Name of story: How Bella Fell in Love
Pen name: Shaelove
Song story is inspired by: "Miss Independent"
Artist: Kelly Clarkson
Category: Newbie
Main Pairing: Bella & "mystery man"
POV: Multiple
This story is an entry for the Lyrical Melodrama Story contest. To read the rest of the entries or see the submission rules go to www(dot)thewriterscoffeeshop(dot)com Any questions concerning the contest can be directed to competitions(at)thewriterscoffeeshop(dot)com or through the website.
Hayley's POV
Bang! I slammed the door to our front door and started stomping up the stairs. I was so angry I couldn't believe Kurtis was that stupid! I ran down the hall to my bedroom and slammed the door and threw myself on the bed.
"Hayley! What the hell is wrong with you?" I heard my mum yell from down stairs.
Shit I didn't think anybody was home.
"Get down here right now and explain yourself young lady!" She called, I groaned under my breath the last thing I wanted to do was go and talk to my mum about how I managed to get on detention. "This minute Hayley, I am only warning you this once! I do like having hinges on my doors and I want to know what the hell has gotten into you of late! I have had enough!"
Damn it. I wasn't going to get out of this one. I dragged myself from my bed and made my way slowly down the stairs.
"Hayley!" my mum called at the top of her voice, obviously annoyed with me.
"I am right here mum," I said in a normal voice, "there is no need to shout." I said rolling my eyes moving towards the kitchen table and threw myself in a chair.
I heard her take a deep breath and let it out slowly, "Hayley what the hell has gotten into you?"
"Nothing." I mumbled into my hands that were holding up my chin.
"Well my doors say different young lady, spill or you are grounded. I have had enough." My mother started lecturing me.
"Oh, what difference will it make to be grounded I am already on detention." I grumbled.
"What?" my mother screeched, "How did you get on detention?"
"Kurtis is an idiot." I explained throwing my hands up in the air.
"Well I could have told you that," She said trying not to smile, "What did he do this time? And how did you get involved in it? I thought I brought you up to be smarter than that." She said smiling at me.
"Don't joke mum I am totally not amused." I started, "he started jumping around the room singing a stupid rap song and the teacher wasn't in the room yet, he was running late." I took a deep breath trying to explain this afternoon's events.
"Mr Johnston happened to walk in the room just as Kurtis was up on my table dancing, trying to push his butt dancing ass in my face, so I smacked it and told him to get off my table at the top of my voice."
"Oh, no" I saw mum groan.
"Oh, yes." I huffed back, "Kurtis and Hayley I will see you both after class has finished." I looked at my mum and shook my head, "And then we both got "Hayley, detention for a week."
"Hayley, he's obviously upsetting you. This isn't the first time he's pulled a stunt. Why don't you just break up with him?"
"Mum! It's not that simple!" Mum would never understand.
"Sweetheart, I spent way too long being with the wrong guys when I was young. The guy you date at 16 is rarely the guy you marry."
"What are you trying to say mum? Kurtis isn't good enough?"
Mum sighed, "Hayley, there's so much more to it than this. Let me tell you a story."
"Here we go," I muttered under my breath.
"Hayley." She warned. Oops. Didn't think I was that loud.
"Go on mum, I'm listening."
"It all started back my first year at university – don't give me that look. The only guy I ever talked to in high school was your Uncle Jake, lord knows people thought we were dating, but he's always been a kid brother to me."
"You and Jake? Really mum... doesn't ever talk about that again."
Mum laughed and continued on. "Lauren, who was my best friend in high school, left town to go to college in Georgia. She couldn't stand living in a small town, and didn't want to be tied there anymore. I stayed close to home. Far enough to live in the dorms, but I was back home every other weekend making sure my dad was fed and not destroying the house."
"I can't imagine Grandpa Charlie living by himself!" He would order take out every day if Sue let him!"
"Anyways, Alice and I had been working on papers all day, and were going to be working well into the night..."
Bella POV – College
"Bella! Are you going to answer that or just let it ring all night?"
My phone was blaring some annoying generic ringtone. I didn't bother looking at the caller ID before silencing the noise"
"Sorry Alice, I zoned out there for a bit."
"It's fine. This paper is killing me!" Alice whined. We had two psychology classes together this semester and every time we had a paper it was the same reaction.
My phone started ringing again, and I answered it before Alice could snap again.
"Hello?" I still hadn't looked at the caller ID.
"B –Bella? Oh Bella. I messed up big time," the person on the phone sobbed. "My – my parents are going to kill me!"
"Lauren? Take a deep breath and tell me what is going on," I said, trying to stay calm – and calm her down. I could barely understand her.
"Bella," she choked back another sob. "Bella, I'm, well, I think I'm." She paused again.
"Lauren, whatever it is, spit it out. I can't help you if you don't tell me."
"I'm pregnant Bella!"
"You're what?!" I shouted into the phone, earning a dirty look from Alice, and more sobbing from Lauren. "How did this happen?"
"I don't know Bella...I had sex! How do you think," she sneered. Yea, it's Lauren all right.
"Yes, Lauren, I know that sex is required for getting pregnant. What I meant was, weren't you on the pill, and secondly, did you use a condom. You know safe sex and all the stuff they taught us in high school? Shit, Lauren, who's the father?"
"Of course we did everything the right way. God, I'm not some stupid slut," she huffed.
"Lauren, who's the father."
"It doesn't matter Bella. This whole situation is like, beyond screwed up. The asshole that did this doesn't even matter."
"Lauren," my voice held a warning to it now. "Who is the father?"
"Bella..."
"No, Lauren, it matters. You need to know."
She mumbled something in response.
"Lauren, I didn't quite catch that."
"I don't know. Okay. Are you happy now? I don't know who knocked me up. I have an idea, but I don't know for sure."
Hayley POV
"Wait, Mum... I thought you were telling me about boys." I interrupted. "It's a bummer this Lauren person got pregnant and all, but she sounds like she deserved it."
Mum started chuckling. "Well, she may have deserved it, and trust me, there's a reason it's important." She paused to contain her laughter, and then went on. "You see, she had no idea which guy was the father. There were three options – so to speak, but they all swore they used a condom, and that it couldn't have been them."
"Mum. Please tell me dad isn't one of these guys. I might have to vomit."
"No sweetie, you're father isn't that much of an idiot. Though, sometimes I wonder."
"Back to the story mum," I said. Seriously, this must be some epic story she's about to tell.
"Right! So being the good friend I was, I flew across the country at the end of the term. Lauren not only was showing by this point, she had also failed all of her classes. As we're starting to bring boxes out to the rental car, Jasper walks into the room."
Bella POV – College
"Well hello there," said a guy who had just appeared in Lauren's doorway.
"Jazzy! You're here," Lauren cried, then launched herself at him.
"Lauren, darlin'," he replied. "Care to introduce me to your fine looking friend?"
"Oh, of course. Where are my manners," she said, trying to mimic his accent.
I snorted at the absurdity of my high school best friend, currently knocked up, and trying to sound like a regular ol' southern belle. She shot me a look before making introductions.
"Jazzy, this is Isabella, but she goes by Bella." I raised an eyebrow at her. She knows I don't like people knowing my full name. "And Bella, this is Jasper. But I call him Jazzy." She practically purred his name. I rolled my eyes. Leave it to Lauren to be pregnant and still flirting.
"Nice to meet you," I said, trying to be totally rude.
"The pleasure is all mine," he said, as he reached for my hand. Before I could register what was happening, he kissed the back of my hand. Lauren started bawling.
"Lauren," I sighed. "What's wrong now?"
"Jazzy, I thought I was special to you! But now you're kissing Bella's hand too!" She was wailing at this point. Jasper looked to me, and I just shrugged. I had no idea what to say to her.
"Laur-Laur. Sweetie, look at me," he cooed. He fucking cooed at her?! I'm in the twilight zone. This was not the girl I knew in high school. And Jasper's approach wasn't working. All Lauren was doing was crying harder with every word he spoke. So much for helping 'Jazzy' I thought to myself.
"But Jazzy! That was our thing!"
"Rennie, What kind of southern gentlemen would I be if I didn't treat the ladies right?" He waggled his eyebrows as he said that. Was this guy for real?
"Not helping Jazz!" Oh, now we've moved to anger? Damn, where's the popcorn.
"If you're looking for popcorn, I've got some in my suite across the hall," said yet another strange guy.
"Emmy!" Lauren was apparently fond of feminizing these poor guy's names.
"Sugar, was Jazzy there bothering you again," he asked Lauren.
"Emmett! How many times do I have to tell you NOT to call me Jazzy as well. It's bad enough I let Lauren get away with it. I don't really want it to be the nickname I'm stuck with for all eternity."
"But Jazzy! I thought you liked my nicknames. I know Emmy likes his," Lauren said. I think she was practicing her baby voice.
"So.. Emmett, was it," I interjected. "I'm going to go find that popcorn now. I have a feeling this will last a while."
"Honey, you don't even know the half of it," he replied.
I found the popcorn, and when I decided it was safe enough to venture back into the Twilight Zone, I brought the bowl with me. The three of them were sitting on the couch talking amicably once again. If I hadn't seen the eruption of what I could only explain as pregnancy hormones, then I wouldn't have believed they were at each other's throats just minutes before.
"So..." I said awkwardly. I was so ready to go home. "Who wants to help carry boxes down the stairs?"
"Ugh, Bella. You know I can't lift anything. It's bad for the baby."
"Yes, Lauren, I know. So, guys, how about it?"
"Well," Emmett shifted, suddenly seeming a little ill at ease. "I would, but I just got my nails done, and I don't really want to risk messing them up. But I'll keep Lauren company and help carry some of the lighter things?"
"Sure," I said, though it came out as more of a question than anything else. What was it with the people in this state? "Jasper? Will you at least help me. I don't think I can lift everything by myself."
"I'd be delighted to darlin'," he said. "Just lead the way."
After an hour of trudging up and down the stairs, Jasper and I got everything loaded into the car. Emmett helped a bit – he carried Lauren's pillows down the stairs and helped her get there as well.
Before I got in the car, Jasper pulled me aside for a moment.
"Bella, I appreciate you coming out here, and I know Rennie was a pain today, but she's had it rough." I was about to respond before he put his hand up to stop me. "I know you're at the end of your rope, but you were more of a help than you can see. Please, call me if I can help at all, and let me know how she's doing?"
I sighed. "Sure, but I don't have your number."
"Here ya go, I hoped you would agree, and if not, I was going to drop it in your purse anyhow."
"I'll let you know when we land," I promised him.
Thank you to all my ladies who encouraged me with this, and helped me get it in, just in the nic of time. i'll thank you properly later. 3