A Letter From Edward, chapter 9: "Interruptions"
Hey, everybody!!!! Oh. My. God. I need to thank all of you SOOOOO much!!! I have officially reached over 105 reviews!!!!! Can you believe it?!?! I know, neither can I. I never thought that my story would do this well. You guys are the best. I love you all so much!!!!! You guys truly are my reason for sticking with this. If I didn't have you all there supporting me, I probably wouldn't have even bothered going this far. And, I swear, for all of you guys, that I will keep this story going until it is perfect. Again, thank you, and I love you all!!!
…Wow…
105!!!
Okay, so I had it in my head that I was going to do much better with updating. In other words, I wouldn't take as long to update. Unfortunately, my mother told me that I needed to be studying for finals, then I actually HAD my finals, and then it was my birthday(15, baby!!), and then I want away, so I haven't gotten a chance to update. But, I promise to mend my ways…! And, after much agony, here is chapter nine!!!! Enjoy!!
Disclaimer:
Me: You know, Emmett, I heard something kind of scary last night…
Emmett: *angry and protective expression on face* What was it? Did somebody try to hurt you?
Me: Well… I wouldn't say that…
Emmett: Well then, what was it…? I need to know if I've got to pound somebody into the dirt…!
Me: Well, I was asleep in bed when I was woken up by a creaking sound. Then, all of a sudden, there was this voice whispering to me. But, it was… in my head…
Emmett: *takes a cautious step back* Um… what did it say…?
Me: Well, it sounded like… almost like… *eyes start to water*
Emmett: *runs to my side, wraps arms around my shoulders* Hey, what is it? You know you can tell me anything. What's going on?
Me: Well, it sounded like… Stephenie…
Emmett: *confused* Meyer…?
Me: *nods slowly*
Emmett: What did she say?
Me: Well, she told me to watch where I step… That she's everywhere…
Emmett: *protective and threatening* Don't worry. I'll keep you safe.
Me: *hugs Emmett's waist, buries head into him* Thank you.
Emmett: But, why did she say that…?
Me: *sniffles* She said that… that I… I don't own any part of Twilight. But, I already knew that.
Emmett: *confused (again)* But… if you already knew that…?
Me: That's what I was wondering… I suppose she just wanted to scare me… Maybe it has something to do with me claiming ownership of an imaginary part of Twilight in my last Disclaimer… Maybe… I'm not allowed to own even an imaginary part…
Emmett: *protective (yes… again)* Well, as long as you stick with me, you'll be alright.
Me: *looks up at him* R-really…?
Emmett: *smiles, nods* You betcha.
Me: *hugs him tighter* Oh, thank you, Emmett…!
Emmett: *runs hand through my hair, comforting* Always. *looks up into… well, nothing really…* You hear me, Stephenie? She doesn't own any part of Twilight. Not even the imaginary part. None.
Stephenie (voice from nowhere): *scary whisper* Very well…
Emmett: *looks back at me* See? You're safe.
Me: *smiles* Thank you…!
Emmett: Hey, that's what I'm here for, right?
Me: Well, I wouldn't say that… *kisses his cheek*
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
*Jacob's POV*
What is that…? Why does she smell like that?
"Jake? Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine… You just… your hair… I-it's…" I was still so thrown off by the smell in Bella's hair… I couldn't even finish my sentence.
"Jacob…?" She started walking over to me, no doubt trying to make me feel better, that ever-protective chick. As she got closer, that disgusting smell got stronger, and I had to cover my face with my hand 'cause it burned my nose. I turned away and threw my hand up to make her stop moving.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about, Jake… My hair smells fine to me… maybe you're just going crazy," she said with a playful smile. I half-turned to roll my eyes at her. She dropped the sense of humor when she realized I was serious.
"Seriously, Jake… Are you feeling alright…? Do you want me to go home?"
Did I want that nasty smell to go away? Yes. But did I want Bella to leave? Hell no…! Get it together, Jacob! It's not that bad, right? I slowly stood up straight, trying to keep myself under control. My hands were trembling so hard that I had to press the one covering my nose harder into my face to keep it still. Everything inside me screamed things like "Enemy!" "Fight!" "Defend!" "Kill!" But, come on… Why would I want-or need-to fight Bella? So she had some weird smell on her that burned my nose like Hell. That didn't make her a threat.
I took one last deep breath in my hand before I uncovered my face. Ugh… So gross…! Get over it, man. Come on, today's the day, and that frikken small is not going to ruin it! I shook my head and squared my shoulders, building up confidence. "I'm good. Sorry 'bout that. I… don't know what that was… Never mind. You ready, Bells?" I reached my hand out to her and waited for her to take it. When she did I said, "It's time for breakfast. You're going to love this place."
We didn't really talk all that much while we walked. That seriously brought my confidence down. How am I supposed to tell her if she won't even talk to me? I mentally smacked myself. C'mon, Jacob. You can do this…! Just… get it over with, man! You've got no idea what she'll say. Do it!
*Bella's POV*
As Jake offered me his hand, I couldn't help but wonder what was going on with him. One minute we were talking and laughing and having fun, and the next, he was four feet away from me, bent over and covering his face like somebody had released toxic gas into the air. I hope he's okay… Does my hair really smell…? I, very inconspicuously, turned my head into my hair and sniffed it. It smelled just like my shampoo. Wow… Déjà vu…! This is like my first day at school when Ed- - I stopped that thought in its tracks. I was with Jacob; I didn't need to be doubling over in pain in the middle of the street. Granted, it was a quieter street than my own, but I didn't need to give Jake another heart attack.
"So…" I asked after a while. "Which diner are we going to?" I was tired of the awkward silences, so I had to speak to him.
"Well," he answered. I looked up at his face, and he looked kind of relieved to be talking again. "There's only one great diner in La Push."
"Okay… What's it called?"
At that very moment, there was a break in the trees on the side of the road. Centered in the clearing was a quaint little diner hiding behind what very well could have been the world's smallest parking lot.
The diner was a squat little building made entirely of wood and stone. It looked more like a log cabin than anything else. There was a small porch with three wooden rocking chairs, a small round table, and a porch swing. Smoke was rising from a stone chimney, and there was even a rosebush on either side of the porch steps. It had a very homey feel to it, and I half expected a woman in a red and white checked apron to lay a freshly baked pie on the windowsill to cool.
I looked at the sign and almost fell over laughing.
"What? What's so funny?"
After I gathered myself enough to speak, I answered, "Full Moon Diner? Kind of ironic, don't you think?" I had to stifle a giggle.
Jake rolled his eyes and groaned. "Bella, you know we don't need a full moon to phase. C'mon, seriously."
"I know, I know. It's just… funny…!"
"Yeah, I guess it is." We shared a round of chuckles as we walked across the lot and up the steps. We waited on the porch until we were calm, and Jacob opened the door and extended his arm through it, making a "Ladies First" kind of gesture.
I walked in and immediately wished that I had worn a nicer outfit. It may have seemed quaint from the outside, but I felt strangely out of place when I looked around the interior. I noted that nobody was dressed any better than I was, but it just seemed to be too nice for tee shirts.
Jake caught me tugging and patting my shirt, trying to smooth out any and all wrinkles. He put his hand on my back and his mouth to my ear, trying to ignore the smell; I felt him cringe for a second, but he composed himself and whispered, "Don't worry 'bout the shirt, Bells. You look fine. If it makes you feel any better, we get shirtless guys in here all the time…!" I breathed out a silent laugh and whispered back. "Would those 'shirtless guys' happen to be you and the rest of the Pack?" He was silent for a moment as he looked at me.
"Maybe…"
We laughed as we went to sit in a booth by a window and looked at our menus. "So," he said. "This is where it all happened." He made a big gesture with his arm, showing me that he was referring to the whole diner.
"Where all what happened…?"
He shot me a look that was a strange combination of disapproval and exasperation. "Wow, Bella… You really didn't listen yesterday in the car, did you…?"
I looked down at the table, embarrassed, and shook my head. "I was a little… distracted. I'm sorry."
He put his hand on top of mine where it was resting on the table and said "Don't worry 'bout it. We all have those days."
"Thanks, Jake." The waitress walked over then, asking if she could get us anything to drink.
"Can I just get an ice water?" I could never figure out why, but whenever I ordered something, it almost always came out as a question. I've been that way since I was a child.
"Sure. How about you, Jacob?"
"I'm kind of in an orange juice mood this morning, Eileen."
"Alright, sweetheart. And when I come back, I want you to introduce me to little friend here, okay?" She winked at me and patted my shoulder as she walked back towards the kitchen.
"So, Jake, what were you saying before?"
"Oh, yeah…! Well, this is very place where Quil, Embry, and I walked into the girl's room. Boy, was that interesting…" He chuckled as he remembered the experience.
Eileen came back with our drinks, and insisted that Jake introduce me before she took our orders.
"Eileen," he started. "This is Bella. Bells, meet Eileen. She was my math tutor when I was in sixth grade."
"It's nice to finally meet one of Jacob's friends that can keep their shirt on…!" I could feel the heat creeping up my neck and spreading across my face after her comment.
"Eileen," Jacob complained. "Really? Did you have to say that…?"
"Well, honey, it's only the truth." She laughed when Jake huffed out a sigh and looked off out the window. "So, what can I get for you, darlin'?" She whipped a pad and pencil out of her apron pocket, and looked at me.
"Um…" I glanced down at my menu. "I'll just have a cheese omelette, I guess."
"Sure. Swiss, Cheddar, or American?"
"American, please. And, um… Can you ask the chef not to put onions in it?"
"Of course." She smiled. I was taken aback at how perfect and white her teeth were. The contrast of them against her skin was greater than Jacob's. Her skin was also a bit darker than his, so that could have added to the effect.
"Jake? What do you want, sweetheart?" Still focused out the window, he let out a breath I didn't realize he was holding and said "I'll just have my usual."
"Alright, then. I'll have that out for you soon."
"Thank you," I said with a smile. After she disappeared into the kitchen, I looked at Jake questioningly. "Jake? What's up with you today?" He was still staring out the window, and I was getting kind of worried. He didn't answer for a moment, but then he sighed and shook his head quickly, as if he was trying to shake away a disturbing thought.
"Well, like I said, we all have those days, right?"
"Yeah, we all do. Now…" I wasn't sure if this was going to be a touchy subject, but I had to know. "Why does that… smell… bother you so much?"
"I… don't know, Bells. It's so sweet that… it's nauseating. It's like snorting straight bleach… with eleven pounds of… I don't even know. It's disgusting, and… it just burns. But, the really weird part is, when I smelled it, all kinds of alarms went off. It was like 'Danger approaching, prepare to attack!' But, why would I need to attack you? You're not dangerous. To anybody but yourself, that is," he added with an evil grin.
I tried smiling back, but it looked as uneasy as I felt. I was causing Jacob pain now, too? Was there anybody that I wasn't hurting?
"Bells…? You okay…?" Great. He was worrying about me now.
"Yeah… I'm fine. It just seems like…" My voice trailed off.
"Seems like what…?"
"Never mind," I said with a wave of my hand, ridding the air of my words. "It's nothing. Forget I said anything, okay?"
He looked suspicious. He opened his mouth to speak again, but closed it before words could come out.
"Listen, Bella… There's, uh… something I want to talk to you about." He looked down at his hands, folded in his lap, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say he was blushing. I cocked my head to one side, my brows furrowing in concern.
"What's up, Jacob…?"
"Well, it's just… you and me have been close for a while now, and… I, um…" he glanced up at me. "Bella, I think I'm "
"Well, here you are, kids," Eileen exclaimed as she set our food down on the table. I straightened up and smiled at her. "Enjoy!" I could hear Jake grumbling something about 'perfect timing' as I thanked her. After she walked away, I looked back at Jake, and my eyes almost popped out of my skull as my jaw nearly hit the floor.
"Jake…! How much do you eat…?!" Sitting in front of him was a huge stack of pancakes, three oversized waffles, sausage, bacon, a plate of scrambled eggs and home fries, French toast, and two extra large corn muffins. "That's your usual?"
"Um…" he said through a mouthful of eggs. After he swallowed, he grinned sheepishly and said, "Well, yeah…"
"Wow. Okay…? So, er, what was it you needed to talk about…?" I asked him as he was about to shovel another forkful of eggs into his mouth. His mouth closed and he slowly lowered the fork back down onto his plate.
"Oh… yeah… Well, we've been friends for a while now, and… You know what? Never mind." He shook his head like he was ashamed of himself, and chuckled without humor. "Look at me… I'm such an idiot." He picked up his fork and shoved the eggs into his mouth.
"Jake, you are not an idiot. If there's something you want to talk about with me, then let's talk."
He sighed and looked up from his plate. "Bella… Are you sure…?"
"Of course I am." I rested my arms on the table and leaned closer, ready for whatever he needed to say.
"Well… Okay." He put his fork down and sat up straighter, steadying himself. "Bella, I think I'm in lo "
"JAKE!!!!" Embry crashed through the door of the diner, making half of the patrons, including myself, jump into the air, the other half, which included Jake, turn and curse under their breath. "We gotta book it, man. We've got a problem. A really, really big problem."