"You and Edward are getting along fairly well I'd say," Esme commented casting me an unreadable expression. A small smile fought its way to my lips.
This morning Rosalie had gone to show Alice the small local town and Emmett had gone with, tagging along with Rose considering that he would be leaving in a few days. Jasper was in the shower and had some catching up on emails to do. Carlisle was on the shore with Edward and they were splitting wood for Carlisle's giant 4th of July fire.
Esme and I had put on swimsuits like we did every morning we were up here and taken the water floaties. Currently we were lounging lazily on them, floating out in the water with soda and our sunglasses.
I glanced over at Edward who was laughing with Carlisle while bringing an axe perfectly down on a log. And then I looked over at Esme.
"Yeah," I agreed, knowing there were so many responses I could have given her but just choosing the simplest and truest.
I thought back to last night. After much persuasion Alice finally agreed to take the bedroom to herself while Rose and I camped out on the futons. The guys had all worked out there sleeping arrangement in the other bedroom with Emmett getting the top bunk. And that's all I heard from that argument.
Rose took the futon in the main area while I got the other one in the more private alcove area. Edward and I had said goodnight and departed our separate ways. I went to bed smiling at how glad I was to be with Edward. In the middle of the night, I couldn't say when I woke up. I looked around, disoriented and wondered why I had woken up.
Imagine my surprise when I find Edward stretched out next to me sleeping peacefully. His hand had found its way to me and was resting on my stomach. I blinked a few times so my eyes would adjust to the lack of light and then slid back under my blanket. Carefully I turned so that I was on my side and brought my hand up to stroke his hair that had begun to grow out, out of his eyes.
As my fingers started to sweep lightly across his forehead his eyes began to blink open. Even in the dark with only the moon reflecting the lake as a light his eyes were still stunning. Instead of moving his hand off of my hip he pulled me closer to him.
"Hi," I whispered with utmost quietness.
"Hey," he smiled groggily his voice sounding of velvet and sleep.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. He had closed his eyes after I moved my hand down to cup his jaw.
"I've gotten used to Emmett's snoring, but-" Edward stopped, interrupted by a jaw splitting yawn. I giggled quietly before I found myself yawning as well. Edward smirked sleepily and continued in a hushed tone, "Jasper sounds like a fucking steam boat."
"The right answer would have been, 'Oh Bella, why would I want to be anywhere else?'" I teased.
Edward locked his eyes with mine and then in a whisper that sent shivers down my spin said, "You didn't let me finish. The main reason I'm here is because I can't imagine being anywhere else."
Esme's considering tone brought me out of my reminiscing. "How well?"
"Really well," I stressed. I found that I hadn't been able to talk to Esme lately, about anything. Alice yesterday was really the only person who had said anything useful to me. I wanted to know what Esme was thinking, and I wanted to know what Carlisle was thinking…from her though. I added, "Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy well."
"Whoa. You just went all Pride and Prejudice on me?"
I nodded, lips pursed, agreeing with the incredulousness in her statement.
"I always wondered who you'd end up dating. Maybe the football captain, the future brain surgeon, the guy with the dark side, or at times even some dude who writes poetry and plays the bongos. I honestly can say I never thought it would be a U.S. soldier." Esme took a sip of her Sierra Mist as we both looked over to the wood being cut.
"But I'm glad you did. I think Edward's a good guy," Esme said approvingly.
Edward was a great guy. And I…I didn't know how I felt him. It sure as hell was positive and intense. The feeling was so new to me, and I didn't want to jump to place it. What if I was leaping? I had never been love. I didn't know if that was what I was feeling or if I was just so excited about our relationship. All I knew is that I wanted to be with Edward all the time. Every time he smiled it made my stomach twist up, in a good way. What that all meant…I had no clue, but I was more than sure this was something bigger than a summer romance.
I knew that even if Edward wasn't leaving I would still be this invested in him. I didn't want to be with him so often because I wouldn't be able to for a year –though that was a small portion of it- I wanted to be with Edward, because I loved being with Edward. I loved laughing, swearing, and smiling with Edward.
"I think so too," I muttered distractedly yet whole heartedly agreeing with her.
Esme ran her hands under the surface of the water, scaring away a few brave fish. Then she fixed her gaze on me, "You know Bella, you're confused. That's completely understandable. But I want to tell you this. And I'm sorry that I can't sugar coat it or sound like Nicholas Sparks; read his books if you want crap like that. You're 17 he's 22. I know there are things keeping you apart but I want you to know that regret is one of the worst pains to live with. Life has been particularly shitty to you. And now I personally believe that divine province threw Edward into your life. And really; don't fuck with divine province."
Esme finished her small sermon, stared at me a moment longer before she settled back against the inflated lounger. Evidently she was satisfied that she had been able to get her point across to me. Well apparently everyone had an opinion on my love life as of recently. Good to know.
As if they had been listening to our entire conversation –which of course they hadn't been- Edward looked up from the pile of chopped lumber. His head went straight in the direction of me, and when he saw that I happened to be looking at him he raised his hand in a saluting wave. I smiled a brought my hand out of the water to give him a small wave back.
"Seems like forever since you wrote that first letter, doesn't it?" Esme asked after she waved to her own husband.
I was still watching Edward as he smiled adoringly at me before picking up an uncut log and getting ready to split it. "Yeah," I mumbled distractedly, all the while thinking that that first letter seemed like it came yesterday.
It was a gorgeous 4th of July. Last year it had rained the whole day and we sat inside playing an extreme tournament of Crazy 8's. But this year it was 85 degrees with the slightest breeze you didn't even notice it. And there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
Alice, Rose and I were just getting ready to build a fucking sweet sand castle when Edward gently grabbed my arm and pulled me up. I swung around with an expectant grin. "Let's go snicker doddle, we're going jet-skiing," Edward grinned, letting go of my arm and moving to take off his white t-shirt.
"Is jet-skiing really a proper verb?" I asked him but all the while slipping out of my white beach skirt.
Edward tossed me a lifejacket, giving me a raised eyebrow. "You know, I really thought after we started going out you wouldn't be such a pain in the ass." I rolled my eyes at his strangely endearing comment.
"Yeah, but do you really want that?" I challenged slipping on my life jacket and giving him a flirty grin.
Edward, breathless from the rush of sudden activity looked up at me with a crooked grin. "Hell no."
I smiled to myself as he tugged my hand, sliding his fingers through mine as we splashed through the ankle deep water to get to the jet-ski landing. Edward went to the one on the right and I started to stray to the one of the left, figuring this would be one of this races. Edward pulled me closer to him, making sure I didn't stumble in the water. "You're riding with me on this one."
I could live with that.
Without hesitation I slipped up onto the jet-ski and out of the water as Edward cranked the pulley so that it would lower. The seat was black therefore very warm in between my thighs. I shifted trying to be discreet; Edward didn't seem to notice. My skin adjusted to the temperature and I slid forward across the seat that was long enough to fit three people. "Can I drive?"
"No."
"Sweet."
Edward finished cranking it and he guided it over the lift so that it was floating a few yards away from it. "Move," he commanded expectantly as he looked at me with my hands on the handlebars.
"You were serious?" I asked incredulously.
Edward nodded, totally serious.
With a heavy sigh I slid back and let go of the handle bars to make room for him. He shot me a smug grin and glided easily onto the seat in front of me. As soon as he was situated I snuggled up closer to him, wrapping my arms around his lifejacket covered chest tightly. My thighs constricted fairly snugly around him. I heard a soft chuckle come from him as I sat up straighter so I could put my chin on his shoulder.
"Just go," I sighed exasperatedly. He was far to exhausting for his own good.
"Hold on tight baby," and before I could literally even process what he said the jet-ski rocketed across the water in a sudden jerk forward. I wasn't used to not being able to control the speed on these things. My arms tightened more around him; probably his plan to start with.
If it had been anyone other than Edward I would have been concerned. He was driving like a maniac, plunging into all the waves he could find and creating huge circles of waves from the many times he was going around. This was exactly how I drove when I had the jet ski to myself; but being a passenger was slightly frightening. At one point I think I was crushing his ribs from my grip.
After a few minutes of the insanity I started to relax a bit. Edward's laugh whipped from his mouth through the wind to my ears, it made me smile. And then he soaked us in a particularly large wave. I laughed with him as I blinked the splash of water out of my face.
When Edward had had his fun almost killing the engine he slowed down the motor to a stop. Through the course of all the looping and waves he had managed to travel halfway across the lake to a secluded bay with very few houses in it. He slowed it to a stop and then took the key out of the ignition. He started to turn so I slid away from him to give him some space. We each unbuckled our life jackets and slid them off.
"How was that?" he was breathless from the rush, his eyes shining and his hair disheveled from the window. He looked so…perfect. It's such an overused word, but that is the only word that could be used to describe him in my eyes.
"Amazing," I answered, not just talking about the jet ski ride alone.
I smiled up at Edward, his face perfectly illuminated from the shining sun. He grinned down at me, his stunning green eyes gleaming with adoration as he gazed at me.
When we locked eyes, there was something. Something that hadn't then there before. I would replay the memory for the next year he was away trying to decipher it. But in that moment I knew. I don't know what it was, but I couldn't deny the strong tug I felt to be impossibly closer to him, and not physically.
I didn't leave time for my brain to think this over or worry about it. I just knew.
"Edward," I started passionately. My smile wanted to grow huger, into a giant beam, but I kept my face soft with happiness. Edward didn't blink; instead he scooted closer to me, tangling our lower legs together.
"I, I love you."
The words left my mouth without regret. And when they were out, even though they came out softly and lovingly, I wanted to shout it out. I wanted to proclaim it on the world news. I, Isabella Swan was in love with Edward Masen. And even if he wasn't there yet, there was no worry of rejection in my mind. That was the enlightening thing about love. I trusted and loved Edward so completely that I knew he would not hurt me, just as I wouldn't him.
I broke into a huge grin, my heart racing just as it had when that first letter arrived in the mail box. Edward's jaw dropped a fraction and his eyes widened in disbelief. But his relaxed grin didn't dissolve, instead, his entire face brightened as I nodded my head a little, agreeing with myself about what I had just confessed.
What happened next? Let me tell you, I did not see this one coming. Edward stood up and before I could even raise an eyebrow his arms were around me and then we were abruptly in the cold water. I came up startled gasping for breath. Edward was above the water too, grinning at me with such happiness.
"God, I love you too Bella. So fucking much," Edward breathed, his voice sounding relieved and joyful and well, loving…all in one. We grinned at each other for literally a fraction of a second before our lips crashed against each other, sealing our statements with such an intense kiss. I opened my mouth up to him, and our battle for dominance, the one that has been going on since the beginning of time for men and women, continued.
This kiss was different then the rest, yet still so the same. I was still kissing Edward…it was still great kissing Edward. But now, I was kissing out of love. Though, if you ask me, we had always kissed from love. I had loved Edward for a long time, but now, it was pronounced.
It was also different because we were in the water and simaltaneously treading water while we made out.
The only not great thing about this kiss was the ending. And the only not great thing about the ending was the time of it. It ended far too soon than I would have liked. …But then again I probably would have given myself to him right there on a jet ski in the middle of lake…so I don't think I was the best judge.
Edward, even though the kiss had subsided was placing soft, feather light kisses on my lips continuously, his lips forming a subtle grin. When he lifted his lips off mine he leaned down to put his forehead against mine.
"Now why the hell did you throw me in the water you ass!" I exclaimed with a grin, smacking his shoulder.
"It seemed like the right thing to do...?" He answered sheepishly, amused by his own antics apparently.
"A girl tells she loves you and you push her in the water. How very chivilarous of you!" I mocked him. We had reached the jet ski again and were both resting of our arms against the side to hold us up.
He laughed loudly and grinned with sparkling eyes. "I did not push you. I threw you. Two completely different things!"
"Ass," I muttered under by breath with a smile, just so he could hear me. He was an ass. But he was my ass.
"I said it first you know," Edward informed me with slightly smug grin. He kissed me again before I looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"You most definitely did not. I did." I disagreed, not at all being stubborn; being right. He helped get me back on the jet ski as our conversation continued.
"Nope," he continued matter of factly, "actually I did. Last night, when I came out to where you were sleeping. Before I fell asleep and you woke me back up, I told you I loved you. And you smiled ever so slightly in your sleep."
I smiled at the sweetest thing I had ever been told. I tried to convey how much he meant to me in my gaze on him.
"Did I really smile in my sleep?" Seemed likely to me, but I still was going to believe that I said it first.
"Well your eyebrow twitched, so I interpreted that way." I laughed and kissed him softly for a moment.
Edward tucked a stray strand of hair that had flown out of my pony back behind my ear before saying, "I would have told you tonight anyway, during the fireworks."
"How romantic," I grinned with the edge of teasing. Edward rolled his eyes as I giggled.
"You know, in my head in played out pretty nicely actually," Edward informed me.
"You probably didn't factor in Emmett," I pointed out. I grinned at him as my arms wound their way around his neck.
"It always comes back to Emmett," he sighed with mock exasperation.
My head started to inch closer up to his. Edward's arms wound around mine as I smiled happily up at him, "Not right now."
"No," he agreed, centimeters away from my lips, "not right now." And then his lips met mine again and all thoughts about Emmett dissolved and with those the rest of my thoughts.
Now any one who was just being filled in on what was happening, they would think we were moving far too fast. But if you asked me, I would say it was a long time coming. I had fallen in love with Edward over the course of his letters. These past two weeks or so have just put that into perspective. Besides, as I had decided a long time ago, I don't give a shit what the hell anyone thinks about us.
It was a picture perfect 4th of July. I spent the rest of the afternoon with my sweetheart and my family. We were out on the water playing water volleyball and football (tackle actually) and Carlisle barbequed hot dogs and burgers. We drank lemonade and got sunburned. We cranked up the radio and all took turns bursting out the latest songs off key. We spent the day under the sun, enjoying each others company; none of us thinking about tomorrow. And Edward and I…well Edward and I were, well we had just discovered we were in love…how you think we were acting?
But I was looking forward to the fireworks. We had four soldiers among us, and 4th of July was celebrating the freedom of our country and the men who fought for it. And today, especially in this area we continued to celebrate the men and women in the forces. I was just excited for Edward to have his day. Granted Emmett, Alice and Jasper were here too, but I wanted Edward to know how appreciated he was and how proud of him I was.
"Rose and I call the jet ski!" Emmett called. I rolled my eyes, even though I was in the bathroom changing and he couldn't see me.
I heard Rosalie's snort through the door. "Or you can go cuddle with the handle bars while I enjoy an actual seat." Yeah; saw that coming.
Emmett was pouting at Rose as she grabbed a pop from the fridge; they started to bicker while taking the conversation outside into the dark night. Jasper was shrugging on a jacket at the door on the left side of the cabin. And Edward was bending down in crouch tying his shoes. Even though he had heard the door open I still decided to sneak quietly up on him. I pounced onto his back and wrapped my arms around his neck, placing a kiss on the top of his head.
"This isn't Esme, is it?" There was a slight chance that he was seriously asking me that.
"Do I feel like a 30 year old woman?" I challenged as he finished tying his shoe and placed his hands to hold me up on my knees.
"Well, no. But I'm not calling Esme fat either!" He defended his answer as he stood up easily, even with an extra 115 pounds on his back.
"Well played Masen."
Edward chuckled and pushed open the door to the outside. Rosalie and Emmett had finally agreed that a boat would be a better option than a jet ski. Rosalie looked up when we exited the house.
"Well aren't you two just cute."
"Yes. Yes we are," Edward answered matter of factly. And with that he continued to walk towards the dock as I giggled quietly. Well if Rose thought we were cute then I guess we had it made.
Our boat had a front that didn't have seats; it was just flat with a small wall lining the triangular shape. But generally I liked to lay up there with my back resting on the windshield.
Tonight we had a bigger crowd than usually. So Edward set me down on the dock and climbed in the front of the boat with Jasper. Alice grinned knowingly and climbed in the front after Jasper. I followed suit and found Edward resting casually against the windshield his legs open in a V. I mentally smiled and went to cuddle up with him. Once I was situated in between his legs he wrapped his arms around my torso.
Carlisle and Esme were in the driver and passenger seat with Rosalie and Emmett in the long cushioned bench in the back. Alice was engulfed under one of Jasper's arms her feat curled underneath her as she snuggled up to him. They were really a pretty damn adorable couple. You know how sometimes you see this awkward short guy who doesn't wash his hair with this ugly chick who has a unibrow? And you go…eww? I was pleasantly relieved that they weren't one of those cringe worthy couples.
Edward's arms were the best place in the world to be. A few weeks ago, I would have said something like, oh…well I like being at a beach…but now I've started to realized there is more in life than that. At 17 I really didn't think anything was missing in my life; I'm 17. But now that I've fallen in love with Edward I realized just how empty my life has been until now. And yeah; that sounds ridiculous for 17. I get that. But Edward had come into my life and filled it completely.
I thought about this as the fireworks started to boom over the lake. There was a hush over all of the 200 boats floating in the area. The only noise that could be heard was God Bless the USA coming from all of the radios on the boats.
Edward had come into my life, blazing like the fireworks shooting in front of us. And unlike the fireworks, he was continuing to light up life, and he wouldn't end with smoke. It frightened me how much love I had for the soldier holding me tightly. In the back of my mind, I couldn't help but realize that any emotion that powerful had the possibility of hurting me.
I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. God bless the U.S.A.
So I thought what better time to share this feeling
and I turned to you and said.
"I don't think I'm ready for the leaves to change,
cause I met you in the summer so please don't blow away.
When the wind picks up and it's colder everyday."
Because you're all mine,
You've got me dreaming a future with your beautiful eyes,
I'd do whatever they told me to.
I won't waste time when it comes to you,
because no one makes me feel like you do.
You make it easy girl.
Baby I've been waiting for my luck to change
and the moment that I saw you well it all just feel in place.
When the wind picks up, I will be there in every way.
And when push comes to shove it's the two of us,
just give me time and I'll prove it to you.
You'll see we've got nothing to lose.
The Leaves Will Change, Take Cover
-This chapter is dedicated to Andrew Wilfahrt 31, Brian Tabada 21, Rudolph Hizon 22, Chauncy Mays 25 and thier families, soldiers who gave their lives this week with no media mention due to Charlie Sheen and his crazyassness. Thank you for your service. You are my heroes.
-As of lately I've been finishing up work on this story (don't worry I'm about 25 chapters ahead of ya'll) and I'm working on some EPOV. As of this far in the story is there any parts you'd like from Edward's point of view? I'm not doing the whole story again obviously. But a few parts. Let me know which ones you'd like to see!
-And finally, yay! They're in love! I know there's going to be some mixed reactions to that, but just remember, he's only here for a little bit. Enjoy Sweetheartward while he's still here(:
