Thank you so much for your kind words! I don't have a definite updating schedule yet, but hopefully it will be at least once a week.

Thank you to Tarah, Bleriana, Alex, and Sarah for pre-reading, and the wonderful Erin for her beta skills.

I don't own twilight.

Bat your eyes girl, be otherworldly.
Count your blessings. Seduce a stranger.
What's so wrong with being happy?
Kudos to those who see through sickness.
Over and over and over and over and ooh...

-9-9-

"I'm sorry about Kate. She got her tongue pierced last night and was obviously having some difficulties with the swelling," I explained after we finally stopped laughing. I was finally coming down from my lust fueled haze, and I took a minute to appreciate the blue-eyed sex fiend next to me. Or maybe I was the sex fiend. At this point, we were both fair game.

"Oh, so that explains the lisp."

"Yep."

"So..."

"So...I better get going." I pulled off the sheets and grabbed the pile of clothes that Kate had thrown on the floor. I heard him get out of bed as I stepped into my panties and jeans and for a quick moment I considered stripping back down and asking for one more round. I didn't even get to fully appreciate his...assets.

"Bella, wait..." I turned around, noticing he had pulled on some shorts, and I couldn't help but stare at his ink again. There were so many different pictures spattering his arms that I couldn't find a specific one to concentrate on. There were swirls of color, both bright and dark, that trailed down his chest and vanished into the waistband of his shorts.

"Look, Masen. I had fun, but I don't want to do this whole awkward, 'let's hang out' thing. We fucked, we had a good time. That's it." I pulled my shirt over my head and slipped on my shoes. I really felt a little bad. He was cute, he fucked like it was a sport, and was my type of sexy, but I just couldn't bring myself to get involved. I liked things how they were. "Thanks, really...maybe we'll see each other around sometime."

"Can I at least have your number? I...this...I really liked spending time with you." He walked over to me and pushed my hair off of my face. He gently pressed his lips to mine and backed me against the wall.

This was not good. This was so not good. He was tempting me in ways I didn't know were possible, and I couldn't let myself go. "Really...I...Fuck, Masen." His teeth on my neck nearly made my knees buckle. He pulled back to look at me, and I slipped under his arms and towards the door. "I'm sorry. I just can't. I have to go."

I gave a small shrug before I opened the door and walked out into the hallway. I felt bad about bailing on Masen, but I just wasn't into the whole relationship thing. I had just graduated high school and I wanted to have fun. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I ran straight into someone and landed on my ass.

"Oh, fuck. I'm sorry, here." He offered me his hand, and I stood up, swiping off the butt of my jeans.

"It's okay. I wasn't really paying attention." This one had light brown hair. Hazel eyes. Where were all of these fuck hot guys appearing from? Does Port Angeles have some secret stash I don't know about?

"I'm Liam. This is my house."

"Um…Bella. I was just leaving your house." I pursed my lips together and tried to act like I wasn't currently doing the walk of shame. "Great party. Nice to meet you."

He laughed before heading down the opposite end of the hall. "You're welcome anytime."

I pulled my hair up and then dialed Kate's number. I could hear it start ringing immediately so I turned the corner into the living room and found her sitting at the kitchen table. I hit the end button and shoved my phone into my back pocket.

I stepped over passed out bodies, and empty plastic cups strewn around the room. There was a bra hanging from the ceiling fan, and it took me two glances to realize it belonged to me. I decided it wasn't worth the embarrassment of trying to retrieve, so I left the house owners a little souvenir. I was starting to feel my sore joints when I moved now that my adrenaline had worn off, and I honestly felt like complete and utter shit. Last night had obviously been a rager. I wondered how many people had seen me naked in the hot tub. Oh God.

"Shit, this is embarrassing." I joined Kate at the table and dropped my head with a thud.

"Dwid you know that youu have a hugge birthmark on your atth cheek?"

"Kate...shut the fuck up." I sat back in my chair and glared at her.

"Gosshh Bewwa...it's just...huge."

"If you don't shut up, I'll jerk that bar right out of your tongue and give you something to lisp about."

We both started giggling, which usually happened with our banter. I had no clue where I had left my purse, and really needed a cig.

"Hey, Kate? Where are my-"

"In my purth right in front of you. You dwopped them when you were danccing on the table latht night."

"Oh...right." I dug my pack and lighter out and lit one up. I took a deep breath and leaned back in my chair, putting my feet up on the corner of the table as I blew out the smoke. I watched it swirl up towards the ceiling. "We have to go back soon, I have to work tonight."

"Oh, I'm wready to go," she replied, as she stood up and grabbed her purse. "I wath waiting on you."

"Damnit, hold on." I stood up and searched for a clean plastic cup. I found one near the sink and stuck it under the ice maker, hitting the crush button. I filled it to the top and handed it to Kate as we walked out of the back door and to the car. "You better start eating that ice. I can't stand you with that lisp."

"Sworry."

"Kate...just eat the ice." I grabbed the keys from her and got into the front seat. I loved driving her car. My piece of shit truck rarely made it past fifty miles an hour, so getting to drive the Celica was a treat. Kate's older brother had given it to her when we started our senior year, so it was in pretty good condition. I plugged in the ipod and fiddled until I settled on a quiet song to start the near hour long drive back to Forks.

Thankfully Kate took my advice during the ride, and used it to eat the cup of ice. Her tongue wasn't as swollen and she was starting to sound normal again. We finally pulled into the driveway and grabbed our shit out of the car. My mom was at work so we had the house to ourselves. I dropped my purse on the floor inside of the front door and trudged up the stairs, with Kate following. Once we were in my bedroom she plopped down on the bed.

"So, are we going to talk about what happened between you and that sexy guy you were fucking?"

I rolled my eyes at Kate before stripping down and changing into some sweats. "You know it was nothing, Kate. We just fucked...which I'm pretty sure you got an eyeful of."

"Unfortunately."

I threw a pillow at her head. "Anyway...I think I want to try to take a nap before I go in tonight. You want to crash here, or run home?"

"I think I'll just head home. I want to shower, and put on some clean clothes."

"Okay. Love you. I'll see you later."

She waved as she grabbed her purse and shut my bedroom door behind her.

Before I knew it, I was dreaming of ink covered flesh.

-9-9-

I was startled awake by my phone going off. I noticed Kate had sent me a text to wake up for work. I sent her a text back thanking her and padded across the hall to the bathroom. I turned on the knob and pulled off my sweats, and waited for the water to heat up.

I used that time to examine myself in the mirror. I had fingerprint bruises speckling my body in various places, a scraped knee, and a huge hickey on my neck. My hair was a rat's nest, and I had dark makeup smeared under my eyes. Damn, that was a rough night. I didn't know if the bruises and hickey were from the first fuck or the second. I was guessing the first, since this morning didn't seem all that rowdy. I tended to get a bit...overenthusiastic when I was drunk.

When the mirror started to fog up, I stepped in, and under the spray. I liked my showers scalding. I ran my fingers through my hair and closed my eyes as the soothing water ran over my sore body and washed away the previous night. I lathered my long hair with shampoo and conditioner and rinsed it out.

I shut the water off, before toweling off and stepping out of the shower. It took me a good ten minutes to get all of the tangles out, and another five to rifle through my dirty clothes pile to find a pair of jeans that were clean enough to wear to work. I had been lazy with my laundry for the week and didn't have a choice.

I put on a bra, pulled my hair back into a low ponytail, and ran down the stairs to grab my 'Pacific Pizza' work shirt from the laundry room.

I grabbed my cell and wallet and turned all of the lights off in the house on my way out. I couldn't help but think about Masen during my short drive to work. There was something about him that had caught me off guard. I was usually very careful when it came to guys. I was normally closed off, always making sure I didn't let anyone in too close. He was just…different.

The pizzeria looked pretty full as I pulled into the parking lot. It was a Saturday, which meant that nearly every Forkian was out somewhere for dinner or a beer. I struggled to find a parking spot in the back and grabbed my apron from the backseat. I had just enough time to smoke before heading in the back door to clock in.

I sat on my usual milk crate to light up a Camel. I had turned it over in the corner a while back, needing a place to sit on my breaks, and no one had moved it since. I was enjoying the somewhat warmer weather we were getting for the start of summer. Of course it never really was that hot here. It rained so much, and was constantly cloudy, so the heat we did have was never bothersome.

The rain was starting to drizzle a little as I took the last drag, so I stepped on the butt and kicked it against the wall. I tied my apron around my waist as I walked through the kitchen.

"Bella, hey girl."

"Hey. How busy was it last night." I asked as I clocked in on the computer system.

"Eh, not bad. The usual weekend crowd was here." Mike smiled and gave me a small wink before returning to the grill.

We had known each other for years; Mike had moved to Forks when we were just ten years old. Lauren Mallory had pushed me down on the playground and he had stood up for me. We had been friends ever since.

I checked the table assignments, before letting Maggie know I was in with a wave. A couple of guys had just sat down at one of my tables, so I immediately got to work. I pulled my notepad and pen out of my apron and walked to the table with a smile.

"Hey guys, can I get you something to drink?"

"Yeah, I think I want..." He stopped talking, looking at me with furrowed brows which then turned into an expression of recognition. "Oh man, you're that naked chick from the party last night. Damn you looked good."

"Uh, I think you might have me confused wit-"

"Nope, no that was you."

"Well, how about I grab you a pitcher of Bud on the house, and this is never mentioned again. We good?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. This was the last place I should be having this conversation.

"Yeah sure, sweetie."

I groaned as I walked away and grabbed one of the plastic pitchers for the beer. I tried really hard to remember what had happened while I waited for it to fill up with the Bud. The last thing I could consciously remember was dancing on the table and pulling off my shirt.

I really needed to stop acting like a hooker in public.

I stacked three glasses and carried them along with the full pitcher back to their table. "You ready to order?"

"Yeah, give me one more second."

I passed the glasses out and started to set down the pitcher when one of them grabbed my ass. I turned to him and dumped the beer on his head.

"You stupid slut! What the fuck is wrong with you!"

"Oh I'm sorry sir…I must have dropped that on accident."

"Bella!"

Fuck me.

I turned around to see my boss Maggie standing by the kitchen door with her arms crossed in front of her. This wasn't good. I shot the guys another dirty look, secretly wanting to enjoy one more glance of the asshole covered in alcohol and whining, but I wouldn't admit it out loud.

I followed Maggie back into the kitchen and into her small office. She shut the door behind her and motioned for me to take a seat. "Bella, honey, what happened?"

Oh hell. At least she was going to hear me out, I could be thankful that much. "Uh…the guy grabbed my ass so I dumped his beer on him." I smiled sheepishly at her and started to jerk on the end of my ponytail.

"Well, I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself, but you know that isn't the way to handle things as an employee, right?"

"Yes m'am. It won't happen again."

"Okay well, I'm still going to have to write you up for that, and you might as well take the night off. You know how I don't like commotion in my restaurant."

I smiled, liking how Maggie was handling this. She was very clean cut when it came to our employee code of conduct, but she managed to stay nice throughout the whole situation. I knew she wasn't taking this personally and neither was I.

"Okay, Mags. I'm really sorry. Do you want me to go clean up the mess?" I started to stand up, when she stopped me.

"No its okay, just head on out. I'll see you on Monday, honey."

"Okay. Night Maggie."

Well there go my tips for the night. I slipped around the back of the kitchen and through the back door, wanting to avoid any questions from any of the other employees. I pulled off my apron, and lit a cig as I walked back to my truck. It was still raining a little and I left my windows down and enjoyed the cool night air instead of the artificial air conditioning.

I listened to the radio while I drove back to the house. I had left my ipod, and all I was able to get was some bluegrass station, which I hated, but it was better than silence. I briefly considered going back to sleep for a little while when I got home, but decided against it when I felt my stomach growl. I didn't know if we had any decent groceries in the house since I had been over at Kate's most of the week, but I would chance it anyway, not wanting to brave the grocery store in the mood I was in.

My mom still wasn't home when I pulled into the driveway, so I shut off the truck and grabbed the mail, before heading in the dark house.

I stood at the 'fridge for a minute, scanning over what little we did have, and trying to figure out how to make a meal out of it. I was the only one around here who even bought groceries, so If I wasn't here much during the week, forget about a cooked meal. I eventually gave up and grabbed a hot pocket from the freezer. I stuck it in the microwave and grabbed a drink. I eventually put on a movie and lazed on the couch for a little while.

I heard my mom come in a couple of hours later, practically falling against the wall in the foyer. I jumped off the couch and ran to the front door, where she was in a heap against the wall.

"God…Mom. Are you drunk? How did you get home?" I helped her up and started to head in the direction of her room down the hall.

"Sue…drove."

I could hear the slight slur in her voice, and I rolled my eyes as she burped loudly. Wasn't this what I should be doing on a Saturday night? Something was very wrong with this picture. I pulled back her sheets and she collapsed and immediately started to snore. I pulled off her shoes and socks, and dropped the sheet and comforter over her. I flipped off the light and shut the door behind me. Oh, the joys of having a young mother.

She popped me out at sixteen. She still acted sixteen. You know how it is...

I spent a good hour cleaning the house. I scrubbed the toilet, did the dishes, and mopped the floors…Anything to keep myself occupied. I did a load of laundry, and put away most of my clean clothes. I reorganized the play lists on my Ipod. I texted Kate and told her she was a hooker. I stared at the wall waiting for a response, and soon enough I felt a buzz.

You have a birthmark on your ass cheek :) -K

I was never going to live that down.

You are such a bitch. I'm coming over. -B

I started to pack a bag while I waited for her response. I knew I was welcome anytime, I just wanted to ask anyway. Kate was my rock. My sister. She was there through every bad thing and every good. When things got rough with my mom I escaped to her house, where I felt normal and relaxed.

See you soon. -K

I left my mom a note on the kitchen table before I left, and said goodbye to my quiet house before locking the door behind me.

-9-9-