『 CHAPTER v: SUGAR, SPICE, & EVERYTHING NICE. 』

IT WAS SAFE TO SAY, BELLA'S TRUCK WAS pretty damn old. But June absolutely adored it. Jacob fixed it up apparently, and driving in it was a little nostalgic because she had seen him for three days, since she kissed his cheek and she acted like a fucking loser and ran away, so basically — June gushed when it came to anything mentioning Jacob Black. The truck he rebuilt to working condition was a faded orange, a kinda burnt orange. Beautiful. Rusty on some places, and it popped out from the muffler at times and it caused June to giggle and Bella to wince. The morning of Bella's first day was filled with frowns from her older sister and the sharing of a Pop Tart ( something June didn't just do with anyone ) and the reminder that June was basically the queen bitch and nobody would be able to tell Bella anything.

               But June had a feeling Bella would find her own way; even she could tell her older sister still had that lofty look when it came to anything said about permanently staying here. June missed her mom, too. She understood, kinda sorta, where Bella was coming from. June thought that Bella needed something to make her want to stay.

"My ex's parents are need of a cashier." June says on their ride to school. Bella blinks in surprise at the sudden conversation, looking to her to elaborate. "They own their own sporting goods store, its booming all the time because of passerby and tourists coming to trek the forest and whatnot."

     "Cashier," Bella nods to herself, her eyes on the road. "Sounds legit. But did you say your ex?"

"Mike Newton," June nods in confirmation. "He's like big money in Fork's. His mom was a beauty queen, Miss Forks or something like that. I much prefer miss potts if I'm gonna be named a household item." 

   Bella laughs, "What happened between you two?" Then more seriously she adds, "You don't have to say anything, I'm being nosy—"

"Bella, it's your job to be in my beeswax," June assures and then slumps in her seat, thinking of a way to answer. "To be honest I don't even know; I just went over to his house and told him, Mikey, it's been a good run but I know now that I'm done. And he laughed because he was probably internally like what the fuck? Plus it was a good rhyme."

   "Only, you, June, would break up with someone in a rhyme." Bella said amused. "What else happened, before you told him?"

"He was just convenient to be with, as harsh as it sounds," June winced, tapping her knees that poked out from the purposeful rips in her jeans. "Older, cute and a football player — albeit not a good one — and me the cheery cheerleader. Convenient. It made sense in the atmosphere of where we were. I've know him forever, anyway. But being with him ... I realized that I didn't want to be with someone convenient for me."

Bella nodded thoughtfully, "I see."

"You must think I'm so superficial."

Her older sister shook her head, giving her a genuine look. "I'd think that, maybe, if you stayed with him. Because then you're leading him on for nothing; that wouldn't help either of you."

      June nods as well. "Sometimes you win and sometimes you win because you lose. You learn. I learned Mike Newton wasn't my prize, sadly for him. Poor guy thinks I'm some sorta ... I don't what he thinks I am."

"Can you blame him?" Bella winks at her, turning into the school parking lot. "You're June Swan, the one that got away."

   "Lucky for him." June hums.

"Seriously? June, dad even said Mike loves you—"

"I know I'm young and all," June says stiffly. "But I'm old enough to know what love is and whatever Mike feels for me, isn't it."

Bella pauses, "You're right. What do I know? The only thing I love is not falling on my ass on this icy ground Forks has."

June smiles at her older sister, "You'll get used to it. The falling, not the icy ground. That sucks even after walking on it for fifteen years."

As Bella parks, the engine shoots out black smoke from the muffler and the sisters share a knowing look. They'd get used to it; but even June could feel the stares already directed to who the new girl was and how did June Swan know her? Mostly everyone knew that the new girl was June's older sister but the others we're just wondering how June was able to make friends so quickly. Though it shouldn't surprise anyone, June could make friends with a tree. But those surrounding Tyler Crowley's van where mostly all of June's friends who stared at June's pretty older sister with interest, but even Bella's arrival and her newness couldn't keep Mike Newton's eyes off of the youngest Swan girl.

             Upon getting her schedule, June was infinitely pleased to know Bella and she shared Gym and English together, the rest were their own different  classed Bella had chosen, even her AP biology that June decided to drop for a free period so she could leave school earlier and get a free period — by any rate, it seemed June was going to graduate a junior, Sam's nickname for her really standing out in her mind, and maybe would get to walk the grad ceremony with her sister next year. June prided herself in doubling up her classes and really taking it to the next level. She never fit in with people her age anyway, they all thought her mentality too old for them ( and they looked at her weirdly when they heard she still watched Disney channel and any old Disney movies, so fuck them ) and so it was why she dated the likes of Mike Newton and hung with girls like Jessica Stanley and Angela Webber and her fellow cheerleaders including Carly Montgomery and Lucy Strauss.

"Gym, wow." Bella groaned. "I'm bursting with joy."

                    June nodded, rubbing her temples as the coach lined them up on the volleyball court. They were dressed in their gym outfits and whatnot, June humming a Hollies song as she pulled her hair up in a ponytail.

June usually liked being in the back, "The girls that play are like master players," She tells Bella. "Even though it's a not a real fucking game they treat it like one, it's annoying, but it means that the volleyball never reaches the back."

Bella nods, biting her lower lip. "I told the coach not to let me play." She admits. "I told her that someone might lose an eye or I might break every bone in my body."

"What she say?" June chuckles.

"That volleyball was a win or lose sport?" Bella relayed the words that the coach told her. "Maybe she didn't hear me that well ..."

June shrugged, "Well, funny enough, I thought you were some blonde cheerleader who plays volleyball with some killer tan lines."

Bella gives her a sheepish look. "Maybe you're thinking of yourself, June." She laughs.

"Ew, me play volleyball?" June says. "Then it'd just be a game where Forks High loses and loses. No wins. Zero. I suck at volleyball, well, I don't really know because I've never tried ... but I tend to hate things I'm not good at, I'm a Leo, so."

        "I think I try to find away around something to be best at it I guess," Bella replies. "I'm a Virgo."

             "Hmm," June hums. "That's such a Virgo thing for you to tell me—"

Suddenly in their conversation, June sensed something and her feet moved her out of the way as Bella jerked her hand up and hit the volleyball that would've surely knocked June out. Bella lets out a yelp and the volleyball goes flying towards the other side of the court where there were guys playing basketball. June whines a bit as she sees the volleyball hit Mike Newton right in the head.

"Watch out!" June yells all last minute.

           Bella grimaces, shaking her head. She looks at June with wide eyes before she's running over to where Mike is rubbing his head. "Dude, oh my god, I'm so sorry — I told them not to let me play—"

Mike's face holds annoyance but once he sees June coming up beside Bella, he softens, "No, it's nothing. You're Isabella, right?" He asks. "I'm Mike, Newton."

"Bella." She hears Bella correct. "Again, sorry—"

"He's alright. He's got a thick skull," June chirps, grinning as she gets to them. "Don't you, Mikey?"

                Mike nods, that starry eyed look on his face. "Yeah. June was usually the one throwing footballs while I ran yards on practice — come to think of it, she might've been aiming at my head the whole time."

June laughed, "I was trying hit Tyler. Not my fault you somehow always got in the way."

Mike laughs too, a little too hard and Bella notices, raising a brow. "Nah, he pushed me in the way."

            Jessica somehow sees them all talking and rushed to come up, her prominent smile taking form as she stuck out her chest a little whenever she was near Mike. She always liked him a little too much. Sadly Mike never liked her enough. Jessica was a good enough friend and fun to be around, but she was frivolous and vain and usually she and June clashed but never for too long. Jessica blew a strand of brown hair from her face and looked at Bella enviously before tossing a smile.

"June's sisters' got a great spike, huh?" Jessica says with a grin. "I'm Jessica by the way."

"Nice to meet you," Bella replies.

"You're from Arizona, right?" Mike suddenly asks Bella.

June's older sister nods, "Yeah, I am."

Jessica puts on a funny face and already June can smell some kind of passive aggressive comment. She looks to June and Mike, "Aren't people from Arizona supposed to be ... really tan?"

     "Yeah by that logic I'm supposed to be the color of the Quileute's in La Push, Jess." June retorted jokingly and smiled. "There's something called genetics."

Jessica seemed defeated, knowing her chances of intimidating Bella weren't high. "Thanks June, I think heard about that somewhere."

    June grinned, "I'm always here if you forget."

Jessica gave her a fleeting look along with Bella and Mike smiled at June wistfully before he said a goodbye to Bella and went off to play basketball again. Truthfully, knowing she was gonna die gave her an advantage in life. She realized that pretty high school drama wasn't going to define her; she was going to die no matter if she was a loser or not. It just so happened that she was the or not and usually intimidated people more than she give them any reason to pick on her. June also figured it was because her dad was the chief and all. Bella gave her a look that said, I don't know and June nodded and gave her a look with raised brows that replied, no one knows.

•—•—•—•

GYM FINISHED, thankfully, mostly all villains die in most stories and their antagonist was that damned volleyball. Once they were changed the bell rang for lunch. Again, God was by June's side, because Bella wasn't like half the girls there who were replying with the cutesy version of I'm not hungry hehehe which just basically meant they were starving themselves, but June wasn't as calloused to realize some of the girls actually had insecurities even if her mind was like eat up girlies, if they don't like your bod then they can use that hand for something else besides pointing at you. Bella did get the veggie burger though and June helped herself to a burger and some chips, frowning at the lunch lady who told her they were out of steak fries.

"Who the fuck ate all the fucking steak fries?" June moped the whole way to their table, grumbling.

Bella winced playfully as she nodded, "I know right? Like we were one of the first ones here in the cafeteria."

June pursed her lips and shook her head, "May hell await whoever stands in front of Juniper H. Swan and her fries." She whispered under her breath. "But anyway, how's your first day going so far? I know I have gym with you but I didn't ask, stupid me."

Bella shakes her head, "It's good. I've gotten used to the staring, thanks for the heads up."

June winked, "Basically, you're the newest thing Forks has gotten since the bowling alley opened up near Newton's Sporting goods; oh, and we got a metro bus now."

Her older sister chuckled and June lead the way as they took a seat where Angela and Jessica and Mike and all them sat. June scrunched her nose at the sight of Lauren, that girl always rubbed her the wrong way, ever since she called June a blonde bimbo for joining cheer — June had replied in rage, I'll have you know all the cheerleaders have exceptional grades and are very kind people, you bitter bitch.

"Hey Angela, Hey Jess," June chirped as she set her plate down and noticed that Lauren was occupying the seat that Bella was to sit on. "Bye, Lauren."

Lauren didn't say a word, picking up her lunch tray and going over to the other table behind them. June gestures for Bella to sit, her older sister giving her a wide eyed look.

Angela just chuckles. "Lauren completely hates you."

June gave an innocent look, "Why ever? I'm like, nothing but sugar and spice and everything nice."

Angela grins. "Might wanna replace that with bitterness and spite and everything not right, June." She laughs at her expression.

"Yeah, yeah, put it on my headstone." June waves away nonchalantly. "By the way, this hot chick next to me, is my older sister — Bella, Bells this is Angela Webber and you already know Jess."

Jessica waves weakly while looking down at a magazine in interest as Angela beams, taking out her camera. "I know, she and I have Calculus together. Oh, I deleted the picture Eric took by the way." Angela tells Bella who looks relieved.

June frowns looking, "Eric took a picture of you?" She laughs a little at Bella's expression when she nods. "Why even?"

Bella flushes a bit, "Something about a feature of the new student."

June deadpans, looking over to Angela. "Really, Ang? The new girl kinda feature? I told you, if you need some quality content I'm your gal."

"Then why don't you join journalism?" Angela questions with a smirk.

"Because, I have cheer and I work." June replies easily. "But really! I've got some good headlines, listen, listen: June's got the Moves, head cheerleader blows crowds away with teen spirit! And my favorite, Swan Sisters, two hotties or too naughties?—"

"June!" Angela and Bella exclaim jokingly.

June snickers to herself, "Fine, fine. I really don't know any good features covers. You, Bella?" She asks.

Bella looks like she's pondering it, "You could always do a feature on..." She looked to Jessica's plate of only celery sticks. "Eating disorders."

         Jessica looked up immediately, stiffening. June chuckles breathlessly. Jessica sticks her tongue out, "Oh just bite me, June." She tells her.

"Any time, Stanley." June winks. Jessica throws a celery stick at her.

"Or speedo padding on the swim team." Bella offered secondly, smiling at the way June was nodding her head at her like good one.

         After that was said, June and Angela and Jessica all looked at each other and simultaneously said, "Kirk."

    "Right?"

   "That's exactly what I was thinking."

   "There's no way, he's so skinny."

    "True. Nobody wants a spaghetti dick."

        Bella goes to chide June with a shake her head but they tell she's caught off guard by noticing through the window a group of people making their way into the cafeteria. June goes to follow her sisters gaze but doesn't she until she hears her ask curiously:

"Who are they?"

    Jessica and Angela turn to look in the direction where Bella jutted her chin to and immediately noticed. Jessica smirked, "Ask your sister."

           June frowns but then finally sees when the Cullen's walk through the door. Oh. "Shut up," June laughs. Bella is only more curious, she taps June's leg, her eyes waiting for an answer. "The Cullen's. They moved here like two years ago from Alaska.

          Angela nodded, "They're doctor and Mrs. Cullen's foster kids, two of them are Mrs. Cullen's biological niece and nephew but the rest are adopted."

"AKA June's new besties." Jess chimes, then leans closer to Bella, dropping her voice to a whisper. "The blond girl that's Rosalie. And the dark buff guy she's with, that's Emmett. They're like a thing. I'm not even sure that's legal but—"

    "They're not related," Angela rolls her eyes the same time that June does.

Jessica continues, and Bella listens. "The little pixie looking girl, that's Alice— she's really weird, sometimes, and she's with Jasper the blonde one who's Rosalie's twin and always looks like he's in pain."

            June throws a piece of lettuce to Jess, "She's not weird, Jess. She's really nice." She directs her words to Bella who nods. 

"Anyway, Doctor Cullen is this foster dad-slash-matchmaker," Jess says. "And June's like close with them."

     "That's a bad thing?" Bella asks, looking to her sister who's awfully quite when it comes to them.

Angela answers, shaking her head. "No, it's not. It's just ... they usually keep to themselves. They don't really talk to anyone but each other."

"But all of sudden," Jess says with a look to June, smirking. "Miss sugar and spice and everything nice bewitched them with herself and now they talk to her."

   June looked to Bella, "They're really nice."  She says simply.

"Who's that?" Bella asks.

And since June had only seen Alice and Jasper and Rosalie and Emmett, it could only be Edward who Bella was asking about. Sure enough, June glanced over to the double doors and saw Edward pulling it open and stepping in. His usual resting face was as beautiful as ever, strutting in like some Calvin Klein model and giving June the urge to yell, stop showing off, Eddie!

    "Edward Cullen," June answers.

Bella keeps staring at him, wonderment filling her eyes and June hopes she doesn't look like that every time the Cullen's speak to her. She was well aware of the brownie points she was getting by talking to them; June Swan was officially the most approachable and most easy going if she got the Cullen's to talk to her. 

        Jessica sighed, "He's gorgeous right? Yeah, unfortunately nobody here is good enough for him — don't even waste your time."  

"Wasn't planning on it." Bella scoffs softly, brushing off the issue easily but June could practically smell the curiously coming from her.

    "He brought June flowers, though." Jessica adds and June curses under her breath. "Maybe he's finally trying to get some, who better than June?"

June gave Jessica the finger, "I'm fifteen, you nympho. Edward's not getting anything—"

"Why'd he give you flowers?" Bella asked.

June falters a bit before she shrugs, "They were bellflowers, my ultimate fav remember? And you know how I was in the hospital for overworking myself? Dr. Cullen came in and helped me and then I casually mentioned how I love bellflowers and then the next day Edward brought me a bouquet saying they were from his family, no biggie, then we started talking and they came to the game Friday to cheer me on and that's it."

                 Bella, seemingly satisfied with the answer, nodded before she took a bite out of her food. June tapped her knees and then grabbed her apple juice, sipping from it while her mind started getting to work. She glanced over to the Cullen's who looked at her at the same time — she waved and they waved back. She smiled and then saw how Edward stared at Bella for a moment longer before looking away. Ohhhhhhhh. Alarms started blaring in her mind. It had been a while since she played some kind of matchmaking. Plus, it would be uber cool to have her sister dating her friend. They'd have like totally pretty children. June would watch from above while Bella has a brood and they reminisce about how auntie June got their parents together.

"Oh no, Bella, your sisters getting an idea." Jessica jokes as she catches the look on June's face.

"Those are either very bad or very, very bad." Angela winced.

"Really?" Bella laughed, looking at the way June was sipping her apple juice and her eyes were narrowed and her brows furrowed. "Oh, yeah. I recognize that."

   "I hate you all, but I love you, but I hate you. But I love you." June said to them. "But yes, I am thinking of a some type of grand idea — it's under development. Constructing. Loading."

"We get it." Bella laughs again.

June's smile said something on the lines of, Oh, Bella, you're gonna get something, her eyes flickered to Edward behind them. and it's that hunk over there. It was times like these, little works in her mind, that June Swan was going to miss. But not much.

note: lololol I have no life and this was filler yes but ugh this scene had to happen it's the iconic™ cafeteria scene and I'm loving me the jess, ang, and june trio. some jacob next ... maybe, probably.