A/N: To clarify, I should mention that the gang is actually finishing out their junior year right now. Which might have thrown some off with the description. Hope that clears some things up.

Chapter 5

The funny thing about living in Forks is that no one ever seems to leave.

My mom and dad grew up here—as did my grandparents before them—and if you ask my friends, most of their stories are the same.

We all have parents who grew up together and great-grandparents who like to claim their families are the ones who founded the town.

The only difference is I don't think any of us have heard our parents talk about how much they'd wanted to leave the way we currently talk about how much we can't wait to get out now; all with detailed plans for our exit strategies for next year.

Despite my sometimes hatred for growing up here, though, or with my annoyance in having to deal with having everyone in your business, and the fact that at some point, you will run into someone who thinks they know you more than you know yourself—is that as Edward races his way toward The Rez, I can't deny how beautiful this place is.

Nestled on the Southwest coast of Florida, Forks Haze—or just Forks, as we call it here—is really your typical Beach Town.

While not technically an island, we're surrounded by water on each side, with Palm trees lining the main roads, and bridges that connect each little town within the county.

At least that's the brochure-style explanation I've seen plenty of times before. Boasting beaches, shopping, and how its city meets heart and is one of the best places on earth to raise a family.

What the fine print should say, is that it's only through growing up here would you learn that being from the same county means nothing when living on a different side of the main bridge is Forks Haze's version of being from the other side of the tracks.

This is where The Rez comes in.

It's a small subset within Forks that some consider its own town while others don't, and known for mostly fishing. Another fact we're constantly reminded of is that 80% of The Rezs' residents live in neighboring housing developments that could have once been considered nice apartments at one point, but have been so neglected by the county that the kids at our school call them Welfare Row.

It's disgusting and all hypocrisy at its finest if you ask me.

My mom never cared that I dated someone from The Rez or that I hung out there, but there were plenty of people I knew, Jess included, who wouldn't be caught dead even so much as mentioning coming out here.

We were separated by all of 15 minutes and a small bridge, but the rivalries ran deep.

The only exception would be Friday Night Football games where guys like Jessie's dad would stand on the bleachers cheering for the same boys he would turn around and call parasites on Monday morning.

I couldn't tell you the last time I went to a football game, but that's how I met Jared.

I guess in theory he was always around, but we didn't meet until the end of my freshman year when he came in as a junior because our coach recruited him to play high school football for us. He was that good. And everyone knew very early on that college scouts would be vying for his attention and schmoozing with Coach Volturi and anyone associated with him.

Including me.

Dating Jared Black made me feel like a superstar.

I thought I was too good for everybody—hence the comments about being too good for High School parties for a time.

Just being in his presence boosted my status beyond anything I could have ever thought of back as the nerdy girl in middle school and average girl freshman year.

It was nice while it lasted.

But now, I would give anything to take so much of that back. To not be so blinded by the lights and fake promises.

Edward slamming his driver's side door pulls me out of my stupor, and I realize we've pulled up to one of the housing developments of The Rez.

Thankfully, it's not La Push, the complex that most of Jared's family lives in. But from here, I know that the building is only about a block away.

I rush out of the car, but before I can say anything to Edward about him leaving me, he turns to me with a smirk.

"There she is. I was talking to you for a few minutes, but you were so far gone I figured when you came back to earth, you would realize I went inside and come in when you were ready."

"Oh."

I don't bother trying to argue much with him because I quickly realized that while there are plenty of other cars around, Peter's car is here, too.

All I can do is pray that Angela is inside with him.

Both Edward and I rush into the house in some silent agreement that we play it cool, but not hide the fact that we were also looking for them.

"Where's Pete?" Edward nearly screams as soon as we walk into one of the apartments.

There are a few people hanging around, but I keep my eyes down—not wanting to make eye contact with anyone I might know. I still have no idea how welcome or unwelcome I might be here.

"In the back," someone answers Edward.

I breathe a small sigh of relief, not recognizing the voice and happy that our short-lived search is over.

Edward mumbles something I can't quite make out, then pulls me along with him towards the back of the apartment.

When we get to the end of the hallway, Edward practically kicks the door open—scaring two people inside, if the voices are any sign.

I'm right on his heels and storming into the room when I see Angela and Peter jumping from the bed.

I narrow my eyes at the pair.

The awkwardness of walking in on them is minor compared to how much I want to shake the crap out of Angela for scaring me all day.

"Dude, what the hell!" Peter yells, his fury mostly focused on Edward as I stare down a sheepish Angela.

"What the hell?" Edward repeats. "You dick! We thought you were dead or something!"

At Edward's words, Peter finally looks my way, shocked for a second to see that I'm standing there with Edward.

"Huh?"

"Huh?" Edward mocks him. "What do you mean, huh? No one has heard from you two assholes all weekend."

Angela's eyes widen as if she's just now realizing something. "We slept through the whole day?" she shrieks.

"Seriously?" I ask. "What time did you guys think it was?"

Surveying the room, there's a moment where I could almost understand how they might not know what time it is. The curtains are drawn in, and the room is nearly pitch-black except for a small TV in the corner playing God knows what. The room also reeks of weed and something else I can't make out.

"Have you guys been sleeping all day?" I wonder. I've tried smoking a couple of times but never got the giggles or munchies like I see other people get. It was some of the best sleep I'd ever gotten, though. So, I guess it's easy to lose a whole day when you've spent it in a literal fog.

Angela groans and drops to the bed with her head in her hands. "Yeah, pretty much."

"And you didn't think calling someone to let us know you were alive made sense?"

"Unfortunately, I don't have my phone," Angela whispers, now with a deep frown evident on her face. At the same time, as my eyes continue adjusting to the dark room, I notice a harsh red mark on the side of her cheek.

What the fuck!

Glaring, both Edward and I turn to look at Peter.

"Don't look at me?" He protests, both hands raised in the air. "Her mom took it..."

"Right before she kicked me out," Angela adds.

I couldn't really care less about her phone right now. "What the hell happened to your face?"

"That would also be my mom."

I pause, not sure what to believe. Angela wasn't ever one to lie to me, but last I checked, even though she and her mom got into arguments all the time, I never once heard anything about her getting angry to the point of violence.

Peter, on the other hand ...

"Bella, I swear." Angela grabs my hand, and it's clear she knows what I'm thinking. Well, whatever truly happened, I doubt I'll get answers out of her with Edward and Peter hovering around.

"Get out," I say to both of them, pointing to myself and then to Angela. "We need to talk. Alone."

They leave without push back or without questions thankfully.

As soon as they're out of earshot, I turn to face Angela, my arms crossed and eyes glaring.

"Start from the beginning," I start. "And before you think about what you're going to say, please know that I don't have the energy for anything but the truth right now. I've been lied to enough lately."

"Fair enough." She clears her throat. "Well, it kind of all started when I showed up at my house on Saturday night, and in a tight red dress, high from a party I never told my parents I was going to."

That'll do it!

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