Bella was bored. She had absolutely nothing to do. Charlie was out at work. Jacob was busy fixing up his Rabbit, and though he asked Bella if she would stay, she simply found vehicles too boring for words. Edward was busy out hunting with his adopted family. He hadn't kissed her goodbye, his eyes a blackish- brown mix. He simply said her scent was getting stronger, and had left by jumping out the window.
'Does he always have to do that?' she thought, as she watched his effortless landing,and his hyper speed departure. As soon as she was gone, Bella rolled onto her bed with a sigh. Rain began to patter on the roof, and she pulled the window shut. She picked up a magazine, dropped onto the floor and slightly crumpled, and began to read. The boyfriend advice column was always a great laugh for her, as she imagined situations with Edward and Jacob. Flicking through the glossy pages absentmindedly, she found the section.
Top boyfriend tips and hints from our relationships counselor, Janice Heston
Dear Janice
I'm afraid my boyfriend is finding me boring to talk to now, and merely grunts whenever I try to make conversation. What should I talk to him about, as this issue is threatening our relationship.
Anxious, Los Angeles.
Dear Anxious
Talk to him about the things that he likes. Boys love to talk about themselves, and soon you'll find out his personal likes. Bringing the subject up often is a definite ice-breaker, and soon your conservations will develop. If he doesn't want to talk about himself, talk about sports boys typically like, e.g. soccer, baseball, American football.
Bella frowned slightly at this piece of advice. None of her boyfriends liked sport all that much, as far as she was concerned. She'd never seen them playing any sports. Maybe they both needed to get a little more... active, she thought. With an evil smile, she closed the magazine, and picked up the phone.
'Hi, Quil here.'
Hi, Quil, can I talk to Jacob for a second?'
'Sure.'
Bella heard Quil hollering Jacob's name, and the pad of Jacob's feet on the floor. She's gotten so used to hearing that steady, almost rhythmic sound when she was around Jacob. She could even pick it out on the telephone now.
'Hey Bella, Jacob here.'
'Hi Jake. Listen... have you played soccer much in the past?'
'Uh... a little. Why?'
'Oh, you'll see. Would you and the pack be free on Sunday evening? In the woods, you know that little meadow you saw Laurent in?'
'You mean that bloodsucker who attacked you? Yeah, Bells, I know. Just what exactly are you planning?'
'It's a surprise.' Bella giggled mischievously, wished him good luck with repairing the Rabbit, and put the phone down. After phoning Edward, telling him to bring his family to the field, she bought a soccer ball online.
She sighed with pleasure to herself, when the ball was delivered the next day, charged on her account. 'This is going to be so much fun.'
Sunday
A few hours before the meet, Bella took a bucket of white paint and wonkily marked out pitch lined on the field. The goals were made with two sticks, sharpened and pushed into the ground. A third stick was balanced through the slot in the other two, and amazingly, they stood up by themselves. Bella sighed with content. It was a pleasant day, for Forks. It was not long afterwards that she heard the crunch of heavy footsteps on the meadow, and she looked up to see Edward standing over her
'Bella, what's this all about?'
Bella smiled, mock shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand. Edward was wearing casual clothes, yet underneath, she knew his skin was sparkling in the little sunlight. His family was behind him, and though Bella had never seen them sparkle before, she waited till the sun went under a cloud before looking their way. She pointed to the pitch markings painted in front of her, and as the vampires turned their head in that direction, Emmet boomed 'Is that a soccer pitch?'
'Yeah.' Bella replied, looking quizzically at Emmet. He was beaming all over his face. 'Are we playing soccer?' Alice asked, her pixie face puzzled.