Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Seriously, NOTHING.
Rating: M
BETA: MIST
A/N: : Please keep in mind when you read my stories that neither Mist or I have a English degree. We do the best we can and try to make sure at least the spelling is you enjoy the first chapter. The action will start up very soon. I promise everything will eventually, lol, turn out great for our J/B lovers. Thanks for the wonderful support and for you guys who made the decision to read the sequel. Xoxo August
Forks 98331 The Holidays
Chapter One:
Bella stood in front of the bathroom sink, her hand clinging to the porcelain counter as she stood straight up, brushing her teeth. The pain was still there. Two weeks had gone by and still she did not feel one hundred percent her old self yet. With each day the pain kept reminding her of the near death experience. She could not blame Miranda entirely for her part. After all she was now considered insane and Bella had stolen her boyfriend, even if it had been unintentionally. Still, Bella knew that if Jake left her for someone else she would not try to kill the girl. She might want to hurt Jake, after all he would be the one who would ultimately made the decision to end the relationship not the other woman.
Shaking the silly thought of a possible chance of Jake leaving her for someone else from her mind she spit out the minty toothpaste, rinsing her mouth a few times. The pain medication she was still on often made everything taste bitter. It also made her tired. She had been forced into staying home over the last two weeks while she recoup from her injuries, Jake brought her homework to her each day. They spent hours talking about school, working on assignments, and of course making out when they could. Charlie or Brenda were often walking into her room despite that she always made a point of leaving the door wide open.
Grabbing her book bag and purse she cautiously made her way down the stairs. She had pleaded until she got her doctor to release her back to school. She promised to take it easy. She had to get out of the house. Each day she stay there alone, she had too much time to think about it all. To worry about James and why he had not made a move quite yet. Her father so far was the only one who knew about his unexpected appearance in her life. She found herself trying to tell Jake about it but each time she started something would either interrupt the conversation or she would hear little alarms going off in her head.
She could not explain it to herself why she was so damn afraid to tell Jake that a guy from her past, a once very important guy from her past, was now here in Forks. She had done nothing wrong. It was not like she had personally invited him here. She had not given him any reason to believe that she wanted to reconnect with him. She had honestly hoped that once he was out of trouble and learn she had left the state that he would simply forget all about her. He had not.
"Hey beautiful." Jake's smile warm Bella's heart as she took his hand, helping her down the final step of the stairs.
"Hey handsome." Bella complimented him back.
"Are you sure you want to go back?" Jake looked worried at her as she pull her sweater tighter around her blouse. Jake knew she was conscience of the bandages underneath her shirt. When he touch her anywhere near her chest she would break away from his embrace. He knew it bothered her that she had red marks on her chest. He knew she was not prepared to show him yet. He did not care what they look like, he still loved her. She was perfect in his eyes.
"I have to go back. Your note taking skills are atrocious. " Bella teased as she lean in kissing him on the cheek.
"Hey, I manage to make good grades." Jake laugh gently as he place his hand on her back while following her out of the house. He had purposely took her bag from her. He knew she was still hurting. Even if she denied it whenever he ask her.
"I think the teachers are charmed by you." Bella joked as they walk to his truck.
"I only use those special charm powers on you baby." Jake laugh lightly as he open her door. Helping her up in the truck he saw her bite on her lower lip as she set in the seat. Closing the door he raced over to his side.
He was excited as hell to have her back at school. Since Miranda nearly killed her the whole school had been buzzing with rumors about what had happened. Edward and Jake both tried to persuade their classmates from believing most of them. Eventually they gave up and allowed them to think and say what they wanted. The two of them knew the truth.
"I am warning you again, that people are going to stare and possibly ask you questions. Are you sure your up to that?" Jake did not want to dissuade her from going back but he thought she should be prepared for how uncomfortable it would be for awhile, at least until something more dramatic happen at school. These days anything was possible.
"I know. Trust me. I have had a ton of people friend request me on face book. People I did not even know I went to school with." Bella snorts rudely.
"Well, at least you have gained popularity from all of this." Jake teased as he wink at her.
"I don't want to be popular. I just want…well…just good friends and you. Nothing else matters to me." Bella sighs sadly.
Jake gives her hand a comforting squeeze.
"You will always have me Bella." He promises as they pull into the full parking lot.
Bella scan the parking lot for familiar faces. Her heart soars as she saw Edward not far from them. He would definitely help Jake keep the crazy people away. He had been a good friend to her after the horrible incident. If Jake was not at her house, then Edward was there. Jake did not mind anymore. He knew that she only saw Edward as her "guy" friend, especially since she no longer had any female friends left. It was pretty horrid thinking back to how she once had three female friends and now one was dead, one was locked up and the other was a in coma. She was starting to think she was cursed when it came to female companionship.
"Hey guys." Edward walk up wearing a wrinkled shirt.
Bella cock an eye brow staring at his dishevel appearance. When she first came to Forks High Edward was one of the top ten in best dressed category. Lately, he had been letting his hair fall where it wanted. He had not been dressing up either. Bella was starting to suspect that Edward was going through a depression. She wondered why he had not shared his problems with her? She had shared hers with him. Was he afraid of causing her unnecessary pain? It seem that both men in her life had a bad case of walking on egg shells around her. At first it was extremely sweet but now it was starting to annoy the hell out of her.
"Hey Edward." Bella force her voice to sound excited and cheery to see him.
"So you really think your ready for this hell hole?" Edward look up at the tall two story building with a gloomy smile.
"As ready as I ever will be." Bella laugh lightly.
Jake took her book bag, sliding her purse on her arm, then placed his hand in hers as they walk up to the front of the school where several students still remained hanging out.
"How is Emmett?" Bella suddenly found herself shaken up when she recalled how Emmett had confessed to her father that he had been the one responsible for hitting Bella over the head. Her father had been furious as hell but after he calmed down he realized it had taken the boy a lot of balls to confess, especially after everything that had happened. So Charlie requested the judge give him a light sentence. He had to serve a hundred hours of community service.
"He is fine. He really wants a chance to talk to you." Edward replied as he took her other hand, helping her lift her foot up the stairs. They both knew how painful it was for her when she walked too long or stood too long.
"I got it." Bella smash her lips together as she fought back the urge to snarl at the both of them. She knew everyone was now definitely staring at her. After all who had two hunky guys holding your hand as you walk up to the school? None.
As they made their way down the hall it did not take long for people to look and then turn swiftly as they began to whisper rapidly.
Bella simply rolled her eyes as she made her way to her locker. Pulling out the necessary things she half listen as Edward ask Jake how close he thought they would get to state championship. They had only three games left and so far they had only lost to one team.
"I think we have a shot. If Wooddale loses to Troy we could have a good shot." Jake answers as Bella slides her hand under his arm.
"I'm ready." She informs them both.
"Cool. I will take her to second period." Edward offered since they both had first and second together.
"Okay." Bella frown between them. She felt as if she was some sort of pet they were sharing responsibilities of taking care of.
"I can manage." Bella states as she releases Jake's arms putting her hand in her back pocket. She did not want to look handicapped to the other students.
"I know you can, but we like taking care of you." Jake states softly as he leans in kissing her on the lips. Giving Edward a knowing look he walks away to his class.
Edward laughs lightly as Bella shakes her head at Jake's backside.
"The boy is stubborn." Bella remarks.
"Yeah, stubbornly in love with you." Edward replies as they walk into first period together.
Lauren slams her tray down in front of Mike and Paul who were already gorging down their lunch.
"What the hell, Lauren?" Mike laughs half heartedly his eyes roaming up and down her long slim legs.
"I'm so screwed." Lauren sighs dramatically as she plops down next to Paul.
"You could be." Paul winks at her. Lauren makes a disgusted face as she rolls her eyes at him. Paul simply laughs louder.
"I'm serious guys. I'm down three cheerleaders on the squad. We will be disqualified from competition in February unless I am able to recruit replacements." Lauren explains as she rips the foil covering on her yogurt.
"Oh that does suck. I mean what will this school do with out another cheap cheer-leading trophy." Paul slaps his hands on his cheeks, squealing like a girl.
Lauren stands up, leaning over the table and hits him hard on the top of the head.
"Ouch." Paul rubs his head.
"You're an ass Paul." Lauren scolds him as she sits back down, shoveling her spoon in her yogurt with eagerness.
"I have one baby. I know you look at it. I have seen you do it on more than one occasion." Paul winks at her playfully. Lauren shakes her head as Mike laughs next to him.
"Your right I have." Lauren gives them both a serious face. Mike chokes on his fries, while Paul sits up straighter wearing a smug grin on his face.
"I thought I was talking to your face." Lauren adds causing Mike to laugh harder while Paul's chest drops and he rolls his eyes at Lauren.
"Now who is an ass." Paul mumbles just as Bella and Jake approach the table.
"Finally a woman with good taste sits with us." Paul pats the vacant seat by him.
Bella smiles at him as she takes the seat.
"Salad?" Jake asks as Bella nods her head in agreement.
Jake walks off to get their lunches.
"Must be nice to have your own personal servant." Lauren sighs staring boldly at Bella.
"Excuse me?" Bella knew that Rose and Lauren often had their shares of verbal fights and she did not want to fill Rose's shoes in this scenario.
"I just think it is so sweet that Jake looks out for you." Lauren replies looking at both of the guys who grew suddenly quiet.
"Yes it is." Bella places her hands on the table. She stares back at Lauren with a smile on her face.
"You're a lucky girl." Lauren states as her smile turns genuine. Bella relaxes. She does not feel a fight coming from Lauren. Which was a relief. She had enough of the twenty one questions she had been barraged with when she went to each class this morning.
"Somedays." Bella admits with a weak sigh.
"Why don't you ask Bella for her advice about this cheer-leading crap." Paul suggested as he patted Bella on the back.
"What problem?" Bella was glad to talk about anything that did not pertain to the craziness she had experienced.
"Now that I am out three cheerleaders….I need to recruit three fast. WE go to competition each year in February. If I do not have three before football season is up we will not be eligible." Lauren saw the way Bella flinch about the missing cheerleader part. She did not mean to bring up bad memories but it was the truth. Now that she was down three, she needed three more to replace them and fast.
"Can you not do another try out?" Bella asks as she watches Jake across the room. A few girls appear at his side helping him with her salad. She wonders if they know it was is for her and not him. She knows she is being paranoid but the girls were pretty cute. Jake even laugh at what one of them said. She did not recognize her.
"It's possible but since I am now the honorary captain I have to find two judges to help me out. Two people not on the squad. That way I can have a bias vote." Lauren thought out loud as she considered who she could request for judges that had some experience with cheer-leading. She did not want them to vote in two brainless big boob girls who had no idea how to jump or not enough brain cells to memorize cheers.
"Who is that?" Bella points at the petite dark brown hair girl that was wearing a outfit more suited for a night clubbing than school.
"Oh that is our new student, EVE." Paul emphasizes her name as he practically drools as he looks at her.
"When did she start here?" Bella asks curious.
"Last week." Mike answers as he stares with a lustful smile on his face.
"What grade?" Bella felt her body tense when the new girl EVE put her hand on Jake's arm and batted her long eye lashes up at him. Then Jake actually laugh back at her. Bella force her eyes to look away from the scene. She knew that Jake loved her. She knew she was just freaking out from being gone for two weeks. She was trying to catch up with her classes, which luckily she was pretty much other than a few tests she had to stay after school to complete. She was also mentally and physically exhausted and the day was only half over. So this unfound jealousy of hers was probably just due from all of that.
"Sophomore." Lauren answers as the boys sit quietly staring.
"Hey guys." Edward steps up at the table sitting next to Lauren, blocking Bella's view.
"She isn't all that." Edward snorts as he gives Mike and Paul a knowing grin.
"Have you tapped that?" Paul cried out in dismay.
"Hell no! That is not worthy of this." Edward jokes as he runs his hands up and down his chest.
"Sorry but Edward your losing all of that. What's up with the clothes?" Lauren asks bluntly.
Bella saw the pain his eyes before he hid behind his usual charming smile.
"Laundry day." Edward replies as he locks eyes with Lauren.
"You better hire some better servants. Maybe Jake is available." Lauren jokes as she turns to spy Jake finally breaking away from the new girl to return to the table with his and Bella's food.
"I thought you were never going to come back." Bella states as she looks into his eyes.
"Sorry, that's Eve. She is in my Spanish class. She is really good at it. I suck as you know." Jake explains as he sits her food down in front of her. He quickly begins to take large bites out of his hamburger while Bella pokes her salad.
"So did she offer you some Spanish tutoring?" Mike asks with a curious gleam in his eyes.
"No." Jake laughs.
"Why not? If she is that good she can tutor me." Paul flips the collar of his Aeropostle shirt with a cocky grin.
"You don't take Spanish." Lauren exclaims.
"So, doesn't mean I shouldn't learn some." Paul shrugs his shoulders while the guys join him in merry laughter. Bella and Lauren look at one another sharing a mutual hate for them.
"Your so stupid." Lauren cried out as she threw her empty container at him.
"No I am not. I just think learning more than one language might come in handy with the ladies." Paul wink at her. Picking up the empty yogurt container and adding it to his tray.
"You need help with the ladies but not sure if it's just a language barrier that is the problem." Lauren commented as she suck down her drink.
Everyone at the table laughs except Paul. He gives them all a go to hell smile as he stands up with his tray in his hand.
"I bet you I could get a date with any girl here." Paul challenges her.
Lauren looks at the others. Edward gives her a encouraging nudge.
"Fine. I bet you can not get…." Lauren's eyes scan the room then lands back on his face.
"With EVE. I know for a fact that she is not into guys like you." Lauren warns him.
"I ….well…." The guys all look at him to see if he will wimp out on the challenge that he so boldly threw out on the table.
"Knew it." Lauren says with a triumphant grin.
"What do you mean guys like me?" Paul had a bad feeling that Lauren was only going to insult him more but before he accepted her dare he needed to know more about the prey.
"Cocky assholes." Lauren said firmly as the rest of the gang laugh in union.
"I'm not a cocky asshole. I can be a asshole but I am not cocky about it." Paul cried out defensively.
"Okay, if you say so." Mike high fives Lauren for calling his friend out.
"I can't believe your siding with her. What kind of guy friend are you?" Paul slams his fist hard into Mike's frail shoulder.
Mike cries out instantly from the pain but laughs even harder as Lauren stands up with her hand stretched out across the table to seal the deal.
"I can't help it. She is right." Mike explains as Lauren continues to stare him down.
"Fine." Paul shakes her hand in agreement. He added a little pressure to show Lauren just how tough he was. Lauren pulls her hand out of his, wincing slightly.
"Damn you are strong with that hand." Lauren replies with an approving look.
"I work out." Paul says with pride.
"I bet you do, with your right hand." Lauren's eyes roam down to the crotch of his pants and then back up to his beet red face.
"Screw all of you." Paul cries out as they all roar with laughter.
Paul storms off while they try to hurry and finish their lunch before the tardy bell rings.
"You never gave him a time-line Lauren." Edward warns her with a mischievous grin.
"So. Trust me it ain't going to happen. Paul has no clue how to pick up a girl." Lauren shrugs her shoulders with a proud smile of her own.
"Did you forget he was nominated Homecoming King." Mike reminds her just as everyone's smile slowly fades.
The mention of the homecoming competition brought back the sadden memory of the night Rose had died.
"So! He only got that based on his looks. Not his charm." Lauren stands up with her tray.
"What happens if he wins the bet?" Bella thought out loud.
"What happens if he looses?" Edward joined her train of thought.
"Shit." Lauren had forgot to lay out the choice of prizes.
"We all meet up after school and witness this." Edward suggested.
Lauren look at the others who were all more than willing to hang out a few minutes extra to see what the two of them came up with for the award.
"Fine. Tell your buddy to meet me in the parking lot after school." She tells Mike as she walks away.
"See, if I had been at home I would have missed out on this." Bella nudges Jake in the ribs as she giggles with delight.
"Yeah, but you would also had opportunity to hear me tell you all about it." Jake answers as he kisses her lightly on the cheek.
"Geez, get a room." Mike teases the loving couple as he takes his tray away as well.
"So, it will be fun to see what they come up with." Edward comments as he looks up at the clock on the wall. Lunch was nearly over and he had not ate a thing. Lately he had no appetite. Lately he had been restless as well. He could not explain it but he was just not the same anymore.
"Yes it will be. I think we should help them out. Come up with some of our own ideas." Bella suggested to them.
"I like her way of thinking." Edward high five Bella across the table. Bella wince as she sat back down.
"Take it easy baby." Jake wraps his arm around her waist gently.
"Sorry." Bella sucks in air as the pain starts to ease up.
"Now, finish up. You can not heal properly if your not eating well." Jake plants another chaste kiss on her cheek.
"You sound like my dad." Bella cringes.
"Hey, I do not own a gun or have a mustache." Jake jokes.
"You could use the mustache." Edward teases him.
Bella cringes harder throwing a crouton at him.
"Yuck no!" Bella cries out.
A few minutes later the bell rings ending their free time before they all head off to class once again.
Lauren was starting to feel less upset about the possible chance of them having to bow out on competition when she got permission from the cheer-leading coach and the principal to hold another cheer-leading try out.
She spent her time in computer class creating some flyers. She took them to the office before she went to her last class of the day. She knew the office would have the office aid post them all over school for her.
Walking into her last class of the day she saw Paul nodding at her as she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Sitting in her seat she snuck the phone out to check her messages. She saw it a text from Paul.
She gave him a curious look before opening the message and checking to make sure Mr. Brown was not watching her. He was of course writing on the chalk board tonight's homework assignment before he proceeded with the class discussion.
Do you really think I am a cocky asshole?
Lauren fought back the urge to giggle. Of course she did. Everyone knew that Paul thought his shit did not stink. Of course the only reason he was so damn attractive was the pretty boy face and large muscles he work with out on the field. He was infamous for his horn toad shenanigans. If he score with you, it would be around school in lighting speed. The boy did not know what discreet meant. More than one cheerleader had fallen for his cute dimples and landed in the back seat of his old beat up car. A few days later he usually dump them for something new and it was well known what had occurred in that backseat with Paul. She did not like guys who had no honor. Paul had zilch honor. He was totally the kiss and tell kind of guy.
Yes I do.
Lauren was not going to go easy on him even if she did find him a decent enough guy as far as friends go. Since Rose's death and the rest of her posse had left the school, she found her life was far less complicated. The guys at the table that usually set the queen bees had begun to let her join them. She liked the easy banter she had shared with them. She also like the way Edward had seem less like a jerk with her. In the past she had made it quiet clear that she desired him but lately she was finding him less appealing. She knew it was pretty vain of her but he just did not have that same unobtainable appeal he once had.
Why? I have never done anything to you.
Lauren shook her head with an amuse smile. She had a feeling that he was scared she was going to show him up in front of his friends. He knew she was right. There was no way in hell Eve was going to say yes to him. Although she would never say it in front of Bella, she had a bad feeling that Eve was after Jake Black. She had no real evidence to prove it but from the day she step into the school she had befriended Jake fast. She was always close to him wherever they were. She also knew they shared two classes together. In each of them she was now sitting right next to him. Yeah, she did not have to be blind to see that Eve liked Jake. A lot.
Maybe not but you have hurt a lot of girls.
Lauren turn her phone off and put it in her pocket as Mr. Brown began the discussion. She was not about to get her phone taken up just to listen to Paul whine. She was going to win this challenge. She just had to figure out what she could possibly want from Paul. Cause at the moment nothing came to mind.