Thank you to Fran for her beta services and for helping this story flow better.

Chapter Eight: Breaking Habits

My father entered the house over an hour ago, yet I hadn't heard anything from him. The waiting game was making me anxious, and I perked my ears at every sound made downstairs. I could barely hear him and my mother having a long conversation, but of course, I couldn't make out the words being said which only added to my stress.

I was still as a statue, my empty stomach growling and my full bladder pulsing with urgency, but I was too much of a coward to leave the safety of my room and tend to my growing needs. Instead, I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, my phone sitting atop my stomach. It had gone off with texts and Facebook messages a few times, but nothing from Edward. Each time it went off, my chest would swell with the hope of seeing his name flash across my screen, and each time, I was let down.

I tried to remind myself that he was most likely still driving. It takes a while to get to Port Angeles from Forks, even by Edward's standards, and it would take even longer in the torrential rain.

I looked over at my alarm clock, sighing despondently. It was nearly nine. There was no way Edward wasn't home.

Unless … unless he stopped somewhere else?

An image of the pretty bartender from the club assaulted me like a hard slap to the face, and I shook the offensive thoughts from my mind. I sat up, throwing my legs over the side of the bed, my phone falling to the floor, thumping softly on the plush green rug. I stared down at it, glaring and willing it to buzz with a text from Edward.

I was startled when there was a knock at my bedroom door, fear slicing through my palpitating chest. My father wasn't abusive by any means, but he could be terrifying when he was angry, and his punishments bordered on brutal. I almost didn't want to open the door, but I knew I would just make things worse for myself the longer I put it off.

Resigned to my fate, I sighed and slowly stood, my bare feet sliding like heavy boulders across the rug and onto the hardwood floor. I took a deep breath in to steady my nerves, setting my hand on the doorknob. I tried to hype myself up with a mental pep talk, telling myself my father loved me no matter what and he wouldn't do anything to cause me harm, before opening the door.

My eyes widened when it wasn't my father standing there, but a haggard-looking Alice. Her hair was a knotted mess, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy, and her shoulders caved into her chest, looking like a broken doll.

"Hi," she breathed, sniffing back some congestion.

"Hey…" I responded slowly, reaching out to her.

She gripped my hand tightly, her face scrunching and crumpling as soon as our fingers touched.

She sucked in a shaky breath.

"I just really need a friend right now," she whimpered quietly.

I nodded wordlessly, pulling her into my room and closing the door. We walked hand in hand to my bed, sitting on the edge. I set our entangled fingers on my knee, waiting as she regulated her breathing and composed herself.

When she spoke again, her words were barely an agonized whisper.

"Jasper wants nothing to do with me. He hates me."

I squeezed her fingers, leaning into her side, trying to offer her any comfort I could. She laid her head on my shoulder, her wet cheek soaking my neck.

"I'm so sorry, Alice."

I didn't know what else to say to her. There was nothing I could say that would make her feel any better. The worst-case scenario had happened, and while Alice wasn't some innocent victim, I still felt terrible for her.

I may have been obsessed with Edward, but she truly liked Jasper and had known him a lot longer than I knew Edward. If Edward's rejection stung, Jasper's must have felt like a bullet to the chest. I could only imagine the pain she was feeling.

I ran my fingers through the knots at the back of her head, gently detangling them and smoothing down her hair. I waited for her to continue on her own time, letting her calm down.

Alice sniffled into my sweatshirt after a few minutes and then lifted her head to look at me. The lost and desolate expression on my best friend's face broke my heart into pieces. She was always so confident and sure of herself.

It was odd seeing her so out of sorts.

As long as I had known her, I didn't often see her softer side. Alice liked to show a strong, blunt, sometimes rude face to the world, but there were times I caught glimpses of the real Alice. And right now, the real Alice was really fucking sad.

"H-he called me," she snorted back a painful breath, her chest shaking. "He said he didn't want to see me. I listened while he yelled at me, told me I was a horrible person for lying to him for so long, and that I lead him on…" Alice shook her head, gulping down a staggered breath. "He said I was an evil little girl who broke his heart, and he's never hated anyone so much in his life. And then he hung up."

"Oh, Alice," I breathed, pulling her back into my side. I gripped her arm, hugging her to me. "That was an awful thing for him to say to you."

Alice shook her head. "I deserve it. This is all my fault."

I decided to let that one lie there, not wanting to touch it with a ten-foot pole. The last thing she needed was for me to try to placate her or, worse, agree with her.

"Did you get to say anything to him?" I wondered. Because Alice staying silent through all of that would be a shocking surprise.

"Not really. I said hello when I answered the phone, and then he started screaming at me, and I couldn't get a word in. I couldn't even text him because he blocked my number. The only reason I knew Edward was on his way to town was because he texted me himself."

She pulled out of my arms, her puffy eyes regarding me timorously.

"How did that go, anyway? Did he really lay into you?"

I bit my lip, looking away from her as I studied the dark blue polish coating my toenails. What could I say? I couldn't tell her that while she was suffering alone all day, I was kissing Edward in a beautiful meadow beneath the beaming May sun. I couldn't tell her that Edward still wanted me in his life – even if it was just as a friend.

That would be so cruel.

I couldn't tell her any of that. Not yet. It wasn't the right time.

"I don't want to talk about it right now," I told her earnestly.

Alice only nodded, breathing deeply through her stuffy nose. She looked around the room, a contemplative expression coloring her face as she gripped the comforter between her fingers.

"Can I stay here tonight?" she asked, meeting my eyes. "I really don't want to be alone."

I hesitated unsurely before answering.

"Let me ask my mom," I told her, unease filling my chest at the thought of facing my mother and, even worse, my father.

I forced myself to my feet, dragging them to the door and opening it. I walked to the stairs, losing my nerve before I could even take one step down. I backed up to a safer distance, leaning over the banister.

"Mom?" I called out timidly, gripping the beam with shaking fingers.

All the blood drained from my face when my dad's recliner slammed shut. I could hear the hushed whispers of my mother before I saw her round the corner. She looked up at me quizzically, a shadow of agitation behind her eyes.

"Is Alice all right? She seemed very upset."

I shook my head.

"Could she stay the night? I know it's a school night, but she doesn't want to be alone, and her parents still aren't back from their vacation."

Mom crossed her arms over her chest, sighing gently.

"I suppose that's okay. But you need to start getting ready for bed and no horsing about," she demanded sternly, her brows pulled down over her eyes.

I nodded quickly.

"Thank you."

Without another word or backward glance, Mom walked into the living area. I took my opportunity to relieve my bladder before returning to my room and closing the door softly behind me.

Alice sat where I left her minutes before, her fingernails plucking sharply at her cuticles, her eyes downcast and dripping.

"So, do you want to shower first or me?" I asked with a small smile, trying to bring her out of her current depressed state.

She looked up at me and sighed, wiping the tears from her cheeks with her forearm.

"I've been crying all day and feel like absolute shit," she sniffled. "Do you mind if I take a quick one? I just want to get to sleep and forget about this day as soon as possible."

"Of course. Do you need some clothes?"

"Yes, please."

I went to my dresser, pulling a comfy purple tracksuit out. I handed it to her, and she left the room without a word. As soon as the door closed, my forgotten phone buzzed from the floor. I picked it up and turned it over in my hands, my eyes widening when I saw I had a text from Edward.

I quickly swiped it open, my chest fluttering with hope and excitement.

Great. Talk later.

I felt my chest immediately deflate; his generic, abrupt text felt so much like a dismissal, and I wondered why he wanted me to text him in the first place if he was just going to brush me off. I huffed in annoyance, the sting of rejection piercing my heart. I set my phone screen side down on the bedside table, trying to forget about it for a while.

I plunked down on the bed, leaning against the headboard and curling my legs up next to me, my pinkie nail finding its way between my teeth. My mind wandered with thoughts of Edward and our conversation today. About how much he seemed to flip-flop around. Looking back on it – his words, his actions, I honestly didn't think the man knew what the hell he wanted.

Did I?

I contemplated texting him back but couldn't think of a single thing to say. I reached for my phone as the urge to talk to him would hit me, and then withdrew my hand when I thought better of it. I did that about twenty damn times before my bedroom door creaked open, and Alice came in with her hair damp, the smell of strawberries and vanilla permeating the air.

She smiled sheepishly at me, her rosy cherub cheeks lifting.

"I might have used up all the hot water."

I laughed softly, patting the bed next to me.

"I'll shower tomorrow. I'm too tired anyway."

Alice closed the door and sat next to me on the other side of the bed. She leaned her head against the wall, letting out an exaggerated breath.

"Do you think there's a chance he'll forgive me?" she asked timidly, her hands pulling restlessly at the fabric of the trackpants.

"There's always a chance, Alice," I told her hesitantly, not wanting to give her false hope, but not wanting to break her heart again. And truly, there was always a chance. Nothing was written in stone, and feelings had a habit of changing.

Alice bobbed her head slowly, her expression pensive.

"There's always a chance," she echoed.

I sighed and scooted down, so my head was on one of the pillows. Alice followed my lead, lying on the other side. I turned around to flip the light off and then burrowed beneath the blanket, trying to quiet my mind so I could finally get some good sleep.

It didn't take long for Alice's breaths to become ragged as another bout of sadness hit her. She turned her face into the pillow, a few sobs racking her body, shaking her slight frame violently.

I frowned as I reached over, gripping the arm she was lying on and hugging her to my body, curling my own around her. I stuck my face into her damp hair, squeezing her tightly, offering any comfort I could.

I didn't fall asleep until Alice's breathing became more regular, her stiff body relaxing into the bed and my grasp. I continued to hold her to me as I let sleep finally pull me under.

xxx

"Where are the clothes I bought for you?" Alice asked, her red, puffy eyes searching my room. She ran her fingers through the rat's nest at the back of her head, flinching as she got caught in a particularly nasty knot.

I sat up in bed, rubbing at my tired eyes with my fists, a long yawn escaping my lips. I dropped my hands to my lap and looked around, my brain lagging from being woken up so abruptly by Alice jumping out of bed just a minute earlier.

"I don't remember where I put them," I slurred tiredly, smacking my lips and scrunching my nose to the awful morning breath I had going on. I checked the time, sighing when I saw that we had less than an hour to get to school. "They're here somewhere, but I need to shower."

I stood up from the bed, stretching my limbs until they popped, my back cracking from the bottom to the top in the most pleasurable way. Sharing my small bed and spooning my best friend all night had my muscles tight and my bones aching.

I stumbled out of the room, leaving Alice to her own devices. I peeked into my parents' bedroom as I passed, noting it was empty, their bed neatly made. It seemed quiet downstairs, so I guessed they had already left for work. It was just as well. I wasn't ready to face my father yet.

And apparently, he felt the same.

I closed the bathroom door, stripped off my sweatsuit, deposited it in the hamper, and turned on the shower. I brushed my teeth, making an extra effort to clean my tongue, and then stepped into the tub, quickly washing myself. My brain still wasn't fully functional when I walked back to my room, wearing nothing but my towel.

Alice sat at my desk, pulling a brush through her hair, almost robotic in her slow and precise motions. Through the mirror's reflection, I could see her solemn expression, her eyes staring straight forward, seeming far away.

"You doing okay?" I asked, closing my bedroom door and walking to my closet. When she didn't respond, I sighed and opened the double doors, the sun filtering in from the window, glinting off the shiny shopping bags I had stuffed in there a day prior. "Found the clothes."

I bent, gathering them into my arms and setting them atop my messy, unmade bed. I rifled through the bags, pulling out a pair of light blue high-waisted shorts and a white halter top that buttoned in the front. I set my selection down, studying it and trying to decide if it was school-appropriate and parent-approved attire.

"That'll look cute on you," Alice piped up behind me.

I turned to look at her, studying her face. "How are you?"

She shrugged, avoiding my gaze. "I'll manage."

I nodded and walked over to my dresser for underwear, giving Alice room to find an outfit for herself. By the time I turned back around with my panties and bra in my hands, Alice had dumped all the bags' contents onto my bed.

I sighed, exasperated. "Alice, really?"

She looked at me over her shoulder.

"I'll put them back, but you need to put them away when you have time, or these shirts and dresses will wrinkle."

Even in her most desolate moments, Alice was still Alice – a delightful nightmare.

"Sure, sure," I answered, rolling my eyes. "Did you find something to wear?"

Alice held up a light blue wrap romper with a plunging neckline and short butterfly sleeves. It was one of the more risqué items she had snuck into my possession, so, of course, it was the one she chose to wear.

I walked over to the bed and dropped my towel, already used to being naked in front of Alice that being self-conscious was barely a thought in my head. I slipped my panties on, followed by the high-waisted shorts, as Alice rid herself of the tracksuit. She pulled the romper on quickly before coming to stand next to me. She picked up the halter top and looked down at the bra in my hands with a skeptical brow.

"I don't think a bra will look very good with this," she stated, pointing her finger at the article of clothing.

I scoffed, indignant. "I am not planning to put on a nipple parade at school, Alice."

"Girl," she huffed with a roll of her eyes. "It has its own built-in bra. Your nips are safe."

She handed it back to me and walked over to my desk, snatching up my minuscule makeup bag, a look of concentration coloring her face.

I peered inside the shirt, and sure enough, there was padding there to protect my modesty. I stuck my arms through the holes and settled the fabric down my stomach, smoothing it out and tucking the bottom into the waistband of the shorts. Going back to my closet, I picked up one of the dark brown belts that hung from the inside of the door, slipping it through the belt loops and snapping it together. I decided on my favorite white high-top Chucks with a red line, slipping them on after I put on a pair of socks.

"You seriously need to update your makeup selection," Alice griped, dumping the whole bag onto the desk.

"Goddammit, Alice," I growled, annoyed.

With heavy footfalls, I came up beside her, snatching the bag from her hands and throwing its contents back in. She plucked the concealer and mascara from my hands, setting them in front of her. Tapping her almond-shaped nails on the desk, she looked around, pouting.

"You do have a beauty blender, right?"

I opened the bottom drawer where I kept my sparse makeup tools, grabbed the triangular sponge, and handed it to her. Swiping the mascara from in front of her, I leaned over her shoulder to apply some to my top and bottom lashes while she pounded the concealer under her eyes in an effort to hide the circles there. When I was done, I handed it back to her and went to work putting the clothes back in the bags and stuffing them in the closet because I knew Alice wouldn't ever get around to doing it.

"That's about as good as it's going to get," Alice sighed, standing from my desk and turning to me, her fingers fluttering over her face. "Be honest. Do I look like the living dead?"

I snorted, shaking my head. "You're beautiful as ever." I leaned down to pick up my backpack. "Are we ready to go? I don't want to be late."

"I need shoes…" she trailed off, walking over to my closet. She peered inside, her eyes dropping to my small collection of footwear.

"What's wrong with the shoes you came here in?"

Alice looked at me over her shoulder, her expression insinuating that I was insane.

"You're not serious? I cannot wear my black Docs with a light blue romper," she scoffed dismissively. She reached down, picking up my white flats. "These will have to do."

She fell back on my bed, slipping the flats on and holding her legs out to study them for way longer than necessary.

I teetered back and forth on my feet, my fingers gripping the strap of my backpack as I impatiently waited for Alice to hurry the hell up. I hated being late for school. It gave me five kinds of anxiety. My eyes reflexively shot over to my nightstand alarm.

"We need to go," I told her, making it very clear I wasn't happy about waiting any longer.

Alice cut her eyes over to me. "Bitch, you could be taking the bus."

"At least I'd make it to school on time," I countered.

Alice rolled her eyes, standing up. "Okay, okay. Let's go, you little freak of nature."

Alice and I grabbed cereal bars from the pantry before heading out to her car. I was so hungry from not eating any dinner last night that I devoured mine in less than three seconds, whereas Alice ate hers at a more leisurely pace as she drove us to school.

When we pulled into the parking lot, our friends Angela and Jessica ran over. Angela had an anxious look on her face, while Jessica smiled wide, her eyes set on me through the windshield.

"Well, well, well," Jess sang when I opened the car door and stepped out. She faced me, walking backward as I kept going toward the school.

"What?"

"We saw the guy when you jumped into that car," she said. "Spill, missy."

I rolled my eyes. "There's nothing to spill."

I was so not giving Jessica fuel for her chatter mill. I would become the main character of her next senseless blog when the whole town flocked to it for all the newest gossip. That was the last thing I needed.

Before Jess could say anything else, Angela grabbed my hand, her eyes boring into my own.

"I am so sorry. Your mom called me, and I had to tell her what I saw."

Ah, of course, she was the friend that outed me to my mother. But I couldn't hold that against her. I wasn't going to make a liar out of anyone when I knew just how jumbled and messy that could get.

Besides, in a way, it set me free in the end.

I squeezed her fingers reassuringly. "It's totally fine. Don't even worry about it."

She smiled, relief clear on her face. "I was worried you'd be upset with me."

I shook my head. "Nah, we're cool."

"Not to break up this romantic exchange," Jess piped in callously, pushing her way between me and Angela and throwing her arm over my shoulders. "But I seriously need some details. From what I could see that guy was fuckhot, and he only had eyes for you."

I looked at her out of the corner of my eye, my hand reaching up to remove her arm from around my neck.

"Please just mind your business," I answered simply.

Jess opened her mouth, but before she could get a word out, Alice pushed her to the side and wrapped her arm around mine. "You heard her, Jess. Skedaddle."

Jess huffed, turning on her heel and walking in the other direction. Angela came to my other side as we each took the first step leading to the school.

"Tell me again why we're friends with that rodent," Alice mumbled.

Angela leaned forward to look at her with a grin. "Because we've all been friends since pre-k, and habits are hard to break."

"Yeah, but her jabbering jaw isn't," Alice retorted snidely.

Angela snickered, waving to us as the warning bell sounded. Alice and I headed to our first period, only separating when we went to our seats. She grinned at me before plopping down at her desk.

I was happy that Alice seemed to be feeling better, but also a bit worried about how quickly she made a turnabout. Alice was never the type to hold anything in, except for when it came to real, deep emotions. She didn't know how to handle sadness, and I had witnessed on several occasions her self-destructive ways when faced with something she couldn't immediately take down.

I filed those thoughts away to dissect at a later date, giving my full attention to the teacher as she called for it.

Xxx

"Can you believe it? Little miss goody-two-shoes…"

"She's a total poser."

"It was so a pity ride."

I sighed, keeping my head down as I moved my spork around my plate, smooshing down the clumped macaroni until it disappeared. The rumor mill had inevitably made its way around the school, leaving me the starring role of a good girl gone fake bad.

I lifted my heated gaze up to Jessica who sat across from me. She laughed as she munched on grapes, her hands moving enthusiastically about her face. She was the picture of ease – as if she hadn't just single-handedly made me the butt of everyone's joke.

Her loose lips spread my personal business, filling in the unknown blanks with her imaginative speculations, presenting them as truths.

Some friend…

"Hey, Bella," Lauren Mallory, our resident cliché head cheerleader, called as she walked by our table with her malicious minions. I met her eyes warily. "We heard about your gangbang yesterday. My aunt works at the clinic if you need a quick appointment."

My jaw fell open as Alice stood abruptly. I put my hand on her arm to stop her, but she shook me off. She walked up to Lauren, who towered a full foot over her. Lauren grinned down at Alice, her eyes sparkling with amused mischief.

"What the fuck did you just say?" Alice seethed, her fists shaking at her sides.

"I was just offering my help," Lauren answered sweetly with a nonchalant shrug. "We heard about her gang initiation, and that kind of thing can have some really bad lasting effects."

"Are you speaking from personal experience?" Alice cocked her head to the side.

Lauren laughed, throwing her head back before eyeing Alice.

"I'm not a whore, sweety."

"I've heard differently," Alice snapped back, her trembling body betraying her light-hearted, carefree tone.

"Have you now?" Lauren remarked, unbothered. "And this is coming from the girl who has a new boy in her bed every other day? You can't keep a guy because they all know you're a nasty little STD gremlin."

Alice teetered back on her heels; her face splotched in angry red. Before anyone could react, Alice's fist flew up from her side and connected with Lauren's temple, a loud popping noise echoing in the room. Lauren fell to the floor, a crumpled and dazed heap. She made a move to stand but fell back on her ass. The lunchroom erupted in roaring chaos as some cheered while others gasped and yelled. Our lunch monitor, Mr. Banner, ran over, grabbing hold of Alice before she could strike again.

Lauren's minions helped her up as Mr. Banner instructed them to get her to the nurse. I stood, watching in shock as a struggling Alice was carted out of the room and down the hall toward the principal's office.

"Holy shit," Jessica whispered when the room finally quieted down.

I cut my eyes over to her, glaring with barely suppressed rage.

"Are you happy with yourself?" I snapped, balling my fists on the table and leaning forward.

She reared back. "Wha… I didn't do anything," she defended, blinking rapidly.

"You just had to spread rumors," I retorted between clenched teeth. "What is wrong with you?"

"Hey, I never said any of that shit. I wouldn't say those things about you. People came to their own conclusions when you sped off with that guy."

"It's true," Angela spoke up in a calm tone. "Bella, I promise Jess didn't say that about you. Lauren was just trying to get a rise out of you. You know how she is."

I sighed, falling back in my seat. I rested my elbows on the table, dropping my head into my hands and pushing on my pounding temples. It had been a long day, and I still had two classes left. Now I had to worry about Alice on top of all the shit going on.

When the bell rang, I stood with my tray, depositing it in the bin and avoiding all the stares I could feel aimed at me. I walked alone to Biology class, where Mr. Banner stood by the whiteboard, one hand holding his Bio manual while his other scribbled furiously with a blue marker.

"Mr. B?" I called, walking up to him.

His hand paused momentarily as he looked over at me with a quizzical brow.

"Yes, Bella?"

"Um… I was just wondering if Alice is all right?"

He shook his head. "That's not for me to say."

He turned back to the board, and I sighed dejectedly. I couldn't even text Alice to check on her because I left my phone at home. I rarely brought it to school, and I was kicking myself for that habit.

I walked to my table, where my lab partner, Mike, was there with a shit-eating grin on his face, his twinkling blue eyes set on me. As long as I'd known Mike, he was a real dirtbag, always harassing the girls he came in contact with. I mentally groaned, my feet turning into heavy bricks as I forced them to close the distance between us.

As soon as I sat down, Mike was on me like a fly on shit.

"Bella, Bella, Bella," he sang, coming closer to my face, completely invading my personal space.

I leaned back, grimacing. "What?"

"I had no idea you were so… liberated."

He spoke the word as if it were an innuendo, his disgusting macaroni breath wafting over my face. I rolled my eyes, barely containing the barf wanting to spew forth. I swallowed down the stomach acid creeping up my throat, my hand touching his shoulder to push him back.

"Leave me alone," I mumbled, turning to face the front, hoping that would be the end of it. Of course, it wasn't.

"I heard you're selling for a cheap price," he continued.

I glared at him. "Selling what?"

"Your body," he answered as if I should already know.

"That's disgusting," I growled, my voice louder than I meant it to be. I looked over to Mr. Banner, but he was nose-deep in his book, still writing on the board.

"Baby, I don't judge," Mike insisted in what could only be construed as a poor imitation of a sexy purr. "I've got ten bucks if you've got ten minutes after school."

I felt my cheeks heat up, both in humiliation and anger. My teeth snapped shut as my jaw locked. I wanted nothing more than to beat him over the head with my Bio book, my hands shaking on my lap with the violent urge coursing through my veins.

I took a deep breath to steady myself, my eyes facing forward. He tried a few more times to get my attention, his pencil poking my thigh when I wouldn't meet his eyes. I did my best to ignore him. I refused to give in to his sick game. If I gave in to it, I would only feed the mob what they wanted. They wanted to bother me, hurt me, and humiliate me.

I kept my mouth shut and my head down for the rest of the day, and when gym class finally came to an end, I ran outside, the cold rain dripping from the sky and cooling my overheated skin. I walked to where the buses were, still ignoring the leers and catcalls coming my way.

It seemed the whole school had it out for me, and it was all because I got into a car with Edward.

Fucking unbelievable.

I couldn't express the relief I felt when Alice's car pulled into the parking lot, rolling up next to me. I quickly opened the door, throwing myself into the seat and slamming the door shut. My chest relaxed, unclenching as I took in a full breath of air that wasn't marred with crippling anxiety.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you," I exhaled slowly, leaning my head on the seat and turning to face her.

Alice drove off, her left hand on the wheel as she cradled her right hand to her chest. My eyes widened when I took in the white gauze and the splint around her thumb.

"You broke your thumb?" I asked, dumbfounded.

Alice shook her head. "Nah, it popped out of place; it's just a sprain."

Well, that explained the loud popping noise when she hit Lauren.

I nodded, relieved it at least wasn't broken. It was the first good thing to happen all day. And I really needed some good news.

"Did you get in a lot of trouble?" I asked nervously.

"Suspended until next week," she mumbled with a roll of her eyes. "Lauren got the same, though, so no need to worry about her bothering you for a while."

"Why did she get suspended?" I inquired curiously. It was usually the one who did the hitting that got the boot, not the one who was hit.

Alice snickered. "Dumb bitch tried to have a go at me in the principal's office when they brought her in."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course she did."

Like Alice, Lauren wasn't known for her restraint.

"They called my parents," Alice continued, her voice wavering slightly. "They said they would be home tomorrow and that my aunt was looking after me for now. Guess they didn't want to be caught out as shit parents."

"So, they're coming back early?"

That was surprising. The world could be ending, and Alice's parents wouldn't cut their vacation short.

Alice snorted, shaking her head.

"Are you kidding? They texted me while I was at the ER and told me not to hit anyone else because they don't need the drama while they're trying to enjoy Bora Bora."

Shaking my head, I reached out to her, touching her arm softly. I knew how much her parents' neglectful ways truly hurt her. Even though she would never admit it out loud.

"I'm sorry, Al."

She sniffed disinterestedly, shrugging her shoulder and moving out of my grasp.

"It's whatever. I don't even care."

"Okay," I whispered with a nod. "What do you want to do now?"

"Can we hang at your place?" she asked as we came to the split road between her neighborhood and mine.

"Yeah, sure."

I just hoped my dad wasn't home yet. My mom usually was, but she loved Alice and enjoyed her company. Dad did as well, but I had a feeling he wasn't particularly happy with me at the moment. I was still waiting for the shitstorm to hit.

We rolled onto my driveway, anxiety filling my chest when I saw both their cars parked there. I looked over at Alice hesitantly.

"My dad might scream at me," I warned her.

Her eyebrows puckered. "Why?"

I cocked my head to the side, biting my lip. "I kind of told my mom about Edward and some of what I've been up to."

Alice's brows smoothed out and shot up her forehead. "Oh, shit. Should I leave?"

"Maybe you should stay…" I trailed off, fear enveloping me like an unwanted hug. Maybe Alice could save me from some of my dad's wrath.

Alice shrugged, her splinted hand knocking into my arm softly.

"I got you, girl. Let's do this."

Alice and I exited the car, her steps quicker than mine as we walked into uncharted territory. When I didn't open the door, Alice rolled her eyes, turning the knob and pushing it. She gestured for me to go in ahead of her, and I did so with my head hanging low and my hands gripping the straps of my backpack like life preservers.

I could hear my parents in the living room, their voices hushed and stopping altogether when I came into view.

Mom stood from the couch as my dad leaned forward on his recliner, his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped firmly in front of him. His eyes were on me, but he said nothing. Instead, my mom spoke first, her voice calm and controlled.

"Alice, I'm glad you're here. You should be part of this conversation."

Alice reared back, pointing to her chest. "Me?"

Mom nodded. "Sit down, girls."

Alice and I exchanged wary glances before going to the couch and sitting close to each other. My knee jumped with nerves as I bit my pinkie nail, anxiously waiting for whatever they had in store for us.

Mom sat on the arm of the recliner, her hand rubbing up and down my father's back in a soothing motion.

"Bella, your father and I are very disappointed in your choices lately," Mom started. "It's one thing to go to a party without telling an adult where you're going – that's forgivable. But it's an entirely different matter for you to get yourself involved with a grown man. That we cannot abide, not in a romantic way or as friends. It's just not going to happen, do you understand?"

I looked at Alice out of the corner of my eye. She had a confused look on her face but kept silent.

"Do you understand?" Mom asked again in a more stern tone.

I looked back at her, nodding slowly.

She turned her attention to Alice.

"And you, Missy," she said, pointing her finger at Alice. "What is your role in this?"

"Uh, m-my role?" Alice stammered nervously, not used to parental interrogations. "I… Uh, I don't know?"

"Well, you took her to the party, did you not?"

Alice nodded with wide eyes.

"Bella told me you went there to see your boyfriend. How old is he?"

"Twenty-four," Alice responded meekly, her shoulders dropping. "And he's not my boyfriend anymore."

"I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear that," Mom sighed. "Not only is it entirely inappropriate for a seventeen-year-old to date a grown man, but it is also dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Alice echoed, matching my thoughts.

"Charlie looked into the man Bella told me about, and you two are lucky to have gotten out of there without a scratch on you."

Dad looked at me, his eyes tired, but a fire was brewing beneath the surface. I leaned back on the couch, forcing my eyes to keep in contact with his.

"This Edward Cullen has an extensive criminal background – drugs, fighting, theft, and that's just to name a few. How you could be so irresponsible, so immature as to get yourself involved with someone like that—"

Dad cut himself off, breathing deeply through his nose, my mother gripping his shoulder to steady him. When he regained his composure, his dark eyes darted between me and Alice.

"If I find out that either of you go near those men again, I will personally take them down. Do I make myself clear?"

I nodded quickly, nudging Alice when she didn't respond. She looked at me and then turned to my father.

"Yes, sir," she said quietly, nodding her head curtly.

"You two may go upstairs," Mom said, standing. "I'm making garlic noodles and steak for dinner if you want to stay, Alice."

"Sounds good," she replied softly as she stood.

I grabbed her hand, dragging her up the stairs and into my room. I closed the door and sat on the bed, Alice following me.

"Well, that went better than I thought it would," I hedged nervously, scratching the back of my neck.

Alice's eyes cut over to me. "What did your mom mean when she said you couldn't be friends with Edward?"

My shoulders dropped as I exhaled harshly.

"Because I told her Edward and I were just friends."

"Are you?"

I shrugged. "Honestly, I have no idea. He said he wanted to be friends, but then he sent me a dismissive text last night, so … I don't know."

"Wow," she breathed, shaking her head. "Were you going to tell me that? Because when I asked you about it last night, you didn't mention that little detail."

"Alice," I sighed, exhausted. "You were a mess. I didn't want to pile onto your sadness. I didn't think it was fair that Edward wanted to be friends when Jasper treated you like the Devil incarnate. It didn't feel like the best time to say anything about it."

"I guess…" Alice turned her face away from me, sniffling softly. She scrubbed her hand over her eyes roughly before standing and looking down at me. "Has Edward texted you since then?"

I frowned. "I'm not sure."

Reaching toward my nightstand, I grabbed my phone and input my password. I could feel the trepidation mixed with excitement when I saw that I did, in fact, have a text from Edward.

I looked up at Alice. "Should I open it? I mean … my parents…"

"Open it," she insisted quickly, coming to sit beside me, her eyes trained on my phone screen.

I took a deep breath, blowing it out through pursed lips as I swiped his text open, reading the words with a heavy heart.

Bella, when I told you we could be friends, I was just caught up in the moment and made a mistake. Being with you felt natural, but let's face it – it wasn't. You're only seventeen, innocent, and that doesn't fit my lifestyle. Go on with your life as if we never met. Be safe.

Edward.

Alice's warm finger on my cheek startled me from my trance as I read and reread the words on the screen. She wiped away the stray tear I hadn't noticed slip down. I let out a wavering breath as I set my phone on the bed.

"Ouch," I laughed painfully, holding my hand to my quaking chest and taking in another staggering breath.

"I'm sorry," Alice breathed, wrapping her arm around my neck. She leaned in, kissing my cheek softly, then placing her face against mine. She rubbed the back of my head, the same as I had done for her the night before.

"Why does this hurt so bad?" I asked, still laughing senselessly.

Alice shook her head, her cheek sticking to my wet one.

"Because it does," she answered simply, her fingers tightening in my hair.

"I can't believe it's over… just like that…"

"I'm sorry I brought you into this, Bella," Alice whispered against my skin.

My mouth pulled down at the corners, a lump forming in my throat. Was this what heartbreak felt like? Could I possibly have my heart shattered by someone I barely knew?

I gripped my chest, feeling it quake with sobs that were fighting to break free.

Yes... this was definitely heartbreak – it didn't matter if it didn't make sense. My body refused to see logic as it crumbled into tiny pieces.

xxx

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