I sighed as I finished unpacking all my crap. I had to buy another suitcase cause of all the shit we bought in Vegas. Alice got on a plane an hour before us and went back to New York. I yawned and laid on my bed, feeling I could sleep for three days. I was still feeling the effects of the night of no memory. Someone banged on the front door and Jasper called me downstairs. I sighed and rolled off the bed. Alice stood with her suitcase next to her, looking more refreshed than I've seen her in the last 48 hours.
"Are you stalking me? I've never pegged you as a bunny boiler."
"Have I ever told you you're good at greeting people?" She came in, dropped her bag on my chair and gave me a hug. "You'll need to put a bow on another man for Jazz." Alice kissed my cheek and then Jasper's before going upstairs with her bag.
"Why are you keeping Alice around, what do you want?" I narrowed my eyes and looked Jasper over.
"You haven't seen Alice for months and when you finally do, we're all so drunk I don't think we said a sentence to one another." Jasper crossed his legs and leaned back in the couch.
"Thanks, I guess. Though I'm still suspicious as hell." I ruffled his hair as I went up to my room. "And crossing your legs like that really makes you look like a woman." Alice was sitting cross legged on my bed and reading one of my books. "You make yourself at home quickly, don't you?" I sat behind her and leaned against the headboard.
"You're really embracing the cabin in the woods look," She closed the book and looked around. "It's so dark, have you thought about putting colour in this room, a rug or curtains?"
"Jasper suggested the same thing and I said no, don't think I'm changing my answer for you."
"I can persuade you more efficiently than Jazz ever could." Alice jumped on my bed and crawled over me, trapping me against the wall and bed.
"Yea, you definitely can but I'm not gonna let you," I smiled. "How long are you staying here?"
"A week, could be two if I'm enjoying myself." She rested her forehead on top of my head and I felt her breath hit me as she laughed. "Maybe not two weeks. There's not a lot of variety in this town."
"You're saying I'm not enough reason to stay for more than a week?" I got no response. "I hate you,"
"We both know that's not true."
"How sweet, if only I had a camera." Jasper was leaning against my door. Alice released me and sat on my lap.
"Yea, yea, go play glory hole with Embry." I waved him off.
"Another excellent example of your first class wit." He handed me the house phone. "Billy wants you to work today."
"What? Jesus, I just came back." I took the phone off his hand and pressed it to my ear, more roughly than necessary. "Hello, Chief."
"I've finally reached you. I need you to cover Leah, she's visiting family in Makah until Monday." He must've been in his office since all I could hear through the phone was his breathing and the occasional creak from his chair.
"For fuck sake," I sighed. "Okay, okay, okay, I'll go. I'll see you in a minute." I hung up and dropped the phone next to me. "Looks like I'm off to work." I moved Alice off me and put my shoes back on.
"He can't do that, you've been back less than two hours." Jasper sat on the end of my bed.
"From Vegas, not hospital. It doesn't matter, it's a Sunday so it'll be slow." I picked my wallet and phone back up.
"Why don't we join you?" Alice took up my position and rested her head against the wall.
"No point. Around this time it's busy as hell with the lunch rush and I won't have any time to talk with you guys." I kissed her quickly and squeezed her hip.
...
"Jack Daniel's, Coors light and Diet Coke goes to table four, the iced tea and orange juice go to table seven while the pitcher of beer belongs to table one." Quil ordered me as soon as I was in earshot. I nodded and dove head first into work. Three hours later when a lull came, I sagged against the bar and blew out a breath.
"When you're done lazing around, take these to table two." Paul yelled through the small window in the kitchen. I glared at him as I picked up the plates of Bacon Burgers with extra fries and ribs.
"Watch it boy, or both plates will end up smashed over your fucking head." I gritted out. That little fucker has pissed me off since the day I met him and my hatred for him has only increased.
"I'd like to see you try outsider." He sneered back. My jaw was clenched beyond belief and I was surprised that my teeth didn't break.
"Don't fucking test me, dog." I turned my back on him before I did something that I would regret and get me fired. Actually I wouldn't regret it but I'd still get fired. I delivered the good to table two and put them down on the surface, albeit forcibly. "Hope you enjoy your meal." I curled my lips into a tight smile. I glanced at my watched and thanked whatever god who'd listen that I only had fifteen minutes to go til my shift was over. I sat at the end of the bar and listened to Quil and Jard's conversation.
"Bella, a little birdy told me your ex girlfriend is living with you?" Quil slid down the bar to me, holding his chin with his fist. "Is there any truth?"
"My ex girlfriend?" I had a few ex's, most of which I'd never want to see again, and one that if she knew where I lived I'd run and join the witness protection program.
"Yea, what's her name?" He snapped his fingers together as he searched for the name. "Ellie? No... Amber?"
It took a bit before the dots connected. "Do you mean Alice?"
"That's the one!" He slammed his palm on the bar. "So, is it true?"
"She's not my ex," I told him. "Wait, she's not my girlfriend to begin with. How do you even know this, are there cameras hidden in my house?"
"I don't know about cameras but Jessica saw her at the gas station and heard her asking directions to your house. Jessica told Lauren and Lauren told... everyone, so congrats, you're talk of the town again."
"Oh joy," Sighing, I slid off the stool and walked around my tables, collecting glasses and plates as I went. "You have got to get a busboy. I can't take orders, serve people and clean the tables afterwards, I'm not fucking Wonder Woman."
"I'm sorry about that, I know she's hot." I raised an eyebrow at Quil. "I heard the Chief talking to Colin about working here, as a busboy I don't know." I nodded then walked to the office, passing Paul who gave me a half glare which I returned full force. I knocked once and entered when I heard him. Billy was sitting behind his desk looking over some papers, most likely something to do with the takings.
"Hey Chief, I'm finished."
"Right. Three hours..." He handed me my earnings. "And an extra $10 for coming in. You collected all your tips?"
"Yea, thanks Chief." I left the office walking passed a glaring Paul and up to the bar. "Usual, Q tip." Quil gave me my cider. "Thanks."
"You should know that glaring at Paul will not make him burst into flames, as much as you want that to happen." He informed me. I peeled the label off the bottle and folded it as many times as I could. I got to seven and beat the scientific number.
"I can always hope." I raised my bottle. "I'm gonna go. See you most likely tomorrow, Q tip." He waved at me as he pulled a pint. I made myself a sandwich and sat in my chair when I got home.
"How was work?" Alice came bouncing downstairs and sat in my lap. "You smell."
"Not surprising. It was fine, the usual." I finished my sandwich, offering a corner to her which she took. "I want to show you something," I pulled us both up and yelled upstairs to Jasper that we were going out. I lead her East where I remembered the small river that cut through the forest was. Ten minutes later, we came across the small river that connected up to the main river. You could faintly see small fish, probably flushed goldfishes, swimming between the rocks that laid on the bottom of the riverbed. I let Alice slip off my back, she jumped on my back for a piggyback ride five minutes ago, and I sat down taking off my shoes and socks, and then slipped my feet in the freezing water, making all the close by fish swim away.
"So what do you think? Not bad for somewhere in the middle of nowhere, huh?" I smiled at her and watched as she lowered herself to the ground next to me, tucking her feet under her ass. She nodded and smiled easily.
"I must say, I'm impressed." I gasped over dramatically and clutched my chest.
"The extravagant Alice enjoying something as simple and humble as a stream? If you listen closely, you can hear icicles forming in Hell." She pushed my shoulder, smiling despite. "Oh come on! You know I'm joking... kind of." Alice glared at me before, shocking me, pushing me into the water. The freezing water hit me instantly and I quickly burst through the surface, gasping and shivering. I glared at her as she laughed loudly. I pulled myself up by the bank and shook myself like a dog, hitting Alice with the water and making her squeal and rush away from me.
I grinned and took chase after her, catching up quickly and dragging her to the floor pinning her arms and legs down as I shook my wet hair in her face. She screamed and laughed at the same time trying to wiggle her way out of my grasp while I laughed before getting up off of her and watched as she wiped the drops of water from her face. She glared and wiped off the last of the drops.
"You're dead." Then she ran straight for me. I turned around and quickly ran for the river. I slowed down slightly as I came closer to the riverbank and looked behind me seeing Alice meters away from me, still going full speed. I stopped just at the edge of the bank and turned around and seconds later, Alice crashed into me pushing both of in the river. Alice was dragging herself out of the river while I stayed in the next to freezing water. "Jesus Christ, that's cold!" She was shivering fiercely. I swam up to the bank and grabbed both of her ankles.
"Oh, come on, haven't you ever thought about fucking in a lake or river?" I glided my hands up her bare legs. Why she's wearing shorts in Washington is a mystery.
"Yes, but the lake is on a tropical island and the water isn't so cold that my nipples fall off." My eyes move down to her nipples as a reflex, and saw they were pebbled under her shirt.
"They seem pretty good from here but just to make sure, let me check." I smirked, pulling her closer to me and kissed her collarbone down to the middle of her tits.
"Bella, I'm not going to have sex with you in some river in the middle nowhere." She pushed at my shoulders but quickly clutched to then when I bit her left nipple.
"How about in the woods then? Promise it'll be fun." I raised her soaking shirt over her head and again took her nipple in my mouth, making her shiver in I think both desire and the cold.
"You do know that having sex on the grass will be fun for all of four seconds?" Alice tried to keep her voice even but it hitched halfway through.
"I don't remember you complaining in Central Park. Remember that? Late at night, no one around to hear you moan and beg." I mumbled against her breast. She half-heartedly slapped my shoulder. I chuckled and removed her soaked shorts and panties. "You really must be cold, your lips are turning blue." I grinned and rubbed her inner thighs. She gasped in shock and weakly slapped me again.
"You're disgusting!" I smirked and kissed her roughly.
"You know you love it." I teased her and then warmed her up.
I pulled myself out from the river and dragged myself next to Alice's body since the frigid water made my legs go completely numb. I pressed my lips against her pulse, feeling it pump franticly under the skin. She stretched out catlike and rolled her head in my direction, giving me a lazy smile. "Now that's the welcome I've been wanting." I chuckled and pulled her on top of me, lightly kissing her neck. "I can't feel my legs." She stated as she tilted her head back, giving me more freedom to kiss her skin.
"That makes two of us." I nosed the length of her throat and collarbone making her sigh.
"I told you not to go in."
"No you didn't." I kissed her collarbone, dragging my teeth across it once or twice. She threaded her fingers in my hair and rubbed circles on the sides of my neck with her thumbs.
"I thought it." I felt a shiver run through her. "We should get going before I get frostbite in places." I laughed and patted her ass.
"I suppose I should get some circulation back in my legs. Same goes for you." I stood up taking her with me. "Let's go."
"I am not walking through the woods naked."
I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close. "Aww, why not? You know I'd love the show." I bent my head and brushed my lips against the hollow of her throat. She pushed me back and gave me a stern look.
"I repeat, I am not going to run through the woods naked." I opened my mouth but she covered it with her hand. "Never."
"Fine," I pouted and picked up her clothes, throwing them at her. She rolled her eyes and quickly put on her clothes, apart from her panties which she pushed into my hand, circling my fingers around it.
"Will this be a suitable replacement?" I nodded and stuffed them in my front pocket.
"Very much so, thank you." I place my hand on her ass and pushed her forward. "Now can we go please? I still can't feel my legs at all." We walked back to the house with my hand still on her ass. Jasper took one look at the both of us and rolled his eyes, turning back to the TV.
"Don't you two every stop?" He asked curiously.
I snorted. "Every once in awhile for food and sleep." I walked up the stairs and grabbed a set of dry clothes for me and Alice, throwing hers down the stairs and quickly changed into mine and then walked back downstairs and searched for my cigarettes.
"Smoke outside, I'm not havin' this house smell like a brothel."
"Yea, yea, I know the rules." I sat on the step and opened the packet, sliding the Zippo out and lighting up.
"I thought you quit." Alice came out and leaned on the supporting post.
"I did, this is my reward." Alice never liked me smoking, didn't like smoking in general, and she's tried to stop me smoking on several different occasions... Didn't work obviously. "You wanted to go to the Den right? Why don't we go tonight; it's a Sunday night so it's not as busy as usual."
"Why not, the night-life looks sparse around these parts." She sat down next to me, pulling her knees under her chin.
"That's putting it lightly." I stubbed out the cigarette and stood up, offering my hand to Alice. "Come on, Ali cat, you're gonna spend four hours getting ready while I spend the same amount of time drinking." I squeezed her hip letting her go and went into the kitchen. "No shorts or tank tops, it's freezing as hell and gets colder as the sun goes down. Now that I think about it, dresses aren't a good idea as well."
"That leaves little choice." Alice and I stayed downstairs and watched The Middle to burn time. After eight we decided to leave. I took a shower to get rid of the smell of smoke, beer and fried food while Alice got changed and Jasper went ahead of us to see Embry, taking Alice's rental since I wouldn't let him have my car keys.
"Why don't you let other people drive your car?" Alice asked as we drove to La Push. "I expect it from Rose but she's a car fanatic."
"I don't know," I shrugged. "Maybe it's something I've picked up from Rose. Besides, I let Jasper drive it on the way up here."
"He told me about the road trip. You deprived yourself of sleep so badly you almost fell asleep at the wheel. Rose doesn't even do that." Alice poked my cheek. "Stop being stupid, or suicidal, whichever was most relevant."
"I never fell asleep or almost fell asleep at the wheel. Granted, I did stay awake for more than twenty straight hours but I was making up for time." I parked around the back and got out. "I think you'll like this place, the guys are really nice, well except this one bastard." I pushed the door open and shouldered my way to the bar, Alice trailing behind me. "Hey, Quil."
"Bella, two in one day, a personal best. And whose this little one?" Quil was still doing his shift, 12pm to 11pm.
"This is Alice, the woman that's visiting."
"Ah, the woman behind the rumours. Pleasure, my name's Quil." He smiled and gave a tilt of his head. "Usual, Bella? And what will Alice drink tonight?" He was already getting my cider and had a glass set out for Alice's drink.
"I'll have a Rum and Coke," Quil nodded and threw in ice cubes and poured a lot of Rum and some Coke over them. Alice leaned up and into my side. "What rumours?"
"I'll tell you in a minute. Q tip, do you know where Jasper is?" I gave Alice her drink and paid for both of them.
"I last saw him watching Embry play pool." We found them in the corner talking quietly.
"Homo, Embry." I took a chair from the next table and pulled Alice into my lap. "How's everything? Having fun rubbing each other under the table?"
"Just because you do that doesn't mean everyone else does also." Will poured the rest of his beer into the pint glass.
"Hey, how many of those have you had? Your eyes are looking a little glassy, and not the good kind of glassy."
"This is my first." He took a sip.
We all talked, about Vegas, about what happened while we were gone, how Embry was, and talks of a birthday bonfire or cook out for me.
"But my birthday's already gone; done, finished." I tipped back my third bottle and took a peanut from the bowl in the middle of the table.
"I know, but Quil and Seth thought of the idea and the ball couldn't stop rolling." Embry adjusted his arm around Jasper and stretched his legs out in front of him, knocking my foot.
"Fine, if people want to get drunk and sick on a spit roast and then pass out on a beach, fine. Just don't label it as a birthday party, just a random gathering of people who want to destroy their livers."
"I don't have a problem with that." We ordered some more drinks before staggering our ways back home. Jasper was a little tipsy and I was assigned his carer since apparently, according to Alice, I was too drunk to drive. Too drunk to drive... I drove after downing two bottles of Bailey's, granted it was on a highway and it was four in the morning so not a lot of cars on the road but still, pretty fucking impressive. I pulled Jasper out of the backseat, quite a struggle since there were no back doors and you had to climb over the folded front seat, and supported him to the door.
"Why did I say you look after him?" Alice unlocked the door and turned on the lights. "It's the blind leading the blind."
"I can handle my drinks." I dropped Jasper on the couch, he bounced and giggled, and followed Alice into the kitchen. "Thanks," Alice handed me a glass of water and a painkiller.
"I'm going to bed, do you need help with the giggling Texan?"
"Don't worry, I'll drag him upstairs. I'll find some rope and winch him up if I have to." I gave her a quick kiss and squeezed her hip. "Night, Ali cat."
"I'll see you in the morning," She went upstairs after patting Jasper goodnight on his leg. "I'll see you in the afternoon." Jasper only laughed.
"What's so funny, homo? Someone slip something extra in your drink?" I grabbed his hands and pulled him up.
"It's funny! You, so clueless!" He poked my cheek, laughing. I more or less pulled him upstairs and dropped him on his bed, pulling off his shoes and shirt and unzipped his pants.
"What don't I know now?" I couldn't pull the covers from under him so I put the sheepskin rug over him instead.
"Alice and you! She's crazy 'bout you." His laughing turned into girlish giggles. I frowned and sat on the edge of his bed.
"What'd you mean?" My head was a little fuzzy from drinking but I'm sure I wasn't making this conversation up.
"Alice's been in love you since high school, even though you had tiny boobs then." His giggling quietened then stopped completely and was replaced with snoring.
"Jasper?" I shook him but he didn't budge. "Jasper, what are you talking about? Whitlock!" I ran my hand through my hair and stood up. What the fuck was that? I shook my head and went to bed. I've got to ask him about that tomorrow. I untied my shoes and pulled off my jeans and shirt, replacing them with a used shirt on the floor near my bed. I was only going to sleep in it. I pulled the duvet back and slipped in, rolling over til I was looking at Alice's back.
Alice in love with me... I chuckled and shook my head. Next Jasper's going to tell me I'm in love with her.
