Disclaimer - I don't own Twilight, but I do own a fab new outfit for my big night out!
A/N - Sorry it's taken so long, serious writer's block and college work cropped up this week. This is such a short chapter as I wasn't sure where to take it and I need a bit more time to develop Edward's problems. Enjoy n review x
Chapter 4 – First Meeting.
The vision stood in front of me. A light blush coated the alabaster skin on her face.
"You must be Edward. I'm Bella." Her voice was gentle and melodious. She held out a tiny hand out. My own paw engulfed hers as I shook her which was still cool from the outside air.
"That's me." I smiled at her as she sat opposite me.
"Please, don't let me interrupt your breakfast." She looked at my toast. I grabbed a slice and bit off a huge chunk. "Hungry?" Her chocolate brown eyes twinkled. I could listen to her speak all day, the American accent sounded so alien to me. Nothing like those I'd heard on tv.
"A bit." I took a swig of tea which was still a bit too hot, but I hid the pain of scalding tea sliding down my throat.
"Let me just run to the office to get your file, then we can make a start. We'll chat in here if that's ok." I just nodded dumbly as she stood up again. I watched her rear end wiggle out of the room. I finished off my toast, washed my plate and sat back down, waiting.
Bella came back in with a brown manila folder in her hand. I caught sight of my name in a messy scrawl on the front.
"Right then. This first session is just about me getting some background info on you. Nothing too hard eh." I grimaced internally. For all her hotness, I hoped she wasn't one of these goody goody wanna help types.
"Not much to tell really. Good kid gone bad, usual story. I need a smoke." I stood to make my way into the garden. Bella followed me out and to my shock, pulled out her packet of cigarettes and lit one. She laughed at the look on my face.
"What?"
"You don't look like the type who would smoke." I realised then just how tiny she was. Then again, most women looked tiny next to my 6,2" frame.
"Why's that?"
"You look like you're too good to smoke." She frowned slightly.
"What do you mean 'too good'?"
"I don't know. You look like you should be in a library, studying."
"So, students can't smoke?" I laughed.
"Not that, oh I don't know. It just surprised me that's all." I sat on one of the benches along the garden wall. She sat next to me. I caught a whiff of strawberries.
"Right, ok. So, good kid gone bad huh? In what way were you good?" I hesitated.
"I was always the quiet one. Never said boo to a goose, that sort of thing." She looked at me, not really believing me.
"That it?"
"Pretty much. I got bored of homework and stuff."
"When was that?"
"About three years ago. I decided to have a life instead of going to school." I took a long drag of my cigarette. I watched as the smoke streamed out of my nostrils.
"So, getting in trouble with the police is a life?" Her voice held no judgement, just curiosity.
"Better than sitting in my room doing endless homework."
"Did anything happen around that time, to change your outlook on life?" Damn, she was good.
"Not really. I just changed my mind about who I wanted to be." I lied. I watched as she ground her finished cigarette into the ground with her heel. I didn't want to go back inside, so I lit another.
"Hmm. I gather it's just you and your mom at home." I nodded as I watched a cat amble across the overgrown garden. "Do you see much of your dad?"
"Nope." I could hear the break in my voice, I just hoped she didn't catch it.
"Why not? He's your dad."
"I haven't got a dad." I blurted out without thinking.
"But you just said-"
"Look, my dad pissed off to Spain with some cheap tart my age. He's dead as far as I'm concerned. We done?" Without waiting for an answer, I made my way back inside and headed up to my room. Jacob wasn't there so I threw myself onto my bed and grabbed a book out of my bag.