A/N: I know this story seems to be moving slow, especially those of you that are really looking forward to the wild shit, but trust me, in order to make a good quality story with some substance, I have to set up some backstory and plot development and shit like that. The good stuff is coming soon, but with that being said I want to reiterate that this is an adult story full of very adult themes, both good and bad. If for some reason that confuses you, I'll say in black and white that there are incoming dark themes that deal with very real, disturbing content. If this sounds weary to you, please reconsider, or look out for my authors notes before chapters that will contain warnings. Thank you for reading!
Bella and her friends didn't return to the dorm right away. I made it home a full 2 hours before they did, enough time to log into WoW on my laptop and complete my daily quests and browse YouTube until my body grew stiff from sitting in the same position at my desk.
They're arrival came in with the loud shuffle of footsteps and chatter from the other side of my bedroom door. Bella had knocked to inform me that there was pizza in the fridge for me if I wanted it, so that was nice, I guess. A quick glance at my phone revealed it was mid afternoon.
Normally I'd have no problem spending considerable amounts of time alone, but today was dragging and with no schoolwork to even study for to occupy my time, it only moved slower. I could call my mother to give her an update but the thought of the inevitable hour long conversation quickly trampled that idea.
I could call Emmett...
The thought didn't sound that much better than a conversation with Esme, but my best friend would at least be easier to talk to and possibly willing to jump on a game with me.
I moved to stand up from my desk and pace the room as I rang Emmett. I briefly registered the lack of deafening music coming from my bedroom wall. My neighbors were either dead or out at the moment, but I was grateful either way.
With a third ring, a deep, energetic voice answered a familiar greeting "Eddy!"
"Hi Em" I replied, taking a seat on the deep blue comforter draped sloppily across my bed.
"How's it going buddy? School start yet?" He asked, making me already feel better in my decision to call him rather than my mother. I love Esme with my life, but she and I had difficult speaking in the last few years so speaking to her felt mandatory and uncomfortable. Emmett knew this and in some way, absorbed a small responsibility in making sure I was safe and happy. Right around the time Esme and I had our falling out, Emmett became my confidant and I, his.
"No, tomorrow," I replied, lying back on the bed to stare aimlessly at the ceiling "and it's going fine."
"Who'd ya get stuck with this year?" I knew this conversation was coming sooner or later, so with a sigh, I bit the bullet.
"Her names Bella," I started slowly "Yes she's attractive, but no, nothing is going to happen. Please don't force me to talk about this." I begged. On the line, Emmett laughed before replying.
"You know me too well. But seriously, why not? Is she hot-hot? Do you have some rubbers just in case?"
I groaned audibly while I covered my face with my palm."Because it's just not, I don't know, and no but please don't send me any. Jesus." Knowing Emmett, I'd have a 100 count box of condoms at my door overnight. The thought made me cringe.
"Ya need to get out there eventually, Eddie," Emmett chided "you're 21 years old...gotta lose it sometime." I could practically hear his smirk over the phone.
"Yeah, yeah, It's not really a priority for me and you know that. You promised if I signed up for this stupid co-ed dorm thing you'd drop it for the rest of the year." I reminded him, sitting up.
"You're right, I know, I'm just reminding you is all," He laughed. I stood up again, taking particular interest in the sock on my right foot that I just noticed had a small hole over my pinky toe. That would be sure to bother me from now on.
For the next hour I listened to Emmett relay stories of home and I felt comfort in hearing nothing had really changed in Forks. It always was, and always will remain the same.
He told me about his new job coaching football at our old high school, and how frustrated he was with the lousy performances of his players. Emmett was a star linebacker while we were in school together. He had a good chance at a scholarship for his athletic finesse, if only his grades weren't so bad. Even I couldn't help him pull through in the end, but Emmett being Emmett, he didn't let it bother him and chalked it up to "shit happens."
He told me about his encounter with varies old classmates and how shitty they seemed to be currently doing. Not many people tent to leave Forks, so I've been told. If you're born there, you die there.
Besides the local drama, we discussed his new-used Jeep Wrangler, laughed about Mike after I told him about how the dumbbell misread his schedule which ended him in my dorm, and made plans to see each other over Christmas break. Luckily we were only about 3 and a half miles apart, so one of us could easily make the drive. It was more likely, however, that Emmett would be joining me here for the holidays so I could avoid the uncomfortable mandatory encounter with my mother. He is a good friend that way.
After our conversation, Emmett agreed to jump online for a bit for a couple of quick games. He wasn't a fan of Warcraft at all, but we shared a few Steam games we both enjoyed.
Before we met up, I decided to take a quick trip to the restroom and grab some of the pizza said she left for me. As soon as I opened the door of my room, a strange, disgusting smell hit my nose and I grimaced.
What the fuck is that? I thought, sniffing again with instant regret. It smelled like...burning hair? I wasn't even sure what to call it. The stench was rotten, almost like a live skunk was prancing around the dorm somewhere.
I almost thought to ask Bella, but the sound of laughter from her bedroom was enough to deter me. Maybe she was smoking cigarettes with her friends, in which case we'd need to have a serious discussion because not only was that habit disgusting but I also didn't need our entire shared dorm reeking with the stench of cigarettes.
Annoyed, I held my breath as I crossed the short distance to the bathroom and quickly used it. After washing my hands and with another deep breath, I opened the bathroom door and paced to the kitchen. I pulled open the fridge door, spotting a large pizza box jammed clumsily on its side. I lifted the lid to see half a pepperoni pizza and proceeded to remove 2 slices.
"Hey." A male voice rumbled behind me, making me jump and crush one of the slices in my hand. I spun around quickly, coming face to face with the boy I saw talking with Bella earlier in the great hall. The retched aroma I'd be smelling was wafting off of him as he stood before me. He was tall, standing almost eye level with me, maybe a few inches shorter. A quick size up of him told me he could undoubtedly kick my ass if he wanted to. His arms were thick, not intensely muscular but enough that he could push my scrawny self around without much effort. His demeanor reminded me of every person in school that ever messed with me to the point of misery and I was immediately intimidated.
He seemed to be sizing me up as well, with a smirk. His eyes darted to the crushed pizza slice in my hand then back up to my face.
"You just standing here wasting food or what?" He asked crudely. I narrowed my eyes at him before opening my mouth to speak.
"No, I-"
"Jake leave Edward alone." Bella called, emerging from her room to lean against the doorway. She was dressed now in an over-sized, maroon shirt and black sweatpants.
When did she change?
I didn't hear her enter the bathroom since they got here. The implications of that intrusive thought disgust me for reasons unknown.
Jake smiled at her before patting me on the shoulder and reaching around me to retrieve the box from the fridge.
"I'm just joking, chill." He told her, taking a slice and biting into it cold. His deep brown eyes looked almost black as he glanced at me. It felt almost like he was challenging me to say something, though not only was I smart enough not to take the bait, but I could also couldn't care less. The last thing I need is to paint a target on my back for some douche looking for a new victim.
"Edward, this is Jake. We met today at the meeting. He's in automotive engineering." Bella announced, crossing the room to the restroom.
"Hi." I greeted, turning to dig around in the cabinets for paper plates. The fridge door shut behind me.
"So...how's it going?" Jake asked casually as I placed my pizza on a plate and placed them in the microwave. I turned to face him as my food spun slowly in the little hot box beside me.
"Uh, good." I replied uncomfortably. I quietly willed the pizza to hurry up so I could run back to my room and get online with Emmett.
"So Bella is something huh?" He randomly blurted, taking me aback. I grimaced, glancing quickly at the bathroom door. Both Bella and my pizza were letting me down at this moment.
"Oh yeah, I guess." I cleared my throat. He watched me intently, still chewing on pizza. I noticed his forearms held several messy black and gray tattoos, one of which was a flaming ram skull that wrapped around his wrist. I resisted an eye-roll as the idea I had of him being a douche was only cemented now. He finished off his slice of pizza and proceeded to suck the grease off his fingers.
"She's a fox, that's for sure," he mused, now wiping his hands on his shirt. "right?"
The microwaved beeped then, giving me an escape. I pulled out the plate, testing the slices with my finger. The edges of the pizza were warm but the majority of it was cold. I wanted to whine, but held it back as I placed the plate back in the microwave and set it for 45 seconds.
"Thinkin' about asking her out." He continued without my reply. I nodded, desperately hoping he gets bored of me and drops the conversation. He smiled at me, slapping my same shoulder he pat earlier.
"Relax man, just feeling this whole situation out. I was worried you'd be a problem, but you seem cool."
Just then, as by if some movie-esque perfect timing, the door of the bathroom opened and Bella emerged. She shuffled over, moving between Jake and myself to open the fridge. When the fridge door closed, and she came back into my view she had a slice of pizza in her mouth and 2 cans of soda in her hands. Her cloudy, red eyes met mine and she smiled. I furrowed my brow at the sight of her, ready to ask if she was okay, but before I could she turned her head. With a glance at Jake, she nodded in the direction of her bedroom, the universal sign of "lets go" and turned on her heel. Jake gave me a "later man" as he followed, taking a can from her hand. As the bedroom door shut, I turned to the microwave and waited the last 3 seconds for a beep before removing my food and hurriedly making my way back to my room.