[Twilight] Rising Phoenix (Part Seven)
Huzzah, I think I'm getting my mojo (or at least my muse) for this fic again! Perhaps it's because the characters are becoming more real, but I think I could actually turn this into a decent fanfic if I had the time/patience to write everything out. I mean, I like real fics, but I could never finish them. XD These drabble-style fics are the best I can do these days.
Title: Rising Phoenix (Part Seven)
Fandom: Twilight [but incredibly AU - at this point, all they share are the Cullens sans Alice and Jacob Black's werewolf gang]
Summary: Bella finally meets Kenneth Shapiro! Additionally, Jacob also finally finds out Edward's secret. And what's this about Leaf and Alice?
Disclaimer: Kenneth and Leaf are the only two characters I created for this fanfic. However, I do own the headcanon for this AU, so I'd appreciate it if people didn't take it without my permission. =|
61.
They weren't looking at each other. Even Bella, the queen of oblivious people, could tell that something wasn't quite right between this lanky teenager and her second mother. Every other patron of the bakery was looking at them too! Come on, couldn't they pretend to be civil for once?
Finally breaking the silence, Mrs. Masen finally replied, "We were acquaintances in Chicago."
"Yes," Kenneth shrugged casually, "I was friends with Edward."
"You've grown up a lot," Mrs. Masen laughed, motioning for Kenneth to come and follow her. Kenneth took a seat beside her, and the chatter of the restaurant finally resumed as the tension died down.
How could this guy be Edward's friend? Bella wrinkled her nose. Kenneth looked _cool_ with his long hair tied in a ponytail and impeccable taste in clothing; he also had that total air of "I'm better than you." Edward? Was a dork, no matter how nicely you tried to phrase it.
Bella quietly commented, "I'll let you two be," as she left the coffeehouse. Unfortunately for her, she'd yet to realize that Kenneth's gaze hadn't left her eyes the entire time.
62.
"You know," Mrs. Masen amusedly remarked, "If you're interested in Bella, you should also be aware she comes with the local hospital. It's... kind of a package deal."
Kenneth raised an eyebrow, "Huh. Does this mean I'll get free perks?"
"More like you'll be spending one Saturday a month in the ER."
"Ouch," Kenneth winced.
There was another moment of awkward silences (how often they lingered around each other!) before Mrs. Masen added, "What _are_ you doing in Forks anyway?"
Kenneth responded more quietly, "And why are you still alive?"
Mrs. Masen frowned, her eyes watering as she stared down at her chai teacup. Pressing her lips, she murmured, "I could ask the same about you."
"I don't mean any disrespect, Mrs. Masen," Kenneth slowly responded, peering from beneath his long, jet black bangs, "But a lot's changed about me since our days in Chicago."
Rising from his seat, he then walked coolly towards the door. Glancing over his shoulder, he waved, "It was good seeing you again."
Mrs. Masen softly sighed, "I wish I could say the same about you."
63.
"I swear to God, Embry, I wasn't high that night! But there was crazy magic, floating Leaf, and Edward with wings---"
"Oh my," Embry finished with a laugh as he stared over at his best friend.
Jake rolled his eyes, "That's not very funny."
"Sorry," Embry threw his hands in defeat, still laughing as the two sophomores passed by people on their way to class. "It's just that you're so convinced you're on drugs, and I've never heard of you doing anything like it."
Jake shrugged, "Me either, but how else am I supposed to explain that night?"
Embry looked thoughtful for a moment before he finally responded, "You know... you could always accept it as the truth and see where it takes you. Either that, or you've been Punked."
"And we know how likely the last one is," Jacob chuckled softly. "Okay, fine, so I'll confront them after school today and ask them the truth."
They both walked into their next classroom and took their seats. As the rush of students surrounded them, Jacob then added, "Because until I do, I'm pretty sure my life's not going to make sense for some time."
64.
No matter how much she tried to cheer him up, Bella couldn't make Edward smile. This was much more frustrating than it should be! Even if she purposefully tripped down the stairs ("Bella! Don't scare me like that!"), knocked over some paint in Studio Art, or stammered out a passage in AP English, she couldn't make him crack a genuine smile.
It was only November, so she couldn't call him a scrooge or something stupid. Christmas, couldn't you hurry up and come so that Edward would be happy again?
Mike finally got into the act too, around Gym class, and both Bella and Mike were pretty sure they were making fools out of themselves. Yet, Edward still wasn't smiling. They collapsed to the wooden floor. Bella blew her bangs out of her face as she moaned, "What on Earth is wrong with him? It's like the Powers that Be replaced my friend with some lame emo kid from Hot Topic."
"And not even the scary looking kind," Mike pouted. "Couldn't they have at least given him three tongue piercings or something outlandish?"
"They forgot the blue hair dye."
"And the weird looking fishnets. Oh! The baggy, long black pants too."
Edward blinked as he came to them both and offered his hands, "What kind of nonsense have you two been blabbering about?"
Bella and Mike exchanged mischeivous glances before Bella finally giggled, "It's our little secret."
She scampered off, leaving a sheepish Mike to explain, "For an emo kid, you sure don't act the part."
"Oh, you two!"
For the first time in nearly a week, Edward Masen was smiling again.
65.
Alice had decided she needed a new shopping partner. Rosalie and her husband were still - Still! - on that second (third? fourth? fifth?) honeymoon, and Esme tended to shop for old ladies' clothes. When she promptly descended onto Bella's front doorstep, Alice began to ponder ways to properly kidnap Miss Isabella Swan.
"Oh, Bella---"
Wait a sec. Bella wasn't at the door. Alice stared confusedly at the younger boy before her.
"... Leaf? What're you doing here?"
"I could say the same," The boy responded, gesturing for her to come in. "Bella, Ed, Mike, and Jessica are on some kind of weird double date."
Well, this put a damper on her plans. Alice pouted, "But I thought she was going to be here."
"I thought so too," Leaf shrugged, "But Ed planned it last minute. You can wait here if you want."
"I'm fine," Alice waved a hand in dismissal, "I was just hoping I'd have a shopping partner..."
A sudden gleam appeared in her eyes as she studied Leaf over, "... Huh. I think I might've found one after all."
Leaf blinked, "Huh, what do you--- oh no, no, no. You can't make me!"
It was too late: before the poor boy even knew what he was doing, Alice had already dragged him off to the car and drove off to the local mall with him. Whoever said shopping wasn't another form of kidnapping?
66.
By the time Edward and Bella returned to the Swan household, they were greeted to an empty household. Glancing at the two notes left on the refrigerators, Bella blinked, "Huh."
"What's up?"
"Leaf's gone shopping with Alice," Bella shrugged, tucking some hair behind her ears, "And Charlie, Elizabeth, and Billy went out to see some movie."
"That would logically leave me, you, and Jake," Edward frowned, "But have you seen him all day? Or at least heard from him? I was worried, since he didn't respond to a single one of my texts."
Bella kissed him lightly on the cheek (a first for them both), "I'm sure he's okay. You know Jake wouldn't just abandon us without any reason."
The doorbell rang.
Bella flopped onto the couch, "You answer it, Ed. I wanna lie down and take a nap."
Raising an eyebrow, Edward responded, "Sure," as he walked over to the front door and answered it. There, standing before him, was an incredibly tired Jacob.
67.
"Don't ask," Jacob asked as he limped inside the house. "Today... wasn't exactly one of my better days."
Edward frowned, "Then I won't. You sure you'll be okay?"
"I think so. Actually... Ed, there was something I wanted to talk to you about?"
"To me?" Edward blinked, forcing Jacob to lean on him as the two boys flopped down on the nearest couch. Propping Jake's legs up, Ed then clarified, "What's up?"
Jake bit his lips, "What exactly happened that night? You know, when you and Leaf broke into my house and did some weird magic show."
Gesturing towards Bella, Edward then loudly called, "OH! The new Pokemon episode is on!"
There was a groan from the kitchen as Bella scampered up the stairs, "Count me out! Don't tell me you invited Leaf again! If anyone asks, you're some weird psychoI'venevermetinmylife!"
Watching Bella sprint past him, Jacob cringed. Satisfied, Edward leaned back in his seat as he grinned, "Now we can talk freely."
"Edward Masen, you are a horrible person." Jacob snorted.
"Hey, I didn't lie to her," Edward winked, turning the TV on. "So let's talk during the commercials."
68.
Before today, Jacob would have never guessed how _weird_ Edward Masen truly was. Sure, he always knew Ed lived in his own world with his euphemisms and Victorian slang Eras, but this? This was beyond anything Jake'd ever imagined.
"Jeez," Jacob whistled as Edward finished explaining his angelic duties, "I would've never guessed. Bella's guardian angel?"
"It's true," Edward sheepishly shrugged, "You saw the wings."
"And here I was, praying to God to save my life," Jacob shook his head in disbelief.
Edward laughed, "In your defense, we did break into your room, even if we came in peace."
"What'd you want, anyway?"
"It isn't obvious?" Edward tilted his head to the side. "I want to help you. You're our - my - friend, and the werewolf transformation's supposed to be really painful."
Sure his face was all red, Jacob stammered, "Edward! How'd you even figure it out?"
"Weird dreams... feeling hot and sweaty... weird things happening to you..." Edward listed each one off with his fingers. "I know you're not doing drugs - and you live in La Push - so you have to be undergoing it. That, and your mana signature was changing pretty rapidly."
Jacob blinked, "Huh?"
"You need to go read more fantasy," Edward grumbled. "They're better at explaining all the mumbo-jumbo."
"And I can't ask my great savior? What a shame."
For that, Edward bopped Jacob lightly on the head, "I'm a guardian angel, not a saint."
"You might as well be."
69.
The front door opened again, and both boys rose from their seats. Wincing, Edward pushed Jacob back down.
"Sorry, I forgot," Edward hurriedly apologized. "Hang on, let me see..." Outstretching his arms, he then gently pressed down on the visible wounds he saw. Closing his eyes, he murmured a prayer -- in Latin? -- that Jacob didn't quite understand. What he did know, however, was the sudden relief he felt.
Within mere seconds, a sudden weight had been lifted off his chest and he felt... free.
"Edward? What did you just do?"
It was then Jacob again saw the flashing white wings and the angelic smile on his friend's face. It was almost like a scene out of some fantasy movie! They were so beautiful, so pure, so white... so dirty as they knocked over the nearby table lamp and smashed it into a million pieces.
Wincing, Edward groaned, "That's the fifth one this week."
Jacob couldn't help it! He laughed, a real one this time, as he grinned, "You know... some things never seem to change."
Title: Rising Phoenix (Part Seven)
Fandom: Twilight [but incredibly AU - at this point, all they share are the Cullens sans Alice and Jacob Black's werewolf gang]
Summary: Bella finally meets Kenneth Shapiro! Additionally, Jacob also finally finds out Edward's secret. And what's this about Leaf and Alice?
Disclaimer: Kenneth and Leaf are the only two characters I created for this fanfic. However, I do own the headcanon for this AU, so I'd appreciate it if people didn't take it without my permission. =|
61.
They weren't looking at each other. Even Bella, the queen of oblivious people, could tell that something wasn't quite right between this lanky teenager and her second mother. Every other patron of the bakery was looking at them too! Come on, couldn't they pretend to be civil for once?
Finally breaking the silence, Mrs. Masen finally replied, "We were acquaintances in Chicago."
"Yes," Kenneth shrugged casually, "I was friends with Edward."
"You've grown up a lot," Mrs. Masen laughed, motioning for Kenneth to come and follow her. Kenneth took a seat beside her, and the chatter of the restaurant finally resumed as the tension died down.
How could this guy be Edward's friend? Bella wrinkled her nose. Kenneth looked _cool_ with his long hair tied in a ponytail and impeccable taste in clothing; he also had that total air of "I'm better than you." Edward? Was a dork, no matter how nicely you tried to phrase it.
Bella quietly commented, "I'll let you two be," as she left the coffeehouse. Unfortunately for her, she'd yet to realize that Kenneth's gaze hadn't left her eyes the entire time.
62.
"You know," Mrs. Masen amusedly remarked, "If you're interested in Bella, you should also be aware she comes with the local hospital. It's... kind of a package deal."
Kenneth raised an eyebrow, "Huh. Does this mean I'll get free perks?"
"More like you'll be spending one Saturday a month in the ER."
"Ouch," Kenneth winced.
There was another moment of awkward silences (how often they lingered around each other!) before Mrs. Masen added, "What _are_ you doing in Forks anyway?"
Kenneth responded more quietly, "And why are you still alive?"
Mrs. Masen frowned, her eyes watering as she stared down at her chai teacup. Pressing her lips, she murmured, "I could ask the same about you."
"I don't mean any disrespect, Mrs. Masen," Kenneth slowly responded, peering from beneath his long, jet black bangs, "But a lot's changed about me since our days in Chicago."
Rising from his seat, he then walked coolly towards the door. Glancing over his shoulder, he waved, "It was good seeing you again."
Mrs. Masen softly sighed, "I wish I could say the same about you."
63.
"I swear to God, Embry, I wasn't high that night! But there was crazy magic, floating Leaf, and Edward with wings---"
"Oh my," Embry finished with a laugh as he stared over at his best friend.
Jake rolled his eyes, "That's not very funny."
"Sorry," Embry threw his hands in defeat, still laughing as the two sophomores passed by people on their way to class. "It's just that you're so convinced you're on drugs, and I've never heard of you doing anything like it."
Jake shrugged, "Me either, but how else am I supposed to explain that night?"
Embry looked thoughtful for a moment before he finally responded, "You know... you could always accept it as the truth and see where it takes you. Either that, or you've been Punked."
"And we know how likely the last one is," Jacob chuckled softly. "Okay, fine, so I'll confront them after school today and ask them the truth."
They both walked into their next classroom and took their seats. As the rush of students surrounded them, Jacob then added, "Because until I do, I'm pretty sure my life's not going to make sense for some time."
64.
No matter how much she tried to cheer him up, Bella couldn't make Edward smile. This was much more frustrating than it should be! Even if she purposefully tripped down the stairs ("Bella! Don't scare me like that!"), knocked over some paint in Studio Art, or stammered out a passage in AP English, she couldn't make him crack a genuine smile.
It was only November, so she couldn't call him a scrooge or something stupid. Christmas, couldn't you hurry up and come so that Edward would be happy again?
Mike finally got into the act too, around Gym class, and both Bella and Mike were pretty sure they were making fools out of themselves. Yet, Edward still wasn't smiling. They collapsed to the wooden floor. Bella blew her bangs out of her face as she moaned, "What on Earth is wrong with him? It's like the Powers that Be replaced my friend with some lame emo kid from Hot Topic."
"And not even the scary looking kind," Mike pouted. "Couldn't they have at least given him three tongue piercings or something outlandish?"
"They forgot the blue hair dye."
"And the weird looking fishnets. Oh! The baggy, long black pants too."
Edward blinked as he came to them both and offered his hands, "What kind of nonsense have you two been blabbering about?"
Bella and Mike exchanged mischeivous glances before Bella finally giggled, "It's our little secret."
She scampered off, leaving a sheepish Mike to explain, "For an emo kid, you sure don't act the part."
"Oh, you two!"
For the first time in nearly a week, Edward Masen was smiling again.
65.
Alice had decided she needed a new shopping partner. Rosalie and her husband were still - Still! - on that second (third? fourth? fifth?) honeymoon, and Esme tended to shop for old ladies' clothes. When she promptly descended onto Bella's front doorstep, Alice began to ponder ways to properly kidnap Miss Isabella Swan.
"Oh, Bella---"
Wait a sec. Bella wasn't at the door. Alice stared confusedly at the younger boy before her.
"... Leaf? What're you doing here?"
"I could say the same," The boy responded, gesturing for her to come in. "Bella, Ed, Mike, and Jessica are on some kind of weird double date."
Well, this put a damper on her plans. Alice pouted, "But I thought she was going to be here."
"I thought so too," Leaf shrugged, "But Ed planned it last minute. You can wait here if you want."
"I'm fine," Alice waved a hand in dismissal, "I was just hoping I'd have a shopping partner..."
A sudden gleam appeared in her eyes as she studied Leaf over, "... Huh. I think I might've found one after all."
Leaf blinked, "Huh, what do you--- oh no, no, no. You can't make me!"
It was too late: before the poor boy even knew what he was doing, Alice had already dragged him off to the car and drove off to the local mall with him. Whoever said shopping wasn't another form of kidnapping?
66.
By the time Edward and Bella returned to the Swan household, they were greeted to an empty household. Glancing at the two notes left on the refrigerators, Bella blinked, "Huh."
"What's up?"
"Leaf's gone shopping with Alice," Bella shrugged, tucking some hair behind her ears, "And Charlie, Elizabeth, and Billy went out to see some movie."
"That would logically leave me, you, and Jake," Edward frowned, "But have you seen him all day? Or at least heard from him? I was worried, since he didn't respond to a single one of my texts."
Bella kissed him lightly on the cheek (a first for them both), "I'm sure he's okay. You know Jake wouldn't just abandon us without any reason."
The doorbell rang.
Bella flopped onto the couch, "You answer it, Ed. I wanna lie down and take a nap."
Raising an eyebrow, Edward responded, "Sure," as he walked over to the front door and answered it. There, standing before him, was an incredibly tired Jacob.
67.
"Don't ask," Jacob asked as he limped inside the house. "Today... wasn't exactly one of my better days."
Edward frowned, "Then I won't. You sure you'll be okay?"
"I think so. Actually... Ed, there was something I wanted to talk to you about?"
"To me?" Edward blinked, forcing Jacob to lean on him as the two boys flopped down on the nearest couch. Propping Jake's legs up, Ed then clarified, "What's up?"
Jake bit his lips, "What exactly happened that night? You know, when you and Leaf broke into my house and did some weird magic show."
Gesturing towards Bella, Edward then loudly called, "OH! The new Pokemon episode is on!"
There was a groan from the kitchen as Bella scampered up the stairs, "Count me out! Don't tell me you invited Leaf again! If anyone asks, you're some weird psychoI'venevermetinmylife!"
Watching Bella sprint past him, Jacob cringed. Satisfied, Edward leaned back in his seat as he grinned, "Now we can talk freely."
"Edward Masen, you are a horrible person." Jacob snorted.
"Hey, I didn't lie to her," Edward winked, turning the TV on. "So let's talk during the commercials."
68.
Before today, Jacob would have never guessed how _weird_ Edward Masen truly was. Sure, he always knew Ed lived in his own world with his euphemisms and Victorian slang Eras, but this? This was beyond anything Jake'd ever imagined.
"Jeez," Jacob whistled as Edward finished explaining his angelic duties, "I would've never guessed. Bella's guardian angel?"
"It's true," Edward sheepishly shrugged, "You saw the wings."
"And here I was, praying to God to save my life," Jacob shook his head in disbelief.
Edward laughed, "In your defense, we did break into your room, even if we came in peace."
"What'd you want, anyway?"
"It isn't obvious?" Edward tilted his head to the side. "I want to help you. You're our - my - friend, and the werewolf transformation's supposed to be really painful."
Sure his face was all red, Jacob stammered, "Edward! How'd you even figure it out?"
"Weird dreams... feeling hot and sweaty... weird things happening to you..." Edward listed each one off with his fingers. "I know you're not doing drugs - and you live in La Push - so you have to be undergoing it. That, and your mana signature was changing pretty rapidly."
Jacob blinked, "Huh?"
"You need to go read more fantasy," Edward grumbled. "They're better at explaining all the mumbo-jumbo."
"And I can't ask my great savior? What a shame."
For that, Edward bopped Jacob lightly on the head, "I'm a guardian angel, not a saint."
"You might as well be."
69.
The front door opened again, and both boys rose from their seats. Wincing, Edward pushed Jacob back down.
"Sorry, I forgot," Edward hurriedly apologized. "Hang on, let me see..." Outstretching his arms, he then gently pressed down on the visible wounds he saw. Closing his eyes, he murmured a prayer -- in Latin? -- that Jacob didn't quite understand. What he did know, however, was the sudden relief he felt.
Within mere seconds, a sudden weight had been lifted off his chest and he felt... free.
"Edward? What did you just do?"
It was then Jacob again saw the flashing white wings and the angelic smile on his friend's face. It was almost like a scene out of some fantasy movie! They were so beautiful, so pure, so white... so dirty as they knocked over the nearby table lamp and smashed it into a million pieces.
Wincing, Edward groaned, "That's the fifth one this week."
Jacob couldn't help it! He laughed, a real one this time, as he grinned, "You know... some things never seem to change."