Bella POV
My name is Isabella Swan but I prefer Bella. I had always been somewhat of a loner, I never really had friends. I had my video camera and my amazing parents Charlie and Renee. They'd prefer me call them by their first names.
Charlie Swan was a professor at the local arts college and Renee Swan worked as an art appraiser. I guess you could say we where one of those artsy families. Our house was cluttered with interesting items my mother had gathered from garage sales over the years. Our furniture was a 1900's Goth style, and my parents weren't exactly a conventional couple. My mom was eight years older than my dad.
They had taught me to have my own opinions and do not let other's judgments keep me from doing what I wanted, and that was a rule I always followed, but I did it in the wrong way I realized. I don't think my parents meant to be a complete outsider when they said that, which was what I was, until yesterday.
Yesterday at the annual Forks Charity Drive Rosalie Hale had actually talked to me and complimented me on my peacock feather earrings my dad had gotten me from Morocco. She was actually a lot nicer and less intimidating once you started talking to her. I along with three other girls Alice Brandon, who I knew as a member of the swim team, Kate Denali, who's older sister was the student body president, and Tanya Richardson who I had in English last year where invited to Rosalie's house today.
I was so excited and nervous at the same time. I was literally shaking while packing my bag. I didn't know if I should wear my bathing suit there or if we were going to change into them at the club so I decided just to pack it instead.
I decided to wear my dark purple rhinestone tank top I had gotten at Buckle and my black American Eagle shorts and I paired it with a pair of black Rainbow flip flops. I slipped on my bracelets that I wore on my left arm everyday there were three silver bangles with different patterns on them, a black strap bracelet with a silver peace sign in the middle, and a grey cuff band. I actually straightened my hair today which I knew was useless because we where going to the pool, so I snapped a hair band on my left wrist as well.
I brought my yellow and black Volcom bathing suit. For my pajama's I brought something I knew Rosalie would approve of, my Juicy Couture pink pajama shorts patterned with white hearts two pink opposite dogs in the middle and a light pink cami with a built in bra. The next days outfit was a Hollister jean skirt and an Abercrombie and Fitch top. Then I stuffed my make up bag, which I had crotched, in my leather purse and grabbed my sidekick I was ready to go.
I checked the time. It was 11:50 already it took about 10 minutes to get to Rosalie's house from mine.
"Mom!" I yelled "We have to go NOW!"
I came running down the stairs where my mother was waiting for me. "Slow down sweetie what's the rush? You haven't even eaten yet" she said with an amused expression.
"I don't have time I have to be at Rosalie's by 12."
"I'm sure the girl's can wait 5 extra minutes" Renee said trying to be funny.
She knew who Rosalie was and she knew that this was probably the biggest day of my life since it decided my future and social status at Forks.
Despite her efforts I didn't crack a smile the entire way over to Rosalie's. My leg kept bobbing up and down and I kept swiveling my fingers around each other.
When we finally parked in front of Rosalie's house it was 12:01. Hopefully she wouldn't be mad.
I went to get out of the car but Renee held me back. I must of looked mad because she smiled at me.
"Don't be so nervous, just be yourself and have fun, and if they still don't like you then they aren't worth it" She said gently.
I smiled back grateful for that little pep talk. "Okay, I'll call you when we get back from the pool."
I got out of the car and as soon as Renee's car drove off Rosalie, Tanya, Alice, and Kate all stepped out of Rosalie's red brick home.
"Finally" Rosalie smiled. "We're all here lets head to the pool."
All the girls began to follow Rosalie. I noticed they where all wearing their bathing suits and where carrying a towel. Oh my god this is embarrassing.
"Wait guys!" I said. They all turned back confused expressions marring their features.
"I need to change into my bathing suit" I said sheepishly I could feel a blush creeping onto my cheeks as I turned to look at Rosalie.
The look she was wearing was not one I was expecting, instead of looking understanding or just plain annoyed, she looked…mad?
But as soon as the expression entered her face it left and broke out into that heart melting smile.
"Of course." She said sweetly as she led me into the house. The rest of the girl's waited outside.
The Hale mansion was beautiful. The foyer was painted a deep red and held a brass Chandelier with tan mica shades, and a brown suede couch with felt decorative pillows covering it was situated between the staircase and hallway that looked like it led to the living room. There where pictures covering the walls and various paintings, but the largest photo centered in the middle of it all was the Hale family portrait.
In the picture her father Richard who I think is an investment banker was situated behind Rosalie with his arm around his wife Linda, a housewife I believe. Jasper Hale was in front of Linda and next to Rosalie. He, like Rosalie, was the picture of perfection. Perfect figure, beautiful smile, honey blonde hair, and smart. They where the picture perfect family it seemed.
Rosalie led me down a hallway which looked like it was leading into the kitchen since I could see granite countertops coming into view.
"I'll wait outside with the rest of the girl's take your time, you can leave your bag in the foyer when your done." She gave me the sweet smile and I smiled back not sure I could find my voice.
She stood there for a second, probably waiting on me to speak, but I couldn't find my voice I was still embarrassed about being the last one here and not having my bathing suit on already. I didn't want to close the door in her face so we stood there for a few uncomfortable seconds before she left.
I let out a breath I wasn't aware I was holding and began to change into my bathing suit and redress.
I was done within a minute probably the fastest I've ever changed and grabbed my black and white checkered towel before leaving my bag in the foyer and basically running out of the house to join everybody else.
They all greeted me. None of them seemed impatient, probably like me and just happy to be here. We began walking to the Country Club falling into a conversation about the Flag ceremony when Rosalie told us what Jane and Chelsea had done to her.
"Those stupid girls, we were supposed to be friends and then they turn around and stab me in the back" Rose said with fire in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry Rose" Tanya said sincerely "it sounded like you decorated it really pretty too."
"Thanks Tans" Rosalie said smiling at Tanya. I swear she jumped. If Rosalie gave me a nickname I probably would too.
"Well I plan on getting them back don't worry" Rosalie grinned.
Honestly that statement made me a little uncomfortable, but I guess if someone stole my time capsule flag piece I would be pretty ticked too. I noticed how uncomfortable Kate seemed. She hadn't talked at all the entire time she just kept walking her eyes watching her feet. Probably just nervous. I know I was.
Alice then brought up the subject of back to school shopping and Kate then joined the conversation.
We were at the country club in about fifteen minutes. It was only a couple blocks away from Rosalie's house and all of Forks was side walked so we could basically walk anywhere.
Forks Country Club was a building that mixed 20th century Goth with modern elements. We entered through the front glass doors and passed the front desk where Rosalie showed a middle aged man her pearly whites and he smiled and nodded in return. Rosalie led us through the club. We passed a huge gym. The floors where an orange concrete and the ceilings where high and displaying chandeliers that held electric candles instead of light bulbs. There where quite a few people on the elliptical and a couple of burly men lifting weights while watching their reflection in the mirror that spread across the west wall.
Rosalie then walked out to the other glass doors that led us to the outdoor veranda. It was filled with different assortments of patio furniture and fire pits. We followed Rosalie down the path that past two tennis courts and towards and Olympic size pool. I noticed that only Rosalie and Kate seemed to know where we were going. I guess it was the other girl's first times too.
Rosalie sat her stuff down and claimed her chair. Kate quickly snapped up the one beside her and Tanya ran over to the other one. I looked behind me and saw Alice smile at me as she sat down next to Kate I smiled back and went over to take a seat next to Tanya.
Rosalie preceded to take her off her Juicy Couture swim suit cover up to reveal a plain white bikini. Kate stripped down from her jean shorts and Abercrombie tank top to a blue and white striped halter bikini and Alice took off her sundress to reveal a yellow and white polka dotted bikini. I suddenly became very self conscious, but I stripped down to my bikini as well. I noticed that Tanya seemed hesitant I know why. She wasn't exactly the skinniest girl but she wasn't the fattest either. But I wouldn't want to be any other than a size 2 around Rosalie Hale.
Rosalie just smiled at her though. "It's okay Tan" she said using that nickname again "we're all friends here" she said comfortingly.
My heart jumped when she said friend. She thinks of me as a friend. My never ending smile grew larger at that comment. Tanya's did too and reluctantly stripped off her Meyer Tee Shirt and kaki shorts to reveal a black tankini.
We all lied out on our chairs and passed around Rosalie's Banana Boat sun tan lotion.
Rosalie looked at me skeptically and then asked me a question.
"So Bella you're mom works at that classy art store downtown doesn't she?"
"Um yeah" I trailed off "she's an art appraiser" I quickly added in.
"That's cool" she said "my mom buys a lot of paintings from there."
"I saw" I said hoping I didn't sound rude "your mom has great taste in art" I added in just in case.
"Thanks" she smiled. Then she turned those piercing blue eyes on someone else. Tanya.
"So Tan" man I wish she'd give me a nickname "What does your mom do?" she asked simply.
"Oh um" It was simple question, but Tanya couldn't help but stutter. "My mom's a web page designer, she designs web pages."
I almost laughed out loud at that, but Tanya looked uncomfortable enough and I didn't want to make her feel worse. Rosalie just smiled and treated Tanya so kindly it made me want to be her friend even more. She asked us all about our families and I found out a lot about these girls today.
Tanya's parents where divorced and her father lived in Portland while her mother lived in Forks and obviously designed web pages. Kate actually seemed okay despite her anal tendencies. Her father was a business man who signed home businesses to his insurance plan and her mother was on the Board of Education. No wonder her and Irina where the straight A kids. Alice, who I didn't know anything about until today, had a younger sister named Cynthia who was in the 4th grade and her father was a real estate agent while her mother was his secretary. She was on the swim team also, which I had suspected.
After about an hour of tanning and conversation Rosalie decided to take a dip in the pool to which we all followed suit. Kate just jumped right in splashing Rosalie. At first I thought she was going to punch Kate, and Kate did too from the expression on her face, but Rosalie just burst out laughing and started splashing Kate. Before we knew it we were in an all out splashing war.
Before we knew it, it was 4 o'clock and time to go back to Rosalie's. I was excited for tonight, but didn't like the way the day was passing so quickly.
We all got out of the pool and put on our cover ups and grabbed our towels. I couldn't wait for tonight I hope Jasper's there.
