4

Dead

When it came to shopping, nothing could ruin my good time. There was little I enjoyed more than purposefully trying on a dress I knew was two sizes too small just to remind all the little rejects from school who happened to be loitering around that I had the best rack in a fifty mile radius.

But that was before I made "friends" with a certain group of red-contact wearing freaks. And I had a nagging suspicion that their red eyes had nothing to do with color contacts. Maybe it was the way Jane liked to smell my neck or Aro's weird allusions to his time with Italian royalty…who had been dead for three or four centuries. Or maybe…just maybe, it was the fact that he could read my freakin' mind. At first I thought it was just a parlor trick. You know, just a way to freak me out, but when he repeated back to me my whole convoluted reasoning for going with Mike to the dance and what I was really thinking when I asked Edward for that pencil sophomore year, I knew I wasn't playing in the minor leagues anymore.

I was dealing with homicidal, supernatural beings. And that little revelation really put a damper on the whole shopping experience for me. I don't know. Something about knowing that you're dealing with people who wouldn't even be held accountable to human laws if they decided to kill you off was a real mood-killer.

So when Angela called me up, wondering why I hadn't already called her to go dress shopping, I gave her a non-committal answer. I was still preoccupied. And later, when we made it to my favorite dress shop in Port Angeles, I felt Angela's eyes on me. I could feel her comparing the way I was acting with her psycho-checklist for healthy human behavior. She had a big poster of it in her room.

She had memorized it.

"Jess," she said after I had shimmied into a sequined monstrosity I wouldn't even use to wipe up the floor of the boys locker room. "You're acting weird."

I waved her off. "I'm fine, Angela."

Angela pushed a strand of dark hair out of her face. "Jessica," she said sharply. "You've tried on three dresses and they were all your size. You haven't looked at your reflection once and Bella has been trying to get your attention for the last fifteen minutes…without success."

I looked over at Bella perched on the window seat. She gave me a small wave. "Hey."

I smiled. "Sorry. Were you trying to ask me something?"

"Well, the other day, you were telling me about that book store. And you said it was around here…"

Bookstore? I looked at her blankly for minute before remembering I did mention the super sketchy bookstore that specialized in books about the paranormal…

"Yeah, it's a few blocks away."

Bella got up. "I was thinking of heading over there."

Bella was exactly the type of freak to choose weird vampire books over dress shopping. But I couldn't really blame her. How could anyone enjoy shopping with such a flat butt? I would choose vampire books too if I were her.

Vampires.

I froze.

"What restaurant are you guys going to?" Bella asked. "I could just meet you there."

I didn't respond. Angela might have asked if I was in the mood for Italian. The words didn't register.

Vampires?

Bits and pieces of stories floated through my mind. Stupid things. Half of it was gibberish, but there was this story that one of the Quileute boys used to tell. Mike told it to us over the summer back when I was the target of all of his cheesy come ons. The vampires he spoke of were different…weird abilities, pale, and amber eyes…not red.

"Jessica?" Bella said, trying to get my attention again.

"I'll come with you," I said, heading back into the dressing room to change back into my clothes.

When I came back out of the dressing room, Bella said, "That's really okay."

"Bella, it's going to be dark soon," I countered. "It's not really a great idea to be alone…in the dark. The last couple of animal attacks were h—"

I stopped mid-sentence. Animal attacks…in a populated area…Vampires? No. I was jumping to way too many conclusions. Before I knew it, I would be sharing conspiracy theories with Eric.

"The last couple animal attacks weren't too far from here," I said finishing my sentence. "Besides, I've been meaning to go in there."

Angela raised an eyebrow. "Uh. Since when do you go to book stores?"

Wow Angela. Harsh.

"It's really okay, Jessica. I'm just going to be in there a minute."

I was missing something. Why did Aro want me to become friends with Bella of all people? He kept asking me about the progress of our relationship, like he was waiting for some milestone that meant we were officially best friends forever and forever for the end of time. Then he would get impatient with how I communicated my progress and just grab my hand.

I shrugged. I could take a hint. Bella wanted to be alone and I wouldn't be helping our friendship by pushing myself on her. "Yeah sure. Just meet us at Brio when you're done. It's the place we passed on Fifth Street."

Bella nodded and turned to leave.

"Oh and Bella?" I said. "Call us if you get lost. You have my cell number right?"

Bella shook her head. "I don't own a cellphone."

Did the girl live in this century? Her dad buys her a car, but not a cell phone? Way to go, Chief Swan. Way to be a winner.

Angela offered Bella her sidekick. "Here, take my phone."

Bella turned a deep shade of red. "No, no that's okay. I can find my way."

"Are you sure?" Angela asked.

Bella nodded quickly. "I'm seriously just going to be in there a few minutes."

"Be careful, Bella," Angela said.

Once Bella was out the door, Angela turned to me. "You still haven't found a dress."

For first time in my life, I didn't care about dresses or the dance or silly Mike Newton. I didn't care if my dress made my boobs look big or if every guy was drooling all over me. I had bigger problems, which was funny because before school started I couldn't even comprehend any issues being more pressing. My problems only multiplied when Bella didn't show up to the restaurant. A few minutes? It had been an hour.

"I think we should go look for her," I said.

"Jessica, I'm starving. She'll get here eventually. She probably just found a book she was really interested in. I do that all the time."

I would never understand nerds. Getting lost in a shoe store, I understood, but getting lost in a bookstore? What the hell is there to get lost in? The smell of the ink and mildewed paper? Gross.

"Do you think she maybe gave us the slip and went home?" I asked Angela as an unpleasant waitress led us to a table in the center of the dimly lit dining room.

Angela sat in her chair delicately, placing her napkin on her lap. I remained standing.

"You think she was so desperate to get away from us that she walked home?" Angela looked up at me. "Jessica, come on."

"Maybe she called Chief Swan."

"With what?" Angela asked with a smirk. "Telepathy?"

"You act like there are no phones except for cell phones. Honestly, I'm just surprised you're not more concerned."

"I'm surprised you're so concerned. I haven't seen you this concerned about another human being since…ever. Are you retiring from your position of center of the universe?" Angela quipped.

"I resent that." Was it really my fault that most people were just mediocre compared to me?

"Jessica, sit. She'll turn up, okay?"

I sat, but I did not enjoy my lasagna or the garlic bread or Chicken Marsala or the first, second, or third slice of cheesecake I ordered. Maybe I stress eat, okay?

We finished dinner and there was still no sign of Bella.

"Maybe we should just sit here for bit in case she comes," I said.

Angela scoffed. "If we sit here a minute longer our lovely waitress, Monica, is probably going to bore a hole through our skulls with the sheer force of her glare."

"Angela."

"We're going to call Chief Swan," Angela said. "And I'm going home. I have psych book calling my name. You are welcome to hitch a ride home with me if you like."

"Alright fine," I said as we left the restaurant. "What's the number?" I pulled out my cell phone and almost dropped it when silver Volvo came to a screeching stop in front of the restaurant.

It looked a lot like Edward's car. And when Bella stumbled out his car in that special way she had, I'm sure the look on my face was something to behold.

"Bella!" I said running up to her. "I thought you were dead. We were about to call Chief Swan. What happened to a few minutes? We waited for hours."

Angela touched my arm. "Jessica, take a breath."

Oh right. Breathing.

Bella looked down, turning red again and sniffling. "I'm sorry. You guys must be starving."

"Nah, we ate already," Angela said. "We're headed home."

I was headed no such place. Not until I figured out what was going on. I mean, Bella's gone forever and when she finally turns up she's with Edward? No, I wasn't leaving until I had answers.

"Actually, Angela. I'm going to stay here for a little bit. I'm hungry again."

Angela opened her mouth to say something—probably along the lines of "you just almost ate the whole restaurant," but she knew me well enough to just shake her head and wave goodbye.

"See you Monday, Jess," she called to me before driving away in that orange deathtrap she liked to call a car. That Pontiac Sunfire would be the death of her some day.

Edward looked at Bella, then at me.

"Shall we?"

I shrugged. Yeah. Sure whatever.

We were seated at the exact same table Angela and I just left. Which wouldn't have been a problem if Monica weren't still our server. This time, she had the nerve to say something to me.

"I'm surprised you're still hungry," she said with a smirk.

"I'm surprised you're still employed," I shot back.

Edward was clearly trying to hold back an amused smile. I didn't see what was so funny.

I turned to Bella. "So…care to explain what happened?"

She took a big gulp of water before answering. "I got lost. Edward found me. It's really not that big of a deal."

She was lying, but I let it go.

"Buy yourself a cellphone, Bella," I said elbowing her lightly.

She shrugged; turning a shade of red I'd only seen on paint samples.

And that was pretty much the end of all conversation so I was grateful that the food came quickly. I only ordered a side salad and a glass of water and Monica hovered like a fly over a dead carcass. She checked up on us every two minutes and I couldn't figure out why she was suddenly so attentive until I noticed her batting her eyelashes at Edward. Ha. If I didn't have a chance with him, she was crazy to think she did. Of course, I couldn't exactly blame the girl for trying.

"Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?" she cooed. "It would be on the house."

Can we say thirsty?

In her attempt to shove her boobs in Edward's face, she leaned over to take my glass. It was a rookie move, really. Especially when you take into consideration that my glass was completely full. She wasn't fooling anyone.

"Hey, I'm not done with that," I said, reaching for the glass.

She ignored me and instead focused all her attention on Edward who looked like he was in physical pain.

"I'm fine," Edward said curtly.

Monica gave him another "sultry" look and then had the audacity to saunter off with my glass of water—an action that I found to be truly offensive.

I raised a finger to get her attention. "Excuse me!"

Monica kept walking, her auburn hair swaying behind her.

"Monica," I said.

Edward looked like he was going to trying to flag her down. I shook my head. "I got this," I said.

"Hey slutbucket. If you don't bring my water back, I'm going to call your manager over here."

Bella blinked at me. Monica stopped her march toward the kitchen. Edward stared at me, amber eyes flashing.

Amber.

Amber?

Who had amber eyes anyway?

I suddenly heard Mike's voice in my head clear as crystal.

But these vampires had amber eyes.

Vampires.

I looked at Bella, then at Edward, then at Monica who was plowing through tables to get to me.

Edward was a…

Edward suddenly stood up. "Jessica. Can I talk to you?"

"Huh?" I mustered.

"Outside. Now."

My first thought was that he knew I knew. But that was ridiculous. I hadn't even really figured anything out. Nothing I had conviction about anyway.

"See, that's not going to work for me," I said.

Monica was at our table now, glaring at me intensely. "What did you just call me?" she asked.

"Jessica, we're taking a walk," Edward said, grabbing my hand and practically hauling me outside. His hands were so friggin' cold.

"Hey, I was in the middle of a catfight!" I said, crossing my arms.

"I'm aware and I think it can wait."

Wow Edward was annoying. How had I never noticed that before?

"What do you know?" he asked, appraising me with narrowed eyes.

Oh my gosh. He knew I knew. Now he was going to kill me and leave my body to fester in the parking lot. I did not want to die in a parking lot. It wasn't fair.

"Jessica," Edward prodded.

I took a deep breath of moist winter air. "Remember when I asked you for that pencil sophomore year and you gave me that really weird look and never talked to me again? Those were good times. Can we get back to that?"

Edward eyes narrowed into slits. "What. Do. You. Know?"

I laughed nervously. "You're going to have to be more specific. All Forks High School gossip begins and ends with me. I know everything, buddy."

"Hey guys, the food is getting cold," Bella called. I turned around to find her standing just outside the restaurant doors. "Can you guys talk inside? I'm lonely."

"Coming, lover dumplings," Edward called to Bella, then he turned to me and hissed, "We'll talk about this later."

I guffawed. Lover dumplings? "What is it about Bella, Edward?"

He looked at me, surprised by my question. In a rare moment of honesty, he said, "Everything she does is magic."

"Are you quoting The Police right now?" I asked.

"What? No," Edward said. "Jessica, have you ever watched the way she checks her snow chains? Or eats a granola bar? Or wipes snot from her nose?"

I shook my head. "No, I can't say that I have."

"When her pee hits the toilet bowl, it's a symphony."

Alrighty then. And this is why you don't ask questions.

"I don't know how to respond to that," I said.

Edward looked back at Bella. "I'm not crazy," he said softly. "Just listen to it sometime."

"You want me to listen to Bella pee," I deadpanned. How did Edward even know what her pee sounded like?

Nope. I didn't want to know.

"Fine. Don't listen to it. It's your loss. It's not every day that you hear pee that competes with the sounds of Debussy."

Edward was a lunatic and he was wrong about us continuing our conversation later. I had every intention of moving to South America. Clearly, Forks was no longer safe.

Once we were back inside the restaurant, Bella turned to Edward and asked, "What were you talking to Jessica about?"

As if I wasn't even there. Rude.

Edward chuckled. "I wasn't talking to Jessica. You were talking to Jessica."

We sat down at the table again. I looked at Edward, an eyebrow raised. He pointedly ignored me and continued to stare at Bella.

Bella looked at me uncertainly. "What? No I wasn't. I was inside waiting for you guys to come back."

"That's not even Jessica. That's her long lost twin, Frederique."

Bella tilted her head to the side, studying me." That's not a girl's name."

Edward rested his chin in his hands, sighing. "That's because Jessica's twin isn't a girl."

Bella continued to study me. "It looks like a girl."

Edward nodded. "I know. Tragic, isn't it?"

Now, this was just insulting.

Bella shook her head, turning her attention back to Edward. "I don't know, Edward. I feel like you're telling me outrageous lies right now."

Edward frowned. "Would I lie to you?"

Bella bit her bottom lip. "Yes?"

"Noooo," Edward said.

"No?" Bella asked.

Edward ruffled her hair. "Good girl."

And that, my friends, was the beginning of the most dysfunctional relationship I had ever encountered.

"Hey Frederique," Bella said addressing me. "When you get home, could you remind your sister that we have a sleepover planned tomorrow night?"

I couldn't respond. I had no words.