Disclaimer: I do NOT own Twilight.
Soundtrack: Me And My Gang – Rascal Flatts
Chapter 2: The Gang
Italics are flashbacks!
BPOV
I was in that state between sleep and being awake when all of a sudden bang! I screamed and tried to turn away from the noise in the opposite direction. That of course caused me to roll right off my bed onto the floor. Still I thought I was under some sort of attack so I crawled under my bed. Then I heard the roaring laughter...Jasper!
"I hate you!" I whimpered.
"I love you too sis," he said peeking at me from on top of the bed. I waited till he pulled himself back up and then crawled out. He was lying on his stomach. "I didn't think it would scare you that badly. You're just so cute when you're so sleepy and when you don't understand anything that's going on around you."
"Yeah well, you always use that excuse. Why do you like to torture me like that?"
"I don't." I raised my eyebrows. "But," he silenced me, "I do like to give you an interesting start to your day. That way you can look back at it when you're bored, in school, and laugh. You know it'll make you happy, which will make me happy." He smiled cheekily.
"I think you just want me to laugh randomly and look like a crazy person."
He just grinned. "Anyway the reason I came in here was to get you up. You're way behind schedule. Looks like somebody forgot to set their alarm."
I rolled my eyes and glanced at the clock. Holy shit! We're supposed to leave in ten minutes. I got ready in a mad dash that was a blur to me. I had gotten distracted by the nice warm water and clean smell of the shower, and was now ten minutes late. I couldn't find Jasper so I guessed he'd left already.
I locked the door and spun towards my car only to remember it was at the shop. I groaned just as I heard a chuckle.
"Took you a while didn't it?" Jasper laughed. He was leaning against his motorcycle.
"Why didn't you leave already?" I asked. He was going to be late now.
"We couldn't have a family emergency if only one of us was absent today now could we?" He tossed me my helmet that he sometimes kept on hand.
"We're not going to school?" I asked as I strapped on the blue helmet.
"Well I was going to, but I didn't want you to walk. Plus I was thinking about it and it's Monday, today's the day to skip." He paused. "Just a little bonding time, Em and Rose are ditching before lunch and are gonna meet us."
"Okay." I agreed, I really didn't feel like school today. I know it's a horrible thing to do, especially when the year is just starting out, but it was too much right now.
I, with difficulty, tried to hop onto the back of Jasper's midnight blue Bandit, but failed miserably.
"Here," He chuckled, "Let me give you a hand." Then he hoisted me up into the backseat. I put my feet in the proper place and held onto the bar behind me while I waited on Jasper to mount. Then I put my arms around his waist and held on tightly. He just laughed and put on his black helmet with blue flames, he just had to have helmets that matched the bike; I think he had a black one somewhere. "Loosen up Bells, it's not like I'd let you fall off anyway."
"You can't really help accidents," I said. I knew Jasper would never let anything happen to me, so I loosened my grip slightly.
"Yes you can. Just don't have them." Before I could say anything else he revved the engine and we flew down the street. The wind whipped at my face, but I got used to it after a while.
Soon he was parking just off to the side of the Port Angeles shopping center. He quickly dismounted and helped me climb off as well.
"Ah so we made it here alive," he mocked me. "Do you want me to check if you have any bugs in your teeth?" Then he bent down and started to squint at my mouth.
I clamped my hand over my mouth and laughed. "Stop it." I softly slapped the back of his head.
He chuckled and stood back up. "Whatever you say my lady. Now we only have about four or so hours before Rose and Emmett get here, and we have things to do before then." He grabbed my wrist and dragged me along to the sidewalk.
"What things?"
He quickly stopped, almost causing me to bump into him. "Don't tell me you forgot!"
"Forgot what?" I asked on the border of panicking.
"Dad's birthday this weekend."
"Oh my God, I did."
"Bella," he groaned. "We have to get the presents today at the latest, cause we won't have time to come back. We also have to start planning because no matter how much he protests we have to give him a party this year; he's turning thirty-six, he's getting old," he threw me an exasperated sigh. "I bet you haven't even thought about what you want to get him, have you?"
"Well if I forgot, that would mean I wouldn't have thought about, now wouldn't it?"
"This is not the time to get smart! It's a damn good thing you suck at planning parties."
"And why would that be?"
"I asked Rose and she's already started planning this for us."
I grumbled "So Mr. I-remember-everything-perfect-angel-son, what are you getting dad?"
"Well um..."
I laughed. "You don't know, do you?"
"Of course I do...will."
"You are such a hypocrite!"
He chuckled. "We'll figure it out together. Knowing you however...." he trailed off.
"What?"
"You'll probably end up buying him a book, you love, and therefore think he will love as well."
"What's so bad about trying to make him literate?" I asked offended. Did dad not like my presents?
"Nothing it's just I think he'd appreciate a war book better than a romance novel."
"Oh really? And all those tools you buy him are any better? They're not exactly personal, tools are emotionless; it makes it seem like you don't put thought into picking them out."
"I do so!"
"I'm not saying you don't, for a couple minutes at least."
"Hey back off." He smirked. "Okay we'll help each other. Deal?"
"Deal." Then we did our famous 'Swan shake'; no one else knew how to do it. He ruffled my hair and pulled me into a store before I could look at the name of it. "A boat store? Jasper, really?"
"He's started building his boat again."
"But what did we just say about tools?"
"I'm not gonna get tools." He rolled his eyes, like I was stupid. "I swear!" He placed his hand over his heart. "Scout's honor."
"You were never a scout." He just smirked. After a couple minutes of searching I added, "You probably shouldn't buy parts for his boat either."
"What?! You just said no tools; you didn't say anything about parts."
"Well I mean if it's just like a plain anchor, that's not good; but if it's more personal it'd be better."
He rolled his eyes and mumbled something like stupid, always changing her mind, gosh. I just smiled.
This dragged on for about an hour before I opted to go sit down and wait for him to pick something already.
"Seriously Bella!" he whined. "What's a personalized boat part? That just sounds like shit! Is it like an anchor with his name on it?"
I laughed. "No that'd be stupid. You gonna get rhinestones on it too?"
He growled. "Well what is it?"
"I don't know anything about boats!"
"You're a freakin' lot of help."
"I'm sorry."
"You give me all this 'advice' and then I find out you don't even know anything about boats."
"You already knew that!" I protested.
After about ten more minutes of looking he left the store sulking. We walked quietly down the sidewalk passing a few other people shopping this morning, but there weren't many this early.
"Oh!" He squealed like a little girl. " I have an idea." He was smiling like a crazy person, he really was proud of himself.
"What?" I asked half just humoring him and half curious.
"A pocket knife!" He actually started skipping down the pavement.
"Jazz!" I screamed as I ran after him laughing lightly. He stopped and looked back at me.
When I caught up he offered his arm to me. "Skip with me Bella?" I couldn't stop laughing as we linked arms and skipped passed the shops. "Bella." He stopped. "This is a serious matter, there will be no laughing." I could see the humor twinkling in his eyes but I stopped anyway.
We continued the strange gait, gaining us many weird looks, till we reached the hunting store. He dragged me inside looking much like an overexcited kid in a candy store.
He wasted no time finding what he was looking for. "So why a knife?" I asked.
"Well he's always telling us to be prepared and carry one ourselves, and I noticed that he doesn't have one. He needs to have one as well."
"Jasper he tells me to carry one because he's afraid I'm gonna get attacked or something. And he tells you to carry one because you have girls falling out your ass."
"That's a strange mental picture," he commented. "Sounds painful too."
"Some of these girls have boyfriends that feel threatened by you," I continued.
"That's just ew though." He said shuddering. "The girls in Forks are horrible! And it's not my fault I'm gorgeous." He winked at me.
"Wow thanks Jazz. You really help build my low self esteem." I said as I leaned against the rack and looked at his face.
"No not you!" He said, worry in his eyes. "I didn't mean it like that. But you're my sister and quite frankly the thought makes me queasy."
I laughed. "What about Rose?"
"Not my type and Emmett would kill me." He replied without pause.
It was quiet for a while, as he picked out a weapon for dad. I glanced around the store. There were furs and stuffed animal heads hanging on the walls. I even saw a couple of those singing fish things. The floors looked like they could use a good cleaning. Other than that however the place seemed okay.
There weren't many people in here other than ourselves. An old man was near the hunting rifles, a dad and his young boy (who looked around five) were in the fishing section, and the guy behind the register.
Finally Jasper found a switchblade he thought was particularly dad like. It was plain and black yet it was just what he'd like. Jazz quickly bought it and we left.
"So...?" He hedged. "What are you gonna get him?"
I sighed. "I'm still not sure."
He looked thoughtful. "Too bad we're not twenty-one or you could get him bourbon." He chuckled.
"Oh!" I squealed just like he had when he got his idea.
"Bella." He groaned. "We can't buy alcohol that's illegal."
"That's not it!" I smiled. "I'm gonna get him a flask."
"That's actually a pretty good idea." He paused. "I'm so proud!"
I rolled my eyes at him. He just smirked. Then he grabbed my arm and led me to the liquor store.
It's not like Charlie drank a lot or anything. But like a lot of men he liked to have some on hand; you never know when you'll need it. Bourbon just happened to be his favorite.
I really didn't like coming to this store. I'd only come in here once, but those weren't my fondest memories.
The little bell clanged as we entered. The man behind the counter gave us a funny look.
"You don't look old enough to be buyin' alcohol, boy." He said in his deep rumbling voice. He squinted his eyes as he sized us up. I quickly scanned him over. He was balding slightly, kinda slim but he had muscles, and black beady eyes. He wasn't ugly, but he definitely wasn't attractive.
"We're not here to buy it." Jasper answered sounding slightly annoyed. "I was wondering if you have any flasks for sale."
There was a long awkward pause and the guy stared at us. Then he turned and proceeded to the back. He returned with a big box and let it slam onto the counter.
"We only have one kind right now." He said in his gruff rude tone. He pulled out a stainless steel flask with black leather on it. "It holds six ounces, from the Rockford Collection, stainless steel piping. We also have it in red and camouflage." He pulled out two more in the colors he just mentioned.
I decided on the black one, and the man rung us up. After we were finished he all but threw us out himself.
"That guy was so rude I bet if we go back now I can take him. Better yet you stay here."
"No Jazz." I said grabbing his arm.
He winked at me. "I wasn't really going to. Unless you wanted me to."
He zipped up his leather riding jacket and shoved his unoccupied hand in a pocket. "So what do you wanna do now?" He asked as we walked aimlessly around.
"Hmm..." I laughed.
About two and a half hours later we were walking towards a little cafe on the outskirts of Port Angeles, a little hole in the wall called Rainy Days. It fit this area perfectly. We were meeting Rosalie and Emmett there for lunch. We always hooked up there. It was perfect for us. The food was amazing and it wasn't crowded since not many people knew about it. Plus we were loved here, all the workers knew us.
Jasper and I got there first so we went ahead and got a table. The hostess a small red-headed girl led us to a booth in the corner and left us with the menus.
I could hear him before I saw him. "YO BELLS! JAZZYPOO!" Emmett boomed from the entrance. Rosalie stood beside shaking her head, her curls bouncing slightly. Jasper pretended to gag at the nickname, he hated it more than I hated Jello. I snickered slightly as they made their way over to us. Jazz shot me a glare.
Rose slid in so she was across from me and Emmett slid in next to her.
"Hey Rose." I smiled. Rosalie had been my best friend since first grade. Rose had just moved to Forks so she didn't know anyone. I had been home schooled for kindergarten, and Jasper and I had been separated into different classes, so I didn't have any friends.
We were both in a corner; she was coloring and I was just watching everyone else play. All of a sudden I started crying silently. I whimpered before I could stop myself and Rosalie looked up at me with her big innocent blue eyes. When she saw my tears she started to cry as well.
"Why are you crying?" She asked quietly the tears shining on her cheeks.
"I miss my brother, the teachers a meanie, and I don't have any friends." I cried a little harder.
"Well I don't have any friends either." She pouted. "We could be friends."
I stopped crying and looked up at her. "Does it happen like that?" I asked quietly.
"Duh silly, how else does it happen?"
I thought for a moment. "I don't know. I guess you're right."
A huge grin took over her face. "Yay!" She clapped. She jumped up and ran at me, her tiny curls jumping around crazily. Then she enveloped me in a hug. "Best friends," She whispered.
I nodded in agreement and returned her hug. "Best friends forever."
We were inseparable after that.
"Hi Bell." Rose returned my greeting.
"What about me?" Emmett said giving me a puppy pout.
"Hey Em."
"That's more like it Hells-Bells." I groaned at that nickname. He gave it to me when we first met. We were all in seventh grade.
Jasper was sick today and Rosalie was out of town with her mother. So I was sitting by myself in the back doing some work when I heard the chair beside me move. I jumped and looked up. Emmett McCarty, the new kid in school. He had just moved here about a week ago from somewhere in Tennessee.
"Oh I don't have to sit here," He said misinterpreting my jump.
"No no. You just surprised me is all."
"Oh, cool," He said sitting down. "Don't tell anyone, but half the people in this class are kinda weird. I thought maybe I could get away from it today."
I laughed. "Yeah I understand completely."
"So why are you sitting in the back all by yourself?"
"Oh no reason really. Getting away from the madness."
"Yeah I completely understand," He said stealing my line. I chuckled lightly. "I'm Emmett by the way."
"I know who you are. The whole school does. I'm Bella Swan."
"Nice to meet you Hells-Bells." Before I could protest against the horrid name the teacher came in making the whole class go quiet.
A couple minutes later the projector was on and we were all taking notes when Emmett started whispering to me. "So," he whispered, "What exactly is he talking about? I don't get it."
"Then take notes." I huffed.
"I am!" he whined. "Help me understand."
"How 'bout after class, okay?"
"Okay." He grinned. I rolled my eyes playfully at him.
"So what you wanna tutor me or something?" he asked.
"Emmett let me pay attention."
"But-"
"No!" I struggled to catch up on the notes.
"Bella."
"NO!" I shouted.
"SWAN! MCCARTY!"
"Yes sir?" I groaned.
"Detention after school today." We both started to protest. "No buts."
After that I was pretty pissed at him, but he sat with me at lunch....and well he grew on me. First detention I ever had, and with Emmett there it was pretty fun. He had come over to be tutored later that day and grew on Jasper too. Ever since then it's been us four through thick and thin.
"What can I get you all to drink?" I was jarred back to reality by the owner of the restaurant, Helen Greene.
"Coke." Jasper grinned.
"Water with lemon, please." Rose smiled.
"Lemonade," I ordered.
"Sweet tea," boomed Emmett. It was his favorite, but this was the only place we'd been able to find around here that had it since it was a Southern thing, he was such a country boy.
"Always the same thing with you isn't it Emmett?" She chuckled.
"Yes ma'am." He nodded showing his cute dimples.
"Oh you're just so cute."
"What about me?" Jasper asked pretending to sound hurt.
"Of course you are Jasper." She smiled. He did the same showing off his pearly whites, just like he knew she liked. We all laughed. "And may I say you ladies look more beautiful every time I see you."
"Aw thank you Helen," I said. "You do too."
"Oh hush now," she said waving her hand. "I'm getting old is what I'm doing."
"No you really are!" Rose protested. "You are aging very gracefully."
"Well thank you girls. Now I'm going to get your drinks, I'll be right back." Helen was always the one to serve us, since she loved seeing us, and the affection was mutual. She was so nice and loving. She treated us like we were her grandchildren.
She seemed to be in her early sixties, but we never asked her age. However, she was very lively. Her blond hair was just starting to lose it's color and she had gray eyes. We all loved her, and her husband Pete. He was a sweet old man, but was hardly ever here since he had his own work to do. They were so cute together!
"Here we are," she said as she arrived with our drinks. "Now what can I get my little darlings to eat?"
"The usual," Rose, Jasper, and I all said.
She nodded smiling. "And what will you be having today Emmett?" Em was the only one who didn't have a regular order; the rest of us had the same thing most of the time we were here. He said he was determined to have everything on the menu at least once.
"I think I'll have just a regular hamburger today Helen."
"With everything on it?"
"You know me so well." She chuckled.
"Do you have time to take a break and pull up a chair today Helen?" Jasper asked.
"I'm sorry Hun, but I don't this time."
"Well alright." She smiled at him, before she left to take our orders.
Jasper slapped his palms on the table and spread his fingers apart. "Okay so down to official business. Rose, how are the plans coming along?"
"Great! I'm almost finished just need to make a few more calls, and while I'm down here I need to pick up a few things and we'll be golden."
"Perfect! Emmett have you got the location reserved?"
"Eh well almost."
"What does that mean?"
"Well some people have it right before us. When I say right before I mean they'll be gone about ten minutes before we get it." He grimaced.
"When will we set up?" Jasper demanded.
"Well see I've been talking to them, and they said that if they could sort it out with the others they'd leave twenty minutes earlier, so we'd have thirty minutes to set up. They have to ask their group, but the wife told me it was basically a done deal."
"Thirty minutes isn't as much time as we wanted, but I guess we can make do."
"We'll have to."
"Okay so the plan. Bells and I are taking him to his favorite diner on Fork's outskirts. Then I'll pretend to get lost and pull up. I'll get him to go in and get directions. He can't leave if everyone's seen him. You guys can get it all set up in thirty minutes without us right?"
"Yeah, we'll be pushing it, but yeah," said Rose.
"Good." Little Jasper, always planning.
"Did you guys get him something yet?" Then she spotted the bags. "Oh let me see. Please?"
"Sorry Rose, top secret." I laughed.
"But Bella!"
"Sorry."
"Jasper?"
"Nope." He laughed.
Then Helen popped back up. "Okay we have a hamburger, hold nothing." She passed it to Emmett. "Chicken Caesar salad." Rose licked her lips. "A big bowl of potato soup, with two spoons." She winked at me. "And a tuna sandwich, sliced in half; with an extra plate.
"Well I got work to do I'll see you guys when you come back." We all bid her farewell.
Then Jasper and I split up our food, like we almost always did. It was one of our things, that way we could have two different dishes.
The rest of lunch we continued to joke and laugh, being completely carefree. Once Emmett finished his food he started picking off our plates. Him and Rose got into a fight with their forks when he kept taking her chicken.
Finally we paid and left. Then we all walked down the boardwalk, or that's what we called it anyway. It was actually a cobblestone sidewalk that wound beside a small river, more like a creek really. It was pretty wide, but really shallow; the deepest part was two feet deep.
Rosalie and I linked arms and walked slightly ahead of the boys. Giggling and talking about random things.
"Oh and by the way; we have a history project due in a couple weeks. It just got assigned today, you can have a partner." We both looked at each other and slowly stopped walking.
"I CALL JASPER!" We both screamed.
"I think Bella was just seconds ahead." Jasper said and Emmett nodded.
"Sorry babe Bells got it."
She sent me a deathly glare, that she usually reserved for people she didn't like (meaning people who weren't in our little gang, and of course most adults). Then her face cracked and she laughed. "Fine I'll take Emmett, but next time you get Emmett."
"Deal." I nodded and we did our famous pound pledge; like a pinkie promise, but we pounded our fists together.
"I feel so loved right now," Emmett said sarcastically.
"Oh don't take it personally Emmett! You're smart but history is Jasper's thing."
"Yeah yeah." He laughed. Just at that second it started pouring.
"Fuck!" we yelled as we ran for cover. I fiddled with my sweatshirt and finally got the zipper on right and zipped it up. I jerked the hood up and started shoving my hair in, so I wouldn't look like a drowned cat. Jasper was using his bag to cover his head. Rose had a sweatshirt just like mine, but a different color, and was in the same position as I was. Emmett had on a hoodie and had his hands shoved deep in his pocket, his hood covering his head.
I slipped several times but since Emmett was behind me he caught me. After about the fifth time I slipped he flipped me over his shoulder. So now my butt was getting wet. After a few minutes we reached a building and stood beside it, so we were under the roof.
I sighed, relieved when Emmett released me. Then he shook like a dog and got us all splattered with his water.
We laughed, but then Jasper swore. "What?" I asked.
"The bike."
"Why didn't you bring Bella's car?" asked Rose as she wrung out her hair.
"It's in the shop." I frowned.
"Well you guys can't drive it home, plus it's probably soaking," Emmett said.
Jasper groaned. "We'll give you a lift," said Rosalie.
"What about my motorcycle?" Jazz pouted.
"We'll see if it fits in the back of the jeep." Emmett shrugged.
"First things first though, we need to get some stuff for the party," Rose said, her hand on her hip.
"Em and I will go get the bike in the jeep and you girls go start the errands, we'll find you." I nodded and handed him my bag.
Rose and I linked arms and started shopping.
"So Bella...." she trailed off.
"Yeah?"
"I've noticed lately you've seemed a little down. Any particular reason?" she hedged.
"Oh God not you too."
"Hey we've all noticed."
"I can't talk about it right now." Unlike Jasper she didn't push.
"Whenever you're ready I'm here."
"Thanks."
After that we had fun, the guys caught up and we soon finished. They drove us home, but couldn't stay cause they were having dinner with Emmett's parents. They took all the stuff with them to hide, except what Jasper and I got him.
I unlocked the door and walked in while Jazz put his bike in the garage. He popped into my room as I was putting up my stuff.
"Hey will you keep this in here?" he asked handing me his bag.
"Why do I always have to hide things in here?"
"He's like a child always looking for his presents. The only place he won't look is your underwear drawer, mostly because he doesn't want to know if there's anything lacy in there." I smiled and took it. He turned to leave, but when he got to the door frame he paused, "Oh and the loose floorboard under your bed.....he doesn't know about that." I stood there in shock even after he left. Then I heard Charlie's car pulled up and quickly hid them in the back of the drawer. I dashed downstairs just as he walked in.
"I got pizza!" he exclaimed. As he put it on the table I grabbed two pieces while the guys grabbed three. They trooped into the living room while I grabbed us some soda. In the living room Jasper was kneeling on the floor looking at movies. Today was Monday Movie Night, and since it was an odd date he got to choose, which most likely meant horror.
I settled down to watch one of the Halloween movies again. They really weren't scary at all after the first couple times. However, you got more and more frustrated with the characters; like they were supposed to know better this time. If you do this you will die! So don't do it! I almost threw my soda can at the TV at one point. When Charlie got up to use the little boys room I finally had Jasper alone.
"You didn't look under the floorboard did you?" I asked biting my lip.
He sighed and whispered back, "I wanted to, I really did. I started to pull it up, but I stopped. I realized that there were some things we have to keep from each other and if this was one of them, I'd respect that. I figure you'll show me one day....just like when you tell me what's up with you."
I nodded. "Thanks." He smiled slightly. "Half the things in there are just pads and other.....lady items."
"Ew." He frowned. "I could have lived a whole lifetime without knowing that." I grinned.
Dad came back down and we finished the movie. Then I went upstairs to try and get some sleep; I tossed and turned for about thirty minutes and then resolved to stare at the ceiling. I was just about to get up and go to the rooftop when my door creaked open. I turned my head and brown eyes met blue eyes. He smiled at me, his white eyes flashing in the darkness. I nodded telling him to come in.
He laid down next to me. "You turn on your alarm clock?" he whispered.
"Yeah." I nodded.
"You know I love you, right?"
"Yes." I smiled. "And you know I love you too right?"
"I know." He smiled.
And this was all I needed. Just Jasper and me against the world. Even if things for me never got better I'd hopefully always have him. My big brother and me, Rose and Emmett, and all the other people I loved. With Jasper there I eventually fell into a blissful sleep.
AN: My computer has been fixed!!!! Yay! I went to see my Aunt and Uncle early! So thank him! He's great! And since this is an extra long chapter....show me some LOVE!!!
VOTE ON THE POLL!! Vote on the new poll if you want to have a say in this story! It's really important!
Okay so these presents bite, but it's so hard for me to shop for guys! I had to Google this! So in case any of you can tell I'm basing this Charlie slightly off of Gibbs from NCIS. He's just so cool!
Stuff mentioned on my website.
Thanks to my beta An End Has A Start! Seriously the best beta ever!
Review please my little loves!!
*Kristen*