"Bella, here, I have something for you," James handed me a big, elaborately decorated box. I frowned at him.
"What's this?" I took the box, it was heavy. I nearly fell down, but I composed myself.
We were sitting in his front porch, a week after we had played Charades with my family. James and I had gotten closer as the week went on. Much to Emmett's displeasure. As much as my whole family loved James, I felt that I was spending a lot of time with him, even for my standards. I had begun to finally realise, that boys weren't going to get in the way of my friendships with Alice and Rosalie, also Angela for that matter. So all four of us were going on our spa weekend in two weeks, a week after Edward's birthday; the whole school was buzzing about his party. I hadn't received an invitation and I wasn't waiting for one either, I wasn't desperate. Of course the entire baseball team received one, the cheerleaders had too, except the captain. Ugh, I sounded bitter. Getting back to the point.
"A present. Now open it," he laughed, stroking the back of my hand. I grimaced, and opened the big lid. It had several layers of red tissue paper; I scowled clawing my way through the layers. I gasped there, beneath the paper lay a beautiful pair of White ice skates.
"Wow," I stroked the boots.
"Do you like them?" he smiled, I turned them around and saw, in swirly lettering 'BC' I stroked them, lovingly.
"Of course I like them. I love them, they're beautiful," I kissed his lips, placing my hand under his chin. I pulled away and looked at the skates again.
"I know how much you loved to Ice skate when we were kids, that home movie brought it all back, so I got in touch with a guy and he got me these," he smiled.
"Oh. Thank you so much," I laughed. "Where is the nearest Ice Rink?" I bounced off my seat.
"Ten minutes away, you go home and get ready, and I'll pick you up in ten minutes," he laughed. I ran out of James' front yard, the box, tucked under my arms. Flying past all of the houses around me, too excited to care where I was going. I flung open the door and ran straight up the stairs. I stopped in my tracks. There were three figures sitting on my bed, arms folded and looking serious. All past elation had disappeared and my throat went dry. I closed the door slowly and looked at them.
"Hello Bella, we need to talk to you," Rosalie said first. I grimaced, placing the skates on a table.
"Okay, can you talk as I get ready," I feigned ignorance.
"No Bella, we need to talk now," Alice interrupted whatever she was going to say. I turned around facing my closet.
"We are concerned about you Bella, we never see you anymore. You're always with James. At least with Edward, you had an excuse, because of what Jake done. But we are supposed to be friends," Angela added. An intervention. Jeez.
"Guys, we are going on our spa weekend in a couple of weeks. I don't know what you're talking about," I smiled.
"So why are you so happy then?" Rosalie sniggered. I walked into my huge closet, going to my Winter wardrobe.
"James and I are going Ice Skating," I laughed, and then I had a sudden flash of inspiration.
"How Romantic," Alice gagged.
"Why don't you all come along? It'll be fun," I pulled out a scarf and a pair of leather gloves.
"And feel like the third wheels?" Rose growled.
"I know we all sound like bitter old women, but we just want to make sure that you're ok," Angela reasoned. I rolled my eyes.
"No bring your guys along. Even my brothers, and Ben will have fun," I pulled the scarf around my neck.
"Emmett? Gliding along the ice like an elegant swan?" Rose didn't sound convinced.
"Just go and ask them. Alice you know Jasper is devoted to you anyway, he'll go where ever you want him too." I smiled, putting on some ugg boots, and bringing a big sports bag on my shoulder. Alice smiled knowingly, seeming to warn to the idea. Angela was already on the phone excitedly telling Ben the details. Rosalie smiled suddenly.
"Where are the boy's?" she gleamed.
"Watching a DVD in Jasper's room, now go and get ready," I laughed. Having second thoughts and placing my scarf into the sports bag with my Skates, gloves and earmuffs. I pulled it over my shoulder. Alice and Rose rushed out of my door, followed by Angela, who smiled at me warmly. I looked at my reflection in the floor length mirror. I was surprised by what I saw. I looked happy, smiling too boldly. It reminded me of a simpler time. That thought drew me to a place I had not dared visit in fear it would cast open a can of worms that would cause a thousand things to leave in its path. I crouched underneath my TV, my sport's bag, sliding down my arm slightly, and pulled the blanket away from the huge stack of DVDs from Ireland. It stood in an awkward, untidy pile, sloping slightly. I sighed, sliding my fingers over the cool, cold covers. I smiled, a present from the Grandparents. My thoughts were interrupted; a booming voice entered my mind.
"Yo Bellarooney, hear we're hitting the ice," Emmett entered my room. I acted very quickly, throwing the blanket back over the DVD's standing to my full height, feeling flustered even for me. "What are you hiding Bella?" he smirked.
"Why didn't you knock? I could have been doing anything in here!" I growled. He smiled. Beginning to walk over to me. I walked straight into him, hitting him in the back with my heavy sports bag.
"Come one inch closer into my room, I will personally make sure that the next time you guys are at baseball practise, James will hit the ball right into your testicles," I whispered menacingly. He narrowed his eyes, and then broke into a wide smile. He smirked then slowly walked backwards, his hands raised in surrender. I growled. Following Emmett out of my bedroom and downstairs. Jasper was standing downstairs, talking to Angela about something. He had big gloves on. And a big jacket. I smiled; he too had a big sports bag, with the name 'Jasper' Sewn on it. The way mine had 'Bella' on it and Emmett's had 'Emmett' on it. We were big on personalisation in my family. He came to the foot of the stairs. Alice and Rose were nowhere to be seen.
"We are to meet at the Masen's, Rose and Alice have the perfect skating outfits apparently so they will be ready. I called James. He'll meet us there and Ben will meet us at the rink," Jasper explained. Opening the front door, letting Ange go through first. I followed, linking arms with Angela.
"What's the plan, as how to get there?"
"Well Emmett's bringing his jeep, so he, Rose, Jasper and Alice will go in there. Then James said it would be ok for me to go with you two. I'll ride back with Ben." Angela smiled. Emmett was laughing with Jazz about something. I glared at him. It was then ii started to feel the sudden cold breeze down the street. I could see James' car parked in front of the Masen's. He was leaning against the hood, patting his hand against the cold metal.
"Of course it's fine. I am sorry by the way. I have been spending a lot of time with James. I just got caught up with everything," I sighed. "How's Jake doing? Leah and Him still are going strong?" I asked.
"Oh yes, they're getting pretty serious now," she laughed. That was nice, Jacob deserved someone nice. We were at the Masen's now. I threw my bag in the back of James' car. He opened his arms and Angela released me smiling. He smiled as I kissed him on the lips.
"So, I hear we're going on Quintuple date," he laughed.
"Yeah, do you mind?" I asked, suddenly worried.
"Aw no, as long as your happy, I'm happy. Rose and Alice on the other hand are trying my patience slightly," he looked at his watch.
"How long have you been waiting here?" I asked.
"About ten minutes," My attention was diverted to Angela, who was now climbing the tree, outside Alice's side of the balcony, with surprising agility, twisting through the branches with ease, Jay saw where I was watching and laughed silently, as she reached the top, and swung around onto the Balcony. She laughed and waved to me, before one of the French patio doors flinging open and dragging her into the abyss. I laughed. James kissed my head. I snuggled in closer.
"Good thing Edward's not back from school yet," he laughed.
"Where is he?" I smiled.
"I don't know. I think he's with Tanya in the city somewhere," he whispered. Suddenly a honk of a horn disturbed us. Mum rolled down the passenger window.
"Hey kids, what's going on?" She laughed.
"We're all going Ice skating, you guys want to join us?" Jay replied.
"Sorry Jay, but Carlisle's knees can't take any more stress." She patted it knowingly. I heard a sigh. I laughed. "We'll see you guys later," she disappeared, with a screech from the tires. Poor dad, he was getting old. James laughed. There were two more honks which signalled Emmett's arrival. Great, more interruptions. I grimaced.
"Great, the welcome committee's arrived," James snarled. I giggled.
"There shall be no canoodling with our baby sister Mr. Fabello," Jasper yelled out of the window. Great. And the embarrassment shall begin now.
"Shut up you dumbass!" I yelled at him. James led me over to Emmett's parked jeep. I gripped his waist tightly.
"What just because I'm happy you're together doesn't mean I want to see it," he replied. I rolled my eyes.
"Your girlfriends are taking a very long time to get ready," James said.
"Well they will look great when they're ready, so why rush them?" Jasper smiled. As if on cue, Rosalie, Alice and Angela came through the door. I saw Emmett and Jasper's eyes widen.
Alice was wearing a white pair of tights, with a flouncy black sparkly dress, with a jumper like shrug, she too wearing boots, but they were black. Rose was wearing the same, but instead of black, she was wearing red. She looked stunning. Over her shoulder was a sports bag, which no doubt held their skating equipment. Angela was linking arms with Alice and were laughing at some unheard joke. Rose turned around and locked the front door, where as Alice walked straight over here, dragging Angela along.
"Tell me Ange, do you often climb Alice's tree outside her window?" I raised an eyebrow. Angela turned red.
"She gave me instructions," she whispered. Alice laughed, elbowing her in the ribs.
"Are we going to get this show on the road?" Emmett yelled. Rose came into view, laughing.
"Do you guys want to catch a movie later, maybe get the twilight show?" she smiled. Handing her bag to Emmett, who threw it round his shoulder.
"Sure, but let's do this first," Emmett smiled. He leapt up to the ledge of his jeep, and threw the bag in. "Jazz how are we going to do this? US in the front or do you want to get in the back with Alice?" he laughed.
"He'll come in the back with me," Alice sang, Jasper raised his eyebrows, but smiled in spite of himself.
"Okay, hand her to me first then," Emmett laughed. Wait, what did he mean hand her to me first? But my question was answered for me. Alice screamed quietly as Jasper lifted Alice her hips and into Emmett's waiting arms. Emmett laughed, as he held her like a baby. She glared at him. He placed her into the back, enabling her to slide over to the other side.
"What was that for?" she grumbled.
"It's not my fault that you are so short," Emmett laughed, as he helped Rosalie, climb gracefully into the car, followed by Jasper's mighty leap into it. Emmett laughed.
"Last one there has to buy the tickets!" Angela said climbing into the back of James' car.
"You're on Weber!" Emmett laughed, jumping down and walking to the other side of the car, James and I winked at each other and ran to the car. James leapt in and started the engine, jumped in, not bothering to open the door as we sped away before Emmett had even climbed into the car.
OOOOOOOOOO
"Come on James, you can do better than that," I smiled, as I looked at him getting closer to the edge. We had raced from one end of the huge ice rink to the other. He had lost again. He slammed into the edge, with another sigh.
"Oh No Bella. Maybe I need something else to motivate me," he smiled knowingly. I knew what that smile meant.
"Oh I think I know what I can do," I smirked, looking up at his six foot figure, I stood on my tip toes, which was not an easy thing to do in Ice skates, and kissed him on the lips. He responded, pulling me closer to him. In my peripheral vision, I saw a flash. I stopped, I saw Rosalie brandishing the silver digital camera, Emmett skating up to her. She saw him then winked at us then skated away, Emmett skated after her in pursuit. I laughed. James took my hand, and we glided away from the side, hand in hand. James and I were just enjoying it. It was much better ice skating as a group activity. Lot of entertainment. Emmett trying to do Swan Lake, with Rosalie, was amusing.
We had gotten there first, and hour ago, Emmett had arrived 3 minutes later, he was angry. Ben had beaten us all there, and had only eyes for Angela as we arrived. It had cost a bomb too. $56 for all of us. We had been on the ice for 45 minutes, and there was only half an hour to go. We were then going to hit the theatre after, and watch 'The Time Traveller's wife' it was supposed to be good, there were good reviews.
Jasper and Alice had been inseparable, they had held each other's hands since they had stepped onto the ice, and they both were graceful and had done hardly spoken to anyone else apart from them. I smiled; they were made for each other. Rosalie had been taking every spare opportunity to take thousands of photos for her photography project. Mainly of Emmett and Jasper and Alice, but she needed new inspiration now and again. We weren't complaining. But it was cold. I was wearing a lot of layers. We were trying to warm up.
The minutes flew by; we were in blissful oblivion, at one point Emmett took me into his arms and lifted me over his head in the way that could not be mistaken for a body builder's lift. Rose got a few photos of that. We were just enjoying being with each other, being young and spontaneous. But when it came to an end, we were just about to get up off the ice, when Rose yelled;
"WAIT," we all halted, "Group photo," we all groaned. We moved to the centre of the rink, the boys stood up, and then the girls sat on the cold ice, in front of them. Rose let one of the stewards to take it, just for fun. So Emmett stood on the left, followed by Jasper, James and Ben. I sat in front of Ben; Alice sat in front of James, Rose in front of Jasper, then Angela in front of Emmett. We took a few, and then we got up, and left the ice. It took an age to unwrap again. By the time we had finished it was 8pm, so we all set off for the theatre. With the exception of Ben and Angela, who had to go somewhere and couldn't come with us. We filed into our cars again, Alice not as shocked this time as Jasper lifted her into the car.
OOOOOOOOOO
"Two tickets to the time travellers wife please," James said to the girl behind the counter. She smiled at as radiantly. She gasped and handed us the tickets. I smiled at her, and then planted a kiss on his cheek, claiming him as mine, her eyebrows narrowed. We walked through to meet the others. Emmett was getting popcorn, with Jasper. Alice was getting ice cream for all of us. I went off to join the girls.
"Bella, thank god you're here, what flavour do you want?" she was skimming the clear glass. The girl behind the counter was rolling her eyes, clearly irritated.
"Chocolate, obviously. James will have Strawberry," I added, the girl, named Sarah, sighed with relief.
"Can I have one scoop of Low fat, Vanilla, and one tub full of every flavour in these tubs," Emmett's obviously. Sarah laughed. When our orders were done, Alice was the last one left. She sighed.
"I'll have one Chocolate tub and one Neapolitan please," she sighed in defeat. Rose and I walked over to the family, and walked over to the usher.
"Screen 7," he told us. Wow, how enthusiastic. We waited for Alice on the other side, she was beaming.
"Let's go!" she smiled. We were approaching the doors to the theatre. Emmett had gone completely overboard, and bought 2 large buckets of popcorn, for the indecisive people. We were laughing, as we turned the corner, to face the huge silver screen. But that stopped almost immediately. I glared at the front row.
"What the hell are they doing here," I muttered in James' ear...