After school I had swimming again while the boys had their practice. Afterwards, I had to ride with the girls because the boys had to stay for their game would start in about an hour and a half.
Alice told me, on the way home that our school was playing our top rival; the school from the La Push Reservation which, for some reason, sounded a bit familiar to me.
Grandma and grandpa were still at home with mom and were excited about the game.
With grandma's help, it didn't take me very long to get ready. Now I know where Alice gets the makeover gene from.
By the time we got to the game, the boys were in their uniform talking to dad by the stands. We met up with them and talked for a while. Still, I kept my eyes out for Mike, hoping that they wouldn't see me or at least that I would see them before they saw me.
During the game, something felt familiar about the boys from the reservation that we playing; I just couldn't put my finger on it though.
Half time and our team were down by one touchdown. The score wasn't very high either; the La Push team had two touchdowns while ours got only one. I could hear the loud bangs the players were making when their bodies collided; they were playing really ruff. I hope none of the Cullen guys get hurt tonight.
"They're killing us out there." Emmett complained as we met them by the fence when the break was called.
"You can do it, lads. Just don't give up and put some real Cullen muscle into it." Grandpa cheered.
After the show, the game was resumed, but Grandpa's pep talk didn't help much.
Our team kept getting slammed and what I feared had happened. Jasper and Edward were both tackled and when the bodies got up, they didn't.
"My babies." Mom squealed out in horror.
"Calm down, Esme, the medic will help them." Dad tried to sooth mom.
I prayed silently that both of my brothers would be alright. When they got up, I got my wish, but they had to stay out for the rest of the game it looked like.
Both boys looked up at us almost embarrassed. Alice blew Jasper a comforting kiss while I smiled at Edward as if saying, I'm sorry.
Thanks to what happened to the others, Emmett started to play rougher, but by the end of the game that didn't help much. Our team still lost and the Cullen boys looked the most depressed.
The ride home was quiet; I was riding with the women in Rosalie's car while the others were in the other cars. At home was equally quiet, but I could feel the tension in the air; mainly coming from the guys who looked like they hadn't gotten their frustration out of their systems yet.
"Come on lads, you all did a brilliant job. It was a close game all because of you three." Grandpa tried, but it didn't seem to have any effect on the boys' bad moods.
"Boys quit that moping around. Now you have learned what you need to do next time." Grandma scolded them that still didn't work on them.
"Emmett Cullen, stop sulking." Rosalie tried to order, but even that didn't work. I was shocked.
"I know how about we go to the beach tomorrow. It's supposed to be in the 60's; too cold to swim, but it could be fun." Alice piped up.
"I don't feel like it." Emmett grumbled. At least she got them to say something.
"I would like to. I don't remember going to a beach at all as a kid." I said trying to get a reaction.
It did for everyone was looking at me like I grew an extra head.
"You never did?" Jasper asked.
I shook my head to answer his question. Now I was wishing that I hadn't said anything.
"Really?" Edward asked this time.
"I already answered that question. No, I don't remember ever going to the beach even as a kid." Now I was getting irritated.
"Ok Bella, calm down. I think it's a good idea that we get out of the house tomorrow." Mom said.
I did as she said and relaxed back on the couch.
"How about we go to bed. It's been a hectic day and we need our energy for tomorrow I'm sure." Dad suggested, actually it was more of an order which we all followed.
Edward helped me up then we all said goodnight to the adults and trotted up the stairs, but before I could go to bed, I had to talk to someone first.
"Rosalie." I waited until I got her attention. The others walked past us which I was grateful for while Rose turned around. I wasn't sure if she was still mad at me for driving her car, but I had to find out.
"Yeah." She answered.
"Can I talk to you?" I asked.
"Sure." Her face was soft probably trying not to scare me.
She led us into her room which was decorated like the gothic medieval times with the walls blood red and matching colored bedding. Did I even want to know what she and Emmett did together in her room or not?
I shook my head slightly to clear it.
She sat on her bed and looked at me as if giving me permission to sit with her, so I did.
"Rosalie, I'm sorry that I drove your car without your permission the other day." I paused to see her reaction.
She took a deep breath then replied "Can you tell me why you drove my car and where to?"
"It was the safest mode of transportation at the time. As for my destination, I…uh…went to…" I had a hard time saying it and I felt the tears starting to come.
Rose put her arm around my shoulder leaning me towards her body. "It's ok…shhh." She cooed.
"I went to visit my parents' grave." I whispered. "I needed to see them."
"Its ok baby sister, I understand." She held me close and allowed my tears to fall a little before speaking again." You know, I once stole Jasper's motorcycle, but got into an accident." I leaned back to look at her.
"Why did you do that?" I asked.
She looked like she was trying to hold back a laugh. "I was jealous that he and mom got to ride around on them and the rest of us didn't. Bella, I'm a very jealous person and if someone tells me not do to something I have to do it to prove that I can. I did it and I wound up in the hospital for a few days because of that."
"Didn't Jasper get mad at you?" I asked.
"He did, but he didn't show it. One thing about being his twin is that I understand him better than anyone else. I felt his anger even though he kept it hidden from everyone else. I think Edward was the only one who felt that anger. I swear he can read minds though." She laughed at her own joke and I joined in too.
"He forgave me because he felt more concerned that his blood sister was in the hospital than he did about any 'stupid bike' he said." We laughed again because she did an impersonation of her twin.
Then she got serious. "Bella, I was angry that you took something of mine when you didn't ask permission, but I can't be angry with you forever because you are important to this family. We all love you, but please, just don't do it again. Ok?"
"Deal. I just needed to…"
"I understand, and I'm glad that my baby made you feel safe."
"I don't know about that, I felt like it had a mind of it's own and it scared me to give it that kind of control." I joked which she laughed to.
"Thanks for being brave and talking to me. Sometimes not even Emmett will talk to me because he'll be so afraid of me." She joked back.
After saying goodnight to each other I left the room to up to bed.
I must have forgotten to set my alarm or something because instead of that annoying thing waking me up it was my new pixie sister that got the honor of do so.
"Bella, it's time to get up and get ready to go to the beach!" She squealed jumping on my bed.
"Alice, careful. I am pregnant remember?" I groaned. Her jumping was also making me a little nauseous.
"Oh sorry, I forgot for a while because you didn't throw up this morning." She chimed.
I looked over at the clock, it was nine a.m. and I usually my stomach wakes me up between four and five the morning, roughly. Still, I was feeling queasy and I didn't know if it was coming back or because Alice was jumping on my bed.
"Are you ok?" She asked.
"I feel a little sick. Can you go make me some tea?" I asked.
"Sure, you stay here and rest and I'll be right back." She answered dancing out through the door.
I tried rolling over hoping that a little more sleep would help, but my brothers had other plans.
"Hey little mama, it's time to get up." Emmett boomed walking into the room with Jasper and Edward behind him.
"You ok?" He asked when I didn't move.
"Just a little queasy this morning. Alice is making me some tea." I answered.
"You gonna be ok to go with us today, Bella?" Jasper asked.
"Yeah, you know me. This is only temporary." I tried to smile.
I then felt a gentle shift in the bed and someone rubbing my stomach. Instantly, I knew who it was.
A few minutes later Alice came back up with a cup of steaming hot tea and Rosalie behind her carrying a small plate of pretzels.
I only raised up high enough to take a drink. I hated the taste of tea, but it has been helping.
"Feeling better?" Edward asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Yeah, but this stuff tastes horrible." I grimaced.
"It's supposed to help your stomach, not your taste buds, little one." Grandma said from the doorway.
"Morning." I smiled trying to get up—very slowly I might add.
"Your mother sent me up to see if you were all getting around." She said.
"We just came to get Bella up, grandma." Rosalie answered.
"Well, we are leaving in an hour. Think you'll feel better by then, Bella?" Grandma asked.
"Yeah, it only last for a few minutes at most. I'll be ok after a shower too." I answered. I could feel my strength starting to come back.
"That means the rest of you should be getting your things together too, but don't bring your swimsuits." She scolded then left.
"Were we thinking about bringing our suits?" I asked.
"Mom probably thought Emmett was, but after catching pneumonia the last time he jumped into the cold ocean last March, I don't think he'll try that again." Edward laughed.
"Hey, I…"
"Emmett, there was no excuse for what you did then. You scared me, and I won't allow you to do that again." Rosalie threatened.
"Ok babe. Now, Bella, get up." He said.
My nausea had gone almost away by now. The tea was helping a lot, but I hated that it tasted so bad.
Thank goodness that Alice, Rosalie, and Grandma were too busy getting things ready to help beautify me. Within an hour, the cars were packed up and we left. Most of the load was in Emmett's Jeep since it had the most room.
When we arrived at the beach, it felt familiar, but I couldn't place it. Maybe my dad brought me here as a kid. I shook off the feeling as we unpacked the car.
I really put my foot down to get the others to let me help. After a little battle, I was able to do my part and didn't trip once when I was carrying my load. To say I was proud of myself was an understatement.
We set up base at a nice little spot and the day didn't turn out too bad. The sun actually came out for a little which warmed up the beach, but it still felt cold to me. I stayed bundled up with a book while the others explored the beach. In all honesty I was comfortable by myself with just the sound of the waves in the background.
"Hey." I heard someone shout.
I turned around to see a small group of people walking towards me. Somehow they looked familiar.
"Hi." They said when they got closer to me.
"Um…hi." I answered. "Do I know you?"
"We were just wondering why you were sitting here all alone and bundled up like that?" One asked. He looked like he was a freshman, but had a deep husky voice.
"I'm just not use to the cold. I recently moved here." I answered.
"Where from?" Another boy asked. He was the shortest of the bunch.
"Arizona." I answered. "You can sit if you want."
"Thanks." The first boy said. "I'm Jacob Black by the way." He reached his hand out to shake mine.
"Bella Swan." I replied.
"Swan? Does that name sound familiar?" The tallest of the group asked.
"Are you related to Charlie Swan?" Jacob asked.
"He was my dad. I moved to Arizona after he died." I answered.
"Now I remember you. Your dad use to bring you to the reservation and you use to play with us." Jacob said looking at his friends.
"I wondered why this place looked so familiar. How are you guys?" I asked.
"Great now that we have our little family back together again." One of them joked pulling me into a hug. Unfortunately, his hand ended up on my stomach and my baby kicked.
"What was that?" He asked.
"Um…I got pregnant when I was down in Arizona and then we were adopted and moved here." I answered.
They looked at me like I had an extra head for a second.
"Wow, and you're keeping it?" The tallest asked.
"Of course I am." I defended.
"Ok, ok. Just curious." He rebottled.
"Sorry, mood swings. They're pretty horrible sometimes." I tried to laugh, but it sounded weak.
"It's ok. So who…" Jacob didn't get to finish his sentence.
"Hey, get away from her." Emmett snapped. He and the rest my siblings were right behind him.
"Emmett, calm down." I tried to explain.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because I know these guys from when I was a kid. Now calm down." He knew not to mess with me when I got this angry.
The Cullens calmed down and looked at me like I was nuts.
"Bella, do you know who these guys are?" Edward asked kneeling down to my level, but still keeping an eye on the group of boys behind me.
I got up on my knees so that I was higher than him. "Yes, we use to play together when I was a little girl." I hissed. That got his attention.
I turned back to the group of boys. "I'm sorry; my family is a little too protective of me." I explained.
"You were adopted by the Cullens?" Jacob asked.
"And why not?" Now I was starting to feel like I was the in the middle of a tug of war.
"Just curious." He explained holding up his hands in defense.
"Why do you guys hate each other so much anyways?" I asked.
Everyone took a breath, but it didn't look like it helped much.
"Our schools are rivals in just about every sport, and we aren't too happy that they won last night either." Jasper spat.
"You guys are a bunch of babies you know. Grow up." I shouted that last part at both groups.
The tension was still in the air and I had a feeling that this wouldn't end here.
"She's right you know. Let's go guys." The tallest one ordered.
"See ya, mongrels." Emmett growled.
The group of boys turned once and glared at us before walking off again. Jacob turned once more and looked directly at me.
"Bye." I mouthed.
"Sorry about that, Bella, but those guys are bad news. You should hear some of those rumors…"
"Rumors, you guys listen to rumors?" I shouted in Edward's face.
They were shocked at my outburst to say the least.
"I thought you guys were better than that." I snapped then went back to reading my book completely ignoring my siblings.
They decided to stay with me after that. Sometimes trying to talk to me, but I stayed quiet fighting off the traitor tears that threatened to spill over every once in a while.
When the parents and grandparents came back it was time for lunch, but I didn't feel hungry.
"Mom, dad, do you mind if I go home. I'm not feeling so well." I asked.
"Oh, Bella, what's the matter, dear?" Grandma asked checking my forehead for a fever.
"I'm just tired, grandma." I replied. Normally, I'm bad at lying, but I didn't consider this lying. I was a little tired—when am I never—plus I didn't feel so good. Mostly I was feeling guilty about Jacob and his friends and making them leave.
"Edward, why don't you drive Bella home?" Mom asked.
"Actually mom, I don't want to ruin Edward's fun. Can't I just take his car, please?" I asked.
Jasper, Edward, and Alice did not look so happy about what was happening, mainly because they rode in Edward's car and would have to squeeze in the other cars on the way back, but I thought that this would be good punishment for their behavior.
"Alright dear, but call us when you get home so that we know that you're safe." Mom replied.
I held out my hand for Edward to give me his keys. I was still livid at what they did, so that didn't give him much of a choice. Although, it was a little bit of a struggle to get the keys out of his grip, but gave up after a few tugs from me. I don't know if he was being playful or was he really worried that I would hurt his baby.
I grabbed my things and told everyone that I would see them at home.
I have to say that I liked driving Edward's car rather than Rosalie's, but I felt a little guilty about borrowing it.
I didn't make it very far before I saw the boys standing outside of a store. I decided to stop and apologize for my family's behavior.
At first they glared at the car, but when I got out, they smiled.
"Well, well, well, nice to see the traitor again." One of the boys joked.
"I'm not a traitor." I seethed.
"Nice car, did you steal it?" Jacob asked jokingly.
"Sort of. I faked sick, but I felt bad for what my adopted siblings did and I wanted to apologize for them." I admitted.
"Don't worry about it. It's kind of fun to go at it with them, but they hate us more." Jacob replied.
"Well, you're family to me, so I don't hate you; but please don't let me be caught in the middle."
"We won't let you." The tallest said. "I'm Sam by the way. I don't know if you remember me or not."
"Honestly, I only remember Jacob. Sorry."
"No biggie, my dad use to hang out with yours the most. I swear they were married or something." Jacob joked.
"I was only married to one person, Jacob, and she was a beauty of a lady." A man in a wheel-chair rolled in behind the group of boys. "Who's your friend?"
"Dad, this is Bella Swan." Jacob said enthusiastically.
"Charlie's daughter?" I nodded my head shyly. "Well, look at you…all grown up." I could tell that he was talking about my swollen stomach, but I tried not to let that bother me.
"Hi Mr. Black." I said.
"Billy. I'm surprised you don't recognize me, but I guess it was only fair because I didn't recognize you at first." He replied.
"Well, I just wanted to say sorry for earlier and I should be going. My family is probably thinking about leaving the beach soon since I left so early." I said.
"Wait Bella, I'm wondering if you would want something of your mom's. Your dad gave it to me shortly after she…she passed on." Billy said.
"What is it?" I asked curiously.
"Well," He paused to chuckle, "Your dad hated the thing and I don't know if he would want you to have it when…right now."
"Billy, what is it?" I pressed.
"You are just like your mother." He chuckled again. "It's an old truck from the 50's. Renee use to drive it everywhere, even when she was pregnant with you. I'm not sure if I should give it to you now."
"Dad, you and I have been working on it for years. It taught everything me and my boys need to know about fixing cars." Jacob pouted.
"Please Billy." I put on my best sad puppy face which had the guys chuckling.
"You are just like your mother. Alright, follow the guys and they'll show it to you."
"My house isn't far, think you can make it?" Jacob asked.
"Yeah." I was too excited, even my baby was excited.
The walk wasn't very long at all. The guys and I talked a little. They were rambunctious, though, but were like little brothers. I think they were just showing off for me.
We ended up at Jacob's little house and he led us to the side where a tarp was covering something massive.
"Ready?" He asked about ready to pull the tarp away.
"Just do it already." I all but yelled at him.
"Embry, help me." The boys pulled to reveal a monster of a truck, but it had character.
"It's not as nice as the one that you stole, but it's…decent." Jacob said sheepishly.
"Jacob, it's wonderful. How much do you want for it?" I blurted out.
"No way, this is a gift for you." He answered.
"Yeah, but you put so much into it. Let me make it up to you, please."
"Ok, but do you think you can get your brothers off our backs?" He asked timidly.
"Hey, they're scared of my mood swings it should be easy for this little sister to motivate them." I joked.
I had them laughing as they showed me my new truck.
Jacob let me drive my new truck back to the store to pick up Edward's car and I have to say that I loved driving this beast more than Rosalie's or Edward's. Sorry guys.
Since Sam was 18, he followed me back to my house so that he could drop it off; his motorcycle in the bed of the truck so that he could get a ride back. Although, I wouldn't have minded taking him home so that I could drive my truck some more.
Back at the house I was the first one home, so I hid my truck on the other side of the garage for the time being underneath the tarp.
"Thanks a lot, Sam." I said when my truck was safely hidden.
"Your welcome, Bella. Anything for Charlie's kid." With that he got on his bike and left.
The Cullens didn't come home until a couple of hours later and surprisingly, I didn't fall asleep during that time.
"Feeling better, Bella?" Grandma was the first through the door and ran directly to me.
"Yes, grandma, thank you. I just made dinner if you guys are hungry." I answered hugging her back.
"Ah, what am I going to do with you, duckling?" She asked stepping back to look at me.
"Hey Bella, what's with the truck on the other side of the garage?" Rosalie asked.
"What truck?" Dad asked looking at the kids rather than me.
"Bella?" Grandpa asked.
I looked down at my feet. I thought I had hidden it well.
"I…uh…met up with those boys from La Push and they gave me that truck as a present." I answered.
"That was nice of them," Mom didn't look totally convinced though, "What kind of truck is it?"
"The kind of truck that is a metal death trap." Edward answered. Ok that got me mad.
"For your information, guys, my mom drove that truck even when she carried me. If it was good enough for her 16 years plus ago then it's good enough for me too." I replied angrily getting into his face even though I was too short to do so literally. "Dinner is ready if anyone wants some, but I've lost my appetite."
I went up to my room fighting the tears of anger along the way.
Edward's Point of View
"What was that about?" Dad questioned.
I looked at my siblings; we didn't know what to say to him.
"Well?" He asked again.
"Some of the Quiluetes from the reservation came down to the beach, and we got into an argument with them." I started.
"Apparently, Bella's real family were good friends with them and she got mad at us for fighting." Alice continued.
"She must have left early because she was so mad at us and those boys must have given her that truck while she was still on the reservation." Jasper added.
The elders did not look happy.
"You know better than to fight. This school rivalry thing has gone too far out of line. Did you know that there have been fights were kids from both sides have ended up in my hospital that I have treated?" Dad raised his voice slightly. This was the closest that he gets to yelling without actually yelling.
"And they are in close relations with Bella, your little adopted sister who is still trying to fit in." Grandma added. "I suggest you all go up there now and apologize for your rude behavior and try to get her to eat something. I don't think I've seen her eat since this morning."
"She means now!" Grandpa snapped like a whip at us.
My siblings and I moved quickly out of the room and up the stairs without saying a word.
When we got to the top of the stairs, we didn't know who would go first into Bella's room. We were scared to say the least about facing our little sister after seeing her temper. I still thought it was cute, but at the moment, I feared that lioness in her den.
"Go on, Edward." Emmett whispered.
"Why me and not you?" I asked with the same volume.
"Because she likes you best." He answered.
"Jasper why not you?" I asked.
"I uh…Rosalie?"
"Alice?"
"Oh for the love of God, just get in here already!" Bella shouted from the other side of the door.
We all jumped when we heard her voice and again when the door opened to reveal a very angry Bella.
"Well, get in here." She ordered moving out of the way to let us in. Then slammed the door when we were. I saw Alice jump closer to Jasper at the sound.
We waited for her to make the first move. She went and sat on her bed with her back against the headboard, crossed-legged, crossing her arms over her chest above her enlarged belly.
To say that she was mad was an understatement. She looked angrier than mom, grandma, Rosalie, and Alice put together—and that's angry plus scary, add in the hormones and it was like walking into a horror movie.
I moved first and sat on the edge of the bed facing Bella. The others copied me. Jasper sat on her computer desk chair that he slid towards the bed. The girls sat on the bed with me while Emmett sat on the floor on Bella's right.
It was quiet for a few minutes, none of us wanted to go first, but we also didn't want Bella to be angry with us forever. Especially after something this stupid.
I may be the youngest brother, but I was also the leader most of the time too.
"Bella, we're sorry for causing trouble today with those boys at the beach." I began hoping the others would back me up.
It was quiet for a minute or two longer then I looked back at them for help.
"He's right, Bella. We didn't mean to start something. It's like peer pressure; our schools have been fighting for a long time now." Emmett pleaded.
"Fighting for a long time now? My birth parents were great friends with those people on that reservation. I wouldn't be surprised if my parents went to the same school as us." Bella argued.
"Bella, we don't like to fight…within our family, I mean. We are really, really sorry that we put you in that position. Can you forgive us?" Alice asked.
Bella looked like she was trying to hang onto the anger because she was covering for something else besides anger.
"Bella, please say that you forgive us." Rosalie begged.
"I forgive you guys, but you have to stop this rivalry. It's not worth it and I don't want to get trapped in the middle of this. I don't want to choose between my families." The anger had almost completely melted, but I could tell that we would really need to watch ourselves again because her wall had come back up again against us.
"Your right, Bella, it's not worth it if it drives you away from us again." I added.
Bella actually smiled a bit and that was our cue that our fight had ended with Bella as the victor.
"So, what's up with the truck, Bella? Are you going to keep it?" Rosalie was fishing. Knowing her, she would love to work on Bella's truck as a new project.
"Apparently, my real dad gave it to his friend on the reservation after my…after I was born. The friend thought he'd give it to me." She answered.
We knew what she also meant, but we didn't push it. That topic was too painful apparently; I hope she never blamed herself for her mom's death.
"That was nice of him?" Alice said as more of a question. She likes things that are new and shiny, not hand-me-downs.
"Hey, be nice. It's a senior citizen and deserves respect." Bella replied. "Besides, I like hand-me-downs; they have a lot of character and stories to tell."
"Um Bella, do you mind if I help to tune it up. It probably will need some work since its o…um…mature." Nice choice of words, Rosalie.
"Jacob, one of the guys there, said that it has been worked on for years now, but if you can spruce it up that would be great." Bella replied. "Do you mind if I help?"
Ok, wasn't expecting that.
"Um, I don't know if you and sprout can, Bella."
"Are you becoming a little daredevil, Bella?" Emmett joked.
"Probably, I took mom's bike out for a ride before you got home."
"What?" We all said at the same time.
"Joking." She laughed. "And you said that I was a bad liar."
After the apologies, we all went down for dinner; including Bella. Obviously, she felt a lot better and we learned something about her past today. That her mother was crazy, hair-brained, risk-taker; I hope Bella isn't like that.