A/N: This chapter went through several changes until I decided on a finished product. I hope I made the right choice. Tell me what you think.
Disclaimer: The story is mine, the imagination is yours, but because of the character names, Stephenie Meyer gets the credit.
Ch 11 July – Fireworks
Isabella went to work on her first day and then helped make dinner that night. Edward gave her a white and pink Gerbera Daisy to congratulate her.
"Why did you bring her a daisy? She's not worth a rose?" His mother playfully asked.
"Isabella likes daisies Mother." He gave his girlfriend a hug from behind and kissed her cheek.
"He's right."
He whispered in her ear, "I love seeing you like this."
"Really?" she cooed. She turned around to face him in the hug.
"I'm still in the room," Mrs. Cullen reminded them.
"I'm letting go," he said as they both quickly separated. He went to sit down at the table. "This Sunday is Independence Day. Some high school and college students are planning a neighborhood block party with a bonfire, a barbecue, and some fireworks. Do you want to go?" he asked Isabella.
"We're all going," his mom said, "even Marissa's coming with Josh."
"Sure, sounds like fun."
Edward woke up early on July fourth and made a special breakfast for the whole family, pancakes with strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream.
"This is so cool," Josh said. "I'm going to try something like this for lunch."
"So, I was thinking we should go roller skating after breakfast."
She frowned, "I'm not a skater, remember?"
"That's why I plan to help you."
"Maybe another time. I have this bad feeling that I'll miss the fireworks, because I'll be in the hospital." Isabella licked her lips. "How about a matinee?"
"A movie? Is there anything you want to see?"
"Well, I heard some really scary movies were playing." The corners of his mouth lifted.
._.
A very eclectic group of people gathered for the barbecue. Edward introduced his girlfriend to some of his neighbors.
"Hey Conner, this is my girlfriend Isabella, Isabella this is Conner, Katie, Austin, Rebecca, Lee, and Jared. Conner was my best friend in high school." He was her height with red, long hair in a ponytail and freckles dotting his face.
"Friend? I thought you said you were always at work?"
"I was, but in the four years I did manage to make friends."
"So you knew him in his awkward teen years," she chuckled.
"Yup and boy do I have some stories for you! He was such a geek. I took pity on him."
"Oh really?" Edward chortled.
"Glad I did too, because he's hardly recognizable now," Conner laughed.
"So I heard. You don't by any chance have any pictures in your wallet? He seems to be hiding them."
"No!" Edward shouted as Conner began to pull at his wallet. They were all rolling with laughter.
"So what do you guys want on your hamburgers?" Conner asked.
"Ketchup, lettuce, and tomatoes," she replied. Edward ordered the same. Conner prepared the burgers and gave it to them.
Someone brought a radio and music penetrated the air. Plenty of people began dancing. Isabella snuggled with Edward under a light blanket while they ate. Josh and Marissa sat opposite them. The girls spoke about the things they've done during break. The other people at the barbecue played Frisbee and other types of outdoor activities.
As the sky became darker, Lee ignited the bonfire. Sparklers were handed out and the fireworks began. It got colder, so many couples cuddled close to each other. Edward maneuvered Isabella to sit on his lap and put his arms around her to keep her warm. They weren't sitting very close to the fire, so the sparklers were the main source of light. People two feet away could barely see each other.
"Ouch! Shoot, I burned my hand," Isabella yelled.
Marissa searched through her purse blindly, trying to feel for what she was looking for. "I think I have some burn cream. Yeah, right here." She crawled over to her.
"That was really wise of you to bring some cream. Thanks."
"Well I figured since we'll be near a fire, I or someone might need it. I can't really tell how severe it is in this light. Just apply the cream and if it begins blistering, then we will know it is second degree," Marissa explained.
Edward asked, "And if it is?"
"The cream will help. Don't pop any blisters. It could get infected." She sat back down next to Josh.
"Isn't she smart? I'm so lucky."
"Oh, thank you, Josh." She pecked him on the cheek.
Edward squeezed out some cream and rubbed it on the burn. Isabella left the sparkler on the ground and it extinguished itself.
"I had enough sparklers. I don't want to get burned again." She turned sideways and cuddled into him, wrapping her arms around her knees.
"Did I put enough cream on your burn or do you need some more?" he volunteered.
"I think there is plenty on, but the burn is throbbing."
He took her hand in the dim light and kissed it softly. "Does it feel better?" She could see he was admiring her in the near darkness. Her heart accelerated.
"Yes," she breathed. He touched her face lightly as he kissed her. She pulled him in closer and held him tightly by his shirt collar.
"I had enough of this," he whispered. "Let's go home."
"But the fireworks …"
"We could make our own." The two stood up. "Guys," he said to his stepbrother and his girl, "we're going to head home. Isabella wants some ice."
"Good idea," Marissa commented. "Fifteen minutes on and fifteen minutes off."
"Right, thanks." He grabbed her hand gently and they gathered their things to leave.
Once they got to the empty house, Edward took her uninjured hand and led her to her room. His tongue penetrated her mouth, caressing and swirling around hers. His hand went on a scavenger hunt for soft tissue. Their passion heated their bodies and beads of sweat formed. She could feel his hand under her shirt. The other rounded around her bottom keeping her against him. She knew how much he wanted her. The kissing slowed till it stopped as they realized what was going to happen. They looked into each other's eyes, breathing heavily. He pulled off his shirt slowly and she followed. They sat in the bed and pulled the blanket over themselves. Her breathing came in deep gasps as he moved to kiss her neck. His left hand was fingering her breast while his right was unbuttoning his suddenly too tight jeans.
"I don't want to get caught Edward."
"Me neither. Don't worry. Everyone's outside watching the sky light up."
"I love you."
His hand caressed her cheek as he memorized her face. He kissed her briefly on the mouth then gave her a line of baby kisses along the cheek and when he got to her ear he whispered he loved her. He pulled a condom from his wallet and they didn't say another word that night.
Isabella awoke the next morning alone.
._.
That week the museum had many camp visitors. The campers were usually the topic of conversation whenever she spoke, especially when speaking to Edward. She was a little angry about being left alone that night, but she was more concerned he had begun to retreat back to his pre-Isabella way of life. She felt if she brought it up, it would set him off and he might break-up with her. She tried to not be bothered by the fact he had slept with so many women before her and after her he would just move on to someone else. This idea ran through her mind constantly. The only way to distract herself was to continually discuss work. After dinner on Friday, Edward intercepted her before she entered her bedroom.
"Isabella, we need to talk," he uttered.
Her heart sped. Those words did not sound good. "What do you want to talk about?" she asked lightly. "The arts and crafts the campers did today?"
"No. No more work stories. I think we should talk about July fourth."
She started to gasp for breath. Her vision blurred and her hands grasped at the door frame. "Please don't do this."
"Breathe Isabella. In and out," he said as he tried to steady her. "Obviously, I've done something to upset you. Did I hurt you? I just want to know if you're okay. Every time I approached to talk, you gave me another work story."
She stared at him in awe. This wasn't what she expected. "You left me that night."
His head tilted slightly. "Is that what's bothering you? You know you could've asked me. I was worried about getting caught."
"I thought you lost interest, you know, like you did before, with the other girls. You've never slept with anyone three times. When you weren't there, I thought my number was up. I was hoping if I kept talking you wouldn't be able to split up with me. I've got nowhere else to go."
"No Isabella, no. I thought I already explained this. That guy I was before you — that was not me. That guy was broken and cold. I never want to be apart from you."
"Really?"
He nodded. "I told you; I never felt this way about anyone." She smiled at the sentiment. "Better?"
She let out a sigh of relief and nodded. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight Isabella."
._.
The end of July approached and Elizabeth Cullen had ordered pizza for dinner, since it was Josh's birthday. The family, apart from Edward, gathered around the table in the decorated dining room. Isabella was rifling through a few envelopes she received from work. The first half of the summer was over and she received her paycheck and some random cash tips.
"I didn't know people could tip the museum staff," Josh commented.
"Me neither. My boss told me parents are shocked when their child opens up during the group activities. They are so grateful they usually leave tips for the staff. The museum's policy is to collect them and redistribute the cash to the activity staff on payday. This way it is all anonymous so there isn't favoritism and no staff member is left out."
"How much did you get?"
"Josh, you shouldn't ask that. It's rude," Marissa reprimanded.
Isabella smiled. "It's fine. I'm still counting. I'm amazed they left the cash in its original form of singles and fives."
"I can't believe you get paid to play with these kids and get an extra bonus. I'm definitely doing that next year," Josh resolved.
"I wish Edward would come home already," Elizabeth said. "We need to start the party."
"And Marissa and I will be late for our thing."
"What thing?" his stepmom asked.
"Nothing, I just planned a special night out," Marissa replied.
Isabella finally finished calculating. "Wow. I'm now holding over a hundred dollars in my hand. I love this job."
"It's getting late. Maybe we should start eating and save Edward some slices," his mom decided, slightly worried.
"He's a serious worker Elizabeth," Carlisle comforted. "He probably got held up at the office for something important."
They began eating and Carlisle brought in Josh's first present - a big bottle of brandy. His wife brought out the cake and they began to sing Happy Birthday to Josh.
"Thank you guys. This has been a great birthday so far. Better than I had in a long time," he claimed.
"Son, I'm giving you this brandy - not that I'm telling you to drink alcohol, but that you're allowed now, because you're twenty-one. It represents a rite of passage."
"Gee, thanks Dad. Could I have a sip now?"
"No don't, because you still have to drive tonight," Marissa reminded him. "My gift for you is right here." She gave him a small box with a blue bow on it. He opened it and inside was a chain linked gold bracelet. "In my family, we started a tradition of giving this bracelet when someone became twenty-one. We didn't want to encourage the drinking alcohol part."
"Sorry Josh, but I didn't have a chance to get you anything. If you want tomorrow we'll go to the mall and you could pick something. I have some extra cash lying around," Isabella laughed, lifting some of her billfolds.
"You don't have to, but if you insist I won't resist," he laughed.
Edward finally arrived home after ten. He was holding a small box with a red bow. Josh had a big smile on his face. Edward saw his expression and corrected his assumption. "It's not what you think. This is for Isabella."
Josh's expression fell. "I should've known. You never get me a present."
"Well with that attitude, I'm not giving you this." He pulled out a colored envelope from his inside pocket. It was embossed with bows.
"No, no. I'm sorry. Please?" He handed it to him and he opened it.
"You got me tickets to Volturi in concert!"
"Yup. Two tickets for next week. You could take Marissa. It took forever to arrive, that's why I'm late. I called in some favors."
"Wow! Thanks Edward. You are like the best stepbrother, ever."
"Don't mention it."
Elizabeth and Carlisle glanced at each other with impressed smiles.
"You could buy me a drink now that you're legal."
"You got it!"
"Uh, No!" Edward's mom refused.
"I was just kidding," he explained to his mom.
"Hey, could we serve the cake? It looks good," Josh requested. They sliced it up and everyone got a piece. Isabella brought Edward his dinner. He thanked her and explained she could have her present after the party, so not to steal Josh's thunder.
"So what do you want to do tomorrow?" he asked.
"I'm going with Josh to the mall. I owe him a birthday gift."
"You gave him our day?"
"You could come, too."
Edward paused theatrically. "Mmm, okay."
._.
Later that night, he knocked on her door. "Could I come in to your room?" She nodded and stepped aside. "Firstly, I'm taking you to the amusement park on Sunday. It's already been decided."
"Oh, really?" she remarked sarcastically.
"Don't you want to go?"
"I do."
"Then what's the problem?" he asked. He presented to her with the red-bowed box. "Secondly, here is your charm."
"You wrapped it?"
"I was in a birthday present mood." She carefully unwrapped and opened the ring box. It was an odd shaped charm with engraved fireworks. She smiled as she attached it. "See the fireworks represent the fire between us." He began to breathe heavy. "Sometimes it's explosive, but it won't ever extinguish."
She bit her lip. Her hand rested on the side of his cheek. "You mean that?"
He put his hand over hers on his cheek. "Whole heartily." She stepped closer and shifted up to kiss him, but he stepped back. "Sorry, but I know where this will lead and … I think my family is still awake. I'll see you tomorrow." She nodded. He turned and left the bedroom, leaving Isabella to have the rest of the night to herself.
A/N: So what did you all think?
