"That was really fast." I said, exiting the court room.
"Well, she has days worth of cases to get to today. I'm sure she wants to get them in and out as fast as she can." Rhonda replied. "So, you're a free woman now. How do you feel?"
"I still feel the same actually. Just relieved."
"Bella?" A all too familiar voice called from behind me.
I turned around in confusion, and came face to face with the last person I thought I'd see here.
"Mom? What are you doing here?"
"Is that any way to greet your mother that you haven't seen in years?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips. "Your father told me you'd be here, and I wanted to see you for your eighteenth birthday."
Shit, my birthday was tomorrow.
"You didn't forget your own birthday, did you? Your going to be an adult, Bella."
No, I was an adult long before now...
"Is that the only reason you're here?" I asked with annoyance.
"Well, excuse me for wanting to see my daughter on her big day." She huffed.
"You've missed my birthdays for years..."
"That's when I was an alcoholic, honey. I'm better now, and I'm here for you."
But what if I don't want you here?
"Your father said that you were working on a ranch as your sentence, now you don't have to, dear, I'm here to take you home."
"Um...no. I like the ranch-"
"Bella, please, stop being so difficult. I want to bring you home so we can reconnect. Don't you want that?"
"I wanted that for years, but you didn't seem to care. I have a real family now, I don't need you, so you can stop pretending you want to be mother of the year."
"Bella! What has gotten into you? Please, just give me a chance..." She asked, flashing her sad eyes at me.
She used that look to get what she wanted for years. That's how she got me to stay with her as long as I did, and I'm sure that's how she got Charlie to marry her as well. And even though I disliked her greatly, it still worked on me because I felt bad for her.
"Fine, you can stay for my birthday, but I'm not agreeing to come home with you."
"That's alright for now, I know I can change your mind later." She said, putting her arm around me and pulling me towards the parking lot.
Rhonda waved me a goodbye and gave me a 'keep out of trouble look' before I waved back at her, then got into mom's rusty red Neon. I sighed before buckling up and directing her towards the Cullen Ranch, where she put on a fake smile while I was telling her how great the place really was. It's not like it was a run down place, the ranch was very homey and very well taken care of, but she looked at it like it was a trash dump.
She pulled up beside the house and we got out, wanting me to introduce her to the Cullens. I knew Esme was in the kitchen, like usual, and Carlisle was around the ranch somewhere. I knocked before going in, like I usually did, and Esme called out, knowing it was me. Abby, heard me and came racing through the house and practically jumped in my arms, licking my cheek, happy that I was back, even though I was really only got a little over an hour.
"Hey, you're back sooner than I thought." Esme came into the living room, wiping her her hand with a dishcloth.
"Yeah, she was pretty much rushing through cases...um, this is my mother-"
"Renee Swan." She interrupted, sticking her hand out for Esme.
"Oh, your Bella's mother?" She asked surprised.
I gave her a look and shrugged my shoulders, indicating that I couldn't have stopped her from coming, and that I was sorry that this was sprung on her.
"It's nice to meet you, Renee. I'm Esme Cullen." Esme replied, politely.
"Pleasure. Bella why don't you let me and Mrs. Cullen talk privately for a little bit?"
"Um...okay." I said before walking out of the house and into the porch.
I hated leaving Esme alone with her, but at least I could eavesdrop. I rounded the veranda quietly and sat down under the kitchen window, where I could hear them clearly.
"I've come to take Bella home with me after her birthday tomorrow." Renee stated.
"Her birthday is tomorrow? She didn't mention it..." Esme said sadly.
"Well, Bella isn't one for attention, so that's no surprise."
"Does she know you want to take her home?"
"I've told her yes, but she's being stubborn, like always."
"She doesn't have to leave now just because her sentence is up...she is welcome here for as long as she wants, Miss Swan."
"I just want what's best for her, and I think that's with me."
I really hate the tone she was taking with Esme, but I wanted to hear where this was going, so I stayed put.
"Bella's an adult now, I think she should have a say in this big decision. Look, I know I just met you, but I've had the pleasure of being around Bella for three months now. We've all grown very attached to her, especially my daughter, Alice."
"Three months? I've known my daughter for years, and I think I have a better judgment on what's best for her. Charlie told me about what's happened to her since she's got here, Mrs. Cullen. Not only has she been defiled by your daughter, but she was sexually assaulted by one of your workers!" She yelled.
"Excuse me, but my daughter did not defile Bella, they happen to genuinely love each other. And yes, she was attacked by one of our workers, but we had no idea he would be capable of such a thing. He was nothing but a good worker with no criminal record, so we had no idea something like this would ever happen until it did, and believe me when I say that I blame myself every day for what happened to Bella. But the real question is, where were you during all this?"
"I was in rehab, actually. Recovering from my alcohol addiction so I could bring Bella back and her not have to worry about it." Renee shot back.
"Have you even asked what she wants? Maybe the reason why she's being so stubborn is that you aren't even giving her a say in the matter."
"Because she's not right in her head to be making such a decision."
"There is nothing wrong with Bella, and if you don't believe me, just ask her therapist."
Renee laughed. "If there wasn't something wrong, then she wouldn't need a therapist. She's coming with me after tomorrow, one way or another."
I got back up when I heard Renee exit the kitchen, and I made my way around the veranda, meeting her on the front porch.
"I've had quite enough of this place for one day. I'll be back tomorrow for you." She pointed her slender finger at me before pushing past, getting into her car, and driving away.
Not giving her a second glance, I went back in the house, finding Esme leaning against the counter, griping it tightly in her hand.
"I'm sorry about her." I said, breaking the silence. "She's always been pretty rude."
"I'm just glad you're nothing like her." Esme smiled, loosening her grip on the counter. "I assume you heard at least part of that?"
I nodded. "I'm turning eighteen tomorrow, so she can't make me leave."
"I know...but I can't help thinking I'm being selfish. I want you to stay, and I haven't even asked you what you wanted."
"I told you yesterday, I'm not leaving here...and my mother isn't going to change that. And don't let her put you down either, yes she's known me longer, but I consider you my mother now. She just wants me to get her way, you want me because you love me."
She smiled and came over to me, kissing me on the forehead before hugging me tight. "You should talk to her tomorrow before I do...or I might say some things I won't be proud of."
/-/
"There's my Bella bear!" Alice said as she jumped on the bed and climbed on me.
"Hey, you." I replied kissing her for the first time today.
"How was court?"
"Fine, until I ran into my mom..."
"Yeah, my mom told me what she said, what a bitch!"
I laughed at her. "I would have said something meaner, but that will work."
"Also...," She reached over to my and and pinched me.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?"
"You didn't tell me tomorrow is your birthday!"
"And that gets me a pinch? I just don't like the attention."
"Alright, how about I give you a present now? I requires no one's attention, but mine on you" She asked, moving behind me, not waiting for an answer.
Before I could say anything, she was already massaging my neck with her tiny hands. Even though it felt good, I had a hard time winding down, my mother still on my brain.
"You need to relax, baby." Alice said as she started rubbing my shoulders.
"How can I relax when my mother is irritating the crap out of me?"
"Hm...I know a something to loosen you up..." She said slowly, then leaning down to kiss the back of my neck.
She let her hands slide from my shoulders down my arms, and around my waist as she took my earlobe into her mouth, sucking at it.
"How about I give you an early birthday present that's better than a massage?"
My mouth went dry. "Depends on what it is." I replied, wondering what she had in mind.
"I think your really going to like it."
Moving from behind me on the bed, she crawled onto my lap, straddling me, and pushing me softly down on my back, my hands resting on her thighs. She smiled before she leaned down and captured my lips sweetly as one hand went into my hair, and the other cupped my face. Taking her bottom lips in between mine, deepening the kiss, my hands had a life of their own and trailed up the inside of her shirt. I didn't hesitate when I took both of her breasts in my hands and squeezed them gently, making her nipples harden in my palms.
She moaned, then took my hands from her and pinned them down on the bed on either side of my head, giving me a devious smile when she pulled her lips away from mine. Raising my head off the pillow, I tried to kiss her again but she moved, teasing me to where I groaned in sexual frustration. My center was pounding with arousal and was getting really hard to ignore, especially when I noticed that my panties were getting more damp by the minute.
"Do you trust me?" She asked lightly, with a slightly worried look on her face.
"Of course."
She gave me a small smile before she bent down and kissed me again, letting my hands go, and repositioning herself beside me, leaving her right leg draped over mine. I didn't know what she was doing until her hand started trailing down my body and stopped at my jeans. Hesitating, she silently asked me if it was okay to continue, and how could I say no? I nodded, getting excited, but nervous as to what was coming. Taking her time, she slipped her hand into my pajama shorts, letting her hand wander over my thin underwear, finding where I had soaked them. I lowered my eyes and felt my cheeks warm up as my heart rate spiked.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about, Bella."
I nodded, trusting her when I heard the desire in her voice as she finally made her way back up and hooked her fingers in the band of my panties, her hand taking in the overheated skin.
"If you want me to stop, just say so. I don't want to push you into anything you don't want to do."
"Don't stop." Was all I said.
I knew she was afraid that I would freak out, but I trusted her with everything in me, knowing that she just wanted to give me pleasure. Instinctively I spread my legs for her, and she finally dipped her fingers into my folds, letting her middle finger slide up and down my entrance before circling my throbbing pearl, spreading my wetness around. I lifted my hips, wanting her to touch me in the one spot I needed right now, and fisted her shirt into my hand.
I pulled her down for a kiss, needed to feel as much as her as I could. When she finally stopped teasing, she covered my clit for the first time, making me gasp as the amazing feeling. I opened my mouth to her, letting her tongue slips into my mouth, exploring my mouth while her fingers still worked on me. She moved slowly, and I raised my hips again to try and get more friction. My free hand slipped into her hair, tugging at her spiky locks, urging her to give me more.
She got the idea, pressing her hand more firmly against me, sending a wave of tingles through my body. My stomach muscles tightens as she sped up her rhythm, and my breathing started to get heavier. I had never felt anything like this before, such ecstasy from simple, little touches and movements. I couldn't even imagine having this much pleasure coursing through me before I met Alice, but she never fails to introduce me to new and enjoyable things...and this was definitely enjoyable.
Her lips left mine and trailed down my neck, licking and sucking on my turn-on spot, making me moan. With all these things combined, it didn't take me long to feel my muscles tighten. I pulled Alice close as I rode out my my first orgasm, burring my face into her neck, muffling the foreign sounds that were coming out of my mouth, resisting the urge to bite down on her exposed skin. When her fingers stopped moving, I realized how tight I'd been holding onto her, and let her go, being able to roll off me and plant little kisses all over my face. My limbs started to feel like they weighed twenty pounds, and my toes were tingling.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"I'm perfect."
A/N: I hate to complain, because I am grateful to have readers...but I have over 300 Alerts on this story, yet only about ten people review each chapter. Come on, people who never comment, leave one today!
P.S. - And to those who only say ''can't wait for the next update'', or, ''I like when you update faster'', please review the STORY, not my updating schedule. That's all I ask.