A/N: Okay so… The reason Edward can't go to Stanford with Bella is because he was accepted to Julliard remember? I don't know if ya'll know just how big an honor Julliard is for those in the arts. But it's huge.

Chapter 9

Edward held my hand on the way back as we talked about Julliard, Stanford, and our future. He said that even though it would take a little more effort we would be able to see each other on holidays and breaks. We would spend all of December together for Christmas and New Years. He was confidant everything would work out some way or another.

We came to the clearing to see that a huge spot had been cleared in the middle of the meadow for a bon fire. Emmett and Jake were carrying the huge logs that sat to the side and placed them strategically in a circle. Jonathan and Jasper were collecting various branches and fallen limbs to put in the fire and Alice and Jordan were talking animatedly about the dance. Rose had her focus on her nails and I noticed that Conley, Rachel, and Nancy were nowhere to be seen.

"Come on Edward, help us get some firewood." Jasper urged. "Bella can help too."

I shook my head. "Yeah, make Bella go in the woods to find firewood. Not a smart idea Jazz." I looked around. "I'm going to go help start dinner."

Rose's head popped up. "Me too."

This worked to my advantage. I wanted to know why she was glaring at Rachel anyway. We got a considerable amount of space from the others and I looked to Rose. "So, are you going to clue me in?"

We entered the lodge and I heard soft talking from the kitchen. "Shh." She whispered placing her fingers on her lips. "This could explain better than I can." We walked toward the kitchen silently and hid around the corner. We could still hear the chattering made by the three girls.

"Rachel are you crazy?" Conley asked in a baffled tone.

"I don't know guys." She sighed in defeat.

"Rachel Conley's right. This is Edward. As in Bella's boyfriend Edward. If you like him then you're just going to end up getting hurt." Nancy said.

Shock flooded my body. Rachel liked Edward? What the heck? Of course I couldn't blame her most girls were very attracted to Edward. But Rachel was different Rachel was a friend.

"Well he's the one who walks around shirtless." Rachel sighed in almost a dreamy state now.

"You don't know where he's been Rachel. I'm sure Bella and Edward haven't exactly honored the wait till marriage rule." Nancy said almost jokingly. I wasn't sure if I should take that as just joking or as her being rude. Was she calling me a slut?

Rose's teeth clenched together and her nostrils got big. It was a sign that she was angry. Rose was almost lethal when she was mad. It wasn't like I wouldn't mind her ripping of Rachel's head right now.

Apart of me knew this was wrong though. It wasn't like Edward was going to go for Rachel. Edward loved me and only me. I had absolutely nothing worry about. Hadn't we just promised to always love each other? Pretty much.

I grabbed Rose's arm and pulled her to the kitchen. "Hey everyone." I greeted them looking around.

Conley's expression was peeved while Rachel and Nancy's looked guilty. I noticed that nothing was together yet. "So, what's for dinner tonight?" I asked.

"Banana boats, hot dogs, and smores. We're making them on the bonfire." Rachel said back to her upbeat self.

I nodded. "Okay, so should we get working on the boats?" I asked looking around for bananas.

"That sounds good." Conley agreed. "Bella, Rose, and I will get started on the boats while you get the hotdogs and stuff together."

We started sort of an assembly line. Rose slit the bananas down the center, I stuffed in the marshmallows and chocolate chips, then Conley wrapped them in aluminum foil. We spent the first half of the time in an awkward silence. The tension from before was still there but I tried to be upbeat.

"I say we put on music." Conley broke the silence.

"I'm with you." I slipped in.

Conley walked over to the stereo and flipped the on switch. It must have been the same station as yesterday because a popular song came on. Ironically it was Misery Business by Paramore. I almost burst out laughing at that.

Rose snickered beside me as she continued cutting the bananas. We listened in silence other than the giggles that escaped from everyone when Conley started dancing. I heard the lodge door slam and soon Edward dawned the door.

"Ah, look at all the beautiful women." He said in his flirty voice.

I paid more attention to my surroundings and heard Rachel's quick intake of breath. I rolled my eyes and grabbed some marshmallows and chocolate chips walking over to Edward.

"Hungry?" I asked holding up the sweets.

He took my hand in his and kissed my wrist. "Very." He took the stuff from me and popped them in his mouth. "The girls are getting restless. They're hungry."

I patted his flat stomach. "Are you sure it's not the guys?" I asked knowingly.

He shrugged. "Hey, we're growing boys. We need some food."

I leaned up and pecked him quickly on the lips. "Okay, well we're almost done with the banana boats. Why don't you help Nancy and Rachel carry some of the other stuff out." I suggested.

He pulled me close to his chest and tucked my head under his chin. "How about I watch you." He said grinning.

I couldn't help the satisfaction that crossed my face. I breathed in Edward's scent. It was very manly. I had grown accustom to it. Rose giggled and I shrugged. "Fine." I pulled him over toward where I was working and got to work on the pile of bananas that had accumulated around the bags of chocolate chips and marshmallows.

"So Bella." Edward said after awhile of watching me. "You like touching long wet things?" He asked me suggestively.

My eyes widened and I coughed in disbelief. "Edward." I scolded him.

His arms were around my waist and he nuzzled his nose into my neck. "I love you." He whispered.

I leaned back into his chest. "I love you too. Now behave."

"Yes ma'am." He nodded jumping up onto the table.

Finally we finished the boats. Edward helped us set them on trays and then he carried both of the heavy trays in one hand each. I held the doors for him and followed behind him. He sat the trays on a table that was set up a little ways away from the fire.

"I'll go get the music." Rachel dashed into the lodge too quickly.

"I'll go get the girls." I said and Edward volunteered to go with me.

He grabbed my hand and we walked toward the cabins. He stopped me before we got there and pointed toward the sky as twilight set in. Pink, purple, and orange filled the sky as if giant watercolors had leaked off a paper.

"It's beautiful." I commented.

He held me tightly against his chest. "Yes you are."

I pulled him toward the cabins. "Did you know Rachel has a thing for you?" I asked him suddenly.

I shot a quick glance at him from the corner of my mouth. "Hm, really?" He asked as if amused by the idea.

I nodded. "Yeah, just thought I'd let you know."

We entered the first cabin to find that all the girls had congregated in this cabin. They were gathered in a circle and I noticed they were playing a game. I closed the door quietly behind me and watched curious to what they were playing.

"Truth or dare?" Cassidy asked another girl.

"Truth." The girl answered quickly.

Cassidy's eyebrows furrowed. "Who do you think is the cutest guy here?" She asked.

The girl's eyes lit up. "Edward." She blushed.

I tightened my grip on Edward's hand. "Dinner time girls." I prompted.

They jumped up as if they had done something wrong and headed toward the door. They dove in between, and around Edward and me until they had all fled from the cabin. I pulled Edward out the door and back toward the bonfire that was now raging.

Music was playing and some girls had joined together and were dancing like any second and third grader would. I loved how they were so innocent. They didn't have to worry about what they said, and boys still had cooties.

After eating their dinner the girls split into two groups. Some chose to go down to the pool while others chose to stay and play whatever game Emmett and Jasper had picked. I sat back on the log and watched as Rachel, Nancy, and Conley walked toward the pool with the swimming group. Edward was leading the way.

I watched Jake tend the fire as it started to die down. My eyes grew droppy and I hadn't noticed how tired I actually was. Today had been a long day and I had a summer full of these long days.

"Tired much Bells?" Jake asked smiling his wide grin.

I nodded as he sat down beside me. "Yeah, me too." He yawned pulling me so I was resting against his huge chest.

I loved how I could just lean against Jake and not feel the intimate things that most people would feel when with someone with the opposite sex. Jake was my best friend, my brother.

"So, what's with you and Conley?" I asked innocently.

I could feel his heart skip a beat. "She's great." His husky voice had a hint of pleasure.

I nodded. "She really is." I agreed. "I think Alice is going to try to set you two up."

I felt him shrug his shoulders. "Fine with me."

A slight breeze rustled the leaves in the trees causing me to shiver slightly. Jake wrapped his huge arms around me. "You amaze me Bells." He said in a causal tone.

I twisted in his arms. "And why is that?"

He shrugged. "You've come so far. I mean think of last year this time."

I cringed from the painful memory of what I would be doing this time last year. "Cowering away from my mother. Cutting myself." I whispered looking down at the scars on my arms. No matter how many creams and medicines I had put on them it seemed they were always going to be there like a painful memory.

Jake tightened his arms around me. "I'm sorry Bella." He whispered.

I frowned. "For what Jake?"

He looked into my eyes and his dark brown eyes bore into mine. "For not being there. I walked away from you and you were hurt. I should have been there to protect you. I should have been the one there to stop her."

I took Jake's oversized head in my hands. "Listen Jake, you were scared. I was scared. Don't beat yourself up for something that you couldn't help. Please" I pleaded with him.

He broke from my gaze and stared up at the stars that had appeared. It truly was beautiful. Here you could lie back on the ground and count stars by the millions. In Forks doing that would only get you strained eyes and a wet back.

I got the sudden urge to do just that and soundlessly got up and headed toward the counselor's cabin. I pulled out one of the extra blankets I brought and laid it at the edge of the meadow. The screams of girls reverberated through my ears as they played various renditions of tag.

I laid down on the blanket and focused my attention on the stars as I blocked out the world around me. My mind was swimming in thoughts of Stanford, Edward, Rachel, and I couldn't help but wonder who had sent that application.

I soon I felt pressure under my knees and back. My eyes flickered open and I understood when Edward was lifting me into his arms. "You fell asleep love." He explained walking me toward what I assumed was the cabin.

I yawned. "I need to take a shower."

He opened the door and carefully carried me into the dark cabin and sat me on my feet. "Okay, well the rest of the girls are going to make sure the girls get to sleep." He pulled me into his arms and kissed my neck lightly. "I miss you."

I fell sleepily into his arms. "I miss you too."

He moved his kisses up my neck and scattered them along under my jaw. I wrapped my arms around his neck urging him to continue. He brought his kisses up my face to the edge of my mouth. I felt his tongue flick out as he tasted my skin.

"Bella?" Rachel's voice came from outside the cabin and soon she appeared in the door as Edward's unrelenting persistence started to travel from my lips back down to my neck.

"Oh." She gasped. "Sorry." She turned on her heel and headed back out the door.

Edward ignored her and I pushed him away lightly. "I really need to got a shower Edward."

He trailed his kisses down my neck and across to my shoulder. "I can help you with that."

I pushed him away a little harder. "Edward, be reasonable. We're at a summer camp."

He groaned and finally pulled away. "Fine." He grumbled.

I took his hand in mine and kissed it quickly. "Just not now okay?" I pleaded with him. I had too much on my mind to think about Edward's hormones.

RPOV (Rachel)

I couldn't help the smile on my face when Conley told me I was on pool duty with both her and Nancy. Not only did this mean I wouldn't have to worry with Rosalie's horrid attitude I would also be able to see Edward without a shirt. Better yet, Bella wouldn't be there to witness my unrelenting gawking.

"Are you getting in?" Conley asked as she pulled off her shorts and shirt to reveal her rainbow stripped bikini.

I nodded. "Sure."

I started to wonder what had gotten into me. I knew that Edward was with Bella and I knew that he really loved her. That meant that Edward would never be interested in me. Why did I always get myself into these situations?

I slipped into the pool and watched as the girls laughed and giggled as they played marco polo. I looked up at Edward and saw that he was watching me with a contemplative look on his face. I wondered if Rose had told him of my little infatuation. I blushed and looked back at Nancy and Conley who were discussing music.

"I love that song." Conley grinned.

"I believe the world is burning to the ground." She sang the words to a song I didn't know. I was raised in a Christian home, as was Conley. The only difference was that Conley went through a rebellious stage and she started listening to music that her parents would never approve of. The she "corrupted" me as she puts it.

Nance nodded. "Yeah I'll have to look that up."

Conley nodded satisfied and leaned back against the side of the pools as she kicked her feet. I let my mind drift back to Edward and what I was going to do. He was probably the perfect guy but he wasn't for me. He was for Bella. Maybe I should join a convent.

The time flew by and before I knew it I was up and drying myself off with the towel. I slipped on my shoes and went around making sure the girls had all their clothes.

"Give me back my shoe!" A little girl with strawberry blonde hair screamed.

"Oh, there's no need to yell sweetie." I tried to calm down the girls.

"Yes there is." She shot back with a shrill scream. "She stole my shoe."

The other little girl chucked the shoe at her and it hit her smack dab in the head. That would leave a bruise.

"Ow! My mommy's gonna sue your butt." The blonde screamed.

"You got your shoe back didn't you?" The girl asked her. "You're such a brat."

With that they both stormed out of the pool area yelling at each other. I shook my head with disbelief and I heard a low chuckle from behind me. I turned to see Edward watching me with a curious expression on his face.

"The joys of little kids." He laughed swinging his towel around his neck.

I nodded. "Yeah." I grabbed my towel and walked outside the gate. He turned to lock up the pool and then he was back at my side.

"It's a pretty night out tonight." He commented while watching the sky. The other girls were ahead of us singing some camp song.

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, welcome to North Carolina."

He sighed. "We never get stars like these in Forks. Well at least they're usually hidden."

I frowned. "This is one of the reasons I'm dreading New York."

Edward's face turned surprised. "Oh yeah, Conley told me you were going up to New York to work."

I nodded. "Yup, that's the plan."

He grinned. "Gonna pull a Coyote Ugly?" He asked me in a joking tone.

I shrugged. "Who knows."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Well I won't have Bella. I'm going to try to get her to take the scholarship. It would be good for her."

"Well if you need a date when you get discovered then you know who to call." I said trying to lighten the mood. There was no need for him to know that's what I truly hoped for.

"I'll keep that in mind." He chuckled.

I nodded. "Yeah, you know Conley would love that."

We entered the clearing and suddenly his mind wasn't in our conversation. He scanned the dark for no doubt Bella. Jake approached us. "Bella went toward the cabin Edward." He turned toward me. "Conley wanted to see you."

We parted in separate directions as he hurriedly headed toward the counselor cabins. I headed toward the girl's cabins and stepped into the first cabin. Girls were running around screaming in a full-blown pillow fight. Conley and Alice were in the middle of it borrowing some poor girl's pillow.

"Rachel." Conley gasped smacking a girl lightly in the head. "Find." She blurted out when Alice smacked her in the back of the head. "Bella." She finished as she ducked and smacked Alice in her stomach.

I laughed and headed out to find Bella. Sure, of all people to go get Bella she had to choose me. I wasn't really eager to find her so I took my time crossing the dark clearing. The ashes of the fire still burned and the rest of the guys were sitting around it, minus Edward.

I traveled up the cabin steps and I didn't hear anything so I called out her name before entering. "Bella?"

I hesitantly opened the cabin door and caught an intimate display between Bella and Edward. Her hands were wrapped in his hair and he had her pulled close to him as he showered her neck and jaw with feverish kisses. I couldn't believe this was the guy who I just had a conversation with.

"Oh, sorry." I tried to mask the hurt in my voice with surprise. I turned around and ran back down the stairs letting the door slam behind me.

He was the perfect guy, yet I wasn't that girl. I didn't know where I was going to go but I wanted to go some place where I could cry and get away with it. I felt the emotions build up inside of me and I tried to suppress the feeling of hurt. He had her he didn't want me.

I headed toward the parking lot and quickly pulled the spare key from behind my licenses plate. I opened the back door and crawled in locking the door behind me. I vaguely remember pulling on my clothes as I let my mind wander into the depths of rejection.

A/N: Another long chapter. Sorry it's so late I've just been a little preoccupied. (cough cough Habbo lol.) Um also it's snowing! Woo hoo we haven't had a real snow in like five years here! I'm happy.

Rachel's POV… I hope you liked it. I based Rachel's feelings on any girl who has been rejected. I mean seriously, it's Edward. How could you not fall in love with him? Wouldn't you have the same reaction if you knew Edward and he had Bella and not you? Trust me, this little infatuation will play into the next story in this three story thingamabob.

PS. I told my friend Rachel that she was in my story and that no one was gonna like her after his story. She said "Hey, don't make me the bad guy."

I laughed and told her that there was no possible way for her to be the good guy. "You love Edward, you're not Bella. Point blank!"

Review!

Kayla