Tonight is my first time back to work since…
Jesus Christ. I don't even fucking remember.
I've been in my truck for the last goddamn hour, doing...nothing.
Why, you ask?
Well for one, I haven't seen J since that morning after the whole…
'Oh hey...yeah, Emmett shot someone.'
'Wha? Who?'
'Oh you know, his own goddamn Pop.'
'No!'
'Uh, yeah.'
'No!'
'Yes.'
'Shut the fuck up!'
'YOU shut the fuck up!'
Back and forth conversations with myself.
And it's driving me goddamn mad, people.
'No kidding, dipshit.'
See what I mean?
It's been about three weeks since that last time that I saw Rose, who was now returning my avoidance with her own. I have been trying to call the chick, numerous times a day, but this is what I always got;
"Hey, this is Rose," her answering machine would growl, "I can't get to my goddamn phone right now, as you can obviously tell, so leave me a message...UNLESS, this is my so called best friend. If that's the case, then I suggest that you fuck off by not bothering to even THINK about wasting your precious and more than selfish piece of shit time with leaving me a voicemail, for I won't waste my own selfless time on calling you back."
Yeah…I had that bitch memorized.
The broad who was clearly still pissed off at me kept on ignoring my calls and at times, she would pick up and hang up before I even had the chance of calling out her name, which...alright, fine...I'm not even going to pretend that I'm surprised...but, I hated the shit no less.
Edward, Blue Eyes, and the Pix were the only ones who were speaking to me at the moment, and that irked me. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with that. Honest to God, I sincerely appreciated all of their help, but...I just felt like my goddamn family left me. High and fucking dry, they just up and disappeared, when I needed them the most.
And I understand to a point, why they're currently giving me the silent treatment, but…Christ. Enough already, you know? Here I thought that Rose and J were the ones who told me to let shit be known, and now, when all of it hit the fan, like I told them that it would on numerous fucking occasions, I'm dead to them?
Nice.
With all of that said, I knew that Rose was planning on making my life a living hell...and of course, I'm upset about the shit, but I just couldn't find it in me to blame her. Like I said before, I had a part of taking away someone who not only meant a lot to me, but meant a lot to her as well. I should have handled it better, in some way.
My thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock. Turning my attention to the left, I offered Paul a small smile that he returned with ease before I rolled the window down, letting him stick his head in to give me a kiss on the side of my own. "What are you doing out here?"
I quickly lowered my gaze down to my lap as I started digging through my bag with a mission. "Nothing, I'm just busy with uh...I've been looking for my...you know..." I cleared my throat as my fingers wrapped around a tube of something, and after I yanked it out from its confinement only to see that it was my chap-stick, I gave myself a mental pat on the shoulder as I ran some across my already moisturized mouth. "My lips are like...so dry. Ick, right?"
He grinned, bending down a bit as he placed his elbows against the window frame. "Right," he replied in some slow and you're so bullshitting me type of a way, "It seems as if that chap-stick must mean a whole lot to you, what with you spending your precious time looking for it, huh?"
"Why do you say that?" I asked my steering wheel as I avoided his gaze.
It has been my goddamn company for the past hour.
So I might as well include it, you know what I mean?
"Because I'm a bouncer who has the duty of watching the club and the parking lot," I heard him answer after a few seconds, "Because I've been standing by that door for the past forty five minutes, wondering why the hell your truck was here while you weren't, only to notice not fifteen minutes ago that you were indeed here yet not at the same time, if you know what I'm saying." I grimaced, meeting his eyes. "I mean, I get it that chicks love their makeup and shit, but I never pegged you for the type who would spend that much time searching for something that took you a literal second to find when I showed up."
Shaking my head, I lowered it. "I know, I'm retarded."
After unlocking the door, he pulled it open and kneeled down, patting my thigh as he silently told me to turn around in my seat so that I was facing him. Doing that, I met his dark brown eyes as I let my feet hang. "Listen, B. I didn't call you these past few weeks only because I didn't want to bring it up, feeling that it was a bad time for you...but, I know what happened."
I nodded for him to move aside and when he did, I jumped out of my seat and hit the lock before I closed the door behind me. "Thanks for giving me time, but..." I shrugged, "It's not a big de—"
"Yeah, B," he interrupted, "I know. It's not a big deal." Reaching out, he lifted my hoodie over my head with a roll of his eyes. "It's never a big deal for you." Not wanting him to feel some type of a way towards my brother, I went to tell him that he wasn't the one who should be blamed for this mess, but as soon as Emmett's name came out of my mouth, Paul pushed my shoulder. "No. Don't even try to talk to me about how it was your fault. I don't want to hear it."
"But it wa—"
So I might as well include it, you know what I mean?
"Because I'm a bouncer who has the duty of watching the club and the parking lot," I heard him answer after a few seconds, "Because I've been standing by that door for the past forty five minutes, wondering why the hell your truck was here while you weren't, only to notice not fifteen minutes ago that you were indeed here yet not at the same time, if you know what I'm saying." I grimaced, meeting his eyes. "I mean, I get it that chicks love their makeup and shit, but I never pegged you for the type who would spend that much time searching for something that took you a literal second to find when I showed up."
Shaking my head, I lowered it. "I know, I'm retarded."
After unlocking the door, he pulled it open and kneeled down, patting my thigh as he silently told me to turn around in my seat so that I was facing him. Doing that, I met his dark brown eyes as I let my feet hang. "Listen, B. I didn't call you these past few weeks only because I didn't want to bring it up, feeling that it was a bad time for you...but, I know what happened."
I nodded for him to move aside and when he did, I jumped out of my seat and hit the lock before I closed the door behind me. "Thanks for giving me time, but..." I shrugged, "It's not a big de—"
"Yeah, B," he interrupted, "I know. It's not a big deal." Reaching out, he lifted my hoodie over my head with a roll of his eyes. "It's never a big deal for you." Not wanting him to feel some type of a way towards my brother, I went to tell him that he wasn't the one who should be blamed for this mess, but as soon as Emmett's name came out of my mouth, Paul pushed my shoulder. "No. Don't even try to talk to me about how it was your fault. I don't want to hear it."
"But it wa—"
"It wasn't," he stated with assurance, grabbing a hold of my hand before leading us towards the front door, "Bella, just dismiss that shit from your mind. If someone in there wants to give you a hard time, you should ignore their ass, because that's bull that you don't need right now."
I nodded as we reached the entrance, appreciating his words but then again, knowing that I couldn't really believe them. "Thanks, Paul...you know, for everyth—"
He groaned, looking at me like I was sick. "B, really, dude. Stop with all of that sappy bullshit, please. It's something that I can't handle, especially when it comes from you, the chick who always told my, and I quote, 'young and pesky ass' to 'rub some dirt in it,' back in the day. You're honestly creeping me the hell out right now, with all of this gratitude-ish behavior."
I couldn't help my grin as I gave his cheek a few light slaps, and he winked at me in return after pushing my hand away from his face. "Hang in there, alright?" I nodded, telling him I would as he held the door open for me. As soon as I stepped inside, he grabbed a hold of my arm and I looked over my shoulder with a raised eyebrow. "In addition to all of that, I want you to keep in mind that...I love you, B. More than you'll ever know."
Rolling my eyes at the deepness of his voice when he whispered the 'more than you'll ever know,' I shook my head at the moron as I yanked my arm out of his hold. "I'd love to leave you with one thought, but I'm pretty sure that you'd have no place to put it, what with that brain of yours still developing."
He grinned something wide, turning his attention to the random dude who was standing in line, patiently waiting to come in. "And that right there, is why she's my fucking girl," Paul told him in some proud type of a way that had me rolling my eyes as he gave me a quick nod, pointing my presence out to a person who probably wasn't interested in it. "I've been telling you douche-bags, night in and night out, to find a decent broad who can put you in your place and at the same time, look good while doing it, but noooooo...no one fucking listens to me. I'm sure that some of you idiots could have a chick like my friend here if you'd get your heads out of your asses...but again, nooooooo...wasting your goddamn energy with all of these regulars bitches, pssh."
"Sooo...does that mean that she's fair game?"
"Fuck no," Paul quickly answered in a growl, denying the random dude entrance as he pointed at the parking lot with one hand, using his other one to push him away from the door that he was standing in front of, "Get lost."
Turning around without a word, I left the kid who was probably born in a cave at the door. Making my way through the crowd, I noticed Jake standing behind the bar as he talked to Jasper, who was sitting down on the other side, sipping on his Corona. Lowering my head when the both of them turned their attention to the dance floor, I avoided all eye contact as I headed towards the back room to clock in.
Bumping into someone when I reached the darkened hallway, I quickly lifted my head so that I could apologize but as soon as I was met with a glare from the broad who basically deleted my existence, the words died in my chest. "Rose."
I nodded as we reached the entrance, appreciating his words but then again, knowing that I couldn't really believe them. "Thanks, Paul...you know, for everyth—"
He groaned, looking at me like I was sick. "B, really, dude. Stop with all of that sappy bullshit, please. It's something that I can't handle, especially when it comes from you, the chick who always told my, and I quote, 'young and pesky ass' to 'rub some dirt in it,' back in the day. You're honestly creeping me the hell out right now, with all of this gratitude-ish behavior."
I couldn't help my grin as I gave his cheek a few light slaps, and he winked at me in return after pushing my hand away from his face. "Hang in there, alright?" I nodded, telling him I would as he held the door open for me. As soon as I stepped inside, he grabbed a hold of my arm and I looked over my shoulder with a raised eyebrow. "In addition to all of that, I want you to keep in mind that...I love you, B. More than you'll ever know."
Rolling my eyes at the deepness of his voice when he whispered the 'more than you'll ever know,' I shook my head at the moron as I yanked my arm out of his hold. "I'd love to leave you with one thought, but I'm pretty sure that you'd have no place to put it, what with that brain of yours still developing."
He grinned something wide, turning his attention to the random dude who was standing in line, patiently waiting to come in. "And that right there, is why she's my fucking girl," Paul told him in some proud type of a way that had me rolling my eyes as he gave me a quick nod, pointing my presence out to a person who probably wasn't interested in it. "I've been telling you douche-bags, night in and night out, to find a decent broad who can put you in your place and at the same time, look good while doing it, but noooooo...no one fucking listens to me. I'm sure that some of you idiots could have a chick like my friend here if you'd get your heads out of your asses...but again, nooooooo...wasting your goddamn energy with all of these regulars bitches, pssh."
"Sooo...does that mean that she's fair game?"
"Fuck no," Paul quickly answered in a growl, denying the random dude entrance as he pointed at the parking lot with one hand, using his other one to push him away from the door that he was standing in front of, "Get lost."
Turning around without a word, I left the kid who was probably born in a cave at the door. Making my way through the crowd, I noticed Jake standing behind the bar as he talked to Jasper, who was sitting down on the other side, sipping on his Corona. Lowering my head when the both of them turned their attention to the dance floor, I avoided all eye contact as I headed towards the back room to clock in.
Bumping into someone when I reached the darkened hallway, I quickly lifted my head so that I could apologize but as soon as I was met with a glare from the broad who basically deleted my existence, the words died in my chest. "Rose."
"Rosalie."
I raised an eyebrow at her full name. "What?"
I raised an eyebrow at her full name. "What?"
"My friends call me Rose," she told me, like take that.
"Wow," I silently laughed, "Okay. Point taken."
"Good," she tensely replied, "Now if you'll excuse me..."
And, dismissed.
I stepped to the side, raising my hands up into the air.
It's going to be one long motherfucking night, it seems.
After taking too much time with 'clocking in,' I headed out of the small room that I wanted to hide in for the remainder of my shift, berating myself for not listening to Sam when he insisted that I should take a break from work, knowing that it'll still be here when I'm ready to come back. As I was walking up to the bar, someone grabbed a hold of my arm from behind, making me jump a bit. Turning around, I exhaled a sigh of relief when I saw who it was. "Hey, Blue Eyes."
He smiled, easing my nerves as he gave my arm a soft squeeze before letting go of it. "I didn't know that you were coming back to work tonight."
"Yeah," I shrugged, "It's about time, you know?"
He agreed by humming before he gave the crowd a quick nod, placing his arms across his chest. "So it's pretty busy tonight, yeah?" I raised an eyebrow at his 'let's start a random conversation so that I can avoid what I really want to say' bullshit. "It looks as if you guys are going to have your hands full, that's for sure."
I rolled my eyes at the kid's nervous laughter of 'that's for sure,' placing a hand over my hip. "Jasper, do me a solid and just cut the shit. What's up?"
He grimaced. "Was I that obvious?"
"Did you ever take acting classes?"
Scrunched together brows. "No..."
I grinned, slapping his arm. "No worries, then. Money wasn't wasted."
"Am I supposed to take that as a compliment, Brown Eyes?" he teased...
To which I quickly returned with a smirk. "Take it as you wish, lover boy."
He laughed, lowering his head. Looking out into the dance floor, I placed my arms across my chest as I waited for him to talk to me about what he stopped me for. "So, listen..." he started after a couple of seconds, bringing my attention back to him, "If anyone gives you shit, just —"
I waved one of my hands in front of his face as I interrupted. "Ignore it, Bella," I finished in what I called a 'Jasper Whitlock voice.' "Yeah, man. I got it. No worries."
He nodded, trying to hide his grin. "But, if they do, —"
"You let me know, dude...and I'll fucking handle it with the pistol that I once aimed at your head," I finished again as I lowered my voice to imitate his, "I ain't scared to shoot that bitch ass." He rolled his eyes, and I snorted. "Got that, too."
"Another thing," he continued, causing me to groan as I looked away. Bringing my face back to his with one of his fingers underneath my chin, he narrowed his eyes at me in some playful type of a way. "I don't sound like that, so quit finishing my goddamn sentences. After all, my name's Jasper Whitlock, not Edward Cullen."
I narrowed my eyes at him in a not so playful type of a way as I leaned away from the kid a little bit, placing my arms across my chest. "And what is that supposed to mean?"
He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Take it as you wish, lover girl."
I pursed my lips together as he walked away from me, all 'suave' and whatnot with his unnecessary strutting. "I taught you so fucking well, my young grasshopper, you!" I shouted over the music, "It's like, I should get paid for this shit!"
The slight bounce in his pimp step stopped but he continued on his way, only now gifting my statement the middle finger as he raised one of his hands up into the air, over his shoulder. I laughed as I started backing away, until that is...I remembered that I was one hell of a clumsy motherfucker. Turning around so that I can actually see where I was going, I headed towards the bar.
Ignoring the glares that Rose was throwing at me, I continued taking orders. I wanted nothing more than to avoid the goddamn elephant that was in the room. Elephant, being Rose...but, don't ever tell her that I called her that shit, for the way that she was treating me now would only worsen.
As things started quieting down, I leaned against the counter that I was working on, hoping that it would stay like this so that I could get some down time, just for a couple of minutes, or so. Feeling someone nudge my shoulder, I looked over to my right and raised an eyebrow at J, who gave me a small smile before his attention went to whoever was behind me. "What will it be?"
Taking the glass from him, I mixed the drink. "You're talking to me?"
He frowned as he slid the drink across the counter, and I shrugged as I took the broad's cash, ignoring the way that her fingers slid across mine in the process. "Why wouldn't I be talking to you, Bells?" he asked, following me over to the cash register.
"You didn't know?" I asked, "It's the new thing around here."
"Well I'm not into following other's footsteps."
I nodded, shutting the cash drawer shut with my hip as I counted the money that was in my hands, making sure that it was correct. After walking over to the counter, I went to hand the broad her change but she told me to keep it. Looking down at the two tens and the five ones, I snorted before returning my attention back to her. "Just so you know, hookah...dick and me go waaaaay back." I raised an eyebrow at the grimace that formed over her features at my words. "Still feeling generous?"
She shrugged, holding her hand out. "Worth a try, for your fine ass."
"That you'll never get a piece of," I finished, winking at the mock pout that she gave me as I handed her the cash, "But...if you're interested," I nodded towards an oblivious Rose, whose back was facing us as she helped one of her customers, "That tail over there? Definite free game."
"Is that so?" she hummed, appraising her new target.
"So."
Standing up, she adjusted her ta ta's. "Fresh meat..."
"That's ready to be cooked," I finished with a smile that she returned with a wink before walking away, shouting a 'thanks, girl!' that had me snickering as I turned around to lean against the counter, only to yelp when I found J standing right in front of me with his arms across his chest. "Jesus Christ on your stalker tendencies," I hissed, smacking his shoulder, "I almost shit myself!"
"Why did you think that I wasn't talking to you?"
"Because you haven't."
He rolled his eyes as he let his arms drop down to his sides. "Let me guess," he mumbled, "Em's being an asshole, who's taking it out on you."
"Along with Rose," I added before I corrected myself with a dramatic sigh of disappointment, "Or shall I say...Rosalie." He raised an eyebrow at me, and I shrugged as I lowered my head, acting as if I didn't care. "It's whatever."
Grabbing a hold of my elbows, Jake pulled me in for a tight hug, wrapping his arms around my shoulders as he kissed the top of my head. "Bells, just give her some time. You know how Rose is, with her goddamn 'silent treatment.' She will get over it, eventually."
Wrapping my arms around him, I nodded in uncertainty. "I hope so."
Wrapping my arms around him, I nodded in uncertainty. "I hope so."
As the night continued, it seemed to just got busier and goddamn busier. We were up to our asses with drink orders that I didn't even realize that Edward and Carlisle showed up, but there they were, sitting on the Pixie's side of the bar, listening with amusement to what she was animatedly talking about while she waved her hands up in the air, looking as if she was getting ready for take off. Noticing the busted bottom lip that the kid was sporting and the bruised eye that was half shut, I shook my head as I grabbed two Miller Lites from the fridge.
Reaching the human butterfly, I nudged her to the side as I uncapped the bottles, ignoring Edward's crooked smile as one of his eyes met the both of mine. "Take my side?" After giving my cheek a kiss and telling her man's cousin to 'think about it,' she started backing away from where I was standing. "So," I started in a sarcastic tone, "You look good."
He smirked, grabbing the bottle that I slid to him. "Don't I always?"
Leaning against the counter, I raised an eyebrow at Carlisle as I handed him his beer. "Pop, tell me something that I've been dying to know about, yeah? How in the hell did you get by without becoming an alcoholic, dealing with this kid's arrogance when he was a teeny bopper?"
The man grinned, placing the bottle that he was holding on top of the counter. "Bambina, don't look at me like that," he started as he leaned back in his chair, "I didn't find out about what happened until I saw the kid come by the house this morning, looking like a proud jackass with a smile over that busted up mouth of his. If I would have known, I would have stopped it before it even started."
I rolled my eyes before I narrowed them at Edward. "How'd it go?"
"It went well," he replied with a shrug before taking a sip of his beer.
"It went well?" I plain out laughed.
"Yep," the moronic prick confirmed.
I shook my head before I leaned forward, letting the counter support my upper body as I grabbed a hold of the kid's chin to examine his bruised eye. "Well I can see that it went real well, but can you, you dip-shit?"
His attention traveled down to my mouth. "I can see perfectly fine, Bae."
"You have no shame, dude," I chastised, pushing his face away, "At all."
"How are you holding up, sweetheart?" Pop asked as Edward shrugged.
Forcing a smile across my face, I mimicked his son's nonchalance with the same gesture that he gave me a second ago with an "Eh, you know how it is." He raised an eyebrow at me, not knowing how it is it seemed, so I clarified in a lie. "No worries, Carlisle...I'm good. It's like, look at me, right? I'm a goddamn survivor, Destiny's Child style. In fact," my nervousness continued, ignoring Edward's cough of trying to rid his amusement, "I was asked to be in their video, but I had to shut it down with a 'thanks, but no thanks, Beyonce,' only because I uh...didn't want to deal with the paparazzi."
Sitting up, he nudged Edward's shoulder with a grin, keeping his eyes on me. "Tell me something, son. Has our Bambina always been this bad at lying?" Cullen Jr snorted at my glare, leaning back into his chair as his Pop shook his head. "Honestly, was I supposed to believe that?" he asked me, "Because, I mean...come on, Bella. That was...horrible."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, don't be such a hater, Pop," I started, "Unless, of course, you don't mind being charged for the free drinks that I offer you here..." I paused, only to laugh at the gasp of mock horror that left his being. "And, I should also mention...since you don't have any knowledge of it, what with my endless goddamn generosity...it can get pretty pricey at this joint. But, you know what, though?" I asked, cocking my head to the side, "I don't think that you'll have any problem with picking up the tab now that it crosses my mind, simply because you're...you know...rolling in dough...doctor."
He kept his eyes on mine as he addressed Edward. "Is she mocking me, son?" he asked, grinning at my pursed together lips as I tried to hold back, "I can never tell when this one is being serious, or not."
The kid shook his head as he patted Pop's back. "Unfortunately, you'll get used to it with time, dad. If I were you, though...I'd stay as far away from her sarcasm as I could. At the end of having a conversation with this broad, you find yourself mentally exhausted, trust me."
"Well, well, well! Look at who we have here! My goddamn future wife!"
Immediately recognizing that voice, my jaw dropped as I looked over my shoulder. "No shit!" I shouted in total shock as I slowly turned around, watching him jump over the counter that J was standing behind with a smile, shaking his head as he continued working. "Are you serious right now!?"
He grinned as he starting walking over towards me, but screw that calmness...I ran up to him and jumped on his ass, ignoring his grunt of oomph as I wrapped my legs around his waist. "Jesus Christ, you idiot!" I continued, more than excited, "Where the hell have you been all my life!?"
With a laugh that made me want to just...choke up from its familiarity, the kid who has been gone for way too long leaned back a bit to meet my gaze. At the seriousness that I found within his own, I raised a nervous brow, hoping that his sudden appearance had nothing to do with something going wrong. "Make my dreams come true by telling me that you're still single, B..."
I rolled my eyes, looking over his face. "God, you asshole. I missed you."
"So...is that a yes, I am single and more than ready to mingle?"
Laughter. "Now, you know that I don't do relationships, my Sethie Poo."
He pouted, lowering me down to the floor. Placing his hands over my shoulders, he pushed me back a bit and I rolled my eyes as his own started traveling along my body in some studious type of a way, one of his fingers tapping his chin in thought. "Come on, you know the drill, I need to see if my standards are met." Lifting my arms, I performed a spin that according to him, needed to be slow. "Good," he nodded with a satisfied clap after a few seconds, "Keep it up, girl scout. I'm still liking it."
I couldn't do anything but laugh and shake my head when Seth walked away from me as soon as he finished giving me my 'results,' like some porn director who just dismissed my porn star ass. Keeping my eyes on the kid when he reached Rose, I grinned as he gave her a quick kiss on the lips before nudging her away with a "Get the fuck lost," taking care of one of her customers while she headed towards Jake's side with a grin that she couldn't hide. "What can I get for you, buddy?"
And that is why I fucking loved his ass.
Just like old times.
Remembering that it's been awhile since boss dude number two swung by the club, I called out his name. He looked over his shoulder with a raised brow, handing the customer that he was helping a Coors Light as I started my introductions with Pop and Mike Tyson. "Those two are Carlisle and Edward. Pay the busted up lip no attention, for he deserved it." Ignoring the glare that I received from that declaration, I continued. "That over there is the new broad, Pixie. Acts as if she's on some kind of uppers, but rest assure...according to the drug test that I requested after she was hired, she's won't be joining Amy Winehouse in rehab. Dude who she's currently eye fucking, he goes by Jasper. Garth Brook posters dominated his teenage styled bedroom before I took over it, immediately squashing his fan-boy tendencies."
Turning to the side, Alice laid a hand over her hip as she placed one of her legs in front of the other one, all showcase-like as the stance made her 'appear' elegant. "I was not eye fu—screwing him, Bella Bo—Bella."
Oh. I see what's up...
The bitch is trying to act all professional for one of the owners.
How...cue gag...cute.
Turning around, Seth leaned against the counter with his arms across his chest and spent a full minute of just...looking at Pixie, in complete silence. Breaking out of whatever he was 'seeing' as I walked up to him, he shook his head. "Did the broad just say eye screwing, or is the alcohol that I consumed earlier messing with my 20/20 hearing?"
The snort that left my throat nearly choked my ass. "First of all, it's 20/20 vision, you microwavable fuck-tart." The college graduate shrugged at my correction, keeping his attention on Alice as I mimicked his stance by placing my arms across my chest. "And, no...the usual liter of vodka that you probably have on an IV drip didn't catch up to you yet, for you heard what you heard."
He raised an eyebrow at me. "I mean, you trained her, right?"
"I did," I answered in a frown that was filled with disappointment.
"Well," he exhaled before shaking his head, "This sucks balls."
The Dust narrowed her eyes at the back of their heads as Rose and Jake's shoulders started shaking with silent laughter, the both of them leaning against each other as they tried to control their body's internal hilarity of the situation. "Is there a fucking problem here?"
Seth laughed something boisterous as he high-fived the air. "Now that right there, is what I'm talkin' 'bout!" After telling our DJ to turn down the music, he raised one of his hands up in the air to get everyones attention, completely ignoring my growl of embarrassment as I quickly lowered my head when he pointed at me. "I want to take a second and publicly apologize to the broad whose face is currently turning red, for I doubted her skills of creating an Eclipse bartender! Bella Marie Swan, I am sorry for not knowing better!" And, slap on the ass. "Thatta girl, making me so goddamn proud!"
I went to punch him, but he quickly jumped out of my fist's way with a grin and walked over to Pixie, who yelped in surprise as he picked her up. "My name's Seth, AKA Seth," he 'introduced' himself, hugging the shit out of her before lowering her down to floor. "Hmmm," sniff of the air, "I sense a little, oh I don't know, competition...with you and my second soon-to-be wife?"
"What kind of business do you run here, sir?" she teased, earning herself a little wiggle of the brows from Seth as he ate that shit right up, "But, to answer your question...if your second soon-to-be wife goes by the name of Rose, then yes, you sensed right. It's quite hard as times, I must admit."
"I bet," he laughed, receiving a wink from the devil herself. "I mean, it's Rose who we're talking about here. The chick's a pure bred fire crotch. I didn't hire her for nothing."
"Are you kidding?" I scoffed, "Rose pr—" Stopping when I caught the glare that her eyes burned me with, I corrected myself, "I mean, Rosalie...she practically welcomed her in with open ar—"
"Woah!" Seth interrupted with narrowed eyes, "Stop right there." Cursing my existence when he started walking over to me, I lifted my hoodie and placed it over my head as Rose's attention went to one her customers who was waiting for a drink. "Rosalie?"
Ignoring his perplexity, I turned around and walked over to my side of the bar, not wanting to address the 'elephant' that I was talking about earlier. Seth grabbed a hold of my arm from behind when I went to take an order, telling one of my regulars to hold up for a second as he placed himself in front of me. "Full name basis, though?"
I lowered my head. "Can I take my break?"
"You're asking me if you can take a break?"
I lifted my gaze up to his. "Well you are my boss!" I snapped.
His jaw dropped. "Wait. Did you just refer to me as your boss?" I rolled my eyes as I looked away from him, the desired avoidance lasting only a second or two as his hand underneath my chin brought me back. "Tell me what the hell's going on here, B."
"Another time?" I asked, brushing his fingers away, "Please?"
He hesitated, but nodded. "Everything is okay though, right?"
"I promise that we'll talk about...it, later," I offered instead.
After he agreed, I thanked him with a quick hug that he in response to rolled his eyes at, telling me to "Go take a break before I fire your fine ass for referring to me as your goddamn boss." Walking outside, I took a seat on the curb and ran my hands down my face.
If Seth finds out…no, fuck that. When Seth finds out about what took place that night, it's absolutely going to devastate the kid. He cares way too much for the people who are involved in his life, and even then, the kid welcomes anyone who isn't a part of us with open arms.
Placing the back of my hand in front of my face when bright headlights interrupted my thoughts by shining into my eyes, I squinted as I tried to see who the hell decided to park right where I was seated. Blinking, I pushed myself up to my feet to get a better look as what practically blinded me a second ago turned off.
Emmett.
This night is just getting better and goddamn better.
Placing my arms across my chest as I stood in front of the Jeep, I watched as all four doors swung open. The one dude who stepped out of the passenger's side looked like one of those crazy motherfuckers who couldn't fight for shit, but...would have no second thought in slicing a bitch's throat with a machete. The next one was medium built with tan skin, while the kid who was sitting next to him in the back could have easily passed as a linebacker, what with his broad as all hell shoulders that needed their own zip code.
My arms dropped down to my sides from the abruptness of his advance when Emmett walked right up to me, seemingly taking enjoyment out of my shock as he gave my quick step back a wide grin. "Well, if it isn't Bella!" he unnecessarily shouted, causing me in return to roll my eyes at his theatrical act and at the visual of his swollen jaw that I just noticed, which was — with no doubt — caused by Edward, "How's life treating you, Kiddo?"
As my brother pulled out a flask that was stashed inside of his jacket, I gritted my teeth as I saw that crazy looking motherfucker who was now standing behind Em, watching me in some type of a way that just...pissed me the fuck off.
I am not that bitch, Jeffrey Dahmer.
"I see that you took up drinking on your free time," I told Em as he finished it off, only to throw it over at Mr. Tall Dark And Handsome. "Replacing your rage of the situation that we have on our hands with hardcore liquor must be what's 'in' nowadays, yeah?"
"Might as well," he shrugged, "Seeing as to how I won't be able to enjoy it for a while, what me with getting locked up in a few days." I nodded as I looked away, his tense smile getting to me. "Oh shit," he laughed, "Look at what we have here. My baby sister is avoiding me. Once again."
Shoving my hands into my hoodie pockets, I gritted my teeth as I returned my attention back to my brother with a glare that he easily copied. "No, Emmett. I'm not trying to avoid you. It's your bullshit that I could care less about."
"My bullshit!" he shouted in a laugh, pushing himself away from his Jeep to walk up to me, "Well fuck me sideways! I didn't know that I was the one who was bullshitting you." Looking over his shoulder, he nodded at his buddies, silently telling them to join us, "Here I thought that this whole time, you were the one who was bullshitting me. Let me know, Kiddo."
My fingernails dug themselves into my palms when his 'entourage' stepped up to us. "Are you done with this dope show that you started?" I asked, trying like all hell to keep my voice calm as I caught Dahmer's eyes roam along my body. "I have a job that I have to get back to."
"And once again, here I thought that your job was to fuck with my head!"
"Okay, so...I get that you have something to say to me, Em. All that I'm asking is for some privacy, where we can talk about whatever's on your mind, like two adults. I wouldn't want you to embarrass yourself in front of these...people...who you picked up from, God knows where."
"No worries, B. These friends of mine already know about what happened."
I returned his tense smile with my own. "Letting it all out, yeah?"
My fingernails dug themselves into my palms when his 'entourage' stepped up to us. "Are you done with this dope show that you started?" I asked, trying like all hell to keep my voice calm as I caught Dahmer's eyes roam along my body. "I have a job that I have to get back to."
"And once again, here I thought that your job was to fuck with my head!"
"Okay, so...I get that you have something to say to me, Em. All that I'm asking is for some privacy, where we can talk about whatever's on your mind, like two adults. I wouldn't want you to embarrass yourself in front of these...people...who you picked up from, God knows where."
"No worries, B. These friends of mine already know about what happened."
I returned his tense smile with my own. "Letting it all out, yeah?"
"Oh no," he shook his head, "If I were 'letting it all out,' then these guys right here would know that I shot my Pop with no second thought about the shit, simply because the fucker who raised me abused the shit out of you, behind my back." I told him to stop in a whisper, but all that I received in return was a raised eyebrow as he continued, his nonchalant behavior of acting like what went down that night was nothing grating on my nerves. "Stop what, Bella? Telling them all how my own goddamn blood raped you, for years? Should I stop talking about how his own friend, Kevin from the station, decided to involve himself in the fun?"
"Emmett."
Looking over my shoulder as I heard Pop's voice, I found an audience. J was holding onto Rose's hand as Jasper and Pixie were leaning up against the door, next to each other. Pop was there with his arms across his chest as he stood in front of Edward, whose glare was directed towards my brother. "I suggest that you stop, McCarty."
Looking over my shoulder as I heard Pop's voice, I found an audience. J was holding onto Rose's hand as Jasper and Pixie were leaning up against the door, next to each other. Pop was there with his arms across his chest as he stood in front of Edward, whose glare was directed towards my brother. "I suggest that you stop, McCarty."
Em grinned at Carlisle's tone, his eyes on mine. "I'm just getting started."
He quickly grabbed a hold of his son's arm and stopped him when he went to walk over to us, his fists noticeable. "Well I suggest that you finish this conversation somewhere else. This isn't a talk that needs to be discussed in front of people who aren't a part of it."
"Awe, Carlisle...you're no fun," he whispered with a laugh as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes. After lighting one up, he inhaled the smoke as he placed one of his arms over my shoulders. On the other side of me, Dahmer took that as an opportunity and went to do the same but stopped at Em's growl of "Think again, my friend," backing away with a grin, his hands up in the air.
Not wanting to cause a scene, I remained quiet as my feet dragged along with Emmett's when he started leading us into the parking lot. After a few more steps, his body next to mine was yanked back. "Where are you taking her, McCarty?" Edward asked in an uneasy tone that I was both thankful and regretful for, keeping his hand on his arm, "Bella's at work, where she plans on staying at until she's done."
He grinned at Cullen's narrowed eyes, turning us around so that we were facing him as his arm over my shoulders tightened a bit. "Eddy! Chill out, bro. You don't want to scare Bella over here."
"Dude, come on, relax. Don't act like this."
Em laughed at his try of calming him down, and Edward's jaw tensed up some. "Act? I'm doing no such thing, Cullen. You on the other hand, should take your own advice and calm down with this whole performance thing that you have going on here. After all, you're not at work."
"I can see that you have a problem with me," he gritted, letting go of his hold as my brother nodded in some 'no shit, Sherlock' kind of a way. "And I get that, Emmett. Just, stop taking it out on your sister. There's no need for that extra bullshit."
"Wait, my sister?" Emmett's eyebrows scrunched together a bit before he started looking around, the dramatic act causing my head to lower as I prayed for him to not say the words that I had nightmares of making an appearance. "Where the hell do you see my sister, man? Cause I sure as hell don't have anyone here fitting that goddamn title."
"Em!" J shouted in disbelief as a tear escaped me, "Come on, man."
After lifting my chin, Emmett placed his forehead against my own, ignoring Edward's fingers wrapping around his arm again. "Oh no, B...Am I hurting your feelings?" I closed my eyes and he laughed in my face, the alcohol on his breath reminding me of Phil. "Look at me, Kiddo."
I tried to push him away from me with my hands over his chest, but the grip that his arm had around me was strong. Opening my eyes, I leaned back a bit and narrowed my eyes at the smugness that I found within his own. Noticing that I was getting uncomfortable with all of the attention that Emmett was creating, Edward took the two steps that were needed to reach us and grabbed a hold of one of my hands with his free one as he kept his other one on my brother arm. "Let go of her, man."
"Fucking come on, Bella! Look at me!" Emmett shouted, pushing Edward away from us before pulling me deeper into the parking lot. My fear of the situation elevated as I noticed that his voice lost the ease that it had earlier. "I'm sick and tired of you avoiding my goddamn eyes, Kiddo. Look at me."
"You're testing my fucking patience," I heard Edward growl behind us before I was pulled back, his hand finding my own that was clutching the bottom hem of my hoodie. Turning us around, Emmett glared at the kid as my fingers tightened around his, my eyes on Jasper, Carlisle, and J as they started heading towards us. "I'm getting tired of having to repeat myself," Cullen told him as Em's arm moved up to my neck when he tried to shove him away from me, "Relax your goddamn grip, McCarty."
And there I was, frozen in the middle, not knowing what the hell to do as the two boys continued threatening each other. I mean, I knew that I didn't feel comfortable leaving with Emmett because of the way that he was acting, but at the same time...he was my goddamn brother, and the knowledge of him not hurting me was there...But, again...if I chose to go with him, Edward would snap...which would lead to them fighting...again.
Em gave Edward a solid push that had him tumbling back a little bit, and as the kid laughed something that sounded like 'That's funny, but not,' when he went to retaliate with his fist, Blue Eyes grabbed a hold of his cousin from behind and pulled him away from us at the same time that Carlisle placed his hand over my brother's shoulder to try to ease the situation that quickly escalated to three guns being aimed at his son's head, from Em's buddies. My jaw dropped at Pop's collected tone while he addressed the kid whose arm was still around my neck. "I know that you don't want to hurt your sister, McCarty, but your grip on her is telling me otherwise."
Em looked at me and groaned at the tears that were running down my face as I kept my attention on his friends, who were all glaring at Edward. Edward, who wasn't in any way phased about having three guns pointing at him while Blue Eyes continued to hold him back.
I swear, this kid watches too many goddamn movies, or something.
"Put that shit away," Emmett told the dudes with a simple roll of his eyes before returning them to Carlisle as they listened to his words by placing their pistols into their waistbands. "I just want to talk to her, Pop. I'm not trying to hurt her, for Christ's sake."
"I know that you aren't, Emmett," he tried, gently pushing me away from my brother before placing himself in front of him, "But I can't have you all keyed up like this if you want to talk to her. It just doesn't sit well with me. You need to relax, son."
"I am relaxed," he gritted slowly, "I just want some time alone with her."
Edward laughed a "Fuck out of here," as he quickly pulled himself out of Jasper's grip, only to walk over to where his Pop was standing. "That shit that you just suggested, of being alone with Bella?" He shook his head and placed his arms across his chest. "I'm sorry to say, but I suggest that you get it out of your head, McCarty. It's not happening."
Em grinned, mimicking Edward's stance as Carlisle rolled his eyes at the two boys, staying put in case someone decided to swing. "And tell me, Cullen. Who the hell do you think you are, telling me what is or what isn't going to happen?"
"Emmett, honest to God, I don't give a fuck about what you have to say to me," he replied to his anger with a simple shrug. "All that I know is that your idea of walking away with her isn't going to happen. If you want to try, then fucking try, man. I'm just saying that it's not going to be as easy as you would like it to be." Raising his hands up by his shoulders, he continued. "I completely get that you want to talk to her alone, and that's cool. But it's just not going to go down as of right now, not when you're like this."
Come again?
Edward, a good actor?
My ass, he is.
...
...
...
Right?
Noticing that Blue Eyes seemed a bit tense also, I walked over to the three men who were now sporting glares and placed myself in between them with a raised eyebrow that was directed at anyone who could answer my question. "What the hell is all this talk about Cullen being an actor?"
"Nothing," Edward spat with his eyes on Emmett, "Just ignore him, Bae."
"Bae?" Em growled, stepping up to him, "I want you to know...that I have no goddamn problem in placing your pathetic ass six feet under the ground that I am standing on top of, Cullen. Let me find out that you're fucking around with Be—"
"I swear to God," Edward laughed, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket to keep them occupied as he kept his position, the invasion of his personal space not bothering him, "I am going to kick your motherfucking ass so goddamn ha—"
"Is she a part of your test?" Emmett interrupted, confusing me even more as he took yet another step towards the kid to place himself right in front of his face. "Tell me, Cullen. Hell, let everyone who doesn't know, know. Is she one of your goddamn assignme—"
Shoving my brother away from his cousin who looked as if he was ten point three seconds away from snapping, Blue Eyes shook his head, giving Emmett a glare that spoke something that I wasn't 'on the same page' with. "If I were you, McCarty...I would shut the hell up. Right now."
Em grinned, dismissing Jasper's warning as he turned his attention to me. "Shit, Kiddo...how can you not see that your Blue Eyes here is a magnificent actor, too? I mean, us guys have been going to classes together all this time, and you had no goddamn idea, huh?" Looking over Pop's shoulder, he nodded at Pixie as I just stood there, trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about. "Oh, but I'm sure that you know that, Alice Brandon...what with your man and b—"
"That's enough!" Carlisle yelled in a tone that made me jump a bit, interrupting my brother with eyes that could have scared God. "I think that I've heard more than I cared to hear, Emmett. I suggest that you take this somewhere else, and now."
"Fine with me," Emmett replied with a nod before taking a hold of my hand, "Come on." I held my breath as he started pulling me away from the others, all the while mumbling underneath his breath as he mocked Pop's words, "Let's go and 'take this somewhere else, and now,' shall we, B?"
"Bella isn't involved. She doesn't need to come on anywhere."
Em turned around as he heard Edward's statement, making me stumble a bit in the process as I followed the quick movement. "Are you telling me that I can't talk to my goddamn sister, Cullen?"
...
...
...
Right?
Noticing that Blue Eyes seemed a bit tense also, I walked over to the three men who were now sporting glares and placed myself in between them with a raised eyebrow that was directed at anyone who could answer my question. "What the hell is all this talk about Cullen being an actor?"
"Nothing," Edward spat with his eyes on Emmett, "Just ignore him, Bae."
"Bae?" Em growled, stepping up to him, "I want you to know...that I have no goddamn problem in placing your pathetic ass six feet under the ground that I am standing on top of, Cullen. Let me find out that you're fucking around with Be—"
"I swear to God," Edward laughed, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket to keep them occupied as he kept his position, the invasion of his personal space not bothering him, "I am going to kick your motherfucking ass so goddamn ha—"
"Is she a part of your test?" Emmett interrupted, confusing me even more as he took yet another step towards the kid to place himself right in front of his face. "Tell me, Cullen. Hell, let everyone who doesn't know, know. Is she one of your goddamn assignme—"
Shoving my brother away from his cousin who looked as if he was ten point three seconds away from snapping, Blue Eyes shook his head, giving Emmett a glare that spoke something that I wasn't 'on the same page' with. "If I were you, McCarty...I would shut the hell up. Right now."
Em grinned, dismissing Jasper's warning as he turned his attention to me. "Shit, Kiddo...how can you not see that your Blue Eyes here is a magnificent actor, too? I mean, us guys have been going to classes together all this time, and you had no goddamn idea, huh?" Looking over Pop's shoulder, he nodded at Pixie as I just stood there, trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about. "Oh, but I'm sure that you know that, Alice Brandon...what with your man and b—"
"That's enough!" Carlisle yelled in a tone that made me jump a bit, interrupting my brother with eyes that could have scared God. "I think that I've heard more than I cared to hear, Emmett. I suggest that you take this somewhere else, and now."
"Fine with me," Emmett replied with a nod before taking a hold of my hand, "Come on." I held my breath as he started pulling me away from the others, all the while mumbling underneath his breath as he mocked Pop's words, "Let's go and 'take this somewhere else, and now,' shall we, B?"
"Bella isn't involved. She doesn't need to come on anywhere."
Em turned around as he heard Edward's statement, making me stumble a bit in the process as I followed the quick movement. "Are you telling me that I can't talk to my goddamn sister, Cullen?"
"A minute ago, you didn't have a goddamn sister," Edward retorted.
I lowered my head with a soft groan. "Jesus Christ, just...stop." Feeling their gazes on me, I threw both of my hands up in the air to show them that I had enough of whatever was going down in between them. "I'm fucking tired of this. Both of you guys are fighting over...over...God, I don't even know what the hell you two are arguing about!" I growled, yanking my hand out of my brother's hold as I met their eyes, "All that I do know is that I'm fucking done with it."
As I neared the Jeep after walking away from them without another word, I looked over my shoulder when Edward grabbed onto my arm from behind. "Where are you going?" I nodded towards Em's truck, and his jaw dropped as he placed himself in front of me, keeping his hold. "You can't be serious, Bae. Fuck, let me talk to him at least, or have someone else talk to him...the kid's not in his right mi—"
I shook my head, interrupting his ramble. "Em won't hurt me, Edward."
"He already did, Bella," the kid hissed in response, not letting go of me.
"He's the only one who I have left," I whispered, "I can't just...igno—"
"Fucking come on," Emmett complained, his annoying annoyance interrupting me, "Are the two of you done yet? I'm tired of this waiting around bullshit when said bullshit could have been done by now." Snatching my arm out of Cullen's hold, I walked up to my brother and slapped him, the low hiss that it produced for once firing my enjoyment as he rubbed his cheek. "What the hell, Kiddo?"
"You need to quit," I whispered angrily, glaring at him as I shook my hand out. "This whole scene of yours where you're doing nothing but trying to rile people up is getting real old, Emmett...and that right there, is what the fuck I am getting tired of."
"Well excuse me for being pissed off, Bella!" he shouted, returning my fury with his own as he threw his hands up in the air, "Christ, Kiddo! You don't even know what I'm going through right now, what I have been going through during these past few days! You don't understand how I feel about this whole thing! You just don't get it!"
"That's complete bullshit, and you know it!" I shouted back, more than ticked off by his new-found selfishness that I didn't even care about the audience that we had, "Whatever you feel in your heart, Emmett...I fucking feel in mine! The two of us, we're a part of something that's connected, have been ever since the first day that you came to me! Don't act as if your pain doesn't feed my own, because you know that it does."
"I just found out that you were assaulted, and by my own Pop, man!"
"I understand that, Emmett...but Christ on you acting like I'm the one who's to blame here! You're treating me as if I was the one who was abusing him, not the other way around!" He shook his head at my words that he knew were spoken with truth, placing his arms across his chest as I lowered my voice to continue. "You've been going through bullshit for a couple of days...I have been going through it for years. You need to just...get over it, because I can't deal with how you're handling this, by...avoiding me. It's unheard of. I'm not used to it, and I don't want to be used to it."
"Get over it?" he whispered in disbelief. I nodded after a few seconds, and he looked away from me with a short laugh that showed me that he wasn't amused by what I just told him to do. "Fine. Here I am. Completely over it. Happy?"
"I'm...Emmett, fuck. I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say?"
"And I'm sorry that I can't accept that."
Lowering my head, I nodded. "That's...okay. I...I understand."
"No, Bella, for once, you're wrong about that," he disagreed in a whisper, his lips against the top of my head causing my eyes to close as tears softly ran out of them. "You don't understand. No one fucking understands."
After that declaration of his that honest to God, staked my goddamn heart, my brother walked away from me. Hearing the Jeep's engine start after he got in and slammed the door shut, I lifted my head to see it pulling out of its parking spot. My attention went to Rose as her fingers ran along her eyes, avoiding my own as Pixie and Jake took a hold of her hands to lead her towards the club's entrance.
Nice.
Looks like I'm the bitch.
Again.
Blue Eyes walked up to me and squeezed my arm as he gave my forehead a quick kiss, telling me that he'll see me soon before turning around to join the three who went inside. As soon as the door shut behind him, I grimaced at Pop's shrug, placing my hoodie over my head when I noticed Edward's unease as he looked away. "I'm uh, sorry that you guys had to see that. It's just...Emmett, and he's kind of...dramatic, you know?"
Coming up to me as his son met my eyes again, he shook his head. "Don't be ridiculous, Bambina. You're family. As for your over-the-top brother, I think of him as being a part of it, too...so there's no need for you to be embarrassed by his actions. Honestly, he doesn't shock me with half of the shit that he does and says." I grinned at his curse, taking his offer to walk me over to my truck as he held one of his hands out to me. "Go home and relax. I'll let you know when Emmett gets over whatever he's going through."
Noticing that Edward was nowhere to be seen as I looked over my shoulder when Pop busied himself by opening the door for me, I nodded as my hand dropped out of his. "Thanks for everythi—" I rolled my eyes at his narrowed ones before I corrected myself, "My gratitude for everything that you have done for me tonight, is nonexistent. You're actually no help at all, and in reality, you only made the situation worse." He grinned as I gave his cheek a kiss before stepping inside. "I guess that I'll uh, see you later, yeah?"
"No worries," he gave me before closing my door, "We'll talk soon."
Nice.
Looks like I'm the bitch.
Again.
Blue Eyes walked up to me and squeezed my arm as he gave my forehead a quick kiss, telling me that he'll see me soon before turning around to join the three who went inside. As soon as the door shut behind him, I grimaced at Pop's shrug, placing my hoodie over my head when I noticed Edward's unease as he looked away. "I'm uh, sorry that you guys had to see that. It's just...Emmett, and he's kind of...dramatic, you know?"
Coming up to me as his son met my eyes again, he shook his head. "Don't be ridiculous, Bambina. You're family. As for your over-the-top brother, I think of him as being a part of it, too...so there's no need for you to be embarrassed by his actions. Honestly, he doesn't shock me with half of the shit that he does and says." I grinned at his curse, taking his offer to walk me over to my truck as he held one of his hands out to me. "Go home and relax. I'll let you know when Emmett gets over whatever he's going through."
Noticing that Edward was nowhere to be seen as I looked over my shoulder when Pop busied himself by opening the door for me, I nodded as my hand dropped out of his. "Thanks for everythi—" I rolled my eyes at his narrowed ones before I corrected myself, "My gratitude for everything that you have done for me tonight, is nonexistent. You're actually no help at all, and in reality, you only made the situation worse." He grinned as I gave his cheek a kiss before stepping inside. "I guess that I'll uh, see you later, yeah?"
"No worries," he gave me before closing my door, "We'll talk soon."
Three Thirty Seven. In The Morning
I couldn't calm myself down enough to sleep.
The non-stop thoughts that were running through my mind were practically taking over. For one minute at least, I wished that I had some goddamn control. Something that would pause them, or better yet, stop them...from driving me insane.
Edward came home, an hour ago exactly. When I heard his footsteps reach the other side of my door, I closed my eyes and prayed that the kid would just...stay there. But after a couple of seconds went by, they continued on their way down the hallway until I couldn't hear them any longer.
That was the only distraction that I received.
The non-stop thoughts that were running through my mind were practically taking over. For one minute at least, I wished that I had some goddamn control. Something that would pause them, or better yet, stop them...from driving me insane.
Edward came home, an hour ago exactly. When I heard his footsteps reach the other side of my door, I closed my eyes and prayed that the kid would just...stay there. But after a couple of seconds went by, they continued on their way down the hallway until I couldn't hear them any longer.
That was the only distraction that I received.
Four Seventeen. In The Goddamn Morning
Pausing in front of the closed door, I lowered my head.
God. Please don't let it be because of a hooker, I thought.
Placing one of my ears against the wood, I tried to hear for...anything...that would tell me that Edward Cullen was getting his freak on. Hearing no 'Oh, yes, right there, your dick's so big right now,' or no 'Give it to me like the champ that I am from the backside,' I leaned away and held my breath as I let my knuckles tap over his door, hoping that I wasn't going to piss him off by waking him up.
Hearing movement from inside, I looked away.
Shit on my life. I shouldn't have disturbed him.
Yeah, I definitely, definitely shouldn't have...
Maybe I should just...turn around and leave?
Yeah, people. I'm definitely, definitely lea—
"Bae?"
Looking over my shoulder, I gave the kid a small smile as I saw him leaning against the frame of his door, his eyes on my fingers as they started tugging the bottom hem of my hoodie. "Hey," I whispered before I turned around to face him, internally cursing my goddamn nerves as I eased my digit's frantic behavior by letting my hands drop down to my sides, "I...didn't know that you were awake."
After clearing his throat of sleep, he raised an eyebrow at me. "You okay?"
"Mmhm," I lied, "I just, you know...whoa on the time. It's uh, pretty late."
It's uh, pretty late?
I woke him up at four something in the morning, to tell him that it was...
Uh, pretty late?
Nice, Bella. Really.
Giving my roll of the eyes — that were, mind you, directed at myself — a sleepy as all hell smile that chilled my blood to the extreme, he nodded as he placed his arms across his naked chest. "Thanks for letting me know."
"Noooo problem-o!" I screeched as I quickly turned around, "Goodnight!"
"Bella?"
I paused at my bedroom door and looked over my shoulder. "What's up?"
Looking over my shoulder, I gave the kid a small smile as I saw him leaning against the frame of his door, his eyes on my fingers as they started tugging the bottom hem of my hoodie. "Hey," I whispered before I turned around to face him, internally cursing my goddamn nerves as I eased my digit's frantic behavior by letting my hands drop down to my sides, "I...didn't know that you were awake."
After clearing his throat of sleep, he raised an eyebrow at me. "You okay?"
"Mmhm," I lied, "I just, you know...whoa on the time. It's uh, pretty late."
It's uh, pretty late?
I woke him up at four something in the morning, to tell him that it was...
Uh, pretty late?
Nice, Bella. Really.
Giving my roll of the eyes — that were, mind you, directed at myself — a sleepy as all hell smile that chilled my blood to the extreme, he nodded as he placed his arms across his naked chest. "Thanks for letting me know."
"Noooo problem-o!" I screeched as I quickly turned around, "Goodnight!"
"Bella?"
I paused at my bedroom door and looked over my shoulder. "What's up?"
"Are you sure?" I asked with a grimace, to which he nodded, raising an eyebrow at me as I remained in place, wondering if he was telling me the truth. "Edward, you have to be one hundred percent sure that it's cool, I don't want to just crash with you if you're having any doubts, cause now I feel kind of bad...but not really...just a little, though. I mean, I can't fucking sleep, and it's getting on my last goddamn nerve. So I thought, maybe I can try to do what I have been trying to do for the past few hours, in your room...since I'm, you know, more in my comfort zone in there. And on a serious note, I fucking blame you for that sh—"
"Did Brandon put a spell on you, or something?" he interrupted. I snorted, and he mocked the sound that came out of my throat as he grabbed a hold of my hand to pull me inside. "I wouldn't be surprised if she did, that little shit."
I smiled at his accusation as he closed the door behind us, adding something about voodoo dolls under his breath in a mumble. Keeping my eyes on him while he walked over to his closet, I headed towards his bed as he started pulling blankets out of the organized heap that he spent more than enough time forming. "So, is everything okay, Cullen?"
"Why wouldn't it be, Swan?"
Reaching the right side, I shrugged at his over the shoulder raised eyebrow before turning my attention to the lone sheet that was laying at the end of the bed. "I just remembered that I found your bedroom door closed, which is fine and whatever, but...you know."
Turning around, he shook his head as he ran his fingers through his hair with the hand that wasn't holding the fabric that I would need for survival, what with Cullen's bedroom being the temperature of ice. "No, I'm good, it wasn't anything like that. Before I fell asleep, I wanted to turn the air on. Seeing that your door was closed, I kept my own shut so that it wouldn't cross your path in some way." I nodded like 'what I good boy that I taught' before he unnecessarily tossed the blankets at my face, along with the night light. Laying down as I pulled my hoodie off, he shrugged with a small smirk playing along his lips. "If I'm keeping it real, I just didn't want to deal with your bitching in the morning, so you know."
"Fuck off," I mumbled with pursed together lips, spreading out the warmness with one hand as my other turned off the lights. He patted the empty spot that was next to him in some impatient kind of a way and I rolled my eyes as I climbed into bed. As soon as my cheek hit the pillow, a satisfied him left my being. "God, it's so nice and...slept on."
He grinned, pulling the covers over my shoulder. "Well it is my goddamn side of the bed that you're currently enjoying, you greedy ass bedside steal-er."
I laughed a bit, moving my head to the edge of the pillow so that I could be closer to him as his arm over my waist tugged my body towards his at the same time. "Edward?" I whispered, getting his attention as he opened his eyes after closing them not a second earlier, "Thanks for sticking up for me tonight. Even though I'm difficult when it comes to stuff like that, I honestly hope that you don't feel as if I don't appreciate it."
He shrugged as his fingers tugged on the fabric of my tee shirt, lowering it as it rode up a bit from the move of him bringing me closer to him. "It's not a big deal, Bae. I know how you are. You don't have to thank me, either way. I'm always going to stick up for you."
I yawned. "Even when I annoy you, will you stick up for me?"
"You always annoy me," he yawned. "That shit won't make a difference."
I grinned, letting my arm hang off of his waist as I closed my eyes. "Even when I outsmart your ass, will you be my ride or die?"
"You're acting like that's an actual possibility," he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep. "No worries, we don't need to take that nonsense into account, simply because your dumb-ass will never be able to outsmart the brilliancy that consists of Edward Cullen."
"How about when I leave the apartment messy?"
The kid remained silent for a strait minute, until I opened my eyes. Noticing the playful yet not so playful glare that he was giving me, I pursed my lips together. "Don't flatter yourself, Bella. You know that a messy room gives me a goddamn aneurysm."
I laughed. "I see how it is. Leave me to fend for myself because of your problems."
"You are my problem," he retorted, closing his eyes. I brought one of my hands up to his mouth and gave his smirk a couple of smacks before he grabbed a hold of my wrist with a growl. I went to pull my arm back, but he interlaced our fingers together and practically shoved them underneath his pillow, his sleep issues making me smile. "Goodnight, Bae."
"Night."
Two Weeks Later
Fourteen days, of not hearing from my brother.
I stopped bothering Emmett with my phone calls.
It's not like I'm a chick who couldn't take a hint.
The kid wanted nothing to do with me, and I was okay with that.
Alright, so maybe I wasn't okay with that per the fuck say, people...but I was dealing with his avoidance in the only was that I knew how to, by keeping myself drowning in work. Never mind the fact of how I felt as if I aged four hundred years, I had to keep my nonstop mind busy so that it wouldn't just...take off on me.
Exhausted wasn't even the word.
Today, we were 'supposed' to find out what was going to happen to Emmett. I mean, granted, we all knew that my brother was going to get locked up, but for how long, we were unsure of. All day, the living room couch was my ass's home as I tried to guess what the judge's sentence would be. I had my cell phone next to me, at attention, even though I knew that I wasn't going to receive any calls. Again, though. I was still motherfucking hopeful.
Hearing the front door open, I tore my gaze away from the TV screen that was showing reruns of 'All In The Family,' only to see that Edward made it home from being gone all day, doing God knows what. "Hey," he whispered as I sat up a bit to watch him step inside, "What's going on?"
It was always in the back of my head. The question of how Edward and Pop could help him. What pull did these two have with the system that made them so goddamn confident? I just...didn't get it. They must know someone who knows someone, or something.
"Any news yet?" I asked as he closed and locked the door.
Rolling his eyes at my obsession with Archie Bunker, he dropped his keys on the entertainment stand before he made his way over to the couch. "We have court scheduled in the morning," he answered, running his hands down his face after taking a seat next to me, "So I'm guessing that we'll find out then."
I ran one of my hands over the scruff that was scattered along his jaw as he leaned back and closed his eyes, the hollow bags that were underneath them noticeable. "Maybe you should take a nap, Edward. You look like you need it."
He shrugged in some 'Naps are for pussies,' type of a way that had me rolling my eyes as he quickly pushed himself up to his feet. "Did you eat yet?" he asked, changing the subject. I nodded and he hummed something that sang disbelief as he started stretching, heading towards the kitchen. "I bet, liar. Tell me what you ate."
"I had some chicken soup," I lied.
Reaching the door, he looked over his shoulder. "When was this, Bae?"
I rolled my eyes at his raised brow. "Edward, leave me alone. I'll eat later."
"I'm getting us some pizza," he mumbled as he stepped into the kitchen, "And you're eating some, too! Don't make me bring my mother here, cause you know that I'm not below watching her shove food down your throat!"
I laid down with a groan. "I'm not fucking hungry!"
"I don't give a shit," he replied, walking out of the kitchen with two glasses of water, "You starving ass didn't eat anything today, so stop trying to feed me that bull. I remember that you had some chicken soup yesterday, and it was only that. You're eating, Bella."
I growled as I sat up. "You're doing that thing again, Edward."
Handing me my glass, he took a seat and grabbed a hold of my legs when I went to put my feet on the table that was in placed in front of us. Laying them on top of his lap, he raised an eyebrow at my glare. "What thing am I doing, Bella?"
"You're trying to control me," I accused with a point of my finger as he took a sip of water, "It's the one thing that annoys me to point where I end up having to bring out my list of different ways on 'How To Kill Edward Cullen.' I suggest that you stop with that bullshit before I snap, for I am this close in doing so." He rolled his eyes at me as he took a hold of my glass and placed it on top of the table, along with his. I shook my head at his hidden smirk, feeling his fingers wrap themselves around one of my ankles as he leaned back. "Don't. You. Dare."
"Don't I dare, what?" he asked, pulling off my sock.
"Edw—" I yelled as soon as Edward's goddamn digits started tickling my foot, and he in return laughed before he mocked my screaming like a bitch, causing me to grimace as my other foot found his chest and tried to push him away from me. Snorting at my efforts as my body thrashed around in some helpless manner, his fingers continued their assault on my now frozen body part that wanted nothing more than to stomp on his face. "You better sleep with one eye open from now on, Cullen, I swear to Christ! Don't be surprised if you wake up one morning with no testicles!"
He grinned at my threat as he let go of my foot, and not even a second later, I groaned from the impact of his body landing on top of my own after he decided to jump on my ass. "You're such a weak little shit," the soon to be ball-less prick told my narrowed eyes as he held my hands above my head with pursed lips, "Honestly, Bae? You think that you scare me, or something? Your scrawny ass is child's play compared to my big guns, so why deny the shit? Just admit it, man."
I huffed at his statement as I tried to roll his body off of mine. "Get lost!"
At my looking like an earth worm that was trying to dig itself out of what seemed to be an endless ground, his lips widened in a grin before his gaze left my face and went below my chin. He hummed as I continued struggling for an escape, his green eyes busy as they searched for a spot to...
"Owe!" I yelped, feeling his teeth dig into my shoulder, "Edward!"
The kid pouted, lifting his head up a bit. "But I'm hungry, Bae."
"But I don't want to eat all by myself," he complained, laying his chin on my collarbone as his eyes gazed at mine from underneath those long ass lashes that always fucking got to me, "Eat something with me, Bae?"
I groaned. "You're relentless." He shrugged, my chest getting his attention as he licked his lips...preparing himself. "Okay, Okay!" I shouted, immediately giving in to his attack, not at all finding bite marks over my tits appealing, "I'll eat with you, shit!"
Content, he nodded as he let go of my wrists. "Thanks for your coopera—"
The prick didn't get to finish his statement of gratitude that was filled with nothing but bullshit as I quickly kicked him off of me when I heard the front door swing open. Pix smiled at my narrowed eyes as she stepped inside our apartment that she too evidently had a key to, whispering something along the lines of "Interesting" as her gaze lowered down to the floor below me, where Edward groaned as he lifted his hips off of the carpet to place his hands over his junk. Looking over her shoulder, Bonnie grimaced at Clyde as he walked into the living room with a smirk. "Thank God we came by before he decided to uncover that thing, baby."
Her attention snapped over to me as I started pulling on the bottom hems of my tee shirt and hoodie, trying to tug them down my torso as quickly as possible, all the while internally cursing Edward Cullen's idea of how to get me to eat. "It's not what it looks like, hookah. You walked in at the wrong ti—"
Pixie hummed a "Shut up," interrupting me as she raised an eyebrow at my naked foot. "Some time ago, Rose told me that socks being worn during play time creeps you out." Placing her arms across her chest, she grinned at Jasper, who wasn't paying her any mind, what with his complete attention staying on the pizza box that he was holding, acting as if the cardboard was his first born. "Jazzy!" His nose froze at her screech, mid-sniff, before he lifted his head. "I guess that our Bella must have been a bit too preoccupied, yeah? Enough to not give a shit about her clothed foot as things started to steam up, so to speak."
I kept my glare on the Pixie Dust as my hands started punching the cushions, trying to find anything that could be used to cover up my foot. Edward grumbled a curse word and not a second later, my missing sock came flying at me from the floor. Catching it with a growl of "Thank you," I shoved it on as I rolled my eyes at the idiot's groan of "You're welcome."
Pix laughed in bubble-ness, and I gritted my teeth.
Someone else, who deserves a 'list.' I'm so on it.
After Edward pushed himself up to his feet, Blue Eyes pursed his lips together at the visual of his cousin cupping his limp dick. "So, Brown Eyes is a freak in bed, yeah?" he asked, ignoring the glare that Edward gave him as he started heading towards the kitchen, looking a bit constipated, "I fucking knew it, man."
"Shut up, you idiot," Cullen hissed, punching the door open with one hand as his other one smacked the side of Jasper's face, "I'm fucking telling Esme."
Pixie rolled her eyes as her man gulped from hearing the threat that was mumbled after Edward stepped into the kitchen. "Anyway, we brought pizza." I headed over to her with a smile as she smiled, holding the box up in the air. "Judging from what I walked into, you guys obviously need the ene—" I placed one of my hands underneath the piece of shit that her palm offered me and lifted it, shrugging at her pout as it hit the floor with a thud. "Hey!"
Placing my arms across my chest, I grinned. "Eat that!"
Content, he nodded as he let go of my wrists. "Thanks for your coopera—"
The prick didn't get to finish his statement of gratitude that was filled with nothing but bullshit as I quickly kicked him off of me when I heard the front door swing open. Pix smiled at my narrowed eyes as she stepped inside our apartment that she too evidently had a key to, whispering something along the lines of "Interesting" as her gaze lowered down to the floor below me, where Edward groaned as he lifted his hips off of the carpet to place his hands over his junk. Looking over her shoulder, Bonnie grimaced at Clyde as he walked into the living room with a smirk. "Thank God we came by before he decided to uncover that thing, baby."
Her attention snapped over to me as I started pulling on the bottom hems of my tee shirt and hoodie, trying to tug them down my torso as quickly as possible, all the while internally cursing Edward Cullen's idea of how to get me to eat. "It's not what it looks like, hookah. You walked in at the wrong ti—"
Pixie hummed a "Shut up," interrupting me as she raised an eyebrow at my naked foot. "Some time ago, Rose told me that socks being worn during play time creeps you out." Placing her arms across her chest, she grinned at Jasper, who wasn't paying her any mind, what with his complete attention staying on the pizza box that he was holding, acting as if the cardboard was his first born. "Jazzy!" His nose froze at her screech, mid-sniff, before he lifted his head. "I guess that our Bella must have been a bit too preoccupied, yeah? Enough to not give a shit about her clothed foot as things started to steam up, so to speak."
I kept my glare on the Pixie Dust as my hands started punching the cushions, trying to find anything that could be used to cover up my foot. Edward grumbled a curse word and not a second later, my missing sock came flying at me from the floor. Catching it with a growl of "Thank you," I shoved it on as I rolled my eyes at the idiot's groan of "You're welcome."
Pix laughed in bubble-ness, and I gritted my teeth.
Someone else, who deserves a 'list.' I'm so on it.
After Edward pushed himself up to his feet, Blue Eyes pursed his lips together at the visual of his cousin cupping his limp dick. "So, Brown Eyes is a freak in bed, yeah?" he asked, ignoring the glare that Edward gave him as he started heading towards the kitchen, looking a bit constipated, "I fucking knew it, man."
"Shut up, you idiot," Cullen hissed, punching the door open with one hand as his other one smacked the side of Jasper's face, "I'm fucking telling Esme."
Pixie rolled her eyes as her man gulped from hearing the threat that was mumbled after Edward stepped into the kitchen. "Anyway, we brought pizza." I headed over to her with a smile as she smiled, holding the box up in the air. "Judging from what I walked into, you guys obviously need the ene—" I placed one of my hands underneath the piece of shit that her palm offered me and lifted it, shrugging at her pout as it hit the floor with a thud. "Hey!"
Placing my arms across my chest, I grinned. "Eat that!"
Blue Eyes grimaced. "Darlin,' you should have thought that one through."
"Bella, do you want to go to my mom's for dinner to—"
My raised eyebrow left Jasper and went to Edward, seeing as to how his words froze as soon as he stepped out of the kitchen. Following his gaze, I grimaced when I saw pizza slices of sauce, cheese, and pepperoni decorating the carpet. Lifting my head, I went to apologize but stopped short as I was met with a glare. "Oh take it easy, you freak!" I spat.
"I fucking vacuumed this morning, Bella!" he groaned.
"Well vacuum again!" I snapped.
His jaw tensed. "You fucking vacuum," he tooold me.
I laughed in an un-amused type of a way as Pixie and Blue Eyes leaned against each other with pursed lips, trying to hide the laughter that was directed at Edward's ridiculousness. "Oh don't act like after I vacuum this goddamn apartment, you're not going to just...re-vacuum the shit, Cullen!"
Placing his arms across his chest, he shrugged as he leaned against the wall. "Well if you did everything correctly the first time, then I wouldn't have to redo the shit, Swan."
"And if you lived like a normal human fucking being, what with leaving some shit unorganized...then the 'everything' that I don't do 'correctly the first time' wouldn't be a problem, which would give you the freedom of not having to redo it to begin with."
"Wait a second," he started with a raised eyebrow, "Are you honestly trying to tell me that you live like a normal human being here?" I gritted my teeth. "Because holy hell on that being complete bullshit. You're like a fucking scavenger, Bella."
"Edward," I said slowly, "You're...getting...on...my...nerves."
He huffed, amused. "You always get...on...my...nerves. Deal with it."
"Well you get on my nerves when you get on my nerves."
"So, basically, what you're saying is that...I get on your nerves?" I closed my eyes at the smirk that I wanted to stab a plastic knife through and counted to ten before I opened them again. "Seriously, Bae. Did that shit make any sense to you?"
"Everything that I say makes sense to me, Edward. Like, for one...it makes perfect sense to me as to why you're alone and without the company of a girl."
"Pssh, I have girls," he declared with a smile...
Like what I just told him was a compliment.
Fucking men.
I'll tell ya, ladies.
What a waste.
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