Chapter 7

I don't want to cry
I just can't find the answers
To the questions that keep going through my mind
Hey babe
Isn't it time
Isn't it time it took time to wait
Falling in love could be your mistake - The Babys, "Isn't It Time", The song peaked at position No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 before dropping off in January, 1978

Jared calls the next day and asks me to dinner.

And not to Mac's or anything for a cheesesteak and fries or the diner again. He wants to take me out. Like out out. To a restaurant where there are cloth napkins and the waiter holds your menu for you until you're settled in your seat.

I know Charlie is going to insist on meeting him this time since I agreed to let him pick me up. It means that even though he won't have to eat it, he'll still be subjected to looking at Renee's version of Goulash, which is just elbow macaroni, hamburger and tomato soup. Believe it or not, it's up there in terms of top five things Renee cooks that I can eat, but hell yes to a nice meal someone else pays for.

I'm nervous as I knock on Rosalie's door. She's been moody all day, and I haven't had a chance to ask what's wrong. When I got back from the beach last night, she wasn't here, and I never heard her come in. My gut tells me she was with Emmett, because Edward was with me until it got too dark out to see the waves.

When we'd had enough surfing, he drove me home but was silent most of the way, listening to Led Zeppelin too loud to make conversation. The energy between us that I felt on the water had vanished, and I figured that moment was all in my head as he dropped me off with barely a 'bye' and zoomed away almost before I had my left foot out of the car.

He did not ask if Rose was home or make any mention of coming in to see her.

"Can I come in?" I call through the door.

"If you must."

Earth, Wind and Fire plays through the room and I see Rosalie sitting on her floor maintaining her pedicure, but her hair is messy and she's got that diseased look about her again.

"You okay?"

"Why do you keep asking me that? I'm fine. What is it you need?" She doesn't look up from the pink polish.

"Um, Jared wants to take me to Vincenzo's tonight and I don't know what to wear." My bare foot crosses the other on her carpet.

She looks up at me. "You want my help?" She says it almost like she's doubtful or like it's a trap.

"Jake never took me anywhere but Frosty Freeze or the Gas 'n Gulp. Doubt I can wear flip flops and cutoffs for a fine-dining experience." She just looks at me with a blank face. "Yes, I would like your help, please." I roll my eyes.

She caps the bottle. "Wow. Bella Swan isn't so self-assured after all." She gets up and walks to her closet.

I wrinkle my nose at her. "What does that mean? I'm just asking to borrow an outfit that doesn't smell like chicken wings."

She shifts through some pretty floral dresses and shrugs. "Nothing." She holds out a short, blue dress. "Try this on."

I'm confused by what she said, but ignore it as I take my shirt and shorts off, slipping the dress over my head. The material is silky against my skin and makes me feel pretty. Rosalie looks at me in the mirror. "Do you have any shoes to go with this? Your big feet will stretch mine out."

"My feet are the same size as yours! But yes, I have the sandals I wore to the wedding." They have beige straps and a low platform heel. They should match fine.

Rosalie sighs behind me. "I suppose I should do your toes for your big date. Don't want to scare the poor guy off with those talons."

"Jesus Rosalie, I'm not Big Foot. Don't do me any favors."

"Just sit down." She nods to the stool at her dressing table and I perch on the edge of the pink fur. She sits on the floor and takes my foot onto her lap, removing the leftover polish before speaking.

"Do you like this guy?" She delicately applies the same pink shade she was using.

"I guess? I don't know him all that well, it's only our third date."

She finishes one coat and moves to the other foot while I fan the wet polish with a magazine. "He seems okay. Edward likes him." We lapse into silence and she starts applying the second coat.

I chew my lip at the casual mention of her boyfriend. "Can I ask you something?"

"Maybe."

"Why won't you tell me what's really going on with you and Emmett?" Maybe it's none of my business, but I feel like we're in bonding mode at the moment. And I really want to understand what I saw at the lifeguard station and on her floor.

Her hand stills and she looks up at me. "Emmett is a friend."

She's lying. It's written all over her face. "I don't think I believe that."

"I don't care if you don't." She looks at me with a 'fuck you' expression.

"I'm not dumb, Rosalie. You looked awfully upset he didn't acknowledge you at Mac's when we were there after the movie."

Her face turns red. "He didn't see me there. He explained it."

"You believe that? He seemed more interested in this month's Hustler centerfold."

Her eyes narrow. "Speaking of hanging out with people, I know you were with my boyfriend last night."

I'm a little startled. I didn't do anything wrong but my shoulders tense. "Yeah, after work I was sweaty and gross so I wanted to surf. He wanted to surf, so we surfed at the same time." I use his words because I feel guilty, somehow.

She flips her hair over her shoulder and continues on my foot. "I'm not mad."

The guilt kicks up a notch. Does she have suspicions I'm crushing on her boyfriend? It's not like I'd do anything about it, but I guess it does make me a sucky step-sister. Even if she is treating him like garbage.

"Well duh. You have nothing to be mad about."

"I'm just pointing out that you have no right to lecture me about who I hang out with, do you?"

"I'm not the one doing anything fishy." She pulls my toe towards her with more force than necessary. "Ouch! I'm sorry If you're having problems with your boyfriend, but don't take it out on me."

"I'm NOT having problems with my boyfriend." She sneers.

"Which one?" I sneer back, angry at how this conversation has escalated. I know it's because I've hit a nerve.

Her eyes narrow. "Watch it."

"No. I will not watch it. I know what you're doing and I don't know why you don't just break up with Edward if you want to date a skeezeball."

"Did you and Edward discuss this?"

Now I'm really mad if she thinks I'd betray her. Even if she is nasty to me a lot of the time. I suck in a breath, my toes forgotten as I stand. "No, Rosalie. Believe it or not, you're not the topic of my conversations twenty-four seven."

I walk to her door and swing it open quickly. "And for the record, I saw you kiss Emmett. So don't tell me he's just a 'friend'. Edward deserves a lot better than you."

"What, you think he deserves someone like you?" Her voice is shaky, despite the venom.

I leave her room without answering.

Because my answer would've been yes.

When I come downstairs before Jared arrives, I'm not surprised to see Edward sitting in the living room with Rosalie. Her legs are over his as they share a beer and lounge on the floor cushions.

I walk past them without a word. I'm still mad she doesn't see what she's doing wrong, a little at Edward, too, for not seeing it himself, or if he does, then I'm mad he's ignoring it and staying with her anyway.

Charlie and Renee are outside sitting by the pool, drinks in hand. I sit on the end of Renee's chaise.

"So, Jared is coming to pick me up in about five minutes to take me to dinner. There is one rule: do not embarrass me."

"Who, us?" Charlie's face is all innocence and astonishment.

"Where is he taking you?" Renee asks.

"Vincenzo's. Sorry I'll miss Goulash night."

"That's okay. Edward loves my Goulash."

"That's a strong word, but it's probably the most popular of your recipes, yes."

"Oh, that's nice. I'll make sure to save you some."

I ignore that. "Dad, please don't grill him, okay? We're just casually dating, I don't think it's really going to go anywhere so you don't have to worry."

"Are you remembering to take your pill everyday, sweetie?" Renee asks and Charlie does a spit take.

"Holy shit." I put my head in my hands. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. No talk of birth control or swinging or wife swapping or tampons or whatever you think is polite conversation. Trust me, it isn't."

The slider sounds and Rosalie walks out followed by Edward and Jared. Fuck. I jump up quickly but not before the three of them have joined us poolside.

"You look nice," Jared says and I'm a little embarrassed he said it in front of everyone but thank him. I make the introductions and Charlie behaves, but he does invite Jared to sit which is not at all what I wanted to happen.

He and Edward pull chairs over and Rosalie steals my seat, so I have no choice but to sit on Charlie's chair with the rest of them. It's one big weird circle and I wish I had chugged a beer.

Conversation flows according to parental rules. Charlie asks him all the things a good father should. When they talk about what Jared is studying, Edward chimes in about the project I had heard them discussing at the Tasty Dog. It's actually pretty interesting, they have to shoot and edit a short film about something important to them.

"So you'll shoot with a real movie camera and stuff?" I ask.

"Yeah, we get to sign out school equipment and we'll have access to the editing lab."

"What do you think you guys will film?"

Edward leans forward and braces his arms on his knees. "Actually, we think we'd like it to be about the local surfing scene going back a few years. Guys like my dad are really interesting to us. Some of them turned a sport into a profitable way to live, some have let the scene take over. We want to focus on how it's not just a hobby or game, but how it's a lifestyle. Good or bad." Edward clears his throat. "We'd also like you to be involved, Charlie."

"Me?"

"Yeah, we have a few guys lined up from back in the day. All with different stories." Edward mentions some names and Charlie remembers them, so he readily agrees to being on camera.

The three of them get caught up in talking about it and soon enough we're late for our reservation.

"You could just stay here, I have dinner ready. Goulash." Renee says proudly and before I can throw up a warning flare to Jared, he agrees.

"That is, if you don't mind, Bella?"

Yes, I mind. We're going to die. We're way too young to die.

"We could talk to Charlie about the project some more," Edward helpfully chimes in and when I look at him his eyes dart to mine and look away quickly. I make a mental note to give him a swift kick in the balls under the table later just as he takes a bite.

"I guess not," I answer, wrinkling my nose.

"Great, shop talk all night." Rosalie gets up and huffs her way into the house. Edward doesn't say a word, but the daggers he's staring at her back speak volumes. I really don't get why he puts up with her.

Dinner is fine. I push the salt towards Jared repeatedly and he seems to get the hint. He's nice though, even asks for seconds which is as foreign to Renee as it is to all of us because the show she puts on to give him more is comical.

The guys and Charlie come up with a schedule to sit him down for an interview, and he agrees to take his board out even though he's rusty so they can get some of him and the other surfers recapturing their youth. It will be neat to have Charlie down at the beach, it's been a while.

"Let me know what day, I'll make sure I'm not working so I can watch him wipe out." I smile and nudge Charlie in the arm. "I can help hold your towel or something."

"Yeah? You'd come watch?" Jared seems happy I'm interested.

"Sure! Sounds exciting. I'd like to see how it's all done." I spread my fingers out. "The magic of the movies. Remember me when you're famous."

Edward is staring at Rosalie. I can see the wheels turning. She says nothing - no offer to watch or show any interest whatsoever. Even Renee said she'd like to come watch Charlie be filmed. I bet if it was a movie about a used car lot, Rosalie would be there with bells on.

All of this just intensifies my anger towards both of them and I really don't want to be here anymore. Jared has been nothing but wonderful to me, and I'm shitty for barely giving him a chance because of my infatuation with a guy who puts up with Rosalie's shit.

I slap my hands down on the table. "Well, Renee, that wasn't awful. Congrats. Jared, I'm going to make you buy me some ice cream. Let's go."

He smiles and stands when I do. He shakes hands with Charlie, he and Edward slap five and make plans to head to UCLA to get their rental dates sorted out, and then he makes his way to Renee and grabs her hand. "That was really great, Mrs. Swan, thank you. As much as I've enjoyed all your company tonight, I think I owe Bella that ice cream." He turns to me with a big smile and on impulse, I lean in and kiss him right on the lips in front of everyone.

I grab his hand and pull him through the sliders, yelling goodbye.

"Hold on," Edward says suddenly as a chair scrapes the concrete. "Mind if I join you?"

PB Fun Fact: Remember how I mentioned my mother was a "jar and box" cook? That Goulash recipe was, in fact, one of her go-to's. It's actually not bad if you season it enough. She made it at least once a week for lunch.

Thanks as always to my best girls, LayAtHomeMom and CarrieZM. I'd go have ice cream with you any day.