Other side of the Tracks. Chapter ONE

A/N: This is my first fanfic, its not going to be brilliant because I havent written a story since primary school! And even tho I go to uni my grammar is terrible :P , but please review and tell me how im going. I have some good ideas for stories in the future, so this is just to get the hang of things. I hope you like it! and of course I dont own any of the characters, Stephenie does, I'm just having some fun with them :)


After going thru every item in my cupboard for the last 3 hours I had finally worked out tonight's outfit. I had settled on my red skirt about 1 hour ago, and now I had decided a plain black top with a lace trim complimented it perfectly. I didn't usually take this long to get ready for an outing, Jeans and whatever shirt was clean was the dress code for Forks piss-ups. Tonight was different though; Jess was taking me to her cousin Mikes party out near the Reserve. It's a well-known fact that Mike's parties attract only the most gorgeous and rich kids in the area, so I had to make an effort tonight.

I tied my hair into a neat bun just as I heard Jess's car honking angrily at me. I slipped on my black heels and raced out the door. I was thankful Charlie was away for the weekend. Whenever I leave the house he tries to be fatherly and give me 'advice' but it always ends up some awkward exchange about teenage drinking statistics. I could do without that conversation tonight.

"Hey Bella, wow someone's looking pretty tonight!" Jess greeted me

"Well I can only hope" I smiled at her as I buckled my seatbelt.

"You could have used a little more make up tho, did you even bring a compact?" she frowned at me with overly red lips. Jess was never very subtle with her make up choices.

"No, but that's ok, you seem to have brought extra on your face anyway" I couldn't help but giggle.

"Ha, Ha, very funny" Jess retorted sarcastically as her car rattled its way down the street. I attempted to find some kind of signal on the dodgy radio but it was nearly impossible.

"Now, remember we are ladies tonight. No chugging down 3 jager bombs, although im totally in the mood for it! Tonight we are well behaved and charming" Jess confidently said with a grin on her face.

"I doubt its gonna work Jess.. I mean those boys can have anyone they want, why the hell would they want anything to do us.." I trailed off.

"That's not the right attitude Bella! Come on, do you know how hard it was to get us invited. Just go along with it for one night" Jess pleaded.

"Okay, Okay. There is bound to be some eye candy, right?" I said cheekily.

"That's the spirit!"

"Although, Jess.. If we are going to try and look like we fit in, maybe we should park further down the street? This bomb of yours will give us away in an instant" I giggled.

Jess smirked at me, "This 'bomb' happens to drive your sorry ass around town tho doesn't it?". So I hadn't got my license yet. Big deal. But Jess couldnt help bringing it up.

It didn't take long and we had arrived on Castell Boulevard. She ended up taking my advice and we parked 4 houses down. Although calling them houses was an understatement, they were bordering on mansions. We walked past, gawking at the perfectly manicured lawns, and huge stone sculptures. Mikes house was just the same with a winding pebble pathway to the huge front porch.

We were greeted at the front door by a woman that seemed overly happy to see us.

"Come in, come in! My Jess look at you haven't you grown" She grabbed Jess and gave her a huge hug.

"Hey Aunty Margaret, This is my friend Bella" She said gesturing her hand towards me.

"Ah.. Nice to meet you" I managed to splutter out. Damn it Bella, if you cant even talk to someones mother, how the hell are you going to deal with a backyard full of people?

"You too darling. Jess I'm so glad you came, I will have to chat to you again before you leave, but why don't you go find Mike. Everyone is already out the back" She smiled.

"Sure, ill find you before we go. Come on Bella" Jess lead me through the dining area, through huge French doors, and into straight into Hell.

Well at least that's what it felt like.

Every girl I saw was tall, beautiful and tanned. The majority blonde as well. How exactly were we supposed to compete with that? The boys all looked like they belonged in the next James Bond movie. I suddenly lost whatever tiny scrap of confidence I bring with me tonight, and glared at Jess. I had a feeling she was just as intimidated as me, but she was soldiering on.

"Right, umm lets go find Mike" she said quiety.

We walked past two supermodels, and one Brad Pitt look-a-like on the way to a group of people standing by the pool. Jess tapped on the shoulder of a blonde haired guy who slowly turned around to look at us.

Wow, HE certainly fitted in…

"Cuzzz! Hows it goin??" She said with a huge smile. In an attempt to be over confident she had completely forgotten to be charming. Or even remotely lady like.

"Umm.. Jess? lovely to see you" Mike said with an unconvincing smile.

There was moment of awkward silence before Jess finally gripped my arm and said "And this is my friend Bella"

"Hi Bella" Mike said and I just smiled. Damn it Bella you should at least have said hello back..

A few more moments of silence while we all just glanced at each other. It was obvious Mike didn't particularly want to talk to us. And neither Jess or I knew what to say.

"Why don't you ladies get yourselves a drink?" Mike said, practically dismissing us. He turned back around to the group he was standing with.

Without saying a word Jess just turned around and stormed over to the Bar, still holding my arm and dragging me along behind.

"He didn't even fucking introduce us to his friends!" She exclaimed angrily. I was glad nobody was sitting near us to hear Jess's rant.

"Wow Jess, for family he doesn't really seem all that friendly.." I said, hoping up onto a bar stool.

"Its his dad's fault" She said, loweing her voice and climbing onto the stool next to me "Rupert is a big shot lawyer or something, and back in the day Aunty Margaret was his secretary. They had a quick fling but she ended up falling pregnant. His biggest mistake apparently, being associated with a floozy from Forks"

"Wait, Jess I know we aren't really upmarket in Forks, but we honestly cant have that kind of a reputation??" I said a bit too angrily.

"That's the corporate world though Bella.. They all think they are on top and we are far, far below them. Anyway, He married her out of guilt, but refused to have anything to do with the rest of our family. Aunty Margaret had no choice really, he could offer her a life for her child, money, security. So I don't blame her"

"Nah I wouldn't either…" I said, glancing out into the crowd.

"She tries to talk Rupert into letting us come and visit, even just for Christmas but he is adamant they are not to be associated with us. The attitude has rubbed off on Mike, obviously" She glared in his direction.

"Wait, then how come you and I are aloud here tonight?" I questioned.

"Rupert is out of town" Jess grinned smugly "Aunty Margaret is still Mike's mum, I'm sure she just had to threaten to take his credit card off him and he caved in. Probably promised not to tell his dad too!"

"JESS! Gosh now I feel even worse, lets just go home. We aren't wanted, we don't fit in, its pointless…" I rambled. Dear god just get me out of here..

"Shoosh Bella! We are here now, lets at least have a free drink" She reached over the bar and grabbed two Cruisers. "Maybe Mikes friends wont be as rude as he is"

Hmm maybe a drink or two will settle the nerves, I'll sit thru this for Jess's sake.

"Fiiine, but watch yourself, I want to make it home in one piece" I warned

"Bella your worse than your dad!" She giggled.

I scoffed at her and we clinked our bottles together and took a sip.


A/N: Okay so what did you think?? This is actually a lot more fun than I thought it would be. The Jess/Mike family story sort of wrote itself, I wasnt planning on putting it in. Dont worry Edward will arrive soon!! PLEASE tell me how im going, im sure ive made lots of mistakes!!