a/n: This is the next chapter. I'm glad you guys are liking this because that makes me smile like Emmett. I've got the pictures of Bella's outfit on my profile if you guys want to see it. I think it's very pretty-ful. TTYL 3
EDWARD'S POV
"Edward," a hyper little voice whisper yelled. A hand was placed on my shoulder and began shaking me. "Wake up sleepy head."
"Five more minutes, Mom," I said, turning further onto my side, hiding my head in my pillow.
I heard a tiny little giggle. "Come on buddy. It's seven in the morning. Time to get up for a day of fun…Alice style!"
I groaned, realizing that not only was I being forced to wake up against my will, but it was also only 7 AM.
Not cool.
I opened my eyes slowly, the lids still heavy with sleep. Alice was sitting pretzel-style on the side of the bed, wide awake and ready to start the day.
"There. Now with that out of the way, it's time for you to get up and out of your bed."
"You know Alice, you have too much perkiness for one tiny girl like you to contain. It's seriously unhealthy," I said to her, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.
"I know. You'll come to love that about me though," she chirped happily. "Now, throw on your swim trunks, a t-shirt, and flip flops. I'll be back in ten minutes to push your tush downstairs to start your first ever day planned out by the Queen of Fun."
She hopped up off the bed and skipped out the door. "Why does that scare me so much that I'm near peeing my pants?" I asked myself.
Finally managing to be half awake, I got off the bed and walked over to my suitcases. Running my hand through my hair, I tried to remember which case I'd packed my swim trunks in. I remembered they were in my green bag. Opening it up, I dug through it until I found my plain black trunks in the mess of clothes.
I changed into them, walked over into the bathroom that was attached to my room, and brushed my teeth. My hair was more of a mess than usual, but I knew that I couldn't do anything about that.
I went back to my suitcase and grabbed a white t-shirt and flip flops. Alice came into my room just as I had finished and checked my appearance. Satisfied with what I'd put on, she grabbed my hand and dragged me into the hallway and down the steps.
"Morning," three voices said to me as I entered the kitchen.
Laughing at the chorus of voices, I took an empty seat at the counter. "Do you guys have that rehearsed?" I asked. "Or does it just happen naturally?"
"They practice every night, just to be sure they have it down to the G, on the off chance that they'd ever needed to greet you in such a way, Edward," a musical, angelic voice replied as Bella entered the kitchen.
"Morning to you too, Bells," Emmett said, his voice conveying his sleep deprivation. Her melodious laugh followed his comment and I couldn't keep the smile from creeping across my face.
She was her own choir of angels in every sound she made…
BELLA'S POV
"Bella," my favorite little pixie said as she shook the living daylights out of me.
"I'm up! I'm up!" I pleaded with her as my eyes fluttered open.
"Good. I set your suit and cover up out on the counter in your bathroom. Hurry up and get ready. You know how much you love me and my fun days."
I laughed. "You know, I loved you so much until that wake up call," I teased.
"You'll love me even more when you see the new bathing suit I got you from work," she said with a smile.
I groaned. "Does it cover at least twenty percent of my body?" I asked suspiciously.
"I don't know, Bella. Why don't you put it on and then you can do the math."
"Fine. So, where are we headed today, oh masterful day-planning one?" I asked.
"The beach."
"Can I bring a book?"
"You can, but you won't get the chance to read it."
"Why not?" I asked.
"Even teams," was all she replied with as she ran out of my room. I didn't have the chance to protest her before she shut the door.
Great. Thanks to Edward McPerfectPants, I have to play their stupid games today.
I groaned as I stood up and walked to my bathroom. Without paying much attention, I threw on the suit and cover up that Alice had set out for me. Looking in the mirror, I saw the light blue and brown bikini she placed me. I allowed my dark blue cover up dress fall back down over my suit, feeling more comfortable with a little bit more of my skin covered up. Finally, I grabbed the sandals that she'd set out for me and put them on my feet. They were white and strappy. (a/n: pictures are all on the profile)
Not too bad altogether, I thought.
I brushed out my hair quickly and threw it up into a low pony on the back of my head. I brushed my teeth and grabbed my big, white-framed sunglasses, putting them on the top of my head.
I started perking up as I saw the beautiful day it was outside. I nearly skipped down the hall and almost jumped down the steps as I made my way to the kitchen, emphasis on nearly and almost. It was seven in the morning, I most definitely wasn't Alice.
"Morning," I heard while I was still on the steps. This of course came from the mouths of Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper.
Then I heard a beautiful chuckle and velvet voice tease the three on their unity. "Do you guys have that rehearsed? Or does it just happen naturally?"
Knowing that it was too early for most of them to really process something to snap back at Edward, I happily responded for them as I entered into the kitchen. "They practice every night, just to be sure they have it down to the G, on the off chance that they'd ever needed to greet you in such a way, Edward."
"Morning to you too, Bells," I heard Emmett grumble. I laughed at him, hearing the lack of sleep in his tone. Emmett never was one to wake up early for Alice's antics.
"Alright, guys. Eat up. Can't go to the beach on an empty stomach," Alice said, retrieving the pancakes from Jasper and placing them on the already-set table.
Emmett didn't need to be told twice, and hearing about the beach had Rose hopping into a seat at the table right along with him. Alice took her rightful seat and so did Jasper. Edward took the empty seat between Emmett and Jasper. Decided to skip the pancakes and go straight for my morning coffee and a nice bowl of Frosted Cheerios.
Now, coffee in hand, I sat down at the counter and picked up the news paper. The weather outlook looked more than perfect for our plans for today and I smiled happily. I took a bite of my cereal and drank another sip of my coffee.
"Mmmm," I quietly murmured to myself.
"Hey, Pixie, you got everything packed?" Emmett asked, his words construed by the food in his mouth.
"First of all, yes. Second of all, do you really need to ask? And third, and last, of all, didn't your mother ever teach you not to speak with your mouthful, as well as chew with your mouth shut?" Alice scolded.
"Yes she did and yes she did," Edward chimed in.
"Well, apparently those are of the lessons that didn't stick," Rose said.
I giggled into my coffee mug.
"Hey Bells! What's got you giggling over there? Come and join the family, why don't you," Emmett said, transferring the spot light from me to him.
"Bella," Alice warned.
"Oh please, Alice. I'm just enjoying my morning coffee in peace," I defended, turning in my seat at the counter to face the kitchen table.
"Not that the three feet of distance really makes a difference," Edward added.
I glared at him. Do you really think it's a smart idea to cross me like that when I'm being scolded by Alice? I asked him in my head, willing him to read my thoughts.
"Bella, you sit your beautiful little booty down in this chair right now or I will make you wear one of the other bikinis I got for you from work," Alice said, narrowing her eyes at me.
Afraid of what the other bathing suits, or the near lack there of, could look like, I promptly stood from my seat and made my way over to the empty seat, taking the extra caution not to spill any coffee or trip while I did so. "Happy?" I asked.
"Very," she replied, turning back to the stack of pancakes on her plate. For such a little person, she sure could eat a lot.
"Fantastic," I muttered, setting my mug on the table in front of me and sinking down into my seat. I felt a little claustrophobic being squished into such a small spot, Emmett's elbow nearly jabbing into my face every single time he went to caught his sausage.
"Kay guys. It's seven thirty!" Alice said, jumping up from her seat. "Time to head out!"
We all complied with her wishes and made our way out to the cars.
"Driving arrangements?" I asked.
"Guys take the Jeep, girls take the BMW," Rose replied.
A very short drive later, we were all at the La Push Beach. Alice ran and snagged us the perfect spot, plopping down on the sand to save it until the guys would arrive with all the stuff.
I spotted Emmett first, carrying all six beach chairs in his arms. Behind him was Jasper carrying the cooler with our lunch and he had one of our beach bags slung over his shoulder…the one with the towels and sunscreen.
Edward walked sexily behind Jasper carrying the beach bag with all the games and sports stuff, the umbrella, and the bag with our changes of clothes…in case there was ever a need.
Did I just say Edward was walking SEXILY?
I mentally slapped myself. Now was so not the time to start thinking about some guy.
The chairs dropped down on the sand. "Alright girls. Let's start setting this stuff up," Emmett said as he began setting up out chairs in the usual circle, making it a little bigger to allow for Edward's chair to fit.
"Over here!" Alice called from where she stood in the sand. Actually, it was more like where she was bouncing up and down like a bunny (a/n: sorry for all the bunny references in this story…I don't know why that animal keeps coming up) while she waited for someone to throw her the Frisbee.
I decided to try and opt out of this game, unsuccessfully, and so now I just stood off to the side as much as possible in the hopes that no one would throw the Frisbee to me and I wouldn't end up heading to the ER with a broken nose or something.
"Bella, catch!" Emmett shouted as the Frisbee came hurdling toward me.
I let out a small squeak as the plastic disk slammed me in the shoulder. "Alright. I'm done with this game," I said as I walked back over to our seats and sat down.
"Nice going Em," Rose said as she smacked him upside the head.
I laughed to myself as I grabbed a few ice cubes out of the cooler. "You get him Rose!" I cheered her on.
She turned to me and smiled. Then she looked at Alice and as they had a silent conversation, I wondered what they were discussing.
"Okay, boys. Sit yourselves down and grab a drink. It's time to play the infamous Twenty Questions!" Alice exclaimed, flying over the sand to our seats.
Everyone did as they were told, some grabbing sodas while others grabbed beers or wine coolers.
"So, we owe this round today to Edward over here. Thus, he has to be the first to answer during every round. Since the rest of us know the rules already, I'll just give Edward a quick overview of 'em. You have to answer the questions, as does everyone else. We all answer every round. Be truthful, 'cause lying will get your butt kicked out of our little circle of trust here. And, lastly, there is to be NO use of the information learned here for utter humiliation. Cough cough Emmett cough cough," Alice explained.
The last rule was our most recently added one, thanks to Emmett's game playing after the last round we all played.
EDWARD'S POV
I laughed at the last part of Alice's rules. Of course Emmett would find someway of turning this fun little game into his own personal humiliating information files.
"Cool. I'm in," I said, and everyone voiced their agreement as well.
"So, I'll start," Alice said. "Question number one, who's your best friend?"
"That's easy," I said, though I knew that everyone else would start laughing at my answer. "My piano."
As promised, they were all laughing. After they were done, it was Bella's turn to answer. "Alice and Rose."
Emmett's turn was next. "Jasper."
"Alice and Bella," Rose announced.
"Emmett," Jasper said.
"Everybody sitting in this circle right now," Alice chirped.
"Minus me of course," I noted to her.
"For now, yes, but I have a feeling that it won't be long before you're added to that list too."
"Oh god, Pixie and her creepy future feelings," Emmett said.
"Next question!" Alice said.
"Alright. Question number two. What's your current dating status?" Jasper asked.
Simple enough of a question. "Single," I said.
"Single," Bella said. For some reason, that answer made me smile.
"Taken and in love," Emmett said, squeezing Rosalie's hand.
"Ditto," she said.
"Engaged," Jasper said.
"Same here," Alice said smiling. She leaned over in her chair and quickly planted a kiss on my cousin's cheek. They made a cute couple.
"My turn!" Rose exclaimed. "Alright, question number three. What's your job?"
"I'll be starting as a doctor in September," I said.
"Novelist," Bella said.
"Personal trainer, soon-to-be gym owner."
"Car design," came from Rose.
"Psychiatrist," Jasper said.
"Personal shopper slash clothing designer," Alice said.
"Question number four," Emmett said, rubbing his hands together deviously. "Where and when was your first time?"
I rolled my eyes. "Only you would ask that question Emmett."
"Yup, but somebody has to."
"Fine. The Holiday Inn, room number three-twelve in Chicago. Junior year of high school," I said, answering his question.
"No way!" Emmett said.
"Way," I answered.
"Bella's turn!" Emmett nearly squealed.
"Mine, Alice's, and Rose's dorm room, just before freshman year ended."
"Sophomore year of high school, on vacation in Hawaii for spring break, in the surf shack," Emmett beamed proudly.
"So that's what was with you the rest of the week," I said.
"Yup," he answered, looking like he was in a dreamlike state.
"Junior year of high school, in my bedroom," Rose continued.
"My twenty first birthday in Vegas," Jasper said, blushing a bit.
"Just after high school graduation on a cruise," Alice answered, looking just as embarrassed as Jasper.
"Question number five," Bella said. "What's your favorite lame pickup line?"
I laughed. Oh this was going to be a great one. "Help the homeless…Take me home with you."
"Let's have a party and invite your pants to come on down," Bella said, nearly falling out of her seat as she laughed.
"I think I'm falling in bed with you," Emmett said.
"If I was a watermelon, would you spit of swallow my seed?" Rose answered as she began to laugh too.
"The word…of the day…is "legs". Let's go back to…my place and…spread the word," Jasper said between laughing fits.
"If you were a door I would slam you all night long," Alice managed to say with a straight face and then broke out into giggles.
The game continued on like this until nine rounds later.
"Question fourteen. Past loves…AKA past boyfriends and girlfriends with real significance. Name them?" Emmett gave us all his question.
"Suzy Cranston, Alexandra Simpson, and Cynthia Frickles," I said. Emmett's laughter boomed as he recalled two of the three girls I names.
I turned to Bella, waiting for her answer, but she seemed to pale. She looked upset even. I turned to Alice and Rose and they were having one of those girl moments where they communicated telepathically. The concerned looks on their faces made me wonder what was wrong. Finally, they turned back to the group.
"Alright Emmett, your turn to answer," Rose said, shooting him a dirty glare.
"But it's Bella's turn," he whined.
"Emmett," Rosalie growled out a warning.
"Fine…"
As the sun began to set, Rose and Emmett sat down over by a tree at the edge of the beach together for some alone time. Alice and Jasper decided to take a walk along the water's edge, slowly stepping hand in hand through the wet sand.
This left Bella and I in our seats. I was about to strike up a conversation with her when she pulled a beach blanket out of one of the bags. She laid it out flat just outside the circle of chairs and took a seat on it.
She'd taken her hair down after we'd gone in the water and it had just finally dried. She put the dark blue cover up dress back on and it looked absolutely stunning on her. She looked positively beautiful as she sat on her right sight, her legs some one extended but still bent as they lay one on top of the other. Her upper body was help up and supported by her right arm, her right hand set firmly on the blanket. Her left arm rested gently along her body, her left hand sitting on her knee. She was looking up at the sky, watching the sunset.
I took a seat next her, sitting pretzel-style on the blanket and leaning back, supporting my wait with my arms behind me. I looked up at the sky and sunset with her. The orange sun was beginning its descent behind the trees that were off in the distance. The sky played out numerous beautiful colors. The oranges, pinks, and purples that presented themselves behind the cream-colored clouds swirled with the fading light.
I turned to look at Bella. The wind blew gently through her shoulder length hair. I recalled how I'd described her hair as 'inviting the wind to blow through it'. I was a bit envious of the breeze that caressed the sparkling strands, wishing that I could be the one to brush my fingers through.
Hold up Edward. What were you just thinking?
I was suddenly reminded of the question that she'd dodged earlier during our rounds.
"Tell me," I whispered to her.
"Tell you what?" she asked in the same whisper. Her voice was serene, peaceful.
"Why didn't you answer that question earlier?"
"What question?" she asked, her tone a little less kind.
"The one that Emmett asked earlier. Alice didn't make you answer," I said.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I have a feeling you do," I said softly.
She sighed. "It's a long story."
I looked around to my brother and my cousin, noticing that neither of them looked like they'd be done with their girlfriends anytime soon. "I think we've got the time."
She turned to look at me. I looked into her amazing brown eyes and saw all the pain hidden in them. She quickly turned back to look out to the water again and hid her emotions behind a mask…a stone wall that I suddenly felt myself wanting to break away.
BELLA'S POV
I was so angry with Emmett for bringing that question up. He knew the story, and he knew the pain that it brought me every time I thought about it. Now, I was going to have to explain it once again. And to Edward.
I usually did my best to avoid telling people, changing the subject as quickly as possible, but for some reason, something inside of me was screaming for me to tell him.
So that's what I decided to do. I decided that I would allow the pull that I felt when I was near him, the energy that surged through me when I heard his voice, to take control and to tell him. I sensed he was different from everyone else, that he should know the truth.
"Ever since I was in diapers, Jacob and I were best friends. We were inseparable. We were always at the other's house and didn't do anything without the other with them. Every decision we made, every chance we took, the other shared in its consequences and benefits. We supported each other through all the good times and the bad. He was like my brother. We weren't just in the other's life; we were the other's life. As time went on, our feelings for each other only grew, and not in just one sense. At first we were just growing closer, never being able to imagine the future without the other. But then there was something more between us. The sibling-like love we had for each other grew into romantic feelings. Finally, after we graduated high school, we gave those feelings a try, because what could be better than falling in love with your best friend? We were both going to Seattle for college, and so nothing really changed there except for fewer distractions from the people we knew.
"I gave him everything, and he always gave back. We were twenty years old when he proposed. It was absolutely perfect, too. The night that my book was put onto the top seller's list, Jacob took me out to a really expensive restaurant, and right before dessert came, he got down on one knee. He told how long he'd been wanting to ask me, but couldn't find the right time. He decided that it was that night he wanted to ask me. I said yes, of course. We were engaged for almost a year, when things started to change. I continued to give him everything, but he gave back less and less as the days passed.
"I could see something was wrong. He always looked distant, or upset. I knew he was hiding something from me, and every time that I'd ask him about it, he'd tell me it was nothing and storm out of where ever we were, slamming the door shut behind him. When I'd finally had enough of him not answering me, I asked him to come over to my dorm one night." I let out a gentle laugh, one full of sorrow, and curled up into a ball, hugging my legs tightly to my chest and resting my chin on my knees. "I remember that night all too vividly."
(FLASHBACK)
There was a knock on my door and I took a deep breath before going to open it up. I knew exactly who it was, and I knew that I'd get an answer out of him tonight, no matter what it took.
I was greeted by a kiss on the lips from the love of my life. The kiss no longer had the spark it did long ago. I knew something wasn't right when the passion disappeared, but I'd ignored it. Jake and I were meant to be together forever, that I knew.
"Jake, come and sit down," I said, motioning to the sofa.
He stepped through the door, that same distant expression on his face. I shut the door and locked it, knowing that it wouldn't be enough to keep him in the room, but enough to keep him for one second longer.
He patted the cushion beside him on the couch, but I shook my head no. I stood in front of the door, blocking his only exit as I said, "We need to talk."
His face dropped, the distant expression turning to a pained one.
"Jacob, you know I love you, but it's killing me to see you like this. You've lost the life that's in you, yet you refuse to tell me why."
"Bella, it's nothing. You know I love you too and if something were wrong, I'd tell you."
"I want to believe that's true, but my heart is screaming that you're hiding something important from me. I've known you since you were born, Jake. This isn't the real you."
"Bella," he sighed. "Bella, I love you, but it's not the same any more."
I could feel the tears building in my eyes, but I held them back, not wanting to hurt Jacob in any way. "I've noticed," I whispered.
"I'm sorry," he said. "But, I just can't go on like this anymore."
"I've noticed," I repeated. I looked down at the floor, trying to gain some composure so that I didn't break down in front of him. I loved Jacob enough to let him break away without knowing how hurt I really was.
"Look at me," he whispered. I looked up, meeting his intense gaze. "Bella, it isn't your fault. It's mine. You've been more than good to me, and recently I've done nothing but pull away."
"I've noticed," was all I seemed to be able to say, repeating it once again.
"But I'm not meant to be with you. I'm never one to say something like 'it wasn't written in the stars for us', you know that Bells. It's just that, we weren't meant to be this way."
"Jake," I whispered not wanting to ask the question that I knew I was about to. "Is there someone else?"
"I've never cheated on you Bella, that's not me. You know who I am, that I would never do something like that to you. But, the thing is, that there is someone else. I don't know how to describe it, but there's like a gravitational pull between us, one that I can't ignore any longer. It was like her entire being was imprinted into my soul by some greater powers," he told me.
"I understand," I responded. "I want you to be happy Jake."
"Bella, I'll always love you," he told me.
"And I'll always love you as well, but you need to leave now," I whispered, stepping away from the door.
He turned the lock slowly, his head down, staring at the floor. He turned the doorknob, but before opening the door he said, "I'm sorry Bella. I'm so so sorry."
With that, he left, and I collapsed on the floor, trying to hold myself together with the only threads left in my life after he'd stepped through the door.
(END FLASHBACK)
"I've never dated any other guy. I lost so much that night. I lost my best friend, my lover, my fiancée, my future, my heart. He was my first everything. I lost it all. I was lucky that Alice and Rosalie were there to help me pick up all the pieces that were left."
EDWARD'S POV
I felt my heart breaking as I listened to Bella's story. How could someone do so much to one girl? To Bella?
"Do you not trust any other guy?" I asked before I could even think the words through. I wanted to know the answer of course, because my entire being was telling me that I wanted more than just a simple friendship with this amazing woman.
"That's not it. I just never decided when the right time was to put my heart back out there. Everything in my life fell back into place eventually. I was finally happy, and didn't feel the need to take the risk of changing that. I decided that if I ever felt what Jacob did, I'd take that chance, but I'd never try to force that feeling to come."
She closed her eyes slowly, carefully, and then opened them again. A single tear rolled down her soft cheeks and I moved myself so that I was now positioned in front of her, blocking her view of the water.
"Hey," I said softly, comfortingly. I reached out and gently wiped the stray tear away, feeling that electrical shock run through me again. "I didn't mean to upset you. I didn't realize you had such a hurtful story to tell."
"It's okay," she said, a small but genuine smile touching her soft lips. "Something inside of me told me it was right to let you know."
"I'll always be around to listen if you have something to speak about," I told her, returning the beautiful smile she had with a crooked one of my own.
She laughed, this one a little happier than the last. "Thanks," she whispered.
"Anytime," I said.