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Disclaimer: It ain't mine.
A/N: Hmmm what to say, what to say…
Well, stuff happens in this chapter.
There you go. Now read on.
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Edward
"How do you get your hair that color?" the obnoxious little boy asked, grinning up at me and reaching his hand out to touch my hair. I yanked away, scowling at the boy.
His mother was in some other checkout line, looking frazzled as she searched her wallet for coupons. I could kidnap this kid right now and she might not even notice. Though I'm not sure I could last very long hearing this kid yapping away in the trunk of my car.
What car?
Right, I'd probably have to carry him on my shoulder. It'd be too much trouble.
I considered just taping his mouth shut and locking him in the storage closet instead.
The market was pretty mellow today, but maybe it's like that all days. My checkout line was empty, except for the kid standing here but I didn't count him because I could chuck him out the window with one toss. My oh so eager coworkers were pretty average. Different ages. Same melancholy.
Except for this one girl employee, about my age, who was smelling all the soap in the soap aisle. She had given me a sort of knowing smile when I passed by.
"Do you color it?" the boy asked, his eyes getting wide, "With crayon?"
"Look, kid, I was born with this hair," I said, glaring at him as I leaned against the cash registered and crossed my arms. He raised his eyebrows.
"I don't believe you. I've never seen hair like that!"
You live in Forks. You haven't seen a prostitute, a drag queen, or the mirage-like heat rolling off the grass on a hot summer day either.
I chose to ignore him. He chattered on. I cut him off after half a minute of his chattering about the colors of the candy assortment.
"Isn't your mom waiting for you?" I asked impatiently. He looked over his shoulder.
"She told me not to bother her," he said matter-o-factly.
Oh sure, bother the employees instead. They get paid for it.
Not enough. Definitely not enough.
I blew out a breath and looked up at the plastered ceilings of the store. Chipped and weary and ugly. I controlled my urge to look at the clock because I know what I saw would only disappoint me. I let my mind wander as I looked at the ceiling. I found myself letting out a deep sigh and shutting my eyes. Just get through this day and the rest will be easier. Just this-
"Were you really born with that hair?" a foreign, chipper voice asked. I opened my left eye to see soap-smelling girl leaning her elbows on the conveyer belt of my checkout line and cocking her head with a curious look on her face. I was just happy to see the little boy walking hand-in-hand with his mother out the automatic doors.
"Actually, I was abducted by aliens at the age of seven and they dissected me, inserting the dye for my hair color into my small intestine," I deadpanned, casually looking at the fingernail on my thumb. I gave a side glance to the girl when I realized I broke rule # 8. She grinned at me and I realized she probably wouldn't whine about my snarky 'tude.
"It's like a bronze color," she said, seeming awed as she examined my hair. I was silent, hoping she'd lose interest and leave me alone.
She had spiky black hair, the most original hair I'd seen in my time at Forks so far. She was short and had multiple buttons on her green vest. Her name tag said her name was Mary and she had bright red nail polish with sparkles on them. Her eyes seemed to glitter and her face seemed to glow. She was different. In a good way.
She was wearing skinny, orange acid-wash jeans and a white tank top under her green vest. She had on silver sandals that looked like gladiator shoes and a silver bracelet that wrapped tightly around the middle of her forearm.
"You're new here," she said, ignoring my silence, "And not just to Speedway."
"Yeah," I grumbled, "Obvious, huh?"
"Well, no….you just look like the wind's been taken out of you. Like someone kicked you in the gut."
"Is that the average reaction to arriving in Forks?" I said, rolling my eyes.
I looked up at her after a moment of silence to see she was smiling at me.
"We're going to be friends," she said bluntly and abruptly, "I can see it already."
"Is that so?" I teased as she laughed. But she was refreshing, and her bluntness could beat mine in a fist fight.
"No, we will," she insisted, "You won't be able to survive Forks without me.
I raised my eyebrows and she laughed.
"I'm Alice," she said, sticking out her hand. I frowned in confusion.
"Your nametag says Mary…" I said, trailing off as she looked down at her nametag in the same confusion.
"I know," she said, smiling, "Call me Alice." She grabbed my hand and shook it when I wouldn't. I smiled back.
"Edward," I replied. She nodded, grinning still before releasing my hand. She leaned her elbows against the conveyer belt, looking up at me with bright eyes.
"You starting school at Forks High tomorrow?" she asked. I nodded again.
"Junior?" she guessed. I nodded once again, laughing at her accuracy. Her eyebrows furrowed and she pulled the gold chain from out of my shirt, revealing the cross at the end.
"Catholic?" she asked with the chain around her finger, "Would've never guessed that."
"It's more like a good luck charm," I smirked.
"Ex-Christian?"
"I guess."
"Well, I won't share that with Forks, if I were you."
"Why? Is Forks Christian?"
"Mostly."
"Figures," I said, rolling my eyes. She grinned.
"It's a small town stereotype, I know," she said.
"Eh," I shrugged, "Maybe I'll get used to it."
She laughed. It was fascinating, like a tinkling bell. She was strange. And intriguing. Maybe we could be friends.
"Famous last words," she warned in sing-song voice.
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I walked back 'home' in the drizzle. I swung a plastic bag back and forth in my hand. I had bought some pencils, gum, and a notebook on the way back from Speedway. My version of school supplies shopping. I wished I could whistle right now, but I wasn't exactly in the whistling sort of mood.
When I thought about spending my last day of summer, immediately I thought of beaches and fast car rides past palm trees under sun. Then I looked up at the sun I was under, and remembered what my last day of summer really looked like.
My last day of summer looked like grey skies, drizzling rain, empty streets and the promise of judgmental classmates and condescending teachers.
At first I wondered how Alice would spend her last day of summer. Maybe she'd smell all the soap in the aisle and run a kite under a thunderstorm. Build a statue out of the mud or paint a wall in her house. We'd talked a little during the remainder of my hell-sentence and she told me what hours she worked on what days. She also told me she had two fish named Cleo and Piddles.
Then I wondered what Bella was doing on her last day of summer.
There seemed to be a lot of books on the kitchen table and various other places in the house, so maybe she was reading. Maybe she went shopping with her friends. Maybe she…I don't know, what do normal (aka, not Alice) girls in Forks do for fun?
Shit, what was I going to do for fun?
I was a few feet away from the driveway to 'home' when I noticed a big red truck parked right where there had been an empty driveway before. As I walked closer, I saw the contents of a grocery bag spilled out by the front tires. And then I saw Bella, her arms full of shopping bags and plastic bags as she tried to shut the door to the truck with her hips.
I smiled. I walked up to scoop the spilled groceries from off the floor, stood up with them and slammed the truck door shut. Bella jumped and spun around, her hair flying in her face as she looked up at me in alarm.
"Oh!" she said, letting her breath come out in a woosh, "You scared me!"
"Sorry," I said, trying to look apologetic, "You looked like you were having some trouble."
1, 2, 3…9 words, Edward? Wow, aren't you talkative today?
"Right…I was," she said, shifting on her feet, "Um…thank you."
"No problem," I said, shrugging.
I took one of the bags out of the pile in her arms because it looked like it would teeter off and Bella gave me a skeptical look. I blew some hair out of my face and looked pointedly at the door.
"Shall we?" I said, nodding towards it. Bella blushed, for some odd reason, and nodded mutely, shuffling to the door.
"Um…" she said once we got to it, "Would you mind just opening it for me?"
I raised my eyebrows.
"I forgot to lock it when I left," she said in a rush, blushing harder.
"Oh," I said, turning the knob with my free hand and kicking it open. I held it open for Bella as she walked through, mumbling her thanks. We dumped the groceries on the kitchen counter and Bella tossed her shopping bags on the couch. I compared her back to school shopping to my plastic bag and smirked internally.
Bella was frowning at the shopping bags. Weird.
"So uh…" I said, scratching the back of my head with one hand as Bella's eyes followed the motion cautiously, "What time does school start tomorrow?"
"You can't sleep in," she said immediately before her eyes widened and she blushed. I smirked and she averted her eyes.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
"No worries."
"Er…classes start at 8:30."
Those fuckers.
"All right," I cringed before shaking my disgust off, "That's…early."
"Yeah…sorry."
"You don't need to apologize," I said, laughing and looking up at her, "It's not your fault, obviously."
"Sor-" Bella began before cutting herself off, "I know, but it must suck to…you know, be here."
She looked at her shoes before looking up at me cautiously. I forced a smile.
"It does suck," I said trying to take the edge off my voice, "But…uh…hopefully I'll be back home soon."
"You like California?"
It's sure as hell better than here.
"Sure," I shrugged, crossing my arms and leaning my side against the kitchen counter. I looked out at the window.
"It's sunny," I said, letting some bitterness wash into my voice.
"Right," Bella mumbled, fiddling with the handle of one of the shopping bags, "Um…Charlie's going to be home soon, so I'll just…you had lunch, right?"
I nodded and picked up my plastic bag, beginning to walk towards the stairs.
"Dinner at 7?" I clarified as I walked up the stairs. Bella nodded mutely and I disappeared up the stairs, feeling sick to my gut when I thought about school tomorrow.
Bella
Once I heard his door slam I let out my breath, realizing I'd been holding it in the whole time. I put my hands over my face, groaning into them. School tomorrow was going to be hell. To make matters worse, I had to think even more about school today when I went shopping. If the regular, awkward shopping trips were bad, ones that required me to think about junior year were worse.
I could only imagine the rumors that would be floating around school tomorrow when Edward walked in.
Would he tell everyone he was living in my house?
Would he talk about how boring I am?
Would he try to embarrass me during the day?
I honestly had no idea what to expect. So far, we'd only had one short conversation, and that hardly counts. We're in my house. With his father's and Charlie's rules. He had to be nice. In school…well, he could make some friends and they'll back him up if I tattle on him for being 'mean'.
Ugh. Stop treating him like he's some criminal mastermind.
Unless he is…
Stop it.
I sighed. I know Angela wouldn't tell anyone, and so far, she was the only one that knew. I don't know who Charlie told, but if any nosy, up-in-your business, small town parent heard about this, they might not be as understanding as Charlie. Plus, if one person hears…everyone hears.
Who would he be friends with?
Is he allowed to make friends?
I scolded myself internally. Of course he's allowed to make friends….right?
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"All right, kid, here's the deal," Charlie said, adjusting his belt as he handed Edward a slip of paper, "These are emergency numbers. The first one is mine, and the other one is Bella's. You are to use these for emergency only. Okay?"
Edward raised his eyebrows at the paper, glanced up at me, and then nodded at Charlie.
"I'm assuming Carlisle told you about your Five Strikes Rule?" Charlie asked. Edward nodded again.
We were standing at the kitchen counter, discussing rules and protocol for tomorrow. I was drumming my fingers and staring at the table.
"Okay, so before Strike One, you have quite a few liberties. You're allowed to have your phone, a key to the house, and an 11 o'clock curfew, for example," Charlie went on as Edward entered our phone numbers into his phone. I would have protested against it, but I knew my arguments would be weak. He couldn't do harm with a phone number, right?
"But after you get to Strike One, after slipping up a little, some of those liberties are taken away. We clear?"
Edward nodded again, shutting his phone and shoving the piece of paper into his pocket.
"Good," Charlie sighed, "Now as for transportation to school, I don't really have time to drive you, not that you'd want to be escorted in a police cruiser, and it's cruel to make you walk before Strike One…"
He trailed off, looking at me. Edward's eyes fell on mine as well.
"I'm driving him?" I asked Charlie.
"That would work best," Charlie said, pleading with me with his eyes. I chewed on my lip.
"Yeah, that's fine," I said, trying to be nonchalant and avoiding Edward's eyes.
He seemed to be avoiding mine.
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The flames were thick and the smoke wrapped its hot hands around my neck. I clutched the back of my chair, my eyes wide with wonder and terror as I took in the crackling fire on the wood table. I was transfixed by the fire devouring the yellow-painted kitchen walls, leaving a hot trail of black and red embers.
Tears streamed down my face, but I was frozen.
Heat enveloped me and I felt the flames getting closer. I turned around to see the plants by the windows falling into the flames by the couch. I sobbed and called out.
"Mommy!" I called out, gripping the chair, "Daddy! Mommy! Help me!"
My lungs contracted and coughed against the smoke, falling over out of exhaustion and lack of oxygen. My breathing came out rapidly, but I kept calling their names. My eyes fluttered and my limbs were numbing. Their names came out in whispers.
Before my eyes shut, I heard a faraway voice.
"Edward!"
"I…Mommy…I-" I whispered before my eyes shut, the voice calling my name over and over again. It was getting farther before it was swallowed by the darkness.
"Edward!"
I jolted in my bed, sitting straight up in the darkness. My breathing was heavy and I clutched the sheets. The window was open, spraying in drizzles of water as the thunder shook the house. Tears were in the corners of my eye and I wiped them away with the back of my hand, too used to this nightmare to be scared, but not familiar enough to not freak out and fucking cry in my sleep.
I let out a shaky breath, grabbing a cigarette from the bedside table but wishing I didn't have to. I climbed out of bed, the cool air hitting my bare chest. I walked over to the window, opening it as wide as it would go.
It was pitch black out as I stood in the shadows, leaning my back against the wall next to the window and letting the rain spray the bedroom floor. The cool air was oddly refreshing and I brought the cigarette to my lips, lighting it with my lighter and taking a deep drag.
I tossed my lighter against the floor, holding the cigarette between my lips and running two hands through my hair. I pressed the heels of my palms into my eyes before crossing my arms.
I felt desperation washing over me and I sighed, sinking to the floor and sitting with my back against the wall and my elbows on my knees.
My phone buzzed by my bedside table and I frowned.
I stood up and walked over to it. The screen said it was a text from Alice. I opened it.
You've probably been awaken by the thunderstorm. So I just want to tell you that tomorrow, even if no one else will talk to you…well, I probably will. Meet me at the front door.
Sleep well
-Alice
I rubbed my eye and chuckled without humor at the last part. I sat on my bed and responded.
Thanks, Mary. Just wake me when the year's over, would you?
-Edward
Bella
It was amazing that even if I've lived in Forks all my life, I still had trouble sleeping through thunderstorms. Maybe it was the nerves.
Didn't matter. I was up now.
I had tiptoed out of my room a while ago, just sitting out in the hallway because the thunder wasn't as loud out here. I kept the bathroom light on because the flashes of lightening seemed less eerie with it on.
And then I heard Edward mumbling in his sleep.
"No," his voice had muttered quietly, "No. Come back."
I felt my heart drop at his sad tone. Even though he wasn't standing in front of me and he couldn't see me, I dropped my gaze to my feet, as if I was hearing something private. I walked up to shut the bathroom off and walked back to open my door.
I gazed sadly at his closed door.
It sounded like he had been slapped in the face.
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Alice arrives! Hurray! And first day of school tomorrow! Uh…not so hurray…but we shall see.
Drop me a review! Oooh and tell me if you think you know what's up with Edward!
I love hearing theories!