Chapter 2: Yesterday – The Beatles

Beth POV

I eyed the red Mercedes convertible with a scrutinizing gaze. It was not as fancy as I had hoped, but I guess it was nice enough and I could make it work. I smirked as I heard the owner of the car re-exit the shop he had previously gone into. I had made sure it was a man who owned the car, although I most likely would be able to flirt my way to the car with a woman as well - that was just a little trickier.

I didn't turn when I heard him approach. Instead, I leaned forward as if I was inspecting the car more closely and made sure he got a good view of my ass in the process. My cowboy miniskirt travelled up just so he could barely see my pink – not to mention lace – panties. I smirked smugly when I heard the pervert's heartbeat quicken. Oh, this was too easy.

"You like cars?" he said when he got closer and I lazily stood up straighter. I noted the golden band on his right hand's ring finger - so much for the so-called "love". I wondered if his wife was waiting loyally for him at home or if she was screwing the pool boy while he was ogling other women.

"I love them. Especially the red ones" I purred in an innocent and rather dumb voice before biting my lower lip as if I was contemplating a question. For some reason, men loved when there was nothing between a woman's ears as long as they knew what to do with the rest of their body. Well, most men wanted that kind of woman, especially if it was on the side.

"I don't suppose… no, that's a stupid question… I'm sorry" I started and fidgeted with my necklace in order to get his attention to my rather generous cleavage. I heard the blood rush through his body and he was starting to sweat slightly, which was, ugh, disgusting. Men were so easily distracted and it was so fun playing with them. Fools.

"If there's any way I can be of assistance, do not be shy to ask" he said with superiority and a reassuring smile. Did he really think he was in control?

"Well… I have a quite long walk to my hotel and these shoes a killing me. I don't suppose… you could drive me? I will be deeply grateful if you did" I purred and made a number out showing the pain my stilettoes was supposedly giving me as I bend slightly to the side and gave him clear view of my cleavage. I bit my lip just to finish off my act of being a damsel in distress.

"Of course, which hotel are you staying at?" he said almost too quickly as he went to open the door in the passenger side for me. I gave him the best, apologetic look I could muster with a tiny pout.

"Well… I was thinking… maybe… I could drive?" come on, pig, give me those keys. I can't show you much more cleavage without actually taking off my shirt and that is just a show he is never going to witness.

"Why don't I just drive? This car drives a stick shift and it can be a little tricky if you're not used to it" he tried with nervousness barely audible in his voice. I could almost see the thoughts that were going through his head about how he didn't want the stupid yet very sexy woman drive his most precious possession.

"Please, I know all about how to handle a stick" urg, I know. It was a bad line, but it seemed to do the trick with the petty human as he smirked and threw me the keys.

"Cute. Alright then" he told me and I jumped into the driver's seat without even opening the door seeing as the roof was down. Before he had even time to blink, I had twisted the key in the ignition, effectively waking the engine.

"Thanks, lover. Say hi to the missus for me, 'kay?" I winked at him with an all too sweet smile before driving off. Finally on the road in a proper vehicle! Too bad I felt the need to take at least ten showers just from the way that dude looked at me. Oh well, it was necessary, and the stupid look on his face when I drive off, was worth all the ridiculous flirting.

"Goodbye Sacramento. Next stop: La Push reservation" I said to myself just for the dramatic effect when I left the city in the rearview mirror with more than a few miles over the speed limit and turned on the music. Ryan Seacrest could keep me company on the long road trip I had planned. I know, what you're thinking. Why does the invisible vampire not just run there on a matter of minutes? One word: heels. And you're most likely wondering why I didn't just steal the car from the cheating bastard back there. Another important word in my vocabulary: fun, which also led me to the reason as to why I was going to La Push.

I couldn't wait to see Ann and Paul's faces when I knocked on their door unexpectedly. I know they told me La Push was off limits for vamps, but that just made the trip even more thrilling. I smirked at the thought of my recently newfound friends freaking like dismayed little fangirls.

.:-:.

I had stopped more than a few times on the road to get more gas – well, get others to fill the car to be more exact – and I made a teeny tiny stop in Seattle to get a new set of clothes and whatnot. I hadn't exactly packed a suitcase when I left Italy a month prior, although I still had my Jimmy Choo shoes Noel had given me for Christmas. I wouldn't part with those under any circumstances and they were currently placed in a Jeffry Campel shoebox while the Campel stilettoes adorned my pedicured feet. I might adore my Jimmy Choos, but that didn't change the fact that a girl had to vary her footwear every once in a while.

I had driven with nothing but forest all around me for hours on end already and was pretty damn happy I had done my shopping in Seattle, because I predicted there would be nothing of the sort when I got to Ann and Paul's. I was at the back and beyond, oh wait, no, I think I crossed that a few miles back. Pity me. Well, I knew it wasn't the most habituated place from what Paul had told me at Tom and Jane's wedding two months back. I had grown tired of staying at the Volturi. They had so many rules and it grew quite boring after a while even with Noel there to entertain me. That is, whenever I managed to steal her away from President stick-in-the-mutt Alec. That dude might make my best friend happy, but I sure as hell didn't know why. He was so stiff and boring. Demitri had been decent company, but he had missions so frequently, it wasn't worth waiting around. I had promised visiting Noel in a few years though. However, for the time being I had decided to go back to my olden ways: spreading heartache and chaos like an evil, well-dressed, not to mention skinny and youthful, female Santa.

I smirked happily when the little wooden house peeked through the trees and I drove a wee too fast into the driveway just barely avoiding their mailbox in the process and put the car to a sudden halt in front of the porch. Before I even turned the car off, the smell hit me tenfold. Seriously, why on God's green Earth did shape shifters have to smell this repulsing? The stench was overpowering compared to how Paul's smell had barely lingered in the throne room among a dozen vampires, but out here… urg. Oh, what I wouldn't sacrifice for my own entertainment - and my well-defined nose was apparently one of those sacrifices.

As I closed the car door behind me the front door had already been smacked open only to reveal a shocked Ann. I waved at her with mock exasperation and an amused grin. Let the fun begin!

"Why hello there, Ms. Wagner. Or has it been changed to Mr. Lahote already? No, it couldn't have, because I would've gotten the invite to that grand wedding" I joked as I waltzed towards her.

"No, it's still Wagner for the time being" she said clearly still trying to comprehend my being there. I went up the porch stairs and stopped in front of her.

"What are you doing here, Beth? You know Sam isn't all that fond of outsiders coming here" she whispered the last part as if this Sam would magically appear if we spoke his name too loudly. Well, he was the alpha of the shape shifters from what I recalled being told so who knew.

"Why can't a girl visit her favorite star-crossed couple? You know I ship the two of you hardcore" I told her cheekily and she couldn't help but giggle at my antics.

"Sam won't be happy, but you're here now and I can't possibly throw you to the curb after what I presume was a long drive. Where exactly did you get that car?" she seemed almost afraid to ask. Oh, she knew me so well.

"Sacramento and don't worry, the dude never even knew what hit him" I winked and went past her into the house as if I owned the place. The stench of wet dog was even more pronounced inside, but seeing as I didn't need to breathe, I could manage.

"Where's lover boy? Saw I was coming and ran with his tail between his legs?" I asked nonchalantly before elegantly plopping down on one of two armchairs in the living room. The place was comfy and homey, though not really my style. I was a more of a stainless steel girl than a wood girl – I'm not sure if there's any puns in there, but if so, they were not intended. I wasn't sure how I survived before, but modern architecture and design was so much more me with it's cold, simple elegancy.

"Paul is at Sam's. They are patrolling most days"

"And you just stay at home like a good little house wife? How do you stand it?" I asked in shocked surprise. Seriously?! Didn't she get bored? I know I would, but then again, I got bored rather easily and being rooted for too long gave me a claustrophobic, panicky sense, which was why I didn't stay at one place for too long either.

"No, I own a little shop in Seattle for the time being, but it's not open on Sundays. Besides, when I'm not working I sometimes visit Paul's mother or Emily. It's not like I don't have anything to do" she giggled and I raised a skeptical eyebrow. I could not live the kind of laid back and uneventful life she was leading. How did she do it?

"That sounds so mellow. Don't you get sick of it?" instead of being offended as some would, she merely smiled leniently. She sat down across from me on the couch before answering.

"Not as long as I have Paul. I love the slow speed and peacefulness of things here"

I leaned back in the chair with an unnecessary sigh.

"I don't think I would be able to do it, you know. Settling down isn't really my scene"

"It all comes down to the company you keep. You're probably just restless because you know deep down that something or someone is missing in your life" she told me gently and I rolled my eyes. Yeah, right. As if. I stood up and paced to the hallway.

"Spare me the psychoanalysis, peach-cheek. Are you going to show me around in your beloved little society or do I have to wander the fair streets on my own?" I winked at her at the last question and she stood with a worried look in her golden eyes.

"Show you around? Oh, dear, I don't think that would be wise. If you go out there alone, you might get killed by accident. The pack doesn't take too kindly to vampires"

I smirked.

"Well, then you just have to be my tour guide, won't cha? Oh, and we're taking my car"

"Sure, I just have to cancel my previous appointment" she sighed tiredly as she brought her cellphone to her ear.