A/N: This story should probably be classified as an alternate universe story. As the characters in it are much more gritty and modern then they are in SM's version. I have tried to keep their core personalities in tact but have injected them all with some edge.
You will notice it the most with Bella. I never believed that a person who had to grow up so quickly and was raised in such a large city could manage to still be such a naïve, blundering boob.
Don't get me wrong. I love SM and the original version. If I didn't I wouldn't waste my time playing with her dolly's but that doesn't stop me from twisting and bending the facts to meet my own sick and twisted needs.
Having said that, this story is rated for language and possible future lemons. If you're under 18 please don't read this. Or at least hide it from your parents really well.
I own nothing but the fodder of my demented imagination. If you recognize it from the book, it isn't mine. Please don't sue me. I'm poor.
1. The Road to Hell is Paved with Morons
{Bella}
'Left off of park street. Check. Enter Highway 101 Northbound. Check. Continue 10 miles...'
The blaring of a horn stole my attention from my hastily written directions back out through my windshield just in time to notice that I had drifted into the oncoming lane again. I jerked to the right and narrowly avoided hitting the Jeep Grand Cherokee that had slammed on it's brakes. As I passed I waved an embarrassed apology to which the other driver responded with a sneer and a shake of the head. The brat in the back seat poked his head up just long enough to flip me the bird. An excellent start to my day. I was told to fuck off by a five year old.
It seemed like such a simple task when I thought of it this morning. Find the FairView mini mall. In a town this small a mall, even a mini one, can't be hard to miss. But now that I'm pushing my decrepit truck down a highway that obviously hadn't had decent road service in decades while trying to read my own crappy directions and navigate through the fog all at the same time I'm starting to think that maybe I should have just stayed in bed all day and caught up on All My Children. Or at the very least I should have invested in a GPS. Before I can convince myself to turn around though I see the road sign I'm looking for and I turn the stiff wheel carefully to the shoulder getting off on Barring Road.
I see the sign that says FairView and a small part of my soul withers and dies when I realize that what's categorized as a "mini mall" is pretty much a crumbling blob of asphalt with a gas station/garage to the left of the entrance and one long white building along the back. The far right corner of the building housed a liquor store. The far left contained a sporting goods/hunting store called "Newton's". Everything in the middle is abandoned and vandalized. I'm headed to Newton's. Although as the realization hits me that this is probably my new towns only source of entertainment I really start to wish that I was headed towards the liquor store.
Pulling behind the gas station I find a parking spot in the relative middle of the building. I could have easily found a spot closer to my target but I figured the short walk would give me time to decide if I really wanted to do this. Clutching a Newport 100 in one hand and my employment application in another I lock up the truck and begin my walk of shame. Don't get me wrong. I know nothing about sporting, hunting OR the goods used in such things. But I have lived in this miserable town for three weeks now doing nothing but play chore bitch for the dad I barely knew. While at the same time praying that Phil would either die or get fired so that me and my manic mother could get on with our pathetic lives. And I, Bella Swan, swear to fucking gawd that if I don't get some sort of release from this personal hell soon I'm going to fucking lose my mind. It's gotten to the point that not even my favorite purple vibe can hold my attention anymore. At this point it would take a fucking belt sander to get me off.
The butt of my cig abandoned on the sidewalk I pull the front door open and enter what I hope to be the place that will sign my paychecks. At first glance the store seems kinda lame. Smaller then it looked from the outside with bright fluorescent lighting, a white linoleum floor and crappy 80's rock playing softly on the music system. A blonde girl stood behind the only open check out counter examining the ends of her hair closely while loudly chomping her gum. I clear my throat and a startled jolt runs through her as if I'd just awoken her from a dream. Or, since she works here, probably a nightmare.
"Hi, I'm Jessica, welcome to Newton's. Can I help you with something special today?" She recites in a totally over the top cheery voice.
Reluctantly I make my way over to what appears to be the only person in the store and place my application on the counter. She looks at it confused and then glances up at me. "You wanna work here?"
My laugh comes as an abrupt snort and before I can stop myself I blurt out the blatant truth. "No." I answer. "Not at all. But if I don't find something semi productive to do with what is left of this atrocity you people call summer, I may just have to start slaughtering innocent people."
She stares back at me blankly. "Um, okay. Let me get my manager."
She taps the keys of the phone at her register and calls Mr. Newton over the intercom. It takes a minute for a short, fat guy to come waddling to the front of the store. Up close I notice he's balding and has heavy perspiration marks on the arm pits of his shirt. He goes to approach Jessica who casually waves him in my direction. She's back to studying her hair again.
"Can I help you, miss?" Mr Newton asks while squinting at me through his glasses.
I take a deep breath and try to think of three good reason's why working here would be a good idea. One, money. Simple enough. Two, it gets me out of the house. At least here I have half a chance of talking to actual people instead of just screaming back at the TV. And three. I steal a glance at Jessica. I'll never have to feel dumb.
"I'd like to apply for a job." I finally say handing him the application I downloaded off of the internet.
"I see." He pulls his glasses down his nose and skims over the document. "So Bella, do you have any experience with sporting equipment? Ever been hunting? Fishing?"
I shake my head slowly. "Sorry sir, I'm a city girl." Then sighing deeply, I add "Or at least, I used to be."
He doesn't seem to notice me swallowing the bile that's risen in my throat and goes on with his questioning. "Can you run a cash register?"
Again I shake my head no. This time it's him who sighs in exasperation. "What about lifting, can you unload trucks?" He grunts at me, his patience fast dissolving.
I flash back to the waitress job I had back in Phoenix where we had to clean our own tables. I remember the stacks of dishes I'd have to balance on my scrawny looking arms while at the same time managing not to trip on anybody. Sure, I'm a klutz but when it comes to a paycheck I can get the job done.
"Lifting and unloading is actually my strong suit." I say with more confidence then I feel.
"Really?" He seems genuinely surprised. "Jasper's been complaining about needing an assistant. I guess he got his wish. Welcome to the Newton's family. I expect you here at 8 Am sharp for orientation." He sticks a chubby, sweaty hand in my direction and reluctantly I shake it.
Within moments he disappears back into the bowels of the store. I turn to leave. As I do Jessica calls out. "Thank you for shopping! Have a nice day!" I roll my eyes in disbelief. Fucking airhead.
Once outside I can think of only one thing. Filling my lungs with tar. I pull out my Newport's and realize with dismay that I only have four left. I was hoping to get one more day out of them as I don't think I'll be able to con Charlie into giving me more "milk" money for a while. So it's either use the last of my savings on cigs or on gas. I need both so either way I'm fucked. I wish Charlie would just grow a pair and accept the fact that I smoke. I wish he'd accept a lot of things about me.
Making the calculations in my head I'm almost positive I have enough gas to get me home. Once there I can always pretend my piece of shit died and hitch hike to orientation. I do not, however, have enough nicotine to survive another night of Charlie and his crippled friend screaming at the TV because someone goofed up and their team is losing. I don't even know what sport they're watching. I just know that they're loud, obnoxious, and no matter what Charlie says I'm going to be the one left cleaning up that mess.
Before I know it I'm reaching out for the glass door of the gas station. It, just like Newton's, is lame beyond all words. The gas station itself boosted a "convenience store" that sold canned goods, bread, and basic car accessories. All of which were outdated and dusty. The cooler at the far right sold drinks that were sticky and half frozen. To the left of the check out was a large open archway that lead into the garage area. In Phoenix these doorways were clearly marked as hazardous areas. You were warned not to go in without supervision and safety equipment. Here it was assumed that anyone retarded enough to wander in deserved to be flattened by an overhanging SUV. Inside the archway I could clearly see a green station wagon hoisted up on the lift. Underneath the dirty and beaten vehicle stood a lanky man with wild red hair. He was wearing a blue jumpsuit, holding a flashlight in one hand and tinkering with a tool with the other hand.
"Yo, Em, pass me the wrench, would ya?" He calls while dropping the other tool on the concrete floor. I hear another voice and that's when I notice another man in a blue jumpsuit sitting on a milk crate to the far left of the area I can see. To say this man is big is an understatement. Even sitting down I can tell he's a beast. Broad football player shoulders, Arms that could choke a donkey and a chest I could see myself screaming my pleasure into. For a moment my girly bits tingle. Then the cynic in me remembers that a guy this jacked is probably on steroids and his peen has most likely been reduced to the size of a Vienna sausage. At the exact moment my fantasy crashes and burns the red head seems to lose him patience. Maybe he needs a good O as bad as I do.
"Em!" He shouts, whipping his face towards steroid guy. "Get off the fucking phone and come help me." Steroid guy lifts his index finger to signal one minute and red head has had enough. He picks up his previously discarded tool and chucks it at the beast. Beasty's jaw drops and in an instant he's rising off his seat and clicking the phone shut. When I see him in full stature I'm stunned and more then a little afraid for red head. What the fuck is he thinking antagonizing this mammoth?
"Dude seriously, what the fuck!" The big one booms. Red head doesn't flinch.
"You've been on the phone for a fucking hour, we have work to do." Red complains.
"What work?" Beast scrunches his face in confusion while looking around the shop. "We have one car behind this one, one. And Mrs. Quiggly isn't picking it up until Friday."
"That's exactly my point, fucktard. If you'd stop dicking around and help me finish this shit then maybe we could spend a few days away from this hell hole." Ah, so I'm not the only one. I'm right there with ya, Red.
Right as I'm starting to really enjoy myself for the first time since I moved to this abysmal state someone behind me clears their throat. I can't help but jump as I didn't know anyone was there. Turning around I notice a curly haired blonde guy in a Newton's apron. His name tag says "Jasper". Shit, I think I just met my boss. He's not paying attention to me though. He's watching the spectacle between Red and Beast just as I am. But while I'm amused and somewhat turned on, annoyance and boredom are fighting for dominance in his blue eyes.
"Hey morons," he calls out. His voice silky and sweet like honey, "You have a customer." For a second the two don't pay attention. Then Jasper adds "It's a chick." Suddenly both of them are bounding out of the garage and trying to get behind the cash register. I thought sure Beast would win due to his sheer size. But Red is surprisingly fast and agile and was able to outmaneuver his dark haired friend.
"I'm sorry about that," Red apologized. "How long were you waiting?" Up close I could see Red's strong jawline and twinkling green eyes. My girly bits twinged just a little bit.
"Well, Edward," I said reading his sewn on name tag, "I was watching long enough to see you throw a hunk of metal at that one." Beast, or as his name tag read, Emmett smiled wide and winked at me. My girlies were getting quite the workout. "See? That's what you get for being a dick." Edward flashed Emmett a dark glare but said nothing as I made my purchase. I walked out the door with my precious tobacco as Emmett bellowed a goodbye and I waved dismissively towards all three men. I had a feeling that after Jasper and I left Edward and Emmett would only intensify their battle. If I had any doubt it was soon erased by the sound of metal crashing to the ground.
I heard footsteps jogging up behind me. I assumed it was Jasper so without turning I said "They're real pieces of work aren't they?"
Jasper chuckled as he slowed his pace next to me. "They sure are." He agreed. "Sometimes I can't believe we're related."
I stopped dead. "No your not." I disagreed.
" 'fraid so." He argued with a sigh. "I'm Jasper by the way. Jasper Whitlock. Those two boobs back there are Emmett and Edward Cullen. They're brothers. I'm their cousin."
I nodded politely and ran through the scene with fresh eyes. I remember seeing the name Cullen underneath the Shell logo at the gas pumps. "So, what, they own the store?"
"My uncle Carlisle does. He lets Em and Ed run it during the summer to try to keep them out of trouble. It only half works."
"Why don't you work there?"
Jasper fixes me a hard look, his left eyebrow nearly disappearing into his hair line."It's hard enough living with those two assholes, never mind having to work with them too. Plus I'm not really into cars" I go to ask him why he lives with his cousins but am forced to file my question away for later as suddenly Jasper bursts into a jog and re enters Newton's.
I spend the car ride home chain smoking and praying that I do really have enough gas. I'm coasting down my street on fumes when I notice Billy Black's truck in my driveway. I had hoped that I would beat him here and get the chance to hide in my room before he entered. Damn it, now I had to pretend to be sociable. Getting out of my truck and walking up to the door I put my game face on. In the dark recesses of my mind I pull shy, polite Bella out of her hiding spot and lock jaded, realistic Bella up in shackles. I can barely contain her and she doesn't go down without a fight but somehow I manage. Thankfully nobody seems to notice my arrival but still I perform my good daughter duties. I make sure that Charlie and Billy each have a beer and that the snack try is filled with munchables. Then after a few halfhearted comments I'm able to slip up to the organized chaos that is my room.
Without thinking I immediately start shedding my clothes is preparation for my silky PJ's. I'm half undressed when I flick on the light switch and notice the figure sitting at my computer desk. His body turned towards me, his eyes studying my naked flesh.
For a second I'm stunned. Then jaded Bella breaks free from her cage. "Who the fuck are you?"