2006 Fires and Fights

"Wait, I'm coming undone Irate, I'm coming undone

Too late, I'm coming undone What looks so strong, so delicate" Korn

"These," Rose says throwing my tightest black skinny jeans on my bed. "And this."

An oversized maroon sweater lands on top of them. It's Saturday morning and Rose came over bright and early to lend some style expertise. And she brought coffee. I love her.

"And keep that on," she says pointing to my black lace tank top. "And wear your Docs. That's perfect. Sexy and badass. That is how you win a breakup."

I look down at my pajama tank. I never would have thought of that but the sweet lace will show whenever my sweater inevitably slips down. Sexy. I can be sexy.

"I didn't know break ups were competitions," I tell her with a laugh.

"Of course they are. And you are totally going to win."

It's been about a month since Jake and I exploded. It took a couple of weeks for the chatter to die down around school but as soon as the next scandal broke out, courtesy of Mr. Edward Cullen, my humiliation was forgotten. Edward may have checked his slutty ways but now his temper is getting him into trouble. This time he almost broke Randy Parker's arm. Apparently they were at a party and that kid said something Edward didn't like about Allie. Edward just lost it. Now Mrs. E and Mr. C have instituted mandatory family time on the weekends. Allie said it was either that or Edward was going to a therapist. Allie and Em are taking one for the team but they're not terribly pleased. Especially tonight.

My dad is on night shift and instead of quarantining me at home and calling the house phone every hour he's agreed to let me stay at Rose's. What he doesn't know is that while Mrs. Hale is home she'll be comatose on her usual Saturday night Merlot and Xanax combo leaving us free to head to 1st Beach for a bonfire. Sam Uley is giving us a ride. When I ask what Em thinks about that Rose just laughs.

"Em and I aren't together, remember?" She replies with a sassy smirk. While I'm glad she's not pining away for the boy next door I can't help but wonder if her indifference is the real deal.

Regardless of how we're getting there I super excited. This is my first high school thing. Despite his crazy schedule my dad still manages to keep me on a tight leash. So tight sometimes it feels like it's choking me to death. Like he's never going to let me grow up. I hate having to sneak around but I'm so ready for more freedom the ends justify the means.

"I don't even know if Jake is going to be there," I say sitting down on the bed with my piping hot caffeine.

"Like that matters," she replies sitting beside me bumping my shoulder with hers. "You know how people talk. Especially guys. One of his meathead football boys says he saw you looking all fine and bam Jake is staring at you in the halls all lovelorn and shit. You win."

I laugh at the idea of Jake making doe eyes at me.

"I'm not so sure about that," I tell her.

-B-

1st Beach by night is everything I wanted it to be. Sure I've been there during the day for summer swims or even cold winter walks but never at night. Instead of families with mommys yelling for little ones to mind the water there's drunk teenaged yelling and horseplay. Music that's turned down to personal level during the day is cranked up loud. The bonfire is movie style massive. I feel my grin stretch up as we descend the stone steps of the beach entrance. I have to hold on to the rickety old railing on my way down because the beers we slammed on the way there are already making me fuzzy. As soon as we climbed in the backseat Sam handed us a six pack.

"You're not going to sit up here with me?" He asked Rose as we cracked our cans and toasted.

"I'm good," she replied.

I laugh at the disappointed look on his face. He should have known better. I may think about ends and means but Rosalie Hale is all about them. Everybody knows that.

"You ready, gorgeous?" Rose says grabbing my hand as we make our way across the sand. She pulls me to a stop and fixes my hair. It's pulled up in a high ponytail with a bump and a couple of soft tendrils down near my face. More sexy and badass.

Feeding off of Rose's super confidence and the booze I give her my most badass, feisty smile.

"Let's do this," I reply.

My heart is pumping with giddy excitement as we approach the crowd. I see most of these kids in the halls at school every day but seeing them in the beach shadows and bonfire flashes makes it new and exciting. Like anything could happen. Smiles in the light, kisses in the shadows. The whole night could be filled with surprises.

Our first priority is getting over to the keg. We fill up plastic red cups with cheap beer and proceed to mill around. That's apparently what these parties are all about, just walking around talking to people. Mostly Rose is the one doing the talking. I'm not terribly excited to be regulated to sidekick status but it's not the worst thing that's ever happened. A lot of the guys we talk to regard me a little warily. I guess it's because I'm still Jake's girl in their minds. At least that's what I'm thinking until I see them.

It's Jake and Emily. She's cuddled to his side with his arm around her shoulders pulling her super close. They're both all smiles with drinks in their hands, talking with friends.

I feel like the wind just got knocked out of me. I think I squeak a little. When she hears the defeated noise Rose follows my stare and sees my ex and his new girl.

"Shit," she curses. She throws her arm around my shoulder and steers me back the way we came. Away from Jake having the best time ever. Away from Emily with her perfect black hair. "Why the fuck didn't someone tell me he was here?"

I don't talk. I'm choking up and I feel pretty stupid. I'm supposed to be over Jake. I'm supposed to be confident in my tight jeans and boots. I'm supposed to be winning the breakup.

"I'll go find Paul and see if I can get him to take us home," Rose assures me. "Just chill for a minute. And don't go over there. You can't let him see him and his slut got under your skin. You're ok, Bella. You're awesome. You're way too good for that dog."

I bite my bottom lip and nod. I don't want to be here anymore. I want to be lying on Rose's floor falling asleep with the TV on. I want to be at home in my room typing away on my computer. I want to be anywhere else.

I'm standing there awkwardly trying not to look back over at the happy couple when the familiar smell of jasmine and weed overpowers the smell of the smoking wood.

"What's up, girl?" Irina asks bumping my shoulder playfully. "I never see you at these shindigs."

I don't have time to answer; when she sees the look on my face her smile is replaced with a look of concern.

"Are you ok?" she asks.

I swallow hard but I don't really trust my voice not to crack. Instead of saying anything I shrug and nod in Jake's general direction. Irina's brow furrows for a moment as she looks over. When she spots my mood darkener her look turns sympathetic.

"Yeah, I saw those two," she says shaking her head. "Guys suck."

I nod in agreement and she links her arm through mine.

"Come on, I'm about to go smoke. Come with," she says pulling me with her.

This time I don't hesitate at all. I want to be light and relaxed. I want to not be embarrassed that my boyfriend left me for some other chick. I want to not care at all. I walk with my friend out away from the crowd. There's a few people lounging on boulders near the water.

"Come on, Rina, it's cold as fuck over here," says a male voice.

I recognize Ben Cheney from my Algebra class and Garrett Moore plays with Jasper sometimes. There's a few others but they're upperclassmen that I don't really know. I plop down on the ground heedless of the cold. I'll be nice and toasty soon enough. When the blueberry blunt makes it way to me I pull long and hard. I've smoked with Irina a couple of times after school since the breakup so I don't cough that hard any more. I'm no pro like the rest of the kids were smoking up with but I get the idea all that doesn't really matter anyway.

"Feel better?" Irina asks me after a couple of hits. Her grin is goofy and her eyes are squinty. I giggle. I bet I look the same.

"Much," I say lying back on the sand filling my lungs with ice cold fresh air. The coldness feels good with the smoke making my temperature climb.

Soon the blunt is nothing but a roach and everyone disperses. We help each other dust the sand off and Irina and I head back to the bonfire arms linked, giggling and chatting. We find a big rock to sit on near the fire. The smoke break did the trick and the sharp sting of Jake with his new girl is lost in the haze. I'm all smiles and completely comfortable. I get it. We're over. Time to move on for both of us. When Ben scoots in next to Irina and I, handing us fresh beers I give him a big silly smile and he gives me one right back. We haven't been hanging out long when Rose finds her way over.

"BellaBabydoll, I've been looking for you!" she exclaims. She stumbles to her knees in front of me.

I squint hard at my friend. She's loaded. Not drunk and not stoned like me but something. I bust up laughing.

"You're fucked up!" I tell her.

She's laughing too.

"I am," she says. Then the obvious occurs to her. "So are you!"

We laugh so hard I almost feel like I'm going to throw up. Irina and Ben are laughing with us. The moment is so perfect I wish Allie was here to take a picture of it. Rosie settles in with her back against my knees and I play with her hair as conversation flows. Ben sits close enough to me that I can lean my head on his shoulder, so I do. When I do that he takes my hand from my lap and threads his fingers through mine. It makes me smile warm and happy. It's a good feeling. It's the best feeling. Irina grins at me when she notices. I'm thoroughly enjoying myself until I realize I need to pee so bad. I disentangle myself from my friends and head to the wood line.

As the night has worn on groups have separated away from the fire. Threes and fours here and there, sharing drinks or smokes. Couples looking for more privacy. I pass plenty on the way to relive myself and a few more on the way back. I'm hardly paying attention when someone grabs my hand and pulls me to a stop.

"What's up sexy Swan?" James probably thinks his smile is suave and charming but even the dark can't erase the image of what his teeth look like. He needs some dental hygiene, stat.

"Hey, James," I say trying to tug my wrist out of his grasp. I try to be nice because I know he's a friend of Edward's.

Him and a couple of his hood friends are lounging on the down tailgate of someone's truck. Instead of letting me go and be on my way like I'd hoped he pulls me closer. Close enough to be in my personal space. I can smell his breath; it smells like something died in his mouth.

"Where you going, Swan?" He asks with a grin. It looks like a leer to me. "We got our own little party going on over here and you're so on the guest list."

"Yeah, no thanks," I tell him pulling away harder. Friend of Edward's or no, he's freaking me out. He's moving into full on creeper territory.

"Awe, come on Sexy, don't be like that," he's still grinning and his friends are starting to laugh and nudge each other.

Panic is starting to set it. I use my other hand to pry at his fingers but it's like he's got me with a freaking vice grip.

"Let me go, James," I tell him. I try to keep my voice stern but I can hear it tremble a little. I only hope he doesn't.

"Let me go," he mimics in a falsetto. He gets to his feet, coming even closer to me. Now he's twisting my arm up between us still not letting go. "You know, I'm so tired of all you little bitches acting like you can just tell me what to do. You can't tell me shit."

His friends aren't laughing anymore. My panic is turning to fear. This kid is a freaking psycho. I feel tears spill over my lower lashes. I jerk my arm hard and this time it he lets go. I'm not expecting the suddenly freedom and I go down on my ass.

"Awe, babygirl can't handle her booze?" James taunts advancing toward me.

"Leave me alone," I cry craw-fishing backward. I don't know what he plans on doing but I really don't want to find out.

He takes another menacing step forward and suddenly a figure flies at him from the side, tackling him to the ground. All I see is black knit cap and black hoodie and fists. James is on his back with a forearm to his throat and his face is getting brutalized. Even though just a minute ago I was scared of James this violence toward him is shocking. Eye sockets are swelling, teeth are shattering, and blood is flying across the sand. There's chaos of yelling and bottles falling as James' friends finally overcome their shock and get to their feet. But they halt at the sound of a familiar voice.

"That's how you start a mother fucking party!"

And then I see Em hauling James' attacker up by the back of his sweater. Hauling Edward to his feet. I'm wide eyed with shock. He's like a wild animal desperate to attack, lunging forward.

"Calm the fuck down!" Em booms putting his little brother in a headlock.

James' friends are pulling him to his feet. He only looks half conscience.

"Get him the fuck outta here," Em instructs them without letting go of Edward. They immediately comply, ushering their brutalized friend into the backend of the truck they were sitting on. Em finally notices me, still flat on the ground on my ass and he grins at me. "Hey, Babydoll, what the fuck just happened?"

"He knocked her down," I hear Edward growl from around his brother's meaty arm. Em's brow furrows as he releases his brother and Edward is immediately kneeling at my side. "Are you ok?"

He just got into a freaking brawl and he's asking if I'm ok. Just like Em I'm wondering what the fuck just happened.

"That little prick," Em mutters squatting down next to us. "If I would have known that shit I would have let you keep pounding him."

"I'm ok," I finally manage.

Edward reaches a hand toward me and brushes away tears I didn't know I was still crying. His hand lingers there cupping my cheek.

"You sure?" He asks, concerned.

Like always his touch makes my pulse race and my heart drumbeat. This time it's even worse than normal. This crazy boy just attacked someone for me. He just attacked his friend for me. I nod my answer. For the second time that night I don't trust my voice not to crack.

"Well then let's go get a drink," Em says, satisfied with my answer. He gets an arm around me and hauls me up. Edward smiles, seemingly in spite of himself, at his brother.

Together we head back toward the fire with Em's arm around my shoulders and Edward at my side.

"What are you guys doing here?" I ask.

"We jail broke," Em says with a grin.

I give them both a questioning look.

"We snuck out," Edward explains. "What are you doing here?"

I smile.

"I snuck out," I reply making them both laugh. "I'm staying with Rose. Her mom is out for the night."

"Rosie's here?" Em asks. I know he's trying to act cool but I can tell he's excited. I nod yes.

"What were you doing out there by yourself?" Edward asks shaking his head. "Where was Rose?"

The warmth that flows through me makes the warm happy I felt sitting next to Ben feel like a tiny flicker. Edward taking care of me, dispatching the bad guys. Edward worrying about me. Crazy butterflies take off in my stomach. But I clamp them down. Because he's Edward that always makes me feel like a silly kid. Because of his slutty past. Because he's my best friend's brother and I promised. I never thought that promise would be so hard to keep. I push every last butterfly down. I shrug at him.

"It wasn't a big deal," I say.

Chapter Songs

Blue Jeans – Silvertide

The Beatings Will Keep Up Until Morale Improves – Murder By Death

A/N: Just a quick thank you to everyone who is favoriteing and alerting. And an extra special thank you to everyone who drops a comment. You guys make my pound like a Edward's in my personal space ;-)