Rain On Me

Chapter 4

True to his word, when Edward wasn't hidden in the kitchen, or slaving away with Peter, he glued himself to the other counsellors, and had even begun getting more involved with the boys. Even though we encouraged a non-segregated camp that discouraged heavy boy versus girl activities, it made me smile when Emmett told me the boys did a nightly round of his Ten Fingers game before lights out, in an attempt to get to know everyone that first week. Boys didn't normally take to games like that. And for someone who claimed to dislike children, it was an odd thing for Edward to choose to do each night.

The one night it was dry enough, Edward parked himself at the campfire between Jasper and Seth, a shy boy who never said too much to anyone. Edward elicited a few smiles from the boy when he'd duck his head to speak to him quietly. I wasn't buying the 'I hate kids' act. At all.

The first week was over before his car was delivered. I saw the tow truck drive into the lot from the office, and went out to direct him to a good spot to drop it. The driver insisted that he had to give the keys to no one except Edward, so I called him. And then sent a text message when he didn't pick up. Nothing. I knew he was working with Peter at the storage building, so I called Peter to tell Edward to get his ass down to the parking lot.

"Sorry!" he called out as he jogged up from the other side of the camp. "My phone's turned off. It was distracting. Can you do me a favour, and park it where you want it? I'm covered in wood shavings and mud." He motioned for the driver to hand the keys over to me while he looked through the paperwork.

"Runs perfectly," I commented when I got out. "You must be happy to have it back."

He snorted as he took his keys back. "Thrilled. It just cost me over two grand."

"What the hell? It looks new! What could have gone wrong with it?"

Extracting his phone with a wry grin, he turned it on. "Recognize this?"

I gasped at the picture he showed of his shiny silver Volvo, smashed in. "Ooooh. Yikes. You weren't hurt?"

His eyes flashed to me, seemingly surprised by my question. "No. You're the first to ask that, oddly."

What the hell? Did his parents not care about him at all? "Hurts the bank account more, I guess. At least you've got it back, safe and sound. You must be happy about that."

He shrugged. "I couldn't care less, really. That was a portion of the scream-fest the day I was supposed to be here. I wanted to trade it in for a beater and be done with it."

"Not your dream car?" I asked, more than a bit surprised. The typical spoiled kid would be arguing about paying for the repairs, not arguing to get rid of it.

"Do I look like a shiny silver Volvo kind of guy? Really?" His frown turned to a grin, and he started laughing. "Stupid Volvo."

"Would you rather have Daddy's car?"

His laughter stopped as he looked chagrined. "Fuck no… that… no. Just no. I guess it was too much to hope that no one noticed it when I got dropped off. I know he only brought me in his Porsche to draw attention. He could have taken the SUV, but he had to show off. It's obnoxious. Please don't judge me by my daddy's choice in cars." His smirk was back, and I believed he didn't want his role as spoiled rich kid.

"That's what you needed a last minute job for? A car you hate?"

"Stupid shiny Volvo," he chuckled.

"There was a lot of damage… but you weren't hurt? Unbelievable! How did you manage that?"

He shook his head, turning away from me. "Super long, super stupid story—"

"About the stupid Volvo," I finished for him with a grin. "Sounds like it brings you bad luck."

"You have no idea. But hey, maybe my luck is changing, huh?"

His attitude certainly was. He was no longer sullen and combative. As the days went on, everyone seemed to compete for time with him. Edward was like a magnet, and every one of us were loose ball bearings rebounding off of each other just to get to him. I wasn't excluding myself from that—I was just as drawn to him for inexplicable reasons. I always got a thrill when he'd be talked into a Ten Finger round, too. Every little bit of information he revealed about himself fed my desire to know more about him. It was silly, really. In conversation, he was open enough. I could ask him anything I wanted to know, and he would probably tell me at least the abridged version. I was certain he was telling Emmett and Jasper details—every day the three of them seemed more like brothers than co-workers. Sharing rooms in a cabin would do that, I suppose. I hated that I was envious of their closeness because I knew it had everything to do with Edward.

x - x - x

The first day it was warm enough to actually attempt swimming, all of the kids chose to do so. I enlisted every guide, including Edward, to have extra eyes watching them in the water. We had to do our test swims so that we'd known everyone's abilities. I was filling out some paperwork when I overheard a conversation between the guys.

"Showtime," Jasper drawled. "And it's all for you."

There was a groan and a "Jesus!" hissed out. "We can't let her walk around like that."

"Are you gonna tell her?"

I was concentrating on the mumblings that followed, not realizing they were getting nearer until suddenly, Edward was right behind me. He squatted down behind the rock I sat on to speak to me quietly. I could feel his breath on my neck.

"Bella, um… could you maybe make a suggestion to one of the girls? If Jazz or I do it, we'll just look like perverts for noticing, but I guarantee that every boy here has already noticed—no matter what their age."

His eyes were trained the ground in front of us, as though he were afraid to look up. "Jessica?" I guessed in a whisper. I sighed when he nodded slightly. What now? It didn't take long for me to spot her—every boy's head was turned in one direction, all aimed at the girl wearing barely anything. "Oh, what the…? Why would she wear that here?"

"Sorry," Edward mumbled against my ear. I didn't know if I was more annoyed with Jessica for exposing herself that way, or for putting Edward in an uncomfortable situation. She definitely needed to be dealt with immediately. Several of the boys had already headed for the cover of the water in the lake with its cooling powers to help ease their own embarrassing situations.

"Christ!" I hissed as Edward snickered. I smiled at his sympathetic grin before standing up. He passed me a spare t-shirt and wished me luck.

I pulled her from the group to quietly explain why a sense of modesty was essential in a group setting like this. She argued there was nothing wrong with her body, and it was wrong to make her feel like she had to cover it. Alice relieved me by taking her back to the cabin to search for a more appropriate swimsuit.

x - x - x

That night, we gathered in the common area of the counsellors' cabin for a rehash of the day after the kids were all in bed. Of course, her show was brought up.

"So… it was pretty cold out at the lake today, wasn't it?" Emmett quipped to kick things off.

Alice tossed a pillow at him. "Pig. You were in the water doing tests. You shouldn't have even noticed."

"Hello? Her nipples could have poked him from the beach!" Rosalie said defensively.

"Darlin', there's no way anyone could have missed that. They weren't even directed at Emmett. If Ed hadn't hid behind Bella, he'd have gotten an eye put out for sure! That was her intention with the two inch patches of fabric on strings."

"Point made," I said dryly.

"Literally," Emmett roared.

Rosalie shook her head. "A little girl with a woman's body is a dangerous thing."

"Speaking of… whoever's on watch tonight should get out there," I commented. As counsellors, we shared a cabin—girls' rooms on one side of the common room and boys' on the other. However, we took turns taking the bed by the door in each of the campers' cabins as a security measure.

"Shit… I think it's my turn," Emmett groaned. "Know how much whacking off is being done in there?"

"Ew! Disgusting!" Alice turned up her nose.

"It's a fact of life, baby. And as much as I'm not looking forward to going in there, Edward's got the real shit end of the stick—laundry day tomorrow! There'll be some pre-starched sheets for sure!"

Everyone laughed at his expense as he buried his head in his hands. He hadn't said a word throughout our discussion. I hung back to talk to him when everyone else got up to leave.

"You handled that well today. Thanks. You were right to bring it to my attention. Rose, Alice, and I will deal with anything like that involving her. I hope you feel comfortable coming to me."

"Jasper said that suit was for my benefit. I hope you don't believe that. I'm not encouraging her in any way."

Taking a seat beside him on the couch, I rested my hand on his back. "That, I know for a fact. I know it's all her. This makes you uncomfortable though… I'm sorry about that. I could have a talk with her—"

"God, no!" He sat up and turned his head to face me. "No, please… that would make it worse. Just let me try to work it out. I've already figured out that ignoring her altogether isn't an option."

"She just tries harder for your attention," I noted.

"Exactly. I have a feeling it's a game to her. If you go to her about a crush, she'll sneak around to get to me, and that'll be ten times worse."

I frowned, nodding in agreement. "You're right. How did you get so smart? A lot of church crushes?" I asked lightly.

Edward snickered as he sat back. My arm followed him and draped across the back of the couch. I tucked my legs under and sat on them so I could face him as I waited for a reply. I knew him well enough to know when one would come in some form. "No. Dealing with kiddie crushes to this extent is new. I just know that when a girl wants something, she can be really persistent. And I'm prone to stupidity around persistent girls. I wouldn't do anything with her… I'm just saying… it's uncomfortable."

"Edward, are you attracted to her?" I asked softly.

"Not in the least. This is my job. And I've got a massive bill to pay. I can't afford to have you fire me. I wouldn't put you in that situation anyway." He paused to grin at me. He had to know how charming he came off when smiled that way with his eyes all full of mischief. "Honestly, if she's going to hang herself out like that all summer, I'm sure I'll end up taking a look. I'm not gay. But she's a kid…"

So are you, I thought wryly. And that doesn't prevent me from fantasizing now and then. Was I fantasizing? Certainly, I had noticed what a good-looking guy he was, but fantasies of him? I withdrew my arm, hugging myself as I struggled to bury the current fantasy of weaving my fingers through his hair just then. He had removed his ball cap, and hair had fallen onto his forehead.

"Even if we were the same age, she wouldn't be someone I'd be interested in. I hate girls that try too hard. Anyway, like I said to you earlier, I'm not looking to get involved with a girl in any way right now. They go hand-in-hand with stupid Volvos. Bad luck."

"Bad break-up?" The minute it was out, I regretted it. I was crossing the line with my employee.

He didn't seem to be put off in the least, responding instantly. "I can't even claim that. They just… mess with me. They draw out my foolishness, and I do stupid things. For example, I've spent the past year pretending to still be with a girl I dated in high school."

I didn't ask for further information, but he offered it when I tilted my head to the side.

"I'm not hung up on her. It wasn't working—it was an amicable split. It's a long—"

"Long story," I recited along with him. "I know. You sure have a lot of those. But I don't want to be one of those persistent girls that you hate, so I won't nag you for more information than you're willing to put out there."

His mouth opened, as though he was about to speak, but he closed it and smiled at me instead. After a moment, he went for it. "I… You're not anything like those girls. I think that I've developed a tendency to say too much, that's all. I'm slowly learning that just because I feel something doesn't mean I have to express it. I suppose that means my parents were right about one thing. Dammit." He chuckled sardonically and rolled his eyes. "I can keep things to myself, and it won't kill me. It may actually make life easier."

I took a moment to process that before responding. It was the first time I'd seen him act insolent since the spring, and I found myself wondering if he'd done a lot of growing up, or if I'd just misread him in those early days. Knowing him better, I now saw it as his way of making light of his own issues. I understood, completely. If I were to just blurt out the mixed up feelings I was having about him, for instance… well, that wouldn't make life easier in any way.

"You know, some things are better left unsaid, but there is something to be said about getting things off your chest as well. I'm a good listener, if you can't curb your tendency to spill it." We smiled at each other and I gave the back of his hand a pat as I stood up. "If you ever want to talk, you can come to me about anything. Just putting that out there…"

"Thanks," he chuckled. "Noted."

"Good night, Edward," I called from the doorway.

He was already headed for his side of the cabin's bedrooms. "Keep smiling, Bella."

I stopped in my tracks, spinning around only to see him turn the corner and disappear. Hearing those words made my heart do double-time. It was pounding away in my chest. It instantly made me think of my card, and that drew me to think of how I'd already acknowledged he had the ability to sooth me just as that anonymous message had for years. In reality, I barely knew him either. He flipped between spoiled smartass and broken little boy so fast there was no reason why I should be attracted to him. Maybe it wasn't attraction so much as concern.

Right… because when he does that flirtatious thing with his eyes and his crooked little grin, he totally looks like a lost child… not. I flopped down across my bed and tried to clear the sultry image from my mind. He's an employee. And he's too young. And… he's totally not interested anyway…

But that smile of his…

I couldn't help but smile over that image. He had a way of cheering me with the slightest grin. Maybe it wasn't him, it was merely being at Eclipse that made me feel good. And yet, I found myself feeling fortunate to have two reasons to be cheerful. It was like he was a new gift—a living boost to my spirits. A live soother for my heart.

And that was trouble.

A/N ~ How can they not be friends working with such a tight little group? A little one-on-one time next up. ;) Possibly later in the week? Thanks for reading! xx ~ SR