Chapter twenty. Brotherly love…yeah right!
Previously....
Edward's POV.
But somehow saying that I liked Bella was a lie. Because I didn't like her.
What I felt about her was something different. Stronger. And better.
"Yeah…I guess I like her", I finally admitted. Emmett tensed but he didn't say anything. I wondered what that meant. The fact that I was still alive. Did that mean he approved of it? Maybe he didn't care. Maybe he trusted me as a good friend and thought that I would take care of Bella.
I knew that I would take care of her myself. She was still slightly fragile, I noticed, because of the whole abandonment thing. It was her weak point. She didn't like feeling left alone. And I had no thoughts of leaving her alone anytime soon.
"I think she likes you too", Emmett finally said to me. My heart swelled up at his words and I couldn't let the large grin take over my face. Was this some sort of silent blessing I was getting from Emmett?
"We're home", said a recognisable chirpy voice. Alice skipped into the living room with jasper in hand.
"Hey guys", he said sitting down, "where's rose and…Bella?"
"Upstairs", grunted Emmett cracking his knuckled absentmindedly. Somehow the sound of that still made my skin crawl.
"We're going back to the beach, right?" asked Alice for confirmation. I nodded at her. She giggled and did a little weird happy dance. Sometimes, I swear that girl seriously freaked me out.
Bella's POV.
"Er…Rose? I don't think Emmett would like it if I wore this", I told her nervously as I fiddled with the small summer dress she laid out on my bed. Rosalie laughed and shrugged.
"No, but I'm sure Edward might like it", she said winking suggestively. I rolled my eyes and grabbed it. The dress was short and strapless, with a flowery design.
"So what really happened between you and Edward whilst you guys were alone?" asked Rosalie through the bathroom door as I got changed. I sighed. I knew she would ask this. I didn't know what to tell her though. Should I say tell that Edward and me kissed? But what did the kiss mean?
I knew I liked Edward. A little too much, I must admit. He seemed way out of my league and sometimes I didn't really get him. He was quite unpredictable. Did he like me?
I had no idea. I thought he might do, the way he would talk to me really made me think that. And then other times he wouldn't act so friendly wise.
Sometimes I wouldn't know whether he wanted to kiss me or walk away from me
"We came upstairs and I showed him some of my books", I explained coming out of my bathroom. Rosalie readjusted the dress and nodded distractedly.
"Anything else?" she asked, not making any eye contact with me. I really liked talking to Rose, she was like another sister to me. An older experienced sister that I could really get advice from. I admit she was slightly distant at first, but then when she started hanging out with us, I really got to know her. Alice, her and me were really close friends. I knew I could trust her.
"We kissed", I sighed discontentedly. Her eyes snapped up and a slow smile had spread across her face. Rose began brushing my hair, trying to hide her curiosity.
"Anything more?" she asked casually. I shook my head. She stopped brushing and tilted her head to the left.
"Why so glum? Didn't you want to kiss Edward?" she asked staring straight at me now. I shrugged and walked over to sit on my bed. Rosalie followed instantly.
"I thought you liked him, Bella", she said concernedly, "I swear you do. What's wrong, sweetie?"
"Nothing's wrong…exactly", I explained to her, "and…why would you think I like Edward?"
"Apart from the fact that you kissed him?" she asked arching an eyebrow, "well…it's the way you guys look at eachother. You give eachother 'the look'. And he likes you too."
"What's 'the look'?" I asked curiously.
"The starry eye thing", explained Rosalie vaguely, "you know…the way you brighten up when you hear his name or when he smiles when you look at him. Them you guys sort of…star longingly at eachother. That's 'the look'."
"Right", I said nodding, "ok then…is it really that obvious?"
"Only an idiot wouldn't know you guys are totally crushing on eachother", rose laughed shaking her head, "he really likes you though, why are you sad that you two kissed, then?"
"Because I'm not sure", I sighed. I didn't know how to explain it to her. Edward just didn't seem like the person for me. We probably had nothing in common or anything. When he kissed me, it felt like heaven and I really liked it. What saddened me was the fact that it probably was just another kiss to Edward. It didn't mean anything to him. And I didn't really want a crush right now. I needed someone who really cared for me. And selfishly, I wanted that someone to be Edward.
"Are you upset because of Emmett?" asked Rosalie snapping out of my thoughts. I groaned. Emmett. He was another problem. I really wanted him to approve of my boyfriends. He needed to know that I could choose my boyfriends for myself. That I was grown up and he had to let go. I admit he sort of loosened up a little bit but if Edward might ask me out in the future, would Emmett endorse?
"Doesn't matter", I decided standing up and shaking the thoughts that were clouding my head away, "let's go, Rose. They're probably waiting downstairs."
------------------------E&B------------------------
"Bella! Hey, how are you?" asked a voice. I whipped off my sunglasses and sat up. Lauren, Jessica and Angela were all walking towards me. Rosalie and Alice groaned in frustration.
"Hey guys. I'm good, you?" I replied as they settled down around me. Lauren dug out a fresh bottle of sunscreen and began to rub it on herself vigorously.
"We're ok. We didn't know you were coming here", said Angela softly, "we would've asked you to come but you didn't seem that into the beach lately…"
"That's ok", I assured her, "I wouldn't have come anyway, I didn't, er, feel well. But Rosalie and Alice managed to convince me to come."
"You're going out with Jasper Whitlock, aren't you?" asked Jessica curiously, turning to Alice.
"Yes, yes I am", said Alice narrowing her eyes. She gave Jessica her 'keep away' look and sat back to sunbathe.
"So…like, where is he?" asked Jessica looking around. Alice sat back up and grunted something indistinctly.
"There he is", whispered Lauren, "and damn, he's with Edward Masen and Emmett Cullen. Whoa…"
As soon as I had heard Edward's name, I had to turn around. Rosalie sat up and so did Angela and Alice. The vision in front of us was simply breathtaking.
Edward was striding towards our direction. Fucking topless. His muscles showed perfectly making me want to drool. I had seen him shirtless once before, but this time I really looked. He was wearing some blue shorts with hung dangerously low. His six-pack just had to be touched. His messy bronze hair was as scruffy and sexy as always. I so wanted to run my hand through that right now.
Next to him was Jasper, whom I hadn't really noticed before. He was shirtless too. I had to admit that jasper was kind of hot, even though he was very quiet and kept to himself. My brother was on the other side of Edward cracking his knuckled unaware, as he approached.
Rosalie quickly got up and practically pounced on him, claiming him hers in front of Lauren and Jessica.
Emmett responded with so much enthusiasm, it was gross to watch and illegal to perform.
"Bitch", mutter Jessica to herself. Lauren sighed and Angela merely looked happy. Jasper went to sit next to Alice, sliding an arm around her tiny waist and kissing her on the forehead.
"Emmett! Let her breathe", I sighed, rolling my eyes. Rose and Emmett finally broke apart and I swear rose had a smug grin plastered on her face. She might as well have stuck her tongue out at Jessica and Lauren.
"Hey", said Edward waving a hand in front of my face. I snapped out of my little fantasy and I nodded.
"Hi", I said nervously. Edward sank down on the sand next to me and smiled faintly.
"These are my friends, Angela, Lauren and Jessica", I introduced pointing them out.
"Oh shit", muttered Emmett shaking his head. I turned my attention towards him. He was staring towards the water, where Mike Newton, Jacob Black and Eric Yorkie were emerging from the water with their surfing boards.
Jacob spotted me from the distance and began waving brightly. I giggled and waved back trying to put as much enthusiasm as he was.
"That just looks goofy", murmured Edward rolling his eyes.
"Bella, can you go buy me a drink?" asked Emmett suddenly. I scoffed.
"Get it yourself!"
"I'll get it", offered Rosalie about to stand up. But Emmett shook his head ad pulled her down. He whispered something in her ear and she nodded in understanding.
"Please, Bells?" asked Emmett, "there's a corner shop right there? Just get a coke or something."
"I want one too", Alice chirped in.
"Make that three", said Jessica waving her hand.
"Four", said Lauren in the same manner.
"I'm not a waitress", I snapped crossing my arms, "Emmett, get your own bloody drink!"
"Go, Bella", he pleaded, "now. Just go and get it, please?"
"Why? You're not about to die of thirst", I told him shaking my head, "you'll live. And get it yourself if you so desperately want –"
"Oh Nevermind, he's here", Emmett hissed, sounding annoyed. I shrugged indifferently and lay back to get some sun.
Then I sat back up again.
"Bella!" Jacob bursted out. He practically ran over and picked me up. I felt myself being held in a tight embrace. The feeling of being against Jacob's skin was nice. He was warm and soft.
I realised there was a menacing growling sound behind me, which wasn't very good considering what happened the last time I came to the beach with Jacob and Emmett.
"Hey Jacob", I said happily. I hadn't really spoken to Jacob in a while. I was too zombie-like and messed up with myself to really bother with anything else. Emmett still guarded the phone with his life so he stopped calling after a while too.
"I'm so glad to see you, Bells", said Jacob, smiling brightly as he settled me down.
"Yeah, I bet you are", muttered Edward in the background. I ignored that comment. Jacob was a really close friend to me. Almost like a second brother. I didn't want to be loosing contact and drifting away from him again.
"I'm glad to see you too", I told him truthfully.
"Hey Bella", said Eric as he approached. Mike was behind him.
"Bella, hi", he said almost anxiously.
"Hey guys", I greeted with a nod and a smile.
"So Bella, how about we go –"
"Bella, can I talk to you for a sec?" Mike cut in through Jacob. I was shocked that mike wanted to talk to me. We hadn't really spoken since we broke up. Partly because he was pissed off me with. Jacob shot him a dirty look for interrupting him.
"No!" said Emmett, jumping to his feet. Rosalie stood up and shook her head as well.
"What?" I asked curiously.
"Stay here, Bella", ordered Emmett, looking at me pointedly. I looked back over to mike and realised that he was an a glaring contest with Jacob. Suddenly the atmosphere dropped a couple of degrees and things got tense.
"Two minutes, Bella? Please?' asked Mike. He seemed really desperate to talk to me for some reason. I decided that I wanted to know what he wanted to say.
""Sure", I answered shrugging.
"Stay", growled Emmett. I turned to stare at him questioningly.
"What's the matter, Emmett?" I asked sceptically.
"I've got to tell you something", said Mike to me, "I really do, Bella. Why have you not been calling me back?"
"I didn't know you were calling me in the first place", I told him honestly.
"I left messages with your brother to tell you to call me", said Mike turning to glare at Emmett who glared at him back.
"What? Emmett? Why didn't you tell me?" I asked him dubiously.
"Leave it Bella", sighed Emmett shaking his head, "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to call him, alright?"
"No, it's not alright", I shot back at him. I turned to Mike again, "why didn't you ring my mobile phone?"
"You blocked my number", he explained.
"Oh, right", I said sheepishly, "sorry. What did you want to talk to me about, mike? What is it?"
Mike seemed hesitant to answer. He looked around at Jessica and Lauren who had started their own conversation in the background. Rosalie was quietly explaining something to Alice and Jasper. Jacob was tense and stood quite close to me. Emmett had stood up with his fist clenched in an 'I'm gonna punch someone' kind of way. Edward sat in front of where Alice and Jasper were sitting. He was shooting daggers at Jacob's head. Eric seemed to try to be looking not interested at the conversations going on.
Mike took a deep breath.
"I want to get back together with you", he told me, staring straight at me, speaking directly to me, "I still love you Bella, I want you back."