A/N- the long awaited day out has finally arrived! Woohoo! It's really long too since I probably won't update for a while. I'm not sure when I'll find time, but you never know!
Chapter 5
Bella's POV
I arrived in my room after getting the slinky dress off and the gobs of make-up removed and, after changing into cotton pajama pants and a tank top, I went out to the balcony to relax. The moonlight played on the water beautifully and I began to feel slightly sleepy just watching it.
I really like my balcony. I had two comfortably cushioned chairs and a small glass table between them. On each side of it were two opaque glass dividers to let me have my privacy, even if no one occupied the room on one side of me and Emmett had the other.
Right then I heard a loud knock that I immediately recognized as Emmett's. It hadn't sounded like it had come from my door so where was he? I asked myself as I twisted my head about to find the source.
"Bella!" Emmett called from the other side of the glass on his own balcony. I laughed.
"I have a door Emmett." I pointed out as I moved to the chair closer to the glass so he could hear me better.
"But where's the fun in that?" he asked. I rolled my eyes.
"Just so you know Emmett, I'm rolling my eyes and I wouldn't have to tell you this if you had used the door." He laughed then. "Emmett? Was there something you wanted to talk about or was this just to bother me?" I asked.
"I just wanted to let you know again that you really were great tonight, and…" he paused. "And you really sound like mom. You look a lot like her too." He said. We were quiet a minute as my eyes welled up at the mention of mom We didn't talk about our parents that much anymore.
"Thanks Emmett." I whispered.
"No problem Squirt." He said gruffly. "Now go to bed and get some good sleep. Alice mentioned something about getting you up early and dressing you up so you might want to grab some sleep when you can."
"I think I will. Night Em." I said as I stepped back inside and crawled into bed, leaving the glass door open to catch the cool sea breeze, and drifted to sleep before long.
I woke to small but rapid knocks on my door. I moaned and pulled the pillow over my head to block out the noise.
"Go away. Too early." I called to whoever was at the door. I heard voices outside my door conversing and then fading footsteps. I sighed in relief and closed my eyes again, sinking back into sleep, when I heard a rattle at the door. With a click the door flew open to reveal a grinning Emmett and Alice standing outside my door. I groaned and rolled over, pulling the pillow tighter around my face.
I heard a few steps and then, before I could react, Emmett jumped onto my bed. The jolt sent me flying off the side of my bed so the only my calves were still on the bed. I found myself twisted in my sheets, staring up at the ceiling and the edge of my bed and laying on the floor on my back like a turtle. Emmett's face popped into my view over the edge of my bed.
"Oops." He said grinning at me. I glared up at him before reaching my arms up. He grabbed my hands and hoisted me back onto the bed with him. I moaned lightly and rubbed a small circle on my lower back where I'd fallen.
"Bella! We have to get you dressed and made up!" Alice cried skipping forward to grab my hands and drag me off the bed. I grumbled as I was pulled off the bed and to my feet. I stumbled slightly and Emmett grabbed me from behind to keep me from falling.
"Thanks, but you're still not forgiven for flinging me off my bed on my day off." I muttered which made him laugh his trademark booming laugh. I rolled my eyes one last time and slogged to where Alice was scrutinizing my closet once again.
"I'd almost forgotten how much help your wardrobe needs." Alice said while shaking her head despairingly. "It's very fortunate I came along before this got any worse." She said, eyeing me disdainfully. I pouted and moved to defend my clothing.
"It's not that bad. Besides, I like those sweats you're holding." I said, snatching the offending pair of pants out of her hands. I heard Emmett's laugh from back over on my bed.
"You can go if you like Emmett. Thanks for letting me in!" she called to him as he moved to leave.
"Anytime!" he called back and then he was gone. I glared after him.
"I never should have given him that key." I grumbled to myself making Alice laugh.
"Now go shower and I can start. I'll have to see if I can make anything in here into a decent outfit." She said, pushing me into the bathroom in an off hand way, her eyes never leaving the closet. I shook my head and moved the rest of the way into the bathroom.
The shower helped wake me up the rest of the way and by the time I got out I was most of the way awake, still not all there though. I cracked the door open slightly.
"Alice?" I called. I could see a sliver of her laying out articles of clothing on my bed and analyzing them closely. "Is there any chance of me getting coffee?" I asked hopefully.
"Emmett mentioned you might need some so I ran over and grabbed you some." She said, motioning towards the cup she had on my nightstand. I breathed a sigh of relief, making a mental note to thank Emmett for letting her know. I hugged the towel close to me as I stepped out, dashed across the room and grabbed the mug and took a deep breath of its heady scent. I took a large gulp and turned to her then, prepared for whatever she was going to subject me to.
"So what's the verdict?" I asked. She shook her head.
"I almost couldn't find anything. Then I dug to the very depths of your closet and found this. Who knew you had anything worth wearing?" she asked. She had found my one sundress that still had the tags on it. It was a deep dark blue and had spaghetti straps with a v-neck. A thin white sash ran right under my chest and the skirt fell to just over my knees. "I'm surprised you had this at all." She said as she threw it to me. "Put it on with your bathing suit and whatever sunscreen you need, then I'll come in and do your make-up." She told me as she threw me the dress and bathing suit and shooing me from the room once again. I resigned myself to a long morning.
An hour later I was dried, dressed, curled, pinned, and made-up. It was torture. We headed down on the elevators and reached the front entrance hall. Emmett and Rosalie were already there and were talking. They seemed rather oblivious to us arriving so Alice and I talked while we waited. I watched the elevator doors studiously and finally they obeyed my wishes and when they opened again Edward and Jasper stepped out. His eyes flashed across the small gathering and then found my eyes. I couldn't help the smile that slid across my face as his mouth turned up in a perfect crooked smile.
"Everyone's here! Let's go!" Alice called to everyone from Jasper's side where she seemed to fit quite nicely. Rosalie and Emmett led the way, talking happily as they walked down the ramp, and followed by Alice and Jasper in much the same fashion.
"After you." Edward said, motioning to the ramp, his green eyes sparkling. I smiled shyly and, of course, flushed red, as I gingerly made my way down, clutching the railing as if it were a lifeline. I heard Edward chuckle lightly once I reached the bottom and sighed in relief.
"What?" I asked.
"With the way you were holding onto that rail, you'd think things like that incident where you tripped happened often." He said as he joined me. We started walking side-by-side behind the other couples.
"You have no idea." I muttered darkly. He laughed again, a noise that made my heart lift. We were silent a moment, enjoying the perfectly clear water that lay under he boardwalk we were walking and the fine white sand on the beach near by. Palm trees lined all the walkways and a few coconuts lay on the sand underneath.
"You sing beautifully." He said. My cheeks burned at his compliment and I waved it away.
"I bet if I heard you play piano it'd be beautiful." I pointed out. He smiled at me.
"I'll have to show you some time." He said.
"I'd love that."
We kept walking in silence until we reached the heart of the island where you couldn't walk two steps without running into a booth or a shop or a restaurant. Men milled about trying to sell various knickknacks to us. Alice looked about to explode with excitement.
"Do you enjoy shopping as much as Alice?" I asked. He shook his head.
"Not at all."
"Then I'm guessing you've been subjected to this more than a few times." I joked. He shook his head and gave a mock glare to his sister's turned back.
"You have no idea." He said, using my words. We laughed before I groaned as Alice turned, her smile blinding, as she sought me out.
"Bella!" she called. I groaned under my breath as I stepped forward.
"You have two hours and then I can do as I please." I said, instantly regretting it as she squealed and seized my elbow.
"Rose!" she called. Rosalie looked over and smiled, a gorgeous thing in itself. She detached herself from Emmett's side and glided over.
"Do you know Bella?" she asked. Rose smiled at me.
"Not really, only what Emmett's told me." She said with a smile.
"Well she doesn't enjoy shopping and her closet looks likes it's cute intolerant or something. She needs help and it's up to us to give it." She said, sounding as if she was doing some grand deed to the world.
"Sure thing. I'd like to get to know you two better too." She glanced at the where the guys were conversing. "How about we release the guys and meet up for lunch somewhere?" she suggested.
"Great!" Alice said as she dashed over to the guys. I could see her telling them what she wanted them to do with big sweeping hand gestures out of the corner of my eye as I turned to Rose.
"So you like my brother?" I asked. She bit her lip to hide her smile and nodded.
"I do. I've never been one to get mushy over guys, but your brother seems… different." She said. I nodded.
"He is." I assured her as Alice started to get more elaborate with her hand movements, making chopping motions and throwing her arms over her head.
"So you're not, like, freaked out by this or anything, are you? We can still be friends, right?" she asked, seeming genuinely anxious to hear my answer. "If you don't like me, I know Emmett won't. I can already tell you mean the world to him. He absolutely beams when he talks about you." She giggled as I turned red.
"This is perfectly okay. I'm glad we finally found someone worthy of him." I joked. We were laughing when Alice came back, looking pleased but somewhat irritated.
"We good to go?" Rosalie asked Alice. She nodded.
"They just needed some persuasion." She said brightly. She led the way to the nearest little shop with clothing and so it began.
Two hours later I was exhausted and I was positive we had hit every store that had any articles of clothing to offer. Alice had nearly bought out every store and every time I complained she was spending too much money on me she bought me more things.
At least I had gotten to know Rose some more out of it. She wasn't your normal run-of-the-mill beauty. She loved mechanics, was definitely smart enough, not conceited in the least and was into sports. She was very strong-minded and opinionated at times but really wanted a big family. She could be tough and intimidating if she wanted to be but if you got to know her she was really very kind and funny. Those things alone would've won Emmett's heart even if she wasn't as beautiful as she was.
It was daunting to clothes shop with two such pretty women but it didn't seem to bother them that I was an average girl with nothing remarkable about her. I was forced into fitting room after fitting room with armloads of clothing. Rose and Alice together were a force to be reckoned with. They had impeccable taste and could find my size in anything. By the time lunch rolled around not only was I starving but also laden with so many shopping bags I was sure my arms would fall off.
I slid into the booth in the restaurant we'd chosen first, followed by Alice and then Rose. We set our numerous purchases at our feet and chatted as we waited for the guys to get there. Soon enough we heard Emmett's booming laugh as the guys came in. They looked to be laughing and joking with one another as if they had known each other all their lives.
They slid in across from us once we'd been spotted, first Edward then Jasper then Emmett. They immediately fell into conversation with us and we chatted for a while without problem before splitting off into groups. I had mentioned a book and Jasper and Edward and I fell into argument over the plot of it. Emmett, Alice, and Rose, uninterested by our book talk, fell into conversation about a new song that a band had recorded.
Conversation was easy and it felt right, like I had been missing some huge piece of my life and then out of the blue I had made four new friends and things were right and whole.
Once our food was finished though Alice and Jasper and Emmett and Rose all fell into quiet conversation among their dates.
"So, fifth and sixth wheels." I said with a chuckle. He joined in and glanced down the table.
"It seems so." He agreed. "How about we go for a walk? It doesn't seem like we'll be missed." I nodded in agreement and slid out of the other side of the booth. My palms immediately felt sweaty, my mouth dry, and my stomach in knots. I felt like a teenager on her first date and I had to internally roll my eyes at m foolishness. This wasn't even a date! Just a walk with a friend!
As predicted none of the others seemed to notice as Edward threw a few bills down for our meals (much to my protest of paying for myself) and walked out into the sun and sand. We walked a minute in silence just feeling the sun. After a moment I paused and pulled off my flip-flops.
"Ahhh…" I sighed as I sunk my feel into the sand. Edward watched with amusement in his eyes. I grinned at him as we started walking again.
"So you never told me where you lived when you're not on the ship." He pointed out.
"You'll never believe it but Alice told me we only live a few hours apart! I live in a little town called Forks."
"Forks? I know the place. Right by La push, right?" he asked. I nodded.
"How'd you know? Most people have never even heard of it."
"My father wasn't fond of this one man, Billy Black, in La Push. I don't know why, I never bothered to ask. My fathered always wanted me to follow in his footsteps and join the family business but I was in a bit of a rebellious period and didn't want any of it. We had just had a huge blown up argument over it and I was mad. I got in my car and thought to myself what place would spite my father the most? And it came to me right away, La Push. I found a map and drove there. I actually met Billy Black's son then and became good friends with him." I was so surprised about this coincidence that I momentarily forgot to keep moving my feet.
"You know Jacob Black?" I asked in complete shock.
"You know him too I take it?"
"Yeah! He was one of my best friends growing up! I kind of lost touch after a while, but I still see him on occasion."
"Such a small world." He said, mostly to himself. I bobbed my head in complete agreement.
"So," I said, changing the subject. "You know all about my job but I know nothing about yours." I said as we turned off of the sandy boardwalk to walk along a beach, the waves lapping at my toes.
"There's not much to tell. I majored in music theory and minored in music education so I'm actually lined up to become a music teacher right now." He smiled and I could tell he was looking forward to it.
"Tell me about your parents." I said, wishing for the millionth time that if he asked about mine I could tell some recent anecdote and make him laugh again.
"My mother's name is Elizabeth. She has exactly the same hair as mine and you'd be hard put to find a better person. She's very lively and enthusiastic, definitely like Alice in that sense. My father looks very much like Alice and has always been thinking about our futures. He was the one that brought me to my first piano class. He always knew I'd do well there, I just think he didn't figure it'd go so far for me."
"They sound like very nice people." I said quietly. He glanced at me in surprise at my tone.
"Yes they are. Tell me about yours." He said gently.
"I lost them a few years ago. My mom died when I was 17 and dad died when I was 18. I've been working here with Emmett ever since." I told him.
"I'm so sorry." And he looked sincerely sorry. Many people just acted like they were sorry for our losses but couldn't care less.
"Mom looked a lot like me, but prettier. She was an unpredictable cook and some of her creations were completely inedible. She loved trying new things but she could never stick to one thing for long so it could be hard to keep up with at times." I said, trying to keep my tears at bay. It had been a long time since I'd talked about my parents and it was like tearing a bandage off a wound. "Dad had the same hair as Emmett, brown and curly. He wasn't really much of a Mr. Emotional but he was a great dad and he and my mom were so in love. He died inside the day that mom died and I think he died of a broken heart more than anything." I said with a sigh.
"They sound like they were great people." Edward said. I swiped at my eyes, impatient with my tears. I didn't want to cry right now. A hand wrapped around mine and gave it a small squeeze. I glanced down to see my hand completely enveloped in Edward's. My eyes darted to Edward's; they were slightly guarded, gauging my reaction. I smiled and squeezed his hand back. His answering smile was dazzling and I felt my entire being perk up at the sight of something so marvelous directed at me.
We kept walking, our hands entwined, and I started thinking, which is never a good thing. I wondered why Edward seemed to have taken an interest in me. Was it just because we were the odd ones out? It had to be. There was no other explanation for it. Edward could have any girl he wanted! He was sweet, caring, smart, and extremely good-looking. And here I was, this smart average looking girl and he just happens to take an interest? Of course not. He just didn't want to be the odd one out.
I suddenly felt the urge to cry, stronger than before even. I wanted to sob my heart out over the love that only existed in my mind, the one-way devotion that would only get me hurt. I was positive that at that moment I physically felt a shard go through my heart, severing it and leaving a gaping wound.
I knew I hadn't just fallen for him; I was completely in love with him. Somehow, in the three days I had known him, I had fallen head over heels in love. It was so crazy I also, on top of the desire to cry, felt laughter bubbling up inside me. I bit my lip to keep it down but couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. I felt completely insane and I wondered what my mom would say, her normally mature daughter thinking and acting like a teenager for once.
"What are you thinking?" Edward asked, cupping my chin to angle my face up to his, bringing me out of my thoughts and back down to earth. The earth where Edward was walking next to me, holding my hand, and studying my face with interest and a bit of frustration on his face. I flushed at the intensity of his probing gaze.
"About my mom." I said truthfully. He studied me another moment before sighing in dissatisfaction.
"I keep trying to figure you out." He said, his green eyes still locked with mine.
"How's that working out for you?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light and joking despite my inner turmoil.
"I'm failing dismally." He admitted with a smile.
"And why, pray tell, are you trying so hard to figure me out?" I asked, cocking my head slightly.
"You are very unpredictable. You never do what I expect." He replied as we began looping around on a street that would take us back to the others, who I had completely forgotten about up until that point.
We walked quietly again as I decided to ignore my personal crisis, saving it to dwell on later with less witnesses.
"So tell me more about you. I feel like I hardly know you at all." Edward said after our brief silence.
"Why?" I asked, feeling surprised he'd even ask. "There's not much to tell. I'm not very interesting." I added, feeling I owed him that much.
"I don't believe that." Edward said, shaking his head. "You're very interesting." I gave no comment on his fictitious words. "Okay, how about… what's your favorite color?"
"It changes day to day." I said truthfully, shrugging.
"Well, then, what is it today?"
"Green." I answered without pause, before blushing at my straightforward words.
"What?" he asked, tipping my face towards him again.
"It's the color of your eyes." I said, before flushing even darker at my bluntness. I desperately wanted to hide how obsessed I was. He made no comment but looked thoughtful for a minute before continuing onto more questions to my relief. I answered his questions truthfully and by the time we got back to the restaurant he knew not only about my parents and my favorite color of the day, but also about growing up with Emmett in Arizona and moving to Forks, my favorite flower and gemstone, which type of chocolate I preferred, my childhood pets, my dream of becoming a singer, and, strangely enough, my favorite snack to have at the movies.
We rounded the corner to the restaurant and, standing outside, were the other four of us, laden with bags from throughout the day. They were talking, but looking up and down the street at the same time. Jasper saw us first and pointed to us for the rest of the group. Suddenly very conscious of our still connected hands, I flushed heavily and tugged mine back a bit and he let his drop as well. But we weren't fast enough for Alice's observant eyes and her blue eyes lit up with possibilities. I glanced at Edward, knowing he'd seen it too. He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye and shrugged almost imperceptibly, but smiled at me as well.
"Where did you guys go?" Emmett asked, eyeing me suspiciously. My cheeks burned at his suspicion and anger flared in me unexpectedly. Sometimes Emmett's protective side really irked me.
"Just for a walk." Edward said coolly. Rosalie and Alice both grinned at me and wiggled their eyebrows. I rolled my eyes subtly to let them know what I thought of their insinuations.
"Let's go to the beach!" Alice cried excitedly.
"Emmett and I know a really nice one that normally doesn't have anyone else there." I offered.
I led the way and Edward stuck close to my side. Emmett and Rosalie walked behind us and Alice and Jasper weren't far behind them. I could feel Emmett's eyes boring into the back of my neck as we walked.
I knew this must be new for Emmett. I hadn't so much as showed interest in any guys in a long time so this was all fresh if not new for Emmett. It was different now though because not only did he have to play big brother, he also had to act as father at times. By the time we got to the beach I was pretty sure I had two holes through my throat from the burning gaze Emmett had held on me.
I pushed past some ferns and flowered bushes to reveal the splendor that was this particular beach. The sand was a pretty mix of bone white and soft pale pink. The water was a perfectly clear and clean blue with a hue of purple to it. A small hammock had been set up a long time ago but was still sturdy enough to use without fear of collapsing. The beach was spacious but not huge and it was lined with palm trees and floral shrubs with heady perfumed petals, that, when mixed with the sea breeze, was outright intoxicating.
Everyone looked around in awe for a moment before Alice broke the silence.
"How did you guys find this?" she breathed.
"We've been to this island plenty of times. We went exploring a few times and came across it." Emmett said with a grin, enjoying everyone's reactions. "It was really popular a few years back but it got trashed and people moved on. Now it's cleaned up but people seem to have forgotten about it."
"It's gorgeous!" Rosalie said as she stepped forward and stretched in the sunlight.
"I'm going swimming!" Alice called as she ran forward, simultaneously pulling off her shirt and skirt and leaving the bags of clothes discarded at our entrance. She ran to a small rock outcropping a ways away and dove off into the crystal water. Her head bobbed to the surface moments later and she grinned at us. "Come on! Water's great!"
We all stripped down to our suits and were in the water moments later, splashing each other and laughing. Emmett was flirting shamelessly with Rosalie and Alice and Jasper seemed like they were in love and didn't care if anyone knew it. Edward had continued where he'd left off with the interrogation in the water.
"What's your favorite animal?" he asked.
"Oh, I don't know… panda?" I said, picking the first animal that came to my head.
"What's you middle name?"
"Marie."
"What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?"
"There's too many to choose from." I said, flushing red for what felt like hundredth time that day. Alice suddenly was next to me then.
"I'm stealing Bella." Alice told Edward. Before either of us could protest I was being dragged away.
"You really like my brother, don't you?" She asked, but it wasn't a real question. She already knew the answer. With my cheeks burning I nodded. She clapped exuberantly and squealed. "That's fantastic! He really likes you too! I can tell because he's never taken interest in any girls before you." That surprised me.
"How can you be sure though? I think I like him a lot more than he likes me." I admitted, my cheeks warming once again.
"How can you think that Bella?" she demanded. "Have you seen the way he looks at you?" I shook my head disbelievingly. The day had certainly started cooling off and the water's temperature was dropping as well.
"I'm going to get out. I'm so cold." I announced to her.
I climbed out and grabbed a towel Alice had brought, wrapping it securely around my waist. I walked across the short stretch of beach to the unoccupied hammock and carefully climbed in. I looked around and found that Edward had gotten out soon after me (right after dumping some water on Alice's head who had gone back to staring intently into Jasper's eyes) and was walking over to where I lay.
"May I join you?" he asked, ever the gentlemen.
"Of course." I said, moving over a bit to give him room. He lay down next to me; careful to make sure I was not dumped off. We were quiet a minute, watching Alice and Jasper climb out too and lay out a towel to lay down on. Emmett and Rosalie seemed to have disappeared.
"So something you said has been bothering me." He said.
"Oh?" I asked, wondering if one of my answers to his rapid was the problem.
"You think you like me more than I like you?" he asked. My cheeks immediately burned.
"You heard that?" I whispered. He nodded.
"How can you think that?" he asked, suddenly seeming fiercer than I'd seen him. I shrugged. "Bella, come on, talk to me! What's the problem here?"
"Well, come on!" I cried. "Look at me and then look at you! There's no comparison! I'm plain and average and you look like some amazing male model or something! I'm not interesting or really good at anything except maybe singing, and even that's not much!" I was getting going on what promised to be a really good rant but he cut me off.
"You don't see yourself clearly." He said in a deadpan. "You're gorgeous. And smart, and funny, and an amazing singer and caring, and sweet, and way out of my league." I snorted at that especially. He shook his head, seeming exasperated. "How can I prove this to you?" he turned his head to me and I was immediately sucked into his smoldering gaze.
Before I could thing, before I could breathe or respond his lips were on mine and nothing mattered anymore except that they stayed there. Fireworks exploded behind my eyelids and I pressed my lips closer to his, needing to be as close to him as possible. Finally he pulled back and my eyes fluttered open.
"Wow." I breathed.
"Does that prove it?" Edward asked, sounding as breathless as I felt. I nodded. And it did.
A/N- if I don't get a lot of reviews for this super chapter I'm going to be mad! Really really really super mad and I'm purposefully not going to update for a long time! I'm quite serious!
--Cullens4everandever
PS- REVIEW. I'm serious. Do it.