Alice and I stood clutching in the terminal with Jasper looking like idiots. I held balloons in one hand and Alice's hand in the other. Rosalie and Emmett were returning today from their honey moon. We watched as their plane taxied onto the runway. My calves protested as I stretched up on my toes again to see the door they would emerge from. Alice was useless when it comes to seeing over crowds so I was using my slight height advantage and still failing miserably.
"Can you see anything?" Alice strained trying to see over the hordes of people. "I swear, I think every basketball player known to man is here today. Where are the short old women I can tower over?" Alice pouted.
"Alice, would you like to sit on my shoulders?" Jasper asked lightly. His eyes were laughing but he was completely serious despite his nice suit. I was pretty sure it was Italian made, but Jasper would do anything for Alice.
"No, that might be a bit over board since I am wearing a dress and all. You can stand next to me while I climb on that bench though." She slid through the throng easily releasing my fingers. Jasper rolled his eyes at me but followed. I frowned slightly at my predicament. I could no longer see Alice and Jasper so I was standing completely alone. I had a bunch of pastel balloons in one hand. I was that child lost at the theme park clutching a Big Bird balloon. I blushed as I noticed how many people were giving me strange looks. Hopefully I don't look like a Unabomber.
The crowd thinned slightly as the nearby baggage claim was cleared. I could see snippets of Alice and Jasper. She stood on a bench balancing on her toes while Jasper had his arm around her waist to keep her steady. She looked down at him and said something. His response gave her a wolfish grin.
My stomach clenched to see how happy they were together. Love oozed from their very pores. I had finished my first letter to Edward after much revision but I hadn't mailed it. It sat in a nondescript envelope on my kitchen table mocking me. The emotions Edward drew out of me made me nervous. I have never felt so strongly about someone before. I convinced myself after a week without communication that I was better off. I tried to move on but he had a hold on me that was being stubborn. It boggled my mind.
I looked back at Alice and Jasper as they kissed softly. My heart ached.
"Jeez Jazz, get a room will ya?" Emmett boomed. He was wearing a horrendous tropical print shirt and Bermuda shorts. He was burned to a crisp except for a few peculiar lines. His shirt was pink, yellow, and blue mixed to a cacophony of color. Rose stood beside him looking as beautiful as ever. She wore a white halter dress displaying a gorgeous tan. They didn't notice me yet but I began to fight my way through the crowd.
"Are you upset by the public show of affection, or the fact that I am your sister?" Alice asked as she was hefted up.
Emmett grabbed Jasper and Alice in a bear hug. When he released them Rose stepped forward to kiss Jasper's cheek and hug Alice. I broke though the crowd and Emmett burst into laughter.
"Both. There you are Bella. I thought you had forgotten about us! Are those for me?" He picked me up with one arm and hugged me while extracting the balloons from my grasp. Rose watched bemused. All Emmett would need now were Mickey Mouse Ears and he could be a mousketeer. I hugged him back. He dropped me back to my feet so I could hug Rose.
She smelled of vanilla. When I was released again she took Emmett's free hand in hers as if he would wander away, which sadly is a very real possibility.
"Hey guys! How was your trip?" I smiled hugely. It felt true happiness at seeing them again. They had been gone for two weeks.
"It was fantastic." Rose smiled hugely at Emmett. A knowing look crossed between them.
"Yeah, except for your little prank." Emmett gave her a pointed look. Her return glance was completely innocent.
"What are you talking about?" Jasper inquired. His arm hung around Alice's shoulders as we circled around to hear the story.
"Well there we were, on a beautiful beach. White fine sand, cool blue water, hot babes in bikinis," Rose slapped him and he grinned, "anyway. There we were. After a blissful night as a married couple," their fingers wove together, "we decide to just relax in the sun and sip Mai Tai's for the day. Then unbeknownst to me, an evil plan forms in Rosalie's mind. Normally I'm up for anything this girl dishes, but this was just plain mean." He scowled playfully.
"Get on with it already." Rose rolled her eyes.
"Well, we are lounging in beach chairs for a minute before I decide, I don't want to get skin cancer so I say 'Hey babe, we got any sun tan lotion?' and my dear wife replied 'Why yes of course man of mine!'" Emmett's impression of Rosalie consisted of an obnoxiously high voice and eye lash flutters. Rose rolled her eyes again. "'Well do you think you could spread some on my back? I don't want to burn from these harmful UV rays.' 'Yes of course snookums!' So I flip over and trust the woman that I love to apply my lotion. I think everything is wonderful. I don't feel like I'm frying and I have a beautiful woman with me."
"Ok, so what went wrong?" Alice interrupted. I peered at Emmett's skin again and suppressed a giggle. I think I figured out what those strange marks were…
"I'm getting to it hold your horses. So we lay in the sun and just relax. By the time dinner rolls around Rosie here is a crisp brown color while I'm red as a tomato. The locals get a kick out of that. They keep offering me ice for my back which was supposed to be protected." Rosalie smirked but was silent. Obviously Emmett couldn't look at his own back and see the truly damage…
"I'm terribly sorry honey. I'll kiss it and make it better." Rose rubbed her lips on his and Emmett seemed to perk up, all crimes cleared.
"I couldn't lie on my back for the entire time. I can finally move properly now. I walked like I had a stick up my butt since the backs of my legs fried too." Emmett snorted at his own misfortune.
"So I'm guessing you were on top?" Jasper asked. At first I thought he was serious but then he flashed a grin. Alice giggled and Rose turned a little pink under her new tan. We found their luggage easily and made our way back to the car. Emmett sat in front with Jasper while Rosalie, Alice, and I sat in back. I sat directly behind Emmett and could no longer contain my curiosity.
"So Em, did you still work out there?" I asked as if his muscles lacked tone.
"Of course. Our hotel had great accommodations." I gave him a skeptical look. "Why?" He seemed a bit self conscious.
"You're back looks funny. Can you take our shirt off for a sec?" we clicked on the overhead light as Emmett unbuttoned his shirt. His broad back still looked painful but there clear as day was a message. It read 'I'm a receiver, call me ;p.' Then his cell number. I burst into laughter and looked at Rose. She had a huge grin on her face as well. Jasper swiveled and studied the writing with Alice. It took them a second to understand the sexual innuendo.
"Dude, I didn't know you batted for the other team." Jasper chuckled and put the car in gear.
"What are you talking about? What's so funny?" Emmett tried to turn his impressive neck to see his back but was unsuccessful. I pulled out my compact mirror and held it so he could read. It took longer since everything was backwards but his face drained of color when he understood.
"Emmy, I'm sorry. It was just too perfect." Rose chuckled into her hand.
"Bullshit! That's why all those gay guys kept coming on to me!? I knew I couldn't have that many 'on' days in a row." He placed his head in his hands trying to wipe away the memories. "Fuck! The guys will see this tomorrow! Rosie how can you do this to me!" He whined when he remembered the group showers after practice and the future jibes he would receive.
"Emmett. Do you remember the night we got engaged?" Rose asked sweetly. Emmett froze and his ears turned redder.
"Yeah." He didn't turn to look at her.
"Do you remember how you proposed to me?"
"Yeah?"
"Oh, so you do recall dressing as a burglar and scaring me half to death? Sitting me down and telling me you only had one question for me and my answer would determine whether I lived or died?" the car was silent waiting for the explosion. I think I saw Jasper shrink slightly closer to the steering column so he wouldn't be attacked and veer off the road.
Emmett's Adam's apple bobbed. "Yeah."
"It's true that question was 'Will you Marry Me' and you revealed yourself, but do you remember what I told you after I said yes?"
"Yes."
"And that was?"
"You would get even."
"Exactly. You can consider this a clean slate now, we are completely even." She leaned forward and bit his bright red ear lobe. "Well at least until tonight."
"Come on people; please keep it in your pants for the car ride." Alice pushed Rosalie back into her seat and they started chatting. I snickered and stared out the window not in the mood for gossip. It was good to have them back.
OOOOOOOoo
I e-mailed my last article to Rosalie. I am officially out of information to write about. I sighed and took a bite of biscotti. It melted in my mouth as I people watched through the front window.
My cell phone vibrated in my pocket and as always I yelp-moaned in response.
"Well, if every beautiful girl I saw sitting in cafés sitting by themselves made that sound as I walked towards them I feel like preliminary conversations are pointless." Craig Morgan slid into the chair across from me. My cheeks flushed.
"Well I hate to burst your ego, but it had nothing to do with you." I smiled tightly and pulled my phone from my pants showing it to him. I had a new text message.
"Whose it from?" He peered around trying to see but I snatched it away.
"It's private." Without Edward here to act as a warning buffer this guy was really getting on my nerves.
"Is it from Edward Cullen?" I gasped at the mention of his name and blushed a little darker. "It is isn't it? I bet he wants you to go meet him for a little rough and tumble, am I right?" I felt disgust and didn't try to disguise it.
"Not that it is any of your business, it is not Edward. Now if you'll excuse me." I shoved my things in my bag and stood to leave. I walked quickly hoping to make a good exit but I was mistaken. Craig stood behind me and starting walking next to me. "Are you following me?" I stopped and glared at him.
"Well, it was more along the lines of walking in the same direction as you. Would you rather I walk behind you and bask in the glow of your incredible ass? I thought I was doing the gentlemanly thing." He shrugged.
"How about you go walk into traffic instead. Find someone else to ogle; I am not in the least bit interested." I turned on my heel and tried to walk away again.
"So are you one of those gold digger types then? Or are you just up for a really good lay, Eddie boy does look like he can keep a girl happy if you know what I'm saying?" He seemed casually interested but I had to stop myself before I screamed.
"How dare you follow me around and make preposterous presumptions about my life when you barely even know me. Who are you to pass judgments? I am neither a gold digger nor a girl just out for a good 'lay' as you so crudely put it. I have morals along with standards and they both are telling me to never speak to you again."
"Why, because I'm not famous?"
"No, because you are a buffoon and entirely off base!" I stamped my foot and walked off again. I didn't look to see if he was following me, I didn't care. He could ogle my ass all he wanted, but he would not get another minute of my time.
I fumed all the way back to my apartment. How dare he make presumptions about my life? I muttered under my breath and occasionally would let out a 'HA!' to scoff at whatever notion I thought of. I scared a few homeless men enough that they did not even ask me for change.
I had completely forgotten about the text message until it beeped out its neglect when I entered my apartment. Maurice was curled up on the couch so I sat next to him. I absentmindedly scratched his tummy as I read the message.
When the stars align, we prefer to dine, on the Adeline. Code word Picasso.
It was from Aro. I was confused by the message. What was Adeline? I called Aro to ask him.
"Hola,"
"Aro? This is Isabella Swan calling…"
"Oh Bella! It's good to hear from you. What can I help you with?"
"I just received your invitation for tonight and I had a question."
"Alright what is it?" I heard female laughter in the background followed by a splash. I guess the pool bunnies live there year round.
"What is 'Adeline'?"
"Oh, I see. Adeline is my yacht. It is tied at Lynnwood Harbor. I'm so sorry for the miscommunication. If you would like, you can arrive at my house early and ride there with my entourage and me. Would you be interested in that?"
"How far away is Lynnwood?"
"It's a bit of a hike." He sounded apologetic.
"I would love to take you up on that offer then." I had been arguing with myself about attending an Aro party for a week straight. I needed more article material despite my fear of seeing Edward. I would just have to look better than normal.
"Splendid. You can arrive around eight. Goodbye darling."
"Bye Aro." I was a bit nervous about being alone with Aro for any length of time. He has always been cordial but something was off kilter, but I didn't know if I would like his entourage either.
I walked over to my closet and peered in. There were slim pickings, but something would have to do.
OOOOOOOOoo
My purple tube dress rode up slightly as I drove to Aro's mansion. Every time I shifted in the seat the material would hitch up a little more. I was not exposing anything, but I most definitely was showing more leg than I was accustomed.
Aro stood at the top of the entry stairs. He was dressed in a navy blue linen shirt and white linen pants. His dark hair expertly tied at the nape of his neck. I carefully stepped out of the car when Demitri the security guard opened my door. I tried not to flash anyone but I thought I saw Demitri grinning as he drove my car away.
"Bella, it's wonderful to see you. You look beautiful!" Aro floated down the stairs as if his feet were not actually touching the marble.
"Thank you Aro. You look very dashing yourself." I smiled as we kissed each other's cheek. Aro held onto my hand and looked me in the eye once we had said hello.
"Tell me what's troubling you." I thought back to our first conversation, about how Aro hated lies. I didn't have the courage to lie but I didn't have the dignity to tell the truth.
"A lot of things right now, but I don't want to weigh down your evening with that boring lot. I came to have fun." I smiled to prove just how much fun I desperately needed to have. He held my hand and led me to a waiting limo. Inside were five beautiful voluptuous blondes giggling away. They obviously had already started drinking. "Do these girls live here? Or just show up to all your parties?"
"Good question," Aro chuckled softly. We sat in the back row by ourselves watching the spectacle before us. "I pay them actually. Sometimes an event just needs someone to be completely free and drunk to loosen everyone else. Also these girls appreciate money, therefore if one of my friends is lonely, he finds a companion for the evening." I tried to suppress my look of revulsion but Aro noticed.
He chuckled again. "I agree, sex for money is quite low. But I never said I followed such practices. I just like to have successful get togethers so I go with what I know works." This did make sense.
"Huh."
"So, did you hear? I was correct about Tanya and Edward." He beamed but still looked calculating.
"I did hear that, from Alice actually, you truly know your stuff."
"Indeed. I thought they would last a bit longer, but I think an outside source accelerated the break." I cocked my head with true curiosity. Was he talking about me? "I think Edward met someone else he liked and it opened his eyes to how much he did not like Tanya."
"Do you have any idea who?" My voice sounded desperate even to me. Perhaps I'll just sound enthralled with the story.
"I have a few guesses, but this is all speculation. I plan on watching him tonight and trying to decide."
"He's coming tonight?" Blood drained from my head.
"I asked him specifically to attend. I got a call from Alice the other day asking me to get him out of his apartment. He knows very well that I would drag him out myself if it came to that. Hopefully I do not have to go to that extreme." I nodded in agreement.
We both watched the bimbos take body shots off one another for the rest of the ride. This was going to be a long night.