A/N: The number of readers who have added my little story to alerts and favorites is staggering! I'm amazed. Leave me a line or two in review. Sorry the update has taken awhile. RL got vicious: two trips and a funeral. I've forgotten to say it so far, but, just so you know, I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT. Bummer. The situations are mine.
BELLA POV
We are so not ready. At least, I'm not, even with the list I made before we left. Usually the chalkboard note paper puts me in the mood, but it isn't working today. I just know the half day of school will feel like an eternity. Friday half days always do. Plus that hateful paper; I'm just not feeling The Scarlett Letter. And then, of course, I have to play nice with Jessica all evening. I don't want to. I will have Emmett, though. He loves me and hates her. We always have fun.
We pull into the Forks High student parking lot to both barely tolerant and highly amused looks. My old, beat up, faded red Chevy is the stuff of legend here. No one can quite figure out how it can sound like it does and still achieve forward motion. I prefer not to question a true miracle, and I'm not sharing my secret with them. Mikey can't help but notice our arrival and begins what I can only imagine is, in his head, a slow motion, jump-into-my-arms-darling run towards my parking space. Ali is already fidgeting. Sigh. Save me from perky, punky, elf girls in love.
"Mikey! I missed you!" she screams as he pulls her from the passenger seat. She begins kissing his face like he's coming home from war. It's been 16 hours. When she jumps up and wraps her legs around his waist, it's time for me to try to get away.
"Bella, you ready for tonight?" Mikey asks, pulling his hands from Ali's ass to let her down. Escape foiled. "I hear one of the bands at Campus Club has an insane following. Must be good."
"I can't wait. We just have to make it through today. What time is Emmett getting in?" Ali and Edward's brother Emmett is at college in Port Angeles. It's not far, but he doesn't make it home very often. He used to be the best part of our group, and we all miss him. "I hope he can stay for the bonfire tomorrow night."
"He's supposed to be here by two. He told Mom he had a surprise. She's terrified, but she's willing to be shocked since he said he'd be here until Sunday afternoon. He's jazzed about going out to the rez. He hasn't seen Paul since the beginning of summer, " Ali informs me. I stay silent. My ex and Emmett are best friends. "Bye, Mikey," she says kissing him in a not-polite-for-company manner. "See you at noon." Patting him on the rear, she turns to join me on the joyless trek to homeroom.
Sixty-five hours and three classes later (ok, it was only three hours; it just felt like sixty-five), we finally make it to English. I am so very happy to turn in that damn paper. Usually I love English. Writing is normally my strong suit. Something about the central message of girl-wrong, man-right sets my teeth on edge, though, and The Scarlett Letter is one of the "classics" I just can't enjoy. Give me Jane Austen any day. At least she gives her heroines a giddy power.
My relief is short lived, however, when Jessica Stanley walks in. We used to be friends; not close but friends. Forks is a small town, and we'd grown up together. Slumber parties, weekends at the beach, Brownies, braces, and training bras. Then we finally noticed the boys notice us, and Jess liked it - a lot. And she wanted more than to just be noticed. She wanted to be wanted above all the rest of us girls. She worked her way through the best of the middle school boys - Mikey included - and picked up a grab bag of tricks along the way. She was the first among us to date, the first one kissed, the first one to explain the concept of sexual bases from experience. Remember that carrot scene from Fast Times at Ridgemont High? Yeah, Jess is Phoebe Cates.
That was all fine, as far as she and I were concerned, until Edward hit a growth spurt at the end of sophomore year. She knew I had "feelings" for him, since, like, forever. I think everyone did. But when he hit six feet and filled out his t-shirts just right, Jess wanted him, and at 15,she knew how to get him. By the second week of Junior year, she had him. And she made sure I knew it every minute of every day. That's when I went from being a little sad for her, to listing ways I could slip rancid food into her mouth in an effort to infect her tongue with a flesh eating virus. My favorite, by far, was exploiting her love for cold Ho-Hos by wrapping some spoiled sushi into the creamy layers of the chocolate roll. That would severely curtail her blow job abilities. Ali made me promise not to do it and threw away all my plans. I was angry as she tore up and pitched the red paper with black lines - it looked sufficiently evil, but she didn't appreciate the appropriateness of my design. She's such a bleeding heart.
"Bella! So excited you decided to come with us tonight!" Jess squealed in false enthusiasm. Bitch. "Edward is always so thoughtful to include everyone!" Did I mention Bitch? "Are you sure you won't feel left out, going alone? I heard you and Paul aren't together anymore," she said, getting in that one last dig.
"She'll be fine, Jess. She'll be the only one at the Club who'll know all of the music. It's always impressive," says Tyler Crowley, smiling as he walks up behind Jessica with his girlfriend, Lauren.
"Yes, SO impressive," smirks Lauren, fielding rival emoticon troops. Lauren is Jessica's right hand. Judging by the way she's glaring, Tyler has just fucked up by defending me. Poor guy was just trying to be nice.
"Thanks, Lauren! If you get confused by the songs and instruments, just ask; I'll be happy to explain. I don't think they'll be singing much Justin Beiber. And Jess, I think it's so great that you're concerned about me. I always tell Edward that you notice more than you let on. Paul's been gone a month, but I knew you'd get around to it. I can't wait to go shopping with you guys this afternoon. Will we be going anywhere besides Victoria's Secret?" See? I can be nice.
"What happened with Paul, anyway?" asked a melodious and familiar voice. "I thought that was going pretty well. Then a month ago, he disappears from the scene. Did you scare him?" Edward asked laughing. Jess adds her hyena shriek as he throws his arm over her shoulders and leads her to their desks.
He doesn't know how badly that comment hurts. It's a running joke that guys are intimidated by me. Edward says beauty and brains is hard to handle. But I didn't scare Paul; he scared me. How could he know, though? Edward is my friend, but there are some things I don't tell him. Some things Alice has promised not to tell. I really don't want to start something bad between Paul and Emmett, either. I'm not a prude or a virgin, but I'm not a slut. Paul just made me feel like one. I slept with him willingly; yep, I gave it up and kind of enjoyed it. But Paul has a nasty streak that I wasn't into. And his views on monogamy only ran one way - mine. He was jealous of every guy I spoke to, including Edward. Always suspected the worst. It was not hard to walk away, especially when I spotted Leah leaving his house one Saturday morning. Fuck that. I'm worth more.
Alice flashes a sympathetic smile my way as we, too, make our way the our seats. Nothing of interest is taking place within the lulling drone of our teacher extolling the virtues of the book we have just finished and analyzed, so Ali and I pass notes, planning our shopping spree later on. We don't usually go to Port Angeles in this big a group, so a day at the mall and dinner together will be a treat. Must have new outfits for a campus hang out, right? Even Jessica and I can agree on that.
The half day finally over, we head out to meet our friends to firm up all the plans. Angie and Ben are standing beside her little Honda, staring love struck into each other's eyes. So cute I want to puke. Lauren is walking toward them with Tyler trailing behind. He looks a little sad. And frightened. What did she do to him? Mikey has spotted Ali and is starting his slo-mo run again. But my eyes are glued to Edward and Jessica in his Volvo, making out in the front seat. If not for Emmett's promised company tonight, I might not go. It's getting harder and harder to watch this. It wasn't so bad when I had Paul, or Riley last year. But this is getting to be too much. They are all paired up, and I'm stuck watching Jessica show me again and again that he's hers. She doesn't even let us spend time together anymore, really. We hang out, but it's always like tonight, in a group. I miss just being his friend, hanging around acting dumb, really talking to each other. Even if I didn't feel all these extra emotions for him, we were still good friends. Jess doesn't like that; I think she sees our friendship as suspicious. So she controls our time together. But she can't control his home or his sister. I love staying over at the Cullens'. I get to be with both of my friends.
Before I reach the point at which I will have to pull Jessica out of the Volvo by her hair, Jake runs up to remind us all about the bonfire on First Beach the following night. It's important for Jake and Seth to keep their ties strong within the Quileute community. That's why Mom and Dad allow Jake to stay with his friend Jared and attend these bonfires every now and then. They say it keeps him connected. These nights can get a little wild, and Charlie and Renee know this; it's why Seth can't go yet. Jake wants to go because he can get drunk. He's sixteen. But to be honest, that's why we all go when we're invited. Tomorrow will be no exception.
"Be there around six if you want to be a part of the storytelling. The elders will be done around eight, then it's all ours!" he tells us excitedly. Oh, the sweet call of inebriation is loud with this one. "I'm headed out to La Push after practice. Mom's picking up Seth from swim practice, so you don't have to."
"Ok, Jake, thanks. See you tomorrow."
"Your truck running good?" Jake is the secret weapon, the true miracle. He's like the truck whisperer. He keeps my rust bucket running with oil, spit, and hope. A mechanical genius.
"Yes, it's fine. Thank you, Jake, stop worrying."
"You're my sister, I'm allowed. Have fun, be careful. Don't let anybody fuck with you tonight."
"I promise," I tell his retreating form. Protective little brother.
I turned to see Alice with a stormy face and am glad it's not directed at me. "Get the hell out of the car Edward! Let him up, Jess, God! Gross much?" Hehehe, how embarrassing for them.
"Fuck, Alice, what's your problem?" yells Jessica pouring herself from his car. Edward just unfolds himself elegantly, thumbing the whore spit from his lip. Damn, even that's hot. I'm sick and need help. He places his hand at the small of her back but doesn't defend her.
"People are waiting here, Jess. Keep your pants on until you don't have an audience. Are we all ready?" Ali says. I love her. Plans are set to meet at the Cullen house before we leave. Shopping and dinner at the mall, than live local music near campus. That small, magnificent girl can direct her people, I'll give her that.
We all say goodbye, then Ali and I jump into the truck after a sickening display of the sweet sorrow of parting between her and Mike. He can't resist running his fingers along the frayed edges of her cut off shorts, and I know from the self-satisfied look on her face that that was her plan all along. Devious mastermind.
My faithful truck chugs along to the Cullen home, where it is dwarfed by an enormous Jeep. Ali and I leap out of the truck and run, leaping and squealing, toward its enormous owner. Emmett scoops us both up in his arms, swinging us around. "Emmett!" we yell together, so happy to see the great teddy bear of a big brother.
"When did you get here? You're early!" Alice is simply beaming. We've all missed him so much.
"My last class was canceled, so we left a little sooner than planned. You both look beautiful, as always. I thought I told you to stop growing up. Damn! Seniors, boyfriends, going out to clubs, drinking…" Emmett shakes his head, as if bemused. The sly smile that dimples his face gives his humor away.
"We did all that before you left, Em. We did most of it with you!" I laugh. "Hey, who's 'we'?" No sooner than the question escapes my lips than the most stunning blonde I've ever seen comes gliding out the front door of the house behind Emmett. She is … breathtaking. I think I may hate her a little on sight. I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual, judging from the scowl that passes across her face when she catches sight of me. Uh, oh. She kinda looks like she can beat my ass.
"Rose! Come meet my sisters, baby!" Emmett booms, completely unaware that his girlfriend appears to be plotting some very uncomfortable things for my near future. I have always loved Em for calling me his sister. It's like he doesn't see a differences between Ali and me. He should really make that clear to Rose.
"Oh my God, Em, you brought home a GIRL! Is Mom home? Does she KNOW?" emotes the small sister. This is indeed a reason the be excited, though. Em has never, not even in high school, brought home a girl.
"Yes, Mom knows. I got home a little before they arrived, " says Esme Cullen. If Mary Alice is beautiful, Edward is handsome, and Emmett is impressive, Esme is flawless. Simply striking in her beauty, soft and delicate. She's more than that, of course. Kind like my mom, enthusiastic like Ali, Esme exudes this warmth that can't be described. Right now, however, she seems a little dazed. "Rose is Emmett's surprise."
"I am sorry about that, Mrs. Cullen. I told him he should give you some warning. Emmett thought it would be so funny to just spring me on all of you. I can stay somewhere else…," stutters Rose, obviously uncomfortable with Em's joke.
"Nonsense, Rose. You'll stay here. The guest room is always ready," says the ever polite Carlisle Cullen. Sweet Lord, one look at him and you totally understand the lust every female within a five mile radius feels for his sons. It's a hereditary trait. Damn. Daddy Cullen is perfection in a doctor's coat. Many a Forks PTA mom has shown up at Forks Memorial Hospital with real or imagined ailments hoping for a bedside visit by the good doctor. Can't say I blame them. Just, damn.
Thank, Dr. Cullen, Mrs. Cullen," smiles Rose. Maybe I don't hate her. She seems truly happy to be here and appreciative of their acceptance of the situation. No, not hate. Fear? Hell, yeah. Bitch is scary.
"Rose! Come meet Alice and Bella," calls Em again.
"Hi Rose! I'm Ali! So glad you're here!" exclaims Ali, grabbing her hands and holding them tightly, determined to make Rose our newest bestie. Good luck with that. Removing her hand from Ali's with an impossible grace, considering Ali wasn't actually willing to let her go, Rose turns to me with a smile-like expression.
"I'm Rose, Emmett's girlfriend." Way to put it out there, Rose.
"I'm Bella, Emmett's kind-of-adopted sister. I'm Ali and Edward's friend. Been around since kindergarten. A friend." Why the fuck am I rambling? Would the gorgeous blonde really hurt me in front of all these people? No. She can't feel threatened. Maybe? I don't really know her…
"Are you going with us tonight?" she asks.
"Yeah, big music fan. Staying over tonight here, too"
"Great." She does not sound like it's great. I am very damn certain I did not have "Piss off Emmett's new girlfriend" on my list this morning. Jess will love her.
We hang out, catching up with Em, Ali trying to get Rose to engage in the conversation. Eventually we hear Edward's Volvo pull up with Jess, Tyler, and Lauren. Not far behind we see Angie's Honda. Taking a deep breath, I follow Em, Rose, and Ali to the Jeep. Gonna be a long night.
A/N: Ok. Everyone's accounted for. What's that? Someone's missing? Wonder who we haven't met yet….
