Chapter 5: Pool Party
Disclaimer: All characters are the property of S. Meyer
Bella got up in the morning—yeah, that's right, got up, because she never really slept—and headed downstairs. What was she going to do? Her head throbbed, her heart ached, and her stomach was nauseated. Should she stay away from both of them? That didn't seem like a viable option. Anyway, one or the other would come tearing into her home, and drag her out the door, or at least guilt her into going out with one of them. What a predicament.
In the long run, she decided that she couldn't ignore either one of the boys, but especially not Jacob, not after she had treated him so shamefully. He was her sun and she couldn't live without her sun. She would curl up and wither away like a seedling left in the shade.
Bella did the only thing that kept her mind away from all the drama in her life—she scrubbed the kitchen and the bathrooms, washed the floors, vacuumed the rugs and did the laundry. And still, her heart was uncertain as ever. She finally collapsed, exhausted.
She sat at the kitchen table with her head in her hands. She was glad that Charlie would be at the station all day, so she could wallow in self pity without him invading her privacy.
Charlie—good grief, he must've narrowly missed having a coronary last night. Talking about the birds and the bees had always been a skittish subject that he happily delegated to Renee. Actually, her mother had never covered the subject as thoroughly as he had, though. It was amazing that she learned something from him. It was also humiliating, since she thought of herself as a full grown woman, and there she was being lectured on the workings of the male sex from her father.
The phone on the kitchen wall rang; she jumped at the sound of it. She walked over and lifted the receiver. It was Edward.
"Are you ready, love?" his honey sweet voice asked.
"For what?"
"How easily you forget me. We're celebrating Emmett's birthday today. Don't you remember? We'll be using the pool again before the cooler weather sets in. You are coming aren't you?"
"Oh, right . . . I'll be ready. I'm sorry. I've had a lot on my mind lately."
"I'll forgive you as long as I was one of those things on your mind." His musical laugh echoed through the line. She loved hearing his laugh. Just like his voice, it was melodious, like a finely tuned violin.
Bella hurried to get ready. Without hesitation, she retrieved the lavender point of contention that Jacob spent his hard earned money on. She pulled off the tags (yeah, they were on there all right), and put it on. Grabbing her straw hat and donning her cover-up, she walked down the stairs, ready to go.
Outside the house, that unmistakable silver Volvo drove up. It was quickly followed by a knock at her door. She nearly tripped in her haste to answer it.
"Edward," she breathed. Maybe his presence would divert her attention away from that recent fiasco with Jacob His pale features beamed as she spoke his name even without the sun's rays. He needed no assistance to emit the happy glow; just the sight of Bella—that's all it took.
Curious, Bella turned to Edward as they drove side by side in the golf cart. She asked, "So, how old is Emmett today?"
Smiling broadly, Edward answered, "He turned seventy two years old this very morning"
"Wow, he ages well. He doesn't look a day over seventy one."
Edward chuckled softly.
They arrived at the gated area in a few minutes time. Edward escorted Bella toward the noisy gathering.
Most of the Cullen clan were already poolside except for Alice and Jasper.
Bella and Edward walked through the gate in time to witness his big brother cannon-balling into the water splashing it everywhere. Rosalie was stretched out on a chaise lounge complaining loudly. "Emmett, you just got my hair wet!"
Ever the clown of the family, Emmett retorted, "Don't worry, babe, I'll get the rest of you on my next dunk." He hit the water again as Rosalie let out a shriek. Then, he immediately catapulted himself out of the pool and leaning over her, shook the droplets of water from his hair. It rained down on Rosalie landing on her beautiful, but now scowling face.
Quick as a flash, he hoisted her up over his shoulder in caveman fashion, and threw her flailing into the pool. She was out of the water instantly, chasing after the perpetrator. She tackled him easily enough and they both landed in a grassy area. Emmett, being the big guy that he was, turned the tables on her, rolling them until he had her pinned beneath him.
He playfully attacked her neck and nose with his sweet kisses. Then he peered into her golden eyes and in his booming voice brayed, "You know you love me, Rosie!"
Rosalie pushed his huge torso away from her. "Yes, I love you—now get off me you big lug."
"Not yet. C'mon, Rosie, prove it to me. Give your big guy a smooch to be proud of."
Rosalie grabbed Emmett's neck and stopped his foolish chatter. He moaned into her mouth as their lips moved together fluidly.
"Get a room," Edward shouted, laughing.
"Now, why didn't I think of that?" He grinned mischievously at his lady love. "Let's go back to our bedroom so I can help you unwrap my birthday present in private." He lifted her into his brawny arms before she could protest.
"Emmett," Esme chided, "Not in front of Bella, please. Behave yourself."
"Sure, Mom," he replied rather petulantly. "But Bella knows what's what. She's a big girl now, isn't she Edward?"
"I wouldn't know," his brother snapped.
"Oh, sorry, pal. That's right—you haven't scored any points with her yet, have you . . . Bummer!"
Bella was mortified, and her cheeks flushed brilliantly.
"Emmett, that's enough. The poor girl is blushing," Esme chastised.
"Wow, look at how fast that red splotch is spreading. Ow . . . what did I say?"
Rosalie had backhanded him in the chest. "Just because it's your birthday, it doesn't give you the right to act like such a jerk."
"But, honey, it's in my nature. I can't help it."
"Don't remind me," she smirked. "And could you please put me down for heaven's sake?"
"I'll put you down—down in the deep end. Hold your nose Rosie, girl!" Emmett ran with Rosalie still in his arms and jumped back in the pool. The clear liquid spewed in the air, the ripples causing waves to slosh over the pool's rim. Rosalie was sputtering, and cursing under her breath. Emmett was laughing uncontrollably.
Edward turned his back on his siblings, and sliding an arm about Bella's waist, led her to an empty chaise. "Don't mind Emmett. He's just a little high spirited today."
"What else is new?" she quipped, as she waltzed around the chaise admiring the plants.
Edward suddenly dazzled her with one of his seductive smiles. "Are you going to walk around dry all day, or are you going to join me in the water?"
"I'll get in there soon enough. Just give me a minute."
"Don't take too long, Ms. Swan."
Edward was a blur as he removed his outer clothing and dove head first into the pool.
Bella shyly exposed herself in her new swimware. It was one thing to be on display for Edward—quite another to have his whole family staring at her. After that exercise in humiliation with her dad last night, she felt doubly exposed.
She finally dropped the cover-up on the seat and ambled over to the edge of the decking.
"Hey—look, everybody, Bella's got legs!" Emmett chortled.
Rosalie snarled at him. "Would you like to keep those eyes in your head, brainless? I can remove them for you. No problem." She looked dead serious.
Emmett put on his most innocent expression. "Babe—I'm just sayin'."
Meanwhile, back at the Taj . . .
I had my hands elbow deep in grease and auto innards when I turned to Embry for some advice. "I really did it this time, Embry. I crashed and burned. I don't know if she'll ever speak to me again. And I wouldn't blame her. What the hell was I thinking? I'm such an idiot. Why couldn't I have just left things alone? She would have cooled down, and things could have returned to our pre-fight normal. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't miss her holding and kissing me, tho'. Hand me that washer, will you?"
Embry looked surprised, as he put the washer in my hand "She kissed you?"
"Why are you so shocked? Yes, it actually happened. Quil, tell him."
"Yeah, man, I'm a witness. I couldn't believe my eyes, or my ears. Bella was all over him. The sparks were really flying. No telling what would've happened if I didn't go barging in when I did."
"Thanks to you, the one good chapter of my sorry excuse for a life has been edited from the book. Now, I may never get that chance again."
Rolling his eyes, Embry retorted, "Give it up, already. Your life is such a tragedy. Try living with my mother, then you'll have somethin' to whine about.
"I have to admit, that was a very poetic line, though. Hmmm . . . 'Edited from the book'. I'll have to remember that one. But—at least you had a chapter, my book hasn't even been started yet; it's just a bunch of blank pages."
"Whose fault is that," I countered.
Quil started to complain. "Dammit, if you two don't stop talking like philosophers, I'm leaving. This whole conversation is vomit worthy."
"Okay, Mr. Expert in the female department—what in your worthy opinion would you do in this case." I placed the washer in position and tightened the screw in frustration.
"Just forget about her. That's what I'd do. There are plenty of chicks out there just waiting for a booty call. And let me tell you, I know for a fact that some of them have got their booties anxiously waiting on you. So stop moanin' like a lovesick cow."
I sooo wanted to belt him—right then and there. "You know, Quil, I can't be like you. If a booty call was the only thing I was lookin' for, then I could forget about her. But that's not the problem. I'm in love with Bella; don't you get it? Probably not . . .
I'm surprised you can even tell one girl from another. It's like you've placed a paper bag over each girl's head; they're all the same to you. Someday, Quil, you're gonna fall in love, and when you do, I hope to see you fall headlong into that trench with the rest of us poor slobs."
Quil let out a burst of air, in a jeering fashion. "What a pansy you've turned into. You're a disgrace to the male species."
I whirled around so fast, I nearly knocked Embry over.
He threw his hands up to block me. "Damn, get those greasy hands away from me, Jake. My mom just bought me this shirt. She'll kill me if I get grease all over it."
"Quil and I broke up, laughing. Crap, and I was so looking forward to kickin' Quil's butt.
Embry joined in the laugh fest as he picked up a rag and tossed it at me. "We're getting nowhere fast. I think it's time to turn this problem over to someone who can actually help."
Quil and Embry both looked at each other. "Leah," they echoed.
A/N: What do ya' think? Can Leah help get him out of this mess?