How To Become A Girl
Chapter Eleven
I woke up late the next day which means I also got to school late. I mean, I had to search through the box for something to wear. I found a lose long sleeve top that had purposely folded sleeves. It had a messy blue and cream stripe design. I think they call this a v-neck sweater. I also found a dark pair of jeans that was so comfortable, I didn't even think twice about wearing it. Then I put on my usual Chucks. And the day went unbearably slow, well, for most part of it actually. I mean, I have a paper due tomorrow! Plus, I kept anticipating my first day at work. I kept counting down the hours, I have left. It only made it worse when I realized that I would be spending most of my time later with Esme's son.
I had about an hour left before I need to be at the office. So, I decided to stop by Starbucks to get a cup of coffee. I am in need of it badly. I mean, I wouldn't want to be this sluggish at my first day of work now, would I? I stayed a little while in the cafe before I took a cab to get to the office.
I wasn't feeling any better. The coffee isn't helping at any rate at all. I was still lifeless when I stepped out of the cab. And my computer back was weighing on my shoulder real bad. My father had bought me a Mackbook just three months ago. I wasn't really much of a computer user, I just use this if I really needed to. But recently, my usage increased dangerously. Alice coerced me to create a facebook account and to update it all the time. Plus, all my homework was easier to do on this thing than manually on paper.
I was about to push the door lazily but a hand flashed and pushed it. Obviously, he was stronger and had more energy because he was able to push it swiftly. Must be Mr. Security. But I don't remember him from any of my two visits. But still, I had to thank him.
"Thank you." I swear my face went paler when I saw the guy. He was definitely not the security.
My ponytail whipped my back when I quickly turned my head back around.
"No problem." He said.
Heidi gave us a suspicious look before she greeted, "Hey Bella, hey Edward!" She was almost like Alice at times.
"Hey Heidi." I gave her a small smile and a wave. I saw him nod at her in my peripheral vision.
I stopped in my tracks. Edward stumbled upon me and it took all my strength, which wasn't that much, to hold still.
"I, uh, I...don't know where Esme's office is." I said, slightly laughing.
"Keep going." He whispered at me. His breath tickled my neck and sent shivers through my whole body. That made me feel weird. "Straight ahead."
I kept going straight. When we've reached the other end of the room, he told me to turn left. I turned left down the hall and we were met by a door that had the title, "Head Office, Owner, Esme Cullen."
Edward knocked thrice before opening the door. It was quite a big room. Esme was sitting behind her desk, massaging her temples. She looked up at us and her face lit up. I noticed, that was how much Edward meant to her. That was how much she loved him. That was how much he affected her. He was the only son and he took the whole spotlight in his life. Pretty much like me in my father's eyes. And I suddenly felt guilty for planning to tell Esme how bad Edward was when he was out of her sight.
She stood up to come towards us. "There's my son." She gave him a hug and he kissed her forehead.
"Bella!" She gave me a hug. I could only hold her tighter. It felt like Esme is starting to fill up a spot in my heart. She even kissed my cheek. And suddenly, I felt a surge of energy pass through my body. It wasn't an Alice kind of energy. It was enough to get me past the rest of my day.
"Esme." I greeted softly.
She smiled then pointed to the desk across the room. It was long enough to accompany two people at a time. Please tell me I'm not sharing that with Ed--
"I'm sorry. I only have one extra desk in here. Edward usually stays there but I think it's big enough to take you both." Esme started walking towards the desk with us trailing behind.
Nevermind.
"I don't mind." I smiled at her. There. That's to take a part of your worries away. You don't have to think about getting another one.
"Thank you." She held on to Edward's arm. "Okay. Let's get to work."
Edward went to settle on one side. I put my computer bag and coffee on the other and turned to Esme. She was returning to her desk.
"Let's see...I need you to fax these to this number and then, get these mimeographed. That's it for now. I'll call you if there's more." She pointed to two different folders with sticky notes on them.
Let the day begin.
I did what she asked me to. This is quite an easy job. Or maybe I shouldn't be thinking that yet. It's just my first day. It was a moment before she sent me away from my desk again. I was able to start up my computer and paper. I could see why she needed an assistant. She was on the phone the whole time I was there, just talking with different people. Or if not, she was on her computer, designing a floor plan. Heidi was entertaining people the whole time. Transferring phone calls and stuff. I had to do all the physical work.
Edward had put up his computer, too. Macbook Pro. So, Macbooks are on top of the list. I noticed. And I couldn't help but shift my eyes to what he was doing. He was watching someone get cut up. Was he a sadist of some sort?
I almost choked on my coffee when the camera zoomed in.
He turned his chair around to face me. "Are you alright?"
I put down the almost empty cup. "Yeah. I, uh, I just...I saw what you were watching."
He looked back on his screen. "Oh. I'm sorry." He closed the window. "It's for med-school."
Oh. So, no sadist mentality, then? That's good.
"Cool." I murmured then went back to my homework. What's so cool about that? I mean, I almost choked on my coffee for christsakes! Something's wrong with me...
Edward bought dinner for us, three...him, Esme and me. Esme loved him more for it. I think I softened to him even more. I'm thinking that maybe it was just the alcohol that ran through both our veins that made that night happen. I'm starting to be convinced. He doesn't seem to be that guy. I don't understand, though, how a guy like him could go out with a girl like Tanya.
Esme called me for another round of work, thank god, I'm almost done with my paper. I just need one more paragraph. And then I was able to finish it after that one round. Esme let me print it here. And then I lost track of time. Esme was going to leave already and the place was set to close in about thirty minutes. Edward brought Esme to the parking lot and was bound to return any time to get his stuff and to go home. I've packed up my stuff already. But I was feeling a whole lot tired and I just couldn't stop myself from putting my arm on the desk and resting my forehead on it. I haven't even texted Alice.
I groaned and then I fell asleep. I didn't mean to, though.
"Bella," Somebody was waking me up. "Come on, time to go home."
I was to sleepy to move. "I already called Jasper to come and get you."
Heidi called Jasper?
"Come on, Bella. Or else I'm going to have to carry you." The voice whispered.
Heidi was going to carry me? Was she crazy?
My eyes fluttered open and I sat up straight groggily.
Nope. It wasn't Heidi.
I stood up and took my bag. But it wasn't there. What the hell?
"I've got it." He said.
"Thanks." I headed for the door. But I stepped on my foot and I expected myself to fall flat on my face but Edward caught me. That woke me up.
His hands wrapped around my waist, holding me back from the fall. He turned me around in his arms. My eyes must be wide as saucers now. I could feel strands of my hair fall down on my face. I was panting. He tucked my hair behind my ears and lifted my chin so that I was facing his glorious face rather than his chest.
Okay, fine. I felt safer in his arms. Oh god! This can't be happening.
"You okay?" His eyebrows scrunched up.
I nodded and moved away from his grip. I was more alert this time, so I was able to make it to the front door safely. Heidi was just packing up and smoothing out stuff. She was about to close this place up.
"Bye Heidi." I said as I passed by her.
"Bye." She said.
Alice turned up rather than Jasper. Edward brought me to her. He even opened the door for me.
What a gentleman! What? Last time I checked, he was nowhere close to that trait.
"Thank you, Edward." Alice called from the driver side as I plopped myself on the passenger seat. Edward gently placed my bag on my lap before he closed the door. Alice rolled down the window.
"Goodnight, Bella. Goodnight, Alice." He said.
I gave him a small smile and said, "Goodnight."
Alice cheerfully gave him a goodnight greeting as well.
Maybe, he isn't so bad after all.
"So...what's up? Anything interesting happened today?" Alice started to drive.
I watched as Edward disappeared into the road.
"Nope." I shrugged.
"Come on. I can tell." She glanced at me.
"Really, Al. Nothing happened. Unless you consider falling asleep on the desk, interesting." I moved my bag to the floor.
"Fine. But seriously, Bella. You don't look so good." She shook her head.
"I'm completely fine." I told her.
She shrugged it off anyway. She dropped me off at home, gave Jasper a kiss then headed off to her home.
"Bella," He called me as I turned around.
"Yes?" I looked at him.
"Are you okay? Edward had to call..." He trailed off.
"Yep. I'm fine, Jazz. Don't worry. I just fell asleep." I shrugged.
He rubbed my shoulder then pulled me in for a hug. "You alone with Edward isn't exactly the best scene, Bella. And him, calling tonight...made us all worried. Even Emmett."
"I know, I know. Besides, Heidi was there. We weren't exactly alone." I told him.
He held me at his side as we entered the house. Emmett came running to us.
"Isobello! Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yes." I couldn't help but smile.
"Did he touch you? I swear to god, if he did..." Emmett cracked his knuckles.
"Hey. Don't hate him too much. We weren't drunk and he's not that bad, I guess. I mean he called you to pick me up, right?" I told them both.
I looked at them and they had scrunched up faces.
I chuckled. "He cares." He does. That was thrice now. First, he served me food last night and tonight. And now, he called Jasper to fetch me. Why didn't he just bring me home, anyway? He could've. But I guess, he didn't. Maybe he wanted to earn back the people's trust? Maybe...
They were dumbfounded and I just had to laugh louder.
I quickly went up, excited to put this day to rest. I took a quick refreshing bath. I was running out of normal clothes. I have to tell Dorota to bring these to the cleaners. I rummaged through the box for something to wear. There were a pair of blue shorts, but it looked like it was an undergarment, and a tank top. The shorts fit tight. I really feel like this is an underwear because it was short, too. I reached for the back to read the label. It said, "Girl Short". So it was an underwear. I rummaged through the box even more but there was nothing else that felt as comfortable, so I decided to go with it.
Someone knocked on the door and I quickly hid my body underneath the covers. If Jazz and Em saw me like this. They will tease me to hell!
Luckily, it wasn't them.
"Miss Bella. There's a phone call for you." Dorota entered the room.
"Oh really? Is it my dad? It's quite late." I asked her. She picked up the phone on my bedside table and shrugged. "Thank you, anyways."
"Goodnight, miss Bella." She closed the door behind her.
"Hello?" I greeted through the phone.
"Bella?" My dad wasn't English.
"Edward?" I asked, a little shocked.
I could hear him chuckle, "I just needed to make sure you got home safe."
Seriously? Checking up on me? Who is he kidding? Or maybe he was on a bet.
"Really?" I asked him. "Well, I'm okay. Thank you."
"Whew. That's good. Well, I shouldn't be holding you back from sleep. You need it badly. Goodnight, Bella." He said.
"Goodnight, Edward." I told him before I hung up.
Well, that was new. I had a hard time sleeping though. This is going to kill me tomorrow. Again. I can feel a routine coming. Let's give it a week.