Just poppin' in. Dorian is still looming, but we're keeping our fingers and toes crossed.
3
The Hermit
It's been a little over a week since Bella left her new neighbor, Edward, a plate of housewarming muffins and, boy, does she regret it.
It starts with knocks on her front door and soft pleas, but those are easy to ignore. She just puts on her noise-canceling headphones and loses herself in whatever menial task she's doing at the time while listening to Pandora.
When Alice pops by to drop off fresh produce, she finds a flower attached to Bella's doorknob. Bella is able to deflect her questions by revealing the remaining muffins, which are very much appreciated.
One of her packages never arrives even though the tracking says it did. Bella decides to wait a few days before contacting someone about it. She hates talking on the phone but knows there are not enough muffins in the world to convince Alice to make the call for her.
She thinks Edward finally got the hint, but of course, nothing is ever that easy for her.
Bella is surprised when a slip of paper slides under the front door while she's vacuuming her living room. If she weren't facing in that direction, she would have missed it. When she looks through the peephole she finds it empty, so she picks up the note.
I'm holding your Amazon package hostage until you let me repay you for those amazing muffins. How does dinner sound? -Edward
Bella's hands start to sweat, the paper wrinkling as her fingers curl in on themselves.
She hasn't been asked out on a date in ages, if that's what he's insinuating. Hell, even if it's just a simple way to show his appreciation, she wouldn't be able to.
This isn't something she can handle.
She should probably call her sister.
Bella is so busy freaking out that she doesn't notice the second note sliding underneath the door until it brushes against her bare toes.
This note is less calculated and more hurried than the last.
I'm not really holding your package hostage! I brought it in because it was raining. Please don't call the cops on me. Mail fraud is not the way I want to go down. Not that I want to go down. Forget the invitation to dinner. I've embarrassed myself enough. Your package is on your doorstep. Sorry!
Bella can't help the nervous laugh that bubbles out of her.
She would never have thought to call the police on something as stupid as her neighbor stealing her package.
It's just a couple pairs of writing gloves she bought for her sister. Alice's birthday is coming up soon, and she's always complaining about how sweaty her hands get when she's at work. Her job requires her to be on the computer a lot.
Bella opens her door slowly, peeking out of the crack and sees the box exactly where he said it would be.
She reaches out, but a hand grabs her wrist before she can snatch it inside. With a surprised squeak, she immediately tries to recoil back to the safety of her home.
"Please talk to me," Edward says softly, releasing his hold. "Have I done something to offend you? I swear I didn't mean to burn the popcorn the other night. My new microwave spazzed, and before I knew it, the entire bag was in flames. I freaked out and threw the whole thing out the back door. I didn't think it would make the whole neighborhood reek until I was leaving for work the next morning. I've been meaning to take care of it."
Bella sets her package inside, takes a deep breath, and pokes her head out.
Behind the door, her hands subconsciously rub together, and goosebumps break out across her heated flesh.
"I know this is going to sound super cliche, but it's not you. It's me," she tells him, looking at the spot just above his head to avoid making eye contact. "I'm not worth the trouble or your time, so just consider me thanked and please don't hold my mail hostage again."
He opens his mouth to reply, but she's already back inside, sliding the door shut.
"I'm not giving up on you, Bella. I don't care what you say," he says through the hardwood she hides behind.
It's faint, but Bella can still hear his words.
She presses her clammy forehead against the door as a lone tear falls down her cheek followed by a few more.
She's frustrated.
He's a very handsome man and seems interested in getting to know her.
If she were 'normal', she'd be out on the stoop talking to him without worrying about doing or saying something wrong. Without the crippling paranoia over what he must be thinking of her. She'd accept his invitation to dinner and flirt without the constant wondering if it's all a trick or if he's just trying to mess with her.
Bella lost her faith that good people exist a long time ago.
Somehow, along the way, she lost her faith entirely.
Instead, Bella is stuck inside these four walls that make up her home. She talks to Alice, her sister's fiancé Jasper, and her psychiatrist, but that's it.
"You're too stuck inside your head," Zafrina tells her all the time.
"People are busy living their own lives, Bella. They don't have time to watch every single thing you do and judge you," Alice says as if it were that simple.
"We don't understand your issues. That's all," her mother explained as if that were a proper excuse, one they often use to avoid her before she put her foot down.
They don't understand.
No one does.
Bella tries to swallow the pain of the past and decides to call it an early night.
Nightmares plague her, keeping her awake, staring into the darkness and wishing that one day she'll wake up 'normal'.
till next time, XOXO Ashley
