A/N: Alright, everybody. I am so sorry it's taken me so long to pop this little chapter out. But this was needed so that all the long, exciting chapters could take place. Either way, please enjoy!
In the morning, I felt…horrible. Terrible. My head ached and my clothes were twisted all over. My hair was matted together, though it being messy was hardly anything new.
I scrambled into the bathroom, turning on the light before remembering just how much my head was pounding and then hurrying to turn it off. I searched all over until I found some aspirin and chased it with water.
I quickly showered before throwing on my clothes from yesterday, a white v-neck and jeans minus the jacket. It was on my way out of the bathroom that the rest of the consequences kicked in. Or should I say out? I folded over the toilet and anything I had in my stomach was dispensed. I promptly re-showered and brushed.
I left the room to go check on Bella, but when I knocked on her door, she didn't answer. I figured she must still be sleeping and left downstairs.
The light coming in from the large windows was white, probably an effect from the early morning sun. I squinted my eyes away from the light and made it to the kitchen. I shuffled around the room until I reached the phone and left a message at my office that I wouldn't be coming into work today…and maybe not tomorrow with all things considered.
It wasn't until I had finished leaving my message that I noticed the flashing number on the machine. I didn't know if I should answer or not. In the end I let it ring out, until the caller left a message.
Apparently it wasn't for George, but instead Bella. Whoever she had called last night was letting her know that they were on their way…
I looked at the clock and noticed it was already almost 10. I groaned, thinking about how wasted this morning had been.
On my way up the stairs, I was surprised when I ran into Bella. She stumbled and was about to fall when I reached for her thin wrist and caught her. "Steady there," I grinned.
Bella blushed a soft pink color, "Oh! Thank you. For letting me stay here, and all that, and for helping me." She stumbled over her words.
My grin grew, "You're welcome. Oh, someone left a message for you, I didn't answer though, just in case."
"Thanks," and under her breath she mumbled, "that probably wouldn't have helped the situation." I raised an eyebrow in question, but said nothing.
"Um, do you mind if I go call them back?" Her voice was almost shaky, like she was nervous to ask me anything.
I tried to give her my best reassuring smile, "Of course not. You remember where the phone is?"
Bella nodded, "Yes, thanks." And with that she scooted past me and into the kitchen.
I sighed, hating how my first impression of Bella had included me stumbling and drunk. Ugh. But it wouldn't matter for long, seeing how she would be leaving soon.
I skimmed around the house while Bella was on the phone, not sure what to do. I settled for flipping through whatever was on TV. As soon as I sat down however, my mind flew in a million different directions.
Once I left George's house, I would hopefully make it back to my house without much interruption. But what would I do then?
As Daniella had pointed out the day before, I hardly ever was at home. The realization of an coming home to an empty house unsettled me. I had grown up in such a loving family that the thought of being alone had never occurred to me.
That was something else I had to worry about. When I'd informed my parents of my divorce, they were anything but supportive. In their eyes marriage was an unbroken bond, and against there wishes, Daniella and I had married so young. The divorce only made their trust in me waver.
Right now, though, I still felt so misplaced about knowing about how empty my life was right now.
I was in a trance that was only broken by the sound of footsteps outside the room. I stood slowly and stepped into the hallway. At first I didn't see anyone, but then Bella rounded the corner with a shocked slight smile on her face.
At that moment, I could have honestly kicked myself. As she walked down the hall with a nervous skip in her step, I really saw Bella for the first time. I saw the curvature of her body. The more I looked at her, the friendlier her smile got, which only had to her face; Her lips, which I had already noticed were plump, now had a healthy, pretty color to them.
I shook out of a daze and turned away, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bella frown.
What was I doing? Even though we hadn't had a chance to talk, I knew that Bella could hardly be 18 yet, so she was probably not even legal yet. Besides, had I not just gotten divorced yesterday? I inwardly sighed, why couldn't I just act like my normal self right now?
I once again turned to Bella, "Were you able to contact your ride?"
She smiled, "Yes, I was, thanks." That's when she started to frown, "But, well, I was on the phone with my brother and he said that there would be a problem with picking me up…"
I was confused, "Problem? Is there something wrong?"
Bella nodded, "Yeah, kind of a big one. He said that overnight it had started snowing and it just kept piling on…I haven't had a chance to check yet, but I'm pretty sure all the roads are blocked, especially considering where we are."
"Wait, all the roads are blocked? Oh no…" I walked over to the hall window and pulled the curtains apart, only to add proof to what Bella had said.
The entire window had been plastered with snow. I turned to Bella, who now looked absolutely worried before going to the entrance. There, I opened the door, only to be greeted by thick white snow covering the entire entrance to the house.
With a nervous expression on her face, Bella turned to me, "What are we going to do?" Her small voice sounded defeated. I knew where that came from, but she looked ready to break down any minute so I had to look self-assured.
I gave Bella a small smile, trying to comfort her, while I calculated things over in my head.
The snow outside was so much that it had managed to seal off any exit, and I doubted that even if we made it outside my car would be able to push through.
With an exciting nervousness, I faced the realization: We were trapped.
A/N: Comments, praise, critiques? Drop a review. Thanks!