WHO: Bella and Edward WHEN: Wednesday evening WHERE: Ridgeway Hotel front reception WHAT: Bella finally sees the one person she wants to see more than anyone else RATING: PG-13/TBD STATUS: Incomplete
Bella couldn't concentrate. It was pointless even trying. Since reading Alice's post on the network that morning before work, she'd hardly payed any attention to anything she was doing. She was far too busy looking around, trying to pick out his face in the crowds. Of course, the staff rarely came into the hotel, so instead she'd started casually questioning the "fans" as they came to check in.
Absentmindedly, she tapped a surname into the computer at the reception desk, searching for the floor and room number. The system was pretty easy to use, but it was easy to make mistakes when you weren't paying attention. She'd had to type in the girl's name three times: Jeeosp, Jesspos, Jessops.
"That's room 501," she said, turning her swivel chair back to face the girl, her eyes automatically flicking towards the entrance way, just checking. Giving a little sigh as she scanned the unfamiliar faces, she pushed herself up from the desk and walked to the wall behind the counter to find the little electronic room card. "Take the lift up two floor and turn right," she said, sounding a little bored as she passed the plastic key over the desk and sat down again. It felt like she'd checked in at least a thousand people since she'd started work at five, even though in reality it was probably only a couple of dozen. She was on the evening shift, usually rather quiet, but today it seemed like the world and his wife had decided to go on vacation. The other person that usually worked was ill too, so she was on her own. Still, she only had a little over half an hour to go before someone came to take over for the night shift. She'd be able to get home and get on the network to question Alice some more. In fact, she thought she might even drop in and visit Alice's cabin on the way back to her own, just to check for updates.
"You're Bella Swan, right?" the girl asked, hesitating by the desk, even though she had everything she needed to get into her room. Bella gritted her teeth before giving a slow nod. "Yeah, that's right," she said, unenthusiastically, her eyes flicking once again to the foyer.
"Could I have your autograph?" Bella fought the urge to roll her eyes and tell the girl she had more important things to be doing, like looking out for Edward, but she knew it would just affect her pay packet if she pissed the guests off. Petersen had made it clear that entertaining was just part of the job. If someone wanted an autograph, unless you had a real excuse, you had to give one. She thought once again of Disney World, feeling sorry for the poor people stuck inside the character costumes, getting bugged for autographs all day long.
Taking a deep breath, she picked up a black inked fine liner from the desk top and leaned over the high counter to write her name, quickly and messily, on the girl's little pad of paper: Bella x. As soon as her pen lifted off the paper, the girl had snatched the paper away and was clutching it to her chest. "I'm such a big fan," she squeeled, and Bella forced a smile. She guessed it was better than the abuse she got from some of the guests.
Happy, the girl made her way off towards the lift. Bella watched her go for a moment before looking back down at the desk. There was a piece of rough paper next to her computer keyboard. She'd been writing and doodling on it all evening. It was covered with words, letters, numbers and patterns. Using the fine liner that was still in her hand, in slanting, old fashioned letters, she wrote, "Hurry up, Edward!" She needed him here, and now Alice had said he was coming, like she'd been asking for all this time, she wouldn't be able to rest until he got here.