Word Prompt: Champion
Something True
Champion
This Fall
At first it's just the four of them, Edward, Bella, Rose, and Royce. In the kitchen Rose is frying up donuts because when you're eighteen, and even twenty-one, donuts make perfect sense as dinner.
"Don't burn yourself," Royce says, looking over his shoulder, his back to the counter.
"I've done this before."
"And burned your hand before." Royce moves hair from her face and kisses her cheek.
"Careful," she says, pushing against him, pushing him away. "You'll get burned."
They cover the donuts in cinnamon and sugar and stuff their stomachs full in the living room, licking their fingers clean.
Rose slides down from the chair she's sharing with Royce to sit between his legs. Biter, resting by Edward's feet, jumps up barking a low, quiet bark. Then another louder one. As small as he is, his bark is deep, powerful already.
The screen door is pulled open, revealing Angela. Biter runs toward her, barking wilder.
"Biter!" Bella says, standing up. "Come." The puppy turns to her, turns back to Angela. "Come," Bella repeats.
"Go to Bella," Edward says, pointing to her with a snap of his fingers, and the puppy does.
"Hiya, Biter." Angela moves to pet the puppy's head. Bella has a clear view of her necklace: the cursive word "Love" in gold."
Angela looks at Edward. "Biter? You said you always wanted a dog named Thelonious."
"He's Thelonious," Bella says. "I changed it to Biter because he bites me all the time." She sticks her hand in front of the puppy's nose and he mouths it. "See?"
"And that doesn't bother you?" she asks Edward.
Bella scoffs. "He calls him Biter too now."
Angela's eyes snap to Bella's in a glare as if to ask her how dare she answer for Edward.
"I-" Bella drops to the couch.
"Ange," Edward says. "Don't come in here acting like you still know everything about me. I don't care what she calls him. She's my muse. She can call me whatever the hell she wants."
"Your muse?" She straightens up. "Are you serious?"
Eyes right on her, he says, "Dead."
"I thought-" Her fingers drift to her necklace, her hand shaking slightly. Looking at her eyes, Bella can see she's near tears. Angela walks toward the bathroom where she stops, her back to the group. Her hand is still at her chest like she's gripping the necklace.
Almost as if that necklace is a magnet for Edward, he exchanges a glance with Bella and then Rose, and with a loud sigh, he crosses the room to Angela. Biter shadows him.
Royce sways Rose between his legs. "For once it's not you and me, 'eh?"
Rose gets up and goes to the kitchen, returning with a beer for Bella and Royce.
"None for you?" Bella asks.
"Driving." She shrugs. Royce pulls Rose to his lap and kisses her neck. He seems more relaxed than Bella's seen him in a long time. She doesn't realize she's staring at him until his eyes connect with hers. She's uncomfortable with what she sees in them, the way they narrow at her.
The screen door creaks open again and a guy with short, dark hair and broad shoulders steps in. Bella is surprised he doesn't have to turn sideways to fit through the doorway.
"Hey, Rosalie." He smiles and Rosalie stands up fast.
"Who the hell else did you bring?" Edward asks Angela.
"How ya doing to you too, Bro," the big guy says, striding to Edward holding out a fist for a bump.
"Yeah," Edward says, "right."
Rose walks out the back door.
Royce turns to Bella. "What's up with her?"
Bella shrugs, and Royce goes after Rose.
The big guy offers a hand to Bella. "Emmett," he says.
For a split second the entire world comes to a screeching halt. Bella gathers herself together, clears her throat and shakes his hand. "Bella." She looks at Edward, catches his eye, and he shakes his head, appearing just as bewildered as Bella feels.
"Great party," Emmett says, pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his jacket pocket. "Looks like time for another smoke."
Thankfully he goes out the front door instead of the back.
...
What began as a few friends over, turns quickly into too many kids from school, including Alice and Jasper. Most people are on the back deck or down by the dock over where Rose and Royce seem to be having a heated conversation. Of all the things that could go wrong tonight, Bella finds herself praying that, if it hasn't already happened, Royce doesn't hear Emmett's name.
Reluctant to pull Edward away from Angela, Bella can't stop herself. Her insides may soon very well become her outsides. Eyes on the deck floor, she edges between bodies to the corner and taps Edward's shoulder.
"Can I hang out in your room?"
He frowns but doesn't hesitate. "Yeah, sure." With a hand on her back he walks with her.
Biter's already in there, hiding out under the piano bench.
Smart dog, Bella thinks.
She slips a book, any book, off his shelf and takes it to the bed where she backs herself up against the headboard.
"What do you want to stick back here for?"
"I just do."
"You sure?"
She smiles small and nods. She opens the book, pauses, and then lifts her face to Edward. "Did you say that to Angela about me being your muse to upset her?"
He closes his door and takes a few slow steps toward the bed. "You have a free pass. Use me someday to get back at whoever it was who hurt you."
Bella shakes her head. "That won't happen."
"I meant it, you know," Edward says. "You are my muse and you can call me or Biter whatever you want." Biter lifts his head and whines at the sound of his name then closes his eyes again.
"Worn out." Edward laughs."All that barking at strangers like a champion."
"Her necklace? It's from you?"
Edward sits on the bed. He doesn't say anything.
"You don't have to-"
"She didn't want me to move back. Begged me not to. Tears and everything. I said I'd visit and we'd be okay. Got her the necklace as a promise." He scoffs. "Guess it wasn't me who needed to make the promise."
Bella wants to touch him, put her hand on his arm, grip his wrist, anything. Instead she sits still, looking at him, listening.
"She has all these excuses. She was mad at me for leaving. Hurt. Not thinking straight. Needing to..." He stops and swallows, looking down at the bed. "Needing someone, I guess." He closes his eyes for a second or two, opens them, meets Bella's gaze.
"She doesn't just want to be friends with you, does she?"
He shakes his head. "So, um, you're sure you're staying in here?"
"I'm sure."
He takes his iPad off the top of his dresser and hands it over. "For music, if you want."
"Thanks." She takes it setting it beside her.
With his hand on the door handle he asks, "Open or closed?"
"Closed."
He keeps his eyes on her for a few seconds before closing the door.
...
It's Rose who gets Bella to come outside. She tells Bella not to let those people—people she doesn't give a shit about—run her life.
"Face them," she says. "I think it's the best thing you can do."
"Wait," Bella says, just before Rose opens the door. "Does Royce know Emmett's the one?"
"Not yet."
"But you said he wants to kill him."
"Yeah, the guy. I never told him his name. Why would I? It's not like he-" she pauses, brushing hair from her face "-knows him. But he'll probably figure it out eventually, and I don't know what he's going to do. I really hope he doesn't find out tonight."
"Are you afraid?"
Rose walks over to the dog and pets his head, pulls his ears through her fingers. Turning around, she sits on the piano bench. "Yes."
"For yourself or for Emmett?"
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but both."
Bella moves to Rose, sitting beside her on the bench. "And you don't think there's anything wrong with that? That you're afraid of him?"
"Yes, I do," she says. "But I need to get back out there to keep him away from Emmett."
On their way out, knowing she's going to need it, Bella stops for another beer. She takes a few swigs before letting Rose drag her outside.
Bella makes eye contact with no one. All the seats are taken so she stands with Rose and Royce in a small group. A few feet away in another circle, Angela is laughing about something, and Edward is smiling.
Royce taps the neck of his beer to Bella's. "You trying to steal my girl again?"
Bella doesn't answer.
"Hey, hey," he says quietly, taking Bella's chin in his hand and moving her face so they're eye to eye. "There's room in her heart for both of us, you know? She told me that. She told me." He laughs.
Rose knocks Royce's hand away. "You're drunk," she says. "Leave her alone."
Thinking she might just go home, Bella searches Edward out so she can say goodbye to him. He's next to Emmett and still smiling so the tension that was between them earlier must be over. Or maybe, like Royce, Edward's drunk and just doesn't care at the moment.
Pete steps into her path. "Bella fucking Swan at a party." He gives his eyes a dramatic rub. "It must be a mirage."
Bella shoves at his shoulder. "Hi, Pete."
He gathers her into a hug. "Shall we finish what we started?"
"Stop."
He lets go of her. "What's up with you? What's been going on?"
"Loaded question," she says. "What isn't up will take less time. Let's see... the stars aren't covered up for once." She gestures at the sky. "And my parents aren't here, there's another plus. And um... well, I guess that's about it."
"Sounds like a good time," he says.
With a glance over Pete's shoulder, she finds Edward looking at her.
"Muse!" he says. "You're out." He puts his arm around her and squeezes her shoulder. She would love it if everyone disappeared right now and she could just lean into him and close her eyes.
"Catcha later, Swanny," Pete says, giving the hood of her jacket a tug.
As if attached to his hip, Angela appears next to Edward, pulling Emmett along by the hand.
"I'm glad to hear you're getting him to make music," Angela says. "We can use his talent for our next show."
Dropping his arm from Bella's shoulder, Edward explains that Angela's a theater major. "Sometimes I-"
"He means usually he composes for our small company. Doesn't pay much but it's experience, you know?"
With the beer bottle to her mouth, Bella nods like she knows.
"Emmett," Angela says. "Did you see that tree out front?"
"What tree?"
"Exactly." She taps Edward's stomach. "I knew Tree would die on your watch. Didn't I tell you?"
She says it like it's funny, like Edward hasn't been struggling every day, sweating to keep it alive.
"Didn't I?"
Edward stiffens, his smile gone. He takes a drink of his beer.
"It's okay. I'll get you another one. And when that one dies, I'll get you a third." She laughs.
Can't she recognize that he doesn't like her teasing? If Bella can read his feelings right now, why can't his girlfriend of two years? Maybe she can; maybe it doesn't bother her. But if she wants him back, shouldn't she be kissing his ass? Bella wonders. But then she thinks of Rosalie and Royce, and she really doesn't know how Angela should be behaving, if she should be anyone other than herself—let Edward decide if that's enough, if she's enough.
"Aw, come on." She pats his cheek; he jerks his face back. "It doesn't matter, Baby. It's just a tree."
Edward's eyes land on Bella. "Hey, you want to go back inside?'
"Yeah."
With an arm around her he starts for the cottage.
"Go for it, buddy," comes Royce's voice. "Bella's into older guys."
Bella tries to walk faster but Edward freezes—turns around.
"What'd you say?"
"Hell, you're probably not old enough. Or could be she only fucks her teachers."
Laughter spits from mouths behind Royce but Bella doesn't look to see who it's coming from. Edward shoves Royce hard, sending him stumbling backward. He's had too much to drink to keep himself balanced. He falls on his ass.
Angela has her hand wrapped around Edward's elbow like it's her job to keep him from fighting. Both of his hands are fisted as though he's readying himself for Royce to stand up. He doesn't.
Rose bends over him. "Royce!" It's loud and firm, but then her voice falls quiet and shaky. "Go home." She looks to her right. "Jasper, will you drive him?"
Royce is on his feet trying to apologize to Rose. He apologizes to Edward, too, and then looks at Bella. "Sorry."
"Not enough," Rose almost whispers. "We're not right. We haven't been right. And I'm done."
"What do you mean?" Royce asks as Jasper, with a hand on his shoulder, starts to guide him away. He shrugs Jasper off. "What does that mean?" He's staring so hard into Rose, Bella wonders if she can physically feel it.
"It means what it means. I am done. With us."
Walking backward, he stops fighting Jasper's lead.
Bella hugs her arm, and Rose lays her head against Bella's.
If Bella's breeze came by a few nights ago, Rose's has come tonight. Her view is clear. Proud of her friend, Bella kisses her cheek.
Jasper calls to Alice that he'll be back for her, while Edward, brows furrowed, steps in front of Rose.
"Why the hell did he bring Bella into your bullshit? And like that?"
Rose tells Edward about Royce accusing Bella of trying to break them up.
"And what about the rest? About fucking teachers?"
"Just because she was his TA everyone says she slept with Mr. Biers. And then him leaving the school this year made things worse. Royce knows the truth, but he also knows what'll hurt Bella the most."
Bella feels like she's the one who has been pushed around, clobbered. They may be outside but there's not enough air.
The past can bury a person. In this moment, Bella can't see her way out of all the rubble piled on top of her. Her eyes close along with her throat.
"You okay?" Edward asks, and Bella doesn't answer. She's overly aware of how much she doesn't want Edward to know the truth, and at the same time how much she doesn't want to lie to him.
"Inside," is all she can manage to say as she turns.
Someone takes her arm before she gets halfway to the sliding glass door. Her eyes widen when she sees it's Alice, her heart doing a little hop in her chest.
"Bella, you." She stops, glancing out at the lake. "You throw all your dresses away or something? You look different these days." There's a slight smirk on her face. Just like the old Alice.
"So do you." She has cut her hair shorter than ever. "It looks good on you." At one time she might have touched it, might have poked fun at Alice a little just to give her the hard time she gives everyone else.
Bella takes a sip of her beer, paying no attention to how warm the liquid is now. She has to wet her throat. "No Lauren and Jess tonight?"
"They're doing the sleepover thing."
"You guys are still doing those?"
"We try? Rose doesn't come very much but at least she doesn't act like we don't exist."
A silent moment spins like a cyclone between them.
"I wanted to say I was sorry. About the rumors. But you wouldn't talk to me or even let me talk to you." Alice's eyes tear up. Bella has only seen this girl cry once and it was after her mom's car accident. "I hated you for that."
The word hate hits Bella hard enough to make her take a step back.
"But I felt responsible for the rumors. For treating them like a joke at first. I thought making fun of them would make them stop but... now whenever I hear anything I set them straight for real. I tell them that while I might be the kind of girl to do something like that, you're not and never will be."
Looking into Alice's eyes, realizing how much she's missed them, she shakes her head. "The rumors aren't your fault. At all. And I'm sorry, too." She wants to hug Alice, but holds back. "I didn't mean to cut you guys out of my life. I was just... I just..." She runs her fingers through her hair, her hand shaking the way Angela's was earlier.
A tear spills down Alice's cheek, and then another one. "We'll never be the same, you know."
"Yeah, but nothing will ever be the same. That's life."
A/N: Wow you guys, I have to thank you so much for your reviews. Your insights, your questions amaze me. Sometimes I seriously take notes. I want to answer everything. You'll get your answers in time. :)