This Is Who I Am

Chapter Two

Edward's P.O.V

I walk out happily from the apartment complex holding the application in my hands. Another thing checked off my list. I already have a part time job at a Jasper's Mexican restaurant, even when it was against my mother's wishes. She wanted me to work part time with her. I would have done it, but then she would have been looking over my shoulder every goddamn second of the day and it would be opposite of what I'm trying to do; which is trying to be more independent. It was hard to convince her into letting me move out and try to figure out my life on my own. Yet I know she saw how much I wanted this and let me go.

I walk to my old car - the one I had and haven't driven since the accident - and drop the application on the seat next to me. I have two hours before going back to my night classes, which means I have two free hours on my hands and nothing to do. I would drop by the restaurant but then what would the use of it be if I'm only there for two hours? I don't have to be back until tomorrow at nine. I take my phone out and search the nearest book store around here. Google Maps has become my new best friend because he's the only one that can get me around and back to my home without getting lost.

I drive approximately ten minutes throughout the lonely streets of this town before I see her. A old pick up truck on the side of the road and small woman staring down at her flat tire. It looks like it's about to rain soon. I notice she has no idea what she's doing and no one is stopping to help her. To think I would just drive off, but she's off on the side of the lonely road and that just gives me an uncomfortable feeling. Alice tells me I'm a sucker for helping people in need and that's one of the reasons why I wanted to be a doctor: to help people in a time of need. Now I know why.

I pull over on the side of the road, just a few feet from her car and step out. She still hasn't moved from her thinking spot. Her arms are crossed over her chest, her chestnut hair pulled in a high ponytail and her cardigan is the only thing protecting her from the cold.

I slowly approach her, clearing my throat to call her attention. She looks at me and it's almost like she'd seen a ghost. She jumps back and let's out a small gasp. I raise my hands in front of me, seeing the evident fear in her eyes and take a step back.

"Hey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," I apologize. Her matching brown eyes stare at me wide eyed. She's really pretty now the I see her. Her heart shaped face is flushed and her red lips are slightly parted. She swallows without saying anything, looking around us. There are no cars to be seen, it's just us. "I saw you were having trouble and wondered if you wanted me to help you out. I won't hurt you. I'm Edward."

She looks at my offered hand as if it was infected with some weird fungus and back at me. She seems more composed now that her scare earlier is forgotten. The woman swallows again and shakes her head, still without saying a word to me. Is she mute? Shit, what if she's deaf as well? No, then why would she be out here on her own?

I tilt my head to the side, confused. "You don't want me to help you?"

She opens her mouth like she's about to finally speak, closes it and opens it again. Yet nothing came out. I take my hand back that was left hanging in the air between us and give her an apologetic smile.

"Sorry for bothering you." I turn over my heel and start heading back to my car. Well that wasn't awkward at all.

"I don't have my equipment!" I hear her shout from behind me before I can get back in the car. I look at her. She hasn't moved from her spot but now the fearful look on her face is gone. "I, um, I've never had a flat tire before and my spare is really small... My phone is dead..."

I take my phone out and walk back toward her. Probably too fast for her liking because she backs away when I get close. I stop again, giving her space and hand out my phone. My arm reaches out as far as it can and yet there's still major space to cover between us. She takes a hesitant step toward me and takes my phone from me. I step back toward my car and lean against it, giving her some privacy as she speaks rapidly to my phone, running her hands through her hair where some loose hairs fall to the sides of her heart shaped face. She nods repeatedly and leans against her old pick up. I watch her lean against it and close her eyes tightly, her jaw clenched. It looks like she's holding back the urge to cry.