazing day! I giggled as I tightly held on to Jacob. I was trusting him with my life and didn't have to think hard about it. I watched the city rush by as I thought about the whirlwind of the last twenty-four hours.

First, Alice. We had shopped to my limit, and dragged a bag each of stuff from Ricky's and Lord and Taylor back to the apartment.

"I hate to buy from a department store, but no worries, I'll be making your clothes soon!" She had said. Making my clothes?

Despite her crazy nature, and her affinity for all things fashion, we just clicked. We talked for hours about her adventures finding her true love, about my life back in Arizona, and even about my hair! A whole conversation about it! This was my first experience making what I presumed to be a true girlfriend besides my mom.

She taught me how to blowout and style my hair, what clothes would flatter my body, and how to apply makeup. It was an education, and a delight. I probably still wouldn't spend more than a half hour getting ready in the mornings once I adjusted to my schedule, but it was nice to feel like I wasn't leaving my apartment every day looking like a clown.

Then, much to my amazement, Edward, uh, Mr. Cullen was back today. I'd forgotten in just one day how heart-stoppingly beautiful his presence was. The second I saw him from the elevator bank, I'd been paralyzed by relief and awe to see his copper hair glinting, and his prism eyes flashing.


I gawked. I stared, and he seemed to be staring back. For a second I was lost is his eyes, and the newsroom faded into static. They were clearer and lighter, more flawless and striking than they had been. The color had shifted from an emerald to a jade. I was still staring, frozen.

You're staring, girl! Move your ass!

Yea, but he's staring too...

You probably have a ring of food on your face, or spilled down your shirt-he's looking at your shirt!

I brought a hand to my mouth and looked down at my clothes, expecting something to be wrong with them. Underwear lines? Wedgie? Camel toe? How bad could it possibly be? I was utterly embarrassed, blushing until my ears burned, and I avoided Mr. Cullen's gaze as I walked to the coffee table to punch in and tried to figure out what was wrong with me.

I ducked into the bathroom as soon as possible and scoured for embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions, or coffee stains, or bird poop, but found nothing. Once I was sure there was nothing clearly wrong with me, and I didn't have pit stains, or smell funny, I went back out to my desk to set up.

Jess gave me a once over before saying, "Coffee, please." Ugh, I nodded, but inside I was cringing. So we were back to this now? I had no idea why I had lost the ground that I had gained the previous day, but clearly I couldn't expect any more decent work from Jessica for the day.

My mind wandered back to piercing green eyes. Even though he had been staring, he hadn't looked so angry... or murderous, this morning. Maybe it was worth trying to be friendly- to feel him out, and make sure he hated me before I wrote him off as a mentor.

Big girl panties, Bella! If you're going to get Jessica coffee, you can do the polite thing and ask Mr. Cullen as well.

I breathed deeply, steeling myself internally, and stood. I swallowed because my throat had gone dry, and shook myself again. I was being ridiculous! I couldn't let my shyness get in the way of my career! I had to learn to be more outgoing if I was going to succeed in this business.

But he's so pretty!

I rolled my eyes at myself. He hated me, as far as I knew, and would probably never look at me a second time given the opportunity. Why was I going over there again?

"Coffee, Bella." I was startled out of my pathetic reverie.

I worked my way over to his desk rather stiffly, and his head shot up in alarm when I was about two feet away. He was totally panicked, and I got the impression that he was allergic to me, like if I took one step closer, I would have to go get an epinephrine shot.

Just get the words out of your mouth, and spare the man your presence. The idea that I was so repugnant to him hurt a little. "Um, Mr. Cullen," his eyes softened, and my own panic lessened, "would you like me to get you some coffee?" He looked almost relaxed by the time I finished the sentence, and I had hope, for a second.

"That isn't your job." Damn. I felt like I was in trouble. Was I supposed to refuse Jessica's requests for coffee too? She told me to! I'm not stupid! Did he think I was stupid and repugnant? "I know, but I was going to get some for Jess-" oh, very professional, Bella, "Ms. Stanley anyway, so I thought I'd ask..." I trailed off and looked down, feeling like an utter failure. I couldn't do anything right around this man. Did I think he was pretty? He was gorgeous, striking, overbearing, intimidating, and I was nothing, nothing, but a stupid pathetic intern in his eyes. I was letting myself be used by Ms. Stanley, and I was weak, stupid, and useless.

"I don't drink coffee, thanks." I blinked, to make sure no welling of tears were visible. He sounded apologetic, almost. "What work have you been doing while I was gone?"

Maybe he didn't hate me! At least I could answer that question like a competent human being. I lifted up my head and tried not to look crushed. I answered, feeling pretty good about talking like an adult, and ruined it completely when I brought up his sister like some preschooler with a playdate.

His eyes widened at the mention of Alice, and any fantasies I had had that he somehow knew she was hanging out with one of his interns, and approved, were dashed. He was surprised, and not terribly pleased. His answer was monosyllabic and monotone.

I couldn't help it, now that I had stepped in it, I may as well try to understand why I had the strange encounter of the small kind. "I've never met her before, but somehow she knew me. It was strange." Again, it wasn't my fault. I'm not some creepy stalker, trying to get close to your family!

He was staring at my face, not looking at all like he thought I was a stalker, when he said, "She's always looking for new dolls for her clothes."

Well, that explains it! I thought bitterly, he did tell her about you, because you're the right height and waistline, and he wanted to get a 'new doll' for his sister. I felt used. The joke was on them. I was incompetent, unconcerned with my looks, terrible at monitoring my weight, and clumsy as an upright golden retriever wearing stilettos.

Images (more like nightmares, but I was awake) of Alice trying to get me down a runway flitted through my head, and I began to blush at the prospect. Let's get this straight right now, "I'm no model."

His eyes bored into me, and another emotion passed over him. I didn't think it was a negative one, but then he stood up abruptly, forcing me back, and said, "Excuse me," before practically running to the restroom.

He was either sick, or I had offended him with my rejection. Great.

I slunk back to my seat after getting Jessica her coffee, and resigned myself to doing proofs and research for someone who had no respect for me.

If only I could be someone else. Someone pretty, and confident. Sure, I'm smart, but what good is that if I attempt to put my foot in my mouth with every broken step?


Now, while I watched the cityscape form against the beginnings of the sunset, my negativity then seemed laughable, and I giggled into Jacob's back.

"Did they already drive you crazy back there? You okay, nutjob?" I giggled again, and poked his ribs. He probably didn't feel it through his motorcycle jacket.

"I'm just laughing at myself... you know how negative I can get sometimes, but actually I had a great day!" I had to yell to be heard, and I preferred having this conversation with my feet on the ground.

He nodded, understanding that this would require less effort at another time, and left me to my thoughts.


When I thought back on it, Jessica had been pretty bitchy to me all day. Until Edward had taken me under his wing, she did a pretty good job at making me miserable. Her most hurtful comment, "It doesn't really count until your name comes after the title, sweetie," was actually the most useful lesson I had been taught yet.

It was true, after all. The world was filled with Jessicas, and my accomplishments would not be recognized until I'd actually produced some real work under my own name. This only solidified my commitment to the blog, and I used the research I was doing for Jessica to prepare myself for my canvassing on Sunday. Besides, now I knew I was working tomorrow, so more time to prepare.

"Good day, ladies," oh my god! Yes, it was Mr. Cullen. I recognized his voice, but being surprised by him like that sent shivers up my sides and down my pants. His voice was... sexy. There was no other way to describe it. I hadn't noticed because I'd been too self conscious earlier, but hearing him now was melting parts of me I didn't know I had.

"Ms. Swan," I sucked in a breath, and struggled to stand. The sound of my name on his lips was making me very uncoordinated. "I just wanted to apologize for our terrible introduction. I've not been feeling well these past couple of days, and I'll be in and out quite a bit, I'm afraid," Did he just reference bowel movements? Why is he still hot? "Please forgive my rudeness." Oh, that's why. He was charm on top of a sexy-voiced, godlike manwich.

Say something! It took me a second to rehash what he said with a working brain, but I managed to keep my drool in my mouth, and my gushing to a minimum. I think I said something ridiculous about his eyes. I remember panicking afterwards, hoping I hadn't called them "jewels" or "beautiful".

"I'll have some work for you in a bit, so please don't go anywhere, okay?" He smiled at me. He smiled! At me! Maybe he didn't want to kill me. Maybe he didn't hate me. Maybe, as his words suggested, he actually wanted me around! This was brilliant! He was brilliant! He was walking away, leaving me dazzled. I was still stuck on the idea that he wanted me around... that his actions had actually been due to illness, and not to hatred. I was saved.

Wait a second... He was definitely angry the other day, there was the dent in his desk to prove it. He had not been ill; he had been angry... with me. Then his sister tracked me down and saved me from Mike. I was so confused.

I tried to figure it out, but nothing really made any sense. Earlier he had acted like he was allergic to me, like I scared him. Was that illness? Was I totally misreading him?

"So, are you going to bring your friend tomorrow?" Woah! Mike's surprise voice was not nearly so pleasant, but he wasn't trying to make me uncomfortable, so I smiled.

"I don't think so, Mike. She said she was heading out of town." To find her true love, no less. Alice was convinced there was someone out there designed just for her. I wanted her to be right. Maybe someday someone could accept me and all my clumsy bashfulness.

"That's a real shame, but you are coming, right?" Mike sure seems interested. No, not Mike. Not for me. If there is someone out there for me, I don't think I would have the initial reaction of wanting to put additional physical distance between us. I imagined sparks flying, and butterflies in my stomach. Maybe Jacob... or Mr. Cullen... but now I was being ridiculous. Mike was nice, but not for me. I wondered if going to the party would send him the wrong message about me being interested. I didn't want to lead him on.

I had several excellent reasons not to attend, which I shared with Mike. Part of me was relieved I wouldn't have to go, but part of me felt like I was being a coward for not pushing myself to have new experiences.

"Bella, that's not good! You have to get better at socializing if you want a job offer." Bam, his words hit me in my most vulnerable argument for going. He confirmed my suspicions about networking. Mike knew what he was talking about, "I'm not saying you should break the law- don't drink, if you don't want to, but you should definitely go." My dad would lock me up in the house for the rest of the summer if I did drink. "Angela, Jessica, and Eric will all be there to look after you. We all want you hired!" This did make me feel a little better, both about Jessica, and my fear that Mike would take this as a sign that I liked him. It was a social exercise, and a necessary one. I would be there with friendly people, and they would introduce me around. It would only be better if Mr. Cullen were there, too. Ha. Fat chance.

"You're right. I really should make myself go. Thanks, Mike." You're dismissed. He looked like he wanted to stick around, so I found some work to do, and buried myself in it.

Once Edward had sat down at his desk, I kept trying to think of the best way not to make a fool out of myself. He looked completely relaxed, sipping from a coffee cup- wait a second. He said he didn't drink coffee. Why would he lie?

My stomach growled for lunch, but I didn't want to be too obvious about avoiding his work, so I decided to save the food. If this got awkward, which was almost inevitable given that I was involved, I would have the excuse of grabbing lunch to escape.

I finally walked over, leaving my food under my chair at Jessica's desk, and willed myself to keep walking towards the shining beacon of Mr. Cullen's perfect, shiny, voluminous, and wildly sexy hair. What was becoming of me? I never thought this much about attractive men. I used to think girls who did that were slightly vapid and baffling. Mr. Cullen made my heart beat in my ears, and other parts. I felt anxious to sit and cross my legs.

He also stimulated me intellectually, for the man was a mystery. Did he really hate me, or not? Did he drink coffee, or not? Did he dent his desk... or not? I noticed immediately that the dent I had covered up was gone. How could that be? These were heavy metal desks, and I hadn't imagined it.

Mr. Cullen interrupted my thoughts by asking me to proof a copy. Suddenly, the desk didn't matter, I wanted badly to impress this man. I read as studiously and quickly as possible through the three pages of single space type, and found absolutely no errors. Was this some kind of test?

Nevermind that, the content was mindblowing! Jessica's work on drug cartels was interesting, but always in step with the police. This was one step ahead of the investigations that were going on. I needed to know where he was getting this stuff, "This is pretty incredible writing." An understatement, I didn't want to seem like a suckup. "Is this enterprise copy?"

"Yes, I did the legwork myself." Mr. Cullen unconsciously rested his foot on his knee, and leaned back, looking pleased with himself. It was so confident, and attractive. I recrossed my legs, feeling a little warm.

I looked over the copy one more time to be sure, but said, "I don't see any errors."

His casual response made me think it was indeed a test. I hoped I passed. He surprised me with his thoughtfulness when he asked me about lunch. My stomach hadn't embarrassed me by rumbling, thank goodness.

He was staring at me again, and I became lost in the stare far too easily. I needed to keep up my guard against the stupid-spell he cast on my with his hotness. He seemed to be expecting something, and he raised a perfectly arched eyebrow and smirked. My heart started working double-time. I thought he was perfect from afar? Rodin and Michelangelo had a sculpture baby that wished it was Edward Cullen.

"Eat it while I explain my project." Oh. Oh, obviously! That's what he was expecting, and here I was, totally out of it.

I broke some kind of personal record getting my lunch and coming back without tripping. Yet, even though I managed not to fall on my face, he looked at me like I was a crazy person. What had I done? I searched his face for answers, or possibly just because I had an excuse, and I was going to use it.

"That's all you're going to eat?" He seemed annoyed. His voice was the same as when he rejected my coffee, and made me feel ashamed of my dinky lunch.

Then again, maybe he wasn't annoyed... was that his way of expressing concern? "Yes...?" He crossed his arms and pouted beautifully. Clearly he was annoyed, or at least he disapproved. Maybe I should take better care of myself, but it was cheap, and nutritious!

Distract him! "If you're right, that means there is a serial killer currently targeting their next victim in the city."

Next thing I know, he's giving me a list of morgues and hospitals to call. Exsanguination, huh? It didn't occur to him that this wasn't lunch material? Ironically, if there had been blood involved, I couldn't have eaten, but since the bodies were almost pristine, I was okay.

Bruises on the neck, sometimes the arms, like rape victims. They were alive and struggling, but not raped, before they were killed. None of the victims showed signs of anemia or blood loss before they were attacked, but all of them were below the mortal requirement when they were found. They were all found in isolated and dark areas. Cause of death in each case was cervical fracture. The force required was significant, so the killer had to be very strong, and considerably tall.

Most of the victims had been up to no good in those alleyways and abandoned buildings. Many were drug addicts and some may have been dealers, looking for a place to sell or shoot up. Some of them were homeless, but most of the time their disappearance went unnoticed for days, and once cause of death was determined, gang violence, or a drug deal gone wrong were usually assumed, and the case was deprioritized.

Sometimes the victims were written up as accidents, in what Mr. Cullen explained to me was an attempt by urban police to reduce the official murder rate of the city for political reasons. This horrified me as a concept, and I couldn't imagine my small town father putting people in danger by misrepresenting a crime.

Unfortunately, there was no visible pattern of victims, other than the convenience of location and disposition. It wasn't really surprising that these disparate, and eerily similar murders had not been seen as a string of related crimes by the different precincts. If anything, the problem might occur in other cities as well, and should actually be investigated by the FBI, not the city police.

What was surprising was the Edward Cullen had found a link between these murders... the lack of blood. He was concentrating on the current possible threat, because that was big news, and he wanted to stop the killer. He let me know that eventually I would be investigating past occurrences of similar crimes that fit the killer's profile. If we could trace him or her back to a starting point, it could help bring validity to the investigation.

He was amazing. Not only was he handsome (understatement), but also brilliant and caring. About two hours into working together, after he had broken me into phone call interviews, and the basics of the case, it was clear to see that he did not hate me. He actually seemed pleased I was near him. Sometimes I would catch him looking at me with a little smile, the only smile I had seen since he invited me over to his desk. No one else talked to him, or came to hang out with him, and now that I was sitting here, people avoided me too. Even Mike left me alone.

He did use the bathroom frequently, so maybe he was just really sick, and finally getting better. I hoped so; I wanted him to be around to work with me every day of my internship, if possible. He had patience and finesse, and I was having trouble imagining a better mentor.

Towards the end of the day he gave me an apologetic smile, and hurried off to the bathroom once again. It occurred to me that someone with an upset stomach shouldn't be drinking coffee. They should be drinking water. When he got back, I'd offer to get us drinks, but I was curious about what he was drinking. Feeling that I was possibly overstepping my bounds, I grabbed his coffee cup and looked inside. It was empty... okay. Maybe he finished his drink, but there had not been coffee in there, or tea. There was no smell left. Maybe he was drinking water, but then again, why wasn't there any moisture in the cup?

This was weird. Why would he pretend to be drinking out of an empty cup? The mystery of Cullen continues. I was tempted to look under his papers to make sure the dent I had seen was gone, but I was too worried he would catch me snooping. I placed the cup back where it had been, and refocused as best I could on his work.

I was still trying to refocus on not-Edward-Cullen when he interrupted my struggle in the nicest of ways, "When I worked for a big law firm in the summer after high school," When was that? How old are you, anyway? His voice almost put me in a trance, "the associates took me out to lunch almost every day. I feel badly you aren't getting the same treatment." Huh? No way. "How would you like dinner?" No WAY. I just stared like I'd been hit in the face. Edward Cullen had just asked me to dinner.

Maybe he's going to kill you then.

Shut it, you, stop being ridiculous. He's so sweet! I should go.

You can't.

He's not a murderer!

Yuhuh, and what about Jacob?

Oh- um. Damn. Stupid Jacob.

I must have looked like a crazy person. I needed to answer. Would I ditch Jake for a date with Edward? Uh, yea, it isn't even a date. He felt bad for me. It was no different than coffee with Angela, Jess, Mike and Eric. There seemed to be a rock in the pit of my stomach, twisting around as I said, "I appreciate that, but I'm meeting a friend." Actually, what time was it? I looked at the clock above his head, "Really soon, actually. I'm sorry." Man, was I sorry. I loved Jacob and all, but I had a feeling I wasn't going to get a second chance to make a good impression with Edward.

He sat stone still for a few seconds, and I was worried about his lack of response. He burst out suddenly with pent up animation, "No problem! We can have lunch some other day. Don't bring your food on Monday, okay?" Oh my gosh, I would get a second chance! This man was some kind of angel; why did he insist on keeping his distance all the time? Wait... Monday wasn't tomorrow. Monday was all the way on the other side of the weekend, taunting me. I felt like a child, I wanted Edward now, and if not now, as soon as possible! Was he going to disappear over the weekend again, and leave me bereft of his company, and in the hands of Jessica?

"Won't you be in tomorrow?" Wow, way to sound ungrateful, Bella. You couldn't just thank him?

"Yes, of course. I'll be here. Will you?" He almost seemed nervous like me for a moment. Preposterous!

On the off chance he felt even a millionth of whatever I was feeling, I smiled to soothe his nerves. "Yes! I'll be in as soon as possible!" I probably looked like a serial killer myself. Was I being too forward? He seemed taken aback.

I didn't know why the idea of spending even a day away from him felt painful, but when he smiled at me, it didn't matter anymore. He could just think I was some silly high school girl, in need of a good mentor. He could think I was totally incompetent, clumsy, and ridiculous, but as long as I could be a loser, and be near him, I was going to be okay. Ironically, the man I thought hated me at the start of this morning, was actually the only person here I felt myself with, the only person here who made me feel safe.


I blushed again at the memory, and smelled Jacob's leather, and felt his warm, comforting back. I had blushed then too, before running out of the building like Cinderella at midnight.

I needed to be back at work tomorrow bright and early, so I could spend the day with Edward Cullen! Part of me felt bad for thinking about him so much when I was supposed to be spending time with Jake, but Jake didn't seem to mind the radio silence.

"Hey, where are we going, anyway? The shore is the other way!" I was watching the cityscape disappear as we wove our way out of traffic with skill. I thought we might get some sandwiches and watch the sunset before renting a movie or whatever. Why were we heading north?

"Are you gonna work on your blog tomorrow?"

What kind of question was that? "No, I have work. I'm starting Sunday, why?"

That seemed to have answered some hidden question for him. He nodded and revved the engine more. "I made plans for us to have dinner at your dad's place!"

He... wha- how? But... work! Also... how would I explain... And I said I'd be there! Jacob Black, you absolute JERK, "YOU DID WHAT?!"


A/N:

I had a fever while I wrote this chapter, so I thought I'd share some of my feverish silliness.

Favorite lines in this chapter:

"He was charm on top of a sexy-voiced, godlike manwich."

"The joke was on them. I was incompetent, unconcerned with my looks, terrible at monitoring my weight, and clumsy as an upright golden retriever wearing stilettos."

My desire while writing this fic was to take a lot of the original supernatural story elements and characterization, and transfer it to an urban setting, with the characters behaving at college/young professional level, and dealing with college-age problems.

Ala Former Mayor Ed Koch, RIP, "How'ma doin'?"