As always, I could not do this without my incredible betas and pre-readers: Nails233, LaMomo Willow, Manda, and hln3twimom. Any mistakes come from my not being able to leave well enough alone once they send it back!
I own adorable sock monkey bedroom slippers and a lare collection of Jackson Rathbone coffee mugs.
Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight but the plotlines and situations are mine. If I owned Jasper, I probably would be WAY to busy to write this.
Please do not reproduce, translate, caress, or fondle my story inappropriately in any way or I'll send Paul to ruin your beach party.
CHAPTER 9
Fumblin' with the Blues
Paul continued to yell and bitch, kicking around as much of his shit as he was actually picking up. The officials spoke quietly to Paul's friends and they began gathering things up instead. As Paul was escorted from the beach, apparently disqualified, he looked back over his shoulder, his dark eyes boring into Emmett and, as he reached the boardwalk, he mouthed, "Mine.' Yeah, this shit was far from over.
"Well, now. That was fun!" Emmett snorted when we pulled in the driveway at home later that afternoon.
"Em," I shook my head in exasperation, "you may have poked the wrong bear this time. Paul isn't going to let this shit go. You do realize that, right?"
'Yeah, Jas, but he's a frigging punk. I'm glad he finally got his dick handed to him. So I watch my back for a couple of days. Whatever. If he wants to stay on the tour, he ain't gonna pull anything, anyway. He can't afford for the organizers to hear about it."
Releasing the deep breath I'd been holding in, I contemplated the situation before answering. "I don't know, Em. He's pissed. Sure, he has to be careful now, but he's one sneaky bastard. Two of his boys are still competing tomorrow. Unless he's banned from the beach, he'll be there, and he'll be looking for trouble."
"It's all good, dude. You got my back, right? I can take him if he starts any shit. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm fucking starving and I need a shower."
While we walked up to the door, Edward pulled into the driveway, also. He'd made it to the beach in time for the last two shortboard heats. I'd filled him in on the Paul situation and he shared my concerns about what Paul was capable of. Emmett had been dismissive of Edward's concerns, too, so I knew it wouldn't do any good to pull Edward back into the argument. I'd just have to make sure I kept an eye on things the next day.
Emmett headed upstairs to grab a shower, while I looked for something for eat. Edward walked into the kitchen, talking on his cell phone. It didn't take long to piece together that Esme was on the other end.
"Yes, they both advanced to the finals. No, I'm not sure, I'll need to get the information from them. Tonight? We have room here. No, it's fine, Em and Jas wouldn't mind. Sure. No, it's all good I understand. Of course she can, Mom. I know you aren't naïve enough to think it never happened in Richmond. Tomorrow? We're thinking about having a cookout. Okay. Sure. Just call when you get in. Tell Dad we all said Hi. 'Kay, we'll see you tonight after you get settled. Love you too, Mom."
I'd been busy pulling lunchmeat out of the fridge for a sandwich, but looked over at Edward when I heard his phone beep, signaling the end of the phone call.
"Well, this end of the conversation sounded interesting. I'm guessing Esme and Carlisle will be in later on this evening?"
"Yeah," he hemmed and hawed before continuing, "uuuhhhmm, I hope it isn't a problem, but Alice'll be staying here for the weekend. Mom and Dad are using her room at the hotel instead of trying to find something else. Most of the hotels are booked up with the end of summer and the tournament."
"Edward, why would it be a problem? We're all adults." I smirked when Emmett walked into the room, "Well, at least you and I are. The jury's still out on Em."
Edward covered his mouth to hide a smile, while Emmett stood there in his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirt, looking confused.
"Jury is still out on what? What are you guys talking about?" he snagged the bread bag out of my hand and pushed me to the side.
"Dick! Give me a frigging break, I got here first!" I griped, snatching the bread and shoving back. "We were discussing your aunt and uncle coming to town and sleeping arrangements. Since you'll most likely be in Intensive Care tomorrow afternoon, we're just gonna have them stay in your room."
"Ha fucking ha. Yeah right. I'm not giving up my room and Paul can kiss my ass. It's about time someone dealt with him and settled some shit." While he talked, he made an unsuccessful grab for the bread again. I twisted my body to keep it away from him, tossing the bag to Edward, who snatched it out of midair and put it behind his back.
"Em, seriously. I'm thinking Paul is not the kind of trouble you want coming to find you. Just be careful."
"The only trouble I'm worried about is the kind I'm gonna give you if you don't let me have the bread so I can eat!" Emmett growled, turning to confront his cousin.
While he lunged for Edward, I finished making my sandwich. Turning around, I caught Edward's eye and he threw the bread back. Dropping it on the counter, I picked up my plate, then grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge. Emmett muttered under his breath, barreling back to the kitchen, but I ignored him to step out onto the deck and watch the water while I ate.
I found a certain peace with the ocean. The continual rolling of the waves, the fluctuation of the tides, and the ever-changing currents gave me a sense of fluidity. Despite the constant change, though, the water had a feeling of permanence to it, one sadly lacking in the rest of my life.
I finished my sandwich, setting the plate down on the table. Leaning back in the chair, my shades on against the glare of the sun, I watched the surf ebb and flow. Broken shells littered the shore, rolling over and disappearing while the rivulets of water moved them over the sand. Sea grass waved in the breeze drifting off the ocean. I sighed, closing my eyes, and allowed the smell of salt spray to wash over me. Feeling calm despite the day's events, I slept.
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I woke a couple hours later. The sun had moved lower in the sky, tinging the water in shades of red and gold, the fading rays glinting off it. I heard Edward's low tone in the house, followed by Alice's more melodic one. The chorus of Van Halen's 'Hot for Teacher' blared from the house, followed by Alice's giggle and Edward yelling, "Fucking Emmett!" Unable to contain my own laughter, I stood and walked inside.
Alice sat at the table, writing something down, while Edward spoke on his phone.
"Hey, Alice, been here long?" I greeted her while placing my plate in the dishwasher.
"No, not very," she giggled. "Emmett's a perpetual clown, isn't he?"
"Oh yeah. Don't leave your phone lying around when you're here." Shaking my head, I continued, "He lives for that shit. I guarantee he'll find something completely inappropriate to program for your ringtone. He's constantly fucking with mine." I grabbed a can of Pepsi out of the fridge, then sat down across from her.
"Well, while it's just the two of us, I thought I'd let you know I made that phone call I promised you I would."
I sat in stunned silence, unsure what to say. I'd known Alice would invite Bella to the beach if we made the finals. Now, though, I found myself nervous, wondering what I'd say to her. My silence and obvious avoidance had to have made a terrible first impression; I wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Alice noticed my sudden attack of nerves and reached across the table to rest her hand on mine, a flicker of understanding in her eyes.
"Jas, it'll be fine. Bella has a heart of gold and I'm sure she thought nothing of your actions the other night." She patted my hand before withdrawing hers to pick up the bottle of water she'd been drinking. Changing the subject, she looked at the notepad in front of her. "We're having a cookout here after you guys finish up tomorrow. Edward and I were working on a shopping list. Is there anything in particular you want us to pick up?"
"Nah, I'm pretty flexible." I shrugged my shoulders, "When you can't cook you can't afford to be picky. Just make sure to grab some beer, oh and some more soda, too." I pushed my hand through my hair, remembering I'd fallen asleep before I took a shower. Grimacing at the feel of the sand and salt scraping my scalp under my fingers, I pushed away from the table.
"Already got it on the list," she paused, giving me a sly glance. "You know, Bella's an excellent cook. You could always ask her to teach you."
Chuckling, I walked around the table. Leaning down, I gave Alice a quick peck on the cheek, before whispering in her ear. "Hey Ali, I need a friend, not a matchmaker. Let me screw this up on my own." I ruffled her hair and headed for the stairs.
"Hey, get your own girl, Whitlock!" Edward joked, ending the call and reprogramming his ringtone.
"She's all yours…Teach!" I shot back, laughing at his repeated, "Fucking Emmett!"
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I took a quick shower before gathering all my trunks and skins from the past couple of days. When I walked downstairs, Edward and Alice were gone, probably making the grocery run. I threw the clothes in the washer, then flopped on the sofa with my laptop. Checking my emails, I answered one from my sister, then downloaded the syllabus I'd received from one of my professors. The textbook had changed; I'd need to hit the bookstore on Monday before classes.
Despite my reservations about going back to school after two years off, I looked forward to finally completing my degree, taking extra classes in order to finish by spring. The workload would be tough, but it wasn't like I had any other distractions. All my classes were on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I'd be in school for eight hours each day, including the required science labs.
Closing out my emails, I surfed youtube, looking for videos from the tournament. Ahhh, found it! I knew someone wouldn't miss the opportunity to post it. Paul, in all of his ignoble glory, making a complete ass of himself right there for the whole world to see. What an idiot! I bookmarked the link so I could show it to Em later; I knew he'd love it.
Hearing the washer stop, I moved the laundry around, before wandering back into the kitchen to find something to snack on. Edward walked in the front door, carrying cases of beer and soda, finding me still looking through the fridge. Alice entered behind him, struggling with the two handfuls of grocery bags she carried. I rushed across the room to help her, taking the bags out of her hands, and carried them over the island. I followed Edward back outside to help with the rest. The back of his Volvo still had several bags in it and a few more cases of soda and beer.
"Hey, Edward, who the hell are we feeding, the Atlantic Fleet?" I gasped, hauling the three cases out of the trunk. He closed the lid for me, before leading the way back inside.
"We needed groceries anyway." Taking the boxes out of my hands and piling them on the floor near the fridge, he continued, "My parents just got to the bridge, and will be swinging by to pick up the keys to the hotel room. Alice said she'd throw together a pot of sauce and make pasta for dinner."
"Dude, have I told you lately I love your girlfriend? I haven't eaten this good in months! I may not want her to leave after the end of the weekend!"
"Yeah Whitlock, I saw you making the moves on her," he joked back, "and forget it. Go find some beach bunny to play with."
"So not happening, I leave that shit to your cuz. I prefer to be able to hold an intelligent conversation with anyone I'm spending time with. Maybe I'll come haunt your Lit class for a date." I tapped my chin reflectively. "I could even put on glasses to look intelligent."
"Really, Jas? An undergrad?" Edward shook his head. "Don't sell yourself short. You might be able to bag a TA if you're gonna bother to look intelligent. Of course, once she finds out you" he wrinkled his nose looking like he'd smelled bad fish, and laughed, "surf for a living, they'll doubt your potential."
I shoved Edward, hearing Alice laugh while she finished putting the groceries away, before pulling out a pot to start dinner. We continued joking around in the kitchen, Edward and I aggravating the shit out of her and just getting in her way. After throwing the dishtowel and a couple potholders at us countless times, she pinned Edward against the counter.
"Look Romeo, your parents will be here shortly.' She waved the spatula she held under his nose, "Carlisle has worked all day and they've spent the last three hours in traffic from Richmond," she flicked the spatula in my direction, "all to come see Jan and Dean surf tomorrow. Go play with Emmett's damn X-Box and get the hell out of my way, so I can cook dinner for everyone!"
Stifling laughter, Edward and I decided discretion was the better part of valor and got the hell out of Dodge.
Pulling out the controllers, I tossed one to Edward, teasing, "Better not piss off the pixie, seeing as how she's sleeping with you the next few days. I'd hate for you to have wasted an opportunity."
"The 'pixie' is right here, and can hear ever word drawled out of that mouth, Jas. Watch it, or I'll make another phone call," Alice threatened from the kitchen.
Plopping down on the sofa after putting Call of Duty in the X-Box, Edward elbowed me in the ribs. In a quiet whisper he inquired, "Phone call?"
I shook my head, not answering, and proceeded to blow up everything in sight, making Fallujah safe for all.
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Carlisle and Esme arrived about thirty minutes later. We let Alice take Esme on a tour of the house, putting her in her element, while she suggested little decorating tips to finish off the rooms. Carlisle, Edward, and I headed out to the deck, beers in hand, to wait for the ladies to return. Carlisle admired the view, leaning on the rail.
"It's a nice place, son," he tipped his bottle in Edward's direction. "You guys really did get a hell of a deal on it. And this view, it's spectacular!"
"I agree," Esme chimed in, when she and Alice walked out the sliding door. Walking over to Edward, she leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. "It's lovely, dear. The furniture you all picked out is a perfect fit. Now, where's my nephew?"
Surprised, I looked at Edward, "I thought he was up hibernating in his room."
"Nope, he said something about needing to go to the mall and not to hold dinner for him. He left while you were out here earlier." He nodded toward the door, "So, we can eat whenever everyone is ready."
I'd never experienced a family dinner with so much laughter and good-natured banter going on. On the rare occasions my family had eaten together, we were either all silent and everyone rushed away right after, or it rivaled the Grand Inquisition while my father checked to make sure his kids continued to measure up to his expectations. But this…this was fun. Emmett showed up about halfway through and we squeezed him in, too. Edward told his parents an abbreviated version of the "tow girl" incident, causing us all to laugh when Esme slapped Emmett for being disrespectful.
I cleaned up afterwards, while Edward and Alice made sure his parents had directions to the hotel and the tournament for the next morning, before seeing them out to their car. Emmett headed out to his Jeep to retrieve his purchases from the mall. When he came back in carrying a suit bag and a couple small store bags, Alice let out a piercing wolf whistle that would rival that of horny construction workers everywhere. Emmett blushed to the roots of his hair, carefully placing the suit bag over the back of a chair.
"Uhm, hey, Alice," he stammered, "I wondered if you could check this stuff out to see if I did okay matching shit up."
I leaned against the island, watching with interest. I'd never seen Emmett that nervous in the years I'd known him. He'd mentioned that he was taking Rosalie, the 'tow girl' out to dinner, but it appeared to be more than a trip to Olive Garden. I began to shoot out a quick joke, but reconsidered when I saw the tortured look on his face. Oh hell. The poor guy had it bad. I wasn't going to make it any harder on him.
Alice flipped into fashion consultant mode, going through the things Emmett had bought. I went out to the laundry room and grabbed my clothes out of the dryer, folding them while I stood there. Picking up the clean pile, I headed back inside in time to see Edward stifling a grin while Alice had Emmett pirouetting in the middle of the room, fully decked out in his new clothes. I had to say, though, having shopped for himself, he had done a hell of a job. The black tone on tone pinstripe suit fit his large frame well, the white shirt and grey tonal striped tie keeping it understated without being stuffy.
"Damn, dude, I'm glad I know 'tow girl' can hold her own around you," I teased. "You actually look pretty good in a suit. If I was a chick I might even find you attractive."
"Yeah, whatever Jas. Keep your dick in your pants, 'cause I don't swing that way." Emmett still looked tense, but being able to shoot back a retort seemed to relax him a bit. Turning back to Alice, he gestured at himself, 'You're sure this is okay? I mean I could go tomorrow after I get done surfing and get something else."
Alice brushed her hands across his lapels, then patted his cheek. "Em, you look fabulous. Any lady would be lucky to have such an attractive escort. Do you know where you're going to eat?"
Emmett swallowed hard, before pulling out his cell phone to look at something he'd typed there. "Yeah, the guy at the suit place told me about a couple of nice restaurants. I made reservations at one called Alexander's on the Bay. I guess it's not too far away, kind of small, and supposed to be a great place to eat."
"Well, I'm sure it'll be fine, Em," Alice soothed him. "Now get out of this stuff and hang it up so you don't have to iron it before Sunday."
Emmett gathered up all the bags, heading up to his room. The minute he was out of earshot, Edward sent me a look that had us both doubled over laughing. Alice tried to shush us, but it only made us laugh that much harder.
"Oh fucking hell," Edward gasped, holding his sides while he tried to compose himself. "Dude, what the hell happened when he went to the auto shop?"
"I have no fucking clue," I laughed, "but I like this girl already! Anyone that can get your cousin this worked up has got to be a real gem. Hell, a suit? Emmett bought a frigging suit to take some girl out to dinner. That's rich! The biggest effort I've seen him take in two years is clean jeans and a t-shirt with no holes in it. Oh my God, this is fucking awesome!"
"Damn it, stop!" Alice hissed at us through her teeth, trying not to laugh herself. "Leave him alone. Obviously he thinks she's worth the effort. You guys be nice, or so help me, I won't cook for you for a month!" Edward stood and wrapped his arms around Alice, trying to give her a kiss. "No way, Cullen. You're not using that charm to sweet talk me. I'm serious. Leave him alone."
"Aww babe, come on. We're just having some fun. Emmett needed to be put in his place. I can't wait to meet the woman who's man enough to do it." Edward tried to compose himself again, little bits of mirth shaking his shoulders, while Alice glared at him. "Okay, okay. I'll stop for now." At Alice's glare, he amended, "Alright, I'll leave him alone. Now give me a kiss and tell me you forgive me."
Alice leaned back and studied his face. "I mean it, Edward. Do not let me catch you giving him a hard time about this." And with that final thought, she reached up to give him a kiss.
I gathered the clothes I'd set on the island. I cleared my throat, "Well, I'm heading up to my room. I've got to be up early and with all the spectators y'all have coming tomorrow, I want to be on top of my game. I'll see you guys in the morning."
Alice and Edward both murmured goodnight, but I'm sure they were only half listening to me, still wrapped up in each other. Heading upstairs, I closed the door to my room and put my stuff away, stuffing a set of skins in my beach bag and leaving a set of shorts on the dresser. I checked the alarm on my phone before putting it on to charge. Picking up Annabelle, I sat on the edge of the bed, tuning the guitar before picking out snippets of songs when they came to me. My fingers moved across the frets while I hummed the melodies to myself. I strummed out Tom Waits, my favorite musician, but I hadn't played the song in a long time.
Well I hope that I don't fall in love with you
'Cause falling in love just makes me blue,
Well the music plays and you display
your heart for me to see,
I had a beer and now I hear you
calling out for me
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you.
I stopped playing, leaning my head against the neck of my guitar. Letting out a sigh, I let my mind wander down a dangerous path, one that led back two years, back to Galveston. I'd never got to say I'm sorry, never even said goodbye. I couldn't even remember the last time I said I love you to someone I wasn't related to. Did I even know what love was anymore? I thought I did, once, with Maria. I destroyed that.
Fighting back the pain of thinking about my past, I tried to find something else to focus on. Unbidden, images of Bella swam into my mind. I couldn't let my mind, or my heart, go there, either. But, Bella's quiet beauty drew me in, much like the ships that followed the Cape Henry Lighthouse when they entered the Elizabeth River. Would I find safety, or would I be shattered on the rocks again? Friends, I could only be friends. It's the best I had to offer.
Chapter title is from the Tom Waits song of the same name.
Please check out the Spencer Bell Memorial page and remember him fondly. 4 years ago the world lost a genius it did not even know it had. The friends and family of Spencer are doing a fantastic job of bringing awareness and research dollars to Adrenal cancer : www(DOT)spencerbellmemorial(DOT)com
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Fic rec: Check out "Where Love Began" from butterflybetty, and The Last Thing I Wanted by nails233. Both are outstanding! Show them some love and tell them busymommy sent you!
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