Disclaimer: I own everything but their names.
June 18, 2001 – Santa Cruz, California
A few days after we'd arrived, I told Charlie I planned on getting a job. Even though he never asked for much, and insisted he was okay with me taking the summer off before starting college, I liked working. I'd been a cashier at the IGA back in Forks since sophomore year, and I liked knowing I didn't need to depend on Charlie for everything.
The problem was, now that we had moved to this big, unfamiliar city, the possibilities seemed endless. I had no idea what I wanted to do.
Our new house was pretty central to town, within walking distance to a lot of the local tourist spots. The Boardwalk, the wharf, Beach Street. I was sure I'd be able to find something. In total awe of everything, I cruised block after block feeling out of place. Like I'd been dropped into a world full of tan, beautiful people only to be stared at, every boutique and store I approached seemed almost daunting in its cleanliness and 'I'm-too-good-for-you-ness'.
Until I found CC Surf and Skate.
I'm still not sure what drew me in, but once I saw the place, I couldn't seem to turn away.
Situated right across the street from the Boardwalk was this little shop painted a bright funky green. Its windows were colored with sticker after sticker, sporting names like Billabong, Rusty and something called Sex Wax. Which I'll admit made me a little nervous. I actually had to step back and re-read the sign above the door again.
It would have been just my luck to walk into a sex shop looking for a job.
Timidly, I poked my head inside, and then breathed a sigh of relief as I looked around. Surfboards (not sex toys) in every color of the rainbow decorated the walls. A bunch of young guys were huddled on a worn leather couch near the back, their eyes glued to something on a television opposite them. Two older women stood at a rack in the middle of the store throwing hangers around and chatting. Glass counters lined the walls up front, filled with sunglasses, jewelry and skateboards.
One of the kids in the back stood up, shushing the other boys before he came in my direction. "Yo, can I help you?" he asked.
I cleared my throat and twisted my fingers together. "I'm, uh, are you hiring?"
He looked me up and down, tilting his head to the side like he was puzzled. "I'm not sure, hold up." He jumped back a few steps and stuck his head inside a doorway. "Yo, E! We hirin'? There's some chick out here—"
"Paul!" a voice yelled back. "How many times do I have to tell you not to yell through the shop?"
Startled by the commotion, I took a step back toward the door, and then froze. The boards, the clothing, the teeny, tiny bikinis to my side all disappeared as the second man appeared.
Just one glimpse at him and my stomach clenched with a kind of nervous anticipation I didn't know existed outside of books.
He paused briefly, smacking the one called Paul on the back of the head, and then he walked behind the glass display case nearest me and leaned forward on his elbows. My eyes followed his every move.
I wonder how old he is?
Up close, everything about him screamed comfort. Here was this tall, tanned guy, maybe a year or two older than me and sexy as hell, dressed in a threadbare t-shirt that hugged his shoulders perfectly, and a pair of board shorts that hung low around his waist. Hair highlighted gold by the sun dipped over his forehead and hung in his eyes. A black leather cord hugged the skin around his neck… and I was instantaneously jealous of that tiny decoration.
I wanted to be the one hugging that neck.
"Hello," he said, drawing my eyes to his face. Strong jaw, full lips and bright, luminescent green eyes. "I apologize for that one," he said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. The guy named Paul flipped the bird behind new guy's back. "I'm Edward, can I help you with something?"
When he wasn't yelling, his voice sounded much smoother, like the sweet soft tempo at the beginning of an acoustic song.
I kind of wanted to melt into a puddle of groupie-girl and ask him to sign my arm.
Get it together, Bella.
"Sorry. Yes. Hi… I was looking for a job and wondering if you're hiring? My… Charlie and I… we're new in town, and he's insisting that I get a job and I've been everywhere today and I can't find anything and this place looked interesting and you're not a sex shop—"
He bit his lip and one side of his face lifted as I rambled. "Whoa there, take a breath. What's your name?"
Embarrassed, I huffed out a breath and closed my eyes. "Isabella. I mean Bella. Everyone calls me Bella."
"Well Bella," he said, and I opened my eyes. "I am looking for someone for the summer. Do you surf?" I shook my head and he frowned. "Skate?"
Crap. Maybe I would have had better luck with the sex shop.
I had no choice but to give him an honest answer. "Yeah, no. I've kinda been known to trip on flat surfaces."
His eyes narrowed slightly and he clucked his tongue. "Why would you come into a place like this looking for a job if you've never done either of those things?"
Scratch that. Embarrassed didn't begin to cover how I felt – I was mortified. Of course someone who worked in a place like that should have some knowledge about the shit they'd be dealing with.
My cheeks filled with warmth as I stepped back and tugged at my ponytail. The door behind me opened, and I started making plans to escape when the new customer entered. I couldn't believe I'd just inconvenienced him.
Before I could apologize and disappear, Edward's attention shifted and his face lit up with this smile that made my insides feel like jelly, because I really, really wanted him to smile at me like that.
He rounded the corner of the counter, squatting down just in time to meet the exuberant greeting of a little boy who slammed right into his chest. Edward fell black, groaning playfully. "You got me, Little Man!"
The little boy giggled. "I beat yous up, Dada!"
My eyes widened because I hadn't expected those words to come out. Suddenly I cursed my silly reaction to this guy – who probably wasn't as young as I'd initially thought, and more than likely had the mother of his child in the picture. And he very well could have been my boss or something, if the way everyone deferred to him played any role. I tried to hide my dismay.
"Well… what do we have here?" Forgetting my embarrassment, I looked over my shoulder and took in the guy who had appeared at my side. Scraggly blond hair, same tan skin as I'd been seeing all day and bright blue eyes greeted me. "How you doin'?" he asked, full on Joey Tribiani-esque.
I let out a tiny snort and narrowed my eyes. "Really?"
He tried to look innocent and failed. From his spot on the floor, Edward snorted a laugh. "Dude, you have no game."
"Shut it," the blond muttered.
"L, I think you need to show Uncle J how to treat a lady."
The little boy giggled and turned away from Edward to run in my direction. A smile pulled at my cheeks as I took him in. He couldn't have been more than three years old; dirty blond hair tumbled down shoulders that surrounded a little face and eyes that looked just like the father's.
He crooked a chubby little finger at me and I lowered to my knees. I took his cue when he held out his hand and offered him mine in return. He wrapped his little palm around mine and leaned forward to press a kiss against my knuckles. I gasped, only to giggle when he finished the gesture off with an exaggerated smack of his lips.
Clearly proud of himself, he pulled away and grinned up at me like a little Cheshire cat. I knew right then the kid was destined to be a heartbreaker.
"If this were a contest, you'd totally win," I told him.
With a pump of his little fist, he turned and stuck his tongue out at the blond. Then he threw his arms around my shoulders and hugged me with everything he had.
When we separated, his little green eyes were curious. "Wha's your name?" he asked.
I couldn't help but smile, enjoying the ease of talking to him rather than the pressure of facing his dad once again. "My name's Bella. What's your name, cutie pie?"
"Lisle! I'm three!"
"It's very nice to meet you, Lisle." I winked at him. He blushed a bright crimson and turned away, running back to Edward and burying his face against his father's leg. I smiled at how adorable he was, warmed by the abrupt shift between embarrassment and enjoyment two minutes with these people had brought.
"Good job, L," Edward boasted, reaching down to run his fingers through the little boy's hair.
"I can't believe you just had your three year old show me up," the blond interjected.
"What did you expect, idiot?" Edward asked on a laugh.
They continued teasing each other and I saw the moment as my chance to escape before I caused more of a stir. Edward's voice stopped me before I could reach the door.
"Bella?" My stomach flipped as I turned to him. "You start tomorrow. On one condition."
My heart stuttered in my chest. "Condition?"
"Okay, two," he corrected. "First, you never go out with my brother. Second… you learn to surf."
I grimaced and bit my lip. The blond scowled but raised his eyebrows at the challenge Edward had offered.
And since I'd never been one to back down, I did the only thing I could: I agreed.
Thank you all so much for reading!
So, are things starting to make a little more sense now? How do you think she'll do with Hottie McBoss teaching her to surf? I'm also very curious to hear what you think of the little Casanova. ;)
Reviews are love. And I really really like getting love.
Until tomorrow!
xx