Chap. 1
It was a bright, warm Saturday morning on the Gold Coast. The sun was flooding in through the window of Will's boat house. The brightness of the rays on his eyelids woke him up. Will lazily got out of bed and yawned, trying to wake himself up. He quickly perked up when he realized what the day was. He was supposed to meet Bella at the beach this morning. He quickly shook off his night's sleep, threw on a gray T-shirt and red swim trunks, slipped on his shoes, and headed out his door with an energy bar for breakfast.
"Where are you going?" ordered a sleepy but fierce red-head. Sophie. She was still in bed but woken up by the noise Will made as he was preparing to leave. Will stopped at the door and slowly turned around.
"Uh... Out?" he said. It sounded like a question rather than an answer.
"Out where?" she asked. She yawned.
"The beach," Will replied.
"With who?" Sophie pressed.
"Geez, Soph…" he said warily. Could she be any nosier?
She put her hands up in surrender. "Ok, ok, whatever," she said. She settled back into bed. "Don't forget you have training later!" Will rolled his eyes and left and set out for the beach without another word.
Will walked along towards their designated beach area. All was quiet. It was only 10 a.m., too early for the rest of the town to be out and about. He passed Rikki's Café; the darkness inside showed it wasn't open yet.
When the beach came into view, Will scanned it looking for Bella. There were already a few stray beachgoers on the beach, but not too many. He finally spotted Bella where they were supposed to meet; down by the sea rocks, looking out on the ocean.
Will quietly made his way down the beach, behind Bella's view. As he moved silently, he noted how beautiful she looked. The way her golden blonde hair fell in long, even waves behind her shoulders, barely moving in the breeze. Her sparkling blue eyes, shining from the sun and highlighted from the blue ocean. Her eyes even complimented her outfit, a blue floral tank top and white Bermuda shorts.
He finally reached her. He smiled as he put his hands in front of her eyes from behind. "Guess who," he said playfully as she jumped from the surprise.
"Hmm…" she said. "It couldn't be Will," she giggled. Will uncovered her eyes and swung around in front of her. She was even more beautiful up close. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and settled on one of the rocks next to hers.
"Hey, you," he said to her with a smile.
"Hey," She returned the smile.
They were silent for a minute or two, content just sitting there, smiling, being with each other. Will broke the silence. "So what'd you have in mind for us?"
Bella couldn't help grinning. "I dunno," she mused. "What'd you have?" She returned the question.
"I was only concerned with being with you," he replied sweetly. She gently took her hand into his. They both smiled again.
Before they knew it, they were walking down the beach hand in hand with each other. They were walking away from everyone, towards a secluded part of the beach that they liked to go to. When they were far enough away to have some privacy, they sat down next to each other in the sand.
As they settled down, Bella took her finger and traced a heart in the sand. Will looked at it and smiled. He traced their initials, B+W, in the heart. Bella smiled too. She scooted closer to Will and rested her head on his shoulder. Will lightly stroked her hair.
"I'm so lucky to have you," Will said quietly.
"I know," Bella replied. Will looked at her with fake exasperation. "Kidding!" she said. They both laughed. They loved to tease on another. "I'm lucky to have you too," she returned the compliment.
Will looked out over the blue ocean. "Want to go for a swim?" he asked her.
"Ehh…" she replied uncertainly. "I don't know."
"Ah, come on," Will pushed playfully, using a sing-song voice. He poked her side as she giggled. "You know you wanna…"
"Um…" Bella started. Before she had any more time to do or say anything, Will scooped her up in his arms, cradling her as he ran towards the water.
"No!" she screamed in protest playfully as she laughed. Will was about waist deep, yet not letting Bella's body touch the water. "Put me down!"
"If you say so!" Will yelled as he released Bella, splashing her into the water. She let out a yelp as she fell into the water below the waves. She transformed as Will dove under too. Before she had time to even swim, Will wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to the surface.
When they emerged from the water, Will kept his grasp on Bella. "Will!" she yelled in protest, although she was having trouble hiding her laughs.
"What?" he yelled to. "You told me to put you down!" They both laughed and laughed until Will pulled Bella closer for a kiss. When they finally released one another, they began making their way towards the shore. Bella lay on her stomach, moving her tail back and forth in the water.
Bella's face changed. "What time is it?" she asked Will curiously.
He glanced down at his watch on his wrist. "About noon," he told her. "Why?"
Her eyes widened. "Oh shoot, I gotta go!" She tried to pull herself back on the shore out of the water so she could dry herself. Will helped her.
"What's the rush?" he asked as he pulled her the last few feet. He grabbed a towel and began running it over Bella's tail.
"I have an appointment I need to go to," she told him.
"What kind of—" Bella interrupted him.
"Just leave the towel, I'll do it," she said. As Will moved the towel, Bella twisted her hand over her tail. The water droplets turned in to gel. As she and Will brushed them off, her legs reappeared. She quickly stood up and brushed sand off of her. "I've gotta go," she quickly gave him a kiss on the cheek and then started off.
"Wait," Will called. "Do you want me to walk you home?"
Bella turned around, but didn't stop. "I'm fine, thanks," she called back. She blew a kiss and then waved. "I'll talk to you later!"
Then she was gone, and Will was left standing alone. She sure had run out on him quickly for the "appointment". He tried to think nothing of it and started home himself.
. . . . . . . . .
Bella came in through her front door. Her mother was gathering her purse and the papers she needed.
"Bella, honey, you're just in time," she said. "We need to get to your doctor's appointment."
"Mom, do I have to go? I told you I'm fine," she insisted. Her mom wouldn't take it.
"Sweetheart, I know you don't want to go, but it was recommended by your teacher," she told her daughter as she searched her pocket for her keys. "It's better that we be safe than sorry."
"You're talking as if I'm diseased," Bella joked.
"Not that kind of doctor," her mother said with a smirk. She pulled Bella in and gave her a kiss on her head.
"Mom, I'm telling you, this is pointless," Now she was straight pleading with her mother. "Really, it's not necessary…"
"Bella, it's too late to cancel," she replied. "That's the end of it," Without another word, Mrs. Hartley headed out the door.
Bella crossed her arms and groaned. She reluctantly followed her mom to the car, saying a prayer, hoping for the best.
So, what'd you think" I hope you liked it! (Just in case some were wondering, this is rated K+, so Bella isn't pregnant. Just wanted to clear the air with that...)
