Cut me a real piece ch 3

I groaned slightly, rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, before taking a sip of my coffee, which also happened to be my third one that morning. I knew I shouldn't have stayed out so late last night, and I was paying for it now.

"Late night eh Bells?" Jacob chuckled from across the table. I'd been surprised to see him up this early. Actually I'd been surprised to see him at our apartment so early on a Monday morning, usually he didn't stay over on Sunday nights seeing as Ren, like me, had an early class, and Jake had to be at his class reasonably early too.

I made a noncommittal noise between a grunt and a groan, before taking another big sip of coffee. I wasn't a morning person on a good day, and seeing as I didn't make it back home til late, well late for a Sunday night, my mood was even sourer than usual.

"You might want to take it easy with the coffee, caffeine is a serious drug."

To which I replied so maturely with, "and you might want to bite me," which just made Jake laugh harder. I narrowed my eyes, more irritated than usual by him laughing at me,

"What did you, like, break in through a window so you could drink all our coffee and eat all our bagels, or are you here to do some lovey dovey couply crap like surprising Ren with a bouquet of flowers or chocolate or chocolate covered flowers incrusted with love heart shaped candy?"

After Jake was done guffawing loudly, he wiped a tear of laughter from his eye and replied,

"Wow you are in a mood, and obviously haven't bumped into my dear sister this morning either,"

He took a sip of his coffee, but after noticing my raised eyebrow and serious expression; he swallowed his mouthful, shrugged and answered,

"I've moved in."

"No, you haven't."

Leah appeared from her room, looking almost as tired and grumpy as I was. I was betting this was the reason for Leah's outburst at the pie shop yesterday. Jacob rolled his eyes before raising his coffee to his lips, and before taking a sip asked,

"Good morning Leah, sleep well?"

"No," she answered curtly, walking over to the kitchen bench and pouring herself some java, "the little bombshell you and Ren dropped on me last night had me all worked up, so no I didn't have a good night, but I will tonight once you get your crap out of my apartment and move back in with Emmett, and if when you're older and more mature and still want to play house with Ren then by all means go find a place of your own." She finished her rant, sat down at the table next to me then took a big sip of her coffee and opened the newspaper and buried her head behind it, signalling the end of the conversation.

Oh yes, I could tell already that today was going to be interesting.

Xx

After my last class of the day, instead of going and hanging out at the little coffee shop just of campus like most of the people in my class did, I headed back to the apartment in hope of some peace and quiet. But of course world war three was going on in the living room, and I was pretty sure one of the Black siblings were about to get their butt kicked, and I was pretty sure I knew which one was.

"What the hell? I thought I told you to move your crap, not unpack and leave your shit everywhere. This is not a frat house, and I am not, I repeat NOT going to put up with this!"

Leah and Jacob were standing on either sides of the living room, with Ren hovering somewhere between, conflicted as to which side to take. On one hand there was Leah, her best friend and roommate and on the other hand there was Jacob, her boyfriend and, uh, I guess roommate? I wasn't really sure what was going on, I was trying to be just an innocent bystander and stay at the kitchen table, editing my classmate's short story and not get caught up in the drama. But of course it didn't help that Leah started to drag me into it.

"And anyway," Leah started, glancing at me as I tried to discreetly watch their fight over the top of the page I was reading, "even if I wanted you here, there's not enough room now Bella's moved in. And she's not going anywhere, so don't even think about it Jacob!" she threatened.

Jake looked slightly outraged at his older sister's accusation.

"I wasn't even- no way I wouldn't-," he turned to me, "Bella I wasn't even, I wouldn't dream of trying to, you know how much I like-"

"I know." I cut in, making a waving gesture as though disregarding the thought. Which seeing the look Leah gave me, told me that she was hoping I'd back her up. So I decided to stay quiet for the rest of the argument. It was the safest thing to do. Although I kept on wanting to ask why they were overreacting so much...seemed weird to me, but I guess seeing as I didn't have any siblings, I didn't really get the whole sibling rivalry thing. But still, they seemed to me to be extremely overreacting, although I wouldn't dare dream of pointing that out. I liked living here, oh and living full stop.

I zoned out for a while, but what seemed like a short time later, doors slammed and both Black siblings seemed to disappear into either bedrooms, leaving Ren standing in the living room, a weary look on her face. I smiled sympathetically and patted the seat next to me. She fell on the seat, looking exhausted, and rested her elbow on the table and her chin on her hand, watching me with mild interest.

"Whatcha doing?" she asked after a short silence.

"Editing a short story for a friend," I picked up a red marker and circled a few grammatical errors, "It's quite depressing actually. Got more angst than a my chemical romance song." Ren smiled softly before sighing loudly and looking down at the table.

"Yep, I understand angst alright. There seems to be a lot of it round here at the moment," I nodded, trying to look supportive without actually saying anything, I really didn't want to get even more caught up in it than I already seemed to be. But she seemed to take my silence as an invitation to continue,

"I just don't know what to do..." she trailed off, looking at me hopefully. I sighed inwardly; of course I was indivertibly going to get caught up in the drama. I was after all in close vicinity to the drama zone.

"Well, I guess you could..." I trailed off, trying to decide how to phrase it, "wait a little longer before moving in together. I mean if you guys are certain you want to live together, then don't you think you'll still want to in another year or two, don't rush into it if the only reason you are is that you can't wait or that..." I trailed off, frowning slightly at Ren's confused look, "I'm not getting my point across am I?" I asked. Ren made a jerky movement between a shrug and a nod.

"Just...wait a little longer will ya, just for Leah's sanity. It wouldn't look very good on her part if she murdered her own brother because he left dirty socks on the kitchen bench."

A grin broke out on Ren's face and she laughed loudly, before nodding. I silently prayed it was the end of the conversation, and almost fist pumped when she rose from her chair and made her way through the living room, pausing at her bedroom door, hand hovering over the doorknob for a moment, before she shook her head, crossed over the living room and knocked on Leah's door. As she waited for permission to enter, she glanced over at me and said,

"These damn Blacks are going to make me go prematurely grey."

XxXx

I awoke early Wednesday morning to the sound of loud whispers and laughter coming from the living room area. What was the point of whispering when you were doing it so loud? They might as well have whispered to each other through bullhorns.

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes as I dragged myself out of bed, stumbled half asleep to my door and stuck my head out to see what all the commotion was about, and just as I did the bathroom door swung open and Jacob shuffled out, pulling a t-shirt over his head and running a hand through his wet hair. He spotted me, gave me a wink and a smile before turning around and kissing Ren, who was wearing a large fluffy towel, before running out the door, closing it gently shut behind him. When Ren caught sight of me she blushed then shrugged,

"He's moved in," she whispered, before eyeing Leah's door and adding, "don't tell Leah."

What was the point of giving advice when no one took it? I rolled my eyes, before turning around and closing the door behind me.

Xx

I sat at the breakfast table, playing idly with my eggs and every once in a while glancing up at Leah, who had a smug look on her face, one that I'd noticed she had every time she won an argument. She took a swig of her coffee, placed the cup back down on the table and said,

"See isn't this better with just the three of us? More coffee, more hot water," out of the corner of my eye I saw Ren trying to hide a smile behind her coffee cup, she also looked like she was trying to keep in laughter, "and especially no more annoying overly displays of affection or half naked people prancing around the apartment." Just as she said that, her bedroom door opened and out walked Rosalie, dressed only in a large t-shirt and underwear, who in what appeared to be a half asleep stupor, walked across the living room and into the bathroom. It was silent for about two seconds, Ren eyeing Leah with a 'oh really?' look, before I burst out laughing. Seriously? What a freaking hypocrite.

Leah pointed her spoon at Ren, opened her mouth as though to say something, paused for a second before shaking her head and going back to eating her breakfast. Ren glanced at me, a smug look on her face, before taking a sip of her coffee.

Was I the only one in this apartment who wasn't a hypocrite?

XxXx

On Wednesday afternoon, after my last class of the day, Ren had all but dragged me out to meet some of her artsy friends for coffee. Apparently Jacob didn't get along so well with them, he thought they were pretentious and stuck up, or as he put it 'a bunch of beret wearing gits'. So I'd been the next reasonable choice as company, although I couldn't see why, I had no idea about art so I knew I'd most likely not understand what they were going on about and make a complete idiot of myself.

Ren pulled me into a small cosy looking coffee shop on the corner of the street. It was an alright place, it was warm and smelt like coffee so it was good in my books. After a quick scan of the place, Ren waved to a couple people sitting at one of the tables before dragging me over by my wrist. Seriously, what was up with people dragging me?

I was actually quite surprised by how regular they looked. I was half expecting them in all black with berets and stuck up looks on their faces, from what Jake had told me. Serves me right for listening to his over exaggerating dramatisations. I felt a tiny bit ashamed at how quickly I'd judged them, before evening meeting them.

"Everyone this is Bella, Bella this is, well, everyone."

The black haired guy wearing a grey beanie grinned at me. The girl with long brown hair, tied into a messy bun, and freckles smiled warmly before eyeing the other guy, who had dark brown hair that hung down into his familiar looking hazel eyes, was staring at me with what could only be described as a slightly in awe expression.

Ren, realizing she needed to repeat the introduction, preferably better, rolled her eyes before pointing to them and saying their names.

"Ben," she pointed to the guy with the beanie, "Angela," she pointed to the girl, "and Alec." After pointing to the last guy, who upon hearing his name seemed to snap out of his gaze and blushed madly before muttering a 'hello' and turning back to his coffee.

Ren and I settled down at the table and after a couple of minutes of awkward 'getting to know Bella' moments, conversation started to flow a lot easier, and before I knew it we were all acting like we'd known each other for years. I was in the middle of discussing the newest Harry Potter movie with Ben, when Ren piped up. "Ok I'm going to grab something to eat, does anyone wanna go halves in something?" she turned her gaze to Alec, after the rest of us declined. He shrugged before nodding,

"Ok so I'm either up for a blueberry scone or a slice of pie-"

"Scone definitely, I swear if I see one more slice of pie..." he trailed off, shaking his head, before laughing and continuing, "just, had enough pie to last me a life time."

I had the urge to ask if he'd recently entered a pie eating contest, or tell him that 'Brandon's Seattle pie experience' would get him to change his mind about his apparent pie discrimination, when Ben continued our previous conversation about Harry Potter, and the question I was about to ask Alec was wiped from my mind. I love Harry Potter, so sue me.

XxXx

"So that was fun. You had a good time right?" Ren asked as she looped her arm through mine, slowing down her fast 'I've had too much coffee now I'm hyper and have to walk really fast' pace to match mine.

"Yes, I did, but sheesh Ren hold back on the espressos next time, you're shaking."

Ren shook her head, her teeth chattering as she looked around at the crowded foot path around us,

"Am-am not, it's just chilly out here, and hey you drank more than me."

"Yeah but there's a difference, my body's used to it so I can more. So next time stop at four, m'kay?" Ren rolled her eyes, before her teeth chattering became louder and I could feel her pace starting to speed up and that she was starting to drag me again. Serious she was going the right way for a-

The threat of violence stopped abruptly in my head as we passed the bus stop and I noticed a familiar petite girl, wrapped up in a black jacket, purple scarf and matching beanie, sitting on the bench reading a thick book. As I stopped walking, Ren let out an impatient sound and tried to start dragging me again.

"Bella! Come on, I'm frickin cold! Move it Bella! Bella!"

After the third time Ren said my name, Alice looked up from her book, looked around and caught sight of me. She beamed brightly, but then her gaze fell upon mine and Ren's linked arms and her eyebrow rose ever so slightly. Quickly, noticing how one could misinterpret the situation, I withdrew my arm and walked over to the bus stop.

"Hey Alice." I greeted, hesitating slightly before sitting down on the bench next to her.

"Hi." She greeted back, closing the book, resting it on her lap, before glancing over her shoulder. As I mirrored her movement, looking over my shoulder, I saw Ren standing exactly where she was before, except she was shaking noticeably and was doing some sort of hop, like she couldn't stand still. She was also giving me a questioning stare. I turned back to Alice and laughed,

"That completely sane person over there, who by the way hasn't had too much coffee she's just 'cold' and apparently has to pee, is my roommate Ren." I waved Ren over. She half hobbled half bound over.

"Dude, we don't take the bus."

I ignored her statement and instead decided to introduce them, and I was going to do a better job than Ren had. I was competitive like that.

"Ren, this is Alice," a smirk appeared on Ren's face and I knew Leah had been filling her in on the happenings of my love life, "Alice, Ren."

The two girls shook hands, and I felt very proud at my introduction abilities.

"So," Ren started after she withdrew her hand from Alice's, still smirking, "you're the girl that's caused our Bella to become, what's the term, smitten?"

Alice raised an eyebrow in question, although she looked quite pleased, Ren laughed loudly and I resisted the urge to face palm, feeling my face heat up and knew I was without a doubt blushing tomato red. Although I tried my hardest to act nonchalant and act 'cool' about it. I shrugged slightly, coughed, then turned and studied the bus schedule, listening to the two girls continue with their conversation.

"-so how about it?" Ren asked. I'd obviously missed something important and listened carefully, trying to catch up on what was going on. Alice shrugged, standing up and checking her watch.

"I guess I could catch a later bus..if it's alright with Bella, I mean I don't want to intrude.." she trailed off.

"what now?" I asked looking away from her bus schedule, now that I was certain I wasn't blushing so much.

"Alice coming over to our place," Ren said, "she'll catch a later bus, or if one of our friends is around with a car then they can drop her off-"

"I'll walk her to the bus stop." I interrupted.

"Coolieo, so it's sorted. Now let's head back, I could do with a nice strong coffee."

XxXx

After Ren let us into the apartment, searching for a good five minutes for her keys, I gave Alice a very short tour of the apartment.

"Cool," Alice said, standing in the living room and looking around, "this is one of the nicest loft I've seen."

I glanced around at the apartment, at the high ceiling held up by wood beams, hardwood floor and the large open space that lead to the kitchen. The place was spacious and wonderful. It let in natural light and even though it was rather open, it was somehow also cosy. I still wasn't used to how lucky I'd been to be able to live here.

"Thanks, uh so...do you want a coffee?" I asked, and as Ren opened her mouth I quickly interrupted, "not you, you've had enough."

Ren gave me a withering look before rolling her eyes, muttering a 'yes mum' and storming into the kitchen. She could be such a drama queen.

I turned back to Alice, "So, was that a yes for coffee?" I asked again.

Alice opened her mouth to answer but before she could Ren interjected,

"Or if you want we have beer, well Leah has beer but we share everything so I'm sure it'll be fine."

I looked over at Ren, who was already holding a couple bottles in her hands, and shrugged,

"Yeah I'm up for it," I looked back over at Alice, "you want one?" I asked, accepting one of the bottles from Ren and twisting the top off. Alice seemed to deliberate for a second before accepting a cold beverage.

A couple of hours later and a couple of beers too, we were all in very high spirits, laughing at each other's stories, most of them involving Ren and Edward getting up to trouble as kids. I lifted my fourth beer to my lips and took a sip, listening to another one of Ren's hilarious stories.

"-So anyway the next morning Dad comes into the room to wake up Ed and finds the 'welcome to Forks' sign, three empty bottles of spray paint and Ed and I climbing in through the window. He was not amused, and eventually we ended up having to give the goat back. But still we have the memories, oh and a few Polaroids too."

"Wait," Alice, in between laughs, managed to ask, "what happened to Mike?"

Ren swallowed her mouthful of beer before answering with a huge grin, "Oh, well we left him unconscious outside the police station, after he tried the moves on Leah she kinda got majorly pissed at him. Although I'm pretty sure he wasn't mad about that, no he was more focussed on how we shaved his head and left him in his underwear..now that I think about it, it might have been a bit mean spirited leaving him in just his underwear..although if you ask Leah she sticks with the whole 'don't do the crime if you can't do the time' belief."

I nodded, trying to hold in my laughter and look serious, "Well it's also a belief I was raised on too. Well from Charlie anyway, Renee was more of a 'do what you want but don't get caught' type of mother. It's a surprise I turned out so well."

Ren let out a very loud snort, spraying some beer out as well.

"What?" I asked staring at Ren through narrowed eyes, still keeping up the serious charade I had going. Alice cleared her throat before interjecting,

"Well you are drinking underage. Unless I missed the memo that they've changed the drinking age to twenty."

"Oh yeah?" I asked, grinning widely, "Well I'm older than the both of you, unless you've both forgotten that you're nineteen. So shut it and respect you elders you juvenile delinquents."

Both Ren and Alice burst into laughter, and we were all too distracted to notice the front door open and three figures appear, arms full on grocery bags.

"Dudes, nobody told me there was a party going on. Not cool man, not cool at all."

Emmett entered the apartment, followed closely by Leah and Rosalie. Ren waved exuberantly, before jumping up and greeting Emmett with a hug, which forced him to hold the groceries over his head.

"Hey guys," Leah passed by the couch Alice and I were seated on, placed the shopping bags on the kitchen table before turning to us, "Emmett's joining us for dinner so he'll be crashing on the..." she trailed off as she caught sight of Alice and I on the couch. She raised an eyebrow as she stared at us, and for a split second I thought her reaction was about Alice being here, before she continued,

"...is that my beer?"

Xx

"So thanks for inviting me over. I just hope Leah's not too mad about the beer."

"Nah don't worry about it, Ren'll just reimburse her for the ones we drank and Leah'll probably just add 'those who take a beer from the fridge must replace said beverage by the end of the business week or pay addition charges' to the list of house rules."

Alice laughed, placing her hands from her jacket pockets, but stopped laughing when she caught sight of my serious face.

"You're serious?" she asked.

"Oh I'm very much serious; she actually made us sign a 'contract' stating that we understood the terms of conditions of living in the apartment. She's going to be a damn fine lawyer, she's practically one already."

Alice started laughing, it started off as a small giggle but when I started laughing too, before we knew it we were both laughing so hard that we were getting a lot of stares from the few people out and about. Once our laughter died away we had arrived at the bus stop.

Alice inspected the timetable, pulling out her phone to check the time.

"Well looks like the next bus'll be here in about five minutes," she glanced at me, grinning slightly, "do you mind waiting-" before she had the chance to finish her request I'd already sat down on the bench. I patted the space next to me, "Of course. Plus, uh, I have to ask you about something."

As soon as Alice was seated I blurted out, "So Friday night, we're still on right?"

Alice slapped her hand to the forehead, "Oh crap! I completely forgot about that, and I've gone and made other plans."

My heart sank a little, and I didn't bother hiding the disappointed look,

"Oh well it's, uh, it's ok it's nothing..." I trailed off as I caught sight of the cheeky look on the petite girl's face. I blushed furiously as I realised she was teasing me.

"That's not funny."

Alice nodded, giggling, "No I'm pretty sure it is."

"Yeah, yeah, well you're just mean...So wait Friday night's still on then?" I asked hopefully.

Alice nodded, "Of course, here let me give you my number and I'll call you with the plans. It's sort of a surprise so I can't tell you anything yet. But I'm pretty sure it'll rock you world."

After switching numbers with her, the bus arrived. She turned to leave, but after pausing momentarily, she turned to me and planted a quick kiss on my lips. As chaste as it might've been, it still made my breath catch in my chest.

I watched as the bus pulled away and sped off down the street. I continued watching until it rounded the corner and disappeared from sight. I grinned widely, setting off towards my apartment with a spring in my step, wishing it was Friday already.

XxXx