I own nothing except my memories.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Dear Edward,

Sorry for all the flashbacks, but we got to do it again for two reasons: this event happened exactly a year ago and I need something that I can laugh about.

July 31, 2009. I was working that afternoon at Rhem. Oh, how I detested that job, especially when I got sent to Rhem. There was nothing to do, so I usually hid at the side of the building in the shade, right in front of the gate that used to be the main entrance to the pool when the front of the building was being remodeled. I know it was slacking, but I didn't give a shit. I hated that job and the idiots I worked for.

Even though they told us not to, I always had my phone with me. Not because I really used it during work, but I had to check the time and count down the minutes somehow. Though at Rhem I would check what the bank had on their huge clock at the top of their building, which was a cross the highway and down a few blocks, when I did my rounds inspecting the parking lot and lawn for garbage. And I only did that just to make an appearance to whoever was at the front entrance and to actually do something. Oh, what a life.

Anyway, it was July 31, Renee's birthday. It was also, as said on the postcard I received a few days previously, the day you were to come home. I figured I wouldn't see you until August 2 or 3 because I remembered when I went to Europe and both times we came back towards the end of the day, tired as ever from jetlag. But you proved me wrong, yet again. I felt the vibration in my shorts pocket and on the screen said your name. Completely surprised, I flipped the phone open with a surprised "Hello?" And indeed it was you, come back safe and sound after three weeks in the Scottish highlands that you loved so much. I didn't care that I was at work and could get in trouble if I got caught talking to you, I hadn't seen or heard from you in three weeks, save for that postcard.

You had a purpose in calling me, though. It was really funny, getting you to spit it out. You just beat around the bush. You told me how "your" jazz band was playing at a restaurant tonight. It was called La Bella Italia. I'd never heard of it before, but you insisted that it was in Forks. You even thought it was right by my house. I didn't believe you for a second, so I asked where in Forks it was and you said by Ridgeland. I laughed at that. I live in Forks, Edward. There is no Ridgeland Avenue in that tiny town. Ridgeland is in Port Angeles. You seemed kind of disappointed by that.

By then, I had put two and two together. You wanted me to come watch. Oh, it was so obvious once I had figured it out. I smiled to myself at your shyness and decided to cut to the chase, mainly to listen to you squirm for a bit, but to also know your real intentions for telling me all this. Who knew? I could have been wrong.

I wasn't. I just asked "Edward, do you want me to come to watch?" And you just beat around the bush again and said if I wanted to come and if I wasn't busy or anything like that. I took that as a yes. I asked for the time. You said from 8 to 10 you guys would be playing. You even mentioned that you would have a piano solo at the beginning.

I found a potential problem in all of that: it was my mom's birthday and surely she would want me around and not walking the streets of Port Angeles to watch you play piano. I told you this and that I would still ask, but no guarantees. I would call you to tell you the verdict later, but if I could come, it would be later in the evening. I also was starting to come back to my senses and said I couldn't talk anymore since I was at work, damned hellhole. We hung up and I began to plot my approach to this.

It hit me that you had asked me to do something that only a very good friend would do, if not a girlfriend. So, what did that say about your intentions? Sure, you weren't as forward with your giving me attention and wanting to be with me, but it concerned me all the same. You were nervous. Why would you be nervous if you just wanted to be friends? We were supposed to be completely casual, completely platonic. There was no reason for nervousness. But I shook this all off and told myself that Alice had officially messed with my mind. You know that she absolutely insisted, "He's in love with you, Bella."

My other issue was that it was my mom's birthday. It wasn't a huge concern, but it was a potential problem. Renee is very understanding about the way her family works: everyone runs in and out of the house, either because of school, jobs, friends, or any random activities. She has long since stopped trying to prevent me and Charlie from the constant in-and-out. She picks her battles and prioritizes. Her birthday, oddly enough, is not a high priority for her. Hell, today she took me to about five stores just so I could get a new swimsuit before we went on vacation. (By the way, it is a two piece—my first ever—with a sky-blue top and brown bottoms.)

With a little luck, I knew I could go to your thing that night. I just had to play my cards right. First, I immediately settled for a compromise. I asked for nine o'clock. I knew I had to be home for cake and ice cream, so there was no point in asking for earlier. Also, I really didn't feel like listening to jazz for two whole hours. I was barely able to handle the hour I was there. The other strategy was not specifically giving your identity. Don't worry, I didn't lie, though I would be doing that many times in the future, so it's not like it mattered in the long run anyway. I just said that one of my bio kids (which you were) asked me if I could watch his band play tonight (which you did). I also made it seem like it was a little strange to me, but was obliging a request from an innocent sixteen year-old (you were far from innocent).

In the end, it all worked out with almost no persuasion. She said okay right from the get-go. It was that easy.

My second plan of action was to find a willing friend or two to accompany me that night. There was no way in hell I was going to walk in there by myself. It would look pathetic in more ways than one. So, I called up Alice and Rosalie to see if they wanted to come with. I told them the whole situation, sans my inferences about your being nervous and all that. I didn't want to feed the flames. They agreed immediately, ready to snatch a chance of gaining new material to tease me with, especially Alice.

When the time came to get ready, I wondered what to wear. I had looked up the specific address of the restaurant and it looked like a pretty fancy joint. I mean, it wasn't super formal or anything intense, but it sure wasn't T.G.I. Friday's. You know what's crazy? I even remember what I wore. I donned my favorite jeans, a black tank, and a green lightweight jacket that is meant to be worn indoors. I made sure that my makeup looked nice, and I was ready to go, not dressed up, but definitely qualifying as nice.

I've got a question for you, Edward. Did you see how nervous I got as we walked in front of the storefront windows and into the restaurant entrance? Because I got so scared and jittery as me, Alice, and Rosalie walked from the car parked about a block away. I wanted to turn back and go home, but they wouldn't let me. I insisted that you wouldn't mind if I didn't show up, but they were relentless. When we got to the windows, I stopped, to afraid to go on. Alice grabbed me by the elbow and dragged me the rest of the way. When we reached the front desk, I couldn't even speak. Luckily, Rose kept her cool and did all the talking. We were originally led away into another part of the restaurant, away from the band that was playing right at the front entrance, but Rose, once again, spoke up to mention that we were actually there to see the band. I remember the waiter looking at us a bit strangely, probably assessing our likely ages. We did not look to be the same age as the teenage boys playing in the band at all with our causal-dressy attire.

We were led back into the main room, towards the middle and next to a wall. Not a second after the greeter left and not before we had a chance to take our seats (which is insane, if you ask me), someone from behind me said "Excuse me, Bella?"

I turned around and craned my neck to meet the eyes of an incredibly tall and beautiful middle-aged woman. I only had two thoughts in my mind: Who was this woman and how did she know my name? For she was only looking at me. I tried to think of where I could have possibly met her, but came up with nothing. "Yes?" was all I could come up with me.

That was all she needed to start gushing. "I'm Edward's mom. It's so nice to meet you. Edward has told me so many good things about you and helping all semester with biology…"

I felt something heavy hanging off my upper arm. Alice had me in a death grip, struggling to keep herself upright and with a straight face, but failing miserably. Her cheeks were even turning red with the held-in laughter. I tried to elbow her in the side inconspicuously to get her to stop before this woman noticed, but it was all in vain. I just let her hang on to me while trying to not seem too irritated with her.

"…And I just wanted to thank you for being such a great help to him."

I was stunned by all of this flattery. "Oh, it was nothing at all. I mean, it was my job to help him and all."

Mrs. Cullen smiled again. "Well, it was so nice to finally meet you, Bella."

"You too," I said automatically. And as quickly as she appeared, she took off again.

We finally took our seats and Alice immediately let all the laughter building up explode.

Love?

BMS

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