Disclaimer: I might not own Twilight, but this plot is definitely mine.


Chapter 2: August & Everything After

Bella giggled loudly as the wind whipped through her hair. It was a beautiful August day and the park was filled with people. The air was permeated with the sounds of children laughing and playing, running through the billowing grass as they enjoyed the last days of summer. Vacation was nearly over; most schools in the city would resume classes within the next week. James stood behind Bella, pushing her in the swing, and smiling brightly at her childish shrieks of joy. A wide grin stretched across her face, her cheeks were flushed, and her nose was tinged pink from the hot summer sun.

It was a rare day off from the ice cream shop for Bella and she'd chosen to spend it with James. She'd been working feverishly these past few weeks, knowing her hours would decrease significantly once classes started back. She'd only be able to work on the weekends when that occurred. Her job would completely disappear in a couple of months, once the summer season was officially over.

Bella had saved most of the money she'd earned through her summer job. Though she vehemently protested, James rarely allowed her to pay for anything when they were out together. He insisted that she save her earnings, arguing that it made more sense for him to pay for things. His family was from "old money" and he'd gained access to a portion of his trust fund when he turned eighteen.

Given this opportunity, Bella squirreled her money away, hiding it in an old tube sock that she kept buried deep within her closet. The amount was meager, but anything would be helpful next fall when she entered college. She knew that Renee had no money saved and no imminent plans to help pay her college tuition. Charlie had been attempting to save some cash as Bella had gotten older, but a police chief's salary in a small town wasn't much to work with. He had recently spent a large chunk of what he'd saved on a new roof and gutters for his modest home. She knew he felt guilty about this, but she never expected to put her needs before his own. She'd learned that lesson from Renee.

Excitement coursed through Bella's veins when she thought about college. She knew it was probably a long shot, but she dreamed of going to Dartmouth. She had already downloaded the applications from their website, taking her time to complete the required essays. She hoped that she could wow the selection committee with her writing skills, near-perfect grades, and above-average SAT scores. It was still early to apply, but Bella had sent her application in a few days ago, hoping for early decision admission. If she was accepted early, she would get a decision in December. Otherwise, she'd have to wait until February. She'd been filling out applications to her back-up schools as well, but those didn't elicit the same excitement as Dartmouth.

Bella's stomach rumbled loudly, causing James to expel a boisterous belly laugh. Her pink cheeks darkened to red in embarrassment. Once his laughing fit subsided, James grabbed the chains on the swing, pulling Bella to a complete stop. Moving to face her, he gave her a quick, chaste peck on the lips before grabbing her hand.

"Come on," he said as he dragged her towards the blanket he'd spread out in the grass. James opened a large basket and began to unload typical picnic fare—things like sandwiches, sliced fruit, and potato salad. Once the basket was unloaded, they both dished up a plate of favorites and dug in. As Bella ate, she found herself watching James intently, thinking about the time they'd spent together. In the month that had passed since he had first driven her home from work—and they shared their first kiss—he'd become a constant presence in her life.

Once James had found out that Bella walked or took the bus to work, he appointed himself as her personal chauffeur, shuttling her to and from work, as well as any other place she needed to go. For the first week, Bella was unsure of his intentions. Though he'd kissed her that first day, their physical contact since then had been limited. He would often hold her hand or throw his arm around her shoulders, but he made no attempt to kiss her again. She began to worry, wondering if he viewed the kiss as a mistake and only wanted to be friends now. What if she was a horrible kisser and he simply wanted to forget the experience entirely?

Her fears were soon replaced with excitement and nervousness. When she'd expressed happiness over an upcoming day off, James had quickly asked her to spend the day with him. Since her initial plans included laundry and vacuuming, she quickly agreed. When he'd dropped her off at her apartment that evening, he'd walked her to the door and given her a second kiss, this one infinitely better than the first. It definitely wasn't like the chaste kiss they'd shared in his truck and it made her stomach tingle with an excitement she'd never felt before.

Their day together—she supposed it counted as their first date—had been spent at the beach. Bella coated herself in SPF 80 sunscreen, planning to lounge on a towel and read while James surfed. She'd barely made it through one chapter before he was back out of the water, standing over her and dripping water onto her book. He hadn't said a word, simply grabbed her hand and started dragging her towards the water.

Bella felt self-conscious as she pulled off her knit dress. She gazed at the girls around her, all clad in barely-there bikinis that showed off their tightly toned bodies. Her pale skin and modest tankini made her feel matronly and middle-aged, especially standing next to James. His bright red board shorts perfectly accented his deep tan and washboard abs. Bella briefly wondered, not for the first time, what he saw in a girl like her.

After some time spent giggling and splashing around in the salty water, James had tried to coax Bella onto a surfboard, hearkening back to their very first conversation. She vehemently refused, but a muttered "please" and a pouty lip somehow resulted in her lying on a bodyboard as waves crashed all around her. James stood waist-deep in the water, shouting encouragements at her retreating form. She soon realized that he never had any intention of putting her on a surfboard, simply using it as a diversionary tactic to get her to agree to this much simpler form of wave riding.

The pair didn't venture far out into the water and James stayed close by her side. He attempted to teach her proper technique, but settled on teaching her how to stay on the board. Bella actually had fun as she rode the waves in to the shore—well, not real waves, but more like giant ripples.

That day had been the first of many dates to come. James wanted to explore the city with Bella, interspersing his love of athletic and outdoorsy activities with more Bella-friendly endeavors. He took her to the movies, forcing her to sit through an action flick that she deemed "horrendous and unwatchable." In retaliation, she dragged him to an old theater, forcing him to sit through two foreign films on a Saturday afternoon. He complained about wasting the day in a musty theater. They spent more time at the beach, visited local museums, and sampled various types of cuisine at some of Jacksonville's best restaurants. Bella discovered a love of sushi, though James wasn't particularly a fan. He preferred to dine at a cheap, hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant that he claimed as his favorite. He took her to a park to play Frisbee golf, which ended with a scraped knee and a bump on her forehead.

Though they had a lot of fun when they were out doing things together, it was when they were alone that Bella became unsure. The physical aspects of their relationship progressed with hesitation and trepidation on her part. James had been with other girls—many other girls—and that only compounded Bella's nervousness. She feared that she wouldn't measure up, that she wouldn't be good enough for James. She already knew she didn't have the experience or boldness those girls possessed. The situation was becoming increasingly confusing, especially since she had no girlfriends to confide in or get advice from. She most certainly couldn't talk to Renee!

James told her that he was content to move at her pace, but she feared that those words were not indicative of his true feelings. When they were alone, he seemed to constantly be trying to push her boundaries, trying to blur the lines she'd set. Innocent kisses quickly escalated into heated fumbling and groping, but Bella just didn't feel ready. After several failed attempts on James' part, she eventually allowed his hands to venture beneath her shirt. She knew that this was supposed to be an enjoyable experience, yet she could never relax enough to immerse herself in his touch.

Bella would just sit there stiffly, arms hanging tightly at her sides. James would usually try for a bit to loosen her up, but it never seemed to work. Eventually he would huff and pull away, which would lead to profuse apologizing on her end. She felt so silly. Weren't teenage girls supposed to enjoy this kind of thing? Was there something wrong with her?

Deep down, Bella knew what the problem was, yet she tried to keep those feelings buried. Though she initially felt a fluttering sensation in the pit of her stomach when she was with James, those feelings had soon faded. James was attractive and most girls would do anything to get his attention. The problem was that Bella wasn't sure if she wanted it, at least not in a romantic or sexual way.

Over the course of their relationship, Bella had come to think of him more as a friend than anything else. She loved spending time with him, but she felt nothing for him beyond that. There were no longer any sparks or butterflies. But he was her only friend in Jacksonville and she was terrified to lose him. She was so dependent upon him and she knew that he cared about her. She didn't want to disappoint him.

~ o ~

"So, my parent's are having a sort of end-of-summer party this weekend, and I was wondering if you'd like to come…as my date?"

Bella looked at James; his expression seemed almost hesitant and nervous. She felt her own stomach knot, already feeling overwhelmed with the idea of meeting his parents. Sure, he'd already met Renee, but only because they'd bumped into her at the apartment. She just happened to pop in when James was visiting. The introduction was casual and brief. Renee said hello, grabbed some clean clothes, and was off again. They'd crossed paths with her several other times since then, but it was never a big deal.

Meeting James' parents was a big deal. James spoke often of his family, though the things he had to say weren't always pleasant. His father was a well-known state senator, a powerful political figure in the state of Florida. She'd heard rumors about him seeking a national office in the near future. James' mother, a former beauty queen, also came from an affluent family. Their names and faces were often splashed on the pages of the local newspapers, usually in the society pages.

Bella's world was so far removed from that. Her mother had barely finished high school and her father was a small town police officer. Neither had gone to college and Renee was barely floating above the poverty line. The differences were like night and day. She simply didn't belong in James' world.

Bella chewed on her lip, weighing the pros and cons in her head. She wanted to do this for James. It had to be important or he wouldn't have asked. On the other hand, she knew she wouldn't fit in with any of the people there. James was so different from those types of people; he hated the lifestyle his parents lived and struggled against conforming to who they wanted him to be. It was a huge source of contention between them and he often vented those frustrations to Bella. His strong aversion to their lifestyle was one of the things that made him like Bella so much. She was so down to earth and unpretentious, completely unlike the debutantes his mother was always shoving in his face.

"You don't have to, but it would make me happy if you did. It's just a casual backyard barbecue. No pressure," he stated with a smile.

When Bella looked up and saw the pleading look in his eyes, she did the only thing she could.

"I'll do it."

~o~

Bella stood near the swimming pool, clutching a soda, and trying to remain innocuous. She scoffed as she stared down at the three dollar flip flops on her feet, feeling equally embarrassed by the twelve dollar dress she wore, an item she'd picked up on clearance at Old Navy. James had told her this would be a casual backyard barbecue; obviously their ideas of casual were vastly different.

There were people milling about the Harris' expansive backyard, sipping on cocktails and snacking on the finger foods the wait staff carried around. Most of the women were wearing heels, the men in slacks and oxford shirts. She even thought she saw a few dresses adorned with beads and sequins.

The impressive backyard had been transformed, looking more like something out of a movie than real life. There were white tents in one area, thin enough to see the stars through their fabric. A DJ was stationed in the corner, playing music as people danced on the dark wood floor that had been put down over the grass. There were many tables, each decorated impressively with crisp white linens and large centerpieces filled with boldly-colored summer flowers. Twinkle lights hung high in the trees and candles floated in the pool, giving the area an ambient glow.

In addition to the food being carried around by the waiters and waitresses, there was also a buffet and an open bar. Ice sculptures rose from the tables, including a beautiful and elegant swan. It was one of the few items that made Bella smile. She'd been angry for most of the day, a permanent scowl etched upon her face. She didn't want to come to this party, yet she had done so for James—and he was nowhere to be found.

James had planned to come by the apartment to pick her up earlier in the evening. She silently cursed him, knowing that he would have been able to advise her to change her clothes if that had happened. Instead he'd called at the last minute, saying that his mother needed his assistance and telling Bella he'd send a cab to fetch her. Already feeling nervous and on edge, she had argued with him, saying she'd just take the city bus. He huffed and sighed into the phone, obviously growing annoyed with her. Hearing the frustration in his voice, she had relented and accepted the cab, not wanting to upset him any further.

Once she arrived at the mansion—there really was no other word to describe it—she'd wandered out into the backyard, frantically searching for James. There were tons of people already there, none of which she knew. After doing a couple laps around the space and not finding him, she'd grabbed a soda and stationed herself near the pool. It seemed to give her the best vantage point of the entire area.

Standing there, Bella felt as though someone was watching her. Looking up, she saw two girls on the other side of the pool. They were staring directly at her, giggling and whispering to one another. She knew without a doubt that they were talking about her, probably wondering how someone so far beneath their social class had ended up here. Both girls were wearing satiny cocktail dresses and strappy heels, their hair pulled into elegant up-dos, with pristine make-up and expensive-looking jewelry. Bella sighed and dropped her head, shuffling away from the pool.

Just as she felt the tears pricking her eyes, she heard someone call her name.

"Bella!" She turned quickly, immediately recognizing the voice. James was jogging towards her, his arm flailing about in an effort to get her attention.

"I'm so sorry, Bella. I didn't realize how long I'd gotten held up. There were some people that my parents wanted to introduce me to. I'm sorry I kept you waiting."

Bella gave him a reluctant smile as he reached forward, pulling her into his chest. She sank into his embrace, trying to will away the disappointment the evening had brought her way. He gently rubbed up and down her back, then grabbed her hand and led her to a more secluded area of the yard. He led them to a bench nestled into the bushes, just slightly off of the stone walkway.

Once they were seated, James apologized a second time, filling Bella in on his evening so far. He'd been arguing with his mother for most of the day, though he skirted around why there was hostility between the two. Angry with him, his mother had proceeded to make his day hell, forcing him to assist her in setting up for the party. This was why he hadn't been able to pick Bella up.

When the party had gotten underway, James planned to wait in front of the house, but his mother once again demanded his attention. She'd spent the evening introducing him to some prominent families, wanting him to get acquainted with new friends. He'd followed his mother from group to group, gazing around the yard and hoping to spot her. After an hour or so, he'd finally been able to drag himself away from his mother, making an excuse about needing to use the restroom. In actuality, he knew he needed to find Bella.

Bella was relieved by his explanation, having feared that he was intentionally blowing her off. Little did Bella know, however, that James was not being entirely truthful. Wanting to spare her feelings, he'd left out many details, including the reason he had been fighting with his mother.

~ o ~

Jane Harris was the quintessential trophy wife, a vain social climber that cared more about position and wealth than anything else, including the feelings of her son. Jane had known James was seeing someone, obviously not someone from their social set. Had he been dating someone she would have approved of, he would have brought her to meet the family much sooner. As it was, however, he had avoided any questions about his girlfriend, a plain little girl named Isabella.

At first, Jane was content to let this little indiscretion slide. She assumed that the relationship was nothing more than a harmless summer fling, the result of a young man simply wanting to let loose. As she questioned James more and more about Isabella, she began to grow concerned, so concerned that she shared her thoughts with her husband, Marcus. They both agreed that they could not allow James to make such a colossal mistake, throwing his life away for some girl that possessed nothing of value—no wealth, no power, no status…no nothing.

Quickly coming up with a plan, Jane pressured James to bring Bella to their end of summer party. She knew that the girl would feel insecure and out of place. This would be the first step to causing problems in their relationship. They were both so young and naïve. She knew it wouldn't take much, just a couple of pushes in the right direction. Next, she made sure that Bella would be forced to arrive alone, wanting to further isolate her. Then, she spent the first part of the party parading James around, introducing him to families with daughters close to his age. It was imperative the he develop an interest in someone else. It might not happen tonight, but she would keep pushing the issue.

Jane had no doubt that with just a bit of interference on her part, James' relationship with Isabella would shortly meet its end. After that, she could concentrate on getting him to college where he belonged, and into a relationship with a suitable mate. Their image as a perfect family would need to continue if Marcus was going to seek national office soon.

~ o ~

Wanting to make Bella feel less insecure about her clothing choice, James had shed his tie and rolled his sleeves up past his elbows. He'd offered to go inside and change into shorts and flip flops, but Bella had insisted that might be overkill. They'd sat on the secluded bench for nearly an hour, talking, laughing, and kissing. Bella felt much more comfortable in his presence, especially after her anxiety over the situation had been resolved.

"Do you want to get out of here?" James asked. "I've had my fill of these stuffy people."

"Sure," Bella replied, anxious to get away from the party as well.

James held her hand, leading her from their secluded spot toward the garage. Unfortunately, they would have to venture through the throngs of people in the yard to make their escape. James hoped they could escape undeterred, especially wanting to avoid his parents. Just as they made it to the edge of the yard and to the back entrance of the house, James heard the shrill voice of his mother, beckoning him to come back.

The next ten minutes would be some of the most mortifying of Bella's life. James' mother, Jane, had sneered at her from the moment she walked up. She spoke sweetly to James, extolling his virtues and accomplishments to the crowd gathered around her. When she addressed Bella, however, it was almost as if she had a secret power—one that allowed her to see right into Bella's soul, to find the things that would be the most uncomfortable for her to speak about.

Bella felt her face flush crimson as Jane looked her up and down, turning up her nose and scoffing in disgust. She questioned Bella relentlessly, seemingly disgusted by her answers. She made jokes about Bella's clothing, making the people around her laugh. When she learned Bella came from a divorced family, she talked about how important it was for families to stay together no matter what. The final straw was when she asked about Bella's mother, stating that she knew another family that needed a maid and wondered if Bella's mother would be interested.

So caught up in her own embarrassment, Bella hadn't noticed the glaring looks James was giving his mother. Finally, he had endured enough, feeling like a complete jackass for forcing Bella to endure this for so long. He made their excuses and shuffled her away.

They rode in silence towards Bella's apartment. She could see the tension in James neck, his muscles stretched so tight that a vein in his neck was protruding. The tension was also evident in his arms and his knuckles gripped the wheel so tightly that his knuckles were white. She wanted console him, but she wasn't sure what was the right thing to say. Finally, halfway to their destination, he exhaled a long breath and smacked the dashboard with the butt of his hand.

"Fuck!" he screamed. "Why does she think she can treat people that way? Such a goddamn snob."

Bella flinched at the profanities, never having heard James speak in such a manner, especially about his own mother.

"I'm sure she didn't really mean it," Bella answered, trying to make him feel better.

"Don't defend her, Bella! She treated you like a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of her shoe." Bella blanched as he shouted at her, knowing he was simply venting his frustrations. It still hurt to be spoken to in that manner, especially after the chastisement his mother had given her.

When they pulled into the parking lot of her apartment building, Bella bolted from the truck. James followed quickly behind her, calling for her to wait. His pleas fell on deaf ears as she tried to control the tears that threatened to seep from her eyes. She'd done so much crying since moving to Jacksonville. She'd thought James was the answer to her prayers, the one person that could pull her out of her depression. Now, she just wasn't so sure.

~ o ~

A/N: A day late and a dollar short? Sorry for already getting behind on my posting schedule. The New Year's holiday got me all messed up. I hope everyone had an excellent time ringing in the New Year.

Much thanks, as always, to my beta lislar. She was super fast getting this one back to me, making sure I didn't fall too far behind. Go and check out her stories!

This week's fic recs: The Live in Position by Saewod (a new obsession) and My Escort by Bratty-Vamp.