Falling To The Sun | B. Swan + E. Cullen

trente-neuf

Sweat bead against her brow and Roman was aware of her hands touching her, hands that were her friends and familiar and innocent as she danced and moved to a pop-rock rhythm. It was a moment of teenage stupidity and recklessness that she wasn't going to regret later no matter how many looks they might level her with.

Because it was bad enough to most of them that she was dating two people, that she was poly and bi in a small town and dancing like she was, even with friends, might seem a bit trashy and, well, loose, but they could bite her.

The music shifts, the bass pounding in her ears, rushing through her blood, and Roman turns, eyes fluttering as she tugged close by Lauren, the other girl singing along to the words in her ears.

Lauren was snotty and snobbish at times, incredibly rude at others, but she was a good friend when it all came down to it -- or, well, she was a good friend to Roman, and that was enough to let her overlook the gossip and ridiculous remarks that the girl would occasionally mutter in contempt.

"Looks like your girl is in need of a little help," Lauren shouts,  speaking over the music.

Roman spins, searching over the heads for Bella. She was by the stairs, cornered by Jacob and his friends and something bitter and ugly reared in her heart.

She hated that boy. She hated him more than anything in the world, the terrible thing that he was, she wanted to bare him from the house and push him down the stairs -- maybe hit him with his own car.

Excusing herself, she pushes through the party, not bothering with apologies as she quite literally shoves at people.

Alice appears, Bella, curing to her side. Jasper stands between them, gaze terrifying as he levels it on Jacob and the wolves. Quil and Embry, she can tell now that she's closer.

Ugh, sheeple. those two would literally follow their friend anywhere, it seemed, even to the home of their apparent sworn enemies. How they could go along with whatever Jacob wanted all the time was beyond her.

Stumbling once her way was free of bodies, she shoved by the wolves, grunting as her elbows hit hard. There would be bruises tomorrow, likely, but that was the least of her problems.

"For fu-- Move, idiots!" Roman snaps, slipping by barely to nearly trip over her own feet. Jasper catches her easily, maneuvering her around so she was behind him close to Bella shielded by him and Alice. "What the hell is going on?"

No one answers, the tense scene making her itch in a way she couldn't quite explain.

Alice's facewas suddenly thoughtful.

"It's okay, Jasper. He actually has a point."

Jasper did not relax his position. Neither did Jacob. Roman huffs.

"What did you see, Alice?" Bella asks, ignoring the others, and she turns to the psychic in interest.

She stared at Jacob for one second, and then turned to Bella, evidently having chosen to let them hear.

"The decision's been made."

"You're going to Seattle?"

"No."

"They're coming here," Bella chokes out. She's reaching for her immediately, not understanding her fear but wanting to do her best to soothe it regardless.

"What's happening?"

They ignore her.

"Yes," Alice says.

"To Forks?"

"Yes."

"For?"

Alice nods, dropping her head as she speaks to Bella in an unnecessarily low voice. "One was carrying your red blouse. Another had Roman's bra."