Chapter 3: Breakfast

Bella

Edward and I had talked for hours Thursday and Friday night. He was easy to talk with, banter with. Not once did I bring up my past. To tell anyone would be to scare them off. I needed a friend, not a boyfriend. Not that I couldn't see myself dating him.

Standing in front of my closet, I agonized over what to wear. I was pathetic. I glared in my closet with my hands on my hips. Nothing screamed Wear Me. Breakfast with Edward.

Why did I agree to meet up with him for breakfast?'

With a groan, I dressed in a pair of jeans and a soft, blue sweater and left my bedroom. I didn't care what I looked like. Well, I did, and I always looked nice. I just wasn't going to fix my face or hair like it was a real date. It was only two people getting together for a meal and it was hopefully Dutch treat. Separate checks. Nice and simple. No agenda. No date.

Walking outside I found it was blustery out and I shivered, having left my jacket in the car when I returned from the base yesterday.

~ Black Cat ~

The diner was a red building with windows lining the wall near the parking lot and entrance. The all-seasons dining room was a bank of windows. The roof rustic painted slate gray with metal peeking through before it continued down. Two pay-here newspaper machines and wire rack for free newsletters were on the porch along with a bench. The bench had craved eagle heads in the center and the seat was painted with the America Flag and soaring eagle – very patriotic.

A bell rang when I entered, causing heads to turn. Some eyes narrowed taking me in while others went back to eating and their conversations. I was a stranger, but no one said anything... minding their own business. I liked that.

The inside paid homage to the communities' fishing and lumber trades, and the Native American tribe in the area. There were murals painted on some of the walls depicting the different aspects of nature. Saw blades hung on the wall with nature scenes on them and one with the specials written on it. The place had a homey, down-to-earth vibe to it.

Edward was sitting along the wall at a table for two, playing with his phone. Menus were on either side of the table. A smile split my face as I started moving toward him only to be stopped by a somewhat familiar face.

"Bella?" the lady said in question.

"Yes, and you are?" I felt at a loss. She knew my name, but I couldn't place a name to the face or voice.

"Angela," she replied. "Angela Webber, well Chaney now."

My eyes widened. How in the world had I forgotten my best friend? We kept in touch, but life has a way of interfering, so I hadn't seen her in a while. I gave her a big hug.

Angela hadn't changed that much but gone were the geeky glasses many had teased her about. Her hair, which had once reached the middle of her back, was brushing her shoulders. I didn't pay heed to her outfit all that much, though I did notice it was a far cry from what she used to wear.

Edward at some point looked over at us. A wide grin appeared on his face when my eyes connected with his. He motioned for me to join him.

I pulled a card out of my purse and handed it to Angela. "Call me later," I said. "I'm late for a breakfast date." I lowered my voice a lot on the word "date." I wasn't sure if it was classified as an official date since Edward hadn't picked me up.

Angela eyed me and then followed my gaze. "Edward wouldn't hurt you," she whispered. "He's sweet." Raising her voice, she went on, "I'll call you." Turning, "Edward, you hurt Bella, you'll have me to deal with."

"Like I could ever hurt someone, Ang. It's always been the opposite."

There must be a story there. Maybe, one day, he'll share it with me. I have some stories I could sure tell.

Edward

As Bella approached the table, I stood, moved around the table, and held out a chair for her. She leaned into me, kissing my right cheek.

"Thank you," she whispered before sitting.

"You're welcome." I moved back around the table and sat in the chair across from her. "Breakfast is my treat. Order whatever you like," I remarked, indicating the menu.

She tucked her hair behind her ear before she picked out the menu.

'You're beautiful,' I thought. The past me would have said it aloud, but I promised myself I would take things slow. Bella fascinated me. No one else drew me in as she did, and it scared me.

Bella glanced at me from over the menu, a curious gleam in her eyes. She said nothing as her eyes moved back to the menu, but I saw the rosy hue of her cheeks. The pinkish tinge made her even more beautiful.

After the waitress had taken our order, I didn't know what to say. Our banter at Thriftway and over the phone was playful, easy. Being face-to-face again had me sweating bullets. I had talked to Bella the previous two evenings about her day and she asked me about mine. We had even talked about my upcoming business trip to Italy in a few weeks. I was surprised when she told me about two off-the-beaten-path restaurants I should check out if I had the time.

"What was Angela implying by her comment about you hurting me?" Bella asked.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "How do you know her?" I asked, opening my eyes.

The waitress had returned with our drinks and told us it wouldn't be much longer for our meals.

Bella took a sip of her juice before answering. "Angela and I have been best friends since kindergarten. My dad got transferred and we moved away. She and I stayed in touch. How do you know her?"

"My family and I moved here when I was sixteen, right before the school year began. She was assigned as my peer buddy." I shrugged as if it was no big deal. Not ready to answer her question, I asked, "Who got you interested in joining Star Command?"

"My father did. More or less. Although, the idea of me becoming a security officer didn't sit well with him for a long time."

"Where did he see you?"

"In communications or engineering." She quirked her eyebrow. "Are you avoiding my question?"

Observant. I liked that.

"Not exactly." I motioned with my head those sitting close to us.

She gave me a side-long look.

Leaning toward her, I whispered, "There are a lot of people in town who are not interested in my side of the story."

Bella reached across the table and placed her right hand atop my left. "Then they are fools." She paused a moment. "Doesn't Angela know both sides?"

I flipped my hand over, taking hold and caressing the back of her hand. "She's the only one besides my family that does. I'll tell you, but not here."

Bella's smile was understanding. I was glad for it and I sensed there something more to it like she might have a similar story.

She and I chit-chatted about inconsequential things as we ate. One story I shared about my childhood high jinks had Bella laughing so hard tears were rolling down her face.

"Why were you trying to hide the pony?" she asked through her laughter.

"Dad wouldn't let me have one. My thinking was if he didn't know I had a pony, I could have a pony. The attic seemed like a good hiding place." I chuckled. "Had it not been for the stench of manure, he would have never found out."

Bella went into further hysterics. "How… how…" she started but couldn't get it out. She took a deep breath and let it out. "How old were you?'

"I was five," I replied. "What did I know? I hadn't made the connection between eating and going to the bathroom."

She shook her head. "Your parents would have eventually found out."

"I know that now. It was a hard lesson to learn back then," I said, placing cash on the bill without looking at it.

Bella glanced at the check as we stood to leave but said nothing. I had a feeling she didn't like the fact I paid. I liked that. My mother was going to love Bella if they ever meet.