Chapter 4
The morning came too soon. I woke up in a cold sweat; not an unusual occurrence because my history of chronic nightmares. I lazily rolled out of bed and rubbed my eyes as I looked out the window. It was drizzly and wet with a little ray of sunshine shining through the overcast. At least there was always a ray of hope.
I arrived at work and hastily put on my apron. It was mint green with a pinstripe red and white front pocket. I was tying it in the back when my manager walked over.
"Hey, Charlotte what are you doing here?" The spunky little old lady asked me. She was my manager and the store owner, a sweet lady, in her mid-seventies her white hair was always permed.
"I am working my morning shift, ma'am." I turned towards her and was going to hurry to the cash register.
"Oh no today is your day off sweet heart." She adjusted her light blue glasses and smiled at me.
I paused and blinked at her, confused at her words. "Oh, okay." I said in a small voice feeling like a little child again, "Are you sure there is not anything I can do to help?"
"No sweet heart you do enough around here. I really appreciate all of your help! Now go on and have a nice day!" she motioned her hand towards the glass doors.
"Thank you! You too!" I smiled and took off the apron and hung it back up. I could not believe I had mixed my days up. Since I had so much time on my hands I decided to go over to the storage facility early. This is my Aunt and Uncles storage unit, but my uncle let me keep a few boxes in it. I rolled open the orange metal door and moved through the maze of boxes to where mine were stored. I opened one and drug through the many contents. I found the bag containing the dress and shoes I was going to wear tonight. At the bottom of the box were some of my old reading, drawing books and a few random items. I decided to just take the whole box with me.
I was caring the box into the lobby when Jessica and her friend caught me in the hall as I was setting my box down to slide the key in the door. They were caring an arms full of dresses. Oh no! I thought to myself. Jessica introduced me to her friend Angela. She was sweet and seemed to be very intelligent, the total opposite of Jessica. She was kind of quiet and geeky, a good person to be around.
"Come on, I brought some of my dresses for you to try on!" Jessica urged me. We entered my room.
"Okay Jess, but I am a lot shorter than you."
I proceeded to try on four of her dresses they were all very pretty, one was floozy. The purple and pink that was supper short on her went down past my knees. She laugh at me. We all laughed at my expense. It is so hard to find a dress that fits, any woman can tell you that! Finally after I had amused Jessica and her friend Angela for a good hour and a half.
"How about I show you the one I brought?" I asked. Maybe Jessica would listen to me, now.
"Okay you did not tell me you brought one." Jessica was still snickering from the current one I was wearing "Is it sexy?"
"Yes it is! Trust me it is." I called back to her as I made my way back to the bathroom to change.
I put on the dress. It fit as perfect as it ever had. I looked in the mirror and sighed it still smelt like the ocean air. I tried not to think of the night I last wore this dress almost a year ago, but it overwhelmed my head.
….Some images of the memory flashed in my mind. I remembered walking through a bustling market place in Italy where he had taken me shopping for a dress to take me to dinner at a fancy restaurant by the ocean. I had been browsing the dress selection and was admiring a dress similar to this one. I remembered how he approached me and smiled slyly saying to try it on. Then how he would prefer it in a different color and with more sparkle on the bottom. Later that night he had left this one hanging on the door of our room with a lovely note. I remember this being one of his favorites of the many dresses he bought or had custom made for me. He would usually request this dress for the fancy evenings out alone together. Now here I am going to where it to a nightclub. ….
I abruptly shook my head to keep myself from thinking anymore about the past and stepped out to have Jessica and Angela's opinion.
"Wow! That is the one!" Angela out her hand up to her mouth in amazement, "I had never seen one like that before where did you get it?"
"It was custom made for me when I was in Italy." I said without thinking as I smoothed out the sides of the red chiffon material with my hands.
"You have been to Italy?!' Angela and Jess asked in unison.
"Yeah I lived there for about 2 or 3 years!" I looked at my feet and gave a half smile.
"Really! How did you afford that?" Jessica inquired suspiciously.
"I didn't. I was living with someone and he bought it for me." I used my hands to gesture as I spoke.
"He!? Do TELL me more!" Jessica interrupted me.
"It doesn't matter…" I shrugged
"Oh yes it does who is this rich mystery man?" Jessica pried using that haughty tone I hated.
"Just forget about it…" I looked away trying to hide my embarrassment. She was the last person who needed to know about him.
"Oh c'mon it can't be such a big deal!" Jessica pleaded as I turned and walked away from her to change back into my other clothes.
I changed and walked back out and showed he girl the accessories I had picked out. I also helped them with their own. All the while Jessica was trying her best to get me to tell her more about the man I lived with in Italy. I kept ignoring her and putting her off, but, it was more than annoying! She just does not understand! He was not what she was picturing. I felt this almost overwhelming ache in my chest creep up again. I looked at my hands and they were shaking. Finally Angela took notice and talked some sense into her and Jess quit teasing me. They both started giving me looks of concern. Shortly after I went back to my room and spent the rest of my day cleaning my room, getting ready for tonight and reading one of my books from the box I had brought in. Anticipating the wild night ahead.
Hours Later the dancing had begun
(Jacobs Pov)
The room was massive and crowed with people. The music was loud. The neon flashing colored disco lights reveled the people dancing in the darkness. I saw Charlotte, she was just smiling and pure joy resonating from her as she danced in array of people. My pack and I were sitting in a booth to take a break from some of the noise and eat. We had been having so much fun dancing already but, the night was just getting started.
After about fifteen minutes another slow song came on. Paul stood up to go find a girl, then Embry rose to block his path.
"Ah, ah, I am dancing with her first." Embry looked up at Paul.
"Hey, you can't call dibs! First come, first serve." Paul scoffed trying to step around him.
"You don't have the guts to ask her, Embry." Quill joked as he slouched back in the booth.
"Well it is not like you are even trying Quill." Embry scolded.
"Oh please, everybody fight over the new girl!" Leah huffed as got up and grabbed Embry and drug him out the dance with her. Paul then continued to make his way through the crowed towards the bar. Then I realized Charlotte was working her way our direction. I sat there with my drink getting ready to stand up. When all of the sudden a young man stepped in front of her, "May I have this dance? Miss?"
The voice was familiar. I heard her agree and it wasn't until he took her by the hand and was leading her to the dance floor he turned enough for me. It was Seth! Who could believe it! Honest, timid Seth got the nerve to ask a girl to dance. Not just any girl. My girl and he knew it. At first I was kinda jealous, but then I see him glance at me and he was quite terrified. I just sat back in my chair and chuckled. This is going to be a good show.
(Seth Pov)
I couldn't believe what I was doing. The guys are going to kill me, especially Jacob, but I could resist. Embry being taken hostage by Leah and Paul distracted by the blonds over at the bar. The opportunity was there and the guys were missing it so I might as well take one for the team.
"May I have this dance? Miss?" I asked surprisingly confident gesturing to her. She smiled excitedly and took my hand, it gave me a rush. I could feel my face turning red and my head start to spin as I lead her to the edge of the dance floor. Then, uh oh! Where do I put my hands! Luckily she unconsciously helped me out. Phew! It was not until I put my hand on her shoulder did I realize she was slightly below eye level. I looked down at her. Wow her eyes are blue!
"So what is your name?" I asked hoping for a conversation.
"Charlotte, what is yours?" She answered.
"Seth." I smiled.
"It is nice to meet you Seth." She nodded her head
"Your dress is pretty. Where did you get it?" I blurt out a compliment. Why the heck am I so nervous I have been to dances before? Her eye seemed to be piercing my soul.
"Thank you! It is from Italy." she blushed shyly looking up at me.
"Italy! Wow how did you get there?" I asked surveying the bead work and how the fabric fitted the form of her body.
"I lived there for a few years."
I spun her around and when she spun back I put my hand back on her waist I thought. Instead it seemed I miss judged and aimed a little too low. When I tightened my grip I realized my falter. My hand was on her ass. She raised her eyebrows and gave me a daring, almost scolding look then I quickly readjusted my hand.
"Sorry!" I squeaked and looked up directly at Jake. Oh no! He will kill me! I noticed he was facing Sam and must have been too involved in Sam and Emily's conversation to notice. My heart gave a sigh of relief.
"It's okay you don't seem like that type of guy" she giggled, "The look on your face is priceless." She giggled.
"Huh?" I could feel the heat rush to my face. I was astonished by her comment. There was a prolonged silence.
"So what do you do Seth? Are you going to school or working? What?" She asked changing the subject.
"Well, I am going to do my second semester of college online. I am working doing odd jobs on the reservation and I am starting to work as a kind of intern at the Mechanic shop."
"That is cool!" She smiled enthusiastically. I continued to tell her about myself. I was about to ask her a few questions, but, the song was now ending and I was a little disappointed.
"It was so nice to meet you Seth. Thank you!" she curtsied.
"Thank you." I rubbed the back of my neck. I turned to walk back towards the table. My head was spinning and I really like her. Jake's wolf picked a good one.
(Jacob Pov)
Seth came back so happy with himself he was almost glowing. Smiling like the chaser cat.
"Did you have fun with the 'new toy'?" She poked fun at him like any sister would.
As the night went on we were all back on the dance floor all dancing having a great time. The whole night she kept stealing glances at me. I rolled up my sleeves. I made flips and showed off some of my dance moves. I loved the way her hand would cover her mouth as she smiled in amazement. After a while I went to the bar to get some water. I sat there a little while and noticed she had followed me shortly after. I leaned over the bar facing away from her. Yep she is going to come to me! I smiled into my water as I took another drink. How am I going to do this? What am I going to say?
"You have some moves there!" I turned towards her and took a moment to look at her form as she walked to wards me. Her red Marilyn Monroe style halter dress fit enhanced her petite hour glass figure. The bright red color looked amazing against her white skin. The tiny gold beads embroidered around the V-neck line. The shimmers of gold brought attention to all the right places. Man she was gorgeous!
I smiled and my breathe hitched, "You look stunning!"
She shyly looked down then glanced up at me, "Thank you."
"Mind if I join you?" she climbed in a high bar stool beside me. Mind if I join you was this girl kidding that is what I have been wanting all night! I clamed my mind down a bit before I spoke.
"Sure, Sure." I said as non-sealant as I could.
She shifted on the stool. The gleams from the golden bead scattered throughout the shirt of the dress caught my eye. My eyes traveled down to her ivory legs to the sparkly rhinestone shoes. This girl was going to be the death of me.
"Jacob right?" her voice strained over the noise.
"Yes, Charlotte." I looked her in the eyes.
"Yes." She put her hair behind her ear reveling a crystal dangle earing.
"So how long have you been in Forks?" I asked just for simple conversation.
"About 6 months. You?" She clasp her hands together as she leaned against the counter. The light reflected off her gold bracelets.
"My whole life." I swirled the glass in my hand, "So you have been here quite a while….. I wonder why I haven't see you around."
"I have been in school, working, and stuff." She looked up at me before she ordered a water from the bar tender.
"Hmmm. Okay where at?"
"Community college" she said. The she proceeded to tell me how she was taking some extra classes for fun towards her major and how she had graduated with honors with two associates degrees at the same before graduating from high school. I had never heard of such, but she must be doing something right. Then again why is she here and not at a university? I did not matter she started to ask about me. I told her about how I started my Mechanic business with the guys. What my goals were. She told me to always go for my dreams, but always have a backup plan. She asked me my hobbies. I told her. Particularly about working on cars and how I built my first car, the Rabbit. I felt like I could tell her anything and she would just listen. She listened to me so intently and smiled. I tried to ask her more about herself and she would just give me a vague answer and ask something else about me. Finally I asked her a very important question on my mind, if she would like to dance. She happily accepted. I took her by the hand. Her hand was small and fingertips were a little cold, but the warmth of my hand quickly took care of that. I put my hand on her waist and we began to slow dance. There was a slight silence for a few moments.
"So, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you Jacob?" she shyly inquired. I looked at the colored lights reflecting off of her soft featured complexion.
"No why, too old for you?" I smirked.
"I doubt that!" she laughed as she looked up through her lashes.
"22. You?" I looked off into the distance then smiled at her.
"You know you're not supposed to ask a girl her age." She smiled and raised her eyebrows giving me a daring glance.
"I thought it was just weight." I tilted my head playfully.
"True… I think it is both. I am 21, by the way." She laughed as I spun her around. Then brought her back close. I was careful not to bring her to close because I noticed her slight hesitation. I started singing words to myself I had no idea what the words to this song were, but I got the reaction I wanted.
"Ha, ha, ha, those aren't the words." She gave that little laugh I loved so much. All I could do was sing until fading into a hum. I twirled her again.
We continued to dance and I slowly eased her closer. We were so involved in our conversation we had danced through the song and into the next one and didn't even notice.
(Charlotte POV)
I laid in bed and recalled the events of the night. Surprisingly my nerves were not too traumatized after tonight. My thoughts drifted through all of the memories of blaring music and lights then settled on Jacob and how he looked tonight. His russet skin contrasting with his crisp white button down shirt. Oh man he looked sharp! For some reason when I first seen him all I could look at was how is collar outlined his throat and jaw line which lead up to his pearly white teeth and bright eyes. As the night had went on he had rolled up his sleeves which showed his muscular arms. He could dance! His movements were so professional and fluid. That boy could dance! He was defiantly of heart breaker potential. It did matter how much I moved around the dance floor I kept being drawn to him. Finally I had decided I was going to at least talk to him and it was totally worth it! He makes me feel so happy and free, that warm and fuzzy giddy feeling it is so weird! I could not keep myself from thinking about him. Jacob Black the man who was messing with my head.
Please let me know what you think!