Thanks so much to the people who have reviewed and been so supportive. This idea just wouldn't leave me alone, but I haven't had a ton of time to write everything out for you- thanks for the patience!
Big thanks to JaspersTemptress. She's a badass, no big deal :) I appreciate her support and opinions.
This chapter is in Bella's POV. Next chapter I may give you Edward's POV of their first meeting... Let me know what you think!
Check out my profile for links to this story (outfits, the van, etc.). Oh and REVIEW!!
peace&love
Oh and none of these characters belong to me- they belong to the beautifully brilliant Stephenie Meyer.
After another joint and some more songs, we pulled up to one of the most happening sights I've ever seen: tons of VW vans and hippies just hanging loose. We decided to park the van away from some other cars so we would have room to set up chairs and whatnot.
"No way!" I smiled, jumping out of the van. "Can you dig this?!"
"HELL YEAH!" we both exclaimed in unison.
"Damn," Tyler said, as he high-fived Mike, "This is some far out shit, brother!"
"Groovy," Jessica squealed, "What do we do next?"
"Peace out, Forks," Mike beamed. "San Francisco is my scene!"
We set up some chairs by the van and Tyler and Mike headed off to see what goodies they could find. Angela and I decided we would go scarf some food before the music started up on stage while the others hung out at the van. We strolled away from our friends, arm in arm, with the wind blowing through our hair.
"Hey," Jessica yelled, "Wait up! I'm coming with you all!"
I snorted as Angela squeezed my arm. It becomes easy to forget that Jessica was Angela's friend first, especially since they were so different. But Ang was one of the closest friends I'd ever had so I needed to try harder to welcome Jessica. Forcing a smile was as far as I had attempted after overhearing Jessica and Lauren run their mouths about me last week at school. But I could be the bigger person, I guess. I leaned over to give a grin to Jessica, who was now caught up and walking on the other side of Angela.
"All you need is love, love. Love is all you need..." The Beatles were shouting from a nearby vehicle.
Angela and I started giggling, recalling a midnight jam session from last week. Charlie was working a double so Ang came to stay the night with me. We smoked too much and had a very lengthy conversation about how all the world needed was love. Then we proceeded to sing and dance around in our panties with toothbrushes and play The Beatles record over and over and over.
"Okay," Jessica began, "I can handle not smoking all the time with you all. But the inside jokes and little giggles? Come on! Spill!"
"Sorry, Jess," Angela smiled and linked arms with her.
"See," I started, "I believe that love really is all you need, just like The Beatles. I just recently converted Ang to a similar belief system. I can convert you to hippie-ism, too, if you'd like!" By now I was standing in front of her, smiling from ear-to-ear.
Jessica laughed uncomfortable, "Ha ha... Maybe later, Bella."
"Suit yourself," Angela shrugged with a smile, "But I think she's onto something!"
"I am," I teased, pointing my finger in Ang's face, "But I am also quite hungry. Let's scarf some munchies and get back to the guys!"
"There's a stand with some food!" Jessica exclaimed, pointing to a nearby area.
The sun was feeling divine as we finished our food and headed back to the group. I walked between Angela and Jessica on the way, too high to feel awkward being so civil with Jess. Even if our attempt at a friendship lasted only through the weekend, that was enough for me. I just wanted everyone to have a good time without drama or bitching.
"So," Jessica mumbled, "What's the big deal about smoking pot? I mean, I've done it a few times but it's not something I fell in love with."
I smirked. "Some people don't like it as much as others. I didn't really do it at all until I moved to Forks. But once I started, I just like the break from the world and day-to-day shit."
"But it doesn't make me all happy and fun," she continued. "It just makes me quiet and sleepy. Oh and hungry, ha ha. I get real hungry!"
"Ha ha, yeah I can understand that," Ang agreed.
"Well have you ever done anything else?" I asked her.
"Okay, don't tell everyone, alright?" Jessica looked down, nervously, then looked back from me to Angela with a big grin. "Lauren and I tried LSD with her older brother a few weeks ago! It was so groovy!"
I tried to remain composed and continue smiling, but it was quite a task. LSD shouldn't bother me as a drug, but I wasn't prepared for the memories those letters were associate with, such as past experiences with Renee and her acid induced carelessness. Angela could tell something hit me, not because she knew about my mess of a life in Phoenix but because my muscles became slightly tensed and my breathing sped up.
"Wow, Bella," Jessica held my arm, "Are you okay? Is it something I said? You look really pale... er... Well, more pale than usual..."
Uh, and apparently I turn ghost white, too. Great. I thought.
"Bells," Angela's voice was concerned, "You gonna be alright, girl? Talk to me-"
Snap out of it, Bella. I thought to myself.
"I'm fine," I blurted out. "Sorry, that was weird... I just- I don't know... I think something I ate is making me feel sick. Sorry... I'm fine."
I realized Angela and Jessica were both wearing looks of worry and holding each of my arms, in an attempt to keep me standing. I smiled, trying to reassure all of us that I was alright, and began walking again. My mind was reeling as my anxiety crept through my veins.
Keep it together, Bella. You're fine. You're safe. I kept telling myself.
We reached the van to find the boys huddled together.
"Hey, boys," Jessica skipped up behind them, "Whatcha got there?"
Ang grabbed my hand and stopped us before we got to the rest of the group.
"Hey, is everything good?" Angela asked. "You know if you're not okay or not feeling all right, you can tell me. You know I'm here for you, right?"
She was serious, her eyes screamed at me with concern. I wasn't used to having someone look out for me, and it was sweet, but now just wasn't the time to deal with this. If you asked me, NEVER was the perfect time to deal with any of it.
I shrugged it off with a bogus grin. "Ang, yeah I promise I'm fine! Let's go see what goodies they found!"
I tugged her along behind me and I could tell she didn't believe me for a minute. But she wasn't the type to pry, either. When we got up close to the boys, I knew it had to be something good. They were all grinning and glancing at each other and back to the bag.
"Boys," I pushed my way into the circle, "What's going on?"
Tyler held up a full bag with a goofy smile. "Mushrooms anyone?"
The boys started to high-five each other and whisper about how good of an idea it was.
"Bella, it's kinda like that LSD stuff!" Jessica clapped her hands together with a grin.
"Shit, Tyler," I said, never letting my eyes leave the bag, "I should have known you'd do something totally fucking groovy like this! Let's eat them and head down to the show!"
I'd never tried mushrooms before, but I was desperate to get as far away from reality as possible. We divided them up among all of us: I took the same amount as the boys while Jessica and Angela took fairly small amounts. Angela gave me an apprehensive glance before we all ate them, to which I responded with a sincere smile. I was fine, no more anxiety or stress for me. At least not while I had drugs as my escape.
As we walked down to the main area where the concert was held, I started feeling more than just high. Things were beginning to look strange: the trees seemed to move in abnormal ways, the cars looked as if they were melting into the grass. And my body felt weightless, limitless. Looking over at my friends I could tell they were beginning to feel it, too. Once we heard some music start playing, we went from walking to the stage to dancing our way through the crowds of people. The people we passed seemed increasingly fierce and intrusive as I became more submerged in tripping, so I stopped looking at their faces.
My vision became fairly flawless, that is until the intense features of something began warping or melting together. It was cool for the first 30 minutes, but after a while it was exhausting, like a roller coaster that I couldn't force to stop and let me off. But I'd look over at my friends and feel their happiness, and it made me feel all right again.
I ran and grabbed Angela and Jessica and began dancing and laughing with them. We'd reached a stopping point in the crowd and were waiting for the Rolling Stones to come on, so we just kept giggling and dancing. From behind the hint of overcast clouds, the sun's gentleness felt soothing on my face as I closed my eyes and tilted my head toward the sky. A kaleidoscope of images projected in my mind when my eyes were shut, so I just continued enjoying the trip. Wind flowed through my hair, causing it to dance around my face as I twirled around and I felt change in temperature, as if the sun had disappeared behind a large cloud or tree.
Suddenly, I had stopped spinning and felt as if I was wrapped tightly in a cold, heavy blanket. So many conflicting emotions flowed through me: loneliness, comfort, shame, fear, contentment, worry...
What's that sweet smell? It's so... My mind trailed off and my curiosity got the best of me.
My eyes popped open to the most glorious sight I had ever seen. There was an angel, apparently holding me and looking extremely annoyed.
So the drugs finally killed me and now I am in... Heaven? Is this My Angel? Why is My Angel so upset with me?
His brows furrowed as my mind continued racing. My Angel's firm grasp around my waist loosened, then I found my balance, and my blush. Once the blood flushed my cheeks, My Angel seemed enraged. How could an angel, My Angel, commit such a sin as this? He was far too beautiful to frown, and it would have to be some sort of mortal sin for him to look so pained.
"Um, excuse me," My Angel even had the most beautiful voice I'd ever heard, "You need to watch where you, uh, twirl."
I pulled my eyes away from him to notice my surroundings hadn't changed much. I was still at the festival. And I wasn't dead.
Say something, you square! I thought.
"Technically," I started, "I was dancing. Dance with me!"
Oh. My. God. Since you're not already dead, this should do it. Note to self: never eat shrooms- they take away any filter you may have between your mind and your mouth...
"I don't dance." His voice was still beautiful, but there was harshness to it. His mesmerizing topaz eyes were captivating even when they were displaying his intense feelings of animosity towards me.
"Yea, me either," I mumbled, looking at my feet. "Well, not usually. Too clumsy."
I looked up at him as if I was expecting him to put me in time out.
"Sorry I ran into you." I glanced back down to my shoes trying to hide my embarrassment.
"Yeah," he murmured, "You really should be more careful."
I felt a hand grab my arm and looked up to see Jessica, but not My Angel.
"Bella! What the hell?!" Jessica questioned.
"Uh, yeah," I said while glancing around trying to find My Angel. "Did you see that guy I ran into? I guess I should keep my eyes open when I dance..."
"Ha ha, no but I'm not surprised. None of us knew where you went- one second you were there dancing with me and Angela, and the next second you were gone. Come on, the Rolling Stones just started!"
Jessica and I finally made our way back to Angela and the rest of the gang. Well, I guess Jessica more or less pulled me back to where everyone was while I was too busy scanning each and every face for My Angel. Big mistake. The shrooms weren't ready to let me be sober, so all of the faces grew more and more intensely warped.
Was I imagining things? How could My Angel disappear so fast? Wow, Bella. You're definitely losing it, I thought.
Angela threw her arms around me then tried to start dancing to the Stones. I was so out of it... Had I really just imagined all of that? All of him? I pulled myself out of the craziness going on in my mind and made an effort to sing along with Ang. My head was spinning with all kinds of emotions, making me feel as if they were viciously ripping me apart to unload everything I'd been trying to hold in. Since Ang only took a little bit of the shrooms, she thankfully wasn't still tripping. She kept dancing or singing with me, which held my mind in the present momentarily.
Mike tried to dance with us, but I couldn't afford adding him to the insanity I was battling inside. I knew if I had to try to suppress all of these emotions and deal with worrying about hurting Jessica or Mike's feelings, I would end up losing my cool. However I didn't mind trying to dance around Tyler or Eric to get myself feeling happy and lighthearted. At least Jessica kept Mike occupied by dancing and letting her hands roam over his body while singing some suggestive lyrics.
After the show, and after the drugs wore off, we all strolled back to the van. It was Twilight and I could tell it was going to be a good night to camp out once we got down the road and a little closer to home. Even after the amazing time I'd had so far, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. Then, when I realized the root of my disappointment was just the consequences of a drug induced hallucination, I would get mad at myself for being such a sucker for a random fantasy I had somehow managed to make up.
But he seemed so real, I thought.
"Hey, Bells," Mike was glaring as Tyler threw his arm around my shoulder. "How'd you dig the show? Was it as groovy as you thought it'd be?"
"Uh, yea, Tyler," I shrugged, trying to subtly move out from under his arm. "I dig that song the Stones played... How's it go again, Ang?"
I ran up to her to get away from Tyler and to grab her hand for a dance as she sang the lyrics with her fist up to her mouth as a makeshift microphone. Then I grabbed Jess and we danced and skipped our way back to the van.
We got some dinner on the way out of town, smoked, and sat around talking and listening to music while Mike drove. Once we got to a stopping point in Oregon, I set up a single tent with a few insulated sleeping bags Charlie let me borrow from his hunting supplies. I snuggled in between all of the insulation and drifted off into sleep with thoughts of My Angel leading the way...
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Not sure if the next chapter will be an overlap of this one but in Edward's perspective, or if I just want to get to the good stuff... decisions, decisions!
Either way- I'll make sure it's worth it :)
Thanks for reading! Please review and speak your mind!
peace&love-e