Eight. The Attack
My shift had just ended before I decided to cover for someone for some extra cash. The infamous Judy came in for her shift, her signature cigarette dangling from her mouth. She had to leave thirty minutes later after getting a call from her husband that their son was in the hospital because he cut not one, but two of his fingers off.
When hearing about your only child being sent to the hospital, you would think her first reaction would be concern and distress. But this is Judy we are talking about. Instead, the older woman was absolutely fuming. I think I saw steam coming out of her ears as she snatches the apron that she just put on, back into the bin. I was getting my things from my locker, intending to leave for the evening.
"That idiot!" she protested as she flipped her phone closed. The cigarette still in her mouth, she lets out a puff of smoke in exasperation. "Now who the hell am I going to get to cover my shift."
I was zipping up my coat, then stopped midway. "I can cover for you."
Judy waved a hand. "Oh honey no. I can't let you do that. Besides, you look like you're ready to leave."
I shook my head. "Honestly, I can take your shift. I kind of need and want the extra money for these shoes I saw online."
After puffing some tobacco smoke in my face as she quickly moved to hug me, she rushed out of the diner. I took my jacket off and quickly called up dad to tell him the change in my plans for tonight. I texted my sister to tell her she could pick me up later.
The night shift wasn't too bad. It actually felt calmer and was a much more relaxed environment once it hit ten. But unfortunately this meant that more creeps would spring out of their shells at this time of night.
It was a group of boys— no men, who were sitting in a booth. They were out of town, passing by, they loudly proclaimed to me once I came up to their table. They seemed to have had a couple of drinks to start off their night, much to my annoyance.
"Any starters to start off your night?"
"I wouldn't mind starting with you," the man laughed obnoxiously loud at his stupid joke along with his friends who giggled along. I had to fight back the roll of my eyes.
"Aw sweetheart don't act like that. It's just a harmless joke."
The four obnoxious men did order something and I was grateful to finally leave their presence and to get some distance between them and I. I handed the written order to Stevie who told me that Judy just called and said she's on her way back to the diner. The doctors were able to stitch her son's fingers back onto his hand and he could return back home.
I would've told her to tell Judy that I could finish her shift, but the four men, especially the one guy, were really unnerving and it wasn't worth the extra money if I had to spend my time with them.
I returned back to their table with a tray of their food. I placed their orders in front of each of them and told them if they needed anything that I was a shout away. There were some teenagers at a table but they looked well off. I was currently the only waitress working as Brandon was on his break.
As I turned intending to walk away a calloused hand grabbed my wrist. It was the man who made the joke. The one sitting on the outside of the booth, closest to me.
"Say, what you doing after your shift?"
"Heading straight home." I said as I tugged my wrist out of his hand.
"How about spending the night out with me?"
"How about hell no. From the grays growing out of your beard and the hair not growing out of the top of your head, either you're in a midlife crisis or still living at home with mommy." His 'friends' laughed at him, teasing him. I couldn't stop the sly smirk appearing on my face at their reactions, egging me on.
"Besides, you should be more worried about applying for social security than trying to get with a teenage girl."
That cocky smile he had since he walked into the diner was now a deep frown as his friends dissolved into laughter at my retorts. His pale cheeks turned to an embarrassed light pink.
"Man, she owned you!" I heard one of them say as I finally could make my way behind the bar where Brandon was, looking towards the laughing group. He looked up to me with a raised brow.
"What's got them laughing so loud?"
"Just some little banter."
Judy returned about ten minutes later. I handed her my apron that she tied around her hips. She was still muttering to herself with narrowed eyes, but for a moment in between her mutterings, she thanked me for covering for her.
I walked out into the cool night. My jacket was zipped up to my neck as a cool breeze whipped my dark hair in the wind. I had my phone up to my ear calling my sister. She told me to meet her out back, but the rust bucket of a truck was nowhere to be seen and I was currently freezing my butt off as I tried to keep myself moving. For it to be the beginning of July, it sure didn't feel like it.
The phone just kept ringing until it went to her voicemail much to my frustration. I huffed in annoyance as I looked down at the phone.
"Well aren't you the comedian."
I whipped my head around at the voice and my eyes nearly rolled to the back of my head when I saw it was the annoying guy from the diner.
"Dude, get a life. Please I'm begging you."
"You think you are so fucking funny, don't you?"
"Yes, I think I do. Why don't you go ask your friends? They seemed to lap up my jokes."
I had a cheeky grin on my face that seemed to irritate the much older man even further. I turned away from him realizing this was a waste of my time. Where the hell is my sister?
I heard feet approaching behind me and I turned back around putting up a protective stance against the agitated man.
"You're really letting a little girl get into your head. Come on man!" I laughed out in disbelief. This guy was unbelievable. "Don't you have a family you need to get back too."
"You have so much fucking mouth!" He exclaimed now much louder than before, startling me. He looked unstable as his dark eyes seemed to be staring a hole through me.
My mouth seemed to put me in a weary situation. I was alone behind a diner with a crazy looking man and my sister was nowhere to be seen. I nearly groaned out loud when I realized I left my mace on my sister's dresser and was momentarily defenceless against a man who most likely out weighed me twice over.
Hopefully he wasn't sober enough for me to out run if needed be.
We were at standstill. Me staring warily up at him as he looked down at me breathing like a wild animal.
"Women like you need to know their place."
"For the one hundredth time tonight, I'm — Hey!"
Here I go running my mouth, trying to get the last word and not paying attention to this oversized man baby grabbing my wrist. His hand was a lot tighter then it was earlier. He was only able to grab one of my arms. At that moment I realized I wasn't strong enough to break free. So, the only thing I could think of doing was using my free arm, balling up my fist and it landing against the side of his face, hitting the side of his nose. A loud crack erupts from his face.
He immediately lets me go, shouting in pain and yelling out a round of curses.
"You fucking Bitch!"
I take this as my chance to turn and run away, but rule one of fighting someone off, never turn your back away from your opponent. I figured out quickly that no matter how tipsy he was earlier it seemed to have completely gone away as I felt a strong and large body tackle me to the ground, my face smashing onto the gravel rock floor. Dirt and whatever on the ground scraping my face.
He flipped me over as I attempted to escape, which was a waste of energy. My arms were locked by my side in between his legs.
"I think you broke my nose." Blood trickled down his nose. He attempted to touch his nose but flinched back in pain as tears filled his eyes. I was still trying to squirm away.
"You are going to pay for this."
And then quicker then I could comprehend he recoils the hand that wasn't clutching his nose and backhands my face. My head whips to the side from the quick and swift movement making me gasp out loud in pain.
"Do you know how much this is going to cost me!"
He brings back his arm again this time his fingers folded into a fist. I tried to move as much as possible hoping to unbalance him, but he was going absolutely nowhere. My eyes closed waiting for the impact, but it never came. I was expecting to open my eyes in the hospital or to a more unfortunate place. Instead my eyes opened to the man still above me and his fist still in the air ready to punch the lights out of me, but he looked frozen in place.
I then realized there was a hand gripping his fist.
He cries out in pain and anguish as his arm bends back into an unnatural position. And then he's sent flying back landing on his back. I rush to stand up getting back onto my feet. I try to exercise my jaw as it still stings and my cheek was red hot in pain.
"Do you have a fetish for hitting on small defensive little girls?"
My savior, to my surprise, was…
"Rosalie?"
I almost forgot her name since it's been a few weeks maybe even a month since I first met her and some of Edward's family.
Even in the dark night, the light coming from the exterior lights from the diner reflected against her wavy, wind blown blonde hair. Her eyes looked predatory down towards the shaken up man. She still looked amazing even though looks could kill.
She had a heeled boot to the chest of the man. Her heels digging down towards his heart as he just like me moments ago attempted to squirm away but was going nowhere.
"For being this big strong man, you are so very weak," she spoke with menace in her silky voice. "I could end you right—"
"Rose!"
Another voice sounded around the cold night. I turned to see a big burly man who I somehow wasn't able to hear, approaching the current situation. He looked like he took steroids like a daily vitamin. My eyes widened at his size and stature and made me wonder who the hell was he.
"What Em?" she forced out through gritted teeth.
He walks over to Rosalie then nudges her foot off the man's chest who lets out a sigh of relief and intake of fresh air as he rubs at his chest with his uninjured arm. The burly man lifts my attacker by the scruff of his shirt as if he was picking up a little kid. And then pushes him somewhat forcibly away indicating for him to take off.
"Go."
I watched the bloody nosed man run off in panic as Rosalie turned away in annoyance.
"Why the hell did you do that for?"
"You know exactly why?"
I don't know what that entailed or if it had a deeper meaning, but both their heads turn to me after a few moments of silence and realization seems to reflect on her model-esque face.
"You okay?"
I nodded appreciatively.
"Thanks for… that." I said pointing to the ground I was just laid back on.
She nods once.
"By the way, I'm Emmett," the burly man introduced himself. Ah so this is the other Cullen.
"Roni," I replied back.
"We should get you to see Carlisle," he insisted.
"I'm fine," I protested. "He didn't even hit me that hard."
"But you sure did a number on the side of his face," he joked smiling. "I think you broke his nose."
"She did," Rosalie said. "He was whining like a baby."
"You know," Emmett started. "You would be a great…"
Rosalie turned to him quickly. Assuming she wordlessly told him to shut up for whatever he was about to say.
"Uh, why don't we get you back home."
Just like Edward, Rosalie and Emmett had a really nice car. It was fast but silent as we drove through the dark night. Emmett asked if I took boxing and I told him no. He whistled and said I had a great hand, complementing my right hook.
When we arrived at Charlie's, I noticed the living room light on along with the one in my sister's bedroom. So she was awake. Rosalie and Emmett followed me to the front door. It opened before I could take a step up the porch. Charlie stood concerned, a deep set frown on his face once he noticed my face.
"What happened?"
"Some idiot attacked me," I proclaimed as I made my way into the house.
"What?!"
"It's alright dad. Rosalie and Emmett stopped it from anything seriously happening."
He turns to the two Cullens who were still standing outside the door.
"Thank you both," he said.
"It's no problem Chief Swan."
"Charlie is fine," he said.
"Charlie," Rosalie corrected. "He was mostly beaten down by the time we got there anyway."
"She broke his nose!" Emmett exclaimed excitedly.
"Really?" Charlie turned to me impressed. I shrugged.
"I wasn't going down that easily."
"We just wanted to make sure she got home safe," Rosalie said.
"Thank you both again. Tell Carlisle I said hello, aswell."
"We will," Rosalie said, then her eyes moved to me. "Goodnight Roni."
I waved a silent goodbye as I watched them walk down the steps and to their car. Charlie closes the door. He turns to me.
"You broke his nose?" he asks. I nodded. He smiles. "My girl."
When I walked into my sister's bedroom, I was intending to give her mouthful, but I came upon an empty bedroom. I turned back around and jumped back in shock, a hand on my chest. My sister was standing directly in front of me.
What the hell!"
"Language!" We both heard Charlie shout from downstairs making me roll my eyes.
"Where did you come from?"
"The bathroom… and what happened to your face?!"
She goes to put a hand to my cheek but I move my head back.
"This," I pointed to my sore cheek. "Is because somebody never showed up to pick me up like they said they would!"
She sighed, "I'm sorry. I completely forgot."
"Did you somehow lose your phone because you weren't even answering my calls," irritation laced my voice.
"I forgot to charge it so it was dead."
I stared, not convinced but I was too tired and my face was still beating in pain so I didn't have the energy to question her over my doubts. She seems to sense this.
"Go take a shower. I'll get you a pack of ice for your face."
I nodded in agreement over a hot shower. I know I looked like shit from the way Charlie and my sister glanced at my face. I hope that idiot didn't give me permanent scars on my face.
This is my money maker.
Third Person POV — Cullen House
Rosalie and Emmett enter the house. The Cullens were all standing awaiting their arrival.
"How is she?" Carlisle was the first to ask.
"A few scrapes on her face, but she'll be fine."
They all looked relieved.
"So it wasn't Victoria?" Edward asked.
Rosalie shook her head. "No, just some idiotic human."
"She broke his nose," Emmett couldn't help to keep to himself. "If only she was the one getting—"
A low growl emitted from Edward cutting off whatever Emmett was trying to entail. He raised his hands.
"Sorry, forgot how sore of a subject that is for you."
"Emmett." Carlisle warned.
"What? It's inevitable right? Bella wants it and Alice sees it eventually happening—"
"Not if I can stop it," Edward insisted.
"What a waste of a life," Rosalie mutters.
The golden eyed vampires stayed silent for a moment before Esme decided to speak up.
"Did she believe Bella?"
"Barely," Rosalie said. "But she's too exhausted to question her."
"Poor girl," Esme said, shaking her head.
"Your guys were right though," Emmett starts. "She smells amazing."
"I can still smell her on you," Jasper grits out. Alice noticeably puts a comforting arm around him.
"We tried to not get too close to her as you suggested, Alice."
"It's fine," Alice said. "Her scent is just so overpowering. I wouldn't be surprised if we have a few more uninvited guests come through wanting to find the source."
"And we'll all be on high alert," Carlisle said.
"Should we give a warning to those mutts?"
"Rose… and yes I'll make a call to warn them just in case."
Rosalie turns to Edward with a coy smirk on her face. "Still can't believe you allowed her to go up there."
"Like I said, I didn't even realize they were going there until it was too late."
He seemed to be pointedly looking at Alice and then seems to regret the suggestion that it was her fault.
"Alice I'm—"
"You know it's hard for me to see whenever it has something to do with those wolves. But even without them, it's hard for me to decipher Roni. It's almost like she knows. I could do it once, but now it's just blurry or black. I thought it was me, but I can see Bella and Charlie just fine."
This seemed to really affect the always optimistic girl as Jasper was the one now comforting her by putting an arm around her and whispering comforting words in her ear.
"And that's why you thought it was a vampire that was going to attack her," Edward reveals. She nods in response.
"She's only going to be here for the summer and then she's going back home," Carlisle said. He looks to Edward for confirmation in which he nods slightly.
"I kind of like her," Rosalie reveals causing Edward to roll his eyes. "She understands how precious life can be."
"Yeah she seems pretty cool," Emmett agrees. He turns to Jasper. "If you weren't trying to kill her, you would like her Jasp."
"Emmett!"
A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed. I decided to do a 3rd person POV and wondered if you guys liked it. Should I do more of those?
Until next time...