The Sort-Of Interview [Bella]

[Jonathan Ainsley]

We have one chance.
One chance to get everything right.
We have one chance, one chance.[/color]


A job interview, of all things. That was what Jonathan Ainsley had been reduced to. It was not so much of a fundamental problem as it was undignified, but then again, over the course of his many, many years he had been required to do many debasing things, none of which had permanently affected him seeing as he moved about so often. Thus, this interview at 'Newton's Outfitters' was really just run of the mill- routine, even. Getting employment, or some kind of 'cover' so that he could justify to the mortals why he left and migrated around so much when the time eventually came for him to leave, was necessary. It was what he imagined every vampire did- it was something of a requirement for survival and minimal suspicion. To date, he'd been very lucky with the jobs he'd found for himself, all of which had been either management roles or intern positions, which made for relatively easy work and good pay. As far as he knew, though, Forks barely had enough establishments to keep the workforce paid.

Still, his stellar references had landed him consideration for a job as cashier at Newton's- one of the few spaces available for school students- and so that was where he was headed, hands tucked in the pockets of his black trousers. Yes, the white-shirt, black-trouser combination was so over-used, but it really did practically scream 'hire me!' and thus was useful. After all, it would be...embarrassing...if Jon didn't get the spot. He was quite used to getting what he wanted. According to the email which had been sent him (because yes, he was very technology-oriented, despite his past), he was to be assessed by one Bella Swan. Now, he didn't know exactly who she was, but the name rang a bell in his head, and he was pretty sure that she went to school. Ah, school. Temporarily diverted from contemplating her identity by the thought of school, Jon gave voice to a sigh. This would have to be his...what, near twentieth school now? It was alright, though- easy, of course, but the school was actually quite good given the size of the town.

Of course, all these ponderings took up a good chunk of his time, and before he knew it, he was standing in front of the store itself. Promising- a little dull, but promising. Perhaps it'd be interesting. He had to look at things from an optimistic point of view sometimes, after all. Jon pushed the door open, smile falling into place easily as he heard the quaint tinkling of a welcome bell, and he began looking for the one he was supposed to meet. He found her easily enough- well, he assumed that Bella Swan was not a boy's name, and that was the only other person in the store. Walking up to her, he flashed an easy, trust-inspiring grin and offered one cold hand, stating mildly and politely, "Morning, then. Are you Bella Swan? I'm told I'm supposed to report to you for inspection." Hah, inspection. Odd word choice, as he towered over her absolutely in terms of height. He paused, remembering that she must have thought he was a weirdo who had just walked up to her randomly, and added, "I'm Jonathan Ainsley- here for the job interview."

[Isabella Swan]

Who am I to save you, to try and tame you,
And now that you are free of me,
But next time when you break down,
Is it me you'll take down, with you on your knees?

Bella Swan, that is what her name tag said. She was not in the usual position for a cashier or clerk to be in, really, she wasn't. She was sitting on the counter leaned entirely back so that her back and head was on the front of the counter. Why was she like this? It was nearly 3pm and she had been at work for a measly thirty minutes and she was already bored to tears. A sigh of exasperation escaped her pristine lips as she stared at the doorway. It was just her today, Mike decided he was sick so he could not come in, this was to prove difficult considering she was supposed to be doing an interview for the new cashier and stock guy.

And there he was, in a lovely little shirt and pants. Didn't he know this was freaking Forks? This is not the place to dress like you came from London or something. She shook her head and sighed softly, trying to get the gumption to get out of her current position. He was near her now and he was rambling about his inspection. She raised a brow at him, okay, she was not going to inspect him, she drew the line there. She cleared her throat and nodded before working to sit up, suddenly, it happened. "Aak!!" She shouted with a start as she slid off the counter and smack onto the top of her back/shoulders. Her head bouncing off the floor.

She groaned as she felt her body laying limply over her. "Ow." She muttered simply before swinging her legs to the right she slid onto her side. She sat up and held her head for a moment. "Ow." She muttered again as she stood and looked to the person in front of her. "Hello Jonathan." She said simply. "Yes, my name is Bella Swan and I am the one who will interview you. Mike, my coworker is sick today so if a customer comes in I'll need to help them but other than that we're ready to go!" She said with a smile, though she was still a little dizzy. That was something she was not going to tell Edward about.

Bella thought about Alice and sighed, Alice would have already realized this and likely began laughing early. She shook her head and blinked as she worked to get her vision corrected before she motioned to the chairs that were behind the counter. She walked and took a seat in one and motioned for Jon to take a seat in the other. "Well, it looks like my boss already got your resume, so really all I am here for is to make sure you are capable of working machines." She said with a smile. "So, I take it you can use a calculator and a older version of a cash register?? You know how to use a fork lift? Are you good with heights? How much can you lift?" She asked him simply with a smile.

[Jonathan Ainsley]

Everyone's afraid of their own life
If you could be anything you want
I bet you'd be disappointed, am I right?

A wry smile lifted one corner of Jon's lips as he noticed the girl eye his outfit up and down- in any city, perhaps, nobody would have noticed, but this, of course, was no city- this was, as he had been reminded every two minutes since he'd arrived, Forks. Judging by her literally laid back posture, the store was not busy, but in fact far from it. She was taking the term 'lying down on the job' quite literally, actually. He decided it prudent not to comment, though- girls got annoyed by that sort of thing sometimes, apparently, and she didn't look too thrilled to begin with. So, he stood silently, awaiting her verdict, or whatever, but none came because after she cleared her throat- presumably to speak- she toppled off of her perch on the counter with a clatter and a screech. Jonathan winced. It didn't sound good, but oddly enough, it was amusing anyway. Nonetheless, laughing at his possible future co-worker was a bad idea, so he kept a straight face.

Gentleman's manners returning, he moved his long legs in a display of his natural inhuman speed so that he was by her side in an instant, considering helping her up, but really, she didn't look as though she needed it- in fact, she seemed rather unruffled by the fall, as if it happened to her all the time. "Ow," he agreed mildly, golden eyes glinting at the girl with no signs of dark circles beneath them in sight. He'd been sure to feed earlier, seeing as people who looked like insomniacs did not often get hired for jobs. He thought that her enthusiasm was a little forced, because really- what kind of girl could fall off of a counter and act as though she was all fine and dandy? He certainly didn't know any, but then again, she was quite possibly concussed, which would explain the happy, spaced out demeanor. "Oh, I see. I suppose that's good, then," he said, once again mild, and completely unassuming. Inconspicuous, as it were.

He didn't consider commenting on the fact that it seemed unlikely that any customers would come in and disturb them, seeing as the people of Forks seemed about as comatose as sloths. He scrutinized her for a while, though, struck by a sudden thought. Really, where had he heard the name Bella Swan before? So as to provide him an opportunity to think more, because he was certain he was close to figuring it out, he asked, "Are you alright, then?" After saying this, he resumed pondering, but figured it out a few seconds later anyway. That was right- she was Edward Cullen's friend-who-was-a-girl, the one that all of the boys at school were all quite taken by. He hadn't really expressed much interest in finding out about her whenshe'd been brought up, though- he was much more focused on learning about the Cullens. Still, she could prove a point of interest after all. Jonathan was moved from his reverie, though, by the motion of her hand towards a chair behind the counter.

"Are you sure you want to get near that counter again?" He asked lightly, but not mockingly, though he took the offered seat anyway. A quick smile flashed across his inhumanly symmetrical features as she spoke of working machines. "Yes, I am quite adept with the usage of a calculator and a cash register," he answered, knowing that only a daft person wouldn't be, but speaking for formality's sake anyway. "Same for the fork lift." A light chuckle escaped at the mention of heights- he was a vampire, of course he was accustomed to them. "Heights are alright," he said aloud, though, not wanting to seem exquisitely vain. How much could he lift? He shot her an amused look out of bright eyes at this question, wondering if he could or should test the limits. He probably could- after all, if she'd kept the 'youngest' Cullen's secret, it was likely she was trustworthy. And if she wasn't trustworthy...well...he could deal with that, too.

"You know Edward Cullen, don't you?" He asked abruptly, seeking to surprise her, though he doubted he would seeing as it was a small town and new people found things out quickly. It had been, however, a bit of a shock to him to discover that Forks had its very own vampire family when he'd moved in, but that just made things in a dull town interesting, didn't they? He had yet to have actually met one of the family, but was waiting for the opportunity. "Well. I daresay that I can lift about as much as he can, approximately," he continued, shrugging with a charming smile. "Would you like a demonstration?" Without waiting for an answer, he vaulted nimbly off of his chair and walked deliberately slowly (and normally) over to her, bending and grasping her chair leg with one hand, and proceeding to lift the chair- with her in it- off of the ground and to about his shoulder height with a bored expression on his face. "Do you need me to lift something heavier? You're quite light." He set her down quite gently and watched her quite intently for her reaction. She could draw her own conclusions.

[Isabella Swan]

Is there be a time when my life is not centered around the estranged?
Moments pass by like pillars of time that has ebbed away.
Yet you remain, perfect and timeless, can you really be eternal?
Is your heart as eternal as your face? Can you really feel me forever?

She winced a little as she closed her right eye in a manner that looked rather like a forced wink, but it was held closed for a moment as she attempted to regain whatever sense of balance she had beforehand, which was not much. She cleared her throat and looked up at him, something struck her square in the forehead. His eyes. She blinked for a moment and shook her head profusely as if trying to get her bearings back, which she was but she was also trying to get seeing clearly, was she seeing things or were his eyes an unnatural hue. She coughed and cleared her throat. "Well, that was an adventure I do not care to repeat." She said motioning to the counter.

She swallowed and nodded simply. "Yeah, I am okay, just a little shaken you know?" She asked him a little more nervous than she had been before, was he a good vampire or a bad one? Was he friends with James or was he someone that Carlisle might know, was he a 'vegetarian' or did he like human blood. She smiled softly to him and nodded before sitting down and thinking for a moment while he took his seat. He was getting a job here, which meant he would be around humans all the time, which meant he could easily had the control, much like Carlisle did and his entire family. Or he could be a spy to get to her, someone sent by James. Both were highly likely in this sort of situation, though she was hoping for him being good, the latter was as evident as ever.

She looked to him the moment he spoke to her and she chuckled, attempting to regain a little composure. "Well, you see, I should have known better." She said with a shrug and a feeble smile, showing that she really should have. "I am a klutz you see and for some reason I felt that position comfortable though I should not have risked it considering the fact that I am rather clumsy..." She muttered simply. "If you were here a few weeks ago you might remember me being the one almost pummeled by the van." She said simply. She thought for a moment about the reasons why she was at the end of her truck. The snow chains. Her dad. She shook her head, no time to get emotional.

She looked back up with him as he answered her questions, he was very proper. She nodded. "It was a stupid question, if your a Senior, which the sheet says your are it is likely you know more than the manager." She said with a chuckle. She was starting to get more calm now. She nodded to his comment about the Fork Lift. "You'll still have to get clearance from the work department to use it but that will only take a week or two. As long as you know how it is good for now." She said simply. She nodded simply. "I do not like heights very much, with my track record you could see why." She said with a shrug. She shot him a soft smile as she finally got her bearings back. The interview was almost over and she was still alive, this was good.

Suddenly there was a look in his eyes that she did not like. It was amused but coupled with those eyes was a little irksome to her. She still was not 100% sure he was a vampire, he might just have some contacts or unusual eyes. Then he asked if she knew Edward, her stomach jumped and her throat knotted at little. She cleared it with a cough, to the side. "Sorry, recovering cold." She muttered as she coughed again and looked back at him. "Yeah, Edward and I are friends. Kinda hard for me not to be friends with the guy who saved my life ya know." She said simply with a chuckle. She blinked the moment he said he could lift as much as he did. "Oh?" She asked simply, swallowing hard.

Suddenly he was at her, she visibly tensed when he grabbed her chair. She closed her eyes tightly and was fully prepared to be thrown through the nearest window, but seconds later he set her down. She had felt her knees hit his shoulder blades and she not only did not like the closeness to him, or the fact that he had lifted her, but the heights was not something she wanted to think about either. She was shaking softly as she opened her eyes a little, she was shaking for many reasons but she would tell him only one. "Remember the heights thing next time you wish to demonstrate." She said simply, her voice lacking the usual luster. She was scared shit-less.

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply before nodding simply. "Well, anyways." She said as she got up. She shook her head and coughed one more time - more for effect than use - and then looked to Jonathan. "Well, I have seen all I need to see." She smiled softly and walked into the office, grabbing a vest and a name tagged that had his name on it. She had them made already because she was to hire him off of his resume alone, the manager wanted an interview for looks more than anything else. She walked out and handed him the vest and name tag. "You can wear the clothes you wore to school here in the afternoons. If you're free right now I can show you around the store and such, you'll need to be here tomorrow at 2:30pm if not." She said softly, her smile as soft as her voice. She needed to keep calm.

[Jonathan Ainsley]

I like songs about drifters - books about the same.
They both seem to make me feel a little less insane.
Walked on off to another spot.
I still haven't gotten anywhere that I want.


The vampire was puzzled slightly when Bella shut her eye in what appeared to him to be some kind of weird, lecherous, and badly pulled off wink, but realized that she was perhaps just trying to get her balance back- after all, it had been a bit of a nasty fall, whatever her tolerance for bonking her head on things was. A smile crept stealthily onto his lips as she looked up at him, and he wondered whether her throat-clearing and head-shaking were to do with the fact that she'd noticed his eyes. The unusual and even slightly unnerving butterscotch colour of them were a big giveaway as to what he was. Jon surmised that she would think she was going crazy rather than put two and two together so quickly, though, so he acted completely natural. "Mm, not an adventure which I would care to undertake in the first place," he concurred good-naturedly, giving a sort of roguish grin which showed his perfectly aligned teeth to advantage, "But at least you learned from it, if only in the hard way."

Jon gave a nod to respond to the one she'd given him, and also to show that he understood what she meant. "Yeah, I'm fairly sure I'd be a little shaken if I fell off a counter too. I'm glad you're alright, though." The roguish smile faded slightly as he thought of what a complete lie that was. If he fell off a counter it would be the floor who would get hurt, most likely. Besides, he had been possessed of uncanny grace for over a century now- there was not much chance he'd take a fall anyway. An eyebrow of his rose very slightly as she seemed to fight a little internal battle inside, but decided not to question. His vampire's 'talent' (as he liked to call it) was not that of mind reading, so he could not tell what on earth she was thinking about. He could only jump to the logical conclusion that if she'd seen and suspected his eyes, she was thinking about that and contemplating whether or not she'd get out of the shop intact, but even that was not a certainty. Perhaps she was not as imaginative as that, but then again, maybe she was.

His trademark easy smile came about again as she chuckled- he was hoping that he'd broken the ice to some extent, but glad that she didn't seem to be dwelling on whatever it was that she had been contemplating. "You'll know better for next time, then," he offered, making it sound as though there would definitely be a next time, although there wasn't much doubt about that in his mind if she could topple off of a counter with no apparent reason. It was his turn to chuckle at her admittance that she was a klutz, though- after all, at least she knew it. "Sometimes comfort is more important than considering clumsiness and what might ensue, wouldn't you say?" It was really a conversation of slight banality, but exchanging pleasantries was no problem for Jonathan. "Oh, you're the van girl! Well, I wasn't here then, but I certainly heard about it." This exclamation was made with faux surprise, as, of course, he'd heard about it from all of the boys who were salivating over her. Yes, apparently Bella Swan was a real unfortunate klutz, always in the wrong place at the wrong time, although it was lucky for her that Edward Cullen had been present with his inhuman speed and strength to save her.

He gave a light, musical laugh as she nodded and spoke of him knowing more than the manager. "Well, we'd better avoid saying that sort of thing around the manager, but yes, the sheet got it right and I'm a Senior. I don't mind you asking, though- it's really just a formality, something routine which I suspect you have to ask." After this he flashed a wry half-smile, a slightly amused look entering his eyes again at the mention of getting clearance for a fork lift. "Clearance shouldn't be much of a problem." Ugh, he was being awfully stiff and formal with all of this. After flexing his neck from side to side, he allowed himself to relax completely, hoping she'd feel able to relax as well. It would do them no good if they were both tense. His version of a deep, pleasant chuckle returned as she spoke of her distaste of heights, but he nodded understandingly. "I can definitely see why. In fact, if you plan on climbing any ladders any time soon I suppose you'd better see if there's anyone around to catch you before attempting it." She had smiled at him- a proper smile, he thought, not just a polite one. Perhaps this would be okay.

The urge to laugh returned as she turned her head and coughed at the mention of Edward. Goodness, the girl had it bad- even hearing his name affected her profoundly. He nodded, though, at her explanation, hiding a smile behind one cold hand. "Oh, well I'm sorry to hear that and I hope that you feel better," he commented in a polite way, shooting her a completely fabricated concerned look. "Ah, yes, a few of the others at school mentioned that you speak to him on occasion. And I agree- it'd be very difficult to not be amicable with someone who's saved your life." His thoughts ventured for a moment to the one who had 'made' him, and essentially both killed him and saved his life at the same time. They'd never been 'friendly' at all, really, so perhaps the theory didn't really apply to all people. He gave a light inclination of the head as she questioned him somewhat rhetorically, watching a lump form in her throat as she swallowed, apparently quite hard. He had her on the run, unsettled. Perhaps she'd figured it out now. "Yep," he answered in a monosyllabic way, still looking quite amused, but delivering the reply in a serious way so that she'd know he wasn't joking.

He was not alarmed to know that he'd scared her- lifting someone bodily was not something that happened every day. Still, he felt perhaps even a little remorse for frightening her so, and abruptly too. The poor girl was tense and shaking and he shot her a slightly sympathetic and sincere look as she reminded him of the heights thing in some form of a possible joke. "I'm sorry about that," he apologized, frowning, "I should have remembered. Won't happen again, rest assured." He raised his hands, palms outwards, to show that he meant no harm. "You did ask me to show you how much I could lift, though." He tried to divert her from thinking about the incident, but she seemed quite capable of doing that all by herself. "I'm glad that you found me satisfactory." A small smirk flitted across his lips as she disappeared into the office and returned with a vest, name tag and all. She was obviously a very organized girl, and had, as made obvious by the pre-made name tag, already decided to hire him. He looked at it for a moment before taking it from her and slipping it on. "Thank you. I've got plenty of free time now. I hope I'm not disturbing anything that you're doing, though- it must seem pretty boring to you, the idea of showing a new employee around."

[Isabella Swan]

Could we be friends?
Is the insanity running through my veins opening my eyes?
Are you a monster or are you an angel?
What are your intentions for us?
Am I to die?

Bella nodded simply to everything he was saying. She agreed with what he said. “Of course there are times when I am not clumsy.” She thought for a moment. The times in the forest, in school, at home, the times she was in her truck even. She shook her head. “Never mind,” She said simply. “That is a lie. There is not a time in my life when I am not clumsy.” She said with a faint smile. She was starting to get a little more comfortable with this mysterious boy. Though it was likely he was far from a boy, he had likely been the same age for a rather long time if what she thought about him was true. She had quickly gone over the things in his head and she was sure that he was indeed another vampire. She licked her lips softly. She was not all too shocked when she found out for sure that Edward was, the only reason she was slightly nervous about this is because of the recent attack on her life – and her sanity – she was not sure she could deal with another vampire, she only hoped he was good.

She smiled softly. “I am sure that Mr. Newton knows it.” She said with a soft sigh as she looked to the side and then back at the haunting eyes of Jon. It was hard for her to look away from him but she was sure that she could handle it. She had learned not to gawk at anyone other than Edward; it was really hard for her to look away from Edward. “Though to humor him it would be wise not to speak of it.” She said with a wink. She nodded calmly when he spoke of protocol. “Yes, you’re right Jon, I do have to ask these thing, though it makes for good conversation from time to time.” She said with a smile. She watched as he seemed to relax rather quickly. She swallowed softly and looked at Jon. She looked into his eyes and she stared for just a moment. She shook her head and looked away after a few moments, his comment of someone catching her before she fell. She smiled briefly, her mind jutting to Edward not even moments after he spoke. The van, in Port Angeles, the meadow when James showed up, he was her angel.

She nodded softly. “Oh, I should soon… There is always something wrong with me, whether I am sick or broken… I am a danger magnet for a reason.” She chuckled softly at that little nickname she had acquired the night in Port Angeles when Edward had so easily and so valiantly saved her life and very likely her dignity as well. She looked back to Jon and nodded simply. “Yes, he and I are friends but not only for that reason. I have to confess, that is not the only time he has saved my life. He actually has saved my life three times.” She said with a chuckle. “In the few short weeks he and I have known each other.” She shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair. “Pathetic, I know.” She looked to him and studied his features. She nodded softly when he commented in a father mono toned manor, one word. Her blood pressure spiked. He was indeed what she had thought the moment she looked into this honey colored eyes. She now had to find out if he was good or bad. James or Edward, who would he be loyal to?

She nodded and managed out a soft smile to him. “It is alright. I understand you’re eager to get a job, it is fine Jon. Thank you for showing me you’re lifting capabilities, but next time maybe you could wow Mike. I am sure he would find it amusing if you lifted him in a chair.” She then looked to the side for a moment before looking at Jon in a more serious tone, “Though I would not suggest showing that talent to him, if you catch my drift.” She cleared her throat and nodded softly to him. “Well, as I said, it was not really my job to find you able, it was to prattle on with you for thirsty minutes and make sure you’re not insane.” She said with a chuckle. She then shrugged. “Though you have to be pretty insane to want to live here instead of some other places I know are much better.” She said simply. She sighed softly and adjusted her vest as she looked around. She looked back to Jon and smiled. “Alright, well, we can have a little guided tour and then you can come back the day after tomorrow to start working. Mike and I work tomorrow and you can come in the day after and talk to the manager about your schedule okay?” She asked him though it was more of her telling him than asking him, she was being nice.

She looked around and pointed to the far end of the building. “Down there is the storage.” She said as she motioned for him to walk with him as she walked through the aisles. “Over here are the canteens and such and then further down the aisle is where the water bottles are. When you come back for training the day after tomorrow they’ll tell you some things about which are better for certain seasons and such. I’ll likely be training you but in the off chance that Mike does it, listen to him well because he is the son of the owner and manager of the store.” She said with an eye roll. She was not going to add the fact that he was enamored when her. She walked down through another set of aisles. “Over here is where we have the boots and such, you’ll look down the aisle and you can see the backpacks and repair kits.” She continued though the store talking to him, she got to the clothes and she stopped.

She turned and looked to Jon and smiled softly. “So Jon, what are your favorite foods?” She asked him simply. She was asking him pretty much if he was a ‘vegetarian’ or not. She knew that he would know what she meant if he really was a vampire. This was her last little test, though she knew that she was right in thinking he was what he made rather clear what he was. This meant one of two things. Either he was working for James and he knew about her relationship with the Cullen’s, or he had heard from someone about the Cullen’s being the vampires in this area and he wished to get to know them. He likely would have heard rumors from the school about Bella and Edward spending a lot of time in school together. Seeing as it was a shock that anyone was sitting with Edward instead of his family. So those were what she thought, she was desperately hoping that he was going to be a friend rather than a foe. He was a cool guy, but he was still not human.