Author's Note: So I hate this chapter. Just putting it out there. I wanted to get Bella's back story done and over with, as well as "introducing" the other characters. I know a lot of stories give back stories of the main characters as they go, but that doesn't really work for this story. It'll all make sense later. So ya, I did this chapter so everyone was on the same page. And I dislike it. Is it bad that I hate the very first chapter of my first multi-chapter fan fic? This is why I stuck to one shots. They are minor blips on the fan fiction radar. I am such a spaz.
The part where I disclaim: I do not own Twilight or the characters. I also don't own any Advil right now and that's pissing me off. I do own a Degree in Animal Science. Most expensive piece of paper EVAR.
OH! I also wanted to put this out there! SPOILER! This story WILL have some religious context to it. And by some I mean shit loads. So here's where I stand. I have my beliefs and you have yours. If this story ever insults your beliefs I apologize. But the fact is that large parts of this story are very much against my own beliefs, so if I can put those aside for what I think is going to be a good story then I am hoping others can to. My main point is this: don't write me religious hate mail, please! If you read something and it pisses you off just stop reading. It won't hurt my feelings at all.
Bella was having a bad day. In a life full of them, sometimes it was hard to tell, but there was no doubt about it. This day had an intense feeling of foreboding looming over it the moment it started. When she had woken up this morning to the sound of water rushing from a broken pipe in her bathroom and thunderclaps rumbling in the air she had groaned and debated whether it was worth it or not to even get out of bed. By noon she had her answer. The plumber was delayed, her car wouldn't start, she missed the bus, her umbrella broke, she spilt coffee down the front of herself and the man she ran into on the street and she had to call her boss at the bookstore to inform him that she would not be able to make it in to work. Again. As she headed back to her apartment, Bella let a few tears run down her face, the frustration of life in general getting to her.
Up until the age of 13 Bella had had a good life, a privileged life. Her father had been a high paid defence lawyer, which allowed her mother to follow her dream of being an artist without the worrying about money. As it turned out even that wasn't a concern, since Renee's art could be seen in some of the most prestigious galleries and homes in the country. Bella herself had gone to a private catholic school and had the best of anything and everything she wanted. Her parents doted on her, she was popular and she was beautiful. At 13, Bella could see no end to her happiness. That was until Christmas of that year. On Christmas morning every year Bella's parents would volunteer at a local church soup kitchen. Usually Bella went with them, but this year her parents let her sleep in and headed out on their own. The roads were slick, and Bella's father had no hope of controlling the car as it skid into the side of a brick building, killing them both instantly. Later Bella leaned that the if the accident had occurred one or two seconds earlier or later her parents would still be alive because they would've hit a chain-link security fence rather then the building. She'd rather if not known. Bella's world collapsed that day.
As it turned out, Bella's parents were not as well off as they lead everyone, including their daughter, to think. Too young to understand, Bella sat, numb, as the words "embezzlement" and "inside trading" were thrown around by lawyers and social workers. Their wills left everything to Bella, but it all had to be sold to cover bills and debts. With no family to turn to, Bella was forced into the foster system. She did not adjust well to her new life style, turning into herself and books, speaking very little to anyone. Everyone took her depression as rejection, and no one wanted to take in a spoiled snob who did not appreciate what she was given. This led Bella to be passed around from foster home to foster home. By the time she graduated from high school, Bella was bitter. High school had not treated her well, allowing her to fall into a bad crowd involved with alcohol, drugs and sex. She had thought she had found people who would care for her, look out for her, but when she had been caught holding the bag of pills at a party full of underage drinking when she was a sophomore, they had thrown her under the bus. For once in her life Bella got lucky and was allowed to serve community service, but the damage was done. After that she decided no friends were better then those friends and cleaned up her act, but by then it was too late. With no money, poor marks and a juvenile record, college was not an option. The hits kept coming once Bella was on her own in the "real world". Failed employment, money issues, relationship troubles and constant injuries seemed to follow Bella like a ghostly shadow.
This lead Bella to where she was now; twenty-five, working a minimum wage job with four friends to her name and a life full of disappointments. Bella curled up on her bed after the plumber left, still drenched from the storm outside, and cried herself to sleep, dreaming of the life an alternate universe denied her.
A knock on the door roused Bella from her restless sleep. Her dreams had been dark and confusing. She shuffled her way to the door, pulling her long, wavy, chestnut hair back from her face. When she pulled open the door she was met with her two best friends.
"Oh, honey, look at you." Alice cooed, brushing past Bella and into her apartment. Bella sighed and turned to Rosalie, who shrugged and followed Alice into the apartment. The two were odd to see together, polar opposites in look and personality.
Alice Whitlock was a designer and owned her own boutique. With short, dark hair that matched her pixie-like features and bright blue eyes, her 5'2" frame packed an amazing amount of energy. She was always on the move. Bella had met her through Bella's boss and Alice's husband, Jasper. Besides blue eyes, Alice had very little in common with her husband. He was tall, about 6'1", and lean, with blond hair that he was constantly brushing out of his eyes. While Alice was like a bolt of lightning waiting to be unleashed, Jasper was the calm before the storm. His bookstore was rather successful, and he loved it with all his heart. His calm and quiet demeanour somehow complemented his wife and the two of them were Bella's favourite people. It helped that Jasper never fired her, no matter what kind of damage she did to the store.
Rosalie Cullen was a whole other story. Almost as tall as Jasper, Rose had super model good looks. Blue eyes, long, golden blonde hair and curves to die for; Rose was constantly bringing men to their knees. No one ever expected the fierce, smart, bitch on heels attitude that came from her. While loving and affectionate towards those she loved, Rose didn't take shit from anyone and spoke her mind. This attitude was useful when she was doing business as an exotic and rare car dealer, but sometimes it got her in trouble outside the work force. It was a good thing her husband, Alice's brother Emmett, was so easy going or Rose would have a hard time finding someone who dealt with her attitude like he did. Emmett was huge, 6'5" and all muscle thanks to the gym he owned and runs. At first glance he was intimidating, but as soon as he spoke that image went down the drain. More blue eyes, these ones usually sparkling with humour, stood out against dark curls. Emmett was always joking, and with all the sadness in her life he was one of the only people who could get Bella to laugh a full, meaningful laugh.
"Jasper told me what happened, we decided to come by and help you clean up this mess." Alice moved around the tiny apartment, surveying the damage done. She shook her head when she saw that Bella had done no effort to start the cleaning process and moved toward the kitchen to get cleaning supplies from under the sink.
"Speak for yourself. I was dragged her against my own free will. Bella, if this place was any smaller you'd have yourself a swimming pool. I don't know why you don't just move into mine and Emmett's guest room." Both couples had been pushing for Bella to move in with them since Bella had fallen and broken her arm last year while attempting to change a light bulb. Tempting as it was, Bella refused to be a free loader on her friends and declined every time. She moved around her apartment, surveying the damage for the first time.
"You know the answer, Rose. I won't be your burden. Besides, I wouldn't want to risk spreading the bad luck to you guys." She wanted to relapse into tears when she noticed the damage done to the books on the bottom of her small bookshelf. A scoff from Rose distracted her.
"Don't start again Bella or I swear I am going to end the suffering you complain about so much. Your fucking dramatics wear on a person, princess." Bella halted her cleaning, turning to face her friend with a dumbfounded look. She had sounded so angry. So hateful.
"ROSE!" Alice was used to being Rosalie's buffer, but none of them had ever been so harsh with Bella. She didn't complain all that much. Given her 12-year streak of horrible events, she was probably entitled to more venting then she actually took part in. Rose slapped a hand over her mouth in a rare show of humility.
"Oh my God. I am so sorry Bella. I don't know what got into me. I didn't mean it I swear. It was just . . . I'm sorry." She looked so upset, eyes tearing up, that Bella just gave her a small, sad smile in return, and turned to look at the storm still brewing outside. Lightning flashed, and she squinted when she thought she saw a figure standing on the street below, looking up at her. Another flash, and Bella decided she must be losing her mind, because no one was down there or would be in a storm like this. She could hear Rose trying to tell Alice that she couldn't explain or control her sudden flash of anger, but Bella cut her off.
"It's ok Rose. I know my moods can wear on you guys. I'm the one who should be apologizing. I've had worse days, but today feels different." She turned to face her friends, who were both giving her looks of uncertainty.
"What do you mean?" Alice asked with a small smile. Bella looked at the floor and kicked at the layer of water covering the hardwood.
"I'm not sure. I've had a lot of bad days, but none have ever felt this . . . . intense before." She shrugged her shoulders, going back to cleaning. "I'm probably just being emotional because of the stress. It's just a little water and a missed paycheck. It's not like it's the end of the world."
Chapters will get longer, promise! Like I said, this is just an "everybody got that? Good!" chapter. I still want reviews though. Even more so. Cause let's be honest, if I like my writing then reviews are sprinkles on the ice cream. If I hate a chapter *stares pointedly at screen* then reviews are like the ice cream intself. Right. Much love!
Hesitant