Disclaimer: Twilight and the Twilight characters are property of Stephenie Meyers.

Chapter 9: Stranded

"Crap, crap, crap!" I shouted angrily as rain began streaming down the windshield of Edward's car. As if it wasn't bad enough to be driving someone else's car at night through curvy roads in a bad mood. While I tried to keep my eyes on what I could see of the road, I fumbled around with the car's switches until I managed to turn on the wipers. Why hadn't I just let Edward drive me home? Why did Edward have to irritate me so much tonight? Why wasn't James still dead so that I wouldn't be having any of these stupid problems to begin with?

With that thought, I resumed my fervent prayers that James was not waiting for me at home. I just wanted to crawl into bed and try to get a few hours of sleep. Maybe if I could actually get some rest, I could get rid of this horrible, gnawing resentment that I was feeling toward Edward. This was the first time in our relationship that I could remember feeling like this. Edward was perfect. I must be wrong.

Unfortunately, my efforts to calm down only enraged me further. Was this how it would always be? Always wrong. Always trying to live up to Edward's perfection? I knew that I would never accomplish that. I would always try to be– "Crap!"

The car had lost traction as I was rounding a sharp curve in the road. Was I supposed hit the breaks? Pump the breaks? Shift into neutral? Before my panicked brain was able to come up with a response, the Volvo had spun completely off the road. I squeezed my eyes shut, slammed on the breaks, and prayed I didn't hit a tree. I felt my body jerk violently against the seat belt as the car made impact. My head slammed painfully into the window next to me. I gave myself a few seconds to quiet my gasping breaths, then lifted my head and opened my eyes. The engine was making some strange sputtering sounds. That wasn't a good sign. Although I doubted that the car was going anywhere, I put it in park and turned it off.

With the rain pouring down around the car, it was hard to tell where exactly I had ended up. All I could see in front of the headlights were trees. Specifically one large tree that seemed to have caused some definite damage to the front of the car. I pulled off my seatbelt and twisted around in my seat to try to find the road. I couldn't see it, but I assumed it had to be there somewhere. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and punched in Edward's number. No signal. I stretched my arm up and waved it around, trying unsuccessfully to find a signal. Even though I really did not want to get out in the pouring rain, that was apparently my only option. I turned on the car's flashers, shoved the phone back in my pocket, and, after just a little whimper of complaint, pushed my door open.

I was drenched within three seconds of exiting the car. I cursed the never-ending rain for about the thousandth time since I'd moved to Forks. Squinting through the rain, I could see that the road was up a small incline behind the car. Trying my best to shield my face from the rain, I scrambled up the muddy hill. When I reached the road, I was dismayed to see that my phone still didn't get a signal.

Although I was tempted to go back to the car, where it was at least dry, I realized that I couldn't be that far from town. I just had to get to the nearest pay phone and call Edward to pick me up. I mentally cringed when I thought of the condition in which he would find his car. He really liked that car. I sighed and started the walk towards town.

Within five minutes, I was fervently wishing that I had a jacket with me. The rain had soaked through my t-shirt and jeans. Ten minutes later, I told myself that I was going to start wearing rain boots every day. My socks were wet and slimy inside my shoes, which made squishing sounds with each step. When the rain finally let up after ten more miserable minutes, I had almost decided that becoming a vampire was not for me if it meant living in wet climates for the rest of my existence. I was so happy when the rain stopped that tears of joy actually ran down my cheeks.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I cried gleefully.

"Your welcome," a voice answered smoothly. I spun around to see James standing a few yards behind me. He was just as soaked through as I was, but while I was sure that I looked like wreck, he looked… Well, he didn't look like a wreck.

"Why are you walking alone down a dark road in the rain, Bella?" James asked, cocking his head to the side curiously. A slow smile crept up his lips as he sauntered toward me. "Don't you know there are dangerous people around?"

I was too irritated by the night's events to be frightened by James' appearance. At any other time, I would have been terrified to run into James at night, in the middle of nowhere. But right now, I just wanted to get home to my warm bed. I gritted my teeth together as I answered tersely, "Thank you for your concern. If you don't mind, I'm busy right now." I turned and walked resolutely forward. I refused to turn to look at James when he began to walk beside me.

"It's too bad about Edward's car. I hope he isn't too angry with you. Those Cullens do seem to like their toys," James said casually.

That got my attention. I whipped my head around to stare at him in disbelief. "Did you see me run off the road?" I screeched. "And you've just been watching me trudge through the rain for the last half hour?"

James shrugged. "I wanted to see what you would put up with. It won't do me any good to have a companion who can't handle a little bit of rain. Unlike the Cullens, I spend most of my time outdoors."

"You incredible jerk!" I shouted. "You could have pushed my car out of the ditch, at least. Or gone to town and called me a tow truck."

"Haven't you heard, babe? Adversity builds character, or something like that."

My hand itched to slap him across the face, but I realized that would only cause me pain. Instead, I tried to focus on getting home. "Do you at least know how much further it is to town?"

"Oh, it will take you a while longer. You missed a turn about 20 minutes ago," James said, jerking his head in the direction I had just come fun.

"Are you kidding me? Please tell me that was a horrible joke," I pleaded desperately.

"Nope," James replied, his face breaking out into a full grin. "Not a joke. We'll have to work on your sense of direction." He reached out to stroke a strand of my hair. His smile slowly faded. "I don't want to lose you." I ripped my hair from his grasp. He let his hand drop to his side. "I'll make you a deal, Bella. I will run you back home tonight, if you will come out with me tomorrow."

"And go where?" I asked hesitantly. I couldn't believe that I was considering his offer, but what choice did I have? We both knew that he could make me go anywhere he wanted. And I really, really wanted to get into dry clothes.

"No questions. Yes or no," he demanded. When I still hesitated, he cracked a playful, and slightly goofy, smile. "I promise you'll have fun…"

An unintentional smile slipped onto my face. I clapped a hand over my mouth and stared wide-eyed at James, whose eyebrows had shot up in surprise. What was I thinking? I do not smile at James. When I felt my mouth relax into a serious expression, I lowered my hand. "Okay," I said frostily.

As soon as the word was out of my mouth, James swept me up and cradled me in his arms. I felt his mouth brush against the top of my head and felt his chest expand as he breathed in deeply. Then I couldn't feel anything except the cold rush of wind blowing past us as James ran. I kept my eyes closed. Even in the dark night, I knew that I would get sick if I looked up. In no time at all, James was coming to stop in front of my house. I opened my eyes as he lowered me carefully to the ground. I immediately took a giant step backward.

"Thank you," I said stiffly. "I'll see you tomorrow."

James smiled crookedly at me. "See you then," he replied. He turned and began walking away from the house. I had just walked up the front steps, when I heard him call my name.

"What?" I asked impatiently. I turned around to look at him, but I couldn't find him in the darkness.

"I think you might start to like me soon."

AN: Sorry for the long wait on this update. I haven't given up on this story. I promise, I'll finish it.