A/N: So…I feel like a true writer already. Surviving off sugar highs: check. Talking to self in third person: check. Carrying a notebook everywhere: check. Le sigh. I'm tired. Drama sucks. So that's why it's been forever since I updated. Forgive me, please. :)
"Bella, I can smell the smoke all over you! Do you think I'm blind?! Look at your eyes! I'm a cop; I'm trained to recognize this sort of thing! What would make you want to do this?" Charlie finally sat down at the kitchen table, obviously feeling accomplished by his little fatherly speech.
"Dad, it's nothing, ok? Just a party. And I'm eighteen; I can do this if it's what I want."
"Not if it's illegal, you can't! I have every right to arrest you and every one of your friends right now! I'm just glad that that Stanley girl and that Newton boy weren't involved." He actually thought I'd left Jessica's to party with Lauren. I had to suppress a laugh at the thought of Jessica and Mike sneaking away from the party, leaving our fate at the hands of my father, who'd come to break up our little gathering. I made a mental note to ask her about it next time I see her.
I was also very cheerful that Tyler had had the sense to put what was left of my clothes back on me and leave the room as soon as he saw the cruiser pull up. I hated to imagine what Charlie would be doing now if that run-in hadn't been avoided.
"Is all of this because of the Cullens?" He reached out to touch my hand, which I immediately recoiled.
"What would make you think that, Dad?" I could feel warm tears pooling in the corners of my eyes.
"Before I carried you out to the car you were mumbling his name in your sleep," he mumbled, obviously hurt that he'd watched me have the nightmare again.
"Maybe it is; maybe it isn't. But I'm going to bed now. You'll have plenty of time to yell over nothing in the morning." I stood and walked to my room, falling back into my zombie-like state of being.
My bed seemed so foreign and unwelcoming; I could almost picture him lying there, as he had after our first day in the meadow. I could remember Charlie carrying me up here after he left me alone in the woods, and how Charlie had stood by this horrid bed every night when I'd wake, screaming and crying, from the same wretched dream.
I opted for the floor. I pulled a soft, thick blanket from the closet and lay it across the hardwood floor in front of the bed. I found a pillow that didn't smell like him, and fell into a peaceful slumber.
Sunday was better. Jessica, still innocent in my father's eyes, picked me up at nine. She handed me a cigarette the moment we turned out of my driveway.
"Thanks for leaving us," I muttered. I was trying to sound angered, but still pleased that she'd left me with a good cover when I needed to party a little.
"No problem," she laughed. "Your stuff's still at my place. We're going to stop there, you'll get your stuff, and then we're going to Brandon's to hang out today. I'll be sure to have you home by nine; it is a school night, after all."
We laughed and joked all the way back to Jess's house. Once we ran inside long enough to get my things, we started down the wet road to Port Angeles. I could feel a string of questions coming along, now that Jessica had me alone.
"So…do you mind me asking what happened with Edward?" I winced at the sound of his name.
"Right now, yeah. But ask away once I get fucked up." My icy attitude screamed at her to stop, or at least change the subject. She decided on changing the subject, being Jessica.
"So, last night, me and Mike had to run back to our houses for a little while, but after everything had calmed down, we snuck off to Shannon's place. Oh, my God, he is so good in bed, Bella. You have to get with him sometime." My head shot up automatically.
"Whaaa?" I gaped at her momentarily.
"Yeah, he's great. And I'm not the same jealous bitch I used to be. I'm just trying to help you get over Cullen." She gave me a sad smile.
"We'll see," I laughed.
I turned to look back out at the green scenery of the Olympic Peninsula. Everything about this place held memories of him; the cloudy sky, the lush, wet scenery, everything. I began to doubt how much longer I could stay here. Driving through Port Angeles brought back memories of the night when all our secrets came out, and the times that he saved me. The near silent sound of the rain on the hood of the car reminded me of my first nights in Forks, the nights he watched me sleep. The memories became too difficult to handle. I lit another cigarette.
"Shannon bringing anything good?" I asked conversationally, as I was beginning to wonder if we'd ever get to Brandon's.
"Probably. Even if he doesn't, Brandon's always got something. Lauren usually gets our ex from him. So…did you have fun with Tyler? I heard what happened…actually, everyone upstairs could hear it." She giggled at my staggered expression.
My cheeks flushed a brilliant red. "Yeah, I, uhh, had a lot of fun." And it was true; I felt better afterward.
"Shit. I think this is it. Call Lauren real quick and see where she went. I told her not to leave so I could find the house."
I pulled my small phone from its pocket in my purse, and quickly dialed Lauren's number.
She answered breathlessly on the fourth ring. "Hello?"
"Hey, where are you? Jess can't find Brandon's since you left."
"Well, where are you guys?"
I took in my surroundings for the first time before answering. "In front of a really little brick house."
"Well then you're there. Tell Jess to use the spare key. Oh, and tell her that she'll be glad we left. We had to make a run for something she was complaining about earlier. See you in a few, Bee."
I rolled my eyes at the newest nickname before turning my attention back to an annoyed Jessica. "Use the spare key. The made a run for something for you, so don't be pissy. I can see it written all over you face," I laughed.
Her face perked up instantly. "Yes! I've been wanting rophies for like…ever. Finally," she exclaimed, throwing open her door.
I trailed behind her. "So…uhm, what are we going to do, just sit around and get fucked up all day?"
"Probably," she laughed. "But Brandon has a pretty wicked sound system, and three bedrooms." She definitely exaggerated the last part for my benefit.
Jessica pulled a small silver key from beneath the tattered mat in front of the black door. She ushered me in after unlocking it.
The main room was small, though there were two couches and three chairs within it. How that was I'll never know. I could plainly see the kitchen from the family room. It appeared that the house, despite its size, was unbelievably two stories, the family room and the kitchen being the only rooms on the first floor. The small, narrow staircase was just to the right of the kitchen.
"I'll be right back. I gotta pee," Jessica said as she climbed the stairs, leaving me sitting on a black leather couch much like his in the main room. She returned only moments later.
"Need a cigarette?" she offered as she sat next to me.
I took it eagerly. I put it in my mouth, holding it there while she searched her purse for a lighter. She leaned over and lit the cigarette for me. I took a hit, and since she wouldn't move back, ended up blowing smoke in her face.
"You're so pretty, Bella. Would you do me a favor?" I tensed up when I realized she hadn't had to pee at all; she went to take her ecstasy. Perfect.
"Jess, that all de-," I said before I was cut off by her lips on mine. My eyes widened momentarily, but my shock quickly dissolved as I thought, what the hell? No big deal. After a few minutes, she pushed me down on the couch, trying to remove my shirt. Before she could, though, the front door opened. We sat up immediately and stared into the shocked eyes of Lauren, Mike, Tyler, Shannon, and Brandon.
"Uhm…we're very sorry to interrupt, please continue," Mike laughed as he leaned against the door frame.
I grimaced at him. "So…what'd you guys bring?" I inquired in an attempt to distract them. It seemed to work.
"Rope and dope," Shannon replied simply with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Mike, roll Iz a joint. Tyler, turn up the music. Lauren, will you go get the beer out of the kitchen?" All the while, Brandon was too busy hooking up his X-Box to perform the tasks himself.
Mike sat down beside me, pulling a bag from his pocket. While he was rolling a joint for us, Tyler was looking through Brandon's CDs for something suitable, and Lauren was returning with four six-packs. She handed me two.
"Have fun," she whispered, followed by kissing my cheek. I rolled my eyes as I realized what was happening: everyone was trying to set me up with Mike for his benefit.
"Here ya go," Mike said in my ear as he handed it to me, having already taken a hit himself.
"Thanks," I sighed after taking a few hits.
I took the beer Mike was sipping from his hand, making him laugh as he surrendered it to me. He opened the other. Once I was pretty out of it, I could feel the set-up coming on strong. Mike started trying to get closer, kissing my cheek, my neck, breathing in my ear. Everyone was behind him.
"Mike is so great," Lauren commented randomly, sensing my walls coming down.
"Totally," Jessica agreed. I laughed.
"Mike, let's just go upstairs before the guys start telling me how wonderful you are," I laughed. He gladly obliged, leading me into the first bedroom on the left side of the hall.
He didn't speak until he had me on the bed, underneath him. "Bella, I've wanted you for so long; you don't know how much I've wanted you," he breathed on my stomach as he lifted my shirt, trailing kisses up to my chest.
Once my shirt was on the floor, he began to kiss me fully on the lips. The only other thing I remembered before my consciousness gave way was the same painful sensation from the night before, the pain that drove away the memories of him.
A/N: Sorry this took so damn long. Blame it on the drama. Le sigh. I figured out the beginning of Welcome to the Black Parade on piano today by accident. Whoo. Well…I'm off to get a coffee. Review! It inspires me to write quicker!