Chapter 18
The days kept passing and I quickly forgot about the Cullens' weirdness. I'd sit by their table at lunch and Edward and I had several classes together, so I kept bumping into them. They didn't badger me about the camping trip any further and I still hadn't quite figured out if I wanted to go. I figured I could wait 'til the weekend before asking Charlie for permission and if I decided I didn't want to go I supposed I could just blame Charlie and say that he didn't want me to go. On Thursday night Jacob called me and asked if I and Billy would like to come over for dinner on Saturday and I gladly accepted. I figured the dinner invite probably entailed me and Jake cooking rather than Billy and Charlie, but after giving it some thought I realized that was probably the preferable choice here.
"So, how are you settling in, Bella?", Billy asked cheerfully as we'd all sat down by the dinner table.
"Just fine, thank you, Billy. Everyone has been very kind", I said and quietly wondered how many times I'd be getting that question before people realized that I wasn't perishing here in Forks.
"Bella has made friends with the Cullen kids", Charlie boasted, almost sounding proud. This only confirmed my suspicions about the Cullens being considered as something out of the ordinary here in Forks.
"Is that so?", Billy said happily, "That's a fine bunch of kids. Well, I've only ever spoken to Emmett and Edward briefly while picking up Dr. Cullen for our fishing trips but from what I hear they're all a delight. That Jasper boy is perhaps a bit quiet, not that there's anything wrong about that I suppose. We can't all be jabbering, right?" Billy laughed and Charlie joined him. It was darling to see how the two of them would act like young boys again while being together. I was glad that Charlie had had a friend like Billy all these years.
"Yes, they are super nice. And they are very smart too, getting all A's. Making me feel stupid", I said and laughed a bit uneasily.
"You have nothing to feel stupid about, Bella Swan", Charlie interjected, "You get practically all A's and I wouldn't be surprised if you were in the top ten percent of your class. At least!" Typical Charlie to brag about me when he'd actually never seen any of my grades. I supposed Renee had managed to cover a lot of ground with all her phone calls.
"I know, dad. I'm just saying. They are all very smart, and they don't even seem to have to try that hard. I'm just impressed is all."
"I think Edward and Emmett seem super nice", Jake cut in," I mean, have you seen the cars they drive? They're sick! I wish I could hang out with them, I sure would like to get to catch a ride with those guys. Or maybe even drive those cars…"
"Hold your horses, Jake!", Billy cut him off, "There will be no driving for another year for you."
"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know", Jake muttered and focused on his food instead.
And right about then I had a flash of genius. I could go camping with the Cullens. And I could bring Jacob. That would ensure the atmosphere of a friendly camping trip of five rather than a romantic getaway for four, which I was still in some way suspecting this trip of being. Bringing Jake would be like bringing my little brother, had I had one. Not quite as lame as bringing a chaperone but still enough to disarm any romance. And on top of that I really liked being around Jake, he felt safe. It was perfect.
"So about the Cullens", I started off, "As you might know they're quite into hanging out outdoors and as a matter of fact they asked me if I'd like to go camping with them next weekend."
Charlie just stared at me incredulously at first and then he burst out laughing. Billy didn't seem to be able to help himself either and soon joined in. The only ones not laughing were me and Jake.
"Ha-ha. Very funny", I said with the grouchiest voice I could muster, "It's not that funny, I'm not quite the city slicker you all make me out to be."
"I'm sorry, Bells. It's just that I got all these images of you making up a fire…"
"Setting up a tent", Billy added, trying to hold it together.
"Woodchopping", Charlie said and that was all it took for them to burst out laughing again.
"You know I have faith in your wildlife skills, Bella", Jake said, always trying to be nice.
"Maybe you shouldn't, I suppose they have good reason for laughing", I muttered and glared at my father, "I'm not really cut out for the wild."
"I'll say", Charlie said and tried to compose himself.
I just kept on glaring at him, annoyed at him for making a scene and annoyed at myself for ever having brought the subject up.
"So. You wanna go camping?", he said and I could tell he was about to start laughing again.
"I do. Not so much for the sake of camping, but I think it could be fun. They're the first friends I've made here in Forks and they seem like a good crowd. I reckon it would be an opportunity to get to know them better."
"Well, I suppose it is", Charlie said, looking as if he was contemplating this sudden turn of events,"I suppose it would be good for you to get out a bit and not sit and home hovering over your books. When would you be going?"
"It's next weekend, it's just from Saturday 'til Sunday. And we'd be nearby, Rosalie said so."
"It sounds like a nice plan to me", Billy said cheerily. And really, who could argue with the idea of a camping trip when there were so many worse things to be had in this world?
"I was actually thinking of asking if Jake could come too, if you'd like that is?", I said turning to Jacob. Now it was Jacobs turn to stare at me incredulously. It was like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"OMG. Are you serious, Bella? Could I come? For real?", he blurted out and just stared at me, "You don't think the others would mind?"
"Of course they wouldn't", I assured him, "It's a friendly hang out with friends, I can't see why they'd mind. And I'd really like you to come."
Jacob just beamed at me and then turned to Billy.
"Oh dad, can I go? Please say I can! You said it sounded like a good idea", Jake pleaded, looking at his eyes with the biggest puppy eyes he could conjure.
"Of course you can go, I trust you'll be in good hands with Bella", Billy said and smiled at me.
"Oh boy! This is gonna be the best weekend ever. We'll make up a fire, we'll watch the stars, we'll barbecue something. Maybe even something we've caught ourselves, maybe fish? Do you know if there'll be a river or a lake where we're going?", he inquired. His enthusiasm was adorable, like a little puppy who'd just been given a bone.
"Take it easy, Jake!", I laughed, "All in due time. But I'm sure we'll be able to find somewhere to go fishing if you'd like. And then we'll build a big ol' fire and completely torch whatever you've caught."
"Hey, easy about that fire part. There will be no torching had", Charlie protested and threw me his best effort of a harsh look.
"Okay, so maybe we won't build such a big fire", I yielded and Charlie looked a lot happier. Everything had turned out exactly to my liking and I was starting to look forward to the camping trip.
