I own nothing. Stephenie Meyer owns all…

Get Underway--'Begin a journey or a project'

Bella POV

Half an hour later, we slipped our note under our neighbour's door, giving it a quick knock before we sprinted to the elevator.

We headed up a few levels, to the resort deck and made our way to the 'Persian Garden' spa. We stepped inside the spa which had a cream, marble style floor and black tilled walls. Scattered around the place were a few seating areas and tall green potted plants.

"Come on, lets she what she has to offer!" Rosalie whispered to Alice and me excitedly as she grabbed hold of us and dragged us to the main desk.

"Hello, how can I help?" the woman behind the counter asked as she looked back and forth between each of us.

"We're not too sure…what would you recommend?" Alice asked before Rosalie got the chance to take over.

"You could have a facial, a massage, or a treatment like a mud bath, aromatherapy, erm….a half hour in the steam room or a manicure?" The woman behind the counter rolled off the top of her head.

"I want a massage…" I decided. I looked to Rosalie and Alice who were nodding in a silent agreement.

"Then maybe a manicure?" Rosalie looked between Alice and me as she asked.

"Sure, let's get this show on the road!" Alice cheered as her excitement grew.

We were led into the massage room and were introduced to our masseuses. I thought I heard Rosalie sigh in disappointment beside me when we saw that we had female masseuses.

After a few minutes, we were laid down on the massage tables, and being kneaded and rubbed. I heard Rosalie's voice from beside me as she groaned out, "I could get used to this…"

"Yeah…thanks for winning us the holiday Alice, maybe you should shop some more when we get back…win another prize." I joked as my shoulders were massaged.

"Sure thing boss, just you try and stop me!" Alice laughed.

Half an hour later, we got off the massage beds stiffly and thanked the women before we headed towards showers. Once we finished we headed towards the manicure area.

"Guys…I haven't exactly got the best nails to work with…" I argued as we drew nearer. I looked down to my nails, which I was in the habit of biting. They didn't look too good.

"They'll sort them out for you, don't worry!" Rosalie reassured me as Alice started talking to a woman who sat behind a manicure table. "Sit" Rosalie commanded as she took her own seat at another table.

My manicure took less time than Alice and Rosalie's, simply because I had less to work with, but as Rosalie told me before, the woman did manage to make them look decent.

"Lookie, lookie!" Alice laughed excitedly a few minutes later as she held her nails out for us to look at.

I couldn't believe what I saw; she had miniature palm trees painted on each of her nails against a yellow background. "Amazingly Alice…that works." I admitted as the three of us walked out of the spa.

"Coffee fix anyone?" Rosalie asked as she rubbed her hands together excitedly. We took the elevator, down to the entertainment deck and stepped into the Café. We ordered and then sat around a small table next to the window for a panoramic view of the ocean and a few distant islands as we waited for out coffees to be brought over.

Seconds after our coffee's arrived, Tanya drew up a chair and set down another note on the table. By the time I'd read it after Rosalie and Alice, they were both already debating with Tanya what to write back. I read the note over once more,

Dear, Rosalie, Alice and Bella,

You figured our secret out quickly!! Don't worry though…we are vegetarian vampires, you have nothing to worry about!

We wouldn't miss seeing you three at the pool because...who else do you think we could ask to put sun lotion on our backs?!

Waiting to meet you tonight, Hottie with a body, Blonde bombshell and Piano boy.

Minutes later, with help from Tanya, we finished our reply.

Dear, Hottie with a body, Blonde bombshell and Piano boy, (You really should think of a better nickname for Edward!)

We're glad that we don't have to worry about your vampirism; it'll make dinner tonight much less uncomfortable. Otherwise…we could have been your dinner! We tremble at the thought!

Sun lotion…? You know the saying, you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours…:)

See you tonight! Rosalie, Bella and Alice.

"Thanks again for this Tanya!" Alice smiled as Rosalie handed her the note.

"It's not trouble, don't worry, it gives me something to do seeing as you three aren't like my usual penthouse customers who call for me all the time." She laughed as she got up, pushing her chair back in. "I'll see you tonight, unless they give me another letter to send you." She told us as she walked away.

Once we finished our coffees, we headed back to our room and changed into our bikini's once Rosalie had sweet-talked us into joining her at the pool. I wore a simple black one, Rosalie went for a deep red and Alice opted for green. Before we headed out, we wrapped our lower half's in sarongs, and I also grabbed a book.

The mid day heat shined down on my pale body as I lay on a sun lounger a short distance away from the pool where Alice and Rosalie sat on the edge, dipping their feet into the pool.

I looked over the top of my book as I caught the sound of Rosalie's amazed voice, "Ooo can I feel them?" I laughed to myself as I watched her beckon a muscular man towards her and feel his arms.

I turned my attention back to my book, until I was interrupted by a shadow standing over me, blocking my sunlight. I looked up at the culprit.

My eyes widened as I looked at the tall, athletic looking blonde who was in my line of vision. "Hi I'm Mike" he smiled at me as he extended a hand.

I shook his hand as I introduced myself. "Do you mind getting out of my sunlight?" I asked nicely as Mike just stood there.

"Of course" he said before he sat down on the sun lounger adjacent to me. I lay down my book on the floor next to my discarded sarong, and then turned to look at him. "So Bella…how long are enjoying the cruise so far?" he asked with a look of genuine curiosity in his eyes.

"It's been amazing so far…but it is only the second day…" I smiled at him as he nodded in agreement. I asked him, "Are you on this cruise alone? Or have you brought along your girlfriend or friends?" I instantly regretted asking him that, realising that it sounded kind of bold.

"I'm here with my friend Tyler, he's around here somewhere. How about you?" he asked as he quickly scanned the surrounding area.

"I'm here with my friends." I pointed them out to him.

We talked for another ten minutes comfortably, I was amazed at how easily our conversation flowed. As he got up to leave, he turned to look at me with a nervous look in his eyes as he asked, "Would you like to have dinner with me some time?"

I nodded and told him that I was free tomorrow night. I was rewarded with an ecstatic smile from him after we finished sorting out the minor details of the time and where we were going.

Rosalie and Alice didn't miss a trick, I realised as they coincidently came back to join me seconds after Mike had disappeared. "Who was that Bella baby?" Alice asked as soon as she sat down in the seat that Mike had vacated.

"That was Mike…and I'm going for dinner with him tomorrow night at the sea food restaurant up on the second deck from the top." I told them as I picked up my book from the floor.

I heard Rosalie's weary sigh, and then looked at her as she said in a hurt tone, "How does Bella get a date, just from sitting there with a book, while we get friendly at the poolside and get nothing?" she finished, looking over to Alice with a pathetic look on her face.

"Shut up Rose!" I blushed. "I bet those guys at the pool were too intimidated by your beauty to ask you out." I told her as I opened my book up to the right page.

I heard a rustling noise next to me as Alice lay down on the sun lounger, getting comfy. She then said, "I'm not accepting any date offers…if I get any, until I meet Jasper." Her tone of voice sounded decisive.

"Well, we don't have all that long to wait do we?" I smiled as I realised that I was looking forward to tonight.

Alice's sudden outburst scared the life out of me, "O my God! What am I going to wear!?!?" I tried to slow down my heart beat after the shock as Alice prattled on beside me.

"Come on! We need to sort this out!" she demanded as she chucked my sarong onto my lap. "Rosalie, come on chop, chop!" I laughed as Alice started clapping her hands in an attempt to motivate us to follow her faster.

On arriving back at the room, Rosalie demanded that we hang our bikini's on the rail outside 'to dry' just to tease the guys next door, letting them know that we had gone to the pool without them. Alice and I obediently followed Rosalie's orders, even though I told her, "I don't see the point…I doubt that they'll even notice them."

An hour later, Rosalie and I lay sprawled over the huge bed eating popcorn as Alice entered the room at regular intervals, showing us a different outfit each time. Tanya joined us half way through at the point that Rosalie and I had turned the event into a game. We hissed and booed at bad outfits, and clapped and cheered at the ones that we liked.

Having finally found an outfit each, Tanya informed us, "I'll meet you at the main door to the restaurant, and take you to your table. The guys will come to you." She grinned.

"How will they find us? The place is pretty big" I rationalised.

"You'll be sat at the table with the roses on it, and then the guys will have to find you." She explained, beaming at her idea.

Alice obviously liked the idea and told Tanya how much we appreciated her help. "It's my pleasure, it gives me something exiting to do in my spare time." She said back in modesty.

She soon left, telling us that she needed to get the flowers ready and check in on the guys to make sure that they remembered the plan.

Edward POV

"Feeling any better?" Tanya's voice came from the foyer; unsurprisingly it lacked any sound of concern.

"Not too shabby!" Emmett answered as he stretched on the sofa, effectively kicking me at the same time. "Ohh sorry" he apologised when I cut him an un-amused look.

"That's what I like to hear…where's Jasper?" she asked just seconds before he stepped in through the glass doors with a stunned look on his face.

"Emmett…all your fault!" Jasper hissed as he took a seat at the dining table.

"What's up?" I turned and asked him. The only answer I got was a scowl and him pointing towards the veranda.

I got up and followed Tanya and Emmett outside. I stood stock still as my eyes caught the meaning of Jaspers annoyance. There on our neighbour's rail were three pairs of skimpy bikini's drying in the afternoon heat. I glared at Emmett as I passed him, and then joined Jasper at the dining table.

"Come on…we'll go to the pool with them tomorrow!" Emmett tried to dispel our annoyance. "We've got nearly 3 weeks! Come on guys!" he pleaded for us to forgive him. I held firm, mainly because it was fun to watch Emmett squirm.

"If it makes you feel any better…" Tanya began as she stepped back inside, "The girls are exited about tonight"

I didn't know why, but it seemed to make me feel better. I muttered a quick word of forgiveness to Emmett before I asked her, "How are we supposed to find them tonight? Emmett's the only one who knows what they look like." I told her.

"I've got it all sorted out! Just look for the only table with a vase of roses in the middle…just head towards the window." She added once she saw our blank expressions. Didn't she know that we needed more information that to look for flowers?

"Look…I have to get going, so just make sure that you get there by 8pm." She instructed before she sailed out of out suite. I headed to the bathroom and groaned in aggravation at the sight of a dozen rubber duckies littered around the place.

Bella POV

At 7.50 pm we left the room and headed down to the restaurant. We were dressed more causally than last night, but we still looked like we'd made an effort.

"Tanya!" Alice called out in excitement as she ran over to her. I shook my head at Alice's excitement which was currently at bursting point.

"Come with me!" Tanya seemed to me, just as exited as Alice was, as she took hold of Alice's hand, leading us in a weaving trail towards the window.

I smiled as I noticed that we had the same shape table as last night, except it was big enough to sit six instead of three. Tanya instructed us to sit in alternate chairs, leaving spaces next to each of us for Edward, Emmett or Jasper to sit at. I sat closest to the window, then Rosalie after the empty chair between us, and then finally Alice after another empty chair between her and Rosalie.

Tanya told us that they should be here at any minute, and then left. I couldn't work out why I felt so nervous, it was irrational to feel such a level of anticipation, I told myself as I stared out of the window at the familiar sunset. Rosalie and Alice chatted amicably as they studied the roses, and talked about the flower arranging classes that were held some mornings in the ship's conservatory.

Alice's well contained exited squeal just reached my ears. I turned my head and laughed at Alice who was beaming with excitement. I turned to look in the line of her gaze and instantly locked my eyes with a pair of green ones.

Edward POV

We'd wandered around for a few minutes, looking for the right table, until my eyes fell upon a brunette, a few tables away. She sat, faced towards the window, staring out, and simply looked captivating. A feeling deep within me compelled me to go and talk to her, to find out her name, anything, I couldn't care less about the neighbours that we were supposed to be meeting.

"Emmett…listen I'm heading over there…" I pointed out the table to him, praying that he wouldn't find the mystery girl as enticing as I did.

I felt Emmett's hand slap my back a few times before he declared in a cheerful voice, "That's them! How'd you know…I thought that you hadn't met them before?"

My body froze as I realised that she was Bella, if Emmett's description was accurate. I looked at the other two girls, one was blonde, Rosalie and the other had short, pixie like hair, Alice I summarised.

I watched as Emmett walked confidently forward, gaining on the table. I urged my feet to move, but they wouldn't. I felt Jaspers hand on my shoulder. He gave it a small squeeze as he said, "She's perfect isn't she?" I looked sideways at him and saw the look of adoration in his eyes.

I silently followed him, keeping my eyes locked on Bella as I began to erratically conjure different ideas of how I could coax Bella away from Jasper. Suddenly, all thoughts escaped my mind as she turned a little, laughing, and then some more, to look at me. I felt as if a rope was linked to each of us, pulling me closer to her.

I couldn't help it; I smiled in relief as I turned to see Jasper looking adoringly at Alice. I quickly brought my attention back to Bella and took a seat next to her.

"Hi Bella…I'm Edward…or piano boy" I smiled at her, as I held my hand out.

I took a sharp intake of breath as she put her hand in mine, laughing as she said, "You really should change your alias to Green eyes..." she shook her head, and then looked back up to me "So you're the one with the beautiful music…"

I realised that she didn't seem to have felt the odd spark that I felt as her hand touched mine. I called myself back to what she had just said and reluctantly let her hand go as I admitted that I was the one who played the piano.

Time seemed to fly by as the six of us chatted about various topics. Soon, we had to order our main meals. "I'll have the steak please…rare." I added. As I suspected, Emmett and Jasper chose to go for the same. The girls on the other hand shocked me, they also chose the steaks but wanted them medium rare, except for Bella who wanted hers well-done.

Once the waiter walked away, I turned to her with a smile playing on my lips. "How can you eat a steak when its well-done? It ruins it!" a chorus of agreement came from the other four.

"I don't like the blood…" she admitted as she played with a strand of her hair. "What about you guys…rare?" she asked with an incredulous look.

"We're vampires remember." Emmett laughed before he turned and carried on talking to Alice.

"Figures" Bella muttered beside me as she let go of the strand of hair that she'd been twirling. I just managed to hold back the sudden urge that I had to tuck the strand behind her ear.

I turned my attention away from Bella and shook my head in confusion as I heard Alice mention something about how the moon looked different from the glass doors of their living room last night. Emmett's booming laugh soon followed.

For the rest of the night, I behaved, trying my hardest to see Bella in the same light as I saw Alice and Rosalie especially after the blow of finding out that she was having dinner with some guy called Mike tomorrow night.

At the end of the night, we all headed back up to our rooms. As we walked the short distance from the elevator to the door, Emmett made us all laugh for the umpteenth time tonight as he declared, sounding very proud of himself, "Well then ladies…how many men would be real gentlemen, like us and walk you back safely to your door?"

Once the laughter subsided, I felt slightly nervous as to when I would see Bella next. I decided to ask, "So will we see you at the pool tomorrow afternoon?" I looked at Bella who was looking back up at me, with her mesmerizing chocolate brown eyes.

I grinned as she nodded her head, "See you there…remember the sun lotion" she added as she looked over to Emmett. "Goodnight" she waved.

I only just then realised that we'd reached the end of the hallway. We all said goodnight and headed into out respective rooms. I immediately headed to the mini bar and grabbed a beer before I threw myself on the sofa.

Emmett sat on a nearby chair with a smug look on his face as he asked eagerly, "So…what did I tell you?"

My reply was a simple sigh. Jasper popped his head into the room and smiled as he announced, "Diamonds among the pearls."

So…the pool tomorrow and Bella's date with Mike…anything could happen, and only I know what will atm!!

Reviews please…even those of you that add the story to your alerts!! Go on….i'll upload the chapters sooner:D