Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight... I just wanna be her, especially to help with the movie casting.
OK, so here's a new Fic. It's not a one-shot (unless no one reads it) so please let me know what you think. I sincerely hope you like it ~ it's Alice and Jasper and we all know we can't get enough of them.
Special thanks to Robs (Chocolatebrowneyes) for being my beta and for all the loving encouragement. The friendships I've found here were surprising to say the least ~ I just have to say, I feel privileged and very, very lucky.
In a New Direction
Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself – Anon.
Chapter 1 – Running Away from Home
I was still becoming accustomed to my new lifestyle and seriously, who would have thought having nothing to do but sit on a beautiful, private beach in the warm June sun would require such a gargantuan effort, but for me it had. In fact, today was the first day in almost two weeks I'd been able to let myself relax enough to enjoy it. I had my beach blanket, my iPod, a good book and the teeniest bikini I could find. I mentally patted myself on the back, the thermos of Margarita's had been a fabulous idea and really seemed to be doing the trick.
This summer was mine to do with as I pleased and all I really wanted was some R & R and a killer tan. I was sick of just waiting around for something to happen. Nothing had happened so far and it has been almost a year, so it was time to reclaim my life and make some decisions for myself. So far the only thing I've managed to do was reflect on where it all went wrong.
Stop it. I scolded myself, I've been lucky. I had good friends, a solid education, a great job and enough money to do just about anything I pleased. And until ten months ago I'd also had a marriage. I sighed. I shouldn't have started thinking about this again, it was making me restless. Fuck.
I thought about my list of blessings again, I had so much… yeah, so if I have so much why in the hell am I out here 'finding myself'? I flipped over in a huff and adjusted my bathing suit to ensure the naughty bits were covered…I snorted, they could be naughty if they were used properly… or at all, my mind suddenly taking a different tack. I mentally slapped myself, snap out of it!
Yes, back to the issues at hand. Why was I here? I was examining myself, reevaluating my life and getting my priorities straight. That sounded like a goddamned business restructuring plan. I was here out of frustration… I was dissatisfied with my life, with the choices I had made. Right, I made a mess of my life by taking road A instead of road B or C or D or… basically any other road but the one I took. When all my friends went off in search of themselves in Europe or Asia or Timbuckfuckingto? I got married, put a husband through law school and got my masters in business. I bought a house, two cars, a country club membership, a boat and vacation property. Then ten months ago I found Him 'finding himself' in his Law Partners panties. I definitely should have gone to Greece instead. I guess that would have been road G, I smirked as I sat up. Oh well, at least I still had my sense of humor, I mused as I reached for my cooler, and another Margarita.
I looked up and down the beach as I sipped, make that chugged my drink. It was basically deserted. It was a Tuesday morning, mid-June, what was I expecting? People were either still in school or at work. I looked to my right; an elderly couple was strolling in the surf holding hands, sweet… gag! A few houses down I saw my neighbour with her two young children digging in the sand… double gag and an eye roll! I turned and looked to my left; nothing, just a group of surfers in the water. I poured another drink and grabbed my book.
"Excuse me ma'am," I heard a man's voice come from far above me and I registered a shadow behind my closed eyelids.
"Wha…?" I cleared my throat, "I'm sorry, what?" I opened my eyes at exactly the same time as the shadow moved and was blinded by the sun. I put my hand up to shade my now sensitive eyes.
"Sorry, but you fell asleep and you're starting to get a little sun burnt," His voice was now coming from beside me. I squinted to try and make out his face. It was no good; all I had was one big blind spot from the sunlight.
"Oh. Thanks." I smiled, suddenly self conscious, he could see me but I couldn't see him, I felt exposed. I moved my hand to my chest, between and just above the two tiny triangles of fabric. My skin felt very hot indeed. "Yeah, that's gonna be a little sore." I chuckled lightly.
"Oh, I don't think it'll be too bad," he said. "I was watching you and you weren't asleep that long. You have sunscreen on right?"
Wait… did he say he was watching me? Wait… did he call me ma'am?
Ok, now I felt flustered. I looked down hoping it would help clear the sunspots so I could see him. I could just make out his feet, he wore Surf Socks and a wet suit, he must be one of the surfers I'd seen. "Yep, umm… I'm using SPF forty-five," I stammered out as I was feeling around on my blanket for my sunglasses.
"Here you go," he sounded amused as he grabbed my hand and placed my glasses into my palm, "and forty-five was probably a smart move." He laughed softly.
I put my sunglasses on and looked towards him just as he stood up and blocked the sun again. Now I couldn't see him because he was back lit and his face was deeply shadowed. Damn.
"Thank you," I said again.
"You're welcome."
The shadow moved away again and I watched as he grabbed his board and walked up the beach towards the stairs. Of course, now I could see. He was tall, lean and muscular if his back was any indication. He had light, curly hair… but it was wet so who knows, but I could tell it was long and just a bit shaggy though. I looked down his body, yep definitely well built. His shoulders were beautiful, my eyes dipped lower, and so was his ass. He turned around, walking backwards a few steps as he waved to me. I waved back. I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lip, absolutely mortified that he'd caught me checking him out. Wait, my eyes flew open, what did he look like? It was too late he'd already turned back around and was heading up the stairs. Damn.
I grabbed my cover up, pulled it over my head and started to pack up. Then I remembered. Fuck, he called me ma'am. I hung my head, yet another blow to my already fragile ego. I sighed and picked up my blanket, shaking it out before folding it over my arm. I picked up my cooler and beach bag and turned to head back. Dragging my feet slightly, I trudged up the stairs and headed for my patio. I was leasing this beautiful beach house; this very expensive, absolutely fabulous, over-looking the ocean, beach house. Actually, I guess technically my Ex paid for the lease or at least he did when I sold his stupid boat. See, smart girls get everything registered in their name. That thought brought a smile back to my lips.
I dumped all my gear on the patio, took the cooler and went inside. I emptied it and put the leftovers away then went to check out my burn. I examined my reflection, not too bad right now, but who knew how painful it would be by tonight. Maybe I should stick with water when I'm out in the sun by myself, Tequila always knocks me on my ass, I thought as I quickly showered and dressed in jean shorts and tank. I heard the phone ringing.
"Hello?"
"Hey babe, long time no hear!" The voice of my best friend assaulted my eardrums. What is she yelling for? I wondered.
"Yeah, it's about fucking time. What the hell is the matter with you?" The voice of my other best friend also shouted into the phone.
"Did you two set up a conference call just to give me shit or what? Why in the world are you screaming into the phone?" A wave of happiness rushed over me, I guess it had been a while since I smiled like this. It felt good.
"We're in a convertible, it's windy and we didn't think you could hear us if we didn't speak up." I heard them both giggling.
"Why are you in a convertible?" I asked, wondering what the heck had gotten into them; a convertible is not a practical car for Seattle, it rained way too much.
"Don't tell her, she doesn't sound excited enough. You'd think she'd be happy to hear from us. She's still fucking pouting."
"Shhh, Rosie. She can hear you, you know. She's happy to hear from us… Ali, you're happy to hear from us right?" That was Bella, always trying to keep the peace.
"Yes, I'm happy to hear from you two," I laughed, "Why exactly should I be excited though?"
"We're in California baby, we needed a convertible!" They both screamed together.
I was laughing, jumping around and squealing like a girl with them, "Oh my God, where are you?"
"We're just turning on to Ocean Boulevard, which freaking mansion is yours?" Rosie hollered.
"The smallest one, 1918 Ocean Boulevard, my car is in the driveway!" Now I was shouting as I ran to the front door and yanked it open just in time to see Rose and Bella pull in behind my car. Within seconds we were all hugging and jumping in a circle in my drive way, laughing and crying all at the same time. I had no idea I would miss them so much when I ran away from home.
I helped them carry in their stuff, which included several grocery bags. "Oh my God, how much food did you bring and is any of it actually from a healthy food group? I think this the fifth bag I've emptied." I glanced over at the kitchen table; it now held so many bottles of alcohol it boggled the mind. "Umm… I hate to ask this 'cause I may not like the answer but, are we expecting company?"
"No why? Do you think we should throw a party?" Rose asked, her head had popped up and she had an evil glint in her eyes.
"NO!" Bella and I answered together, making us all giggle. Our last few parties prompted us to make our solemn pact of no more parties.
"Well then, I hope you're planning on staying until all this food and booze is gone." I said over my shoulder as I crammed the last bag of chips in the cupboard and quickly shut the door.
"Probably not sweetie, I have a meeting next Monday morning and Rose has to get back too." I looked over at Rose and she just shrugged as she carried in a tray of freshly made Margarita's. We all took one and Rose raised her glass high in the air, Bella and I did the same.
"Here's to getting our best friend back," Bella cheered in agreement and we took a drink.
"Here's to finally getting what you deserve," I raised an eyebrow, I wondered. Did Bella mean me or the shit head ex? It didn't really matter, it was fitting either way. We all took another drink.
It was my turn and I knew exactly what I wanted to toast to, I raised my glass, "Here's to true friendship, the only thing you can really count on." We all drained our glasses and plunked them down on the table. Then we hugged.
"OK, enough mushy stuff," Rose said as she broke up the huddle. She grabbed the pitcher and refilled our glasses. "Hey Ali, before I forget. I transferred that money to the account before I left." I nodded.
"Good. Thanks. Hey Rosalie, gimmie a dollar honey," I asked with my hand out.
She stuck her hand in her pocket, pulled out a single and slapped it into my hand. "What am I buying this time?" She smirked.
"Well my lucky lady, you are now the proud owner of a 2008 Jaguar XKR Coupe, fully loaded. She's got a 420 Horsepower, supercharged V8 under the hood," I paused to take a breath, "Wanna know what color it is?"
"Let me guess, hmm… would it be Platinum?" She looked at me expectantly. Bella was watching us like we were a tennis match.
"Why yes, yes it is." I grabbed a folder from my desk drawer with a pen and pranced back to her. "Just sign on the dotted line and that baby is all yours." Rose signed the ownership papers and the bill of sale, in triplicate. I handed her a copy and then I dropped her dollar bill into the file.
"Ooo, I wanna play." Bella clapped and bounced, "What can I buy for a buck?" Rosalie and I looked at each other and smiled.
"OK Bella, let's see what I have left…" I flipped through my folders. "I have a few art pieces, various stocks, a beautiful Chalet in Glacier near Mount Baker and a perfectly lovely four-thousand square foot home overlooking Lake Union." I snapped the portfolio shut, "All going for the low, low bargain basement price of one dollar. What'll it be?"
Bella looked dumbfounded. "That's your house and your cottage," she said. Then she pointed over at Rose, "That was Mike's Jag she just bought… for a dollar?"
Rose and I nodded together.
"Oh my God Alice!" She shrieked, "You can't do that!"
"Why the hell can't she?" Rose asked, downing her drink and sitting at the edge of her seat. She looked like she was ready to pounce. I held up my hands.
"Wait. Stop. Time out." They both paused to look at me. "Bella, I can do what I please. All these properties and possessions are legally in my name. Technically, I can do whatever I want with them."
"Actually, 'technically' they're all communal property." Bella put on her lawyer voice, "In Washington State, the law stipulates community property is to be split fifty-fifty."
"Well, that would be true IF someone had filed for separation or divorce. No one has yet." I downed my drink. "But I'm prepared to be generous; he can have the entire proceeds of the sale." I took the dollar from the folder and handed it to her. "Would you mind taking it into the office for him on Monday?"
She just looked down at the money and said, "He won't be back until the end of July."
"Really? Well how 'bout that." I said with an innocent look. Rose cackled and poured another round. "Bella honey, I didn't want to make it more difficult for you than it already has been with you working in the same firm as Mike." I smiled apologetically and she shrugged.
"Rose, I have a buyer for the car and I was going to ask you to do all this on Monday but since you're here maybe we can do it tomorrow."
She nodded, "What did you get for it?"
"Seventy-two, five." She whistled and looked impressed.
"You're liquidating her assets for her?" Bella asked, Rose nodded, "And then depositing to a numbered account?" Rose nodded again. Bella smiled and raised her glass, "A toast! To you Ali baby, I wanna be just like you when I grow up." We all tossed back our drinks.
"Oh my God, Tequila is an evil bitch." I held my head, "I need a nap."
Rose snorted and I led them both upstairs to lie down.
I woke up and rolled over onto my back, "Why is it that tequila hurts so much?" I spoke out loud to no one in particular.
"It might have something to do with how fast you pound it back sweetie," Bella's voice came from beside me.
I heard Rose snort from the bottom of the bed. "Yeah, I think that has everything to do with it."
"I just can't drink it slow. It tastes too good." I said as I sat up. I wasn't surprised to wake up in the same bed as my friends, we've known each other forever and always ended up sleeping together at sleepovers and on vacations. Nothing ever happened, it wasn't like that. We were just close, connected. The fact we were all together in a king size bed just meant there was more room.
I stretched and looked around, our day had turned into night and the moonlight shone in the floor to ceiling windows that made up the entire one wall of the room. There were French doors that led to a large deck overlooking the beach and ocean. This was my favorite room in the house. I got up to open the doors to let in the ever present breeze coming off the water.
"God, that's beautiful." Rose whispered, "You're never gonna want to come back home are you?"
I looked back over my shoulder and gave her a tiny shrug, "I don't know. I don't really want to be there anymore," I sighed, "I just don't know where I want to be." I turned back to the view.
"Are you going to file for divorce?" Bella spoke up.
"Of course she is, she should have ten months ago." Rose hissed.
"I was just making sure." Bella hissed back.
"I definitely am," I didn't turn around as I spoke. "I'm going to finish selling everything I can before he gets back to the U.S. and then I'm heading to Mexico. I've already drafted a letter and given it to my lawyer to give to his, he won't contest it." Again I apologized to my friend, "Sorry Bella, I thought it best to go outside the firm for this. You know... conflict of interest." I shrugged and smiled at her.
"No, that's good. I understand." She smiled back at me.
"Then what?" Rose asked.
I shrugged again, "I dunno." I walked back to the bed and sat down. "I'm staying here at least until the end of September. If I still love it, maybe I'll buy it. Maybe I'll go overseas," I looked at them both, "I guess I can do whatever I want." Sometimes that thought made me happy, sometimes sad, right now I was sort of feeling in between.
"Has he called you?" Bella asked. Rose shot her a dirty look.
"Hey, it's ok," I patted them both on the ankle. "No, he hasn't tried to contact me since I left Seattle. I don't even think he knows I'm gone. I don't really care, I have no intention of speaking to the ass ever again." I was tracing my finger on the bedspread pattern. "He left me a message on the answering machine before he left on his 'World Tour', asking me to pack up his stuff and ship it to his condo."
Rose snorted again and asked, "Did you do it?"
"Nope." I shook my head. "I went on line, found a buyer for his boat and a few other things, found this place and left. You guys and work are the only ones I told I was leaving and only you two knew where I was going." The reality was I had no one else to tell.
"Good." Rose said, and hopped off the bed. "I'm starving, let's get something to eat." Bella nodded in agreement.
"Okay, grab a sweater. There's a great little restaurant just down the beach a bit, we'll walk." I said as flipped on a light.
I took them to this little bistro I knew, the Cali Cantina. I had found it one day when I was out walking, just after I moved in. It was about a mile down the beach, but it was definitely worth the walk. It was owned and run by a really great family originally from Mexico. Felix, Maria and their daughter Sophia had the best food I'd ever tasted and it was open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I laughed and pointed at the lights just ahead of us when Rose started complaining about the distance.
The entire place opened up onto the beach with a large patio that sparkled with twinkle lights and candles. There were hibiscus plants and cacti placed all around to give it an exotic look and soft guitar music played over the speakers.
"Wow, this is nice." Bella said as we took a seat in the corner of the patio.
"Hola, beautiful women!" Felix exclaimed as he approached the table with open arms. I stood to hug him and to introduce Rosalie and Bella. "Welcome, what can I get for you this evening?"
"Beer please," I said, the girls nodding in agreement, "and whatever Maria has cooking will be fine."
"Cerveza and the house special, coming right up." He said as he headed inside.
We had a fantastic evening. The food was great, we laughed and caught up. Having them come to see me was a total surprise, a wonderful surprise. I was very happy in this moment and feeling more like my old self again.
We stood at the entrance to the restaurant to say our goodbyes and compliment Maria on her delicious food. I glanced inside as everyone was laughing and saw a beautiful young man in the far corner leaning against a bar stool. There was a microphone in front of him and he had a guitar in his hands. He was playing the soft music we'd been listening to all evening. I couldn't take my eyes off him. I really wasn't aware I was staring quite so obviously until Rose, of course it was Rose, put her finger under my chin and closed my open jaw. I snapped out of my trance and looked away embarrassed by my actions.
"Wow Miss. Alice, you're really getting a sun burn." Sophia said. "You should really be careful, the sun isn't good for your skin. It makes you look older."
I looked over at the girl who had barely said two words to me since I'd met her less than a month ago. She was smiling at me and she looked like she was being sincere, but I don't know, it felt like there was an edge to her words. I nodded slightly, explaining, "I fell asleep in the sun today."
We said our final goodbye's and I chanced one more look over my shoulder as Bella and Rose dragged me out, he was smiling at me and our eyes met. I looked away quickly and sped up my pace. Oh my God he saw that.
"Did you want to stay for dessert Ali?" Rose asked in a sly voice, "It really looked like you wanted dessert." She and Bella laughed.
"Shut it Rose."
A/N: I know I took a little creative license with the Divorce law in California and I probably will again but it's fiction so *shrugs*