Love Story- Chapter Four

The next couple of days passed without incident. Though I had initially been hurt by the cold reception I had received from Alice's siblings, I had done my best to push the feelings aside after several reassurances that I had done nothing wrong. Besides, I had a strong feeling that I had I truly offended her family with my presence, Alice wouldn't currently be sitting in my living room, keeping me company I suffered through page after page of wanted ads.

"This is ridiculous," I groaned. "I should have known better than to think Forks could be the answer to my problems. I can't even find a job, for crying out loud!"

"Oh, is that what you're looking for?" I tossed her a bored look, which earned a quiet giggle. "You should have said something earlier. I could have saved you hours of trouble."

"And how, exactly, would you have done that?"

"It's not exactly a secret that I don't share a passion for art with Esme. But as the younger sister, it was my duty to help out in the gallery because Rose was too busy looking in the mirror, or whatever she does all day long." I couldn't even pretend to stifle a giggle at that one. "But anyway, I had mentioned to Esme that after you got situated here with Charlie, you were probably going to be looking for a job, and suggested that perhaps you take my place."

"Alice, I couldn't possibly–"

"Trust me," she said, raising her pale hand to cut me off, "you'd be doing me a favor. It's not like we're that busy or anything, but I seriously don't know the first thing about the medium used or any of those other questions that you art geeks ask. Besides, Esme would love to have you. She thinks your absolutely wonderful. What's that saying again? The best thing since sliced cheese?"

I stifled a laugh. "Bread. Best thing since sliced bread."

"Same thing," she said with a casual shrug, ripping the newspaper from my hands. "So see? Job hunt over. Problem solved."

"You're the best, Alice."

"I knew you'd say that."

xoxoxoxox

As I stared into the mirror in the tiny bathroom, I cursed my decision to ignore all of Renee's attempts at teaching me the art of applying make up. My hair hung limply around my shoulders, my face plain as usual. No wonder I had failed to make an impression on the Cullen siblings. With a resigned sigh, I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and swept my make up supplies back into my bag. I would have to get Alice to teach me at some point, but today was not the day.

I had spoken to Esme on the phone the previous afternoon, after my conversation with Alice. She had assured me that casual attire was fine, but as I glanced at my reflection once more, I couldn't help but find my look to be severely lacking something. I had decided on a pair of nice black pants with a blue blouse. It was definitely professional, but rather boring. Just like you, I thought to myself with a disgusted sigh. I shook my head before I gathered up the rest of my things and headed out of the bathroom.

After I got my toiletries put away in my bedroom, I checked the time and headed downstairs, deciding I had time for a quick bowl of cereal before I headed out. I had just poured the milk in my bowl when the telephone rang.

"Hello?"

"I'm glad I caught you before you left."

"Alice?"

"Of course. Who else would it be, you silly girl? Anyway, listen, I just wanted to wish you luck today! Not that you'll need it! Everything's going to go wonderfully!"

"Er… thanks Alice."

"Also, I did call to offer up a bit of warning."

Uh-oh. "A warning?"

"Don't get your leggings all in a bunch. Is that how the saying goes?"

"Panties."

"I'm sorry?"

"Don't get your panties in a bunch. That's the saying."

"Right. Anyway, the others have a habit of stopping by the gallery. I thought I should give you a heads up. I'm fairly certain you won't see much, if any, of Rosalie. But it'll be much better than the other night," she promised.

"Are you positive?"

"One of these days, Bella, you'll learn to trust what I say."

"I'll take your word for it," I responded skeptically.

"You'll see. Everything's going to be wonderful."

xoxoxoxox

I pulled into the gravel parking lot in front of the gallery, and I couldn't help but smile at the silver Volvo parked near the door. Alice had warned me that the others may stop by, but she hadn't said anything at all about her showing up as well.

I climbed out of the cab of the truck, and immediately pulled the jacket I'd worn around my body, shivering slightly. I didn't think I'd ever get used to the chilly Forks weather. I grabbed my bag out of the truck and then closed the door before I headed across the parking lot.

Once I opened the door, I was immediately greeted by the familiar scent of incense. I found Esme waiting for me behind the counter, a warm smile lighting her lovely face. "Welcome, darling."

"I can't thank you enough for this."

"You're doing my Alice a wonderful favor," she said with a sweet laugh. "Truthfully, I'm glad to have someone around who can appreciate all of this," she said, gesturing to the surrounding pieces of art. "Now, allow me to help you get familiar with things."

With a nod, I fell into step behind her as she made her way into the back room. "Also dear, please feel free to bring things in to help you pass the time. I'm afraid we aren't terribly busy yet, as we just opened up this gallery a few months ago. Because of that, it gets rather boring at times. We also have a computer back here that you're more than welcome to use."

"That's very kind of you, thank you."

She pushed the door open, and immediately, I froze. I had been expecting Alice, due to the fact that her vehicle had been parked out front. I had not been expecting the coppery haired Greek God that stood before me.

The last time I had seen him, he had acted as if I was nothing more than an insignificant blip on his radar. Today, however, when he turned his topaz colored eyes on me, he allowed a crooked grin to form on his lips, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe. "It's nice to see you again, Bella."

"Hello again Edward," I managed, once I remembered that air was a necessity for my lungs. My heart was pounding in my chest.

"Edward?" I jumped at the sound of the voice. Apparently, not only had my lungs stopped working, but my brain had as well. I completely forgot there was a third party in the room.

"Yes, mother?"

"Would you be so kind as to get Bella acquainted with the computer system for receiving new paintings?"

"Of course," he responded, his voice as smooth as velvet.

"Wonderful. I'll be right out front if you need anything."

I watched as Esme retreated, pulling the door closed behind her. I felt a blush creep up onto my cheeks at the thought of being left alone with him and I cursed myself mentally. I looked up and jumped at just how close Edward was. I hadn't realized he had moved. "Jesus!"

A soft chuckle escaped his lips. "I'm sorry. Did I frighten you?" I made the mistake of looking up into his eyes.

They were much lighter than they had been the other night, and the circles under his eyes were nowhere near as dark as they had been on Friday night. He was, if it was possible, even more beautiful than I remembered. You're being stupid, Bella, I chided myself internally. You couldn't even hold Jacob's attention. There's no way you would ever–

"Bella?"

Shoot. "I'm sorry. What was the question?"

"I asked if I had frightened you," he repeated, his sweet breath blowing gently in my face. Wow, he's even closer than I realized.

"N-no," I responded with a slight shake of my head.

"Good," he said, the smile having returned to his face. "I owe you an apology. I wasn't very pleasant on Friday night. I realized after the fact that I was incredibly rude. That's why I'm here, you see. When Alice informed me you would be taking her place, I knew I had to come and set things straight."

I wasn't sure what to say. He had come to see me? I felt my heart rate speed up once more, my cheeks turning an even deeper red. I hated the fact that I was so easily embarrassed. It was incredibly inconvenient.

"Do you think you would be able to forgive me? I can understand if you need time to think on it."

"No! No, of course not!"

His eyebrows knitted in confusion. "I'm afraid I don't understand? No, you can't forgive me, or…?" He trailed off and I cursed myself once more.

"No, I mean I don't need time to think on it! Consider it forgotten."

There was that glorious smile again. If he kept this up, I was sure I'd go into heart failure. "Wonderful," he said. "Then perhaps we should get to work?"

xoxoxoxox

Alice had promised me first thing this morning that everything would go wonderfully for me today, and I had not been disappointed, I decided as I drove home after completing my first shift at the gallery. I could tell immediately that I was going to love working for Esme. She was funny, she was warm, and she had that maternal side of her that I don't think Renee ever mastered.

And then there was Edward. A soft sigh escaped my lips as my thoughts drifted back to Edward. He had been friendly, which was a far cry from the cold reception I had received from him Friday night. He hadn't stayed long, but he had stayed long enough that I was sure he would be featured in my dreams. I thought back to the way a simple boyish smile could completely soften his otherwise serious face. I recalled the way his hair was tousled in that perfect "Just out of bed" way that Alice herself seemed to favor.

I was so caught up in my recollection of the day, that I didn't notice at first that the truck seemed to be losing steam. It wasn't until the truck lurched to a stop that I snapped out of my daydream. I cursed inwardly, realizing that Charlie had apparently not gotten around to getting the truck looked at yet. "Stupid, unreliable piece of junk!" I yelled, slamming my hands down on the steering wheel. I reached for the key and turned it once more, groaning when the engine clicked.

I reached down to unbuckle my seatbelt, growling when it wouldn't unlatch. "So much for being a good day!" I tugged desperately on the seatbelt, trying to unhook it to no avail. I glanced up at the sound of a horn blaring in the distance and checked the rear view mirror. I couldn't make out the model of the vehicle, but I saw it speeding towards me, my heart pounding in my chest.

I started tugging harder on the seatbelt, my breath catching in my throat when I realized that the vehicle was not slowing down. Surely they had to see this big hunk of junk sitting in the middle of the road, right?

"Alice?" As the vehicle grew closer, I could make out the silver color, and the shape of the vehicle I had become so familiar with over the last couple of days. It wasn't until the vehicle skidded to a stop, just feet from the back of my truck that I realized it was two passengers in the Volvo. I recognized Alice's inky black hair in the passenger seat.

"Bella!" Alice screamed after she threw the door open. "Bella, get out of the truck!"

I had never felt so relieved to see her. The driver's side door opened and my breath caught in my throat once more as Edward stepped out, hurrying to my side of the truck. Alice was already yanking the passenger side open. "Hurry up! Get out!"

"The seatbelt's stuck. What are you doing here?"

Before she could speak, I saw it. Out of the corner of my eye, the blue tanker truck swerved dangerously from one lane to the other. My eyes widened as I tried again to pull the seatbelt free. "Alice! Alice, I can't get the seatbelt unlatched!"

The truck was coming closer. I had no idea how fast the tanker was moving, but it was getting closer and closer with each passing second. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the impact as the truck continued to pick up speed.

"Edward!"

I heard the panic in Alice's voice just as clear as anything before the sound of screeching metal reached my ears. This is it.

I felt a steely grip wrap around my arm and yank me roughly from the cab of the truck before all the air was pushed violently out of my lungs as something hard slammed against my body, forcing me away from the truck literally seconds before the tank slammed into it.

I watched in horror as the truck rolled several times before being bursting into flames. In the distance, I could hear the screams begin, and it wasn't until I felt a pair of cold hands force me to the ground that I realized the screaming was me.

The mangled cab of the tanker truck was on it's side in the ditch, while the tank was on it's side across the road. I could vaguely hear the voices of my saviors, my angels, though I couldn't make out what they were saying. It wasn't until I heard the purr of the engine as the Volvo came to life that I realized Alice was pulling away.

"Alice! Alice!"

"Bella, I need you to listen to me!" The velvet voice was urgent and I tried desperately to focus on the topaz eyes I'd been daydreaming about. "That's it. Focus on me." I could feel his hands cup my face gently, though his hands were hard and cold. "You climbed out the back window of the truck. Say that, Bella. Say it now." His sweet breath blew, once more against my face, making it difficult to breathe. "Say it Bella!" He urged.

"T-the window of the truck."

"That's right. Help is on it's way. But you climbed out of the back window of the truck."

"The… the back window…" It was becoming increasingly difficult to think clearly. In the distance, I could hear the scream of the sirens.

"You're safe now," he promised, crushing me against his chest. "You're safe."

"Edward…"

"No," he said firmly. "The back window of the truck. Say it again."

"The… Edward…" And that was the last thing I remembered as the blackness settled around me.

A/N: So, how's that for a cliffhanger? Haha. Though the events of the story are different than Twilight, I liked the idea of Edward literally saving Bella's life. So I borrowed that, with a slightly different twist. That's going to help me lead into how Bella figures out exactly what the Cullen's are. As always, reviews are wonderful =)