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This is not beta'd, so I apologize for all of the ugly grammatical errors and typos that you see.

Brilliant Bella's up…

The Meeting of the Eyes

Chapter 3

The clock wound down and I couldn't be fucking happier. To say it sucks sitting here on a Friday night would be a vast understatement. I think I lost a few brain cells just watching these heroes of Brilliant and their whoreleaders.

I noticed that Alice looked my way a few times, more like gave me a Satan stare, yes because I'm the evil one. Her heart is sure to be as black her jet black hair. I try to avoid watching her for the remainder of the game, but unfortunately she catches my eye a few times and I can't help but watch who her gaze is upon and it certainly wasn't her boyfriend. Whatever, she's a whore, end of story.

As the buzzer sounds and the commentators announce us the winners, we stand from the cold bleachers and I swear that I can't feel my ass. I think it's literally frozen off at this point. I guess if I'll be attending anymore of these, which from the looks of Kate's gaga eyes for Garrett I will be, I might want to bring a blanket like the rest of the folks here.

I stretch my arms and legs out because I sure as hell didn't stand up and cheer throughout the game, like the rest of these wackos. No way in hell am I vying for Ms. School Spirit. I'd rather walk around with sign on my back that says, "I'm Alice Brandon's best friend." Yeah, not fucking gonna happen.

Kate grabs my hand and I let out a large sigh of annoyance, but she ignores it and tugs me out to the field. She owes me big for this shit and I don't just mean a Route 44 Cherry Limeade either. I'll have to think long and hard about what I want in return.

We see the team in their huddle and hear them finish their prayer. I see Alice again darting over to Jasper and I think I'm going to puke, because her eyes are anywhere but on him and I have a feeling I know just who she's looking for as she squeals for Jasper not to touch her because he's all icky. For fucking real, this skank said icky. No shit, you dumb bitch, he just got done running and being tackled and beaten for a few hours. Did you think he was going to smell like roses? And the winner of the most annoying person on the planet award goes too… Alice Brandon.

I can't help, but let a small smile creep up over my face at my snark. It's short lived though, because I see that Kate's left me standing there by myself. Well, sort of anyway. She turned her back to me and is now talking to Garrett. I'm proud of her for being so bold though, so my frustration is short lived.

I keep my back to them giving them some semblance of privacy and pull my hair back in a ponytail and tie it up with the black band that I keep around my wrist for such occasions. The wind is blowing it all in my face and I'm sick of it. I just want to get out of here and take a hot shower, put on my warm flannel pj's and curl up with a good book. Yes, I have such an exciting life for a high school senior.

While I'm standing there, I start taking inventory of those around me. Not everyone here is pathetic and annoying, but I still feel as if I don't belong here and I so badly wish I could escape. Just as I'm about to turn around and beg Kate to take me home, I see a flash of sweaty bronze hair, standing next to an attractive older woman. I know instantly who it is, because let's face it; you know everyone and their mama in a small town.

Ms. Cullen is beautiful and one of the sweetest people in this town. She's been done wrong and lives with pity glances from everyone in this town and it pisses me off. I'll never treat her as a victim that she undoubtedly is. She deserves respect not pity. She works hard to provide for her son and she's always, always there to support him or so I hear anyway. This is my first time to witness them together like this and it's nothing short of touching.

They are so incredibly sweet with each other and I suddenly feel jealous of that. I feel robbed that I don't have a mother that is there supporting me in everything that I do. I don't have a mother to give me hugs for a job well done. It hurts, it hurts so damn bad and I'm instantly clutching my stomach and simultaneously willing myself not to cry right now. The lights are shining too damn brightly out here and everyone will see me as nothing more than a crybaby. And just like Ms. Cullen, I don't want nor need their pity.

I have to get out of here now. I tap Kate on the shoulder and she turns around and just knows that I need to leave. I love her for that, because I don't think I could've gotten the words out without letting the flood gates go as well.

"Here are the keys, Bella. Why don't you head on out to the car?" I appreciate her so much for this, because she's letting me escape and giving me a few moments to myself before she questions me further.

"Later Bella." All I can do is offer a wave over my shoulder in response to Garrett. I know he'll think I'm a super bitch, but right now, I couldn't care less. Plus, he seemed to be pretty interested in Kate, so maybe she'll be enough of a distraction that this will be a non-issue.

I make it back to her little red Honda Accord and crank up the heat and let the tears fall. I'm safe here. It's dark and I'm alone. That is until I see that same damn head of hair again. Fucking Cullen is stalking me it seems. Well, maybe not, but tonight, he just seems to be a constant in my line of vision.

He stops for a moment and looks in my direction and I swear it's as if he can see me. It seems we are having a meeting of the eyes. Although, I know he can't see in, the windows are darkly tinted and it's pitch black out here in the student parking lot. Most everyone is still up on the field celebrating a win and planning their party route for the night. I'm thankful for this little red safe haven that is Kate's car. A second later he breaks the trance and continues on his way. My eyes don't leave him though.

I see him quickly make his way over to his beat up old blue Ford pickup truck. I wonder where he's in a hurry to get to, as I know he doesn't really party it up on Friday nights. Then, I remember hearing Kate say one time that he always goes out to eat with his mom after every game and I'm back to the damn tears. I just start to wonder if my mother and I would've had our own traditions like Edward and his mother. And gosh I fucking miss her, so much right now. I could really use her in my life. Being a teenager is hard, but being a teenager to a single parent father is even harder. I can't stop nor do I want to, the tears that freely falling down my pale face.

It's no wonder that moments later I'm screaming at the top of my lungs as Kate climbs into her car, effectively scaring the ever living shit out of me. She starts to laugh and then stops, when she sees my tear streaked face.

"Oh Bella, what happened? Did someone say shit to you? Was it fucking Alice?" She's getting pissed and looks like she's ready to cut a bitch.

I laugh lightly at her protectiveness. "No, no, calm down fucking mama bear. I'm just having a sad night is all. It's nothing really."

She looks at me for a moment and I know she doesn't buy it, but she doesn't question it either. She knows I'll talk when I'm good and ready.

"You know you're a shitty liar Swan, but I love you and I'll let it go." I offer her another small smile in appreciation of her friendship and thoughtfulness.

"So, you up for going to a party at Garrett's house tonight?" Her voice rises in excitement and I hate knowing I'm about to bring her down with my negative, loner attitude.

"Yeah, you know I wouldn't be caught dead at one of these lame ass high school parties Kate?" She looks pissy for a moment and I hate that I'm making her feel this way. She's done so much for me and a good friend would do this for her. A good friend would suck it up and suffer through one night of high school hell for their best friend, but I just can't do it. Not tonight, and not after witnessing Edward and his mother's tender moment. Not when I miss my own mother so much that I can't fucking breathe and just want to go home and be a big titty baby about it.

"Fine, go home and sulk Bella, but it wouldn't hurt you to socialize with others aside from me everyone once in a while. I mean we've known these people since kindergarten and in just a few months we'll be leaving here and them all behind."

She's trying desperately to get me to cave, but it won't work. She also doesn't know that I'm not going to be leaving here. I won't be leaving anyone behind, but I'll be the one left behind come next August. I'll miss her, sure, but I have to think about Charlie and my promise to my mother. Plus, she'll come back and visit and I can sorta live vicariously through her and her college experiences. It'll have to be enough.

I turn around and face the window before responding to her. "I'm sorry Kate, I just can't tonight. You know maybe next time or something."

This time she doesn't push, just lets out a loud sigh and lets it go. She turns up the radio to our favorite old school rap station and we get lost in the music and the rhyme. Before I know it, we're pulling up in my driveway and I see that Charlie's home from work. He'll know something's wrong and part of me doesn't care nor have the energy to hide it from him tonight.

Kate puts the car in park, but leaves the engine running. She shifts in her seat to face me and offers me a hug in apology. I readily accept it, because this is what we do. She's my only true friend and I can't stand upsetting her or disappointing her. This is her way of saying, it's alright and I forgive you.

We end the hug and I climb out, waving goodbye to her as I watch her headlights retreat and head back to the street and to a social life that she so desperately craves. I walk into the house and see Charlie sitting in his faded brown leather recliner, reading one of his favorite books.

He's clearly where I got my love of books from and after mom died, I think we both found ourselves devouring book upon book, losing ourselves in happily ever after's, that we knew we would never have.

I walk over to the couch and plop myself down. "Hey dad. Whatcha reading?" I'm sure it's one of the timeless classics. I find it kind of funny that this big burly man that works in a mine likes to come home and curl up with a good old fashion classic novel. I love this man.

"Hey baby. I didn't even hear you come in. How was the game?" I hear the sarcasm dripping from his voice as he knows that I can't stand anything related to our town heroes.

"Har Har, Daddy. You know I can't stand this stupid school spirit crap." I try to add a sense of cheerfulness to my voice to hide the hurt from earlier. I'm not fooling him though.

"Bella, baby, what's wrong? Did something happen at the game?" I hate that I'm scaring him a little bit.

"No, dad, I just had a rough night and I just-"I start to tear up again and he's over on the couch wrapping me up in his strong, warm arms instantly.

"I just freaking miss her dad, that's all." I could feel him nod his head as I'm safely tucked under his scruffy chin.

"Shh… I know you do baby. I know you do. I'm here though. I know I'm not her, but I'm here and you know you can talk to me about anything. And I miss her too baby. I miss her so damn badly." And my heart breaks even more for him and all that he's lost. I had her for seven years, but he had her for so much longer.

She was the love of his life and his fucking soul mate. I know if it hadn't been for me, he would've given up and died right alongside of her. I just can't imagine ever having a love like that. That all-consuming and powerful. I don't' know that I ever want that, because if something were to happen to that person, I don't want to have to go through what I watch him go through every day. The sadness is always there behind his crinkled brown eyes.

I feel tear drops land in my hair and I just can't take this anymore. This constant cloud of gloom that we'll forever live under. It's not fucking fair that we can't have her here with us. That she was taken away from us too damn soon. We need her, now more than ever.

It's at this exact moment that I realize I suddenly hate Edward Cullen. I hate that he has a mother and although he appreciates her, I still hate him. I hate that he gets to have hugs from her and know what a real mother's love is like. I hate how fucking close they are and that they have their own fucking traditions and get to go out and celebrate good things. I'll never have that and it's just not fair.

I break away from Charlie's embrace and suddenly feel so selfish. I have Charlie and he's amazing. The best father that ever lived in my opinion, so why isn't' he enough? I feel like I'm suffocating all of a sudden and I just need to get out of here. Out of his too warm arms that are suddenly too strong and too masculine.

I tell him I'm sorry and that I just want to be alone for a while and he doesn't push. He lets me go like always. He has his moments too. I guess like father like daughter. I run up the stairs two at a time, my vision blurry with the constant tears. I throw open my door and frantically search for my comfortable pj's and her old college t-shirt. I need to feel close to her tonight and it's the only thing that will allow me to do so.

I find them both and throw them on, taking a moment to inhale the old t-shirt, trying to find remnants of the sweet floral scent that is long gone. I angrily toss back my covers and climb into my cozy, comfortable bed and cry myself to sleep. Dreaming of a beautiful man that could save my broken heart and take me away from this tiny town and the years of hurt that it has caused.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading. I appreciate you all so much. Hope you enjoyed more Bella.