Okay So I finally got this edited and posted. Man it's hard to work and write at the smae time but I promise I won't quit until I'm done. I hope you like this chapter.
Chapter Thirteen
It surprisingly only took twenty minutes to get across town to pick up Mr. Cullens dry cleaning and only another twenty to get to his place. So about forty five minutes later I was standing at his door breathing heavily as I waited for him to open it. It swung open shortly after I'd knocked.
"I'm so sorry," I pleaded, handing over his freshly pressed clothes. He took them with a grin.
"It's fine. I actually need your help." he motioned me inside. I sighed relieved and followed him into his bedroom. I didn't focus on what had happened the last time I was here.
I gasped.
"Oh my Gosh, did someone break in." Mr. Cullen was a neat man, and his condo reflected this well, but the room before me in no way showed it. In fact it reminded me of my mother's room when she couldn't find anything to wear. And that was every day. It looked like a hurricane had blown through the room leaving clothes and shoes everywhere.
He glanced at me giving me a boyish smile.
"You wouldn't believe that I've never done this before." It was a moment before I understood what he was talking about. He was referring to the suitcase that was sitting empty next to a pile of clothes.
I couldn't help myself, because if I could have I wouldn't have burst out into a fit of giggles.
"You've never packed a suitcase before?"
"No," he stated simply. I studied him before I realized that he was not joking as I hoped he was. I stopped laughing.
"You're not joking are you?" I questioned.
He shrugged, "My assistants always done it, and my mom and sister before that, and before you look at me funny, I didn't have a choice."
"This is the sister that you call the little devil right?" I remembered him telling my something about her, but I couldn't remember her name for the life of me.
"Yep, that's the one. She's the one that did all this." He turned then and opened a pair of double doors that appeared to be mirrors which turned out lead into the second largest closet I had ever seen. Second to only Alice's of course.
"Wow," I gaped, stepping in to get a better look. It was big and filled with clothes all arranged by type and color. A huge shelf, located on the back side, held his million pairs of shoes. That explained why he never seemed to wear the same pair.
"Yeah," He added. I was still in awe when he turned to me.
"So will you help me." I chuckled.
"I'm going to have too," Then he flashed me a smile that both stopped my heart and sent it racing.
"Thanks Bella," I turned away as if I was still admiring his wardrobe.
"You're welcome."
It was interesting having a normal conversation with my boss as I taught him how to pack for a trip. It was odd, but he seemed oddly human to me in that moment.
Even though my boss was away, I was plenty busy with the work he'd left. I was actually grateful to stay busy because it kept my mind of off him. Even Angela's short visit to bring me our network update and a greeting didn't distract me. Neither did Mike's long visit. Still I left work that afternoon refreshed. I called home to Jacob and he sounded excited to hear from me. I hadn't spoken with him in weeks.
"Bella!" He screamed.
"Hey Jake," I giggled as I flopped down on my bed.
"Your alive," he got straight to the point. I knew it was coming.
"Yeah," I laughed. "Sorry about that."
"Your boss keeping you so busy you can't call your best friend," he added, and I heard a couple voices in the back ground.
"Is that Bella? Tell her I said sup."
"I think she heard you," Jacob shot back and I heard a loud noise then a choir of laughter. For a moment I missed home more than usual. "Who was that?" I asked.
"Who else?" Embry, I thought.
"Tell him I said hey. Tell them all."
"Bella says hey," Jacob passed on and I heard a few replies in the back ground.
"What are you guys doing anyways," I asked.
" Being forced to help Kim with the wedding invitations. Ow." I heard Kim's voice in the background but I couldn't make out what she was saying. I suspected she didn't like Jake's comment too much.
"Damn, that girl's got aim." I laughed. No doubt that Kim had tossed something across the room. And she did have good aim, great aim. She used to pitch for her middle school soft ball team.
"That's what you get." I giggled. "You should be happy to help."
"I don't see you helping,"
"Well, I'm all the way across the country, but I would if I was there."
"Thanks Bella." Kim's voice sounded louder than before suggesting that she had control of Jacob's cell.
"You're Welcome."
"Can I have that back." I heard her groan. "Fine. I'll call you later." And then she was gone and Jacob was back.
"Well maybe you should come home for a few days,"
"Tempting, but not possible. I'm already using what vacation time I have to fly to Florida for Thanksgiving." I announced.
"So you not coming home till-"
"Christmas," I finished. I heard him sigh.
"Sorry Jake,"
"It's cool. But I got to go, Kim's treating to kill us if we don't have our share down before the nights over."
"Okay," I laughed. "Have fun!"
"Doubt it. Ow Kim that hurt." Her laughter was that last sound I heard.
Mr. Cullen didn't let me know how long he would be gone and by day three, after most of the work he'd left for me was done I was beginning to feel slightly lonely in the large office. Angela did what she could to keep me company but as she had her own work to do so it wasn't very often that she could visit. Kate did visit on her day off and was extremely impressed. Alice nor Jasper made it but who could blame them. Jasper was working night and day to get his collection done and Alice was tied up at the warehouse taking her sketches from paper to real life models. It was this reason that I spent the weekend alone. It was a good thing that was like my dad, I didn't actually mind being alone. I finally had time to clean my apartment from head to toe and I get all my laundry done.
Sunday night as I was getting into bed, my phone rang. It was Alice.
"Don't forget were going running in the morning." I groaned. I had forgotten and hoped that she had as well. I wasn't that lucky though.
"Do I have too," I moaned.
"Yes you do. We'll meet you there." She was gone before I realized it. I closed the phone and sulked into my sheets.
I woke up the first time my alarm clock went off. I glanced at it to turn it off, wondering why it was set for so early. Then I remembered Alice's call.
Oh yeah, running.
I pulled myself out of my warm cozy bed and pulled on a jogging suit and headed to Central park.
It was cool out, still dark just before dawn. There weren't many other people out, smart people I thought, only other joggers. Alice and Kate weren't there when I arrived and I prayed that they hadn't forgotten. I waited for about ten minutes before I decided to go on my own. I was here so I might as well. It would feel good to relax and clear my head, plus I had my Ipod to keep me company.
I did a few stretches to get warmed up before I began. The chill in air was slightly refreshing to my lungs as I paced myself. I let my mind wonder, literally running absent minded.
I had only been running for a short time, I knew this because only eight songs on my play list had been played when I noticed that my shoe lace had come undone. Before I could even think about stopping I stepped on the loose string and I was sent flying forward, right into a stranger who was leaned over their own laces.
"Ow," I heard as we both went to the ground. I landed on them.
"Sorry, " I stated scrabbling to get off of them.
"Bella?" I stopped. That voice I was very familiar with. Only one person could say my name like that. I looked up as I was still straddling the stranger.
"Mr. Cullen," I gasped. When had he gotten back? I rolled off of him too surprised to be totally mortified. But I did begin to wonder how it was that he was always present for my most embarrassing moments.
"I see nothing's changed," he chuckled as he pulled himself to his feet and turned to help me. I let him. My face turned red but he wouldn't notice since it was so cold out.
"When did you get back?" I questioned.
"Late Saturday." He answered. "I didn't know you run,"
"I don't," I corrected him.
"Are you alone?" He glanced around. I nodded.
"I'm supposed to be meeting my friends here but I don't think they're coming." I said looking back the way I came.
It fell silent between us and I used this moment to bring my breathing back to normal.
"So how was Japan?" I asked simply to break the silence. I was going to use that topic later on but now was as good a time as any. I had never really been that great with people, men in particular but for some reason, talking to Edward Cullen both calmed me and made me a nervous wreck. I had to admit it was an odd feeling.
He sighed as if just the memory of his trip was exhausting.
"Well everything's fine now but we came really close to losing our holding with the Japanese." he answered and he began to walk. I followed him naturally.
"What happened."
"Someone messed up. One of them or one of us, I'm not sure."
"Well I'm glad that everything worked out," I smiled up at him.
He returned my smile with one that made me catch my breath.
"So am I. So how was it without me," he grinned. Two male joggers passed us then.
Boring.
"Great, it was great," I partial lied.
"Bella?" I stopped and twisted around when I heard my name.
Kate was standing there.
"Kate,"
"Hey," she waved shyly, glancing at me then at Edward, then me again.
"Watcha doing," she voiced confused. I could tell by her face.
"I don't know, waiting on you guys?" It was suppose to be a statement but it came out more like a question.
She snapped out of it then. "Waiting on us? We've been waiting on you."
"What?" I asked. "You told me to wait at the entrance."
"Nooo," She drew out the word. "We said wait by the benches located beneath the statue." I glanced around and sure enough she was standing in front of a statue of some dude dressed like he belonged in the eighteen hundreds.
"Oh," My face turned a bright pink. I heard Edward chuckle from beside me.
"Who's your friend?" Kate voiced as she eyed Edward up and down, smiling as if he was something yummy to eat. I was pretty sure that was exactly what she was thinking too. She extended her hand out.
"My boss," I enunciated. She jerked back.
"Oh!" She frowned. I could die. But instead I glanced up at Mr. Cullen. He actually appeared amused. He smiled sweetly, which only made Kate melt and shook her hand.
"Edward Cullen, nice to meet you."
"I'm Kate." She answered blank minded. " Bella's friend." I rolled my eyes. Then I realized something was missing. Well not something, but someone.
"Kate,"
"Yes," she answered still staring at my boss. "Where's Alice."
Kate blinked and turned to her left.
"She's right he-" She stopped because no one was there. I arched an eyebrow at her.
"Well she was here a moment ago." Just then Kate's phone vibrated and she glanced at it.
"It's a message from Alice. She's says there's an emergency and she'll talk to us later."
"An emergency," I stated worried now.
"Don't worry, it's probably nothing." Kate added. "I guess we'll just have to walk alone." She put emphasize on 'walk'. She was even less fond of running than I was. I nodded.
"Would you ladies mind if I tag along." I heard for Edward and before I could speak a word Kate nodded.
"Of course not. Neither of us would mind." She looped her arm in mine and smiled. I smiled awkwardly before we strolled off.
Oh, that was so much fun. Alice escapes once again!hehehe. I'm so evil. But it won't be long for the big reveal, but of what? Read and Review!