Chapter Two
The food was brought out in droves, heaping piles of sustenance that Bella had no intension on consuming. All she wanted to do was to sink into bed and let the world slip away for the next several days. She watched as the reception goers piled their plates high. These people are vultures.
Every person that attended her mother's funeral showed up to the reception, eating, talking, and giving their condolences in passing. She plastered on a fake smile, shaking hands with those that offered, most of them saying "My Isabella how you've grown" while others said "You probably don't remember me, but…" The fact of the matter was she didn't recognize a soul. Not a one.
She momentarily searched for his face, wondering if he'd shown up. Truth be told, she probably wouldn't recognize him even if he had. Hell, he probably forgot about her after the last decade. Then again, he probably moved.
Walking over to the sofa, she was met by a woman holding a baby.
"Bella?"
"Um, yeah?"
"It's me, Jessica. Jessica Stanley. Well, Jessica Newton now," the woman offered, smiling softly. "You don't remember me, do you?"
Bella shook her head. "Sorry. I don't."
"We went to school together. I had really big buck teeth and the most horrible red rimmed glasses on the face of the earth."
Bella searched her memory, trying hard to place the woman in front of her when it hit her like a ton of bricks.
"Buck Tooth Jess?"
"In the flesh!" Jessica said, flashing Bella a straight, Colgate white smile that looked far from screwed up.
"Holy crap! Jess, you look phenomenal," Bella genuinely offered.
"Thanks," Jessica chuckled, bouncing a baby girl on her hip.
"Yours?" Bella asked, her eyes flickering to the infant.
"Yep. All mine. Her name's Laruen Marie," she said, smiling at her little girl.
"She's precious," Bella said, running her fingers over the child's head.
"Isn't she the cutest? I named her after my best friend. You might remember her. Lauren Mallory?"
Bella bit her lip, shaking her head. "Sorry."
"No worries. She was kind of an outcast like I was. We hung out all the time together."
"Is she here with you?" Bella asked, craning her head, trying to find the woman in question.
"Um, no. She and her husband, Tyler, well, they passed away a couple years ago in a car accident," Jessica said, sadness creeping along her features.
"Oh, God. I am so sorry, Jessica. I truly am."
"Thanks, Bella. Well, listen. I'm really sorry for your loss. From what I remember about your mom, she was a really nice lady. It's a shame that she was taken so soon. Everyone around here loved her."
"Thank you."
"Well, I should go look for my husband. He's around here somewhere. Probably eating his weight in chicken. He's not as fit as he used to be," Jessica said, sidling little Lauren closer to her. Glancing back she said, "Take care, Bella."
Bella watched as Jessica and her baby moved to the other side of the room when she remembered something.
"That girl has funny teeth, Peaches."
"She does."
"Her glasses look crooked. And they're really, really red."
"They are."
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, Squints."
"Something?"
"I was just thinkin'."
"Bout what, Peaches?"
"Maybe I should be a tooth fixer."
"Why?"
"So I can fix that girl's teeth, Squints."
"Why would you do that?"
"So people will stop making fun of her, Squints. Plus, she never smiles. Maybe we should be friends with her."
"Nope."
"Why?"
"Cause you're mine, Peaches. You're my friend. I don't wanna share."
"You are such a boy, Squints"
"Whatever, Peaches."
"Whatever yourself."
Bella found herself smiling, shaking her head at the faded childhood memory of the boy that had engulfed her whole heart, when a torrent of sadness crashed down on her heart. I need to get out of here.
Walking into the kitchen, through the door that separated the kitchen and the dining room, Bella sucked in a short breath and grabbed her purse. Her Aunt Charlotte was standing against the counter, retrieving a pitcher of iced tea.
"Going somewhere?"
"Yeah. I need to get some air. Could you tell my dad that I'll call him later? I can't be here right now. It's too damned stuffy. I'll clean everything up tomorrow."
"Sure, sweet girl. I'll do that. And don't worry about the cleaning, I'll take care of it."
"Thanks Aunt Lolly. Tell dad to call me on my cell if he needs me."
"Stay safe, Bella."
"We'll do."
xXx
Big E's Bar and Grill was tacky, and that was putting it lightly. The red leather that covered the barstools was ripped here and there, looking as though one too many fat asses had rubbed against them. The dingy wallpaper was a throwback to the seventies with gold painted flecks. The bar top look like it had been through hell and back with all the carving laid in to it, no doubt by drunken patrons. The Budwiser sign, behind the bartender, was missing the first three letters, leaving the word wiser on display lit up by blue lights. That was shit was laughable, even more so that it was in a bar.
The bartender rounded the corner, just as Bella slid onto a barstool.
"Hey there! What can I get ya?" the bartender asked.
"You have any Southern Comfort?"
The bartender smiled, waving his arms out to his sides. "It's a bar."
"Well, how about a couple shots."
"Straight? You sure you don't want anything mixed with it?" he asked, quirking a brow.
"Nope. Just the shots," Bella said, letting out an exhausted breath that she'd been holding.
"You got it," the bartender said, turning his back to her.
Bella watched as the big, burly man maneuvered around, grabbing two shot glasses and pouring the smooth liquid. She couldn't help but look at him. He was huge. Extremely huge. His arms visibly bulged out from underneath the sleeves of his white t-shirt. His neck was also enormous, and she couldn't bypass his ass. It was a nice ass. Even though big, buffed out men were not Bella's type, this man was very good looking. He reminded her of the Incredible Hulk.
She set her elbows on the top of the bar and ran her hands through her hair, feeling defeated and slightly lost. She wasn't aware that the bartender had returned, placing her shots in front of her.
"You alright? You seem a little preoccupied."
Bella's head snapped up and she was met by crystal blue eyes.
"Everything okay?" he asked, seemingly concerned, not at all like other bartenders she'd met in the past, sleazy and perverted.
"Fine thanks."
He smiled at her. "Okay, well, enjoy. If you need anything else, just holler."
"Is it always so dead in here?"
"Eh, not always," he said, whipping the bar rag over his shoulder. "Still kind of early, but it should pick up in a few hours."
Bella threw back her second shot of southern liquidly goodness. "Place is kind of rundown, don't ya think?"
A quick blush ran over the Hulk's features. She couldn't understand why he'd be embarrassed about her comment. Unless he owns the bar, dumbass!
Bella's inner bitchy voice had caused her eyes to snap up to the blushing man who's features seemed to have morphed into something between constipation and horror. Way to go, B! You really know how to make a man's ego shrivel up.
"Oh my God," she whispered, shaking her head. "This is your place."
He placed a hand behind his neck, rubbing it nervously. "Yep. She's mine. Not much to look at, but, she pays the bills."
Bella stuck her face in her hands. "I am so, so sorry," she said, finally looking up at him. "That was extremely rude. I absolutely don't have a verbal filter."
"It's all good," the Hulk said, with a chuckle. "I just bought it from the previous owners and, well…" he paused, looking around, "she needs more than a little work. Kinda hoping to put my brother to work when he gets home. Plus, I've been looking for a professional to come in here and spruce the place up, but there aren't many of those around here."
"That's understandable. Can I get another?" Bella asked, nodding toward the Southern Comfort.
The Hulk gripped the bottle and sat it in front of Bella.
"Be my guest, hun."
Bella nodded and poured herself another shot, mesmerized by its smooth flow.
"So," she started, taking a gulp of the liquid. "Your brother at school or something? You said that you're waiting for him to get home to help you."
A wave of sadness swept across the Hulk's features. There you go again, Einstein! You sure do know how to fuck with the male physique.
"Did I say something wrong," she asked, mulling over his expression. "I mean, if it's better for all parties concerned, I can shut the fuck up now." A small giggle escaped Bella's lips, as she felt the numbness flow through her body. Damn, this shit is good!
"Nah, it's okay," the Hulk said, snapping out of his thoughts. "My brother isn't in school." A quiet calm washed over him. "He's, um, been in Iraq for the past three years. My family and I haven't seen him since he left. And I sure can't wait for his ass to get home."
As Bella listened, the non-fuzzy portion of her brain kicked in as another faded memory swept through her mind.
"I'm gonna be a soldier."
"A what?"
"A soldier, Peaches."
"Why do you wanna be a soldier? Don't they have to fight and stuff?"
"Yeah. I guess."
"So why do you wanna be a soldier, Squints?"
"I dunno. To make you and my family safe. I wanna be just like G.I. Joe!"
"Then who will I be?"
"You can be the girl I save."
"You always have the best ideas, Squints."
"I know. Hey! You wanna play G.I. Joe?"
"Okay!"
She remembered Squints always wanting to save the world. He was fearless and, more, he was her Squints. My friend the hero.
"Must've been some friend," the Hulk said, a smile playing across his lips.
Bella's eyes snapped up to the bulky bartender. Did I really said that out loud?
"Yeah, he was. My best friend to be exact. We did everything together." Her smile increased as she talked about her Squints. God, she missed him.
"How long have you two been friends?" the Hulk asked.
"All our lives I suppose, although I haven't seen him in a very long time." Bella's heart clenched as she relayed those words. And then, the verbal diarrhea stated. "We used to do everything together. Our parents even had a field day with us. We were considered 'Double Trouble' everywhere we went." She laughed. "Every time our moms would take us in a store together, the people working there would always have a horrid look on their faces. Now that I think about it, that shit was hilarious." Another laugh escaped her. "We were a force to be reckoned with. That's for sure."
"How long has it been since you two have seen each other?" the Hulk asked, suspicion clearly evident by his furrowed brows.
Bella poured her fifth shot, having drank the fourth during her ramblings, and downed it greedily.
"A long, long time. Since the day I moved away from this tiny town."
The bartender knitted his brows even further. "You used to live here?"
"Yep." Bella said. "A long, long time ago. Actually, it seems like ages ago. A lot 's changed around here and, a lot hasn't."
"Explains why I haven't seen you around here before," the Hulk said. "I'd remember such a pretty face as yours."
Bella narrowed her eyes at the man in a playful, drunken manner and asked, "Are you flirting with me, Hulk?" She was feeling the effects of the Southern goodness swift and with a vengeance. You'll be feeling its wrath in the morning, dumbass!
"Did you just call me the Hulk?"
The boisterous laugh that came from the bartender's mouth jolted Bella in her seat. She hadn't expected that.
"Glad that I amuse you, Hulk," said Bella, tipping her empty shot glass toward the man. "Hey! Who drank my shit?" she asked, looking from side to side, clearly more inebriated than she expected to get. Goddamned liquor stealers."
"Yep. You're funny as hell, and completely shitfaced," the Hulk said. "How's about I get you some coffee to, um, even things out a bit?" he asked, slowly pulling the bottle of liquor away, hoping Bella wouldn't notice. She didn't.
"My Squints liked the nickname I gave him. Squints," she said with a sigh, remembering the boy she was forced to leave behind. "He never got mad about it. Squints, he was my best friend."
Immediately, the man behind the counter was hit by a ton of bricks as he realized who the drunken woman was sitting in his bar. But, he had to clarify.
"What's your name, hun? He asked, waiting for confirmation.
"Bella Swan."
"So, B, did you ever have a nickname?" he asked.
"B? I like that! And, yes, I did have a nickname but only my Squints ever called me it," Bella said, letting out an exaggerated yawn.
"What was it?" the bartender asked.
"My Squints called me…Peaches." Bella couldn't contain the smile that plastered to her face as she said the words. Shit, I feel sick. Oh God! I think I'm gonna throw up…
It was then that Bella noticed, even through her drunken haze, that the bartender's eyes widened and a toothy smile appear across his face. Please don't say you farted! Please don't say you farted! Yep, he farted!
"What are you doing Saturday night, B?"
"Um, you asking me out, Hulk?" Another giggle escaped her lips.
A boisterous laugh thundered from the man's throat. "Well, yes. Actually, no."
"Yes. No. Which one is it, Hulk? Cause in about two seconds flat, my ass is gonna be out. So, spill it, skillet," she said, gracing the man with a wide-mouthed yawn.
"Actually, I'm having a party here on Saturday and, well, I thought you might like to come. You know, have a few drinks, some food, and maybe cut up a rug. What do you say?"
Bella blew out a breath and sputtered her lips. "I dunno. Not really here for R and R. I kinda need to spend some time with my dad before I head home. I shouldn't even be here right now. Drowning my issues in a bottle isn't what I had in mind for my stay."
"Yeah. I'm real sorry about your mom, B. I didn't know her personally, but my mom did. She said that your mom was an amazing lady.
"Yeah, she was pretty awesome." Thoughts of her mother flitted across her mind. God, I miss here. "I should head back to the hotel. Thanks for the drinks, Hulk, and the chatter," she said, fishing through her purse for a twenty. "How did you know that the woman buried the other day was my mother?"
"Same last name," he said, lifting a brow. "Kinda hard not to put two and two together. The bartender saw what Bella was doing and reached across the bar top, placing his hand over hers. "It's on me, B. No worries."
Bella smiled. "Thanks," she said, scooching off the stool. "You're a good guy."
"You didn't drive did you?"
"Nope. Walked from the hotel."
"Need an escort back?"
"No thanks," Bella declined, not that she was worried that the guy would do something to her, she needed to be alone. "You got a bar to run and I think I can make it across the street. If you hear screaming, call the Calvary."
Zipping up her hoodie and grabbing her purse, Bella made slow strides to the door.
"How about Saturday, B? You gonna come? Eight o'clock?"
"What's the occasion?" she asked, looking back, trying to focus on his face.
"My brother's coming home. It's his welcome home party."
"Should I bring anything?"
"Nope. Just bring your smile and an appetite. Oh, and your dancing shoes!"
"I'll try, Hulk. Not making any promises though. Me and dancing. Well, that equals a mixture of broken limbs and fat lips. And I'm not talking about my own," Bella said, giggling, when she finally realized something. "Hey, Hulk?"
"Yeah, B?"
"What's your name?"
"Emmett. My name is Emmett Cullen. And it's been a real pleasure meeting you, B."
"Likewise. Take care, Emmett."
"See you Saturday, B!"
That night, lying drunkenly comfortable in the hotel's plush king-sized bed, Bella dreamt about beautiful angels and squinty eyed boys.
And there you have the second chapter. Hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time...
OzellaMarie