SM OWNS TWILIGHT
Chapter Eleven
"Why are you here?" I asked in a flat emotionless voice.
"I come here to think sometimes," she replied, slowly sitting down next to me.
"You should be at school," I commented staring at the ground. She laughed lightly, "I could say the same for you."
"I heard about what happened to Rosalie," she told me in a sad voice. "Is she alright?"
"You shouldn't be here," I said, finally looking up at her. She frowned, bringing her soft hazel eyes up to meet mine.
"Charlie was like a father to me, you know that." She said quietly, I stayed silent. We sat in an awkward silence for a few moments before she spoke again.
"I have a right to be here."
"You lost that right when you slept with my boyfriend." I spat at her. She winced at my words, looking down at the ground.
"Bella, I-" I cut her off mid-sentence. "Save it Alice." I snapped, and turned away from her. Alice reached out, placing her small hand softly on my back. I shrugged her hand away, turning to glare at her over my shoulder.
"Leave me alone," I growled.
"I miss you," she said, I could hear the hurt in her voice but I couldn't bring myself to care. "You're my best friend."
"I'm not your friend," I retorted with an icy undertone in my voice. I stood, and took a few steps away from her, prepared to walk away. Alice stood then too, and reached out for me again. She wrapped her fingers tightly around my hand, and squeezed.
"I want to be friends," she said, her voice pleading. I ripped my hand out of her grip, and frowned.
"That's never going to happen," I shot at her, and walked away. I heard her soft footsteps as she ran after me. She stopped right in front me, and pulled me into a tight embrace.
"Please Bella," she whimpered. Her eyes swam with sadness, as she pleaded with me and for the briefest moment my heart broke for her.
I broke out of her arms, and pushed her away from me. I glanced down at her, her lip was quivering slightly, and she had tears in her eyes.
"It's your own fault," I said quietly.
"I know, I know." She cried, tears falling from her eyes. "And I'm so sorry."
"An apology isn't going to fix this," I stated firmly. "This isn't something you can apologize your way out of."
"But, Bella… please!" She sobbed, reaching out for me again. Glaring, I stepped away from her.
"Good bye, Alice." I whispered as I walked away. I headed straight for my truck, and frowned when I noticed Alice's canary yellow Porsche parked right next to it. Without looking back, I ripped open the door to my truck, and hopped into the cab. I shoved the keys into the ignition with a bit more force than necessary, and backed out of the cemetery when the ancient beast came to life.
I sped down the highway, the truck groaned as I pushed pass 50 miles per hour. I gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands. A small part of me wanted to welcome Alice back into my life with open arms, I missed her. I couldn't bring myself to forgive her; she committed the ultimate crime – the biggest violation of girl code – by sleeping with Jasper. Even if I allowed her to be part of my life again, I doubted that I'd ever be able to trust her after what she did.
With one hand still on the wheel, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cigarettes. I quickly pulled one from the box, placed it between my lips, and lit it. I tossed the pack of cigarettes on the other side of the cab, and rolled down my window, allowing the smoke to blow out of the truck.
I took a drag from my cigarette, exhaling the smoke from my mouth and nose. I reached over and switched on the radio. I fumbled with the buttons, skipping from track to track until I found a song I felt like listening to. I flicked the ashes of my cigarette out of the window, and leaned my head against the back of my seat as I drove, relaxing to the sound of Disturbed blasting through my speakers.
I turned the radio's volume up ridiculously high and applied more pressure to the gas petal. Over the music I heard the engine groan in protest as I approached 60 miles per hour, but I ignored it. I took another drag from my cigarette, and smiled as I felt myself unwinding.
I grinned while singing along to the lyrics, nodding my head, and tapping my fingers to the beat of the song. I took a final hit from my cigarette and tossed the butt out the window. I left the window down as I drove, allowing the wind to blow against my face.
My ancient truck moaned and groaned, as I continued to push its limits by speeding. Even though I had just smoked one, I reached over and pulled another cigarette from the pack. I popped it in my mouth, and lit it. I was still reeling from my encounter with Alice, and I decided to blow off steam by speeding and chain smoking.
I couldn't stop thinking about her; it angered me that she came to my father's grave. I didn't think she had the right to. I wanted to erase her from my life completely, and it was proving to be impossible. Everywhere I turned she was there; I couldn't escape her or Jasper. If I wasn't thinking about them, and their betrayal, they were right in front of me, flaunting it.
As time passed, I gradually started feeling less hurt by their scandal, anger replacing the pain. I was beginning to reach a certain level of pissed the fuck off. With every thought I had of them, and the pang of hurt I felt when I thought of them – which was often – I felt the urge to throw punches at Alice. As my best friend, I couldn't believe that she had the nerve to do something that monumental to me.
I remembered the morning I caught them vividly, I didn't think I'd ever forget the details of the day that changed my life forever.
I sat quietly in the cab of my truck, listening to the soft tapping of the rain against the window. I wasn't sure how long I sat there staring out of the window, not really seeing anything. I closed my eyes hoping that the soothing sound of the rain would console me. I gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands, willing the tears building up behind my closed lids, not to fall.
Six months had gone by, and it still didn't feel real, none of it did; sitting here in my truck, parked outside of Forks Cemetery visiting my father, it felt like a dream; a horrid dream that I couldn't wake up from. I wasn't sure how much time had passed; seconds, minutes, hours, I had no idea and frankly I couldn't bring myself to care.
After what seemed like a lifetime, I eventually mustered up the energy to lift my right hand from the steering wheel and turn the keys in the ignition. The loud roar of my truck coming to life startled me, somewhat brought me out of the daze I seemed to be in.
Slowly I pulled away from the cemetery, not looking back as I drove. I knew I would find Jasper and Alice at home waiting for me, I took solace in that. I wanted nothing more than to feel the warm embrace of Jasper's arms, and hear Alice's soft voice whispering comforting things in my ear.
With a frown I pulled into the driveway, parking my truck right next to Alice's canary yellow Porsche. I pulled the keys from the ignition, and hopped out of the cab, slamming the door behind me. I sighed deeply as I entered the house, still shaken from my trip to the cemetery.
"Alice?" I called out, stepping over the threshold. "Jasper?"
I was met with silence. I stepped through the house with a frown, and hung my keys on the hook. I heard a soft, barely audible groan come from the living room. Worried, I made my way to the back of the house.
"Alice, Jasper?" I called out again. I stopped, frozen in place when I noticed them on the couch together. Alice was straddling Jasper's lap, their mouths locked in a heated kiss, her hands knotted in his tousled sandy locks, his hands roaming her body, greedily massaging her delicate curves.
I stared at them, and opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn't will my voice to work. As if he sensed my presence, he looked up at me. We made eye contact for a brief moment, before he shoved Alice off of him. Frowning Alice, looked up at him, and opened her mouth to speak but quickly shut it as she noticed my presence in the house.
Hastily Jasper rose from the couch, rushing over to me. "Bella…" he breathed, reaching out for me. I stepped away from his hand, and shook my head. "Don't," I said.
"Oh my gosh, Bella! Let us explain!" Alice called from her spot on the couch, franticly she adjusted her shirt, and stood, making her way over to me.
"Don't," I said again in a flat emotionless voice. Jasper opened his mouth to speak, but before he had the chance to make any excuses I turned, and headed straight for the door. Without second thought, I ripped open the front door, and sprinted outside leaving Alice and Jasper behind me.
My truck groaned and backfired loudly, bringing me out of my thoughts. To my surprise, I wasn't crying, and I didn't feel the urge to. I wasn't hurt, I was angry. For the first time, I felt a small burning hatred for the both of them, which I realized felt better than hurting because of them.
I reached over, turned the radio up as loud as it would go, and took a long drag from my cigarette. My truck groaned and backfired again, concerned, I pulled over on the side of the highway. I turned the keys once, shutting off the ignition, and stepped out of the cab.
I padded over to the front of the ancient piece of shit, and opened the hood. I didn't know much about cars, but even I knew that the way the engine was smoking wasn't good. I tossed the cigarette butt somewhere off in the right direction, walked back over to the cab of the truck, and tried starting it again, hoping that I could get it running long enough to make it home. I turned the keys, and the engine roared in protest, I frowned when it stalled. I tried starting the truck once more, but it stalled and failed.
Growling, I turned the keys with more force than necessary, willing it to roar to life. The engine backfired again, and stalled completely.
"Why, won't you fucking start?!" I growled at the ancient Chevy, kicking the tires. "Dammit!" I shouted.
"Fuck you," I muttered under my breath as I reached over into the passenger side of the cab to grab my cigarettes. Angrily, I pulled a Newport 100 from the box, and shoved it in my mouth. I brought the lighter to my face, and quickly lit it before tossing the box and lighter back into my truck.
I took an angry first hit, and kicked the tires of the truck again, mumbling under my breath. I searched around in the cab of my truck for a few moments for my phone before I realized that I left it at home on my nightstand. "Fucking, great, just lovely" I grumbled, taking another hit from my cigarette.
I stood next to my truck, nodding my head to the music that was still blaring loudly from my speakers, thankful that the engine didn't have to be running for the radio to work. With the hand that wasn't holding the cigarette I tapped my fingers roughly against the side of my leg to the beat of the Static-X song blaring from my speakers.
I contemplated walking home, but I wasn't sure how good of an idea it was. My house was easily ten miles from here. I sighed deeply in frustration, realizing that I was out of options and stranded here until someone drove by.
Somewhere in the distance, I heard the loud grumbling of a motorcycle approaching me from behind. I turned, and noticed a sleek black Harley Davidson pull up behind my truck on the side of the road. I watched apprehensively as the rider swung his leg over the seat of the Harley, making his way over to me. He removed his helmet, revealing a head of disheveled copper colored sex hair.
I instantly recognized the man as Edward Masen.
I greedily took in his appearance, staring openly at him. He was wearing black straight leg jeans with a tight fitting black muscle t-shirt that stuck to his body deliciously, and a black leather motorcycle jacket. He tucked his helmet under his arm, and approached me slowly, a puzzled look crossed his features.
"Bella?" he inquired, staring intently at me. "Why are you parked on the side of the road?" His smooth, masculine, voice made my girly bits tingle.
"I… uh… my uh, truck is being a dick," I managed to say as he stopped in front of me. He chuckled softly, I smiled at the sound.
"Do you need any help?" he asked, and flashed a crooked smile. I found myself unable to form coherent thoughts. I parted my lips, momentarily dazzled by his beauty.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Do you need help?" he asked again, moving to stand directly in front of me, my heart beat accelerated at his proximity. I looked up at him through my eyelashes, trying to form words.
"Um… I think so, yeah" I said lamely. I blushed lightly at my obvious inability to act like I had any intelligence. Awkwardly, I took a drag from the cigarette that was still burning in my hand.
"What happened?" he asked as he sat his helmet down in the cab of my truck. He strode over to the open hood and peered inside.
"I'm not really sure," I told him, taking another hit of the smoke. "The engine backfired, and now it's stalling when I try to start it."
He removed his jacket, and handed it to me. I took it from him, and licked my lips at his exposed tattoo covered arms. I placed his jacket in the cab of the truck next to his helmet, and walked up behind him. I noticed the sliver of a tattoo poking out from the collar of his shirt on the back of his neck, and I suppressed a groan.
Could he be anymore sexy? I thought to myself. He bent down, sticking his arms inside of the hood. After a few moments, he stood up straight and turned around to face me. "Try it now," he instructed. I nodded, and took a final hit from the cigarette and tossed the butt off to the side. I reached inside of the truck, and turned the radio down a few notches before turning the keys. The engine groaned in protest but didn't stall, I turned the keys again, and the engine roared to life.
Edward smiled triumphantly, and shut the hood. "Well, there you go."
"Oh my God," I exclaimed. "Thank you so much! How'd you do that?"
He flashed that crooked smile, and ran a hand through his tousled bronze locks. "It was no problem. I know a thing or two about cars."
I flicked the back of my monroe piercing with the tip of my tongue and smiled sweetly at him. "You're a life saver Edward."
"Can I suggest that you get a vehicle that's a little less ancient?" he chuckled, his emerald orbs twinkling with amusement.
"It might be a good idea," I replied smiling. He strode over, reaching behind me and grabbed his helmet and jacket from the cab of my truck. His body brushed up against mine, and I shivered from the contact as a small electric current ran from the tip of my spine down to my toes.
He pulled on his jacket, and winked at me. With his helmet under his arm, he walked back over to his Harley. He swung on leg over the seat, straddling the bike.
"Thanks again for helping me," I said.
"Anytime," he replied. "See you at school tomorrow, Bella." He pulled his helmet over his head, and revved his motorcycle.
"See you," I said as he released the clutch, and sped away.
I walked back to my truck, hopped in the cab, shutting the door behind me. I put the gear in drive, and drove away wondering what the hell just happened.
Author's Note: Hey guys! The chapter was a bit longer this time. I'm working on chapter twelve as we speak, so it should be posted within the next few days. I'd like to thank all the people who are reading this, following, favoring, and reviewing. I love all of you.
xoxoxoxox
-raybabiieex3