Chapter One-Afraid
Chapter Song: Only-Nine Inch Nails
I woke up to a hazy glow coming through my bedroom window. Today was my first day of school in our new town, Forks, Washington. Charlie and I just moved here this week after Renee had left. I was allowed to spend a few days unpacking and adjusting, so I didn't have to start school until Wednesday, which unfortunatly, is today.
Renee was the lucky one. She got out. She got out, and left me here to rot. I resent her for not taking me with her. I will never understand what I did to my mother that was so bad it would cause her to leave me and save herself. It was as if I was the criminal, and not one of the victims. I don't know how she could leave her only daughter in this chaos and all out hell. She knows what goes on here, she's been a witness, and also played in the act as well. She knew what she was leaving me to suffer in, and she didn't care. She left without a goodbye. Without a second thought for her 'baby'. What kind of mother was she?
Apparently not a mother at all.
I shook the dreaded thoughts from my head, in hopes of starting the day out good, and keeping it that way. I tried to not think of my mother at all. I didn't want grousome thoughts floating in my mind, causing me to be bitter to anyone who decided to speak to the new girl today.
I grab my toiletries and headed to the shower. As I got under the hot spray, I immediatly started to relax, and wonder what today would bring. I wasn't worried about making many friends. Having friends wasn't something I was accustomed to. Not that I didn't mind having friends, I had plenty of friends back home in Pheonix, but most were acquaintences. I had a best friend once. It was middle school, and her name was Emily. She was staying at my house for the first time, and we were both excited. However, I was very, very nervous. She didn't know the family I had. I remember her parents picking her up at two o'clock in the morning. She never spoke to me after that awful night.
I finished rinsing off my strawberry body wash and stepped out of the shower wrapping a towel around myself and my hair, then headed to my room to get clothes and everything ready for the day.
Charlie was still in bed. I could hear his snoring through the bed room wall. He'd be asleep all day until it was almost time for me to come home, I'm sure. He said he was going to look for a job today. Renee was always the one to 'bring home the bacon' so to speak. Charlie hasn't worked in years. I got a job at a diner down the road from our house, but never saw a single penny of my paychecks. He was our piggy bank, I suppose is how you could put it. Even though piggy banks, you willingly put your money into.
I grabbed a pair of dark wash jeans from my dresser, The Beatles band tshirt that was one of my favorite shirts, and my old converse sneakers. I wasn't one to dress to impress like most girls. I hardly even wore make-up. I always dressed for comfort, or my mood. Today, I was dressing to put myself in a good mood, I suppose. After throwing on my boy short panties and matching bra, I threw on my outfit, finished up with my hair, and was soon headed to the front door. I grabbed a blueberry poptart from the kitchen, and scarfed it down quickly with a glass of milk. We'd been here for a few days, so Charlie had me run to the store and get groceries yesterday. I finished my milk, and grabbed the keys to my truck.
Charlie and Renee got my truck a few months back. Sure, it was a junker, but I loved it. My little baby had potential. It was big, bulky, and suit me well. I wasn't ashamed of the sound it made either.
I turned the key and listened to the familiar engine roar like a lion, and headed down the road towards the school. After realizing I was late, I decided to hang out in my truck before going to the office to acquire my needed schedule, and other necessities. I grabbed my cigarette case and pulled one out and stuck it in my mouth, grabbing my zippo and flicking it to life. I inhaled deeply reeling in the sensation of my lungs feeling with the smoke, and closed my eyes while I exhaled, relaxing in the seat.
Oh yes, this is definitely helping.
I pondered sniping the cigarette and smoking one of the joints in my case, but went against it. I didn't want to start my day off that way. Making a promise to myself to light it at lunch instead, I finished my cigarette and headed to the office.
There was a fairly 'fluffly' woman behing the dividing counter in the office who gave me a knowing smile.
"Isabella Swan?" she asked.
I nodded and she began shuffling papers on her unorganized desk. After finding what she needed, she came up to me and handed me a stack of papers, explaining my schedule, map, and locker information for me. I just nodded and let her praddle on about nothing I hadn't heard before.
With the way things were in our family, we moved quite a few times before landing in Pheonix. The first move was after the Emily incident. After that, I was suprised to stay in one place longer than a few months. Since Renee was gone, and this was my last year in school, I was failry sure we would be staying here a little longer. Hopefully I would make it to graduation.
The woman behind the desk, whose name was Mrs. Cope, gave me a knowing smile, and sent me on my way. Since class was almost over, I decided to find my locker and throw my belongings in there, besides a single notebook. What else would I need on my first day of school?
After finding my locker and disposing of my things, I looked at my schedule and went off to find my second class of the day, which was Spanish. I headed to the class when the bell rang, and was immediatly bombarded with people shoving past me in the tiny hallway, whispers, and curious looks. I don't think I've ever walked to class faster in my life.
When I walked in, there was a tiny girl about the size of Tinkerbell bouncing in her seat like a pinball machine's shiny silver ball. She was wearing a huge smiled and waved me over to the seat behind her. I was a little confused, but complied. She looked nice, and it would be a good thing if I made at least one friend, right?
As soon as I sat down, she started gushing. I probably looked like a deer in headlights.
"Hi, I'm Alice Brandon! Oh my gosh, it's so nice to meet you! You're Isabella Swan right? Of course you are, you're the only person in this school I've never seen before! So you have to be her! How are you liking Forks? This must be a big change from Pheonix! We are going to be such good friends! I can just tell!"
As soon as she stopped, she stared at me waiting for me to say something I suppose, but it took me a few minutes.
"Um, yeah, call me Bella please. I hate my full name. Forks seems okay, I guess, rainy and small, but okay," I replied.
"You have to hang out with me at lunch and meet my friends. Trust me, you do not want to hang out with anyone else," she said slower this time. I guess since we had met and introduced, sort of, she could calm down a little.
I was going to say sure, but then remembered the little promise I made myself and my little green friend. I didn't know how she would take to me smoking pot, so I tried to divert it.
"Um, actually, I was going to head to the parking lot at lunch. I know were not supposed to, but I need to do something, and-" she cut me off.
"Oh don't worry, that's where our gang hangs out. We wouldn't be caught dead in the cafeteria. No one is in the lot besides us, so it's cool to do whatever you want. Whatever you want," she said.
How did she do that?
"Um, sure," I said, a little confused, a little nervous, and a little happy that I'd sort of made a friend already. I was kind of intimidated by Alice, but I liked her. It just seemed like her to be the way she was. Like, she wouldn't be the same if she wasn't hyper and blunt.
A girl with frizzy hair sat down next to Alice and said "Hi! You must be new, I'm Jessica Sta-"
"Beat it bitch. She doesn't want to meet you, or your skanky friends. So back off," Alice interrupted her introduction.
I'm not sure, but I think this Jessica whatever girl knew not to mess with Alice, because she started stammering what sounded like an apology and got up out of her seat to move to the farthest seat from us.
Oh yes. I really am going to like Alice.
She turned around and gave me an apologetic look.
"Don't give me that look. I should be kissing your feet right now. I think you just saved me from the worst conversation of my life," I said smiling. Hopefully she wouldn't think I'm weird by my little comment and forwardness. Thankfully, she didn't.
"Bella Swan, I think we are going to get along just fine."
Class started just then and went by pretty fast. Alice and I noticed Jessica looking back our way and once Alice gave her a murderous look, and I laughed. The next time she looked, I flipped her off. She look like a scared mouse who just saw their friend get trapped in the trap with the cheese.
I couldn't help but chuckle when Alice turned around and gave me a high five.
I know what your thinking, with my problems I have, you would expect me to be little miss perfect, trying to not make any mistakes so I wouldn't have any consiquences, but it's quite the opposite. I've tried the good girl act. It only made matters worse. Charlie would tell me I was just showing off, and thought I was smarter than him, which only made things blow up in my face. Since then, I've stupified my grades to mediocre, and have done anything, and everything I want. I don't cowar away all the time now. I've stood up to Charlie, which usually only makes things even worse than they originally would have been, but after it was all over, and I was in bed, I couldn't help but feel proud of myself for stnading my ground. Even if I was knocked down from my high horse, I still had that little ounce of self assurance in my head that told me I was strong, and I would make it through this mess. That things would work out one day, even if it meant having to wait until college to get away, it would happen, and I would be free.
In Pheonix I met a girl named Tanya, and she introduced me to drinking, partying, and smoking my problems away. I was more of a smoker than a drinker, but I mixed it up every now and then. Like this week, I would bring my smoke, and next week, I might decide to carry a flask. Having a flask on me was rare. I typically only had it after bad nights at home. I knew what I was doing. I was chasing my problems away with drugs and alcohol. I knew it as soon as I started doing it. But the ultimate release from the pain I felt, and the anger, the way everything just disappeared and I had no problems or worries, or fears of what I would come home to, it made everything worth it. Charlie had caught me coming home drunk or high in the middle of the night, and we would always fight about it, but after a while, I learned to be smarter about things, and he hasn't caught me in the act for months.
The bell rang signaling lunch and I was snapped back to reality of Alice grabbing me out of my chair and wrapping her arm around mine, dragging me into the hall.
"So do you need to go to your locker?" she asked.
"No, I only need this all day, so I'll just keep it on me," I replied.
"Good, now let's go to our scape goat!" she chuckled pushing open the doors to the outside.
We walked to a huge Jeep and a silver Volvo where there was a boy with sandy blond hair standing. It must have been Alice's boyfriend, because as soon as they saw each other, they both broke into huge grins, Alice squeeled, released my arm, and jumped into his wrapping her legs around his waste. After a few minutes of standing there, they started attacking each others mouths, and I suddenly got very uncomfortable. I cleared my throat making Alice's eyes go wide and apologetic.
"Oh Bella I'm so sorry!" she started, "This is my soul mate, Jasper Whitlock. Jazz, this is Bella Swan!"
Wow, they have to be serious to introduce each other as soul mate. What happened to good ole boyfriend? Love of my life even, but soul mate? That was a new one on me.
I chuckled and gave a half wave and smile.
"Nice to meet you little lady," Jasper said with a very thick southern accent.
"You too. I'm just going to run to my truck really quick. I'll be right back," I said to Alice.
She shook her head and said "Bella, we're not goody two shoes here, whatever you plan on doing, you can do over here. It's just us, and the others will be out in a minute. We won't bother you."
These were definitely a group of people I could get use to. I smiled and nodded my head while heading to my truck hoping we were on the same page here.
I grabbed my Alice in Chains cigarette case that was holding my Malbouro's and a few joints I rolled the night before, snatched my zippo off the dash, and headed back to where they were standing, now joined with three other people. I was suddenly very nervous. Sure, Alice liked me, and it seemed as though Jasper did as well, but what if the others didn't approve? Would they quit talking to me?
Oh well, time to find out.
I walked back to where they were hanging out, and was immediatly hit with the smell of marijuana. I was just lady luck today.
A big burly guy with dark curly hair saw me and widened his eyes. Suddenly he went into a coughing fit and tried to hide a lit joint behind his back.
I smiled and pulled one out of my cigarette case, holding it up with my hands in mock surrender.
"I come in peice," I said still smiling as he just smiled and nodded his head, bringing the rolled paper back in front of him.
"Bella, this is Rosalie Hale, Emmett McCarty, and Edward Cullen," Alice said gesturing to each person.
I nodded my head and looked at each of them one at a time. The girl known as Rosalie looked like the reincarnation of Aphrodite. She was that beautiful. She had wavy blond hair that went all the way down her back, a curvacious body that any woman would pay any amounts of plastic surgen to replicate, and a beautiful face that was currently holding a slight smirk. I winced when I realized how beautiful she really was. Even holding an odd look on her face. She looked like she could snap my head off at any moment. Even still, I had a strange feeling we were going to get along.
I looked to my left, and was met with the ogre man again. I pressumed he was Emmett. His name just seemed to fit him. He didn't look like an Edward, but maybe I was wrong. I'll just bite my tongue for now I guess.
'Emmett' was huge. The gigantic Jeep had to be his. He was burly with muscles that looked as though he could be a body builder. He looked scary as hell, but as soon as my eyes pulled away from his huge frame and met his face, it broke out into a huge cheeky smile that reveiled a deep set of dimples, making him look much less scary. I couldn't help but smile back, it was contagious.
He waved and said "Hi Bella! I'm Emmett! This sweet little peice beside me is obviously Rosalie."
His voice was as loud, matching his body. He grabbed Rosalie in a big hug and swung her around in a cirlce while she screamed at him, and she started smacking his head.
"Put me down you big oaf!"
I started to chuckled when I heard the most beautiful sound I had heard all day farther to my left. I turned to the noise and was met with the most beautiful set of green eyes I have ever seen. Which were currently glazed over and a little blood shot. They were like bright emeralds shinning in the sun, but they seem to sparkle on their own accord. After I stopped staring into his eyes (akward much?) I noticed his wild disarray of hair. It was a copper color, but more brownish than red. His hair was wild. It went everywhere, in every direction, and it was obviously intentional.
Sex hair.
I wasn't very experienced in that department, but that is the only way to desrcibe the wonderful mess on his crown.
I looked down his body and noticed he had an incredible build. He was sort of lanky, but not too skinny where he looked like an emo boy who wore his girlfriends jeans, but he was built. You could see his muscles through his gray tshirt which clung to him in the most delicious way, accentuating every curve of his broad shoulders, and his chiseled chest.
I bet you could grate cheese on his stomach.
I shook my head to get rid of those thoughts. Charlie would flip if he ever saw me with a guy. It was bad enough with everything else I threw at him, I didn't want to know what the night would entail if I told him I had a boyfriend.
Wait, what? Boyfriend? You haven't even spoken to each other yet!
"Hey. I'm Edward."
Well there, that settles that.
I looked at his face and noticed he was beautiful. Astonishingly beautiful. He had a chiseled jaw and perfect long nose, a face any male model would give anything to have.
I suddenly remembered he spoke to me and was waiting for my reply.
"Um, hi. Bella. Bella Swan," oh God, I sound like James Bond.
He must have noticed it too, because he chuckled while grabbing the joint from Emmett's claw of a hand.
I remembered the one I had in my hand and lit it quickly, needing the relaxing toxins in my body.
As soon as I inhaled, I was immediatly relaxed. I could hold a conversation now.
"So you guys know how to have a good time around here at least," I said hitting my joint again. My entire body started to lighten and I could tell a goofy grin was going to be plastered on my face in a matter of a few hits.
"Nothing else to do in this bodunk town," Jasper drawled from behind Alice's face that was only inches from his.
"It's either smoke, drink, or shoot yourself from boredum," Rosalie said speaking for the first time.
"It looks like she made the right decision," Edward said winking at me.
Emmett got the joint back after their roation and put it out on the ground, then gave Edward to end to put in a cigarette pack.
I looked around and reached out the joint I was holding to Jasper and Alice who gave me a questioning look, but Jasper just nodded and took it, hitting it immediatly.
"Right on," he said handing it to Alice.
"Well, I approve of you. Most people are stingy. Take Tyler Crowly for example. Never let that kid know you have green on you. It won't be there for long," Rosalie said smiling my way. She was mirroring my goofy grin, which made me smile more.
"Yeah, remember when Emmett had a dime on him, and Tyler saw it in his pocket and tried to convince him he was having back spasms, and tried to pretend to be in pain, but looked like he was having a seizure?" Edward said, making everyone break into hysterics and nod.
"He was in real pain when he left the gym," Emmett added still chuckling, taking my joint from Rosalie.
I looked at Edward still smiling, and noticed he was looking at me. He had a cigarette in his hand, and was looking very curious. Emmett handed him the rolled paper, and Edward looked away finally. I was suddenly in need of my own cigarette.
I lit my own cigarette and saw Edward's hand appear under my gaze with my joint in hand.
"No, you guys can have it," I said shaking my head.
He rolled his eyes and pushed back under my gaze, "group rules, if you start the dubee, you finish the dubee."
I chuckled and glanced around to see everyone nodding their heads in agreement. Or was it approval? He did say group rules. Did that mean I was accepted in their group? Maybe it was both.
I smiled and grabbed the smoke with my free hand and took a few puffs before sniping it on the ground by my feet.
I noticed Edward giving me that look again, and handed the end I sniped out to him.
"Add it to the collection," I said.
He shrugged and took the bit from my fingers. When he did, an electric jolt shot through his hand and into mine, causing me to jump. Luckily, he juggled the snipe and caught it after a few tries.
I looked at him apologetically and he just looked at me like he was very confused.
I shrugged it off and finished my cigarette while everyone talked amongst themselves. Except me and Edward of course. He kept giving me that curious look and I started getting very nervous. I figited for a while, and was exstatic when the bell rang. I let out a final huff of smoke and turned to walk to the school. The cigarette helped inhance my buzz, so after taking most of a joint to the head, I was feeling pretty good.
"I'll see you guys later," I said.
Alice was quick though. She let go of Jasper, and ran up to me grabbing my arm in hers.
"Hey, we all go to my house and hang out after school. You want to come?" she asked.
I didn't think twice before I agreed.
She squeeled and started bouncing up and down clapping her hands in excitement.
"Okay! Meet us out here after school. Okay?"
I nodded and headed into the doors to get to my next class. Reality came back to me when the bright florescent lights came shinning down on me making me squint and try to block the brightness with my hand. If someone saw me cringing away from a small watted bulb, they'd think I needed to go to the eye doctor. That or I was a vampire. I chuckled at the thought of wearing a black cape and hiding behind it while hissing at the oh-so-offending lights.
I would have to call Charlie from my cell phone before class. I didn't know how he would take to me making friends, or me wanting to go to their home after school. Hopefully he wouldn't detect the laziness in my voice from my previous activities.
I went to the bathroom to whip out my cell phone. and dialed our new house number I programmed in my contacts, and waited for him to pick up. He may be up, by now, but who knows.
"Hello?" he sounded groggy, but he answered none the less.
"Hey dad it's Bella."
"Shouldn't you be in class young lady?"
Great, I've ticked him off already. Nice job Bella.
"Um, it's lunch actually."
"Oh." was his only reply.
"So dad, I made a few friends today, and they want me to come to their house after school to hang out. Is that okay? I can be home at a decent time, and there's left overs in the fridge.." I trailed off suddenly afraid of his answer.
"I don't know Bella. Do you think you can behave yourself for a few hours? I don't want you embarrassing youself. Try not to talk to much, or they'll realize how low your IQ is, and they may not want to be your friend anymore," he chuckled.
Smartass. He thought it was hilarious, I on the other hand, did not. Charlie loved putting me down, and deflating the little self-esteem I had. I always thought he tried to push me down to make seem as though he was better than me. He would never acheive that however. A father who constantly drags his daughter down by telling her how worthless and stupid she is, is definitely high on anyones good list.
I had to take a few deep breathes so I wouldn't lash out on him, remembering what I wanted out of this conversation.
"I won't dad. So can I go?"
"Sure Bella. Go ahead. But remember no one is allowed to step foot in this house. Keep that in mind while your making your little friends. Remeber what I told you about friends Bella."
"Yes, dad. Thanks, I gotta get to class. I'll talk to you later."
He gave me a grunt and hung up. Our conversations were always easier if I just let him say what he wanted and took it with my chin held high.
Charlie always told me there was no such thing as friends. That the only people you could trust is your family. All friends do is stab you in the back, and ruin your life. I don't know what he thought our family was, but it definitely wasn't one you could trust. In my opinion, the idea he had for friends and family should be reversed.
I shoved my phone back in my purse and headed to Biology.
When I walked in the door, I thought I was going to have a heartattack. There, in the back row, was an unruly head of brownish-reddish hair. He hadn't noticed me yet, since his head was down and looked to have ear buds in his ears. I let out a sigh of relief and noticed several heads turn my way.
I quickly went to the teacher and told him who I was. He seemed lost in looking for something on his desk, and told me to take a seat. I surveyed the class looking for an empty table, but came up short. There was a boy with blond hair who looked like his eyes were going to pop out of his head while he was staring at me. Ew. Luckily, he already had a lab partner. I kept looking and saw a girl with light brown hair looking at Edward trying to get his attention. Then I took notice of something horrible.
Edward's table was the only one with an open spot.
This was bad. I already knew I was attracted to him, just by looking at him. I mean, what girl wouldn't be? He was gorgeous. But I knew things couldn't go anywhere with him. We could be friends, and I would have to keep my hormones in check.
I walked to the table in the very back corner of the room and set my books down beside him, then sat down. I guess he didn't notice my arrival because he didn't budge.
When Mr. Banner called the class to order, Edward sighed a heavy sigh and lifted his head up. He noticed me sitting there, and suddenly looked like the blond boy sitting a few rows up.
I chuckled at his face, and he pulled his ear buds out of his ears and composed himself.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you sit down," he said smiling the most breath taking crooked grin in the entire world.
"It's okay. It's not like I tried to get your attention. You seemed pretty engrossed in your music," I replied. "What are you listening to?"
"Nine Inch Nails. Their new song Only. Have you heard it? Good stoner music," he chuckled. We we're going to get along just fine.
"Definitely. Big fan of NIN."
He nodded his head and said "Cool."
"So you coming to Alice's after school?" he asked after several minutes of silence.
"Yeah. I have a few more rolls in my case, and I don't mind sharing."
He smiled and started talking again.
"They like you you know. Even Rosalie. She never likes anyone she doesn't talk to. Emmett likes everyone, but he likes you too."
"Good to know. I was hoping I wouldn't have to worry about being ambushed at Alice's," I chuckled.
He laughed with me and started giving me that curious glance again.
This time, I had to ask. "What?"
"Hm?" he said, like I broke him from a deep though, "oh, nothing."
I shrugged my shoulders and sat back in my seat relaxing in my high after lunch.
Edward shoved a paper my way and I saw a criss cross board drawn on it.
I looked at him and raised my eyebrows giving him a questioning look.
"Haven't you ever played tic tac toe? Come on Swan, you can't be that far behind," he joked.
"Oh very funny Cullen. You are about to get your ass handed to you," I challenged.
He gestured to the paper telling me to start.
Ten games of tic tac toe later, I was winning 7-3 when the bell rang. I laughed and was rubbing my victory in his face when I noticed the girl from the beginning of class giving me the stink eye. I eyed her up and down returning the look before turning back to Edward.
Jealous much?
He tried to take the paper we were playing on away, but I snatched it before he crumpled it up.
"Uh uh Cullen. I have to show off my butt kicking to everyone else," I smirked.
"Oh great. Now they'll have something new to ridicule me with," he tried to feign being hurt, but wasn't doing a very good job. We walked out the door and he told me his next class, while I said I had gym. He smiled and wished me luck.
What did that mean? Sure, I was clumsy, but he didn't know that.
I shrugged it off as a good guess and headed to gym. After changing and going to the bleachers to wait for class to start, I saw the boy with blond hair from Biology start to approach me.
Now I get why he wished me luck. This guy has to be Tyler. I'm sure any smart person could tell I was a little buzzed still. I kept clicking my tongue trying to get rid of my cotton mouth. That was the only down side to smoking.
"Hey there. I'm Mike Newton. We have Biology together. Too bad I had a lab partner, I would have taken you under my wing in no time," the blond guy said when he met the bleachers.
Very subtle Mike.
"Um, okay?" I said, making it sound like a question.
"So, Bella," he winked, obviously proud that he knew my name, but in a town this small, everyone probably knew every time you used the bathroom, "did it hurt?"
Oh, no. Please don't tell me he's one of those guys.
I gave him a confused, yet expected look, because I'm pretty sure I knew what was coming next.
"When you fell from heaven, angel," he winked again, but as much as he was doing it he ended up looking like he had a bad twitch.
Oh Lord in heaven save me now!
I didn't know what to say to that, so I stood up and said I was getting a drink.
Thankfully, he didn't follow.
All through gym, Mike kept trying to find ways to talk to me, which usually ended in him getting smacked in the face with a volley ball. His voice was so annoying I was forever greatful he never got the chance to talk to me before class was out. He talked like one of those kids who had a mouth full of spit, and saliva would collect in the corner of his mouth, and turn white and crusty from being there too long, and get strung between his lips when he opened his mouth. I think I threw up a little just thinking about it.
I changed as fast as I could and rushed to the lot to avoid giving Mike the chance to catch up to me.
When I got to the parking lot, only Jasper was there. I said hey and reached for a cigarette and lit it as fast as I could, looking over my shoulder constantly, just waiting for Mike to approach me.
Just then, everyone else came walking up to Jasper and I, while Jasper was trying not to smile, and I was looking frantic.
Edward immediatly broke out into guffaws. We all looked at him quizzically, until Jasper spoke in whispers filling everyone but me in to why he was hunched over laughing so hard.
I started sucking on me cigarette harder drawing more smoke from the end, getting worried when they all joined Edward in his laughter. I was now completely sober and was scolding myself for that fact.
"Don't worry Bella," Edward said after calming down to light chuckles, "he's not coming over here."
I gave him a confused look so Emmett filled me in on the rest.
"Mike has tried to get with Alice and Rosalie for years. Let's just say, he hasn't for a very long time since he got smacked around by me and Jazz a few times each."
I must have looked relieved because they all started laughing again.
"Now he's after you," Alice chimed in, sounding worried, yet enjoying the hilarity of the situation I suppose.
"Oh don't worry, Eddie will take care of you, won't you Ed?" Emmett said.
Edward looked at him in a look of pure shock, which caused everyone, even me, to break out into even more laughter.
We all piled into their cars, me, Alice, and Rosalie in Rosalie's BMW, and the guys in Emmett's Jeep.
"What about my truck?" I asked.
"I'll drive you to get it before you go home," Rosalie said.
I nodded and sat back in my seat.
As soon as we left the parking lot, Rosalie pulled out a cigar full of the good stuff, and lit it, while Alice pulled out a flask, took a swig, and handed it to me.
I was really going to like Forks.
Now to learn how to keep all this from Charlie. Tonight was going to be a good night, which meant it was going to be extra hard to walk in the house undetected.
Oh well. I tipped back the flask, and swallowed all my problems with the alcohol. I would worry about them when the time came to do so.