CHAPTER FOUR
"I will take a pair in the blue and…what the hell another in the black." I marveled at the gorgeous heels I had just found at Barney's and I had hoped that a small shopping tour would help me forget the mess from yesterday.
I walked aimlessly around the shoe section hoping that this would help perk me up because in the past there was nothing like a good shoe and purse day to help lift my spirits.
"Would there be anything else, Miss Swan?" The polite sales girl asked me.
I shook my head in response and walked over to the register to hand her my card.
"All right, your total will be sixteen hundred and thirty-one dollars." She announced.
Sixteen hundred dollars. That would be like Edward working really hard for sixteen straight days. The two young children's faces from the soup kitchen flashed into my mind. How many bananas could I buy with sixteen hundred dollars?
"Miss Swan." She prompted me waiting for payment.
"You know what…never mind. I…uh…forgot I already had these." I stepped back from the register and it was like an outer body experience, I was walking away from shoes. "I have to go…now…away from here."
I briskly walked toward the exit and didn't stop until I reached my car. I sat in my car in the dark parking garage of Barney's just trembling. What was the matter with me? Shopping has always made things right in my world.
Fucking Edward! Fucking homeless dude. He had to go and ruin the one thing I lived for. The one thing I was good at. I turned my thoughts quickly to anger as a way to deal with my shit. It was easier blaming someone else.
I started up the car; I had enough shopping for today. I now needed to start refocusing on my mission. Jacob Black, you are going to keep my mind busy.
It took a little while but I finally was able to track down a phone number for Jacob Black's publicist. I even looked up a photographer in the National Enquirer so I sounded legit.
"This is Miss Blake's office." An overly perky receptionist greeted.
"Hi, Is Miss Blake in? I work for Roger Hudson over at the Enquirer and I was just calling to confirm with Miss Blake on…something he's working on."
"What is this regarding?"
"Well…my boss…Roger Hudson who as you may know is a prized photographer for the Enquirer, he asked me to call because we need a great shot of Jacob Black…particularly one of him jogging if at all possible. Those always sell really well and can't hurt Mr. Black's fan base if you get what I mean…"
God, I should have practiced this before calling. I sounded like a complete moron. I doubt this girl would give me the whereabouts of Mickey Mouse.
"Of course…anything for Roger. I have him scheduled for a run tomorrow morning at six am before he heads to the studio. I will be sure to tell him to dress accordingly."
Dress accordingly? What did that mean?
"Great! Thank you so much. You have no idea how much…Mr. Hudson appreciates this."
I hung up the phone and exhaled a sigh of relief. I swear I could feel my eye balls sweat. Tomorrow morning at six am it is.
"Mr. Black, you have a date with destiny…meaning me." I said aloud.
I ran off upstairs and spent the rest of my day finding the right outfit once again. Six in the morning was earlier than I was hoping for but I'd take it. It just meant that I would have to be in bed extra early. At ten pm., I settled myself down beneath my covers and closed my eyes.
I heard my phone chime indicating I had received a text and I pulled the phone over to see who it was from.
Oh great, Lauren.
Hey bitch. You've been like totally M.I.A. Let's go dancing tonight.
Well with an invitation like that, how could I refuse?
Sorry. Can't. I have to get to my beauty sleep. I have to wake up extra early for my date with Jacob Black. ;-P
Let's see how Miss Lauren feels about that.
Liar! I call bull shit!
I shrugged and didn't even dignify that with a response. I knew not answering would just drive her even more insane. I flipped my phone to mute and reveled in the fact that Lauren was probably tearing her hair out worrying over next year's fashion shows and wondering if there was a chance she wouldn't be attending.
The alarm going off the next morning made me think if Lauren could see how hard I have had to work for this, she'd be on cloud nine for years. I forced myself awake so I could go through the perfect grooming procedures and get ready. This time I would not have to wait all day on a hope. I had validation that Jacob would be there on that damn trail.
I pulled into the very same parking spot and threw on a light jacket and got ready for my moment. I had to calm myself a couple of times because I wasn't used to meeting with celebrities and having to talk with them.
"You can do this, Bella." I cheered myself on.
I started a light jog and got to this point in the path where I thought it was the perfect rendezvous point for me and Mr. Black. What should I say when I meet him? Should I try to flag him down or maybe I should act like I'm lost and I just need a guide on the trail. I looked at my watch and it was already six-fifteen.
I paced up and back watching as various people jogged past me but still no sign of him. I decided to try to climb on the side of the hill, a little to help boost me up. I was always a shorty so any help I could get was much-needed. I held onto a tree branch to help hold me up as I scanned around the trail. My eyes zeroed in on a perfectly built man wearing no shirt and the tightest shorts ever made came pouncing up the trail.
That's him. That was Jacob Black! I let go of the tree to get back in place and I tripped over my own two feet and went tumbling down the hillside, landing on my ass in a muddy pile. My knees were all scrapped up and I was covered from head to toe in dirt. My wrist hurt from where I landed on it.
"Ow." I cried softly.
I saw Jacob approaching me and I felt relief that he was here and going to help me up. I began to hold my good hand out to him, as he finally reached me and the bastard just kept on jogging. Um…hello? Did you not see your fellow man…uh woman down here needing your help?
I can't believe he just jogged on by. What an asshole!
I huffed and started to try to pick myself up by my wrist hurt like a bitch so it wasn't a party, that's for sure. My legs were all skinned and bloody as I hobbled down the trail sniffling as I went. I wasn't sure what I was crying for more, the pain I was in, the fact I was this close to Jacob Black or the fact he just passed me by like I didn't even matter.
"Bella?" Edward ran up to me and startled me from my thoughts.
"What are you doing here?" I snapped.
"What happened to you?" He looked me over disregarding my question.
"Just go and leave me alone. I can't deal with you right now?"
I was thoroughly pissed off. First I was thwarted once more and now I being accosted by homeless dude. I don't think so.
"Can I at least help you to your car? You don't look in the best shape."
"Are you going to help me to my car?" I asked petulantly. "Or are you just going to yell at me some more for being the world's biggest bitch."
"You're right…I'm sorry. I…I…lost it and I took it out on you. All these feelings I've been dealing with lately, I took them out on you." He shook his head and I paused long enough to hear my much deserved apology.
"What are you even doing here? You're a long way from Horizons."
"I came here…looking for you. I figured you would be back to square one on that whole Jacob Black thing so I've been holding out in this area for the past couple of days hoping you would return to the scene of the first crime." He explained.
"Why would you be looking for me? I was under the impression that all I did was disgust you." I shook my head and pressed on toward my car.
"You don't disgust me, Bella…I'm just…I've never encountered anyone quite like you. Besides, I thought I disgusted you."
I swung around as best as I could, "Don't you go turning this around on me. I didn't go off on you in a kitchen and throw away your lunch."
I finally reached my car and I hobbled the rest of the way toward my driver's door.
"Can I at least help clean you up? You're bleeding all down your legs." He offered.
"I don't have a first aid kit. I'll just have to get my car detailed later."
"Do you have some extra clothes in your car? You can use them to help wipe you down."
"I am not going to use my good…" I looked in the backseat and there it was still sitting there from the stop light two days ago. My yellow Horizons shirt. "On second thought."
I pulled the bright ass yellow shirt out the back seat. "Will this work?"
"Uh…yeah…you sure you won't need it?" he asked awkwardly.
"Oh, I'm positive. I think we can both agree that I should never have stepped foot in that soup kitchen."
"I don't agree with that at all…not only did you do a fantastic job at cleaning the trays, you also would have never been introduced to the best hamburger in the world."
"The world." I scoffed, "what do you know of the world?"
"A lot more than you'll ever know. You know I wasn't always homeless, Bella."
That peeked my interest. "I guess I never really thought about it. Well…what happened…to make you…this way."
I cringed wondering if that was going to set him off again.
"That's a story for another time." He took the shirt from me and pointed toward the hood of my car. "Why don't you hop up and I'll try to clean you up as best I can. And then you can tell me all about what went wrong this time with Jacob Black."
I hobbled over to the hood of my car and started to try to pull myself up by my wrist was still too much in pain. Suddenly Edward placed his hands above my hips and lifted me onto the car.
"Hey!" I complained.
"You were going to do it?" He questioned with his perfect greeny eyes.
I crossed my arms over my chest and he opened my yellow shirt up.
"What's with the smudges of black?" he asked.
I shook my head irritated. "None of your business. Are you going to do this or not?"
He rolled his eyes at my attitude and then took my water bottle and dosed the yellow shirt with it.
"So…you gonna tell me?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you care? It's just a shirt." I growled.
"Not the shirt. Are you going to tell me about Jacob Black?"
I sighed and thought back over what went wrong.
"Once again I was waiting like an idiot and so I tried to climb on the hill a little so I could see further down the road to know when he was coming. The moment I saw him coming, I tried to get back down the hill and I tripped and fell down it instead. I landed straight on the path and yes, I looked like something the dirty cat dragged in but that asshole didn't even stop to see if I was okay. He just kept on jogging past me like I wasn't even there."
"Yeah, that sounds about right." Edward shook his head.
"You know the way you talk about him; you'd think you knew him." I narrowed my eyes at him.
Just then he applied the wet towel to my legs and I let out a shriek.
"Dude what the fuck!" I screamed. "That hurts!"
"Just for a little bit. Come on, don't wuss out on me."
I cringed as he slowly wiped off the dirt and blood from my legs.
"You need to put on some antiseptic when you get home. Let me see that wrist." He held out his hand to me.
"No." I pulled my wrist back toward my chest, cradling it. "You're not exactly a doctor. I don't want you fucking it up even more."
"I'm not going to hurt you. Would you stop being a baby and let me take a look. I just want to see if you need it wrapped before you try driving anywhere."
"I can drive with one hand. I do it all the time. This is my texting hand so worst case scenario I won't text while I drive."
"Who knew that your little tumble would save lives?" He replied dryly.
He pulled my hand away and gave it a closer look. I could see just how dirty his hands were and I couldn't stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth. "Haven't been to the shelter lately for your shower?"
"I told you I have been here waiting for you. It's a little hard to commute up and back."
"Oh that's right…my very own stalker."
"I wasn't stalking…I just needed to talk to you."
"Talk to me?" I shook my head, "Why would you ever need to talk to me."
He let go of my wrist and stepped back. His foot playing with the dirt below. "I wanted…" he sighed. "I just wanted you to know that I think you should come back to the kitchen."
"Why the hell would I do that?"
"Because you're no closer to meeting Jacob Black today and the kitchen is a sure-fire way to win your bet. I didn't want to be the reason you left the kitchen. I know that this bet is important to you but having you at the kitchen is important to me."
"Why would it matter if I was there or not? I'm like a walking charity disaster. I need to stay far far away from that place. I don't belong there."
"But that's just it…I think you do. I think that you have the opportunity to really make a difference. Don't you want that Bella? Don't you want to know that you made a difference other than winning a bet? I know that you have it in you Bella. I know you're a good person."
"You don't know me at all. I only met you a few days ago and every interaction I have had with you has been…hostile. I think you want me to be this person that you believe I am but I'm not. I really am this shallow." I hopped off the car and pulled my shirt from his hands. "I'm sorry if I ruined your…homeless world."
I pulled open the car door and sat down in the seat, throwing my dirty yellow shirt into the passenger seat beside me.
"I don't believe that and I'm not going to give up on you. I really hope that you will come back to the kitchen because as depressing as it may seem to you…there are also a lot of really happy moments there too. I wish you could see the good and not just the bad."
"That's just it, Edward…I don't see good in anything anymore."
I started up my car and without looking at him I drove off.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Bella. We already made a deal that we would not engage with Edw…homeless dude any more. His words rattled around in my head and once again I knew that I would have a restless night ahead. Damn that dude!
Instead of going home where I would be surrounded by silent walls, I drove around aimlessly instead. I should have gone home and showered but I didn't want to see my home right now. I wanted to go shopping but I was afraid of another mental breakdown. It was incredibly obvious that that is what happened to me last time. I may have to see a therapist just to get me on the right track again.
With all this thinking it wasn't until I found myself at the off ramp to my grandfather's country club that I realized how powerful my subconscious must really be. I had no idea where he would even be this early in the morning. It wasn't even nine yet.
I walked into the club and went straight over to guest services. The gentleman behind the counter gaped as I strolled up.
"Is Charles Swan here?"
"Uh…are you a member?"
"Would I be here asking for Charles Swan if I wasn't?" I wasn't technically a member but he didn't need to know that. "My grandfather, I need to speak with him straight away. It's an emergency."
"Oh…of course Miss…Swan." He looked at his computer and replied. "He's on the green probably around hole thirteen. Do you need an escort?"
"That would be helpful. Thank you."
I waited for my escort to be arranged and then we headed off in a golf cart through the greens. I looked down at what I was wearing and hoped my grandfather wouldn't believe this was club clothes.
"There he is." I pointed out for the driver.
"Grandfather." I yelled from the cart and he just about fell as I called after him right when he was just about to swing.
I jumped from the cart.
"Isabella! You almost messed up my swing." He grumbled.
"I'm sorry but this was an emergency."
He looked me over and saw me covered from head to toe in dirt and grime.
"Yeah, I reckon it is. How did you even make it through the club like that?" He shook his head.
"I've had a really rough day. No one was going to mess with me." I told him.
"All right so let's hear it. I imagine this has to do with your bet."
"For starters I woke up extra early this morning because Jacob Black's publicist assistant told me that he would be on the jogging trail at six am. I get all cute which you know is a miracle at that god awful hour and right when he is coming down the path I fall down the mountain and land practically in front of where he is jogging. I'm all bloody and…well just look at me." I huffed, "anyways the point is that no good hack actor didn't even stop to see if I was alive so basically I am up shit creek with a yellow shirt for a paddle."
"Wow, that is some story. I thought you were going to go and try the soup kitchen."
"Don't even get me started on that disaster, grandfather." I kicked the ground.
"Don't go messing up my green." He scolded. "What happened at the soup kitchen? You might as well get that out of your system too."
"First they wanted me to wash dishes which I can't even begin to explain what a poor idea that was. Then I get in trouble for giving two small starving kids a whole banana and to top it off, homeless dude was there and he yelled at me for not wanting to work the serving line. I'm just not cut out for manual labor."
"Oh bite your tongue. You are a Swan and that is what Swan's excel at. You are not above hard work and I refuse to be related to a lazy Swan."
"Great, now you're disowning me?" I nearly shrieked. "Did you not just hear me? Hard work is all I have been doing since I took on this stupid bet. I look like a muddy buddy, I smell like a vagrant and I can't even shop properly anymore because something mental is going on upstairs."
"Something mental is correct." He replied giving me a look like I was crazy.
"Are you going to help me or not. I thought you were like my partner in all this."
"You want my help? Then you are going back to that soup kitchen and give me an honest job of it. I don't want you back here until you have completed at least four honest day's work there. If you still are having trouble coping then I will help you with your next move but my god, Isabella." He shook his head in disappointment, "Don't let me be wrong about you. The Swans are counting on you."
He took his golf club and swung it toward me, "Now go and stop feeling sorry for yourself. Wait to feel sorry when you have real problems to deal with."
My grandfather literally chased me a couple of paces with his club until I got going. That daft old man really was going senile. He has never spoken to me like that. I walked my way back toward the club house since I had no cart to carry me and I still couldn't believe him. What the hell did he mean; the Swans are counting on you? Nobody counted on me in this family for shit.
I hated how disappointed he seemed of me but maybe I just didn't explain myself properly. If I had gone in-depth about what homeless dude said to me, maybe he would have agreed with me and told me to stay far away from that damned kitchen.
I finally arrived back to my car and if it were at all possible, I think I stank a little more than before. The whole drive home I kept weighing my options. I could always just continue onward and not listen to my grandfather but it was kind of nice having a partner in all this.
"But I don't want to go back to the soup kitchen." I whined out loud.
One things for sure, all of this could be blamed on one person and one person only. Homeless dude. If it wasn't for him telling me about Horizons I never would have gone there and I wouldn't be in this mess.
Damn that homeless dude.
AN: Very excited to see such a positive response to this story. I am so excited that you have decided to go on this journey with me. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and an extra special thanks to those who reviewed.