Worlds Collide - Part IX

Giles was waiting. Every minute or so, he’d glance at the clock on his desk, then he would look back at the door, anxious in anticipation. She said she’d meet him at eight, and it was eight fifteen already. Had something terrible happened?

Just as he was nearing panic, a knock came from the door. He bolted up, both startled and relieved, and slid the peep hole door open. It was her. He un-chained, unlocked, and opened the door, preparing himself.

The mousy girl at the door lowered her head, her average brown hair falling over her face. “Hey,” she mumbled. “Sorry I’m late.”

“Oh, it’s nothing at all,” said Giles, stepping aside. “Please, come in. Bella, right?” Giles, of course, knew full well her name. He’d committed it to memory when he first ran into her downtown, the helpless girl who shyed away even from him. She was pinned to a wall by one of the newly-arrived vampires (surely about to be dinner), but Giles was able to shoo him off with a wave of his hand and a few loud noises. For being so invulnerable, the new vampires appeared to be terribly skittish.

Bella nodded, stepping through the door and stumbling over the threshold. Giles caught her by the arm. She remembered their first meeting, too – this strange man with a strange accent had passed by her and Edward, but he stopped to wave his arms about and shout “Shoo! Shoo!” as they embraced. This confused her, but Edward just rolled his eyes and ran away. Of course, he knew what Giles thought he saw, and he explained it to Bella later. Giles asked her name, and if she needed anything, and while she thought it a bit creepy, she was obliged to him for his apparent good will. Maybe he was just peculiar. In any case, he was her first contact here, and since she so badly wanted to go home, she figured she could seek his help in returning. She had no idea if he would be at all able to help her, but he at least seemed harmless enough.