The Painful Truth
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thank you for the kind reviews. The site was glitchy last night so some of you may have had problems reading chapter 10. It's up now though, I think!
Part Eleven
"Stop it." Bella whispered fiercely to Jacob as she saw his eyes wander toward the gaggle of bikini clad Barbie clones that were huddled together in a tight group. They were giggling and pointing at Jacob. He had been attracting a lot of attention ever since he had stepped off the plane, especially of the female variety and it was irking Bella considerably. "You're doing it again." She hissed when she saw his eyes widen as one particular girl gave him an eyeful in a low cut dress.
"I can't help it." Jacob said as he tried to avoid all the tantalising female flesh on display. It wasn't easy, they were everywhere. "What do you want me to do? Close my eyes."
"Yes." Bella snapped as she glared at the Barbie clones, who just laughed at her overreaction.
"Then you'd have to hold my hand to steer me in the right direction." Jacob teased her lightly. He was enjoying watching Bella's green eyed monster come out. He hadn't called her on it, but it was obvious to everyone. He knew that she would deny it if he did say something.
"Better that then having to put up with this." Bella muttered as she grabbed his hand as if thinking he was actually going to close his eyes. She shot the blonde Barbie's a territorial glare as she hurried after Charlie and Billy who were just coming back with the car they had hired. Charlie pulled up beside them and waved. "You took your time." Bella complained as she dropped Jacob's hand and slid into the rear of the vehicle.
"Is the heat getting to you, Bells?" Charlie asked curiously as he looked at his daughter's angry face.
"No." Bella said mulishly as she folded her arms and stared out of the window. She ignored Jacob as he climbed into the seat beside her.
"You two haven't argued already, have you?" Billy questioned his son as he twisted his head around in the front seat to look at Jacob.
"Nope." Jacob said, popping the P. "I've just been enjoying the view."
"I bet you have." Billy replied knowingly as he noticed the blonde Barbie's beginning to make their way toward their hire car. "You better step on it, Chief." He warned Charlie. "Jake's fan club are about to hijack the car."
Charlie laughed as he pulled away from the sidewalk. He glanced in the mirror and saw his daughter's cheeks flush red as she scowled. She was clearly finding it difficult dealing with all the attention Jacob was getting. Good, he thought to himself, maybe she'll finally open her eyes. With this thought at the forefront of his mind, he began to navigate his way through the traffic toward their rented villa.
"It's got a pool." Jacob crowed as he immediately tugged off his tight t-shirt and flung himself bodily into the water. He created a huge splash which drenched Charlie and Bella who were standing nearby. Billy laughed as he watched his son resurface. Jacob bobbed in the water and ran his hands through his dripping hair. "Come in, Bells." He called to her. "It's awesome."
"You are such an ass." Bella yelled as she glared at Jacob.
"Go on in, kiddo." Charlie urged her. "You're wet anyway."
Bella scowled again. It was becoming a permanent fixture on her face. While she was glaring at her dad, Jacob crept out of the pool. He grabbed her from behind and pulled her back in with him. Bella's arms flailed around as she tried to right herself but it was in vain. She hit the water and let out a loud gasp. Jacob had his arm clamped around her waist. He laughed as he pulled her upright and helped her to float. "You're in now."
"You idiot." Bella cursed as she pushed her sopping wet hair out of her face. Her t-shirt clung to her body and her jeans felt heavy on her legs. Charlie and Billy were looking at their offspring in amusement. "This is not funny." Bella complained as she pushed on Jacob's chest as she tried to make him release her. Having him so close, and feeling his supernatural warmth burning her skin, made butterflies kick off in her stomach. It was unnerving. His smooth tan skin glistened with water droplets in the bright sunshine, and it was hard not to admire his beauty. It was breath taking. It was only when she raised her eyes to his that she realised he wasn't looking at her face, but at her chest. Her thin t-shirt had turned see through and exposed her bra. Bella's face turned red as she shoved him again, forcing him to let go. "Ass."
"Chill, Bells." Jacob teased. He swam to the side and placed his hands on the edge as he got ready to get out of the pool. The broad muscles along his back flexed as he hauled himself out of the water. Bella was mesmerised. "You coming?"
Jacob's voice pulled her out of her funk and she flushed again. She waded over to the steps and ignored his offer of help to climb out. "I'm going to my room." Bella huffed as she covered her chest with her arms and stormed off into the villa.
Charlie and Billy exchanged a knowing glance. "This is gonna be a stormy week, Chief." Billy confided.
"Bring it on." Charlie grinned.
"Baby girl!" Renee cried as soon as she caught sight of her daughter. She rushed over to the hire car and yanked open the passenger door. "Look at you, all grown up. You are taller than me now." Renee sighed dreamily as she reached up and cupped Bella's cheeks in her hands, before planting a kiss on each one.
Bella gazed at her mother. It had been over a year since she had last seen Renee. Then it had been under distressing circumstances when she had been laid up in the hospital. Renee hadn't changed. Her hair was still cut in the same bobbed style. Her brown hair had a few highlights discreetly running through it. She was dressed in a white tank top and tiny denim shorts and her skin was tanned. Bella felt like a ghost beside her.
"We need to get some colour in those cheeks of yours." Renee crooned. She suddenly stopped talking as her eyes opened wide. "Well helloooo…." She drawled.
Bella groaned. Seeing her mother's reaction meant only one thing, Jacob had exited the vehicle. He grinned as Renee left Bella's side and held out her hand. "And who might you be." She enquired as her eyes discreetly skimmed his body admiringly.
"I'm Jake." Jacob grabbed Renee's hand and shook it vigorously.
"Oh my." Renee tittered. "You have got a strong grip." She put her hand on Jacob's arm and drew him closer to Bella. "You never said that you'd dumped that emo guy for this fabulous specimen."
"Mom." Bella said, appalled at Renee's blatant ogling. Her mother was staring at Jacob's chest in fascination. She seemed completely unaware that her ex-husband was nearby helping Billy into his wheelchair. She hadn't even greeted them. Bella was mortified. "Aren't you going to say hello to dad and Billy." She snapped.
"Oh, hello Charlie." Renee said as she waved her hand airily. "Still sporting that ridiculous moustache I see. And Billy." Renee turned on the charm as she finally let go of Jacob's arm and held out her hand to his father. "You're still looking fine." She winked at Billy and laughed flirtatiously.
"As do you." Billy replied in amusement as he clocked Charlie and Bella's twin stony expressions.
"Thank you, regular sessions at the gym help." Renee winked at Billy before returning her attention to Bella. "You could do with toning up, baby girl. I could introduce you to my personal trainer while you're here." Her eyes roamed Bella's conservative t-shirt and skinny jeans. "And we have to do something about your appalling dress sense. This is the sunshine state. You're not in Forks now, Bella. Show some skin."
Bella's face flushed as she averted her eyes. She had forgotten how critical Renee could be. She often let her mouth run away with her and didn't mince her words. "I love the way Bells dresses." Jacob broke through the awkward silence as he flung a protective arm across Bella's shoulders and drew her closer.
Renee seemed unaware of the tension. Charlie's face was grim but he kept silent when he saw Billy shooting him a warning look. "Aww Bells! Is that what you call my baby? How sweet." Renee pinched her daughter's left cheek before leading the way inside her rented accommodation.
Phil was out the back by their pool making some cocktails. He greeted Charlie and Billy heartily before pressing his concoctions into their hands. "Good to see you." He slapped both men on the back in a familiar fashion, which pissed them off at once. He then held his hand out to Jacob. "You must be the new boyfriend." He winced as Jacob shook his hand firmly. "Phew, that's some grip you've got there." He winced and flexed his fingers.
Bella couldn't help but smile. She knew Jacob had done that deliberately. Phil could be a bit of a tool. He was a jobbing baseball player and thought this gave him some kind of celebrity status even though he only played for minor teams. Renee's toy boy came over and hugged Bella awkwardly. "You're looking fine." He said before ruffling her hair as if she was a five year old.
"Do you like my new home, baby girl?" Renee reappeared wearing a floppy sunhat. Phil passed her a cocktail before slipping his arm around her waist. "There's my angel."
"Aww Phil." Renee planted a smacker on his lips, making their audience wince at the inappropriate display. "He's a charmer isn't he?" She giggled as she looked around at them all. "When are you going to start dating again, Charlie?" She asked as her eyes rested on her former husband.
Charlie looked at his ex-wife irritably. "When I have the time." He retorted as he put the ridiculous cocktail down and folded his arms defensively across his chest. "Some of us have to work you know. We can't sit in the sun all day."
"What do you mean by that?" Renee questioned as her expression darkened. "What does he mean, Phil?"
"He mean's nothing, sweetheart." Phil tried to soothe his wife's ruffled feathers but Renee wasn't having it.
"You're a jealous ass, Charlie Swan." Renee snapped as she dumped her cocktail over Charlie's head in a fit of pique. "You just can't bear to see me happy, can you?" She burst into a flood of tears before running into the house.
Charlie wiped his face with the back of his hands as he stared after his ex-wife. Everyone else looked at each other in awkward silence. "I suppose I should go and see to her." Phil said eventually, though he made no move to do so. He found it hard dealing with Renee when she was having one of her childish tantrums.
"I'll go." Bella sighed heavily as she followed her mother into the house. She had only been reunited with Renee for five minutes and she was already falling into her familiar role.
"He's jealous, baby girl." Renee sniffed as she took the napkin that Bella passed her. "He always has been."
"I don't think he meant anything." Bella said wearily.
"Of course he did. I'm not dumb. I know he was implying that I have it easy. But I don't. It's hard maintaining a relationship with a younger man, Bella. I have to make sure I keep in shape. I don't want Phil's eyes to wander." Renee dabbed at her eyes as she mopped up her tears.
"Has his eyes wandered?" Bella asked in alarm.
"Not that I know of, but I can't be too careful." Renee suddenly gripped Bella's hands tightly in her own. She stared intently into her eyes. "That's why you have to be careful, baby." She whispered sadly. "That boy out there won't stay with you for long if you don't buck your ideas up and make more of an effort. You can't go around looking and acting like you do, otherwise he will stray."
The old familiar insecurities began to take hold of Bella again as she gazed at her mother's desperate face. Once again she was implying that she wasn't good enough. "Jake is my friend." She mumbled.
"I'm sure he's very friendly. Just like that emo guy you dated. But attraction only lasts as long as you make an effort, baby girl. You look so pale and lifeless right now." Renee pulled Bella into a tight hug. "You're never going to be a great beauty or anything, but you can look quite presentable when you put a little makeup on and wear the right clothes." She released Bella and cupped her face in her hands instead. "I can help you do that, baby. I can make you better."
Moisture welled in Bella's eyes as she yanked her mother's hands away from her face. "You're always like this." She said brokenly. "Why can't you just be my mom?" Bella ran out of the room before Renee could respond.
A/N-thanks for reading! Do Renee's actions go some way to explaining Bella's self-esteem issues? Can you empathise with Bella more and understand why she fell under Edward's spell so easily? Let me know what you think, thanks.