Chapter 4: Moving On
Bella sat down at her lap top computer before getting ready to go out with her friends, then opened up her email box to read some of the past messages sent to her family back home. She reminisced how she felt at the time while reading her own words, and laughed at how much has changed just over the course of four months. She was never good about keeping journals, so she thought this way was just as good...
To: Charlie Swan
From: Bella Swan
Date and Time: August 28th, 4:04pm
Subject: It's hot here...
Dad,
Hey! How's everyone back home? My first week in Vienna has been good so far. Not much to report. I survived orientation and understood most of what the teachers were saying in German... but after panicking that I missed something important, I realized my efforts were in vain because another teacher gave the same exact speech in English. At least now I know I can get by with the little German I do comprehend. (Tell Marcus,I say thanks again for helping me!) Even though my German hasn't really been necessary so far because everyone under thirty here speaks English fluently. (Don't tell him I said that! Cause that means I will lose my bet and want to keep my dignity!)
This one time I went too far on the bus stop and ended up getting lost, so I asked someone in German how to get back to the University, but they obviously could tell I was American and started reciting the directions in English. If only I grew up in Europe I could have been born bilingual too.
I miss everyone back home very much. It scares me to think that you're not within reach anymore... aside from phone calls and emails. It's just not the same as one of your hugs at the end of a long tiresome or stressful day. I understand why you wanted me to come here though... and I know I needed the push since I fought you every step of the way... but I'm glad you did.
Vienna is beautiful and the trees are just lovely. Good for climbing. No, I haven't climbed any of them... yet. I'm sure none of them would compare to the trees we have back home.
Is it strange to already feel a little homesick? Am I too old to be feeling this way? I don't know. But I have a good feeling when classes start tomorrow everything will start to fall into place. I'll be learning so much that I won't have time to think about missing home or anything else. So thanks again for always believing in me and encouraging me to come here...
How are things at home? Is Peter still pulling pranks on Aro and Ben? Is Charlotte almost ready to deliver? I know it could be any day now and she must be anxious. Peter and Lottie have waited so long for this and it kills me to think I won't be there to see it. How amazing would that be if her baby had the same birthday as mine?! I want pictures! Promise me lots and lots of pictures when the time comes!
How's Sue doing? Has she come over to cook for you everyday since I've left? Please be sure to eat right and not eat TV dinners every single night. It's not healthy! At least some fruits and vegetables with every meal. We all can't survive on meat, potatoes, and beer and still keep our figures and arteries clear, now can we?
I miss you, Dad. I'm not sure if I've written that enough... but it's true. I won't lie, it's lonely here. I haven't met anyone I can talk to, yet. But I'm sure things will change once school begins. And I promise to be safe, like always. This isn't Manhattan... but I'll be cautions nevertheless. Just like you taught me.
I'll write again soon, when I have something to write about...
With love,
Bells (AKA your Pumpkin)
To: Bella Swan
From: Charlie Swan
Date and Time: August 29th 2011, 12:00AM
Subject: You can never be too careful
Hey Pumpkin,
I'm glad to hear you're doing well and staying safe. Please make sure you never go out at night by yourself. I know you're a grown woman now, but you'll always be my little girl. It makes me nervous not being able to reach you if need be too. So please be safe.
Nothing's changed much over on this end of the world, except Mr. and Mrs. Cullen went on a vacation to the Bahamas and won't be returning until October. Edward just left on some international business trip to Europe and won't be returning for another week, which just leaves me to chauffeur Emmett around town... but mostly he takes the Jeep so I get the week off until further notice.
I'm sorry to hear that you're lonely kiddo, but I'm sure you'll make friends quickly by the time your first week is through. People always seem to gravitate toward you, Bells. They always have. You have such a kind and giving nature just like your mother. As well as her musical gifts. God and everyone else in the world knows you certainly didn't get it from me.
Write back again soon when ever. I know the time difference makes it difficult to talk on the phone, but let's set up a time to call and chat... even for a few minutes.
I miss you too, Pumpkin. It's not the same here without you. Everyone says so. Work hard and get that degree, then you'll be back before you know it. Who knows... maybe you'll end up liking Austria so much, you might not want to leave. (Dear God, I hope not...)
Talk to you soon, pumpkin,
Dad
P.S. Sue requested that you write to her too, and Charlotte too. She's still on maternity leave and has nothing better to do, she says. Hell, everyone wants to hear from you, Bells... but don't kill yourself by writing a dozen emails at once. Pace yourself and then perhaps they all could share the news about you over breakfast or something.
To: Susan Skylark
From: Bella Swan
Date and Time: September 9th 2011, 2:24PM
Subject: I made some friends!
Sue,
First off, how are you doing? Is Dad eating something other than microwave burritos? Thanks so much for always taking such good care of us. I know you do it out of the goodness of your heart, but just know you've become a part of me ever since I was a little girl. Thanks for always being there when I needed a womanly figure to turn to... God knows I also thank you for not leaving it to Charlie to explain everything about growing up as a woman. I think I might have been traumatized for life. Could you imagine Charlie talking about menstruation? Shesh, awkward much?
I made my first friend here at the University, Angela Weber. She's also a composition major here and her style is completely different than mine! Lol! But we get along perfectly. She's made it her mission to get me out of my shell by the time I graduate, I've made it my mission, to fight her every step of the way!
I know she meant well, but she went through my closet the other day and literally tossed all my overalls into the street, looking disgusted. Luckily they didn't kill anyone on the way down, and some random homeless dude picked them up like it was raining gold from the sky, and made off with them before I had a chance to retrieve them from the side-walk. Oh, well... at least they'll be put to good use. I hope that guy likes wearing woman's size 4 overalls.
Angela wants to take me shopping for new clothes, to replace the once she threw out on a whim cause she says she feels bad. But I told her to forget it and said I could pay for it myself. But she took me too all these designer stores and a pair of panties cost more than the shirt on my back. I plan to budget my savings a little wiser than spending it all on designer clothing, so we left. Honestly, I don't see the point in buying a $40 cotton shirt and jeans over $100 anyway.
I miss my overalls.
Angela has been trying to get me to go clubbing all week, and I keep putting it off telling her I have assignments to do... which is mostly true. I got all my work done except for one... I need to write at least 36 bars of music, ABCA format, with at least four instruments. The last one I wrote, Angela said she cried... but not in a 'it's so beautiful' kind of way, it was a, "Oh my God, this is depressingly sad," kinda way.
I've been a little down... I won't deny it. But it's because I'm homesick and I miss everybody. Please give hugs and kisses to everyone and tell them I'll send them all at least one email each before the holidays... which will also be my first Christmas away from Charlie and everyone.
Great... now I'm going to start crying. I'm gonna wrap this up quick.
Hi to everyone and please let me know how Mr. and Mrs. Cullen are liking their vacation in the Bahamas and how Emmett and Edward are doing too. Charlie was pretty vague in his email...
Love always,
Bella
To: Bella Swan
From: Susan Skylark
CC: Charlie Swan; Charlotte O'Donnell; Peter O'Donnell; Marcus Bergman; Aro Bartolli; Maria Espanoza
Subject: Happy Birthday!
Bella,
This is a conversation we made from AOL cut and pasted to give you a greeting from all of us on your birthday. It's unedited, much to Charlie's dismay... but it's the closet we could think of to sending you a bit of our crazy your way. Just read it and you'll see...
Sue—Bella, we're so sorry we missed spending this mile stone birthday with you, but we all hope you're out there enjoying yourself, eating cake, and having a good time.
Charlie—Not too much fun kiddo! Be safe and responsible!
Peter—Don't to anything I wouldn't do!
Marcus—Great... give her a blank page, why don't you! Don't listen to him, Sugar, listen to uncle Marcus. Go out to Salzburg if you can, and buy some Mozart balls. They're delicious!
Charlie—WHAT?! Don't tell her to do that! Sue... delete that message!
Peter—Psh! And you all said I was the bad influence. Bella, stay away from balls of any kind. You're gonna give your dad and me a heart attack!
Aro—Have some Tiramisu instead... its safer for Charlie.
Charlotte—You men are such babies! She's a grown woman, leave her alone! Hi sweetie... we miss you so much!
Maria – Yes we do!
Sue—Anyway, all of us wanted to contribute something special for your birthday, even though you've asked us repeatedly not to get you something.
Charlotte—You never listen to us on our birthdays and always get us something, so why should we listen to you?
Peter—Of course sending all of us in a box for your birthday was the first option on our list...
Aro—There is no way I am sharing a box with these clowns. I take my own box, Bella mia!
Peter— That's because he's too fat to fit in with the rest of us.
Charlotte—Great, my husband is going to get run over by a lawnmower tomorrow.
Aro—I think I use the weed hacker instead... it will take longer.
Peter—Bring it on!
Maria—Boys, boys! Silencio ¡Ay de mí!
Sue—ANYWAY... I know we couldn't send you ourselves, so instead we gathered up a sum of cash for your birthday and had it wired directly into your account which should be arriving today.
Charlotte— It should be more than enough to replace the clothes you lost, and then some so you can go shopping or wherever you like to buy a new wardrobe fit for a talented and beautiful 21 year old.
Charlie—We only ask that you take lots and lots of pictures in return so we can all see and experience Austria vicariously through you.
Marcus—I don't have to see them, I've already been there. And I know I won our little bet... remember our terms. I expect you to honor them. I told you everyone there your age spoke English.
Charlie—What bet? What terms?
Marcus—Happy birthday, cantante! Gute Nacht! (Marcus has left the chat-room)
Charlotte— Have a wonderful birthday, sweet pea, and give us a call sometime so we can all hear your lovely voice once again. Bye dear! 3 (Charlotte has left the chat-room)
Peter—Check ya later, little Monkey! Or should I say big Monkey? Lol! (Peter has left the chat-room)
Aro—Good night, Bella! Ciao! (Aro has left the chat-room)
Charlie—Have a good one Pumpkin, I love you. Call us soon. (Charlie has left the chat-room)
Sue: So there you have it, sweetie. I hope it made you smile... and don't worry. Nothing was cut out... but don't tell your father that. I really do hope you have a good birthday and remember that I love you as if you were my own. Night! (Sue has left the chat-room)
Bella scrolled to the bottom giggling at her family's bickering about her. She remembered having a stitch in her side from laughing so hard. It was the best birthday gift they could have given her... without all the money they sent her for the new wardrobe. She sighed and continued to read the next letter she sent.
To: Sue Skylark
From: Bella Swan
Date and Time: September 13th 8:00PM
Subject: Re: Happy Birthday
Sue,
First of all, thank so much for my email. I don't think I could catch my breath from laughing so hard. It was perfect!
Secondly, what were you all thinking?! Why did you send me so much money! You all are lucky I'm over here right now, because you're going to get a serious butt whopping when I get home! It was excessive... but very much appreciated nonetheless, no matter how much I complain. Thank you.
Finally, I am grateful but also highly tempted to use this money to buy something random like a camel rather than having to endure going shopping again with Angela... at least the camel would love me back... clothing won't. Although... you don't see many camels in Austria. Perhaps a dog, then.
Either way, I would forgo wearing clothes at all, if I could. That way I wouldn't have to deal with fashion police everywhere I go... but of course, it would result in me being locked in solitary confinement with the other nudists and let me tell you... there are just some people that shouldn't take their clothes off in public.
Like the old man sun bathing the other day wearing a thong bottom at the community pool. I almost bleached my eyes from seeing a little too much Mozart balls, if you know what I mean!
Anyway, thanks for the email and the laughs. That was the best birthday gift of all. I love you all too sooooo much, and I promise to write back again soon.
Sincerely with love,
Bella
To: Charlotte O'Donnell
From: Bella Swan
Date and Time: October 15th 2011, 1:09 AM
Subject: Congratulations!
Hey Lottie,
I just got off the phone with Charlie and he told me the wonderful news! How's your newborn little girl? Does she have yours or Pete's eyes and hair? I'll bet she's beautiful! I can't wait to meet my new little sergeant sister! You and Peter we always like a second family for me along with Sue, of course. I'm so happy for both of you and I hope you send me pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.
Another reason I wanted to write you is because I had to tell someone and I'm not ready for Charlie and Sue to know yet... I met someone the other night at a dance club. His name is Jake (Jacob) and he's a musical theater major at the university. He asked me to dance then took me home and had coffee the following morning. I never laughed so hard in my life, Lottie. He's so funny and laid back...
Jake has become a great friend and it we have a lot in common. He is nineteen, but looks like he's twenty-five because he towers over me by a foot!
Today he asked me to be his date for the Halloween party at Sam place in two weeks. I told him I'd think about it. What should I do? I think he likes me, but I'm not sure how I feel about him yet.
Anyhow, I hope you are happy and taking care of yourself, and keeping Peter in line of course. I miss you both. Please write me soon!
Your other daughter,
Bella
P.S. Don't forget I want pictures!
To: Bella Swan
From: Charlotte O'Donnell
Date and Time: October 16th 2011, 3:10 AM
Subject: I know it's late/early but I can't sleep anyways
Bella,
Warning: I'm running on very little sleep, sugar, so my answers may be blunt and to the point because Bree is keeping me up at all hours of the day. I think I've forgotten what a full night of sleep feels like after only a short time.
I've attached a few photos Peter took of us once we came back from the hospital. One is of Bree sleeping on me, and I look like I want to murder him with his camera because I look like the Crypt keeper. Don't pay attention to me in the other pictures. Note for future reference, you are not at your most beautiful after giving birth... anything anyone else tells you is utter BS, darling!
Bree is everything we hoped and prayed for. She took her sweet time to get here, but the point is she's here now and we couldn't be happier. She looks just like Peter. If she didn't come out of me, I'd wonder who the mother was. But she has my southern charm, of course. Or she will, if I have anything to say about it!
About this boy Jake you speak of. It sounds to me like you're unsure whether to move forward and get to know him on a more personal level because you're still hung up on somebody else. Am I right?
Well here's my advise today, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, sweet pea. If this boy is interested in you and you think you connect in some way which could develop into something more in the future, GO FOR IT! If you're worried about age difference, honey, age is just a number! And truth be told... if you like the man for who he is, then it shouldn't make a difference if he's two years younger or twenty years older. (That's talking in extremes of course. Don't go looking for a sugar daddy now, and blame me!)
You know Peter is four years younger than me... so you know how I feel on the matter. And trust me, I feel my age having a baby at thirty-eight, especially now with no sleep, but Pete still calls me beautiful. I can just see you rolling your eye right now and calling me foolish, that man has love goggles or somethin', cause I really do look like the living dead!
Anyway, I think you should go on this date and get to know Jake better. And just wait a while before things get steamy in the bedroom, if you know what I mean. You're young, darling, and you're allowed to have fun and be free spirited. The mother hen inside me is also telling you to be careful and protect yourself. Don't go off having unprotected sex with whoever catches your eye, be it Jake or someone else. I know you're smart enough to know that, but I just had to say it no matter how red you're blushing now.
You may not be my real daughter, Bella, but you've been the only one I've had for the past sixteen years. I've watched you grow up into a beautiful mature young lady. I know you'll do the right thing when the time comes...
One last thing before I crash at the desktop again, Peter and I have talked it over and there is no one else we want more than you to be the Godmother of our little girl, Bree Isabel O'Donnell. We hope you'll accept, but no pressure if you think the responsibility is too great. Let us know when you're ready. We'll still love you no matter what.
With love,
Lottie, Pete, and Bree
To: Charlotte O'Donnell
From: Bella Swan
Date and Time: October 29th 2011, 6:00 PM
Subject: I'm so honored
Lottie,
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write back. My work load has increased ten fold and I find it difficult to find the time to write anyone these days. In fact, you were first on my list of people I wanted to write first.
Oh, God. When I read your last email I cried. Trust me they were happy tears, but once I started I couldn't stop. Lottie you and Peter have always been like the aunt and uncle I never had. All of you are my family and I can't tell you how honored and touched I was to read that you want me as Bree's Godmother and that you named her after your mother and me.
To say it bluntly, YES! Over and over again, yes. I only hope I can be as good a mentor to Bree as you both have been for me. If only I could be there for the first year of her life, and watch her grow up. You're definitely right, she does look exactly like Peter... but I see part of you inside her too. She has your grace and poise... definitely another southern belle in the making. I'm sure she'll have the wisdom and cooking abilities of her mother mixed in with her fathers playfulness and green thumb. A perfect combination of both.
I took your advice about Jake. No we haven't slept together and I'm far off from wanting to just hop in the sack with someone. But let me tell you the idea has crossed my mind, which is surprising given my life long devotion I've had to you know who.
I won't lie... a part of me is still holding on to the fantasy that he will someday notice me and treat me different than all the others before me. And now I can hear your voice in my head telling me, 'it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.' (By the way, I think Albus Dumbledore said that before you... sorry.)
Anyway, Jake is taking me out for Halloween in a few days. He promised me it won't be at another loud obnoxious club so I'll still have my earring the following morning. Wish me luck. I think I'm being forced to go as Belle from "Beauty and the Beast," and Jake will obviously be the Beast. Note that this was not my idea so the cheesy pictures you will be receiving afterwards are not my fault so tell Peter not tease me! (Not that that's stopped him in the past...)
XOXO,
Bella
Bella jumped a little when she heard a knock at the door and pressed shut down on her desktop screen. Once the screen shut off, she got off the chair and fixed the sleeves of her costume which was a replica of Belle's yellow ball gown for the Halloween party tonight. She borrowed it from Leah who told her she went as Belle last year, and that she would hurt Bella if any harm came to the dress.
No pressure or anything... Bella thought.
The door knocked once again and she opened the door to Jacob's tall form filling the doorway to her dorm room.
"Wow. Bells, you look—beyond stunning. I think Disney would hire you to play Belle if you ever wanted to change careers," Jacob smirked and grabbed her hand to give it a soft kiss.
"Thanks, but no thanks. I've no desire to dress up in costumes for a living... unlike some people I know Mr. Musical Man."
"Actually, it's the Beast... Mr. Beast if you so choose. And your chariot awaits dear lady. After you!"
Bella smiled and turned around to close the door behind her, then took Jacob's arm as he led her down the stairs to walk to Sam's apartment two buildings away.
So far so good... Bella thought. Just relax... have fun. It won't kill you.
Halloween: Manhattan, NY: The Official Haunted Mansion Party
This is killing me! Emmett thought as his friend Mike hung like a dead weight on his right shoulder almost spilling his own drink.
"Em man, this party is a-mazing, bro!" Mike's breath smelled of Grey Goose and Cranberry. It was all Emmett could do to keep himself from shouting in Mike's ear to buzz off.
"Yeah, amazing," Emmett said blankly while eying up all the skimpy revealing costumes inside the room that looked more like lingerie then clothing.
He, along with twenty some other of his friends, whom he paid for to get into the Haunted Mansion tonight, all agreed to dress up as vampires from different eras. His costume was the most casual of them all with his designer jeans from his last modeling gig, and an open black button down shirt which revealed his chest and drops of fake blood that dripped down from his fanged mouth onto his neck, chest, and hard flat stomach.
Every female in the room desired him... but he only had eyes for one vixen tonight and she was currently dancing with another man on the dance floor. Every curve of her body was perfection... her eyes were covered by an ivy mask and her golden blonde hair was shimmering under the mood lighting above the dance floor. She looked like a siren calling out to him so he could meet his death upon the rocks.
She is the most beautiful women I have ever seen... and she's going to be mine.
He continued to stare longingly at her while she moved, until she looked up and made eye contact with him for the first time. Then she smiled.
KLUNK, I'm dead.
Her eyes never left his as she moved like liquid silk in her green-goddess-vixen-like outfit. He didn't care who or what she was dress up as, all he cared about was sinking his fangs into that juicy dish! The music suddenly changed, he saw her thank her dance partner then instead of walking over to Emmett, decided to give him one final seductive smile then head in the other direction.
So that's how it's gonna be, is it? No way that's all I'm getting tonight you minx! You're going to be mine!
He unhooked Mikes heavy drunken arm from around his neck then started off after the blonde bombshell before she got away. Emmett followed her trail with keen hunting abilities to sniff her out like a hound dog... but she was no where in sight.
What the hell? Did she just evaporate into thin—
"Looking for me?" a sultry deep voice purred in his ear and caused him to practically jump out of his skin. He recovered himself before turning around to see the very same siren grinning victoriously for winning her little game of cat and mouse.
"I should be asking you the same question," Emmett quipped back and before she got the chance to respond, he slid his hand down her waist and pulled her into his body, "but since you asked first... I was looking for something... your name?"
"Is that all?" she drawled back, and Emmett nodded and smiled, letting his palms move on the curve of her hourglass shaped hips to the curve of her back while slowly moving against her. "I thought that answer would be obvious to most of the men in this room... you apparently never read your comic books as a kid," she teased and let her long fingers trail down from his shoulders to his chest.
"Never. My mother didn't believe in books with pictures in them. She forced me to read stuff like Moby Dick, and—" he breathed in a shuttering breath when her fingers reached his treasure trail on his stomach, "Treasure Island..." he moaned... and let his head rest on her forehead.
She was wearing at least five or six inch heels and so she was almost the same height as him. He'd never seen a woman other than a stripper dance in shoes so high, and he started to wonder about her profession. She obviously felt comfortable wearing these heels and she had a rockin' hot body...
Hmm... wouldn't Mom be proud if I brought home a stripper and told her she was going to be my soul mate and the mother of my children...
"Well then, in that case I better enlighten you, vamp boy... they call me Poison... Poison Ivy. Hence all the vines and greenery you see before you."
He leaned back for a moment to get a better picture of her up close. She had a green corset with tight laced booty shorts and fishnet stalkings and silver high heals. Her chest was painted with flowers and vines going all around her back and arms like she was being attacked by plants. Then he looked up to her face and saw her luscious ruby red lips and sky blue eyes behind a green ivy mask.
"You're exquisite and by far the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen," Emmett groaned and squeezed the Poison Ivy girl closer to his growing erection as they started to grind into each other, their lips almost touching.
Emmett had never been so crazy for another woman in his entire life and all his wished to do right now was kiss the heck out of this woman until he almost suffocated from lack of wanting to come up for air.
"Beware... they say my kiss is toxic, you might not survive," she whispered almost brushing her lips against his. Suddenly he gripped the sides of her arms with desperation and told her quickly before crashing his mouth to hers, "Then I'll just have to change you into a vampire first."
They kissed abundantly without restraint or care of being in a crowded room full of people. They continued to kiss into the next song... and the song after that. Finally coming up for air and both panting like they ran a marathon, Poison Ivy gave one final peck on Emmett's sated lips and thanked him for the dance... then walked off the dance floor leaving him stunned.
Wait... that's it? No! Emmett's mind screamed at him, and his body pulled him forward to find the woman of his dreams again inside this crowded room full of costumed people.
This is the second time I've chased after this chick in one night... this never happens! I'm always the one to walk away first, dammit!
He looked for her everywhere but she had miraculously vanished again.
How does she do that? Emmett thought. But he wasn't going to give up so easily, not yet.
He ran down the stairs onto the street to see if she was outside, but all he could see were a bunch of cabs parked waiting for drunken people to catch a ride home.
Shit, she's gone.
"Looking for me?"
"SHIT!" Emmett jumped in the air and put his hand over his heart to catch his breath and stop his pulse from jumping out of his veins. "Jesus, woman you can't sneak up on a guy like that. This is New York!"
"Awe... scared little rich boy afraid of the dark?" She laughed melodically and lightly tapped his cheek playfully. "Well I promise not to bust a cap in your ass... if you tell me why you keep following me." She raised her eyes knowingly and crossed her arms over her chest, making her cleavage puff up and making the situation in Emmett's pants a serious problem.
"Who says I was looking for you?" Emmett crossed his arms right back across his chest, knowing that two can play at this cat and mouse game.
"Oh, well if that's all, then have a nice life, vamp boy," Poison Ivy said flicking her blonde locks off her shoulder and raising her hand up to hail a cab which was there in less than a millisecond.
"WAIT!" Emmett said grabbing her raised hand and pulling her back protectively into his chest, "Gimme your name," he whispered into her face... smelling the seductive scent of flowers and vanilla in her hair.
"I already did... Emmett Cullen," she whispered back with her sweet breath fanning over his face. Emmett was suddenly taken back by his immediate change from nonchalant to desperately wanting her in a matter of nanoseconds just from the thought of this woman getting away from him.
"It hardly seems fair that you know my name when I don't know yours," he growled bringing his lips down to the nape of her neck, causing her breath to hitch as well.
I know I have the same effect on her that she has on me... why is she fighting me so hard? I've never met a women so insufferable in my entire life! Fuck, I want her!
"I'm sure you'll find someone to help you get over it... you always do," she moaned in reply causing Emmett to slightly grimace in return.
Shit she does know me. But from where?
"How can I think of someone else, when all I want is you?" he gave her his usual line and sinker but instead of falling into his grasp like all the other vixens before her, she bit his neck causing him to hiss in pleasure and in pain, then used that as a momentary distraction to get away from his grasp.
"Wait! I want to see you again. Where can I find you?" Emmett said leaning into the window of the cab afraid she was going to be gone for good after tonight.
"St. Jude Hospital on 14 Penn Plaza. You want to see me again, prove it." With that she closed the open window and the cab sped off down the dark street leaving Emmett alone on the curb.
Damn. She's good. But she's not getting away from me this time. I will find you.
To: Charlotte O'Donnell
From: Bella Swan
Date and Time: November 2nd 2011, 3:00 PM
Subject: New best friend... maybe more
Lottie,
I can't begin to tell you everything that's been going on... so much, but I'll try. Lottie, Jake is amazing! He's quickly become my best friend out here next to Angela. He's so attentive, and caring, and he listens to everything I have to say. I've never had a guy pay attention to me the way he does... like what I have to say matters. Only thing that bothers me is that he never lets me pay for anything... and it's starting to feel like we were dating, you know? But for now we're just having fun together.
Of course I told Jake my life story over some Long Island ice tea at Halloween. Now he apparently thinks I never had fun growing up... which I suppose is true to some extent. Compared to the people I've met here, I'm practically a Nun!
You know I never partied or went out on dates when I was a kid. But I never felt I was missing out either. I had you guys and I loved spending time with all my friends and family... watching the world from my tree. But now I'm living in the world on the ground and it's just a little bit... scary.
Jake said he's going to teach me how to let loose and have fun. Whatever that means?
I'm nervous, Lottie. I like him... I'm definitely not in love with him, not yet at least. I guess it's too soon to tell.
One thing I did though after one drink to many, is I told Jake about Emmett on Halloween. But instead of making a big thing about it, Jake said that Emmett is an idiot for not noticing someone like me right under his nose, and that he wouldn't make the same mistake Emmett did. Jake told me this quote, I think by Eleanor Roosevelt, "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself."
I like that one... there are others he's told me but I can't remember them off the top of my head. He said I should read up on her life because she had lots of good philosophies regarding life and women, too. All my friends here say I need to work on my self-esteem more and self-image.
Leah said the other day, "it's good to dress how you feel on this inside. If you feel beautiful inside it will show in what you wear..." I guess I'm not there yet.
I still haven't used the exorbitant about of money you all sent me for my new wardrobe. But maybe I'll find time over the winder break.
It's getting colder here... and it's almost time to start wearing my heavy winter clothes again so at least I know Angela can't throw any of those out because my winter outfits are supposed to hide and protect my body!
She is a good friend though, no matter how much I complain or whine about her... she's always been there when I need her. I think Charlie was right... I will be sad when I leave here next year. Austria is already starting to grow on me and so are the people.
Anyway, I hope you all are still doing well and know that I think of you often.
XOXO,
Bella
New York, NY: November 5th, 2011: St. Jude Hospital
It took Emmett long enough, but finally almost a week later he found out who the infamous Poison Ivy was. Now all he had to do was go looking for her at the place she told him where he could find her after she drove away taking a piece of him with her.
Once her cab was out of sight, the first thing Emmett did was go back inside to the party and asked everyone he could find if they new the name of the woman wearing the Poison Ivy costume... but to his dismay and frustration, lots of people remembered her, but nobody knew her real name.
So that was a dead-end...
Then he was starting to think of options to go on the manhunt to find this woman... she would not get the better of him. He didn't care if he had to comb the city. He would find her.
Option one, would be to hire a hacker to search the data base of St. Jude Hospital, one by one. Of course, that only narrowed the search down to around a hundred people who work there who have the exact same description of Poison Ivy... give or take a few. So that option was out.
Option two, hire a private eye have him do all the dirty work to find the woman... but he had nothing but a costume and a basic description and where she worked to go on. That's the same idea as the stupid database thing. Brilliant Em... get it together!
Option three: he could go in person and just start wandering the halls looking for her. Only problem was he didn't even know what job or area of the hospital to start looking, and that place was huge!
What kind of job did she have here? Was she a doctor, a nurse, a freaking janitor, or what!
Suddenly images of his dream girl in a sexy nurses uniform giving him a 'treatment' was flooding his mind and going straight downstairs to his other brain.
Shit, who the hell was she?
She knew him that's for sure... or at least she knew of him. She must have heard of his reputation for women too which is why she was playing hard to get.
I suppose she had too much self-respect to have a one night stand with me, or else she wouldn't have left me outside in the cold that night with a raging hard on that could have stopped a train.
Damn, me and my weakness for blondes always got me and my cock into trouble.
Time passed slowly and his mind couldn't leave the spicy vixen from Halloween for long...
There was only one other option he could come up with and damn all mighty if it wasn't his last resort, because he certainly wasn't the first person on Emmett's list to ask for help.
He knew he'd never hear the end of it if he asked Edward to help him search for this chick because he had much better things to do than help his brother get laid.
Actually, it's Ed that needs help more than I do getting into someone's panties... But wait, maybe I don't have to ask Ed... what if Dad knows someone who works at St. Jude?
His dad had all the same connections as Edward, if not more.
Well it was worth a shot.
Emmett stepped into the elevator for St. Jude Hospital after asking the nurse at the front desk which floor to go to and pressed number four, while he remembered the conversation he had with this father after he got back from his golfing trip.
"Yo, Pops. How was the green today?" Emmett said casually while plopping down loudly onto his father's leather couch inside his study.
"Very nice weather today. It's a shame you couldn't join us out there. The grass was perfect, and there was a good breeze. It really drove the ball far, I made a par three!" Carlisle beamed proudly and Emmett smiled with giving his Dad a knock on the shoulder.
"I always knew you could go pro if you wanted to, Pops. You still could you know," Emmett smiled back at his father and Carlisle shook his head and smiled knowingly.
"Enough with the flattery, son. What can I do for you?" Carlisle said smiling and putting his paper down, knowing the methods his son always used when he wanted something.
Emmett laughed and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and leaned back in the sofa getting more comfortable. "Nothing. I was just curious if you knew anyone who worked at St. Jude, that's all."
Carlisle furrowed his brow curiously and lowered his reading glasses, "Why do you ask?"
Emmett leaned back and put both of his arms on the back of the sofa and stretched out trying to look nonchalant, "I just met someone last weekend and forgot their name is all, I was curious if maybe you knew her," Emmett crossed his leg over his knee then looked back to his father who looked more than little intrigued as his question.
"Which St. Jude Hospital? New York, L.A..." Carlisle started listing off but Emmett stopped him before they got off track.
"New York. You know someone there?" Emmett asked hopefully, leaning forward and failing at faking being nonchalant 101.
"Yes," Carlisle said simply shrugging then putting his paper back up to read the rest of the business column, waiting for his son to take the bait.
"Well? Who?"
"The daughter of one of my good friends. I played golf with him today, actually... funny how you would have met if you had come along," Carlisle smiled deviously behind his paper knowing the next time they played golf, Emmett would be sure to join them.
FUCK, Emmett thought. I'm sitting here on the edge of my seat and my father is just dangling a carrot right in front of me... shit, at least Edward would have forgone the guilt trip. But now I'll have to go golfing with him next time in case this friend of his shows up again.
"I guess I'll have to join the next time.. you know how I hate it when you beat me all the time, it's just embarrassing after the hundredth time." despite what Carlisle said, flattery always worked for him when it came to getting something from his parents. They just don't like to admit it, he thought.
"Well actually, Eleazar beat me today. So I'm no longer undefeated. But if you practice hard enough at something, you're bound to improve. You never will beat me if you don't get out there and try," Carlisle mention over the top of his news paper, fully aware he'd giving the first name of the young ladies father to see if it rang a bell with Emmett. But Emmett's face remained furrowed and confused.
Eleazar? Eleazar, what? Have I met him before? Have I met her before and didn't know it? It would explain why she knows me so well... or not so well. I'm pretty sure I would have remembered getting a piece of that if I had before.
"What's Eleazar's last name?" Emmett asked looking to draw his father's attention off the daughter for the time being so it didn't seem like Emmett was one track minded.
"Hale," Carlisle said simply, "You know... of Hale Electronics. The global company your brother's been trying to cut a deal with for ages but Eleazar is still holding him out on a limb."
"Why don't you convince Eleazar to merge with CCC since you're such good pals with him? Why make Edward do all the dirty work?"
"Well, it's not my company anymore, son. I've turned the reigns over to him, but no matter how good of friends I am with Eleazar, you never mix business with pleasure. It always gets you into trouble. Our friendship isn't based on business... which is why we choose not to discuss any of it on the green. It's a mutual understanding," Carlisle explained to his son, hopping he got the picture that a relationship with Eleazar's daughter could potentially make it difficult or easy for him and Edward... depending if the relationship went well or sour. He wasn't entirely sure... but he thought it fair to warn him.. hoping he took the hint. Because knowing his son, the latter was more probable.
Alright, enough beating around the bush. I get it. Don't mix business with pleasure, blah blah. I just want to find this girl and make her mine.
"So who's Eleazar's daughter?"
"Dr. Rosalie Hale, pediatrician. She's a good doctor, so I hear."
A doctor... so that rules out the stripper profession. But dang that woman could dance well in those high heels.
"Thanks, Pop! I see you for dinner tonight. Mom said we're suppose to try out some new chef tonight since our usual one in on maternity leave."
"Yes, I'm aware. It will be hard to replace Charlotte, but Peter tells me she'll be taking a few months off. See you tonight son. Oh, and Em? Be careful with Rose, she's a real firecracker."
Don't I know it! Emmett thought after he nodded his head and took out his phone to see if he could schmooze a nurse into finding out when Rosalie would be working next.
The elevator door dinged as it reached the fourth floor and Emmett stepped out of the lift dressed to kill in his designer jeans and loose white button down shirt with pin stripes, and a bouquet of red roses clenched in his right hand.
He strutted to the front desk and gave the receptionist his panty dropping smile with dimples and sweetly asked, "Excuse me, but is Dr. Hale here?"
"Uh—uh—" the average looking lady wasn't prepared for Emmett's full charm, but she was suddenly interrupted when she heard a voice coming from behind the God standing in front of her.
"Looking for me?"
Emmett was prepared this time and smiled knowingly to himself from having victoriously found the woman he'd been craving for the past week.
"Not anymore," Emmett turned around slowly lifting his eyebrows playfully, "Poison Ivy. Or should I say, Dr. Rosalie Hale?" He held out the bouquet of flowers to her and she took them reluctantly before huffing in frustration.
"Congratulations. You've found me, Emmett Cullen... but I'm in the middle of working and—"
"When do you get off?" Emmett interrupted, tired of this woman trying to evade him and playing hard to get. He knew she wanted him... he could tell by the way she kissed him the other night. If she thought he was giving up so easily, she would be sorrily mistaken.
"Six," she said raising her eyebrow challenging him to see if he would actually wait for two hours until she finished work.
"I'll be waiting for you outside by the yellow Porsche. If you want to have dinner with me tonight, gorgeous, meet me there. I'll wait all night if I have to," he smiled his confident grin at her before placing a sweet kiss on her cheek, then left for the elevator to go downstairs and make arrangements for them tonight for dinner on the family yacht on the East River.
Two and a half hours later... Emmett was pacing outside the hospital by his illegally parked car so he wouldn't miss Rosalie on her way out the door. Unless she took a back exit in order to evade him and reject him silently, rather than to his face. He was cracking his knuckles inside his fist, becoming more and more anxious by the minute until he turned around just in time to see a vision in white before him.
Rosalie looked showered, fresh, and dressed exquisitely in a white cocktail dress with Jimmy Choo white pumps and a white trench coat with a red scarf. Her red roses in one had and a clutch in the other.
"You look worried, Cullen. Afraid I wasn't going to show up?" she grinned cunningly enjoying the look of relief on Emmett's face.
Emmett laughed and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, "Hell, I was just worried the parking cop guy was gonna come back and not believe my story that my 90-year-old grandmother was coming out of the hospital doors and couldn't make it down the street to the parking garage. So hurry it up granny, before he comes back and sees I'm a dirty rotten liar!"
Emmett grabbed Rosalie's elbow and brought her closer to the car and opened the door for her so she could climb in, but before she did, she turned her head in his direction and gave him a soft and tender kiss.
The kiss shocked Emmett to pieces! He figured after all her evasiveness and unenthusiastic attitude inside the hospital, it seemed like he was going to have to work hard tonight just to earn a kiss... and yet here she was kissing him before the night even started.
My God, this woman is a mystery! And Goddamn if I don't love every second of it!
Rosalie slowly pulled away from the kiss and looked up into Emmett's startled but satisfied face and whispered to him, "That's just in case I forget to tell you I had a wonderful time tonight," then she got into the sports car and waited for Emmett to come out of his Rosalie induced stupor.
Holy. Mother. Of. God. Emmett thought. I'm in so much trouble.
I hope you continue you read and enjoy. Let me know your thoughts. Lots more to come tomorrow!