Chapter Two - Another Boring Day?

I still felt so bored, so useless, so I tried to make use of myself by tidying the house.

Mom was so tired all the time - there were only three nurses in the intensive care unit in Forks General, and she was head nurse, which meant she had to work really long hours for really crappy pay.

I cleaned up, went for a walk, helped Brooke with her homework when she came home, hung out with Brady when he came around, and I still had loads of time left over.

I started to cook dinner.

Mom came in the door at almost eight, just as I was setting steaming bowls of spaghetti on the table.

"Oh, Collin, you're a great man," Mom said, rubbing her red rimmed eyes, and kicking off her white, neatly laced nurses shoes.

"Brooke!" I yelled, and she came into the kitchen, already dressed in her yellow pyjamas.

"Spaghetti?" She moaned. "Col, you only cooked it because you know I hate it!"

"Brooke," Mom snapped, setting a jug of water on the table. "Don't be so childish. You've been eating spaghetti your whole life."

Brooke rolled her eyes and sat down.

"So, Collin, what did you do today?" Mom asked, looking genuinely interested. I felt a flush creeping up my neck. I'd done practically nothing all day.

"Nothing really," I shrugged dismissively and shovelled some food into my mouth.

"No?" She actually looked disappointed, as if she had expected me to come out with some great big story or something.

Brooke began to babble on about her awful Spanish teacher, and Mom laughed at her.

"How was work?" I asked, cutting across Brooke. Mom sighed and put down her fork. Brooke's face fell, and we both instantly knew that she had had a bad day at the hospital.

"There was a young woman brought in," Mom said, taking a drink of water. "She was found on the side of a road somewhere, unconscious."

Numerous things flashed through my head. Car accident? Attempted murder? Suicide?

Before Mom could continue, Brooke's phone began to ring. I sighed loudly, and Mom glared at the tiny silver and pink thing now pressed against my sister's ear.

Mom never got the chance to finish her story.

When dinner was finished, Brooke went to bed, and Mom and I cleaned up.

"Collin, I'm going to suggest something to you. You don't have to agree, and I'm certainly not going to make you do anything you don't want to…" She trailed off as she scrubbed a particularly stubborn patch on a saucepan.

"Yes, Mom?" I said, drying some glasses.

"There's an ad up in the hospital for a janitor. I know you miss the carpentry, but to be honest, sweetie, you really need a job."I opened my mouth to say something, but she cut across me.

"I know you've been trying to get one, but I think that you should apply for the janitor work. I know it's not something you ever really wanted to do, and I know that it's not the best job in the world, but the pay isn't too awful, and it'll be good for you to get out of the house."

I was silent for a moment. She looked up at me apprehensively, her eyes brimming.

"Things have been so hard since your Dad died, Collin, and to be frank, we need the money."

"Mom," I said gently, putting down my tea towel and wrapping an arm around her thin shoulders. "Of course I'll apply for the job."

And so, next morning, I dropped Brooke off to school, and drove to the hospital to apply for the job as janitor.

The small reception area was bustling with people as usual, and I immediately stiffened as the scent of blood and antiseptic filled my nose. I approached the reception desk, where a blonde woman was sitting, typing away on a computer. I saw the ad taped to the dark wooden desk, and sighed. I opened my mouth to get the woman's attention, when something interrupted me.

"Collin?"

I turned around. Carlisle Cullen was standing behind me, his blond hair unruffled, his golden eyes startlingly grave.

"Oh, hey, Dr Cullen," I mumbled, ducking my head slightly. Sure, I knew the Cullen's, but I didn't know them that well.

"Is everything alright?" Dr Cullen asked me, looking serious.

"Oh, uh, everything's fine, Dr Cullen. I'm here to apply for a job." I tapped the sign, and understanding flooded Carlisle's face.

"Oh, you're applying for the janitor post? Good, that ad has been up for some time now."

Just as I was about to reply, I was interrupted yet again.

"Doctor Cullen!" A portly blonde nurse came rushing around the corner, a clipboard in hand. "You're wanted up in the cardiac ward."

"Thank you, Miriam," Carlisle said warmly, and the woman visibly swooned.

"I'll see you later, Collin. And the best of luck with the job." He smiled, and with a swish of his doctor's coat, was gone.

As I approached the desk again, the receptionist grinned at me. "Sorry," She said. "I couldn't help overhearing."

I smiled, though I was feeling slightly irritated. "So, the job?"

"Yeah, it's still available."

"And…?" I said, waiting.

"It's yours, if you want it. Though I don't really get why anyone would want to clean a hospital. I mean, you could get anything -"

I cut across her, not wanting to hear anymore. "Okay, so I have the job. Thanks. Where do I go now?"

The receptionist smiled again, and I felt even more irritated.

"You need to go the staff room."

"And that is…?"

"Down the corridor, and to the left. Big sign on the door. Sully is the head of the janitorial department. Just knock on the door of the staffroom, and ask for Sully."

I thanked her, and set on for the staff room.

It wasn't hard to find. I asked the disgruntled looking doctor who opened the door for "Sully", and then waited for a moment.

The door swung open again, and Sully was revealed. In my mind, I'd the image of some old, bearded guy, with a mop and bucket practically glued to his side.

Instead, I got something entirely different. Sully proved to be a tall red-headed girl, probably a couple of years younger than me. She was pretty, with big brown eyes and freckles that seemed to cover every inch of her thin face.

"Someone looking for me?" She said, looking out into the corridor while wiping what appeared to be donut crumbs from off her mouth.

"Uh, yeah," I mumbled, still not getting over the shock. "I'm here about the janitorial position."

She placed her hands on her hips and looked me up and down. "Are you freakin' serious? You want the job?"

I nodded, and she looked at me suspiciously. "Really?"

"Really," I sighed, and I ran a hand through my hair.

"What's your name?" She asked.

"Collin," I replied.

"Team Collin and Sully, ridding the world of the evil of bad bacteria in hospitals!" Sully said loudly, sounding like a comic book freak. She squinted at me again. "I think it could work. 'Kay, welcome to the team."

She offered me her hand, and I shook it.

"You start tomorrow morning, nine a.m. on the dot. If you're late, you're out."

And with that, she was gone.

Sorry, I know this is a little slow starting, but I'm getting there! please review!