Disclaimer: All characters, plots, and settings related to Twilight are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended by the author.

Chapter Four

Talk About Immaturity

Despite of the long night I just had, I couldn't go to sleep. I lay in bed, awake, thinking of things that I wanted to do. I needed to find a job, anything aside from babysitting. Lounging around the house was getting really boring, and although I was in the scholarship program at the university, I needed money for expenses. I also wanted to teach my mom how to cook. She and Charlie needed better food when I'm not around.

The sound of my dad's cruiser interrupted my thoughts. He spent the whole evening in La Push, probably watched a game with Billy and Harry, as usual.

I didn't get up, staying comfortable on my bed.

A few minutes later, still wide awake, I heard my mom's voice. They were downstairs, and arguing. Strange. My parents do not argue – well, not often. Charlie prefers silence in confrontations, and Renee knew that well enough that she doesn't bother confronting. I listened to their quite heated conversation, picking out words from both of them. They were talking about La Push, and me. I listened harder. Renee said my dad was being insensitive by always going to the reservation.

"Don't you think about Bella and how she feels?" my mom asked.

I made a face in the darkness. What do I feel? Yes, any mention about La Push makes me uncomfortable, but I wasn't that psychotic to stop my dad from going there just because of that.

Charlie grumbled, and said something I couldn't hear clearly. I felt bad for him. He had done nothing wrong. I was the only one with a problem. I was the one who shied away from the place that held so much to me years back.

La Push was beautiful, warm and breezy and bright. In my younger years, I've been there countless times. Like a tradition, Charlie and I would drive to that coastal reservation every Saturday morning. The radio would be on, its sound filling the gap between us. I would look out the window to take in the passing view. My dad and I would stay there until late afternoon, him with his friends, and I with his friends' children. I wasn't very sociable even then, but the La Push kids didn't mind. They would do their own thing while I watch them contentedly.

Then there was Jake. A lot of growing up happened, and then love. A day in La Push felt like Christmas then. Charlie was happy, and so was I.

But a Saturday after my high school graduation ended all that holiday-like joy, and everything that happened in La Push became one huge horrible nightmare. I've never been there ever since.

My parents' argument went on. I thought of one more thing I wanted to do this summer. I wanted to go back to La Push, devoid of any nightmare from the past.

Days passed and I was still unemployed. I had babysat two more kids though, but the shadow of a futile summer still followed me. It also didn't help that I didn't have anyone to hang out with. Sure there was my mother, but being with Renee everyday was getting unhealthy. I was constantly having headaches. My best friend Alice was staying at her home in Seattle, and I was too shy to ask her to come visit me. I doubt she would enjoy Forks very much. There was my friend from high school Angela, but she was off somewhere, on a vacation.

Thursday, I was on the brink of insanity due to boredom. I was desperate. I called Edward Cullen. I haven't seen him since his birthday party.

He answered with a "What?"

"Hey, what are you up to?"

"I'm working."

"Oh." He's working? He has a job? Why would he need a job? "Okay."

He didn't say anything back, so I ended the call. I searched for Mike Newton's number.

After lunch, I drove myself to Newton's Outfitters. Mike said the cashier spot was open, and I was more than willing to accept.

"So, you and Cullen, huh?"

"Hello to you too, Mike. Do I get to start working now?" I looked around the store, wincing at the outdoor equipments around.

"So, how long have you two been going out?"

I let out a breath, frustrated. If I wasn't desperate for a job, I would never want to see Mike Newton again.

"I bet you wouldn't last more than a month, Bella."

Oh, really? I couldn't help but smile."Do you want to bet with money, Mike? I bet you a hundred bucks Edward and I would last longer." Hey, why not? I needed money, and with our six months deal, how could I resist?

Mike's eyes grew wide. I smirked, confident.

Just then the front door opened and in came the monster straight out of my nightmare. Jacob Black. I avoided him like a plague for the past two years. Why did he have to show up now? Damn. It took everything in me not to cower and run from where I was standing.

"Oh, good. You're here," Mike said.

I turned back to Mike and decided to act like he was the most fascinating creature on the planet. Focus, Bella. Keep your eyes away from the monster.

"You can start now, Bella. Closing time is on five. You don't have to do inventory, but you have to close the store before you go. The keys are on that drawer," Mike went on.

I nodded, letting the words passed through my panic-stricken brain. I kept hoping the monster would just get what he wanted and get out of here fast.

"Jake here will be in charge of the stockpiling and tagging and even the customers. You just stand there behind the counter. His shift starts in the afternoon. I'll be here in the mornings."

He works here? I felt the air sucked out of my body. My palms started to sweat. Could I quit a job I just started? I looked at Mike; silently pleading he wouldn't leave me here alone with the monster.

"Okay, that's about it. You can just call me if you have questions. See you tomorrow." And with that, he waved and turned around to leave the store.

It was official. This was the worst decision I've ever made.

It was almost five in the afternoon, and I was dying to go home. The whole afternoon was hell, and only six customers came by to distract me. There was once my eyes lost its focus, landing on the monster's hands that were carrying a blue sleeping bag. My mind automatically went back to the days when those hands held mine, and I cursed myself for being pathetic once again. He didn't dare talk to me, and for that I was thankful.

I looked at the clock. Only twelve minutes remained.

The door opened. I was surprised to see that the last customer of the day was Edward Cullen. I raised a brow at him. He raised a brow back, but didn't come over. He walked towards the monster instead, smiling. "Jacob."

I allowed myself to watch the two.

"Hey, Edward," the monster replied, smiling back. "How are you, man? You didn't come over to the rez last weekend. The party was great, lasted 'till three in the morning."

My mind was grasping over the thought of those two as friends as their conversation continued.

Then, "So, what can I help you with? I'm the new salesman here." I hated the pride in the monster's voice. Actually, I hated everything about him, including his very own existence.

Edward smiled. "That's great, but I don't need help with anything. I'm here for the girl." He pointed at my direction.

Huh. I didn't dare see how the monster reacted with that.

When Edward was right in front of me, I asked, "How did you know I'm here?"

He took one of those small and handy flashlights beside the cash register and tinkered it with his hand. "Your mom told me."

"Renee called you?"

"Nope. I dropped by your house and you weren't there. I just thought it was time to show up." He shrugged.

I nodded, thinking of other things to say. I was hoping Edward would stay until I have to close the store. But he turned around and started talking to the monster about the party. Um, hello? I'm supposed to be your girlfriend. Talk to me.

Five minutes before closing time, Edward decided to go home. Despite my pleading eyes for him to stay just a little bit longer, he said he didn't have to stick around since I could drive myself home.

Monster left at exactly five o'clock, leaving me alone to close the store.

I arrived home to see Edward's car out front. He was leaning against it, his hand raking through his hair. He has an amused smile on his face.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"How was work?" he asked with a singsong tone.

"You were just there. It was hell."

I was on my way to the front door there when he said, "The salesman caught your eyes, huh?"

I stopped on my tracks, and slowly turned around to face him. "What?"

He was still looking amused. "You have a crush on Jacob Black, Swan."

Could he be any more wrong? "No!"

He snorted. "Right. You should have seen your face, Bella. Hilarious. You know, you shouldn't be all nervous just because I was there. It's cool, really. Jake's great, although I doubt making out with him inside the back room would really be helpful with this pretense we're doing..." He laughed.

"Edward, stop. Really, I don't like him."

He kept laughing. "Jake and I are good friends. Maybe I can set you up after we're through..."

"Edward, please stop..."

"...he has a girlfriend though. Leah. But they're on and off so maybe it'll work..."

"Shut up! I know, okay? I know who the hell Leah is! She's the bitch I caught that bastard kissing when he was supposed to be my boyfriend! So, just stop it, okay? Stop it. I wasn't nervous because I like him, I was nervous because I didn't want to be stuck there with that traitorous jerk!"

I ran inside the house and slammed the door.

It was harder to go to my work the next day. The morning was bearable since Mike was there and not the monster, but I was sure the afternoon would be dreadful. The previous night was crappy, as well. Somehow, yesterday's events triggered my mind to replay all those horrible memories when I went to sleep. I didn't shed a tear.

I didn't tell my mom or call Alice. I knew what they would say, that I still wasn't over him. But I am, in a way. I didn't want him back. I was just furious, still.

I brought a book at work. When the monster came in for his shift, I didn't move my eyes from the pages. I would be facing another four hours of hell.

It was four thirty when Edward came. Surprise, surprise. He ignored the monster who was at the opposite end of the room with a customer.

"You didn't answer my calls last night," he said, his eyes narrowed.

I rolled mine. Obviously, I didn't want to talk to you, buddy.

He gave the monster a short glance before leaning closer towards me to whisper. "Okay, I got it all wrong, and it was insensitive of me to mention... whatever. The point is I didn't know. Why should I be included in your shit list? I'll shut up, I promise."

I took a step back away from him. "Yeah, yeah. I was just mad yesterday. Sorry I went a little loony on you."

He nodded as he smiled, looking cocky and arrogant. Huh.

"So, what's your plan now?"

I raised a brow. Plan?

"Do you want to get back at him?" he whispered.

"No." Talk about immaturity.

He leaned against the counter, looking at the monster who was acting all macho holding something that looked like gas lamps. Ew.

"Bella, come on, two years stuck on shit is just not right."

I groaned. He knew. My mother, once again, made my life more humiliating by spilling out my dirty laundry. I could just hear her words. Oh, you know my daughter Bella; she's still hung up on puppy love after two years. I know, right? Two years. She's just so sappy. Huh. Puppy. More like a vicious Rottweiler, fully grown, ready to kill. I love my mom with all my heart, yes, but could she ever shut up?

"I'm not stuck. I'm just feeling a bit of the after-effects."

Edward tilted his head towards me, his lips forming into a mischievous smile. "Do you want to me to beat him up?"

I looked at the monster. He seemed to be a hundred pounds bigger since the last time I saw him. Then I looked at Edward. "Um, not to ruin your egotistical delusions, but I doubt you'll be able to leave breathing at the end of that fight. But, since you two are friends, maybe he'll let you live with a few broken bones."

He snorted.

"Really, it's okay. In some ways, it made sense he chose her over me."

"What?"

I rolled my eyes. "Haven't you seen Leah Clearwater?" Straight black hair, rich brown skin, almond-shaped eyes, bottle-body, better kisser than Bella Swan Leah Clearwater?

"I have."

I gave him time to think it through. I've heard the Bella versus Leah comparison for more than a dozen times, and I knew who always won. Leah Clearwater was the prize fighter, and I was just the amateur fledgling.

"So?" he asked.

Damn Edward Cullen for making me say it. "Leah Clearwater can pound me flat any day, Edward."

He frowned. "Hey, no knocking my girlfriend."

That required another eye roll.

We were then interrupted by the customer. Apparently, the monster was done with his sales talk. I shoot Edward a glare to shut him up.

This time, Edward stayed longer, just roaming around the store. He didn't speak to the monster anymore, and I didn't know how I felt about that. He was obviously ignoring his friend for my sake. The monster, however, looked quite uncomfortable, his eyes following Edward. Awkward.

When it was finally five o'clock, the monster hurried to get his bag from the back room. As he walked towards the front door to leave, he nodded towards Edward in goodbye. "Edward."

Edward nodded back, his face unreadable. "Black."