(~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~)
7
(~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~)
You ain't worth another sleepless night
And I'll do everything I gotta do to get you off my mind
Cause what you wanted I couldn't give
What you did boy, I'll never forget
-Cassadee Pope, Wasted All These Tears
(~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~)
Bella sighed and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. She'd gotten a part time job at the library in town and now started to regret it. It seemed everyone had come in today just to see how she'd been fairing. Rumors had been circulating for the past three weeks. She was only too thankful that Edward wasn't talking to her. The day after the bonfire she'd left him standing open mouthed in the middle of his driveway where she'd handed him a cardboard box filled with the ashes of every picture, stuffed animal, letter and trinket he'd ever given her. The last thing she returned was the gold locket he'd given her the past Christmas. Inside, his picture was destroyed beyond repair. And hers was gone.
'Edward had left her because she wouldn't sleep with him. Edward had tried to force himself on her and when she defended herself, he left her saying she wasn't worth the time. Edward had been secretly hitting her and Charlie had found out about it. Edward had cheated on her with not one but six women- at the same time.'
The last was the worst. Bella learned rumors had started to spread saying she was pregnant. She could only guess who had started those.
"Bella? You ok sweetie?"
Bella smiled. "I'm ok Mrs. Arlene. Just having a bad day."
Arlene nodded in understanding. "You keep your head held high. Don't let the rumors get to you."
"How'd you guess?"
"It's a small town sweetheart. It's not hard to hear the gossip. But if I know you, then I know they're false. And they're doing nothing to paint that ex of yours into a decent light if you ask me. What he did… that boy has a lot to learn in order to be a man." Arlene grizzled.
Bella smiled. "I'd say I'm not surprised he's being shunned right now, but I don't think it bothers him too much." She shrugged.
"Oh it does. More than you know. Doc Cullen is just as annoyed with him as you are my dear. If the book club ladies are to be believed, Edward has been toeing the line more and more and doc Cullen is about fed up with him. So don't you worry that sweet little head of yours too awful much." Arlene said with a wink.
"Thanks, Mrs. Arlene." Bella said with a smile. Their talk had made her feel better. At least until two people walked into the library. One of them wore shock- maybe some guilt- the other wore a triumphant smirk. Bella only let out a quiet sigh before placing a smile on her face.
Arlene nodded in approval and turned to face the girls as well. "Hello Lauren, Emily. It's good to see you girls spending your time reading."
Lauren's smile was false. "We're not here to read today, Mrs. Arlene. I'm returning a book for my mom. Hi Bella."
Bella smiled and took the book from Lauren. "Hey. Is this all then?"
"Of course. Could you hurry though? Emily has a date tonight. Edward promised to take her down by the docks on Ten Mile Bay. Oh… I'm sorry… I forgot you two broke up recently! How silly of me."
Emily winced. "Lauren, don't start anything right now."
Bella smiled. "It's fine Lauren. Emily, I'm happy he's got you. Your better suited for him."
Emily's eyes hardened. "What does THAT mean?"
"Now now, girls. This is a library. I'm sure Bella didn't mean anything by it. Take it as a compliment and go please. Your detracting from my business." Arlene said in a stern tone.
Bella sighed when they flounced out the door. "Good riddance." She mused.
"Go on home girl. I'll be alright. You need to take some time to relax. Stressing out like this isn't good for you. Never you mind what people say. You know what you know, and they know what they THINK. Don't let their words run you into the ground. You take that advice to heart." Arlene said, giving her hand a gentle pat.
Bella smiled at the woman. She reminded her of her grandma Swan before she'd passed away. "I'll see you tomorrow." With a grin, she got into her car and headed home.
Confusion danced across her face when she saw Camden and Cadence and Sam's horse, Major in her front yard. Laughter met her ears as soon she was on the front steps. That was definitely Sam, Paul and Jared. And her dad? Why had he come home so early?
Bella shook her head and sighed. "Hey, dad.. Where are you?"
"In here Bells." Charlie called.
Bella gasped when she saw him. "DAD! Oh geez… what happened?!"
"It's nothing serious. Doc Cullen already looked at it for me Bells." Charlie soothed. His right foot was propped up on the table and bandaged. It resembled a mummy's foot with as tight as the bandages were. The area she could see was bruised and his ankle was swollen still.
"What. Happened?" She huffed.
Paul sighed. "Your dad pulled Edward over today…"
"It wasn't Edward though." Jared quipped.
Sam rolled his eyes. He could see Bella getting angrier by the second. Deciding to tell her, consequences be damned, he patted the seat next to him. "Edward let James borrow his car. Your dad pulled him over for speeding and James drove off running over his foot in the process. We saw it and helped him get back here before calling Doc Cullen. We only just got here a few minutes ago."
Bella shook her head. "Unbelievable! What's gonna be done to him?!"
"Bella… calm down honey… it'll be alright. He's paying a hefty fine and his license was suspended." Charlie told her. "I'll be fine in a couple days. Nothing is broken, just swollen right now."
Bella narrowed her eyes. "I'm going to cook!" She huffed.
The four watched her walk away before Charlie shook his head. "Is it sad that I find that amusing?" He wondered.
Paul, Sam and Jared shrugged. They all grew up in the same town yes, but they'd never gotten to know her the way Jacob, Quil and Embry had. She'd attached herself to them from the start since they were close in age. It didn't mean that Sam had never taken an interest in her.. he'd even had a crush on her before she left for private school. He'd never cared that she was two years younger, she'd always been mature for her age.
And now, seeing her so upset… he cleared his throat. "I'm gonna go say bye.."
Charlie gave him a knowing look. The look that said he'd better watch himself with the Chief's only daughter. "Keep it simple." He warned.
"Yes sir."
Paul and Jared snickered but headed outside to wait none the less. Sam leaned on the door frame and watched as Bella moved through the kitchen. It was a choreographed dance that only she knew the steps to and had him awed as he watched her. He felt just slightly bad for invading her space.
"Hey Bella." He grinned when she squeaked.
Bella whirled around to face him with a hand over her heart. "Sam… you spooked me. Make some noise would you?!"
Sam grinned and pushed himself off of the door jam. "Sorry Bella. Didn't mean to spook ya." He promised.
She smiled and showed him her backside once more as she started cooking again. "Can I get you something?" She asked after a minute of quiet.
"No… just wanted to see how you're doin…" Some of the rumors he'd heard about her lately had been brutal.
Bella smiled. "I'm… I'll be alright." She promised, turning to face him. She drew the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth and Sam had to look away for a second.
"So you'll come to the bonfire with me tonight then?" He wondered.
Bella was shocked. "You sure you want someone pregnant there?" She huffed.
"That's the latest one?" He asked with a roll of his eyes. "You should know by now, people are gonna talk. It's cheap. Bella, don't let a few nasty rumors detract from the fact that you should be having fun. Last year before you start college. Enjoy it…" He grinned.
They'd been moving closer to one another as they spoke. Bella inhaled the cologne he wore and bit back the whimper that threatened to escape her lips. "Ok."
"yeah?"
She grinned. "I'll be there."
Paul shook his head when Sam walked out grinning like a fool. "Good news?"
"We'll see tonight." Sam shrugged.
Jared shook his head but chose not to comment. He stayed silent as he wished Sam the best of luck. Bella was good for him. And in a lot of ways, he was good for her.
(~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~)
Embry rolled his eyes when Sam paced by him again. He nudged Jacob and Quil and smirked when they snickered. By the time Sam came back over to them they had started shaking with laughter. Sam huffed and tried to glare. He couldn't though when he saw Bella walking over to them finally.
"Hey guys… sorry… the truck wouldn't start. I had to have dad jump it." She explained.
Jacob sobered instantly. "You want me to look at it tomorrow?"
"Would you?"
Jacob, Quil and Embry rolled their eyes. "You have to ask?" Quil wondered.
Bella flipped him off and turned to see Sam staring at her. She grinned inwardly. "Hey Sam.."
Sam's eyes roved over her from head to toe and back up again. Her tiny feet had been encased in a pair of black faux snake skin boots.. Her long light tanned legs were framed by a pair of second skin jeans that clung to her every curve and sat low on her waist.. The halter top she wore that showed off just an inch or two of her toned stomach. He moved up her body to see her hair pulled into a pony tail on the side of her head at the base of her neck. The last touch was the black cowboy hat she sported. Even her make up- light as it was- made her look more gorgeous than she was already to him.
"Sam?"
Embry shook his head. "Hey Sam!"
"Huh?" His head shot towards his cousin causing Embry, Jacob and Quil to nearly roll out of their fold out chairs. He rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to Bella.
"Hey Sam." She said giving him a sheepish smile.
He grinned. "Hey gorgeous. You finally shedding the sweet and innocent cops daughter image?" He teased moving to give her a hug.
Embry sat stunned. had his cousin… initiated contact and flirted? With Bella?
She returned the hug with one of her own. "I'm not the gorgeous one. That title has to go to you tonight. And sorry to disappoint, but I'm ALWAYS innocent. It's you who's the bad guy…"
It was Jacob's turn to stare in shock. Bella never flirted… not that she had been an obvious flirt, but she'd gone out of her way to talk to him… he stared in awe at the sight. She liked him and he had just figured it out for himself.
"I'm not disappointed you know…just means I get to corrupt you later." He told her giving her a wink and an orgasm inducing grin. "Come on… come say hi to Paul and Jake."
Bella licked her dry lips and nodded. "Yeah… um… ok.. Just uh.. Save me a spot? I'm gonna talk to Jake for a sec…"
Sam chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Sure." He said before sauntering back over to his brothers.
Bella sat down beside her friends in an unoccupied chair and sighed. "Well… its official…"
Quil smirked. "What's that Bella?"
"I'm screwed." She whined.
Embry shook his head. "I don't see the problem you know.. You like him… he likes you… what's so bad about it?"
"I don't want to drag him into the drama right now between Edward and I…" She huffed.
Jacob scoffed. "Fuck that pencil pushing dipshit. Bella, its his name runnin through the mud. Not yours."
"You wanna see Sam with a pregnant chick?" She mused.
Bella had never seen three grown boys go speechless so fast. She arched an eyebrow and grinned. "That's the latest rumor. Edward left me because I cheated on him and got pregnant." She shrugged.
Embry huffed. "That was NOT cool Bella. NOT funny at all!"
"Oh I thought it was hilarious." A voice behind them sounded.
Bella sighed and rolled her eyes. "Why are you here, Edward? Lauren told me today you planned to take Emily to Ten Mile Bay tonight…" She didn't even bother turning around to look at him.
"He did… he decided to come here after…"
"You seemed to have moved on rather fast." Jacob mused. "Did you get her pregnant too? You know she'll just kill the baby and skip town if she is."
Emily squeaked with indignity. "How DARE you! You know nothing about me you jackass! I was too young to have a baby! I didn't WANT to be tied down that early!"
Bella closed her eyes to reign in her temper. "Ok.. Well I'm going to find Sam… you guys have a good night." She told her friends.
Emily huffed. "Does he know you're pregnant yet?" She called.
Bella noticed heads started to turn and all but shot fire from her eyes towards the couple when she turned to face her. "I'm not pregnant. I'm not ready for a child right now and I won't put myself into that position. Unlike SOME people I have enough sense to protect myself." She spat, her voice quiet.
Emily growled. "What does THAT mean?"
"Just what I said. I have enough sense in my head to not put myself in the position to take an innocent life.. Out of spite no less." Bella said as she shrugged.
Emily's nostril's flared as her temper grew. She forgot about the growing crowd which included Bella's three best friends- all of them guys- and Sam and his brothers. Her left hand flew and connected with the skin of Bella's cheek. By the time she realized she had thrown the first hit, Bella's fist had made contact with her nose. Another one followed just as quick, connecting with her stomach forcing the wind from her lungs. She fell to the ground coughing, trying to suck as much air in as possible.
"Next time you come at me like that, Emily, make sure I'm not in the mood to fight. I'll kick your ass from here to hell and back again. Now leave me the fuck alone. I don't give a rats ass if your gold digger ass wants Edward. You can HAVE him! I'm done." She growled, her fist connecting to Emily's cheek again after she had stood to face her.
Sam pulled Bella away before she could follow Emily to the ground to continue to hit her while Jacob picked up her hat dusting it off for her. She'd only ever shown the 'fighting' side of her twice before and hated herself afterwards nine times out of ten. She'd be guilty as hell come dawn. Sam was floored. He knew she could shoot a gun, he knew she could ride a horse, he knew she could play football, baseball, basketball and most other sports… he did NOT know she could throw a punch that well.
"Damn girl.." He finally sighed. "You throw one hell of a left hook." He mused.
Bella huffed. "She shouldn't have hit me!" She glared.
"Come on… come sit down, let me look at your hand." He coaxed.
Her friends were quick to follow leaving Edward to stand over Emily staring after Bella in shock. He'd never seen that side of her. He didn't even know she could fight and he found it an intoxicating sight. Maybe he'd been too rash when he left her. He sighed and helped Emily stand while his eyes remained trained on Bella. He'd have to find a way to get her alone to talk.
Bella sighed but let him lead her to his truck, smiling when he helped her sit on the tailgate. "It's fine Sam, just a few- ow!" She hissed when used an iodine wipe to clean the scrapes with.
"You'll survive." He teased, laughing when she pouted.
Jacob shook his head. "Well Bells, when you do it, you do it big, huh." He teased watching Sam bandage her hand.
She rolled her eyes. "She deserved it. I merely defended myself… surely you all saw her attack me for no reason." She said with innocent eyes.
"And THAT ladies and gents is how she gets away with so much." Quil huffed.
Embry only smirked when he saw the look in Sam's eyes. He knew his cousin was more attracted to her now than he already had been and he prayed things worked out for them before they all started their fall classes. "Come on… lets head back. It looks like Edward, Lauren and Emily just left. The coast should be clear."
They nodded and made their way back to the bonfire hoping nothing else would ruin the night.