Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Twilight. And the song credit goes to The Maine.
I had a bad morning; the stupid internet in my room wasn't working. So, I went to the library and when I saw all of those reviews I felt better! Plus my internet is working again! Keep reviewing because I have chapters ready to go…but how fast I put them up here depends on your feed back! :)
"You count 'em one, two, three
You look so cute when you get that mad.
You drain the life from me
And it feels oh so good."
Count 'Em One, Two, Three
The summer was almost over and I still had no prospects to get me out of that house. Mom and Billy were practically nauseating sometimes, and Paul seemed to always be over eating our food and taking up the couch. Luckily, I had an escape; work.
If I wasn't at the library, I was usually with Derek. My Mom automatically assumed I had something going on with him, but honestly Derek and I were just good friends. Besides having a love of books in common, we also shared a similar sense of humor which usually led to some very interesting conversations.
"I've got some good news for you." Derek grinned as he walked up to me in the middle of the stacks.
I turned my attention away from the books and up at his face. I could tell this wasn't a book order he was excited about; no this was something different.
"My roommate moved out."
"Yeah?"
"Don't you see? You can move in with me!"
"Are you kidding?! My Mom already thinks we've got something going on."
Derek sighed, and ran a hand through his shaggy brown hair, "You are almost twenty three, Hallie. Besides, she'll realize there's nothing between us soon enough. You have to Hallie, I can't afford rent on my own and we already know that we get along!"
He did have a point. Not only would this arrangement be cheap for the both of us, but it would get me out of that house. And if my Mom didn't like it, then that was too bad; I was almost twenty three years old for Pete's sake.
"Let's do it." I smiled. "But after Mom's wedding."
"Oh that reminds me; I can't come with you to the wedding." Derek stated sadly. "I forgot I had a meeting that weekend."
"That's alright."
Great, without Derek I would be alone and awkward at my Mother's wedding. Plus, I had been counting on Derek to keep Paul away. I didn't know what Paul's deal was, but he didn't come around the library anymore and that was just fine with me.
***
The stupid strap kept falling down, and yet again I had to pull it back up on my shoulder. If it wasn't for the rouge strap I would probably really like the dress Mom had picked for me to wear. It was a light blue color that fell right below my knees, and it accentuated my figure nicely.
Mom, however, was absolutely beautiful. She wore a simple white dress, nothing fancy, but it was her smile that caught my attention. She was smiling down at Billy as the minister spoke, her hands within his. I caught Jake's eye and we both smiled at the happiness our parents shared. We were the only children there. Rebecca and Rachel's had had problems with flights, but my brother's bitch wife had demanded he stay home; I hated that bitch.
Mom had cried after Kevin called and I had to comfort her while I assured her that if it wasn't for his wife that he would come. But that was just the thing: that bitch ruled his life, and he would always be wound around her fat little finger.
I pushed those thoughts aside; this was a happy day. And even though my heels were cutting into my feet, and the strap fell down yet again, I put a smile on my face because with Billy as my Mom's husband I would never have to worry about her again.
The reception that followed wasn't much; just some cake and punch like it had always been back in the day. After I had been introduced to just about the whole reservation I finally found a place to sit and rest my aching feet. I hurriedly slipped the shoes off and leaned back against my chair with a sigh.
"Hello Hallie."
I looked up and there was Paul grinning down at me. My strap fell once again, further annoying me. I fixed it and glanced up just in time to see his eyes watching the movement of my hand.
"Hello, my face is here."
"Wanna dance?"
"No." I snapped, then I felt a little bad so I continued, "My feet hurt."
"You don't have to put those shoes back on."
I saw my Mom glance over then with a smile on her face, and sighed. She didn't need me being bitchy to ruin her big day. So I rolled my eyes, stood up, and followed Paul and his satisfied smile out to the dance floor.
"This still doesn't mean I like you." I stated as I rested my hands on his shoulders.
"I didn't think it would." Was his reply.
Thankfully we danced in silence. He didn't try to strike up any sort of conversation with me and I was glad. I didn't want to have meaningless small talk with a guy that annoyed the hell out me. Especially when I didn't know why he intrigued me at the same time!
Once the song was over I nodded at him and headed back towards my table; aware that his gaze followed me. I couldn't help it; my hips started to sway exaggeratedly. I really hated myself sometimes.
***
I told Mom about the move a week after her wedding. She was still in a good mood from their little honeymoon, and I knew I had to get it done soon. She put down the spatula and slowly turned to face me. Her face was unreadable, and that scared the hell out of me.
"Just what is your relationship with Derek?"
"He's my friend! I swear! I haven't even pictured him naked…well until now, but that's beside the point."
"Well, if you're sure."
"I am."
"Then who am I to stop a grown woman right?"
"Exactly." I smiled. "Thanks Mom."
"You might want to ask Jake to help you though."
"Good point."
I left the kitchen then for the living room. The TV was on so I already knew his butt was planted on the couch with either a bowl of chips in his lap or popcorn.
"Hey Jake, can you help me move in with Derek sometime this week?" I asked as I entered the living room.
"What?!"
That sure as hell was not Jake. Jake was there, but he remained perfectly calm on the couch with a bowl of chips, where as Paul jumped up from the arm chair and turned his fiery gaze on me. I froze in place; I had never seen him look that angry, not even that first time on the cliffs. His hands were trembling and they were clenched so tight I could see his tensed muscles from across the room.
"Go!" Jake yelled throwing himself in front of me. "Get the hell out of here Paul before you do something you'll regret."
With a last glance to me, Paul stormed out of the house, the door slamming behind him. I stood there frozen and speechless for a few seconds before Jake turned around to face me. He looked nervous.
"Sorry Paul was angry about something I said earlier." Jake lied.
"No, he was upset because I said I was moving in with Derek."
Jake rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "Well yeah. What's that about anyway?"
"We're friends. F-R-I-E-N-D-S. Nothing more and I need to get out of this house." I sighed.
"Alright, alright. I'll help you."
"Thanks."
With that I spun on my heel and headed to my room to pack. I was about to turn some music on when I heard something from the woods. It sounded like a howl of some sort. I peered out the window; my nose pressing against the cool glass. It was probably just a dog howling at a siren or something.
***
I hadn't seen Paul since his outburst in the house, and I knew I should be happy but strangely a small part of me was disappointed. But I moved in with Derek with the help of Jake and settled into living once again without my Mother hovering over my shoulder.
"So your birthday is coming up." Derek stated as he poured milk into his bowl of Frosted Flakes.
"Yeah, but let's not make a big deal out of it alright?"
"Oh, why not?" He grinned.
"I'll be twenty three not sixteen, I don't need a party."
"As your friend I promise not to throw you a party." Derek stated and I smiled. "But I can't stop other people."
I threw my granola bar at him, but he only laughed and took a bite from it before he handed it back to me. I rolled my eyes and got up from the table.
My birthday was in two days; Friday. I could feel it in my bones that someone was going to do something; my birthday fell on one of the most perfect days of the week for a party. It was inevitable, but that didn't mean that I had to like it.
So when I woke up on Friday I opened one eye cautiously, afraid that someone would jump out at me with balloons or something. My room was empty, no balloons lurking anywhere. I got ready for work slowly, and spent extra care in picking out my outfit. I knew pictures would be taken and I didn't want to look like I had just rolled out of bed. So, I grabbed my nice pinstripe black slacks and my favorite black and white top.
"Oh look at you birthday girl." Derek grinned as I walked into the kitchen where he was sitting eating his poptart and sipping his coffee.
"I figured I might as well look nice on my birthday."
"Well, happy birthday." He said as he held out a small box with a red bow on the top of it.
I raised a brow at him, "What's this?"
"A present obviously."
"Oh thank you, because I couldn't comprehend that."
"Just take it."
I accepted the box from his hands, pulled off the bow, and opened the lid. It was one of those metal bookmarks with a pretty flower at the top. I smiled down at him and bent to give his cheek a peck.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, but we need to get going now."
The day passed by slowly amongst the stacks. No matter what I did I couldn't help but picture what sort of mess was planned for me this afternoon. Dozens of pink balloons swam before my eyes as well as a huge sugary cake and even a clown with huge shoes. Who would be sick enough to throw me a seven year old's party?
My suffering was finally put to an end as Derek and I locked up the library and got into his car. Of course we didn't head towards home; of course not. Instead he turned towards the beach, a small smirk playing about his lips. I bet he helped plan this little shindig; the liar.
"Happy Birthday!" Everyone chorused as Derek and I came into view.
No pink balloons met my sight. In fact there weren't any decorations; just the fire, a table filled with food and of course a cake. Everyone was there; at least everyone I had met at the bonfire plus Mom of course, but I saw no sign of Paul.
I mentally slapped myself for even looking for him and smiled down at Mom as she gushed about the day I was born twenty three years ago. I stuck close to Derek; afraid he would leave me here without a ride home. He kept sending me amused glances and ate his food before he finally lost me in the small crowd of people.
"Hallie?"
Oh God, I'd know that voice anywhere. I tried not to sigh in contentment as his husky voice washed over me and looked up into his unreadable eyes. He didn't look so pissed anymore, but then again he had had a few weeks to cool off.
"Happy birthday."
"Thanks."
"Here, I got you something." He said as he thrust an unwrapped book at me.
I carefully took it from his hands, but not careful enough; our fingers brushed and I tried to ignore the shivers that raced up my spine as the heat from his fingers radiated into mine. Instead, I focused on the book. It was a book of legends from all sorts of different tribes.
"Thank you."
"I saw how interested you were with our legends." He explained a bit awkwardly. "Look I'm sorry for that day."
"Don't worry about it."
"So you're with him?" He asked a bit harshly and I immediately felt my hackles rise.
"Maybe if you quit jumping to conclusions you could figure that out for yourself." I said evenly. "Thanks for the present; I'm going to have some cake now."
I spun on my heel and walked away before any more words could be said. What was wrong with him? Why did he act all cocky with me one minute and then the next like a complete arrogant asshole?
Once I had my cake, I turned around to give him one of my own arrogant smiles, but he was gone. I looked around for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. The bitch part of me rejoiced, but the other half was disappointed.