Chapter 3: A Day In The Life Of…

XOXOXOXO

My dreams that night were images, vague and distorted. Nothing made sense. I woke up with a pair of green eyes staring at me from the inside of my eyelids. Some unknown emotion had woken me up and I was breathing heavily, my heart racing.

I really didn't have to get up for another hour or two, but I knew that sleep would elude me and didn't feel like wasting time. I stretched and winced in pain, completely forgetting my ankle. It all seemed like a twisted dream now. I'd been completely lost in my mind last night and hadn't even taken the doctor's notes from out of my pocket.

I sat up and threw the covers off of me. The plastic bag of ice had fallen to the floor last night and melted into water. I took care as to not step on it and make another mess to clean up. I hobbled my way over to the bathroom and did my morning routine. I looked over to the mass of clothes still in my closet and groaned. Damn it, I do not want to do this.

I carefully made my way to the closet and began picking things up and hanging them back on their hangers.

Well, since I'm doing this, I might as well do some spring cleaning. Hmm, what can I get rid of?

I spent a good amount of time going through the massive pile. When I was done, half of the pile was thrown on my bed and the other half was in my closet. I resigned myself to eat breakfast before I started on my dresser.

I grabbed the crutches and made my way into the kitchen, thinking of what I was going to eat. Pancakes? French Toast?

I'd completely forgotten that I didn't have half of the ingredients to make either of those things. Looks like it's time to get my paycheck and do some grocery shopping.

I quickly changed clothes, trying my hardest to keep from moving my ankle at all, and brushed my teeth.

Honestly, I didn't want to hobble into work with my new injury, but I knew I'd have to get it over with and the sooner it was done, the better. I wrapped up my hair in a messy bun and trudged out of the bathroom. My coworkers shouldn't care what I looked like on my day off. If they did, well, fuck 'em.

I grabbed my things and crutched out the door.

I wished I could have said that my trip to the mall was eventful, but it wasn't. It was boring as usual until I walked inside Fuego and everyone stopped to stare at me.

"Oh my God, Bella! What happened?" Jen asked as I entered the store. She was a short Asian woman with shoulder-length black hair and expressive eyes. We'd become close since she'd started working there, becoming fast friends.

"You don't want to know, but I'll be alright. I brought in my doctor's notes. I can still work, but I can't lift anything heavy for a while." I told her while pulling out the papers Jessica had given me last night.

She gave me a sympathetic look and said, "Galen's in the office. We're pretty slow, so he should be able to talk to you."

I mumbled my thanks and made my way towards the office in the back. I knocked lightly on the door and waited for it to open.

Galen was a blonde, blue-eyed middle age man who wore glasses and was considerably taller than I was. He always bragged about being in the military and how he was training to be a doctor.

If he really wanted to be a doctor, then how did he end up in this shit hole doing customer service?

Don't get me wrong, I loved my job, but it was not what I wanted to do in life. Hell, I didn't even know yet what I really wanted to do with my life.

The door swung open and there was Galen, standing in front of me, wearing his signature stupid-ass grin. "Ah, Bella, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

I shivered with disgust. "I'm actually just here to pick up my check and to give you a copy of these papers." Is he so slow that he didn't even realize that I was leaning on crutches?

It took him a moment to see my ankle, but when he did, he faked alarm. "Oh no! What happened to you? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fantastic, but my ankle's sprained pretty badly. The doctor said I'm not supposed to stand on it for too long or put any unnecessary weight on it."

"Oh, that sounds horrible. I'm sorry."

"So if I could just have you copy these papers and get my check, I'll be off." Why didn't he understand that I didn't want to be here all fucking day?!

"Sure thing, come on in." He answered as he opened the door wider for me to enter.

I plopped down on the closest chair and passed the crutches to my side. "I can still work; it's just that I shouldn't stay on my feet for too long or lift anything heavy for a couple of weeks." I knew he secretly hated me and wondered if he'd make me lose hours because of my injury.

"But these are your doctor's notes here?" he asked me.

No, they're from my dad, excusing me from your shit.

"Yes. I need the originals, but if you could take the copies for corporate, I'd greatly appreciate it."

Must remember to not use big words in his presence, it might confuse him.

He took the papers from me, turned to the copier and began duplicating the pages. Once that was running smoothly, he turned to the safe and plucked out my check. He waited until I had signed the appropriate forms before handing it to me. The whole exchange took only a few minutes but the air in the room was awkward and uncomfortable. He was singing something under his breath, attempting to show off. It didn't work.

Galen thought that he was a talented singer. I'd heard him sing on more occasions than I could count, and, honestly, he couldn't hum a tune worth a fuck. He'd bragged that he was the number one singer in Europe. I couldn't help but think that it was probably the deaf part of Europe that he'd sung in. Or maybe a remote part of the continent, one that didn't really count as a country or some shit like that. I knew that I wasn't the only person who thought his singing was shit, my coworkers and I had bets on if Galen would try to audition for "American Idol". I was betting that since he was so pompous, he would try out and magnificently fail. The pot was growing exponentially and the winner would take home around $200.

I was jostled out of my musings when Galen handed me back the original papers. I stashed everything into my pocket, ready to get the fuck out of there.

I stood up and exited the office, with Galen right behind me.

"Thanks, Galen. I'll see you tomorrow."

He nodded and turned in the opposite direction from me, heading into the back room while I headed out the front. I could still hear him singing in the back and I shook my head and chuckled.

"Hey, Jen, can you do me a favor?" She looked at me and nodded her head.

"Can you talk to Shonna later and make sure that she knows that I'd still very much like to work? I don't think Galen will tell her that I can still do my job."

"Sure, I can do that. Anything for you, sweets."

I told her thanks and we said our goodbyes, me trying to get the hell out of Dodge as soon as possible. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until my stomach growled at me.

I exited the mall parking lot and made my way to the bank, eager to get some money in my pockets and some food in my system.

It was turning out to be a nice day, just as the weather forecaster had said. I ached to go to the park and just relax in the sunlight - my tan had been seriously lacking as of late - and I needed to fix that, pronto. But I had other things that needed to be tended to and I was nothing if not responsible.

Making my way back from the bank, I decided to pick something up from the deli at the grocery store. I could snack and shop at the same time. At least, I thought I could.

It turns out that it isn't advisable to use a shopping cart and attempt to eat chicken strips while hopping around on one foot. Go figure.

Because I was eating something greasy, I didn't want to wrap my fingers around the cart's handle bar. So I used the heel of my hands to push, often sending the cart too far out in front of me, making me have to jump after it. I looked like an idiot.

I actually laughed while trying to picture what I looked like to other people. Add that to the list of craziness and I might as well just be locked up for acting like a loon.

In short, it wasn't a good idea for me to be grocery shopping at the moment. I filled the prescription that Dr. Cullen had given me and decided that I would just order out from my apartment until I could fully walk again.

I left the near-empty cart at the pharmacy and crutched back to my truck, resigned at not being able to really do anything else today. I could try to tan later when the sun would hit my back deck. One of the many perks about my apartment was that it had a fantastic view of the sunset from time to time.

As soon as I reached my building, I briefly panicked at how I would get up the stairs again. Sure, I'd gotten down the stairs safely, doing the same thing as I had last night. But now Edward wasn't here to help me get up the stairs like he had before.

Well, Edward isn't here to pick you up now, is he? You'll just have to find a way up all by yourself. You are a big girl, Bella, time to be resourceful.

I stuck the small bag the pharmacy had given me down my shirt, wedging it between one of my boobs and my bra.

"It's only three stories Bella, nothing too much. You'll be safest at the top, Bella, no one can break in!" I mumbled to myself, thinking back to why Charlie had suggested the top floor.

I hopped up the first step, bringing the crutches with me afterwards to stabilize myself once I made it safely.

Only twenty thousand more of those! Jeez, by the time my ankle's healed, I'll have the calves of an Olympic Gymnast.

It took me a half an hour, but I finally made it to the top. Sweat was practically dripping down my face and I was so out of breath someone would have thought that I had severe asthma. I dug through my pockets to find my keys, hoping that I didn't accidentally leave them in my truck again. Going all the way back down the stairs and then all the way back up would have surely killed me.

I made my way inside, turning off the alarm and throwing the keys down on the table quickly, while shutting the door behind me. I needed a shower, pronto. But before I could do that, there was a message on my answering machine that needed to be checked. The red number flashed at me dangerously. I knew I'd have to call Charlie to let him know what happened, but I didn't really want him to freak out about it. Forks was a bit of a distance away, and I didn't want him to worry over me needlessly. I could take care of myself.

Suuuure, that's how you ended up like this, remember?

I could hear people inside the stairwell, talking animatedly about something. I wanted to know what they were saying, but thought better of it at the last minute and headed towards the kitchen. I pressed the button on the answering machine and sat down heavily on the closest chair.

It was Jake. He'd called to ask if I wanted to go to a party with him somewhere around here. I didn't want to go, but I knew I'd have to at least be nice to him and give him a reason. I dialed his number, and it surprisingly went to voicemail. I left him a message and hung up, then dialed my father. He should definitely know about what had happened. I talked to him briefly, assuring him constantly that I'd be alright.

I pulled the prescription bag from my bra and tossed it on the counter with a disgusted look on my face. God, that was uncomfortable. I massaged where the bag had been and put my head on my hand.

I just wanted to get in the shower and relax, so that's what I decided to do. I stood up from the chair and leaned against the counter, my ankle suspended in mid-air. Pulling the prescription bottle out of the bag, I read the directions quickly. I popped two in my mouth and grabbed a nearby water bottle to wash them down with. I wasn't in as much pain as I was the night before, but it still hurt and I wasn't about to be in pain for the rest of the day.

Limping from the kitchen, I made my way to the bathroom and stripped for a shower.

I sat down on the toilet seat lid and took the first look at my ankle since last night. The skin not covered by the wrap was dark purple and puffy, while the bandage tried to keep my foot in its original form.

I winced as I rolled the cloth off, my entire foot throbbing painfully. I wiggled my toes lightly and hissed as pain shot up my entire leg.

"God damn fucking shit!" I yelled. It wasn't the best course of action at the moment, but it relieved me somehow.

Only this could happen to me, number one klutziest woman on the planet. Why didn't God just strike me down now and get it over with already?

I really craved a shower, but I still wanted at least one of my ankles to be fully functional and I knew a bath would be the safer course of action since I couldn't slip. I turned on the water and watched it cascade from the nozzle. Once it was warm enough, I pulled the stopper and watched as it began filling up with the warm liquid. I pulled myself up from the toilet seat and maneuvered into the tub, splashing lightly as I landed.

I soaked for I don't know how long, but as soon as the water was starting to make me shiver, I knew it was time to vacate the premises. I drained the water and slowly made my way up and out of the tub, my ankle protesting slightly in warning. I quickly dressed into my P.J.'s and set to work on my dresser. I thought I heard a high-pitched squealing sound, but it stopped after a few seconds and I thought nothing more of it.

Damn head injury, maybe I'm starting to hear things. I decided to wait it out and see if anything else weird happened with my hearing; then if necessary, I'd call Dr. Cullen and get checked out again.

I added more to the pile to give away and claimed a garbage bag from the kitchen. I'd end up dropping it off at the local Goodwill soon enough. With that settled, I contemplated what I should do for the remainder of the day. Hmm, should I try to tan? Should I try to read again? How about I look over that letter about the contest and see what I can come up with?

The contest spurred my ass into action and I headed back into the kitchen to read over what the letter actually said. I found it on the counter and scanned through it.

The general gist was that I had to write another project and send it in by mid-November, something completely new. I spent a few hours in front of the computer, looking over my writing and contemplating what sounded good and what didn't. Finally, my stomach rumbled at me.

Sighing, I decided to call it a night with the writing thing and just veg out. I turned from my workstation in the living room and limped the small distance to the kitchen, opening a drawer that contained only local restaurant menus. Living in Seattle was enjoyable and often brought about many different choices about what to do or where to go for dinner. I'd ventured out enough to know what places I liked and what places completely sucked, which places delivered and which places made you pay extra for the added ambiance.

I sorted through the menus, contemplating what I wanted to eat. Everything just sounded so good, that I just put them all back, shuffled them around and closed my eyes, randomly picking out one from the pile. I ended up ordering Mexican food and watching an old movie in my bedroom. After I finished eating, I placed the leftovers in the fridge, brushed my teeth and snuggled under the covers. Sleep beckoned me as I set the alarm for the morning.

XOXOXOXO

A/N: A/N: Thanks to Ellie and Amelia for being fantastic betas. Also, thanks to my mom for all of her support.

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