"It's not like love at first sight, really.
It's more like... gravity moves... suddenly.
It's not the earth holding you here anymore, she does...
You become whatever she needs you to be,
whether that's a protector, or a lover, or a friend."
―Jacob Black explaining to Bella Swan about imprinting.
Look at this stuff Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the girl The girl who has everything?
Look at this trove
Treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Looking around here you think
Sure, she's got everything
I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty
I've got whozits and whatzits galore
You want thingamabobs?
I've got twenty!
But who cares?
No big deal I want more
I wanna be where the people are
I wanna see, wanna see them dancin'
Walking around on those - what do you call 'em?
Oh - feet!
Flippin' your fins, you don't get too far
Legs are required for jumping, dancing
Strolling along down a - what's that word again?
Street
Up where they walk,
up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Wanderin' free - wish I could be
Part of that world
What would I give if I could live out of these waters?
What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?
Bet'cha on land they understand
That they don't reprimand their daughters
Proper women sick of swimmin'
Ready to stand
And ready to know what the people know
Ask 'em my questions and get some answers
What's a fire and why does it - what's the word?
Burn?
When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love,
love to explore that world up above?
Out of the sea
Wish I could be
Part of that world
~Part of that world~
The little Mermaid
It was twilight.
Ten thousand flowers were out here, serving as a fragrant, airy tent over the dance floor that was set up over the grass. I looked up to the fairy lights that surrounded the tent while the August afternoon evaporated around us. I sighed as I clenched at my wine glass - watching a line full of people congratulating the newlyweds.
I smiled as I reached them, finally, after being in a line for about ten minutes. "Congratulations."
Bella embraced me, beaming. "I didn't trip,"
I smiled. "And I didn't have to take my top off."
Bella burst into infectious giggles and I smiled, not being able to resist and she turned to her ... husband, beaming as she looked back at me. "Edward, this is my cousin, Antoinette."
He smiled charmingly and he shook my hand, his cold fingers grasping mine and a small line formed in between his eyes as his eyebrows furrowed once again - surprised yet confused. What was with this guy? Did Bella just marry a fucking weirdo?
Coming from the girl that ran over a nudist, he must be fucking weird.
Okay, speak up one more time and I will take you down.
I'm you conscience - you can't 'take me down!'
Fuck off.
I can't.
"Cousin?" Edward asked, his hand still grasped in mine. "Mothers or fathers side?"
I bit my lip. "Fathers, actually."
Bella nodded as well. "We grew up together. She was my best friend."
"Was?"
I smirked. "Bella wasn't the best during puberty,"
Bella laughed lightly. "We kind of, uhm, ignored each other."
You ignored me.
You stupid bit-
You're a really horrible person.
WHAT DID I SAY!?
Edward chuckled lightly, pulling Bella closer to him and I smiled awkwardly. "Anyways. Ah, live a prosperous and happy, urgh, marriage and life and pop out a lot of children - preferably after you're legal to drink."
They both chuckled and I was ushered out of the line, the man in the wheelchair behind me while the man that reminded me of a young nudist embraced Bella and Edward. I pursed my lips as I found my chair, looking around the table to see whom I had been seated with.
"They have got to be related," One of them said, and I looked to where he was looking - an arrangement of models embracing Bella and Edward, making them laugh and offering their congratulations.
I nodded, clutching at my wine glass. "What a gene pool."
The blonde haired, blue eyed, baby faced boy looked to me, smiling. "I'm Mike,"
I gave a curt smile. "Antoinette Swan."
The girl that sat next to him raised her eyebrows, looking me over with scrutinizing eyes. "Swan? Bella doesn't have a sister,"
I smiled, sipping at the wine. "Cousin, actually."
The girl smiled, laughing. "Right, right. I'm Jessica, Bella's friend."
I turned to the next girl, whom was smile nicely. "I'm Angela/"
"Ben," The guy said next to her and I nodded.
"And you know Bella from school?" I asked, raising my eyebrows questionably.
They nodded, Mike smiling goofily. "Yeah."
God, if I had to spend one more minute with him I am going bash my head against a wall.
I groaned as he babbled on about something - I had lost track after he had explained why he lost a tooth and had to get surgery done on it, or something to do with his teeth. I just focused on the tapping of Angela's fingers after a while.
We were amongst the flashing bulbs that watched Bella and Edward shove cake into each others faces, both laughing as they did it before Bella threw the bouquet in Angela's hands, a wild blush overcoming her and forcing her to sit down.
God, who was laughing?
I looked around as I tried to determine who was laughing before I looked back - Edward removing Bella's garter from her ankle and then very precisely, threw it at Mike's face.
I couldn't not laugh at that.
After all the typical routines circulated, I excused myself from the table, sporting some lame excuse as I got up - my hands shaking as I ached for a cigarette and I bit my lip, my teeth digging into it as I bumped into someone.
Or something.
Or, maybe, a wall.
I cursed, profanities escaping my mouth in a slur of incoherent curses and I looked up at whom I had bumped into and my eyes found that of the nudist's clone.
Except the clone was less attractive.
And I'm sure his penis-
Stop thinking about his penis right now!
Okay, Okay.
I stepped back, apologizing as his eyes widened. "Oh!" He exclaimed, stepping back. "You're not hurt at you? Are you bleeding?"
I examined myself, looking down at my black dress and the dreaded slit - shaking my head. Nope, no blood. No distraught look on my face.
What was this nutter going on about?
"Excuse me?"
He looked me over once again before sighing, mumbling someone underneath his breath before he motioned for the woman with a severe hair cut - and I mean severe - and the man in the wheelchair to come over to us.
Great, the man in the fucking wheelchair.
Could my luck be getting any worse?
I smiled tightly, my fingers shaking. "Billy! Billy! This is her, that's, uhm - yeah!"
Okay, were these people all fucking high?
If they were high, I really needed to join them because I was starting to get a headache.
Bill's face lit up as if he was a child seeing that his hamster, whom he thought he had killed, was still alive yet was surprisingly a different colour and a different breed.
Kids are idiots.
Urgh, I hated them.
I mean, when they're having tantrums in the shops because they lost their 'mommy', don't they realise that their mother is in the other aisle? Like, seriously, Kid - your mother is in the next aisle - stop crying and go into the next aisle!
What are you even thinking about?
I have no idea, conscience.
Billy beamed, grabbing my hand and shaking it frantically. "It's-It's - we've been waiting for you!"
I was getting whiplash.
I really needed a cigarette.
"For how long?" I asked, bewildered as I looked at his hand. "I mean, why, would you be waiting for me unless I knew you in a previous life and I was your long lost love and now you've seen me reincarnated and are freaking the fuck out."
...
Really?
I mean, really?
I flushed. "But I doubt that's why you were waiting for me," I murmured, taking my hand from his and I made my way - rather inconspicuously - past him. "I'm, I need, I- well, urgh, I'm leaving now."
Get out of there.
Get out now!
He smiled, shaking his head lightly as he grabbed my arm. "What's you name?"
Oh, god he was going to kidnap me.
And who knows what kind of fetishes he has.
I bit my lip. "Antoinette."
He smiled, shaking my hand again. Again? Really? "I'm Billy. Billy Black."
Great, now I know my kidnappers name.
He hasn't kidnapped you yet.
...
Just don't go anywhere alone.
He'll wheel right up to you and jus-just grab you!
I had to chuckle at that.
It would be funny to see.
"Listen, my phones - urgh, I have to go feed my dog,"
LEAVE!
LEAVE!
LEAVE!
Billy chuckled, ignoring what I had just said. "Do you live in Forks?"
Oh, god – you're dead.
This man is going to abduct you.
Good luck.
Hey! He's abducting you too!
Eh.
"No," I said, hinting that if he abducted me a lot of people would care if I went missing. "I have a whole family," Tell him you've got friends. He doesn't know you. "And friends. Lots of those."
He looked a bit put out but nodded.
Take that rapist!
Anna - 1.
Rapist -2
Well, because, he now knows personal information.
"Do you, urgh, live around here?"
What are you doing, you fucking idiot!
Making small talk.
I'M BEING POLITE!
TO A RAPIST!
You know what? Get abducted, see if I care.
He nodded. "On the reservation - in La Push."
"Oh."
GET OUT NOW!
LEAVE, FOR FUCKS SAKES!
I thought you didn't care?
Shut the fuck up and get out!
I started to move back, before the other guy - gigantor - grabbed my arm, a heat surging through me as I felt the familiar touch of my nudist.
What was with these people?
"I'm Seth."
I smiled, shaking his hand as I tried to remove it. "That's great, Seth, I'm glad to know you like your name. I would stay and make small talk about the weather, but, I - I have to go."
His eyebrows furrowed. "Where do you have to go? Can't we talk for a little bit longer?"
I shook my head politely. "No, I'm, please - I really do need to go-"
"But we just started talking-"
Billy nodded. "If it's urgent, can Seth accompany yo-"
And then I cracked.
My polite facade went out the window while the demon inside of me came out.
And when I say demon - I mean my real self.
That part.
"I don't want anyone to accompany me. Anywhere! Especially gigantor here!" I screeched, ripping my hands from his. I narrowed my eyes as my conscience told me to shut up, and I threw a couple of colourful words in her direction. "I am going outside to go have a cigarette! I haven't had one since this morning, and all of you - everyone at this wedding is pissing me the fuck off. So why don't you and your little nudist friend, leave me the fuck alone and stop jumping out in front of my CAR!"
I can't even - you just said-
Never open your mouth again.
I stormed off, anger radiating from me as I clenched my fists - ready to punch the next person that was like 'oh, hey, who are you?'.
My hands were shaking against the August whether and I grabbed a smoke out of my bag, lighting it. I breathed a sigh of relief as I inhaled its sweet serendipity that allowed me to stop thinking, just for a second.
I leant against a tree, knowing that being in a forest I could be cartered off by magical elves or leprechauns but I really couldn't care less. There was a Giant and a rapist in the reception - I think I'm safer in the confines of the forest, where the smell of moss and dew surrounded me, calming me.
It smelt like him.
My nudist.
Oh, will you stop thinking about him for five seconds of your annoying life!
And then I heard something.
Or someone.
"Thank you," Someone said into the darkness, and it was near me. "This is very… kind of you."
"Kind is my middle name," a husky voice, a voice so brilliantly wonderful I wanted to melt when i heard every pronunciation drip from his mouth. "Can I cut in?"
"Jacob!" Someone chocked, their voice sounding urgent and jubilant. "Jacob!"
"Hey there, Bells."
Oh, so it was Bella.
Lucky bitch - gets all the hot guys.
Braces did help, apparently.
The other guy, whom I presume is Edward, said something but I couldn't make it out - he was too far away. Something about dancing, but I wasn't interested enough to stalk him to see where he was going. "Oh, Jacob," She was crying now; her words jumbled as she chocked over her tears, overcome with emotion. "Thank you."
"Stop blubbering, Bella. You'll ruin your dress. It's just me."
Please stop talking.
I'll have an orgasm if he keeps at it.
You haven't said orgasm in a while, have you?
I shook my head. Nope.
Huh.
Great, no I'm no longer arguing with my conscience - I'm having a conversation with it.
I really am insane.
"Just? Oh, Jake! Everything is perfect now!"
He snorted. "Yeah—the party can start. The best man finally made it."
"Now everyone I love is here."
Was Bella - wait, was Bella in a three way?
He said best man - they're obviously friends, dumbass.
"Sorry I'm late, honey."
"I'm just so happy you came!"
"That was the idea."
Okay, so apart from the orgasmic voice - it was getting slightly boring.
"Does Billy know you're here?"
Billy?
Abductor Billy?
Oh, god, maybe they were going to abduct Bella!
"I'm sure Sam's told him. I'll go see him when… when the party's over."
"He'll be so glad you're home."
"I don't know if I get more than just this one dance,"
"I'd better make the best of it."
"I'm glad I came," The guy said quietly after a moment. "I didn't think I would be. But it's good to see you … one more time. Not as sad as I'd thought it would be."
"I don't want you to feel sad," Bella murmured, obviously pleading with him.
But why was he sad?
Detective Antoinette Swan - on the case!
"I know that. And I didn't come tonight to make you feel guilty."
"No—it makes me very happy that you came. It's the best gift you could have given me."
He laughed. "That's good, because I didn't have time to stop for a real present."
"When did you decide to come back?"
"Consciously or subconsciously?" He took a deep breath before he answered his own question. "I don't really know. I guess I've been wandering back this direction for a while, and maybe it's because I was headed here. But it wasn't until this morning that I really started running. I didn't know if I could make it."
Come back? Where was he?
The plot thickens.
He laughed. "You wouldn't believe how weird this feels—walking around on two legs again. And clothes! And then it's more bizarre because it feels weird. I didn't expect that. I'm out of practice with the whole human thing."
What?
Okay, we've established this man is on drugs.
My cue to leave.
But they just kept talking.
"It would have been a shame to miss seeing you like this, though. That's worth the trip right there. You look unbelievable, Bella. So beautiful."
"Alice invested a lot of time in me today. The dark helps, too."
"It's not so dark for me, you know."
"Right."
"You cut your hair,"
Hair? It's been cut?
Maybe that is a sign of retaliation against the system.
What?
"Yeah. Easier, you know. Thought I'd better take advantage of the hands."
"It looks good,"
It probably didn't.
She was lying - I could tell.
He snorted. "Right. I did it myself, with rusty kitchen shears." He stopped the conversation momentarily, and all I could imagine was that they were doing some kind of dance flip.
Bella? Really? She would break every bone in her body.
"Are you happy, Bella?"
"Yes."
"Okay," He sounded defeated, almost as if he wanted her to miserable.
What a great friend.
"That's the main thing, I guess."
"How are you, Jacob? Really?"
"I'm fine, Bella, really. You don't need to worry about me anymore. You can stop bugging Seth."
Seth? Gigantor?
"I'm not just bugging him because of you. I like Seth."
"He's a good kid. Better company than some. I tell you, if I could get rid of the voices in my head, being a wolf would be about perfect."
Definitely on drugs.
Definitely.
Okay, so I've come to the conclusion: He's addicted to cocaine and when he told Bella, she freaked and they had a massive blow out. And then, he went to rehab to get the voices out of his head and now that he's sober, he hates Edward because Edward was the one that made him go to rehab and stop taking the drugs.
I should really get my own Law and Order show.
DUN DUN!
I love doing that.
I stood on my smoke, numerous times, after I saw it had no use to calm me down anymore - and I felt my heels digging into the dirt as I tried to get by inconspicuously.
You're doing great.
Just don't fall.
And while I was trying to get my heels out of the dirt, I saw them.
Wolves.
Holy mother of fucking shit.
Here's another chapter just for you guys!
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Edited 9/10/13