Chapter 4
No copyright infringements are intended to Stephenie Meyer or to the artist's who's songs I have borrowed.
AN: Sorry for the delay- life kinda got in the way of writing.
. Thump. I was dreaming that there was a elf banging the lid on my cedar chest over and over. Open, close, thump, open, close, thump. I could vaguely hear the sound of Calypso music in the background.
Wait. Something is not right here, my brain started processing very slowly the possibility that maybe there are no elves around. I am one who is not the most cheerful in the morning, it takes at least one pot of coffee to clear the cobwebs.
I sat up in bed, the calypso music was coming from my blackberry- which meant it was past wake up time- OK one mystery down, now the for the thumping mystery. I grabbed my robe realizing that the noise was coming from the front of the house not inside. Assuming that I was not under imminent attack, I grabbed my coffee and check the time on the range. I shook my head, rubbed my eyes and looked again, who in the heck starts pounding at 7:15 am. I looked out the kitchen window and was blinded by sunlight, like a vampire, I backed quickly away from the window gasping. I knew for sure I had burned my retinas.
Thump.
OK I know now that I am not being invaded by elves. To the front of the house I followed the noise, to curious not to find out the source.
As I looked out the front window, I could see a few vehicles lined up the road. I didn't recognize any of them. Upon opening the front door there was a loud thump then a thud as the door struck something solid and then a loud, "oooffff"
Oh Shit. I peeked around the door to see the largest man I have ever laid my eyes upon laying in the holly bushes. He was gaping like a fish out of water. Before I could even process him I heard a screeching sound and there was a red BMW pulling into the driveway like a stunt driver was operating it. Rose was out of the driver side before I could even blink.
"Jesus Emmet, what the hell happened to you?
"I think that I might have been a little early this morning and thought that I would get started on the porch repair. The door done whooped my ass, darlin" he explained, smiling dimples showing.
" I thought that we said 8 ish?" I mumbled more of less to myself.
"You did. Last night though when you wouldn't come out with us we decided that we needed to get a earlier start. Charlie came into the pub for a drink and was telling us about the things that he wanted to get done before winter came on to strong and before you know it, we were all headed home to get a early start." Rose gracefully explained as she handed me a steaming cup of coffee.
"Elves." I muttered.
"Huh?" Emmet had untangled himself from the bushes and was picking leaves out of his hair.
"Nothing. So what in the name of all that it holy were you thumping on?"
"I was putting up your new mailbox" He shrugged.
It was in this moment that I realized a few things. One, I was standing on my front porch still in my pj's, bed head and morning breath, two, a car was pulling in to the curb with a sliver Volvo pulling in close behind, and three I was beginning to like my new life in Forks. All of which I wasn't to sure which was the most scary.
Alice was getting out of her car carrying a bag of bagels, various spreads and what looked to be a gallon of coffee. Bless her. I had already started to drink the one that Rose had pressed into my hand moments ago. I was to busy processing all the activity around me, I had forgotten about the other mystery car that pulled in, I could see a tall blond getting out of the passenger side door and that was enough for me. I didn't need for everyone in Forks to see my snowflake pajama pants and my holey grey tee shirt.
"You guys go ahead and come in, I am going to change."
I turned and sprinted back inside and up the stairs. As I was changing I could hear some of the activity going on in the kitchen, voices ranging from low to high, Normal tones and hushed whispers. I hoped that I wasn't going to be examined like a science fair project gone bad. I pulled on a pair of black yoga pants, long sleeve white tee and my running shoes. After a quick swipe with a brush through my hair, and brushing my teeth, I was on my way back downstairs to see what waited in the kitchen.
The voices grew louder, to my relief: at least there was no one going "shush, here she comes."
"Bella! I'm Alice! Come get some breakfast, and then we can decide on our plan of action." Alice said as she grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the table. While she shoved a plate in my hand, I took in the spread of food that was layed out on the table. Bagels, fresh fruit, spreads, orange juice, and coffee, all this and I wasn't upstairs for more than ten minutes.
I loaded my plate and topped off my coffee while checking out everyone. There was Rose, the dark haired petite pixie like woman who had introduced her self as Alice. Emmet, who I had not so gracefully knocked off of my front porch, and a tall blond with a serious expression leaned up against my sink. Wait, wasn't someone missing? The driver of the silver car, I thought as I walked over to the counter to lean and feed my growling belly.
Bella, this is Alice and Emmett as you already know. Jasper," as she pointed with a piece of apple to the man against the sink.
"Hello." he said as Alice walked over and leaned up against his side. Not like she was marking her territory- it was just a normal gesture for her.
"Hey," I nodded.
My eyes flickered to the hallway, I heard someone walking through the living room. Which meant that I was going to be submitted to yet another introduction of a friend of a ... well I guess a friend, Rose had some how earned that title already in the less than 24 hours that I had known her. And I guess that if any of these people would come to the help of a stranger they were a) completely without a life or b) just plain nice. I was secretly hoping for B.
I took a bite of my bagel smothered with cream cheese, and honest to God, I was expecting another chick to walk in my kitchen with more "lets welcome the young widow" food. What I wasn't expecting was the Hallelujah chorus to start resounding! Oh my God, who was this man walking in! Wait who said that...Before I could continue with my internal dialogue and look like a complete nut job, Alice came to my rescue.
"Bella, this is my brother Edward. Edward this is Bella" she grabbed him by the hand and dragged him across the floor.
"Hi, nice to meet you."
I was trying my best to chew quickly, I swear I was. Chew, chew, chew, swallow, there.
"Hey, thanks for coming."
As we all made the appropriate small talk, introductions were formally made, Rose and Emmet were high school sweeties. He was the football coach for the local high school. Alice owned a small but classy dress shop on the main drag that specialized in woman's wear, she met Jasper in college where he was studying to be a civil engineer. Edward was teaching music theory at the local arts college that was in between Forks and Seattle. They had all pretty much became fast friends and it was obvious that they all cared for one another. Even finishing each others sentences.
It nearing 8:00 by the time we had finished up breakfast and had enough caffeine to motivate.
"ok where do we need to start?" Alice asked me. I knew it took a lot for her to ask - you could just tell that she was like a little Napoleon, used to giving all the orders.
"Well the pod with the rest of my things was delivered yesterday, the painting was done already when I moved in, so I guess we just need to unload and then I can unpack."
"Nonsense, we are here we will help until it is finished." Rose brightly ordered.
Well, I guess that takes care of that, huh?
After a few minutes of debate over what we were going to listen to - because after all "who can work without music?" The ipods were lined up and hooked up to the speakers that Alice had magically produced from her bag. It was decided that since Emmet had already started outside that his playlist would be first. We headed outside after the first sounds on the Beastie Boys " No Sleep till..." blasted.
The pod really didn't have a lot in it as I had already re-bought ala thrift store, but it was enough to keep the six of us unloading and moving boxes for the next couple of hours. We move to the likes of ACDC, Kiss, Motley Crue. It took me awhile to loosen up, while Alice and Rose were screaming lyrics at the tops of their lungs, I wasn't about to join in, but I wasn't above laughing my ass off at them either. The boxes piled in the appropriate rooms, we changed playlists and headed inside.
Ohohoh whats love got to do, got to do with it.
Crap, I thought I had deleted that.
Now I am fairly comfortable with most peoples choice in music, however I was not about to let these guys know that I had everything from the brady bunch to country with a healthy dose of eighties and some rap mixed in on my list. A girl has to have some motivation for the treadmill right?
As I dived for the stereo- I was lifted of the floor.
"No this is perfect!" Jasper had me by the arms.
" What better way to get to know someone, then by the music that they keep." Rose chimed in
"Umm, maybe you are better left not knowing me that well yet"
"I want to know." Edward had joined the fight.
Let me take a minute to tell you, I loved my husband. He was my world. But in that minute, that minute alone I realized how incredible lonely I had become. Here were 5 people, willing to listen to my music, let alone help me tote and unload boxes. If you had asked me before that second, I believed that the only luck I could have was bad, Karma was a bitch. If karma worked on sins from another life I had to be a torturer of the holy during the Crusades.
" I'm so excited" the Pointer sisters exclaimed.
Dear God.
"ok,ok I give. but if there is ONE snicker. I am going to really turn it off. "
And what do you know, as we started unpacking the boxes, I was really surprised at the amount of singing and work that we got done. Alice had an eye for where to place things. The boys were the muscles. I even found myself singing along with them. It was odd at times, when one of my songs would bring up a old memory for them and they would talk about it. But I didn't feel like the odd man out. In fact I felt, at home.
We moved in to the kitchen, Missy Elliot telling up how to work it. I laughed my ass off watching Emmet and Jasper doing pop and lock moves. I think that they were having flash backs. Edward was often there in the background but never really cutting loose. I wasn't sure if he was uncomfortable or just reserved.
"Come on Bella, lets see it. You didn't come out last night, and we missed some serious dance time." Rose was pulling my hand. We had put up all the dishes and pots and pans and someone had brought in a cooler full of beer, we were all leaned up against the counter munching on some chips and sandwiches that Rose had brought.
"Yeah you don't have these songs on here if you can't move to back it." Alice was saying.
The guys ducked out to check out the mail box that had been put up this morning, and I could see that Charlie had popped by to drop off the makings for that critter box he had talked about. What the hell.
I had no rhythm once upon a time, but to keep myself occupied when the guys were in basic, one of the other wives and I had taken a strip aerobics class. I found it was a awesome stress reliever, and a good add in to my work out. James had loved it too, perks of the class were can you say awesome.
"Oh I can work it. I am just afraid that I might not get another invite if I show up the guys."
The girls busted up laughing. "If you can show them up, we will go out tonight!" Alice said. "Those three can make every one in the bar turn and look."
"really Edward too? he seemed like he was shy
"no actually I think that he is feeling your feelings out.
hmmm I am not quite sure how to think about that.
" I don;t know if you guys have noticed this, but umm your men are beautiful. not that you guys aren't, but I am no where near Edward status. he is nice to look at but i am not even sure where i am at in the whole dating thing i haven't done it since..."
"We aren't talking about dating here. Just making new friends and having some fun." Rose interjected.
Well since you have put it like that -what the hell.
"ok, I will go. But I have to finish up with the new things I bought yesterday for my room. If you all need to leave that's fine. I can do the rest this week."
"It looks like the guys are going to be busy for a little outside, we can go up with you and help up there. Then,we can get ready, grab some dinner and hit 'da club'! Alice said.
So we set to work, I took the girls upstairs. It wasn't as hard as I thought, with company, to talk about certain memories of my life. I filled them in on how I came to Forks, and my marriage to James. I could remember things like yesterday.
I was so caught up in my version of story time unpacking my clothes in the closet, I didn't notice that I was the only one working, much less that we had been joined by the guys. I suppose to some that this would have made them mad. I oddly, didn't feel that way. Especially when I backed out of the closet on all fours and found Alice and Rose sitting on the bed with tears in their eyes Emmet and Jasper sitting beside them. Edward was leaned up against the wall. His green eyes found mine, and it felt like he was looking into my soul.
Sometimes, when you have lived through tragedy, it is harder for the people you are telling it to to hear. It doesn't make you a hard person, you have just lost the ability to cry about it.
"well folks, that concludes Bella's tales of not so happy endings" I tried to save face.
"Oh Bella, I am so sorry." Alice said as she jumped up and wrapped her arms around me.
"Well now you all know and I don't have to tell it over and over." I tried to shrug it off with a smile.
Al, let's go make some coffee and give Bella a moment. " Rose stood and grabbed Emmet's hand. Alice and Jasper stood and followed them out.
Edward was studying my face. We had talked on and off all day. Nothing Earth shattering but just small talk. He seemed like an alright person. Smart, reserved, and very , in his faded jeans, tee shirt and flannel, and old work boots, leaning up against the wall, it was hard to miss the long line of his body. He was tall around six foot,hair the color of old pennies.
"Bella, I am so sorry about what you have been through. Although sorry doesn't seem like enough. I am hoping your time in Forks will be a time to make some new friends and new memories." He said, then he turned and walked out the door.
After taking a minute to gather my thoughts and use the bathroom, I joined everyone in the kitchen. It was nearing dinner time. with a mug of coffee pressed into my hand by Jasper, we rehashed what we had finished that day and what would have to be saved for another. determining that this was as good as time as any to call it quits, rose dumped the dishes into the dishwasher and the group took off with the plans of meeting back here in two hours to got out for some dinner and then dancing.
Alice and Jasper left first, with hugs all around. Rose and Emmett followed soon there after. Edward lingered, leaning in the doorway, he watched as I cleaned off the counter and put the leftovers in the fridge.
"Bella, can I ask you something?"
"Well considering that I have told you guys pretty much my whole life history today, I am not sure if there is anything left to ask. But sure you can ask. "
I walked to the living room with him. I sat on the couch facing the fireplace he sat down beside me.
"How do you feel about having friends? I mean, you just moved here. And from what I can tell you are a pretty quiet person, not a lot of family, It must be pretty overwhelming to make friends as quickly as Rose and Alice have deemed necessary. I know that my sister can be a little overwhelming to most people. I am just not sure how to read you."
"I am not sure as where you are going with this. But if you think I am some opportunistic bitch looking for a pity party, you can think again.I came to Forks to give myself a new start. A new job, a new house, no ghosts. I am not a con artist. In fact, I didn't ask anyone to come here today..." I started in.
"Stop," he said hands up. " I knew that wasn't going to come out right. What I mean is what are you looking for? If you are looking for friends then those two are the best you will ever find. They don't like everyone, but when they do find someone who they like - it is forever. I just want to know how willing you are to letting people in."
"I am looking for some friends, Edward. Nothing more. I am a little bit lonely and a little bit crazy. I am a 30 year old widow, who has no family and no friends to speak of. I have tried the alone thing and it was great for about a year. I got tired of living on base, where I no longer fit in with the other wives, because their husbands were coming home. The ones that lost theirs were awesome but after awhile of people asking how you are holding up and how you are doing on finances gets to be a little much for anyone to bear." Oh, I could feel my pulse in my temple.
WHo did this guy think he was? Gorgeous or not, he was way off base here.
"Never mind. I should be going since we are going to go out tonight." Is the big handsome man sacred?
"Actually I would like to ask you a few questions. So no, I don't think that you should go just yet." I was still pissed. I took a long drink of my now cold coffee.
"So what was the real reason you came over here today? Was it just to be an A-1 nice guy and help out a new friend of your friends or were you so curious about the strange new girl that you just couldn't resist? Maybe I am just the new piece of ass in town and you decided to check me out to see if I was worth sampling? So I am curious as to what you think?"
"all of the above."
Well that stopped me in my tracks, no hesitation, no stuttering. Honesty.
He continued, " I have to admit I was curious. Rose told us a lot about you last night and she is a pretty tough to win over. Alice will try to help anyone. If Rose likes you, well there has to be something there. I am single, I was engaged for a period of time. It went south, when I caught her screwing another guy at a party. I have my work, it keeps me busy. I am a nice guy, I like to think so anyway. Rose said you were pretty, not beautiful, like she should have. I am interested in getting to know you better, so there."
I thought for a minute he was going to stick out his tongue at me.
Now what?
"ok so much for making a good first impression. so I am going to go so you can get ready and I will be back here with the gang in about an hour." He stood to leave. I was still processing I think.
"Wait I have another question, where are we going tonight?"
"someplace close and casual. I am assuming you are asking so you know what to wear."
At least we were being civil again.
"Casual is all I have." I said with a laugh. I liked that we could get over being angry quickly.
With a smile he left. I sat there for a few minutes processing the day. It had been a interesting one for sure. I headed up to the shower.
I finished the quickest shower in the history of my life. I finished drying my hair and went into the bedroom. I had about 45 minutes left to get ready.
Flipping on the radio, I sat down in the closet, I knew what box held the pair of pants and top that I wanted. The dj said something about a new Carrie Underwood song. I really liked her. I had a big smile on my face thinking about rocking out alone to "His last name."
Sometimes a song can stop you in your tracks.
Baby, why'd you leave me, why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever, now I'll never know
I can't even breathe
It's like I'm, looking from a distance, standing in the background
Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now,
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream.
What the hell was I doing. James, I need you.
I need you.
And you are gone.
Tears that I didn't think I still had the power to posses, were streaming down my cheeks. I couldn't do this. I felt sick. Physically sick. Running to the bathroom, I vomited. There should be a fucking ban on music that hits that close to home. There is a reason country music is drinking music.
Pressing a wet wash cloth to my eyes, I sat there backed up against the tub, wrapped in a damp towel. I had some decisions to make. I thought I was ready for the world. Now I was thinking not so much. I got up to call Rose and let her know that I was sick and not going. As I sat down yet again on the bed. I took a long look at our photo.
Soul searching. Did I want to be alone? The big answer was a resounding no. No.
Shakily I reached for the picture. I wasn't going to put it away. People used to tell me to pack his stuff up. That it would help. Does that make it all go away? Who do they think that they are? I didn't want to forget him. I love him. But reality bites. Dark and scary Bella was not going to rear her head and make me walk away from this town. I liked it here.
So kissing my finger and saying a prayer, I grabbed my ipod and the safe music on there. and I took my love, I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around.