[YouTube Video]
Swan and Bee Gang Up on Me!
ClarityIsClear
122k Views / Posted 7 Months Ago
(It's immediately obvious once the camera view shifts that the videographer is not ClarityIsClear; for one, the image is lopsided, too high and amateurish, and second, Leah Clearwater is too busy being dragged around to be operating the camera. Whoever is taking this video is obviously walking backward, the frame bumping along at a steady pace to get a forward-first view of the scene.
It's obviously winter, near the holidays, as evidenced by the twinkling lights strung around lamp posts and store windows, as well as the way the three girls in the frame are all decked in wintry gear, scarves and hats and noses nipped by the cold. Leah Clearwater is in the middle, her expression alternating between sulking glares and unenthused grimaces, her arms crooked at the elbows as she is physically shuttled down the sidewalk. On her left is Alice Brandon, whose diminutive height and slight figure make for a comical imbalance as she strains and wheedles, both of her arms locked around Leah's. On Leah's left is Bella Swan, who looks as placidly unruffled as usual, a slight smile on her face and her elbow locked firmly around Leah's, her other hand reaching up to pat Leah's head consolingly.
Leah ducks away, expression twisting resentfully. "Don't touch me, you traitor!"
"Oh, now I'm a traitor," Bella says mildly. "Two streets ago I was scum of the earth. I think I'm moving up. What do you think, Ali?"
"I think Leah's feeling a little gru-mpy," Alice sing-songs with a beaming smile.
"I agree!"
"I fucking don't," Leah snaps.
She is ignored by Alice, who leans around Leah to say, "But that's why we decided to take her out, right? To cheer her up!"
Bella's eyes dance. "That's right. We all know a grumpy Leah is a stressed Leah, and we don't want Leah to be stressed."
Leah curls her lip. "You want to know why I'm stressed? It's because you bitches decided to kidnap me when I was in the middle of studying!" she hisses, straining against their firm hold around her arms. "Let me go! I - wasn't - finished -"
Bella sighs. "The books will be there when you get back. A break isn't going to kill you."
"Yeah! Don't worry, honey," Alice soothes with a tinkling drawl. "You've been studying a week straight. A break will do you good!"
"I don't want a break! I want to pass my finals!"
"Leah," Bella says with some exasperation. "If you studied any more, you'll have the books memorized."
Leah narrows her eyes. "That's the point."
Bella stares. "Is the point to also have a stress-induced breakdown at 20, because from what I can see, that's what you've been trying to do all week."
Behind the camera, a mellow female voice chimes in. "She's right, you know. And have you seen the bags under your eyes, babe? You look tired."
Leah glares at the camera. "Shut up, Rose. And for fuck's sake, at least hold my camera right!"
Rose shifts the camera, but the angle gets more lopsided. "I am holding it right," she asserts.
Leah scoffs. "I can tell that the whole thing is crooked. Are you even recording? Who told you how to turn the damn thing on?"
"Bella."
Leah rolls her eyes. "Of course she did. Because Bella is a traitor."
Bella smiles serenely and ignores her sister. "I heard they're doing a tree lighting ceremony today. Do you think we'll miss it?"
"Oh! No! We're right on time!" Alice says happily. "See, I looked it up before we left. We have enough time to get some hot chocolate and walk around a bit before it starts."
"That's great. Ah, and look there," Bella says, nodding her chin at something behind the camera. "There's the hot chocolate stand. How convenient."
Leah is seething. "Don't play innocent, Swan. I know you planned it. This has your goody-two-shoes stamp all over it. I'm not surprised Alice joined in, either." Leah then looks at the camera, or rather, Rose Hale behind the camera. "But you! Where's your sense of loyalty? I can't believe you let them do this to me!"
Rose laughs and the camera shakes. "What, like I was supposed to go against these little angels? Do you know how scary nice people are when they get angry? I wasn't about to stand in the way."
Leah sputters. "You're a traitor, too!"
"You sound mad," Rose says, sounding awfully amused herself.
"Let me go! I want to fight her!" Leah struggles unsuccessfully.
Alice titters. "Fighting is against dorm rules!" Alice chirps. "We took an oath! Roommates are not allowed to feud or hold grudges! Roommates are sisters and sisters only bicker!"
"I don't care about the stupid oath or the dumb rules!" Leah snarls.
"But we pinky promised!" Alice protests.
"Yeah," Rose says blandly. "We pinky promised."
"Screw the pinky promise!" Leah rages.
Bella's smile thins, just a bit. "You know, with an attitude like that, I wonder if all your textbooks will be where you left them when we get back."
Leah's face slackens. "Are you…are you holding my books hostage?"
"Oh, I'm not doing anything," Bella says.
Alice giggles, leaning her chin on Leah's shoulder to bat her eyes. "Actually, I'm the only one who knows where the books are…and you know how easily I lose things…"
Leah twitches, looking between the two of them with slow-dawning realization. "You little schemers," she breathes. "This is a whole plot. You've conspired against me!"
This time Bella is able to successfully pat Leah's head. "It's for your own good. You're too stressed. You won't do well on your exams if you've driven yourself crazy studying."
"Plus, you've been working so hard all semester, taking that extra class. You deserve a break!" Alice adds brightly.
Leah furrows her brow. "…Are you also responsible for my Mr. Clean disappearing?"
Bella and Alice share a confused look. "What? Why…would we steal your cleaning supplies?"
There's an indelicate snort off-screen.
"That was me," Rose says behind the camera, ignoring the look of outrage Leah shoots her. "I couldn't take another day of your stress cleaning. The fumes were getting to my head. You'll get your precious balding scrub buddy back after finals."
Leah is speechless.
"This is because we love you, sis," Bella says softly after a moment. "You need a break."
Leah deflates, her arms visibly relaxing, her shoulders slackening. "…Take me to the tree, or whatever."
"Hot chocolate first!" Alice cheers with a little shimmy.
"And some of whatever smells so good over there," Bella adds.
"It smells fried," Rose sniffs disdainfully.
"That's why it's delicious," Bella says primly.
Leah cracks a smile.
The video ends.)
Comments
HeartsAPlenty
LOL swan and bees face at 6:43 they're like, "there's another conspiracy?!"
Twiilit
This is the wholesome content I'm here for
YaHeard
No but nice people are scary af when they get mad so I don't blame RH at all
Korral
Wait but did you get your books back?
ClarityIsClear
I did get them back. I also aced my finals. Bella was right, but don't tell her I said so.
thelittlecygnet
Too late! :)
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A/N: 3 of 3! Just gonna drop it here for context and continue working on the next update - chapter 17 takes us back to Bella and should be uploaded next Saturday. Thanks for sticking with the character development bits!
As always, be brutally honest. I can take it. Stay safe, stay inside, stay home, and stand together.
~Rae
