The Hook-Up Queen

I remembered being a little girl and hearing my dad tell me all about love. My mom passed away way before I could ever hear about sex and how you'll get your heartbroken a million times until you find "the one." The only thing my dad ever told me was how worthless it was and you didn't need to have your heart torn in half. He was so in love with my mom, even if he never said it. You only hate love if you've lost it and he lost my mom because of me. That's why he hates me in a way, I mean he loves me obviously, he was my dad. Charlie tells me it everyday and makes sure I know I wasn't the reason my mom died. Yet at the same time i knew it was one of those feelings you can't help but feel. The ones you feel bad for feeling and wish you didn't. I didn't blame him for feeling it though, sometimes I hated myself for coming along too. If my mom hadn't had me then it wouldn't have happened. Maybe they could've gotten pregnant earlier or later with a different kid, changing everything. If that were true I wouldn't be alive but she would. My dad would be a lot happier with a son and his wife. He wanted someone to throw around the baseball with, talks sports, and have the love of his life bake cookies before he comes home from work. Instead he was stuck with an unathletic, brainiac, clumsy daughter who cooked dinner every night and failed to be popular in any way.

Here I was, graduating from college as a journalism major. I had a high school diploma, a college degree and yet to have a boyfriend. It wasn't because I was ugly, I knew that the least. I had gone on dates, but they were always the first and last. After having dinner, going to the beach, seeing a movie or even going to a concert they'd head back to wherever and well..you know the rest. My number was at thirteen and not one had managed to remain in my life for more than one night. Thanks to the thoughts my father had put in my mind about the idea of love I didn't plan on stopping my rather promiscuous lifestyle. Everyone at my school knew it was true, my friend Rosalie Hale often liked to call me the Queen of Hookups. She however had remained with the same guy, Emmett Cullen for five years. Since we were best friends she was always bugging me to go out on actual dates and start trying out relationships. And as much as I wanted a happy committed relationship I couldn't count on it working out.

Holding my degree in my hand I tapped my foot. I just kept staring at it as if the name on it were to change and I'd find myself back in my high school english class. That obviously didn't happen. At least in high school I felt some sort of direction for my life. Now with thousands of dollars in debt and moving back home for the summer I had no idea what this degree could really do for myself. Most of my classmates had internships or jobs lined up for the summer or a few months after graduation. I'd gotten a few job offers scattered across the country, mostly in New York and Chicago. But I liked Washington it had always been home for me. I had traveled plenty enough to know this was somewhere I wanted to stay for the rest of my life.

Realizing staring wouldn't do much for me I put my diploma into the final box. I'd decided it was finally time to get my own apartment when I came back to Seattle in the fall. Since my sophomore year I'd been living with two other girls, Tanya and her sister Irina. They were nice enough but we weren't exactly best friends. For the most part they were always out doing something, giving me my space to do whatever I wanted. But being a college and having roommates seemed too immature for my life at this point. So I had found a small apartment in the middle of the city cheap enough for me to pay for with my summer job. It wasn't anything to do with writing. I worked at Newton's Sporting Goods. He had been a good friend during high school and ended up marrying Jessica Stanley. I think they had a kid now and she hated it according to my friend Angela.

That was another reason I didn't want to commit to a relationship. Most people ended up divorced, unhappy and bored. I enjoyed my life, going out whenever I wanted and being with whoever I wanted. Unlike others my age I wasn't picking out a wedding dress or a crib for my nursery. Even if you're happy for just one second with someone doesn't mean it'll last the rest of your life.

Walking out into the living room of the apartment I'd spent the past three years in I felt nostalgic. There had been plenty of parties, nights Rose and I sat in bed watching netflix with Japanese food, the various boys I'd brought back. Even the good times with the Denali sisters. It'd been home for four years now, it was hard leaving it behind.

"Do you have everything Bella?" Tanya asked tossing a towel into the bathroom after her shower.

I nodded with my hands full. "Yeah, this is the last box." Setting it down I went to give her a hug."Thank you so much for everything, tell Irina I said I'll miss her." Irina was working, she was currently a nursing student just a few years younger than us. She was much more organized and worked harder than both Tanya and I.

Squeezing me she laughed "Of course. When you're back in the city give us a call and we'll go to Eclipse and get some drinks."

"See ya around Tanya."

With the final goodbye done and over with, I hopped into my Toyota Corolla and began the drive to Forks. It was a little less than four hours, but if you knew the route as well as I did it could be reduced to around three hours. I knew my dad would be awaiting my arrival, pacing back and forth on the yellow linoleum floors in our kitchen. That was the kind of thing that let me know he loved me. It hadn't been too long since I saw him last, just a week ago he had come up to watch my graduation. After having dinner together he left so I could have some fun. And by fun that meant Rose and I getting trashed at the bar with Emmett tagging along. After that I had brought some guy named Jason home, he was cool enough other than the fact that when I woke up he was still there. He expected breakfast and to go out with me later. Had to let the kid down pretty hard.

Spacing out the drive seemed a lot quicker than three hours. I had arrived home at two-thirty in the afternoon. Rose had already arrived at the Cullen's house, her boyfriend's parents had invited the two to come stay with them until they found an apartment in town they liked. He was planning on proposing, Emmett had included me on the whole thing. I even got to help pick out her ring. Emmett was an EMT working in the medical field just like his father, Dr. Cullen was an amazing surgeon. He worked all over the country dragging Emmett and his siblings across the country during their childhood. According to my dad the town was "blessed" to have him working in Forks when he could be making more money anywhere else. But Emmett had told us his family was extremely down to earth and his parents loved the small town was the town they'd stayed in the longest. Rosalie was planning on opening up her own daycare in town not only were Emm's parents rich but Rose's father was some big banker back in New York. The two didn't get along after he tried to force her into a marriage with some jerk named Royce. She ran away the day of their wedding and came to Seattle where she got accepted into college. Her dad eventually gave in and the two were talking again. Between the two families the daycare wouldn't have any financial problems.

I had some money from my mother passing away. But I couldn't touch any of it until I turned twenty-five. It was a helpful amount that would be going towards my college payments. Other than my mother's money my dad and I were okay on financial things. He was a small town police chief so he made enough to feed and put clothes on my back growing up. But as soon as I could I got a job to help him pay the bills. He of course never knew I slipped money into his wallet or bank account growing up. To him he figured it was his mind getting the best of him.

My tires hit the old muddy driveway I'd grown up in. Through the window I could see my father pacing back and forth just as I predicted. Hearing my car he walked towards the front door.

"Bells!" He exclaimed scooping me into a big hug as he got to my car.

Burying my face into his shoulder I was glad to be home for the summer. "Dad, it's good to see you." Pulling back I placed a kiss on his cheek.

He got all embarrassed, cheeks turning red. "Gonna be nice having you around kid. Why don't you go get something to eat and I can grab your stuff."

"Dad, I don't want you hurting yourself. I'm gonna help."

As I reached for a box he slapped my hand away. "You'll do no such thing, this is my house and you're the guest. Plus you've been driving for way too long."

Chuckling I rolled my dark brown eyes. "Okay dad, whatever makes you happy."

The house I grew up in remained completely unchanged. The only differences I could see were more pictures hanging up on the wall or on the fireplace. For an old single guy he kept the place pretty clean, but then again he didn't really ever make a huge mess. Most of the time dinner was take out from somewhere around town, more often than not it was the diner. Together we went there every Wednesday, sometimes even twice a week. Charlie was a pretty simple man who just wanted a good steak and a beer in his hand.

I walked up to my bedroom, another room that remained unchanged. Over the years the only thing constantly changing was my bed. Plopping right down I stared up at the ceiling wondering what my summer would hold. Before I knew it I had dozed off into a deep sleep.

After waking up three hours later Charlie and I enjoyed a quiet dinner with each other. He asked me a few questions about graduation, my friends, and work. Other than that we didn't talk much. It had always been like that, a comfortable silence. The two of us were similar in that way, sometimes awkward but then again easy to get along with. My mom Renee however was the complete opposite. Dad told me she was loud and crazy, made them do random things in random cities before I was born. The two got married in Vegas, not because it was a spur of the moment kind of thing. They did it because mom thought it would be fun and make for a cool story.

Hearing all the stories about her just made me want to know her all the more. As a child all the other girls had their mother's to do their hair and enroll them in ballet classes. Instead I had to learn how to braid my hair on the playground and played at the police station pretending I was a cop. And it wasn't that I hated Charlie and resented him for never remarrying, it was just a void I never had filled. I appreciated everything he did for me and wouldn't give him up for the world.

When dinner was over Rose and Emmett begged me to come out with them in Port Angeles. The two were celebrating us finally finishing school. Em had been done for a year now but waited around Seattle for Rosalie to be finished. Emmett's sister Alice and her boyfriend Jasper were coming as well. I'd never met Alice, she'd spent the past few years traveling around the world. She was a fashion blogger so she was in Paris, London and plenty more fashion capitals since she graduated high school. And just a few months ago she had been in New York for some business when she met Jasper at a coffee shop. Now the two were inseparable I guess.

"I'll see you later dad, don't stay up too late." I pecked his cheek as he sat in his old recliner watching baseball. It was something he did every single night after dinner.

As soon as I was out the door Emmett and everyone were waiting in his giant silver jeep. "Hurry up Bells, the shots are calling our names!"

Chuckling I paced myself a little faster, opening the door I saw two unfamiliar faces. Alice barely looked like her older brother. She was tiny, pale and had a pixie hair cut. In a way the two had similar features. The man sitting next to her had blonde curly hair and pale blue eyes, he was built lanky yet strong. "Bella! I've heard so much about you! It's so great to finally meet, we're gonna be best friends I already know!"

Her enthusiasm shocked me, that was one quality she had in common with Emmett. "Nice to meet you too Alice. And I'm assuming this is Jasper?"

"Yes Ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you." His southern accent was heavy and charming.

Shaking his hand I suddenly felt excited for tonight. I'd been out plenty of times with just Em and Rose, but now with two new friends it meant the night would be a little more interesting.

The entire car ride was spent with Alice and Emmett bickering about their childhood memories. The two may not have looked similar but they were almost the exact same person. I eventually tunned out the conversation staring out the window at the green, it was all green. I wasn't listening until I heard something about another Cullen.

"Wait, there's another one of you?" I whipped my head to the front, meeting Rosalie's eyes.

She laughed "I promise he's the last one, no more surprise Cullens. He'll be visiting soon. He's finishing his internship at some hospital in Chicago."

All the Cullens were perfect, I mean their father Carlisle was a surgeon. Esme, their mother was a teacher for kindergarten. Then there's the children who have their own special talents and careers. According to Rose they were the real deal, all super close and as perfect as people said. I had yet to meet Carlisle and Edward.

The club was in full-swing by the time we arrived. Alice dragged me in ready to dance the night away. She was all dressed up in designer clothes whose names I had no idea of. Watching her and Jasper the two were polar opposites but balanced each other out, just like batteries. He was calm, stood at the bar drinking whiskey and bourbon. While Alice was singing, hyper and downing shots of vodka with me. Rosalie was more calm tonight, clinging to Emmett's side. She told me the two of them were wanting to start trying for a baby soon so she was avoiding drinking.

Eventually around midnight I had wondered away from Alice and everyone else. This was my usual habit when it came to going out. After the sixth shot I was normally ready to find someone to take home.

With a pounding headache I decided to grab a ginger ale from the bar. Across the bar I could see everyone just talking, occasionally Rose would point and they'd all look over. I had assumed she filled Alice and Jasper in on my bar routine. Awaiting my drink I heard "Hey, so you look down? Maybe I can feel you up?"

Gagging as i took a sip I started to laugh "Excuse me?"

He reached out his hand for me to shake, he was handsome. Dark, mysterious and blonde. "I'm James, it's nice to meet you sweetheart."

As I extended to shake his hand he pulled me in closer, his breath smelt of alcohol. Mine did too but at least I wasn't hitting on guys with horribly crude pick up lines. "I'm Bella."

His face got closer to mine, I could tell he wanted to kiss me. And as handsome as he was I just couldn't find myself too into him. "Well Bella, why don't we head on over to my place?" James grabbed onto my wrist, using his thumb to stroke it.

I tried to pull back but he held on tighter, squeezing it. "Well James, why don't you let go of my wrist?"

His eyes went from flirtatious to dangerous. Unlike most he seemed to be an angry drunk. I had seen plenty of his kind in college. "You're gonna shut your pretty little mouth and follow me." James stood up forcefully pulling me along.

"Let go of me now." I once again attempted to pull myself out of his grasp.

"You're going to let the lady go, NOW." From behind me another hand had grabbed my arm, softer this time.

James chuckled rolling his eyes "What're you gonna do about it, sir?"

"Now." Was all the stranger said, his green eyes staring right at James.

He finally let go putting his hands up. "Alright tough guy, the slut is all yours."

Before James could walk too far from us the man with the pretty green eyes grabbed him by his shirt, pinning him up against the wall. "Apologize you low life."

"I'm really sorry for everything sweetheart. You're not a slut."

Waving my hand I nodded "Yeah, yeah. Go home you drunk."

After the stranger let him down James ran straight for the door. I had encountered many drunk assholes in my bar days but never had I ever experienced something so scary. Most men were somewhat respectful when I declined their advances. Thankfully the one time I needed assistance the gorgeous stranger came to my rescue.

I extended my hand in gratitude. "I cannot thank you enough, I'm Bella."

"No need to thank me, I've seen personally how some scumbags can treat a woman. I'm Edward by the way."

And that was that. We began to talk, hitting it off instantly. He was a surgeon who had just moved to Forks after living in Boston the past eight years. Everything about him drew me in. Together we drank by the bar, smiling and laughing. The entire time I couldn't help but notice his sex eyes. They were a beautiful green the kind of green you only see on contact commercials. Within thirty minutes of talking he grabbed my hand gently caressing it with his soft thumb. We were both a little drunk and way too into each other. "You wanna get out of here?"

Before I knew it we were in a cab, making out. My hand was entangled in his gorgeous bronze hair making it even more messy than it had been before. But he didn't seem to care all he cared about at this point was getting me back to his house. And quite frankly that's all I kept thinking about.

We pulled up to an impressive white house, it wasn't huge but it wasn't the size of an apartment either. Once we out of the cab I didn't have much time to notice anymore trivial details about his house. Our hands were intertwined as we entered through the marble front door. Part of me considered the thought that he was married, I mean who alone in Port Angeles could really afford this house? Being a little tipsy I knew it wouldn't seem all that weird to swing his hand up, inspecting it. There was no ring, nor a tan line from it. I let out a sigh of relief as he unlocked the door. I couldn't say I hadn't ever been that girl, only once though. After that I refused to ever go home with a married guy.

The house was so open, the colors all various shades of grays and blues, so perfect. Setting his keys on the little table by the door he grabbed my hand once again, turning on the lights allowing me to see it better. Before I could get a better look around he pulled me gently towards the right, his bedroom. Our lips fiercely met once again, now in the privacy of his home without a creepy cab driver staring the entire time I jumped up on him, leaning against the walls with my legs wrapped around him. Thankfully he'd started the process of removing our clothes, slowly but it worked in his favor. Once we were completely undressed he moved me from the wall to his bed, throwing me down fiercely. As he trailed kisses down my body I shivered in response. We hadn't even gotten all the way and this was some of the most amazing I've had.

After we were finished I rolled off onto my back, pulling the covers over my sweaty body. I huffed. God, this was the best hook-up ever.

Hope you enjoyed, tell me what you like, what you didn't, etc. Love you all.