Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
Three Weeks Later.
Bella hated dressing up, she hated going out and she hated being forced to enter clubs, however her best friend Jake insisted that the neighbours show them a good night out. And, seeing as she couldn't resist his or Alice's pouts at her protest, she found herself entering a gay and lesbian club. She was dressed to the ninths in a dressy black chiffon almost see through blouse, tight fitted light blue jeans and her newest addition to her shoe collection, a pair of light brown Palladium high tops. If anyone had ever questioned her sexuality, well, they wouldn't now.
It was just like any other ordinary club, florescent lights in a dark arena, wisps of smoke permeating the air, bodies of all types gyrating, dancing, moving in a collective to a remixed Tegan and Sara song, Bella almost rolled her eyes at the cliché scene. She made a beeline towards the bar and immediately noticed Rosalie, the blonde was leaning against the counter just watching the crowd, presumably waiting for Leah, she was adorned in a white cotton shirt, black fitted suit pants and black suspenders, her head slightly pumping to the song.
Rosalie felt a presence enter her personal space and, knowing that it wasn't her girlfriend she looked at Bella with odd fascination. Her neighbour didn't look at all comfortable being in this scene, but her nervous energy was wanned by her usual indifferent mask.
"I would never have pegged you the type to hang out in these types of joints." Rose commented wryly.
Bella ordered a drink and definitely did not stare at the plunging neckline of the bartender, because if she did, she would've seen the bartenders smirk.
"Jacob and Alice are as worse as each other." Bella grunted by way of explanation as she too leaned against the bar with the blonde.
It had been three weeks since Bella had moved into her residence and it was only after much arguing with Jake did she decide to stay. She had noticed that her best friend was quickly building a plutonic relationship with all the females across the road. And whereas it did concern her that she was made to be involved in the festivities, she didn't want to dictate Jake's life; he was a loving and loyal person by nature so who was she to impede on his happiness? She just wished that he would leave her out of it sometimes.
Bella shook her head from her thoughts and regarded the blonde, "By the way, what you're wearing, how very Brittany Spears of you."
Rosalie rolled her eyes, "I'm going to kill Leah, I knew the suspenders were too much, but she insisted, she's dressed similar to me as well."
The other woman quirked an eyebrow at the information, "She wouldn't happen to be a Glee fan would she?"
Rosalie nodded her head but was confused at the odd question, "She loves the show, why?"
Bella almost laughed out loud, "Nothing, but you may want to check out something called Brittana."
Still confused, Rose just nodded her head, "Where's your big oaf of a friend?"
"He made a beeline toward the bathroom; he's never going to learn that you don't just go to the men's bathroom at a gay club."
"Cheers to that." Rose said and then they clinked glasses in mutual agreement.
Rosalie chuckled, her neighbour wasn't the most expressive person, however, at least she was honest, a trait that she appreciated.
In fact, if Rose were to be truly honest, she didn't know her neighbour at all, she had seen the other woman only a handful of times. Her friend Jake, she believed was a big oaf, however, his cheery nature and boyish charm outmatched Alice's and he made her usually quiet girlfriend Leah happy, so she had no need to be wary of him. Bella however was entirely different, Rose knew that she was a contemplator, a person who always second guessed their actions, like a person who was afraid to reveal too much about themselves. Bella wore her heart on her sleeve, but what that sleeve was covering she wasn't able to discern and this caused the greatest apprehension to the blonde.
They stood in comfortable silence just watching the crowd, until the blonde squinted her eyes at a couple in the crowd.
"Uh oh, Bitchtoria alert, dammit, where's Leah when I need her?" Rose said, concern laced in her voice.
"What's a Bitchtoria?" Bella asked.
"Oh just a tall, bitchy red head," Rose pointed toward the crowd with her chin and when Bella saw Alice in front of a red head Bella couldn't help but give the taller woman a once over.
Bella immediately noticed the confidence exuding from the red head, it was within her stance, her look, her polished clothes, her red hair was like a beacon to unsuspecting and lost victims, calling out to them, entrancing them with its vibrancy. And right now, said victim was her neighbour Alice.
"Ouch, does it have sister?" She commented.
"That is Alice's ex. Dammit, look at her, Alice looks like a lamb ready for the slaughter." Rose didn't want to intervene as she had been told by Alice multiple times not to cause trouble. It wasn't Rose's fault that she had to protect her little sister; it was in her genetic makeup. However, Alice had never said anything about Leah intervening, so, with her mind made up, Rose took to finding her girlfriend in order to disrupt the meeting.
Just as she was about to text her girlfriend she heard a deep sigh beside her.
"I can't believe I'm about to do this," Rose heard Bella say and, before she could question the brunettes intentions, Bella consumed the rest of her glass in one gulp, slammed the glass on the counter top and strode towards the two women in the crowded bar.
Rose just looked on in stunned silence.
Bella's hands were sweating and it was not because the bar was hot, she really couldn't believe that she was going to do this for her neighbour that she had known for just a few weeks. She blamed Jake, it was his fault she was here, it was his fault that she was dressed like she cared; it was his fault that women were giving her surreptitious winks and it was his fault that she just placed a possessive arm around Alice's waist and jerked the smaller woman closer to her body.
"Hey babe," Bella greeted loud enough for the two women to hear.
She ignored Alice's flinch to her touch, it wasn't the first time a woman had done so, but she was determined to follow through with her plan, if anything, Alice's recoil made her hold onto the smaller woman tighter.
"B-Bella?" Alice asked.
"Just play along," She whispered leaving no room for discussion.
Alice understood what Bella's intentions were and her eyes shone with a gratefulness that almost made Bella let go, take a step backwards and retreat back to the bar…almost.
Instead, the brunette just drummed her fingers on Alice's waist.
"Victoria, this is Bella, my current girlfriend," Alice explained to her ex who was now staring at the faux couple in front of her.
Bella noticed Alice fall into the roles fluently, she noticed how Alice relaxed in her hold and even leaned in a bit closer, she also noticed that Alice smelled like honey.
"Nice to meet you," Victoria grunted.
"Sup" Bella replied with the interest of an adult in a child's conversation, she had no intention of hearing the reply so she turned her attention back to Alice.
"I'm taking you away now," she declared and then ushered Alice away towards the bar.
"By the way, you owe me a drink," Bella whispered to Alice, who was still in awe of the events.
If you were to ask Bella what made her take those few steps to save Alice from talking to her ex, she wouldn't be able to tell you. Perhaps it was the alcohol that she downed or perhaps it was because Bella knew what it was like to be stuck in a position and just desperately want someone to take you away. In any case, her something within her won out because sometimes actions don't have to be justified.
When they got to the bar, Leah and Jake were standing next to Rose with huge grins on their faces, obviously watching the scene unfold.
Jake looked at his friend and quirked an eyebrow, silently asking if she was ok.
She nodded in the affirmative and, once she reached the bar, she let go of Alice.
"You should have seen the look on Bitchtoria's face," Leah commented, throwing Bella a high five, to which Bella shyly responded.
"Damn Bells, I thought your shining armour had rusted off by now." Jake said faux polishing his friend's attire.
In response Bella slapped him affectionately.
"Shut up man."
Jake looked at his friend with proud eyes, "Seriously though, you did good kid."
"Yeah, yeah." Bella replied, she was not blushing; it was just hot in the bar.
She felt a hand grab her own and looked at the owner.
"Thanks Bella, I just, I thought I could handle her."
Bella's gesture certainly took her by surprise; of all the people she was with, Bella would probably be the last person she would have thought to show such chivalry.
Bella rubbed the back of her neck, not appreciating the sudden attention directed at her.
"Yeah well, you're welcome; I'm going to go for a smoke."
Alice noticed the withdrawal but didn't comment instead, she scrunched up her face in distaste, "You really should give that up, it's nasty."
Bella turned around, it wasn't the first nor the last time she was going to be admonished for her habit by Alice, "You think that's nasty? Just wait 'til I start dancing" She made her way towards the exit, when again, she felt a hand grasp her wrist.
"Wait Bella, I think you're forgetting something," Leah said.
Bella shook her head, "I'll get a drink later."
Leah smirked, "No no, Bella, that little role play that you just instigated? You guys need to act more couple-y" She said as if it were the most obvious thing on earth.
Bella raised an eyebrow at that, "What the fuck is couple-y?"
By this time, Leah had let go of Bella's hand and the group had joined in on the conversation.
"You know, hang around each other, touch, kiss, flirting. Like what you guys do now, just with more kissing."
In various weeks when they had all hung out, Leah had noticed Alice's curious and sometimes intense gazing at Bella, it wasn't a sexual predatory gaze, but it was there. Leah also watched Bella's interactions with the smaller woman, it was mostly indifferent, however, when Leah had compared Bella's exchanges with others, she noticed that she was mostly dismissive. It was the indifference that Bella showed to Alice which piqued her interest, because she knew that if Bella had absolutely no intentions of befriending or having any interaction with any of them, then the brunette would do everything and anything in her power to cut all communications, Jake's influence be damned.
However, her comment was not well received by Alice who protested vehemently, "B-Bella and I do not do t-that, we do not flirt."
"Do we?" Before she could protest further, Alice felt herself get pulled toward a body and before she could even process what was happening, she felt her lips get assaulted.
She tried to pull away, but the hold on her only tightened, it was a kiss that was both forceful and kind, one that spoke of practised intimacy yet one that was reserved only for her.
By the time she could respond to the kiss, she could only taste the cherry lip gloss on her lips, which was a curious thing considering that she hadn't worn any to the bar.
"I'll be right back," She felt the breath on her lips whisper.
And then Alice felt her body being released, the desire to re-create the moments prior lingered in her mind.
"I didn't actually mean, a full-fledged kiss," She heard Leah comment.
By the time Alice had recovered, Bella was gone with Jake and Rose was glaring at the exit.
Rose wasn't jealous, she was protective and someone cannot just make out with her little sister in front of her without warrant or regard for her sisters feelings.
"Dude, what was that?" Jake asked animatedly to his best friend.
Bella compulsively lit her cigarette, took a deep breath and then exhaled; she looked at her friend and then exploded in a flurry of emotions. "Man, I don't know, I just wanted everyone to shut up, I mean, come on! It isn't that rare that I do something nice is it?" The brunette could have smacked her forehead repeatedly on the brick wall for her impulsivity. She just wanted everyone to halt their incessant chatter about her doing a good deed for Alice, it wasn't such a rarity to find that Bella actually did good things was it?
Jake tried his best to placate her, "Hey, it's ok, like I said, you did good, don't beat yourself up ok?"
"No Jake, what if she thinks that I like her, what if she thinks that I want her?" Bella dismissed, Jake in return just regarded his friend, this was the first time in a while since he had seen his friend actually concerned and so animated and to some extent it warmed his heart to see a flicker of his old friend return.
"Orrrrr what if she just likes the taste of your cherry chapstick?" He replied impishly, causing his friend to scowl at him.
"Shut up Jake, I'm being serious."
Jake put his hands up, "So am I, do you like her?" he decided to ask his best friend, like Leah, he had noticed the interactions between Alice and Bella.
Bella regarded the question for a moment but then shook her head, "No, I've only met her a handful of times and I really don't think I'm in the mental capacity to be in a relationship with someone right now Jake." She leaned against the clubs wall and frowned at the dumpster in the alleyway.
Jake leaned next to his best friend, "Hey I get it, you just got out of a long term relationship and you're still feeling the backlash, but Bella, don't shut yourself off from people completely and don't think that you don't deserve to be around people."
In response the brunette looked at her friend with a vulnerability that he hadn't seen since they left their hometown, "It's not easy Jake; it's just so hard to be independent when, for so long you used to be dependent with someone, you know? I just don't know what I'm doing anymore, how do I integrate myself back into society when a huge part of me is missing?"
Jake regarded his friend with the upmost sympathy and Bella almost recoiled at the look he was giving her, "You don't get it do you? Bella, before her you were an individual, when you met her you were an individual and now? You're still that fucking beautiful individual and I just can't fathom how you could see yourself as anything but."
Bella thought about his words, it was true, she had always been an individual, but it was because she had that other person in her life that she was able to flourish into that person. Now, without them, she was lost, she didn't know how could she even begin to be herself when a big part of herself was embedded in the life of someone else.
"Sometimes I feel like she took all those things away from me when she left."
Jake smiled at his friend and hugged her tightly, he had missed this Bella, the one who talked to him, his best friend that he would always be there for, "She didn't, I can still see it and I think that Alice sees it as well. Give her a chance at friendship Bella, you owe it to yourself to prove that you can still do this whole, making friends thing."
Bella with trepid arms hugged her friend back, months' worth of pent up emotions coming to the foreground and for a split moment, Bella couldn't help the image of Alice permeating into her mind's eye, after all, she had been the catalyst.
"You know, I don't think she would give a flying fuck if you were with someone new."
She let go of Jake and blinked her tired eyes, "Well, I do care Jake," she said emotionlessly, she turned around and regarded the dark alley way for the last time, "Let's head back inside."
When Bella returned, Leah, Rose and Jake were dancing on the floor, knowing that she wasn't going to participate in such events, she went to the bar and noticed that Alice was there sitting alone drinking a beer.
'Don't send her mixed signals and just be straight with her' her mind ordered and Bella was very inclined to agree with the sentiment.
She took the empty stool next to Alice and the woman instantly looked up at her, eyes shining brightly even in the bar.
"Look, just to get this straight, I'm not interested in you like that, my intentions were to save you from your ex," Bella stated.
And, for the second time that night, she felt like smacking her own forehead, she seemed to feel like doing that action a lot in the presence of the pixie woman. She hadn't meant to be so blunt about it. It's too late to go back now, Bella thought to herself with dread.
However, her anxiety was not founded as Alice was currently regarding her with a small smile on her face.
"Well, there goes my ego," Alice said dramatically, wiping an imaginary tear from her face.
Bella looked at her neighbour curiously, trying to discern whether or not she was being truthful in her sarcasm.
"Seriously Bella, you kiss me once and you really think, that I think that you've fallen head over heels for me? Contrary to what my size dictates, I act my age, not my shoe size honey," Alice stated, ok, she was a little wounded by Bella's words, but that was more of her ego than anything else. She knew that the taller woman held no other inclinations at this point in time other than perhaps friendship and she was quite happy to explore that avenue with her.
Bella, for her part blew a sigh of relief, Oh thank God that she's sane she thought to herself, she glanced at the smaller woman and couldn't help but notice how Alice was quite pretty under the hue of the club lights. What the actual fuck? Bella berated herself; she gave a loud cough to halt her thoughts and then decided to change the topic.
"So tell me about Bitchtoria" Bella asked curiously, and in response, Alice scrunched her face; her neighbour was quite liberal with her words sometimes.
"You as well?"
"It has a ring to it" Bella shrugged in response.
Alice took a generous sip from her beer, "We used to date, for lack of a better term."
At this, the brunette quirked an eyebrow, "Lack of a better term? It's either you did or you didn't Alice."
"Ok, I used to date her and she used to fuck me," Alice deadpanned.
Bella almost chocked on her drink, from all the times that she had spent with Alice, she had never heard her swear or use such vulgarity, Alice was dainty and there was a prime etiquette instilled within her like Rose.
"Language!" she admonished, in reply the smaller woman just laughed.
"What? You have the vocabulary of a sailor! I say the word fuck once and you fall off your seat, double standards much?"
"It just sounds strange coming from your mouth, like an ant dressed up as a honeybee trying to get to the hive."
Alice quirked an eyebrow at this, her neighbour could be quite liberal with her words, but she could also be quite poetic sometimes, "Are you the hive in this situation?"
Bella chuckled in response, she was actually quite enjoying the casual banter with her neighbour, with Jake their verbal trite generally consisted of 'your mom' jokes. But with Alice, it was different; it was witty but carried a little bite, something that Bella liked in an opponent.
"Back to the topic, you guys used to date?"
Alice smiled, obviously enjoying the banter that they assumed every time they were together, "As I said, I date her and she just …"
"…Fucked you, yeah I get it, but what does that actually mean?" Bella knew that Alice wasn't one to have a fuck buddy, she was one who would capture someone and never let them go, she believed in love and monogamy, well, that was what the brunette suspected anyway.
Alice toyed with the edge of her beer bottle, the past relationship still playing within her mind, although she had learnt to let go of her ex, it didn't make her feel any less stupid for her naivety, "It means the truth, I believed us to be in a relationship, one filled with all the gooey mushy feelings, future pathways and adventures, she however believed us to be each other's sex toy."
"How did you figure that?"
Alice smiled a sad smile, "Well, at first I thought it was odd that she would never want to see me on Friday nights, I just thought that she had work, I never really wanted to ask her about it because she was adamant that she would be pre-occupied those days. Little did I know, Fridays are the designated days where she becomes straight for a day with a guy named James, we "dated" for about three months before I caught on"
"You're slow on the uptake huh?" Bella smirked, trying to place some humour in the serious conversation, it was terrible but at least she tried.
Alice, bless her, took the comment in stride and smiled, "It's not that, I just don't believe in restricting people in a relationship, if you already had plans before me, then fine, just let me know and whenever you're ready to tell me what's going on then I'll be here. But never ever lie to me and never ever cheat on me"
"Honesty's the best policy with you?" Bella asked in disbelief, Alice nodded her head in return and the brunette almost wanted to scoff at her candour, "the truth hurts sometimes Alice" she stated factually.
In return, Alice just gave her a dazzling smile, "No, the truth doesn't hurt, what hurts is that the prior perception that you've held about someone or yourself shatters. The truth, I have found, can be quite comforting."
The two became lost in their own thoughts.
"You're very strange," Bella commented after a few moments of silence.
Alice's eyebrow quirked at that random assessment, "Strange good or strange bad? Because I've had both and I'm not sure which one I like better."
"Good, you hold very interesting thoughts."
"I'll take as a compliment." Alice said and then smiled.
Alice took a swig from her drink and peered at her neighbour, "So, how about you? Any crazy ex's?"
Bella frowned as she thought of a response to her companions question, "I've only ever dated one person in my life and she's not a crazy ex per say, though, she did drive me crazy sometimes," a humourless laugh escaped Bella's lips when she thought about her past relationship.
"What happened?" Alice asked, hoping to get some insight to her neighbour, in reply Bella just glanced at the other woman and Alice noticed the hurt that were held in her eyes.
"That's not…"
"You guys ready to go?" The two women glanced at Jake who had suddenly appeared by their side. Oh my God go away Jake! Alice screamed in her mind.
Bella shook herself from thoughts of the past and then downed her drink, "Yes." She answered and then made a motion to get up.
Alice almost huffed aloud at Jake's inappropriate timing, however, she found it within herself to not glare at the male who ruined the moment, she was about to stand up to find her housemates when she felt Bella tug at her arm.
"In all honesty Alice, I actually had a good time tonight, but you better not tell Jake I said that," her neighbour whispered and, before Alice could reply her neighbour had already turned around.
You're quite interesting yourself Bella. Alice thought to herself and then took another generous swig of beer.
Thank you for reading