Runaway by Kibibe
Catfight
The morning of the 28th Bella woke up with a nagging feeling in her stomach. She realized that she hadn't heard from Roxie in over two days. The day before she had been too preoccupied with all the drama about her occupation to really give it much thought. But now she was seriously worried. Ever since they had become friends they had never gone more than 24 hours without talking.
So now Bella was perched on the toilet seat in Alice's bathroom with her cell phone pressed tightly against her ear impatiently waiting for Roxie to pick up the phone. Every ring mocking her sanity. Finally on the seventh ring Roxie answered.
"Hey what's up, Tink' Bell." She slurred. Bella grimaced. This didn't sound good at all.
"Roxie? Are you drunk?" Bella questioned.
"I wouldn't say drunk, exactly …" Roxie giggled. "… maybe a little tipsy … just a teensy little bit." She babbled. More like wasted. Bella was alert now.
"Where are you? You OK?"
"Mhm" There was more giggling. "Stop it. I'm on the phone." She scolded someone. There was some ruffling on the other end of the line. Bedsheets? "Oh come on baby ..." Bella heard a male voice whining in the background.
"Roxie! Who's that? Where are you?" Bella shrieked. She was positively freaking out now.
"In a motel and this is …" Bella could barely make out some muffled conversation."What's you're name again? – Max" Bella faintly heard him answer. "Oh right, Max." Her voice got louder again. "That's Max. He says hi."
"Would you care to explain?" All kinds of scary scenarios were playing in Bella's head now. She needed clarification. Roxie groaned on the other end. There was some shuffling and a click. She must have left the room.
"So?" Bella urged.
"Hey chill alright? I'm fine."
"You're wasted." Bella corrected her.
"So?" She snapped. "Alright. Well long story short I had a huge fight with my mother and she kicked me out."
Bella gasped shocked. "She what?!" She knew that Roxie's mom wasn't exactly mother of the year but kick her child out like that? Under these circumstances? She must have her last bit of sanity.
"Yeah, well. So I met Max and he took me to his motel room. Now we're killing time drinking and making out and drinking some more ..." Bella was speechless there for a moment.
"Roxie, you just went home with some stranger?! Are you out of your mind?" She shrieked.
"Well genius. What else was I supposed to do? Freeze to death out there?" Roxie snapped unnerved.
"No." Bella sighed. "But Couldn't you have gotten your own motel room at least?"
"With what money, huh? I barely have a enough to get back to New York once the damn snow situation is over. I don't even know if I can still go to Juilliard. I don't think my parents will pay anymore."
"I can give you money. I'll transfer it. You cash it in and get your own room."
"But I like the company. I don't wanna be all alone." Roxie whined.
"God Roxie!" Bella groaned in exasperation. "At least go easy on the alcohol and don't forget to eat something. I'll transfer you some money anyway."
"Whoa you sound like some mother hen …"
"I'm deeply concerned. And I hope you're using protection."
"Jeez Bell! Stop it!" Roxie gushed embarrassed.
"Okay just call me if you need anything."
"I will. Bye."
Bella hung up the phone with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. This was a disaster. They should have both stayed home for Christmas. Everything had been bright and shiny just a few days ago. Now Roxie was on a path of self destruction and she had the Cullens on her back because they didn't approve of her lifestyle. And neither of them had a way out until the streets were finally clear again.
Bella left the bathroom with her phone tightly clutched in her hand. Alice was waiting for her in the bedroom with a laptop waiting in front of her giving her sympathetic smile. "There you go." She pushed it in Bella's direction. She must have heard … or seen what Bella needed to do. Bella send her a grateful smile and plopped down on the bed. Alice gave her some privacy vanishing into the depth of her closet while Bella logged into her bank account and transferred the money to Roxie's.
As she was done she shut down the computer and went to search for Alice. She found her standing in front of a long rack in the back of the closet. She held out an outfit as Bella approached. A cute dark blue dress with grey tights and a cardigan. "What do think?" She asked smiling hopefully. Bella was taken by surprise. Had Alice just asked her opinion?
Alice's face fell as Bella failed to answer. So Bella quickly collected herself and cleared her throat. "It looks really nice …" She phrased carefully. She didn't want to hurt Alice's feelings. Yet again. "But you don't wanna wear it." Alice pouted ruefully glancing at the outfit she had put together as she hung it away. "Sorry. It's just … I don't particularly like tights. They're kind of uncomfortable."
"Okay so jeans it is, huh?" Alice grimaced. Bella nodded. Now they were talking. They decided on an outfit that kind of made them both happy and turned to go downstairs to see what every one else was doing.
In the hallway they passed Rosalie who roughly bumped Bella's shoulder while passing them.
"Whoa. What's her problem?" Bella rolled her eyes as she rubbed her throbbing shoulder while Alice glared at Rosalie.
Upon hearing Bella's comment Rosalie spun around. "You wanna know what my problem is?! YOU are! You little man stealing whore!" She yelled.
"Rosalie!" Alice hissed while Bella took a step forward. "Man stealing?! I think you should get your head checked!"
"Don't even think that I can't see through your little games. You come here a wrap everyone around your little finger. But you don't fool me, whore!" Rosalie spat.
"Well at least I'm not a spoiled brat like you?! Some of us actually do earn their money." Bella was livid now Alice tried to hold her back but she was having none of that.
"Well go ahead and earn your money from Edward but leave my man out of this!"
Bella laughed humorlessly. "A little paranoid aren't we? Psycho bitch!" She narrowed her eyes glaring daggers into Rosalie.
"YOU" Rosalie growled and charged for Bella but before she could reach her Edward appeared out of nowhere, grabbed her by the throat and smashed her into the wall. The brick crumbling under the force. Meanwhile Alice had positioned herself protectively in front of Bella. Edward was pressing down on Rosalie's throat causing it to crunch audibly. The noise made Bella's stomach turn.
Just then Emmett came flying up the stairs and roughly pulled Edward away from his wife making him collide with the opposite wall. Leaving another huge hole gaping in the hallway. Rosalie fell down on her knees and held her throat. "If you harm a hair on her head I swear to god …!" He snarled. Edward growled at him. They both crouched down ready to strike.
Then suddenly Carlisle was standing between the two. "Stop it! NOW!" He yelled. "Have you all lost your mind?! I will not tolerate that kind of behaviour in my house!"
Bella could feel a calming sensation spreading in her chest and sure enough as she turned to her side there was Jasper. The waves radiating off of him now where so intense Bella started feeling drowsy and her knees buckled under her. Esme steadied her from behind as she and Alice were carefully maneuvering her away from the scene.
She faintly heard Carlisle and Jasper berating the hotheads as they descended the stairs. Esme and Alice sat her down on the couch. "You OK?" Esme asked concerned brushing the hair out of Bella's face. Bella nodded numbly. "I'm fine … Just a little too much soothing from Jasper." She smiled weakly. Esme's and Alice's faces lit up in relieve.
Bella was nibbling on a sandwichas Edward and Jasper entered the living room. Jasper send her an apologetic smile and mouthed 'sorry'. He had used a little more of his power than he usually would have with her around. He was glad she didn't pass out. But he had to prevent a full on physical confrontation between Edward, Emmett and Rosalie at all cost. With Bella so near by it would have been too dangerous.
Jasper joined Alice on the armchair while Edward sat down beside Bella on the couch. He carefully brushed a hand over Bella's hair. "Are you OK?" He asked. "I'm fine." She shrugged. "You're the one who flew into a wall." He grinned.
"The three of you are gonna clean that up." Esme announced glaring at Edward with her fists resting on her hips. "Rosalie started –" Edward was cut off by Esme pointing her finger at him and narrowing her eyes dangerously. This was the first time Bella had seen her actually looking like a vampire. It frightened her a little. Esme then turned around and climbed the stairs to join Carlisle in chiding Rosalie.
"So someone care to explain that woman to me?" Bella asked glancing around between Jasper, Alice and Edward. Alice smiled ruefully. "Well basically she's got a major problem with you getting all the attention. Especially from Emmett … and me." Alice explained. "I'm getting attention from Emmett?" Bella wondered bewildered.
Jasper and Edward rolled their eyes. "You just kind of … inspired him …" Jasper hinted. Edward scolded at him. "Oh." Bella mouthed. "Not like he's considering anything. He's still madly in love with her. It's just her ego." Jasper clarified.
"Plus she feels like you're stealing her friend." Edward continued. Bella raised an eyebrow at him. "See Rosalie and Alice usually are the girls in the bunch. They stick together – against us. And now Alice is all over you and she feels left out. Not that any of this is an excuse though." He added glowering.
Thinking about it now Edward was right ever since she woke up here she was the center of attention with all her little dramas. But the way Rosalie was acting. What did she expect? She had hit way below the belt earlier and Bella wasn't willing to swallow that and forgive and forget just because she was feeling a little unappreciated or something.
A/N: This was so much fun to write. Hope it was fun to read too. I'm still thinking about a game where Bella would have the advantage for one of the following chapters. So nothing that requires strength or coordination or where foreseeing the opponents moves will help you. I don't know. Pictionary, Activity or Taboo maybe? I never played Apples to Apples or Outburst but the descriptions sound kind of fun. Maybe I should get one of those for my HalloweenParty. Twister? Or Spin the bottle? Truth or Dare? But there's usually no winner & it'd be a little immature. I think.
