Chapter 3

Songs:

First Date, blink-182
New Love, Maroon 5

*Link to YouTube playlist in chapter 1

Spring 2009

Edward

We go in the front door as quietly as possible, hoping to avoid the fallout from today, but the door isn't even latched behind me before Mom comes around the corner.

"Oh, Bella. I wasn't expecting you," she says to my ... well, my girlfriend now, I guess.

Bella nervously shifts on her feet. "Is it okay that I'm here? I mean, I can go—"

"It's fine," Mom says as she steps to her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and guiding her toward the kitchen. "But just know that when Carl gets home, things might not be too pretty." Mom looks over her shoulder at me and then back to Bella. "He's not exactly happy his son was suspended."

Bella's wide eyes meet mine for just a second before she disappears around the corner. I exhale, happy to escape yet another brow beating from Mom. I got plenty of that in the principal's office when she came to sign off on my suspension.

But my relief is short-lived when I hear Pop's bike outside. Instead of waiting for him to find me, and possibly embarrass me in front of Bella, I decide to meet him in the garage.

"Did Mom call you home early?" I ask, leaning against the workbench and crossing my arms.

"She did." His stance mirrors mine on the other side of the garage. "So, this was over a girl, Edward? Really? How many times do I need to tell you that no pussy is ever worth—"

"Not just a girl, Pop. Bella."

"Bella?" he asks slowly.

I nod. "Yeah. We've been ... talking for a while." I shrug. "And I guess when I saw that asshole touch her, I just ... lost it."

He heaves a sigh and tilts his head back, looking at the ceiling. "Jesus." He looks back at me. "I want you to know I think this is a bad idea. No good can come from dating the police chief's daughter. Charlie is ... well, he's not exactly the most understanding guy in town."

"I've got it under control."

"And you're wrapping it every time you—"

"Stop. Just ... stop. We're not ... When that time comes, I won't be stupid, okay?"

He shakes his head. "No, I'd say you're already being stupid. Just don't bring more trouble by being careless."

I nod but remain silent.

"And as far as the suspension goes, it won't be a vacation for you. You'll be coming down to the shop for the next two weeks. You'll put in full days, and I don't want to hear a single complaint from you. Got it?"

I smile and nod. "Got it."

As far as punishments go, I'm getting off easy.

When I'm dismissed, I go back inside in search of Bella, but when I reach the kitchen, she's nowhere to be seen.

"She's in your sister's room," Mom says as she stirs something on the stove.

I groan. "Ali's pissed at me, isn't she?"

She looks over her shoulder then back to the pot. "She's hurt, Edward."

"Shit," I murmur, sitting on a barstool. I rest my elbows on the granite and hold my head in my hands.

Never in a million years did I think I'd find myself attracted to my little sister's best friend, but here I am. And now that the secret is out by way of me and my big mouth making a very public claim to her, I've hurt my sister. But I also don't want to give up Bella before we even get started. I just hope Alice can forgive me.

"Why is shit with girls so complicated?" I whisper and Mom laughs. I look up and scowl at her. "Thanks. I'm so glad you find humor in my situation."

Smiling, she walks over and pats my cheek, just a little too condescendingly. "My poor baby. You have absolutely no idea, do you? If you plan to be in a relationship, you should probably get used to being confused."

It takes very little for me to get tired of my mother's teasing, and I soon find myself in front of the television, surfing the channels. At least an hour passes before I hear light footsteps on the stairs. I look up and find Bella's tear-stained face staring back at me.

"Can you give me a ride home?"

I furrow my brow. "You're not staying for dinner?"

She shakes her head. "No. I think it's best if I go home tonight."

I click off the TV and get off the sofa, walking to her side. "You okay?" I search her face, but I'm really kind of clueless about what to do in this situation. Me and girls' tears aren't a good combination.

"I'm fine. I just think Alice could use some space from me." Her shoulders slump, and I wrap her in a hug.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, unsure what else to say.

"Thanks."

The ride to her house is quiet, but not altogether uncomfortable. She's curled up next to me on the bench seat, her head on my shoulder, and I know she's mulling over whatever happened today with Alice.

Sitting at a stoplight, I place a hand on her bare thigh. "You gonna be okay?"

Her head lifts from my shoulder and she smiles. "I'll be fine." Her smile falls just a little. "I just hope Ali can forgive me."

I kiss the side of her head. "There's nothing to forgive, baby."

Her smile returns.

"What?" I ask.

"You just called me baby."

I grunt and turn my attention back to the road. "Sorry. I won't—"

"Hey," she says, kissing my cheek. "It's okay." Her voice lowers. "I kinda like it."

"Did you return my friend in the same condition in which she left here?" Alice asks as I step inside the door.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I flop down onto the sofa beside her and snatch the remote from her hand.

"Hey! Give that back!" She tries to wrestle it out of my hands, but my arms are longer than hers and she gives up almost as soon as she starts. "Asshole," she mutters, crossing her arms over her chest.

"That's what you get for asking me if I compromised your friend." I change the channel to TLC to catch an episode of Miami Ink.

"Compromised," she scoffs. "Such a big word for your tiny, boy brain."

"Gee, thanks," I mutter.

We both stare at the TV. "I just don't want to lose her," she says so softly I almost don't hear her.

I turn to my sister and see how genuinely upset she is. "Hey," I say, nudging her shoulder. "You're not going to lose her."

She rolls her eyes. "Please. You two are going to get so wrapped up in each other you'll forget all about me."

"That's not true, Ali. She's just as worried about hurting you as you are about losing her. You two will be fine." I smirk down at her. "Besides, don't girls just kiss and make up and everything goes back to normal?" I waggle my eyebrows.

She looks at me with a scowl. "You're disgusting, you know that?"

"I never claimed to be anything but."

She turns back to the TV. "Just don't screw it up and make her never want to talk to me again. Please?"

I wrap an arm around her and pull her head to my chest. "I won't do anything to take away your friend, okay? But we're just having fun right now."

"But nothing. I know you really like her. You wouldn't have made such a spectacle of yourself if you didn't." She looks up at me. "But she's not like the other girls. You can't fuck her or play with her and move on to the next one. She'll never come around again, and I'll never forgive you." She looks back to the TV. "I'd rather you stayed away, but I'm not stupid enough to think you two can stay away from each other."

I rest my head against hers and squeeze her to my side. "I promise not to do anything to jeopardize your friendship, okay?" I smile into her hair. "Besides, I can be good and share our girl."

The next morning I'm hauled out of bed before the sun is up. Pop follows me on his bike as I drive to the shop. He finds great delight in making me miserable as he hands me a pair of coveralls and tells me to make the coffee. The rest of the guys start showing up just before we open at seven, and the first lift goes up soon after.

The day is grueling. Pop decides to make this a life lesson and works me every minute I'm there, barely giving me time to piss. I've cleaned the bathroom, moved cars, and cleaned up behind the guys. I'm pretty sure they're all in on my misery because they're especially sloppy; tools and shop rags are left everywhere, and I begin to feel like I'm chasing my tail.

Mac, Cullen Automotive's newest employee and the club's newest patch holder, seems to get sick satisfaction from fucking with me.

"You sure did a good job scrubbing the shitter this morning, kid." He smiles as he wipes the grease from his hands.

"Kid? You're what, five years older than me?"

He raises a brow. "Try eight."

"And your point is?"

He shrugs a shoulder. "Just nice to know there's somebody around this week to clean up behind Tank and his morning newspaper breaks." His laugh is loud, and I groan just thinking about cleaning that god-awful toilet again tomorrow.

But I'm saved from my miserable thoughts when Masen pulls into the lot in his grandmother's car. A smile crosses my face at the sight of Bella in the backseat. She climbs out of the car and puts her hands in her back pockets, shyly stepping closer to the bay doors.

I shade my eyes from the sun as I walk out to meet her. "Hey, baby."

"Hey." Her eyes flit here and there. "So, this is the shop, huh?"

"It is." I reach for her when she's close enough and wrap an arm around her, planting a kiss on her right in front of everyone.

The catcalls and whistles from behind us make us both smile into the kiss, but I don't give a shit.

"Would you two cut it out? It's disturbing," Alice says as she passes us on her way to see Mom in the office.

My hands find their way into Bella's back pockets, and I hold her to me. "How was school today? Did anybody give you any trouble?"

She shakes her head. "No. Everyone kind of kept their distance." She laughs and looks up at me. "I think they're all scared to talk to me." Her grin widens. "Seems I have a big, bad wannabe biker boyfriend who will defend my honor."

"Who you callin' a wannabe?" I look across the lot toward the clubhouse and get an idea. "Hey, Pop," I call over to him.

He looks up from his conversation with Masen. "Yeah?"

"I'm gonna show Bella around the clubhouse."

"That's fine. Just don't be gone too long."

I take Bella's hand and tug. "Come on. I want you to see this."

We pass a few lingering customers and walk past the line of bikes at the side of the lot.

"Is one of these yours?" she asks, pointing at the bikes.

I shake my head. "No. You've seen my piece of shit Yamaha, haven't you?" It occurs to me I haven't had her on the back of my bike, and I resolve to remedy that as soon as possible.

"I think so. Is it the red one in the garage?"

I nod, smiling at her simple summation. "It is. And I wouldn't dare ride it in here. But I've been looking for something to fix up that I can ride in here and not be disowned."

She nods and I pull her along until we reach the door of the clubhouse.

"Are you sure we can be in here?" she whispers. "I get the feeling we shouldn't be in here."

"Would you chill out? It's fine."

"Wow," she says under her breath when we walk down the hallway and into the main room.

Music is playing and there are a few members just hanging out, shootin' the shit. Bella's presence gets their attention, though, and I'm quick to wrap an arm around her.

"What is all this stuff?" she asks as she looks around. Pictures and posters of things the Outcasts have been involved with cover the walls.

"Different events the club has supported in one way or another. Rides and benefits, charity events, and shit like that."

She turns to me with a grin on her face. "And I thought it was just a bunch of grown men in leather jackets who didn't want to grow up."

I smirk down at her. "While that's somewhat true, there's more to it than that." I lead her over to a quiet corner and sit on a barstool, pulling her between my legs. "It's something I've wanted to be a part of since I was a little kid." I shrug a shoulder. "I guess I like the idea of having a bunch of guys who will always have my back."

"So, this has always been your dream?"

I shrug. "I'd be third generation Cullen to be an Outcast. I'm pretty sure it's in my blood."

She rests her head on my shoulder. "Does that mean you plan to stay here? Like, you aren't planning to leave to go to school or anything?"

"Nah. I've already got a job at the shop once I turn eighteen. I'll be working full-time as soon as I graduate. I can't prospect for the club until I'm twenty-one, but a lot of the guys work here, so I can earn some respect before I sign up." I lift her chin to look into her eyes. "What are your plans? Do you want to go away to school?"

She laughs, but there's no humor in it. "Want to go to school? Yes. But unless I manage to earn scholarships—which I'm not very confident about—or Charlie wins the lottery, I'll be sticking around, too."

I frown. "I don't want to sound like an insensitive prick, but didn't your mom leave you any money? Like, she had to have a life insurance policy or something, right?"

She sighs. "She had a small policy that the funeral home was more than happy to take. Mom's boyfriend wasn't in the right frame of mind when the arrangements were made, so I'm sure the funeral home took advantage of him."

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

"It is what it is."

"And Charlie won't pay for—"

"No, and I know better than to even ask. He's made it clear on more than one occasion that I'm a burden he has to bear until I'm old enough to move out." She hops off my lap and holds out her hands to me. "But enough with the heavy. Come on, show me around. I want to know what I'm getting myself into."

A/N: Yeah, I don't think she has any idea what she's getting herself into. Okay, let me know what you think. I should be off on a four-day-long motorcycle scramble in the forests of Kentucky right now, hammock camping in the trees, but alas, it has been tentatively rescheduled for September. So, your reviews will, I'm sure, cheer me up.

Remember, you can come chat with me in my Facebook group, Sunshine Fics. I also share teasers and chapter pics there. You can also follow me on Twitter at CSunshine1220.

Thanks so much for reading!

Be kind.
Stay safe
Stay well.

Lots of love
~Sunshine