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Bellabookworm9

Chapter 2: Jacksonville

"Jacksonville?" I said, already grinning.

He smiled at my obvious delight and nodded.

"But it's sunny."

"I'm not an imbecile Bella." He pretended to look offended. "I've got a plan for now, and I imagine I'll just stay inside during the day."

"What's your plan?" I asked as the intercom told us to remove our seatbelts.

He pulled on a black hooded sweatshirt with some logo on it, and pulled the hood up over his bronze-haired head. Then he put on a pair of dark sunglasses and pulled his jeans down lower on his hips.

"What do you think?"

I couldn't help it. I laughed. It was incredibly funny seeing my one hundred and four-year-old boyfriend dressing up like a gangster so he could avoid sparkling in the sun.

His face fell.

"What? I thought it was a good idea."

"It is, but it's just so weird on you."

I was laughing so hard by now; tears were running down my face.

He reached up and, with his finger, wiped them away. I instantly sobered up.

"It's only until we get to your mom's house. Then I'll change into something more—normal."

I smiled and held his hand as we waited to get off. It was the perfect surprise, and he knew it. I hadn't seen Renee since I got out of the hospital in Phoenix. After…but I couldn't think about that.

James had lured me to an old dance studio with my mother's old home videos, and he would have killed me, if Edward and his family hadn't shown up.

But they didn't get there in time to save me from myself. I'd gotten myself a broken leg, some broken ribs, cuts all over my body, and a vampire bite.

Edward had sucked the venom out of that wound, but I still had a scar.

I unthinkingly started rubbing the silvery scar that was always a few degrees cooler than the rest of my skin.

Edward felt it through his hand and looked up at me.

"You okay?" He knew what I was thinking about.

"Yeah." I smiled to prove it.

He slung his arm around my waist and started walking with a limp as we got off the plane.

I had to try really hard not to burst out laughing, but a few giggles escaped, despite my efforts.

I could just barely see him smiling under the hood, when I heard a voice calling my name.

"Bella!"

"Hey Mom!" I replied, as enthusiastic as she was.

I gave her a hug and hurried to get inside, knowing how, even with his brilliant disguise, being in the sun around so many people made Edward nervous.

My mom was already jabbering away about all the things she wanted to do while I was in Jacksonville. I noticed her glancing at Edward. She was probably wondering why he was here.

She started walking toward the baggage claim.

"Mom? We didn't bring any luggage."

"Well what are you going to wear?"

"This was a surprise. I had no idea where—"

I stopped short as I realized how I would be getting clothes. Shopping.

I turned on Edward, my face growing hot and tears welling in my angry eyes.

"You are such a manipulator!"

"Come on Bella! You never let me buy you anything."

His whole family loved to spend money on me, but I hated it because I had nothing to give back.

"Oh, sweetie, I was going to take you shopping today anyways! I knew your Forks clothes wouldn't be cool enough for Jacksonville, so I saved up some money to buy you some new stuff." My mother looked ecstatic.

I grimaced. Why did everyone suddenly feel like spending money on me?

"Great." I mumbled.

Edward smirked. My mom didn't hear.

We had reached the car by this point, and my mom let me sit in the back with Edward. He was grinning. Probably about something my mom was thinking.

"So, Edward, would you like to come shopping with us?"

My mom was trying to sound indifferent, but I knew she probably wanted to be alone with her daughter. Apparently, Edward noticed too.

"I feel a little tired actually. Would you mind if I didn't?"

I smiled. The idea of Edward being tired was impossible. He never slept.

"No, not at all. I'll just drop you off and show you two where you're staying."

I knew my mom would put us in separate rooms, but Edward would end up in my bed, like he did almost every night. She would probably die if she found out, but it wasn't as if we were doing anything. Edward had specific rules about our physical contact.

Renee parked in front of a house with a beautiful porch. The yellow color of the siding reminded me of the cabinets she had painted in Charlie's house. The thought made me sad for him.

My mom showed Edward his room and asked if he needed anything. He glanced almost imperceptibly at me and told her he was fine. He complimented her on the house, and she brightened.

"Thank you. Phil and I haven't gotten much of a chance to do any decorating, but we tried to make it look nice for you two. I even went to Home Depot"

This was strange for my mother, because she usually forgot about things like cleaning and fixing things up. I didn't think she had ever been to Home Depot in her life.

Edward was smiling. Probably because Esme's favorite store on the whole planet was Home Depot. She had fixed up their beautiful house in Forks all by herself.

"Thanks Mom."

I was glad for this stalling. I hated shopping. Before long, Edward handed me his credit card and said to buy whatever I wanted. I knew some girls would take advantage of this, but I hated spending other people's money. Not that the Cullens were ever going to run out of it.

When my mother had left the room to get something, Edward said,

"If you don't get at least two things with that, I'm buying you a new car when we get home and I'm going to hide your truck."

I scowled at him and made a mental note to get the two things later. I loved my truck and I didn't care how slow it went. I got my share of fast when I rode with him.

"So what are you going to do?" I asked him. He certainly wasn't going to sleep.

"I thought about exploring the area, but I'm not sure I want to let you go to the mall by yourself."

"Edward, I of all people, don't want to be separated from you, but I think my mom wants some time alone with me, and you need to find somewhere you can get food."

He was starting to look convinced.

"Look, why don't you go find some food, and then you can come stalk us at the mall."

He smiled at that and agreed.

I turned to go and his arm wrapped around my waist.

"Bye." He said, and kissed me.

Of course, I couldn't help but react and I was sure he could hear my heart beating frantically.

He sighed, exasperated.

"Bella…"

"I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry for. I wish you wouldn't react like that, but…"

"You just surprised me. I promise I won't do it again."

"It's okay. You're only human."

I turned to stalk out of the room, but tripped over my feet. He caught me before I hit the ground.

He was still smiling from my response to his comment.

"You know I was only kidding."

"I wish you wouldn't. It only reminds me of how much I don't deserve you."

"Bella, you've got it backwards. I'm the one who doesn't deserve you."

"I don't want to argue about this right now."

He knew what I was thinking about and let me go.

"Bella!" I heard my mother call.

"Coming!" I yelled, and then added more quietly, "We'll talk about this when I get back."