I do not own Twilight.
An early update, just for all of you :)
This one is pretty short, and I am planning on updating again later today. It will be the last piece to this mini, drawn out four-part drabble, and then I'll be getting back to the past and jumping around in the future. Enjoy!
"Alice, your ex-best friend from high school, Alice?!"
Mike's eyes are wider than mine were as he turns to stare down at me, the lights from the elevator illuminating off of his blond hair.
I sigh and hold a hand over my eyes. This is the last thing I need right now.
"Yes," I answer eventually.
"Why is she here?" he asks quickly, glancing up when the elevator dings, alarming us that we are on the first level. He steps out first, but the curiosity has not died down any.
"Her dad is Charlie's partner. Officer Brandon."
"The one who cut his hand?" he asks and I nod and then mentally slap myself. I hadn't even asked her how he was. But, then again, she never asked me how Charlie was, either.
"Why did she call you a bitch?" he probes, and I groan and shake my head.
"It's a long story," I offer as an answer, but really, I just don't want to talk about it. It has to do with Edward, like everything in my life has to do with Edward, and I don't feel like dealing with Mike's touchy silence right now.
"Can we just eat?" I beg instead, and he seems to understand that Alice is a subject I'd rather stray from.
But, when he sees the full breakfast buffet set before him, I think he's forgotten all about Alice and Charlie, too.
I pay and then we sit as he stuffs his face and I pick at a bagel.
"Thanks," I say after a few seconds. "For driving me, I mean."
"Anytime, babe," he says happily and I hold back the retort. I know he is only in a good mood because he is eating. Like I have always known, sex and food is what we do best. We never do this deep emotional shit, mainly because I swore myself off of it. But he seems to be just fine without it, too.
"I'm glad your stepdad is okay," he says after a few minutes and I force a smile.
"Me, too."
"You think we'll be here long?"
I freeze at his question and then try to reevaluate. Finals are coming up. We both have a busy week and weekend ahead of us. My shoulders drop and I push my bagel away from me.
"No," I sigh and I know it's what Charlie would want, too, so I can't push myself to become too angry with Mike's quick resolve.
"I mean, we'll stay as long as you'd like," he continues. "I just have to call and let Josh and them know if I can't make it to the game later."
I tilt my head, staring up at him. He has some jelly on the corner of his mouth and for some reason, it annoys me.
"You have a hockey game today?" I could have sworn they were off for the next three days.
Mike shakes his head. "No, I was gonna shoot some hoops."
I'm glad I'm not holding the bagel anymore, because I'm sure it would have crumbled in my hands. I want to yell, or to hit him, or to cry, but really, I don't need any more problems right now.
Between Edward and Charlie and now Alice, fighting with Mike over his insolence is the furthest thing on my to-do list so I brush off the table of any crumbs and start to stand.
"Let me say bye, then," I say shortly, though Mike doesn't catch on. He never does.
He stands, grabbing his bottle of orange juice.
"'kay," he says and swings an arm around my shoulders.
It takes everything in me not to shrug him off.