Author's Note: Thank you to everyone that has stuck with me so far. This year, as I'm sure you all know, has been crazy. Life has really changed for all of us, and it's been a hard adjustment. I've been in school all year, and I have a lot on my plate, especially since I graduate next semester. I want to assure you that I am not abandoning this story. Updates may be slow, but they will come. Enjoy!
CHAPTER FIVE
The week following her encounter was Sam was a hectic one. Bella and her father went running every night up until Thursday, and having to climb the stairs to her room after was a new kind of hell. Her body ached, but it felt good to get the blood pumping. Later, after she was back from her sleepover, she and Charlie were going to sit down and create a new meal and exercise plan to follow.
When she wasn't at school or working out with her dad, Bella was at Newton's Olympic Outfitters. Putting up with Mike for hours on end was horrendous, but pulling the extra hours in made her paycheck look quite nice. With every day that passed, she became more and more excited about the sleepover.
It was so weird how social her life was now. Last year, her entire life had revolved around Edward and Alice. While it was strange to have such a rapidly expanding social circle, she didn't regret any of it. Having a better relationship with her peers and a better relationship with her father was easily becoming the best part of the year.
Bella stared at her duffle bag, the bag barren. She was supposed to pack for the sleepover, and she had no idea what she should bring. She mentally cursed her mother for causing her to miss out on so many social interactions. If she hadn't had to stay home and make sure nothing burned down, her social skills wouldn't be so pitiful now.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Bella asked herself, twisting her fingers together. When she'd initially agreed to the plans, she had been so excited. Now, though, Bella wondered if maybe she was overwhelming herself.
What did she pack? Since the sleepover wouldn't be ending until Sunday, she had to pack clothes other than pajamas to wear, but what? And what pajamas were acceptable? Was there a dress code she hadn't found out about yet? Did she bring her own towel for the shower or would one be provided to her at Jessica's? Where would she be sleeping? When would she be sleeping? Could she expect any quiet time during this weekend or should she prefer for three and a half days of constant activity?
Bella groaned, throwing herself facedown on her bed, kicking the duffle bag onto the floor. She wondered if she could spend the rest of the morning wallowing in self pity. As she reached for the blanket to drag it over her head, her cellphone vibrated, nearly falling off the desk. Bella grabbed it and answered.
"Stop panicking, Bella. I can feel you stressing out from my house," came Jessica's voice through the phone.
"Jesus," Bella sighed, rolling herself up into a sitting position. "How'd you know?"
"Something tells me you don't get out much," Jess laughs. "Sleepovers aren't as complex as you're undoubtedly making them out to be, I promise. Pack two pairs of pajamas. You probably won't need the second pair, but honestly, I'm quite fond of food fights, so you should always be prepared to catch a cupcake to the chest. If you typically shower twice a day, then pack eight pairs of underwear. Since we're going to be spending the weekend out and about most of the time, bring good clothes. Nothing too fancy, because it's not like we're going to meet the president, but no ripped jeans, maybe some nice boots, pretty blouses. We can't walk the streets of Seattle in beat up sneakers and honey t-shirts. And a few bathing suits if you have more than one. We might swing by La Push if we have the time."
As Jess was talking, Bella put the phone on speaker and started folding clothes, stuffing them in the bag.
"You're a lifesaver," Bella breathes, making sure to throw her hairbrush, toothbrush, and perfume into her bag before zipping it closed. "Have you spoken to Angela yet today?"
"No, not yet. I'm actually surprised her parents are letting her come to a sleepover at my house seeing as how they think I live in a den of sin."
"They do not!"
"They totally do! You should see the side eye they give me whenever I'm over at their place. They think my slutty personality is going to rub off on Angela."
"You're not a slut, and even if you were, there wouldn't be anything wrong with that. It's healthy to be confident with your sexuality."
"You're preaching, and yet you have fucked anyone since Edward rolled out of town."
Bella falls silent.
"Bella?"
"Um," Bella spluttered. "It's not...I...we..."
"You and Edward had sex, right?" Jessica pressed.
Bella face turns red, and she's so glad that Jessica can't see her right now. The only sound she can make is nervous little breaths.
"Oh, my god!" Jess cackled. "This whole time I thought you and Edward were getting it on and that's why your dad hated him so much!"
"Oh, please," Bella groaned. "Edward was the kind of guy who wanted to wait until marriage. You don't think I tried? Jess, the things I did to get him to have sex with me...I cannot believe I was that desperate."
"That explains the constipated look Edward always had. Poor guy was backed up."
"Oh, god." Bella giggled. "You're a mess."
"Now that I know you haven't been getting laid, I hope you realize that it is now my responsibility to secure a very handsome, very well endowed man."
"Jess!"
"What? Every woman needs to get her back blown out in order to live a happy life. It's a scientific fact. Hot guys in your future aside, hurry up and get ready. I'm picking up Angela, and then we'll be on our way to pick you up. A couple of hours spent in the prison we call the public education system and then we're off to greener pastures."
They said goodbye and hung up.
Bella quickly showered and got dressed, lugging her backpack and her duffle bag down the stairs with her, miraculously making it down the stairs without falling on her face. Charlie was sitting at the kitchen table, a steaming mug of coffee in front of him.
"You off to school?" he asked. "You gonna eat before you go?"
"Jess and Angela are picking me up, so we're gonna get food on the way there, I think."
Charlie eyed her duffle bag.
"Be careful this weekend, okay? Make sure you girls stay together, don't talk to strangers, and especially no more late night nature walks."
Bella flushed, but nodded her understanding. A car honk from outside saved her from having to reply. Bella kissed her father goodbye, and he slipped something into her hand as she hurried out the door.
Jessica waved excitedly from the driver's seat, Angela beside her. Bella tossed her duffle bag in Jessica's trunk and then slid into the backseat. As she was closing the door, she glanced down at her hand and balked at the amount of money her father had given her.
"Are you ready for a weekend of debauchery?!" Jessica screeched.
Angela put her face in her hands.
"If we can keep the sinning to a minimum, that would be great," Angela laughed.
Jessica backed out of the driveway onto the main road, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. "What do you guys want for breakfast? Starting right now, we eat what we want when we want. I am ready to eat my weight in fries."
"Dunkin' Donuts?" Angela suggested, turning to glance at Bella.
"Sure," Bella grinned, stuffing the money into her pocket. "It's never too early for sugar."
The school day seemed to drag on forever. After homeroom, Bella and Jessica went their separate ways, and for every class leading up to lunch, Bella found herself staring at the clock, willing the hands to move faster. She received more than a few dirty looks as she fidgeted in her seat.
Finally, the lunch bell rang, and Bella nearly bowled Lauren over on her way out the door.
"Can this day get any longer?" Angela appeared next to Bella, groaning. "It feels like I've been in class forever."
"At least we only have two classes left before we can get out of here."
"That's two too many."
Jessica was waiting for them at their lunch table. It was still strange that they took control over what was previously the Cullen's territory, but the gossip that their move had sparked had died down considerably. The Cullen's were old news now, and Bella couldn't help to think that Edward was right; it was as if they never existed.
"Ladies," Jessica greeted them as they sat down, sliding over two extra salads that she'd purchased from the lunch line. "I suggest eating a light lunch, because tonight we will be gorging ourselves and we cannot have anyone getting sick before the weekend even starts. Also, we gotta get in our last bit of vegetables because I doubt we'll have anything healthy this weekend."
"I can already feel my digestive system crying out for help," Angela muttered under her breath, dutifully taking the salad.
"That's why we eat the nasty green stuff now so our kidneys dont collapse later," Jessica chirped.
Bella smiled as the two continued their banter. She hadn't seen Jess this happy in a long time, and she was glad she was here to experience. She didn't know how she went months without speaking to the two girls. It was baffling, looking back on her past behavior. The Cullens had been the focal point of her life, and for what? They had easily cut ties with her, and she doubted they'd ever look back. They wouldn't forget her, no, Edward made sure to remind her of how superior the minds of vampires were, but she probably wouldn't cross their minds again until she was nothing but bones.
Bella huffed a laugh into her salad. She used to wish she was a vampire, wished to have an eternity with Edward, and it's only now that she realizes how foolish she was. How could she have wanted to spend forever with someone as controlling and condescending as Edward? The thought made her shudder.
A nudge to her shoulder made Bella's head jerk up.
"Huh?"
"You alright?" Angela asked.
"Yeah," Bella assured her. Jessica's arched eyebrow showed that she thought otherwise. "I was just thinking about how Edward leaving was a good thing. Very much a good thing."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Jessica reached across the table to squeeze Bella's hand.
"I don't know, I don't want to start the weekend off on a sour note."
"You won't," Jessica grinned. "Something else that happens at sleepovers aside from the consumption of unhealthy food? We talk about our boy problems. You don't have to talk about it now, but if you ever want to talk about it over the weekend, Ang and I are here, and ready to talk shit about Edward at your command."
Bella laughed.
"I love you guys, you know that? So much."
"Wooooooo!" Jessica screamed as they sped down the highway, window down, her dark brown hair flying every which way.
"If we get pulled over, we're dead!" Bella laughed, her own hair nearly blinding her as it lashed at her eyes.
"Only if going eighty if a sixty-five doesn't kill us first," Angela points out, although she doesn't sound too upset.
"The cops won't give me a ticket because it would be a scandal if the police chief's daughter was caught speeding."
"I'm not the one speeding!" Bella protested. "I'm just along for the ride!"
"Thus making you an accessory!" Jessica sang in reply.
School had finally let out, and the three girls were on their way to Port Angeles. With the money her father had given her, Bella was excited to go shopping and treat herself to a nice meal. It was a strange feeling, as she'd never been one for shopping when her mom or Alice would drag her along. Bella suspected it was because she would spend the entire trip having to try on clothes that weren't even close to her style or comfort level.
"There's a Forever 21 that just opened in the city," Jess continued. "They're having a sale, everything in the store sixty percent off! I'm ready to blow my allowance on clothes I don't need, what say you guys?"
"I doubt I'll be able to find clothes that'll accommodate my height, but I'm down to watch you guys splurge," Angela said.
"Where do you usually shop for clothes?" Bella asked curiously, realizing that she never really thought about what Angela had to go through to find clothes that wouldn't be ridiculously short on her tall frame.
Angela blushed. "Walmart or the nearest department stores."
"That's nothing to be ashamed of," Bella quickly assured of. "There are lots of nice clothes in those stores, but maybe at Forever 21 we can find a shirt that's...a little more your age?"
Angela laughed. "You noticed my old lady clothes, huh?"
"Noticed? How could I not," Jessica grumbled, neatly steering the car into the exit lane. "I know your mom picks your stuff out because you have to be a good example for the church or whatever. Goodness, Ang, I don't know how you put up with it! It's like the best years of your life don't even belong to you because you spend so much time having to be this perfect little doll for your family."
"I just remind myself that college is gonna be here sooner than I think, and then I'll be free. The goal is to get a scholarship to a school far, far away. East coast, maybe."
"Please don't start talking about college." Bella slid down in her seat. "I feel like you two have some sort of idea on what you want to do when you graduate high school, but I have none! It feels like I'm just floating aimlessly."
"What do you like to do?"
"I don't know," Bella said. "I think reading, writing, and I enjoy the government classes we have."
"Maybe you could major in English," Angela suggested. "Or law. Or both."
"I've been thinking about going to a trade school or something," Jessica admits. "I haven't told my parents yet because they would flip, though."
"What about you, Angela?" Bella asked.
"I've always wanted to be a neurologist. I also like psychology. Maybe I'll double major, and when I go to med school I can become certified in both."
"Jesus fucking Christ, Ang," Jessica gaped. "You're gonna be the richest out of all of us! Don't be surprised when I come to you asking for a loan one day."
"Enough about school," the tall girl laughed. "It's making my brain hurt. This weekend is supposed to be about unhealthy eating habits and trash talking boys."
"Fuck Mike Newton!" Jessica exclaimed, pulling smoothly into the parking lot for the shopping center. The car went cleanly into a parking space. "I don't know what I ever saw in him anyways. Now, onwards!"
Bella observed herself in the fitting room mirror. She, Jess, and Angela had claimed the largest fitting room in Forever 21 and had stuffed armfuls of clothes on the bench and hooks. Bella had never shared a fitting room with anyone other than her mother, and those times couldn't be classified as a pleasant experience, however, she pushed herself to get the full sleepover experience under her belt. She refused to let the past control her.
Jessica had picked out a pair of high wasted jeans for her, and Bella had to admit...she looked good. She had never been one for tight clothing, usually buying things that hid her figure, but she liked the way the jeans felt.
"Stop hogging the mirror," Jess complained, hip checking her out of the way. "Those jeans make your butt look great, by the way. You should get them."
"I've never worn clothes this tight," Bella frowned.
"It's never too late to start!" Jessica says, doing a twirl in front of the mirror. "What do you think about this skirt? Too short?"
"If you plan on wearing it to school, absolutely. The second you step out of your car you'll get coded." Angela scoffed.
"I heard there's going to be a party at La Push this weekend," Jessica grinned. "We could swing by."
"I'm guessing this is your way of getting me to do more scandalous activities," Bella laughed. "If I get caught drinking underage, my dad would kill me. It looks bad for the chief's daughter to be breaking the law."
"Then we won't get caught!" Jessica jumped up and down, tugging Bella close. "Come on, guys! We have got to live our lives while we're still in our youth!"
Angela hesitated. She was all for having fun, but she was also very aware of whose daughter she was. If the pastor's daughter was caught knocking back drinks, her family's reputation would be damaged beyond repair, and her parents would never forgive her or allow her freedom. On the other hand...when would she ever get another opportunity like this?
Bella tugged off the jeans and pulled on a skirt Jessica had picked out for her. It was on the short side.
"It could be fun," Bella said slowly. Her thought process was similar to Angela's; she was the police chief's daughter, and if word got around that she was drinking, her father could lose his career. "We can't drink, though. I'm serious. I won't damage my dad's career over a party."
"I'd be comfortable drinking in the house with just the three of us," Angela suggested. "Just no drinking at the party."
Jessica pouted, but conceded. "I accept your terms!"
The three girls spent the next two hours shopping, arms filled with bags. Bella had purchased the jeans from Forever 21, as well as the mini skirt. It was too cold for the skirt, but Bella planned on wearing the jeans to the party along with a dark green blouse Jessica convinced her to buy. Walking beside her, Angela had a small smile on her face. Bella imagined it was from buying clothes that she actually liked.
"I'm starving," Angela said. "Let's put the bags in the car and get something to eat."
"It's official," Jessica stated, steering them towards the parking lot. "Angela is the brains of this operation."
When deciding on a food place, Bella quickly ushered her friends past the Italian restaurant Edward had taken her to just last year. Instead, they settled for treating themselves at Chili's.
"I'm so excited for pizza tonight." Jessica said as she scanned the menu.
Angela giggled. "Jess, we're about to stuff our face with burgers and fries, and you're already thinking about dinner?"
"You guys are my best friends, alright? I'm so glad we can have this sleepover. Otherwise, it would've been a lonely Friday night where I scrolled through social media in the dark."
"We love you, too, Jess," Bella smiled. "Maybe let's eat a light lunch since we'll be gorging ourselves on sugar tonight? I'd rather not destroy the lining in my stomach quite yet. I have to make it last for a few more decades."
"A super large order of loaded cheese fries?" Angela suggested.
"Yes!" Jessica and Bella exclaimed in unison.
The waiter came and took their order. Bella was hit with sudden realization that, aside from going to the diner with her dad sometimes, the only other person she'd gone out to eat with was Edward. It made her sad to think that if Edward hadn't left, she never would've reconnected with her classmates.
"I just want to make it clear that this weekend is going to be as wild as I can possibly make it," Jessica forewarned, her hands clasped together under her chin. "This is Bella's very first sleepover, so we have to make sure we cover all the bases."
"What, exactly, constitutes a sleepover?" Bella asked. "From what I've seen on TV, there's been the occasional instance of streaking. I don't think I'm down for that."
The waiter returned with their drinks, three glasses of Coca-Cola, and disappeared again.
"Okay, this weekend won't be that wild," Jessica assured her. "Besides, I can't get you guys into too much trouble anyways. You're the daughter of the police chief, and Angie's father is a pastor. There actually is a limit."
Angela grinned. "Maybe during our senior year we can throw caution to the wind. Go out with a bang."
"With my luck," Bella grumbled. "That 'bang' would be me falling off the stage at graduation."
Jessica choked on her coke. "Oh, god! Do not jinx yourself!"
"After getting you educated on sleepover culture, we can work on your clumsiness," Angela suggested. "I'm sure you're tired of tripping all the time."
Bella nodded solemnly. Forks had grown on her, but she had to admit, moving to a place that had more rain and snow was not good for her clumsy nature. She had never fallen or slipped this much in Arizona.
The waiter reappeared with a huge plate of loaded cheese fries, and smiled. "Enjoy! Let me know if you need anything!"
The girls immediately dug in.
It was the very definition of an unhealthy meal, and a great way to celebrate the end of their shopping trip. Crispy fries covered in cheddar cheese, jalapeños, bacon, green peppers, and ranch. They laughed and flicked ranch at each other as they enjoyed their meal.
Angela held up a french fry coated in cheese and ranch, and said, "To us!"
Bella and Jessica grabbed their own fries, returning the sentiment.
Angela focused intently on drawing a pink flower on Jessica's white painted fingernail, tongue poked out in concentration. In Jessica's other hand, she held a greasy piece of pepperoni pizza.
After their fries Chili's, they'd returned to Jessica's house, set up the TV for movies, and ordered pizza. Upon entering, Bella was stunned at Jess' room. It wasn't messy or anything, but it was her first time being in the space of another teenage girl, and she found her own room in comparison to be lacking. Her room was bland and neat, while Jessica's room showed personality; it was lived in. Posters of her favorite actors, favorite bands. An insane amount of colorful pillows. A bookshelf overflowing with novels and magazines. Bella smiled. She felt closer to Jessica now.
"I can't believe I was dieting for Mike," Jessica grimaces. "Months of my life missing out on great food, and he didn't even ask me out!"
"Mike's an asshole," Bella said.
"Speaking of assholes," Jess said. "I am so sorry for the way I behaved when Mike was chasing after you. You were clearly not interested and too shy to say anything."
"It's okay. I'm just glad he's finally leaving me alone."
"Did you quit your job at his parents' store?" Angela said, flipping her hair so that it wouldn't smudge Jessica's nails.
"No, I think my months of acting like a zombie finally scared him off," Bella replied, carefully inserting She's The Man into the DVD player. "It's a decent job, an easy way to make money. I'm just glad he's finally taken the hint that I'm not interested.
"It was the same way when Lauren moved here, you know." Jessica mumbled around a mouthful of pizza, using her foot to slide the box over to Bella so she could grab a slice. "She moved back when we were still in middle school, and the second she walked through the door, Mike was all over her. I guess his type will forever be shiny new girls."
"Speaking of guys," Bella nearly dropped a glop of cheese on the floor, catching it with her finger at the last second. "Ang, you never did tell us what happened between you and Ben. Was it solely the height?"
Angela suddenly looked very nervous, her hand jerking and smearing pink nail polish across Jessica's hand.
"Of course that's the only reason," she snapped. "What else could it be?"
"Woah, hey!" Bella held her hands up. Her heart raced, wondering if she'd just ruined her friendship with the taller girl yet again by pressing. She'd never known Angela to raise her voice or be outwardly irritated, and it was startling to experience.
An awkward silence fell over the room. Bella stared down at her half eaten slice of pizza, the grease pooling onto the top of the cardboard box. Jessica's gaze fell between Bella and Angela as she cleaned the excess polish off of her hands.
"It wasn't height," Angela whispered. "I told Ben that's why I wanted to break up, but really..."
"Hey," Jessica murmured. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to. But Bella and I? We would never judge you for anything. I mean, come on. We've all done crazy things over boys. I starved myself for Mike and Bella went comatose over Edward. The way I see it, we're all losers, and that's why we're best friends."
Angela gave a watery chuckle.
"The truth is," she said. "I broke up with Ben because...I'm gay."
Angela began to cry, little sobs making her shoulders hunch in. Bella and Jessica immediately abandoned their seats to wrap their arms around her, tears in their eyes, too. Angela sobbed into their chests. They didn't need to know why Angela had kept this part of herself carefully locked away; she was the pastor's daughter. If the pastor's daughter came out as a lesbian, well...it wouldn't be pretty. Bella wouldn't pretend to know what goes on behind closed doors in the Weber household, however, what she and Jess did know was that every aspect of Angela's life was already strictly controlled and monitored by her parents. With that kind of environment, it's obvious that anything less of precise conformity would be swiftly punished and shut down.
Bella could only imagine how much it meant to Angela to say the words out loud, to verbally admit that she was not who her parents expected her to be, that she did not like what society expected her to like. Bella couldn't relate to Angela's personal experience of coming out, but she did know what it was like to keep secrets, knew what it was like to put yourself last day in and day out. It hurt.
"Thank you for telling us," Jessica whispered into Angela's hair. "Thank you for trusting us with this. We won't tell anyone, okay?"
"Not a soul." Bella agreed.
They pulled apart, although they still sat in a close circle, holding each other's hands. The nail polish on Jessica's fingernails, some of which had smudged and came off a bit when they were hugging, smeared across her friends' hands.
Angela sniffed, using her shoulder to wipe her nose. "I tried so hard to make myself like Ben. He's a great friend, but I didn't want him the way I was expected to. It was so hard to pretend, and everyday... just everyday living a lie was so, so draining. He put his all into the relationship, and I couldn't return his feelings. Not even a little. He was so sweet, though, that I convinced myself that I could grow to love him, that I could fix myself over time."
Jessica wanted to tell Angela that there was nothing to fucking fix about her, but stayed silent. Angela needed to get this off her chest. There would be time later to boost her self esteem.
"When did you first realize?" Jessica asked gently instead. "If you don't mind me asking."
Angela gave a small smile. "It was in the eighth grade. You and Lauren were so excited to go to high school because you wanted to date boys, and all I could think about was how pretty Brianna Storm was. I wanted to hold her hand. I wanted her to smile at my jokes. I wanted to sit next to her in every class. I wanted to kiss her cheek. I knew that I liked her the way that you liked Mike, and that scared me." She sighed heavily. "My parents would never accept me. I've heard the way they talk. I can never trust them with this part of myself, and it's awful. It feels like I'm a prisoner in my own home, in my own body. All my life I've been raised to believe that being a homosexual is shameful, and I've been working to get past that. Breaking up with Ben helped a little."
"You know my door is always open, right?" Bella asked. "Because you can come stay with me whenever, for as long as you need to. My dad would help hide you and no one would question it because's he's the chief."
Angela laughed. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
"I hope you realize that you aren't escaping from my matchmaking skills," Jessica clapped her hands together excitedly. "When you're free of your parents and away at college, I'm going to find you a tall, beautiful woman that'll make your heart race, and the two of you are going to live in a nice little cottage on the coast, with a garden full of roses."
"Oh, god," Angela groaned, putting her face in her hands, but Bella could see her cheeks lift up in a smile.
"We'll build the cottage ourselves if we have to," Bella declared. "That's what friends do. Friends help friends get their happily ever after."
"You guys are the best." Angela smiled. "I feel so much better now that you guys know. You aren't...you aren't afraid to be friends with me, right?"
"Angela, listen to me," Jessica said, grabbing her hand, and leaving one hand free for Bella to do the same. "Bella and I are never going to stop being your friend. No matter what anyone else says, you are not perverted, or anything like that okay? What your parents have been saying about LGBT community, it's wrong. You're not disgusting, you're not sinful, and you're not going to hurt anyone. And I am going to keep saying it. Everyday until you believe me, and even after."
"You're not getting rid of us." Bella promised. "No matter what happens, Jess and I are going to be here."
Angela began to cry again only, this time, they weren't tears of sadness. They were tears of joy. Jessica quickly pulled the other two girls into a tight hug.
Angela knew she was going to be okay.
"Enough about me," Angela said, voice still a bit thick with tears. "Let's talk about the mess that is Edward Cullen."
"Oh, God," came Bella's muffled reply, her face pressed against's Angela's shoulder. "Let's just pretend he doesn't exist."
"Oh, no you don't," Jessica said, arching an eyebrow. "We are all going to cry tonight. It's therapeutic. Let's hear about your shitty ex-boyfriend."
Bella huffed and leaned back on one hand, the other picking up her slice of pizza from before. Grease dripped down her fingers onto her pants.
Edward was a complicated topic. He was a vampire, and Bella knew that she'd never truly be able to open up about the depths of her relationship with Edward. But she could surely make something up that was close to the truth?
"Edward was my first boyfriend," Bella began, chewing on her pizza thoughtfully. "I would say that guys never paid any attention to me, but I think that maybe I was just oblivious. I mean, we've seen how Tyler and Mike were. And I guess... it made me feel special, you know? To know that I got the hot guy that everyone had said was unattainable. I thought that maybe, if I could get someone like him, then clearly I had some redeeming qualities."
"Your relationship with Edward was bad long before the breakup?" Angela asked cautiously.
Bella nodded solemnly. "Edward and Alice... they had very...strong personalities. They told me what to wear, when to eat and what to eat." Once she got started about all the ways Edward treated her poorly, she couldn't stop. "Edward controlled where I went and who I went with. He even managed to get all his classes changed so that he had the same schedule as me. I literally could not escape."
"Dude," Jessica said, and she looked pissed. "What the fuck?!"
"Bella," Angela whispered. "Please tell me you know that that's not how relationships should be."
"I know that now," Bella said, and her voice cracked. She dropped her half eaten slice of pizza back in the box. "I think I always knew, deep down. I just felt so honored that someone as handsome and rich was paying attention to me. I followed his lead and let him treat me like a child. I let Alice treat me like a doll. I put up with it because I wanted them to keep wanting me.
"I hate him," Bella sobbed, the realization coming to her suddenly, tears streaming down her face. "I hate all of them. They told me they loved me, that they cared about me. All of them acted like they had the intention of keeping me around. And then they just left, with no warning! They changed their numbers, their email addresses. It's like I never even existed! And I kept asking myself why I wasn't good enough, why couldn't I ever be good enough. I loved him so much, and it feels like I was just a toy to him. Edward broke up with me in the fucking woods and left me there. He knows I don't know Forks that well, he knows I'm not athletic, and he still left me in the middle of nowhere like I was nothing!"
Bella hunched over, sobbing into her hands. There were hands on her, not constricting, but a reminder that they, her real friends, were there for her, listening, taking her pain on as their own.
"He told me my mind was weak, that I'd forget him. He said that he didn't want me, that he never did, and then he made me promise not to be reckless, as if he had any right to demand things from me. I let him and Alice control and micromanage me, and I feel like I lost so much of my life crying over him when he doesn't deserve it. I hate him so much... but I don't know how to let him go. I don't know how to let them go."
"Bella," Jessica murmured, coaxing Bella's head up so that she could look her in the eye. "I can't tell you how to move past this. What the Cullen's did to you, Bella... it was awful. The fact that you can acknowledge how cruel they were is good, but these kinds of wounds? They won't heal overnight. And, eventually, you're gonna have to stop looking back, and instead, look forward."
"And if Edward or any of the Cullens ever show their faces around here again, we won't let them near you," Angela swore, fire in her eyes. "I'll run Edward over if I ever see him again, insurance premiums be damned."
"Thank you guys," Bella croaked. "So much. It feels so good to have gotten that off my chest. I felt like I had to keep it all to myself."
"We're never going to force you to share anything with us." Angela said. "However, we'll always be here. No matter what."
The silence that followed was comfortable as Bella got herself together. Jess handed her tissues to clean her face, and Bella took a few deep breaths to ground herself again.
"I didn't know sleepovers would be so emotionally overwhelming," Bella stated with a watery laugh. "I don't think I've ever talked or cried this much in my entire life."
"That's what sleepovers are for!" Jess exclaimed. "It's a time where the girls get together to have simultaneous breakdowns and eat their weight in sugar. It's a long treasured tradition that's survived the passage of time."
"You haven't cried today." Angela noted, jabbing a finger into Jessica's forearm.
"The last meltdown I had was when I asked Edward out and got emotionally destroyed."
"You mean Edward's always been an asshole?!" Bella's mouth fell open.
"Oh, yeah," Jessica nodded sagely, her eyes flickering briefly to the TV. The movie was nearly over; they'd have to put in another one soon or rewind this one. "When the Cullen's first moved to Forks, I asked Edward out on a date. He then proceeded to tell me that he would rather do absolutely anything else. He then proceeded to give me side eye in any classes that we had together, and he always looked so pissed when we had to interact for class."
Bella silently wondered how Edward could be a mind reader, and yet be the most tactless person ever. It seemed like every week she was learning more and more of her ex-boyfriend's flaws.
"Anyways, after that, I always did my best to avoid him. His siblings, too. I tried to talk to Rosalie once, and she almost tore my face off. I don't know how you put up with them, Bella. They were insane."
"You have no idea," Bella mumbled. "Hey, start the movie over. I've never seen this one, and I want to the full sleepover experience that was promised to me."
Jessica shoved herself to her feet towards the TV. "It's not the full sleepover experience until we get the popcorn and cupcakes. You guys want extra butter?"
Jessica is the first person to wake up Friday morning.
She grimaces as she sits up, raising a hand to her face to touch the sticky substance that was smeared from her hairline to her chin. Looking at her fingers, she realizes that she had collapsed into a cupcake last night. There was also some grains of salt between her fingers. Turning to look over her shoulder, she spots the crushed dessert next to one of her pillows.
Last night, they'd thrown all the pillows and blankets on the floor to make a nest, and they'd smashed themselves together as they watched movies and stuffed their faces with sugar. Jessica had gone all out with the snacks she'd bought for this weekend. It had been forever since she'd had a sleepover, even longer since she had a sleepover with people that she actually liked, and she'd wanted the weekend to be perfect.
Cuddling together last night was extremely necessary last night. Angela had come out and Bella opened up about her messy breakup. She hadn't shown it last night, but Jessica was worried. Angela's parents were very passionate about their beliefs, and their inability to loosen the fuck up was one of the reason's Jessica's own parents limited contact with them. And with Bella, her devastating breakup was a lot more complex than she'd originally thought. Finding out that Bella's relationship with Edward had been abusive... it was a lot to taken in. Basically, she wasn't qualified to really give advice in these situations. However, what she could do is be the best friend she could possibly be, and give them a great weekend of fun.
Rising carefully, Jessica stepped around Bella and Angela and went to the bathroom. Minty toothpaste and hot water was calling her name, and who was she to ignore it.
After brushing her teeth, Jessica hopped in the shower, eager to get the remaining icing out of her hair. Yesterday had been rough, but the conversation last night was much needed. Now that emotional connections were secured, Jessica was confident that she, Bella, and Angela could spend the rest of the weekend going as wild as they could. Jessica was excited to break out the alcohol tonight. Her parents never cared when she took from the liquor cabinet as long as she didn't take too much, and she had to admit that getting tipsy in her bedroom with her two best friends was a lot better - not to mention safer - than going out to a party and getting drunk. Safety aside, it wouldn't do well for the police chief's daughter and the pastor's daughter to be caught drinking underage.
Rinsing her hair one last time, Jessica turned the water off, grabbed two towels to wrap her body and hair, and then yanked open the bathroom door. She made sure her towel was secure around her body before crouching down next to where Angela and Bella were still unconscious.
"GOOD MORNING LADIES!" Jessica shouted.
Bella jerked awake with a disgruntled snort, moving her head out of the way in time to avoid Angela's flying fist.
"Dude," Bella groaned, rolling over and burrowing back into the mountain of pillows. "Not cool."
"No more sleep!" Jessica exclaimed. "We can sleep when we're dead! Get up, get dressed! We have the whole weekend ahead of us!"
Angela pushed herself to her knees, dark hair a messy curtain around her face. "I didn't realize you were a morning person."
"I'm not," Jessica said cheerfully, tugging Bella out of the pillows and to her feet, pushing her towards the bathroom.
Bella stumbled a bit before steadying herself, shooting Jessica a dark look before shuffling towards her bag to get her toiletries.
The girls got ready for the day, Angela shuffling into the bathroom after Bella. While Angela was in the shower, Jessica and Bella cleaned up the room, breaking out the vacuum to get the salty popcorn pieces off the carpet. By the time Angela stepped out of the bathroom, dressed and ready to go, the room was presentable again.
"What's the plan for today, captain?" Bella asked, shoving her foot into her sneakers.
"Well," Jessica said, tossing the blankets and pillows into the corner so that they could easily get them again for tonight. "I was thinking Angela and I could actually show you around Forks, show you there's more to this small town that you thought. And then around lunch, we could go to the movies. I was thinking we could see The Hangover, eat some nachos and wash it down with slushees. Sound good?"
Angela smiled. "Only on one condition. We have to have pancakes for breakfast."
Bella nearly went careening off the sidewalk as she tripped over nothing, Angela quickly grabbing her arm to steady her. They had just left the theater and were making the trek back to Jessica's car. As it was Friday night, the shopping center was busy, and so they'd had to park farther away from the theater
"I ate way too many nachos," Jess moaned. "Why did you guys challenge me to eat that many?"
"We did not challenge you!" Bella protested. "You said, 'Watch how many nachos I can eat.' When we told you not to do that, you said, 'You don't tell me what to do!'"
"Oh, shut up." Jessica grumbled, linking her arms with the two girls. "I'm only gonna be this young once. Once I'm thirty, I won't be able to eat like this anymore. Gotta live while I still can."
As they walked towards the direction of the car, the crowds started to disperse. The amount of people on the sidewalk began to dwindle, as did the amount of cars in the parking lot.
Angela began to slow down.
"You okay?" Bella asked, frowning.
Angela shook her head. "I have a bad feeling. Maybe we shouldn't go this way."
"What are you talking about?" Jessica said, stopping too. "It would take us twice as long to double back to the theater and go the other way to the car. It's probably just the nachos you ate, you know that cheese was probably expired."
Angela hesitantly continued walking, Jess chattering away. Bella nudged Angela with her elbow, doing her best to give her a comforting smile. Angela shook herself.
Probably nothing, she thought to herself, although it didn't feel like that.
After a few minutes, they finally reached the parking lot where they'd parked. The car was still some ways away, far enough that they could only make out the vague shape of it if they squinted.
Just as Jessica stepped to cross the street, three men turned around the corner, shoving and laughing amongst themselves. They stopped when they spotted the girls.
"Hey, sweetheart!" one man yelled at Jess. "Where you going?"
Jessica quickly stepped back up on the sidewalk, knowing that no matter how much she wanted to escape to her car, it wouldn't be smart to lead them to where she'd parked. Angela and Bella quickly latched on to Jessica arms as they hurried in the opposite direction of the men, leaving the car behind.
"Aww, don't be like that!" another crowed, the voices growing louder. "We could show you and your friends a good time."
"I know you bitches hear us talking to you. Didn't your parents ever teach you any manners?"
The voices grew louder.
Just then, two more men stepped out from the shadows of a side alley, malicious grins on their faces.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Jessica, Angela, and Bella began to run. The men gave chase, splitting off into groups down different streets to try and cut them off.
The girls realized, rather quickly, that they'd chosen the wrong direction to run in. The well lit shops disappeared, and instead, they were tearing down the sidewalks in front of empty store fronts. The cars vanished, the parking lot empty in these parts. There was no one to turn to for help.
The two men that were trailing them from behind grew closer. Bella's heart pounded, her legs shook. She remembered the last time she'd been in this position. That time, Edward had been there to save her. Now, she was on her own.
Jessica skidded to a stop, and before Bella and Angela could react, she'd kneed one guy in the balls hard, causing him to collapse. To the other, she pepper sprayed, then sprayed the one she'd kneed, too. The men collapsed on the ground, screaming and coughing as the pepper spray did its job.
"Come on!" Jessica yelled, urging Angela and Bella to double back to where they'd come so they could make it to the car, giving Angela and Bella no time to marvel at Jess' bravery.
They'd made it back up the street and had managed to make it halfway down another, when something awful happened. They were forced to split up. The other three men, who'd split off earlier, had begun to come down the street, about to turn the corner where they'd see the girls head on. Their shadows moved quickly in their direction. Angela and Jessica were gone, diving down a narrow walkway between buildings to find somewhere to hide.
Bella tripped, hitting the ground hard. She froze. She couldn't move. She was stuck, kneeling in plain sight at the entrance of the street. Her heart felt like it was in her throat. Her emotions were all over the place, but Bella could identity that she was afraid, terrified, actually. Bella mentally screamed at her legs to move, but it was no use. It was too late.
The men rounded the corner.
"Where the fuck did they go?!" One of them demanded, stopping under the street light to look around.
"How the fuck should I know?" A man with a scar on his cheek grumbled. "I told you we shouldn't have split up."
Bella shook where she kneeled, mouth agape. She was right in front of them. She was right in front of them. And yet...could they not see her?
"Shit." The last man snarled. He yanked off his hood, exposing his sandy brown hair. "Wait a second." The guy paused, and looked around, eyes narrowed. Bella held her breath, a tear sliding down her cheek. She prayed that whatever made her invisible made her stay that way. "Do you hear that?"
Bella feared that they'd turn to look at her. Instead, they turned in the direction of the men that Jess had taken down.
If she listened hard enough, she could faintly hear them coughing and yelling.
The men took off towards their friends, and the second Bella was sure that they were gone, she was on the move. She didn't know where she was doing, only moving as fast as she possibly could in what she hoped was the direction of the movie theater. She didn't know where Jess and Angela were, but she was confident, after listening to the men, that they'd managed to escape.
Bella didn't know how long she had been running, only knew that her chest hurt, her head hurt, everything fucking hurt. She stumbled around a corner, hoping to find herself back at the main shopping center.
The sound of tires squealing on the asphalt made Bella scream and collapse to her knees, fearing that the men had come back and were about to take her away. She balled her fists and prepared to fight, recalling her father's instructions to never let anyone take her to a secondary location.
The car came to an abrupt stop, and out jumped Angela and Jess.
"Bella!" Angela wailed, hauling Bella to her feet.
"Get in!" Jessica yelled. "GET IN!"
Angela ushered Bella into the back of the car, sliding in beside her, and Jessica peeled away from the curb.
Bella shook violently.
"Where did you go?!" Jessica screamed, tears streaming down her face as she tore away from the shopping center. "Where the fuck did you go?! We turned around and you were fucking gone!"
"I'm sorry," Bella sobbed. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
"Oh, God." Angela's fingers gripped Bella tightly, her nails digging into her skin. "Oh, God, Bella, no, don't apologize. We were just so worried! Where did you go?! Did they hurt you?!"
"No," Bella cried. "I...I managed to hide. I saw them walk past me. When they left I tried to find you."
"Jess," Angela begged. "Jess you have to slow down."
The speedometer's needle inched towards ninety. Jessica stared straight ahead, and from the back you might've been able to assume that she was calm, if not for the death grip she had on the steering wheel, or the occasional hitching of her shoulders.
"Jess!"
The car slowed to eighty. Seventy. Sixty five. And the sped up again. Before Angela could protest, Jessica whipped the car into the parking lot of the Walmart and hit the brakes hard. She moved the gearshift to park.
Jessica collapsed against the steering wheel, gut wrenching sobs escaping her.
Angela and Bella wrapped their arms around Jessica as best as they could from the back seat, crying together as the gravity of the situation fully hit them.
They were there for what felt like hours.
When Jessica managed to catch her breath, she turned to look Bella in the eye, clutching her arm.
"I'm sorry," Jessica weeped. "It's not your fault we got separated. I really thought they got you. Angela and I found a store that had left their back door ajar, and we hid in there. When we'd looked behind us, you weren't there. I'm so sorry we didn't go back. Bella, I'm so sorry."
"I'm not angry," Bella assured her two friends. "I know you didn't leave me on purpose. I tripped and had only barely managed to hide in time."
"I've never been more afraid in my life," Angela whispered. Bella pulled Angela closer to her.
Bella hadn't felt fear like this since a few months ago, when she thought James had taken her mother. But even then, her only fear was death. What happened tonight was an entirely different genre of fear.
They sat in the Walmart parking lot for twenty more minutes, cleaning their faces off with tissues and holding each other close as they processed what nearly happened to them.
Once they'd calmed down, Jessica started the car again, and began to drive home. The car ride was absolutely silent.
Bella laid awake in Jessica's bed, where all three of them had collapsed. She was wedged between Jessica and Angela, all of them wrapped tightly around each other. Angela had cried herself to sleep, and when Bella glanced over, she could see dried tear tracks on Angela's cheeks.
On her left, Jessica laid.
"Bella?" Jessica whispered. "Are you awake?"
"Yes," Bella whispered back.
"They really didn't hurt you? You weren't just saying that so we wouldn't feel guilty? You really got away?" Jessica's voice shook, tears coming to her eyes.
Bella said nothing about her temporary invisibility. She didn't know how to explain, and, quite frankly, just wanted to forget that it ever happened.
"They really didn't hurt me." Bella assured her quietly, her hand reaching for Jessica's in the dark. Jessica squeezed her hand tightly. "I got away."
Jessica hiccuped a sob, snuggling closer to Bella.
Bella wasn't sure how she was able to sleep, but eventually, darkness took her.
Bella was so thankful that Jessica's parents were out of town that weekend. She wasn't sure how they would've explained their sullen faces.
They sat silently at the kitchen table, staring down at their bowls of untouched cereal, the oats getting soggier as they remained untouched in the milk.
When they'd woken up that morning, they'd only had a minute before the memories of last night came flooding back in. They showered and dressed for the day silently, unsure of what could possibly be said about the horrors that they almost experienced.
Bella looked up from her bowl, staring at the hunched forms of Jessica and Angela. Although she reassured them yesterday that she knew that they didn't leave her on purpose, she sensed that her disappearing act had truly shaken them.
"Hey," Bella blurted. Jess and Angela looked up at her. "We should do something fun today. To cheer us up."
Angela chuckled darkly. "I would rather not leave the house ever again, actually."
"I second that," Jessica whispered, swirling the spoon around in her bowl, the metal clinking against the side.
"Look," Bella said. "What happened yesterday...was terrifying. And obviously we're not just going to get over it. But we need to do something fun that'll cheer us up. I was thinking that we could skip the party, and instead go see my friends on the reservation. What we need is a chill night, away from the dark streets of Port Angeles."
"The party is ruined for me," Angela admitted. "And...it would be nice to get my mind off last night. Speaking of which...are we going to tell our parents?"
If Bella had been the same person from last year, she would've said no. Now, though, she wanted to tell her dad. She wanted to run into his arms and be comforted in the knowledge that she'd gotten home safe.
"I think we should," Bella said slowly. "I'm pretty sure my dad's not gonna let me leave the house again, though. Although, that might be a good thing."
"What if we just tell your dad?" Jessica asked. "My parents...I doubt they'd care. They'd probably blame me. And Angela's parents don't exactly exude warm and fuzzy."
"I can talk to my dad." Bella suggested. "He might want us to try and give him a description of the guys that we saw, but if you're really worried about your parents reactions, he could keep it quiet."
Angela nodded. "I like that idea. I...thank you, Bella."
"I'm still really sorry about leaving you." Jessica whimpered, wiping at her eyes. Angela nodded in agreement.
"Really, I'm not mad," Bella promised. "I'm just glad we got out alive. We back it back safely, although Jess' driving nearly killed us."
Jessica giggled, Angela and Bella following suit.
"Come on," Jess said, standing and grabbing her bowl. "I'm making us waffles, because cereal is a sad meal, and then we're going to meet Bella mysterious friends."
The drive to La Push was a much calmer ride than the last time that they were in Jessica's car. This time, the radio was on low in the background, and they chatted quietly amongst themselves. Angela and Jess asked Bella about her friends on the reservation, and Bella spoke of Jacob and Billy, who were family friends.
Bella hoped that Jacob wasn't busy, cursing herself for not thinking to call ahead.
"Take a right here," Bella instructed Jessica, whose driving was much calmer today. "It's the red house."
When Jessica parked the car, Bella told them to stay in while she went ahead to make sure Jacob could hang out today.
Bella knocked on the door, and Billy answered, smiling up at her.
"Bella!" he exclaimed. "We weren't expecting you!"
"Hey, Billy," Bella smiled. "I was wondering if Jacob was free to hang out today? I wanted to introduce him to my friends." She gestured behind her to where Angela and Jessica were in the car. "If that's okay?"
"Of course, of course," Billy said. "Jacob just woke up, but I'm sure he'd love to see you. Tell your friends to come in while you wait."
Turning, Bella waved for the two girls to come to her. When they approached, she introduced them.
"Billy, this is Jessica Stanley and Angela Weber. Guys, this is Billy Black."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Black," Angela smiled, holding out her hand.
"Nice to meet you, too. Please, call me Billy." He shook her hand, and then Jessica's.
"Hey, Dad, who-" Jacob skidded to a stop as he spotted the three girls standing in his kitchen. He gaped, face flushing as their eyes all locked on his naked chest.
"Jacob." Billy smirked. "We have guests. Would it kill you to make yourself decent?"
Jacob spun on his heels and disappeared into his room, the girls laughing at his retreating figure. He reappeared seconds letter, fully dressed, scowling. "I would've been decent if you told me there were girls here."
"Jacob, these are my friends Angela and Jessica. Sorry for the short notice, but I was wondering if you wanted to hang out with us today? As long as you're not busy."
Jacob looked at his dad.
"You three aren't planning on corrupting him, are you?" Billy questioned.
"Dad!" Jacob cried.
Billy laughed.
"Maybe just a little corruption." Bella grinned. "Maybe it'll do him some good to hang out with us."
"You're probably right," Billy mused. "He needs to settle down soon so he can give me grandchildren."
"Oh, my God." Jacob moaned, flushing as the girls giggled. "Please, stop embarrassing me."
Billy rolled his eyes and began to head towards the living room. "Have fun with the girls, Jacob. Be a gentlemen and invite these nice girls to the bonfire tonight. And make sure you eat before you head out."
"Your dad is nice," Angela told Jacob as they walked along the beach, Jessica chasing Bella through the sand. "It was nice of him to invite us to the bonfire. I know Jessica and I are outsiders."
"He's just happy that Bella's getting better," Jacob said. "We were all really worried about her relationships with the Cullens, especially since she never seemed to hang out with anyone else. He's happy that she has other friends. You guys seem like good people."
"Thank you!" Angela beamed at him, and Jacob blushed. "I've never been to a bonfire, before, but I'm sure it'll be fun."
In the distance, Bella shrieked as Jessica tackled her, face scrunching up in a grimace as sand got in her mouth. The two girls wrestled on the ground, laughing.
"You guys are good for her," Jacob remarked. "I don't think I've ever seen Bella this alive."
"We bring out the best in each other." Angela laughed at Jessica's face as Bella managed to flip her over.
"Jake!" a voice called from behind them.
Angela turned to see two guys approaching. They were vaguely familiar to her, although Angela couldn't quite place where she'd met them before. Jacob ran to greet them, so she assumed that they were friends.
Jessica and Bella, now covered in sand, came up next to Angela.
"Hey!" Jacob called, waving them over. "These are my friends, Embry and Quil. Guys, this is Jessica and Angela."
"Hey!" the girls chorused.
"They're hanging out with me today, so don't embarrass me. Quil."
Quil spluttered, Embry laughing as he shoved him out the way. They all started walking again, their heels slipping and sliding in the sand. Quil quickly attached himself to Angela and Jessica, flirting up a storm with Jacob groaning at the cheesy pickup lines. Embry fell back with Bella, who was trying to brush the sand off of her jacket.
"You guys coming to the bonfire tonight?" Embry asked.
"Yeah, Billy invited us. Is everyone on the Rez coming?"
"Nah," Embry said. "Today it's just the Blacks, the Ateras, the Clearwaters, and Sam Uley and Emily."
"I know it's not my business but...is that a good idea?"
"I'm guessing you've heard about the love triangle." Embry guessed. When Bella nodded, he continued, "We won't have to worry about a fight breaking out tonight. Leah's made it very clear she won't be in the same general vicinity as Sam and Emily. And she's a Clearwater woman, so no one can make her go anywhere she doesn't want to go. She'll skip the bonfire tonight."
"That's really sad," Bella frowned. "To have to miss out like that."
"It is what it is," Embry said, and she noted that he had a bitter twinge to his voice.
"You okay?"
"I love bonfires, but it sucks that Sam is always there."
"You're having problems with him, too?" At Embry's confused face, Bella elaborated, "Jacob told me about Sam looking at him weird. Does he look at you weird, too?"
"He doesn't look at me weird, but he does act weird about Jacob and Quil. With that, and the way no one questions the way he dumped Leah for her cousin... it's just really weird how much power he has around here."
"Tell me about it. Did Jacob tell you I had lunch with Sam and his friends the other day?"
"You did what?!"
"They cornered me!" Bella said, hands raised. "I went to thank him for finding me in the woods that day I went missing. Emily insisted I stay for lunch, and I was trapped there for an hour with Sam, Emily, Paul, and Jared. Sam seemed nice on the surface, but there was something about him that made me uneasy. Something about all of them, actually. Sam seems to have this...power over other people. I don't know, it's weird. But hey, don't worry about it, okay? You guys can stick close to me at the bonfire. In case you didn't know, I'm great at scaring guys away."
Embry laughed. "Tonights gonna be fun. Come on, let's catch up with the others. We can show you guys around before we have to be back to set up for tonight."