posted on 18-May-2002 1:45:39 AM by *CindyLouWho*
| Hey it’s the girls who used to be JEZEBELLIA. I had trouble reregistering that name when everything changed so this is the new one. ALL NEW PARTS will be under *CinduLouWho*.
Ok so its totally totally my fault that its been MONTHS since weve last posted ANYTHING for this fic. Ive been a freshman in college which im sure A LOT of you know is crazy...and Iv also kinda been in a state of semi-requite, semi-unrequited love....which seems to keep me pretty insane...UGH boys...if I told you thit this relationship was 100% everything we wrote about Bella and Kaleb (youll see when you read this) BEFORE anything good happens...well its really REALLY frustrating. Anyway enough about MY LIFE lets talk about the fic. WERE REPOSTING, so catch up, because although it may take a while..i SWEAR this will be finished and theres a good chance there will actually be a sequel!! Ok so ANYWAY....
TITLE: We Havent Turned Around
RATING: NC-17 but not for a little bit
CATEGORY: I say its FF, bc the past is basically the same till the end of season 1, but Jez always thinks its kinda AU, so lets put both here.
SUMMARY: ok READ IT. I know that a lot of people (myself included) close the thread the second they read that its not a M/l fic or whatever but this is NOT unconventional couples or anything. I GUARENTEE youll loke it bc all the cc fans who feedbacked did., so READ!!!!J ok so anyway heres the quick summary:
Bella: m/m’s daughter is 16
Kaleb: m/l’s son is 17
Parker/Lia: a./I’s twins, are 16
Jezebel: Jacinda (will explain in a minute)/kyle’s daughter is 17
Jacinda is m/I;s sister. She is a pure bread (much younger than them..her 1stlife time and everything. Not reborn) and c ame straight from antar in their junior yr of highschool to protect them. The reason tess isn’t there will be explained. Tess WAS max’s bride in the past life but don’t assume that means anything but that. She WAS the bride. And if youll recal...that life didn’t turn out too well.. ok im sayin too much already so lets just get to it.
PART 1
"Hey guys, look what I found!" Lia held up a copy of her mother's old
High school yearbook.
"So what?" Parker responded with a nonchalant glance.
"Would you give that Ice King act a rest already?" Jezebel glared at
Parker, tossing her thick, glossy black hair over her shoulder and narrowing
her dark brown eyes.
"If you give up the HOOCHIE PRINCESS ACT...but wait, that's not an act,
is it?"
"Stop it! Retract those claws! Yearbook, remember??" Lia shoved the
yearbook in front of Jezebel's face.
Jezebel continued to glare at Parker, giving him the death look her
mother had patented so many years ago "If he wasn't your brother...Alright
let's look at the yearbook."
Lia grinned, "It's my mom's, from when she used to go dreamwalking. I
snuck it out of her room. I bet it's got all kinds of comments in it about
Uncle Max and Aunt Liz."
Jezebel winked at Bella, "I bet Bella will LOVE that."
"Gee, Jez, wouldn't reading comments require the ability to READ?
Sorry...sucks for you," Bella gave her a huge smile, batting her cat like
gray-blue eyes innocently.
Jezebel slapped Bella's arm.
"Why do you think I went looking for it?" Lia smiled at her two best
female friends. "So let's see, Evans, Evans. Here it is! Uncle Max!"
"Ugh, I'll be in the kitchen eating. Let me know when the drooling
ends," Parker stated as he left the room.
Lia couldn't believe how rude her brother was being to her friends, "You
know you're gonna be a huge fatass when your older?"
Parker rolled his ice-blue eyes continued to tease his twin, "You know
you are one now?"
Jezebel stuck up for her friend, "I put some special tabasco in there
for you parker..its marked ARSENIC..enjoy."
Bella sighed sarcastically, twisting her rosebud lips into a smirk "You
know he'd be a real catch if it weren't for the terrible personality and lack
of intellegence."
Parker left the room rolling his eyes at the sound of all three girls
laughing.
Bella's eyes fastened themselves to the picture in the yearbook like
super glue, "Cherry coke with lots of tabasco."
"English please?" Lia had absolutely no idea what Bella was talking
about.
Bella didn't look away as she explained, "that boy is sweet AND SPICY!"
She finished her statement in a voice loud enough to be heard all over the neighborhood.
Jezebel couldn't resist commenting, "Aren't YOU the clever one...I
wonder what my cousin KALEB would think about you ogling his dad..who he just
happens to look EXACTLY like."
"Wonder what your dad would thing about those pornos you keep under your
bed?" Bella responded. Jezebel wasn't the only one capable of blackmail.
Jezebel thought for a second, licking her full, deep red lips "He'd
probably think they were his. I can't believe you're looking at MY uncle like
that. It's so gross."
Lia felt like Jezebel had totally forgotten her existence, "he's MY
uncle too. he does look a lot like Kaleb. But we're NOT discussing this
anymore. Now that we made Bella happy, I want to see how terrible my parents
looked back then. I bet they had these really out there hairstyles," Lia
flipped through the yearbook. "Oh, my god, do you see my dad. He was such a
dork. EWWW, look at all the hearts around his picture!"
"I think its sweet. better than MY dad....apparently this picture was
taken during the year of NO COMBS," Bella commented.
Jezebel laughed, "yeah…or MIRRORS."
"It's still gross. Oh my god, my mom really was a supermodel. Too bad it doesn’t run in the family.” Lia sighed as she looked at her mothers impeccable picture.
Bella got on her soapbox, "Oh shut up, your a total muffin.. would you
rather be taller than every guy you liked, like I’m SURE your mother was? I WISH I hadn't inherited everything from my mom…do you know what its like going through life as a small B cup?!?!"
"Oh…I'm sure Kaleb wouldn’t mind...why don't we ask him. KALEB?!?!"
Jezebel honestly hadn't expected to see him through the screen door.
Parker got up from eating to let Kaleb in, "Sup?"
“Guys, can I eat here? Grandma Diane came over to make something
called a FRITATTA...Dad told me to get out while I still could," Kaleb
explained as Parker led him through the kitchen into the family room where
the girls were located. "Oh...hey Bella," Kaleb smiled self-consciously at her
for a moment before adding, "...and Jezzy."
Jezebel batted her heavy eyelashes and pouted, "Wow, do I feel loved."
She whined sarcastically
Lia asked looking directly at Parker, "So how long were you standing at
the door before Parker let you in?"
Kaleb responded with, "Long enough to hear Bella saying she thought
someone was hot. I couldn't hear the rest of the conversation over Parker
eating. So, who is SO hot that Bella was screaming over it?"
‘With Kaleb and Bella here’, Parker thought, ‘this is bound to get
interesting. Food can wait.’
Jezebel told him the most unbelievable story she could think of, "Oh,
Kermit...Bella's got a real Kermit fetish."
Bella instantly smacked her, "Bitch...I do not."
Lia smiled mischievously, "Kaleb, would you like to look at my mom's
yearbook with us?"
"Um...yeah, sure." He agreed. As he sat down next to Bella, he felt
her suddenly falling against him. He looked up just in time to realize
that Jezebel had pushed Bella into him, but didn't have much time to
contemplate it as the placement of one of Bella's hands caused him to blush
furiously.
Bella saw him blushing and realized she had placed one of her hands
right between his legs in an attempt to break her fall.
Jezebel saw what she had started and started cracking up, "Hmm...you
have some shitty balance there, Bell. Inner ear problem?"
Bella finally found her voice, "God...sorry k." As she got up, she
whispered in Jezebel's ear, "Just wait till later…I'm gonna get you for that
one."
“So what did my parents have to say in the yearbook?" Kaleb asked,
slowing regaining his composure.
"We haven't looked at quotes yet. We were still looking at pictures.
Speaking of your parents, there's Aunt Liz! She is so pretty! God, I wish my hair was all straight and silky like that.” Lia sighed.
“You can give a dog nice hair, but it’s still a dog.” Parker teased his twin laughing.
Lia responded, "Oh, Parker! Just...go EAT!"
"Since you put it that way, NO!" He retorted.
Lia groaned, "Anyway, before we were so rudely interrupted, I was going
to say Aunt Liz looks pretty much the same now as she did back then, as does
Uncle Max." "That probably explains the amount of screwing," Kaleb thought
out loud.
"I don't know how you live in that porno movie you call a house," Bella
sympathized.
"Hey, your parents aren't much better," Kaleb pointed out.
"Kaleb, what was your mom like when she was our age?" Lia made a
desperate attempt to get the conversation out of the gutter.
"I don't know a whole lot. She mostly says that I'm a lot like she was
when she was my age. All into science."
"Wow, that's so cool! My mom was into makeup," Lia rolled her eyes.
“Mine was into my dad.” Bella laughed.
"Mine was into shopping and fighting with your mom and Uncle Max."
Jezebel said to Lia.
"Runs in the family." Kaleb observed. Jezebel stuck out her tongue at him.
Bella poked Lia, "So, can I stay for dinner too?" and gave her a quick
wink when no one was looking.
"Sure, hey, it's the weekend, how bout a sleepover party? Bell, Jezzy, and
me, and Kaleb could keep Parker occupied."
"I resent that. It's actually a good idea though. Too much estrogen in
one house. So help me even the odds?"
"Alright, anything to get me out of the house," Kaleb replied.
"I'll call my mom, but I'm sure she won't mind," Bella's heart was racing.
"I've kind of got plans with Josh, if you know what I mean," Jezebel
gave the girls an 'I've got a secret' look.
Parker raised an eyebrow "You're still going out with that loser?"
“He's not a loser, Parker." Jezebel said defensively "He's captain of the
football and lacrosse teams!"
"Oh, wow." Kaleb snorted "He can throw a ball and hit big sweaty guys
with a big stick. Someone alert the Nobel people."
Jezebel glared at him "He happens to be very nice, very funny, and a very
good kisser." She retorted, throwing in the last part just to see the look on
Kaleb's face.
"Oh, screw Josh!" Bella said. She quickly corrected herself "No, don't
screw Josh. I mean, forget Josh! Come on, you can cancel this once for a
girl's night, we haven't had one in a while." She leaned closer and gave her
cousin a desperate look "Jez, please stay. Kaleb's gonna be here, I need
reinforcements!" She whispered
"Fine, okay. I'm in." Jezebel sighed "I'll just have to stop over at my
house and grab some stuff and let my folks know where I'll be. Not that
they'll mind. Judging from their...shall we say, frisky behavior this
morning, they'll be overjoyed to hear I'm spending the night here."
"Oh, gross." Bella said, wrinkling her nose.
Jezebel nodded "Tell me about it. I found them wrestling around and
tickling each other on the couch this morning. They looked like a couple of
teenagers."
“Yours, too?" Kaleb asked
“It's sweet." Jezebel admitted with a small smile, allowing a rare
glimpse of the sweet, hopeless romantic in her "In a revolting way." And she
was back to her usual self. "I'd better get going."
"Could you give me a ride to my house?" Bella asked "I need to let my
parents know where I'll be and get some clothes, too."
"Yeah, sure." Jezebel replied "We'll be back in about half an hour, guys."
--------
PART 2
Jezebel stood in the kitchen doorway, watching her mother as she checked on
something in the oven. Judging from the short, silky red dress, matching
stiletto heels, and dramatic makeup Jacinda Valenti was wearing, Jezebel's
parents hadn't expected her to be home that night. As sickening as it was for
her to think about her parents kissing, (God forbid) making love, and
generally acting like people in love, she had to admit that seeing her
parents, who by any definition were still young, so happy together made her
smile on the inside. She hoped that she and Josh could have at least a shot
at that kind of happiness.
Jacinda suddenly turned around and jumped a little when she saw her
daughter. "Oh, hi sweetie. I thought you had a date tonight."
"Actually, I'm sleeping over at Lia's house. I just needed to pick some
stuff up, then I'm gonna pick Bella up and give her a ride back there."
Jezebel replied "I'm leaving soon, I know you and Daddy had something planned
for tonight. Dinner, and then...dessert?" She raised her eyebrows and grinned.
"Jezebel!" Jacinda admonished, blushing slightly. Sometimes, the short
age gap between her and her daughter could be a pain. Usually, however, it
was wonderful.
"Hey, I don't exactly like the thought. But it's pretty obvious. Anyway,
I'll be leaving in a few. I just need to ask you about something."
“Sure, what's on your mind?" Jacinda asked. She sat down at the kitchen
table and motioned for Jezebel to do the same.
"Well, when you were my age," Jezebel began as she sat down "Did you ever
date anyone that your friends really didn't approve of?"
Jacinda laughed "Did I ever! My first love, right after I came to
Roswell. Oh, your Uncle Max was furious. Especially since he didn't even know
we were involved until...well, he caught us."
"Caught you?" Jezebel repeated "You mean, like...you know?"
"Right." Jacinda said "So, naturally, he was pretty upset. The guy was a
friend of his, so he not only had to deal with his friend and his sister
being involved, but also the fact that we hadn't really been honest with him."
“You lied like a rug." Jezebel giggled
“Smart ass." Jacinda sighed "Anyway, your uncle insisted that the guy was
bad news. He swore that he was a player, he'd sweep me off my feet and I
wouldn't know which end was up, and that he'd basically fuck up my life."
"And?" Jezebel asked
"He was one hundred percent correct." Jacinda sighed
Jezebel's face fell. "Oh." She said, not liking the idea that Kaleb and
Parker might be right about Josh.
Jacinda smiled "But I married him anyway."
"I heard that!" Kyle called from the living room in a playful voice.
"Good, you're not going deaf in your old age yet." Jacinda teased "You
better get a move on, Bella's probably waiting." She winked and gave her
daughter a playful nudge towards the door.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, Mom." Jezebel said
"I love you, sweetie." Jacinda said
"Love you, too." Jezebel replied "Bye, Daddy!"
“Bye, Princess!" Kyle replied "Have a good time. And don't do anything
your mother would do!"
Jezebel rolled her eyes and giggled as she left, hearing her mother's
shriek as she closed the door behind her
----------
“Mom? Daddy?” Bella yelled as she entered her living room. Her house was freakishly quiet…which usually meant one of two things: No one was home, or the ‘rents were
screwing again. She had a feelings it was the latter.
“GUYS!!!!!” She screamed again, trying to get their attention, as to not see anything that would later be added into the ever-growing “Repressed Memory” pile.
Her call was followed by a loud thump, and she heard her father mumble some unrecognizable curses. Their behavior, although repulsive, always made Bella kind of…happy. It was good to know that they still loved each other. She hoped that when she was married with kids she’d still be that…INVOLVED with her husband.
“Hey Bells.” Michael greeted as he walked down the stairs as if he HADN’T just been interrupted during a romp in the hay.
Bella stifled her laugh as she say how hard he tried to look normal. “Um…hey daddy.” She smiled. She always called her father “daddy”. They were very close. He was always this tough “stone wall” with everyone else, but with her he was just a big squishy teddy bear.
“So…umm…I thought you were hanging out at Lia’s for the evening, sweetie?” He continued.
“Yeah, I just came home to ask if I could sleep there…and to get my stuff if you said yes. Which I KNOW you will…cause you LOVE ME!!!” Bella joked as she batted her eyelashes at him.
“OUCH! Low blow, Bells. Playin the “you love me” card AGAIN?” He replied laughing. “Well I appreciate the effort but it’s not necessary. You can stay at Lia’s tonight. Just make sure you bother Alex as much as possible…for me.” Michael gave his daughter an evil grin.
“Thanks daddy!!!” Bella squealed giving him a big hug and running down the hall past him towards her room.
“God…she’s a mini-skirt away from being Maria.” He chuckled to himself as she bounced away. “Lock the door when you leave.” Michael called to her as he climbed back up the stairs. ‘A night without Bells…I’m sure that can be taken advantage of.’ He smirked to himself. ‘Time to give the little woman a little “Alien Brand Lovin.”’
---------
END PART 2
[ edited 12time(s), last at 12-Oct-2002 2:25:18 PM ]
|
|
posted on 18-May-2002 1:48:14 AM by *CindyLouWho*
| “Bella!" Jezebel yelled as she pulled into the driveway in her silver
vintage BMW Z3, leaning on the horn.
"Yeah, hang on!" Bella replied, running out the door and jumping in the
car "Go, I want to be half way down the street when they get started again."
"The horndogs again?" Jezebel sighed "Mine, too. When I got home, Mummy
was wearing a dress that looked like something I would wear, six inch heels,
and she was cooking a big, elaborate dinner. But you know they'll never get
through the first course. I was barely out of the house when he made some
smart ass comment and she was screeching and jumping all over him."
"They're never gonna grow up, are they?" Bella sighed "Hey, I brought you
something!"
Jezebel squealed "You did? What? Gimme!"
Bella grinned and pulled a box of mint chocolate creme cookies, Jezebel's
favorite, out of her bag.
"You're trying to make me fat, I know it." Jezebel giggled
"And..." Bella said, reaching into her bag and pulling out a pint of mint
chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.
"Trying to make me really fat!" Jezebel said "You're the best."
"It comes naturally." Bella replied
Jezebel raised an eyebrow "What does? You being the best or me getting
fat? Think carefully before you answer, missy."
"Well, I want to remain bruiseless tonight, so I'll go with being the best."
Bella said "Oh, and guess what I brought for me?"
"Hmm...gee...pudding?" Jezebel guessed, rolling her eyes. Bella and her pudding…it was her OTHER obsession. "Long shot, I
know."
"Not even close." Bella replied. She reached into her bag and pulled out
a small camisole and boxer pajama set "I figure maybe I need to show a little
skin to get Wonder Boy to notice me."
"You little hooch!" Jezebel giggled. She pretended to tear up "I'm so
damn proud of you right now."
Bella grinned mischievously "I learned from the best."
Jezebel stuck out her tongue at her "You still have much to learn,
grasshopper."
"Hey, watch the road!" Bella said
"Ooh, sorry." Jezebel replied.
---------
“Mom, where are you?!?!” Lia had looked all over the house for her mother and finally resorted to shouting.
“I’m right here.” Isabel said as she walked inside through the kitchen door with a bag of groceries. “Can you help me with these?”
“Sure. Hey, mom, do you mind if Jezzy and Bella sleep over tonight? Oh, and Kaleb too…he’d be staying with Parker of course.” Lia was smiling from ear to ear and had a mischievous glint in her eye that her mother noticed right away.
“Kaleb too, huh? Does this have anything to do with you three plotting to get Bella and Kaleb together?” Isabel teased her daughter, “You know people don’t like matchmakers.”
“Mom, come on, you know they’re just being stubborn. Besides, you know they’d be perfect together. So can we…PLEASE???” Lia begged.
“Alright, but your father and I will be home to make sure you guys don’t get TOO out of hand.” Isabel shook her head. Her daughter may not have been the kind of popular she’d been in high school, but in a lot of ways, Isabel was glad for that. Being popular had never made her happy. And the friends Lia did have were totally inseparable. It was something she’d always envied Alex, Maria, and Liz for when the eight of them were teenagers. “Plus, you know how I love playing hostess. Next time I get a little more notice?”
“Sure, mom. I love you.” Lia gave her mom a hug and went to prepare for the sleepover. ‘Must have lots of Tabasco sauce, pudding, popcorn, and ice cream around the house somewhere,’ she mused, ‘and what would be the best movie to give Bella and Kaleb ideas… I've got it! ‘Whatever it Takes’! In Mom's old movie collection.’
She had barely gotten all the stuff ready when she heard a car pull into the driveway. She opened the door and Jezzy and Bella burst in and rushed past her with their arms full of bags.
“Come on in, guys.” She muttered as they dropped their stuff on the couch. “Kaleb’s not here yet.”
Bella turned to Lia with her hands on her hips trying to look pissed. “You know…I DO think of thinks other than Kaleb.”
Jezebel raised her eyebrow at her friend. “For example…?”
“Well…like…FINE, I retract the statement.” Bella stammered.
"Come on, cut it out." Lia said "Put your stuff in my room and we can chill
until Kaleb gets here. I've got a movie picked out."
"What movie?" Bella asked
"An old one I found in mom's nostalgia collection that's actually pretty
good. It's called 'Whatever It Takes.'"
"Sounds boring." Jezebel said "What's it about?"
"It's a romantic comedy. Trust me, Bella will love it." Lia said
"And why is that?" Bella asked, raising an eyebrow
"TRUST me." Lia replied as they got to her room. Jezebel flopped down on the
bed and Bella took a seat on the floor. Lia put a tape in the VCR and sat
down next to Jezebel as the movie started.
"Hey." Kaleb said as he and Parker entered the room "What movie?"
"'Whatever It Takes.'" Bella replied "Never heard of it, but Lia insists that
I'll like it."
"I'm in." Kaleb said, sitting down next to Bella. Parker shrugged and sat
down in a chair next to the bed.
Bella scooted over so she was closer to Kaleb. Behind her, Jezebel and Lia
snickered. She turned around and gave them a look. They immediately quieted
down.
________
"Well, that wasn't bad." Jezebel remarked as the credits rolled. She glanced
down at Bella, who was now leaning on Kaleb with his arm around her "What did
you two think?"
"Yeah...um...it was...okay.” Bella said, a little uncomfortably. “I’m gonna…go to the bathroom.” She got up and exited quickly, and the others heard the bathroom door slam.
Kaleb nodded "Yeah...not bad...I'll be right back…I’m gonna go change…Parker can I use your room?"
Parker nodded and Kaleb scurried out the door.
"Uh-oh, don't look now." Lia said once they were both gone, "But Jezebel's got that 'I'm thinking something naughty.' look again."
"Oh, look who's talking!" Jezebel teased "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Why do I get the feeling the denial twins are in for some serious shit
tonight?" Parker asked rhetorically.
"Because they are!" Lia and Jezebel replied in unison.
"Are what?" Bella asked as she returned
"Oh, nothing." Jezebel said, stifling a giggle "I've got to use the bathroom."
"Where's Kaleb?"
"Getting popcorn." Lia replied
"I need to change." Bella said
"You can use Parker's room." Lia said "The door sticks a little, so if it
doesn't open use your powers."
"That okay, Parker?" Bella asked
"Uh, yeah...sure." Parker said, understanding what Lia was doing. As soon as
Bella was gone, he turned to his sister "Lia! You are bad! I'm very proud of
you."
END PART 3
_______
Bella tried the door again. 'Damn, it's really stuck.' She thought. She
shrugged and used her powers to open the door.
"What the...Bella?!" Kaleb said
"Oh, oh...sorry Kaleb." Bella said, trying to remain calm. She stood there
staring at him in his boxer shorts.
"Um, Bell? You mind turning around?" Kaleb asked, blushing profusely.
"Oh, sure." Bella said, facing the wall "You know, it's not like I haven't
seen your stuff before."
"Well, we were three years old." Kaleb said "It's gotten a lot bigger since
then." He groaned inwardly, not believing what he'd just said.
Bella giggled nervously and turned around as he finished changing "Well, one would hope!"
"Okay, enough ridicule." Kaleb said, brushing past her as he left the room
"I'm done, you can go ahead and change." They rubbed against each other in
the narrow doorway, froze for a minute, and then continued as if nothing had
happened.
"I'll be out in a minute." Bella said as the door closed behind Kaleb.
"Jezebel, Lia, and Parker." She mused "Either I need to give them a good ass
kicking...or a really expensive present." She sighed "That boy is YUMMY!"
_______
When Bella returned, Jezebel, Parker, and Lia managed to hold back for a few
seconds before they cracked up.
"Very funny." Bella said
"Careful, Bell." Kaleb told her "They're out for blood tonight." He looked up
at her and swallowed when he saw the small, tight camisole and boxer shorts
she was wearing. "Um...I've got to go...get some food." He stood up and left
the room.
"Yeah, I'll go, too." Parker said, following Kaleb.
As Kaleb made a beeline for the kitchen, he cringed at the thought of his
narrow escape. Seeing Bella in that incredibly form-fitting camisole had
immediately caused a reaction in his body that he did not want her to see.
He forced himself to think of topics like "mud" which Uncle Michael always
told him worked wonders and of his parents finding him, oh wait bad idea.
As he tried to redirect his mind, he remembered certain unfinished business.
He had an idea just who had planned Bella's "accidental" walking in on him
changing and was really going to enjoy calling him on it, "Oh, Parker, I have
to talk to you."
"Who me? I just came to help you get the food"
"So it was another Parker Whitman that decided to embarrass the living
daylights out of me? Another Parker Whitman who full well knew I was
changing and where and sent a certain female...who has absolutely no sexual
interest in me despite your attempts to manipulate the situation."
"Can't blame a guy for trying. Are you sure she has no sexual interest?"
"Yes! She thinks of me like a cousin. We sleep over at each other's houses
all the time and NOTHING happens. If she felt that way about me, she'd have
done something about it by now. You know how direct she is."
"She IS direct."
"Exactly."
"Aha, here is the emergency pudding that Lia made. Go deliver it to your
chick."
"She is NOT my CHICK!"
"Whatever you say man."
Kaleb grunted and took the pudding back to Lia's room where he expected to
find Bella.
------------
"So," Bella said as soon as the guys were out of earshot "I assume that
incident was your doing?"
"A simple thank you will do fine." Jezebel replied
Bella laughed and smacked her cousins upside their heads "Thank you." She
giggled. . "And by the way." Bella continued "I know he's your cousin, but damn that boy is SCRUMPTIOUS!"
"Okay, venturing into too much information zone." Lia said "Let's move on."
She glanced at Jezebel and frowned "You okay? You seem a little out of it."
"Oh, I'm fine." Jezebel replied "It's my mom. She's been acting a little
weird lately."
"Your mom? Acting weird?" Bella asked "You're full of crap."
"Yeah, okay, shut up." Jezebel said
"Sorry." Bella said "So what's up with your mom?"
"She's been acting really nervous, jumpy. And she's suddenly getting all
nostalgic out of nowhere. And she's been...how shall I can I say this without
grossing us all out...a little more 'amorous' around Daddy. More so than
usual, I mean."
"So what do you think's going on with her?" Lia asked
"Well, this may sound crazy." Jezebel said "But I think she might be
pregnant. I don't know why. It's a hunch, I guess."
"She certainly GETS IT enough." Bella said
"That's sick, Bell. We're talking about my parents." Jezebel grimaced
"Although you are right."
"Have you talked to your mom?" Lia asked "That would be the logical thing to
do."
Jezebel nodded "I will. Tomorrow. And hey, it'll be kind of cool if she is
pregnant. Just think, if she has another girl, that means I get to be a role
model."
"Oh my God!" Bella and Lia said with mock horror. Jezebel giggled and threw a
pillow at them.
"Oh, you guys know what I so want right now?" Bella said after the laughter
died down "Other than Kaleb, I mean."
"Well the only two things you EVER want are Kaleb and pudding. So I'm gonna
go with pudding." Jezebel said
Bella grinned "You know me so well."
Kaleb chose that moment to enter the room "Hey, I wanted some pudding, so I
grabbed some for you, Bella, ya pudding junkie." He chuckled
"My hero!" Bella squealed, batting her eyes and giggling.
Jezebel and Lia rolled their eyes and groaned "I swear, you two are
like...perfectly synchronized freaks of nature or something!" Jezebel said
"Oh, hey, you know what we could do with pudding?"
"Knowing you, something that could never be considered an INTENDED use." Lia
teased
"Food truth or dare!" Jezebel continued, ignoring Lia.
"Okay, you SO CLEARLY just made that up." Lia said
"Shut up! I did not!" Jezebel protested "You either have to answer a question
or perform a dare involving food in some way."
"That's kinky, Jez!" Bella said
"That's what makes it fun, Hell's Bells." Jezebel replied, winking.
"What's kinky?" Parker asked as he came in. He glanced at Kaleb "Or do I not
even want to know?"
"Food truth or dare." Jezebel explained "You in?"
"In?" Parker chuckled "I'm terrified is what I am!"
Jezebel stuck out her tongue at him "I'll get us started. Bell, truth or
dare?"
Bella thought for a minute, then groaned "Oh my God...dare, I guess." She
buried her face in her hands, waiting for whatever humiliating stunt her
sick-minded cousin had in store for her. Nothing could have prepared her for
what Jezebel said, however.
"You have to..." Jezebel paused a moment for impact "Lick pudding off of
Kaleb's face!" She burst out laughing devilishly.
"Oh, Lord help us." Parker groaned.
Bella shook her head fiercely "No friggin' way." Kaleb just kept turning a
deeper and deeper shade of red.
"Oh, well, I suppose you could go with truth." Jezebel said "Remember, we'll
know if you're lying, so..."
"All right! I'll do it!" Bella groaned "Oh God."
"Atta girl." Jezebel said. She grabbed a pudding cup, leaned over, and
smeared some across Kaleb's cheek, smirking as he squirmed "Go ahead, Bell.
He's all yours. Oh, wait. Kaleb, lie down."
"What? Why do I have to lie down?!" Kaleb whined
"Because it's MY dare." Jezebel told him "Now, be a good puppy and do as I
say."
"Fine!" Kaleb rolled his eyes and lay down. Bella hesitated for a moment,
until Jezebel shoved her forward and she nearly landed on top of Kaleb. She
took a deep breath and started to lick the pudding off his face.
Kaleb shuddered and tried to keep his eyes from rolling back in his head. Her
smell surrounded him, and her hair brushed against his nose, tickling him. He could feel her hot tongue on his face and hear her shallow breathing. He looked down to avoid her eyes. Big mistake. He could see right down her tank top.
Bella prayed that no one, especially Kaleb, could tell that she was shaking.
The combined taste of the pudding and the salt of Kaleb's skin was making her
dizzy. He smelled fresh and clean, and the rough stubble on his face against
her tongue made her tremble.
"Hey, Lia, I-" Everyone froze as the door opened and Lia and Parker's father
came in.
"Dad! Knock!" Lia said
Alex glanced at Kaleb and Bella and laughed. "Max? Liz? That you?" He hit himself on the forehead "Sorry, I mean, behave children!" He said in an exaggerated stern
voice.
"We will, Uncle Alex." Jezebel said in an overly sweet voice, batting her
eyelashes.
"Okay, stop that. You're a clone of your mother, it's scary." Alex laughed.
He shook his head "All right, I'll leave you kids alone." He left, shutting
the door behind him.
Bella and Kaleb sat up quickly "Okay, this dare is over!" Bella announced "My
turn. Jezebel, truth or dare?"
END PART 4
|
|
posted on 18-May-2002 1:49:52 AM by *CindyLouWho*
| ------
"Well, I know you're going to get back at me no matter which one I choose."
Jezebel sighed "And there is no freaking way that I am licking pudding off of
anyone in this room, so truth."
"Truth...truth..." Bella mused "Ah! Got it! How far have you gone with your
latest Adonis, Josh?"
Jezebel, much to everyone's shock, blushed and looked down "No comment." she
mumbled.
"Oh my God." Lia said "Jezebel Dyanne Valenti is blushing. This MUST be good."
"Okay, enough!" Kaleb said "We don't need to hear this."
"Yeah, it's bad enough that our cousin is dating that knuckle-dragging
Neanderthal." Parker agreed "Do we really have to hear all the gory details?"
"Shut up." Jezebel snapped, giving them both a death glare "May I remind you
that I have kicked both of your asses before and have no problem whatsoever
with doing it again?"
Bella cracked up "You GO, sista!" she giggled sarcastically.
"Thanks, Bell." Jezebel said, still glaring at the guys "I appreciate that
you guys are concerned. But I am a big girl, and I am quite capable of taking
care of myself. I'm happy with Josh. I care about him, and he cares about
me."
"You don't know that." Kaleb told her "Haven't you seen the way he's treated
other girls?"
"I believe him." Jezebel said "Why would he say he cares about me if he
doesn't?"
"Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he'll say that to anything
with a big chest and two X chromosomes?" Parker suggested
"Well, I'm in the clear, then!" Bella laughed nervously, trying to lighten
the mood before this went any further. "No big boobs in Bella Town!"
Jezebel gave her cousin a sideways glance and then turned her attention back
to Parker "Screw you, Parker."
"Isn't that what you have Josh for?" Parker asked nonchalantly
"Parker, retract the claws." Kaleb said. To Jezebel he said "Jezebel, don't
be such a child. We're trying to protect you from getting hurt."
"I told you I can take care of myself." Jezebel said
"You know, just a thought." Parker said "But maybe if you covered up the
twins and didn't act like a common whore once in a while, you might attract
some decent guys."
"I might have phrased it a little nicer," Kaleb said "But he's right."
Jezebel's eyes flashed with rage "Oh, please! Look at you, just agreeing with
him instead of expressing your own feelings! You're just a weak little boy,
you know that?" Her voice trembled a little as she pushed Kaleb out of the
way and ran into the hall "I'm sleeping in Parker's room tonight. If you want
to see the sunrise, I suggest you don't bother me!" They heard her footsteps
pound down the hall and Parker's bedroom door slamming behind her.
"Maybe I should go see if she's okay." Bella said
"I don't want to talk, Bell!" Jezebel shouted from the other room "Just stay
in there!" Much to everyone's surprise, there were tears in her voice.
"I think you guys were a little harsh. She's actually CRYING." Lia said
"Maybe we should go apologize." Kaleb said
"Not unless you want to lose all your appendages, including the ones
concealed under layers of clothing, if you know what I mean." Bella said "Let
her cool off and apologize tomorrow."
"Yeah, we should all get some sleep." Lia said "Shot the bed!"
"Shot the chair!" Parker said
"Oh, goody." Bella sighed "The rejects get the floor again." She lay down and
squirmed around, trying to get comfortable. "Ugh. I can't get comfortable."
"Here." Kaleb said, holding out his arm. Bella moved closer to him, and he
wrapped his arm around her. She leaned her head against his chest and
closed her eyes. The warmth of his body, and the sound of his quiet
breathing, soon lulled her to sleep.
Kaleb stayed awake, however, watching her. She looked so beautiful, so
peaceful. He couldn't even remember when he'd realized that he didn't just
have a crush on her, and he wasn't just infatuated with her, and it certainly
wasn't just lust. He was in love with her. And he would never love anyone
else as much. 'Friendship.' He thought 'What a bitch.'
_______
Jacinda lay her head on Kyle's bare chest, listening to his heart beat slowly
returning to normal. She smiled and purred softly as he kissed top of her
head, brushing her damp, matted hair off her forehead. He pulled a blanket
over and them and ran his hands down her spine, holding her possessively.
“Something wrong?" He asked
"Yeah." Jacinda sighed, nuzzling his chest "You're talking when you could
be kissing me. I thought we were going to take advantage of the empty house
tonight."
"We've been taking advantage of it all night." Kyle told her "In fact,
I'm starting to feel taken advantage of. I can tell that there's something on
your mind."
"You know me too well." Jacinda sighed "It's Jezebel. She was asking all
these questions earlier, about what my love life was like at her age. I think
she might be having some guy problems."
"I'd say it's the male population of West Roswell High that's having
problems." Kyle said "Princess is probably dancing on their hearts in
stiletto heels, just like her mom."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Jacinda told him "Kyle, I was a week short
of my eighteenth birthday when I got pregnant with Jezebel. She's almost the
same age, only about five months younger."
"You're afraid that history's going to repeat itself?" Kyle asked
"I know it sounds stupid." Jacinda said "But what she was saying this
afternoon...well, it sounded to me like she's falling for someone who her
friends, from what I gathered mostly Parker and Kaleb, don't exactly approve
of. Sound familiar?"
"Angel, don't worry about it too much." Kyle said "Jezebel's a smart
girl, she's got a good head on her shoulders. She gets that from you."
“Yeah, you have to say that. You're the one who knocked me up." Jacinda
sighed "I guess I'll have a talk with her, just make sure she's using her
head."
"Probably a good idea." Kyle agreed "But like I said, don't worry too
much. Another thing our baby gets from you, it's a nasty attitude. If
anything, she won't get pregnant just because we did. You know how much she
hates to think about ending up like us."
Jacinda laughed and kissed him "You're right about that, I'll admit.
You're such a smart guy."
"Stop it, you're gonna give me a bloated ego." Kyle chuckled
"Hmm...not exactly what I was going for." Jacinda purred "But it's a
start."
----------------
Lia stretched her arms languidly and looked at the clock beside her bed. The glowing neon green numbers said 10 am. It was 10 in the morning…and she REALLY had to pee. Quietly, as to not wake her brother, sleeping in the big chair in the corner of her room, or Kaleb and Bella, who were curled up (and quite adorably, at that) on the floor at the foot of her bed, Lia tiptoed out into the hall.
After going to the bathroom and brushing her teeth, she reentered the hallway to come face to face with Jezebel, who was carrying her bag in one hand and her stilettos in the other.
“Jezzy?” Lia whispered. “Where are you going?”
“Home.” Jezebel answered, significantly less quietly. It was a good thing that the three still sleeping in Lia’s room wouldn’t be disturbed if a tornado tore through the house. “I don’t want to deal with your IDIOT brother and my equally IDIOTIC cousin when they wake up, so I’m leaving now.”
“Jez…they feel really bad about how they acted last night…they even wanted to come apologize to you…but Bella said that it probably wasn’t a good idea until you cooled off.” Lia soothed.
“Yeah…that’s for sure. It’s a good thing I didn’t have any sharp objects last night when they attacked me or you’d be trying to get bloodstains out of your carpet for weeks.” Jezzy smirked.
"So you're going home?" Lia asked "Why don't you stick around? I'm sure
everything from last night will have cooled off."
"I haven't cooled off." Jezebel replied sharply "So I'm gonna go get myself
some retail therapy. I'll call you later or something."
"Okay, fine." Lia sighed "Bye." As Jezebel stalked off down the hall, Lia
shrugged and plodded back to her bedroom. As she made her way to her bed, she
tripped over Bella and Kaleb.
"Mmm...Kaleb..." Bella murmured, still asleep. In answer, Kaleb tightened his
arm around her and mumbled her name into her hair, also half asleep.
Lia glanced at Parker, who was awake and watching the pair, and they both
raised their eyebrows.
Gradually, Bella and Kaleb began to stir, and then opened their eyes. As
they yawned and stretched, they became aware of their positions.
"Oh, sorry..." Kaleb said, moving over a little.
"No problem." Bella replied as she moved in the opposite direction, looking
away so he wouldn't see how red her face was.
"What time is it?" Kaleb asked, getting up and going to the doorway.
"Past ten." Lia said "If you're looking for Jezebel, she already left. She
was still pretty upset, she said she was gonna go shopping."
"Oh God, she's upset, armed with a credit card, and loose in the mall." Bella
groaned "And now I have no way of getting home."
"I'll drive you." Kaleb offered, a little too quickly.
"Thanks, Kaleb." Bella said, smiling at him "You're the best."
END PART 5!!!
_________
"Okay, so, I'll see you later." Kaleb said, pulling the car up in front of
Bella's house.
"Why don't you come in?" Bella asked, unbuckling her seat belt "The 'rents
have been driving me crazy about never getting to see you. I swear, my dad
loves you almost as much as I...I mean, they really want to see you."
Kaleb froze for a second, trying to figure out what she had almost said 'Nah,
no way.' He thought. Out loud he said "Sure. I've been meaning to ask your
dad about that weird noise the fan belts have been making when I hit the
brakes, anyway." He got out and rushed around to her side of the
car to open the door for her.
"Thanks." Bella said. "Mom! Dad!" She called as they opened the front door.
"Hi, honey!" Maria called from the kitchen "Grandma Amy sent over some
chocolate creme pies and..." She gasped as she came into the hallway
"Mini-Max! I missed you!" She grabbed Kaleb and hugged him.
Michael looked up from the hockey game he was watching and chuckled "Sorry,
Kaleb. I would have warned you about gratuitous female sentiment, but she
just kind of swooped right in there, didn't she?"
"It's okay, Dad." Bella said with a laugh "Kaleb's used to middle aged women
throwing themselves all over him, right Kaleb?"
Maria gave her daughter a look "Middle aged? Excuse me? MID thirties is
HARDLY middle aged!"
"Yeah, well, women of ALL ages fall all over themselves to get near me."
Kaleb chuckled nervously, glancing at Bella. Michael watched this with a
smirk. He and Maria exchanged winks.
Kaleb coughed and shifted nervously "So, uh, Michael, I-"
"Oh, please. Michael is so formal for your godfather." Michael interrupted
"Just call me GOD."
"Daddy!" Bella giggled "Kaleb, you do NOT have to call him god!"
"So, anyway, MICHAEL." Kaleb continued "I was wondering if you could take a
look at my car. The fan belt's been making some really weird noises lately."
"Yeah, sure." Michael said "Let's go see what we can do."
As soon as they were gone, Maria turned to her daughter "Bella, sweetie?"
"Yeah?" Bella said
"You are aware, aren't you, that you are totally in love with that
Max-alike?" Maria asked
"Mom!" Bella gasped
"Believe me, I know all the signs." Maria said "I was Liz's best friend all
throughout high school, remember? Those Evans men...they just make the ladies
melt. I've seen it all before."
Bella was about to protest when the door opened and Michael and Kaleb came
back in.
"So just bring it by next week if it keeps doing that." Michael was saying
"Sure, thanks." Kaleb replied "I better get going. I'll see you later, my Bell."
"Yeah…thanks for the ride." Bella said slowly, liquefying at his little pet name for her.
Kaleb nodded, smiling at her. After a gazing at her for a minute, he finally looked away and said "Well, okay. Bye." He looked at Bella once more and left.
As soon as Kaleb was gone, Bella turned to her parents "I'm gonna go put my
stuff away. You two be good!" She bounced away to her room.
"Those two are hopeless." Maria sighed "It's like Max and Liz, the sequel."
"What can you do?" Michael asked "He's his father's son. And she's her
mother's daughter."
Maria slugged him on the arm playfully "Watch it, buddy, or you're sleeping
on the couch for a week."
--------
"Kaleb!!!" Liz squealed as she saw her son walk in the front door from where
she was standing in the kitchen.
"Hey, mom." Kaleb smiled at her enthusiastic greeting. Walking into the
kitchen, Kaleb enveloped his tiny mother in warm hug. "I was only gone one
day, mom." He chucked. He pulled back and added "But it's good to know I
was missed."
"Did you have fun at Lia and Parker's?" Liz asked
"Yeah, it was fun." Kaleb replied, deciding to omit the fact that the girl of
his dreams had walked in on him almost naked, and had licked pudding off his
face.
Liz nodded "Uh-huh, and what are you not telling me that's making your ears
turn a very bright red?"
Max came up behind Liz and wrapped his arm around her waist "Oh, Kaleb's
embarrassed. You should know by now that you can't put anything past your
mother, son."
“It’s nothing...really. It was an...interesting night…that’s all.” Kaleb stammered.
"Ohhh...interesting, huh?" Liz said "Interesting good, I take it?"
Max kissed her neck and whispered in her ear "Honey, why don't you let me
talk to Kaleb alone?" He chuckled and added in a fake tough voice "Guy stuff,
you know?"
Liz turned around and nodded, leaning up to kiss him. Max reciprocated gladly and they soon lost all sense of what was going on around them.
Kaleb cleared his throat "Hello? Um, hey there! Remember me? Still in the
room here."
"Oh, I'll just let you guys talk then." Liz said, pulling away from Max. She
leaned up again and whispered "I love you."
"Love you, too." Max replied, kissing her on her forehead. As soon as she was
gone, he turned to his son "So, what happened? I can tell it's girl related,
I know that look. I used to have that look when your mother and I..." He
trailed off and smiled "Your aunts used to give me absolute hell about it."
Kaleb smiled. Isabel and Jacinda were known for giving their brother hell
about just about anything. "Well, it's just that...Parker and the others sort
of fixed it so..." He paused "Bella walked in on me changing."
"You're kidding!" Max said, laughing
"Dad! It's not funny!" Kaleb said, blushing.
Max looked at him for a moment, then started laughing again.
"Okay, maybe a little..." Kaleb admitted "But so embarrassing!"
Max looked at his son and struggled to keep a straight face. “Well I’m sure SHE didn’t mind. You do look like ME, after all.”
"I think she was just embarrassed." Kaleb said "It's not like she has feelings
for me." 'Unfortunately.' He added in his mind.
"You love her." Max said "I can't believe I never noticed it before. You're
in love with Bella Guerin.
Kaleb turned an even deeper shade of red "Dad! Okay, time to change the
subject!"
"All right, fine. But let me just say this." Max replied "I loved your mother
for seven years thinking that she didn't know I existed, and I couldn't have
been more wrong. So maybe you're wrong about how Bella sees you. And based on
who her parents are, she might not be the best at expressing her feelings.
She is Stonewall Guerin's daughter, after all. Think about it."
"Right, I will." Kaleb said "So...when you were my age, you didn't really
like Aunt Jacinda dating Uncle Kyle, right?"
"Didn't like it?" Max repeated "I wanted to kill him. Especially since they
lied to me, and I didn't know it until...nevermind. Why do you ask?"
"It's Jezebel." Kaleb explained "She's going out with this jock from school
who's got a really bad reputation. I'm worried that he's using her, and she's
going to get her heart broken."
"Well, I'm experiencing serious deja vu." Max said "Have you told Jezebel
this?"
Kaleb looked at the floor "Well...not so much told as...lectured and berated."
"And lived to tell about it." Max observed "You're lucky."
"Yeah, but I feel pretty bad about it." Kaleb said "She actually cried."
"Jezebel Dyanne Valenti cried?" Max asked, stunned "Kaleb, what did you say?
No, nevermind that. I think you should apologize to her."
Kaleb nodded "Yeah. I'll call Parker and we'll both go over there. We both
said some things that were...pretty out of line."
-----------
|
|
posted on 18-May-2002 1:52:34 AM by *CindyLouWho*
| "Mom, Daddy!" Jezebel called, bursting through the door "I'm home!" As she
closed the door with her foot, the armful of shopping bags she was carrying
spilled across the floor. She listened for a moment. No answer. Shrugging,
she made her way into the living room, where she found her parents curled up
on the sofa together, fully dressed and sound asleep. She smiled and shook
her head. 'Well, looks like they were active last night. Gross.' She thought
as she started to tiptoe out of the room.
"Jez?" Jacinda murmured sleepily "Is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me. Sorry I woke you."
Jacinda shook her head "No, it's okay." She shook Kyle "Wake up, Jezebel's
home."
"Oh, hi Princess." Kyle yawned "You're home early."
"I'm home late, actually." Jezebel said "I stopped at the mall, I needed a
little retail therapy." She noticed her parents glancing past her to the pile
of bags in the hallway "Okay, okay. A lot of retail therapy. I had a rough
night, Kaleb and Parker and I were..." She noticed her father's hands moving
to her mother's abdomen as they listened to her. The white sweatshirt Jacinda
was wearing hiked up slightly as Kyle touched her, and Jezebel trailed off
when she saw that the skin under Kyle's hands was glowing. "Oh my God."
Jacinda smiled at her husband "Well, looks like our secret is out."
Jezebel gasped, laughed, and nearly choked "Oh my God...I was right! You are
pregnant, aren't you?"
"About a month." Jacinda confirmed "You're going to have a baby brother."
"Wow." Jezebel said "Wow, this is...this is really cool! Does anyone else
know."
"Just the three of us, for now." Kyle replied "C'mere, Princess." He wrapped
one arm around Jacinda and held out the other for Jezebel, who hugged her
parents and sighed contentedly.
"Well, I am just...completely stunned, for one thing." Jezebel said "And
really happy. Especially for you guys."
"Oh, shit, tell me that's not really the time." Kyle groaned, looking over
his wife's shoulder at the clock.
"Yeah, it is." Jacinda sighed "You'd better go. We can all celebrate later."
Kyle nodded "I'll call you."
"I know." Jacinda said, kissing him "Every five minutes, just like when I was
pregnant with Jezebel. You worry too much."
"I love you, Angel." Kyle told her, kissing her and pressing his hand gently
against her abdomen. Her skin glowed brightly in response.
"I love you, too." Jacinda replied
Kyle turned around and hugged his daughter "Help your mom out, okay Princess?"
"I will, Daddy." Jezebel promised "I love you."
"Love you, too." Kyle said, kissing her on her forehead.
As soon as her husband was gone, Jacinda sat back down "So, you were talking
about something that happened at Lia's?"
"It can wait." Jezebel said, sitting beside her mother. She touched Jacinda's
stomach, then drew her hand back quickly when she saw the glow "Does he do
that a lot?"
"He only seems to react to his parents and, apparently, siblings." Jacinda
replied "It was the same with you. You only reacted to me or to your father,
no one else." She sighed and, for a moment, seemed to be lost in her memories
"Jezebel, I want to talk to you about something. You're a very smart, very
beautiful young woman, with a lot of potential. I want you to live up to
that-"
"Let me guess." Jezebel said "You want to make sure I don't repeat your
mistakes."
Jacinda's face darkened "Jezebel, never let me hear you say that word. You
were not a mistake. It's true, your father and I didn't plan on having you
when we were eighteen, but from the moment we found out that I was pregnant,
we loved you, and we wanted you. I just want you to promise me something."
Jezebel nodded "Yeah, of course."
"Promise me that you will always follow your heart, but use your head, and
listen to your gut." Jacinda said
"I promise, Mom." Jezebel said
"Good." Jacinda sighed, hugging her daughter "Are you sure you don't want to
talk about what happened at Lia's?"
"No, it's fine." Jezebel said
Jacinda shrugged "All right, if you're sure. I should go, anyway. I'm meeting
Liz at the mall for lunch."
"Okay, say hi to Aunt Liz for me." Jezebel replied.
"I will." Jacinda said, putting on her coat "You be good, now. No wild
parties while I'm out."
"I promise." Jezebel giggled, holding up her hand so her mother could see her
crossed fingers.
"You're such a smart ass." Jacinda teased "Just like your mom." She blew her
daughter a kiss as she left.
As soon as the door closed, Jezebel turned on the TV, flipping aimlessly
through the channels. After a few minutes of this, she turned off the TV and
was about to put on some music when the doorbell rang. "It's open!" She called
"Hey, babe."
"Josh!" Jezebel said "Hey, what are you doing here?"
"I was just passing through the neighborhood." Josh replied, crossing the
room to her and taking her in his arms.
"You live across town." Jezebel pointed out
"Okay, I wanted to see you." Josh said, kissing her
Jezebel grinned and kissed him back "Well, your timing is impeccable. My
parents just left."
Josh started kissing her neck "What about the Hardy boys?"
"Overprotective as usual. Yours truly put them in their place." Jezebel said
proudly. Her eyes fluttered shut and she moaned softly as his lips touched a
particularly sensitive spot on her neck.
"I'm glad." Josh said, moving his hands from her shoulders to her waist
"They don't know what they're talking about. When I said that I loved you, I
meant it."
"I know." Jezebel purred, pressing her body against him "And I love you, too.
And I really don't care what anyone else thinks." She moved towards the
stairs, pulling him with her. As they moved up the stairs, still kissing and
touching, she ran her hand down the front of his shirt, undoing all the
buttons in an instant.
"Cheater." Josh teased, pulling at her tank top.
"It doesn't freak you out still, does it?" Jezebel asked. She had told him
the truth about her family's origins a month earlier, before they had made
love for the first time.
"You could never freak me out." Josh told her, pulling her tank top over her
head. As they reached her bedroom, he picked her up and lay her down on her
bed.
"Oh, really?" Jezebel said, raising an eyebrow. She grabbed him by the back
of his head and pulled him down to kiss her, connecting to him.
Josh groaned against her mouth as images filled his mind. Images of the two
of them making wild, passionate love. Images he never would have believed
could have come from Jezebel's mind. He pulled away from her and looked into
her eyes "You...little...devil..." he said as he kissed his way down her neck.
"Mmmm." Jezebel moaned, unbuttoning his jeans and pushing them down "Like
you've never wanted to do it in the quad."
"Well, maybe." Josh admitted, pulling down her skirt "But not during lunch."
"Wimp." Jezebel teased
"I prefer to think of it as the will to live." Josh said "If we got caught,
and your parents found out, my days would be just plain numbered." He groaned
as Jezebel touched him intimately.
"We need to get out more." She sighed, removing the last of his clothes and
letting him unhook her bra and take off her black lace thong.
"How about a road trip?" Josh suggested, running his hands over her body as
if he was trying to memorize every inch. "We have that three day weekend
coming up. We could just take off, hit the road."
"Maybe check out some of the cheap motor inns along 285 South, just for
kicks." Jezebel giggled, warming up to the idea.
"What's wrong with the hood of my car?" Josh asked
Jezebel laughed and pulled him down on top of her "See? There's the horny
freak I fell in love with."
Josh pulled back slightly and looked into her eyes, all the play gone from
his face. She shivered under the intensity of his gaze. Suddenly, she didn't
feel much like talking. One thought, one need in her mind blocked out all
others. As if he could read her thoughts, Josh pulled her against him and
kissed her passionately as he took her. Jezebel threw her head back and
moaned, clinging to him as waves of pleasure washed over her, consuming her
completely.
---------
"I still don't think I should have to apologize." Parker said
"You don't think you should apologize for basically calling your cousin and
lifelong friend a whore." Kaleb said "Okay, I think I finally put my finger
on why a good-looking guy like you has trouble getting a second date with a
girl."
Parker ignored the comment "Why should we apologize? We were right."
"That's not the point." Kaleb told him as he parked outside Jezebel's house.
"The point is we crossed a line, okay? She didn't hear anything we said, she
only heard us insulting her."
"So, maybe that's what she needed to hear." Parker continued to argue as they
walked up to the front door.
Kaleb knocked on the door. When there was no response, he opened the door and
stepped inside. "Hello? Jez?" No answer.
"Hey, we tried." Parker said "Let's go."
"We're going to do the right thing." Kaleb said "Come on, she's probably
upstairs resting. We were all up pretty late last night." They made their way
up the stairs to Jezebel's room "Jez, you in here?" Kaleb called. He opened
the door and froze in his tracks. Jezebel was lying on her bed in front of
them, moaning and panting as Josh made love to her.
"Oh my God!" She gasped when she saw her cousins standing in the doorway.
Josh looked up and froze, his eyes widening. Not making any sudden
movements, he slowly moved off of Jezebel. She just lay there, covering
herself with a sheet and staring at her cousins with an expression that was a
combination of shock, embarassment, and annoyance.
"Bad timing." Kaleb finally managed to choke out. He turned around and walked
back down the hall. Parker stared in horror at the scene in front of him for
another moment before he followed Kaleb.
"Kaleb! Parker!" Jezebel called after her cousins. When she didn't hear a
reply, she jumped out of bed and quickly pulled her clothes back on. She shot
a look at Josh. She decided quickly that she didn't want him involved in
this confrontation. Kaleb and Parker would rip his throat out before he could
get one word in. "Stay." She ordered.
"Staying." He replied meekly, still looking like a deer in the headlights.
Jezebel tore down the hall and down the stairs "Guys, wait up! What are you
so freaked out about?"
"Freaked out?" Parker repeated "We're not freaked out. We just walked in our
cousin getting it on with a...a jock! Why would we be freaked out?"
"You say 'jock' like it's a bad thing." Jezebel observed, crossing her arms
and narrowing her eyes in a gesture that mirrored her mother. "What's wrong
with jocks? My father was a jock in high school."
"Your father knocked your mother up after their senior prom." Kaleb reminded
her.
Jezebel's arms crossed tighter around her chest and her eyes narrowed to thin
slits "We were born on the same day, Kaleb. Which means your mom got 'knocked
up,' as you so charmingly put it, around the same time."
"That's...different." Kaleb muttered
"How?" Jezebel asked "How is it different? Oh, you know what? Forget it!" She
turned and stormed back into the house, slamming the door as hard as she
could behind her.
----------
“No…that’s not right either.” Bella mumbled with annoyance as she grabbed her eraser and removed the charcoal like she’d just added to her drawing. The portrait she was sketching was that of a young blonde woman with huge light eyes and curly hair. Bella had dreamed about her the night before and the woman had terrified her. But something was wrong with her drawing. She couldn’t get the look in the eyes right. That look…it was almost…EVIL.
Rubbing her hand across her cheek, she leaned back on her bed. “It’s no use…I just can’t get it right.” She sighed. Suddenly a familiar sound brought her from her thoughts. It was a light tapping on the window. A smile quickly replaced Bella’s scowl as she bounced across the room. There was only one person in the world who ever came to her window.
“Hey, Kaleb.” She smiled as she lifted the glass pane. “The Nymphos again or a fight with Jezzy?”
“You know me too well.” He replied as he returned her smile. “And it’s the latter.”
“Come on in…my room is your room.” She said, stepping aside.
Once inside her room, Kaleb looked at Bella, taking in her appearance. She was wearing a pair of pajama pants that ended just below her knee and had different types of fruit on them, and her white tank top left a sliver of skin uncovered on her stomach. Her shoulder length dark blonde hair was in French pigtails and she had wisps framing her face. He thought she looked adorable. He looked at her face and was just about to explain what had happened between him and Jezebel, but broke out laughing instead.
“What?” she asked, confused.
“Been drawing again?” He replied grinning.
“Yeah…why?”
Taking his thumb and rubbing it along her cheek, he answered. “You...um…have charcoal on your cheek, my Bell.” He said softly, letting his hand linger on her cheek just a moment longer than necessary.
“Oh…thanks.” Bella replied looking down. She loved it when he called her that.
“So I know you only draw when something’s either bothering you, or making you really happy. So which is it?” He asked with concern.
Bella picked up her drawing and showed it to Kaleb.
“Whoa…freaky chick, Bell. She gives me this…”
“Weird feeling?” She finished for him.
“Yeah. Exactly. So who is she?”
“She was in my dream…I don’t know who she is but she scared me. That’s all I remember. And she kind of looks…I don’t know…familiar.” Bella studied the picture as she spoke.
“Yeah, she does. Like I’ve seen her before…but not really.” That look in her eyes made Kaleb’s skin crawl. And the fact that Bella was having bad dreams worried him even more.
Wanting to get off the subject of the dreams, Bella turned the conversation back on Kaleb. “So what was the big fight about this time, Kaleb? I see no physical bruises or scars so it couldn’t have been THAT bad.”
Realizing her reluctance to continue on the subject, Kaleb backed off. ‘We’ll discuss it again later.’ He promised himself. “Oh, there are scars...just not physical ones. Parker and I caught Jezzy having sex with Josh.” He answered, grimacing from the memory. “Believe me…I’m scarred for LIFE.”
Pulling him down to sit next to her on the bed, she chuckled. “Ooooh…before, after or during?”
“During…VERY during. I’m surprised I’m not blind right now. But that’s not the issue. Parker and I tried to talk to her about it. Tell her what a big mistake she was making…and she just blew up.”
“Well what did you expect, Kaleb? You know Jez…you can’t tell her what to do. Anyway, your not her father…bossing her around will only cause problems.” Bella rationalized. This argument seemed to be coming up more and more often lately.
“I know that, Bell…but I’m just worried about her. She does things so impulsively…never thinks anything through.” He sighed.
“Well sometimes not thinking things through can be good, Kaleb. Sometimes people need to just…go with their feelings.” Bella said softly, looking into his eyes.
“Yeah…I guess…I just…you know…don’t want her to get hurt.” Kaleb struggled. ‘Go with their feelings…’ He wished he had the courage to do THAT. “Anyway…so can I stay here a while...I don’t feel like going home right now.”
Like she was gonna pass up spending time with Kaleb…on her BED?!?! “You know you can, K. You wanna watch a movie?”
“Yeah, sure…how about Stand By Me?” He suggested. That was both of their favorites. They had watched that movie together on Bella’s bed many a night throughout the years.
“Already in the VCR.” Bella smiled. They were always so in sync.
“Cool.” Kaleb smiled. He kicked his shoes off and took his customary position on the bed, leaning against the wall with his legs stretched out in front of him. He held out his arm and Bella snuggled to his side, leaning against his strong chest. ‘This is the only place I want to be.’ He thought, as he wrapped his arm around her and lightly stroked the soft skin of her arm with his thumb.
She sighed and pressed play on the remote. ‘Friendship…what a bitch.’ She thought sadly. But then again…this was better than nothing.
Maria found her daughter and godson lying snuggled together this same way a couple of hours later, sound asleep. “Again?” she sighed. “Every week.” Maria covered them up with Bella’s quilt and went to the kitchen to call Liz and let her know where Kaleb was. She’d just let them sleep.
Jezebel shed her tan leather jacket as
she stormed into the DeLuca-Guerin house.
"Hey, Jez." Maria said "Bella's upstairs, but I think..." She realized
that Jezebel was already halfway up the stairs "...that you aren't hearing a
damn word I've said."
"Bella!" Jezebel exploded, bursting into Bella's room "You are not going
to believe what..." She trailed off when she noticed Kaleb and Bella curled
up on the bed, barely coherent "Oh. You're here." She groaned. When Kaleb
didn't move for a minute, she stomped her foot "Leave! Now! Girl time!"
"Fine, okay." Kaleb said. He stood up and pulled his shoes on,
deliberately avoiding eye contact. He didn't think he could look at Jezebel
without having flashbacks of what he'd seen the night before. He glanced at
Bella and smiled slightly "I'll see you later, my Bell."
"Bye." Bella replied. As soon as he was gone, she turned to Jezebel "Way
to ruin the moment!"
"Moment?" Jezebel repeated "You were asleep!"
"He happens to be very comfy."
"Yeah, I'll bet he is." Jezebel muttered "A big, comfy pain in the ass."
"And what an ass." Bella sighed
Jezebel rolled her eyes "Hello? Earth to Bella? I'm having a crisis here!"
"Okay, focusing ." Bella said "What's the crisis?"
"All right, yesterday afternoon," Jezebel sighed, sitting down "Josh
came over while my parents were out, and one thing led to another, and we
ended up, well..."
"And Kaleb and Parker came over to apologize for what happened at Lia's
house, and caught you guys in the middle of it."
"He told you?" Jezebel asked
"Yeah, he came over last night, needed some moral support after seeing
your naked body. With a naked football player's body on top of it."
"He is such a prude."
"Yeah, THAT’s the problem, I'm sure." Bella said "Yeah, he came over, we
talked, and then we started watching 'Stand By Me' and fell asleep. He spent
the whole night again, Jezebel! The whole night, and again, he didn't even
touch me! I might as well be a nun!"
“Want me to kick his ass?" Jezebel offered
"Tempting but...no." Bella replied "Jezzy, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, Bell."
Bella frowned for a moment "I'm, like, a totally cute muffin, right?"
"Of course you are, Hell's Bells!" Jezebel giggled
"Then why doesn't he want me?" Bella moaned
"Maybe he swings from the other side of the tree?" Jezebel suggested.
Then she smacked Bella lightly upside the head "Now, can we please talk about
me and MY problem?"
"Sure, sorry." Bella said "You caught me in Kaleb mode."
"Bella, I say this with love." Jezebel sighed "You are always in Kaleb
mode!" She sighed and buried her face in her hands "I love Josh. But Parker
and Kaleb are my cousins, and I don't want to be fighting with them all the
time."
"I know it's hard, Jezzy." Bella told her "But Kaleb needs to accept that
you're doing what feels right for you, what you want. And that's it's not
really his damn business, even though his intentions are good."
Jezebel nodded "It's just...hard, you know? I used to be able to tell him
everything. He's my cousin, and my friend. I should still be able to tell him
stuff."
"Well, yeah, some stuff." Bella said "But not stuff like that. That's
what I'm here for!"
"True." Jezebel giggled
"And," Bella added, patting her cousin's shoulder and grinning "As the
cousin you can still tell everything to, I want details!"
"Sicko!" Jezebel squealed. She grabbed a pillow and beamed Bella over the
head with it.
"Hey! Quit it!" Bella giggled "Oh, okay! You asked for it!" She grabbed
another pillow and retaliated.
------
|
|
posted on 18-May-2002 1:53:41 AM by *CindyLouWho*
| "Be right back guys. Grandma Amy wanted to see me before class," Lia showed
her friends the notice she had in her hand that said to go to the guidance
counselor's office before homeroom.
"What'd you do wrong now?" Jezebel teased.
"I dunno. She probably found out about that prank we pulled on Bell and
K...or maybe she heard about you and Josh and wants some juicy details," Lia
grinned, "Anyway, I'm gonna found out sooner or later so it may as well be
now."
Lia walked down the hall to the door that had 'Mrs. Valenti, guidance
counselor' on a plaque outside the door. She looked at the door for this
week's joke and laughed. The door had a few green-glittered aliens on the
front whose conversation changed weekly. This week they said, 'Got
Spaceships?'
Once she composed herself, she entered without knocking. "Grandma, I got
your....note," she realized there was another person--a girl about her age
that she'd never seen before--in the room.
"Lia, I'm glad you're here. Lia Whitman, I want you to meet Darla Hubble.
She's a new student at West Roswell High," Amy Valenti looked at one of the
girl's she'd always thought of as a granddaughter with a smile.
"Nice to meet you," Lia said, frowning. Jezebel is going to hate her. Wavy
red hair, huge green eyes, built, and short, and the worst part was the
girl-next-door quality. Jezebel hates goody-two-shoes. The only reason I
got a 'get out of jail free' card is cause we're related. I feel sorry for
this girl already.
"Before you ask, no, I'm not any relation to Everett Hubble the alien hunter.
If you don't believe me, just look at any pictures," Darla stated. "I'm
sorry, I get asked that a lot. It's nice to meet you too."
"So, is this your first day?" Lia asked politely.
"Yes, actually. Mrs. Valenti said you might be willing to show me around
school," Darla gave her a hopeful look.
"Well, I...sure, Grandma I'll show her around," Lia figured it was the least
she could do considering how much flack this girl was going to get from her
family.
"Great, and Lia, I heard what you guys did for Bella. Keep up the good
work," Amy winked.
"Thanks!" Lia grinned, "Come on, Darla, I'll help you find your first class.
Let me see your schedule. Oh, wow, we both have history with Mr. Behr first
period. Bella's in that class with me. I'll introduce you."
"Great, Bella...that's the girl Mrs. Valenti was thanking you for helping
right? Was she a new student too?"
"Um, no, she's sort of a cousin. We've been friends all our lives. Hey
Bell! Over here!" Lia was still glowing over the approval from Grandma Amy.
"Hey! So what did she want?" Bella's question was interrupted by the bell
ringing for class to start.
"I'll tell you later," Lia promised as the class took their seats. She
motioned for Darla to sit next to her.
Mr. Behr entered the room. He had recently gotten his teaching certificate
so he was still young and attractive, and had that whole tall, dark, and
handsome thing going. Normally, he wouldn't have seen this as a problem
except for one girl in his first period class. He took his jacket off and
placed it on the back of his chair just in time to hear a scream that he was
quite familiar with.
"Woo! Take it OFF!"
"Bella Juliet Guerin! One more outburst out of you and you will have a whole
month of detention!" He still found it ironic that he had to discipline a
student for finding him attractive.
"I'm sorry...it's this damn Turrets," Bella thought quickly.
"Last week it was OCD...but I have to say that at least you lie creatively,
young lady," He groaned inwardly.
"Thank you," Bella glowed at the compliment.
"We were beginning to study the Korean War when we left off yesterday. Turn
to page 305 in your textbooks," He was going to get the class on task if it
killed him.
"Sure, sweet cheeks," Bella mumbled to herself.
He ignored her comment and continued teaching, "Can someone tell me what year
the Korean War began?"
---------
"I am starving. Guys, this is Darla. She's a new student that Grandma Amy
wanted me to show around. I'll tell you more after I actually get some food
into my system," Lia stated.
"Don't tell me you skipped breakfast again," Jezebel groaned.
"Yup, she did," Parker spoke for his sister.
Lia was too busy eating her lunch to notice what was being said. Once she
gobbled down her sandwich, she paused and said, "Ok, now, what were you
saying? Wait a minute. Where did Bell and K go?"
"Probably the eraser room," Parker teased his sister.
"They said they were going to *talk*; they didn't say where," Jezebel
clarified.
"What's an eraser room?" Darla asked.
"A place where Bell and K shouldn't be going for at least another month," Lia
explained.
"Huh?" Darla looked totally confused.
"It's the makeout area of the school. You know, some schools have bleachers,
ours has an eraser room," Lia patiently told her.
"So what does the month have to do with anything?"
"Never mind; it's not worth explaining," Lia sighed. "I'll go look for them
when I'm done eating."
***
"So why are we here again?" Bella asked as she sat down next to Kaleb. Kaleb
had grabbed her hand and dragged her to the eraser room after the lunch bell
rang...not that she was complaining...she'd always dreamed about being in the
infamous eraser room with Kaleb...but she knew that they weren't there for
the reason she wanted them to be there.
Kaleb started, "I wanted to talk to you..."
"So talk," Bella's impatience won out.
"K, I'm worried about you," Kaleb blurted out.
"Why?" Bella was both moved and confused because she hadn't given him any
reason to worry, at least she thought she hadn't.
"I know you, my bell...you've been upset about something...are you still
having bad dreams?" Kaleb subconsciously placed his hand over hers on her leg.
Bella looked down, "I'm fine. It's...it's nothing. As my mother would say,
I'm teflon, babe." She looked up at him and faked a smile to prove her point.
Kaleb looked at her seriously, "Do you think the dreams could be visions?"
"I don't know...I mean you and Lia are the ones who usually get visions in
dreams...I've only ever gotten them from touching things..." Bella was
clearly torn.
Kaleb quietly asked her, "What does your gut tell you?"
Bella got a little teary and started yelling at herself, "That I'm being a
Freakin baby about all of this...and that I'm making a big deal out of
nothing...and...and...that I don't know what to think...but I'm scared
because I never felt like this before."
"Something tells me there's more to this than just nightmares. I've never
seen you this upset over 'just nightmares'. Tell me what happened in the
dreams. Maybe since I've had more experience with this type of thing, I'll
be able to help you sort out if it's real," Kaleb tried to comfort her,
rubbing his thumb on her hand.
"I don't know really...I mean...there's this woman...and I'm scared...she
scares me...and...and you're there...but you don't scare me...you make me
feel...safe," Bella looked right into his eyes as she told him he made her
feel safe. He made her feel safer than anyone else ever had. She wished he
would put his arms around her, and just as she wished it, her wish came true.
She suddenly found him enveloping his arms around her in the warmest hug he
had ever given her, and she prayed he wouldn't notice how their cheeks were
touching and let her go.
Instead he began rubbing her back, saying softly, "I'll always make you feel
safe, my bell."
Her heart stopped when she heard those words. She wanted to ask him how he
felt about her, but something told her she couldn't deal with it if he said
he didn't love her, definitely not now. She buried her face in the crook of
his neck and sighed. She smelled him, thinking that no man could ever smell
as wonderful as he did right then. He smelled just like....butterscotch
chocolate pudding? She felt her stomach rumbling and burst out laughing as
she pulled away, "The others are probably wondering where we are...we should
get out there...besides...I'm starving."
---------------------
Kaleb took her hand and headed for the school cafeteria where the gang
always ate lunch. As they walked up to the table, he blushed as he heard
Parker shout,
"Woohoo! The lovebirds are at it again!"
"PARKER!!" Lia kicked him under the table. "STOP it! Give them a break for
once in their lives."
"Ow, sibling abuse!" Parker glared.
"Hey guys, this is Darla...she's new. Remember Grandma Amy asked to see me
this morning and I never got to tell you about it? Well, she asked me to
help show Darla around school. Darla, this is Bella, from history remember?
And this is Kaleb," Lia made the introductions.
Parker smirked, "Yeah, you were...elsewhere when we met her. So how WAS the
eraser room?"
Kaleb shot him a glare, "Fine. We had to TALK."
"Yeah, the eraser room is famous for TALKING," Parker continued his innuendo.
"History? Huh? I'm sorry, I was a bit too focused on Mr. Behr. Darla, is
it?" Bella went to shake the girl's hand, and as their hands touched, a jolt
of terror raced through her body. Bella turned pale white, and she suddenly
felt like she was going to vomit right there in the middle of the cafeteria,
"I'm sorry, I think I'm gonna be sick..." She immediately ran out of the
cafeteria in search of the nearest bathroom.
Kaleb gave his apologies to the group, "She was acting weird all day today.
She's probably got the flu. I'll go make sure she's alright." Before they
could answer, he'd bolted after her at full speed.
He saw her turning the corner and yelled at her to wait up. He caught up
with her just in time to see her leaning up against a wall in an empty
hallway trying to catch her breath, "BELLA!!! bella!?! Are you ok?"
In response she slid down the wall to sit on her knees. She looked around
to make sure no one is anywhere near them and gasped out still catching her
breath , "I just...I...got this...this wave of...fear...when I touched her.
Did you...feel anything?"
"Well...not as strongly as you did, apparently...but, I did feel
weird...like there's something about her that I feel like I shouldn't trust,"
Kaleb did his best to describe the sensations he had received.
"The thing is...that jolt of fear...reminded me of my dreams!" She stated
triumphantly, as her breathing slowed to normal.
Kaleb thought for a minute, "So you think the new girl is somehow connected
to your dreams?" He knelt down to meet her on the floor.
"Yes...no...I don't know!" Bella was totally confused by these intuitions
she was getting. Were they all in her head? If they weren't, were they
connected somehow?
"Hey..." He soothed, stroking her hair, "it's ok. We don't have to figure
this all out right this minute, but we should probably warn the others."
"Yeah...just...give me a minute...ok?" Bella forced a small smile.
"Hey, take all the time you need. It's not like I have anything better to
do than sit with you on the floor of our school," Kaleb teased with a smile,
trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah...guess I'm cutting in on all that time you usually spend bantering
with Parker and...what else DO you do?" Bella teased back.
"Oh not much...just hang out with my best friend. She's great, but can be a
real smart ass sometimes," Kaleb backed away a little expecting to be hit.
As expected, she playfully punched him on the shoulder, "Oh yeah, I think
I'd like her."
The two of them laughed and headed back toward the cafeteria. As they
walked toward their usual lunchtable and their friends, Bella breathed a sigh
of relief. Darla had just gotten up to return her, now empty, lunch tray.
She at least had a few minutes to talk with her friends before Darla got back.
"Bella, how are you feeling? You looked really sick," Lia asked.
"Yeah, like, unusually sick?" Jezebel chimed in. Both girls recognized
something was off with Bella's sudden attack of nausea because not getting
sick was, well, a family trait.
"Relax, girls. Bella just needed some, ah, comforting...She probably faked
the whole thing," Parker flinched as he felt both Lia and Jezebel kicking him
under the table.
"Guys, this is serious. We need to talk after school. All of us," Kaleb
looked at each of them in turn.
"Totally. I need help with my report on Czechoslovakia," Bella emphasized
the last word. Czechoslovakia had been her mother's, as well as the entire
group's, code word for alien stuff in public, and the teens recognized the
use of Czechoslovakia as a household word, as familiar as tabasco. This
immediate recognition was the reason Bella had chosen to use it right at that
particular moment.
"Just name the time and place. I'm always ready to help with homework," Lia
winked to show she understood.
"I'll be there too. Nothing else to do on a Monday night," Parker
commented, "except maybe watch cheerleader practice."
"I can't. Sorry, I just made plans with Darla. She's coming over to my
house to hang out. I'd feel weird cancelling immediately after I invited
her. I'll call you after she leaves?" Jezebel asked. It wasn't often Bella
cited Czechoslovakian business, and it was usually pretty important when she
did, but a few hours wouldn't make any difference in the overall scheme of
things. The group would have to wait until after school anyhow. What was a
few hours?
"It'll have to do. Oh, it's a secret project for extra credit. Only
trusting Established sources," Bella needed to make it clear that Jezebel
needed to talk to her before letting Darla into any confidences.
"Why? I guess you'd tell me if you could. Only established sources for
help with your report tonight. Got it," Jezebel was totally curious now.
Bella was playing two major trump cards in one conversation. Totally unusual.
"Good, so my house then? My mom and dad will be at work till late," Bella
suggested.
"Works for me," Parker answered.
"Me too," Lia agreed.
"Then it's settled. Bell, you're a genius," Kaleb smiled at her.
Darla got back to the table in time to hear the last sentence Kaleb said,
"Bella are you ok? I was really worried."
"It was just food poisoning. Can't trust school cafeteria food at all. I
mean, where else can you find green hot dogs?" Bella laughed nervously.
Would Darla, whoever she was, believe her excuse? She wasn't showing any
sign of distrust.
"True, true. So like why is he calling you a genius?" Darla inquired,
trying not to appear incredibly interested.
"Please don't ask. I've had more than enough of this mushy stuff. I can't
take any more," Parker put the conversation back into lighter, more everyday
tones.
"Alright, then we'd all better get to class if we aren't going to be late,"
Lia rushed everyone. Kaleb, Parker, Jezebel, and Darla all started moving
faster, but Bella stayed right where she was.
"Right, Lia can't miss a single minute of class, and we could make her
late," Bella grinned.
"Bell! Come on, I get that enough from your parents, I don't need it from
you too," Lia begged.
"Point taken. Let's go," Bella apologized. She stepped her speed up to
that of the rest of the group, and they separated down the hall to go to
their respective classes.
-----------
|
|
posted on 18-May-2002 1:54:55 AM by *CindyLouWho*
| Bella, Kaleb, Lia and Parker met after last period to go to Bella's house.
Since Kaleb and Parker had both brought the family cars to school, the four
of them decided that Kaleb and Bella were going to take 'Bob', the old Jeep
that his father had passed down to him, and Parker and Lia were going to take
'Sally', a Ford mustang that had been their parents first car after they got
married.
As they walked to the separate cars, Kaleb looked at Bella, "Hop in
Bob."
Bella sighed, "I don't know what's sicker...your dad naming his jeep Bob, or
the fact that after 18 years and being passed down a generation, you guys
STILL call it that."
"Hey don't be dissing Bob...Bob's the best," Kaleb chastised her.
Bella looked up at the sky, "Men and their cars."
"Just get in," Kaleb shook his head smiling. The two of them drove for ten
minutes listening to the radio and just feeling the wind blow past and not
noticing the world around them. As they pulled into Bella's driveway, Bella
noticed Parker and Lia pulling in right behind them. She couldn't put off
thinking about it any longer. Time to make her friends believe she wasn't a
raving lunatic. Bella unlocked the door, and everyone filed into the house.
"So what's this urgent meeting all about? You and Kaleb elope or something?"
Lia asked playfully.
Bella smacked her upside the head, "Aren't YOU the quippy one today?"
"Well, you were in the eraser room today," Lia defended herself.
"Now, Lia...Bella and I having mad, passionate, lustful sex in school is NONE
of your business," Kaleb laughed.
"Dammit...where was I and how did I miss us having mad, passionate, lustful
sex? Next time please inform me beforehand, ok?" Bella teased back.
Kaleb responded, "Will do."
"So is there a reason why you called us here or was it just to bear witness
to your sexually repressed banter?" Parker asked as the four took their usual
places. Lia sat on the back of the armchair, Parker sat on the floor, and
Bella and Kaleb took the couch. "Because I gotta tell ya, I see enough of
that DURING school hours."
"I TOTALLY agree," Lia piped up.
"Well that's a first," Bella exclaimed.
"No, I mean I want to know what the meeting was about, bell," Lia clarified,
realizing Bella had thought she had been agreeing with the repressed sexual
banter comment.
"But whatever...yes, Parker, you big charmer you, there WAS a reason we
wanted to see you guys...it's about that new girl Lia was showing
around...Darla."
Lia still didn't understand where this was heading, "What about her? I
thought she was nice."
"Gotta break from tradition and agree with my sister on this one...I thought
she was ok, too," Parker said nonchalantly.
"So then you didn't get a...weird feeling from her?" Kaleb asked, a little
confused. Why would he and Bella get these feelings and not the rest of the
group?
"No, why? Will you get to the point already?" Lia was getting frustrated.
"Bella...well, she's been having these dreams...these nightmares...and.."
Kaleb started to explain.
Bella took over, "And they feel SO real...and when I touched Darla today...I
got that same feeling...like the one from my dream. That fear."
"And I felt it too," Kaleb backed her up, "Like we shouldn't trust her for
some reason."
"Why didn't you tell me you were having nightmares? Were they nightmares or
visions?" Lia was skeptical.
Bella was a little defensive and hurt at Lia's mistrust, "I didn't tell
anyone. I don't know what they were."
Parker snorted, "Well you OBVIOUSLY told Kaleb...big surprise there."
"But not me," Lia was hurt.
"Listen, she didn't TELL me, and STOP attacking her. I asked because I could
see that she was upset, so just drop it!" Kaleb was furious at how they were
treating her...she was already upset enough.
Bella was wondering how they had gotten so far off track, "Guys! Just
stop...this is ridiculous. Lia, I didn't tell you because I didn't want to
talk about it, ok? I only talked to Kaleb because he was there after the
first dream. I didn't ask you guys here so that we would fight...I just
thought...I just thought that you should know what we both felt and that we
should be careful."
"I'm sorry, Bell. I know you didn't mean to hurt me. We got way off track.
Why would you get these feelings and Parker and I didn't? There's something
weird going on here. Is she dangerous or isn't she?" Lia questioned.
Bella sighed, "I just don't know." She was exhausted from the emotional day
she had had.
"I think that's enough, guys...Parker, Lia...why don't we all go home? Let's
think on this and meet up again tomorrow. In the meantime, I think it would
be better to err on the side of caution. No one trust Darla until we can
figure this thing out. Agreed?" Kaleb asked.
"Sounds good to me. What about Jezzy?" Lia asked.
"I'll call her later," Bella responded.
Parker still thought they were being silly, "I still think you guys are
overreacting, but I'll go along with the plan. No biggie to me either way."
Kaleb smiled, "Great. We're agreed. Let's go home. Bella, what time did
you say your parents were getting home again?"
"Not until late...Mom left some food in the fridge for me...I think. Why?"
Bella had a hunch what he was going to ask.
"I just thought you shouldn't be alone right now. How bout you come over to
my house for a while? If nothing else, it will force my parents to take a
break from that incessant screwing." Kaleb pleaded.
"I knew there was a selfish motive in there somewhere," Bella laughed.
"Sure, don't I always help you out like that?"
"Great," Kaleb said, "Get your stuff and let's go."
"Awww, that's sweet. Thank goodness I have homework. Did I just say that?"
Parker laughed.
"Yes, you did, and we are leaving them alone. C'mon let's go," Lia pulled
her brother out the door.
Kaleb shook his head as he watched them leave, "Bella, I'm sure my mom would
love for you to stay for dinner anyway."
"Anything's better than frozen pizza. Besides, I love your parents, too,"
Bella said, "So let me get my coat on and lock up." The entire time Bella
took getting ready to leave four little words kept surfacing through her
brain, 'Friendship, what a bitch."
-------------------
Kaleb unlocked the front door and screamed up the stairs, trying to ignore
all the moans, yelps, and squeals coming from upstairs, "MOM! DAD! BELLA'S
HERE!!"
Bella heard the sound of someone falling on the floor, followed by giggling,
and a "We'll be down in a minute," coming from his mom.
"How subtle," Bella giggled. "They never stop, do they," It was a statement,
not a question. Bella already knew that Kaleb's parents rivaled her own in
their affection for one another. But being that she was a girl, her parents
tried to hide it better.
"I'm so used to it, I don't even really care anymore. It's
almost...tolerable...at this point," Kaleb commented.
"Kaleb, honey, we thought you'd decided to stay after school. Hi, Bella.
Why didn't you call and tell us Bella was coming over?" As she came down the
stairs, Liz was still flushed and looked thoroughly tousled, but more
embarrassed for Bella than she was for herself.
Kaleb smiled at his flustered mother. “It was kindof a…last minute thing.” He answered, trying to make his mother think he DIDN’T know what had been going up a couple of minutes earlier. “Hope it’s ok.”
“Of course it’s ok!” Liz exclaimed as she embraced Bella in a warm hug. “Missed you, sweetie.” She said as she released her goddaughter from her arms.
Liz looked at the girl in front of her for a moment, noting how grown up Bella had become. She was the perfect combination of both Michael and Maria, not only in looks but in personality. She had Maria’s lips and skin, and Michael’s soulful eyes…although the soft gray coloring of them was unique to Bella alone. She had Maria’s spunk and humor as well as Michael’s stubbornness and affinity for the arts. There was no wonder Kaleb was so smitten with the tiny girl. She was quite special. Liz smiled and, tucking a stray piece of dark hard behind her ear, turned to her son. “You have to bring Bella around here more often, Kaleb. I don’t see her nearly enough. You know your father feels the same way.”
Bella was touched by Liz’s affection towards her. She always felt so loved in the Evans home. “I missed you too, Liz.” She grinned. “I promise to come by more often…even if I have to kick your son’s sorry but at PlayStation every afternoon.” Bella laughed at Kaleb’s mock anger at her statement.
“Kick MY butt? Excuse me…that’s just because I LET you win!” He retorted.
Liz chuckled at the interaction between Bella and her son. That girl sure WAS her parents…no question about it.
Bella scoffed. “Let me win? Yeah right…if letting me win includes throwing a tantrum because “Your controller is broken” and “you sneezed so we have to start over”.”
“My controller WAS broken and I had a cold that day and when I…”
“Kaleb…Bella…you two behave or I’ll have to bring out the hose.” Liz reprimanded through her laughter.
“Your mother is right, Kaleb…fighting is no way to solve a disagreement.” Bella smiled evilly. “We’ll settle this like calm, rational people…RACE YOU TO THE PLAYSTATION!!!!” She yelled as she bolted up the stairs towards Kaleb’s room.
Kaleb sighed and smiled at his mother. “Just another day in Bella land.” He chuckled before following his rambunctious friend up to his room.
Max passed by Kaleb going up the stairs on his was down to join Liz. When Max reached his wife he looked at her with raised eyebrows. “What was that about?”
“Remember how much sexual tension there was between Maria and Michael before they got together?” Liz asked.
“How could I NOT. They were bickering and stealing lustful glances at each other every five seconds.” Max grinned.
“Yeah…well let’s just say that history is definitely repeating itself in our son and Bella Guerin.”
“Ah…to be young and emotionally retarded.” Max joked, receiving a light smack on the arm from Liz, who was desperately trying to contain her laughter.
“Hey…we’ve all been there.” Liz rationalized.
Max pulled her against his body and ran his hand through her silky chocolate hair. “Yeah…” He said in a breathy whisper. “But I’m glad we’re not anymore.”
Liz leaned up to her beautiful husband and met her lips to his. He smelled just the same as when they had their very first kiss. And 20 years later they still had the same passion and love towards each other as on day one.
Max cupped the back of Liz’s head, deepening the kiss and tasting the recesses of her mouth. He was rewarded by a low moan in the back of Liz’s throat. God, that woman drove him wild!
“MOM!!!” Kaleb called from upstairs. “What time’s dinner?”
Liz reluctantly broke away from Max’s embrace with a sigh. “Seven o’clock, Kaleb.” She replied while trying to catch her breath.
Max pouted. “And parenthood rears its ugly head.” He chuckled.
“Later.” Liz whispered before giving Max one more quick kiss and walking past him into the kitchen.
-------------------
"Oh my God, this is so cool!" Darla said happily "I can't believe you're
Jacinda Valenti's daughter. She is one of my favorite actresses." She paused
and looked around "I love this car!"
Jezebel smiled. Darla was a little overeager, but she seemed nice enough.
Maybe she'd be quieter once she got settled.
"So, tell me all about your friends." Darla continued "They seem so nice!"
"Well, where to begin?" Jezebel said. She didn't know why, but she felt a
strange urge to tell this new girl all about her friends and family. She knew
she couldn't, though, and she pushed it out of her mind. "Well, all my
friends are also my cousins. "Lia and Parker are my aunt Isabel and uncle
Alex's kids. Lia's a sweetie." She paused and laughed "And Parker's an idiot.
Bella is my best friend. Her mom is my dad's stepsister Maria, and her dad is
my parents' friend from high school. She's usually bonkers like me, you just
caught her on an off day. Kaleb is my uncle Max and aunt Liz's kid. Max is my
mom's brother, and they used to bicker all the time. As for Kaleb and myself,
let's just say it runs in the family. Bella is completely obsessed with
Kaleb, and it's VERY mutual. But she's in denial, and that's also mutual.
Needless to say, we tease them mercilessly."
Darla giggled "Okay, let me see if I've got it. It's Bella, Kaleb, Lia, and
Parker. Bella and Kaleb are in love with each other, but haven't admitted it.
Right?"
Jezebel nodded "Yeah, you're in the know." She pulled her car into the
driveway "Here we are. Mom's home, come on in, I'll introduce you to her."
She could have sworn she saw a flash of anger in Darla's eyes at the mention
of her mother, but if she did it was quickly replaced by her usual
cheeriness. She shook it off and got out of the car. Darla followed her up to
the front door "Mom?" Jezebel called "I'm home!"
"Hi, sweetie!" Jacinda called from the living room. She came into the hallway
to greet her daughter "Oh, I didn't know you were bringing a friend home with
you."
"Darla just started school today." Jezebel explained "She doesn't know many
people yet, so I thought it would be nice to have her over. Plus she really
wanted to meet you."
"Mrs. Valenti, it is so cool to meet you!" Darla gushed, shaking Jacinda's
hand "I'm such a big fan, I've seen all of your movies!"
"Both of them?" Jacinda asked, laughing
"Don't be so modest, you're an amazing actress." Darla continued "I was so
disappointed when you retired from acting a few years ago."
"That's very kind." Jacinda said. Suddenly, a strange flash hit her. It
happened so quickly, she couldn't make out any of it. But there was no
mistaking the shiver that ran down her spine. She wavered a little and closed
her eyes.
"Mom, are you okay?" Jezebel asked
Jacinda nodded "Yeah, I'm fine, I think I just need to lie down."
Jezebel put her hand on her mother's arm "Should I call Daddy?"
"No, it's nothing." Jacinda said "It was nice to meet you, Darla." She turned
and made her way up the stairs.
"Wow, is there a full moon tonight?" Jezebel wondered out loud "I can excuse
my mom for acting weird, she's knocked up. But Bella? Maybe she and Kaleb had
some fun in the eraser room after all?" She sighed and rolled her eyes
"Anyway, you wanna watch some TV or something?
"Yeah, okay!" Darla agreed "Lead the way."
__________
"Jez, it's Bell. Did I wake you?"
Jezebel groaned "No, Bell, of course not. It's three AM. I was awake."
"Yeah, I thought so." Bella said "How did it go with Darla?"
"Not bad." Jezebel replied "She's a little overeager, in a suck-up kinda way,
but then again, she's new."
"Oh..."
"Oh?" Jezebel repeated "Hell's Bells, how is that an 'oh?'"
"Dammit!" Bella groaned "I mean, am I crazy? No, I can't be crazy, because
Kaleb feels it, too...but what if he's just saying that to make me feel
better? Maybe I imagined the whole thing, maybe-"
"Bella!" Jezebel interrupted. She then slapped her hand over her mouth and
listened for a moment to be sure she hadn't woken her parents up. She then
continued in a low voice "Bell, take off the Maria hat for a moment and stop
babbling! What's wrong?"
"It's Darla." Bella said "She gives me this bad feeling...when I touched
her...Kaleb said he felt it, too. I just think we should be careful about
trusting her too much...something's not right..."
Jezebel said "Mom reacted to her kinda weird, too. Maybe you're right. We'll
keep an eye on her."
"Thanks, Jez." Bella said "For trusting me, I mean. I feel so...not me."
"It's okay, Bell." Jezebel assured her. She sighed "I gotta go, I woke up the
parental units."
"How can you tell?" Bella asked
"I can hear." Jezebel said
"Okay, ewww. I so feel your pain." Bella said "I should get some sleep,
anyway."
"Sweet dreams..." Jezebel giggled "...of Kaleb...doing, naughty, naughty
things to you..."
"Jezebel!" Bella gasped "Goodnight!"
"Okay, okay." Jezebel sighed "Night, babe." She hung up the phone and pulled
a pillow over her head, rolling her eyes.
___________
|
|
posted on 18-May-2002 2:00:00 AM by *CindyLouWho*
| "I'm beginning to like this waking up in the middle of the night for some
action thing," Kyle held Jacinda in his arms. "Too bad we've both got to
work in the morning."
"You would ruin the whole moment. You're right, we should go to sleep,"
Jacinda watched Kyle closing his eyes. Now that she was awake, she wasn't
ready to go back to bed. She felt like there was something she was supposed
to be doing, but what? It had to do with that girl her daughter brought
home. She just knew it. "Damn intuition," she muttered, turning over.
"Angel, are you still awake?" Kyle muttered.
"Yeah, go back to sleep." Jacinda said "I'm okay, I think I'm just having
some kind of...hormonal thing."
"Okay, if you're sure." Kyle said.
"Yeah." Jacinda replied. She waited a minute, then picked up the phone on the
bedside table and went into the bathroom and shut the door. She turned the
phone on and dialed Max and Liz's number. She waited anxiously for someone
to pick up the phone.
Liz rolled over sleepily and answered on the third ring, "Maria, what is it?"
"It's not Maria," Jacinda told her.
"Jacey, is that you? It's 3 am?" Liz was startled into alertness. Jacinda
almost never called in the middle of the night. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure. I've been getting these feelings lately, that something's
going to go terribly wrong if I don't stop it. But I'm not sure what it is
I'm supposed to stop," Jacinda babbled.
"Well, I trust your gut. I don't know if that helps any. I've been having a
lot of weird dreams as well. Nightmares, really. Of high school and, um,
you know who," Liz said cryptically, as though saying the person's name might
bring that person back into her life. A situation she didn't want to be in
no matter what.
Jacinda continued, "Me too. And then, the weirdest thing happened today.
Jezebel brought a new girl over from school. She looked nothing like you
know who, but I got the same shiver up my spine that I do when you know who
is around."
"Maybe this all means something. Hold on, I'll wake Max up and have him pick
up the extension," Liz started touching Max's earlobe with her tongue. It
had the desired effect. "Honey, Jacinda is on the phone."
"Ok...you CANNOT do something like that and then mention my SISTER!" Max
groaned. "Tell her we're busy and to go back to sleep," He started kissing
her neck.
"Max, she's...really...upset. Pick...up the phone," Liz got out the last
word with a triumphant smile. He still made her melt completely when he so
much as touched her after all these years, and she had a hard time keeping a
coherent thought.
Max growled to himself, "Jacinda this had better be important. We'll pick up
where we left off after she gives me a good explanation for calling at 3 am."
He looked at Liz meaningfully and then looked around for the cordless phone.
Finding it on the dresser, he picked up the extension. "What's up?"
Jacinda got straight to the point, "I'm having dreams again. and
feelings...you know how my feelings are always right? well now...I feel
danger...for everyone."
Max asked the obvious question, "Anything specific?"
"Not specific enough for me to pinpoint a time and place if that's what you
mean. But they involve a new girl in Jezebel's class somehow. Her name was
Darla, I think," Jacinda grasped at straws.
"I wonder if Kaleb knows this new girl," Max thought out loud.
"Have you talked to Jezebel about your concerns yet?" Liz asked.
Jacinda responded, "No, I didn't want to worry her."
"Maybe we could all do some fishing without letting them know why we're
interested," Liz suggested.
"Right, cause if it's related to you know who, she'll be sure to drop us some
clues," Jacinda agreed. "The kids might not realize they were clues, but
she'd make it something we'd find out pretty easily."
Max questioned, "Who is this you know who you're talking about?"
"Max, you have to ask?" Jacinda sighed, "I've been having dreams about a
certain person who left town because of you two."
"Ohhhh. You don't really think after all these years she'd pick now to come
after us?" Max was incredulous.
Jacinda said very quietly, "I don't know why she would pick now. Wait, I do
have a theory. Max, how old is Kaleb?"
"Seventeen, the same as Jezebel. You know that?" Max answered.
"And how old were you when you chose Liz over..you know who? How old were
you when she left?" Jacinda led him to what she believed to be the proper
conclusion.
"Seventeen," Max said quietly, understanding what Jacinda was getting at.
Liz couldn't believe someone would do something for that cheesy a reason,
"But why would she come back just because Kaleb is the same age Max was?
That doesn't make any sense."
"Look at who we're talking about. Was intelligence EVER her strong suit?"
Jacinda laughed.
"Point taken," Liz laughed with her.
"But power was," Max reminded them quietly. "Intelligent or not, she could
still be a formidable enemy."
"Right, so we'll talk to Kaleb, and you talk to Jezebel, and we'll talk again
after we get new info," Liz said.
Jacinda pleaded, "Just once could you let someone else do the planning? Ok,
this is a good plan, but maybe next time, just once someone else could take
charge?"
"Sure, next time if you have a good plan, we'll do it. Talk to you later?"
Liz asked.
Jacinda agreed, "Yup, bye."
"Bye," Liz hung up the phone, and allowed Max's arms to envelop her. She
desperately needed some comforting right now.
--------------
Kaleb looked over at Parker standing next to him on the volleyball court. Kaleb HATED Wednesdays…and LOVED them. Wednesdays, Kaleb had gym. Gym was co-ed…and inter-grade. So he had class with Parker…and Bella. It was…interesting.
Sure, he loved being able to watch Bella in her little gym shorts and tank top on the other side of the net trying as hard as she could to play volleyball…and failing miserably. She was always so adorable when she missed the ball and pouted with frustration.
But Kaleb DIDN’T love how Parker would always give him such a friggin hard time about Bella. As much as Kaleb tried to hide it, Parker always seemed to know when he was watching her. Today was no different.
Well…actually, today WAS different. Today Kaleb had noticed that Parker was also watching someone.
Corinne King…or Corey, as she was known by everyone in school. She was a sophomore like Bella and Parker. Kaleb knew her because she was in several classed with Bella. Corey was a very sweet girl…but shy and quiet. She was pretty but not ‘slap you in the face gorgeous’. Basically, the complete polar opposite of what Parker was and what he had always seemed interested in.
That’s why, when Kaleb had first noticed Parker staring at her, he’d thought he was mistaken. But as the period went on, Kaleb became sure he knew the look in Parker’s eyes.
Parker Whitman had a crush. ‘And the shoe is finally on the other foot.’ Kaleb chuckled to himself.
“Ahhhhh!!!” Bella yelled from across the court as she missed the ball and spun around landing on the floor in a heap on her butt. Her scream was followed by fits of hysterical laughter.
“Graceful there, Bell!” Parker yelled to her from the other side of the net.
“Practicin that one all week…glad you liked it.” She joked back still in hysterics.
“Here…” Corey offered her hand to Bella to help her up. “I give it a 9.2. Excellent form, but slightly lacking in difficulty.” She smiled as she pulled Bella up from the floor.
“I’m maintaining my amateur status so that I can participate in the ‘falling on your ass Olympics’.” Bella smiled back at her acquaintance.
Kaleb watched Parker as he stared at Corey helping Bella up. The cold sarcastic look that had been in his eyes when he was teasing Bella had left and in its place was a warmth that Kaleb didn’t think he’s ever seen in Parker. ‘Wow…he really has it bad.’ Kaleb mused.
“You alright, Bell?” Kaleb called to his slightly frazzled friend.
“Yeah…just filling my falling quota for the week.” She replied with a warm grin. “You know how it goes.”
“Good.” Parker interjected, the old ‘ice king’ look back in his eyes. “Well if you’re all settled them GAME ON!!!” He yelled.
‘Same old Parker.’ Kaleb sighed to himself as he resumed his stance on the court.
----------------
“Your girl’s got the motor skills of a retarded three year old.” Parker teased Kaleb once they had reached the locker room.
“First of all,” Kaleb eyed his friend. “She’s NOT my girl…she’s my FRIEND. And your friend…so you shouldn’t talk about her like that. And second of all…volleyball just isn’t her thing. You know Bella…she’s an ‘I don’t run unless someone’s chasin me’ kindof girl. She can draw and sing better than half the school, though…so leave her alone.” Kaleb said in a defensive rush. It always bothered him how callous Parker could be.
“Yeah…whatever.” Parker mumbled as he pulled his shirt on over his head.
“And anyway…” Kaleb continued. “Speaking of girls…it sure was nice of YOUR girl to help Bella up when she fell.”
Parker got defensive, "MY girl? Either I'm Macaulay Culkin or you've been
doing masses doses of hallucinogens...because I don’t believe I have 'a girl'."
"If that's the way you want to play it," Kaleb grinned mischievously. "I
wonder how a certain Corinne King would feel about finding a bouquet of roses
in her locker signed by none other than Parker Whitman."
"About as good as a certain Bella Guerin would feel about finding an
invitation to make out in the Eraser Room signed by Kaleb Evans," Parker
wasn't afraid of blackmail. Not where his feelings for Corey were concerned.
"You wouldn't freak Bella out like that. Not even you would be that cold,"
Kaleb shrank back, trying to shrug off the image of him and Bella making out
in the Eraser Room.
Parker snickered, "Oh...I don't think she'd mind."
"Parker, I give in, I'll stop. No more comments about the way Corey was
looking at you in gym class," Kaleb promised.
Parker dropped his guard for a second, "She was looking at me in gym class?"
"Oh Yeah...very nonchalant Parker. Good job acting like you don't care,"
Kaleb smirked.
Parker blushed, "Just shut up. I have to get to class." He got up and
started walking out of the locker room.
"Tell Corey I say hi, and think twice before you make fun of me about Bella
again!" Kaleb yelled after him, laughing.
---------------
Kaleb walked out of the locker room doors and spotted Bella walking a few feet in front of him. Coming up behind her he draped his arm over her shoulder (a typical “friend” gesture for them but a pleasure he delighted in nevertheless) and bent down to whisper in her ear.
“Guess who’s in love?” He asked softly.
Bella sighed at the feel of Kaleb’s body so close to hers and his warm breath on her face. She’d felt his presence the moment he’d come up behind her. “Me.” She mumbled to herself.
Kaleb pulled away and looked at her face questioningly. ‘Did she just say…Naw.’ “Huh?” He asked puzzled.
“Oh…nothing.” She answered quickly. “So who’s in love?”
Pulling his arm off her shoulder and turning to face her he smiled answering
"Parker Whitman...the ice king himself."
Bella's eyes widened and her jaw dropped "You're kidding, right?" She broke
out in a wide grin.
"I kid you not." Kaleb replied "With Corey King, no less. Who would’ve thought?"
"Well, not ME." Bella said
"So, what class are you going to now?" Kaleb asked. He knew what class she
had, but didn't want to seem like a stalker.
"Study hall." Bella replied "You?"
"I heard Mike Cooper say we have a substitute for Lit. Wanna get some food
from the Crashdown?" Kaleb offered
"Sure." Bella accepted "I've got this insane craving for an alien blast." She smiled inwardly at her innuendo.
"Yeah." Kaleb said "I could go for one those myself."
--------------
The rest of the day was uneventful, as was the better part of Thursday. Darla
had been absent since Monday, and although it worried Bella and Kaleb that
she was nowhere to be seen, at the same time they were glad they didn't have
to think about her for a little while. It was Thursday afternoon before any
of them thought about her again.
They were all at Jezebel's house after school to use the swimming pool. The
weather had been usually warm for early spring lately, and today had been
especially hot.
The back door opened and Jacinda stepped out "Jezebel, Josh is here."
"Great, send him out, would you?" Jezebel replied
"Sure." Jacinda said
"Thanks." Jezebel turned to Parker and Kaleb "I invited him. Deal with it."
"I'm gonna go get a soda." Parker said. He stood up and went inside. He had
just opened the refrigerator when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it." He called
to Jacinda. He opened the front door.
"Hi, Parker!" Corey said brightly
"Um...um...hey." Parker stammered
"Corey!" Bella yelled, running up behind Parker. "Good to see you! Glad you
could make it."
"Thanks." Corey replied
"You can go change in the guest house, then head out back where everyone else
is." Bella told her.
"Okay, great." Corey said. She went off, leaving Parker standing there
slackjawed in front of the open door.
Bella gave him an innocent smile "Something wrong, Parker? Come on now, you
know Kaleb tells me everything. Pay back's a bitch, my dear."
"Really?" Kaleb asked, shutting the door "Are you two related?"
"Shut up, you know you love me." Bella giggled, running for the back door
"And anyway, this is gonna be fun!" Outside, she ran up to Jezebel and Kaleb
"Guess who's here?"
Jezebel grinned wickedly "I know. This is gonna be great."
"How does she know?" Kaleb asked
"Kaleb, darling, you know I can't keep anything from Jezebel." Bella said,
batting her eyes "Just like YOU can't keep anything from ME." She grabbed the
hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head.
"Chill, Kaleb." Jezebel said, noticing the look on his face "She's wearing a
bathing suit under her clothes. And even if she wasn't it's nothing you've
never seen."
"Don't be so sure." Kaleb said under his breath, staring at Bella's cute
yellow bikini.
Jezebel rolled her eyes as she stood up and pulled her sundress over her
head, revealing a white bikini similar to Bella's. The two girls walked off,
chatting.
Josh came up behind Kaleb, watching the girls with interest "Nice." He was
talking about Jezebel, but Kaleb misunderstood him.
"Don't talk about Bella like that!" He snapped "Don't look at her like that!
God...you're...she's...NO!" He stormed off.
"What's with him?" Parker asked, walking up to Josh.
"Wow..." Josh said "He's really got it bad for Bella, huh?"
"And we finally agree on something." Parker observed.
"I was talking about Jezebel." Josh explained "She looks really hot-"
"And we're back to disagreeing." Parker interrupted.
"Hey!" Corey said, emerging in her lavender one-piece suit.
"Hey." Parker said "Um...I gotta...go...over there."
Josh shrugged and caught up with Jezebel. He wrapped his arms around her
from behind and pulled her against him, pressing his lips against the back of
her neck.
"Mmm." She purred, leaning into his embrace. "Hey, baby."
"Your cousins have issues." He told her
She nodded, turning around and running her hands through his hair "Well, duh.
Are we talking about any in particular?"
"Well, Kaleb is in love with Bella, no?" Josh asked, whispering the words
right in her ear. His breath against her skin made her eyes drift shut and
she moaned softly.
"Uh-huh." She managed to breathe.
"And she's in love with him, right?" Josh continued, nipping at her throat
gently.
"Yeah." Jezebel said "They're both so blind." She was feeling a little blind
herself at that moment. Her world had shrunk to just the two of them.
"And Parker," Josh went on, kissing her neck lightly as he spoke "Is so
obviously head over heels with that Corey girl. Your family has some serious
repressed emotions, you know that?"
"Yeah, I know." Jezebel managed to gasp out. She pulled him down to her and
kissed him, completely forgetting that her cousins were right there. He
deepened the kiss, and she felt like she was on fire, like she was falling.
Then she realized that she WAS falling. With a shriek and a few curses, she
tumbled into the pool with Josh. They came up, sputtering and coughing.
"Bella!" Jezebel shouted.
"Sorry!" Bella giggled "You guys looked like you needed to cool off a little!"
"I'll get you for that, bitch!" Jezebel grinned wickedly and grabbed her
cousin's leg, pulling her into the water.
Bella squealed as she hit the cold water. Corey laughed at the scene and
jumped in, followed by Lia, Kaleb, and Parker.
As everyone jumped in, splashing around, Bella grabbed the volleyball from
where it was hanging on the net over the shallow end of the pool and threw it
at Kaleb's head.
"Water volleyball!" She called out, laughing.
"Bella, you can't even play REAL volleyball." Parker teased. Bella stuck out
her tongue at him.
"How do you play water volleyball?" Corey asked
"It's like regular volleyball." Jezebel explained, splashing Josh as he
playfully tugged at the strings on her bikini top. "Except the girls get on
the guys' shoulders."
"And since there's an uneven number of guys and girls, once again the cheese
stands alone." Lia said under her breath. Out loud she said "I'm gonna get
out and get that book I have to read for school, it's supposed to be done by
tomorrow."
"I didn't realize." Bella said softly, swimming over to Lia "I'm sorry, |
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