Chapter Six

Bella

At the airport Phil and Renee were waiting for me, all smiles and hugs but it felt wrong, carols playing in the sunshine, bright and loud when all I wanted was the peace of Forks, the rain and the gloom which matched my mood far better. There was an awkward few minutes with Charlie but then he went off to find his friend and we collected the car and drove to the new house, one I hadn't seen before, in a better neighborhood than the last. Phil was bringing more money in and Renee worked part-time at a beauty parlor. It was close to the beach and we had dinner outside while Renee told me all about the preparations she had made for Christmas. I had the funny feeling that now she'd bought all the food it was down to me to turn the raw ingredients into something edible. I hadn't cooked anything fancy since the Cullens left, Charlie was happy with chilli, steak, fish, or lasagne, and he eat out twice a week at the diner while I had soup or sandwiches at home. Food didn't interest me, nothing did, but I decided to make an effort so as not to worry Renee too much. She sent Phil into the basement to bring up the Christmas decorations and then out to buy a tree so the next day we spent decorating the house. As we dressed the tree Renee came out with anecdotes about various baubles and trinkets, where she and I had been living when we bought them, why we'd chosen them, all things I had forgotten but I kept a smile fixed in place and I think I fooled her, if not Phil. When she turned the lights on I had to get out, they reminded me just too clearly of the night of my party, all the twinkle lights Alice had strung through the trees down their driveway. I walked down to the beach and sat on the sand closing my eyes against the hot tears that threatened to fall. I had to pull myself together or I'd spoil Christmas for Renee and Phil so after gazing out to sea for a while I got up brushing the sand from my shorts and went slowly back. At one point I stopped, I had the strangest feeling I was being watched but when I turned I could only see a couple of joggers in the distance and an old man sitting reading his paper. Back at the house Renee looked worried but I jollied her along and she helped me make dinner, well she laid the table and served up the ice cream for dessert. Phil sat back groaning as he finished,

"Bella I've missed your cooking, I love your mum but she's a terrible cook"

Renee just laughed, she knew she was and never tried to hide it,

"I thought tomorrow we might invite Charlie for dinner Bella"

I looked at her in shock,

"Dad?"

"Well it is Christmas Eve and I thought you might enjoy seeing both of us."

I looked at Phil who smiled and shrugged. He would do anything to please Renee and after all he was the winner,

"Did dad agree?"

"Yes, he's bringing a friend with him"

"Who? Mike?"

"No, Mike is on duty tomorrow night and couldn't get out of it so I thought Charlie and his friend could come here rather than being alone."

"That's nice of you. Do I know his friend?"

"I don't think so"

I wondered if dad had a secret girlfriend, it seemed unlikely to me but who knew, strange things happened. It put me on edge and I didn't get to sleep until really late. In the end I took out my secret weapon, one I kept well hidden because I knew Charlie or Renee would go crazy if they saw it. I had one photograph that Edward had missed when he ransacked my room, just the one that was still on the computer, only because I had mislabeled it. When I found it a couple of months ago I printed it out and kept it in my underwear drawer, one Charlie would never go in! It had been taken at the only Christmas dance I had been to in Forks and showed all of us, Rose and Emmett, Alice and Jasper, and Edward and I. If I stared at it for long enough I could transport myself back to that night, the sounds, the smells, and the feel. It was also the only time I had ever danced with Jasper much to Edwards annoyance. Alice had whisked him away and Jasper came to my side.

"Bella, may I have the honor."

He used his rich southern accent and I couldn't help a smile as he took my hand and led me out to the center of the floor. For three minutes I felt like a real dancer, everything fell into place and I didn't stumble or forget the steps, in fact I was transported to a mansion in the south gliding around the floor in a full ball gown as Jasper painted me a mental picture of such an occasion. When the music stopped I regretted it then Edward took my arm and scowling at his brother took me back to our seats where Emmett made him even more bad-tempered by admiring our dancing skills. I don't think Edward left my side the rest of the evening and he certainly didn't let Jasper anywhere near me.

"Edward it was just a dance"

"I don't like him so close to you Bella"

"He's your brother, it was just a dance. Would you have been so upset if it were Emmett?"

"No" He shook his head but when Emmett offered me a dance Edward refused on my behalf which really annoyed me.

"I can speak for myself Edward"

"You would have said yes"

"So?"

"I don't like you dancing with other men"

I rolled my eyes but there was no point in arguing or Edward would sulk and that really was a bore. At the end of the dance Alice grabbed him again and dragged him over to the huge branch of mistletoe hanging in the center of the room for a good luck kiss followed by Emmett and Rose and soon everyone was there, well almost everyone. I'd lost sight of Edward in the crush when I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Jasper standing there holding a sprig of mistletoe and with a cheeky grin,

"Shall we? For luck."

I stood up and he wrapped one arm around me, our lips meeting for the briefest moment before I heard a growl and Edward stepped up.

"Back off Jazz"

Jasper bowed to me and stepped back looking at Edward still grinning,

"You were kissing my partner so I thought Bella might feel left out."

Before they could do anything Emmett crashed in between them and lifted me from my feet swinging me round and kissing me on the cheek whooping Merry Christmas like a manic Santa robot. Edward glared at him too until Rose spoke,

"Edward for Gods sake grow up"

Then she took Emmett's arm and dragged him away still shouting Merry Christmas to me.

I was always asleep by this point and usually my dreams were pleasant.