Love Bites

A Difficult Situation

I quickly drew a cigarette out of the new box I had received from Emmett. Even simply holding it in my hands, calmed me a bit. It had been too long, it felt like my head was going to explode.

"Aspen put down the cigarette. Please?" Alice snatched the cigarette out of my hand and placed it on the table in front of the couch we sat on. "I don't even know why Emmett got you those cancer sticks." Her voice was laced with utter disgust.

I rolled my eyes at her dramatics. "Maybe because I was on the verge of a mental breakdown?"

"And you're not now?" She asked.

"I won't be once I light this." I picked the cigarette back up.

"We're in a hotel." Jasper reminded me.

"Then let me leave." I shrugged. "I'll make it quick, I swear." I was mostly pleading with Alice since I didn't give a damn what Jasper had to say.

"I'll go outside with her." Bella offered. Although I knew Alice wouldn't go for it I nodded enthusiastically.

"And how could you possibly protect her?" Alice snapped. Bella flinched at the harshness of her tone. "Sorry, I didn't..." Alice sighed. "Aspen, could you just go without smoking for a little while longer?"

In efforts to not stress Alice out more than I already was, I surrendered. "Fine."

"Thank you." Alice smiled sarcastically.

"Why is this happening to me?" I groaned.

Bella sat down right next to me. "It's not just happening to you. I'm right here with you."

"Is that supposed to be comforting?" I rolled my eyes. It was just making me feel guilty that Alice and I got her into this mess. She wasn't James's initial target. I was.

"Well, that's how I intended it." Bella shrugged. "Can I hug you?"

I crinkled my nose. There was no way in hell that Bella would be a good hugger. She didn't even seem too keen on the idea of physical touch anyway. "You're odd."

"You're not too normal either." Bella retorted.

"If you agree to help me sneak out I'll give you a hug." I nudged her with my shoulder.

"Deal." Bella wrapped her arms around me. I was right, the hug was awkward but it did make me feel better.

"We can hear you." Jasper pointed out.

Bella and I ignored him. "We'll figure something out. I promise."

I pulled away from Bella's hug and slumped against the couch. "Hopefully soon. I just might die."

"That's not funny," Alice mumbled.

A smile came across my face. "I never said it was." Alice just glared at me in response. I grabbed the box of cigarettes. "You're more stressed than I am. You might need one of these."

"You're stressing me out," Alice whined.

"Am I?" I gasped.

"Do you get a kick out of this?" She asked.

"I'm afraid I do." I laughed.

A smile briefly touched Alice's lips before she frowned. "I'm sorry I dragged you in to all of this."

"You technically didn't know that all of this would happen." I wasn't as angry as I could've and maybe should've been.

"I should've known. What kind of twisted bullshit is this? I can see everyone's future but yours?" Alice ranted. "I can only feel bits and pieces of it, leaving everything else to the imagination."