BELLAS P.O.V

My body was getting warmer, and a tingling sensation coursed through my body. I suddenly realized how this could look to anyone watching and turned to see if I could still see Edward. The other Cullens were back to what they were doing, but I couldn't see him.

"Are you looking for Edward?" asked Emmett. I nodded, making sure I didn't look at him. I felt that if I did, I'd become lost again. I had to admit to myself that something was happening; and I knew exactly what it was.

I was becoming attracted to him, like a fly becomes attracted to a light, or a prey to its predator. What I didn't understand was why I had never felt this before around him. Why Emmett? Why now? After the past two years of seeing him as brother, all of the sudden he was hypnotizing to me. Did vampires have an ability to do it on purpose? Was it a power they had? And if they did, why was Emmett doing it to me?

"He's on his way over here. I think he thinks you're hurt."

"Why would he think that?" I said simply, staring out to the water.

"I was thinking about how sorry I am," he replied quietly.

"Sorry for what?" I was curious but still turned away from him.

"Bella…could you please look at me?"

EMMETT'S P.O.V

Great. Now Edward thinks she's hurt. I'm going to have to watch my thoughts again more than ever, especially now.

"Are you looking for Edward?" I asked, trying to hide my disappointment. Bella looked over to where the others were and nodded. I could see Edward swimming over to where we were. At his speed, he would be here soon.

"He's on his way over here. I think he thinks you're hurt."

"Why would he think that?" she said, not looking at me. I hated when people didn't look at my face when they spoke to me. It made me feel as though they weren't interested in what I had to say. And I wanted her to be interested in paying attention to me.

"I was thinking about how sorry I am." I said, trying to make the most of this interaction. Who knew when I would be able to get this close to her again?

"Sorry for what?" she asked.

"Bella… could you please look at me?"

She finally turned to me. Edward was closer now; I had to be quick.

"For earlier. Please forgive me," I pleaded

"I…" she said, almost choking it out.

"I'll make it up to you…I promise. I just want things to be okay for you again," I insisted.

She paused before saying, "Okay. But can we talk about it some other time? When I'm not so prone to drowning?" she attempted to joke.

"Of course," I said, relieved. And then our time was up.

"HEY THERE, EDWARD!" I said. Bella turned and smiled at him. Edward rushed over to her and grabbed her face.

"Are you okay?" he asked, scared, and looked at me.

"Edward, I'm fine." she said laughing, to prove that she really was. "I'm okay."

Edward looked at me in confusion. "Then why were you thinking you were sorry? I heard you. I heard your thoughts."

Bella laughed as she let go of me and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"He was just apologizing for scaring me earlier. That's all." She kissed his cheek to reassure him. After having her so close to me, I fet a twinge of jealousy at her being so close to him. I nodded.

"Yeah...so how about it, Bells? Do you forgive me?" She rolled her eyes and gave me a cheerful smile.

"Of course I do! You're like my brother, I can't be mad at you."

Brother? I thought. Was that all she thought of me? My heart dropped, and I knew I had to be careful and continue shielding my thoughts against Edward.

"Good! Well, I'll catch up to you guys later. I have a race to win against Jas." I turned and swam away.

BELLA'S P.O.V

"Bella, I'm sorry too," said Edward. Geez, another apology? Today is the day of forgiveness on Esme Island, I thought. I might as well join in.

"No, I'm sorry, Edward. I overreacted." Edward ran his hand through my hair.

"I thought about what you said and...are you sure? Do you really want to do this?" he asked me. My heart began racing. Was he serious?

"YES! Of course!" I said, and hugged him hard. He caressed the back of my head for a few seconds and pulled away to look at me.

"Okay," he said. "BUT...not today."

"TOMORROW!" I asked, excited. I could feel myself wanting him at this very moment.

"Soon," he smirked.

"Oh, Edward. You don't know how happy I am right now ." I pressed against him again.

"I would do anything for you, Bella, if I knew it would make you safe and happy," he whispered. "Now,come on, lets go help Alice and Carlisle. They're building a sand castle."

"They're still working on it?" I asked.

"You must have seen the small model. They want to build a life-size one, where we can actually walk inside. Of course, it's not going to be as big as a house or have more then one floor. Still, they'll be there for a while." He turned around so he could pick me up onto his back. "Hold on tight."

I wrapped my arms around his neck, and wrapped my legs around his torso.

"That sounds amazing."

EMMETT'S P.O.V

I pushed through the water as easily as though I were running on land. With one last push I touched the rock that marked the finish line. Jasper followed close behind.

"WOOOOOOOO!" I howled, victorious.

"YOU CHEATED!" Jasper yelled.

"No, I didn't! It's not my fault your arms are shrimpy," I laughed.

"Well, not all of us want to look like…a beast!" he joked. I laughed and flexed, kissing my arms.

"All natural, bro." We rested against the rock, moving our legs to stay afloat.

"So how are things with Rosalie going?" Jasper asked, scratching his shoulder. I sighed.

"Like always. You know how she is. One minute we're fine, the next minute I don't, you know, get any for a couple of months."

"Ouch," he said.

"Yeah, but we worked things out earlier. Let's see how long that lasts."

We rested in silence for a few minutes, and then Jasper turned to face me and patted my shoulder in a way that would have broken a human arm.

"Em, have you ever wondered if there's someone else out there for everyone?" he asked me seriously. I could feel my eyebrows knit together as my confusion answered him. "I mean, don't get me wrong. I love Alice, like I'm sure you love Rosalie, and Edward loves Bella. But…have you ever wondered, what if?"

"Uh, is there something you'd like to tell me, Jas?" I asked. He pulled his hand away and ran his hand through his hair.

"Before I ever even met Alice…" he began. I nodded to show him I was listening. "While I was in that Army one of our…generals, if you could call him that, had a daughter. She was gorgeous, inside and out. She even took care of me during my phase change. Needless to say, I fell in love with her." He silently gazed out over the water, and I let him have his moment, assuming he was remembering a memory of her. He broke the silence.

"But she was killed." I stayed quiet; I didn't want to push him and ask too many questions. "And then I met Alice. Don't get me wrong, I love her. But I always wondered what could have happened if Eve and I had lasted."

We were silent once again. Jasper nodded and looked at me. I nodded in reply and patted his back. Neither of us needed to say anything; we both knew this was a conversation we would keep between us. Silently, we both swam back to shore.