Strength and Second Chances

AN:I do not own Twilight. SM does. I do however own Strength and Second Chances!

I would like to thank you all for your reviews. They mean so much to me. I hope that you continue to enjoy reading this as much as I like writing it.

Special thanks to my betas for help with this chapter. Trixietraci and KittyZingeredbyJax.

Without you, I would not be able to post this. Thank you again for all your hard work!

Just a heads up: this chapter contains sexual content.

Chapter 1: Reflection

Leaving Edward, and the life we shared and built, that day has its advantages and disadvantages. After I left him, I came to my mom's summer cottage on First Beach that she and my step dad bought and restored a couple years ago. My mom is basically a glorified house wife, or as some people call it, a trophy- and my step dad is the head coach for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He is younger than my mom, and only 12 years older than me, but they love each other and that is all that matters.

Thankfully, my mom and step dad left last week to get back to Florida. I really was not looking forward to dealing with them - I just need some time to myself so I can reflect and get myself together. I was controlled by Edward for so long that I did not realize how much he dictated my life. However, it was not always like that, and thinking about the day we first met, I couldn't believe he changed so much.

Flashback..

I can not believe I am starting my second week at Forks High and it's even harder to believe that I am in the ninth grade already. My 4th period art class is exciting.

So far, we have been working on oil paintings and next we'll do some photography. That is what I am looking forward to. I love photography, something about it relaxes me.

As I walk to my table that I share with Rosalie, I notice that some guy that I've seen talking to her the in halls is sitting in my seat talking to her. He has bronze hair , a lean and muscular build, chiseled jawline, and when he turned and looked in my direction, I noticed his eyes. Oh my God, they are emerald green. This guy looks like a GQ model. As I get closer to my seat, I can feel my cheeks flush. Ugh! I hate my blush. It always gives me away.

"Ok ass wipe, you need to get up. That is my girl's seat," Rose says to him as I approach the table.

He nods to her, gets up and smirks at me as he walks out the door. I think I'm in love.

"Who was that?" I ask Rose as I sit down in my seat and start to get my oil paint ready to finish my project.

"That was Edward, my ass hat of a brother," Rose replies as she rolls her eyes.

"Oh, is your whole family fucking models or something? I mean God, look at you and your brother. You both set the standards high for looks here," I say sarcastically as I sit my painting on its stand.

"Whatever Bella, you know you're hot so don't even go there with me, bitch," she replies.

Rose is every guy's wet dream and every girl's -and some guy's- night mare rolled into one. She is about 5'10", with blue eyes, a curvy body, and long blond hair. She is hard on the edges though and it takes a while for her to warm up to you- she does not take crap from anyone. This is the reason why even some of the guys are afraid of her. Heck, I was afraid of her until she struck up our first conversation last Friday. Since then we have been talking non stop.

At the end of class, Rose and I decide to meet up after school. She wants me to join the Wrestlerettes with her, so I decided it could be worth a shot. I mean, what girl wouldn't want to see sweaty guys in singlets, wrestling around on the mats with each other?

The rest of the day is a drag. Lunch after art, then P.E. followed by History. BLAH! The day can't end fast enough. For one, I am the least athletic person I know. I am nothing but a klutz so P.E. is a bust for me. And secondly, AP History is so boring that it is hard for me to stay awake. So when the final bell rings at the end of the day, I feel like I can just burst with fucking joy!

When I make it to the parking lot to put my backpack in my brother, Emmett's car, Rose runs up to me and says, "Whose Jeep is this? It's one nice ride."

"My brother, Emmett's. He's trying out for the Wrestling team today, so it looks like this maybe a family affair," I tell her as I roll my eyes. It's not that I care that he's trying out, it's just that he annoys the shit out of me.

"Oh, Edward is trying out as well. Looks like this is going to be a 2 family affair," she replies as we walk into the gym.

We notice that the boys are already in their gear doing stretches on the mat. Edward and Emmett notice us at the same time, jump up, and run over to us. Edward comes straight to me and reaches out his hand to shake mine with a lopsided grin on his face.

"Hello, let me introduce myself, finally, since I didn't get a chance before. My name is Edward Cullen," he says while looking me up and down.

"Bella Swan, that's me," I reply like a dork. I feel myself blush and look down. What the hell is this guy doing to me? I am never this nervous around a guy. I need to pull it together here. I still need to introduce Rose and Em.

"Oh, Rose, this is my brother, Emmett. The one with the nice ride," I look over and notice she is blushing as well...Oh boy, this is going to be an interesting season..

End Flashback...

I now realize that the Edward I met that day was not the real Edward, and like Rose said back then, he truly is an ass hat. Ugh, Rose! I just don't know how she is going to react to this. You see, Rose will still be my sister in law due to the fact that she's married to my brother. I really hope that this does not cause a fight between us. Oh well, no matter what, I will cross that bridge when, and if, we get to it.

I pull up the drive of the cottage, get out of my SUV, grab one of my bags, and head to the front door. I unlock it with the key my mom gave me when they bought the house and go to the room she set up for me. As I put my bag on the bed, my cell rings..."Bad boys, bad boys"... That is my dad, Charlie's, ringer. I answer the phone, "'ello?"

"Bells, where are you? I tried calling your home line and didn't get an answer so I came out here and no one's home. I got some people that want to see you," Charlie asks questionably with a hint of worry.

"I'm at the cottage, dad. That place is not my home anymore. I left Edward maybe not even an hour ago. I will be on the deck so just meet me back there when you get here," I reply with annoyance. "Oh, and who wants to see me?"

"What do you mean you left Edward? What is going on? Are you ok? And who I have with me, my dear daughter, is a surprise and we will see you when we get there. Oh, and call Em. He called looking for you and I don't want him to worry. You know how he is when it comes to you."

There is the the million dollar question. Why is it that every time something goes on, one of the first questions is, "Are you ok?" And I know exactly how Emmett is when it comes to worrying about me. He is the worst, but best, big, brother a girl could have. He probably is pulling his hair out right now wondering where I am or what is going on.

"Just what I said, I left Edward. I am fine, I don't want to talk about it right now. I will see you when you get here and I will call Em. Geesh!"

After I get off the phone with my dad, I change into my bikini, grab my sunglasses, cell phone, cigarettes, and head into the kitchen to make a Jack and Coke before I head to the deck to enjoy what is left of the afternoon sun. Today was a warm day here in Forks, or First Beach. It actually got up to 78 degrees. Nice days like these do not come all that often so I try to take advantage of them.

Once I am out on the deck, I sit down on my favorite lounge chair and call Em. I just hope he is not too worried. His lectures are worse than my dad's when I make him worry. The phone rings twice before he answers.

"Jelly, where are you? I called dad to see if he heard from you. Edward called Rose and told her you left. What the hell is going on?" he asks sounding worried and mad at the same time.

"Well hello to you too, my big brother. Yes, I left Edward, but that is a discussion that I do not want to have right now. I am out at the cottage. Come out and see me so we can talk face to face. Oh, and pick up some beer, Coke, and food please," I tell him rather than ask, because that is just the way to handle him when he gets like this.

He tells me ok and after I hang up the phone, I put on my shades and take a sip of my drink before I light my cigarette. Sitting here relaxing and listening to the waves as the water hits the sandy shore is a breath of fresh air that I was struggling for over the years that I was with Edward. Now that I've found it, I will not go back to struggling for it again.

"Bells, we're here," I hear my dad say as he and whomever is with him come walking onto the deck. I look in their direction and my face lights up with a huge smile. Standing with my dad is my childhood best friend, Alice - or the Pixie, as we call her, and her brother, Jasper.

Alice and Jasper moved away just before high school started. Mr. Whitlock's parents passed away in a car accident a month before school started and they had to move to Texas to take over the family ranch. The last time I saw them was the summer after high school graduation.

Jasper was Emmett's child hood best friend and the star of many of my fantasies before Edward came along- and maybe a few after we got together, too. Jasper is sex on legs and by the looks of it, the years have just enhanced his looks. He is about 6' 3", with blonde, curly sex hair, and blue eyes. Well, today they are blue. I noticed growing up that they change between blue, gray, and green depending on what he wears or his mood. And oh, his body. He is lean and muscular. Not too muscular, but enough to give him some definition. And if he looks anything like he did the summer before they left, I will be in heaven.

No thinking like that right now, Bella. You just left your husband.

"Oh my God! What are you guys doing here? Does Emmett know you're here?" I ask excitedly as I jump out of the lounger and make my way across the deck to where they are standing.

"Well hello, Bella. We came here to see our friends. And not to mention, I had a feeling that you would need some girl time. No, Emmett does not know we're here yet," Alice replies as I wrap my arms around her and we give each other a hug.

I shake my head. "You and your "feelings." But you always have a way with being right. Look at you, my Pixie, you look great as always. Man, I have missed you."

Alice is a seer so to speak. She has a way of seeing things, or gets these feelings that something is going to happen. She has been doing this since we were kids and she always seems to be right, more or less.

After I hug Alice, I walk over to Jasper and give him a hug, too. I wrap my arms around him and I notice that I get this electrical current type feeling through out my body. And by his facial expression, I am sure Jazz feels it too. Wow, that is weird in a good way, I guess.

"Well hello, darlin', you look beautiful as always. How are you holding up?" Jasper drawls out as we break from our embrace.

"Always the gentleman, Jazz. Thank you. I am holding up. Better now, actually. How have you been?" I ask, trying to be casual about it while I remember that this is not my first time feeling that current with him.

Flash back...

It is mid day in the early summer just after my high school graduation, and Jasper and I are smoking a joint in the woods behind my house. This is only my second time smoking pot. I would not say that it is something I would do all the time, but a joint here or there is ok for me.

"We are almost down to the roach Bells, do you want another hit or we could do a shot gun?" Jasper asks as he takes a hit.

"What's a shot gun?" I ask. I've never done one before so I have no clue what they are.

"Face me and stay very still. When I get close to your face, inhale with your mouth as I blow out the smoke." Jasper takes the last hit, then moves onto his knees in front of where I am sitting with my legs folded over each other on the ground. He puts his hands on both sides of my face and gets so close to my lips, almost like he is going to kiss me. I feel this current going through my face after he put his hands on it and it makes me flush. I close my eyes and start to inhale as he exhales. I hold it in for a few minutes before I blow the smoke out. After I exhale, I open my eyes to find Jasper still right in front of my face with his hands still on my cheeks. He moves in and presses his lips to mine. I am stunned at first because I have never kissed a guy before and here is the guy that is starring in my fantasies kissing me. I quickly regain my composure and kiss him back. I bring my hands to his hair, run my fingers through it, and grab a fist full with a slight tug. I feel his tongue swiping my lower lip asking for entrance and I grant it. His tongue enters my mouth and dances with mine bringing a low moan out of me. As we are kissing, his hands start traveling over my body starting at my shoulders, going down my arms, and stopping over my shirt- covered breast. He runs his thumb over my nipple that is fully erect and moans.

"May I?" Jazz asks as he runs his hands down my torso and stomach, stopping at the waist band of my jeans. "I will not hurt you, Bella, I promise."

"Oh God, yes, please," I pant nervously in response. I have never done anything like this before... Hell, I have not even had a boyfriend yet, and to be doing this with Jazz...Oh my God!

"Lay back, darlin'. I want to make you feel good," Jazz says as he starts unbuttoning and unzipping my jeans. His hand travels down my stomach, past my waist and under my panties. He rubs between my folds and my hips buck up. "So wet for me already."

"Oh God, Jasper," I moan as his thumb starts rubbing my clit and he puts one finger into my opening. He starts pumping his finger in and out as he rubs circles around my clit, making me feel things I have never felt before. That current is still traveling trough out my body and I cannot stop moaning.

"Hush, sugar. We don't want Emmett catching us. You have to be quiet. Just feel," Jasper whispers. He continues to pump his finger in and out of my pussy fast and hard while still rubbing circles on my clit with his thumb. I start to feel a coil in my lower stomach and my walls start fluttering. Jasper adds another finger it feels a little uncomfortable at first- and stops rubbing my clit as he twists his fingers inside me. My toes curl and my walls clamp down as my climax hits, taking me to a place I have never been before. Jasper slows his ministrations down as I come down from my high. He removes his fingers and licks them clean. "Hmmm...you taste so good."

I sit up and right my jeans, button and zip them back up. I get on my knees and push Jasper back on the ground as I kiss him. Once he's laying down, I run my hands down his torso, stop at top of his jeans and start to unbutton them.

"Bella, you don't have to do that," Jasper expresses while I put my hands in his pants and start rubbing his cock from the balls up to his tip.

"Now it is your turn to hush. I know I don't have to, but I want to. Now just feel," I reply with a smirk.

His cock is so soft and so beautiful. I can feel him starting to twitch as I continue my movements. I can tell he is getting close because his body goes stiff.

"Ugh, Jesus, Bella, so good...I'm gonna..." Jasper softly moans. I bend down and put his cock in my mouth and suck it once all the way to my throat. He starts cumming and I swallow as 3 long spurts go down my throat. I remove his cock from my mouth and lick it clean. I sit up and lick my lips. Jasper tucks himself back into his boxer briefs and zips and buttons his pants up. He grabs my hand as he sits up and brings his lips to mine for a hot, deep kiss.

"Damn, Bells, where did you learn how to do that?" Jasper asks, chuckling,

"Cosmo," I reply as I get up and start walking out of the woods towards my house. I can not help but smirk knowing that I, Bella Swan, made Jasper cum...

End Flash back...

"Bells, where did you just go and why are you smirking?" my dad asks as he gives me a sideways hug. He was never one for affection, but I am used to it by now. Our relationship has always been this way.

"Nowhere and no reason, dad," I answer while I turn around and head back to my lounger and try to hide my blush.

We sit around talking and catching up for a bit before Emmett shows up. As Alice is telling us about the fashion line she has started, we hear the booming voice that we are so familiar with.

"Jelly, I am here! I see dad is here too." Em's voice echoes through the cottage as he makes his way towards the sliding glass doors to the deck.

The look on Em's face when we walks onto the deck is priceless. He seems quite surprised to see Alice and Jasper here. "Well, look who we have here. How the hell are you?" he asks Jasper as he walks out the back door. They start catching up while I sit back and enjoy the sun and the company and reflect.

This is how it should be. This is family, and no matter what, they are always there for you when you need them and even when you don't.

What a way to start over. Family, booze, cigarettes, and the sun. Not much more to ask for, is there?

I slip on my shades and just enjoy my surroundings until she walks up to me. She being my brother's wife, and my soon- to- be ex husband's sister. Fuck my life.

AN: Thank you so much for reading. Please leave some feed back. Update will come soon.

Xo,

Dani