Burntcore's Week 9 Entry: The Fearsome Foursome

Burntcore
Tuesday





Picture 1Picture 2


Burntcore's Choice: Both


Title: The Fearsome Foursome


Bella gathered her things quickly as she raced out of her dorm to take her last finals. She couldn’t wait to be done with this semester. Her and her group of friends, The Fearsome Foursome, as they liked to call themselves, had big plans once everyone was done.

She checked her appearance in the mirror outside her door as she checked her phone. Alice would approve of her outfit. She had this white spaghetti strapped low cut top and a slouchy cardigan to stave off the cool spring morning. That was paired with some maroon leggings and Bella’s usual collection of odd ball bracelets. Her jewelry usually didn’t have any rhyme or reason, and she liked it that way.

Bella had a feeling her boyfriend, Edward, would also approve of her shirt. He was a breast man and made no attempt to hide it. They had their second final together so he’d get an eyeful later that day.

Both Alice and Edward were members of the Fearsome Foursome. The final member of their stalwart little gang was Alice’s boyfriend and Edward’s best friend, Jasper. Unbeknownst to Jasper, Alice already had her wedding dress and their kids names picked out. Jasper and Alice had been together even longer then Bella and Edward had, so it was just a matter of time before they took the plunge.

Bella tucked her phone away into her black bag and hurried to class. This was the one she was least looking forward to taking. It was on physics and why she loved science, she just wasn’t feeling it this semester. It didn’t help that her professor was an ass. As long as she got passing grade, she’d be happy. Her GPA was high enough that she’d live if she got one lower grade. Just one though.

----

Bella slipped out of her first final of the day, with one more to go, and then she was free. Free to do whatever the Fearsome Foursome decided. She couldn’t wait to get some time alone with Edward.

Speaking of, the object of her obsession came walking around the corner, his bookbag slung over his shoulder. As always Edward looked good. His tousled bronze hair stuck out in every direction, his signature look. Edward smiled as soon as he saw Bella, and his expression turned hungry when his eyes dropped to take in her outfit.

“Bella,” he groaned as he neared, running a hand up and down her side. “How am I going to concentrate on my final with you dressed like this?”

Bella smirked up at her boyfriend, fully enjoying his discomfort. “Well, the final is on anatomy. I figured this could help you out,” she said coyly.

“Right, what you can help me with is in my pants,” he retorted as he pulled her up against him.

“Hmm, really?” she replied, playing it off.

“Yeah, really,” Edward said huskily, as he dipped his head down to kiss her.

Bella hummed happily and ran her hands through his hair. She could feel just what he was talking about that was in his pants. And she fully intended on helping him out with that later on.

Slowly they pulled away and headed into the lecture hall for their final. This one Bella felt she had in the bag. Dating a pre-med student had it’s advantages.

---

A few hours later, Bella and Edward emerged from the lecture hall, slight fried. The final was harder than either on of them had anticipated. But, it was the last final for both of them. Gleefully, they ran down the courtyard of the Science building and towards the center of the quad.

This was the designated meeting place for the Fearsome Foursome after everyone’s finals were done. Bella and Edward’s last final was a bit earlier than Jasper and Alice’s so they had a little free time. They laid in the grass and enjoyed the sunlight and thought about where they might go for the summer.

Alice had this perfect idea on how to pick where they would all go this summer. She wouldn’t reveal the plan so Edward and Bella wondered just what their crazy friend had in mind.

---

Bella and Edward got in some good make-out time while they waited for Jasper and Alice. Eventually they were joined by their two friends and quickly tried to set their clothes to rights. They were in public after all so it wasn’t like anything was really exposed. Bella still blushed, as she always did when she was caught messing around with Edward.

“Oh please, Bella. It’s not like we haven’t caught you guys in a more compromising position before,” Jasper teased.

Bella turned even redder. Alice was surprisingly quiet and looked a little frazzled as she picked at the hem of her bright purple and white striped shirt.

“You okay, Alice?” Bella asked.

“Yeah, I guess I’m just worried about how I did on my psych final and I’m worried about our trip this year and if you guys like how I decided we’d pick where we are going and if you’ll still want to go if you guys don’t like it and –“

Edward cut Alice off gently before she exploded. “Alice, honey, it’ll be okay. You are a straight A student. You’ve never done poorly on anything. I’m sure it will be the same for our trip. Whatever you have planned to pick it out will be fine,” he soothed.

Bella nodded with a huge grin on her face while Jasper rubbed Alice’s back.

“Alice, you’ll do fine. You always do! Now lets go see what you have set up! I can’t wait to see where we are going!” Bella said excitedly, hoping to help turn Alice’s mood around.

Between Bella’s excitement and Jasper’s presence, Alice calmed down and finally relaxed.

“Okay, let’s go!” Alice declared. She wasn’t completely herself but was on the right track. She bounced happily away with Jasper, her green skirt flouncing in the wind.

---

Back in Alice and Jasper’s apartment, the Fearsome Foursome sat around in the living room with beers and wine coolers. They talked a little, unwinding from a rough semester of school, before the big reveal.

Alice got up to get everyone drink refills and came back with a globe instead.

“What? Did you put the beer in the globe, Alice?” Edward teased.

“No, Edward. You’ll see. I’ll be right back,” Alice said with a grin and bounced back into the kitchen.

Moments later, she came back with our drinks, much to Bella and Edward’s delight. They wanted to cut loose as soon as school was done, and now was a good time to start.

“Okay, Ali, what’s the plan?” Jasper asked.

“You don’t even know?” Bella asked, incredulously.

“Nope, the Queen herself wouldn’t be able to get the secret out of Alice,” Jasper declared as he took a long pull from his beer.

Edward watched with amusement, but didn’t say anything. He had an idea of what Alice was up to but wasn’t completely sure.

“Okay, so here’s the plan. We all put blindfolds on and spin the globe. We run our finger lightly over the globe and wherever our finger rests, is a possible destination. Then we blind vote on where we want to go. Whatever place with the most votes wins.”

The other three looked at Alice with surprise but interest.

“I’ll go first,” Bella declared as she jumped up. Alice blindfolded her and spun the globe as Bella’s index finger gently dragged along the surface. Gradually, the spinning slowed and eventually stopped. Bella pulled her blindfold off with her other hand and looked at her destination.

“Black Sea. Hmm, rather wet.”

Edward grinned at Bella as his mind went to the gutter.

“Perv,” she muttered quietly with a laugh.

The rest of the group took turns at the globe. Jasper selected Amsterdam, Edward picked Nepal, and Alice chose Hong Kong.

“Sooo… lets all vote on where we want to go,” Alice chirped happily as she handed everyone scraps of paper and pens. Looking around deep in thought, she pulled Jasper’s cowboy hat off his head. “And we’ll put our votes in here!” she said, brandishing the hat and putting it on the coffee table.

Quickly and full of excitement, everyone voted and dropped their folded slips of paper into Jasper’s hat. Edward and Bella quietly whispered on where they hoped to go.

“So you ready to find out?” Alice declared.

“Go for it!” Edward encouraged.

Alice grabbed the hat and shook it gently, mixing the slips of paper. It really didn’t matter as long as the four of them were together.

“Just count them already!” Bella said urgently. She was really hoping for Amsterdam.

“Okay, okay, okay!” Alice said. She reached her hand in and pulled out the first piece of paper.

“One vote for the Black Sea!”

“What the hell? Who voted for that?” Bella asked. Jasper was laughing behind his hand. “Jasper, you ass!”

“Hey, listen up you guys! The next slip is for Amsterdam!”

Bella and Edward cheered.

Alice dug into the hat again. “One more vote for Amsterdam.”

“Guess I know where we are going,” Edward whispered to Bella, thoughts of all kinds of things they could do there running through his head.

“And the final vote: AMSTERDAM!”

The Fearsome Foursome cheered and couldn’t wait to start planning for their trip.

“See, Alice? You had nothing to be afraid of. That was an awesome idea!” Bella said.

“Yeah,” Edward agreed. “I cannot wait to go to Amsterdam.”

Amelie Gray's Week 9 Entry: Replaced

Amelie Gray
Monday





Picture 1Picture 2


Amelie Gray's Choice: Picture 2


Title: Replaced


So he wouldn’t see me.

I tried not to let the rejection hurt me too much, but it did. I gave up everything on a dream that I should have recognized as unattainable. Deep down, I always knew that Carlisle would never leave Esme, their perfect manicured life with the mansion and the 2.5 kids.

What did I have to offer him?

A baby that hadn’t been planned (and I still wasn’t sure was wanted), no degree, no plans for the future.

Looking at it that way, I could see the situation for what it really was, and always had been: a one-sided booty call. I needed him, but he sure as Hell could replace me.

And he had.

Bendingmirrors Week 9 Entry: Last Day of Summer

Bendingmirrors
Sunday





Picture 1Picture 2


Anythingzombie's Choice: Picture 1


Title: Last day of summer


The long summer was drawing to a close. Soon we would have to return to real life and all the stresses and pleasures it held. Packing up the house we had rented for the vacation had left me hot, sweaty, and out of sorts. Wanting to hold on to the summer feeling for just a moment longer I rummaged in one of the recently packed bags and extracted a bikini.

While I had been busily packing, the day had become overcast, but the heat of the summer had remained. We would have a summer storm before too long; it was a good thing I had decided to come back to the beach for one last swim now, instead of postponing it until after I had finished packing. It would have been too late then.

The water was mostly calm and reflected the filtered light through the clouds. Sliding into the water, I waded out until I was almost shoulder deep in the salty water. Stretching backward, I admired the view across the shoreline, failing to notice that my husband had followed me out to the water, intent on splashing me. Which was exactly what he did.

Joining in the childish water fight felt almost freeing, even here on a vacation in the warmth we had brought our problems with us. It was nice to be able to just forget it all for a few minutes in the sheer joy of splashing around in the water and remembering what it was like to be young and free.

By the time we were ready to head back, the first drops of rain were peppering the sand. We hustled back to the vacation house, and dressed in companionable silence.

“I’m sorry I’ve been so tense Em. I just ... well, you know. It’s been hard to leave it all behind and just try to relax.”

“I know, babe. I have faith it will all work out fine though. We just needed this break to remind us to relax a little. Maybe we needed to reconnect away from all the big city pressures too.”

I felt his arm slip around my waist, and knew that no matter how long it took to pack up this house and head back home. A small part of it would stay with us in our day to day lives over the next year, until we could come back here again and simply be for a while.

Anythingzombie's Week 8 Entry: Escape to Paradise: Part 1

Anythingzombie
Saturday






Anythingzombie's Choice: Both


Title: Escape to Paradise: Part 1



Edward Masen – 1986

I had stolen my father’s car, but I did not fear getting in trouble. Trouble was not my intentions, and neither was what would happen to that car that same day. Even though Emmett had promised me that what we had planned on was far greater than any plot for college, I couldn’t help but to stress on the fact that we had only pockets full of dollars and pennies—we couldn’t survive off of that.

‘Don’t worry, Eddie,’ he had said to me, patting me on the shoulder. ‘Where we are going we won’t have to worry about cash! The only thing you need to think about is the world that is waiting for us!’

I stared at him with my second thoughts. Was I really going to give up the Chicago for the Colorado wilderness?

Bella Swan – 2010

I placed the supposed-ironic “Only Ugly Chicks Read” bookmark in between pages fifty and fifty-one, slowly shutting the book after. I sighed in content and pulled the book into my arms, holding it gently as I tried to force myself to put it down so I could get ready for school. I had already spent an hour wasted on reading, and by now I was going to miss the bus.

I rushed to put on my shoes and put all my things into my back-pack, watching the clock as I tried to remember if I my English essay was due today or not. Reading always swept me up into a world that made me forget about my own. It was bad on my part, but it wasn’t going to stop me. I mused on whether or not I should put the book I was reading in my bag or just carry it. But knowing me, I’d want to flaunt the thing that had me swept up in wonder.

It was raining today, just like it always was. As I started sloshing onto the sidewalks, I realized that my book was getting wet. I could have put it in my back-pack, but instead I opened up my jacket and slipped it in, zipping up the warmth and protection I could offer myself and the book.

“Hey, Bella!” a voice greeted. I looked up and spotted Mike Newton, a close friend.

I smiled. “Hi, Mike. Happy Monday?”

“When is Monday ever happy?” Jessica sneered from behind.

I shrugged and stood beside my group of friends as we waited for the bus. We all chatted about our weekends and complained about the school work we’d be assigned. Angela exchanged her home-made bracelet for a necklace my step-father had bought me. Eventually the bus came and I vanished to the back of the line; I wasn’t in any rush to find a spot.

Mike followed my lead and stood behind me, we both smiled at each other. As we stepped on the bus, he whispered in my ear, “You make my Mondays happy.”

He and I shared a seat in the middle of the bus. I could feel Jessica glare at me from behind, but I tried not to let it bother me. Instead I fished out my book and opened it up at the space I had left off. I bit my lip from excitement and was glad school didn’t start for forty minutes.

Edward Masen – 1986

As Emmett and I prepared for our trip, I couldn’t help but to feel bad for my mother. She and I had formed a close bond that had been burning since birth, and I knew that she was stressing over the fact that I would be off on my own for a long time. I’d miss her deeply, but I knew I had to get away from the caged life my parents had built around me.

Today was my escape from the shadowed life I had always been a part of. I was ready for this, and I knew that the world around me was, too.

Grabbing the last of my bags – which were only full of clothes and other things one might need on a primitive camping trip for months – I slowly left my bedroom, giving my thanks to God for allowing me to have such a great place of wonder. I’d miss my poster-covered walls, the squeaky window, the soft bed and the television that stayed on throughout most the day. It would be different from being away from all this. How was I going to cope without MTV and the Twilight Zone?

But I did not have to worry about those things; I had books, and plenty of them.

-:-

Four days into my drive with the only friend I had was enough to drive anyone a tad mad. The small car always seemed stuffy, and neither of us could compromise on what band to listen to or what place to stop and get food. I knew that at some point we’d both be strangling each other, and I feared the worst. My only ounce of escape from him was sleeping, and I could only do so much of that with the blazing heat and traffic.

‘I’m suffocating,’ I told my mother over a pay phone one day. ‘I knew that deep down this was a bad idea.’

She sighed motherly on the other end, and I rolled my eyes dramatically and pictured myself hanging up on her now before things got out of hand.

‘Edward, dear, things like this happen. It’s great that you and Emmett are best friends, but there is a reason why you two don’t hang out 24/7. But I suppose that this is a mighty test on your friendship.’

Her patronizing tone was more than I could handle.

‘I should come home,’ I said—mostly to myself.

‘Well, actually, you shouldn’t,’ she responded. She was hiding something from me.

‘And why is this?’ I asked with an immense fascination, but in reality it was anything but.

‘Your father and I are moving to Europe,’ she said as clearly as anyone could. I pretended not to hear it.

‘We have to go…I’ll call you next time we stop, or sometime.’

‘Alright, I love you. Try not to kill Emmett, alright?’

This isn’t a joking matter, mother of mine. ‘Love you, too.’

I headed inside the diner that was awkwardly placed in a nowhere town in Iowa. At our pace of traveling, we’d reach Colorado with gray hair and canes.

‘How’s life at Manor Masen?’ Emmett inquired as I took my seat next to him on the battered stools.

‘Apparently they’re moving,’ I relished.

I could see Emmett’s eyebrow rise in the corner of my eye. ‘Where to? Why?’

‘No clue. I decided to wait to find out. No need to have family ruining things for me.’ It wasn’t a lie. Not entirely.

‘How do you feel about strangers ruining your life?’ he asked me, a hesitance in his voice.

‘It’s less bad, but not that great. Why do you ask?’

‘Well,’ he coughed and a small, yet large, face appeared from behind the counter, ‘Alice was interested on joining us.’

‘I’ve always wanted to go on a nature trip, even though it’s more of a trip where a bunch of kids will probably get eaten by a bear.’

‘Getting eaten by a bear is our specialty,’ I said sarcastically. Apparently this was an ‘okay’ from me.

‘Yay! I’ll tell my boss that I quit and maybe you can take me home so I can get my things? Great!’ She didn’t even let us get a word in. As soon as her petite body was out of sight, I glared darkly at Emmett.

‘Dude, how could I say no? Plus I think she likes me, and I’m willing to share!’

‘You’re disgusting.’ With that I left the diner and sat in the car. Across the street was a bus stop. It was as if God threw me a sign. But just as I reached for the door handle, Alice and Emmmett walked out.

Bella Swan - 2010

The bus came to a stop and Mike tapped on my shoulder to let me know. I grinned softly at him and closed my book, wondering how fast it would take me to get to my locker and then to my first class. Hopefully not too long.

Slowly the bus emptied. I barely made it out without breaking an ankle.

“Oh, my gosh.” Jessica gasped as our group collected just beside the bus doors.

“What?” I heard a voice asked, panicked. Angela.

“A school dance. A high school dance!” she nearly screamed as she pointed towards a banner just above the school’s front doors.

I shrugged my shoulders. “That’s cool. Well, I’m off to class.”

I couldn’t have left faster.

But behind me I heard the remarks from my so called “friends”.

“God, she’s such a negi-Nancy. I wish she’d go back home to her whore of a mother.”

I wasn’t one-hundred percent sure who this voice belonged to, all I knew was that it hurt. My eyes began to sting as tears formed, and I felt my stomach quiver in pain.

“Jeeze, Lauren, why do you have to be such a bitch all the time?” I recognized this voice. “Hey, Bella! Wait up!” Mike ran after me, half angry-half hopeful. I stopped and smiled at him, thankful to have at least one person to stand up for me.

He put an arm around my back and pushed me forward, but kindly, as if he was trying to get me away before I could get hurt anymore.

“She’s just jealous,” he said once we got inside.

“Jealous of what?”

“You. Duh.” He winked and continued to walk with me. “Though, I don’t blame her. Who wouldn’t be jealous of you?”

“Or the guys who are shoulder to shoulder with me?” I prompted.

He smirked widely, and his eyes grew wicked with sudden humor. “Ah, yes. I am one to be jealous of; my looks are the best in the school – next to yours.”

I looked into his charming blue eyes.

“That they are.”

Edward Masen – 1986

‘Wow, are we really planning on living like this?’ Alice asked as we all came to a full stop on our hike.

I set down my bags and looked at where she had been so transfixed upon. Immediately my eyes were struck with magnificence far beyond anything I had ever seen before. The mountains were vibrant with multi-colored greens and blues. It was as if a painting or a photograph had suddenly came alive, and I was breathing it all in.

A waterfall gushed water far ahead of us, making a loud yet calming noise.

‘I could seriously live like this,’ Emmett said in awe as he answered her question.

I spoke then. ‘I don’t think I’d believe in the world after this.’

‘Who could?’ the small girl responded.

The three of us stood on top of the highest bit of land we’d make our home.

‘Yeah, this is life.’

Miss-Beckie-Louise's Week 8 Entry: Truth or Dare

Miss-Beckie-Louise
Friday






Miss-Beckie-Louise's Choice: Both


Title: Truth or Dare

I couldn't believe we were doing this. We were only meant to be going to a small party and now here I am standing against the wall with Brian in just my underwear, while wearing bunny ears. I could kill Chantelle for putting us up to this, and I am never playing Truth or Dare again.

Why didn't I just go with truth? Seriously, it would have saved me this much embarrassment.

I was so embarrassed that I ended up covering my eyes, it was pure torture and I had no idea what was going to happen next. I knew that Brian wasn't as embarrassed as me, but I knew for a fact that his cheeks were a little red. I mean whose wouldn't?

While we were standing against the wall, I began to think.

Brian and I had always been friends, but I always had a tinsey winsey crush on him. I mean who wouldn't? He was gorgeous, kind, and a total darling. I've never told him how I felt about him, and thankfully, I never will because I know it would ruin everything.

I have no idea how long we stood there , with our hands over our eyes, but my legs hurt and my feet were dead from standing too long when I felt something wrap around my shoulders. I took my hands off my eyes and looked at what was now covering me.

I sighed in relief, it was my shawl. I wrapped it around my body a bit tighter and went to get some clothes on. When I returned completely dressed, I found Brian who was sitting once again with the group.

"Hey Charlotte! Come on over," he said. I hesitantly walked over and sat down next to him. He made me feel safe whenever I was near him so I knew that nothing bad could happen now.

The game of truth or dare carried on and then it was my turn.

"Charlotte, truth or dare?" Natalie asked. She was such a gossip, so I knew either way whatever I say or do will come out. I didn't want to go back in the bunny ears or be half naked again so I simply went with a truth.

She hummed for a minute before turning to me, "Do you have feelings for Brian?" Her question was so blunt that I didn't know what to do, I just sat there looking at her with the look of a goldfish.

"Wha-what?" I stuttered.

"I said... Do. You. Have. Feelings. For. Brian?" She asked once more punctuating each word.

I blushed and said a simple, "yes."

Silence followed my answer and I stood up and walked away. I ended up at home, crying in my bed over the loss of my friendship with Brian, I knew that we could never come back from this. Ever. Our lifelong friendship was over. Forever.

I cried in bed for days; I just didn't know what to do. In the end, I decided I had to keep on living and that crying over a guy was pointless. There were "plenty of fish in the sea" as my Mum said.

School was a nightmare. Everyone had found out about my feelings, and I was bullied just for having them. I didn't realise having feelings for someone was wrong or that it was against some law, but apparently in the eyes of the student body it was.

I never saw Brian around school. For days, I hung by his locker, waited for him outside of his every class, just to talk to him, but I didn't seen him. At all. I was worried.

So in the end, after school one day, I went round his house. There were no cars on the driveway which was good as it meant his parents were out, and I knocked on the door. There was no answer.

Brian's parents were great and said I was allowed over at any time. I had my own key as I was round there so often, but I wanted to be polite. But in the end, I was fed up of waiting and used it. I entered the house, and walked around trying to look for Brian, but I didn't see him.

Finally, I was standing outside his bedroom, when I finally heard sounds of life. I pressed my ear against the door to try and figure out what was happening; the moans got louder and the moans started to get louder. It was Brian and some girl; I never knew he had a girlfriend, but it would explain why he was so busy lately.

I cracked open the door slightly, just enough to peer in, and I let out a small gasp; on the bed with Brian was Natalie. The sight of them on the bed broke my heart. I turned around to get out of the house as quickly as I could. Then when Brian moaned my name.

Natalie screeched and I heard a smack, which sounds like it really hurt.

"Why the hell did you call that slut's name?!" She screamed.

"Wha-what?" Brian stuttered, his voice was husky and I had never heard it like that before. I really liked it.

"You called out Charlotte's name. Why?" she asked again.

"I don't know..." he trailed off. I didn't want to hear anymore, so I turned around and walked out of the house. I knew I was stupid, how could I have had the smallest amount of hope that he would say he had feelings for me.

Life went back to normal in some ways, I went to school, went to work, came home and cried. A month after the whole 'incident', which is what I am now calling it, something changed in the routine. When I came home from work, Brian was sitting on my bed. It scared me half to death, when seeing him sitting on my bed waiting for me, playing with the bunny ears that I took from the party.

I decided to play it as cool as I possibly could. "Hey," I said trying to figure out why he was here.

"Hey," he sounded broken and it shattered my heart.

"How're you?" I asked, really wanting to know.

"I'm... Charlotte, I'm not good."

"How come?" I asked concerned and sat next to him.

"Charlotte, I can't do this anymore," he said.

"What can't you do?"

"I can't keep being friends with you; it's too hard and it's killing me."

His answer completely floored me, and my heart shattered into a million pieces. Tears welled up in my eyes and started to fall.

"Why?" I sobbed.

"Because..." he started off and then bent his head and kissed me.

It was completely unexpected and I sat there shocked.

This was actually happening; the guy I've been in love with for years is finally kissing me. So why the hell am I not kissing him back?! Kiss him back you idiot.

I kissed him back, it was the most amazing thing ever and I loved it, every minute of it.

Once the kiss was over, Brian looked into my eyes deeply, kissed me softly and whispered the three words I've been wanting to hear for years...

"I love you."

Miztrezboo Week 8 Entry: Blind Date with Fate

Miztrezboo
Thursday



© rights for picture 2 belong to beth19 Flickr


Miztrezboo's Choice: Both

Week Eight Pairing - Bella/Emmett

Notes - AH, Romance

Rating - T

Title: Blind Date With Fate


This was such a bad idea.

Such a bad idea on so many, many levels.

One - agreeing to a blind date.

Two - agreeing to said blind date with my best friends cousin from Hicksville Tennessee.

Three - agreeing to said blind date, with said best friends cousin who probably was missing some teeth and didn't know what shoes were, at the town fair.

Four - agreeing to all of those things and on top of all that, being left to meet said blind date on the Ferris Wheel.

And why was number four worse than all the rest added together?

I may have a slight problem with heights.

And when I say slight, I mean huge, massive, as in I stand at the top of our porch stairs - four in total - and on a good day I only get headspins from looking down.

So to say I was excited by this date thing, was a severe understatement.

But, I hadn't been out with anyone since I broke up with Edward six months ago and well, I was bored. It was the factor that I was bored that had Alice so excited to set me up with her 'kin' in the first place.

Now don't get me wrong, I adore my little southern friend. She's five foot nothing and drives me to the brink of insanity with all her pep and pizazz. The fact is, if you don't agree the first time to whatever crazy shenanigan or plan she's thought up, she'll just keep on and on about it until you are only left with the option to agree. She's a pain in the ass, but she means well and usually she's right about whatever it is she wants us to do.

Which is why I said yes to this stupid idea in the first place.

Said yes to meeting this guy who she only had a picture of when they were eight, and he was all porky with freckles, thick coke bottle glasses and a military buzzcut. Somehow, I couldn't picture him as this so called Abercrombie and Fitch model she claimed he had eventually become.

Puberty is never that kind.

So here I was, the sun just setting and blinding my eyes as the big wheel turned. My hands gripping the the far too thin metal bar that was the only thing keeping me safe on this death trap - waiting for Emmett. I tried to keep my eye on the crowd below - when we were in safe distance between me and the ground - on the lookout for a 'big guy' with a white cap on. Apparently he was a huge Titans fan and the hat never left his head. From what Alice had told me, he could probably play for them too.

It was just as I was sweet talking Jake into letting me go around once more that a deep, orgasm producing voice called out my name. I looked through the crowd and when my eyes finally locked upon the smile that the voice was coming from that I really took a second glance.

He was definitely big, but not in the way that I had imagined. No, he looked to be at the very least six feet six or seven maybe and a solid wall of muscle beneath dark blue jeans with dust covered brown boots. His chest was broad and almost straining the tiny buttons that started at a shiny silver belt buckle, working their way up and over a taut stomach until a few were left undone leaving a tan v of skin at the collar.

Then I was met with his eyes, clear and as bright as the color of the stained glass that made the sky above the Virgin Mary at church. His jaw was strong and his lips rosy with deep niches on either side of his cheeks framing a wide, welcoming grin. The cap Alice had told me to keep an eye out for was taken off his head the moment his eyes met mine and a large hand ran through thick, chocolaty curls that bounced all over his head as he took the stairs two at a time - ignoring Jake's calls for a ticket.

"Bella?" he asked again, and he was so close now that I could smell the spun sugar from the half eaten fairy floss in his hand as well as something spicy and dark and all male.

"You can't go up there without a ticket, I don't care who's cousin you are." Jake's voice brought me out of my little non blinking - non talking - non breathing state I was currently in. I shook my head, thanking the heavens that I'd listened to Alice and wore my hair down - and used it as a shield between me and the oh so hot blind date at my side.

I looked around his statuesque form and found Jake's face all red and non too happy looking.

"It's okay, Jake. I'll give you the tickets after. This is the guy I was waiting for."

"I don't know, Bells..."

"Here," Emmett turned around and put what looked to be a stack of dollars in Jake's hand before turning back to me. "That should be plenty for a few rides around on this thing."

Jake mumbled and walked away, something about only this one time and then we were alone.

Alone in a crowded state fair but now with his large form in front of me and those sparkling blue eyes boring into mine again, I wouldn't have even noticed Jasper Whitlock streaking buck naked like he did last year if he happened to run on by.

"Do you mind?" He asked, indicating to the bar keeping me from his company. I shook my head and smiled. Emmett moved the barrier quickly and with a creak sat down to my right.

I should have flinched at the sound. I should have said something as he put his arm around the back of the chair - and around me. I should have spoken up when he locked us back in, then pulled me to his side.

I should have freaked out - like I had done every other time - when the seat rocked back and forth before we were lifted off the ground.

But the bile that had been eating away at my stomach since I got on this thing had now all but disappeared.

Replaced by Emmett, and his easy smile. His warmth that not only came from his body against mine but from the smile that he still wore. His confidence that really bordered on cocky with how he had claimed the seat and me as his own - was endearing and I was lost in his eyes and the soothing sound of the lilt in his tone as he started talking.

I wish that I could say that I knew what we talked about as the ferris wheel turned and we rode again and again. But I was lost in how easy it was to be with him. How easy it was to forget where I was and what I was doing and get lost in him.

Now as my hand sat over my stomach, I was happy to feel the butterflies within. It wasn't the ride that made me nervous, it was the man who with but a few words and a dimpled grin had me falling and not in a bad way.

Nostalgicmiss Week 8 Entry: Sole Al Pomeriggio

Nostalgicmiss
Thursday






Nostalgicmiss's Choice: Picture 2

Title: Sole Al Pomeriggio


Tuscany and two cats was my life.

Was, being the operative word.

I'd come here almost two years ago in search of something more. After my life had fallen apart and everything I'd known and loved abandoned me all I had left was my waning spirit. Unfettered to any one place I took off, I wandered, I searched.

I came to Italy on a whim, making my way from one end to the other a slow trek across a beautiful landscape, only the sunlight to guide me. I no longer wore a watch, I didn't live by the standards of todays civilization, I just moved. From one place to another and drank in all of earth's natural beauty.

When I found Tuscany I never left.

The rolling hills and myriad of colors were the curb appeal. The vineyards and local hospitality the neighborhood, and my beautiful cottage in the middle of nowhere my solace. Hook, line and sinker. The moment I saw the for sale sign I was decided.

I kept myself to the confines of my property line with my easel and painted the pictures of my personal heaven to sell to tourists. Everyone wanted a reminder of their time here because few were as fortunate as I was. My sun-kissed skin was beginning to blend me in with the locals who's olive tones would make me envious. I was a golden brown, and still didn't have the sparkle they had in their eyes, one I could only imagine came from a lifetime surrounded by this beauty.

Today, I had painted the small village that was cradled by the hills that surrounded it. The rust colored roofs, a beautiful comparison to the rolling green hills behind it. I could even see the sunny disposition of the Sunflowers that seems to reach for the small town.

I had been on the edge of my property, practically straddling the line with my neighbors so I could see past the lines of trees that dotted the horizon. With little shade, I was now warn out and headed back to the sanctity of my home. My solace.

I dropped my easel by the front door and walked my way through the house to my bedroom. I tugged my flimsy white blouse over my head as I moved, the fabric clinging to me and the sweat that had formed on the trek home.

I stopped at the door of he spare room that I always left open and smiled. The afternoon sun was streaming in through the windows warming the sheets as Bentley and Baxter curled up in the desultory rays of sunshine. The ribbons of light highlighted the hues of color in both cats fur as they stretched toward the heat with a admirable laziness only a feline could possess.

"My lazy boys," I giggled, letting the skirt I was wearing drop to the floor. Having so much property was one of those liberating things that meant I was alone, so all of my inhabitions had fallen away. "I'm going to take a shower."

I knew telling my cats of my intentions was insanity, but they really were the only reason I used my voice these days. I hadn't seen anyone since my last trip into town when I had bought the groceries and called the only person in the world who even cared if I lived or died.

I made my way to my bathroom and shed the rest of my clothes as I turned on the water but realized all of my towels had been line dried and currently sat on the table neatly folded.

Naked, I made a dash for the dining room, giggling at my own liberation. A liberation that was currently non existent.

"Shit. Sorry. Door was . . . yeah, open."

"Fuck." The word fell from my lips as I skidded to a halt by the table and grasped at the cotton towel to tug over my exposed flesh. The burn in my cheeks was like a fire, radiating heat as my embarrassment coiled around my veins.

The moment the towel was around me and secure I spun around and put my hands on my hips, my eyes narrowed. i tried to keep my temper, I tried to keep the venom from my voice, but it was impossible.

"What are you doing here?"

"That's all I get?" His cocky grin was in place making his dimples deep in his cheeks.

"What do you expect from me, Emmett?" I whispered, his cornflower blue eyes were full of his usual joviality. It felt like a lifetime since I'd seen him.

"I've been looking for you. I looked everywhere, even that stupid hotel in Roswell you love so much, you know with the aliens and the . . ."

"Stop it." I said sternly, putting my hand out to protest. I'd always though of Emmett as a friend, we'd always talked about everything, but I couldn't do this. "Have you considered that maybe I didn't want to be found?"

I could see the pain in his eyes, but didn't quite understand it. I didn't want to understand it. I wanted my solitude back. I wanted to be alone with Baxter and Bentley. I wanted the freedom I had just lost after two years of nothingness.

"Why? Why would you leave and not tell anyone you were going?"

"I told Uncle Charlie," I said defiantly, my hands on my hips. "He's the only family I have, he's the only one who cared enough to know where I was."

"I know, he told me," Emmett confessed his hand raising to rub his neck.

As much as I loved my uncle Charlie I was going to now have to hurt him. He'd promised not to tell anyone where I'd gone. He knew better. Did he honestly thing two years of no one asking meant the first person to get curious about and ask should have the answer? Not in my book it didn't. What's more, he gave it to the Emmett. Emmett. My ex-husband's best friend. The ex-husband who was probably married to that red headed bitch Victoria by now. The very woman he'd been with behind my back.

Pain broke through the small fragmented fissures of the heartbreak I'd thought I had already mourned enough for. My mind screamed as my stomach rolled. No, not here, this is why I had left that life behind. This was the one place I didn't allow myself to think of him and what he'd done. The one place that I had left and Emmett was now killing that for me.

My hand gripped the edge of the table as my knees weakened My body felt too heavy to hold them.

"What. Do you. Want?" I forced out, my breathing becoming more labored with the roll of nausea. I just wanted him to leave. I wanted to be on my own. I wanted to forget everyone that chose him when all of that shit went down.

His face, burned into my memory popped up again with the words he'd said, 'What did you expect me to do? We haven't had sex in months. You're on the pill even though you promised we'd try for kids. You're frigid, cold and barren. Did you think I would stick around in a loveless marriage forever? You're the only one who didn't know about her. Except maybe your cousins. They're MY friends, sweetheart. You're a hard bitch that everyone is glad to see the back of.'

His voice echoed through my memory, as hard and bitter as it was the day he said it. He cheated and somehow I managed to get blamed for it. That was always his way though. Cold and manipulative, controlling and unforgiving. Me taking the pill had been a personal insult to him so he found himself someone better.

"Why did you leave without saying goodbye?"

I laughed, the edge was a steely and sharp as a knife. "You all made your choice. He's your best friend, Emmett, I was aware of that and he was certainly quick to tell me how you all had chosen him and agreed with his new choice."

Emmett's mouth dropped open and floundered for a couple of seconds.

"Not. Finished." I breathed, finally taking up pacing. "I can see how everyone would think I was cold. I can even see my cousins thinking it. Well, maybe not Bella, she probably did what Edward asked her to do considering he's been friends with Peter for so long. I just don't know why none of you told me about her. Why you let him do that. He was so . . ."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Emmett asked, his patience finally wearing thin. He wouldn't be talked over any more."You left without saying a word to any of us. You told Peter that you were tired of his games and that you were going to New York to paint. He didn't meet Vict . . ."

"Don't say her name."

Emmett's eyes darkened to a cobalt blue the iris' swarming out as the small lines at the edges of his eyes deepened. Taking a look at the bigger picture, I could see his shoulders tight, his fists balled.

I gulped as I tried to form the words, but none came. Had they been lied to as well? How did I even handle this?

"He said you left him."

"Nope, he left me for her. The red head," I said my tongue popping against my lips as the D was forced past my lips. "Amazing that isn't it. The bastard never did like competition."

"It's my fault," Emmett growled, pulling out a chair and falling into it. The wooden legs screamed against the tile. "I was at the bar. Peter was being an asshole, he saw this red head and he was drunk off his ass. We tried to leave but he wasn't having any of it. Edward and I left him and Jasper there alone. I was so pissed."

"You know Peter," I sighed, pulling out a chair and sitting, making sure my modesty was covered. "He did what he wanted. Nothing can stop him."

Emmett ran a hand done his face, the scratching sound of it hitting the dark stubble that framed his face almost echoed through the silent room. I finally looked at him and noticed him for the first time.

His clothes were rumpled, his eyes bloodshot. There were dark circles under his amazing iridescent eyes, his dark curls seemed to have no direction to them and he looked . . . defeated.

"For so long . . ." he started. He cut himself off and leaned forward in his chair, his elbows crashing down on his knees. "Do you remember the last conversation you and I had?"

I hung my head and nodded. Maybe that was why I'd been so resistant to fight and more inclined to believe that his friends knew. I'd thought Emmett was doing that whole wingman thing for his boy.

"What did I say to you?"

"Emmett, this isn't a good . . ."

"What did I say?"

"You told me to leave him." I couldn't say his name again. My mouth felt dirty enough having said it as many times as I had.

"What else?"

"Emmett . . ."

Emmett's eyes closed cutting off my access to the soulful blue that told me everything I needed to know. I remembered the conversation well. It was everything I had clung to for the eight months I had backpacked around Europe, for the three months it took to close on this house. These past two years of solitude.

The words haunted me everyday.

I backed away from him and the table now, unsure if I could really do this, if I could rehash everything I'd worked so hard to push to the back of my mind. The pain of betrayal, the ache of missing my friends and their loss. The fragments of my heart, the heart that had always belonged to Emmett.

I knew I was disgusting for falling in love with my husbands best friend. I'd met him at the wedding, there was never any denying . . .

I backed away, my ass hitting the hall wall. I slid across it, watching as Emmett scrubbed his face in frustration. He hadn't even noticed my absence. I kept moving back toward my room. I came to the spare room and stepped into the pool of light still in ribbons around the bed.

I had suppress all of this. I had pushed it to the back of mind no matter how often I though of him, the conversation. I forgot I wanted him.

"You're all I thought about for almost three years and you walk away?"

"No, I just, I . . ."

"It doesn't matter. I came here to deliver a message."

"Emmett . . ."

"I love you."

"You can't." Please prove me wrong.

"I can and I do. I love you, Rosalie Hale and I always will."

Everything had changed so drastically, I had just wanted him to leave. To take the reminder of the pain and betrayal I had left behind in my old life and now . . . now, I wanted to drown in his words. I knew the way I'd felt about him was wrong when I was married, so I had allowed us to be friends with no hope of ever knowing him better.

When I had left Peter, I had believed I would never see him again, I had believed he would stay with his best friend.

But he was here.

Now.

Telling me he loved me.

"Rose?"

I heard the shuffling of his steps as I watched the bands of sunlight hit my bare toes. I was trying to breathe, trying to find my voice rather than sitting here like a simpleton while his words rolled around in my head.

"Did you hear me?"

I nodded.

"Say something."

I tried to tell him to let me think. I tried to tell him to leave me to think, but I couldn't. I didn't want that because I knew what I wanted.

"I love you too."

His heated breath brushed over my shoulder as his arms circled my waist and pulled me back against him. I could feel his heart pounding on the naked flesh of my back.

"I wanted to believe you did. I hoped you did."

"I do." And I always would.

Emmett spun me in his arms trapping my arms with his as his head tipped down, one of his hands lifted my chin slowly.

The minute his lips met mine I knew this was right. Love and passion exploded inside of me like a naked flame in a firework store. I was happily drowning in emotion.

This was what I'd been missing in my new life.

He was what I had been missing all along.