Disclaimer: All rights go to Stephanie Meyer
"Guess who beat Gavin in a little game of soccer? Yupp that's right I did!" I yelled as we finally reached everyone. I heard whoops and "Ha! Gavin you got beat by a girl!" comments.
Gavin was just laughing along with everyone even if they were making fun of him and I liked that. He smiled at me and gave me a hug. "Nice game Bella, you're a kick-ass soccer player." He whispered in my ear making me shiver; wow, even a sweaty Gavin is a hot Gavin.
The girls and I decided it was time to just relax and sun bathe on the beach enjoying the sounds of waves crashing. I was so calm and enjoying everything about Hawaii, from the area to the people I've met, when I felt drops of water on my face. What? I opened my eyes to see Edward running his hands through his messy copper hair above me.
"Edward!" I screamed as I got up, not even bothering to put my tank top back on. He bolted back when he saw me start towards him and started running down the beach until he was at the water's edge. I closed the distance between us fast. When I was 3 feet away from him I jumped on his back and tackled him into the water playfully, laughing the whole way.
He came up for air and said, "I guess I deserved that" and then just laughed at my victorious smile. Casually, he turned his body so he was laying on his back floating in the water, and I did the same. We stayed like that for about 5 minutes before Edward asked, "Do you wanna surf?"
"Definitely." I smiled at him. We walked back over to our spot to grab his surf board and then headed back to the ocean. When we reached the water again Edward offered me his board to go first. "You sure?"
"Yepp you go first, you need practice." He said jokingly.
I just laughed and maturely stuck my tongue out at him. "Alriiiight." And with that I pulled myself onto the board.
"Look there's a wave right there, I want you to take it." I nodded and started to paddle while Edward did the same, only body surfing. After a couple of tries I was getting a little better, now I could at least stand, but the majority of the time not for long. I gave Edward his board back to watch him surf while I rested. He's so graceful and it comes so naturally to him. For an hour and a half we continued surfing and by 3o'clock we were both tired, but didn't want to go back to shore so we decided to sit on his board and talk; I definitely would like some more time to get to know him.
I started, "So I hear you're on the soccer team."
"You heard right." He answered simply
"What position you play? I'm right mid."
"One of the center forwards, and captain." He said with a triumphant smile on his face.
"Yeah, Gavin told me. Nice, that's great. Congrats!"
"You guys were talking about me?" He asked curiously.
"Sorta, we were talking about soccer and you came up."
He nodded and then asked, "You follow it? Any favorite teams?"
"Nah, I mainly just play it."
"Same. So you excited for school?" He looked at me.
"Um, I font know. I think I'm more nervous than excited, especially for tryouts." I answered honestly.
"Don't worry I'll be there so that's all you need." He said jokingly but there was something in his eyes that said he was serious.
I know Edward will be someone I could trust and someone who will help me out no matter what. I smiled at him, "I know, thanks." And I truly meant it.
"Anytime Bella." He replied softly as he looked me in the eyes. His gaze was so intense and truly showed that he cared about me (too bad I don't even know if he has some unmentioned girlfriend that I still don't know about) that I had to look down and I felt my face getting slightly hotter.
"Bella! Bella! Bella!" A high pitched voice broke our moment…if you can even call it that. Alice. I sighed in my head. "It's time to get ready!"
"Okay I'm coming!" I called back. I turned to Edward, "I had a lot of fun, thank you again. Race you back?" And with that I playfully pushed him off his board and started to paddle in taking the next wave hoping this didn't backfire. I got up much smoother than I thought I would and it came a little more easily to me, still not perfectly though. Hey practice makes perfect. I reached the shore before Edward and put the board in the sand. I stood up tall and started to do a victory dance as Edward came up to me.
"You're getting good, but you just cheated there missy."
I put my hand over my heart dramatically and said innocently, "Ouch Edward, that hurt. The work cheat is not in my vocabulary."
"Mhmm…okay Bella." He chuckled and I smiled at him. We ran back to our spot where I packed up my bag, said my goodbyes to Edward and Gavin since everyone else left already and walked to the house with Alice and Rose.
EPOV
"Where are you taking her?" I ask Gavin coldly once Bella is out of earshot.
"Edward chill. You're acting like I'm a villain here. I thought we were friends, best friends. And now a girl comes and you're ready to cut my head off?" Gavin questioned me.
"I'm sorry, it's just I don't want her to get hurt, I know the way you are sometimes."
"Dude listen, Bella isn't like the other girls. I couldn't even think of doing anything to hurt her. She seems so much more special than anyone I've met before." That's an understatement.
"Alright" I sigh defeated but secretly hoping it isn't true, "as long as you don't hurt her. I'm not saying I'm happy about this though."
Of course you're not happy about this! I want Bella! I want to protect her from him, I may not be all that much better but as least I'm not as bad as Gavin. He doesn't deserve someone like her. As much as I want Gavin to mess up I don't want Bella hurt so if I can't be with her and get to know her better I'll try to protect her as much as I can. I don't even know where this is coming from… I think I'm actually falling for someone and that someone being Isabella Swan. She is so genuine and nice, and she instantly clicked with my family; she has some kind of hold on everyone including my parents. And she looks so happy surfing, especially when she gets up and rides out a full wave, she has excitement shining in her eyes.
That's when it hit me; I'm going to get her her own board. With that, I started to sprint to the house and bolted up the stairs.
"Whoa Edward slow down!" Alice yelled after me as I passed her on the stairs.
"I can't I have to go somewhere!" I yelled back at her with a smile on my face. I got to my room and grabbed my wallet and ran back down to my silver Volvo in the garage. I revved the engine to life and sped away. I turned up the volume to the radio and rolled down my windows.
As I pulled into the parking lot I saw some girls walking out of the surf shop. Oh boy. Lauren and her cheerleader followers…joy. I immediately shut off the radio and rolled my windows up. maybe if I stayed in my car until they leave they won't see me. No such luck. Lauren spotted my car and waved with a smile that looked like her attempt to be seductive. I just politely waved back with a slightly annoyed look on my face. Sure she doesn't see that I'm annoyed but she can spot me inside my car. I slowly got out of the car and walked toward the surf shop without making eye contact.
"So Edward, how has your summer been?" She said attempting to make conversation.
"Good, thanks." I replied shortly.
"That's good. My summer has been pretty good too, but it would be better if I saw you more often."
"Oh, I've been busy –"
"Busy? With what?" She sounded worried.
"Sorry I gotta go I have to get a board and get home." I tried to end the conversation.
"You're getting another board?"
"It's not for me." I said and started walking into the store hoping she would take a hint. Again, no such luck.
"Then who's it for?" She pressed.
"A new friend."
"A girlfriend?" I wish.
"No just a friend."
"Oh okay. Well I'll see you around." She seemed satisfied with my answer thinking she had a chance and walked away.
"Heyy Edward." I looked over and saw Emmett in his surf shop uniform.
"I didn't know you were working today."
"Yeah, I decided to leave the beach early since Rose said she needed to do something with Alice. What brings you here?"
"You have to promise you won't tell anyone." I said in a hushed tone seriously.
"You have my word…what's up?" He seemed concerned.
"I'm getting Bella a board."
"No way dud, seriously?!"
I laughed, "Yeah, I just hope she likes it."
"Don't worry man, she will. I'm actually surprised you left her side at the beach after this morning." He joked.
"Ha ha very funny. But did you hear? She's hanging out with Gavin tonight."
"What?! You're letting Gavin of all people to go out with her? What if he does something stupid?" Finally someone who thinks like me.
"I know, I had a talk with him, he said she was different and he wouldn't hurt her. I just hope he sticks to his word."
"Same here." There was a moment of silence. "You like her, don't you?" That caught me off-guard. Sure I've said I wish it was me and not Gavin but I never actually told anyone that I like her.
"What? No I don't." I got defensive.
"Dude, yes you do." He replied with a "you're an idiot" expression on his face. "Don't worry I don't think anyone else knows. I know when you like someone, you actually pay attention to her and you never pay attention to other girls." He paused. "Does Gavin know you like her? I mean you guys are best friends..."
"I know but it seems like Bella likes him so I don't want to make her upset by doing or saying anything." I sighed.
"Wow Edward, the first girl you actually have feelings for and you aren't even gonna go after her? I guess all you can do is hope it doesn't work out. But what is Gavin going to do about…" He trailed off.
"Yeah, I don't know. I guess we'll just have to wait and see." With that I started looking around at the board and after 15 minutes I found the perfect board. It was a white board that gradually went to blue with white horseshoes outlined in black towards the bottom (pic on profile). I paid and rushed home. Before I pulled it out of the car I went inside to make sure Bella wasn't home because I want it to be a surprise. I was checking every room when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and saw Alice standing with her arms crossed.
"What are you doing?" she asked raising her eyebrows.
"Nothing." I tried to step around her but the little pixie stepped in front of me.
"Tell me."
I glared at her and just gave up, it wasn't worth it; if Alice wanted to know something there was nothing stopping her from finding out. "I'm checking for Bella because I got her a surf board."
"You got her her own board?!"
"SHHHH ALICE!" I whispered yelled at her.
"Lemme see it! Lemme see it!" She was squealing in a hushed voice.
"No Alice. It's for Bella, I want her to be the first to see it, and I don't want you to tell her anything." I said sternly.
"Ugh you are so frustrating!" I laughed and she huffed, "Okay, I won't tell her anything. And she's not here, you can go hide it."
"Yes, thank you Alice!" I ruffled her hair.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever." She waved it off.
I waited and waited for Bella to get home; after two and a half hours passed I got tired of watching T.V. so I just went to my room and listened to music. I felt my eyelids getting heavy, no I have to stay up and make sure Bella gets home okay. That was my last thought before I blacked out.