I published this because I hate starting a story that only has one chapter done. It's a cruel form of punishment.
So review please. I really will love your suggestions.
And I also might heed requests to insert you as a fellow hippie, hitch hiker, or some random role :)
**Everything Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer-- not me.
We weren't even 45 miles from forks when I smelled my favorite kind of smoke. Ben passed the joint to Angela, while I curled my legs up into my lap and sat next to her anticipating my turn. She saw me out of the corner of her eye and handed it to me as she exhaled with a smirk.
"Thanks, love," I said, grinning.
"Of course," she giggled. Ang really was one of my best friends. She had her fair share of rebellion and really knew what it was like to have a family who didn't understand. I couldn't help but smile at her as I finally allowed the smoke to exit my lungs. My smile faltered a bit when I saw Mike smiling at me in the rearview.
Shit. Why does the whole 'just friends' conversation seem to never work with Mike?
"Here, Mike. You want it?" I asked, holding it low between the driver and passenger's seats. Jessica crinkled her nose. I looked at Angela as we both silently counted down: 4, 3, 2...
"Ew, Bella! Can you not hold a joint right beside me?! I don't want to smell like pot the entire trip!" Jessica whined before letting out an overly dramatic cough, a pathetic attempt to emphasize her point.
"Jessica, this van will be hot-boxed all the way to SanFran. Then we will spend our entire Saturday in a cloud of smoke. Sunday, guess what? We will hot box our way back to Forks. So I doubt you'll smell of anything BUT weed." I smiled triumphantly.
"Ugh, fuck you, Bella. Don't be mad that not all of us are little stoner hippies." She spat.
I laughed in response as I inhaled yet another hit.
Seven hours later, after two stops and six joints, our hippie bus pulled into a grassy space at the Oregon County Fair. I slid out of the bus and got rid of my sweater. My formfitting Grateful Dead tee shirt had snuck its way up my midriff to expose my flat tummy and protruding hipbones, and I wasn't the only one to notice. I caught Mike and Eric gawking before I could even pull it down. I looked away quickly as I felt a familiar burning sensation reach my cheeks.
"Damn..." Eric muttered, as Mike broke his stare and shifted uncomfortably.
What the hell? I mean have they never seen a belly button before? I grabbed my bag from the floorboard in the bus and worked it around my neck, while trying to mentally force the blush from my cheeks.
"Uhhh... I have to pee! Ang, will you come with?" I said, moving quickly around our friends. Ugh... Little boys make things so uncomfortable.
"Geez, Bell! Wait up!" Angela said, catching up with me. "Eric is an idiot, but I'm sure he didn't mean to make you feel weird. And don't act so modest- it was just your stomach!"
"I know. It's just embarrassing. Not to mention the guys can be so immature once their hormones come into play," I frowned. "You know how I am about that kind of attention. It's just awkward, ya know?"
"Yeah, I know. I know you're one of the most beautiful girls I know who has no idea how to deal with it!" She grabbed my face. "Bella, you're my friend and I love you. But you've gotta show yourself more lovin' and let the good times-"
"ROLL!" Ben screamed as he threw one arm around Angela and the other around me. I couldn't help but laugh as he gave Angela a sloppy kiss. "Just hang loose, Bella. We'll be diggin' some groovy tunes before ya know it!" Ben mused.
"Haha... Okay, okay I get it, you two. Now, seriously, I have to pee!" I shrugged out from under his arm and ducked into the bathroom. When I emerged, my friends were waiting and talking to some people at a booth.
"Yeah, totally bro! We've got enough room!" Eric was smiling brightly, and apparently offering a ride to some hippie. Now that I looked closely, it was a kid from school.
"Thanks, man. I hitched here so I'm glad I won't have to hitch all the way back home from Cali!" He smiled at my friends, then turned to follow everyone's gaze to me. I half smiled awkwardly, while trying not to fall in the slippery grass. He smiled bigger when I held up a peace sign. "Hey, diggin' your threads!" Tyler said as he pointed to my shirt.
Ben and Mike chuckled lightly. They had given me shit for wearing this shirt since we left Forks this morning with comments like, "Hey, Bell- too bad the Grateful Dead aren't playing this weekend. Maybe try wearing a band that we'll actually be seeing?" insert unnecessary high five between Mike and Ben...
"Uh, yea. I'm Bella," I said, reaching out my hand.
He ignored my outstretched hand and brought me into a hug. "I'm Tyler! Cool to meet you, sugar."
"Ha. Get a room or something," Jessica snickered. I shot her a rather obvious eat-shit-and-die look. Unfortunately, she looked away before my glare actually became intimidating. Damn.
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