Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own these characters. I'm just having fun with them!


Chapter 4: September When It Comes

Jane Harris sat at her desk in the home library, her bleached hair pulled back into a severe bun. Her lips were stained a dark crimson, her eyes an icy blue. She flicked her expensive pen against the dark cherry wood, a flurry of curse words on the tip of her tongue. She silently wished for one of the servants to come into the room and disturb her, wanting nothing more than to unleash the fury of her words upon any unsuspecting soul.

She was watching her son intently through the large windows that looked out into the back yard, watching him turn away the advances of every girl she'd flung into his path for the past few weeks. James had always been such a fickle young man, using his female peers and discarding them with little thought or emotion. But something had changed within him recently, much to Jane's chagrin.

Jane had thought that getting rid of little Isabella Swan would be quite an easy feat, knowing her son's preference for random flings. Her attempts had been quickly thwarted, however. None of the girls she threw at him seemed to command his attention, even the one she'd hired to seduce him.

While Jane wasn't initially happy about his relationship with Isabella, she'd let it go and chalked it up a harmless summer fling. But watching James now, she realized it was anything but…and she just couldn't allow it to continue. Her first thought had been to simply offer the girl money. After all, she came from practically nothing. Once Jane had met her, however, she realized that probably wouldn't work.

There was something in Isabella's eyes, a naïve innocence. Underneath those big doe eyes, Jane sensed a fierce sense of morality and a solid moral compass. Isabella seemed just the type to be loyal, a trait Jane found to be rather despicable. Coming up with an alternate plan, James seemed a more likely target, but her son had surprised her. And now she was left to chart a different course.

Recently, she'd fought with James numerous times over the Swan girl. Jane had reminded him many times of his responsibility to the family. His father, Marcus, was gearing up to run for a national political office. When the time came, their family needed to be picture perfect, the All-American family. James' dalliances with Isabella just couldn't be tolerated. Jane sneered at the thought of that mousy little girl's image splashed across national newspapers and magazines.

She grew even more uneasy thinking about the things the media could dig up about Isabella and her family. It had only take the private investigator she hired a few days to have a folder full of information for her. The media was ruthless and would have no trouble turning up the same information just as quickly, maybe even faster.

Isabella's parents had divorced when she was very young. Her father was fairly respectable, a small town police chief. It was her mother, Renee, that made Jane cringe. The woman could simply be described as a hot mess, flighty and rresponsible. She went through men liked Kleenex and gave little thought to the consequences of her actions. Jane just could not allow this woman's poor image to ruin Marcus' chance to step into the national spotlight. She would not sit idly by.

A smile crept across Jane's face as she realized her next course of action. Her previous attacks had been all wrong. James was obviously very protective of the girl, going toe-to-toe with her in the name of protecting Isabella. If she could push him far enough, he might come to realize that the best way to protect Isabella would be to stay away from her. Jane would do whatever it took to make sure her husband reached his political goals. If that meant destroying the Swan girl, well, she had absolutely no qualms about playing dirty.

~ o ~

Faster than Bella realized, August gave way to September. Things with James seemed to be going well and Bella found herself feeling better than she had in months. Renee still wasn't around much, but James was almost always there to keep her company and assure that she didn't feel alone. It was nice to finally feel like there was someone she could count on.

Coming home from a particularly tiresome day at school, Bella walked towards her empty apartment. James had been on some errand for his father, unable to give her a ride home. Opening the door, she was assaulted with a blast of stifling heat. Furrowing her brow, she trudged into the apartment, wondering why the window units weren't running. As she reached the unit in the living room, however, she was puzzled to see that it was indeed on, yet no cool air was flowing from the vents.

Walking back toward the door, Bella dug her pre-paid cell phone from the recesses of her backpack. She flicked the light switch, but the overhead light did not come on. She flicked it again several more times; nothing happened. Normally she would have assumed that the bulb was blown, but since the air conditioning wasn't working either, she thought there might be an electrical problem.

Not on friendly terms with any of her neighbors, Bella placed a quick call to the building's supervisor. There was no answer. She left a detailed message, explaining her problem, and desperately hoping someone would return her call quickly. Next she tried to call Renee, but that proved to be equally as fruitless. Feeling anxious and out of sorts, she dug out the old electric bill and placed a call to the power company.

Moments later, she was connected to an operator. The woman informed her that the account was past due and $362.38 would be required to restore services. Bella sat there in disbelief, knowing that there was no way the account was delinquent. She wrote the checks herself! With a sigh, she gave in and asked to have someone sent out to get her power back on. She assumed that she could get this misunderstanding ironed out later. For now, she just needed to get the lights back on.

Bella was then informed that it was past regular service hours, which meant someone couldn't be sent to her apartment until the following day. If she wished to restore her services immediately, there would also be an additional $100 service charge. She knew she had enough money hidden away to pay, but it seemed like a frivolous waste; she chose to wait until morning.

After ending that call, Bella sent James a quick text message. She told him that she wasn't feeling well and that he wouldn't need to come over that evening. She opened all of the windows and made a sandwich for dinner. Bella tried to read by candlelight, but the encroaching darkness made it difficult for her eyes to adjust to the low lighting. She gave up at eight o'clock and crawled into bed.

The next morning, Bella sent James another message, telling him she had a stomach bug and would be staying home from school. She assured him it was temporary, but he should stay away to keep from catching it. Bella hoped he didn't stop by anyway, not wanting to face the embarrassment of having her electricity turned off.

~ o ~

The rest of the week passed by quickly and without incident. On Friday afternoon, James picked Bella up from school. They had planned to go out for the evening, but Bella was exhausted and had work in the morning. The pair instead decided to spend the night in, having pizza and watching movies. James planned to leave early, allowing Bella a chance to catch up on her sleep.

Once they were finished with the pizza, James retreated to the kitchen to discard the box. Grease had seeped through the cardboard and coated his hands. He walked over to the sink and turned on the tap, disgusted by the oily residue. A trickle of water ran from the tap, but then stopped completely.

"Bella?" he called out.

She followed his voice into the kitchen, still giggling over the movie they'd just been watching. When she saw James standing over the sink, greasy hands raised in the air, her face immediately fell.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked, pulling her bottom lip into her mouth.

"Ummm…yeah, there's no water."

Bella dropped her head and let out a defeated sigh. She quickly turned away and headed back toward the living room, mumbling to herself. James couldn't make out all of what she was saying, but he thought he heard say "not again" as she lamented about money.

He found her in the living room, desperately rummaging through a desk drawer. She seemed to be frantically searching for something; he had no idea what she was looking for or how this was related to the water issue.

"You should just call the super. It's probably a broken pipe or something."

"It's not a pipe," Bella replied. "I'll have to call the water company."

James continued to stand there dumbfounded and confused. Finally, Bella seemed to have found what she was looking for. As she walked over to get her cell phone, he grabbed her arm to stop her. When their eyes met, he could see the tears that were threatening to fall. These were not tears of sadness, however, but tears borne of annoyance, anger, and frustration.

Bella knew that James would not let this go, so she told him the whole story about her electricity. She assumed the water issue was much the same. Bella had talked to Renee the day before; she had assured Bella that the checks for the payments were good and had been taken from her checking account. She wanted to believe her mother, but it would be just like Renee to forego paying the utilities, instead opting to spend her money on something frivolous and ridiculous.

Much to her surprise, James was calm and understanding. He offered to pay the water fees and reimburse Bella for the money she had paid to the power company. He knew she had been saving that money for college and he didn't want to see it wasted in such a manner. Bella wouldn't allow it, however, insisting that this was not his responsibility. James let it go, but decided he would find a way later on to get the money back to her.

Unfortunately for Bella, these two events would only be the first in a string of odd occurrences. Her secret stash of money was quickly dwindling. In addition to the water and electricity, she'd had to fork over the money for two months of rent, four months of garbage pick-up, and three months of cable. After the first few instances, she'd stopped calling Renee about it. Her mother was still adamant that all those bills had been paid. Bella didn't trust her. She could just image Renee taking all of the money out of the bank account to take a painting class or join some new religion.

Bella knew that her extra funds would be gone soon and she wondered what she would do then. Since the water incident, she had kept everything else a secret from James. She knew that he would simply try to give her the money to cover the expenses and she just wasn't comfortable with that. While she realized that she depended on him to keep her sane and help her feel less lonely, she didn't want to be indebted to him financially as well. It was one thing to let him take her out on dates or buy her gifts, but it was wholly another to allow him to pay her living expenses. That was Renee's lone responsibility to Bella and she was failing miserably.

~ o ~

In what seemed like the blink of an eye, Bella's eighteenth birthday was upon them. Charlie called the morning of, just like he always did on her special day. His present had arrived in the mail a few days prior—a new digital camera. Bella was a little saddened speaking to her father, wishing that she'd taken the time to visit him during the summer months. Hopeful, she inquired about possibly spending the Thanksgiving holiday with him in Forks. She could almost hear the smile in his voice as he agreed.

Bella was nervous about whatever James had planned for her. He hadn't revealed any of his plans for their evening, simply instructing her to "dress nice." Combing through her closet, Bella realized she should have done a better job of planning. She had absolutely nothing that was appropriate. She ended up pilfering through Renee's things, looking for something to wear.

Most of what Renee owned was too short, too tight, or too flashy, but Bella eventually settled on a simple black dress with a sweetheart neckline. It hit mid-thigh, much shorter than she would normally wear. Uncomfortable with showing so much skin, she pulled a short jacket from her own closet, happy to have her shoulders covered.

Bella had never been much for girly things like make-up and dressing up, but she felt as though she should make more of an effort tonight. She spent a long time in the bathroom, curling her long hair and even applying some of Renee's make-up. She kept her jewelry to a minimum, wearing a pair of small diamond earrings Charlie had gotten her for her sweet sixteen, and a few bangle bracelets.

Looking over her footwear choices, she settled upon a pair of zebra print ballet flats, needing something to compliment her otherwise drab outfit of all black. Heels were not made for the clumsy and uncoordinated. Looking herself in the mirror, she remembered that she had also recently purchased a pair of zebra print underwear. Hesitating momentarily, she finally ran to her drawers to find them. Chucking off the modest cotton panties she had planned on, Bella slipped the outrageous undies on. They were definitely outside of her normal comfort zone, but they somehow made her feel a little bit bolder. Moments later, she heard a swift knock on the door.

Flinging open the door, James stood before her with a shy grin on his face. He was dressed impeccably in dark slacks, a crisp Oxford, and a skinny black tie. In his hand was a single red rose. Bella blushed immediately, feeling his gaze appraising her body. Though he'd seen more of her body than anyone else, his lingering looks still made her uncomfortable. She desperately wanted to please him, but she knew her modesty was something he didn't understand. He tried to make her feel beautiful, but his compliments only made her feel more uneasy. Bella never felt like she deserved them.

~ o ~

Just as Bella had thought, James had an entire evening planned for them. She would have been content just to sit at home, watching movies, ordering a pizza, and eating a cake made from a box. James had other ideas, however, and Bella didn't want to seem ungrateful or spoil the plans he had made so meticulously.

The evening began at a hotel restaurant. It was romantic and dimly lit. Everyone there was dressed impeccably and Bella felt a bit uncomfortable. She was momentarily taken aback as she gazed at the prices on the menu. Not wanting to overindulge, she selected one of the cheapest things on the menu, a simple pasta dish. James implored her to order whatever she wanted, but she assured him of her choice.

Bella was more than shocked when James ordered a bottle of wine to go with their meal. She'd never had alcohol before and wondered how he'd accomplished this; they were both underage. When she asked, James just gave her a smile and a shrug of his shoulders. Bella only allowed herself one glass during dinner, fearful of the effects it might have on her. And to be honest, she wasn't too fond of the taste.

After the main course, the couple indulged in dessert. Bella chose a decadent chocolate cake from the menu. It was the most deliciously sinful thing she'd ever tasted. As she was eating, James produced a small velvet box, pushing it across the table towards her. Glancing at the box, she knew it was jewelry. With shaking hands, she picked it up to reveal a stunning diamond bracelet. She placed her hand near her throat and gasped aloud.

"Oh, James. I can't accept this. I'm sorry."

"Bella, please. I want you to have it."

Knowing he'd spent such an absurd amount of money on her made her uncomfortable. She knew very little about diamonds or expensive jewelry, but she was sure the twinkling stones were expensive. She continued to stare at the bracelet until she felt James' reaching across the table, grabbing her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I love you, Bella," he said, his eyes full of sincerity. "Happy birthday."

With his kind words, she knew that she couldn't refuse his gift. He would see it as a rejection. After all he'd done for her, she owed it to him to be grateful for his generosity.

"Thank you, James," she whispered. And though she was unsure of her feelings, she returned his declaration in a shaky voice. "I love you, too."

As soon as the words left Bella's lips, she felt a wave of remorse wash over her. On some level, she probably did love James, but she knew she wasn't in love with him. She couldn't hurt him that way, though. He loved her and would have been crushed had she not returned the sentiment. Bella trusted that in time she would develop deeper feelings for him and that he would never know of her deception. She hoped she hadn't admitted to something that would hurt both of them later on.

Bella continued to look at the bracelet, watching the diamonds sparkle in the light. It was so unlike anything she'd ever owned, so unlike anything she would ever choose for herself if she had the money to purchase such things. Bella wanted to put the bracelet on, to show James that she liked it, but knew it would look silly against the cheap plastic bangles that were currently around her wrist. Instead, she gave James another smile as she closed the box, and then placed it into her purse.

James led her from the restaurant with a bright smile on his face, anxious to start the next part of their date. Expecting another extravagant stop, Bella was completely surprised when they pulled into the local drive-in. It was a place they'd mentioned going to several times during the summer months, yet they'd never actually taken the time to do so. The movie that was showing was some silly romantic comedy, not something Bella would have normally chosen, but she was just excited to experience the old-time charm of the drive-in.

Of course, being at the drive-in, Bella should have known there wouldn't be much movie-watching going on anyway. She snuggled into James' side, and before the previews had even ended, his lips found her neck, placing gentle kisses along the exposed skin. As the movie played, their innocent touches and kissed grew more heated. Bella knew this kind of intimacy was shared between couples, yet it still made her uneasy. When the credits began to roll, James rested his head into the crook of her neck.

"Stay with me, Bella."

She pulled away, her eyes meeting his. He repeated his statement. By the look in his eyes, Bella knew exactly what he was asking and what she would be agreeing to.

"Okay."

~ o ~

Bella had expected the night to continue at her apartment, especially since Renee was rarely home. She was shocked when James drove them back to the hotel they'd eaten dinner at previously. He didn't bother to check-in, leading her straight towards the elevators. When they reached the room, he pulled a keycard from his pocket. This annoyed her a little, knowing that he'd planned this whole thing, but she didn't have the courage to voice her concerns.

Sitting gingerly on the edge of the bed, she placed her hands in her lap, unsure as to how would proceed. Bella was nervous, a huge knot forming in the pit of her stomach. Sensing her unease, James called and had a bottle of champagne delivered to the room. Hoping to calm herself, Bella hurriedly downed two glasses. The bubbles tickled her throat and she soon felt a little light-headed. When James approached her, she closed her eyes and tried to get swept up in the moment.

That night, Bella gave James the most precious thing she could offer him—her virginity. The experience wasn't some romantic fairytale. Though he was slow and patient, it was painful, but short. Once he'd fallen asleep, she lay there in his arms, staring blankly at the wall in front of her. She tried to convince herself that she'd made the right choice, but something deep within her didn't agree.

Bella didn't sleep well that night. When the morning light came, she dressed quickly before James had regained consciousness. She woke him up when she was presentable, politely asking him to take her home. And once she was safely locked behind her apartment door, she let the tears fall.

A/N: Taking a few liberties here. The drive-in theater in Jacksonville closed down several years ago, but we'll pretend it's still in operation.

As always, thanks to my beta, lislar. This story would probably make no sense and my characters would be flat as a cardboard box without her.

This week's recs:

Second Chances by lislar

An Introduction to Swirl & Daisy by m81170

This Is Not My Life by isakassees

Also, m81170 and I have recently developed a new Twi-related site that focuses on graphics. Come check us out and join us for a chat over on the forum. http://twificpics(dot)com