Three
The next few days Bella kept busy at the restaurant where she was the pastry chef. She also kept busy with her new pupils at the dance school. Her two loves have always been dancing and cooking.
When she was five she started ballet and then studied modern dance. By the time she was twelve she started to take classes in belly dance and loved it. After the first few months her mother came to a recital and was shocked. She tried her best to get Bella to go back to ballet but Bella would have none of it. At age twelve she couldn't understand why her mother thought belly dance was inappropriate. She herself did not see how suggestive the movements were. The other students in her class were slim and athletic but even at age twelve Bella was already starting to show curves. The movements that were slightly precocious on the others were quite suggestive when Bella performed. Through her teen years the many hours of belly dancing kept her body fit but not lean.
Even now at twenty-one she was a curvy woman with breasts and hips and a shapely body. She not only became an accomplished belly dancer, she also became the favorite student of her instructor Margo. At age eighteen Margo hired her to teach beginners and she turned out to be a gifted teacher. Bella danced for several hours a day and that was her only exercise. She had a body that her girlfriends described as "sexy" but she never worked on it. She only worked on doing the dance that she loved. If she could make a living as a performer and a dance teacher she would have given up cooking and school, she loved it that much.
Since the semester at the university was over, she taught Tuesday and Thursday nights at the dance studio and she worked at the restaurant all day Tuesday through Saturday. She was glad that her days were so busy that she didn't time have to think about what happened by the river bank in Napa. But every night when she lay in bed she couldn't stop the memories from flooding back.
Like an awkward teenager she replayed everything and wished she had behaved differently. Edward, a virtual stranger, had touched her and she was so ashamed. Chris was the only person who had ever touched and kissed her and it had never felt like that. She had felt so out of control, her heart had pounded so hard that she could barely hear anything, and even as she lay in her bed thinking about the incident, her heart would start pounding again. She hoped that she would never see Edward again. She was genuinely afraid that if she did she would do things that she would later regret. When Alice called her and asked her to pick her up from the airport she said that she had taken cold medication and couldn't. While she knew it was unlikely that she would meet Edward at the airport, she could not bring herself to go there. Instead she asked her sister to grab a cab.
When she saw Alice, Bella almost confided in her but for some reason she couldn't. She felt sure that Alice would think that she was stupid. Alice was so confident in the presence of men, she would never understand. Bella, on the other hand, did not have a wealth of experience to draw on and had found herself in uncharted waters with a shark. She knew enough about men to know that Edward was out of her league. She hoped fervently to never see him again, but that was not to be.
The following Tuesday night, after her dance class, she literally ran right into him. As she walked out of the studio and into the unusually balmy summer night she was preoccupied with her cell, trying to read a text message. She wasn't paying too much attention and bumped into a tall figure. Pulling back with an apology, a slight smile on her face, she looked up into Edward's face. Her smile disappeared and the apology was never uttered. She was surprised, but she could tell that he wasn't and she knew without a doubt that he had been waiting for her. She was extremely afraid. This guy was stalking her and the first words out of her mouth were, "You better leave me alone."
"No", he replied.
She started to walk, fast. "Why, what do you want from me?"
"I just want to apologize to you. I was out of line and I'm sorry. I could see that I frightened you and that was not what I wanted."
She stopped in front of a well lit coffee shop. "How did you find me?"
"I asked your friend, Angela. I explained to her that I had been rude and that I wanted to make my apology. She didn't give me your address the only thing she would tell me that you worked at a restaurant, Bon Vivant, and danced here at the studio. I thought this would be a quieter place to make my apology."
"I meant how did you find me? That first time, at Angela's. I know it wasn't a coincidence."
"It was. Just fate."
"I don't believe you." Her voice was getting louder, she was trying to alert people to her plight.
"How could I have found you? Did you even know you were going to be there when we met at the airport? You didn't give me your name, or tell me anything about yourself. I was on my way to New York. As a matter of fact I should still be there, but some meetings were cancelled and I had to cut my visit short. I swear."
She thought about it and saw how farfetched it was. But it was hard for her to give up the suspicion. She crossed her arms in front of her.
"Okay, apology accepted." She looked up at him without a smile.
"I mean it. I'm sorry" he repeated quietly. His face was serious.
"Fine." She replied.
"I don't think you really forgive me." His grey eyes narrowed as he looked down at her stony face.
"You know what? I said its okay. And that's the end of it. Now, please go away." Bella's voice was getting louder again.
He smiled his flirty smile and tried to charm her. "Can I give you a lift? I assume you're going home."
Was he kidding? Did he seriously expect her to get into a car with him? "No, I don't think that's a good idea. I have my car." Bella replied coldly. She didn't trust him, not one bit.
"How about if we just get some coffee." His full flirt was on. His grey eyes were soft and warm, his smile was gentle and understanding, his white teeth gleamed and his face was altogether too handsome for her own good.
"I don't drink coffee late at night, I won't be able to sleep." Bella stubbornly refused to be charmed by him.
"A drink?" His voice was husky and soft.
"I really don't drink." She had to resist him, she just had to.
"Why don't you just have a cup of warm milk then? Or watch me have coffee? Hmm?" Could his voice and manner be any more seductive, Bella did not think so.
"Because I really don't want to. Look, I'm tired." Bella decided that she was going to go all out bitchy in a second. She knew he was a master and her only defense was meanness.
He looked down at her. "I just want to get to know you." He said quietly, earnestly. Boy he was good! She almost believed that he was just a nice guy.
"You mean get to "know" me." She screwed her lips into a sarcastic sneer.
"Listen, will it hurt you just to talk for a little while, huh?" A slight breeze, stirred his bronze hair and his eyes, his eyes, were oh so beautiful.
"You know what? I'll be honest. I don't want to get to know you, because I don't trust you."
"What do you mean, why don't you trust me?" He was puzzled.
"I can't explain it, but the best way I can put it is, something about you scares me." She said honestly.
"Look." He pulled out his wallet and opened it to show her his license. "My name is Edward Cullen. I was a police officer, then a detective, now I'm a writer. I'm not a criminal, rapist, murderer or even a slightly bad guy so I don't understand why you won't give me a chance to change your mind."
"Why is it so important to you that I change my mind about you? I'm a stranger that you sexually assaulted. You made your apology. I've forgiven you. So what more do you want from me?" She knew what he wanted from her. An instant replay.
"Assaulted?" he genuinely seemed taken aback. "I don't consider it assault. It was kind of mutual, wasn't it?"
"In the beginning, maybe, but not at the end. Not when you put your hand inside my…. swimsuit." She was heated. She felt like slapping him.
"Look I'll admit I went too far. I'm ashamed to say it but you're right, I got carried away. It's never happened before in my life. I'm sorry. I feel like a jerk and I want to make it up to you. You deserve more respect than that." Boy when he made an apology, he covered all the bases. Bella started to believe that maybe, just maybe he wasn't a creep after all.
"I told you, there is no need to make it up to me. We're not friends, nor are we likely to meet again. So I forgive you and that should be that." She was firm and businesslike.
"Why are you being so difficult? Can you just please do me the favor. Just sit with me this once and have coffee and I won't bother you ever again, okay. Look, here is a coffee shop, right here. Lots of people."
She looked at him pleading with her, and darn it, she softened. She reluctantly nodded "yes" and he smiled. They walked together into the coffee shop.
#
As soon as they sat down she took a picture of him with her cell phone. Then she called her sister and left a voicemail. "Alice, I'm having coffee at 'Cool Beans' with a guy named Edward Cullen. I'll be home in an hour." She sat at the table across from him. Her arms still folded.
"Feel safer?" he inquired and she shrugged.
"So you were a cop?" She questioned.
"Yes for twelve years. My dad was a cop and his dad was a cop, so, naturally, I became a cop." He grinned, trying to be friendly.
"Here in Berkeley?"
"No, in Honolulu."
"Why in Honolulu?"
"It's where I was born and raised."
"Well that must have been nice."
"Yeah, it was a nice place to grow up. Sun, sand and surf. Lots of fun."
"What brought you to Berkeley? I mean why leave paradise?"
"It's a long and boring story."
"So you say you were a detective."
"Well I was on patrol for three years and I found that I was more interested in the how and why of crimes so I became a detective and decided to go to the university and get my degree in criminal justice. I got to use and fine tune my skills of observation and I really enjoyed it." He paused. "That's how I figured out your age. I notice things most people don't. It comes with the job.
"Wow, I can see where you can really use your extraordinary powers for good… or for evil" she almost smiled.
He held up his hand, "Never for evil, I swear. I use it now to write novels and screenplays."
"Screenplays? Anything, I may have seen?"
He named a couple of television shows. She knew them.
"How did you move from detective work to being a writer?" She was genuinely curious.
He was quiet for a few moments. A look she couldn't describe moved fleetingly across his face then he said, "A good friend of mine thought I had talent and submitted some of my drafts to an agent and that was how it all started." He took a sip of his coffee and smiled at her. That's enough about me, what about you? What led you to being a chef and a belly dancer?"
"Well like almost every little girl I took dance classes and loved it. But unlike many of my friends I never got bored with it. I remember starting dance class with a few friends, we all begged our parents. Over the years they stopped coming and I continued. I find true joy in expressing myself through music. I find true joy in feeling the music move through my body. I truly love the art of movement and I can lose myself in it for hours. For me dancing expresses emotions I can't get out any other way." She stopped, suddenly embarrassed. "I'm talking too much, huh?"
"No not at all. You sound very passionate."
"Yes, I am." Was he being suggestive, calling her passionate?
"Anyway I love belly dancing in particular because it's multi-ethnic and it covers such a wide range of Cultures. Indian, Turkish, Greek, Egyptian, Gypsy, you name it. I think of it as a "world dance".
"And how about cooking, what made you decide to become a chef?"
"It's pretty simple, I love to feed people. I always have. I love to see them happy and satisfied."
His eyes twinkled and his lips curved. "So you like to 'satisfy' people?"
"You know, I get the feeling you're laughing at me."
"Sorry. I just have a juvenile sense of humor." His smile still lingered.
"So, tell me the joke." Bella was starting to find his smile irresistible.
He hesitated. "Okay, I was thinking that I would like you to 'satisfy' me."
She sat there and shook her head. "That is juvenile." But his words conjured up a mental picture that had her heart racing.
"Tell me what kind of performances do you do? Egyptian, Indian ?
"I study them all. I like tribal belly dance. But, I guess because of Margo I have much more of an affinity with Turkish styles, but I like them all."
"Do you perform on stage or for special occasions like weddings or for private parties?
"All of those. As a matter of fact we're performing this weekend at the opening of a Lebanese restaurant." As soon as she said it, she regretted it.
"Is that here in Berkeley?" he inquired.
"No, it's in Alameda." Bella didn't want to tell him more.
"What's the name of it? Maybe I'll come." He leaned across the table, eager for more info.
For some reason she couldn't quite figure out, she was reluctant to tell him. But she could not directly tell him that she didn't want him to come. "Zaza's on Park Street. Are you interested in belly dancing?"
"Well I'm interested in seeing you belly dance." Edward teased.
She digested that statement for a bit. "Well I guess I'll see you there."
He looked at her, puzzled "Would you prefer it if I didn't come?
Yes she would prefer it if he didn't come. She felt that she would be self-conscious if she saw him in the audience. But she wasn't sure why. She has performed many times in front of many people and she was proud of her dancing. She lied to him, "No, of course not, the more the merrier. After all we were hired to attract attention."
"How long will you be dancing?" he asked.
She wrinkled her brows, "I'm not quite sure yet, Margo makes the arrangements but I think it's an all evening event, so four of us are taking turns. We start at eight we finish at twelve."
"I meant you. How long will you be dancing?
"I have two performances, ten to fifteen minutes each set." She lied and said, "I don't know the exact time." She got up from her chair and reached for her jacket as she said, "You know I really need to get home."
"Well thanks for having coffee. Have I convinced you that I'm not a rapist on the loose?"
She smiled and nodded. "It was nice talking to you and maybe I'll see you again."
"You most certainly will." He said quietly. "Can I walk you to your car?"
She almost said no, and then she said, "Sure." Her car was just in front of the coffee shop anyway.
They walked in silence to her car. She could think of nothing to say. They reached her little car and she unlocked it with the key fob. Much to her surprise he opened the driver's door for her. She brushed past him to get in and she could smell and feel his breath on her face. She kept her back to him, she still didn't trust that he wouldn't try something. She got in the driver's seat and waved good-bye. He stepped away from the car and smiled so sweetly that she wished she hadn't been so suspicious. "I need help." she muttered to herself as she drove home.
The next morning she told Alice the whole story. Airport, Napa, Kiss, Fondling, Coffee House-all of it. "What do you think? Do you think I'm just being uptight?" Bella asked her sister.
Alice smiled and asked her, "If you're attracted to him and he is attracted to you, which you both obviously are, why not give it a chance? If later on you find that he is a liar or a nut job then you can break it off. It's not rocket science Bella."
"I know it's not rocket science, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't think that I can handle him, you know? He's older. He seems to be too, too sexual. And too forceful."
"Too sexual? All he did was kiss you Bella." Alice laughed out loud.
"What? Didn't I make it clear? He fondled me! Intimately. And I get a feeling from him that he wants more and more and more."
"Well sure he wants more, what man doesn't? Don't be afraid. If you don't want more just end it. Tell him you're not interested. That's how it works." She laughed as she shut the door behind her and headed off to work.
"You just don't understand." Bella mumbled.
All that day and for the rest of the week, Bella worried about her performance. For the first time since she started to belly dance she had a serious case of stage fright.