Chapter 3

E POV

For the rest of the day, time seemed to crawl by. I would have sworn that at one point the clock stopped ticking. It didn’t help matters that all my classes are as boring as shit. The teachers just stand in front of the class and read straight out of the textbook. I could fucking do that at home.

So when the bell final rang, I couldn’t get to my car fast enough. I had a lot of things to do before Jasper was picking us up. It was his turn to drive which pissed him off. Not that he particularly stayed stone cold sober, but he wouldn’t have any alcohol. He could get shit faced on my stash and never touch a drop to drink, but Jasper liked his beer. He said it relaxed him to have something in his hands. Be that as it may, he was the driver tonight and that meant he had to keep away from the alcohol. On the off chance we were pulled over for speeding or some shit, the last thing we needed was that noisy ass police chief pulling us out of the car for sobriety tests.

I had been caught by that fucker on more than one occasion, and although mom was cool, I knew that she meant business about me being picked up again. Besides that, I was trying to earn money for college and shit. My own personal “Edward Cullen Scholarship Program” we all called it. I didn’t need Chief “Suck ASS” Swan poking his nose in my stash and spoiling my plans.

On my way home, I remembered the bag I still had on me. I wasn’t going to make it to all of the parties tonight, but that didn’t mean my weed couldn’t be there without me. I make a quick u-turn and went to Ben’s house. He was a nerdy ass geek, but his dad was rich as sin so Ben was able to throw some kick ass parties. His parents were always there trying to get all of his “so called” friends drunk so that he would be more popular at school. It would never happen, but the students of Forks High School enjoyed milking his parties and his parents for every drop of booze they could get their hands on. Come Monday morning, Ben was back to being “Bucktooth Benjamin”. Poor bastard had had his braces off for 4 years and still couldn’t shake that nickname.

I pulled into their driveway and honked my horn twice. They had some massively big pit bulls that they let roam around the yard. I wasn’t getting out of the car until those beasts were put up. I saw the curtain move and Ben wave at me in a frantic jerky manner. God he was such a geek. I swear he still wore pants from junior high. His green corduroy pants road up his legs like he was getting ready to go shallow water fishing. When he walked you could hear the “swish..swish” of this fabric rubbing together. But who was I to judge. He was buying my stuff, and I was going to have some fun tonight.

He rushed to my car door window as I let the power button roll it down. I was lazily shrugged into my seat facing the front window, and I could see his excited form jumping up and down like a kid without his Ritalin.

“Hey Edward, you’re early. I am so glad you are here for my party. You want to come in and help me put up crepe paper streamers. Can you believe that test in Trig today? I am mean really. What was up with Mr. Banner today? Did someone mess in his Cheerios?” He didn’t take a breath during the entire conversation, but he stopped long enough to laugh at his own joke. I swear this boy didn’t need any more caffeine EVER.

“Woah.. Slow down a minute. I am only here to drop off the ‘party favors’ that you requested. Don’t fucking pee yourself or anything. You got my cash, cause I got to get moving.” I said as I watched his face fall. He clearly thought I had come over to help set up the party. Like that would EVER happen. I didn’t even set up for my own parties. Who the fuck cared anyway? My theory was that all you need for a good party is: The right group of people, the right amount of alcohol, the right drugs, the right music, and a few dark rooms. There you have the perfect party.

“Oh. OK..I guess you have more important things to do than to be with me. Will I see you later at least?” He nearly whispered the last part. I thought he was going to break down and cry. God I had to get out of here. I almost felt sorry for him.

“Dude, I am sure you will have someone here to help in no time. I have to go…I…have…” my mind was frantically searching for the best way to break the news to him. I couldn’t think of a lie fast enough. “I…have to …ummmm..take my grandma to the doctor.” What the hell? Where did that come from? I don’t even have a grandmother. I practically threw the bag of weed out the window, and reached out of the window for my money. Not even Bucktooth Benjamin got to purchase weed on credit. I did take the check he offered me. I usually don’t take anything but cash, but I was willing to make an exception just to get the hell out of here.

Cash was not easy to trace. I didn’t want to have to explain to anyone how or where I got my money. The IRS can kiss my tight firm ass. However, I could just explain one check easily enough.

I threw my car into reverse and yelled a loud, “See ya!” as I raced out of his driveway. I couldn’t wait to be in college. I knew that kids in college had to be cooler than high school kids, or at least I prayed they would be.

Just as I was getting to my house, my phone rang. I looked at the caller I.D and saw it was Jessica. Oh great, this ought to be fun. I let it ring a few times just to keep her on her toes. Finally, before voicemail could pick up, I answered.

“So I guess you liked my sample today?” I questioned. I knew she would be back for more. Good pot is hard to come by these days. People are always trying to fuck it up by putting ‘Extra’ crap in it. There is no need for that, if you grow the right stuff.

I heard her clear her throat. “Yes, Edward. I was wondering if you were going to have any more of those ‘cookies’ at the party tonight?” Someone must have been listening to her conversation, but I got the meaning.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but I have other plans tonight.” I waited for the moment I knew was coming.

“Can I meet you somewhere? I really want some more of those cookies.” I bet you do. I had to plan this very carefully. I didn’t want to ruin my chances at the bar tonight with Jessica hanging all over me.

“We are going to a bar in the city. You can meet me there, but you can’t stay. I will give you what you want and then you go. Is that clear?” What you do for money. I knew she would agree.

“OK. Just tell me where and when.” I gave her the directions and the approximate time. I told her to text me when she got there. I would meet her in the back. Just as she was going to ask me something else, my phone beeped.

“I have to get going Jess. I will talk to you later.” I started to hand up, and then added, “Oh and Jessica, be sure you bring your pillow you will need it for your knees.” I ended the call with her and answered the next. I was still laughing when I said, “Hello.”

“Well, I am glad you are happy to hear from me. I didn’t even think you would take my call.” My stomach lurched as I recognized the voice on the other end of the line.

“Hello, TANYA. What the fuck do you want?” I really couldn’t stand this bitch. She was pushy, noisy, slutty, and rude. When she went to my school, it was joked that we were oil and water. We never mixed. I always thought it was more like gasoline and fire. We were always EXPLOSIVE. On more than one occasion we had ended an argument with some extremely high octane sex. Never meaningful, but very memorable.

“Edward, Edward, Edward. I know you have missed me. I heard that you were coming to the bar tonight with us. I just thought I would try to clear the air between us before we all got there. I don’t want to ruin anyone’s night.” She was up to something. She was never this nice.

“What do you want, Tanya? Just tell me already and get this over with.” I said with an exasperated voice.

I heard a giggle. “You know me too well. Here is the thing. I have made some good friends here at my new school, but they don’t know about my…. Past. I would like to keep it that way. Do you know what I am saying?”

Past my ass. More like a novella of historical sluttiness. I guess I could see her point. She was trying to be a better person and all. I knew that you can’t change a leopard’s spots.

Tanya was a whore and would always be a whore. “Whatever, Tanya. It is not as if I will be talking to your stupid ass friends anyway. Why do I care if you are trying to pull the wool over their eyes? Is that all?” I replied impatiently.

“Oh I am sure I will see you and your dog’s sniffing around me and my girls tonight. You know you can’t resist temptation, but I guess we will see. Good to talk to you again Edward. I hope we have time to…Catch up.” Eww gross was she just making a sexual reference. I decided to ignore it, but before I could say anything, she hung up on me.

I would be pissed, but I just didn’t give a rat’s ass. The troubling part of the whole conversation was the fact that she said “I heard you were coming to the bar WITH US?”

Like it was a date or some shit. Hell, I didn’t know these girls. They could be butter faces. You know, everything is good “but her face”. I wasn’t going to waste my time talking to a dog. I didn’t want to be tied down for the night. I started to panic at the idea. What had Jasper gotten us into?

I went to take a shower to calm my nerves. I needed to relax and have a good time. Tanya or no Tanya I was going to get laid tonight if it killed me.

Just as I was stepping out of the shower, I heard my mom come into my room, “Hey, sweetheart. How was your day at school? Did you do well on the Math test?” I could tell she was cleaning up or some shit, and I stumbled into the room with a towel around my waist.

“Mom, you know you don’t have to clean up after me.” I said as I started to help her sift through the mounds of clothes on the floor.

She answered with, “You mean I shouldn’t have to clean up after you, but someone has to clean this room every once and a while. They will call the sanitation department on us.” Just as she finished that sentence, she reached down and picked up a pair of jeans on the floor. Much to her surprise, a condom wrapper fell out of the pocket. We both stared at it and didn’t move. The white elephant had entered the room.

Finally, she broke the silence. “Well, I guess this means you are being safe.” She looked up to me and I saw tears in her eyes. “Do you have any questions about…. I don’t know…. SEX? We have never really talked about it, and I know you haven’t spoken to your father.”

“Maybe we could go to the doctor and you could ask him any questions you might have.”

I hated when my mom felt like she wasn’t enough for me, and right now was one of those times. I could tell she was thinking that a father should have had “The Talk” with his son. That’s the way it is done in normal families, but I couldn’t have her thinking that. She was all I would ever need. I walked over to her and gave her a big hug.

“Mom, don’t cry. You are the only one I would ever need to talk to about this if I had questions. To teenagers today, this shit just comes naturally. Everywhere you look they are teaching you about safe sex and condoms. Don’t worry. I promise that if I ever have a question about sex I will come to you first.” She seemed to straighten up into my hug and pulled away.

She wiped away a few tears and said, “I guess you are too big to have me cleaning your room, just promise me to keep it above bio hazard level.” I gave her my best smile and she turned to leave the room.

I stopped her with a question, “Oh Mom. By the way, what does it mean when you have a green and red growth on your penis?” I pretended I was going to open my towel, and she gave me a quick roll of her eyes.

“It means you are rubbing too hard.” And she turned and left leaving me speechless. Good old mom.

I went to get ready. Jasper was going to be here in no time. I needed to perfect my look. About 30 minutes and several bottles of gel later, I gave up on my hair. It didn’t really matter anyway; the ladies would be pulling on it in a few hours.

My phone rang, and Jasper’s picture appeared on the screen. I grabbed my stuff, and headed out the door stopping just long enough to grab the condom from the floor.

Bella’s POV

The last bell went for school and I dragged myself out to the school parking lot. Rachael was leaning against the truck and smiled in greeting as I approached.

“You don’t mind giving me a lift to Alice’s do you?” she asked.

“No, of course not. Where is your car?” I said as I unlocked the car and leaned over to open her door and let her in.

“Jacob begged me to borrow it, something about football practice or something and Embry’s car had broken down and he had no way of getting home.” She said rolling her eyes at me and climbed into my truck, “He dropped me off this morning, but I sort of assumed you wouldn’t mind giving me a lift, hope you don’t mind.” She said looking a bit sheepish.

I laughed, “Not at all, you know that.”

“I need to grab my bag from home. Do you mind?” Rachael asked begging a little.

“Nope it is fine, anything to delay me getting to Alice’s and finding out what I am wearing tonight is a good thing.” I smirked, as Rachael giggled. I started the engine and turned the music up, pulling out of the school parking lot heading for La Push.

The air was cool and fresh after a warm day and I put the windows down a little as I drove around the cliffs on the road to get to Rachael’s house. I pretty much lived there, was there every other day doing something with Rach. I knew the roads like the back of my hands.

We pulled up on to the dirt track beside her house. There was dust flying everywhere and we both sat in silence and giggled as we waited for it to settle a little before we left the confinement of the trucks cabin. I looked back at the house which was pretty much falling down around their ears.

We exited the car and walked up the path to the front of the house. Rachael had the keys in her hand and unlocked the front door.

You could hear the thumping from down the hall as Jacob pretty much ran towards us in a hurry. He stopped quickly as he saw me and a big smile lit his face. “Hey Bella,” he said a little too enthusiastically.

“Hey Jacob.” I said in reply trying not to laugh at the sight of him as he had one sock on and one sock off on his feet. He looked a mess.

“Rachael,” He mumbled to his sister barely glancing in her direction.

“Um, I am going out with Embry and the lads tonight. Can I borrow a twenty?” he looked embarrassed as he asked her.

“Ahh, no!” Rachel said with sarcasm in her tone. Rolling her eyes at Jacob’s efforts to get money from her. I tried not to smile as she said, “What did you do with the money Dad gave you last night?”

He looked really guilty and glanced back at me before running out of the room and avoided Rachael‘s question. We both looked at each other and raised our eyebrows.

“He better not of bought something stupid with it,” she mumbled to me as we headed to her bedroom to grab her overnight bag.

I didn’t like to think what those boys got up to. Jacob had so much free time on his hands. I don’t think his Dad expected him to graduate like he did Rachael. It was a shame he was treated like that, he could really make something out of his life, and he was pretty smart when he didn’t put on the pretend crap that he was useless. All he had to do was work at his studies and he could go to college if he wanted to. Instead, I think he was going to play with cars for the rest of his life. I thought it was a real shame no one encouraged him like they did with Rachael.

I snapped out of my thoughts when Rachael was waving a hand in front of my face. “Sorry Rach,” I smirked at her.

“I was talking to you for awhile now,” she smiled rolling her eyes at me, “Okay, so this shirt and jeans or this dress?”

“You’re asking me?” I laughed, “Take both and talk to Alice.”

Rachael shrugged her shoulders and threw both sets of clothes and matching shoes into her bag and we headed back out the door.

“Jacob,” Rachael called, “We are going out, I won’t be back till tomorrow sometime I am staying over at Alice’s house. Okay?” she said stopping in the hall to make sure he got the message.

“Whatever!” Jacob shouted back.

“Fine, let’s get out of here.” She grumbled to me. “It will be nice to escape this place tonight.”

We walked out the front door and got into my truck. It started up and I pulled out of the dirt track and headed back into town towards Alice’s place.

Alice lived in the nicest neighbourhood, Rose and Alice’s families had money. They were pretty lucky compared to the rest of the families struggling at that school. They never rubbed it in your face though, that was one of the reasons we were friends. I couldn’t put up with the whole keeping up with the Jones’ thing.

We pulled up to the huge white mansion and I parked my truck off to the side so Alice could get her car out later. We were taking two vehicles tonight but we never took mine out of Forks, just in case it broke down. I trusted it, but the other girls weren’t so sure. Better to be safe than sorry I guess I would never live it down if I got them stranded.

We grabbed out bags and I grabbed Rose’s birthday present, we got her the new pink iphone that Alice said she had her eye on. A little expensive for one of us to buy but not so bad when it was split five ways.

Just as we were about to knock the door flew opened, “Where have you been?” Alice grabbed our arms and dragged us up stairs.

“Are we a little eager Alice?” I chuckled at Rachael who looked a little shocked as she tripped up the last step.

“Hi all,” I said to the girls, we were the last ones to arrive. They were already dressed and ready so I now knew why we were in trouble. They wanted to get going.

“I didn’t know where you were,” she then looked a little guilty as she said the next line, “I even rang Charlie. Sorry Bella but you need to call him back and let him know you are okay.” She said as she handed me her phone.

I rolled my eyes and started dialling his number. Terrific that is all I need the whole police station, all three of them out looking for me. It went straight to voice mail. “Hey Dad, it is me. I went to Rachael’s before I arrived at Alice’s’ place. She completely over reacted as usual.” I gave Alice a fake annoyed look. She just lit her face up and grinned at me I tried not to laugh at her, and shook my head. “Anyway I am staying here tonight so don’t wait up, I will talk to you in the morning. Bye.” And hung up the phone and gave it back to a very coy Alice.

“Yeah, sorry about that Bella. But it is your fault,” she tried to justify as she threw some clothes at me, I assumed to change into.

“Of course it is my fault, but why is it this time?” I smirked back at Alice whilst Rachael who was on the bed with Rose, Tanya and Angela were all giggling at us.

Alice rolled her eyes at me, “It is always your fault you should know that by now, and you missy,” she said throwing clothes at Rachael, “hurry up and put this on, come on you two I want to get going.”

I walked over to Rose and handed her the wrapped present with the card we signed together the weekend before. “Happy Birthday Rose, I will get dressed once she has opened her present. Alright Alice?”

“Fine,” she huffed but threw herself excitedly on the bed so she could watch Rose open up the phone.

“Aww, thank you girls,” Rose said as she read the card. “So let’s see what I got!” She excitedly started opening up the gift.

Rose gasped as she saw what she got and screamed out “Thank you so much, this is perfect. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!” we jumped into a group hug and started jumping up and down.

“Well I think she likes her present,” Alice laughed, "Now both of you,” she said pointing at Rachael and I “go and get dressed NOW!”

We did not need to be told again, we knew her patience with us was running thin so we quickly ran to her bathroom and closed the door and stripped.

“What the hell has she got us wearing?” Rachael said as she held up the skimpiest dress you could imagine.

“Alice!” Rachael called out, “Where is the rest of this dress?” she was frowning and turning it around as if looking for it. I couldn’t help but laugh at her as she looked up and said, “Don’t you laugh, look what she got you to wear?”

I held out this beautiful material that was blue and strapless. It was really lovely. The dress fell to just above my knee. Pretty respectable for Alice I was pretty happy.

I looked over to Rachael who was laughing. “What?” I said looking to her and back at the dress in my hands in confusion. What was I missing?

“Okay maybe mine isn’t so bad after all.” She was doubled up in laughter. “At least I get to wear a bra with mine! How are you going to dance in that tonight?”

It suddenly dawned on me what she was saying. I was going to have a tough time keeping this dress up. I only had little breasts as it was. I was going to kill her.

“Alice!” I yelled at the top of my voice. You could hear the rest of the group double up in laughter as Alice opened the door to the bathroom.

“You called?” she said with a look of pure innocence.

“What the hell are you playing at? How am I supposed to wear this?” I was horrified.

“Just put it on Bella.” Alice spoke calmly to me, “you are wearing it. Now stop being a baby.”

“Come on Bella,” Tanya interrupted. “If we don’t get going now we are never going to find two car parks.”

“Oh, is that why we are going so early?” I spoke up as I shut the door to put the scrap of material on.

“Yes!” Tanya said a little irritated, “Now would you both get a move on?”

Rachael and I looked at each other and raised our eyebrows knowing we were going to ruin the night for Rose if Tanya got pissed off so we hurried up and changed into the most revealing outfits I think either of us had ever worn.

I was so nervous about my boobs showing or worse my dress completely falling down that I felt like I was going to have my arms wrapped around my body all night. This was ridiculous.

We both headed out of the bathroom and Alice looked at me and groaned and told me to sit so she could do my hair. “Would you stop with trying to hold your dress up? It will not fall down Bella!” she said exasperated at me.

“Easy for you to say,” I grumbled in return, “you’re not the one it could fall off and show your naked body too.”

I could hear Rose laughing behind me, “Bella you won’t be naked you will have your panties on still unless they are too big too?”

“Rose!” Alice turned around, “The dress is not too big for her, it fits perfectly.” She pulled me to my feet. “Bella jump ten times and don’t hold your dress up.”

I rolled my eyes at her and giggled as I complied [to] her request. Miracles do happen. My dress stayed up and nobody got flashed. “Okay fine I will be happy and wear it, thank you Alice it is perfect.”

She smiled smugly to Rose, who poked her tongue out at her.

“Are we going now then?” Tanya started to get irritated again probably at our juvenile behaviour.

“Yes!” we all chorused together and picked up our purses and headed out the door.

“So where are we going anyway?” Alice spoke to Tanya. I was just sitting obliviously in the back of Alice’s Porsche. Angela took Rose and Rachel in her mom’s car that she had borrowed for the night. We wanted to make sure Rose wasn’t a designated driver tonight. I don’t think she liked being chauffeured around, she looked a little annoyed at not driving as she got into Angela’s car.

“There is a new club I have never been to before that has opened up in Port Angeles.” She said turning to Alice, “I thought we would give it a go. It is apparently popular.”

“What’s it called?” I butted in.

Tanya whipped her hair around to me, “It’s called Lose Control. Now Bella, you need to be, how should I put it?” she said looking at me tapping her chin, “Quiet and not say a word until we get into the club, go along with whatever I am doing or saying, got it?”

“Sure, okay fine.” I said rolling my eyes not really getting why I couldn’t speak.

“Why can’t Bella speak?” Alice said with a frown on her face. Made me feel a little better that this was all Tanya’s idea. “What have you got planned Tanya?” Alice asked a little more forcefully? “Nothing illegal?”

We both knew she had done drugs before and that was why she was at our school but as far as we knew she had kept her nose clean since starting there. I was now a little worried about tonight. Where were we going?

“Of course not,” she said with a smile and a giggle. “I would never do that to you girls, you know that right?”

“I would like to think so,” Alice said with a smile, “Sorry I had to ask, you had me worried there.”

“It’s fine. Let’s hope we get a couple of car parks easy enough. I hate paying.” Tanya said to Alice.

That was laughable I tried not to snort, because she would not be paying even if we did park valet she would make Alice or Rose foot the bill. I knew they could afford it but I always wanted to pay my own way. For the most part Tanya was nice enough and had fit in to our group fairly well, but sometimes she worried me.

We arrived and found parking easy enough. Tanya was triumphant that we didn’t have to pay, I was just pleased she wouldn’t start sulking and ruin Rose’s night.

There was no queue as it was so early. I was beginning to wonder if Tanya knew what she was doing?

“The earlier we are the easier it is to get in,” I heard her tell Angela who had obviously asked the same question, “trust me I know what I am doing.”

I just shrugged and followed remembering to not say a word and go with whatever she said.

We walked up to the bouncer who looked pretty creepy he was a plump, big man, with Tattoo’s running up and down his arms and his hair was all greasy. I tried not to pull a face as I saw him look up and down my body like I was on display for him. I turned to Angela who looked a little nervous as well.

“Don’t you girls look nice tonight?” the bouncer greeted us.

“You’re too sweet,” I couldn’t believe it when Tanya purred that and fluttering her eyelashes at him.

What was she doing?

I looked over to Angela who equally looked as shocked as I felt.

“We underage ladies?” the bouncer looked at all of us a little closer?

“Nope, we are all twenty-one and twenty-two. Want to see our ID’s so you believe us?” Tanya purred to him.

What was she doing we didn’t have ID’s that said we were twenty-one.

“Yeah and my mom is Whoopi Goldberg.” I heard him mutter rolling his eyes at Tanya but it worked and he pulled the rope back to let us in.

“Behave ladies,” he said as we walked passed.

As soon as we walked in there and was out of ear shot I grabbed her arm, “What are you playing at Tanya?”

“Relax Bella,” she smiled at me unphased “you’re in. Forget it.”

“My Father is the Police Chief, I am not going to be in here illegally drinking.”

“Who said anything about drinking?” She looked at me smiling.

“Then why get us in without a wrist band?”

“Who wants to wear them god awful things all night?”

Well I guess she did have a point. “Next time please tell me you are going to do that, I did not enjoy that one little bit.”

“Sure sure.” She smiled at me and basically dismissed the conversation. You could see she was rather pleased with herself for getting in. “Now, shall I go and buy you ladies a drink?”

“Coke please,” Alice piped up still looking around checking out the club.

“Same thanks.” I said grateful that Alice wasn’t drinking either. I didn’t want any of us to get into any trouble. I wanted to have fun and dance and enjoy Rose’s birthday. “I am just going to find the bathroom.” I said to Angela.

“Want me to come with you?” she asked knowing I felt really uncomfortable in this place.

“Sure, that would be great thanks.” I said relieved. We let Alice know where we were going and started heading across the dance floor. It was early and the place was still busy. It was pretty dark inside but the music wasn’t really loud. I was surprised looking around how clean and quiet it was. I always thought nightclubs were really dark, lights going everywhere and the base ringing in your ears.

We returned to the girls and I was given a coke. It tasted watered down and a little odd they needed to clean out the gas pipes for the soda. I cringed at the thought but I was thirsty enough to drink it.

We were dancing in our own little group when the lights went low and the music was turned up and started pumping. I guess we were here so early it hadn’t really started yet.

I was really starting to enjoy myself and relax into the night. The girls and I had been approached by a few men but we had successfully steered clear of the vultures.

I kept noticing Tanya look over at the entrance of the club every now and then as if she was looking for someone. Until I saw her face light up as she saw a group of boys enter into the club. I couldn’t really see them as it was so dark but she obviously recognised them.

“I’ll be right back girls.” She smiled and danced her way through the crowd.

I kept on dancing with the girls and Tanya came back with another round of drinks. I was grateful as I was so thirsty it was hot in here. Knocking it back quickly. I was thinking about getting myself one and looking over towards the bar, my eyes locked with the most stunning man I had ever seen. I looked away quickly and smiled at Rachael. Maybe he was looking at the person behind me and kept on dancing.

This was the best night. I had never had so much fun.