Cut me a real piece chapter 2

"You smell."

"Yeah, people who work out generally do."

Leah rolled her eyes at her younger brother, who was digging through the fridge mere feet away, dressed in his work out gear which consisted of baggy shorts and a white v neck t-shirt, and reeking of b.o.

"Well people generally shower after working out, so go and cleanse yourself of that god awful stench. You're interrupting study time." She tapped one of her many books with a pencil, before pointing to me. I wasn't so much 'studying' as doodling on a notebook and jotting down ideas for a novel. But I made a noncommittal noise, between a 'mhm' and a grunt.

Jacob closed the fridge door, and walked over to the table bottle of water in hand. He leant over Leah and started to read over her shoulder, positively smothering her with his man stench.

"Ew Jacob, gross! Seriously Ren's not even here, so why are you?" she pushed him away with one hand, while the other covered her mouth and nose. He just laughed and made his way over to the couch, plopping down and flipping the TV onto some sports channel.

"Cause you all love me, I'm a delight to have around. And I'm waiting for Ren, and from what I can recall she enjoy my smell- the smell of a man."

Leah turned a page in her book while muttering a 'and people wonder why we're gay' under her breath, I couldn't help but grin at the comment. The sad thing is, that sort of reminded me of a few of the guys I dated back in high school.

There was a jingling of keys outside the door, before it unlocked and a paint spattered Ren entered, looking quite pleased at something. Probably from spending a whole day being artistic and junk. Jacob jumped up, chucked the bottle of water on the couch and bounded over to her, picking her up off the floor and spinning her around slightly while they kissed. Sheesh, we get it you're in love, stop with the sickeningly sweet hello's.

"Hey baby, I missed you." Jacob cooed as he placed her back on her feet.

"Hey I missed you too, but sheesh you smell." Leah let out a triumphant "ha", before turning back to her books. Jacob just shrugged, smiling cheekily.

"Yeah well now you do too." Ren just sighed grabbing him by his hand and dragging him into the bathroom. Great, group shower time, 'cause that's a lovely and not at all disturbing image. I looked over at Leah who looked horrified and shivered slightly.

"Yeah so that's disturbing...you wanna head out? I sorta don't want to be in a one mile radius of that bathroom." I looked down at my notebook, it was Monday afternoon and I knew I couldn't be out too late, with college tomorrow. But when we heard the water turn on in the bathroom and a muffled giggle, we both stood up quickly.

"I'll grab our coats."

"And I'll get the keys."

XxXx

We walked aimlessly down the street, just enjoying being out of the apartment, and away from certain happenings. I put both hands into my jean pockets, before taking them out and putting them into my hoody pockets. I was sort of a fidgety person when I walked, I just didn't know what to do with my hands, it was a weird habit. One Leah picked up on.

"You're quite fidgety." She commented, sticking her hands into her denim jacket.

"Yeah," I said, putting my hands back into my jean pockets, "I am. But you'll get used to it." I shrugged. She smiled, nodding her head slightly.

"It's not a big deal, it's just interesting I guess...Well to me anyway."

We continued to walk in a comfortable silence, until we reached a music store and Leah grabbed me by the arm.

"Oh ok this is too good, hang on we have to go in her for a sec." She dragged me into the store before I had a chance to speak. Maybe she just really liked music?

The store was dimly lit and had shelves of records lining the walls. There were posters of old bands on the walls and there were bars on the windows. It was cool in a slightly dingy way. And that's when I noticed the guy at the counter. Edward.

I'd only met him a couple of times, and every time he'd been very aloof and apathetic. His auburn hair was out of control, apart from his fringe which was sleeked down and had streaks of red and black in it. Both sides of his lip were pierced, as well as his nose and all down the side of his right ear. He seemed to only wear extremely tight black jeans with suspenders and some band t-shirt over a long sleeved shirt. He was a college dropout and thought that he had more chance making it as a musician if he had as much free time as possible.

He looked up from his magazine as Leah steered me over towards him, a smirk on her tanned face and a playful gleam in her eye. She leant in towards me and stage whispered,

"And here we have the elusive 'Emo', in his natural habitat. Docile in nature, but when provoked can become quite aggressive. He tries to lure a mate by showing off his outrageous hair style, much like the male peacock, and showing off his figure in skin tight jeans, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. What a majestic creature, although they're becoming extinct because they never get laid, which enables them to breed other little emo cubs."

Edward rolled his eyes, before going back to his magazine.

"Didn't you read the sign outside, no dogs allowed." He didn't bother looking up from his magazine. Leah grabbed her chest dramatically.

"Ouch, that hurt Ed. Don't you love me anymore?" she placed her elbows on the counter opposite him. He kept reading, trying to ignore her. Which was impossible, no one could ignore Leah for long.

She turned to me, eyebrows raised and with a look of mock concern on her face.

"You think he's going deaf from blasting all that awful music too loud?" she asked me, and I laughed before shrugging,

"I think so, and you know who we have to blame? Those darn musicians and their rock and roll!"

We both laughed loudly, making Edward huff and look up at us.

"Seriously just because you sleep with my boyfriend's sister, doesn't mean we're friends." He glared as Leah just laughed.

"Aw and here I was thinking we were fast becoming besties, don't you just have the urge to braid my hair and gossip?"

"Whatever. But speaking of, where is the blonde bombshell?" Edward asked, closing his magazine and walking over to a stack of records. Leah hopped up on the counter and watched as Edward started to sort through them, kicking the counter with the back of her feet.

"Which one?" She asked back.

"Your one." He answered. I looked up from the pile of records I'd be inspecting, as Leah shrugged.

"At the Garage I think or studying with Claire. One of those, I can't really remember."

Edward laughed, "Wow great listening skills there Lee, man you're a great girlfriend."

"You know it." She grinned, hopping down off the counter, "And as much as I love giving you advice on being a good girlfriend, Bella and I have places to be. Catch'ya on the flip side."

Edward rolled his eyes as we left the shop. As the door swung shut behind us, Leah looped her arm through mine and between laughs said,

"Ok, we're so coming back next Monday."

XxXx

We were once again aimlessly wandering down the street when I noticed a certain pie shop from Saturday night. I tugged on Leah's jacket sleeve.

"Hey, you in the mood for pie?" I asked, unable to hide the enthusiasm in my voice. Leah looked over at me, before peering through the front window and shrugging.

"Yeah sure, hang on though I wanna give Rose a call, get her to meet us, try and convince her pie is a good study food. I'll be right behind you, order me something tasty." I nodded before making my way into the shop as Leah pulled out her phone.

I entered the diner, and after a quick scan of the place noticed there were actually other customers this time. Although the place was hardly crowded, just a few people scattered here and there. I also noticed a certain waitress, who was taking an order from an old guy wearing a trucker hat. It wasn't hard to recognise Alice; she sort of had a unique hair style, which she had again put into two little pigtails. Not to mention she was rather petite.

I slid into the nearest booth, on the side facing away from the entrance, and pulled down my hood. Glancing out the window to check on how Leah was going I caught sight of my reflection and instantly I began running my hands through my hair, trying to get rid of my hat hair, or rather hood hair. Damn you Seattle and your hooded jacket wearing weather. Realizing I was in a public place, I stopped my frantic hair combing, and tried to do it as subtly as possible. I probably looked either really nervous, or that I was jonsing for a fix. After making my hair look as presentable as I'd ever get it by just using my fingers, I busied myself by fiddling with my phone. I looked up as Leah slid into the seat opposite me.

"She'll be here in a few," I nodded tucking my phone back into my pocket as Leah picked up the menu and scanned it, "so what's good here?" she asked. I picked up a menu too and took a quick scan too, although I already knew what I wanted.

"Well if it isn't my favourite customer. Couldn't stay away eh?"

I smiled automatically at the sound of Alice's voice. And when I looked up at her, I could feel my cheeks start to heat up. Damn it, blushing is so unbecoming.

"Hey, yeah I, uh we," I glanced towards Leah who was watching me with an amused expression, "were really craving pie." I watched as Alice also glanced at Leah, her smile faltered slightly before focusing back on me.

"So what can I get ya?" she asked, pulling out a note pad and removing a pencil from behind her ear. Um, adorable much?

I shrugged, looking over at Leah.

"You know what you want Lee?" she nodded, before leaning over and offering her menu to Alice.

"Chocolate peanut butter cup pie for me and she'll have the lemon meringue thanks."

Alice's lips pulled up into a smirk as I handed her my menu. She probably knew I'd been constantly praising the delicious pie to everyone I knew since eating the damn thing.

"Sure thing, I'll be right back."

I watched her walk off, admiring her, um, gracefulness. When she was out of ear range, Leah let out a snort.

"Yeah I can see why you like it here so much, the view is very nice."

I blushed three shades of red, before leaning back and resting my arms on the back of the booth.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I said, avoiding eye contact with the tanned girl opposite me. She just laughed harder and shook her head slowly.

"Oh come on Bella, don't play coy with me. You have a thing for that waitress. That cute little thang with the doe eyes and pigtails. I had no idea you were a cradle robber."

"No I'm not! And anyway she's nineteen." I defended myself, crossing my arms defensively. Leah raised an eyebrow, a mocking expression appearing on her face.

"And you know this how?"

I paused briefly.

"She told me. Ok so I stopped by here after the horrible date the other night and well we got talking," I started playing with a lose thread on my sleeve, "She's cool."

Leah continued to watch me with an extremely amused expression.

"Yeah that's how it always starts out, one person thinks the other's cool and then before you know it you're having wild, hot, mind blowing-"

"Shush pie's here."

"Is that code name for 'chick you wanna bang'?" I glared at her through narrowed eyes, pointing a finger at her threateningly. She just rolled her eyes, and pretended to zip her lips and throw away the key.

Alice placed our pies in front of us, giving me a small smile before asking us if we needed anything else. Leah shook her head as I cut a piece of pie off with the side of my fork. Alice smiled politely at Leah, gave me a wink and left. Again I watched her walk off, holding my fork with the piece of pie near my mouth.

"Oh my god, this pie is amazing. Ok I can see why you like it so much here, well apart from the hot lil' waitress."

I looked back over at Leah, placing the forkful of pie into my mouth. I chewed slowly, savouring the deliciousness that is pie. God I could live on this stuff.

I glanced out the window and spotted Rosalie approaching the diner.

"I can actually see why you're so smitten with her, she's actually quite ador-"

"Shhh the Mrs." I interrupted as Rosalie walked in. She smiled widely as she approached our table.

"Hey baby." She greeted, sitting down next to Leah and kissing her sweetly, before taking of her scarf and gloves, placing them on the table and smiling politely at me.

"Hi Bella."

I smiled back, not saying anything seeing as I had a mouthful of pie. Rosalie picked up a fork and cut off a piece of Leah's pie.

"Woman!" She exclaimed, "That's how people lose fingers. Don't get between a gal and her pie!" she warned her jokingly. Rosalie just rolled her eyes before cutting off another piece.

Leah looked over at me, "She never listens to me." She sighed, nodding her head in Rosalie's direction before resting an arm on the booth behind her. She leant in closer to Leah before shrugging and smirking at me.

"But she puts up with me cause she loves me," She sighed in mock exasperation, "I'm her whole world."

Leah burst out laughing, before placing a kiss on Rosalie's temple and then rolling her eyes at me.

Xx

A while later, when Leah and I were on our second piece of pie and Rosalie was paged '911' by the garage and had to leave, Leah's phone beeped signalling she had a text message. I watched as she pulled out her cell and read the text. Her eyes widened comically and she swore rather loudly, gaining attention from an elderly couple in the booth next to ours. Leah stood up, shoving her cell phone in her jean pocket before ripping out her wallet and chucking some notes on the table.

"I gotta run, fucking Jacob I tell you, fuck! Why do I even try?" I watched Leah's rant half way between concerned and amused.

"Yeah cool, I'll just stay here I guess. Wait what's up?"

Leah just shook her head, running her hand through her hair looking exasperated.

"Trust me, you don't want to know. I'll see you later, oh," she stopped halfway to the door, fishing around in her jacket pocket before pulling out the keys, pulling off one of her many keys and placing it on the table in front of me, "you're gonna need this, spare key. Later dude."

I sat watching out the window as Leah departed, fiddling with the key.

"Ditched?"

I turned around just as Alice picked the plates up.

"Huh? Oh, no she's just got an emergency or something," I laughed lightly, "I'm sure everyone in this place heard her."

Alice giggled lightly, "Yeah, she was kinda loud." She paused, glancing down at the notes Leah had thrown down on the table, "At least she payed for the meal. Can I get ya anything else?"

I tucked some hair behind my ear, cleared my throat slightly as I got up the nerve to ask her to join me for some coffee on her break. People did that right? Ask other people who they thought were cute to join them for some coffee and a friendly chat? Alice raised an eyebrow slightly, grinning like she knew what I was about to ask and also knew I was nervous as frick. Calm and collected wasn't my thing, but I did have some charm and in my own weird little way I was rather suave.

"Uh yeah, do you wanna, on your break of course, join me?" I asked, gesturing to the seat opposite mine slightly with my hand, watching her reaction to my request.

She beamed brightly before nodding.

"I'd love too. I'm on my break in about five, so if you don't mind waiting round for a bit I'll clear these up," she gestured with the dishes in her hand, jerking her head towards the back of the dinner, "and I'll be right back."

I nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah sure, I'll be right here. Take your time."

I watched as she walked off, and as I was admiring her...figure, she turned around and smirked back at me. I quickly looked back at the table, blushing slightly, before glancing back up at her and grinning as she winked back at me before disappearing in the back part of the diner.

I sat playing with the salt shaker as I waited. And sure enough, five minutes later Alice appeared out of the back room, buttoning up her jacket as she walked towards me.

"Hey so I don't really like hanging around here on my breaks, you wanna go for a walk?"

I nodded, picking up my own jacket and chucking it on. "Yeah sure, sounds good."

I followed Alice out of the diner, pulling up my hood and then sticking my hands into my pockets. We walked in the direction of my apartment, before turning off down a side street which appeared to me a short cut to a park.

"How ya liking Seattle so far?" Alice asked.

"Hmmm well the weather is a definite change, and I don't think I'll be getting used to it anytime soon. But apart from that, yeah it's great. Nice people, great college and my apartment's heaps homey feeling then I expected it to be."

"Yeah I know what ya mean; the cold weather takes a lot to get used to. It was a big change from Dallas, and it took me a while too. But you'll get used to it, if you stay here long enough. Ok hang on a sec, I'm good at this," Alice stopped walking, holding her hands up in front of her. I stopped walking and turned to her, my eyebrows raised in question.

"So you're not from the north, obviously, you're from somewhere warm. You don't have a southern accent so you're not from Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia or Mississippi. Hmmm so either it's somewhere in Florida, California or..." she paused for a second, seeing to inspect me as she stroked her chin, before she snapped her fingers and pointed at me,

"Got it! You're from somewhere in Arizona." She took my slightly shocked silence as confirmation, "I'm not just a pretty face, or a pie expert either. So where in Arizona you from?" she asked.

I laughed, "What, you don't know? Can't you tell from the way I have my coffee, or the how I walk or some other completely random thing I do?"

Alice shrugged, grinning widely. "Well I'm good, but I'm not psychic, somethings I just don't know."

We started walking again, heading back in the direction of the diner.

"Phoenix." I glanced over at Alice, who nodded with a thoughtful expression on her face, before she glanced back at me and grinned.

"I knew that."

"No you didn't"

"Yes I did."

"How?" I asked, but the only response I got back was a laugh and a shake of her head.

"Can't tell ya, trade secret remember."

"Are you a con artist? And you don't actually know but you guess by looking at my facial expression. Like when you said I don't have an accent but I'm from somewhere warm, I like moved my lips or eyebrow unintentionally giving you the answer. Or when you said either Florida or California I might've subconsciously shook my head slightly."

Alice turned to me, looking very serious.

"Yes. I'm a grifter who works at a pie shop part time, and I con people into thinking I know where they're from. I don't earn any money from it but I get a kick out of tricking them. I'm power hungry like that and I'm secretly planning on using these abilities to take over the world, where I'll spend my days tricking others and getting off on the fact I'm tricking people. You caught me, I confess, god you're good!"

I rolled my eyes as her serious expression was replaced by a highly amused one. Alice came to a stop beside me, and that's when I noticed we were back at the pie shop. Wow I was so immersed in the conversation with her, I was oblivious to my surroundings. I'm surprised I didn't run into anything.

"Well I gotta get back inside, my shift sorta finished ten minutes ago."

I kicked the ground lightly with the tip of my sneaker.

"Yeah sorry about that, ha, I kinda lost track of time, time flies when you're having fun I guess."

Alice nodded, laughing lightly before scratching the back of her neck.

"Yeah I t does, doesn't it. Well I'd love to do this again, sometime in the not too distant future. Well actually I'd love to do something with you sooner, like next Friday night."

"Like a date?" I asked.

Alice nodded, still scratching the back of her neck.

"Yep. So you free?"

I pursed my lips, before holding up a finger.

"One question first." Alice watched me for a second, for the first time since meeting her; she looked like the nervous one for a change.

"Uh, yeah?"

I smiled warmly, "Seriously, how'd you know I was from Arizona?"


Hey guys, so i hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as i enjoyed writing it. And thank you for all the wonderful reviews, you guys are the best.

Cheers x