AN: I do not own the characters created by Stephanie Meyer- I just put them in an AU where Bella and Edward have a much different human story!
October 2012
The amber liquid spun in the glass as I couldn't keep my hand still. I wasn't ready for this. It had only become so damn obvious as soon as I stepped out of the cab. I was completely out of my element. The air didn't smell right or feel right. It was too cool and had this combination of venders and exhaust. Where was the fresh humid air I was so used to?
I can feel the looks I'm receiving as I sit at the bar next door to where I really should be. My brown cowgirl boots rest on the step created for women to actually sit somewhat comfortably. I haven't even been here for ten minutes before I already get approached.
"Well I must say you are the most unique women I've seen come through here all night." A deep voice says to my right. I roll my eyes because really that's the best he could come up with.
"Thank you?" I ask not sure if it was meant as compliment really. He chuckles and I can feel his eyes looking me up and down. He notices my jean jacket hanging off the back of my chair, then he starts from the top seeing my curly hair piled high in a messy twist that tends to be my go to hairstyle, then moving on to my bare shoulders and thin gold chain with a small charm attached. Now I can see his eyes moving to my pale yellow with purple paisley patterned strapless dress. Yes it was October but let's be real here, I am far away from home. The thick brown stitched belt under my bust. I see him cock his head to the side eyeing my boots. Okay that's right get a good ol' look before I'm gone.
I tap the bar sliding over a ten to cover my drink. I notice to my left the exact person I was hoping to avoid and it's time to high tail it out of here. I turn to the gentlemen next to me and pass on a "You have a good evenin" and head towards the bathrooms. If I time it right I'll freshen up and head out the door undetected. I am already a good thirty minutes late as it was.
Before I can get for Mr. Unique has shot his hand out and wrapped it around my upper arm. "I haven't even bought you a drink yet sweethawt." His thick New Yorker accent does nothin if not turn me off even more.
"If you'll excuse me sir, I do have somewhere to be." I give him my kindest smile considering he is the one that is man handlin me. My momma did raise me right.
"Just one drink." He gives me a wink that I'm sure maybe has worked for him in the past but not this girl. I try to pull my arm away but his grip is too tight. I try my best not to wince and gear myself up for the less respectable ways my momma taught me.
"I believe the lady said she had somewhere to be." I can feel him so close to me that his heat radiates and warms my back. I'm immediately overwhelmed with his scent, even this far from home he smells of hay and Old Spice and just man. A much better scent than to Mr. Unique in front of me wearing too much of some strong expensive cologne.
"I don't think this involves you, Tex." I see him smirk thinking he's gone one over the other. If only he realized that the man behind me was ten thousands the man before me.
"Come on darlin, I knew I'd find you here. Your momma is getting ansy and worried about ya." He removes Mr. Uniques hand while wrapping a strong hand around my hip pulling me back with him. He's already grabbed my jean jacket and clutch off my bar stool.
He's the last person I wanted to see and just became the best person to have saved me. If it had been my father or my brother; Oh hell, things would have been a lot worse. You don't stand up to my Chief of Police father and NYPD detective of a brother.
I turn and make my way towards the front door with all thoughts of freshening up gone. I really just want to get away from Mr. Unique's sleazy hand. I don't even look back to see how close he's following me. I know he'd be there just like the first time this happened.
May 2008
I was going to learn my lesson, this much I knew. My head thrown back on the shoulder of the guy that seemed to chose me as his dance partner for the night. I felt him grab my waist and right hand then spin me out before bringing me back to him. I had a sufficient buzz despite my low tolerance. At 17, I had enough intelligence to at least know when it was time to stop. I knew my limit, two cups of trash can punch and I was done. The first was finished about thirty minutes ago and it had the effect I was going for. I didn't want to be trashed this early.
Neon Moon played over the speakers. I lost my self in the twang of Brooks and Dunn. The hay on the barn floor shuffled under my boots. Large hands wrapped around my hips and clutch to the denim of my cut off shorts. I can feel his gaze linger on my cleavage not hidden well behind my ribbed white tank. It was the beginning of the summer before my senior year and I was ready to enjoy it the best I could. I had partied the last three years away. My pop sat me down the day after finals and laid down the law, so to speak. No pun intended. I was pretty lucky with the chief of police for a father he was pretty lenient for the most part. He expected me to be responsible. If I had to much to drink, I call for a ride. Don't just give it away, make it worth it and him work for it. Yes, he's a bit unconvientional even going as far to give me the. "He better wrap it if he plans to tap it." Yes, ladies and gentlemen he really said it. A lot of it goes to the fact that my mother had me at my age and my father was realist. He knew I was no angel but he knew he'd instilled the knowledge to have fun the safe way.
That is what I tried to remind myself as Junior here that thinks he's gonna get lucky just cause I'm letting him get to second base. That's all to blame on that second cup. In all honesty, I should have just stopped at the first but like I said pop laid down the law. I had this summer to have my fun. Once senior year started I was to get my act together because we we're set on me going to state school and it wouldn't happen if I partied it away. I was determined to get my degree in early childhood development and education. I had a passion and a dream. I just simply wanted to be a second grade teacher.
So as Junior tried to round third I put on the brakes. He wasn't too happy about it and thought he'd get his way. Little did he know I already called my brother for a ride. I knew there was no way I was riding home with Angie who ended up off somewhere with Eric.
"Really, I've had a lot of fun tonight but it's just not going to happen." I push his hand away again and head towards the front of the barn. He'd already gotten me around the side. Ten minutes ago he had me up against lost in the fun of making out. Sure I wasn't a virgin. My first boyfriend Jake, who at the time was my best friend or so I thought was. We dated for a year before he decided to "focus on football" and that's a direct quote. I can't give him too hard a time, football is a pretty big deal here.
"Oh no honey, we ain't finished here. You gon' start somethin' and you gon' finish it." He drags me back as he leans against the barn. He's got a firm grip on my wrist as he starts to unbutton his jeans. I pull away and step towards the front again. I only get two steps and barely to the front when he grabs my hips pulling me back. He spins me around and in my inebriated state confuses me for a moment. It's long enough for him to shove me to my knees. I'm barely aware of where this is going. My heart speeds up and I get more dizzy. I'm loudly protesting though over the music I feel like no one can hear me.
Before my knees land on the ground I'm hauled up into arms I'd know anywhere. My brother pulls me backwards into his chest. I look up at him with a dopey appreciative smile when a loud smack or pop pulls me back in front of me. I turn just in time to see my brother's best friend through his whole body into a right hook at Junior. To my surprise, it lays him out cold.
"Uh thanks." I finally manage after I get my heart rate back under control. Jasper has turned me around and is checking me over, always the protective big brother.
"I don't even know what to say right now, other than thank God we got here now and not five minutes later." Jasper wheezes and I can tell he's truly effected by finding me like this. I feel like I may be going into shock or like I'm having an out of body experience.
I start walking towards the small pond off to the side by the barn. The moon shine bright where I know Jasper can still see me. I stand there for a minute before I sit on the small wood dock. I can hear the sound of Jasper's truck in the distance rev up and idle. I know he's giving me a minute. There's this odd way he is the best who understands me. We've come a long way from when as kids he tried to convince me I was adopted because of my deep brown eyes that didn't match our mother's blues or our father's green. By the time I was in high school and he was just graduated we hit a good place and he became one of my best friends. Unfortunately for me he signed up the day after his graduation. He's been in the Marine Corp ever since and that was three years ago. He's signed up for six so he's only halfway there.
I hear the creak of the wood before I hear the boots. The shuffle/stomp down the way and stop next to me. Dark brown Ariat's covered in scuffs, dust and dirt with obvious worn to them. I know he won't say much if he does. I'm prepared for it but I'm not prepared for the nerves. The first time Jasper brought him home was after his first tour. They did 9 months in Iraq. Jasper had been in for a year at that point. It was Thanksgiving and I was fifteen. To say I had my first official crush, was an understatement.
The docks rocks with the shift of his weight and I feel him sit down next to me. The heat of his body and smell I adore- hay and Old Spice. He comes home with Jasper whenever they get a chance. The base they are luckily stationed at is only an hour's drive west from home. I see them most weekends unless they are on tour which they just returned from their third only last week.
"He'll be alright after he has a chance to calm down. It ain't easy seein your baby sis in that kinda predicament." He murmurs lowly. His deep gravelly voice scratches against his throat and I of course melt instantly. If he only knew the affect he has on me. I feel his fingertips pull my hair behind my ear. "He didn't get very far did he?" He questions and the concern is laced and there.
"No y'all showed up just in time. Thankya." I whisper unable to speak any louder. "He was in my algebra class last year. It wasn't the first time we'd hung out. I guess he thought there was more happenin." I surmise trying to piece together how we got here.
"S'gonna be okay darlin." He rubs my back. It's not the first time he's touched me in a gently 'you're my best friends little sister way'. I feel tingles follow each touch and I'm gone. My mind is warped and I feel like a pile of goo, as if I could just roll right off this dock.
I finally look up at him. His hand is now sitting on the dock between us. The last time he saw me I had just turned sixteen and Jasper had brought him home for his 21st birthday. With his family not around anymore my family kind of took him in. His pa died overseas a few years back after the first troops were deployed after 9/11. His ma had passed after he was only three years old. He's an only child.
His deep green eyes stared right into mine. Under the moonlight his hair looked almost black but I knew under the summer sun it was this unique shade of brown and red like copper. The short cropped cut looked high and tight just like he liked it while on active duty. I'd only seen once before when he was home on a medical leave that he'd let it grow just a bit. It was gorgeous. I could see the faint lines of the USMC tattoo on his left shoulder, the lines crisp and defined with the American Flag behind it. His red cut off shirt highlighting the strong muscles under his bicep.
I reached out without thought tracing the lines. I can feel his breathing change in the slight greater rise and fall in his chest. His hand catches mine. I gasp looking up at him biting my lip, damn habit I can't break every time I get nervous.
"Why?" He asked gently bringing my hand still wrapped in his to his lap. He's sitting Indian style and his hands play with my right hand. I feel him look up at my hesitance. I must have shown my confusion on my face because I wasn't sure what he meant. "Why do you waste the time with them if it's not goin anywhere?" He states while I stare at our hands because his eyes are too intense at the moment.
"Um.." I mumble trying to figure out why. "I guess it's better than feelin the loneliness. I get tired of fightin this place I dwell in that some days it may swallow me whole." I state in one breathe quickly. It's a sudden understanding I never thought out. Of course, he pulls me to this realization. "I know it must make me seem like a tease but it ain't meant to." I add as an afterthought.
"You ain't no tease darlin." He states firmly and I feel his grip on my hand tighten just slightly. It pulls my eyes up to his. "You just deserve better." He adds. I can feel this pull and it's such an odd feeling to me. He's my brother's best friend, though I've crushed on him for three years now.
His left hand still holds my right but his right hand has come up to my cheek. He cups it softly running his course thumb over the apple of my cheek. He leans forward his forehead resting to mine. "You deserve to be respected, cherished and loved." He whispers and I feel his lips graze mine with light pressure.
HONK!
Of course it startles the shit out of both of us. I pull back almost falling off the deck but his hand firmly pulls me back. I giggle a little out of embarrassment and awkwardness. I see him stand and he takes my hand pulling me up as well.
We walk back towards Jasper's truck. Both of us moving slowly almost to prolong the moment that we know is over. He's got a grasp on my hand behind his back where Jasper can't see. We get off the dock back on land and he stops. I'm close to running into him before he turns around startling me.
His hand grasps my hip and his other hand going back to me cheek. He pulls me closer and steals the breath right out of me. I've never known him to be so gentle and intimate. Of course I've also never seen him bring a girl home with him.
"You'll see darlin. If it takes me all damn summer. You'll see you're meant to treasured." He plants a quick peck on my lips. It was so quick I almost thought it didn't happen. I don't even try to hide the grin on my face. He pulls me to the truck.
This is going to be the best damn summer if only I knew it was going to be my greatest love and greatest heartbreak all in one.
October 2012
The shiver travels up my dress and over my shoulders. Who knew it could feel so cool this early in fall. It's probably close to nine at this point. I was due to meet my family for dinner a good thirty minutes ago. The sun is already setting in the distance though I can't see them over the rise of the tall buildings around me.
My jean jacket is wrapped over my shoulders and his large hands rub up and down. I'm sure they are mean to be comforting but my nerves are so shot right now. I feel the tingles I've always felt from him. He steps back a few steps to my right. I don't know what to say. It's been a little over three years since I've seen him last.
I finally turn to him and take in all his changes. I start from the bottom with his worn boots always Ariat's. His pressed dark denim Wrangles hold tight to his strong thighs and cling to his hips like I knew they would. The dark brown belt with the shiny buckle with a large cross designed over it. His pearl snap done up against the dark blue plaid. I can see the barbwire tattoo at his elbow go up under the cuff of his rolled up sleeves. The top snaps undone with a white undershirt. Those damn green eyes thankfully aren't focused on me at the moment instead they are taking me in as I'm taking him in. It's then I notice his hair is grown out again. He's got a worn faded camo ball cap on with those coppery curls falling out the bottom.
My first thought besides, "Oh shit I'm so screwed." Is the fact that I'm not the only one getting the funny looks. Of course, we look like we fit each other perfectly on this busy street in downtown New York City. Once again, I've said we are far from home. I pull my arms through my jean jacket and straighten my belt.
He hands me my brown leather clutch and says, "You're lookin good darlin." It melts me just the same way he did all those summers ago. Except I'm not the same woman I was back then. He steps towards me and I'm honestly not sure for what. I can't think to move fast enough before he's wrapped his arms around me for a deep hug. I'm not ready for the feelings to return or the fact that he opens the flood gates with just a few simple words. "He'd be so damn proud of you baby girl."
I can't stop the watery gasp I let out and try to pull away but he's pulled us to a corner away from the entrance. He's got a tight hold on me and I'm hopeless. "Now wait a minute, we gotta get in there for dinner with your Ma. Alice needs to get home with lil JJ soon. I'm sure you've got plenty to say to me cause I sure as shit got plenty for you. He needs you to be strong for them right now though. Let's get through dinner first, kay?" I'm startled for a moment because he normally doesn't say so much at one time.
I'm fading fast and he knows it. "Edward." The sob leaves my lips. I haven't spoken his name in more than a handful of times in the past years. I haven't wanted to but in this moment I must admit he's who I need.
"Oh baby." He sighs pulling me to him. His arms are tight around me. "Jasper needs us to be strong for your Ma and Pop in there. Alice needs us as well." He says running his hand up and down my back. Its such a familiar feeling to be back in his arms after so long. "Bella I promise I'm not going anywhere this time. Let's just get this weekend over with okay?" He pulls me back and wipes away my tears. He's looking me over waiting for me to be okay. I give him a nod and he kisses my forehead gently.
So I know I have no business starting a new story but I felt inspired. I've taken a break from Masen MC because for the life of me I can't get past the last chapter I've written. This one fits a little closer to home. I'm trying to hold some mystery as to the back story between Edward and Bella, so I hope you keep coming back for more.
**Please review! I really do enjoy the constructive criticism!**