CHAPTER THREE
Since the rain seemed to never want to end, I spent my day inside looking out the window at the dark skies and fog. I wanted the chance to explore the campus since my first day was coming tomorrow but alas, I was left with thoughts of my father and his additional terms. What was I going to do? Get a job? I wasn't qualified for hardly anything. I may have been highly educated and spoke six languages fluently but what the hell would that do for me to earn enough money for food.
I saw Jasper pull two eggs out and fry them up. He toasted some bread and added an apple and the whole time I was calculating in my head what that would cost. It almost made me not want to eat. I needed to hold on to this food as long as possible if I was going to last. I was sure that was my father's intention. Expect a call from me in a couple of weeks begging to come home because I had run out of food and soap. SOAP! Does this mean I would have to begin rationing my shampoo as well? If I take a shower every other day, I wasn't going to hold favor with my fellow classmates if I smelled bad.
I starred out the window trying to figure out how much I would need to make in order to survive. Jasper placed the plate of food he made down in front of me.
"What's this for?" I asked softly.
"You look like you need to eat. I am not your servant. I am your friend and I'm sorry I wasn't more supportive of you yesterday when your father cut you off financially," he replied.
"I can't even eat this. I feel like I am on an island and I have to ration…everything now."
"Well, I think I speak for your parents as well, be sure not to ration the jumbo box of condoms you bought yesterday. I don't think your parents would be particularly pleased if you brought a certain souvenir home with you."
I laughed finally able to get my mind off the incredible mess in front of me. I picked up the fork and scooted my eggs around.
"What are we going to do, Jasper. You are absolutely correct in your assessment. No one will want to hire someone who has no experience. I don't want my father to win."
Jasper rolled his eyes. "We aren't going to starve. You will find a job. They are always hiring at the school and I'm sure that you will be just fine. It will be a good experience for you. This is the first time in your life where you get to kind of have a say in where you work. Just ask around."
I began eating breakfast. I needed the pep talk. The more I thought about it, the better I felt. Jasper was right, I could do this. This is a great experience for me to have. I could get a job!
I spent the rest of the day memorizing the map of the school since I would have no prior knowledge of the campus when I showed up the next day. I looked up my classes and marked them on the map. I was taking four classes and three of them were tomorrow.
My first was an Applied Business Statistics course at nine in the morning. My second was at eleven a.m., English and Literature focusing on American authors and like I had told Jasper I would be taking a Rhetoric course after lunch. I also had a Principals of Finance course on Tuesday's and Thursdays for two hours each day.
It wasn't until later in the day when I realized that I didn't have the money to pay for my books. I had spent all the cash I had. How was I going to explain to my teachers that I had no books until I could find a job and receive my first paycheck?
"I am so fucked!" I sighed.
"What's wrong now?" Jasper asked looking up from his computer.
I looked over to him and shook my head.
"How am I going to afford my books by tomorrow? Go out and strip for cash? I need those books by tomorrow. I was going to go by the book store today and I…"
"The bookstore?" Jasper asked eagerly.
"Yes, the place that houses all the books for the many courses the university offers."
"You want to go to the bookstore?"
I narrowed my eyes, "Well I can't go now? I have no way of paying for said books hence the exasperated I am so fucked moment I had only a moment ago."
And then it dawned on me.
"Jasper, how could I forget in my time of turmoil about your short friend who works at the bookstore. I am naïve to think that you would hold any concern for my problems."
Jasper stood up from his computer and walked over toward the couch.
"I might be willing to help you with your problem…if you would help me with mine."
I waited for him to continue.
"I…might have a little cash in my cases and I would be willing to lend you some if you help me with Alice."
"How much cash?" I asked shocked.
"None of your business. I didn't want to come here so it is not my responsibility to bankroll your endeavor. Friend or not, I don't want you to think of me as some piggy bank you can shake."
I huffed and folded my arms.
"Fine. Just help me with the books."
We braved the rain for the trip to the bookstore which was farther than the grocery store. It was beginning to dawn on me how ill-prepared I was for this trip. I knew it rained in Washington, but this wasn't what I had expected. I didn't have an umbrella packed for me. I should have thought about everything I would need a little more. I guess I thought that anything I didn't have, I could buy it once we got here. I will never be ill-prepared again. Life lesson. The one good thing I had was my raincoat and it seemed to be doing the trick but my pants were still soaked at my ankles which made it super uncomfortable.
"Finally," I said pulling at the door to the store.
We walked in and the warmth greeted us. I unzipped my coat and hung them on the post by the door. Jasper did the same.
The store seemed mysteriously quiet. I was wondering if Alice was absent. I hoped Jasper would still make good on his offer if she wasn't here.
"Where is everyone?" Jasper asked.
"I'm sure she's here," I replied. "HELLO?"
We walked towards the counter.
"HELLO?" I called out again.
"Would you please not yell? Some of us have hangovers here?"
Alice walked out from the storeroom looking like something had died in her.
"Oh, …it's just you guys again. What are you like… stalking me?" she asked.
"Have a hangover?" I asked.
"Obviously," She waved me off.
"You know my friend Jasper here has a wicked massage that he does on your head that works wonders if you would like him to help?"
Jasper looked at me wide-eyed. I wasn't lying. Whenever I would get hurt when we would do combat, he knew all the points on my body to push to help alleviate the pain.
"Jasper? That's an old name," Alice said looking over my friend once again.
Jasper swallowed and cleared his throat before replying.
"It's a family name, ma'am."
"Ma'am. I look that bad that you think of me as a ma'am?" Alice pulled a mirror out from behind the counter and began to look over her face. She began to pout and place some stray hairs back into place.
"Absolutely not. But from where I come, I just wish to show you the highest sign of respect. My apologies if I have offended you…my lady."
Jasper walked up and took Alice's hand and did a slight bow. Where the hell had my friend gone to? This was not the JasperWhitlock I had known.
"Wow…you're uh…super sweet." Alice blushed and put down the mirror. "So…about this massage?"
"Well, I have to get some books for classes tomorrow. I was hoping that maybe you could help me out," I interrupted the two who were staring at each other.
"Uh…the books are over there." Alice waved to the left and I sighed realizing that she would be of no help to me. I began to walk off when I saw Jasper walk behind Alice and placed his hands on her head and massage the various areas of her scalp.
I could hear groans all the way towards the back of the store. I saw an umbrella on my way and snatched one up. If I would have to endure the Alice and Jasper love fest, then the least Jasper could do was buy me an umbrella.
It took me over a half hour to find all the books I needed no thanks to the unfocused sales associate. By the time I had what I needed, I walked back to the front of the store to find Jasper and Alice missing.
"Jasper?" I called out.
I could hear some giggling come from the storeroom.
"Uh…HELLO!" I called louder. "I am ready to check out!"
Alice and Jasper fell through the curtain frazzled. Alice's hair was a complete mess and Jasper had pink lipstick all over his face. He begins to wipe self-consciously at his face, but it doesn't come off.
"Don't worry friend, you'll be getting a bath in a minute," I said looking back towards the outside which once again looked frightful.
"You're not going to walk home in this are you?" Alice asked.
"We've been getting along fine. Don't you worry." Jasper replied.
"No! It's bad out there and this is coming from someone who has lived in these parts all their life. I will drive you both home. Let me ring you up and I will grab my keys."
"But what about the store?" I asked.
"It's not a problem. With the weather being this bad, I doubt anyone else will come in today."
Alice rang up all my books and umbrella. Jasper thankfully was so focused on making moony eyes at Alice that he failed to see the charge for the umbrella. He just pulled out a wad of cash and handed it gently to Alice.
Alice drove a bright yellow Volkswagen bug. The car was as tiny as she was. I had a difficult time sitting in the back. I left it up to Jasper to give her some direction while I stared out the window trying to take in the surroundings.
"Alice, if it wouldn't be too much trouble. I was wondering if you could give me a quick campus tour from the car. I have to begin classes in the morning and I am a little worried about finding my way around since it has been raining so hard and I haven't had the pleasure of seeing the campus for myself."
"Sure!" She squealed. "You'll love it here! Everyone is super friendly and even though it may not feel like it now, you'll get used to the weather. When it clears, the whole forest feels more alive than ever. The smells are amazing. What's your major?"
"Business," I replied.
"What about you?" Jasper asked fascinated.
"Well, my mother wanted me to do something practical like business but I'm more of an artist. An artist with a focus on fashion."
"And what about your father?" I asked, "Is he okay with your future plans?"
"I can do no wrong in my father's eyes. I'm his little princess," she said.
Jasper laughed, "I'm sure Edward can relate…"
"Oh…are you your daddy's princess too?" She laughed along with Jasper.
"I'm going to just sit here and be quiet. Please feel free to mock me at my expense."
I sat back in the seat irritated with the new friendship unfolding a foot away from me. I hoped Jasper wouldn't confide in this girl of my true identity. He wouldn't do such a thing. I needed to be happy for my friend and not be so paranoid.
When we arrived back at the condominium, I thanked Alice and quickly made myself scarce while Jasper had a chance to make his move. I guess I should be a great friend and leave some condoms in her bathroom just in case. If I was interested in knowing more about Bella, it might just help me out if Jasper became close to her friend. We could double date. I shook my head for getting ahead of myself. I needed to focus on my studies more than some girl I just met. I grimaced. I was beginning to sound a little too much like my father.
Instead, I began to think of all the things I needed to do before the next morning. That was a much healthier use of my time. For one I needed to figure out how to iron my clothes. I still needed to prepare my book bag with all the necessities and make sure to get to sleep at a decent hour. Walking to campus in the morning would take about twenty minutes so I needed to be up early.
I was pulling the ironing board out from the closet when Jasper walked in.
"You know…I am starting to believe that maybe this little expedition of yours wasn't such a bad idea after all."
"Good," I replied. "You can help me iron my clothes as a gesture of gratitude."
Jasper scoffed and walked over. He set the table up and plugged in the iron.
"I guess that is the very least I could do."
Jasper began to iron the creases out of my shirt while I watched carefully. I knew the first one may be free, so I needed to learn for the time that was to come when I would be forced to do this myself.
"So…are you going to tell me how it went," I pressed.
Jasper got a silly little grin on his face and thought back to his time with Alice.
"She's…unlike any girl I have ever known."
"Finally rethinking your criticisms of American girls?" I asked.
"Alice is…strange. She can say so much and yet nothing at all and that kind of thing would turn me off and yet I find myself craving more. She could be in the middle of babbling about a two for one sale and then stop and stare into my eyes and it's like she has so much more to say but she gets lost in my eyes and then places one hand on my cheek and I fall."
"Wow! How the hell did you manage to find love in one short weekend? We haven't even been here a full week and already you are picturing a white wedding and church. What are you going to do when we have to go home?"
I hated to bring up the obvious, but it probably wasn't a good idea for either of us to become entangled in any serious relationships. As much as I thought about Bella even though I had yet to have a full conversation with the girl, it was probably best to keep my distance from her. I would need to return home in a few months and I couldn't go leaving a broken heart behind.
"I don't want to think about that right now," he whispered.
"Well, …you should. It wouldn't be fair for you to disappear in a few months and leave her crying to her friends of the man she thought loved her."
Jasper was obscenely quiet as he continued to iron my clothes. I walked over and began to gather up my books for my bag. Finding some paper and pens to include.
"I don't think I can go home with you." I heard his soft confession.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"You're not serious. Jasper, you've only known the girl for a couple of hours. You haven't even had sex with her and you are ready to just throw away your entire life?"
"Edward…what life? I never realized how much my life was missing until I met her. You expect me to go back to Caldonia for what? A silly two bedrooms flat and a couple of clients I teach combat to and security detail for his Highness's son on occasion?"
I took a step back.
"Of course, I forgot that I was just a job to you. My apologies."
I snatched my pants from the iron table and walked off to my room. It was a really shitty blow. Even my best friend felt like he was only so because he was paid to be. Nothing in my life was real or mine. It was all part of my family's position. In the end, even my friends came back to the crown.
I didn't see or speak to Jasper for the rest of the night. I decided to get a head start on that sleep I needed to be ready for the new day. It was a new day. Even if Jasper was merely a friend because my father paid him to be there, it didn't mean I couldn't make new genuine friends on the journey.
Jasper wasn't up the next morning when I went to leave, and it was all the better for me. I didn't want to have to deal with him just yet. Plus, I wanted to get my day started off good and not in some stupid fight. I grabbed a banana from the kitchen and stuck it in my bag. I knew I wouldn't necessarily have time to come all the way back home between classes so as I was walking towards school, I smacked myself internally for not having a better plan for some kind of lunch.
I arrived five minutes early to class and spoke to the professor of my late entry. He gave me a syllabus and told me I would need to play catch up. It was a very boring course, to say the least, but I knew it was vital when dealing with the principles of business.
The class held about fifty people in it and I kept watching the door as they strolled in and took their seats. I must admit I felt a bit overdressed. Most people showed up in sweatshirts and jeans. A few people even seemed to wear pajama bottoms. I know I shouldn't have been surprised but I never knew how relaxed the education system was in this country. In Caldonia, you had to wear uniforms even when seeking higher educations. Most of my fellow students had little cardboard cups of coffee with them from Starbucks. We had Starbucks in Caldonia, but they were few and far between. A couple of people looked at me perplexed. Maybe coming in two weeks late into the semester was not the best idea if I was trying to keep myself low-key.
"Hi," a red-headed woman began as she chose a seat right next to me. "You're new and cute."
I was taken aback by her forwardness.
"Uh…thank you? I just arrived on Friday."
"Oh my god! I love British men," she gushed grabbing onto my forearm.
"I'm not British although it's a common misconception since we were ruled by the British once, but we are no longer under their reign and haven't been so since the late seventeen hundreds," I corrected.
Her eyes seemed to glaze over, and she released her grip on me.
"Uh…whatever." The girl turned towards the front of the room as the professor began his lecture.
I felt a little perplexed at the girl's conversation. She went from hanging on me to acting like I had some sort of disease in under a minute. I had already learned everything from the lecture in the past, so my mind began to drift off thinking way too hard on the girl next to me. She wasn't my type at all but for some reason, I felt rejected and that caused me more concern. I had never been rejected before. Is this why Jasper was always so shy? I could imagine if this kept happening to me, I might become self-conscious as well.
The professor ended by stating that we would have a test on Friday and use the next session to go over everything up until that point.
"Excuse…" I began to say to the redhead, but she was up and out of her seat before I could even finish.
I was going to ask to borrow her notes, but she dashed out the door as if a demon were on her back. I had to admit I could feel my ego bruise slightly. I felt somewhat embarrassed and wondered how my day would continue if this was my first true encounter with my fellow classmates.
I walked towards the next building for my English course and pulled my sad banana out from my bag, I contemplate eating it but knew I would need to wait a little longer. It would be a very long day indeed if this was all I had until my last class was over and I could get home.
I went into the next classroom and found a seat. Once again, the students began to trickle in wearing their jeans and carrying their cups of coffee. I was hoping to make a better impression this time around, so I tried to sit up straight and prepare my face to look as casual as possible. Most people seemed to ignore me and then she walked in.
Bella.
The girl with the brown hair and brown eyes and she was far better than what my mind had replayed that weekend from our first brief encounter. I tried to think of some witty way to speak to her, but she looked a little stressed out. She was carrying four books in her arms and her book bag was dangling from her arm apparently empty.
She flopped down behind me and let off a frustrated sigh.
"Hello, I'm Edward," I turned around and introduced myself.
She looked me over and narrowed her eyes.
"Okay," she replied sounding irritated.
She took her book bag and started to dig through it emptying the contents onto the table.
"We…met the other night at the bar," I continued.
She looked up and sighed once again. She looked a little closer at me and then shook her head slightly.
"And?"
I was taken aback by her attitude. She may be beautiful but her personality was starting to worry me. Maybe she wasn't everything I thought.
"My apologies for bothering you," I said and turned back towards the front.
I heard her sigh again.
"I'm sorry. I…dropped my book bag in this huge puddle and of course, it has every note I've made since the beginning of the semester," She explained.
I turned back around to her and then I could see her eyes light up in recognition.
"The gay guys." She pointed her finger at me.
"NOT GAY remember?"
"Uh…right. Sorry. I was…tired that night and my roommate made me go to that stupid bar. I don't usually go to places like that."
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because I have a brain and don't feel like I need random drunken men groping me all night. The fraternities like to frequent that place and I find most frat boys are asses."
"Well, I'm sure not all men who are in a fraternity are asses."
"Like I said, MOST frat boys," She clarified.
"And like I explained to my friend who you met that night, he was scared that all American women were self-absorbed and sex-crazed and now he's dating Alice."
She looked taken aback.
"Alice? My Alice?" she questioned.
I nodded.
"Yes, my friend and your friend have hit it off and you and I are just sitting on the sidelines waiting for someone to come along."
I wanted to ask her out and tell her of my double dating idea.
"The sidelines? Where I like it best," She stated.
I didn't know what to make of that. Was she trying to tell me that she didn't date? How was that possible. She had to be about my age, which in any culture was prime dating age.
"You don't date?" I asked confounded by her implications.
"No. I don't like distractions."
"That is…crazy!"
It probably didn't sound right coming out of my mouth and by the look on her face, I was sure I misspoke. There was an awkward silence while she stuck her tongue in her teeth.
"Look… Edward, is it? You seem like a nice guy, but I'm not interested and even if I was, you're not my type. I don't really go for the rich playboys. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to prepare for the course."
She opened her notebook and pulled out a pen and began to write.
"That's okay. You're not my type either. I can't stand judgmental cranky snobs."
I turned back around and focused hard at the wipe off board.
"Snob?" She spits.
I folded my arms and pretended to not hear her. I felt a pointed finger jab me on the shoulder, so I slowly turned back to Bella.
"May I help you?" I asked condescendingly.
"I am not a snob. Just because I don't date or want to date someone like you, doesn't make me a snob."
"Someone like me? Just what is wrong with someone like me? I am dying to hear this from the great judgmental Bella."
She looks me up and down slowly with a smile in her eyes and scoffs before replying.
"You have perfect posture and your chin is slightly elevated which means tells me that you and your family are prominent. You're used to looking down on others. You are dressed impeccably. With a…Rolex on your wrist and a Montblanc pen in your fingers. Your book bag is leather with an engraved emblem upon it and you are a completely new student who arrived two weeks late into the semester which means that someone paid the school off heavily. How did I do?"
I felt embarrassed. In many ways she was right. I internally berated myself for wearing such an ostentatious watch and bringing a fancy fountain pen to class with me while most students used a two-dollar writing instrument. I didn't think I looked down on others, but she was completely correct about my family being prominent and paying the school off.
I felt my heart break and not because the girl I had been fantasying about just tore me apart but because she saw the very worst version of me. Was this how everyone saw me back in Caldonia?
"Once again, my apologies. Apparently, you can judge a book by its cover."
I turned back around slowly and pulled out my notepad to be ready for the session when it started. The professor began to go on about the author John Steinbeck but I couldn't think about anything she was saying. I kept going over Bella's harsh words and it upset me. Especially the part about me looking down on people. I didn't feel the comment was justified. Just because my family had wealth and power didn't mean that I believed myself to be better.
The class ended and before she could get away, I quickly turned back around and met Bella's eyes.
"I thought that you should know that what you said about me…maybe true but not everything you said is. You want to judge me because of wristwatch and pen then that shows me what kind of person you are. You don't know anything about me. You think I am so fancy. Wealthy. Well, let me enlighten you."
I took the banana from out my bag and slammed it on her desk.
"This is my breakfast…and lunch. You see, you'r*e right. My father paid off the school to get me in and then when I got here he told me that he is cutting me off. He was so upset that I would want anything for myself like education in the United States that I don't have any money for things like food or hygiene products. I have to find a job, at a place that is willing to hire a twenty-year-old man with no prior experience. I don't have the time nor the energy to look down on anyone because I am so busy worrying about how I'm going to eat and survive here, or my only resort is to let my father win and go home. My whole life is laid out for me and this was my only chance to be who I want to be, even if it is for a short time."
I sighed and grabbed my banana from off her desk.
"If you'll excuse me, I have to get to lunch."
I walked out of the classroom, off to find some place on campus that wouldn't depress me while I sat and ate my now bruised banana. I guess I shouldn't have slammed it into the desk. Wasn't the wisest choice.
"Edward," I heard Bella call from behind me.
I stopped walking but didn't turn back. She caught up with me still carrying all her books out from her bag.
"I know of a place you can get a meal."
I looked over to her wondering what she could be thinking. I could be stubborn and tell her no hoping to make her feel ashamed or swallow my pride and let her take me to this mystery place. I mulled it over.
"It just so happens…I know of a place where you can work if…you're not too choosey. It's not the most glamorous place but it would provide you enough m-/oney to stay here…if that is what you wish."
I nodded slowly. I watched her struggle with her books, so I reached out to take them. She pulled back a little from me.
"You said you could find me a meal and a job, carrying your books is the least I can do," I replied still holding my hands out as an offer.
She bit her lip and contemplated it.
I sighed exasperatedly. "I thought you were all progressive in the United States. Don't tell me that a man carrying a woman's books is a sign that we are going steady."
Bella rolled her eyes and thrust half the books into my awaiting arms.
"I'm very protective of my notes. Follow me," She ordered.
She took off in the opposite direction and I happily followed on after her. I wasn't sure if this would at the very least turn into a friendship, but I had hopes. It would be nice to finally have someone other than Jasper to talk to.
"Is there lead in your Calvin Klein's? Can you hurry it up? I don't fancy walking in this weather any longer than I have to." She snapped.
Maybe I shouldn't get my hopes up just yet.
AN: THANK YOU FOR READING AND REVIEWING.
*STORY IS MINE. CHARACTERS BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER.