Not mine.


Two weeks later, Edward, Jasper, Emmett, and Jake were back from basketball camp-but that didn't mean they weren't still playing hoops every second they could. One evening, they piled into the Masens' kitchen after their workout. Edward's father, Coach Masen, followed them, tossing them bottles of water. "What I saw out there just now looks very, very strong, guys," he said. "Camp really stepped up your game."

Jasper yelled, "What team?"

They yelled back, "Spartans!"

Just then the phone rang. Edward answered it. As he walked away from the guys, Jasper said, "Uh-oh, girlfriend alert."

The other guys laughed, but Edward was already in the next room. The caller wasn't Bella. It was a man Edward had never met before-but who seemed to know an awful lot about him.

"This is Vincent Durango over at Lava Springs," the man said. "I understand you've been looking for summer work?"

"Hey, Ed, does Bella still remember you name, or did she karaoke with someone new on vacation?" Emmett called out from the kitchen.

As the guys cracked up, Edward waved at them to be quiet. "That sounds fantastic, Mr. Durango," he said. "But how did you get my name?"

"We've always had a student summer work program here at Lava Springs," he said smoothly. After a second, he added, "Go Spartans."

Okay, Edward thought, fair enough. But if it was a student summer work program, maybe there was a way he could make this sudden opportunity into something even more fun…

"Here's the thing," he said. "I now this really great girl…I mean, student…straight A's, quintuple straight A's, and she's looking for a job, too, and it'd be so amazingly perfect if…" He kept talking, pacing around the room as he tried to sell Mr. Durango on his really great idea.

"Man, he's really working someone," Jasper said.

'It can't be Bella," his father said. "When she calls, he just blushes." He looked at the guys, catching himself. "I never said that."

Finally, Edward was done. He hung up the phone looking pleased.

"What's up, dog?" Jasper asked.

"Up?" Edward said with a grin. "What? Nothing." He slapped the basketball out of Jasper's hands and dribbled it around the kitchen, causing immediate chaos as everyone went after him.

"Hey, not in the house!" his dad yelled. "Edward's mother will be home in a minute, then we're all dead!" They immediately calmed down. "I'll tell you what though," he added, "you stick together this summer, work on the game, and we're talking about back-to-back championships."

"Bet on it," Edward said with confidence. His friends looked at him, curious. They could tell he had something up his sleeve. But what? His dad took advantage of their momentary distraction to steal the ball. Instantly, the kitchen was again in an uproar, until the ball was snatched from midair and everyone turned to see…

…Edward's mom, holding the basketball and giving them her Mom Look. "Do you think we can all redirect this energy toward carrying in the groceries?" she asked calmly.

"Yes, Mrs. Masen," everyone said- even Coach Masen.

The Lava Springs Country Club was heaven on Earth, if you were a member. The clubhouse gleamed with brand new paint. Tanned, happy people sprawled on chairs underneath the beach umbrellas that surrounded the swimming pool. On the patio, members enjoyed their lunch in the warm sunshine of a beautiful summer day.

It was the perfect day…until a convertible with license plates that read FABULUS rolled through the front gates. It purred up the driveway to the portico. A valet rushed forward to greet the driver, none other than Rosalie.

"Miss Hale, Mr. Hale, looking very sharp this summer," the valet said.

In the passenger seat, Barrett tipped his stylish hat in greeting.

"Thank you, James," Rosalie said, with just the right combination of reserve and warmth. "Can you find some shade for my car?"

Before the valet could answer, another voice said, "Even if we have to plant a tree, Miss Hale." Mr. Durango stepped forward and added smoothly, "I trust that your vacation was satisfactory?"

Rosalie shrugged. "New York, for shopping and Broadway shows. Seven days, eight shows, eleven new pairs of shoes. However, it's good to be…" She looked around and sighed with satisfaction. "…home."

She and Barrett got out of the car and walked with Mr. Durango toward the clubhouse. Rosalie waved graciously to other club members and staff as she proceeded up the drive. A warm glow filled her heart as everyone responded to her greetings. Now I know how the Queen of England feels when she returns to Buckingham Palace, she thought. Then something caught her eye. "Is it possible to get more color in these gardens?" she asked. "I'm thinking yellows and blues."

Mr. Durango nodded quickly. "Lovely." He snapped his fingers at a gardener and pointed to the flowerbed.

Rosalie smiled happily. It was so nice to be someplace where her slightest suggestion was treated as an order to be obeyed. If only the rest of the world operated like the Lava Springs Country Club, she thought. As she and Barrett swept into the lobby, Rosalie caught sight of a display cabinet. There was her father's photo, with a nameplate that said Club Founder and President. There was her mother's photo, with a placecard that read Director and Membership Committee. Next to these sat gleaming trophies celebrating the Hales' triumphs in swimming, diving, tennis, golf, and ballroom dancing competitions that had been held at the country club. Her gaze moved on to a poster advertising the club's next big social event: "Lava Springs' Annual Midsummer Night's Star Dazzle Talent Show! Make reservations now!"

Mr. Durango pointed to a stack of programs lying on a reception table. "This year we embossed the flyers for the show."

"Inspired," Rosalie answered. She pulled out a marker and began autographing the flyers. "I plan to limit member talent auditions to thirty seconds each. Amateur performers are very…"

"Draining?" Mr. Durango filled in helpfully. "Understood."

"And should I…" She paused and quickly included Barrett in her statement. "…we be so fortunate as to win the Star Dazzle award again…."

"We're planning to widen the trophy case," Mr. Durango said. "I have sketches in my office."

She beamed at him. Mr. Durango was truly a treasure. "You are so efficient," she cooed. This summer was shaping up to be the best one ever, she thought. She just had one other little matter to take care of. "The staffing matter we discussed…?" she whispered to Mr. Durango.

"Handled, with discretion," he assured her.

"How…fabulous," she replied. Then she headed off to the locker room. Time to put the next phase of Operation Perfect Summer into motion.

A few minutes later, Rosalie emerged from the locker room wearing a gorgeous swimsuit and a cute cover-up. She carried a brightly colored parasol and a shoulder bag stuffed with sunscreen, cell phone, makeup, flip-flops, and magazines. She heard breathless greetings and turned to see three girls named Tanya, Lauren, and Jessica rushing over. They seemed thrilled to have spotted her.

A voice behind Rosalie said, "Your chaise in its usual spot, Miss Hale?" She turned to see a pool attendant hovering nearby.

"Wonderful, Javier," she said. "Jessica and Lauren west of me, Tanya east. And you'll be a prince to angle our chaises on the hour, as the sun moves."

He smiled. "Thanks to the kind words from your mother last season, I've been promoted, but I'll see to it that the new lifeguard is fully briefed on your requirements," he assured her.

Like a queen settling on her throne, Rosalie sat down. Her attendants, she caught herself, her girlfriends, gather around her.

"So, what's the theme of the summer talent show, Rosalie?" Jessica asked eagerly.

Rosalie paused dramatically, then said one simple word: "Redemption."

The girls exchanged confused glances, then Tanya spoke for all of them. "Huh?"

Rosalie sighed. How could she explain what the last year had been like? She settled for saying, "It was a very…trying…year, ladies." After a moment she gathered her strength and went on. "My drama department was invaded by outsiders, singers coming out of the chemistry lab and locker room."

"It's over, Rose," Barrett said. He had emerged from the locker room in time to overhear the last of her complaints. "It's summer, remember? We've got the pool and the entire club, and the whole summer to enjoy it."

"And the spa has been redone," Lauren pointed out.

"There's also an avocado facial and seaweed body scrub on the menu," Jessica added.

"It's all too perfect," Tanya sighed happily.

"Oh, really?" Rosalie said. Nothing was ever completely perfect, after all. She frowned at her glass, then raised it in the air to get the attention of a waiter. "More ice, please.

If not completely perfect, life at Lava Springs Country Club was definitely fabulous. And, the girls noticed, it had just gotten better. A cute guy was headed their way. They adjusted their sunglasses to get a better look. When they saw who it was, they exchanged surprised glances…everyone but Rosalie, that is.

They boy was none other than Edward Masen, carrying a tray of drinks poolside. Rosalie smiled to herself…until she spotted Jasper, Jake, and Emmett being led toward the pool area by Mr. Durango. Her smile disappeared. What was going on here?

And Edward didn't even notice her! Rosalie turned to follow his gaze, and saw Bella looking beautiful in a lifeguard swimsuit, her hair flowing in the breeze. Rosalie's mouth dropped open. She stood and took a couple of uncertain steps backward. Everywhere she looked, she saw nothing but Spartans. It was all just…TOO…MUCH! Stunned, she took another step back and….SPLASH!!!

Rosalie floundered in the water, sputtering, hoping that this was just a terrible dream and that any minute now she would wake up. An arm grabbed her around the neck and pulled her to the edge of the pool. Gasping, Rosalie turned to see Bella, who had dived into the water when she saw Rosalie struggling.

"What are you DOING HERE?!" Rosalie yelled.

"I'm the new lifeguard," Bella explained.

Edward looked confused. "Are you a member here?" he asked Rosalie.

Rosalie gasped. Was she a member? Was she a member? If Lava Springs Country Club had a royal family, she would be the princess! And right now, she was one very angry princess!