I sighed as I pulled the packing tape over the last brown box. "Do you really have to leave today for your stupid trip?" I pouted as I turned to my best friend.
"Bella, you only think it's stupid because you're not coming." Alice turned to me as her eyebrows shot up playfully. Granted, this was true, but I mean she couldn't blame me for not wanting to go. She and my brother would most likely be frantically groping each other the entire cruise, and I am pretty sure our friends, Emmett and Rosalie, wouldn't be to far behind.
"However," she began speaking, "you are more than welcome to come along." I rolled my eyes and turned back to the boxes, stacking them on top of each other. "No thank you. Besides, I'm going to have to unpack my shit at my new place." I shot a look at her. "And since you have decided to leave me behind, you will not be allowed to help decorate when you get back." She actually looked hurt for two seconds before she stuck her tongue out at my and started laughing. "Whatever Bells, you know everything will sit until I come back." I grimaced at her statement, because she was probably right.
"Alice! Come on, we're going to be late." I heard Jasper yelling from the living room. Her eyes lit up as she grabbed my arm and practically pulled me down the hall. Jasper stood by the front door looking absolutely frustrated, as he pulled his baseball cap on. I laughed to myself, because I knew no matter what he tried to do, he could never stay angry with Alice for more than two minutes. She just skipped toward him, stood on her toes, and pecked him on the lips. He lazily wrapped his arm around her waist, and turned to me.
"Bella, are you sure you don't need me to help you with your stuff." He asked me concerned. I ran my hands through my hair and looked up at my brother. I knew he hated being late, but wouldn't leave me here if he truly thought I would get stranded. "You know, I just want you to be gone before Renee gets home." He added quietly. "Don't worry Jazz. Most of it's already in the truck anyway. I should be done here in about ten minutes. And you have a plane to catch, which if you don't hurry, you're going to miss." He sighed as he looked down at his watch. Pulling his keys out of his pocket, he walked up to me and pulled me into a hug. "Just hurry, who knows who will be coming home with her" he whispered into my ear. "Yeah, I'll miss you too." I chuckled into his shoulder. Alice danced to me and pulled me into a tight embrace.
I followed the two onto the small porch, and leaned against the railing. Alice held Jasper's hand until they reached the passenger door, and he helped her in. I swear, those two were made for each other. They knew it too. We moved to Forks, when I was a freshman, Jasper was a sophomore. He saw Alice in the library. I remember laughing at him after I caught him staring at her, and he couldn't stop the red to rush his cheeks. I think she knew he was watching too, because when she walked by him she conveniently dropped all her books on the floor. I could barely hold in my laughter, when Jasper nearly knocked his chair over to help her. Since that moment, they have been attached at the hip, and Alice and I became best friends. That was nearly five years ago.
"Hey Bella, can you do me a favor?" Alice called from inside the car. I just looked at her and nodded. "Can you stop by my place, and check in on my brother. I think he's getting sick." I just looked at her. Emmett was going with them on the trip, so that only left the other one. Edward. My stomach twitched just thinking his name. Yes, I couldn't deny it. I was attracted to him. Actually, every girl in the state of Washington wanted him. I didn't even like admitting that I thought about him sometimes, because I hated Edward Cullen. He never spoke to anyone, accept his siblings, and even that was on a rare occasion. I wouldn't say he was unfriendly…well yes, he was unfriendly. Alice tried to explain to me that he took his adoption harder than her or Emmett. Like that could be used as an excuse. Emmett was just fine. Alice was just fine. And Edward too should be just fine. He should be lucky he had two people willing to take him in, care for him, and love him. Ungrateful bastard. "No Alice. I don't think I'll make it –" I was interrupted by her yelling thanks as she rolled up the window, and Jasper pulled out the driveway. I just glared at the car as it drove down the street. I'm still not going over there.
After everything was loaded into the back of my pickup, I ran back into the house to grab my keys, and my duffel bag. Glancing at the clock, I realized it had taken me longer than I thought it would. I grabbed my bag off the floor, and my keys as well, and made my way towards the living room. It wasn't until I almost reached the room, that I heard the movement from the kitchen. Shit. I silently wished that I had taken Jasper up on his offer, and shook my head knowing it was too late now. It sounded like she was alone, but any visitors she had were probably waiting in her room. I made a quick dash towards the door, hoping to leave before she saw me.
"Bella, may I ask where you are going?" she spoke fiercely from the archway to the kitchen. I turned around to face her. She looked horrible, probably already drunk and it wasn't even 3:00 yet. Her unkempt hair hadn't been brushed in only God knows how long, and she was wearing the same overly tight jeans, and dirty halter top from Monday. It was now Friday. I really wasn't in the mood to stand her and discuss my plans, but I answered her anyway.
"Well Renee, if you recall, I'm moving out." She took a step forward, and then back again, before grabbing the wooden frame. Yep, drunk. "What have I told you and your brother about calling me Renee?" her eyebrows furrowed together, as if she was trying to remember herself. Actually, the only thing she ever said about it was, Don't call me Renee. Maybe it was disrespectful to her. I'm not quite sure, but honestly I didn't give a shit. I couldn't remember the last time I called her mom. However, I could remember the first time Jasper called her by her first name. It was on his seventh birthday. I remember because we sat on the front steps of our little house in Phoenix. It was hot, and I can still feel the sweat crawling down my back.
"Come on Jasper, let's just walk to the playground" I pouted as I kicked my sandal on the step. I hated our yard in the summer, especially August when it felt like hell itself was suffocating me.
"No. She'll be here soon. I don't want the ice cream to melt," he whispered between the space between us. I couldn't argue with him there, melted ice cream would be the biggest let down. I remember we sat there until the sun wasn't high above our heads anymore. It had almost fallen below the horizon, when the old Chevy clunked into the driveway. I felt Jasper sit straight up, a smile playing on his lips. I was too tired to even turn my head in her direction.
"What are you two doing sitting out here?" she spat at us, while taking a sip of something in a brown bag. I felt Jasper tense next to me, and I reached over a grabbed his hand.
"We were waiting for the ice cream" I added drearily to the conversation. "Why would I be bringing home ice cream?" she eyed me suspiciously. I just looked at her, scared to say anything. Of course she knew why she would be bringing it home. She had to know. She just kept staring at me. I looked down at my pink sandals wishing I had just gone to the playground by myself. I glanced over at Jasper and his head was down. "Because it is Jazz's birthday" I whispered. She took another swig from the brown bag, and walked toward the porch. She stopped in front of us for a few seconds before pushing past us up the steps. I don't know when he stood up, but he was now facing the front door, as she struggled to get it open.
"Because it's my birthday, Renee!" Jasper screamed at the top of his lungs. Tears were filling his eyes, and bubbling over the edges. He balled his little hand into a fist, and mashed them away. "What did you call me?!" Renee screeched as she practically jumped from the porch, and stood in front of him. I couldn't see him at this point, because she was blocking my view, but I could hear the slouch in his voice. "Renee" he said again. I didn't like when she was like this, and I had learned to just stay away from her. Looking back down at my sandals, I really wished that I had gone to the playground. I could be swinging right now, or climbing the jungle gym. I only looked up when I heard the smack. Jasper was on the ground, holding his cheek. She bent down towards his face, "Don't call me Renee." She grabbed the brown paper bag off the ground, which must have fallen when she hit him, and walked back up the steps, and into the house. Jasper was still sitting on the ground, holding his face, and crying. I didn't know what to do. I didn't have any ice cream to give him, so I did the next best thing. There was a green lid from a Sprite bottle lying on the ground, and I bent down to pick it up. Walking towards him, I wished I had made a card for him. I had all that extra construction paper sitting under my bed. Sitting next to him on the ground, I shoved the lid into his unoccupied hand, and grabbed the one holding his cheek. "Sorry." I mumbled. He smiled at the green lid, and pushed down into his pocket. I did the only thing else I knew to do on birthdays, and hoped he would like it. "Happy birthday to you…happy birthday to you…"
I was jostled out of the memory, because tears were prickling my eyes, and threatened to betray me. I straightened my shoulders back and stared at her. That birthday was the first of many let downs, and disappointments. Looking back on it now, I am glad Jasper said that. She didn't deserve the title mom, and he wasn't going to reward her with it.
"Honestly, I could give a fuck what say" I paused before turning the door knob. "Have a nice life Renee" I tossed the words over my shoulder, and slammed the door behind me.