5

Bella's body ached as she climbed out of bed the next morning, as it always did when she had one of her episodes, which were just as taxing on her physical health as they were on her mental health. Watching as her father suffered slowly, slipping further and further away until he was nothing haunted her every moment. She wasn't ready for that life, but it didn't seem she had much of a choice. Life had dealt her a cruel hand, snatching away dream after dream until she had no hope left.

After a hot shower that she had hoped would relieve the soreness, she dressed in blue and white bikini and a bright blue sundress. It was going to be hot today, which had her groaning The heat wouldn't help the exhaustion she felt. She pulled her long, brown hair into a messy bun on the top of her head and grabbed her favorite pair of sunglasses before leaving her bedroom. She was unsurprised, of course, to find Esme seated on the couch, already dressed for the day.

"Morning," Bella muttered as she bypassed her sister and walked into the kitchen, where she found the table covered in breakfast dishes with the remnants of a good meal left over. "I see Carlisle slept over. Surprised that he wasn't waiting for me. I'm sure you two have discussed my condition and have a whole new plan to manage my rapidly declining health."

"He got called away while you were in the shower. And excuse us for being concerned about you. Could be worse, you know? We could not care and let you waste away like Dad," Esme said, walking past her and opening the microwave, where she pulled out a plate with eggs, two slices each of bacon and sausage, and two slices of cold toast. "Here."

"Hmm, as good as that looks," Bella said, grimacing as the cold, stale looking food, "I think I'll just grab a cereal bar."

"You need more than that!" Esme whined, placing the plate on the counter. "How much sugar does that crap have? You need a balanced breakfast, Bella!"

Bella didn't reply as she pulled the last apple cinnamon bar out of the box. She tossed the empty box in the trash and tore open the package with her teeth, causing her sister to roll her eyes. "What?"

"Nothing," Esme lied, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth. "How are you feeling this morning?"

This time Bella lied when she said, "Super."

Esme hummed, but didn't call her out on her bullshit. They both knew she was lying; there just wasn't any point in rehashing the same argument they'd had a thousand times. Bella finished her cereal bar before grabbing a large bottle of water from the fridge. She placed it on the counter and opened the cabinet next to the fridge, sighing as she began to pull out her pills.

"I repacked your mid-day pills," Esme said as Bella started taking her meds. "And I set an extra alarm on your phone."

"Thanks," Bella murmured, swallowing down her last one. "I should get going."

"You mean we should get going."

Bella raised an eyebrow. "I do?"

Esme smiled and nodded. "I'm going with you today."

"Um, what about your job? Don't they need you?"

Esme owned a small used bookstore on the other side of Honolulu.

"Nah," Esme insisted. "Jess and Ty have the place under control."

"Essie," Bella murmured and shook her head.

"I'm going and that's final. Besides, I haven't taken a vacation in a year. Might as well get to ogle some hot, sweaty men while I take some time off."

"And what would the good doctor think about his woman ogling other men?" Bella teased, knowing it was useless to argue with Esme. She needed to feel useful, even if there was nothing she could do.

"Carlisle and I have an agreement: we can look, but not touch."

"That sounds healthy," Bella snickered.

"He knows I love him and only him and he know that if he stepped out on me, I'd cut his dick off."

Bella's eyes widened and she laughed. "Wow, psycho much?"

Esme shrugged her shoulders. "Just making sure the man knows that he belongs to me and only me."

"You scare me sometimes, Essie."

"I know."

Esme insisted on taking her car, even though Bella protested. It fell on deaf ears and seeing as Bella wasn't really feeling up to driving, that left her with little argument. Luckily, Alice had dropped off her equipment the night before so after a quick stop as her studio to exchange memory cards and replace a couple of her lens, they were ready to head to the tournament.

It was even more crowded than the day before, but Esme managed to find a parking spot just ten yards from the entrance. Bella suspected that Felix had more to do with that, but she wasn't going to complain. It was a miracle that he hadn't pulled the contract from under her considering her episode the day before.

Alice was waiting for them just inside the front gates with a drink carrier will three cups from their favorite smoothie shop.

"Good morning!" Alice cheered, way too chipper for Bella's taste. She held a strawberry smoothie out to Esme, who took with a quick, "thanks," and then held a green one to Bella. "Kiwi and green apple with lots of antioxidants and protein. Just what you need to start the day off on a good note."

Bella grimaced but too the drink. "Sounds disgusting."

"Drink it, Swan. You'll thank me later. Jasper has one of these every morning and he said they've changed his life."

"Jasper, huh? And just how much does Jasper know about me, Peanut?"

"Nothing," she grumbled. "I would never betray your confidence like that, Swan, but he was worried about you after yesterday. Told me about these drinks last night."

"Last night? You slept with him, didn't you, Peanut? You always were a slutty little tart."

Alice laughed. If anyone else had called her a slut, Alice would have been pissed, but she knew Bella wasn't serious. That's just the way the way they were with each other. Or they had been before Bella's life changed and her future crumbled away.

"I did not sleep with him. Give me some credit, Swan. I did just meet the man, but he's amazing and beautiful and . . ."

"And a volleyball player," Bella quipped, ignoring the scowl on Alice's face. "Surprised Felix wasn't waiting for me."

Alice frowned. "He was, but I told him to give you a few minutes. He's worried about you."

"I know."

"Come on." Alice placed her hand on Bella's elbow, but not too tight. Just enough pressure to nudge her forward. "First match is about to start. Jasper and Edward against some dicks from Oklahoma, who according to Jasper cheat like a couple of motherfuckers. His words, not mine."

Bella stifled her groan. The last person she wanted to see was Edward, not after the night before. She wasn't sure why he had her so riled up. He was just a guy, another volleyball player who thought he was God's gift to women, so why did she care that he had shown up at her house the night before? And why did she feel eager to watch him play again?

"You're being stupid, Swan," she muttered under her breath.

"What'd you say?" Esme asked, looking over her shoulder at her.

"Um, nothing." Bella smiled, but knew it was off.

Esme didn't push for more details, which Bella was grateful.

Jasper and Edward were seated on the far side of the pit. Like the day before, they were wearing red board shorts and black tank tops with their last names and the number one and two on the front. Edward was wearing a pair of dark sunglasses and had a towel wrapped around his neck. He laughed at something that Jasper said and shifted his attention in Bella's direction, a cocky smirk twisting at the corners of his lips.

"Swan!"

Bella groaned at the sound of Felix's voice calling out her name. She looked over her shoulder and found him battling the crowd as he raced toward her. She would have laughed, but the annoyed look on his face made it clear that nothing about their situation was funny. Sighing, Bella gave Alice a look and handed over her camera bag.

"So much for a few minutes," she groused.

"Are you going to tell him?" Alice asked and when Bella shook her head, she groaned. "And why not?"

"Because he'd treat me differently, Peanut, and you know it. It's bad enough that you have to take care of me. I don't need his pity, too."

"Or maybe he could be a friend, someone to just be there."

"It's not like he can save my life," Bella muttered.

Felix finally made it through the throng of people and rushed over to her. He raised his hand like he was going to grab her arm, but then thought better of it and let his hand fall to his hip. "What the hell is going on with you, Swan?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said.

Felix's eyes widened. "I'm talking about yesterday, about that . . . whatever the hell it was. You couldn't speak, or breathe, and then you could barely walk. What the hell happened?"

Bella pressed her lips together, her gaze automatically shifting to where Edward sat with Jasper. Instead of talking to his teammate, as he had just been doing, he was watching her with such an intensity that it took her breath away.

"Swan!" Felix growled, drawing her attention back to him.

"It's nothing you need to worry about," she snarled. "It's not going to affect my ability to do my job, so just don't worry about it."

Felix sighed and took a step to the side, his expression softening. "I'm worried about my friend, not the job. You . . . you scared the shit out of me, Swan. I've never seen you like that before."

"I'm sorry," she whimpered, struggling to keep the tears that burned the corners of her eyes from falling. She hated being emotional, especially in front of people.

"You can trust me," he said, quietly.

"It's not about trust," she told him, shifting her eyes up to his. "I don't want to tell you, because then . . ."

"Then what?" he pleaded.

"Every time you look at me, you'll see that I'm not the Swan you grew up with and I can't handle that," she said before she grabbed her camera bag from Alice and walked away, leaving Alice and Esme to deal with him.

She knew the point would come when people would learn the truth about her. She wouldn't be able to hide away from the public eye the way her father had. But for now, she just wanted to be normal.

"Hey, wait up," Edward called out, and when she looked over her shoulder, she saw him rushing across the pit toward her. He slid to a stop and smiled. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"Just . . ." Bella shook her head, causing two tears to fall down her cheek.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, reaching up and wiping them away before she could. The minute his hand touched her, she felt her heart beat harder in her chest. "You okay, Bella?"

"How'd you know my name?" she asked, taking a step backward.

"Alice," was all he said.

"Well, I didn't give you permission to use it, did I?"

Edward grinned widely. "Didn't ask, did I?"

"Ugh, you are a prick," she groused.

"Maybe," he admitted. "But I'm the prick you're having dinner with tonight."

"Excuse me?" she asked, her eyebrow lifting. "I am not going to dinner with you."

"Are you afraid?" Edward took a step toward her, causing Bella to automatically lean backward.

"No," she insisted, though she wasn't sure she was lying or telling the truth.

"Then you'll meet me at JJ's at eight."

"And if I don't?" she challenged.

Edward leaned close enough for their lips to almost touch. "I know where you live."

And with that said, Edward turned and walked away, leaving Bella standing there.

Thank you for all the reviews. I am blown away by the response this story has received so far. To the guest reviewer who asked if I reply to reviews, I try to, but I don't always have time. If you have a question, you can always PM me, or send me a message via FB. And to the Guest Reviewer who commented on the lack of Native Hawaiians, don't worry. Your message was received with care and grace. No offence here.