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Chapter Five

After organizing my room and mopping the kitchen floor twice, Renee came home with two paper sacks full of...beads.

"What's this for?" I questioned, trying my hardest not to knock the bags to the squeaky clean floor.

"I'm not sure yet. Some lady was selling them outside a craft store. How was your day, baby?"

"So...you weren't out buying groceries or anything for the house, but...beads? That's what you decided to spend money on."

I was flabbergasted. I was confused. I was about to lose my shit.

"Bella, why are you getting so upset? This is an investment! There are so many things one can do with beads," she said easily; smiling; never worrying.

"I'm listening. Indulge me."

"Don't give me that tone. I am your mother." Her tone was hardly one of authority. I laughed.

Then start acting like it, I wanted to say.

"This is just so fucking stupid," I muttered as I watched her not care. It was the one thing she was good at.

Renee happily ignored me. "Did the alarm company come by?"

"No," I said, pushing past her; the feather in her hair attempting to fly away with me.

I'm not sure what came over me, but I had to get out. I had to get away from Renee; from the fucking hemp hammocks; from the colorful fucking beads in the ugly, brown sacks.

"Where are you going?" Renee asked as I grabbed her car keys. I knew exactly where I was going, but there was no fucking way I'd tell her.

I didn't need any of this. She was the one who needed me.

Without so much as a wave, I confidently walked out the front door and jumped in the Jetta. Sitting in the car for exactly three minutes, my leg bounced as I talked myself down.

Don't waste your time. He won't be in your life in six months. You can't trust anyone.

I started the ignition; my way of telling myself to fuck off.

Finding Black's was easy; parking was easier; walking up to Edward was like breathing. It was so silly.

"Hi." I smiled at his shock of seeing me standing next to him.

"Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up." He nodded with smiling eyes that crinkled.

His shirt was wrinkled and his sleeves were rolled up to his forearms and I smiled; practically beamed. Then reined that in, because I didn't want him to think I was a creep.

I shrugged instead and said, "I was bored and you're my only friend in town."

"Ah, so we're friends now?" he playfully asked, shifting on the bar stool he was occupying.

"You offered me a job with your Mom. We're friends."

Edward bumped my shoulder with his and said, "Don't forget about the furniture. That offer still stands."

"Right."

A brawny guy walked over and put his arm around me, grinning wide. "So, you must be the new lesbian girl?"

"Back off," Edward said with a smirk, pushing him away. I knew next to nothing about him, but I could tell he was almost drunk. His lazy smile and restraint to keep his eyes off my lips gave him away.

Goosebumps covered my arms as I replayed his words: back off. It was like he was claiming me and I couldn't bring myself to mind.

Why would I mind?

Girlfriend.

And that little nagging fact entered my mind without permission. And knowing me, I couldn't not bring it up.

The stubble on his chin tickled my neck as he leaned close and whispered into my ear, asking if I'd like a drink. 'Anything you want...'.

"Where's your girlfriend?" I questioned a little too late, because my chest had already constricted at the tone of his voice.

Anything you want.

He had a girlfriend. I didn't care. I wanted him, that much was certain.

Brawny laughed. "Yeah, E. Where's your girlfriend? Also, what's her name and what does she do for a living?"

"Shut the fuck up, Emmett." Edward hissed, looked down at me and said, "No girlfriend."

I bit the inside of my cheek. "What? But you said-"

Edward shook his head, keeping his face serious. "No girlfriend."

All I could do was nod and pretend that his words didn't affect me.

A/N: No girlfriend. I repeat- no girlfriend. Thanks for reading.