Chapter 2: Crap-o

Fifteen Minutes Later

Sitting in my truck that was parked in front of their apartment, my leg bounced like a hooker on crack.

I was so fucking nervous and I didn't really understand as to why. 

It just, wouldn't go away.

Shaking my head to get rid of the paranoia that was irritating me beyond belief, I jumped out of my truck and slammed the door shut behind me. Making my way towards their complex, I dug into my bag to look for the spare key that my brother had given me some time ago, all the while telling myself to chill the fuck out. After taking a few deep breaths, I stepped into Em and Rose's apartment, welcoming myself. 

Yeah, we're family and shit, what did you expect?

Looking around the empty living room, I shut the door. "Fucking, honey! I'm home!" I shouted...

And then snorted. 

I'm a funny little shit, what can I say? 

Don't hate. Appreciate.

I scrunched my eyebrows together as I heard some kind of shouting coming from down the hallway. I would immediately recognize it if it came from my brother, knowing his loud ass. It sounded more like it was coming from Rose.

What the shit?

My eyes roamed the living room, looking for a weapon to get a hold of.

What I was going to do with it, you ask? Mm, yeah, no clue.

It was just a natural goddamn instinct, motherfuckers.

Seeing a bat that was on the floor next to their entertainment system, I ran over and snatched it up. Holding it against my chest — and picturing myself as a criminal for the confidence that I needed to save Em and Rose from whoever broke into their apartment — my ass tiptoed down the hallway as I headed towards their bedroom, where growls started echoing throughout the walls. 

It sounded like someone was fucking hurt.


Nearing their room where the sounds were a bit more prominent, I gritted my teeth in anger, hoping that I won't find out that Emmett was becoming a second rate version of his Pop, because no lie, I'll have no problem in kicking his ass. Holding the bat up in the air, I lifted my leg and kicked the door open when I reached it...

Only to see Rose's bare ass cheeks grinding against a man who had socks on.

Motherfucking socks.

I slowly lowered my weapon with raised eyebrows as I walked into the bedroom in some sort of a daze. Taking a closer look, I noticed man hands holding onto Rose's hips while she continued to move on top of him, as if she were a rodeo queen who had no intention of flying off of the bull and losing the ride. But, they weren't just any man hands that were somewhat controlling the chick's mind of competition.

They were Emmett's man hands…

"Oh my fucking Go — ewe — my eyes — Jesus. Socks. Throw up in my mouth."

And that, is what came tumbling out of my mouth.

You don't have to tell me, people. Brilliant, I know.

My mouth hung open a bit as I shut my eyes before opening them up again.

I just couldn't…move. 


I was paralyzed with a mixture of a little shock and a whole lot of disgust.

Not wanting to see the sight before me — hence my eyes closing — but kind of astounded as to how Rose's one leg had the capability of being in that position — hence them opening up again — I stood there, taken aback by the broad's flexibility.

Like, seriously. Rose must not have any hip bones.

And, I won't lie to you. As more time goes by and you get to know me, you'll all notice that I do a lot of shit that may be kind of...Oh, I don't know...I guess, classified as embarrassing.

But, I honestly don't care. I'm used to my own embarrassment, and stupidity. I own up to it, like a proud parent who just taught their two year old how to correctly use a toilet.

With that said, I'm not ashamed in letting you guys know that I even caught myself lifting my leg up in the air, only to see how high it was able to go and to test out — so to speak —  if that position was fucking possible. Em's groan broke me out of my aerobics as he remained oblivious to me. "Yes, Rosie baby, right there…"

I placed my arms across my chest and leaned against the wall next to the door with pursed lips before I said the only thing that I thought of saying at a time like this. "Ha, Rosie…fucking classic."

Emmett's head shot up at my statement. "What the fu—Bella!"

I nodded like that's me, and he grimaced as he grabbed onto the sheets that were next to him before quickly covering himself up. Rose looked over her shoulder with a smirk, acting like the true hooker that she was. "Hey, Honey B."

This chick, right?

Em pushed Rose away from him, which caused her to yelp in response as her body flew off of the bed. After some kind of a mumbled apology, he turned his apple colored face to me. "B, can you uh, give us a minute? I need to get dressed." 

I slapped my hands over my eyes before I pushed myself off of the wall, breaking out of my shock. As I slowly made my way towards the door while keeping my gaze hidden, I began stuttering. "Uh, yeah, duh. That sounds like a...moral idea...shit!" I groaned as my knee slammed into something solid. 

"You okay, Kiddo?"  

I mumbled a quick "Golden," as I uncovered my eyes and stumbled out of their bedroom, all 'smooth' like. As I made my way down the hallway, I heard Rose's boisterous laugh and grinned. "But damn, Rosie! It sounded like some kind of a motherfucking crime scene!" 

I snorted, hearing her comeback of "Call me Rosie again, Swan! I dare you!" as I headed into the kitchen. 

Hah…fucking Rosie. 

It never gets old to me, man. Works like magic. 

And, would you look at that? I'm a magician.

Shaking my head, I started warming up some soup for that 'sick at home with the flu' brother of mine.

I so knew that it was bullshit.

Something was up, and I'm not talking about Emmett's di—

Cue me, dry heaving.

Five minutes later, while I was pouring the soup into a bowl, I felt familiar arms wrap around my shoulders and grimaced, due to the fact that his hands were a little too close to my face. Shrugging his hold off of me with a gag, I turned around. "Em, wait a few seconds with those hugs of yours." 

"Too soon?" his dimpled face asked in a murmur, showing me nothing but release.

Oh God. Is that his 'I just got done getting it in' voice?

"Fuck, Em!" I growled before covering up my mouth, feeling nauseous. "You're just as sick as Rose." 

He shrugged as he grabbed the bowl out of my hands. "Sorry, Kiddo. I can't help my desire." 

I groaned as he walked over to the table, his 'no shame' demeanor not making the situation better. 

---

We sat across from each other in comfortable silence while he basically inhaled the soup that I cooked up from a can. A grin overtook my features as I took in his appearance, the thought crossing my mind of how much I truly missed this kid.

After he was done, he pushed his bowl away and raised an eyebrow at me, breaking the quietness that irked him, always. "So, what's going on, Kiddo? Why the sudden visit? I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm more than happy that you came by. It's been a while and I miss your sarcastic ass."

"Socks though, Em?" I laughed, not being able to help the shit anymore. "Who does that?"

As he rolled his eyes at me, I noticed the darkened bags that shadowed his lids.  

If I know him, the fact of the kid loving his sleep and not getting any was irking me.

Again, something was u — going on.

As soon as Em noticed that my expression changed from amused to worry, he looked away from me. "Bella, I don't know. I just didn't think to take off my socks. It's —"

I lifted my hand up in the air to stop him. "Tell me what's wrong, Emmett. And think twice about telling me that it's nothing. You know better than to do that shit with me."

He sighed as he stood up from his chair, causing me to follow suit as I kept my eyes on him while he walked over to the sink to place his empty bowl in there. "Come on," he whispered, looking over his shoulder as he headed over to the kitchen door. "I want to show you something funny that I found on TV last ni—" 

"Emmett, you're fucking pissing me off," I interrupted once again, pushing my chair under the table. Letting his hand drop from the door, he closed his eyes as he lowered his head. "Why aren't you getting any sleep?" I asked, walking up to him. "What's going on with you?"

Christ. Did Rose say anything to him about Phil?

"Nothing," he whispered, meeting my eyes again. "I just haven't been sleeping good. Rose keeps me u—"

And cue me slapping my hand over his mouth…

And him biting into my palm in return. 

I narrowed my eyes at him as I wiped my hand against the front of his shirt that was now — thank the fuck God — covering his chest. "Bullshit, dude. You're hiding something from me, so just do me a solid and tell me."

"Look kiddo, please don't start w—"

"Stop calling me fucking kiddo, Emmett!" I snapped. "What the hell is going on? Shit, just tell me, man!"

"Nothing!" he yelled back, returning my anger by slamming his open palm against the closed door.

Yeah, okay…I'm done with this shit today.

I shook my head before I pushed him aside — more than ready to leave this kitchen as soon as possible — and he groaned as he took a hold of my arms, stopping me as he blocked my exit. "Fuck, I'm sorry. It's just not the day to start harassing me and shit, alright?"

"I'm harassing you now?" I asked incredulously. "Well, shit…I'm sorry." Grabbing a hold of the front of his tee shirt, I growled while I tried to push him away from the door. "Get out of my way, goddamnit!"

"Bella, I'm sorry, okay? Don't be like that."

I raised an irritated eyebrow as I continued my struggle with his strength. "Like that? Like what?" 

"Like this!" he groaned, his hands over my waist pushing me away from the door. "Just relax for a second." I stood up on the tips of my toes and placed my mouth over one of his arms to bite the shit out of the skin there, causing my brother to yelp in response, like some pussy that I knew he wasn't. "Fuck, B! Stop that!" 

All of a sudden, I had enough and was more than ready to just fucking go.

"You're just like him!" I shouted...

And then froze. 

Oh God. Did I really just say that?

His hands let go of me as soon as the unexpected statement left my mouth. Without looking at him, I quickly pushed the door open and ran out into the living room, internally cursing my existence as I heard him behind me. "Wait a goddamn minute here. Who am I like, Kiddo?"

When I reached the front door, his hips pushed mine aside before his whole body blocked my exit. I lowered my head and remained silent as I tried to come up with a way to get out of this dilemma. "Who the fuck am I like, Bella?" he repeated in a yell, shaking me.

I lifted my head and was met with his enraged eyes as he placed his arms across his chest. Standing there, I started breathing a little faster, shocked that Em actually yelled at me like that, and terrified, that this was really happening, right now. 

When I didn't answer his question, he took two steps towards me and before I had the chance to react, he had me pinned up against the wall with his fingers around my wrists, tight. I closed my eyes in panic when I felt his chest push itself into my shoulder, causing me to make the biggest mistake of my life.

I hissed.

His hold instantly dropped at my expression of pain and my eyes snapped open as he stepped away from me with his hands up in the air, his gaze stuck on my shoulder as if it didn't belong on my body. 

As if it was some foreign being.

Rose came running out into the living room, her concerned eyes meeting Emmett's livid ones that stayed on my shoulder as I ran one of my hands over the ache. "What's going on?" she asked him as she quickly stepped in between the two of us, noticing that my brother was slipping. "You need to chill. Last time this happened, we had to buy a new television se—"

"Rose, stop," he whispered, interrupting her.

"Can someone tell me what's going on here?" she asked, not stopping.

Ignoring her question, he walked up to me and went to pull the top of my hoodie down, but fuck that cause I was in no way ready for it. I slapped his hand away from me with narrowed eyes. "Mind you own business." 

His eyes burned into mine and I knew that it was bad when he actually listened to my words. Giving me a small nod that was calculating in its own way, he walked over to the couch and took a seat. With his legs spread apart and his elbows resting on top of his knees, he brought his hands up to his face. "Kiddo, I am only going to ask you one motherfucking question," he began without meeting anyones gaze. "If I don't get that question answered a minute after I ask it, I'm going to assume the worst."

Rose decided to try again. "Emmett, baby, come on. Let it g—"

"Rose," he interrupted, his voice ice. "I don't mean to say it like this but right now, is not the fucking time."

My body started to physically shake as I continued to stand there, terrified of what his question might be, because if I answered it with a lie, Emmett will know the moment that it leaves my mouth. With absolutely no doubt.

I tore my eyes away from him and looked at Rose. 

Everything about her demeanor told me that she was petrified.

"Bella, is someone hi —" his words died as he lowered his head and shook it. 

I lifted my hoodie up over my hair. "Emmett, let's no —"

"Is someone laying a goddamn finger on you, Bella?" he interrupted me.

I kept my eyes on Rose as she took a step towards me, her attention on my brother as he kept his head lowered. "No, Emmett."

Rose twitched and Em's head lifted at my lie, like I knew that it would. "Who is it?"

I turned around and headed for the front door. 

"Who the fuck it is?" he growled, the question directed at both Rose and I. My steps quickened as I saw the remote fly across the room before hitting the wall. "Fucking tell me, B!"

When I went to unlock the door, I felt Em's arms around my waist and groaned when he lifted me up in the air as he threw me over his shoulder with ease. I started punching his back, trying to use my nonexistent strength to weaver his steps as he led us towards the hallway. "Emmett McCarty, don't you start! Let me down!"

Rose broke out of her shock with a quick shake of her head before she started running after us. 'What can I do?' she mouthed, her hands up in the air as we neared the bathroom. 'Christ, tell me what to do! He's going to flip a shit!'

As soon as my brother stepped into the bathroom, he quickly turned around and slammed the door shut in Rose's face when she was about to follow us in, causing my eyes to widen in 'No, he didn't!' 

Does he have a death wish?

Rose pounded on the door with a growl. "The fuck, Emmett?"

Lowering me down onto the floor, I pushed him away from me with a glare and he rolled his eyes at me in return before he addressed his woman. "Rose, I just need a few minutes with my goddamn sister. Relax." 

"Emmett, you listen to me right this second," she started in a low whisper as she punched the door. "I'm going to do you a life saving favor by forgetting the fact that you just shut the fucking door in my face, but come on. Let's all talk about this like human be—"

"Rose, just one fucking minute, okay?" he interrupted in a shout.

Wow. He does want to die.

She kicked the door. "I am going to make you regret your ever loving existence, Emmett McCarty. You just wait!"

Taking a hold of my arm, he pulled me over to the toilet and placed his hands over my shoulders to push me down so that I could take a seat on top of it. My eyes discretely roamed the small room for an escape route as he sat down on the edge of the tub, both of his knees touching mine as we faced each other. "Bella, there's no way out of here so stop wasting your time."

Christ. I didn't know what the hell to do but I needed to do something.

Hmm, maybe if I…

I crossed my legs together tightly, trying to seem uncomfortable. "I need to use the bathroom. Now."

He shrugged. "Then use the fucking bathroom."

I whined his name as I bounced in my seat. "You know how I can't do it in front of people. I'm pee shy." 

He placed his arms across his chest, not at all phased by my childish behavior...

That right now, didn't seem so childish to me.

Maybe if I act as it I'm lowering the zipper of my jeans, it'll work?

You think that he'll freak out, seeing my panties?

Yeah okay, I give up.

This kid would never buy it, he'd just cover up his eyes and continue.

Traumatized or not.

Leaning towards me a little, he placed his elbows over his knees. "B, enough with the bullshit," he whispered. "We are not leaving this room until I get some answers and that's that. I mean, if you honestly want to waste our time, then waste it. I don't care. I have all fucking day."

Fuck my life.

Yep, fuck it.

He raised an eyebrow at me after a minute or two and I looked away from him. "Who's the motherfucker?" 

I lowered my forehead and placed it against my open hands. "No one."

"Bullshit," he replied, pulling my arms away from my body. "Why are you doing this to me? You know how I am and how I feel when it involves you getting hurt in any way, whether it be physically or mentally. Are you really hiding something from me right now? Come on, man. You know that shit hurts me even more, Kiddo."

My eyes widened a bit at the sudden thought that crossed my mind. "I got into a fight," I blurted out.

Yes! Fucking perfect, where the hell did that come from?

"With?" he asked as he placed his arms across his chest.

Well, shit. It would have been nice if I knew that answer, now wouldn't it?

"Some chick at work last night," I lied with a shrug, my eyes on the sink. "She was getting smart wi—"

"Are you done?" he interrupted as he scratched his eyebrow.

Meeting his eyes again, I scrunched my brows together, thinking that I was on a roll a second ago. "What?"

"Oh, I'm sorry for interrupting," he whispered dramatically, clearly not apologizing. "Go on with your bullshit." I was about to do just that but as soon as I opened my mouth to feed him another line, my brother stopped me with a raised eyebrow. "Hey, do you by any chance want to hear some of my bullshit?"

"Emmett, please…can we just…wait — your bullshit?"

He nodded. "Yeah, my bullshit. Do you know who I hung out with last night?" I shook my head, not knowing. "I was with our boy Sam. It turned out, he let Eclipse close down early last night since it was dead. The man said that there was no point in wasting time when we could just grab a beer here, at my very own apartment. You know what guys do when they drink, Bella? We talk. About funny shit that may have happened during the week. When I mentioned you, he said nothing about you getting into a fight, which would be considered funny. As a matter of fact, Kiddo, Sam said that J was the only one working behind the bar last night."

Sam. My motherfucking boss.

Again, thanks God! This is just what I fucking needed.

"So, let me ask you again," he started, cocking his head to the side a bit. "Are you done?"

I couldn't take it.

This is my brother.

I can't let him ruin his own goddamn life, over me.

"Yeah, Emmett. I'm done," I whispered, standing up slowly. He stayed on his seat as he lowered his head and closed his eyes. Running my fingers through his curly hair, I leaned down and kissed his cheek. "Just relax. I can take care of myself. I'm okay."

He looked broken. I caused that.

I turned around and walked out into the hallway after opening the door, without saying anything else to him. As I entered the living room, I grimaced when I heard things getting tossed around in the room that I just left. Rose ran out of the kitchen with worry — for his sake, not mine, knowing that he would never hurt me — as I bent down to pick up my bag, not looking my way as she took off towards the bathroom.

I unlocked and opened the front door a few seconds later with a smile as Emmett stopped breaking whatever it was that he was breaking. Stepping outside, I nodded, thankful that Rose was here since she is honestly the only one who could calm Em down when he lost his shit.

After locking the door behind me without a second thought of needing to go inside to fix…anything, I barely made it to my truck before I broke down, the emotions that were running through my blood hitting home. 

Hitting Emmett.

I just lied to him, to his face. 

It was just surreal to me. How could I do that?

As I was angrily wiping away the tears over my cheeks — hating the feeling of weakness that they showed — I started my truck, deciding that I was going to head over to Eclipse early. There was a new chick who Rose was supposed to train but seeing as to what just went down, I knew that she wouldn't be making it in tonight.

---

I arrived at Eclipse around nine thirty, feeling fucking miserable. I walked through the noisy club, too deep in my thoughts as I gave no glance towards the bar to see who was working behind it tonight. As I opened the door and stepped into the back room to clock in, Sam tore his eyes away from the papers that he was busy reading and gave me a small smile. 

Sam Uley is Emily's husky man of a husband. He and Seth — who graces us with his rare presence a couple times a year since he's not all that big on the bar scene — both own Eclipse.

Eclipse is your typical club. This place is highly known around here and it's always packed. All of us are up to our asses with drink orders from nine P to two A. I completely adore the people who I work with, they're all family to me. And, this place is like my second home or maybe, just an excuse for me not to go home. Really, I can't count how many times I've slept here, since I'm the one who usually closes Eclipse down at the end of the night.

You're all probably wondering why I even call that goddamn hole that was mentioned before a home, right? Why not just get a place of my own instead of having to torture myself with Phil and Renee's bullshit, yeah?

Well, the answer to that is simple. I can't just leave Renee. I have this guilt, this duty, to stick around and take care of everything. If I decide to up and go, where would that leave her? The lady can't possibly take care of herself. Do I expect Phil to pick up the slack? Don't make me laugh. Honestly? 

After sliding my card through the machine and smiling at the familiar ding that it made, I walked over to Sam and kissed his cheek. "How's it going, hot stuff?"

He shrugged something worn out as he leaned back into his chair. "All seems good here, but you look like shit, B."

I gave the back of his head a light smack and rolled my eyes at him as I walked over to the door. "Thank you, Sam. I feel so loved, really." Cocking my head to the side, I raised a brow. "I feel as if this is the night where I should accidentally spill something and walk through it. Watch your back with the soon to be law suit."

He laughed as he stood up from his seat. "Quit your shit, B." Walking over to the fridge, the man raised his own eyebrow at me. "Really, though. Is everything okay? If you need a few nights off, you need to tell me. Looking through the time sheets that just came in for the past two weeks, I found myself wondering how you could have possibly worked all of those hours." 

I went to interrupt but he stopped me with a wave of his hand. "Come on. I'm not arguing about the money so don't even try and tell me that I don't have to pay you for the extra hours. Don't twist my words." 

I ran one of my hands down my face as he grabbed a water bottle. "I'm just worried about you," he continued as he headed back over to his desk. Taking a seat, he shook his head. "Christ, B, I'm exhausted by the end of the day and I don't do half of the shit that you do. You need to chill out a bit by taking it easy. Don't make me fire your ass for overworking, cause that's what's going to happen."

"Are you…Sam, come on. Are you serious right now?"

"Dead serious. You are more important to me than running this club."

I gave him the finger to show him my appreciation and he grinned before he gave me the finger back, causing a dramatic gasp of surprise to leave my mouth. "I mean it, Bella. I want less hours, starting right now. Make it happen. If you don't, you'll be punished with no employment or any means of income." 

I rolled my eyes as I pushed the door open. "Also, don't think that you'll be able to find another job, either. You know that I know a lot of fuckers. I'm quite resentful if I lose a worker who I admire to another boss."

"Yeah, yeah. I hear you," I whispered in a mumble as I stepped out of the room. Turning around, I placed my arms across my chest and pursed my lips. "Now can I go do what I get paid to do or would you like to waste more of my time?" 

He laughed as he returned his attention back to the papers that were on top of his desk. "Please, go. I mean, fuck, what the hell do I pay you for, talking? Make yourself useful for once. This is a business, not a place of enjoym—"

I slammed the door shut, interrupting his sarcasm. 

My boss, right?

As I neared the bar, I grinned something enormous when I saw him.

Well, not him per say, but just his big ass smile that I missed.

Jake climbed over the counter that he was standing behind of, keeping his brown eyes on me as he practically shoved the innocent customers who were sitting nearby out of his way, causing me to laugh, entertained at the kid's eagerness.

Love, this kid.

He said nothing when he reached me after tossing the people who were in his way, across the room. Instead, J wrapped his arms around my waist and picked me up before pulling my body into his, nearly suffocating my ass.

Jake's Pop, Billy Black, was my Pop's best friend. 

That meant that J and I were basically glued at the hip when we were younger.

I can't complain because the kid is fucking awesome — at least, now. I wasn't so fond of him back in the day because he was a little shit who only lived to rattle my goddamn nerves — but no lie, we were honestly made for each other. If I ever had something that was bothering me, I always went to him. Even before going to Emmett.

J could always be found outside in his yard — shirtless, claiming that he liked the feeling of freedom — as he worked on old cars that people around the reservation brought to him. Whenever the kid saw me pulling up into his driveway, bawling my eyes out, he would toss whatever tool that he was holding over his shoulder and run over to me with a rapid questionnaire that consisted of…

"You're not okay. Why aren't you okay? You're uh, crying. Why are you crying? You're kind of scaring me. Why are you kind of scaring me? Where were you and why were you at where you were at? Bells, why aren't you answering me? Something went down today. Did something go down today? A fucker who wants to die offended you. Did some fucker who wants to die offend you? Who is it, man? Fuck this, move…I'll kill him."

The kid — who I frankly thought should be medicated with Ritalin — would then impatiently pull my body out of my truck and shove me aside before taking my place and driving off into the sunset, with the stereo blasting some hardcore rock music that he never listened to at any time during his existence.

And I remember — clear as day — how I would just stand there laughing my ass off, my mood lifted. I mean, I didn't comment on any of his observations or answer any of his questions and he just took off, like he now had enough information to take some kind of action. 


Jake wasn't even given a location, man. 


I always wondered where he ended up going, half the time. 

"Cant…breathe."

His hold around me loosened a little as he heard my need of receiving oxygen. He leaned back a bit, letting his eyes run themselves over my face as my own followed their act. "Bells, I missed you, shit!"

"Let go of me, you gorilla," I managed to choke out as his arms gave my waist another squeeze. "God, dude! Can't you see that I'm practically unconscious and deaf, here?" 

He laughed as he lowered me down onto the floor and I placed my palms against his cheeks to hold his face still while I studied him more closely. "Christ, J. I missed you. Can you try and not vanish from my existence for that long again?" His brows wiggled as he leaned towards me and I narrowed my eyes at him as I leaned back. "Don't you even — "

Grabbing a hold of my own cheeks, he interrupted my warning as he pulled my face up to his. I groaned as the little shit planted a big, wet, open mouthed kiss against my lips. I quickly pushed him away as I ran the back of my hand across my mouth. "Before you do things like that, close your fucking oral cavity, you slobbering tool!" I hissed.

He winked at me with a smirk. "Yeah, yeah. You like it, so don't even try to deny the shit, Bells."

I rolled my eyes with pursed lips, and when the idiot tried to kiss me again, I quickly squashed the shit by lifting my hand and smacking his mouth. He groaned, glaring at me. "Uh, owe! You could've chipped my tooth!"

I snorted before I took a hold of his hand. As I led us towards the bar, I looked over my shoulder. "I get that we have to catch up since I haven't seen your busted ass self in some time but I'm afraid that it'll have to wait. Your biggest fan Rose won't be coming in tonight so I have to train the new chick. Where is she hiding?"

He pursed his lips and nodded towards one of the booths that were out in the crowd before we both stepped behind the bar. Looking her over, I scrunched my eyebrows together. "No way? Are you serious right now?"

Jake nodded as one of his regulars called out his name. "She's been here for an hour, entertaining herself."

"She's fucking tiny," I stated as I followed him towards the fridge to get the customer his drink. "What the hell is Sam on to honestly think that she can survive this place, with all of the assholes who come here to drink and become bigger assholes?"

He shrugged as he grabbed a bottle of Corona. "Don't look at me, I'm not the one doing the hiring."

"Tell me, what's her name?"

"Alice…Alice Brandon."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Did you really just say it like that?"

"Sure did," he whispered with a grin before nudging the fridge door shut with one of his shoulders. 

After giving the idiot a quick titty twist and rolling my eyes at his groan, I pushed him aside. "Alright, I'm going to go and see what this chick is made of. Let's hope that we don't have to set up an intervention for our boss."

"You do that," he mumbled before I started heading out of the bar, "Hater." 

This chick was practically burning a hole through the goddamn leather seat that she was sitting on, what with the way that she was bouncing over it. Nearing the booth, I raised an eyebrow at her. "Alice?"

Her head turned to my voice and she smiled at me as she quickly shot up to her feet with her hand held out. I grimaced, backing up a bit. "The whole handshaking thing is unnecessary, energizer bunny. Take a seat."

Her smile didn't disappear as she quickly lowered herself to the booth. "Hey! So, I'm Alice Brandon! Are you the sarcastic bi — I mean, oh shit…I mean, no shit…I mean, are you Bella? Bella Swan?"

Did they run a drug test on this broad?

I looked over my shoulder and narrowed my eyes at Jake, seeing as to how I knew that he was the one who introduced me to her as the sarcastic bitch. I turned my attention back to Alice when the idiot winked at me, and nodded for her to move over so that I could take a seat. "So, listen, Alice. If it's cool with you, I'm going to be the one who is going to train you tonight. It's usually Rose who does that sort of thing, but something came up, so she's not here right now, aaand —" I paused to lean a bit closer to her, "I think that you should be thanking the Lord above us for that, cause she's a complete bitch."

Hah, Rosie will thank me for that. 


There's no hard feelings about it, though. That's how she introduces herself to new people, anyway...so, I have absolutely no fear of my life being taken from me.

Her expression of shock lasted for all but two seconds before a wide smirk appeared over her features. "Well if that's the case, Rose should know that she has some competition as of now." I raised an eyebrow. "Being a bitch is kind of my thing, or so I'm told from many people."

Yeah, I liked Alice…Alice Brandon.

---

Training this chick was a piece of cake. 


Alice is small as shit, but she knows how to handle her shit. Golden.

Rose will like her. After some time.

While I was pouring yet another shot for one of my customers, my eyebrow raised when I saw Brandon, who was standing a couple feet away from me, staring at some dude. Like, full on stalker—ish staring. After giving the woman in front of me her liquor and taking the cash, I started heading towards the new chick, thinking that she needed some help.

Once I saw who she was obsessing over like a star struck teenager, I stopped in my tracks with a laugh. "Well if it isn't Mr. Blue Eyes!" I yelled over the loud music as I stepped up to Alice's side with a grin.

His gaze stayed on Pixie Dust, acting as if he didn't hear my obnoxious ass.

I rolled my eyes at the two all of a sudden lovers before I repeated myself, only louder.

He shook his head as if to snap out of it before he looked over at me. His eyes bugged out a bit as he choked on his Corona. "Oh, shit! You're the…the girl!" I pressed my lips together before I laid my elbows on top of the counter that was separating us as he patted his chest to clear it. "Sorry about that again," he started with a grimace. "I didn't—"

I waved my hand up in the air, interrupting him. "Hey, man. Don't stress it. I fall on the regular, no worries."

He have me a quick nod — I guess, dismissing me — before returning his attention back to Alice, whose eyes were kind of glazed over as she bit onto her lip. With a smile, he leaned across the counter with one hand held out towards her. "Jasper. Jasper Whitlock." 

"What is it with this James Bond bullshit," I muttered to myself as I placed my arms across my chest.

"Alice Brandon," she whispered, shaking his hand. "It's really nice to meet you, Jasper Whitlock."

I kept my eyes on them while they continued to stare at each other, their hands still in handshake mode. After a minute or two, I cleared my throat and addressed Alice. "So, uhm. You can go and take your fifteen min—"

And she took off, not waiting for me to finish talking as she hauled ass from behind the bar. I snorted as she grabbed a hold of Jasper's hand before pulling him towards the front door of the club and disappearing into the night.

Okay, point taken.

Shaking my head, I turned around and raised an eyebrow at Jake when I noticed that his back was a bit tense as he talked to whoever it was that he was talking to. After I started heading towards him, I groaned as I saw that the person who was sitting on the other side of the counter was Andy. 

Great.

Andy is some dude who I unfortunately met when Em left home for college. J left a week after my brother's departure and I was fucking pathetic and lonely without the two of them being around, like they always were. 

We both met, hit it off, and that's that.

I want out, while he wants in. Pun fucking intended.

Maybe a week ago, I found out that the kid got mixed up with all kinds of drugs. Specifically, anything that he could shoot up. Instant goddamn satisfaction, he claims. I'm against the shit with no questions about it. And, Andy knows about the revulsion that I have for it, but…he can't seem to find it in himself to leave me alone. 

It's not like we fucking fell in love or something.

I used him, he used me…and that's the end of the story. Get over it.

As you can obviously tell, Jake doesn't like the dude. He met him once before, when he came back home for a split second after hearing 'talk' about me hanging out with someone who wasn't considered 'good company.' 

"You need to get the fuck out of here before I climb over thi—"

Placing my hand over the gorilla's shoulder, I interrupted his growling as I pushed him aside. "J, calm down. I got this." He went to say something, but I stopped his words with a nod towards one of my customers. "Why don't you do me a favor and take care of that while I take care of this. Go." 

"That customer can wait," Jake stated as he stayed put beside me, his glare on Andy turning lethal as the idiot smiled something unnecessarily smug. "You think that you're slick, don't you, you fucking prick? I'll show —"

"Enough, Jacob Black!" I yelled, causing his glare to turn to me. "You need to go."

"Enough?" he asked in disbelief. "Are you insane right now? I'm no—"

"Move," I gritted, narrowing my eyes at him.

He laughed at my order as he placed his arms across his chest and stayed put. "Yeah, that's not happening." 

Seeing that there was no way of forcing the kid away, I turned my attention back to Andy and rolled my eyes at the pleased expression across his face that formed from me yelling at J. "As for you, I'm taking my fifteen as soon as Pixie comes back from getting it in. Do me a solid and go wait outside."

Andy leaned against the counter before one of his hands reached out towards me. Before it had the chance of touching my cheek as he intended it too, J wrapped his fingers around his wrist and stopped the gesture with a shake of his head. "You better think twice before I see you doing that shit in front of me."

Pulling his hand out of Jake's grip, he winked at me as he stood up from his stool. "I'll see you in a bit." 

"Are you serious with this shit, Bells?" J growled at me after Andy left the bar. 

I groaned, grabbing onto one of the clean rags that were laid out next to the cash register. "Jake, not now." 

"Not now?" he asked in repetition, snatching the rag out of my hand and keeping his eyes on mine as he tossed it into one of the buckets that were placed by our feet. "I see this fucker come in here and ask for you…for what? To get his dick wet and be done? Fuck that!"

"I can handle it, okay?" I whispered, his anger instantly transferring to me. "The kid's just going through some hard shit right now, and…we were together at one point. I can't…"

My words stopped as Jake turned his attention to the front door, where Paul — who's another buddy of ours and works here as a bouncer — stood by, checking IDs and trying to charm his way with some stupid broad.

Perfect, man. Of course, he's going tell Paul to act as a spy and shit.

I went to tell the moron that I was on to him, but Pixie's screaming as she came running towards me with her hands held up in the air interrupted me from doing so. I placed my own hands out in front of me with a cringe when the chick reached me, not wanting to get shoved back from the energy that was radiating off of her little body. "Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! I'm so sorry, I lost track of time! It won't hap—"

I covered her trap with my palm to stop her charge and then grimaced, quickly lowering my hand, not knowing where the hell her mouth has been for the last twenty minutes, or what might have been in it. 

Running my palm along her jeans, I shook my head at her as she raised an eyebrow at my hand that was now running over her hip as I tried to wipe away her and Jasper's possible sexy time consequences. "Yeah, you're giving me a headache, Pix."

"You don't feel hot," she stated after placing the back of her hand over my forehead…

Therefore enforcing my prior thought of her being on something.

Brushing her hand away, I turned my attention to the front door. "No worries, I'm golden." Meeting her eyes again, I raised a brow. "Hey, do you think that you can handle being alone with J for a couple of minutes if I go outside and take my break?" She shrugged. "I have this asshole who I need to deal with."

"Oh, no problem, Bella!" she yelled. I nodded and went to pass her but she quickly took a hold of my arm. "Hey, do I need to let you borrow my pepper spray? Because I have one if you need it. My dad is a cop and he doesn't trust a lot of —"

Again…headache.

Lowering my hand from her mouth, I shook my head. "I'm good. After you're here for some time, you'll notice that we have our own personal body guards acting as our pepper spray." Her eyebrows furrowed and I shrugged as I continued. "With the dudes who work here, don't worry about even packing it anymore. Trust me."

Jake came back into the bar as Pixie let go of me, looking all smug and whatnot as he strolled over to us and took a hold of her hand. "Be back in fifteen," he told me with authority before pulling her away from me as I gave him the middle finger. 

As soon as I stepped outside, my eyes found Andy leaning against the wall to my right, attractively downing his beer. Looking over at Paul, I glared at him as I saw the idiot point two of his fingers at his eyes before he pointed them towards the bar, thinking that he was some kind of a slick motherfucker. 

Caught.

I took my time as I walked over to him while he kept his attention on Jake. When I was close enough, I grabbed a hold of his sac and he gasped for air before his eyes met mine and widened. "Holy shiii—B!"

I raised a brow as I squeezed harder, causing him to yelp. "Can you give me a couple of minutes here, Paul?"

"But, Jake said th—"

"Does it look like I give a rat's ass about what J said?" I asked calmly. His hands flew up in the air in surrender and I kissed his cheek as I let go of his junk. "Smart man, Paul." 

After telling him that I was going over to my truck and warning him that I would send Rose — who he's afraid of, by the way — on his ass if he decided to follow me, I started heading towards Andy. He was still chugging on his beer when I reached him, so I swung my hand back and slapped the bottle from his mouth, making him hiss in pain from the impact of the hit before the glass fell down onto the ground and shattered.

I obviously, don't have time for bullshit.

Looking over my shoulder as I started headed towards my truck, I raised an eyebrow at his motionless form that was still leaning against the wall. "You need to talk to me, right?"

Breaking out of his shock, he nodded, running up to me with furrowed eyebrows. "Where are we going?" 

Turning around to face him, I nodded towards the club as I continued walking backwards. "You noticed that bouncer, right? The tall one, wearing the unnecessary muscle shirt? The one who's currently glaring at you?" He looked over his shoulder and shrugged before he returned his attention back to me. "Then shut up and get into my truck," I told him before I turned around.

Leaning over the center console, I unlocked the passenger's side door for the idiot and let him climb in before I raised an eyebrow, waiting for his nonsense bullshit to begin. "Baby, I missed you today," he whispered in a murmur that already irritated my ears. "You haven't been returning any of my phone calls."

I closed my eyes as I leaned against the door behind me, lifting my legs up and crossing them together. "Andy, I just can't do this shit with you." Meeting his gaze again, I groaned at his frown. "You're using, man...and you know that I'm not all about that stuff."

"I stopped," he lied, leaning forward before taking a hold of my hands that were in my lap. "I'm done with that bullshit."

"Yeah?" I asked before raising an eyebrow at the fresh marks that I noticed over his forearms. "So, what's that shit?" 

He quickly let go of my hands and pulled the sleeves of his shirt down his arms and I shook my head at him. "Please, I need you," he begged. "Let's just forget about that shit tonight and talk. Please, baby?"

Goddamn this kid's need for me, Christ.

Why do I do this shit with him every single time?

Why does he look at me like that and make me feel awful, every single time?

"Whatever, Andy," I whispered in frustration, throwing my hands up in the air. "If I stop by your house tonight after work, we need to talk. I'm not playing around here. I'm sick of your fucking games, seriously." 

He nodded. "Okay, no problem. I'm not trying to play any games with you, you mean more to me than that." 

I rolled my eyes as I opened my door and jumped out. "I'll be over around two, keep the door unlocked."

"Okay," he whispered with a small smile before opening his own door and stepping out. "Thank you, baby."

I shook my head at his baby as I jumped back into my truck and leaned over to hit the lock on the passenger door, aggravated that the kid never did the shit whenever he left my goddamn vehicle. "No thanks is needed," I mumbled as I got out. "Just make sure that you're cool when I get there. If you're high or whatnot, I'm out."

"I promise," he replied, giving my forehead a quick kiss before walking away from me. 

I walked back into the club after giving Paul another kiss — adding a couple of hard pats on top of the head for good boy behavior — earning myself a glare and a smack on the ass in return. When I reached the bar, I rolled my eyes at Jake as he placed his arms across his chest, leaning against the counter as he kept his eyes on mine. "Don't underestimate me, you ass," I told him as I quickly snatched the empty bottle of beer that he was holding out of his hand. Throwing it into the trash, I shook my head at him. "Did you and Paul seriously think that you guys could get away with the whole Focker's thing going on?"

He shrugged. "I'm just looking out for you, Bells, you know that shit."

"I know, J. And, I love you for that, but I need to handle my own problems." 

After pushing himself away from the counter, he wrapped his arms around my shoulders before I wrapped my own around his waist. "Alright," he whispered with a small nod. "I hear you, Bells. I'll try and relax a little with letting you do your stubborn thing, but don't expect an apology from me for the way that I acted towards that asshole. He deserved the shit and I don't regret giving it to him, so deal with it."

"I don't expect a lot of shit from you, J. You're not a man of many expectations."

He leaned back and raised an eyebrow at me as I let my arms drop from around him. "Will you expect this?"

"What?" I asked, not understanding what the hell he was asking me about.

He turned around and pressed his ass against my side before he farted on my hip. Pix's arms wrapped around my waist, stopping my plan of execution as she gave Jake a chance to run away with a laugh of "Guess you didn't! as he patted his own shoulder. 

---