The morning was clear when I awoke, but I glimpsed a rolling mass of clouds in the distance. I feared that it would rain for my trip to Seattle.
Wiping a few errant tears from my eyes, I slowly stood up. I was sore from being in hunched together all night, knees to chin. I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up with a few blood clots considering how long my legs were folded together. But it was the only way I could sleep, holding myself together – I would be afraid otherwise that I would simply fall apart while I was unconscious. Dying in the same room as Edward had, wouldn't that be ironic?
Stretching, I made my way to the dresser, pulling out some jeans and a plain cotton t-shirt. I knew Alice wouldn't approve of my dress code, but I didn't care. I was searching for comfort, not fashion at this point and it didn't matter who disapproved. I randomly thought about Edward's previous comments on my dress – how he had disliked my baggy attire from Phoenix, complaining he couldn't see my figure. That only made me cringe, however, because I knew that the jeans were figure fitting and Edward would probably make some comment about my butt – though he'd prefer using a different word to describe it…
Enough, I told myself. It no longer mattered what I dressed like because apparently Edward could resist me that way – after all, he'd disappeared, choosing to leave me and my "perfect figure."
I packed lightly, because I planned on spending a few days in Seattle, before returning, in case the publishers needed to see me again for anything. I moved quietly about the room because I didn't want to wake Alice. As soon as I had my overnight bag packed, I made my way downstairs, avoiding a quick glance at Edward's portrait. I had a small bowl of cereal and cleaned the dish.
I knew that Alice would want me to let her know that I was leaving – thank goodness Charlie had allowed me to have Friday off for my little trip. The guest bedroom door was slightly ajar. I pushed it open cautiously. Alice was sprawled across the bed, the sheets tangled around her legs. I shook my head. Alice was always a restless sleeper – never a good idea to sleep next to her for you most certainly would be smacked, kicked, and gradually uncovered and pushed off the bed. I wondered, errantly, how Jasper would deal with that in future, if, in fact, they weren't already sleeping in the same bed. That thought made me cringe – TMI – and I brushed forward.
Laying a hand on her back, I shook Alice slightly. She didn't wake, but I knew, of course, she wouldn't because she was such a sound sleeper. Sighing, I gripped the mattress and began shaking it roughly, effectively bouncing her up and down and causing her to roll back and forth on the bed. This, of course, did the trick and she shot up, looking around wildly. When she spotted me, she growled and launched herself at me.
"Isabella Marie Swan I will kill you!"
I shrieked as she landed on me and took us both down. For such a small person, Alice was certainly quite strong.
"Alice, please get off me," I panted and she did, but not without yanking my hair in one quick tug. "Oww! Jeez, Alice, give me a break! It's not like you're the easiest person to wake!" Alice straightened her nightgown and scowled at me.
"Bella, you didn't have to do that, it's not like it was your only option to shake me off the bed! You could have just yelled at me or something!"
"Trust me, Alice," I replied, "You still would have been mad. Anyway, I've gotta get going if I'm going to make decent time to Seattle. I just wanted to let you know I was heading out and to remind you to lock up if you leave the house – not that you have to, you're welcome to stay here." I knew she'd probably return to her new apartment, though, with Jasper. It's not like Alice was fond of having her own house to herself. She was far too social a butterfly.
"Alright, Bella. Thanks for letting me know, but are you sure you don't want me to go with you? We could make a girl's trip of it and have a bit of fun?" She gave me a look that I knew said she was worried about me being alone again. I shrugged and shook my head.
"No thanks, Alice. I'll be fine and I'd prefer to have a solo trip. I think I need some time to myself to…think, relax, you know?"
"I understand, Bella," Alice said softly, putting her hand on my shoulder. We hugged lightly, and I kissed her on the cheek before heading back down stairs. Alice didn't follow, claiming she needed more sleep and Jasper wouldn't be expecting her in town until much later. I told her I'd call her as soon as I got to Seattle.
Sighing, I let myself out and got my bag in the car before taking one last look at the house. I thought, just for a moment, that I saw Edward's face in the window of my bedroom…but it was just the light and my imagination playing tricks on me. I just wanted to see his face, that's all, and so my mind was more willing to think it saw his face…but of course that wouldn't be for real.
I got quickly into my car and pulled out, relishing in the emptiness of the road stretching out in front of me. I always did enjoy a long car ride, where there was nothing but me, the hum of the engine, and my music playing in the speakers. I could always think clearer when it was like this. I could relax and just let everything fall away as I headed to my destination.
____________________
I arrived in Seattle in the afternoon. I prayed that I would be able to find a publishing office before it was too late in the evening, before they closed. Thankfully, I was able to get to a hotel, locate a phonebook and find ad publishing company not too far from the hotel. And they would be open till 5. It was 3:30 now, so I quickly grabbed my manuscript and headed out to the car. I found the place fairly easy, and exited the car with excitement boiling in my belly. I was almost too distracted to think about Edward.
I was right about expecting rain – it was pouring by the time I reached the offices of Cullen Publishers. I didn't think to bring an umbrella with me, unfortunately, so I got rather soaked as I made my way inside the office doors. I quickly grabbed the hem of my cotton shirt and attempted to dry my hands without making too many creases in it. I knew that looking presentable was an important part to getting published, so it was important that I not do too much damage to my already worn shirt. Of course, I was already wet from the rain, which contributed to that damp, lost kitten look that definitely wasn't professional, but I knew that I just needed to act confident and not take no for an answer.
With that thought in mind, I made my way up a set of marble stairs that led to the lobby. There was an array of soft-looking beige couches facing each other on a soft, white rug. A mahogany desk sat at the far end of the room and behind it on both sides were doors that led further into the offices of the publishers themselves. A blonde sat behind the desk, tapping away on a keyboard with a bored expression. For all I knew, she could be writing her own novel. I heard the large double doors behind me open and close, signaling the arrival of another client, probably, so I knew that it was now or never that I make my move.
I made my way confidently across the soft, plush rug, weaving between the couches to the desk. The blonde – platinum and totally dyed – didn't even look up as I stopped at the front of the desk, continuing her typing and, I now noticed, chewing on her gum. I cleared my throat to interrupt the tapping of her long-nailed, red-painted fingers on the keys. She looked up beneath thick, black-mascara coated eyelashes at me and blew a pink bubble that popped with a loud snap! She collected the deflated pieces of gum with her pink tongue, reining them back in her mouth and chewing a couple of times before greeting me with a bored, "What can I do for you?"
I stared at her a moment, stunned by the lack of professionalism I had been presented with, before snapping out of it and stuttering quickly, "Uh – I'd like – like to see Mr. Cullen, please? I want to make an appointment with him about publishing my book." As I was talking, I felt a presence behind me and out of the corner of my eye noticed a tall, gangly man stop just to my left, leaning on the desk. I could feel his gaze on my and I tried to control the fierceness of my blush – embarrassed to be studied at such an uncomfortable moment in my life.
"You want to meet with Mr. Cullen? Just who exactly do you think you are?" the blonde questioned rudely. In actuality, I felt verbally slapped. I simply stared at her, too shocked to respond.
"Well?" she prodded, her manicured nails tapping impatiently against the polished wood of her desk.
"I – I – Yes, that's who I want to see. I'm here to get my book published," I repeated, not understanding what her problem was. "It's very important that I see him and get him to read my book. I need this," I conceded. It was true. I was hoping this book deal would chinch my monetary problems and leave me with enough security to stay in Edward's house. My house now.
"Well, Miss, not just anyone can see Mr. Cullen. He is too busy with appointments with clients who actually mean something here. He doesn't have time to read fan fiction fantasy novels written by Plain Jane wannabe writers that are a waste of time," she explained, her voice dripping with irritation and smugness. I just gaped at her. The man beside me moved, but I couldn't pay any attention to him at this point.
"Excuse me, but you don't even know me!" I replied, my voice raising slightly at the challenge this blonde was presenting me.
"Excuse me, but I'm busy. The door is behind you, don't let it hit that flat butt of yours on the way out," the blonde simpered, giving me a haughty look.
"Excuse me, but I think I can help with this situation," came a deep male voice from beside me and I turned to regard the gentleman who'd been watching this whole affair for the first time. As soon as I took him in, my eyes widened slightly. He was tall, and I mean really tall. He was at least two feet taller than me, lean, and well muscled about the arms, which was visible to me beneath the contours of his button-up shirt. His skin was russet colored, his hair jet black and shortly cropped. He was, in a word, handsome.
"Oh, you're back are you, Mr. Black, I thought you couldn't wait?" the blonde addressed the man beside me, her voice suddenly polite and, dare I say it, pleasant? She gave him a playfully questioning look. I wanted to gag.
"Actually yes, I feel as if I could wait forever, if I had to," he replied, looking me up and down. I felt myself bristle slightly at the implications, but he was speaking again. "Tanya, I know it's in your nature to be hostile to those you a threat to your beauty – and believe me, you certainly are in danger at this moment – but if you please, give Mr. Cullen a ring and let him know that there is a beautiful young woman here who truly needs to see him. She can have my appointment." His voice, while informative, rumbled with a mixture of sultriness and huskiness that screamed alpha male. I was simply stunned, unable to reply to what he had just said.
Tanya, as I now learned her name was, scoffed, her face darkening at the man's words, and shook her head. "I can't do that, Mr. Black. Mr. Cullen only sees the top clients of this firm and I simply cannot permit this…this juvenile to enter his office and take up his valuable time."
"I really must insist, Tanya, as a top client, that you allow Miss –" and here he turned to me.
"Uh Mrs. Mike Newton," I mumbled, my mind thinking irrationally that if I mentioned that I was married – emphasis on was for me – than I would appear less "juvenile."
"Mrs.…" Jacob murmured, his face falling before brightening again a second later. "Yes, please allow Mrs. Newton to take my appointment with Mr. Cullen." He grinned at me, barely glancing at Tanya. I heard her huff and punch the keypad of the telephone, then a moment later whining into the receiver about an appointment problem.
"Well, then," she grumbled, after replacing the phone back in its cradle, "Mr. Cullen will see you now." She immediately returned back to typing, as if the conversation between the three of us had never taken place. I stood, for a moment, unsure of where to go.
"Here," Mr. Black, apparently sensing my insecurity, took my arm and began leading me, "this way." He led us through one of the doors at the side of the receptionist desk. On the other side was a long hallway filled with more doors. Mr. Black led us farther down the hall.
"So," he began, "You wrote yourself a book? What sort? I'm a book writer myself…as you may have guessed…I'm curious as to what you would write about? A romance novel, perhaps? A romantic comedy of sorts?" I stopped him before he could go on.
"Of course not! Must you assume that because I'm a woman I only want to write about love?" I blushed at my brazenness…after all, he was the one who was giving me his appointment and being so kind to me without knowing a thing about me. I really should be thanking him.
"I'm sorry," I backtracked, "I didn't mean to be so rude…really I owe you for what you're doing for me." I heard him chuckle beside me and I glanced at him swiftly, sharing in his mirth.
"No, it is I who should apologize. I didn't mean to exude a sense of misogyny. Really, I'm not like that normally. I'm…not too good at small talk when I'm around such a beautiful woman…You make me nervous." Now he was blushing, a hint of raspberry across his cinnamon skin. I felt my stomach flip. I was nervous myself.
"I'm not beautiful," I mumbled. Mr. Black stopped. We were at the end of the corridor and a large set of double doors stood impressively in the wall before us.
"Oh, now you're just being modest. Trust me when I say you are indeed one of the most beautiful women I have ever encountered…I cannot wait to read your novel." He grinned at me and I blushed.
"We'll see how this goes first," I replied, the side of my mouth pulling up unconsciously in a grin of my own…which I hadn't done in quite some time…not since Edward…That thought, of course, was quite sobering and I realized that I shouldn't have been flirting with this stranger I had only known for a few minutes. "Thank you for your help, Mr. Black. Excuse me." And I knocked on the door.
"Come in," came the smooth voice on the other side. With one last glance at Mr. Black, I put my hand on the brass doorknob and turned it, following the open door to my fate that was waiting on the other side.
Playlist
Jealous Enemies – Dark Captain, Light Captain
Beautiful – Barenaked Ladies
Send Him Away – Franz Ferdinand
Like O, Like H – Tegan & Sara
Phantom Limb – The Shins
Heartbeat – The Runaways
Well, there it is. How do you feel about the chapter? Did you like it, or did it upset you? Did it make you angry that there was no Edward? These are things I would like to hear from you. Comment on the chapter, let me know what you think and what you might like to see different. I have a set plan for this story, but there is aways room for suggestion. Cheers and hopefully the next chapter will be up soon.