Holy Crow
Chapter Seven
It's been a exactly three weeks and five days since I've spoken to any of the Cullens. For a week after the accident none of them came to school. And when they did they avoided me like the plague.
I tried not to be hurt, and I tried not to hate them. But it was hard. Extremely so. For the first time since I'd come to Forks, I really felt alone. And I hated it. I hated the power they all seemed to have over me.
I had spent my nights trying to sleep. Trying because it was so hard. I had more nightmares than I cared to think about. Ones of Emmett dying, ones of us both dying. Ones of him leaving me, ones of the Cullen's laughing as I sobbed, heart broken. Really, I didn't like to think about it.
At school I tried my best to avoid contact with any and all persons. I ate lunch by myself, I had other friends besides the Cullens that I could be with. But I certainly didn't care to sit with them. Not while they were in the same building as the Cullen children.
My last few weekends had been ones filled with solitude, if that made any sense at all. I snacked, for I didn't have much of an appetite anymore, and I slept. I read a lot, and spent my time doing just about nothing but homework. I didn't talk to anyone, there was no real point. I just didn't have the motivation, I guess.
Charlie was getting worried, but I didn't see why. My grades were at an all time high, and I was home and ready to make dinner for him every night. There was really nothing for him to complain about. Even if I didn't speak, I was still alive right, I was still useful. There was no point in him being upset over nothing.
I was a shell it felt like. I just felt so damn alone, and it was easiest to block all those emotions out. I didn't hurt as much, if I pretended I wasn't hurt at all. And the only way that was possible was if I made myself as nonexistent as possible. Because my existence had been all about Emmett Cullen for over three or so months. It was dumb that I had gotten so attached to him, and I was now reaction this way. But I couldn't help it. I'd loved him.
I bit my lip, why was I thinking of all of this now? Now when I was all alone, and even more prone to pain. It was stupid, I tried blocking it out, but it was so hard.
There was a knock on my door, I looked up, thankful for the reprieve from my pain inducing thoughts. Charlie was there, with a small tentative smile on his face. I tried to force one on mine, though I was sure that I looked utterly pathetic.
"I was thinking," Charlie said interrupting my thoughts, "that we could go to La Push for the afternoon. You haven't seen Billy, or Jacob in years," I searched through my memory for any images of either of the two men. But they were all vague, and distant.
I forced a smile and gave a nod of my head. Anything to forget Emmett. Though it wasn't very likely.
"That sounds like fun."
It wasn't long before my lonely Saturday morning turned into something completely different. Something brighter than I thought possible.
I sat on the inside of some old, but classic car, definitely a fixer-upper, and looked out as I watched my new young fifteen year old friend. Jacob Black.
"The cold ones? Like…" I left the words hanging, not sure if I trusted myself to answer.
"Vampires," Jacob grinned a grin that seemed irresistibly infectious. I grinned back at him and tossed a little piece of fuzz at him. He laughed suddenly and tossed the smallest bits of dirt at me, though it completely missed.
"Come on, Bella. It's not like any of it's real. Werewolves, and Vampires? It's all just legends," I gave a nod of my head before standing suddenly, I felt better than I had in weeks. But I wouldn't try and remember why.
"Let's go to the beach?" I said as I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets, I'd flirted with Jacob enough for now, and I'd learned the information that I'd needed. I'd made a big enough fool out of myself, so now it was time to actually have fun.
"That sounds perfect," his smile was so bright, and so perfect, it was almost painful to look at. I felt the sudden urge to take his hand into my own, but I resisted and instead I bumped my side against his own before running out into the slight drizzle.
"Last one there is a rotten egg!" he shouted as he sprinted past me, I laughed loudly and then ran as quickly as I could manage after him. I couldn't remember feeling this happy in nearly an entire month.
EBEB
After I'd left Jacob that night I'd gone straight to my computer. I'd google-d vampires. I felt a little stupid at the end, none of the legends I'd found made any sense, but it didn't matter. Jacob had claimed that the Cullen family were banned from La Push because they were thought to be vampires. And in my mind it almost made sense, though the old legends didn't all fit of course.
I sighed, trying to forget my thoughts. I had more pressing matters to attend to at the moment. Like Mike Newton. He'd been following me around like crazy lately, trying to cheer me up. Or what I thought, to get closer to me. After Emmett had "dumped" me it seemed like there was a sign on my back that said "Come and get me!"
I'd been asked out twice, and to my absolute and total horror Mike had started toflirt with me. He'd hated Emmett, and now I understood why. He'd always wanted a chance with me. I hated to think that there were rumors about me and Emmett having dated, and then broken up, but I hated even more that now there were rumors that I'd become a total slut.
"Thanks for walking me to my truck," I said looking over at Mike Newton, he smiled and I gave a hesitant one back, ready to leave. Mike was my friend, and that was all there was to it. For me at least.
But what could I do? Nothing, there was no way to put the rumor-mill to an end, and I had no desire to actually try. Now, Mike was walking me back to my truck, it was after gym and the end of the day. It was blaringly obvious that this loyal friend of mine, thought more of me than I did of him. I bit my lip, feeling guilty but I tried to ignore it.
"No problemo, Bella," I stiffened as he slung an arm over my shoulder, but not just because of his arm. Emmett had always said things like "problemo," adding an unneeded "o" to many words. Making the connection hurt. I bit my lip but let it go on, I knew I shouldn't, but I didn't want to hurt his feelings. My truck was only a few steps away, if I could make it there I would be fine.
"Hey, so I was thinking maybe this weekend…" he trailed off suddenly and his eyes got extremely large. I looked from his face to where he was looking, my mouth almost fell open in shock.
"Is that Cullen's new…?" I just gave a nod of my head and tried to move out from under his arm, he didn't even notice.
Emmett's new Hummer was parker only one empty space away from my beat down old truck. It was black, with the darkest tinted windows that I'd ever seen. It looked like a tank. Something fit for the Army.
"Good God," I said under my breath, I wasn't jealous or anything, I hated attention. But I couldn't seem to wrap my mind around the fact that Emmett had bought a Hummer to substitute for the demolished Jeep of his that I'd totaled.
I felt my face heat in anger and embarrassment at the memories from that night. I looked down to my no longer bandaged wrist, I was lucky it hadn't broken. I slung my backpack into the back of my truck and wrapped my jacket more fully around my gym clothes clad body.
It was getting cold and I was only in a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt, and my old worn jacket. I was freezing.
But what really froze me in my tracks was the memory of the night that I'd gotten back from home after speaking to Jacob. It just refused to leave my mind today, for whatever reason. I wished it would. What I'd seen that night had left chills down my spine, but not because I was afraid.. Most things were stupid, and I knew couldn't be true. But there had been a few things that seemed…
I shook my head and clenched my small fists. This was stupid. I was being stupid.
Vampires. Pfft.
"Bye, Mike," I said a little too gruffly, over my shoulder but he didn't seem to notice. I lifted myself into my old truck, sliding on the worn leather into my normal place easily.
I didn't even hear him reply, I don't think he did, but it didn't bother me. Now all I wanted to do was leave this stupid parking lot.
I'd pulled out of my space, and I was on my way down the slow moving traffic before I heard a banging on my window. I had to repress the urge to scream as my foot hit the breaks.
"What Mike?" I asked trying to be as polite as I could. He said something, but I couldn't hear him over the loud roar of my old truck, and the window was still up of course.
I sighed and then went through the tiring motions of pulling my window down. My eyes couldn't help but move to the Hummer only a few feet away from me.
"Yes?" I asked again as I tried not to look at the fast approaching Cullens. I heard the monster of a vehicle unlock with a few clicks and then the back open up. I sighed, and wished Mike would hurry before Emmett came.
"I didn't get to finish asking you earlier…" he trailed off and then did just what I wished he wouldn't do. He looked over at Emmett. Like a jealous two year old, and of course catching Emmett's attention.
I hit my hand lightly on the steering wheel and wished that I could leave with the rest of the students.
"Mike!" I said in a light though pressuring tone, it caught his attention and he looked back at me again smiling sheepishly.
"I was wondering, you know, if this weekend you'd like to go out on a date with me? Maybe go see a movie or something?" I was so shocked that for a moment my foot came off the breaks and the truck jerked forward before I could push back on it.
I heard Emmett's deep laughter, and I blushed.
"Mike, I don't know…" I said trying to fight off the urge to look at Emmett, he was coming around the side of his truck with his and what looked like Alice's bright purple backpack. He was going to be standing no less than five feet away from me, and Mike Newton as he asked me out on a date!
"Come on, Bella. Dad said I can take his car," he said this as if it would persuade me.
"Your Dad's car?" Emmett whistled after his taunting words before he tossed the bags into the back of the Hummer, Jasper and Edward following closely behind him to do just the same.
"Must be a beaut," Edward added with a laugh before turning to walk to the other side of the car. I blushed an angry red before turning to glare at the grinning Emmett.
"You know what Mike," I said before he had time to defend himself against the Cullen's, "I'd love to go out with you this weekend," I felt a smug satisfaction fill my every vein as Emmett's face fell. He looked absolutely pissed.
Mike seemed to forget about the other boy's taunts, his face lit up and he smiled happily up at me. I felt some guilt at leading him on like this, but I felt so good making Emmett feel so bad.
Mike leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my cheek before saying something I couldn't seem to comprehend. He turned a smug look on Emmett and then walked over to his own van, or strutted really.
I felt my embarrassment pique as I looked at the angry Emmett, but the line in front of my was clear, I could leave now. I pressed my foot to the gas pedal, forgetting about my still open window, and peeled out of the parking lot.
What had I done?
EBEB
As I sat in my room reading over my old copy of Wuthering Heights, I picked at a hole in my old sweats. They were cut off into a pair of shorts, and rolled up a few times so that they'd actually fit, but they were so comfortable. I'd probably never throw them away.
I obviously wasn't paying attention to the book, so I dropped the old battered copy of the book face down onto my bed and then pulled myself out from under the covers. It wasn't too late, but Charlie was already asleep. It was eight, but he'd said he'd had a long day, he hadn't even eaten.
But I tried not to worry too much, he was an adult after all.
Since he hadn't eaten, and I was still sick over agreeing to go on a date with Mike I didn't make dinner at all. Now I was regretting it.
I went downstairs into the kitchen and hunted for something to eat. I couldn't find anything that didn't require cooking so I moved to the pantry to look around for snacks. I pulled out one of those flimsy 100 Calorie packs that Charlie had bought for the sake of his (now nonexistent) diet.
I grabbed a hot soda can and then headed for the sofa, I wasn't really in the mood for TV but I needed something to help me forget what I'd agreed to earlier in the day. I flipped onto some comedy stand-up thing before I sat my snack down and opened my drink.
Now I don't cuss much, almost never, but when I do it's for good reason. This time it was for a very good reason. My soda spewed and stained my white PJ top. The thin straps, and front of my top were stained a weird brown color.
"Dammit!" I almost jumped out of my skin when the doorbell rang.
Bella's luck, that's all this was.
I looked up, a little frantic, I rushed to the door but I didn't see any coats that I could cover up with. There was knocking on the door again and I hissed aggravated. I didn't want Charlie to wake up.
So with a resigned sigh I reached for the door, I slung it open and I know this is cheesy but it's what happened. My mouth fell open and formed a perfect 'o' shape, in my surprise.
"Rosalie…?" her eyes scanned my scantily clad PJ covered body before she reached her hand out and pulled me out of my house before closing the door behind me in one fluid motion.
"What in the hell do you think you're doing?" she hissed at me, her perfectly golden curls bounced in her anger. I took a step back and tried to reach for my door handle, why did she suddenly seem so frightening?
"What?" I practically stuttered. She looked almost as if she rolled her eyes at me, but I wasn't sure if it was a trick of the light or not.
"You are an idiot," I made an offended noise in the back of my throat, momentarily forgetting my fear of the blond.
"Excuse me," I said taking a step toward her.
"Yes, excuse you. You agreed to that date with Newton just to hurt Emmett. We were all there, and we could all see it. With the exception of that moron, Newton," I opened my mouth to disagree with her, but I knew that I couldn't.
I had done it just to get to Emmett, and now my decision seemed to be doing that nasty thing it always did when it involved me. Coming back and biting me in the ass.
I don't know what made me say it, or what made me do what I did after that, but I couldn't have stopped it even if I'd wanted to.
"Why do you care if I hurt Emmett? He's done ten times worse to me. I wouldn't have told your secret, you know. I love him. But he doesn't seem to care about me. I'm a stupid, stupid woman for ever getting involved with you people," I said with narrowed, and furious eyes.
My fists clenched, I only wished I could hit her. But if what I thought was true, it wouldn't have done much to her. Not much at all.
I took a step off my small porch and then pushed past the cold, still form of Rosalie. I didn't have my keys, so I couldn't drive away, but I knew I needed to get away.
I was so angry, so unbelievably hurt. I couldn't even begin to explain it. My eyes clouded up and my head throbbed. Every inch of skin I had must've been over a hundred degrees, I was so hot with embarrassment and fury.
"Wait," I heard her call, she sounded confused, but I ignored her.
I pushed through the woods, barefoot and freezing already. The grass under my feet was wet, and cold, and the sticks and rocks that I stepped over hurt my bare feet. But I didn't care. I just wanted to get away.
She wouldn't follow me in here, she was Rosalie Hale. She'd probably never even stepped foot into a forest for Heaven's sake.
I realized now, as I walked further and further into the dark night that I'd confessed to someone finally. I'd told Rosalie that I loved Emmett. I hadn't even admitted that to myself, but it seemed so easy then, like it was the right thing to say.
I couldn't even be happy. And that made me even angrier.
They were vampires. They had to be. The way Emmett hadn't had a scratch on him after the crash, the way his family had appeared within seconds after we flipped, the reaction Rosalie'd had when I'd said 'secret,' the legends that Jacob had told me, and the research that I'd done on my own seemed to be enough to convince me.
And so they'd all lied to me.
Emmett had lied to me.
I gulped down around the rock that had lodged itself in my throat. I felt hot and burning tears spill down over my cheeks and I heard a dry sob rip through me.
How had everything gone so wrong?
EBEB
A/N: I had to have Rosalie in here again, I just think she'd be the one to speak up for Emmett. She has a strong, forceful personality and she's pig headed enough to want answers. She wouldn't have any problem going up to Bella and being like WTF, ever. Or so I think. Plus, I just love her. I hope everyone liked it!
I hope you decide to review!
-Marry
