It was a week or so after the accident at the high school and a day after my class hung out at the high school and things were slowly getting back to normal, Edward had been avoiding the Swan girl like the plague and she hadn't called him out.
I was relieved, Jasper was still on edge about the whole ordeal, but I was perfectly happy letting the incident fade into our memories (mainly because I hadn't forgotten my promise to Carlisle that I would profile the girl if we needed me to do so and I was really not looking forward to that).
Somehow (and I'm pretty sure Alice had something to do with it) with the exception of the near sighting in the parking lot I didn't not see Bella Swan the entire day I was at the high school, though I'm sure she saw me.
It was a nice overcast Thursday March morning, a perfect time to takes ones ATV out for a quick ride deep into the woods, now that the engine on that ATV is back in shape.
My March morning however was being spent in the garage, on the phone of all places. I had been calling dealerships around Washington who supposedly specialize in certain parts for 1968 Mustangs, I just needed a new muffler, that was it on daily list of parts Rosalie and I have been adding too since starting the project.
So far two I had called dealt with older 'stangs. One that didn't have the parts for a '68, and the one that did have the parts I needed was refusing to do business with me because they thought I was some punk kid and no, I'm not exaggerating on that…the guy literally said, 'I refuse to do business with some punk kid.'
"What's going on?" Edward asked as he walked in the garage. The others had left for school, I'm not exactly sure where Edward was coming in from, but I was to annoyed at the guy on the other end of the phone to question my brother.
Normally Esme would've been insistent that I just finish the phone calls when we got home, but she was allowing me to call two more places and then she would give me a ride to school, I still had twenty minutes before first bell.
I rolled my eyes at the phone as Edward read my mind, understanding what was going on. I wondered for a moment if he was planning on running to school. I decided I had been very patient with this bozo, and I was tired of patience.
"Hey, if this is how you treat paying customers, I'm surprised you've managed to stay in business." I said loudly putting the phone on speaker, just so Edward could listen without reading my mind.
"Yeah, well kid all my paying customers can see over the counter and aren't using money from their paper route." The guy managed to blurt out before falling into a fit of laughter again.
"Excuse me" Edward finally said. The laughter immediately stopped. "I believe my brother is trying to find a muffler for a 1968 Ford Mustang that he is rebuilding. I hope you would have the professional courtesy to at least check your inventory before discriminating against him. Do you make it a habit of harassing and humiliating customers over the phone before you meet them? And refuse to serve them based solely on your assumptions regarding their age? We come from a family of prosecutors and business licensing officials, I myself am a prosecutor who specializes in discrimination cases. I would hate to bring discrimination charges or a harassment suit against you and your business but mark my words I will and we will have a decent case against you."
I fought a grin, which Edward returned. The guy was speechless for a second, then he began stuttering
"I…er…um"
"Furthermore, my brother is a licensed mechanic with a legitimate automotive repair shop where he restores classic cars on the side. Now do you have the parts he is willing to give you money for or are we wasting more of our time?"
"Le…le…Ahem…let me double check my stock, may I put you on hold for just a minute sir?"
"Yes, you may." There was a beeping sound as we were put on hold. Edward looked over at me and I sighed,
"Thanks Edward,"
"Not a problem. Do you want me to drive down to Tacoma with you if he has the part?" I made a face; I didn't want to prove this guy right after all that. "I'll go in with you," he assured me… I thought this over and then grinned.
"Y'know, for all the pain and suffering he put us through HE should deliver the parts. He'll probably insist"
"As much as that would be amusing, he would probably charge us for the gas." Edward thought this over "tell you what, Emmett and I go, you can go with us, but I think we could have fun with this, if he thinks Emmett is you we could really have fun."
I nodded, grinning wide.
"It's good to have you back to normal Edward… it really is," there was a beeping noise as the guy returned.
"Sorry it took so long Sir, had to make sure it was the right part."
"So I'm assuming you were successful?" Edward said, his voice back to the authoritative voice that made him sound like a lawyer, not a bad thing in a case like this.
"Yes sir, it was a '68 you were interested in right?"
"Yes," Edward said, his voice monotone and it was all I could do to not laugh.
"May I inquire to where you are located sir? We would be happy to deliver this and any other parts you may need, free of charge." I snorted, suppressing it as a cough and Edward pushed me, silently telling me to shh, but laughing silently just the same.
"That is not necessary, my brothers and I would be more than able to come down and pick the part up." Edward replied emphasizing the word brothers. "But if you wouldn't mind putting some of the other '68 parts aside for us so we may look at them. It would be appreciated."
"Of course sir. We would be happy to hold the parts indefinitely for you." He paused "May I take a name?"
Edward turned to me
"It is my brother's car; I believe his name will suffice,"
"Yes of course,"
I cleared my throat
"Mr. Christian Cullen," I said shortly
"Thank you Mr. Cullen…um do you folks need directions?"
"I believe we are more than capable of finding your business, as we do have the address. I thank you for your time." Edward replied
"And sir, I do apologize for my-"
Edward hit the disconnect button and we both burst out laughing. The garage door opened and the Mercedes drove in, but our laughter didn't stop, even as Carlisle got out of his car and gave us a confused look
"Morning Dad!" I exclaimed, between chuckles
"Do I dare ask?" he said cautiously
"I wouldn't," Edward replied. Deciding that Edward was right, Carlisle chuckled at the both of us and headed for the house.
Edward looked back over at me, then looked at the 'stang. I'll admit, at the moment it's not much to look at, the roof is gone, so are the doors, it has no tires and it has one seat. Heck, Rosalie and I aren't even sure what color it is…was…whatever.
But I could see the admiration in Edward's eyes, it may be a hunk of rust to him, but he knew underneath that hunk of metal and rust, lay a classic car…somewhere, Rosalie and I just had to keep searching to find it.
"Thanks again" I said softly
"Anytime, just let me know when you want to go pick it up." I thought this over
"How 'bout after school today? 'fore you and Emmett go hunting?" I was supposed to go with them, but Carlisle and I had a date with a vet…
Charlie wasn't eating and had started sneezing the previous night and out of concern I separated him and Chaplin (who was currently visiting Alice's room for the time being in the traveling cage).
Charlie was in a smaller cage in my room when I was in it and in the family room where everyone else could keep an eye on him, while I had their actual cage in the garage and was disinfecting it.
The sneezing was enough to concern Carlisle to the point where he made an appointment with a vet in Seattle, I had suggested he treat Charlie, 'stead of paying money for some vet to care for him after all when it comes to medicine and health there's no one alive I trust above Carlisle, but I was reminded by Carlisle that he is not a veterinarian and wouldn't know where to begin, especially with a creature as small as Charlie.
"Sure, that'll work, we'll drop the others off here and head off ok?"
"See you then,"
Edward grinned
"You can make it to school on time if you run,"
I made a face,
"Yeah, no, I need to get that last seat out of the 'stang first, Esme promised a ride in, how can I deny her that?"
"You just don't want to go to school and read the first part of your memoir." I made a face at my brother. "Come on Chris, it sounds fine."
"If you do say so yourself, you helped write it,"
"Only because you were planning on putting it off."
I sighed
"I'll see you later" I said, emphasizing each word, hinting.
"Subject changer," he said
"Mind reader!" I shot back.
"Carl Jung"
"Professor Xavier!"
Edward grinned, he loves it when we get into these kind of tiffs
"Profiler," he replied, crossing his arms across his chest.
I returned the grin
"And damn proud of it!"