I was left alone. I started to exit the cabin when I remembered my things. I needed to clear my head and get back on my feet. I couldn't let this stupid boy get in the way of my time - a boy of all things. I was shocked!, and beside myself that I would actually fall for him, seeing as he barley talked and didn't really do anything to show me that he liked me. On top off it all, he pushed me away. This whole thing didn't make any sense. I needed some sleep.
The San Francisco air was crisp and you could barley see the moon because of fog. I didn't have any idea of where I was going, and yet, I went into a cab nonetheless.
"Can you take me to the nearest motel?" I asked, as I climbed in the backseat with my one bag of luggage. I handed him a $20.
"Sure lady," he replied, as he put the car into drive. I looked out of the window at the fast moving buildings; each one of them had to be about ten stories high. Instantly I felt at home once again. The cab came to a jerky stop about ten minutes later. Saying thank you, I got out of the car and looked at the motel. It was almost falling apart, but it seemed so…so hard to explain. I walked into the main office and asked for a one night's stay, which only came out to be a low price of $9.99. I had struck gold in San Francisco. A couple minutes later I sat my stuff down on the bed in room #4. Looking around I saw a small T.V., a very small bathroom, and a bed with a night stand. It was good enough for the night. It was about one in the am and the next train was in about 5 hours; but I wanted to get to see San Francisco so that I can get used to a big city again. I changed into some pajamas and crawled into bed. I ended up awake for the next four hours staring at the wall. Slowly but surly I fell asleep, but was only then to be woken up by the morning sun.
My eyes fluttered open and I positioned myself upright. At that point I noticed how my entire right side was sore due to the stiff mattress and sleeping in one position for the three hours I slept. I didn't even want to think about the hideous reflection in the mirror. As my feet hit the floor they were warm from sun, meaning that the sun had been shining for some time. It seemed like the perfect day to walk around and see San Fran. It wasn't till I was outside that I remembered how much I missed the sun. I walked toward the sidewalk in the direction that I thought was the beach. As I walked, I passed by a breakfast restaurant and there was an oriental man in the back flipping pancakes, whistling tunes of summer love. I chuckled and questioned going in and getting some breakfast, but decided against it cause I had my mind set on getting to the beach. It took me about two hours of walking for me to even see the water; and I was still some ways away. Catching a cab seemed to be the only way that I was going to make it to the water before dark, so a whistled down a cab and asked him to take me to a pier.
Getting out of the car, the wind blew my hair in a way that I hadn't felt in a long time. Thoughts of the time I went to the beach with Mike, Angela, Jessica, Tyler, Eric, Ben, Conner, Lauren, and Jacob Black, sitting on that log with the wind of the pacific blowing in my face and learning about werewolves and bloodsuckers was all coming back to me. It was potentially the time in my life where everything seemed somewhat normal to me. Where the thoughts of werewolves and bloodsuckers were simply fairy tale creatures in my mind. I loved just sitting and asking questions to go along with the animated discussion with Jacob about Vampires and werewolves. I felt bad about flirting with a younger boy, but he was cute and the only person besides Mike that showed me the time of day. As I walked down to the end of the pier, shaking the thoughts of the past away from my mind, I stood and leaned on the edge looking over at the midnight blue water below. My stomach growled at me. I had gotten so caught up in getting to the water that I forgot to eat, so I pealed away from the edge and walked back to civilization.
It was a great relief to be able to eat. The sandwich on the train was kinda skimpy so that could explain why I was so hungry. While I was sitting and eating, I looked around and my eyes stopped on this man starring at me. I immediately looked away and preoccupied myself with eating. Next thing I know, the same man is sitting in the chair across from me.
"Miss, do you know how pretty you are?" he asked me right off the bat. I choked on my hot dog.
"Well, not really until now," I replied after I finished my bite. He shook his head slightly from side to side and then stuck out his hand invitingly.
"Forgive me, I forgot my manners, my name is Michel." I took his hand questionably and shook it.
"Names Bella," I replied simply. "Is there something that you want?" I asked.
"Well, I am a pro photographer and I would like to take your picture," He smiled. My face scrunched up and I shook my head slightly. "Is there something wrong?" he asked, noticing my movements.
"No, sorry, I just hate taking pictures. And besides, why would you want my picture? I'm not exactly pretty." I then looked down and took another bite of my hot dog. He laughed.
"Well you have beautiful hair and your smile is unbelievable." I smiled, but then recovered easily. "See! You need to smile more! Your beautiful and in San Francisco! What's not to smile about?" It was a rhetorical question and I knew it. After that I went into deep thought. What if this guy is just trying to get to me? But what if he really is a pro photographer and I am missing a chance of a life time? There were two options. Trust, and pravale or trust and fale.
"So, what do you think Bella?" he asked politely. I simply smiled.
"Guess there is nothing to lose… but I'm sorry if I am shy." He laughed.
"It's alright Bella, a lot of people are when they first start out. Besides, there is nothing to be scared of." He reached his hand out to me for the second time in this short conversation and I took it with ease leaving my rubbish behind. As we walked a long the long pier I started to ask a lot of questions.
"Where are we going? How long have you been in this business? How popular are you?" The list went on. He just laughed and answered with ease, even when I just kept throwing hard personal questions at him.
"We are going to my house where I have all my equipment. I have been in the business for four years now; I am considered one of the best in San Fran." He smiled again. "I'm glad you're asking questions Bella. I would question also if some random girl came up to me and told me she wanted to take my picture." I laughed for the first time in front of him. We, after a good 15 min of this type of conversation, reached this adorable little apartment with a white picket fence. "My house!" He waved his hand in front of it in a showoff kind of way. He then opened up the fence and let me go in first like a real gentleman. When we got inside I gasped. It was beautiful! The carpets were a soft light blue and the warm tone of the fire place in the study gave the whole house a homey touch. He led me to the stairs into a very large room that took up the whole upstairs. Looking around I saw tons of props to take pictures on. And a huge station for pictures was also prevalent. He motioned to a table with some different clothing on it.
"Pick an outfit and we will see what we can do." He smiled. "Just remember…have fun!" I picked out the least skimpy outfit of the lot, or so I thought. When I put it on it proved me wrong. I had barley been gone a few minutes but just as I was about to exit the changing room I heard whispers.
"Man Michel, how did you score her?" I heard one voice ask. There was a chuckle.
"I told her I was a photographer." There was an eruption of laughter but soon after there was a hush. "She doesn't know you're here so shut the hell up!" I heard him whisper to his friends.
He played me! He scammed me! What I had feared had been correct! I shouldn't have come. Because of my stupidity I have landed myself in a position I can't get out of. I don't know where I am or who they truly are…and I'm scared.
"Bella are you ready?" I heard Michel ask me. He was close to the door. I put on a happy face and said, "Yeah just one moment." Hiding how truly scared I really am. I then took in a slight breath and said silently to myself, "I will get out of here weather I get hurt or not."
I went to the door and opened it leaning on the frame giving him a seductive look. "How dose it look?" My voice scared me, although I was scared out of my mind already. His eyes got wide and his mouth gaped. "Holy crap Bella! You look great!" He reached out to me again with the once friendly gesture that now made my spine tingle. I accepted, and he led me out into my doom.