I do not own Twilight! I'm just borrowing the characters and making them diverse
I didn't have time to let myself brood over the situation with Tanya. After our meeting I had to be back at the station. Fire after fire, and a few false alarms. It kept me busy. When I got a moment to rest, then it popped into my mind.
"Maybe I should just tell Isabella what happened." I thought. But then she was away for an important reason. I didn't want her to worry about this. Not yet. I'm in the station kitchen alone; I still haven't had anything to eat so I head to the fridge.
"Hey Cullen, we have a kindergarten class visitin' us this afternoon. You wanna stick around after your shift?" Captain Aro asked me interrupting my moment.
"Uh, yeah. Why not" I say. I grab another Red Bull from the fridge. It'll give me the energy to stay up.
"I dunno why but the kids seem to like ya more than McCarty." He laughs. I shrug my shoulders and smirk. Emmett was more buff than I was, maybe the kids were scared? "So how's that girl of yours? The two of yous still together?" He added
"Yeah." I have no idea for how much longer after this whole Tanya thing.
"That's good." He nods. "You're bout the same age I was when I first married. You thinkin' bout that too?"
"Uh...on and off. You know?"
"Seems like kids nowadays don't get married as much as they did in my day."
"Uh...I just don't know if...I'm the husband type." I sip the Red Bull.
"It's the same thing you're doin' now with a ring. And a permanent roommate." He laughs. "It's work, but worth it."
"Captain, if you don't mind me asking, what happened to your first wife?" He looks at me with a sad smile.
"She died. Back then, cancer wasn't somethin' we knew much about."
"Oh I'm sorry...I" suddenly I felt bad that I had brought her up.
"It's alright son. I got more happy memories than sad. We had some really good years before she got really sick."
"How did you know when you were ready to marry her?" He stands there silently, as a smile spread over his face.
"Well she played hard to get at first. But I knew she was somebody I couldn't live without. And she was really good at stickball..."
"Stickball?" I ask with a smile.
"Yeah. In the summer time, she would play with me and my family...yup. I couldn't live without her, so I married her. The weddin' wasn't much cuz we ain't have much. Small Catholic ceremony, cake, family and our close friends..." His eyes had this look I rarely seen on his hard face.
I tried to picture him and his young wife playing stickball in the street in the Bronx. "I carry a picture of her in my wallet." He pulls out his wallet and flips through it. Then takes out a small laminated square, hands it over to me.
I look at the black and white photo of a young woman. She has a playful smile and is about the shade of Isabella.
"She was beautiful." I said as I hand it back to him.
"Who you tellin'? And her hips...Man I miss her cooking..." he smiles to himself.
"The kids'll be here in a few. Make sure you clean up some." He messes up my hair then leaves out.
I wanted to push the situation to the back of my mind. But now I'm thinking even more about Isabella. I can't picture my life without her. As a matter of fact I can't live without her. She had been away not even the whole week yet and I found myself feeling empty.
It was more than just a physical thing I felt, which was something I was still getting used to. It was deeper...it was emotional. In the time I got to know her, somehow she became a part of me. I know it might sound weird, but I really needed her. I thought of her smile, and how she could change my whole mood with just a soft touch of her hand.
After the can is empty, I got to wash my face and brush my teeth. Then I head out to the truck. There are about ten small kids who are holding hands. They're all talking loudly and excitedly. Then there's one kid who doesn't have a partner, he's a little smaller than the rest. He's holding hands with the parent chaperon.
"OK everyone. Use your inside voices! Inside voices!" The teacher shouts. She looks like they have been giving her a hard time. I have to hold my laughter in. The kids lower their tone but still are fidgety.
Mike walks by me in full uniform and approaches them. "Welcome to Hook and Ladder 8..." gives them the whole spiel. "If there is a fire in your home, do not be scared of me or any other fire man OK?" He puts on the face mask and holds out his hands. "Everyone touch my gloves. If you can't see a fireman because of smoke, this is what his glove feels like" the kids rush to him and touch his hands.
It's true most of the time when we enter apartments or any places where small kids are, they're scared of us. I have to admit I'd be scared too if I seen something that looks like an alien in a house full of smoke. But the more they are aware of who we are, the safer it becomes for everyone.
Then another fire fighter shows them the truck which they go crazy with. There's a lot of "ooohs and aaahs" and "yays". It doesn't take much to amaze them. The sounds that I've been hearing for the past few years fill them with excitement.
He turns on the siren, shows them the ladder even let's a few of them sit in the front. The teacher watches nervously saying "be careful" every now and then. Then it's my turn. The kids are handed off to me so I can show them around the station.
"Hey I'm fire fighter Edward Cullen." I say with a smile.
"Hi fire fighter!" They all sing in response. The teacher and the parent chaperon talk to themselves while watching me slyly. I can feel a slight blush on my face; you'd be surprised how many women have fire fighter fantasies.
"So who wants to see the station?" I ask.
"Ooh ooh! Me! Me!" They all raise their little hands and jump around.
"My dad said this station fights ghosts!" One little girl said.
"Um...this station was in the movie "Ghostbusters", but we don't fight ghosts in real life, only fires." I respond.
"I know you!" A little boy said. He was the same little boy who didn't have a partner.
"You do?"
"Yeah! I saw you ina supermarket! I saw you!" He says jumping up and down. I try to remember him.
"He ran up to you and you told him he would be a fireman" the parent chaperon answered. I thought about it. Then I smiled, it was the same day I met Isabella.
"Oh yeah. You're the fireman in training." I say. The other kids get excited. I motion for him to come up by me and he runs fast. I grab his little hand and glance at the little name tag that hangs around his neck. "So Jacob, you can be my helper."
After I'm done showing them around and answering all of their funny questions, the kids leave out the station. Suddenly it hits me. Kids do love me. Why did I ever feel like I'd be the worst dad in the world?
I'm starting to think that maybe I over think situations maybe a little...I head to the locker room to change. I check my cell and I have a few text messages, and a missed call from Alice. I check the text messages; I'll call Alice when I leave.
"I went to the first rehearsal today! I'm the only black dancer (what a surprise lol) .Today we learned the routine. It was super easy!" That was sent earlier.
"I'm going to the beach with your mommy then we're going out to eat. She's really nice." And then another one.
"I really miss you :(" I missed her more. I couldn't hide what was going on from her. I'd tell her as soon as she came back.
"You're always on my mind" I text her back, than head to the shower. I leave the station and it's cloudy. The city has that muggy feeling it gets before there's rain. I get on the train and kind of zone out.
And when I get home I call Alice back. I start to tell her everything that happened.
"She did what?" Alice shrieked in my ear. I had to pull
the phone from my ear.
"Allegedly, she bought the lease to the school where Isabella teaches."
"Are you serious? She has to be lying Eddie. She has to be. She doesn't have that much money. Her father does but she doesn't! Don't make me call her." She said angrily.
"Don't call her or her dad." I thought of her father, even when we were together he hated me. I couldn't imagine how he felt now...
"You should've called me as soon as the witch came to your apartment!" She continued to yell.
"I was caught off guard...it's like she always one step of me."
"And you went to dinner with her? Let's hope she didn't have someone in there to take pictures. She's sneaky that way. Next thing you know she's blackmailing you with some photos made to look like something else..." I thought about that. If Isabella seen some bogus pictures of us. What would she think? She was already a little insecure about Tanya.
"How could you Eddie?"
"I...I didn't know what else to do. I had to do something. I thought I could handle it by myself...I feel terrible." And I did. The more I thought about it.
"She's playing on your emotions. It's obvious that you changed. And the love you have for Isabella is changing you more. I know you're scared of your little anger problem, but don't be a pushover!"
"Well I have no idea what to do, that's why I called you."
"I'll help. I won't tell mom or dad unless it's necessary. What's Isabella's best friend's name? I have a plan." She says. "I'm almost positive it will work."
"Angela...I can't remember her last name."
"That's alright. I'm going to call her at the studio. I hope she's there. I will stop by your apartment and you to tell you my plan later."
"Allie, no fighting." I say. I only call her Allie when I'm serious.
"Eddie, as much as I want to knock Tanya's Veneered teeth out, I'm not. Trust me on this. In the mean time, get some rest. I can see the dark circles around your eyes over the phone."
"You sound like mom." I laugh.
"And you sound as stressed as dad. Try to get some sleep ok?" I set my phone on the charger and head to my bedroom. I noticed when Isabella wasn't around, my apartment was even messier. Then I had a depressing thought: my life without her.
What kind of life could I have? I would probably fall into my old routine of one night stands...and that emptiness again. I would just work and sleep. I'd be single...and I didn't want that.
My bed was unmade and my clothes were on the floor. I sighed and threw my clothes down by the pile. I jumped into the bed and almost instantly fall asleep. By the time Alice comes over I'm somewhat rested but I'm starving.
"Let's get something eat..." I say grabbing my varsity jacket.
"OK get your umbrella its raining." she says. We head out and bump into Miss Maggie. She smiles at us.
"Edward? Would you take my trash to the compactor?" She says holding a trash bag.
"Sure Miss Maggie." I grab the bag.
"Who's this now? She looks like you. Could it be your sister?" She asks.
"Actually, I'm cuter than he is. I'm Alice." Alice says with a smile.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Miss Maggie." She smiles.
"Nice to meet you too" Alice answers. Miss Maggie watches us leave while her cat rubs against her leg. We leave out the building.
"Aww that old lady sounds like Granny!" Alice sings. "I bet she has tons of stories to tell."
"Maybe most of them about me and Isabella" I chuckle.
"What?"
"Nothing." I shrug. We head down the avenue and past the little shops and stores in my neighborhood. It's raining more often now. Personally, I rather this than all the snow we've had all winter. Rain means Spring is coming soon.
Then we stop in a little Spanish restaurant. I haven't been there in awhile, but I have a craving for some mofongo and bacalaitos. The waiter takes our order then heads to the back. Some song on the radio is playing that all the workers seem to know "Yo No Se Manaña" they all keep saying. If I'm my Spanish hasn't failed me, the song is pretty relevant.
"So here's the deal." Alice says drinking her water. "Angela is going to take her brother down to Isabella's school. She is going to pretend to be interested in enrolling him into dance class. But she's going to ask them questions about history of the school, who owns it etc etc."
"And this is gonna work?" I sip on my Corona.
"Yes it will. Tanya doesn't know Angela. It won't be able to get back to her." I smile at her.
"And if she did buy the lease?"
"It's called fundraising. If Tanya wants to close the school we'll give her a fight. Let's get the whole community involved. I'm sure I could get in touch with the directors at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. They won't let a dance close down so near to them."
"But then Isabella would find out if we did a fundraiser...it would be too much going on behind her back."
"Wait Isabella doesn't know yet?" Alice said with wide eyes.
"I didn't want her to worry...I-"
"You have to tell her what's going on!"
"I will...when she comes back." She raises her eyebrow. "I just have a feeling I have to wait til I see her to tell her everything."
"You better pray that this doesn't get out of hand."
"Trust me I will. Thank you for using your scheming powers for good."
"It's always for good Eddie. It's for love. You have to fight for love right?" I nod. "I'm not going to let that tramp get rid of my future sister-in law. You're not going to be a martyr."
"Allie" I grab her hand. "Thank you." She smiled at me. Then the waitress brings us the food and she eyes mine. She grabs her fork.
"Can I have a tiny taste?" She asks. How can I say no after what she's doing for me?
"Sure" I say.
Thanks thanks thanks to all my reviewers, private messagers, subscribers, favoriters(not a word but you know what i mean), and those who suggest me others! Thank you for supporting my story and reading it! i love your reviews so much :D Hmm seems like a plan is in the midst...will it work out though? Hmm. have a awesome week guys!