Author's Note: Wow! What a response, already! Thanks for the kind reviews, everybody. And double thanks to those how put this on alert. I've written a decent amount before posting this up, so I'll be updating a lot the next day or so. I'm trying to pump this story out before I start back to school in the next couple of weeks, so bear with me! Continue reviewing, especially if you've read Starlight Vows and/or Love is Worth the Fall. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the similarities/differences between them and this. On with the story! What kind of shenanigans will Bella be stuck in, next?
Chapter II.
Insult to Injury.
It was entirely too damn early for me to be getting up. The alarm clock screamed at me, and with a fistful of anger, I turned it off. My shower was quick enough just to wake me up. I threw on an old pair of jeans and a light-blue sweater that my mother, Renee, had mailed me for my birthday. On a whim, I decided to leave my hair down. I gathered up the clothes Alice loaned me and packed them in my bag before running downstairs to snag a bagel. Charlie already left, so the downstairs was peaceful. Cream cheese was my savior this morning. No bagel is complete without light strawberry cream cheese.
The taste buds of my tongue were savoring the last bits of my breakfast when I remembered that my truck should be back. When I opened the front door, I didn't see it in the driveway. I immediately pouted. Maybe that spray paint was too hard for Emmett to fix? Or it cost more than he anticipated? How was I gonna get to school now? My fingers grabbed my cell from my pocket and I dialed Charlie's number, cringing. Being driven to school in his police cruiser wouldn't make a statement at all. Another notch in the not-being-invisible department. I stared at the numbers so hard they were being etched into my brain.
"Good morning, Bella." I nearly dropped the phone when I snapped my head upwards, seeing Edward standing in front of his car.
"What are you doing here?" My mouth vomited. Great job, Bella. Not even a hello! He was gorgeous as per usual, wearing grey slacks and a tight black shirt that was mostly hidden by a thick dark-grey hoodie. The hood was up, mushing down his crazy hair. God. Damn. It.
"Emmett got distracted with something last night, so he couldn't finish your truck in time. So I'm here as your ride to school this morning. He said the truck should be there by the time we arrive. I apologize," he said. How could someone be so sweet? I didn't hide the smile plastered on my face as I walked to the Volvo. Edward returned my smile with a dazzling one of his own. I got inside and off we went to Forks High. Where others would see us together. For the second time in a row. In his car. In Edward Cullen's car! Oh crap! My body went into overdrive as the faces appeared in my head. All the stares and harassment. How was I going to survive?
"You can just drop me off near the school," I said softly.
"What do you mean?" he asked, reserved but concerned.
"Being seen with me may not be in your best interest. Not after yesterday," I replied simply. It was the truth. Granted, Edward was not the most popular guy in school by any means, but he did have a rather good reputation. Being seen with Smelly Belly would tarnish what school cred he had. I should've thought of this yesterday.
"Don't be ridiculous. That means nothing to me," he said back. I looked at him, taking in how perfectly sculpted his jaw was as he drove. His eyes peeked over at mine for a brief instant before returning to the road. I was surprised by this guy. Everyone in high school worried about their status, didn't they? I mean, even I did to an extent. Maybe Edward was more different than I initially figured. I shrugged, leaning back in the seat and grimaced when I saw our school sign appear.
"I warned you," I darkly snickered as he pulled into the parking lot. I felt them staring as soon as I exited the car. Edward was cool and collected, flashing me a reassuring smile. In the distance I saw my truck, looking brand new, with Emmett chilling in the back.
"Yo! You're late!" he teased, sticking his tongue out playfully at Edward. I blushed, feeling bad that he had to spend so much time working on it. "Here ya go," he said, tossing me the keys.
"Thanks a lot, Emmett. I mean it. How much do I owe you?" He jumped out of the back of the truck like a pro, landing remarkably on his feet and grinning.
"You're a funny girl, you know that?" With a shake of his head and a cocky grin, he left.
"I told you not to worry about that," Edward reminded me.
"Couldn't hurt to try," I said.
"Bella! There you are!" Alice's chipper voice rang over the pavement as she joined us. She was holding my clothes, clean and neatly folded in her hands. It jogged my own memory that hers were in my bag. I pulled them out and handed them to her. "Oh, you can keep them if you like. I didn't care much for that top, anyway," she commented nonchalantly. I gave her a blank stare, barely feeilng it when she placed my clothes on top of the ones I held.
What the hell was going on here?
"Alice, I'm not sure I can accept all this," I said solemnly. "This is…" Too much. Too crazy. I looked at Edward, losing myself in the translucent void of his golden eyes.
"Oh! I almost forgot! Bella, I'll be having a Halloween party at our house in two weeks. It's a costume party, and it'll be so much fun! Would you like to come? Please say yes!"
What? I shook my head, freeing myself from the hold of Edward's golden orbs. Did she just say party? I'd never been invited to a party that wasn't at La Push before. Weren't the Cullen parties big and lavish? A memory from the year before came to me, bringing me back to when all the kids gossiped over how huge the Cullen home was, how expensive the party had to be with all the decorations and special effects and food, and how elaborate the costumes were. And she wanted me to come?
"Um…" I hesitated, unsure of my answer. Her eyes were wide, her mouth draped open as she waited for my response.
"It would be lovely if you could make it, Bella," Edward egged me on. My face definitely turned scarlet. I nodded.
"Okay, then. Count me in."
"Wonderful!" Alice exclaimed, hugging me abruptly.
"Alice," Edward hissed. She coiled backwards and smiled brightly at me. It made her look prettier. I wonder how that was even possible.
"Well, it's getting close to the warning bell. I'll see you in Biology, Bella?" Edward sighed, lowering his hoodie and messing up his hair.
"Yeah," I choked. Before I could make a bigger fool of myself, I went to the passenger door and put the clothes inside. When I turned back, I was alone. Alice and Edward were nowhere to be seen. Maybe the Cullens were ninjas…
"Hey, Whorebag, did you give Cullen a thrill last night?"
"Where are your feathers? They made you look hot…NOT!"
"You're such a skank, Honker."
Hm. They were getting mean today. Operation full-blast was on. It didn't rectify the looks, though. I sat through my classes like a zombie, wanting to just get back home and away from the hell that was my highschool. The conversation in the morning kept me occupied. I was still very confused as to why Alice and Edward were being so warm to me. Pity couldn't be it. Not the only answer. Maybe…maybe they were playing a prank on me? Were they conspirators with the blondettes? No. That couldn't be true. I never saw them together. Anxiety built up inside me the rest of the morning as different scenarios played over and over.
I shot Angela and Eric texts that I would be going to the library instead of lunch today. I hid in the dark recess of the lower level, leaving myself to my music and laptop. Being so distracted, I totally forgot to check my email the night before. A thorough dose of Smashing Pumpkins blared through my headphones as I logged into my teenage addiction: Facebook. The first thing I noticed was a red notification next to the friend icon. A friend request? I ran a hand through my long hair as I clicked on the link. When the next page loaded, I forgot to breathe.
One single name was listed, next to a square image. I recognized it instantly. My heart sank.
Edward Cullen.
The mouse wavered between confirm and not now. Should I friend him? Or not? Curiosity won in the end, and as I shut my eyes closed tightly, I accepted the friend request.
My inner stalker flung to life as I scouted his page, drinking in any information he had provided. There weren't many photographs, outside of his default, which was just a shot of him by his Volvo, in a plain white tshirt and black pants. There were a couple others: one with him playing video games with Emmett, posing for a group family shot around a Christmas tree, sitting by a fireplace with Alice and who I assumed to be Esme, and a shot of him playing a grand piano. I was floored at how amazing he looked in the photos. Why wasn't he modeling in a magazine I couldn't pronounce the title of?
After the photos, I checked out his basic info. There wasn't much. He liked a lot of classical music, the Beatles, and some indie bands. Actually, he liked a lot of the same music I did. And books. I was surprised. Renee always told me I was an old soul for my age. No one else I knew liked the same stuff as me. Not in this magnitude. Time was passing too fast for my liking, and I had to stop myself. Switching gears, I opened up the English paper I had to write and jotted down some ideas for it for the rest of the period.
Edward was sitting in his spot when I arrived at biology. He looked at me, giving me what was becoming his trademark smile.
"Hello, Bella," he said as I sat.
"Erm. Hi," I replied nervously. Without a hitch, my heart was pounding. Could he hear it? God, I hope not.
"I hope my sister didn't scare you this morning. She can be very hyperactive at times," he murmured, sounding a little frustrated.
"At times? I think she's a bundle of pure energy. I don't know how you deal with that every single day and not go crazy," I replied, hoping I wasn't overstepping any boundaries with my opinion. His laugh answered my fear with a no.
Banner came in at that point, hushing the room. I remained quiet the rest of class, doing my best to pay attention. The ringing of the period bell startled my heart, and I involuntarily frowned.
"I hope that your truck is fixed to your liking," Edward said, getting up in what seemed like slow motion to my eyes. And the way he was looking at me…the luminescent lights above were making his irises glow underneath arched eyebrows. Loose strands of his hair fell over his forehead, while the rest jetted in all directions (similar to bed hair, yum). And his lips, which were a pale shade of pink, they were moving while he spoke, but I didn't hear it. All I imagined was what I had dreamed the night before.
"Bella, I have admired you from afar and cannot stay away. I want you. I've always wanted you. Please say yes to being mine? I want to shield you from everyone. Let me kiss you…"
"Bella? Are you alright? Bella?" Something waved in front of my face and I jumped. Edward was looking at me like I had fainted. It was his hand moving up and down in front of me. Though he looked concerned, there was a hint of a grin on the corners of his mouth.
"Oh, sorry! I…uh…zoned out there…" Jesus, what is this guy DOING to me! Like he even thinks of you that way. You're just a one-time charity case. "What were you saying?" We started walking out of the classroom now, seeing as we were the only ones there.
"I said that I hoped your truck was fixed to your liking," he repeated. I nodded furiously.
"No worries. It looked great. I bet it'll purr or something like that," I jested. Edward smiled. I needed to get to my next class, but I didn't want to leave Edward's side. Walking next to him felt…safe. It was like the stares vanished. Like we were the only ones in the hallway. As creepy as it felt, I enjoyed it.
Then Edward groaned.
"Oh, lookie! It's Whorebag Swan! She must be getting it on with Cullen! He's really desperate if he'd tap that nasty ass!" I grimaced as the words hit me right in the face.
"She's a pity fuck. He'd never touch that! She'd spread her legs for anyone. Prolly has a disease or two!" Where were the slut jokes coming from?
Familiar glares from the blondette gallery came our way, and I fought against the urge to sprint to Math. Instead, I let the safety I felt from Edward control me and I kept my head high and didn't let them see how hurt I was.
"You are very brave, Bella," Edward said low enough for just me to hear. I shrugged.
All too soon I saw my classroom. "Thanks for walking with me, I guess," I said. Edward nodded his head once and shoved one of his hands in his pockets. "Sorry for the jokes. Warned you about that."
"Like I feign a difference about what these delinquents say. I find you to be endearing and utterly fascinating, not at all what they describe." The way he spoke was so old-fashioned and just plain sexy.
"Hmm. Well…I'll see ya." Honestly, I had no clue how to end this awkward conversation. Though, I couldn't handle being late to another class in two days. Edward smirked before waving at me as he turned to walk off.
"I hope so, Bella," he said softly. I stood in the doorway for what felt like ten hours as I concentrated on his movements. His walk was a strong one; he had nothing to fear in this school. His ass was amazing…damnit, stop that!
"Move it, Duck," some jerkwad spat as he shoved into my shoulder. With a grumble, I resigned and went to class.
Angela found me at the end of the day, asking me all sorts of questions about riding with Edward and updating me on the happenings at lunch. Apparently, Mike and Jessica were suspended for three days, meaning they would be gone the rest of the week. They also had two weeks of detention, and had to pay me back, as well as the school, for damages. I was not looking forward to their backlash next week. Thank Mr. Sessleman for giving me a least a small reprieve for the week. I gave Angela a nutshell version wof the last 24 hours, and she grinned when I told her of the friend request on Facebook. Regardless of the fact that she was not a gossiper, her eyes lit up. She started talking about the bonfire again, and I caved. As annoying as Jake could get, I needed to get away for a few hours. With that, I left school, taking note of the fact that all the Cullens were watching me pull out; Edward in particular.
There was something about him that I just couldn't shake. It hurt my brain when I tried to figure it out. What were his intentions? What were Alice's? Wanting to be friends out of the blue scared the hell out of me. Let's be honest. I would be lying if I said I didn't like it, though.
Oh, and for the record, I think I did hear my baby purr on the way home. I'd have to seriously thank Emmett for that.
The rest of the week was pretty uneventful, much to my relief. The teasing continued relentlessly, but I countered that with my iPod, or with either Edward or Alice between classes. It surprised me that neither of them minded the harassment they got. No one had the balls to say anything to their faces like they did me. Charlie was relieved to hear that they were helping me out, even in the minimal way. He joked with me Thursday night about scaring "the Newton boy" by introducing him to his newest model shotgun. That got me laughing.
On Friday night, as I was getting ready for bed with my favorite book, Wuthering Heights (so I'm a sappy romantic, sue me), I decided to check Facebook to see if Jake responded to my question about food on the reservation the next day. Harry Clearwater made the best fish fry in town, and I knew my Dad would love to have some. I always felt bad about going without making something, so I was determined to bake brownies or a cake. Anything. I smiled when I noticed he responded on the event page.
Duh, Harry's making the fish fry. If you wanna bring something, go for it. Dad said you didn't need to, but whatever. You know me and your double-fudge brownies, Bells…*snicker*
I rolled my eyes. His statement sounded like a double-meaning, though I wasn't sure if he was mature enough to register that. Brownies, it is!
The feathery comforter felt nice as I snuggled underneath it. It was getting colder, which made me a little sad. I didn't mind the weather change, but I kinda missed the heat in Pheonix that I loved as a kid. Right as I was going to close my laptop and dive into a few chapters of my book, I heard the familiar ding of an instant message on Facebook. I yawned, looking at the name, and yelped at myself. It was Edward.
Good evening, Bella. His simple statement made me rub my eyes.
Hello. I didn't know what else to say!
I hope I'm not interrupting anything. Just happened to see that you were online.
Oh, no worries, Mr. Cullen! I was just gonna lose myself in the whirlwind romance of Heathcliff and Catherine.
Not doing much. Was about to go read.
Oh, what are you reading?
Wuthering Heights. I bit my lip. An old fav of mine.
Ah, one of mine as well. Very controversial story. I'm surprised you enjoy it. I smirked slightly at his response. What did he think I was? A Cosmo girl? Yeck!
I already read Seventeen Magazine and Cosmo twice. Got my fill of modern teenage angst for the night.
A few minutes passed until he replied. I wondered if he got what I said as humor.
Tisk, tisk. Did you forget Teen Beat? That would be an awful shame.
I laughed. This banter was nice.
Ack! I did! I'll have to rush out tomorrow and purchase it!
Speaking of tomorrow, Alice was wondering if you wanted to come over and "hang out"?
My eyes bulged. Now I was being invited over to their house? Crap. Crap Crap Crap! Then I began to think. If Edward had a Facebook, Alice had to have one. Why didn't she friend me?
Could…could Edward be asking me to come over, for himself? I coughed as my heart skipped a beat. No way. Impossible. I decided to play along and see what he'd say.
Sorry, you'll have to tell Alice I've got plans. Stupid bonfire! There was another pause in conversation as my nerves doubled.
What a shame. Are you free Sunday? Was I free on Sunday? Charlie usually planted himself firmly in his recliner and watched ESPN all day. I did my laundry and homework. That could wait a few hours though…
Oh my god. Was I really thinking about going to the Cullens? Was this some sort of prank? Vibrations of my heartbeat echoed in my ears. Yes. Yes I was thinking about it.
I think I can cast aside some time for Alice on Sunday. My fingers shook as they punched the keys.
She'll be delighted. I wondered if he would be delighted, too.
I need to go. Bedtime for Bella. Honestly, I didn't know what else to talk about with him. My head was swirling.
Good night, Bella. Have sweet dreams.
You too. Good night. I slammed my laptop shut and hid under my covers. I was going to the Cullens. I don't think anyone went there unless it was for one of Alice's parties. What were his parents like? Was their house as huge as people said? Were Alice and Edward serious about being so friendly with me? Was I going insane with my thoughts about Edward Cullen?
Needless to say, I was up late that night.
My grumbles in the early morning matched Charlie's, even though he was used to getting up to fish at dawn on Saturdays. I had to make enough brownies for at least 100 people today, so I had to drive out to the store for supplies. Forks was quiet in the early morning. The clouds were grey, keeping Mr. Sun away from this dreary town. The colored leaves were littering the sidewalks, giving some reds and oranges to look at against the dulling hue of the houses and businesses. I purchased the eggs and boxed mixes I needed, returned home, and got to work. Within the hour, the entire house smelled of rich chocolate. Charlie kept busy in the living room, watching the news and some sports reviews so he had topics to discuss with Billy.
By the afternoon, I had ten pans of gooey chocolate goodness ready to go. Jake better be extra nice to me today, I thought as we drove to La Push. It was a nice reservation right on the beach. I saw the smoke billowing over the old, rustic red house of the Blacks. Billy wheeled himself around the driveway as Charlie pulled in, a big grin on his aged face.
"Hey there, Charlie, Bells," he greeted with a salute. I laughed at him while I started pulling out the pans.
"Bella!" Jake's familiar call flew at me. I turned to see him jogging in my direction, wearing a thin black shirt and beige cargo pants. For a 15 year old, he was well-built. He had thick black hair that went down to his waist, which was tied into a braid today. His Native American skin was covered in sand and he was eyeing my nutritional contribution hungrily. "Need help?"
"Actually, Jake, that would be fantastic," I said, handing him five of the pans. "You got that?"
"What do you take me for, a girl?" he teased, winking at me before taking off towards the back of the house. Shaking my head, I followed him down the gravel path to the backyard, where all the rest of the group had gathered. I saw Emily Young working the industrial-sized grill, flipping hamburgers and steaks. Her boyfriend, Sam Uley was helping her. Leah Clearwater was close by, scowling as she laid out the salad dishes. That was a muffed up love triangle that I don't have any interest in rehashing. Let's just say Leah was not very happy that Sam chose her cousin over her. Six months ago.
Jake's other friends were wrestling in the sand, which was presumably what Jake was up to as we arrived. Paul and Embry were giving each other headlocks, while Quill and Jared were showing Leah's little brother, Seth, how to do the sleeper hold. Boys will be boys, right? Jake showed me where to put the brownies, and I gave a nod of acknowledgement towards Harry and Sue. After I smacked Jake away from stealing some brownies, he went on about showing me new wrestling moves that Sam had showed him, so I made myself comfortable on a smooth boulder and watched the boys act like animals. Angela arrived soon after, carrying all her paperwork and camera to work on her little project. As a nice surprise, Rachel and Rebecca made it home for the weekend for the bonfire, and were spending some time with Billy and the other elders.
In no time, the food came out. The guys hovered over all the meat and sides like dogs, making me burst out in laughter at their primal behavior. After everyone got their plates, we all circled around the large bonfire. I explained to Angela that at this time, everyone listened to the elders of the tribe as they told us stories of the past: how their people migrated to this land hundreds of years ago, how they survived great wars and droughts, and the need for family ties to keep the tribe strong. I knew most of the legends by now, just from what Jake told me over the years. But I never got tired of hearing them again. The Quileutes had a very rich, interesting history.
"As you know, this year is the year of the wolf," Billy began. I filled my mouth with some delicious pork chops a la Emily while Angela stared wide-eyed at Billy, hanging on every word as he continued. "Many of us already know the legends of our tribe and how we are connected to the wolf. But since this year is special, I will retell our story in celebration. We are decedents of an elite type of man. Men who could change form in order to protect their people. Our people. They were known as Spirit Warriors. The first was Kahelaha. He spurned many generations of shifters, which helped our people grow in population from their protection. Our direct ancestor is Taha Aki, tribal chief and powerful spirit warrior. He perfected being a spirit warrior, allowing himself to change into that of a wolf. Before, our people could shift out of their bodies like ghosts, but now, they could change into solid creatures that, when, needed, could fortify our land.
"Around that time, our people came across a powerful new enemy: the cold ones. They survived off the blood of humans, preying on our people day and night. They were merciless creatures, caring nothing for human life, with no souls or salvation. We had many wars between them, and we always won. Generations ago, my grandfather, Ephraim Black came across cold ones for the first time in nearly a century, which spurred the change once again. You see, when predators are not in the area, we do not need our ability to shift. But when we are in danger, when our land is in danger, we gain that ability, as the legends say. So when new cold ones trespassed on our land, Ephraim took to action, hunting them down. Since then, we have kept our people safe from them, and any other threats to our tribe."
Angela was writing up a storm in her notebook in between taking shots of Billy as he spoke. I almost laughed at her determination. They were just stories, after all.
After the stories were retold, Jared and Paul brought out their guitars and started jamming out some music for all of us to dance to. Jake wouldn't leave my side, asking me to dance a total of five times before I finally gave in. I didn't want to lead him on, but he was a sweet kid. Angela got all the info she needed and left early, thanking Billy and the other elders for inviting her. She told me she would see me Monday, and wished me luck for Sunday. As the party died down, I found myself walking along the beach with Jake, commenting on the day and how much a hit my brownies were.
"It's nice seeing you smile again, Bella," he said, kicking shells with his bare feet as we walked. "You've been so down lately. Dad told me about what happened at school. I wish I could tear those bastards apart for you."
Ugh. I should've known Charlie would tell Billy. "Eh, it's life, Jake. I'm used to it."
"Doesn't mean it's right!" he growled. "Sorry," he soothed when I jumped. "I just get so pissed when I know they're treating you like crap. You don't deserve it." He was trying his best to comfort me.
"Thanks, Jake. I know that. I only have another year to go, then I'm outta here." I flung my hand outwards like a plane at the end of my sentence. He frowned when I said that.
"Still planning on moving away?" I dropped my hand and sighed.
"Yeah. I'm thinking about maybe going back down to Phoenix or maybe San Francisco. Ya know, somewhere sunny and warm, where no one will know me. A fresh start." Jake was quiet for a while after that. I did feel bad, knowing that I'd be leaving him, and Charlie, behind. But I needed to get away from my past here in Forks. Start new somewhere else on my own.
"I heard you were hanging with the Cullens now…" he said out of nowhere. Where did that come from?
"Sorta. Why?"
"I dunno, Bells. Something's not right with them. Just…be careful, kay?"
I stopped walking. "Are you seriously warning me, Jake? That's ridiculous. They've been nothing but kind to me this past week! Emmett was nice enough to even clean up my truck free of charge!"
"I could've done that, Bells! You know that. You don't need them!" he barked at me, startling me. I saw his arms shaking and he turned to look at me, fury boiling in his eyes.
"Okay, listen. I'm being careful for my own reasons, so don't freak out. I don't even know if I'm friends with them."
"You're hanging with them tomorrow, aren't you? I heard you telling Ange about it."
"Damnit, Jake. What I do is my business, not yours. Yes, I was invited to their house tomorrow. So what? Chill the fuck out!" I growled now, not liking being interrogated. I had no idea where this anger came from, and I didn't like Jake's tone. He had no control over who I spent my time with. We stared at each other, both breathing heavy and angry, for a while in the night. It wasn't until we heard our fathers calling us that we changed demeanors and went back to the houses. Neither one of us said another word to each other as Charlie and I left, and I felt glad for that. Where was Jake getting off, telling me what to do?
Charlie tried to press why I was in such a bad mood all of a sudden, but I told him it was just Jake being immature. I reminded him I was going out the next day, on a "study date" with Alice Cullen. I told him I'd call him if I planned on staying for dinner or anything. That night, I was restless in my bed, having nightmares of Jake as a wolf, paired with meeting a cold one on La Push beach. Then I saw myself getting egged by Mike and Jessica in the school parking lot, before a pack of wolves descended and pulled them apart in front of me.
When I finally woke up, I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I looked horrible. And felt it too. But I needed to hide that. I was going to spend the day at the Cullen's. With Alice. And maybe Edward, also. Oddly enough, I forgot all about my nightmares after that.
