Chapter 9: Inevitable Occurrences
Sunshine's POV
Never in my life had I endured such a long, boring, tortuous night. I had been waiting for hours for Drexi to return from her whatever with Uncle Emmett, so her early bedtime announcement was most irritating. Once I realized she was going to bed without going to sleep, I decided it would be in my best interest to find something to do away from the upstairs area. I was going to watch TV, but after channel surfing for what seemed like forever and finding nothing on, I decided that in all actuality it would be more fun to go up and harass Drexi.
So that's what I did for over an hour, though it wasn't quite as fun as expected because Drexi wouldn't reply to anything I said. I kept at it until finally Uncle Emmett told me to shut the fuck up and go on somewhere. It was pretty awesome because he said it in Spanish.
That was like six hours ago, flash forward to now, it was five A.M. and Drexi's alarm was going off. I heard her grumble, the crash of her pillow knocking the clock into the floor and the unusual sound of Uncle Emmett's laughter. It was unusual because his voice sounded different. The laugh seemed more sincere rather than forced. I could hear him trying to coax a grumpy Drexi out of her bed, which was rather odd as well, considering he was usually trying to do the opposite.
"Come on Lex, you need to get up and shower before school."
"I don't want too…" She mumbled and I could hear her turn over, more than likely covering herself with the blanket.
"Fine by me." Uncle Emmett snickered as he neared her door. "I want details on Jake's expression when you walk into class smelling all vamped out." It was then he opened the door and I nearly got sideswiped by the pillow Drexi had thrown at him.
"Way to get her moving." I said laughing as she scrambled out of her bed. "Morning Drexi, nice to see you survived the night, sounded like you were gasping for air, yet you still managed to pray to God a few times. Bravo." She was in the process of running her hands over her face and just peaked through her fingers at me when I said that, which made me laugh.
"You're hysterical." She said walking passed me and into the hallway.
"I do try." I said proudly as I followed her into the bathroom. "Can I sit in here and talk to you while you shower or will Uncle Emmett be helping in the showering process?"
"Showering is not my thing." Uncle Emmett said as Drexi returned to her room and came back wearing her bathrobe.
"I'll see you after school then?" She asked cheerfully and he nodded before pulling her into his arms. I stood there rolling my eyes and looking at the ceiling for what seemed like forever before I finally heard his footsteps on the stairs.
Drexi was pulling the shower curtain closed by the time I looked down again. Her robe came up over the top and I took it from her as I usually did and hung it on the bathroom door.
"What are your plans for today Sunshine?" She asked as the shower cut on.
"Oh you know the usual, call the local pizza places and ask for their specials, just so I have someone to talk too."
"You don't really do that, do you?" She asked laughing.
"I did once, but they didn't find it amusing when I asked whether the red sauce was animal or human blood."
"Sunshine!"
"I kid I kid…"
I wasn't actually kidding, but apparently it wasn't something I was supposed to have done.
"Why don't you go see Edward today?" She asked suddenly.
"I would but don't you think it's too soon? I mean everyone just found out about us and I dunno, maybe it was just me, but Alice and Jaz didn't seem very happy about it." She didn't say anything at all, no that's not true, or you worry too much, just flat out silence, which meant only thing.
She knew something I didn't.
"Where did you go last night?"
"To a movie."
"What movie?"
"The new one….with... that guy..."
"Oh yes, that guy! I love him!" I said acting all excited. "Seriously, Drexi… why you gotta lie?" She was quiet again for a few minutes. "What's going on?"
"Nothing is going on." She sighed. "We went to see Edward, okay…there was an issue."
"What kind of issue? Daddy has an issue? Why was I not informed of this?"
"Everything… is fine… now."
"Oh yay the secret issue is fixed, now I won't worry at all about what it could have been, who else it involved and why the fuck no one ever tells me anything!"
The shower cut off not long after that and I instinctively tossed a towel over the top, which Drexi grabbed immediately. She pulled the curtain open and stood there looking at me, biting her lip.
"Let me get dressed and I'll explain." She said stepping out of the shower and heading towards her room.
I stood in the hallway for a few minutes racking my brain to figure out what issue Daddy could have had. There were so many different options to choose from as I knew he was already upset about Drexi and Jakey, he obviously knew about Uncle Emmett and supported it… sorta. Whatever it was must have happened after he left here with Uncle Emmett and Jaz yesterday. Maybe he didn't support Uncle Emmett and Drexi. Maybe that's why they both went to talk to him yesterday. Maybe… maybe… he's jealous.
"Daddy doesn't want you with Uncle Emmett, does he?" I snapped on her the moment she opened her bedroom door.
"What? No." She said shaking her head. "I mean no as in he doesn't care one way or another."
"Then what happened yesterday? Uncle Emmett left with him and then came back to talk to you. You went to see Daddy, why?" Drexi took a deep breath, then sighed.
"The news of you and Edward was slightly shocking…to…some people…"
"Well duh, I figured that much, hence why I don't want to go to the Cullen's anytime soon." I said gesturing with my hand. "Is that the issue? Is Daddy upset about it?"
"Well…um…he…well…" Drexi started stuttering and when she stuttered that meant only one thing. She was about to lie. "Okay Sunshine listen. Everything is FINE." Lie? "Edward isn't upset….anymore." Lie? "It wasn't his issue, it was Jasper's and Edward felt guilty…but everything is okay now." She bit her lip and waited on me to say something.
"What was wrong with Jaz?"
"He was….jealous."
"Jealous?" I asked confused and slightly forgetting what we were even talking about. "About what?"
"Sunshine." Drexi said starting to apply her makeup and eyeing me in her mirror. "Remember that time you kissed Jaz?"
Boy did I. That was the most idiotic move ever in my lifetime. Well side from the drunken deer at Drexi's birthday party and that time I stoned the liquor store clerk.
"And he freaked out about it?" She continued.
Boy did he freak out. I felt horrible. He was my good buddy, my favorite drug and I embarrassed the hell out of him just for revenge on Embry. My sweet Embry… now I'm sad.
"Yes I remember, please stop making me relive it in my mind." I said trying to shake the sad thoughts away.
"He freaked out because he liked it." She said after hesitating momentarily. I felt my eyebrows raise as the words registered in my mind.
"She who lies a lot lately, say what?"
"Jaz has had a crush on you for awhile now. Edward knew about it. He didn't want Jaz to find out about you two, he thought he'd be upset."
"Where do you come up with this shit, Drexi?" I asked shaking my head. "Seriously, that's just insane…"
"Yeah it is, but its true Sunshine. Though Jaz wasn't upset about it and he is seriously happy for you and Edward, it's just…" She shook her head and sighed. "Well maybe you were right, you shouldn't go to the Cullen's today. I hear Alice isn't in a very good mood."
"Alice?" I nearly screamed. "Oh my fucking shit….you are seriously not lying? Jaz really has a crush on me?"
"Yes and Alice just found out yesterday."
Wow… I was in shock, I had no idea… oh my fucking shit…
"And Daddy knew?" I asked and she nodded. "And you? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well I…" She sighed as she attempted to pull her hair back with a clip. "Honestly... when Jaz told me-"
"He told you himself?!"
"Yeah it was… the day…me, him and Emmett went to find Cullen…" She closed her eyes for a moment and I looked away, knowing we were both thinking sad thoughts about that day. "It was a secret Sunshine, I promised I wouldn't repeat it and at the time it didn't seem important. And really it's not important now…"
"Yeah sadly Alice doesn't feel that way!" I yelled. "God, I hate it when I'm responsible for shit I didn't know I was involved in."
"You are not responsible Sunshine and I'm sure Alice will get over it soon, she's just upset right now and well… more than likely she's upset with me as well."
"Yeah, I'm sure she wants to murder you too for gaining affection from her man."
"Yeah well…"
"What?" I said wide eyed. "What the fuck else have you not told me!"
"Apparently over the decades I have never touched Jaz during my emotional state… well last night I did and… I learned something new."
"Jaz? Seriously? What did he do?"
"Nothing serious. I had hugged him and he refused to let go, which is when I realized what happened. Then he offered to walk me home and I panicked. That's why Emmett came home with me."
"Wow, I seriously miss everything."
"Yeah yesterday was quite an interesting day for me." She said sighing and shoving her books into her bag. "Let's hope today is not."
Jasper's POV –Cullen House
I was pacing in the upstairs hallway, had been for hours. Edward had took off sometime in the night without a word as to where he was going. I assumed he needed time to cool off. Alice locked me out of our bedroom and had yet to say one word to me after the incident with Lexi. I was seriously turning into Edward with one fuck up after another.
Carlisle came in sometime after Edward had disappeared to check in. Apparently Esme had been blowing up the hospital phone all day long. She was livid about Emmett's affair with Lexi. I'm sure if Alice hadn't shared her vision of Emmett's reconciliation with Rosalie she wouldn't have been so pissed about it. They'd been in the kitchen for the last hour, discussing what steps to take, as if this was a serious problem. Esme was so upset with Emmett that she seriously wanted him out of the house. Carlisle tried to defend him, even though he had no idea what had happened, but I was certain Esme was going to win this.
"Just let me talk to him Esme." Carlisle was saying, he tried to whisper they both did but I could hear it all loud and clear. "I'm sure he has his reasons."
"Yes, reason number one, he's a lying whore. Reason number two, he has a sick attachment to another lying whore. Reason number three-"
"Esme." Carlisle said softly, trying to get her to relax. "I will talk to him and we will figure this out, okay? Just calm down."
"Fine. You talk to him. But I want him out of this house by noon. I mean it."
"Esme."
"And something else is going on too!" She snapped. "Somehow he and that whore are responsible, I just know it. They came in yesterday to see Edward, who is now gone. He didn't even say where he was going just took off. And Alice…you know how she was so excited about her vision of Cullen? Well she came home yesterday in a mood and now she won't even come out of her room. And jasper… lord I don't even know what's wrong with that boy. He just wonders around the house like he's looking for something but can't quite find it…"
"They are probably fighting, remember we promised not to meddle in their affairs, which is one reason why it's only fair to talk to Emmett. It's his life Esme, we can't choose who he loves."
"But Rosalie is his mate!"
"Just let me talk to him."
Poor Emmett doesn't even have a chance.
Ironically the moment I thought that, I sensed him approaching the house. He'd been gone all night and Esme wasn't too happy about that either. I moved quickly down the stairs and out the front door in order to warn him of what he was about to step into.
"Get lost on the way home?" I asked meeting him in the middle of the yard.
"Made a wrong turn, ended up in the bedroom." He smirked.
"Damn, I hate when that happens."
"Yet, you were all about it last night."
"Shoulda known you'd bring that up." I replied shoving my hands into my pockets.
"You really freaked Lexi out."
"Yeah well I freaked myself out actually…" I said shaking my head as I remembered all too well the thoughts that were going through my head last night. "I have no idea how that happened."
"She hugged you. It was her touch, it got to you."
"It's never happened before."
"She's never touched you before."
"Hmm, well I don't suppose she has. I'm usually pretty good about staying away from situations like that. I guess she threw me off guard last night. I didn't even think about it."
"Neither did she. She feels awful."
"She feels awful? Hell, I feel like a fucking pervert. You have no idea the thoughts that were going through my head."
"Trust me, I do." He grinned. "Though I was able to put them into play last night."
"Yeah well you should probably make reservations again tonight, you may need them."
"Is that my five minute warning?" He asked glancing at the house.
"Carlisle wants to talk to you, but Esme is pretty adamant about it."
"Can't say I didn't see that coming." He made a sighing sound. "How's Alice?"
"She's pretending I don't exist at the moment." I said nodding. "Can I come live with you?" He laughed but I was serious. Before I could say so, Carlisle stepped out onto the porch and even the wind got quiet. Emmett crossed the yard and stepped onto the porch, I just stood there in the yard pretending to be looking at the scenery.
"I have nothing to say." Emmett said to Carlisle as Esme walked outside. "I'll get my shit and get out."
"You don't even want to discuss this?" Carlisle asked as Esme crossed her arms.
"There is nothing to discuss." Emmett said shaking his head. "What's done is done, I can't change it and I wouldn't if I could. I finally have my chance and I'm not giving it up. Not for Rose. " He looked at Esme. "Not for you, not for anyone." With that he stormed into the house with Carlisle looking after him wide eyed.
Edward's POV
After Drea left last night I started feeling even shittier than I already was. I hated what I was going to do and I hated even more knowing that if Drea's emotions wouldn't have got in the way that she would have been able to talk me out of it somehow. I debated on whether I should wait and talk to her again before moving on with my plans, but I convinced myself that by continuing my relationship with Sunshine things would only get worse.
I left the house without telling anyone where I was going mainly because I had no idea. I just needed to get out and think things over, figure out what I was going to say to Sunshine, how I was going to be able to handle her reaction. I knew she wouldn't take it well and it only made me hate myself more. I hung around in the woods for a little while, thinking and pacing before finding myself at the cemetery, standing over the grave of my wife, my Bella.
I stood there for a long time, just reading the inscription over and over.
ISABELLA MARIE CULLEN
Forever Loved. Forever Missed.
There were fresh flowers on the stone, Rene must have come by recently. I hadn't seen nor spoke to her or Charlie since the funeral. Though they never said it, I knew they blamed me for the loss of their only daughter. Rene had gone back home, Charlie put the house up for sale. I haven't seen either one of them since.
When I was finally able to tear my gaze away I saw the stone beside Bella's. Just as new, with the same date of departure. I had been here at least twice in past few months but never had I studied that stone, though I knew him just the same.
EMBRY MICHAEL CALL
Selflessly Devoted
Selfless. If there were ever a word that perfectly described Embry that was it. He lost his life due to that one flaw. He was a real man, one who always put others before himself, one who always admitted blame and lived with its consequences. He loved her without thought, without need. He was her soul mate and the one person I would never be.
I bowed my head giving a silence salute to him before pulling a lily from Bella's gifted bouquet and tossing it onto Embry's grave.
My decision was made. It was my time to be selfless. To give up my own happiness for that of others. It felt necessary to prove my loyalty to Drea, though she disagrees with me now. I know she is only thinking of Sunshine's well being, and while that is important to me, it is not fair for Drea to cast aside her own happiness once again. She loved Emmett, I knew that, but her love for Jacob was strongest and meant to be. He was the only one who could protect her from things I could not. I refuse to put her life in danger for my own needs, I refuse to destroy her life as I have in the past. By allowing myself this luxury, this life with Sunshine that I thought I was worthy of, I sabotaged everything. Aside from Drea, I ruined my family's happiness. Rosalie was one step away from coming home and I destroyed her hopes and my family's dreams of being whole once more. Jasper was the perfect man, he had feelings that he would never act on and because of me, Alice saw him as less than what he was. I can't even begin to remember a time where the two of them weren't exceedingly happy. I ruined that. I knew Emmett would move on, I couldn't make everyone happy. It was impossible to consider everyone's happiness. I knew Emmett would be strong as he always had been. He would take to Rosalie, just as Drea has taken to him, filling the void of the one she is truly meant to be with.
This was it, I was seriously going to do this. I felt certain it was the right decision, yet I hated myself. I wanted nothing but to disappear and not have to deal with the pain I knew I would cause. I felt the need to cut all ties to my emotions, to let myself relax and be true to who I was.
That thought is the reason I was now leaving Barham's liquor store with two brown bags. It seemed as if it were more trouble than it was worth, but I wanted to be honest and I knew the intoxication would make that possible. After going through the motions of prepping my mountain lion victims generously with rum, I indulged myself on the sweet taste of victory. Though I had bought two bottles, I was only able to get the two mountain lions to finish off one of them, so I carried the other as a decoy.
It took me longer than usual, to make my way to Sunshine's house, as my sense of direction seemed to vanish entirely. It was almost noon by the time I stepped onto her front porch and it was there I dropped the second bottle of rum. It made a loud dinging sound as it hit the concrete and bounced down the steps shattering instantly at the bottom. For some reason I thought it was funny and I stood there laughing until Sunshine pushed the front door open.
"Why are you all giggly Daddy?" She asked smiling at me.
"No reason." I answered and quickly walked inside. She followed me as I moved slowly into the kitchen and then into the living room, sitting myself down on the couch.
"There's no blanket." She said seriously.
"Fuck it." I said laying back onto the couch. "I'm probably already contaminated." I looked at her grinning. "Come… come sit with me…we should talk."
"I already know about Jaz's crush." She said standing in front of me but not sitting down. "No worries there, I don't want him."
It was weird to hear her say that, even though I knew it to be true. It just seemed too weird that she would be so adamant about letting me know.
"That's great." I said slurring slightly. "But that's not why I wanted to talk…."
"What is wrong with you Daddy?" She asked wide eyed. "Have you been drinking?"
"That is not important." I said slowly so that I wouldn't slurr so bad. I gestured for her to come sit with me and she made a face before making the move to join me on the couch.
"What's up Daddy?" She asked looking at me all fearful.
"Sunshine…" I made a sound that seemed like I was taking a breath as I took her hand in mine. "This is not working out….you and me."
"What?" She asked in barely a whisper.
"This… us… it's not working." She snatched her hand from me quickly.
"So you're a hit it and quit it kind of guy?" She asked getting to her feet and staring at me hatefully. "I would have never expected that from you Daddy."
Just the way she said the word Daddy made me feel like shit. Worse than shit. I expected it. I prepared to deal with it, but the look on her face, the tone of her voice…. It almost killed me right then and there.
"We all have needs, Sunshine." I said trying to push her to believe that sex was all I wanted.
"So you used me?" She snapped.
I could have just said yes but instead I said the one thing that was farthest from the truth, but would knock me off my pedestal indefinitely.
"Not just you, there were others…."
"What do you mean, others?" She asked, mouth open, eyes wide.
"Exactly what I said." I replied trying to smirk and make myself seem heartless. "I waited for Bella and you see where that got me. A man has urges…" Sunshine stopped me with a wave of her hand.
"Urges?" She yelled. "Others? Before me? or After? If it was before I now see how you were able to wait so long." She crossed her arms and stared at me waiting on an answer.
"Before." I answered. "After." I smirked. "During."
"You lying, deceiving whore." Each time she used a word describing me, she threw something at me. I sat there and took it, never flinching, never dropping the smile on my face. "You made me think you cared about me, when all you wanted was to get me into bed! You are the worst person that has ever been allowed to walk the earth." Her expression was painful, I couldn't even bare to look at her anymore, so I turned my head pretending to laugh. "I can't believe I fell for you. You are a horrible person Edward Cullen."
It had been a long time since I'd heard her call me by name. It proved that I had done what I intended. She hated me.
"Sunshine." I stood up, ready to apologize, to take it all back, to beg her forgiveness. She threw the remote at me and it hit me right in the stomach.
"Get out."
"Sunshine..." I started but began to feel her stoning powers taking effect.
"Get the fuck out!" She screamed again and I fell back onto the couch, laughing at her outburst. "Ofcourse…." She snapped. "Fuckin stoner…." She came towards me only to grab the remote and hit me with it again. "You stay, laugh have a merry day. I'm leaving." With that she darted from the room and I heard the front door slam shut, nearly shaking the whole house.
Lexi's POV
Well today definitely started off better than yesterday. Last night was the first time in four days I didn't cry myself to sleep. I had no reason to cry, I wasn't alone anymore, I had Emmett. I'd been thinking about him a lot lately, I finally admitted to myself how I felt about him, but deep down I still felt guilty for being with him. If Jacob tried to come back to me again, what choice would I make? Was I using Emmett to fill his void? Just taking his affection to make myself feel better? I didn't know the answer to any of those questions and I was quite certain I would never have to choose either way. Jacob wasn't coming back. I did exactly what he assumed I would have done from the very beginning. I did exactly what I told him I would never do.
Aside from him and more than likely the entire pack, even Esme didn't approve of what Emmett and I were doing. Her reaction when we came in together yesterday was proof. I bet Emmett would catch hell for returning home this morning after being out all night, no matter what excuse he made for where he'd been. That thought made me think about Jaz and everything that happened last night in the hallway. Alice was already furious with him about his crush and I knew she was standing there watching him last night. Poor Jasper, I bet his day didn't start off quite as well as mine. I was just as much responsible for the whole thing as Edward felt he was. The two of us were quite a team when it came to ruining people's lives for our own sick pleasure. Though what a pleasure it was…
I smirked to myself as I let my mind wander back to last night with Emmett. No one word could describe him. He was sincere and loving and beautiful and amazing…in every single thing he does, both privately and publicly. As my mind filled with images and words, I felt happier at school then I'd been in a long time. Before now, I dreaded school, I hated walking around intentionally dodging Jacob and his friends. I hated skipping lunch in the fear of seeing him there. I just couldn't bring myself to face him and I didn't know if I was strong enough to keep my composure in the event that I did run into him.
Ironically as the thought crossed my mind, someone in front of me stopped and I moved around them quickly. I wasn't looking where I was going and suddenly found myself face to face with Jacob. I had totally slammed right into him without realizing he was anywhere near me. He reached out and caught my shoulders to keep me from falling backwards and all I could do was stand there. Quil and Seth were on either side of him, both looking in the opposite direction as if they too didn't know how to handle this awkward moment.
The feel of his hands on me was too much for me and I couldn't think straight much less form a sentence as we stood there looking at each other. After a moment, Seth made a low whistling sound and Jacob slowly released his hold on me. Without a word, he continued walking down the hallway. I stared down at my feet as I felt Quil brush by me to follow after him.
"How's it hangin Lex?" Seth asked and I looked up to see him smiling at me.
"It doesn't usually hang, but thanks for asking." I replied trying to sound cheerful.
"Good to know." He grinned, waved and disappeared down the hallway.
It was nice to know that not everyone hated me.
Though Seth was probably just happy to have Jacob all to himself.
The thought made me laugh and I giggled all the way to my next class.
The day dragged on and like every day for the past four days, I now stood outside of Miss Forro's English class. The one class I shared with Jacob. The one class I dreaded walking into every single day. Though today I felt more nervous after running into him earlier in the hallway and I couldn't even figure out why. Was I not moving on with Emmett? Had I not come to realize that Jacob wasn't going to change his mind? Did I want him too? What the fuck is really wrong with me? I sighed and made my way into class, not glancing at anyone, just walking straight to the side of the room where I knew Jacob would not be. I made myself keep my head low and not look towards the seat where he usually sat. I knew he was already there because I could see his backpack on the floor out of the corner of my eye.
"Sup hot stuff?" Came a familiar voice from behind me. I turned in my seat to see Van Masterson grinning widely at me. I was going to turn back around without replying, but I noticed Jacob was watching me and I couldn't control myself.
"Sup Buttercup." I smiled sweetly and tossed my hair over my shoulder.
It was shameful I know, but I had to do it.
"Is that a come on?" He asked grinning.
"To some people it is." I replied turning back around.
"I take it as a come on." Van replied tapping me on the shoulder. "We should totally get together on Saturday and discuss this further."
And that is why I shouldn't have replied.
I turned around slowly and put on a fake smile.
"I would love to Van, but….I'm actually seeing someone right now." I may have said that last part a little louder on purpose maybe.
"You're seeing someone?" I heard Miss Forro's voice from the front of the classroom and I turned around quickly. "Is that why…." Her eyes scanned the room, but dropped quickly. "I'm sorry that is none of my business." She chuckled uncomfortably and started writing today's lesson on the chalkboard.
Great so my English teacher thinks I'm a whore too.
I glanced over at Jacob who had no expression on his face what so ever.
I spent the rest of the class, eying Miss Forro who refused to look at me and thinking about how she would even know what had happened between me and Jacob. By the time break came around I had figured out in a duh moment that Seth had to be the culprit. I decided to let my opinion be known to him, by approaching him while he was sitting at the table with Jacob and Quil.
I didn't even say a word, just walked close enough to where I could snatch his shirt sleeve and he willingly followed me away from the table.
"I have no idea what'd I've done to deserve this rough treatment, but please tell me so I can do it again." He grinned evilly and made a growling sound.
It threw me off for a moment.
"Seth..." I just stared at him with my mouth slightly open and he laughed.
"Your expression…" He laughed. "Love it."
"My expression is not meant to be loved, it is meant to strike fear into your heart." I said crossing my arms and glaring at him.
"Well it's only turning me on."
"Must you flirt with everyone?"
"Yes I must." He grinned. "Especially those who drag me away, since it involves touching."
"You are seriously not right."
"I know it." He grinned. "So what is it you want with me? Broom closet inspection?" he looked at his wrist like he was wearing a watch. "Three minutes, it's gonna have to be quick."
"Do you have any other speed?"
"Oooh that was harsh Lex." He said shaking his head. "You were wrong for that."
"Wanna tell me why Miss Forro thinks I'm a whore?" I asked ignoring his wounded ego.
"She said that?" He asked grinning. "Hot."
Seriously…this kid.
"No she didn't come out and say that. But I'm sure that's what she thinks." I moved closer to him and leaned in to whisper. "It's none of her business about me and Jacob, you need to stop running your mouth."
"I'm sorry could you repeat that, your closeness threw me off."
"For God's sake Seth…"
"I'm only a teenage boy, cut me some slack…" he grinned. "But seriously… why would you think I said anything?"
"Well who else would tell her?"
"Okay I did mention it, but only because she asked. I didn't say anything but confirm her suspicions that you two had-"
"Shhhh." I said grabbing his sleeve and stepping close to him again. "You don't have to talk so loud." I glanced over at Jacob and Quil who were watching with interest and no doubt listening to every single word we said.
"Oh you don't want Jake to know you care?" He whispered.
"No, I don't want the whole school to hear my business." I snapped. "Tell Jacob whatever you want."
"You so shouldn't have told me that." He grinned mischievously.
"You are seriously disturbed."
"Be nice or I'm taking you off my to do list."
"Oh poor me, how will I ever survive?"
"Right, that probably doesn't faze you considering you are on everyone's to do list."
"God Seth, you are so fucking obnoxious."
"In my mind that translates to God Seth I want you so bad."
"You don't quit do you?"
"I can go all day." He grinned. "I mean that on so many levels."
"Oh really?" I asked smiling. "Got anybody who can vouch for that?"
"Instead of learning of my greatness second hand..." He said sliding his arm around me. "How bout I prove it?"
This was seriously getting a little out of hand, but I refused to back down.
"All right you're on." I said sliding my arms around his waist, his mouth dropped open in surprise. "I do like me a half naked werewolf every once in a while. Meet me in the broom closet in five minutes."
"Fuck…" He breathed. "I mean Five? I mean… fuck…" I laughed as the bell signaling the end of break sounded and I pulled away from him.
"Make sure you let me know what you tell Jacob we were talking about." He looked at Jacob and Quil who were both wide eyed and confused looking.
"Fuck me." Seth muttered.
"I said five minutes." I called back to him as I made my way out of the lunch room.
Poor kid thought he could out flirt the master.
That scene alone made my day brighter. I didn't see Jacob in the hallway for the rest of the day, but I passed Seth and Quil twice and both times held up five fingers and smiled widely. I laughed mostly because Quil looked so lost.
The ride home was peaceful, I was in a great mood, strangely enough and I couldn't wait to tell Sunshine about my day. She always asked and was always disappointed that I never did anything interesting at school. I never mentioned the broom closet incident to her so she wouldn't get the joke, but she'd laugh anyway.
I pulled up into the driveway and got out quickly, eager to get inside and share my day with Sunshine. She'd be thrilled that I was in a good mood and not all mopey. Though she would probably chalk that up to spending the night with Emmett. I could almost hear her comments as I pushed the front door open and stepped inside.
"Sunshine?" I called throwing my bag onto the table and wandering into the living room, giggling at my thoughts.
"You seem pretty cheerful." Emmett said as I entered the living room and I nearly jumped, but grinned widely at him.
"It's been an interesting day." I said laughing and moving to give him a hug.
"Tell me about it." He said after nuzzling my neck and staring at me with an odd expression on his face.
"You probably wouldn't find it quite as funny as I do." I said knowing that to be a fact. "Where is Sunshine?"
"I'm assuming she's with Edward, he's been here." Emmett answered and I nodded happily. "What happened at school?"
"Nothing too exciting." I answered wondering why he kept asking.
"Talk to anyone? Touch anyone? Be touched by anyone?" He asked and it was only then that I realized just how acute his sense of smell really was.
"Okay I see what you are getting at now." I said thinking it was kind of cute to see the jealousy coming out. "I ran into Jacob in the hallway. He grabbed me before I hit the ground. Nothing was said."
"I'm more concerned about why you smell like Seth Clearwater."
"Oh that…." I laughed. "He was trying to seduce me."
That didn't come out right at all.
"Say that again?" Emmett asked.
"What I meant was we were talking and I fell…." I nodded. He gave me this look. "Okay fine.. you know that game me and Jaz used to play where we'd try to render the other speechless with sexual comments?"
"Unfortunately."
"Well Seth likes to play that game too and let me tell I totally got him today. He couldn't even manage to utter a full sentence."
"I think you should be homeschooled." Emmett said nodding. "Starting tomorrow."
"Awww, are you jealous?" I asked putting my arms around him.
"Me? Jealous? No…"
"That's unfortunate cuz jealousy is quite a turn on to me."
"Oh well then yes, I'm jealous." He slide his arms around my waist and leaned in and kissed me.
"I too am jealous." Came Jasper's voice. I jumped in surprise.
"Jaz, what are you doing here?"
"I couldn't stand to be away from you Lexi. I've come to fight for your honor." The fact that he was grinning was the only way I knew he was kidding.
"I am very popular today." I said smiling.
"I hear you let Seth have it." Jasper grinned. "No pun intended."
"He's a wimp compared to you Jaz."
"I dunno bout that, I think last night proved just how much of a wimp I really am."
"That wasn't your fault Jaz." I told him. "Don't let it get you down." I reached out to touch his shoulder but he backed up.
"Let's not do that." He said seriously.
"I'm not emotional, nothing will happen."
"Don't care." He said shaking his head. "I'm in enough trouble as it is."
"Did Alice say something about it?"
"Alice isn't speaking to me at all. She won't even be in the same room with me."
"I'm sorry Jaz." I said feeling bad for him.
"Not your fault Lex."
"Well part of it is." I told him. "If I wasn't there…."
"Yeah well that was just a lovely ending to an already fucked up day." He made a sighing sound. "Today wasn't any better either."
"What happened today?" I asked looking between him and Emmett.
"You want to tell her or shall I?" Jasper asked looking at Emmett.
"Tell me what?" I asked concerned. "What happened?"
"Esme kicked me out." Emmett answered sounding kind of proud.
"What? Why?"
"Either because he's a fucking whore or he's fucking a whore." Jasper said grinning. "Take your pick."
"Because of me?" I said crossing my arms. "That's not fair…." I sighed. "What are you going to do? Where are you going to stay?"
"Well I was hoping I could stay here…." He answered giving me a look. "But if you don't want..."
"No no no, of course you can stay here. Yes yes stay here, I want you to stay here…" I moved towards him and put my arms around his neck. "I slept so good last night…"
"If I remember correctly there wasn't much sleeping involved." He said brushing his lips over mine.
"Well I slept good the whole few hours I had." I replied kissing him back.
"Well I wouldn't want to interfere with your sleeping habits."
"Fuck sleep." I said kissing him again. His hands moved up my back and his fingers tangled in my hair as the kiss deepened.
"You are not alone in this room." Jasper said loudly. "Just wanted to put that out there."
Jacob's POV
School sucked today. There is no other word to describe it.
Id been trying to avoid Lexi at school since the whole thing started. I was even more adamant about it once I learned she was already back with Emmett. I couldn't stand to see her anymore. The few times I had glimpsed her in school, it made me crazy with pain. I wanted nothing but to throw myself at her, to forgive her to beg her to forgive me but I couldn't do that. I couldn't bring myself to stoop to that level, no matter how much pain I was in.
When she ran into me today, I knew she was there, I knew I would have to pass her in the hallway but I wasn't prepared to come face to face with her. I wasn't prepared to touch her, but I couldn't prevent it. She would have fallen if I didn't grab her and when my hands touched her I couldn't stop myself from holding on. Our eyes met for a moment and I could almost feel the regret, the sorrow radiating from her body. I wanted nothing but to take her in my arms and tell her how much I missed her but I made myself let go. It was over. I destroyed it and she had already moved on. I was already forgotten, which made me believe she never loved me at all. All I could do was walk away. I couldn't even speak to her. I was too afraid my feelings would come out, that she would know how much I was hurting and I refused to let her see that.
When I overheard Van asking her out in class, I was so close to saying something but Quil stopped me with a look. He knew I was watching he knew how much I was hurting and he knew Id regret speaking up. When she denied him, I was happy… but the feeling quickly went away when she explained that she was seeing someone. Though I knew that she had been with Emmett, it hadn't dawned on me that she was actually 'with' him. Those words cut me like a knife. It wasn't just a night. They were together now and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
The day only got worse as it went on. During last break, Lexi practically dragged Seth away from the table and that alone shocked me. She didn't say anything, just grabbed his sleeve and took off. Of course Quil and I watched them and we listened but they were speaking quietly most of the time and it was hard to hear over the crowded lunch room. At one point Seth looked towards us and I thought perhaps they were talking about me, but I couldn't figure out what was being said. Seth was grinning madly and Lexi seemed pretty cheerful. It wasn't until I saw him slip his arm around her that I started to think things I shouldn't. Seth was one of my best friends, he would never betray me like that. I tried to keep my mind from thinking like that, but when I saw Lexi put her arms around him and saw the way she looked at him, I couldn't keep the thoughts out any longer. Quil looked floored by the whole scene and I tried my damndest to act like I didn't notice.
I tried to talk to him when school let out, but he wasn't interested in giving any details about the event in question. He just reminded me that he had a lesson to get to and that he would talk to me later. He didn't even make a flirtatious comment, which strangely I was concerned about. Was he trying to get with Lexi? Would he tell me if he was? The thought was truly disturbing to me even though I no longer had any hold on her. Would he seriously do that? What about Miss Forro?
Now here I am sitting at home, on the front porch waiting on him to return from his lesson. I had nothing else better to do than to wait. Quil had gone out with Adryen for a dinner date and I didn't see them returning anytime soon. I was alone. I was confused. I was depressed. I had no idea what to do with my time now that I didn't spend it with Lexi. Even my dad was concerned, even though he was convinced that it was only a minor argument and that Lexi and I would get back together in time. He knew nothing about Emmett. I couldn't bring myself to tell him. I hated admitting it to myself much less having to say it out loud. Though Dad always knew more than he let on and honestly there was no telling what Adryen had told him.
"What are you up to today boy?" Dad asked coming out onto the porch where I sat.
"Waiting on Seth to get done with his lesson." I explained.
"Would you be offended if I told you that I was concerned with how much time you've been spending with Seth?" He asked grinning. "Some of the things he says disturbs me."
"He does have several issues Dad, but he just says those things to bother me."
"Seems he enjoys bothering you."
"He's just trying to take my mind off of…"
"Lexi." Dad finished for me. "He's a good friend to do that, but I would feel much better about it if he involved girls in his distraction effort."
"Well he's definitely started involving girls." I said thinking about how he was talking to Lexi today. "And seriously I'd rather he wouldn't."
"Please tell me you say that because you don't want anyone but Lexi, and not because you are happy with only having Seth to entertain you."
"Seriously Dad you have no idea what is going on in my life right now."
"Well I would if you would talk to me."
"I don't want to talk about it. It's hard enough to deal with on my own, I don't want you following me around asking questions."
"Could you at least confirm with me that I have no need to ask questions about your relationship with Seth?"
"I'm not interested in anyone but Lexi." I said honestly. "I'm just having issues with the fact that it's never going to happen."
"Don't be so negative Jacob, she'll come back."
"Im the one who walked away…"
"So you're an idiot. She knew that in the beginning. She'll forgive you."
"I'm pretty sure she doesn't give a fuck about me anymore." I cringed slightly when I realized I had cussed and his eyebrows raised. "My bad…"
"Did she come out and say she didn't care?" He asked letting my fuck up slide. "Or are you just overanalyzing it?" I looked at him for a moment, trying to decide exactly what to say and whether or not I was going to be honest. "Or are you not interested in explaining further?"
"Honestly, I'd rather not admit it." I sighed. "If I don't say it out loud, it's almost as if it isn't happening."
"She's seeing someone else already?" He asked without hesitation.
"Adryen told you?"
"No, I'm just assuming based on your expression." He replied and I looked down at me feet feeling like a loser. "I'm sorry Jacob." He sounded just as hurt as I was.
"Yeah, me too."
"Maybe time will change things." He said looking off in the distance. "She is your imprint. One thing stands to be sure, she will always love you no matter what happens."
That should have made me feel better, but it didn't. It actually made me feel worse, as it put into perspective that fact that even though she did love me, she didn't want me.
"Thanks Dad." I replied trying not to let the sarcasm show. It was then I realized Dad wasn't just looking away out of pity, he was staring at something. Before I even turned around I knew that Sam was approaching.
"He doesn't look very happy." Dad glanced at me when he realized I'd picked up on our visitor.
"He sure doesn't." I replied, getting to my feet and jumping off the porch to meet Sam.
"There seems to be an issue at the border." Sam said the moment he got to me. "A Cullen."
"Which one?" I asked thinking there was no way in hell this day could get worse.
"Edward. He wants to speak with you." Sam told me. "He's threatened to cross if you don't meet him."
"Let him cross." I said without hesitation. Sam looked at me oddly.
"Jacob." Dad said with that "you know better" attitude.
"I'm seriously not in the mood for whatever the hell he wants."
"He's not the one…." Dad started but trailed off when I started shaking my head.
"No he's not but that doesn't mean I hate him any less."
"He's really adamant about talking to you Jake." Sam said with a serious expression on his face. "Adryen and Quil are holding him off. He seems… out of sorts…"
"Out of sorts?" I asked confused. "How?"
"Swearing a lot, stumbling around…" He made a disgusted face. "…flirting with your sister…."
"What?" I asked half grinning. "Oh I bet she's loving that…" I was amused but Dad looked horrified. "He's so wasted." I laughed. "All right I'll go, but only because Adryen's misfortune will make me feel better about mine."
"Way to take care of your sister." Dad said as I started walking away.
"Always."
I didn't move very quickly, just walked at a normal pace as I wasn't in a big hurry to see what the leech wanted, but it only took me a few minutes to come across them.
"Aw, Quil hasn't attacked yet?" I asked seeing Edward sitting on the ground staring at Adryen who had turned around when I got close.
"I figured you'd want the first strike." Quil answered crossing his arms.
"Aww, such a good friend, always thinking of me." I snickered and Adryen made a huffing sound. "What do you want Edward?"
"I want to talk to you." He said not even attempting to get to his feet. "Alone."
"Hell no, I'm not leaving him." Adryen snapped.
"Relax Adryen, I can handle this." I told her as I directed my thoughts to Edward.
Is this about Lexi?
He held his hand out and shook it, I was assuming that meant sorta, kinda…maybe.
Does she know you are here?
He shook his head no and grinned widely.
"She's probably gonna be pretty fuckin pissed at me."
Then I would love to have this talk with you.
"I wonder if I should have hid the bat before coming here…" he mumbled, touching his chin and staring off. Adryen tapped my arm and gestured towards him as if saying what the fuck?
"I can take it from here." I said after shrugging my shoulders. "Quil if Seth arrives while I'm gone, don't let him leave."
"Got it." He said nodding and reaching for Adryen's hand.
"Are you sure Jake?" She asked looking at Edward who blew a kiss towards her. Her expression was priceless and I had to laugh. "Fucking arrogant asshole… I hate him." She mumbled as Quil drug her off towards the house.
"You must be wasted." I said still laughing a little.
"Yeah…I'm…pretty fuckin shitfaced…"
"And you chose to come fuck with me? As if I haven't had enough shit to deal with lately."
"Actually…" He said getting to his feet, after stumbling twice. "I've come to apologize." My eyes widened in surprise. "I know, right?" He grinned.
"What's the point?" I said hatefully. "It won't make a difference."
"Wont it?" He asked confused. "If Sunshine and I-"
"I don't care what you do with Sunshine." I said cutting him off. "It wasn't my business in the first place and I wish like hell I realized that sooner, but it's too late now." I crossed my arms and stared at him.
Emmett's already staked his claim.
"Fuck Emmett." Edward slurred. "I mean yeah Drea adores him…." He trailed off and made a face. "I don't remember my point."
"She chose him." I said. "He's always been her first choice…"
"That's not true." He looked appalled.
"It is true." I snapped. "Maybe you don't know, maybe she's never told you…but I know the truth. She loves him, she's told me straight out. There's never been any doubt in my mind that she'd go back to him."
Though I had no idea I'd be the one to make her do it.
"Emmett's just…." He shook his head. "He's just an able bodied stand in." He grinned. "Though he does take that job seriously."
. "I am not amused."
"I won't stand here-" Just as he said it, he stumbled and landed on his ass. "….at all apparently." I didn't want to laugh because I was angry, but it was just too good not too
"Dude seriously if you stayed drunk, you might be worth being around."
"We always did get along better when alcohol was applied." He grinned. "Implied… what's the word….involved….?"
"Ingested?" I snickered.
"That too."
"Why did you come out here to talk to me?" I asked bluntly.
"Because I love her." He said softly. "I hate that she's destroying her life for me."
I wasn't sure what to say to that.
"The truth." He answered my thoughts. "I know you love her, I know you acted instinctively, I even know why…"
"Why?" I snapped. "Why do you think I did it?" I forced my mind to shut down and he stood there staring at me.
"Embry." The name was barely audible. "Perfect, selfless Embry. The hero who should never be forgotten."
I was at loss for words at that point.
"I've been thinking a lot." He nodded. "I don't deserve Sunshine. I can't be Embry…I can't live up to her expectations of me…no matter how hard I'd be willing to try."
"You care about her?"
"I do." He nodded. "She's an amazing person." He reached up and grabbed at his hair. "I hate that I've hurt her."
"What do you mean hurt her?" I asked wide eyed. His expression was pained and it looked like he would cry if he could.
"I ended it today." He said after a moment's hesitation. "It's over."
"Why?" I asked dropping my arms to my side, I almost couldn't believe I'd heard him right.
"It should have never happened." He said dropping his hands and crossing his arms. "I shouldn't have let it happen. If I had known what would come of it…"
"It doesn't even matter now." I said shaking my head. "Hurting Sunshine isn't going to fix anything. I made a mistake, I knew the answer before I demanded it of Lexi. I made this happen, why hurt Sunshine because of me?"
"I haven't been able to have a real conversation with Drea for four days now. She's too emotional, I can't be around her. She's miserable… she's-"
"Right, yes, she's miserable." I laughed out loud thinking about just how miserable she was. How miserable she was probably making Emmett right now.
"He was in the right place at the right time." Edward said. "Her powers compelled him, but he wouldn't have denied her otherwise."
"You don't have to tell me that." I said rolling my eyes.
"He loves her, Jake."
"You think I don't know that?" I snapped. "You think I'd be concerned over a random hook up?" I shook my head and turned my back on him. "That's what makes it so hard….I know how she feels about him and I know that he's loved her for centuries. She loves him because she wants too, not because nature made it happen."
"That doesn't mean her love for you is any less real."
"Doesn't it?" I asked turning back around. "She gave up on me before I even had time to realize my mistake. She turned to him without any hesitation. She knew what she wanted, she just needed the excuse. I gave it to her. I sealed the deal."
"She just needs time Jake."
"Time?" I snapped. "For what? To get him out of her system? To make me suffer for questioning her? To kill me slowly every minute of every day that I have to see her and know that she doesn't give a fuck about me anymore?"
"She wants to be with you Jake, she just-"
"Shut the fuck up, Edward." I yelled. "Fuck, I don't know why I agreed to talk to you, I knew you would do this. I was handling this on my own. It was getting easier to accept and now you've gone and fucked it up. Fuckin putting thoughts in my head like I still have a chance."
"You do have a chance."
"No." I snapped. "It's over. Even if she begged me, I wouldn't take her back. I can't do it. I can't let her do this to me anymore." I felt like I was about to start crying and I bit my lip to prevent it.
"Cry if it makes you feel better."
"I don't cry." I growled.
"Well she does." He said softly. "Every night."
"Well then obviously, Emmett's doing something wrong."
That was the last thing I said before taking off. I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't stand there and hear him lie to me. His words were only making this harder to deal with. She didn't love me. She wasn't miserable. Just seeing her with Seth proved that much.
As I neared the house, I knew he was there. My current mood made it impossible for me not to lash out. I couldn't control my emotions any longer and anger was the only way to prevent myself from breaking down.
"One day you fuckin call yourself my best friend then the next you got your hands all over her." First thing I said when I entered the yard and saw Seth standing on the porch with Adryen and Quil. Seth's eyes widened and he started shaking his head immediately.
"It's not like that Jake. You know I'd never-"
"Never what?" I snapped stepping up onto the porch. Seth moved behind Adryen who stared wide eyed at me. "It was obvious what you were doing Seth and right in fucking front of me. You could have at least had the decency to hide it."
"I wasn't doing anything Jake." He said peeking over Adryen's shoulder. "You gotta believe me, just let me explain."
"Right, like I wanna fuckin hear the details."
"You got it all wrong Jake."
"What is going on?" Adryen asked looking at Quil.
"Long story…." He answered covering his mouth and looking at Seth.
"She was mad at me-" Seth started but stopped cold when I moved around Adryen.
"You have no idea how many times I've heard the same story start out that way." I snapped as I reached for him and he hurried behind Quil.
"No no no Jake, wait!" He screamed and the front door swung open, revealing my Dad's distraught expression.
"Lover's quarrel?" He asked looking at Seth and then at me. Quil laughed but I wasn't amused and started for Seth, but he darted behind Dad's chair and braced himself on the handles.
"Jake please, just let me explain." He said quickly. "She was mad, apparently Miss Forro said something to her in class or something…she wanted to talk to me about it."
"Go on." I said remembering that exact moment from class.
"We were just talking about it and you know me…" He grinned nervously. "… You know how I am. I flirt with everyone… I mean come on, I hit on you at least twice a day…" Dad gave me this concerned and uncomfortable look.
"Go on."
"And you know her, it's in her nature not to be outdone…" He explained. "And I couldn't let her win, we were both just testing each other to see how far the other would go… I put my arm around her to scare her but she knew I was bluffing. She was just fucking with me, to see what'd I'd do. When I realized she wasn't going to back down, I freaked out Jake… you gotta believe me… I would never ever do that to you."
"It was just a game?" I asked, calming down tremendously.
"Yes, a game, a joke even... it was nothing… seriously… god I'm so sorry Jake, I didn't think you'd react like this… really dude… you're my best friend, I would never ever do that to you. I love you man. "
I felt like a complete asshole.
And sorta uncomfortable with the stares my Dad was giving me.
"Seth…" I said running my hands over my face. "I'm sorry…I overreacted….I just… I was talking to Edward… and..."
"What did that arrogant bastard say to you?" Adryen snapped.
"Nothing out of line." I said sighing. "Just trying to make me believe that Lexi really does give a….crap…" I changed my intended word and looked at Dad who nodded.
"She does Jake." Seth said. "When we were talking earlier… you know before… yeah... well she was talking quietly because she didn't want you to overhear her concern."
"She wasn't concerned about me. She was concerned because her "I'm seeing someone" response made her look like a whore."
"Jacob…." Dad said with that tone again.
"What? It's true, it's been four days. She slept with Emmett on day two." I covered my mouth immediately and cursed silently to myself.
"Emmett Cullen." Dad said wide eyed. "I see now why you are so concerned."
Sunshine's POV
I was utterly devastated and angry when I left the house today. I didn't even know where I was going, I just ran, ran as fast as I could and didn't look back. When I finally slowed down, I realized I had come into a town and honestly had no fucking idea where I was. I stood on the sidewalk, watching the street lined with bumper to bumper traffic and crowds of people bustling in and out of several large buildings.
Even though it wasn't too bright out, I was thankful for the shade of the tree lined sidewalks as I stood there searching the scenery for any clue as to where I was.
This is ridiculous, I've run off all angry like and now I'm fucking lost.
Damn you Edward Cullen.
I suppose I could follow my path back, catch a familiar scent, something… surely this whole vampire thing gave me a better sense of direction than I had as a human.
"Excuse me." I called to an older man who was passing by. "Could you tell me what town this is?"
"Seattle." He answered giving me this odd look and walking off as if I had rabies or something.
"Seattle…" I mumbled to myself.
Well at least I am still in Washington. Not too far away from home….I hope.
"Hey excuse me ma'am." I said stopping another passerby on the street. "Would you happen to know how far away I am from Forks?"
"Forks is a good four hour drive from here." She replied pleasantly.
"Good, then I can make it in two, max." I said nodding and she eyed me oddly before walking off just like the man before her.
I surely need to be careful what I say while I'm around all these people. I can't just talk about things all willy nilly like. I am out in public.
"I…am… out… in… public." I said the words slowly and grinned widely as I looked around.
Didn't seem like there was a need for me to rush home just yet. Drexi would just think I was out hunting, as long as I made it home before dark she wouldn't worry too much, unless that bastard waited on her to get home and told her.
I crossed my arms and stood there for a few minutes thinking about what he would have done. Surely he wouldn't tell her in person, she's going to be pretty pissed at him…. Yeah he'd call and tell her if he even tells her at all.
And if they were worried, they could find me. There was no reason at all to rush home where it would only bring back horrible memories. I think it would be much more productive to check things out here and find something fun to do.
But what?
I started walking down the street, careful to stay close to the shade as I went. There were several buildings, some café's, souvenir shops, official looking places that looked no fun at all and a ultimately huge police department smack in the middle of the area.
I walked on for a few more minutes until I saw a flyer taped on the window of a local music store. The dark haired hottie in the picture caught my eye. He had the bluest eyes I had ever seen and jet black hair with red tips.
"Fucking awesome." I murmured.
Drexi would be so jealous of how red his tips were and I myself was quite envious of how he pulled off the black eyeliner.
Dude was decked out in a pair of jeans and a white wife beater, he was pretty fucking built from what I could tell.
"Thirty Seconds to Mars." I said out loud as I read the flyer. Apparently it was a band playing in the area this afternoon. "Sounds like a stoner name to me….shall I?" I said to myself as I snatched the flyer off the window and went on my way to find the address where the band would be playing.
It only took me about thirty minutes to find the Paramount Theatre where the concert was to be held. Though I did have to stop and ask several people on the way. And for some reason every fucking one of them looked at me like I was crazy. It wasn't until I started looking around and noticing the attire of the other people that I realized, the stares were probably due to my clothing or lack thereof. I was wearing a tank top in forty degree weather…
I saw the entrance to the theatre and started for it, but was stopped immediately.
"Ticket?" Said a crotchety looking old bald man.
"I don't have a ticket." I said sadly.
"You can purchase one here for $97.00."
"I don't have any money." I said checking my pockets even though I knew I didn't have any.
"Then you don't have any tickets either."
"You have no idea how bad my day has been…" I mumbled. "I seriously need to be here. I need to de stress."
"I don't really care about how your day has been." The old fucker snapped. "No money, no ticket. No ticket, no show."
"Well aren't you a crotchety old fucker."
"Would you like me to call security?"
"Not really…no…" I said shaking my head. "But really what would you call them? They don't take kindly to insults ya know."
"Security." The man said calmly as he looked towards the inside of the theatre.
"I said no!" I nearly screamed. "Please don't, I swear I'll leave... I won't bother you anymore."
"If you really want in that bad, I'm sure we can make arrangements."
"Really?" I asked quite cheerfully. "What kind of arrangements?"
"I'd be happy to let you by, if you could do me a little favor."
"What's the favor?"
He leaned over and whispered in my ear, probably the most graphic and disgusting sexual activity I'd ever heard.
"You nasty ass." I snapped, crossing my arms and shaking my head frantically. "What do I look like, a fucking whore?"
"All women are whores, if given the proper direction."
"You are such a fucking pig! Oh my god, I so hate you… fucking men." I couldn't even believe dude was standing there saying this shit to me. "All men are fucking pigs, only after one thing…."
Saying that made me think of Edward and what he said to me earlier. How he was apparently out fucking the whole town of Forks while I waited patiently for his "nervousness" to subside.
"Fucking asshole. I hate that fucking bastard so much. If he were here right now I swear to god I would kill him. Tear him into tiny pieces and burn that fucker." I growled suddenly and I knew what was coming. When I turned to the old dude, he was grinning at me. "Oh…no…"
I panicked at first, wondering if I should just run before anyone noticed, but then I had an idea. My power would finally be useful.
"Bet you're awful hungry bout now…." I said grinning widely.
"Man… seriously… suddenly I'm starving…"
"Well… I could take over here…. You could go to lunch…" I cringed and closed my eyes waiting on this to backfire in my face.
"You would?" he asked happily. "That would be great."
Fucking stoners… thank god for hunger.
"Of course." I said smiling pleasantly. "You go right on, I'll wait right here."
Fucker nodded at me happily and didn't even hesitate to take his stoned ass out of the building.
I then wondered up to the desk he stood at and nonchalantly pulled a ticket from the stack.
"Fear my awesomeness." I sang as I skipped off into the theater.
It was severely obvious by the lack of people in the auditorium that I was early. I unfolded the flyer I had kept in my pocket and made a sighing sound.
"Almost two and a half hours early." I cursed to myself and looked around for something to occupy my time. No way in hell I was going back out there and have to bypass Mr. Pissy Pants when he comes down from his high and realizes what happened.
After counting all two thousand eight hundred and seven seats in the theater, I was just getting to one hundred and fifty seven bottles of beer on the wall when people started filing in.
Odd looking people too, dark hair, dark makeup, dark clothes, crazy lookin folks they were. I felt like a meteor could come blasting through the roof, raining the sun down on me and even with my sparkles I would be the most normal looking person in this room.
I started thinking maybe I shouldn't be here that this band was going to be pretty off from my usual music taste, based only on the looks of their fans. However when Mr. Hot Stuff bounced onto the stage in all his black leather pants glory, I changed my mind.
He politely thanked everyone for coming to the show as soft music played and then suddenly he started singing…
"No matter how many times that you told me you wanted leave
No matter how many breaths that you took you still couldn't breathe
No matter how many nights that you'd lie wide awake to the sound of the poison rain
Where did you go
Where did you go
Where did you go"
Holy fuck, this is my song… seriously… I take breaths and still can't breathe. I so totally lie awake at night!
"As days go by
The night's on fire …
Tell me would you kill to save a life
Tell me would you kill to prove you're right
Crash crash
Burn let it all burn
This hurricane's chasing us all underground"
Crash Crash Burn!
"No matter how many deaths that I die I will never forget
No matter how many lives that I live I will never regret
There is a fire inside of the heart and a riot about to explode into flames
Where is your god? Where is your god? Where is your god?"
No matter how many lives that live I will never regret….oh my god… seriously… he's talking about me!
"Do you really want?
Do you really want me?"
YES!
"Do you really want me dead?
Or alive to torture for my sins?"
Not dead, but the torture part sounds lovingly kinky…
"Do you really want?
Do you really want me?
Do you really want me dead?
Or alive to live the lie?
Tell me would you kill to save a life?
Tell me would you kill to prove you're right?
Crash, crash, burn, let it all burn
This hurricane's chasing us all underground"
This song reminded me so much of he who used to be Daddy it wasn't even funny.
"The promises we made were not enough
(Never play the game again)
The prayers that we have prayed were like a drug
(Never gonna help me here)
The secrets that we sow we'll never know
(Never sing a song a second time)
The love we had, the love we had
We had to let it go
(Never giving in again, never giving in again)"
Seriously… word for word my thoughts exactly…. *sigh*
When the song was over I think I clapped louder than any of the others. I was seriously impressed by that song, especially how right on the lyrics were to my current feelings. Each and every song he sang reminded me more and more of my current issues and though it made me sad, just looking up to see that sexy ass man singing made it all worthwhile
When the concert was over, Mr. Hot Stuff announced to the crowd that he'd see those with VIP passes at the bands after party. My need for involvement took over immediately. I was going to this party, one fucking way or another.
It wasn't very difficult at all really. I stood near the entrance, about four to five feet behind a bunch of people and thought constantly about what happened today. When I felt my anger start to bubble I pushed myself to the front of the line and demanded to be let in. Of course the "bouncer" denied me, but I was prepared for it as I pretended I was yelling at he who shall not be named, my anger took over completely and that bouncer bastard was stoned off his ass within seconds. I didn't even hesitate just slipped right on through, like I was fucking Queen of the ball or something.
Immediately upon entering this "after party" I could pick up the scent of a long ago friend of mine. Miss Mary Juana. Somebody or bodies was smoking the shit and that's when the craving set in.
I wasn't sure if it was the smell, the fact that I hadn't been stoned in a while or that I felt extremely upset about today's events that made me want it to so bad. I followed the scent through the room which was a hard task considering it seemed everyone was enjoying the effects of the lovely Mary Juana, but eventually I came across someone holding a joint in their hand. Ironically it was Mr. Hot Stuff himself. I stood there staring for a moment, as dude was half naked and we all know how I have issues with half nakedness.
"You want?" Mr. Hot Stuff asked, holding out the joint to me. I was able to nod slightly and managed to take the joint from him. I hesitated briefly and nearly jumped when he lit a zippo lighter and held it towards me. After he nodded towards the joint, I put it to my lips and he lit the end. I inhaled as much as I could at one time, inhaling seemed to be much easier when you didn't need air to survive. After several puffs, I passed it back to him and he grinned before taking several hits himself.
I wasn't feeling anything at all and I knew I wouldn't. Damn life isn't fair.
"You're even hotter than in your picture." I said pulling the flyer out of my pocket and handing it to him. He coughed a little from inhaling the smoke, but somehow produced a pen from thin air and signed my flyer before handing it back to me. "Awesome." I said grinning, wondering why he did that but not caring cuz he was so fucking hot if I could drool I'd be drowning right now.
"What's your name?" He asked handing me the joint again.
I was going to refuse the joint but it seemed to be a way to conversate with Mr. Hot Stuff, so why the fuck not?
"Sunshine." I said taking it from him. "But you can call me whatever the hell you want." That made him laugh hysterically as I puffed on the joint, only to get nothing.
"How bout I call you Hot Momma?" He asked, grinning flirtatiously and accepted the joint back.
So true, I was seriously one hot momma. I smiled happily as my mind began to wander. Thoughts of the long awaited return of my precious baby boy began to fill my mind, but I knew now wasn't the time to discuss such a thing.
"Well then, I'm gonna call you…" I said trying to change the direction of my thoughts. I knew his name was Jared as he introduced himself and his band mates at the end of the concert though that seemed like such a lame name for such a hot man. "Big Daddy." I said suddenly. "Yes." I grinned evilly as I thought about how fun it would be to talk about him in front of he who used to be Daddy.
"Awesome." He replied passing me the joint again. This time I declined it.
"No thanks, it's not really doing anything for me."
"Are you fucking serious?" He asked wide eyed. "This shit's the top of the line..."
"Yeah well apparently I have a top of the line tolerance."
"We've got some vodka in the kitchen." He said pointing across the room.
"Oooh." I said practically drooling. "Got any deer?"
"No fresh out." He laughed like I was joking or something.
That's when the most brilliant idea ever in life occurred to me.
If feeding vodka to a deer and drinking its blood got me drunk, would drinking the blood of
a stoner get me high? Why the hell had I never thought of that? It was certainly an experiment that could be justified at this moment.
I smiled excitedly at Big Daddy, as he crushed the joint out in an ashtray.
"Can I bite you?" I asked bluntly. There didn't seem to be any point in explaining as he was probably too high to understand.
"Sure." He said agreeing like I assumed a stoner would. "But I must warn you, I bite back."
"No problem. If you survive this, feel free." I smiled as the involuntary thoughts began to invade my mind.
What exactly would happen if I bit him? Would he die? Would I change him? I knew how the process was done now… I randomly asked he who used to be Daddy one day after we had talked about Bella and Embry. I still felt guilty that I couldn't save her, still do, even though that bastard ass doesn't deserve her.
Though I don't suppose turning the lead singer of a famous band into a vampire would be a good idea, considering the whole… irate newborn factor. He'd lose a lot of fans….you know if he ate them.
And if I changed him, he wouldn't be able to get high anymore, so if this experiment did work,
I wouldn't be able to use him again. With that thought, it was apparent that I would have to only take a little and make sure I didn't kill him. This was going to be difficult.
My mind flashed back to that same conversation with he who used to be Daddy when we discussed the process of changing. He told me about the time that some vamp attacked Bella and he had to save her. I could clearly see the mark on her arm as he told me the story, the scar she bore from the venom. He said that venom entering into the body of a human was painful and she had screamed, he thought he was going to lose her then. It was Carlisle who insisted she could be saved, but only if the venom was removed quickly. He ended having to suck the venom from her arm until he tasted only blood and then stop. He said it was hard to stop, that even though he hadn't drank human blood in decades, it was hard not to indulge. But he stopped, he saved her, so I knew from that story alone that it could be done. I had never tasted human blood, I knew no difference, it couldn't possibly be any better.
So technically all I had to do was bite, inhale and then suck the venom out just as he who used to be Daddy had done. Suddenly my mind skipped ahead of me and I started giggling just thinking about how he who used to be Daddy sucked out another man's venom.
"Are you sure you're not high?" Big Daddy Jared asked, laughing along with me.
"I'm pretty sure." I said faking a breath. "But I can be….if you let me bite you."
I was still kind of iffy about the whole thing, thinking I'd fuck it up or something, but Big Daddy Jared started patting the seat beside him and my thoughts stopped.
"Bring it." He said grinning. "I'm up for a little kinky make out session."
Any worries or what ifs were suddenly gone from my mind as I eagerly threw myself on the couch beside him. The moment I sat down, his arm went around me and without any hesitation his fingers tangled in my hair, forcing me closer to him, and he pressed his lips onto mine roughly. With the same feeling of aggressive need I thrust my hands into his hair and nearly pulled him on top of me. His hands moved over my shoulders and down my back effortlessly.
I felt like such a dirty whore, but it was just too good to stop.
This must be how Drexi's feels on a daily basis.
I knew we were in a room full of people and I could keenly hear their voices, but I couldn't focus on what they were saying, especially when Big Daddy Jared's fingers moved back into my hair and his lips began to move across my jaw and down towards my neck. His kisses became slower and softer as his lips touched the sensitive skin of my collarbone, his fingers tangled in my hair again and held me in place as his lips trailed just below my jaw.
An involuntary murmur escaped my lips when I felt the gentle nip of his teeth on my neck and my jaw dropped open when he pulled back, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Isn't it my turn now?" He asked so seductively that all the reasonable thoughts I had drifted away with just the gleam in his crystal blue eyes. Without any hesitation I moved forward, causing him to lean against the arm of the couch and began to delicately trail kisses across his jaw and onto his neck. I could feel his pulse pounding, could practically smell the blood pulsing through his veins and suddenly nothing else mattered. My fingers tangled into his hair forcing his head to tilt to the side as my teeth scanned over the flesh of his neck. Within seconds I found myself incontrollable as I bit down roughly and began to drink his rich weed flavored blood. He let out a stifled groan and I could feel him wince from the pain.
It was the biggest adrenaline rush I'd ever felt before. As compared to my first feeding as a newborn, this was ten times more intense. Never had I imagined that human blood could taste so different, so sweet, so satisfying…
It wasn't until he dropped his arms from me that I realized what I was doing and I stopped immediately.
"Are you okay?" I asked pulling back without really wanting too. He kept himself laid back on the arm of the couch and was now touching the place I had marked.
"Fuck." He murmured. "It burns." He said attempting to sit up and making the most pain ridden expression.
"Here let me-" I started to reach for him, I knew I had to remove the venom before it spread too much. He cut me off by pushing me away weakly. "No wait, you don't understand, I can make it better, I can take the pain away, you have to-"
"It's okay, I'm fine." He said trying to sound all macho.
"But you won't be…" I said reaching for him again. "If the venom spreads-"
"Venom?" He asked, still holding his neck and wincing as he spoke.
Some of the people in the room were staring at us now and I started to feel alittle panicky as I leaned towards him again.
"Look …I….well…" I whispered as softly as I could. "I'm a vampire…..you're gonna die… if you don't let me-"
"Are you sure you're not high?" He asked still not removing his hand from the bite.
"Ask me again in a few minutes." I mumbled and forcefully removed his hand from covering the mark, then did what I had to do. I moved so quickly, he had no idea what I was doing until I was almost done. Upon grabbing his hands and forcing them behind him, I leaned down and skimmed my teeth over his neck until they fell into the initial bite mark. It only took a few minutes before I began to taste clean blood again, well as clean as a stoner's blood could be.
Again I had to force myself to stop and moved back across the couch and pulled my legs up to my chest as I watched him resettle himself in a seating position. I buried my face into my knees as I waited for him to say something and hoped beyond hope that I hadn't just made the biggest fuck up of my lifetime. After a few minutes of torture, he finally spoke.
"Well…. I don't think I'm quite high enough." He was nodding when I looked up. "Definitely time for round two." With that he stood up and begin to walk away, but turned back slowly. "Aren't you coming?" He asked holding his hand out. I looked around the room as if he were talking to someone else and noticed all the stares once again, though this time, they all looked amused.
"Come where?" I asked letting my feet drift down to touch the floor.
"To my room." He grinned. "Unless you're scared?"
"Me? No…but…" I shook my head. "You…I… aren't you… mad? Or…something."
"I told you I was fine and even more so now." He reached out again. "Come on, come with me and we can talk about it."
"Talk about it…"
This didn't seem like a normal human reaction to being bitten by a vampire, though I suppose he wasn't exactly a normal human anyway…
"Okay." I finally nodded and stood up.
That was the moment I realized my experiment worked.
I practically tripped over my own feet and if it weren't for Big Daddy I would have hit the floor and embarrassed myself in front of everybody. When I looked up at him I felt dazed, almost confused. What the hell just happened? Seriously…I'm high… I can feel it… the numbness, the distant voices, things were suddenly not as clear as they used to be.
"Well I see you don't need anymore." He said grinning.
"Well I am suddenly very munchie." I blurted out.
"You shouldn't be." He laughed as he took my hand and led me out of the room.
Yes… seriously… I went there….
Let me know what you think, will Sunsine return home? Are Lexi and the others wondering where she's gone too? Will Edward tell them what he's done?