CHAPTER 7
"Hey Rose, wanna come out for some coffee and, you know, see the sights and what not?" I ask, hoping for some sisterly bonding. She stares at me blankly, seeking an ulterior motive no doubt. "Can't a sister just want to spend some time with the one person in the world who gets her?"
"Hmm," she replies.
"What do you mean 'hmm'?"
"I mean, hmm. I'm sure you have something up your sleeve, but since I can't prove anything… then I suppose I'll come, but your paying for everything, even my fuel."
I roll my eyes at her tight-assed nature, but comply regardless. "Fine, lets go."
"What! Now?" her face looks as though I've just asked her to shave her eyebrows off.
"Well when the hell did you think I meant?"
"Not now, obviously."
"Just get in the damn car."
We walk out to her pride and joy, and likely the sole object of her affections, and head for the small C.B.D. of Forks.
"So which is it going to be, lame attempt at Central Perk, or the Trucker Road stop?"
She scrunches her nose at both, "probably the cafe, I've had enough of sweaty people for one day."
"Hey," I object, all indignant. "I'm the only person you've seen all day."
She rolls her eyes at me, "yeah, like I said."
We walk over to the cafe and opt for some of the seats they have situated out the front of the premises. "Are we supposed to go in and order?" I ask, wondering if their budget can accommodate a waitress.
"Ugh, next they'll be asking us to pick the remnant food out of our own teeth," Rose retorts, taking a jab at my supposed new-found snobbery.
"Yeah, yeah. What do you want bitch?"
She raises an eyebrow at me, "do I look like the type of person who regularly blows her hard earned money on coffee when she has perfectly good coffee at home for one-seventieth of the price?"
"Why are you such a bitch?" I ask rhetorically, I of course know she was just born that way.
I enter the small, brown-toned premises and order two of whatever they recommend, as long as it has caffeine in it and instead of waiting outside with that bitch, I just wait for my drinks by the counter.
"Here you go Henrietta," the lady offers me my drinks on a tray, but I just pick them up and carry them outside to where Rose awaits my return… with two extra people… who are also known as our neighbours.
"Rose!" I chastise her. "What have I told you about picking up strange men during 'me' time?"
Her bottom lip drops down all sad and shit, "but this one has handcuffs," she points to our esteemed police chief.
I give her the cold drink and she inspects it closely, "err, what is it?"
"Do I look like a barista?" I seat myself opposite Rose, our two companion at our sides. "Greetings chief," I nod at Emmett and hi says 'hi' back with a smile. "Jed," I nod.
Silence encroaches on our little soiree, and I hate silence, so I break it first. "So Billy-Ray, I was wondering if you were able to explain something to me."
"Okay, what do you want to know?" he asks, his eyebrows raise expectantly.
"Well, your dad's a doctor right?" He nods, knowing I already know that. "So I figure you've probably picked up something along the way through some sort of etherial transference, and I was wondering if you were able to check out something for me… over there."
"Okay, I could probably help you out with that." he completely surprises me by playing along.
"We'll be back in a minute, youse just stay here and discuss Emmett's handcuffs." I offer my arm for Bubba-Joe to take, and he does, escorting me over to a park bench near an entrance to a nature walk.
"So, dare I ask what that was all about."
"Well, your brother seems to go all funny around Betty, and they haven't really spent much time together, so I thought I'd give him this opportunity to open Betty's eyes to what is right in front of her."
His lips purse together, "I'm not sure that is such a good idea, he seems infatuated now, but he is a pillar of the community, and your sister… well, isn't."
Did he really just say that? "I believe that is Emmett's choice if he wants to get involved with my sister or not. Besides, he isn't any better than her, she may dance, but at least she doesn't pay to go see people dance. We have bills to pay, and our chosen employment doesn't reflect who we are personally. You've really disappointed me Bobby-Bill Jr. I really thought you were different, but you're just a snob like everyone else in this small-minded hole."
He scoffs, "and what about the Porsche?"
I raised my eyebrows at him, "really? She makes a degrading sacrifice to better her life, and more importantly, the lives of her loved ones, and you're trying to make her out to be the bad guy. Why, because she bends over for a gross old dude, and that must mean she does it for everyone, is that it? You really have a black-and-white view of the world, don't you."
I walk away from the handsomest man I've ever seen, my rage at him dissipating with each footstep.
"Wait!" He hollers from behind, and without the conscious thought, my feet still.
"Look, I don't know that much about you or your family, and your right, I shouldn't have judged based on what I've seen. But I love my brother, just as I'm sure you love your sister and I have no doubt that you would protect your sister just as I am trying to protect my brother." He stands behind me, his breath hitting the back of my neck.
"You're protecting him from nothing, my sister wouldn't dare enter a relationship anyway, especially if it will inevitably take her from supporting us, I was just hoping she could find it within herself to allow a selfish feeling… if only once."
I walk away to collect big, bad Rose from poor, defenceless Emmett's side.
"Ready to go?" I ask her.
"Why? We just got here." I look over my shoulder to where Joey-Jon Snr. still remains, but decide not to rat him out to his brother.
"I just remembered I left the oven on at home."
"But you don't cook," she states quite obviously.
"Not that oven, I mean the meth lab, it really shouldn't be left unattended."
Emmett's eyebrows shoot up at that, but Rose is already out of her seat and walking to her car, leaving me behind. I jog to catch up, but she's in and speeds off without me.
"Fuck!" That bitch read what happened like a book. I know she isn't angry with me, likely just at Spencer Joe.
"Need a lift home?" Bucephelus asks from behind me.
I sigh heavily, "don't you think you've done enough for one day? Besides, I think I should steer clear of the house for a while, she'll need time to seethe."
"Then, care to take a walk with me?" He asks.
"Only if it's to somewhere secluded with no witnesses."
