AN: Big round of applause to my Beta Tharsika [Malaysianwriter1995
] for her much-needed encouragement and eye for detail. Take a bow :D
Hope you guys enjoy. I don't know if I'll update this story or my other one next. Let me know which you prefer, kay?
Cheers
Kellie xox
OH, and reviews make me smile :D *hint hint*
"Emmett?" my voice was dead and emotionless, rendered that way from confusion and annoyance at the way the bronze-haired-wonder was smirking at us while he strode arrogantly towards us "How do you even know who this is?"
"Alice said something about a bronze haired git being the one who broke the news initially" Emmett growled so low I'm sure only I heard him, and barely at that "And judging by that arrogant smirk that the guy's sporting, which I'll wipe off very soon, I'd say that the bronze haired git is heading right for us"
"Well" he spoke with an air of confidence I found myself beginning to loath whole heartedly "If it isn't my friends from the scrap yard"
"What happened to junkyard, ass hole?" I almost gasped at Alice's casual use of bad language, which she generally reserved exclusively for times where Jasper or Emmett stepped out of line. The ass hole gave a toothy grin. His white teeth almost gave me sun glare.
"Same difference yeah?" His hands were buried deep in his black pants. I noted how business like he was dressed with the plain white shirt and a blue tie. The only thing that didn't seem business-like was his sunglasses, the same ones he's worn before. He looked like he'd just come from an important interview. Or maybe… a meeting-
"Why are you here?" My tongue had formed the words and asked the question before I was even aware that I wanted to know. Ass hole didn't reply straight away. With a precise, dragged out motion, he reached up and removed his glasses. His eyes were closed and he smiled to himself, rubbing them with his free. He tilted his face down towards the ground and chuckled.
"You don't know who I am, do you?" None of us spoke. Well, except for Alice.
"I do" We all glanced quizzically at her and were greeted by a smirk mirroring ass hole's previous one "You're the guy who'd car I scratched this morning. I thought that Volvo looked familiar. Too bad, I was actually feeling a little bad about it earlier, but now that I know who it belongs to-" I heard Jasper and Emmett chuckle despite themselves. We all knew Alice lying. Apparently ass hole knew that too because his smile didn't falter.
"My, what a sense of humour the people around here have!" he looked up from the ground and opened his eyes. Two startlingly green irises were revealed. I'd never seen eyes that green before. Ever. "Now, shall I introduce myself properly? I am Edward Cullen" his hand extended towards us but none of us shook it. Because now we all hated him even more than before, if that was even possible.
"You!" Emmett hissed "You're the one who bought the-"
"Junkyard? No my friend" Edward lowered his hand, unfazed by our refusal to shake it "I'm afraid that business was taken care of by my father. However, it is now under my name so I guess the property does belong to me technically"
"So you're going to bulldoze it now?" I spat with venom. Edward was once again unfazed by this. In fact, he seemed quite amused. He took a step towards me, making direct eye contact. Emmett gripped my arm protectively from beside me.
"You are very interesting" Edward commented airily "Who exactly are you anyway?"
"None of your business, that's who!" Edward laughed at Emmett's retaliation.
"Oh, how original. The boyfriend is speaking up for her" his eyes twinkled mockingly at me and he added "What's wrong? Can't you hold up your own?" Angrily, I wrenched away from Emmett's grip and stepped forward to poke Edward in the chest. Hard.
"My name is Bella swan and I can too hold up my own!" I poked his chest again "And you didn't answer the question before. Why are you here?"
"Well I had to go approve the development plans for the new Day Spa with the council After all, it's only fair, considering where the property is located, that they have a chance to approve the plans"
"You make me sick" I spat at him. I turned away and began storming down the stairs. I imagined that the others trailed behind me, glaring back at Edwards the whole way down.
"Why thank you Isabella!" Edwards called to me tauntingly. I froze at the bottom of the stairs and whirled around. Making a rude gesture with my finger I replied.
"It's Bella,Cullen! And screw you! You haven't heard the end of this, I promise you that!"
"Alice, I'm not sure this is going to work" Even I was agreeing with Jasper as Alice hammered a sign into the dried up ground of the park. Something had inspired her to make up heaps of protest signs and to plant them all around the property. But as Jasper and I agreed and tried to tell her, it was not property of the Cullen's and we weren't really allowed to do it.
"Oh shut up Bella! You're starting to sound like Jasper" She jerked her thumb over her shoulder in Jasper's direction, where he was grudgingly supporting a sign while Emmett was hammering it in.
"At least she's thinking logically" he muttered. If Alice heard him, which I reckon she did, she didn't acknowledge it.
"At least we're doing something" Alice met my gaze and sighed "I mean, if we get in trouble then we get in trouble, but they can't say we didn't stand up for ourselves"
"I personally would rather not get into trouble with the cops, given Emmett's outstanding history with them" Jasper called out before yelping with pain from being hit on thumb by Emmett's mallet.
"Nice man" Emmett chuckled, watching Jasper suck his thumb and glare at him "Well done. Seriously, you should be a comedian because that shit is just so funny!"
"I'm serious though guys" I spoke up "I really want this development to not go ahead, but I think we're going about it the wrong way. I mean, I don't think signs are going to do anything-"
"What's wrong with my signs?" Alice whirled around on me, hands on hips and eyes narrowed into slits. I held up my hands, palms forward and backtracked.
"Nothing, Alice! They're um, beautiful signs! It's just that signs don't really seem like the sort of thing that's going to get through to the Cullens"
"But the public will see them" Emmett reasoned, coming over to join me and Alice "And that will help won't it?"
"In a way" Jasper mumbled with his thumb still in his mouth "But the one's we really need to convince are the Cullens themselves"
"Oh" Alice visibly deflated and her disappointed appearance was enough to coax Jasper into rushing forward and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He wiped his thumb on his trousers.
"There's still hope Alice" he insisted "There is! We just need to think about it"
"I suppose" Alice replied quietly, glancing around at the signs she'd been making since our confrontation with Edward yesterday. I glanced at my watch and sighed.
"Guys, sorry I've gotta bail. I have to be at work in half an hour"
"Oh. Did you want me to drive you there?" Jasper asked. I shook my head and smiled half-heartedly.
"Nah. You stay here. Besides, that would give Lauren an excuse to try and corner you again" His face paled in front of me as the words were spoken. "I'll just see you at home ok, Jasper? See you guys"
"See ya Bells" Emmett called.
'Bye Bella" Alice's sad little goodbye. I turned and began walking home to get changed for work. I was going straight from one hell into another. Oh well. At least I was getting paid to put up with this one.
Ok, let me set the record straight. I actually love my job. I do. That's why I still have it. I work at the local art gallery, helping to sell local artworks while helping with the organising of exhibits and tours around the gallery. I'd gotten a job there because I painted canvases at home, and had the intention of selling some in the future. I figured working at an art gallery was a pretty good way to secure the possibility of getting a spot in one of the exhibits one day. But the reason work was another form of Hell for me was that I worked with two of the most unbearable human beings you can ever imagine.
Lauren Mallory was the first. Lauren was the main tour guide of the vast gallery and she was a year older than me. She was slim, blonde and beautiful, and I hate to say it but deep down she was actually quite smart. But she used her gifts for evil, flirting with new artists in hope of scoring one that would get super famous, before dumping them after realising that their work wasn't on the best seller list. Lauren also made sure to remind me constantly that she didn't like me. Sure, she was always sweet in front of our boss, but when she left Lauren would order me around during her tours, or when I was leading a tour she would 'correct' my mistakes as I explained each artwork to the visitors, even though Lauren always made up crap about the painting so she could sell more than me or Jessica. She was competitive that way. I really didn't like her.
Jessica Stanley is more bearable, but still pretty bad. I didn't hate her but I really didn't like her either. Jessica was the same age as me and had the same sort of job, but she obviously had next to no interest in the artworks at this gallery. When visitors asked questions she'd be like "I don't know. Jeez, just buy the damn painting already" then she'd pop her pink gum bubble and roll her eyes. And she'd talk non stop about the cute guys she'd either met that weekend or during a tour, not caring if I wanted to hear it or not.
Let's put it this way, the highlight of my day was not coming to the gallery to work with these people.
"Bella! A word?" My boss, Mrs. Gogh beckoned me with her finger the second I walked through the door. I hurried over to the reception desk where she stood, smoothing out the creases in my skirt as I did so. I hadn't had time to iron the creases out of my skirt because I didn't expect there to be any. But someone [probably Jasper] had left them scrunched up in the basket of clean washing after getting them our of the dryer. I hoped Mrs. Gogh didn't notice. She was a pretty good boss, but she was very particular about uniform standards. She was constantly calling Lauren up on having her shirt to short and her shirt too tight. Not that Lauren ever listened though.
"Yes, Mrs. Gogh?" She sat down upon the black computer chair and crossed her legs. Her hair fell in black curls down over her shoulders as she leant forwards, hands clasped in her lap excitedly.
"Now I'm telling you this in confidence, Bella. Do you understand that?" I said I did "Good. Now we have a particular visitor coming later this evening. Well, we actually have a couple. They want to see the exhibit and possibly buy a couple of pieces. These are big clients Bella. Tons of money to offer. I want you to show them around the exhibits" I gapped at her. Mrs. Gogh was grinning like a teenage girl. She looked so much younger when she grinned. It made her look even more beautiful than usual.
"Are you serious?" I whispered uncertainly "Me?"
"Yes Bella" Mrs. Gogh's eyes flickered in the direction of Jessica who stood leaning against the wall beside one of the paintings, popping her gum while she checked her watch to see if her shift was over yet. Lauren wasn't on shift at the moment obviously because I heard no sickening giggles. Mrs. Gogh continued "Now I don't like to play favourites Bella, but I very much want to sell this family a couple of pieces, and between you and me, Jessica and Lauren aren't really – um, up to that kind of persuasion yet"
"Lauren sold two paintings last night in an hour" I reminded her grudgingly. I felt it was only fair to tell the truth. As much as I hated to admit it, Lauren was best at selling the works, because she used herself as advertisement. Whereas I can't, and wouldn't, do that.
"Yes, but these people wouldn't respond to Lauren like that" Mrs. Gogh sat up straight and took her glasses out of her pocket, sitting them lightly on the bridge of her nose "These are very intelligent people Bella. Very civilised and cultured. Oxford College sort of cultured". Having known how highly Mrs. Gogh thought of Oxford College [Britain], I assumed she meant that these people were very high class.
"Have you met them then?" I asked, keeping my voice hushed now, both in excitement and in attempt to make sure Jessica didn't overhear, since she was now glancing at us with suspicion and curiosity.
"I've met one of them, yes" Mrs. Gogh confirmed. She adjusted her glasses "Very nice man. Well mannered. Big art lover" she winked at me "wants something original though. No knock offs. I guess that's no problem seeing as this gallery only holds work from local artists"
"I suppose so"
"Speaking of which, Bella" Mrs. Gogh leant towards me again, clasping her hands once more "When am I going to see these artworks I've heard so much about, hmm?"
"A-artworks?" I stammered. I was confused. Sure, I'd planned on asking her one day to exhibit my paintings, but thus far I'd never even mentioned that actually painted, never mind had finished artworks!
"Yes, artworks Bella. Artworks!" Mrs. Gogh smiled up at me "Your brother speaks very fondly of them. Tell me, why have I not heard about them before?"
"I-" I stuttered "I – they're not that good" Oh, great Bella! Why don't you just kiss a future exhibit goodbye here and now!?!
"From what I hear, they're pretty damn good. You must show them to me some time" Mrs. Gogh sat back again and then stood up "Perhaps we can then talk about exhibiting some here in the gallery"
"I- I don't know, Mrs. Gogh" Shut up Bella! You're ruining everything!!!
"Another time then. So the clients will be arriving around 6:30 tonight. I'm guessing that the whole thing will probably run until around 8. Is that suitable for you?" I nodded. "Oh good. I suppose I should send you home then Bella so you can have dinner first. Just be back for around 6 so I can be sure everything is ready" I nodded again.
"Ok. Thankyou Mrs. Gogh" I turned and began to make an exit, but Mrs. Gogh's call stopped me after a few feet.
"And Bella?"
"Yes, Mrs. Gogh?"
"Maybe an ironed uniform would be best, yes?"
When I opened the front door of my house and stepped into the living room, I was greeted by a shriek. I jumped about a foot in the air, my heart pumping wildly.
"Oh, Bella!" Alice yelled "You scared the hell out of me!"
"You scared the hell out of me!" I snapped out of embarrassment. I could feel my cheeks flaming. I took in the scene before me. Alice was sitting on the farthest end of the black couch, directly opposite Jasper, whose hair was sticking up in all directions. My eyebrows shot up when I noticed how ruffed up Alice's clothes were and how swollen her lips appeared. I grinned in the doorway and folded my arms over my chest. "Having fun are we?" I asked smugly.
"What do you mean?" Alice replied innocently. Jasper said nothing. He kept his back to me and his gaze fixed in Alice's direction. I chuckled inwardly. Maybe they were like a regular couple – make out sessions and all. They just haven't gone public yet.
"Do you often make out with my best friend while I'm at work Jasper?" I asked. I began walking behind the couch, on my way to the kitchen to get something for dinner "Or is this just something that you do every now and then?" Neither responded to my teasing and I felt smug and I went into the kitchen, out of their line of sight. I began cooking spaghetti Bolognese, a quick easy dinner. Alice came into the kitchen half-way through the process. I stirred the pasta and glanced at her. She sat at the counter, grinning sheepishly down at the bench top.
"You're not mad are you Bella?" She asked with a trace of a giggle "That I didn't tell you, I mean"
"Mad?" I scoffed "Of course not. I'm kind of glad actually. I don't really want to hear all the gory details about you pashing my brother" I chose this moment to look at her and was rewarded by a deep blush, something that almost never happened with Alice since she had such good confidence.
"I am sorry I didn't tell you though" she insisted to the counter top "I wanted you to know. I just didn't know how to say it"
"Oh, we all knew anyway, Alice' I assured her as I mixed the now cooked pasta with the sauce, stirring it quickly. I felt really hungry at the moment.
"You did?" Alice gasped, sitting up straight "But how"
"You weren't exactly hiding it, Alice" I gave her a look that told her it was ok and that I didn't care. She smiled at me.
"I'm glad you're not mad Bella" suddenly she was eying my Bolognese "Wow. That smells good"
"It does, doesn't it?" I teased, spooning it into a bowl and grabbing a fork "It smells wonderful"
"Yeah" she watched as I shovelled a bit into my mouth. I swallowed and smiling knowingly at her "There's still some in the pot. If you want-"
"Oh God!" Before I could finish my sentence, Alice was spooning some into a bowl she'd produced it seemed from thin air and grabbing a fork. She began to eat like she hadn't eaten for years. But I knew better. She just loved the food at our house. Because he parents were vegetarian and she hated the food they provided her with. Thus, she spent most of her time with me, eating my dinners.
"This is so good" She groaned with a mouthful of pasta "Real food. At long last" I chuckled and we continued to eat in silence. Jasper joined us shortly after and had the leftover Bolognese from the pot. It was like I'd never discovered their not so well kept secret. And for a moment, I forgot about the park and all my troubles and just focused on being with the people I loved for a while. It felt good.
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