"He was in biology today." Bella says, referring to Edward who hadn't appeared in nearly two weeks. I rolled my eyes and lit a cigarette, Bella grabbed it out of my mouth and put it out. I blew the smoke from my lungs and glared.
"Excuse me, but I need that." I say, pointing at the now ruined nicotine wrap. I crossed my arms.
"They'll kill you." Bella says and I shrug.
"I don't care and what is with your obsession with Edward? I thought he was an asshole." I say, rolling my eyes.
"What about Jasper, huh?" She asked and I glanced over at her.
"What about Jasper?" I ask, eyes narrowed, she shrugged.
"You two have been getting pretty intense." She says and I scowl.
"No, we haven't been getting 'pretty intense'. We haven't been getting anything. He has a girlfriend, Bella and we barely speak. And when we do, we fight." I say, thinking about the banana incident and then the incident that happened a few days ago, when I asked him why he didn't eat. He asked me why I didn't either, and I told him I asked him first, then we continued in that little back and forth, until Bella dragged me away and Emmett dragged Jasper away.
"Raya, you two fight like an old married couple and then you look at each other like a couple of teens who want to fuck each other's brains out." She says and I scoff.
"We. Do. Not. Stop it, I like Alice, she's nice and what you're saying isn't nice. No, what you're suggesting is insane." I correct and she shrugs.
"He likes you." She says and I scoff.
"Yeah well, you like Edward and the world where Jasper Hale likes me is non-existent, seriously, he probably wouldn't care if I dropped de-." Tire squeals cut me off and Bella spun while I blinked, trying to get my mind to catch up. Then my back was colliding with pavement, one large hand cupping the back of my head, keeping it from slamming against the road and the other holding the small of my back.
I gasped as my body pressed against another's. Then a hand shot out from over his shoulder where Edward was holding Bella. Jasper's body kept the minivan from colliding with my own, while Edward's hand kept Bella safe. Cold icy dread slipped down my spine. I turned my head and my lips brushed his soft cheek. He turned and he blinked down at me. Edward pushed from Bella and Jasper swallowed, then disappeared.
"Bella!"
"Raya!"
Our names were yelled from all angles and I could hear sirens in the distance, people yelling for someone to call 911. Bella stared at me, as I sat up and stood. I blinked down at my leg that was basically mangled. "Rae." Bella breathed and I winced, when I moved, I dropped to the ground with a cry of pain.
Then I noticed Emmett and Rosalie, Emmett shoved the van away from Bella's truck, while Rose froze at the sight of my leg. I met her gaze, sympathy and guilt flooded her eyes and then she turned and was gone. Emmett looked on the verge of tears, but he shook his head and turned, disappearing with the rest of his family. Realization dawned on me. It was cold and scary and I didn't want it. But it was there, staring at me, basically slapping me in the face. I slammed my hand against the concrete ground, ignoring the bite against my skin. I was stupid, stupid, stupid. How could I not have seen it? There were vampires in Forks.
•••
Twenty-three stiches. I didn't need them. I could have gone without them. Luckily, when the nurse asked, I requested dissolvable. That way when I got home, I could heal myself easily. I was angry. I was angry at Tyler and his shit for driving. I was angry at the Cullen's for being what they were. I was angry for not realizing it sooner. Pale skin. Unnatural beauty. It was their eyes that threw me. I'd only ever seen vampires with red eyes. I didn't understand these gold ones. I felt stupid and ignorant. Was I not trained for this? Wow, uncle would be so proud.
I was pissed and more than a little worried. Bella was entwined with Edward, he'd basically exposed himself for her. That was love. But why on earth did Jasper do it? I didn't even want to try to decipher that. It was all too confusing. I sighed and lifted my leg in thanks to the woman, who gave me crutches. Oh joy.
"Alright dear, you'll come back in a few weeks for Dr. Cullen to go over the magnitude of the injuries. If you have any pain take a couple Tylenol and make sure to keep pressure off that leg, for at least a week." She patted my cheek and I smiled in thanks. As if on cue, Charlie came rushing into the room.
"I'm fine." I assure him, cutting him off from what would most likely be a worried father's rant.
"How's Bella?" I ask, worriedly and he shrugs.
"Fine, nothing like you. Fuck, Rae you sure you're okay?" He asked and I nod, using the crutches to leave the room and move down the hall.
"I tried your mom . . ." He trailed off, and I shook my head.
"Don't worry about it." I say and he nods.
"I'll grab Bella and meet you in the car." I say and he nods again, before walking off. He was a man of few words. I moved farther down the hall and freeze as I see Rosalie, Emmett, Alice, Jasper, and two others. A blonde man in a lab coat and a petite caramel haired woman, all were staring down the hall. I moved over to them and glanced at them before looking in the direction they were all looking in. Bella and Edward were talking. I frowned. They did a double take when they saw me.
"You a doctor?" I ask the man, and he nods, blinking at me.
"You must be, Raya." He says and I nod.
"I must be, anyway, now, honestly dude, how long do I need to use these things?" I ask, motioning to the crutches and he shrugs with a contemplative face.
"Four to six days." He goes on to tell me about the benefits of the longer amount of time and I completely tune him out.
"Bella!" I call, when I see the exchange between them getting heated and Bella blinks before looking over at me. I motion her over and she glances at Edward, but moves.
"Fuck, Rae." She says, wincing at my bandaged up leg.
"It's worse than it looks, anyway, let's go." I say to her and she frowns.
"I was just thanking Edward for pushing me out of the way." She says pointedly, like there's something I need to get. Way ahead of you there, Bells.
"That's nice." I say, my smile is fake.
"Shouldn't you thank, Jasper?" She asked and I stare at her.
"No, thanking someone would imply that one is grateful. I am not grateful, they should have let the van hit us. It would have saved everyone a lot of trouble, let's go, Bella." I say, not waiting for a reaction before I turn and move away. I hate crutches. I hate hospitals. I hate vampires. I hate the Cullen's. I hate Jasper. I'm in a bad mood, did you notice?!
"Raya!" Bella cries, jogging next to me.
"That was so rude." She says and I shrug.
"Listen, Bella, drop it. Whatever you think is going on, drop it." I say, fiercely and her eyes narrow suspiciously.
"You know something is off, too." She accuses and I froze, turning to her.
"You're opening Pandora's box, Bella." I say and I meant it. She was opening a can of worms I didn't even want to know existed.
"Lose the curiosity, it only served in killing the cat. If someone asks, Edward and Jasper were standing right next to us. They saved us. Thank the heavens for their existence and all that other bullshit, but anything else, Bella, is just plain insanity and last I checked, there is only one of us on that train and it's me. So, do yourself and everyone around you a favor and drop it." I say, not able to keep the annoyance out of my tone and what does she do? She crosses her arms, defiantly. She's playing with fire.
"So fucking stubborn." I mumble, then she was storming down the hallway.
I huffed and looked down the hall in the opposite direction. I saw Edward first and I glared. "Fuck you." I growl, knowing full well he could hear me, even from afar. I was vaguely aware of the other Cullen's, but I didn't care. Bella liked Edward and all Edward would bring to her, is death. I turn and move back down the hallway. I really, really, truly, wish all of that had been the end of it. Do you think that's the case? Good, because it wasn't.
•••
She didn't leave it alone. She didn't leave it alone. It was the only thought going through my mind, as I leaned against the large stairway, leading up to the front doors of the school. Bella got out of Edward's car and he wrapped an arm around her. I blink, once. Twice. Jesus H. Christ.
"Oh. My. God." Angela says, like this is something that's fucking good. It's not. Actually, it's really, really bad. I toss my cigarette into a puddle and huff out the smoke, fury emanating from me. I notice Jasper. He swallows as he makes his way up the steps and leans next to me. I glare.
"If he makes her happy. What's so wrong with it?" He asks and I stand up straighter.
"Happiness is a delusion and do you want to know what happens when someone breaks that delusion, heartbreak and do you want to know, who has to pick up the pieces of that heartbreak? Me." I snap and he stares at me.
"You don't believe in true love?" He asks and I scoff.
"For Emmett and Rose, maybe." I say and he glances at me.
"What about Alice and I?" he asks and I scoff.
"Hell no. You two don't love each other. Not in the way it should count – listen, I'm in a bad mood and the only thing you're going to get from me, is bitchy honesty, so if you don't want that to break your perfect little-." Strong hands cup the side of my neck and cold lips open over mine, cutting me completely off.
I was stunned for a moment, before I was gripping his neck and kissing him back. His hands slid down my sides and around my waist as he pulled me closer, deepening the kiss. He tasted even better than he smelled. Rich, like honey. His tongue slowly teased mine as his hands rose again, cupping my face.
The kiss was sloppy, yet precise and well-timed. When he tilted his head, I tilted mine in the opposite direction. Our tongues fought for dominance. Then, just as quick as it started, it slowed down until my bottom lip was encased within his teeth and he was sucking deliciously. I whimpered and he let go.
He dropped his hands and I pressed my fingers to my lips, they were swollen and bruised. I glanced over his shoulder to see Bella staring, lips parted, eyes wider than her face. Edward was emotionless. Emmett's eyebrows were in his hairline, while Rose stared with intrigued amusement. Then my eyes landed on Alice. I looked away sharply, not wanting to see the hurt or the hatred directed at me. I looked at Jasper and then I shoved him. He looked ready to catch himself, little did he know . . .
I allowed a spark of energy to escape my hands and he flew from the steps. His back collided harshly with the ground and he grunted. "You son of a bitch." I snap and turn, storming into the school, because leaving wasn't a fucking option.
I got to first period and slumped in my chair. Bella scurried in a moment later, eyes wider than before as she gripped my shoulders. I was a little afraid they might pop out of here head. "What – how – wow." She says and I shrug her off.
"I told you to stay away from Edward. He's dangerous, Bella." I say and she shook her head. I grab her chin.
"Do you honestly think he could control himself, if you got a cut? He may speak words of love, Bella, but he's a monster. Basic needs overtrump lust." I hiss and shove away from her. She stares at me in disbelief.
"You know." She whispers and I keep my arms crossed.
"Rae, you know." She breathes and I ignore her.
"How?" She asks, she is ignored again. Children start filing in, completely cutting Bella off. I scoff and stand.
"I'm not doing this shit." I grumble walking out of the classroom. I move toward the room and open it. I see Edward, Rose, and Jasper in this class. The teacher was too distracted to notice me. Good. I walk over to Edward and got into his face.
"Stay away from, Bella." I say and he frowns at me.
"I can't." He says and I smile sweetly.
"Don't worry, baby boy, I'll make you." I say.
"Is that a threat?" He asks, and he doesn't look intimidated. Big mistake. I get closer, my nose nearly brushing his.
"Yes, leech, it is." I snarl and shove away from the desk before leaving the room. I was radiating with energy. I needed an outlet. So, I ran. Took off at full speed through the halls of Forks High School. Blurring to invisibility to any naked eye. To any eye. I don't stop when I reach the forest. I don't stop when I pass Forks line, I just keep running and running, all the while thinking; why do I keep running, when I have nothing left to run to?
