A/N: Thanks for reading everyone! And of course thanks for the reviews! Don't worry about Edward in that last chapter - it's just that he hasn't been apart from Bella at night for some time, and now he's not even around her during a lot of the day either. Combine that with hearing Newton's thoughts continually and then smelling his scent all over her - he had a moment of weakness and freaked a little, but the second the words were out of his mouth he regretted it.
(Previously):
Edward slowly met my gaze, and when he looked into my eyes a small smile began to appear. "I'm so sorry Bella – I really don't know what's gotten into me. Can you forgive me?" he asked, looking slightly ashamed.
"There's nothing to forgive, Edward. You know I love you – and I'll tell you something else, you're not sitting out at that campfire all alone tonight. Listening to Mike's thoughts and us not being together while I sleep is definitely taking its toll on you – we'll figure something out," I said, leaning into his side. He put his arm around me, gently patting my pine needle-encrusted back.
The rest of the family pretended to carry on polite conversation, seemingly giving us our own moment to sort everything out. I don't know why they really bothered – I knew they were hanging on our every word, ensuring that everything was ok.
Chapter 12:
Back at camp, the others agreed to watch my group during free time so that I could go to the bathhouse and begin the long process of removing the layers of sticky residue from my body. It took quite some time to get the glue out of my hair, and as I stood at the sink scrubbing my clothes with the sap on them, I couldn't help but realize how tired I was. Thankfully, before I knew it free time had passed and we returned to the front of camp for dinner.
"You're looking much better Bella," Carlisle beamed at me. I looked up at him while chewing my chicken slowly, wondering what exactly I was supposed to say in response to that; sarcasm was getting harder and harder to suppress. Luckily, Emmett began speaking before I could come up with a reply.
"Tonight's the night Big Sue is stopping in to announce the contest for Saturday," Emmett said excitedly, his eyes gleaming in anticipation.
I glanced at Alice to see if she had any clues. She shook her head, and mumbled something about Sue being incredibly indecisive.
About ten minutes before dinner was scheduled to end, the door to the hall swung open and Sue came stomping in, heading straight to the podium. "Hey there, kids! Is everyone having a great time?"
Cheers broke out throughout the room. "That's good to hear! Well, as you all know, I'm here to announce the event chosen for Saturday. Problem is, I can't seem to decide, so I'm going to leave that up to you. I've narrowed it down to two choices – a cooking contest or a water balloon fight. Now, when I call out the one you want, raise your hand, all right? Counselors – let's leave this to the kids to decide, so no voting from you. Here we go – those who want a cooking contest, raise your hands," Sue said.
I glanced around, silently willing more kids to raise their hands. It wasn't a bad response, but I could tell far too many were still stuck on the words 'water balloon fight.' My fears were only further confirmed when she called out the second option, and a flurry of hands bobbed in the air, easily beating the number of votes for the cooking contest. Emmett pumped a fist in the air happily, and I sighed in defeat.
While Edward consoled me, Sue began speaking again. "Well, it looks like we'll be having that water balloon fight then! Now, I have a bit of a surprise regarding the carnival," she said, pausing. "I thought it might be fun to have the counselors have a mini-competition of their own for your entertainment. To kick things off at the carnival, they'll all be in a friendly water-jousting competition!" she exclaimed, smiling hugely.
"What? What does she mean, Edward?" I asked, scared at the idea of anything with the word 'jousting' involved.
Edward quickly explained what he understood from Sue's thoughts – when the previous owners held the annual carnival, they liked to start it with an event where the counselors competed against one another doing something that would be entertaining for the campers to watch. There was equipment set aside for various activity options, and Sue had chosen Water Jousting from the list she'd been left with. Crap – it just sounded like a bad idea for the uncoordinated.
I glanced at Alice irritably, thinking that a warning would have been nice, but she must have been expecting it because she cut me off before I could open my mouth. "I wasn't exactly watching for something like that, ok Bella?" I lowered my gaze, feeling somewhat guilty.
"If all the counselors would see me briefly we'll sort out the carnival assignments," she finished. I really hoped she'd paid attention to the suggestion I'd previously submitted – I'd requested a refreshment station at the carnival. We all made our way to the podium, and she began handing out the sheets with our jobs for Saturday. I glanced down at the sheet in my hands: Popcorn cart attendant. Well thank goodness for small victories.
Later, after the nightly fire and story time had passed, thekids were in bed and I could relax. I'd passed out tokens to my group before they went to sleep to maintain my good standing with them, promising we'd go to cash them in soon. I'd asked Edward if his group had been to the little shop yet, or if anyone else had, and he said some had, but not all – his kids didn't seem to have much interest in it. Of course Rosalie's had gone – that was where all those pretty hair ribbons had come from.
I took my usual place next to Edward at the fire, and my mind switched gears. Leaning against his side I asked, "So what's everyone's assignments for the carnival? I'm supposed to be running a popcorn cart."
"Mind reader – I get to guess things, such as favorite colors, hobbies, ages, that type of thing," Edward smiled. Of course he'd suggested such a thing.
"Fortune teller – I get to guess the kids' futures," Alice beamed. I rolled my eyes, beginning to see a pattern.
"Strongest man – I get to try to pick up various things of different sizes," Emmett chuckled.
For a second I had to wonder if I was really marrying into a normal vampire family or if perhaps they were actually circus side-show freaks - there were suddenly a lot of similarities.
"Cotton candy cart – kids love cotton candy, right?" Rosalie said, as if afraid she'd volunteered for the wrong thing. Everyone nodded in response, and she relaxed.
"I'm painting faces," Angela said happily.
"I'm running a game stand – ring toss or something," Jessica answered in a monotone voice; she'd been pretty quiet ever since we'd arrived, and I couldn't help but think that she was irritated by our presence. After all, she'd likely only signed up for this camp thing to be near Mike, and he'd been chasing after me the whole time. If only she knew how gladly I would send him her way.
"I've got a game booth as well – basketball," Mike replied.
After everyone had revealed what their assignments were and their thoughts on them, the discussion slowly died down.
"Would anyone like to play cards? I brought a pack from home," Angela said.
Jessica shrugged. "You know me – I'd much rather be inside than out here – I'll play." As the two got up to head toward their cabin, Mike mumbled something about playing too and followed after them. He really didn't seem to like being surrounded by Cullens. It probably had something to do with the way Edward and Emmett kept taking turns glaring at him.
Suddenly a loud commotion erupted from Emmett's cabin. It sounded as if the bunks themselves were being overturned.
Edward looked pointedly at Emmett, while Rosalie turned abruptly and stared at Emmett's cabin.
"Emmett - what is that? Is there something wrong with your kids? What if they're arguing? Maybe I should help," Rosalie said as she stood up.
"NO - no, that's not necessary, I'll check on them, sure it's just boys being boys - probably arm wrestling or something, you know," Emmett said, jumping up and moving quickly in the direction of his cabin. "Remember Rose, no girls in the guys' cabins," he added over his shoulder, obviously worried about her following after him.
Rosalie's eyes narrowed and she continued to stare after her husband. I couldn't even imagine what had gotten loose in that cabin this time - I didn't want to imagine it.
"I don't suppose you're going to offer me any insight, are you?" Rosalie said, peering across the fire at Edward.
Edward leaned back and shrugged. "It's really none of my business, Rosalie." He turned back to me. "So, anyway -"
A string of curse words drifted out into the night, followed by more loud banging noises.
We all stared at Emmett's cabin again. Rosalie stood up and hissed under her breath, beginning to move in the direction of the cabin.
"Rosalie! Did you hear that? I think one of your kids is crying," Alice blurted out.
Rosalie paused, glancing over at her own cabin. "I don't hear anything, Alice ," she said, turning her focus back to Emmett's cabin.
"There it was again – I really think you should check on them – maybe the noises frightened one of them or something," Alice pressed.
That seemed to work. Rosalie hadn't heard anything, but the idea of one of her campers being upset was getting to her, and she had to check to be sure. The second she disappeared into her cabin, Alice turned to Edward.
"You'd better get Emmett under control – do you have any idea how Rosalie will react if she finds out what's going on?" Alice whispered. "It's only going to take her a second to check on all her kids and realize nothing's wrong with any of them."
"Of course I do – there's only so much anyone can do to keep Emmett under control though, as you well know Alice ," Edward whispered back. "Anyway, he's managed to get things straightened out - for now anyway," he added, looking back in the direction of Emmett's cabin.
"Whatever. I'm going to Jasper's, he's waiting for me. Want to come with me, Bella?" Alice asked hopefully.
"Ugh. Not tonight, Alice – I'm suddenly exhausted. Sorry – maybe tomorrow," I added as I caught sight of her crestfallen expression.
"Which also means that you'd better get to bed soon," Edward said to me.
"You're right, wait here," I nodded in agreement as he watched me with a confused expression.
I pulled my blankets from my bed and began trudging back out to the campfire to join Edward. I'd said he wouldn't sit out there alone all night and I'd meant it. He stopped me at the bottom of the stairs.
"Bella, what do you think you're doing?" he asked.
"I'm sleeping outside with you tonight," I mumbled as if it were obvious. I tried to push past him but got nowhere. He began arguing about how I wouldn't be comfortable, how I might get cold, blah, blah, blah.
"We can stand here and argue about it all night if we have to Edward, but I'm not leaving you alone," I said. "Why can't you just go with Alice ?"
"Don't be ridiculous, you know I'm not leaving you here, and you going there isn't an option – even Alice could see that you need complete rest tonight." He paused, gazing steadily at me. "You're really not going to let this go, are you?" he asked, frustrated.
I simply shook my head as I crossed my arms stubbornly.
He sighed, and then smiled crookedly at me. "You're too adorable for your own good when you're upset, do you know that?" he whispered, pulling me into his arms. He took my hand in his and led me out to the fire, sitting down on the bench. I hopped up into his lap, wrapping myself in my blankets and settling in. I couldn't believe it – I'd finally won and gotten my way. I was still smiling as I drifted off to sleep only seconds later.
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The shrill sound of the alarm screaming filled my ears, jerking me awake. Hang on - it's still completely dark outside...and that's not my alarm. I sat straight up in my bed, panicked. Wait a minute…my bed? I opened my eyes and looked around me. I was in my bed in the cabin. I hadn't gotten my way at all – he'd just placated me until I fell asleep then brought me back in here. Ugh - stupid vampire; stupid stubborn always-getting-his-way vampire. My mind snapped back to the reason I'd awoken as more piercing screams echoed outside our cabin - a lot of them. I stumbled to the light, switched it on, and saw all my campers huddled in their blankets, eyes wide with fear, staring at me.
"Wait here," I ordered, stepping out into the night. I tried to see what was happening, but it was still so dark, I had to move forward. I hadn't made it to the bottom step when Edward appeared directly in front of me.
"Bella, go back to sleep - it's nothing to worry about," he whispered. Why was he bothering to whisper when there was such loud terrified screaming going on?
"What the he - heck is going on here?" Rosalie's voice roared, emerging from the bathhouse with a frightened looking girl. She looked around, then scooped up the girl and began running toward her cabin - it was where all the screaming was coming from. They flew through the door, and I just stood and watched as the screaming continued. I noticed Mike, Jessica and Angela were also all awake now, standing on the porches of their cabins looking confused.
Something in the shadows over by Emmett's cabin caught my eye, and I began moving forward, trying to get closer to the fire pit to see what it was. As the light slightly increased my vision, I could tell it was Emmett and one of his kids. It looked like that Simon boy - the one with the guinea pigs. Rosalie hadn't even noticed them she was so focused on her hysterical campers.
Emmett was bent over, whispering to the boy. "Please little dude, you've got to help me out here - you have no idea what could happen to me. Please, man - just try to keep those things locked up - for me?" Emmett pleaded desperately.
The boy looked unconvinced. "But Mr. Emmett, don't you think they deserve their freedom? They're my best friends, and I just want them to be happy. Don't worry, they always come back after I've let them out - they love me," Simon said, his six-year-old voice full of reasoning.
Emmett grasped his head, frustrated. "That's not what I'm worried about - what I'm worried about is much more serious than that," he whispered back hurriedly. Suddenly Rosalie's cabin door opened, and her campers, quieter now, filed out onto the dark lawn in front of them. Rosalie remained inside the cabin, where I was fairly sure I heard some curse words being hissed.
Moments later her door slammed open again, and she emerged holding two guinea pigs - otherwise known as Sammy and Fred to some of us - in her hands at an awkward arms length away from her body, clearly disgusted. Her eyes roamed the crowd, and came to rest upon Emmett. She began crossing the yard slowly but purposefully.
Emmett gently pushed Simon back towards his cabin. "Too late...save yourself little man," he said under his breath. Simon looked back, his eyes wide, then turned and ran for the safety of the cabin. I had to admit, I didn't blame him - Rosalie looked positively deadly. She came to a stop directly in front of her husband.
"Emmett...I don't suppose you know where these two things might have come from?" she asked, her voice low and menacing.
Emmett shrugged unconvincingly. "The woods? We are in the middle of nature, Rose, and nature does tend to have animals in it," he added. Bad move.
"Tell me this then, Emmett - you have enough experience with hunting in the woods - does 'nature' usually consist of two guinea pigs with tiny little collars on them?" she hissed, moving even closer.
"Huh...no, no I don't suppose that it does," Emmett replied evasively. "That seems a bit strange, you finding something like that in your cabin. Maybe one of your kids brought them with them and didn't tell you?"
Rosalie merely growled in response, her arms shaking with fury, the two guinea pigs jiggling in her grasp. The poor things looked terrified.
"Right - unlikely. Sorry - hmm....probably a boy brought them. Have you asked Newton ? You never know what's going on with him, look at all he's done so far. For all we know, he could have brought them with him. You know how he is when he's attached to something," Emmett said, lowering his voice a bit and winking at her. She faltered for a moment, as if she were wondering if perhaps her husband was actually innocent in this. I had to admit, suddenly he was putting on quite the show.
Rosalie paused, still staring at Emmett. Edward sighed beside me, shaking his head in disbelief. A second later, Rosalie turned to look at Mike's cabin. He saw her glare, and looking confused but also a bit afraid he quickly retreated inside. That seemed to only make him look more suspicious her. She turned back to her husband.
"Emmett. Are you saying that you had nothing to do with these...oversized rodents getting into my cabin and scaring the life out of my kids?" she asked directly.
Emmett paused only for a second, then said, "I can assure you, Rose, that I had nothing to do with them getting into your cabin." Technically he was right - but I had the feeling that if Rosalie knew the full truth, Emmett would have some major issues.
Rosalie huffed in irritation, and Emmett stepped forward. "Babe, go back to your kids. Give me those and I'll make sure they get wherever it is they belong. I know you like to make sure your campers are tucked in and settled, and they do look rather upset. Go on - I'll take care of everything," he said lovingly, reaching his arms out for the two animals. "Besides, I don't think you're supposed to hold them quite so tight – their eyes are bugging out," he added as he took Sammy and Fred from her.
Although still slightly wary, a glance back at her kids made her make up her mind and she handed over the guinea pigs to Emmett, then hurried back to her cabin to get her girls back to bed. Unbelievable - Emmett got away with it - for now, anyway.
"I can't believe she accepted that excuse," I whispered to Edward in the dark.
"She's so distracted by her kids she's not sure she knows what's going on," Edward murmured. "Although, to Emmett's credit, if Rosalie would quit giving her kids Little Debbie snacks at night then Sam and Fred may not have wandered over to her cabin. The scent on the wrappers is more than likely what attracted them," he added.
Suddenly remembering I was mad at Edward for tricking me and putting me back in my bed, I turned on my heel and stomped back to my cabin, Edward's throaty chuckle surrounding me in the darkness. Finally, after assuring the members of my cabin that it was just something silly and that they had nothing to worry about, we were all able to drift back to sleep.
A/N: Please review!