No copyright infringement to anything you recognize. I just own the plot idea.
The inspiration I used to create the Illicit Affair universe.
Julia Michaels - Heaven watch?v=shHTYg-rOAg (the lyrics used for the story's summary)
Before the Dawn (2019) title/tt7021088/
Please check out both the song and the movie. They're pretty amazing.
A big 'THANK YOU' to my Magic Trio of help: NimNimBojangles and bevey99 – prereaders and Fran – beta. Any mistakes you might find are due to my tweaking or editing because I can't stop making changes while I look over the chapters obsessively before publishing them.
I know this will be an important matter, so let me say it from the beginning: everything that happens between Bella and Edward is consensual. Edward is 18. Bella is 28.
Posting schedule will be: every Sunday a.k.a. Sinday (I started posting today because I decided to give myself a little gift for my birthday)
[Bella]
The wet, winding road cut through the Olympic National Park; the green trees offering a sense of serenity and peace, something I wasn't used to. All my life, I'd known sand and cacti and palm trees. Now, I could see the beauty in nature; the beauty of the color green.
I hadn't seen so much life in Mother Nature since I'd last been in my hometown. That's where I was headed – Forks, Washington.
Forks was a small town, which would become my home once again. The last time I'd been here, I was seven. My parents had divorced shortly after my first year on earth. Mom had whisked me away on her adventures across the country, living here and there, until she settled in Phoenix, Arizona. I had to visit my dad at least twice every year, and when I turned eight, I put my foot down and said no one could make me do anything.
To this day, I regretted not taking the opportunity to spend my high school years with him when Mom remarried and moved with her new husband to Jacksonville, Florida. I followed them there. I fooled myself into thinking I'd be uncomfortable living with Charlie, but the truth was, I was afraid to share that house with the chief of police. He'd be likely to know everything I did. I wouldn't even be allowed to sneak out or go to a party. So, I chose to move in with Renee and Phil to a house near the ocean.
My return to my hometown had come at the perfect moment. After finishing college, I'd kept trying to find teaching jobs, but no one accepted me based on my lack of experience. How was I supposed to learn if I wasn't thrown in the cage with the hungry lions? The high school students were likely to chew me up and spit me out several times over, but I wouldn't allow them to have that kind of power.
One of my favorite professors in college had taught me that the way I walked inside the classroom for the first time was how they'd perceive me. So, I was determined to become the confident woman I'd always wanted to be. Gone would be the stumbling and fumbling Bella.
As I crossed into town, I allowed the GPS to point me in the right direction. The new apartment complex was not far from the main street.
When Charlie had died in a crossfire incident, I didn't attend his funeral. For one, I didn't even know him, even though he was my father. Two, I'd been in the middle of my finals during senior year, and Mom had forbidden me from coming.
At the time, I had been in disbelief that he'd left me the house and all his money. I allowed my mom to sell the house, not even entertaining the thought of me moving here some years later.
Most of that money had gone into my car. When I decided to buy my own vehicle, I had my eyes on some German models, but then I saw her – the undiscovered Italian beauty. Giulia, as her actual name stated in the documents, was my dream car. I'd have never pegged myself as someone who'd buy something, anything – especially a car – based on the looks of it.
Sure, I'd done my research and even became good friends with the local Alfa Romeo dealer before I got her, but it was love at first sight. I got her in red because it would have been a crime to have it in any other color.
As I drove closer to my destination, I noticed several stores, a bar, a diner, the police station… After living in big cities all my life, I was ready to enjoy the quiet a small town would provide. I preferred to keep to myself, and small towns were notorious because everyone knew everything about everyone. But I had a feeling I could blend in.
I parked in the spot reading number 17. That would be my apartment number.
The building was only three stories tall and painted in cheerful colors. Each apartment was different, and I wondered what color mine would be.
One of the other teachers had offered to help me by getting the keys to my new place from the landlord and waiting for me. However, I was half an hour earlier than the time I'd expected to arrive. Considering I'd moved to the rainiest town on earth, I opted to wait inside the car for my future colleague.
Once upon a time, I'd known Jacob Black well enough to consider him my friend. But back then, we were five years old, and we made sandcastles on the beach while our dads went fishing. It was nice to know someone, to some degree.
The song filling my car's audio system was one of the most romantic ones I'd heard in a long time. I used to listen to it on repeat when I was younger, hoping to find that sort of eternal love. After a few failed relationships, I entirely gave up. I was mature enough to know that if I were to find the perfect man, he'd come at the right time.
True love might fall from the sky
You never know what to find but didn't he blow my mind this time
Didn't he blow my mind?
I was humming along with the lyrics when my ringtone interrupted the melody. Jacob's name appeared on my screen, and I fumbled to pick the phone from the holder and place it to my ear.
"Hello?" I answered, chewing on my lip.
We hadn't spoken over the phone; our exchange had been only via email. I could vaguely recall his face, let alone his voice, which had most likely changed in the past twenty years.
"Hi, Bella," he answered in a husky voice. "Just letting you know I arrived. Are you close?"
I frowned, scanning the parking lot, unsure how I could miss a new car arriving. "Uh, it's the apartment complex off the main street, right?"
"The only apartment complex," he teased. "Are you lost?"
"Uh, I'm here, too. Just sitting in the car, you know, away from the rain?"
He chuckled. "I'm standing right in front of the entrance."
I checked the side mirror and spotted him several feet away. Jacob was definitely not that small, scrawny boy from my fuzzy memories. He was tall, clad in jeans and leather, leaning against a sleek motorbike.
I hung up, realizing too late I was rude, but seeing him there standing in the rain made me feel terrible. I chucked the phone to the passenger seat, getting out of the car.
My Chucks got drenched within a few steps. I pushed the hair sticking to my forehead out of the way as I walked to him. He pushed away from his bike, a large smile forming on his lips. He was tan, with hair long enough to be caught in a ponytail at the back of his head. The only thing that reminded me of my friend was his eyes, dark soulful and staring right at me.
I stopped a foot in front of him, the awkward Bella resurfacing. I extended an arm to him, smiling shyly. Jacob rolled his eyes, batting my hand away and wrapping his arms around me, lifting me off the ground.
"It feels like yesterday when we were working on our dream castle on the beach," he said, amused.
"Yeah," I said lamely. He was so warm and cheerful, compensating for the gloomy weather.
"Okay!" He pulled away, rubbing his palms. "Let's start unloading."
"It's not much," I said, leading the way back to my car.
"Sweet ride. Did you drive here?"
"Yeah. It feels like I've crossed into another dimension," I joked.
"Well, Forks is on the other side of the country from Florida."
I popped open the trunk, staring at the boxes. "Maybe I should park closer to the entrance?" I offered.
"That's a good idea. Some of the boxes might be damaged from the rain," he agreed.
It took us several trips to get everything inside my new apartment – the first place I could actually call my own. After parking back in my designated spot, I joined Jacob upstairs.
He was standing awkwardly in the entry hallway, hands stuffed into his pockets.
"Uh, if you're not busy or anything…let me offer you something. It's the least I can do for how much you've helped me."
"Like, tap water in my palm?"
I narrowed my eyes, slapping his bicep. "Sorry," I mumbled. What sort of idiot acts like that with a person they just met?
"We're friends, Bella. Aren't we?" His eyes searched mine.
"I guess we are. I do have the bare necessities. Mom didn't let me leave without having some cups and plates and the likes."
"Parents." He rolled his eyes. "Shit. Sorry," he apologized quickly.
It took me a moment to realize why. "It's okay. I didn't really know Charlie. Uh, come on. Thankfully, the apartment came furnished."
Jacob pulled at the lace strings, taking off his boots. He followed me further into my new place.
The sleek, modern kitchen was just off the left side of the hallway. The island counter separated it from the spacious living room. There was a black sectional occupying most of the space, a glass coffee table sitting on a soft, white carpet. The TV was mounted on the wall to the left, above a fireplace. The couch overlooked the wall of windows, which showed a picture of the forest top and mountains in the distance. The entry curved to the right into another hallway. It most likely led to the bedroom and the bathroom. I'd explore that later.
I waved to the couch. "Please, make yourself at home."
It took me a few minutes to locate the exact box holding the kitchen stuff Mom had bought me. I washed two glasses before I filled them with tap water. I joined Jacob on the couch, offering him one.
"It's really beautiful, Bella." He looked around, impressed.
"Thank you." My traitorous blush installed on my cheeks. "So…How's Forks?"
"Whatever memory you have of this town, forget it. It's quiet, and nothing ever happens here."
"My dream place," I said, grinning. "Tell me about Forks High School," I prompted, ready to learn everything before I had to face it coming Monday.
It had been Jacob who had reached out to me when one of the teaching positions had become available. He'd spotted my name on the principal's list and took a chance by getting my information and writing me an email about Forks High School looking for a new Biology teacher.
"Not to discourage you or anything, but this new generation is getting more out of control with each passing year. It's my fifth year teaching here, and I have seen a lot."
"I'll bet. It's my first job, so yeah…" I shrugged.
"Oh, I thought…" He frowned, staring at me curiously.
"I was never given the opportunity to teach. I wasted the first year after college as my favorite professor's TA, but then I focused on finding my place in the world. When I keep failing, I worked on my backup plan," I admitted in a small voice.
"And what was that?"
"A woman has to keep her secrets," I joked, not ready to admit to him that I spent my nights singing in bars. He'd probably think he made a mistake by helping me get this job. I felt like I owed him pretty much everything I had in Forks at the moment.
Jacob rubbed his palms over his knees. "Look, some of us gather every Friday or Saturday at Dawn. It's the only bar we have around here."
Considering it was late on a Friday evening, I pondered his invitation. "Sure! I'd like to meet other colleagues, as well. It's so odd to start this job in the middle of the semester."
He smiled, nodding. "Yeah, but think about it this way. You have less than five months until summer break."
"If I survive that long," I joked. "Mr. Whitlock said he had a file with all the notes they could find from Mr. Banner."
Jacob saddened, and I regretted bringing it up. He'd lost a colleague. I was replacing Mr. Banner not because he'd resigned or taken a leave of some sort; the man had been found dead in his house the other week.
"The kids are cool. They'll catch you up to speed to where they'd left off." He winked. "They're not as bad as I portrayed them, but you know…teenagers."
"I know. Been there, done that," I said, grinning.
"Well, I have to go start dinner. My old man thinks I'm his personal maid." Jacob rolled his eyes. "See you tomorrow?" he asked, rising.
"Let me know the time. I'll find the place."
"Be there around five o'clock."
After I locked the door in Jacob's wake, I sighed loudly, spinning around to face my apartment. It was so modern, and everything was new…and all mine. I'd never lived on my own before. Some would laugh at the idea of an almost thirty-year-old who had never lived alone, but I hadn't felt the compulsion to leave my mom's house.
I'd taken care of both of us since I'd been thirteen. Once she'd found Phil, I still helped. So I was used to taking care of myself. It would be strange to be alone, but I hoped the school would keep me busy.
Having accepted this job on such short notice, I had no idea how I'd cope under such pressure. I had to catch up with all the years and how far in the curriculum they were in February.
I made myself a cup of tea before I went to explore the bedroom. The bed was occupying most of the room, sitting on a plush carpet. The large windows behind the bed would give me nightmares, though, rationally, I knew no one could look into my room. The view represented the same treetops as the living room.
I placed my cup on the left side nightstand. I padded across the hallway to one of the two doors on the opposite wall. The first door led to a small office area, hosting a desk and a chair, along with an empty bookcase on the wall behind the door. I couldn't wait to fill it with my books.
The other door led to the bathroom. I didn't expect to find a corner walk-in shower with a separate bathtub next to it. All my life, I'd known only bathtub and shower combos. This was my dream bathroom. The sink had counter space on each side of the basin. Under the counters was a lot of storage room.
Smiling, I returned to my bedroom after retrieved the heaviest box from the hallway. I curled on top of the comforter, looking through the material covering all the grades, trying to guess what each class was currently learning. Guessing wasn't my forte, so I had to wait and see.
I fell asleep reviewing my notes on DNA Structure and Replication.
.
.
.
Saturday evening found me in front of Dawn – the only bar in Forks. I was wearing a pair of skinny jeans paired with my comfy UGG ankle boots and a thick sweater with my winter jacket. After living in much warmer places, Forks was like Antarctica for me.
Jacob had texted me, saying he'd meet me upfront. I'd made the mistake of walking here, and it had given me the opportunity to discover more stores and places dotting the main street, but waiting outside in the frigid air made me reconsider my decision.
I was about to text Jacob and let him know I was headed inside when his motorbike parked behind a canary yellow Porsche Turbo. For such a small town, I'd spotted several fancy cars, this one being one of them.
"Hey! Sorry for the delay," he called, taking his helmet off and walking to me.
"Hi! It's okay." I hoped I didn't look as frozen as I felt.
"Let's head inside." He steered me through the heavy wooden door.
The smell of beer and cigarettes greeted me the moment I stepped inside. It reminded me of the pub back home. Jacob led the way to a booth tucked in the corner, near the large windows. The booth looked crowded, with only one spot open.
"There you are!" A man with sandy-brown hair and a short beard called loudly. Then his brown eyes found me before sliding back to Jacob. "Where do you find them, man?"
I wasn't sure if it was a jibe or a phrase spoken in admiration, but I flushed.
Jacob wrapped an arm around my shoulders, making me squirm. "Forget it, man. Let me introduce our new Biology teacher."
The blond-haired man nearest to the edge of the booth looked my way, his light brown eyes surprised. Then, he stood, reached a hand to me, smiling. "Jasper Whitlock, ma'am. We spoke on the phone at the beginning of the week."
So this was the principal. He was much younger than I'd expected and didn't look much older than me. "Hi," I said, my voice sounding squeaky, which I hated. "I'm Bella Swan," I introduced myself, scanning the other faces.
The woman next to Mr. Whitlock appeared to be of small stature with shortly cropped black hair and dark eyeliner. Again, she seemed to be around my age range. Next to her sat the sandy-brown-haired man who'd praised Jacob, who was the only middle age person at the table, probably in his late forties if I was a good judge. Across from them sat a woman in her forties with strawberry-blond curly hair. Next to her was a dark skin woman with long black hair, watching me like a hawk. It made me squirm further.
"Let me introduce you to some of your future colleagues," Mr. Whitlock said kindly. "This is Alice – the Art teacher and my fiancée." He pointed to the black-haired woman next to him. She beamed, waving to me. "Over there is Peter – the History teacher. Across from him is Zafrina, who's the best Spanish teacher this school has ever had." At that comment, Zafrina rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath. "And Tanya – our Math guru." Tanya scoffed but winked at me.
"And you?" I turned to Jacob, realizing for the first time that I had no idea what he taught.
He laughed. "Sports, baby."
I choked on my spit, not expected that little term of endearment.
"So, how come Black is allowed to bag the new teacher, and I'm not allowed to date Charlotte?" Peter narrowed his eyes at the principal.
I waved my hands, shaking my head. "No…We…He's just…" I stammered like an idiot.
"Relax. He's just jealous Charlotte won't give him the time of day. He believes everyone is dating someone when he can't have the one he wants," Jacob explained, nudging me toward the spot next to Tanya. He pulled a chair from the nearest table, placing it with the back to the table and straddling it.
"What sort of hypocrite would I be to deny you to date our English teacher? It's not my fault you've lost your charm," Mr. Whitlock laughed.
"So, where are you from?" Tanya asked, sipping from the glass in front of her.
It made me wish I'd taken a detour to the bar to grab my own drink. Jacob seemed to read my mind as he stood, discarding his leather jacket.
"What do you want to drink? I'll get this round."
"Uh, some dark beer, please." He nodded, looking impressed. I watched as he disappeared into the crowd.
When I chanced a look back at the table, I saw all eyes upon me and remembered I'd been asked a question. "Jacksonville. It was like ninety degrees when I left. It will take some getting used to the cold and wet."
"Believe me, I understand you completely," Zafrina said in a heavy accent. "My partner chose this town because it reminded her of our home. We're from Manaus."
I nodded, pretending to know where that was. I had to search it when I got home.
Tanya rolled her eyes, playfully shoving Zafrina. "Yeah, our Zafrina here is an Amazonian. You know what they say about those Amazonian warriors?"
"Don't scare Bella!" Alice chided her. "You're just sore you can't get a piece of Zafrina because she's as good as married to Senna."
Tanya bristled, scowling.
I covered my mouth to hide the smile forming on my lips. Jacob returned with our drinks.
"So, you're the designated driver," Peter said, amused, nodding to the soda in front of Jacob.
"I'm riding alone, thank you very much. And if you want to take her for a spin like the last time, you're losing teeth!"
Peter lifted his hands in surrender.
"What happened the last time?" I asked curiously.
Jacob cringed, and Alice shook her head slowly. "We don't speak of that unfortunate moment," she whispered, wetting her lips.
"He crashed my bike into the first pole. I was an idiot to trust his drunk ass with my precious bike," Jacob grumbled.
"Then, who's the designated driver?" Peter insisted.
"Usually, the one who's asking," Tanya answered sweetly. "This is my second glass."
"We could drop you off when Senna comes to pick me up," Zafrina offered.
"Thanks." Tanya grinned.
Peter turned his eyes to Mr. Whitlock and Alice. Maybe I should start thinking of him as Jasper, since he didn't seem to care about etiquette. What uptight principal would have drinks with his colleagues?
I was starting to like the group more and more.
"I barely fit in Alice's car, so don't look at me," he told Peter.
"Yeah, don't even think it," Jacob sneered. "You can walk home."
"I'd help, but I walked here," I quipped.
A second later, everyone started laughing, and it took me a beat to realize it wasn't at me, but at Peter, who looked defeated.
"I hate you all. I'm going to resign."
"Again?" Jasper's eyes widened before glancing at me. "He always resigns when things don't go his way."
I found myself laughing along with the others.
The conversation flowed easily from there, about school, students, their lives. I stayed quiet, sipping from my beer.
Until Tanya turned to me, making me choke on my latest gulp. "So, Bella. Tell us about your last job."
Heat flooded my cheeks. Jasper knew this was my first job as a teacher, but the others were going to judge. Especially her – she didn't look like an understanding person.
"This is my first teaching job. I've only been a TA until now." It wasn't exactly a lie.
"Tough times and all that jazz," Peter muttered.
Tanya tapped her chin, mumbling about gift horses.
Jacob rubbed my back, smiling kindly. "You'll do great. Just remember, you're the boss."
"They'll eat her alive," Zafrina said quietly. She met my eyes over Tanya's back. "Don't let them see you weak."
"Yeah, I heard that advice before," I whispered. "Eat or be eaten."
Alice laughed loudly. "I like her. Teenagers are generally the worst creatures to walk the earth, but it doesn't mean they can't be taught how to act."
"Very volatile creatures," Jasper supplied.
"I'm trying my best to drain them of power during my classes, but it doesn't work." Jacob shrugged.
"The actual team is one of the best we had in ages," Jasper praised.
I noticed Jacob's ears reddening.
"So, how do you know Jacob?" Tanya continues her inquisition.
"Soooo, how about you give Bella a break?" Alice insisted, narrowing her eyes at Tanya.
"No, really. I'm curious, too," Peter insisted.
Jacob pressed his forehead to the back of the chair he was straddling. I gripped my bottle of beer tighter.
"We're childhood friends," I explained calmly. "Though, we haven't seen each other in a while."
"I'll get you another," Jacob offered, seeing I'd emptied my drink. Before I could protest that two dark beers might be too much, he left the table. Jasper went after him.
"Looks like there's more you're not saying," Tanya joked.
"It's not like that," I moaned. "We're just friends." I didn't even know Jacob, for Heaven's sake!
I made a mental note to stay away from Tanya because she seemed like the worst type of person to hang around.
Sometime later, after another beer and a round of shots for everyone who wouldn't drive, we were on our way home. Much to Tanya's dismay, Jacob offered me a ride. I didn't have to walk far to get home, but I wasn't stable, and I didn't have to think twice when he offered me a second helmet.
I hadn't been on a motorbike since my time with my second boyfriend. It had lasted a whole glorious summer right after I'd graduated from college. Alec was a couple of years younger than me, but he'd given me the best time in the world during our short relationship. He'd left for Europe at the beginning of fall, and I hadn't heard of him since.
Alec had been my first taste of bad boy, and I'd tried to find similarities in my next boyfriends, but they hadn't provided any excitement, which usually led to breakups.
I might be quiet and shy, but inside me was a wild woman ready to be set free. I rarely allowed others to see that side of me, and as a teacher, I had to keep that Bella tamed.
Jacob's bike reminded me of my dangerous fantasies, and he wasn't exactly hard on the eye. But I'd always believed in not mixing work with pleasure. I hoped to be able to keep my rule.
For pictures, check out the album for this story in my group: addict_writer fanfiction on facebook.
Let me know your thoughts on this first chapter. *anxiously biting my nails*
This is a Bella/Edward story - just a little reminder. ^_^
