So You're The Hired Help? Chapter 2
POV: Bella
Angela and I just got back from our trip to Seattle and it was fun. I never knew that shopping would be that fun, but seeing as we spent most of our time in the bookstore, I'm not complaining. I love to read and so does Angie. At first when I asked my dad, I thought that he was going to flip, but when I said that Angela and I were going to be sharing a room and that we'd end up sticking together, and take her car since everyone knows my truck wouldn't make it that far, he ended up agreeing. As soon as I texted Angela, she replied within seconds saying that she would be at my house by 7:30 the next morning to pick me up for school.
Friday during school, Edward wasn't there and I was so happy. Plus it was a sunny day, must be off killing poor innocent animals to sustain their thirst. Then again I guess it is a good thing that they don't feed off of humans and go to school. They might take lunch time a little bit too seriously.
Billy did end up having a spare key for the truck and when he gave it to me, he told me to keep it on me at all times so I didn't lose it. I think that was because I told him that I was pretty sure that I saw the creepy Cullen in the forest by my house. He also told me that while the protection couldn't be rushed, to be extra cautious and to try not to be caught alone with any of the Cullens no matter who they are.
And that leads us to today, me being loaded up into an ambulance with Angie sitting right next to me. We stopped at the only gas station in Forks and I didn't see the wet floor sign. I know, I know. Brilliance right there. Angela couldn't decide if she wanted to laugh at me or ask me if I was okay. She ended up doing a mixture of both, and I was right there with her, after I woke up from being knocked unconscious. Charlie ended up meeting us at the hospital as I was being taken to a room in the E.R to be examined by a doctor. Angela was by my side the whole time explaining what happened to both the nurses and my dad, the latter of which couldn't stop laughing.
"Dad, I know that I'm funny, but seriously, you can stop laughing at my expense. I'm fine, how many times do I have to tell you that?" I said, getting frustrated quickly.
"I know you keep saying that Bells, but this is a new one even for you. Walking into doors, you have covered, along with locking yourself out of a bathroom that wasn't locked, you have covered. Tripping up and down stairs, covered, tripping over nothing, covered. But slipping on a wet floor by not seeing the caution sign and knocking yourself unconscious you haven't done before. I can't help but want to laugh," my lovely dad said.
"What do you mean locking herself out of a bathroom that wasn't locked, Chief Swan?" Angela asked, trying to hide her laughter.
"We were taking a road trip down to Portland one summer, a few years ago, and Bella really had to pee, so we stopped at a gas station and the bathrooms were outside. The door to the ladies room had two door handles on it, one was something that you would just pull and the other was one that you twist and pull, kinda like that one over there," he said pointing to the handle on the door to the room that we were in. "She goes up to the door and only tries to pull on the one handle, not thinking to try the other one and when that doesn't work, she goes inside to get the key off of the clerk behind the counter who said that it should be unlocked unless there was someone inside. She comes back out, goes back to the door and knocks on it, hoping that no one was in there," he continued, laughing at my blushing face.
"Dad! Stop please!" I whined, covering my face with my hands, getting laughs from Angie and my dad.
"So, after that she starts walking back towards us dejectedly, and when she gets back to the car, this blonde woman walks up to the door and first she tries the only handle that Bells did, and when that didn't work, she tried the other handle and viola the door opened. And Bells was pissed, so while she waited for the woman to come out, she started dancing in one stop trying not to piss herself," dad finished before him and Angela started to laugh even more. There was a knocking at the door that got everyone to quiet before dad called out for whoever it was to come in.
"Hello Ms. Swan, I'm Doctor Cullen," a musical voice said as he walked in the door. As I looked up I saw a blonde vampire come in with golden eyes. Great, just great. One leech in my room, most likely the same one that is in my biology class. And now I get the father leech as a doctor. This is just great, I think to myself. At least I'm not alone in the room with him.
"Hi, can you tell them that I am fine?" I ask as he feels around my head and when he hits a tender spot I don't flinch or anything. My breathing remains calm and so does my heart rate. I am feeling mighty proud of myself at the moment.
"Any pain in the head?" He asked, ignoring my question? "Sensitivity to light or sound?"
"No, no, and no. Can I leave now?" I mutter in response to his questions, silently cursing Billy that he didn't tell me a leech worked at the hospital.
"Bella, be nice," Charlie said, shooting me a look that said we will be talking about this when we get home.
"Sorry Doc. But seriously, we're in a hospital that has needles," I say as way of explanation.
"That's quite alright Ms. Swan. It seems as though you are free to go, once your dad signs your release papers. If you get a headache any time in the next few hours, take a Tylenol. If there is any dizziness, ringing in your ears, or sensitivity to light, please come into the hospital as quickly as you can so we can check and see if you have any other signs of a concussion, okay?" Doctor Cullen said.
"Alright, Dad, go sign the papers please?" I ask, putting a pout on that I know my dad can't resist.
"Alright Bells, just don't get injured. At least not any more than what you already are," he said as he got up out of the chair that he was in and followed the doctor out of the room to sign the papers.
"So, Angie, what did you think of that little story my dad told you?" I asked, turning to Angela and seeing her staring out the door where the Doctor was now standing.
"Your dad has signed all papers necessary and you are now free to leave," he said before turning away.
"Bella, did you see him?" Angie asked, somewhat incredulously.
"Yeah..." I said, trailing off, not knowing where she was going.
"He's got to be the best looking Cullen of them all," she said. "And he was your doctor. And all you can say is 'Yeah...?'"
"Uhm...yeah. I like 'em tall, dark, and handsome," I murmured to her.
"So is that why you go to La Push all the time?"
"Psh...No," I said, quickly trying to deny it, no matter how true it may be. "They're great friends, loyal like a pack of dogs or wolves or something," I said, laughing quietly at my own joke.
"Weird, let's get you out of here, don't want anything to happen to you," she said before getting out of the chair that she was in and walking towards the door waiting for me to hop down off of the bed. Walking towards her, she looked like she was pondering something, just she wasn't sure how to word it. "Bella...?"
"Angie?"
"On Thursday when Edward Cullen talked to you, how did you blow him off? I mean no one has been able to do that to him," she asked me.
"I guess because a lot of people just see at face value, it's not always just about what someone looks like or how much money they have. I don't want money that will last me lifetimes. That doesn't concern me. I just want to be happy and I want to find that one person that will put my happiness above all else, to protect me from dangers and love me with all that they have. I don't know Edward like that, and I'm not really concerned I guess if I do. If it happens, it happens and whatever repercussions come from it, so be it, let them come," I said, knowing that the good doctor was trying to listen.
"So you're saying that you don't want to get to know Edward?" Angie asked.
"No, I'm not saying that, I just mean that it's not at the top of my list of priorities. I think it'd be nice to get to know him, he seems like a nice person, but...it's not priority for me," I responded, thinking that it's the best answer for her.
"Oh, well, let's get going," she said as we were walking past the nurses station where Doctor Cullen was standing there with a small smile on his face. Looks like the man was eaves dropping. He should know that it's not nice to do that. He did 'raise' five children.
"Thanks for coming with me," I told Angela as we were getting in the cruiser so Charlie could take us back.
"It's no problem. What are friends for. If I needed it, you would have done it for me," she said, reaching forward to pat my shoulder. "Thank you for driving me back to get my car chief Swan," she added on.
"It's no problem and call me Charlie," dad said smiling at her through the rear view mirror.
"Bella, after first beach next weekend, do you want to spend the night at my house?" Angie asked before she got out of the car.
"Sure, why not. It was either that or spend the night in Rach and Becca's old room. I wouldn't mind either one. Billy and Jake are family so it's not unusual for me to stay at their house at least once while I'm here," I said. "But having a girl to spend time with would be great!"
"Awesome."
"Hey, if you ask your parents I'm sure Billy wouldn't mind you staying the night there too, and early the next morning we can go and watch the sunrise out at the cliffs," I said, thinking up a plan.
"I wouldn't want to intrude Bella," Angela said and before I could respond to that, Charlie answered.
"I'll talk to the old man tonight and Bella can have your answer for you tomorrow at school. Billy doesn't mind, he loves house guests. I might go just to crash on his couch, the thing's huge and very comfortable," Charlie said, getting a laugh out of us both.
"Okay, thank you again for the ride Charlie," she conceded before getting in her car and driving away after I got my things out.
"Did you guys have a good time in Seattle?" dad asked me when we were sure Angie was going to be fine.
"Yeah, most of the time was spent in bookstores, but between the both of us we both enjoyed that. Spent a few hours shopping for clothes as well, got some really cool stuff," I said shifting through my bags looking for what I got dad. "And I got you a present too. Once I can find it I will give it to you."
"Bells, turn around in your seat the right way. I'm a cop and when you ride in the car with me you will abide by the rules of the road,"he said trying to sound stern and fatherly. "What'd you get me?" he asked. I knew he couldn't hold out for long without asking. He is definitely not where I got my aversion to gifts, surprises and people spending money on me from. Neither is Renee, guess I'm just the odd one out in our family.
"It's a surprise. And you'll get it when I can find it," I said turning around in my seat with the bag that it should have been in. "Better yet, you'll get it when we get home, can't have you not abiding by the rules of the road," I said sarcastically.
"You're too damn sarcastic for your own good kid," dad said laughing at me. "It's going to get you in trouble one of these days."
"Yeah yeah. Just hurry up and drive already. The light has turned green," I said as he was staring at me and not driving.
"Right, I knew that. But just a hint?" he asked, going back towards the surprise.
"No."
"Please?"
"No. And that's final. And if you ask again then you will have no dinner. I'll just make some for myself," I answered, cutting off the topic.
"I could just order pizza," dad said. "Or steal your food when you're not looking."
"Dad, just shut up and drive," I muttered, shaking my head at his antics.
Ten minutes later, we pulled up to the house and Edward Cullen was standing on the door step, raising his hand to knock. Just what I needed. Getting out of the car with dad, we both grabbed some bags, me holding onto the one with his surprise in it and went to unlock the door.
"Hello Chief Swan, Bella," Edward said, trying to smile.
"Uhm, hi Edward," I said waiting for dad to unlock the front door so I could put my stuff down somewhere before I started dinner.
"What can we do for you, son?" Dad asked, as he finally got the key in the door and turned it officially unlocking the door and opening it.
"I was just wondering if I could speak to Bella," he said, still trying to smile. It's not working out well for him.
"That's up to her but she's busy so just make it quick," dad answered, most likely wanting to know what I got for him. "Bells I'm going to go up and stick these in your room. Why don't you hand me those too and I'll take them up in one trip?"
"Thanks dad, but I'm holding on to the one bag," I said before turning to creepward. "What can I do for you Edward?" I asked, kinda curious.
He waited until my dad went inside before he started to talk. "I was wondering if you would like to hang out next weekend?" he asked.
"I have plans next weekend. I'm going down to La Push on Saturday and I'm spending the night with Angela, either at her house or in La Push," I answered, glad to have plans already made for next weekend.
"Oh, well what about the weekend after?" he asked. Damn, he's just about as persistent as Mike Newton.
"I don't have any plans that weekend, so yeah I guess."
"Are you not going to the dance?"
"It's not in my best interest to go to dances," I muttered, before shivering from the cold. "I should get inside, it's not the best weather for standing outside in dressed the way I am," I said, looking down at my skinny jeans and light tank top. I had another shirt on of course, but it got hot in the cruiser and I didn't think that I would be standing in the cold talking to a cold, dead person.
"I'll see you Monday then," he said, giving me some half-assed attempt of a smile.
"Good-bye Edward," I said before turning to go inside and get warmed up.
"Bye Bella," he said quietly before turning and getting into his pussy Volvo. Great crash test ratings sure, but seriously, what kind of man drives a Volvo?
I should probably be writing down my encounters with the Cullens so that the pack knows what happened, but where would I stick it without the creep finding it if it's in my room? Going into the kitchen, I start dinner for me and dad before going to find him in the living room and finding him watching ESPN. Shocker.
"Hey dad, do you want your present now?" I asked him, knowing that he'd say yes.
"Of course I do Bells, you've had me waiting so long I couldn't find anything to distract myself," he said, eyes still glued to the television.
"Right," I said before grabbing the tickets out of the bag. "Now dad, when I give you your present, promise to be calm?" I asked him, watching him bounce in his seat.
"Yes Bells, I promise. Now what is it?" he asked me, getting this huge smile on his face.
"Here," I said, handing over the two tickets to see the Mariners play their first game of the season. The seats were right along the first base line. Some of the best seats there and I got them at half price too.
When he saw what the tickets were for, his smile got so much larger I was surprised his face didn't split into two.
"Two tickets to see the Mariners play? Bells, why two?"
"In case you didn't want to go alone, you can take Billy if you wanted. I know the fist game isn't for a while now, but you have plenty of time to be off for work, and you and Billy can go up to Seattle the day before, stay there the day after two. Spend some time, maybe even go into the Bass Pro. Shop, look at the lures and everything. I know how much you enjoy fishing and I doubt that you would have had time off to consider it before," I said sheepishly. It's my present for letting me come stay with him, and I know he doesn't care about that, but I wanted to do something nice for the man.
"Oh, Bells! These are great really, really, great! I'm going to go call Billy and tell him and then ask him about the spending the night thing for Angela too," he said before giving me a huge hug. I got up and followed him into the kitchen so I could check on the meat for the tacos that we're having for dinner as he got on the phone and dialed Billy's number.
"Hey Jake, put your dad on the phone, tell him I've got great news," Charlie said when the other person answered the phone.
"Hey old man, I wanted to ask you a question and tell you great news all at once," Charlie said when the phone was handed over to Billy. "This weekend when Bells is coming down for that bonfires, is it okay if her and her friend Angela stay in Rachel and Rebbecca's old room for the night so that they don't have to drive on the wooded roads late at night?"he asked. Pausing for a moment, he smiled brightly before returning. "And you'll never guess what Bells did for me when she was in Seattle this weekend with Angela. She got me two tickets to see the Mariners first game, down the first base line. You're going with me old man, and I don't care who says what."
It's great to see my dad so excited over something so simple. I always had the feeling that he's never gotten out much except to go fishing with Harry and Billy down in La Push and go to work. No girl other than my mother who walked out on him when I was a few years old, couldn't live in a small town. He's still hung up on her too. Maybe when he goes to Seattle he'll meet a nice lady or something.
"Bells, Billy wants to talk to you for a moment, said something about some lotion," dad said before handing me the phone.
"Hi Billy, how are you?" I asked, just to be pleasant.
"I'm good Bells, listen, the lotion won't be done until real late Saturday night, so it's a good thing that you're spending the night. I don't care if your friend stays the night either, just no hanky panky. Sam and the boys will be over late in the night, Jared is supposed to text you when they leave Old Quils to head over to mine with the stuff. That sounds like a drug deal gone bad or something," the old man said, reading my mind.
"Okay, I'll be sure to tell Angie that she's welcome. Do you mind if we stop by before the beach party to drop our stuff off and walk to the beach from your house?" I asked him, I mean I don't want to just assume anything.
"That's fine Bells, I'll let Sam know that you'll be spending the night. Jared and Paul will probably meet up with you at the beach before you come back to my house for the night, make sure that you and your friend are protected well from whatever could be hiding in the forest."
"Okay Billy, I thank you for that. Wouldn't want any rowdy teens trying to hurt me or Angie," I said, trying to stifle my laughter.
"Oh, and nice pick with the tickets. Your dad is happy," Billy said before hanging up the phone. Never any use in trying to say good-bye when you're talking on the phone with him. I don't think he believes in good-bye's, so when he's done saying what needs to be said he hangs up on you. Walking back to the charger I stuck the phone back in and finished making dinner before calling dad in who was still smiling like he won the lottery. I guess I can understand that.
"What did Billy want to know about lotion?" dad asked as he was making his first taco. Thinking quickly I said the first thing that came to mind.
"He was wondering which would be best to slow the effects of old age and hiding wrinkles," I said, trying not to laugh at the dumbfounded look on dads face. Billy's going to hate me for that one, I think. Not even knowing that it was said. I just know it.
"Well, I think it might be a little too late for that one. Any ways, he has a medicine man living there, couldn't he have just gone to him about that?" he asked me. Shit.
"I think he wanted a younger person's input as well. He asked about it when he came up looking for you that one day. I told him that some stuff from Bath and Body Works, works the best, you know that smelly stuff that us women always use? He said that he didn't feel comfortable going into one of those stores and asked if I could go to Port Angeles before this weekend and get him some," I said, making this stuff up on the spot. Billy is so going to hate me. I hate lying to my dad, but this is just hilarious.
"The old man is afraid of looking old?" dad asked, trying to hide his laughter.
"Yeah, tell me about it," I mutter, finishing the last of my dinner. I grab my plate and start to wash it along with the other stuff that I used to make dinner when Charlie shooed me off saying that he would do the dishes since I cooked. Making my way upstairs I thought about what I could use to keep my key on me at all times when it hit me. Fishing line. It'd be strong enough to hold the key, and I could wear it on my neck or wrist at all times. Except for when I'm in the shower. I'd just take it off before and put it back on after. Edward is way too much of a prude to go into the bathroom while I'm in there.
"Hey Bells, can you come down her for a moment?" Dad hollered up the stairs getting my attention. I carefully got up and walked down the stairs as quickly as I could without falling.
"Yeah dad?" I asked, curious cause he was giving me a look.
"What'd that Edward fellow want?" he asked.
"He asked if we could go out this weekend but I already had plans made with Angie and then he asked about the dance," I said, shuddering at that thought. He knows how I am at dancing. Hell, he's the reason why I have coordination problems.
"Yeah, that might not be a good idea. You probably wouldn't send yourself to the hospital but everyone else there," he chuckled.
"Hey dad, can I use some fishing line to make a necklace type thing to hold my key so I don't loose it?" I asked him. He looked at me funny before getting up and going to the laundry room and grabbing something. Coming back out he tossed me a spool of green line and after I attempted to catch it, I sat on the stairs and got enough line that I could slip it around my neck when it's tied with the key hanging off of it and just barely going under my shirt. I left a little extra so that I could tie it with slack, or better yet have dad tie it so it doesn't come out. "Can you tie this for me? Like in one of your fancy fisherman knots?" I asked, handing him the key necklace type thing.
"Sure, do you want to put your house key on this too?" he asked, looking at me before he made any move to tie it.
"That'd probably be a good idea. Wouldn't want to lose that too," I said before getting up and getting my purse and grabbing my house key and handing it over to him. He slid the key on one side of the line before he tied the ends together and handed it back to me. I gave him the rest of the spool before I grabbed a pair of scissors and cut the ends off to where it wouldn't bother my neck. "Thanks dad," I said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before bounding back up the stairs to work on some left over homework from Friday.
When my homework was finished, I made my way over to my window and made sure to lock it and close the curtains tightly even though I knew that it wouldn't work much. If the freak wanted to, he could break my window in and replace it all before morning. Let's hope that doesn't happen because I'm sure that Charlie would notice a new window on the house. Especially in my room and he would want to know what's going on and I wouldn't be able to answer him.
Oh, Billy better be giving me something good out of doing this. I don't like having to lie to my dad. I'll be sure to take that issue up with him Saturday.
