Disclaimer: I own everything but their names.
July 4, 2001 – Santa Cruz, California
My eyes roamed the crowded beach as I searched for an empty piece of real estate. I wanted something decent – and quiet – but I knew it was next to impossible. After several minutes, I finally spotted a good slot and hurried in that direction, immediately throwing my towel down to claim it; fully ready to bare my teeth and growl at anyone who tried to steal it.
Satisfied that I wouldn't have to sand-wrestle anyone, I pulled off my tank top and shorts, loving the feel of the sun beaming down on my next-to-naked skin. It wasn't my first time at the beach this summer, but it was my first time in a bikini. I'd spent part of the morning buffing, shaving and primping to make sure I would look good.
Hell, I'd do anything to detract from the super ghostlike pallor of my still-Forks-hued skin.
I sat heavily and then stared out at the water, smiling a little at the surfers perched out at the break, and waiting for the next great wave. It distracted me from the annoyance I'd been feeling all day over the fact that Charlie had ditched me on our first holiday in Santa Cruz.
"Go have fun with your friends, kid. I'll be stuck in the office all day."
Easy for him to say.
Little did he know that the only friends I'd made since we got here were my boss and his brother. There was no way I would have called either of them to 'hang out.'
…Even if being with Edward would have probably made me happier than just about anything.
Funny that in Forks I'd never minded being alone, but, then again, Edward made me want things I'd never really wanted before.
With a sigh, I grabbed my bottle of sunscreen, prepared to slather my pale arms, legs and chest. I had to stop thinking that way. The chance that Edward and I would ever be anything more than what we were just wasn't going to happen. The longer I allowed this little thing inside me to grow and flourish, the more it was going to hurt in the long run.
I don't know when or exactly why, but my little crush had started to feel…well, crushing.
I lay back in the sand, closing my eyes and absorbing the sounds of children playing, families celebrating and waves crashing. I liked the feel of the squishy sand under me and the warm sun beating down. I knew no matter what happened in my future, I'd always have a connection to the beach; to the water.
I understood how Edward described it as a love he could never seem to forget.
"Bella!"
I sat up and squinted into the bright sunshine. I was sure I recognized the voice, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. A smile grabbed at my cheeks as Lisle ran through the sand toward me, paunchy little toddler stomach out on full display. He was covered in sand, the tip of his nose freckled and red from so much time in the sun.
When he stopped in front of me, his little chest rose and fell from the effort he'd used pushing his little legs through the sand.
"Little Dude," I said, smiling. "What are you doing here all by yourself?"
He dropped to his knees in front of me and grinned, sucking in a big breath. "I not here 'aself. Dada's right der."
Lisle turned and pointed. My eyes followed, catching on the unmistakable figure of Edward jogging in our direction.
I'm pretty sure I stopped breathing right there. He was all broad shoulders and glistening skin painted a golden-brown by the sun's rays. With each step he took, a tiny stripe of pale skin played peek-a-boo with my eyes as his board shorts shifted and fell on his narrow waist.
He looked so good in those board shorts and thin t-shirts I saw him in every day, but like this? Without a shirt? Damn. That's all I could say: damn.
The closer he got, the more my stomach flipped and flopped. I opened my mouth to say… something, though he spoke before I could force my lips into action.
"Lisle!" Edward yelled. "Didn't I tell you to stay where I could see you?"
He reached out and grabbed Lisle's hand, pulling him up. His eyes were frantic and his jaw tense.
"And you don't talk to strangers!"
They only made it a few steps before Lisle tugged sharply on Edward's hand. "She not a stranger, 'das Bella." He pointed at me.
The tears in his voice were clear. I frowned and scrambled to stand up, hating that he'd gotten in trouble because of me. I hastily dusted sand from my legs and butt. Edward stopped, turning to look at me over his shoulder.
I offered a tiny wave when his pretty green eyes met mine. Everything else seemed to evaporate around us in that moment. The ocean stopped moving, the kids on the beach no longer yelled. Hell, I'm pretty sure cars stopped driving. It was all gone…
Except for him.
And, seriously? Damn.
I decided right then that men like him should never be allowed to wear shirts. There should be a law against it. The female population of the world would be a lot less grumpy.
Edward's gaze slid from my face, down to my toes, and I swear I felt every freaking inch of it. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around my middle to cover the exposed parts of my body, scared of what it was he saw when he looked at me.
I opened my mouth again, fully intending to speak, but Edward beat me to it. He dropped down on one knee in the sand and reached up to wipe at the stray tears on Lisle's cheeks. "I'm sorry, buddy, but you scared me by running off like that. Don't do that again, okay?"
Lisle sniffled. "I sorry too, Daddy."
Edward wrapped Lisle in his arms and picked him up. He tickled his sides, eliciting the most adorable giggle. It was clear everything was going to be okay.
They turned and walked back in my direction. Edward smiled, one side of his face lifting higher than the other. "I didn't expect you to be here…" he trailed off.
Desperate not to make it weird, I resorted to bad humor. "Yeah. My boss finally gave me a day off. What a tyrant that guy is."
His smile shifted into a smirk. "Very funny."
"I try."
On the outside, it was easy to joke with him. Pretend like I wasn't completely freaking out. On the inside, however, I felt like my heart might be in need of a few shocks if it didn't slow down. And I realized then that, no matter how bad it was for me, my crush simply couldn't be shoved away into a tiny box for safekeeping.
Edward's eyes wandered to my towel and then back to me. "You here with friends? Or… your dad?"
I avoided the honest answer and shrugged. "My dad had to work."
"Ah," he said. Then he bit his lip. And I had to bite mine to keep from squeaking. All of a sudden he looked kind of nervous; like he didn't know what else to say or how to act. I really couldn't blame him.
"It was good seeing you," he said, looking over at Lisle. "Come on buddy, let's leave Bella alone."
He turned to leave and my heart sunk. I wanted to stop him so badly that my mouth was springing into action before my brain could stop it. "You don't have to go!"
*ducks for cover* Please don't hit me.
Thank you all so very much for reading, you're all invited to the fiesta in my pantalones! Guess what? Some wonderful person nominated Going Under for Fic of the Week over at The Lemonade Stand! You should hop over there and vote for your favorites! tehlemonadestand . blogspot . com
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Until tomorrow!
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