Hello, sorry for any confusion. Bella in chapter one is heading to California and then when she goes back to where it all started she's just landed in Jackson Mississippi. I know I can be quite a confusing writer as some times I try to get my ideas out so quick they end up just mashing up and being all mushy but I am trying and will continue to try and make sense of them. (Don't actually think I'm that bad, I can string a sentence together...i hope) ha ha. This is still in her memories of how she came to be where she is now. Hope you all like and if any of you have any questions just review or pm me.
I dedicate this Chapter to a long time fan of mine and new friend Storywriterlove99 or known as Ronnie, amazing person and deserves more than a dedication on one of, in my opinion lame stories, but I appreciate the love of all fans and am sending mine to this amazing gal!
The days had started to blur together of lying out in the garden and helping Maggie with the housework. I'd looked for a job high and low and the only thing that had come up was a 6 hour shift at a local diner every Friday night, I started next week. Charlie had offered me to come into the police station and help out with some standard filing that was low paying but was Monday to Friday, seven till twelve. I took it, they were shitty hours with shitty pay but I took what I could.
So here I am, standing outside the police station finishing my fifteen minute coffee break. In one hand sat a four cup holder of coffees and a bag of sandwiches and in the other a lit cigarette which was saving my arse from being sacked on the first day. Charlie kept coming to the door with a disapproving look on his face and tapping his watch, after he did this for the fifth time I gave up and with a sigh stubbed it out before putting it in the nearby trashcan. No littering Bella, were in the company of the popo.
Smiling to myself I walked in and sat the bag and coffees on Charlie's desk before taking my own and sipping it slowly, I looked up to meet Charlie's gaze. Yep there was a lecture brewing behind those eyes.
"Maggie told me not to say anything but you're my child and I don't like to see you killing yourself with those things Bella. It's a disgusting habit and will rot your insides; I don't like it and would appreciate it if you didn't do it in front of me..." He mumbled his words out as he poured sugar and milk into his coffee, I couldn't understand him.
"Dad its hard not to do it in front of you when you come looking at me like I'm a zoo animal at the window every thirty seconds, I understand your concern but this is my choice and if I decide to quit I will do it when I'm ready." I finished with a smile so he knew I wasn't mad, he seemed sad that I wasn't going to break on this and pledge to quit then and there but he would have to live with it.
Before he could respond James walked in to grab his sandwich and a coffee, he piled a bunch of papers into my empty arms with a wink and leaned against the wall closest to me in my dad's office.
He was in his early twenties and was very good looking, blond hair shaved at the sides and long on top, his body was muscular and he had a smirk that sent shivers down my spine in such a delicious way. I was smiling at him, now in a daydream of how handsome he was, that made me automatically blush. His smirk was the evidence that he'd caught me and I mock glared at him as he made small talk about cases with my dad.
I said my goodbyes and left to go start the paper work the smug shit had just given me. We had being flirting this morning when my dad introduced us and it was clear to me, if I'd read the signals right, that he was interested and I was very Interested, not that I'd let him now that. He'd found any excuse to come find me and that always meant more paper work which I hated but he was a sight for sore eyes.
With no other disturbances I finished all the paper work for the day and was packing up my stuff to leave when I felt a presence behind me, I smiled knowing it was James coming to see me before I left. I turned around to see him spinning his keys on a finger and a wide smile on his face.
"Your dad asked me to drop you off home; it's my break anyway. You ok with that?" He asked with smug knowing eyes.
"Hmmm suppose you'll do." I said with a smirk of my own and took the lead out the door, his footsteps were close behind me and we were soon in his sleek silver car on the way home.
The only noise for a while was the jangling of his keys and the latest hit on the radio, I looked over at him and his grin was gone and a conflicting look was on his face. Feeling slightly awkward I started to fidget in my seat, racking my brain for something to talk about. Our flirting from earlier seemed to have all been forgotten about and knots started to form in my tummy at the idea that I'd gotten the signals wrong.
"So...how's the case that you and my dad are working on?" I asked trying to start a conversation, his face stayed in a mask of frustration as he answered with a simple 'fine'. With a sigh I turned my glare out the window and started mentally swearing at every house and tree that passed.
The seconds seemed to tick by slowly and the tension got thicker as they did, his eyes would dart to me and then back to the road and he couldn't seem t get comfortable in his seat. Finally we pulled up outside the house and I could see Maggie pottering around inside through the window.
I turned to James and his tense posture seemed to get more rigid under my stare, sweat had beaded up on his forehead and his grasp on the steering wheel was so tight his knuckles were white. Sighing again I thanked him for the lift and was about to exit the car when his soft grip was on my arm stopping me.
"James?" I turned to him and his eyes bore into mine with a nervous intensity.
"Bella, I was wondering...urmm, would you like to go to, you know. Dinner or coffee, or anything...with me? Sometime?" He let go and sat back in his seat waiting for my response, I was so confused by his body language, what was with him?
"Hmmm I'll have to check my diary but..." I laughed as he started to look more confidant and relaxed, he started to laugh with me and the tension all but forgotten as cocky James came back into sight.
"What was with all the broodiness on the way over here?" I asked as I opened my door and slid one of my legs out, I was smiling but my eyes were full of curiosity, James rolled his eyes as he explained.
"I don't ask many women on dates. I get nervous, happy?" He asked with his eyebrow cocked and his attitude kicking in, I smiled smugly at him and hopped out before leaning back in.
"Very. So when is this coffee, tea date?" His smile was bright and happy, he rooted in his cup holder and a second later handed me his phone.
"Put your number in that and I'll give you a call." I hmm'ed and gave him the side eye as I dialled the phone number in and rang it until I could feel my own phone vibrating against my ass, smiling I handed him the phone back.
I said bye and shut the car door, making sure I had a little more wiggle in my hips as I walked away from the car and into the house.
Maggie came whizzing round the corner with a knowing look on her face and grabbed my arm pulling me into the kitchen, she shoved a cup of coffee in my hands and sat me in a chair before doing the same.
"Spill it, I want to know everything! Was that James dropping you off?" She asked as she wiggled in her seat and her giggles rang out after every word.
I couldn't help but like Maggie more and more as I spent time with her, she was starting to become my friend and a mother figure in some ways, I really could see myself loving her and could see Charlie living the rest of his life happily with her.
We spent 3 hours and four cups of coffee obsessively talking about the James encounter, analyzing every detail like girls usually do. Even when we ran out of James talk we still found a way to talk about it, shopping for the perfect date outfit, how I would have my hair, makeup and on and on and on. Eventually we had to start cooking tea before Charlie got home but Maggie insisted on meeting me from work tomorrow and going shopping.
Stepping out of the shower, I quickly dried and got dressed into some pyjamas before walking out and around to the side of the house. I lit a cigarette and pulled out my phone, checking to see if James had rang. He hadn't and disappointment rolled in the pit of my stomach.
The sun had set and Charlie had called to say that he wouldn't be home till late, which left Maggie furiously cleaning the house because of dinner. My guess is that's why James hadn't called.
While the nicotine entered my lungs, I let the slight depression that had built up roll up my spine and into my heart for the slightest moment as I thought about how tragic my life was. No real job, no flat or home to call mine. No boyfriend, no friends as of yet and no car.
Urgh I hated feeling helpless, trapped even. Stuck in this big pile of mud and all I seemed to be doing was sinking.
Pulling out my phone once again I was about to text my mum when James name flashed up on the screen, not wanting to seem too keen, I took another drag off the cigarette and let it ring a minute.
I could imagine how I looked, all smug and evil, mentally I evil laughed.
"Hello?"
"Hey..." his voice sounded smooth and sleepy, I could imagine waking up in his arms and hearing that voice, it made me get this tingly feeling in my belly, butterflies maybe?
"Hey, what's up?" I asked, I had thrown the cig into a nearby plant pot and started making my way in and to my room, wanting the conversation to be private. I don't know why but since the bear scare I felt like I was far too vulnerable out there, like eyes and ears were everywhere.
"Oh you know the usual, too many admirers and so little time." He laughed for a second. "So when you free?"
"You sure your gunna have time for me? You sound awful busy with all these admirers, must be practically fighting them off." The flirting had begun; I laid on my bed as he chuckled quietly into the phone.
"Well I was hoping you would fight them for me?" He asked mock scared.
"Ask one of your other damsels." Jealous I wasn't but I had to give the boy some indication I was interested.
"You're the only damsel I'll be taking out so stop your pouting haha"
"I am not pouting!" his laugh was so smooth like butter; I lapped it up like a fat girl.
"I'm free Saturday." I said as his chuckles died down.
"Saturday it is, I'll see you tomorrow then?" he asked as he yawned.
"Yeah, I'll see you then. Goodnight James" We hung up and I felt excited at the Idea of a real date but suddenly this overpowering fury came over me and then...it was gone. I shot up feeling like lightning bolt had just hit me; I looked around the room startled but nothing. I don't know what I was expecting.
I shouted my goodnight to Maggie and was crawling into bed when something flashed past my window, so fast I barely caught it but not fast enough. Was my mind playing tricks on me, was I going crazy?
With worry now lodged in my brain I was sure I wouldn't sleep but before I could fully make it into bed properly I was out.