Author's Note: First I would like to say that I don't now or ever have owned Twilight or its characters. Those belong to Stephanie Meyer, the lucky lucky girl. I do however, own Ana and Jade, and I think that they are pretty awesome in their own right. So anyways, please read, and review. Even if its to tell me the story sucks, though I would appreciate constructive criticism over people telling me I suck. Thanks. Onto Chapter 11!!!
Chapter 11: The Note and Payback
" This isn't fare Jade, I cook dinner and I still get stuck with dish duty?" I ask, my long sleeved shirt pushed past my elbows and my arms immersed in soapy water. She laughs next to me.
" Well in the words of Emmett "you're the rookies. You should know that as soon as your done, you run for the door. Last person sitting does the dishes," she says, mimicking Emmett's deep voice. I roll my eyes, scrubbing off the last plate.
" So, did you notice the way Jasper was staring at you all dinner long?" she asks, taking the plate from my hand sliding it easily into the dishwasher. Of course I did.
" No, didn't notice," I say draining the water with a sigh of relief.
" Sure you didn't, you had to have noticed, that boy was staring at you like he would rather have you in his mouth than what you cooked," she says, snapping the towel in her hands on my back. I blush deeply.
" oh geeze Jade, does everything have to have a sexual meaning to it?" I ask, hopping up onto the counter.
" I was just saying, you could cut the tension between you two with a knife and feed a small third world country with it," she says, meticulously folding the towel.
" He wants me to meet him tonight," I blurt out. She stops her task and looks up at me.
" What? Why?" she asks, cornering me before I can flee.
" I don't know. He said he wants to talk, I'm supposed to meet him down here at ten thirty," I say, trying my hardest to sound nonchalant.
" Are you going to go? I mean honestly Ana, is it such a good idea?" she asks, her eyes softening with concern. Most people take one look at Jade and assume that she is probably someone who doesn't feel much. They would be very wrong. I have never met someone who feels so much for so many people, she just knows how to control it unlike me. I roll my eyes at her as I slide off the counter.
" I don't know Jade, I mean what harm could talking do?" I ask, nervously lifting an apple from the bowl on the counter rolling it around in my hands.
" You know better than me, that 'just talking' can do a lot of harm. Maybe I should go with you," she says, catching the apple from my hands to set it down. I think about that for a second, about to tell her that is probably a good idea, when Edward comes strolling in.
" Well hello ladies, done with kitchen duty I see," he says easily, walking to the refrigerator.
" Yeah, you might have warned us of the rule," Jade says, trying her hardest to look angry, but I can see her fighting the smile.
" Sorry, but everyone had to learn that rule the hard way," he says, smiling flawlessly, " I will make it up to you both though. How about a movie tonight, I hear that there is a pretty good horror flick playing, if we leave now we can make the eight o'clock showing."
" Oh I would love to, but you guys go without me, I have some homework to finish up," I say, walking towards the stairs.
" Are you sure?" Jade asks, looking at me speculatively.
" Yeah, I'm sure, go have fun. Tell me all about it," I say, walking up the stairs leaving them alone. Its not that I didn't want to go, but one, I didn't want to be the third wheel on Edwards apparent attempt to get Jade alone, and two, Jasper. Though I know that it would be easier to have Jade with me, I also know that I need to learn to face things on my own. I look at the clock and it reads seven forty five in its big glowing numbers. I sigh heavily as I sit down on my bed grabbing my back pack. Might as well get some work done while I count down the two hour and fifteen minute wait.
Jade's POV
The movie theatre grew dark and I still couldn't stop thinking about Ana. I knew I should have passed on the movie offer, but Edward is just so gorgeous. But Ana is my best friend. I find myself getting further and further into a war with myself when Edward nudges me softly.
" Are you okay?" he whispers, and I nod my head quickly.
" Sorry, just thinking about Ana," I say, " Jasper wants to meet her tonight, and I feel like I should be there, instead of here."
" We can leave if you want," his beautiful eyes smiling into mine. I deliberate for a moment. Before deciding that Ana would probably be mad if I walked away from this opportunity.
" No, she is a big girl, she can do this on her own," I say, settling into my seat. Fifteen minutes into the movie I am totally captivated. What can I say, horror movies have always been my favorite, even the cheesiest ones get my attention. I jump slightly by the bad guy jumping out of nowhere and I hear Edward laugh slightly. I look over at him and smile back. I settle back again and feel his arm wrap around my shoulder. He doesn't even use the whole fake a yawn move. I lay my head back to rest on his shoulder and smile to myself. I definitely made the right choice by staying here.
" Seriously Edward, that was probably one of the scariest movies I have seen in awhile," I say, walking down the street with him. I slide my hands into my jacket pocket, smiling at his laughter.
" Jade it really wasn't all that bad," he says, bumping his hip lightly into mine. 'Okay so maybe it wasn't all that bad, but any excuse to jump into your lap I will take,' I think to myself, smiling secretly. He chuckles to himself and at first I think that maybe I had spoken out loud by accident.
" What's so funny?" I ask, stopping to look up at him.
" Its nothing. Its just that even though the movie wasn't that great, I love the idea of you jumping into my lap, so I shouldn't complain too much," he says, and I cant help but to feel like he is keeping something from me. I decide not to press the issue at just this moment.
" Oh yeah, sorry about that," I say, wrapping my arm through his continuing the walk. We walk in peaceful silence for a few moments, when the sign for an ice cream shop gets my attention.
' I could go for some ice cream right about now,' I think to myself. I continue walking when I realize that Edward is leading me straight for the ice cream shop. I swear sometimes I think that he can read my mind or something.
" What is a date, without a little dessert?" he asks, opening the door for me. I walk through the door feeling almost as giddy as a school girl. Almost.
Ana's POV
Someone is shaking me. Why is someone shaking me? Will they just stop shaking me.
" What?" I croak out, sitting up, squinting through sleep blurred eyes.
" Ana, why are you asleep on the living room floor?" Jade asks, helping me slowly to my feet. I look around slightly confused.
" What time is it?" I ask, blinking furiously, trying to clear my eyes of sleep.
" Almost one," she says, sitting on the arm of the couch. I feel my eyes widen, as anger surges through my body.
" What do you mean it is almost one," I hiss through my clenched teeth.
" Its almost one in the morning," she says, looking at me confused.
" That jerk," I whisper, trying to keep my voice down.
" What happened Ana, what did he say?" she asks, concern kicking into over drive through her eyes. I look at her, tears of anger and outrage shining in my eyes.
" I wouldn't know, he stood me up. I came down her at fifteen after and waited, and then I remember laying down at ten thirty five, thinking I would just rest for a minute, and then you woke me up," I say, refusing to let the tears come. I walk into the kitchen pulling out a bottle of water to wash the dry feeling out of mouth.
" You mean he never showed up?" she asks, looking at me confused.
" Yeah Jade that's what stood up usually means," I say, slamming the water bottle t the counter. My movement causes a single slip of paper to float to the floor. I pick it up and read, and re-read the note.
'Edward,
I had to run out. Alice called. Be back later, if I don't see you, we will talk tomorrow. -J. P.S Ana is asleep on the living room floor, please put her in her bed thanks.'
He saw me, and didn't think to wake me up and tell me we would have to talk another time. He left me asleep on the floor to run off at Alice's beckon call. I hand Jade the paper as Edward walks in. Edward smiles down at me.
" Hey Ana," he says, and his smile falters as he see's the dark look on my face and the mirroring look on Jade's. "What's the matter?" I take the paper from Jade's hands and slap it to Edward's chest.
" This," I say, " This is the matter. Your friend is the what is the matter." I watch as Edward reads the note left for him and crumbles it angrily in his hand.
" Ana, I am sorry. Jasper, he just, he doesn't think sometimes," he says, throwing the paper into the trash can. I roll my eyes at this. Typical. Guys, they always stick together.
" Yeah well, you can tell him. You know what forget it, I'm going to bed," I say, stomping up the stairs to my room. I reach my door and turn to look at Jasper's door. I open my own door and slam it shut behind me, cursing myself and the day that I laid eyes on him.
I look around the office nervously. For a quote un-quote small recording studio this place looks insanely huge. The butterflies in my stomach have me seriously contemplating making a run for it and not looking back. I check my watch for what seems like the millionth time and realize that its fifteen minutes past the time of my meeting. I swallow nervously when the door finally opens, revealing Veronica Hale, looking just as stunning as I remember her. She smiles warmly at the woman she is talking to shaking her hand. She lifts her eyes and her smile widens when she notices me.
" Ana, you made it," she says, walking to me, taking my hand in hers. I smile back, at once feeling calm in her presence, any second thoughts fading quickly into my memory. I smile back at her.
" Yes, I did, it was a little crazy, trying to find my way around here. I managed though. You said noon when we talked at the party, but if this is a bad time, I can always come back," I say, pushing a stray strand of hair from my face.
" No, I just finished a small personal matter. Please come with me," she says, and I follow her as she leads me down a hallway. She opens a door revealing a decent sized empty space. A large window on one side revealing a breathtaking view of the bustling city. " This will be your office."
I stare up at her shocked.
" This is going to be my office?" I choke out, unsure if I heard her correctly.
" That's right, I have some furniture coming in about an hour. Rosalie was great help in telling me your taste. So if you will just follow me, I have just some menial paper work for you to fill out. You will have to get downstairs to floor five to get your I.D badge made up," she says, walking into an even larger office space. It's beautifully decorated. Shiny dark cherry wood. I watch as she glides elegantly to her desk and takes a seat. I see her pull out a small packet of paper. She smiles as she looks up and signals for me to take a seat across from her. I sit and find the seat amazingly comfortable. She slides the packet to me and a pen. I start filling it out as she taps quickly at the keys in front of her. I add my signature to the last page.
" All done," I say happily, handing her the papers. I watch as she quietly glances through them smiling. A buzzing noise at her desk causes me to jump slightly.
" Mrs. Hale, the delivery people are here," a voice rings through the phone.
" Let them in, tell them that she will be there shortly to tell them where things should be," she says, clicking the phone off. " Okay here is the office you need to go to on the fifth floor to get your I.D badge, as soon as you do, come back up here and show them how you want your office set up. After that you are completely free to go, and I will see you back here tomorrow after noon." Before I have time to react or say anything she breezes from the room.
I sit in my new black leather office chair, staring out of the window as the lights to the city start flickering on one after the other. I have spent the last twenty minutes texting Jade about the new office and fulfilling her demands for pictures. I still cant believe it myself. Black and hot pink, yes Rosalie knows me well. My desk is glossy and black, adorned with the new laptop I found wrapped and waiting in the small closest. I sigh heavily when I decide to finally get up and head home. I walk through the door locking it behind me. I hitch my back pack onto my shoulder, as I head out to the elevators. I read over the papers that one of Veronica's assistants brought to me, when I bump, well more like crash into somebody. Sending everything that I was carrying to the floor with a crash.
" Oh man, I'm sorry," a deep voice says, as I kneel down to pick everything up quickly.
"No, no it was my fault, I wasn't paying any attention to where I was going," I say, looking up. I am frozen in thought as I see a sexy pair of green eyes assessing me. I get to my feet at the same time that he stands up.
" I'm Brody. You must be Ana," he says, extending his hand towards me. I shake his hand nervously.
" Oh yeah, Ana, that's me," I say lamely. He smiles at that and drops my hand to run his finger through his light brown hair. I do a quick once over. He is taller than me slightly, probably 5'8 5'9. Muscular. Tan.
" Veronica did nothing but talk about you this morning at the office meeting," he says, smiling widely. I blush at the thought and he laughs. " Well I hope she didn't talk me up to much," I say, " I would hate to disappoint."
" Somehow I think it would be damn near impossible for you to disappoint. The only thing she didn't tell us is just how pretty you are," he says, and I giggle at that. Giggle like a school girl. I can feel myself blushing as I start walking past him.
" Well it was nice meeting you Brody, but I really must be going," I say, pressing the button on the elevator.
" Hey I know that this is going to sound crazy, but would you like to get some coffee with me?" he asks, running a hand through his hair almost nervously. I look over my shoulder and smile slightly about to decline his offer when one person comes to mind. Jasper.
" You know, that would be nice," I say, walking through the elevators waiting doors.
" Awesome," he says easily, walking to stand next to me. The doors open silently and I step out.
" I just need to make a phone call really quick," I say, flipping open my cell phone. I scroll down to Jade's number and decide to call the house phone instead, with hopes that no one will answer and that Jade wouldn't be the only one to hear the message.
" Hey Jade, and anyone else who might hear this. I am going to be a little late coming home today so don't freak out and call missing persons or anything Emmett. Oh and Jade, I will definitely have to tell you all about Brody. On the scale definitely a million times hotter than super cute frat boy from last summer. Ciao," I say, snapping my phone shut smiling smugly. Maybe this will get his attention. I turn around and smile widely at Brody signaling to him that I am more than ready to go.