Dear Readers,

Thank you so much for your views- as an author you can see how many views you get a day, a week, a month, or in total. I've been surprised by how many people are reading! I am super glad that you guys are enjoying it!

Please, accept my apologies, as I've said before- life is getting in the way since the weather is nice, my sister-in-law is close to delivery, and I'm just incompetent. I hope this chapter, and it's a doozy, will make up for my tardiness.

Enjoy.

Whispers Turn into Shouts

Breakfast was quiet, and my mother was equally as quiet. She hadn't spoken much to me since yesterday morning when she informed me that she knew what I was doing. Mother hadn't made much eye contact either since last night when Alice, Rosalie, and I excused ourselves from the entertainment of the dancer Penelope and Seth as they danced in front of us, their bodies looking like tangled dark caramel and russet sensual fluids. They never mixed, they resisted the temptation pull of one another's bodies, and the caramel and russet stayed in their own space, as it should be.

Watching Penelope and Seth dance made me think of Edward and when he taught me how to dance. They were dancing in the correct, entertainment based way. I enjoyed dancing with Edward that way, but I came to realize that I much more enjoy the way he pulls me against him when we go to parties, when we dance in private and I can feel an electric pull, making us mix together and invade each other's space.

Rosalie, Alice, and I walked up to the staff quarters to find our men sitting around a small fire, and there was nobody but the three of them. There was a few folding lawn chairs waiting for us, and a small cooler between Jasper's feet. The boys were talking to each other quietly, discussing something that made Emmett scoff with his chest puffed out.

"Let him try," Emmett laughed.

"We don't need any trouble with him," Edward mumbled.

"We need to control ourselves," Jasper conceded with Edward.

"If he's going to start something I say that we give him what he wants! He's askin' for it, Eddie, and I'll be damned if we just sit by and watch the women we love get hurt because he's got some sort of angel cover for Officer Swan." Emmett's fist pounded into his large palm.

I looked over at Rosalie who looked at Emmett with enamored awe. Rosalie loved the seemingly wonder of brute strength and the slow wit that came with it. Not that Emmett was dumb, but he was a take action first, ask questions later kind of man, and Rosalie liked results. Emmett seemed to want to beat Mike to a pulp with or without the help of Edward and Jasper, and seemed adamant enough to do it for the love of Rosalie.

Alice was smirking thoughtfully at Jasper and his controlled resigned face. He looked controlled and unaffected by the moral that Emmett's voice brought on- it sure gave me some excitement and a sense of clarity. Alice needed someone more controlled and level headed, especially when she was so eccentric and radical on many things- especially her short hair.

And then there was Edward. He wasn't calm, he wasn't controlled, but he also wasn't rallying up an angry mob ready to tear Mike limb from limb. Edward was eloquent, patient, and impassioned. Edward would wait until the time was right to strike, and perhaps not in a bar room brawl, but in a wistful way that required enough stealth that nothing could be traced back to them.

The boys realized our slow approach and attempted to change the subject to a more happier one- returning to college in a little under a month. Alice, Rosalie, and I would be joining them soon. I wasn't sure how excited I was going to be to go to a second option State school, but I knew that I'd be with Edward- so that was why I chose to tell my father that I'd be going to college with Rosalie in the fall. WSU wasn't opposable, I would have much rather something warmer- less rain- but it was local and I was ready to be with Edward without a cloak and dagger. Edward and I would be together- almost every night- and I'd be able to build a life with him- away from my father's judgements.

"Ladies, come, sit." Emmett stood, motioning to the chairs strategically placed to each mate.

"What were you boys in such deep conversation about?" Alice's left eyebrow arched far above her clear blue eyes. Emmett's dimples deepened as he smiled harder.

"Oh, just manly men stuff, you wouldn't be interested in hearing it," Emmett laughed. His hands interlocked with Rosalie's hand and he kissed her knuckles as the glided past his lips.

"Right," I said skeptically eyeing Edward. His deadpan face gave no hints that he suspected we heard what they were talking about, nor did it give any clues on what they were discussing prior to our interruption.

"Love," Edward greeted me with a kiss on the cheek and a hand low on my back. I smile and kissed his lips softly. Edward, Emmett, and Jasper handed us beers that were opened for our convience and began a long, drawn out conversation of how boring freshman year at WSU is.

"Wait- you had to take what?!" Rosalie exclaimed, laughing hard. We were all deeply intoxicated- but we cared little.

"I shit you not, I had to take a gym class!" Emmett laughed, "parachute game and everything," Emmett laughed to himself.

"Wait- aren't you going to be a gym teacher?" Alice's eyes were already narrowed from intoxication, but they narrowed even further.

"Well yeah," Emmett said laughing.

"So you don't think a gym class may be important to a gym teacher?" Alice challenged.

"Well- not one that is based like a kids gym class!" Emmett was caught in his own joke- and Rosalie was left laughing to the point of almost pissing her pants at Emmett's genuine confusion and lack of thought.

"Get this- last year we all decided to go to a KA∑ party, and we were all pretty stoked- it was a toga party." Jasper paused to take a large gulp of his beer. "Emmett here only has two sets of sheets- a teddy bear set, and a regular black set- well- he had to choose." Jasper paused to laugh hysterically waiting for us to catch up.

"Hey- those Kappa Alpha Sigs love it!" Emmett challenged. "I never got so many compliments," Emmett's chin rose a fraction with pride.

"Teddy bears, Em?" I laughed hysterically.

"It's safe to say Emmett bought new, more sophisticated sheets since then," Rosalie laughed winking at Emmett.

"I still go those teddy bears, babe." Emmett winked back at Rosalie who bit her lip promiscuously.

The hours turned late, the beer had since been drunk, and our eyes were past drooping. We didn't want to leave. It wasn't an option to stay unfortunately. All of our laughter, smiling, and goodwill jabs made the night all the more special- we got to relax and pretend that we all didn't have to be careful or deny our love for them.

"Is it hard for you, too?" I whispered to Edward, pain coloring my every syllable.

"Harder. I have to go hours pretending that your pain doesn't drive a steak through my heart, I have to go on without you by my side where you rightfully belong, and I have to go on knowing what your father thinks I've done. If the situation would happen to ever arrive with you, I would never abandon you like Mike did to Tanya, and I'd never send you to a butcher like that. I'd make an honest man of myself, I'd admit where I went wrong- I'd marry you. I'd marry you now if I could." Edward sighed. His voice was so sincere, so much truth rang from his voice

"Until tomorrow," I vowed quietly.

"Tomorrow is such a long time," Edward sighed and kissed my lips quietly. Edward's smile was sad, but full of love as I walked away with Alice and Rosalie by my side. Edward walked back to his cabin, parting ways with Jasper and Emmett.

"This needs to work out," Rosalie sighed.

"Look at the bright side, soon dad won't be able to tell us who we can and can't see when we're at WSU." I smiled lightly.

"That's too far away," Rosalie sighed and looked over at Alice.

"Guys, I think we need to go talk to someone," Alice's eyes were on a dark figure who was sitting on a railing, a glowing cigarette in her hand, and an oversized sweatshirt sagging around her shoulders. Her brown hair brought my attention more closely. Jessica.

We walked closer to her, and it was apparent by her breathing that she must have been crying. She looked at the water below the small wooden bridge she sat on. The stream was not even two inches deep, but it was enough to get your feet wet. What an odd place to sit and cry at, it's not like it was secluded. She could be stumbled upon by many who chose to walk this way to the staff quarters.

"Jess?" Rosalie's voice was polite and quiet, but loud enough to make Jessica jump. Her tear stricken face looked puffy and swollen, her lips bright red from the sting of the salt water tears were parted letting smoke slowly dance out of her mouth.

"Oh, hello." Jessica's voice was raw.

"Are you alright?" I asked walking closer than anyone else had dared. Jessica eyed me skeptically.

"You know that feeling, when you're chest is so tight you'd swear you're in a straight jacket, but your hands are free? They're free but you feel numb there, and you feel like you can't breathe, but you have all the air you could hold in your lungs? I feel that." Jessica's voice broke and sounded weak from crying.

"I believe that's called anxiety," I nodded quietly.

"Well it sucks," Jessica sighed. "Giving it a name helps," she grumbled lightly.

"Sometimes it does," Alice nodded quietly.

"Do you know how smart I am?" Jessica turned to us as she took a drag out of her cigarette. "I graduated top of my class, was valedictorian, I got accepted to Princeton! Princeton! Me- a girl-" Jessica looked down at her hands as she continued. "A girl who just wasn't smart enough to avoid someone that had a terrible and earned reputation but smart enough to do all of those other things." Jessica swallowed. "I am working here to I can go to Princeton without burdening my parents with the money, but how can I go to Princeton if I'm pregnant." Jessica looked over at us, tears started to stream down her face. "I have never felt this stupid in my life- not even when I was a child." Jessica looked at us helplessly.

"Jessica, you're not stupid. And you could still go to college- you could give the baby up…" Rosalie smiled.

"My parents would disown me," Jessica sighed looking down.

"Are you sure you're pregnant?" I asked looking at her quickly to see a look of 'come on'.

"I'm pretty sure," Jessica shrugged. "I'm a few days late," she clarified.

"Well days could be contributed to stress," I assured quietly.

"Or maybe I'm pregnant and just screwed," Jessica sneered.

I looked over at Rosalie for some help. I wasn't any good with people who were bitter and down. Alice was always so uplifting, and Rosalie was too stubborn to ever be upset about something that I could ever help with. This was new terrain, and I wanted Jessica on our side. Rosalie bit her lower lip and nodded as she walked up to meet my distance with Jessica.

"Are you reconsidering our idea?" Rosalie asked hopefully.

"Yes," Jessica's voice was raw and sounded as exposed as someone who was skinned alive and someone wanted to touch exposed nerves.

Rosalie looked over to Alice and I and smiled slowly at us. "We're glad you're onboard," Rosalie said quietly. "We have a plan, but you're going to have to play a vital role, are you okay with that?" Rosalie asked carefully.

"Whatever brings that fucker down," Jessica's tears stopped and her voice hardened.

After telling Jessica our makeshift plan to expose Mike this week, she was in on the plan and her eyes did not shed another tear, and her voice did not break with emotion. Jessica's face was hard as stone, and set with revenge. She looked placated with the thought of bringing on Mike's downfall personally. Jessica wanted to have Tanya on her side as well, but understood Tanya's personal eversion to involving herself in this- Tanya and Jessica both fell in love with Mike, and Jessica was the other girl. Once Tanya was pregnant he moved onto Jessica, and now that it was discovered that Jessica might be pregnant, Mike had begun talking to a younger staff girl, a girl who was 17 by the name of Rebecca. Jessica witnessed them talking, laughing, and an intimate tuck of her locks behind her ear. Jessica felt very contrite, and angry that she had a few drinks and sat on the bridge contemplating finding another doctor that would consider giving her an abortion without any legal hassle.

"That doctor was arrested," Rosalie looked at Jessica as her face fell with what little hope she held onto.

"Well then at least I'll be able to get child support," Jessica scoffed and rolled her eyes. Then her face turned soft and sighed. "Don't get me wrong, I'll love the kid… I love kids, and I even loved him- he was so nice and funny. It will just be a bitter reminder of what I thought it was and what it really was." Jessica turned her face up with pride. "Getting back at him will help with the bitterness I suppose," Jessica ended.

We walked back to the cabin without a peep about the plan but mischief on our minds. Our parents waited on the porch, our father smoking a cigar with Mr. Brandon and our mother sipping their wines of choice, looking heavy lidded.

"Where have you young ladies been?" My father's voice didn't carry, it was muted and careful.

"We saw Jessica after the dance and she was upset, we wanted to comfort her," I said quietly.

"Who is 'Jessica'?" Mr. Brandon asked raising an eyebrow.

"She's part of the waiting staff, she's really nice. She was sitting on a bridge crying by herself, it seemed wrong not to go and offer some solace," Alice countered.

"What was she so upset about?" Mrs. Brandon's hand clutched her chest. "Is she alright?"

"She's fine," Rosalie paused with fake confusion. "She never really did tell us what was wrong," Rosalie looked thoughtfully off in the distance and then shrugged to herself.

"Well, whatever it is I hope she's okay," our mother sighed and finished her glass.

"We walked her to her cabin and made sure she got in okay. She seemed to be a lot better after talking to us about her feelings," I nodded quietly.

Our parents stayed outside of the cabins, it made it seem like they weren't waiting up for us, but I was sure we all felt a little like we were being watched. Our parents talked for what seemed like an hour or so more, and then they retired as well. I didn't want to think that my mother was now really keeping tabs like she hinted she would- but I knew deep down that she was and my father was equally as suspicious as my mother was. Mr. and Mrs. Brandon weren't the suspicious type, but they'd give my parents the benefit of the doubt.

The morning was full of excitement and held little to no time for cut corners. We went to breakfast with our family, and played the game that our parents wanted- being active in every activity but the ones we signed up for with Edward, Emmett, and Jasper. We played croquette, went on a nature walk or two, and we sat and watched people play on the faux beach. Rosalie's distaste for man-made beaches increased every second we sat on the itchy sand, far away from Edward, Emmett, and Jasper who were all sitting with one another as well. Edward looked at me longingly, his green eyes flashing with intense feelings. I wanted to touch him, rub away the crease that was deepening in his brow, and tell him about our plan that was surely going to erupt in a few short hours. I bit my lip trying to memorize every word that would be uttered, and ever face that would be made.

"Do you think this will do any good?" I ask looking at Rosalie.

"Surely," Rosalie smiled over eat me and nodded her head.

"Would it change dad's mind, though? To hear that Edward is utterly blameless?" I sighed looking over at them, "he might just decide that Edward and Em and Jaz are just as bad as Mike because they're all near each other."

"Dad knows they don't get along," Rosalie pointed out. She was going for the optimistic approach, of course. I wanted to be just as optimistic as Rosalie and Alice, but I had a sickening feeling in my stomach telling me that this plan wasn't going to work. I searched Edward's green eyes for some hope, but all I saw was burning desire to come over to me.

I stayed silent about my doubts and tried to focus on all of the hope that Rosalie spoke with, and the glint of hope that danced around in her blue eyes. Alice, too, seemed confident and hopeful, which helped me significantly as well. If these two could feel some amount of hope I'm sure that I could attempt to feel a morsel of hope, too. I wanted the sun to make the pain go away- like if I soaked it in enough it would make the cold feeling that I had in my soul when I wasn't with Edward go away. But the cold, empty spot still held its place no matter how much Vitamin D I soaked in.

Dressing for dinner never took so long in my life. I had to get a shower to wash off the gritty sand, sweat, and sunscreen. I did my hair slowly attempting without any avail to have frizzy curls. My hair lay in a frizzy mess around the curve of my breasts, with a flowered clip holding it away from my face. Rosalie took forever as well, wearing her hair in a French twist and Alice of course did not have to worry about her hair at all.

"This will work," Alice assured as we walked into the dining hall.

Jessica was serving in the area we strategically sat in, and with a few personal favors and a few designer scarfs from Alice's last fall collection, Natalie traded with Mike to give him an 'easy' night because Natalie 'wanted' more hours which happened to be right beside Jessica's section. Jessica's face was stone hard and gave no trace of our plan away. She filled up my water goblet and 'accidentally' pushed my spoon off of the table.

"My apologies, I'll go fetch you another." Jessica's voice sounded sincere and she smiled at my parents. The spoon was purposely knocked over to signal that Jessica was ready to carry on the plan. The plan was simple, but effective.

Jessica went to fetch me another spoon, leaving my water goblet the only one filled, so naturally it was up to Mike to come fill up the rest of the tables; as neighbors go it was a responsibility of his.

"Bella, you look like the weather is agreeing with you," Mike complimented me. "You look very sun-kissed."

Mike took the bait. I was secretly glad that Edward had no direct view of my face from his table, because I knew that he'd be watching, especially since Mike was at my table now. I smiled up at Mike thoughtfully, blushing on cue and nodded.

"Well thank you, Michael. I like to think that sunlight looks good on anyone," I smiled.

"No, you're utterly kissed from the su-" and right on cue Jessica interrupted.

"Are you serious?" She sputtered at him.

I glanced over to see my father immersed in the sudden conversation that was taken place between Mike and myself, and his eyes wide with surprise as Jessica approached. The look on Jessica's face was pure anger as she grasped a clean spoon in her left hand, and her right hand in a fist down at her hip.

"Jessica, come on, be professional around the guests." Mike narrowed his eyes.

"Professional? You call flirting with the guests professional?" Jessica raised her eyebrows, her voice raising an octave.

"Oh, come on Jess don't be like that you know." Mike left the whole 'we're supposed flirt with the female guests to make them feel special' bit. Jessica informed us that it is a marketing scheme that Mr. and Mrs. Newton found effective- but Mike wasn't supposed to be doing it because of his sexual deviancies.

"Or how about knocking up Tanya? That's not very professional. Neither is leaving her to a butcher while you knocked me up! You're scum." Jessica pushed past Mike and placed my spoon right near my hand. "My apologies Swan's, Brandon's; allow me to fetch you something from our cellar for the inconvenience and my lack of professionalism." Jessica turned and stalked toward the door, pushing past Mike's slack jaw.

"Mr. Swan, I want to formally apologize-" Mike began, but my father's face was set and his ears purple with anger.

"I don't think I want another apology," Charlie said as he stood up and looked at Mr. Brandon pointedly. "Would you join me quick, Bernard?" My father jerked his head toward Mr. Cullen and Mrs. Cullen's table/

"Wait, please, don't. I can't screw up again," Mike pleaded to my father, placing himself in the line of the Cullen's table.

"How many screw ups are you allowed a summer?" My father's voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough to tip off everyone at our table. "Getting two young ladies pregnant with in weeks of each other, feeding off of other young ladies like my innocent Bella? You're no gentleman. Consider yourself on your own for any police force job in the state of Washington." My father walked past Mike swiftly headed for the Cullen's table.

I let a breath of air escape my lungs. I wasn't aware that I was holding my breath, but I felt myself taking another breath shakily. I looked up at Mike who was glowering down at me, Alice, and Rosalie. He wanted to accuse us, and he wanted to spout lude comments at us, but he wouldn't dare in front of our shocked, pale faced mothers.

"Ladies," Mike's voice was pregnant with anger.

I looked over at Rosalie and Alice who nodded with in agreeance. It was time to go check on Jessica.

"Mom, we want to go make sure Jessica is okay," I said quietly. "Now that we know what's bothering her," I clarified. My mother nodded her head, color slightly returning to her face.

"Of course," my mother blanched and grabbed her chest looking over at Mrs. Brandon. Alice, Rosalie, and I excused ourselves and walked out the door of the main dining hall, turning the corner to the female's bathroom. Jessica waited at the sink, her face red with fresh tears and her hands shaking from adrenaline.

"Are you alright?" Rosalie approached slowly looking at Jessica's tear stained face.

"I'm fine," Jessica's face held a smile despite the tears.

"Are you sure? Why are you crying?" Alice pulled a linin tissue out of her clutch and handed it to Jessica.

"Do either of you happen to carry a tampon or pad with you?" She whispered as she took the tissue from Alice. I felt my face light up with pleasure and relief emerging through my smile. She wasn't pregnant after all- and her life wouldn't potentially be ruined by Mike and his loose morals. She'd be able to go to Princeton and be a success. I rummaged through my clutch and handed her a pad with a large smile on her face she accepted it.

"Thank you," she sighed. "And not just for this," she held up the pad laughing. "But thank you for giving me this opportunity, and for making sure I didn't get fired. I knew Mike was a creep, but it didn't make it hurt any less." Jessica shrugged and smiled up at us. "I really do owe you, I don't think I'd ever really get that opportunity to get him into some trouble."

"Hey, this helped us out a lot." I said smiling.

"I hope it did," Jessica smiled before she went into the stall.

I turned to my sister and Alice and smiled, blue wide eyes looked back at me. I felt hope for one of the first times in weeks. I felt true hope that I'd be able to finally be with Edward without any ramifications or any sneaking around. I felt tears burn my eyes as my ridiculous smile bored into my face and their smiles bored into their faces. This was the start of our new beginning, no secret, relationship with our men.