Hey, everyone!
Please read the a/n at the end of the chapter for fun things.
"This is a bad idea," Edward warned me as we got into the La Push town limits.
"Shhhh." I put my index finger to his lips. "Shush. Stop freaking out."
"Bella, your dad is a cop. He's gonna know." Edward swatted my hand away, then focus his attention back on the road.
"He's not going to know. There's no way for him to."
I had called Charlie earlier to let him know that Edward and I would be going down to La Push. I could hear Jake yelling excitedly over the phone, asking Charlie to hand it to him.
"Bella, Bella!" Jake greeted me over the phone. "Charlie says you're coming here with Edward. We're having food at Sue's. Hurry!"
Before I could say anything else, he hung up the phone.
Edward was obviously against the idea, thinking that my dad would somehow know what went on.
"He will. He's a cop. He can sense it," Edward insisted, bringing me back to the present.
"Okay, fine," I sighed. "I'll call Dad and tell him I have a headache or something. Turn the car around."
"What? No. We already told your dad we would go."
"Then don't whine! Just act...calm. Casual." I shrugged.
Really, I wanted to go down to La Push because I was a little unsure of how to act around Edward after the actual hand job.
It wasn't necessarily awkward after the fact. It was more like, where do we go from here?
I didn't know if I was just being a stupid girl, but I felt like by what we did earlier, our relationship was now on a different level. Deeper, maybe.
It kind of scared me.
"We're here," Edward said, shutting off the engine of his car.
We got out of the car and I watched as Edward looked around.
"Have you been here before?" I asked.
"No." He shook his head. "It's nice. But it looks just like the rest of the area does."
I walked up to Edward and took his hand. I wasn't sure my reassurance had done much for him.
"Hey," I reached my free hand up to cup his cheek. "Don't freak out. I love you."
"I love you too. I'm sorry. I'm being an idiot." He leaned down then, kissing me quickly on my lips.
"Alright. Come on. They're probably around the back."
We followed the sounds of talking and laughing around to the back of Sue's house.
Along with Billy and my dad, Jacob was there play with Sue's youngest, Seth. Sue and her older daughter, Leah, weren't outside.
"Hey, Dad, Billy," I greeted them, nodding my head in their direction. They were sitting across from each other on one of the two picnic tables that Sue had in her backyard.
Edward greeted them as well and Billy ushered him to sit down so they could discuss their plans for a fishing trip.
"Hey, Jake," I went over to where Jake and Seth were playing in the grass with little army men.
Although I had met Sue a few times in the past and her kids, they were still virtual strangers to me. "Hey, Seth."
"Hi, Bella," they replied in unison, not bothering to look up from what they were doing.
"Okay..." I trailed off. I guess they rather would play than hang out with me. "Your mom's inside?"
Seth nodded. "Yeah. So is Leah."
"Okay. I'm going to go see if they need help."
They didn't acknowledge me, causing me to roll my eyes and huff. Boys. Even little boys.
I went inside to the kitchen to find Sue and Leah preparing the food.
"Bella!" Sue said, wiping her hands on a towel and coming over to hug me. "It's so nice to see you again."
"You too." I turned to Leah, giving her a small smile. "Hey, Leah."
"Hi," she replied back, shyly.
Leah was thirteen, just starting at that awkward age. Charlie didn't mention much about Sue's kids, but I knew from him that she was shy and quiet.
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
"No, I think Leah and I have got it. Food's almost done anyways. There's drinks in the fridge. Charlie said you brought your boyfriend?" Sue asked, giving me a knowing smile.
"Oh, yeah. Edward's outside talking to Billy and my dad about a fishing trip."
"You better go outside then. Lord knows what Billy and your dad are talking to him about." Sue smiled. "Grab a couple drinks and let them know dinner is about to be brought out. I figured it's nice enough to eat outside."
Once I was back outside, I handed Edward the can of soda I had got for him and then let everyone know what Sue had said.
Charlie and Edward pushed two of the picnic tables together to create one long table while Seth and Jacob went inside to wash their hands.
The food was good. Sue had battered and fried some fish that Charlie and Billy had caught.
After we had eaten and I had helped Sue and Leah with the clean up, Edward and I went for a walk around the reservation.
"So, are you ready to tell me that I was right and you were wrong?" I asked, stopping to sit on some large rocks.
"Okay, Bella. You were right, I was wrong. It wasn't so bad. We're going fishing on July fourth. I told him my parents invited you guys over for a barbecue and some swimming. I hope that's okay. He said it sounded good."
"Yeah. That's fine. I love your house. I don't even remember the last time I went swimming. All my swim suits are probably too small."
"Swim suit?" Edward asked, gulping.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah. I'm not going to go swimming in my clothes. I'm sorry you'll have to be subjected to how pasty I am." I lifted my shirt up slightly, enough to show off how white the skin under my shirt is.
"Oh." Edward's eyes went down to the sliver of skin, not even bothering to look up after I straightened it back out. "You'll be wearing a bikini?"
"Yeah." I shrugged. "It's my only real chance of getting some sun. I think last summer I went to the pool a few times and got the tiniest bit of a tan. My shoulder's still have freckles, see?" I pulled the neck of my shirt down my shoulder's a bit, taking my bra strap with it.
Maybe I enjoyed teasing Edward just a little.
"Huh. I've never noticed," Edward replied, his fingers ghosting over my shoulder, causing goosebumps to appear.
The air between us changed into something thick and intense. I leaned in, hoping to do a little making out, when I heard footsteps running up to us.
"Hey... Mom wanted me to come get you guys. We're just about to eat some dessert.," Leah said, a little out of breath.
"Yeah. Okay. We'll be right there." I smiled back at her, just a little upset that she interrupted us.
I grabbed Edwards hand, watching as Leah ran back toward the house.
"I think someone has a little crush on you," I pointed out.
"What?" Edward asked, looking confused.
"Seriously, Edward? Leah was all batting her eyelashes at you and giggling at everything you said when we were eating."
"Right."
"I can't say I blame her. She just better keep her hands to herself!" I said, only half joking about the threatening tone in my voice.
"Geez, Bella," Edward laughed. "She's just thirteen. She isn't even in high school yet."
"Doesn't matter. You would probably be shocked if I told you what Jessica told me about Tanya back in middle school."
Edward shook his head. "I probably don't want to know."
I scrunched my nose, thinking about Jessica told me Tanya had did and with who.
"You're right. She's gross. Her choices are...questionable at best."
We headed back to the house where Sue was serving out cupcakes and fruit salad.
A little while later, Edwards mom called, asking him to come home. After saying bye to everyone there, Edward and I went back to the car.
"There. Now was that so terrible?" I asked, breaking apart from kissing Edward. He had pulled up in front of my house to drop me off before he went home.
"Huh?" Edward asked.
"You were so convinced something was going to happen with my dad. But it was perfectly fine, right?"
"Yeah," Edward agreed.
"Yeah, what?" I smiled.
"Yeah, you were right and I was a big over-reactor. Happy?" Edward rolled his eyes.
"Very." I gave him another quick peck, then opened the car door, jumping out. "I'll call you later!"
0-0
The morning of Fourth of July, I woke up entirely too early.
By entirely too early, I meant four thirty in the morning.
Charlie had told Edward to come over at five so they could head down to La Push to pick up Billy and Jacob.
I told Edward to come by fifteen minutes early so we could eat breakfast together and maybe I could give Edward an out from having to spend achingly boring hours with my dad and his friend.
After pulling my hair up into a ponytail, I brushed my teeth, washed my hair and headed downstairs.
A few minutes after I had gone downstairs and downed a cup of coffee, there was a knock on the door, followed by Edward sticking his head in the house.
"Your dad said I could just walk in..." Edward said, probably seeing the confused look on my face at him just walking in the house.
"Oh," I nodded my head, going over to him to kiss his cheek. "I'm glad."
Edward followed me to the kitchen, watching me as I made him a cup of coffee.
"I'm pretty much exhausted. I wanted to actually make something, but it looks like you're stuck with toaster waffles."
I put the waffles in the toaster and poured maple syrup into a small bowl to heat up.
"Was my dad outside when you got here?"
Edward nodded. "Yeah, he was taking fishing stuff to put in his car."
"You know, it's not too late to back out. We could let them go fish for a few hours and we could hang out here, alone?"
"It's fine, Bella. This is male bonding time. The time for us males to..."
"Bond?" I continued for him.
"Yes." He nodded his head. "My father told me it was important to get on the good side of your girlfriends parents. I mean, you never know what will happen."
"Huh?" I asked, setting down his plate of waffles with butter and syrup. "What's going to happen?"
"Oh, I don't know." Edward replied, cutting and taking a bite of his food. "Like, when we get married or have kids or live together or something."
"What?" I asked, shocked.
Edward looked up at me as I sat across from him at the table. "Oh. Shit. Sorry. I didn't mean when. I meant if. If. If we get married and have kids and live together."
"Okay."
"How about we just drop it. Sound good?"
I nodded my head. "Yeah. That sounds good."
As much as I loved Edward and didn't want to think about not being with him, I was only seventeen. I didn't want to think about that yet.
Luckily, just then Charlie came in, stopping the conversation from becoming even more awkward than it already was.
"Ready, Edward?"
"Yes, I am." Edwards face was a little red, probably from embarrassment, which caused Charlie to give him an odd look.
"Right. Well, I'll just be in the car," he told Edward, then turned to me. "Do you think you could pack me a couple plain waffles to take with me? We're running a little behind schedule."
"Sure. And Dad?" I walked over to him. "Please don't give Edward a hard time, okay?"
Charlie sighed, faking annoyance. "Come on, Bella. I'm cool. Edward is going to have a good time with all the guys. Right, Edward?"
"Right." Edward nodded fervently, agreeing with him.
I watched as Charlie left the house to go wait in the car, then went over to Edward.
"You can still back out, you know. Maybe fake sick? I can tell him the breakfast was off." I wrapped my arms around his neck, resting my cheek on his chest.
"It'll be fine," Edward reassured me, his arms going around my waist. " I better go."
"Okay," I said, not letting go.
"Bellaaa," Edward whined. "Your dad is going to come in here in like, 5 seconds to make sure there's no 'funny business' going on."
"Right." I gave him a quick squeeze and tilted my head up to kiss his jaw. "Bye. Remember, text me if things suck there and I'll create some sort of diversionary tactic to get the fishing cut short. Otherwise, I'm going back to bed."
"Alright. I'll see you in a little bit, Bella." Edward walked over to the front door and opened it. "It'll be fine. I mean, how bad could it be? Jake will be there."
I waved Edward off and went over to the window to watch him getting in the car and leaving, my eyes shooting daggers at my dad, hoping he could feel my stare and know that he better be on his best behavior.
I could only hope, right?
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ALSO!
So, you guys have probably all heard of the Fandom Fights Tsunami compilation, right?
Well, if you didn't donate or didn't look through all the fics in there, I contributed a little teaser of WCN in EPOV.
If you haven't donated, you can still donate and submit your receipt to them and get the compilation until July 1st. fandomfightstsunami(dot)blogspot(dot)com/
Review! And this time I WILL send out teasers in the reviews.
Tune in next time and see if Edward made it out of the fishing trip unscathed.