Phone
Two weeks and fifteen emails later, I was at my breaking point. Alice had given me Mr. Cullen's phone number—which may or may not have been illegally obtained—but, I had been hesitant to use it until this point.
However, desperate times called for desperate measures.
I was finished with final exams and our graduation ceremony was a week away.
It was now or never.
Sitting at the kitchen table, only the sound of the clock ticking away on the wall kept me company. My eyes shifted from staring at his number in one hand to my phone in the other.
I had never been so nervous in my life. Even though I had written out notes on what to say, I had a bad feeling I would become tongue-tied the second he answered.
He'd probably hang up on me, thinking I was some crazy person...if he answered at all.
The longer I sat there, the more psyched out I became.
Finally, I decided it would be better to send a text message. I was better with written words.
I typed out my short message, my finger hovering over the send button for ten minutes before I couldn't stand it any longer. I closed my eyes and prayed to all higher beings as I hit the button.
I need to talk to you.
It was cryptic enough that hopefully he wouldn't automatically ignore it, but didn't give away so much information that he would block me immediately. I laid my phone on the table, barely breathing as I willed him to answer.
I almost fell out of my seat when five minutes later it buzzed with an incoming message.
Who is this?
I bit my lip. If he was intentionally avoiding the nuisance "Isabella Swan", then he'd block any further texts. But he might anyway if I didn't give him a name. I wavered for a couple of minutes before answering.
Isabella Swan
It didn't take long for a response.
I think you have the wrong number.
Huh.
He obviously didn't recognize my name from the emails. It made me wonder if he'd ever actually seen any of them at all.
Well, he was not going to brush me off this time. My fingers went into bionic speed.
If this is Edward Cullen, then I have the right number.
I started to worry after five minutes and no response. When the phone buzzed again, I sighed with relief.
Ms. Swan. Do I know you?
I quickly wrote out my response.
Not exactly, but it is imperative that I speak with you.
I started typing out more, but he answered back too quickly.
I don't have time for this. I'm late for a dinner meeting.
What? He can't walk and text at the same time?
I rolled my eyes and answered back.
Can I call you?
I jumped again when my phone started ringing. I really wasn't expecting him to call me. My stomach flipped and I took a deep breath before answering.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Ms. Swan. Please tell me what these texts are in regards to."
My anxiety went through the roof at the sound of his low, smooth voice. My tongue felt like lead in my mouth.
"I…uh…I…" I couldn't believe I was stammering like a fool.
I grabbed for my notes, but my clumsy hand knocked them all over the floor. Then when I bent down to start picking them up, I slipped on an errant paper and fell flat on my butt. My phone skidded across the floor from the impact, and I went crawling after it.
I was a hot mess.
"Ms. Swan? Hello? Are you okay?"
I grasped the phone in my shaky hand, deciding it was better to remain on the floor than attempting to stand again. "Yeah…um…I'm all right. Sorry. I slipped."
"Look, I really need to leave. Tell me what this is all about." His demand made me straighten my spine and find the resolve I needed to talk.
"I'm graduating in a week from Forks High School. I was supposed to be awarded the scholarship you give out each year, but was told that an error had been made and it was given to someone else. That news came after I accepted a spot at NYU and sent them all my savings for room and board. I was counting on that scholarship, and I am deserving of it. Mr. Cullen, I want you to fund me also." I gasped for air after my rambling speech, crossing my fingers that he would understand.
"You want me to fund you?" He sounded almost incredulous.
I narrowed my eyes. "Yes. I shouldn't have to pay for your employee's mistake."
I covered my mouth with my hand, regretting the snarky words as soon as I'd said them. I was trying to get this man to help me, and I was being rude and disrespectful.
What was wrong with me?
There was only silence on the other end of the phone.
"I'm sorry." I rushed to apologize. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm just really in need of that scholarship. It's my last hope of getting out of here and making something of myself."
I was not going to be working as a cashier at the Thrifty Mart for the rest of my life.
He remained silent, and I wondered if he was still there after counting to sixty in my head.
"Hello?" I softly asked.
"I will look into this so-called scholarship mix-up. When I have determined if any action needs to be taken, you will be contacted."
It was what I'd hoped for, and I couldn't help being elated even if he didn't sound very enthused about it.
"Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me. I've sent you several emails with all my information." Ugh, now he probably thought I was stalking him.
Well, I kind of was.
"As I said, I will look into it." He paused for a moment and I held my breath. "One last thing," he added, causing me to gulp. "How did you get this phone number, Isabella?"
"I prefer Bella," I blurted out.
Damn word vomit! Why couldn't I keep my mouth shut?
He could call me anything he wanted as long as he gave me what I needed.
His long exhale resounded in my ear, and I fidgeted knowing he was probably quite frustrated with me.
"Fine. Bella. How did you get this number?"
"I…uh…"
"Tell me the truth."
"I had my best friend hack into your carrier network and find it." My voice was so soft, I wasn't sure he heard me.
"I'll be in touch."
It took me ten minutes to get myself off the floor and out of my stupor. I called Alice, relating the news that our mission seemed to have worked. Her squeals were so loud, I was sure I had inner ear damage.
But not even partial deafness could have wiped the smile from my face.